His Divine Grace A.C.BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI PRABHUPADA

Founder-Acinya of the International Society for Consciousness nal, and He is always blissful. God is absolute because His name and He Him­ self are nondifferent.

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Photos: Bhargava dasa ' ·BACKT0 CONTENTS

FOUNDER With Krsna on the Battlefield of Life " 3 His Divine Grace by His O i�ine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhuplida under the direction of His Divine Grace Sri Srunad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati PrabhupMa Classes in the Science of God 8 by SatsvarOpa dasa GosvamT EDITOR Satsvarupa dasa Gosvami God of the Fools 14 BHAI

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Sense Gratification: The Opiate of the People 17 Jayadvaita dasa by Bahulasva dasa SANSKRIT EDITOR Nitai dasa Presenting Kr�l')a Consciousness to the British Student Community 19 PROOUCTIO.� MANAGER by Revatinandana Svami Radhavallabha dasa ART DIRECTOR Hare Krsna Festival 24 Indrapramada dasa by Hartis.aduta dasa ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR Navadvipa dasa ILLUSTRATORS ON THE COVER Muralidhara dasa, YaduraJ.lldevi dlisl, Lord Vi�Qu, an expansion of the Supreme Lord, �Qa, lies in mystic slumber amidst fire and huge Parik�it dasa, Bhnradraja dasa, waves that partali ly destroy the universe at the end of every millenium. (This is described in the Pu�kara dasa Srimad-Bhiigavatam, by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.) PHOTOGRAPHERS Bhargava dasa, Muralivadana dasa, Viliisa-vigrahadiisa, Yaduvaradiisa, PRONUNCIATION OF SANSKRIT WORDS Visakha devl dasi Sanskrit words and names in Back ro Godhead are spelled according to a system I'HOTOGRAPHJC TECHNICIANS accepted by scholars throughout the world which indicates the exact pronuncia­ Gar1yan dasa, Madhusudana dasa, tion of each word. Vowels in Sanskrit are pronounced almost as iJl Italian. The a 11 Gadagraja dasa sound of the short is like the in but, the long iiis like the a in far and held twice as long as the short a, and e is like the a in evade. Lon g J is like the i in pique. Th e PROOfREADERS vowel r is pronounced like the re in tlte English word fibre. TI1e c is pron ounced Dhmaketu dasa, Santo�a dasa, as in the English word chair, and the aspirated consonants (ch, jh, dh, etc.) are pro­ Jagannatha dasa, Gopiparal)adhana dasa nounce d as in staunch-heart, hedge-hog, red-hot, etc. The two aspirants$ and� are is TYPE COMPOSERS pronounced like the English sh; s is pronounced as in sun. Thus �Qa pro­ Riigatmikadevi daSi, Nara dev1 dasi, nounced KRISHNA, Caitanya is pronounced CHAITANY A, etc. Dul)khahantri devi dasl INTERNATIONAL SOCfETY FOR KRISHNA CONSClOUSNESS l'ublishcd monthly. S6.00 per ycar($7.00 o�tside USA), by the MEMBERSHIP Bhaktivcdahta 8ookTrust,3764 Watseka Avo., Los Angeles, Calif. 90034. Editorial Oflices:38Tiffany Place, Brooklyn,N.Y.ll231 For information on how you can become a registered member of the International .tl&, &c� 10 Godhead No.SSC 1973Bhaktivcdanta BookTrust Society for Krishna Consciousness, please write to the Society's secretary at 3764 U All fights reserved. Printed in USA. Watseka Avenue, LosA ngele s, California, 90034.

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Illustration: Yadura(ITdevT dasr 4 Back to Godhead Now Arjuna is facing the problem. The material world means attach­ ever we are seeing here in this material He is facing allhis relatives-his grand­ ment; it is not required, but is a for­ woxld has its migin in ��!)a, but here fathers, his uncles, sons, friends, ani­ eign thing. It is foreign because we are it is perverted. When we see a tree, we mals, etc. Yes, there were also animals essentially spiritual-aham brahmiismi: see it standing erect, but when we see -horses and elephants-present before "I am spirit." But because we wish to its reflection in a lake, it is upside down, Arjuna on the battlefield. According to lord it over material nature, J4�pa has topsy-turvy. Similarly, this material the Vedic conception, animals are also gvi en us these bodies. He gives a body wordl is a pervexted reflection of the members of the family. They are con­ to the great god Brahmii or to the ant­ spiritual world. It is false in the sense sidered members because they render whatever one desires. If we want the that it is a reflection. Those things which service. It is not that we are to give body of a tiger, J4�Qa will give it; if we we see here exist in the spiritual world. protection only to one section of our want the body of a hog, He will give Because Arjuna was attached to so­ family. We should not take everything that also. And if we want the body of ciety, friendship, family and love, from an animal and give it no protec­ a demigod, like Brahma, He will give when he was faced with his family on tion.This is not civilization. The family it. If we want an American or Indian the battlefield, he began to shirk his includes wife, sons, daughters, cows, or English body, Kt�Qa will give it. duty. "Why do I have to kill my father dogs, etc. Speaking in terms of either He is so kind. A son may be diso­ and father-in-law?" he asked Krsna. family or state, we should not give pro­ bedient to his father because he wants "My friends, my sons and grand���s , tection just to some members of our to enjoy something, but the father my brothers. They are all present here." family and cut the throats of others. says, "Aliright. Take the money-any­ It was natural that Arjuna became over­ On the Battlefield of Kuruksetra all thing." The father is so kind that even whelmed by compassion. "When the the members of Arjuna's family were though he may not approve of what son of Kunti, Arjuna, saw all these present before him, and the problem the son is doing, he says, "All right. different grades of friends and relatives, was that he had to kill them. Since the You are free. Go ahead and take some he became overwhelmed with com­ Battle of Kuruk�etra was a family money." passion." (Bg. 1.27) Why was Arjuna fight,some of the family members were This material life is a concession in such consciousness? The other side on the other side as well as on Arjuna's given to us by God in order that we did not think in this way. Arjuna was side. Arjuna was even faced with his may gratify our material senses. Actu­ thinking in this way because he was a superiors, his uncles and teachers ally Kr�l)a does not want us to become devotee. A devotee does not like to ( pitfn, acaryan), for there were those entangled in this material world. Why kill anyone, not even an ant. So why who were on the platform of fa­ does a man get married and beget should he be enticed to kill his friends? ther and grandfather-Blu�madeva and children? When he is alone, he has no Arj una's compassion was the result of Somadatta. Even his great teacher responsibility. Why take on the en­ devotional life. All Arjuna's belongings Dronacarya was on the opposing side. cumbrance of a wife, home, and chil­ were taken away, his wife was insulted, Actually before fighting with Drona­ dren? Why make friends? Why go to and he was banished for thirteen years. carya, Arjuna cast an arrow at his lotus such botheration? The answer is that Although he suffered so many atroci­ feet as a form of obeisance. Such was we wish to enjoy. J4�Qa is also a person. ties, when the time came to kill, he was the etiquette. "My dear sir, you have Nityo nityanam cetant!S cetaniinam. not very eager . He was ready to excuse taught me this fighting art. Now it is Kr�t�ahas produced so many children­ even his greatest enemy, but l<.t$Qa did all these living entities. Where does this not want this. If a devotee is insulted, being used against you." This is duty. As for Dronadirya, he shot an arrow idea come from that we will be happy the devotee may excuse his enemy, but that grazed Arjuna's head, and he said, with children, society, friendship, love, Kt�J!a does not; therefore we should "My dear son, become blessed." How etc.? What is the oxigin of such an be careful not to insu1t a devotee. A blessed? "By killing me. I know you idea? It is there in Krsna. Krsna is the devotee will excuse one, but l<.t$J!a will origin of love. He is ���ing R.idhara�;ti, will kill me, so J give you my blessing." not excuse. Krsna· is so strict that He This material world is problematic, so the idea of love has come from cannot tolerat� �ny insult against His especially when we are involved in Him. Whatever is within our experi­ devotee. Therefore the Battle of family, society, friendship and love. ence is present in ��!)a; therefore Kuruk$etra was arranged. Arjuna was Kt� a cannot be impersonal. He is a These are all entangling. In the Second D saying, "Oh, let them be excused. I will , person exactly like ourselves, but the f Canto of Srimad-Bhiigavatam it is not ight." But Kt�J!a said, "No, you stated: dehiipatya-kalatriidifv iitma­ difference is that He is unlimitedly must Hght . You must kill them." sainyefv asatsv api. First of ill the living powerful. Arjuna, then, was in a dilemma. He entity has an attraction to his body, Kl;�I).a also wants to live peacefully did not wish to fight, but Kr�Qa was then to the offspring of the body. The with His family. This K��Qa conscious­ insisting. Arjuna was thinking, "How individual is alone, he accepts a wife, ness movement is a way of training our­ shall I kill my kinsmen?" This was the and in this way, through the begetting of selves so that we can again live within real problem. If we want to please children, he expands himself. The wo­ Kl;�Qa's family. With these so-called 14�Da, we have to be prepared even to man is called stri because she helps the families in the material world, we are kill our so-called bodily relations. All man expand. First the individual has suffering. The family idea is present in Vedic civilization is arranged in such a affection for his own body, then the the material world, but it is only per­ way that we may become detached wife, then the children. In this way the fected in l<.t$Qa. The family idea cannot from so-called family attachment. First individual expands his affection for the exist unless it is present in J4�Qa. of all one must be a brahmaciiri; that is, material world. Kt�l)a is the origin of everything. What- he must live the life of austerity. A

"Arjuna was saying, 'Oh, let them be excused. I will not fight!' But Kr�Qa said,'No, you must fight. You must kill them."'

