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73/08/21 London, Bhagavad-gita 2.15
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yam hi na vyathayanty ete
purusam purusarsabha
sama-duhkha-sukham dhiram
so 'mrtatvaya kalpate
[Bg. 2.15]
"O best among men [Arjuna], the person who is not disturbed by happiness and distress and is steady in both is certainly eligible for liberation."
Prabhupada: There is a mistake. "Is best," it should be "the best," not "is best" "The best." It is address. Not nominative. Go on.
Pradyumna: Finished.
Prabhupada: Finished?
Pradyumna: Yes.
Prabhupada: So Krsna is addressing Arjuna, purusarsabha, the best of the men. "O the best of the men." Certainly, Arjuna is the best of the mankind. Because he is directly friend of Krsna, who can be better man than him? The best of the men. So the best of the men, why he's distressed in executing his duty? Therefore, this very word is used, that "You are the best of the men."
Actually, the best of the men should not be disturbed by any material condition. He should discharge his duties. And what is the duty? Duty is to become immortal. This is the duty. The lowest of the men does not know how to become immortal, amrta. Mrta means death and amrta means no death. The modern rascal civilization cannot understand that there is possibility of becoming immortal. They have taken it, accepted it; "Well, who can stop?" They are simply scientifically calculating that "Some day will come, by science, we shall be immortal, there will be no death." The formula is given here by Krsna how to become immortal. That means you should be callous of this so-called happiness and distress of this material world. That is the first qualification. One who doesn't care what is the distress and happiness of this body, he must execute Krsna consciousness. That is the qualification. "Oh, I cannot execute Krsna consciousness because there are so many inconveniences," he's not fit for becoming immortal.
So one who has practiced to become dhira, not
to become disturbed by the sensuous or bodily sensations, he's supposed to be
kalpate, he's supposed to be, to become immortal at the end. And the Bhagavata
says also that you do not become a spiritual master, you do not become a father,
you do not become a mother, you do not become a friend, a relative, in this way,
if you cannot make your subordinate immortal. Pita na sa syat, gurur na sa syat,
gurur na sa syat, janani na sa syat pita na sa syat. In this way, there is a
list. You become father of hundreds of children. That's all right. No
restriction. You beget children. But you must make your children immortal. That
is the injunction. You have become guru. That's all right, Guruji Maharaja.
That's all right. But make your disciples immortal. Otherwise, don't, don't
cheat others. Cheaters. Illicit father, illicit mother. As we say, illicit sex.
Similarly illicit father, illicit mother. Who is illicit father, illicit mother?
Who cannot make his children immortal. That is the aim of human life. How to
become immortal. How... Not to become, we are immortal. Just like a person, he's
diseased, attacked by fever. Fever is not his natural condition, but somehow or
other, he has got fever. Similarly, we are immortal. That will be explained. Na
jayate na mriyate va. The living entity never takes birth, never dies. Therefore
immortal. Immortal means no birth, no death. That is immortal. Whenever there is
birth, there is death. If there is no birth, there is no death. That is
immortality.
More lectures here:
People do not know that there can, we can
become immortal. Immortal we are, but we have been embodied in this material
body. Therefore we have to accept mortality, birth and death. These things
stated in the Bhagavad-gita, this is the beginning of spiritual life. Spiritual
life means how to become immortal. They come to ask me, "Sir, do you know some
spiritual magic? Kundalini, yoga? This? That?" All for material benefit.
Spiritualist means something magic so that you can get some material benefit. If
by stretching your hand you can get some little quantity of gold, then you are
spiritualist: "Oh, here is a man, wonderful spiritualist. He can create gold. He
can cure disease by simply..." What is called? Fooing.(?) Like that. They want
to see magic only for material benefit. What is called? Miracles. That is
spiritualist. (aside:) Not in that way; let him sit backside this. Spiritual
life means how to become immortal. Amrtatvaya. So 'mrtatvaya kalpate. Krsna has
explained,
matra-sparsas tu
kaunteya
sitosna-sukha-duhkha-dah
agamapayino 'nityas
tams titiksasva
bharata
[Bg. 2.14]
Tams titiksasva. Don't be disturbed by the sensuous disturbance of the
body. Become dhira. Dhiras tatra na muhyati [Bg. 2.13].
Become dhira.
