Initiation Lecture and Bhagavan dasa’s Marriage Ceremony Prabhupada: om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah So there is a problem in our life. The Srimad-Bhagavata says, nunam pramattah kurute vikarma yad indriya-pritaya aprnoti na sadhu manye yata atmano ’yam asann api klesada asa dehah [Bhag. 5.5.4] Rsabhadeva says that people are mad after sense gratification. Nunam pramattah. Pramattah means intensely. Intensely intoxicated. Pra means intensely, and mattah, mattah means intoxicated. So the disease, material disease, is intensely intoxicated in the matter of sense gratification. This is material disease. Nunam pramattah kurute vikarma [Bhag. 5.5.4] And impelled by this propensity of sense gratification, they are prepared to do any kind of nonsense. Vikarma. Vikarma means what we should not do. Just like a man steals. He knows that stealing is not good, but he wants to satisfy some sense; therefore he is committing stealing also. Therefore he is mad. He knows that “If I am arrested for this stealing or committing this offense, I’ll be punished. I may be hanged or…” There are so many things. But still, because he is mad after some sense gratification, he commits such sinful activities. This is practical. Nunam pramattah kurute vikarma [Bhag. 5.5.4]. Vikarma means the actions which we should not have done. Why? Yad indriya-pritaya aprnoti. Indriya, indriya means sense. Pritaya means satisfaction. Simply for the satisfaction of the senses. If one is philosopher, he can understand, “Why we should be so much busy for sense gratification?” Now we can give one example. Everyone is trying, working hard for his sense gratification. Nobody is trying… Suppose if I say that “I want to satisfy my senses in this way. Will you kindly work for it?” Nobody will… “Oh, why I shall work for you? You can work for your own satisfaction.” Nobody will. So if that is the position, that I want to satisfy my senses, whether the senses are mine? That they do not know. What are the senses? The senses means this body. If this body actually belongs to me, then, of course, there is meaning that I satisfy my senses of this body. But if we philosophically see whether this body belongs to me… It is very doubtful whether this body belongs to me, because I have got this body from my father and mother. So it may belong to my father and mother. Or if I am a slave, then it may belong to my master. Or even if I am not slave, because I belong to some state, this body belongs to the state. Immediately if the state calls, “Come on. You sacrifice your body in the Vietnam,” oh, you have to do that. So in this way, if you analytically study, you’ll see the body does not belong to you. Then why should you be so much dexterous to satisfy? Just try to understand. I am not interested to satisfy the senses of your body; I am interested to satisfy the senses of my body. But if this body does not belong to me, then why should we be so much expert in satisfying the senses? Therefore they are called pramattah, intensely intoxicated. It is philosophical vision that “This body does not belong to me.” Therefore Krsna’s name is Hrsikesa. I am claiming this hand “my hand,” but as soon as it is paralyzed it is no more my hand; it is physician’s hand or Krsna’s hand or somebody’s hand. So in this way we have to study. This is called philosophical vision. So Bhagavata says they are mad after sense gratification, as a result of which he’s getting different types of body. Because body does not belong to him. Just like if you pay different types of rent, you get different types of apartment. If you pay nicely, you get very good apartment in New York, in Fifth Avenue or something like that. Or if you cannot pay, then… Similarly, we are getting this apartment, body, under different condition. So we should understand that we have to get such a nice body that no more we’ll have to change. That should be the destination of one’s progress. That they do not know. So this Krsna consciousness movement is just to put before this bewildered human society what is the destination of his life. The destination is… Everywhere in Vedic literature you’ll find. Just like Bhagavan, Krsna, is saying in the Bhagavad-gita, in the Tenth Chapter, mam upetya kaunteya duhkhalayam asasvatam napnuvanti mahatmanah samsiddhim paramam gatah [Bg. 8.15] “The highest perfection is that one who comes to Me, reaches the abode of Krsna, then he hasn’t got to accept this miserable body.” We do not understand that this body is miserable. Actually, any body. Either you get a princely body or a dog’s body, because you have accepted a material body, therefore you have to suffer. You have to suffer. There is no excuse. Because you have got American beautiful body… Sometimes I meet some American gentlemen. They are under impression that India is a starving country. Accepting that India is starving country, but does it mean that America is