Prabhupāda: Any question? (background discussion about microphone) Who is the in-charge of microphone? Go on. (feedback noise) What happened?
Acyutānanda: (reading question) "In the Vedas the mahā-mantra is repeated Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare/ Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare. What is the significance of changing the order?"
Prabhupāda: There is no change of order. If you like, you can begin with Hare Rāma. There is no harm.
Acyutānanda: (to audience) We request everyone to please print very clearly and make your questions brief, to save time. (reading question) "Many people say that Lord Kṛṣṇa is the King of romance. What is the truth?"
Prabhupāda: King of . . .?
Devotees: Romance.
Prabhupāda: Romance?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Romantic. King of lovers.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Kṛṣṇa means the supreme lover and beloved. He attracts everyone. There is one Greek word, krista. The meaning is the same, "love." And from this krista the word Christ has come. So this word Christ also has connection with Kṛṣṇa.
Acyutānanda: "How to see Lord Kṛṣṇa? Can anybody see Him by chanting the holy name Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra? Is it possible for a human being in his short period of life?"
Prabhupāda: Yes. If he develops love for Kṛṣṇa. That I have explained the other day, premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti (Bs. 5.38). If you develop love for Kṛṣṇa, premā, premā pum-artho mahān, that is the recommendation by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, that dharma, artha, kāma, mokṣa (CC Adi 1.90) is not the aim of life. Premā pum-artho mahān. After liberation . . .
- brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā
- na śocati na kāṅkṣati
- samaḥ sarveṣu
- mad-bhaktiṁ labhate parām
- (BG 18.54)
When one is engaged in devotional service, loving devotional service, then he can increase his love for Kṛṣṇa. The love for Kṛṣṇa is there. In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta it is said, kṛṣṇa. . .
- nitya-siddha kṛṣṇa-prema 'sādhya' kabhu naya
- śravaṇādi-śuddha-citte karaye udaya
- (CC Madhya 22.107)
The love for Kṛṣṇa is there, everywhere. Just like these European, American boys. Why they are loving Kṛṣṇa? It is not foreign. It was there. It was there. Similarly, in everyone's heart there is love for Kṛṣṇa. By cultivation, that Kṛṣṇa consciousness, that love becomes developed. And when you develop that love for Kṛṣṇa, then you will see Kṛṣṇa twenty-four hours. That is wanted. So ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu saṅga tato 'nartha-nivṛttiḥ syāt tato niṣṭhā tato bhakti . . . Tato niṣṭhā tathāśaktis tato bhava sādhakānām ayām premṇaḥ prādurbhāve bhavet kramaḥ (CC Madhya 23.14-15). This is the ādau śraddhā. Just like you have come here in this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement meeting because you have got little śraddhā, faith. This is called śraddhā. You have to increase this śraddhā. How? Ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu saṅga (CC Madhya 22.83): those who are Kṛṣṇa devotees, you have to associate with them. You cannot develop Kṛṣṇa consciousness by associating with drunkards and others. No. That is not possible. You have to associate with kṛṣṇa-bhakta. Ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu saṅga (CC Madhya 23.14-15). Sādhu means bhajate mām ananya-bhāk, sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ (BG 9.30). I've already described the sādhu. If you want love of Kṛṣṇa, then you have to associate with sādhu. Sādhu means kṛṣṇa-bhakta. Ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu-saṅgo, tato bhajana-kriyā (CC Madhya 23.14-15). Association with sādhu means you'll learn, bhajana-kriyā.
Just like many people come in our Society not in the beginning as devotee—as a matter of inquisitiveness. Then gradually he wants to become initiated. He approaches, "Kindly initiate me. Make me a disciple." Bhajana kriyā. This is called bhajana-kriyā. And if you actually perform bhajana-kriyā, then anartha nivṛttiḥ syāt. All these unwanted things which you have learned, you have become habituated—mainly illicit sex, meat-eating, intoxication and gambling—that becomes finished. Anartha-nivṛttiḥ syāt. No more attachment for these things. Then niṣṭhā, firm conviction. Then ruci, taste. Then āsaktiḥ, attachment. Then bhāva, "Oh, Kṛṣṇa is so nice." Then prema. That requires . . . If you have developed your love for Kṛṣṇa, then you will see Kṛṣṇa twenty-four hours.