Transcending Illusion and False Perception

Understanding the spiritual form of God

0:10Prabhupāda: There is a story, in a cowshed there was fire.

0:20So, after that incidence the cow as soon as the cow sees something red oh, they began to disturb. “Oh, there is fire.” Similarly, here tasting the bitterness of so-called rascaldom, they think that Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa is also similar rascaldom.

0:31Devotee: Begin?

0:41Prabhupāda: So, when they have sent the file? Did you ask?

1:02Devotee: Oh, I think two, two days ago.

2:28Prabhupāda: Oh. Then they might have received.

2:33Devotee: Yes.

2:33Prabhupāda: om ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayācakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena tasmai

2:33śrī-gurave namaḥśrī-caitanya-mano-'bhīṣṭaṁ sthāpitaṁ yena bhū-talesvayaṁ rūpaḥ kadā mahyaṁ dadāti sva-padāntikamvande 'haṁśrī-guroḥśrī-yuta-pada-kamalaṁśrī-gurun vaiṣṇavāṁś caśrī-rūpaṁ sāgrajātaṁ saha-gaṇa-raghunāthānvitaṁ taṁ sa-jīvamsādvaitaṁ sāvadhūtaṁ parijana-sahitaṁ

2:33kṛṣṇa-caitanya-devaṁśrī-rādhā-kṛṣṇa-pādān saha-gaṇa-lalitā-śrī-viśākhānvitāṁś caIn the eighth chapter, Bhagavad-gītā Lord Kṛṣṇa says,

2:35BG . 8.5anta-kāle ca mām evasmaran muktvā kalevaramyaḥ prayāti sa mad-bhāvaṁyāti nāsty atra saṁśayaḥ

2:45Anta-kāle means “at the time of death.” At the time of death, one who remembers Me.

3:09Anta-kāle ca mām eva, mām eva, mām eva means…Eva means “certainly” and me means… mām means “me.” “Certainly Me.” The Supreme Personality of Godhead says, “certainly Me.” That means Kṛṣṇa, or Kṛṣṇa’s expansion the form, not formless—mām.

3:09Formless, this is explained in the 12th chapter: BG . 12.5kleśa adhikataras teṣāmavyaktāsakta-cetasāmOne who is attached to the impersonal Brahman then his business is troublesome. Kleśa, kleśa means “troublesome”.

3:27Avyaktā hi gatir duḥkhaṁ, dehavadbhir avāpyate. Dehavadbhir because we are in this material body and our senses are not able to understand except something form.

3:32So, if by artificial way I want to think of formless, it becomes a troublesome business. Actually, God is not formless, but his form is different.

3:37Everything has form without form there is nothing, even the smallest atom it has got form. Ah, coughs] just like in geometry they describe that the point has no length, no breadth.

3:47Because the point is so small that our instrument, measuring instrument fails to measure what is its length or breadth. Therefore, the indistinct], that it has no length and no breadth but actually it is not a fact it

3:55has got length and breadth, but we have no instrument, we have no power to see. So, spirit soul is aṇor aṇīyān mahato mahīyān [Kaṭha Upaniṣad 1.2.20(1)].

4:00This is “soul is the greater than the greatest and the smaller than the smallest.”So, we cannot see the smallest, we cannot see the greatest, “greater than the greatest.” We can think of the greatest—the sky, the expansion of the sky—unlimited.

4:07But such sky, God is so great that innumerable millions and billions of skies are within it. In the Brahma-saṁhitā [5.48] it is stated: yasyaika-niśvasita-kālam athāvalambya.

Acquiring knowledge through authoritative sources

4:33Therefore, we have to refer to the authoritative scriptures, to get knowledge. As I told you the other day that transcendental knowledge has to be acquired by oral reception. There is no other way.

5:02Just like practically the geometrical calculation is that the sun. The dimension of the sun is many, many hundred thousands of greater than the earth. But we are seeing just like a disc.

5:11So, our sense is unable to see how great it is. It is a material thing so how we can see the greatness of God with this material eyes? It is not possible.

5:14As you are understanding about the sun by authoritative statement of the geometry that this sun globe is so great. So many hundred thousands greater than the… But you are seeing just like a disc.

5:16So, how do you get the knowledge of the sun? By receiving through the ear. That’s all.

5:20Simply you have to receive the knowledge from the authority it is not that practically you are experimenting by going to the sun that it is so great and so long, so broad.

5:21That is not possible, you have to receive such knowledge through authority, that’s all. So even for material understanding which is beyond our sense perception we have to receive knowledge from authority.

5:23Similarly, we cannot understand what is God. But from the authoritative sources we can understand God is so great. Just like in the Brahma-saṁhitā it is stated that:

5:30BS . 5.48yasyaika-niśvasita-kālam athāvalambyajīvanti loma-vilajā jagad-aṇḍa-nāthāḥ

5:30You see this universe, and in each universe, there is a predominating demigod which is called Brahmā or jagad-aṇḍa-nāthāḥ—the master of the universe.

