Prabhupada: (beginning of lecture extremely faint) ...Just like part and parcel of my body, hands and legs, they are serving the whole body, similarly, Krṣṇa is the supreme whole and we are His parts and parcels; therefore our duty is to serve Him. This is our constitutional position. Jivera svarupa haya nitya-krṣṇa-dasa [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109]. We cannot become Krṣṇa. We are eternally Krṣṇa's servitors, part and parcel. This is real conclusion, qualitatively one. Just like this finger, you can call it body, but it is part and parcel of the body. Similarly, the part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, you may call "God," but he's not the Supreme God. Supreme God is Krṣṇa. Isvaraḥ; paramaḥ; krṣṇaḥ; sac-cid-ananda vigrahaḥ; [Bs. 5.1]. So anasinaḥ; aprameyasya. Anasinaḥ;, it cannot be destroyed. Although it is very minute, aprameyasya, you cannot measure. You have no such measuring method, that you can measure the soul's breadth and..., length and breadth. In geometry, they finish it: "(A) Point has no length and breadth," but that is not the fact. A point has also length and breadth, but we cannot measure it. Aprameya. Similarly, there is length and breadth of the soul also. That is also mentioned in the Vedic literature. (aside:) Go little back side. It is said in the Puraṇas: kesagra-sata-bhagasya satadha kalpitasya ca, jiva-bhagaḥ; sa vijñeyaḥ; sa anantyaya kalpate [Cc. Madhya 19.140]. The spirit soul is measured, first of all, divide the tip of your hair into one hundred parts, and then take one part again, and again divide it into one hundred parts. That portion is the measurement of the soul. Or, in other words, one ten-thousandth part of the tip of your hair. Now, we have no measuring instrument. Therefore, because we have no measuring instrument, although the soul is there, within this body, we cannot find it out. Although the soul and the Supersoul both are situated within the heart, and the heart is the center of all vitality, energy of this body... That is accepted. But we have no eyes to see the soul or the Supersoul because these material eyes are blunt, imperfect. You cannot see so many things. I cannot see even my eyelids, the nearest, and I cannot see which is far, far away, distant place.

So all our senses are imperfect. By imperfect senses, you cannot see the spirit soul. You cannot see even the spirit soul. How you can see the Supreme Soul, God? That is not possible. You have to purify your senses. Then you can see. Ataḥ; sri-krṣṇa-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaiḥ; [Cc. Madhya 17.136]. The present blunt senses, material senses, all are imperfect. Even we hear the Lord's name, namadi, ataḥ; sri-krṣṇa-namadi... Just like we are chanting. One who is spiritually advanced, he's enjoying this Hare Krṣṇa, Krṣṇa's name. But those who are blunt, they will see, they will think, "What these people are chanting?" Because he has no power to hear. Ataḥ; sri-krṣṇa-namadi. But realization of Sri Krṣṇa begins by hearing. That is the method. Sravaṇaṁ kirtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ; [SB 7.5.23]. If you hear about Krṣṇa, if you chant about Krṣṇa, then gradually, your heart will be cleansed. Ceto-darpaṇa-marjanaṁ bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapaṇam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. By chanting and hearing, the dirty things within the heart will be cleansed. Then you will understand what is your position in relationship with God. You'll understand what is God. Therefore in this age especially, Kali-yuga, because people cannot perform any other austerities... They're unable. They're so dull. Mandaḥ; sumanda-matayo manda-bhagya hy upadrutaḥ; [SB 1.1.10]. This is the position of the people of this age. Prayeṇa alpa ayuṣaḥ;. Generally, their span of life is very short. It is decreasing, day by day. As our forefathers lived ninety years, hundred years, now we are not living up to such extent of ages. Generally, people are dying... In India, the average age is thirty-five years. In other countries, maybe little more. But gradually it is decreasing, and it will decrease to such a point that even a, if a man lives for twenty to thirty years, then he'll be considered as grand old man. That, that day will come.

