741015 - Lecture Bengali - Mayapur

Lectures by Date, 1974

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

741015LE-MAYAPUR - October 15, 1974 - 07:11 Minutes

(Translated from Bengali)

Prabhupāda: The Supreme Personality of Godhead is transcendental. But when we try to utilise things forget God, that is bondage. Just as, when this microphone is used to forget God, and broadcast material matters and lectures, that is bondage. However, when the same microphone is utilised for propagating God’s message, it becomes spiritual.

Like these flowers . . . these flowers are being used. Some people are pinning them to their clothes, tucking the flowers in their hair. These flowers are also being offered to God. When it is offered to God, it is spiritual . . . mercy. And when the same flowers are being used to decorate the hair or used for sense enjoyment, it is bondage. Bondage means to forget God, nothing else.

mūḍhā avajānanti mām

eva paraṁ bhāvam"

(Bhagavad-Gītā 9.11)

God says in the Gīta, that, "These foolish people. They forget that I am everything." This forgetfulness is known as ignorance or karma-sanga association with fruitive action. Forgetfulness of God. All these things that are meant for God’s service is being stolen. All right.

(sound of conchshell)

All the work that is being performed here is action motivated by lust. Even after all the action motivated by lust, we can see that it is of no use. Everyone can understand this.

Kāmādināṁ katidhā na katidhā palita durnideṣaḥ

(Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 3.2.25)

Becoming overcome by lust, unauthorised acts are committed. When a thief is going to rob, God from within is telling the person not to, but lust is saying, "Never mind, just to it. Later, we’ll see what happens. Just do it now." This is action motivated by lust.

When there is ignorance, everything lust and anger are dictating . . . when there’s anger, maybe I murder someone . . . even though from within, I’m being guided not to, "There is a little anger, nevermind, control yourself." No.

That is why the śāstras say: "This lust . . . lust & anger. I’ve listened to their countless dictates but it has led to no peace." Everyone can understand this.

Even serving a term in jail or death by hanging, or busy working so hard, day and night for the children. That is why, those who are intelligent, think that, "the Vaiṣṇavas are saying that the constitutional position of a living entity is to be an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa but I have spent my life being the servant of my senses. Now let me me become Kṛṣṇa’s servant. I have to a servant, either as the servant my lust or anger, or someone’s servant. I cannot get rid of my servant status. So, what is the benefit being a servant to all these things. Rather, let me try being a servant of Kṛṣṇa."

That is Hare Kṛṣṇa. Hare is Rādhārāṇī. Kṛṣṇa . . . hey Kṛṣṇa. When we call out, it is a request that, "I have served my senses enough. Even by doing so, I have not been able to benefit myself, or the ones I have served. So now, hey Kṛṣṇa, hey Rādhārāṇī, if You could please do me a favour and engage me as Your servant . . . Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare . . . hey Kṛṣṇa, hey Rādhārāṇī . . . please engage me in Your service."

Are you being able to understand? This is the prayer. Hare Kṛṣṇa means despite service my senses, it has been of no use. Now, please engage me in Your service. This is Hare Kṛṣṇa.

If we call out to someone, "Hey, oi . . . oi," that person is going to ask, "why are you shouting, what do you want?" The person is bound to respond. Just like that, we are calling out to Kṛṣṇa. Hey Kṛṣṇa! Hey Rādhārāṇī! Kṛṣṇa asks, "Why are we calling out?” So that I may be engaged in Your service . . . (indistinct)

I have served my senses and realised that it has not served me well. Kindly engage me in Your service. Please give me this service. Nothing else. Serve, you must. All that delusional thinking that, "I am going to become the master. I shall become prabhu." That is not going to happen. Kṛṣṇa is the Master.

Bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ

sarva-loka-maheśvaram"

(Bhagavad-Gītā 5.29)

Master you cannot become. You always have to remain a servant. Thinking that, "I’m going to be a big servant, this and that servant." Servant to lust and anger. Servant to greed. Servant of envy. Even after becoming servant, the ones you have been a servant to, no one will say that the service you have rendered is good. Gandhi, who rendered a lot of service to the nation, was shot dead. Hence, he could not continue his service. Who has been able to serve the country as well as he has? However, the result was that such a great servant to the nation, was shot dead. That means that he was unable to satisfy everyone.

By serving maya no one will be satisfied. Neither will you be satisfied. Only a waste of time. Become a servant of Kṛṣṇa as soon you can, and your life will become simple and easy. This is what I have to say.

Do you have anything to say?

That is all.

Devotees: Jaya Srila Prabhupada! (end)