S.B. 1:2:18

[01:12]“nasta-prayesv abhadresu” ‘abhadra’ - in Indian understanding is not civilized.

[01:30]In your country we say a gentleman. So, that gentleness is called ‘bhadra.’

[01:43]And in India the gentlemen, Sanskrit language, are ‘bhadra.’

[01:50]So, all of us, unless we become Krishna conscious, we are not ‘bhadra.’

[02:05]‘abhadra’….Not…When one comes to Krishna Consciousness then he is supposed to be cultured.

[02:22]So, this culture, Krishna culture, means to hear about Krishna.

[02:34]Simply hearing, always hearing, this is Krishna culture.

[02:43]You haven’t got to do anything, simply come here and sit properly and hear about Krishna.

[02:54]This is Krishna culture.

[02:58]You haven’t got to exercise your breathing, no, just sit down like gentlemen and hear about Krishna.

[03:12]This is very important process.

[03:16]This we have already discussed: “srnvatam sva-katha-krsnah.”

[03:22]Simply if anyone agrees to hear about Krishna, then life will be successful.

[03:39]That’s all. You have nothing to do. [03:50]Our process is this: please come hear about Krishna, and take a little prasadam…

[04:04]Krishna is so kind, that as soon as you begin to hear about Krishna, immediately you

[04:14]draw the attention of Krishna. “srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah.”

[04:19]Even if Krishna’s attention is not drawn, still, simply by hearing and chanting

[04:28]you become perfect, purified. “ceto-darpana-marjanam.” This is the process.

[04:33]So, when this process is adopted and it is not even finalized perfectly, still you get the benefit.

[04:47]Still you get the benefit.

[05:02]Suppose you have to attend lecture and hearing God hundred times,

[05:12]suppose you have done only one or two times, still you get the benefit.

[05:17]No a single part of it is ever [wasted].

[05:24]In the sastra it is said, if by some sentiment, “tyaktva sva dharman caranambujam harer…”

[05:32]Just like in our association, in the society, many men come, join,

[05:42]not exactly understanding what is Krishna Consciousness.But out of sentiment,

[05:49]“Let us join.” That we know. He gives up his own duty, “tyaktva sva dharman…”

[05:59]‘tyaktva’ means giving up, and ‘sva dharma’ means occupational duties.

[06:18]Everyone has got occupational duties.

[06:22]Generally, according to Vedic civilization, occupational duties are

[06:31]divided according to qualities.

[06:34] That is also in the present age. If one man is qualified as a medical man,

[06:42]he is allowed to practice as a medical man. If one man is qualified as an engineer…

[06:48]So every man has got some occupational duty.

[06:53]So, sastra says that out of sentiment he gives up his occupational duty.

[07:02]“tyaktva sva dharman caranam bujam harer…”

[07:08]and takes to this Krishna Consciousness movement. “Let me join this…”

[07:14]That’s alright. If anyone has joined this Krishna Consciousness movement,

[07:22]let him become perfect. But it sometimes so happens that…the culture is not completed.

[07:39]By some bad association… bad association is already there,

[07:46]because the whole material nature is bad. It is not good.

[07:52]So, if one has joined the Krishna Consciousness movement,

[08:01]and let him execute the rules and regulations, then he’s making progress.

[08:07]There’s no doubt about it.

[08:10]But, somehow or other, even if he falls from Krishna Consciousness,

[08:16]sastra says here, what is ‘abhadra,’ what is… even if he has fallen down.

[08:27]And a person who is occupied, or engaged in his occupational duties very nicely,

[08:37]what is the gain?

[08:39]Just like…one person out of sentiment gives up his occupational duty

[08:48]and joins Krishna Consciousness movement and cannot make it perfect

[08:57]while in Krishna Consciousness movement falls down, there are many instances,

[09:04]still he has no loss. And this man who is very dutiful,

[09:11]and nicely executing his occupational duty, what is the gain?

[09:17]So, this man who has joined Krishna Consciousness out of sentiment

[09:33]even if he has fallen down, whatever he has done, that is permanent asset.

[09:38]If he has done one percent, that one percent perfection is guaranteed.

[09:47]Then next life he’ll begin from this second step. It is so nice.

