Morning Walk at Stow Lake
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
March 27, 1968, San Francisco

Prabhupada: Chant.

Devotee (1) (girl) (sings): Srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda.

Prabhupada: Yes. You learn this song.

sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda

Chant this when dancing.(?)

sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda

Manifestation of Krsna in five expansions. Krsna can expand Himself. Not only Krsna, even a perfect yogi he can also expand. Not as many as Krsna. But a perfect yogi, from the scriptures we can understand that a perfect yogi can expand himself up to eight, up to nine forms. There was one Saubhari Muni. The Saubhari Muni he used to perform yoga practice within water. There were many sages who used to practice. Somebody within water. Somebody surrounding fire and in the midst. That means voluntarily putting the body into trouble, and at the same time executing yoga practice. They were so much advanced that in spite of all material trouble they would be able to execute spiritual duties. Saubhari Muni was sexually agitated within the water by the fishes. So he came out of the water, and the neighboring king, I forgot the name, he went there and demanded the king that “I want to marry your daughter. So give me your daughter.” The king thought… (laughs) He was so ugly because he was within the water. So all body was, what is called?

Syamasundara: Distorted?

Devotee (1): Water-logged, yeah. The skin gets water-logged?

Prabhupada: No, not that. There are some kind of weeds within the water.

Devotee (1): Oh. Algae?

Prabhupada: Maybe.

Devotee (2) (boy): Seaweed.

Prabhupada: Seaweeds, yes. So they… All over the body there was some seaweeds. Not exactly… He was very unclean and odd- looking, and beard and ugly. So he thought that “He’s a great yogi. If I refuse, ‘No, I’m not going to hand over my daughter to you,’ then he may be angry and create some catastrophe.” So he said, just to avoid him, that “I have got eight daughters, and it is the desire of my daughters that they should be given over to one husband.” No, that “they should be married all at once. So unless I find other husbands for my daughters you have to wait.” So immediately, “Yes, I shall myself become eight then.” And he expanded himself, eight expansions. So at that time what could he say? He said, “You know, my dear sir, that they are princesses after all. They may not like such ugly husband.” Oh, he at once became very youthful and beautiful. Then he married. So in the history you can find that a perfect yogi can expand himself. So similarly, Kardama Muni also expanded into nine. He married Devahuti on condition that unless his wife has got sufficient children, he’ll not leave her, and he must leave her. So he expanded himself nine and begotten nine daughters. So we can find from history, the Puranas… Puranas all means history, Puranas. Old history. Purana means old. So even a perfect yogi can expand, what to speak of Krsna. He is called Yogesvara, the supreme yogi. In the Bhagavad-gita you’ll find this word about Krsna, yatra yogesvarah harih. Yogesvara. He’s perfect in all practices of mystic power. So these five expansions, sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu nityananda-sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura… Krsna appeared in five expansions. Sri Krsna Caitanya, Lord Caitanya, is Krsna Himself. And Prabhu Nityananda, His immediate expansion. Just like Balarama. Krsna and Balarama. And Advaita is incarnation. And Gadadhara is internal potency. And Srivasa, marginal potency. And there is another potency, external potency. The external potency is not there. External potency means by which this material world is manifested.

Devotee (2): What is the difference between an expansion and an incarnation?

Prabhupada: Huh?

Devotee (2): What is the difference between an expansion and an incarnation?

