Srila Prabhupada & George Harrison
(and the Shankars)
Bhaktivedanta Manor, August 27, 1973
Devotee (4): (arrival of prasädam) That’s Revaténandana Mahäräja.
Prabhupäda: So Revaténandana Mahäräja, what you have done? (laughter)
Revaténandana: You’ll have to taste it.
Prabhupäda: Which one? Which preparation you have made?
Çyämasundara: All are his.
Prabhupäda: All? Everything?
Çyämasundara: Everything except the puris.
Prabhupäda: The samosa also yours? Ohhh. (light laughter) Very good. Now, begin. Prasäda präpti-mätreëa bhoktavyam. Take. Take. Begin. Yes.
George Harrison: On the last version of Kåñëa album, there’s one of the devotees from the Los Angeles temple…
Prabhupäda: Oh.
George Harrison: …came to play karatals. I forget his name. “Rent-a-karatal.” (laughter)
Prabhupäda: Hare Kåñëa! (break) …and this can be united again in Kåñëa consciousness. This artificial division of human society can be united again on the platform of Kåñëa consciousness. This United Nations program will not be successful. But on this platform of Kåñëa consciousness, there will be unity. This is practical. We have got so many devotees from different parts of the world, but they do not think anymore in terms of bodily conception. No. They have forgotten. Either they are Englishman, or an American, or Canadian or Indian, they have forgotten. They are on the platform of thinking that “We are servant of Kåñëa.” Samaù sarveñu bhüteñu. That is platform.
samaù sarveñu bhüteñu
mad-bhaktià labhate paräm
[Bg. 18.54]
Before coming to the bhakti platform, one has to pass through this platform,samaù sarveñu bhüteñu.
brahma-bhütaù prasannätmä
na çocati na käìkñati
samaù sarveñu bhüteñu
[Bg. 18.54]
This is the platform. So we have to purify our consciousness, material consciousness, that “I am American,” “I am Indian,” “I am Englishman.” No. This is only outward covering. But as spirit soul we are one. So this is called Brahman realization. Ahaà brahmäsmi. Ahaà Americanasmi, Englishmanasmi– no. (laughter) “I am brahmäsmi.” This is self-realization. This is self-realization, aham brahmäsmi: “I am spirit soul.” So in that platform he is called purified.
So that is the definition of devotional service: sarvopädhi-vinirmuktaà. When one becomes freed from all designations.
sarvopädhi-vinirmuktaà
tat-paratvena nirmalam
[Cc. Madhya 19.170]
Tat parat. Tattva means being connected with Kåñëa, one becomes purified,nirmalam. And when one is purified, with the purified senses,
håñékeëa håñékeça-
sevanaà bhaktir ucyate
[Cc. Madhya 19.170]
This is bhakti. When our senses are purified from the material contamination… Senses, you cannot… The Mäyävädé philosopher says that “You stop the activities of senses.” That is not possible. It is not possible. As living entity we must have our senses. Without senses we are dead stone. So senses must be there. You cannot avoid it. That Mäyävädé philosophy, that “Give up your desire,” how can I give up desire? That is not possible. So that is not really salvation. Desire you must have, because as living entity there must be desire. So desire should be purified. Now we are desiring for our personal gratification. So when the desire will be utilized for serving Kåñëa, that is Rädhäräëé’s attitude. They are lamenting. The desire is “How to see Kåñëa? You are gone from us. We do not find that how we can live, because without Your service, our life is useless.” This is Kåñëa consciousness. “Where You are, Kåñëa? I cannot serve You, then what is my life, this useless life?” Huh?Govinda-viraheëa me.
Çünyäyitaà jagat sarvaà: “The whole world, universe, is vacant without Your service, without seeing You.” This is Kåñëa consciousness.