5:30That master of the universe is living only taking the duration of breathing of Mahā-Viṣṇu. Just like you are breathing inhaling and exhaling, so when Mahā-Viṣṇu exhales innumerable universes come out.

5:31And when He inhales, all these universes go into His body. So, just imagine how great He is. How big He is. That is not I mean conceivable, with our limited sense. But if we believe then you get the perfect knowledge.

5:32There is no doubt. If you don’t believe there is no other way you cannot understand what is God or what is His length, what is His breadth.

5:32So whenever in the scripture it is said that God is without form, that means He has no form which we have got experience. But He has got form, just the same example.

5:33When you cannot measure you say point has no length, no breadth. But actually, it is not a fact, the point has length and breadth, we have no instrument to measure it, that’s all.

5:33Similarly, when as soon as we say form we understand this form, just like I am seeing your form, you are seeing my form. So, we understand that God maybe a form and because God also comes in this form also.

5:34Just like Bhagavad-gītā it is said: BG . 9.11avajānanti māṁ mūḍhāmānuṣīṁ tanum āśritam“Because I have come in the form of a ordinary human being they are deriding.

5:34How He can be God?” So many scholars, so many philosophers they deny to accept Kṛṣṇa—God. Why? Because He appears to be just like you and me a human being, but God can appear in any way because He is all powerful.

5:35He sometimes appears as fish, sometimes He appears as a tortoise. Sometimes He appears like a boar, sometimes He appears half lion-half man. Similarly, sometimes He appears man, sometimes He appears as woman.

5:36So, we cannot restrict God that He cannot be like this. He cannot come here; He cannot take any shape. No, He is not under my restriction, then how God is great?

5:36If I put God under my restricted knowledge or limited knowledge, then God becomes under my understanding.

5:37But the Vedic language says: avāṅ-manasā gocara—He is beyond the expression of words, He is beyond the conception of mind, He is greatest of the great and the smallest of the small.

5:37How He is the smallest of the… We are also because we are spirit spark, now do you know what is our measurement. That we can find in the śāśtra.

5:37I have several times mentioned that one-ten thousandth part of the tip of your hair—is the measurement of the soul.

5:38Now you have no instrument you cannot measure even the tip of your hair and what to speak of one-ten thousandth part of it.

5:38Impossible, therefore because you cannot find out by dissecting this body, where is that spirit spark? There is but your present eyes cannot find it out therefore you say nirākāra or no form.

5:38But actually, it has form we say, we get information from the śāśtra. Just like we get complete information of the sun globe from geography or from authoritative sources. Scientists, astrologer, astronomer, mathematician.

5:39So similarly, you can get information, what is the form of individual soul, what is the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They are there. But His form is not like your form or my form.

5:46The Brahma-saṁhitā [5.1] says ah, sac-cid-ānanda vigraha, His form is full of bliss and full of knowledge and eternal. But this body, this body our body is neither eternal, neither full of knowledge, neither blissful.

5:48So, we can distinguish what is the form of God, sac-cid-ānanda. Sat, sat means “eternal”; cit means “full of knowledge” and ānanda means “full of blissfullness”.

5:49So, this body is neither blissful, neither eternal nor full of knowledge. It is full of ignorance and full of miseries and not permanent, temporary.

6:09So, God hasn’t got such body therefore sometimes it is said in the Vedic literature formless. Formless means the form which you can conceive at the present moment God hasn’t got that form.

6:15But when He descends ah, like you and me that is His mercy. BG . 4.8paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁvināśāya ca duṣkṛtāmHe comes just to, being, being visible to our eyes.

6:36Just like this picture, this picture is not, it is not to be taken that He is not God, he is picture. The picture of God is also God. The picture of Kṛṣṇa is Kṛṣṇa, the, the sound name Kṛṣṇa—that is also Kṛṣṇa.

6:53But just to give us facility to understand you do not think that this picture of Kṛṣṇa is painted by some artist imagination. No. It is not imagination, there is description in the scripture what is the form of Kṛṣṇa.

6:57BS . 5.30veṇuṁ kvaṇantam aravinda-dalāyatākṣam-barhāvataṁsam asitāmbuda-sundarāṅgamkandarpa-koṭi-kamanīya-viśeṣa-śobhaṁgovindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁbhajāmi

6:57Veṇuṁ means “flute”. He is playing on flute; veṇuṁ kvaṇantam aravinda-dalāyatākṣam. Aravinda means “lotus petal”, His eyes are so nice like lotus petal. Veṇuṁ kvaṇantam aravinda-dalāyatākṣam-barhāvataṁsam.

6:57Barhāvataṁsam means “a peacock feather.” You’ll find Kṛṣṇa and Viṣṇu He is very fond of this peacock feather. Everywhere, you will find the peacock feather.

6:57Barhāvataṁsam asitāmbuda-sundarāṅgam, and His color is a cloud—darkish cloud. Masi, masitāmbuda, āmbuda means “cloud” and masitām means “blackish.” Sundarāṅgam—but a still, He is so beautiful.

