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Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Having thus spoken, the great saint Devarsi Narada returned to his asrama, known as Narayana-asrama, and Nalakuvara and Manigriva became twin arjuna trees - SB 10.10.23

2025-01-04T19:22:46Z

NeilG:

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[[Category:Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 10 Chapter 10 - Deliverance of the Yamala-arjuna Trees]]
[[Category:Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10 Chapters 01 to 13 - All Verse Translations]]
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<h2>Srimad-Bhagavatam</h2>
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<h3>SB Canto 10.1 to 10.13</h3>
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Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Having thus spoken, the great saint Devarṣi Nārada returned to his āśrama, known as Nārāyaṇa-āśrama, and Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva became twin arjuna trees.
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[[Vanisource:SB 10.10.23|SB 10.10.23, Translation and Purport]]
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Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Having thus spoken, the great saint Devarṣi Nārada returned to his āśrama, known as Nārāyaṇa-āśrama, and Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva became twin arjuna trees.
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Arjuna trees are still found in many forests, and their skin is used by cardiologists to prepare medicine for heart trouble. This means that even though they are trees, they are disturbed when skinned for medical science.
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Once Narada became angry with the two sons of Kuvera, Nalakuvara and Manigriva, and he chastised them by turning them into trees. The result was that later they were liberated by Lord Sri Krsna

2025-01-04T19:22:07Z

NeilG:

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{{terms|"Once Narada became angry with the two sons of Kuvera, Nalakuvara and Manigriva, and he chastised them by turning them into trees. The result was that later they were liberated by Lord Sri Krsna"}}
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[[Category:Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 05 Chapter 10 Purports - The Discussion Between Jada Bharata and Maharaja Rahugana]]
[[Category:Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 05 Purports]]
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<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam" class="section" sec_index="1" parent="compilation" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam"><h2>Srimad-Bhagavatam</h2>
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<div id="SB_Canto_5" class="sub_section" sec_index="5" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 5"><h3>SB Canto 5</h3>
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<div id="SB5108_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_5" book="SB" index="232" link="SB 5.10.8" link_text="SB 5.10.8">
<div class="heading">Once Nārada became angry with the two sons of Kuvera, Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, and he chastised them by turning them into trees. The result was that later they were liberated by Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. The devotee is situated on the absolute platform, and when he is angry or pleased, there is no difference, for in either case he bestows his benediction.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 5.10.8|SB 5.10.8, Translation and Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">Thinking himself a king, King Rahūgaṇa was in the bodily conception and was influenced by material nature's modes of passion and ignorance. Due to madness, he chastised Jaḍa Bharata with uncalled-for and contradictory words. Jaḍa Bharata was a topmost devotee and the dear abode of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although considering himself very learned, the King did not know about the position of an advanced devotee situated in devotional service, nor did he know his characteristics. Jaḍa Bharata was the residence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; he always carried the form of the Lord within his heart. He was the dear friend of all living beings, and he did not entertain any bodily conception. He therefore smiled and spoke the following words.</p>
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<div class="purport text"><p>The distinction between a person in the bodily conception and a person beyond the bodily conception is presented in this verse. In the bodily conception, King Rahūgaṇa considered himself a king and chastised Jaḍa Bharata in so many unwanted ways. Being self-realized, Jaḍa Bharata, who was fully situated on the transcendental platform, did not at all become angry; instead, he smiled and began to deliver his teachings to King Rahūgaṇa. A highly advanced Vaiṣṇava devotee is a friend to all living entities, and consequently he is a friend to his enemies also. In fact, he does not consider anyone to be his enemy. Suhṛdaḥ sarva-dehinām ([[Vanisource:SB 3.25.21|SB 3.25.21]]). Sometimes a Vaiṣṇava becomes superficially angry at a nondevotee, but this is good for the nondevotee. We have several examples of this in Vedic literature. Once Nārada became angry with the two sons of Kuvera, Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, and he chastised them by turning them into trees. The result was that later they were liberated by Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. The devotee is situated on the absolute platform, and when he is angry or pleased, there is no difference, for in either case he bestows his benediction.</p>
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By the curse of Narada Muni, Nalakuvara and Manigriva became twin arjuna trees and remained in the courtyard of mother Yasoda and Nanda Maharaja

2025-01-04T19:19:41Z

NeilG:

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<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam" class="section" sec_index="1" parent="compilation" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam"><h2>Srimad-Bhagavatam</h2>
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<div id="SB_Canto_3" class="sub_section" sec_index="3" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 3"><h3>SB Canto 3</h3>
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<div id="SB3545_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_3" book="SB" index="188" link="SB 3.5.45" link_text="SB 3.5.45">
<div class="heading">The offenders Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, even though living amongst the demigods, had to undergo the punishment of becoming trees in their next lives, although by the grace of a devotee they were later delivered by the Lord.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 3.5.45|SB 3.5.45, Translation and Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">O great Supreme Lord, offensive persons whose internal vision has been too affected by external materialistic activities cannot see Your lotus feet, but they are seen by Your pure devotees, whose one and only aim is to transcendentally enjoy Your activities.</p>
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<div class="purport text"><p>As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (18.61), the Lord is situated in everyone's heart. It is natural that one should he able to see the Lord at least within himself. But that is not possible for those whose internal vision has been covered by external activities. The pure soul, which is symptomized by consciousness, can be easily perceived even by a common man because consciousness is spread all over the body. The yoga system as recommended in Bhagavad-gītā is to concentrate the mental activities internally and thus see the lotus feet of the Lord within oneself. But there are many so-called yogīs who have no concern with the Lord but are only concerned with consciousness, which they accept as the final realization. Such realization of consciousness is taught by Bhagavad-gītā within only a few minutes, whereas the so-called yogīs take continuous years to realize it because of their offenses at the lotus feet of the Lord. The greatest offense is to deny the existence of the Lord as separate from the individual souls or to accept the Lord and the individual soul as one and the same. The impersonalists misinterpret the theory of reflection, and thus they wrongly accept the individual consciousness as the supreme consciousness.</p>
<p>The theory of the reflection of the Supreme can be clearly understood without difficulty by any sincere common man. When there is a reflection of the sky on the water, both the sky and the stars are seen within the water, but it is understood that the sky and the stars are not to be accepted on the same level. The stars are parts of the sky, and therefore they cannot be equal to the whole. The sky is the whole, and the stars are parts. They cannot be one and the same. Transcendentalists who do not accept the supreme consciousness as separate from the individual consciousness are as offensive as the materialists who deny even the existence of the Lord.</p>
<p>Such offenders cannot actually see the lotus feet of the Lord within themselves, nor are they even able to see the devotees of the Lord. The devotees of the Lord are so kind that they roam to all places to enlighten people in God consciousness. The offenders, however, lose the chance to receive the Lord's devotees, although the offenseless common man is at once influenced by the devotees' presence. In this connection there is an interesting story of a hunter and Devarṣi Nārada. A hunter in the forest, although a great sinner, was not an intentional offender. He was at once influenced by the presence of Nārada, and he agreed to take the path of devotion, leaving aside his hearth and home. But the offenders Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, even though living amongst the demigods, had to undergo the punishment of becoming trees in their next lives, although by the grace of a devotee they were later delivered by the Lord. Offenders have to wait until they receive the mercy of devotees, and then they can become eligible to see the lotus feet of the Lord within themselves. But due to their offenses and their extreme materialism, they cannot see even the devotees of the Lord. Engaged in external activities, they kill the internal vision. The Lord's devotees, however, do not mind the offenses of the foolish in their many gross and subtle bodily endeavors. The Lord's devotees continue to bestow the blessings of devotion upon all such offenders without hesitation. That is the nature of devotees.</p>
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<div id="SB_Canto_5" class="sub_section" sec_index="5" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 5"><h3>SB Canto 5</h3>
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<div id="SB5108_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_5" book="SB" index="232" link="SB 5.10.8" link_text="SB 5.10.8">
<div class="heading">Once Nārada became angry with the two sons of Kuvera, Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, and he chastised them by turning them into trees. The result was that later they were liberated by Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 5.10.8|SB 5.10.8, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Sometimes a Vaiṣṇava becomes superficially angry at a nondevotee, but this is good for the nondevotee. We have several examples of this in Vedic literature. Once Nārada became angry with the two sons of Kuvera, Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, and he chastised them by turning them into trees. The result was that later they were liberated by Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. The devotee is situated on the absolute platform, and when he is angry or pleased, there is no difference, for in either case he bestows his benediction.</p>
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<div id="SB_Canto_101_to_1013" class="sub_section" sec_index="10" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 10.1 to 10.13"><h3>SB Canto 10.1 to 10.13</h3>
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<div id="SB109Summary_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_10.1_to_10.13" book="SB" index="344" link="SB 10.9 Summary" link_text="SB 10.9 Summary">
<div class="heading">After mother Yaśodā bound Kṛṣṇa and became engaged in other household affairs, Kṛṣṇa observed two yamala-arjuna trees, which were actually Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, two sons of Kuvera who had been condemned by Nārada Muni to become trees.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 10.9 Summary|SB 10.9 Summary]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">One day, the maidservants being engaged in other work, mother Yaśodā was churning the yogurt into butter herself, and in the meantime Kṛṣṇa came and requested her to allow Him to suck her breast milk. Of course, mother Yaśodā immediately allowed Him to do so, but then she saw that the hot milk on the oven was boiling over, and therefore she immediately stopped allowing Kṛṣṇa to drink the milk of her breast and went to stop the milk on the oven from overflowing. Kṛṣṇa, however, having been interrupted in His business of sucking the breast, was very angry. He took a piece of stone, broke the churning pot and entered a room, where He began to eat the freshly churned butter. When mother Yaśodā, after attending to the overflowing milk, returned and saw the pot broken, she could understand that this was the work of Kṛṣṇa, and therefore she went to search for Him. When she entered the room, she saw Kṛṣṇa standing on the ulūkhala, a large mortar for grinding spices. Having turned the mortar upside down, He was stealing butter hanging from a swing and was distributing the butter to the monkeys. As soon as Kṛṣṇa saw that His mother had come, He immediately began to run away, and mother Yaśodā began to follow Him. After going some distance, mother Yaśodā was able to catch Kṛṣṇa, who because of His offense was crying. Mother Yaśodā, of course, threatened to punish Kṛṣṇa if He acted that way again, and she decided to bind Him with rope. Unfortunately, when the time came to knot the rope, the rope with which she wanted to bind Him was short by a distance equal to the width of two fingers. When she made the rope longer by adding another rope, she again saw that it was short by two fingers. Again and again she tried, and again and again she found the rope too short by two fingers. Thus she became very tired, and Kṛṣṇa, seeing His affectionate mother so tired, allowed Himself to be bound. Now, being compassionate, He did not show her His unlimited potency. After mother Yaśodā bound Kṛṣṇa and became engaged in other household affairs, Kṛṣṇa observed two yamala-arjuna trees, which were actually Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, two sons of Kuvera who had been condemned by Nārada Muni to become trees. Kṛṣṇa, by His mercy, now began to proceed toward the trees to fulfill the desire of Nārada Muni.</p>
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<div id="SB10923_1" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_10.1_to_10.13" book="SB" index="365" link="SB 10.9.23" link_text="SB 10.9.23">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 10.9.23|SB 10.9.23, Translation]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">In their former birth, these two sons, known as Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, were extremely opulent and fortunate. But because of pride and false prestige, they did not care about anyone, and thus Nārada Muni cursed them to become trees.</p>
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</div>
<div id="SB1010Summary_2" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_10.1_to_10.13" book="SB" index="366" link="SB 10.10 Summary" link_text="SB 10.10 Summary">
<div class="heading">Lord Kṛṣṇa, by the desire of His devotee, uprooted these yamala-arjuna trees, and when Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva were thus delivered by Kṛṣṇa after one hundred years of the devas, their old consciousness revived, and they offered Kṛṣṇa prayers suitable to be offered by demigods.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 10.10 Summary|SB 10.10 Summary]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva were great devotees of Lord Śiva, but because of material opulence they became so extravagant and senseless that one day they were enjoying with naked girls in a lake and shamelessly walking here and there. Suddenly Nārada Muni passed by, but they were so maddened by their wealth and false prestige that even though they saw Nārada Muni present, they remained naked and were not even ashamed. In other words, because of opulence and false prestige, they lost their sense of common decency. Of course, it is the nature of the material qualities that when one becomes very much opulent in terms of wealth and a prestigious position, one loses one's sense of etiquette and does not care about anyone, even a sage like Nārada Muni. For such bewildered persons (ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā), who especially deride devotees, the proper punishment is to be again stricken with poverty. The Vedic rules and regulations prescribe how to control the false sense of prestige by the practice of yama, niyama and so on (tapasā brahmacaryeṇa śamena ca damena ca ([[Vanisource:SB 6.1.13-14|SB 6.1.13]])). A poor man can be convinced very easily that the prestige of an opulent position in this material world is temporary, but a rich man cannot. Therefore Nārada Muni set an example by cursing these two persons, Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, to become dull and unconscious like trees. This was a fit punishment. But because Kṛṣṇa is always merciful, even though they were punished they were fortunate enough to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face. Therefore the punishment given by Vaiṣṇavas is not at all punishment; rather, it is another kind of mercy. By the curse of the devarṣi, Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva became twin arjuna trees and remained in the courtyard of mother Yaśodā and Nanda Mahārāja, waiting for the opportunity to see Kṛṣṇa directly. Lord Kṛṣṇa, by the desire of His devotee, uprooted these yamala-arjuna trees, and when Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva were thus delivered by Kṛṣṇa after one hundred years of the devas, their old consciousness revived, and they offered Kṛṣṇa prayers suitable to be offered by demigods. Having thus gotten the opportunity to see Kṛṣṇa face to face, they understood how merciful Nārada Muni was, and therefore they expressed their indebtedness to him and thanked him. Then, after circumambulating the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, they departed for their respective abodes.</p>
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</div>
<div id="SB10107_3" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_10.1_to_10.13" book="SB" index="372" link="SB 10.10.7" link_text="SB 10.10.7">
<div class="heading">Although in the beginning Nārada Muni appeared very angry and cursed them, at the end the two demigods Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva were able to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, face to face.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 10.10.7|SB 10.10.7, Translation and Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">Seeing the two sons of the demigods naked and intoxicated by opulence and false prestige, Devarṣi Nārada, in order to show them special mercy, desired to give them a special curse. Thus he spoke as follows.</p>
</div>
<div class="purport text"><p>Although in the beginning Nārada Muni appeared very angry and cursed them, at the end the two demigods Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva were able to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, face to face. Thus the curse was ultimately auspicious and brilliant. One has to judge what kind of curse Nārada placed upon them. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura gives herein a good example. When a father finds his child deeply asleep but the child has to take some medicine to cure some disease, the father pinches the child so that the child will get up and take the medicine. In a similar way, Nārada Muni cursed Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva in order to cure their disease of material blindness.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB10108_4" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_10.1_to_10.13" book="SB" index="373" link="SB 10.10.8" link_text="SB 10.10.8">
<div class="heading">In the mode of passion, when one is falsely proud of wealth, one engages his wealth only for three things, namely wine, women and gambling.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 10.10.8|SB 10.10.8, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">In the mode of passion, when one is falsely proud of wealth, one engages his wealth only for three things, namely wine, women and gambling. We can actually see, especially in this age, that those who have unnecessary riches simply try to enjoy these three things. In Western civilization, these three things are very prominent because of an unnecessary increase of wealth. Nārada Muni considered all this in the case of Maṇigrīva and Nalakūvara because he found in them so much pride in the wealth of their father, Kuvera.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB101013_5" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_10.1_to_10.13" book="SB" index="378" link="SB 10.10.13" link_text="SB 10.10.13">
<div class="heading">The living entities are promoted and degraded by the laws of nature, but if one is very, very fortunate, by association with saintly persons he gets the seed of devotional service, and his life becomes successful.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 10.10.13|SB 10.10.13, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">The living entities are promoted and degraded by the laws of nature, but if one is very, very fortunate, by association with saintly persons he gets the seed of devotional service, and his life becomes successful. Nārada Muni wanted to bring Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva to the platform of devotional service through poverty, and thus he cursed them. Such is the mercy of a Vaiṣṇava. Unless one is brought to the Vaiṣṇava platform, one cannot be a good man.</p>
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<div id="SB10102022_6" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_10.1_to_10.13" book="SB" index="385" link="SB 10.10.20-22" link_text="SB 10.10.20-22">
<div class="heading">Nārada Muni wanted the consciousness of Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva to continue, so that even after being released from the life of trees, they would not forget the circumstances under which they had been punished.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 10.10.20-22|SB 10.10.20-22, Translation and Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">These two young men, Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, are by fortune the sons of the great demigod Kuvera, but because of false prestige and madness after drinking liquor, they are so fallen that they are naked but cannot understand that they are. Therefore, because they are living like trees (for trees are naked but are not conscious), these two young men should receive the bodies of trees. This will be proper punishment. Nonetheless, after they become trees and until they are released, by my mercy they will have remembrance of their past sinful activities. Moreover, by my special favor, after the expiry of one hundred years by the measurement of the demigods, they will be able to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva, face to face, and thus revive their real position as devotees.</p>
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<div class="purport text"><p>A tree has no consciousness: when cut, it feels no pain. But Nārada Muni wanted the consciousness of Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva to continue, so that even after being released from the life of trees, they would not forget the circumstances under which they had been punished. Therefore, to bestow upon them special favor, Nārada Muni arranged things in such a way that after being released, they would be able to see Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana and thus revive their dormant bhakti.</p>
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<div id="SB101024_7" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_10.1_to_10.13" book="SB" index="387" link="SB 10.10.24" link_text="SB 10.10.24">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 10.10.24|SB 10.10.24, Translation]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, to fulfill the truthfulness of the words of the greatest devotee, Nārada, slowly went to that spot where the twin arjuna trees were standing.</p>
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<div id="SB101025_8" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_10.1_to_10.13" book="SB" index="388" link="SB 10.10.25" link_text="SB 10.10.25">
<div class="heading">Because Nārada Muni desired that Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva see Vāsudeva face to face, the Supreme Personality of Godhead wanted to fulfill the words of His very dear devotee Nārada Muni.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 10.10.25|SB 10.10.25, Translation and Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">"Although these two young men are the sons of the very rich Kuvera and I have nothing to do with them, Devarṣi Nārada is My very dear and affectionate devotee, and therefore because he wanted Me to come face to face with them, I must do so for their deliverance."</p>
</div>
<div class="purport text"><p>Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva actually had nothing to do with devotional service or seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face, for this is not an ordinary opportunity. It is not that because one is very rich or learned or was born in an aristocratic family one will be able to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face. This is impossible. But in this case, because Nārada Muni desired that Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva see Vāsudeva face to face, the Supreme Personality of Godhead wanted to fulfill the words of His very dear devotee Nārada Muni. If one seeks the favor of a devotee instead of directly asking favors from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one is very easily successful. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura has therefore recommended: vaiṣṇava ṭhākura tomāra kukkura bhuliyā jānaha more, kṛṣṇa se tomāra kṛṣṇa dite pāra. One should desire to become like a dog in strictly following a devotee. Kṛṣṇa is in the hand of a devotee. Adurlabham ātma-bhaktau. Thus without the favor of a devotee, one cannot directly approach Kṛṣṇa, what to speak of engaging in His service. Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura therefore sings, chāḍiyā vaiṣṇava-sevā nistāra pāyeche kebā: unless one becomes a servant of a pure devotee, one cannot be delivered from the material condition of life. In our Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava society, following in the footsteps of Rūpa Gosvāmī, our first business is to seek shelter of a bona fide spiritual master (ādau gurv-āśrayaḥ).</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB101026_9" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_10.1_to_10.13" book="SB" index="389" link="SB 10.10.26" link_text="SB 10.10.26">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 10.10.26|SB 10.10.26, Translation]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">Having thus spoken, Kṛṣṇa soon entered between the two arjuna trees, and thus the big mortar to which He was bound turned crosswise and stuck between them.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB101027_10" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_10.1_to_10.13" book="SB" index="390" link="SB 10.10.27" link_text="SB 10.10.27">
<div class="heading">By the great strength of the Supreme Person, the two trees, with their trunks, leaves and branches, trembled severely and fell to the ground with a great crash.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 10.10.27|SB 10.10.27, Translation and Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">By dragging behind Him with great force the wooden mortar tied to His belly, the boy Kṛṣṇa uprooted the two trees. By the great strength of the Supreme Person, the two trees, with their trunks, leaves and branches, trembled severely and fell to the ground with a great crash.</p>
</div>
<div class="purport text"><p>This is the pastime of Kṛṣṇa known as dāmodara-līlā. Therefore another of Kṛṣṇa's names is Dāmodara.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB101029_11" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_10.1_to_10.13" book="SB" index="392" link="SB 10.10.29" link_text="SB 10.10.29">
<div class="heading">The two demigods Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, because of their continuing memory, could understand the supremacy of Kṛṣṇa by the grace of Nārada.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 10.10.29|SB 10.10.29, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">The two demigods Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, because of their continuing memory, could understand the supremacy of Kṛṣṇa by the grace of Nārada. Now they admitted, "That we should be delivered by the blessings of Nārada Muni was all Your plan. Therefore You are the supreme mystic. Everything—past, present and future—is known to You. Your plan was made so nicely that although we stayed here as twin arjuna trees, You have appeared as a small boy to deliver us. This was all Your inconceivable arrangement. Because You are the Supreme Person, You can do everything."</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB101042_12" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_10.1_to_10.13" book="SB" index="403" link="SB 10.10.42" link_text="SB 10.10.42">
<div class="heading">The highest perfection of life is to come to the platform of devotional service and always engage in devotional activities.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 10.10.42|SB 10.10.42, Translation and Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">O Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, now you may both return home. Since you desire to be always absorbed in My devotional service, your desire to develop love and affection for Me will be fulfilled, and now you will never fall from that platform.</p>
</div>
<div class="purport text"><p>The highest perfection of life is to come to the platform of devotional service and always engage in devotional activities. Understanding this, Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva desired to attain that platform, and the Supreme Personality of Godhead blessed them with the fulfillment of their transcendental desire.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Other_Books_by_Srila_Prabhupada" class="section" sec_index="3" parent="compilation" text="Other Books by Srila Prabhupada"><h2>Other Books by Srila Prabhupada</h2>
</div>
<div id="Nectar_of_Devotion" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Other_Books_by_Srila_Prabhupada" text="Nectar of Devotion"><h3>Nectar of Devotion</h3>
</div>
<div id="NOD4_0" class="quote" parent="Nectar_of_Devotion" book="OB" index="13" link="NOD 4" link_text="Nectar of Devotion 4">
<div class="heading">Lord Dāmodara, in order to fulfill the desire of Nārada, dragged the grinding mortar to which He was tied and struck the two trees, violently causing them to fall down. From out of these fallen trees came Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, who had by then become great devotees of the Lord.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:NOD 4|Nectar of Devotion 4]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">"My dear Lord Dāmodara, once when You were playing as a naughty boy in the house of Nanda Mahārāja, You broke the box containing yogurt, and because of that, mother Yaśodā considered You an offender and tied You with rope to the household grinding mortar. At that time You delivered two sons of Kuvera, Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, who were staying there as two arjuna trees in the yard of Nanda Mahārāja. My only request is that by Your merciful pastimes You may similarly deliver me."</p>
<p>The story behind this verse is that the two sons of Kuvera (the treasurer of the demigods) were puffed up on account of the opulence of their father, and so once on a heavenly planet they were enjoying themselves in a lake with some naked damsels of heaven. At that time the great saint Nārada Muni was passing on the road and was sorry to see the behavior of the sons of Kuvera. Seeing Nārada passing by, the damsels of heaven covered their bodies with cloth, but the two sons, being drunkards, did not have this decency. Nārada became angry with their behavior and cursed them thus: "You have no sense, so it is better if you become trees instead of the sons of Kuvera." Upon hearing this, the boys came to their senses and begged Nārada to be pardoned for their offenses. Nārada then said, "Yes, you shall become trees, arjuna trees, and you will stand in the courtyard of Nanda Mahārāja. But Kṛṣṇa Himself will appear in time as the foster son of Nanda, and He will deliver you." In other words, the curse of Nārada was a benediction to the sons of Kuvera because indirectly it was foretold that they would be able to receive the favor of Lord Kṛṣṇa. After that, Kuvera's two sons stood as two big arjuna trees in the courtyard of Nanda Mahārāja until Lord Dāmodara, in order to fulfill the desire of Nārada, dragged the grinding mortar to which He was tied and struck the two trees, violently causing them to fall down. From out of these fallen trees came Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, who had by then become great devotees of the Lord.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Krsna_The_Supreme_Personality_of_Godhead" class="sub_section" sec_index="4" parent="Other_Books_by_Srila_Prabhupada" text="Krsna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead"><h3>Krsna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead</h3>
</div>
<div id="KB9_0" class="quote" parent="Krsna,_The_Supreme_Personality_of_Godhead" book="OB" index="13" link="KB 9" link_text="Krsna Book 9">
<div class="heading">The great reservoir of pleasure, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, thus thought to Himself, “Mother Yaśodā first of all left without feeding Me sufficient milk, and therefore I broke the pot of yogurt and distributed the stock butter in charity to the monkeys. Now she has bound Me up to a wooden mortar. So I shall do something more mischievous than before.” And thus He thought of pulling down the two very tall arjuna trees.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:KB 9|Krsna Book 9]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">After binding her son, mother Yaśodā engaged herself in household affairs. At that time, bound up to the wooden mortar, Kṛṣṇa could see a pair of trees before Him which were known as arjuna trees. The great reservoir of pleasure, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, thus thought to Himself, "Mother Yaśodā first of all left without feeding Me sufficient milk, and therefore I broke the pot of yogurt and distributed the stock butter in charity to the monkeys. Now she has bound Me up to a wooden mortar. So I shall do something more mischievous than before." And thus He thought of pulling down the two very tall arjuna trees.</p>
<p>There is a history behind the pair of arjuna trees. In their previous lives, the trees were born as the human sons of Kuvera, and their names were Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva. Fortunately, they came within the vision of the Lord. In their previous lives they were cursed by the great sage Nārada in order to receive the highest benediction of seeing Lord Kṛṣṇa. This benediction-curse was bestowed upon them because of their forgetfulness due to intoxication.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="KB10_1" class="quote" parent="Krsna,_The_Supreme_Personality_of_Godhead" book="OB" index="14" link="KB 10" link_text="Krsna Book 10">
<div class="heading">The two great demigods Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva were sons of the treasurer of the demigods, Kuvera, who was a great devotee of Lord Śiva.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:KB 10|Krsna Book 10]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">The story of the cursing of Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva and their deliverance by Kṛṣṇa, under the all-blissful desire of the great sage Nārada, is here described.</p>
<p>The two great demigods Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva were sons of the treasurer of the demigods, Kuvera, who was a great devotee of Lord Śiva. By the grace of Lord Śiva, Kuvera's material opulences had no limit. As a rich man's sons often become addicted to wine and women, so these two sons of Kuvera were also addicted to wine and sex. Once, these two demigods, desiring to enjoy, entered the garden of Lord Śiva in the province of Kailāsa on the bank of the Mandākinī Ganges. There they drank much and engaged in hearing the sweet singing of the beautiful women who accompanied them in that garden of fragrant flowers. In an intoxicated condition, the two demigods entered the water of the Ganges, which was filled with lotus flowers, and there they began to enjoy the company of the young girls exactly as a male elephant enjoys female elephants within the water.</p>
<p>While they were thus enjoying themselves in the water, all of a sudden Nārada, the great sage, happened to pass that way. He could understand that the demigods Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva were too much intoxicated and could not even see that he was passing. The young girls, however, were not so much intoxicated as the demigods, and they at once became ashamed at being naked before the great sage Nārada. They began to cover themselves with all haste. The two demigod sons of Kuvera were so much intoxicated that they could not appreciate the presence of the sage Nārada and therefore did not cover their bodies. On seeing the two demigods so degraded by intoxication, Nārada desired their welfare, and therefore he exhibited his causeless mercy upon them by cursing them.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="KB10_2" class="quote" parent="Krsna,_The_Supreme_Personality_of_Godhead" book="OB" index="14" link="KB 10" link_text="Krsna Book 10">
<div class="heading">He great sage Nārada considered that because the demigods Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva were so infatuated by false prestige, they should be put into a condition of life devoid of opulence.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:KB 10|Krsna Book 10]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">When a man is infatuated with the false prestige of opulence, he does not care for any moral instruction but indulges in wine, women and animal-killing. In such circumstances, a poverty-stricken man is often better situated because a poor man thinks of himself in relation to other bodies. A poor man often does not wish to inflict injuries upon other bodies because he can understand more readily that when he himself is injured he feels pain. Therefore, the great sage Nārada considered that because the demigods Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva were so infatuated by false prestige, they should be put into a condition of life devoid of opulence.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="KB10_3" class="quote" parent="Krsna,_The_Supreme_Personality_of_Godhead" book="OB" index="14" link="KB 10" link_text="Krsna Book 10">
<div class="heading">Kuvera was the treasurer of the demigods, a very responsible man, and Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva were two of his sons. And yet they became so animalistic and irresponsible that they could not understand, due to intoxication, that they were naked.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:KB 10|Krsna Book 10]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">The great sage Nārada thereafter thought that it was his duty to put those demigods into a condition where they could not be falsely proud of their material opulence and prestige. Nārada was compassionate and wanted to save them from their fallen life. They were in the mode of darkness, and being therefore unable to control their senses, they were addicted to sex life. It was the duty of a saintly person like Nārada to save them from their abominable condition. In animal life, the animal has no sense to understand that he is naked. But Kuvera was the treasurer of the demigods, a very responsible man, and Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva were two of his sons. And yet they became so animalistic and irresponsible that they could not understand, due to intoxication, that they were naked. To cover the lower part of the body is a principle of human civilization, and when men or women forget this principle, they become no better than animals.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="KB10_4" class="quote" parent="Krsna,_The_Supreme_Personality_of_Godhead" book="OB" index="14" link="KB 10" link_text="Krsna Book 10">
<div class="heading">After changing the body, a living entity generally forgets his previous life, but in special cases, by the grace of the Lord, as with Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, one can remember.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:KB 10|Krsna Book 10]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Although trees are covered by the mode of ignorance, they cannot do harm. The great sage Nārada thought it fitting that, although the brothers would be punished to become trees, by his mercy they would continue to keep their memory and be able to know why they were being punished. After changing the body, a living entity generally forgets his previous life, but in special cases, by the grace of the Lord, as with Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, one can remember.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="KB10_5" class="quote" parent="Krsna,_The_Supreme_Personality_of_Godhead" book="OB" index="14" link="KB 10" link_text="Krsna Book 10">
<div class="heading">O Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, your lives have now become successful because you have developed ecstatic love for Me.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:KB 10|Krsna Book 10]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">When the demigods Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva finished their prayers, the child, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the master and proprietor of Gokula, bound to the wooden grinding mortar by the ropes of Yaśodā, smiled and said, "It was already known to Me that My great devotee Nārada Muni had shown his causeless mercy by saving you from the abominable condition of pride due to possessing extraordinary beauty and opulence in a family of demigods. He has saved you from gliding down into the lowest condition of hellish life. All these facts are already known to Me. You are very fortunate because not only were you cursed by him, but you had the great opportunity to see him. If someone is able, by chance, to see face to face a great saintly person like Nārada, who is always serene and merciful to everyone, then immediately that conditioned soul becomes liberated. This is exactly like being situated in the full light of the sun: there cannot be any visionary impediment. Therefore, O Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, your lives have now become successful because you have developed ecstatic love for Me. This is your last birth within material existence. Now you can go back to your father's residence in the heavenly planets, and by remaining in the attitude of devotional service, you will be liberated in this very life."</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="section" sec_index="5" parent="compilation" text="Conversations and Morning Walks"><h2>Conversations and Morning Walks</h2>
</div>
<div id="1974_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="7" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1974 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1974 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="MorningWalkApril141974Bombay_0" class="quote" parent="1974_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="63" link="Morning Walk -- April 14, 1974, Bombay" link_text="Morning Walk -- April 14, 1974, Bombay">
<div class="heading">Nārada considered that because the demigods Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva were so infatuated by false prestige, they should be put in a condition of life devoid of opulence.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- April 14, 1974, Bombay|Morning Walk -- April 14, 1974, Bombay]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: ...Nārada, but still they are sinful. Such a great personality like Nārada, they had seen, but still they are sinful. Go on.</p>
<p>Girirāja: "As such, the great sage Nārada considered that because the demigods Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva were so infatuated by false prestige, they should be put in a condition of life devoid of opulence." (break)</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>

By inducing a prostitute to disturb Haridasa Thakura, Ramacandra Khan caused a seed of offense at his lotus feet to germinate. This seed later became a tree, and when it fructified, Ramacandra Khan ate its fruits

2025-01-04T19:18:31Z

NeilG:

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[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - 62 Chapters]]
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<div id="section">
<h2>Sri Caitanya-caritamrta</h2>
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<div id="sub_section">
<h3>CC Antya-lila</h3>
</div>
<div class="quote">
<div class="quote_heading">
By inducing a prostitute to disturb Haridāsa Ṭhākura, Rāmacandra Khān caused a seed of offense at his lotus feet to germinate. This seed later became a tree, and when it fructified, Rāmacandra Khān ate its fruits.
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<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:CC Antya 3.144|CC Antya 3.144, Translation]]
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<div class="quote_translation">
By inducing a prostitute to disturb Haridāsa Ṭhākura, Rāmacandra Khān caused a seed of offense at his lotus feet to germinate. This seed later became a tree, and when it fructified, Rāmacandra Khān ate its fruits.
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</div>

Although you fell from the higher planet Svargaloka and became trees, you were most favored by him. I knew of all these incidents from the very beginning

2025-01-04T19:17:31Z

NeilG:

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<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam" class="section" sec_index="1" parent="compilation" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam"><h2>Srimad-Bhagavatam</h2>
</div>
<div id="SB_Canto_101_to_1013" class="sub_section" sec_index="10" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 10.1 to 10.13"><h3>SB Canto 10.1 to 10.13</h3>
</div>
<div id="SB101040_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_10.1_to_10.13" book="SB" index="401" link="SB 10.10.40" link_text="SB 10.10.40">
<div class="heading">The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: The great saint Nārada Muni is very merciful. By his curse, he showed the greatest favor to both of you, who were mad after material opulence and who had thus become blind. Although you fell from the higher planet Svargaloka and became trees, you were most favored by him. I knew of all these incidents from the very beginning.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 10.10.40|SB 10.10.40, Translation and Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: The great saint Nārada Muni is very merciful. By his curse, he showed the greatest favor to both of you, who were mad after material opulence and who had thus become blind. Although you fell from the higher planet Svargaloka and became trees, you were most favored by him. I knew of all these incidents from the very beginning.</p>
</div>
<div class="purport text"><p>It is now confirmed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead that the curse of a devotee is also to be regarded as mercy. As Kṛṣṇa, God, is all-good, a Vaiṣṇava is also all-good. Whatever he does is good for everyone. This is explained in the following verse.</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>

Although you (Nalakuvara and Manigrvia) fell from the higher planet Svargaloka and became trees, you were most favored by him. I (Krsna) knew of all these incidents from the very beginning - SB 10.10.40

2025-01-04T19:16:43Z

NeilG:

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<div id="section">
<h2>Srimad-Bhagavatam</h2>
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<div id="sub_section">
<h3>SB Canto 10.1 to 10.13</h3>
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<div class="quote">
<div class="quote_heading">
Although you (Nalakuvara and Manigrvia) fell from the higher planet Svargaloka and became trees, you were most favored by him. I (Krsna) knew of all these incidents from the very beginning.
</div>

<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:SB 10.10.40|SB 10.10.40, Translation and Purport]]
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<div class="quote_translation">
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: The great saint Nārada Muni is very merciful. By his curse, he showed the greatest favor to both of you, who were mad after material opulence and who had thus become blind. Although you fell from the higher planet Svargaloka and became trees, you were most favored by him. I knew of all these incidents from the very beginning.
</div>
<div class="text">
It is now confirmed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead that the curse of a devotee is also to be regarded as mercy. As Kṛṣṇa, God, is all-good, a Vaiṣṇava is also all-good. Whatever he does is good for everyone. This is explained in the following verse.
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</div>
</div>

When a green bird enters a green tree it does not become one with the tree: it retains its identity as a bird, although it appears to merge with the greenness of the tree

2025-01-04T17:57:37Z

NeilG:

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[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila Chapter 07 Purports - Lord Caitanya in Five Features]]
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila Purports]]
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - 62 Chapters, All Purports]]
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<div id="section">
<h2>Sri Caitanya-caritamrta</h2>
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<h3>CC Adi-lila</h3>
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Śrīpāda Rāmānujācārya gives the example that when a green bird enters a green tree it does not become one with the tree: it retains its identity as a bird, although it appears to merge with the greenness of the tree. To give another example, an animal that enters a forest keeps its individuality, although apparently the beast merges with the forest. Similarly, in material existence, both the material energy and the living entities of the marginal potency maintain their individuality.
</div>

<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:CC Adi 7.121|CC Adi 7.121, Translation and Purport]]
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<div class="quote_translation">
“In his Vedānta-sūtra Śrīla Vyāsadeva has described that everything is but a transformation of the energy of the Lord. Śaṅkarācārya, however, has misled the world by commenting that Vyāsadeva was mistaken. Thus he has raised great opposition to theism throughout the entire world.
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<div class="text">
Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura explains, “In the Vedanta-sūtra of Śrīla Vyāsadeva it is definitely stated that all cosmic manifestations result from transformations of various energies of the Lord. Śaṅkarācārya, however, not accepting the energy of the Lord, thinks that it is the Lord who is transformed. He has taken many clear statements from the Vedic literature and twisted them to try to prove that if the Lord, or the Absolute Truth, were transformed, His oneness would be disturbed. Thus he has accused Śrīla Vyāsadeva of being mistaken. In developing his philosophy of monism, therefore, he has established vivarta-vāda, or the Māyāvāda theory of illusion.” In the Brahma-sūtra, Second Chapter, the first aphorism is as follows: tad-ananyatvam ārambhaṇa-śabdādibhyaḥ. Commenting on this sūtra in his Śārīraka-bhāṣya, Śaṅkarācārya has introduced the statement vācārambhaṇaṁ vikāro nāmadheyam from the Chāndogya Upaniṣad (6.1.4) to try to prove that acceptance of the transformation of the energy of the Supreme Lord is faulty. He has tried to defy this transformation of energy in a misguided way, which will be explained later. Since his conception of God is impersonal, he does not believe that the entire cosmic manifestation is a transformation of the energies of the Lord, for as soon as one accepts the various energies of the Absolute Truth, one must immediately accept the Absolute Truth to be personal, not impersonal. A person can create many things by the transformation of his energy. For example, a businessman transforms his energy by establishing many big factories or business organizations, yet he remains a person although his energy has been transformed into these many factories or business concerns. The Māyāvādī philosophers do not understand this simple fact. Their tiny brains and poor fund of knowledge cannot afford them sufficient enlightenment to realize that when a man’s energy is transformed, the man himself is not transformed but remains the same person.

