In this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement we are training these boys, anyone—it doesn't matter what he is—no illicit sex, no intoxication, no meat-eating, no gambling. This is tapasya. Those who are practiced to these bad habits, for them it will be very difficult. Very difficult. Yes. One of our Godbrother went to preach in London, and Lord Zetland, he was talking with him, and he said: "Goswamijī, can you make me a brāhmaṇa?" So he said, "Yes, why not? You give up these four bad habits," and he said: "It is impossible for us." He said clearly, "It is impossible. This is our life." But at the present moment these boys, hundreds and thousands of boys, they are giving up this practice. This is called tapasya. Hundreds and thousands, they have agreed. I have not bribed them. I am poor Indian. But they have agreed, "Yes." They are actually practicing no illicit sex, no gambling, no meat-eating and no intoxication. They do not smoke even, don't take tea. This is called tapasya.
So śamo damaḥ, brahminical first qualification, can be practiced provided you agree to undergo tapasya, tapaḥ. And it is not very difficult. Not that because these boys, European, American boys, have given up these bad habit they are dying for it. No. Rather, their parents, their countrymen say they are bright-faced. When they chant on the street, they become surprised, their fathers. And some of the fathers, they come to thank me, "Swāmījī, it is our great fortune that you have come to our country," because they know that how their sons are being rectified from the LSD habit. Professor Judah has written a book, very nice book, appreciating that, "How these LSD men could become Kṛṣṇa conscious servant of Kṛṣṇa?" So it is . . . everything is possible provided you agree tapasya. Śamo damas tapaḥ.
Then śaucam: very clean. Everyone must take bath thrice daily and wash the cloth. This is śaucam, external, śaucam. So they are doing that. They are rising early in the morning at half past three and taking bath. In this country they don't even require hot water—in cold water. Śaucam, very cleanse. Śamo damas tapaḥ śaucaṁ kṣāntiḥ, toleration. Kṣāntir ārjavam, simplicity. Kṣāntir ārjavam eva ca jñānam, knowledge. What is that knowledge? Knowledge that, "I am not this body." This is knowledge. And if I simply I think "I am this body," you may advance in your so-called scientific knowledge—you are a fool. (break) This is called jñānam. And vijñānam, practical application. Jñānaṁ vijñānam, then āstikyam. Āstikyam means to believe in the injunction of the śāstra, āstikyam. That is called theism. One who does not believe in the injunction . . . just like Kṛṣṇa is advised in the Bhagavad-gītā. One who believes in the words of Kṛṣṇa, he is āstika. One who does not believe, he is nāstika. This is the āstika and nāstika. So our nāstika definition means one who does not believe in the Vedic instruction. He is called nāstika. So brāhmaṇa must be āstikyam.
- śamo damas tapaḥ śaucaṁ
- kṣāntir ārjavam eva ca
- jñānaṁ vijñānam āstikyaṁ
- brahma-karma svabhāva-jam
- (BG 18.42)
If you acquire this qualification, then you are brāhmaṇa. So is it very difficult? Simply there is no training center. Throughout the whole world there is no such training department. There are many department of knowledge, but how to create an ideal brāhmaṇa, there is no education. There is no education.
Therefore the brāhmaṇa is considered to be the head of the body. Just like we have got this body, this head is to be considered as brāhmaṇa, and the arm is to be considered as kṣatriya, the belly is to be considered as vaiśya and the leg is considered as śūdra. So as to maintain this body nicely you must everything in order—the head, brain must be in order; the hand, arms must be in order; the belly must be digesting food and getting energy; and the leg also must walk—similarly, sve sve karmaṇy abhirataḥ, never mind you are a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra, if your aim is to keep the body in order, then either you become brāhmaṇa, either you become kṣatriya or śūdra, everything is in order. That is required. Unless these instructions are followed as given by Kṛṣṇa . . . he comes. Yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati (BG 4.7). He comes there. He leaves this instruction. If you take advantage of this instruction and make your society, family or government, everything, according to the instruction of Bhagavad-gītā, then everything is perfect. Otherwise you are doomed.