6:57veṇuṁ kvaṇantam aravinda-dalāyatākṣam-barhāvataṁsam asitāmbuda-sundarāṅgamkandarpa-koṭi…

6:57He is so beautiful that He surpasses the beauty of millions of cupids. Cupid is supposed to be very beautiful. It impels lust—Cupid. So, He’s many more thousand times that beautiful than Kṛṣṇa—Cupid.

6:57Kandarpa-koṭi-kamanīya-viśeṣa-śobhaṁ, viśeṣa-śobhaṁ—He has got His particular beauty. Ah, govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi, in this way there are descriptions so according to the description these pictures are drawn.

6:57It is not imagination. So, this form is factual it is not imagination. The Māyāvāda philosopher, impersonalist they answer the Bhagavad-gītā’s word that: BG . 12.5kleśo 'dhikataras teṣāmavyaktāsakta-cetasām

6:57One who is attached to impersonal views, their process of meditation or execution of spiritual activities is very troublesome.

6:57Now, therefore Māyāvāda philosophers they say that “God has no form but because you cannot meditate upon the formless, so you just imagine any form you like.” So, God is not subjected to your imagination that is not God’s form.

6:57If you imagine something and that has been degraded. Śaṅkarācārya limited such imaginative forms to five only. Five. What is that five? Viṣṇu, Lord Śiva, and Sun, and Gaṇeśa and Devī—Durgā.

6:57He limited, then any of these five forms you can meditate upon, you worship. Ultimately, it is formless. But at the present moment unauthorized person has degraded in such a way that you can imagine any form.

6:57You can imagine even stool. They say like that. You, see? So, neither God is limited to any five imaginative forms or this form or that form. His form nobody can imagine neither He is within our perception.

6:57But He is as He is.

Following the path of great authorities

7:02BG . 9.11paraṁ bhāvam ajānantomama bhūta-maheśvaram

7:02Therefore, we have to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead from authoritative sources. Just like the Bhagavad-gītā the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself speaking—what I am. This is the science of God.

7:02If we take Him as He is saying, then we become perfect knower of God. There is no difficulty but if we deny then you are in difficulty.

7:02Those who have accepted Kṛṣṇa as He is, God as He is they have attained perfection also, that is practical. Not that we are, there are millions and billions followers of Kṛṣṇa in India.

7:02Not only ordinary followers, just like many great stalwarts, educationalists. I mean to say saintly person like Śaṅkarācārya, Mādhavācārya, Rāmānujācārya—great educated and learned scholars.

7:02They have accepted, Lord Caitanya has accepted, and there are so many others also. And there are millions and millions of temples of Kṛṣṇa. They are being worshipped by millions and billions of devotees—a still.

7:02A still if you go some Kṛṣṇa temple in South India you will find thousands of thousands of people always assembled. They have no imagination, you, see?

7:02In Jaipur temple, Jaipur temple the king’s palace, within the king’s palace there is Jaipur temple. So, whenever you go in that Jaipur temple you will find at least 1,000 men assembled—at least.

7:02If you go Jagannātha Purī you will find at least 2,000 men daily coming and going. If you go to Vṛndāvana you’ll find at least 5,000 men daily coming and going.

7:02So, and in Vṛndāvana itself there are 5,000 temples, out of that only seven or eight temples are very big temples. In other words, each and every house is Kṛṣṇa temple. So, it is not that somebody asked me, James.

7:02How many there are in India Kṛṣṇa consciousness? Oh, you… The Kṛṣṇa conscious men in India at least the Hindus oh there are 90%—at least. All Kṛṣṇa conscious.

7:02So, His form, His form, His name, His quality, His pastimes, everything transcendental. Therefore, in the Bhagavad-gītā it is said: anta-kāle ca mām eva [Bg. 8.5], mām eva—only unto Me. BG 8.5

7:02If you simply practice the Kṛṣṇa’s form—to see just like if you chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. At once, you see the form of Kṛṣṇa within your mind.

7:02Therefore Bhagavad-gītā says one who is thinking of Me—Kṛṣṇa, always he is the greatest yogī. He is the greatest yogī. Yoginām api sarveṣāṁ, there are many kinds of yogī but Kṛṣṇa says that of all the yogīs.

7:02Yoginām api sarveṣāṁ. Sarveṣāṁ means “you can count as many millions of yogīs.” But of all them, all of them the… BG . 6.47yoginām api sarveṣāṁmad-gatenāntarātmanā

7:02One who is always thinking of Me antarātmanā—within himself, within the heart, within the mind. Śraddhāvān—with faith and love. Bhajate yo māṁ, bhajate means “engaged in devotional service”— “Kṛṣṇa please be kind upon me.

7:02I am fallen kindly accept me.” This is yoga that’s all, very simple thing. Kṛṣṇa I mean that Lord Caitanya has said: ayi nanda-tanuja.

7:02He has especially mentioned nanda-tanuja, “oh the son of Mahārāja Nanda.” Because in Vṛndāvana Kṛṣṇa acquired Himself as the cowherd boy, son of Mahārāja Nanda.

