Om shanti, shanti, shanti, tam jaya śrī kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu nityānanda, śrī hāntadeva rādhāna śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare, Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.
PURPORT Verses 14 to 16, Pure Devotional Service.
The Lord already described bhakti mixed with karma, artha-jijñāsu artha-āti, 7.16, and bhakti mixed with desire for liberation, jara-māraṇa-mokṣaya, 7.29, and bhakti mixed with yoga, 8 .23. Now the Lord speaks of kevala-bhakti, the highest bhakti which is devoid of any material tinge. Because of constant engagement in devotional service, Kṛṣṇa is easily obtained by a devotee who always remembers Him without deviation.
The pure devotee’s only desire is to please Kṛṣṇa. Therefore his mind is exclusively fixed on Kṛṣṇa, and he wards off all desires and thoughts not related to unflinching devotional service. To the Supreme Lord, smartavya satatam viṣṇor viṣṇartavyo na jātu-cit, He does not have any selfish desires, and as a result He enjoys perfect peace. Mixed devotional service is adulterated by karma and jñāna and is often impeded by unfavorable circumstances. But there is never any impediment to pure devotional service, characterized by constant chanting, hearing and remembrance of the holy name. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains the renunciation through wisdom. In Bhāgavad-gītā 9.14, the two words ananya-caitāha, without deviation, and nitya-yuktā regularly are very significant. One cannot become undeviating in devotional practice without being fixed in undeviating faith. When a person regularly serves the Supreme Lord with this faith, he automatically loses all desires for fruitive activity, speculative knowledge, worship of the demigods and ritualistic pious activities, and he becomes undeviating in his devotional service.
The word satatam always must be understood to imply that devotional service is independent of time, place and circumstance, adversity and so on. Everyone, regardless of race, caste, sex or other material designation, can give up mental speculation, fruitive activities and yoga practice, and take complete shelter of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet without deviation. The word nitya means daily or regularly or constantly. Those who meditate constantly on Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet can easily attain Him.
So now we’re getting, bringing out this element that devotional service is not actually affected by the material environment.
See up to here is we’re taking the particular material environment that we have and we’re connecting it to the Lord. But now we’re seeing that this is no longer actually a problem, because we’re looking at it that something that the material circumstance is favorable, so that is good. The material circumstance is not favorable, so that’s not good. So now what’s being brought out is, the point is, is remembrance of Kṛṣṇa being the essential element. Right? It means we’re remembering Him, so therefore we’re glorifying Him, you know, so therefore hearing, chanting and remembering, so it’s going to start from hearing. So we’re hearing, we get that faith. That faith is there, then we’ll be fixed, we’ll be focused. So it’s not actually disturbed by the situation. Right? Other things are, karma, unless the situation is proper, you can’t perform the activity. Right? Jñāna, you have to have a situation in which you can contemplate, you can think. If too much is going on, you can’t do that. Right? But the point is, and yoga, then you definitely need, you know, certain situations and everything to be able to perform it. But here then is being said is that pure devotional service goes beyond all that. Because at any time, no matter whether it’s favorable or not, you can remember the Lord, you can chant the Lord’s holy name. Right? So the others are good, they’re important, but now we’re starting to see their weakness. In other words, to bring one up to this platform, they’re very useful. But they are not an end in themselves, they’re only a way to get to this platform. So now, at this point, we start seeing is now, the term mixed is considered, it’s seen in a not, you know, best light. Right? Before, we were saying that these elements that are mixed, you know, they have their glory and that their activity is connected to Kṛṣṇa, the intelligence, the mind, everything is connected. So body, mind and words are connected. So it’s very good. Right? But now we’re seeing is that, that element is, we’re going beyond that. So that was good as a beginning.
Right? Now it’s a matter of, now one can focus actually on the essential, which is the Lord. Because that’s where the relationship is. The other, we’re seeing how the Lord’s in everything, how He’s involved, how He’s connected. That’s very nice. But the point is, why is He connected? Why is He involved? Right? He’s there because it is a relationship with us. So that’s why He’s making these arrangements. So are we going to recognize that and reciprocate that?
So that faith, that faith is there, then one can focus on these things. Right? The faith is not there, then one will have distraction. If you really think that something from the material energy is going to make you happy, that means that faith is in that. It can make you happy. But if one has that faith that nothing except Krishna can make you happy, then one will be fixed in one’s devotion.
Right? It’s because we actually have faith in other things, therefore we get distracted. Right? Otherwise, why would you get distracted if it’s not important? It doesn’t mean it’s not a distraction, but it doesn’t mean you become distracted. Right? Material world means distraction. Right? We read that in the first canto, that in prayers of Queen Kunti, then Prabhupada’s, you know, in the purports, Prabhupada’s making the point, you know, going on what she’s saying, that material world is just always trouble. It’s always distraction. So this idea that everything’s going to be nice and wonderful and perfect, that’s illusion. It will never be. It can’t be. It’s just trouble. That’s all it is. Trouble from beginning to end. Right? But what’s good is connection to Krishna. Right? Does that make sense? So now, if the material world’s just trouble, then you do something that’s, say, according to scripture, that’s pious and good, and it gives you a better situation within the material environment. We’ll consider that very good. Right? So here, there’s a little break in the badness of the world. It’s a little nicer. But why is it work?
Right? Like karma doesn’t work separately, jnana doesn’t work separately. Their basis of actually working is the devotional element.
There isn’t something Krishna is doing, he’s interacting with his internal potency. Right? He’s being served by his energies. So the devotional element’s going on. We’re in illusion that this is what’s going on. So therefore, that’s called maya. Right? So now, if something like this, just connecting it to Krishna through proper ritual and all this, makes it so much nicer, but it’s not directly connected to Krishna, it’s indirectly, and it already improves the quality of the experience. So how much will it improve if it’s directly connected to Krishna?
Do you understand? So if that faith is there, then nothing is an obstacle. Nothing is unfavorable. Because the material world’s already unfavorable on its own.
Bad circumstances is normal.
Right? If it’s not normal, wonder what’s going on. Right? Because remember, according to the laws of nature, that there’s always peace before the storm. So if things are going great, smooth, don’t think, now the world’s working the way it’s supposed to work. No, this is before something more heavy’s going to happen. So therefore, don’t get too distracted.
You know? You know, if someone who’s an enemy suddenly is really nice to you, why are they doing this? You know? So the material energy suddenly is all nice, okay, something’s wrong here. You know? You know. A kid who doesn’t want to do anything, do their homework, do any work, suddenly, oh, mommy, you know, can I help with, you know, cleaning the house? Okay, what’d you do wrong? You know? It’s like, you know, does that make sense?