So this age... Therefore sastra says, prayeṇa alpa ayuṣaḥ;. Generally, almost everyone is short-living. Prayeṇa alpa ayuṣaḥ; kalau asmin yuge janaḥ;. Asmin yuge, kalau, they are very short-living. Then again, mandaḥ;: all rascals. Mandaḥ;, third class; no first-class men. Practically no brahminical qualification. All sudra qualification. Therefore mandaḥ;. Sumanda-matayaḥ;. And if one comes forward to be spiritually enlightened, he accepts something bogus, which has no meaning, without any reference to the sastras. Therefore mandaḥ; sumanda-matayaḥ;. They have got a opinion, and that is going on. You may have any opinion. That is all right. This foolishness is going on in this age. Mandaḥ; sumanda-matayaḥ;. Manda-bhagyaḥ;, and most unfortunate. Everyone is practically unfortunate. Nobody has certainty what he will eat tomorrow, or in the evening. Everywhere... Don't think only it is only in India. In America. When I went there, I thought everyone is very rich. There are so many poor men. They are lying on the street. The street-lying population is everywhere, either in India or in America or in England. I have seen. The first-class, second-class, third-class men will remain there. You may however try to make everyone first class; the division, first class, second class, third class, will go on. That is nature's arrangement. Mandaḥ; sumanda-matayo manda-bhagya hy upadrutaḥ; [SB 1.1.10]. And disturbed. Just like today's strike, unnecessarily. Disturbance. So many disturbance everywhere, all over the world, because the population has degraded, degraded. They must be like that. This is the way.

Therefore, anyone is interested for spiritual advancement, he should take to this Krṣṇa consciousness movement, which is principally chanting. Harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam, kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha [Cc. Adi 17.21]. In this age, you cannot practice yoga, mystic yoga practice, meditation; it is not possible. It is very difficult. You cannot arrange for big, big sacrifices. That is also not possible. Therefore three times it is said: nasty eva nasty... You cannot take to the yogic principle, you cannot take to the ritualistic ceremonies. You cannot take to the temple worship also. It is very difficult. Kalau na...

krte yad dhyayato viṣṇuṁ
tretayaṁ yajato makhaiḥ;
dvapare paricaryayaṁ
kalau tad dhari-kirtanat
[SB 12.3.52]

This is the injunction of the sastra, that in the Satya-yuga, when people were said to live for one hundred thousands of years, at that time yogic principle, meditation, was possible. And in the Treta-yuga, the performance of big, big sacrifices was possible, because things were available, there were yajñika-brahmaṇas. In this age, practically, there is no yajñika-brahmaṇa who can perform yajña. No competent brahmaṇa. Therefore performance of sacrifices is not possible. The only performance of sacrifice is this, as we are performing—Hare Krṣṇa festival. That is stated: yajñaiḥ; saṅkirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ; [SB 11.5.32]. Yajñaiḥ; saṅkirtana. In this age, Kali-yuga, no other sacrifices are..., is possible. Only sacrifice... This is sacrifice. Yajñaiḥ; saṅkirtana. Just like we are doing, in a small scale. But it can be done in larger scale. But people are not interested. People are not interested. They have lost all brain. Su-medhasaḥ;, and alpa-medhasaḥ;. These two words, two words are used in the sastras. Alpa-medhasaḥ;. Medha means brain substance. So those who are alpa-medhasaḥ;, they, means less brain substance. Antavat tu phalaṁ teṣaṁ tad bhavaty alpa-medhasam [Bg. 7.23]. Alpa-medhasaḥ;, less intelligent, less brain substance, they worship different demigods. Kamais tais tair hrta-jñanaḥ; yajante anya-devataḥ; [Bg. 7.20]. The anya-devatas are there, but who are attracted to worship other demigods? Those who are lusty. Kamais tais tair hrta-jñanaḥ;. These are the statements in the Bhagavad-gita. You know. Those who are lusty, and, being lusty, they have lost their senses. Hrta-jñanaḥ;. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Ṭhakura, he says, hrta-jñanaḥ; naṣṭa-buddhayaḥ;. No intelligence. Kamais tais tair hrta-jñanaḥ; prapadyante 'nya-devataḥ; [Bg. 7.20]. Antavat tu phalaṁ teṣaṁ tad bhavaty alpa-medhasam [Bg. 7.23].