7:02So, Lord Caitanya is teaching us, ayi nanda-tanuja—oh the beloved son of Mahārāja Nanda. Ayi nanda-tanuja patitaṁkiṅkaraṁ māṁ —I am your eternal servant now somehow or other I am fallen to this material existence.

7:02CC Antya 20.32ayi nanda-tanuja patitaṁkiṅkaraṁ māṁ—viṣame bhavāmbudhau

7:02With a great ocean of material existence. Don’t you see the biggest outer space it is… What to speak of ocean. We cannot compare with even ocean.

7:02So many millions of oceans can be pushed in this [outer] space of material space. So patitaṁ kiṅkaraṁ māṁ viṣame bhavāmbudhau kṛpayā—by Your causeless mercy, CC Antya 20.32kṛpayā tava pāda-paṅkaja-sthita-dhūlī-sadṛśaṁ vicintaya

7:02Paṅkaja means “a lotus flower.” And lotus flower you’ll find some dust, saffron. So, the devotee is praying that as, “as in the lotus flower, there are so many dusts.

7:02You kindly accept me as one of the particles of that dust.” So, this is very nice bhakti-yoga. Simply surrender and pray, and that is the best and the highest type of yoga.

7:02If you accept this Bhagavad-gītā, if you believe in this Bhagavad-gītā, if you follow the footprints of great personalities who have followed this Bhagavad-gītā. Then your life is perfect, there is no doubt about it.

8:01Mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ [Mahābhārata], you cannot… Everyone is following the footprints of great personalities in every department of knowledge.

8:52Even scientific, scientific ah… Scientists they are also following the law of gravitation basing their further progress on the law of gravitation. There are so many laws. How the laws are there they do not know.

11:46But that law is found out and scientific advancement is going on. So mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ, so as in the material field also we are following the great personalities and authorities.

12:13Similarly, in spiritual realization, if you follow the great personalities. There are specifically mentioned the great personalities in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. If you cannot find out who is great personality.

12:36The list is there, and who are they? SB . 6.3.20-21svayambhūr nāradaḥśambhuḥkumāraḥ kapilo manuḥprahlādo janako bhīṣmobalir vaiyāsakir vayamThey are given there, just like Prahlāda Mahārāja.

12:43Prahlāda Mahārāja is a great authority in the devotional service a five years old boy he was chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa his only fault was that his father become enemy.

12:45His father insistently wanted “you stop this nonsense—Hare Kṛṣṇa.” He would not, so the father wanted to kill him, put him into so many tortures. At, at last he came out successful and he was blissful.

12:49So therefore, he is mahājana, in spite of so much tortures by his father. He did not give it up.

12:53Similarly, if we stick to the principle as it was done by great personalities Brahmā, Lord Śiva, Nārada, Prahlāda Mahārāja, Janaka Mahārāja. Their stories, their life history is there, everywhere in the Purāṇas.

12:57So, mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ we have to accept the path of great personalities. Otherwise, if we want to understand the Absolute Truth simply by arguments and logic, oh it will never be achieved.

Achieving liberation through devotional service

13:10SB . 10.14.29athāpi te deva padāmbuja-dvayam-prasāda-leśānugṛhīta eva hijānāti tattvaṁ ah…na cānya eko 'pi ciraṁ vicinvan

13:10The path of spiritual realization is for him, who has a slight mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

13:11Athāpi te deva padāmbuja-prasāda-leśānugṛhīta, prasāda means “mercy,”leśa is “slight.” If one has achieved a slight benediction from of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he can understand what he is.

13:11Na cānya eko 'pi —and others eko 'pi—those who have not achieved that causeless mercy. Na cānya eko ciraṁ vicinvan—one life together, if they go on contemplating and meditating and speculating, it is not possible.

13:12It is not possible. Therefore Bhagavad-gītā says, bahūnāṁ janmanām ante [Bg. 7.19], after such so-called meditation and so-called speculation. BG 7.19That is also valid, but it takes long, long long way.

13:14They are not rejected but our life is very short especially in this age our intelligence is very short we cannot perform real meditation, we cannot perform the preliminary activities, yaṁ, yaṁ, āsana, prāṇāyāma, it is not possible at the present moment.

13:20So those principles are not rejected, but it is not possible, at the present moment. Therefore Lord Caitanya says, harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam [Cc. Ādi 17.21].

14:32As soon as you chant this transcendental vibration—Hare Kṛṣṇa, immediately the form of Kṛṣṇa is in within yourself without…, yourself and here in the Bhagavad-gītā the Lord says:

14:32BG . 8.5anta-kāle ca mām evasmaran muktvā kalevaram

14:32“One who, at the time of death, simply thinks of Me.”Smaran—simply by remembering. Muktvā—immediately, he becomes liberated. Muktvā kalevaram, yaḥ prayāti—anyone who passes away from this body. So, what is the result?

