The Nectar of Devotion Pradyumna: (reading) “The basic principle of the living condition is that we have a general propensity to love someone. No one can live without loving someone else. This propensity is present in every living being. Even an animal like a tiger has this loving propensity, at least in a dormant stage, and it is certainly present in the human beings. The missing point, however, is where to repose our love so that everyone can become happy. At the present moment, the human society teaches one to love his country or family or his personal self, but there is no information where to repose the loving propensity so that everyone can become happy.” Prabhupada: Yes. This point is missing. We cannot… It is not possible that we can approach everyone and offer our loving service. Just like people are very much attracted by the humanitarian services. They take it very great, loving service to the human society. But however you may love… Suppose in the beginning one loves his own self, his own body… Just like a child. He loves for himself. Anything he gets, he wants to eat. Own sense gratification. Then, as he grows, he shares his foodstuff with his little brother and sister. Then, as he grows, he loves his mother, his father, then other friends. In this way, as we go, we can love our society, our community, or nation, or internationally, all human beings. But still it is imperfect. Still it is imperfect. It is not all-inclusive. Just like at the present moment, every country, they are national, they consider the human being as national, not the animals. But actual meaning of “national” means anyone who takes birth in that country. In Sanskrit word it is called praja. King, and…, the, the raja, and praja. Praja means who takes birth, prajayate. Anyone who takes birth in that country, in that kingdom, he’s called praja. So it is the duty of the king to give protection all prajas. Not that only human beings or my brother or my sister, and not the animals—not the cows, not the goats, not the chickens. No. They’re also praja. But because there is no Krsna consciousness, they think that praja means only the human beings. That’s all. Imperfect knowledge. But when one becomes Krsna conscious, he loves everyone. Because his connection with Krsna… Krsna says, sarva-yonisu kaunteya sambhavanti murtayah yah: [Bg. 14.4] “All forms of living entities, all species of life, their mother is this material nature, and I am the seed-giving father.” That is real humanity. Samah sarvesu bhutesu. brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kanksati samah sarvesu bhutesu mad-bhaktim labhate param [Bg. 18.54] If one does not see equally to all living entities, panditah sama-darsinah… [Bg. 5.18] That is pandita. It is not pandita that “Only my brother is good, my father is good, and all are bad.” That is not pandita. That is sectarianism. That is sectarianism. Pandita… vidya-vinaya-sampanne brahmane gavi hastini suni caiva sva-pake ca panditah sama-darsinah [Bg. 5.18] So that means at the present moment all the leaders, they’re fools and rascals. They are simply sectarian. “I am good. My brother is good. My father is good. All others bad.” That’s all. Nationalism, communism, these are going on. But a Krsna-bhakta, he does not see like that. He does not like to kill even an ant. That Mrgari, he was a hunter. He was killing animals half-dead. And he met Narada Muni, so he became a Vaisnava. And when he became a Vaisnava, he was not prepared to kill even an ant—the same hunter, who was killing other animals half-dead, and he was taking pleasure. So this partiality is not in Vaisnava. Patitanam pavanebhyo vaisnavebhyo namo namah. Vaisnava, he’s a friend. Suhrdam sarva-bhutanam sadhavah sadhu-bhusanam. titiksavah karunikah suhrdah sarva-bhutanam ajata-satravah santah sadhavah sadhu-bhusanam Sadhu, devotee, he is friend for everyone. Suhrdam… As Krsna is friend of everyone,… Krsna says, bhoktaram yajna-tapasam sarva-loka-mahesvaram suhrdam sarva-bhutanam… [Bg. 5.29] Similarly, His representative is also friend for everyone. As Krsna comes, descends to reclaim all fallen souls back to home, back to Godhead, similarly His representative, devotee, he also approaches everyone, tries to get him back to home, back to Godhead. Suhrdam sarva-bhutanam. Even to the animals… Caitanya Mahaprabhu delivered a dog. Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s party was going to Jagannatha Puri. A dog was follow, following. So that dog was delivered because he followed the devotees. There are many instances like that. What is this? Read it. Pradyumna: “At the present moment, the human society teaches one how to love his country or family or his personal self…” Prabhupada: Yes. We have got a propensity to love, but we do not know, do not know how our love can be perfect. That we do not know. That perfection is possible when you love Krsna. Acyutejya. Sarvarhanam acyutejya. yatha tarormula-nisecanena trpyanti tat-skandha-bhujopasakhah pranopaharac ca yathendriyanam tatha(iva) sarvarhanam acyutejya They’re, this secret, they do not know. But factually that is the fact. Just like we are in this old age, we are wandering all over the world to see that “Let everyone become happy by Krsna consciousness.” It is not that we love only our countrymen, only Hindus, or Bengalis, or Madrasis, or… No. We love everyone, even the animals. But because human beings can understand the Krsna philosophy, therefore we hold meetings of the human beings. But still, whenever we get opportunity, we give protection to the animals. We give them prasadam. We do not prohibit even some animal comes to hear. They also hear some, sometimes. The hear, hearing is there. Everyone can hear. Even they do not understand what is Hare Krsna, if you chant loudly Hare Krsna, even the ants and insect who is hearing, he’ll be delivered, because it is spiritual vibration. It will act for everyone. We… Just like fire. The fire will act, either you are human being or insect. If you touch fire, it will do its work. Similarly, Hare Krsna maha-mantra is transcendental vibration. When we chant loudly, anyone who hears—it doesn’t matter whether he’s man, animal, tree, insect—anyone who will hear, he’ll get profit. This is transcendental vibration. Just like when there is… Not to speak of this transcendental vibration, even the vibration of cloud, that is also Krsna. Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita: sabdah khe paurusam nrnam. Raso ’ham apsu kaunteya prabhasmi sasi-suryayoh. So animal has no realization that “Here is Krsna,” but a human being, after attending sat-sanga, devotee’s, association of the devotees, he can understand: “Oh, here I am drinking water. Now in the Bhagavad-gita it is said, raso ’ham apsu kaunteya. So this taste of water is Krsna.” He remembers immediately Krsna. That means he immediately associates with Krsna. This is the process. Either you remember… Sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanam, arcanam vandanam dasyam [SB 7.5.23] Any way, when you hear about Krsna, you are associating Krsna. You are chanting about Krsna. You are associating with Krsna. You are remembering, smaranam, that is also Krsna. So Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, raso ’ham apsu kaunteya. He’s teaching how to become Krsna conscious. It’s not difficult at all. He says… Everyone drinks water. Who can say that “I do not drink water”? Then, then why you have not seen Krsna? Krsna says, raso ’ham apsu kaunteya. So as soon as you taste, you understand what is Krsna. What is the difficulty? If you try to understand Krsna in this easy way, gradually Krsna consciousness will develop. nitya-siddha krsna-bhakti sadhya kabhu naya sravanadi-suddha-citte karaye udaya Krsna consciousness is there in everyone’s heart, because everyone is part and parcel of Krsna. Just like part and parcel of gold is gold. There may be some dusty cover, but it has to be cleansed. That’s all. Then it becomes gold. Similarly, everyone is Krsna conscious. But on account of his association with matter, he, he’s thinking that he’s different from Krsna. Otherwise every one of us… Mamaivamso jiva-bhutah [Bg. 15.7]. Everyone is Krsna’s part and parcel. Part and parcel of Krsna means part and parcel of gold. As you understand part… A little drop of sea water, it is also, contains the same ingredients. Similarly, we have also got the same ingredients, as Krsna has got. The difference is He’s big. Anor aniyan mahato mahiyan. We are small, particle. So Krsna consciousness is our natural… There is. But, at the present moment, on account of our association with maya, the material energy, we have forgotten Krsna. Krsna bhuliya jiva bhoga-vancha kare. That forgetfulness is manifested by our desire to enjoy this material world. Bhoga-vancha. Everyone is trying to enjoy this material world to his best capacity. That is called material world. Only the Krsna conscious persons, they are not trying to enjoy this material world, but they are trying to dovetail everything in the service of the Krsna. That is the difference. Anasaktasya visayan yatharham upayunjatah. Just like we eat Krsna