Right? So in other words, devotional service is beyond all the considerations of karma, jnana, and yoga. So, when we’re considering these things, you know, race, caste, sex, other material designations, right, varna, asrama, all these things, then those then define where in the system of engaging those things in Krsna’s service comes into play. Right? So that makes this process. But ultimately, that kevalabhakti then goes beyond this, because that’s then the soul and God, the consciousness, the relationship. The other things are a medium you’re going to express through the same activities. The activities won’t change, but the consciousness changes. The other, we’re talking about how to connect the consciousness with the activities and those activities and that with the Lord. So, when we come to this kevalabhakti, it doesn’t mean those stop. But the mentality that was there on those levels that’s mixed with karma and jnana, that goes. So now the same activities are done in pure devotion. But now they’re not dependent upon the material situation.
Right? Like that, they’ve gone beyond that. So that’s what we’re trying, what Krsna’s establishing now. It doesn’t mean the form changes. See, difficulty comes at this point. We go, see, all those other things talked about before aren’t important. No, the activities and the form remains. But the point is this, Krsna’s important.
Yeah. No. So it’s… Yeah, yeah. No, because that’s the only… Because Prabhupada, it’s just like so many purports, Prabhupada would say, human life begins with varna -asrama. Right? So that means if you’re not practicing varna -asrama, you’re an animal, basically, if you want to take out the poetry of it. So then it’s just blunt facts. But then he’ll spend one or two paragraphs pointing out the pitfalls of varna-asrama, of becoming attached to it, distracted by it, not seeing it in relationship to Krsna. So because of that, then one’s saying, oh, then Prabhupada’s saying varna-asrama is not important. Because if you ask devotees about varna-asrama, they’ll say, well, Prabhupada’s, you know, gives different contradictory things. Sometimes he’s very supportive and sometimes he’s against.
You know what I’m saying? But they’re not… Just like, let’s say, I give you some… I give you some nice, let’s say, ceramic knives. Okay? You know, they’re the sharpest knives. There’s nothing more sharp than these knives. Right? So they’re the best. Right? But having given them to you… Yes? Is it ceramic handle or ceramic blade? No, the blade is ceramic. They’re sharper than even metal. Like that. They’re very easy. You know, one will cost, you know… They’re very expensive. That’s it. Okay. But having given to you, I say, hey, these are the best knives. You know, like that. But then after that, then I start talking about the ceramics, so you can’t just throw them around like the metal ones. They’ll break. This and that. They’re super sharp, so be very, very careful. You know, don’t… You know, always put on a, you know, a cutting surface. Don’t cut it on, you know, the counter and this and that. And then if you come to the conclusion is that, oh, he’s saying, don’t use these knives. These knives are useless. Would that be intelligent?
No. So when Prabhupada already says human life doesn’t start until Varanashram, and then he gives the pitfalls of it, how you can get distracted, because it’s not that human beings can’t get distracted. Now, is Brahma a human being? Yeah. What about the Prajapatis? Okay. What about the great sages? Okay. So, now, are they in the material world? Why are they in the material world? Because they got distracted.
So that’s the point, is that, means, in other words, he’s saying that animal life is basically useless for going back to Godhead. You know, like that. So, we start with human life, because human life, what’s the other way he says human life is beginning? What’s the other definition?
Inquiring about the absolute truth, right? So that means the brahminical culture is meant for inquiring about the absolute truth. In other words, one is the philosophy and the contemplation, and the other is the culture and lifestyle. In other words, there’s a lifestyle for the someone who has that knowledge. Arjuna, when Krishna presented the philosophy of the soul, he immediately asked, well, what’s the lifestyle? What’s the culture? Yes. Are all varnas expected to take sannyasa? Are all varnas expected to take sannyasa?
Not necessarily.
The brahminical, it’s natural. Here in varnas we’re saying is specifically occupation.
We’re not talking on the devotional platform. But brahminical by lifestyle and by the way they deal, it’s natural. Others, if they do not, it’s nice. But otherwise, varnaprastha is quite suitable for getting out of the material world. But because we’re working so strongly on the element of the brahminical culture and the brahminical training, then there’s the element that if someone comes up to that platform, either that they have the brahminical nature or through performance of devotional service in that brahminical environment or that sattvic environment, that they come to that standard of knowledge and detachment, then they could do it. But it’s not so essential. Just like Prabhupada is saying, not everybody necessarily has to take second initiation. Those who have that leaning towards the deity worship and those kind of things, then it would be natural. But those who don’t, it’s not as important.
They’re initiated, they’re connected. So that’s the important. Wouldn’t it be important for teachers also to take second initiation? Sorry? For teachers teaching, people who are teaching?
It would be natural. It means if they’re actually a teacher, why wouldn’t they be? Unless they’re teaching something, teaching an art. But if they’re actually teaching Shastra, then that would be a natural position.
Because someone who’s good at an art can teach it. But not necessarily, but it would be natural. You do find that. It means if you’ve ever seen in school that you have classes on art and all that or things connected like that, and you have some that can really get down to the teaching, go through and analyze it, and then some who it’s just all the feeling and mood and trying to bring it out and it’s always emotional and the whole thing’s up and down in the emotional platform, then one is an artist who’s teaching the art as they perceive it and feel it. They want to share that. And the other one is approaching it from the pralineal platform.
Yes? Can a woman who is usually dependent on the environment attain this platform of pure devotional service even if the environment is unfavorable? Means they can through association. But yes, why not? Because the point is that being dependent upon it means we have our faith in it. Right? So we can start to have our faith not in it. But what is necessary is that one would naturally become dependent upon Krishna. You understand? So a woman would go from having her faith in the material energy to having her faith in the spiritual energy, Krishna. Right? So the same dependency is there. It’s just switched from illusion to reality. The men can go through the stage of not being dependent upon the material energy but not being fully dependent upon the spiritual. Right? They can actually function in a non-emotional state. So that aspect then the women won’t do. So anything that would be favorable for that and stuff, then those are generally the things that women don’t do. You know what I’m saying? Just like, let’s say something like sannyas. So sannyas doesn’t stay, he moves, he doesn’t have any possessions and all this and that. So that stage means you’re not connected to the material energy but it doesn’t necessarily indicate that you’re connected to the spiritual. You understand? But for a woman then, since the devotional is its connection to Krishna, it’s important, therefore she can stay at the home, be in a comfortable environment, be with the family and all that. But just switch the focus from material to the spiritual. You understand? So that will work much better. The same thing is being accomplished but it’s being accomplished according to the nature. So that’s the point is regardless of all these material considerations, this aspect of Kevala Bhakti can be practiced by everyone. But these lower stages of karma and jnana and all that, that’s going to be very much up to the individual. You know what I’m saying? What your conditioned nature is, what it is you’ll be able to do. Does that make sense?
Okay.
This constant meditation attracts Krishna’s mercy. According to Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusa, in verse 14 the Lord says, The devotee attains Me easily, not encountering the difficulties in karma yoga or astanga yoga or other processes. I cannot tolerate separation from him unless I will show Myself to him. I am easy to attain for him because I destroy his obstacles and I perfect his sadhana.
So if one is constantly endeavoring to know Krishna, then Krishna reciprocates. Because Krishna wants to establish. You know, it’s not just he sits there and you have to do all the work. No, it’s a natural reciprocal. You make that endeavor, he responds. So he’s saying here, he will destroy his obstacles and make his sadhana steady.
