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Transcendental TeaTranscendental - Teachings - of - Prahlad - Maharaj-1973 - Originalchings of Prahlad Maharaj-1973 Original
Transcendental TeaTranscendental - Teachings - of - Prahlad - Maharaj-1973 - Originalchings of Prahlad Maharaj-1973 Original
TeachingsOf
PrahldMahrj
HISDIVINEGRACE
A.C.BhaktivedantaSwamiPrabhupada
FounderAcharyaoftheInternationalSocietyforKrishnaConsciousness
JOINUS!
We welcome everyone to join the ISKCON ashram at Hare Krishna Land and
thus perfect his life by cultivating pure devotional service unto the Supreme
PersonalityofGodhead.
Anyone of any caste, color or creed can be admitted into the ashram free of
charge, and he will also receive food, clothing and shelter as he requires. All
devotees,betheyoldornew,followthesamedevotionalprinciples,including:
(1)Noeatingofmeat,fishoreggs
(2)Nointoxicationincludingcoffee,teaandcigarettes
(3)Noillicitconnectionwithwomen,and
(4)Nogambling
In addition, the devotees rise early in the morning, bathe, don freshcloth,and
attend a morning programme of mangala arati, prayer, Tulasi worship,class,and
guru puja of the ashram's founderacharya,HisDivineGraceA.C.Bhaktivedanta
Swami Prabhupada, and His successors. The peacefulandsereneatmosphereof
Hare Krishna Land creates an ideal setting for those who seek the ultimate
perfectionoflifeserviceanddevotiontoGod.
PleasewriteorcontactAMOGHALILADAS
BRAHMACHARYATISKCON,HAREKRISHNA
LAND,JUHU,BOMBAY400049NOW.
HareKrishna!
TRANSCENDENTALTEACHINGS
ofPrahldMahrj
HISDIVINEGRACE
A.C.BHAKTIVEDANTASWAMIPRABHUPADA
FoundercryaoftheInternationalSocietyforKrishna
Consciousness.
1.TheDearmostPerson
TodayIshallspeakbeforeyouofthehistoryofaboydevotee.His
nameisPrahldMahrj,andhewasborninafamilywhichwas
stubbornlyatheistic.Therearetwokindsofmeninthisworldoneiscalled
thedemon,andtheotheriscalledthedemigod.Whatisthedifference
betweenthem?Themaindifferenceisthatthedemigodsorgodlypersons
aredevotedtotheSupremeLord,whereasthedemonsareatheistic.They
donotbelieveinGodbecausetheyarematerialists.Thesetwoclassesof
menalwaysexistinthisworld.Atthepresentmoment,duetothisageof
Kali(Quarrel),thenumberofdemonshasincreased,buttheclassification
hasexistedsincethebeginningofcreation.ThisincidentwhichIam
narratingtoyouoccurredvery,verylongago,afewmillionyearsafterthe
timeofcreation.
ThisboyPrahldMahrjhappenedtobethesonofthemost
atheisticpersonandthemostmateriallypowerfulaswellsoyouwillbe
interestedtorearthishistory.Becausethesocietywasmaterialistic,this
boyhadnoopportunitytoglorifytheSupremeLord.Thecharacteristicofa
greatsoulisthatheisveryeagertobroadcastglorificationoftheSupreme
Lord.LordJesusChristforexample,wasverymucheagertobroadcast
theglorificationofGod,butdemoniacpeoplemisunderstoodhimand
crucifiedhim.
PrahldMahrjwasafiveyearoldboy,and,whenhewasin
school,assoonastherewasarecreationperiod,whentheteacherwas
off,hewouldsaytohisfriends,"Mydearfriends,comeon.Weshall
speakaboutKaconsciousness."Iamjustopeninga
2TranscendentalTeachings
scene.ThisisSrmadBhgavatam,SeventhCanto,SixthChapter.The
devoteePrahladissaying,"Mydearboys,mydearfriends,thisisthe
time,inthisyoungage,toprosecuteKaconsciousness."Beforethat,
hehadhelddiscussionswithhislittlefriends,buttheysaid,"Oh,weshall
nowplay.WhytakeupKaconsciousness?"Inanswertothis,Prahld
Mahrjisstating,"Ifyouareintelligent,thenyoumustbeginKa
consciousnessfromchildhood!"
SrmadBhgavatamoffersbhgavatadharma,orscientific
knowledgeaboutGod.BhgavatammeanstheSupremePersonalityof
Godhead,anddharmameanstheregulativeprinciplesofunderstanding
Kaconsciousness.Thishumanformoflifeisveryrare.Itisagreat
opportunity.Therefore,Prahldsays,"Mydearfriends,youarebornas
civilizedhumanbeings,sothisisthegreatestopportunity."
Althoughitistemporary,donotknowwhatisthelengthofmy
lifeitiscalculatedthatinthisagethehumanbodyismeanttoexistnot
morethanahundredyears.ButastheageofKaliadvances,durationof
life,memory,mercy,religiousnessandallothersuchassetsdecrease.
Althoughitistemporary,youcanachievethehighestperfectionoflife
whileinthishumanform.Whyisthissoimportant?Thisisthe
opportunityyoucanunderstandtheSupremeLord,theallpervadingLord.
Forotherlifeformsthisisnotpossible,Bythegradualevolutionary
processwecometothisplane,sothisistheopportunity,thishumanform
oflife.Bynature'slaw,ahumanbodyisultimatelygiventoyousothatyou
canpromoteyourselftothespirituallifeandgobackhome,backto
Godhead.
TheultimategoaloflifeisViu.Inanotherverse,Prahld
Mahrjwillsay:"Peoplewhoareinthismaterialworldenamoredbythe
materialenergy,donotknowwhatthegoalofhumanlifeis."Why?They
havebeenenchantedbytheglaringexternalenergy.Theyhaveforgotten
thattheyarespiritualenergy.Thisisexplainedlateron,butherehesays,
"Thislifeisanopportunitytounderstandtheultimategoalofperfection,
Viu."WhyshouldwebeveryanxioustoknowViu,orGod?Prahld
Mahrjgivesareason:"Viuisthedearmostperson.Thatwehave
forgotten."Weallseekforsomedearfriendeveryonesearchesinthisway.
Amansearchesfordearfriendshipinwoman,andwomansearches.for
dearfriendshipinman.Orelseamansearchesinman,andwoman
PrahldMahrj3
searchesinwoman.Everyonesearchesaftersomedearfriend,some
sweetfriend.Why?Wewantthecooperationofadearfriendwhowillhelp
us.Thisispartofthestruggleforexistence,andthisisnatural.Butwedo
notknowthatourmostdearfriendisViu,theSupremePersonalityof
Godhead.Wearesearchingaftersomedearfriend,butwedonotknow
whothisdearfriendcanbe.
ThosewhohavereadBhagavadgtwillfindthisniceverseinthe
FifthChapter:"IfyoumakefriendshipwithKa,theSupremeLord,then
youcanunderstandperfectlythateverythingthatexistsinthisworldor
otherworldsisallthepropertyofKa.Heistheproprietorandenjoyerof
everything."Whyareyouperformingausterity?Whyareyouperforming
religiousrituals?Whyareyougivingincharity?Whydoyouengagein
righteousactivities?Whateverformulasyouhavemanufacturedaremeant
forpleasingtheSupremeLord,andnothingmore.Byyouractions,byyour
righteousactivities,whentheSupremeLordispleased,youwillgetthe
result.Ifbyyouractionsyouwanttogaineithermaterialhappinessor
spiritualhappiness,ifyouwanttoliveonthisplanetoronotherplanets,if
youwanttobeahumanbeingoryouwanttobeatiger,catordog,
whateveryoulikeyouwillget.ThereforeHeisthemostsincerefriend.
WhateveryouwantfromHim,youcanget.Buttheintelligentmandoes
notwantanythingthatismateriallycontaminated.
InBhagavadgtyouwillfindthatKasaysthatonecanelevate
oneselftothehighestplanet,whichisknownasBrahmaloka,wherethe
durationoflifeismillionsandmillionsofyears.Youcannotfigurethe
durationoflifethere:yourarithmeticwillbeineffective.Thestatementin
BhagvadgtisthatBrahma'slifeissolongthat4,200,000yearsmake
onedaytohim.Kasays,"Whateverpositionyouwant,beginningfrom
theantrightuptoBrahma,youcanhave.Buttherepetitionofbirthand
deathwillbethere.However,if,somehoworother,bydischargingKa
consciousnessindevotionalservice,youcometoMe,thenyoudon'thave
tocomebackagaintothismiserablematerialcondition."