a very happy country? No. That is their mistake. They simply think that “Because we have got enough money, therefore we are in happiness.” No. If there is happiness, why the young boys and girls become hippies? No. Happiness is different. So long you have got this material body, there is no question of happiness, either this American body or Indian body. That they do not know. They are thinking that “Let me get an American body, or a demigod body or this body, that body, that body.” But Bhagavata says, yavan na pritir mayi vasudeve na mucyate deha-yogena tavat. So long one does not develop Krsna consciousness, or love of Godhead, there is no question of getting out of this entanglement of material body. There is no question. You have to accept some body, either you accept this body or that body. And as soon as you accept this body, material body, you have to go the threefold miseries. So the scientist, the philosopher, they are not studying what is the cause. Everyone is trying to get out of all sorts of miserable problems, but they do not know what is that problem. The problem is this body. But they have no knowledge what is this body, how it is working, what is the soul, how it is transmigrating. They are all rascals, fools. They have no knowledge. And they are trying to make a solution of the problem. There is a story… Not… Yes, take it for story, that sosera bhetare bujugheche (?). If somebody is haunted by a ghost, there was some expert, I mean to say, chanter, who can drive away that ghost by mantra. And they usually use the mustard seed. They chant the mantra and they throw the mustard seed on the person who is ghost-haunted, and the ghost is driven away. So there is a story that the ghost entered the mustard. He is throwing the mustard, but the ghost has already entered the mustard. Similarly, we are trying to solve the problems, but the problem is this body. The ghost is within this body. So our Krsna consciousness movement… Of course, we daily discuss these things, that “I am not this body,” and what are the problems. The sum and substance of our Krsna consciousness movement is that we want to go back to Krsna. There is another nature. Just like you are seeing this material nature, so many stars and planets. We are very much busy studying, but we have no knowledge practically about this material world even. But we get information from Vedic literature that this material world, cosmic manifestation, is only one-fourth part of the whole God’s creation. So there is another nature, which is called spiritual nature, and there is spiritual planets, Vaikunthas, and Krsnaloka, the highest planet. So this Krsna consciousness movement is to transfer oneself to that Krsna planet, and the process is given very easy in this age. In this age of quarrel and dissension and disagreement, there are so many symptoms of this fallen age. So there is no other alternative. You cannot execute the process of meditation or sacrifice or temple worship. They cannot be executed very nicely because the circumstances are different. Therefore kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha. Therefore in this age, there is no other alternative process for getting out of these material clutches. Simply, the simple process, I mean to say, offered by Lord Caitanya. It is not Caitanya’s manufacture; it is authorized from Vedic sastras, that we have to realize ourself, our destination of life, our mission of this human form of life simply by this process, chanting Hare Krsna. And we initiate persons for this mantra. Initiation means beginning. Not that immediately after initiation one becomes perfect. And this marriage ceremony also… Perhaps it is a new thing I have introduced, that I take part in the marriage ceremony of my disciples. Actually, I do it because I want to see them, I mean to say, without any anxiety. Because so long there will be anxiety, one cannot execute Krsna consciousness very nicely. So any boy or girl, naturally, especially boys… Boys, if they like, they can keep oneself brahmacari throughout, celibacy life. But for girls it is not very easy. Therefore we have introduced this marriage ceremony. Many young boys and girls come to us. So that is recommended in Vedic… Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He also married, twice married. His first wife died. He married for the second time. So marriage is not, I mean to say, against our movement. Narottama das Thakura sings, grha va vanete thako, ha gauranga bole dako. That is the thing. One should be Krsna conscious. We have got in our society… Just like I am sannyasi, Kirtanananda Maharaja is sannyasi. So we are renounced order. But there are many grhasthas, just like Hayagriva dasa adhikari and others. So there is no such distinction that one has to take the path of the renounced order of life. The real essence of our life should be how much we are Krsna conscious. So keeping this point