Guide to Self Realization - The Acharya Part 3

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[00:11]: For a dedicated follower of the Vaishnava religious tradition, Vridaban, India is the most sacred place on earth.
[00:19]: In 1965, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada left the holy city of Vrindaban
[00:26]: to deliver the message of Krishna Consciousness to the Western countries.
[00:31]: At the request of his spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada gave up his peaceful and contemplative life there
[00:37]: in order to preach the profound wisdom of ancient India to the rest of the world.
[00:41]: No one could have imagined that in a few short years, Srila Prabhupada would have created a revolution
[00:48]: in spiritual consciousness and become the Acharya, the spiritual teacher, to so many people.
[00:53]: He had founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, a worldwide confederation
[01:00]: of over one hundred ashrams, schools, temples, farm communities,
[01:05]: and had made the chanting of Hare Krishna familiar to millions of people.
[01:10]: And, he had written and published over eighty volumes of translation and commentary on self-realization,
[01:16]: which are now standard in universities and libraries around the world.
[01:20]: Srila Prabhupada circled the globe eleven times between 1966 and 1977 and he met
[01:28]: countless political, social, and religious leaders in scores of countries on every continent.
[01:33]: He would speak at great length and often with considerable intensity on various subjects.
[01:39]: During these discourses, Srila Prabhupada would turn the profound Vedic philosophy
[01:44]: into a practical cutting edge that penetrated every sphere of life and thought.
[01:49]: Srila Prabhupada taught that there can be no real peace or brotherhood in human society,
[01:56]: as long as we are murdering our brothers, the animals.
[02:00]: Nature’s laws of karma, action and reaction, ensure that violence is repaid with violence.
[02:07]: In other words, as you sow, so shall ye reap.
[02:11]: Srila Prabhupada’s views were always persuasive because they rested on systematic logic
[02:17]: and sound philosophy. He once said philosophy without religion is mental speculation,
[02:24]: and religion without philosophy is sentimentality.
[02:33]: For example it is necessary, for the food of man, to eat, to eat (animals).
[02:45]: Man can eat grains, food grains, fruits, milk, sugar, wheat.
[02:55]: Not flesh?
[03:00]: No.
[03:02]: Why? Just like the fruits. The fruits are meant for human beings.
[03:10]: The tiger does not come to eat your fruits.
[03:13]: So tiger’s food is another animal. Man’s food is fruit, food grains, milk products.
[03:24]: But why? Because grain and plants are also living beings.
[03:34]: That’s all right. That we also understand.
[03:37]: But if you can live, just like, generally, if I can live on fruits, and grains, and milk,
[03:51]: why should I kill another animal?
[03:55]: Another thing, how can you support that animal killing is not sin?
[04:06]: Cardinal Danielou Paris 1975
[04:09]: How do you justify that killing animals is not a sin?
[04:20]: Because we think that there is a difference of nature between the life of man,
[04:37]: life of spirit, and biological life. We think that animals, plants are not real beings.
[04:47]: They are world of appearance and that the human person only is real being.
[04:53]: and that in this sense the material world is without importance.
[05:00]: That only the spirit is real being and the remainder is appearance and not really existing.
[05:17]: We think so, we think that animals, plants are not real beings,
[05:24]: are world of appearance, and that the human person only is real being.
[05:31]: And that in this sense the material world is without importance.
[05:38]: Now, I follow. Suppose you are living in this house.
[05:44]: So, you are not this house. That’s a fact.
[05:52]: But if I come and break your house, is it not inconvenience for you?
[05:59]: Surely it is inconvenient.
[06:02]: So if I cause inconvenience to you, is it not criminal?
[06:07]: It is inconvenient to me, but…
[06:11]: Now, if I cause some inconvenience to you, is it not criminal? Is it not sinful?
[06:23]: I think if there is a serious reason, it is not the destruction of the spiritual man himself.
[06:41]: By example, it is perfectly possible to use the reality of the material world, of the natural world,
[06:59]: to the valuable finality of human vocation.
[07:08]: We think that the question is a question of motivation.
