Vrindavana, October 21, 1972
A devotee of Krishna has no desire for material
gains; he only wants to serve God.
The Krishna consciousness message is Krishnas tu bhagavan svayam [Bhag.1.3.28]. There is no other Bhagavan. Bhagavan means full of six opulences. So Krishna is completely, cent percent full of all opulences. Even Narayana, He is ninety-six percent. And Lord Shiva is eighty-four percent. And Brahma is seventy-eight percent. These are calculated by the Goswamis. So Krishna is cent percent Bhagavan. And Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita, mattah parataram nanyat [Bg. 7.7]. “There is no more superior authority than Me.” Nobody. You be convinced on the statement that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Ishvarah paramah Krishnah [Bs. 5.1].
Ishvara means controller, governor. There are many governors in your country. Everyone is governor. You are also governor, or ishvara, controller. But not the supreme controller. Our message is that here in this material world, there are many controllers, many governors, many ishvaras, but nobody is the supreme ishvara. Supreme ishvara means He has no controller over Him. He’s the supreme controller. Here, everyone has got another controller over him. But even big, big demigods like Indra, Chandra, Surya, Vayu, Varuna also have controller. Even Lord Brahma is controlled. Only Krishna or Krishna-tattva, visnu-tattva, is not controlled. He’s the supreme controller. So,
ishvarah paramah Krishnah
sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah
anadir adir govindah
sarva-karana-karanam
[Bs. 5.1]
“Govinda, Krishna, is the cause of all causes. He is the primal cause, and He is the very form of eternity, knowledge and bliss.”
This is our message.
Go on. Read.
Pradyumna: “…in bhakti-rasa can be understood by a serious student upon studying “The Nectar of Devotion.” Adoption of bhakti-rasa, or Krishna consciousness, will immediately bring one to an auspicious life, free from anxieties, and will bless one with transcendental existence, thus minimizing the value of liberation. Bhakti-rasa itself is sufficient to produce a feeling of liberation because it attracts the attention of the Supreme Lord, Krishna.”
Prabhupada: Yes. People generally think that liberation is the ultimate goal or the full achievement. But liberation is a very insignificant thing in the presence of devotional service. Therefore Bhagavata says, dharmah projjhita-kaitavah atra. “All cheating type of religion is kicked out from this Bhagavatam.” Dharma, artha, kama, moksha-they are thrown away from the study of Srimad-Bhagavatam. And Sridhara Swami confirms it: atra moksha-vancah-paryantam nirastam.
A devotee is above the point of liberation. The devotional service is called panchama-purusartha. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has given His opinion: prema pumartho mahan, to achieve love of Godhead is the highest perfection of life. Our ultimate goal of life is neither dharma (religiosity); nor artha (economic development); nor kama (sense gratification); nor moksha (liberation).
Lust is for life
People are very busy for economic development. They think that is the highest goal of life. To somehow or other get money, and after getting money satisfy the senses. Everyone is trying to satisfy his senses to the greatest extent. Unfortunately, maya will not allow him to do so. Daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]. “It is very difficult to surpass the stringent laws of My maya.” Therefore Bhagavata says, parabhavas tavad abodha-jatah. Every one of us is born abodha, without any knowledge.
The karmis who are trying to satisfy their senses to the highest limit are being defeated. Nobody’s satisfied with the senses. In Europe and America, this can be practically experienced. Many rich old men, seventy-five years old, are still going to the club for satisfying the senses. That means the sense satisfaction business cannot be completely done even to the point of death.
There are many stories in this regard. Akbar Shah inquired from his minister, “How long a man is sexually inclined?” So the minister replied “Up to the point of death.” Akbar did not believe it. So the minister took him to a man who was just going to die. The minister requested Akbar Shah to bring with him his young daughter. So when Akbar Shah and his daughter were entering the room of the dying man, the man kept on looking at the young girl, not Akbar. So the minister pointed out, “Just see.” And Akbar was convinced, “Yes.” The sex life is so strong that you cannot be satisfied. If you remain in material existence, then this sex desire will never be satisfied. But it can be satisfied only when you come to Krishna consciousness. This Yamunacharya has said,
yad-avadhi mama cetah Krishna-padaravindaye
nava-nava-rasa-dhamany udyatam rantum asit
tad-avadhi bata nari-sangame smaryamane
bhavati mukha-vikarah susthu nisthivanam ca
Sri Yamunacharya says, “Since I have been engaged in serving the lotus feet of Krishna, from that time I do not any more have any desire for sex life. Even if I do remember of sex life, I want to spit on it.” This is the result. Krishna is Madana-Mohana. Madana, Cupid agitates everyone for sex life. But if we actually are attached to see the beauty of Krishna we shall never be enamored by the arrows of Cupid. Param drstva nivartate [Bg. 9.59]. One ceases to accept lower grade things when one is situated in a superior condition.