prasadam. Everyone is eating. We are also eating. But we don’t eat directly. Whatever we prepare, whatever we collect, first of all we offer to Krsna. Because we think, we think—and it is a fact—the thing is of Krsna’s. Krsna has given. You cannot manufacture rice, dhal or wheat in your factory, neither fruit, nor milk. It is given by Krsna. Eko bahunam vidadhati kaman. He’s giving. One has to acknowledge, “Yes, it is given by Krsna. It is Krsna’s. So let me offer it first of all to Krsna, then take the prasadam.” This is Krsna consciousness. Where is the difficulty? Everyone can do it. But they’ll not do it. They’ll satisfy the tongue. That is forbidden. Ye pacanty atma-karanat, bhunjate te agham papam. So if you are eating, eating simply sin, how we can be happy? We have to suffer. Bhunjate te agham papam ye pacanty atma-karanat. So who is cooking for Krsna? Nobody’s cooking. Except a Krsna’s devotee, nobody’s cooking. He’s pacanty atma-karanat. He’s thinking, “Now this sandesa, rasagulla, puri and meat and chicken, I shall eat very voraciously.” So you are, he’s eating sinful, sins, all sins. Agham papa. And he has to suffer. He has to suffer. Therefore people are suffering. Without Krsna consciousness, everyone must suffer. That is the laws of nature. Daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]. You cannot avoid it. Mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te [Bg. 7.14]. Only you can be happy when you are a surrendered soul to Krsna. That is the only way. Harim vina na mrtim taranti. So we have got this loving propensity, but we do not know how to love and where our loving propensity should be reposed. That we do not know. That is Krsna. People… The same example. Just like if you water in the root of tree, then the water is distributed all over the branches, leaves and flowers and everywhere. If you put foodstuff in the stomach, the energy’s distributed all over the body. Everyone can understand this. There are… Krsna is the root. Aham sarvasya prabhavo [Bg. 10.8]. Janmady asya yatah [Bhag. 1.1.1]. He’s the root. But we are neglecting the root. We are trying to pour water in the leaves. The leaf will dry, and his labor will be frustrated. That is happening. So-called humanitarian service, social service, without any touch with Krsna… Just like watering on the tree without touching the root—it is useless labor. Similarly, you do whatever service you can do to the society, to the community, to the nation, but do it in Krsna consciousness. Then you’re perfect. Otherwise it will remain imperfect. The persons who are, whom you are giving service, they’ll never be happy, neither you’ll be happy. So this is Krsna consciousness movement, that they’re simply wasting their time. Srama eva hi kevalam. Simply wasting their time in so-called humanitarian service. They must take… Nirbandhe krsna-sambandhe. Everything should be in relationship with Krsna. anasaktasya visayan yatharham upayunjatah nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe yuktam vairagyam ucyate The simple process. First of all, try, try to understand Krsna and try to love Him. Your love will be distributed, not only in your family and community, but throughout the whole world. All animals, all insects, all trees. You’ll never be inclined to do harm, even to an ant even. A tree is cut down—a Krsna-bhakta becomes sorry. Others, they do not become sorry. They are so sympathetic. Nowadays, trees are being cut into pieces without any consideration. This is also sinful activities. They’re also living entities. You cannot kill them unnecessarily. This is the law of nature. Go on. Pradyumna: “But there is no information where to repose the loving propensity so that everyone can become happy.” Prabhupada: Yes. If the whole society takes to Krsna consciousness, everyone will be happy. If the government men, the politicians, they become Krsna conscious… But it is very difficult. As soon as they become Krsna conscious, they’ll not be able to do all these heinous activities. So it is very difficult, but the fact is this, that… Just like Yudhisthira Maharaja, when he was king, people were so happy that even there was no extreme cold and extreme heat. Neither they were any disturbed with anxieties. These are stated in the Bhagavata. If the king, if the government men, they become devotee, then automatically the prajas will be happy. Why they are hankering after Rama-rajya? Because the head of the kingdom is the purest. So in a, in our Bengali language, it is said that if the king is sinful, the whole kingdom becomes lost. And