(kirtana—Prabhupada tells the devotees to chant one round—someone yells "I'm God" and yells something that sounds like "Om" over and over but sounds more like a cow mooing real slow. He yells and screams, "I'm God! I'm God!" and leaves. Devotees and Prabhupada continue japa. Prabhupada chants first prayer of Sikṣaṣṭaka. Then this class begins:)

Prabhupada:

sri-bhagavan uvaca
partha naiveha namutra
vinasas tasya vidyate
na hi kalyaṇa-krt kascid
durgatiṁ tata gacchati

Once begun, transcendental life, spiritual life or Krṣṇa consciousness, it will never be stopped. You can finish it even some percentage, you have to begin again from that point to further advancement. That is the... That means spiritual asset is never lost. Material asset is lost with this body. As soon as we change our body, whatever we are acquiring materially in this world, house, business, bank balance, field(?), reputation, education, this will be all finished just with the end of this body.

Take for example that we sometimes worship our past leaders. In your country, George Washington, or in our country, Gandhi or somebody else. But this is false because you do not know where is that gentleman Washington has gone. We are simply worshiping a shadow. A photograph, a statue. But we do not know where is actually that spirit soul, his transmigration of the soul. The soul goes to another body and we foolishly worship the dead body, which is useless. This is called bhutejya. In Sanskrit language it is called bhutejya. Ghost worship. Yanti bhutani bhutejya. So this is only sentiment. But because all the name, fame, assets materially gained, it ends with that body, it remains with that body. Now you have to begin another body according to your own karma. But the spiritual effect which you acquire, that goes with you. Because you are spirit, it goes with the spirit. And the material asset left with this material...

They do not know. Foolish people, they do not know. They are after material acquisition. They do not know this will be finished just with the finishing of the body. This is called illusion. For this body which will not go with me I am working so hard, day and night. But the spirit, as I am, I do not know wherefrom I have come, where I am going. Therefore we have to follow the direction of authoritative persons, scriptures, to mold our life how to work. That is called karma-yoga. Simply working is not karma-yoga. Karma-yoga means... It is described in the Bhagavad-gita, yat karoṣi [Bg. 9.27]. Whatever you are doing. Yat karoṣi yaj juhoṣi. Whatever you are sacrificing. Yad asnasi, whatever you are eating. Yad dadasi, whatever you are giving in charity. Kuruṣva tad mad-arpaṇam, "give Me." "You want to give some charity, give Me," Krṣṇa says. But people will not give Krṣṇa. If the members of the Krṣṇa consciousness goes to some foundation, that "We are being doing this work. Give us some money." "No. Our money is meant for hospital and educational institution." And what you are producing? "Atom bomb. Oh, that is all right." This is going on.

So we are, by material advancement, we are just advancing the cause of illusion. That is all. We do not know. What we know? Therefore a person who begins a spiritual life in Krṣṇa consciousness, his asset will go with him. Never mind, in this body we may be little uncomfortable. A spiritually advanced man, or a person in Krṣṇa consciousness, is never in discomfort. We have already discussed this point. Yasmin sthito guruṇapi duḥ;khena na vicalyate yaṁ labdhva caparaṁ labhaṁ manyate nadhikaṁ tataḥ; [Bg. 6.20-23]. When one attains perfection in Krṣṇa consciousness, he does not want anything more. Everything is complete. And the symptom will be seen that he's not disturbed even in the severest point of miserable condition.

You'll be surprised to know that Haridasa Ṭhakura... We always glorify him after our kirtana, "Haridasa Ṭhakura ki jaya." This Haridasa Ṭhakura, how he was undisturbed. There are many instances. Lord Jesus Christ, he was also undisturbed when he was being crucified. So similarly, this Haridasa Ṭhakura, he happened to be a Muhammadan and he joined this Hare Krṣṇa movement. So the Muhammadan magistrate called him, "Oh, you are born in such a nice family and you are chanting Hare Krṣṇa? Hindu? You are chanting Hare Krṣṇa, Hindu's name? Then what is your explanation?" So Haridasa Ṭhakura was... He could understand that he is now in dangerous position. So he replied, "Sir, many Hindus also have become Muhammadan. So if some Muhammadan becomes Hindu, what is the harm?" "Oh, you are arguing?" Means he was to be punished. Give the dog a bad name and hang it.