[09:56]Therefore here it is said, “nasta-prayesv abhadresu…”

[10:01]Not that his inauspiciousness of material existence is completely finished.

[10:09]Even it is finished to a certain percentage, not a hundred percent. So, then, what is the result?

[10:26]The result is “bhagavaty uttama-sloke bhaktir bhavati naisthiki.”

[10:32]He becomes a bona fide attached devotee, although he cannot execute properly,

[10:40]somehow or other he falls down, “nasta-prayesv…” ‘prayesv’ means almost, not cent percent

[10:51]It is so nice. You begin with simply hearing and, even if you fall down, still it is beneficial.

[11:04]Therefore we should take chance of this hearing of Krishna katha, as soon as possible.

[11:12]And we shall preach also like that. It is Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s order.

[11:19]That, ‘amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa.’

[11:25]…Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was touring all over and somebody became vaisnava simply by seeing Him,

[11:34]by hearing Him, a man became a vaisnava.

[11:39]He was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He had so much power.

[11:46]So, some of them wanted to come to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and surrender everything…“

[11:51]I don’t like if you do this…” Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said,

[11:57]“No. You remain in your present condition, there is no need of coming to Me.

[12:04]But you become a spiritual master.” This is our philosophy.

[12:10]Everyone of you become a spiritual master. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said that.

[12:19]Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says, “…by My order.”

[12:24]You cannot become a spiritual master all of a sudden.

[12:27]There must be order from a superior person. Superior to you.

[12:34]If he says, “Now you can make disciples,” then you can do that.

[12:44]This is the educational process.

[12:48]That means, when one has received order from the spiritual master

[12:57]he can be…[spiritual master.] But the order is open.

[13:01]Order is open, but it must be executed properly as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says.

[13:09]What is that? “amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa.”

[13:15]There is no need of going out of home, out of country, any place a person is situated…

[13:23]That is also supported by Bhagavatam, “sthane sthitah sriti-gatam tanu-van-manobhir.”

[13:31]You remain in your position, there is no need of changing your position,

[13:39]but if order is given through the words of Krishna, or through the words of

[13:46]representative of Krishna, then your life will be successful.

[13:53]This is explained here. The more you hear, the more you will become advanced.

[14:01]Practically we are seeing all our devotees they’re beginning at dawn.

[14:10]There is much difference. How the difference is coming? Simply by hearing.

[14:15]‘Sruti.’ ‘Sruti’ means hearing.

[14:22]So, our movement, this Krishna Consciousness movement does not say

[14:28]that you give up your occupational duty, give up your home, give up your family, no.

[14:36]There are many grihastas [householders] as we have got.

[14:41]Bhaktivinode Thakur especially here, he was a grihasta.

[14:46]He did not give up his home, nor, neither his job. He was a magistrate, government officer,

[14:56]but, he became a great devotee, by culture. What is that culture? “Krishna katha.”

[15:07]Simply, he was coming from his office, say, five or six in the evening, and

[15:16]immediately he would eat some…food, and go take rest.

[15:23]Then he would rise up, at three or four at night and begin writing books.

[15:33]So, he give us so many nice books Chaitanya Caritamrta he gave us especially,

[15:43]and many song books in Bengali, in English, and some of them in Sanskrit.

[15:52]So, he was in this way engaged. So, if anyone wants to serve Krishna,

[16:00]Bhaktivinode Thakur’s life is a good example.

[16:03]Even by becoming a responsible government official, he could become a very, very idea guru,

[16:11]provided he wants to carry out the order of his spiritual master.

[16:17]This is the process. Therefore it is said, “nityam bhagavata-sevaya”

[16:24]‘Bhagavata,’ this word comes from the word bhagavata or bhagavan

[16:31]Bhagavan means the Supreme Being, full of six opulences.

[16:38]Opulence is called ‘bhaga.’ So, the Supreme Person is endowed with full six kinds of opulences.

[16:49]That is called Bhagavan. Every word in Sanskrit has got root meanings.

[16:56]‘Bhaga’ means fortune or opulence, and ‘Bhagavata’…

[17:02]‘Vata’ is used in the sense of possession.

[17:07]When you possess something, then this word, this effix is there…

[17:14]‘Bhaga’-opulence and ‘van,’ ‘Bhagavan;’ this is analysis of it.

