View source for Self interested

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[[Category:Self-interest|2]]
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<div id="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is" class="section" sec_index="0" parent="compilation" text="Bhagavad-gita As It Is"><h2>Bhagavad-gita As It Is</h2>
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<div id="BG_Chapters_1_-_6" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is" text="BG Chapters 1 - 6"><h3>BG Chapters 1 - 6</h3>
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<div id="BG442_0" class="quote" parent="BG_Chapters_1_-_6" book="BG" index="195" link="BG 4.42" link_text="BG 4.42">
<div class="heading">Beware of self-interested people after personal aggrandizement who deviate others from the actual path.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:BG 4.42 (1972)|BG 4.42, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">A bona fide spiritual master is in the disciplic succession from time eternal, and he does not deviate at all from the instructions of the Supreme Lord as they were imparted millions of years ago to the sun-god, from whom the instructions of Bhagavad-gītā have come down to the earthly kingdom. One should, therefore, follow the path of Bhagavad-gītā as it is expressed in the Gītā itself and beware of self-interested people after personal aggrandizement who deviate others from the actual path. The Lord is definitely the supreme person, and His activities are transcendental. One who understands this is a liberated person from the very beginning of his study of Bhagavad-gītā.</p>
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<div id="BG61_1" class="quote" parent="BG_Chapters_1_-_6" book="BG" index="223" link="BG 6.1" link_text="BG 6.1">
<div class="heading">The sannyāsīs sometimes artificially think that they have become liberated from all material duties, and therefore they cease to perform agnihotra yajñas (fire sacrifices), but actually they are self-interested because their goal is to become one with the impersonal Brahman.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:BG 6.1 (1972)|BG 6.1, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">The sannyāsīs sometimes artificially think that they have become liberated from all material duties, and therefore they cease to perform agnihotra yajñas (fire sacrifices), but actually they are self-interested because their goal is to become one with the impersonal Brahman. Such a desire is greater than any material desire, but it is not without self-interest. Similarly, the mystic yogī who practices the yoga system with half-open eyes, ceasing all material activities, desires some satisfaction for his personal self. But a person acting in Kṛṣṇa consciousness works for the satisfaction of the whole, without self-interest.</p>
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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="SB273_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_2" book="SB" index="202" link="SB 2.7.3" link_text="SB 2.7.3">
<div class="heading">In all cases all the incarnations are supported by the invulnerable statements of the authorized scriptures, and not by any imagination of some self-interested propagandist.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 2.7.3|SB 2.7.3, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">When the Lord descends personally or by His personal plenary expansions, such incarnations are called aṁśa, kalā, guṇa, yuga and manvantara incarnations, and when the Lord's associates descend by the order of the Lord, such incarnations are called śaktyāveśa incarnations. But in all cases all the incarnations are supported by the invulnerable statements of the authorized scriptures, and not by any imagination of some self-interested propagandist. Such incarnations of the Lord, in either of the above categories, always declare the Supreme Personality of Godhead to be the ultimate truth. The impersonal conception of the supreme truth is just a process of negation of the form of the Lord from the mundane conception of the supreme truth.</p>
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<div id="SB279_1" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_2" book="SB" index="208" link="SB 2.7.9" link_text="SB 2.7.9">
<div class="heading">The broad-minded brāhmaṇas were not self-interested, but looked to the interest of complete welfare for all the subjects.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 2.7.9|SB 2.7.9, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Mahārāja Vena did not adhere to this principle of ruling, and he disobeyed the learned brāhmaṇas. The broad-minded brāhmaṇas were not self-interested, but looked to the interest of complete welfare for all the subjects. They wanted to chastise King Vena for his misconduct and so prayed to the Almighty Lord as well as cursed the king.</p>
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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="SB3912_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_3" book="SB" index="321" link="SB 3.9.12" link_text="SB 3.9.12">
<div class="heading">The sakāma devotees are self-interested because they do not think of others, and therefore they are not able to satisfy the Lord perfectly, whereas the pure devotees take the missionary responsibility of turning nondevotees into devotees, and they are therefore able to satisfy the Lord more than the demigods.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 3.9.12|SB 3.9.12, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Bhagavad-gītā (4.11) states: ye yathā māṁ prapadyante tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham. "Although the Lord is equally kind to every living being, the living beings, for their own part, are able to please the Lord to either a greater or lesser extent." The demigods are called sakāma devotees, or devotees with material desires in mind, while the pure devotees are called niṣkāma devotees because they have no desires for their personal interests. The sakāma devotees are self-interested because they do not think of others, and therefore they are not able to satisfy the Lord perfectly, whereas the pure devotees take the missionary responsibility of turning nondevotees into devotees, and they are therefore able to satisfy the Lord more than the demigods. The Lord is unmindful of the nondevotees, although He is sitting within everyone's heart as well-wisher and Supersoul. However, He also gives them the chance to receive His mercy through His pure devotees who are engaged in missionary activities.</p>
