680611 - Lecture - Montreal

Lectures by Date, 1968

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Listen to a 'Nectar Drop' created from this lecture

680611LE-MONTREAL - June 11, 1968 - 31:06 Minutes

Prabhupāda: . . . do, whatever he eats, everything, then he becomes perfect. Perfect. Simply by understanding God perfectly . . . not perfectly, preliminarily. Nobody can understand God perfectly. That is not possible. That is not in our capacity. God is so great, we are so small. But to our small understanding whatever we can know, that are described in different kinds of scripture, and Bhagavad-gītā is also another description of the truth, Absolute Truth.

So here Kṛṣṇa says that anyone who understands this Absolute Truth or the activity or the purpose or the appearance, disappearance about God, what is God, what are His activities . . . just like we have got our activities, we have got our identification, similarly, God has got His identification, His activity, His form, everything. Now one has to understand what is that. It is called divyam. Divyam means it is not like this material thing. It is spiritual. So that is a spiritual science.

So the result will be that janma karma ca me divyam evam yo vetti tattvataḥ (BG 4.9). Tattvataḥ means truth, scientifically. Two plus two equal to four. This is called tattvataḥ, truth. Similarly, anyone who understands the science of God, then the result will be tyaktvā deham. By quitting this body . . . we have to quit, leave this body, that is a fact. You'll also not remain in this body, I'll not also remain in this body. But before quitting this body, before leaving this body, if we can simply understand what is God . . . doesn't matter whatever you are doing. You remain occupied in your duties, you remain what you are. It doesn't matter. Simply try to understand what is God and what are His activities. Then you'll become liberated.

So much facility is offered. And the Bhagavad-gītā is there. You can understand with all your reason, with all your argument, with all your senses what is God. It is nothing dogmatic. It is all reasonable, philosophical. Unfortunately they have decided that God is dead. How God can be dead? This is another rascaldom. You are not dead, how God can be dead? So there is no question of God's being dead. He is always present, just like sun is always present. Only the rascals, they say there is no sun. There is sun. It is out of your sight, that's all. Similarly, "Because we cannot see God, therefore God is dead," these are rascaldom. It is not very good conclusion.

So one has to understand what is God, divyam. So Kṛṣṇa says anyone who understands this philosophy or science of God, philosophy . . .

(break) . . . called the science of sciences. So therefore I use this word "science." So science of God. Then, after leaving this body, tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma na eti (BG 4.9), he does not come back again to take this conditional material body. Then, he's finished? No. He says, mām eti so 'rjuna: "My dear Arjuna, that person comes to Me." That means you are transferred to the spiritual kingdom, or God's kingdom. Just like we are present here, face to face, you can go there and see and talk. Everything is there simply by understanding. And for that understanding, here is Bhagavad-gītā.

So why don't you take this advantage? We are trying to place before you Bhagavad-gītā. We are not charging anything, fees from you, that, "You give me thirty-five dollars" or "fifty dollars." No. We are distributing this knowledge free. Please come and take . . . there is no loss on your part, but there is so much gain. And try to understand it nicely. The result will be tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti kaunteya (BG 4.9). If you simply can understand this preliminary thing, what is God, that's all.

Then you have got duty. As soon as you know your relationship with God, then you have got some duties. Oh, when you're engaged in such duties then you are already in the liberated stage. You are already in the liberated stage. Simply by understanding God you become liberated. Your certificate is there, you can enter. Tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti kaunteya (BG 4.9).

Thank you very much.

(pause) Is that clear?

Devotee: You stated that the reason that we forget is that we change, the body changes. Now when we chant, we remember. What correlation is there between this . . . I talked to Janārdana before about the horizontal memory and the vertical memory, and I understand . . . so I wish you could sort of elaborate on why we forget. I don't completely understand.

Prabhupāda: Yes. It is intelligent question. You forget because you have got this material body, and because the material body is changing every moment, every second, therefore we forget. Is it not? You are forgetting. You do not know what exactly you were doing at this time, because your body has changed. Similarly, you do not exactly remember last year on this date at this time what you were doing, because body has changed. Similarly, it is the nature of the body to change, and you forget. That is the nature of this material body. But if you constantly remain in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, that means you stand on the spiritual platform.

