Those who are jñānis actually, they are also interested to know what is Kṛṣṇa. Jñānī ca bharatarṣabha, jijñāsur. Ārto arthārthī jijñāsur jñānī ca bharatarṣabha (BG 7.16). These four classes of men, provided their background is pious life.... Impious life cannot inquire about God or can understand about God.
Background (Lectures)
Lectures
Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures
Lecture on BG 2.1 -- Ahmedabad, December 6, 1972:
His younger brother was situated on the throne. Now, after the death of his younger brother, he thought that "I missed the opportunity of sitting on the throne. Why not my sons? They have got actual right." That is the background of this Kurukṣetra battle. He was always devising some means, how the sons of Pāṇḍu, his nephews, could be separated and his sons would sit on the throne. That was his idea.
Lecture on BG 2.1 -- Ahmedabad, December 6, 1972:
This is the background of Kurukṣetra. But another thing is the dharma-kṣetra, effect of dharma-kṣetra was visible in Arjuna. Dharma-kṣetra. He, because he's devotee of Kṛṣṇa... Yasyāsti bhaktir bhagavaty akiñcanā sarvair guṇais tatra samāsate surāḥ (SB 5.18.12). Because he's devotee of Kṛṣṇa, therefore he felt: "What is this? Why shall I kill these, my brothers?" Because he was devotee.
Lecture on BG 2.6 -- London, August 6, 1973:
So still he is thinking in terms of his own satisfaction. He is preparing the background—how materialistic persons, they think in the terms of personal satisfaction. So that has to be given up. Not personal satisfaction, Kṛṣṇa's satisfaction. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Whatever you do, it doesn't matter.
Lecture on BG 2.9 -- London, August 15, 1973:
Sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo yato bhaktiḥ... (SB 1.2.6). And that love not with a motive. Just like here in this material world, "I love you; you love me." Background is some motive. Ahaituky apratihatā. Ahaitukī, no motive. Anyābhīlāṣitā-śūnyam (Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.1.11). All other desires making zero. Zero.
Lecture on BG 2.20-25 -- Seattle, October 14, 1968:
Don't take ice cream. (music continues louder in background) (laughs) This is māyā. (laughter) "Come on, come on, enjoy me. Come on, come on, enjoy me." (laughs) As soon as you enjoy, you become entrapped. That's all. Just like fishing tackle.
Lecture on BG 2.20-25 -- Seattle, October 14, 1968:
Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, "Because I am moving amongst them as ordinary human being, they are thinking of Me as one of them." Paraṁ bhāvam ajānantaḥ. "They do not know what is My background." Paraṁ bhāvam. "Therefore they fail to understand Me." Mūḍha. Rascals, fools.
Lecture on BG 2.46-62 -- Los Angeles, December 16, 1968:
This is a crude example. Similarly, ultimately, unless there is the Supreme Person on the background... That, Hayagrīva has brought one book, Evidence of God. So the many scientists they have written in that book, and they have agreed that if God is there, He must be person.
Lecture on BG 2.49-51 -- New York, April 5, 1966:
You get very good wealth in wealthy family, or you earn millions and millions dollars. You don't think that simply by laboring, one can earn millions and millions dollars unless he has got in the background very good work. You see?
Lecture on BG 3.13-16 -- New York, May 23, 1966:
The beginning of our Bhagavad-gītā lesson is based on that we are spirit consciousness. We are not this body. And the whole function of the human society is to be enlightened in that spiritual consciousness of life instead of wasting time in sense gratification like the animals who are concerned with eating, sleeping, fearing, and mating. That is the background of our, this discussion, that we are different from the ordinary animals.
Lecture on BG 3.27 -- Madras, January 1, 1976:
Sṛṣṭi-sthiti-pralaya-sādhana-śaktir ekā chāyeva yasya bhuvanāni vibharti (Bs. 5.44). But she is acting just like shadow, not independently. Icchānurūpam api yasya ca ceṣṭate sā govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi **. So Govinda is the ultimate background. Sarva-kāraṇa-kāraṇam (Bs. 5.1). Īśvaraḥ paramaḥ... And this is the Brahma-saṁhitā, written by Lord Brahmā.
Lecture on BG 3.31-43 -- Los Angeles, January 1, 1969:
That is explained in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta: lust and love, what is the difference between lust and love. In the material world there is no love. Because everyone is directed by lust. The so-called love... A young boy is trying to love a young girl, or young girl is trying to love a young..., but the background is lust. There is no love. It is simply a show of love. Therefore, after satisfying lust, there is divorce, there is separation. So in the material world there is no possibility of love. It is all lust.
Lecture on BG 4.1 and Review -- New York, July 13, 1966:
So one friend of the author, D.L. Raya, he inquired from D.L. Raya that "Mr. Raya, you have written this book and this book is full of the activities of Aurangzeb. Now, why you have made the hero Shahjahan? Shahjahan is on the background. The old man is arrested in the fort of Agra. He is sitting there. Why you have named the Shahjahan?" Now, just see the purpose of the author.
Lecture on BG 4.2 -- Bombay, March 22, 1974:
So the real Gītār Gān is spoken by the Supreme Person, we have to accept that. That is Gītār Gān. (sound of drums in background becoming increasing louder.) Not that I manufacture something as Gītār Gān. (above drums, sound of horns) What is this? (pause) Marriage procession or what? That's all right.
Lecture on BG 4.4 -- Bombay, March 24, 1974:
So people do not believe that Kṛṣṇa is a historical person, at the same time, He's the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They think that He is a very learned man or a great politician, or a beautiful man. Like that. Avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā mānuṣīṁ tanum āśritam, paraṁ bhāvam ajānantaḥ (BG 9.11). They do not understand the background of Kṛṣṇa.
Lecture on BG 4.6 -- Bombay, March 26, 1974:
Ātmā means this body, ātmā means this mind, and ātmā means the soul. Three things, they are called ātmā. So Kṛṣṇa's either body or mind or the soul, there is no difference. Kṛṣṇa's body is avyaya. Our body is vyaya, it deteriorates, changes. (sound of children talking in background) Ask them to stop. Or no, let them go away.
Lecture on BG 4.6-8 -- New York, July 20, 1966:
Now, just like you take the knife. Now, what is the function of knife? Knife's function is to cut. You can cut a pencil and you can cut your throat. The function of the knife is nothing, but when you cut a throat, then the knife becomes polluted, but when you... (drunk talking and whistling in background) When you... (drunk goes on talking and whistling) Don't disturb. Sit down.
Lecture on BG 4.7 -- Montreal, June 13, 1968:
I shall give you another example. Just like in the street light there is red light and green light and yellow light. The yellow light is, I mean to say, seen sometimes. But either the red light or the green light is always. But it is working under the same electric energy. Sometimes it appearing green, sometimes appearing yellow, sometimes appearing red. But on the background the same energy. Now, by the red light you have to stop, by green light you can start. Your activity becomes different by different light because light is acting by the same energy.
Lecture on BG 4.7 -- Montreal, June 13, 1968:
And when we understand, as it is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sa-carācaram (BG 9.10), so that is the real understanding, to understand the lawmaker. Not to be struck with wonder with the activities of the law. The Vaiṣṇavas, they are concerned with the background lawmaker. And if you know the lawmaker, then automatically you know the laws, how they are acting.
Lecture on BG 4.7-9 -- New York, July 22, 1966:
Just like I am repeatedly mentioned here that in our country Mahatma Gandhi, he had his philosophy of non-violence, and he wanted to prove non-violence from Bhagavad-gītā. But Bhagavad-gītā is spoken in the warfield. Bhagavad-gītā is spoken when Arjuna was in problem, whether to fight or not to fight. That is the, I mean the, background of Bhagavad-gītā. Now, if anyone wants to prove that Bhagava..., in Bhagavad-gītā there is non-violence, then you, you, you something else. Violence is there in the Bhagavad-gītā.
Lecture on BG 4.8 -- Montreal, June 14, 1968:
That you have to understand, how laws of nature is going on. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness, to understand laws of nature. And as soon as speak of laws of nature, we must accept that there is a lawmaker. Laws of nature cannot develop automatically. There must be some authority on the background. Bhagavad-gītā therefore says in the Tenth Chapter that mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sa-carācaram: (BG 9.10) "Under My direction, superintendence, the material laws are working."
Lecture on BG 4.8 -- Montreal, June 14, 1968:
Just like we are moving, man, animals. But there are certain other things, just like trees, mountains. They do not move. So moving or unmoving. But everyone is being controlled by the laws of nature. Carācaram. Cara means moving; acaram means not moving. Hetunānena kaunteya: "Because I am on the background," kaunteya, "my dear Arjuna, for this reason..." Hetunānena kaunteya.
Lecture on BG 4.9-11 -- New York, July 25, 1966:
The Vedānta-sūtra therefore says, athāto brahma jijñāsā. Now, now we have got the developed consciousness of human body, now, this is the time for asking about the Supreme Brahman. (talking in the background) (aside:) You ask them to speak slowly. At least speak slowly. You go there.
Lecture on BG 4.10 -- Bombay, March 30, 1974:
Janma karma me divyaṁ yo jānāti tattvataḥ (BG 4.9). In the previous verse it has been said, tattvataḥ. Not superficially. If we study Kṛṣṇa superficially, then I shall accept another rascal, competitor of Kṛṣṇa. Because we do not know what is Kṛṣṇa. Mūḍhāḥ. Avajānanti māṁ mūḍhāḥ (BG 9.11). Therefore in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta it has been described,
- siddhānta baliyā citte nā kara alasa
- ihā haite kṛṣṇe lāge sudṛdha mānasa
- (CC Adi 2.117)
Siddhānta, how great Kṛṣṇa is. For example... (sound of children crying in background.) Get them out.
