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"Introduction to the
Bhagavad-Gita"
68/11/23 Los Angeles, Bhagavad-gita 2.8-12
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Prabhupada: Somebody come read Bhagavad-gita. You will
read? Come on. Our publication by Macmillan Company, Bhagavad-gita, is out.
Devotee: Where shall I read from?
Prabhupada: Introduction.
Devotee: This is the introduction to Bhagavad-gita As It Is.
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya
bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
"The Bhagavad-gita is also known as the Gitopanisad. It is the essence
of the Vedic knowledge and one of the most important Upanisads in Vedic
literature. There are many commentaries on the Bhagavad-gita, and the
necessity for another should be explained in the following basis. An American
lady asked me to recommend an English edition of the Bhagavad-gita which she
could read. I was unable to do so in good conscience. Of course there are
many translations, but of those I have seen, not only in America but those
also in India, none can be said to be authoritative, because in almost every
one of them the author has expressed his personal opinion through the
commentaries without touching the spirit of the Bhagavad-gita as it is. The
spirit of the Bhagavad-gita is mentioned in the Gita itself. It is like this:
If we want to take a particular medicine, then we have to follow the
directions written on the label of the bottle. We cannot take the medicine
according to our own directions or the directions of a friend ot in knowledge
of this medicine. We must follow the directions on the label or the
directions of our physician. The Bhagavad-gita also should be accepted as it
is directly by the speaker Himself. The speaker is Lord Sri Krsna. He is
mentioned on every page as the Supreme Personality of Godhead or Bhagavan.
Bhagavan sometimes means any powerful person or demigod, but here it means
Krsna."
Prabhupada: Most of you must have read some editions of Bhagavad-gita. I will
give you instances. One of the English translations, commentaries by Dr.
Radhakrishnan, in the Ninth Chapter the Lord says,
man-mana bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yaji mam namaskuru
mam evaisyasi kaunteya
asamsaya...
The Lord says that "You, you just always remain thinking of Me."
That means always remain in Krsna consciousness. Simply this Krsna
consciousness means some way or other you have to think of Krsna always. Some
way or other you just engage yourself in some activities so that it can
remind you about Krsna. That is the process. Therefore those who are elevated
devotees, they, in everything, they remember Krsna. That is the perfection.
(Bengali) Here is a light. A perfect devotee sees the light, not the light as
it is, but he sees some relationship with Krsna or Krsna in the light. This
is stated in the Bhagavad-gita also, that prabhasmi sasi-suryayoh. Raso 'ham
apsu kaunteya prabhasmi sasi-suryayoh. Krsna says that "I am the taste
of the water." Now the..., when you are thirsty you want water. You feel
some nice taste in the water by which your thirst is satisfied, "Yes,
now I am satisfied." So Krsna says, "I am that taste."
Similarly He says prabhasmi sasi-suryayoh: "The light in the sun, in the
moon, that I amthat light." In this way He has described. So when one is
highly elevated in Krsna consciousness, in everything, in every action and
every phenomenon he will see only Krsna. That is the perfection of Krsna
consciousness.
So that is being taught in the Ninth Chapter, and in this verse, man-mana
bhava mad-bhakto, "Always think of Me," this is the sum and
substance of all spiritual advancement. What is that? Smartavyam satato
visnuh. One should always be absorbed in the thought of Visnu, the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. That is called samadhi. That is perfection of yoga.
The yoga system is the practice of the most lower class of men. I mean to say
spiritually, not materially. Because their mind is so much distracted from
here and there, they have to concentrate the mind by practice and focus the
mind on Visnu. That is the yoga perfection, real. Now they are manufacturing
so many other things, but the real yoga practice is this, that you have to
draw your attention from everything and focus the same on Visnu form. That is
yoga system. Dhyanavasthita manasa pasyanti yam yoginah. This is the
definition of yogi. They are in meditation, dhyanavasthita. Dhyanavasthita
means meditation. So those who are yogis... You have heard so much about
meditation -- there is very popular word in your country -- and what is that
meditation? The meditation is to focus the mind on the form of Visnu.
Dhyanavasthita manasa pasyanti yam yoginah.
So this instruction you will find in the Ninth Chapter, man-mana bhava
mad-bhaktah [Bg. 9.34], "Always think of Me." That is the
perfection of life, always thinking of Visnu. But one commentator, very big
commentator, he says, "This meditation is not up to Krsna." Just
see. Krsna says "Just meditate upon Me," in the Bhagavad-gita, and
the commentator says, "It is not up to Krsna." In this way, in
similar way or a different way, every commentary on Bhagavad-gita so far
published I have seen, their business is how to divert one's attention from
Krsna, although in the Bhagavad-gita the main factor is Krsna. That is
mentioned here. What is that? Read on. This Bhagavad-gita has come. Yes.