Does that make sense?
So this element is very important. This will come out. We’re on what, eighth chapter. So in the tenth chapter this will become, Krishna makes this very obvious.
Like that. Because he’s a person, so he’s trying. But the thing is, is he can only try as much as we make the endeavor. You know, we don’t try how he’s going to do. Right? You know, so many times there’ll be a complaint in a relationship. You know, the other person’s not trying. You know, you’re doing things and being considerate, but they’re not trying. So how do you have, how does it work? So it’s the same thing. You know.
Verse fourteen describes pure devotional service. Verses fifteen to sixteen describe the result attained by practicing pure devotional service. After obtaining Krishna, the great souls who are yogis in devotion never return to this temporary world which is full of miseries because they are completely absorbed in transcendental service, have obtained the highest perfection in Krishna’s abode. Such fortunate devotees happily take birth to assist in Krishna’s path times. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura writes in his commentary to verse fifteen, The Lord says, When I take My birth, which is full of joy, spiritual and eternal, in the house of Vasudeva, My devotees will also take such a birth, and not at other times caused by karma. Other devotees attain perfection, but those who exclusively think of Me, Anandya Caitaha, attain the very highest perfection, paramam samsiddhim, position as an assistant in My pastimes. This indicates the observable superiority of the Kevala -bhakta over all other types of devotees mentioned.
So someone who’s just thinking of Krishna is not distracted by other things. Right? Doesn’t mean you don’t do something. It means you’re not distracted by it. Right? Does that make sense? So that devotee, then, he appears in the Lord’s pastimes. Take birth in the pastimes. So where do you take birth in the pastimes?
In Gokula. Right? So that means, then, that devotee goes straight into the pastimes. Someone else would be liberated, but if they’re not focused on Krishna, then why would they take birth in the pastimes? Right? So, in other words, if more is you’re just trying to get freed from material energy in that, so then you’d want to be in a very nice situation to where you can experience that being freed from material energy. Right? So it’s not specifically in the Lord’s pastimes.
Right? So he’s making this distinction, is that because of that, then…
Like that.
Could you specify a little where that exactly is? Where that is? You want to know if it’s… Not in the Lord’s pastimes, but… But it’s, you know, if it’s, you know… Is it just behind the bushes, or… Well, I think it’s probably near Lexington. Like that. That would probably be like that. You know, it wouldn’t be over, like, on 8th or something. You know, stuff like that. It would be more towards the, you know, center of things. Maybe even Park, you know.
Does that make sense?
Yeah. Or maybe, if you don’t prefer that side, then in the borough of Westminster or something. You know, something like that. You know, next to… You know, just on Regent Park. Yeah, not bad. Okay.
Problem is, is this traffic still there? They still drive by your house, you know. You know, like that. That’s just, you know, what can you do? Now, the point is, is you’d be in a situation that’s one is very elevated, but it means… What does it mean if you’re too distracted by karma and jnana?
Then, what does that mean? Are you very fixed in devotional service? No. What does Krishna say happens to the person who’s not fixed in devotional service?
He goes to the heavenly planets, you know. So, in other words, that’s why you have… If you’re more into karma, then that will be, you know, where the demigods are. And if it’s not, you’re more into liberation. That’s, you know, your jnana, tapa, satya, like these kind of places. You know. And then when that’s finished, then you come back. Then you take birth in, you know, religious, pious, these kind of families. But for the devotee, even if he’s not perfect, he takes birth in the devotee family. So, in Gokula, everybody is part of the pastimes? Everybody’s part of the pastimes. Means if they’re not, then whether they’re jivas or whether they’re just an expansion of the, you know, internal potency, you know, the sandhini potency. That, you know, in other words, are the husbands of the, of the, you know, it means the yogic brahmins, are they actually jivas or are they just part of the sandhini potency? You know, one could say, you know, like this, because you’re like Jatila, you know. They’re there to bring out certain flavors from the pastimes. Right? But the wives of the yogic brahmins, those may be jivas who are surrendering. You understand? You know, so all the cows and trees, you don’t have to worry who they are. Like that. Does that make sense?
The highest planets in the material world down to the lowest are all places of miseries wherein repeated births and deaths make place. But one who attains to the boat of Sri Krsna never takes birth again. Right? Just so that one understands that, okay, there’s so much difficulty here, but such a devotee attains to that place where there is no such difficulty. Right? So then it already establishes the superiority. Right? So that can develop that faith and everything. One can move towards that. The Lord emphasized that every situation in the material world is miserable, and the only remedy is to go back home, back to Godhead. Because otherwise one may have faith, okay, maybe in this situation, well, now I’m doing devotional service, now material, everything should start to go nice. No, we’re doing devotional service, material world stays the same. You know what I’m saying? It doesn’t change. You know, it’s like you have a video, and now if you’re watching some nonsense, you know, movie, or you’re watching something to do with Krsna, does the machine change? Right? You know, you have this old, you know, kind of like thing with the tube and stuff in it, but when you put on a video of Krsna, then suddenly it changes into this new, you know, LCD, you know, 103-inch hangs on the wall, you know, like that, you know, 3D, you know, all that. Right? Isn’t that what happens? Yeah. Yeah, and it even makes coffee, washes clothes, irons them too, not just regular iron, it actually does the steam press, you know, like that, and folds them and hangs them in the closet. That’s why it costs so much, right? So, isn’t that what happens? No, the form stays the same. It doesn’t change like that. But the point is, because it’s connected to Krsna, you don’t get the reactions, you don’t get the suffering.
So, that means the same thing that before would drive you crazy, now it’s connected to Krsna.
So, that’s the point that’s nice.
So, in your example, this old tube with half of this old film, I’ll just be grateful, you know, with Krsna’s film, I’ll be happy. Yes. Yeah, that would be the point. But not that the medium changes.
You know, it’s just like this. Let us say you’re Krsna conscious. Do babies cry? Right? Do you need to change diapers? Right? OK. Now, let’s say you’re not Krsna conscious. Do they cry? Do you have to change diapers? Yes. Right, but the difference is how you see it. Here’s a devotee, you’re training him in Krsna consciousness. You know, like that. You understand? So, it changes the perspective.
But the situation doesn’t change. So, Krsna is making it very clear. Because otherwise one might think, well, here’s a problem. Like, I can go… If I go to the heavenly planets, there’s no problem. It’ll be easier. No. He’s pointing out it’s always a problem no matter where you are. Because your perception changes. You know what I’m saying? You know, it’s like the more, let’s say, more rugged the individual, the more, you know, how you say, rough is their environment. But because they’re rugged, it only bothers them a little bit. But you have a very refined person and you put them in a very refined environment, but still there’s always the same amount of experience that something’s wrong. You know, they didn’t fold the napkin quite properly. Or, you know, they prefer the four tines instead of the three tines and the four. You know, all these different things. There’s something going to be wrong. You know, they pick it up. Is this solid silver? You know, like that. You know what I’m saying? There’s something to bother you. Like that. So it never goes away.
