# Neither Enjoyment Nor Renouncement *On the philosophy of transcending both enjoyment and renunciation* --- ### Neither Enjoyment Nor Renouncement > So this kind of philosophy will not make you happy. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, *sarva-dharmān parityajya*. We have created *dharma* in two categories: one for enjoyment and one for renouncement. Both these things have to be given up. Neither enjoyment, nor renouncement. Then what is this philosophy? The philosophy is that you cannot renounce anything. Because what is the value of your renouncement? You haven't got anything. Everything belongs to God. So what you can renounce? Similarly, what you can enjoy if everything belongs to God? *Īśāvasya. Bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ*. Kṛṣṇa says, "I am the enjoyer. I am the proprietor." So if Kṛṣṇa is proprietor, if Kṛṣṇa is the enjoyer, then how you can renounce? The proprietor is somebody else, so what is the value of your renouncement? — [[spoken/1971/710215b3.gor|Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Appearance Day, Evening, Gorakhpur, February 15, 1971]] --- ### Only Serve Krishna > So we have to give up this renouncement or enjoyment. We have to take the real position, that "Everything belongs to Kṛṣṇa, or God. We have simply to serve Kṛṣṇa." That is *bhakti-yoga.* That will give you actual peace. That is stated in the *Bhagavad-gītā. Bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ...* Kṛṣṇa is the supreme enjoyer. You simply supply ingredients of His enjoyment; then you'll be happy. Because He is enjoyer. And *bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram.* And He is the proprietor. — [[spoken/1971/710215b3.gor|Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Appearance Day, Evening, Gorakhpur, February 15, 1971]] --- ### A Bhakta Is Not Envious > We have nothing to give up like Māyāvādī—*kāma, krodha, lobha, moha, mātsarya.* [*Prema-bhakti-candrika,* Song 3, stanza 9.] *Mātsarya* not... That has to be... A *bhakta* cannot be envious. If a *bhakta* is angry upon them, that is not envious; that is for good. A *bhakta* should not be envious. Otherwise how he can preach? He's merciful. Even if he's angry, it is mercy. Therefore this *mātsarya* has no use for *bhakta.* Other things, they have use: *kāma, krodha, lobha, moha.* Not *mātsarya. Mātsarya* is very bad. — [[spoken/1977/770216r2.may|Room Conversation, Māyāpur, February 16, 1977]] --- ### Vaikuntha vs Material Mentality > The Vaikuṇṭha mentality is that if one is serving—I have read it in *Bhāgavata—*Kṛṣṇa better than somebody else, he would simply appreciate that "Kṛṣṇa has so much favored him. Oh, how fortunate he is. When I shall be able?" That is Vaikuṇṭha mentality. And the material mentality is, "Oh, he has advanced so much. How to cut down him?" That is material. This is the difference between Vaikuṇṭha mentality. — [[spoken/1974/740214r1.vrn|Room Conversation, Vrindavan, February 14, 1974]] --- ### Cheaters and Cheated > It is a fact that the whole human civilization is a society of cheaters and cheated. That's all. Any field. *Mayaiva vyāvahārike* [SB. 12.2.3] .* The whole world in this Kali-yuga: *mayaiva vyāvahārike. Vyāvahārike* means ordinary dealings, there will be cheating. Ordinarily, there will be cheating. Daily affairs. Not to speak of very great things. Ordinary dealings, there will be cheating. That is stated in the *Bhāgavata, mayaiva vyavahari.* — [[spoken/1971/710214r1.gor|Room Conversation, Gorakhpur, February 14, 1971]] --- *5 verified verbatim quotes from Śrīla Prabhupāda on transcending enjoyment and renunciation*