Not believing in the fact that the energy of the Absolute Truth is transformed, Śaṅkarācārya has propounded his theory of illusion. This theory states that although the Absolute Truth is never transformed, we think that it is transformed, which is an illusion. Śaṅkarācārya does not believe in the transformation of the energy of the Absolute Truth, for he claims that everything is one and that the living entity is therefore also one with the Supreme. This is the Māyāvāda theory.

Śrīla Vyāsadeva has explained that the Absolute Truth is a person who has different potencies. Merely by His desire that there be creation and by His glance (sa aikṣata), He created this material world (sa asṛjata). After creation, He remains the same person: He is not transformed into everything. One should accept that the Lord has inconceivable energies and that it is by His order and will that varieties of manifestations have come into existence. In the Vedic literature it is said, sa-tattvato ’nyathā-buddhir vikāra ity udāhṛtaḥ. This mantra indicates that from one fact another fact is generated. For example, a father is one fact, and a son generated from the father is a second fact. Thus both of them are truths, although one is generated from the other. This generation of a second, independent truth from a first truth is called vikāra, or transformation resulting in a by-product. The Supreme Brahman is the Absolute Truth, and the energies that have emanated from Him and are existing separately, such as the living entities and the cosmic manifestation, are also truths. This is an example of transformation, which is called vikāra or pariṇāma. To give another example of vikāra, milk is a truth, but the same milk may be transformed into yogurt. Thus yogurt is a transformation of milk, although the ingredients of yogurt and milk are the same.

In the Chāndogya Upaniṣad there is the following mantra: aitad-ātmyam idaṁ sarvam. This mantra indicates without a doubt that the entire world is Brahman. The Absolute Truth has inconceivable energies, as confirmed in the Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad (parāsya śaktir vividhaiva śrūyate ([[Vanisource:CC Madhya 13.65|CC Madhya 13.65, purport]])), and the entire cosmic manifestation is evidence of these different energies of the Supreme Lord. The Supreme Lord is a fact, and therefore whatever is created by the Supreme Lord is also factual. Everything is true and complete (pūrṇam), but the original pūrṇam, the complete Absolute Truth, always remains the same. Pūrṇāt pūrṇam udacyate pūrṇasya pūrṇam ādāya ([[Vanisource:ISO Invocation|Śrī Īśopaniṣad, Invocation]]). The Absolute Truth is so perfect that although innumerable energies emanate from Him and manifest creations which appear to be different from Him, He nevertheless maintains His personality. He never deteriorates under any circumstances.

It is to be concluded that the entire cosmic manifestation is a transformation of the energy of the Supreme Lord, not of the Supreme Lord or Absolute Truth Himself, who always remains the same. The material world and the living entities are transformations of the energy of the Lord, the Absolute Truth or Brahman, who is the original source. In other words, the Absolute Truth, Brahman, is the original ingredient, and the other manifestations are transformations of this ingredient. This is also confirmed in the Taittirīya Upaniṣad (3.1): yato vā imāni bhūtāni jāyante. “This entire cosmic manifestation is made possible by the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” In this verse it is indicated that Brahman, the Absolute Truth, is the original cause and that the living entities (jīvas) and the cosmic manifestation are effects of this cause. The cause being a fact, the effects are also factual. They are not illusion. Śaṅkarācārya has inconsistently tried to prove that it is an illusion to accept the material world and the jīvas as by-products of the Supreme Lord because (in his conception) the existence of the material world and the jīvas is different and separate from that of the Absolute Truth. With this jugglery of understanding, Māyāvādī philosophers have propagated the slogan brahma satyaṁ jagan mithyā, which declares that the Absolute Truth is fact but the cosmic manifestation and the living entities are simply illusions, or that all of them are in fact the Absolute Truth and that the material world and living entities do not separately exist.

It is therefore to be concluded that Śaṅkarācārya, in order to present the Supreme Lord, the living entities and the material nature as indivisible and ignorant, tries to cover the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He maintains that the material cosmic manifestation is mithyā, or false, but this is a great blunder. If the Supreme Personality of Godhead is a fact, how can His creation be false? Even in ordinary dealings, one cannot think the material cosmic manifestation to be false. Therefore Vaiṣṇava philosophers say that the cosmic creation is not false but temporary. It is separated from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but since it is wonderfully created by the energy of the Lord, to say that it is false is blasphemous.

Nondevotees factually appreciate the wonderful creation of material nature, but they cannot appreciate the intelligence and energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is behind this material creation. Śrīpāda Rāmānujācārya, however, refers to a sūtra from the Aitareya Upaniṣad (1.1.1), ātmā vā idam agra āsīt, which points out that the supreme ātmā, the Absolute Truth, existed before the creation. One may argue, “If the Supreme Personality of Godhead is completely spiritual, how is it possible for Him to be the origin of creation and have within Himself both material and spiritual energies?” To answer this challenge, Śrīpāda Rāmānujācārya quotes a mantra from the Taittirīya Upaniṣad (3.1) that states:

yato vā imāni bhūtāni jāyante yena jātāni jīvanti yat prayanty abhisaṁviśanti This mantra confirms that the entire cosmic manifestation emanates from the Absolute Truth, rests upon the Absolute Truth and after annihilation again reenters the body of the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The living entity is originally spiritual, and when he enters the spiritual world or the body of the Supreme Lord, he still retains his identity as an individual soul. In this connection Śrīpāda Rāmānujācārya gives the example that when a green bird enters a green tree it does not become one with the tree: it retains its identity as a bird, although it appears to merge with the greenness of the tree. To give another example, an animal that enters a forest keeps its individuality, although apparently the beast merges with the forest. Similarly, in material existence, both the material energy and the living entities of the marginal potency maintain their individuality. Thus although the energies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead interact within the cosmic manifestation, each keeps its separate individual existence. Merging with the material or spiritual energies, therefore, does not involve loss of individuality. According to Śrī Rāmānujapāda’s theory of Viśiṣṭādvaita, although all the energies of the Lord are one, each keeps its individuality (vaiśiṣṭya).

Śrīpāda Śaṅkarācārya has tried to mislead the readers of the Vedānta-sūtra by misinterpreting the words ānanda-mayo ’bhyāsāt, and he has even tried to find fault with Vyāsadeva. All the aphorisms of the Vedānta-sūtra need not be examined here, however, since we intend to present the Vedānta-sūtra in a separate volume.
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Ultimately such activities end in death. Materialists do not consider that after giving up the body they may become embodied as lower animals, plants or trees

2025-01-04T17:55:31Z

NeilG:

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[[Category:The Nectar of Instruction - Text 10]]
[[Category:The Nectar of Instruction Texts 01 to 11]]
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<h2>Other Books by Srila Prabhupada</h2>
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<h3>Nectar of Instruction</h3>
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<div class="quote">
<div class="quote_heading">
Ultimately such activities end in death. Materialists do not consider that after giving up the body they may become embodied as lower animals, plants or trees. Thus all their activities simply defeat the purpose of life. Not only are they born ignorant, but they act on the platform of ignorance, thinking that they are getting material benefits in the shape of skyscraper buildings, big cars, honorable positions and so on.
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[[Vanisource:NOI 10|Nectar of Instruction 10, Translation and Purport]]
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<div class="quote_translation">
In the śāstra it is said that of all types of fruitive workers, he who is advanced in knowledge of the higher values of life is favored by the Supreme Lord Hari. Out of many such people who are advanced in knowledge [jñānīs], one who is practically liberated by virtue of his knowledge may take to devotional service. He is superior to the others. However, one who has actually attained prema, pure love of Kṛṣṇa, is superior to him. The gopīs are exalted above all the advanced devotees because they are always totally dependent upon Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the transcendental cowherd boy. Among the gopīs, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the most dear to Kṛṣṇa. Her kuṇḍa [lake] is as profoundly dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa as this most beloved of the gopīs. Who, then, will not reside at Rādhā-kuṇḍa and, in a spiritual body surcharged with ecstatic devotional feelings [aprākṛtabhāva], render loving service to the divine couple Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Govinda, who perform Their aṣṭakālīya-līlā, Their eternal eightfold daily pastimes. Indeed, those who execute devotional service on the banks of Rādhā-kuṇḍa are the most fortunate people in the universe.
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<div class="text">
This is the position of all karmīs, including those who act piously and those who act impiously. On this planet we find many businessmen, politicians and others who are simply interested in material happiness. They attempt to earn money by all means, not considering whether such means are pious or impious. Such people are called karmīs, or gross materialists. Among the karmīs are some vikarmīs, people who act without the guidance of Vedic knowledge. Those who act on the basis of Vedic knowledge perform sacrifices for the satisfaction of Lord Viṣṇu and to receive benedictions from Him. In this way they are elevated to higher planetary systems. Such karmīs are superior to the vikarmīs, for they are faithful to the directions of the Vedas and are certainly dear to Kṛṣṇa. In Bhagavad-gītā ([[Vanisource:BG 4.11 (1972)|BG 4.11]]), Kṛṣṇa says: ye yathā māṁ prapadyante tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham. "In whatever way one surrenders unto Me, I reward him accordingly." Kṛṣṇa is so kind that He fulfilled the desires of the karmīs and jñānīs, not to speak of the bhaktas. Although the karmīs are sometimes elevated to higher planetary systems, as long as they remain attached to fruitive activities they must accept new material bodies after death. If one acts piously, he can attain a new body among the demigods in the higher planetary systems, or he may attain some other position in which he can enjoy a higher standard of material happiness. On the other hand, those who are engaged in impious activities are degraded and take birth as animals, trees and plants. Thus those fruitive actors who do not care for the Vedic directions (vikarmīs) are not appreciated by learned saintly persons. As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ([[Vanisource:SB 5.5.4|SB 5.5.4]]):

<div class="quote_verse">
:nūnaṁ pramattaḥ kurute vikarma
:yad indriya-prītaya āpṛṇoti
:na sādhu manye yata ātmano 'yam
:asann api kleśada āsa dehaḥ
</div>

"Materialists who work hard like dogs and hogs simply for sense gratification are actually mad. They simply perform all kinds of abominable activities simply for sense gratification. Materialistic activities are not at all worthy of an intelligent man, for as a result of such activities, one gets a material body, which is full of misery." The purpose of human life is to get out of the threefold miserable conditions, which are concomitant with material existence. Unfortunately, fruitive workers are mad to earn money and acquire temporary material comforts by all means; therefore they risk being degraded to lower species of life. Materialists foolishly make many plans to become happy in this material world. They do not stop to consider that they will live only for a certain number of years, out of which they must spend the major portion acquiring money for sense gratification. Ultimately such activities end in death. Materialists do not consider that after giving up the body they may become embodied as lower animals, plants or trees. Thus all their activities simply defeat the purpose of life. Not only are they born ignorant, but they act on the platform of ignorance, thinking that they are getting material benefits in the shape of skyscraper buildings, big cars, honorable positions and so on. The materialists do not know that in the next life they will be degraded and that all their activities simply serve as parābhava, their defeat. This is the verdict of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ([[Vanisource:SB 5.5.5|SB 5.5.5]]): parābhavas tāvad abodha jātaḥ.

One should therefore be eager to understand the science of the soul (ātma-tattva). Unless one comes to the platform of ātma-tattva, by which one understands that the soul and not the body is oneself, one remains on the platform of ignorance. Out of thousands and even millions of ignorant people who are wasting their time simply gratifying their senses, one may come to the platform of knowledge and understand higher values of life. Such a person is called a jñānī. The jñānī knows that fruitive activities will bind him to material existence and cause him to transmigrate from one kind of body to another. As indicated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam by the term śarīra-bandha (bound to bodily existence), as long as one maintains any conception of sense enjoyment, his mind will be absorbed in karma, fruitive activity, and this will oblige him to transmigrate from one body to another.
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Those who worship the so-called void also attain such results - one becomes bereft of life's symptoms and becomes just like a tree or other nonmoving entity

2025-01-04T17:54:55Z

NeilG:

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[[Category:Teachings of Lord Caitanya 1975 Chapter 32 - Conclusion]]
[[Category:Teachings of Lord Caitanya 1975 Chapters 01 to 32]]
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<h2>Other Books by Srila Prabhupada</h2>
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<h3>Teachings of Lord Caitanya</h3>
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There are many worshipable objects—the impersonalists worship the brahmajyoti, for instance—but by worshiping objects other than Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, one becomes bereft of life's symptoms and becomes just like a tree or other nonmoving entity. Those who worship the so-called void also attain such results. Those who are after material enjoyment (bhukti) worship the demigods and achieve their planets and thus enjoy material happiness.
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[[Vanisource:TLC 32 (1975)|Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 32]]
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One who is famous as a Kṛṣṇa conscious man enjoys eternal fame. In the material world, everyone is striving for three things: he wants his name to be perpetuated, he wants his fame to be broadcast all over the world, and he wants some profit from his material activities. But no one knows that all this material name, fame and profit belong to the temporary material body and that as soon as the body is finished, all name, fame and profit are finished also. It is only due to ignorance that everyone is striving after the name, fame and profit that are connected with the body. It is deplorable to become famous on the basis of the body or to become known as a man of spiritually developed consciousness without knowing the supreme spirit, Viṣṇu. Real fame can only be had if one attains Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

According to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, there are twelve authorities, and they are all famous because they were all great devotees of the Lord. These authorities are Brahmā, Nārada, Lord Śiva, Manu, Kapila, Prahlāda, Janaka, Bhīṣma, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, Bali, Yamarāja and the Kumāras. These personalities are still remembered because they were all great stalwart devotees of the Lord. In the Garuḍa Purāṇa it is said to be more rare to be a famous devotee of the Supreme Lord in the age of Kali than to be a demigod such as Brahmā or Lord Śiva. Concerning talks between Nārada and Puṇḍarīka, Yudhiṣṭhira said, "He is most famous and can deliver all others who, after many, many births, comes to understand that he is the servant of Vāsudeva." Similarly, in Bhagavad-gītā ([[Vanisource:BG 7.19 (1972)|BG 7.19]]) Kṛṣṇa tells Arjuna:

<div class="quote_verse">
:bahūnāṁ janmanām ante
:jñānavān māṁ prapadyate
:vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti
:sa mahātmā sudurlabhaḥ
</div>

"After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare." In the Ādi Purāṇa it is said that liberation and transcendental life follow all the devotees of God. In the Bṛhan-nāradīya Purāṇa it is stated that even personalities like Brahmā and other demigods do not know the value of a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Garuḍa Purāṇa points out that out of many thousands of brāhmaṇas, one may be expert in performing sacrifices, and out of thousands of such expert brāhmaṇas, one brāhmaṇa may be expert in the knowledge of the Vedānta-sūtra, and out of many, many thousands of such Vedāntists, there may be one person who is famous as a devotee of Lord Viṣṇu. There are many devotees of Viṣṇu, and out of them, he who is unfiinching in his devotion is eligible to enter into the kingdom of God. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ([[Vanisource:SB 3.13.4|SB 3.13.4]]) it is also stated that there are many students of the Vedas, but one who is always thinking of the Supreme Personality of Godhead within his heart is the best student of all. In the Nārāyaṇa-vyūha-stava prayers it is said that if even the great Brahmā is not a devotee of the Lord, he is most insignificant, whereas if a microbe is a devotee of the Lord, he is most famous.

Lord Caitanya next asked Rāmānanda Rāya, "What is the most valuable thing in the world?" Rāmānanda Rāya replied that he who has love for Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa possesses the most valuable jewel and the greatest riches. One who is addicted to material sense gratification or material wealth is not really considered to be wealthy. When one comes to the spiritual platform of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he can understand that there are no riches more valuable than love of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. It is recorded in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam that Mahārāja Dhruva sought out the Supreme Lord because he wanted to get some land, but when he finally saw Kṛṣṇa, he said, "I am so pleased, I don't want anything." In Bhagavad-gītā it is also stated that if one takes shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead or is elevated to the supreme state of love of Godhead, he has nothing more to aspire to. Although such devotees can attain whatever they desire from the Lord, they do not ask anything from Him.

When Lord Caitanya asked Rāmānanda Rāya what is considered to be the most painful existence, Rāmānanda Rāya replied that separation from a pure devotee constitutes the most painful existence. In other words, when there is no devotee of the Lord present, there is great suffering in society, and association with other people becomes painful. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ([[Vanisource:SB 3.30.7|SB 3.30.7]]) it is stated that if one who is bereft of the association of a pure devotee tries to become happy through society, friendship and love devoid of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he is to be considered in the most distressed condition. In the Fifth Canto of Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta (5.44) it is stated that the association of a pure devotee is more desirable than life itself and that in separation from him one cannot even pass a second happily.

Lord Caitanya then asked Rāmānanda Rāya, "Out of many so-called liberated souls, who is actually liberated?" Rāmānanda replied that he who is actually completely saturated with the devotional love for Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa is to be considered to be the best of all liberated persons. It is stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ([[Vanisource:SB 6.14.4|SB 6.14.4]]) that a devotee of Nārāyaṇa is so rare that one can only find him out of millions and millions of people.

"And out of all songs, what song do you think is the best of all?" Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked. And Rāmānanda replied that any song which describes the pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa is the best song. In conditional life, the soul is captivated by sex. All fictions—dramas and novels—and material songs describe love between men and women. Since people are so attracted to this kind of literature, Kṛṣṇa appeared in this material world and displayed His transcendental loving affairs with the gopīs. There is an immense literature dealing with the transactions between the gopīs and Kṛṣṇa, and anyone who takes shelter of this literature or of the stories about Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa can enjoy actual happiness. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ([[Vanisource:SB 10.33.36|SB 10.33.36]]) it is said that the Lord displayed His pastimes in Vṛndāvana in order to reveal His actual life. Any intelligent person who tries to understand the pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa is most fortunate. The songs that tell of those pastimes are the greatest songs in the world.

Lord Caitanya then inquired: "What is the most profitable thing in the world, the essence of all auspicious events?" Rāmānanda Rāya replied that there is nothing as profitable as the association of pure devotees.

"And what do you recommend a person to think of?" Lord Caitanya asked. Rāmānanda replied that one should always think of the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Kṛṣṇa has multiple activities, and they are described in many Vedic scriptures. One should always think of those pastimes; that is the best meditation and the highest ecstasy. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ([[Vanisource:SB 2.2.36|SB 2.2.36]]) Śukadeva Gosvāmī confirms that one should always think of the Supreme Personality of Godhead—not only think of Him, but one should also hear and chant His name, fame and glories.

"And what is the best type of meditation?" Lord Caitanya inquired.

"He who always meditates on the lotus feet of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa is the best meditator," Rāmānanda Rāya answered. This is also confirmed in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ([[Vanisource:SB 1.2.14|SB 1.2.14]]): "It is the Supreme Personality of Godhead alone who is the master of all devotees, whose name one should always chant and who should always be meditated upon and worshiped regularly."

"Where should a person live, giving up all other pleasures?" Lord Caitanya next inquired. Rāmānanda replied that one should give up all other pleasures and should live in Vṛndāvana where Lord Kṛṣṇa had so many pastimes. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ([[Vanisource:SB 10.47.61|SB 10.47.61]]) Uddhava says that it is best to live in Vṛndāvana even if one has to live as a plant or creeper. It was in Vṛndāvana that the Supreme Lord lived and it was there that the gopīs worshiped the Supreme Lord, the ultimate goal of all Vedic knowledge.

"And what is the best subject to hear of?" Caitanya Mahāprabhu next asked.

"The pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa," Rāmānanda replied. Actually when the pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are heard from the right source, one at once attains liberation. Unfortunately it sometimes happens that people do not hear of these pastimes from a person who is a realized soul. Thus people are sometimes misguided. It is stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ([[Vanisource:SB 10.33.39|SB 10.33.39]]) that one who hears of the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa with the gopīs will attain the highest platform of devotional service and will be freed from the material lust which overwhelms everyone's heart in the material world. In other words, by hearing the pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, one can get rid of all material lust. If one does not become freed from material lust in this way, then he should not indulge in hearing of the pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. Unless one hears from the right source, he will misinterpret the pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, considering them to be ordinary affairs between a man and woman. In this way one may be misguided.

"And who is the most worshipable Deity?" Caitanya Mahāprabhu next inquired. Rāmānanda Rāya immediately replied that the transcendental couple, Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, is the ultimate object of worship. There are many worshipable objects—the impersonalists worship the brahmajyoti, for instance—but by worshiping objects other than Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, one becomes bereft of life's symptoms and becomes just like a tree or other nonmoving entity. Those who worship the so-called void also attain such results. Those who are after material enjoyment (bhukti) worship the demigods and achieve their planets and thus enjoy material happiness. Lord Caitanya next inquired about those who are after material happiness and liberation from material bondage. "Where do they ultimately go?" He asked. Rāmānanda Rāya replied that ultimately some turn into trees and others attain the heavenly planets where they enjoy material happiness.

Rāmānanda Rāya went on to say that those who have no taste for Kṛṣṇa consciousness or spiritual life are just like crows who take pleasure in eating the bitter nimba fruit. It is the poetic cuckoo that eats the seeds of the mango. The unfortunate transcendentalists simply speculate on dry philosophy, whereas the transcendentalists who are in love with Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa enjoy fruit just like the cuckoo. Thus those who are devotees of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are most fortunate. The bitter nimba fruit is not at all eatable; it is simply full of dry speculation and is only fit for crowlike philosophers. Mango seeds, however, are very relishable, and those in the devotional service of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa enjoy them.

Thus Rāmānanda Rāya and Caitanya Mahāprabhu talked for the entire night. Sometimes they danced, sometimes sang and sometimes cried. After passing the night in this way, at dawn Rāmānanda Rāya returned to his place. The next evening he returned to see Caitanya Mahāprabhu. After discussing Kṛṣṇa for some time, Rāmānanda Rāya fell at the feet of the Lord and said, "My dear Lord, You are so kind to me that You have told me about the science of Kṛṣṇa and Rādhārāṇī and Their loving affairs, the affairs of the rāsa dance and Their pastimes. I never thought that I should be able to speak on this subject matter. You have taught me as You formerly taught the Vedas to Brahmā."

This is the system of receiving instructions from the Supersoul. Externally He is not to be seen, but internally He speaks to the devotee. That is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā—the Lord dictates from within one who is sincerely engaged in His service, and the Lord acts in such a way that such a person can ultimately attain the supreme goal of life. When Brahmā was born, there was no one to instruct him; therefore the Supreme Lord Himself instructed Brahmā in Vedic knowledge through Brahmā's heart. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ([[Vanisource:SB 2.4.22|SB 2.4.22]]) Śukadeva Gosvāmī confirms that the gāyatrī mantra was first imparted within the heart of Brahmā by the Supreme. Śukadeva Gosvāmī prayed to the Lord to help him speak Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam before Mahārāja Parīkṣit.

The first verse of the First Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam describes the Supreme Absolute Truth as He who instructed Brahmā through the heart. Vyāsadeva, the author of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, states: " Let me offer my respectful obeisances to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the cause of the cosmic manifestation and its maintenance and dissolution as well." If we scrutinizingly try to understand the supreme truth, we can understand that He knows everything directly and indirectly. He is the only Supreme Personality, and it is He only who is fully independent. He alone instructed Brahmā as the Supersoul within. Even the greatest scholar becomes bewildered in trying to understand the supreme truth because the entire perceivable cosmic manifestation is situated within Him. Although this material manifestation is a by-product of fire, water, air and earth, it nonetheless appears to be factual. However, it is in Him only that the spiritual and material manifestations as well as the living entities rest. Therefore He is the supreme truth.

Rāmānanda Rāya continued speaking to Lord Caitanya: "First I saw You as a sannyāsī, and then I saw You as a cowherd boy. I see before You a golden doll, and due to its presence Your complexion has become golden. Yet I see that Your complexion is dark, like a cowherd boy's. Will You please explain why I am seeing You in this way? Please tell me without reservation."

"It is the nature of highly elevated devotees to see Kṛṣṇa in everything," Lord Caitanya replied. "Whenever they see anything, they do not see the form of that particular thing. They see Kṛṣṇa." This is confirmed in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ([[Vanisource:SB 11.2.45|SB 11.2.45]]):

<div class="quote_verse">
:sarva-bhūteṣu yaḥ paśyed
:bhagavad-bhāvam ātmanaḥ
:bhūtāni bhagavaty ātmany
:eṣa bhāgavatottamaḥ
</div>

"One who is highly elevated in devotional service sees the Supersoul, Kṛṣṇa, who is the Soul of all individual souls." A similar passage is found in the Tenth Canto ([[Vanisource:SB 10.35.8-11|SB 10.35.9]]) where it is stated that all creepers, plants and trees, laden with flowers and fruits, were bent in the ecstasy of love for Kṛṣṇa, for Kṛṣṇa was the Soul of their soul. After Kṛṣṇa left them, those trees and plants became thorny.

"You have the highest conception of the pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa," Lord Caitanya continued. "Therefore you are seeing Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa everywhere."

Rāmānanda Rāya replied: "I request that You not try to hide Yourself. I understand that You have accepted the complexion and mode of thinking of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī and that You are trying to understand Yourself from the viewpoint of Rādhārāṇī. You have actually advented Yourself to take this point of view. Although You incarnate mainly to understand Your own self, You are at the same time distributing love of Kṛṣṇa to the world. Now You have personally come here to deliver me. Please don't try to deceive me, I beg You. It is not good for You."

Being very satisfied, Lord Caitanya smiled and showed Rāmānanda His real form as the combination of Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. Thus Lord Caitanya was Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself with the external features of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. His transcendental ability to become two and then to become one again was revealed to Rāmānanda Rāya. Those who are fortunate enough to understand Lord Caitanya as well as the Vṛndāvana pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa can be able, by the mercy of Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī, to know about the real identity of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Upon seeing this unique feature of Lord Caitanya, Rāmānanda Rāya fainted and fell on the floor. Lord Caitanya then touched him, and he came to his senses. Rāmānanda Rāya was then surprised to see Lord Caitanya again in His mendicant dress. Lord Caitanya embraced and pacified him and informed him that he was the only one to have seen this form. "Because you have understood the purpose of My incarnation, you are privileged to have seen this particular feature of My personality," the Lord said. "My dear Rāmānanda, I am not a different person with a fair complexion known as Gaurapuruṣa. I am the selfsame Kṛṣṇa the son of Mahārāja Nanda, and due to contact with the body of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī I have now assumed this form. Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī does not touch anyone but Kṛṣṇa; therefore She has influenced Me with Her complexion, mind and words. In this way I am just trying to understand the transcendental flavor of Her relationship with Kṛṣṇa."

The fact is that both Kṛṣṇa and Lord Caitanya are the original Personality of Godhead. No one should try to eliminate Lord Caitanya from Śrī Kṛṣṇa. In His form of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, He is the supreme enjoyer, and in His form of Lord Caitanya, He is the supreme enjoyed. No one can be more superexcellently attractive than Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and but for Śrī Kṛṣṇa, no one can enjoy the supreme form of devotion, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. But for Śrī Kṛṣṇa, all Viṣṇu forms are lacking this ability. This is explained in the description of Govinda in Caitanya-caritāmṛta. There it is said that Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the only personality who can infuse Śrī Kṛṣṇa with transcendental pleasure. Thus Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the chief damsel of Vraja in love with Govinda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

"Please rest assured that I have nothing to hide from you," Lord Caitanya told Rāmānanda. "Even if I do try to hide from you, you are such an advanced devotee that you can understand all My secrets. I request that you please keep this a secret and do not disclose it to anyone. If it were revealed, everyone would consider Me a madman. The facts which I have disclosed to you cannot be understood by materialistic people. When they hear of this, they will simply laugh at Me. You can understand this yourself and keep it to yourself. From a materialistic point of view, a devotee becomes mad in his ecstasy of love for Kṛṣṇa. Both you and I are just like madmen. So please don't disclose these facts to ordinary men. If you do, they will surely laugh at Me."

Lord Caitanya then passed ten nights with Rāmānanda Rāya, enjoyed his company and discussed the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa and Rādhā. The discussions between them were on the highest level of love for Kṛṣṇa. Some of these talks are described, but most of them could not be described. In Caitanya-caritāmṛta this has been compared to metallurgic examination. The metals compared are discussed in the following sequence: first copper, then bronze, then silver, gold and at last touchstone. The preliminary discussions between Lord Caitanya and Rāmānanda Rāya are considered to be like copper, and the higher discussions are considered to be like gold. The fifth dimension of their discussions, however, is considered to be like touchstone. If one is eager to attain the highest understanding, he must begin with an inquiry into the differences between copper and bronze, then silver and gold and so on.

The next day Lord Caitanya asked Rāmānanda Rāya to allow Him to return to Jagannātha Purī. "We can remain together the rest of our lives at Jagannātha Purī and pass our time in discussing Kṛṣṇa." Lord Caitanya then embraced Rāmānanda Rāya and sent him to his own place. In the morning the Lord started on His journey. He met Rāmānanda Rāya at a temple of Hanumān on the river bank. After visiting the temple of Hanumān, He left. As long as Caitanya Mahāprabhu remained at Karpūra, all kinds of people met Him, and by His grace everyone became a devotee of the Supreme Lord.

After Lord Caitanya's departure, Rāmānanda Rāya became overwhelmed due to his separation from the Lord, and he immediately decided to retire from service and meet the Lord again at Jagannātha Purī. The discussions between Rāmānanda Rāya and Lord Caitanya deal with the most concentrated form of devotional service. By hearing these discussions one can understand the pastimes of Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa as well as the confidential role played by Lord Caitanya. If one is actually fortunate enough to have faith in these discussions, he can enter into the transcendental association of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.
</div>
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Those who are very abominable, sinful, they go down planetary system or become lower than human being - animals, trees, birds, beasts, like that

2025-01-04T17:47:17Z

NeilG:

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<h2>Lectures</h2>
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<h3>Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures</h3>
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Means those who are very pious, they are promoted to the higher planetary system. Those who are ordinary, they remain with the middle planetary system. And those who are very abominable, sinful, they go down planetary system or become lower than human being—animals, trees, birds, beasts, like that. So they have no sense. Their so-called scientific understanding has no, I mean to say, advancement of knowledge. They do not inquire even wherefrom these living entities are coming, the trees, birds, beasts, lower than human being; wherefrom they are coming they do not inquire.
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<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:760731 - Lecture BG 10.08 - New Mayapur|760731 - Lecture BG 10.08 - New Mayapur]]
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<div class="text">
If some rascal says that "I don't believe in the next life," that is his foolish thinking. He has to change his body. Nature's law is going on. You are not controller of the nature; you are controlled by nature. So if we entangle ourself with sinful activities, then next life means we get low-grade life. It is said in the Bhagavad-gītā:

<div class="quote_verse">
:ūrdhvaṁ gacchanti sattva-sthā
:madhye tiṣṭhanti rājasāḥ
:jaghanya-guṇa-vṛtti-sthā
:adho gacchanti tāmasāḥ
:([[Vanisource:BG 14.18 (1972)|BG 14.18]])
</div>

Means those who are very pious, they are promoted to the higher planetary system. Those who are ordinary, they remain with the middle planetary system. And those who are very abominable, sinful, they go down planetary system or become lower than human being—animals, trees, birds, beasts, like that. So they have no sense. Their so-called scientific understanding has no, I mean to say, advancement of knowledge. They do not inquire even wherefrom these living entities are coming, the trees, birds, beasts, lower than human being; wherefrom they are coming they do not inquire.
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This civilization has spread in the Western countries - they want to remain naked. There are so many nudie clubs. So next life they'll be given chance to become tree, to stand naked for thousands of years. This is laws of nature

2025-01-04T17:46:00Z

NeilG:

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{{terms|"this civilization has spread in the Western countries—they want to remain naked. There are so many nudie clubs. So next life they'll be given chance to become tree, to stand naked for thousands of years. This is laws of nature"}}
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<h3>Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures</h3>
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Those who have no discrimination of eating—all abominable things one can eat—he's given the chance of eating everything up to stool in the form of a hog. The facility's given. One who is shameless . . . now this civilization has spread in the Western countries—they want to remain naked. There are so many nudie clubs. So next life they'll be given chance to become tree, to stand naked for thousands of years. This is laws of nature.
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<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:721110 - Lecture SB 01.02.31 - Vrndavana|721110 - Lecture SB 01.02.31 - Vrndavana]]
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<div class="text">
Knowledge . . . suppose I wanted to enjoy something in my past life. So Kṛṣṇa has given me a type of body so that I can enjoy, and He gives me reminder also: "Now you wanted to enjoy like this. You have got this opportunity. You do it." This is the proof. You'll find even a, what is called, the cub, born of an animal, the dog, cats and dogs, they find out where is the mother's breast. The human child also, they also try to find out where is the mother's breast.

Because they . . . they explain it as intuition. But we don't say it is intuition. Or even if you call "intuition," wherefrom it is coming? It is coming from Paramātmā. He's giving that, "You find out here. You'll find your mother's breast, and here is your food. Here is your food." Therefore even just after birth, the kiddy, or the small child, finds out where is the food. This is the explanation of intuition.

But the modern scientist, they say: "Intuition," but they cannot explain how the intuition is coming. It is explained in the Bhagavad-gītā: mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca ([[Vanisource:BG 15.15 (1972)|BG 15.15]]). It is coming from Paramātmā, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Antaḥ-praviṣṭa ābhāti vijñānena vijṛmbhitaḥ. But Kṛṣṇa, sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi-sanniviṣṭaḥ, as Paramātmā, He has entered in everyone's heart. He is in His knowledge. He knows that, "This individual soul wanted to enjoy this material world," so He gives him facility, "Now you enjoy."

Those who have no discrimination of eating—all abominable things one can eat—he's given the chance of eating everything up to stool in the form of a hog. The facility's given. One who is shameless . . . now this civilization has spread in the Western countries—they want to remain naked. There are so many nudie clubs. So next life they'll be given chance to become tree, to stand naked for thousands of years. This is laws of nature.

They do not know how they're getting chance, different types of body for different types of enjoyments, material enjoyment. Sometimes he's put as a poor man; sometimes he's put as a rich man. Sometimes as demigod, sometimes as cat, sometimes as dog. In this way, it is going on. But they are . . . there is no knowledge.

