681108 - Lecture BS 5.29 - Los Angeles

Lectures by Date, 1968

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

 Listen to a 'Nectar Drop' created from this lecture

681108BS-LOS ANGELES - November 08, 1968 - 94:52 Minutes

Prabhupāda: (kīrtana) (prema-dhvani) Thank you very much. (devotees offer obeisances)

(sings) Govindam adi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi.

(aside) Yes, open.

Govindam adi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi.

Prabhupāda: (sings)

cintāmaṇi-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vṛkṣa-

lakṣāvṛteṣu surabhīr abhipālayantam

lakṣmī-sahasra-śata-sambhrama-sevyamānaṁ

govindam adi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

(Bs. 5.29)

cintāmaṇi-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vṛkṣa-

lakṣāvṛteṣu surabhīr abhipālayantam

(Bs. 5.29)

This is the description of Kṛṣṇa’s abode. So, cintāmaṇi-prakara. As here we find houses are constructed of bricks, there the houses are constructed of cintāmaṇi stone, touchstone. You have heard the name. Touchstone, if you touch that stone into iron, the iron becomes gold. That is called philosopher’s stone or touchstone.

So cintāmaṇi, the land and the houses are made of touchstone. Cintāmaṇi-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vṛkṣa. Kalpa-vṛkṣa: "desire tree." There the trees are desire tree, because they are all spiritual. Just like if I ask you, "Please bring me a glass of water," you can supply me. If I ask you, "Bring me something else," so you can bring me also—because you are spirit, developed.

But if I ask a tree, suppose, supplying rose flower, if I ask: "Oh, please bring me lavender flower," it cannot. Why? Because although it is spirit, it is not so developed.

Here we see spirit, consciousness, different stages of development. That makes different status of life. And that different status of life are varieties, 8,400,000 developing. Developing means different kinds of body. Just like this child. Now this child has got a certain type of body.

The consciousness is according to that body. This child, when she will be grown-up as a young girl, her consciousness will be different—the same child. So the spirit soul is encaged by this material body, and according to the body, the consciousness is different. It is very simple to understand. Take example of this child.

The same child, same spirit soul, because it is now dwelling in a different type of body, its consciousness is different than the mother’s, because the mother has got a different type of body and the child has got a different type of body.

So it is not very difficult to understand that our consciousness are different type according to the body. So you go on developing. This human form of life is considered to be the most advanced animal. Human, human being also called animal according to logic. They are called rational animal.

A human being is rational animal. Animal. And in the Vedas, śāstra also, they are called animal. Jantu. Jantu means "animal." So it is when that spiritual consciousness, that Kṛṣṇa consciousness, is fully developed, full-fledged. Just like a rose flower, it has got different stages—the bud stages, the second stage, the third stage, the fourth stage, and when it is the blossom flower with full fragrance and beauty and color, you like: "Oh, it is very nice flower." Similarly, you develop your consciousness. When it comes to the point of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, fully developed, that is your perfection of life.

That perfection of life is there. In the cintāmaṇi, in the abode of Kṛṣṇa, everyone—the tree, the animal, the cows, the birds, the bees, and the goddess of fortunes . . . they are called, all the women there, they are called goddess of fortune. Every woman is goddess of fortune. So there men are very beautiful, women are very beautiful, many, many thousand times of beautiful.

These are described in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. But the men are attracted, but there is so much attraction for kṛṣṇa-kīrtana that both men and women forget of anything of sex life. It is so nice, so attractive, that they have no more attraction for sex life. There is embracing, there is kissing—everything is there—but there is no sex life. Because they have got another thing, paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate (BG 2.59), so sublime, so sweet, so transcendental, that they are simply absorbed in Kṛṣṇa thought. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness, perfection of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

So cintāmaṇi, there the trees, they have accepted the form of trees willingly, "I like to serve Kṛṣṇa as a plant," "I like to serve Kṛṣṇa as a tree," "I like to serve Kṛṣṇa as this or that." So everything is there. Just like this calf is loving Kṛṣṇa in his own way, and Kṛṣṇa is also embracing, yes, responding. Not that because it is calf, animal, Kṛṣṇa is neglecting. No. Kṛṣṇa reciprocates His love. As you love Him, so He also reciprocates.

ye yathā māṁ prapadyante

tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham

(BG 4.11)

Everyone is loving Kṛṣṇa in different stages. And the response is there also by Kṛṣṇa. So when you are full-fledged Kṛṣṇa conscious, that is your perfection of life. That can be seen in the transcendental abode of Kṛṣṇa known as Goloka Vṛndāvana.

