Godhead is light. Nescience is darkness. Where there is Godhead there is no nescience. ' ro In a Castle in West Germany. And Around the World . .. Hare K r ~ Q a, Hare Kr~ Q a, Kr~ D a Kr~ Q a, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare This castle is our Society's headquarters for West Whether one is American, German or English, Christian, Germany. Built in 1890 for a German royal family, it's Buddhist, Hindu or Jew, black or white or whatever, called Schloss Re ttershof ("the castle of the knights"). everyone is really a spiritual living being. On the spiritual Now it's one of the more than eighty worldwide centers platform, bodily labels don't make any difference. Spiri of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. tuall y, everyone is equal because everyone is a t iny part The purpose of the Society is to teach a simple, of the same supreme reality. That supreme reality is the practical and scientific way that we can reawaken the Supreme Personality of Godhead- God, or Kr~l)a. natural spiritual awareness that's present within us all. Kr~!la is a universal name for God because kr~ra means
Photos Bhargava d3sa -:"8 His Divine Crace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Pral:h.Jpada 11-. Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
"all attractive." After all. who could be more attractive Almost I 00 Krsna conscious devotees live at Schloss than God? Rtima is also a name for God, and it means Rettershof, and ·they travel in 16 new Volksvagen "the highest eternal pleasure:· Hare is a call for God's buses to cities, villages and towns throughout Germany, blissful spiritual energy. These three names Hare, Kr~Da just to spread the chanting of Hare Kmta, tell people and Rama- are the seeds of the Hare Krsna mantra, or about Kr~1)a consciousness and distribute books that ex chant. By chanting these spiritual names· of God, one plain the Kr~l)a conscious philosophy. This is the phi comes directly to the spiritual platform, which is blissful, losophy that you'll find in Back to Godhead. Read on, eternal and full of knowledge. and find out more about it. BACK TO GODHEAD THE MAGAZINE OF THE HARE KRISHNA MOVEMENT
FOUNDER (under the direction of His Divine Grace CONTENTS Sri Sri' mad Bhuktisiddh3nta Sarasvati Ptabhup:ada) His Divine Grace An Awareness of What Is Best and Most Beautiful A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupiida 3
BHA.KTIVEDA.NTA. BOOK TRUST COORDINATORS K~l)a Conscious Calendar 6 Bali Mardan dasa Gosvami Harilsadiita dasa ISKCON News 8 EDITOR Jayadvaita dasa Sri Damodarastaka SANSKRIT EDITOR Jagannatha dasa by Sr'i Sa t yav~ata Muni PRODUCTION MANAGER Radhavallabha dasa t ranslated by His Holiness Acyutananda Svami 9 ART DIRECTOR lndrapramada dasa ASSISTANT ART DIRECTORS Yamarlija dasa, The Killing of Kamsa Visakha-devi dasi by His Holiness Satsvaropa dasa Gosvami 12 ILLUSTRATORS M uralidhara dlisa. Bharadraja dasa, Yadu ra~i-devi dasi. Pa rik~it dlisa Traveling and Preaching with Radha-Damodara PHOTOGRAPHERS Bhargava dlisa. by His Holiness Vi~l)ujana Svami Mumlivadana dasa. Villisa-vigraha dlisa, and His Holiness Tamala Kr~Qa Gosvami 19 Yaduvara dasa, Visakhl!-devi dasi, Jeffrey Dunan I'HOTOGRAPHIC TECHNICIANS Gariyan dasa, Primal Origins Madhusudana dasa, Cakradhara dlisa, by Yoge5vara dasa Bharat Jagannath 23 PROOFREADERS Santosa diiSa, Tattvavit dlisa, Religion: Material and Spiritual 27 Gopipara~adhana dlisa, Dravi<,Ia dasa by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada TYPE COMPOSERS Ragatmika-devi dfiSi, Dullkhahantri-devi dasi, Mahiimaya-devi diiSi , Matsya dfisa INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISH NA CONSCIOUSNESS Published month ly, S6.00 per ycar(S7.00 outside USA), by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. 3764 CENTERS AROUND THE WORLD Watseka Ave .. Los Angeles. Calif. 90034. Editorial AFRICA: Durban, S. Africa- cia Popatlal Kata. 20 1 Gtey 900281(809) 764-1373: Santa Domingo, Dominican Re Offtccs: 38 TiiTany Place. Brooklyn, N.Y. 11 231. Sl.: Nairobi, Kenya-P.O. Box 28946
.... _.. ,~ 727.02.02: Rome. ltaly-Sede Centrale: V1a Mistretta 2 . 92t031 (714) 29t ·7778: San Franci sco. Calilor P\{AS(' WAiff! r()A (Piazza Lodi)00t82: Stockholm.Sweden-Solhagavagen nia-455 Valencia St. 94 1031 (415) 861 -6464: Seattle. COfiPlETE NfOAI.'AfiON 22. 16352 Spangal 760-0852. Wash inglon-400 t8th Ave. East 981021 (2061 329·9348: Toronto. Canada- 187 Gerrald St. Easl. On· ON Ttl E COVER L AT IN A M ERICA: Buenos Aires. A rgen tari o M5A 2E51 (4 t 6) 922·5415: Vancouver, Sri Kesam. God is one. but He has many forms. tina-EcuadOJ 473: Caracas. Venezuela-Galle Luis Canada-1774 West t 6th Ave .. Vancouver·9. B.C.I (604) The Lord clis1llays His power and opulence in Roche No. 6t. Colinas. De Los Chaguaramosl 76-74-57: 732·84 22: Washington. D.C. - 20 t5 "0" St. N.W. 200091 innumerable forms called Vi ~ ~u expansions. Sri Mexico City, Mexico-Gobernador T1burcoo. Mont1el 45. (202) 667 ·35 16; Winnipeg, Canada- t 60 Home St .. Kcsava is one of these V i ~ J)U forms. The original San Miguel. Mex1coCity 18/ (905) 515·4242: Rio Piedras. Manitoba/ <204) 775·3575. Vi ~ ~u is Lord Sri Kr~ ~ a. Puerto Rico-55 Jorge Romany. Santa Rita. San Juan A discussion between His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder and spiritual master of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, and Desmond James Bernard O'Grady, poet. AN AWARIMJSS OF WHAT IS BIST AND JIOST BMUTIFUt (Editor's note: Desmond O'Grady is a thirty SRILA PRABHUPADA: We have problems as people remain in a bodily concep nine year old Irish poet who has recently everywhere. Police sometimes harass tion of life, there will be fighting. published some nine books of poetry, in us, but usually they become tired and MR. O'GRADY: What was Mahatma cluding Hellas, The Dying Gaul and The Dark Gandhi fighting in the House of Edge of Europe. He is represented in anum eventually don't do anything. ber of anthologies, including New Modem [laughter) Commons? Poetry. He has studied at Harvard and in MR. O'GRADY: The system give up? SkltA PRABHUPADA: That was another cludes Ezra Pound as one of his most That's marvelous. I feel very tired of dog-ism. There is no difference. A dog influential teachers. He is well known in the system myself. Something is wrong thinks, "I am a dog," because he has Ireland qs one of that country's major poets. with the present state of affairs. Maybe the body of a dog. If I am thinking As Sn1a Prabhupada, the founder and you can give me some advice on how that I am Indian because this body spiritual master of the Hare Kr~tza movement, travels around the world, he often meets to beat the system. was born on Indian soil, then how am leading figures in philosophy, politics, science S'RILA PRABHUPADA: You Irish people! I different from the dog? The bodily and literature. He always exhorts such in You are never tired of fighting. conception of life is simply animalism. fluential men to take to the process of Kr§tza MR. O'GRADY: No.[laughter )It's inside us. When we understand that we are not consciousness and employ its realization in S'RiLA PRABHUPADA: Actually, the fight these bodies but are spirit souls, there their work This discussion with Mr. O'Grady ing has been going on constantly. will be peace. There cannot be any took place in Rome during May, 1 974.) MR. O'GRADY: Well, what do you suggest peace otherwise. Sa eva go-kharafz. The we do about it? I mean, is it morally Vedic literatures state that a person in MR. O'GRADY: Your edition of Bhagavad correct for me to be sitting here- the bodily concept of life is exactly gitii is very nice. sRn..A PRABH UPi\DA: As long as we remain like a cow or an ass. People have to SRTLA PRABHUPADA: It is the fifth edition illusioned by the bodily conception of transcend this inferior conception of in two years. life, thinking we are these bodies, one the self. How is that done? MR. O'GRADY: In which country has the man thinking " I am Irish," another miirh ca yo 'vyabhiciireiJa thinking " I am Italian, American, Hare Knt;~a movement been the most bhakti-yogena sevate successful? Indian," and so on- as long as this goes sa guriin samatftyaitiin SRILA PRABHUPADA: Everywhere. In Af on, the fighting wiU go on. You cannot brahma-bhuyiiya kalpate rica, America, Canada, Japan, China. stop fighting between dogs and cats. But actually it has been most success Why do they fight? The dog simply "One who engages in full devotional fu l in America. Many Americans have thinks, " I am a big dog." And the cat service, who does not fall down in any taken to Kr~r;a consciousness. thinks, "I am a big cat." In the same circumstance, at once transcends the MR. O'GRADY: What about here in way, if we think, " I am an Irishman" or modes of material nature and thus Rome? Have you had problems with "I am an Englishman," then we are no comes to the level of Brahman." the police? better than the cats and dogs. As long [Bhagavad-gitii, 14.26) In our society, there are many now we are in the relative world. The the material world and identifies with Mexicans, Canadians, Indians, Jews and Absolute Truth is here also, but our this body, he transmigrates from one Muslims, but they no longer consider senses are not sufficiently elevated to body to another. That is not absolute. themselves Muslims, Christians, Jews understand that Absolute Truth. As This is clearly stated here. When one or whatever. They are all servants of long as we are under the control of goes back to the spiritual world, he l(r~1,1a . That is Brahman realization. time, there is no question of becoming attains the absolute position. MR. O'GRADY: Thafs giving it a name also. absolute. MR. O'GRADY: All right, but this is my SRTI..A PRABHUPAOA: Yes, a name must be MR. O'GRADY: So absolute means life be question: Is it sufficient for us to sit there. But although, for example, your yond time? here-you sitting there and we as name is different from that friends sitting with you of another Irishman, you engaging in the gentle art of nonetheless all feel that you conversation, while across are Irish. One's name may be the ocean- different, but that doesn' t SRiLA PRABHUPADA: The point matter. The quality should you have missed is that al be one. That is required. though you are sitting in one When we acquire l(r~J)a ' s place and 1 am sitting in a quality, then, despite dif different place, this differ ferent names, there will be ence does not affect our peace. That is called so 'ham. actual existence. We are both The names of different human beings. The concep people in a nation may be tions of Irishman, English different, but all the people man, Protestant, Catholic feel the same nationality. and so on are but different Varieties may exist, but if dresses. One has to become the quality is the same, that free from these designations. is oneness, brahma-bhata. I When one is thus free, he becomes purified. brahma-bhuta!t prasanmitmii na $ocati na kdlik~ati sar vopiidhi-vinirmuktarfl samaft sarve~u bhute,su tat-paratvena nirmalam mad-bhaktin1labhate parlim hr~iketta Jzr~ike~a - sevanarh bhaktir ucyate "One who is thus tran scendentally situated at When you have purified your once realizes the Supreme senses and engaged those Brahman. He never laments purified senses in the service nor desires to have anything; of the master of the senses, he is equally disposed to "Now there's my poor old father, living west of Kr~J)a, you have perfected Ireland. He has gotten to the point at his age where he every living entity. In that says, 'Titey tell me, the priests, they tell me ultimately your life. That is nonduality, state he attains pure devo that it's God who knows. But I want to know who told and that is absolute. tional service unto Me." God. You went to school and you read books. Tell me, MR. O'GRADY: But the system (Bg. 18.54 l who told God?' " insists that you think your This world is miserable for self American or Indian or the materially infected person, but for SR1LA PRABHUPADA: That is stated in African or whatever. the devotee, the entire world is as good Bhagavad-gitii. SRTLA PRABHUPADA: Yes. Materialistic so as Vaiktuytha. For the impersonalist, ciety means duality. janma karma came divyam achieving the Brahman stage, becoming MR. O'GRADY: But that's unavoidable. evari1 yo vetti tattvataf'l one with the Absolute, is the last word. How can you avoid material existence? tyakt11li deharh punar jamna MR. O'GRADY: Is the Absolute external sRlLA PRABHUPADA: That is possible in naiti miim eti so 'rjuna or internal? Kr~r)a consciousness. The lotus lives in SRTLA PRABHUPADA: There is no external "One who knows the transcendental the water but never touches the water. or internal. The Absolute is without nature of My appearance and activities MR. O'GRADY: I don't think you can ex duality. does not, upon leaving the body, take plain situations in one area with meta MR. O'GRADY: OK, but on an individual his birth again in this material world, phors from another. How can you ar level- but attains My eternal abode, 0 gue political problems in terms of vague SRTLA PRABHUPADA: We are not absolute. Arjuna." [Bg. 4.9) spiritual concepts? Their nature is com When we are situated on the absolute T hat is absolute- going back home, pletely different. platform, we are absolute. However, back to Godhead. As long as one is in SRILA PRABHUPADA: Sometimes a variety
