Nitai: "The stage in which the consciousness of the living entity is attracted by the three modes of material nature is called conditioned life. But when that same consciousness is attached to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one is situated in the consciousness of liberation."

Prabhupada:

cetaḥ; khalv asya bandhaya
muktaye catmano matam
guṇeṣu saktaṁ bandhaya
rataṁ va puṁsi muktaye
[SB 3.25.15]

Two words, bandhana, bondage, and mukti, liberation. So people in ignorance, dull-headed, muḍha, they do not know what is mukti and what is bandhana, what is liberation and what is bondage. They do not to know. Just like animals. The animal, he does not know, the dog, that "I am bound up in this dog's body. This is bondage. This is not my life." He does not know. Similarly, a human being, if he does not know what is bondage and liberation, then he's animal. From animal life, this human life is evolved for understanding this: what is mukti and what is liberation.

So mukti and liberation, if you keep your consciousness materially affected... Guṇeṣu saktam. Material world means the three qualities, tri-guṇa, guṇamayi. Krṣṇa says in the Bhagavad-gita, guṇamayi, mama maya. Mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etaṁ taranti te [Bg. 7.14]. Tribhir guṇamayair bhavaiḥ;. We are being conducted in this material world by three guṇas: sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa, tamo-guṇa. Out of these three guṇas, the sattva-guṇa is the best. Knowledge, the qualification of brahmaṇa. Satyaṁ samo damas titikṣa arjavaṁ jñanaṁ vijñanam astikyaṁ brahma-karma svabhava-jam [Bg. 18.42]. One who has developed sattva-guṇa, then the following qualifications will be found in him: he'll be truthful and controlled of the mind, of the senses, satyaṁ samo damas titikṣa, tolerant; arjava, simplicity; jñanam, jñanam, full knowledge; vijñanam, practical application of knowledge in life; astikyam, astikyam, to have full faith in the authority of the Vedas. That is called astikyam. Astikyam and nastikyam.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu has explained what is nastikyam and what is astikyam. According to Vedic understanding, anyone who does not believe in the Vedas, he's called nastika. Just like Buddha philosophy. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, veda na maniya bauddha haila nastika. Veda... Lord Buddha, he defied Vedic authority. His mission was different. He wanted to stop animal killing. Sadaya-hrdaya darsita-pasu-ghatam. The Supreme Lord became so much afflicted by terribly people being attached to killing animals... As they are now doing also. So He was compassionate to stop animal killing in the so-called sacrifice. But in the Vedic sacrifices, in some cases, there is recommendation of animal killing. That animal killing does not mean killing the animal and eat. No. It was a test. An old animal was put into the sacrificial fire and the animal would come in new body, young. That is animal... But to give, to test the Vedic mantra, whether it is properly chanted. Then the result will be that if you put one old body it will come new body. So such kind of brahmaṇa is not available in this age, Kali-yuga, yajñika-brahmaṇa. They, by mantras, they could, they would ignite fire. Fire was not required matches. By mantra. Simply by mantra, the old body of an animal will turn to be young.

But because the yajñika-brahmaṇas cannot do that... There is no yajña. Not possible. Therefore this kind of yajñas are prohibited in this Kali-yuga. In the Kali-yuga the only one yajña is this saṅkirtanam. Yajñaiḥ; saṅkirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ; [SB 11.5.32]. Those who are intelligent persons, they know this kind of yajña will not be successful. Because people do not know, they cannot chant the mantras rightly, neither there is facility. So many things. Therefore in this age, dull age, the only concession is to perform saṅkirtana-yajña. Yajñaiḥ; saṅkir... And yajña means to worship the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu. Yajñaiḥ;. Varṇasramacaravata puruṣeṇa paraḥ; puman viṣṇur aradhyate [Cc. Madhya 8.58]. Aradhyate... The real purpose is to worship the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu. Nanyat tat-toṣa-karaṇam. So therefore performances of yajña is required.