Prabhupada: Expansion is direct, and incarnation is indirect. When expansion of expansion is accepted, that is called kala, incarnation, avatara, kala. So Advaita is not direct. The example is given in Brahma-samhita. Just like you get one candle kindled from the first candle, another from the second, another from the third. So similarly, either expansion or incarnation, they are all candles. The original candle is Krsna. It is not that expansion of expansion is less powerful. The candle power is the same either origin or expansion or expansion of the expansion. It is not that Nityananda is less powerful than Caitanya, or Advaita is less powerful than… No. Any incarnation or expansion has the same potency, Visnu-tattva. The manifestation of potency is different. Just like Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Lord Rama is also the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But one is original. Krsna is original, and Rama is an expansion. Why? Because Krsna exhibited the qualities of God fully. Rama exhibited qualities of God partially. Take for example, Rama was manifesting Himself as an ideal king. He was not manifesting Himself as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore as ideal king He was limiting Himself with the moral principles of this world. And Krsna, being the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He exhibited that He’s above any principle of the material world. He’s free to act any way He likes. Otherwise what is the meaning… Means full-fledged manifestation of God. Lord Rama, He married only one, Sita. And when Sita was kidnapped by Ravana, He never married again. Or when Sita was sent to the forest for public opinion, He never married again. He remained a sticked to, stuck to only one wife because He was setting example, moral principle, to the world. Krsna married 16,108. Not religious. Religious, He married only eight wife. But these 16,100 girls were kidnapped by one demon, and they were concentrated in a camp. So they prayed to Krsna to save them. Krsna is kind to everyone. So Krsna came to their rescue, and He killed that demon. He rescued all the girls. But the girls requested Krsna that “Because we were kidnapped and we are concentrated under his custody, so if we go back to our father, it will be difficult for him to get us married to a suitable prince. So our request is that You marry us.” (Prabhupada laughs) Krsna agreed, “All right.” He married wholesale, 16,100. (laughter) And that can be possible. Why 16,100? He can marry 16 million at a time. Otherwise how He’s God? Therefore Prahlada Maharaja advises his classfellows that “Don’t be bothering yourself for solution of economic question.” That is already provided. Just like all these animals, these birds, they have no question how to live, how to eat, how to mate, how to defend. This is already there. They’re eating, they’re sleeping, they’re mating, and they’re defending as far as required. Just see the birds, as soon as they see us they go away, take defense. (laughs) So the defending propensity is there. How you can say the man is greater intelligence? There is intelligence. They were here, and as soon as they saw, “Here are come all the men. They can eat us. Let us fly there.” The man cannot come in the water. So don’t you see the defensive propensity is here? You may, according to your intelligence, you may discover defensive weapons, nuclear weapons, and aeroplanes, and bombs, and so many things. Because you have got higher intelligence. That the… But the ultimate

conclusion: that the defensive propensity is there in you also. There is no difference in the material existentional propensities. So whatever does he find? [break] …from history point?

Malati: That man is…

Prabhupada: Huh?

Malati: I think I understood you to say that man’s intelligence is higher in purpose and it’s not manual service(?), taking advantage of it.

Prabhupada: Yes, his higher intelligence is utilized for purification. That is the teaching.

Devotee (1): You were talking about Prahlada.