So in this age, this is simply waste of time. If you actually interested in spiritual advancement of life, if you divert your attention in so-called worship of this demigod, that demigod, this demigod, then you'll simply waste your time. There will be no advancement. And even you become perfect in worshiping the demigods, then what will be your profit? The profit will be: yanti deva-vrata devan [Bg. 9.25]. You can go to the planets where the demigods live. But the planets and this material world, everything will be annihilated. Antavat tu phalaṁ teṣam [Bg. 7.23]. Suppose you are promoted to the Brahmaloka. That is also antavat. It will be finished, because by the end of Brahma's duration of life, everything within this universe will be finished. Therefore antavat. That is not permanent. But if you manage to go back to home, back to Godhead, then yad gatva na nivartante tad dhama paramaṁ mama [Bg. 15.6]. Then that is perfect life.

So anyone who is not interested in perfect life, they'll be allured by this so-called demigod worship. Antavat tu phalam. But those who are intelligent... These are the activities of the alpa-medhasaḥ;, but one who is su-medhasaḥ;, su-medhasaḥ;, one who has got good brain substance, for him, in this age, it is recommended, yajñaiḥ; saṅkirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ;.

krṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣakrṣṇaṁ
saṅgopaṅgastra-parṣadam
yajñaiḥ; saṅkirtana-prayair
yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ;
[SB 11.5.32]

Krṣṇa-varṇam. Krṣṇa Himself. Krṣṇa, or krṣṇaṁ varṇayati. The one, the incarnation of God, who will chant always "Krṣṇa." That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Caitanya Mahaprabhu preached this Hare Krṣṇa mantra. Therefore krṣṇaṁ varṇayati, iti krṣṇa-varṇam. Krṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣa akrṣṇam. Tviṣa, by complexion, He's akrṣṇa, not krṣṇa, not black. Krṣṇa appeared blackish. Not blackish as we imagine. Kandarpa-koṭi-kamaniya. Krṣṇa, although He's blackish, He is attractive more than millions of Cupids. Kandarpa-koṭi-kamaniya-viseṣa-sobhaṁ govindam adi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajami [Bs. 5.30].

So anyway, Krṣṇa appears in four colors—red, black, yellow, and white—in different ages. So in this age, Kali Yuga, Krṣṇa appears as Caitanya Mahaprabhu, yellow color. Krṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣa akrṣṇam. Akrṣṇa may be red. Akrṣṇa may be white. But this akrṣṇa means pita, yellow. Because other akrṣṇa, red and white, was in the Satya-yuga and Treta-yuga. Therefore here akrṣṇa means the yellow. Krṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣakrṣṇaṁ saṅgopaṅgastra-parṣadam [SB 11.5.32]. He's always surrounded by His intimate devotees. He's surrounded by many devotees. Caitanya Mahaprabhu, wherever He was going, thousands and thousands of people were following His saṅkirtana, but especially He, He was always surrounded by five special devotees: sri-krṣṇa-caitanya prabhu nityananda, sri-advaita gadadhara, srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda. He's Himself, Sri Krṣṇa Caitanya; His expansion, Nityananda; His incarnation, Sri Advaita Prabhu; His internal energy, Gadadhara; and His external, marginal energy, Advaita Prabhu, er, Srivasa. But He has got another energy, which is called external energy. External energy cannot come in front of God, Krṣṇa. This is maya. Just like darkness cannot come in front of the sun.

krṣṇa-surya-sama; maya haya andhakara
yahaṅ krṣṇa, tahaṅ nahi mayara adhikara

This material world is dark. It is called tamaḥ;. Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya. The Vedic instruction is "Don't remain in this material world. Come to the spiritual world." Spiritual world. Yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-aṇḍa-koṭi-kotiṣv aseṣa-vasudhadi-vibhuti-bhinnam, tad brahma niṣkalam anantam aseṣa-bhutam [Bs. 5.40]. So come to the Brahman platform, brahmajyoti. Don't remain within this darkness.