4 BACK TO GODHEAD of examples h elps us to understand or of didactic salvation. We do try to from a very disillusioned state of mind, appreciate t he pro blem b et ter. In this direct them t oward a n awareness of and insecurity, and uncertainty and a vase there is a va riety of flowers, and what is best and what is most beau lack of credibility in the total struc that variety helps us better appreciate tiful and what is most spirituaHy nour ture of things as they are. Frequently the idea of flowers. From any point of ishing in the world about them- that we have to answer these questions in view, Kr~r)a can resolve all problems. is, insofar as the system allows us. a cataclysmic sort of way. Rather than Wh y just the problems o f Irish men o r Very frequently the students are not presenting direct answers, we must an Englishmen? All problems. That is neutral enough to be in a spiritual con swer indirectly, taking account of the called unity in diversity. Our students dition; they are more in an emotional conditioning that prompted students come from different back to ask these questions in the grounds, but because they first place. Do you think that arc all in K r~ r) a conscious we should try to reach them ness, they are unified. more directly? MR. O'GRADY: Very good. Yes, SRlLA PRABHL'PADA: You are I accept that. l would like to talking about the problem know, though, that when of- you say Kr~t)a consciousness, ~Vm . O'GRADY: Modern educa is there a ny difference be tion. tween that and Christ con SRI LA PRABHUPADA: Yes. So sciousness? many questions are there. SRTLA PRABHUl'ADA: No, there but they are not answered is no d ifference. C hrist came by modern education. "Why to preach the mes sage of have I come here? What is the God. Ifyou actua lly become purpose?" These questions Christ conscious, you be should be answered perfect come Kr~r)a conscious. ly. Therefore the Vedas en MR O' GR ADY : And does be join: coming Kr~r) a conscious or God conscious mean be tad vijlian(/rtlzalil sa coming self-conscious? That gurwn evtiblziga cclzet is, conscious of who we To fmd answers to all these really are again? questions, one must ap SRlLA PRABH UPADA: Yes, God proach a bona fide spiritual consciousness includes self master. consciousness, but self MR. O'GRADY: What if you consciousness is not neces have none? What if we are sarily God consciousness. told that Mr. Nixon is the MR. O'GRADY: But it may be? " Fi rst of all there is the question who !l! God. Then we bona fid e spiritual master? shall a~ k who taught God. T S"Rl LA PRABH UPAOA: No. he Vcdanta-siitra snys, What do we do? athiito brahmn-jijniisli: now we should inquire wh o is MR. O'GRADY: One may a God." SRTLA PRA BHUI'ADA: No, No. chieve consciousness of the [laughter I There is a stan God that is within him. dard for bona fide spiritual SRTI.A PRABHUI'ADA: That masters. You have only heard means he is God conscious. You are one. What we are faced with often is one li ne of the verse. Who is the spiri now in the sunlight, and consciousness the basic question of " Who am I?" or, tual master? That is the next line: of the sun includes your ability to see "What is it all about?" srotriyGih bralzma-ni~{lwm. The word yourself. In the darkness you cannot SRTtA PRABH UPADA: Yes. Srotriyam refers to one who has heard see yourself. At night you can't even see MR. O'GRA DY: Or they ask, "Why am I from another bona fide source. A spiri your own hands or legs, but if you here?" tual master is he who has taken the come before the sun, you sec the s un SRlLA PRABHUPADA: Yes, very good. message from another qualified spi ri and yourself also. Without sunlight, MR. O'GRADY: We arc asked, "Why tual master. This is just like a medical without God consciousness, self should I be here? Who are you, teacher, man who has taken the knowledge of consciousness is incomple te. How and what gives you the right to tell us medical science from another medical ever, God consciousness makes self what to think or what to be or what man. Similarly, the bona fide spiritual consciousness very clear. not to be? Why should I read master must come in a line of suc MR. O'GRADY: We meet a lot of young Shakespeare? Why should I l isten to cessive spiritual masters. The original people in our teaching profession, and Mozart? I prefer Bob Dylan." These spiritual master is God. we don't try to teach them any kind kinds of question seem to emanate ~lR. O'GRADY: Yes. Granted.
BACK TO GODHEAD 5 SRTLA PRABHUPADA: One who has heard how can you raise the question of who the original Jove is there in Him. from God explains the same message instructed God? If you don't know Nothing can exist if it is not in God; to his disciples. If that disciple doesn't God, the question does not arise who therefore Jove is there in God. change the message, he is a bona fide instructed God. Is this not so? MR. O'GRADY: And manifestations of spiritual master. That is our process. MR. O'GRADY: Yes. love are manifestations of God? We take lessons by hearing from Kr~D-a, SRiLA PRABHUPADA: Who God is is ex SRTLA PRABHUPADA: Unless the loving God, and from Him understand who is plained in the Brahma-sutra. Janmiidy propensity is there in God, how can perfect. Or we hear from His represen asya yatafi.: God is He from whom we manifest it? A son born of a par tative, who does not contradict Kr~1.1a everything emanates. That is God-the ticular father has the symptoms of the and who has realized His message. It Supreme Being from whom everything father. Because the loving propensity is not that we speak one thing and do emanates. Now, what is the nature of is in God, we have that same propen al l nonsense. One who does so is not that Supreme Being? Is He a dead stone sity. a spiritual master. or a living entity? That is also ex MR. O'GRADY: Maybe Jove is generated MR. O'GRADY: Now there's my poor old plained. Janmtidy asya yato 'nvayiid in you by the need. father, living west of Ireland. A simple itaratas ciirthep abhijrwfi. svarii.t: the SRTLA PRABHUPADA: No, there is no ques old man, 78 years now, your genera Supreme Being is fully cognizant of tion of "maybe." We are defining God tion. He has gotten to the point at his everything, directly and indirectly. in absolute terms. Janmiidy asya yatafr: age where he says, "They tell me, the Unless He is fully cognizant of every God is He from whom everything has priests, they tell me ultimately that thing, He cannot be God. Then the emanated. The fighting propensity is it's God who knows. But I want to question that you raised comes, Who also there in God, but His fighting and know who told God." Then he comes taught God? And that is also answered. His loving are absolute. In the material to me and says, "You went to school Svarlif: He is fully independent. He world we experience that fighting is and you read books. Tell me, who told does not need to take lessons from just the opposite of loving, but in God God?" So I have no answer. That is the anyone. That is God. If one needs to the fighting propensity and the loving difference between 78 and 39 years. take lessons from others, He is not propensity are one and the same. That SRfLA PRABHUPADA: No, it is not a differ God. Kr~pa spoke Bhagavad-gftii, and is the meaning of absolute. We learn ence of age. The difference is knowl He did not have to Jearn it from from the Vedic scriptures that when edge. In the Brahma-s£Ura the question anyone. I had to learn it from my spiri the so-called enemies of God are killed is raised : Who is God? First of all there tual master, but K~va did not have to by God, they attain liberation. is this question. learn it from anyone. One who does MR. O'GRADY: Is it possible to arrive at MR. O'GRADY: Who taught God. not need to take lessons from others this understanding of God alone? SRlLA PRABHUPADA: No. Firs t of all there is God. sRTLA PRABHUPAOA: No. Therefore we is the question who is God. Then we MR. O'GRADY: Where does human love have cited this verse: tad vijiiiiniirtharh shall ask who taught God. The come in? sa gurum evtibhigacchet. The word Vedanta-sutra says, athlrto braluna s"RTLA PRABHUPADA: Everything is coming abhigacchet means "must." It is not jijiitisii: now we should inquire who is from God. Being part and parcel of possible alone. In Sanskrit grammar this God. Unless you know who God is, God, we manifest partial Jove because is called the vidhi-lih form of a verb, and this form is used when there is no choice. The word abhigacchet means t_;$,·_a- that one must approach a guru. That is Krsna• • • Conscious Calendar the Vedic version. Therefore in Here arc the upcoming holidays and festivals for Krs,qa conscious devotees. Devotees of the ISKCON center Bhagavad-gitii you will find that Arjuna nearest you will gladly tell you more about the meanings of these festivals and how they are celebrated. was talking to Kr~va , but when he saw October25 <. October28 October27 October 31 that things were not being resolved, he Sri Ramacandra· Ekada$i (Paflh\ku~· Disappearance day of Saradi}ta-rasa·y5tri surrendered himself to K~va and ac vijayotsava (the victory .:kad~ (fasting from Srna Raghyn~tha di!sa (r4Sa·lll4) of Lord I${~Qa. celebration of Lord grains and beans). Gosv1imT, Srna Disappearance of Srila cepted Him as his guru. Ramacandral. Appear· Raghunatha Bhatta Mu@ri Gupta. BegiMing ance day of Sri Gosv11miand Srn a'Krsna· of Urja-vrata, or Madhvadrya. di!sa Kaviraja Gosv~t. K3rtika-vrata. kiirpa!lya -do~opallata-svabhiiva[l prcchiimi tvli1il dllarma-saJhmii(lha-cetii!l November1 November 4 November S November10 yac chreya[l syiin nikit01il bruhi tan me K(~ r) a conscious month Disappearance day of Appearance day of Srna Ekiida~ (Sri Rami· ~i~yas te 'hali1 fiidhi mli1h tviilll prapannam of Diimodara begins (it Srna Narottama dasa Viracandra Prabhu. ekM~ (fasting from continues through ")"hi! ku ra. grains and beans). November 29). "Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of November 16 Novamber 22 November 2& weakness. In this condition I am Sri Govardhuna-pnjn (anniversary of Lord Disappearance day of Ekiida$i (Ut tMna· asking You to tell me clearly what is Kl: ~Qa's lifting the Govardhana HUI). Srna Gada~hara dasa ekadafl) (fas tin~ from Annaknta·mahotsava. Appearance day of Srna Gosvftn)T, Srna grains and beans . Disap· best for me. Now I am Your disciple, Jl.asikiinanda Prabhu. Disappearance day of Dhanarljaya Pandita and pearance of Sr!la Srna Vi!sudeva Ghosh Thilkura. Srna Srinivasa Ac!rya Gauraki~ora dlisa and a soul surrendered unto You. Prabhu. Bibiiji Maharaja. Please instruct me." (Bg. 2. 7) So here
