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Because the maya, this wonderful material energy, is acting in such a big curtain, they cannot understand that beyond this there is something else. They are thinking this material energy working, that is everything - nothing beyond this

Expressions researched:
"Because the māyā, this wonderful material energy, is acting in such a big curtain, they cannot understand that beyond this there is something else" |"They are thinking this material energy working, that is everything—nothing beyond this"

Lectures

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

One side is māyā-javanikācchannam. Māyā, this illusory energy, is covering with the curtain. Just like we are seeing the Deity, but if there is a curtain, we cannot see. Similarly, there is a curtain which is illusory energy, māyā. Big, big scientists, they cannot see what is behind this material nature. They cannot understand. Because the māyā, this wonderful material energy, is acting in such a big curtain, they cannot understand that beyond this there is something else. They cannot understand. Māyā-javanikā ācchannam. Illusory energy. They are thinking this material energy working, that is everything—nothing beyond this.

Prabhupāda:

māyā-javanikācchannam
ajñādhokṣajam avyayam
na lakṣyase mūḍha-dṛśā
naṭo nāṭyadharo yathā
(SB 1.8.19)

So one side is māyā-javanikācchannam. Māyā, this illusory energy, is covering with the curtain. Just like we are seeing the Deity, but if there is a curtain, we cannot see. Similarly, there is a curtain which is illusory energy, māyā. Big, big scientists, they cannot see what is behind this material nature. They cannot understand. Because the māyā, this wonderful material energy, is acting in such a big curtain, they cannot understand that beyond this there is something else. They cannot understand. Māyā-javanikā ācchannam. Illusory energy. They are thinking this material energy working, that is everything—nothing beyond this.

The whole world is covered. This is one side. And the other side: ajñā. Māyā-javanikācchannam ajñā . . . these materialistic persons, they are ajñā, means they have no sufficient knowledge. Unless one develops the light of knowledge, sattva-guṇa . . . sattva-guṇa is the light of knowledge. Rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa is darkness—ignorance and passion. In this stage one cannot understand what is Kṛṣṇa, what is God. Ajñā. Rajas-tamo-bhāvāḥ (SB 1.2.19). As we have discussed in Bhagavad . . . Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, rajas-tamo-bhāvāḥ, those who are infected with the two kinds of material modes, means rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa, they are simply busy, kāma and lobha. They are busy only . . . those who are passionate, they are simply busy for sense gratification, and those who are in ignorance, in darkness, they have no eyes to see.

So these two classes of men . . . mostly people are infected with these two kinds of modes of material nature, rajas-tamas. The whole world. At the present moment, especially, mostly ignorance, and some of them are passionate. That passionate tendency is engaging them for so many industries and very, very strong work, ugra-karma. Ugra-karma. Ugra-karma means very strong . . .? What is, should be the English word? Ugra . . . ugra, just like chili, pungent. There are many things, they are very strong in taste. So ugra-karma, these . . . just like they are building hundred-and-fifty-stories building. People can live comfortably in a small cottage or one-storied house or little more. But no, they're increasing. Their passionate activities are increasing. Just like in your country, in New York, now there is hundred-and-four-storied building, or more than that. Some building?

Brahmānanda: Hundred and ten.

Prabhupāda: Hundred and ten.

Brahmānanda: Two of them.

Prabhupāda: Two of them. They're increasing. They are thinking by increasing the stories more and more, that is advancement of civili . . . but how long you will increase? If you make million stories, still, it is unlimited. That we can see. So many airplanes are running in the sky. What is that? Still, it is vast. So many sputniks are running in the sky. Still, it is vast. So it is simply desire that, "If I make a hundred-and-fifty-storied house, then my life is successful." So in this way, instead of not wasting valuable time of this human life, they are simply wasting time in this way. That is also explained in the Rāmāyaṇa. Just the Rāvaṇa—he wanted to make a staircase up to the heavenly planet. It is like that. Ugra-karma. Why they are doing so? Ajñā, ajñā. Foolish people.

Page Title:Because the maya, this wonderful material energy, is acting in such a big curtain, they cannot understand that beyond this there is something else. They are thinking this material energy working, that is everything - nothing beyond this
Compiler:Soham
Created:2023-02-16, 09:33:43
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=1, Con=0, Let=0
No. of Quotes:1