Lecture on BG 4.11 -- New York, July 27, 1966:
So ye yathā māṁ prapadyante. A proportionately, as I surrender unto the Supreme Lord... We must always know that our background of relationship is that we are subordinate, and He is great. God is great. We cannot be equal with Him. We have to follow. He is the supreme leader. Therefore Lord Kṛṣṇa says that "You give up everything." He is trying to give you leadership.
Lecture on BG 4.11 -- New York, July 27, 1966:
Now, He says that "Actually they are following my leadership." Because they are servant, they are followers of leader. They are servant of some created leader materially. So that means there is a propensity, that intrinsic background of following some leader, is there. That you cannot avoid. That you cannot avoid. Mama vartmānuvartante manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ.
Lecture on BG 4.12 -- Vrndavana, August 4, 1974:
If a person, desiring some material profit, remembering Kṛṣṇa, that is also welcome. Welcome because he is not atheist. Atheist class men, even for material success, they do not pray to God. But theist class, one who has got background pious activities, he is called theist. An impious, sinful activities, or sinful man, cannot remember even God.
Lecture on BG 4.13-14 -- New York, August 1, 1966:
Just like we want to do something. Suppose I want to do some business. And what is the idea? Because I want to make some profit out of the business, and if there is sufficient profit, I shall be gainer, I shall be rich man, I shall be able to enjoy life and so on, so on, so many things, I have got background. So I have my desires whenever I do something. We conditioned souls, whenever we do something, there is some desire behind it. And what is that desire? For enjoyment. That's all.
Lecture on BG 4.14-19 -- New York, August 3, 1966:
Now... You can come please forward. Yes. Yes. Come forward. There is... Sit down. Karmabhir sa na badhyate. Now, the whole world is bound by his own karma, action. Everyone, every living entity... In the Brahma-saṁhitā, there is a nice verse about this... (kids yelling in the background; pause)
Lecture on BG 4.14-19 -- New York, August 3, 1966:
Janmaiśvarya-śruta-śrībhiḥ (SB 1.8.26). Janma-aiśvarya, four things, janma-aiśvarya-śruta... Janma means birth, aiśvarya means richness, and śruta means education. Is that point clear?
(drunk begins yelling in background)
Is that point clear? Please hear. Stop! Don't talk. We are talking seriously. Don't disturb. Is that point clear?
Lecture on BG 4.19 -- New York, August 5, 1966:
So in our practical life Kṛṣṇa advises how to invoke this Kṛṣṇa consciousness. He says,
- yasya sarve samārambhāḥ
- kāma-saṅkalpa-varjitāḥ
- jñānāgni-dagdha-karmāṇaṁ
- tam āhuḥ paṇḍitaṁ budhāḥ
(loud conversation going on in background) Ask them to stop. Why do they come and talk nonsense?
Lecture on BG 4.34-38 -- New York, August 17, 1966:
There are number of fruits. There is ample supply of milk. So you can satisfy yourself. You can keep your body very healthy, and culture this spiritual knowledge. That is the plan. That is the plan of Kṛṣṇa. But if we want to possess more, then, er...
(sirens extremely loud in background)
So this is another example of punishment. (laughter) We are also punished and they, for whom they are going, they are also punished. So we are all being punished. As we are making progress, as we are violating the law of nature, the law of God, we are being punished in every step.
Lecture on BG 5.3-7 -- New York, August 26, 1966:
Guest (1): (loud voice in background) Excuse me, sir...
Prabhupāda: No. You cannot disturb just now.
Guest (2): Now wait a minute, man... (quarrel going on in background)
Prabhupāda: No, no, no, no, no, no, no, not just now. No, no, no. You cannot ask just now.
Guest (1): (someone trying to ask a question) I'm trying to...
Prabhupāda: No. Just now you can ask.
Guest (2): Wait a minute, man. Wait. (quarrel goes on)
Prabhupāda: Why you interfere just now. We have got question time.
Lecture on BG 6.2-5 -- Los Angeles, February 14, 1969:
That can be done by bhakti-yoga. Bhakti-yogena manasi samyak praṇihite 'male apaśyat puruṣaṁ pūrṇam. He saw the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Māyāṁ ca tad-apāśrayam. And he saw this māyā just on the background. Apāśrayam. Light and darkness, along with, just like here is light. There is darkness also here, little darkness. So darkness remains under the shelter of light. But light does not remain under the shelter of darkness.
Lecture on BG 6.47 -- Ahmedabad, December 12, 1972:
So five thousand years ago, when... (pause—noise in background) Five thousand years ago, when this yoga system was discussed between Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, Arjuna frankly admitted that this system was very difficult for him.
Lecture on BG 7.1 -- Hyderabad, April 27, 1974:
So this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is not a concoction of mind. It is scientific. It is based on the Vedic knowledge. It is primarily on the background of the teachings of Bhagavad-gītā. If we take to this Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then our human life, its mission, will be successful. That is our request to you all.
Lecture on BG 7.1 -- Fiji, May 24, 1975:
Before me, many swamis went to the Western countries. They also talked about Bhagavad-gītā and other Vedic literature. But not a single person could be converted to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, not a single person throughout the whole history, background. But since 1967, we are presenting Bhagavad-gītā as it is; thousands of young generation, they are taking to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. This is the result.
Lecture on BG 7.1-3 -- Stockholm, September 10, 1973:
Perhaps you know the book Mahābhārata, "Greater Bhārata-varṣa," "The History of the Greater Bhārata-varṣa." That is Mahābhārata. So the background of this Bhagavad-gītā is that there was worldwide fight, battle, called the Battle of Kurukṣetra. Kurukṣetra, the place is still there.
Lecture on BG 7.4 -- Bombay, February 19, 1974:
Therefore Kṛṣṇa says this earth, bhūmi... Bhūmi, earth, has come out of water, āpaḥ. And wherefrom āpaḥ, water, has come? Analaḥ, fire. Wherefrom fire has come? From air. Where the air has come? Ether, sky. Wherefrom the ether has come? False ego. Where from it has come? Mind. Wherefrom it has come? Intelligence. And wherefrom it has come? From the soul. This is the scientific study. But they do not know background of the soul.
Lecture on BG 7.4 -- Bombay, February 19, 1974:
This is confirmation. Adho gacchanti: "Goes down," to the animal kingdom, to the beast, birds, reptiles, snakes so many things. There are eight millions forms. It is daivena, daiva-netreṇa. Netreṇa means "by supervision." Background of the supervision is Kṛṣṇa. Mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate ca-carācaram (BG 9.10). They are absolute.
Lecture on BG 7.4-5 -- Bombay, March 30, 1971:
So māyā is controlled by Kṛṣṇa; Kṛṣṇa is never controlled by māyā. Kṛṣṇa is never controlled by māyā. That is not very good theory. That is due to poor fund of knowledge. Kṛṣṇa cannot be covered. Just like Vyāsadeva, by his bhakti-yoga meditation he saw Kṛṣṇa and māyā. Māyā apāśrayam, just on the background. Background, just like you find the shadow of the man. Not in the front.
Lecture on BG 7.5 -- Bombay, February 20, 1974:
(loud Indian pop music in background) So last night we discussed about the material energy and came to the conclusion that life is not made out of matter. Matter is product of living force or living entity. (music grows louder) Hm. Today it will be little disturbing. Anyway, we shall explain. (aside:) No. That's all right. Let them go with their festival. Don't disturb.
Lecture on BG 7.8-14 -- New York, October 2, 1966:
Tapaś cāsmi tapasviṣu. Bījaṁ māṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ viddhi pārtha sanātanam (BG 7.10). And bījam. Bījam means seed. The seed is sanātana, that is eternal. Sanātana means eternal. There is a gigantic tree, but what is the platform, what is the background of this gigantic tree seed? That small seed, that mustardlike grain, seed. That is the background of this large tree.
Lecture on BG 7.8-14 -- New York, October 2, 1966:
All manifestations that you are observing, they are different combination of these three qualities. Now that can be made into nine. Three into three equal to nine; nine into nine equal to eighty-one; and so on—go on diluting. But the main background is that three qualities. So Kṛṣṇa says that "Whatever qualities are there," ye caiva sāttvikā bhāvā rājasās tāmasāś ca ye, "either goodness or passion or ignorance," matta eveti tān viddhi, "they are all produced from Me. They are all produced from Me."
Lecture on BG 7.9-10 -- Bombay, February 24, 1974:
So we cannot decide by theorizing. But if we take shelter of Kṛṣṇa, here is the perfect knowledge, that aham, "I am the background." Otherwise, how we can explain? Svābhāvikī jñāna-bala-kriyā ca. Just like if you have to paint one flower or if you have to create some scent, you have to mix so many chemicals.
Lecture on BG 7.16 -- Bombay, April 7, 1971:
So in spite of all scientific protection, in spite of all good brains behind the manufacture of this Titanic ship, it was drowned. So in this way we have to study that this ārta and arthārthī, because they are, their background is sukṛtina, pious activities, they know that without God's help we cannot mitigate any of our distressed condition or needy condition. Therefore the ārta and arthārthī whose background is pious life, they approach God: "Kṛṣṇa, please help me," although it is not pure devotion.
Lecture on BG 7.18 -- New York, October 12, 1966:
Just like distressed, poverty-stricken, inquisitive and philosophers. These four classes of men, if they are pious on the background, they begin worship of God. But the distressed and the poverty-stricken may give up worship of God if they are frustrated. But those who are inquisitive and philosopher, they do not give up worship of God or research work in the science of God. They do not give up. They continue.
Lecture on BG 9.10 -- Calcutta, June 29, 1973:
The Bhāgavata explains, begins from this Vedānta-sūtra: janmādy asya yataḥ anvayāt itarataś ca artheṣu abhijñaḥ svarāṭ (SB 1.1.1). So we have got our sufficient background to challenge this theory that life comes from matter. No.