So he was ordered that this man should be caned. And in, at that time Navadvipa had twenty-two marketplaces. So in each marketplace he should be taken and in the public he should be flogged. So that he was done. And the idea was that by flogging he would die. The magistrate's idea was like that. But fortunately Haridasa Ṭhakura did not die, neither he cried even. He was as good as silent. So these persons who were flogging, they fell on his feet. "Sir, the idea was that you would die. But now I see that you do not die. So now our punishment is awaiting. He will think that we have not flogged you sufficiently." Then Haridasa Ṭhakura said, "What you want?" "No, we want that you should die." Then he made himself into samadhi and the flogger took him to the magistrate, "Here is the condition." The magistrate thought, "He's now dead." So told him, "Throw him in the water. Don't put him in the graveyard. He has become Hindu." So yasmin sthito guruṇapi na vicalyate [Bg. 6.20-23]. So he was so disturbed, but he was steady. So it is such a thing. He was chanting. The others were flogging him, and he was chanting Hare Krṣṇa Hare Krṣṇa Krṣṇa Krṣṇa Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

So spiritual asset is like that. Of course, that is the highest perfectional stage, Haridasa Ṭhakura or Lord Jesus Christ. And there are many instances. But that is the idea, that one who is spiritually advanced, he's not disturbed by any material miserable condition. Therefore Lord Krṣṇa says that a person who is spiritually advanced, for him there is no misery even in this world and what to speak of the other world? Partha na eva iha. Iha means in this world. Namutra. Amutra means next life. Vinasas tasya vidyate. Na vinasa. Vinasa means annihilation. So he has no annihilation. What is annihilation? We have understood from Bhagavad-gita in the Second Chapter that soul is never annihilated. Indestructible.

Now how it is said that vinasa? Vinasa means when we are in the whirlpool of this material transmigration of soul from one body to another and we do not know where we are going. Either we are going, I am going to become an elephant or I'm going to become an ant, I do not know. After leaving this body, I'm in the wilderness of different species of life. So I forget myself. I forget myself. That is called vinasa. Vinasa means that living entity is not annihilated but he does not know where I am. Just like you are thrown to the Pacific Ocean and by the waves... Or you are thrown into the middle, you don't see any land, so you do not know... That is vinasa. That is annihilation. Although we are living there. Similarly, if we meet this... We do not know what I am going to be in my next life but my life, next life is a fact. Next life is fact. Suppose if you drive me away from this room, so I must take shelter of another room. So you do not know where I am gone. So this is called vinasa. This is called vinasa.

So one who takes to spiritual life, he has no vinasa. He has no annihilation means that his next life he's going to be again human being. He's not lost in the wilderness of other species of life. Because he has to begin again. Suppose he has finished ten percent Krṣṇa consciousness. Now he has to begin eleven percent again. Now, in order to begin, I mean to say, eleven percent in Krṣṇa consciousness he has to take the human body. So this means that if anyone takes to Krṣṇa consciousness, his next life human body is guaranteed. It is guaranteed. It is very nice. Without Krṣṇa consciousness I do not know what my next body is going to happen. But if Krṣṇa consciousness or spiritual consciousness you are advanced, never mind whatever little percentage it is, you are sure to get the chance of another human body. Therefore it is said.

