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Duty of the Brahman

Expressions researched:
"duty of the Brahman" |"duties of the Brahman"

Lectures

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

Aham brahmasmi is there, but what is the duty of the Brahman? That they do not know
Lecture on SB 7.9.8 -- Calcutta, March 5, 1972: Sa guṇān samatītyaitan [Bg. 14.26]. Etan means all these three qualities, tama-guṇa, raja-guṇa, and sattva-guṇa. Sattva-guṇa is good so far material consideration is there, but that is not perfect. Because from sattva-guṇa, if you are not very strict... Just like we have seen. Sattva-guṇa means the quality of brāhmaṇa. Now the brahminical qualification is now fallen. They are not so very strict following the brahminical principles. So there is chance of falling down. But if you keep yourself on the transcendental platform, aprakṛti, that is, beyond the material world, then there is no falldown. Brahma-bhuyāya kalpate. Falldown there is, if you are neglectful, but generally there is no chance of falldown. Sa guṇān samatītyaitān brahma-bhūyāya kalpate. So you have to situate yourself in the Brahman platform. Brahman platform means pure, uncontaminated by the material qualities. That is called Brahman platform. Brahma-bhutaḥ prasannātmā [Bg. 18.54]. There are many such statements.So this is Brahman platform. The brahma-jnani, impersonalist, they think simply by coming to the Brahman platform, business is finished now. Aham brahmasmi. No. Aham brahmasmi is there, but what is the duty of the Brahman? That they do not know. Just like again I say the same example. Just like you are going to the moon planet. The so-called aeronautics, they are going, "Now we have come to moon planet." That's nice, but stay there. Unless you stay there, it is useless. It is useless. Actually, they could not stay there. Why they come back? Why they come back? That is either false or they have no qualification to stay there. So who cannot stay in the Brahman platform? The nondevotee. That is stated. Aruhya krcchrena param padam tatah patanty adhah [SB 10.2.32]. Just like as you go to the moon planet but if you cannot stay there, you must have to come down again to this planet; similarly, one may rise up to the Brahman platform, param-pada, which is called param-pada, but if you cannot stay there, then again you fall down. Just like many so-called sannyasis, they rise to the brahma-pada, aham brahmasmi, but because they cannot stay there, they come down again to this material world and they are busy for opening hospitals, schools, and philanthropism. My wife, you have left already all this nonsense, you say that this world is mithya, brahma satyam jagan mithya. So if you have ascended to the brahma-pada, why you come down again to the mithya-pada? That means you have no taste.

General Lectures

That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. We have got engagement. We are not only satisfied that "I am spirit," ahaṁ brahmāsmi. No. There must be duties of the Brahman. The Brahman must be engaged. Otherwise... Because we want some work, because we are active... We are not just like stones. We cannot sit down
Lecture -- London, September 14, 1969:: So, so long we shall travel on the chariot of the mind, mano-ratha, then there is no question of our being freed from anxiety. Therefore we have to give up this chariot of mind. The chariot of mind will not give us satisfaction. We have to transcend the mental state, the intellectual state. The philosophers, they are intellectually trying to be happy. That also we have to transcend. We have (to) come to the spiritual platform, brahma-bhutah. And not only come to the spiritual platform, we must have spiritual engagement. That is Krsna consciousness. We have got engagement. We are not only satisfied that "I am spirit," aham brahmasmi. No. There must be duties of the Brahman. The Brahman must be engaged. Otherwise... Because we want some work, because we are active... We are not just like stones. We cannot sit down. So there must be activities. Just study the nature of the child. He's always active, must be doing something. Maybe it is useless, but how can you stop the child's activities? That is not possible. Similarly, we are active. So simply by understanding that "I am spirit soul" will not help me. I must be active in the spiritual world. That is Krsna consciousness. Everyone is engaged in some activity of Krsna consciousness. And that will make him prasanta. Nihsesa-mano-rathantarah kadaham aikantika-nitya-kinkarah. That stage of pacified condition of life can be attained, as it is stated by Yamunacarya, kadaham aikantika-nitya-kinkarah. Aikantika. Aikantika means absolutely, without diverting my mind in any other thing; nitya-kinkarah, eternally servant of God, eternally servant of Krsna. When I am convinced in that way, then I shall be happy. Kadaham aikantika-nitya-kinkarah praharsayisyami. Praharsayisyami means "I shall be always jolly." How I shall be jolly? Sanatha-jivitam: "Because I will (be) living under the protection of my Lord." Just like this child is happy. She's happy because it knows, the child knows that "I have got my parents. So as soon as there is some danger, I shall immediately call my mother, and mother will give me protection." This confidence is there. She doesn't care for anyone. She wants to go to touch the fire; mother is going behind to give her protection. That is natural.
Page Title:Duty of the Brahman
Compiler:Syamananda, Visnu Murti
Created:5march08,
No. of Quotes:2
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=2, Con=0, Let=0