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<div id="SB_Canto_6" class="sub_section" sec_index="6" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 6"><h3>SB Canto 6</h3>
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<div id="SB6106_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_6" book="SB" index="391" link="SB 6.10.6" link_text="SB 6.10.6">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 6.10.6|SB 6.10.6, Translation]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">Those who are too self-interested beg something from others, not knowing of others' pain. But if the beggar knew the difficulty of the giver, he would not ask for anything. Similarly, he who is able to give charity does not know the beggar's difficulty, for otherwise he would not refuse to give the beggar anything he might want as charity.</p>
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<div id="SB61842_1" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_6" book="SB" index="719" link="SB 6.18.42" link_text="SB 6.18.42">
<div class="heading">Women are self-interested by nature, and therefore they should be protected by all means so that their natural inclination to be too self-interested will not be manifested.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 6.18.42|SB 6.18.42, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">A woman's nature has been particularly well studied by Kaśyapa Muni. Women are self-interested by nature, and therefore they should be protected by all means so that their natural inclination to be too self-interested will not be manifested. Women need to be protected by men. A woman should be cared for by her father in her childhood, by her husband in her youth and by her grown sons in her old age. This is the injunction of Manu, who says that a woman should not be given independence at any stage. Women must be cared for so that they will not be free to manifest their natural tendency for gross selfishness. There have been many cases, even in the present day, in which women have killed their husbands to take advantage of their insurance policies. This is not a criticism of women but a practical study of their nature. Such natural instincts of a woman or a man are manifested only in the bodily conception of life. When either a man or a woman is advanced in spiritual consciousness, the bodily conception of life practically vanishes. We should see all women as spiritual units (ahaṁ brahmāsmi), whose only duty is to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. Then the influences of the different modes of material nature, which result from one's possessing a material body, will not act.</p>
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<div id="SB_Canto_7" class="sub_section" sec_index="7" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 7"><h3>SB Canto 7</h3>
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<div id="SB731_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_7" book="SB" index="104" link="SB 7.3.1" link_text="SB 7.3.1">
<div class="heading">Self-interested persons, by demoniac austerity, want to kill even their benedictors, whereas the Vaiṣṇava wants to remain an ever-existing servant of the Lord and never to occupy the post of the Lord.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 7.3.1|SB 7.3.1, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Such are the goals of the austerities performed by demons. Hiraṇyakaśipu wanted to receive a benediction from Lord Brahmā so that in the future he would be able to conquer Lord Brahmā's abode. Similarly, another demon received a benediction from Lord Śiva but later wanted to kill Lord Śiva through that same benediction. Thus self-interested persons, by demoniac austerity, want to kill even their benedictors, whereas the Vaiṣṇava wants to remain an ever-existing servant of the Lord and never to occupy the post of the Lord. Through sāyujya-mukti, which is generally demanded by asuras, one merges into the existence of the Lord, but although one sometimes thus achieves the goal of the theory of monism, one falls down again to struggle in material existence.</p>
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<div id="SB_Canto_9" class="sub_section" sec_index="9" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 9"><h3>SB Canto 9</h3>
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<div id="SB9465_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_9" book="SB" index="163" link="SB 9.4.65" link_text="SB 9.4.65">
<div class="heading">Great mystic yogīs are actually self-interested.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 9.4.65|SB 9.4.65, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">The Supreme Personality of Godhead is worshiped by the words brahmaṇya-devāya go-brāhmaṇa-hitāya ca. Thus He is the well-wisher of the brāhmaṇas. Durvāsā Muni was certainly a very great brāhmaṇa, but because he was a nondevotee, he could not sacrifice everything in devotional service. Great mystic yogīs are actually self-interested. The proof is that when Durvāsā Muni created a demon to kill Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, the King stayed fixed in his place, praying to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and depending solely and wholly on Him, whereas when Durvāsā Muni was chased by the Sudarśana cakra by the supreme will of the Lord, he was so perturbed that he fled all over the world and tried to take shelter in every nook and corner of the universe. At last, in fear of his life, he approached Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and ultimately the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He was so interested in his own body that he wanted to kill the body of a Vaiṣṇava.</p>
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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="CCAdi745_0" class="quote" parent="CC_Adi-lila" book="CC" index="991" link="CC Adi 7.45" link_text="CC Adi 7.45">