Back to Godhead 5 Photo: BMrgava dasa brahmacari is supposed to live in the home of the spiritual master and serve him. He may be a king's son or a very great briihmara's son, but he must work as a menial servant for the spiri­ tual master. As soon as the brahmacii.ri agrees to live with the spiritual master, he must live like a menial servant. Whatever the spiritual master orders, he must do. This is the meaning of brahmacarya. Generally the brahmacaris are eager to do what the spiritual master asks because they are children and begin their life of brahmacarya from the age of five. A child will do anything when asked. If he is asked to go from door to door and beg alms for the spiritu al master, he will do so. And when a child begs food or money, one will readi ly give it. In this way the brahmaciiri brings things to the spiritual master, and these things become the spiritual master's property. It is not that because the brahmacan- has begged, what he re­ ceives is his property. It is given to the spiritual master. After the food or whatever is prepared, the spiritual master tells the brahmaciiri, "My son, come on. Take prasiida." If the spiritual master fo rgets to caU a brahmaciiri, the bralunaciiri will not eat. Although the brahmaciiribegs for the food and takes it to the spiritual master, if the spiritual master does not ask him to eat, he will not eat. He will starve. This is bralu1Ja­ ciirilife. Thus one is first trained to become austere and tolerant. He is also trained up to consider all women as his mother. Indeed, he calls all women except his sister "mother." Ciit)akya PaQ4ita has given the following definition of a learned man : "No one but Kr�r:Ja can actually give us protection. matrvat para-diire�u. para-dravye�u lo�_tavat atmavat sarva-bhu tesu of education. The paprfita, or learned we must become detached. We have to ya[r pasyatisa!r P�!1�ita{1 man, sees all women as his mother and understand the falsity of this so-called all property as no more than garbage society, friendship and love. As "He is learned who sees every woman in the street, and he considers all living Bhaktivinoda Thiikura says, "We are but his wife as his mother." This is entities as he would consider himself. being carried away by the waves of the perfection of education. One must Unfortunately today there are no m(iya." Altiyiira vase, yacclta bltese', sec all women except his wife as his learned men. k!taccl�a lzii(;u�ubu, [;lzai.J ust as during Vedic v liza i mother. Purthennore: "The learned ci i t on is therefore meant the rainy season we see so many trees, man sees all others' property as no to enable us to cut the knot of material vegetables and other debris floating more than garbage in the street. And attachment. If we at all want to go back down the river, we are also floating the learned man also thinks of other to Godhead, our attachment for this on the waves of miiyii. Sometimes we living entities as he docs his own self." material world-for so-called society, are drowning, sometimes we arc on We can experience pleasure and pain, friendship and love-must be severed. the surface, sometimes we are on this and by this we know that when our As long as we have a pinch of attach­ shore or that, but as long as we are in head is cut we are in pain. Knowing ment for this material world, there is this material world, we arc being tossed this, how can we cut off the head of an no possibility of going to the spiritual by so many currents. At one moment animal? This, then, is the threefold test world. Thus by training and education we may be master of some kingdom ,

6 Back to Godhead Photo: Visakha devidasi

individually has to take care of himself. Everyone must see to it that he is saved from the clutches of mayci The acarya, or teacher, may give one hints as to how he can be saved, but the execu­ tion is in the hands ofthe living entity. If we perform our spiritual duty right­ ly, we are saved. If the acarya gives us instructions and we do not follow them, how can he save us? He can save us by his instructions and by his mercy as far as possible, but we have to take the matter in our own hands and take it seriously. dehapatya-kalatradi�v atma-sainye�v asatsv api te�arh pramatto nidhanarh paiyann api na paiyati (Bhag. 2.1.4) We are, of course, thinking that we will be protected by our fa mily, by our sons, our fa thers, our grandfathers, etc. Everyone is thinking that his nation, community, philosophy, poli­ tics, or whatever, will save him, but all these things are ternporary. They come and go. One who is too much attached to society, friendship and love is actu­ ally mad. He does not see that the father who gave him protection when he was a small child is no longer giving him protection. Now one may be thinking that his sons or wife are giving him protection, but how long will this last? Actually it is only K{�I)awho can give us protection, and He can give pro­ tection always. Society, friendship and love will be finished. Just as our grand­ fa thers and fathers may be finished, so in the future our sons and grandsons will be fin ished. So no one but Krsna· can actually give us protection. Th�;e­ fore we must surrender to Him. Therefore we must surrender unto Him." sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekarh sararzarh vraja and at the other moment we may be a If we are thinking that in this material aharh tvam sarva-papebhyo dog. This is our position. Sometimes world we will be saved through the mokfayinami rnasucaft we are together, and the next moment assistance of family, society, friend­ the waves tear us asunder. ship, country, politics, sociology, sci­ "Abandon all varieties of religion Thus we are all assembled here, ence, etc., we are mistaken. It is not and just surrender unto Me. I shall de­ tossed together by the waves of maya. possible to be saved in this way. Each liver you from all sinful reaction. Do We are thinking, "This is my father, individual has to take care of himself. not fear." (Bg. 18.66) this is my mother, this is my brother, Our society, fr iendship and country Again, K{�Qa tells Arjuna, kaunteya etc." But in actuality these are simply will never be able to save us. We are pratijanihi na me bhaktab prarzaiyati: illusory combinations. No one is our under the clutches of maya. We have "0 son of KuntT, declare it boldly that father, no one is our mother, no one is no independence, nor does anyonehave My devotee never perishes." (Bg. 9.31) our brother. These are all illusory and the independence to save us. We may The best course, therefore, is to take temporary combinations, but we are so learn how to drive an airplane and go to K{�Qa consciousness, fully surrender much attached to such combinations high in the sky, but if we are in danger, to Kr�Qa, and in this way be protected. that we refuse to go back home, back no other airplane can save us. There­ Otherwise, there is no protection; we to Godhead. Therefore we must devel­ fore we must be very careful pilots. will be carried away by the waves of op detachment from all such illusions. Thus in this material world everyone maya. t:J