Does that make sense? That’s the thing. Material energy never changes this element of it being miserable. It just doesn’t. Like that. Because otherwise, see, it’s that karma. You do good work, you get good result. So religion is good work. So therefore, I should be in a nice material situation. Does that make sense? So that mistake shouldn’t be made. Because the real religion is in connection with Krishna, is in the spiritual world. Right? That’s where you see it practiced in its natural form. So we have to switch the faith to there, not keep it here. Maharaj, is that the point where religion changes into spirituality? Is that the point where religion changes? Yes, because you have Dharma and then you have Sanatana. In other words, what is practiced in Dharma is the same lifestyle as is in Sanatana. The difference is, is the perspective, is the Dharma important or is the pleasing Krishna important? But it doesn’t change. You know what I’m saying? But because there’s so much nice absorption in Krishna and everything connected to Krishna, then the more direct activities of Dharma are what’s used. But when people don’t have that focus, then to keep them busy, then other elements are expanded that are important for them.
Because direct activities in connection with Krishna aren’t important to them. Does that make sense? So that’s why then you see as these other karma, jnana and yoga expand to keep them busy.
As the yogi who’s always meditating on Krishna, does he have to sit around like a pretzel? Is it important? No, he could be doing activities for Krishna.
But that would be karma. But connected to Krishna, karma and yoga. But he’s interested in this other thing, so he likes pretzels. But this other person likes getting things done. Now, one could consider as a, just as a side thing, is that those who have developed the pretzel also like to get things done practically. So how does this work? So is that a mix between karma and yoga?
Does it make sense? But knowledge is not generally the main thing. They have knowledge to get the thing done. But if you go to the next country, then they’re more into philosophy and discussing and sitting around and drinking their coffee and talking all this stuff. But then they’re not into pretzels and not necessarily getting things done like that. So how does this work?
I don’t know.
It’s more recreational mode. That’s also true. But then after that, then they get to do some work. But maybe this is the result of their karma, is the pretzel-ness.
Yeah. I think it also depends upon whether you’re in the Bavarian forest or not. Also, how much the practical or recreational element is prominent, I think. But at the same time, the BMW is made in that forest. Will this be on the USA?
I’m not sure. I doubt it. But, I mean, you want to put in as a separate… Well…
You feel you would do well in this area. I think I would do pretty good. Okay. Okay.
Śrīla Prabhupāda writes in Renunciation Through Wisdom, The karmīs, jñānīs and yogis, as well as the common politicians and anyone else who is working hard to make a comfortable and peaceful situation in this material world, must clearly realize that the world is transitory and full of misery. However much one may toil to make a permanent settlement in this world, at the end, everyone is forced to leave. As long as one stays here, one must come to grips with the reality of suffering.
Since time immemorial, the soul has been coming and going. The Lord’s devotees, however, not only live happily in this world, but after they leave here, they enter the eternal and ever blissful abode of the Lord. By the influence of karma, one who is attracted to the material body and mind has to change bodies life after life.
In this way, the soul roams the fourteen planetary systems within this material universe, sometimes going up and sometimes coming down. These planets are transitory, merely theatrical stages upon which the soul enacts his mundane existence. But when the living entity is elevated to spiritual perfection and is situated in his pure eternal identity, devoid of mundane designations, he attains the natural habitat of the spirit soul, the supermundane realm transcending this material creation and the intermediary zone of the unmanifested Brahman effulgence. So we see the focus now is coming on to what we’re generally used to discussing, this pure devotional service, because this is the essential element. What we were discussing in the other chapters we know about, but in such exacting detail or analyzation we may not be as a regular forum or regular discussion.
But Krishna’s saying this, it doesn’t mean the other things change. That’s very important. So just because we say it’s a place of misery, therefore it should be given up. It doesn’t mean that the activities within the world change. What changes is the Krishna consciousness.
And that’s why one’s happy, one’s connected to Krishna. Krishna’s pleased, you’ll be pleased. And if you’re not connected to Krishna, then you’re not going to be happy. You’ll call it happiness, but can you call one moment happiness?
That’s the difficulty, is that there’s a state of always being happy.
That’s happiness. But that state is in connection with Krishna. But we’re so used to these ideas that happiness is something we’re trying to obtain. But as soon as we obtain it, then it’s not there anymore.
The guy’s working, oh, if we had a house like this, then everything would be perfect. And then we get the house, and then what? Then the fights start. You know, where does the furniture go? Where do we hang the rambrain? You know, there’s all these things like that. So all this starts.
You know what I’m saying? So the difficulty comes is that the material existence is always going to be difficult.
But it’s connection to Krishna is what makes it work nicely. So the difficulty comes is that we have to understand these two run at once. The medium is the same, the consciousness changes. Because otherwise, why would Krishna have gone through all the other six chapters if all that’s going to be thrown out? Because one could say, no, but here he’s throwing it out. But if that’s the case, why at the end of the Gita he’s going to tell Arjuna to fight? And Arjuna’s going to agree to do so. So what changed?
Consciousness, right? They’re still on the chariot. Krishna’s driving. Arjuna’s shooting his arrows. You know, they didn’t change sides. Nothing else was there. The same exact war. So all that changed was the consciousness.
So it’s important to know that we’re building, right? We’re taking our activities. Then we’re adding to that knowledge. Then we’re adding to that absorption in Krishna. And now we’re taking it that our motive is not this karma, jnana, yoga. Even though it’s connected to Krishna, but now it’s just kevala-bhakti to just please Krishna. But the form stays the same. So that’s why Prabhupada would be so much of the time teaching all the culture and all these things to the devotees.
The word mam upetya, achieving me, are used in both verses 15 and 16. The Lord repeats them to emphasize that a devotee should desire only Him and should be detached from all kinds of material situations. To reinforce this point, Krishna compares the material and the spiritual worlds in verses 17 to 22. So anything repeated, according to Mimamsa, then means it’s important. Something’s repeated, something that’s glorified. So he’s saying the devotee obtains Him. It’s the best position, this devotional service. So we can understand this is special.
So connecting to Him makes it special. But here now he’s pointing about beyond the connecting to Him, it’s actually directly connecting to Him. It means as Bhagavan, that He as a person has His activities and His pastimes, His associates. That has to be the focus as opposed to the situation, right? Why do we say situation?
Why is situation being brought out here? Why is it being targeted?
Yes, Amunda, why do you need a situation? Can you do an activity without a situation? No, you have to have an environment, a field of activity. There’s no field of activities. There’s no activity, right? It’s a field of activity. So when there’s the field, then the activity can be performed and the result can be gained. So now the result, we’ve already connected to Krishna. So in karma, jnana and yoga, the results are connected to Krishna. So it’s nice karma. So that’ll free one from the material world. It’ll remove the attachments to the material world. But now the point is this, but by conditioning, we like working in that field and doing that activity. That’s the meaning of conditioning. We like that. Working in the area of karma, whatever area it is, in jnana, right? We like that. That’s why we’re doing it. But it’s connected to Krishna. It’s for Krishna. So it’s glorious. It’s uplifting. It’s yoga. But then there’s the element is that but more important is Krishna.