Goloka Vṛndāvana, that Goloka Vṛndāvana is descended with Kṛṣṇa. When Kṛṣṇa comes within this universe, His Goloka Vṛndāvana also comes with Him. Just like when the king goes somewhere, his all staff, his secretary, his military commander, his this, that—everyone goes with him. Similarly, when Kṛṣṇa comes on this planet, all His paraphernalia, entourage, everyone comes to display, to attract us that, "You are after this. You want to love."

Here you see in Vṛndāvana how everything is based on love. There is nothing else. They do not know that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They don’t care to know it. But their natural affection and love is so intense for Kṛṣṇa that they cannot think anything else except Kṛṣṇa twenty-four hours. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The boys, cowherds boys, they go with Kṛṣṇa in the forest with the cows. The whole day they enjoy company of Kṛṣṇa.

When they come home at night, also, they are speaking with their mother, "Mother, Kṛṣṇa is so wonderful. He . . . He met . . . oh, there was gigantic demon. He came, he was devouring us, and Kṛṣṇa killed him." "Oh," the mother says: "Oh, Kṛṣṇa is I know very wonderful boy." That’s all.

He does not . . . they do not care whether Kṛṣṇa is God or anything. But Kṛṣṇa is very wonderful. Whenever there is some danger, they come to Kṛṣṇa. There was heavy rainfall. They all came, all the villagers came to Kṛṣṇa, "Ah, Kṛṣṇa, what is to be done?" And Kṛṣṇa said: "All right, I shall do." He was only six- or seven-years-old boy. He lifted the whole hill and made it an umbrella. Made it an umbrella. (laughter) You see?

So this is Kṛṣṇa love. Kṛṣṇa love, they do not know Kṛṣṇa, whether Kṛṣṇa is God. They don’t care to know. "Brahmā—no. Kṛṣṇa is our lovable object." Everyone. The animal, the birds, the bees, the flower, the land—everyone loves Kṛṣṇa. The gopīs, they are thinking always Kṛṣṇa, "Oh, Kṛṣṇa has gone to the forest. Oh, His sole is so soft. How He is traveling on the ground, which is full of so many particles of stone and must be giving Him pain." So they are thinking at home and becoming so sorry, crying, "Oh, Kṛṣṇa is . . . must be very painful," in this way. That is their thought. You see? Say animals also, they are also thinking of Kṛṣṇa.

Every cow had a different name. And as soon as Kṛṣṇa will call by the name, just like this calf is there. The animal will come and wait with so ecstasy that the milk will drop on the ground. When the cow is very jubilant, milk automatically comes. These descriptions are there. Govindam adi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi.

Very natural life, village life. Kṛṣṇa is not interested with industry or this or that—simply village life. The cows, the trees, nice land, nice Yamunā River, innocent cowherds boys, innocent cowherd, I mean to say, girls, and their father, their mother. This is called Vraja. Very natural life.

cintāmaṇi-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vṛkṣa-

lakṣāvṛteṣu surabhīr abhipālayantam

(Bs. 5.29)

And Kṛṣṇa is very fond of herding cows. What kind of cows? Surabhi. Surabhi means they are also spiritual cows. You can take as much milk as you like, and as many times. There is no limit. Spiritual means unlimited; everything is unlimited. Here you can milk a cow once in a day or twice in a day, and that is also limited supply.

But there is no limit of supply. Surabhīr. And lakṣmī-sahasra-śata-sambhrama-sevyamānaṁ (Bs. 5.29).

Lakṣmī. The gopīs, they are all goddess of fortune. What are these gopīs? What are these cows? They are expansion of Kṛṣṇa. They are not different from Kṛṣṇa.

ānanda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhāvitābhis

tābhir ya eva nija-rūpatayā kalābhiḥ

goloka eva nivasaty akhilātma-bhūto

govindam adi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

(Bs. 5.37)

You read Brahma-samhitā very carefully. These descriptions are there. Ānanda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhāvitābhis. These cows, these gopīs, these trees, this land, this house, this father, mother, friend—everyone—they are expansion of Kṛṣṇa. They are not different from Kṛṣṇa. Expansion. Ānanda-cinmaya-rasa.

The Kṛṣṇa’s body is sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha, full bliss, full knowledge and eternal. And these cows, friends, land, trees, everything, they are all expansion. That is tested also here when Brahmā was illusioned that, "How is that, my Lord, Kṛṣṇa, has come on this earthly planet as a cowherd boy? He is playing. Let me see whether He is Kṛṣṇa."