So the whole scheme is Vedic scheme, not
otherwise: how to become immortal. You find in Bhagavad-gita, yad gatva na
nivartante tad dhama paramam mama [Bg. 15.6]. In many places, the sastra only
aims at. In another place, in Bharati-kavya (Bhakti-kavya) (?), when Visvamitra
Muni came to see Maharaja Dasaratha to ask his son, Ramacandra and Laksmana, to
take them, they were boys at that time, and there was a demon disturbing in the
forest. So Visvamitra... (aside:) Not back side ... Visvamitra Muni came to
Maharaja Dasaratha for help. Visvamitra Muni could kill that demon immediately,
but that is not the business of the brahmana. Killing business is for the
ksatriya. Just see how... He was quite powerful. He could kill that demon simply
by saying that "You die." He was so powerful, Visvamitra Muni. But still, he
came to the king for help.
So when Visvamitra Muni came to Maharaja
Dasaratha, as we ask, "How are you?" so Dasaratha, Maharaja Dasaratha inquired
from Visvamitra Muni, aihistam yad punar janmajaya: (?)"My dear sir, if there is
anything disturbance in your occupation? Because you are trying to conquer over
death." All the great rsis and saintly persons, all spiritual realization means
to conquer over death. So this was the question. ihistam yad tam punar
janmajaya.(?) Punar janma, you are trying to own over repetition of birth. The
modern civilization, they do not know that it is possible. It is possible to
become immortal, to have eternal blissful life of knowledge. That is called
immortality. Sac-cid-ananda. Sat means eternity and cit means knowledge and
ananda means pleasure, bliss. We are part and parcel of Krsna. Krsna is
sac-cid-ananda vigraha [Bs. 5.1]. His transcendental body is eternal, blissful
and complete knowledge, His body. Therefore He's speaking Bhagavad-gita. If He's
an ordinary man, what is the use of hearing Him? Ordinary man will commit
mistake, will cheat, will be illusioned. His senses are imperfect; how he can
give complete knowledge? That is not possible. Therefore we are not concerned to
hear any rascal. We want to hear Krsna. We are not prepared to hear any rascal,
so-called scientists and so-called philosopher, so-called God. No. We are not
prepared. Because everyone is rascal. Everyone is full of mistakes, everyone is
trying to cheat others, everyone is illusioned, and everyone's senses are
imperfect. How he can give knowledge perfect? That is not
possible.
Therefore, we have to select guru. Guru means Krsna. As Arjuna has
selected guru, sisyas te 'ham sadhi mam tvam prapannam: [Bg. 2.7] "I am, I
become Your sisya, disciple, and I surrender unto You." So to get perfect
knowledge, we have to find out Krsna or Krsna's bona fide representative. Then
there is perfect knowledge. Then we can become immortal. Unless we get perfect
knowledge. So Krsna is sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah [Bs. 5.1], immortal. Krsna
is full of bliss, full of knowledge, and we are also part and parcel of Krsna.
So we have also the same quality, sac-cid-ananda, the spiritual body. But
because we have contacted this material nature, our blissfulness, our eternity,
our knowledge, everything is now disturbed. Everything is now disturbed. We
cannot be completely blissful. Anything you take, any pleasurable thing you
take, it cannot give you always pleasure. It is not possible. This is not
possible in this material world. However you may try scientifically to prolong
your duration of life, live forever, it is not possible. And however you may
pose yourself, cheat others, that you are the best man in knowledge,
philosopher, scientist, you are a fool. That is not possible. Sac-cid-ananda
vigrahah is Krsna only [Bs. 5.1]. So we can also become like Krsna along with
Krsna. Not outside. We can be living force along with Krsna. So Krsna is also
very much anxious to take us back to Him.
So unless we have got our aim, target of life,
then what is the value of life? This is amrtatvaya. Is there any institution, is
there educational institution or university or college where this teaching is
given, that how you can become immortal? Is there any institution in the world?
Throughout the whole world? No. They are simply teaching that you live like
animal and die like animal. That's all. You live like cats and dog and you die
like cats and dogs and again become cats and dogs. Punah punas
carvita-carvananam [SB 7.5.30]. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum durasaya ye
bahir-artha-maninah [SB 7.5.31]. Andha yathandhair upaniyamanas te
'pisa-tantryam uru-damni baddhah.
matir na krsne paratah svato va
mitho
'bhipadyeta grha-vratanam
adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram
punah punas
carvita-carvananam
[SB
7.5.30]
naisam matis tavad urukramanghrim
sprsaty
anarthapagamo yad-arthah
mahiyasam pada-rajo-'bhisekam
niskincananam na
vrnita yavat
This is Prahlada Maharaja's instruction, that the... He was instructing
his father, materialist, first-class materialist. So, when he inquired that
"What is your purpose that you have become Krsna conscious? How you have become
Krsna conscious?" So he answered. He did not ask him, addressed him, as "My
father." He addressed him, asura-varya, the first-class demon. He never
addressed him, "My dear father." "My dear first-class demon." This little boy,
five years old, because he's Krsna conscious, and the father is threatening
always to kill, still he's not afraid. When he says that "Wherefrom you have got
this courage, Prahlada?" "My dear father," or "My dear demon, I have got this
courage wherefrom you have got this courage. But you are forgetting. That is the
difference. You have got so much power that you can defeat anyone, even the
demigods. You should know that you have got this power from the powerful. But
you are not obedient to the powerful." That is demon. Demons, when they get
power, they think that "I have got it, I have earned it. It is my thing. Who can
challenge me?" But he forgets that everything can be withdrawn within a second
by the powerful. That is demoniac. And Vaisnava, devotee means although he is
very, very powerful, he never thinks that "I am powerful." He thinks that "I am
acting simply by the order of the powerful." This is the
difference.