So this yajña, in this age, Kali-yuga, is chanting of Hare Krṣṇa mantra. Yajñaiḥ; saṅkirtana, congregationally, as we chant: Hare Krṣṇa, Hare Krṣṇa, Krṣṇa Krṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama... This is performance of yajña. So by performances of this yajña, the result will be that ceto-darpaṇa-marjanam. As Caitanya Mahaprabhu says,

ceto-darpaṇa-marjanaṁ bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapaṇaṁ
sreyaḥ;-kairava-candrika-vitaraṇaṁ vidya-vadhu-jivanam
anandambudhi-vardhanaṁ prati-padaṁ purṇamrtasvadanaṁ
sarvatma-snapanaṁ paraṁ vijayate sri-krṣṇa-saṅkirtanam
[Cc. Antya 20.12]

By chanting Lord Krṣṇa's name... That is also confirmed in the sastras: kirtanad eva krṣṇasya mukta-saṅgaḥ; paraṁ vrajet [SB 12.3.51]. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is said by Sukadeva Gosvami... There are so many faults in this age. Some of them are described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. As I was describing yesterday that durbhikṣa, anavrṣṭya durbhikṣa-kara-piḍitaḥ;, acchinna-dara-draviṇa gacchanti giri-kananam [SB 12.2.9]. The Kali-yuga will be so much disturbing that people will be harassed especially by three things. Anavrṣṭi: there will be practically no rainfall. It is stated that there will be cloud in the sky. When there is no rainfall, people will be hankering after. Just like sometimes we hanker after rain in summer season, looking after, "When rainfall will come?" The people will be disappointed. There will be cloud, there will be thundering bolt, but there will be no rain. This time will be like that. Anavrṣṭi. Anavrṣṭi and durbhikṣa. And if there is anavrṣṭi, scarcity of rain, certainly there will be no food grain production, as it is now, we are feeling. Food grain production-eight rupees kilo, rice. So why? The food grain is shortage. So anavrṣṭi durbhikṣa and taxation, kara-piḍitaḥ;. Government will... Dasyu-dharmabhiḥ;. It is said, "The government means a gang of rogues and thieves." That is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. They'll plunder. The rogues and thieves, they seek opportunity secretly, and government, by law, they will plunder. And still, they will go on as big minister. This is all stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam.

So people will be so harassed in this age that out of disgust they will give up their family life. Acchinna-dara-draviṇa gacchanti giri-kananam. Svikara eva codvahe. There will be no marriage. This is also Vedic culture, to get married. But there will be no marriage. One woman, one man will live together by agreement. And as soon as the agreement is finished, they'll be separated. That is now very prominent in Western countries. Svikara eva codvahe. There is no such thing... Just like the father of the girl, they'll find out a suitable boy, and the father of the girl, they will also find out... In this way... The horoscope... Formerly, these things were very current. Without there is, I mean to say, coincidence of the horoscope, that "This boy and this girl would live very happily," by horoscopic calculation, then marriage would not take place. Then the family consideration, whether the boy is coming from suitable family or the girl is coming from su... So many things were there. Then the marriage would ta... But that kind of marriage is practically already stopped. Here, at the present moment, means simply agreement. "I like you. You like me. That's all right. Let us live together." Svikara eva codvahe. Dampatye ratim eva hi. Husband and wife relationship means sex. There is no other purpose. As soon as there is some difficulty in sex enjoyment, they will be separated. These are all mentioned. Lavaṇyaṁ kesa-dharaṇam. Now, in the Western countries, here also, they're keeping long hair. So that will be beauty. Lavaṇyaṁ kesa-dharaṇam. Lavaṇyam means luster of the body. The people will think, "If I keep long hair, then I have become very beautiful." The hippies, you see, long beard, long hairs. They are thinking, "We have become very beautiful." So these are all stated. Sutram eva hi vipratve. A brahmaṇa means having a two-paisa worth of thread. That's all. Thread. Simply to possess one thread, one becomes brahmaṇa. Simply by changing the dress from white to saffron color, one becomes sannyasi. No. There are duties of sannyasis or the brahmaṇa or the grhastha, vanaprastha. There are duties.