So he stole all the cows, all the cowherds boy, everything, and again when Brahmā came he saw that everything is there, although the stolen cows and boys were sleeping within a cave, but Kṛṣṇa has got full expansion. Then he could understand that He is the Supreme Lord Himself.

pūrṇasya pūrṇam ādāya

pūrṇam evāvaśiṣyate

(Īśo Invocation)

Kṛṣṇa is so full. That is mentioned in the Vedas, that the Supreme Absolute Truth is so full that if you take even the full from the full, still He is full. Here if you take hundred dollars and if you take hundred dollars, there is zero. But in the spiritual world, if you take hundred dollars from hundred dollars, the hundred dollars is still there. So Kṛṣṇa is so full.

So as we make advancement in spiritual knowledge we can understand what is spiritual life. But if we meditate . . . meditate means if we think over what is actually spiritual life, we can understand. That consciousness. This consciousness, purification of consciousness, and make the consciousness full with Kṛṣṇa thought, that will make you advanced in spiritual life.

So that day we were discussing . . .

(aside) Where is my spectacle?

. . . about Prahlāda Mahārāja. Hm. So Prahlāda Mahārāja is humbly presenting himself that, "Great personalities and demigods like Brahmā and the siddhas, with eight kinds of perfection, material perfection, and there are many others, varieties of people and living entities there are within this universe."

And when Nṛsiṁhadeva was there, everyone came to see from every planet. So Prahlāda Mahārāja, he thought that, "How can I please the Lord while Brahmā and so many great personalities have failed?" Therefore he concludes like this. What is that?

manye dhanābhijana-rūpa-tapaḥ-śrutaujas-

tejaḥ-prabhāva-bala-pauruṣa-buddhi-yogāḥ

nārādhanāya hi bhavanti parasya puṁso

bhaktyā tutoṣa bhagavān gaja-yūtha-pāya

(SB 7.9.9)

He is concluding like this, that "Because all these great personalities have failed to pacify the Lord, therefore I can conclude in this way." Manye. Manye means "I can conclude." What is that? That dhanābhijana-rūpa-śrutas . . . dhanābhijana-rūpa-tapaḥ-śrutaujas. Dhana, dhana means "riches," "wealth." Abhijana. Abhijana means "aristocrats." Dhanābhijana-rūpa. Rūpa means "beauty." These are material assets.

If you are born in aristocratic family, in a rich family, you have got one dozen secretaries and you cannot be seen; you have to arrange with the secretaries for one dozen days, then you can be permitted. Just like if you want to see the President, you have to arrange for three months, or still you will be refused. This is called aristocracy.

So aristocracy, at the present moment if you somehow or other you can accumulate some wealth, you become aristocratic. Formerly that was not the process. Aristocracy means great parentage by quality. Just like in aristocracy of brahmins, that is a qualitative distinction. Satya-sama-dama-śaucam ārjavam.

So by formerly it was calculated whether you belong to high-class family by your quality. At the present moment, in this age, there is no question whether actually you are born in aristocratic family. Simply if you have got money you’ll be considered as aristocratic. So dhana, "wealth," abhijana. Actually aristocratic family means they have got riches. Dhana abhijana and rūpa.

Rūpa means "beauty." These things are specially mentioned here, because riches, wealth or birth in aristocratic or in a very respectable family and beauty, these things are achieved as a result of pious activities. They are not result of ordinary activities. So dhana jana abhijana rūpa tapa. Tapa means "austerity."

Just like Lord Buddha, he was prince, therefore he was very rich. And he was born in a royal family, therefore aristocracy, dhana rūpa and because he was a kṣatriya . . . Buddha, Lord Buddha, was kṣatriya, so he was very . . . kṣatriyas are very beautiful, especially.

I have several times mentioned that this European stock, they belong to the kṣatriya according to Mahābhārata. So rūpa. Lord Buddha was aristocratic, wealthy and beautiful, and later on he took to meditation. That is called tapasya, tapa. Tapa means accepting some voluntary tribulation for higher advancement of life. That is called tapasya.

So this human form of life is meant for tapasya, tapa. That is mentioned. That is the special qualification: not to spoil this life in sense gratification, but for tapasya. See . . . Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is educating people to accept this tapasya. Not . . .

Even if you have got wealth, opulence, even if you are very beautiful, even if you are born in very high family or in the family of great nation, and still if there is no tapasya, it is imperfect. It is imperfect. So tapa. Manye dhanābhijana-rūpa-tapaḥ-śrutaujas (SB 7.9.9). And śrutauja means "education." Education. Highly educated.