6 BACK TO GODHEAD we can see that Arjuna is confused can deliver the solution to the con occupation by describing the glories of about his duty. fused man. One who has received the the Supreme Being. MR. O'GRADY: Is this duty to the self, to mercy of God can become a spiritual MR. O'GRADY: My experience is that for others, or to the state? master and deliver that mercy to some extraordinary reason, one is SRTLA PRABHUPADA: A soldier's duty is to others. chosen to do a particular thing. fight wi th the enemy. Arjuna was a MR. O'GRADY: The problem is to fi nd SRJLA PRABHUPADA: That reason is given soldier, and Kr~1.1a advised him , "The this spiritual master. here. Avicyuta{t. The infallible choice opposite party is your enemy, and you SRILA PRABHUPADA: That is not a p rob is this: " Let them describe the glories are a soldier. Why are y ou trying to be lem. The problem is whether you are of the Lord." nonviolent? This is n ot good." Then sincere. You have problems, but God MR. O'GRADY: But you were saying that Arjuna said, "Actually, I am confused. is within your heart. isvara~1 sarva the spiritual master is chosen. The In this confusion I cannot make the bllfttiiniim. God is not far away. If you spiritual master, the poet, the priest is right decision. I therefore accept You are sincere, God sends you a spiritual chosen by God. This person is chosen as my spiritual master. Please give me master. Therefore God is also called to write poems or paint pictures or the proper lesson." In a chaotic con caitya-guru, the spiritual master within make music. dition, in a confused state of life, one the heart. God helps from within and sRiLA PR ABH UPADA: So when you com should approach another, who is in full from without. Everything is thus de pose music, compose music about God. knowledge of the matter. You go to scri bed in BhagaJJad-gitti. This material That is your perfection. a lawyer t o solve legal problems, and body is like a machine, but within the MR. O'GRADY: When one works for God you go to a physician to solve medical heart is the soul, and with the soul is in his line, then Ius line becomes his problems. Everyone in the material the Supersoul, Kr~l)a , who gives direc perfection? world is confused about spiritual iden tions. The Lord says, " You wan ted to sRTLA PRABHUPADA: Yes. tity. It is therefore our duty to do U1is: now here is the chance. Go and MR. O'GRADY: Thank you very much. @ approach a bona fide spiritual master do it." If you are sincere, you say, -~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ who can give us real knowledge. "Now. God, I want You." Then He $ 9 MR . O'GRADY: I am very confused. will give you directions. "Yes, now i Hare ~Q.a Song i $ 9 SRTLA PRABHUPADA: So you must ap you come and get Me like this." Tltis is $ $ ~ Hare Kr~11a, Hare Kr;tta, ~ proach a spiritual master. His kindness. However, if we want $ $ ~ Hare Kr,SI'ta, Ha re Kr;ra. ~ MR. O'GRADY: And he makes a decision something else, that is all ri ght. We can $ 9 n I want ~ All the way is Ha re Kr; tw . ~ on how to help me stop this con fusion? have it. God is very kind. Whe $ 9 something, He is in my heart directing $ ~ s RTLA PR ABH UPADA: Yes, the spiritual ~ Hare Kr.sra, Hare Kr.S~:~a, ~ me and telling me how to have it. So master is one who solves all confusion. ~ Hare Kr.s11a, Hare Knra. ~ why should He not give directions on If the spiritual master cannot save his ~ Let 111e k11ow Thy love for me. ~ he is not a how to have a spiritual master? First $ ~ disciple from confusion, $ $ spiritual master. That is the test. of all we must again be eager to revive ~ Hare Kr~tla, Hare Kr.stta, ~ $ H $ our God consciousness. Then God will ~ are K.r.sr1a, Hltre Kr.sra. ~ ha-lo ka- sa 1ilslira-da va Ita/a-li[/ give us a spiritual master. ~ I will live wy life for Thee. i trtitltiya kiiru!lya-ghantigltana t vam $ ~ MR. O' GRADY: Thank you very much. $. $ pnip tasya kalyaua-gufltirtw vasya ~ Hare K,r,S/'/(1, Hare K,r.srl(l, ~ SRJLA PR ABHUPAOA: Thank you very $ H 9 ~ are Krn/(1, Hare K.r;ra. ~ va 11de guro[l ~ ri-caratltira v i ndam much. My request to you i s this. You ~ Lord m1(/master of my soul. are a poet. Just describe God. You are i This whole confused world is just like $ 9 a blazing fo rest fire. In a fo rest fire all expert in describing, and therefore I ~ Hare Kr~fW, Hare K.rJ!1a, ~ the animals are confused. They do not as k you to kindly describe God in your : Hare Kr.s11a, Hare KrJ!la. ~ e will be suc ~ Love and praise Thee ove r all. ~ know where to go to save their lives. occupation. Then your lif $ $ $ <5> cessful. And if one hears you, his life $ 9 In the blazing fire of the material ~ Hare Kr~11a, Hare KrJtw, ~ will also be successful. That is the in $ <5> world. everyone is confused. How can ~ Hare Kr~tta, Hare Kr;ra. ~ junction: that blazing forest fire be extinguished? ! To Thy name f'll shtg and dance. ~ It is not possible to utilize your man $ $ idath hi purilsas tapasa[l !;rutasy a vii $ $ made fi re brigade, nor is it possible to ! Hare Kr;ra, Hare K,r~ra, ~ svi~,tasya suktasya ca buddhi-dan ayo{t ~ Hare K.r;tl(l, Ha re K,r;ra. ~ simply pour buckets of wa ter. The so avicyuto 'rt/10{1 kavibllir niriipito lu tion comes when ra in from the clouds ; All tlte time i11 Thy p resence. ~ y ad-u t tama~ /oka-gll! l iil tltvar!'allam ~ $ $ ~ falls on the forest fire. Only then can [S'rimad-Biuigm·a tam, I .5.22 I ~ Hare Kr~11a, Hare Kr;tta, ~ the fire be extinguished. That ability ! Hare Kr.spa, Hare Kfjt1a. ~ is not in your hands, but is in the mercy There are many leaders in society who ~ All the ways be Hare Knt;ra! ~ $ ~ scientists, religionists, phi $ <5> of God. So, human society is in a con are poets, $ ~ fused state, and it cannot find a solu losophers, politicians and so on. Those ~ - C.B. ~ ti on. The spiritual master is one who who are so expert are given this in ~ Rome, May 22, 1974 ~ $ ~ has received the mercy of God, and he junction: your duty is to perfect your ~www~~~w~ww~www~ww~www~ww~~~ww~~www~
BACK TO GODHEAD 7 Nine New Books I don't know whether to praise more the translation of Bhagavad· Make Spiritual Classics Available gita, its daring method of explanation, or the endless fertility of its ideas .... I have never seen any other work on Gita with such The Bhaktivedanta Book Trnst has just published nine new Kr~Q.a an important and authoritative voice and style. It is a work of conscious books by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami undoubted integrity. I strongly recommend this book." Prahhuplida. They are all translations, with purports, of Sanskrit and Bengali scriptures never before available in English. Each book is hardbound, with about 400 pages of text, plus original full-color Newsweek Impressed by ISKCON School paintings to illustrate each volume. Newsweek, the popular American news magazine, in a welcome Six of the books complete the Third and Fourth Cantos of reversal of its attitude toward Kr~Q.a consciousness (see "Ten Snmad-Biuigavatam, the scripture that Snla Prab~upada has made Thousand Wives," BTG 65}, has published a very favorable article his life's work. To present all twelve cantos, Snla Prabhupada about ISKCON's Gurukula school in Dallas, Texas. The school, it calculates, \vill take sixty volumes. Seven volumes have previously reported, is a " most convincing sign that K~J).a consciousness is been published. The Bluigavatam is considered the postgraduate here to stay." study of all spiritual knowledge. , The other three new books form the first section (Adi-lila} of Vedic Culture and Agriculture Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. Tlus book describes the pastimes of Lord New Vrndavana, ISKCON'~ I ,000-acre farm in West Virginia, has Caitanya Mahiiprabhu, the incarnation of Lord Kr~Q.a who appeared proved so successful that Sr'ila Prabhupada has asked hls disciples as a devotee of Lord KHJ.la to teach the highest form of love of to begin many other such farm communities. The Society, Godhead. Work is underway on the middle and final sections of therefore, has purchased farmland in Pennsylvania, upstate New this great book- at least another six volumes. York, Louisiana-and in the holy city of Maya pur, India. The Book Trust has also issued new editions of two other im· There are many reasons for establislung such Kr~Q.a conscious portant books by SrTia Prabhupada - Sriisopani~ad and Teachings farms. First, many people find an urban setting most uncongenial of Lord Caitanya. Improvements include new paintings, carefully for spiritual advancement; they prefer to serve Kr~Q.a in the simple, polished Sanskrit editing, and large new indexes. peaceful atmosphere of the country. Everyone likes to work in a different way, and the farms give the Society a broader ability to Scholars in Love with Bhaktivedanta Books engage everyone in the work most suitable for him. After a few years of what could be described as only casual flir Second, such Kr~!la conscious communities give an ideal ex tation, scholars and librarians arc starting to fall in love with Srila ample of how one can live very simply, depending on the natural Prabhupiida's books. The libraries of Harvard, Yale, Princeton, gifts Kr~!la has provided rather than the artificial products of Swarthmore and do~e ns of other major universities have placed supermarkets and factories. In other words, they provide a model standing orders for Srimad-Bhtigavatam - for all the volumes pub for simple living and higl1 tlunking. lished and all those yet to come. "This Srimad-Biuigavatam trans Perhaps even more important, however, is that these commu lation is very good," wrote the librarian at the Cleveland Public nities can give ISKCON a kind of independence from the shaky Library in placing a standing order for the prestigious John G. financial structures of America and the other nations of the world. Wlute Collection. "Please check and see what books of yours we According to the Vedic scriptures, real wealth lies in land, cows do not have and send me those that are missing." and natural resources, not in paper money. After all, land and Professors are becoming enthusiastic. "This Nectar of Devotion cows provide food and a place to live, and so they have real value. is the greatest book ever published on blzakti!" declared Dr. Carl But paper bills are just promises. Their value changes with inflation, Waugh, Professor of Indian Religion at Cleveland State University. and they may at any time become utterly worthless. According to And Dr. H.B. Kulkarni of Utah State University found Prabhupada's the Vedic scriptures, therefore, our modern world economy, based books "of incalculable value to anyone who is curious about India's on a false standard, is headed for almost certain collapse. But by spiritual and cultural heritage." He added: "The author of these raising its own food on its own land, ISKCON will be able to inde books displays on every page an astounding scholarship, and also pendently provide for the basic needs of its members and thus carry an understanding and ease of expos'tion which are the rarest gifts." on its mission of spreading Kf~J.la consciousness, regardless of the Scholars especially praise Srila Prabhuplida's Blzagavad-gitii As economic ups and downs of a materialistic society. We might add It Is. Dr. Samuel D. Atikins of Princeton called it "a beautifully here that modern economists would greatly benefit from studying designed script of the stanzas, beautifully presented with accredited the scientific financial knowledge presented in the Vedic scripture transliterations and a practical working vocabulary, followed by an Srimad-Bhagavatam. Vedic knowledge is many-sided. The Vedic outstanding exegesis ... A beautifully done book." . Professor scriptures deal not only with religion but also with politics, eco Shaligram Shukla of Georgetown o ffered this review: "It is a nomics, sociology, art, psychology and all other subjects necessary deeply felt, powerfully conceived and beautifully explained work. for a progressive human culture.