So in this way Kali-yuga is polluted. Everything is contaminated, polluted. So it is called the ocean of faults. Because the life is meant for liberation. If one is not interested in liberation, simply for sense gratification, that is conditional life. They do not know it. But here it is stated that cetaḥ; khalu asya bandhaya muktaye catmano matam. The consciousness is the main principle, either for conditional life or for liberation. Consciousness. We are proposing Krṣṇa consciousness movement means liberation. Liberation. What liberation? Liberation means to stop repetition of birth and death. They do not have idea even that birth and death can be stopped. They think it cannot be stopped. Mo... Big, big scientists, they cannot stop. Bhagavan Krṣṇa says in the Bhagavad-gita that you should keep in your front four different types of miserable conditions. What is that? Janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi [Bg. 13.9]. You may be very advanced in scientific knowledge, but what is, where is the possibility of stopping these four principles of miserable condition of life? Janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-duḥ;kha-doṣanudarsanam. They are not interested. But when we can stop these four principles of miserable condition, namely, no more birth, no more death, no more disease, no more old age, that is called liberation. You can have it. Simply you have to clear your consciousness. How to clear? Now, guṇeṣu saktaṁ bandhaya. If you become conscious of these three material modes of nature, then it is for bondage. Rataṁ va puṁsi muktaye. And when your consciousness is Krṣṇized, simply think of Krṣṇa, then it is liberation. Clear idea.

So this Krṣṇa consciousness movement is to keep the mind and consciousness always in Krṣṇa, puṁsi. Puṁsi. Puṁsi. Puṁsi means the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He's a person. He's a male, not female. Puṁsi. Puruṣaḥ;. Puruṣaḥ;, not stri. When Krṣṇa was realized by Arjuna, he addressed Him, puruṣaṁ sasvatam. Paraṁ brahma paraṁ dhama pavitraṁ paramaṁ bhavan, puruṣam [Bg. 10.12]. God is brahma paraṁ dhama pavitraṁ paramaṁ bhavan, puruṣam. God is puruṣa, not female. Puruṣa means enjoyer, and prakrti means enjoyed. Everything is enjoyed by the Supreme Puruṣa. We are also prakrti. That is also stated. We are not puruṣa. This dress may be... That is maya, illusion. Actually, we are puruṣa, and prakrti means... Here the so-called woman is also puruṣa. Puruṣa means enjoyer. The women, they are also thinking how to enjoy. And man is also thinking how to enjoy. Therefore imitation puruṣa. But actually, they're prakrti. It is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, apareyam itas tu viddhi me prakrtiṁ param. The living entities, they are prakrti. And they are trying to be puruṣa, enjoyer. This is material world. Therefore they are attached to the three guṇas because they want to enjoy this material world, artificially trying to become puruṣa. Puruṣa means enjoyer. As such, they are attached to this material world. And material world means guṇa, tri-guṇa. And according to attachment, they're getting different types of bodies.