Tapas śrutauja teja prabhāva. If one has got all these paraphernalia: wealth, aristocracy, beauty, austerity, penance, just like Lord Buddha had, then he gets some strength, teja. Teja, some influence. So teja. And teja prabhāva. Prabhāva, "influence." Teja, "strength" or "power."

Tejaḥ-prabhāva-bala, "bodily strength."Pauruṣa. Pauruṣa means, what is called, if a man becomes very great by his own endeavor, what is the one word? Pauruṣa, in English? What is that one word? Just like you have got in your country somebody just like Ford. He began his business very poor but became very rich man.

Devotee: Self-made.

Prabhupāda: Ah, self-made. Yes. That is called pauruṣa. And buddhi-yoga. Buddhi-yoga, "very intelligent," "highly intellectual." These are all material qualifications. These are very nice, to have great wealth, to have nice, beautiful body, to have education, to have strength, influence, and bodily strength, and self-made famous. So many things—they are all material.

So Prahlāda Mahārāja says that these material assets are not fit for pleasing the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is nullifying, that nobody should think that . . . just like generally, rich people, they think, "These boys, they are poor boys, and they are now chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa and begging something. So because they are poor, they require God’s name."

Therefore Prahlāda Mahārāja says that if one is very rich or very powerful or born of a very aristocratic family, very influential, they are practically disqualification for Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Because they are very much proud. They are very much proud. And this line is for the humble and meek. That is also accepted by Lord Jesus Christ: only the humble and meek.

Caitanya Mahāprabhu therefore teaches us:

tṛṇād api sunīcena

taror api sahiṣṇunā

(CC Adi 17.31)

Who is fit for chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa? He is giving the definition. What is that? Tṛṇād api sunīcena: humbler than the grass. You know the grass, everyone is trampling over the grass, but it does not protest—"All right." So tṛṇād api sunīcena, one has to be humbler than the grass. And taror api sahiṣṇunā. Taror api sahiṣṇunā . . .

Taror means "trees." Trees are very tolerant, example of tolerance, standing thousands of years, same place, does not protest. "Oh, you are cutting" –does not protest. "You are taking fruit" –does not protest. Still it is giving you shelter. When there is rain, there is scorching heat, you take shelter underneath a tree.

He . . . it does not say: "Oh, you man, you cut me, you take my fruit, you take my branches, take my leaves. Why you have came here to take shelter under me now?". "Come on. Please sit down." Just see how much tolerant. These things are to be learned how by nature’s study you can become very educated.

tṛṇād api sunīcena

taror api sahiṣṇunā

amāninā mānadena

(CC Adi 17.31)

For personal self he is denying all kinds of respectful obeisances, but to others he will give all respectful obeisances. Amāninā mānadena kīrtanīyaḥ. Such mentality.

Now how it is possible to become like that? That is not possible to learn artificially that, "I am trying to become more humbler or, I mean to say, tolerant than the tree." No. It should be by scientific understanding of my constitutional position. What is my constitutional position? This gigantic body, I am not this body. I am not this body.

What I am? I am spirit soul. And what is the measurement of spirit soul? The measurement of a spirit soul is one ten-thousandth part of the top portion of your hair, tip of the hair. So actually I am smaller than the grass. I am smaller than the grass. Artificially I may have the body of an elephant, but I am not this body. My position is I am atomic spirit soul.

So if we understand . . . in other words, if I am convinced, these things automatically develop in you. Tṛṇād api sunīcena taror api . . . Caitanya Mahāprabhu teaches that you become humbler than the grass, tolerant than the tree—not artificially but by pure understanding of your constitutional position.

So all these material qualification are due to this body. So this bodily qualification, I am not competent enough to approach the Supreme Absolute Truth. Your spiritual qualification, that spiritual . . . therefore what is that spiritual qualification? That is stated by Prahlāda Mahārāja that:

manye dhanābhijana-rūpa-tapaḥ-śrutaujas-

tejaḥ-prabhāva-bala-pauruṣa-buddhi-yogāḥ

nārādhanāya hi bhavanti parasya puṁso

bhaktyā tutoṣa bhagavān gaja-yūtha-pāya

(SB 7.9.9)

Parasya puṁso means the supreme transcendental personality. If you want to please that Supreme Personality of Godhead, then all these material qualification and assets cannot help you. Then what can help me? That is said, bhaktyā. That is devotion. So spiritual activity means devotional activities. Bhaktyā, devotion. If you want, that is also accepted in Bhagavad-gītā. Lord Kṛṣṇa says, bhaktyā mām abhijānāti (BG 18.55).

