# Engagement in Hindi — February 13, 1971, Gorakhpur <audio controls preload="metadata" src="https://media.prabhupada.io/audio/1971/710213LE-GORAKHPUR--Hindi.mp3"></audio> **Devotee:** [introducing recording] Engagement morning of the 13th February, 1971, Gorakhpur. **Prabhupāda:** > vande 'haṁ śrī-guroḥ śrī-yuta-pada-kamalaṁ śrī-gurūn vaiṣṇavāṁś ca > śrī-rūpaṁ sāgrajātaṁ saha-gaṇa-raghunāthānvitaṁ taṁ sa-jīvam > sādvaitaṁ sāvadhūtaṁ parijana-sahitaṁ kṛṣṇa-caitanya-devaṁ > śrī-rādhā-kṛṣṇa-pādān saha-gaṇa-lalitā-śrī-viśākhānvitāṁś ca > he kṛṣṇa karuṇā-sindho > dīna-bandho jagat-pate > gopeśa gopikā-kānta > rādhā-kānta namo 'stu te > tapta-kāñcana-gaurāṅgi > rādhe vṛndāvaneśvari > vṛṣabhānu-sute devi > praṇamāmi hari-priye > śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya > prabhu-nityānanda > śrī-advaita gadādhara > śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda > hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare > hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare Dear ladies and gentlemen, we are running this International Society for Kṛṣṇa consciousness and it functions according to the principles of the Vedic scriptures all over the world. The scriptures say that the greatest religion is that which teaches devotional service unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead... The Supreme Lord is within everyone's heart. Just like father and mother always have love for the child, right from childhood onwards. The mother always has affectionate relationship with the children, similarly God is everyone's Supreme Father and He Himself says "*ahaṁ bīja-pradaḥ pitā*" *sarva-yoniṣu kaunteya* [[bg/14/4|[Bg. 14.4] ]], it is not like that God is only the father of humans but He is the Father of all the living beings. Different living beings have taken up different bodies according to their *karma*. There are eighty-four *lakh* species of different kinds but those who are learned they know that the soul within them all is the common. > vidyā-vinaya-sampanne > brāhmaṇe gavi hastini > śuni caiva śva-pāke ca > paṇḍitāḥ sama-darśinaḥ > [[bg/5/18|[Bg. 5.18] ]] A *brāhmaṇa*, a *canḍāla*, a hog, an elephant or a cow, these all have different kinds of bodies still the part and parcel of God the living being, soul is present within them. That is why those who are learned in spiritual knowledge and versed in devotional service they see all as one. *Samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu...* > brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā > na śocati na kāṅkṣati > samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu > mad-bhaktiṁ labhate parām > [[bg/18/54|[Bg. 18.54] ]] So, devotional service is the means by which we are revive our forgotten relationship with the Supreme Lord. Because of our current forgetful position, we are facing the threefold miseries *adhyātmika*, *adhibhautika* and *adhidaivika*, there is simply misery and more misery. We are under the imopression that we are happy but Kṛṣṇa Himself says that that this world is *duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam* [[bg/8/15|[Bg. 8.15] ]], this world is the place form receiving miseries, then how is it even possible to live here and attain happiness? All the big stalwart *ācāryas*, in the Hindu religion or any other, none of them has said that people can be happy living in this world, one has to go somewhere else and strive for that. Just like in our Hindu dharma, there is the prescription of going back to Godhead, to Goloka Vṛndāvana, or to the abode of Viṣṇu, Vaikuṇtha. The faith of Islam prescribes one to go back to Allah, similarly in Christian faith one is advised to work on order to attain the kingdom of God. In Buddhist religion one is recommended to strive for *nirvāṇa*. None of the *ācāryas*, the spiritual teachers, recommend that one should live int his world comfortably. This is not factual, in the *Bhagavad-gītā* the same thing has been said when Kṛṣṇa says *yad gatvā na nivartante tad dhāma paramaṁ mama* [[bg/15/6|[Bg. 15.6] ]], to go to that place from where one has not to come back, that is my Supreme Abode. So, in every way God is taking care of us. just like if someone's child loses his mind and leaves home, this puts the parents in great distress. Oh, my child has left home, where is he staying, where is he eating, he must be wandering here and there. If somehow or other if the child can come back home, it shall delight his parents. Therefore, it is not the goal of performing devotional service to attain some worldly pleasure. This is an illusion. There are so many people who go the temples and churches and mosques with such a desire. Nowadays, big-big scientists and philosophers say that if you wish for material happiness then what is the point of your going to the temples, mosques and churches? You should earn your daily bread, eat, drink and be merry, what is the use of going to the temple? And the public learns accordingly. In Russia to make the entire village atheist, earlier they used to do like this, I don't know how they do it now. I heard, they used to take a truck full of bread and used to ask a villager to go and ask for bread in the church. So, they used to go and pray: God, please give up our daily bread. So, you