That is also stated in the Bhagavad-gita: karaṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgaḥ; asya sad-asad-yoni-janmasu. Why there are different types of bodies? Why one living entity is dog and why one living entity is first-class brahmaṇa? Because karaṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgaḥ; asya. The one who has got a learned brahmaṇas' body, that means he has associated with the modes of nature—goodness. Satyaṁ samo damas titikṣa. This is elevation. If one is in the modes of goodness, then he can understand gradually what is God, what is Krṣṇa. Otherwise, in the modes of passion and ignorance, nobody can understand what is God. Not only that. Even from material prosperity, if one is situated in the modes of goodness, then he can be elevated to the higher planetary systems-Svargaloka, Janaloka, Maharloka, Tapoloka, Brahmaloka, Satyaloka. Ūrdhvaṁ gacchanti sattva-sthaḥ; [Bg. 14.18]. So these are needed. So anyway, even if you go to the Brahmaloka, that is not also perfection. Abrahma-bhuvanal lokaḥ; punar avartino 'rjuna [Bg. 8.16]. There is no benefit. Because there also the four principles of miserable condition, janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi [Bg. 13.9], they are there, even in the Brahmaloka. Brahma also dies. Brahma also takes birth. You know it. Brahma, he also took birth from the lotus flower generated from the navel of Viṣṇu. So there was birth. And when Brahma will die, whole material cosmic manifestation will be finished. So he has also birth and death and old age and disease. And the small ant or insect, it has also the same disease, old age, birth and death. So one has to become free from this bondage, because we are eternal. Na jayate na mriyate. Bhagavad-gita says. The living entity never takes birth, never dies. Then why even Brahma dies? Brahma is also dying. That is material life. That is bondage, bandhana. Guṇeṣu saktaṁ bandhaya.

So one should not think that "I have got millions of millions of years' duration of life. Therefore I am liberated." No. Brahma, he has got millions and millions of years as one day, twelve hours, our twelve hours. Sahasra-yuga-paryantam ahar yad brahmaṇo viduḥ; [Bg. 8.17]. So he is also subjected to birth and death. That is conditional life. So we have forgotten this. We Indians, bharatiya, we have got these advantages, the perfect knowledge given by the Vedic literature, by great rṣis, and Bhagavan Svayaṁ Kapiladeva, Bhagavan Krṣṇa. And we are neglecting. We have become so unfortunate. There is a poet has said that atman dhana vilaye diye bhikṣa mage porer kache:(?) "We have lost our own culture. Now we are beggar. We are going to foreign countries to beg something." Of course, I have gone to foreign countries not to beg, but to give. Others go there to beg: "Give me grain. Give me money. Give me soldier." But we have not gone. We have gone to give them. Therefore these Europeans and Americans are attracted. Because I am giving them, not taking from them. That is the difference. They have seen many, big, big persons go to the foreign countries only to beg, but nobody goes there to give.

So the Indian culture is so rich that you can give to the whole world, whole world. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission.

bharata-bhumite haila manuṣya-janma yara
janma sarthaka kari' kara para-upakara
[Cc. Adi 9.41]

They are getting life. The Krṣṇa consciousness means getting life. They are exhausted with this materialistic way of life. They are getting some new life. That is wanted. Because muktaye. We living entities, we are, by nature, liberated. There is no question of birth and death, old age and disease. Mamaivaṁso jiva-bhutaḥ; [Bg. 15.7]. We are part and parcel of Krṣṇa, the Supreme Lord. So how there can be birth and death and old age and disease? Sac-cid-ananda-vigraha. Krṣṇa is sac-cid-ananda-vigraha.

isvaraḥ; paramaḥ; krṣṇaḥ;
sac-cid-ananda-vigrahaḥ;
anadir adir govindaḥ;...
[Bs. 5.1]

Anadi. There is no question of birth and death. So we, being part and parcel of Krṣṇa, we are also of the same nature, equal in quality, not in quantity. So why should we suffer this birth and death? Therefore in the beginning of Kapiladeva's instruction he said, yoga adhyatmikaḥ; puṁsaṁ mato niḥ;sreyasaya me. That is yoga. What is that? That is explained that adhyatmika, to save the soul. The soul is entrapped in this body, material body, and to save it. No more death, no more birth, no more old age. That is wanted. That is perfect yoga.

