Devotee:

jivera 'svarupa' haya-krṣṇera nitya-dasa
krṣṇera 'taṭastha-sakti', bhedabheda-prakasa
[Cc. Madhya 20.108]

suryaṁsa-kiraṇa yaiche agni-jvala-caya
(svabhavika) krṣṇera tina-prakara 'sakti' haya

Prabhupada: So Caitanya Mahaprabhu begins his instruction to Sanatana Gosvami because he's the appropriate person to understand. In the previous verse Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has asserted,

yogya-patra hao tumi bhakti pravartaite
krame saba tattva suna, kahiye tomate

So the philosophy is very simple, but unless one is fit or appropriate person, he cannot understand. No. So in the material world we are materially diseased; therefore it is very difficult for us to understand this Krṣṇa consciousness philosophy. Otherwise it is very simple thing. As Caitanya Mahaprabhu, jivera 'svarupa' haya krṣṇera nitya-dasa [Cc. Madhya 20.108]. Very simple thing. Everyone, even a child can understand that we are, our svarupa, our constitutional position, is that we are servant of God, Krṣṇa. But the material world is so bewildering that everyone is thinking that "I am master of everyone." This is the disease. "I am the monarch of all I survey." There is an English poetry. Everyone is thinking. Why this is so much struggle in this New York City? Because now there is Presidential election, so everyone is thinking, "If I could become the President." That is everyone's desire. But those who are not so fit, they do not stand for election, but those who are little fit, so they stand, make competition, "I am the President." If you are President, why you require election? The simple truth. If you are actually President, then why do you depend on other's vote? You become President. No. Artificial President. Simply by votes he is President. Actually he is not; he is the servant of the voters, but he's thinking, "I am President." This is called maya. Everyone is servant of Krṣṇa. He's servant. Every one of us, we are servant. So take this example. Actually the President means the servant of the voters, and as soon as the voters do not like him... Just like Nixon is drawn back.

So nobody can be master. That is not possible. You'll find in this instruction, ekale isvara krṣṇa ara saba bhrtya [Cc. Adi 5.142]. Only Krṣṇa is the master, and everyone is servant. This is our position, actual. But artificially we are trying to become master. That is struggle for existence. We are trying for something which we are not. We know this word, "struggle for existence," "survival of the fittest." So this is struggle. We are not master; still, we are trying to become master. The Mayavada philosophy, they also undergo severe type of austerities, penances, but what is the idea? The idea is that "I shall become one with God." Same mistake. Same mistake. He's not God, but he is trying to become God. Even though he has performed so much severe austerities, vairagya, renunciation, everything... Sometimes they give up everything of material enjoyment, go to the forest, undergo severe type of penances. What is the idea? "Now I shall become one with God." The same mistake.

So maya is very strong, that these mistakes continue even one is very advanced so-called spiritually. No. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu touches the main point immediately with His instruction. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's philosophy. Where Krṣṇa says the last word, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekaṁ saraṇaṁ vraja.. [Bg. 18.66]. He is talking on the position; He is Krṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is asking, demanding, "You rascal, give up everything. Just surrender to Me. Then you'll be happy." This is the last instruction of Bhagavad-gita. Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the same Krṣṇa but acting as devotee of Krṣṇa; therefore He is speaking the same thing. Krṣṇa said, "You surrender," and Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that "Every living entity is the servant of Krṣṇa." That means he must surrender. Servant's business is to surrender, not to argue with the master or to claim that "I am equal with you." These are all fanatic, mad proposal.

pisaci paile yena mati-cchanna haya
maya-grasta jivera se dasa upajaya

A servant cannot become master. That is not possible. But as soon as... As long as we shall persist on this wrong conception of life, that "I am not master; I am servant," er, "I am not servant; I am master," then he will suffer. The maya will give him suffering. Daivi hy eṣa. Just like outlaws, rogues and thieves, they defy government order: "I don't care for government." But that means he voluntarily accepts suffering. He has to take care of government law. If he does not ordinarily take care, outlaw, then he'll be put into the prison house and by force, by beating, by punishment, he has to accept: "Yes, yes, I accept."

