The monkey's business and karma yoga

Room Conversation
—
July 16, 1968, Montreal
Prabhupāda: Very soon we shall have our own publication.
Macmillan Company. (pause) What is your report?
Devotee: I had a rough day today.
Prabhupāda: Huh?
Devotee: I didn't get any new members today. I went all over... I
went over to McGill, and not very many teachers, professors there
know about the temple, especially the chemistry professors. I don't
think chemistry professors go too well with Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Prabhupāda: No. Every... You have to convince them that
chemistry or philosophy or anything, without Kṛṣṇa consciousness, it
is all
useless. Svakarmaṇā tam abhyarcya saṁsiddhiṁ labhate param. T
hat verse I was explaining, that
ataḥ pumbhir dvija-śreṣṭhā
varṇāśrama-vibhāgaśaḥ
svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya
saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam
[SB 1.2.13]
Test for... (pause) Oh, so many?
Govinda dasi: Earlier you said you wanted it.
Prabhupāda: Huh? So he is recording there?
Govinda dasi: Oh, I thought you wanted a dictaphone? If not, I
can...
Devotee: It must be better if you recorded it, something I...
Prabhupāda: Hm? Hm? What is that?
Devotee: I think a tape recorder is better than a dictaphone
because I think a tape recording is better.
Prabhupāda: Tape recording is going on?
Devotee: Yes.
Prabhupāda: You can sit down. So everyone is working. Never
mind in whatever occupation one is engaged. That doesn't matter.
But one has to test whether he is becoming successful. Because
everyone wants success. We are not animals that without any
success we shall work hard labor. That is animals' business. Just like
several times I have given the example, dophara gadha, the ass of
the washerman. That kind of business and work is no
use. Dophara gadha, ass of the washerman. Here, of course, you
have no experience. In India there is a class who are called
washermen. In India there are different castes. Washerman, a class;
barber, a class. I mean to say... So many departmental. So each and
every one, there is a class who take up that work. Sweeper, a class.
All the necessities. The clerk, even clerk, there is a class; priest, there
is a class; the fighter, there is a class. That is nice arrangement. In
India... And florists, there is a class, florist. Their business is simply
to supply flower. Fisherman there is a class; butcher, there is a class.
Just like we have got a temple, now we require potter. Potter, there
is a class. In Jagannatha temple the arrangement is that... One does
not know since how long... (someone enters) Come on.
In Jagannatha temple... Sit down. Jagannatha temple,
the prasādam is cooked every day in new earthen pot. No old pot is
used. Once used, it is thrown away. Formerly, this was the system in
India. Even dishes, once used, it is thrown away. No washing. Even
golden dishes, silver dishes, once used, it is thrown away. And now
golden dishes, there is no use of golden dishes, neither nobody
throws it away, but that was the system. Now the earthen dishes...
Just like china clay dishes, this is considered impure because it is
repeatedly used. In India, those who are strict Hindus, earthen
dishes, once used, it will be thrown away. Clay dishes. So this is
china clay dish. It is not to be used again. It is thrown away. Just like
you have got paper plates and glass here. You eat it and throw it
away. Similarly, India... Now it is being introduced, these paper
dishes, gradually, but from very old time, refreshment or foodstuff
supplied in clay dishes, and after eating, it is thrown away. So there
is a potter class, who flourish. They sell their products. Just like in
your country also, so many things are thrown away so that the
manufacturer get chance to sell again. So everyone has got a
particular type of profession. The potter, the washerman, and the
florist, the grain dealer, the silver or gold dealer, the banker, and...
Everything. And the priest, and the warrior. So even in India still,
there is no difficulty for draftboard. There is a class, kṣatriya; they
will be very glad to be recruited as soldier. They are very
strong. Jat. They are called jat, Gurkha. They don't like any other
occupation. Fighting they like. The Sikhs. The Sikhs they
are jat class, and the Gurkha, oh, the whole British Empire was
extended with the help of the Sikhs and the Gurkhas. The Britishers
took these Gurkhas and the Sikhs to Burma, to Messopotamia. They
liquidated the Empire because they lost India. The British soldiers
were not helping to keep up their Empire. These Indians soldiers. In
the first war they gained for these Indian soldiers. They fought in
France and everywhere very nicely. They are fighter class. They like
to fight. And fighting is not going every day. So the arrangement
was... Just like you have to fight for the state. So there is no monthly
salary system. You are awarded by the government a certain tract of
land free. You produce grains and utilize the land; no tax for you.
But when there will be war, you shall fight. Very nice arrangement.
Similarly, in temple, the florist has to supply flowers daily. Mr.