8 BACK TO GODHEAD SRI
DAMODARASTAKA• • (Eight verses in Praise of Lord Kr~l!a in His form as Damodara)
by Sri Satyavrata Muni translated by His Holiness Acyutananda Svami
When Lord Kr~l}a, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, appears on earth, He performs extraordinary pastimes as a transcendental cowherd boy. As a child, Lord K[~l}a lived with His pure devotees in the village of Vrndavana, or Gokula. In the spiritual world (Vaikur}tha) the Lord, in His form called Narayar}a, is worshiped with great awe and reverence, but the devotees in Vrndavana have such great love for the Lord that they even forget that He is the Lord. Because of their intense love for Him, they think of Him as their friend, son or lover. And the Lord, to please His devotees, responds in the roles in which the devotees think of Him. As a transcendental pastime, Lord Kr~Qa used to steal butter from the gopTs, the ladies of Vrndavana. Once, however, His mother caught Him, bound His waist with a rope, and tied Him to a grinding mortar to punish Him. The Lord is therefore also known as Damodara (dama means "rope," and udara means "waist"). In Lord K[$1}a's courtyard were two trees, who were actually sons of the demigod Kuvera but had been cursed to stand as trees. By His mercy, Lord Krsna crawled be tween these trees, dragging the heavy mortar behind Him, and pulled the trees down, thus liberating Kuvera's two sons. The details of these pastimes are described in SrTia Prabhupada's book entitled K[$f!a, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The eight-verse prayer on the following page is chanted daily by devotees during the K[$1}a conscious month of Damodara. This year, the month of Damodara begins on Nov.1 and continues through Nov. 29.
namamisvarmn sac-cid-iinanda-rnparh idam te mukhiimbhojam atyanta-nflair lasat-kurflalarh gokule bhrajamiinam vrtam kuntalai{t Snigdha-raktais ca gopyii ya5odii-bhiyolitkhalad dhiivamiinam muhus cumbitam bimba-raktii-dhararh me paramr.s.tam atyantatQ drutya gopya manasy iiviriistiim ala~n lakfa-liibhai[t
To the supreme controller, who possesses an eternal 0 Lord, the cheeks of Your blackish lotus face, form of blissful knowledge, whose glistening earrings which is encircled by locks of curling hair, have become swing to and fro, who manifested Himself in Gokula, reddened like bimba fruit by mother Yasoda's who stole the butter that the gopis kept hanging from kisses. What more can I describe than this? Millions of the rafters of their storerooms and who then quickly opulences are of no use to me, but may this vision jumped up and ran in retreat in fear of mother Yasoda constantly remain in my mind. but was ultimately caught-to that Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, 1 offer my humble obeisances.
n.ulantarh muhur netra-yugmam mrjantam namo deva damodariinanta v(sro kariimbhoja-yugmena satan ka-ne tram prasida prabho du{tkha-jiiliibdhi-magnam muhu[t sviisa-kampa-trirekhiilika-karztha- krpa-dr~.ti·vr.sfyiitidinarh batiinu- sthita-graiva-damodaram bhakti-baddham grhllrze~a miim ajFwm edhy ak~i-drsyafz
Upon seeing His mother's whipping stick, He cried 0 unlimited Vi~I}U! 0 master! 0 Lord! Be pleased and rubbed His eyes again and again with His two lotus upon me! I am drowning in an ocean of sorrow and hands. His eyes were fearful and His breathing was quick, am almost like a dead man. Please shower the rain of and as mother Yasoda bound His belly with ropes, He mercy on me; uplift me and protect me with Your shivered in fright and His pearl necklace shook. To this nectarean vision. Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, who is bound with His devotee's love, I offer my humble obeisances.
kuveriitmajau baddha.-miirtyaiva yadvat itidrk sva-liliibhir iinanda-kurzf{e tvayii mocitau bhakti-bhiijau krtau ca SJJa-gho~am nimajjantam akhyiipayantam tatha prema-bhaktim svakiiril me prayaccha tadiyesi ta·jneJu bhak tair jitatvam na mokfe graho me 'sti diimodareha punab prematas tam satiivrtti vande 0 Lord Damodara, in Your form as a baby mother 1\ose superexcellent pastimes of Lord Kr~pa's baby Yasoda bound You to a grinding stone with a rope for hood drowned the inhabitants of Gokula in pools of tying cows. You then freed the sons of Kuvera, ecstasy. To the devotees wlto are attracted only to His Mapigriva and Nalakuvara, who were cursed to stand majestic aspect of Narayal}a in Vaikul}~ha, the Lord as trees, and You gave them the chance to become herein reveals: "l am conquered and overwhelmed by Your devotees. Please bless me in this same way. I have pure lov~1g devotion." To the Supreme Lord, Damodara, no desire for liberation into Your effulgence. my obeisances hundreds and hundreds of times.
varmn deJJa mok~am na mokfiivadhirh vii na canyarn vrre 'ham varesiid apil-ta namas te 'stu diimne sphurad-dipti-dhiimrw idmit te vapu.r natha gopala-balarn tvadiyodariiyiitha. visvasya dhiimne sada me manasy aviriistaln kim anyaib namo riidhikiiyai tvadiya-priyiiyai namo 'nanta-liliiya deviiya tubhyam 0 Lord, although You are able to give all kinds of bene dictions, I do not pray to You for liberation, nor eternal 0 Lord, the entire universe was created by Lord life in Vaiku•;1:ha, nor any other boon. My only prayer is Brahma, who was born from Your abdomen, which that Your childhood pastimes may constantly appear in was bound with a rope by mother Yasoda. To this rope my mind. 0 Lord, I do not even want to know Your fea I offer my humble obeisances. 1 offer my obeisances to ture ofParamlitma [SupersoulJ. 1 simply wish that Your Your most beloved Srimati Riidhiira~i and to Yo:.Jr childhood pastimes may evet be enacted in my heart. unlimited pastimes.
BACK TO GODHEAD 11 Illustration: Muralid ha(a d~sa THE KILLING Of KL\M8A by His Holiness SatsvarCipa dasa Gosvami
BHAGA V AD-GIT A states that Lord K r~l)a descends to this world to vanquish miscreants and rescue His devotees. Once when the world was overburdened with demoniac forces, the demigods prayed for the appearance of the Lord. L ord Kr~l)a accepted the prayer, and He decided to appear as the son of t wo pure devotees, Vasudeva and his wife, Devaki Years before Kr~l,la's actual advent, on the day Devaki and Vasudeva were married, Kari1sa, the brother of the bride, was d riving the couple to Vasudeva's home. In the middle of the joyous procession, a voice s uddenly rang out fro m the s ky. "Karh sa," the voice said, "you are such a fool! You arc driving t he c hariot of y our sister, but you do not know that the eighth child of your sister will kill you!" Ka1hsa then at once took hold of Devaki and drew his sword to kill her. This shows the essence of Kamsa's de moniac mentality: anyone or anything that threatened his bodily enjoyment must be destroyed. Vasudeva at once intervened and pleaded with Kamsa not to kill DevakT. Vasudeva spoke in a very enlightened way. Deat h, he told Kamsa, is inevitable, so why should we be afraid of it? After meet their responsibility to further God consciousness, the end of this body, we get another body to fulfill our social degradation is assured. desires. Death is only a change of bodies. The real self is To dissuade Kamsa from murdering Devakl, Vasudeva eternal, so we should try to find our real life beyond the promised that he and Devakl would bring Kamsa each of body. their children as they were born so that he could do what Unfortunately, Karhsa, being an atheist, could not he liked with them. Kari1sa relented, and when Vasudeva listen to good instruction. Although each of us has but little brought Karhsa their first-born child one year later, he be control over the forces of nature, foolish people try to be crune a little compassionate and spared the baby. come lords of al l they survey. They live only for the pleasure Later, however, Karhsa became alarmed when he heard of the body, taking the body to be the sci f, and disregarding from the sage Narada that Kr$1)3 was soon to appear. Narada the sou l. J n ignorance, they say there is no soul. told Ka1hsa that in his past life he had been a demon named This ph ilosophy is now very popular, but it has existed Kalanemi, who had been ki lled by Lord Kr~r)a, the Person since time immemorial. Tho usands of years ago, in Ve dic ality of Godhead. On hearing chis, Ka1i1sa foolishly became times, it was propounded by a philosopher n am e d Carvaka, determined to kil l the Lord. "Any ch il d migh t b e Km1a," who taught that o ne should simply e njoy sensual pleasures, he concluded. l-Ie at once ordered the imprisonment of like eating, as much as he cru1 . One should not h esitate to Vasudeva and Dcvakl and killed their child. Ka1i1sa com commit any irresponsible act to reach his goal, ru1 d o ne mitted many other atrocities, all so that he might live and should not worry about the next life because at death every rule at any cost. He made alliances wit h many demoniac thing will be finished. When modern so-called leaders take kings and imprisoned anyone who opposed him, includin_g up this philosophy, people in general follow, and society his own father, Ugrascna. In this way he expanded hrs becomes hellish. Not considering the will of the Supreme kingdom, just as modern politicians do, until he became Personality of Godhead, or His supreme proprietorship, men the strongest emperor of his time. He broke the solidarity take to animal slaughter, abortion, intoxication-anything. of the Yadu dynasty, which included aJJ of Kr~•)a's relatives, We arc seeing only the beginning of this in current times. ru1d forced them to hide in caves. Year after year Devakl When Kr~J.la conscious persons like Vasudeva cry co give gave birth to a child, and Ka1hsa murdered every onc- si.x enlightenment, many so-called educated men take them in all- fearing each to be the child who would kill him. lightly and say that the existence of God and the eternity When Kr~•)a Himself became the eighth child, He of the soul arc myths. And when governments also fail to cheated Ka1i1sa. He appeared before Vasudeva and Devaki His Holiness Sats1•arilpa dosa Gowoml has served as Presidem of ISKCON's as the Supreme Lord and then transformed Himself into a Boston Temple, as l:.aitor of Back to Godhead and, most recemly, as personal normal child. Kr~•)a ordered Vasudeva to cxch 12 BACK TO GODHEAD prison well guarded, by Kr~t~a's mystic potency Vasudeva was able to escape from the prison, make the exchange, and return unnoticed to his cell. Kamsa heard the cries of the newborn child as his death knell, and he rushed in to kill him. But the baby flew up into the air and assumed the form of the demigoddess Maya. "You rascal," she said to Kamsa. "The child who will kill you has already been born elsewhere. You cannot kill Him." Threatened in this way, Kamsa and his demoniac asso ciates began an all-out purge, ordering the murder of all male children born within the previous ten days. Karnsa also harassed all saintly persons and brahma!1as. He knew that the devotees are the heart and soul of his enemy, Lord Kr~~a. so he tried to attack Him by persecuting His closest servitors and putting a stop to all religious activities. Lord Kr~~a. however, was not at all fearful. He simply enjoyed His childhood pastimes in Vrndavana, giving plea sure to His friends, His mother and father, and the cowherd men and women. Kamsa, however, tried repeatedly to dis rupt Kr~~a's pastimes. First he sent a witch named Putana, The entire community moved, looking for safety. who had already killed many babies by her black arts. She tried to kill l(r~1,1a when He was only a few months old. She smeared poison on her breast, appeared in Vrndavana more suitable place, where they hoped to be free from as a beautiful young woman, and took permission from attack. But more demons came: a giant horse, an enormous mother Ya.Soda to give l(rgta her breast to suck. Baby Kr~t)a , bull, a pack of asses, and many others. Child KrS.t)a killed however, not only sucked her breast milk, but sucked out them all, assisted by His brother, Balarama. her life as well. When Kr~~a was sLxteen years old, Kainsa discovered After Putana, Ka.msa sent many demons, among them for certain that Krs.1,1a in Vrndavana was Devaki's eighth Tr1,1avarta and Aghasura. Tr1,1avarta appeared in the shape child. Narada told Kamsaof l(r~t;ta 's true identity and related of a whirlwind and tried to kidnap l(rgta and destroy Him how He had killed all the demons without difficulty. In high in the sky. Aghasura, the brother of Pu tana, came desperation, Kathsa formed his final plot: he arranged for a before Kf$l}a and His friends as a giant serpent. But Kr~t) a big wrestling match at Mathura and sent Akrura, Krg1a's nonchalantly killed t hese ferocious demons one after uncle, to Vrndavana to invite Kr~J)a and all His relatives BACK TO GODHEAD 13 Kr~~a and Balarama were walking through the streets of are the actual historic activities the Personality of God Mathura, They met a washerman carrying various garments. head performed while present on earth some 5,000 yea=s Kr~~a asked the washerman for some clothing and promised ago. The great authorities in Kr~~a consciousness who are to award him all good fortune. This is the basis of Kr~~a passing down the narrations of Bhagavad-gitii and Srimad consciousness: the devotee offers