Back to Godhead 7 CLASSES IN THE SCIENCE OF GOD "This beautiful Bhagavatam is sufficient in itself for God realization. As soon as one attentively Every day, each of our Kr::;I)a con­ When conducting Bhagavatam class­ and submissively hears the message sciousness centers holds an early­ es, the devotees begin by chanting a of Bhagavatam, he becomes morning class in which a verse from Sanskrit verse out loud. This is the attached to the Supreme Lord�' Srimad-Bhagavatam is read and dis­ same Sanskrit, word for word, that was cussed. The book Srimad-Bhagavatam (Srimad-Bhiigavatam 1.1.2) 1 originally composed 5,000 years ago is a Vedic literature. Therefore, the by Srila Vyasadeva, the incarnation of subject matter is always the Supreme 51 Kn!)awho compiled all the millions of Personality of Godhead, Lord Kr�I)a. � verses of the Sanskrit Vedic literature. � In the Bhagavatam class there is no dis­ � The sound of congregational chanting "' cussion of mundane topics concerning � of the Bhagavatam is transcendental, the temporary material world. Anyone � and purification takes place even for a who regularly takes part in hearing the g hearer who does not understand a word 0 .c Bhagavatam in the association of devo­ a. of Sanskrit. These verses are sometimes tees will experience a cleansing of all compared to gold. Even in the hands of inauspicious things from his heart. a child who knows nothing of its Our problem is that although we are worth, gold is always valuable. Similar­ eternal spiritual souls, we have identi­ ly, the transcendental sound vibration fied ourselves with our temporary will always act to purify its hearers. material bodies. In other words, we Before chanting the verse, the leader have forgotten who we really are. Most first chants the mantra "om nama people think they are their material bhagavate vasudeviiya." This is an in­ bodies-that is the inauspicious mis­ vocation of the Supreme Lord and is conception that clouds our hearts. We translated, "I offer my obeisances unto have forgotten Kr�I)a, the Supreme the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord, and we have forgotten our eter­ who is all-pervading." The chanting is nal relationship with Him. But one can responsive-the leader chants, and the revive that lost relationship and regain congregation repeats. This hearing and his original nature of eternity, bliss and by SATSVARUPA DASA GOSVAMI chanting engage two important senses- knowledge-just by hearing about Krl>tla in the Bhagavatam class. Regardless of one's material desig­ nation, he should hear about Kr�I)a. One should not object, "I am a Christian. I cannot hear about Kr�I)a," or "I am a Jew. I cannot chant the verses of the Bhagavatam." Because Kr�I)a is universal, He is transcendental to all designations. I have taken my birth in a certain race, a certain nation, a certain religious sect, a certain family -but that pertains to my material body, which 1 am not. Spiritually I am transcendental to all temporary desig­ nations. I am an eternal servant of God. One should revive such pure conscious­ ness, beyond the scope of ethnic cul­ ture and sectarian religion, by hearing the transcendental message of Srimad­ Bhagavatam.

8 Back to Godhead .. the ear and the tongue-and thus the Srila Prabhupada has made all these them. And simply by associating with restless mind is captured, and one can literatures available as a service to them and accepting the remnants of think of Kr�t:ta, the goal of life. humanity because by hearing Kmta's foodstuff left by the sages, the son of Here follows a Sanskrit verse from message one can be freed from bondage the maidservant got the chance to be­ the Bhiigavatam (First Canto, Chapter to ignorance and repeated birth and come the great devotee and personali­ Two, verse 1.8 ). At first glance it rnay death. Here is his English translation ty Srila Naradadeva. These are the seem no more than a jumble of foreign and purport of the Sanskrit verse. miraculous effects of the association words, but actually it is not foreign. of Bhiigavatas. And to understand We humbly request you to try pro­ TRANSLATION these effects practically, it should be nouncing the words, aided by the San­ noted that by such sincere association "By regularly hearing the Bhagavatam skrit pronunciation guide found on of the Bhiigavatas one is sure to re­ and rendering service unto the pure page 2 of this magazine. ceive transcendental knowledge very devotee, all that is troublesome to the easily, and the result is that he becomes heart is practically destroyed, and n�.ta-priiye�v abltadre�u fixed in the devotional service of the loving service unto the glorious Lord, nityarh bltiigavata-sevayii Lord. The more progress is made in de­ who is praised with transcendental bhagavaty 11 ttama-sloke votional service under the guidance of songs, is established as an irrevocable bltaktir bltavati nai�!ltiki the Bhiigavatas, the more one becomes fact." fi..xed in the transcendental loving ser­ The English translation of each vice of the Lord. The messages of the PURPORT word is expertly rendered by His book Bhiigavata, therefore, have to be Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta "Here is the remedy for eliminating received from the devotee Bhage�ve�ta, Swami Prabhupada: all inauspicious things within the heart and the combination of these two which are considered to be obstacles in Bhiigavatas will help the neophyte n�.ta-destroyed; priiye$u-almost to the path of self-realization. The reme­ devotee to make progress on and on." nil; abhadre�u-all that is inauspicious; dy is the association of the Bl1agavatas. After reading Srila Prabhupada's 11ityarh-regularly; bhagavata-Srimad­ There are two types of Bhagavatas, purport, his natural commentary on Bhagavatam, or the pure devotee; namely the book Bl1iigavata {Srimad­ the verse, the devotee conducting the sevaya-by serving; blwgavati-unto the Bhagavatam} and the devotee Bhaga­ class will discuss the topic of that par­ Personality of Godhead; uttama-tran­ vata [a pure devotee of the Lord] . ticular verse. All such discussion is scendental; sfoke prayers; bhakti[I­ Both the Bltagavatas are competent exactly in accord with the authorized Joving service; bltm1ati-comes into be­ remedies, and both of them or either version presented by the spiritual mas­ ing; nai�thikr-irrevocable. of them can be good enough to elimi­ ter, who is coming in disciplic succes­ nate the obstacles. A devotee Bhagavata sion from Kr�l)a Himself. But each is as good as the book Bhiigavata, and Sanskrit word is such a treasure house the book Bl1agavata is full of informa­ of meaning that a devotee can expound tion about the Personality of Godhead on the subject infinitely, without de­ and His pure devotees. Bhagavata book viating from the conclusion of the and person are identical. disciplic succession. This assures the "The devotee Bltiigavata is a direct audience that the original truth, as representative of Bhagavan, the Per­ first revealed by Kr�rJa, is being exactly sonality of Godhead. So by pleasing repeated with all its purity and potency the devotee Bl1iigavata one can receive intact. the benefit of the book Bhiigavata. The essential activity of life is to Human reason fails to understand how glorify Kr�1�a, whose glorious activities by serving the devotee Bhiigavata or can be understood properly from the the book Bhiigavata one gets gradual book Bhagavata and the person Blliiga­ promotion on the path of devotion. vata. Glorification of Kr�t:ta. which is But actually these are facts explained beneficial for all living beings, is per­ Photo: Bhargava tiJS

Back to Godhead 9 tat ion of transcendental ecstasy. This much pleased his own spiritual master, that He is a person, one should recog­ ecstasy is a by-product of profound His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta nize that His personal activities must love for the Supreme which is attained SarasvatT Gosvami Maharaja: «The Ab­ be extraordinary. Thereis one verse in by the process of glorification." In solute· is sentient, thou hast proved./ the Second Canto of the Bhagavatam other words, if one begins at once, Impersonal calamity thou hast re­ where Kr�lJ.a in His incarnation of even as a neophyte, to glorify Kr�l)a as moved." God, or Kr��Ja, is a person. Lord Rama is described as becoming one has heard such glorification from He is not void or impersonal. God is a so angry that His very glance generated his spiritual master, that will revive person, just as all the numberless living burning heat in the ocean, causing fear one's original love for d1e Supreme entities are. He is eternal and full of to the fish and crocodiles. No one can Lord.Giorification is a natural principle bliss, and in their original spiritual be angry like the Lord. Srimad­ of life, but now we are turning our nature, all living entities share that Bhiigavatam is made up of thousands attention away from all false glorifica­ eternal, blissful nature. But the differ­ of such verses describing the transcen­ tion and here attempting to describe ence is vast. KrtiT)a is maintaining all dental phUosophy and superhuman the phUosophy and activities of the others. All are fed by the One. For activities of the Supreme Person. Supreme Personality of Godhead. example, it is not man who provides In another canto of the Bhagavatam Kr�l)a Himself advises Arjuna to re­ the food for the elephants in the jungle, it is described that Krg1a in His original member Him as being always a person. nor does man provide for the ants. That form married 16,000 wives and that He is done by God. He maintains every­ expanded into 16,000 Kr�l)as to act as "One should meditate upon the thing, and He is the Supreme Person. an attentive husband to each. One who Supreme Person as the one who He is the chief and original person, knows the spiritual science of Kr�l.la knows everything, as He who is and we are His subordinate parts and consciousness can understand how such the oldest, who is the controller, parcels. The simultaneous oneness and acts are possible for God. Kr�t;J.a ex­ who is smaller than the smallest, difference between Kr��Ja and all pands Himself, by His feature called who is the maintainer of every­ others can be explained by the follow­ Supersoul, in the heart of every living thing, who is beyond all material ing example. I am one with the Presi­ creature, and as Supersoul He supplies conception, who is inconceivable, dent of the United States because we everyone with memory, intelligence and who is always a person. He is are both humans and both Americans, and forgetfulness. Therefore, since luminous like the sun and, being but the difference is that he is the Krg1a is in the hearts of all the count­ transcendental, is beyond this chief American, whereas I am a sub­ less living entities, it was not very material nature." (Bhagavad­ ordinate. SimUarly, Kr�l.la is the Su­ difficult for Him to come out of the gitii, 8.9) preme Person, and everyone else is hearts of 16,000 women who were subordinate to Him. His great devotees and marry them. Our spiritual master has told us of a Considering that Lord Kr�lJ.a is vast­ But only God can do such things. poetic couplet he wrote that very ly more powerful than anyone and Some people call Kr�lJ.a's activities mythology, but they are facts. God is the Supreme Person, and His personal pastimes as presented in the Srlmad­ Bhiigavatam are recited and glorified by the greatest transcendental poets and philosophers. Whatever Kr�l.ladoes, being absolute in quality, can liberate whoever sub­ missively hears such pastimes. Kr�l)a is also called Ranchor, which means "He who left the battlefield." OrdinarUy a warrior who leaves a battle is de­ rided as a coward, but Kr�IJa is worshiped in His feature as Ranchor in many temples in India. Chased by the demon Jarasandha, Kr�f!a left a bat­ tlefield because He had to tend to another pas- time, which also in­ volved fighting with armies, to rescue His chief queen, Rukmil)i.