Khanvar(?), am I right? You know this Indian system?
Mr. Khanvar: Yes.
Prabhupāda: So the florist is given a certain tract of land free, and
let him produce flower and make business. But the quantity of
flower I require for my temple, he must supply daily. Similarly, the
bandsman, he should come and play band. Everything was on land
distribution. That was the system. And tax was paid to the
government. Not by assessment. Uh, assessment... Whatever your
land production is there, you give to the government one-fourth.
That's all. If you have produced 1,000 mound grains, you have to
give to the government 250 mounds. And if you have produced 100,
then you give 25. So there is no question of harassment. Whatever is
the production is there... So these profession is accepted from Vedic
time, different kinds of men engaged in different kinds of activities.
Maybe a florist, maybe a potter, maybe a cobbler, maybe anything,
grain producer... So many, society requires so many things. So
according to Vedic system, there is a class, and Bhāgavata says that
"You are engaged in your occupational duty; so whether you are
getting success by such occupational duty?" The Vedic system does
not condemn anyone. "You are a potter. Oh, you are lower." No. You
are as good as a priest because you are doing your duty. That's all
right. Never condemns. This is development of later age when the
so-called brāhmaṇas became, I mean to say, treacherous. They
began to condemn so-called lower class. There was disruption, the
whole social system. But in the beginning it was not. So they have
got respectable terms. Just like a brāhmaṇa is addressed
as paṇḍita mahārāja. A kṣatriya is addressed ṭhākura saheb,
ṭhākur. And a merchant is addressed: sethji. And the laborer class
addressed as choudhari, means leader. In this way everyone has got
respectable position. Why? Because the test of their success was
one, Viṣṇu.
Success... Svakarmaṇā tam abhyarcya siddhiṁ labhate param. Wh
atever your occupation may be, that doesn't matter. But if you
worship the Supreme Lord by your occupation, then you are
successful. The florist supplies flower to the temple. The potter
supplies pots to the temple. The priest chants mantra in the temple.
The kṣatriyas, they protect the temple. He supplies the expenditure
of the temple. Because the land belongs to the kṣatriya. They are
royal class. Because they occupy land, so they have got the obligation
to give protection to the country, fight. They shall fight. And here, at
the present moment, the arrangement is that you have no land, you
are landless, but you are called to fight. Why? This system is
condemned system. The kṣatriyas, they are royal class, they
possessed land, so they had obligation to protect the country.
Therefore they were fighting. How nice arrangement. Those who are
occupying administration of the country, they should fight. But they
are sitting very nicely in their armchair and calling somebody, "Go
and fight and be killed." This system is not scientific system.
Therefore the caste system is very nice. They have now been
condemned... Not condemned, but they want to revise it. But this is
a very scientific system. Why? It is created by Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa says in
the
Bhagavad-gītā: cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-
vibhāgaśaḥ [Bg. 4.13]. "I have created the four divisions of caste." It
is not exactly caste; section, varṇa. So how you can stop? It is
natural. So Bhāgavata recommends, Suta Gosvāmī is
addressing, ataḥ pumbhir dvija-śreṣṭhā varṇāśrama-
vibhāgaśaḥ. This system of sectional division, this is... "He
is brāhmaṇa, he is kṣatriya, he is vaiśya, he is śūdra, he
is brahmacārī, he is householder, he is vānaprastha, he
is sannyāsī." Or sub-section. "He is potter, he is washerman, he is
this and that." You may divide it or not, this section will be there in
every society. So Bhāgavata says that "You may be situated in any
section. It doesn't matter." Either you be a kṣatriya or
a brāhmaṇa or a potter or a washerman or whatever you may be, it
doesn't matter. Everyone should be satisfied by his occupation. But
how one gets successful by his occupation? He hasn't got to change
the occupation. In the material world one has to change his
occupation for certain kind of success. Suppose if you are a potter.
Now, if you want to become engineer, so you have to change your
occupation as potter. But in the spiritual world you haven't got to
change your position, and still, you get success, spiritual life. That is
the beauty. You haven't got to change. If somebody says that "Sir, I
am potter. How can I be Kṛṣṇa conscious? It requires that one should
be a brāhmaṇa, one should be very learned
man, Vedānta philosophy, and one must have the sacred thread, and
this and that. So I am a potter. I am a cobbler. I am a washerman."
No. Kṛṣṇa says, "No." You do not require to
change. Caitanya Mahaprabhu also says, "You do not require to
change." Kṛṣṇa says that svakarmaṇā tam abhyarcya. You just try to
worship the Supreme Lord by the result of your occupation.
