690122 - Lecture BG 05.01-02 - Los Angeles

Lectures by Date, 1969

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

 Listen to a 'Nectar Drop' created from this lecture

690122BG-LOS ANGELES - January 22, 1969 - 58:50 Minutes

Prabhupāda: "Arjuna said: O Kṛṣṇa, first of all You ask me to renounce work, and then again You recommend work with devotion. Now will You kindly tell me definitely which of the two is more beneficial?"

Renouncement does not mean voidness. Renouncement is only the negative side. When our spiritual master was physically present, we asked him whether renounced order of sannyāsa is nice or householder life is nice. So Guru Mahārāja replied that "We are going to enter into the household of Kṛṣṇa. What we have got to do with renouncement?"

Actually that is the position. When I speak that "Don’t do this," "don’t do this" means don’t do this nonsense. "Don’t do this" does not mean you give up nice activities. Nobody says "Don’t do this." "Don’t do this" means don’t do rascaldom. Similarly, renouncement means to renounce these material activities.

Just like Śaṅkarācārya’s philosophy—to merge into the existence of Brahman. His first condition is you must accept sannyāsa. Śaṅkarācārya’s philosophy is brahma satyaṁ jagan mithyā:

This material world is false, and Brahman, the supreme spirit, is reality. So their philosophy is to merge into the supreme reality and stop this material activity. That is the sum and substance of Śaṅkarācārya’s philosophy. Lord Buddha’s philosophy also almost the same. He says nirvāṇa. Nirvāṇa also means "extinguish." Just like this flame is there. If you extinguish this flame, it is called nirvāṇa. So Buddha’s philosophy is also that extinguish this blazing fire of material activities: stop this; try to understand your life; meditate. This is another science.

So Vaiṣṇava philosophy means not only stop this nonsense, but begin actual life. Lord Buddha also wanted to tell the same philosophy; Śaṅkarācārya also wanted to say the same philosophy. But the people who are followers, they had no stamina to understand what is spiritual activities. Therefore he did not say it; he stopped simply up to nirvāṇa. "Stop this nonsense."

But here Kṛṣṇa says that stop work means stop working this nonsense work. What is that nonsense work? This material activities—sense enjoyment—it is nonsense. Why nonsense? Because it is animalistic. The animals are also working for sense gratification. What the animals are doing? The birds and the beasts, what they are doing? All day they are searching after some food, and as soon as the belly is fulfilled—sex life. You see the sparrow, the pigeons, or any animal. That means āhāra-nidrā-bhaya-maithuna (Hitopadeśa 25).

And in the evening they gather together, eating, mating, eating, mating, and sleep. So sleeping, eating and sex life—and fearing from the enemy. Everyone is afraid.

So material activities mean the same thing. You may eat very nice, palatable dishes in the restaurant, but what is that? Eating, that’s all. There is no other philosophy. Simply eating philosophy, that’s all. You may be satisfied with certain type of dishes, and the pigeon will be satisfied simply by certain grains of peas, that’s all. But the pleasure is eating. Similarly, sleeping. When you fall asleep, you do not know whether you are sleeping on a very nice mattress or on the floor. Sometimes you are dreaming that, "I am sleeping on the forest" or "on the seashore."

You forget everything. So sleeping . . . eating, sleeping, mating—sex intercourse. The same enjoyment as the pigeon is enjoying, you are also enjoying. And defending—they are defending by their wings; you are defending by atomic bomb. So there is no difference of quality of life. So Kṛṣṇa, when says: "Stop work," means stop working like animals, but not to stop working like Kṛṣṇa conscious people are doing—not to stop chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. Stop you animalistic life and begin your spiritual life. That is the purpose.

So Arjuna is playing the part of a common man. He is constant companion of Kṛṣṇa. He is friend of Kṛṣṇa. So there was no possibility of Arjuna’s becoming such fool, but he is playing the part of a fool because if he does not question like that, then how this Bhagavad-gītā will come from the Supreme Personality of Godhead? Just like there is a stage play. Somebody is speaking, somebody is answering, and the audience is benefiting. Similarly, this is also Kṛṣṇa’s stage play to teach us. And who will accompany Him? Who will answer Him? Who will play with Him?