"l

At that time }(r��;ta and His brother, means that the impersonalist has a holding the Bhagavatam class is to Balarama, fled from the demon to the negative idea of spirit as no more than facilitate such hearing. One's attraction top of a high mountain. Jarasandha set the opposite of matter. Because in this for fleeting material pleasures will the mountain on fire, and }(r��;ta and miserable material world there is a diminish as one hears about the pas­ Balarama leaped down from the moun­ variety of people, activities, eating, times of the Supreme Person with His tain, which was eighty-eight miles high. talking, singing and so forth, they pure devotees. All confusion about the No one can perform such feats but the take it that spirit must be devoid of nature of God and the living entity will Supreme Personality of Godhead. There all variety and personality. They want be cleared up as one hears Kr�11a con­ are no activities within our experience to make everything zero , and they scious philosophy from great authori­ that can compare co His pastimes. think this to be perfection. They take ties. Of course, God can jump eighty­ the Absolute Truth to be a kind of It is extremely important that one eight billion miles if He so desires. As blank or void. But this idea of the Su­ hear Bhiigavatam from the right per­ stated in the lsopani�ad, "The Person­ preme is not supported by the version son, a bona fide spiritual master. If one ality of Godhead is more swift than the of the Vedic literature. Throughout the tries to understand the pastimes of the mind and can overcome all others run­ whole of the Vedic scriptures we hear incarnations of Godhead on his own, ning." In His incarnation of , that Lord ViglU, Lord Kr�rJa, is the or if he is misled by a mundane aca­ the Lord covered the entire universe in Supreme Personality of Godhead, the demic scholar, he will come to the three steps. The Lord's personal form eternal source of everything. There is wrong conclusion and think that God has a bodily effulgence called the no void anywhere in His creation. is an ordinary man or that God is im­ brahmajy oti, and in that light aU the The impersonalists' goal is to lose personal. planets are sustained. One time, Lord their personal identities and merge as But who is the bona fi de spiritual Brahma, seeing Kr�rJa engaged in His one with the divine "white light," the master from whom we must hear? Lord pastimes as a cowherd boy, doubted brahmajyoti. But, as we have explained, J(r�rya describes in Bhagavad-gita that that He was God. He challenged and that effulge nt light is only an aspect of one must "approach a spiritual master played a trick on Kr�rJa by stealing His Kr�11a's supreme personality, and it is and inquire from him ...because he has cowherd fr iends and cows. Kr�rJa then subordinate to Him. Nor can a living seen the truth. And when you have thus proved Himself by manifesting the entity do away with his individual per­ learned the truth, you will know that whole universe within His body, and sonality because, like the Supreme all living beings are but part of Me­ Brahma fell down dumbstruck. At Lord, we arc eternal persons. The im­ and that they are in Me, and are Mine." that time, Lord Brahma admitted: personalist philosopher is fearful of (Bg. 4.34-35) Therefore a spiritual "You appear like a boy, but 1 know real spiritual life because of his bitter master is one who teaches that Knrya You are God. Your body has incon­ experience with personal varieties in is supreme and that we are His eternal ceivable potency." material life. He is like a man who has servitors. Such a teacher carries the We must therefore come to under­ been illin a hospital for a long time and message of l(r�qa as it is . Kr�qa says, stand Kr�qa's supremacy in His form who, when told that one day he will "Surrender to Me." Therefore, the as a cowherd boy holding a flute in His recover his health, eat normally and spiritual master docs not misinterpret two hands. Sometimes people formally have many pleasurable activities, does or change the meaning by saying, profess, "Yes, God is unlimited," but not believe it because of experiencing "Don't surrender to K{�qa. You are as when the Supreme Lord comes to this only misery for so long. good as K{�Qa. Forget K��qa." There is world to give even a small indication of But factually there is healthy, nor­ a system of checks and balances. What His limitless nature, foolish people de­ mal life. There is an eternal, blissful life the spiritual master says is also stated ride Him. "No," they say, "He couldn't of variety and personality in loving in the scripture and upheld by the have lifted Govardhana Hill. He can't service to the Supreme Person. Certain­ disciplic succession of bona fide appear in the brass Deity. He can't ap­ ly the activities and relationships of this teachers. For example, Kr�!Ja first pear in the chanting of His name." material world are false because they spoke the truth of the Bhagavatam to People who think like this have a poor are impermanent, but eternal truth is the first living entity, Brah rna, who fund of knowledge. They know that not void, zero or without variety. The in turn spoke it to Narada. Narada they themselves cannot lift a hill, so Personality of Godhead has His own spoke it to Vyasadeva, who spoke they think that it must be impossible abode in the spiritual world, and it is it to Sukadeva. In this way it for God also. described that "once going there, one has come down to the presenc The philosophers of the impersonal never has to return to this world of age, and Sri1a Prabhupada, our spiri­ school do not believe that God is a per­ birth and death." We can qualify to go tual master, is a bona fide teach­ son who has His own eternal activities. there and enjoy with Kr�qa in His eter­ er in this direct succession from When they hear about Ramacandra's nal, blissful activities. K{�t)a. eyes' burning red-hot in anger, they The best method for getting rid of In B/,agavad-gita !4�11a further de­ take this description to be material. all confusion about actual spiritual life scribes the person in J(r�rya conscious­ Srila Prabhupada writes, "They want is to hear the authorized version of ness in answer to Arjuna's question, to see negation in perfection." This Srimad-Bhaga vatam. The purpose of "What does a person in Transcendence

12 Back to Godhead His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada delivers the purifying message of Srimad-Bhagavatam to a small group of disciples in the recently opened Kr��a consciousness center in Stockholm, Sweden. look like? How does he speak, and how lows: "My conclusion is, therefore, and hear Srl111ad-Bitagavatam from him. docs he walk?" Kr�l)a describes that that You are the Supreme Soul, Ab­ His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta such a person is not agitated by the solute Truth, and the supreme original Swami Prabhupada has introduced happiness or distress of this material person; and although You have ex­ to the West this timeless process world . He controls his senses by fixing panded Yourself in so many Vil)pu of hearing about Kr�t)a, and many his consciousness upon the Personality forms, or in living entities and energies, sincere men and women have changed of Godhead. Great spiritual masters by Your inconceivable transcendental their lives and become devotees like Brahma, Narada and arc potencies, You are the supreme one just by hearing the Bhaga11ata111. liberated from material desires, and without a second. You are the supreme Now Srila Prabhupada's authorized therefore their desire to speak of Supcrsoul." disciples arc conducting Bluigcltlclfam Kr�pa's pastimes proves that the Lord's Such spiritual masters go everywhere classes all over the world, in schools, pastimes are not material. Such liber­ just to speak to people about the universtttes, public fe stivals-every­ ated spiritual masters are not interested glories of Kr�rya . And although Kmta where. If people will simply give a in telling fictional stories. Their medi­ is self-satisfied, He is always most submissive car, the potent transcenden­ tation upon Kr�t}a is accepted as medi­ pleased by His devotees. Therefore tal messages of Srlmad-Bhiigatltlfcll/1 tation upon the highest transcendental Kr�l)a says that one should not be can immediately clear all inauspicious truth. puffed up by his own accomplishments, conditions from the face of the Lord Brahma prays to Kr�l)a as fol- but should humbly approach a devotee earth. !:!

Back to Godhead 13 GOD OF THE FOOLS by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

As in the present day, throughout history many cheaters have falsely claimed to be incarnations of God, and naive followers have acclaimed them. This excerpt from Srila Prabhupada's Kt:�Q a Book tells of the fate of one such fraudulent incarnation.