if in the family, if the housewife is sinful, then the whole family becomes lost. It is a common saying. So the difficulty is that nobody… We are grudging against government. So many complaints we have got. But there is no question of grudging against government; because we are not Krsna consciousness, Krsna conscious, therefore we are electing our representatives, fools and rascals. How we can expect good government? You become Krsna conscious, you elect your representative, Krsna conscious, and the government will be all right. You’ll be happy. Go on. Pradyumna: “That missing point is Krsna, and The Nectar of Devotion teaches us how to stimulate our original love for Krsna and how to be situated in that position where we can enjoy our blissful life.” Prabhupada: Yes. Without being Krsna conscious, there cannot be blissful life. If, if… You may rest assured. You may try in so many ways. Andha yathandair upaniyamanah. Leaders may try. It will not be possible. Take, for example, in India. We thought, “If the Britishers go away, so, then we’ll be happy. There will be no Hindu- Muslim riots. There will be…” So many things we conjectured. “It will be Rama-rajya.” But what is the Rama-rajya? Now everything there is fight. Now there is no Hindu-Muslim riot. Now Andhra and other provinces, they’re fighting. So fighting will remain, unless we are Krsna conscious. Go on. Pradyumna: “In the primary stage a child loves his parents, then his brothers and sisters. And as he daily grows up, he begins to love his family, society, community, country, nation or even the whole human society. But the loving propensity is not satisfied even by loving all human society. That loving propensity remains imperfectly fulfilled…” Prabhupada: When Vyasadeva finished his all scripture writing, all the Vedas, Puranas, even Brahma-sutra, he was not happy. He was not happy, and his spiritual master, Narada, came, inquired: “Why you are not happy? You have done so much work.” So he could not explain. He said, “I, I do not find why I am unhappy. But because you are my spiritual master, you can say.” So he indicated that “Because you did not describe about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, therefore you are not happy. Now you try to describe the Supreme Personality of Godhead, particularly.” And therefore he wrote this Srimad-Bhagavatam. You’ll find this in the Third Chapter of the First Canto. Hmm. Pradyumna: “But that loving propensity is not satisfied even by loving all of human society.” Oh. “That loving propensity remains imperfectly fulfilled until we know who is the supreme beloved.” Prabhupada: Yes. Supreme beloved, Krsna. Supreme Person, supreme beautiful, supreme rich, supreme famous, supreme wise. Everything supreme. We love somebody, or, out of these six opulences, if one opulence is there… Suppose one man is very rich and charitable, we love him. And… Just think over how Krsna is rich and how He’s charitable. He is giving His charity, He’s distributing foodstuff, millions and millions of living entities every day. We are taking prou…, pride if we can feed, say, hundred, two hundred, five hundred, two thousand. But just imagine. Eko bahunam vidadhati kaman. There are millions and millions of elephants all over the universe; Krsna is supplying their food. There are so many animals. How they’re getting food? So many birds. How they can…? Actually there is no scarcity of food. The scarcity of food is for the human society, or the animals who live with them. Because actually the human society is misusing the advanced consciousness; therefore they are put into the trouble. At the present moment, there is scarcity of water all over India, and so many things are being restricted. But in the Bhagavad-gita it is said, yajnad bhavati parjanya. So they are not performing yajnas. So this is nature’s restriction. We have got this information. They are not performing yajnas. They, they think by science, by electricity, by this and that, shall provide everything. But then the electricity is being also reduced, supply of electricity is being controlled. And one after, one after another, one after another… Because the supreme controller, if He does not sanction, your so-called scientific improvement or so- called social service will not make the whole world satisfied. That is not possible. That is not possible. This secret is known to the devotees. Yes? Pradyumna: “Our love can be fulfilling, can be fully satisfied only when it is reposed in Krsna.” Prabhupada: Yes. Pradyumna: “This theme is the sum and substance of The Nectar