Los Angeles, 1973 - SB. 1.8.25 - Part 3 - (DVD 11)

SUBTITLES FOR SP13-01-SB 1.8.25 LA 73

[00:01]“I wish that all those calamities would happen again and again so that we could see

[00:05]You again and again, for seeing You means that we will no longer see repeated births and deaths.”

[00:11]So that is very interesting verse that vipada, calamities, danger,

[00:24]that is very good if such danger and calamities remind me of Krsna.

[00:36]That is very good. Tat te ‘nukampam su-samiksamano bhunjana evatma-krtam vipakam.

[00:50]A devotee, how he receives dangerous position? Danger must be there. Danger…

[01:05]Because this place, this material world is full of dangers. These foolish persons,

[01:14]they do not know that. They are trying to avoid the dangers. That is struggle for existence.

[01:23]Everyone is trying to become happy and avoid danger. This is the material business.

[01:33]Atyantika-sukham. Atyantika-sukham. Ultimate happiness. A man is working and thinking:

[01:48]“Let me work now very hard, and let me have some bank balance so when I shall get old,

[01:58]I shall enjoy life without any working.” That is the inner intention of everyone.

[02:12]Nobody wants to work. As soon as he gets some money he wants to retire from work,

[02:23]and to become happy. But that is not possible. You cannot be happy in that way.

[02:34]Here it is said: apunar bhava-darsanam. The real danger is… She is speaking of apunah.

[02:47]Apunah means… A means not, and punar bhava means repetition of birth and death.

[02:56]The real danger is repetition of birth and death. That has to be stopped.

[03:07]And not this so-called danger. This is all… The material world is full of dangers.

[03:16]Padam padam yad vipadam. Just like if you are on the ocean. If you are on the ocean,

[03:24]you might have very strong ship, very safe ship, but that is not safety.

[03:37]Because you are on the sea, at any time there can be dangers.

[03:43]Perhaps you remember from your country, there was, what is that, Titanic?

[03:50]Titanic.

[03:52]Everything was safe, but on the first voyage it was drowned, and all important men

[03:59]of your country, they lost their life. So danger there must be

[04:05]because you are in a dangerous position. This material world itself is dangerous position.

[04:14]So our business is… That danger must be there.

[04:20]Now our business should be how to cross over the sea as soon as possible.

[04:27]So long you are on the sea, you are on the dangerous position, however strong your ship may be.

[04:36]That’s a fact. So you should not be disturbed by the sea waves.

[04:42]Just try to cross over the sea. Go to the other side. That is your business.

[04:49]Similarly, so long we are in this material world, there must be dangerous calamities

[04:58]because this is the place of calamity. So our business is, even within these calamities,

[05:07]dangers, how we develop our Krsna consciousness and, after giving up this body,

[05:15]we go back to home, back go Krsna. That should be our business.

[05:21]We should not be disturbed by the so-called calamities. They are not so-called; they are factual.

[05:27]So this question was there by Arjuna to Krsna that: “Whatever You are speaking, it is all right.

[05:38]That I am not this body, I am soul. Everyone is not this body. He’s soul.

[05:45]So on the annihilation of this body…” (Aside:) Stop that. “On the annihilation of the body the soul will exist.

[05:57]But when I see my son is dying, or my grandfather is dying, I am killing,

[06:05]how can I solace me that my grandfather is not dying, my son is not dying,

[06:13]the, simply it is changing? Because I am accustomed to think like that.

[06:19]So there must be grief.” So Krsna replied: “Yes, that’s a fact.

[06:28]So that you must have to tolerate, that’s all. There is no other remedy.” Tams titiksasva bharata.

[06:37]Krsna never said that these are not facts, what Arjuna explained that:

[06:45]“I know that when my son is dying, my son is changing the body, or my grandfather

[06:54]is dying, changing the body, I know this, but still, because I am affectionate on the skin,

[07:02]so I must suffer.” The Krsna replied: “Yes, the suffering is there.

[07:07]Because you are also on the bodily concept of life. So suffering must be there.

[07:13]So there is no other remedy than to tolerate. There is no other remedy.”

[07:18]Matra-sparsas tu kaunteya sitosna-sukha-duhkha-dah.

[07:25]Just like in your country it is very chilly in the morning to take bath, a little difficult task.

[07:40]But does it mean that those who are devotees, they will stop taking bath?

[07:48]No. Even it is chilly, cold, one must take bath. The duty must be done.

[07:54]The duty must be done. Even it is little suffering. That is called tapasya.

[08:02]Tapasya means we must prolong or proceed with, with our Krsna consciousness business

[08:12]in spite of all dangerous and calamitous condition of this world.