PrahldMahrjsaidthesamething:Wearesearchingforthe
mostdearfriend,Ka,theSupremeLord.WhyisHethemostdear
friend?BynatureHeisdear.Whatisthedearmostthingwithinyourself?
Haveyouanalyzed?Youareyourselfthedearmost
4TranscendentalTeachings
thing.Iamsittinghere,butifthereisafirealarmIshallatoncetakecare
ofmyself:"HowcanIsavemyself?"Weforgetourfriendsandevenour
children:"Letmefirstofallsavemyself."Selfpreservationisthefirstlawof
nature.
tm,self,inthegrossestsensereferstothebody.Inthesubtler
spherethemindistm,andintherealsensetmmeansthesoul.In
thegrossstageweareveryfondofprotectingthebody,andinasubtler
stageweareveryfondofprotectingthemind.Butabovethismental,
intellectualplane,wheretheatmosphereisspiritualized,wecan
understand:"Iamnotthismindandnotthisbody.Ahambrahmsmiam
apartandparceloftheSupremeLord."Thatistheplatformofreal
understanding.
PrahdMahrjsaysthatofalllivingentities,Viuisthe
supremewellwisher.ThereforeweareallsearchingforHim.Whenachild
cries,whatdoeshelongfor?Helongsforthemother.Buthehasno
languagetoexpressthis.Bynature,hehashisbody,bornofthemother's
body,sothereisanintimaterelationwiththemother'sbody.Thechild
won'tlikeanyotherwoman.Thechildcries,butwhenthewomanwhois
thechild'smothercomesandpickshimup,atonceheispacified.Hehas
nolanguagetoexpressallthis,buttherealdemandisthere.Similarly,we
aretryingtoprotectthebody.Thisisselfpreservation.Itisanaturallawof
thelivingentity,justaseatingisanaturallawandsleepingisanatural
law.Idefendthebodybecausewithinthebodythereissoul.
Whatisthissoul?ThesoulisapartandparceloftheSupreme
Lord.Aswewanttoprotectthehandorthefingerbecauseitisapartof
thewholebody,similarlywetrytosaveourselvesbecausethisisthe
defendingprocessoftheSupreme.TheSupremedoesnotneeddefense,
butthisisamanifestationofourlovetowardsHim,whichisnowperverted.
Thefingerandthehandaremeanttoactintheinterestsofthewhole
bodyassoonasIwantthehandtocomehere,itcomes,andassoonas
Iwantthefingertoplayonthedrum,itplays.Thisisthenaturalposition.
Similarly,wearesearchingforGod,todovetailourenergyforthe
Supreme,but,underthespellofillusoryenergy,wedonotknowit.Thatis
ourmistake.Now,hereisanopportunity,inhumanlife.Youhavecometo
understandaboutKaconsciousness,aboutyourrealgoaloflife,
becauseyouarehumanbeings.Icannotinvitecats
PrahldMahrj5
anddogsandhumanbeings.Ahumanbeingcanunderstandthe
necessityoflife.Ifhelosestheopportunity,itisagreatcatastrophe.
PrahldMahrjsaid,"Godisthedearmostpersonalityofall.We
havetosearchforGod."Thenwhataboutthematerialnecessitiesoflife?
PrahldMahrjrepliestothis,"Youareaftersensegratification.Iknow
that.Sensegratificationisautomaticallyachievedbycontactwiththis
body."Becauseahoghasacertaintypeofbody,hissensegratification
comesfromeatingstool,theverythingwhichismostobnoxioustoyou.At
once,afterevacuating,youleavetogetfreefromthebadsmellbutthehog
iswaiting.Assoonasyouevacuate,hewillatonceenjoy.Otheranimals
arenotattractedbecauseone'sformofpleasureseekingisduetohis
particularbody.Therearedifferenttypesofsensegratificationaccordingto
differenttypesofbodies.Therefore,Prahldsays,"Mydearfriends,sense
gratificationisachievedaccordingtoone'sparticulartypeofbody."
Everyonewhohasamaterialbodyreceivessensegratification.Don'tthink
thatthehogseatingstoolsareunhappy.No,theyaregettingfatinthat
way.Theyareveryhappy.
Now,ifahogcanachievesensegratification,whynotahuman
being?Butthatisnotourachievement.Thatisgivenbynaturethe
facilitiesofahog'sbodyareofferedbynature,andthefacilitiesofadog's
bodyarealsoofferedbynature,orGod.Whyshouldyoulaborforfacilities
whichyouaredestinedtoreceiveanyway,bynature'slaw?Ineveryformof
lifethebodilydemandsaresatisfiedbythearrangementofnature.This
gratificationisarranged,justasthereisanarrangementfordistress.Do
youlikefever?No.Whydoesitcome?Idonotknow.Butitdoescome,
doesitnot?Yes.Didyoutryforit?No.Sohowdoesitcome?"Bynature.
Thatistheonlyanswer.Similarly,ifmiseriescomebynature,your
happinesswillalsocomebynature.Don'tbotheraboutit.Thatisthe
instructionofPrahldMahrj.Ifyoucanreceivethemiseriesoflife
withouteffort,similarly,youcanhaveyourhappinessalsowithouteffort.
Then,whatistherealpurposeofthishumanformoflife?Youhave
tocultivateKaconsciousness.Otherthingswillbeobtainedbynature's
law,orGod'slaw.EvenifIdon'ttry,whateverIamtoachievebecauseof
mypastworkandmyparticulartypeofbody
6TranscendentalTeachings
willbesupplied.Atanystageorinanyformoflife,facilityisgivenfor
sensegratification.Asyoudonottryformisery,soalsohappinesswill
takeplacewithoutyourcontrol.Yourrealconcern,therefore,shouldbeto
seekoutthehighergoalofhumanlife.
PRAHLADMAHARAJwasaboydevoteeabornsage,who,atonly
fiveyearsofage,usedtospeaktohisschoolfriendsthus:
"Mydearfriends,nowisthetimetoprosecuteKrishna
Consciousness,whilewearestillyoung(oratleastyoungatheart)unless
westartimmediatelywe'llnevergetoutofthesufferingsofthematerial
entanglement.........Sopleaseatoncetakeupthechantingof
HAREKRISHNAHAREKRISHNAKRISHNA
KRISHNAHAREHARE
HARERAMAHARERAMARAMARAMA
HAREHARE.
2."WeAreSpoilingOurLives!"
PrahldMahrjinstructshisyoungfriends:"Mydearfriends,
materialenjoymentinvolvesagitatingthesenses.Youhavethismaterial
senseenjoyment,mydearfriends,andyouronlythoughtishowtoenjoy
thesesenses.That'sall."Inpossessionofaparticularbody,wehave
particularsenses,andweenjoy.Forexample,acamelenjoysthorny
twigs.Why?Camelsareveryfondofthornytwigsbecausewhenthey
chewthetwigs,bloodcomesoutofthetongue,andtheytastetheirown
blood.Thecamelthinksthisisverynice.Heeatsthornytwigs,thetwigs
cuthistongue,andbloodoozesout.Hetasteshisownblood,buthe
thinks,"Iamenjoying."Thisissensegratification.Sexlifeisalsolikethat.
Wetasteourownblood,andwethinkweareenjoying.Thisisour
foolishness.
Thelivingentitywhohascontactedthismaterialbodyisaspiritual
being,butbecausehehasatendencytoenjoy,toexploitthismaterial
energy,hehascontactedabody.Thereare8,400,000speciesofliving
entities,eachwithadifferentbody,andaccordingtothebody,theyhave
particularsensesinordertoenjoyaparticulartypeofpleasure.Prahld
Mahrjsaysthatthisbodyanditsparticulartypeofenjoymentgo
together.Supposeyouaregiventhornygrassortwigs:"Ladiesand
gentlemen,hereisverynicefood.Itiscertifiedbythecamels.Itisvery
good:"Wouldyouliketotakeit?"No!Whatnonsenseareyouoffering
me?Becauseyouhaveadifferentbody,youhavenotasteforthat.Butif
youofferittoacamel,becauseofhisparticularbody,itisaverynice
meal.
Oneman'sfoodisanotherman'spoison.Ifoneisoffered
somethingwhichisnothisfood,hecannottakeit.Thestooleatinghog
willnotacceptnicefoodstuffssuchascake.Givehimstool,anditwillbe
verynice.Butifyouareofferedthestool,becauseyouhaveadifferent
bodyyouwillsay,"Whatareyouoffering?"
Therearedifferentkindsofmaterialenjoyment,butthosewhoare
actuallyintelligentknowthatsuchenjoymentisduetothebody.Actual
happiness,however,isthatwhichisnotenjoyedbymaterialsensesbut
bythespiritualsenses.Becausewearespirit,wehavespiritualsenses.