So how this perfect yoga can be achieved? That is explained in this verse. Puṁsi, rataṁ va puṁsi muktaye. If you, your consciousness is become, is attached to Krṣṇa, only thinking of Krṣṇa, that will give you liberation. Satataṁ kirtayanto maṁ yatantas ca drḍha-vrataḥ; [Bg. 9.14]. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita: "Always chanting about Me." Hare Krṣṇa, Hare Krṣṇa, Krṣṇa Krṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama... And yatantas ca drḍha-vrataḥ;, and endeavoring with great determination. Just like you see in this temple. They rise early in the morning, at four o'clock. Immediately after taking bath and being prepared, they offer the maṅgala-aratrika at five o'clock, kirtana, then study. There are rules and regulations. That is called bhajana-kriya. "A bhajana... In the mind, I am thinking of..." No. You cannot do so. You must go through the process. Bhajana-kriya.

adau sraddha tataḥ; sadhu-saṅgo 'tha bhajana-kriya
tato 'nartha-nivrttiḥ; syat tato niṣṭha rucis tataḥ;
athasaktis tato bhavas tataḥ; premabhyudañcati
sadhakanam ayaṁ premṇaḥ; pradurbhave bhavet kramaḥ;
[Cc. Madhya 23.14-15]

If you want to awaken your dormant love for Krṣṇa... There is, because we are part and parcel. Just like father and son. There is natural love. But somehow or other, son is out of home and forgotten. Father, of course, thinks, "My such-and-such son has gone out. If he comes back..." So Krṣṇa thinks like that. Because we are sons of Krṣṇa, Krṣṇa is more anxious to get us back to home, back to Godhead. Therefore He comes and says, "You rascal, give up all these engagements." Sarva-dharman parityajya [Bg. 18.66]. "You have manufactured so many dharmas: deva-dharma, samaja-dharma, desa-dharma, this dharma, that dharma, Hindu dharma, Muslim dharma, this... No! Simply surrender unto Me." That is dharma. Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ek... [Bg. 18.66]. Krṣṇa comes to teach us. Krṣṇa is very, very anxious.

yada yada hi dharmasya
glanir bhavati bharata
tadatmanaṁ srjamy aham
[Bg. 4.7]

Krṣṇa comes Himself, Krṣṇa leaves behind Him His word. Vapu and vaṇi. Vaṇi means the words. That is also Krṣṇa. That is also... Just like we do not see Krṣṇa now. We can see Krṣṇa if we actually advance. Here is Krṣṇa. But they will say, "Oh, this is an idol. This is an idol. This is not Krṣṇa." But Krṣṇa, if you think that you have not seen Krṣṇa, so Krṣṇa is present by His word also, Bhagavad-gita. That is vaṇi, krṣṇa-vaṇi.

So this, this stage can be achieved when one is advanced in Krṣṇa consciousness, that Krṣṇa is present as the Deity, Krṣṇa is present by His words in Bhagavad-gita, Krṣṇa is present as the taste in the water, Krṣṇa is present as sunshine, Krṣṇa is present as moonshine, Krṣṇa is present in the sound. This potaka, He is also present there. Sabdaḥ; khe. The sabda, or the sound, Krṣṇa says, that "I am the sound." So Krṣṇa is present everywhere. One has to gain the knowledge how to see Krṣṇa. That is Krṣṇa consciousness. That is mukti. If you remain always in Krṣṇa consciousness, that means you are on the liberated stage. And that is called bhakti-yoga.

sravaṇaṁ kirtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ;
smaraṇaṁ pada-sevanam
arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dasyam...
[SB 7.5.23]

This Deity worship is arcanam. Chanting is vandanam. Dasyam, to work for Krṣṇa, go and see people, preach Krṣṇa consciousness, distribute books. In so many ways Krṣṇa consciousness can be... So everything is being done. People may take advantage of it. Then immediately he becomes muktaye. The consciousness, Krṣṇa consciousness, that is mukti.

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

If we are engaged in devotional service, bhakti-yoga, then we are liberated. Maṁ ca... Krṣṇa says. Maṁ ca yo 'vyabhicareṇa [Bg. 14.26]. Without any stoppage, continuously, something in Krṣṇa. Maṁ ca yo 'vyabhicareṇa bhakti-yogena.

