Discretion (Lectures)

Expressions researched:
"discretion" |"discrete" |"discretions"

Lectures

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

We are ignorant, what is actually position, what is the actual position. But we have got our discretion also.

Lecture on BG 2.12 -- New York, March 7, 1966: We are all laymen. We are ignorant, what is actually position, what is the actual position. But we have got our discretion also. Just like every one of you has some knowledge in the history. Now, in the history in the past... Suppose you are now thirty years old or thirty-five years old, and suppose two hundred years before, the history which you read, you find that all people were individuals. And at the present you are experiencing that all individual, they are. All living entities—either human being, or animals or birds, or anywhere—you can see that they are individual. Then why should you not believe that in future they will remain individual? Do you follow? In the past they were individuals, in the present they are individuals, and why not in future they'll remain individuals? It is naturally concluded that they will continue to be individuals. Even we do not have any sufficient knowledge in either of these two theories, mixing up or keeping individual, but by our own small reasoning we can understand that in the future history we have information that there were individual persons.

It depends on my discretion whether I want to merge into the existence of the Lord, whether I want to keep my individuality and associate with Him as friend, as father, mother, as wife. Just like we have got relation.

Lecture on BG 2.12 -- New York, March 9, 1966:

Woman: Jñānī.

Prabhupāda: Jñānī. Jñānī means philosophers, empiric philosophers. Empiric philosophers. Brahma, Brahmavādīs, those who want to merge into the existence of Brahman. They are called jñānīs. And those who meditate on God within himself, they are called yogis. This is general definition. And those, those who worship the Supreme as Personality of Godhead, they are devotees.

Woman: Yes. The name? The name? You say jñānī...?

Prabhupāda: Jñānī, yogi and bhakta.

Woman: Bhakta.

Prabhupāda: Bhakta.

Woman: The other one...

Prabhupāda: Yes. Bhakta.

Woman: Jñānī, how do you spell it?

Prabhupāda: J, N, A, N, I. "Jan-nanee. Jan-nanee." The spelling is "Jananee." So the Supreme Truth, the Supreme Truth is Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān, the Supreme Truth. Now, according to... Because we have already explained that each and every individual being has got his individual minute quantity of independence. God has given us. Now, by our independence, I may accept as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, I may accept Him that the all-pervading Supersoul, and I may accept Him that the all-pervading Brahman, impersonal brahmajyoti effulgence. So all these are applicable to the Absolute Truth. Now, it depends on my discretion whether I want to merge into the existence of the Lord, whether I want to keep my individuality and associate with Him as friend, as father, mother, as wife. Just like we have got relation. So that depends on my discretion. But now, comparatively, if we study that if we merge into the existence of God, the, at least, in the opinion of the bhaktas, that is not acceptable. That is not acceptable. They know that, that "God has created me as an individual being, so He has got some purpose. And because He has created me for some purpose, I must fulfill that purpose. I must fulfill that purpose."

Telling lie should not be taken risk of at one's own discretion. It must be ordered by Kṝṣṇā or by His representative. Telling lie is always sinful.

Lecture on BG 2.12 -- New York, March 9, 1966: Madhudviña: Prabhupäda, when you say we must be honest in our dealings... If we have an advantage to, to take advantage of somebody else for Kåñëa, for Kåñëa consciousness, is this permissible? If we have a chance to take advantage of somebody to get money from them, not by stealing but by means... (Prabhupäda chuckles) Is this permissible?