whatever he has to the Bltiigavatam do not doubt these facts. Mundane scholars Lord, and the Lord, although not in need, accepts the of and people in general may doubt them, but they cannot fering to help awaken the devotee's original relationship of understand the science of God as presented in Vedic lit service to Him. Unfortunately, this washerman thought him erature. One who is not rendering service to the Personality self a servant not of J 1 4 BACK TO GODHEAD boys of tender age, whereas the wrestlers were mountainous strongmen, trained in the art of crushing opponents. In K.r~!1a, the Supre111e Personality of Godhead, Srlla Prabhupiida specifically describes what the members of the audience said. "But my dear friends," someone spoke out, "just look at the face of Kr~1.1a. There are drops of perspi ration on His face from chasing His enemy, and His face appears like a lotus flower with drops of water. And do you see how the face of Lord Balarama has turned espe cially beautiful? There is a reddish hue on His white face because He is engaged in a strong wrestling match with Mu~~ika." Another spectator exclaimed, "Even in front of the King this wrestling match is going on between incom patible sides." Thus the members of the audience were very attracted to KnJ.la, but at the same time they saw great danger and felt anxiety for Him. Even Kr~J.la's very intimate devotees, such as His mother and father, were also very anxious because they too did not know the unlimited strength of Kr~J.la and Balarama. Lord Kr~J;la is actually all-powerful, and t here is no thing to fear when He is fighting a conditioned living being of the material world. Kr~•)a is declared throughout the Vedas to be the Absolute Truth, the source from whom everything comes and upon whom everything rests. Srimad Bhagavatam says that He alone existed before creation, He The caretaker provoked the elephant is now the only ultimate reality, and after annil1ilation to try to kill Lord K r~r:' a· only He will remain. But by Kr~•)a's internal spiritual energy, called yoga-miiyii, He acts in different relationships After bathing and performing oth er morning duties, with His servitors according to how they approach Him. feelings, so we Kr~J;la and Balarama heard drums playing at the wrestling Kr~J.la is the reservoir of all personal arena, and They prepared to go see the fun. But when They should not be surprised that He reveals Himself differently aJTived at the gateway of the arena, a big elephant with a in various relationships. To the mass of people at the wres rider blocked Their path. This was another of Ka1nsa's tli ng arena He appeared as the most beautiful personality, schemes. Kr~J.la told the elephant's caretaker to immediately but to the wrestlers He appeared like a thunderbolt. The clear the path, but the man became angry and provoked the k;atriyas (warriors) saw Him as the strongest ruler, while The elephant to charge Krg1a. Kr~J;la moved around the elephant, the females saw Him as the most attractive male. dragged it by its tail, tripped it and finally killed both the cowherd men from Vrndavana saw Hin1 as their own elephant and its rider. kinsman, while the yogis saw Him as the Supersoul in every KrlH)a and Ba larama then proceeded in to the arena, one's heart. Kali1sa also saw K r ~Qa uniquely-as Death where everyone at once became attracted to Them. The Personified. audience was completely attentive to Kj·~•.1a and Balarama. Ka1nsa was always fearful that Krg1a would someday The residentS ofVrndavana were all reciting Their pastimes, kill him. Thus he spent his whole life absorbed in thoughts and others, seeing Them for the ftrst time, began to praise of how to kill Kr~•}a. Because he was always thinking of Their qualities. Krg1a, Kanisa was Knn.1a conscious. But because he thought Suddenly, a musical fanfare announced the start of the of Kr~Qa unfavorably, he is not considered a devotee of the wrestling match. The famous champion wrestlers Cii\1lira Lord. He was not practicing bftakti (devotional service). To and Mu$tika approached Kn;pa and Balariima, and Capura be always thinking, like Ka•nsa, of how to avoid submitting said, "We have heard all about You. The King desires to to the Lord's supreme will is the principal engagement of a see You display Your wrestling abilities." Kr~•)a replied whole class of men, including modern educ:ltors, scientists, that although He and Balarama liked to play and sometimes politicians and philosophers. By hearing about Kamsa, we They wrestled with Their cowherd friends, They were not can clearly understand why such a mentality is sci f professional wrestlers. Kr~Qa said plainly that a match of defeating. professional wrestlers against young boys wou ld not be Kr~J.la and Balarama engaged the wrestlers in the stan equal, and this would disturb the audience. But the wrestlers dard wrestling holds and maneuvers for some time, but insisted that Kr~rya and Balanima were not ordinary boys, when the anxious protests of the audience grew too great, and so the match began. Kr~J.la simply spun one wrestler in the air, Balarama hit the Many members of the audience called out their disap other, and the famous wrestlers were dead. Other wrestlers proval, for Kr~J.l a and His brother appeared to be delicate came forward, but the two brothers killed them imme- BACK TO GODHEAD 15 ~ "'0.. ~ :2 ~ :>" c: .2 ~ ~ .__. ____ _ K~l'.'a and Balarama fought with Kamsa's wrestlers. diately, and the remaining wrestlers ran from the arena. brahmajyoti, the effulgence of the Lord. Karhsa, however, Musicians spontaneously beat their drums, and the crowd had a personal relationship with KHQ.a. He thought of Kr~Q.a cheered the victory of Kr~Q.a and Balararna. day and night: "When will He come? What is He doing now? Kainsa was enraged. He announced that Kr~Q.a and When will He kill me?" So Karhsa was given a place more Balararna should be driven from the city of Mathura, Their exalted than all the impersonal mystic yogis of the llafha riches plundered, and Kr~Q.a's father killed. Kr~IJa could not yoga school or the philosophers who speculate about the tolerate such talk. He jumped over the high wall protecting impersonal Absolute Truth. This gives a hint of the great King Karhsa and stood before him face to face. Karhsa tried power of bhakti. If an avowed enemy of Kr~Q.a is given defending himself with a sword, but Kr~Q.a grabbed him such a high place, we can barely even imagine the sweet and dragged him down from the throne. After throwing favor the Lord awards to those who relate to Him in a him on the ground, Kr~Q.a killed Karhsa by punching him positive, loving way, always rendering service to Him and with His fist. Kr~Q.a then dragged Karhsa around the arena chanting His glories. the way a lion drags an elephant after killing it, just to Finally, one might ask why Kr~pa should personally assure His parents, relatives and all pious people that Kamsa fight with a demon like Karhsa. Kr~Q.a, being the source of was actually dead. al l emanations and qualities, has His own transcendental One may wonder why this narration contains so much desires. Therefore He also has a fighting propensity, which violence and killing, since the Supreme Personality of He exhibits in His playful wrestling with the cowherd boys Godhead is said to be all-merciful. But there is no question ofVrndavana. Authorities in the science of Kr~~Ja conscious of wrongdoing in Kr~Q.a's actions. Because Kr~•.1a is absolute, ness inform us that Kr:;Q.a's choice to fight with Kari1sa indi whatever Kr~\la does is absolutely good. Fighting and killing cates that Karhsa is actually a liberated devotee of Kr~Q.a's is required for a kfatriya (warrior) when there is a need to who was sent to the material world to provide the Lord a punish miscreants who threaten the peaceful citizens of suitable opponent. Karhsa could not actually threaten society. When such criminals need to be rebuffed, nonvio Kr~J;ta; Kr~J;ta arranged the fight for His personal pleasure. lence is cowardice, as Kr~Q.a told Arjuna on the Battlefield This understanding brings us to a level of consciousness be of Kuruk~etra. Devotees of Krgta are naturally nonviolent yond violence or nonviolence, morality or immorality. toward all living entities, even animals, but if the demoniac Kr~J;ta displays His eternal pastimes with His devotees make a violent disturbance, the devotees are prepared to just to attract us to return to His loving service. We are all counter such violence in the service of the Supreme Lord. eternal parts and parcels of KHJ;ta, but we are now suffering Also, when Kr~Q.a personally kills someone, He gives the miseries of repeated birth and death in the material that person the benediction of liberation. Astoundingly, world, in forgetfulness of K.rgta. We should not struggle Karhsa was immediately awarded sariipya-mukti upon being to rival Kr~J.la; rather, we should understand that the only killed by Kr~JJa. This means that he went to the spiritual business of our life is to serve the Lord. We each have a planets, where he was able to live in eternity, bliss and natural aptitude for the service of Kr~J;ta, and that should knowledge with a form almost exactly resembling the be developed, under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual Supreme Lord's in opulence and beauty. Such liberation is master. The first engagement is to hear the pastimes of very difficult to achieve, even after hundreds of lifetimes Kr~J;ta. Our present age is very fallen, full of materialistic spent searching for the Absolute Truth. Yogis and ascetics and impersonal concepts of reality, but the truth is available achieve release from all material desires only after pro in the vast treasurehouse of Vedic li terature. The sincere longed, severe austerities. But even they do not reach the seeker will find that truth very easily, if he begins with a VaikuQ.~ha planets; they merge into the impersonal submissive ear. 0 16 BACK TO GODHEAD BG. Bhagavad-gita As It Is The definitive English edition of this timeless guide to spiritual perfection. $11 .95 hardbound I BGh) $7.95softbound (BGs) TLC. Teachings of Lord FREEDOM Caitanya The life and precepts of Krsna's most merciful incarnation, described in brief. $6.95 IN KNOWLEDGE hard· bound "In this world, there is nothing so sublime and pure as transcen (TLCh), dental knowledge. Such knowledge is the mature fruit of all $4.95 soft· mysticism. And one who has achieved this enjoys the self within bound himself in due course of time."-Bhagavad-gita (TLCs) When one is situated in transcendental knowledge he need not search for peace elsewhere, for he enjoys peace within him self. Cultivate this transcendental knowledge. Read the books of CC. Caitanya-caritlmrta His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. (Books 109-116 112. Krsna Children's are introductory Consciousness: Books tastes of The Topmost the wisdom of Yoga System 118 . Krsna Bhagavad-gita.) $1.25 Conscioiis' Coloring Book NOD. The $1.00 Nectar of Devotion (The Complete Science of Bhakti-yoga) A step-by-step guidebook on how to become Kr~r:'a conscious. Sl. Srt Hopanisad $7.95 hardbound (NODh), This Upani~d· $3.95 softbound (NODs) is an ideal •\- ..... _.. _ introduction -- to the Vedic 109. Raja· 113 . Elevation SB. Srimad-Bhagavatam knowledge. The postgraduate Complete in Vidya. The to K~r:'B King of science of spiritual eighteen verses, Consciousness Knowledge $.95 realization. The each a perfect $1 .50 119 . Pralad book that begins meditation. 114. Beyond Picture and where the Gitii $1.95 110. Perfection Birth Story Book leaves off. of Yoga and and Death $1 .95 $7.95 per vol. Beyond Birth $.95 A story 8 vols. available and Death (two for childn:n, Canto1 (parts 1,2,&3) books in one) 115. On the from the Canto2 (parts 1&2) $1 .50 Way to K~r:'a ancient Vedas Canto3 $.95 of India. (parts 1 &2) 116. The Canto4 Perfection (part1) of Yoga $.95 ·'._ _ tilt. 117. The Hare Krsna 108. Lord Cookbook · · • Caitanya in Natural vegetarian ~------~ Five Features bhakti-yoga recipes. A sampling $1.95 from Caitanya· 111 . Easy Journey to I Bhaktivedanta Book Irust caritiimrta Other Planets e $1 .95 $1 .25 I I Please send me the transcendental literature I have I circled below. Enclosed please find $ total I payment in cash, check or money order payable to I the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, 3764 Watseka Ave., I Los Angeles, California 90034 I KB. Krsna, the I Supreme Personality BGh CCh SB1.2 SB3.1 KB2h Sl 111 115 119 of Godhead A I BGs NODh SB1 .3 SB3.2 KBt1 108 112 116 beautifully illustrated I TLCh NODs SB2.1 SB4.1 KBt2 109 113 117 work that explains the actual pastimes of God. I TLCs SB1 .1 SB2.2 KB1h KBt3 110 114 118 $7.95 per vol. I $14.95 per 2-vol. set I I KBt. Kr,r:'a book trilogy (not shown) I Name $1.95 per vol. I Address please print $4.95 per 3-vol. trilogy I I Cit~ ------I I State ------~Z=iR~------I------· WC'dliketo send you Kr~tJa For those who want beauty. transcendental glories. We'd For those who want like to give you the pleasure knowledge. of associating with K}?.