760405 - Lecture SB 07.09.50 - Vrndavana

Lectures by Date, 1976

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

760405SB-VRNDAVAN - April 05, 1976 - 26.27 Minutes

(Poor recording)

Anantarām Śāstrī:

kṛṣṇaika-cetā mada-moha-vināśa-kārin

kartā vrīḍa-hāsa kā prabhu prabhupāda-svāmin

kāmādi doṣā paradūṣita-manda-buddheḥ

sañcintayāmi caraṇau tava bhakti-hetoḥ

(Prabhupāda-stotram)

Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. (devotees repeat) Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.50. (chants word-for-word, then verse; devotees and Prabhupāda respond) (break)

tat te 'rhattama namaḥ stuti-karma-pūjāḥ

karma smṛtiś caraṇayoḥśravaṇaṁ kathāyām

saṁsevayā tvayi vineti ṣaḍ-aṅgayā kiṁ

bhaktiṁ janaḥ paramahaṁsa-gatau labheta

(SB 7.9.50)

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Translation: (02:58) "Therefore, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, the best of all persons to whom prayers are offered, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You because without rendering six kinds of devotional service unto You—namely without offering prayers, dedicating the results of activities to You, worshiping You, always remembering Your lotus feet and hearing and speaking about Your glories—who can achieve that which is meant for the paramahaṁsas?"

Prabhupāda: (taped from a distance, indistinct from this point)

tat te 'rhattama namaḥ stuti-karma-pūjāḥ

karma smṛtiś caraṇayoḥśravaṇaṁ kathāyām

saṁsevayā tvayi vineti ṣaḍ-aṅgayā kiṁ

bhaktiṁ janaḥ paramahaṁsa-gatau labheta

(SB 7.9.50)

So bhakti is under the control of paramahaṁsas. Bhakti is not available in the market, . . . (indistinct) . . . Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī has said that . . . (indistinct) . . . you can purchase. Eh? Kṛṣṇa-bhakti-rasa, rasa-bhāvitā matiḥ, krīyatāṁ yadi kuto 'pi labhyate, labh, labhyate. Kṛṣṇa-bhakti-rasa-bhāvitā matiḥ (CC Madhya 8.70). This is the exact translation of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. We have given this name Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The exact Sanskrit synonym is kṛṣṇa-bhakti-rasa-bhāvitā matiḥ. Matiḥ means . . . (indistinct) . . . We have taken this verse.

So we are distributing this. Anyone can purchase. Hmm? Rūpa Gosvāmi has advised, "Purchase and indulge." Therefore, as paupers, we are asking everybody, "Please purchase Kṛṣṇa consciousness." This is our business. We are also businessmen. These books, this is business. What is this business? "Please purchase Kṛṣṇa consciousness." They are seeing that we can act in business (child crying loudly in the background; Prabhupāda says something aside)

Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmi has advised that kṛṣṇa-bhakti-rasa-bhāvitā matiḥ. Krīyatāṁ. Again he advises everyone, "Please purchase kṛṣṇa-bhakti-rasa-bhāvitā matiḥ." The reference is . . . (indistinct) . . . that those who are actually eager to purchase, we are giving knowledge that "Here is Kṛṣṇa bhakti: kṛṣṇa-bhakti-rasa-bhāvitā matiḥ, here." There is no other . . . (indistinct) . . . than Kṛṣṇa bhakti. This is required.

So Krīyatāṁ. He has advised to purchase, but one must enquire what is the price? What is the price? I am interested to purchase, but what is the price? Here, price is here, ah, laulyam ekalaṁ api mūlyam. First of all, to purchase Kṛṣṇa consciousness, it does not require any pounds shillings pennies. It cannot be purchased by material money. Then, what? . . . (indistinct) . . . laulyam ekalaṁ api mūlyam (CC Madhya 8.70): I must have . . . (indistinct) . . . this is required.

If one is very, very eager, just like Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu taught us, śūnyāyitaṁ jagat sarvaṁ govinda-viraheṇa me (CC Antya 20.39): "I do not find Govinda, therefore the whole world is bare." This is the reaction. Yugāyitaṁ nimeṣeṇa cakṣuṣā prāvṛṣāyitaṁ (CC Antya 20.39). This is the price for purchasing Kṛṣṇa. We have got everything given by our ācāryas. Rūpa Gosvāmi says that you purchase, then you are . . . (indistinct) . . . and Caitanya Mahāprabhu . . . (indistinct) . . . this is . . . (indistinct) . . .

Yugāyitaṁ nimeṣeṇa, when you feel one moment as twelve years. One yuga means twelve years. Yugāyitaṁ nimeṣeṇa cakṣuṣā prāvṛṣāyitaṁ: and the eyes should be filled with tears. Just like in the rainy season, torrents and torrents of rain. Yugāyitaṁ nimeṣeṇa cakṣuṣā prāvṛṣāyitaṁ . . . (indistinct) . . . that Caitanya Mahāprabhu's . . . (indistinct) . . . that without Kṛṣṇa He is jumping on the sea. He has fallen in amongst the . . . (indistinct) . . . you have read Caitanya-caritāmṛta where Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja has explained.