Devotee: The last sentence was, "Bhagavan sometimes mean any, any, means
any powerful person or demigod, but here it means Krsna. This is confirmed by
all the great..."
Prabhupada: Now this bhagavan, you have heard, many times I have explained,
bhaga. Bhaga means opulence. There are six kinds of opulences. What is that?
Wealth, and then influence, strength, reputation and knowledge, beauty and
renunciation. Is it not six? If a man is wealthy, very rich, just like in
your country Rockefeller, Ford, there are many rich men in your, the..., your
country is very rich. So if one is very rich he is called opulent. If a man
is very reputed, famous man, he is also opulent. If a man is very
influential, he is also opulent. If a man is very strong... Now the strong
man, formerly strong men had request, ahh, respect. All the kings, they were
respected on their personal strength. They used to..., they had to fight with
the opponents. So that is also opulence. Then beauty. A very beautiful man or
woman, that is also opulence. And wise, very learned, wise man, that is also
opulence -- scientist, philosopher, mathematician. So they are also opulent.
And renouncer. Renouncer, that one who give up everything, he has everything
in his possession, but he disposes himself, that is called renunciation. Just
like king, Maharaja Bharata, under whose name India is called Bharata-varsa.
He was the emperor of the world, but at the age of twenty-four years only he
gave up everything -- his young wife, young children. Lord Buddha, Lord
Buddha was prince, but very young boy, at the age of twenty years or something
like that, he gave up everything, his father's kingdom. This is called
renunciation. At the present moment (chuckles) hardly there is any sense of
renunciation, but formerly there were many kings, many princes who renounced
everything for spiritual advancement. So these six principles are called
bhaga.
So these six principles are there. Just like we are minute part and parcel of
the Supreme Lord. Fragment, very small fragment. So every one of us have got
some money according to our capacity. Every one of us has got some strength
or some reputation or some beauty or some knowledge. Comparatively it may be
that your position may be greater than me or other's position may be greater
than you, that not all of us on the same level. There are comparative positions.
So bhagavan means you go on searching. When you find a person that nobody is
richer than Him, nobody is stronger than Him, nobody is richer than Him,
nobody is reputed than Him, nobody is wiser than him, nobody is beautiful,
more beautiful than Him, and nobody is renouncer than Him, He is Bhagavan, He
is God.
So all these you will find in Krsna. That is the significance of Krsna. When
Krsna was present on this material world so nobody could excel Him in any of
these opulences. Nobody. So far richness is concerned, He exhibited His
richness with His (indistinct). He married 16,108 wives, and each wife had a
palace, and the palace did not require light. It was bedecked with valuable
jewels, so at night the light from the jewels will illuminate the rooms. Can
you imagine such house? (laughter) And not only that, that He married 16,000
wives and He was apart from them, no. With each wife He was present. With
some wife He is talking, with some wife He is playing, with some wife He is
looking after the children. In this way Narada travelled all the houses, all
the palaces, he saw Krsna is there engaged. This is called opulence. So far
power is concerned, there were so many fights with Krsna, nobody could
conquer. So far beauty is concerned, you know Krsna's beauty, even from the
picture. And the, all the gopis, in Vrndaana... Krsna at the age of fifteen,
sixteenth year, naturally at that time boys are very beautiful, any, any man
even. So He was so beautiful that they, all the gopis prayed to Yogamaya.
