Not work hard day and night simply for sense gratification

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.5.1

Los Angeles, January 20, 19

Prabhupāda: (aside:) Where is that table light? Table light?

(chants maṅgalācaraṇa prayers) In the last meeting we are discussing about the life of

a fallen brāhmaṇa, Ajāmila. He was addicted to prostitute. Therefore his high standard

of life became degraded. This morning also we were reading in the Īśopaniṣad that God

is apāpa-viddham. "A" means not, and pāpa means sin, and viddham, infected. The

God is never infected by sin, sinful activities. Common sense. Just like a king orders

somebody to be killed, "This man should be killed." This killing is sinful for the

ordinary citizen, but killing by the order of the supreme executive head, the president

or the king, that is not criminal. If you say that "Killing by me is criminal. Why it is not

criminal for you, you, the president or the king?" I am giving a crude example.

Similarly, if you go higher and higher, when you come to God...

First of all, what is the conception of God? Conception of God is "God is great.

Nobody is greater than Him, and nobody is equal to Him." That is God. Asama-

ūrdhva. The exact Sanskrit word is asama-ūrdhva. Asama means "not equal." Nobody

can be equal to God. This is analyzed by great ācāryas. They have analyzed the

characteristics of God. They have characterized the characteristic are sixty-four. And

out of that sixty-four, we have, we living entities, we have got fifty only. And that is also
in very minute quantity. Fifty qualities of God we have got, but that is in minute

quantity. Take, for example, just like God has got also the tendency to love young girl.

Take it for a crude example. Just like God is dancing with young girls. But we have also

the same tendency. We also want to be surrounded by young girls and dance, we enjoy.

But the thing is that you can enjoy in the company of a few girls. That is minute

quantity. But God can dance with unlimited number of girls. That you cannot. These

are crude examples.

So these sixty-four qualities, they have analyzed that we living entities, we have got

in minute quantities. And amongst the living entities, the highest perfection is to be

seen in the life of Brahmā, who is the chief living entity within this universe. So

similarly, Lord Śiva has got fifty-five. Lord Nārāyaṇa has got sixty. But Kṛṣṇa has got in

full sixty-four. Cent percent, hundred percent all the qualities. Therefore either Lord

Śiva or Lord Brahmā or the living entities, nobody can be equal to Him. This is the

conception of God. Asamordhva. And in the Bhagavad-gītā you have seen

that Kṛṣṇa says, mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat kiñcid asti dhanañjaya: [Bg. 7.7] "My

dear Dhanañjaya, My dear Arjuna, there is nobody superior to Me." So just like some

heating agent. You have got several heating agent. You have got heater in your

apartment, oven in your apartment. There are so many different varieties of heater. But

the heat of the sun cannot be compared with any other heat. You cannot say that

"Because I have got little heat, I have become sun." (laughs) This is ludicrous; it is not

possible. So those who are claiming that "I am God," "Everyone is God," they are

simply, what can I say? Less intelligent persons. (laughter) They have no conception
what is God. They do not know what is God. This claim that "I am God," that means he

has no idea what is God. Therefore he is falsely claiming. You may have minute

quantity of God's quality, but that does not mean you are God. Just like the same

example. You may have a minute quantity of the total heat of the sun, but that does not

mean you are sun. So qualitatively we are one, everyone has got some temperature, 98

degrees. But not that a million degree. That is not possible. Why the million? If you rise

your temperature to 107 degrees, then finished your life. These are practical.

So because Lord Kṛṣṇa is all-powerful, you cannot compare with Kṛṣṇa. He's apāpa-

viddham. No contamination can touch Him. But for that reason you cannot say, you

cannot imitate Kṛṣṇa and you cannot say that "No contamination can touch me." No.

That is not possible. Therefore the whole life, our this human form of life, is a chance to

purify so that we may approach. At least, if we get that fifty-five, fifty degrees, fifty parts

or fifty fractional portions of God's quality, even in minute quantity, then we can

approach God. In the Bhagavad-gītā it is said

that pavitraṁ paramam [Bg. 10.12]. Pavitra, pavitra means purity. So "You

are, Kṛṣṇa, You are the supreme pure." So because we are trying

by Kṛṣṇa consciousness, we are trying to approach Kṛṣṇa... Just like if you want to

approach the sun, the same example can be given. Everything is there in the nature. If

you study minutely, you become learned philosopher. But if we want to enter the sun

planet, then you must equip yourself. Just like you are trying to go to the moon planet

by artificially dressing, but still, you cannot stay there more than a few hours—if we

suppose that somebody has gone there. So this is the position. If you want to enter into
the sun planet also... That is also a planet. That is also possible. If it is possible to enter

into the moon planet, then it is also possible to enter into the sun planet. Why not? And

there are living entities. We get information from Vedic literature. But you have to raise

your temperature so that you can exist there. Similarly, God is Supreme Pure. If you

want to go back home, back to home, back to Godhead, then you have to become pure,

without any contamination of this material world.