Prabhupada: Yes, Prahlada Maharaja said. Yes. About this body. It is arrangement, according to different body. Now, these swans, they have left this, defending, they’re going away. This is defending only. Yes. And as soon as they’re on the water, they think, “Oh, we are safe because these rascals cannot come in the water.” (laughter) They are thinking about us “rascals.” As we are thinking about them that they are lower animals, so they are also thinking, “These are rascals.” Just like some father rebukes a son, the son also thinks of the father as rascal, “Unnecessarily he’s chastising me.” There is a proverb that as the child grows… [break] …also thinks that “This boy is a fool; he’ll do wrong by…” This is stated. And the child is stated in a different way. Just like sometimes our audience also. When we speak they think, “What nonsense he’s speaking. Oh, Krsna, what is this Krsna? Let us enjoy.” They are not purified. So this Prahlada Maharaja says that according to the body, the specific facilities of eating, sleeping, mating, and defending is already arranged. It is already arranged. So one hasn’t got to learn. Just like for mating. There is no college or school where in the classroom dis…, that “This is way you have to mate.” Everyone knows automatically. Everyone knows how to mate automatically. Nobody is taught how to laugh. Oh, when laughing comes, it, automatically one laughs. Nobody’s taught how to cry. Everyone cries when there is some distress. So these things, what is wanted as the necessity of my body, so arrangement is there. But because we have forgotten Krsna, you think that “We can do something.” Therefore we take advantage of our high intelligence to defend ourselves more nicely, to have mating more nicely, or eating more nicely. And a devotee should be satisfied that whatever Krsna arranged, that’s all right. That Krsna prasadam we will take. Whatever Krsna has kindly sent, let me be satisfied with this. They do not want more than that. Similarly, “Krsna has sent me this woman as my wife, oh, let me be satisfied with that.” That is Krsna consciousness, that He’s pleased to send me such foodstuff, He’s pleased to send me such wife, He’s pleased to give me strength for so much defense.” So the whole question is solved there. But because we have got high intelligence, we are going to surpass the intelligence of Krsna. “Oh, Krsna has given me this wife? Why not search out another nice wife?” That means I am going to surpass the intelligence of Krsna. “Oh, Krsna has sent this prasadam. Oh, this is all vegetables. Why not take some animal food and liquor?” Krsna does not send you liquor. You have manufactured. Krsna has sent you this fruit, He has sent you the grains, Krsna has sent you the milk. You should be satisfied. Why should you manufacture liquor? Why should you manufacture slaughterhouse? We don’t eat meat. Are we dying ninety percent of Indian population, they don’t eat meat. They’re simply vegetarian. Yes. And you can see how they are healthy. They cannot get sufficient food, that is different thing. That is maladministration. Krsna has given sufficient food for all the people of the world. Somewhere the foodstuff is being thrown in the sea, and somewhere people are starving. This is want of Krsna consciousness. If a man becomes, if the president becomes Krsna conscious president, then he’ll think “This foodstuff is Krsna’s. It is not our result. So Krsna claims all living entities as His sons. So we are sons of God, and the Indians or other poverty-stricken countries, they are also sons of God. So if we have got enough, why not send there?” Why you are putting the foodstuff, which no human being can produce, you are throwing it in the water. This is lack of Krsna consciousness. Therefore Krsna consciousness education is greatly needed for human society. Do you follow, Guru dasa?

Guru dasa: Yes.