Because Kṛṣṇa requires everything. So if you are a potter, you supply
pots. If you are florist, you supply flower. If you are carpenter, you
work for temple. If you are washerman, then wash clothing of the
temple. Temple is the center, Kṛṣṇa. And everyone gets chance to
offer his service. Therefore temple worship is very nice. So this
temple should be organized in such a way that we don't require any
money. You give your service. That's all. You be engaged in your
service. Don't change your service. But you try to serve the-temple
means the Supreme Lord—by your occupational duty.
Śivānanda: In other words, in the correct position that... You
might have a community, and then...
Prabhupāda: The community is supposed to be there. The potter is
there, the washerman is there, the grocer is there, the milkman is
there, everyone is there. So we haven't got to form community.
Śivānanda: No. In the correct position then, the temple would be
the center of the community.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Temple is open for everyone. Let them come
and sit down, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, hear Bhagavad-gītā. We don't say,
"Oh, are you potter? No. You are not allowed." We don't say that.
"Are you cobbler? Oh, you are not allowed." No. We don't say that.
Everyone is welcome. Come on. And what is the business?
Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. Everyone can do it. And what is the next
business? We read some nice philosophical portion from Bhagavad-
gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Yes. You have got ears. (shouts:) But the
rascals are not coming! That is their rascaldom. Because they will go
to hell. We are offering the greatest facility, but they are so rascals
they are not coming. This is a rascaldom civilization. What is
difficulty there? You come, sit down, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, take
nice prasādam, hear philosophy, see nice pictures, decorated Deity.
What is the difficulty there? But their brain is full with rascaldom.
They will go to cinema, they will go to hotel, they will go to some
other thing, but they will not come to temple, or church, or
anywhere where these things are being done. This is called Kali-
yuga. Kali-yuga means they are so condemned that they don't take
facility of the highest benefit. They have been educated. They have
been trained in such a way that they don't like this. But this is their
success. Bhāgavata says, saṁsiddhir hari-
toṣaṇam [SB 1.2.13]. Ataḥ pumbhir dvija-śreṣṭhā varṇāśrama-
vibhāgaśaḥ. Vibhāgaśaḥ means sectional division. "My dear
learned brāhmaṇas..." Because Suta Gosvāmī was speaking to very
learned assembly of brāhmaṇas Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Because it is
understandable not by ordinary class of men. But they are not
disallowed. It depends on the speaker to present very nicely for their
understanding. It is not, I mean to say, stopped. Nityam bhāgavata-
sevaya [SB 1.2.18]. This is the process.
śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ
puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ
hrdy antah-stho hy abhadrani
vidhunoti suhrt satam
[SB 1.2.17]
If you kindly come and hear about Kṛṣṇa, then Kṛṣṇa will be very
much pleased upon you. Anyone. Suppose if somebody is interested
with you, he likes your activity, he likes to hear about your qualities,
you will be also pleased with him. "Oh, this man is interested with
my affairs." So śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ. Kṛṣṇa is within your
heart. Kṛṣṇa is within and without because He is all-pervading. It is
not that He is simply without or within. He is within and without.
That is all-pervading. Akhilātma-bhūtaḥ. And all-pervading does not
mean that He is not in Goloka Vṛndāvana. He is there
also. Goloka eva nivasaty akhilātma-bhūtaḥ [Bs. 5.37]. Although He
is in His abode, Goloka Vṛndāvana, He is everywhere. Just like sun.
He is ninety millions miles away from here, situated in sun globe,
but he is everywhere. This light now, it is sunlight. So if sun can
remain in that way, everywhere, why not the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, He also remains everywhere? So He is within your heart.
And when He sees that you are interested in hearing about Him, He
becomes sympathetic. He is sympathetic to everyone. Still more
sympathetic. So what does He do? Śṛṇvatāṁ sva-
kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ. Kṛṣṇa, when He sees that one is interested in hearing
about Him, then He gives you facility. What is that facility? That
facility is śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ puṇya-śravaṇa-
kīrtanaḥ [SB 1.2.17]. Kṛṣṇa-kathā, talks about Kṛṣṇa, you, either you
understand it or not understand it, it doesn't matter, if you simply sit
down to receive, give aural reception to such message, you become
pious. Immediately. Puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ. You don't
understand; simply you talk and discuss and hear, you become
pious. Just like fire. You come to the fire, you understand it or not
understand, you get warm. That facility is there. You don't require to
understand how fire is produced, what is the chemical or physical
constitution. You do it, understand or not understand. Just like you
sit down on a car, motor car. You understand it or not understand it,
what is the engineering of the car, but you run on. Similarly, kṛṣṇa-
kathā, the simply, the simple method, if you kindly come and hear,
then you will be pious. That is the first installment. You don't
understand or don't follow, but if the injection is there you become
pious. Puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ. And if you give little attention, then
the result will be hṛdy antaḥ-stho hy abhadrāṇi, all undesirable
things that is accumulated within your heart, that will be
cleared. Kṛṣṇa will help you.