Everyone prayed, "My dear mother, please give me Krsna as my
husband." So this is, but (indistinct) significance is the, that the day
they prayed the next day there was... Perhaps you know that Krsna's
vastranam-lila. Vastranam-lila means... In India still there are places in
Punjab when girls and women take bath they keep their clothings in the river,
I mean to say, not in the bathroom. In the rivers, they keep their clothings
on the shore, on the bank, and they dip into the water completely naked. So
that place is completely separate for the women. No man can go there. That is
the system still somewhere. They will take bath fully and they will come and
again dress. And woman, woman, they are all naked, there was no shame. They,
no man and no boy can go there. This vastranam-lila was that Krsna stealthily
went there and tookup all their clothes, and got up on a tree, (laughter)
(laughs) with the clothings. And they cannot come out of the water. "Krsna,
You are very naughty. Give us our clothes. Give us our clothes." That
was vastranam-lila.(laughter) The purpose was the, the people interpret in a
different way, but the purpose is very significant. Only devotees can
understand that all these girls, day before, they prayed to Yogamaya that,
everyone prayed, that "Let us have Krsna as our husband." Now Krsna
was at that time only 15, 16 years, no older. In India still the boys of 15,
16 years, they are not married. At least he must be 20, 22 years. And girls
are married between 12 to 16 years. That is the Vedic system. Neither it was
possible for Krsna to marry all the girls, but they all prayed. So how to
fulfil their desire? That was vastranam-lila. The vastranam-lila means that
according to any human civilization, system, a woman can become naked only
before husband. So Krsna fulfilled that, that "You are naked, I am
before you,so I am your husband." That's all. Wholesale acceptance. That
was the purpose. But the nonsense people they differently, differently
interpret.
So Krsna's opulence, beauty, strength, and so far wisdom, at least you can
test. Now the wisdom, see preliminary wisdom only. Preliminary talks on
spiritual matter is discussed in this Bhagavad-gita. And this book is still
read, even after five thousand years, all over the world. Just see His
wisdom. That is a test. Big scholars, big religionists, philosophers, they
are bewildered still about Bhagavad-gita. Therefore there are so many
interpretations. But this, what is this Bhagavad-gita? Bhagavad-gita is the A
B C D of spiritual knowledge. It is not very high depth of spiritual
knowledge. High depth of spiritual knowledge is in the Srimad Bhagavatam.
This is only entrance. Just like children are taught a b c d., or first book
of knowledge. It is only the first book of knowledge. And what is that first
book of knowledge? The first book of knowledge teaches from the very
beginning that you are not this body. That is the beginning of knowledge,
spiritual knowledge. And the whole world, great philosophers, the geat
politicians... Now yesterday the boys gave me one paper. There is discussion
about Transcendental Meditation. There was publication of our activities
also, and some others are... So the so-called Transcendental Meditation they
are discussing on the mind. And the Bhagavad-gita, mind is immediately
rejected as matter. So Transcendental Meditation, they're on the platform of
the mind. Just see. And the Bhagavad-gita says that mind is external nature
only.
indriyani parany ahur
indriyebhyah param manah
manasas tu para buddhir
yo buddheh paratas tu sah
In the gross material concept of life we are under the impression that
"I am this body." Therefore we are concerned with the senses. If
our senses are gratified, we think we are now satisfied. So this is the gross
type of existence, I mean to say, existence of ignorance. Illusion. Maya.
When one is under the thought that "I am this," this is illusion.
Illusion means you accept something, something is presented as reality, and
you accept it. Just like the example is given water in the desert. Mirage.
There is no water, but a, an animal is hankering, is running after water in
the desert. That is practical, that due to sunshine there is a reflection, it
appears in the desert. Sometimes you might have seen -- not here, in India we
have seen several times -- that exactly there is a vast water, and it is
reflecting, the reflection. That is called mirage. There is not a drop of
water, but the animal, when he is thirsty he..., it thinks that "There
is water." He jumps into the desert and the water is going ahead, going
ahed, and he is running after it and then dying. So this illusion, that
"I am this body." So we are after this sense gratification. Body
means the senses. So that is mirage, illusion. Just like the animal is
running after water in the desert.
So even this yoga system, the hatha yoga system, that is also based on this
illusion. They are trying to put this water under certain exercise and
thinking that they are elevating themselves in spirit. But Bhagavad-gita, in
the beginning, says that you are not this body, neither this mind. This is
the beginning of Bhagavad-gita, and that is a b c d. Any person who does not
know that I am not this body he has no even a-b-c-d knowledge of spiritual kingdom.
If one is attracted with this bodily function or mind, mental function, he is
outside the spiritual purview altogether. He rejected immediately. That test
is in the Bhagavad-gita. These people, the so-called yogis, so-called
karmis... Karmis means the ordinary worker, those who are running in the
street with motor car, this way and that way, very busy. You see. What are
they? They are karmis. Karmis means under the bodily concept. They are
thinking that comfort of this body and sense gratification is the end of
life. That is karmi. If they have got very nice apartment, a nice wife and
good bank balance and a very nice dress, oh, there is perfection. That's all.
That is karmi. And jnani means that when they are confused. Just like there
are a section of people in your country, they have seen enough of this
material affair, happiness, or they are searching after something wrongly.
But actually those who are intelligent, they don't remain confused. Actually
they want to see "What is my actual position." They are called
jnani, man of knowledge.