~~A For those who want spiritual constantly, through K~~Da perfection. We'd like to send conscious tape recordings you what you've always and BACK TO GODHEAD, wanted- K~~J':-fA. the magazine of the Hare K~~J':-IA is the ultimate K r~Da movement. source of everything, the With a Golden Avatar reservoir of all pleasure. He tape subscription, you can is present in His pictures, in hear the message of K~~Da His pastimes, in the sound of His name, in consciousness directly from a bona fide spiritual master, a pure His philosophy, and descriptions of His devotee of K~~!)a- His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Each week, you will receive lectures, ------~ interviews, classes and intimate conversations with His Divine I Grace, all recorded only a few days before. What's more, with a I subscription to BACK TO GODHEAD, you'll read thought D Please send me the next twelve issues of I provoking articles written by Srila Prabhupada and his disciples, Back to Godhead magazine at the yearly rate of I by great spiritual $6.00 ($7.00 outside USA). I masters of the past, Please send me a subscription to Srila and by modern Prabhupada's daily lectures. ·scholars of spiritual One Golden A v!H Photo Bhargava dasa Top: The Riidhii-Diimodara Deities. The Supreme Lord appears in the form of the Deity so that we in the material world can have the chance to see Him directly. 17ze Deity is not an idol. When the fonn of the Lord, as described in revealed scriptures, is copied in the material elements, the Lord Himself personally appears. An advanced trancendell{afist sees no differ· ence between the Lord and the form of the Deity. Above: Tamiila Krsna Gosviimi answers a young man's questions about spi~iftlallife. Right: Vi~(wjana Sviiml, at an outdoor gathering, explains the philosophy of Kr~!la consciousness. 17ze painting bellind him depicts Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His associate preachers. Since June of 1973, we have taken the Supreme Lord Himself (in His Deity form called Radha-Damodara) all over the United States. Along with ten other devotees, we bring the Lord to colleges, fairs and any large festive gathering. There we set up tents and spread K[~J)a con sciousness by chanting Hare ~!)a, accompanied by ancient instruments, distributing prasiida, preaching individually to interested people, and distributing books by our spiritual master. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is K[~!)a Himself in the role of a devotee, ftrst expounded this glorious program for self-realization: dancing and chanting Hare Kr~r:ta to the accompaniment of mrdaizga (drum) and karattilas (cymbals), feasting on delicious food first offered to the Lord, and hearing the philosophy of God realization. Formerly, in the ancient Vedic culture, a sannytiSi Photo: Murar.vadana dasa was required to go alone into the forest and perform severe austerities. In this age, however, Lord Caitanya has directed that a sannytiSf simply stop mundane social intercourse and devote his life exclusively to the service of the Lord. Lord Caitanya Himself traveled widely throughout India, enlightening even tigers ar~d bears. We cannot inspire animals to chant, but we can give human beings the chance to perfect their lives through this simple yet deep and sublime process of chanting Hare Kr~')a, Hare Kr~!)a , Kr~Qa Kr~!)a, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. For ten monks, serving the Supreme Lord as He tours the continent is full of unlimited bliss. We perform ceremonies of worship six t imes a day, even whiJe moving sixty miles an hour over the continental divide. In a compact kitchen that turns out prasiida for hundreds, Photo: Bhllrgava dasa we cook all varieties of delicious vegetarian food for the Lord. We study daily the sacred teachings of bhakti-yoga given to us by SrTla Prabhupada, and we are always pre pared for the order of our spiritual master, who can senu us anywhere to glorify the Supreme Lord and defeat atheistic propaganda. Everywhere we hold our sacred Kr~!) a conscious festivals, people become co nvinced of the Kr~1_1a con scious way of life. They become inspired to join us in this divine mission of traveling and preaching, and so in on ly a few months we have started the same program with a second bus. And soon, by l His Holiness Vi!!llljana S.•iimi joined the Kmw consciousness move mem in San Francisco in 1968. He accepted the renounced order in 19 70. and since then he has been traveling, holding festivals and Photo. Vopra dasa opening K[!!la conscious centers throughout the United States. Top: A Kmw conscious traveling festival in San Diego, California. Middle: Vi~!wiana Sviiml cooking His Holiness Tamiil Km1a Gosviimi, one of /SKCON's Goveming Body for Km1a in the kitchen of the traveling party's bus. Commissioners, also joined Kmw consciousness in 1968. He accepted 111e customized Greyhound bus has everything sanny3sa in 1972 in Jaipur, India. He served as Presidem of ISKCON's conscious temple. Los Angeles center and was then sent overseas to help initiate /SKCON's needed for a mobile Km1a Bottom: Books are the basis and preaching is the preaching programs in Europe. For the last jive years he has been essence of the Krs~1a consciousness movemellt. Srila Prabhupiida's secretary for lndiiL lie has recemly retumed to the United States for increased preaching. BACK TO GODHEAD 21 PRI by Y ogesvara diisa eternal truth, unto none else, greatest scientific thinkers in history efore accepting the renounced unto none else.• "1 have all been spiritual men who have order of li_fe in 1959, our spiritual This must have been hard to swallow tried to unify the apparent divergencies Bmaster, Srila Prabhupada, was for some of Bose's Western listeners, between science and religion. All have chief supervisor in the laboratory of Dr. steeped in an Aristotelean scientific pointed to the same ultimate truth in Jagadis Chandra Bose, renowned Indian culture. T he intellects of modern science and religion, but only from botanist and chemist, whose most science prefer on the whole to see different points of vision. memorable e xperiments were in the such conclusions relegated to con "Subjects of philosophy and the fie ld of consciousness-perception in venient departments of parapsychology ology are like the peaks of large plants and other nonmoving entities. and religious studies, thus freeing them and towering and inaccessible Dr. Bose was an innovator in the true selves from the responsibility of con mowztains standing in the midsr sense of the term. He attempted success scientiously seeking to resolve the of our planet inviting attention fully to show contemporary men of dichotomy between science and reli and investigation. Thinkers and science the need for a spiritual perspec gion. This situation has arisen not be men ofdeep speculation take their tive in their work- an open-mindedness cause all scientists are necessarily anti observations through the instru that would allow them to examine more religion, but rather because religion for ments of reason and conscious objectively the conclusions of the Vedic so long has not shown her scientific ness. But they take different scriptures- and simultaneously he re side- the substantive, researchable points when they carry 011 their solved the ambivalent attitude toward quality that would make her more work. These points are positions Western science held by many of his attractive to the rationalist. chalked out by the circumstances Hindu associates. Dr. Bose summarized A quality of honest men is that they of their social and philosophical his most recurrent experimental theme admit ignorance of things beyond their world. Plato looked at the peak of in these concluding remarks of his knowledge, and further that they ac the spiritual question from the lecture-demonstration at the Royal cept an idea when convinced of it by West, and Vyiisa made the obser Institute in 190 I: proper reason and argument. The vation from tiie /::ast: so Confucius did it from further East, and "I have shown you this evening Vedic conception of the forthright Schlegel, Spinoza, Kant and the autographic records of the man of science is one of an individual Goethe from further West. These stress and strain in both the living bent on extending the perimeters of observations were made at dif and the nonliving. How similar are emperical knowledge to bring about a ferent times and by different the two sets of writing, so similar fusion with transcendental truth. Real means; but the conclusion is all indeed that you cannot tell them science, according to the Vedic con the same inasmuch as the object the one from the other! They ception, is not unspiritual, but, rather, was one and the same. "2 show you the waxing and waning unrestricted, truly experimental- even Kr~l)a consciousness, as a practical twlsations of life- and the climax to the extent of experimenting with for implcmen ting the conclu &ue to stimulants, the gradual de the chanting of ancient mantras, for program of spiritual science, may offer cline in fatigue, the rapid setting example, or attempting the various sions valuable insights in to primal in of death rigor from the toxic yoga systems as means for self some of the crea effect of poison. It was when I purification. And real religion, say the origins, or the beginnings which might not otherwise be came on this mute witness of life Vedas, rests not on blind following or tion, of science. and saw an all-pervading unity mere sentiment. but rather on a scien available to sincere men from authen that binds together all things-it tific analysis of matter, spirit and the TI1is information is drawn was then that for the first time I control of both. tic Vedic texts, and, as we shall see, it ve evidence understood that message pro This is not a new viewpoint. The finds convincing supporti in modern logic and scientific dis claimed on the banks of the Yogeivoro diiso is a 24-year·old Americannow/ivingar Cianges tflirty centuries ago: rile ISKCON cemer in Paris. France. He lias st11died at covery. rite University of Wisconsin and rite Sorbonne. He and Scientific opinions about the origins 'Those who behold the One in all in preparing Knrw con· !tis wife play imporram roles of creation have been summarized into the changing manifoldness of the scio11s books and magazines for pllblicarion in French universe, unto them belongs the and orlter £11ropean la!zguages. two very famous theories, called Big BACK TOGOOHEAO 23 Bang and Steady State. The Big Bang According to Vedic statements, no ture. Thus he meets with good and theory hypothesizes that originally creation exists without a clearly de evil amongst various species." there existed a n enormous manifesta fined purpose, though that purpose (Bg. 13.22) tion of matter that by its own gravita may remain hidden from our eyes for The Vedas describe the human form tional force "turned in" on itself, some time. Contrary schools of of life as the loophole through which to creating a density so great that it ulti thought, however, such as the Existen escape from the world of birth and mately exploded , sending gas, dust tial and Absurdist schools, propose that death. After a natural evolution and radiation Oying millions of miles the creation is purposeless, meaning through 8 ,400,000 species. the li ving into space. Little by little, over an less, and that life is an absurdity, a being achieves a human form, in which unimaginably long time, these sub dreamlike state that ends with death. he can revive his dormant self stances began syn thesizing into solid Followers of these rather depressing consciousness and return home, back elements, which in turn became planets ideologies generaJiy lead unhappy lives, to Godhead. and other celestial bodies. The Steady for they find no meaning for living yet State theory, however, suggests that are unable to explain why they prefer The Touch of a Li ving Be ing the process of creation is going on per to live rather than die. petually, from a source in the universe Neither the meritorious men of sci Now, some people consider them that constantly produces material ele ence nor the devoted followers of the selves too rational to accept unseen ments. T hese clements spread out and Vedas agree with the idea of purpose laws of reincarnation or the existence form the planets, stars a nd other lessness. In fact, neither in the macro of a Supreme Being. They express their celestial manifesta tions. Thus the pro cosm of the universe nor in the micro objections by posing rhetorical ques cess of creation is constantly going on. cosm of the tiniest atomic particle do tions like, " If God created everything, we find such aimlessness or disorder. then who created God?" But even if we Order pervades every inch of space and The Original Cause think that someone e lse created God, time, and the histo •y of man reads like this still implies the existence of an ulti Of the two theories, Vedic a captain's log book- with page after mate cause So actually no one objects references tend toward the Big Bang page of notes, charts and graphs, all at to the idea of some ultimate cause theory, which suggests that at a certain tempting to define and order the world neither the proponents of the e mpiric time well in the future the process will around us. school nor the students of spiritual reverse itself, and all the planetary The creation took place, according science. Admitting an ultimate cause, systems, galactic clusters and so on will to the Vedas, by the will of the Su therefore, we must ask this basic ques begin to decompose as the universe preme Lo rd. To accomodate the de tion of creation: was that original cause again turns in on itself. At that time all sires of living beings who sought to live conscious or inert? forms within the universe will cease to outside His jurisdic tion, the Lord cre When I was small, I remember now, exist, having rc tumed to their original ated the material world, just as a the re was a game l w ould play for fun state, and the program will begin anew. government constructs a prison for with friends. I w ould set up a line of "At the end of the millennium citizens who want to live outside the dominoes, so long that it extended in to [the Lord says] , every material Jaws of the state. The rebellious souls the next r oom. Then when a friend manifestation enters into My na who prefer the pseudo independence would come in, I would push the first ture, and at the beginning of of material l ife get various bodies in do mino and watch my friend's sur another millenni um, by My po this worl d according to how lusty they prised face as the line of dominoes fell, tency, I again create." (Bhagavad are to enjoy the resources of material as if by magic, across the room. Be gitii, 9. 