Devotee: . . . (indistinct)

Prabhupāda: In the spiritual platform you don't forget Kṛṣṇa. In the material platform you forget so many things, but in the spiritual platform you don't forget Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa's duties. So if you can continue in that way, then you continue in spiritual platform, and the result will be that after getting out of this body, you are spiritually situated.

So we have to continue the spiritual stand on spiritual platform by Kṛṣṇa consciousness, always remembering Kṛṣṇa. Smartavyaḥ satataṁ viṣṇuḥ vismartavyo na jātucit (Padma Purāṇa). This is the process. You have to remember always Kṛṣṇa, Viṣṇu. That is called meditation. That is called samādhi. The samādhi, the meditation which is going on, some rascaldom, that is not meditation. Meditation means always thinking of Viṣṇu. That is meditation.

So this Kṛṣṇa consciousness is perfect meditation. Always thinking of. And it is certified in Bhagavad-gītā:

yoginām api sarveṣāṁ

mad-gatenāntarātmanā

mad-gatenāntarātmanā

raddhāvān bhajate yo māṁ

sa me yuktatamo mataḥ.

(BG 6.47)

So Kṛṣṇa said he is first-class yogī who is constantly in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Śraddhāvān bhajate yo mām. With faith and devotion, always remembering Kṛṣṇa: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare, sa me yuktatamo mataḥ. Yoginām api sarveṣām, of all the yogis . . .

They have opened so many classes of yoga class. Somebody is advertising that you can remain young, you can have better sex power or you can reduce your bodily fat. So that is also possible. That you can do by ordinary exercise. But real purpose of yoga is to concentrate the mind on Viṣṇu always. That is yoga. So that is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the highest perfectional stage of yoga practice.

Devotee: When we associate with Kṛṣṇa through His name . . .

Prabhupāda: Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa's name is nondifferent.

Devotee: Yes, right. Sometimes we forget to do our duty very attentively. Sometimes we forget to do the floor. By associating with Kṛṣṇa through His name, then we can remember our duty? Or . . . (indistinct)

Prabhupāda: Yes, you remember. If you remember Kṛṣṇa, then you'll remember all duties of Kṛṣṇa. If you remember . . . suppose you are working in an office. If you remember that you have to go to such office at such-and-such time, that means you'll remember all the duties of the office. That is automatic. It is not that while you are going in the office, on the way you know what you have to do there. But because you are remembering the office, that means automatically they are there in dormant stage.

Guest: . . . (indistinct)

Prabhupāda: Viṣṇu means all-pervading God. God is everywhere. Just like the sun: the sun is a planet, and there is a sun god also. In each and every planet there is a predominating deity. Just like in this planet you have got a predominating man, president. Similarly, in each and every planet there is a predominating living creature. In the sun planet the predominating living creature is called sun god. In the moon planet the predominating Deity is called moon god. And similarly, there are millions of millions of planets, and there is a predominating Deity.

So similarly, the original planet, Kṛṣṇaloka, the predominating Deity is Kṛṣṇa, who is Viṣṇu. So just like the sun is situated in the particular planet but the sunshine is spread all over the universe, similarly, Kṛṣṇa or Viṣṇu, although He's in His planet, His energy is distributed all over the creation. Therefore He is all-pervading. Viṣṇu means all-pervading God. He is everywhere. Aṇḍāntara-stha-paramāṇu-cayāntara-stham (Bs. 5.35). He's within this universe, He is within the atom also. He's within you also. Īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛd-deśe 'rjuna tiṣṭhati (BG 18.61). So Viṣṇu means all-pervading. But by our material conception we think that anything which is all-pervading, how it can be localized personally? That is our material conception. Just like I am sitting here, you are sitting here. You cannot be all-pervading. But your mind, because it is finer, the mind can be in so many places. Similarly, when you are still finer intelligence, you are still finer, a spirit soul, you can also become all-pervading.

At the present moment we are hampered, conditioned, by the covering of this material body. Therefore our endeavor should be how we get out of this material body. That formula I've already explained that, tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti (BG 4.9). If you simply understand what is God, simply by this understanding, tyaktvā deham, after leaving this body, punar janma naiti, you don't get any more this material body. Simply try to understand (break) what is Viṣṇu, then you become as good as Viṣṇu.