There are so many ways of bhakti-yoga.

sravaṇaṁ kirtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ;
smaraṇaṁ pada-sevanam
arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dasyam...
[SB 7.5.23]

Any of them you take, that is Krṣṇa consciousness. The main is sravaṇam. Just you are hearing. This is the beginning. Adau sraddha. This is sraddha, that "Here people are talking about Krṣṇa. Why not hear us? Let me hear." That is sraddha, little faith. You have come here with a little faith. That increasing of that faith here with a little faith. That increasing of that faith is advancement of Krṣṇa consciousness. That is required. Adau sraddha. First of all little faith: "Let us see." Then sadhu-saṅga. Sadhu-saṅga [Cc. Madhya 22.83]. They are, the sadhus, the devotees, who are living in the temple, if you associate with them, talk with them about Krṣṇa, then you'll be benefited. Adau sraddha tataḥ; sadhu-saṅgaḥ; [Cc. Madhya 23.14-15]. Then gradually bhajana-kriya. Bhajana-kriya. Actually engaged in service, officially being initiated to take service of the Lord, that is called bhajana-kriya. And bhajana-kriya means anartha-nivrttiḥ; syat. Then anartha, all these rascal habits, namely illicit sex, and intoxication, meat-eating, and gambling-nivrtti, no more.

That is the test that whether you are actually initiated. If you are still attached to these... Bhaktiḥ; paresanubhavo viraktiḥ;... If you are not detestful to all these nonsense habits, then you must know that you are not making any progress. You are not making any progress. Because this is the result. Anartha-nivrttiḥ; syat. If you are actually making advance in bhajana-kriya, then this attachment will be finished. No more. Paraṁ drṣṭva nivartate [Bg. 9.59]. Not by force, but appreciating something, better condition of life, one rejects all this nonsense. That is advancement. Bhajana-kriya. By bhajana-kriya, by being initiated and executing the bhajana, now, one just be detestful. Then niṣṭha. Tato niṣṭha, firm faith. Tato ruciḥ;. Ruci means taste. You cannot do without it. Just like the drunkard, he cannot remain without drinking. Similarly, a devotee is also drunkard. He cannot remain without Krṣṇa consciousness. That is called ruci, taste. Tato ruciḥ; athasaktiḥ;. Then attachment. That is required.

Here... Sakta, sakta or asakti, same thing. If our attachment is for this material enjoyment, that is bondage. That means we have to accept another body. Tatha dehantara-praptiḥ; [Bg. 2.13]. You cannot avoid. Because if you infect some disease, then you must suffer from it. If you infect. That is a practical knowledge. If you infect some disease... So karaṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgaḥ;. As soon as you infect this tamo-guṇa, rajo-guṇa, you have to, what is called, immune from infection. That immunity is Krṣṇa consciousness. And if you are not immune, you are subjected to the infection, then you must get another body of the same quality. Karaṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgaḥ; asya. So to remain free from the infection of these guṇas, then we have to engage ourselves in the bhakti-yoga. That is stated.

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

Then he is immune to the infection of these guṇas.

So this is the process, and we have to learn it by sadhu-saṅga [Cc. Madhya 22.83]. Adau sraddha tataḥ; sadhu-saṅgo 'tha bhajana-kriya tato 'nartha-nivrttiḥ; syat tato niṣṭha rucis tataḥ; athasaktiḥ;... [Cc. Madhya 23.14-15]. In this way, there will be asakti and bhava. Then you attain the perfectional stage. That is called ecstatic stage of love of Godhead. And then you cannot remain with Krṣṇa. And then that bhava increases. Just like mahabhava. That mahabhava is not possible in the ordinary human being, but it is possible for the gopis, for Radharaṇi. They cannot live without Krṣṇa. That is the highest stage of perfection or liberation.

Thank you very much. (end)

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