Śivānanda: Now, um, supposedly, the false ego and...
Prabhupāda: What is the false ego and..., now you have to hear.
That's all.
Śivānanda: No, I mean the attention itself, this is material, very,
very subtle, but...
Prabhupāda: Yes. If you give attention, it is better. Even if you
don't give attention, simply hear, that will also have some effect.
Śivānanda: Now, can... We should be able to control our attention
then, to direct our attention to where...
Prabhupāda: Then what is the use of sitting if you don't control
your attention? Then you are simply wasting time. Why do you
come? That is understood. When you come to hear, that means you
must hear with attention. But this is a concession, that even if you
don't hear with attention, you become purified. But if you do it, it is
very nice. You make progress. You get the result very quickly. So
success of life is to please Kṛṣṇa, or the Supreme Lord, by one's
occupational duty. Ataḥ pumbhir dvija-śreṣṭhā varṇāśrama-
vibhāgaśaḥ, svanuṣṭhitena dharmena.
Svanuṣṭhitena dharmena saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam [SB 1.2.13]. One
should try to satisfy the Absolute Truth, Personality of Godhead.
And Lord Caitanya also recommends that "You remain in your
occupation. That doesn't matter. But you submissively try to hear."
So we are giving this chance to the people "Please come and hear."
But they are not prepared even for that thing. The age is so strong,
the Kali-yuga, that it will dictate. Māyā will dictate, "Why you go
there? What is there?" But actually, those who have come to us,
those who are following, they are so much changed. That is a fact.
They are seeing. They are hearing, "It will be." They are seeing, "It
is." Still, they are not interested. Just like a class of men, they see
that a person who has committed theft is arrested by police, and he
is hearing that "If you commit theft, then you will be sinful or you
will be caught by the laws of the state." So seeing and hearing, still
he is committing theft. Why? By experience, practical experience, he
is seeing that "Here is a man, committed theft. He is punished. He is
going to be arrested by the police." And he has heard also that if
somebody commits theft, he will be punished. So what do you want?
Two things are required. Dekha śroṇa(?), seeing and hearing, for
gaining knowledge. So he has got knowledge by seeing and hearing,
but still... That means the heart is not clear. So this thing will be
helpful for clearing the heart. Śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ puṇya-
śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ [SB 1.2.17]. Simply by legal obligation one cannot
be purified. You may enact thousands of rules and regulation and
laws. You cannot purify the heart of the people. Here is the process
to purify the heart of the people. Therefore they should be taken
advantage of. Simply by saying that "If you do this, then you'll be
punished," nobody cares for that. Just like a child. The parents daily
says, "My dear boy, don't do this. This is mischievous." But he does.
Just like a dog, animal. Because the heart is not purified. The
knowledge is not there. So this is the process for purifying the
heart. Ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. This is the
process. So one should take advantage of this process, how to purify
the mind, how to purify the heart. Then you will be a perfect
personality, perfect man. Śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ. So we don't
say that "You change your profession, you change your position or
occupation," no. Please come and hear. Please... If you don't chant,
please hear. That hearing process also will cure
you. Śravaṇam kīrtanam. So people should come to our temple and
hear this chanting, this... We are not taxing. We are not asking any...
If you give some contribution, there is temple and management,
there is expenditure, heavy expenditure, in this country. If you so
kind... It is very kind of you. Even if you do not pay, you don't like,
please come. Please come and hear. Please bring your friends if you
are really friend. So it is very nice thing. Sthāne sthitaḥ śruti-
gatāṁ tanu-vāṅ-manobhir. You remain what you are. We don't say
that you change, but you hear. Śruti-gatāṁ. Śruti means this ear.
God has given you this nice thing. You just inject this transcendental
vibration through this ear. And when you will, you purify yourself,
then you'll know how to make your life successful by your
occupation. Sva-
karmaṇā tam abhyarcya saṁsiddhiṁ labhate param [Bg. 18.46].
