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.

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.

Copyright The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International Inc – www.krishna.com

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.

WHY GOOD RESULTS ARE NOT OBTAINED DESPITE PUTTING IN BEST EFFORTS?

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

Devotee (1): Prabhupāda, is this philosophy like karma–mīmāṁsā, which is described in the Kṛṣṇa Book? Is this the same principle, where they feel that simply by their endeavor things will come, without the sanction of God? Is this karma–mīmāṁsā?

Prabhupāda: Yes, yes, karma–mīmāṁsā. Now, if you do good, good result will come. So sometimes it so happens that a person doing very good, still, good result will not come. Is it not?

Devotee (1): That’s true.

Hari-śauri: Their argument is that if God is there and He is actually the ultimate controller, and He is motivating everything to happen, then I can just sit back and do nothing and things will happen.

Prabhupāda: No, you should work for the result. Karmaṇy evādhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana (BG 2.47). But do not think that because you working very nicely, the result will come. That is the. . . Because it is not in your hand. Therefore, karmaṇy evādhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana. Your duty is to go on working, but don’t expect the result as you desire. That will never happen unless it is sanctioned. Just like a man is suffering. Your duty is to appoint nice physician, nice medicine. But is there any guarantee that he will live? Why does he die? You can say that “I have given the best medicine and best medical treatment,” still, he dies. What is the cause? What do they say? What is the cause?

MERCY KILLING – HOW MUCH JUSTIFIABLE IS IT?

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedānta Swami Prabhupāda

Old men also should be taken care of. Nowadays the philosophy is coming: “mercy-killing.” “Old man should be killed to show him mercy because he is burden in the society.” The communistic theory. “Old man does not do anything and simply eats; therefore to show him mercy, he should be killed.” “Mercy-killing.” Just see the philosophy: “Killing is mercy!” But this is going on. If somebody comes (and says) that “I shall kill you for your benefit” – That he will be afraid of. But he is philosophizing, “mercy-killing.” This is going on. So one should be respectful also to the old men.

ONE WHO TAKES BIRTH IN INDIA, GETS FULL FACILITY TO DEVELOP THE HUMAN FORM OF LIFE

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktvedanta Swami Prabhupada

The tract of land south of the Himalaya Mountains is the land of India, which was known as Bhārata-varṣa. When a living entity takes birth in Bhārata-varṣa he is considered to be most fortunate. Indeed, Caitanya Mahāprabhu has stated:

bhārata-bhūmite haila manuṣya-janma yāra

janma sārthaka kari’ kara para-upakāra

(CC Adi 9.41)

Thus whoever takes birth in the land of Bhārata-varṣa attains all the facilities of life. He may take advantage of all these facilities for both material and spiritual advancement and thus make his life successful. After attaining the goal of life, one may distribute his knowledge and experience all over the world for humanitarian purposes. In other words, one who takes birth in the land of Bhārata-varṣa by virtue of his past pious activities gets full facility to develop the human form of life. In India, the climatic condition is such that one can live very peacefully without being disturbed by material conditions. Indeed, during the time of Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira or Lord Rāmacandra, people were free from all anxieties. There was not even extreme cold or extreme heat. The three kinds of miserable conditions-adhyātmika, adhibhautika and adhidaivika (miseries inflicted by the body and mind itself, those inflicted by other living entities, and natural disturbances)—were all absent during the reign of Lord Rāmacandra or Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira. But at present, compared to other countries on earth, India is artificially disturbed. Despite these material disturbances, however, the country’s culture is such that one can easily attain the goal of life—namely salvation, or liberation from material bondage. Thus in order to take birth in India one must have performed many pious activities in a past life.

THE DEFECT IN THE BELIEF THAT “THERE IS NO NEED OF GOD IF ONE SIMPLY PERFORMS GOOD DEEDS”

By Niraj Bidawatka

One category of atheists argues that there is no such thing as God. They aver that they believe in doing good. They say, “Do good deeds and you will get good results. There is no need of worshiping any so-called God. Just do good and nobody can harm you.” I am sure most of you might have heard of this theory.

Copyright The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International Inc – www.krishna.com

This is the theory of the karmis, fruitive workers. It is called karma-mīmāmsa theory. However, there is a flaw in this theory. In order to get the result of our good deeds, we require a witness and an adjudicator, who awards us the good result.

You are put into jail for committing theft – That does not mean that you become an honest man

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

yathā paṅkena paṅkāmbhaḥ

surayā vā surākṛtam

bhūta-hatyāṁ tathaivaikāṁ

na yajñair mārṣṭum arhati (SB 1.8.52)

“As it is not possible to filter muddy water through mud, nor purify a wine-stained pot with wine, it is not possible to counteract the killing of men by sacrificing animals.” [Srimad Bhagavatam 1.8.52]

Prabhupāda: Now, here one of the most important points is surākṛtaṁ bhūta-hatyām. Surākṛtam means things becoming impure simply by touching liquor. Liquor is so impure. Just like you have got a very big pot of milk, but if you put one drop of wine in it, it becomes immediately impure. You can analyze chemically—immediately impure. That surā, liquor, has become our daily affair. We are so impure.

And bhūta-hatyā, and killing of animals. The modern civilization means large-scale arrangement for killing animals and large-scale arrangement for distilling liquor, especially in the Western countries. And India is also now following. So this is the position of the world. What is being condemned by Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, that, those items at the present moment are being encouraged by the government. This is the difference between this government and Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira’s government. You can just imagine.

So the example is very nice. Yathā paṅkena paṅkāmbhaḥ. Muddy water, if you bring muddy water, if you want to cleanse it, precipitate, then you cannot add another lump of mud in it. No. You have to add something chemical, just like alum. In muddy water if you put little alum chemical . . . Am I right, chemist?