T.IESTORY OF KING senger declared to Kr�l)a PaUJ.H;lraka is very interest­ that out of his causeless ing because there have al­ mercy, King PauJ)�Iraka, ways been many rascals the Supreme Personality and fools who have con­ of Godhead, had de­ sidered themselves God. scended on the earth just Even in the presence of to deliver all distressed the Supreme Personality persons. of Godhead, K��l)a, there Surrounded by many was such a foolish person. His name was Pauryc.lraka, and he foolish persons, this rascal Paul_lQraka had actually con­ wanted to delcare himself God. While Lord Balariima was cluded that he was Vasudeva, the Supreme Personality of absent in Vrndavana, this King PaUI)Qraka, the King of the Godhead. This kind of conclusion is certainly childish. When Karll�a province, being foolish and puffed up, sent a mes­ children are playing, they sometimes create a king amongst senger to Lord Kr�f!a. Lord Kr�11a is accepted as the Su­ themselves, and the child so selected thinks that he is the preme Personality of Godhead, and King Pau!l9raka directly king. Similarly, many foolish persons, due to ignorance, challenged Kr�11a through the messenger, who stated that select another fool as God, and then the rascal considers Paul)c.lraka, and not Kr�f!a, was Vasudeva [the Supreme himself God, as if God could be created by childish play Lord]. In the present day there are many foolish followers or by the votes of men. Under this false impression, of such rascals. Similarly, in his day, many foolish men ac­ thinking himself the Supreme Lord, Pau�1Qraka sent his cepted Paul)�lraka as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. messenger to Dviirakii to challenge the position of Kr�1}a. Because he could not estimate his own position, Paui)Qraka The messenger reached the royal assembly of Kr�f)a in falsely thought himself to be Lord Vasudeva. Thus the mes- Dviiraka and conveyed the message given by his master,

14 Back to Godhead lllustrauon: Bharadraja dasa Paur;tQraka.The message contained the following statements. saw Pauf.1Qraka imitating His posture and dress, He could "1 am the only Supreme Personality of Godhead, not check His laughter, and thus He laughed with great Vasudeva. There is no man who can compete with me. I satisfaction. have descended as King Paul)<;lraka, taking compassion on The soldiers on the side of King Pau!)<;lraka began to the distressed conditioned souls out of my unlimited shower their weapons upon �r;ta. The weapons, including causeless mercy. You have falsely taken the position of various kinds of tridents, clubs, poles, lances, swords, Vasudeva without authority, but You should not propagate daggers and arrows, came flying in waves, and Kr�Da this false idea. You must give up Your position. 0 descen­ counteracted them. He smashed not only the weapons but dant of the Yadu dynasty, please give up all the symbols of also the soldiers and assistants of Paul)Qraka, just as during Yasudeva which You have falsely assumed. And after giving the dissolution of thjs universe the fire of devastation burns up this position, come and surrender unto me. If out of everything to ashes. The elephants, chariots, horses, and Your gross impudence You do not care for my words, then infantry belonging to the opposite party were scattered by I challenge You to fight. I am inviting You to a battle in the weapons of Kr�Da. The whole battlefield became which the decision will be settled." scattered with the bodies of animals and chariots. There When aU the members of the royal assembly heard this were fa llen horses, elephants, men, asses and camels. Al­ message sent by Paurl<;lrak. a, they laughed very loudly for a though the devastated battlefield appeared Like the dancing considerable time. After enjoying the loud laughter of all place of Lord Siva at the time of the dissolution of the the members of the assembly, Kr�r)a replied to the messen­ world, the warriors who were on the side of Kr�Da were ger as follows. "0 messenger of Paur;Qraka, you may carry very much encouraged by seeing this, and they fought with My message to your master: He is a foolish rascal. I directly greater strength. call him a rascal, and I refuse to follow his instructions. At this time, Lord Kr�l)a told Paur�oraka, ''Paur)Qraka, I shall never give up the symbols of Vasudeva, especially you requested Me to give up the symbols of Lord Vi�DU, My disc. I shall use this disc to kill not only King Paur_1<;lraka specifically My disc. Now I will give it up to you. Be care­ but all his followers also. I shall destroy this Paul)<;lraka and ful! You fa lsely declare yourself to be Vasudeva, imitating his foolish associates, who merely constitute a society of Myself. Therefore no one is a greater fool than you." From cheaters and cheated. When this action is taken, foolish this statement of K{�l)a's it is clear that any rascal who ad­ King, you will have to conceal your face in disgrace, and vertises himself as God is the greatest fool in human society. when your head is severed from your body by My disc, it Kr�r.1acontinued: "Now, Paup{.lraka, I shall force you to will be surrounded by meat-eating birds like vultures, give up this fa lse representation. You wanted Me to sur­ hawks and eagles. At that time, instead of becoming My render unto you. Now this is your opportunity. We shall shelter as you have demanded, you will be subjected to the now fight, and if I am defeated and you become victorious, mercy of these low-born birds. At that time your body will I shall certainly surrender unto you." In this way, after be thrown to the dogs, who will eat it with great pleasure." rebuking Paur_1(1raka very severely, He smashed his chariot The messenger carried the words of Lord Kr�JJa to his to pieces by shooting an arrow. With the help of His disc master, Paul)<;lraka, who patiently heard all these insults. He separated the head of Paur)oraka from his body, just as Without waiting longer, Lord Sri K�r;ta immediately started Indra shaves off the peaks of mountains by striking them out on His chariot to punish U1e rascal Paul)c;lraka. Because with his thunderbolt. Similarly, He also killed the King of at that time the King of Karu�a was living with his friend Kasr with His arrows. Lord Kr�Da specifically arranged to the King of Kasi, Kr�Da surrounded the whole city of Kasi. throw the head of the King of Kiisi into the city of Kasi King Paur_1<;1raka was a great warrior, and as soon as he itself so that his relatives and family members could see it. heard of K�l)a's attack, he came out of the city along with �r;ta did this just as a hurricane carries a lotus petal here two ak�auhi!li divisions of soldiers. The King of Kasi was and there. Lord K{�l)a killed Paup{.lraka and his friend also a friend to King Paul)c;lraka,and he came out with three Kasiraja on the battlefield, and then He returned to His ak1s·a uhirzl divisions.l When the two kings came before Lord capital city, Dvaraka. Kr�Da to oppose Him, Kr�r;ta saw Paur;tc;lraka face to face for When Lord K{�I)a returned to the city of Dvaraka, all the first time. Kr��Ja saw that Paul)Qraka had decorated the Siddhas from the heavenly planets were singing the himself with the symbols of the conchshell, disc, lotus and glories of the Lord. As far as Paul)oraka was concerned, club. He carried the Sarr1ga bow, and on his chest was the somehow or other he was always thinking of Lord Yasudeva insignia of SrTvatsa.2 His neck was decorated with a false by falsely dressing himself in that way, and therefore Kaustubha jewel, and he wore a flower gaJiand in exact Paur;t<;lraka achieved siirupya, one of the five kinds of liber­ imitation of Lord Vasudeva. He was dressed in yellow ation, and was thus promoted to the VaikuJJ!ha planets, colored silken garments, and the flag on his chariot carried where the devotees have the same bodily features as Vi�l)U, the symbol of Garuc;la, exactly imitating K�r.1a's. He had with four hands holding the four symbols. Factually, his a very valuable helmet on his head, and his earrings, like meditation was concentrated on the Vi�r;tu form of Kr�JJa, swordfish, glittered brilliantly. On the whole, however, his but because he thought himself to be Lord Vi�t.lu, it was dress and makeup were clearly imitation. Anyone could offensive. After being killed by Kr�Da, however. that offense understand that he was just like someone onstage playing was also mitigated. Thus he was given siiriipya liberation, the part of Vasudeva in false dress. When Lord Sri K�t.la and he attained the same form as the Lord. !:l 1. An ak�auhi(li phalanx consists of 21.870 chariots, 21.870 elephants. 106,950 infantrymen and 65,600 cavalrymen. Back to Godhead 15 2. These are all ornaments of Lord Kr$r;�a.