His most confidential devotee, Arjuna. Otherwise who will play with Him? He is Supreme Personality of Godhead, and a great devotee like Arjuna can play with Him. Just like if there is a very respectable person, who will accompany him? Somebody similarly respectable. So Arjuna as a common man says that, "Sometimes You say that, 'You stop work,' and again You say that, 'You work with devotion. " So Kṛṣṇa will explain. Go on.

Madhudviṣa: "The Blessed Lord said: The renunciation of work and work in devotion are both good for liberation. But of the two, work in devotional service is better than renunciation of work."

Prabhupāda: Renunciation of work, practically the same meaning. When I say: "Don’t do this," but you are active, "Don’t do this" does not mean that you become inert stone. Then the next question, "What shall I do?" That is the next question. If I say: "My dear boy, don’t do this," then next question will be, "Then what shall I do?" Because you cannot stop your doing. It is not possible. You must give me some engagement. Just like . . . it is historical and practical.

In Indian history, those who have read Indian history, there was a great Mogul emperor, Shah Jahan. So when Shah Jahan became old, he had four sons: Daara, Aurangzeb, Murad and another, I forget. So four brothers, they intrigued at who will be the next emperor. Out of the four, the second brother was very cunning. He was Aurangzeb. Perhaps you have heard his name. So by intrigue and politics and diplomacy he killed all other brothers, and at last he arrested his father, old father. Otherwise how he can become emperor? And intrigue to become himself emperor.

So when Shah Jahan was arrested by the order of Aurangzeb, Shah Jahan became mad, "Aurangzeb, what you are doing? You are arresting me? You kill me." So the son said, Aurangzeb, "Well, I have killed my brothers, but I will not kill my father. But you are arrested. You cannot go out of this fort, Agra fort." So he became mad, that "I was emperor. I was ordering, and you stopped my work. Then I shall become mad. Better kill me." Just try to understand.

So similarly, we stop to . . . we want to stop these material activities. Just like in your country there are many persons, they don’t want to do anything anymore, material activities—confused, frustrated. But there is no specific duty for them. That is not good. To stop material activities, that is the defect of void philosophy and impersonal philosophy. To stop this material work is good, but where is the positive engagement? Unless you have got positive engagement, you cannot stop yourself. You become mad. The same word that Shah Jahan said that, "I was emperor. I was acting as the supreme person in the empire. Now you are stopping me, then I shall become mad."

So simply stopping material activities, and if there is no spiritual activity, then he will be mad just like . . . Shah Jahan. So there must be some spiritual activities. You cannot stop. Just like a child: child is playing. If you stop his playing, you must give him some engagement, immediately, some good engagement; otherwise he will become dull and nonsense. He’ll play havoc. So this is being explained. Go on.

Madhudviṣa: Purport: "Fruitive activities (seeking sense gratification) are causes for material bondage. As long as one is engaged in activities aimed at improving the standard of bodily comfort, one is sure to transmigrate to different types of bodies, thereby prolonging the material bondage perpetually."

Prabhupāda: Yes. There is a verse in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam:

evaṁ manaḥ karma-vaśaṁ prayuṅkte

avidyayātmany upadhīyamāne

yāvan na prītir mayi vāsudeve

na mucyate deha-yogena tāvat

(SB 5.5.6)

We are planning that, "I shall do this. I shall do that. I shall do that." This is called mind is always absorbed how to be the enjoyer of this material world. So long this spirit of enjoying the material world, our sense gratification will continue. You have to accept some sort of material body, either as human being or beast or bird or animal or insect or demigod, superior, inferior. There are varieties of bodies. You see in your . . . (indistinct) . . . there are so many living entities, 8,400,000s species. So, so long mind will be absorbed for sense gratification, the nature will offer me a similar body to enjoy.