all know where is bread in the church? Then the communists used to ask, well did you get the bread? The villagers would say, no sir, no bread yet but we surely prayed for the bread. Still we haven't got any bread. Alright, now pray to us for the bread, so the villagers are innocent people they requested the government men for the bread, so they used to open their lorries, take it, as much as you like. This means that if the concept of going to the temple is to ask for material happiness. So, the big scientists recommend working for the same material comforts, which is also endorsed by the government these days. But there is this one thing, that one may enjoy as much as he likes, thinking that he is very hard working for he has accumulated a million rupees in ten years or even two million but how long shall we stay here? as much as fifty or a hundred years after that whatever you have earned will be left here. you will only take all the reaction, pious and impious of the work you have performed. A person may think that he has become very rich having earned twenty, twenty-five *lakhs* thinking himself very rich and accomplished but if his deeds remained lowly then according to the laws of nature, he will have to take birth in lower species of life. *Yaṁ yaṁ vāpi smaran bhāvaṁ tyajaty ante kalevaram* [[bg/8/6|[Bg. 8.6] ]], in the *Bhagavad-gītā* we get this statement, that however, is the state of mind at the time of death, one will get the next birth accordingly, this is the law of nature, > prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni > guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ > ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā > kartāham iti manyate > [[bg/3/27|[Bg. 3.27] ]] It is all law of nature why otherwise would there be different bodies? If here fifty people are present then there will be fifty different types of bodies, this is all due to the modes of material nature otherwise, everyone would have the same body. The human society out of the total eighty-four *lakh* species of life, all have different bodies. We get this body, *karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa* [[sb/3/31/1|[SB. 3.31.1] ]], as it has been said in the scriptures. According to one's *karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa*, *deva* means God, according to the order of God we get our body. So, we mean to say that whatever religion is practiced to attain material happiness or material gain, according to the scriptures it is *kaitava dharma* or cheating religion. The real *dharma* or religion teaches surrendering unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who Himself says *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja* [[bg/18/66|[Bg. 18.66] ]]. The real *dharma* according to the instructions in the scriptures is to surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Religion which has no connection with the Supreme Lord is known in the Vedic scriptures as cheating religion. However, according to the *Bhagavata* the real *dharma* is *sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhokṣaje* [[sb/1/2/6|[SB. 1.2.6] ]], *dharma* prescribing devotional service unto the Supreme Lord is proper *dharma* if there is no devotional service, the spirit soul cannot be satisfied, if you wish to completely satisfied your soul and wish for peace then devotional service is the one and only means to achieve it. That is why Kṛṣṇa says, > bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ > sarva-loka-maheśvaram > suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ > jñātvā māṁ śāntim ṛcchati > [[bg/5/29|[Bg. 5.29] ]] So, in every case if you wish to attain happiness you should work putting God in the center of all your activities. *Ataḥ pumbhir dvija-śreṣṭhā varṇāśrama-vibhāgaśaḥ svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya* [[sb/1/2/13|[SB. 1.2.13] ]], according to our Vedic laws, there is the division of *varna* and i... *brāhmaṇa*, *kṣatriya, vaiśya śūdra brahmacārī*, *gṛhastha*, *vānaprastha* and *sannyāsī*. Four social divisions *brāhmaṇa*, *kṣatriya*, *vaiśya* what we know as Hindu dharma, that is a name given by the Muslims, actually our religion is called s*anātana dharma* or *varṇāśrama dharma*. So, *varṇāśrama* *dharma* is not only in India but it observed to exist all over the world. In every place there is *varṇāśrama* present only by the influence of *Kali yuga* is has become irregulated. As it has been given in the scriptures and Kṛṣṇa also says *cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ* [[bg/4/13|[Bg. 4.13] ]], this system of *varṇāśrama* has been created by the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa Himself and it cannot be broken. So, it is no like this system of *brāhmaṇa*, *kṣatriya*, *vaiśya* is only in India, but actually it is present everywhere. Because it is created by the Supreme Lord, it is present everywhere in His creation. Just like the sun created by the Supreme Lord, it rises in America and in India as well. It is not like that only in India can we see the sun, nowhere else, no. Everything created by the Lord just like wind, it is experienced there and in India as well, water is present on both the continents and so is fire, because that is the