Saṁsiddhi. Saṁsiddhi means perfection. So even fifty years... Not
fifty. About sixty years before, in our childhood, or more than, sixty-
five years before, when we were five, six years old, this system of
hearing in the evening, in every village there was current. And my
maternal uncle's house was in the suburb of Calcutta. So in our
childhood, when we used to go to our maternal uncle's house, all the
ladies and members being discussed. They will sit down. All the
members of the neighboring people, they will come, very big crowd,
and they will hear, and whatever they can pay, they will pay. And
with that impression, at nine o'clock or ten o'clock, they will go to
bed. Very nice arrangement. Usually the meeting was taking place
after night, dinner, you see? Say, about at nine o'clock. And from
nine to ten, eleven, the discussion would go on, and then the
members dispersed and go to their respective home. We have seen.
And all the ladies, whole road, they were discussing, "The priest told
me..." They discussed very seriously to understand. So they don't
require any education. Simply by hearing they become advanced.
This is recommended. Śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ... Śṛṇvatāṁ. Just try to
hear, hear, hear. Very nice process. So we are inviting people. We
have got so much big space. Unfortunately, nobody is coming to
hear. Mr. Khanvar? Why they do not come?
Mr. Khanvar: I don't know.
Prabhupāda: (laughs) No, can you guess any reason?
Mr. Khanvar: Many people don't know about temple. Many people
are not aware of the temple.
Prabhupāda: Well, these are..., so many people came on that day.
At least, they know. They have no interest. That is the thing. That
this life is meant for perfection in self-realization
or Kṛṣṇa consciousness, their dull brain does not allow to understand
this fact. Therefore I was explaining last night, su-medhasaḥ good
brain substance. So people are becoming dull, and talking all
nonsense. They are interested with so many nonsense things. Just
like yesterday that gentleman came. You were present?
Devotee: Yes.
Prabhupāda: Oh, he was talking that on zero some great swami
spoke four hours. And he was very proud that on zero one can speak
throughout his whole life. Now I did not... (laughs) But if you can
speak on some subject matter for four hours, how it is zero? Just see
the contradiction. Gaurasundara, you were present when he was
speaking? You heard? If I can speak something on a subject matter,
is that subject matter zero? Zero means śūnya. Śūnya means
nothing. So how you can speak on nothing? If you can speak on
nothing, then nothing is no more nothing. It is something. Just see.
But you are so proud. "Oh, he spoke on zero for four hours." I did
not contradict because he is newcomer, but I talked on other subject.
But this is the position. Suppose you can talk on zero for four hours.
Then either you waste your time... Because after all it is zero. The
result is zero. Just like you add one million zeros. So what is the
value? Zero. So who is a fool that knowing that one million zeros
makes zero, why shall I waste my time making so many zeros? So
either he is a fool or if zero has so much substance to speak, then
how it is zero? If zero has so much value that one can speak on it for
hours and hours together, then how it is zero? So people do not
understand things very properly. They're so dull. Then he was
eulogising the man who spoke on zero for four hours. Yes. That is
the system, if you hear a man talking nonsense and people will give
cla... Oh! And he's asking what you have understood, "Oh! it is very
difficult to explain." Then why you are wasting time? If you cannot
express, if you do not understand. Simply people wants jugglery of
words, they don't want substance. They don't want substance. That
is the difficulty in the mod..., in the present age. Sva-
karmaṇā tam abhyarcya saṁsiddhiṁ labhate param [Bg. 18.46]. Sv
anuṣṭhitasya dharmasya saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam [SB 1.2.13]. So
you should learn this nice simple fact, that whether by your
work Kṛṣṇa or the Supreme Personality of Godhead is being satisfied.
Just like a student, how he is prosecuting his studies will be tested at
the examination how he can satisfy the examiner. Similarly,
whatever we may do, we have to enquire or to understand whether
by that work the Supreme Personality of Godhead is satisfied.
Unfortunately, they do not believe in God, or if they had some ideas
of God... Now they say God is dead. So they do not think that it is
necessary to please God. That is the difficulty.
Śivānanda: In other words if we have a decision to make, we
should make the decision only in terms of how it's going to affect my
service to Kṛṣṇa.
Prabhupāda: Hm?
Śivānanda: In other words, you don't necessarily make snap
decisions. I mean they're probably very... They can consider it from
all different points of view.
Prabhupāda: It is not difficult.
Śivānanda: No. But I mean you have to consider all the different
means and figure out how you're going to serve Kṛṣṇa the best way.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Kṛṣṇa can be served by his own occupation, as I
described just now. Or whatever you may be. You may be a potter,
you may be a florist, you may be... Whatever you may be, but you can
satisfy Kṛṣṇa by his work, by your work. You do not require to qualify
yourself with some specific qualification. Whatever qualification you
have got, you have to dovetail it under the direction of expert
spiritual master, how you can serve. That's all.