Prabhupada: So you have to convince people like that, that it is not a sentimental institution. We are teaching the thing which is very absolutely needed for the human society. As soon as one becomes Krsna conscious, his personal questions and problems are solved. And if others adopt the same principle, then social-political questions are also solved. So we have to teach. They will say it is not practical. Why not practical? No, anything is not, not practical. There are so many scientific… You discovered. Just like this tape recorder. This is advantageous to the human society. But it is not practical that everyone will have a nice tape recorder. That is not practical. But when you go to manufacture, say the discoverer, “Oh, that it is not practical; therefore it should not be manufactured.” Similarly, Krsna consciousness may not be practical for all, but that does not mean it should not be preached. The customer will take. Just like this tape recorder, one has got money, you have purchased, taking advantage. Similarly, there are many pious persons who can take Krsna consciousness. Just like you have taken. You are not ordinary common men. There must have been some pious activities in your past lives. Therefore you have taken to this Krsna consciousness seriously. Bhagavad-gita says, yesam tv anta-gatam papam. A sinful person cannot understand Krsna consciousness. It is said, yesam tv anta-gatam papam. One who has completely vanquished all sorts of sinful reactions. Now, the question may be that whether one can finish all sorts of sinful reactions within this material world. No, that is not possible. But it is possible also. What is that? That is also answered in the Bhagavad-gita that “You give up everything. Surrender unto Me. I shall give you protection from all sinful reactions.” So I may be sinful and there are so many reactions awaiting me for giving me trouble, but as soon as Krsna takes charge of me, then everything is finished. How it can be finished? Because He is all-powerful, He’s the supreme. Just like if the president says… One man is ordered to be hanged. If the president says, “No, he should not be hanged,” then immediately all others sanction. Because he’s the supreme. Similarly, if we surrender to Krsna, in spite of a huge stock of sinful reactions awaiting me, simply for the purpose of my surrendering to Krsna they’re all set aside by Krsna. He’ll see to it. Simply surrender. And that surrender, as soon as it is done, then the other word says, yesam tv anta-gatam papam… One who has finished all kinds of reactions of sinful activities, jananam punya-karmanam, persons executing pious activities… And the most pious activity is devotional service. “How is that? There are so many other kinds of activities. What is this? This man has made so much charity, he has made so many hospitals, he has …(unclear)… in such things. And this man is simply chanting Hare Krsna. Do you mean to say he is more pious than that man who has made so much charity?” The sastra says, “Yes. Yes.” Why? That is also explained in the Bhagavata. Sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje [SB 1.2.6]. That activity is considered to be the highest pious activity. The Bhagavata does not say what kind of activity. “That activity which leads one to be a devotee of the Lord.” That activity is not limited. Any activity that makes one progressing for realization of Krsna consciousness, that is higher, the highest pious activity. That is the description. Just as military art is not a very pious activity, killing art. But because the killing art exhibited by Arjuna was leading him to this platform of satisfying Krsna, so that became the highest pious activity. Sa vai pumsam paro… We have to see whether by his activity he’s gaining strength in Krsna consciousness. Then it is highest. It doesn’t matter whether it is photography or business or painting or cooking. It doesn’t matter. Whether Krsna is being satisfied by his activities? Just like you are engaged in different activities. But as soon as you bring your money and engage in the Society’s cause, oh, I am very gratified. I do not inquire… Of course, we do not encourage impious activity. That is not the meaning. But phalena pariciyate. Because you offer the result of your activities to Krsna, that becomes pious. Sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje [SB 1.2.6]. So that is the standard of pious activity. Now, this is also pious activity, heeding before teacher. That if by satisfying the poor teachers one becomes pious, how much pious he is who is trying to satisfy the supreme teacher, Krsna. He’s also a living creature. He’s also individual person. Nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam. (pause) So have we finished our walking? Not yet?

Devotee (2): Excuse me?

Prabhupada: All right, one round more.

Devotee (1): …(unclear)… flower?

Prabhupada: Oh, no flavor?

Devotee (1): No, they bloom in the springtime.

Prabhupada: It is just like a beautiful man without any qualification.

Devotee (1): Ah! No scent.

Prabhupada: No scent.

Guru dasa: Is that a qualification, is that part of the age of Kali- yuga? Flowers with no scent?

Prabhupada: Yes. Trees will have no fruits. The fruit will have no juice. That is mentioned. Just like in a mango there is a seed. In many fruits there is seed. In Kali-yuga you’ll find simply the skin and seed, no pulp. And cloud without rain. These are mentioned. (laughs) What can you do? If the cloud becomes without rain, if the fruit become without pulp, if the paddy becomes without grain, then what you have to eat? You have to eat the grass, the husk, the skin, and the seed. Or kill another man and eat. Just like in Africa, still, they are doing. Cannibals. Killing the grandfather, that is a great ceremony. Do you know that?

Guru dasa: Yes.