[08:17]This is called tapasya. Tapasya means voluntarily accepting the difficulties of life.

[08:28]Sometimes tapasya, in the system of tapasya, in hot season, summer,

[08:36]in scorching heat of the sun, still they ignite some fire all around

[08:44]and sit down in the midst and meditate. There are some processes of tapasya like that.

[08:50]In chilly cold one goes into the water up to the neck and meditates. These things are prescribed in tapasya.

[09:03]But Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu does not give you such prescription.

[09:08]He gives you very nice program: chant, dance and take prasadam.

[09:13]Still we are unwilling. We cannot accept this tapasya. You see. We are so fallen.

[09:24]Su-sukham kartum avyayam. This is a kind of tapasya which is very easy to do

[09:35]and it is very pleasant. Still, we are not agreeable. We shall rot in the street,

[09:43]lie down anywhere and everywhere and still, I shall drink and have sex and lie down.

[09:52]So what can be done? We are giving good facilities. Come here, chant,

[10:00]dance and live very peacefully and take krsna-prasadam. Be happy.

[10:06]But people will not accept. That is called misfortune.

[10:13]Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore said: etadrsi tava krpa bhagavan mamapi durdaivam idrsam ihajani nanuragah.

[10:25]Caitanya Mahaprabhu says: namnam akari bahudha nija-sarva-saktih.

[10:33]In the transcendental holy name of God, Krsna, there is all potencies.

[10:40]As Krsna has got unlimited potencies, similarly in the name, holy name of Krsna,

[10:50]there is unlimited potency. So namnam akari bahudha. And there are many names of Krsna.

[11:01]Krsna has got thousands and thousands of names. Krsna name is the chief name.

[11:09]Namnam akari bahudha nija-sarva-saktis tatrarpita niyamitah smarane na kalah.

[11:17]And there is no hard and fast rule, that you have to chant in this time or that time.

[11:23]No. Any time. Any time you can take. And the name is identical with Krsna.

[11:32]On this logic, the name, the holy name of Krsna, is Krsna. He’s no other than Krsna.

[11:43]Don’t think that Krsna is living in Goloka Vrndavana and the name is different.

[11:50]Just like in material world we have got this conception. The name is different from the fact.

[11:55]But in the Absolute world there is no such difference. That is called absolute. Name is as potential as Krsna is potential.

[12:05]So you have got this tongue. You can chant Krsna, Hare Krsna. Immediately you become directly in touch with Krsna.

[12:16]Immediately. Because the name Krsna and Krsna-person is not different.

[12:23]Identical. So even if you think that Krsna is far, far away… Krsna is not far, far away.

[12:32]Krsna is not far, far away. Krsna is within you. He’s not far away.

[12:35]He’s far away, at the same time nearest. So even if you think that Krsna is far, far,

[12:43]His name is there. You chant Hare Krsna, Krsna becomes immediately available.

[12:50]Aniyamitah. And for making Krsna available in this shortcut way, there is no hard and fast rule.

[12:59]You can chant any time. Immediately you get Krsna. Just see the mercy of Krsna.

[13:06]Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that: etadrsi tava krpa. “My dear Lord,

[13:16]You have given Me so nice facilities to contact You, but durdaiva, but My,

[13:23]I am so unfortunate, I have no attachment for these things. I have no attachment.

[13:30]I have got so many attachments for other things. But I have got no attachment for chanting Hare Krsna.

[13:37]This is My misfortune.” Krsna has given so much facilities, that He is present before you

[13:45]by transcendental vibration in His name, and the name has got all the potencies of Krsna.

[13:52]So if you remain in contact with the name, you get all the benefit of Krsna’s benediction,

[14:00]but still, I am not inclined to chant Hare Krsna mantra. this is misfortune.

[14:08]So a devotee never takes dangerous position as very reverse position or very calamitous position. He welcomes.

[14:20]Because a surrendered soul, he knows either danger or festival,

[14:37]they are all different demonstration of Krsna. Krsna is absolute. In the sastra it is said

[14:43]that just like there are two kinds, two sides, religiosity and irreligiosity, just the opposite.

[14:53]But in the sastra it is said the religiosity is just the front portion of God, and irreligiosity is the back portion of God.

[15:03]So God’s front portion or back portion, is there any difference?

[15:12]God is absolute. Therefore a devotee, either in opulence or in danger,

[15:21]he is not disturbed. He knows both these things are Krsna. Either in dangerous position…

[15:30]“Now Krsna has appeared before me as danger.”

[15:37]Just like Hiranyakasipu and Prahlada Maharaja and Nrsimhadeva.

[15:44]Nrsimhadeva is dangerous to Hiranyakasipu, and He is the Supreme Friend to Prahlada Maharaja,

[15:57]the same Personality. Similarly God is never dangerous to the devotee.