So we . . . (indistinct) . . . in practical terms what is the price of Kṛṣṇa. That is the . . . (indistinct) . . . so therefore it is the . . . (indistinct) . . . I mean to say, paramahaṁsa-gatau labheta, gata—is . . . (indistinct) . . . from the paramahaṁsa. You have to serve, you have to purchase from the paramahaṁsas, not from the . . . (indistinct)

Therefore Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says, chāḍiyā vaiṣṇava-sevā nistāra pāyeche kebā, you have to serve the paramahaṁsa. Paramo nirmatsarāṇāṁ. Paramahaṁsa means paramo nirmatsarāṇāṁ. No, it does not mean . . . (indistinct) . . . those who are envious, . . . (indistinct) . . . gosvāmis, what to speak of paramahaṁsas. Kṛṣṇa is . . . (indistinct) . . . He will never find out any fault with anyone, anywhere. Paramahaṁsa, why they should find fault? This material world means they are under the influence of the material nature. Here everyone has got some difference of opinion, diseased condition. Diseased condition. Just like there are varieties of diseases, similarly, everyone is in the diseased condition by the modes of material nature. Prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ (BG 3.27).

So we are . . . (indistinct) . . . under the influence of material nature. You can say, "But that is not for me."

piśācī pāile yena mati-cchanna haya

māyā-grasta jīvera haya se bhāva udaya

(Prema-vivarta 1)

Just like a person ghostly-haunted, he speaks all nonsense. Similarly, anyone who is under the influence of the three qualities of material nature, he is as good as the person ghostly-haunted, grasta jīvera haya. We cannot see on our own account, because every one of us ghostly-haunted, I mean under the influence of the material nature. You see varieties of philosophers, varieties of scientists, anything, without . . . (indistinct) . . . varieties of material nature.

So we cannot expect a sane man, so why you should be angry upon a man, or why should you blame them? This is called Vaiṣṇava behavior. The Vaiṣṇava's only desire is that "These people are suffering under the influence of material nature, and they are talking all nonsense. What shall I save them? Why shall I condemn them? Let them pray to Kṛṣṇa, let them become sane and . . . (indistinct) . . ." This is Vaiṣṇava. It is just like the physician is treating patients, and one patient is . . . (indistinct) . . . but if the physician becomes angry upon the patient, then he cannot treat. Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has advised to the preacher,

tṛṇād api sunīcena

taror api sahiṣṇunā

amāninā mānadena

kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ

(CC Adi 17.31)

Just to become tolerant. People will break the rules . . . (indistinct) . . . under the influence of the material nature, and they will talk all kinds of nonsense. But we don't care, neither we complain. We never complain. That is called . . . (indistinct) . . . you have to follow the paramahaṁsas. Kṛṣṇa is the property of all. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura has sung, vaiṣṇava ṭhākura tomāra kukura baliyā jānaha more. Just like the dog follows the master to get something. The dog does not go to any master, but he follows his master, and the master out of affection gives him food and drink. So Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura has taught us that vaiṣṇava ṭhākura tomāra kukura baliyā jānaha more. You have to become a dog of a Vaiṣṇava. And Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says that chādiyā vaiṣṇava-sevā nistara paveche kebā: without serving the Vaiṣṇava, nobody can get out of the clutches of māyā. That is not possible.

Therefore we sing daily, guru-mukha-padma-vākya, cittete koriyā aikya, ār nā koriho mane (Sri Guru Vandana, Prema-bhakti-candrika). Because if you want to have Kṛṣṇa, then guru. Guru means he is coming through the paramparā system. Not self-made guru, but that guru, guru-mukha-padma . . . (indistinct) . . . under the influence of māyā. You cannot become paramahaṁsa by advertising. No, sir, that is not possible.

Guru-mukha-padma-vākya, cittete koriyā aikya. That is the formula, to follow the instruction of guru . . . (indistinct) . . . but because he is following the words of the perfect, he is perfect. This is . . . (indistinct) . . . we sing also, yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto 'pi (Sri Gurvastakam Verse 8). This is . . . (indistinct) . . . paramahaṁsa-gatau: you have to approach a Vaiṣṇava paramahaṁsa and follow his words and instructions; then you get the result. This is the process. Otherwise . . . (indistinct) . . . it can be purchased very easily, provided you have got the price as it is described in the śāstras:

tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet

samit-pāṇiḥ śrotriyaṁ brahma-niṣṭham

(MU 1.2.12)

Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥśreya uttamam (SB 11.3.21). Jijñāsuḥśreya. One should not approach guru for any material purpose. That is . . . (indistinct) . . . he is not eligible to select the guru, and he is not fit for becoming disciple. Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥśreya uttamam . . . (indistinct)

So, śābde pare ca niṣṇātaṁ brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam (SB 11.3.21). Guru means he is expert, well versed in transcendental science, literature. Then how it can be done, transcendental literature? It is very easy. That is the instruction of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. What is that transcendental literature? Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, yāre dekha, tāre kaha 'kṛṣṇa'-upadeśa (CC Madhya 7.128). Very simple. Simply you take Bhagavad-gītā, kṛṣṇa-upadeśa. That is transcendental. It is śābde pare ca niṣṇātaṁ (SB 11.3.21). One who has taken seriously, fully, śābde pare ca . . . śābda means sound. Bhagavad-gītā is also sound, but it is not ordinary sound.

