TO WHOM IS THE VEDIC KNOWLEDGE REVEALED?

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Just like in our Vedic system, first of all brahmacārī. That brahmacārī system is very nice. Even Kṛṣṇa, God Himself, He has nothing to learn. He is abhijñā. In the Vedas He is described as abhijñā: He knows everything. But just to teach us, He also became a brahmacārī in the Gurukula. Lord Rāmacandra, He also accepted a guru, Vasiṣṭha.

So that is our Vedic system. Anybody may be anything, but the process is tad vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet (MU 1.2.12): in order to learn the value of life, spiritual value of life, one must go to a guru. Tad vijñānārtham. In order to understand the spiritual value of life one must go to a guru. Gurum evābhigacchet. What is that guru? Śrotriyaṁ brahma-niṣṭham: “He is well learned in Vedic literature,” and brahma-niṣṭham, “and firm faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”

These are the two qualification of guru. He must know all the Vedic conclusion, śrotriyam; not that he has to read, but he must hear from the authoritative sources. Just like Arjuna is hearing from Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is the most authoritative personality. So similarly, everyone has to hear either from Kṛṣṇa or from His bona fide representative. That is śrotriyam. And the result will be that after becoming student of such bona fide guru, one will be firmly fixed up in God consciousness. That is the result, firmly fixed up.

Now, these boys from foreign countries . . . according to our geographical arrangement, they are foreigners. But we don’t see anything foreign. We see every land belongs to Kṛṣṇa and everyone is part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa. So we have no such distinction. But still, from materialistic point of view, these boys and girls, they, three or four years ago they did not know what is this word Kṛṣṇa.

KRISHNA IS THE SUPREME CONTROLLER BUT YET HE IS UNDER THE CONTROL OF HIS DEVOTEES

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedānta Swami Prabhupāda

Translation: “Mahārāja Parīkṣit heard that out of His causeless mercy Lord Kṛṣṇa, or Viṣṇu, who is universally obeyed, rendered all kinds of service to the malleable sons of Pāṇḍu by accepting posts ranging from chariot driver to president to messenger, friend, night watchman, etc., according to the will of the Pāṇḍavas, obeying them like a servant and offering obeisances like one younger in years. When he heard this, Mahārāja Parīkṣit became overwhelmed with devotion to the lotus feet of the Lord.” (SB 1.16.16)

Prabhupāda: So this is the exchange of love between the Lord and the devotee. It is not Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead… He’s master, the Supreme, but we may not calculate the master and the Supreme by our material experience. Just like in our material experience we see the master is always master and the servant is always servant. But in the spiritual world, sometimes the master is the servant also. This is called Absolute, Absolute world. Here there is distinction between master and the servant, but in the spiritual world there is no such distinction. Sometimes the servant is rendering service to the Lord, and sometimes the Lord is serving to the master. Just like Kṛṣṇa, when He was playing with His friends, so they were sporting, and in the sporting there is defeat and victory. So if some of the friends would become victorious, then the challenge was that one who will be defeated, the victorious person will ride on his shoulder. That was the challenge. So when Kṛṣṇa became defeated, the other boys, they rose up and got up on the shoulder of Kṛṣṇa, and Kṛṣṇa had to carry them.

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So although Kṛṣṇa is master, but He became a servant. Just like Kṛṣṇa, when He was playing as a child of Mother Yaśodā, so He was taken with stick, “Kṛṣṇa, if you become again very naughty, then see the stick.” So Kṛṣṇa used to cry. There are very nice verses in the Kuntī’s prayer, that “The whole universe is afraid of Kṛṣṇa, and Kṛṣṇa is afraid by the stick of Mother Yaśodā.” (laughter) Just see. This is Kṛṣṇa. This is spiritual world. When Kṛṣṇa was a little boy playing, Nanda Mahārāja, father of Kṛṣṇa… Yaśodā and Nanda Mahārāja, they are foster father and mother. Real mother, father, is Vasudeva and Devakī. So Nanda Mahārāja came within the house and saw little Kṛṣṇa, “Yes.” He was playing. So Nanda Mahārāja challenged Yaśodāmāyi, “Your Kṛṣṇa can do something work.” “Oh, yes, why not? He can do anything.” Immediately Yaśodā-mātā, Mother Yaśodā, ordered Kṛṣṇa, “Just carry the wooden slipper of Your father and go there.” So Kṛṣṇa immediately took the slipper on His head and brought it to Mahārāja Nanda. Then Nanda Mahārāja said, “Oh, your Kṛṣṇa is very good. Come on, come on, come on.” These were, that, the childhood pastimes of Kṛṣṇa was enjoyed by the foster father and mother.