Pradyumna: What does that expert mean in the list of
qualifications for a devotee? In the list of qualifications of a devotee
there is one qualification, expert.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Pradyumna: What does that mean in relation to the occupation?
Prabhupāda: Expert means whatever he is doing, he must do it
very nicely That's all. Suppose you are sweeping this room. You can
do it very nicely, to your best knowledge. That is expert. The people
will say, "Oh, you have very nicely done." Any work you do, do it very
nicely. That is expert. Don't do it haphazardly. To your best talent, to
your best capacity, try to finish it very nicely, whatever it may be.
You are entrusted with some work. Do it nicely. That is expert. If you
think that you are unable to do that work, then whatever work you
can do, you take. But do it nicely. That is expert. Don't imitate. "Oh, I
have no capacity to work in that way, but I want to imitate. Oh, he is
doing that. I shall do that." Don't do that. That is not expert. You
take up what you can do very nicely and do it nicely. We have so
many works. Kṛṣṇa is not that He is static. He is dynamic force. Just
like Arjuna, he was not a Vedantist, he was not a brāhmaṇa, he was
not a sannyāsī. He was householder. He was military man. But he
knew his business, how to do it nicely. So you do your business
nicely. That is expert. And when it is dovetailed in Kṛṣṇa, there is no
gradation that this business is better and that business is lower
because everything is for Kṛṣṇa. So that business becomes Kṛṣṇa. Do
it nicely and Kṛṣṇa is satisfied. And that is your success. Avyāpare
suvyaparam yo naraḥ kartum icchati, sa-
mulo hanyate 'khila pārthiva vānaraḥ.(?) Expert. There is a very
nice story in Sanskrit. A monkey. A monkey... You might have some
experience, that sawmen, who cut wood? Sawmen. So a sawman was
cutting wood by the saw. So at the end of business it was half cut so
he pulled down a, I mean to say, a plug so that next day he will come
and he'll again begin sawing. So went away. So one monkey came. So
monkey sat down there and began to pull on the plug because
monkey's business is simply mischievous. So he did not know that
his plough (?) and some portion of his thigh was within the hole and
when he took out this plug it was, (claps) I mean to say, clipped, and
he could not get out and died. So the instruction is
that... 'Khila pārthiva vānaraḥ, vyāpare suvyaparam.
Avyāpara means a occupation, an occupation which is not fit for
you. That is avyāpara. Avyāpara-suvyaparam. And one occupation
which is not exactly fitting you, you do not know how to do it,
so avyāpare suvyaparam yo kartu... If one wants to act in a
business in which he is unable to do, then he is killed just like this
fool monkey. Avyāpare suvyaparam yo naraḥ kartum icchati, sa-
mulo hanyate. That foolish person is killed just like this monkey.
The monkey's business was not to imitate the sawman, but he
wanted to imitate. The result was that he was killed. So that is not
expertness. Expertness is you just try to do which is easily performed
by you. You don't accept anything heavy task because Kṛṣṇa does not
want that you have to do this heavy task. Whatever you know, you
just apply it. You dovetail it in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Kṛṣṇa does not
say that you have to become like this, like that, like that, then you
can serve Him. Does not say. Just like this cow. Just see. What does
it know? He's an animal. You see? But the calf knows to brush his
head and tongue like this, in love. It is doing and Kṛṣṇa accepting,
"Yes." That is expert. First of all find out what is easily done by you.
Don't take anything which is not easily done by you. You find out
what is your occupation, what you can very nicely and easily
perform, and do it for Kṛṣṇa. That's all. Is that clear? Expert? This is
expert. Expert does not mean that I do not know how to drive motor
car, and I will have to imitate somebody, "Oh, I shall become driver."
Why? If you do not know driving, why should you attempt driving?
Whatever you know, you just try it, that business, and try to
satisfy Kṛṣṇa. If you know driving, that's all right. But don't take...
My Guru Mahārāja explained that you haven't got to learn anything
extra for Kṛṣṇa's service. Whatever you know, you just apply it...
Then you become successful. Because our time is very short. We do
not know when I am going to die. As soon as I am out of this body, I
am completely under the grip of nature, and I do not know what
kind of body I am getting next. Of course, Kṛṣṇa assures that His
devotee will never be vanquished. He will get good body. But I do
not know what kind of body I am going to... Therefore before
finishing this body I will have to develop Kṛṣṇa consciousness very
nicely. That is my success. Śabdhvā sudurlabham idaṁ bahu-
sambhavānte. After many, many of evolutionary process, I have got
this nice human form of body in America or India, in civilized
nation, or rich family, I have no economic problem. That's all right.