Sense Gratification: THE OPIATE OF THE PEOPLE

by Bahulasva dasa (�SKCON MexicoCity)

nidraya hriyate naktam the self from its bondage to matter. concluded that the phenomenal world Knowledge concerning the self is has no endurance and the conscious vyavayena ca va vaya}:l called iitma-tattva. A tma indicates the element (the self) no cessation. One can living being, and tattva means knowl­ easily understand this truth. The body diva carthehaya rajan edge. But those who are too materialis­ is always changing-from boyhood to kutumba-bharaiJena va tic are unaware of self-knowledge, youth, from youth to manhood, from being too much absorbed in the opiate manhood to old age-yet the living of sense pleasure. In their dreamlike entity (atmii) remains throughout all "The I ifeti me of the state of illusion, such foolish fe llows, the changes of the gross body. Once who are caLled karmls,or fr uitive labor­ we all had the bodies of fl.ve-year-olds, materialistic man ers, philosophize that man is meant to but those bodies no longer exist. Yet work hard to enjoy this temporary we still exist. Thus one can see that his is passed at night life. But no pleasure is to be found in existence is more than merely physical. this transient phenomena, for it is This is the realization of those conver­ either in sleeping or pervaded by fourfold miseries-birth, sant with the science of the self. in sex indulgence old age, disease and death. Unfortunately, people who are too Factually speaking, life is a hard attached to sense pleasure never take and in the daytime struggle for existence. We may claim the time to contemplate the nature of to be scientifically advanced, but that their existence. They go on life after in making money, will not save us from the pangs of life enjoying the meager pleasure they death. No one, regardless how rich experience through their senses. In by any means, or powerful, will survive the battle false happiness, they never make a against material nature. One should solution to their material struggle. for gratification examine the fact that his father or his Therefore they are compared to dogs, fa ther's fa ther has already died and hogs, camels and asses. This compari­ of the senses." that he will therefore also die, and son may be explained as follows. similarly his children, who are the A common man, untrained in the (Srimad-Bhiigavatam, Canto Two, would-be fathers of their children, will Chap ter One, text 3) standard of higher life, unfortunately also die in due course. How then can spends his valuable time trying to per­ one find happiness here? fect his animal propensities. Consumer According to the philosophy of the This physical world is known to be consciousness, which both communists Vedas, our present materialistic civili­ constantly changi.ng. {t is created just and capitalists share, educates people zation, being primarily based on the to be annihilated after some time, like into acquiring a doggish mentality. principles of eating, sleeping, sex and waves in the ocean that appear and in After fi nishing a so-called education in defense, is an existence on a par with a minute are gone. All material forms a technical school, the so-called educat­ the lives of lower animals like dogs, are like waves in the great ocean of ed man doggishly goes from shop to hogs, camels and asses. Human society material energy. They appear, develop, shop to apply for work, but he is often has developed into a polished animal stay for some time, produce by­ rejected and informed that his skill existence. The Vedic school of thought products, dwindle and at last vanish has been replaced by a machine. As considers this the greatest waste of from sigh t.But although material forms dogs, although of no real value to human energy because human life pro­ undergo many changes, the conscious society, serve their masters for scraps vides a chance to acquire knowledge. self always remains the same. of fo od, so these doggish men take Therefore human society should be In Bhagavad-gltii (2 .16) Lord Kr�IJa meaningless employment to provi.de directed toward the goal of liberating tells Arjuna that seers of truth have themselves with bread.

Illustration: Bo Schnepf Back to Godhead 17 Such unfortunate men do not realize Buddha, Socrates, Jesus Christ and, all, does not the Almighty Lord fully that with the rising and setting of the in moclern times, Sri Caitanya protect the surrendered soul?" sun their duration of life decreases. Mahaprabhu were all very short. But The life style of higher conscious­ As a dog will bark at and quarrel with does that mean that a tree's long life ness is one of simple living but high anyone, so when approached by is more important ? A prolonged life thinking. One can easily meet the de­ sadhus, saintly persons who wish to without the enlightenment to stop the mands of the body. It is only the give them enlightenment concerning onslaught of material miseries is of illusory comforts that man must work a more meaningful existence, these little value. like a beast to obtain. Great sages of men argue that life is not meant for A materialist may argue that the life India like Srila Vyasadeva, who com­ contemplating the Absolute Truth. of a tree and the life of a man cannot piled the Vedic knowledge in written They declare that God is dead and be compared because the tree cannot form some 5,000 years ago, lived in that all spiritual pursuits are simply a enjoy life by eating and having sex. ln simple grass huts on the banks of waste of time. It is better to get a job, reply to this the Vedas ask, "Do not rivers like the Sarasvati, yet they left they say, and work hard to enjoy life, common animals like dogs and hogs, behind immense treasures of transcen­ for by our advancements in medical living in the same viJlages as human dental writings full of all perfection. science we will conquer disease and beings, enjoy eating and sex?" One who One should use his human energy in live indefinitely. misuses his valuable intelligence in this way for the pursuit of higher Prolong life to the maximum dura­ trying to polish these animal propensi­ consciousness. Such a life of self­ tion and enjoy eating, drinking, sexual ties is no more than an intellectual realization far excels wasting human intercourse and merrymaking to the beast. A society of such polished energy in imitating the eating and fu llest-this is their hoggish mentality. animals cannot attain peace, nor can it sleeping of animals. They have no information of the eter­ achieve progressive heights. An animal To take birth, work, acquire material nal existence of the self; like sleeping can easily harm another animal but possessions, eat some food, grow old men who have forgotten wakefulness, rarely do good. and die is not the purpose of human materialists, lost to their higher con­ The ass is celebrated as the greatest life. Human life is meant for earning sciousness, want to enjoy the maximum fool because it works very hard carry­ true value. It is called arthada, or pleasure in this life, thinking that there ing heavy burdens but making no that which can deliver values. And� is no existence after death. profit, and after working hard for what is the greatest value one can Modern leaders are very happy to its master, it is awarded with a little attain? Knowledge of the Absolute keep people in this ignorant condition grass. The grass the ass receives can Truth and one's existence beyond the and thereby exploit them in the name be had anywhere, but in ignorance body is the real value of human life. of advancement. But this ignorance the ass thinks, "If I don't serve The human life is so important that about the eternality of the living being my master, how will 1 eat?" Foolish even the demigods in the higher planets and the changing of bodies in the persons, like asses, work hard day sometimes aspire for human bodies on material world has played havoc in the and night for an employer who ex­ this earth because only in the human structure of modern human society. ploits them by making them give form can one easily go back to God­ Industrial plans to increase the the most production for the least head. Therefore in spite of having pleasures of life have only multiplied wages. The salary they receive barely obtained such an important body, if the problems. In a passion to get covers the ever rising cost of living. one does not come to realize or at places quickly, man has manufactured Thus, exploited by their employers, least inquire about the Absolute Truth, the automobile, and now the world is they are forced to reside in dungeons he has certainly lost sight of his real suffering a new misery-air pollution. called apartments while the heads of self-interest. Thus by exploiting nature, man, think­ the big enterprise reside in the beauty One obtains the human form of life ing he is making progress, only aggra­ of the country. by a gradual process of evolution in vates the miseries of his material But the Vedas ask, "Could not the one body after another in a cycle of existence, like the camel, who derives necessities of life be acquired without 8,400,000 species. Politicians and sci­ pleasure from eating thorny twigs and factories and workshops?" One great entists who spread the idea of godless­ tasting his own blood when they cut gosvami asked, "When there are ample ness and sense enjoyment as all in all his tongue. earthly flats to lie on, what is the need are misleading innocent people by in­ Even if by medical science one of working so hard just to sleep on a volving them in illusory engagements could prolong his life more than one bed? When one can use his arms, what to uplift their material position, thus hundred years, advancement of human is the necessity of a pillow? When one leading them down the royal road to civilization would not necessarily fol­ can dress simply but practically, what hell, which is not merely an imaginary low. The Vedas ask, tarava{1 kim na is the need of so many clothing shops? fiery pit, but repeated birth and death jivm1ti: "Do trees not live for hundreds Do the trees, which exist for the main­ in the 8,400,000 species of life. The of years?" In San Francisco there are tenance of others, no longer give their opiate of material pleasure such leaders large redwood trees said to be thou­ fruit in charity? Then what is the need offer never has and never will bring sands of years old, and similar trees of slaughtering innocent animals just satisfaction to the people, for it is exist all over the world. The lives of for the pleasure of the tongue? Above based on a temporary platform. CJ

