710702 - Lecture Initiation Excerpt - Los Angeles

Lectures by Date, 1971

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

710702IN-LOS_ANGELES - July 02, 1971 - 06:31 Minutes

Prabhupāda: . . . interested in material profit by devotional service, he is not fit at all to enter into the devotional service. Devotional . . . there are . . . everyone is trying to become happier—the karmīs, jñānīs, yogīs, devotees—because in the material world there is no happiness. So the karmīs are trying to be happier to increase their sense gratification. So one man has got hundred dollars' income. He is trying to be happy, more happy, by increasing the income to a thousand dollars, because his sense gratification is not sufficient in one hundred dollars. He wants thousand dollars.

So if one takes to devotional service that, "My income is hundred dollars. Kṛṣṇa, give me thousand dollars," so this is not pure devotion. Kṛṣṇa can give. Why thousand? Millions of dollars He can give. But anyone who asks from Kṛṣṇa for this material benefit, he is not a pure devotee. And unless one is pure devotee, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. By devotional service if you want material prosperity, Kṛṣṇa can give you. Kṛṣṇa can . . . whatever you want, Kṛṣṇa can give you. But that is not pure devotion.

Dhruva Mahārāja went to obtain his father's kingdom in the beginning, but at the end he said that, "I don't want." That is the benefit. If anyone has got any desire for material benefit and takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, Kṛṣṇa can give him. But the benefit is that one day he'll come to the stage he'll ask nothing from the Lord. Whereas if anyone goes to demigods to ask some material profit, he will get, but it will be finished, and he'll never come to the stage of transcendental platform that he has no material necessities.

So similarly, Kṛṣṇa's name, we should not try to exact some material profit by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. That is not pure devotion. Sarva . . . what is called? Sarvopādhi-vinirmuktam (CC Madhya 19.170). Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam (Brs. 1.1.11). We shall simply aspire to serve Kṛṣṇa. The Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra means, "He Kṛṣṇa, my Lord Kṛṣṇa." He, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare, "O the energy of Kṛṣṇa, O Kṛṣṇa, please engage me in Your service."

This is the sum total meaning of this Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. Simply praying, "Please engage me," that is real profit. Not that, "Please give me, instead of hundred dollars, give me thousand dollars." No. This is not pure devotion. You should all understand this. Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam (CC Madhya 19.167). Completely freed from any material desire. That is pure devotion. That will make you happy.

(aside) Go on. Go on explaining . . . is it finished?

Dayānanda: No, there are two more . . . (indistinct)

Prabhupāda: All right. Yes. (japa) (break) What is that. Name?

Girl: Jean Pickman.

Viṣṇujana: Śivāni devī.

Prabhupāda: Your name is Śivāni, wife of Lord Śiva. Who's this with? Nicely wove it and show me . . . what is your name?

Jeffrey: Jeffrey Seeler.

Viṣṇujana: Gaṅgārāma.

Prabhupāda: Gaṅgārāma. Gaṅgārāma was a devotee of Lord Caitanya. Come on. Who's next?

Viṣṇujana: Suraci. Suraci devī. Suraci.

Prabhupāda: Huh? Suruci.

Viṣṇujana: Suruci.

Prabhupāda: Suruci. Suruci was one of the mothers of Dhruva Mahārāja. Take it. You know what are the rules and regulation? What is that?

Suruci: No meat-eating, no illicit sex, no intoxication, no gambling.

Prabhupāda: All right. (break) (end)