So at least to have a guarantee that our next life is going to be human life, everyone should take to Krṣṇa consciousness. From mundane profit point of view. There is a story, Savitri-Satyavan. Savitri-Satyavan, it is not a story. It is historical fact that one gentleman, he was a king's son, prince. His name was Satyavan. But he was to die at a certain age his horoscope said. But one girl Savitri, she fell in love with that boy. Now she wanted to marry. Her father told her, "He'll die at certain age. You don't marry." But she was bent. She married. In course of time the boy died, say after four or five years, and the girl became widow. So she was so staunch lover that she won't let the dead body go away. And the Yamaraja, the, what is English I do not know, who takes away the body or the soul after death, so he came to take the soul away. So this chaste girl would not allow the husband's body to go away. Then Yamaraja told, "It is my duty that I should take. You give it up. Otherwise, you'll be also punished." So she gave and she was following Yamaraja. So Yamaraja became compassionate. So Yamaraja became compassionate, he benedicted her, "My dear girl, you go home. I give you benediction you will have a son. Don't cry for your husband." Then she was again following and when Yamaraja said, "Why you are following me?" "Now you are taking my husband. How can I have my son?" Oh, then he was in dilemma. He returned her husband. So similarly, this is a technique. If you take to Krṣṇa consciousness, then your husband or this human form of life is guaranteed.

Naham... Partha naiveha namutra vinasas tasya vidyate na hi kalyaṇa-krt. Kalyaṇa-krt. A spiritual life is the most auspicious life. Kalyaṇa. Kalyaṇa means auspicious. So anyone who has done something auspicious, na hi kalyaṇa-krt kascid durgatiṁ tata gacchati. Anyone who has done something nice auspicious thing, oh it will never be vanquished. He will never be put into difficulty. It is such a nice thing.

prapya puṇya-krtaṁ lokan
uṣitva sasvatiḥ; samaḥ;
sucinaṁ srimataṁ gehe
yoga-bhraṣṭo 'bhijayate
[Bg. 6.41]

Now those who are transcendentally advanced, what is their next life? That was the question of Arjuna. Krṣṇa says that next life is that he's transferred to the higher planet. Prapya puṇya-krtaṁ lokan [Bg. 6.41]. Lokan means planets. He's transferred to the higher planetary system where all pious and righteous men are living. Prapya puṇya-krtaṁ lokan uṣitva sasvatiḥ; samaḥ; [Bg. 6.41]. Sasvatiḥ; samaḥ;, samaḥ; means years and sasvatiḥ; means almost eternal. Almost eternal. Why? Because in the higher planets the duration of life is very great. Our six months equal to their one year, uh, one day. Our six months. That you have already tested, that in the higher space the aeronautics or what is called? Nowadays they have traveling in the space? They rounded in some one hour, one and a half hour they circumambulated the earth so many times. That means so many days and nights passed in one hour. So similarly, it is a fact as you go in the higher planetary system the duration of time is different. That is accepted by Professor Einstein also. So sasvatiḥ; samaḥ;. If you are transferred to the higher planetary system then your duration of life will be increased like that. Here six months, and there one day. By such calculation of one day you live there for ten thousand years. Ten thousand years. That one day our six months. Now imagine. Similarly Brahma, other higher planetary... Brahma's life. That is also described.

So Krṣṇa said that these transcendentally advanced persons, they're transferred to the higher planetary system and live there for many, many years to enjoy life there. Then again they are transferred again here. This is called karma-kṣetra. And one may ask question that when he's transferred again to this planet what does he become? Does he become any animal? Or man? No. He still becomes a man. And what sort of man? Sucinaṁ srimataṁ gehe yoga-bhraṣṭo 'bhijayate. Sucinam means very pious family, righteous family. Just like in India we have got the brahmaṇa family, kṣatriya family. High family. Very... Their mode of life is very high standard, clean and righteous, pious, so many things. So sucinam and srimatam. Sucinam, such pious family you'll find many in India. And srimatam. Srimatam means rich. So rich family we'll find in your country, America. So that person who is coming again, he is born in a rich family or in pious family. Sucinaṁ srimataṁ gehe yoga-bhraṣṭo 'bhijayate. One who was not successful in executing the yoga perfectly, he again... That means to have one's birth in a rich family means he has no anxiety for his bread. He's happy. Now he can happily execute the yoga process. Or in a pious family automatically the yoga process of transcendental life is there. So he can begin also there. That is chance. Those who are born in such family, in righteous family or rich family, they should take instruction from Bhagavad-gita, that this is a chance given by God to execute our spiritual life, not for sense enjoyment increasing, "Because I have got so much money, oh, let me enjoy senses more, I mean to say, acutely."