7) nature (animals occupy a position cause my friend could not sec who "This material nature is working lower than human beings, yet higher moved them, he would be amazed by under My direction, and it is pro than plants and trees). The forgetful the feat. Similarly, we wonder at the ducing all moving and unmoving living beings, ignorant of their o riginal workings of nature, who bears rich har beings. By its rule this manifesta spiritual n ature, try to enjoy to the vests year after year, as if by magic, and tion is created and annihilated best of their tiny ability, but in this turns the colorofleaves on the autumn again and again." (8/wgavad-gitii, way they implicate themselves further trees with masterful discretion. We gape 9.1 0) and further in the entanglements of childlike at the vastness of space and its The major distinction between scien material life . perfect orde r, self-sufficient planets and tific theories and Vedic statements is "The bewildered spirit soul, under orchestral movements. On a human that scientific theories are obliged to the innuence of the three modes of level, the beauty of a painting re n ccts stop at the point of primal o rigins material nature, thinks himself the the creativity of its painter, the har (where did the primeval "lump" or doer of activities that are in actuali monies of a piano concerto that o f its source of the steady state come from?), ty carried out by nature." (Bg. 3. 27) author, and the qualities of a son those whereas the Vedas continue their ex " The living ntity in material na of his father. T hroughout the history of planation back t o the adi-puru~a, or ture follows the ways of life, enjoy the world, there has never been creation the p rimal cause of all causes. ing the three modes of ma terial na- without the touch of a living being. 24 BACK TO GODHEAD That same principle holds true, ac contrary-that our young should leam with His devotees in varieties of rela cording to the Vedas, on a universal to think for themselves, to become in tionships and affairs. Renowned scale. dependent. ("We don't actually know scholars and speculative philosophers any better than you," the teacher says. often interpret Kr~Da's personal life 'Try to find the solution by your and loves as mythological, in the same Evidence of the Unseen self.") This they call the spirit of self way that the wranglers in the scien As for the objection to unseen sufficiency or "the human potential." tific arena interpret God as a creation movers, a second example will explain But the result of such indoctrination of the mind of man. Actually Kr~r)a is this principle to the skeptic: The elec has been that many educated men . not man-made, nor are His activities tron has never actually been seen, automatically throw up a wall of self mythological. Love of Kr~Da consti though its discovery has launched a defense when a discussion veers toward tutes the ultimate goal of research and whole new field of investigation- sub love of God. Marxist theory epitomizes the perfection of all knowledge. Kr~r:ta atomic physics- which deals with par this spirit of self-sufficiency by stress says in Bllagal'ad-gftii: ticles so small that they are virtually ing the "infmite creative power of the "After many births of speculative invisible and can be tracked only by a people," man's ability to resolve his research, the truly intelligent man tail of bubbles they leave behind them problems and create for himself a surrenders unto Me, Kr~r_1a , know as they travel through some medium, perfect society, a classless society, in ing Me to be the cause of all causes such as liquid oxygen. These electrons which research will be unimpaired by and all that is. Such a great soul is are like the jet planes we know have just political oppression, in which men in very rare." (Bg. 7.19) passed overhead because we can see every sphere of activity will feel satis their white tails of smoke. So, the fied and productive- in other words, a The Spirit of Investigation entire cosmic manifestation displays kingdom of God without God. the creative potency of the Supreme, Our purpose here is not to show all Many theories about the origins of though He Himself remains invisible the defects in this kind of reasoning. creation strongly resemble the expla to our gross vision. And as the electron Writers of much greater merit have nations of Vedic literature. Space makes no extraneous effort to crea tc successfully done so already. Rather, theorists such as Albert Einstein and its tail, so the Supreme exerts very this article is an attempt to present the German writer Willie Ley have des little energy to create this material basic scientific information that will cribed the universe as expanding in world. We can hardly imagine, there help sincere inquirers understand Kr~r)a three dimensions. This is corroborated fore, how great is the total creative to be the cause of the universe-and by the Vedic writings. Srfmad power of the Supreme Absolute Truth. help them understand Kr~r.1a's causeless Bhiigal'atam describes that the ma The objection raised by the ration nature. terial universes exit from the immense alists is more semantic than sincere: if body of Mahli-Vi~pu. the creative Per everything has a cause, then what sonality of Godhead. in the form of The Ultimate Goal of Research caused God? The difficulty we have in particles, three times the size of an accepting something or someone with According to the Brahma-smilhitii, atom, that gradually expand. ow. ac out a cause is due to our conditioned Kr~r:ta's body is not made of atoms and cording to Vedic scientific calculation, life, for nothing within our experience molecules. And Sri Hopani$ad adds the universe we live in has attained a has ever been causeless. "Cause and that His body contains no veins or diameter of 4,500,000 miles, past effect" is a familiar, practical law that other mechanical arrangements for which the sevenfold coverings of the allows us to deal with everyday affairs maintaining itself. Kr~Qa the person universe begin. These coverings arc without having to abandon any of our and Kr~r_1a's body are nondifferent. earth, water. fire, air, ether, mind and common values. But causelessncss Therefore both Kr~r:ta and His body are intelligence. The first layer extends implies supremacy, absoluteness, a God eternal, without beginning or end, un 8,000,000 miles. and each successive to whom we will have to surrender like our material bodies, which perish layer extends for ten times the thick and because God has a very bad repu with the passage of time and molecular ness of the preceding layer. The sllldy tation in the material world, that idea deterioration. of these material clements is call ed repels us, frightens us. We have no The spiritual world is nondual. Non S"ai1khya. It was first described by the knowledge of God, except what the dual does not mean, as some Vedantists great incarnation Kapiladeva. His ad village elders have to ld us about a say, that weare the same as God. "Non vent and instructions on the cosmic wrathful, chastising Deity, and the dual" re fers to the fact that in the manifestation, its spiritual counterpart whole concept of "surrender" appears spiritual world there is no qualitative and the supreme control of both arc aboriginal, uncivilized. difference between Kr$Da and His all described in the Third Canto of the "If God does exist," the modern form, Kr~Da and His name, Kr~rya and Blliigal'atam. pioneering man tells himself, "then I His pastimes, Kr~r.la and llis abode. All Beyond the sevenfold coverings of will have to accept a subordinate po arc of the same eternal, blissful nature. the material universe is the spiritual sition"- somcthinghe finds hard to do. In that eternal, blissful spiritual world. sky, which is unknown to the empiric So modern educators teach quite the Kr~r_1a is engaged in playing lovingly researcher. Its residents enjoy eternal BACK TO GODHEAD 2 5 life, full of bliss and knowledge (sac tiona! or "free university" classes may that his senses can fail him-whereas cid-tinanda), unimpaired by the miser 'be given, and courses may deal with the spiritualist has adopted a submis ies of life in the material world. This any revealed scriptures, not only the sive attitude. The spiritualist, therefore, material world is described as a per Vedas. by approaching the proper authority, verted reflection of that spiritual realm. can acquire knowledge that could not Everything found here exists in its orig otherwise be obtained. inal pure state in the paravyoma, or The Excellence of the Vedas spiritual sky. Here, for example, a The Vedas, however, are outstand "Cavil as Much as You Like" flower lives and then dies. T\1ere, it ing. They contain information on ev only lives. Death is unknown. As erything from medicine and farming The conclusions of the two schools varieties of life exist here, so great to a detailed explanation of time se are the same: that there exist living varieties of life also exist in the spirit quences on upper and lower planets, beings and a manifested world; that ual world. But there the cows, the from techniques of yoga and medita both of them are controlled; that since swans, the trees- all Jiving beings- are tion to household hints and recipc:s for nothing within our experience exists of the same eternal, spiritual nature as tasty vegetarian dishes- from detailed without some cause, there must also Kr~l)a Himself. This material universe explanations of governmental organi be a cause for the cosmic manifesta displays a graduation of planetary sys zation to masterful directions on con tion; that man is struggling on account tems; and so also in the spiritual sky structing and decorating a temple or of ignorance; and, finally, that human there are diverse planets, each in residential building. The verses in each life is meant for realizing our actual habited by self-realized souls who have of the hundreds of Vedic texts conform position and resolving the frustration no thought other than to serve the Lord to strict rules of poetry and meter. The imposed by our ignorance. of their hearts, Kr~1,1a. The f!.g Veda Vedas contain drama, history and com Scientists like Bose have served to describes Vrndavana, the planet of plex philosophy, as well as simple help dissuade thoughtful men from ac Kr~1.1a , as the highest abode of all (f?g lessons of etiquette. Military protocol, cepting the idea of man's ability to Veda, 1.154.6). Devotees of Kr~n.a who use of musical instruments, biographies solve all his problems independently. have purified themselves of all ma of great saints and sages of the past Although this idea may superficially terial desire, false pride and envy these are but a few of the subjects appear palatable, in fact the same return to that supreme abode after covered by the Vedas. By following problems confront modern, techno leaving their present bodies. Vedic directions, all the great spiritual logically advanced Everyman that have A careful study of Vedic scriptures leaders in the history of India have always confronted him: birth, old age, reveals that nowhere has science or re achieved perfection (Bg. 4. 