[07:15]: There could exist a bad reason for killing an animal.
[07:26]: But if the killing of animal is to give food to children, men, women, who are hungry, it is legitimate.
[07:47]: It is difficult for me to admit that in India the cows, it is not permitted,
[07:59]: to kill a cow to give to children who are hungry.
[08:08]: Another consideration. Cow’s milk we drink, therefore she is mother, is it not?
[08:31]: According to the Vedic version we have got seven mothers.
[08:39]: Adumata, the original mother. Guru patni, wife of the spiritual master.
[09:00]: Adumata, Guru patni, Brahmani, the wife of the priest. Raj patrika, the wife of the king, the queen.
[09:16]: Four, adumata, guru patni, brahmani, raj patrika, dhenu, dhenu means cow.
[09:27]: Dhenu, dhatri, dhatri means nurse. Tatha prithvi, prithvi means earth.
[09:34]: These are seven mothers.
[09:39]: So cow is mother because we drink milk, cow’s milk. How can I deny that she is not mother?
[09:50]: So how can we support the killing of mother.
[09:55]: Yes, it is a motive, but we think that…
[10:04]: Therefore, in India, those who are meat-eaters, they are advised, that is also under restriction,
[10:14]: advised to kill some lower animals, like goats, even up to buffaloes.
[10:27]: But cow killing is the greatest sin.
[10:32]: I know this. This is for us a difficulty.
[10:42]: Yes, because the cow is mother, you take the milk from the mother,
[10:50]: and when she is old, she cannot give you milk, therefore she should be killed.
[10:57]: Is that a very good proposal?
[11:11]: If men are hungry, the life of men is more important than the life of cows.
[11:20]: Therefore because we are propagating this Krishna Consciousness,
[11:24]: we ask people not to eat meat of any kind, but if under certain circumstances
[11:38]: you are obliged to eat meat, eat the flesh of some lower animals.
[11:46]: Don’t kill cows. That is the greatest sin. And so long one will be sinful,
[11:57]: he will not be able to understand what is God.
[12:01]: But human beings’ main business is to understand God and to love Him.
[12:10]: But if he remains sinful, neither he can understand God and what is the question of loving Him?
[12:19]: Therefore at least for human society, this cruel maintenance of slaughterhouses must be stopped.
[12:51]: I think that perhaps this is not an essential point.
[12:58]: I think that in this realm the users of various religions can be good.
[13:08]: The important thing is to love God, but the practical commitment can be varied.
[13:15]: That is like if God says that you can do this, that is not sin.
[13:28]: But if God says that you cannot do it, then it is sin.
[13:35]: That is our philosophy, isavasyam idam sarvam. Everything belongs to God. That’s a fact.
[13:51]: Under the influence of maya, we are thinking that this is my property.
[14:01]: Just like suppose this cushion, where from the wood has come?
[14:14]: Has anybody produced the wood? Who has produced it?
[14:21]: It is God’s property.
[14:26]: Rather, we have stolen God’s property, and claimed it as my property.
[14:32]: There is Australia, the Englishmen came here, but is that the property of the Englishmen?
[14:42]: It was there, America, it was there, and when everything will be finished, it will still be there.
[14:54]: In the middle we come and claim it is my property and fight. Is it not?
[15:03]: You are the barrister, you can judge better.
[15:07]: That was the argument he used.
[15:14]: Originally everything belongs to God. So why are you claiming it is my property?
[15:22]: The son must know the property is father’s. That is the real knowledge.
[15:32]: Now whatever father has given me, I will use it.
[15:40]: Why shall I encroach upon my other brother’s property which he has gotten from the father?
[15:47]: This is good sense, why shall I fight with my other brother?
[15:53]: My father has given him this property.
[15:57]: So let his use that and whatever he has given me, let me use it.
[16:03]: Why shall I encroach upon his property? That is good sense.
[16:10]: I can understand when you say don’t encroach on other people’s property,
[16:15]: and I think if I can understand you correctly what you’re saying is that
[16:21]: if you have something, your father has given you something, and someone
[16:25]: else wants to use it, well, let him.