More important is him. So that’s then the element he’s bringing out here and he’s repeating that. Is that you’re trying to please him. That means then these activities are just used to please him. Before it’s used to please him, but it’s also pleasing you.
The real point is you’re being pleased because it pleases Krishna. But you, you’re attached to that activity, then you’re getting the results and so you’re inspired to perform the activity through that medium of karma and jnana because it’s getting you a better result than you would be getting otherwise. So you’re inspired to do work for Krishna or knowledge for Krishna. Does this make sense? But Krishna’s saying here at some point you even have to leave that.
It has to be the person is important.
That’s the thing. So that’s what he’s bringing out here. Like that, one should desire only him because otherwise then it’s not pure devotion. There’s him and something else. So it’s nice, he’s involved.
That’s a start. It’s something. But it’s still not as good as if those things are how you say it? Those things aren’t the motive. So when we say given up, we’re talking about the attachment to them. The need for the desire means in other words the need to be in that environment that does that activity and gets that result. Our point is we just want to please Krishna. That’s what Krishna’s looking for. But it’s not like the impersonalist who would conclude therefore that means we give up the work.
Does that make sense? So these are the elements that actually defeat the Mayavad philosophy.
So 17 to 22. By human calculation, a thousand years taken together form the duration of Brahma’s one day and such also is the duration of his night. At the beginning of Brahma’s day all living entities become manifest from the unmanifested state and thereafter when the night falls they are merged into the unmanifest again. Again and again when Brahma’s days arrive all living entities come into being and with the arrival of Brahma’s night they are helplessly annihilated.
Yet there is another unmanifested nature which is eternal and is transcendental to this manifested and unmanifested nature. It is supreme and is never annihilated. When all this world is annihilated that part remains as it is. That which the Vedantists describe as unmanifest and infallible that which is known as the supreme destination that place from which having obtained it one never returns that is my supreme abode. The supreme personality who is greater than all is attainable by unalloyed devotion although he is present in his abode. He is all-pervading and everything is situated in him.
So we see these fine lines is that this unmanifested state this is the Vasudeva sattva, right? This is the mahat. So everything merges back into mahat. So one is actually in a transcendental state but it’s a temporary transcendental state. One is there and then when Brahma wakes up in the morning then the world manifests again and then you go back to wherever it is according to your karma. And then when he goes to sleep at night one is merged back into there. So this keeps happening, yes. In that unmanifested state is the jiva conscious? One is it would depend upon the individual but basically they’re in the state of Vasudeva sattva so that appreciation of that oneness is there but at the same time is then when the Lord sleeps, everybody sleeps. Because Brahma is sleeping here because the Lord sleeps. Because most people don’t care about the Lord but Brahma they’ll relate to. So it’s his day and night but the reason it’s his day and night is because that’s when the Lord sleeps. Because he’s with the thousand-headed Vishnu. The purusha, the sahasra.
You know, when a purusha shukta is talking about the Lord with a thousand heads, thousand arms that’s who lives with Brahma.
So when he sleeps, then everybody sleeps. So it all merges into him. So then one is not conscious.
Like that. Within the material realm there’s wakefulness, dreaming and deep sleep. For the soul, is there a similar thing that when the soul is engaged in transcendence it’s wakefulness, material illusion and dream and at this stage of Brahma’s night that’s a deep sleep? I think there’s a place where it defines that. I think earlier in some purports or if not in the second canto but just some weeks ago I was reading something like that. So I think it’s mentioned in here. But basically although I think it’s with Dhruva Maharaj it’s in the purports of Dhruva Maharaj where he says now he feels he’s awake. I think it’s in those purports. Then Prabhupada’s pointing out is that this is actually a wakeful stage in the material world then it’s like you’re dreaming. Like that. He doesn’t so much mention the third state but he says it’s like when you’re dreaming. And then this, when you go to sleep then that’s your deep sleep. So.
Yes. Maharaj, from that verse we see that one day of Brahma is a couple of trillion years in human calculation.
I think it’s 4,300,000,000.
Yes, that will be the day. His lifetime is 311 trillion years. So the 4,300,000,000 that will be 1,000 cycles of the four yugas. Like that. Yes, I was reading that and then Prabhupada said that Brahma is just like a glimpse of this life in terms of the whole existence.
And in those trillions of years how many lives one takes. So I was thinking that we get attached to a specific situation but it’s more like the consciousness which is pervading all of these lives which is the big thing. Yes. His point is time is applying on everything. And by the time factor then we experience it differently.
So, just like when Brahma is on his planet then he’s going to be very big and work in that time frame. When he comes here he takes the size here and works within this time frame.
So your time frame, like the ant, he lives two weeks but that two weeks to him is a hundred years.
Like that. So they have that full experience. This is what the karma shastra doesn’t talk about. Because if that was talked about too much no one would perform good activities. They would just go to sinful activities.
If you’re told you work very hard you’ll live for millions of years then you think, great, I’ll do that. So then they do nice work. So at least they’re pious. But if you’re told, you know, when you get to that millions of years to you will feel like a hundred years then they may not, well, I’ll just try to enjoy now.
So that’s why the karma shastra doesn’t talk about it. It’ll be here and there but it won’t be talked, that’s talked in the jnana shastras. Because the jnana shastras is how to get out of the material world. Because there it doesn’t matter where you are, it’s the same.
You understand? So that’s here. And then, now we’re taking it beyond that, is even those situations that are discussed on the platform of jnana, even that’s temporary. You’re liberated but even that’s temporary. So only the spiritual world in the relationship with the Lord, that’s eternal.
Is that a question? Yes, because we usually think that I’m attached to house, to security, to this, but rather now I’m trying to think that I’m attached to that consciousness which has been for very long. Yes, means that consciousness, this is just, if one’s attached to a house, that means that’s been cultivated for some time. Because then karma is there. Because if one’s in the state of jnana, one’s not attached. And one will have been doing that for millions of lifetimes. So you get the idea, at least you’re talking thousands if not millions before one gets tired of that and moves on to the next stage. Right? And then when, after jnana doesn’t work for you, you become angry. And then you move on to voidism.
When that doesn’t work, then you come back to karma.
Like that. So like that you just, you know, like you said, it’s one day of brahma, for us maybe millions and millions of lifetimes, so you have to be kept busy. Right? Otherwise, could you imagine, you know, a universe full of completely bored, doesn’t know what to do souls? Now that would be a problem.
What would they do? So ideas, they’re interacting and all that, they’re actually interacting with the Lord, they don’t know it.