16:06Yaḥ prayāti sa mad-bhāvaṁ, mad-bhāvaṁ means “he gets the next body just like Kṛṣṇa.” That means that sac-cid-ānanda vigraha—eternal body, blissful life and full of knowledge.

The science of transmigration and rebirth

16:57Yaḥ prayāti sa mad, yāti—he attains yāti. Nāsty atra saṁśayaḥ—do not be doubtful it is fact. How it is fact?

16:57The next verse says it is not a fact because somebody is thinking of Kṛṣṇa he gets a body like Kṛṣṇa and goes to the Kṛṣṇa’s abode, but it is the general rule. What is that? BG . 8.6yaṁ yaṁ vāpi smaranbhāvaṁtyajaty ante kalevaram

17:00Anyone at the time of his death the, the mind being absorbed by some kinds of thought. So, he gets the body, and there are instances just like Bharata Mahārāja.

17:01Bharata Mahārāja he was a great king but at an early age only. He was only 24 years old; he gave up his kingdom. Bharata Mahārāja means the king by whose name India is called Bhārata-varṣa.

17:01Not only India this whole planet was known as Bhārata-varṣa. Gradually it is declined, just like recently we have partitioned Pakistan. Similarly, the whole planet was known as Bhārata-varṣa.

17:01So anyway, that Bharata Mahārāja, at the time of his death he had a pet deer. He thought of the deer, and he became next life a deer.

17:01Therefore, Lord Kṛṣṇa says that it is not that because you think of Me you get a body like Me, but it is the general rule if you think at the time of your death.

17:01Whatever you think, you carry the idea with your mind, and you get the, immediately a similar body. That means you are put into the womb of a mother to get a similar body.

17:01So instead of thinking of Kṛṣṇa always, if we think of our dog as Bharata Mahārāja was thinking of the deer. Oh, there is risk of getting a dog’s body.

17:01BG . 8.6yaṁ yaṁ vāpi smaran bhāvaṁtyajaty ante kalevaramtaṁ tam evaiti kaunteya

17:01Oh, my dear Arjuna he gets a similar body ah, sadā tad-bhāva-bhāvitaḥ. Because he is always thoughtful of that particular body. So, this practice of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is sadā tad-bhāva-bhāvitaḥ.

17:01If you always think of Kṛṣṇa naturally you will think at the time of death Kṛṣṇa, and the result will be next life you get a body like Kṛṣṇa. Thank you very much. [break] Any question?

17:01Devotee: I’m not sure that I understand how the process of which one might be thinking of something with his mind and how that soul is put into a body. Similar to what that thought is.

17:01In other words, how can the soul be subject to what the mind is thinking of?

17:01Prabhupāda: Because soul is now covered by the subtle body and the gross body. When the gross body stops to work, just like at night, the gross body is lying, but the subtle body mind is working; therefore, you are dreaming.

17:01The subtle body is working, so when you give up this body your subtle body, mind, intelligence that carries you where you find. Just like the flavor is carried by the air.

56:44If the air passes on some rose trees the air becomes flavored like rose. There is no rose, but the flavor is there.

57:10Similarly, the flavor of your mentality, the flavor of your understanding is carried that is the subtle body and you get a similar body. Therefore, at the time of death the examination is tested.

57:34How one has advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The best thing is it is said in the next verse eh: tasmāt sarveṣu kāleṣu [Bg. 8.7]. BG 8.7Kṛṣṇa says tasmāt sarveṣu kāleṣu

58:01break]…you are transferred to a body like Kṛṣṇa in the abode of Kṛṣṇa.

58:03Devotee 2: Only that is that person who will not Kṛṣṇa conscious [indistinct], but at the time of death he becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious then what is [indistinct]

58:11Prabhupāda: He goes to Kṛṣṇa.

58:11Devotee 2: So, then it is that he has performed bad actions during our life and only at the time of death…

58:39Prabhupāda: Yes if you are so fortunate. Just like Ajāmila when he was at the point of death, he was… He had a pet child whose name was Nārāyaṇa.

59:14So, he was calling him “my dear boy Nārāyaṇa.”So, when he was calling Nārāyaṇa he thought of Nārāyaṇa. So immediately, he achieved Nārāyaṇa.

59:28Devotee 2: Don’t you think it is a contradiction that if a man is unfaithful all his life and only at the time of death, he thinks of Kṛṣṇa, and this means that…[indistinct]

1:00:21Prabhupāda: No, that history. That history of Ajāmila is different. In his childhood he was a son of a brāhmaṇa. He was faithfully discharging the duties of a brāhmaṇa but accidentally when he was young.

1:00:21He was married also, accidentally when he was young, he was passing on the road and some śūdra girl and boy they were embracing and kissing, and he became attracted, and he become attracted by the prostitute.

1:00:21And he left home wife and everything and then he became a great dacoit and smuggler and everything he did.

1:00:21But… And he had so many children the youngest was Nārāyaṇa, so at the time of death because generally people become attached to the youngest son.