So jnana, or knowledge, is on the mental plane and karma is on the bodily
plane. So somebody, some section of people, they are engaged in this bodily
platform, and some section of people are engaged in the mental platform.
Whatever religion and process of elevation of life we have manufactured, they
can be grouped in two ways: mental and bodily. That's all. And Bhagavad-gita
is transcendental. Neither on the mental plane nor on the bodily plane.
Therefore the last instruction of Bhagavad-gita is sarva-dharman parityajya.
Dharma, you have created so many religious principles, so many concocted
spiritual ways of life or material ways of life. Somebody are materialists
and somebody are so-called spiritualists. So Krsna says that you have to give
up all this nonsense -- on the mental platform and bodily platform. You have
come to the transcendental platform. And what is that transcendental
platform? To understand your relationship with Krsna. That is Krsna
consciousness. Read.
Devotee: "This is confirmed by all the great teachers, including Sankara
and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In India there are many authorities on Vedic
knowledge and they have virtually all accepted Sri Krsna as the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. We should therefore accept the Bhagavad-gita as it
is, directed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead..."
Prabhupada: And here is an important fact. The other day while I was walking,
I saw one advertisement of tourist agent. India, (indistinct) can view wonderful
land. The wonderful land. Anyway, so I asked Karttikeya(?), "So India is
considered very wonderful?" He said "Yes." Anyway, India is
still considered the land of spiritual cultivation. Even one Chinese author,
he has written that if you want to study religion, then you have to go India.
He is impartial. He is not Indian nor an American or any country. He is
Chinese. Chinese are considered to be Communist country, but he has very
impartially said that if you have to learn what is religion then you have to
go to India. Anyway India, actually it is the land of religion,
dharma-ksetra, although it has gone down at the present moment. But anyway,
there are two sections in the..., amongst the Indian, bona fide religionists.
That means bona fide religionists means those who are following the Vedic
principles. They are called bona fide. Anyway, that is, that wa the system in
the bygone ages, even one thousand years ago. And now that, just like Buddha,
Buddha religion. Buddha religion is also Indian religion. Lord Buddha, He was
Indian. He, just like Lord Caitanya began His propaganda from Bengal, Lord
Buddha made His propaganda from Bihar. He was Indian. But the defect was that
He did not acknowledge the authority of the Vedas. Therefore His philosophy
was considered atheism. And this Sankaracarya drove away all the Buddhists
from the land of India. Therefore they took shelter in China, Japan, Burma.
Outside India. So anyway, strict religionists they are followers of Vedas,
and they are divided into two groups: one group led by Sankaracarya and the
other group is led by the Vaisnavas, or generally Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya
or Lord Caitanya. They are all the same, Vaisnava. Now all these two groups,
following the Vedic principles, they accept Krsna as the Supreme Personality
of Godhead. So far India's authoritative persons are concerned, there is no
two opinions, that Krsna is not God. Both of them accept Krsna the Supreme
Personality. So far we are concerned, Vaisnavas, we accept. There is no doubt
about it. There are four different parties of Vaisnavas. All of them accept
Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. There are eight commentaries on
the very authoritative, very large commentaries on the Srimad-Bhagavatam of
these Vaisnavas, and all of them accept Krsna. So far the other party is
concerned, the impersonalists led by Sankaracarya, a great stalwart scholar,
he also accepts Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He says, sa
bhagavan svayam krsna: "The concept of Personality of Godhead, here is Krsna."
And people may misunderstand; therefore he has specifically mentioned Krsna
who has appeared as the son of Devaki and Vasudeva. Particularly, just like
when you have to put your identification, you have to give the, your father's
name or your husband's name. Similarly, the same principle as Sankaracarya
has followed. He has said "Krsna, the Krsna who is, wh has appeared as
the son of Devaki and Vasudeva." So there is no two opinions. No,
"Or this Krsna, maybe another Krsna." No. So that is stated here.
Yes. Krsna is accepted the Supreme Personality of Godhead by all the
followers of Vedas. That is a fact. Yes.