So all it is, is change the consciousness and they’re rightly situated. Because if someone’s doing nothing, you can’t do anything with it. You know? You know what I’m saying? So you’re doing nothing, in illusion, and now I do nothing in Krishna consciousness, it doesn’t work. You know what I’m saying? But you’re busy in life, with your family and everything, in illusion, but that same thing can be connected to Krishna.
You know what I’m saying? So, that proper action and knowledge and meditation, these are what people are doing. Right? Why is he working? Because he’s thinking of the family. Right? When he’s at the office and the boss is bothering him, and he’s really having a hard time, then what does he do? You know? He looks at the picture on his desk, and then he thinks, okay, I’m doing it for them. Right? So it’s meditation, you know, his work, you know. You understand? You know, knowledge is there, how to do your work better.
Like that. The more he’s able to analyze the situation, the more efficient it works. But, so all these three situations are, which is going to be what absorbs the consciousness of the living entity. It’s not something else. So, those can all be connected to Krishna in yoga.
Does that make sense? So that’s why, if you’re already doing, you know, it’s just like in your traditional, you know, Vedic society, people get up in the Brahma Muhurta, and they do something auspicious.
Right? So now, if you’re already living that lifestyle, then how easy is it for it to be instead of, you know, doing something else, you go to the temple and go to Mangalarthi?
Right? You already have some sadhana. You’re already chanting some mantras. You already have a guru. You already respect the scriptures. You’re already studying the scriptures. So now all you do is change from, to sadguru, studying Gita, Bhagavatam.
You know what I’m saying? You’re already giving money and charity. Now you know who to give it to.
You know what I’m saying? Like you’re already taking care of guests. Now instead of just any old guests, now it’s devotees.
You know what I’m saying? So that’s the advantage, is that what you have going on already is very easy to just switch.
Right? So, that’s the thing. As we go now, because of the preaching and all these things, then imperceptibly, this has affected the society. So now things that back in the 60s were, you know, unheard of in general society, now it’s just normal. All these, you know, elements of, you know, quasi-spiritual and Eastern and all that, that’s pretty normal. You know, normal people talk about, oh, that’s your karma. You know, you did something and it blew up in your face, you know. So it’s just, hey, that’s your karma. You know, so these things are normal. So it’s actually easier to preach now.
You know what I’m saying? But you have to know how to preach on that level. So that’s why these early chapters of Gita, you know what to do. And then the later chapters will give you more technical detail. You know, so it works. Does that make sense? So the consciousness, yes, is there. That’s connecting us through these lifetimes. One has an idea that karma, by arranging my situation nicely, I will be happy. Because what is karma? I’m arranging a situation for a ritual and then doing that ritual in an auspicious environment with the purpose that that will create an auspicious element in the future.
Does that make sense?
So it’s there. Or you think through knowledge and detachment, then you’ll be happy. So then one’s doing that and trying different ways, you know. Does that make sense? You know, you’re sitting in Prague and saying that. Or you’re sitting in Paris and saying that. Or you’re sitting in New York and saying that. Or, you know, sitting in some place in L.A. and saying that. And then after that generally you don’t say that. You know. In Hawaii, they’re not saying that. You know. Does that make sense? So it’s just, you know, you just, it just, you do this for many lifetimes. But then at some point it doesn’t work anymore.
Suddenly you switch to something else.
Does that make sense? So that’s why the Vedic is engage someone according to the nature. And the earlier you start, the better. Otherwise, somebody has their idea what they’d like to do, and if they can’t do it, then later when they do it, then it takes them longer to figure it out. Just a simple example. I’ve seen, like, we have the martial arts classes. So, then, then, I saw before, when we were running them, that when the first day they had the martial arts class, the whole school went. Like that. But then after, you know, you know, so many push-ups and sit-ups and other things like this and that, the next day there was only about a third of the school was there. It already dropped off. And then, you know, after another week or two then it came down to, you know, there were maybe 20 boys out of 120 that were, you know, quite interested.
Right? So, very quickly they figured out this is not what I want to do. And the other kids didn’t, couldn’t, or were not upset that these guys did, you know, martial arts. Because, you know, they were doing that and they’d rather do something else. But now if you said, no, you can’t do, then they always have this mind that they want to do and they idealize it. Then later on when they try to do it, then they’re not good at it. And they don’t really want to put in the effort. But they have this idea in their mind and people are telling them that you’re not suited but they won’t believe it. And it takes a long time before they, you know, it may even be years before they kind of give up. So then they would have wasted years. Well, here it was just one day. You know. Does that make sense? So that’s the point in the Vedic system is according to your nature you’re engaged. Then, then you actually see. Either it is your nature so you’re comfortable or you think it’s your nature and then you figure out really fast it’s not.
Right? So that’s the, yes. You’re talking about detachment. You’re also talking about in relation to doing what you like to do. Now we’re talking about nature. So naturally we like to do what is our nature. So could you kind of elaborate on if I really like to do something and it’s my nature then that’s good. But how can it be bad in the sense of it’s not pure. I’m not doing it like you’re saying I’m doing because I’d like to do it. Because the point we’re making here is that, see this is the second stage that we’re at. Because this is, what is it, eighth chapter. So Krishna already before was talking about the first stage of taking your nature and connecting it. And the gloriousness of that. But the point is is still it’s naiskaranya. Because in connecting your nature you mean you have the field of activity or identity or the sambanda. Then you have the activity itself and it’s experience that’s the abhidheya. But the reason that you’re doing something is for a result, prayojana. So the result’s been given to Krishna. So you like that field, you like those activities but the result’s for Krishna. So that’s where the detachment is. Because attachment is prayojana.
Like that. Interest or inspiration, that’s sambanda. Right? I’m inspired to do, I have desire, that’s sambanda. But attachment is what you do. So now you’re changing that drive to do it. You’re inspired to do it but the drive to do it is the result for Krishna. So you’ve already switched it already because that’s why anything goes on is because of the result. So now that’s going nicely and Krishna’s explained it through karma and jnana and yoga how that process is done. That field that’s there in karma, jnana, yoga and the activities of that are fine as long as you connect it by the result is for Krishna. So that makes it karma, yoga, jnana, yoga, jnana, yoga. But now in this 8th chapter he’s showing that kevala bhakti means that you’re not doing it because you’re attached to the field or the experience of the activity. You’re doing it just because you want to please him. So it takes it to another level. But the activity doesn’t change. The situation doesn’t change. That’s what’s important. Because of our impersonal how do you say proclivity then like the impersonalist we will take it well if we’re giving up that we’re giving up the activity. Because we think spiritual means that it can’t actually have interaction and activity. It means there can be no form there can be no action. Like that. Result we’ve figured there’s no result anyway. It doesn’t matter what you do you’re always going to be unhappy. So therefore result is just void or like that. So that part doesn’t change.