So desire must be there. So desire must be utilized for Kåñëa’s satisfaction.Kåñëendriya-préti-väïchä-täre näma 'prema. Ätmendriya-préti-väïchä-täre näma 'käma' [Cc. Ädi 4.165]. So therefore Närada Muni recommends: when our desires are purified, then all the senses, they are also purified. So when our senses are engaged to fulfill the desires of Kåñëa,
håñékeëa håñékeça-
sevanaà bhaktir ucyate
[Cc. Madhya 19.170]
That is bhakti. This is the definition of bhakti.
anyäbhiläñitä-çünyaà
jïäna-karmädy-anävåtam
änukülyena kåñëänu-
çélanaà bhaktir uttamä
[Cc. Madhya 19.167]
Anyäbhiläñitä. We cannot give up desire. But desire for other things except Kåñëa’s service, that should be given up.
anyäbhiläñitä-çünyaà
jïäna-karmädy-anävåtam
[Cc. Madhya 19.167]
We have got desire in jïäna platform, knowledge platform, speculative platform. We have desire on karma platform. Karma platform means desiring to gratify the senses. That is called karma platform. I do something, I get some profit, and that profit is engaged in my sense gratification. This is called karma.So similarly there is activities in the jïäna platform. Jïäna platform means that I understand that I am not this body, that I am spirit soul, so my ultimate goal is to merge into the Supreme Spirit Soul. Unified. So that is also not perfect.
anyäbhiläñitä-çünyaà
jïäna-karmädy-anävåtam
[Cc. Madhya 19.167]
The perfect platform is änukülyena kåñëänu-çélanaà. Simply cultivation of Kåñëa consciousness which is favorable to Kåñëa. Änukülyena kåñëänu-çélanaà. That is bhakti, real. Just like Arjuna did. He decided in favor of Kåñëa. In the beginning he was…, he decided in favor of himself: “Kåñëa, I am not going to fight. It is not possible to kill my kinsmen.” In this way he gave up the bow and the arrows and sat down. Kåñëa wanted him to fight, so his decision was not in favor of Kåñëa. His decision was in favor of his personal satisfaction. Therefore the whole Bhagavad-gétä was given lesson. And at last he agreed, “Yes. Now, kariñye vacanaà tava.” “Yes, now I will act in favor of You.” So this is Kåñëa consciousness.
So anyone has got some talent. So in the material world it is being utilized for…, in favor of his personal self. That is material way. So if you want perfection, that you should be acted in favor of Kåñëa. That is Kåñëa consciousness. The action is not to be changed, but instead of utilizing the talent in favor of my satisfaction – that is materialism – the same action when it is performed in favor of Kåñëa’s satisfaction, that is pure. This is the difference between material and spiritual.
änukülyena kåñëänu-
çélanaà bhaktir uttamä
[Cc. Madhya 19.167]
That is first-class devotion. Therefore Bhägavata conclusion is that,
ataù pumbhir dvija-çreñöhä
varëäçrama-vibhägaçaù
[SB 1.2.13]
Vibhägaçaù, that according to Vedic civilization the divisions are varëäçrama – four varëas and four äçramas. Brähmaëa, kñatriya, vaiçya, çüdra, brahmacäré, gåhastha, vänaprastha and sannyäsa. So varëäçrama-vibhägaçaù. Each, each äçrama has got his particular duty.
So how one can become successful in acting in his particular occupational duty? That is, Bhägavata gives the decision,
ataù pumbhir dvija-çreñöhä
varëäçrama-vibhägaçaù
[SB 1.2.13]
You do not require to change your position. You remain in your position. If you are talented as a musician, you remain as musician, as artist. And whatever you are – as ordinary worker, as medical man, as scientist, as philosopher – whatever you may be, you stay in your position. There is no hard…,varëäçrama-vibhägaçaù. But if you want success in life, then
ataù pumbhir dvija-çreñöhä
varëäçrama-vibhägaçaù
svanuñöhitasya dharmasya
[SB 1.2.13]
Everyone has got his occupational duty, so saàsiddhir hari-toñaëam. If by your talent and by your work, if you can satisfy Kåñëa, that is success. That is success. So you may remain in your position. There is no need of changing your position. Remain in. Svanuñöhita, you remain in your position, but from that position you try to satisfy Kåñëa. Then everything success. That issaàsiddhir hari-toñaëam. There are many other verses like that.
idaà hi puàsas tapasaù çrutasya vä
sviñöasya süktasya ca buddhi-dattayoù
avicyuto 'rthaù kavibhir nirüpito
yad-uttamaçloka-guëänuvarëanam
[SB 1.5.22]
Uttamaçloka-guëänuvarëanam. Uttamaçloka is another name of Kåñëa.