Bhaktyā: "Simply by devotional service one can understand Me." In another place Kṛṣṇa says:

manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu

kaścid yatati siddhaye

(BG 7.3)

"Out of many millions and billions of persons, one become interested for spiritual perfection" and:

yatatām api siddhānāṁ

kaścin māṁ vetti tattvataḥ

(BG 7.3)

"And out of many such persons who are trying to have spiritual perfection of life, out of them, somebody may be knowing Me perfect." To know Kṛṣṇa is not easy job. But it is easier, that is stated, bhaktyā mām abhijānāti (BG 18.55).

If you engage yourself in these Kṛṣṇa consciousness activities, very quickly you will understand. So Prahlāda Mahārāja confirms this statement, that nārādhanāya hi bhavanti parasya puṁso (SB 7.9.9): If you want to please, satisfy, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, don’t count upon your material assets. You have to take to the spiritual process, bhaktyā, bhakti, devotional service. Then you can understand.

So now those who have got this material assets . . . just like I have come to your country; you have got much material assets. Everything you have got, these, all these things explained here, dhana, jana, abhijana, everything. Now if you apply these things to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then all these material assets becomes spiritualized.

nirbandhe kṛṣṇa-sambandhe

yukta-vairāgyam ucyate

(Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.2.255)

If you dovetail this, then your opportunity is very, I mean to say, simple. You can very easily engage these things. We don’t condemn anything. Engage anything, everything, to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is the formula given by our Rūpa Gosvāmī, that prāpaṣcikatayā buddhyā hari-sambandhi-vastunaḥ (Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.2.256).

The Māyāvādī philosophers, they say that this material world is false and brahma satyaṁ, and the Supreme Spirit is truth, Supreme Truth. So brahma satyaṁ jagan mithyā. But we say that the jagat, this material world, is not false; it is temporary. But so long it is under my control, if I can utilize it for Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then these material assets can also help me. Very nice.

So we have to know the techniques, how to engage everything in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, so in any circumstances we can cultivate this bhakti-yoga, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness. It is not hampering.

sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo

yato bhaktir adhokṣaje

(SB 1.2.6)

Simply we have to know the techniques, how to apply it for Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then everything will be perfect. So this is the instruction of Prahlāda Mahārāja that, "Only by Your devotional service." Material assets as it is, you cannot achieve spiritual perfection.

But if you are developed, if you have developed your devotional spirit, love of Godhead, sacrifice everything for Kṛṣṇa, apply everything for Kṛṣṇa, that will help you advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and go back to Godhead, go back to home.

Thank you very much. (devotees offer obeisances)

Any question?

Viṣṇujana: In the prayer to the spiritual master there’s a verse that the spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Is the mercy that is always extended to the fallen souls the opportunity to serve Kṛṣṇa? And is that where all the bliss comes from also?

Prabhupāda: Yes. Just like the sunlight. Sunlight is free. It is open for everyone. But if you block your room—you don’t like to see the sunlight—so how the sunlight can help you? You have to come to the open sunlight; then it is free. You can enjoy. Similarly, Kṛṣṇa’s mercy is open. It is not that Kṛṣṇa’s mercy is somewhere very prolific and somewhere it is very miserly. No. It is everywhere the same. But it is the recipient who can receive this Kṛṣṇa’s mercy.

So persons who are in love with Kṛṣṇa, they can receive Kṛṣṇa’s mercies very profusely. Otherwise Kṛṣṇa’s mercy is open for everyone. But if you, I mean to say, place stumbling blocks in understanding Kṛṣṇa . . . just like the yogīs, jṣānīs, they like to speculate. Kṛṣṇa says that, "I am here." Ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo (BG 10.8):

"I am the source of everything." Mattaḥ parataraṁ nāstī: "There is nothing superior or greater than Me." But these people will still speculate to know. So what Kṛṣṇa can do? Here is Kṛṣṇa, here is the Supreme Absolute Truth presenting Himself, showing Himself, exhibiting Himself, and everything is there, complete, but still they will not . . . just like the owls. As soon as there is daytime they will hide. Hmm, like . . . (laughter). He's determined not to see the sunlight, that’s all.

So these rascals, they will not see Kṛṣṇa. So what Kṛṣṇa, poor Kṛṣṇa will do? Kṛṣṇa will never force, because He has given them independence. You see? So He will not touch upon your independence. Then what is the meaning of independence? If I give you something and if I take it away, then what is the meaning of giving? When I have given you, it is your property.

