Yukta-vairāgyam ucyate. Anāsaktasya viṣayān yathārham upayuñjate. Just like we are using this microphone. This is material, scientific advancement. Sometimes they criticize that, "You are not materialistic. Why you are using the modern appliances? Why you are flying on the aeroplane?" So practically, our vision is that everything is Kṛṣṇa's and everything must be utilized for Kṛṣṇa's service. That is, that is our philosophy. Actually, it is so. This microphone is manufactured by Kṛṣṇa's energy. Bhūmir āpo 'nalo vāyuḥ khaṁ mano buddhir eva ca, prakṛti bhinnā me aṣṭadhā (BG 7.4). So this metal portion, or the rubber portion, or any portion of this microphone is made of the five elements earth, water, fire, air. So Kṛṣṇa says: "They are My separated energy."
So although separated energy, we are dovetailing with the service of Kṛṣṇa. That, we do not see that this matter is separate from Kṛṣṇa. Actually it is not so. When we see that matter is separate from Kṛṣṇa, that is materialism. When we see the matter is energy of Kṛṣṇa, that is not materialism; that is spiritualism. So it is our intellect how we can utilize everything with Kṛṣṇa. Nirbandhe kṛṣṇa-sambandhe yukta-vairāgyam ucyate (Brs. 1.2.255).
Anāsaktasya viṣayān. If we utilize the same matter for our sense gratification, viṣaya, then it is material. The same flower, if I collect it for my sense gratification, this flower is material. The same flower, when I pick up for offering on the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, this is spiritual. Then how the material thing transformed into spiritual? By the consciousness. Therefore our propaganda is to raise the Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Nitya-siddha kṛṣṇa-bhakti. That is our propaganda. As soon as we raise the consciousness to the platform of Kṛṣṇa, then we become spiritualized. Nirbandhe kṛṣṇa-sambandhe yukta-vairāgyam ucyate (Brs. 1.2.255).
(aside) Who is talking?
Nirbandhe kṛṣṇa-sambandhe yukta-vairāgyam ucyate. Just like Rāmānanda Rāya. He was governor. He was governor of Madras, but he was the . . . one of the most confidential devotee of Lord Caitanya. Lord Caitanya and Rāmānanda Rāya were talking together, and Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya was feeling little shyness because he did not belong to the brāhmin community. He was governor, householder. So he thought that Caitanya Mahāprabhu was asking him question and he was answering, that means he was taking the superior position. So he felt little shyness. And when he was feeling such shyness, Caitanya Mahāprabhu encouraged him:
- kibā vipra kibā śūdra nyāsī kene naya
- yei kṛṣṇa-tattva-vettā sei guru haya
- (CC Madhya 8.128)
Encouraged him. Caitanya Mahāprabhu taught the whole world how one can become exalted simply by learning the science of Kṛṣṇa, kṛṣṇa-tattva-vettā. Tattva means science. It doesn't matter whether he's a sannyāsī or a gṛhastha or a śūdra or a brāhmin. It doesn't matter. These are all designation of the body. Spiritually, we are all one. Paṇḍitāḥ sama-darśinaḥ (BG 5.18).
So if we are on the spiritual platform . . . on the spiritual platform means to understand the science of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Spirit. Then if we are conversant with the science of Kṛṣṇa, then anyone who is such enlightened, he is perfect spiritual master. It doesn't matter what he is. Just like Haridāsa Ṭhākura, he was born in Muhammadan family. Sanātana Gosvāmī, Rūpa Gosvāmī, they were rejected from the brāhmin community and they took the Muslim names Sākara Mallika, Dabira Khāsa. But it is Caitanya Mahāprabhu's preaching that He collected all these exalted personalities. They were associates of Kṛṣṇa, Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
But the universality of Caitanya Mahāprabhu's movement is such that anyone can become Kṛṣṇa conscious, and anyone can accept or be elevated to the exalted post of gosvāmī, namācārya. Just like Haridāsa Ṭhākura was made the namācārya, and Sanātana Gosvāmī, Rūpa Gosvāmī, although rejected by the brāhmin community, they were the exalted Gosvāmīs, six Gosvāmīs. Śrī-rūpa sanātana bhaṭṭa-raghunātha. Ei chaya gosai yāra tāra mui dāsa (CC Adi 1.36). So our whole Vaiṣṇava, Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava community are servants of all these Gosvāmīs.
So it doesn't matter. Kṛṣṇa also confirms, māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya ye 'pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ (BG 9.32). It doesn't matter one is born in lower family. It doesn't matter. That . . . Śvādo 'pi sadyaḥ savanāya kalpate (SB 3.33.6). Even the dog-eaters. In the beginning, we did not know who is the dog-eater. Now, when we are traveling all over the world, we see so many dog-eaters. In Korea, China, Philippines, there are many dog-eaters. So in the śāstras it is mentioned: even the dog-eaters, śvādo. Śva means dog, and adaḥ, one who eats. Śvādo 'pi sadyaḥ savanāya kalpate. If one is elevated to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, even if he's born in the family of dog-eaters or he is a dog-eater . . .
Of course, he cannot remain dog-eater. After coming to become a Vaiṣṇava, he does not remain a dog-eater. But dog-eating is not disqualification. That is Caitanya Mahāprabhu's specific contribution. Nothing is disqualification to come to Krishna consciousness, provided one is serious to come to this platform. Śvādo 'pi sadyaḥ.
Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī has commented on this line, śvādo 'pi sadyaḥ, that a dog-eater, after becoming a devotee, immediately he becomes a qualified brāhmin, so much so that he becomes competent to become a priest in the matter of offering sacrifices. But Jīva Gosvāmī says that even a person is born in brāhmin family, he awaits the qualification of performing sacrifices. He has to be initiated, he has to be advanced in education—so many things. But one dog-eater, if he takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, immediately, without waiting for reformatory method, he becomes immediately competent to act as priest in performing sacrifices.
But we should not take advantage of this. Actually we should become on the platform of brāhmin, qualified brāhmin, qualified Vaiṣṇava so that others may not criticize. That is our special request. That chance is there, everyone. This path of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is open to everyone. It does not matter.