So it is to be understood they are simply wasting. Oh, how miserable
it is. They get the opportunity, and they are simply wasting for sense
gratification just like cats and dogs. Whole day working, whole day
laboring. Why? Sense gratification. That is also in the hog society.
Eating stool, living in nasty place, and they have got very good
facility for sex. Is that the end of life?
So Bhāgavata says, nāyaṁ deho deha-
bhājaṁ nṛloke kāṣṭān kāmān arhate viḍ-bhujāṁ ye [SB 5.5.1]. You
are working so hard and the end should not be simply sense
gratification. Sense gratification you can get in hog society, dog
society, without any, I mean to say, extra qualification. That
is... Viṣayaḥ khalu sarvataḥ syāt. Viṣaya means this sense
gratificatory business, you will have in any life. In bird's life, in dog's
life, in cat's life. So do you think that human life is also meant for
that purpose? Then what is the meaning of civilization? Is that
civilization? If the end of life is the same, just like cats and dogs, is it
civilization? They do not know what is civilization. They have
forgotten. They think that eating very nicely in a palatable dish, that
is civilization. But eating is eating. And if you eat... If you are hungry,
anything satisfies you. That is eating. Finish. You can eat. Sleeping.
When you are fast asleep, you do not know whether you are on the
nice building in a nice apartment. You are dreaming that you are
thrown into the ocean. So sleeping. So simply for nice arrangement
for sleeping, is that civilization? [break] Then life is successful. At
least, if one understands that "This is my business. My business is
not to work hard and end it by sense gratification. This is not my
business." That is saṁsiddhi. That is success. If, at least, one
understands this aim of life, even little understands, he gets next
human body. That is guaranteed. At least, he is not going to get any
cats' and dogs' body. That is stated in the Bhagavad-
gītā. Śucīnāṁ śrīmatāṁ gehe yoga-bhraṣṭo 'bhijāyate
[Bg. 6.41]. When Arjuna inquired that if a man cannot execute
this yoga system, Bhakti-yoga system, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, if it is
half finished or one-fourth finished, or 10% finished, not complete
finished, then what is the result? He is good for nothing?
No. Kṛṣṇa says,
"No." Svalpam apy asya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt. Even
a little understood, it can save him from the greatest danger.
And śucīnāṁ śrīmatāṁ gehe yoga-bhraṣṭo 'bhijāyate. If one is not
successful in this life, then he is given another chance next life.
Where? Śucīnāṁ. In nice,
transcendentalist, brāhmaṇa or Vaiṣṇava devotee or pious man, in
his family. Or less than, if he is less qualified, then he is given a
chance to get his birth in a rich family. Both the families. In rich
family he has no economic problem. And in a pious family he gets
direct opportunity to, I mean to say, advance his
past Kṛṣṇa consciousness again. So in these two families he gets
another chance. But unfortunately, those who are born in rich
family, they immediatel
y give up all principles of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. "Oh, I have got so
much money without any labor. Let me enjoy." This is māyā. He
does not think... Because he has no education that "You have got this
opportunity that you have no economic problem. Take this
opportunity for advancing in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Engage your full
time to become a devotee." Nobody educates him. The poor boy or
poor fellow is misguided. He gets his friend, "Oh you have got so
much money. Let us enjoy." Eat drink be merry and enjoy. So he
becomes again cats and dogs.
Pradyumna: What is that type of pleasure that is material
pleasure, that a person feels engaged in material pursuit. He feel
some kind of pleasure. It's not very much pleasure, but it's some
pleasure. What is that pleasure made of? Because if he is enjoying
sense gratification...
Prabhupāda: That is pleasure. That is material pleasure. Material
pleasure means sex pleasure. That's all. The end of material
pleasure, the topmost material pleasure, is sex pleasure. So all these
materialists, they are trying to get pleasure from the sex life. In this
way, that way, that way, that way, that way. That's all. Because they
have no other information. Material pleasure means sex pleasure.
Sex pleasure, tongue pleasure. They have manufactured so many
things. That gentleman was sitting and asking "Can I smoke?" The
tongue is agitating for... "Please, please give me one cigarette. One
cigarette." He became disturbed. And we said, "No. You cannot
smoke." This is material pleasure. You train up your senses in such a
way that it becomes addicted. It cannot get out of the entanglement.
So this Kṛṣṇa consciousness will save you. Yan maithunādi-
gṛhamedhi-sukhaṁ hi tuccham [SB 7.9.45]. They are all explained in
the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. The material pleasure means sexual
intercourse. That's all. That is the sum and substance of pleasure.