[17:32]And in connection with ‘Bhagavan’ the word ‘Bhagavata.’

[17:39]So, this book Bhagavata and the devotee is also Bhagavata.

[17:46]So, you only have to serve this book as well as the person,

[17:52]the person Bhagavata, that is also confirmed in the Chaitanya Caritamrta,

[17:58]“guru Krishna prasade paya bhakti-lata bija.”

[18:03]That Bhagavata, person Bhagavata, is guru, spiritual master, and Krishna…guru/Krishna,

[18:15]you have to take favor, mercy, of both.

[18:21]If you simply think that I will take the mercy of my guru, I don’t care for Krishna, no.

[18:32]You have to take favor of Krishna or, if you take the favor of guru,

[18:40]then automatically you get the favor of Krishna. “Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado.”

[18:46]If you please your guru that means Krishna is pleased. Just like, you have got small child on your lap.

[18:58]If somebody pleases the small child, then automatically you become pleased.

[19:04]Just like there is a proverb, “if you love me, love my dog.”

[19:11]Similarly, if you love the dog of Krishna, the servant of Krishna,

[19:18]who is always engaged in the service of Krishna, then Krishna become more pleased.

[19:25]“Mad-bhakta-puja abhyadhika.” Krishna says, “if one worships my devotee,

[19:33]that devotion, that worship is more valuable than worshipping me directly.”

[19:40]This is confirmed. Therefore it is said, ‘nityam bhagavata-sevaya.’

[19:46]If you want to increase your love of Godhead, feelings, emotions for Krishna,

[19:56]then you should adopt this process… “nityam bhagavata-sevaya…” regularity.

[20:03]Therefore we insist that you attend regularly the classes and hear about Krishna.

[20:12]Then you will become advanced in Krishna Consciousness.

[20:15]“bhaktir bhavati naisthiki.” ‘naisthiki’ means unflinching, fixed up, and ‘bhakti,’ devotional service.

[20:27]Wherever (‘bhaktir,’ means ‘bhagavati’) this word ‘bhakti’ is used only in connection with Bhagavan.

[20:38]There are so many bhaktas, they are manufactured.

[20:40]One is devoted to his family, one is devoted to his dog, one is devoted to his country, society.

[20:48]There are different types of attachment. But here it is said, “bhaktir bhagavati.”

[20:55] ‘Bhakti,’ when you engage your attachment to Bhagavan, the Supreme Person, then it will…

[21:05]‘bhaktir,’ ‘bhagavan,’ and ‘bhakta.’ ‘Bhagavan’ is there, and ‘bhakta’ is there,

[21:12]and the transaction between Bhagavan and bhakta, that is called bhakti.

[21:16]The impersonalist cannot understand what is bhakti, because there is no duality.

[21:26]They do not believe in duality, Bhagavan and bhakta.

[21:32]They believe that everything is one.

[21:35]There is no question of bhakti in the impersonalist sense of monism.

[21:40]Bhakti is possible in duality, “nityo nityanam.” That is the Vedic version.

[21:50]‘Nitya,’ the Supreme Being and the subordinate being.

[21:55]Subordinate means you are engaged in the service of the Supreme Being, that is called bhakti.

[22:02]So, in order to attain the perfection of bhakti, devotional service,

[22:10]one has to begin with, “srnvatam sva-katha Krishna,” and by hearing

[22:18]and hearing, ‘nasta-praysv abhadresu’ - ‘abhadra’ inauspicious desires.

[22:30]What is that inauspicious desires? The karmis. One who wants to become happy

[22:37]by working hard in this material world, they are called karmis.

[22:42]Everyone is trying, earning more money, more money, more money.

[22:48]‘diva carthehaya rajan kutumba-bharanena va.’ ‘Diva,“ daytime, the karmis’ business is,

[22:57]in the daytime he’s engaged ‘diva, carthehaya rajan.’ Where is money? Where is money?

[23:08]Where is money? In your country, especially, big, big cities,

[23:11]all nice motorcars are driving this way and that way, what is the purpose?