If you take Bhagavad-gītā as ordinary sound and try to understand by your ordinarily, blunt . . . (indistinct) . . . it is transcendental literature. It cannot be understood by mundane education. Therefore all these rascals who are advertising that they are great scholar, great politicians, great students in this and that, these are not . . . because they want to understand Bhagavad-gītā by the mundane knowledge, mundane education. It is not possible.

Therefore we cannot. Śābde pare ca niṣṇātaṁ, brahmaṇy. Then brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam, the whole life is how to become completely fixed up in Brahman, the Supreme. That is called brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā, we are trying to be happy, peaceful. Everyone now . . . (indistinct) . . . how you'll get? The process you do not follow, brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam. So if he's fixed up in Brahman, then,

brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā

na śocati na kāṅkṣati

samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu

mad-bhaktiṁ labhate parām

(BG 18.54)

So if you get to the brahma-bhūtaḥstage, you must approach a person who is . . . (indistinct) . . . tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet, śābde pare ca niṣṇātaṁ (MU 11.2.12).

In Bhagavad-gītā . . . (indistinct)

tad viddhi praṇipātena

paripraśnena sevayā

upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ

jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ

(BG 4.34)

brahmeti paramātmeti

bhagavān iti śabdyate (SB 1.2.11)

Tattva-darśinaḥ means one who knows what is actually the truth.

vadanti tat tattva-vidas

tattvaṁ yaj jñānam advayam

brahmeti paramātmeti

bhagavān iti śabdyate

(SB 1.2.11)

That means one who is brahma-bhūtaḥ, one who understands the distinction between material knowledge and spiritual knowledge, you have to approach personally. Then you can understand Kṛṣṇa consciousness . . . (indistinct) . . . before becoming . . . (indistinct) . . . tatra laulyam ekalaṁ mūlam, na labhyate janma-koṭi-sukṛtair (CC Madhya 8.70). "Yes, I say the price is eagerness." So anyone can say, "Oh, that is . . . (indistinct) . . . yes, I shall do it." So Rūpa Gosvāmi immediately warns us, na labhyate janma-koṭi-sukṛtair: even after millions of births and millions of past pious activities, this eagerness cannot be. It is not easy. Don't take it as . . . (indistinct) . . . no, how . . . (indistinct) . . .? Therefore Rūpa Gosvāmi, he warns, "No, don't do that." Just like you are eager to buy something . . . (indistinct) . . . in the market, janma-koṭi-sukṛtair na labhyate, but it can be, immediately. This is Caitanya Mahāprabhu's favor, mercy. Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Lord Kṛṣṇa's mercy, immediately within a second. How?

sarva-dharmān parityajya

mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja

ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo

mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ

(BG 18.66)

When Caitanya Mahāprabhu recommended Jagāi and Mādhāi that "You give up your sinful activities . . . (indistinct) . . . immediately."

So we, if we are serious that to approach Kṛṣṇa and get Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and if we follow the instructions of Kṛṣṇa, Caitanya Mahāprabhu, we can become paramahaṁsa . . . (indistinct) . . . Kṛṣṇa, Caitanya Mahāprabhu, then life is successful. We can make Kṛṣṇa consciousness very easily; otherwise . . . (indistinct) . . . Otherwise, if you make a show . . . (indistinct) . . . nice favor . . . (indistinct) . . . no, it does not require. . . . (indistinct) . . . but eternally how to get the favor of the paramahaṁsas, then you will be successful. This is the secret.

Yasyātma-buddhiḥ tri-dhātuke kuṇape (SB 10.84.13). . . (indistinct) . . . in Bhagavad-gītā, vyavasāyātmikā buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana (BG 2.41), . . . (indistinct) . . . one who is eka . . . (indistinct) . . . there is no difference . . . (indistinct) . . . This is the way you have to find out the paramahaṁsas. If you . . . (indistinct) . . . sincerely, follow the . . . (indistinct) . . . then Kṛṣṇa consciousness will be very . . . (indistinct) . . . otherwise, ananta koti, . . . (indistinct) . . . after many, many births, pious lives, not cats' and dogs' lives . . . (indistinct) . . . therefore initiation means to train the candidate to become a perfect brāhmaṇa, Vaiṣṇava. Then you can become established in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and remain in your original position . . . (indistinct)

Thank you very much.

Devotees: Jaya! Haribol! (end)