Nowthesearecoveredbymatter,andthereforeweareentrapped.
Therefore,youshouldnotendeavortoachievematerialhappiness.Itwill
come.Theloweranimalshavenobusinessprofession,butstilltheyeat
andlive.SoPrahldMahrjsays,"Youneednotendeavorformaterial
pleasure.Thatwillcome.
8TranscendentalTeachings
Becauseyouhaveabody,itispredestinedthatbodilyenjoyment?as
youarefittoenjoyitwillcome.Ifmiserycomeswithoutourcallingforit,
sohappinesswillcomewithoutourcallingforit."
Therefore,weshouldnotbeveryanxioustoaggravateoursenses
toincreasematerialhappinessInanycivilization,thosewhohaveno
spiritualhappinessalwayshankeraftersenseenjoyment.Prahld:
Mahrjsays,"Yourlifeislimited.Althoughitisveryvaluable,it,isalso
verylimited.AndourdutyistodovetailourselvesinsomewayinKa
consciousnessandtoactaccordingly.Youshouldnottrytoincreaseyour
materialsenseenjoyment.Youcannotincreaseit.Therearesomany
differentkindsofbodies,andtheyareguidedbynature'slaw:youhaveto
eatlikethis,youhavetolivelikethis,youhaveto.sleeplikethis.Ithas
alreadybeenarranged."
Ourhigherintelligencecomeswiththishumanbody.Becausewe
havehigherconsciousness,weshouldtryforthehigherenjoymentinlife,
whichisspiritualenjoyment.Andhowcanthatspiritualenjoymentbe
achieved?You,shouldnotwasteyourtimesimplyhankeringformaterial
pleasure.Then,whatistobedone?Oneshouldabsorbhimselfinserving
theSupremeLord,whogivesthepleasureofliberation:Weshouldturnour
attentiontoachievingthelotusfeetofKa,whocangiveusliberation
fromthismaterialworld.
Howlongdowehavetoengageourselves?PrahldMahrjsays,
"Wearenowin"material.entanglement.NowIhavethisbody,Iwillquitthis
bodyafterafewyears,andthenIwillhavetoacceptanotherbody..Once
youtakeuponebodyandenjoyasyourbody'ssensesdictate,you
prepareanotherbodybysuchsenseenjoymentandyougetanotherbody
asyouwantit."Thereisnoguaranteethatyouwillgetahumanbody.
Thatwilldependonyourwork.Ityouworkedjustlikeademigod,yougeta
demigod'sbody.Andifyouworkedjustlikeadog,thenyougetadog's
body.Thisisnotinyourhandsitisinthehandofnature.Ourdutyisnot
tospeculateonwhatwearegoingtogetnext.Atthepresentmoment,let
us,understandthatwehavethismaterialbody.Now,ifwewanttodevelop
ourspiritualconsciousnessorKaconsciousness,thenweshouldat
onceengageourselvesinthisKaactivity.Thatisauspiciousforfurther
progress.
PrahldMahrj9
Howlongshouldyoudoit?Aslongasthisbodydoesnotstop
working.Wedonotknowwhenitwillstopfunctioning.Thegreatsaint
ParkitMahrjgotsevendaysnotice:"Yourbodywillfallinaweek.But
wedonotknowwhenourbodywillfaii.Assoonasweareontheroad,
theremayimmediatelybesomeaccident.Weshouldalwaysbeprepared.
Deathisalwaysthere.Weshouldnotoptimisticallythink,"Everyoneis
dying,Ishalllive."Whywillyouliveifeveryoneisdying?Yourfatherhas
died,yourmotherhasdied,yoursister,yourotherrelativeswhyshould
youlive?Youwillalsodie.Andyourchildrenwillalsodie.Therefore,before
deathcomes,aslongaswehavethishumanintelligence,letusengagein
Kaconsciousness.ThisistheprescriptionofPrahldMahrj.
Thismaterialbodyiscalledpuruam.Everyoneisanxiousto
enjoy.Puruameanstoenjoy,ortheenjoyer.Thereisnooneinthis
materialworldwhodoesnotliketoenjoysensegratification.Therefore,the
bodymaybewhatitiseithermaleorfemalebutthedesire,the
ambition,istoenjoymateriallife.Sothebodyiscalledpurum.
Wedonotknowwhenthisbodywillstop,butletusimmediately
engageinKaconsciousnessandactaccordingly."ButifIimmediately
engagemyselfinKaconsciousness,whataboutmyliving?"Thatis
arrangedfor.Iamveryhappytoinformyouoftheconfidenceofastudent
inoneofourbranches.Therewasadisagreement.Onestudentsaid,"You
arenotlookingafterhowtomaintaintheestablishment,"andhereplied,
"Oh,Kawillsupply."ThisisaveryniceconvictionIwasgladtohearit.
Ifcatsanddogsandhogscangetfood,andifwearegoingtobeKa
consciousandfullydevoteourservicetoKa,willHenotarraforour
foodalso?IsKaungracious?No.
InBhagavadgtyouwillfindthattheLordsays,"MydearArjuna,
Iamequaltoeveryone.NooneistheobjectofMyenvy,andnooneisMy
specialfriend,butforonewhoengagesinKaconsciousness,Ihave
specialattention."Ifasmallchildiscompletelydependentonthemercyof
hisparents,theparentshavespecialattentionforthatchild.Although'the
parentsareequallygoodtoallthechildren,forthesmallchildrenwhoare.
alwayscrying,"Mother!"theyhavegreatconcern."Yes,mydearchild?
Yes?"Thisisnatural.
10TranscendentalTeachings
IfyouarecompletelydependentonKa,whoissupplyingfood
tothedogs,birds,beesto8,400,000speciesoflifewhyshouldHenot
supplytoyou?Thisconvictioniscalledsurrender.Butweshouldnotthink,
"BecauseKaissupplyingrnyfood,Ishallnowsleep."No,youhaveto
work,butwithoutfear.OneshouldengagehimselfinKa
consciousness.
Nowcalculateourdurationoflife.Inthisageitiscalculatedthat
wecanliveatmosttoahundredyears.Formerly,ahumanbeingusedto
liveupto100,000years.IntheSatyaYuga,orageofGoodness,they
usedtolive100,000years.Inthenextage,TretYuga,theyusedtolive
for10,000years,andinthenext.calledDvparaYuga,theyusedtolive
for1,000years.Now,inthisage,calledKaliYuga,theestimationisfor
100years.ButgraduallyastheKaliYugaprogresses,ourdurationoflife
decreasesstillfurther.Anyonecanunderstandthis.Suppose'my
grandfatherlived100years,andmysonisgoingtoliveforfiftyyears,and
hissonisgoingtoliveforthirtyyears.Thisistheprogressofourmodern
civilization.Weareveryproudthatwearehappyandareimprovingour
civilization.Theresult,however,isthat'Wetryto'enjoymateriallife,but
thedurationofourlifeisshortened.Thisiscalledmy,illusion.
Now,acceptingthatwelivefor100years,thedurationoflifeis
reducedforthosewhohavenoinformationofspirituallife,whohavenot
conqueredsenseenjoyment,orwhoareunabletocontrol.themind.The
lifetimeofthosewhoaretoomuchaddictedtosensegratification,
accordingtothiscalculation,isattheatmostfiftyyears.Evenifonehas
fiftyyears,ifhehasnoinformationofspirituallifehisnightiswastedin
sleepingandsexlife.That'sall.Hehasnootherinterest:Andinthe
daytime,whatishisconcern?''Whereismoney?Whereismoney?Imust
maintainthisbody."Aridwhenhehasmoney:"Nowletmespendformy
wifeandchildren.''Thenwhereishisspiritualrealization?Atnighthe
spendshistimeinthisway,andbydayhespendstimeinthatway.Is
thathismissioninlife?Howhorriblesuchalifeis.
Theaveragepersonisillusionedinchildhoodplayingfootballand
sporting.Uptotwentyyears,easily,youcangoonlikethat.Thenwhen
youbecomeold,foranothertwentyyearsyoucannotdoanything.Whena
manbecomesold,hissensescannotfunction.
PrahldMahrj11
Youhaveseenmanyoldmentheyhavenothingtodobutrest.Justnow
wehavereceivedaletterfromoneofourstudentsthathisgrandmotheris
paralyzedandhasbeensufferingforthelastthreeandahalfyears.So,in
oldage,everythingisfinishedassoonasyouaresixtyyearsold.