Devotee: "Now in the Fourth Chapter the Lord tells Arjuna that this yoga
system of the Bhagavad-gita was first spoken to the sun-god. The Blessed Lord
said, 'I instructed this imperishable science, imperishable science of yoga
to the sun-god, Vivasvan, and Vivasvan instructed it to Manu, the father of
mankind, and Manu in turn instructed it to Iksvaku. This supreme science was
thus received through the chain of disciplic succession and the saintly kings
understood it in that way. But in the course of time the succession was
broken and therefore the science as it is appears to be lost.' "
Prabhupada: That is the instruction in the Bhagavad-gita, that this science
of Bhagavad-gita has to be accepted by disciplic succession. That is the way
of accepting any scientific thing. Just like even in material science,
suppose if you have to become medical practitioner or a lawyer. So you have
to study the law books by the previous lawyers, by the judgments of the
courts. One who has studied the previous records of legal implications, he is
best lawyer. Similarly a medical practicer, practitioner, who has studied the
previous books and knowledge and experience, he is called experienced
physician. The same principle is there that the spiritual knowl..., you
cannot manufacture any spiritual knowledge. That is atheism. You cannot
manufacture any religious principle. It is not possible. That is not accepted
in Vedas. Dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-prani. Dharma means the rules and
regulation which is given by God. That is accepted everywhere. In Bible, in
Koran also. The laws of God. You cannot manufacture. So Krsna said that this
principle of Bhagavad-gita... At the present moment Bhagavad-gita is being
interpreted by anyone and everyone according to his whims. That is not
permissible. That is not Bhagavad-gita. We have to understand this. Simply
Bhagavad-gita is that which is received by the parampara system. That is being
explained. Go on.
Devotee: "Arjuna was neither a great scholar nor a Vedantist, but a
great soldier. A soldier is not supposed to be scholarly, and so Arjuna was
selected to understand the Bhagavad-gita because of one qualification only:
he was a devotee of the Lord. This indicates that the Bhagavad-gita is
especially meant for the devotee of the Lord."
Prabhupada: So this point is described that just like this yogi Maharishi, he
has also written one Bhagavad-gita. And what right he has got? He has no right
to say anything about Bhagavad-gita because he is not a devotee.
Bhagavad-gita is taught to Arjuna. He was neither a yogi nor a scholar nor a
Vedantist nor a brahmana even. He was ksatriya. Nor a sannyasi even. He was
grhastha. He had three wives and so many children. And he was fighting for
kingdom. What is the qualification that Bhagavad-gita was taught to him?
Because he was devotee. People have to see how Bhagavad-gita is to be
accepted. Specially Krsna mentions in the Fourth Chapter that "I am
speaking to you. The disciplic succession is now broken. Therefore I am
speaking to you the old system of yoga, Bhagavad-gita, again, unto you."
"Why unto me, Krsna?" "Because you are My devotee." That
was the answer. So only qualification to understand Bhagavad-gita is to
become a devotee of Krsna; otherwise it is not possible. Just give this
challenge to everyne: "So what do you understand about Bhagavad-gita?
You don't..., you are not devotee of Krsna. How you can understand
Bhagavad-gita? So you are speaking of Bhagavad-gita and cheating
people."
So bring all the books which is, which are published in your country and find
out a single man who is a Krsna's devotee. Nobody of them. Then what
authority he has got to write on Bhagavad-gita? He has no right. It is simply
poking your nose in other's business. Nonsense. Just challenge these persons,
"What right you have got?" He has no right. These, these, these
rascals, they say that everyone is God. And how they can be devotee? Does a
devotee say that everyone is God? They say "God is one." So you are
realizing by meditation, "I am God, you are God, my brother is God, my
father is God, my these are God, everyone is God." This, this is the,
going on. You want to stop all this rascaldom. That is our challenge. We may
not have many followers. We don't care for that. We don't want these nonsense
followers, many thousands. What they will do? But if we can turn one man into
Krsna consciousness perfectly, he can do tremendous work in the world. That
is our principle. We don't want nonsense. So this is the princile of
understanding Bhagavad-gita. Go on.
Devotee: "There are three kinds of transcendentalists: the yogi, the
impersonalist and the bhakta, or devotee. Krsna says to Arjuna, 'I am making
you the first man of disciplic succession. The old succession is broken. I
wish to reestablish the line of teaching which was passed down from the
sun-god. So you become the authority of the Bhagavad-gita.' The Bhagavad-gita
is directed to the devotee of the Lord who is directly in touch with the Lord
as a friend. To learn the Bhagavad-gita one should be like Arjuna, a devotee
having a direct relationship with the Lord. This is more helpful than yoga or
impersonal philosophical speculation. A devotee can be in relationship with
the Lord in five different ways. He may have passive..., have a passive
relationship..."
Prabhupada: Now here is explained who is a devotee. That is explained. Yes.