The contamination of material world is called seed. That is seed. Just like you infect

some disease, germ, you become diseased. I have got some infection, so I am diseased.

You may know it or not know it, that doesn't matter. If you infect, knowingly or

unknowingly, you will be diseased. So what is that infection? That infection, that is

stated in the Īśopaniṣad, we read every

morning, īśāvāsyam idaṁ sarvam [Īśo mantra 1]. This everything what we see, either

in the sky or in the water or outside our vision, everything belongs to

God. Īśāvāsyam idaṁ sarvam. So everything God's property. You cannot, even you are

son of God, you cannot take anything without God's permission. Just like even your

father's property. You'll inherit your father's... That's a fact. But suppose a father has

got on the table one thousand dollars. If you take it without his permission, if you think

that "It is my father's money," but by law you become a criminal. Your father can

prosecute you criminally. That is the state law. Even it is your father's money, even

your father is very kind, but if you take your father's money without his permission,

then you are a criminal. And what to speak of others?

Similarly, we are all sons of God. That's a fact. Kṛṣṇa says,

 sarva-yoniṣu kaunteya

mūrtayaḥ sambhavanti yāḥ

tāsāṁ brahma mahad yonir

ahaṁ bīja-pradaḥ pitā

[Bg. 14.4]

Aham. Kṛṣṇa says that "All these living entities in 8,400,000's of species..." He doesn't

mean that only human being. The animals, the birds, beasts, trees, everything—all

living entities—they are all sons of God. He says, ahaṁ bīja-pradaḥ. The material

nature is the mother. Just like in ordinary way, the father and mother requires to give a

birth to a child. Similarly, this material nature is the mother. We have got this body

from the mother, material nature. Just like we get the body from the mother's womb.

Father gives the seed and mother gives the body. In the combination we get out.

Similarly, ahaṁ bīja-pradaḥ pitā [Bg. 14.4], Kṛṣṇa impregnates this material nature

with the living entities, and when there is creation they come out. This is the process.

So we are fallen in this material condition of life, and because we have disobeyed

without the permission of father, we have misused our independence, therefore we are

condemned within this material world. The īśāvāsya, the Īśopaniṣad teaches us,

therefore reminds us, that "My dear human being..." The śāstras, the scriptures,

the Vedas, they're meant for human being, not for the dogs, cats. Those who are not

taking advantage of these scriptures of Vedic literatures, they are no more than

animals. Because animals, they cannot take advantage of this knowledge. But human

being can take. Therefore it is said, indicated in the śāstras, that this body is very
suitable boat for crossing over this ocean of nescience. We are in the ocean, this outer

space, the big space within this universe. It is to be considered just like a big ocean, and

all the planets, they're just like islands. Therefore in the Vedic literature sometimes

these planets are called dvīpa. Dvīpa means island. Śvetadvīpa. This planet is

called Jambūdvīpa. Just like in the ocean, there are many hundreds of small, big island.

Similarly, the ocean of air or outer space, there are so many planets. They are

called dvīpas. So īśāvāsyam... So all this belongs to God. And we, we are, because we

are His sons, we have got the right to use our father's property, but not illegally. What

is allotted to us by our father we can accept, that's all. One who lives... That is stated in

the Īśopaniṣad, that kurvann eveha karmāṇi jijīviṣec chataṁ samāḥ. If you accept this

principle, then you can live for hundreds of years without any sin. Otherwise you

become complicated in the laws of material nature. And so long we are complicated,

entangled by the laws of material nature, then we shall have to transmigrate from this

one kind of body to another kind of body, and our material existence will be prolonged.

So here, I shall try to explain the teachings of Ṛṣabhadeva, His teachings to His sons.

"My dear son," nāyaṁ deho deha-bhājāṁ nṛloke, "My dear sons, this

body," nṛloke... He has particularly mentioned: nṛloke, this body in the human

society. Ayaṁ dehaḥ, this body, nāyaṁ deho deha-bhājāṁ nṛloke. Deha-bhājām means

anyone who is embodied. So the cats, dogs, trees, birds, beasts, insects, reptiles, they

have all body. But He's specifically mentioning nṛloke, the body in the human

society. Ayaṁ dehaḥ, "This body in the human society," nāyaṁ deho deha-

bhājāṁ nṛloke kaṣṭān kāmān arhate viḍ-bhujāṁ ye [SB 5.5.1], "it is not meant for
working very hard to satisfy the senses." Why you are working so hard? What is the

principle? What is the aim? Everyone is working very hard. What is the...? Sense

gratification. So Ṛṣabhadeva says, "Simply for sense gratification we should not work so

hard."