Therefore,fromthebeginningtotwentyyearsofage,everythingisspoiled
andevenityouliveforahundredyears,anothertwentyinthelaststageof
lifeisalsospoiled.Sofortyyearsofyourlifearespoiledinthatway.And
inthemiddleagethereisaverystrongsexappetite,soanothertwenty
yearscanbelost.Twentyyears,twentyyears,andtwentyyearssixty
yearsgone.Howlongareyougoingtolive?
ThisistheanalysisoflifebyPrahldMahrj.Wearespoilingour
lifeinsteadofusingit.
3.FamilyIllusion
PrahldMahrjtoldhisfriends."YouhavetobeginKa
consciousnessimmediately."Alltheboyswerebornofatheistic,
materialisticfamilies,butfortunatelyPrahldwasagreatdevoteeofthe
Lordfromhisbirth.Wheneverhe'foundanopportunity,whentheteacher
wasoutoftheroom,heusedtospeak:"Mydearfriends,thisisthetime.
ThisisthetimetobeginKaconsciousness."
Now,aswehavestated,someonemighthavesaid,"Butweare
justboys.Letusplay.Wearenotgoingtodieimmediately.Letushave
someenjoyment,andthenweshallbeginKaconsciousness."People
donotknowthatKaconsciousnessisthehighestenjoyment.They
thinkthatthe.boyswhohavejoinedthisKaconsciousnessmovement
arefoolish."Theyhavelefteverything,andbyPrabhupada'sinfluencethey
havejoined."Butactuallythisisnotso.Theyareallintelligent,educated
boys,comingfromveryrespectablefamiliestheyarenotfools.Theyare
actuallyenjoyinglife,otherwisetheywouldnothavesparedtheirvaluable
timeforthismovement.
Actuallythereisjoyfullife,butpeopledonotknow.Theysay,
"WhatisthisKaconsciousness?"Whenonegrowsintothesense
gratificationprocess,itisverydifficulttogetoutofit.Therefore,according
toVedicregulations,instudentlife,beginningfromfiveyearsofage,boys
aretaughtaboutspirituallife.Thatiscalledbrahmacarya.Abrahmacris
onewhohasdedicatedhislifeforsupremeKaconsciousnessor
Brahmanconsciousness.Heiscalledabrahmacr.Heisalwayssituated
intheSupreme(Brahman).
Brahmacaryahassomanyrulesandregulations:accordingto
brahmacrregulations,howeverrichone'sfathermaybe,oneshouldbe
trainedbythebrahmacrsystem,undertheguidanceofaspiritual
master,andheshouldworkintheasramaofthespiritualmasterjustlikea
menialservant.Howisthis'possible?Wearegettingactualexperience
thatveryniceboyscomingfromveryrespectablefamiliesdonothesitate
todoanyworkhere.Theyarewashingdishes,cleansingfloorseverything.
Onestudent'smotherwasastonishedatherboywhenhevisitedhome.
Before,hewouldnotevengotothestore,andnowheisengaged
twentyfourhoursaday.Unlessonefeelspleasure,howisitpossiblethat
hecanengagehimselfinsuchaprocessasKaconsciousness?This
is
PrahldMahrj13
onlyduetoHareKa.ThisisoursingleassetHareKa.Onecanbe
veryjolly,simplybyKaconsciousness.Actuallythereisjoyfullife.But
unlessoneistrained,onecannotliveit.
PrahldMahrjsaysthateveryoneisattachedtofamilyaffection.
Ifoneisattachedtofamilyaffairs,hecannotcontrolshissenses.
Naturally,everyonewantstolove.Society,friendshipandloveareneeded.
Theyaredemandsofthespiritsoul,buttheyarebeingpervertedly
reflected.Generally,Ihaveseenthatmanyladiesandgentlemeninyour
countryhavenofamilylife,buttheyhaveplacedtheirloveincatsand
dogs.Becauseheorshewantstolovesomeonebutdoesnotseeanyone
suitabletohisdesire,hethereforepreferstoplacehisvaluableloveincats
anddogs.Ourconcernisjusttotransferthelovewhichhastobeplaced
somewheretoKa.ThisisKaconsciousness.Ifyoutransferthe
lovetoKa,thatisperfection.But,becausewedonotknowwhereto
placeourlove,beingfrustratedandcheated,weat:lastplaceourlovein
catsanddogs.Everyoneisentangledbythismaterial,pervertedlove.
Itisverydifficulttodevelopspirituallifewhenoneisadvancedin
materiallove.Itisverydifficultbecausethisbondag'eoflove.isvery
strong.Therefore,Prahld'sproposition.wasthatone.shouldlearnKa
consciousnessimmediatelyfrom:childhood.Whenaboyisfiveorsix
yearsold,heissenttoschooltobetrained:Whenheistooyoungit"is
notpossibleforhimtogotoschool,butassoonashisconsciousnessis
developed,heissentforeducation.PrahldMahrjsaysthatone's
educationshouldbeKaconscious:anditshouldbegin."immediately.
Whenoneisbetweentheagesoffivetofifteenyears,heisconsidereda
boy.Aftersixteenyearsonebecomesayoungman.Hegoesontoforty
years,andthenafterfortyyearsheiselderlythen,aftersixtyyears,heis
anoldman.PrahldMahrjsaysthatoneshouldbetaughtKa
consciousnessfromthebeginning,fromfivetofifteenyearsofage.Thisis
averyvaluabletimeyoucan.trainanyboyinKaconsciousness,and
hewillbeperfect.
Whenonebecomesalittlemoreadvancedinmaterialism,itis
difficulttodevelopspirituallife.Whatismaterialism?Materialismmean?
thateveryoneofusinthismaterialworld,althoughwearespiritsoul,
somehoworotherwantstoenjoythismaterialworld.
14TranscendentalTeachings
Donttrytofindoutwhenitbegan,butactuallythatisthesituation.This
worldismeantforenjoyment.Enjoymentisalreadypresentinourspirit
soul,butwehavecomeheretopartakeofcontaminatedenjoyment,just
likeamanwhoisontheBoweryandthinkshe'senjoying.Someanimals
enjoybyeatingstool.Accordingtothebody,wehavedifferentkindsof
enjoyment.Thebasicprincipleofenjoymentissexlife.Therefore,youwill
findsexlifenotonlyinhumansocietybutincatsociety,dogsociety,bird
societyeverywhere.Duringdaytime.apigeonhassexatleasttwenty
times.Thisishisenjoyment.Thebasicprincipleofmateriallifeissexlife.
SrmadBhgavatamsaysthatmaterialenjoymentisbaseduponnOthing
morethanthecombinationofmanandwomaninsexlife.Inthebeginning
aboythinks,"Oh,thatgirlisnice,"orthegirlsays."Thatboyisnice.''
Andwhentheymeet,thatmaterialcontaminationbecomesmore
prominent.Myheartisalreadyattachedtomaterialenjoyment,butas
soonasIactuallyenjoyit,itbecomesmoreattached,completely
attached.How?Assoonasaboyandgirlaremarried,theywantan
apartment.Then,tomaintainthatapartment,theyneedsomeincome.
Then,whenthereisincome,theywanttohavechildren.Thenwhenthey
havechildren.theywantsocialrecognitionsociety,friendshipandlove.
Thisgoesonincreasing.Everythingrequiresmoney:whereismoney?A
manwhoistoomaterialisticwillcheatanyone,killanyone,beg,borrowor
stealanythingtobringmoney.Heknowsthathisbuildings,hisfamily,his
wifeandchildrencannotcontinuetoexisthere.Theyarejustlikebubbles
intheocean:theyhavecomeintoexistence,andafteralittlewhilethey
willbegone.Butheistoomuchattached.Hewillsacrificehisspiritual
advancementinlifeforthis.HispervertedconsciousnessIamthisbody.
Ibelongtothismaterialworld.Ibelongtothiscountry.Ibelongtothis
community.Ibelongtothisreligion."becomesgreaterandgreater.
WhereishisKaconsciousness?Hebecomessoentangled
thatmoneybecomesmorevaluabletohimthanhisownlife.Hecanrisk
evenhisownlifeformoney.Everyoneistryingtogetmoney.Who?The
householder,thelabourer,themerchant,thethief,thedacoit,therogue.
Whatisthedistinction?Everyoneis
PrahldMahrj15
aftermoney.Thisiscalledillusion.Oneloseshimselfinthemidstofthis
entanglement.
PrahldMahrjsaysthatinthisstate,whenyouaretoomuch
implicatedinmaterialism,youcannotatoncebeginKaconsciousness.
Ofcourse,LordCaitanyaMahaprabhuissokindthatevenifyouhave
missedthechancetobecomeKaconsciousinyourchildhood,itis
betterlatethannever.Ifyoudounderstand,thenbeginimmediatelyin
whateverpositionyouare.Eventhoughyoumissedtheopportunityto
beginKaconsciousnessfromchildhood,beginnow.ThatisCaitanya
Mahprabhusteaching.Heneversaid,"Becauseyoudidnotbegin
Krishnaconsciousnessfromyourchildhood,youcannotmakeprogress."