The modern civilization, they do not take care of this Vedic information, neither they have got any sufficient knowledge how these 8,400,000 species of life are becoming possible. They have no science. But here it is stated: antaḥ-praviṣṭa ābhāti vijñānena vijṛmbhitaḥ.
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The seed of material enjoyment, watered by the course of material nature, fructifies to become a tree of material entanglement that endows the living entity with all kinds of material enjoyment

2025-01-04T17:44:37Z

NeilG:

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{{terms|"The seed of material enjoyment, watered by the course of material nature, fructifies to become a tree of material entanglement that endows the living entity with all kinds of material enjoyment"}}
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[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - 62 Chapters, All Purports]]
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<div id="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta" class="section" sec_index="2" parent="compilation" text="Sri Caitanya-caritamrta"><h2>Sri Caitanya-caritamrta</h2>
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<div id="CC_Adi-lila" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta" text="CC Adi-lila"><h3>CC Adi-lila</h3>
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<div id="CCAdi727_0" class="quote" parent="CC_Adi-lila" book="CC" index="975" link="CC Adi 7.27" link_text="CC Adi 7.27">
<div class="heading">The seed of material enjoyment, watered by the course of material nature, fructifies to become a tree of material entanglement that endows the living entity with all kinds of material enjoyment. To enjoy such material facilities is to be afflicted with the three material miseries. However, when by nature's law there is a flood, the seeds within the earth become inactive.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Adi 7.27|CC Adi 7.27, Translation and Purport]]:
</span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">When the five members of the Pañca-tattva saw the entire world drowned in love of Godhead and the seed of material enjoyment in the living entities completely destroyed, they all became exceedingly happy.</p>
</div>
<div class="purport text"><p>In this connection, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura writes in his Anubhāṣya that since the living entities all belong to the marginal potency of the Lord, each and every living entity has a natural tendency to become Kṛṣṇa conscious, although at the same time the seed of material enjoyment is undoubtedly within him. The seed of material enjoyment, watered by the course of material nature, fructifies to become a tree of material entanglement that endows the living entity with all kinds of material enjoyment. To enjoy such material facilities is to be afflicted with the three material miseries. However, when by nature's law there is a flood, the seeds within the earth become inactive. Similarly, as the inundation of love of Godhead spreads all over the world, the seeds of material enjoyment become impotent. Thus the more the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement spreads, the more the desire for material enjoyment decreases. The seed of material enjoyment automatically becomes impotent with the increase of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.</p>
<p>Instead of being envious that Kṛṣṇa consciousness is spreading all over the world by the grace of Lord Caitanya, those who are jealous should be happy, as indicated here by the words parama ullāsa. But because they are kaniṣṭha-adhikārīs or prākṛta-bhaktas (materialistic devotees who are not advanced in spiritual knowledge), they are envious instead of happy, and they try to find faults in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Yet Śrīmat Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī writes in his Caitanya-candrāmṛta that when influenced by Lord Caitanya's Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, materialists become averse to talking about their wives and children, supposedly learned scholars give up their tedious studies of Vedic literature, yogīs give up their impractical practices of mystic yoga, ascetics give up their austere activities of penance and austerity, and sannyāsīs give up their study of Sāṅkhya philosophy. Thus they are all attracted by the bhakti-yoga practices of Lord Caitanya and cannot relish a mellow superior to that of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.</p>
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The offenders Nalakuvara and Manigriva, even though living amongst the demigods, had to undergo the punishment of becoming trees in their next lives, although by the grace of a devotee they were later delivered by the Lord

2024-12-15T10:42:20Z

NeilG:

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[[Category:Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 03 Purports]]
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<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam" class="section" sec_index="1" parent="compilation" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam"><h2>Srimad-Bhagavatam</h2>
</div>
<div id="SB_Canto_3" class="sub_section" sec_index="3" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 3"><h3>SB Canto 3</h3>
</div>
<div id="SB3545_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_3" book="SB" index="188" link="SB 3.5.45" link_text="SB 3.5.45">
<div class="heading">A hunter in the forest, although a great sinner, was not an intentional offender. He was at once influenced by the presence of Nārada, and he agreed to take the path of devotion, leaving aside his hearth and home. But the offenders Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, even though living amongst the demigods, had to undergo the punishment of becoming trees in their next lives, although by the grace of a devotee they were later delivered by the Lord. Offenders have to wait until they receive the mercy of devotees, and then they can become eligible to see the lotus feet of the Lord within themselves.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 3.5.45|SB 3.5.45, Translation and Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">O great Supreme Lord, offensive persons whose internal vision has been too affected by external materialistic activities cannot see Your lotus feet, but they are seen by Your pure devotees, whose one and only aim is to transcendentally enjoy Your activities.</p>
</div>
<div class="purport text"><p>As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (18.61), the Lord is situated in everyone's heart. It is natural that one should he able to see the Lord at least within himself. But that is not possible for those whose internal vision has been covered by external activities. The pure soul, which is symptomized by consciousness, can be easily perceived even by a common man because consciousness is spread all over the body. The yoga system as recommended in Bhagavad-gītā is to concentrate the mental activities internally and thus see the lotus feet of the Lord within oneself. But there are many so-called yogīs who have no concern with the Lord but are only concerned with consciousness, which they accept as the final realization. Such realization of consciousness is taught by Bhagavad-gītā within only a few minutes, whereas the so-called yogīs take continuous years to realize it because of their offenses at the lotus feet of the Lord. The greatest offense is to deny the existence of the Lord as separate from the individual souls or to accept the Lord and the individual soul as one and the same. The impersonalists misinterpret the theory of reflection, and thus they wrongly accept the individual consciousness as the supreme consciousness.</p>
<p>The theory of the reflection of the Supreme can be clearly understood without difficulty by any sincere common man. When there is a reflection of the sky on the water, both the sky and the stars are seen within the water, but it is understood that the sky and the stars are not to be accepted on the same level. The stars are parts of the sky, and therefore they cannot be equal to the whole. The sky is the whole, and the stars are parts. They cannot be one and the same. Transcendentalists who do not accept the supreme consciousness as separate from the individual consciousness are as offensive as the materialists who deny even the existence of the Lord.</p>
<p>Such offenders cannot actually see the lotus feet of the Lord within themselves, nor are they even able to see the devotees of the Lord. The devotees of the Lord are so kind that they roam to all places to enlighten people in God consciousness. The offenders, however, lose the chance to receive the Lord's devotees, although the offenseless common man is at once influenced by the devotees' presence. In this connection there is an interesting story of a hunter and Devarṣi Nārada. A hunter in the forest, although a great sinner, was not an intentional offender. He was at once influenced by the presence of Nārada, and he agreed to take the path of devotion, leaving aside his hearth and home. But the offenders Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, even though living amongst the demigods, had to undergo the punishment of becoming trees in their next lives, although by the grace of a devotee they were later delivered by the Lord. Offenders have to wait until they receive the mercy of devotees, and then they can become eligible to see the lotus feet of the Lord within themselves. But due to their offenses and their extreme materialism, they cannot see even the devotees of the Lord. Engaged in external activities, they kill the internal vision. The Lord's devotees, however, do not mind the offenses of the foolish in their many gross and subtle bodily endeavors. The Lord's devotees continue to bestow the blessings of devotion upon all such offenders without hesitation. That is the nature of devotees.</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>

The life was meant for understanding Krsna, but he is cultivating the culture of naked civilization, how to become naked. "So all right, next time you'll remain naked for many thousands of years, standing in one place as tree." This is going on

2024-12-13T17:50:46Z

NeilG:

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<div id="section">
<h2>Lectures</h2>
</div>
<div id="sub_section">
<h3>Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures</h3>
</div>
<div class="quote">
<div class="quote_heading">
So Kṛṣṇa says that, "He wants to eat everything. So give him this machine, hog's body, so that there will be no discrimination." "He wants to remain naked. All right. Give him this body for five thousand years, standing naked as tree." The life was meant for understanding Kṛṣṇa, but he is cultivating the culture of naked civilization, how to become naked. "So all right, next time you'll remain naked for many thousands of years, standing in one place as tree." This is going on. Sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭaḥ (BG 15.15).
</div>

<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:741003 - Lecture SB 01.08.23 - Mayapur|741003 - Lecture SB 01.08.23 - Mayapur]]
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<div class="text">
Īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛd-deśe arjuna tiṣṭhati ([[Vanisource:BG 18.61 (1972)|BG 18.61]]). It is said in the Bhagavad-gītā, "Kṛṣṇa is situated everyone's heart." And He's studying the inclination of the living entity, that he wants to enjoy this material world like this. So parāsya śaktir vividhaiva śrūyate (Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 6.8, [[Vanisource:CC Madhya 13.65|CC Madhya 13.65, purport]]). He hasn't got to do anything personally. He orders the material nature, "This living entity wants to enjoy like this. Give him the . . . this machine." So you get this machine. We have got this machine. A living entity, he does not discriminate of eating; whatever he gets, he eats. So Kṛṣṇa says that, "He wants to eat everything. So give him this machine, hog's body, so that there will be no discrimination." "He wants to remain naked. All right. Give him this body for five thousand years, standing naked as tree." The life was meant for understanding Kṛṣṇa, but he is cultivating the culture of naked civilization, how to become naked. "So all right, next time you'll remain naked for many thousands of years, standing in one place as tree." This is going on. Sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭaḥ ([[Vanisource:BG 15.15 (1972)|BG 15.15]]).
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</div>

The great sage Narada thought it fitting that, although the brothers would be punished to become trees, by his mercy they would continue to keep their memory and be able to know why they were being punished

2024-12-13T17:48:46Z

NeilG:

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<div id="facts">
{{terms|"The great sage Nārada thought it fitting that, although the brothers would be punished to become trees, by his mercy they would continue to keep their memory and be able to know why they were being punished"}}
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[[Category:Krsna Book Chapter 10 - The Deliverance of Nalakuvara and Manigriva]]
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<div id="section">
<h2>Other Books by Srila Prabhupada</h2>
</div>
<div id="sub_section">
<h3>Krsna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead</h3>
</div>
<div class="quote">
<div class="quote_heading">
The great sage Nārada thought it fitting that, although the brothers would be punished to become trees, by his mercy they would continue to keep their memory and be able to know why they were being punished. After changing the body, a living entity generally forgets his previous life, but in special cases, by the grace of the Lord, as with Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, one can remember.
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<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:KB 10|Krsna Book, 10]]
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<div class="text">
Another advantage of poverty is that a saintly person can easily enter a poor man’s house, and thus the poor man can take advantage of the saintly person’s association. A very opulent man does not allow anyone to enter his house; therefore, the saintly person cannot enter. According to the Vedic system, a saintly person takes the position of a mendicant so that on the plea of begging something from the householder, he can enter any house. The householder, who has usually forgotten everything about spiritual advancement because he is busy maintaining family affairs, can be benefited by the association of a saintly person. There is a great chance for the poor man to become liberated through association with a saint. Of what use are persons who are puffed up with material opulence and prestige if they are bereft of the association of saintly persons and devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead?

The great sage Nārada thereafter thought that it was his duty to put those demigods into a condition where they could not be falsely proud of their material opulence and prestige. Nārada was compassionate and wanted to save them from their fallen life. They were in the mode of darkness, and being therefore unable to control their senses, they were addicted to sex life. It was the duty of a saintly person like Nārada to save them from their abominable condition. In animal life, the animal has no sense to understand that he is naked. But Kuvera was the treasurer of the demigods, a very responsible man, and Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva were two of his sons. And yet they became so animalistic and irresponsible that they could not understand, due to intoxication, that they were naked. To cover the lower part of the body is a principle of human civilization, and when men or women forget this principle, they become no better than animals. Nārada therefore thought that the best punishment for them was to make them immovable living entities, or trees. Trees are, by nature’s laws, immovable. Although trees are covered by the mode of ignorance, they cannot do harm. The great sage Nārada thought it fitting that, although the brothers would be punished to become trees, by his mercy they would continue to keep their memory and be able to know why they were being punished. After changing the body, a living entity generally forgets his previous life, but in special cases, by the grace of the Lord, as with Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, one can remember.

Sage Nārada therefore contemplated that the two demigods should remain for one hundred years, in the time of the demigods, in the form of trees, and after that they would be fortunate enough to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face, by His causeless mercy. And thus they would be again promoted to the life of the demigods and become great devotees of the Lord.

After this, the great sage Nārada returned to his abode, known as Nārāyaṇāśrama, and the two demigods turned into trees, known as twin arjuna trees. The two demigods were favored by the causeless mercy of Nārada and given a chance to grow in Nanda’s courtyard and see Lord Kṛṣṇa face to face.

Although child Kṛṣṇa was bound up to the wooden mortar, He began to proceed toward the twin trees in order to fulfill the prophecy of His great devotee Nārada. Lord Kṛṣṇa knew that Nārada was His great devotee and that the trees standing before Him as twin arjuna trees were actually the sons of Kuvera. “I must now fulfill the words of My great devotee Nārada,” He thought. Then He proceeded through the passage between the two trees. Although He was able to pass through the passage, the large wooden mortar stuck horizontally between the trees. Taking advantage of this, with great strength Lord Kṛṣṇa began to pull the rope, which was tied to the mortar. As soon as He pulled, the two trees, with all their branches and limbs, fell down immediately with a great sound. Out of the broken, fallen trees came two great personalities, shining like blazing fire. All sides became illuminated and beautiful by their presence. The two purified personalities immediately came before child Kṛṣṇa and bowed down to offer their respects and prayers in the following words.
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</div>

These senseless, shameless persons who are advancing in their knowledge by becoming naked, they are going to be tree next life. The naked tree is standing naked for many thousands of years. Or animals - they have no shame

2024-12-13T17:34:07Z

NeilG:

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<div id="section">
<h2>Lectures</h2>
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<div id="sub_section">
<h3>Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures</h3>
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<div class="quote">
<div class="quote_heading">
So these senseless, shameless persons who are advancing in their knowledge by becoming naked, they are going to be tree next life. The naked tree is standing naked for many thousands of years. Or animals—they have no shame. So if human being becomes so shameless, then next life is to become animal and trees. But in the universities, they say that "What is the wrong if I become an animal?".
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<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:720608 - Lecture SB Excerpt - Los Angeles|720608 - Lecture SB Excerpt - Los Angeles]]
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<div class="text">
The person in knowledge, he must see that, "I cannot avoid death, I cannot avoid birth, I cannot avoid old age, I cannot avoid disease so long I have got this material body." But Kṛṣṇa says, janma karma me divyaṁ yo jānāti tattvataḥ ([[Vanisource:BG 4.9 (1972)|BG 4.9]]): "Anyone who understands Me in reality, what I am, then he immediately becomes immune from these four things." Tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti ([[Vanisource:BG 4.9 (1972)|BG 4.9]]). After giving up this . . . this body we have to give up. And then next body, tathā dehāntara-prāptir . . . ([[Vanisource:BG 2.13 (1972)|BG 2.13]]) So a devotee at least is not going to be cats and dogs or trees.

The non-devotees, they are. Now they are . . . now the modern advancement is to be naked. So these people are going to be trees. You know Yamalārjuna. You have seen the picture. They were dancing, and they were taking bath naked, and they were not ashamed when Nārada Muni was passing. So he cursed them that, "You are so fool, you have lost your sense. All right, next life you become a tree, immediately."

So these senseless, shameless persons who are advancing in their knowledge by becoming naked, they are going to be tree next life. The naked tree is standing naked for many thousands of years. Or animals—they have no shame. So if human being becomes so shameless, then next life is to become animal and trees. But in the universities, they say that "What is the wrong if I become an animal?"

I asked them, "Do you like to be animal?" "Yes." "Then all right, next time you become animal. (laughter) This is your . . . I give you this blessing. That's all." (laughter) Flatly said, "Yes, yes, I will be happy." All right, say it. Kṛṣṇa is so kind: "You want to be naked? All right, you become naked for ten thousand years and stand up."

So therefore to save ourself from degradation, to save our this life . . . we are actually, we are all eternal, but because we don't want Kṛṣṇa consciousness, we want animal consciousness, tree consciousness, animal consciousness. So Kṛṣṇa is very kind, "All right, you become tree. What can I do?" Kṛṣṇa is always ready to give you all facilities.

Now it is up to you to make your choice whether you are going to dance with Kṛṣṇa or you want to become naked tree standing for ten thousands of years. That is your choice. A living entity has got this independence. Just like Kṛṣṇa asking Arjuna, yathecchasi tathā kuru ([[Vanisource:BG 18.63 (1972)|BG 18.63]]): "I have spoken to you about things as they are. Now it is up to you to make your choice. Whatever you like, you can do."

So Kṛṣṇa is so merciful, ye yathā māṁ prapadyante . . . ([[Vanisource:BG 4.11 (1972)|BG 4.11]]). If you want from Kṛṣṇa that you want to become a tree, so it is not very difficult for Kṛṣṇa to make you a tree. He's all-powerful. He can do that. But if you want, "Kṛṣṇa, I want to be with You personally," that also Kṛṣṇa can give you.
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These senseless, shameless persons who are advancing in their knowledge by becoming naked, they are going to be tree next life

2024-12-13T17:29:23Z

NeilG:

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<div id="Lectures" class="section" sec_index="4" parent="compilation" text="Lectures"><h2>Lectures</h2>
</div>
<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Lectures" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures"><h3>Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures</h3>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSBLectureExcerptLosAngelesJune81972_0" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="871" link="Lecture on SB Lecture Excerpt -- Los Angeles, June 8, 1972" link_text="Lecture on SB Lecture Excerpt -- Los Angeles, June 8, 1972">
<div class="heading">These senseless, shameless persons who are advancing in their knowledge by becoming naked, they are going to be tree next life. The naked tree is standing naked for many thousands of years. Or animals. They have no shame. So if human being becomes so shameless, then next life is to become animal and trees.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB Lecture Excerpt -- Los Angeles, June 8, 1972|Lecture on SB Lecture Excerpt -- Los Angeles, June 8, 1972]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">...The person in knowledge, he must see that "I cannot avoid death, I cannot avoid birth, I cannot avoid old age, I cannot avoid disease so long I have got this material body." But Kṛṣṇa says, janma karma me divyaṁ yo jānāti tattvataḥ, "Anyone who understands Me in reality, what I am, then he immediately becomes immune from these four things." Tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti ([[Vanisource:BG 4.9 (1972)|BG 4.9]]). After giving up this This body we have to give up. And then next body, tathā dehāntara-prāptir... So a devotee at least is not going to be cats and dogs or trees. The nondevotees, they are.</p>
<p>Now they are, now the modern advancement is to be naked. So these people are going to be trees. You know Yamalārjuna. You have seen the picture. They were dancing and they were taking bath naked, and they were not ashamed when Nārada Muni was passing. So he cursed them that "You are so fool, you have lost your sense. All right, next life you become a tree, immediately." So these senseless, shameless persons who are advancing in their knowledge by becoming naked, they are going to be tree next life. The naked tree is standing naked for many thousands of years. Or animals. They have no shame. So if human being becomes so shameless, then next life is to become animal and trees.</p>
<p>But in the universities they say that "What is the wrong if I become an animal?" I asked them, "Do you like to be animal?" "Yes." "Then all right, next time you become animal. (laughter) This is your I give you this blessing. That's all." (laughter) Flatly said, "Yes, yes I will be happy." All right, say it. Kṛṣṇa is so kind: "You want to be naked? All right, you become naked for ten thousand years and stand up." So therefore to save ourself from degradation, to save our, this life We are Actually, we are all eternal, but because we don't want Kṛṣṇa consciousness, we want animal consciousness, tree consciousness, animal consciousness.</p>
<p>So Kṛṣṇa is very kind, "All right, you become tree. What can I do?" Kṛṣṇa is always ready to give you all facilities. Now it is up to you to make your choice whether you are going to dance with Kṛṣṇa or you want to become naked tree standing for ten thousands of years. That is your choice. A living entity has got this independence. Just like Kṛṣṇa asking Arjuna, yathecchasi tathā kuru ([[Vanisource:BG 18.63 (1972)|BG 18.63]]). "I have spoken to you about things as they are. Now it is up to you to make your choice. Whatever you like, you can do." So Kṛṣṇa is so merciful, ye yathā māṁ prapadyante... ([[Vanisource:BG 4.11 (1972)|BG 4.11]]). If you want from Kṛṣṇa that you want to become a tree, so it is not very difficult for Kṛṣṇa to make you a tree. He's all-powerful. He can do that. But if you want, "Kṛṣṇa I want to be with You personally," that also Kṛṣṇa can give you. So now make your choice. This is the human form of life. The animal cannot. The śāstras, the messages are not for the animals. It is for the human beings. Therefore don't spoil your life. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.</p>
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There are many worshipable objects - the impersonalists worship the brahmajyoti, for instance - but by worshiping objects other than Radha and Krsna, one becomes bereft of life's symptoms and becomes just like a tree or other nonmoving entity

2024-12-13T17:25:25Z

NeilG:

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[[Category:Teachings of Lord Caitanya 1975 Chapter 32 - Conclusion]]
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<div id="section">
<h2>Other Books by Srila Prabhupada</h2>
</div>
<div id="sub_section">
<h3>Teachings of Lord Caitanya</h3>
</div>
<div class="quote">
<div class="quote_heading">
"And who is the most worshipable Deity?" Caitanya Mahāprabhu next inquired. Rāmānanda Rāya immediately replied that the transcendental couple, Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, is the ultimate object of worship. There are many worshipable objects—the impersonalists worship the brahmajyoti, for instance—but by worshiping objects other than Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, one becomes bereft of life's symptoms and becomes just like a tree or other nonmoving entity. Those who worship the so-called void also attain such results.
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<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:TLC 32 (1975)|Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 32]]
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<div class="text">
One who is famous as a Kṛṣṇa conscious man enjoys eternal fame. In the material world, everyone is striving for three things: he wants his name to be perpetuated, he wants his fame to be broadcast all over the world, and he wants some profit from his material activities. But no one knows that all this material name, fame and profit belong to the temporary material body and that as soon as the body is finished, all name, fame and profit are finished also. It is only due to ignorance that everyone is striving after the name, fame and profit that are connected with the body. It is deplorable to become famous on the basis of the body or to become known as a man of spiritually developed consciousness without knowing the supreme spirit, Viṣṇu. Real fame can only be had if one attains Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

According to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, there are twelve authorities, and they are all famous because they were all great devotees of the Lord. These authorities are Brahmā, Nārada, Lord Śiva, Manu, Kapila, Prahlāda, Janaka, Bhīṣma, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, Bali, Yamarāja and the Kumāras. These personalities are still remembered because they were all great stalwart devotees of the Lord. In the Garuḍa Purāṇa it is said to be more rare to be a famous devotee of the Supreme Lord in the age of Kali than to be a demigod such as Brahmā or Lord Śiva. Concerning talks between Nārada and Puṇḍarīka, Yudhiṣṭhira said, "He is most famous and can deliver all others who, after many, many births, comes to understand that he is the servant of Vāsudeva." Similarly, in Bhagavad-gītā ([[Vanisource:BG 7.19 (1972)|BG 7.19]]) Kṛṣṇa tells Arjuna:

<div class="quote_verse">
:bahūnāṁ janmanām ante
:jñānavān māṁ prapadyate
:vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti
:sa mahātmā sudurlabhaḥ
</div>

"After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare." In the Ādi Purāṇa it is said that liberation and transcendental life follow all the devotees of God. In the Bṛhan-nāradīya Purāṇa it is stated that even personalities like Brahmā and other demigods do not know the value of a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Garuḍa Purāṇa points out that out of many thousands of brāhmaṇas, one may be expert in performing sacrifices, and out of thousands of such expert brāhmaṇas, one brāhmaṇa may be expert in the knowledge of the Vedānta-sūtra, and out of many, many thousands of such Vedāntists, there may be one person who is famous as a devotee of Lord Viṣṇu. There are many devotees of Viṣṇu, and out of them, he who is unfiinching in his devotion is eligible to enter into the kingdom of God. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ([[Vanisource:SB 3.13.4|SB 3.13.4]]) it is also stated that there are many students of the Vedas, but one who is always thinking of the Supreme Personality of Godhead within his heart is the best student of all. In the Nārāyaṇa-vyūha-stava prayers it is said that if even the great Brahmā is not a devotee of the Lord, he is most insignificant, whereas if a microbe is a devotee of the Lord, he is most famous.

Lord Caitanya next asked Rāmānanda Rāya, "What is the most valuable thing in the world?" Rāmānanda Rāya replied that he who has love for Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa possesses the most valuable jewel and the greatest riches. One who is addicted to material sense gratification or material wealth is not really considered to be wealthy. When one comes to the spiritual platform of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he can understand that there are no riches more valuable than love of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. It is recorded in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam that Mahārāja Dhruva sought out the Supreme Lord because he wanted to get some land, but when he finally saw Kṛṣṇa, he said, "I am so pleased, I don't want anything." In Bhagavad-gītā it is also stated that if one takes shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead or is elevated to the supreme state of love of Godhead, he has nothing more to aspire to. Although such devotees can attain whatever they desire from the Lord, they do not ask anything from Him.

When Lord Caitanya asked Rāmānanda Rāya what is considered to be the most painful existence, Rāmānanda Rāya replied that separation from a pure devotee constitutes the most painful existence. In other words, when there is no devotee of the Lord present, there is great suffering in society, and association with other people becomes painful. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ([[Vanisource:SB 3.30.7|SB 3.30.7]]) it is stated that if one who is bereft of the association of a pure devotee tries to become happy through society, friendship and love devoid of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he is to be considered in the most distressed condition. In the Fifth Canto of Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta (5.44) it is stated that the association of a pure devotee is more desirable than life itself and that in separation from him one cannot even pass a second happily.

Lord Caitanya then asked Rāmānanda Rāya, "Out of many so-called liberated souls, who is actually liberated?" Rāmānanda replied that he who is actually completely saturated with the devotional love for Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa is to be considered to be the best of all liberated persons. It is stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ([[Vanisource:SB 6.14.4|SB 6.14.4]]) that a devotee of Nārāyaṇa is so rare that one can only find him out of millions and millions of people.

"And out of all songs, what song do you think is the best of all?" Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked. And Rāmānanda replied that any song which describes the pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa is the best song. In conditional life, the soul is captivated by sex. All fictions—dramas and novels—and material songs describe love between men and women. Since people are so attracted to this kind of literature, Kṛṣṇa appeared in this material world and displayed His transcendental loving affairs with the gopīs. There is an immense literature dealing with the transactions between the gopīs and Kṛṣṇa, and anyone who takes shelter of this literature or of the stories about Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa can enjoy actual happiness. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ([[Vanisource:SB 10.33.36|SB 10.33.36]]) it is said that the Lord displayed His pastimes in Vṛndāvana in order to reveal His actual life. Any intelligent person who tries to understand the pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa is most fortunate. The songs that tell of those pastimes are the greatest songs in the world.

Lord Caitanya then inquired: "What is the most profitable thing in the world, the essence of all auspicious events?" Rāmānanda Rāya replied that there is nothing as profitable as the association of pure devotees.

"And what do you recommend a person to think of?" Lord Caitanya asked. Rāmānanda replied that one should always think of the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Kṛṣṇa has multiple activities, and they are described in many Vedic scriptures. One should always think of those pastimes; that is the best meditation and the highest ecstasy. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ([[Vanisource:SB 2.2.36|SB 2.2.36]]) Śukadeva Gosvāmī confirms that one should always think of the Supreme Personality of Godhead—not only think of Him, but one should also hear and chant His name, fame and glories.

"And what is the best type of meditation?" Lord Caitanya inquired.

"He who always meditates on the lotus feet of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa is the best meditator," Rāmānanda Rāya answered. This is also confirmed in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ([[Vanisource:SB 1.2.14|SB 1.2.14]]): "It is the Supreme Personality of Godhead alone who is the master of all devotees, whose name one should always chant and who should always be meditated upon and worshiped regularly."

"Where should a person live, giving up all other pleasures?" Lord Caitanya next inquired. Rāmānanda replied that one should give up all other pleasures and should live in Vṛndāvana where Lord Kṛṣṇa had so many pastimes. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ([[Vanisource:SB 10.47.61|SB 10.47.61]]) Uddhava says that it is best to live in Vṛndāvana even if one has to live as a plant or creeper. It was in Vṛndāvana that the Supreme Lord lived and it was there that the gopīs worshiped the Supreme Lord, the ultimate goal of all Vedic knowledge.

"And what is the best subject to hear of?" Caitanya Mahāprabhu next asked.

"The pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa," Rāmānanda replied. Actually when the pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are heard from the right source, one at once attains liberation. Unfortunately it sometimes happens that people do not hear of these pastimes from a person who is a realized soul. Thus people are sometimes misguided. It is stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ([[Vanisource:SB 10.33.39|SB 10.33.39]]) that one who hears of the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa with the gopīs will attain the highest platform of devotional service and will be freed from the material lust which overwhelms everyone's heart in the material world. In other words, by hearing the pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, one can get rid of all material lust. If one does not become freed from material lust in this way, then he should not indulge in hearing of the pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. Unless one hears from the right source, he will misinterpret the pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, considering them to be ordinary affairs between a man and woman. In this way one may be misguided.

"And who is the most worshipable Deity?" Caitanya Mahāprabhu next inquired. Rāmānanda Rāya immediately replied that the transcendental couple, Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, is the ultimate object of worship. There are many worshipable objects—the impersonalists worship the brahmajyoti, for instance—but by worshiping objects other than Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, one becomes bereft of life's symptoms and becomes just like a tree or other nonmoving entity. Those who worship the so-called void also attain such results. Those who are after material enjoyment (bhukti) worship the demigods and achieve their planets and thus enjoy material happiness. Lord Caitanya next inquired about those who are after material happiness and liberation from material bondage. "Where do they ultimately go?" He asked. Rāmānanda Rāya replied that ultimately some turn into trees and others attain the heavenly planets where they enjoy material happiness.

Rāmānanda Rāya went on to say that those who have no taste for Kṛṣṇa consciousness or spiritual life are just like crows who take pleasure in eating the bitter nimba fruit. It is the poetic cuckoo that eats the seeds of the mango. The unfortunate transcendentalists simply speculate on dry philosophy, whereas the transcendentalists who are in love with Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa enjoy fruit just like the cuckoo. Thus those who are devotees of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are most fortunate. The bitter nimba fruit is not at all eatable; it is simply full of dry speculation and is only fit for crowlike philosophers. Mango seeds, however, are very relishable, and those in the devotional service of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa enjoy them.

Thus Rāmānanda Rāya and Caitanya Mahāprabhu talked for the entire night. Sometimes they danced, sometimes sang and sometimes cried. After passing the night in this way, at dawn Rāmānanda Rāya returned to his place. The next evening he returned to see Caitanya Mahāprabhu. After discussing Kṛṣṇa for some time, Rāmānanda Rāya fell at the feet of the Lord and said, "My dear Lord, You are so kind to me that You have told me about the science of Kṛṣṇa and Rādhārāṇī and Their loving affairs, the affairs of the rāsa dance and Their pastimes. I never thought that I should be able to speak on this subject matter. You have taught me as You formerly taught the Vedas to Brahmā."

This is the system of receiving instructions from the Supersoul. Externally He is not to be seen, but internally He speaks to the devotee. That is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā—the Lord dictates from within one who is sincerely engaged in His service, and the Lord acts in such a way that such a person can ultimately attain the supreme goal of life. When Brahmā was born, there was no one to instruct him; therefore the Supreme Lord Himself instructed Brahmā in Vedic knowledge through Brahmā's heart. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ([[Vanisource:SB 2.4.22|SB 2.4.22]]) Śukadeva Gosvāmī confirms that the gāyatrī mantra was first imparted within the heart of Brahmā by the Supreme. Śukadeva Gosvāmī prayed to the Lord to help him speak Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam before Mahārāja Parīkṣit.

The first verse of the First Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam describes the Supreme Absolute Truth as He who instructed Brahmā through the heart. Vyāsadeva, the author of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, states: " Let me offer my respectful obeisances to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the cause of the cosmic manifestation and its maintenance and dissolution as well." If we scrutinizingly try to understand the supreme truth, we can understand that He knows everything directly and indirectly. He is the only Supreme Personality, and it is He only who is fully independent. He alone instructed Brahmā as the Supersoul within. Even the greatest scholar becomes bewildered in trying to understand the supreme truth because the entire perceivable cosmic manifestation is situated within Him. Although this material manifestation is a by-product of fire, water, air and earth, it nonetheless appears to be factual. However, it is in Him only that the spiritual and material manifestations as well as the living entities rest. Therefore He is the supreme truth.

Rāmānanda Rāya continued speaking to Lord Caitanya: "First I saw You as a sannyāsī, and then I saw You as a cowherd boy. I see before You a golden doll, and due to its presence Your complexion has become golden. Yet I see that Your complexion is dark, like a cowherd boy's. Will You please explain why I am seeing You in this way? Please tell me without reservation."

"It is the nature of highly elevated devotees to see Kṛṣṇa in everything," Lord Caitanya replied. "Whenever they see anything, they do not see the form of that particular thing. They see Kṛṣṇa." This is confirmed in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ([[Vanisource:SB 11.2.45|SB 11.2.45]]):

<div class="quote_verse">
:sarva-bhūteṣu yaḥ paśyed
:bhagavad-bhāvam ātmanaḥ
:bhūtāni bhagavaty ātmany
:eṣa bhāgavatottamaḥ
</div>

"One who is highly elevated in devotional service sees the Supersoul, Kṛṣṇa, who is the Soul of all individual souls." A similar passage is found in the Tenth Canto ([[Vanisource:SB 10.35.8-11|SB 10.35.9]]) where it is stated that all creepers, plants and trees, laden with flowers and fruits, were bent in the ecstasy of love for Kṛṣṇa, for Kṛṣṇa was the Soul of their soul. After Kṛṣṇa left them, those trees and plants became thorny.

"You have the highest conception of the pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa," Lord Caitanya continued. "Therefore you are seeing Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa everywhere."

Rāmānanda Rāya replied: "I request that You not try to hide Yourself. I understand that You have accepted the complexion and mode of thinking of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī and that You are trying to understand Yourself from the viewpoint of Rādhārāṇī. You have actually advented Yourself to take this point of view. Although You incarnate mainly to understand Your own self, You are at the same time distributing love of Kṛṣṇa to the world. Now You have personally come here to deliver me. Please don't try to deceive me, I beg You. It is not good for You."

Being very satisfied, Lord Caitanya smiled and showed Rāmānanda His real form as the combination of Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. Thus Lord Caitanya was Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself with the external features of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. His transcendental ability to become two and then to become one again was revealed to Rāmānanda Rāya. Those who are fortunate enough to understand Lord Caitanya as well as the Vṛndāvana pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa can be able, by the mercy of Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī, to know about the real identity of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Upon seeing this unique feature of Lord Caitanya, Rāmānanda Rāya fainted and fell on the floor. Lord Caitanya then touched him, and he came to his senses. Rāmānanda Rāya was then surprised to see Lord Caitanya again in His mendicant dress. Lord Caitanya embraced and pacified him and informed him that he was the only one to have seen this form. "Because you have understood the purpose of My incarnation, you are privileged to have seen this particular feature of My personality," the Lord said. "My dear Rāmānanda, I am not a different person with a fair complexion known as Gaurapuruṣa. I am the selfsame Kṛṣṇa the son of Mahārāja Nanda, and due to contact with the body of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī I have now assumed this form. Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī does not touch anyone but Kṛṣṇa; therefore She has influenced Me with Her complexion, mind and words. In this way I am just trying to understand the transcendental flavor of Her relationship with Kṛṣṇa."

The fact is that both Kṛṣṇa and Lord Caitanya are the original Personality of Godhead. No one should try to eliminate Lord Caitanya from Śrī Kṛṣṇa. In His form of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, He is the supreme enjoyer, and in His form of Lord Caitanya, He is the supreme enjoyed. No one can be more superexcellently attractive than Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and but for Śrī Kṛṣṇa, no one can enjoy the supreme form of devotion, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. But for Śrī Kṛṣṇa, all Viṣṇu forms are lacking this ability. This is explained in the description of Govinda in Caitanya-caritāmṛta. There it is said that Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the only personality who can infuse Śrī Kṛṣṇa with transcendental pleasure. Thus Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the chief damsel of Vraja in love with Govinda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

"Please rest assured that I have nothing to hide from you," Lord Caitanya told Rāmānanda. "Even if I do try to hide from you, you are such an advanced devotee that you can understand all My secrets. I request that you please keep this a secret and do not disclose it to anyone. If it were revealed, everyone would consider Me a madman. The facts which I have disclosed to you cannot be understood by materialistic people. When they hear of this, they will simply laugh at Me. You can understand this yourself and keep it to yourself. From a materialistic point of view, a devotee becomes mad in his ecstasy of love for Kṛṣṇa. Both you and I are just like madmen. So please don't disclose these facts to ordinary men. If you do, they will surely laugh at Me."

Lord Caitanya then passed ten nights with Rāmānanda Rāya, enjoyed his company and discussed the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa and Rādhā. The discussions between them were on the highest level of love for Kṛṣṇa. Some of these talks are described, but most of them could not be described. In Caitanya-caritāmṛta this has been compared to metallurgic examination. The metals compared are discussed in the following sequence: first copper, then bronze, then silver, gold and at last touchstone. The preliminary discussions between Lord Caitanya and Rāmānanda Rāya are considered to be like copper, and the higher discussions are considered to be like gold. The fifth dimension of their discussions, however, is considered to be like touchstone. If one is eager to attain the highest understanding, he must begin with an inquiry into the differences between copper and bronze, then silver and gold and so on.

The next day Lord Caitanya asked Rāmānanda Rāya to allow Him to return to Jagannātha Purī. "We can remain together the rest of our lives at Jagannātha Purī and pass our time in discussing Kṛṣṇa." Lord Caitanya then embraced Rāmānanda Rāya and sent him to his own place. In the morning the Lord started on His journey. He met Rāmānanda Rāya at a temple of Hanumān on the river bank. After visiting the temple of Hanumān, He left. As long as Caitanya Mahāprabhu remained at Karpūra, all kinds of people met Him, and by His grace everyone became a devotee of the Supreme Lord.

After Lord Caitanya's departure, Rāmānanda Rāya became overwhelmed due to his separation from the Lord, and he immediately decided to retire from service and meet the Lord again at Jagannātha Purī. The discussions between Rāmānanda Rāya and Lord Caitanya deal with the most concentrated form of devotional service. By hearing these discussions one can understand the pastimes of Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa as well as the confidential role played by Lord Caitanya. If one is actually fortunate enough to have faith in these discussions, he can enter into the transcendental association of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.
</div>
</div>
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So Krsna will give you opportunity to remain naked, become animals, trees, like that. So that is not our aim of life. Our aim of life, the human form of life, is meant for understanding the Absolute Truth

2024-12-13T17:08:44Z

NeilG:

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{{terms|"So Kṛṣṇa will give you opportunity to remain naked, become animals, trees, like that. So that is not our aim of life. Our aim of life, the human form of life, is meant for understanding the Absolute Truth"}}
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<div id="section">
<h2>Lectures</h2>
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<h3>Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures</h3>
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<div class="quote">
<div class="quote_heading">
So Kṛṣṇa will give you opportunity to remain naked, become animals, trees, like that. So that is not our aim of life. Our aim of life, the human form of life, is meant for understanding the Absolute Truth.
</div>

<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:720827 - Lecture SB 01.02.24 - Los Angeles|720827 - Lecture SB 01.02.24 - Los Angeles]]
</div>
<div class="text">
you are given the opportunity to come to the light, but if you neglect it, if you think that natural life, animal life, to become naked and do all nonsense, then "All right. You, next life you become a tree, naked. Stand up naked for ten thousands of years." You want to be naked? That's all right. Nobody will protest. So many trees are standing naked. So many animals are loitering in the street naked. Nobody protests. But in human society, if you become naked, then you'll be punished by law. But they are thinking they are advancing by becoming naked. This is the knowledge: ignorance.