WHAT IS THE USE OF KRISHNA? WE CAN VERY WELL PROTECT OURSELVES

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

So we should remain tad-adhīna, always under Kṛṣṇa. That is our perfection. If we remain . . . just like in Western countries, they rebel. If a woman is advised to remain under the control of the husband, that is insult to them. They cannot tolerate it. But actually we see in India that a wife who remains under the guidance of the husband, she is happy. That is a practical fact. And therefore in the Manu-saṁhitā it is advised, na striyam svatantram arhati: Women should always be protected. That is . . . protection does not mean negligence. No. Protection means to give her all facilities. That is protection. Just like father gives protection to the child but that does not mean neglecting. Similarly, a woman should be protected. It is not that neglecting. They misunderstand. In the Western countries maybe there is misbehavior, but actually we have seen, still going on in India, the woman is . . . that is the ideal given by Lord Rāmacandra, how woman is given protection by the husband. Sītādevī was kidnapped. Rāmacandra is the Supreme Lord; He could have married many thousands of Sītā. But as the dutiful husband, to rescue one wife He killed the whole family of Rāvaṇa. This is protection. He killed the whole family of him. He became . . . this is. So woman requires protection, and the husband is responsible to give protection, the father is responsible to give protection, and the elderly children, they are responsible to give protection.

His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda

KRISHNA CANNOT BE COMPARED WITH ANYONE ELSE – HE IS THE SUPREME LORD

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Lord. That is the verdict of the śāstra. In the Brahma-saṁhitā it is said. In the Bhāgavata also it is said:

ete cāṁśa-kalāḥ puṁsaḥ

kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam

indrāri-vyākulaṁ lokaṁ

mṛḍayanti yuge yuge

(SB 1.3.28)

So try to understand. And Kṛṣṇa said, mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat (BG 7.7): “No more superior.” You don’t misunderstand that there is something superior to Kṛṣṇa. That is rascaldom. So long we shall remain such rascal we shall not surrender to Kṛṣṇa. Therefore Kṛṣṇa said, Na māṁ duṣkṛtino mūḍhāḥ prapadyante narādhamāḥ (BG 7.15). Prapadyante. Who does not surrender to Kṛṣṇa? He’ll say that, “There are so many big, big person, and they do not surrender to Kṛṣṇa. So they are all mūḍhas?” Yes, they are all mūḍhas. That is the verdict of the śāstra. We cannot make any compromise. That is not possible, against the principle of the śāstra. If we keep one competitor of Kṛṣṇa, then we are mūḍha. Here it is said, advitīya. Not that there is another Kṛṣṇa, dini Kṛṣṇa, no. There is no . . . there cannot be any competitor of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat: “There is no more anyone, bigger authority than Me.” And here is also, Caitanya-caritāmṛta kār, Kavirāja Gosvāmī, says, advitīya: no competitor, sir.

Here we are all Gods, the rascaldom that, “Everyone is God.” But there is competition of Gods. But in case of Kṛṣṇa there is no such possibility, no competition. Nobody can compete with Kṛṣṇa. When Kṛṣṇa was present He showed it by practical example. Nobody could compete Him in either knowledge, either strength or love affairs or any field of activities. There was no competition. Now, Kṛṣṇa, when He was present, He married sixteen thousand wives. Where is competition? One cannot marry even sixteen wives—and he becomes God. Just see the foolishness. Even from materialistic view, who is that God who can marry sixteen thousand wives? Is there any God, so-called rascal God? Is there any possibility? Kṛṣṇa showed, yes.