[16:26]: I can understand that, but then you can get to the stage at times,
[16:31]: that for some reason or other, you don’t want him to use it.
[16:40]: We are believing that everything belongs to God, and someone else
[16:46]: does not believe in that concept…
[16:48]: That is wrong, that I say. That is his wrong concept.
[16:53]: How do you reconcile…. Well if everything belongs to God, we have to run society.
[17:18]: You don’t forget that everything belongs to God.
[17:21]: Because you have to run society it does not mean that you forget the real thing.
[17:28]: I really don’t object to that idea at all, but the thing is that there are
[17:35]: the system we’re working within has got different concepts.
[17:41]: Then you should rectify.
[17:50]: First think is that everyone should be convinced or understand clearly that everything belongs to God.
[18:00]: But they have no conception of God even. That is the difficulty.
[18:07]: The whole human society at the present moment, the majority, they are Godless.
[18:14]: Especially the communists.
[18:18]: They don’t acknowledge, the scientists, the philosophers, the scholars, all Godless.
[18:28]: You can’t say that scientists are working in a way that is opposite to God’s will?
[18:36]: Yes, they say. Oh yes, I have met many scientists.
[18:38]: They say that we shall solve everything by scientific advancement.
[18:43]: We have done already. They say like that. Just like there is a big theory, chemical theory.
[18:53]: One big scientist, big or small, whatever he may be. He has got a Nobel prize.
[19:02]: He was medium-sized.
[19:06]: He is making the theory that life has come from chemicals. By chemical combination, chemical evolution.
[19:17]: Darwin’s theory is also like that. This is there.
[19:21]: Big, big scientists, they are so foolish - that life has come from matter, where is the proof?
[19:30]: One lecturer in California University, and there was one student, he was my disciple,
[19:41]: he challenged him, that if he could get the chemicals, whether you can manufacture life?
[19:49]: To that the answer was: “That I cannot say”
[19:53]: You’re putting this theory that life has come from chemicals.
[19:59]: So science means observation and experiment.
[20:04]: Now experimentally prove, get the chemicals and produce life.
[20:12]: They’re trying!
[20:14]: That is another foolishness.
[20:16]: When you are trying to be a lawyer, a barrister, that does not mean you are barrister.
[20:22]: When you are a student of law you cannot say that I am a barrister or advocate.
[20:30]: That you cannot say. You are trying to be, that is another thing.
[20:36]: But while they are trying to be, they are taking the position of leader. That is the misleading.
[20:44]: That is described in Srimad Bhagavatam. Andha yathandair upaniyamanas.
[20:49]: One blind man is trying to lead many other blind men. What is the use of such leading?
[20:57]: But can’t you have people doing good for the sake of goodness?
[21:12]: He does not know what is good. Therefore I said blind.
[21:20]: He does not know what is good. Real goodness is to understand God.
[21:26]: That is real goodness.
[21:28]: There are certain things that you don’t…that are good that you can accept as being good.
[21:33]: Just by themselves. You see an old lady who gets run over by a car.
[21:40]: You go and help her. Now, there are certain things that are good by themselves.
[21:47]: And that people will react and do the good things
[21:51]: even though they might not have any concept of God.
[21:54]: No. Unless you have got the real platform, how can you do good?
[22:05]: Just like our Madhuvisa Maharaj, who lies to you: We have done some good, legal affairs.
[22:17]: But unless you are a lawyer, legal man, how can you do it?
[22:22]: You have a mind to do good. But if you are not a lawyer, how can you do it?
[22:34]: But there would be a lot of lawyers…
[22:37]: That is another thing, I am talking of yourself.
[22:39]: If one does not know what is good then how will you do good?
[22:45]: First business is, that he must know what is good. Then he can do something good.
[22:56]: Otherwise what is the use of jumping around like a monkey.
[23:01]: So therefore anyone who is posing himself as leader to do good to the society,
[23:09]: he must know first of all what is good.
[23:12]: But you should see whether you’re successful, and what is the standard of success?
[23:19]: The standard of success is whether you have pleased God.