of Devotion, which teaches us how to love Krsna in five different transcendental mellows.” Prabhupada: Yes. Our whole Krsna consciousness movement is to teach people how to love Krsna. sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje ahaituky apratihata yayatma suprasidati [SB 1.2.6] Yayatma suprasidati. So this is the propaganda of Krsna consciousness movement. That will solve all problems, and people will be happy, things will change. That is Krsna consciousness movement. Thank you ver… [break] Woman devotee: …Krsna is like the sun at six-thirty…? Prabhupada: Huh? Devotee: The sun at six-thirty in the morning? Prabhupada: Yes, yes. Devotee: So Krsna appears and performs His pastimes and then He disappears and then appears in another universe? Or He appears…? Prabhupada: Krsna does not appear or disappear. Krsna is always present, but we see at a certain period. Just like the sun. Sun is always in the sky, but when it is daytime, we see, and at nighttime, we cannot see. At nighttime, because we cannot see, it does not mean there is no sun. It is our imperfectness of eyes, we cannot see. Similarly, Krsna is always present. One who has got eyes, he can see. When all the circumstances favorable, he can see. Krsna is always… Premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti [Bs. 5.38]. Dhyanavasthita-tad-gatena manasa pasyanti ’yam yoginah [SB 12.13.1] So Krsna can be seen always, if we have got eyes to see. That eyes, how you can be transferred? Premanjana-cchurita. When it is smeared with the ointment of love, then with these eyes you can see Krsna. Krsna is always there. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese arjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61]. He’s represent everywhere. Andantara-stha-paramanu-cayantara-stham. Krsna is not absent. Krsna is always there. We haven’t got eyes to see Him. So we have to prepare the eyes. Sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam tat-paratvena nirmalam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. When you make your eyes nirmala, when you give up all these titular designations—“I am Hindu,” “I am Muslim,” “I am Christian,” “I am American,” “I am Indian,” “I am black,” “I am white…” These are all designations. When you give up, become brahma bhutah prasannatma [Bg. 18.54]—“I am nothing of this; I am eternal servant of Krsna”—when you come to this consciousness, you will see Krsna. Krsna is always there. [break] …Krsna. A devotee’s seeing factual Krsna, and nondevotee’s seeing a brass doll. That’s all. Krsna is here. Why they say, “Where is your Krsna?” Here is Krsna. Just like Hiranyakasipu, he challenged Prahlada Maharaja, “Where is your Krsna? All right, let me kill you. Let your God come and protect you.” So the atheist class, they say like that. But one who has got training in Krsna consciousness, he has got eyes to see Krsna always. If here is not Krsna, then all the acaryas, they installed Deity in so many millions of temples, they’re all fools and rascals? They ask us to worship some stone and wood? No. Krsna is there, but we haven’t got eyes to see. That is the difference. Caitanya Mahaprabhu, as soon as He saw Jagannatha at Puri, Jagannatha at…, immediately fainted: “Here is My Lord.” Fainted. So we have to create that eyes to see Krsna. That will be done gradually. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adhah. We cannot see Krsna. We cannot command Krsna, “Please come here. I’ll see You.” No. He will reveal Himself, being satisfied with your service. “Here I am. You see Me now.” So we have to wait for that revelation. Not by force. Force will not act. Krsna is not our order- supplier, servant: “Krsna, please come here. I’ll see You.” No, no. That will not do. You must be submissive, first of all surrender. You follow the rules and regulations, be mad after Krsna. Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu: govinda-virahena me. Sunyayitam jaga, sunyayitam jagat sarvam govinda-virahena me. Sunyayitam jagat sarvam: “Everything is vacant because I cannot see Govinda.” Just like if one’s beloved son dies, he sees everything vacant. He no more sees that cars are running on the street or people are running. No. He sees everything vacant. Why? Due to love. Similarly, when we’ll come to that position, we shall see everything vacant without Krsna. Then that is the proper position to see Krsna. Sunyayitam jagat sarvam govinda-virahena me. Lord Caitanya says that “I am not a devotee of Krsna.” “Now, Sir, You are crying always for Krsna.” “That is simply to show, make a show that