[16:03]Devotee is never afraid of dangers. He’s confident that the danger, that is another feature of God.

[16:15]“So why shall I be afraid? I am surrendered to Him.” So Kuntidevi says that:

[16:25]vipadah santu. Vipadah santu tah sasvat. Because he, she knows how to remember Krsna at times of danger.

[16:39]So he is, she is welcoming danger. “My dear Lord, I welcome such dangers when I can remember You.”

[16:52]Just like Prahlada Maharaja, he was always thinking of Krsna when his father was putting him in dangerous position.

[17:01]So if you are put into the dangerous position and if that dangerous position gives an impetus to remember Krsna,

[17:13]that is welcome. That is welcome. “Oh, I am getting this opportunity of remembering Krsna.”

[17:21]So how it is welcome? It is welcome because seeing Krsna means I am advancing in my spiritual life

[17:35]so that I’ll not have to suffer any more of these dangerous positions.

[17:40]Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti kaunteya [Bg. 4.9]. If you become advanced

[17:48]in Krsna consciousness, then the result will be, after giving up this body, Krsna says,

[17:57]tyaktva deham, after giving up this body, punar janma naiti, you don’t take birth again in this material world.

[18:08]That is wanted. Suppose I am very comfortable at the present moment.

[18:17]My body is kept in a very comfortable position, but there is death, and there is another birth.

[18:26]So after giving up this body, if I get the body of a cat and dog,

[18:32]then what is the meaning of this comfortable position?

[18:36]Because death is sure, and janmantam tatah dehantaram.

[18:45]Dehantaram means you have to accept another body.

[18:48]If you do not know what kind of body you are going to get… You can know it.

[18:55]That is stated in the sastra, that if you have got such and such mentality,

[19:00]you get such and such body. So in a comfortable position, if I keep myself in the dog’s mentality,

[19:10]then I am going to get my next life as dog. Then what is the value of this comfortable position?

[19:16]I may be in comfortable position for twenty years, thirty years, fifty years, or utmost, one hundred years.

[19:26]And after that comfortable position, when I give up this body, if, due to my mentality,

[19:34]I become a cat and dog and mouse, then what is the benefit of this comfortable position?

[19:40]These, they, people do not know that. They think, especially in this age that:

[19:48]“I am now in comfortable position. I have got enough money. I have got enough estate.

[19:54]I have got enough comforts, enough food. So as soon as the body’s finished

[20:00]so I am not going to take birth again. So I am living, let me enjoy life.”

[20:07]This is the modern philosophy, hedonism. But that is not the fact.

[20:12]Kunti is therefore anxious: apunar bhava-darsanam. Apunar bhava,

[20:21]not to repeat. If you see always Krsna, that is Krsna consciousness.

[20:29]Krsna consciousness means always thinking of Krsna. Your consciousness

[20:36]should be absorbed in Krsna thought. Therefore we give different varieties of engagement,

[20:46]Krsna consciousness. We should not divert our energy. Now when we are selling book, that is Krsna consciousness.

[20:59]We are selling book. But if we think that the selling book may be diverted into selling jewelry,

[21:07]that is not very good idea. That is not very good idea. Then we become again jeweler. Punar musika bhava.

[21:19]Again become mouse. We should be very much careful. Our Krsna consciousness cannot be diverted.

[21:30]Then you are gone to hell. Even there is danger, even there is suffering in Krsna consciousness,

[21:38]we should tolerate. That is the instruction of… We should welcome such danger.

[21:45]And pray to Krsna. What is that prayer? Tat te ‘nukampam su-samiksamanah.

[21:52]“My dear Lord, it is Your great mercy that I am put into this dangerous position.”

[22:00]That is the viewpoint of devotee. He doesn’t take danger as danger. He takes:

[22:08]“It is Krsna’s mercy.” What kind of mercy? Now bhunjana evatma-krtam vipakam.

[22:16]“Due to my past activities, I was to suffer so much. But You are mitigating that suffering, giving me little suffering.”

[22:28]Just like a token punishment. Sometimes in the courts a big man is culprit. So say, if the judge wants 100,000 dollars,

[22:47]he can pay immediately. But he asks from Him: “You just give one cent.”

[22:54]Because that is also punishment. But minimizing. Similarly we have to suffer on account of our past deeds.

[23:08]That’s a fact. You cannot avoid. Karmani nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhajam [Bs. 5.54].

[23:15]But those who are in devotional service, those who are in Krsna consciousness,

[23:19]their sufferings are minimized, a token. Just like one was to be killed.

[23:29]So instead of being killed with his knife, he gets some little cut on the finger.