Lecture on BG 9.10 -- Calcutta, June 29, 1973:
Therefore, we are presenting Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, without any interpretation. Kṛṣṇa says: "I am the Supreme Person," we say: "Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Person." Kṛṣṇa says that He's the background of this cosmic manifestation. We present: "Yes, Kṛṣṇa is the cause of all material cosmic manifestation." This is our program.
Lecture on BG 9.10 -- Calcutta, June 29, 1973:
Ārto arthārthī jñānī jijñāsuḥ. So ārto arthārthī, ordinary men, when one is in need of money, when one is in distress, they go to God for relief. But although they go to God for, with some motive, still they have been described as sukṛtinaḥ. Sukṛtinaḥ, pious. Background is piety. Otherwise, nobody can go. And those who are duskṛtinaḥ, always engaged in sinful activities, they cannot go to Kṛṣṇa. Na māṁ duṣkṛtino mūḍhāḥ prapadyante narādhamāḥ (BG 7.15).
Lecture on BG 10.8 -- New York, January 7, 1967:
So there is nothing to be depressed? All boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen who are in this meeting, they have got this faith, śraddhā. It is understood. Otherwise why you have come here? Unless you have got little faith, you would not have come. And you are sparing your valuable time. This is the sign of faith. This is the first background. If one increases this faith, it can be developed to the highest perfectional stage, love of God.
Lecture on BG 12.13-14 -- Bombay, May 12, 1974:
That is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā that catur-vidhā bhajante māṁ sukṛtino 'rjuna: "Those who are pious, whose background is piety, such persons, divided into four classes..." Ārto jijñāsur arthārthī jñānī, four classes. Ārtaḥ means distressed, and arthārthī means in need of money. Ārto arthārthī. Or some material benefit. And jñānī, one who is searching after knowledge. And jijñāsuḥ, inquisitive.
Lecture on BG 12.13-14 -- Bombay, May 12, 1974:
These four classes of men, if their background is life of piety, they go to God to pray, "My Lord, my Lord, give me some money. I am very poor. I am very distressed. Kindly mitigate my distress." Or jñānī, they are searching after actually what is God. Or inquisitive, simply inquiring what is God. So there are four classes. Whose background is life of pious activities, they go to God.
Lecture on BG 12.13-14 -- Bombay, May 12, 1974:
There is sukṛtina. Sukṛtina means those who are background is pious activities. And just opposite number, duṣkṛtina. Those background is impious activities, sinful activities. Such persons, na māṁ duṣkṛtino mūḍhāḥ prapadyante narādhamāḥ (BG 7.15), the lowest of the mankind, full of sinful activities.
Lecture on BG 13.1-2 -- Bombay, December 29, 1972:
The soul is different from the body. This is the Vedic information: asaṅgo 'yaṁ puruṣaḥ. (static) The living entity, soul, is not this material body. Asaṅga. He has no, I mean to say, association. He's put into that condition, but he's different from the body. (Child crying in background; aside:) What is that? She has gone out and cannot come.
Lecture on BG 16.1-3 -- Hawaii, January 29, 1975:
Similarly, we may be imperfect, it doesn't matter, but because we are accepting the words and statement of Kṛṣṇa then our knowledge is imperfect..., perfect. It is not imperfect. (Scraping noise in background) (aside to devotee:) It does not shoot very...? All right.
Lecture on BG 16.2-7 -- Bombay, April 8, 1971:
So there are two kinds of muktis. So far sāyujya-mukti is concerned, that is not very sure. What is this sound? (thumping sound like drum or machine in background) Sāyujya-mukti, one who takes liberation of merging into the existence of the Supreme Absolute Truth, that is not very secure position because they may fall down again to the material world.
Lecture on BG 16.8 -- Hawaii, February 4, 1975:
Janmaiśvarya-śruta-śrībhiḥ (SB 1.8.26). Janma, to take birth in high class family, to become very rich—they are not accidental. There is background, daiva-netreṇa, by the superior judgement. There are so many things to be learned. Simply to become blind without any knowledge and give some verdict, asatyam, that is nonsense. That is nonsense. Kṛṣṇa is guiding us.
Lecture on BG 16.9 -- Hawaii, February 5, 1975:
These demons, further description... Yesterday we discussed that "The world is untruth, this material world is untruth," asatyam apratiṣṭham, "and there is no background." This is the conclusion of the atheist demons. We have explained that this world is not untrue. That is our Vaiṣṇava philosophy.
Lecture on BG 16.9 -- Hawaii, February 5, 1975:
So, on the basis of this vision, that "there is no God, there is no background of this material creation, this material creation is false..." There are so many other conclusions of the demonic people. Demon and atheist, the same thing.
Lecture on BG 16.9 -- Hawaii, February 5, 1975:
This is Vedānta, beginning. So therefore human life is meant for understanding the absolute truth, God, the background of everything. Immediately answer is there: "The Brahman means janmādy asya yataḥ (SB 1.1.1), the origin of everything." That is Brahman, origin of everything. There must be something origin.
Lecture on BG 17.1-3 -- Honolulu, July 4, 1974:
To beget a child, it requires also reformation-time, mentality, situation. So... Not like cats and dogs. So, creating the background very nicely, sattva-guṇa, they will beget a child. That child will come, some great man, some great devotee. So everything has got the material relationship, how to do it. That is śāstra.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures
Lecture on SB 1.2.5 -- Visakhapatnam, February 20, 1972, At Ladies Club:
So I request that we have made a background only for spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and this movement has a great demand all over the world. They are confused with this materialistic way of life. They are not satisfied. Many thousands and thousands of young men, they are confused. They do not know what to do, but they do not like to live like their fathers or grandfathers.
Lecture on SB 1.2.6 -- Hyderabad, April 18, 1974:
The more we are sinful, we are disinterested in God. Why at the present moment people are disinterested in the subject matter of understanding God? Because they are all sinful. So therefore Bhagavad-gītā says, catur-vidhā bhajante māṁ sukṛtino 'rjuna. Sukṛtina: "whose background is pious life."
Lecture on SB 1.2.7 -- Delhi, November 13, 1973:
Those who are in need of some money. Artha, jijñāsuḥ. And inquisitive what is God. And jñānī, means actually those who are in knowledge. They are searching after. Four classes of men begin bhajana. Not the others. Opposite numbers are na māṁ duṣkṛtino mūḍhāḥ prapadyante narādhamāḥ (BG 7.15). Those who are duskṛtina, background is simply sinful activities, they cannot take.
Lecture on SB 1.2.8 -- Hyderabad, April 22, 1974:
You see? This is our position. Bhajana... Kṛṣṇa says, Bhagavān says, that catur-vidhā bhajante mām. This bhajana word is there. "Four kinds of people can be engaged in bhajana." Who are they? Sukṛtino 'rjuna: "Whose background is very, very pious activities." Now, at present, bhajana is nuisance. Bhajana is stated in the Vedic scripture that it is performed by the pious man, and now, at the present circumstances, bhajana is nuisance.
Lecture on SB 1.2.9 -- Vrndavana, October 20, 1972:
Everything is there. Simply you have to work little. Because this world, this material world, is made in such a way that unless you work little, you cannot get your food. That Viṣṇu Purāṇa, it is said, avidyā-karma-saṁjñānyā tṛtīyā śaktir iṣyate. Avidyā. Ignorance. (talking in background) (aside:) Ask them, not... (Hindi) Avidyā-karma-saṁjña. This material world is ignorance, darkness. Because he, people have no knowledge of that Kṛṣṇa is providing everyone food.
Lecture on SB 1.2.21 -- Los Angeles, August 24, 1972:
Just like, to make it tight, you give one knot, again a knot, another knot, another knot, another knot, to make it secure. So this is our position. This material world, we are knotted in so many ways, and we are creating more knot. In this life... (tapping sound in background) Who is making that sound? Oh...
Lecture on SB 1.2.22 -- Vrndavana, November 2, 1972:
Bhauma-līlā. And after his being trained up thoroughly, then he's transferred to the original Kṛṣṇaloka, Goloka Vṛndāvana. (aside:) These boys may be given some prasādam. These boys who have come. Come here, boys! Ask them. Come here. One in hand... (Śyāmasundara is distributing rasagullās in background) Why...? Give them one in hand.
Lecture on SB 1.2.31 -- Vrndavana, November 10, 1972:
Sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi-sanniviṣṭo mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca (BG 15.15). Smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca. Remembrance, memory, knowledge—everything is coming from Him. Smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca. And forgetfulness is also from Him. (loud kīrtana in background) (aside:) That's all right. Let them... Jñānam and apohanaṁ ca. Knowledge and forgetfulness, both are there. Both are coming from Kṛṣṇa. Knowledge...Suppose I wanted to enjoy something in my past life.
Lecture on SB 1.3.8 -- Los Angeles, September 14, 1972:
So how from the śūdras a brāhmaṇa can be selected? According to the Vedic system, it is not possible. One, to be accepted as brāhmaṇa, must be son of a brāhmaṇa. That means background of the person must be brahminical culture. But if people are śūdras, where is the background of brahminical culture? Therefore Nārada, he is Vaiṣṇava, he is very compassionate to the fallen souls.
Lecture on SB 1.3.10 -- Los Angeles, September 16, 1972:
Just like a child appreciates a motorcar, how it is running. But his father appreciates the driver, that how the driver is running nicely. So therefore, we should not be surprised by the creation or the working of material nature. We should appreciate who is conducting, who is the background of this material nature.