GOD AND THE LIVING ENTITIES ARE DIFFERENT INDIVIDUAL PERSONS

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Kṛṣṇa says in the Bhagavad-gītā, vedāhaṁ samatītāni (BG 7.26). He knows past, present and future. He says, therefore, that “All these, My dear Arjuna—yourself, Myself and all the soldiers and kings who have assembled here—it is not that we were not existing before. We are existing at the present moment also, and in future also we shall continue to exist.” And how we shall exist? Individually. Otherwise Kṛṣṇa would have said that in future, when we become liberated, then we shall become one. No. He says: “Even in future also, we shall continue to exist like this. You are individual. You are Arjuna. I am Kṛṣṇa. And all other living entities . . .” That is real understanding.

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Every one of us living entities, we are all individual person, and Kṛṣṇa is also individual person. This is knowledge. Nityo nityānāṁ cetanaś cetanānām eko yo bahūnāṁ vidadhāti kāmān (Kaṭha Upaniṣad 2.2.13). Kṛṣṇa, or God, He’s also nitya, eternal. We are also nitya, eternal. Na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre (BG 2.20). We do not die. That is the preliminary knowledge of spiritual understanding, that “I am not this body; I am spirit soul, ahaṁ brahmāsmi, but I am individual.” Nityo nityānām. Kṛṣṇa is individual person; I am also individual person. When Kṛṣṇa says that sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja (BG 18.66), it does not mean that I become one with Kṛṣṇa or merge into the existence of Kṛṣṇa. I keep my individuality, Kṛṣṇa keeps His individuality, but I agree to abide by His order.

BHAGAVAD GITA TUTORIAL: Chapter 10 Verse 10 – HOW TO TALK WITH KRISHNA?

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedānta Swami Prabhupāda

TEXT 10

तेषां सततयुक्तानां भजतां प्रीतिपूर्वकम् ।

ददामि बुद्धियोगं तं येन मामुपयान्ति ते ॥१०॥

teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam

dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ taṁ yena mām upayānti te

TRANSLATION

To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.

We are born ignorant. Human life is the chance to dissipate this ignorance, and that requires tapasya, not to live like cats and dogs – frivolous life. That will not help us. Tapaḥ. Tapo divyaṁ yena putrakā śuddhyet sattva [SB 5.5.1]. That human life is meant for tapasya, austerities, not to live extravagant life, irresponsible life like cats and dogs. No. That is not human life. That is animal life. So therefore śāstra says that you undergo austerities. Then your existence will be purified, and then you will get pure knowledge, and you will understand what is your position, why you are in this material world, why you are suffering the threefold miseries, why you are obliged to die, why you are obliged to become old man. So many things you have to learn. But if we learn like cats and dogs, then we spoil our life.

Krishna imparts knowledge to Brahmā

Brahmā, the first created being, had to undergo tapasya (austerity) to get information from the Supreme. The Supreme Lord is within you. He’s there. But He will advise when you are fixed up by tapasya, determined with vow. Then He will talk to you. He’s ready to talk, but you require to acquire the qualification to hear Him. And what is that qualification? This Krishna consciousness, devotional service.

As it is said in the Bhagavad-gītā, teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam [Bg. 10.10]. Satata means always, twenty-four hours, not that five minutes I meditate and rest of the time I live like cats and dogs. No. This kind of meditation will not help you. Krishna says “satata”. Satata means “twenty-four hours.” You have to mold your life in such a way that twenty-four hours you’ll think of Krishna. This is Krishna consciousness. If you think, “Now I have chanted my sixteen rounds. Now I’ve finished my business. Now I can do whatever nonsense I like.” No. Krishna says “No. Satata.” Therefore we have to plan our life in such a way that we haven’t got any other engagement than service of Krishna. This is required.