If I want to be a tiger, nature will give you a nice body, tiger. If you want to become a demigod, nature will supply you, or Kṛṣṇa will supply you. But Kṛṣṇa does not supply your demands in the material world. The agent is this material nature by the direction, because Kṛṣṇa is seated on your heart. If you want . . . that, "I want to be like this," Kṛṣṇa immediately accepts, "All right. I shall make you like this." And He orders the material nature, "Give him facility to become like this." This is going on. You can become a very great man or very insignificant man according to your work. That facility you will have. But that is bondage.

Suppose . . . America is a very nice country, a very rich country. There are, in other countries, they are thinking, " Oh Americans are living in heaven. They are so happy." And some of them, they are imitating how to become Americans, how to construct skyscraper buildings. So suppose one becomes American. What benefit does he derive? Does the American not die? Are they permanent in life? No. Do they not take birth? No . . . yes, they take birth.

Do they not become old? Yes, they become old. So what is the benefit of becoming American? The difficulties of material life—birth, death, old age and disease—either you become in America or in moon planet or sun planet or India, Czechoslovakia, hell or heaven—anywhere—the four principles of material pains, or material miseries—birth, death, old age—will follow you. Bondage. That is bondage.

My . . . I am spirit soul. I am bound of this body; therefore I cannot move even to the moon planet. But if I get my spiritual body, immediately, within a second, I can reach kingdom of God, the spiritual world. Spiritual body is so powerful and so, I mean to say, swift, because it is swifter than the mind. You get this from Bhagavad-gītā. Mind is swifter than anything, than the air even, than the ether.

You are sitting here, and immediately you remember twenty thousands miles away your home—immediately you go. This is the swiftness on mind. But the soul is still swifter than the mind. So as soon as you, just like in this fourth chapter you have read, Kṛṣṇa says:

tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma

naiti mām eti kaunteya

(BG 4.9)

"Just after giving up this body, immediately he comes to Me." It is so swift. So we have to seek after that swiftness of my spiritual body. Immediately I transfer. Why should I become bounded up by this material body? That is our perfection. So we have to work in such a way that no more coming into the bondage of this material body. That work is needed. That is work in devotion. That is work in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Go on.

Madhudviṣa: "Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam confirms this as follows: 'People are mad after sense gratification, and they do not know that this present body, which is full of miseries, is a result of one’s fruitive activities in the past. Although this body is temporary, it is always giving one trouble in many ways.' "

Prabhupāda: This point people do not understand, that body is subject to all kinds of material tribulations. Just try to understand this simple philosophy: and so long you will be attached to sense gratification, you will be forced to get a body, unless you are spiritually elevated and try to go to the spiritual kingdom. And this materialistic way of life means sense gratification.

So you go on sense gratifying, you will have a certain type of body, and sense gratification will be everywhere. Either you become a dog or cat or man or elephant or tiger, you will have the sex facilities, eating facilities, sleeping facilities and defending facilities. Viṣayaḥ khalu sarvataḥ syāt (SB 11.9.29).

Viṣayaḥ means these four principles of material enjoyment. You will have everywhere birth, Kṛṣṇa guru nahi mile bhaja Hari ei, but you cannot get Kṛṣṇa and spiritual master. You can have facility for all these bodily pleasures—eating, sleeping, mating and defending—in any life, but Kṛṣṇa and the spiritual master can be had in this life, human form, Kṛṣṇa guru nāhi mile. Janame janame sabe pitā mātā pāya (Prema-vivarta).

Very simple: in any birth you will get a father and mother, because without father and mother, where there is question of birth? Janame janame sabe pitā mātā pāya. In every birth you can get father and mother. But Kṛṣṇa guru nahi mile bhaja Hari ei: but you should always remember that Kṛṣṇa and the spiritual master cannot be had in every birth.

Therefore that thing should be sought after: Where is Kṛṣṇa? Where is spiritual master? That is perfection of life. Ei rūpe brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān (CC Madhya 19.151).