Lecture on SB 1.3.23 -- Los Angeles, September 28, 1972:
So four classes of men comes to God. If they are pious, if the background is piety; then out of that class of men, inquisitive, jijñāsu; jñānī..., jñānī means those who are wise; and ārta, distressed: arthārthī, those who are in need of money. Generally people, ordinarily, if he is pious, then when he is in distress, he prays to God, "My dear Lord, I am in distress. Kindly save me."
Lecture on SB 1.3.24 -- Los Angeles, September 29, 1972:
Just like in our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, we are making movement, but not that everyone is understanding. Those who are very intelligent, or those who are, whose background is pious, they can understand. Na māṁ duṣkṛtino mūḍhāḥ prapadyante narādhamāḥ (BG 7.15). Those who are miscreants, mūḍha, rascal; narādhama, lowest of the mankind; and māyayā apahṛta-jñāna, and knowledge is taken away by māyā—such person never submit to Kṛṣṇa.
Lecture on SB 1.5.12-13 -- New Vrindaban, June 11, 1969:
So this press propaganda, this literary propaganda, is required because it is not sentiment. Kṛṣṇa consciousness is not sentiment. It is not that some sentimental people have gathered here and dancing and chanting. No. There is background. There is philosophical background. There is theological understanding. It is not blind or sentimental.
Lecture on SB 1.5.13 -- New Vrindaban, June 16, 1969:
So we don't accept this material nature as final. We have Kṛṣṇa on the background, that He is, only, the master. So therefore we are monists. Simply we know Kṛṣṇa and everything emanating from Kṛṣṇa. That is described everywhere.
Lecture on SB 1.5.18 -- New Vrindaban, June 22, 1969:
This we have already explained in the last meeting, that according to our karma, we are being sometimes elevated to the very high position, and sometimes we are being degraded to become an insignificant creature like ant. This is going on. (baby crying in background) (aside:) This boy... She, she can go to the... Yes. This is very disturbing child.
Lecture on SB 1.5.32 -- Vrndavana, August 13, 1974:
We have explained many times. There are many Māyāvādīs, they merge, they give up this world, but again fall down, in so many ways. We have several times explained. So that is not very safe. (howling sound in background) What is that?
Lecture on SB 1.7.6 -- Geneva, May 31, 1974:
Apaśyat puruṣaṁ pūrṇam. And so far māyā is concerned, although māyā is very influential, that's all right... Apāśrayam: standing at the background, cannot come in front. Just like the same example: the darkness cannot come in front of... You stand before, facing your mouth towards the sun. The darkness will be the background, not in front. Similarly, the darkness, māyā, cannot stand before Kṛṣṇa. She is always behind. Māyāṁ ca tad-apāśrayam.
Lecture on SB 1.7.10 -- Vrndavana, September 9, 1976:
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, by His different energies, He is working. That is Kṛṣṇa. You have to understand like that. Kṛṣṇa is in the background. In another place in the Bhagavad-gītā it is said, aham ādir hi devānām (Bg 10.2). If you say that Lord Brahmā has created, because he is the creator of this universe... Deva, there are three principle devas-Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Maheśvara.
Lecture on SB 1.7.11 -- Vrndavana, September 10, 1976:
Dhanaṁ dehi rūpaṁ dehi: "Give me money or mitigate my distress." This is very lower stage of devotion, to ask something from the Supreme Lord. Ārto jijñāsur arthārthī . In the beginning, provided one is, background is pious... Because without piety nobody can approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Lecture on SB 1.7.28-29 -- Vrndavana, September 25, 1976:
In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta, in simple Bengali language, it is said, anādi-bahirmukha jīva kṛṣṇa bhuli' gela, ataeva kṛṣṇa veda-purāṇa karila (CC Madhya 20.117). Because these rascals, anādi-bahirmukha, do not know. (bird chirping in background) Just like this bird chirping, but he does not know what he is, wherefrom he is coming, where to go—nothing. That is low-grade life.
Lecture on SB 1.7.28-29 -- Vrndavana, September 25, 1976:
Never mind, even one happens to be caṇḍāla, and what to speak of others. Kiṁ punar brāhmaṇāḥ puṇyā bhaktā rājarṣayas tathā (BG 9.33). If they can be delivered, then what to speak those who are brāhmaṇas. Brāhmaṇa means puṇya. Without having background of pious activities, nobody can take birth in rich family, in brāhmaṇa family.
Lecture on SB 1.8.45 -- Los Angeles, May 7, 1973:
Kṛṣṇa is the Absolute Truth, ultimate goal. So that is human life, when we inquire about. Therefore those who are inquisitive about God, they are not ordinary persons. They have been described in the Bhagavad-gītā as sukṛtina. Sukṛtina means background is pious. Just like you are all. You have come to Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement on account of their, of your very nice background. In your past life you must have cultivated Kṛṣṇa consciousness, advanced, but it was not complete.
Lecture on SB 1.10.2 -- Mayapura, June 17, 1973:
As soon as you think, "This is mine. This is my ahaṁ mameti... (SB 5.5.8)." Ahaṁ mameti, "I am this body, and anything in relationship with this body is mine," that is moha. But as soon as you come to the understanding... (creaking sound in background) What is that?
Lecture on SB 1.10.11-12 -- Mayapura, June 25, 1973:
They do not search after Bhagavān; simply the light, effulgence of Bhagavān, brahmajyoti. They are satisfied. (yelling in background) (aside:) What is that, trouble? Stop them.
So there are so many versions about sat-saṅga and asat-saṅga. Caitanya Mahāprabhu advises niṣkiñcanasya pāraṁ paraṁ jigamiṣor bhava-sāgarasya sandarśanam atha yoṣitām. (yelling continues in background, louder) They're fighting? Or what...?
Lecture on SB 1.10.13 -- Mayapura, June 26, 1973:
Pūrṇa means complete. Nityo nityānāṁ cetanaś cetanānām (Kaṭha Upaniṣad 2.2.13). He's also a living entity like us. (yelling in background) (aside:) Ask the rascals to stop talking. But He's pūrṇa. That is the difference. We are not pūrṇa. We are defective. Especially when we come in the material world, we are defective in so many respects.
Lecture on SB 1.15.22-23 -- Los Angeles, December 2, 1973:
So our point is to know this is a play only, background. Actually, Kṛṣṇa wanted to take them away. And nobody could kill them. Therefore He planned a killing plan amongst themselves. This is the fact. But we should know that vipra-śāpa-vimūḍhānām: if any person is cursed by vipra, brāhmaṇa, Vaiṣṇava, then they are finished.
Lecture on SB 1.15.31 -- Los Angeles, December 9, 1973:
Our position is sometimes we do mistake—"two plus two equals five." But it is not fact. So two plus two must be four. But if we make "five" or "three," that means the whole background becomes wrong. That is... we are liable to do that mistake.
Lecture on SB 1.16.1 -- Los Angeles, December 29, 1973:
Not that the fighting is going on, and the so-called president is sitting in his parlor and smoking cigarette. No. Yuddhe cāpy apalāyanam: "Oh, everyone is fighting there? I must go in the front." He will fight. Otherwise how people will be encouraged? The chief man is in the background, and poor men, they are fighting? No. Yuddhe cāpy apalāyanam. That is kṣatriya.
Lecture on SB 2.1.2-5 -- Montreal, October 23, 1968:
Therefore Bhāgavata says, apaśyatām ātma-tattvam: (SB 2.1.2) "They have no information of the real ātmā, of the real position, real background of all these activities. They do not see it." Therefore they have got many subject matter to hear about this body, about this mind, about intellectual activities, and so many things.
Lecture on SB 2.3.25 -- Los Angeles, June 23, 1972:
Avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā mānuṣīṁ tanum āśritam (BG 9.11). "These rascals, because I observe My pastimes just like human being, they're accepting Me as human being, ordinary." Mānuṣīṁ tanum āśritam. Paraṁ bhāvam ajānantaḥ. They do not know what is the background of Kṛṣṇa. The background of Kṛṣṇa is in the beginning said janmādy asya yataḥ (SB 1.1.1). The first aphorism of Vedānta-sūtra.
Lecture on SB 2.9.11-15 -- Tokyo, April 28, 1972:
If your father is very big man, very rich man, then where is the question of poverty? So devotee renounces. But a devotee has got all the opulences of the Supreme Lord, background. So he doesn't want to be opulent himself, but the background is all-opulent.
Lecture on SB 2.9.16 -- Tokyo, April 30, 1972:
So everything in detail you'll find, the kingdom of God, the nature of that atmosphere, the devotees, the inhabitants. Everything is there clearly. So the festival today is murdered.(?) The festival? (sound of heavy rain in background?)
Lecture on SB 3.25.13 -- Bombay, November 13, 1974:
Just like here, the fireworks is going on. (loud sound of firecrackers, etc., occurring intermittently in background) It is happiness for somebody, but it is distress for us. Is it not? They are thinking they are enjoying, and we are thinking it is inconvenience. So that is material way, happiness, one side happiness, another side distress.
Lecture on SB 3.25.14 -- Bombay, November 14, 1974:
So Kapiladeva, previous verse, He said that yoga ādhyātmikaḥ puṁsāṁ mato niḥśreyasāya me. The supreme yoga system is ādhyātmikaḥ, or pertaining to the soul. Just like in your country a... (loud sound of fireworks, firecrackers, etc., going on in background) Nowadays... The haṭha-yoga is very popular. Sometimes the fat ladies go there to reduce their fat, and... (laughter) Some bodily... Here also they practice yoga to keep the digestive system regular.
Lecture on SB 3.25.16 -- Bombay, November 16, 1974:
In the previous verse it has been advised, guṇeṣu saktaṁ bandhāya rataṁ vā puṁsi muktaye. The process is that... (loud sound of firecrackers in background) The process is the mind has to be cleansed of all dirty things. Mind is the friend; mind is the enemy of everyone.