No.Heisverykind.Hehasgivenusthisniceprocessofchanting:Hare
Ka,HareKa,KaKa,HareHare/HareRma,HareRma,
RmaRma,HareHare.Whetheryouareayoungmanoranoldmanna
matterwhatyouarejustbegin.Youdonotknowwhenyourlifewillbe
finished.Ifyoubeginsincerely,evenforamoment,itwillhavegreateffect.
Itwillsaveyoufromthegreatestdanger.
Althoughonlyfiveyearsold,PrahldMahrjspeaksjustlikea
veryexperiencedmanbecausehereceivedexperiencefromhisspiritual
master.Thatwillbedisclosedlater.Experienceshouldnotbederivedfrom
age,butfromknowledgereceivedfromasuperiorsource:Onecannot
becomeawisemansimplybyadvancementofage.No.Thatisnot
possible.Knowledgehastobereceivedfromasuperiorsource.Itdoesn't
matterwhetherheisafiveyearoldboyorafiftyyearoldman.InSanskrit
thisisphrased:"Onebecomesanoldmanwithoutage." Heisonlyfive
yearsoldhowcanhebecomeanoldman?Onebecomesoldby
advancementinknowledge.PrahldMahrjisspeakingjustlikeanold
man.Supposeaman'isalreadymarriedandPrahldsays,"Youtaketo
Kaconsciousness."Hewillthink,"Oh,howcanIleavemywife?We
talksonicelytogether,sittogetherandenjoy.HowcanIleave?"Itisa
verystrongcombination.
Iamanoldman,seventytwoyearsold.Ihavebeenawayfrommy
familyduringthelastfourteenyears.YetsometimesIalsothinkofmy
wife.Thisisquitenatural.ButthatdoesnotmeanthatIhavetogoback.
Thisisknowledge.Oneshouldatonceunder
16TranscendentalTeachings
stand:thisisillusion.AccordingtotheVedicsystem,onehastoforcibly
giveupfamilylifeattheageoffifty.Onemustgo.Thereisnoalternative.
Thefirsttwentyfiveyearsareforstudentlife.Fromfiveyearstotwentyfive
years,oneshouldbeeducatedverynicelyinKaconsciousness.The
wholebasicprincipleshouldbeKaconscious,nothingelse.Thenlife
willbesuccessful.Lifewillbepleasingandsuccessful,bothinthisworld
andinthenext.Fortwentyyears,fromfivetotwentyfive,aboyshouldbe
trainedinKaconsciousnesswhichnecessitatesgivingupmaterial
consciousnessaltogether.ThatiscalledperfectKaconsciousness.
ButifsomeoneisnotabletocapturetheessenceofKa
consciousness,thenheisallowedtohaveagoodwife,bemarried,and
liveapeacefulhouseholderlife.And,becausehehasthebasicprincipleof
Kaconsciousness,hewillnotentanglehimselfinthematerialworld.If
onelivesasimplelifeplainlivingandhighthinkinghecanprogressand
cancultivatethesameKaconsciousnessevenwithinthefamily.
Sofamilylifeisnotcondemned.Butifamanforgetshisspiritual
identityandsimplybecomesentangledinmaterialaffairs,thenheislost.
Hislife'smissionislost.Ifonethinks,"Icannotprotectmyselffromthe
attackofmy,"thenlethimbemarried.Thatisprescribed.Wedon'thave
illicitsexlife.Ifyouwantagirl,ifyouwantaboy,getmarried.Livein
Kaconsciousness.
Apersonwhoistrainedfromtheverybeginningnaturallybecomes
disinclinedtowardthematerialwayoflife,andattheageoffiftyhegivesit
up.Howdoyoustartgivingitup?Thatisalsoaconcession:thehusband
andwifeleavethechildren.Iffromtwentyfivetofiftyheremainsinfamily
life,hemusthavesomegrownupchildren.Soheentrustsallhisfamily
affairstothem.AccordingtotheVedicsystem,aboyismarriedattheage
oftwenty,andagirlismarriedattwelveyears.So,familyaffairsare
entrustedtosomeoftheboyswhoarefamilymen,andthehusbandand
wifegoonpilgrimagestotrytoforgettheseattachments.Whenthe
gentlemaniscompletelymatured,heaskshiswifetogohometohis
children,andheremainsalone.Thatisthesystem.Otherwise,ifwe
remainattachedtomaterialconsciousness,thenwewillnotperfectour
Kaconsciousness.Sowehavetogiveourselvesachance,stepby
step.
PrahldMahrj17
Otherwise,ifwebecometoomateriallycomplicated,weshallmissthe
opportunityofthishumanformoflife.
Familylifemeansthatwehaveverylovingchildren,andweare
loved.Weattract,ourwifetalksverynicely,andwegiveverynice
instructions."Youdothis.Youdothat."Thusweenjoylife.Butwedonot
knowthatthisenjoymentisfalse.Wearestandingonafalseplatform.At
once,inthetwinklingofaneye,wemayhavetogivethisup.Deathisnot
underourcontrol.FromBhagavadgtwelearnthatifonedieswhiletoo
muchattachedtoone'swife,theresultwillbethathewillgethisnextlife
asafemale.Andifthewifeisveryattachedtothehusband,itisforher
benefitshegetsthenextlifeasaman.Therefore,accordingtotheVedic
system,chastityisgreatlystressed.ThishasnothingtodowithKa
consciousnessitissimplyamatterofendingmaterialconsciousness.Ifa
womanischasteandsimplythinksofoneman,thentheresultwillbethat
shewillgetaman'sbodyinthenextlife.Similarly,ifyouarenotafamily
manbutareattachedtoacatordog,thenyournextlifewillbeasacator
dog.Thatis.alsoafact.Itisbettertoloveawomanandbeattachedto
her.Itisbettertohaveawoman'sbodythantohaveacat'sordog'sbody.
Thesearetherulesofkarma,ormaterialnature.
Thewholepointisthatoneshouldbegin.Ifonethinks,"After
finishingmysportinglife,whenIamoldandthereisnothingelsetodo,
thenIshallgototheKrishnaConsciousnessSocietyandhear
something."Atthattimeonecango,butoneshouldhavetheopportunity
nowandshouldutilizeone'slifefromtheverybeginning.Therefore,this
Society'smainobjectistogiveeveryoneachancetobeginKa
consciousnessatanystage.And,bythisprocessofHareKa,Hare
Ka,KaKa,HareHare/HareRma,HareRma,RmaRma,
HareHare,itisveryquick.Thereisanimmediateresult. Weshall
requestalltheladiesandgentlemenwhoareverykindlyattendingour
lecturesorreadingourliteraturetogohome,andatatyourleisurehour,
danceandchant,orreadourbooks.Youwillfinditverynice.Thatisour
request.ThatiswhatourSocietyisspreading.
4.ILoveKaMoreThanAnything!
NowPrahldMahrjmakesafurtherstatementaboutthe
complicationsofmateriallife.WemustalwaysrememberthatKa
consciousnessisnotamethodforcriticizinghouseholdlife.Householdlife
isrecommended,butundertheconditionthatoneshouldnotforgetabout
hisspiritualadvancementinlife.Thedifficultyisthatinthematerial
conceptoflifeweforgetourspiritualideal.Weshould,therefore,bevery
cautiousindealingwiththematerialisticworld.Becauseourpositionis
forgetfulness,therearesomanyregulationsonhowtobecomea
householder,howtobecomeabrahmacrandhowtoexecutethe
renouncedorder,oflife. SowehavetoreviveourKaconsciousness,
whichistheprivilegeofthishumanform.IfwefailtoreviveourKa
consciousness,thenwemissthehighestopportunity.Weshouldalways
rememberthat.PrahldMahrj'spositionisthatoneshouldlearnKa
consciousnessfromone'schildhood.Why?IfwedonotpracticeKa
consciousnessfromchildhood,intheadvancedstageofmaterialisticlife
wemaybecompletelyforgetful.Althoughinhischildhoodhepreachedin
thisway,PrahldMahrjhimselfwasahouseholder,buthewasa
cautioushouseholder.Itisnotharmfultobecomeahouseholderandlive
withfamily,childrenandwife,butoneshouldnotforgethisspiritual
advancementheshouldbeKaconscious.