That is the verdict of Vedic literature. If you say that we have got senses, so in order

to keep the body fit, we have to give something for the enjoyment of the senses. That is

accepted, yes. But don't aggravate it. The śāstra says that do not increase artificially the

demands of the senses. Then you will be entangled. Just like eating. We have got

tongue, we have got belly. We require to eat something for maintaining the body. That's

right—you maintain. But do not try to satisfy the senses, tongue or belly or any other

senses, unreasonably. Why? That is unreasonable. What is that

unreasonable? Tena tyaktena bhuñjīthāḥ [Īśo mantra 1]. What is ordained to you, what

is allotted to you, you eat. Just like for human being. Human being—Kṛṣṇa, or God, has

given so many nice things. God has given us grains, rice, pulses, vegetables, and fruits,

flowers, so many, milk. Are they not sufficient for maintaining our body and soul

together? Yes, why not? Those who are vegetarians... Simply you take, for example, we,

all the members in the temple. We live simply on these things, fruits, vegetables, grains,

milk, that's all. So are we dying for want of food? Then why should we eat meat? What

is the reason? Simply for satisfaction of the tongue? If I can live peacefully, otherwise

which is allotted to me by God, why shall I give trouble to another animal for

satisfaction of my tongue? What is the reason? If you have no food... Of course, in the

deserted country, just he has to find out "Where is stool, where is stool?" You see?
 So there are different grades of life. So does it mean that we shall live a life like a hog

while we have got this human form of body? Just try to understand. The hog is eating

stool, which is rejected by everyone. And still, he is searching that out, where is that

stool. And it is called research work. So we should not make our life complicated like

the hog. And what is the aim of his life, the hog? The aim of his life is sex. The hogs and,

especially hogs and goats, they're very sexually influenced. The hog does not

discriminate. The monkeys, they do not discriminate—mother, sister, or anyone—they

must have sex. So especially mentioned here, not like hog, don't live like hog. This is

the instruction of Ṛṣabhadeva. This human form of life is not meant for living like a

hog. Then what it is for? That is stated in the next line, tapo divyam [SB 5.5.1]. "My

dear boys, this life is meant for tapasya." Tapasya means restraining your senses. That

is. That is human life. That is human civilization. The more you restrain your senses

from its activities, the more you're advanced, civilized, advanced human

life. Tapasya. Tapasya means, tapa, tapa, from tap, tapa comes. Tapa means

temperature.

So if I restrain my senses, because we are, from time immemorial, we have been

practiced to indulge our senses for gratification, and in the human form of life, because

we have to control the senses, it sometimes gives us some pains. I am accustomed to do

something, but my spiritual master said... Just like in this country I say that you cannot

take meat, you cannot smoke. So all my students, they were accustomed to this habit,

but by my order they have restrained. In the beginning there is plot of land and a cow—

your whole economic question is solved. Why you should work so hard day and night?
So we have created a civilization simply working hard day and night, and the purpose is

sense gratification. That's all. That is prohibited. Make your life simplified. Save your

time for Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is the program. Don't be implicated with sinful

activities. Simple life. Just like your father says, "My dear boy, you take your food just

in time, and you do this work, and I'll be satisfied." If you do that, then father is

satisfied. But if you take from the pocket of your father or from the cash box without his

permission, then you are criminal.

So by God's arrangement, everything is there.

Everything. Pūrṇam idam. Pūrṇam idaṁ pūrṇam adaḥ pūrṇam idaṁ pūrṇāt pūrṇam u

dacyate [Īśopaniṣad, Invocation]. Everything is complete in this world. There is no

scarcity. We have simply created scarcity by our mismanagement. But if we take up the

laws as they are prescribed in the scriptures and live peacefully, there is no scarcity.

My Guru Mahārāja used to say that in this world there is no scarcity by the

arrangement of God. But the only scarcity is this Kṛṣṇa consciousness. People are

not Kṛṣṇa conscious. They're materially conscious. They're sensually conscious. That

has to be changed. So Ṛṣabhadeva says that to satisfy our senses, that is also available

in the life of a hog. Kaṣṭān kāmān arhate viḍ-bhujāṁ ye [SB 5.5.1]. Viḍ-bhujam, a

animal who eats stool, viḍ-bhujam. That means the hog. The hog is also an animal, a

living entity, and you'll find that it is working whole day, wherever there is stool, simply

searching out. Research work—where there is stool. Because he has been made into

that abominable condition of life that he is eating stool, he, still... Like Arabia, simply

desert, sand. So for them, they can kill some animal and eat, because they cannot die
for want of food. But here, in America, you have got sufficient foodstuff. Why should

you kill animals? You have got sufficient grains, sufficient fruit, sufficient milk, and is it

very nice thing that you take milk from the cow, who is your mother, and kill at the

same time? Is that very good reason?