I am a great devotee of Krsna.” Then? “No, how we can understand that You are not…? We know You’re…” “No. Because I am still living without Krsna, that means I have no love for Krsna. I should have died long, long ago.” Caitanya Mahaprabhu says. So this much ecstasy, this much eagerness, when we come, then can see always. Premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilo…, santah sadaiva. Twenty-four hours, he can see Krsna. He cannot see anything but Krsna. Just like the sunrise. As, as soon as the sun rises, you start your aeroplane, and you go on, towards the eastern, western side, you’ll find always day. A practical… There will be no sunset. We have seen it while coming from Paris to London. Was it not? There was sunshine. We started from Paris at twelve o’clock and we reached London at three o’clock. Syamasundara: Los Angeles. Prabhupada: Los Angeles. Yes. Los Angeles at three o’clock. It actually took eleven hours, but it appeared three hours. But there was no sunset. Actually so many hours have been passed. So this is a technique. So similarly, if you keep always yourself in Krsna consciousness, Krsna will not go away from your sight. He’ll not go away from your sight. You must know the technique. Is that all right? Now you have any other question, ask. Yes? Prabhavati: I understand that you cannot see Krsna with your eyes. However, I’m just asking the details of Krsna’s appearance in the material world. I want to know if Krsna appeared on this planet five thousand years ago at a certain time, that means that immediately did He appear again in another universe? Prabhupada: Yes. Prabhavati: Immediately… Prabhupada: The same example. Just like six-thirty, sunrise, as soon as it passes from India, the six-thirty in another country. And as soon as it passes that country, six, six-thirty in another country. So six-thirty always there. Similarly six-thirty, twelve-thirty, three o’clock, all the times, twenty-four hours, always present in some, somewhere or other. Similarly Krsna’s lila, from His birth up to the disappearance, that is always existing. Disappearance means disappearance from my eyes. Krsna does not disappear. Just like formerly people used to think, after the sunset, the sun is dead. Huh? Who were the persons that used… Sometimes, you…? They thought like that: “Sun is dead now”? Some philosophers or the Christians, they used to think like that. Similarly sun… [break] …no birth and death because you are Krsna’s part and parcel. But we disappear. Therefore Krsna says, tatha dehantaram-praptir dhiras tatra na muhyati. One who is sober, he knows that “This man, he’s not dead.” Na hanyate hanyamane sarire [Bg. 2.20]. “He’s not dead. He has simply passed from this body to another body.” Just like a mother, when the child from baby’s body comes to a boy’s body, the mother does not cry, “Oh, where is my son, that baby?” She knows that baby has come to this body. Similarly, a person who is in the knowledge of the transmigration of the soul, he knows that “My father, my brother, he’s not dead. He has simply changed his body.” Dhiras tatra na muhyati. One has to become dhira, sober, to understand the things as they are. Tatha dehantaram-praptir dhiras tatra na muhyati. So this Krsna consciousness movement means we are trying to make people dhira, not adhira. Adhira cannot understand. But even adhira can understand. Dhiradhira. Krsnotkirtana-gana-nartana-parau premamrtambho-nidhi, dhiradhira-jana-priyau. A perfect devotee is dear, both for the dhira and adhira. Dhiradhira-jana-priyau priya-karau nirmatsarau pujitau sri-caitanya-krpa-bharau bhuvi bhuvo bharavahantarakau vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau. So for a devotee, both the dhira and adhira welcome. We do not say only the perfect persons should come here. No. Perfect or imperfect, come here. Take part with this Krsna consciousness movement. Dhiradhira, it doesn’t matter. Because one who’s adhira, by associating with the dhiras, he’ll also become dhira. Just like one is not drunkard, but associating with the drunkards, he becomes a drunkard. Sangat sanjayate kamah. So similarly, this Krsna consciousness movement is giving chance to everyone. Not to speak of… Kim punar brahmanah punya bhakta rajarsayas tatha [Bg. 9.33]. Api cet sudur… What is that verse? Mam hi partha vyapasritya ye ’pi syuh papa-yonayah. They also… Te ’pi yanti, yanti param gatim. Kim punar brahmanah punya [Bg. 9.33]. Krsna consciousness movement is so nice, even the most sinful person can go back to home, back to Godhead. And what to speak of the