So sucinaṁ srimataṁ gehe yoga-bhraṣṭo 'bhijayate [Bg. 6.41]. Athava, or alternative.

athava yoginam eva
kule bhavati dhimatam
etaddhi durlabhataraṁ
loke janma yad idrsam
[Bg. 6.42]

Athava yoginaṁ grhe. Yoginaṁ grhe means that neither rich nor very pious, but actually yogi. His parents, he gets such a parent that who are actually in execution of spiritual life, Krṣṇa consciousness or yoga, the father mother. So children, they generally imitate, imitate the parents' habits or activities. So fortunately we had the opportunity of getting such a father. So we are imitating our father. In my childhood I imitated my father. He was worshiping Deity of Krṣṇa. So I asked him, "My dear father, I shall worship. Give me the Deity of Krṣṇa." So he gave me a little Deity of Krṣṇa and Radha and I was imitating. So beginning of life... So these are actually facts. Maharaja Parikṣit also, he was playing with Krṣṇa, Krṣṇa dolls. Just like Mirabhai. She was playing with Krṣṇa doll and later on she became a very high-grade devotee. So these chances are there.

Athava yoginam eva kule bhavati dhimatam [Bg. 6.42]. He's given the chance of being born in such good family. Etaddhi durlabhataram. Now this kind of birth, in a family of devotee and yogi, is very, I mean to say, rare, and it is far better than the other two lives, to have birth in rich family or in pious family. Actually, they are acting. Just like when a boy is born of a father who is a medical man... We have seen it. So naturally he becomes a medical man. Because he sees his father and the inclination inherits. In that way, in the Indian caste system, originally it was a division. But because the son imitated the father, in this way, it has come to be a caste system by birth. So anyway, these chances are given. The purport is that we, everyone, every man should begin spiritual life.

Either any yoga system, any spiritual life is called yoga. Yoga means to link. We are part and parcel of the supreme absolute, Brahman or Bhagavan, whatever you call, Paramatma, it doesn't matter. But yoga means linking. So the linking, either you link with impersonal formless, the Supreme Brahman, that is also linking. And if you by meditation you link up with the Supersoul within yourself that is also transcendental activity. Or you directly worship as a devotee, Krṣṇa. Anything you adopt, that is spiritual life. But to become Krṣṇa conscious or a devotee of Krṣṇa, that is the ultimate goal. That we have in the Bhagavad-gita:

bahunaṁ janmanam ante
jñanavan maṁ prapadyate
vasudevaḥ; sarvam iti
sa mahatma sudurlabhaḥ;
[Bg. 7.19]

After two stages. Impersonal conception of the Supreme or localized realization of the Supreme. They have again to come to this consciousness, Krṣṇa consciousness, after many, many births. So therefore it is better if they're intelligent enough, when you get the information that ultimately you have to come to this point, Krṣṇa consciousness. Vasudevaḥ; sarvam iti [Bg. 7.19]. Vasudeva means Krṣṇa. Sa mahatma sudurlabhaḥ;. That sort of great soul is very rare. So why not become a rare great soul immediately and just become in Krṣṇa consciousness and make your life successful? Thank you very much. Any questions? Yes?

Woman: You say you worship the deity photograph of someone who has gone. But the photograph of a spiritual teacher can be very helpful to teach them to love him because the photograph of a spiritual teacher is not material value, but it symbolizes the truth from which the, he has come.