Prabhupada: They kill the grandfather and have a feast, the cannibals. Yes. That is a great sport, that the grandsons will kill the grandfather and have a feast on his body by toasting.(?) Yes. The same idea is being preached by the communists. They want that all old man of the society, they should be killed. That is one of the theories put forward by the communists. Because they are not producing anything. So just imagine, these things will come gradually. So better to leave this place as soon as possible. Not to come again. That should be our serious attention. The other day the radio man was asking, “Swamiji, how to adjust?” “And there is no adjustment. You have to go out of the scene. There is no adjustment.” So he was not very happy. If I would have bluffed him, “Oh, you do this, you do that, you do this humanitarian work, you spread(?) education and give foodstuff.” No! There is no adjustment. The only adjustment is quit this place. That is the function of this human form of life. You can get out of this show by Krsna consciousness. Krsna says that this is the abode of miseries and that also temporary. Because you can accept any miserable life. That is the spell of maya. Just like this dog life. If somebody asked me, “Would you like to be a dog? I can make you,” shall I agree? Why not? Because I know that’s miserable life. But the dog is satisfied. By becoming a purchased slave, very much satisfied. He has no independence, always chained and always servant, eternal servant of a particular man. He can do any harmful thing by the order of the master, he’s so faithful. But still, his life is miserable because he’s dog. But he is satisfied. He thinks that “Oh, it is a very nice life.” This is called covering power of maya, illusion. Anyone in the most miserable condition of life he’ll think, “Oh, I am very happy.” Ask him, “How are you?” “Oh, very nice. Very nice.” So there is no adjustment. A Krsna conscious person should… He knows that here only adjustment is to live in Krsna consciousness. That is the only… If he’s materially conscious… What is the difference between materially conscious man and Krsna conscious man? Materially conscious person is thinking everything as his property or enjoyable thing. And Krsna conscious person is seeing the same thing as Krsna’s. A materially conscious person is satisfied, you get him a nice aromatic flower for his personal enjoyment, and Krsna conscious person he at once thinks, “It is very nice flower, it should be offered to Krsna.” The flower is there, he is there, the consciousness is changed, that’s all. He’s thinking everything in relationship with Krsna. Here the man, distributing food to the animals and fish, he’s thinking that “I am doing some pious activities and I shall enjoy the fruit of it.” And that’s a fact. But if we distribute Krsna prasadam, we think that “This man is being supplied Krsna prasadam, one day he may become Krsna conscious.” There is no personal question. And the principle of distributing Krsna prasadam is there. Therefore even they don’t say any charge, if you distribute the prasadam, if you are able, you are doing some service. Because by eating only, he shall one day become Krsna conscious. So whole program is for Krsna. And that is Krsna karma.(?) You are preparing, you are earning money, you are distributing prasadam. Why? For Krsna’s sake. Otherwise, why should you work so hard? But we have voluntarily accepted, “Oh, Krsna will be satisfied.” This is Krsna consciousness. Samsiddhir hari-tosanam [SB 1.2.13]. Everyone may act in his own duty. It doesn’t matter what kind of duty he has got. But he has to see whether by execution of that duty Krsna is satisfied. Then he’s successful. That is the version in the Srimad-Bhagavatam:

atah pumbhir dvija-srestha varnasrama-vibhagasah svanusthitasya dharmasya samsiddhir hari-tosanam [SB 1.2.13]

Svanusthitasya dharmasya, everyone has got a specific duty. So one has to see that by his specific duty, entrusted with or discharging that duty, whether Krsna is being satisfied. That’s all. Therefore one has to accept a bona fide spiritual master to know whether Krsna is being satisfied by his work. Who will certify? You cannot concoct, “Oh, I am doing for satisfaction of Krsna.” No, that is not possible. It must be accepted by the representative of Krsna, “Yes, by your work, Krsna is satisfied.” Then it is all right. So… [break] Svanusthitasya dharmasya. In everything, Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavata, just stick to these two books very nicely. Svanusthitasya dharmasya, samsiddhir hari-tosanam [SB 1.2.13] It is a great science and very intricate also. But one has to learn also very diligently. Krsna consciousness is not for the fools. It is not for the fools. Highly intelligent class of man, he can understand the philosophical aspect of Krsna consciousness. But the thing is so attractive that even a child, even a fool is attracted. Yes. That is the beauty. Although it is very difficult to understand this philosophy, Caitanya Mahaprabhu has introduced the system that anyone can take it. Hare Krsna. (gets in car) (end)