Devotee: "He may have a passive relationship, he may have an active
relationship. Three, he may be in friendship. Four, he may have the
relationship of a parent. And five, he may have the relationship of conjugal
lover of the Lord. Arjuna was a devotee in relationship..."
Prabhupada: The passive relationship is simply realizing, "Oh, how God
is great". God is great. One is thunderstruck with the greatness of God.
That is passive relationship: "God, God is great." When that
relationship is enhanced a little, more the next stage is that "If God
is great why not give Him some service?" just like we are accustomed to
give some service to some person who is greater than me. That is the laws of
nature. Just like the animals. The animals are giving service to the man,
because the man is supposed to be greater than the animal. Similarly, one man
is greater than the other, so the smaller man is giving service to the
greater man. That is the law of nature. So when this sense comes, "If
God is so great," not that "God is great; therefore exact from God
the things of my sense gratification." No. The real love is that
"God is great, God is supplying us so many things, all of our
necessities, why not render some service to God?" This consciousness is
part of development. The next developmen is to give service to God as friend,
just like Arjuna is giving. And the next development is to render service to
God as parents. And the highest platform of service rendering to God is
conjugal love. So there are different stages. That is explained. Go on.
Devotee: "Arjuna was a devotee in relationship with the Lord as a friend.
This friendship is different from friendship in the mundane world. This kind
of friendship is transcendental. Everyone has some relationship with the
Lord. Unfortunately, in our present status, we have forgotten that eternal
tie. Yet each of the millions upon millions of living beings has his
particular relationship. By the process of service one can revive one's
original status with the Lord. Now Arjuna..."
Prabhupada: This relationship is already established, because I am eternal,
God is eternal, therefore my relationship with God is also eternal. That
relationship is there. Now, due to my covering of this material body or
influence of material energy, I have forgotten. This is my position. In the
conditioned state, in this material condition of life, our position is that
I..., we have forgotten our relationship with God. But therefore you are
trying to establish so many relationships with this material world. I am
trying to find some relationship with particular type of society, particular
type of community, particular type of nation, particular type of family or
individuals. So many ways, I am searching where is my relationship, because I
have lost my relationship with God. Therefore I have to reestablish, I have
to revive my old relationship with Krsna. That is Krsna consciousness. This
Krsna consciousness process is to... Just like in darkness you are finding
your things, your watch, you cannot find it out. Sometimes you are touching
this, sometimes touching this, sometimes touching this, but the real thing
you are not touching. So you are bewildered, you are harassed. And now you,
if you touch Krsna consciousness, these harassments will be stopped. It is so
nice thing. We are giving you your lost relationship, which you are searching
out life after life. And you are confused. Take this! You will be happy. You
will find your relationship, eternal relationship with Krsna.
Devotee: "Now Arjuna was a devotee, and he was in touch with the Supreme
Lord in friendship. Thus the Bhagavad-gita was explained to him. How he
accepted it should be noted. This is mentioned in the Tenth Chapter. After
hearing the Bhagavad-gita from the Lord, Arjuna accepted Krsna as the Supreme
Brahman. Every living being is Brahman, or spirit, but the supreme living
being is the Supreme Brahman."
Prabhupada: Now here is another point, that everyone is reading
Bhagavad-gita. The..., it is clearly stated how Bhagavad-gita should be
accepted. Bhagavad-gita was spoken to Arjuna, and Arjuna accepted it in his
own understanding, whatever he understood. That is also stated. Therefore we
have to place ourselves in the position of Arjuna and accept the truth as
Arjuna directly received it. That is understanding of Bhagavad-gita. That is
stated in the Tenth Chapter, how Arjuna accepted Bhagavad-gita and Krsna.
That is explained. Yes.
Devotee: "Arjuna accepted Krsna as pure, free from all material
contamination, as the supreme enjoyer, as the foremost person, the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, never born, the greatest. Now one may say that...,
one may say that since Krsna and Arjuna were friends, Arjuna was only saying
these things to his friend. But Arjuna mentions that Krsna is accepted as the
Supreme Personality of Godhead not only by himself but by Narada, Vyasa and
numerous other great persons."
Prabhupada: Authorities. He accepted Krsna as the Supreme Personality of
Godhead not because Krsna happened to be his intimate friend but on the
authorities of others. And on the statement of Krsna, and by understanding
Him fully. He, he did not accept Him blindly. So this is the process of
understanding Bhagavad-gita. And although he understood fully, because in
future so many rascals will come and proclaim himself that "I am also
incarnation of Godhead," therefore in the Eleventh Chapter Arjuna requested
Krsna that "If you think, You can show me Your universal form," so
that in future others will accept some bogus rascal as the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, he may test by seeing the, I mean to say, universal
form of the person. So who can exhibit this universal form except Krsna?