<div class="heading">Vaiśyas, especially those of the suvarṇa-vaṇik community, were accepted as śūdras in Bengal, and even the vaidyas, who were generally physicians, were also considered śūdras. Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, however, did not accept this artificial principle, which was introduced in society by self-interested men, and later the kāyasthas, vaidyas and vaṇiks all began to accept the sacred thread, despite objections from the so-called brāhmaṇas.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Adi 7.45|CC Adi 7.45, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Lord Caitanya stayed at the house of Candraśekhara, a clerk, although a sannyāsī is not supposed to reside in a śūdra's house. Five hundred years ago, especially in Bengal, it was the system that persons who were born in the families of brāhmaṇas were accepted as brāhmaṇas, and all those who took birth in other families—even the higher castes, namely, the kṣatriyas and vaiśyas—were considered śūdras, non-brāhmaṇas. Therefore although Śrī Candraśekhara was a clerk from a kāyastha family in upper India, he was considered a śūdra. Similarly, vaiśyas, especially those of the suvarṇa-vaṇik community, were accepted as śūdras in Bengal, and even the vaidyas, who were generally physicians, were also considered śūdras. Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, however, did not accept this artificial principle, which was introduced in society by self-interested men, and later the kāyasthas, vaidyas and vaṇiks all began to accept the sacred thread, despite objections from the so-called brāhmaṇas.</p>
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<div id="CCAdi79596_1" class="quote" parent="CC_Adi-lila" book="CC" index="1040" link="CC Adi 7.95-96" link_text="CC Adi 7.95-96">
<div class="heading">Śrī Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī, at the time of his passing away, ordered all his disciples to work conjointly to preach the mission of Caitanya Mahāprabhu all over the world. Later, however, some self-interested, foolish disciples disobeyed his orders.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Adi 7.95-96|CC Adi 7.95-96, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Therefore faith in the words of the spiritual master and in the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the secret of success. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu never disobeyed the orders of His spiritual master and stopped propagating the saṅkīrtana movement. Śrī Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī, at the time of his passing away, ordered all his disciples to work conjointly to preach the mission of Caitanya Mahāprabhu all over the world. Later, however, some self-interested, foolish disciples disobeyed his orders. Each one of them wanted to become head of the mission, and they fought in the courts, neglecting the order of the spiritual master, and the entire mission was defeated. We are not proud of this; however, the truth must be explained. We believed in the words of our spiritual master and started in a humble way—in a helpless way—but due to the spiritual force of the order of the supreme authority, this movement has become successful.</p>
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<div id="CC_Madhya-lila" class="sub_section" sec_index="2" parent="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta" text="CC Madhya-lila"><h3>CC Madhya-lila</h3>
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<div id="CCMadhya1542_0" class="quote" parent="CC_Madhya-lila" book="CC" index="3239" link="CC Madhya 15.42" link_text="CC Madhya 15.42">
<div class="heading">Those who hanker after women and money, who are self-interested and have the mentality of merchants, can certainly discover many things with their fertile brains and speak against the authorized revealed scriptures. They also engage in some moneymaking businesses to cheat innocent people, and they try to support their business programs by making such offensive statements.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Madhya 15.42|CC Madhya 15.42, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Offenders consider Nityānanda Prabhu to be like one of them, an ordinary human being. They do not know of Nityānanda Prabhu's identity with the viṣṇu-tattva. Thinking Nityānanda Prabhu to be an ordinary human being is the business of mental speculators known as kuṇapātma-vādīs. These people accept the material body, which is a bag of three material elements (kuṇape tri-dhātuke), as themselves. They think that Nityānanda Prabhu's body was similarly material and that it was meant for sense gratification. Whoever thinks in this way is a candidate for the darkest regions of hell. Those who hanker after women and money, who are self-interested and have the mentality of merchants, can certainly discover many things with their fertile brains and speak against the authorized revealed scriptures. They also engage in some moneymaking businesses to cheat innocent people, and they try to support their business programs by making such offensive statements. Actually Nityānanda Prabhu, being the expansion of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, is the most munificent incarnation. No one should consider Him an ordinary human being or an entity like the prajāpatis, who were ordered by Brahmā to increase generations. Nityānanda Prabhu should not be considered instrumental for sense gratification. Although professional so-called preachers support this idea, such statements are not found in any authorized revealed scriptures. Actually there is no support for these statements made by sahajiyās or other professional distributors of kṛṣṇa-bhakti.</p>
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<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>
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<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>
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<div id="KB32_0" class="quote" parent="Krsna,_The_Supreme_Personality_of_Godhead" book="OB" index="36" link="KB 32" link_text="Krsna Book 32">
<div class="heading">Kṛṣṇa said, "Persons who simply reciprocate the loving dealings of the other party are just like merchants. They give in loving affairs as much as they get from the other party. Practically there is no question of love. It is simply self-interested or self-centered business dealing."