creation of the Lord. Similarly, *cātur-varṇyaṁ* the four *varnas*, just like Kṛṣṇa says *maya sṛṣṭaṁ*, I have created them. So, people from all four classes are present everywhere and from those countries we have handpicked and brought them here. They are all from foreign countries and are all *brāhmaṇa* s because they are practicing the rules and regulations of *brahmnical* life, *ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānuśīlanam*: [[cc/madhya/19/167|[Cc. Madhya 19.167] ]]. You can see that they are always chanting the holy names of God and they are initiated carrying the *brāhmaṇa* thread. They engage in Kṛṣṇa's service and follow all the rules and regulations of the *brāhmaṇa* and *vaiṣṇava* life, then why shouldn't you accept them as such? You will consider them *yavana* and *mlecchas* or *vaiṣṇava*? That is why in the scriptures it has been said *vaiṣṇave jāti buddhi arcye śilā-dhīr guruṣu nara-matir vaiṣṇave jāti-buddhiḥ*. Just like there is the deity of the Supreme Lord, of which some people think that it is a brass statue or a statue of wood, do they think that so many people gather to worship just some piece of wood? So, people even say that if God is everywhere then what is the need of going to the temple? Yes, God is everywhere and also, there within the temple. That is why in the scriptures it has been forbidden that this is hellish mentality, *arcye śilā-dhīr*, to consider the deity to be made of some physical matter. Actually, the deity in an incarnation of the Supreme Lord and should not be considered to be of brass or word. If one thinks the deity as a piece of wood, stone or metal, *arcye śilā-dhīr guruṣu nara-matir* and the spiritual master, if one considers Him to be an ordinary man and *vaiṣṇave,* if one considers those who are engaged in service of the Supreme Lord according to the *vaiṣṇava* scriptures, if one thinks that they are someone ordinary, that such as such devotee is from this caste or that caste, so one should consider Hanuman, Hanuman wasn't even from the human species, he was from monkey species but because He was the devotee of the Supreme Lord, he is still worshiped by the everyone. In this way *cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ* [[bg/4/13|[Bg. 4.13] ]], according to one's qualities Kṛṣṇa has created four *varnas*, and such divisions are present everywhere, it is not like that only in India are they found, no. This is not right to say. Everywhere they can be seen. That is why all of you should try to search for *brāhmaṇa, vaiṣṇavas* from all over the world and give them association of the Supreme Lord and uplift them. This is required from all those who are Indians. Caitanya Mahāprabhu is saying the same thing, > bhārata-bhūmite haila manuṣya-janma yāra > janma sārthaka kari' kara para-upakāra > [Cc. Ādi9.41] But what is this welfare, *paropakāra*? The living beings who have forgotten their relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead to reawaken that relationship *uttiṣṭha uttiṣṭhata jāgrata prāpya varān nibodhata* [*Kaṭha Upaniṣad* 1.3.14], this is welfare. The living beings forgetting their relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, think that they belong to this world, thinking themselves to be Americans, Indians, Germans, they have developed these materialistic identities *yasyātma-buddhiḥ kuṇape tri-dhātuke sva-dhīḥ kalatrādiṣu* [[sb/10/84/13|[SB. 10.84.13] ]], and being in contact with this body, they think *bhauma ijya-dhīḥ*, and the country in which they are born, they think that to be their identity. In this way they keep behaving, according to scriptures, like donkeys. *Sa eva go-kharaḥ*, so one should give up these false identities and should consider himself to simply be an eternal part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One's life will be successful only one identifies as such and preaches this knowledge everywhere. Only then can the people of this world be happy and only then will there be auspiciousness all over the world. In the *Śrīmad Bhāgavatam* it has been said > sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo > yato bhaktir adhokṣaje > ahaituky apratihatā > yayātmā suprasīdati > [[sb/1/2/6|[SB. 1.2.6] ]] So, if you wish to become happy and make others happy then you should preach this *dharma*, you will experience devotional service otherwise any religion you follow will simply remain circumstantial and will not at all be real religion according to the scriptures. Otherwise, why would Kṛṣṇa say *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja* [[bg/18/66|[Bg. 18.66] ]], first of all Kṛṣṇa said *dharma-saṁsthāpanārthāya*, I appear to establish dharma, but why does He then say, Kṛṣṇa says, *sarva-dharmān parityajya*, this if you can understand a little, Kṛṣṇa says *mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja*, only take shelter at my feet, that is *dharma* and nothing else is *dharma sarva-dharmān parityajya*, please try to understand we are teaching this *dharma*. We don't go out and say that you become Christian or you become a Hindu. We simply ask everyone to become devotee of God, accept God and serve God, this is the only subject matter of our preaching. Please try to understand, this *Bhagavata dharma* means *kṛṣṇastu bhagavān svayam*, *svayam bhagavān kṛṣṇa*, this is being accepted in the foreign countries. You all should also try to take shelter at the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead the way it has been said in the *Bhagavad-gītā*. Regardless of what *dharma* you choose to follow, > dharmaḥ svanuṣṭhitaḥ puṁsāṁ > viṣvaksena-kathāsu yaḥ > notpādayed yadi ratiṁ > śrama eva hi kevalam > [[sb/1/2/8|[SB. 1.2.8] ]] So, whichever religion you follow, if that doesn't awaken loving service for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then it is simply useless labor. This is the verdict of the scriptures. And we request you all that please reawaken the dormant devotional service within your heart, and the only method to do so, especially in this *Kaliyuga*. Not just in *Kaliyuga* but in every *yuga—śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam* [[sb/7/5/23|[SB. 7.5.23] ]], in every scripture this has been mentioned, that to execute devotional service first one needs to awaken it, by hearing the holy name, *bhagavan-nāma gṛhṇan adibhih*, so please accept this chanting of the holy names. Hare Kṛṣṇa full *mantra*. Then gradually you will come to the realization that Kṛṣṇa is sitting within your heart and if you surrender unto Him, and continue chanting His holy name without offence then Kṛṣṇa, sitting within one's heart who Himself says *teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ taṁ* [[bg/10/10|[Bg. 10.10] ]], those who perform devotional service with love and intelligence, to them Kṛṣṇa sitting within their heart gives intelligence, *buddhi yoga*, and what is this *buddhi yoga*? *Yena mam upayanti te*, *buddhi yoga* which is same as *bhakti yoga* for which Kṛṣṇa says *yena mām upayānti te* [[bg/10/10|[Bg. 10.10] ]], by which one goes back to Kṛṣṇa. So, this is the only means to go Back to Godhead *bhaktyā mām abhijānāti* [[bg/18/55|[Bg. 18.55] ]], only the path of devotional service *bhakti*, not by *karma*, *jnana* or *yoga* can one attain Kṛṣṇa. It is possible to attain some material prowess by such methods but if one wishes to attain God, then just like He says *bhaktyā mām abhijānāti yāvān yaś cāsmi tattvataḥ* [[bg/18/55|[Bg. 18.55] ]], those who are performing devotional service and have acceptegd devotional service, only such devotees can know me in essence and all those who are *jnanis* and *yogis* they will never be able to understand Kṛṣṇa. Therefore, according to the scriptures it is required from the human beings to choose this path for we not know what kind of body we will get after this human life. If according to our karma we get a body different from that within the human society, just like it has been said *Jalaja nava laksani sthavara laksya vimsati*, their eighty four *lakh* species, if one goes within that cycle then the human form of life which has been received we have wasted it, missed the opportunity. Such kind of behavior is not considered appropriate. In the scriptures it has been said that if someone dies knowing such a face is a *brāhmaṇa etad viditvā yaḥ prayāti sa brāhmaṇaḥ*, those who die without this knowledge like, dogs and wolves they are *kṛpaṇas*, why it has been said so? Because they have received this opportunity but... just like if a person has received one lakh rupees and they don't use it properly, he will be known as *kṛpaṇa* but if he uses it generously then he will be known as a generous person. So, a *brāhmaṇa* means a person who utilizes this human form of life properly to ultimately attain the highest destination after death. But those who are *kṛpaṇas* they simply eat, sleep produce offsprings and die like dogs. So, this is the subject matter of our preaching. So, all of you have received this human form of life, so please don't waste it like a *kṛpaṇa*. Please become a *brāhmaṇa* and take the responsibility of a *brāhmaṇa*, and develop his qualities. Spiritual life is one of the qualities of a *brāhmaṇa*. All you have to do if first of all give up these four kinds of activities, *striyaḥ sūnā dyūtaṁ pānaṁ yatrādharmaś catur-vidhaḥ* [[sb/1/17/38|[SB. 1.17.38] ]], there are four kinds of sinful activities particularly, for the *brāhmaṇas* they are proscribed and should be given up by anyone who wishes to follow spiritual life. There is this rule in the scriptures that if the king is sinful then the entire population will suffer. And if a *brāhmaṇa* engages in sinful activities he immediately falls down. He will become a *śūdra*, and if everyone is a *śūdra* no one even is a *ksatriya* then how will the government run nicely? And in *Kali yuga* particularly, *kalau śūdra sambhavah*. So, if anyone is serious about attaining elevation, then this is the duty of the Indians to give them the opportunity. Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, > bhārata-bhūmite haila manuṣya-janma yāra > janma sārthaka kari' kara para-upakāra > [Cc. Ādi9.41] This is the mission of Indian people and same is the mission of our International Society for KC to elevate everyone to the platform of *brāhmaṇa-vaiṣṇava*, please all of you accept it. And with this endeavor these boys and girls have advanced so much, so please you also accept it. This is my request to you. Thank you very much. Hare Krishna. [End]