of view, if we follow the regulative principles, then… The real point is that we must be satisfied—we should not be disturbed—and execute peacefully, happily, this Krsna consciousness, so that in our next life we may be transferred to Krsnaloka. We cannot go to any other planet even within this material world by this mechanical way. No. Everyone has to prepare. Because we are conditioned. We have to get out of the conditional stage; then it is possible we can transfer to any planet we like. That is also stated in the Bhagavad-gita, yanti deva-vrata devan pitrn yanti pitr-vratah bhutejya yanti bhutani mad-yajino ’pi yanti mam [Bg. 9.25] So we have to prepare where we want to go. That is real education. Either by the yogic principle or by cultivation of knowledge or by this devotional service, the whole idea is how to transfer oneself to the better condition of life. The better, the best condition of life is to mad-dhama gatva punar janma na vidyate. “If anyone,” Krsna says, “if anyone comes to Me, he hasn’t got to come back again to take this cycle of birth and death.” So the Krsna consciousness movement is to give that highest, topmost position, that no more coming to this material world, either this planet or that planet. We may go to the moon planet, but that will not solve our real problem. The real problem is birth, death, old age, and disease. Anywhere you go in the material planet, either by sputniks or by your tapasya or by meditation, if you, a-brahma-bhuvanal lokah, even if you go to the highest planet, there the four principles of material miseries are there. But if you go, mad-dhama gatva punar janma na vidyate. Mad-yajino ’pi yanti mam. These are very nicely explained in the Bhagavad-gita. You try to understand what is the problem of life. So this marriage ceremony is not for sense gratification. We should always remember. It is helping one another. The husband will help the wife, the wife will help the husband, so that both of them become advanced in Krsna consciousness and make their human life perfect. So there is no question of divorce. There is no question of separation. Because divorce, separation, these are meant for sense gratification. As soon as there is some lack of sense gratification, there is immediately divorce or separation. No. Here there is no such question. So our, this new bride and bridegroom should always remember that in any condition of life they should remain together. And that will be possible if they concentrate their ideas to Krsna consciousness. Then it will be possible. Otherwise maya will attack in so many ways and cause disruption in so many ways. So our… We are taking part in this marriage ceremony not like ordinary marriage. It is for making progress in Krsna consciousness. You should always remember that this marriage has no separation, no divorce. Lifetime. The husband will help the wife, the wife will help. There are so many things, duties of the wife. There are so many things, duty of the husband. And if they properly execute their respective duties and engage themselves simply in Krsna consciousness, the life will be very happy, and not only in this life, next life also. So take this opportunity, be happy. I want to see… Sarve sukhena bhavantu. That is the Vedic mission. Let everyone become happy. Sarve sukhena bhavantu. Let everyone be happy. And without being happy, nobody can execute Krsna consciousness. So let us begin our work now. Who will be initiated? You are both be initiated? [break] Remembers. Yah smaret. Smaret means remembers. Whom remembers? Pundarikaksam, the lotus-eyed Krsna or Visnu. Pundarikaksam. Sa, that person, bahya means externally, abhyantaram means internally, sucih. Sa bahyabhyantaram. Apavitrah pavitro va. Apavitrah means contaminated, and pavitra means liberated, without any contamination. Infected or disinfected. So in the material world we are all infected. This is the disinfecting process, simply remembering Krsna, yah smaret pundarikaksam. So this initiation is to teach how to remember always Visnu and Krsna. This Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, as soon as we hear, we immediately remember Krsna, His speech in the Bhagavad-gita, His form, His name, His quality, His pastimes. Everything comes. So we have to practice that. Then we remain always uncontaminated. And if you forget Krsna, then there is chance of… Just like in the medical science, if there is some epidemic disease, they give some vaccination. I think in Los Angeles you gave me some vaccination? (chuckles) What is that, flus? Hayagriva: Hong Kong flu. Prabhupada: Ah. Hong Kong flu. Yes. So everyone took that vaccination. So our Hayagriva prabhu took me also. “All right, let us have.” (laughter) So there was no attack. Fortunately, there was no attack. So similarly, this world is Hong Kong flu. (laughter) Maya is always ready to attack. Always. So we have to take this injunction, this