Even the impersonalist the void is going to relate to. That’s why there’s not going to be a problem they’re relating to our philosophy if it’s explained technically. But what they can’t understand is that the field stays the same and the activity stays the same even the experience stays the same. But your attachment on that changes. So that’s the difference. So we see is that being attached to the results then that will be sakham. So that will be more prominent in the neophyte devotee. Not being attached to the result but being comfortable in that activity that will be the mudhyam. But that’s given up for that you know coming to the uttam platform means there’s no attachment to the activity. Like that. Does that make sense? Yeah, it does. This is a subtle point because if I like doing something and I’m trying to do it to please Krishna sometimes I can’t distinguish between the pleasure I’m receiving because I think I’m detached or just because it’s my nature and I like doing it. The point is if it’s connected to Krishna Krishna is happy so you’ll be happy because you could be doing the same activity and not be happy because you know situations or something some mentality or something else you love to cook you know but then someone you know tells you you have to cook this and this and that deals roughly. You’re cooking but you don’t like doing it because the element of relationship is disturbed. So the point is the relationship is the important part. So here we start with the results because we can relate I’m a person God’s a person so therefore I stay and do what I do as an individual and he does what he does as an individual but because of the activity then it’s sacrifice so sacrifice means you’re voluntarily giving up the results or doing a work for someone else’s benefit so then that means it’s for Krishna. So I can relate to that I’m who I am he’s who he is and the results for him so that’s natural that would be a higher grade relationship even on the level of pranamoy that’s what you do you have your position the sense gratification someone else has theirs but you work for their sense gratification so it’s extended sense gratification but the sense of sacrifice is there good work is there so one’s inspired but here then because it’s connected to Krishna then it goes beyond that platform you’re getting a spiritual result rather than just a material result but then you’re coming to the point I’m an individual he’s an individual but how do I bring my individuality by that mood and flavor in line with his I remain an individual but I’m able to bring that in line so this is where if I’m an individual there’s no bringing in line in other words except what I want to do or I bring it in line there’s no individuality because that’s karma and yana but here Krishna’s pointing out is that the individuality remains but the commonness of mentality is one so the oneness is there in mood in purpose but individuality and the activity remain the same but because that has happened then now the individuality has its perfection so now it’s not you’re doing it because of what taste you get you’re doing it because what taste Krishna gets because you’re an individual so the taste you’re getting is different from the next soul so unlimited souls so each one is unique so that means each one performing even the same activity will give a different pleasure to Krishna so then that remains so that’s the Sarva Dharma in Pradyumna’s Yoga is that you’re instead of going from I’m doing the activities in the field I like to please Krishna I’m starting with I’m pleasing Krishna and therefore I do these activities that work according to my nature if I’m working in spiritual nature I’ll do what’s there naturally in that rasa but if I’m in the material nature just what works for my material position so I don’t have to there’s no change in position that’s why the social system stays intact so whether one’s a non -devotee or one’s a neophyte devotee or a madhyam or a, you know how do you say uttamadhikar it doesn’t change the culture doesn’t change you know so Krishna’s dealing with you know goes into matura and the culture followed by you know how do you say what was it the garland man or things like that you know they’re just guys but then they recognize Krishna’s position but the culture is no different from the what was it the dobi the washerman same culture but he was loyal to his who was above him but he didn’t see that Krishna’s above even that so he was following the culture but on a lower level you know then that you know so it’s below standard then with those then it’s you know better standard you know kumja then made even a more active element like that but still it’s within the realm of you know what she wants from it you know so it just keeps going up then the queens and dwarka and all that then that’s even more right there’s more surrender in that than kumja and the culture is the same then you go to vrindavan where there’s complete surrender but it’s the same culture so the form doesn’t change the form doesn’t change yes one of the things I’ve observed in Indian culture is that the children are very obedient to the parents so if the parents say do this and they have nothing to do with their nature but they’ll do it I spoke to one boy I said why are everyone why are they all engineers and computer programmers coming to America he said because back 10-15 years ago we saw that this was the new industry so our parents want us to do it and we do it and I said well if they realized that agriculture was going to be the next explosion in the way to get rich would you be doing that he said probably because the essential thing is profit because in other words you’re going to be successful in life if you make money and you’re going to make money at this time you know in IT and those things so that’s how you’re going to get your money have your house and therefore you’re going to be successful in taking care of your family so they’re just looking at what will make that kind of profit like that so then it will also be a value are you doing it yourself independently or are you working for someone you’ll also find that so those who are in the business community they’ll learn those things go to America work for somebody to figure out how it works then start their own business while the others will go and work for them they come back after 20 years they’re still working so the element is that their faith in karma and so they actually understand generally most of the world except for the first world understands the connection between the practical down to earth things that make family and relationships work and also your occupation but somehow or another the first world doesn’t see the connection so much anymore I’m not sure why maybe because the culture is always changing while these others are old the Indian culture it’s basically the same foundation as before same in the Orient they’re the oldest living cultures so they know that a family works because you have facility while the west is just oh if you just have that love like that but they don’t actually know how to define the love and don’t know how to maintain it while these others though it appears more materialistic and more less romantic they know that if you have the right environment and interact in that favorable environment that affection naturally develops because otherwise how long can you go skipping through the rain and being intimate rolling around in the bushes it’s like they know there’s a limit to that like six months is about where it ends so they base it on what’s actually going to work so there’s a different perspective there but the difficulty is coming is that there isn’t the connection to the culture like it is before so there’s that respect of the parents and all that that is there from the culture but why is respect for the parents there why is it their invaded culture because the parents are supposed to give you God consciousness or at least minimum the proper culture so you’re situated properly within those activities that are going to on a longer term at least in the one lifetime give you better results so it’s from the scriptures there is guru there is authority there is sadhana so now it’s just that respect for the parents is kept but everything else is lost so you ask the parents why they can’t say so the difficulty comes is the whole thing gets lost so the what’s left of the culture is still even that’s of more value because they’ll do better materially and they make great congregational devotees like that they’ll be more stable in that you go to the temple and there’s the same guys there in how you say in college and that they come to the temple and they’re fired up and all that and then there’s the other western local devotees whatever is the culture there then let’s say you go away you come back after five years now those guys that were there the college Indian guys they’re married now and their businesses are going well and they’re situated in their big house and they drive up in their BMW but all the local devotees they’re all changed and then you come back in another five years and they’ll be even more situated now the kids are growing up and everything and they’re coming to the temple and doing the same old things and it’s another group of local devotees so that culture is valuable in that it keeps one steady because even in that there is the concept of religion of some kind of sadhana of some kind of authority though it’s getting farther and farther distant so that’s the advantage of the culture that’s the only reason probably talking about the Vedic culture so much is because if one follows that then anybody can be included and at the same time when they understand the importance of Krishna consciousness they’ll be able to progress very quickly because their lifestyle matches the pure lifestyle of the pure devotee does that make sense? but we’re not interested in establishing Varanashram on its own like that because it’s a very slow process it can take hundreds of thousands of births to move up to the brahminical platform but if it’s done through dhyanavaranashram then it can be done in one lifetime