This is the position of the materialistic person. Therefore sometimes they take to the path of rejection – giving up. Brahma satyam jagan mithya. They come to this stage, by advancement of knowledge. But sometimes that also becomes failure. Even persons on the platform of liberation fall down. Aruhya krcchrena param padam tatah patanty adhah anadrta-yusmad-anghrayah [Bhag 10.2.32]. One who does not take shelter of the lotus feet of Krishna, even he is raised to the platform of liberation, there is chance of fall down. Why they fall down? Anadrta-yusmad-anghrayah: because they neglect to worship the lotus feet of Krishna.
Go on.
Test of advancement
Pradyumna: “Bhakti-rasa itself is sufficient to produce a feeling of liberation because it attracts the attention of the Supreme Lord, Krishna.”
Prabhupada: Yes. As soon as you are engaged in the service, loving service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, immediately you feel liberation. This is practically seen. When you are fully engaged in Krishna consciousness, even if you walk on the street, you’ll feel that “I am separate from these persons. I am walking on a different path.” This is the feeling. Bhaktih paresanubhavah. You will experience yourself. That is the test. If you experience that “I am different from these persons,” then where is the attachment for material things?
The example is given: Just like a hungry man, if he’s given food, if he eats, then he experiences himself that he’s getting strength, his hunger is being satisfied. These things will be experienced. He hasn’t got to take certificate from others, “Whether I am advancing in spiritual consciousness, Krishna consciousness.” He’ll feel himself. Bhaktih paresanubhava viraktir anyatra syat. If one has become lover of God, naturally he will be detached from material enjoyment. This is the test.
Just like the six Goswamis. They were ministers. How they gave up their lucrative service? Tyaktva turnam asesa-mandala-pati-srenim sada tucchavat. They gave up their minister, high posts, association of aristocratic families.Why? Param drstva nivartate. They found something better in Krishna consciousness. Therefore they were able to give up. Just like you European and American boys, you were accustomed to better, comfortable life. I know. But you have given up your better, comfortable life, and you are satisfied lying down on the floor, without any bedding. How you have been practised to it? Because you are trying to find out a better engagement. Param drstva nivartate [Bg. 9.59].
Sometimes in your country, they are surprised how we are living without furniture. Because without furniture, living is impossible. In the beginning, when I was accommodated in some apartment, the landlord used to inquire, “Oh, where is your furniture?” They do not know one does not require furniture. We can lie down anywhere. It doesn’t matter whether in a nice apartment or underneath a tree. How these things happen? Unless one becomes little advanced, one has got little taste in devotional service, they cannot give up these material comforts.
The Goswamis are the best example. They were coming from very, very aristocratic family. They did not join the Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s movement out of poverty-stricken condition. No. Rupa Goswami and Sanatana Goswami were very big ministers, very rich men. Raghunatha Dasa Goswami was the only son of his father and uncle. And at that time his father and uncle had twelve lakhs rupees income. You cannot imagine what was the exchange of twelve lakhs rupees five hundred years ago. Similarly Sri Jiva and Gopala Bhatta. Sri Jiva Goswami was the jewel of all learned philosophers. That is acknowledged even by the greatest philosophers of the world. These six Goswamis were not ordinary men, but still, for Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s service, they left everything.
Tyaktva turnam asesa-mandala-pati-srenim sada tucchavat bhutva dina-ganesakau karunaya kaupina-kantasritau. So Krishna-bhakti, devotional service of Krishna, is so exalted that a devotee can kick out even mukti. They do not want it. Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu says,
na dhanam na janam na sundarim
kavitam va jagadisa kamaye
mama janmani janmanisvare
bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi
[Cc. Antya 20.29, Siksastaka 4]
“O Almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor to enjoy beautiful women. Nor do I want any number of followers. What I want only is the causeless mercy of Your devotional service in my life, birth after birth.”