1:00:21So, he was calling Nārāyaṇa, but he remembered oh that Nārāyaṇa’s severanced to the context. As soon as he called Nārāyaṇa in his boyhood he served Nārāyaṇa under the direction of, of his father.

1:00:21So, he remembered Nārāyaṇa. Therefore, it is not always possible, but therefore, in the Bhagavad-gītā it is said: BG . 2.40svalpam apy asya dharmasyatrāyate mahato bhayāt

1:00:57“If someone has executed devotional service, even a little bit. Oh, it may be, it, it can save him from the greatest danger.”

1:00:58Devotee 3: I don’t understand, I don’t, I don’t see how man in one life can achieve a, a level of consciousness that he, he could sit with Kṛṣṇa.

1:00:58Don’t you have to go through a chain, I mean according to you know what you do with your life? Don’t you either have to be elevated, stay the same one. Because…

1:01:00Prabhupāda: Yes, that elevation you can achieve immediately. Simply by changing your consciousness. What do you mean by elevation?

Practical application of Krishna consciousness

1:01:02A man is called uneducated, and another man is called very learned what is that. He has practised how to become educated, that’s all. Similarly, you practice, here is the practice and you become elevated.

1:01:03There is no, I mean to say impediment anyone can elevate himself immediately. There is no question of waiting because the process of change is going on.

1:01:04If you accept the change immediately and then you follow, you will become elevated.

1:01:05Mātājī: A person’s life experience is difficult [indistinct]

1:01:05Prabhupāda: Hm?

1:01:06Mātājī: A person experiences difficulties in attaining the level of consciousness [indistinct]

1:01:07Prabhupāda: Yes. Difficulty is there always. Even you go to school there are so many difficulties. But if you practice with bhāva and rigidity you become successful.

1:01:09Difficulties may be there, in every field of our activities there are difficulties. You cannot say this world is full of difficulties. So, difficulties may be there, but you have to struggle against the difficulties.

1:01:10And you have to adopt the process, then your difficulties will be over. It is not that because there is difficulty, I shall refrain from. No. CC Madhya 23.14ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu-saṅgo 'tha bhajana-kriyātato 'nartha-ni…

1:01:12These are process. Just like you have come here with some śraddhā—with some faith. Oh, here is Kṛṣṇa consciousness, let me sit down, let me hear.

1:01:14This is the preliminary stage, if you become a little serious, then you come daily and try to understand what is this. This is called sādhu-saṅgaḥ.

1:01:19Then, gradually, as these boys they offer themselves Svāmījī I want to be your regular student—initiate. Third stage. ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu-[saṅgo] 'tha bhajana-kriyā

1:01:20And if he follows the rules and regulation the, gradually the difficulties are over; anartha-nivṛttiḥ syāt. And when the difficulties are over then he gets faith, tato niṣṭhā.

1:01:20He gets taste—tato ruci, athāsakti—then attachment. Then bhāva—ecstasy and the highest perfection after that. So, difficulty may be there, we are in difficulties this material life.

1:01:20But we have to come over—that is required. It is not that you cannot come over the difficulties, in every step of our life there are difficulties. The material life is like that: padaṁ padaṁ yad vipadāṁ [SB. 10.14.58]. SB 10.14.58

1:01:21In every step, there is danger. It is a place like that even if you are comfortably in a nice car you are going. There may be any moment accident. You are going in a plane there maybe any moment accident.

1:01:21Even you are sitting here there maybe accident. So, difficulties, this world is full of difficulties. One who does not understand this difficult position he is a fool.

1:01:21If one thinks that I am very comfortable, then he is a fool. This is animal life, because an animal thinks “oh I am very comfortable, I am very nice.” And dissatisfaction is human life.

1:01:24He is not happy unless he gets the greatest happiness, that is human life. And if he thinks “yes I am well off I am very happy” then he is animal. Because there is no happiness here.

1:01:24Full of distress, full of miseries, how he says that I am happy? That means he is ignorant. So, difficulties are there, you have to overcome—that is the problem.

1:01:24Mātājī 2: Svāmījī, last night’s initiations you gave me a spiritual name could you tell me now what that name means?

1:01:24Prabhupāda: You have forgotten? [chuckles] Madhavilata. Why don’t you write it? Madhavilata.

1:01:24Mātājī 3: She asks what it means Svāmījī?

1:01:24Prabhupāda: Eh?

1:01:24Mātājī 3: She asks what it means.

1:01:24Prabhupāda: Madhavilata, Madhavilata is a plant which was very much liked by Kṛṣṇa. Madhavilata. It is a flower plant Madhavilata and Kṛṣṇa and Rādhā used to take pleasure underneath that plant.

1:01:24So, anything related with Kṛṣṇa—is Kṛṣṇa. Any other question?

1:01:24Devotee 4: I have a question about the taking a body of Kṛṣṇa after death. If you are thinking of Kṛṣṇa at the time of death or taking the body of a dog or a deer if you are thinking about it. That sort of thing when you die.