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:KB 32|Krsna Book 32]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">In answer, Kṛṣṇa said, "My dear friends, persons who simply reciprocate the loving dealings of the other party are just like merchants. They give in loving affairs as much as they get from the other party. Practically there is no question of love. It is simply self-interested or self-centered business dealing. Even those without a tinge of loving affairs are better than these merchants. Better than the first class is the second class of men, who love in spite of the opposite party's contrariness. Such sincere love can be seen when the father and mother love their children in spite of their children's neglect. The third class neither reciprocate nor neglect. They can be further divided into two classes. One comprises the self-satisfied, who do not require anyone's love. They are called ātmārāma, which means they are absorbed in the thought of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and so do not care whether one loves them or not. But another class comprises ungrateful men. They are called callous. The men in this group revolt against superior persons. For instance, a son, in spite of receiving all kinds of things from loving parents, may be callous and not reciprocate. Those in this class are generally known as guru-druhaḥ, which means they receive favors from the parents or the spiritual master and yet neglect them."</p>
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<div id="KB89_1" class="quote" parent="Krsna,_The_Supreme_Personality_of_Godhead" book="OB" index="93" link="KB 89" link_text="Krsna Book 89">
<div class="heading">A king or an executive head of state should not occupy the exalted post of president or king if he is greedy and self-interested. But it is natural that an executive head becomes self-interested when he is attached to material enjoyment.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:KB 89|Krsna Book 89]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">"The present King, Ugrasena, is envious of the brāhmaṇas!" The exact word used in this connection is brahma-dviṣaḥ. One who is envious of the Vedas, of a qualified brāhmaṇa or of the brāhmaṇa caste is called brahma-dviṣ. So the King was accused of being brahma-dviṣ. He was also accused of being śaṭha-dhī, falsely intelligent. The executive head of a state must be very intelligent to see to the comforts of the citizens, but according to the brāhmaṇa the King was not at all intelligent, although he was occupying the royal throne. Therefore the brāhmaṇa also called him lubdha, which means "greedy." In other words, a king or an executive head of state should not occupy the exalted post of president or king if he is greedy and self-interested. But it is natural that an executive head becomes self-interested when he is attached to material enjoyment. Therefore, another word used here is viṣayātmanaḥ.</p>
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<div id="Lectures" class="section" sec_index="4" parent="compilation" text="Lectures"><h2>Lectures</h2>
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<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>
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<div id="LectureonBG410VrndavanaAugust21974_0" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="156" link="Lecture on BG 4.10 -- Vrndavana, August 2, 1974" link_text="Lecture on BG 4.10 -- Vrndavana, August 2, 1974">
<div class="heading">They're all self-interested, but they do not know what is self-interest. they do not know that self-interest is how to be again connected with Viṣṇu, svārtha-gatim.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 4.10 -- Vrndavana, August 2, 1974|Lecture on BG 4.10 -- Vrndavana, August 2, 1974]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">It is a fact that so long you'll be here in this material world, however you may try to adjust things to become happy, it will be never possible. It will be never possible. They are trying to be materially happy in the western world. They do not know actually what is happiness, but material happiness means sex life. So sex life they are every day enjoying. And still, they go to the naked dance to see if there is happiness. Why there will be happiness? There cannot be any happiness. But this is adjustment. They are trying this way or that way. That's all.</p>
<p>Punaḥ punaś carvita-carvaṇānām ([[Vanisource:SB 7.5.30|SB 7.5.30]]). In the Bhāgavata  the answer is they, they're all self-interested, but they do not know what is self-interest. Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇuṁ durāśayā ye bahir-artha-māninaḥ ([[Vanisource:SB 7.5.31|SB 7.5.31]]). Bahir-artha. Bahir-artha means external energy, material energy. They are thinking by material adjustment they will be happy. But they do not know that self-interest is how to be again connected with Viṣṇu, svārtha-gatim. Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇum ([[Vanisource:SB 7.5.31|SB 7.5.31]]). Or to become Vaiṣṇava. Viṣṇur asya devatā iti vaiṣṇava.(?) Vaiṣṇava means one who has accepted Viṣṇu as everything. As Kṛṣṇa says, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja ([[Vanisource:BG 18.66 (1972)|BG 18.66]]).</p>
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<div id="LectureonBG418BombayApril71974_1" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="178" link="Lecture on BG 4.18 -- Bombay, April 7, 1974" link_text="Lecture on BG 4.18 -- Bombay, April 7, 1974">