18 Back to Godhead Presenting KrflQaconsciousness to the British student community

their bodily and emotional nature, they feel happier when married and raising a family in Kr��Ja consciousness. Supporting a family generally means that a devotee will not be able to de­ vote much of his time to active preaching, so he is recommended to preach whenever he finds an oppor­ tunity, and at the same time try to set aside fifty percent of his acquired wealth to give to those engaged fully in preaching work. Occasionally, however, we fi nd a devotee who becomes so absorbed in devotional practices and preaching that he becomes steadily free of distur­ bance from sexual desire. The enjoy­ ment of devotion to Kr��Ja frees him from all other desires, and therefore he may decide to forego marriage and by REVATINANDANA SVAMI family life to fully concentrate on THE EXPRESSION "Kr�J:la con­ of all. By becoming very dear to Kr�J?.a reaching the larger family of humanity sciousness" indicates a life of progress­ one makes the most rapid advance­ with the message of Kr�J?.a conscious­ ing spiritual awareness that preparesone ment in devotional service, and there­ ness. Such a fa ctually renounced to enter the eternalassociation of Kr�lfa fore intelligent devotees try to preach preacher may eventually formalize his (God) even before the death of the Kr�J:la consciousness. position by accepting initiation by his body. Devotional service to Kr�J?.a The main benefit of associating with spiritual master into sannyasa, the re­ (bhakti-yoga) is a practical life of a true spiritual master comes by under­ nounced order of life. At that time rendering service to God under the standing and implementing his divine he accepts the title "svii.mi" (controller guidance of the Vedic scriptures and a instructions. A spiritual master will of the senses), along with the re­ personal spiritual master. When the produce volumes of books describing sponsibilities of maintaining strict celi­ spiritual master is bona fide, the re­ and applying the Vedic principles ac­ bacy, keeping to the minimum his ma­ sults of such spiritual service are com­ cording to the particular time and cir­ terial eating and sleeping and accumu­ plete detachment from the alternating cumstances in which he is preaching. A lation of material possessions, and pains and pleasures of materialistic disciple who wishes to begin preaching, preaching Kr�J:la consciousness every­ life, and an increasing experience of therefore, finds his best beginning in where. Such a qualified sannyasl is re­ spontaneous joy from within, indi­ attempting to convince others that vered as a spiritual leader by all other cating the awakening of the spirit soul's they should read his spiritual master's classes of men in the Vedic culture. love of God. literature. As he becomes expert in After spending two years learning According to scriptures, one who this, and also becomes very learned in the principles of Kr�Qa conscious life experiences the extraordinary, ever­ the Vedic teachings, he may find that in America, where I joined the move­ increasing happiness of Kr�J?.a con­ the spiritual master is commissioning ment in 19 68, I traveled to India with sciousness should feel obligated to ex­ him increasingly to go out, attract my guru in 1971 to assist him in estab­ tend the benediction his spiritual mas­ audiences, and attempt to convince lishing some centers there (an attempt ter has bestowed on him by attractively them himself. Doing this, he auto­ to reinterest the people of India in the presenting the devotional process to matically will attract serious interest in ancient scriptural culture they have others. In Bhagavad-gitii. Lord Kr�J?.a his guru� books, and he rna yrise to the come to neglect in recent centuries). says that, among His servants, one who high standard of spiritual realization In 1972, in Calcutta, I entered the re­ extends himself by presenting K;-�J?.a where he himself can begin to produce nounced order, and at the end of 1972 consciousness to others who are re­ pure, potent literature. my spiritual master commissioned me ceptive becomes the most dear servant Often devotees find that because of to travel to the United Kingdom to in-

Back to Godhead 19 "As the students came in and took seats, I would briefly introduce our movement as a movement for spiritual awakening

and realization based on the ancient Vedic scriptures and handed down by a long line of spiritual masters. "

struct his newer British disciples in the Prabhupada, once said that the student mer of 1972 I approached the house­ principles of devotional service and community would provide the best holder devotees who manage our So­ source of prospective candidates for preach widely among the people· of ciety's incense and cosmetics business Great Britain. ��ryaconsciousness.Bh agavad-gita also {Spiritual Sky Scented Products) to in­ In Britain, like everywhere in the confirms that when a vety intelligent quire whether they would like to pur­ West, the most immediate and serious person understands Lord ��t;�a to be chase a suitable estate car (station interest in the ��t;�a consciousness the Supreme Truth and surrenders to wagon) for my use. Seeing it as an movement is found in the younger His devotional service, that wise person opportunity to use their acquired generation-particularly among some becomes the dearest of all who ap­ wealth to advance our spiritual master's sections of the student and "hip" proach the Lord. Because of their movement, they agreed. communities. There are several reasons youth, intelligence and developing The next step was to choose, with for this, one being that young people qualifications, students at colleges and the presidents of our British temples, are generally less set in their ways and universities certainly have the greatest four steady and intelligent brahmacaris therefore more liberal in examining potential to lead in eventually spread­ (unmarried student disciples) to fi ll out new horizons. Another reason is that ing J(r$J)a consciousness to every town a traveling party. The requirements many of the more intelligent youth of and village around the world. Also, be­ were that they be interested, person­ today have examined the materialistic cause of their congregating for eight able and sufficiently learned in the life of their parents and found it months of the year on and near college philosophy of �Hta consciousness to wanting even at its best. They are there­ campuses, it is possible to attempt a speak convincingly with intelligent fore more receptive to the idea of using systematic progtam to canvas them young people. When this group was their lives for spiritual realization than for interested souls. Therefore, I de­ formed, we began to amass the neces­ their predominantly materialistic fore­ cided to concentrate primarily on sary paraphernalia to travel for weeks fathers. presenting our process to the student· away from our centers and actually per­ My spiritual master, His Divine community. --.. form engagements. This included mu­ Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami With this idea in mind, in the sum- sical instruments to accompany Hare

20 Back to Godhead K.r�lfa chanting, cooking utensils and (morning and evening), programs. We God), of which we are a part. My storable Vedic fo ods, a large banner traveled along behind actually doing spiritual master had instructed me to with the Hare K.r�lfa mantra, some holy the programs, maintaining the party take such a picture along because the pictures for a portable altar, a supply by the prearranged donations and Lord is described to be personally of our spiritual master's books, and finding that K{�l}a always provided us present in such transcendental pictures our basic personal effects and bed­ with a place to rest. and because His golden form as a devo­ ding. We carefully arranged all these When the colleges were on their end­ tee {Lord Caitanya) is the most im­ to fit (tightly) into the car, and physi­ of-term breaks, we arranged our own mediately attractive and understand­ cally we were prepared to move. programs at cities throughout Britain. able of all His incarnations. Renting a hall for As the students (usually from 50 to an evening, making 250 if the program was properly publicity and selling publici1.ed) came in and took seats, I inexpensive tickets to would briefly introduce our move­ fm ance the affairs, ment as a movement for spiritual we did successful pro­ awakening and realization based on the grams attended by ancient Vedic scriptures and handed fifty to two hundred down by a Long Line of spiritual mas­ at Glasgow, Liverpool, ters, I would explain that these scrip­ Sheffield, Nottingham, tures recommend the chanting of the Oxford, Cambridge, names of God as the most effective London and Ply- means of awakening Kt�t:�a conscious­ mouth. We also did ness in these days, and that we would numerous programs at begin the program by chanting for youth clubs and secon­ some time. First we would sing a dary schools (high prayer offering our respects to our gum schools ) in these and then chant the Hare K{�ryamantra, "open" periods. in this way purifying the atmosphere On the day of to set the stage for speaking on spiri­ a typical program, tual matters. We invited them to join in Discussions with some interested students would after our early morn­ the chanting if they Liked. often last one, two or even three hours. ing devotional prac­ The Vedic scriptures explain that the tices, we would pre- hearing and chanting of the names of pare one or two God is essential for cleansing the One of the boys, who was extremely simple but delicious vegetarian dishes heart and sanctifying the intelligence steady and fixed in his determination (wherever K.r�11a provided a kitchen) so that people may grasp the scrip­ to serve [{r�l)a, set out ahead of time. and offer them to the Lord with devo­ tural instructions for attaining per­ Sometimes using trains and buses but tion. The resulting prasada (spiritual fe ction in life. They describe that as usually simply hitchhiking, he began food) was partially for our own con­ He is nondifferent from His picture, making his way along a prearranged sumption but mainly for distribution the absolute Lord is also nondiffer­ route. Beginning from Scotland and at the program, and whenever there was ent from His innumerable holy names traveling south through Wales and time the brahmacarfs would go to a (revealed in scriptures around the England, he began systematically ap­ nearby town to distribute literature world), and that to be in the presence proaching the student-union executives and chant Hare Kt��a, while I retired of the holy name is therefore to be at nearly all colleges and universities to to a public library to study and write. in the presence of the Lord . Because inquire whether they wished to invite As the time for the program arrived, the ear is the most acute of our us for programs about the Hare K{�l)a we would go to the campus hall where senses, this hearing and chanting is movement. finding that about seventy it was to take place, assemble a simple the most effective means of awaken­ percent of the student leaders re­ altar and book array and prominently ing Kr��;�a consciousness. sponded with interest, he would pro­ display the Hare K{�l)a mantra banner. Generally, British students are rela­ ceed to arrange the dates, publicity and The altar centered around a large oil tively quiet and polite by nature and other details of the programs. He painting of Lord Caitanya dancing with upbringing, but sometimes some sec­ would also arrange donations averaging His associates. Lord Caitanya appeared tions of the audience would be loudly £ 10 ($25) to maintain our party, and in Bengal about five hundred years ago , critical, heckling or simply being noisy usually a place on the campus for us to and scriptures compiled long before at the beginning-especially after seeing spend the night. predicted His appearance as an incar­ us in our traditional robes and shaven Traveling ahead like this, he was nation of Kt�l)a Himself. He inau­ heads. We found again and again, how­ able to fill nearly every day of the gurated the movement of sankirtana ever, that although most students school year with one, if not two (chanting the names and glories of would not initially take part in the

