680324 - Lecture Initiation - San Francisco

Lectures by Date, 1968

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

 Listen to a 'Nectar Drop' created from this lecture

680324IN-SAN FRANCISCO - March 24, 1968 - 52:46 Minutes

Prabhupāda: (japa) Nama.

Viṣṇujana: Nama.

Prabhupāda: Oṁ.

Viṣṇujana: Oṁ.

Prabhupāda: . . . Viṣṇu pādāya kṛṣṇa preṣṭhāya bhū-tale śrīmate bhaktivedānta svāmin iti nāmine.

You chant beginning from here, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. Then begin again, another. In this way, there are 108. Come this side. Don't cross. Then again chant on this side from this way to this way. Your name is Viṣṇujana. Viṣṇujana. V-i-s-n-u-j-a-n-a. Hare Kṛṣṇa. Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.

(break) (japa) (break) You have not brought? All right. All right. You come . . . (indistinct) . . . (break)

The brahminical qualification is described in the Bhagavad-gītā: satyam śauca śama dama titikṣa ārjavam, jñānaṁ vijñānam āstikyaṁ brahma-karma svabhāva-jam (BG 18.42). Those who are actually Brāhmin, they must be truthful, always clean, inside and outside. Truthful, clean, and controlling the senses, śama dama, controlling the mind, controlling the senses, controlling the mind; śama dama titikṣa, tolerance, tolerance; ārjavam, simplicity; and jñānam, must be profoundly wise; vijñānam, practical application in life; jñānaṁ vijñānam āstikyam, full faith in scriptures and in God, or Kṛṣṇa, āstikyam. Brahma-karma svabhāva-jam: "These are natural duties, or work, of a Brāhmin."

And in the Bhagavad-gītā you will find in another place, cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ (BG 4.13). "These four classes of classification of the society, it is made by Me." That means this classification of society in the human society, that is made by God. What is that classification? The Brāhmin, the Kṣatriya, the Vaiśya and the Śūdra. It is not the name, but it is guṇa-karma. Brāhmin means quality and work, Kṣatriya means quality and work, and Vaiśya means quality and work. There is no question of birthright.

It is a false proposition that a Brāhmin's son becomes Brāhmin. No, not necessarily. If he properly becomes initiated under the guidance of a spiritual master, then he is Brāhmin. Otherwise, if he has acquired the qualities of a Śūdra, then he should be considered as a Śūdra. These are the śāstric injunctions. And this classification is all over the world. Don't think that it is Indian or Vedic system. No. In every country, in every place, in every planet, these four divisions are there.

Brāhmins means those who are interested in spiritual life, they are called Brāhmins, intelligent class. They are called intelligent class, because unless one is intelligent, he will simply consider that this body is he, identification of the body. That is foolishness. Brāhmins means brahma jānātīti brāhmaṇaḥ . . . one who knows that "I am ahaṁ brahmāsmi," and he has actually realized that "I am not this body, I am pure spirit self . . ." It is not the question of Hindu, Muslim. Anyone. Anyone who knows this knowledge that "I am the self," and acts in that way, is a Brāhmin.

So these initiation formalities are there. You are instructed, you are guided, but you have to act. Unless you act, then the same thing as in India—the so-called Brāhmins and Kṣatriyas are degraded; there will be no meaning. So guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ (BG 4.13). You have to stick to the brahminical qualities, and at the same time work. Brahman-karma. Brahman-karma . . . Brahman is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the last word of Brahman. So you have to engage yourself, Brahman-karma, means Kṛṣṇa consciousness. And exhibit your quality, that you are truthful, you are controlling . . . control over the senses, control over the mind, and you are simple and you are tolerant.

Because as soon as you take up spiritual life, the whole class conducted by māyā, they will be against you. That is māyā's influence. Somebody will criticize. Somebody will do this, somebody will do that, but we shall . . . we have to become tolerant. This is the disease of this material world. If anyone becomes spiritually advanced, the agents of māyā will criticize. So therefore you have to become tolerant.

And simple, simplicity. Ārjavam, titikṣa ārjavam, and jñāna, and you must be fully equipped with knowledge. The Bhagavad-gītā is there, the Bhāgavatam is there. Now we are publishing other books also, Teachings of Lord Caitanya. So read them. These three or four books, if you read, you become fully qualified with knowledge. And vijñānam, and apply them in your practical life. And āstikyam, in full faith of the procedures and in Kṛṣṇa. That will make you successful. All right. Get up.

(japa) . . . (indistinct) . . . (break) Come forward. Now you keep your mālikā . . . (indistinct) . . . you have to offer it. It’s in your name. Take little, this. Nama.

Devotees: Nama.

Prabhupāda: Apavitraḥ. Not like that. Do like this.

Devotee: Each can take a little in their right hand.