PrahldMahrjalwaysremindsusthatifwedonotpractice,if
wedonotknowwhattheaimofourhumanformoflifeis,thenwewillmiss
theopportunityforperfection.Thatisthepoint.Hereitissaidthatifyoudo
notpractice,ifyoudonotknowKaconsciousnessfromchildhood,itis
verydifficultlater,whenyouaremateriallyadvanced.Thereisavery
simpleexample:ifaboyisnoteducatedfromchildhood?itisnotpossible
whenheisadvancedinage.Ihaveactualexperienceofthis.Afatherand
adaughterbothtookaB.A.examination,andthedaughtercameout
successfulwhilethefatherfailed.Intheadvancedstageoflifeitisno
longer.possibletoabsorbanysortofeducation.Ifinouradvancedstage
wesitdownforthematriculationexamination,weshallfail,andaboyof
fourteenwillpass.ThereforePrahldMahrjwarnsthat
PrahldMahrj19
everyoneshouldlearntheimportanceofthescienceofGodheadfrom
childhood.Otherwise,whenoneiscomplicatedinfamilylife,itwillbe
impossible.Ofcourseforthisage,asIhavealreadyexplained,Ka
consciousnessiseasilyobtainablebytheprocessofchanting.Generally,
however,intheadvancedstageoflifeitisverydifficulttohaveanysortof
education.
PrahldMahrjalsogivesanotherpicture.Firstofall,the
attractionforwifehasalreadybeenexplained.Nowheexplainsthe
attractionforchildren.ItiscustomaryintheVedicsystemthatadaughter
isgivenincharitytothesoninlawattheageoftwelveorthirteenyears.
Atthattimeshegoestoherfatherinlawshouse.Herfatherthinks,"Oh,
howcanshego?"Sheisalwaysonherfather'smind,andhealsothinks
ofhisbrother,hisoldfatherallthesecomplications.Similarly,Arjunawas
thinking,"HowamItokillmygrandfather?Howisthispossible?"These
familyrelationshipsandfamilyaffectionsareverypredominant,andthey
areallimpedimentstobecomingKaconscious.Wehavetobevery
cautiousthatourfamilyaffectionsdonotovercloudourKa
consciousness.Weshouldalwaysknowthatthefamilyrelationshipsof
thismaterialworldaresimplyapervertedreflectionoftherealrelationships
inthespiritualworld.Thisfamilyisfalsenotexactlyfalse,buttemporary.
lt.istemporary,butweareeternalweshouldnotbemisledbytemporary
affection.Thatisbeingexplainedhere.Sometimeswearestrongly
attachedtoournicelydecoratedapartmentsandnicelymadedresses.We
think,"HowshallIleavethese?"Thisisthematerialisticwayoflifethereis
noendtoit.
Hereisaveryniceexample.Thesilkwormentanglesitselfinits
ownsaliva,andwhentheimprisonmentisfinallymade,thesilkmerchants
gothereandtakethesilkprisonhouseofthewormandremovethesilk.
Beforethewormcomesoutthesilkmerchanttakesthecell,otherwise,if
thesilkwormcutsitswayout,thereisnosilk.Inthesameway,our
entanglementbecomessotightthatwecannotcomeoutofthiscellof
familyattraction.Eventhoughtherearesomanymiseriesinthe
materialisticwayoflife,wecannotbreakfree.Why?Wethinkthatsexlife
andpalatableeatingareverynice.Therefore,inspiteofsomanymiserable
conditions,wecannotgivethemup.
20TranscendentalTeachings
Inthisway,whenoneistoomuchentangledinfamilylife,one
cannotthinkofhisrealbenefittoescapefrommateriallife.Hebecomes
entangled.Althoughheisalwaysdisturbedbythethreefoldmiseriesof
materialisticlife,stillbecausethereisfamilyaffectionhecannotcomeout.
Hedoesnotknowthatheisspoilinghislimiteddurationoflifesimplyfor
theaffectionoffamily.Heisspoilingthelifethatwasmeantforrealizing
hiseternalself,forrealizinghisrealspirituallife.But,sinceheisentangled
insuchfamilyaffection,hedoesnotunderstandwhatheisdoing.Ifwe
inquiredofeveryfamilyman,oranyone,whetherornotheishappyinhis
materialwayoflife,everyonewillsay,Iamnothappy."Butstill,noone
canceasematerialactivities.Why?Becauseeveryonehasbecome
entangled.Althoughoneisunhappy,hedoesnotexpressthat
unhappiness.Why?Heisexpectedtomaintainthefamilywhichhehas
created.Hisonlyaffectionismaintenanceofthefamilyandhebecomes
moreandmoreentangled.Evenifoneiseducated,duetothataffection
onecommitssomanysinfulactivities.
PrahldMahrjistryingtoimpressuponusthatdetachmentis
notpossible,evenifoneishighlyeducated,unlessoneistrainedfromthe
verybeginning.ThatisPrahld'spointofview.Eveninthe
SrmadBhgavatamitisstatedthatunlessoneisKaconscious,he
cannotbecomeaperfectgentleman.Noonecanbecomequalifiedwith
highcharacterunlessheisKaconscious.Why?Becauseheis
hoveringonthementalplane,apersonwhoisnotinKaconscioushas
nootherdirectionthantocommitsinfulactivities.
PrahldMahrjsaysthatmaterialentanglementissomething
likeaprisonhouse.Ifwearenottrainedfromtheverybeginningofourlife
aboutKaconsciousness,the.aimofhumanlife,thenweareshackled,
justasintheprisonhouseo.neisshackledwithironchains,Weshould
alwaysrememberthattheaimofhumanlifeistogetoutofthismaterial
entanglement.Ifwearenottaughtatanearlyage,fromtheverybeginning
ofschoollife,oratsomestageoflife,thentheopportunityofthishuamn
lifewillbelost.Thatishisinstruction."Therefore,mydemoniacfriends,"
headdressesthemagain,"pleasegiveupthecompanyofthosewhoare
simplyaftermaterialenjoyment."
"Justmakeyourassociationswithpersonswhohavetakento
PrahldMahrj21
Kaconsciousness."Thatishisadvice.Hesaystohisfriendsthatthis
Kaconsciousnessisnotdifficulttoattain.Why?Kaconsciousness
isverydeartous,butwedonotunderstandit.AnyonewhotakestoKa
consciousnessbecomesmoreandmoreaffectedbyitandforgetshis
materialconsciousness.How?Itisverydeartous,butwehaveforgotten
it.
Ifyouareinaforeigncountry,youmighthaveforgottenyourhome
andfamily,yourfamilymembersandfriendswhoareverydeartoyou.But
allofasudden,ifyourememberaboutyourhomeandfriends,youatonce
becomeverypreoccupied,"HowshallImeetthem?"IknowinSan
Franciscooneofourfriendslefthisyoungchildrenandwenttoanother
country,andtheeldestchildhasnowgrownup.Alettercamefromthe
eldestchild,andatoncethefatherrememberedandsentsomemoney.
Thataffectionautomaticallycame,eventhoughhehadforgottenforso
manyyears.Similarly,ouraffectionforKaissointimatethatassoon
asthereissometouchofKaconsciousness,weatoncereviveour
wholerelationshipwithHim.
EveryonehassomeparticularrelationshipwithKatheSupreme
Lord,thathehasforgotten.AssoonaswearedevetailedwithKa
consciousness,graduallytheoldconsciousnessofourrelationshipwith
Kaisrevived.Andwhenourconsciousnessisactuallyintheclear
stage,wecanunderstandourparticularrelationshipwithKa.Someone
hasarelationshipwithKaasfriend.Someonehasarelationshipwith
Kaassonandparent,orasloverandbelovedorhusbandandwife.All
theserelationshipsarepervertedlyreflectedinlifeinthematerialworld.But
assoonaswecometotheplatformofKaconsciousness,thatold
relationshipwithKaisrevived.
Weloveeveryoneofus.Ilovemyself.Thatisafact.Ilove
myself,andthatselfhasanintimaterelationshipwithKabecausethe
selfispartandparcelofKa.Theselfiswithinthisbody,andIlovemy
selfbetterthanthebody.Similarly,becausemyselfispartandparcelof
Ka,IloveKamorethananything.ButwehaveforgottenthatKa
isallpervading.Godisallpervading.Thismemoryhassimplytobe
revived.AssoonaswereviveourKaconsciousnesswecanstudy
everythinginrelationshipwithKa.Everythingthenbecomesfactually
lovable.NowIloveyou"
22TranscendentalTeachings
oryouloveme.Thatloveisontheephemeralstageofthisbody.Butwhen
loveofKaisdeveloped.Iwillnotloveyouonly,butIwillloveeveryliving
entitybecausetheoutwarddesignation,thisbody,isforgotten.Whena
manbecomesfullyKaconscious,hedoesnotsee,"Hereisaman,
hereisananimal,hereisacat.hereisadog,andhereisaworm."He
seeseverythingaspartandparcelofKa.Thisisverynicelyexplained
intheBhagavadgt:"OnewhoisactuallylearnedinKa
consciousnessbecomesaloveroftheuniverse."Unlessoneissituatedon
theKaconsciousplatform,thereisnoquestionofuniversal
brotherhood.