So Kṛṣṇa will give you opportunity to remain naked, become animals, trees, like that. So that is not our aim of life. Our aim of life, the human form of life, is meant for understanding the Absolute Truth: athāto brahma jijñāsā. That is the Vedānta-sūtra says. Brahmā jijñā . . . what is Brahman? What is Absolute Truth? This inquisitiveness must be there in human life, then it is human being. Otherwise, he is animal. The animal does not inquire what is Absolute Truth, neither the Vedānta-darśana and all these Vedic scriptures are meant for the animals. They're meant for human being. A human being has got the brain; he can understand, he can be trained up to become a brahmin. These are the opportunities.

So Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is giving this great opportunity to the human society. They're training them how to become a brahmin. We are giving them all important Vedic literature, translated into English and other. This is the greatest boon to make human life successful. But if the people want to remain in darkness, then what can we do? But not that everyone wants to remain in darkness. So many people are coming forward and taking this movement seriously.
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Sometimes if people hear that by acting in such a way they will become a tree, a dog, a cat, an insect or even a human being, they say that they do not even care to know this

2024-12-13T17:05:32Z

NeilG:

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[[Category:Teachings of Lord Kapila Chapter 13 - Perfect Knowledge Through Surrender]]
[[Category:Teachings of Lord Kapila Chapters 01 to 18]]
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<h2>Other Books by Srila Prabhupada</h2>
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<h3>Teachings of Lord Kapila</h3>
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Sometimes if people hear that by acting in such a way they will become a tree, a dog, a cat, an insect or even a human being, they say that they do not even care to know this. Sometimes they say, "Never mind if I become a dog. What's wrong with that? I will simply forget everything." Many university students in the Western countries speak this way.
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[[Vanisource:TLK 13 Perfect Knowledge Through Surrender|Teachings of Lord Kapila, 13]]
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<div class="quote_translation">
On hearing this statement of the Lord, Devahūti inquired: What kind of devotional service is worth developing and practicing to help me easily and immediately attain the service of Your lotus feet?
</div>
<div class="text">
It is stated in Bhagavad-gītā that no one is barred from rendering service to the Lord. Whether one is a woman or a laborer or a merchant, if he engages himself in the devotional service of the Lord, he is promoted to the highest perfectional state and goes back home, back to Godhead. The devotional service most suitable for different types of devotees is determined and fixed by the mercy of the spiritual master. Therefore in order to become free from the miseries of material nature, one should approach a bona fide spiritual master inquisitively and submissively. When Arjuna submitted to Kṛṣṇa, he said, "My dear Kṛṣṇa, now I no longer care to talk to You as a friend because friendly talks will not benefit me now." Generally we talk to a friend just to spend time, but when we approach a spiritual master, we should be submissive. Friends approach one another on an equal basis, but this is not the way to approach a spiritual master. Unless one is submissive, one cannot accept sublime instructions. Arjuna teaches us submission by giving up his friendly relationship with Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He says, "I have now become Your disciple. Please instruct me."

We can speculate for many births, for many years, and yet not be able to understand the ultimate goal of life. Therefore the śāstras all advise that we search out a guru. The word guru means "heavy" or "weighty." One who has much knowledge is heavy with knowledge. One should consider the bona fide guru in this way, and one should not think, "I know everything. Who can teach me?" No one can say such a thing, for everyone needs instruction.

According to the Vedic system, a child is sent to a guru-kula to learn spiritual knowledge from the very beginning. When a child goes to a guru-kula, he becomes a brahmacārī and works like a menial servant. He may be the son of a great brāhmaṇa or a great king; it doesn't matter. When one goes to a guru-kula, he immediately becomes the menial servant of the guru. If the guru orders him to perform some lowly service, he is prepared to do it. This is the business of a brahmacārī. Even Kṛṣṇa went to a guru-kula to teach us. There was no need for Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, to go to a guru-kula, but He did this simply to set an example. Caitanya Mahāprabhu also accepted a guru.

Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī was a very learned scholar, and he knew that Caitanya Mahāprabhu was also a great scholar, yet he criticized Caitanya Mahāprabhu for chanting and dancing, for Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī felt that a sannyāsī should devote his entire attention to the reading of Vedānta. He therefore considered Caitanya Mahāprabhu a sentimentalist, not a bona fide sannyāsī. Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī inquired, "Why aren't you reading Vedānta-sūtra? Why are you chanting and dancing?" Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied:

<div class="quote_verse">
:prabhu kahe-śuna, śrīpāda, ihāra kāraṇa
:guru more mūrkha dekhi 'karila śāsana
</div>

"Actually, I am not very learned, and my guru has stated that I am fool number one. He said that because of this I cannot possibly read Vedānta-sūtra, for Vedānta-sūtra is not meant for an ordinary person. My guru therefore advised me to chant this Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, and now I am doing this and getting the results." ([[Vanisource:CC Adi 7.71|CC Adi 7.71]])

At the present moment in Kali-yuga, people are not well educated. They are simply engaged in earning money to fill the belly. Vedānta philosophy is not meant for an ordinary person, nor even for an ordinary learned person. It requires great knowledge of Sanskrit and philosophy. Of course Caitanya Mahāprabhu, being the Supreme Personality of Godhead, knew all things, but at that moment He had assumed the role of an ordinary person in order to instruct an illiterate, ignorant society. In this age people are not even interested in reading Vedānta-sūtra. People are so badly infected by the influence of māyā that they do not even care to understand that there is life after death or that there are 8,400,000 life forms. Sometimes if people hear that by acting in such a way they will become a tree, a dog, a cat, an insect or even a human being, they say that they do not even care to know this. Sometimes they say, "Never mind if I become a dog. What's wrong with that? I will simply forget everything." Many university students in the Western countries speak this way. They have become so ignorant that they are described as manda. Previously, in India, the brāhmaṇas were interested in understanding Brahman. Athāto brahma jijñāsā. However, at the present moment everyone is a śūdra, and no one is interested in understanding Brahman. People are simply interested in getting more money and going to the cinemas.

Human life is meant for understanding our situation, and we should take instructions from Bhagavad-gītā. Arjuna is personally teaching us by accepting Kṛṣṇa as his guru. He asks Kṛṣṇa to become his spiritual master and teach him. The lessons given by Śrī Kṛṣṇa are not simply meant for Arjuna but for everyone. Kṛṣṇa tells us in Bhagavad-gītā that we should search out a guru. The first guru is Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself, and whoever represents Śrī Kṛṣṇa is also a guru. If I am a businessman, and someone goes to canvass for my business and take orders for me, he is my representative. If he simply says that he is my representative and yet takes some orders but uses the money for something else, he is not really my representative.

Kṛṣṇa's representative does not say, "I have become Kṛṣṇa." Such a person is neither a representative nor a guru. He is simply a cheater. Kṛṣṇa's representative is one who canvasses for Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa says, "Give up everything and surrender unto Me." Kṛṣṇa's representative says, "Give up everything and simply surrender unto Kṛṣṇa." This is certainly not very difficult to understand. Anyone can become Kṛṣṇa's representative. Nonetheless, for the past two hundred years, many yogīs and svāmīs have gone to foreign countries, but no one has spoken about Kṛṣṇa. They have simply presented a hodgepodge of Indian philosophy. No one has actually presented Vedic culture as it is.

We should read Bhagavad-gītā as it is and understand the philosophy as Arjuna understood it. Arjuna was a friend of Kṛṣṇa's. He was sitting with Kṛṣṇa and speaking to Him as a friend speaks to a friend. In the Eleventh Chapter, after having seen the universal form, Arjuna tells Kṛṣṇa: "I have in the past addressed You as 'O Kṛṣṇa,' 'O Yādava,' 'O my friend,' without knowing Your glories. Please forgive whatever I may have done in madness or in love."

Arjuna understood that although Kṛṣṇa was his friend, He was the Supreme Personality of Godhead and therefore the proper person to be his guru. He therefore told Kṛṣṇa at the beginning of Bhagavad-gītā ([[Vanisource:BG 2.7|2.7]]), śiṣyas te 'haṁ śādhi māṁ tvāṁ prapannam: "Now I am Your disciple and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me."

These are the instructions we get from Bhagavad-gītā, and whoever reads Bhagavad-gītā has to accept Kṛṣṇa as the guru. We have to render service to a guru and surrender ourselves. It is not that one should accept just any person as a guru. The guru must be the representative of Kṛṣṇa; then one can surrender oneself. Surrender means that one will accept whatever the guru says. It is not that one thinks, "I do not care for my guru's order. Still I am a disciple." That is not actually accepting a guru. Of course, it has become a fashion to accept a guru in this way, but this will not help anyone. As soon as Kṛṣṇa became Arjuna's guru, Kṛṣṇa immediately chastised him. Śrī Kṛṣṇa told him:

<div class="quote_verse">
:aśocyān anvaśocas tvaṁ
:prajñā-vādāṁś ca bhāṣase
:gatāsūn agatāsūṁś ca
:nānuśocanti paṇḍitāḥ
</div>

"While speaking learned words, you are mourning for what is not worthy of grief. Those who are wise lament neither for the living nor the dead." ([[Vanisource:BG 2.11|BG 2.11]])

In this way Kṛṣṇa essentially told Arjuna that he was fool number one for lamenting for those things for which one should not lament. Arjuna was lamenting for the body, thinking that it was horrible that his relatives would be killed in war. This was not the proper subject matter for him to be contemplating. The real subject matter for a wise man to contemplate is the salvation of the soul. Therefore Śrī Kṛṣṇa first explained the distinction between the body and the soul.

This Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is also concerned with the soul, and therefore we have used the word "consciousness" because consciousness belongs to the soul. Consciousness is the symptom of the soul's presence. Because the soul is in the body, the body feels pleasure and pain. When the soul leaves the body, the body can be hacked to pieces, and yet it will not protest. This is because the consciousness is gone. We feel pleasure and pain because consciousness is present, and Kṛṣṇa advises us that it is this consciousness that is eternal, not the body. We have to purify our consciousness in order to understand that consciousness is eternal. If we can do this, our lives will be successful. At the time of death, our consciousness carries us into another body. There are the mind, the intelligence and the ego, which constitute the subtle body, and there is also the spirit soul, which is even more subtle. We know that we possess a mind, although we cannot see it. Nor can we see the intelligence, the ego or the soul. We can only see the gross material body, and when this gross material body ends, we say that everything is finished. In order to understand these things, we have to approach a guru, just as Arjuna approached Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa told Arjuna in very gentlemanly language that he was not a learned man. In essence, He said, "You are not a paṇḍita. Just try to understand that the real life is the life of the soul." Vedic education means taking care of the soul. Presently the soul is encaged, embodied, entangled in material affairs. The soul is suffering, and it is to our benefit to rescue him from these material clutches. This is real education. To receive this education, one has to approach a proper guru. The guru is there - Kṛṣṇa. The guru is also there as Kapiladeva, the incarnation of Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa informs us that He is the owner of the body, and He has explained this in many different ways. He has stated that the soul can never be cut to pieces, burned by fire, moistened by water nor withered by the wind. Matter interacts with matter, but the soul does not belong to the material world. This means that the soul is above material action and reaction. In the material world even iron and stone can be melted, but the laws of material nature do not apply to the spirit soul.

To understand these subjects, we should be careful to approach Kṛṣṇa's representative. We should not approach a bogus guru, who is like a blind man trying to lead other blind men. We must go to one who has open eyes, to one who has seen the Absolute Truth. The Absolute Truth is there, just as the sun is there for everyone to see. The sun does not hide, but a person can try to hide from the sun by closing his door. One must open the door in order to see the sun. Similarly, Kṛṣṇa is there, God is there, and we have to come to Kṛṣṇa and take the lessons of Bhagavad-gītā to learn who and what God is. Rascals will not do this, but will simply manufacture some philosophy or other. There is actually no difficulty because Kṛṣṇa's instructions are there, and Kṛṣṇa Himself is there. Kṛṣṇa is so kind that He says, "All right, if you cannot understand Me in this way, just see Me in water. Come on, if you do not understand Me in that way, just see Me in the sunshine." Is this very difficult? There is nothing difficult about it, but we are very obstinate. Māyā is also very strong, and as soon as we try to accept Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Lord, māyā will whisper in our ear, "No, no. There are many gods. Why are you accepting Kṛṣṇa?" However, the śāstras say, kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam... ([[Vanisource:SB 1.3.28|SB 1.3.28]]). īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ (Bs. 5.1). "Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead." We should take our lessons from the ācāryas and the śāstras. At least in India there are many great ācāryas - Rāmānujācārya, Madhvācārya, Viṣṇu Svāmī, and even Śaṅkarācārya and Guru Nanak. All of these have accepted Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Why, then, should we reject Him? Why should we accept a competitor? We should not simply engage in mental speculation but should accept Kṛṣṇa in full consciousness and be happy. This is made possible by the help of the guru; therefore Devahūti is further questioning her son, Kapiladeva.
</div>
</div>
</div>

So-called comfortable life for few years, and then becoming a dog and hog, a tree? It is possibility

2024-12-13T17:04:22Z

NeilG:

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{{terms|"So-called comfortable life for few years, and then becoming a dog and hog, a tree? It is possibility"}}
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<div id="section">
<h2>Conversations and Morning Walks</h2>
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<h3>1971 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
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<div class="quote">
<div class="quote_heading">
So-called comfortable life for few years, and then becoming a dog and hog, a tree? It is possibility. If your next life you become a tree, you stand up for ten thousand years in one place.
</div>

<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:710514 - Interview - Sydney|710514 - Interview - Sydney]]
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<div class="text">
One day death comes and kicks on his back and he will be finished off. Now if you are so brain, just try to save yourself. Where is your brain? Or make another brain like you, so that at the time of your death the brain will act—upon your brain . . . (indistinct) . . . he is dependent on God, Kṛṣṇa. Still, he'll not agree. Kṛṣṇa will come as death. He may come, just He is death. Kṛṣṇa says, "To such rascals I come as death." Then they will believe that there is God.

(break) So far . . . so far we are concerned, they are as good as an ordinary man, because they do not know actually the real problem of life. But they are puffed-up, "Oh, we are . . . (indistinct) . . ."

(break) . . . problems of life, then your science is perfect. Simply jugglery-of-words theories, what will help? Stop death, stop birth, stop disease, stop old age, then I shall understand that your scientist. That is not in your command. If the problems are there, real problem, then what is the use of this science? Simply by advertisement?

So-called comfortable life for few years, and then becoming a dog and hog, a tree? It is possibility. If your next life you become a tree, you stand up for ten thousand years in one place. Would you like? In childhood the teacher says: "Stand up on the bench," that was so much troublesome.
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Presently in the Western countries it has become fashionable to run around naked. Therefore nature will give these people an opportunity to stand naked like trees for many years

2024-12-13T17:00:39Z

NeilG:

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[[Category:Teachings of Lord Kapila Chapter 12 - Association with the Supreme Lord Through Hearing]]
[[Category:Teachings of Lord Kapila Chapters 01 to 18]]
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<div id="section">
<h2>Other Books by Srila Prabhupada</h2>
</div>
<div id="sub_section">
<h3>Teachings of Lord Kapila</h3>
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<div class="quote">
<div class="quote_heading">
Presently in the Western countries it has become fashionable to run around naked. Therefore nature will give these people an opportunity to stand naked like trees for many years. Why are we receiving different bodies? Because we have different tendencies for sense gratification. We actually have to come to detest sense gratification before our spiritual life begins. This is made possible through bhakti.
</div>

<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:TLK 12 Association with the Supreme Lord Through Hearing|Teachings of Lord Kapila, 12]]
</div>
<div class="quote_translation">
In the association of pure devotees, discussion of the pastimes and activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is very pleasing and satisfying to the ear and the heart. By cultivating such knowledge one gradually becomes advanced on the path of liberation, and thereafter he is freed, and his attraction becomes fixed. Then real devotion and devotional service begin.

Thus consciously engaged in devotional service in the association of devotees, a person gains distaste for sense gratification, both in this world and in the next, by constantly thinking about the activities of the Lord. This process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the easiest process of mystic power; when one is actually situated on that path of devotional service, he is able to control the mind.
</div>
<div class="text">
The process of advancing in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and devotional service is described here. The first point is that one must seek the association of persons who are Kṛṣṇa conscious and who engage in devotional service. Without such association one cannot advance. Simply by theoretical knowledge or study one cannot make any appreciable advancement. One must give up the association of materialistic persons and seek the association of devotees because without such association one cannot understand the activities of the Lord. Generally, people are convinced of the impersonal feature of the Absolute Truth. Because they do not associate with devotees, they cannot understand that the Absolute Truth can be a person and have personal activities. This is a very difficult subject matter, and unless one has personal understanding of the Absolute Truth, there is no meaning to devotion. Service or devotion cannot be offered to anything impersonal. Service must be offered to a person. Nondevotees cannot appreciate Kṛṣṇa consciousness by reading the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam or any other Vedic literature wherein the activities of the Lord are described; they think that these activities are fictional, because spiritual life is not explained to them in the proper mood. To understand the personal activities of the Lord, one has to seek the association of devotees, and by such association, when one contemplates and tries to understand the transcendental activities of the Lord, the path to liberation is open, and he is freed. One who has firm faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead becomes fixed, and his attraction for association with the Lord and the devotees increases. Association with devotees means association with the Lord. The devotee who makes this association develops the consciousness for rendering service to the Lord, and then, being situated in the transcendental position of devotional service, he gradually becomes perfect.

In all scriptures people are encouraged to act in a pious way so that they can enjoy sense gratification not only in this life but also in the next. For example, one is promised promotion to the heavenly kingdom of higher planets by pious fruitive activities. But a devotee in the association of devotees prefers to contemplate the activities of the Lord - how He has created this universe, how He is maintaining it, how the creation dissolves, and how in the spiritual kingdom the Lord's pastimes are enacted. There are full literatures describing these activities, especially Bhagavad-gītā, Brahma-saṁhitā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. The sincere devotee who associates with devotees gets the opportunity to hear and contemplate these subjects, and the result is that he feels distaste for so-called happiness in this or that world, in heaven or on other planets. The devotees are simply interested in being transferred to the personal association of the Lord; they are no longer attracted to temporary so-called happiness. That is the position of one who is yoga-yukta. One who is fixed in mystic power is not disturbed by the allurement of this world or that world; he is interested in spiritual understanding. This is very easily attained by the easiest process, bhakti-yoga. Ṛjubhir yoga-mārgaiḥ ([[Vanisource:SB 3.25.26|SB 3.25.26]]). A very suitable word used here is ṛjubhiḥ, or "very easy." There are different processes of yoga-mārga, attaining yoga perfection, but this process, devotional service to the Lord, is the easiest. Not only is it the easiest process, but the result is sublime. Everyone, therefore, should try this process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness and reach the highest perfection.

Sat means "existence," and asat means "that which does not exist," that which is temporary. The material world is asat; therefore the Vedas enjoin: asato mā sad gama: "Do not remain within this material world." Those who are interested in materialistic life are also called asat. When asked how a Vaiṣṇava behaves, Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, asat-saṅga-tyāga-ei vaiṣṇava-ācāra: "A devotee first of all avoids the company of asat, those who are materially interested." ([[Vanisource:CC Madhya 22.87|CC Madhya 22.87]]) We have established this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement in order to avoid asat-saṅga, association with those who are interested in material things. Because we are associating with Kṛṣṇa, we do not wish to talk about anything but Kṛṣṇa. Everyone is interested in this business or that, and we are exclusively interested in our Kṛṣṇa consciousness business. Those who are asat are very much attached to sense gratification, and the culmination of sense gratification is sex.

In addition, Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī in his Hari-bhakti-vilāsa recommends that one should not hear Bhagavad-gītā, the purāṇas, the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam or any hari-kathā from anyone who is not a Vaiṣṇava in his actions. That means that we should not hear these Vedic literatures from the Māyāvādīs, who actually do not accept Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. How can one not accept Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Lord and yet dare to speak on Bhagavad-gītā? We will never derive any benefit from listening to the commentaries of such people. Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam should be heard from the devotees. We can hear Bhagavad-gītā from Māyāvādīs for hundreds of years and yet never understand Kṛṣṇa. It is therefore forbidden for Vaiṣṇavas to hear talks given by Māyāvādīs.

Hari-kathā, talks about Śrī Hari, or Kṛṣṇa, are amṛta, nectar. If one hears them from the right source, he attains amṛta (so 'mṛtatvāya kalpate). Mṛta means "birth and death," and amṛta means "the cessation of birth and death." Spiritual life means putting an end to birth, old age, disease and death. Getting amṛta, nectar, means getting relief from birth and death, and that is the real aim of spiritual life. Lord Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā ([[Vanisource:BG 7.16|7.16]]) that spiritual life begins when one is pious:

<div class="quote_verse">
:catur-vidhā bhajante māṁ
:janāḥ sukṛtino 'rjuna
:ārto jijñāsur arthārthī
:jñānī ca bharatarṣabha
</div>

"O best among the Bhāratas (Arjuna), four kinds of pious men render devotional service unto Me - the distressed, the desirer of wealth, the inquisitive, and he who is searching for knowledge of the Absolute."

If we actually want to become pious and develop our devotional life, we have to associate unflinchingly with a sādhu. Then we can acquire some taste for Kṛṣṇa. When we discuss Kṛṣṇa with a sādhu, the discussion becomes very pleasing, and we develop some taste, which is called rasa, or mellow. Rasa is the enjoyment we derive from drinking something very nice when we are thirsty. Kṛṣṇa has instructed us to think of Him when drinking water. This is not very difficult. Kṛṣṇa also tells us to think of Him when we see sunlight in the morning. Why do we say, "Can you show me God?" God is showing us Himself. Why do we close our eyes to try to see Him? He says, "I am this, and I am that." It is not that suddenly we can expect to see God, but we can become qualified to see God through the association of a sādhu. Presently many people are interested in receiving degrees from big universities, but education without God consciousness is simply an expansion of māyā's influence. Because knowledge is taken away by illusion, the universities are simply presenting impediments on the path of God consciousness. The living entity is already illusioned when he comes into the material world, and so-called advanced education simply increases his illusion. Trying to become happy in this temporary, material life, the living entity has forgotten that he is the eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa. Even if one becomes happy in this temporary life, his happiness is an illusion because no one is allowed to stay and enjoy his happiness. These points have to be understood in the association of devotees. A devotee knows everything because he has seen the Supreme Absolute Truth, Kṛṣṇa.

What is the goal of vedānta-darśana? Veda means "knowledge," and anta means "ultimate." What is that ultimate knowledge? In Bhagavad-gītā ([[Vanisource:BG 15.15|15.15]]) Śrī Kṛṣṇa says:

<div class="quote_verse">
:vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyo
:vedānta-kṛd veda-vid eva cāham
</div>

"By all the Vedas, I am to be known; indeed, I am the compiler of Vedānta, and I am the knower of the Vedas."

If we listen to Kṛṣṇa and understand what and who He is, we can actually understand Vedānta. If we do not understand Kṛṣṇa but advertise ourselves as Vedāntists, we are just being illusioned. Without understanding Kṛṣṇa, one is actually a mūḍha, a fool. People do not know it, but actually anyone in the material world is more or less a mūḍha. We are all mūḍhas, for unless we are mūḍhas, we do not come into the material world. From Brahmā down to the smallest ant, we are all mūḍhas of different degrees. In order to become really learned, we have to associate with devotees. Then we can actually relish kṛṣṇa-kathā. When discussed among devotees, kṛṣṇa-kathā is pleasing to the heart and ear. This requires a little training, and this training is given by the devotees. We should follow the devotees in their practical daily life, in their routine work and behavior. Cultivation means practice, and the great ācāryas have given a routine we can cultivate. For instance, The Nectar of Devotion by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī deals with the cultivation of devotional service, and this book, which we have translated, has been very well received in European and American universities. Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, The Nectar of Devotion, is the actual science of bhakti. Bhakti is not sentiment; it is a great science, and we have to learn it scientifically. It is not that we have to wait for another life to cultivate devotional service. We can read The Nectar of Devotion, live with devotees, rise early in the morning to attend maṅgala-ārati, study Vedic literature, take prasāda and preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Māyā is very strong, and to begin devotional service is to declare war against māyā. Some of the devotees in this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement may fall down, but whatever is done sincerely is to their permanent credit. This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā. If one renders a little devotional service, he does not fall down into the lower species but again attains a human form. There are 8,400,000 species, but the fallen devotee is guaranteed a human life. If one becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious, he is assured of a good birth in the next life. However, if one completes his Kṛṣṇa consciousness in this life, he will not take birth again but will go to Kṛṣṇa. This is what is actually wanted. Why take the chance of being born into a rich family or a brāhmaṇa family? Actually, such a birth is quite risky because there is really no guarantee. Generally, those who are rich don't care at all for Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and those who are born in brāhmaṇa families generally become puffed-up, thinking, "I am a brāhmaṇa. I am born in a very high family." Thinking this brings about their falldown. It is said that pride precedes a fall. A Vaiṣṇava is by nature very humble.

These are the chances one takes when one becomes a human being. Kṛṣṇa is personally advising us to take up the opportunities offered by the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. We should take them and not run the risk of committing spiritual suicide.

This is the process for understanding the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Person, the Supreme Being. In the Absolute, there are no contradictions. Kṛṣṇa's name, form, activities, paraphernalia and attributes are identical with Kṛṣṇa. This is the meaning of absolute. There is no difference between Kṛṣṇa's form and Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa's hands and Kṛṣṇa's legs are nondifferent. In the material world, there is a difference between our left hand and our right hand, between the nose and the ear, but these dualities do not exist in Kṛṣṇa. This is the meaning of absolute. As stated in Brahma-saṁhitā (5.32):

<div class="quote_verse">
:aṅgāni yasya sakalendriya-vṛttimanti
:paśyanti pānti kalayanti ciraṁ jaganti
:ānanda-cinmaya-sad-ujjvala-vigrahasya
:govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
</div>

"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, whose transcendental form is full of bliss, truth and substantiality, and is thus full of the most dazzling splendor. Each of the limbs of that transcendental figure possesses, in Himself, the full-fledged functions of all the organs, and eternally sees, maintains and manifests the infinite universes, both spiritual and mundane." The different parts of our bodies serve different purposes, but any limb of Kṛṣṇa's body can serve any purpose. Kṛṣṇa can eat through His eyes, or Kṛṣṇa can go somewhere simply by thinking. The Absolute is advaita. There is no duality in the Absolute. Everything is one.

Our material disease lies in wanting to satisfy our senses. We have stated before that advancement of civilization means advancement of sense gratification, but bhakti means just the opposite. As long as we are interested in sense gratification, there is no question of bhakti. We have to reduce our tendency for sense gratification and increase our devotional activities. We have also stated that material bondage means accepting one body and creating another. Kṛṣṇa, through nature, will give us full facility to enjoy our senses. Presently in the Western countries it has become fashionable to run around naked. Therefore nature will give these people an opportunity to stand naked like trees for many years. Why are we receiving different bodies? Because we have different tendencies for sense gratification. We actually have to come to detest sense gratification before our spiritual life begins. This is made possible through bhakti. Although Kṛṣṇa is beyond our vision, He has agreed to be seen by us through the arcā-vigraha, the Deity. We should not think that the Deity is made of stone. Even if it is stone, we should think that Kṛṣṇa has made Himself visible before us like a stone because we cannot see beyond stone. That is Kṛṣṇa's mercy. Because our eyes and other senses are imperfect, we cannot see Kṛṣṇa present everywhere in His original spiritual form. Because we are imperfect, we see the difference between things spiritual and material, but Kṛṣṇa, being absolute, knows no such distinctions. He can become spiritual or material, however He likes, and it does not make any difference to Him. Being almighty and omnipotent, Kṛṣṇa can change matter into spirit and spirit into matter. Therefore we should not think, as the atheists do, that we are worshiping idols. Even if it is an idol, it is still Kṛṣṇa. That is the absolute nature of Kṛṣṇa. Even if we think that the Deity is a stone, or a piece of metal or some wood, He is still Kṛṣṇa. The understanding of this requires bhakti on our part. If we are a little thoughtful and philosophical, and if we are at all inclined toward bhakti, we can understand that Kṛṣṇa is present in stone.

Actually, nothing is different from Kṛṣṇa because everything is Kṛṣṇa's energy. The Māyāvādī philosophers say that since everything is God, the personality of Kṛṣṇa is finished. But actually Kṛṣṇa is Kṛṣṇa, and at the same time He is everything. We can understand this by bhakti, but not by any other process. When a bhakta sees a tree, he sees Kṛṣṇa. As explained in Caitanya-caritāmṛta ([[Vanisource:CC Madhya 8.274|CC Madhya 8.274]]):

<div class="quote_verse">
:sthāvara jaṅgama dekhe, nā dekhe tāra mūrti
:sarvatra haya nija iṣṭa-deva-sphūrti
</div>

The advanced devotee does not see living entities as moving and not moving. He sees Kṛṣṇa. This is also stated in the Brahma-saṁhitā (5.38):

<div class="quote_verse">
:premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena
:santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti
</div>

Because his eyes are always smeared with the ointment of devotion, the devotee always sees Kṛṣṇa and nothing else. He sees Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa's energy everywhere. For instance, if you love your child, when you see your child's shoe, you immediately see your child. Or if you see your child's toy, you immediately see your child and hear his voice. Similarly, if we have actually developed love of Kṛṣṇa, nothing exists but Kṛṣṇa. When our love for Kṛṣṇa is actually developed, whatever we see, we will see Kṛṣṇa.

Unless one is advanced in kṛṣṇa-premā, love of Kṛṣṇa, he cannot see or understand. By the blunt material senses, we cannot even understand the name of Kṛṣṇa. People are always asking, "Why are these people chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa?" They cannot understand, although Kṛṣṇa realization begins with the name. The name of Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa are nondifferent, but we cannot realize this intellectually. We have to practice chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa to realize it. When we actually advance in devotional service and chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra offenselessly, we will realize that Kṛṣṇa and His name are nondifferent. Thus kṛṣṇa-bhakti begins with the tongue, for we can utilize the tongue to chant, and to taste kṛṣṇa-prasāda. In this way we can become a Kṛṣṇa bhakta.

When we see the Deity of Kṛṣṇa in the temple, we should think that the Deity is Kṛṣṇa. In this way Kṛṣṇa has agreed to be seen by us and even dressed by us. However, if we think of Kṛṣṇa's virāṭ-rūpa, His universal form, what can we do? How can we dress the virāṭ-rūpa? His many heads cover the sky, and we cannot even conceive of Him. Kṛṣṇa can become bigger than the biggest and smaller than the smallest. Therefore this verse states: bhaktyā pumāñ jāta-virāga aindriyāt. The more we serve Kṛṣṇa, give Him things to eat and dress Him nicely, the less we become interested in our own bodies. In the material world everyone is very busy dressing himself very nicely in order to be sexually attractive, but if we try to dress Kṛṣṇa nicely, we will forget our own material dress. If we feed Kṛṣṇa nice food, we will forget to satisfy our own tongue by going to this or that restaurant.

Kṛṣṇa was teaching Bhagavad-gītā, and Arjuna was seeing Him face to face, but seeing Kṛṣṇa and reading Bhagavad-gītā are the same. Some people say that Arjuna was fortunate to have seen Kṛṣṇa face to face and take instructions from Him, but Kṛṣṇa can be seen immediately, provided one has the eyes to see. There is the example in Caitanya-caritāmṛta of a brāhmaṇa in South India who was reading Bhagavad-gītā, although he was illiterate. The people in the neighborhood knew that he was illiterate, and they made jokes, asking him, "Well, how is it you are reading Bhagavad-gītā?" One day Caitanya Mahāprabhu happened to be in a temple nearby, and He could understand that this man was a devotee. He therefore approached him and asked, "My dear brāhmaṇa, what are you reading?" The brāhmaṇa replied, "I am reading Bhagavad-gītā, or, rather, I am trying to read Bhagavad-gītā. I happen to be illiterate, but my guru-mahārāja has said that I must read the eighteen chapters of Bhagavad-gītā daily. I am simply trying to carry out his order, and therefore I am opening and closing the pages." Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said, "I see that you are crying sometimes. Why is this?" The brāhmaṇa replied, "Yes, I am crying because when I take up this book, I see a picture of Kṛṣṇa driving Arjuna's chariot. Śrī Kṛṣṇa is so kind that He has accepted the position of a servant to His devotee. Therefore when I see this picture, I weep." Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu then immediately embraced the brāhmaṇa and said, "You have actually read Bhagavad-gītā."

It is not that a wealth of education is required. One does not even have to understand the language. The only ingredient needed is bhakti, love. If one becomes a pure bhakta, he will forget all material sense enjoyment. Being a bhakta doesn't simply mean wearing tilaka and robes. One is not a bhakta if he has a taste for material sense enjoyment. A true bhakta wants to satisfy not his senses but the senses of Kṛṣṇa. That is the spiritual world. In the spiritual world, Vṛndāvana, everyone - Mother Yaśodā, Nanda Mahārāja, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, the gopīs, the cowherd boys, Śrīdāmā, Sudāmā, the land, the water, the trees, the birds - all are trying to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. That is the real meaning of Vṛndāvana. When Kṛṣṇa left Vṛndāvana for Mathurā, everyone in Vṛndāvana fell dead out of separation from Him. Similarly, we can always live in Vṛndāvana, in Vaikuṇṭha, if we are mad after Kṛṣṇa. This is the teaching of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and He illustrated this by His very life. When He was in Jagannātha Purī, He was always mad after Kṛṣṇa day and night. The last twelve years of His life were passed in madness. Sometimes He threw Himself into the ocean, and He wandered about like a madman. Of course, this is not possible for ordinary living entities. However, if we become bhaktas, we will find intelligence behind everything in the creation. If we take a flower and see its constitution, how it is made and how its colors are displayed and how it comes into existence, we can see Kṛṣṇa. We can see how Kṛṣṇa has created such a beautiful thing so intelligently. We should not consider like rascals that such a thing has come into being automatically. Fools cannot see, but those who are intelligent can see that the hand of the Supreme Lord is in everything within the creation. Īśāvāsyam idaṁ sarvam ([[Vanisource:ISO 1|ISO 1]]).

Actually, nothing comes about automatically. Everything comes about through the intelligence of Kṛṣṇa, through His fine and accurate powers. If we paint a picture of a flower, we have to arrange many facets, and still the picture will not be absolutely perfect. Yet the flower created by Kṛṣṇa has come out perfectly. What rascal can say that there is no brain behind it? Kṛṣṇa specifically says that we should not think that prakṛti, nature, is working automatically. He says, "Nature is working under My direction." One simply has to develop the eyes to see how these things are going on. This is possible if we engage the senses in the service of Kṛṣṇa. We first of all must engage the tongue in chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa and in eating bhagavat-prasāda. Nothing else is required. Therefore the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is distributing prasāda and engaging people in chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.
</div>
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</div>

One should have sufficient knowledge to understand his constitutional position as a living entity. And he must develop renouncement, vairagya. Because attachment sometimes leads me to become a tree, a mouse, a serpent in the same house

2024-12-13T16:23:38Z

NeilG:

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{{terms|"One should have sufficient knowledge to understand his constitutional position as a living entity. And he must develop renouncement, vairāgya. Because attachment sometimes leads me to become a tree, to become a mouse, to become a serpent in the same house"}}
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<div id="section">
<h2>Lectures</h2>
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<div id="sub_section">
<h3>Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures</h3>
</div>
<div class="quote">
<div class="quote_heading">
The life's program is jñāna-vairāgya, knowledge and renouncement. One should have sufficient knowledge to understand his constitutional position as a living entity. And he must develop renouncement, vairāgya. Because attachment sometimes leads me to become a tree, to become a mouse, to become a serpent in the same house.
</div>

<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:720405 - Lecture BG 13.02 - Melbourne|720405 - Lecture BG 13.02 - Melbourne]]
</div>
<div class="text">
Sometimes we become ghost. If we become too much attached, we cannot leave. Therefore too much opulent apartment, opulent life, is not very good for spiritual advancement because we get too much attached to it. My Guru Mahārāja used to advise us that, "It is better to live in rented house than to possess own house." Why? Because if we possess our own house, we'll be more attached.

Because the life's program is jñāna-vairāgya, knowledge and renouncement. One should have sufficient knowledge to understand his constitutional position as a living entity. And he must develop renouncement, vairāgya. Because attachment sometimes leads me to become a tree, to become a mouse, to become a serpent in the same house. Attachment. After all, you may decorate your house. You may purchase a nice house; you decorate it very nicely. But you have to leave it. You cannot live here permanently. That is not possible. Either make your country very nice, very nice city, very decorated city, or your house, apartment, wife, children, very nice decorated, but you'll not be allowed to remain.