Prabhupäda: Yes, but that is not by your discretion. You have to consult your spiritual master. Just like what Kåñëa says Yudhiñöhira Mahäräja, "Yudhiñöhira, My dear brother Yudhiñöhira, you go and tell," I mean to say, "Droëäcärya, that 'Your son is dead.' " Because this gentleman would not die unless he hears the message of the death of his son. So he was not dying. So Yudhiñöhira was commissioned to speak this lie, that "You go and say that 'Your son is dead.' " And he says that "I never spoke lie. I cannot do that." Now here the order is coming from Kåñëa, therefore he should have executed the order immediately. Although speaking lie for common man is sin, but because it is in relationship with Kåñëa, it is not sin. So that telling lie should not be taken risk of at one's own discretion. It must be ordered by Kåñëa or by His representative. Telling lie is always sinful. That's all right. But if Kåñëa says "Tell lie," it is not sinful. That is the secret. You can violate the laws only on the direct order of Kåñëa or His representative. That's all. That is common sense. Just like a political person is engaged to kill somebody under superior order. And if he can kill, he is rewarded, he is given high post. But the same man, if he kills by his own discretion, he'll be hanged. So serving greater purpose, supreme purpose, absolute purpose, there is no question of such piety or sinful. But in the ordinary field, there must be "This is pious, this is sinful." So that discretion should not be taken by oneself, but it should be consulted.

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Lecture on BG 3.11-19 -- Los Angeles, December 27, 1968: Guest: If man wasn't meant to eat meat, why in nature do the other animals kill to eat? Prabhupāda: Are you other animal? Guest: Well, we're all animals. Prabhupāda: You count amongst the animals? You classify yourself with the animals? Guest: Well, we're all animals. Prabhupāda: No, not all. You may be, but we are not. Do you like to be classified with the animals? Guest: You don't? Prabhupāda: No, no. Do you like yourself, do you like to be... Guest: I don't feel that I'm better than the animals, no. Prabhupāda: Why? Why are you talking then? Guest: Because I have respect for all of God's creatures. Prabhupāda: Why you have come here? You respect for all and you kill animals? Guest: I didn't say that I kill animals. Prabhupāda: Then why do you say that? What is your question? Guest: I said why, if man is not meant to eat meat, that in nature the animals eat meat? They eat each other. Prabhupāda: What is the question? I cannot... Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He's saying if man is not meant to eat meat, then why is it that some animals eat meat? He's saying that we are animals also. Now, we're not meant to eat meat, but other animals are permitted to. Prabhupāda: Other animals, they [eat] meat, but they follow the nature's law. They don't eat grain. Guest: We don't follow nature's...? Prabhupāda: No. You don't follow. Just like a tiger. A tiger eats meat, but tiger does not come to eat grains and fruits. But you eat meat and grains, fruits, milk, whatever you can get you eat. Why? Is that natural? Tiger will never come to claim on the grains, "Oh, you have got so much grain. Give me." No. Even there are hundreds bags of grains, you don't care, but he'll pounce upon a... That is his natural instinct. But why do you take grains, fruits, milk, meat, and whatever you get. What is this? You are neither animal or human being. Misusing your humanity. You should think that what is eatable for me? A tiger may eat meat. It is a tiger. But I am not tiger. I am human being. And if I have got sufficient grains, fruits, vegetables, and other things, God has given, why should I go to kill a poor animal? This is humanity. You are animal plus human. If you forget your humanity, then you are animal. So we are not simply animal. We are animal plus humanity. If we increase our quality of humanity, then our life is perfect. But if we remain in animality, then our life is imperfect. So we have to increase our human consciousness. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is Kṛṣṇa conscious. What is the purpose of eating? To live. If you can live very peacefully, very nicely, with good health, by eating so many varieties of foodstuff given by Kṛṣṇa, why should I kill an animal? This is humanity. Why should I imitate an animal? Then what is the difference between animal and human being? If you have no discretion, if you have no consciousness. Besides that, scientifically, your teeth is meant for eating vegetables. The tiger has teeth for eating meat. Nature has made it like that. It has to kill another... Therefore he has got nails, he has got teeth, he has got strength. But you have no such strength. You cannot kill a cow like that, pouncing like tiger. You have to make slaughterhouse and sit down at your home. Somebody may slaughter, and you can eat very nicely. What is this? You do like tiger. Pounce upon a cow and eat. (laughter) You cannot do that. You cannot do that.