Therefore Ṛṣabhadeva says, He says this human form of body is not meant for

mismanaging the whole thing for the satisfaction of the senses. That is not meant for

human beings. Ayaṁ nṛloke, nṛloke. The human society, He is speaking to the human

society. We are speaking to the human society. We are not calling cats and dogs, "Come

here, please hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam." That is not possible. They cannot. But we are

inviting those who are enlightened human beings, "Please come, just try to understand

what is this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement and be happy." That's all. We want to see

every human being to be happy. That is our program.

So Ṛṣabhadeva says, kaṣṭān kāmān. Just try to under... We are not criticizing the

modern method of living. Of course, automatically it becomes criticized. But we are

speaking from the śāstras. He says, Ṛṣabhadeva says, kaṣṭān kāmān. For your sense

gratification do not arrange something very dangerous or very tiresome, laborsome.

Make your life simplified. That is allotted by Kṛṣṇa. We have got a place, New

Vrindaban, in West Virginia. With little effort, they produce so much vegetables that

they cannot eat, they cannot finish. They cannot finish. So God has given us land, God

has given us producing experience. So wherever you live, it doesn't matter, if you have

got a little some pain. So that pain is called tapasya. Voluntarily accepting little

pain. Tapo divyam [SB 5.5.1]. And what for that pains taking? Divyam, for realizing
the Absolute Truth. Not for that... Just like a student is working very hard to find out

the possibilities of nuclear weapon. That is also tapasya. But what is that? For finding

out some means to kill the human society. That sort of tapasya is not

required. Tapo divyam.

So you may answer that "Why shall I take so much pains for realizing the Absolute?

I can take some pains here for material acquisition, I shall be happy here. I do not..."

That answer is also

given. Tapo divyam... Tapo divyaṁ putrakā yena sattvaṁ śuddhyet [SB 5.5.1]. "My

dear boys, you just take to this austerity, life of austerity, for realizing the Absolute, by

which your existence will be purified." We began... Because we require this human

form of life is meant for being purified. So just like a diabetic patient is advised by the

physician not to take so many things—not to take sugar, not to take this, not to take

this—that prohibition is meant for his curing. Similarly, here also, if we accept some

voluntary pains in giving up our sense gratificatory process, then our existence will be

purified. Tapo divyam. Tapo divyaṁ putrakā yena sattvam [SB 5.5.1]. Sattvam means

your existence. Yena sattvaṁ śuddhyet. Śuddhyet means becomes purified. Then you

may ask "What is the result?" "Suppose if I purify by your prescription." Śuddhyed

yasmād brahma-saukhyam anantam. Because if you purify your existence, then you

get unlimited pleasure. Your life is, you are finding out where is pleasure. That

is ānandamayo 'bhyāsāt (Vedānta-sūtra 1.1.12). Every living entities is fit for enjoying

because he's part and parcel of God. Because he part and parcel, he's also enjoyer,

although in the minute quantity. But he can enjoy in association with God. So in order
to enter into the association of God, he has to purify himself. Yasmād brahma-

sau... Brahma, brahma-saukhyam. Brahma means the unlimited or spiritual. Spiritual

means unlimited, unending, eternal—the greatest. These are some of the meanings

of brahma.

So you are searching after pleasure, that is your prerogative. That is your right. You

must be. But you are searching in this sense gratificatory platform, you'll never get it. If

you purify your this existence, then you get unlimited pleasure in your spiritual

existence. Unlimited pleasure. Brahma-

saukhyam anantam [SB 5.5.1]. Anantam means unlimited. So this life we should

utilize for purifying, not for extravagancy in sense gratification. You'll not suffer at...

You'll... This is māyā. Actually, just like a child, a boy, wants to play, and the father

prescribes him, "My dear boy, do not play so long. Please read." So he's thinking that

"My father is prescribing something which is very troublesome." But actually

this tapasya, this Kṛṣṇa consciousness regulated life, is not for trouble. It is for your

progress of life to the spiritual understanding, where you get unlimited eternal life, sac-

cid-ānanda-vigraha [Bs. 5.1]. God is sac-cid-ānanda-

vigraha. Sat, cit, ānanda. Sat means eternal, cit means full of knowledge,

and ānanda, full of pleasure. So as soon as you become purified from this material

existence, then you enter into the spiritual kingdom, and you get your body sac-cid-

ānanda-vigraha and live there eternally in full knowledge and full bliss.

Thank you very much. (devotees offer obeisances)

Devotee: Should we do kīrtana?

Prabhupāda: Yes. If you have any questions you can ask. All right,

chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. (kīrtana) (end)