Nowwearetalkingofuniversalbrotherhood.Ifweactuallywantto
implementtheideaofuniversalbrotherhood,thenwewillhavetocometo
theplatformofKaconsciousness,notmaterialconsciousness.Aslong
asweareinmaterialconsciousness,ourlovableobjectswillbelimited.
ButwhenweareactuallyinKaconsciousness,ourlovableobjectswill
beuniversal.ThatisstatedbyPrahldMahrj."Beginningfromtheantor
thenonmovableplantsandtreesandextendingtothehighestliving
creature,Brahma,theSupremePersonalityofGodheadispresent
everywherebyHisexpansionastheParamtm,thefeatureoftheLordin
everyone'sheart.AssoonaswebecomeKconscious,thatextension
oftheSupremePersonalityofGodhead,Paramtm,inducesustolove
everyobjectinrelationwithK."
5.GodRealizationIsEverywhere
MahrjPrahldinformedhisclassfellowsaboutthe
allpervasivenessoftheSupremeLord.TheSupremeSoulisallpervasive,
butthatdoesnotmeanthatHehaslostHispersonality.Thatis
significant.AlthoughHeisallpervading,stillHeisaperson.Accordingto
ourmaterialperception,ifsomethingisallpervading,thenithasno
personality,nolocalizedaspect.ButGodisnotlikethat.Forexample,the
sunshineisallpervading,butthesunalsohasalocalizedaspect.Thesun
islocalizedinoneplace,andyoucanseeit.Notonlyistherethesun,but
withinthesunplanetthereisasungod,whosenameisVivasvn.Weget
thisinformationfromVedicliteraturethereisnowaytounderstandwhat
takesplaceonotherplanetsbutbyhearingfromauthorizedsources.The
differenceinmoderncivilizationisthatwehearascientistsay,"Wehave
seenthemoonitissuchandsuch,"andwebelieveit.Wehavenotgone
withthescientisttoseethemoon,butwebelievehim.
Beliefisthebasicprincipleofunderstanding.Youeitherbelieve
meorhimthatdependsonyou.Ifyoubelieveascientistthatis
information,andifyoubelievetheVedas,thatisalsoinformation.Itisup
toyouwhichsourceyoubelieve.AccordingtoVedicinstruction,wetake
infallibleinformationfromtheVedas.AsIhaveexplained,anordinaryman
whoisconditionedbymaterialnature'hasfourdefects.Whatarethose
fourdefects?Thefirstisthatahumanbeingissuretocommitmistakes,
howevergreatascientisthemaybe.Notverylongagointhiscountry,
therewasadisasterwhenascientistsentasatelliteupbutatonceit
burnedtoashes.Sotherewasamistake.Theremustbemistakes.Thisis
thenatureofconditionedlife.Themistakemaybeverygreatorvery
slightthatdoesn'tmatter.Butahumanbeingconditionedbymaterial
natureissuretocommitmistakes.
Further,manisillusioned.Heacceptsonethingforsomething
elsebecausehissensesareimperfect.Forexample,weacceptthisbody
astheself.Actually,Iamnotthisbodythereforetheacceptanceofthe
bodyasselfiscalledillusion.Thewholeworldisgoingonunderthe
illusionthat"Iamthisbody."Thereforethereisnopeacebecause
everyoneisillusioned.IamthinkingthatIamIndian,you
24TranscendentalTeachings
areAmerican,andaChinesemanisthinkingthatheisChinese.Whatis
this"Chinese,""American,"and"Indian"?Itisthebody.Thisisillusion.
Tocheatisanotherconditionoflife.Iamafool,butIwillboast
thatIamverylearned.Everyonewhoisillusionedandcommitsmistakes
isafool,butstilloneposeshimselfasbeingfreedfromallmistakes.And
aboveall,oursensesareimperfect.Weviewthesunasasmalldisc.
Why?Itisfar,fargreaterthanthisearth,butweseeitjustasadisc.We
havetheseimperfectsenses,andwearesubjecttobecomeillusionedand
commitmistakes,andweareinfluencedbythepropensitytocheat.
Howcanoneexpectrealknowledgefromsuchconditionedsouls?
Thereisnopossibilitytoreceiveactualknowledgefromthem.So,inthis
world,whetheramanisascientist.aphilosopherorwhateverhemaybe,
orhowevereducatedhemaybe,becauseheisconditioned,hecannot
givecompleteinformation.Thisisafact.Howdoyougetcomplete
information?TheprocessisthedisciplicsuccessionofVedicknowledge.
YoucanreadinBhagavadgtthatLordKasaystoArjuna,"The
knowledgeofBhagavadgtwasfirstspokenbyMetothesungod,and
thesungodspokeittohisson,Manu.Inturn,Manuspokethisknowledge
tohissonlkvku,andthenlkvkuspokethesametohisson.Inthis
waytheknowledgehascomedown,butunfortunatelythatdisciplic
successionisnowbroken.Therefore,OArjuna,Iamnowpreachingthe
sameknowledgetoyoubecauseyouareMyverydearfriendandgood
devotee."Thisistheprocessofacceptingknowledge.Wehavetoaccept
thetranscendentalvibration.
TheentireVedicknowledgeisatranscendentalvibrationtohelp
ustounderstandtheSupremeLord.SoPrahldMahrjsaysthatthe
SupremeSoulisidenticalwiththeallpervadingSupremePersonalityof
Godhead.IntheBrahmasahitalsothesameinformationappearsthat
theSupremeLord,althoughsituatedinHisowntranscendentalabode,is
allpervading.AlthoughHeisallpervading,presenteverywhere,stillbyour
imperfectsenseswecannotseeHim.
PrahldMahrjsays,"AlthoughHeisnotseen,Hecanstillbe
perceived.Onewhoisintelligentcanperceivethepresenceofthe
SupremeLordeverywhere."Howisthispossible?Duringthe
PrahldMahrj25
daytimeonewhoisinthelightcanseethatthesunisup,eventhoughhe
isina.room.Becauseitisdaytime,becauseitislight,hecanunderstand
thatthesunisshining.Similarly,thosewhohaveunderstoodthewhole
materialcreation,thosewhohaveunderstoodthewholecosmicsituation,
knowthateverythingisanexpansionoftheenergyoftheSupremeLord.
Whatdoweseewiththesepresentmaterialsenses?Wecan
hearandunderstandthefivegrosselementsandalsothefinerelements
wecanunderstandthatwehavemindandintelligence.Similarly,wecan
understandthatthereissoul.Wecanunderstandfire,water,earth,sky,
mindandintelligence.And,ifamanisfurtheradvanced,hecan
understandthatthereisasoul,and,aboveall,thereisSupersoul.Wesee
whatisvisibletothematerialeye.Wecanseeearth,water,fire.Butwe
cannotseeair,althoughwecanperceiveit.Bytouchwecanunderstand
theair.Wecanunderstandthatthereisskybysound.Wecan
understandthatwehavemindbecausewearethinking,feelingandwilling.
Similarly,wecanunderstandthatwehaveanintelligencethatguidesthe
mind.Ifwegostillfurther,wecanunderstand,"Iamconsciousness."
Thevisiblethingsaroundusarealsoexpansionsoftheinferior
energyoftheSupremeLord.ItisstatedintheBhagavadgtthatwe
shouldtrytounderstandthatwhichisspreadalloverthebodybecause
thatiseternal.Wehavetounderstandfromtheauthorities,butwecan
alsoperceiveit.Weknowthatthereisconsciousnessspreadalloverthe
body.IfIpinchanypartofmybody,thereisconsciousness.Similarly,
consciousnessisspreadalloverthisuniverse.Butthatisnotour
consciousness.ThatisGod'sconsciousness.Weknoweverypartofour
body.Wecanperceive,"Thisismyfinger,"or"Thisismyear."Similarly,
God,theSupremeSoul,isallpervadingbyHisconsciousness.Thatis
Kaconsciousness.