[23:17]Where is money? Where is money? Where is money? ‘diva carthehaya rajan…’

[23:24]Then if you have got money, then what do you do? “kutumba-bharenena,” ‘kutumba’ means family,

[23:32]wife, children, relatives also, how the provide them, how to give them some money,

[23:40]how to give them place, good food…

[23:43]Our countrymen, ‘kutumba bharanena,’

[23:48]The whole day is spoiled in this way, by driving car this way and that way, earning money, lots.

[23:55]Then, for maintenance of the family, then remains what is at night?

[24:01]“nidraya hriyate naktam,” lifeless living or ‘vyavayena ca,’ sex life.

[24:13]So, this is the business of karmis. At night, sleeping or sex life,

[24:20]and at daytime get money and spend it more.

[24:25]Then where is Krishna Consciousness? Where is Krishna Consciousness?

[24:32]Where is the result for the karmis?

[24:35]Therefore, the karmis are described in the sastras, ‘mudha.’

[24:40]‘Mudha’ means the ass. Why the ass, so intelligent, working hard, what for?

[24:48]Sense gratification. ‘nu nam pramattah kurute vikarma’ ‘yad-indriya-pritaya aprnoti’

[24:57]Their business is they have become mad to earn money and spend.

[25:05]What is the purpose? Sense gratification. In France, in Paris,

[25:13]old men, seventy-five years old, eighty years old, they go to the nightclub.

[25:20]They purchase tickets to enter the nightclub, fifty dollars.

[25:28]Then they select their co-partner and wine bottles, another three hundred dollars…

[25:36]So, this is the karmi life. He does not know that why I am laboring so hard

[25:47]and why I am spending money unnecessarily in sense gratification.

[25:52]“mudho ‘yam nabhijanati loko mama jam avyayam”

[25:57]Everything is there in our literature.

[26:01]Read Bhagavad-Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam carefully and life will be successful.

[26:06]So, here one thing is suggested, ‘nityam bhagavata-sevaya’

[26:12]Daily, daily read Bhagavatam and try to serve the person Bhagavatam,

[26:22]your spiritual master. You must carry his order, whatever he says, try to obey.

[26:28]Otherwise life is spoiled, “adhau gurvasam…”

[26:36]Our ‘bhakti-marga,’ first business is “adhau gurvasam sat-dharma-prccha.”

[26:42]The first beginning is to accept the spiritual master and inquire from him

[26:48]about advancement of spiritual life and abide by that.

[26:52]This is called ‘bhagavata-sevaya,’ ‘nityam.’ This is to be done regularly. “nityam bhagavata.”

[26:59]Then “bhagavaty uttama-sloke” ‘Uttama,’ ‘uttama’ means transcendental.

[27:06]‘Ut’ means transcend, and ‘tama,’ ‘tama’ means darkness.

[27:13]‘Tama’ means darkness, or ignorance, also this material world, ‘tama.’

[27:19]It is dark because it is dark, therefore, Krishna has given us the sun or the moon.

[27:26]Without sun, without moon, it is dark. Just like at night it is dark.

[27:32]That is its natural position. Therefore it is called ‘tama.’ ‘Tama’ means darkness or ignorance.

[27:39]So, Bhagavan is ‘uttama.’ ‘Uttama’ means above the sky.

[27:49]“paras tasmat to bhavo ‘nyo…”

[27:50]There is another kingdom or another nature which is not ‘tama,’ dark.

[27:56]That is stated in Upanishads.

[28:01]There is no need of sunshine. There is another nature. This nature doesn’t need of sunshine.

[28:07]“na tad bhasayate suryo” Where there is no need of sunshine. There is no need of moonlight.

[28:18]There is no need of electricity. There is “na tad bhasayate suryono sasanko na pavakah.”

[28:28]You can find this in Bhagavad-Gita.

[28:30]There, there is no need of these things, lighting, because as here in this

[28:38]universe, we have got only one planet shining, this sun planet.

[28:45]In the spiritual world, all the Vaikuntha planets, they’re shining.

[28:51]And because all of them shining, the whole nature there is shining.

[28:57]That is called ‘brahmajyoti.’ So, we have got all the information

[29:04]what the spiritual world, what is the material world, why we are

[29:10]in the material world, why we are subjected under birth, death, old age, and disease.

[29:16]So, as we go on hearing, “nityam bhagavatam” in the Bhagavata we hear everything completely.