So Kṛṣṇa has given you independence. So you can misuse your independence. When Kṛṣṇa says, "I am here," you are searching out. People will say: "Can you show me God?" And if I show, "Here is God. Just see," "Ah, here is . . . where it is? It is not God." He wants to see something gigantic. What is that? Gigantic also, Kṛṣṇa showed His universal form to Arjuna.

So everything is there, but I am thinking otherwise. I am hiding from the sunlight. So sunlight is profuse; it is everywhere. The same sunlight in the northern portion of the earth, it is not so prominent. In the southern portion it is very prominent. Does it mean the sun exhibits very prominently in some portion of the earth and in some portion of the earth he is . . .? No. He is far away from the earth. It is the condition of the special place that sunlight is not seen.

So according to Vedic literature, places which are always overcast with clouds, no sunshine, they are condemned places. Condemned places. The people there are considered sinful where there is no much sunshine. Nature’s law, there will be less sunshine. Similarly, those who are sinful, they cannot understand Kṛṣṇa. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā: yeṣāṁ tv anta-gataṁ pāpaṁ (BG 7.28). One who is completely liberated from all sinful activities:

yeṣāṁ tv anta-gataṁ pāpaṁ

janānāṁ puṇya-karmaṇām

(BG 7.28)

Persons who have simply acted piously, te dvandva-moha-nirmuktā, they become free from the duality, bhajante māṁ dṛḍha-vratāḥ, and accept Kṛṣṇa with firm faith and devotes his life for His service.

Kṛṣṇa consciousness is not for ordinary persons. But if one seeing that "My other brother is in Kṛṣṇa consciousness; he is enjoying. Let me also," he is also fortunate. Immediately he becomes fortunate—if he has got little sense. It is very difficult, but very easy also. The easiest. "Let me take to Kṛṣṇa . . ." Just like Kṛṣṇa says:

bahūnāṁ janmanām ante

jṣānavān māṁ prapadyate

(BG 7.19)

"After many, many births of cultivation of knowledge, one, when he is fully in knowledge, then he surrenders unto Me." How? Vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti: Kṛṣṇa is everything, vāsudeva. Sa mahātmā su-durlabhaḥ: "Such kind of great soul is very rare to be seen."

Now if you are intelligent, if you can understand simply by surrendering one becomes a very great soul, and they are very rare, why not surrender immediately? That is intelligence. If this is the process of highest perfection, why not do it immediately? Little intelligence.

So Caitanya-caritāmṛta says, kṛṣṇa ye bhaje se baḍa catura, only the first-class intelligent man can become in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, not the rascals and fools. They cannot. A little intelligence required. So it is very easy but it is very difficult for rascals and fools. Now why I am saying rascals and fools? I am not saying; Kṛṣṇa says. Avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā (BG 9.11). Mūḍhā means rascals and fools.

mānuṣīṁ tanum āśritam

paraṁ bhāvam ajānanto

mama bhūta-maheśvaram

(BG 9.11)

"These rascals and fools, they do not know what is the background of My personality." They do not know. So it is by fortune, good association, but this fortune can be immediately achieved by association of kṛṣṇa-bhaktas, devotees of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore we have formulated this society for Kṛṣṇa consciousness. If anyone joins this society, very quickly he becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious without any previous qualifications. Simply by association and trying to follow the principles. Very quickly.

So Kṛṣṇa is open for everyone, as the sunshine is there for everyone, but we have got independence. If you like you can go to the sunshine, or you may block our room and windows and keep ourselves in darkness. That’s all. So Kṛṣṇa’s mercy is for everyone. Not that for a particular person. But a special mercy is for those who are engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is said:

samo 'haṁ sarva-bhūteṣu

na me dveṣyo 'sti na priyaḥ

(BG 9.29)

He is not envious to anyone, neither somebody is especially favorable. But He says, ye bhajanti tu māṁ bhaktyā (BG 9.29): "One who is engaged in My service with love and affection, oh, I am especially inclined." That is natural. That is natural. The father loves the child; the child loves the father.

If many child are playing in the street, if there is some accident, and if the father goes and protects his own child particularly, neglecting other children, that is not his fault; that is natural. Similarly, one who is engaged in Kṛṣṇa’s service with faith and love, for him a special attention. That is not partiality. That is not partiality. But that special favor is there.

Yes?