In this way the living entities are wandering throughout the whole universe in different planets, in different species of life, but somehow or the other if he becomes fortunate, then by the mercy of spiritual master and Kṛṣṇa he gets the seed of devotional service. And as soon as he gets the seed, if he waters, then it becomes sprouted, gradually grows. What is that water? Śravaṇa-kīrtana-jale karaye secana (CC Madhya 19.151).

This is watering: you’re hearing, you’re chanting. This means watering the seed of devotional service. So take this devotional . . . seed of devotional service, sow in your heart, and water it by hearing and chanting. You will see how happy you are becoming, day after day. As the plant grows, you’ll become more happy, happy, happy. Go on.

Madhudviṣa: "Therefore, to act for sense gratification is not good. One is considered to be a failure in life as long as he makes no inquiry about the nature of work for fruitive results, for as long as one is engrossed in the consciousness of sense gratification, one has to transmigrate from one body to another. Although the mind may be engrossed in fruitive activities and influenced by ignorance, one must develop a love for devotional service to Vāsudeva. Only then can one have the opportunity to get out of the bondage of material existence."

Prabhupāda: Vāsudeva means Kṛṣṇa. As soon as you develop a little love for Kṛṣṇa, then a different path is open for you. This is fact.

bahūnāṁ janmanām ante

jñānavān māṁ prapadyate

(BG 7.19)

This opportunity is there. Anyone can accept it. But it is our misfortune, you see, that we do not accept it. The path is very simple. Anyone can accept it.

sarva-dharmān parityajya

mām ekaṁśaraṇaṁ vraja

(BG 18.66)

So it is our duty to explain that this is the real path. Now it is up to the people to accept it or not. Go on.

Madhudviṣa: "Therefore, jñāna (or knowledge that one is not this material body but spirit soul) is not sufficient for liberation. One has to act in the status of spirit soul, otherwise there is no escape from material bondage. Action in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is not, however, action on the fruitive platform."

Prabhupāda: It is said . . . the impersonalist philosophers, they are stating that you just realize yourself, what you are. So by meditation, by many other mystic process, one understands that actually, "I am not this body; I am spirit soul."Ahaṁ brahmāsmi: "I am Brahman." But the thing is that simply to understand that "I am Brahman," that is not life. Just like simply if you think "I am American," will that improve your situation?

No. You have to act like American, you have to serve your country, you have to take all the opportunities that the American government is offering you. Then your life will be successful. If you simply become meditating, "I am American! I am American!" What you’ll benefit you will do? Simply thinking, "I am Brahman, I am Brahman!" that is very nice, but you take the advantage of becoming Brahman, that is work with devotion. When you take the advantage of becoming Brahman . . .

It is very simple. Try to understand. You are also American, and President Nixon is also American; there is no quarrel. But your position and President Nixon’s position is different. Why? Because he has taken all the opportunities of becoming American by serving the country. Similarly, you take all the opportunities of becoming Brahman, then you will benefit. Simply thinking, "I am Brahman," that is nice, but what benefit you will derive? It is very practical. It is not difficult to understand.

So simply nirvāṇa, simply to make the material activities void . . .

(break) that is not life. That is the beginning of a fresh life, provided you take advantage. Just like I have got immigration permanent residential permit. If I take the advantages offered by the American government, then I can become also one of you. But if I am simply satisfied that, "Now I have got this permit," that’s all. So simply understanding that, "I am Brahman" is not very happy. You have to act like Brahman. Your activities must be like Brahman. And that is work in devotion. Go on.

Madhudviṣa: "Activities performed in knowledge strengthen one’s advancement in knowledge. Without Kṛṣṇa consciousness, mere renunciation of fruitive activities does not actually purify the heart of a conditioned soul. As long as the heart is not purified, one has to work on the fruitive platform. But action in Kṛṣṇa consciousness automatically helps one escape the result of fruitive action so that one need not descend to the material platform."