So therefore in this age,

krṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣakrṣṇaṁ
saṅgopaṅgastra-parṣadam
yajñaiḥ; saṅkirtana-prayair
yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ;
[SB 11.5.32]

This is intelligence, to chant saṅkirtana. Bahubhir militva kirtayati. Assemble in big assembly. Just like we are trying to introduce. It is very easy. Chant, thousands and thousands of people. Never mind what he is. It doesn't matter whether he's learned or fool, rich or poor, or black or white, or brahmaṇa or sudra. No consideration. Come together. Chant Hare Krṣṇa mantra. Yajñaiḥ; saṅkirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ;. Your brain will be cleansed. It is so easy. It is so nice and so perfect. According to the instruction of the Vedas: Harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam [Cc. Adi 17.21]. Repeatedly, in every Vedic literature. And practically, Caitanya Mahaprabhu introduced practically. And He asked every Indian to go outside India and preach this cult, Hare Krṣṇa mantra. But we are not doing that. We are going outside our country to beg only. Not to give. And here is a prime gift. You can give all over the world. Your country will be glorified. They're anxious for this. Prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama. Caitanya Mahaprabhu's prediction: "As many towns and villages are there on the surface of the globe, everywhere this Hare Krṣṇa mantra, or Lord Caitanya's name, will be celebrated." That is being done. There is immense field for introducing this Hare Krṣṇa cult all over the world. That is practical. Unfortunately, although Caitanya Mahaprabhu entrusted the matter to every Indian... Not that to the Bengalis, because He appeared in Bengal. He never said for the Bengalis. He said, bharata-bhumite manuṣya-janma haila yara [Cc. Adi 9.41]. "On this holy land of Bharatavarṣa, anyone who has taken his birth as a human being, he should make his life perfect." Janma sarthaka kari'. You cannot preach without making your life first of all perfect. If I remain imperfect, I cannot preach. One must be perfect. That is not very difficult. We have got direction of great sages and saintly persons and God, Krṣṇa, Himself.

So to make our life perfect is not at all difficult. We are simply neglecting. That is our misfortune. Mandaḥ; sumanda-matayo manda-bhagyaḥ; [SB 1.1.10]. Because we are manda, manda-mataḥ;, we have accept some bogus logic, bogus "ism," and wasting our time. We should take from the sastra the real path. Then we shall become intelligent. Su-medhasaḥ;. Yajñaiḥ; saṅkirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ; [SB 11.5.32]. The short-cut method. Intelligent class of men will take this saṅkirtana movement for his spiritual elevation of life. It is a fact, it is scientific, it is authorized. So don't neglect. Take this chanting of Hare Krṣṇa heart and soul, and anywhere... Niyamitaḥ; smaraṇe na kalaḥ;. There is no rules and regulations, that "You have to chant at this time or that time, in this position or that position." No. Because it is especially meant for these fallen conditioned souls, there is no hard-and-fast rule. Namnam akari bahudha nija-sarva-saktis tatrarpita niyamitaḥ; smaraṇe na kalaḥ;. The name, the holy name of Krṣṇa, is as powerful as Krṣṇa. There is no difference with Krṣṇa and His name. Krṣṇa is Absolute. Therefore there is no distinction between Krṣṇa's name, Krṣṇa's form, Krṣṇa's quality, Krṣṇa's entourage, Krṣṇa's pastimes, from Krṣṇa. Everything is Krṣṇa. If you hear about Krṣṇa, then you should know that you are touching Krṣṇa by aural reception. If you see Krṣṇa the Deity, that means you are seeing personally Krṣṇa. Because Krṣṇa is absolute. He can accept your service, any way. Because He is everything. Isavasyam idaṁ sarvam [Iso mantra 1]. His energy. Parasya brahmaṇaḥ; saktis tathedam akhilaṁ jagat. Everything's Krṣṇa's energy. So if we are in touch with Krṣṇa's energy, with a little knowledge, we are directly in touch with Krṣṇa. This is the process. As you become constantly in touch with Krṣṇa, that is Krṣṇa consciousness. Then you become purified. Purified. Just like if you put one iron rod in the fire, it becomes warm, warmer, warmer, and at last it becomes red hot. When it is red hot, it is fire. It is no more iron rod. Similarly, if you keep always in Krṣṇa consciousness, you become Krṣṇized. This is the process. Then everything becomes purified; then your spiritual life is manifested. Then your life is successful.