We don't think that, that "Why you are forced to leave?" That we do not think. But that's a fact. I am living very comfortably with my society, family. "Society, friendship and love, divinely bestowed upon man," there is one poetry. That's all right. But it is so nice, it is so pleasing, but one day comes, "Please get out." Finished. You cannot protest. You cannot say that, "I have worked so hard. I have made my country, my family, my house so nice. Why I shall get out?" "No. You must." Or "Let me stay here for some days more." "No, not even a second. You must get out."
</div>
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</div>

Now this nudie movement is there, how to remain naked. That means next life they are preparing for becoming tree: Thousand years, stand up here, naked. Nobody will object

2024-12-13T16:06:31Z

NeilG:

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{{terms|"now this nudie movement is there, how to remain naked. That means next life they are preparing for becoming tree"|"Thousand years, stand up here, naked. Nobody will object"}}
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<h2>Lectures</h2>
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<h3>Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures</h3>
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<div class="quote">
<div class="quote_heading">
Trees stands naked. And now this nudie movement is there, how to remain naked. That means next life they are preparing for becoming tree, "Thousand years, stand up here, naked. Nobody will object.
</div>

<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:741013 - Lecture SB 01.08.33 - Mayapur|741013 - Lecture SB 01.08.33 - Mayapur]]
</div>
<div class="text">
So in every way Kṛṣṇa proved the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Still, these rascals, they are searching after God. What is this nonsense? Here is God. You see that He is God in every respect according to the definition, and still, you say that, "Where is God?" How much rascal they are, just imagine. Here is God, and still, they are enquiring, "What is God? Can you show me God?" What is this? Is it not rascaldom? What is this? If everything, proof is there, why they are searching after God? What is the answer? Where is the question of searching after God? Just answer this question. God is present here, and still, you are wasting your time. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says mūḍha. Mūḍha. Na māṁ duṣkṛtino mūḍhāḥ ([[Vanisource:BG 7.15 (1972)|BG 7.15]]). Simply rascal. They cannot be given any other title except this one title, mūḍhāḥ. Why they remain mūḍhāḥ? Why are they are not intelligent? They are being educated in the universities, getting so many degrees. Still, they remain mūḍhāḥ. Why? Duṣkṛtinaḥ, sinful, engaged in sinful activities, these sinful activities. Yatra pāpaś catur-vidhā. Every one of them, all these rascals, are . . . they're engaged in four kinds of sinful activities. They'll search after illicit sex, they will eat meat, and they will drink and they will play gambling. Just one after a . . . you just study. They cannot understand God because they are mūḍhāḥ.

Why they are mūḍhāḥ? Because they are sinful. Why they are sinful? Because narādhamāḥ, lowest of the mankind. Human form of life was given to him to become purified, but they are engaged in sinful activities so that next life they'll be cats and dogs and hogs and trees. Why trees? Trees stands naked. And now this nudie movement is there, how to remain naked. That means next life they are preparing for becoming tree, "Thousand years, stand up here, naked. Nobody will object." Yes, this is the law of nature. Prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ ([[Vanisource:BG 3.27 (1972)|BG 3.27]]). These rascals . . . because the rascals, they do not know. And even the information is there, still, they'll not accept. This is their position.
</div>
</div>
</div>

Now this civilization has spread in the Western countries - they want to remain naked. There are so many nudie clubs. So next life they'll be given chance to become tree, to stand naked for thousands of years

2024-12-13T16:05:41Z

NeilG:

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<h2>Lectures</h2>
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<h3>Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures</h3>
</div>
<div class="quote">
<div class="quote_heading">
Now this civilization has spread in the Western countries—they want to remain naked. There are so many nudie clubs. So next life they'll be given chance to become tree, to stand naked for thousands of years. This is laws of nature.
</div>

<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:721110 - Lecture SB 01.02.31 - Vrndavana|721110 - Lecture SB 01.02.31 - Vrndavana]]
</div>
<div class="text">
The modern scientist, they say: "Intuition," but they cannot explain how the intuition is coming. It is explained in the Bhagavad-gītā: mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca ([[Vanisource:BG 15.15 (1972)|BG 15.15]]). It is coming from Paramātmā, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Antaḥ-praviṣṭa ābhāti vijñānena vijṛmbhitaḥ. But Kṛṣṇa, sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi-sanniviṣṭaḥ, as Paramātmā, He has entered in everyone's heart. He is in His knowledge. He knows that, "This individual soul wanted to enjoy this material world," so He gives him facility, "Now you enjoy."

Those who have no discrimination of eating—all abominable things one can eat—he's given the chance of eating everything up to stool in the form of a hog. The facility's given. One who is shameless . . . now this civilization has spread in the Western countries—they want to remain naked. There are so many nudie clubs. So next life they'll be given chance to become tree, to stand naked for thousands of years. This is laws of nature.

They do not know how they're getting chance, different types of body for different types of enjoyments, material enjoyment. Sometimes he's put as a poor man; sometimes he's put as a rich man. Sometimes as demigod, sometimes as cat, sometimes as dog. In this way, it is going on. But they are . . . there is no knowledge.

The modern civilization, they do not take care of this Vedic information, neither they have got any sufficient knowledge how these 8,400,000 species of life are becoming possible. They have no science. But here it is stated: antaḥ-praviṣṭa ābhāti vijñānena vijṛmbhitaḥ.

So our this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is all-pervasive. It is including science, philosophy—everything that we require. Everything complete. By Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, everything becomes completely known. Prakāśa. Prakāśa. Because as soon as we become in touch with Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa gives us all intelligence.
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Nonetheless, after they (Nalakuvara and Manigriva) become trees and until they are released, by my (Narada Muni's) mercy they will have remembrance of their past sinful activities

2024-12-13T16:04:39Z

NeilG:

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[[Category:Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 10 Chapter 10 - Deliverance of the Yamala-arjuna Trees]]
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<h2>Srimad-Bhagavatam</h2>
</div>
<div id="sub_section">
<h3>SB Canto 10.1 to 10.13</h3>
</div>
<div class="quote">
<div class="quote_heading">
Nonetheless, after they become trees and until they are released, by my mercy they will have remembrance of their past sinful activities. Moreover, by my special favor, after the expiry of one hundred years by the measurement of the demigods, they will be able to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva, face to face, and thus revive their real position as devotees.
</div>

<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:SB 10.10.20-22|SB 10.10.20-22, Translation and Purport]]
</div>
<div class="quote_translation">
These two young men, Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, are by fortune the sons of the great demigod Kuvera, but because of false prestige and madness after drinking liquor, they are so fallen that they are naked but cannot understand that they are. Therefore, because they are living like trees (for trees are naked but are not conscious), these two young men should receive the bodies of trees. This will be proper punishment. Nonetheless, after they become trees and until they are released, by my mercy they will have remembrance of their past sinful activities. Moreover, by my special favor, after the expiry of one hundred years by the measurement of the demigods, they will be able to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva, face to face, and thus revive their real position as devotees.
</div>
<div class="text">
A tree has no consciousness: when cut, it feels no pain. But Nārada Muni wanted the consciousness of Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva to continue, so that even after being released from the life of trees, they would not forget the circumstances under which they had been punished. Therefore, to bestow upon them special favor, Nārada Muni arranged things in such a way that after being released, they would be able to see Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana and thus revive their dormant bhakti.

Each day of the demigods in the upper planetary system equals six months of our measurement. Although the demigods in the upper planetary system are attached to material enjoyment, they are all devotees, and therefore they are called demigods. There are two kinds of persons, namely the devas and the asuras. Asuras forget their relationship with Kṛṣṇa (āsuraṁ bhāvam āśritāḥ), whereas the devas do not forget.

<div class="quote_verse">
:dvau bhūta-sargau loke 'smin
:daiva āsura eva ca
:viṣṇu-bhaktaḥ smṛto daiva
:āsuras tad-viparyayaḥ
:(Padma Purāṇa)
</div>

The distinction between a pure devotee and a karma-miśra devotee is this: a pure devotee does not desire anything for material enjoyment, whereas a mixed devotee becomes a devotee to become a first-class enjoyer of this material world. One who is in direct touch with the Supreme Personality of Godhead in devotional service remains pure, uncontaminated by material desires (anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam [Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.1.11]).

By karma-miśra-bhakti one is elevated to the celestial kingdom, by jñāna-miśra-bhakti one is able to merge in the Brahman effulgence, and by yoga-miśra-bhakti one is able to realize the omnipotency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But pure bhakti does not depend on karma, jñāna or yoga, for it simply consists of loving affairs. The liberation of the bhakta, therefore, which is called not just mukti but vimukti, surpasses the five other kinds of liberation-sāyujya, sārūpya, sālokya, sārṣṭi and sāmīpya. A pure devotee always engages in pure service (ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānuśīlanaṁ bhaktir uttamā ([[Vanisource:CC Madhya 19.167|CC Madhya 19.167]])). Taking birth in the upper planetary system as a demigod is a chance to become a further purified devotee and go back home, back to Godhead. Nārada Muni indirectly gave Maṇigrīva and Nalakūvara the greatest opportunity by his so-called curse.
</div>
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</div>

Narada then said, "Yes, you (Nalakuvera and Manigriva) shall become trees, arjuna trees, and you will stand at the courtyard of Nanda Maharaj. But Krsna Himself will appear in time as the foster son of Nanda, and He will deliver you"

2024-12-13T16:03:15Z

NeilG:

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{{terms|"Yes, you shall become trees, arjuna trees, and you will stand at the courtyard of Nanda Mahārāj. But Kṛṣṇa Himself will appear in time as the foster son of Nanda, and He will deliver you"}}
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[[Category:The Nectar of Devotion Chapter 04 - Devotional Service Surpasses All Liberation]]
[[Category:The Nectar of Devotion Chapters 01 to 51]]
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<div id="section">
<h2>Other Books by Srila Prabhupada</h2>
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<div id="sub_section">
<h3>Nectar of Devotion</h3>
</div>
<div class="quote">
<div class="quote_heading">
Nārada then said, "Yes, you shall become trees, arjuna trees, and you will stand at the courtyard of Nanda Mahārāj. But Kṛṣṇa Himself will appear in time as the foster son of Nanda, and He will deliver you." In other words, the curse of Nārada was a benediction to the sons of Kuvera because indirectly it was foretold that they would be able to receive the favor of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
</div>

<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:NOD 4 (1970)|Nectar of Devotion, 4]]
</div>
<div class="text">
Similarly, there is a statement in Padma Purāṇa describing the ritualistic function during the month of Kārttika (October-November). During this month, in Vṛndāvana it is the regulative principle to pray daily to Lord Kṛṣṇa in His Dāmodara form. The Dāmodara form refers to Kṛṣṇa in His childhood when He was tied up with rope by His mother, Yaśodā. Dāma means ropes, and udara means the abdomen. So Mother Yaśodā, being very disturbed by naughty Kṛṣṇa, bound Him round the abdomen with a rope, and thus Kṛṣṇa is named Dāmodara. During the month of Kārttika, Dāmodara is prayed to as follows: "My dear Lord, You are the Lord of all, the giver of all benedictions." There are many demigods like Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva who sometimes offer benedictions to their respective devotees. For example, Rāvaṇa was blest with many benedictions by Lord Śiva, and Hiraṇyakaśipu was blest by Lord Brahmā. But even Lord Śiva and Lord Brahmā depend upon the benedictions of Lord Kṛṣṇa, and therefore Kṛṣṇa is addressed as the Lord of all benefactors. As such, Lord Kṛṣṇa can offer His devotees anything they want, but still, the devotee's prayer continues, "I do not ask You for liberation or any material facility up to the point of liberation. What I want as Your favor is that I may always think of Your form as I see You now as Dāmodara. You are so beautiful and attractive that my mind does not want anything else besides this wonderful form." In this same prayer, there is another passage in which it is said, "My dear Lord Dāmodara, once when You were playing as a naughty boy in the house of Nanda Mahārāj, You broke the box containing yogurt, and because of that Mother Yaśodā considered You an offender and tied You with rope to the household grinding mortar. At that time You delivered two sons of Kuvera, Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, who were staying there as two arjuna trees in the yard of Nanda Mahārāj. My only request is that by Your merciful pastimes You may similarly deliver me."

The story behind this verse is that the two sons of Kuvera (the treasurer of the demigods) were puffed up on account of the opulence of their father, and so once on a heavenly planet they were enjoying themselves in a lake with some naked damsels of heaven. At that time the great saint Nārada Muni was passing on the road and was sorry to see the behavior of the sons of Kuvera. Seeing Nārada passing by, the damsels of heaven covered their bodies with cloth, but the two sons, being drunkards, did not have this decency. Nārada became angry with their behavior and cursed them thusly: "You have no sense, so it is better if you become trees instead of the sons of Kuvera." Upon hearing this, the boys came to their senses and begged Nārada to be pardoned for their offenses. Nārada then said, "Yes, you shall become trees, arjuna trees, and you will stand at the courtyard of Nanda Mahārāj. But Kṛṣṇa Himself will appear in time as the foster son of Nanda, and He will deliver you." In other words, the curse of Nārada was a benediction to the sons of Kuvera because indirectly it was foretold that they would be able to receive the favor of Lord Kṛṣṇa. After that, Kuvera's two sons stood as two big arjuna trees in the courtyard of Nanda Mahārāj until Lord Dāmodara, in order to fulfill the desire of Nārada, dragged the milling pestle to which He was tied and struck the two trees, violently causing them to fall down. From out of these fallen trees came Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, who had by then become great devotees of the Lord.

There is a passage in the Hayaśīrṣa Purāṇa which states, "My dear Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, I do not want any resultant benediction from my religious life, nor do I want any economic development, nor do I want to enjoy sense gratification, nor liberation. I simply pray to be an eternal servant at Your lotus feet. Kindly oblige me and give me this benediction."

In the same Hayaśīrṣa Purāṇa, after Nṛsiṁhadeva wanted to give benediction to Prahlāda Mahārāj, Prahlāda did not accept any material benediction and simply asked the favor of the Lord to remain His eternal devotee. In this connection, Prahlāda Mahārāj cited the example of Hanumān, the eternal servitor of Lord Rāmacandra, who also set an example by never asking any material favor from the Lord. He always remained engaged in His service. That is the ideal character of Hanumān, for which he is still worshiped by all devotees. Prahlāda Mahārāj also offered his respectful obeisances unto Hanumān. There is a well-known verse spoken by Hanumān in which he says, "My dear Lord, if You like You can give me salvation from this material existence, or the privilege of merging into Your existence, but I do not wish any of these things. I do not want anything which diminishes my relationship with You as master and servant, even after liberation."
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It is up to you to make your choice whether you are going to dance with Krsna or you want to become naked tree standing for ten thousands of years. That is your choice. A living entity has got this independence

2024-12-13T15:55:40Z

NeilG:

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{{terms|"it is up to you to make your choice whether you are going to dance with Kṛṣṇa or you want to become naked tree standing for ten thousands of years. That is your choice. A living entity has got this independence"}}
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<div id="Lectures" class="section" sec_index="4" parent="compilation" text="Lectures"><h2>Lectures</h2>
</div>
<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Lectures" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures"><h3>Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures</h3>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSBLectureExcerptLosAngelesJune81972_0" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="871" link="Lecture on SB Lecture Excerpt -- Los Angeles, June 8, 1972" link_text="Lecture on SB Lecture Excerpt -- Los Angeles, June 8, 1972">
<div class="heading">Kṛṣṇa is very kind, "All right, you become tree. What can I do?" Kṛṣṇa is always ready to give you all facilities. Now it is up to you to make your choice whether you are going to dance with Kṛṣṇa or you want to become naked tree standing for ten thousands of years. That is your choice. A living entity has got this independence.
</div>

<mp3player>https://vanipedia.s3.amazonaws.com/clip/720608LE-LOS_ANGELES_clip5.mp3</mp3player>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB Lecture Excerpt -- Los Angeles, June 8, 1972|Lecture on SB Lecture Excerpt -- Los Angeles, June 8, 1972]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">
The person in knowledge, he must see that, "I cannot avoid death, I cannot avoid birth, I cannot avoid old age, I cannot avoid disease so long I have got this material body." But Kṛṣṇa says, ''janma karma me divyaṁ yo jānāti tattvataḥ'' ([[Vanisource:BG 4.9 (1972)|BG 4.9]]): "Anyone who understands Me in reality, what I am, then he immediately becomes immune from these four things." ''Tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti'' ([[Vanisource:BG 4.9 (1972)|BG 4.9]]). After giving up this . . . this body we have to give up. And then next body, ''tathā dehāntara-prāptir .'' . . ([[Vanisource:BG 2.13 (1972)|BG 2.13]]) So a devotee at least is not going to be cats and dogs or trees.

The non-devotees, they are. Now they are . . . now the modern advancement is to be naked. So these people are going to be trees. You know Yamalārjuna. You have seen the picture. They were dancing, and they were taking bath naked, and they were not ashamed when Nārada Muni was passing. So he cursed them that, "You are so fool, you have lost your sense. All right, next life you become a tree, immediately."

So these senseless, shameless persons who are advancing in their knowledge by becoming naked, they are going to be tree next life. The naked tree is standing naked for many thousands of years. Or animals—they have no shame. So if human being becomes so shameless, then next life is to become animal and trees. But in the universities, they say that "What is the wrong if I become an animal?"

I asked them, "Do you like to be animal?" "Yes." "Then all right, next time you become animal. (laughter) This is your . . . I give you this blessing. That's all." (laughter) Flatly said, "Yes, yes, I will be happy." All right, say it. Kṛṣṇa is so kind: "You want to be naked? All right, you become naked for ten thousand years and stand up."

So therefore to save ourself from degradation, to save our this life . . . we are actually, we are all eternal, but because we don't want Kṛṣṇa consciousness, we want animal consciousness, tree consciousness, animal consciousness. So Kṛṣṇa is very kind, "All right, you become tree. What can I do?" Kṛṣṇa is always ready to give you all facilities.

Now it is up to you to make your choice whether you are going to dance with Kṛṣṇa or you want to become naked tree standing for ten thousands of years. That is your choice. A living entity has got this independence. Just like Kṛṣṇa asking Arjuna, ''yathecchasi tathā kuru'' ([[Vanisource:BG 18.63 (1972)|BG 18.63]]): "I have spoken to you about things as they are. Now it is up to you to make your choice. Whatever you like, you can do."

So Kṛṣṇa is so merciful, ''ye yathā māṁ prapadyante'' . . . ([[Vanisource:BG 4.11 (1972)|BG 4.11]]). If you want from Kṛṣṇa that you want to become a tree, so it is not very difficult for Kṛṣṇa to make you a tree. He's all-powerful. He can do that. But if you want, "Kṛṣṇa, I want to be with You personally," that also Kṛṣṇa can give you.

So now make your choice. This is the human form of life. The animal cannot. The ''śāstras'', the messages are not for the animals; it is for the human being. Therefore don't spoil your life. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.

It is the human being who requires to be properly dressed. That is the law of nature. If we violate, then the punishment is, "All right, you become tree and stand up naked for ten thousand years." This is the nature's law

2024-12-13T15:07:42Z

NeilG:

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<h2>Lectures</h2>
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<h3>Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures</h3>
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<div class="quote">
<div class="quote_heading">
So that is punishment. These trees and plants, because they committed very sinful activities, they. . . Naked, to become naked, is also another criminal activity. Therefore, by nature's law, the trees, the. . . they are standing up naked. They do not dress. Similarly, if a human being does not dress, does not cover, then what is the difference between the trees and the human being? It is the human being who requires to be properly dressed. That is the law of nature. If we violate, then the punishment is, "All right, you become tree and stand up naked for ten thousand years." This is the nature's law. You cannot violate the nature's law. And we are completely under the laws of nature. You cannot say that "I don't care for it." No. You may say, foolishly, but you are, you are. Just like nature's law is that you must die. Can you say, "No, I shall not die"? Can you say boldly, "No, no, I shall not die. I am now scientific. I have got my science. I shall not die"? The nature's law is: you must die.
</div>

<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:750520 - Lecture SB 06.01.01-4 - Melbourne|750520 - Lecture SB 06.01.01-4 - Melbourne]]
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<div class="text">
At least eight million different forms of life. The list is there in Padma Purāṇa, jalajā nava-lakṣāni: "Nine lakhs forms of life within the water." There is animal in the water which is called timiṅgala. It is so big that. . . We have got experience, the whale fish is very big. That whale fish is taken up by this timiṅgala fish just like a big fish swallows a small fish. Such big, big fishes are there within the. . . They do not come visible to the. . . but there are. We get information, timiṅgala. Many very big, big animals are there within the water, deep. So there are nine lakhs, 900,000 forms of life within the water. And then jalajā nava-lakṣāni sthāvarā lakṣa-viṁśati. Then. . . Sthāvarā means "stand up." We have got experience—I do not know whether you have got—in our school days, if a boy is making trouble, the teacher will ask him, "Stand up on the bench." So the stand-up punishment. . . The trees, the plants, they are stand-up punishment. (laughter) "Stand up here for five thousand years." You see? There are many trees, they are standing up for five thousand years, seven thousand years. In California I have seen one tree, they say it is seven thousand years old. So just imagine. If the teacher punishes a boy to stand up for few minutes, how much troublesome it is, and if one is ordered to stand up for seven thousand years, so just imagine what is the punishment.

So that is punishment. These trees and plants, because they committed very sinful activities, they. . . Naked, to become naked, is also another criminal activity. Therefore, by nature's law, the trees, the. . . they are standing up naked. They do not dress. Similarly, if a human being does not dress, does not cover, then what is the difference between the trees and the human being? It is the human being who requires to be properly dressed. That is the law of nature. If we violate, then the punishment is, "All right, you become tree and stand up naked for ten thousand years." This is the nature's law. You cannot violate the nature's law. And we are completely under the laws of nature. You cannot say that "I don't care for it." No. You may say, foolishly, but you are, you are. Just like nature's law is that you must die. Can you say, "No, I shall not die"? Can you say boldly, "No, no, I shall not die. I am now scientific. I have got my science. I shall not die"? The nature's law is: you must die.

So in this way you should understand how strongly you are controlled by the nature's law. But foolishly we say, "No." That is not. Just like this Mahārāja Parīkṣit, such a powerful king, he is now somehow or other cursed by a brāhmaṇa boy that "You must die within seven days." So he is preparing. He has got time, seven days. But what we have got? We haven't got even seven minutes' warning. At any moment we can die. And what we are doing? That is the foolishness. One must be ready, that "I will have to die. And 'die' means I will have to accept another body." Now, there are so many forms of body. As I was explaining aquatics, 900,000, then trees. As the water dries, the vegetation comes. You have got experience. That is the nature's process. And after vegetation, then the flies, insects, moving, up to trees and plants, not moving. Then they move—flies, grasshoppers. And they turn into birds again, very freely flying. And there are many, many big birds in the sky, eagles. Some of the eagles, you have got experience. There are monkey-eating eagles. They capture the monkey. And there are eagles elephant-eating. (laughter) We get all this information. Elephant, they will capture elephant and take it away. (laughter) Just imagine. It is no joking. This is a fact.
</div>
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In the Western countries especially, they are now trying to become naked, nudies. So nature will give them to stand naked like a tree, or tree, for many years - You're so fond of become nudie. All right, you stand up here for 10000 years without any dress

2024-12-13T14:26:32Z

NeilG:

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<h2>Lectures</h2>
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<div id="sub_section">
<h3>Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures</h3>
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<div class="quote">
<div class="quote_heading">
Unless we become virāga, virāga aindriyāt, sense gratification . . . these different changes of body are being possible on account of sense gratification. Nature, or God, or Kṛṣṇa will give me full facility. Just like in the Western countries especially, they are now trying to become naked, nudies. So nature will give them to stand naked like a tree, or tree, for many years. "You are so fond of become nudie. All right, you stand up here for ten thousand years without any dress." Nature will give you. Those who have no discrimination for eating—"Anything, damn rascal, let me. Give me. I will eat it"—"All right, then you can take the body of a pig and eat up to stool."
</div>

<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:741126 - Lecture SB 03.25.26 - Bombay|741126 - Lecture SB 03.25.26 - Bombay]]
</div>
<div class="text">
The whole process of understanding the Absolute Truth . . . absolute truth means the Supreme Person, the Supreme Being, absolute. There is no contradictory. Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa's name, Kṛṣṇa's form, Kṛṣṇa's activities, Kṛṣṇa's paraphernalia, Kṛṣṇa's attributes—everything Kṛṣṇa. That is called Absolute Truth. There is no difference. Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa's form is not different. Kṛṣṇa's hand and Kṛṣṇa's leg, not different. Just like we have got difference, this left hand is different from the right hand; the nose is different from the ear. We have got. Because this is called sagata-vigata-vibheda. Kṛṣṇa hasn't got that thing. That is called absolute. It is stated in the Brahma-saṁhitā, aṅgāni yasya sakalendriya-vṛttimanti. Aṅgāni, we have got different parts of the body, limbs, for different purposes. But Kṛṣṇa can serve any purpose from any limbs of His body. Kṛṣṇa can eat by seeing only. Kṛṣṇa can go by thinking only. There are so many description that Kṛṣṇa is absolute. So these contradictory things, how one can understand of the Absolute? He is absolute, advaya-jñāna. Absolute means no duality; everything is one.

So virāga, bhaktyā pumāñ jāta-virāga aindriyād. Here our material disease is that we want to satisfy our sense. This is material life. The whole material civilization is going on, we have repeatedly said . . . advancement of civilization means advancement of sense gratification. That's all. So bhakti means just the opposite. So, so long we are, I mean to say, very much interested in sense gratification, there is no question of bhakti. That is not possible. So we have to reduce the tendency for sense gratification by increasing our devotional activities. That is the process. Therefore it is said, bhaktyā pumāñ jāta-virāga. Virāga, from where? Virāga means distasteful, virakti. The other word is virakti: "No, no, I don't like." That is called virāga.

Rāga means attachment, and vi means vigata. Vigata-rāga. And from virāga—vairāgya. Jñāna-vairāgya. This is wanted. Human life is meant for jñāna and vairāgya. Two things required. We are continuing this material existence on account of rāga, attachment, attachment for sense gratification. That is the cause of material bondage. Material bondage means, we have explained several times, to accept one body then create another body. We have got now this human form of body, and according to our, I mean to say, affection or infection to different qualities of the nature, we are creating another body. So in this way we are entangled. So unless we become virāga, virāga aindriyāt, sense gratification . . . these different changes of body are being possible on account of sense gratification. Nature, or God, or Kṛṣṇa will give me full facility. Just like in the Western countries especially, they are now trying to become naked, nudies. So nature will give them to stand naked like a tree, or tree, for many years. "You are so fond of become nudie. All right, you stand up here for ten thousand years without any dress." Nature will give you. Those who have no discrimination for eating—"Anything, damn rascal, let me. Give me. I will eat it"—"All right, then you can take the body of a pig and eat up to stool."

So nature will give you. Kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo 'sya. Prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ ([[Vanisource:BG 3.27 (1972)|BG 3.27]]). Kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo 'sya sad-asad-yoni-janmasu ([[Vanisource:BG 13.22 (1972)|BG 13.22]]). Why we are getting different bodies? Because we have got different tendency for sense gratification. Indriya, aindriyāt. This is the disease, material disease. Everyone has got tendency for sense gratification, but not all of them of the same type. They have got different types. So our material bondage means these different types of sense gratification. Therefore we have to stop this. We have to be detestful from this sense gratification. Then our spiritual life will begin. That is possible by bhakti.
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In the sastra it is stated that those who want to remain naked, they are punished in the next life to become tree, that - You wanted to be naked. Now you stand naked

2024-12-13T14:24:00Z

NeilG:

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<h3>Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures</h3>
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If a man, human being, is punished to stand up like as a tree for five thousand years, just imagine how much great punishment it is. And that is possible. Just like in the śāstra it is stated that those who want to remain naked, they are punished in the next life to become tree, that "You wanted to be naked. Now you stand naked." The trees, they do not dress; neither they have the opportunity. Nobody goes to dress them. So they stand naked for so many hundreds and thousands of years. This punishment is awaiting. Human being is not supposed to be naked. That is civilization. They must cover. But if one wilfully does not cover, becomes as dull as the tree, then he gets the next body as tree. This is punishment.
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[[Vanisource:750730 - Lecture SB 06.01.48 - Dallas|750730 - Lecture SB 06.01.48 - Dallas]]
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<div class="text">
There was one story. It is not story; it is fact, that two pleaders were talking about the activities of a criminal, and the judge was dozing. So his clerk said, "Sir, you are dozing. The two big lawyers, they are arguing, and what they will say?" That means he warned. The judge said, "I have already made my judgment. Let them go on talking." So actually, it is done. A very important judge, he, by hearing the preliminary points of the case, he makes his judgment. Yes. But because the two lawyers want to fight, because they are paid for that, so they go on fighting. But the judge, he has already concluded what judgment should be given. Similarly, Yamarāja is judge. He has got everything recorded in his mind of a sinful man's activities in the past. So immediately he decides that "This soul should be given such-and-such body." So we are getting body.

In another place, in the Third Canto, I think, it is described, karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa ([[Vanisource:SB 3.31.1|SB 3.31.1]]). We are acting in different ways. We are not independent. This is foolishness. Just like an outlaw: he is thinking that he is free from the jurisdiction of state laws, and he is working irresponsibly, but when he is arrested, then he has no independence; he has to undergo the punishment. Similarly, in this life we may think very independent, "Whatever we like, we can do." That is foolishness. You cannot do that. If you do it wilfully, then you will be punished. That they do not know. Punished means by a different body.

If a man, human being, is punished to stand up like as a tree for five thousand years, just imagine how much great punishment it is. And that is possible. Just like in the śāstra it is stated that those who want to remain naked, they are punished in the next life to become tree, that "You wanted to be naked. Now you stand naked." The trees, they do not dress; neither they have the opportunity. Nobody goes to dress them. So they stand naked for so many hundreds and thousands of years. This punishment is awaiting. Human being is not supposed to be naked. That is civilization. They must cover. But if one wilfully does not cover, becomes as dull as the tree, then he gets the next body as tree. This is punishment. Otherwise, wherefrom all these living entities are coming? They have no calculation. They are thinking that "I shall remain in this human form of beautiful body, and in opulent. . ." No. It changing. Tathā dehāntara-prāptiḥ ([[Vanisource:BG 2.13 (1972)|BG 2.13]]). You have to change your body according to the decision of superior authority, daiva-netreṇa. We should always remember it.

Therefore a human being should be very, very cautious and conscious. They should not do anything irresponsibly. And how to work with responsibility and how to work irresponsibly? Therefore śāstra required. Śāstra, these books, Vedic knowledge, books, why they are? So that a human being may take advantage of it, and he act responsibly or irresponsibly. If he works irresponsibly, then his punishment is awaiting, lower grade of life. So human being should be educated how to. . . Therefore these children are being educated from the very beginning of their life how to become responsible man. This is the idea of our gurukula. So these children should be taught. Yesterday Dayananda was talking with me that while living at gurukula they should be very nicely trained up. Nīcavat. The children, they have no sense what is prestige. You can train them any way. If you train them to work as a servant, they will work it. So in the gurukula they should live just to be trained up how to control the senses. Brahmacārī. Brahmacārī mean life of celibacy, no sex. That is brahmacārī, strictly. Brahmacārati iti brahmacārī.
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In the case of felling the gigantic arjuna trees, the Lord's mission was to deliver the two sons of Kuvera, who were condemned to become trees by the curse of Narada, as well as to play like a crawling child in the yard of Yasoda

2024-12-13T14:22:42Z

NeilG:

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[[Category:Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 02 Chapter 07 Purports - Scheduled Incarnations with Specific Functions]]
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<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam" class="section" sec_index="1" parent="compilation" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam"><h2>Srimad-Bhagavatam</h2>
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<div id="SB_Canto_2" class="sub_section" sec_index="2" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 2"><h3>SB Canto 2</h3>
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<div id="SB2727_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_2" book="SB" index="226" link="SB 2.7.27" link_text="SB 2.7.27">
<div class="heading">In the case of felling the gigantic arjuna trees, the Lord's mission was to deliver the two sons of Kuvera, who were condemned to become trees by the curse of Nārada, as well as to play like a crawling child in the yard of Yaśodā, who took transcendental pleasure in seeing such activities of the Lord in the very yard of her home.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 2.7.27|SB 2.7.27, Translation and Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">There is no doubt about Lord Kṛṣṇa's being the Supreme Lord, otherwise how was it possible for Him to kill a giant demon like Pūtanā when He was just on the lap of His mother, to overturn a cart with His leg when He was only three months old, to uproot a pair of arjuna trees, so high that they touched the sky, when He was only crawling? All these activities are impossible for anyone other than the Lord Himself.</p>
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<div class="purport text"><p>One cannot manufacture a God by one's mental speculation or by numerical votes, as has become a practice for the less intelligent class of men. God is God eternally, and an ordinary living entity is eternally a part and parcel of God. God is one without a second, and the ordinary living entities are many without number. All such living entities are maintained by God Himself, and that is the verdict of the Vedic literatures. When Kṛṣṇa was on the lap of His mother, the demon Pūtanā appeared before His mother and prayed to nurture the child in her lap. Mother Yaśodā agreed, and the child was transferred onto the lap of Pūtanā, who was in the garb of a respectable lady. Pūtanā wanted to kill the child by smearing poison on the nipple of her breast. But when everything was complete, the Lord sucked her breast along with her very air of life, and the demon's gigantic body, said to be as long as six miles, fell down. But Lord Kṛṣṇa did not need to expand Himself to the length of the she-demon Pūtanā, although He was quite competent to extend Himself more than six miles long. In His Vāmana incarnation He posed Himself as a dwarf brāhmaṇa, but when He took possession of His land, promised by Bali Mahārāja, He expanded His footstep to the top of the universe, extending over thousands and millions of miles. So it was not very difficult for Kṛṣṇa to perform a miracle by extending His bodily feature, but He had no desire to do it because of His deep filial love for His mother, Yaśodā. If Yaśodā had seen Kṛṣṇa in her lap extending six miles to cope with the she-demon Pūtanā, then the natural filial love of Yaśodā would have been hurt because in that way Yaśodā would have come to know that her so-called son, Kṛṣṇa, was God Himself. And with the knowledge of the Godhood of Kṛṣṇa, Yaśodāmayī would have lost the temper of her love for Kṛṣṇa as a natural mother. But as far as Lord Kṛṣṇa is concerned, He is God always, either as a child on the lap of His mother, or as the coverer of the universe, Vāmanadeva. He does not require to become God by undergoing severe penances, although some men think of becoming God in that way. By undergoing severe austerities and penances, one cannot become one or equal with God, but one can attain most of the godly qualities. A living being can attain godly qualities to a large extent, but he cannot become God, whereas Kṛṣṇa, without undergoing any type of penance, is God always, either in the lap of His mother or growing up or at any stage of growth.</p>
<p>So at the age of only three months He killed the Śakaṭāsura, who had remained hidden behind a cart in the house of Yaśodāmayī. And when He was crawling and was disturbing His mother from doing household affairs, the mother tied Him with a grinding pestle, but the naughty child dragged the pestle up to a pair of very high arjuna trees in the yard of Yaśodāmayī, and when the pestle was stuck between the pair of trees, they fell down with a horrible sound. When Yaśodāmayī came to see the happenings, she thought that her child had been saved from the falling trees by the mercy of the Lord, without knowing that the Lord Himself, crawling in her yard, had wreaked the havoc. So that is the way of reciprocation of love affairs between the Lord and His devotees. Yaśodāmayī wanted to have the Lord as her child, and the Lord played exactly like a child in her lap, but at the same time played the part of the Almighty Lord whenever it was so required. The beauty of such pastimes was that the Lord fulfilled everyone's desire. In the case of felling the gigantic arjuna trees, the Lord's mission was to deliver the two sons of Kuvera, who were condemned to become trees by the curse of Nārada, as well as to play like a crawling child in the yard of Yaśodā, who took transcendental pleasure in seeing such activities of the Lord in the very yard of her home.</p>
<p>The Lord in any condition is Lord of the universe, and He can act as such in any form, gigantic or small, as He likes.</p>
</div>
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</div>

In their former birth, these two sons, known as Nalakuvara and Manigriva, were extremely opulent and fortunate. But because of pride and false prestige, they did not care about anyone, and thus Narada Muni cursed them to become trees - SB 10.9.23

2024-12-13T12:26:04Z

NeilG:

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[[Category:Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 10 Chapter 09 - Mother Yasoda Binds Lord Lord Krsna]]
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<div id="section">
<h2>Srimad-Bhagavatam</h2>
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<div id="sub_section">
<h3>SB Canto 10.1 to 10.13</h3>
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<div class="quote">
<div class="quote_heading">
In their former birth, these two sons, known as Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, were extremely opulent and fortunate. But because of pride and false prestige, they did not care about anyone, and thus Nārada Muni cursed them to become trees.
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<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:SB 10.9.23|SB 10.9.23, Translation]]
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In their former birth, these two sons, known as Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, were extremely opulent and fortunate. But because of pride and false prestige, they did not care about anyone, and thus Nārada Muni cursed them to become trees.
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If you think that natural life, animal life, to become naked and do all nonsense, then "All right. You, next life you become a tree, naked. Stand up naked for ten thousands of years." You want to be naked? That's all right

2024-12-13T12:24:21Z

NeilG:

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<div id="section">
<h2>Lectures</h2>
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<h3>Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures</h3>
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<div class="quote">
<div class="quote_heading">
Because you are given the opportunity to come to the light, but if you neglect it, if you think that natural life, animal life, to become naked and do all nonsense, then "All right. You, next life you become a tree, naked. Stand up naked for ten thousands of years." You want to be naked? That's all right. Nobody will protest. So many trees are standing naked. So many animals are loitering in the street naked. Nobody protests. But in human society, if you become naked, then you'll be punished by law. But they are thinking they are advancing by becoming naked. This is the knowledge: ignorance.
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<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:720827 - Lecture SB 01.02.24 - Los Angeles|720827 - Lecture SB 01.02.24 - Los Angeles]]
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<div class="text">
Although it is ten o'clock, daytime, he thinks it is night going on. And he's enjoying sleeping. This is darkness. Rascal. And those who are advanced, they rise early in the morning at four o'clock: "Now there will be sunshine. Prepare." That is the difference. The same human being: one is in the darkness, one is in the passion, and one is in the goodness. And if you come to the goodness, then you see, brahma-darśanam. You can understand what is Absolute Truth.