So devotional service, this line of activities should not be taken for some material gain. This is not bhakti. Bhakti must be pure, cent percent pure, free from all material desires, free from the resultant action of jnana and karma. Anyabhilasita-sunyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam [Brs. 1.1.11]. In other words, if you are actually a devotee, you’ll have no more interest with these material desires. Material dsires means dharma, artha, kama and moksha [Bhag. 4.8.41, Cc. Adi 1.90]. They’re all material desires. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta states
bhukti-mukti-siddhi-kami
sakali asanta
Krishna-bhakta niskama
ataeva santa
[Cc. Madhya 19.149]
That is the test of Krishna-bhakta. He has no desire. He does not want to exchange anything by serving Krishna. That is not pure devotion. You can exchange. You can get the result. Therefore shastra has recommended, Bhagavata has recommended,
akamah sarva-kamo va
moksha-kama udara-dhih
tivrena bhakti-yogena
yajeta paramam purusa
[Bhag. 2.3.10]
Akama. Akama means these devotees who have no desire. Anyabhilasita-sunyam [Brs. 1.1.11]. That is called akama. And others are kama, not akama. Others, who? Bhukti-mukti-siddhi-kami. Those who are desiring for material gain, bhukti, and those who are desiring after mukti, liberation. They are also kami. And those who are desiring after siddhis, yoga-siddhi. all of them are kamis. They are not akama. Therefore Bhagavata says, akamah sarva-kamo va moksha-kamah [Bhag. 2.3.10]. Sarva-kama means karmis.
The karmis have no end to their desires. “Bring money, bring money, bring money, bring money.” You have got good experience in your country. Millionaires, multi-millionaires, still working hard: “Where is money? Where is money?” Nidraya hriyate naktam vyavayena ca va vayah. [Bhag. 2.1.3]. They are wasting their valuable time of this life either by sleeping or by sex at night. This is their night’s business. And what is day’s business? Diva carthehaya rajan. In the daytime, simply walking or running by cars. We have seen in your country. there are flyways and they are always full of hundreds and thousands of cars. Sometimes I think that so many cars are going this way, and so many cars are going this way. Why they not settle up their business by telephone, that “I do here your business”, “I do here,”? (laughter) But that is not possible. Because it is karmi, all of them are running this way, whoosh-whoosh, and there is accident. Thousands die every year.
This world, material world is like that. Diva carthehaya rajan kutumba-bharanena va [Bhag. 2.1.3]. And as soon as they get money, they want to purchase. The wife says, “I want so many dollars for this purpose.” “All right, take it.” The children says… Therefore in the Bhagavata they are called svajanakhya-dasyu. Dasyu means burglars. So the wife and children, they are legitimate burglars. If somebody takes your money from the pocket, he becomes pickpocket, criminal, but if your wife takes it away, you very become pleased. “Oh, how my wife is nice.” (laughter) So they are called svajanakhya-dasyu. It is taken as love. “How much my wife loves that she is taking all my money from pocket.” (laughter) So diva carthehaya rajan kutumba-bharanena va [Bhag. 2.1.3]. This is the occupational duties of the materialistic person. But a Krishna conscious person is not like that.
Mahaprabhu’s Gift of Love
Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the ideal Krishna conscious Personality of Godhead, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna. He is Krishna Himself, simply He has taken the name, Krishna Caitanya. Otherwise how one could give Krishna-prema? Krishna-prema can be given only by Krishna; nobody else. So namo maha-vadanyaya. This is the first verse uttered by Srila Rupa Goswami when he met Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu at Prayaga, Allahabad. He understood that “Here is the incarnation of God who is the most munificent.”
Other incarnation of God Ramchandra, even Krishna could not give Krishna-prema. Krishna simply ordered, “You surrender unto Me.” Not that “You take love of Krishna.” No. He did not give. Therefore Krishna came again as Caitanya Mahaprabhu thinking that “I did not give My love.” Anarpita-carim cirat karunayavatirnah kalau. He has appeared in the Age of Kali by His causeless mercy to bestow what no incarnation has ever offered before: the most sublime and radiant mellow of devotional service, the mellow of conjugal love.
The purpose of other incarnations was different. Paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam [Bg. 4.8]. To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, but Caitanya Mahaprabhu, specially came to distribute Krishna-prema. That is a special significance of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
You have taken the path of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He will bless you if you sincerely stick to His principle. Then by His grace, you’ll be able to preach His message. All of you are of very minor age. Caitanya Mahaprabhu also Himself took sannyasa at the age of twenty-four years. It is not that one has to accept sannyasa in ripe old age like me at seventy-five years. Not that. Caitanya Mahaprabhu set up the example, that for Krishna’s service one can take sannyasa at any time. Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave up His opulent family life. When He took sannyasa, at that time, His wife was only sixteen years old, and He had His affectionate mother, Sacidevi, very old. Nobody was to take care of her. But still, He took sannyasa for giving mercy to the poor human society in this age. Therefore He’s called:
namo maha-vadanyaya
Krishna-prema-pradaya te
Krishnaya Krishna-caitanya-
namne gaura-tvise namah
[Cc. Madhya 19.53]
So you follow the instruction of the Goswamis, follow the path of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and try to spread Krishna consciousness all over the world, and your life will be glorified.
Thank you very much.