Prabhupāda: If you apply yourself in Kṛṣṇa consciousness activities, the nonsense activities automatically stop. Because you can act in one way. So if you work in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then your working in material consciousness will automatically stop. But if you simply try to stop material activities, if you have no engagement in spiritual activities, then you will have to come back again to the material world. But you cannot stop. You are active. You are living force.

It is impossible to stop. Just try to stop even an ant. It is going in a certain direction—just try to stop it. Oh, it will protest. Many times it will struggle, "Oh, I shall go this way. Why you are stopping? You are stopping." This is the . . . a child wants to take something; you try to stop it. Oh, she will cry, "I must have it." This is the symptom of life. How we can make . . . stop doing anything? It is not possible. You have to engage yourself in better activities. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Go on.

Madhudviṣa: "Therefore action in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is always superior to renunciation, which entails a risk of falling. Renunciation without Kṛṣṇa consciousness is incomplete, as is confirmed by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī in his Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu. To achieve liberation, renunciation of things which are related to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, though they are material, is called incomplete. Renunciation is complete when it is in the knowledge that everything in existence belongs to the Lord . . ."

Prabhupāda: This verse from Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu is very nice. Rūpa Gosvāmī says:

prāpañcikatayā buddhyā

Hari-sambandhi-vastunaḥ

mumukṣubhiḥ parityāgo

phalgu-vairāgyaṁ kathyate

(Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.2.256)

Just like the impersonalist philosophers, they are saying, "Well, this is material. I have no connection with this material thing." Prāpañcika. Prāpañcika means "material." So they are renouncing. But the Vaiṣṇava philosophy is that why should we renounce? It can be utilized for Kṛṣṇa. Just like this tape recorder, this microphone, this is material advantage. This tape recorder and microphone was discovered or manufactured not for utilizing for lecturing Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is a fact.

They manufactured it, the inventor, for some material purpose. But we are taking advantage of this. Although it was manufactured for serving some material purpose, but we are utilizing it for spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So that is the direction of the Gosvāmīs, that nothing should be renounced thinking it is material. Try to find out how it can be spiritually utilized. That is the technique. Everything we can utilize for Kṛṣṇa consciousness, but not for sense gratification. So this is the way. Go on.

Madhudviṣa: "One should understand that factually, nothing belongs to anyone. Then where is the question of renunciation?"

Prabhupāda: Yes. What you can renounce? What you have got? This is knowledge: what you have got? You haven’t got anything. Everything belongs to God. Even if your body, this body is not yours—it is given to you because you wanted to enjoy something materially, so God has given you a particular type of body to enjoy that. Actually, the body is not manufactured by you or given by your production. You cannot produce a body in the factory.

You can produce a huge airplane, but you cannot produce even the body of an ant. That is not possible. Therefore even your body is not yours, so what you can renounce? What is the meaning of renouncement? Suppose you are sitting here. You are invited to sit here and hear our lecture, and if while going away, if you say: "All right, I renounce this room to you," what is the meaning? When you possess this room that you are renouncing?

So there is no question of renouncing. The real knowledge is to see that everything belongs to God, it should be utilized for God’s purpose. That is renunciation. Nothing should be utilized for my sense gratification. That is renunciation. I renounce the attitude of my sense gratification. That is renunciation. And that is my real position. Suppose somebody wants to utilize this room. We are dancing.

Somebody comes, "All right, we shall utilize it for ball dancing. Please let us dance." So there will be trouble. We will say: "No we cannot allow you for ball dancing." Similarly, this temple should be utilized for the purpose for which it is established. Similarly God is supreme. He has created you for His enjoyment, just like a father takes the responsibility of the family.

A man marries and takes the responsibility of wife, children, family, household, car. Why so much responsibility? He could have lived alone without spending a farthing, but he has taken so much expenditure on his responsibility. Why? For his enjoyment. If the wife is nice, if the children are obedient, then he feels happy, "Oh, I have got good wife, I have got nice children. Let me work for them." And at the time of death he leaves huge property, happily. Similarly, if God has created, it is for His enjoyment.