<div class="heading">Everyone must be self-interested. That is natural. But they do not know what is self-interest.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 4.18 -- Bombay, April 7, 1974|Lecture on BG 4.18 -- Bombay, April 7, 1974]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So ultimate goal is to satisfy the Supreme. That they do not know. This is stated by Prahlāda Mahārāja. Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇum ([[Vanisource:SB 7.5.31|SB 7.5.31]]). They do not... Everyone is self-interested, but they do not know what is self-interest. Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatim. Everyone must be self-interested. That is natural. But they do not know what is self-interest. The self-interest is to approach Viṣṇu or Kṛṣṇa and satisfy Him. That is self-interest. Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇuṁ durāśayā ([[Vanisource:SB 7.5.31|SB 7.5.31]]). Durāśayā means by hoping something which is impossible to fulfill. Durāśayā ye bahir-artha-māninaḥ. The modern civilization, they are trying to adjust things by material activities.</p>
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<div id="LectureonBG419NewYorkAugust51966_2" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="179" link="Lecture on BG 4.19 -- New York, August 5, 1966" link_text="Lecture on BG 4.19 -- New York, August 5, 1966">
<div class="heading">That consciousness, transferring the present self-interested consciousness to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, requires knowledge.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 4.19 -- New York, August 5, 1966|Lecture on BG 4.19 -- New York, August 5, 1966]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Here it is prescribed that you can do anything. There is no harm. Whatever your business, or vocation, occupation, you are engaged, that has not to be changed. That has not to be changed. Simply your consciousness has to be changed. That's all. Kāma-saṅkalpa-varjitāḥ. How? How that consciousness can be changed? Now, jñānāgni-dagdha-karmāṇam. That consciousness, transferring the present self-interested consciousness to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, requires knowledge. Requires knowledge. And what is that knowledge? That knowledge is that, "I am part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa. I'm not different from Kṛṣṇa. I am part and parcel. I am the superior energy of Kṛṣṇa." That is knowledge.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonBG419BombayApril81974_3" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="180" link="Lecture on BG 4.19 -- Bombay, April 8, 1974" link_text="Lecture on BG 4.19 -- Bombay, April 8, 1974">
<div class="heading">If we come to that point, to understand that we are self-interested, personally or extended personally, family-wise, community-wise, society-wise, nation-wise, they are still polluted with the material desires.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 4.19 -- Bombay, April 8, 1974|Lecture on BG 4.19 -- Bombay, April 8, 1974]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Suppose a person is working very hard for his nation and trying to drive away others, non-national. But that is not kāma-saṅkalpa-varjitāḥ, That is kāma-saṅkalpa-sahitāḥ. So therefore that is material. Superficially, it may be very philanthropic, sacrificing. Now, suppose one man is stealing for his personal benefit, and the same stealing, if he steals for his family, is he not a thief? Either he steals for his family or for himself, stealing is stealing. But nowadays it is going on that if you steal for greater selfish interest, it is not stealing. No.</p>
<p>That greater, the greatest selfish interest is Kṛṣṇa. Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇum ([[Vanisource:SB 7.5.31|SB 7.5.31]]). So you make it greater. That's all right. But where is the point where the greatness will be limited or there will end? That is Kṛṣṇa.</p>
:bahūnāṁ janmanām ante
:jñānavān māṁ prapadyate
:vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti
:sa mahātmā su-durlabhaḥ
:([[Vanisource:BG 7.19 (1972)|BG 7.19]])
<p>So if we come to that point, to understand that we are self-interested, personally or extended personally, family-wise, community-wise, society-wise, nation-wise, they are still polluted with the material desires. But when the same extension comes to the Supreme, Kṛṣṇa, that is kāma-saṅkalpa-varjitāḥ. Otherwise it is kāma-saṅkalpa-sahitāḥ, with kāma-saṅkalpa.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonBG77VrndavanaAugust131974_4" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="275" link="Lecture on BG 7.7 -- Vrndavana, August 13, 1974" link_text="Lecture on BG 7.7 -- Vrndavana, August 13, 1974">
<div class="heading">Everyone is self-interested. Each of us, every one of us, we have got our self-interest. But we do not know actually what is our self-interest. The self-interest is to understand Viṣṇu.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 7.7 -- Vrndavana, August 13, 1974|Lecture on BG 7.7 -- Vrndavana, August 13, 1974]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Uru-dāmni baddhāḥ. We are so much conditioned. As... Just like one hands and legs are tied up, he cannot do anything independently, similarly, we are so much tied up by the stringent laws of nature that we are not at all independent. But we are trying to adjust things in this material world to be happy. This is not possible. Therefore śāstra says that they do not know the, what is the aim of life. Na te viduḥ: "They do not know." Svārtha-gatim. Everyone is self-interested. Each of us, every one of us, we have got our self-interest. But we do not know actually what is our self-interest. The self-interest is to understand Viṣṇu. Tad viṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padam. That is our aim.</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="LectureonSB613MelbourneMay221975_0" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="581" link="Lecture on SB 6.1.3 -- Melbourne, May 22, 1975" link_text="Lecture on SB 6.1.3 -- Melbourne, May 22, 1975">