2). How, disease, death. And no progressive search been forbidden or condemned. then, could we say that the Vedas, com planning commission or well-meaning Rather, the same spirit of investigation piled by the incarnation Vyasadeva, are manifesto will ever do away with these has been encouraged everywhere, works of a mortal being? Scriptures are ubiquitous companions to life in the throughout the Vedas. Bhagavad-gftd not products of the material world, matedal world. Nor should useless argu directs that one should approach a where passion and ignorance predomi ments taint our spirit of investigation. spiritual master with questions nate. No person under the influence of After all, who can deny the infinitude (paripra.fna). And, again, the Caitanya passion and ignorance could possibly of even this material creation, which is caritamrta says ''Apply your reason produce an authentic scripture. For described as only one-fourth of the and logic." over 5,000 years the Vedic teachings entire c reation of God? T he Bhi!jma It is sad to see how this spirit of true have been studied and admired by the parva section of the Mahdbhlirata s<1ys, scientific investigation has been stifled, world's most profound scholars. No acintytifz khalu ye bhiivd na tarhs especially in contemporary educational mundane writing can possibly ap ttirkerza yojayet: "Things of an incon institutions. Spiritual study should not proach the level of an authentic re ceivable nature certainly cannot be be avoided. lSKCON proposes that all vealed scripture. grasped by argument." universities develop within the struc The original speaker of the Vedas SrTia Bhaktivinoda Thiikura con ture of their •already existing curricula is NarliyaJ)a (K[~1,1a) , as stated in the cludes, "Cavil as much as you like" a department of spiritual sciences to Mahabhiirata ($anti-parva, Molcya ultimately one must surrender to deal directly with the question of God's dharma, chapter 349, verse 68). Kr~p a. 0 existence, the nature of universal law, Vyasadeva and those who follow in and the practical application of spiri succession from him are the propaga tual knowledge. Accredited instructors tors of the Vedas. So the principal from among the ranks of Kr~1.1a con difference between the empiric re I Quoted in Ra bindranath Tagore, "Acharya scious devotees are prepared to assist in search~r and the spiritual experimen Jagadisller Jaivarta, " Vasudhara, 2 (1958), organizing such departmental studies, talist is that the mundane researcher pp. I 07-9. and for this they refuses accept information require no salary. Our to corning 2 Srna Bhaktivinoda Thakura, The BlzOga purpose is not self-interested. Accord from a realm beyond his sensual per vara: Irs Pllilosoplly, Irs Ethics and Irs The ing to the circumstances either tradi- ception-despite constant reminders ology, pp. 15-16. 26 BACK TO GODHEAD In 1971 Sn1a Prabhupada lectured at a series of l(r~l)a conscious festivals held in a huge panda!, or exhibition tent, in downtown Delhi, India. This is one lecture from that series. RELIGION Material and Spiritual By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada aham tvam sarva-piipebhyo mok~ayi~yami m!i suca{1 "Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear." (Bg. 18.66) If the Supreme Personality of God head appears on this planet to establish dharma (dharma-samsthapanarthiiya), then why does He say abandon all dharma (sarva-dharmiin parityajya)? This means that but for surrender unto the lotus feet of Kf$J)a, whatever is going under the name of dharma is not actually dharma. Dharma does not mean going to the church for some ulterior motive, for some money or sense gratification. Generally people cultivate dharma, artha, kama, mo~a religion, economic development, sense gratification and Uberation. But one cording to our Vedic system, bhagaJ,at-praritam: the principles of should not take to religion simply to there are two kinds of religion. religion are directly enunciated by the make more money. That is not pure A First we must try to under Lord. In the beginning of Bhagavad devotion. Pure devotion is described in stand what religion is. Religion refers to gftii Lord l(r~l)a uses the word dharma this way : our constitutional position. Religion is in this way: an yiibh illi$i tli-s uny a1 i1 different from faith. A faith can be yadti yadti hi dharmasya ji'itina-karmiidy -wuivrtam changed. One may be a Christian or a gltinir bhavati bhtirata Mohammedan or Hindu, but according anukulyena kr.sranu- abhyutthtinam adharmasya sflanam bhaktir uttamii to the Vedic system, religion cannot be tadiitmanali1 srjiimy aham (Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.1.11) changed. Religion is dharma, the con " Whenever and wherever there is a sti tu tiona! position of the living entity In this verse Srila Rupa Gosvaml decline in religious practice, 0 de It is to the living entity what sweetness clearly states that if one wants to exe scendant of Bharata, and a predomi is to sugar or heat is to fire. Every thing cute unalloyed devotional service, he nant rise of irreligion- at that time I has some essential characteristic, and must be freed from all kinds of the essential characteristic of the living descend Myself." (Bg. 4. 7) material contamination. One should Bhagavad-gitii entity is his eternal religion, sana/ana In the conclusion of not have any ulterior motive in ap dharma. Sri Kf$l)a says: proaching God but should approach As stated in Srimad-BhtigaPatam, sarva-dharmtin parityajya God only out of love. This is the Sixth Canto, dharmali1 tu sak~tid- miim ekali1 sararwrh vraja teaching of Caitanya Mahaprabhu: BACK TO GODHEAD 27 ii$/i~ya vii piida-rato1i1 pina~fu miim countries, in other planets the standard Eleventh and Fifteenth Chapters of adarsaniin marma-hatiili1 karotu vii of living is far greater than on this Bhagavacl-gfta, K.r~pa is described as yathii tathii vii vidadhatu lampafo earth. The inhabitants Jive many thou saniitana, eternal, and in the Eighth mat-prarw-niithas tu sa eva niipara{1 sands of years. In Bhagavacl-gftii it is Chapter His spiritual world is also stated that Brahma's duration of life is described as saniitana. SaniitaJI(rc/harma " I do not know anyone except J<.rgla very long indeed. refers to the eternal engagement of the as my Lord, and He will always remain living entity in the service of the Su as such. even if He handles me roughly sahasra-y uga-paryantam preme Eternal. Nityo nityiiniiliz cetanas by His embrace or makes me broken ahar yael brahmauo 11ic/u{z cetaniiniim: Kr~!la is the Supreme Eter hearted by not being present before riitri1h yuga-salwsriin tiilh nal, the Supreme Living Being, the Su me. He is completely free to do any te 'ho-riitra-vido janafz preme Lord, and the Supreme Dharma. thing and everything, but He is "By human calculation, a thousand Our troubles in this material world always my worshipable Lord, uncon ages taken together is the duration of result from our attempt to become one ditionally." (Sik~iiHaka 8) Brahma's one day. And such also is with the Supreme. To gain relief from This is the attitude of a pure devotee. the duration of his night." (Bg. 8.1 7) this suffering, we are instructed in this His exchange with God is not like the Although this may be the case, way: exchange between one merchant and Kr~Da states: another. He does not want anything of sar.va-dhanniin ii brahma-bh 11 vaniillo kafz parity ajya God except God's pure devotional punar ii11artino '1juna miim eka1h .~ara twJit vraja service. The jniinfs are desirous of miim upety a tu kaunteya aharh tviiJh sarva-plipebhyo liberation. They want to merge with punar janma na vidyate mok~ay(syiimi mii suca{1 the Supreme, and to this end they undergo austerities. They are serious, "From the highest planet in the ma "Abandon all varieties of religion and but they desire to become one with terial world down to the lowest, all are just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver God. The yogis also undergo severe places of misery wherein repeated birth you from all sinful r eaction. Do not penances in the mystic yoga system, and death take place. But one who at fear." (Bg. 18.66) but they desire mystic powers. The tains to My abode, 0 son of KuntT, We need only understand this last karmfs are also full of desires for sense never takes birth again." (Bg. 8. 16) teaching of Lord J<.r~J)a. That is called gratification. Everyone has some de So even if one goes to the higher sara!ziigati, surrender. That is the ulti mand, therefore, but the bhakta, the planets like Brahmaloka, he will have to mate goal of bhakti. Those who are devotee. is different. There is no desire come back again. However, J<.r~J)a says engaged in mental speculation will take for the bhakta other than serving Knl)a. that if one comes to Him , back to God a long time to come to this point. The As stated by Caitanya Mahii prabhu: head, then he does not have to return real mahatmas, great souls, fully engage to the material world. The living entities in devotional service. JW dha11L11h na jana1l1 na sunclarfrh within the material world are always kal'itiiJh vii jagacl-fsa kiimaye mahiitmiinas tu miirh piirtha fu ll of anxiety and fear because their mama janmani janmaniSvare claivflh prakrtim iisritli{z position is nonpermanent. A devotee, blwvatiicl bhaktir ahaituki tvayi bhajanty ananya-manaso however, is not afraid of this material jiiiitvii bhfttiidim avyayam "0 almighty Lord! I have no desire to world. He simply wants one thing accumula te wealth, nor have I any de wherever he is he wants to be able to "0 son of Prtha, those who are not sire to enjoy beautiful women, nor do chant Hare Kr~•)a , Hare Kr~Qa , Krg1a deluded, the g reat souls, are under the I want any number of fo llowers. Wh at J<.r~J)a , Hare Hare/ Hare Riima, Hare protection of the divine nature. They I want only is that I may have Your Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. That is are fully engaged in devotional service causeless devotional service in my life the aim of the devotee. because they know Me as the Supreme birth after birth." (Sik~a~_taka 4) Just as there are two natures- ma Personality of Godhead, original and Thus Caitanya Mahaprabhu rejects terial and spiritual nature- so there are inexhaustible." (Bg. 9.13) even liberation. This is the state called two kinds of dharma, or religion : ma We accept the ultimate dharma as aklima. This means devoid of desire terial dharma and spiritual dharma. surrender unto J<.r~J;la.This surrendering for material things. In the Caitanya This K.r~1;1a consciousness movement is process is meant not for Jess intelligent caritomrta there is a verse that meant for development of spiritual people, but for the most intelligent reads: kmw-blwkta- -ni~kiima , ataeva dharma. Material dharma consists of because J<.r~J)a says that after many 'stin ta 'I bh u kti-mu kt i-siclcl h i-kiimi- religiosity, economic development, births one who is actually in knowl sakali 'asonta'. There are many planets sense gratification and liberation, but edge surrenders unto Him, knowing for those who worship the demigods, spiritual dharma is jfvasya tattva-jijiliisii Him to be the cause of all causes and and in the higher planetary system the niirtho ya~ cella karmabhi[l. This means all that is. (Bg. 7. 19). If this is the program for sensual enjoyment is much that one should try to understand ultimate goal of life, then why not better than on other planets. Just as on J<.r~J)a , the Absolute Truth. This dharma surrender immediately? Why should we this planet ·the American standard of is eternal dharma because J<.r~J)a is wait any longer? This is the process of living is far greater than that of other eternal and we are also eternal. In the this J<.r~l)a consciousness movement.O 28 BACK TO GODHEAD " In this world, there is nothing so sublime and pure as When one is situated in transcendental knowledge, he need transcendental knowledge. Such knowledge is the mature fruit not search for peace elsewhere, for he enjoys peace within him· of all mysticism. And one who has achieved this enjoys the self self. Cultivate this transcendental knowledge. Read the books within himself in due course of time."- Bhagavad-gitti of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The Living Library of Transcendental Knowledge The Books of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada available from: The International Society [or Krishna Consciousness, 3959 Landmark Street, Culver City, California 90230. (Use the convenient order form supplied in this magazine.) If you can't tell your son what life is for, you're in trouble. The time's going to come-maybe sooner than " In this world there is nothing so sublime and you think-when he's going to want to know pure as transcendental knowledge. And one who what life's all about, what life's for. And when he has achieved this enjoys the self within himself in turns to you for answers, what will you do? Will due course of time." - Bhagavad-gita, 4.38 you try to get by with some old cliches? Will you tell him it's not an easy question and then change FREEDOM IN KNOWLEDGE. Bhagavad·gita Aslt is the subject? Or will you really know? The definitive edition of the world's oldest book In the Vedic writings it is said that one should not on the science of knowing oneself. Published become a teacher, a leader, a spiritual master-or by the Macmillan Company. 1,000 pages, 68 full a parent-unless he can save those who depend color illustrations. Hardbound: on him from being entangled in material life. $11.95, Softbound: $7.95. Despite all else one may do, if one fails in this, he To order your copy of Bhagavad-gitii is a failure in his duty. Therefore it is every As It Is, send your name and address and cash, check or money order to parent's responsibility to know for sure what life's The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust really a\\ about- and to be ab\e to enlighten his 3764 Watseka Avenue children. Los Angeles, California 90034.