pious brahmanas? Kim punar brahmanah punya bhakta rajarsayas tatha [Bg. 9.33]. They will go. Even those who are sinful, if they take to Krsna consciousness, they’ll also go. It is so nice. Woman (2): …may ask the question… You spoke about transmigration of souls, and reincarnation. Prabhupada: Stand up. Woman (2): …transmigration of souls, or reincarnation as karma. Prabhupada: Yes. Woman (2): …if you believe in it, could you answer me by telling me how someone who has entered a new body and a new life doesn’t remember anything of the past? If, for example, I suffer today because of what I did in the past, any form of retribution or suffering should be for me a total consciousness. Prabhupada: Yes. Do you remember from your birth up to date, everything? You remember? Do you remember? Woman (2): Pardon? Prabhupada: From your birth till today, do you remember everything? Woman (2): No. Prabhupada: Then why do you forget in this life? Things which have happened in this life, in your childhood, so many things happened, but do you remember all of them? So that, does it mean that you did not do so? Woman (2): No. Prabhupada: Therefore you, you remember or not remember, it doesn’t matter. Woman (2): But if I’m, if I’m… Prabhupada: That is your nature: you forget. So you do not remember even the incidences of this life. How you can remember the incidents of your past life? Because you are forgetful. You are so imperfect that you forget after two hours everything. That is your nature. That does not mean that you had, you did not do anything. And, besides that, the… You remember or not remember. Suppose your guardian remembers, “My dear child, when you were a small baby, you did it.” But you remember no… Similarly Krsna is there. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese arjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61]. Anumanta upadrasta. He knows everything. You may forget. But Krsna knows. “You wanted this thing. All right. Take it. You worked for this. Now I give you the opportunity. You take this. You wanted to eat everything and anything, without any discrimination. All right. Now you become a hog.” That is Krsna’s favor. “And if you wanted Me…” yanti deva-vrata devan pitrn yanti pitr-vratah bhutejya yanti bhu…, mad-yajino ’pi yanti… [Bg. 9.25] “You wanted Me. You sacrificed everything for Me. Please come on.” Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti kaunteya [Bg. 4.9] So as you work… So therefore this life is the preparation stage for your next life—either you choice a better life, or a sinful life, or unimportant life. That is your… Just like if you get good education, that will make your future life nice. But if you don’t go to school, how you can get a better life? Similarly karma… Karmana daiva netrena. According to your karma. If you are earned, worked very hard for nice place, you’ll get it. Woman (2): So there’s no end to the samsaras… Prabhupada: Oh, yes. That… You are very intelligent. In this way, we are creating our karmas. And getting one, one kind of body to another, another, another. Therefore if we want to get out of this cycle of birth and death, then we must surrender to Krsna. Then the facility will be tyaktva deham… After giving up this body, tyaktva de…, punar janma naiti. No more birth in this material world. That is Krsna consciousness, the best service to the humanity, to stop this repetition of birth and death and go to home, back to home, back to Godhead. This is the special benediction of Krsna consciousness. Woman (2): So it is the short-cut way to… Prabhupada: Eh? Woman (2): It is a short-cut to eternal life? Prabhupada: Yes. This is the short-cut. Just if you become Krsna conscious fully, if you are trained up, just after death, you go to Krsna. That’s all. Immediately. Woman (2): How does it compare with other movements? Prabhupada: Eh? Woman (2): How does it compare with other movements? Prabhupada: That you have to judge. What can I say? If you don’t want to go to Krsna, you can do anything else. Woman (2): I mean… Are these movements leading to Krsna? Prabhupada: Yes. If you want to meet Krsna immediately, then do as these boys are doing, these girls are doing. What is the difficulty? They are Europeans, Americans. They used to eat… They had all the bad habits. Now, for Krsna’s sake, they have given up everything. They want Krsna. They are, they are determined. Drdha-vratah. Bhajante mam drdha-vratah. So as soon as you become determined, your success is sure. (end)
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Bombay, January 4, 1973