Lecture on SB 3.25.20 -- Bombay, November 20, 1974:
Prabhupāda:
- prasaṅgam ajaraṁ pāśam
- ātmanaḥ kavayo viduḥ
- sa eva sādhuṣu kṛto
- mokṣa-dvāram apāvṛtam
- (SB 3.25.20)
This is the definition of our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Consciousness is there. Living being means there must be consciousness. The consciousness... (sound of baby in background) (pause)
Devotee: Take away the girl.
Prabhupāda: Consciousness, when it is muddy or contaminated on account of intermingling with these modes of nature, we become more and more entangled.
Lecture on SB 3.25.25 -- Bombay, November 25, 1974:
Ārto arthārthī jijñāsuḥ. Catur-vidhā bhajante mām. Kṛṣṇa said, "Four classes of men..." Catur-vidhā bhajante māṁ sukṛtinaḥ arjuna. Sukṛti. Sukṛti means pious. One who has got background, pious life, not impious life, sinful life, such pious men, out of them, four classes of men, catur-vidhāḥ, they come to devotional life, begins. Who are they?
Lecture on SB 3.25.25 -- Bombay, November 25, 1974:
So in order to become a devotee of Kṛṣṇa we must associate with devotee. Satāṁ prasaṅgān mama vīrya-saṁvidaḥ. Then, by reciprocation with devotees, if one is... One comes to devotee also if one is pious. If something is there on the background, piety, then he comes to a devotee. So by mixing with devotee, by associating with devotee, our knowledge for salvation or getting out of the clutches of this māyā, repetition of birth and death, increases.
Lecture on SB 3.25.42 -- Bombay, December 10, 1974:
You may defy Kṛṣṇa, or God, but you cannot defy the natural, nature's activities. You are subordinate. But because we do not know the background of nature, therefore we think that "Nature is working. There is no God."
Lecture on SB 3.26.6 -- Bombay, December 18, 1974:
Tribhir guṇamayair bhāvair mohitaṁ nābhijānāti, mām ebhyaḥ param. They cannot understand that in the background of everything there is the supreme authority of God. This is called atheism. Although they are being kicked every moment by the modes of material nature, they are feeling that "I am under the control of some power, superior power..." That is appreciating.
Lecture on SB 3.26.41 -- Bombay, January 16, 1975:
Jihvā is meant for tasting. So this is the way of physical manifestation of different ways. But on the background there is daiva-codita. Everything is coming into existence on account of superior management or superior impelling.
Lecture on SB 3.26.42 -- Bombay, January 17, 1975:
Parāsya śaktir vividhaiva. He is doing that, and still, He is doing nothing. That is... Just like if I have to make soap, I have to do it or I can ask my servant to do it. I can give instruction to my assistant, servant, that "Do like this." So anyway, the background is myself. The background is neither the servant nor the ingredients. There is another example: the potter's wheel. Potter's wheel is producing earthen pots.
Lecture on SB 3.26.42 -- Bombay, January 17, 1975:
That means if you are intelligent enough actually, then through any source of knowledge you come ultimately to Kṛṣṇa. That mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sa-carācaram (BG 9.10). The Kṛṣṇa says. But if by your education, if you come to the same point, that "Here is Kṛṣṇa. He is in the background, sarva-kāraṇa-kāraṇam (Bs. 5.1), cause of all causes," then that education is perfect.
Lecture on SB 5.5.2 -- Boston, April 28, 1969:
So Bhagavad-gītā says, mahātmānas tu, mahātmā. How one can become mahātmā? When he has got full knowledge. Then he has got purified body. Mahātmānas tu, this very word is used, mahātmānas tu māṁ pārtha daivīṁ prakṛtim āśritāḥ (BG 9.13). One who has developed purified knowledge, purified body, he's no more under the control of this material world. (noise in background) (aside:) What is matter?
Lecture on SB 5.5.3-4 -- Bombay, March 29, 1977:
Just like the Battle of Kurukṣetra—it is a fighting between two sections of the same family, who will rule over. So there was fighting, but at the same time, they did not lose Kṛṣṇa culture. That is the important point. Similarly, India has got a great culture, background, Vedic culture or Kṛṣṇa culture. Vedic culture means Kṛṣṇa culture, and Kṛṣṇa culture means Vedic culture.
Lecture on SB 6.1.15 -- London, August 3, 1971:
We are propagating this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement just to make everyone Kṛṣṇa conscious. Never mind what is his past background. If one takes to this process, he becomes purified. That is our propaganda. We are not taking account of his past deeds.
Lecture on SB 6.1.19 -- Honolulu, May 19, 1976:
So these rascals, they cannot understand that... The nature is working, that's all right, but how it is working? What is the background? That they do not know. That answer is in the Bhagavad-gītā. Mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sa-carācaram: (BG 9.10) "Under My superintendence it is working," Kṛṣṇa says. That's a fact.
Lecture on SB 6.1.31 -- Honolulu, May 30, 1976:
. In the Bhagavad-gītā everything explained: four kinds of men begins God consciousness. And what kind of man he is? Sukṛtina, one who has background of pious life, not the rogues and rascals. Little pious activities one has done.
Lecture on SB 6.1.31 -- Honolulu, May 30, 1976:
That is called ajñāta-sukṛti. He does not know that "I am getting some..." Of course people, they pay to saintly person, brāhmaṇa, that datavyam iti yad dhānam: "Here charity should be given." So that charity goes into his credit. Catur-vidhā bhajante mām sukṛtino 'rjuna—those who have got background of pious life. So even one goes to the church, "God, give us our daily bread," he's not ordinary person. He's pious man. He has gone to God to ask.
Lecture on SB 6.1.32 -- Surat, December 16, 1970:
Govinda's bodily rays is brahmajyoti. The impersonalists, by their ascending process they realize brahmajyoti and they think, "This is end." No. You have to go further, further. Brahmaṇo 'haṁ pratiṣṭhā, Kṛṣṇa says, "I am the," what is called, "reservoir, or the background of this brahmajyoti." Background. Because Kṛṣṇa is there, therefore brahmajyoti is there. You'll find always in Kṛṣṇa's picture there is a auri.
Lecture on SB 7.6.5 -- Toronto, June 21, 1976:
At least we should take advantage of this instruction. We are sanātana. And another world is there, mentioned in the Bhagavad-gītā, paras tasmāt tu bhāvo 'nyo 'vyakto 'vyaktāt sanātanaḥ (BG 8.20). This material world is manifested, and background of this is the total material energy, mahāt-tattva. That is not manifested.
Lecture on SB 7.6.6-9 -- Montreal, June 23, 1968:
You might have discovered—you are great scientist—that under this law, the law of gravitation or this law, that law, so many laws there are. But the background you have to inquire, "Who is the law-maker?" Unless there is law-maker, how there can be law? Take for example your state laws.
Lecture on SB 7.6.8 -- New Vrindaban, June 24, 1976:
Those who are sukṛtina, means one's background is pious, they begin bhajana, Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Catur-vidhā bhajante māṁ janaḥ sukṛtino 'rjuna. Ārto, arthārthī, jñānī, jijñāsur. Four kinds of men—ārto, the one who is distressed, and arthārthī, one who is poor, wants some money. Jñānī—one who wants to know what is God; jijñāsur—inquisitive. Such persons, if his background is piety, sukṛtina, then he begins bhajana.
Lecture on SB 7.6.10 -- Vrndavana, December 12, 1975:
Everyone is hankering after sex life, man and woman. This is the beginning of material life. In the Vaikuṇṭha-loka there are thousands times beautiful women and thousand times strong men (noise in background) (aside:) Where is this sound coming? ...but there is no sex desire. This is Vaikuṇṭha life.
Lecture on SB 7.6.14 -- New Vrindaban, June 28, 1976:
Everything is explained in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. And the first business is how to lead men to the highest perfection of life. That is called siddhi. Siddhi means highest perfection of life. Saṁsiddhiṁ paramaṁ gataḥ. There are different kinds of siddhis. (noise in background) (aside:) What is that? Saṁsiddhiṁ paramaṁ gataḥ. There are different kinds of siddhis. The yogis, the mystic yogis, they also try to possess some siddhi-animā, laghimā, mahimā, prāpti, īśitā, vaśitā. Eight kinds of siddhis. But such siddhis, all material.
Lecture on SB 7.9.8 -- Hawaii, March 21, 1969:
Therefore I cannot believe it, how the cause of this cosmic manifestation can be a person. They are thinking imperson. Impersonal bigness, they think it is very important. Actually, it has no value. Background is person. Kṛṣṇa says in the Bhagavad-gītā that brahmaṇo 'haṁ pratiṣṭha: "The impersonal Brahman, I am the cause. I am the source of impersonal Brahman."
Lecture on SB 7.9.11-13 -- Hawaii, March 24, 1969:
So amongst the demons, many devotees came out. So to become devotee does not depend on that particular family, this or that. No. Anyone can become devotee. (sound of child running in background) Now she is feeling freedom, expressing freedom. Don't express. Then you'll be again put into. No more. Oh! All right. (running continues) Everyone wants freedom. Yes. Don't touch. Don't touch, please.
Lecture on SB 7.9.19 -- Hamburg, September 7, 1969, (with German Translator):
As I enter into this material body and expand it and maintain it, similarly the Supersoul enters into this cosmic manifestation and maintains it and develops it. (disturbance in the background) (aside:) That's all right. Don't disturb. So as you have got consciousness, a small consciousness or limited consciousness, similarly the Supersoul has got unlimited consciousness.
Lecture on SB 7.9.42 -- Mayapur, March 22, 1976:
Anything created cannot be eternal. So this sṛṣṭi-sthiti-pralaya-sādhana is actually being done by Kṛṣṇa, whatever way. But because we cannot see Kṛṣṇa in the background, we see only the wonderful activities of the nature. Nature is working not independently—by the direction of Kṛṣṇa.
