So we are not these so-called Māyāvādī sannyāsīs, brahma satyaṁ jagan mithyā. Why jagan mithyā? Mithyā means false. They say that jagan mithyā, this whole material world is false. We don't say false. We say it is temporary, and so long it is in use, you utilize it for Kṛṣṇa. Then even this material world will be utilized for Kṛṣṇa consciousness. This is our proposal. We don't reject anything. Therefore Rūpa Gosvāmī: prāpañcikatayā buddhyā hari-sambandhi-vastunaḥ. A thing which can be used for the service of Hari, Kṛṣṇa, if it is given up as material, that vairāgya, that renunciation, is not very good. That renunciation, "I have renounced everything . . ." Just like amongst the Jains, they will not ride on car; they'll walk. So our principle is not like that: "No, we shall not take advantage of the motorcar or the aeroplanes. These are all material. I shall walk." Why shall I walk? If I would not have taken the advantage of the aeroplanes, how I could preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world so swiftly? We must take all advantage—but for Kṛṣṇa. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. We shall encourage people, but the thing is that we may not forget. If by material opulence we forget Kṛṣṇa, then that is suicidal. That is sui . . . therefore we have to be little careful. We may drive the Rolls-Royce car, but may not identify with the car, "Oh, now I've become Rolls-Royce. You are Chevrolet; I'm Rolls-Royce." (laughter) Don't become nonsense like that. Rolls-Royce car is different from you, and Chevrolet car is also different from you. You can take advantage of them. Don't identify. They are identifying with the matter. That is the defect. That is called māyā. He's not identifying with Kṛṣṇa that, "I am part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa. I am not part and parcel of these Rolls-Royce cars." If one keeps himself, I mean to say, awakened in this way, so in any condition of life he is liberated. Any condition.
That is also given by Rūpa Gosvāmī, that:
- īhā yasya harer dāsye
- karmaṇā manasā vācā
- nikhilāsv apy avasthāsu
- jīvan-muktaḥ sa ucyate
- (Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.2.187)
Īhā. Īhā means "desire." Yasya, anybody's desire. He is always thinking how to serve Kṛṣṇa. How to serve Kṛṣṇa with whole world paraphernalia he's planning, such person. Īhā yasya harer dāsye. His main aim is how to serve Kṛṣṇa. karmaṇā manasā vācā. One can serve Kṛṣṇa by his activities, karmaṇā; by mind, by thinking, by planning how to do it nicely. Mind is also required. karmaṇā manasā vācā. And by words. How? Preaching. Such person, nikhilasv apy avasthāsu, in any condition of life he may be . . . he may be in Vṛndāvana or he may be in hell. He has nothing to do with, with anything else, except with Kṛṣṇa. Jīvan-muktaḥ sa ucyate, he's always liberated. That is required. Therefore it is said, yadi kṛṣṇa-kathāśrayam. "If this description which we are asking you, what is the reason that Parīkṣit Mahārāja was going with tour, royal tour? What business he had to punish one man who dressed like a king and trying to kill cows . . . so why he was interested? Is it for Kṛṣṇa or for his personal interest? If it is for Kṛṣṇa, then please . . ." Kathyatāṁ mahā-bhāga. "You are most fortunate. Please describe this."