antivaccine, Hare Krsna. Enechi ausadhi maya nasibaro lagi’. That song, Jiv Jago, Jiv Jago. “I have brought this medicine for killing this Hong Kong flu of maya.” Enechi ausadhi maya nasibaro lagi’, hari-nama maha-mantra lao tumi magi. Now you take. This is greatest contribution of Caitanya Mahaprabhu to fight against this attack of material influence. Everyone is subjected. Daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14] Under the three modes of material nature people are entangled. So to get out of this, the same proposition, as I explained in the beginning, to get out of this entanglement of constant transmigrating from one body to another, so this is the mantra. Simply to… Yah smaret pundarikaksam. Pundarikaksam means Krsna. So if you chant Hare Krsna, you’ll be forced to remember Him. As soon as the word “Krsna” is there and the more you are practiced to this habit, then simply we’ll see Krsna, Krsna, Krsna—nothing more. You’ll see nothing. Sarvatra sphurti tara ista-deva murti. As you make advance, then you’ll see a tree, but you’ll see Krsna. You’ll not see the form of tree. Sarvatra sphurti tara ista-deva… Because one who is conversant with the science of Krsna, he’ll know how His energies are working in so many ways; therefore he’ll be sympathetic. That is universal vision. That is universal love. If you love Krsna, then there will be universal love. Otherwise it will be simply talks. So yah smaret pundarikaksam sa bahyabhyantara. He is always in the uncontaminated stage, noninfected stage. So this is very nice. One should take it very seriously. One should try to understand it seriously. Your life will be sublime. The meaning of this namo apavitrah pavitro va sarvavastham—any condition. We don’t make any condition. There is no condition. Why shall we…? Anyone can accept. Sarvavastham, any position. There are two position only, contaminated or uncontaminated. That’s all. So supposing everyone is contaminated. That’s all right. The medicine is there. You make immediately uncontaminated. So sarvavastham gato ’pi va. It doesn’t matter what is your position. You take simply to this Krsna consciousness, your life will be sublime. That is the initiation. Now chant. Vande aham sri guru… (devotees chant responsively) [break] So one finish, then next, then next. Each Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. In this way you come this side, again begin from this side, other side. And there are ten kinds of offenses, try to avoid. And four principles you know? Four regulative principles you know? What is that? Bhagavan: No meat, fish or eggs, no intoxication, no illicit sex, and no gambling. Prabhupada: Thank you. So what is your name? Bhagavan: My name is Bill. Prabhupada: Bill. So your spiritual name is Bhavananda. Bhavananda. Devotee: There’s a Bhavananda in Los Angeles. Prabhupada: There is? Oh. Then give him name… Bhagavan dasa. (devotees laugh, “Haribol!”) All right. Thank you. [break] …om… Chant. Devotee: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna… Prabhupada: No, no. nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine (devotees chant responsively) [break] Krsnabhamini: No meat, fish or eggs, no illicit sex, no gambling, no intoxication. Prabhupada: Yes. That’s all. So what is your name? Krsnabhamini: Inez. Prabhupada: Hm? Krsnabhamini: Inez. Prabhupada: Spelling? Is there any name Indumati? Devotee: Yes. Prabhupada: There is? Indira? Devotee: Yes. Prabhupada: Then, your name… I’m trying to find out beginning with “I.” All right, don’t find now. So is there any name Mangala? No? All right. Your name is Krsnabhamini. Krsnabhamini. K-r-i-s-h-n-a, bhamini, b-h-a-m-i-n-i. Krsnabhamini. Krsnabhamini: Oh. (bowing down) nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine [break] Prabhupada: “Krsnabhamini, my Godsister…” You can say. “Bhagavan dasa prabhu…” Hayagriva: Bhagavan dasa prabhu. Prabhupada: “Krsnabhamini…” Hayagriva: Krsnabhamini… Prabhupada: (with Hayagriva repeating word for word) “…my Godsister was so long under our care. Now we give her under your charge. You accept her as your wife and take care of her throughout the whole life. Now we give her under your charge. You accept her as your wife and take care of her throughout her whole life, not only materially but also spiritually for advancement of our Krsna consciousness.” You say, “Yes, I accept Krsnabhamini ”(Bhagavan repeats) “as my wife. I shall maintain her (?) throughout her life and look after her happiness both materially and spiritually.” Now you say, “Bhagavan dasa prabhu, I accept you…” You say? (Krsnabhamini repeating) “I accept you as my husband. I shall serve you… I shall serve you throughout my life so that happily and peacefully we can execute Krsna consciousness.” Yes. Now you change this garland. Hayagriva: Change garlands. [break] (kirtana) (end)
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
New Vrindaban, June 4, 1969