So we have explained this Bhagavad-gita in the parampara system as we have
heard from authoritative sources. So it may be a new contribution to your
country, because in every edition they have concocted some ideas about
Bhagavad-gita, but we are presenting Bhagavad-gita as it is. That's all. So,
any question?
Devotee (2): You commented that, Swami Prabhupada, that everyone has a
natural desire to have relationship with Krsna, but that because...
Prabhupada: Not desire, but he is already established.
Devotee (2): Established.
Prabhupada: That is covered. Just like your relationship with somebody as
father and son, it is established. You might have forgot, you might have left
your home since a very, very long time, and you do not know who is your
father, but there is some father. That is a fact. Nobody can say, "No.
I, I have, I am born without father." Nobody can say. One has father,
but it may be that he has forgotten his father. So this Krsna consciousness
movement is that we have got some relationship with the Supreme Lord. That we
have now forgotten. So it is not the question of desire. It is there. You
don't desire to become one's son, you are already one's son. You simply do
not know. Similarly, your relationship with Krsna is there, every one of us,
but I have forgotten; I do not know. This Krsna consciousness practice will
revive your relationship in what way..., in which way you are related with
Krsna. It is not that you have to desire. No. It is already there. You have
to desire only how to revive it, that's all. That isKrsna consciousness. It
is not an artificial thing. Just like we are establishing some relationship
with somebody or you are my father or you are my wife, you are my husband.
No. It is already there. Simply we have to find out. That will be revealed
when you are perfect in Krsna consciousness, brahma-bhutah prasannatma na
socati, you are freed from all material contamination, and you are perfectly
situated in devotional service; it will be at once revealed: "Oh, you
are related to Krsna." You will have to wait for that.
Child Devotee: Who was Jesus's father?
Child Devotee: Who was Jesus's father?
Child Devotee: Oh, that's right.
Prabhupada: You do not know that? Oh, he said that "I am son of
God." How is that, you are asking for (indistinct). You do not know
this? He said himself that "I am son of God." You do not know this?
Child Devotee: Well I didn't really (indistinct). I didn't really..., I
didn't, I wasn't thinking about God the father. But don't we all have...?
Prabhupada: What is that, he said?
Child Devotee: Aren't we all the sons of God?
Devotee (2): (to child) You're thinking that Lord Jesus Christ had a
relationship with Joseph. Joseph was married to his mother Mary. And so he's
thinking what is his, what is Jesus's relationship with Joseph since Jesus is
son of God, and Joseph raised him from little boy?
Prabhupada: Yes. Just like every spirit soul is son of God, but materially we
think that some..., somebody as father. But real father is God. That is
stated in the i:
sarva-yonisu kaunteya
sambhavanti murtayah yah
tasam yonir brahma mahad
aham bija-pradah pita
This mahat-tattva, this material world, just like a child, a child is born,
the father gives the seed and mother develops the body. The child's body is
developed... Actually all, all of us, we have got this body from mother.
Therefore we have got very natural affinity with mother. The child can
forget his father, but he cannot forget his mother. Mother's relationship is
so intimate. Similarly, this material body we have got from the material
energy; therefore we are so much materialist. We are thinking of this
country, that community, this family, how materialistic, because this body is
material. But so far spirit soul I am concerned, I am the son or the part and
parcel of the Supreme. So material nature is the mother and God is the
father. And we are exhibited in so many forms, 8,400,000's of forms. So one
who has understood this truth, that God is father, he no more looks,
"Ah, this is cat," "This is dog," "This is
cow," "This is black," "This is white," "This
is Chinese," "This is American." No. That is uiversal
brotherhood: "Oh, they are my brothers." Brahma-bhutah prasannatma.
No more enmity. "They are all my brothers." Samah sarvesu bhutesu.
With everyone he sees on the equal level, for "They are spiritual part,
part and parcel of my father." This vision makes one advance in Krsna
consciousness. This is fact. This is realization. This is universal
brotherhood. Everything this is, this Krsna consciousness.
Devotee (4): What is the proper relationship of the devotee to Radha,
Radhika?