Nectar of Devotion Lectures
The Nectar of Devotion -- Bombay, January 1, 1973:
Even husband and wife, as soon as the sense gratification is disturbed, immediately there is divorce between husband and wife. So... (aside, in response to background noise:) What is this outside?
The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, October 27, 1972:
Just like Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says, tāṅdera caraṇa-sevi-bhakta-sane vāsa. Tāṅdera caraṇa-sevi. Our main business is..., (uproar in background, sounds like monkey attacked audience) (pause) Hut! Hut! (laughter, applause) So our main business is to serve the ācāryas. This Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement means why..., we are trying to serve the ācāryas.
The Nectar of Devotion -- Calcutta, January 28, 1973:
If we become, if we want to become anxiety-less, then we have to take shelter of Hari and go to the forest. Prahlāda Mahārāja recommended, vanaṁ gato yad dharim āśrayeta. Hitvā ātma-pātaṁ gṛham andha-kūpam. Gṛha is compared as andha-kūpa, blind well. And ātma-pātam. If one falls down within blind well... (noise in background) (aside:) What is this sound? Eh? Down?
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Lectures
Lecture on CC Adi-lila 1.2 -- Mayapur, March 26, 1975:
This concoction has killed the spiritual life of India. "You can think any way; I can think in my way"—that is not at all scientific. You cannot think "Two plus two equal to three" or "five." Two plus two equal to four. You cannot think otherwise. (people talking in background) (aside:) Ask them to stop.
Lecture on CC Adi-lila 7.1 -- Atlanta, March 1, 1975:
These classes of men, duṣkṛtina, miscreants, always committing sinful activities, duṣkṛtina; and mūḍha, rascals, fools; and narādhamāḥ, lowest of the mankind; māyayāpahṛta-jñānā, whose knowledge has been taken away by māyā—such demonic person do not surrender to God. But pious man who has got background, pious activities, such person, when they are distressed, they approach God.
Lecture on CC Adi-lila 7.106-107 -- San Francisco, February 13, 1967:
This life is for spiritual realization. It is not meant for cats' and dogs' life, sense gratification. They are doing, the hogs are doing sense gratification all day, eating, and as soon as there is female, oh, there is sex. Do you think this is human life? No. Vedānta says it is not human life. The human life is to understand what is spirit, what is the background of this manifestation, janma. So at once the Vedānta-sūtra replies, janmādy asya yataḥ (SB 1.1.1). "Brahman, the Supreme Absolute Truth, is that who is the background of all this manifestation."
Lecture on CC Adi-lila 7.106-107 -- San Francisco, February 13, 1967:
Now, if Brahman is background of this manifestation, so we are all living entities and we are intelligent. We know how to do things very nicely. We have got intelligence. And do you think from whom we have emanated, He has no intelligence? He has no sense? He is impersonal? What is this nonsense?
Lecture on CC Adi-lila 7.108 -- San Francisco, February 18, 1967:
Supreme power means He has got so much energies, different kinds of energy, that it appears that there is no background, but the nature is working automatically. No. Bhagavad-gītā says no. Mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sa-carācaram: (BG 9.10) "The whole nature is working under My superintendence." But the superintendence is so perfect and so nice and so energetic that there cannot be any mistake.
Lecture on CC Adi-lila 7.118-121 -- San Francisco, February 24, 1967:
This, these energies are inferior, and there is another superior energy." So therefore jīva, jīva, the living entities, they are described in the Bhagavad-gītā as energy, not the energetic.
- viṣṇu-śaktiḥ para prokta
- kṣetrajñākhya tatha para
- avidya-karma-samjñānya
- tṛtiya śaktir isyate
- (CC Madhya 6.154)
So... What is this sound? (rumble in background, buzz) Eh?
Lecture on CC Adi-lila 7.119 -- Gorakhpur, February 17, 1971:
The beginning of bhajana, bhagavad-bhajana... If they are, if persons are pious, they can begin bhagavad-bhajana in four ways. Sukṛtinaḥ. Sukṛtinaḥ means "whose background is pious activities." They can take to bhagavad-bhajana in four stages in life. Ārtaḥ... Ārtaḥ means those who are distressed; arthārthī, those who are poor, need of money; jijñāsuḥ, inquisitive; and jñānī.
Lecture on CC Adi-lila 7.119 -- Gorakhpur, February 17, 1971:
Just like in Calcutta. The party, Naxalite, they are committing so many sinful activities thinking that by that way they will be happy and they will get the political supremacy. They are called duṣkṛtina. Na māṁ duṣkṛtino mūḍhāḥ prapadyante narādhamāḥ (BG 7.15). Four class, the four classes of men who are pious, whose background is piety, they go to worship Kṛṣṇa.
Lecture on CC Adi-lila 7.119 -- Gorakhpur, February 17, 1971:
Similarly, all these demigods, Indra, Candra, Varuṇa, they're demigods, they are highly posted as servant of God. But just like a foolish man thinks a constable in the street is the supreme power without knowing the background of the constable's position, similarly, those who are foolish persons, they think demigods are the supreme. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā. Hṛta-jñānāḥ means lost of all intelligence.
Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 6.151-154 -- Gorakhpur, February 14, 1971:
According to Vedic evidence from the Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad, apāṇi pāda, He has proved that when the Upaniṣad says that "The Absolute Truth has no hands and legs, this means that He has no material hands and legs. But He has His hands and legs." (shouting in background) (aside:) Who is shouting? Why they do not come? Why they are shouting there? All right.
Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.111 -- New York, July 19, 1976:
Those who are foolish persons, they think that a childish, that this bulb is giving light automatically. No. That is not fact. The fact is, the electric energy is coming from the background, the powerhouse, then about the bulb is giving light.
Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.112 -- New York, July 20, 1976:
Vasudeva is everything. That is Kṛṣṇa. But He's working in so many ways. So many ways. How it is working? That is stated in the Vedas: svābhāvikī jñāna-bala-kriyā ca. He has got so unlimited potency that things are being done as if naturally, without any endeavor. But the background is Kṛṣṇa.
Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.112 -- New York, July 20, 1976:
You cannot utilize Him for your service. You must engage yourself to His service. That is wanted. Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja (BG 18.66). Then if we be in that attitude, that "Kṛṣṇa is my master; I must serve Kṛṣṇa. I shall not take Kṛṣṇa an instrument to become my servant..." That is not possible, although it is said that catur-vidhā bhajante māṁ sukṛtino 'rjuna: "Four kinds of men," sukṛtina, "whose background is pious, they come to Kṛṣṇa." One who is impious, he cannot come.
Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.112 -- New York, July 20, 1976:
Why a few selected persons come here? Because it requires background of pious activities. Otherwise it is not possible. We do not expect that cent percent of people will become Kṛṣṇa conscious. That is not possible. But if there is one ideal Kṛṣṇa conscious person, he can do benefit to many thousands.
Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.152-154 -- New York, December 5, 1966:
When He appears before us, don't think that "He is also fallen soul like me." The fools consider like that. Avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā (BG 9.11). Mūḍhā means fools. The fools consider Kṛṣṇa as ordinary man. Mānuṣīṁ paraṁ bhāvam ajānantaḥ. The fools do not know what is immense potency, background, of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore they think Kṛṣṇa as like one of us.
Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 25.19-31 -- San Francisco, January 20, 1967:
Avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā mānuṣīṁ tanum āśritaḥ (BG 9.11). "Because I come as incarnation, therefore the fools, they consider..., or they deride at Me." Paraṁ bhāvam ajānanto. They do not know the background of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Mama bhūta-maheśvaram. Kṛṣṇa says, "I am the Supreme Lord." They do not know.
Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 25.36-40 -- San Francisco, January 23, 1967:
Avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā mānuṣīṁ tanum āśritam paraṁ bhāvam ajānanta (BG 9.11). "Why they deride? Because they do not know what is My background." Paraṁ bhāvam. Paraṁ bhāvam ajānanta, sarva-bhūta-maheśvaram. "They do not know that I am the Supreme Lord, and situated in everyone's heart. Because they do not know, therefore they deride at Me."
Festival Lectures
Ratha-yatra -- New York, July 18, 1976:
So please do not take this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement as any sectarian movement. It is the science of God. Try to understand the science of God. We have got so many... (man yelling in background) What is that?
Janmastami Lord Sri Krsna's Appearance Day -- Montreal, August 16, 1968:
(in background:) Pradyumna. After he speaks they may...
Radhastami, Srimati Radharani's Appearance Day -- London, August 29, 1971:
So how nicely it is being done, everything in the material energy. That is also explained in the Bhagavad-gītā, mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sa-carācaram: (BG 9.10) "Under My superintendence the material energy is working." The material energy is not blind. It is... On the background there is Kṛṣṇa. Mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ (BG 9.10). Prakṛti means this material energy.
His Divine Grace Srila Sac-cid-ananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura's Appearance Day, Lecture -- London, September 3, 1971:
The Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or God consciousness, is there already. It is developed in human form of life. But it is now covered because due to our association with this material world for unlimited years background. We are coming through different species of life. Millions and millions of years passed away.
Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami's Appearance Day -- Vrndavana, October 19, 1972:
Ordinary men, especially he was mixing with the Mohammedans, they were habituated to drinking, meat-eating, which have become a fashion in the gentleman's society nowadays. So he considered himself as fallen. "The most wretched of mankind..." If a human being does not take advantage of this opportunity to have a human form of life, then he's missing the point. In the Bhagavad-gītā the Lord says... (much talking in background) (aside:) Stop them.
Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami's Appearance Day -- Vrndavana, October 19, 1972:
Simply try to understand Kṛṣṇa. Then the result will be tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti (BG 4.9). No more material body. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. We want to stop these nonsense habits of the people. No illicit sex, no intoxication, no gambling. (old women talking in background) Oh, who is talking? Don't talk.
Arrival Addresses and Talks
Arrival Address -- Los Angeles, February 9, 1975:
Actually, anyone who has not taken Kṛṣṇa consciousness—simply wasting time. This is fact, scientifically true. But they do not know it. Māya-mohita. Mohitaṁ nābhijānāti mām ebhyaḥ param avyayam (BG 7.13). Being covered by the illusory energy, they do not know the background of this gigantic cosmic manifestation. That is Kṛṣṇa.
Arrival Talk in Room -- Mayapur, March 23, 1975:
Bhavānanda: Everyone is situated in rooms.
Jayapatākā: Without these dwelling..., wall dwellings, there would have been no hope.
Prabhupāda: Therefore I said, (laughter) "You must complete, and whatever amount required, I shall pay." That I could analyze. (temple bells ringing in background)
Arrival Conversation -- Los Angeles, June 20, 1975:
Prabhupāda: Oh. (laughs) So that Bhaktivedanta go-down has come here? No.
Jayatīrtha: No, go-down is still there. This building is not large enough for that.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: You have not seen this building yet, Prabhupāda.
Prabhupāda: Oh, here is for lease. (Tamāla Kṛṣṇa and Jayatīrtha discuss in background about leasing one of the buildings for a restaurant)
Arrival Conversation -- Los Angeles, June 20, 1975:
That is intelligence. Not that "All right, I shall get again chance next birth." That is not very good policy. Tūrṇam. Tūrṇam means very hastily finish. Tūrṇaṁ yateta anumṛtyuṁ pated yāvat. (sound of men practicing karate outside has pervaded background of entire room conversation) These people are wasting time, as if they will live forever. (chuckles) What is the use of this kar...?
Initiation Lectures
Initiation -- Seattle, October 20, 1968:
Madhudviṣa: She's over there, I think, if you'd like to talk to her.
Viṣṇujana: You can explain that to her.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yeah, you'd better... You explain it to her. It might be better than her coming here and blaspheming.
Prabhupāda: Call her. Call her. Call her. (pause) (talking in background, initiates discussing their names, etc.) Distribute prasādam. Everyone. Outside also?
Talk, Initiation Lecture, and Ten Offenses Lecture -- Los Angeles, December 1, 1968:
Prabhupāda: So Kṛṣṇa's eyes are just like lotus petal and His feet is lotus feet. His abdomen, from abdomen lotus grows. So therefore in one word He is lotus, full lotus. (aside:) He's in painful condition?
Viṣṇujana: He has to rest. He has to rest now. (boy crying in background)
Prabhupāda: Just catch him. Oh. Aravindākṣa is Kṛṣṇa's name. So Aravinda dāsa, your name.
Initiation Lecture -- Los Angeles, July 13, 1971:
A man works very hard, being energized by his wife or mother. That is the history of the whole world. Any big man, behind that big man is a woman, either mother or wife, especially. You have heard the name of Vidya-sagara Pandit. The background was his mother. Gandhi, the background was his mother. Now, this Lord Wellington, the background was his wife. So woman has got a very responsible duty, to energize man with Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Initiations -- New York, July 25, 1971:
Jamadāgni was a great sage. That's all. Father of Paraśurāma. (devotees chanting japa in background) (chanting japa) You know rules and regulations? Hm... What are they? Rules. What are the rules?
Initiation Lecture and Ceremony -- New Vrindaban, September 4, 1972:
Catur-vidhā bhajante māṁ sukṛtino 'rjuna. This very word is used by Kṛṣṇa, sukṛti, means those who are, whose background is, pious. And those are duṣkṛtina-two words have been used—one sukṛti, and one duṣkṛti. Kṛti. Kṛti, this word is used for one very expert. So the expert word is there: kṛti.
Initiations -- Los Angeles, April 16, 1973:
Prabhupāda: Hare Kṛṣṇa. Come on. What are the rules and regulations? (child is crying in background, "I want my mommy!")
Girl: No meat-eating, no illicit sex, no gambling, no intoxication.
Prabhupāda: Suśarmā dāsī. She is your child? So you are married?
Suśarmā: Yes.
Prabhupāda: That's nice. (laughter)
Wedding Ceremonies
Wedding of Syama dasi and Hayagriva -- Los Angeles, December 25, 1968:
Go on, kīrtana. (Prabhupāda gives first line of Gāyatrī, devotee repeats word for word) Now, you Godbrothers will teach you how to... Who is next? Who is next? Who is next? (kīrtana) (some conversation with Prabhupāda in background) ...otherwise they will go away. Little, little. Very little, little. There are so many varieties.
Wedding Ceremony and Lecture -- Boston, May 6, 1969:
Now chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. Dance, chant now. Enjoy life. (kīrtana-Prabhupāda talking in background) (kīrtana, prema-dhvanī) (obeisances) Prasāda? You are sitting uncomfortably?
General Lectures
Lecture to Technology Students (M.I.T.) -- Boston, May 5, 1968:
There is department of teaching medical science, there is department of teaching engineering, there is department of educating—so many other departments of knowledge. Unfortunately, there is no department for distributing knowledge in the science of the soul. But that is the important, most important thing, because the soul is the mainstay, is the background of all our movements.
Lecture to Technology Students (M.I.T.) -- Boston, May 5, 1968:
They are trying to understand how they are working. And above this mind, mental science, there is the science of intelligence. And above the science of intelligence, the background is the soul. Unfortunately, we have got technology for the bodily senses, we have got technology for psychology, but we have neither any technology for intelligence nor for any technology in the science of the soul.
Lecture at Engagement -- Boston, May 8, 1968:
Those who believe in God, generally they approach God in distress, when they're in need of money, and somebody wants to study what is God out of inquisitiveness, and somebody wants to understand the science of God. There are four classes of men. They are called persons with pious activities on the background. Without pious activities on the background, nobody is interested in the science of God. And those who are unfortunate or impelled by impious activities, they do not believe in God.
Lecture -- Montreal, October 26, 1968:
So Śukadeva Gosvāmī's question is that suppose a man commits some sinful activities and he executes some atonement. In atone... This atonement is prescribed in every religion... (child sounds in background) (aside:) This is disturbing. Attention is diverted. Yes.
Lecture -- Los Angeles, November 13, 1968:
If there is rasa-līlā, there must be nice trees, nice field, nice cows, nice Yamunā river. Otherwise how it is, simply if the gopīs and Kṛṣṇas are there, if the other things are not there? The background must be there. So everything is spiritual. Background is also spiritual. That is creation of Kṛṣṇa.
Lecture -- Los Angeles, November 13, 1968:
Just like a painter paints a picture, he makes a nice background. Similarly, Kṛṣṇa wants to enjoy, so He has created us in different varieties to supply His pleasure potency. You see. Eko bahu-śyāma.
Press Release -- Los Angeles, December 22, 1968:
The human life is meant for ending the miseries of material existence. Our present-day society is trying to do so by material progress. However, it is visible to all that in spite of the extensive material progress, the human society is not in peaceful condition. The reason is that a human being is essentially a spirit soul. It is the spirit soul which is the background of development of the material body. However the materialist scientist may deny the spiritual existence in the background of the living force, there is no better understanding than accepting the spirit soul within the body.
Press Release -- Los Angeles, December 22, 1968:
You can find out the background of this body as the soul and the soul's presence as perceived, perceivable by consciousness. Similarly, the presence of Supersoul and superconsciousness in the universal body of cosmic manifestation is perceived by the presence of the Supreme Lord, or the Absolute Truth.
Press Release -- Los Angeles, December 22, 1968:
So it is understood from any source of scriptural injunction that the Supreme Lord, or Kṛṣṇa, is the maintainer of the individual living entities, and it is the duty of the individual entity to feel obliged to the Supreme Lord. This is the whole background of religious principle. Without this acknowledgement, there is chaos, as it is happening in our daily experience at the present moment.
Lecture Excerpt -- Los Angeles, February 10, 1969:
Just like in church they go: "God, give us our daily bread." That is material purpose. Not only church, everywhere, that is the system. Ārto arthārthī. Of course, that is good. Four classes of men whose background is pious life, they go to God, church or temple, when they're distressed. Others, those whose background is not piety, simply mischief, they cannot go. Therefore even one goes to God for praying something material, they're better than those who do not go to God.
Brandeis University Lecture -- Boston, April 29, 1969:
So if you want to understand this philosophy by your learning, by your academic career, we have got sufficient stock to supply you—sufficient stock. Don't think that we are all sentimentalists, simply dancing. No. There is a background. There is a background. If you want... You are educated boys and girls. Try to understand this philosophy of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Your life will be successful. That is our aim. I'll not take much of your time.
Address to Indian Association -- Columbus, May 11, 1969:
So this movement is not like that is a sentimental movement. Don't think that these boys are dancing in some religious sentiment or fanaticism. No. We have background. We have background, highest philosophical and theosophical. Whatever you like. Just like Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Address to Indian Association -- Columbus, May 11, 1969:
So Caitanya Mahāprabhu's movement is not sentimental. People think that this is a sentimental movement. No. We have got very good background. If one wants to understand this saṅkīrtana movement through philosophy and learning and logic, oh, there is ample opportunity. It is not sentimental. It is based on science and based on authority of Vedas. But it is simplified.
Lecture with Allen Ginsberg at Ohio State University -- Columbus, May 12, 1969:
But if you want to know what is this Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra through philosophy, through knowledge, through logic, we have got volumes of books. Don't think that we are simply sentimentally dancing. No, we have got background. So try to understand this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. I have especially come to your country to deliver you this good message, because if you accept this, if you can understand this science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, other part of the world will also follow, and the face of the world will be changed. That is a fact.