So Prahlada Maharaja said "People do not know
the aim of life." The aim of life is here, amrtatva, as good as Krsna, as good
as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Blissful, full of knowledge and eternal.
That is the aim of life. But people do not know. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi
visnum [SB 7.5.31]. Visnu means the Supreme Lord who is eternal, full of bliss
and full of knowledge. So our aim should be how to approach Visnu. Then we get
the same power, same eternity, same blissfulness. Just like a motorcar is
running at the speed of sixty miles, and if a cyclist someway or other catches
the motorcar, he can also go at the speed of sixty miles. Sometimes boys do
that. Similarly, you approach Krsna. You approach Visnu. You get all the powers
because you become under protection. Protection of the... That... Tulasi dasa
has said that in the ocean, the waves of the ocean, if you put one elephant very
powerful, very strong, the elephant will be washed away by the waves. But a
small fish, a teeny fish, it is swimming against the waves. They take pleasure.
The fish, when the waves are coming this way, the fish go in that way. Now see.
You put against the waves an elephant. It will be washed away. Why elephant? Any
strong thing you give. Even big, big ships, oh, it will be washed away. But a
small fish, it doesn't care the waves; it goes against the waves. Why? It has
taken the shelter. It has taken the shelter of the ocean. Similarly, all power
belongs to Krsna. Yatra yogesvarah harih. But if anyone takes shelter of Krsna,
he becomes as powerful as Krsna. This is the process.
So, but we do not know. We want to become
powerful here by so-called science, so-called yoga, kundalini and what other
nonsense they are think... They are trying to be immortal, powerful. No, sir,
that is not possible. It is not possible. Therefore, people do not know. Na te
viduh. They do not know. Svartha-gatim hi visnum. Our aim should be how to
approach Visnu. How to go back to home, back to Godhead. Na te viduh
svartha-gatim hi visnum durasaya [SB 7.5.31]. They're hoping, very durasaya,
means very badly, wrongly, that they want to be happy by adjustment of this
material world. The yogic process is also another material gymnastic. We have
not heard any yogi has become successful to get immortality. No, that is not
possible. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah
[SB 7.5.31]. Those who are trying to adjust this material world by science or
yoga, without caring for Visnu, what they are? Andha. They are blind. Andha. And
their leaders? They are also blind. Andha yatha upaniyamanah andhena. One blind
man is trying to lead another blind man. So what is the wrong there? Te
'pisa-tantryam baddhah: They are bound up by the laws of nature, hand and legs
tight. How they can become free and happy by such endeavor? That is not
possible. So, so simply by taking Krsna consciousness it will be nice?
Yes.
So how to take Krsna consciousness? That is
also answered by Prahlada Maharaja. Matir na krsne paratah svato va mitho
'bhipadyeta grha-vratanam. Krsna consciousness cannot be awakened for a person
who wants to stay in this material world and become happy. He cannot become
Krsna conscious. Grha-vratanam. Grha means home, and vratanam means one who has
taken the house or home or this body as everything. Vrata. Vrata means... Just
like you are observing this today, a Janmastami-vrata, under vow. We shall fast,
an austerity. The aim is different from the grha-vrata. Grha-vrata's aim is how
to decorate the home, how to become happy in this home, in this world, in this
material world. That is their... So they cannot become Krsna conscious. One who
has become callous of this material happiness, he can become Krsna conscious.
Therefore it is said here, yam hi na vyathayanty ete. These material things,
seasonal changes, so-called happiness, so-called distress, if one is not
disturbed... There is no cause of disturbance. This is another foolishness. Why
one should be disturbed? Because the so-called happiness or happiness or
distress, whatever you are destined to receive, you must get it. You try or do
not try, it doesn't matter. Whatever portion of happiness you are destined to
get, you'll get it. And whatever portion of... Because this material life is
mixture. You cannot get unadulterated happiness or unadulterated distress. No.
That is not. You'll get distress and happiness both.