1:01:24Ahm, there must be if… different times of a taking of a body. Because the different kinds of body. The bodies of dogs and deers and things are not the same as the body of Kṛṣṇa. Now, how do you take on this form of Kṛṣṇa?

1:01:24Prabhupāda: By thinking of Kṛṣṇa.

1:01:24Devotee 4: No what I mean, how does the soul assume this form? How does it become…

1:01:24Prabhupāda: Not become Kṛṣṇa. Just like you are spirit soul, when you take the body of a certain type of body you act according to the body. Just like the dog is acting differently from human body because he has got a different body.

1:01:24Hog is acting differently because he has got a different body. So, there are 8,400,000’s of different bodies.

1:01:24So mad-bhāvā, mad-bhāvā means “the nature.” Kṛṣṇa’s nature, you keep your individuality, but you get Kṛṣṇa’s nature. And what is Kṛṣṇa’s nature? Kṛṣṇa’s nature is always blissful, ānanda-mayo 'bhyāsāt

1:01:24Vedānta Sūtra 1.1.12]—always joyful. So, you get a body joyful, full of

1:01:24knowledge and eternal. Not that you become Kṛṣṇa you get exactly the same bodily constitution as Kṛṣṇa has got. That is sat-cid-ānanda-vigraha. As we are even at the present moment, we are particle of Kṛṣṇa.

1:01:24Kṛṣṇa is vibhu—the whole, we are aṇu—we are small. Similarly, as now we have got this material body if we pass our life in Kṛṣṇa consciousness we get our spiritual body which is non-different from the soul.

1:01:24The clear example just like a man put into the water is, is raised from the water and placed in the land.

1:01:24So, in the land he is happy, similarly because we are spirit soul, we are in a very unfavorable condition of this material world as soon as we perfect our self in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

1:01:24We get into the spiritual platform or body or indistinct].

1:01:24Devotee 4: I have one more question. If in taking on a body like Kṛṣṇa we assume a nature [indistinct]

1:01:24Prabhupāda: Yes…

1:01:24Devotee 4: Kṛṣṇa’s nature.

1:01:24Prabhupāda: Yes…

1:01:24Devotee 4: When, when you say taking on a body of a dog or a cat or take whatever. Is this also… Do you mean literally a body like a pig, or do you mean a nature of a pig or a dog or a cat?

1:01:24Prabhupāda: No, here, the body and the soul different. The soul is spirit, and the body is matter but when you attain a body like Kṛṣṇa’s that means that is spiritual body. There is no difference between the soul and the body.

1:01:24Here there is difference between soul and body. But in the spiritual world, there is no difference between soul and body.

1:01:24Devotee 5: Svāmī are we now, are we all part of Kṛṣṇa and at the time of death, if we think of Kṛṣṇa like we become what?

1:01:24Like meshed in with Kṛṣṇa, like now we are, let’s say, suspended within Kṛṣṇa, but at the time of death, if we think of Him, we, we merge. Is that, is that what you’re saying?

1:01:24Prabhupāda: Yes. The merge means you merge into the spiritual existence. But that does not mean you lose your individuality. You are already merged in the matter; we are all merged.

1:01:24Now your soul, my soul, his soul you cannot distinguish where is the soul. But body, the material body we have got, everyone but in spite of our being merged in the matter we have got our individuality.

1:01:24Similarly, to become merged in spiritual existence does not mean that we lose our individuality. Try to understand, just like we are all merged into the matter.

1:01:24If, if you dissect my body, you won’t find where is that small particle spirit. It is already merged but a still we have got individuality. That means spirit soul is individual.

1:01:24Otherwise so far, your body is concerned, my body is concerned, there is blood, you have got blood, you have got muscle, I have got muscle. You have got bones, I have got bones, what is the difference?

1:01:24But why you are individual, I am individual? Because the spirit soul is individual. We are merged in the matter, but we keep our individuality, similarly you merge in the spirit you keep your individuality.

1:01:24How can you lose your individuality?

1:01:24Devotee 5: [indistinct]

1:01:24Prabhupāda: No.

1:01:24Devotee 5: [indistinct] individuality.

1:01:24Prabhupāda: Yes. You are individual always. Just try to understand your present position.

1:01:24Devotee 5: [indistinct] I am trying [indistinct]

1:01:24Prabhupāda: Yes, you are merged in the matter. I am merged into the matter but a still you keep your individuality, I keep my individuality. Similarly, when you merge in the spirit, why the individuality should be stopped?

1:01:24The only difference is at the present moment the soul and the matter the qualitatively different. And when you get spiritual body the quality of the body and the soul is the same.

1:01:24But individually you must continue, how can you stop individuality? But that individuality and this individuality is different.

1:01:24In that individuality there is no disagreement, in this individuality there is always disagreement. Therefore, in spite of individuality there is oneness. So, individuality will continue.

1:01:24There is, if there is no display of individuality then you will have to come back again to this display of individuality—in the material world. Because everyone, individual means he has got his own choice.

1:01:24If I tell you that you can come here but you, you haven’t got any choice. phone rings] Then you won’t like to sit down here. You can sit down here, you can go, go out immediately.