<div class="heading">Everyone is self-interested. Everyone is looking after his self-interest. That's good, very good. But do you know what is your self-interest? That they do not know.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 6.1.3 -- Melbourne, May 22, 1975|Lecture on SB 6.1.3 -- Melbourne, May 22, 1975]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">We are being taught at the modern age that "Work very hard and enjoy your senses." This is the modern civilization. "Get money some way or other, and spend it for sense gratification." That is the goal. Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇum ([[Vanisource:SB 7.5.31|SB 7.5.31]]). They are not taught, they are not educated, that what is the end of life, goal of life. That is God realization. They do not know it. Na te viduḥ. "They do not know it." Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatim. Everyone is self-interested. Everyone is looking after his self-interest. That's good, very good. But do you know what is your self-interest? That they do not know. Somebody is thinking, "My self-interest is this"; somebody is thinking, "My self-interest is this," and therefore there is collision, strife, fight. But actually, the self-interest is one for the..., at least for the human being. What is that? Realization of God. It is equally important for the Americans; it is equally important for the Indians; equally important for every living being, especially for the civilized man. This is self-interest. Athāto brahma jijñāsā. What is that Absolute Truth? Jīvasya tattva-jijñāsā. That should be our first business.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB6126ChicagoJuly111975_1" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="641" link="Lecture on SB 6.1.26 -- Chicago, July 11, 1975" link_text="Lecture on SB 6.1.26 -- Chicago, July 11, 1975">
<div class="heading">Everyone should be self-interested. That is very good. But the fools, rascals, do not know what is his actual self-interest.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 6.1.26 -- Chicago, July 11, 1975|Lecture on SB 6.1.26 -- Chicago, July 11, 1975]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So similar plan is always there, that we are struggling for existence and accumulating so many things. Just like you have got this nice city, Chicago. Not only Chicago; there are many others in America. But the people are not thinking that "How long I shall remain American and enjoy this? Maybe fifty years, twenty-five years or utmost hundred years. But everything will be taken—my American citizenship, my body, my wealth—everything will be taken by death. So what insurance I am doing for that purpose, that it will not be taken, I shall enjoy it?" Therefore mūḍha. There is reason why they are called mūḍhas, rascals. They do not know their actual interest. Everyone, not only you, everyone, the whole material world, they do not know what is is actual interest. Everyone should be self-interested. That is very good. But the fools, rascals, do not know what is his actual self-interest. Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇum ([[Vanisource:SB 7.5.31|SB 7.5.31]]). Svārtha-gatim means the self-interest. Svārtha. Sva means own, and artha means interest. He does not know. Therefore he is mūḍha. He does not know his self-interest. It is very good that you become self-interested, but if you do not know what is your self-interest, then you are a mūḍha.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB7531MauritiusOctober41975_2" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="732" link="Lecture on SB 7.5.31 -- Mauritius, October 4, 1975" link_text="Lecture on SB 7.5.31 -- Mauritius, October 4, 1975">
<div class="heading">Everyone is self-interested. That's very good. You are self-interested; I am self-interested. But you do not know what is your self-interest. Therefore you are blind.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 7.5.31 -- Mauritius, October 4, 1975|Lecture on SB 7.5.31 -- Mauritius, October 4, 1975]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">General public, they are blind, and the leaders are also blind. Andhā yathāndhair upanīyamānāḥ ([[Vanisource:SB 7.5.31|SB 7.5.31]]). Why they are blind? Now, because they do not know what is the aim of life. Na te viduḥ. Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatim. Everyone is self-interested. That's very good. You are self-interested; I am self-interested. So that is... But you do not know what is your self-interest. Therefore you are blind. That is described here, that "These blind leaders, they do not know." They are especially mentioned, andhā yathāndhair upanīyamānāḥ. The leaders, they lead others. So, yad yad ācarati śreṣṭha tat tad evetaro janaḥ ([[Vanisource:BG 3.21 (1972)|BG 3.21]]). Leaders are responsible because yad yad ācarati śreṣṭha: "Those who are leaders, whatever they do, they perform, common men follow that." Therefore they must be very perfect. Common men follow the leaders. If the leaders are themselves imperfect, then what will be the position of the common men?</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB761SanFranciscoMarch61967_3" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="734" link="Lecture on SB 7.6.1 -- San Francisco, March 6, 1967" link_text="Lecture on SB 7.6.1 -- San Francisco, March 6, 1967">
<div class="heading">The child said, "My dear father, perhaps you do not know what is your self-interest."