Prabhupada: Yes. Those who are spiritually advanced, their photograph and ordinary photograph is different. Just like here is statue of Krṣṇa. He's not different from Krṣṇa. The original person Krṣṇa and this statue of Krṣṇa is the same. Similarly, a spiritually perfect person and his photograph is the same. Because it is in the absolute stage. In the absolute stage there is no difference. In the material stage there is difference. Is that clear? In the absolute stage there is no difference. Just like we are chanting Hare Krṣṇa. The Krṣṇa is the name of the Krṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So this name and Krṣṇa is nondifferent. Do you realize it? There is no difference between Krṣṇa who is in His supreme abode and the name Krṣṇa which you are chanting. That is the same. There is no difference. This is absolute conception. Whereas if I am thirsty and if I call the name of water, "Water, water, water," I require the substance water actually. Simply by calling "water" will not do. That is the difference between matter and spirit.

And actually, if we are not getting some spiritual enlightenment by chanting Krṣṇa then do you think that we are simply wasting our time? No. We're not wasting our time. We're actually getting spiritual ecstasy because there is no difference. But you take similarly, the name of water or something else, what you want, that will not be fulfilled. This is the absolute and relative conception. In the absolute stage there is no difference, name, quality, form, pastime, entourage, everything the same. If you chant Krṣṇa's name it is as good as Krṣṇa. If you see Krṣṇa's form it is as good as Krṣṇa. If you think of Krṣṇa's activities it is as good as Krṣṇa. This realization is spiritual realization. Therefore a first-class devotee who is advanced in Krṣṇa consciousness, he sees everything Krṣṇa. Nothing different from Krṣṇa. Any other questions?

Govinda dasi: You said that after leaving this body, this body is gone, you'll part with Krṣṇa consciousness and go to a higher place? (indistinct)

Prabhupada: No. If you make perfection of Krṣṇa consciousness, then after leaving this body you go directly to Krṣṇa. But if you are not perfect, if you have simply executed a certain percentage only then you'll get the chance of another human body either in this planet or any other planet to execute the balance. That is... According to percentage of advancement, one is given birth in a rich family or in a pious family or in a yogi's family. That depends on the percentage of advancement. But one who has completed his spiritual consciousness or Krṣṇa consciousness, he's at once transferred.

janma karma ca me divyaṁ
yo janati tattvataḥ;
tyaktva dehaṁ punar janma
naiti mam eti kaunteya
[Bg. 4.9]

That is clearly stated in the Bhagavad-gita that one who has understood what is Krṣṇa, how Krṣṇa takes His birth, how Krṣṇa acts, what are His activities, for one who has understood factually the result is, simply by understanding Krṣṇa, the result is tyaktva dehaṁ punar janma naiti, he doesn't get any more material birth. Then? Where does he go? Tyaktva dehaṁ punar janma naiti mam eti [Bg. 4.9]. "He comes to Me." That means in the supreme abode of Krṣṇa. That is the highest perfection. But if the highest perfection is...

Therefore we should be very serious. Why should we wait for another birth either in very pious family or rich family or in other planet? That is also condemned in Bhagavad-gita. Abrahma-bhuvanal lokaḥ; punar avartino 'rjuna [Bg. 8.16]. Even if you are elevated to the highest planet of this material world you'll have to come again to prepare yourself. The best thing is that we are now here in this planet and immediately take to Krṣṇa consciousness and surrender unto Him and become perfect. Why should you wait for another birth or in another planet? Finish. Now, if you are actually serious about Krṣṇa consciousness, then finish now. This is the opportunity. Labdhva sudurlabham idaṁ bahu-sambhavante [SB 11.9.29]. This birth is obtained after many, many evolutionary process. Manuṣyam artha-dam. This human body can give you the highest perfection. So turṇaṁ yateta, be very serious and try for that perfection. Anumrtyu pated yavat, until next death comes. But we are not serious. We are not very serious. We are serious about how to make our sense gratification very nicely. That is our seriousness. Human advancement, advancement of civilization means how nicely you can gratify your senses. This is going on. Only to give all sorts of comfort to this body. But actually human civilization means that people should be very serious to have perfection of this human body, spiritual perfection. That is perfect human civilization. That is missing at the present moment. (kirtana) (end)

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