So the first beginning is... Here, as it is said by Krṣṇa, antavanta ime dehaḥ;: don't be attached with this body. The body is material, but even this body is material, it can be spiritualized by the same process, by Krṣṇa consciousness. Spiritualized means when this body will forget the materialistic activities. This body, you can utilize for sense gratification. Just generally people are doing. Eating, sleeping, mating and drinking and so on. So you can utilize this body... That is material. But if you engage this body for the service of the Lord, it becomes spiritualized. As I have already explained, the iron rod, constantly in touch with fire, it becomes, at end, it becomes red hot. That is fire. At that time, it acts like fire. You touch that red-hot iron rod anywhere, it will burn. Similarly, this body can be spiritualized, although it is material body. How? Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ; [Brs. 1.2.234].

maṁ ca yo vyabhicareṇa
bhakti-yogena sevate
sa guṇan samatityaitan
brahma-bhuyaya kalpate
[Bg. 14.26]

Brahman. Brahma-bhuyaya kalpate. It at once becomes Brahman. Brahma-bhuyaya kalpate. How? Avyabhicareṇa bhakti-yogena yaḥ; sevate. Therefore this process, arcana... Everyone is engaged only in Krṣṇa's service. They are, from the beginning of the day, four o'clock, they are rise from the bed. They offer maṅgala-aratrika. You are seeing practically. We are demonstrating the Krṣṇa con..., how one can become Krṣṇa conscious perfectly. Therefore we have brought this Deity. Anyone can do it at home. Where is the difficulty? If these Europeans and Americans, they can do, our Indians which is our heritage, we are born in this land of Bharatavarṣa, we cannot do it? But we are neglecting. We are so fallen. Mandaḥ; sumanda-matayo manda-bhagyaḥ; [SB 1.1.10]. We have become so unfortunate that we cannot take to this process. So whatever we have done, done, that's all right. But now this Krṣṇa consciousness movement is there. Everyone should take it very seriously and make his life perfect.

Thank you very much. Hare Krṣṇa.

Bhavananda: (reading questions:) ...Krṣṇa, they accept that Krṣṇa is in every living entity, and therefore they say that by serving humanity and your fellow man, that that is serving Krṣṇa. Is that correct?

Prabhupada: If you remain in a room, to serve the room, does it mean that serving you? You are within a room. Simply cleansing the room, does it mean serving you? The present moment, what they are doing? Just like my Guru Maharaja used to say that a man has fallen on the water, and one brave man came. He said that "I shall save this man." And he also jumped in the water and brought his coat and shirt, and he said, "Now the man is saved." Is it saving the man? So similarly, the service of humanity means they are serving the body. Where is the soul? They do not know how to serve. Just like washing the cage, and the bird within the cage, it is starving (imitates bird): "kanh kanh kanh." So they do not know what is service. Yasyatma-buddhiḥ; kuṇape tri-dhatuke [SB 10.84.13]. They are thinking this body. That is, that is... We are explaining this morning: antavanta ime dehaḥ;. This body is perishable. It is material. What is the use of serving it? However you serve it, it will destroy. Try to save the soul who is put into this body and embarrassed. That is real service. This is Krṣṇa consciousness movement. We are trying to save the soul. The body, however you try to save it, it will, antavanta ime dehaḥ;, it will end, today or tomorrow or after some years. You cannot save it. Save the soul. Nityasyoktaḥ; saririṇaḥ;. The saririṇaḥ;, the soul, which is within the body, that is nitya, eternal. Now, although it is nitya, it is fallen in certain condition of this material body, that it appears to be dying. Janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-duḥ;kha-doṣanudarsanam [Bg. 13.9]. He's under the tribulation of birth, death, old age and disease on account of this material body. Therefore, if you actually want to give service to the humanity, then give service to the soul, and if you give service to the soul, automatically the body is also served. But if you stress on the body, without... Therefore, despite all arrangements for humanitarian work, the human society is becoming worser and worser. Why? That is not service. They do not know how to serve. Illusion. Real service is this, Krṣṇa consciousness, to arouse the Krṣṇa con..., dormant Krṣṇa consciousness in every human being. Nitya-siddha krṣṇa-bhakti. To make him aroused in relationship with Krṣṇa, that is real service. So what is going on in the name of service, that is not service. That is simply washing the coat and shirt. That's all. [break] Hare Krṣṇa. (end)

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