So this is maya. Daivi hy eṣa guṇamayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]. We are under the rulings of the maya. Prakrteḥ; kriyamaṇani guṇaiḥ; karmaṇi sarvasaḥ; [Bg. 3.27]. Why? Because we are declaring master. Servant is declaring to become master; therefore suffering. And as soon as we accept that "I am not master; I am servant," then there is no suffering. Very simple philosophy. That is mukti. Mukti means just come to the right platform. That is mukti. Mukti is defined in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, muktir hitva anyatha rupaṁ svarupeṇa vyavasthitiḥ; [SB 2.10.6]. Mukti means to give up this nonsense business, anyatha. He is servant, but he's thinking master. That is ankatha (?), just the opposite. So when he gives up this opposite conception of life that he is master, then he is mukti; he's liberated immediately. Mukti does not take so much time that you have to undergo so much severe austerities and go to the jungle and go to the Himalaya and meditate and press your nose and so many things. It doesn't require so many things. Simply you understand plain thing, that "I am servant of Krṣṇa"—you are mukta immediately. That is the definition of mukti given in Srimad-Bhagavatam. Muktir hitva anyatha rupaṁ svarupeṇa avasthitiḥ;. Just like even a criminal in the prison house, if he becomes submissive that "Henceforward I shall be law-abiding. I then shall obey the government laws very obediently," then sometimes he is released prematurely on account of giving a declaration.

So we can become immediately liberated from this prison house of material existence if we accept this teaching of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, jivera svarupa haya nitya krṣṇera dasa [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109]. And therefore so many arrangement. We are having Krṣṇa Deity here, and every one of us, we are engaged as servant. Sri-vigraharadhana-nitya-nana-srṇgara-tan-mandira-mar janadau **. Somebody is engaged in cleansing the temple. All servant, we are. Somebody is engaged in dressing the Deity. Somebody is engaged in preparing nice foodstuff for Deity. Somebody is making flower garlands. Somebody is going to distribute literature to make people understand the glories of Krṣṇa. So in this way Krṣṇa consciousness movement means everyone is engaged cent percent to become servant of Krṣṇa. So those who are sincerely engaged in the service of the Lord, they are all liberated. They are all liberated. The Mayavadis who are trying to become liberated in so many ways, mystic yoga practice and austere penances, and so on, so on, so on, so on... You can get that liberty immediately, simply by engaging yourself in some service of Krṣṇa. Immediately. Svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat. Even little service you give, it is your permanent asset. Even if you fall down from that service platform, still, whatever you have done, it will never go in vain. As soon as there is opportunity, again you shall begin from that point where you left. Therefore everyone... Tyaktva sva-dharmaṁ caraṇambujaṁ hareḥ; [SB 1.5.17]. There is a verse spoken by Narada Muni, that even by sentiment, not understanding properly the philosophy of Krṣṇa consciousness, even by sentiment—"All right, let me also dance and chant like these people, the saffron-colored, shaved-head people are doing. Let me do that"—so once dancing with them will never go in vain. It will (be) immediately accounted, "Ah, he has danced." It is so nice. It will never go in vain. Then these children are dancing. Don't think it is spoiling time. Everything is recorded. This you will find in the, our Nectar of Devotion. You'll find. Rupa Gosvami... It will never go in vain. Svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhakura also sings, keno mayar bose, yaccho bhese', khaccha habuḍubhu bhai, jiv krṣṇa-das, ei visvas, korle to' ar duḥ;kha nai. Everyone is being washed away by the big waves of the ocean of nescience, but if he simply accepts, "No, I am Krṣṇa dasa. I am not master. I am not God. I am simply a servant..." And the more you become servant of the servant, more you are perfect. Not directly servant. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, gopi-bhartuḥ; pada-kamalayor dasa-dasa-dasanudasaḥ; [Cc. Madhya 13.80]. This is perfection. Don't try to become directly Krṣṇa dasa. Krṣṇa's servant, his servant, his servant, his servants—you come down to the hundredth point of servant; then you are perfection.

tandera caraṇa-sevi-bhakta-sane vas
janame janame mora ei abhilas

Narottama dasa Ṭhakura said, "Let me become the servant of the servant and live with devotees [Cc. Madhya 13.80]. That is my desire."