OurprocessistodovetailourconsciousnesswithKa
consciousnessthatwillmakeusperfect.Itisnotthatwemergeintothat
consciousness.Inonesensewecansay"merge,"butstillwekeepour
individuality.Thatisthedifferencebetweenimpersonalistphilosophyand
Kasconsciousphilosophy.Theimpersonalistphilosophysaysthatwe
mergeintotheSupremeandloseourindividuality.Wecansaythatwe
mergeintotheSupreme,
26TranscendentalTeachings
butwekeepourindividuality.Howisthat?Anairplanestartsfromthe
airportandclimbsupandup,andwhenitgoesveryhighwecannotseeit
becauseitmergesintothehighersky.Wecansimplyseesky,butthe
airplaneisnotlostitisstillthere.Anotherexampleisthatifagreenbird
entersintoabiggreentree,wecannotdistinguishthebirdfromthetree,
buttheybothexist.Similarly,thesupremeconsciousnessisKa,and
whenwedovetailourindividualconsciousnesswiththeSupreme,wethen
becomeperfect.Anoutsidermayseethatthereisnodistinctionbetween
Godandmen,butitisdueonlytoapoorfundofknowledge.Every
individualperson,everyindividualbeing,maintainshisindividuality,even
thoughheisdovetailedwiththeSupreme.
PrahldMahrjsaysthatwecannotseeconsciousnesseither
supremeconsciousnessorindividualbutitisthere.Howisitthere?We
canunderstandthesupremeconsciousnessandourindividual
consciousnessbyperceptionofblissfulness.Becausewehave
consciousness,wecanfeelnanda,orpleasure.Withoutconsciousness
thereisnofeelingofpleasure.Becauseofthatconsciousnesswecan
enjoylifebyapplyingoursensesinwhateverwaywelike.Butassoonas
consciousnessisgone,wecannotenjoy.Iampresentbecauseof
consciousness,andIampartandparcelofKa,asstatedin
Bhagavadgt.
Thisconsciousnessexistsbecausewearepartandparcelofthe
supremeconsciousness.Forexample,asparkisatinypartandparcelof
thefire,yetthesparkisalsothefire.AdropoftheAtlanticOcean
possessesthesamequalityasalltheoceanwateritisalsosalty.
Similarlythepleasurepoetencywhichwefeelisthepresenceof
consciousness,andthatsamepleasurepotencyalsoexistsinthe
SupremeLord.Paramesvarameansthesupremecontroller.Wearealso
ivara,orcontroller,becauseweareinsomecontrol.Forexample,Ihave
somecontrollingpowertotakeadrinkofwaterwhenIcough.Accordingto
ourcapacity,everyoneofushassomecontrollingpower.Butwearenot
thesupremecontroller.ThesupremecontrollerisGod.
BecauseHeisthesupremecontroller,Heiscontrollingallthese
universalenergiesbyHisdifferentpotencies.Wecanalsounderstandand
feel.Iamcontrollingmybodilyaffairsasfaraspossible,butbecauseIam
notthesupremecontroller,ifthereissomething
PrahldMahrj27
wronginthisbody,Ihavenocontrol.Ispeakofthishandas"myhand"
becauseIamworkingwiththishandandammovingitaccordingtomy
desire.Iamactuallythecontrollerofmyhand.ButIamnotthecontroller
ofyourhand.IfIdesirethatyourhandmove,thatisnotinmypowerthat
isinyourpower.Youcanmoveyourhandifyoulike.Iamnotthe
controllerofyourbody,buttheSupremeSoulisthecontrollerofbothyour
bodyandmybody.ThatisexplainedintheBhagavadgt.TheLordsays
thatyouarepresentinyourbodyandthatthisbodyisthefieldofyour
activities.
Whateveryouaredoingaccordingtothebodyislimited.An
animalwhichisboundupinacertaintractoflandcanmovethereand
cannotgobeyondwhatthatspaceallows.Similarly,youractivityandmy
activityareboundupwithinthelimitsofourbodies.Mybodyismyfieldof
activities,andyourbodyisyourfieldofactivities.ButKasays,"Iam
presentineveryfield."HeispresentasSupersoul.IknowwhenIcough,
butyoudonotknowhowIfeel,andsimilarly,Idonotknowwhatyouare
doing.Kahowever,asParamtm,knowswhatisgoingoninmybody,
inyourbody,andinthousandsofmillionsandbillionsofotherbodies.
ThereforeHeisthesupremecontroller.Wehaveourlimitedenergy,butHe
istranscendentaltothislimitedenergy.Hehasunlimitedopulence.ByHis
controllingpower,byHissupremewill,thismaterialcreationismoving.
ThatisalsoconfirmedintheBhagavadgtwhereKastates,"Under
Mysuperintendencethewholematerialnaturesworking.Allwonderful
thingsthatyouseeinthismaterialworldareduetoMysupervision,My
supremecontrol."
PrahldMahrjnowgiveshisconclusion."Mydearfriends,
becausetheSupremeLordispresenteverywhereandbecausewearepart
andparceloftheSupremeLord,ourdutyistobemercifultoallliving
entities."Whenapersonisinalowerposition,wehaveadutytohelphim.
Becauseheishelpless,thesmallchildisdependentonthemercyofthe
parent.Intherelationshipofthesmallchildandtheparentthereisa
reciprocationoffeeling.Thechildisalwaysdependentontheparent.
"Mother,Iwantthis.""Yes,mydearchild."Weshouldbecompassionate
toalllivingentitiesandshouldshowthemmercy.Howcanweshowour
mercy?Therearemillionsandmillionsofpoormen,sohowcanweshow
themallmercy?Theywantsomanythings.
28TranscendentalTeachings
Peopleareveryproudthattheyaregoingtoservethepoor.In
whatwayaretheygoingtoserve?Areweabletosupplyclothingandfood
toalltheneedypersonsoftheworld?Thatisnotpossible.How,then,can
webemercifultoeverylivingentity?Thefactis'thatwecannotshowany
mercytothelivingentitiesthroughmaterialconsiderations.Thatisnot
possible.PrahldMahrjisshowinghisclassfriendsrealmercy.They
wereallfools,devoidofKaconsciousness,andthereforehewas
showingthemhowtobecomeKaconscious.Thisisthehighestmercy.
Ifyouwanttoshowanymercyatalltothelivingentities,thenenlighten
theminKaconsciousnessasPrahldMahrjdid.Otherwise,itis
materiallybeyondyourpowertoshowmercy.
"Mydeardemoniacfriends,"Prahldsays,"giveupthisdemoniac
life.Giveupthisnonsense."ThebeliefthatthereisnoGodisthe
demoniacfeaturethatPrahldMahrjrequestshisdemoniacfriendsto
giveup.Theywerethinking,"WhoisGod?ThereisnoGod."Wefindin
theBhagavadgtthatpeopleofthismentalityarecalledmiscreants,for
theyalwaystrytomakemischief.Theyareverywelleducatedattorneys,
lawyersandsoon,buttheirplanistocheat.Wehavepractically
experiencedit.Theyarehighlyeducatedwithsomanyqualificationsand
arenicelydressed,buttheirmentalityismorebasethanthatofadog.
"Thismanhassomemoney,soletusconspiretocheathim."Theyare
simplymiscreants.
Whyaretheycheatingfor?Simplyforsensegratification,justan
asswhodoesnotknowthepurposeoflife.Hetakesthehundredpounds
burdensontilsback,andheiskeptbythewasherman,wholoadshis
backasmuchaspossible.Inthiswaytheassworksthewholedaywith
thisburdensimplyforafewmorselsofgrass.Similarly,materialistic
peoplewillsimplybesatisfiedtoeatasimplepieceofbreadorsomething
similar,buttheyworkveryhard.Thereforetheyarecomparedtoasses.
Theyarealwaysplanningsomethingmischievous.Theyarethelowestof
mankindbecausetheydonotbelieveinGod.Why?Theiractual
knowledgehasbeenplunderedbytheinfluenceofthismaterialenergy.
BecausetheydenytheexistenceofGod,illusionimpellsthem:"Yes,
thereisnoGod.Workhardandcommitsinssothatyoumaygotohell."
PrahldMahrjrequestshisdemoniacfriendstojustgiveupthis
ideathatthereisnoGod.Ifwegiveupthisnonsensicalidea,thenthe
Supremelordwhoisbeyondourperception,willbepleasedandshowHis
mercytous.
SAMKIRTAN
TheDevoteesarehereseenchantingtheHolyNamesofGod.This,in
thesedarkdaysofquarrelandhypocrisy,practicecalledSamKirtanisthe
mostrecommendedactivityfordevelopingGodConsciousness.
HAREKRISHNAHAREKRISHNA
KRISHNAKRISHNAHAREHARE
HARERAMAHARERAMA
RAMARAMAHAREHARE
HISDIVINEGRACE
A.C.BhaktivedantaSwamiPrabhupada
FounderAcharyaoftheInternationalSocietyforKrishnaConsciousness