Prabhupada: Radharani is daivi-maya. Just like we are, in our material
conditional life, we are under the material energy. Similarly, in our
liberated state we have to become under the spiritual energy. That spiritual
energy is Radharani. We are acting at the present moment under material
energy, because our body is made of material energy. So when you are
liberated you will develop your body of spiritual energy. That spiritual
energy is Radharani. So you have to become under some..., under the control
of some energy. You are also energy; you are marginal energy. Marginal energy
means you may be under the control of the spiritual energy or you may be
under the control of material energy -- your marginal position. But when you
are under the control of the material energy, that is your precarious
condition, struggle for existence. And when you are under spiritual energy,
that is your life of freedom. Radharani is spiritual energy, and Durga, or
Kali, is material energy. So those who are materialist, they worship Drga,
Kali, the material, different forms of material energy. And, so in both the
cases... There is a word in Sanskrit, it is called sakta, sakta. Sakta, the
word comes from sakti. Sakti means energy.
So there is a division, that those who are worshiper of the Supreme as mother
-- just like the worshiper of Goddess Kali -- that means those who are
accepting the Absolute as mother, they are called saktas. The sakta... The
Vaisnava, they are also sakta, because they are also accepting another pure
energy, personal energy, or internal energy of Krsna. That is also sakti. And
the materialist also, they are also accepting another energy. The one energy,
spiritual energy is in our normal condition, and material energy in..., is
our abnormal condition. The Krsna consciousness practice means you have to
transfer yourself from this material energy to the..., under the control...,
from the control of material energy, under the control of spiritual energy.
That's all. That spiritual energy is Radharani. You have to become under the
control. That, I'll give you one concrete example. Just like a person is
always under the control of government as citizen. When he is outlaw, he is
under the criminal law, and who is law-abiding, he is under civil law. He
cannot say that "I cannot remain within the law of the government."
He has to. That is his position. Artificially he may deny, but he will be
forced. Similarly, our position is part and parcel of the Supreme Lord. And
as part and parcel we have to render service. If we voluntarily render
service, out of love, that is spiritual energy. And we are forced to render
service under pressure, that is material energy. In the material energy we
are forced. Who wants to become... Suppose you are American. If somebody
says, "Would you like to become a dog next life?", would you like?
Anybody would like? What do you think? (laughter) But according to his work,
he will be forced to accept. There is no saying, "No, no. I don't like
this sort of life." No. He will be forced. That is material energy.
Forced, just like criminal law. "Oh, you have to go to the prison."
"I don't want." You will be forced. "I don't want." He
will be arrested, immediately. There is sufficient power. There is police,
thre is military, there is so many things. You cannot say no.
So this is intelligence, that I have to serve. Now in my material condition I
am serving so many things, especially my senses. So neither my senses are
satisfied nor I am satisfied. So this intelligence is not coming to us. They
are going on, carvita-carvananam, chewing the chewed. The senses, same sense
gratification in different way. In theatre, in stage, in, at home, at club --
everywhere. Simply changing the platform and trying to be happy. How you can
be happy? They already distasted. Does it mean that sense satisfaction in an
apartment and sense satisfaction in the club is different? It is simply
imagination. "Let me go to the club, let me go to the stage, let me go
to this Florida beach, and let me go there, let me see the naked dance, let
me see that, let me..." That's all. But the platform is there, sense
gratification. But he is not intelligent that "I have satisfied my
senses in so many different ways. I have served my senses in so many
different ways. Neither I am satisfied, neither my senses are satsfied."
Therefore the intelligent man says, "I am no more going to satisfy my
senses, I will satisfy Krsna." That is Krsna consciousness. Then he gets
full satisfaction. This is voluntary. This is called surrender, that "I
have tried to satisfy my, the whims of my senses so many lives. I have become
frustrated, confused. Let me try this life to satisfy the senses of
Krsna." That's all. At least let me give a trial one life, and let me
see the result.
So our Krsna consciousness movement means that we are requesting everyone
that give a trial this life at least. You have satisfied your senses in so
many forms of life, huh? The dogs also satisfied their senses, the cat also
satisfied his senses, the tiger, and these civilized, uncivilized, these god,
everyone. Now you don't try to satisfy your senses, you try to satisfy Krsna.
That's all. And Krsna, being full, complete, if Krsna is satisfied, your
senses will be satisfied automatically. Therefore His name is Govinda.
Govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami. Govinda means who satisfies the senses.
Don't think that your senses will remain unsatisfied. It will be completely
satisfied. That is the secret of Krsna consciousness.
So, have some kirtana. Hare Krsna. (end)
>>> Ref. VedaBase =>
Introduction to Bhagavad-gita As It Is -- Los Angeles, November
23, 1968 (New-2003)
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