1:01:24That’s your choice but if I made the condition that you can sit down here without your choice, oh you will hate to come here. “Oh, I don’t care for your meeting.” That is individuality.

1:01:24But that choice maybe very nice and that choice may be very bad. That is different thing, but you have got your choice. That is individuality.

1:01:24So, in the spiritual world the choice is there to serve Kṛṣṇa, somebody is thinking I shall serve Kṛṣṇa like this. Somebody is thinking I shall love Kṛṣṇa like this, the choice is there.

1:01:24The individuality is there but the center is Kṛṣṇa. Therefore, there is no disagreement. Just like in this world there maybe dozens of parties they may fight with one another, but the center is nationalism.

1:01:24Therefore, those parties are not null and void. They are accepted by the government they may be fighting with one another with things and objects. But because their point is nationalism, they are accepted.

1:01:24There is the agreement. Similarly in the service of Kṛṣṇa there maybe individuality the choice of individual maybe. But the center being Kṛṣṇa that is absolute.

1:01:24There are many authoritative books that means, Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Prīti Sandarbha but generally if you simply try to understand Bhagavad-gītā—as it is, without any mal-interpretation.

1:02:37Then you get all information of these things. Just like here Kṛṣṇa advises yudhya saḥ anusmara—you go on fighting. Because he was… You cannot stop your fighting because you are a soldier.

1:04:07But mām anusmara, at the same time, you think of Me. This is the secret. That nobody can stop his activities, but he can think of Kṛṣṇa at the same time. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

1:04:20I have given several times the example that a woman who is in love with other man in spite of her husband. She is very mindful to the household duties, but she is always thinking when at night I shall meet with my friend.

1:04:27This yudhya saḥ anusmara. Apparently, she is very busy, very nicely she is performing this household duties, her household duties but at mind she is always thinking of the lover. When she will meet.

1:04:37As it is possible why not Kṛṣṇa? Is it very difficult? Meditation, perfect meditation, always 24 hours, you cannot forget Kṛṣṇa just like a lover cannot forget the beloved.

1:04:47So, you have to contact Kṛṣṇa in love then the meditation continues for 24 hours.

Preparing for the final transition

1:04:57Bhaktijana: Is the, is the Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore is he nice?

1:04:58Prabhupāda: Hm?

1:04:58Bhaktijana: Do you know if that Rabindranath Tagore.

1:04:59Prabhupāda: Yes, why not?

1:04:59Bhaktijana: Is he nice?

1:05:00Prabhupāda: Huh?

1:05:01Bhaktijana: Is he a nice poet? [indistinct]

1:05:02Prabhupāda: He is a nice poet from a materialistic point of view, that’s all. To satisfy the materialistic person, he is not a nice poet from the spiritualistic point of view. We have nothing to do with him. [laughs].

1:05:04We have to do with the poet like Vyāsadeva. Don’t you see how nicely he has written Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam? There is no comparison, even from the literary point of view. He is perfect poet.

1:05:06SB . 1.7.6lokasyājānato vidvāṁścakre sātvata-saṁhitāmanarthopaśamaṁ sākṣādbhakti-yogam adhokṣaje

1:05:06Lokasyājānataḥ, people do not know this that to get out of the clutches of māyā. All this nonsense the only thing is bhakti-yogam. And people do not know it—lokasyājānataḥ vidvāṁś cakre sātvata-saṁhitām.

1:05:08The greatest poet—vidvān, learned Vyāsadeva has written this Bhāgavatam. So, he is the greatest poet.

1:05:09Devotee 6: Svāmījīwhile it’s true that anyone who thinks of Kṛṣṇa as he is dying can take on the body of Kṛṣṇa.

1:05:09Is it not true that if you don’t spend your life thinking of Kṛṣṇa it may be difficult at the time of death to remember Him. Because of attachment?

1:05:10Prabhupāda: Certainly, if you don’t practice, then at the time of examination certainly you will fail. [laughs]. If you say all right I shall see in the examination hall, I shall write everything nice. That is nonsense.

1:05:18You have to study nicely before the examination. Therefore, it is said yudhya saḥ anusmara. Practice it, abhyāsa-yoga-yuktena. What is yoga? Yoga means practice. BG . 8.8abhyāsa-yoga-yuktenacetasā nānya-gāminā

1:05:33Yoga means you do not allow your mind to go anywhere else. Just try to engage it; sa vai manaḥ kṛṣṇa-padāravindayor [SB 9.4.18]. SB 9.4.18Always fix up in Kṛṣṇa, that is the highest type of yoga.

1:06:39All right question finished, let us chant.

1:06:40End Endnotes 1 (Popup - Popup) "Both the Supersoul [Paramātmā] and the atomic soul [jīvātmā] are situated on the same tree of the body within the same heart of the living being, and only one who has become free from all material desires as well as lamentations can, by the grace of the Supreme, understand the glories of the soul." Kaṭha Upaniṣad 1.2.20