[23:37]In this way, karmani nirdahati kintu ca…

[23:43]Those who are in devotional service, they are: aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami.

[23:49]Krsna assures that: “I give you protection from the reaction of sinful life.”

[23:54]So when there is very, very grievous criminal activities behind his, sometimes it is like that.

[24:04]Instead of hanging him, there may be little cut by the knife on the finger.

[24:09]This is the position. So why should we be afraid of danger?

[24:15]We should simply depend on Krsna consciousness, because if we live Krsna conscious,

[24:25]in any circumstances, then my benefit is that I am not coming again in this material world.

[24:32]Apunar bhava-darsanam. The repeatedly, as you think of Krsna, as you see Krsna,

[24:39]as you read of Krsna, as you work for Krsna, some way or other, if you remain in Krsna consciousness,

[24:48]that is your benefit. And that benefit will save you from taking birth again in the material world.

[24:56]That is real benefit. And if I am become little comfortable by so-called other engagement,

[25:09]and if I forget Krsna, and I have to take birth again, then what is my benefit?

[25:14]We should be very much careful about this.

[25:18]Krsna consciousness cannot be disturbed at any circumstances.

[25:24]Even there is heavy suffering, that is the instruction of Kuntidevi.

[25:31]Kuntidevi’s welcome, welcoming: vipadah santu tah sasvat tatra tatra.

[25:38]Let there… Because, before winning the battle of Kuruksetra, all these Pandavas were

[25:46]put into so many dangerous positions. That is already described in the previous verses.

[25:51]Sometimes they were offered poison, sometimes they were put into the house, lac,

[25:58]and it was set fire. Sometimes big, big demons, man-eaters, and big, big fighters.

[26:07]Every time… They lost their kingdom, lost their wife, lost their prestige.

[26:14]They were put into the forest. Full of dangers. But within all those dangers,

[26:22]Krsna was there, with all those dangers. When the Draupadi was being naked,

[26:30]Krsna was there supplying cloth. Krsna is always there.

[26:37]Therefore Bhismadeva, while he was dying… He was grandfather of the Pandavas.

[26:44]So when the Pandavas came to see him on his deathbed, so he cried that:

[26:53]“These boys, my grandsons, they’re all very pious. Maharaja Yudhisthira, the topmost pious person.

[27:06]His name is Dharmaraja, the king of religiosity. He is the eldest brother.

[27:15]And Bhima and Arjuna, they are devotees and so great hero. They can kill thousands of men.

[27:22]They’re so powerful. So Yudhisthira, Yudhisthira is there, and Bhima is there.

[27:32]Arjuna is there, and Draupadi is directly the Goddess of Fortune.

[27:39]There was this injunction that wherever Draupadi will be there, there will be no scarcity of food.

[27:51]In this way, the combination was so nice and over and above them, Krsna is always with them,

[27:59]and still they are suffering.” So he began to cry that: “I do not know what is the arrangement of Krsna

[28:08]that such pious men, such devotees, they are also suffering.”

[28:13]So don’t think that:

[28:19]“Because I have become a devotee, there will be no danger, no suffering.”

[28:24]Prahlada Maharaja suffered so much. The Pandavas suffered so much.

[28:29]Haridasa Thakura suffered so much. But we should not be disturbed by those sufferings.

[28:35]We must have firm faith, firm conviction that: “Krsna is there. He’ll give me protection.”

[28:43]Kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktah pranasyati. Don’t try to take benefit of other shelter than Krsna.

[28:54]Always take to Krsna.

[29:02]Krsna says: kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktah pranasyati.

[29:09]“My dear Arjuna, you can declare it to the public that My devotees are never vanquished.”

[29:15]Why declaration was advised to be made by Arjuna? Why He did not declare Himself?

[29:21]There is some point. Because this declaration, if Krsna makes, there may be

[29:31]violation because sometimes He violates His promise. But if His devotee promises, it will be never violated.

[29:40]That is Krsna’s business. “Oh, My devotee has declared this. I must see that it must be executed.”

[29:50]That is Krsna’s position. He’s so much attached to His devotee. Therefore He said that:

[29:56]“You declare. If I declare, people may not believe it. But if you declare, they’ll believe it.

[30:06]Because you are devotee. Your declaration will never be…”

[30:09]Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah. Krsna wants to see that:

[30:15]“My devotee’s promise is fulfilled. My promise may not be fulfilled, may be broken.”

[30:22]So this is Krsna consciousness. We must take to Krsna consciousness in,

[30:27]at all circumstances, even it’s the most dangerous position.

[30:33]We must keep our faith in Krsna’s lotus feet, and there will be no danger.

[30:40]Thank you very much.