Guest: . . . (indistinct)

Prabhupāda: First of all you understand Viṣṇu, that He is all-pervading. So Viṣṇu, because He has got spiritual body, similarly, when you get your spiritual body . . . how you can get? By understanding Viṣṇu. Therefore in the Vedic mantra, Ṛg mantra, it is, tad viṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padaṁ sada paśyanti sūrayaḥ (Ṛg Veda 1.22.20). The sūraya, those who are demigods or Āryans, they are . . . their destination is Viṣṇu. But ordinary men, they do not know that. Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇum (SB 7.5.31). They do not know that their ultimate goal of life is to understand Viṣṇu. Why? Durāśayā ye bahir-artha-māninaḥ: they are trying to become perfect this material condition. That is not possible. You have to know Viṣṇu. Then you become perfect. Otherwise, you have to change this body one after another. Bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate (BG 8.19).

You have one body, you remain for some time, then it is destroyed, you get immediately another body, again enter into the womb of mother, again form your body from little . . . a pulse-like body to this body and grow to your higher status in your younger age. Then again become dwindled, become old man, and again vanish. So bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate (BG 8.19). Everything material will have to change like this. And there are 8,400,000's of different kinds of bodies, and you have to evolve in the cycle of such body. So if you want to get out of this circulation, continually, then here is the formula: tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti kaunteya. Simply try to understand what is God, or Viṣṇu, then you get that opportunity.

(pause)

Devotee: When you say "understand," do you . . . (indistinct)

Prabhupāda: What do you mean, "understanding"? Simply hear hear and get out from the other.

Devotee: But I mean . . . (indistinct) . . . we can't understand Kṛṣṇa with our mind.

Prabhupāda: With your material mind. When you are Kṛṣṇa consciousness, your quality of mind is changed. The mind . . . the understanding of God is simply purification of the senses. Ataḥ śrī-kṛṣṇa-nāmadi na bhaved grāhyam indriyaiḥ (CC Madhya 17.136). By the present senses you cannot understand what is God, what is His name, what is His quality, what is His form, what are activities. You have to learn this. The Bhagavad-gītā says vetti tattvataḥ. You have to learn.

So now, as you say, that mind . . . of course, with this mind you cannot understand. You cannot think of Kṛṣṇa. With this tongue you cannot chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. With these ears you cannot hear what is Hare Kṛṣṇa. With these eyes you cannot see what is Kṛṣṇa. But if you purify . . . just like cataractic eyes cannot see, but if you purify the eyes, then you can see everything. The eyes will remain as it is, but you have to purify. The process is purification. Sevonmukhe hi jihvādau (CC Madhya 17.136). That purification takes place when you engage yourself in the service of Kṛṣṇa.

So this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement means to engage a person in the service of Kṛṣṇa. Just like the temple is Kṛṣṇa's. You wipe out the floors, you decorate it, collect flowers, engage your eyes to hear about Kṛṣṇa, engage your tongue for chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. So engage your eyes to see the Deity, engage your legs to go to the temple. In this way, if you engage your senses, present senses for Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then it becomes gradually purified and you . . . Kṛṣṇa becomes revealed. Sevonmukhe hi jihvādau svayam eva.

You cannot see Kṛṣṇa, but when you are anxious, when you are purified, Kṛṣṇa reveals Himself to you, by your eyes or . . . if you say, "Kṛṣṇa, please come, I'll see You," that is not possible. Kṛṣṇa is not your order-supplier. He wants to see you how much you are qualified to see Him. When you are qualified, He'll reveal to you. He is everywhere. Simply you have to make your eyes to see Him. That's all. This is the process, Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Sevonmukhe hi jihvādau svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ (CC Madhya 17.136). He reveals.

Similarly, it is confirmed in the Nārada Pañcarātra, sarvopādhi-vinirmuktam. Sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁ tat-paratvena nirmalam (CC Madhya 19.170). We have to become first of all free from all designation. If I think I'm American, if I think I am Christian, if I think I am Indian, if I think I am Hindu, if I think I am Muslim, if I think I am this, I am that, these are all designation. When you are free from the designation, sarvopādhi-vinirmuktam . . . and what is that freedom? "I am Kṛṣṇa's." That's all. I am not American, not Indian, not Hindu, not Muslim, not Christian.