If you remain in ignorance and passion, you cannot see; you cannot know. You can go on with your so-called rascaldom talks about God, but it is not possible. You cannot understand God, or Absolute Truth, by eating meat, drinking and having illicit sex and gambling. No. That is not possible. Then you'll have to remain in the darkness for good, and next life you'll again become cats and dogs. That's all.

Because you are given the opportunity to come to the light, but if you neglect it, if you think that natural life, animal life, to become naked and do all nonsense, then "All right. You, next life you become a tree, naked. Stand up naked for ten thousands of years." You want to be naked? That's all right. Nobody will protest. So many trees are standing naked. So many animals are loitering in the street naked. Nobody protests. But in human society, if you become naked, then you'll be punished by law. But they are thinking they are advancing by becoming naked. This is the knowledge: ignorance.

So Kṛṣṇa will give you opportunity to remain naked, become animals, trees, like that. So that is not our aim of life. Our aim of life, the human form of life, is meant for understanding the Absolute Truth: athāto brahma jijñāsā. That is the Vedānta-sūtra says. Brahmā jijñā . . . what is Brahman? What is Absolute Truth? This inquisitiveness must be there in human life, then it is human being. Otherwise, he is animal. The animal does not inquire what is Absolute Truth, neither the Vedānta-darśana and all these Vedic scriptures are meant for the animals. They're meant for human being. A human being has got the brain; he can understand, he can be trained up to become a brahmin. These are the opportunities.
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If your next life you become a tree, you stand up for ten thousand years in one place. Would you like? In childhood the teacher says: "Stand up on the bench," that was so much troublesome

2024-12-13T12:21:28Z

NeilG:

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<h2>Conversations and Morning Walks</h2>
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<h3>1971 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
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So-called comfortable life for few years, and then becoming a dog and hog, a tree? It is possibility. If your next life you become a tree, you stand up for ten thousand years in one place. Would you like? In childhood the teacher says: "Stand up on the bench," that was so much troublesome.
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[[Vanisource:710514 - Interview - Sydney|710514 - Interview - Sydney]]
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<div class="text">
One day death comes and kicks on his back and he will be finished off. Now if you are so brain, just try to save yourself. Where is your brain? Or make another brain like you, so that at the time of your death the brain will act—upon your brain . . . (indistinct) . . . he is dependent on God, Kṛṣṇa. Still, he'll not agree. Kṛṣṇa will come as death. He may come, just He is death. Kṛṣṇa says, "To such rascals I come as death." Then they will believe that there is God.

(break) So far . . . so far we are concerned, they are as good as an ordinary man, because they do not know actually the real problem of life. But they are puffed-up, "Oh, we are . . . (indistinct) . . ."

(break) . . . problems of life, then your science is perfect. Simply jugglery-of-words theories, what will help? Stop death, stop birth, stop disease, stop old age, then I shall understand that your scientist. That is not in your command. If the problems are there, real problem, then what is the use of this science? Simply by advertisement?

So-called comfortable life for few years, and then becoming a dog and hog, a tree? It is possibility. If your next life you become a tree, you stand up for ten thousand years in one place. Would you like? In childhood the teacher says: "Stand up on the bench," that was so much troublesome.
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If they become so dull-headed, then God's power will make him a tree: Stand here. Stand up here for three thousand years. That's all. You are so dull-headed that you have no sense, so become a tree so that even if you are cut, you cannot protest

2024-12-13T12:19:36Z

NeilG:

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[[Category:That's All]]
[[Category:You Have No]]
[[Category:No Sense Of]]
[[Category:Becoming a Tree]]
[[Category:Tree]]
[[Category:Even If]]
[[Category:You Are]]
[[Category:Cutting Trees]]
[[Category:Cannot]]
[[Category:Protest]]
[[Category:Pages Needing Audio - NABAKUMAR]]
</div>
<div id="section">
<h2>Conversations and Morning Walks</h2>
</div>
<div id="sub_section">
<h3>1975 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div class="quote">
<div class="quote_heading">
Trivikrama: So that they don't have to be accountable for their activities.

Prabhupāda: Certainly. And they are being accountable. If they become so dull-headed, then God's power will make him a tree: "Stand here. Stand up here for three thousand years. That's all. You are so dull-headed that you have no sense, so become a tree so that even if you are cut, you cannot protest. You have no sense, senses." That is the punishment. "If you don't eat prasādam, then eat stool." This is the arrangement. So they are being punished. But they are so dull-headed, they cannot understand.
</div>

<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:750403 - Morning Walk - Mayapur|750403 - Morning Walk - Mayapur]]
</div>
<div class="text">
Madhudviṣa: Just like we look at the building over there. From a distance, it is stationary. But if we go inside, we can see there is so much movement.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Madhudviṣa: So similarly, you may walk by this earth every day and see it is stationary, but if you analyze it underneath a microscope, you will see that there is so much movement going on within.

Prabhupāda: But that is due to air. That is due to air. Just like we can see so many atoms are moving in the hole from the wall, but that is due to air. So this is also moving. The whole thing is moving by air.

Viṣṇujana: But not of itself.

Prabhupāda: Not automatically.

Viṣṇujana: Not of itself.

Prabhupāda: Not automatically. You cannot say automatically. No, air is moving. Just like the. . . in the air, the cloud is moving. The cloud is not moving. The air, moving, and the cloud moving.

Trivikrama: Anyway, the basic proposition is that they, they don't have . . . they don't want to accept God so they don't have to be accountable for their activities.

Prabhupāda: Eh?

Trivikrama: So that they don't have to be accountable for their activities.

Prabhupāda: Certainly. And they are being accountable. If they become so dull-headed, then God's power will make him a tree: "Stand here. Stand up here for three thousand years. That's all. You are so dull-headed that you have no sense, so become a tree so that even if you are cut, you cannot protest. You have no sense, senses." That is the punishment. "If you don't eat prasādam, then eat stool." This is the arrangement. So they are being punished. But they are so dull-headed, they cannot understand.

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: With their science, they've been able to build so many buildings and roads and bridges and so many things which they consider wonderful.

Prabhupāda: And what you'll do with the buildings? You'll be kicked out. Your building will remain there. Your spoiling labor will remain there, but you will be kicked out. You cannot live there. Who is managing these affairs? "So you have constructed a building? All right, I kick you out. Get out!" Then what is the purpose of building? Huh? If you know that "I am constructing this high building, and tomorrow somebody will kick me out," then what is the use? Have you made it insured that you'll not be kicked out?

Viṣṇujana: No.

Prabhupāda: Then it is useless waste of time.
</div>
</div>
</div>

If he gets a superior body, then that is also an entanglement, even if he goes to the heavenly planets. But if he becomes a cat or dog, then his life is lost. Or a tree - there is every chance of it

2024-12-13T12:17:06Z

NeilG:

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<div id="facts">
{{terms|"if he gets a superior body, then that is also an entanglement, even if he goes to the heavenly planets. But if he becomes a cat or dog, then his life is lost. Or a tree - there is every chance of it"}}
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[[Category:Becoming a Tree]]
[[Category:Getting a Tree Body]]
[[Category:There Is]]
[[Category:Every]]
[[Category:Chance]]
[[Category:Perfect Questions Perfect Answers Chapters 01 to 09]]
</div>
<div id="section">
<h2>Other Books by Srila Prabhupada</h2>
</div>
<div id="sub_section">
<h3>Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers</h3>
</div>
<div class="quote">
<div class="quote_heading">
I am American, I am Indian, I am German, I am this, I am that - this body. This is my country. I shall sacrifice everything for my country and society. So in this way, the illusion increases. And under this illusion, when he dies he gets another body. That may be a superior body or inferior body, according to his karma. So if he gets a superior body, then that is also an entanglement, even if he goes to the heavenly planets. But if he becomes a cat or dog, then his life is lost. Or a tree - there is every chance of it.
</div>

<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:PQPA 2 Vedic Culture Varnasrama-dharma|Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers, 2]]
</div>
<div class="text">
Bob: I've asked devotees about how they feel towards sex in their relations, and I see the way they feel, but I can't see myself acting the same way. See, I'll be getting married at the end of this summer.

Śrīla Prabhupāda: Hm-m?

Bob: I'll be getting married at the end of this summer, in September or August when I return to America. And the devotees say that the householders only have sex to conceive a child, and I cannot picture myself at all in such a position, and - What kind of sex life can one lead, living in the material world?

Śrīla Prabhupāda: The Vedic principle is that one should avoid sex life altogether. The whole Vedic principle is to get liberation from material bondage. There are different attachments for material enjoyment, of which sex life is the topmost enjoyment. The Bhāgavatam ([[Vanisource:SB 5.5.8|5.5.8]]) says that this material world...

<div class="quote_verse">
:puṁsaḥ striyā mithunī-bhāvam etam

Man is attached to woman, and woman is attached to man. Not only in human society - in animal society also. That attachment is the basic principle of material life. So, a woman is hankering or seeking after the association of a man, and a man is hankering or seeking for the association of a woman. All the fiction novels, dramas, cinema and even ordinary advertisements that you see simply depict the attachment between man and woman. Even in the tailor's shop you will find in the window some woman and some man. (Manu Smṛti, 5.56):

:pravṛttir eṣā bhūtānāṁ
:nivṛttis tu mahāphalām
</div>

So this attachment is already there.

Bob: Attachment between man and woman?

Śrīla Prabhupāda: Man and woman. So if you want to get liberation from this material world, then that attachment should be reduced to nil. Otherwise, simply further attachment - You will have to take rebirth, either as a human being or as a demigod or as an animal, as a serpent, as a bird, as a beast. You will have to take birth. So, this basic principle of increasing attachment is not our business, although it is the general tendency. Gṛha, kṣetra, suta (home, land, sons). But if one can reduce and stop it, that is first class. Therefore our Vedic system is to first of all train a boy as a brahmacārī - no sex life. The Vedic principle is to reduce attachment, not to increase it. Therefore the whole system is called varṇāśrama-dharma. The Indian system calls for varṇa and āśrama - four social orders and four spiritual orders. Brahmacarya (celibate student life), gṛhastha (married life), vānaprastha (retired life) and sannyāsa (renounced life) - these are the spiritual orders. And the social orders consist of brāhmaṇas (intellectuals), kṣatriyas (administrators), vaiśyas (merchants and farmers) and śūdras (ordinary workers). So under this system, the regulative principles are so nice that even if one has the tendency to enjoy material life, he is so nicely molded that at last he achieves liberation and goes back home, back to Godhead. This is the process. So sex life is not required, but because we are attached to it, therefore there are some regulative principles under which it is maintained.

(chanting starts somewhere in the background, with exotic mṛdaṅga drumbeats amidst laughing and the loud blowing of horns.)

Śrīla Prabhupāda: It is said in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ([[Vanisource:SB 5.5.8|SB 5.5.8]]) that -

<div class="quote_verse">
:puṁsaḥ striyā mithunī-bhāvam etaṁ
:tayor mitho hṛdaya-granthim āhuḥ
:ato gṛha-kṣetra-sutāpta-vittair
:janasya moho 'yam ahaṁ mameti
</div>

This sex life is the basic principle of material life-attachment for man or woman. And when they are united, when a man and woman are united, that attachment becomes increased, and that increased attachment will induce one to accumulate gṛha (a home), kṣetra (land), suta (children), āpta (friendship or society) and vitta. Vita means money. In this way - gṛha-kṣetra-sutāpta-vittaiḥ - he becomes entangled. janasya moho 'yam: this is the illusion. And by this illusion he thinks, ahaṁ mameti: ([[Vanisource:SB 5.5.8|SB 5.5.8]]) "I am this body, and anything in relationship with this body is mine."

Bob: What is that again?

Śrīla Prabhupāda: This attachment increases. The material attachment involves thinking, "I am this body, and because I have this body in a particular place, that is my country." And that is going on: "I am American, I am Indian, I am German, I am this, I am that - this body. This is my country. I shall sacrifice everything for my country and society." So in this way, the illusion increases. And under this illusion, when he dies he gets another body. That may be a superior body or inferior body, according to his karma. So if he gets a superior body, then that is also an entanglement, even if he goes to the heavenly planets. But if he becomes a cat or dog, then his life is lost. Or a tree - there is every chance of it. So this science is not known in the world - how the soul is transmigrating from one body to another, and how he is being entrapped in different types of bodies. This science is unknown. Therefore when Arjuna was speaking - "If I kill my brother, if I kill my grandfather on the other side..." - he was simply thinking on the basis of the bodily concept of life. But when his problems could not be solved, he surrendered to Kṛṣṇa and accepted Him as spiritual master. And when Kṛṣṇa became his spiritual master, He chastised Arjuna in the beginning ([[Vanisource:BG 2.11|BG 2.11]]):

<div class="quote_verse">
:aśocyān anvaśocas tvaṁ
:prajñā-vādāṁś ca bhāṣase
:gatāsūn agatāsūṁś ca
:nānuśocanti paṇḍitāḥ
</div>

"You are talking like a learned man, but you are fool number one because you are talking about the bodily concept of life."

So this sex life increases the bodily concept of life. Therefore, the whole process is to reduce it to nil.

Bob: To reduce it over the stages of your life?

Śrīla Prabhupāda: Yes. Reduce it. A boy is trained as a student up to twenty-five years, restricting sex life. Brahmacārī. So, some of the boys remain naiṣṭhika-brahmacārī (celibate for life). Because they are given education and they become fully conversant with spiritual knowledge, they don't want to marry. That is also restricted - he cannot have sex life without being married. Therefore in human society there is marriage, not in animal society.

But people are gradually descending from human society to animal society. They are forgetting marriage. That is also predicted in the śāstras. Dāmpatye 'bhirucir hetuḥ: in the Kali-yuga (the present age of quarrel), eventually there will be no marriage performances; the boy and the girl will simply agree to live together, and their relationship will exist on sexual power. If the man or the woman is deficient in sex life, then there is divorce. So, for this philosophy there are many Western philosophers like Freud and others who have written so many books. But according to Vedic culture, we are interested in sex only for begetting children, that's all. Not to study the psychology of sex life. There is already natural psychology for that. Even if one does not read any philosophy, he is sexually inclined. Nobody is taught it in the schools and colleges. Everyone already knows how to do it. (He laughs.) That is the general tendency. But education should be given to stop it. That is real education. (There is a long pause, filled with the sound of bicycle horns, children playing, and throngs of people calling to one another)

Bob: Presently, in America, that's a radical concept.

Śrīla Prabhupāda: Well, in America there are so many things that require reformation, and this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement will bring that. I went to your country and saw that the boys and girls were living like friends, so I said to my students, "You cannot live together as friends; you must get yourselves married."

Bob: Many people see that even marriage is not sacred, so they find no desire to marry. Because people get married, and if things are not proper, they get a divorce so very easily -

Śrīla Prabhupāda: Yes, that also.

Bob: - that some people feel that to get married is not meaningful.

Śrīla Prabhupāda: No, their idea is that marriage is for legalized prostitution. They think like that, but that is not marriage. Even that Christian paper - what is that? Watch - ?

Śyāmasundara: Watchtower?

Śrīla Prabhupāda: Watchtower. It has criticized that one priest has allowed a marriage between two men - homosexuality. So these things are all going on. They take it purely for prostitution, that's all. So therefore people are thinking, "What is the use of keeping a regular prostitute at such heavy expenditure? Better not to have this."

Śyāmasundara: You use that example of the cow and the market.

Śrīla Prabhupāda: Yes - when the milk is available in the marketplace, what is the use of keeping a cow? (Everyone laughs.) It is a very abominable condition in the Western countries - I have seen it. Here also in India, gradually it is coming. Therefore we have started this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement to educate people in the essential principles of spiritual life. It is not a sectarian religious movement. It is a cultural movement for everyone's benefit.
</div>
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</div>

Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said, taror api sahisnuna. You will have many enemies, many envious persons, when you become pure devotee, but you should tolerate. Taror api sahisnuna. Be tolerant just like a tree and be humble just like a grass

2024-12-11T15:23:19Z

NeilG:

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[[Category:Pages Needing Audio - NABAKUMAR]]
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<div id="section">
<h2>Lectures</h2>
</div>
<div id="sub_section">
<h3>Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures</h3>
</div>
<div class="quote">
<div class="quote_heading">
Caitanya Mahāprabhu has said, taror api sahiṣṇunā. You will have many enemies, many envious persons, when you become pure devotee, but you should tolerate. Taror api sahiṣṇunā. Be tolerant just like a tree and be humble just like a grass. Tṛṇād api sunīcena taror api sahiṣṇunā. Don't be afraid of your enemies, because Kṛṣṇa will protect you.
</div>

<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:710206 - Lecture SB 06.03.16-17 - Gorakhpur|710206 - Lecture SB 06.03.16-17 - Gorakhpur]]
</div>
<div class="text">
There is no use to become envious of a devotee, because a devotee, a pure devotee, will always be protected by these Viṣṇudūtas as they have protected Ajamila. Parebhyo. Parebhyo, Śrīdhāra Swamijī's gives śatru, enemies. In this world, although a devotee is ajāta-śatru—he does not do anything which will create enemy—but the nature of the world is that they will become envious. Any person, he has done no wrong to you, but he is making progress—his friends and his neighbors will be envious: "Oh, this man is becoming so successful." So the nature of this world is envious, enviousness.

Therefore, in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, in the beginning it is said, nirmatsarāṇāṁ satām. Dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo 'tra paramo nirmatsarāṇām ([[Vanisource:SB 1.1.2|SB 1.1.2]]): "This is understandable by persons who are freed from this quality of enviousness." Here is a quality in the material world. Anyone who is here, he will be envious of his . . . Para utkarṣa asahanam. They cannot tolerate that his friend or his brother is very much, I mean to say, advancing either material or spiritual. They cannot tolerate. This is the society.

Therefore my Guru Mahārāja used to say that, "This is not the place for a gentleman to live," because surrounded by envious persons, especially to the devotees. Especially when a man becomes devoted to the Lord, he creates—he does not create, but the atmosphere is such—many enemies. Just like Prahlāda Maharaja. He was a five-years-old boy only, child; his father became enemy. Because the only disqualification Prahlāda Mahārāja had, that he was a great devotee. His father became enemy, what to speak of others?

Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu has said, taror api sahiṣṇunā. You will have many enemies, many envious persons, when you become pure devotee, but you should tolerate. Taror api sahiṣṇunā. Be tolerant just like a tree and be humble just like a grass. Tṛṇād api sunīcena taror api sahiṣṇunā. Don't be afraid of your enemies, because Kṛṣṇa will protect you.

But in order to stop more misunderstanding, better become tolerant, as Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, that . . . envious persons, automatically . . . just like Caitanya Mahāprabhu's time, Śrīvāsa. Śrīvāsa was chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, and his neighborers became enemies. They wanted to insult him in so many ways. These are described in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta.

So that is natural. But we should always remember that "Let there be enemies. Let there be envious persons. I will be protected by Kṛṣṇa and His associates." And even I am not so accustomed, so I should learn to tolerate.
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</div>

Category:Advanced Devotees of God See Everything Mobile and Immobile, but Not Exactly Their Forms

2024-12-08T18:38:14Z

NeilG: Created page with "Category:Advanced Devotees of God Category:Devotees of God See Category:Everything Category:But Not Category:Exactly Category:Their Category:Forms Category:Devotees of God - Umbrella Category Category:Characteristics of Devotees of God - Umbrella Category Category:Devotees of God See... - Umbrella Category Z Category:All Categories - Vaniquotes"

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Category:Maha-bhagavata Devotees of God See Everything Mobile and Immobile, but Not Exactly Their Forms

2024-12-08T18:35:12Z

The maha-bhagavata, the advanced devotee, certainly sees everything mobile and immobile, but he does not exactly see their forms. Rather, everywhere he immediately sees manifest the form of the Supreme Lord

2024-12-08T18:32:52Z

NeilG:

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[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila Chapter 08 - Talks Between Ari Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Ramananda Raya]]
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - 62 Chapters]]
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 25 Chapters]]
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<h2>Sri Caitanya-caritamrta</h2>
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<h3>CC Madhya-lila</h3>
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“The mahā-bhāgavata, the advanced devotee, certainly sees everything mobile and immobile, but he does not exactly see their forms. Rather, everywhere he immediately sees manifest the form of the Supreme Lord.
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[[Vanisource:CC Madhya 8.274|CC Madhya 8.274, Translation]]
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“The mahā-bhāgavata, the advanced devotee, certainly sees everything mobile and immobile, but he does not exactly see their forms. Rather, everywhere he immediately sees manifest the form of the Supreme Lord.”
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Category:Visnu As a Fish

2024-12-08T17:24:50Z

NeilG:

[[Category:Visnu]]
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After hearing these sweet words from the Supreme Personality of Godhead (Visnu) in the form of a fish, the King, being bewildered, asked Him: Who are You, sir? You simply bewilder us

2024-12-08T17:22:30Z

NeilG:

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<h3>SB Canto 8</h3>
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After hearing these sweet words from the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the form of a fish, the King, being bewildered, asked Him: Who are You, sir? You simply bewilder us.
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[[Vanisource:SB 8.24.25|SB 8.24.25, Translation]]
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After hearing these sweet words from the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the form of a fish, the King, being bewildered, asked Him: Who are You, sir? You simply bewilder us.
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Another gopi said, "At that time ( when Krsna is walking in a stride which is so attractive), our movements cease. We become just like trees and stand perfectly still, unaware that our hair and clothes are loosening"

2024-12-08T14:45:19Z

NeilG:

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[[Category:Hair]]
[[Category:Cloth]]
[[Category:Loose]]
[[Category:Krsna Book Chapter 35 - The Gopis' Feelings of Separation]]
[[Category:Krsna Book Chapters 01 to 90]]
</div>
<div id="section">
<h2>Other Books by Srila Prabhupada</h2>
</div>
<div id="sub_section">
<h3>Krsna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead</h3>
</div>
<div class="quote">
<div class="quote_heading">
Another gopī said, “My dear friends, when Kṛṣṇa returns home with His cows, the footprints of the soles of His feet—with flag, thunderbolt, trident and lotus flower—relieve the pain the earth feels when the cows traverse it. He walks in a stride which is so attractive, and He carries His flute. Just by looking at Him we become lusty to enjoy His company. At that time, our movements cease. We become just like trees and stand perfectly still, unaware that our hair and clothes are loosening.
</div>

<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:KB 35|Krsna Book, 35]]
</div>
<div class="text">
One gopī said, “My dear friends, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma are nicely dressed with earrings and pearl necklaces. They enjoy Themselves on the top of Govardhana Hill, and everything becomes absorbed in transcendental pleasure when Kṛṣṇa plays on His flute, charming the whole created manifestation. When He plays, the clouds stop their loud thundering out of fear of Him. Rather than disturb the vibration of His flute, they respond with mild thunder and so congratulate Kṛṣṇa, their friend.”

Kṛṣṇa is accepted as the friend of the cloud because both the cloud and Kṛṣṇa satisfy the people when they are disturbed. When the people are burning due to excessive heat, the cloud satisfies them with rain. Similarly, when people in materialistic life become disturbed by the blazing fire of material pangs, Kṛṣṇa consciousness gives them relief like a cloud. The cloud and Kṛṣṇa, having the same bodily color also, are considered to be friends. Desiring to congratulate its superior friend, the cloud poured not water but small flowers and covered the head of Kṛṣṇa just like an umbrella to protect Him from the scorching sunshine.

One of the gopīs told mother Yaśodā, “My dear mother, your son is very expert among the cowherd boys. He knows all the different arts of how to tend the cows and how to play the flute. He composes His own songs, and to play them He puts His flute to His mouth. When He plays, either in the morning or in the evening, all the demigods, including Lord Śiva, Brahmā, Indra and Candra, bow their heads and listen with great attention. Although they are very learned and expert, they cannot understand the musical arrangements of Kṛṣṇa’s flute. They simply listen attentively and try to understand, but they become bewildered and nothing more.”

Another gopī said, “My dear friends, when Kṛṣṇa returns home with His cows, the footprints of the soles of His feet—with flag, thunderbolt, trident and lotus flower—relieve the pain the earth feels when the cows traverse it. He walks in a stride which is so attractive, and He carries His flute. Just by looking at Him we become lusty to enjoy His company. At that time, our movements cease. We become just like trees and stand perfectly still, unaware that our hair and clothes are loosening.”

Kṛṣṇa had many thousands of cows, and they were divided into groups according to their colors. They were also differently named according to color. When He would prepare to return from the pasturing ground, He would gather all the cows. As Vaiṣṇavas count 108 beads, which represent the 108 individual gopīs, so Kṛṣṇa would also count on 108 beads to count the different groups of cows.

“When Kṛṣṇa returns, He is garlanded with tulasī leaves,” a gopī described Him to a friend. “He puts His hand on the shoulder of a cowherd boyfriend and begins to blow His transcendental flute. The wives of the black deer become enchanted upon hearing the vibration of His flute, which resembles the vibration of the vīṇā. The deer come to Kṛṣṇa and become so charmed that they stand still, forgetting their homes and husbands. Like us, who are enchanted by the ocean of the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa, the she-deer become enchanted by the vibration of His flute.”

Another gopī told mother Yaśodā, “My dear mother, when your son returns home, He decorates Himself with the buds of the kunda flower, and just to enlighten and gladden His friends, He blows His flute. The breeze blowing from the south creates a pleasing atmosphere because it is fragrant and very cool. Minor demigods like the Gandharvas and Siddhas take advantage of this atmosphere and offer prayers to your son by sounding their bugles and drums. Kṛṣṇa is very kind to the inhabitants of Vrajabhūmi, Vṛndāvana, and when He returns with His cows and friends, He is remembered as the lifter of Govardhana Hill. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the most exalted demigods like Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva come down to offer their evening prayers, and they accompany the cowherd boys in glorifying the qualities of Kṛṣṇa.
</div>
</div>
</div>

Attending classes

2024-12-07T19:49:54Z

NeilG:

<div id="compilation">
<div id="facts">
{{terms|"Attend the arotrikas and the classes"|"Class, not always everyone attends"|"attend Bhagavata class"|"attend Kirtana and classes"|"attend Mangala Arati at the temple and classes"|"attend all of our classes"|"attend arati, classes"|"attend aratis and classes"|"attend class"|"attend classes"|"attend daily classes"|"attend evening and morning classes"|"attend lecture classes"|"attend mangala arati and all classes"|"attend mangala arati and class"|"attend mangala arati and classes"|"attend mangala-arati"|"attend morning and evening arati and classes"|"attend morning class"|"attend my class"|"attend our class"|"attend our classes"|"attend the Path Kirtana class"|"attend the Temple classes"|"attend the class"|"attend the classes"|"attend the main class"|"attend the mangala arati and classes"|"attend the morning and evening classes"|"attend the morning class"|"attendance in classes"|"attended class"|"attended our class"|"attended our classes"|"attending Srimmad Bhagavatam class"|"attending all of our classes"|"attending arati and class"|"attending arati, classes"|"attending class"|"attending classes"|"attending mangal arati and classes"|"attending mangala arati and class"|"attending mangala arati and classes"|"attending morning Arati, classes"|"attending my class"|"attending my classes"|"attending our classes"|"attending the aroti and the classes"|"attending the class"|"attending the classes"|"attending the mangala aroti and the Srimad-Bhagavatam class"|"attending this Bhagavad-gita class"|"attending this class"|"attending your Bhagavad-gita class"|"attends daily religious classes"|"attends himself with family the temple for the class"|"attends this class"|"class must be attended"|"class. They should attend"|"classes for studying our scripture"|"sitting in the class"|"utilize your time for understanding Krsna"}}
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[[Category:Attending Classes|1]]
[[Category:Our Morning and/or Evening Classes (Disciples of SP)|2]]
</div>
<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam" class="section" sec_index="1" parent="compilation" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam"><h2>Srimad-Bhagavatam</h2>
</div>
<div id="SB_Canto_1" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 1"><h3>SB Canto 1</h3>
</div>
<div id="SB1218_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_1" book="SB" index="41" link="SB 1.2.18" link_text="SB 1.2.18">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 1.2.18|SB 1.2.18, Translation]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">By regular attendance in classes on the Bhāgavatam and by rendering of service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta" class="section" sec_index="2" parent="compilation" text="Sri Caitanya-caritamrta"><h2>Sri Caitanya-caritamrta</h2>
</div>
<div id="CC_Madhya-lila" class="sub_section" sec_index="2" parent="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta" text="CC Madhya-lila"><h3>CC Madhya-lila</h3>
</div>
<div id="CCMadhya15108_0" class="quote" parent="CC_Madhya-lila" book="CC" index="3304" link="CC Madhya 15.108" link_text="CC Madhya 15.108">
<div class="heading">It is not that anyone can be suddenly initiated without meeting the requirements. When one is further advanced by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra sixteen rounds daily, following the regulative principles and attending classes, he receives the sacred thread (brahminical recognition) after the second six months.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Madhya 15.108|CC Madhya 15.108, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">""In the morning, afternoon and evening one should worship the Deity, chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, offer oblations, perform a fire sacrifice and feed the brāhmaṇas. These five activities constitute puraścaryā. To attain full success when taking initiation from the spiritual master, one should first perform these puraścaryā processes."" The word puraḥ means "before," and caryā means "activities." Due to the necessity of these activities, we do not immediately initiate disciples in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. For six months, a candidate for initiation must first attend ārati and classes in the śāstras, practice the regulative principles and associate with other devotees. When one is actually advanced in the puraścaryā-vidhi, he is recommended by the local temple president for initiation. It is not that anyone can be suddenly initiated without meeting the requirements. When one is further advanced by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra sixteen rounds daily, following the regulative principles and attending classes, he receives the sacred thread (brahminical recognition) after the second six months.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Lectures" class="section" sec_index="4" parent="compilation" text="Lectures"><h2>Lectures</h2>
</div>
<div id="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="0" parent="Lectures" text="Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures"><h3>Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures</h3>
</div>
<div id="LectureonBG123LondonJuly191973_0" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="15" link="Lecture on BG 1.23 -- London, July 19, 1973" link_text="Lecture on BG 1.23 -- London, July 19, 1973">
<div class="heading">So you utilize your time for understanding Kṛṣṇa. That is your business. People will not accept it. "Oh, this is a waste of time. Attending the class of Bhagavad-gītā, this is waste of time. By this time I could have earned hundreds of dollars." That is their business.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 1.23 -- London, July 19, 1973|Lecture on BG 1.23 -- London, July 19, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So why I am working so hard?" But that sense does not come. He is working, working, working, "More money, more money, more money, more money, more money." The Bhāgavata says, "No, no. This is not your business." The four capātis is already destined to you; you will get, any circumstances. You don't waste your time simply under some false impression of economic development. Don't waste your time. You cannot get more, you cannot get less. That is already there. So you utilize your time for understanding Kṛṣṇa. That is your business. People will not accept it. "Oh, this is a waste of time. Attending the class of Bhagavad-gītā, this is waste of time. By this time I could have earned hundreds of dollars." That is their business. That is called durbuddhi, durbuddhi, not very intelligent. All mūḍha, asses.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonBG423BombayApril121974_1" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="187" link="Lecture on BG 4.23 -- Bombay, April 12, 1974" link_text="Lecture on BG 4.23 -- Bombay, April 12, 1974">
<div class="heading">All of you know that unless one has attended class of the professor seventy-five percent, he is not allowed for the examination. So hearing is so important.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 4.23 -- Bombay, April 12, 1974|Lecture on BG 4.23 -- Bombay, April 12, 1974]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So in this way, hearing, hearing, you become jñānāvasthita-cetasaḥ. You don't require to go to the college and school.</p>
<p>This is also.... They simply hear. Even in college and school, there is percentage of attendance, hearing. All of you know that unless one has attended class of the professor seventy-five percent, he is not allowed for the examination. So hearing is so important.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonBG91819NewYorkDecember41966_2" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="318" link="Lecture on BG 9.18-19 -- New York, December 4, 1966" link_text="Lecture on BG 9.18-19 -- New York, December 4, 1966">
<div class="heading">One of our students, his father comes and instructs him, "Oh, I don't like this association. I have no meaning for marriage. You chase after women. You eat and drink and enjoy. I will give you car." You see? What is the fault of that poor student? That he is trying to give up all intoxication; he is not eating meat; he is living purely on vegetable; he is controlling; no illicit sex relationship, attending class morning and the evening.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 9.18-19 -- New York, December 4, 1966|Lecture on BG 9.18-19 -- New York, December 4, 1966]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">These people who do not know the destination, they are trying to make experiment which is already experimented. It is already experimented. Just take for example... I'll give you one practical example. One of our students, his father comes and instructs him, "Oh, I don't like this association. I have no meaning for marriage. You chase after women. You eat and drink and enjoy. I will give you car." You see? What is the fault of that poor student? That he is trying to give up all intoxication; he is not eating meat; he is living purely on vegetable; he is controlling; no illicit sex relationship, attending class morning and the evening. Oh, he thinks it is dangerous. So punaḥ punaś carvita-carvaṇānām ([[Vanisource:SB 7.5.30|SB 7.5.30]]). He has already experienced. He is married. He was married. His wife divorced, and his wife divorced him three times, and so many things. He has bad, very bad experience of his life, but he is inducing his son to do the same thing. He has no other idea. This is called punaḥ punaś carvita-carvaṇānām ([[Vanisource:SB 7.5.30|SB 7.5.30]]), "chewing the chewed."</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Lectures" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures"><h3>Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures</h3>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB1219CalcuttaSeptember271974_0" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="82" link="Lecture on SB 1.2.19 -- Calcutta, September 27, 1974" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.2.19 -- Calcutta, September 27, 1974">
<div class="heading">You have to attend Bhāgavata class and serve the bhāgavata person nityam, daily. If you cannot, that is a different thing. But this is the process.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.2.19 -- Calcutta, September 27, 1974|Lecture on SB 1.2.19 -- Calcutta, September 27, 1974]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">You haven't got to do anything more. Just hear about Kṛṣṇa. Śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ... Then everything will be cleared, gradually. This is our purpose. This center is giving chance that you come here and hear about... We, we don't make any flattery to satisfy the whims of the ordinary... We speak from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, we speak from Bhagavad-gītā, and present them as it is, without any adulteration. This is our position. If you like, then you make progress. If you don't like, that is your option. But we cannot make any compromise. We must present the śāstra as it is. And where is the difficulty? Everything is explained here. Nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā ([[Vanisource:SB 1.2.18|SB 1.2.18]]). You have to attend Bhāgavata class and serve the bhāgavata person nityam, daily. If you cannot, that is a different thing. But this is the process. Nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā. Naṣṭa-prāyeṣu abhadreṣu. This conclusion comes when one is partially advanced. Naṣṭa-prāyeṣu. Not fully. Then it will come. He'll be ready to serve Bhāgavatam-Bhāgavata, he person bhāgavata and the book Bhāgavata.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB1515NewVrindabanJune191969_1" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="141" link="Lecture on SB 1.5.15 -- New Vrindaban, June 19, 1969" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.5.15 -- New Vrindaban, June 19, 1969">
<div class="heading">Now, after passing, after regularly attending the class, say, five or six years, if one passes the examination, he takes the title M.D., Doctor of Medicine, or something like that. And if he fails, then he is given the title L.M.S., Licensed in Medical, Medicine and Surgery. So after studying in medical college for the regular years, five or six years, so even if he fails, he is recognized.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.5.15 -- New Vrindaban, June 19, 1969|Lecture on SB 1.5.15 -- New Vrindaban, June 19, 1969]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So the chance is given. If one falls down immaturely from the standard of bhakti-yoga, devotional service, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then he gets next birth either in a very nice brāhmaṇa family, or very rich family. So is not...? So what is the loss there, even if I fall? But that does not mean I shall wait for falling down. No. Just like in India, formerly, in medical college there were two designations—one as M.D., and another was L.M.S. So what is the distinction? Now, after passing, after regularly attending the class, say, five or six years, if one passes the examination, he takes the title M.D., Doctor of Medicine, or something like that. And if he fails, then he is given the title L.M.S., Licensed in Medical, Medicine and Surgery. So after studying in medical college for the regular years, five or six years, so even if he fails, he is recognized, but not to the standard of that passed medical man, but he is given license: "All right, if you don't wish to study more, you get the license to practice." License. Similarly, a devotee, a person in devotional service, in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, even if he falls down by some reason or other, without being mature, then he has, he's not in loss.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB11544LosAngelesDecember221973_2" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="311" link="Lecture on SB 1.15.44 -- Los Angeles, December 22, 1973" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.15.44 -- Los Angeles, December 22, 1973">
<div class="heading">That is the rules and regulation, attending this class, hearing this Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Bhagavad-gītā. Twenty-four hours be engaged. That is real business.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.15.44 -- Los Angeles, December 22, 1973|Lecture on SB 1.15.44 -- Los Angeles, December 22, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Kṛṣṇa is within and without, both ways, but we cannot see either within or without. This is called māyā. This is called māyā. So this is the problem. But that is not the problem for Kṛṣṇa. But that is problem for us. Because we are very minute spark of Kṛṣṇa, as the spark has the chance of being extinguished out of the fire, similarly, being separated from Kṛṣṇa, being entangled in this material energy, we have forgotten. Our spiritual quality, burning quality, just like fire, that is now extinguished. It is not exactly extinguished: almost extinguished. We have forgotten. But it can be again brought into the original position by fanning. Just like there is small fire in the charcoal. You fan it, and it will gradually become a big fire. So this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is fanning that spiritual spark to come into full consciousness. Go on fanning like that. That is the rules and regulation, attending this class, hearing this Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Bhagavad-gītā. Twenty-four hours be engaged. That is real business.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB11636TokyoJanuary301974_3" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="347" link="Lecture on SB 1.16.36 -- Tokyo, January 30, 1974" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.16.36 -- Tokyo, January 30, 1974">
<div class="heading">So there are others coming? Eh? Where is Sañjaya? Class, not always everyone attends?
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.16.36 -- Tokyo, January 30, 1974|Lecture on SB 1.16.36 -- Tokyo, January 30, 1974]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: So there are others coming? Eh? Where is Sañjaya? Class, not always everyone attends?</p>
<p>Devotee (1): It's usually everyone.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Eh?</p>
<p>Devotee (1): Everyone.</p>
<p>Devotee (2): Gopāla Swami is the only one.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Eh?</p>
<p>Devotee (2): Just Gopāla Swami is not here.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Not here? Why? Where he is?</p>
<p>Devotee (2): He's straightening your room.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Eh?</p>
<p>Devotee (2): He's cleaning your room.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: And our paṇḍitajī swami? Where is he?</p>
<p>Devotee (3): Probably with him.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Eh?</p>
<p>Devotee (3): I don't know where he is.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Call him.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB32641BombayJanuary161975_4" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="497" link="Lecture on SB 3.26.41 -- Bombay, January 16, 1975" link_text="Lecture on SB 3.26.41 -- Bombay, January 16, 1975">
<div class="heading">You should take as routine work, but with consciousness that "We have to learn something," not simply attending the class, but to learn something. In this way make your life successful.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 3.26.41 -- Bombay, January 16, 1975|Lecture on SB 3.26.41 -- Bombay, January 16, 1975]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So bhāgavata means the complete knowledge. Bhāgavata, from bhagavān it is called bhāgavata. From bhagavat-śabda it is called bhāgavata. So in the association of bhāgavata, devotees, if we read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam... Sajātīya snigdhasya. Sajātīya means people thinking in the same way. So that means devotees who are interested in bhagavad-bhakti, to understand Bhagavān, they should read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in the association. We should have regular classes. Just like school and colleges, eight hour, six hour. Be engaged always in reading Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, discussing amongst yourself. Then you'll make progress. Otherwise, if you take it as an official routine work... You should take as routine work, but with consciousness that "We have to learn something," not simply attending the class, but to learn something. In this way make your life successful. Because after all, everything is being done, daiva-coditāt, impelled by the Supreme Person. The Supreme Person is behind everything. So in the association of devotees, if we read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam regularly, then your, our, material contamination will be dissolved, and our spiritual consciousness will come out, and that will make our life successful.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB616HonoluluJune81975_5" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="585" link="Lecture on SB 6.1.6 -- Honolulu, June 8, 1975" link_text="Lecture on SB 6.1.6 -- Honolulu, June 8, 1975">
<div class="heading">We have no taste for reading and hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, but the taste will be created if we even by force sit down and attend Bhāgavata class.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 6.1.6 -- Honolulu, June 8, 1975|Lecture on SB 6.1.6 -- Honolulu, June 8, 1975]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So there was discussion on the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam for seven days. This seven days' discussion is imitated by the professional Bhāgavata reciters in India. But that is not required. We have to hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam daily. Parīkṣit Mahārāja had only seven days left in his life; therefore he hurriedly finished the reading of Bhāgavatam. But, of course, he had seven days assured. We haven't got seven minute assured. We can die at any moment. Anyway, the recommendation is nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā. We should read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam daily. Simply you go on reading. Nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā. Naṣṭa-prāyeṣv abhadreṣu nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā ([[Vanisource:SB 1.2.18|SB 1.2.18]]). We have no taste for reading and hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, but the taste will be created if we even by force sit down and attend Bhāgavata class. The taste will be created. How it will be created? Just like a person suffering from jaundice, if you give him sugar candy, it will be tasted by him as bitter. This is very practical example. He will say, the patient suffering from jaundice, he will say it is bitter. But sugar candy is not bitter. And at the same time, for jaundice-diseased man the sugar candy is the only medicine. If you give him sugar candy, water, sugarcane, then it will..., he will be cured very soon. And papaya. These things are recommended for jaundice patient. Similarly, the discussion on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam may not be liked by me in the beginning, but if we hear... Just like child does not want to go to school, but if you force him to go, gradually he will go automatically. This is the process.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB6161VrndavanaAugust281975_6" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="694" link="Lecture on SB 6.1.61 -- Vrndavana, August 28, 1975" link_text="Lecture on SB 6.1.61 -- Vrndavana, August 28, 1975">
<div class="heading">So we have to stick to these principles to keep ourselves on the transcendental platform, rising early in the morning, offer maṅgala ārati, then gradually, one after another, attending class, guru-pūjā, and so on, so on.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 6.1.61 -- Vrndavana, August 28, 1975|Lecture on SB 6.1.61 -- Vrndavana, August 28, 1975]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">As soon as you come on the platform of Brahman, brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā na śocati na kāṅkṣati ([[Vanisource:BG 18.54 (1972)|BG 18.54]]), then you will be able to. Otherwise you will not be able to. If you don't come on the transcendental platform, then you will not be able to.</p>
<p>So we have to stick to these principles to keep ourselves on the transcendental platform, rising early in the morning, offer maṅgala ārati, then gradually, one after another, attending class, guru-pūjā, and so on, so on. Up to till you go to bed, you should always be engaged. Then you will be above these three guṇas.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB7910MontrealJuly91968_7" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="806" link="Lecture on SB 7.9.10 -- Montreal, July 9, 1968" link_text="Lecture on SB 7.9.10 -- Montreal, July 9, 1968">
<div class="heading">So anyone who hears this chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa and kindly attends this class, he is also purified.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 7.9.10 -- Montreal, July 9, 1968|Lecture on SB 7.9.10 -- Montreal, July 9, 1968]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam means the topics of the Lord, God. So Kṛṣṇa is within you. According to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, śṛṇvatām sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇa. Those who are hearing about God, or Kṛṣṇa, and what sort of those topics? Now, puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ... One who is narrating and one who is hearing, both of them are being purified. Puṇya. Puṇya means pious, piety. Who, at least those who are hearing this Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, it is so nice that he is being purified. It is not that all of you are my students, or we are not We don't claim that we have become fully purified, but we have accepted the purificatory process, Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So anyone who hears this chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa and kindly attends this class, he is also purified. Śṛnvatām sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ puṇya-śravaṇa-tanaḥ ([[Vanisource:SB 1.2.17|SB 1.2.17]]). Kīrtana. This chanting is so nice that it makes people, one who is hearing, purified. So a person who is always thinking of Kṛṣṇa, always talking of Kṛṣṇa, then just imagine how much purified he is becoming</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB7910MontrealJuly101968_8" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="807" link="Lecture on SB 7.9.10 -- Montreal, July 10, 1968" link_text="Lecture on SB 7.9.10 -- Montreal, July 10, 1968">
<div class="heading">The Vedas is not like that: you purchase a book, the Bhagavad-gītā or Bhāgavata, and study at home, and you learn. Oh, it is not possible just like simply by purchasing some medical books and study at home you cannot become a doctor, medical man. That is not possible. Neither you can become a lawyer. The books are available in the market, but that is not the process. You have to enter yourself in an institution, take lessons from the professors, must attend lecture classes, seventy-five percent at least.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 7.9.10 -- Montreal, July 10, 1968|Lecture on SB 7.9.10 -- Montreal, July 10, 1968]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So one has to become brāhmaṇa, vipra at least, dvija, twice—birth by initiation. Then he is allowed to study. Then he will be able to understand the language of... It is not injustice that śūdras are not... Just like... I do not know what is the system in your country, but in India, one who is not a graduate, he is not allowed to study law. If one, anyone wants to study law, if he wants to enter into the law college, then he must be a graduate first of all, at least B.A. Otherwise he cannot. So if somebody says, "It is injustice," why? "Everyone should." Everyone cannot understand. Similarly, without being initiated by proper spiritual master, nobody can understand. The Vedas is not like that: you purchase a book, the Bhagavad-gītā or Bhāgavata, and study at home, and you learn. Oh, it is not possible just like simply by purchasing some medical books and study at home you cannot become a doctor, medical man. That is not possible. Neither you can become a lawyer. The books are available in the market, but that is not the process. You have to enter yourself in an institution, take lessons from the professors, must attend lecture classes, seventy-five percent at least. Then you are allowed to sit in the examination.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB7123BombayApril141976_9" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="863" link="Lecture on SB 7.12.3 -- Bombay, April 14, 1976" link_text="Lecture on SB 7.12.3 -- Bombay, April 14, 1976">
<div class="heading">You cannot say that "This is this. This is this." No. As machine work, everyone should attend the class, rise early in the morning, attend maṅgala-ārati. This is called suyantritaḥ, working like machine, no discrepancy. That is wanted.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 7.12.3 -- Bombay, April 14, 1976|Lecture on SB 7.12.3 -- Bombay, April 14, 1976]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">The essence of Vedic literature is Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Bhāṣyāyāṁ brahma-sutrāṇāṁ vedārtha-paribṛṁhitam. Our mission is to invite people to take advantage of learning Vedic literature, chandāṁsi. And what is the ultimate goal of studying Vedic literature? That is explained in the Bhagavad-gītā, vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyam: ([[Vanisource:BG 15.15 (1972)|BG 15.15]]) to understand Kṛṣṇa. So therefore our movement is known as Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.</p>
<p>So chandāṁsy adhīyīta guror āhūtaś cet suyantritaḥ. Very well behaved. Just like machine works systematically. You have seen. Everyone has seen. The machine of the watch is working very systematically, correctly. Similarly, every student, every disciple must work very correctly, like the machine. There is no question, "Why you did not attend school or the class?" You cannot say that "This is this. This is this." No. As machine work, everyone should attend the class, rise early in the morning, attend maṅgala-ārati. This is called suyantritaḥ, working like machine, no discrepancy. That is wanted. Suyantritaḥ. Then upakrame avasāne. In the beginning the students should come and offer obeisances to the lotus feet of guru. This is begin. Ādau gurv-āśrayam. Yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādaḥ **. This is the principle. If you offer your respectful obeisances to guru, he becomes pleased. Anyone, even one is offender, if he comes and offers obeisances to the superior guru, then even there was offense, he forgets.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="3" parent="Lectures" text="Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Lectures"><h3>Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Lectures</h3>
</div>
<div id="LectureonCCMadhyalila6254LosAngelesJanuary81968_0" class="quote" parent="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta_Lectures" book="Lec" index="45" link="Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 6.254 -- Los Angeles, January 8, 1968" link_text="Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 6.254 -- Los Angeles, January 8, 1968">
<div class="heading">So try to understand this movement and try to follow it. It is not sectarian; it is the need. I shall discuss all these points gradually. If you kindly come and attend the class , I shall be very much thankful.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 6.254 -- Los Angeles, January 8, 1968|Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 6.254 -- Los Angeles, January 8, 1968]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So not only one center in Los Angeles, but you open centers in every village, every country, every home. And the process is very simple. You chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and dance in ecstasy and everything will come within yourself gradually. Everything will come. You'll practically feel how you are becoming reformed. There is no need of wasting time. This Hare Kṛṣṇa movement can be done at home, outside home, when you are working, when you are walking, every moment. So try to understand this movement and try to follow it. It is not sectarian; it is the need. I shall discuss all these points gradually. If you kindly come and attend the class , I shall be very much thankful.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Initiation_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="8" parent="Lectures" text="Initiation Lectures"><h3>Initiation Lectures</h3>
</div>
<div id="InitiationSriRangaRomaharsanaSridharaDasasLosAngelesJuly31970_0" class="quote" parent="Initiation_Lectures" book="Lec" index="25" link="Initiation Sri Ranga, Romaharsana, Sridhara Dasas -- Los Angeles, July 3, 1970" link_text="Initiation Sri Ranga, Romaharsana, Sridhara Dasas -- Los Angeles, July 3, 1970">
<div class="heading">If he is eager, he is, I mean to say, accept brāhmaṇa, then we see that how he is attending our classes, how he is becoming little interested. Then we offer this first initiation. Otherwise, if we see that he is unmindful, then we should not canvass.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Initiation Sri Ranga, Romaharsana, Sridhara Dasas -- Los Angeles, July 3, 1970|Initiation Sri Ranga, Romaharsana, Sridhara Dasas -- Los Angeles, July 3, 1970]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Devotee: Instructing the glories of the Lord's name to the...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes. We (are) therefore cautious. Unless one is recommended by the president... If he is eager, he is, I mean to say, accept brāhmaṇa, then we see that how he is attending our classes, how he is becoming little interested. Then we offer this first initiation. Otherwise, if we see that he is unmindful, then we should not canvass. Let him come. Just like Kṛṣṇa says Arjuna that sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja: ([[Vanisource:BG 18.66 (1972)|BG 18.66]]) "You just surrender unto Me." He's saying. Not that by force making him surrender. That kind of surrender will not stand. We should not canvass. Let him become attracted by Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, and he personally asks for harer nāma ([[Vanisource:CC Adi 17.21|CC Adi 17.21]]).</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="section" sec_index="5" parent="compilation" text="Conversations and Morning Walks"><h2>Conversations and Morning Walks</h2>
</div>
<div id="1968_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1968 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1968 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="InterviewFebruary11968LosAngeles_0" class="quote" parent="1968_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="1" link="Interview -- February 1, 1968, Los Angeles" link_text="Interview -- February 1, 1968, Los Angeles">
<div class="heading">We get hundreds of letters by everyone who has attended our classes. Daily we are getting some married couples or boys and girls, but most of them are younger.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Interview -- February 1, 1968, Los Angeles|Interview -- February 1, 1968, Los Angeles]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Interviewer: You spoke of initiation. What is that initiation?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Initiation means formally acceptance of the line of activities in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Before that, before initiation, we invite everyone to come and sit down with us, chant, dance, take prasādam, hear philosophy. And if he understands, "Oh, this is very nice," then he offers himself to be initiated. Then we accept. Then we impose this restriction that "If you want to be initiated..." We get hundreds of letters by everyone who has attended our classes. Daily we are getting some married couples or boys and girls, but most of them are younger. My students are within thirties. The oldest student I have got at the present moment, he is twenty-eight years. No, Kirtanananda is about thirty years old. That's all. So, of course, I do not get any older people. That is nice, hopeful, because younger section, if they take it very seriously, then I have hopes that they will preach in future, even in my absence. And old people, if a man becomes too much accustomed to a certain limited habits, in old age it is very difficult to give it up unless one is extraordinarily intelligent.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="1969_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="2" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1969 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1969 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="RadioInterviewFebruary121969LosAngeles_0" class="quote" parent="1969_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="2" link="Radio Interview -- February 12, 1969, Los Angeles" link_text="Radio Interview -- February 12, 1969, Los Angeles">
<div class="heading">We begin chanting this Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare, Hare Rāma Hare Rāma, conjoinedly, congregationally. And it immediately transfers the atmosphere to a spiritual feeling, and if you sometimes attend our class, you can see practically how the boys and girls, they become ecstatic and chant and dance.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Radio Interview -- February 12, 1969, Los Angeles|Radio Interview -- February 12, 1969, Los Angeles]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Interviewer: Does the method include meditation? What... How do you go about this process?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Our process is... It is also meditation. But as you understand by meditation, that concentrating the mind upon some super subject matter, the same thing is there, but we don't try to concentrate the mind artificially. But our, this chanting process immediately attracts the mind. Our process is... Just like Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare, Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare. We chant it in melodious song. So mind is attracted, and we try to hear the sound. That means my mind and my ear is compact in that thought. Therefore it is practical meditation.</p>
<p>Interviewer: And there is a great deal of the repetitive chanting involved then in the meditation? How much is preaching? Supposing you were going, you are gathered together to accomplish this approach to consciousness. What happens? Do you speak with your disciples?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes, yes.</p>
<p>Interviewer: And do they raise questions or is it a formalized ritual?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes. First of all we pray to God to help us in the, our, I mean to say, preaching or chanting process. Then we begin chanting this Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare, Hare Rāma Hare Rāma, conjoinedly, congregationally. And it immediately transfers the atmosphere to a spiritual feeling, and if you sometimes attend our class, you can see practically how the boys and girls, they become ecstatic and chant and dance. So after chanting and dancing for a few minutes, say, fifteen to twenty minutes, then we speak something from Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam about theology and philosophy, ethics, morality. Then again we chant and pray to God and then close our class.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="1970_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="3" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1970 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1970 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="RoomConversationDecember131970Indore_0" class="quote" parent="1970_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="4" link="Room Conversation -- December 13, 1970, Indore" link_text="Room Conversation -- December 13, 1970, Indore">
<div class="heading">Take to Kṛṣṇa; everything will be solved. So they are reading Bhagavad-gītā but they do not know this. Therefore we have to preach. For thirteen years they are attending this Bhagavad-gītā class or Gītā Bhavan, but nobody knows that this is the Gītā, this is the fact. Why?
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation -- December 13, 1970, Indore|Room Conversation -- December 13, 1970, Indore]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: So because we are not Kṛṣṇa conscious, in Kṛṣṇa society, therefore we are dividing. Suppose one animal is born in India or in America. We don't take him as "my brother. He is also born in the same national." No. He kills it. He gives protection only to the animal with hands and legs, not to the animals who are four-legged. Because he is not Kṛṣṇa conscious, therefore his knowledge is imperfect. Paṇḍitaḥ sama-darśinaḥ ([[Vanisource:BG 5.18 (1972)|BG 5.18]]). We are fighting between the different religions because there is no Kṛṣṇa religion, no eternal religion, temporary religion. "I am Christian," "I am Hindu ," "I am Muslim." Therefore, to solve all the problems the Kṛṣṇa consciousness: sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ ([[Vanisource:BG 18.66 (1972)|BG 18.66]]). Take to Kṛṣṇa; everything will be solved. So they are reading Bhagavad-gītā but they do not know this. Therefore we have to preach. For thirteen years they are attending this Bhagavad-gītā class or Gītā Bhavan, but nobody knows that this is the Gītā, this is the fact. Why? (Hindi) You tell me. So Bhagavad-gita As It Is we are presenting, as it is. Then it will be nice. If you</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="1973_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="6" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1973 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1973 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="RoomConversationwithEducationistsJuly111973London_0" class="quote" parent="1973_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="40" link="Room Conversation with Educationists -- July 11, 1973, London" link_text="Room Conversation with Educationists -- July 11, 1973, London">
<div class="heading">We don't charge anything. You can come and join. There is no business. You can live with us. We don't charge anything. Or you can come and go, attend class. There is no charge. Kṛṣṇa gives us everything.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation with Educationists -- July 11, 1973, London|Room Conversation with Educationists -- July 11, 1973, London]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: How, that you have to learn, but this is the process.</p>
<p>Guest (1): That is the end product.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Hm. You learn... We have got this institution. You can come and learn how others are doing, others are learning. We have got class in the morning at seven. If you've got time, you can, you are welcome. We don't charge anything. You can come and join. There is no business. You can live with us. We don't charge anything. Or you can come and go, attend class. There is no charge. Kṛṣṇa gives us everything. Just like this house. This is two hundred thousand pounds. George Harrison has purchased it, and he has given us. Similarly, everything comes from Kṛṣṇa. None of our members go to office or factory. But we eat also, nicely.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="RoomConversationwithEducationistsJuly111973London_1" class="quote" parent="1973_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="40" link="Room Conversation with Educationists -- July 11, 1973, London" link_text="Room Conversation with Educationists -- July 11, 1973, London">
<div class="heading">First of all you try to attend our class in the morning and inquire all about your doubts. Have some clear idea what is this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation with Educationists -- July 11, 1973, London|Room Conversation with Educationists -- July 11, 1973, London]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: You are all living in neighborhood, this village? No. You have come from distant place?</p>
<p>Guest (1): Yes.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Oh. So whenever you find time, you can come, or, if you like, you can live with us. We have got ample place. Girls and ladies, they live separately. Boys and gentlemen, they live separately. Those who are married, we have got apartments for householders. And gradually, we are improving, I mean to say, arranging further facilities. First of all you try to attend our class in the morning and inquire all about your doubts. Have some clear idea what is this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Read our literatures as far as possible. You have taken some book, I see, I saw. And if you agree to this principle, we take charge of you. You haven't got any botheration, how you'll get prasāda. We shall arrange for that...</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="RoomConversationJuly191973London_2" class="quote" parent="1973_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="47" link="Room Conversation -- July 19, 1973, London" link_text="Room Conversation -- July 19, 1973, London">
<div class="heading">Attending class also? That's nice.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation -- July 19, 1973, London|Room Conversation -- July 19, 1973, London]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Pradyumna: My wife's typing up all your lectures. She has finished L.A. lectures. Now she is typing Māyāpura lectures, this lecture, that lecture. She has permanent machine and typewriter and apartment. So she types all during the day and she minds the child. And then it is in the same apartment.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Attending class also?</p>
<p>Pradyumna: Oh, yes.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: That's nice.</p>
<p>Pradyumna: They live now across the street, in the temple apartments.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: In our house?</p>
<p>Pradyumna: Yes.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: That's nice.</p>
<p>Pradyumna: Typing.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Now this house will facilitate our business. Just opposite the temple. So round about. Therefore I asked him, "Purchase these houses, purchase." Never mind. So that is not lost. They were paying rent elsewhere. They can pay here. We get our permanent tenants.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="RoomConversationSeptember191973Bombay_3" class="quote" parent="1973_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="76" link="Room Conversation -- September 19, 1973, Bombay" link_text="Room Conversation -- September 19, 1973, Bombay">
<div class="heading">The temple worship means there will be regulative principles, that you will have to rise early in the morning, you have to attend class, kīrtana... These things, as soon as you give up all these things, zero. Then it will be like karmīs, as they are, hard labor, collecting money, and enjoying senses. That's all.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation -- September 19, 1973, Bombay|Room Conversation -- September 19, 1973, Bombay]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: So there are so many members of the society against cruelty to animals. But they are all meat-eaters. Read something from Bhagavad-gītā and discuss. So in the Nepeansea Road, whether regular other things are going on or not? Or simply it is going out and coming and eating and sleeping?</p>
<p>Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Well, we want to have morning class and Monday, Wednesday and Friday have evening program there, evening discourse.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Whether it is going on?</p>
<p>Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Well, we just fixed up the place. The day you arrived was the first day it was painted. Until then, it was not fit for anyone to come in. It was very nasty.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: But you are living since a long time there.</p>
<p>Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: We have been living, but we have not invited others there.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: No, you invite others or not, whether your program was going on?</p>
<p>Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: No, till then it wasn't, Prabhupāda.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Then it was simply a joint mess, that you go and collect and come and eat and sleep.</p>
<p>Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: That is very dangerous. Then you will all fall down. If you make a joint mess, if you go and collect something and then eat and sleep, then everything will be... Therefore I do not want to keep separate. The temple worship means there will be regulative principles, that you will have to rise early in the morning, you have to attend class, kīrtana... These things, as soon as you give up all these things, zero. Then it will be like karmīs, as they are, hard labor, collecting money, and enjoying senses. That's all. So that is the pitfall everywhere. In the church, temple, as soon as they get some nice income, then in the name of "priest," "sādhu," "sannyāsī," they do the same thing. Therefore Gosvāmīs, they left everything. That is the danger of viṣaya, viṣaya touch. Viṣaya chāḍiyā se rase majiyā. As soon as we give up this śravaṇam, kīrtanam, then it becomes viṣaya. Viṣaya means materialism. There is no spiritualism. Kṣurasya dhārā, kṣurasya dhārā. Kṣura means sharpened razor. If you are careful, you cleanse very nicely. If you are not careful, immediately blood. Immediately. So the spiritual life is like that. As soon as you become little inattentive, immediately māyā captures, "Yes, come on." Then everything failure. We have got the tendency to enjoy sense. So senses are strong. As soon as there is opportunity, the senses will take advantage immediately. Then your whole business finished, Choṭa Haridāsa, and rejected by Mahāprabhu, "Get out." Even associate of Caitanya Mahāprabhu failed, personal associate.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="8" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1975 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1975 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="MorningWalkNovember21975Nairobi_0" class="quote" parent="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="231" link="Morning Walk -- November 2, 1975, Nairobi" link_text="Morning Walk -- November 2, 1975, Nairobi">
<div class="heading">"Example is better than precept." If you actually follow strictly the rules and regulations and chant sixteen rounds, why they'll not follow? They'll follow. If you are not attending class, if you are not attending maṅgala ārati, if you are not finishing sixteen rounds, then that is bad example.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- November 2, 1975, Nairobi|Morning Walk -- November 2, 1975, Nairobi]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Indian man (6): (unclear)</p>
<p>Brahmānanda: What is that? The brāhmaṇas who come over from?</p>
<p>Indian man (6): From ISKCON center. We have a tendency (unclear)</p>
<p>Brahmānanda: Yes. So what is your question?</p>
<p>Indian man (6): So don't you think that the blame should not be, usually be laid on the Africans but on the whole...?</p>
<p>Brahmānanda: He's saying that the brāhmaṇas who comes from our overseas temples here, it's their responsibility to see that the Africans follow properly, because the Africans will follow their example.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes, it is for that purpose they have come. That is the purpose, missionary purpose, here. We come here not to earn some money but to see that this culture is spread. So what is his question?</p>
<p>Brahmānanda: So it's the responsibility then of those who are coming as the missionaries to set the proper example.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes, certainly.</p>
<p>Brahmānanda: Because then the Africans will follow that proper example.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. Yes, he is right.</p>
<p>Brahmānanda: If they set a bad example, then they will follow bad example, then the criticism of the Indians will be justified.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes. That's it. So those who cannot follow, they should not come here. And ask from the origin that "Those who cannot strictly follow the rules and regulations, they should not come at all. It will set a bad example. They should be forbidden to come here." That I was speaking, that instead of filling with bad cows, better keep the cowshed vacant. That I was speaking. Those who cannot strictly follow our principles, they should not come here. It is bad example. By mistake, if somebody does, he should be regretful and he should rectify. That is another thing. But not willingly he should neglect. Then such person is not required at all.</p>
<p>Devotee (7): Prabhupāda, in the movement there is sometimes difficulty, and...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: What is the difficulty? You chant sixteen rounds and follow the regulative... Where is the difficulty?</p>
<p>Devotee (7): If they will not accept instruction, then...</p>
<p>Cyavana: Then what is your instruction? If they won't accept your instruction, then what is your instruction? Must be bogus. Huh? If your instruction is pure, then they'll accept. If your instruction is not pure, who will accept? I will not accept.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: No, "Example is better than precept." If you actually follow strictly the rules and regulations and chant sixteen rounds, why they'll not follow? They'll follow. If you are not attending class, if you are not attending maṅgala ārati, if you are not finishing sixteen rounds, then that is bad example.</p>
<p>Brahmānanda: This boy didn't attend mangal ārati.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Don't set bad example. That is detrimental.</p>
<p>Devotee (7): Śrīla Prabhupāda, is it for the advanced devotees...?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Nobody is advanced. Everyone is student. He must follow. There is no question of advanced.</p>
<p>Devotee (7): I mean, they call śūdras...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Śūdras? Śūdra, how he can be devotee? Śūdras are never devotee.</p>
<p>Indian man (4): No, he says sometimes the devotees, they call the other devotee that "You are śūdra."</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: That is jokingly. (laughter)</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="RoomConversationNovember251975Delhi_1" class="quote" parent="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="249" link="Room Conversation -- November 25, 1975, Delhi" link_text="Room Conversation -- November 25, 1975, Delhi">
<div class="heading">So in every center they must rise early in the morning. They must follow the regulative principles. They must attend class. Otherwise let them go out. We don't want.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation -- November 25, 1975, Delhi|Room Conversation -- November 25, 1975, Delhi]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: So in every center they must rise early in the morning. They must follow the regulative principles. They must attend class. Otherwise let them go out. We don't want. And if anyone wants to marry, first of all he must show that he has some earning capacity. Not that "Because there are so many girls, and I marry one to satisfy my senses..." I thought that boy was nice, and I heard all these stories. That is also another defect, that we have got young boys and young girls open for lovemaking. And brahmacārī means strictly prohibited to see the face of woman. But we cannot stop it. That is also another defect. Fire is good and butter is good, but when they come together everything become bad. Is it not? Fire is good, just like heat. And butter is good, healthy. But when they come together the butter melts and the fire extinguished. This is māyā's arrangement. Puṁsa striyā mithunī-bhāvam etam. This whole world is going on by the sex attraction, and when they come together both of them become spoiled. Therefore it has to be dealt with very, very carefully, so many rules, regulation.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="9" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1976 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1976 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="MorningWalkMarch21976Mayapur_0" class="quote" parent="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="42" link="Morning Walk -- March 2, 1976, Mayapur" link_text="Morning Walk -- March 2, 1976, Mayapur">
<div class="heading">So now you make some regulation. Otherwise... Attending class? No.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- March 2, 1976, Mayapur|Morning Walk -- March 2, 1976, Mayapur]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Yaśodānandana: It has been seen that when many householders come together in many of our big communities, because there are so many women and children, there is a great atmosphere of laziness a lot of times. I have seen in Los Angeles and also in many other temples. But when there's a lot of brahmacārīs preaching, it's much more enlivening.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: So now you make some regulation. Otherwise... Attending class? No.</p>
<p>Hṛdayānanda: Excuse me?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: They attend class?</p>
<p>Gargamuni: Yeah.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Eh?</p>
<p>Gargamuni: Yeah, they attend aratikas and class because there's no other activity there.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: No, that is also good.</p>
<p>Gargamuni: No, they should attend. They are attending. I have... We had nice... Bhakti... Your Guru Mahārāja appearance day, we had nice program. Some people came...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Everyone should be engaged. That's all. No idle life. That should be... Karma jyāyo hy akarma-kṛt. (sic) What is that? Śarīra-yātrāpi te na prasiddhyed akarmanaḥ. Ah. Niyata.... Niyataṁ kuru karma tvaṁ karma jyāyoḥ' akarmanaḥ, śarīra yātrāpi te. Kṛṣṇa never encouraged laziness, never encouraged. (break) "...people are maintaining some lazy men." Then everything will be spoiled.</p>
<p>Gargamuni: That boy, Mahendra, told me when you, he came back. I met him in Germany. He said that you remarked that our society is not love-making society. But there are so many of these things are going on, and there is...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes, I have seen In Vṛndāvana.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="MorningWalkMarch131976Mayapur_1" class="quote" parent="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="51" link="Morning Walk -- March 13, 1976, Mayapur" link_text="Morning Walk -- March 13, 1976, Mayapur">
<div class="heading">Oh, that is not good. The class must be attended.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- March 13, 1976, Mayapur|Morning Walk -- March 13, 1976, Mayapur]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Guru-krpa: This boy leads kīrtana for two or three hours nonstop by himself, playing the drum.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Oh. So parikrāma party has not come back?</p>
<p>Madhudviṣa: No, they didn't show up yet.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Oh, that is not good. The class must be attended.</p>
<p>Madhudviṣa: They'll be back by the time class starts, I think, Śrīla Prabhupāda.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Then they should not go in the morning. They must attend class. That is very important.</p>
<p>Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: You once gave the example of your spiritual master also, how people were invited on parikrama and you stayed back to hear.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: I never went. (break) Otherwise they should not go in the morning. (end)</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="MorningWalkMarch191976Mayapura_2" class="quote" parent="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="58" link="Morning Walk -- March 19, 1976, Mayapura" link_text="Morning Walk -- March 19, 1976, Mayapura">
<div class="heading">No, no. Not small... Yes, that's nice. But one thing is that if they can attend, even by hearing the Vedic mantras they'll be benefited. Even they.... Therefore I give stress on chanting the mantra, so that if one cannot chant and can under.... Simply by hearing, he'll be benefited.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- March 19, 1976, Mayapura|Morning Walk -- March 19, 1976, Mayapura]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Jayapatākā: The Gurukula teachers had one question, Śrīla Prabhupāda.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Eh?</p>
<p>Jayapatākā: At one time, you had instructed that all the children should attend the main class. They say that some of the very small children have trouble to keep their attention...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: No, no. Not small...</p>
<p>Jayapatākā: So they found that if they attend a separate...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: It is common sense. Also attend many child in the lap of his mother. You see? He should also...?</p>
<p>Jayapatākā: Yeah, they find those seven-, eight-year-old, they attend better a small, private reading.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes, that's nice. But one thing is that if they can attend, even by hearing the Vedic mantras they'll be benefited. Even they.... Therefore I give stress on chanting the mantra, so that if one cannot chant and can under.... Simply by hearing, he'll be benefited. (break)</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="MorningWalkMay151976Honolulu_3" class="quote" parent="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="100" link="Morning Walk -- May 15, 1976, Honolulu" link_text="Morning Walk -- May 15, 1976, Honolulu">
<div class="heading">When I was student in Scottish Churches College, so we had to attend class, half an hour, Bible. So the Dr. Urquhart, he did.... The argument was: "So if karma is there and I am suffering for my karma, who is the witness?" But because they do not know that the witness is God.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- May 15, 1976, Honolulu|Morning Walk -- May 15, 1976, Honolulu]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: (break) ...cannot explain why some people are born in a more pious setting and some people are born in a more impious setting.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Because they do not know the karma. Karmaṇā daiva netreṇa ([[Vanisource:SB 3.31.1|SB 3.31.1]]). According to one's activities, pious or impious, he gets the next birth. That is quite reasonable. But they do not believe in karma. When I was student in Scottish Churches College, so we had to attend class, half an hour, Bible. So the Dr. Urquhart, he did.... The argument was: "So if karma is there and I am suffering for my karma, who is the witness?" But because they do not know that the witness is God.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="InterviewwithProfessorsOConnellMotilalandShivaramJune181976Toronto_4" class="quote" parent="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="148" link="Interview with Professors O'Connell, Motilal and Shivaram -- June 18, 1976, Toronto" link_text="Interview with Professors O'Connell, Motilal and Shivaram -- June 18, 1976, Toronto">
<div class="heading">Nowadays we have got school, colleges, universities, but this method is not there, how to become dānta. The method is different, that "You can do whatever you like; you simply attend class." That is not the way of life. This is tapasya.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Interview with Professors O'Connell, Motilal and Shivaram -- June 18, 1976, Toronto|Interview with Professors O'Connell, Motilal and Shivaram -- June 18, 1976, Toronto]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Viśvakarmā: One boy, Garuḍa dāsa, is going to study at the University of Chicago for his Ph.D. in Sanskrit.</p>
<p>Prof. O'Connell: Good.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: The real education is life. Gurukula means it is a way of life training. It is said that brahmacārī gurukule vasan dānta. This is the way of life: how to learn controlling the senses. Nowadays we have got school, colleges, universities, but this method is not there, how to become dānta. The method is different, that "You can do whatever you like; you simply attend class." That is not the way of life. This is tapasya.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="RoomConversationAugust21976NewMayapurFrenchfarm_5" class="quote" parent="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="238" link="Room Conversation -- August 2, 1976, New Mayapur (French farm)" link_text="Room Conversation -- August 2, 1976, New Mayapur (French farm)">
<div class="heading">The classes should be regularly held. Those who are engaged in the field work, then let them work, but woman or others, they should hear in the class. They should attend.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation -- August 2, 1976, New Mayapur (French farm)|Room Conversation -- August 2, 1976, New Mayapur (French farm)]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Hari-śauri: One who has not listened carefully to the instructions of the spiritual master is unfit to chant or preach the cult of devotional service. One has to water the bhakti-latā-bīja after receiving instructions from the spiritual master." I remember in Hawaii, this section here, it says a person is fortified by both Kṛṣṇa and the spiritual master, and you said that Kṛṣṇa gives you the weapon and the spiritual master sharpens it, the weapon of knowledge, and in that way we can become free from material bondage.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: The classes should be regularly held. Those who are engaged in the field work, then let them work, but woman or others, they should hear in the class. They should attend.</p>
<p>Bhagavān: There is regular class for everyone in the afternoon after prasādam.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: That's nice.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="RoomConversationAboutMayapuraConstructionAugust191976Hyderabad_6" class="quote" parent="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="273" link="Room Conversation About Mayapura Construction -- August 19, 1976, Hyderabad" link_text="Room Conversation About Mayapura Construction -- August 19, 1976, Hyderabad">
<div class="heading">That's nice. Work is partial. These things are essential.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation About Mayapura Construction -- August 19, 1976, Hyderabad|Room Conversation About Mayapura Construction -- August 19, 1976, Hyderabad]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Jayapatākā: Of course, all those details we don't know. By the way, Tīrtha Mahārāja very sick.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Eh?</p>
<p>Gargamuni: Oxygen.</p>
<p>Jayapatākā: He can't breath. He is on a bed with oxygen. Life and death any moment. Injection, oxygen, barely staying alive. One day better, one day worse. Now they say better; then again they say worse. (Break) That is what we simply need, are people... I saw the program so nicely if people would simply come and work sincerely, they'll make spiritual advancement. They'll chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. Very quickly they'll become Kṛṣṇa conscious. So now we're seeing that... We're demanding that sincere people come.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes, it may not be the association of lazy people. Free hotel. No.</p>
<p>Jayapatākā: Bhavānanda, he's strict on that.</p>
<p>Gargamuni: He's very strict. Without working, no one can eat.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes. Not only work. Attending the program. That is essential.</p>
<p>Jayapatākā: They all attend maṅgala-ārati, evening ārati. They should also attend morning class.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: That's nice. Work is partial. These things are essential.</p>
<p>Jayapatākā: Maṅgala-ārati and morning class.</p>
<p>Gargamuni: But some of these men are workers. They're not...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: No, our cloth necessities are supplied by ourselves? The cloth?</p>
<p>Jayapatākā: The difficulty is right now we have twenty thousand rupees worth of cloth in stock. That is all profit. We only are three thousand rupees in debt. But we have all the cloth. We have no customers.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Why?</p>
<p>Gargamuni: There's no customers. We have a huge stock...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: You send immediately to America. They will pay.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="1977_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="10" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1977 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1977 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="RoofConversationJanuary51977Bombay_0" class="quote" parent="1977_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="10" link="Roof Conversation -- January 5, 1977, Bombay" link_text="Roof Conversation -- January 5, 1977, Bombay">
<div class="heading">So if one is rising early in the morning, then what is the examination? That is already examined. If one has to rise early in the morning, attend the maṅgala-ārati, sitting in the class and reading Bhagavad-gītā, chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa... These are all practical. There is no need of examination. If he is doing, then it is examination passed.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Roof Conversation -- January 5, 1977, Bombay|Roof Conversation -- January 5, 1977, Bombay]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Indian lady: May I ask one question? I'm running my own school in Hosharpur, and it starts to A-class, and I want to convert it into gurukula. How I can make arrangements for the books and the examination or the students can take Welley(?) certificate and examination from recognized book? We should make something.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Running on...? What is that school?</p>
<p>Indian lady: All kind of school, English-speaking.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: But if you have to work under government regulation, then you cannot do it. You won't get government help.</p>
<p>Indian lady: But I want to convert it into gurukula on the basis of Hare Kṛṣṇa consciousness.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Our gurukula means how to teach them to become self-controlled. That is first business. This literary education secondary, grammar secondary. The first necessity is how to create them śānta, dānta, self-controlled.</p>
<p>Indian lady: But we have got from Punjab Board and education board...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: And therefore I say, if you have to work under government control, it is very difficult. If you can work independently, then it is possible.</p>
<p>Indian lady: It is independent. I'm independent. I'm doing everything.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: No, if you take government help...</p>
<p>Indian lady: But the students go for examination in the board also.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Examination or no examination, if you, they practice the rules, that is sufficient examination. Suppose one of the items, that one has to rise early in the morning... So if one is rising early in the morning, then what is the examination? That is already examined. If one has to rise early in the morning, attend the maṅgala-ārati, sitting in the class and reading Bhagavad-gītā, chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa... These are all practical. There is no need of examination. If he is doing, then it is examination passed.</p>
<p>Indian lady: But the parents want certificate.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Therefore, if you want to satisfy the parents, the government, then it is not possible. You have to satisfy Kṛṣṇa.</p>
<p>Indian lady: They have to go in colleges.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: I know that. Therefore I said that if you have to satisfy so many masters, it is not possible.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="RoomConversationJanuary81977Bombay_1" class="quote" parent="1977_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="16" link="Room Conversation -- January 8, 1977, Bombay" link_text="Room Conversation -- January 8, 1977, Bombay">
<div class="heading">And regular habits: going to the Yamunā in procession, timely get up early in the morning, attending class, clean dress, clean bedding, clean room.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation -- January 8, 1977, Bombay|Room Conversation -- January 8, 1977, Bombay]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: ...in Vṛndāvana. And try to organize this Gurukula as their world attraction. That will be your success. Simply teach them nicely English and Sanskrit. And our books are there. And regular habits: going to the Yamunā in procession, timely get up early in the morning, attending class, clean dress, clean bedding, clean room. Śikhā-sūtra. The Vāmanadeva gave this description. Where is that book?</p>
<p>Jagadīśa: I don't know. Pradyumna may have taken it.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: There were two books. Woman... Girls should be taught how to become faithful wife, how to learn nice cooking, cleansing, dressing. Simple method. There is no objection of their becoming scholar, but that is not necessary. They have got natural inclination to give service by cooking, cleansing, dressing. Cleanliness is the first necessity. That is hygienic, spiritual, and calm, quiet. India has got special facility to remain clean. Only in this country you can take thrice bathing. In other countries... Easy there. In your country there is hot water. There is no difficulty if one practices. I think our men have such practice. But this cleanness is this taking bathing at least twice. That keeps a man very clean.</p>
<p>Jagadīśa: Yes. Since I've been taking two baths a day, unless I have two baths I don't feel clean. Sometimes I am very busy and don't get to bathe twice, and then I feel very dirty.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes.</p>
<p>Hari-śauri: I don't feel clean if I don't have three.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Also, he also. He also takes. So if it is practiced, it keeps health very nice. I was taking all along. Since I was attacked, heart, they said you should be kept from catching cold.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="EveningConversationJanuary251977Puri_2" class="quote" parent="1977_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="54" link="Evening Conversation -- January 25, 1977, Puri" link_text="Evening Conversation -- January 25, 1977, Puri">
<div class="heading">So here people have generally tendency to come to the beach to enjoy. "All right, we shall give you a place. Come on. Stay here. You haven't got to pay anything for food or lodging. Simply attend ārati, classes. Then... For experiment, three days' period, you see."
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Evening Conversation -- January 25, 1977, Puri|Evening Conversation -- January 25, 1977, Puri]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: Where is the difficulty to become self-realized? Hm? Is there any difficulty? He must know that "I am serving. I am never master. But serving the senses, that's all, whims of the senses in the name of independence." That is not possible. Very simple philosophy. One who understands, he's self-realized. And if he preaches, then he becomes recognized. On this principle we shall help everyone. "Come here. Stay with us nicely. Nicely you can. But serve Kṛṣṇa. We take responsibility." Organize in this way throughout the whole world. Give them shelter; give them food; give them cloth. That is the most benevolent welfare activity in the human society. So here people have generally tendency to come to the beach to enjoy. "All right, we shall give you a place. Come on. Stay here. You haven't got to pay anything for food or lodging. Simply attend ārati, classes. Then... For experiment, three days' period, you see."</p>
<p>Gargamuni: Anyone.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Anyone.</p>
<p>Satsvarūpa: Even those three days they have to attend the maṅgala-ārati?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes. Maṅgala-ārati they must attend. It is not that sleeping, "gongongon," and taking free food, no.</p>
<p>Gargamuni: No. Even in Māyāpura we wake them up at four.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes, that must be. Why Māyāpura? Vṛndāvana, they are accustomed. Yā devī sarva-bhūteṣu nidra... This sleeping is the māyā's influence. It is stated in the... Yā devī sarva-bhūteṣu nidra-rūpeṇa saṁsthitaḥ.(?) The Devī, this material energy, has captured everyone, and she is there... The more one sleeps, that means he's under the control of māyā. And the more he is not sleeping, he's free from māyā. Nidrāhāra-vihārakādi-vijitau **. The Gosvāmīs, they conquered over three things: nidrā, sleeping; āhāra, eating; and mating. These things are the clutches of māyā. More we have sex, more we have eating, more we have sleeping, that means I am entangled. The more we conquer over it, we are free. That we have to try. Whether I am in the clutches of māyā or not can be tested—whether I am sleeping more, whether I am eating more, whether I am more sexually inclined. He can test himself.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Correspondence" class="section" sec_index="6" parent="compilation" text="Correspondence"><h2>Correspondence</h2>
</div>
<div id="1947_to_1965_Correspondence" class="sub_section" sec_index="0" parent="Correspondence" text="1947 to 1965 Correspondence"><h3>1947 to 1965 Correspondence</h3>
</div>
<div id="LettertoBrothersAllahabad1January1955_0" class="quote" parent="1947_to_1965_Correspondence" book="Let" index="16" link="Letter to Brothers -- Allahabad 1 January, 1955" link_text="Letter to Brothers -- Allahabad 1 January, 1955">
<div class="heading">After partaking the "Mangalaratrik" Prasadam, he shall attend the morning class of "Path Kirtana" in which chanting of the holy name of God along with musical instruments, will be sung before and after reading of "Srimad Bhagavad-gita" "Bhagavatam" etc.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Brothers -- Allahabad 1 January, 1955|Letter to Brothers -- Allahabad 1 January, 1955]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">(8) After partaking the "Mangalaratrik" Prasadam, he shall attend the morning class of "Path Kirtana" in which chanting of the holy name of God along with musical instruments, will be sung before and after reading of "Srimad Bhagavad-gita" "Bhagavatam" etc. This function will continue from 6 to 8 in the morning.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LettertoBrothersAllahabad1January1955_1" class="quote" parent="1947_to_1965_Correspondence" book="Let" index="16" link="Letter to Brothers -- Allahabad 1 January, 1955" link_text="Letter to Brothers -- Allahabad 1 January, 1955">
<div class="heading">The member shall then attend the Path Kirtana class from 5 to 7 in the evening as is done in the morning.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Brothers -- Allahabad 1 January, 1955|Letter to Brothers -- Allahabad 1 January, 1955]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">(15) the member shall then attend the Path Kirtana class from 5 to 7 in the evening as is done in the morning.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="1966_Correspondence" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Correspondence" text="1966 Correspondence"><h3>1966 Correspondence</h3>
</div>
<div id="LettertoMangalaniloyBrahmacariNewYork11June1966_0" class="quote" parent="1966_Correspondence" book="Let" index="16" link="Letter to Mangalaniloy Brahmacari -- New York 11 June, 1966" link_text="Letter to Mangalaniloy Brahmacari -- New York 11 June, 1966">
<div class="heading">You have asked me to write something about Mr Paul. He is a young man of twenty three years old. He was attending my class at 72nd St. along with others and when there was theft case in my room he invited me to his residence.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Mangalaniloy Brahmacari -- New York 11 June, 1966|Letter to Mangalaniloy Brahmacari -- New York 11 June, 1966]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">You have asked me to write something about Mr Paul. He is a young man of twenty three years old. He was attending my class at 72nd St. along with others and when there was theft case in my room he invited me to his residence. So I am with him and training him. He has good prospect because he has already given up all so called bad habits. In these country illicit connection with women, smoking, drinking and eating of meats are common affairs besides that other habits like using toilet papers after evacuating etc. But by my request he has given up 90% of his old habits and he is chanting Mahamantra regularly. So I am giving him the chance and I think he is improving.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LettertoMadhavaMaharajaNewYork1August1966_1" class="quote" parent="1966_Correspondence" book="Let" index="21" link="Letter to Madhava Maharaja -- New York 1 August, 1966" link_text="Letter to Madhava Maharaja -- New York 1 August, 1966">
<div class="heading">Our men in the ideal line of activities chalked out by Srila Prabhupada will be great help to me and the persons who are now seriously attending my classes.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Madhava Maharaja -- New York 1 August, 1966|Letter to Madhava Maharaja -- New York 1 August, 1966]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">(TEXT MISSING)</p>
<p> for this cooperation programme. Srila Prabhupada wanted us to do everything in complete cooperation and thus I am inclined to have full cooperation in this great attempt of preaching in the foreign countries. All the camps of our various camps may at least cooperate in the matter of special activities and I may be able to provide any number of men who may be now inclined to come here and work under my direction. There is great possibility of Lord Caitanya's cult being preached amongst the younger section of the Americans and some of them are hearing me very seriously to accept the philosophy. Our men in the ideal line of activities chalked out by Srila Prabhupada will be great help to me and the persons who are now seriously attending my classes.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="1967_Correspondence" class="sub_section" sec_index="2" parent="Correspondence" text="1967 Correspondence"><h3>1967 Correspondence</h3>
</div>
<div id="LettertoUmapatiCalcutta22October1967_0" class="quote" parent="1967_Correspondence" book="Let" index="189" link="Letter to Umapati -- Calcutta 22 October, 1967" link_text="Letter to Umapati -- Calcutta 22 October, 1967">
<div class="heading">I am very glad to learn from Rayarama's letter that both you & Satyavrata (Moskowitz) are regularly attending class.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Umapati -- Calcutta 22 October, 1967|Letter to Umapati -- Calcutta 22 October, 1967]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">I am very glad to learn from Rayarama's letter that both you & Satyavrata (Moskowitz) are regularly attending class. So I thank you again. Hope you are well.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="1968_Correspondence" class="sub_section" sec_index="3" parent="Correspondence" text="1968 Correspondence"><h3>1968 Correspondence</h3>
</div>
<div id="LettertoYamunaHarsaraniLosAngeles15January1968_0" class="quote" parent="1968_Correspondence" book="Let" index="10" link="Letter to Yamuna, Harsarani -- Los Angeles 15 January, 1968" link_text="Letter to Yamuna, Harsarani -- Los Angeles 15 January, 1968">
<div class="heading">Next time I am not going to initiate anybody who has not attended our classes at least for 3 months, and is not recommended by the leading members of the society.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Yamuna, Harsarani -- Los Angeles 15 January, 1968|Letter to Yamuna, Harsarani -- Los Angeles 15 January, 1968]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">I am in due receipt of your letter, undated, and I can understand that in some points you disagree with Gargamuni but you have not clearly mentioned what is this point of disagreement. So far I know, Gargamuni's activities are approved by the president Jayananda, and so far I know Gargamuni, he has a business tactfulness, but his aim is to help the society financially. Whatever he does is not for his personal interest but for the interest of the society. If you have any specific grievance, please let me know, but don't be disturbed by any sort of disagreement with your God-brothers and sisters. Each and every living entity is an individual soul and as such disagreement is quite possible in our dealings with one another but we have to consider the central point of interest. You are both very intelligent sober girls and I have got good estimation of you; do not take at any time an attitude of non-cooperation because you may have not agreed with another's point of view. I have heard about the incidents created by a new devotee, Jivanuga. He appears to be a crazy fellow. He should not have been initiated, but I have given him a chance to improve. Next time I am not going to initiate anybody who has not attended our classes at least for 3 months, and is not recommended by the leading members of the society. Less intelligent persons cannot take to Krishna Consciousness. Please let me know what is your specific grievance, but I request you not to become disturbed. The plan of your husband and yourself, Yamuna, of going to India is approved by me, I am simply waiting for the place where you shall stay. I have already informed this matter to Guru das and he is preparing for this. We shall require at least one dozen students to go to India and stay there at least for 6 months, and be completely trained up on our line of activities. The place which I am arranging by negotiation with authorities will be sufficient of accommodating at least 50 students and if Krishna gives us that place it will be a great success.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LettertoJayaMazoLosAngeles18January1968_1" class="quote" parent="1968_Correspondence" book="Let" index="20" link="Letter to Jaya Mazo -- Los Angeles 18 January, 1968" link_text="Letter to Jaya Mazo -- Los Angeles 18 January, 1968">
<div class="heading">In the meantime, please go on attending classes in N.Y. as usual and do it regularly and you will be benefited.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Jaya Mazo -- Los Angeles 18 January, 1968|Letter to Jaya Mazo -- Los Angeles 18 January, 1968]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Your letter is very interesting to me and when I shall meet you in N.Y. sometimes in March or April, we shall talk frankly and I shall officially initiate you. In the meantime, please go on attending classes in N.Y. as usual and do it regularly and you will be benefited.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LettertoRobertPekalaLosAngeles13February1968_2" class="quote" parent="1968_Correspondence" book="Let" index="55" link="Letter to Robert Pekala -- Los Angeles 13 February, 1968" link_text="Letter to Robert Pekala -- Los Angeles 13 February, 1968">
<div class="heading">I am glad that you attended our class at Montreal and tried to understand the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Robert Pekala -- Los Angeles 13 February, 1968|Letter to Robert Pekala -- Los Angeles 13 February, 1968]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">I thank you very much for your inquisitiveness shown in your letter dated Jan. 30, 1968. And I am sorry that I could not reply this letter earlier, on account of being busy in my preoccupation. I am glad that you attended our class at Montreal and tried to understand the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness. It is neither sectarian nor dogmatic. It is the natural relationship of the living entities with the Supreme Soul. The Supreme Soul is Krishna, or the All Attractive; one cannot be Supreme Soul without being all attractive. If God is Supreme, therefore the nomenclature of God to be addressed is Krishna perfectly well.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LettertoJayanandaLosAngeles24February1968_3" class="quote" parent="1968_Correspondence" book="Let" index="80" link="Letter to Jayananda -- Los Angeles 24 February, 1968" link_text="Letter to Jayananda -- Los Angeles 24 February, 1968">
<div class="heading">In the meantime let her attend our classes and join the Sankirtana program regularly.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Jayananda -- Los Angeles 24 February, 1968|Letter to Jayananda -- Los Angeles 24 February, 1968]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">I beg to acknowledge receipt of your latest letter, and I am so glad to learn that you are making nice arrangements for my lecturing in different places, and I expect to return in San Francisco by the tenth of March, and wish to execute all programs within 20-30 days from the date of my arrival before starting for New York. I shall be very glad to initiate girl friend if you recommend her actual mental condition. We should not initiate anyone who is not willing to follow our regulations. In the meantime let her attend our classes and join the Sankirtana program regularly. I am so pleased to learn that you are by the Grace of Krishna improving day by day in the matter of Krishna Conciousness. Thank you very much for your sincere service. Hope you are well.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LettertoBrahmanandaSanFrancisco12March1968_4" class="quote" parent="1968_Correspondence" book="Let" index="109" link="Letter to Brahmananda -- San Francisco 12 March, 1968" link_text="Letter to Brahmananda -- San Francisco 12 March, 1968">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Brahmananda -- San Francisco 12 March, 1968|Letter to Brahmananda -- San Francisco 12 March, 1968]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So far Michael is concerned, he is being forced to take meat, let him attend class, and pray to Krishna for his future release from the difficulties he is experiencing at home. But so long he has to eat meat, he cannot be initiated. Let him attend classes regularly, and render service as much as possible, and Krishna will help him to get out of this dilemma. And when I come to New York, I shall see what is the situation.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LettertoSacisutaAllstonMass30May1968_5" class="quote" parent="1968_Correspondence" book="Let" index="180" link="Letter to Sacisuta -- Allston, Mass 30 May, 1968" link_text="Letter to Sacisuta -- Allston, Mass 30 May, 1968">
<div class="heading">And the other standard practices for initiated devotees: Must attend evening and morning classes.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Sacisuta -- Allston, Mass 30 May, 1968|Letter to Sacisuta -- Allston, Mass 30 May, 1968]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">I am very glad to receive your letter dated May 26, 1968, along with beads, and I am so pleased that you are seeking for being initiated. So, after due chanting I am sending both your beads by separate first class post parcel. Receive it and chant without any offense. The 10 kinds of offenses are like this:</p>
<p>Blaspheming the Lord's devotee</p>
<p>Considering the Lord and the demigods on the same level—or assuming there are many gods</p>
<p>Neglecting the orders of the spiritual master</p>
<p>Minimizing the authority of the Scriptures</p>
<p>Interpreting the Holy Name of God</p>
<p>Committing sin on the strength of chanting</p>
<p>Instructing the glories of the Lord's Name to the unfaithful</p>
<p>Comparing the Holy Name with material piety</p>
<p>Inattention while chanting the Holy Name</p>
<p>Attachment to material things while engaged in the practice of chanting</p>
<p>So you follow those principles as well as the four restrictive rules, namely;</p>
<p>No addiction to indulgence in any form of intoxication, including coffee, tea and cigarettes</p>
<p>No illicit sexual relationships</p>
<p>Must be strictly vegetarian</p>
<p>No gambling</p>
<p>And the other standard practices for initiated devotees:</p>
<p>Must attend evening and morning classes</p>
<p>Should not extensively mix with non-devotees</p>
<p>Should not eat food cooked by non-devotees</p>
<p>Should not waste time in idle talks</p>
<p>Should not become engaged in frivolous sports</p>
<p>Should always chant and sing the Lord's Holy Names</p>
<p>Chanting as enunciated by Lord Caitanya is the only means for spiritual realization in this age of dissension. So chant at least 16 rounds daily, and for other help you can ask assistance from your elderly God-brothers.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LettertoSatsvarupaLosAngeles14November1968_6" class="quote" parent="1968_Correspondence" book="Let" index="419" link="Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 14 November, 1968" link_text="Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 14 November, 1968">
<div class="heading">One who is initiated is authorized, and one who is not initiated is not authorized. Just like, for example, Pradyumna is attending class in Sanskrit in a college, he is given chance to learn Sanskrit, but he is not equal with the regular students.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 14 November, 1968|Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 14 November, 1968]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Yes, there is definitely a vast difference between initiated and non-initiated. One who is initiated is authorized, and one who is not initiated is not authorized. Just like, for example, Pradyumna is attending class in Sanskrit in a college, he is given chance to learn Sanskrit, but he is not equal with the regular students. One who becomes initiated is channelized to the authorities in the disciplic succession. One who isn't initiated may chant Hare Krishna (and should certainly be encouraged to do so) and serve in his own way, and gradually by doing so he may want to be initiated. But otherwise he may fall away from following the rules and regulations.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="1969_Correspondence" class="sub_section" sec_index="4" parent="Correspondence" text="1969 Correspondence"><h3>1969 Correspondence</h3>
</div>
<div id="LettertoMarkBuchwaldLosAngeles21January1969_0" class="quote" parent="1969_Correspondence" book="Let" index="45" link="Letter to Mark Buchwald -- Los Angeles 21 January, 1969" link_text="Letter to Mark Buchwald -- Los Angeles 21 January, 1969">
<div class="heading">Because you have asked me to assign you to some duty, I think that your first duty is to regularly attend all of our classes.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Mark Buchwald -- Los Angeles 21 January, 1969|Letter to Mark Buchwald -- Los Angeles 21 January, 1969]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Because you have asked me to assign you to some duty, I think that your first duty is to regularly attend all of our classes. Chant Hare Krishna as long as possible, and try to help in the activities of the temple. Also, we have got so many literatures and books for sale, so if you can help in selling these books and magazines that will be a great help.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LettertoNaranarayanaLosAngeles1February1969_1" class="quote" parent="1969_Correspondence" book="Let" index="82" link="Letter to Nara-narayana -- Los Angeles 1 February, 1969" link_text="Letter to Nara-narayana -- Los Angeles 1 February, 1969">
<div class="heading">You should always read also, besides attending class, whenever you have time, the Bhagavad-gita As It Is.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Nara-narayana -- Los Angeles 1 February, 1969|Letter to Nara-narayana -- Los Angeles 1 February, 1969]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">You should always read also, besides attending class, whenever you have time, the Bhagavad-gita As It Is. Then I can surely recommend to the draft board that you are a very serious student of Bhagavad-gita under my supervision.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LettertoIsanaVibhavatiHawaii8March1969_2" class="quote" parent="1969_Correspondence" book="Let" index="159" link="Letter to Isana, Vibhavati -- Hawaii 8 March, 1969" link_text="Letter to Isana, Vibhavati -- Hawaii 8 March, 1969">
<div class="heading">Chant 16 rounds minimum daily, attend classes in the temple, and read Bhagavad-gita, and Srimad-Bhagavatam regularly.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Isana, Vibhavati -- Hawaii 8 March, 1969|Letter to Isana, Vibhavati -- Hawaii 8 March, 1969]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">I thank you very much for your kind letter of February 22, 1969, along with your beads, which I have duly chanted. Your name is now Isana das Adhikari and your wife's name is Vibhavati dasi. Please follow the four principles of initiated disciples which are as follows: No eating of animal foods such as meat, fish and eggs; no gambling; no illicit sex life; and no intoxication of any kind. Chant 16 rounds minimum daily, attend classes in the temple, and read Bhagavad-gita, and Srimad-Bhagavatam regularly. Whenever there is any question, ask me, and try to preach Krishna Consciousness movement to your best capacity.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LettertoSwamiBhaktivedantaHawaii14March1969_3" class="quote" parent="1969_Correspondence" book="Let" index="171" link="Letter to Swami Bhaktivedanta -- Hawaii 14 March, 1969" link_text="Letter to Swami Bhaktivedanta -- Hawaii 14 March, 1969">
<div class="heading">Requirements are as follows: They should attend class in the mornings from 7 to 8 a.m., then during lunch hold kirtana, then from 12 to 4 sankirtana party, evening arati, and MWF evening classes.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Swami Bhaktivedanta -- Hawaii 14 March, 1969|Letter to Swami Bhaktivedanta -- Hawaii 14 March, 1969]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Q. 8. Requirements are as follows: They should attend class in the mornings from 7 to 8 a.m., then during lunch hold kirtana, then from 12 to 4 sankirtana party, evening arati, and MWF evening classes.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LettertoOfficialforMadhudvisaLosAngeles15March1969_4" class="quote" parent="1969_Correspondence" book="Let" index="174" link="Letter to Official (for Madhudvisa) -- Los Angeles 15 March, 1969" link_text="Letter to Official (for Madhudvisa) -- Los Angeles 15 March, 1969">
<div class="heading">Michael E. Morrissey (Madhudvisa Das Brahmacari) attends daily religious classes both in the morning and in the evening, and worships the Deity under my personal instruction.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Official (for Madhudvisa) -- Los Angeles 15 March, 1969|Letter to Official (for Madhudvisa) -- Los Angeles 15 March, 1969]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Michael E. Morrissey (Madhudvisa Das Brahmacari) attends daily religious classes both in the morning and in the evening, and worships the Deity under my personal instruction. This course of training continues for seven years from the date of initiation in order to befit him as an Ordained Minister of Religion.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LettertoRobertHendryLosAngeles3August1969_5" class="quote" parent="1969_Correspondence" book="Let" index="492" link="Letter to Robert Hendry -- Los Angeles 3 August, 1969" link_text="Letter to Robert Hendry -- Los Angeles 3 August, 1969">
<div class="heading">Your question about not chanting while attending class is also welcome. I don't mind if you do not chant Hare Krishna Mantra, but if you kindly sit down while chanting is going on, and if you simply hear with attention, that will also act.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Robert Hendry -- Los Angeles 3 August, 1969|Letter to Robert Hendry -- Los Angeles 3 August, 1969]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Your question about not chanting while attending class is also welcome. I don't mind if you do not chant Hare Krishna Mantra, but if you kindly sit down while chanting is going on, and if you simply hear with attention, that will also act. Wanting to become Krishna Conscious is also as good as being in a state of Krishna Consciousness. There is no actual difference, but the difference is only just like the difference between green mangos and fully ripened mangos. The ripened mango is not a separate mango, but it is another condition of the green mango. So if the green mango is properly taken care of, it will surely come to the stage of the ripened mango. Therefore, as a mango, there is no difference between the two stages. So far as your dress is concerned, that is immaterial. But as a soldier you know that every soldier has got a uniform dress according to the army etiquette of regulation. Therefore, the army of Krishna Consciousness must have at least the tilak on the forehead in all conditions. For your business you can wear your naval service uniform; similarly, if you have tilak on your forehead as a soldier of Krishna Consciousness, you may not have so much objection, because it is essential. Your ideas are great, and your efficiency is laudable. The best thing would have been if you could come here and live with me at least for a week. We could have discussed it very nicely, so in the future you can become a great commander of the Krishna Consciousness soldiers.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LettertoTamalaKrsnaTittenhurst14September1969_6" class="quote" parent="1969_Correspondence" book="Let" index="563" link="Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Tittenhurst 14 September, 1969" link_text="Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Tittenhurst 14 September, 1969">
<div class="heading">So the students may attend class for one year as you have already arranged, and if they learn this philosophy, even if they don't become initiated students, it will be a pleasure for us.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Tittenhurst 14 September, 1969|Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Tittenhurst 14 September, 1969]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">I am pleased to note that you will be giving four classes in Los Angeles universities this year, and everyone is welcome to appear in the Bhakti-sastri examination and take the title. But one must be acquainted with Krishna philosophy at least for one year. So the students may attend class for one year as you have already arranged, and if they learn this philosophy, even if they don't become initiated students, it will be a pleasure for us.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LettertoStevenHebelLondon6December1969_7" class="quote" parent="1969_Correspondence" book="Let" index="713" link="Letter to Steven Hebel -- London 6 December, 1969" link_text="Letter to Steven Hebel -- London 6 December, 1969">
<div class="heading">I am pleased to learn that you are regularly attending all of our classes and you are serving nicely in the New York temple.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Steven Hebel -- London 6 December, 1969|Letter to Steven Hebel -- London 6 December, 1969]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">I beg to acknowledge receipt of your nice letter dated November 27, 1969 and have noted the contents. I am pleased to learn that you are regularly attending all of our classes and you are serving nicely in the New York temple. Continue on in this way and try to understand our philosophy as far as possible. Krishna gives assurance in the Bhagavad-gita that if one is very serious to perfect his Krishna Consciousness, then automatically, out of His Causeless Mercy, Lord Krishna gives such sincere soul the intelligence by which he can enter again into the Spiritual Sky. Actually, Krishna offers this intelligence freely to everyone, but only the fortunate persons will take to it. Unfortunate persons will speculate upon the words of Krishna and concoct some meaning according to their own sense gratification. But Krishna and His bona fide representatives are giving this knowledge freely to everyone. Now it is our duty to assimilate this knowledge and practice it. Just like the electric current is equal on all points of the electric system, but different light bulbs will take different amounts of energy. This depends upon the capacity of the bulb to accept the electric current. Similarly, the Lord is not partial to anyone, but according to one's sincere desire to render unalloyed devotional service, so will He respond to enlighten such devotee. So the way for you to increase the capacity of receiving Krishna's Mercy is to chant Hare Krishna regularly, at least 16 rounds per day, to associate with devotees of Krishna, and to follow the rules and regulations. In this connection Brahmananda and the others will be able to give you good guidance. My request to you is that you stick with this process sincerely, and I am sure Lord Krishna provide all facilities for your advancement.</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>