That's all. You'll find everywhere two, one male and female, one
male and female. Either legitimate or illegitimate. Either human
being or animal or birds or beast, that male and female, male and
female, male and female. This is material pleasure. And unless one is
strongly equipped in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, it is not possible to give
up. That is the test. It is not possible. Therefore Kṛṣṇa is Madana-
mohana. He can captivate even the Cupid. This is Cupid's business,
attraction of male and female. And when that Kṛṣṇa attracts you, you
forget this Cupid attraction. Therefore He is known as Madana-
mohana.
jayatāṁ suratau paṅgor
mama manda-mater gatī
mat-sarvasva-padāmbhojau
rādhā-madana-mohanau
This is the beginning.
Śivānanda(?): When do we become attracted? When do we begin
to become attracted?
Prabhupāda: Forget that. You are attracted. That you take account
of. When you become diseased, that is useless. You are diseased.
Take medicine. There is no necessity of asking when you became
diseased. You are diseased. Take medicine. That's all. What is the
use of tracing the history? Everything has his history, that's all right.
But my immediate necessity is that "I am diseased. I want to be
cured. Give me some medicine." But there is history. The history is
this. Just like disease. You have fallen victim of disease. That means
you have given chance to the infection. That's all. That is the sum
and substance of disease. You are infected with some disease. That
means you have given chance for that infection. There was a story in
a medical journal. "Typhoid Mary." Typhoid Mary... One girl,
whenever she was present everyone was being infected with typhoid.
Then she was examined, that she is full of typhoid germs. But she
was immune. But she infected wherever she went. The medical
journal reported. So we should be careful not being infected. And
that how you can become free from infection? These four rules.
"Don't have this, don't have this, don't have this, don't have this."
Then you are free from infection. So you should be careful from
being infected. There is no use tracing out the history when you
become infected. You should not be infected. That should be your
business. And as you are now infected, you try to avoid the causes of
infection and take the medicine; you become cured.
Some prasādam? So Annapurna you have got some news?
Annapurna: I got a letter from my father.
Prabhupāda: So is that all right?
Annapurna: Yes.
Prabhupāda: So what is our next program? (chuckles) That letter
is encouraging?
Annapurna: Yes.
Prabhupāda: That's all right. (pause) So on behalf of Kṛṣṇa we
have to canvass with folded hands and with all humility, "Please
come to our temple and hear." He
sādhavā sakalam eva vihāya dūrād caitanya-candra-
caraṇe kurutānurāgam. All right. (pause)
Devotee: This rule, "No gambling," does this also include
speculation?
Prabhupāda: Yes. Speculation is gambling.
Pradyumna: Swamiji? I was reading a book by Swami
Vivekananda. Some letters in the back I was looking at...
Prabhupāda: Vivekananda's books we have nothing to do.
Pradyumna: I was just...
Prabhupāda: Forget him. It is all nonsense.
Pradyumna: I was looking at his philosophy. I was just looking at
his technique for his... He was in America first and then he wished
also to go to Europe. Anyway, he had one man... He just had a rich
benefactor and he went on a six weeks tour, France, England,
Germany, Switzerland, all around and then back. That's how he did
most of his touring. He had one or two influential people, and then
he did everything just like that. And all lectures were arranged in
societies.
Prabhupāda: So you can arrange like that. Can you?
Pradyumna: I was thinking if there would be in the Royal Asiatic
Society in London. I think Ṭhākura Bhaktivinoda was a member of
that also? Is that the same one?
Prabhupāda: Where is Ṭhākura Bhaktivinoda now?
Pradyumna: No, but there would be some people there, to open
correspondence with them, and they might be interested in
sponsoring you.
Prabhupāda: It is not... It is more difficult.(?) (Prabhupāda is
taking prasādam) (pause) Is there anything about Kṛṣṇa in
Vivekananda's speech?
Pradyumna: I wasn't reading his speeches. I wanted to see how he
worked things. I know he's a rascal.
Prabhupāda: So you can give me a little milk and finish business.
(pause) (devotees offer obeisances) All glories to the assembled
devotees.
Devotees: All glories to Guru and Gaurāṅga!
Prabhupāda: Yes. All glories to you because you are interested
in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Certainly it is glorious. Greatest science.
Please try to understand it very nicely. You will be all happy. That is
my request.
Devotee: Is this picture of He who is considered(?) Kṛṣṇa in the
pine tree?
Prabhupāda: What is this? Some imagination. Some imagination.
All cheating. (end)