[23:27]: Read this: Atah pumbhir dvija srestha Find out this verse.
[23:56]: “Oh, best among the twice born it is therefore concluded that the highest perfection
[24:10]: one can achieve by discharging his prescribed duties, dharma, according to caste divisions
[24:17]: and order of life to please the lord, Hari.”
[24:22]: That is it, that should be there.
[24:25]: So whether by my profession, by my business, by my talent, by my capacity,
[24:33]: there are different categories. whether I have pleased God, then it is success.
[24:54]: India is still - if one has a very good garden with flowers.
[24:59]: If somebody goes: Sir, I want to take some flowers from your garden for worshipping God,
[25:06]: yes, you can take. They’ll be very glad.
[25:15]: This man, his livelihood depends on those flowers, and I don’t think…
[25:23]: his possessions were more important to him.
[25:27]: It’s funny, there’s a funny follow-up the flowers were taken from two men who
[25:39]: ran nurseries, and we had to go through an appeal to get home but just
[25:50]: before the appeal came off, the boys needed a glass house, for the plants that you’ve got outside.
[26:01]: So they’re driving around, and one says, well, lets go and find something out
[26:11]: about glass houses. Oh, there’s a nice nursery
[26:14]: The car drives up, you see. And he says, “Excuse me sir, we’re interested in
[26:29]: glass houses. “Would you please get out of my land.” - Same nursery.
[26:46]: Yasyati bhaktir bhagavati akincana Sarvair gunais tatra samasate surah
[26:54]: Harav abhaktasya kuto mahad-guna Manorathenasati dhavato bahih.
[27:00]: The meaning is that anyone who is God conscious, a devotee, he has got all the good qualities.
[27:12]: What we consider as good qualities, he has got.
[27:19]: And similarly, one who is not a devotee of God, he has no good qualities.
[27:27]: Because he will hover on the mental platform. There are different platforms,
[27:36]: bodily concept of life, generally, I am this body, therefore, my business is to satisfy the senses.
[27:47]: This is bodily concept of life.
[27:52]: And others, they are thinking, “I am not this body.” “I am mind.”
[28:00]: They are going on mental speculation, like philosophers, thoughtful men.
[28:08]: And above that there is intelligent class of men, practicing some yoga.
[28:22]: And spiritual platform is above that.
[28:27]: First, bodily concept gross, then mental, then intellectual, then spiritual.
[28:37]: So this Krishna consciousness movement is on the spiritual platform,
[28:46]: above body, mind, and intelligence.
[28:52]: But actually, we should come to that platform, because we are spirit soul.
[28:57]: We are neither this body, nor this mind, nor this intelligence.
[29:03]: So, one who is on the platform of spiritual consciousness,
[29:11]: they have got everything: intelligence, proper use of mind, proper use of the body.
[29:21]: Everything is there.
[29:26]: If I say, at the same time, although he is hero, he must be generous.
[29:29]: Just like Alexander the Great, perhaps you know this story.
[29:35]: He arrested one thief.
[29:39]: So when he was arrested and he was being judged by Alexander,
[29:45]: the thief pleaded that what is the difference between you and me?
[29:51]: You are a great thief, I am a small thief.
[29:54]: So Alexander understood it and got him released, yes…
[30:01]: This is generosity.
[30:07]: You must agree to the principle.
[30:09]: Well, there’s another one, the battle. Remember the big battle, where the opposition…
[30:18]: What was his name? Was on the ground and he said…
[30:21]: Abhimanu was surrounded by the maharatis. There was no mercy then.
[30:26]: So now Jnana was objecting that you cannot shoot a man if he gets of his chariot.
[30:36]: And Krishna said there was no mercy for Abhimanu so there will be no mercy now.
[30:40]: Tit for tat. In war that is happening, tit for tat.
[30:43]: Where was generosity?
[30:45]: That is war tactics.
[31:00]: Give some prasadam for them.
[31:06]: We invited everyone over to Uggashrava’s house one night, we had a big party,
[31:13]: and Walley came, and Raymond came, and they became addicted to prasadam.