So by your musical talent if you simply glorify Kåñëa, then your life is successful. This is Kåñëa consciousness. So there is no change that you have to become a sannyäsi, you have to become…, give up this profession or become something else. No. You remain in your position. But with your talent, try to satisfy Kåñëa. Try to glorify Kåñëa. Then your talent is successful. It doesn’t matter whether you are musician, or a war…, I mean to say, great soldier, warrior. Just like Arjuna. He was a great soldier, warrior, fighter, and you are musician. So if somebody thinks, “I am musician. By singing nicely, Kåñëa will be more satisfied,” no. Kåñëa will be satisfied, even fighting. Everything for Kåñëa. So fighting is also not pleasure; otherwise how Arjuna became a great devotee of Kåñëa? Kåñëa certified, bhakto ‘si, priyo ‘si me: “You are My great devotee.” But what did he do? He fought. Fought with who? With his own kinsmen, against his desire, against his will – but he wanted to satisfy Kåñëa.
So anything you do, it doesn’t matter, but do it for Kåñëa. That is also confirmed in the Bhagavad-gétä:
yat karoñi yad açnäsi
yaj juhoñi dadäsi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya
tat kuruñva mad-arpaëam
[Bg. 9.27]
“Give it to Me.” So this is the secret of Kåñëa consciousness. Try to satisfy Kåñëa from your position, then your life is successful, your profession is successful, everything is successful. And the spiritual platform, there is no such distinction that “Here is a person who is chanting Hare Kåñëa mantra, and here is a person who is simply singing. Here is a person who is simply fighting.” Materially there is a difference, but when they are dovetailed in the service of Kåñëa, they are all one,
änukülyena kåñëänu-
çélanaà bhaktir uttamä
[Cc. Madhya 19.167]
Simply it has to be done in favor of Kåñëa.
So you are all qualified artist, so by your art even in material platform you get so much adoration. Similarly, if you work in spiritual platform with the same art, this material adoration will be finished with the finishing of this body, but spiritual adoration, if you are recognized by Kåñëa, then that will go with you. That will go with you.
sv-alpam apy asya dharmasya
träyate mahato bhayät
[Bg. 2.40]
Spiritual asset is never lost. Spirit, as spirit life is eternal, similarly whatever you do for spiritual understanding, that is permanent. The Bhägavat says therefore even by sentiment if one takes shelter of Kåñëa but somehow or other he could not finish it – half-way he fell down – still he is not loser. On the other hand, a person without Kåñëa consciousness doing very nicely his job, but there is no gain. In Kåñëa consciousness acting, even if you have done ten percent, twenty percent, there is greater success, because next life you will have to begin from twenty-one percent. But without Kåñëa consciousness, from material consciousness whatever you do cent percent success, that is finished with this body. Again you have to begin another chapter next life. These are the verdict of the çästras. So our only request is that whatever you do, Kåñëa also says,yat karoñi. He doesn’t say that “You do this.” Yat karoñi: “Whatever you do, the result you give Me.” Tat kuruñva mad-arpaëam [Bg. 9.27]. He is begging, “Give Me.” (laughter) (Hindi) You understand? No? You do not understand English?
Woman Guest: English, yes. I don’t understand Sanskrit.
Prabhupäda: No. I was speaking in English.
Woman Guest: Yes, that I understand. (pause)
Prabhupäda: So you can give her our addresses, in Paris, in Amsterdam. She is going there, if possible.
Çyämasundara: Touring.
Woman Guest: Yes.
Prabhupäda: In Germany also.
Woman Guest: In Berlin.
Prabhupäda: What is our Berlin address?
Çyämasundara: Kurfürstendamm. You know that street? Kurfürstendamm.It’s 153.
Guest: Kurfürstendamm?
Çyämasundara: Yeah, 153.