Actually, all Vedic culture is aiming at understanding Lord Visnu. In the Rg Veda one mantra says that any advanced saintly person is always aspiring to be fixed in meditation upon the lotus feet of Visnu

2024-12-07T15:14:25Z

NeilG:

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{{terms|"Actually, all Vedic culture is aiming at understanding Lord Viṣṇu. In the Ṛg Veda one mantra says that any advanced saintly person is always aspiring to be fixed in meditation upon the lotus feet of Viṣṇu"}}
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[[Category:Actually]]
[[Category:Vedic Culture]]
[[Category:Aim]]
[[Category:Understanding God]]
[[Category:Understanding Visnu]]
[[Category:Rg Veda]]
[[Category:One]]
[[Category:Rg-mantra]]
[[Category:Advance]]
[[Category:Saintly Persons - Devotees of God]]
[[Category:Always]]
[[Category:Aspiration]]
[[Category:Fixed]]
[[Category:Meditating on Visnu]]
[[Category:God's Lotus Feet]]
[[Category:Visnu's Lotus Feet]]
[[Category:The Nectar of Devotion Chapter 35 - Neutral Love of God]]
[[Category:The Nectar of Devotion Chapters 01 to 51]]
</div>
<div id="section">
<h2>Other Books by Srila Prabhupada</h2>
</div>
<div id="sub_section">
<h3>Nectar of Devotion</h3>
</div>
<div class="quote">
<div class="quote_heading">
Actually, all Vedic culture is aiming at understanding Lord Viṣṇu. In the Ṛg Veda one mantra says that any advanced saintly person is always aspiring to be fixed in meditation upon the lotus feet of Viṣṇu.
</div>

<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:NOD 35 (1970)|Nectar of Devotion, 35]]
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<div class="text">
Without worshiping the arcā-vigraha, the form or Deity of the Lord, one cannot understand such literature as the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. For those great sages situated in the position of transcendental neutrality, the beginning should be to take shelter of Lord Viṣṇu, the four-handed eternal form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The mystic yogīs are therefore advised to meditate on the form of Lord Viṣṇu as recommended by Kapila Muni in the sāṅkhya-yoga system. Unfortunately, many mystic yogīs try to meditate on something void, and as is stated in the Gītā, the result is that they simply undergo trouble and do not achieve any tangible result.

When some great saintly persons who had undergone penances and austerities saw the four-handed transcendental form of Viṣṇu, they began to remark as follows: "This four-handed form of the Lord, manifested in a bluish color, is the reservoir of all pleasure and the center of our living force. Actually, when we see this eternal form of Viṣṇu, we, along with many other paramahaṁsas, become immediately captivated by the beauty of the Lord." This appreciation of Lord Viṣṇu by saintly persons is an instance of situation in śānta-rasa, or the neutral stage of devotional service. In the beginning, those who are aspiring for salvation try to get out of the material entanglement by performing painful austerities and penances, and ultimately they come to the impersonal status of spiritual realization. At this brahma-bhūta stage of liberation from the material entanglement, the symptoms, as explained in the Bhagavad-gītā, are that one becomes joyous beyond any hankering or lamentation and gains a universal vision. When the devotee is situated in the śānta-rasa, or neutral stage of devotional service, he appreciates the Viṣṇu form of the Lord.

Actually, all Vedic culture is aiming at understanding Lord Viṣṇu. In the Ṛg Veda one mantra says that any advanced saintly person is always aspiring to be fixed in meditation upon the lotus feet of Viṣṇu.

In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it is said that the foolish do not know that Viṣṇu is the ultimate goal of life. According to the conclusion of all authoritative Vedic scriptures, when a person comes to the stage of appreciating Viṣṇu, he is at the beginning of devotional service. If one cultivates devotional service further and further, under proper guidance, other features of devotional service will gradually become manifest. At this stage of śānta-rasa, one can see Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the deliverer of even the demons. The Lord is appreciated by such would-be devotees as the eternal transcendental form, chief of all self-realized souls, the supersoul, the supreme Brahman, completely pacified, completely controlled and pure, merciful to the devotees and untouched by any material condition. This appreciation of Lord Viṣṇu in awe and veneration by the saintly is to be understood as the sign that they are situated in the śānta-rasa, or neutral stage of devotional service.

This stage of śānta-rasa can be attained by the impersonalists only when they are in association with pure devotees. Otherwise it is not possible. After Brahman realization, when a liberated soul comes in contact with a pure devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa and submissively accepts the teachings of Lord Kṛṣṇa without misinterpretation, he becomes situated in this neutral stage of devotional service. The best example of saintly persons situated in the śānta-rasa are Sanaka, Sanātana, Sananda, and Sanat-kumāra, the Kumāra brothers. These four saintly persons (known as Catuḥsana) were sons of Lord Brahmā. After their birth, when they were ordered by their father to become householders and increase human society, they refused the order. They said that they had already decided not to become entangled with family life; they would rather live as saintly brahmacārīs for their own perfection. So these great saints have been living for millions of years now, but still they appear to be just like boys of four or five years. Their complexions are very fair, there is an effulgence in their bodies, and they always travel naked. These four saintly persons almost always remain together.
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Actually, all Vedic culture is aiming at understanding Lord Viṣṇu. In the Ṛg Veda one mantra says that any advanced saintly person is always aspiring to be fixed in meditation upon the lotus feet of Viṣṇu.
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[[Vanisource:NOD 35 (1970)|Nectar of Devotion, 35]]
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Without worshiping the arcā-vigraha, the form or Deity of the Lord, one cannot understand such literature as the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. For those great sages situated in the position of transcendental neutrality, the beginning should be to take shelter of Lord Viṣṇu, the four-handed eternal form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The mystic yogīs are therefore advised to meditate on the form of Lord Viṣṇu as recommended by Kapila Muni in the sāṅkhya-yoga system. Unfortunately, many mystic yogīs try to meditate on something void, and as is stated in the Gītā, the result is that they simply undergo trouble and do not achieve any tangible result.

When some great saintly persons who had undergone penances and austerities saw the four-handed transcendental form of Viṣṇu, they began to remark as follows: "This four-handed form of the Lord, manifested in a bluish color, is the reservoir of all pleasure and the center of our living force. Actually, when we see this eternal form of Viṣṇu, we, along with many other paramahaṁsas, become immediately captivated by the beauty of the Lord." This appreciation of Lord Viṣṇu by saintly persons is an instance of situation in śānta-rasa, or the neutral stage of devotional service. In the beginning, those who are aspiring for salvation try to get out of the material entanglement by performing painful austerities and penances, and ultimately they come to the impersonal status of spiritual realization. At this brahma-bhūta stage of liberation from the material entanglement, the symptoms, as explained in the Bhagavad-gītā, are that one becomes joyous beyond any hankering or lamentation and gains a universal vision. When the devotee is situated in the śānta-rasa, or neutral stage of devotional service, he appreciates the Viṣṇu form of the Lord.

Actually, all Vedic culture is aiming at understanding Lord Viṣṇu. In the Ṛg Veda one mantra says that any advanced saintly person is always aspiring to be fixed in meditation upon the lotus feet of Viṣṇu.

In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it is said that the foolish do not know that Viṣṇu is the ultimate goal of life. According to the conclusion of all authoritative Vedic scriptures, when a person comes to the stage of appreciating Viṣṇu, he is at the beginning of devotional service. If one cultivates devotional service further and further, under proper guidance, other features of devotional service will gradually become manifest. At this stage of śānta-rasa, one can see Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the deliverer of even the demons. The Lord is appreciated by such would-be devotees as the eternal transcendental form, chief of all self-realized souls, the supersoul, the supreme Brahman, completely pacified, completely controlled and pure, merciful to the devotees and untouched by any material condition. This appreciation of Lord Viṣṇu in awe and veneration by the saintly is to be understood as the sign that they are situated in the śānta-rasa, or neutral stage of devotional service.

This stage of śānta-rasa can be attained by the impersonalists only when they are in association with pure devotees. Otherwise it is not possible. After Brahman realization, when a liberated soul comes in contact with a pure devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa and submissively accepts the teachings of Lord Kṛṣṇa without misinterpretation, he becomes situated in this neutral stage of devotional service. The best example of saintly persons situated in the śānta-rasa are Sanaka, Sanātana, Sananda, and Sanat-kumāra, the Kumāra brothers. These four saintly persons (known as Catuḥsana) were sons of Lord Brahmā. After their birth, when they were ordered by their father to become householders and increase human society, they refused the order. They said that they had already decided not to become entangled with family life; they would rather live as saintly brahmacārīs for their own perfection. So these great saints have been living for millions of years now, but still they appear to be just like boys of four or five years. Their complexions are very fair, there is an effulgence in their bodies, and they always travel naked. These four saintly persons almost always remain together.
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