So try to enhance His enjoyment. Don’t try to enjoy yourself. That is devotional service. That is your natural position for which you are meant. This finger is there to pick up some nice cake and put it in here. That is its duty. If the finger thinks, "Why shall I put it here? Let me enjoy," it cannot enjoy. Similarly, you are created for God’s enjoyment, not for your enjoyment. Try to understand.

This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Then your position is natural; you’re happy. As the finger is happy by putting the cake within the mouth, similarly, simply by serving Kṛṣṇa you will be happy. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is the real process of becoming happy. Don’t try to become happy otherwise—then you will be frustrated, you will be confused. Simple process. Go on.

Madhudviṣa: "One who knows that everything is Kṛṣṇa’s property is always situated in renunciation. Since everything belongs to Kṛṣṇa, everything should be employed in the service of Kṛṣṇa. This perfect form of action in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is far better than any amount of artificial renunciation."

Prabhupāda: Yes. Artificialness. What you can renounce? What you have got? Therefore any kind of renunciation is simply artificial, or false. You cannot renounce anything. After all, you have got this body. This body is also given by God, so what you have got to renounce? This is real understanding, that I cannot renounce because there is nothing which is belonging to me. Everything belongs to God; therefore it should be utilized for God, for Kṛṣṇa. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That’s all right. Thank you.

Devotees: Hare Kṛṣṇa. (offer obeisances)

Prabhupāda: Now any question? If it is not clear, try to understand by putting questions. You have got any question? You have got any question? Any question you have got? Thank you. And what is that question? Everything belongs to God. (laughs) Who can deny it? Who can claim that "It is mine"? This is māyā. Yes?

Devotee (2): You said that we were all life force . . . (indistinct) . . . how can we engage this life force in Kṛṣṇa if it is always being distracted by billboard signs and cars and women and so many things like that? How can you control this life force?

Prabhupāda: Simply by engaging in Kṛṣṇa consciousness activities. That’s all. Force . . . there is force. You utilize the force rightly. Just like this fire is a force. Now you can utilize it for purpose of illumination or cooking, so many ways, but if you put the fire on your cloth, that is not utilization—that is misuse. You can put this fire on your cloth, and you can die. The fire can do that. But that is not the utilization of this fire.

The real utilization of the fire, to take service from it for convenient purpose. Similarly, everything is Kṛṣṇa’s force. All these activities that is going on in this world, that is Kṛṣṇa’s force. That will come in the Seventh Chapter, how two forces are working—one material force and one spiritual force. The whole world is combination of these two forces.

So when the forces are utilized properly, that is working in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Otherwise it will burn your clothes and put you into death. That’s all. You must know how to utilize the force. Nirbandha-Kṛṣṇa -sambandhe yukta-vairāgyam ucyate (Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.2.255).

The force can be controlled in collaboration of service to Kṛṣṇa—then the force will be controlled. Otherwise the force will create disaster. Just like a powerful engine is working. So long as the driver is there, sense, with sense it is going on nicely.

And as soon as he is senseless, or nonsense, "Oh, it’s come . . ." immediately there is accident. Immediately. So force is there, sense is there, now you have to utilize it. That sense, proper utilization of sense, is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Then every force will be under control, and it will give you good effect.

Devotee (3): (indistinct) . . . take the attitude that . . . (indistinct) . . . engage their . . . (indistinct) . . . in the service of Kṛṣṇa . . . (indistinct)

Prabhupāda: First of all you must be expert how to utilize everything for Kṛṣṇa, then that is possible. Just like to play with fire, one must be very much expert how to use fire, energy. Electricity, just like it is an energy, one must be expert electrician how to utilize it; then the electricity can be utilized in so many ways, as is in your country everything is being utilized.

You are shaving also with electricity power, you are brushing you teeth with electricity power, (laughter) (laughs) you are sweeping the floor with electricity power. So you know . . . but in India, if this machines are given, they will be puzzled. You see? Therefore one must be expert how to utilize that force.