Govinda dāsī: Suppose someone is firmly convinced that Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the only thing that will save him but yet he still has inclinations toward material activities. Will Kṛṣṇa force him in this case to become completely surrendered?

Prabhupāda: Yes. He puts the devotee in such a way that he is obliged to become Kṛṣṇa consciousness fully. Naturally, because we have materially associated for so many lives, so even though we are trying to become fully Kṛṣṇa conscious, so our material attachment sometimes drag us. But if we are very strongly Kṛṣṇa conscious, so these attachment will be taken away by Kṛṣṇa. That is mentioned in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam:

yasyāham anugṛhṇāmi

hariṣye tad-dhanaṁśanaiḥ

(SB 10.88.8)

I think I have personally that experience. Yes. I was not inclined to come to this line, but Kṛṣṇa has forced me. That is His special favor. I am now understanding, "Yes." So, hmm, Kṛṣṇa is very intelligent. So if we foolishly want something other than Kṛṣṇa, He makes us forgetful of such nonsense. That is Kṛṣṇa’s special favor.

Madhudviṣa: Prabhupāda, how may a brahmacārī channel his sex desire, you know, in serving Kṛṣṇa—that energy that he can’t control which is going to his sexual desires? How may he channel that into using that energy for Kṛṣṇa?

Prabhupāda: Sex desire is not unnatural, but you can utilize your sex desire for Kṛṣṇa’s service. You can produce Kṛṣṇa conscious children. So we don’t prohibit. Our process is that everything should be in the service of Kṛṣṇa. The others, they are producing children like cats and dogs.

If you produce children, Kṛṣṇa conscious, the face of the world will change. So sex desire is not unnatural. That is natural. Just like to become hungry. So hungry means it is healthy life. But it is the thing what you are eating. That is the thing.

That will be considered whether you will keep yourself healthy or you become diseased. That if you feel hunger, that is not unnatural. Similarly, if you feel sex desire, that is not unnatural. That is natural. But you have to utilize. That is restraint of the śāstra. Yaḥśāstra-vidhim utsṛjya (BG 16.23).

What śāstra says how you shall utilize. So Kṛṣṇa says in the Bhagavad-gītā that, "The regulative way of sex life is Myself." He says: "I am." Sex life is not condemned. But one should know that, "Why I shall use my sex life?" If it is used for Kṛṣṇa’s purpose, then I shall use. Otherwise I will not. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Just like Vasudeva and Devakī, in their previous life Śatarūpā and other name I just forget. The husband and wife, after marriage, they began to prosecute tapasya. What was the tapasya? That "If we can get Kṛṣṇa as our child, then we will have sex life, otherwise not. Otherwise we shall go on tapasya."

So when for many thousands of years they underwent tapasya, Kṛṣṇa came: "What do you want?" They said that, "I want a child like You. Then we can have our marital life. Otherwise we shall go on tapasya." "So, all right. But there is no proxy of Me. Then I shall become your child." Then they agreed to become father and mother. Pitā na sa syāj jananī na sā syāt (SB 5.5.18).

The Bhagavata says one should not become a father, one should not become a mother, one should not become a spiritual master, one should not become a friend, one should not become a husband. So many list. Who? One who cannot deliver his dependent from the impending clutches of death. You see? Na mocayed yaḥ samupeta-mṛtyum (SB 5.5.18). This life and death perpetual change of body, this is going on, 8,400,000s of species of life. And people are suffering. The living entities are encaged and suffering.

So a Kṛṣṇa conscious father and mother should be determined that, "We shall beget children in such a way that this life will be the end of his change of body." This life he will be liberated. That’s all. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness sex life. "I shall take care of my children in such a way that no more he will come back again in the womb of mother. He will be liberated, go back to Godhead."

You can produce hundreds of children like that. That is Kṛṣṇa’s service. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. There is nothing unnatural in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Everything is natural. So? Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Who has seen that house? Dayānanda? You showed any of the brahmacārīs?

Dayānanda: No . . . (indistinct)

Prabhupāda: Somebody else?

Dayānanda: Yes, Mandali

Prabhupāda: Hmm . . . Maydani . . .

Dayānanda: Mandali . . . oh Mandali, you have seen? Oh, you have seen. Very nice house.

Mandalibhadra: Yes, I thought it was nice.

Prabhupāda: Oh, very good. You have bring . . . we shall take that house. Eh? Very nice. You have seen inside also?

Mandalibhadra: We looked at it through the window.

Prabhupāda: Oh, so . . . with Dayānanda?

Devotee: I have been in that place.