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 7.6.1 -- San Francisco, March 6, 1967|Lecture on SB 7.6.1 -- San Francisco, March 6, 1967]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Everyone is supposed to be interested in his self, what is called self-interested. Everyone, beginning from the animal up to the highest living entity, Brahmā, everyone is interested for his self-satisfaction. But Prahlāda Mahārāja says, not exactly here, in other place, he has said, na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇum ([[Vanisource:SB 7.5.31|SB 7.5.31]]). When he was talking with his father, father was instructing him that "You foolish boy. You are simply chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. You do not know your self-interest. You should be politician. You should be technician. You should be bluffer. (laughter) So so many things are there. Unless you become quite alert in this world, how you can live?" The child said, "My dear father, perhaps you do not know what is your self-interest." Yes. He was always challenging his father. Five years old boy, and his father, the most powerful atheist king, and he was talking very freely. At last, when the boys was challenging always the father, the father inquired, "You rascal, under whose strength you talk with me so freely?" The boy replied, "My dear father, by whose power you are talking so freely, I am also talking by His power." (laughter) So that is the difference between atheist and theist. The child knew, "My dear father, you are so proud of your strength, of your material assets, but you do not know by whose grace you have got all these things. But I know. I know. Therefore by whose power you are so puffed up, by His power I am so humble." That is the difference. That is the difference. "The power is acting equally within you and within me, but you want to be puffed up, so He is helping you how you become more and more puffed up and go to hell."</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB765TorontoJune211976_4" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="755" link="Lecture on SB 7.6.5 -- Toronto, June 21, 1976" link_text="Lecture on SB 7.6.5 -- Toronto, June 21, 1976">
<div class="heading">Everyone is supposed to be self-interested. Self-interest is the first law of nature, they say. But they do not know what is self-interest.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 7.6.5 -- Toronto, June 21, 1976|Lecture on SB 7.6.5 -- Toronto, June 21, 1976]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Unfortunately, they do not know what is the highest goal of life. The modern... Not modern, always. Now it is very conspicuous: people do not know what is the aim of life. Anyone who is in this material world, he is in māyā, means he does not know what is the goal of life. Na te viduḥ, they do not know, svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇu. Svārtha-gati. Everyone is supposed to be self-interested. Self-interest is the first law of nature, they say. But they do not know what is self-interest. He, instead of going back to home, back to Godhead—that is his real self-interest-he's going to become a dog in the next life. Is that self-interest? But they do not know it. How nature's law is working, they do not know it. Na te viduḥ. Adānta-gobhir viśatāṁ tamisram. Matir na kṛṣṇe parataḥ svato vā.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB7746SanFranciscoMarch221967incompletelecture_5" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="782" link="Lecture on SB 7.7.46 -- San Francisco, March 22, 1967, (incomplete lecture)" link_text="Lecture on SB 7.7.46 -- San Francisco, March 22, 1967, (incomplete lecture)">
<div class="heading">If you become self-interested, that is not abominable. That is nice. But you do not know what is your self-interest. Prahlāda Mahārāja submits that nirūpyatām: "Just try to analyze what is your self-interest."