So this Krṣṇa consciousness movement is that let us live amongst devotees. Why we are struggling to get so many centers open? Because devotees will live there, follow the regulative principles according to the instruction of the sastra and spiritual master, guided by, and people will get chance. As soon as one comes in this society of devotee, he'll get some opportunity. And svalpam apy asya... That is meant. Even by sentiment one comes... Tyaktva sva-dharmaṁ caraṇambujaṁ hareḥ; [SB 1.5.17]. The Narada Muni said, "Even by sentiments, one gives up his occupational duty, so-called occupational duty, and surrenders to Krṣṇa, even not understanding fully..." So sastra says, "What is the loss there?" And if one is performing one's material duties very perfectly, then what is gain there? He's simply wasting time. And a devotee, even by sentiment or whimsically comes in this center and gives some service, that is a permanent record. And these karmis, although they are acting very sincerely, but there is no guarantee what is the next life. He may become a dog. There are 8,400,000 species of life, and tyaktva deham... Or what is that? Tatha dehantara-praptir dhiras tatra na muhyati [Bg. 2.13]. These will be dehantara, change of this body. The body will be finished, everyone knows, but body being finished, you are not finished; nobody is finished. Na hanyate hanyamane sarire [Bg. 2.20]. Then he has to accept another body. So if we do not work according to the rules and regulation of nature, then we have to accept another body, and we do not know what kind of body you are going to accept. But it will be a gift by nature. Prakrteḥ; kriyamaṇani [Bg. 3.27]. Eh? Karaṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo 'sya sad-asad janma-yoniṣu [Bg. 13.22]. So they do not know these things, the rascal civilization. Just like dancing like dog, that's all. This is rascal civilization. They have no responsibility of life, and dancing like dog. No. The Krṣṇa consciousness movement is very scientific movement. Everyone should try to understand. If he wants to understand through science, through philosophy, through logic—in any way—through religion, through culture—anyway he wants to understand, we have got volumes of books. Try to understand. It is not a bluff. It is all scientific. So either you accept as Krṣṇa, as Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, that jivera svarupa haya nitya krṣṇera dasa... [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109]. If you immediately accept the words of, accept the words of Krṣṇa-sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekaṁ saraṇaṁ [Bg. 18.66]—that is very good. But if you are very learned philosopher, scientist, then read books. Both ways we have prepared to convince you.

So,

jivera svarupa haya krṣṇera nitya-dasa
krṣṇera taṭastha-sakti bhedabheda-prakasa
[Cc. Madhya 20.108]

Bhedabheda-prakasa. Bheda means difference, and abheda means one. Two philosophies are going on. The Mayavadis, they say, "We are the same." So 'ham: "I am the same." Ahaṁ brahmasmi: "I am the Supreme Brahman." But the Vedic literature says, ahaṁ brahmasmi, but Krṣṇa, or God, is Param Brahman. In the Vedas there is no such thing as ahaṁ paraṁ brahmasmi. No. They are misusing. The... Instead of understanding... Brahman, every one of us, we are Brahman. There is no doubt about it. But unfortunately, by mistake, by illusion, I am thinking, "I am this body." So spiritual education means first of all one has to understand that ahaṁ brahmasmi: "I am Brahman. I am not this body." That is the beginning of spiritual education.

brahma-bhutaḥ; prasannatma
na socati na kaṅkṣati
samaḥ; sarveṣu bhuteṣu
mad-bhaktiṁ labhate param
[Bg. 18.54]

One has to become first of all... Not become. Just to understand one has to come to the platform of Brahman. Then spiritual education begins.

brahma-bhutaḥ; prasannatma
nasocati na kaṅkṣati
samaḥ; sarveṣu bhuteṣu
mad-bhaktiṁ labhate param