Prabhupāda: Oh, you have been? It is nice place?

Devotee: It has a fireplace. I think it has a fireplace.

Prabhupāda: That doesn’t matter, but . . . (laughter) so you take that house. It is very nice.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: How many rooms does it have?

Devotee: I think it has two bedrooms and a bathroom and a living room and a big . . . and a dining room which you can make into a temple and a kitchen too. Backyard with a tree.

Prabhupāda: Very nice.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Is it big enough? . . . (indistinct)

Prabhupāda: And on the broad road, very important place. Very nice. You immediately take that house. Yes. Hare Kṛṣṇa.

(kīrtana) (prema-dhvani) Thank you very much. (devotees offer obeisances)

Prabhupāda: What is this? Oh. For taking?

Viṣṇujana: Would you like a plate, Swāmījī?

Prabhupāda: No, no, no. A sannyāsī should always take in his hand. That is the system. Not in a plate. That means if you take in a plate, you'll take much. (laughter) (chuckling) So in hand, he cannot take much. Kara-pātrī. That is the instruction. But in this age such strict laws cannot be followed.

The Bhāgavata says that when there is flat grass cushion, why should you ask for bedding? When you have got natural pillow, this hand, why you ask for a pillow? Then when there is river, so much water, why do you stock water? When there are fruits in the tree, why do you go and beg?

When there is cave, why you are searching after apartment? (laughs) When the old garments are thrown in the street, then why you are searching after clothing? These are the instruction, you see. Completely free. Kasmād bhajanti kavayo dhana-durmadandhān (SB 2.2.5).

Why should you go and flatter these moneyed men? That is it. Complete independence. But those days are now gone. (laughs) It is a different age.

Los Angeles, I think, is a good place. Hmm? What is your . . .? Your problem solved?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Good news. We went to the Hollywood police station, and the man told us that part of the duty of the police station is to . . . he says he should protect religious people like us.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He says . . . he mentioned other religious people, and he said if we can just keep the crowd moving, then we have every right to be there. So he has given us right to go to Hollywood. In downtown Los Angeles we don't have that right yet. We'll still go there, but in Hollywood it is all right. So that's good enough.

Prabhupāda: That's all right. It is Kṛṣṇa's grace. I was telling the same thing to Dayānanda, that he should present this case to the higher officer. That's all. We are preaching God consciousness. We should be given . . . that was the Vedic law. Saintly persons, they should be given all protection.

If somebody insulted a saintly person, there was a special punishment for that. That's all right. So you take that house, that is Hollywood quarter? Hmm.

(aside) Give him more. No. I have got. You take.

Oh, Nandarāṇī is outside?

Lady devotee: Yes . . . (indistinct) . . . for Nandarāṇī.

Prabhupāda: Why she is outside?

Lady devotee: It's the baby.

Prabhupāda: Baby was not disturbing . . . (pause) . . . I have received one letter from San Francisco. They are shortage of men. So Dīnadayālu is going back?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Oh, no. We need more men here. (Prabhupāda laughs) We are so short. That is the problem. We have too few people here. Dīnadayālu is so essential. I was just going to ask you if we could have some more men. Jayarāma . . .

Prabhupāda: Create men. Bring some men.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Recruit.

Prabhupāda: Here is a new boy, I see.

Viṣṇujana: He's very intelligent.

Prabhupāda: Hmm. You have not taken prasādam? You have taken these fruits? This is the first time you come here?

Boy guest: Yes. (break)

Mādhavī-latā: If you live with people . . . if you live around people and they say offensive things, because they are ignorant or they are sinful, as you say . . .

Prabhupāda: Try to excuse them.

Mādhavī-latā: Do I leave . . .

Prabhupāda: As far as possible.

Mādhavī-latā: Excuse them. I shouldn't move out of there?

Prabhupāda: Yes. As far as possible tolerate.

Mādhavī-latā: Tolerate.

Prabhupāda: They are all crazy. Yes. They are crazy.

Mādhavī-latā: No, because . . . it's just one man, the owner. I asked him so many times if he would make room for . . . to have a meeting. The place is gigantic. You know, 'cause you stayed there. Remember? At that motel. He said he didn't have any room.

Prabhupāda: Oh. They have got very big hall?

Mādhavī-latā: So I was just wondering, maybe I should . . . you know, well, if that's how they're going to act, then I should move out of there. But I don't know. I don't know if that's the right attitude on my part. I don't know. They say they didn't have any room.

Prabhupāda: Oh, you are . . .

(aside) Govinda dāsī . . . (break) (end)