I am Kṛṣṇa's, or God's. That is sarvopādhi-vinirmuktam. And as you are convinced that you are God's, or Kṛṣṇa's, then engage yourself not in the designated service, but Kṛṣṇa's service. Tat-paratvena nirmalam. Then everything will be purified. Your eyes will be purified, your ears will be purified, your legs, everything, all senses will be purified.

When your senses are purified, hṛṣīkena hṛṣīkeśa-sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate. When with that purified senses . . . Hṛṣīkena means senses. Kṛṣṇa's name is Hṛṣīkeśa. Hṛṣīkeśa means the master of the senses, Govinda. Govinda also means the master of the senses. So the senses which you have got—this hand, leg, eyes, everything—I am not the proprietor.

Practically the proprietor is Kṛṣṇa. So when you engage your all the senses in the service of the master of the senses, that is called bhakti. Hṛṣīkena hṛṣīkeśa-sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate (CC Madhya 19.170). That hṛṣīkena, that senses, must be purified. How? Sarvopādhi-vinirmuktam: being relieved, freed, from all designation.

So the difficulty is that we are not free from designation. We are thinking, "Oh, I am Christian" "Oh, I am Hindu," "I am this," "I am that." Nobody's thinking that, "I am Kṛṣṇa's. I am God's." So this designation disease has to be first of all cured. Then you become pure. So long you keep your designation, you are not pure; you are in the material condition. Therefore:

sarvopādhi-vinirmuktam

tat-paratvena nirmalam

hṛṣīkena hṛṣīkeśa-

sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate

(CC Madhya 19.170)

That is bhakti. You have to be free from all designation. Then when you begin service, then Kṛṣṇa reveals Himself. Teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ tam (BG 10.10). He is within you. He'll give you intelligence, "This is this. This is this. This is this. This is this." Why? When? Teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ bhajatāṁ prīti-purvakam. "When he's in love and faith engaged in My service." Then. Why, otherwise, why Kṛṣṇa will talk with you? He is within you. That's all right. But He'll talk with you when you are qualified.

So this Kṛṣṇa consciousness means to make you qualified—qualified to talk with Kṛṣṇa, to see Kṛṣṇa, to understand Kṛṣṇa. And then, tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma (BG 4.9). Then you, by quitting this body, no more you are going to accept any material body. You are directly transferred to Kṛṣṇa. Mām eti kaunteya. This is the simple process.

Devotee: Someone asked me today what was Candra's function . . .

Prabhupāda: What is this?

Devotee: Candra's function. I wondered what it was.

Prabhupāda: You say that . . . that you are not dictionary. So you have to answer all these questions, what Candra's function? What business you have got, Candra's function?

Devotee: But somebody asked me.

Prabhupāda: It doesn't you ask for Kṛṣṇa. Candra's function, don't you know? It is giving light. That is his function. Candra means moon. You mean to say? Then moon is giving the light. That's all. Everyone knows. A child knows Candra's function. What is that? Candra's function is to give light at night. That's all. Any fool knows.

That is not question. You must put some intelligent question, to understand Kṛṣṇa. Candra's function . . . Candra means moon. The moon function everyone knows. What is difficulty? You should have at least this common sense to reply. The Candra's function is to give light, that's all.

Guest: Indra's function is to carry water?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Guest: . . . (indistinct)

Prabhupāda: The sanitary engineers' functions, they are coming here, everyone knows. They are called sanitary engineers? The scavengers? Similarly, they are like that, different kinds of engineers. Sanitary engineer, waterworks engineer, light department engineer. That's all. First of all, try to understand what is your function, then try to understand what is other's function. (chuckles) Your function is to become servant of Kṛṣṇa. That's it. How you can know—there are millions and trillions of other beings—what is the function? Here you have to see what is your function. That is:

sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁ

tat-paratvena nirmalam

hṛṣīkena hṛṣīkeśa-

sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate

(CC Madhya 19.170)

You have to purify your senses and be engaged in the service of Kṛṣṇa. We have to first of all see whether I am actually in my own function. That is the sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja (BG 18.66). That is the function. We have to give up all other functions. Simply to be engaged in Kṛṣṇa's function. That is my duty. So everyone's function is that. Candra's function, he is giving light under the order of Kṛṣṇa. He is servant of Kṛṣṇa. (break) (end)