so it’s much more important so we’re interested simply because it’s a very efficient cultural tool like that does that make any sense? so like that it just needs to be in other words we have to break it apart more more than what will be social considerations or basically social considerations social and economic situations because those all have something behind them they have a mechanics behind that doesn’t change whether it’s social whether it’s economic whether it’s religious it all works on the same mechanics it doesn’t change you have the family car the mother drives it very carefully down to the shopping things like that the father takes it out for long drives to get away and then the teenager gets a hold of it goes for a joyride but it works on the same principles you push the same pedals and turn the same wheel it doesn’t change so that’s the thing but the consciousness of all three are different but the mechanics doesn’t change so the mechanics of activity don’t change no matter what you’re doing dharma, artha, karma, moksha or bhakti they’re exactly the same because material is a reflection of the spiritual where there’s only bhakti going on there is no karma, jnana in all these different things but it’s reflected here but people only take a certain aspect of the reflection or they don’t see Krishna in the reflection it would be like looking at yourself in the mirror not understanding yourself if you understand yourself then you work but you work with yourself not with the mirror it can give you an indication of what’s going on but then you work with yourself but if you think it’s a mirror and you start scratching the mirror there’s some smudge on your face so you start rubbing the mirror that’s called illusion then you get frustrated why it’s not going away I’m working so hard I’m not getting results so that’s like that or you can’t even recognize it’s you they’re like animals they see it and think it’s another animal so they start fighting because it’s still a relationship does that make some sense? I was also thinking of someone has an actual inclination to do something but he’s very dutiful to superiors so he’ll suppress that inclination is that a good quality or is that actually a bad quality? no, it’s a good quality because if you’re submissive to the authority it’s a good quality but now to situate yourself properly doesn’t mean you have to reject authority to do that that’s the difficulty whatever we’re saying in the first world concept is that then the individual is more important and all this and that but that individual doing what he likes what happens if he does what he likes and no one’s there being around him he goes out and he wants to go out and do skydiving and do this and that but if there’s nobody else is he going to be satisfied? no, so the individual is important in that he’s part of the social system so you have to balance the two so that’s the one is just as much as the one is off in the one way you know, just following authority even though you don’t like it and the other is don’t follow authority and like it but they’re both the same they’re just two sides of the same coin but of the two if you look at it in reality blank reality stark reality is what I want is that the ones who follow authority are actually economically and socially way better off than the ones who don’t like that you know so that’s the difficulty because you see even in the home of the maverick the Asians are taking over there are no he means one or two but there aren’t poor Asians in America they all have houses they all have but there’s plenty of poor Americans you like that after they’ve been here a few generations and they lose that Asian culture then yeah, they become just like everybody else but if you see it’s that they go there and because they have these things they do well so even materially it’s better so there is no foundation for these elements of authority issues that are so much the basis of the Western cultural environment of equality and good and everything like that because they don’t know what’s equal it’s like saying the elephant and the dog they’re equal so therefore they both they both get a can of dog food that’s it that’s not going to work or yeah the dog’s got to eat 300 kilos of sugar cane otherwise what’s wrong dog you’re not eating like this so their taking means the concept of equality is very good Krishna talks about it but they don’t know that it’s on the level of the soul not on the condition of nature otherwise this and this are different if I say they’re equal then I can’t fill this up with two and a half liters of water and I can’t build my house out of this so if you can’t see that that’s called unintelligent but the problem is the modern man thinks he’s so intelligent so he gets distracted by very unintelligent foundations that he tries to base his social and economic life on so it’s very distractive so the karmis do it you know it’s just foolish we say one or two times and we move on but when the devotees take it up then it becomes really useless really useless you know what I’m saying does that make sense just on that level it’s not that it’s important but there’s less temples in America now than there were in the 70s and the amount of temples that were here you know there’s more than there are in America in those days before there was Calcutta you had Delhi you had Vrindavan you had Bombay and that’s all you had and now there’s like 80 or 90 temples and they’re growing and there’s devotees because the element of authority is accepted so they’re prosperous but in the West then you know using the term you know authority issues is actually euphemism and they’re not successful everything’s falling apart because if there’s no authority nothing works you can’t even run a business if there’s not authority because the guy who’s running the business is the boss and everybody else has to follow his lead like that it’s just the way it works so this idea of independence is good as long as you’re leading but you can never be no one can be a leader if he doesn’t accept authority you can be an authority if you accept authority but nowadays you have people who don’t accept authority who are trying to be authorities and it is working very badly it is blowing up in their face so badly does that make some sense? so that element is though it’s not good so what we’re saying is it’s not good that they’re following even though their nature is differently but the point is what are they saying is not their nature maybe they don’t want to do IT they’d rather do a different business but making money and having a family and being prosperous that’s not what they’re complaining about you have one or two yes they would rather move into the temple and be a devotee and do all those things and preach you’ll have a few like that then you could say this is very different in nature but if a businessman he’d rather be selling steel but his family’s always sold cloth and so he’s doing it because it’s the family business it’s not actually going outside of his nature it’s a detail within nature but here is that if you’re saying well he has to do business and all that but he’d rather be a sadhu that’s a difference in nature that would be he’d rather be situated as a brahmin but he has to do because the family tradition he’s doing his Vaishya work that would be very different so what they’re saying is that because the clue is in you saying well 10-15 years ago they saw that this is the direction that the world’s going this is where the money is but that means that they’re money families they’re business families so just that they’re smart and they figured out this is coming so then they’re going to invest in that and then kids will go more into science and math and get those things in university and get their degrees and then go like that so they can see like that so any culture that’s smart sees that even in the western culture those who are successful see like that but you don’t hear about them because it’s always what’s on the street is what you hear about because that’s what you can market and sell but so the principle of authority still is very important but you have to distinguish what is the element of where they’re being forced forced in this case is a detail right but then they’d rather do something but great but they’re still successful and so they don’t mind the success but they’d rather do it some other way so if they were doing the way they were doing better but it only really has significance is that they’re doing what they would rather do so their mind is more peaceful so therefore they deal with their family better on the mundane platform and so but on the spiritual platform is because they’re doing according to their nature then actually all the desires within their heart are being engaged and then in that way also they’re going to engage nicely better with the family and the social system so their how do you say presence as a member of the society will be improved and their experience of dealing with material energy and understanding that the actual deal with material energy isn’t what makes me happy it’s the connection to Krishna then that’s what’s of value so that’s why you want to act according to nature because then you’ll be convinced that there’s nothing here like Yayati he took the youth of Puru and then according to the religious principles he enjoyed his senses to the greatest degree possible as the emperor and after a thousand years then he figured out this doesn’t work so that’s why we have to take example because we don’t have a thousand years like that but he had youth for a thousand years and then his conclusion was there’s nothing here so we get sixteen to thirty so that’s fourteen years so it doesn’t quite therefore only by devotional service can we have the improved intelligence to figure it out more quickly does that work better? does that get closer?
yeah ok sorry about the side examples but it’s just we try to make it so it looks like it’s actually real you know where it would apply because otherwise we would stay away from those kind of examples difficulty is time’s up so you’d have to ask tomorrow that’s all