So bhakti is not very ordinary thing. It begins after one is liberated. The Mayavadi says that "By bhakti one can become one with God." No. That is not bhakti. That is Mayavada. That is mistake. Bhakti means to understand that "I am eternal servant of Krṣṇa." This conviction is possible when one is brahma-bhutaḥ;. Brahma-bhutaḥ; prasannatma na socati na kaṅkṣati. Brahma-bhuta means "I am part and parcel of Krṣṇa," as it is said, suryaṁsa-kiraṇa, yaiche agni-jvala-caya, svabhavika krṣṇera... Oh... When one understands this, that "I am... My position is eternal servant," that is brahma-bhuta [SB 4.30.20]. Brahma-bhutaḥ; prasannatma [Bg. 18.54]. Then undoubtedly he becomes immediately jubilant, that "Now I have got my real master to serve. I am serving so many, I mean, items, in the family, in the society, in the community, in the nation. But I could not be satisfied. Neither I am..., persons to whom I have given my service, they are also not satisfied." This is wrong service. Nobody is satisfied. The so-called master is not satisfied, and the so-called servant is not satisfied. The so-called servant means that "Unless you pay me, I am not going to serve you." Strike. "I am your master. You pay me. Then I shall serve you." So nobody is servant actually. Everyone wants to become master, either collectively or individually. That is maya. This is material world. And when one understands that he is not a master—he is servant—and the real master is Krṣṇa, that is liberation.

So bhedabheda-prakasa. So the living entity is simultaneously one and different. The two philosophies are going on. One philosophy, Mayavada, ahaṁ brahmasmi, miscalculation, so 'ham—this is to become one. And another philosophy, Vaiṣṇava philosophy—that we are different. But Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that both are true. Bhedabheda-prakasa. A living entity is one with God and is as different from God. Bhedabheda-prakasa. One? How one? Because Krṣṇa says that "Living entities are My part and parcel." Just like this hand, this finger, is part and parcel of my body, so therefore it is one. But the finger is not the whole body. Different. It is very simple thing. Bhedabheda-prakasa. Anyone can understand. The finger... The tree... Just like the leaf, the twigs, the flowers, the fruits. They are all tree. But at the same time, it is not tree; it is leaf, it is branch, it is twig, it is flower. It is very simple philosophy. Caitanya Mahaprabhu explained, taṭastha-sakti, marginal. Marginal means the living entity has to become servant. That is his position. Jivera svarupa haya nitya krṣṇa dasa [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109]. But when the servant wants to become master, he is under the clutches of maya. And when he understands that "I am not master; I am servant," he is under Krṣṇa. That is taṭastha. Taṭastha means marginal. That taṭa... Taṭa means the beach. Sometimes the beach is covered with water, and sometimes it is land. That is called taṭastha. So that land, sometimes water.

So when we accept Krṣṇa as our master, then we are in the Vaikuṇṭha planet. And when we do not accept... That propensity we have got, sometimes by forgetfulness or sometimes by willingly. By forgetfulness if we think that "I am master," that is also mistake. And willingly, if we reply, "Why shall I serve Krṣṇa? Let me become Krṣṇa," this Mayavada philosophy, "Let me become God..." So all these things are maya. Real position to become... Not become. We are. But to become sane. Now, in madness, we are talking all this nonsense that "I am one with God. I am God." We have to be treated. This treatment is Krṣṇa consciousness. By hearing, by chanting—ceto-darpaṇa-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]—all the mistakes within our the core of our heart is dispel... Then we come to the understanding. Then,

suryaṁsa-kiraṇa, yaiche agni-jvala-caya
svabhavika krṣṇera tina-prakara sakti haya

Now, we are grouped under the taṭastha-sakti, and there are other two potencies, or energies. That is called spiritual energy and material energy, the spiritual world and material world. We have got experience of the material world not completely. We do not know even what are going on in the whole material world. We see the universe. We see at night so many stars and planets, but we have no idea. So we do not know even what is this material world perfectly, and what to speak of spiritual world. But the spiritual world is there, as there is this material world, and the living entity belongs to the spiritual world. Actually he belongs to the spiritual world. By chance or some way he has come to the material world. So when he goes back again to the spiritual world, then he gets his normal condition of life. Unfortunately, in the modern education there is no information of the spiritual world, the spiritual identity, and go on, our relationship with God—nothing. Simply they are working like cats and dogs under the influence of maya and the suffering. To stop this suffering, one must take to Krṣṇa consciousness and understand the position of his life and be perfect.

Thank you very much. (end)

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