If you want to be a First-class Atheist, Kṛṣṇa will give you chance to become a First-class Atheist

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

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Prahlāda Mahārāja’s father was instructing him that “You foolish boy. You are simply chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. You do not know your self-interest. You should be politician. You should be technician. You should be bluffer. So, so many things are there. Unless you become quite alert in this world, how can you live?”

The child said, “My dear father, perhaps you do not know what is your self-interest.” Yes. He was always challenging his father. Five-years-old boy, and his father, the most powerful atheist king, and he was talking very freely. At last, when the boy was always challenging the father, the father inquired, “You rascal, under whose strength do you talk so freely with me?” The boy replied, “My dear father, by whose power you are talking so freely, I am also talking by His power.”

So that is the difference between the atheist and the theist. The child knew, “My dear father, you are so proud of your strength, of your material assets, but you do not know by whose grace you have all got all these things. But I know. Therefore, by whose power you are so puffed up, by His power I am so humble.” That is the difference. “The power is acting equally within you and within me, but you want to be puffed up, so He is helping you how you become more and more puffed up and go to hell.”

WE ARE CONSTITUTIONALLY MEANT TO RENDER SERVICE

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

This very important Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is meant to save human society from spiritual death. At present human society is being misled by leaders who are blind, for they do not know the aim and objective of human life, which is self-realization and the reestablishment of our lost relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is the missing point. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is trying to enlighten human society in this important matter.

According to Vedic civilization, the perfection of life is to realize one’s relationship with Kṛṣṇa, or God. In the Bhagavad-gītā, which is accepted by all authorities in transcendental science as the basis of all Vedic knowledge, we understand that not only human beings but all living entities are parts and parcels of God. The parts are meant for serving the whole, just as the legs, hands, fingers, and ears are meant for serving the total body. We living entities, being parts and parcels of God, are duty-bound to serve Him.

DO ALL PATHS LEAD TO THE SAME END?

In conversation with His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

The Supreme Lord personally picks the devotee from the insurmountable ocean of repeated birth and death

Ms. Nixon: Do all paths lead to the same end?

Śrīla Prabhupāda: No. There are four classes of men — the karmīs, the jñānīs, the yogīs, and the bhaktas — and each achieves a different goal. The karmīs work for some material profit. For example, in the city, many people work hard day and night, and their purpose is to get some money. Thus, they are fruitive workers, or karmīs. A jñānī is a person who thinks, “Why am I working so hard? The birds, bees, elephants, and other creatures have no profession, yet they are also eating. So why should I unnecessarily work so hard? Rather, let me try to solve the problems of life—birth, death, old age, and disease.” Jñānīs try to become immortal. They think that if they merge into God’s existence, then they will become immune to birth, death, old age, and disease. And yogīs try to acquire some mystic power to exhibit a wonderful show. For instance, a yogī can become very small: if you put him into a locked room, he can come out through any little space. By showing this kind of magic, the yogī is immediately accepted as a very wonderful man. Of course, modern yogīs simply show some gymnastics—they have no real power. But a real yogī has some power, which is not spiritual but material. So the yogī wants mystic power, the jñānī wants salvation from the miseries of life, and the karmī wants material profit. But the bhakta — the devotee — doesn’t want anything for himself. He simply wants to serve God out of love, just as a mother serves her child. There is no question of profit in a mother’s service to her child. Out of pure affection and love, she cares for him.

GODLESS CIVILIZATION MEANS PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR COMMON SENSE

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Just like in your office you want to satisfy your boss. In your school or college you want to satisfy your teacher or principal. Similarly, the supreme teacher, the supreme boss, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam (SB 1.2.13). This is the sum and substance of bhāgavata-dharma, that one has to test the success of his activities. It doesn’t matter what it is.

Now at the present moment in a godless civilization, if some great scientist proves… Just like Professor Einstein, he also said that as we are making advance in science we find that there is a big brain behind this cosmic manifestation. That is acceptance of God. What is that big brain? That big brain is God. The Vedānta-sūtra says, janmady asya yataḥ (SB 1.1.1). Just like when you see a wonderful bridge or wonderful engineering work, you must think that there is a brain behind it. This nice construction, there is a brain behind it.