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 7.7.46 -- San Francisco, March 22, 1967, (incomplete lecture)|Lecture on SB 7.7.46 -- San Francisco, March 22, 1967, (incomplete lecture)]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So he is submitting, "My dear friends," that nirūpyatām iha svārthaḥ, "you just try to find out what is your interest. You do not know your interest." Everyone is called selfish: "I am self-interested." Yes. You should be self-interested. Everyone should be self... And that is the nature. I am thinking for my self-interest; you are thinking for your self-interest. When we become philanthropist, there is also self-interest. "I want to become a very welfare worker in the society because there is my self-interest that you will elect me as president or some big officer." Oh. So self-interest is natural. That is not abominable. If you become self-interested, that is not abominable. That is nice. But you do not know what is your self-interest. Prahlāda Mahārāja submits that nirūpyatām: "Just try to analyze what is your self-interest."</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="General_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="11" parent="Lectures" text="General Lectures"><h3>General Lectures</h3>
</div>
<div id="LectureLagunaBeachSeptember301972_0" class="quote" parent="General_Lectures" book="Lec" index="122" link="Lecture -- Laguna Beach, September 30, 1972" link_text="Lecture -- Laguna Beach, September 30, 1972">
<div class="heading">Everyone must be self-interested, but we do not know what is self-interest. There is no education what is the ultimate goal of life.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture -- Laguna Beach, September 30, 1972|Lecture -- Laguna Beach, September 30, 1972]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So that information we are giving. Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement means that you do not know where that water is to be found, how your great thirst will be satisfied. That you do not know.</p>
:na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇuṁ
:durāśayā ye bahir-artha-māninaḥ
:andhā yathāndhair upanīyamānās
:te 'pīśa-tantryām uru-dāmni-baddhāḥ
:([[Vanisource:SB 7.5.31|SB 7.5.31]])
<p>They do now know what is the ultimate goal of life, our self-interest. Everyone must be self-interested, but we do not know what is self-interest. There is no education what is the ultimate goal of life. Na te viduḥ. They are trying to satisfy themselves to become happy and prosperous by adjusting this material nature. Bahir-artha-māninaḥ. Bahir-artha-māninaḥ means giving more importance to this materialistic way of 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="MorningWalkMarch61974Mayapura_0" class="quote" parent="1974_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="31" link="Morning Walk -- March 6, 1974, Mayapura" link_text="Morning Walk -- March 6, 1974, Mayapura">
<div class="heading">Hat's all. Godless. They must be like that.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- March 6, 1974, Mayapura|Morning Walk -- March 6, 1974, Mayapura]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Devotee: They're self-interested. They're making money and forgetting the public.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: That's all. Godless. They must be like that. Gandhi was a student of Bhagavad-gītā—never taught about Kṛṣṇa. This is his knowledge of Bhagavad-gītā, Bhagavad-gītā without Kṛṣṇa.</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="MorningWalkMay81975Perth_0" class="quote" parent="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="61" link="Morning Walk -- May 8, 1975, Perth" link_text="Morning Walk -- May 8, 1975, Perth">
<div class="heading">Everyone is selfish, everyone is self-interested. But he does not know how to fulfill it. That is foolishness.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- May 8, 1975, Perth|Morning Walk -- May 8, 1975, Perth]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Paramahaṁsa: You were saying everyone is inquisitive for happiness, but shouldn't that be purified? Shouldn't we give up all desire for happiness?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: No, no. Happiness is life. How you can give up?</p>
<p>Paramahaṁsa: But if we desire for happiness, then we are being selfish.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes, but you do not know where you is your self... (break) ...sense. That is your foolishness. Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇum ([[Vanisource:SB 7.5.31|SB 7.5.31]]), they do not know. Everyone is selfish, everyone is self-interested. But he does not know how to fulfill it. That is foolishness.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Correspondence" class="section" sec_index="6" parent="compilation" text="Correspondence"><h2>Correspondence</h2>
</div>
<div id="1970_Correspondence" class="sub_section" sec_index="5" parent="Correspondence" text="1970 Correspondence"><h3>1970 Correspondence</h3>
</div>
<div id="LettertoIsanaVibhavatiCalcutta21September1970_0" class="quote" parent="1970_Correspondence" book="Let" index="522" link="Letter to Isana, Vibhavati -- Calcutta 21 September, 1970" link_text="Letter to Isana, Vibhavati -- Calcutta 21 September, 1970">
<div class="heading">Sometimes it happens that this philosophy is given a self-interested interpretation.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Isana, Vibhavati -- Calcutta 21 September, 1970|Letter to Isana, Vibhavati -- Calcutta 21 September, 1970]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">In my books I have tried to explain clearly this simultaneously one and different philosophy acinta beda beda tattva propounded by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. But sometimes it happens that this philosophy is given a self-interested interpretation. As soon as personal motivation comes in it is not possible for one to understand our Krishna Consciousness philosophy.</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>