Prabhupāda: Each time, when I say: "svāhā" three times, you'll . . . little bit. (devotees chant responsively)

oṁ apavitraḥ pavitro vā

sarvāvasthāṁ gato 'pi vā

yaḥ smaret puṇḍarīkākṣaṁ

sa bahyābhyantaraḥ śuciḥ

nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale

śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine

svāhā

vande 'haṁ śrī-guroḥ śrī-yuta-pada-kamalaṁ śrī-gurūn vaiṣṇavāṁś ca

śrī-rūpaṁ sāgrajātaṁ saha-gaṇa-raghunāthānvitaṁ taṁ sa-jīvam

sādvaitaṁ sāvadhūtaṁ parijana-sahitaṁ kṛṣṇa-caitanya-devaṁ

śrī-rādhā-kṛṣṇa-pādān saha-gaṇa-lalitā-śrī-viśākhānvitāṁś ca

svāhā, svāhā, svāhā

nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale

śrīmate bhaktisiddhānta-sarasvatīti nāmine

śrī-vārṣabhānavī-devī-dayitāya kṛpābdhaye

kṛṣṇa-sambandha-vijñāna-dāyine prabhave namaḥ

svāhā, svāhā, svāhā

mādhuryojjvala-premāḍhya-śrī-rūpānuga-bhaktida-

śrī-gaura-karuṇā-śakti-vigrahāya namo 'stu te

namas te gaura-vāṇī-śrī-mūrtaye dīna-tāriṇe

rūpānuga-viruddhāpasiddhānta-dhvānta-hāriṇe

svāhā, svāhā, svāhā

namo gaura-kiśorāya sākṣād-vairāgya-mūrtaye

vipralambha-rasāmbhodhe pādāmbujāya te namaḥ

svāhā, svāhā, svāhā

namo bhaktivinodāya sac-cid-ānanda-nāmine

gaura-śakti-svarūpāya rūpānuga-varāya te

svāhā, svāhā, svāhā

gaurāvirbhāva-bhūmes tvaṁ nirdeṣṭā saj-jana-priyaḥ

vaiṣṇava-sārvabhaumaḥ śrī-jagannāthāya te namaḥ

svāhā, svāhā, svāhā

vāñchā-kalpatarubhyaś ca kṛpā-sindhubhya eva ca

patitānāṁ pāvenebhyo vaiṣṇavebhyo namo namaḥ

svāhā, svāhā, svāhā

namo mahā-vadānyāya kṛṣṇa-prema-pradāya te

kṛṣṇāya kṛṣṇa-caitanya-nāmne gaura-tviṣe namaḥ

svāhā, svāhā, svāhā

pañca-tattvātmakaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ bhakta-rūpa-svarūpakam

bhaktāvatāraṁ bhaktākhyaṁ namāmi bhakta-śaktikam

svāhā, svāhā, svāhā

he kṛṣṇa karuṇā-sindho dīna-bandho jagat-pate

gopeśa gopikā-kānta rādhā-kānta namo 'stu te

svāhā, svāhā, svāhā

jayatāṁ, suratau, paṅgor, mama, manda, mater, gate

mat, sarvasva, padām, bhojau, rādhā, madana, mohanau

svāhā, svāhā, svāhā

dīvyad, vṛnda, araṇya, kalpa, drumādhaḥ

śrīmad, ratna, agāra, siṁha, asana-sthau

śrī śrī, rādhā, śrīla, govinda, devau

preṣṭhā, devī, sevya, mānau, smarāmi

(Abhidheyādhideva Praṇāma)

svāhā, svāhā, svāhā

namo, rāsa, rasa, arambhī, vaṁśī, vaṭa, taṭa, sthitaḥ

karṣan, veṇu, svanair, gopīr, gopī, nāthaḥ, śriye, astu, naḥ

(Prayojanādhideva Praṇāma)

svāhā, svāhā, svāhā

Now take each one. Chant.

nama oṁ, brahmaṇya, devāya

go, brāhmaṇa, hitāya ca

jagad, dhitāya, kṛṣṇāya

govindāya, namo, namaḥ

(Viṣṇu Purāṇa 1.19.65)

Slowly like this. (japa)

hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare

hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare

Now those with a sacred thread you come . . . (indistinct) . . . you do like that. (japa)

Now you can sit down and chant. Chant.

(kīrtana) (prema-dhvani) (obeisances)

You keep it and others will come. Keep it. (japa)

Yes chant Govinda. (Govinda jaya jaya)

(prema-dhvani)

Malati where is that jug?

Devotee: Its right here.

Prabhupāda: Fill it with water. (japa) Keep it there in the middle between the two candles. Up, up. That all right? Now secure? Why it is like this? Keep it there. And you have to . . . (indistinct) . . . some silver plates and a cup that is to be put down. Now you can distribute prasāda. What is that?

Devotee: Pineapple. (end)