Lecture at Harvard University -- Boston, December 24, 1969:
Therefore we have to accept any process which can make me joyful. That is stated in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. We have got... Simply we are not chanting by sentiment. We have got enough literature, philosophy, background. It is not that we are sentimentalist. But this is a fact, that if you simply... You do not require to read all this literature.
Lecture Excerpt -- Bombay, November 10, 1970:
Bhagavad-gītā says, mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sa-carācaram: (BG 9.10) "Under My superintendence." Background is God. Under His direction. In the Bible also it is said, "God created this." Yes. That's a fact.
Pandal Lecture -- Bombay, April 7, 1971:
Two classes of men are always there: devatā and the asura. So what are the devatās? Catur-vidhā bhajante mam janāḥ sukṛtino 'rjuna (BG 7.16). There are four classes of men whose background is pious activities. Catur-vidhā bhajante māṁ sukṛtinaḥ. The other word is duṣkṛtina, miscreants who are always engaged in sinful activities. And there are others also who are always engaged in pious activities.
Lecture -- Detroit, July 16, 1971:
Every effort is being made here to surpass distressed condition and to reach to the platform of happiness. The whole struggle is there. Why people are running by motorcar this way and that way? The background is to be happy, how to become happy. But they are making planning: "I shall be happy in this way. I shall be happy in that way."
Lecture -- Los Angeles, May 18, 1972:
Janmaiśvarya-śruta-śrī (SB 1.8.26). In this material world, those who are pious—that means whose past background is pious life—they get these opportunities, birth in good family, in good nation. Therefore I say so many times that you American people, your birth in a rich nation, your beauty, these are the result of your past pious activities. Attractive.
Lecture -- London, July 12, 1972:
Thank you very much for your participating in this saṅkīrtana movement. This movement was started by Lord Caitanya five hundred years ago in India, West Bengal. (noises in background) (aside:) What is that sound? That sound cannot be stopped?
Lecture -- Jakarta, February 28, 1973:
They deride, they think "Kṛṣṇa is as good as I am." This term(?), thinking like this, is meant for the asses, mūḍha. Muḍḥa means asses, who has no knowledge. Avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā mānuṣīṁ tanum āśritāḥ, paraṁ bhāvam ajānanto (BG 9.11). "He does not know what is the background of My existence, personality." That is known by the devotees.
Lecture at Upsala University Faculty -- Stockholm, September 7, 1973:
So while just the fighting was to begin, Arjuna declined to fight because the other party were all his relatives, friends, brothers, brother's son, nephew, teacher and grandfather. So Arjuna took compassion, that "I don't want victory. Better not to fight." So that is the cause of describing the science of Bhagavad-gītā before Arjuna, just to induce him to act as a dutiful soldier. This is the background of Bhagavad-gītā.
Address to Rotary Club -- Chandigarh, October 17, 1976:
Avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā mānuṣīṁ tanum āśritāḥ (BG 9.11). Because he does not know paraṁ bhāvam, what is the background of Kṛṣṇa. So similarly, there are many passages. Anyone who does not understand Kṛṣṇa and at the same time he declares himself as the student of Bhagavad-gītā, as a scholar of Bhagavad-gītā, he is misleading himself and misleading his followers. That is the verdict of Bhagavad-gītā and everyone.
Morning Lecture -- Allahabad, January 15, 1977:
Even lowborn, they can also take shelter of Kṛṣṇa, and what to speak of... Kiṁ punar brāhmaṇāḥ puṇyā bhaktā rājarṣayas tathā (BG 9.33). If actually qualified brāhmaṇas, they take shelter, what to speak of... Their progress is very quick. Punyā. Without puṇyā background, sukṛti, nobody can take birth in the family or society of brāhmaṇas.
Evening Address to Pandas and Scholars -- Jagannatha Puri, January 26, 1977:
So in the Western countries Ratha-yātrā is being introduced one after another, and Jagannātha Swami is attracting the attention of the Western people. (someone talking in background) What is that? So people will come in your Jagannātha Purī now from all parts of the world.
General Lecture -- (location & date unknown):
So our point is that this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is nothing like manufactured religious principle. No. It is authorized. There is great background, all these, supported by all the ācāryas and summarized by Caitanya Mahāprabhu. And we have got immense literature to support this philosophy of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Philosophy Discussions
Philosophy Discussion on Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibnitz:
Prabhupāda: So the pushing is so perfect that all other things come automatically in perfect order. But foolish people, they are thinking that things are coming automatically out of it, without any background. They don't think there is God.
Philosophy Discussion on Immanuel Kant:
Prabhupāda: So one man is thinking that animal killing is good, and another man is thinking animal killing is immorality. Then who is correct? Unless you know morality means this—it is coming from authority—that you have to follow it, otherwise you will be punished, then morality. Otherwise, if there is no background of forcing, that morality can be degraded into immorality at any moment.
Philosophy Discussion on John Stuart Mill:
Śyāmasundara: Nothing can come out of nothing.
Prabhupāda: Nothing. If something has come out, then background must be something. Therefore our definition is janmādy asya yataḥ (SB 1.1.1), everything, the root cause, the original source, is the Brahman, Absolute Truth.
Philosophy Discussion on John Stuart Mill:
Hayagrīva: Let me uh... (break) What he is saying here that he doesn't believe that knowledge or belief in the immortality of the soul, gives one courage at death, more courage at death.
Prabhupāda: No. First of all knowledge means to understand the fact. If you do not know the fact then on this wrong background all your knowledge is (indistinct). If the foundation is wrong then what is the value of such knowledge. Therefore the first knowledge is one should understand that he is not this body, he is soul.
Philosophy Discussion on Martin Heidegger:
Śyāmasundara: Because he wants to enjoy...
Prabhupāda: Therefore I do not want to die. That is the philosophy. Death is there. (air raid siren in background) Just like here is the siren, and you are (indistinct) die, but why he's defending? Why this siren is there, "Now death is coming, be careful"? That means, in other words, "I do not wish to die."
Philosophy Discussion on Jacques Maritain:
Śyāmasundara: His idea is that because he comes from a Christian background, where there is no...
Prabhupāda: Under some background he is speaking of conscience. But I say there are different consciences according to different backgrounds. So unless one comes to Kṛṣṇa background, his conscience has no value. That is our...
Śyāmasundara: Yes. He says that the speculative faculty is intelligence, that we can understand...
Prabhupāda: Then he is also speculating. Just like the butcher killing, he is also speculating, "What is the wrong there? Why people are protesting?" That is also speculating. But because his background is different, his conscience does not help him.
Philosophy Discussion on Jean-Paul Sartre:
Śyāmasundara: He says that these things have no reason for existing. There is no purpose.
Prabhupāda: No. That is nonsense. Everything has its purpose. Without purpose, nothing is created. And there is a supreme cause. So they have no brain to go farther. That is their defect. So what they superficially see, they take it. They do not find out the farther cause. That is less intelligent. Many modern scientists also say that simply explain "It is nature, nature." But we do not believe in such theory. We understand that the background of nature is God. Nature is not independent. Nature is phenomena; but the noumena is God, Kṛṣṇa.
Philosophy Discussion on Bertrand Russell:
Prabhupāda: Similarly, it is very easy to understand that without father, mother cannot give birth to a child. Similarly, this nature, without the supreme father, Kṛṣṇa, she cannot give any birth. But these modern philosophers, scientists, they are struck with wonder simply by observing the natural activities. So Kṛṣṇa says that "Background of these natural activities is I." Mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sa-carācaram (BG 9.10). "Under My supervision."
Philosophy Discussion on Mao Tse Tung:
Śyāmasundara: Well, being only a combination of matter, I must be born and I must die, everyone.
Prabhupāda: Yes. But you want to be independent. You want to be uncontrolled. That is not possible. Why it is not possible? And if you are controlled, who is controlling you? What is the background of that control? So these answers they cannot give. They avoid.
Philosophy Discussion on Johann Gottlieb Fichte:
Śyāmasundara: He sees an intelligence acting in nature.
Prabhupāda: Anyway he accepts the superiority of nature, superior position of nature. He accepts it. So but beyond the nature there is a... the Supreme Personality Godhead. Mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sa-carācaram (BG 9.10). Under My direction nature works. So he has no vision to see the background of nature.
Philosophy Discussion on Samuel Alexander:
Hayagrīva: So God can be seen in nature.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Not only nature. This is the beginning of realizing. This is impersonal. But there is person at the background. Just like we do not see..., we know that there is one governor, proprietor of the Hawaii Island. We have not seen. But when we see him, he is person. This is the conclusion.
Philosophy Discussion on Samuel Alexander:
Hayagrīva: He speaks of theism and pantheism. Now we might equate theism with personalism and pantheism with impersonal, the impersonal aspect.
Prabhupāda: There is nothing... Impersonal means when we cannot see that the background is person. We can of course take the lesson from nature that the sunshine is impersonal but the background is sun-god. But because we are in a very lower stage of life we can simply experience the sunshine but we cannot go and talk with the sun-god. That is not possible. So similarly, the background is person and the expansion of God's energy is imperson. So because we are in the energy, we are not directly in touch with God; therefore we say that God is an imperson. We have no such capacity now, but they, if we become devotee, we can attain that position when he can talk with God in person as the gopīs and the cowherds boy, mother Yaśodā and other in Vṛndāvana inhabitants they are doing.
| Page Title: | Background (Lectures) |
| Compiler: | Visnu Murti, Alakananda |
| Created: | 04 of Dec, 2010 |
| Totals by Section: | BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=198, Con=0, Let=0 |
| No. of Quotes: | 198 |