Guest: You have a place right on the main street? That’s amazing.
Çyämasundara: Main street of Berlin.
Prabhupäda: Oh. I have seen the picture. There is a broken church.
Guest: Yeah, on that street.
Prabhupäda: Heh?
Guest: On that street.
Çyämasundara: Memorial to Gedächtniskirche
Prabhupäda: That was broken during…?
Çyämasundara: The war.
Prabhupäda: War?
Çyämasundara: Yes.
Prabhupäda: By the Russians?
Çyämasundara: I don’t know.
Prabhupäda: Or by the Americans? (laughter)
Çyämasundara: Everyone can walk by the church now. It’s a memorial. They can walk by the church and say, “Oh, just see: God is dead. Now I can sin.”
Prabhupäda: Huh?
Çyämasundara: They left a memorial there of the broken church so that they will always remember that “God is dead, and we can go ahead and sin now. The church is broken.”
Prabhupäda: Oh, they say like that?
Çyämasundara: Well they…, I think psychologically at least. (laughter) The church is all broken, bombed out.
Prabhupäda: Then they, they do not know that… There it is stated in theBhagavad-gétä,
mat-sthäni sarva-bhütäni
na cähaà teñv avasthitaù
[Bg. 9.4]
mayä tatam idaà sarvaà
jagad avyakta-mürtinä
[Bg. 9.4]
“I am spread everywhere, and everything is resting on Me, but I am not there.” (laughs) The church was resting on Kåñëa, but when it is broken, He is not there. That he will be…, is foolish person, he does not know. He is not there. This is simultaneously. Kåñëa is present everywhere and He is not there. That means unto the devotee He is there, and to the nondevotee He is not there. That is Kåñëa’s special power. When the nondevotee wants to break Kåñëa’s statue or Kåñëa’s temple, He is not there. So what he will do? That is a wrong conclusion, “Now Kåñëa is dead.” No. When they were breaking the church or breaking the Deity of Kåñëa, He was not there. Na cähaà teñv avasthitaù.
Çyämasundara: He wasn’t there in the beginning.
Prabhupäda: Huh?
Çyämasundara: He wasn’t there to begin with.
Prabhupäda: No – that is Kåñëa’s inconceivable power.
Çyämasundara: Hm.
Prabhupäda: He can remain everywhere, simultaneously, and He can not remain there. Just like Hiraëyakaçipu and Prahläda. Hiraëyakaçipu is thinking, “Where is your God? Where is your God?” Asking, challenging. And Prahläda Mahäräja saying, “Yes. Here is my God.” “Is it in the pillar?” “Yes.” So the Hiraëyakaçipu is saying that “What, what is this pillar? That, there is God? What is this nonsense speaking?” But he is seeing there is God. (muffled laughing) This is God’s in…, inconceivable power. So therefore he broke it, pillar, in anger. So…, so He was there for Prahläda, but He was not there for Hiraëyakaçipu. This is inconceivable. Simultaneously He is there and He is not there. When the demon is trying to break, He is not there, and when the devotee wants to worship, He is there. Simultaneously. So one has to learn this Kåñëa science, then it will be all right. Otherwise anyone can say anything. That is all. (laughter)
Devotee (5): Instead of a church there is now a temple.
Prabhupäda: Huh?
Devotee (5): Instead of a church there is now a temple.
Prabhupäda: Temple?
Devotee (5): Instead of a church being there, there is now a temple there.
Prabhupäda: In that church broken?
Devotee (5): In Berlin.
Prabhupäda: Oh.
Devotee (5): On that same street.
Çyämasundara: Not in that church.
Devotee (5): Not in that church.
Çyämasundara: Down the street.
Devotee (5): Down the street.
George Harrison: I think we must leave now.
Prabhupäda: Yes. Thank you very much for your coming.
Devotee (6): All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda!
Prabhupäda: Whenever you find time, please come. It is your temple. (Hindi)
George Harrison: It wasn’t my money that I bought it with. (laughter)
Prabhupäda: Yes. It is Kåñëa’s money, (laughter) but you are the cashier. (laughter)
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