Actually the force should be utilized for Kṛṣṇa’s purpose—every force. Because the force is . . . just like another example, this cloud. What is this cloud? The cloud is a force from the ocean. Now there is torrents of rain, and it is reserved on the head of the mountain, and it comes like river and goes again to the ocean. Similarly, the same example can be utilized when there is torrents of rain and there is thunderbolt and everything. What is this?

This is simply action and reaction of the seawater and sunshine. That’s all. But ultimately the whole water is utilized to go back again to the sea. Is that not natural arrangement? The all water fall down, they are again going back to the sea and again coming back as cloud. Similarly, all forces. Janmādy asya yato (SB 1.1.1).

The Vedānta-sūtra says that the ultimate source of everything is the Absolute Truth, Kṛṣṇa. So everything is coming from Kṛṣṇa; therefore everything should go to Kṛṣṇa. That is natural. Simple thing. Nothing should go to anywhere. Just like the same water, all water is coming from the sea; it is going back again to the sea. This is natural.

So if it is a fact that all energy is coming from Kṛṣṇa, that why all energy should not be utilized for Kṛṣṇa? Is there any difficulty to understand? All energy, whatever energy you have got, utilize for Kṛṣṇa. Then your life will be successful. Just like we are trying to engage. What you know? "Oh, I know typewriting." All right, utilize for Kṛṣṇa. What you know? "Oh, I know painting." All right, utilize for Kṛṣṇa. What you know? "I know this electronics."

All right, utilize for Kṛṣṇa. That is our business. You know singing? All right, utilize for Kṛṣṇa. You know dancing? All right, utilize for Kṛṣṇa. You can write books? All right, utilize for Kṛṣṇa. You can write poetry? All right, utilize for Kṛṣṇa. What is there? This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Whatever you know, just try to utilize for Kṛṣṇa, and your life is perfect.

And how to utilize? Then you have to take the help of the association of the expert spiritual master. This is the way. Whatever energy you have got, you should know it is Kṛṣṇa’s energy. Therefore it should . . . must be. It must be utilized for Kṛṣṇa. It is trying to go to Kṛṣṇa, and checking it. Just like the river is going to the sea, natural course, but if you check it, there will be flood, inundation, devastation. Don’t check it. Let your energy go automatically to Kṛṣṇa. Then it is all right. And if you check it, there will be devastation.

So they are checking. Except this movement of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, any other spiritual movement or so-called spiritual realization, they are simply checking. Simply checking. Therefore there is devastation. Simply opposing, "Oh, why should I serve Kṛṣṇa?" Opposing. "I am Kṛṣṇa! I am God!" Simply opposing, that is unnatural way. So if you take it as religion, this is the only religion in the world.

sarva-dharmān parityajya

mām ekaṁśaraṇaṁ vraja

(BG 18.66)

What is religion? Just to utilize your energy for the supreme, that is religion. Anything beyond this, that is not religion. That is cheating. Anything that is not utilized for Kṛṣṇa, that is cheating. Just in an establishment, in an office, anything that is not utilized . . . take for example your government. Anything that is not utilized for the government aim and object, that is criminal. Just like in your country, the communist movement is criminal, but in other countries the communist movement is legal. Why?

It is not approved here by the government, therefore it is criminal. So anything which is not approved by Kṛṣṇa, that is criminal. Kṛṣṇa was instructing Arjuna to fight, and Arjuna thinking, "It is criminal." But later on, when Arjuna understood that to disobey the order of Kṛṣṇa is criminal, not the fighting, then he says, kariṣye vacanaṁ tava (BG 18.73),

"Yes, I shall fight." Why? In the beginning he thought that "this fighting is criminal," and he said: "I cannot do it." But when he understood to disobey the order of Kṛṣṇa is criminal, then he fought.

So we cannot manufacture what is criminal and what is lawful. We have to take direction from the higher authority, Kṛṣṇa and His representative. Then our life will be accordingly. Just like Arjuna could not decide, but when the direction came from Kṛṣṇa, it was all right.

Any other question? Hare Kṛṣṇa. Chant. (kīrtana) (end)