Therefore Krsna has explained in the previous
verse, here also: yam hi na vyathayanty ete. Matra-sparsas tu kaunteya
sitosna-sukha-duhkha [Bg. 2.14]. Here in this material world there is winter and
the counterpart summer also. In the winter we aspire, "If it would have been
warmer." That means you want summer. And again summer you'll require, you aspire
had it been, I mean to say, cooler. You apply cooling machine. So this is our
struggle. In the summer, we apply cooling machine, and in the winter, we apply
heating machine. So undisturbed happiness, either in coolness or warmth, you
cannot have. This is not possible. Therefore we have to become callous. But the
materialist persons, they are disturbed. A little winter, little chilliness,
immediately, "Bring electric heater, immediately." Or if there is too much hot,
"Bring fan, bring cooler." So they are busy how to adjust these material
disturbances. But they do not think that "Why these material disturbances are
disturbing me? I do not want them." That question do not come... They simply
struggle how to counteract it. Struggling like fool. But here is the solution.
Here is the solution. The solution is that don't be disturbed with this cooling
and heating machine. Be pleased in whatever condition Krsna has placed you. Of
course, there is no harm if you can put yourself in a comfortable... But simply
for putting yourself in comfortable situation, don't forget Krsna. That is our
aim. Simply for making adjustment of this material condition of life, if you
forget Krsna, then you'll lose everything. That in the Bible also, what is,
there is a... (devotee speaks) Yes. Repeat it.
Hamsaduta: "What profiteth a man who gains the
whole world but he loses his eternal soul?"
Prabhupada: That's it. That should be the aim.
That we are eternal soul. We must be again replaced in our eternal life. But if
you forget this mission of life and simply become engaged how to become happy in
this material world, how to avoid distress and how to get happiness... People
are engaged in that way. Simply trying to get happiness and avoid distress, and
forgetting that he has got a mission of life, to realize his self and go back to
home, back to Godhead. This is the defect of the modern civilization.
So...
bahir-artha-maninah. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi... matir na krsne paratah
svato va mitho 'bhipadyeta grha-vratanam. So their conferences, their United
Nation, their scientific advancement, their educational system, philosophy, and
so on, so on, everything is meant for how to become happy in this material
world. Grha-vratanam. The aim is how to become happy here. And that is not
possible. These rascals they cannot understand. If you want to become happy,
then you must come to Krsna. Mam upetya tu kaunteya duhkhalayam asasvatam
napnuvanti [Bg. 8.15]. Krsna says, "If somebody comes to Me, then he does not
again get this place which is full of miseries," duhkhalayam. This material
world is explained by Krsna as duhkhalayam. Alayam means place, and duhkha means
distress. Everything is distressful here, but fools being illusioned, covered by
the illusory maya, that distress he accepts as happiness. That is maya. It is
not at all happiness. A man is working whole day and night, and because he's
getting some paper where it is written, "We trust in God. Take this paper,
hundred dollars. I cheat you." Is it not? "We trust in God. I promise to pay
you. Take this paper now. Not even one cent worth. It is written there hundred
dollars." So I am thinking I am very happy: "Now I have got this paper." That's
all. Cheaters and cheated. This is going on.
So we should not be disturbed by the happiness
and distress of this material world. That should be our aim. Our aim should be
how to execute Krsna consciousness. How to execute. And Caitanya Mahaprabhu has
given very simple formula:
harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam
kalau
nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha
[Cc. Adi
17.21]
In this age, Kali, you cannot execute any severe austerity or penances.
Simply chant Hare Krsna. That also we are not able to do. Just see. How
unfortunate we are. So this is the position of the Kali-yuga. Mandah
sumanda-matayo manda-bhagya upadrutah [SB 1.1.10]. They are very rascals, manda.
Manda means very bad, manda. And sumanda-matayah. And if they want to improve
something, they will accept some rascal Guruji Maharaja. Mandah sumanda-matayah.
And some party which has no bona fide contribution, they will accept that: "Oh
it is very nice." So first of all they're all bad, and if they accept something,
that will also be very bad. Why? Unfortunate. Mandah sumanda-matayo
manda-bhagyah [SB 1.1.10]. Manda-bhagyah means unfortunate. And above that,
upadrutah. Always disturbed by taxes, no rains, no sufficient food. So many
things. This is the position of Kali-yuga. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu said...
Caitanya Mahaprabhu not. It is in the Vedic literature, that you cannot do the
yoga practice, meditation or offering big, big sacrifices or construct big, big
temples for worshiping the Deity. It is very, very difficult nowadays. Simply
chant Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama
Rama, Hare Hare, and gradually you'll realize how to become immortal.
Thank you very much. (end)