Back to Godhead 21 (7) The perfect friend and lover for every living being is the Personality of Godhead, Sril(r�I)a. Spiritual life is not to annihilate the individual self, as some profess, but to relate him with ��l).a in an eternal loving relationship. (8) Love of Kr�t:�a is awakened by de­ votional service to Him (bhakti-yoga}. It begins with chanting the names of the Lord, hearing about Him from Vedic literatures, and tasting prasada. This awakening shows itself in the dis­ position to engage one's life in His service. The final result is that one will leave his body in a divine state of love of God and enter the eternal realm of the Lord as His personal associate. Service to Krsna practical. (9) . is It does not necessarily ��quire one to give up his family or career. While some may do this, as traveling preachers, one may also practice bhakti-yoga by rais­ ing a fa mily in �gta consciousness and learning from the spiritual master how Love of Kr��a is awakened by devotional service to Him which begins with chanting His holy names. to use one's work, wealth, talents and abilities in advancing the Kr�J)a con­ sciousness movement-while engaging chanting, the effect of their simply (3) The spirit soul is eternal and un­ in the basic devotional practices. hearing us chant with our instruments changing. Therefore we are completely (chanting, etc.) (small , metal cymbals and clay mrdm1ga different from our bodies, which are (10) If one begins to practice this, drum) was to still and purify com­ born and will die. We have a spiritual he can appreciate for himself the won­ pletely the atmosphere in the room. way of enjoying eternally that is far derful transformation that comes over Taking advantage of that more re­ superior to the material way of some­ his life. Because this process is practi­ ceptive atmosphere, I was then able to tim.es enjoying, sometimes suffering, cal for all and links us with the all­ address them for as long as an hour, accepting the miseries of old age, auspicious Lord, we are distributing it appealing to their good intelligence by disease and death. around the world as a practical solution explaining the phi.Josophyand practice (4) The soul who quits his body in for the problems of mankind, material of ��Q.a consciousness. the attempt to enjoy the material as well as spiritual. world takes body after body there, ( 11) Whoever wishes to understand It is impossible to present a typical enjoying and suffering the reactions and experience Kr�Q.a consciousness lecture here, but an outline of the to his past deeds. more fully can do so simply by chant­ basic points I would usually present (5) The Vedic scriptures is as fo llows: describe ing Hare ��I).a regularly, tasting God as the Supreme Person, with an prasada (such as that to be distributed ( 1) It is not possible to gain perfect eternal body full of unlimited knowl­ at the end of the program), reading the spiritual knowledge by experimental edge, beauty, power and bliss. We can books on these teachings, and some­ science or speculative philosophizing, see the supreme, personal touch of times vi siting centers of the Interna­ even about scriptures. Spiritual knowl­ ��Q.a even in His material creation, tional Society for Krishna Conscious­ edge is acquired by hearing the scrip­ which is full of wonderful manifesta­ ness to observe the actual functioning tural message from a spiritual master tions (flowers, human bodies, sunsets, of the society of devotees. coming in a line of disciples originating etc.) that none of us have sufficient (12) No one should pass without a from a bona fide incarnation of Kt:�l}a, intelligence, beauty or power even to serious investigation of such a process, the origin of all knowledge. imitate. which offers a satisfying life of spiritual (2) We do not accept the theory that (6) Everyone seeks loving relation­ awakening and can lead one past the life comes by chance from unliving ships, but in the material world what death of his material body into a life matter. Our philosophy is that life ap­ we call love is always contaminated by of eternity, bliss and knowledge-a life pears in matter only when a living spirit selfish interests (lust). Such limited and· experienced by pure devotees of the soul is present. (Sometimes many argu­ temporary relationships do not fulfill Lord even before the death of their ments arose concerning this.) our lives. bodies.

22 Back to Godhead In most circumstances I would open who will alter, for the good, both the come, on their summer travels, to visit the program for questions at this point. United Kingdom and the world. Many our temples, and a few have actually Because the lecture was delivered more British young people show a healthy joined our society as full-time students as a presentation than as a direct pro­ attraction for the chanting of the Hare of our spiritual master. In this way we selytizing attempt, it usually found a K.n;l)a mantra, and this process alone, are encouraged to push on, in secon­ quite receptive audience, and therefore according to the Vedic scriptures, will dary and primary schools as well, and the questions were normally expository illuminate this materialistic age. wherever an audience presents itself. rather than challenging. After taking In the coming school year we plan We eagerly await the golden days of the several such questions,and especially if to make a second tour through all the l(r�l)a conscious world-culture the an argument were developing (meaning colleges and universities here, meeting Vedic literatures predict for this age as intelligence giving way to anger), I new students and also observing how the result of the appearance of Lord would invite everyone to take part in some who attended last year's pro­ Caitanya and His glorious sankirtana an ending chant to actually experience grams have developed by this simple, movement of chanting the holy names the blissful potency of the revealed pure association. Already many have ofGod. l:J names of God. Whereas in the beginning most stu­ dents would simply watch us chant, after a reasonable talk they were often inclined to join in. Usually from fi fty to one hundred percent of them would stand, clap and join in the chanting, regardless of the conservatism or liber­ ality of that particular student body. By the end of the chant they would often become thoroughly aroused and after­ wards express their enjoyment by ap­ preciative words and exclamations. After this conclusion I would invite them to taste some fruit and a sweet grain preparation (halava�) we had ear­ lier offered to K{�l)a, to speak further with the devotees if they had more questions, and especially to look at the books of our spiritual master and our other literatures. The ensuing discus­ sions with ten to thirty of the more interested students would often go on for one, two or even three hours. They usually ate all the prasiida with relish, and interested readers purchased a number of our major books, many magazines, and essays 1 had written and printed for students. As devotees preaching for K{�l)a and our spiritual Yes! Please send me a subscription to master in this way , we used to conclude Srila Prabhupada's Daily Lectures. almost every program fe eling happy to Enclosed please find $ total payment the point of ecstasy. in cash, check or money order. My spiritual master told me that if the students asked good questions and 0 One C-60 cassette a 0 One C·60 cassette a 0 Three C·60 cassettes a were motivated to take literature, that week for 4 weeks. $5.00 week for 12 weeks. $13.50 week for 8 weeks�$25.00 indicated that the program had been (Outside USA and Canada $7.00) (Outside USA and Canada $1 7.50) (Outside USA and Canada $30.00) potently effective. Since this was near­

ly always the case, we are confident NA ME ______150 that in the course of doing such ADDRESS ______programs all over Britain, we have CITY______made some beginning-a planting of STA TE ------��------seeds that may gradually grow into a •11 C-90 cassettes are required due to longer lecwres. the duration of the subscription will decrease accordingly. l

ON JUNE 9th and lOth of 1973the de­ votees of the Hare Kr�I]amovement fr om Germany, Holland, Sweden, Switzer­ land, France and England assembled in Heidelberg, Germany, for the celebra­ tion of a massive Hare Kr$I]a fe stival. What is a Hare Kr�J:la festival? It is a {HEIDELBERG) transcendental event organized for the

24 Back to Godhead pleasure of the Supreme Lord, Kr�!)a. ty, greater than all others. As stated in A Hare Kr�Da festival features sing­ Just as in the material world a meeting the Up ani�ads, nityo nityiinam cetana$ ing, dancing and eating food first of­ or event is conducted especially to cetananam, eko bahuniim yo vidadhati fered in sacrifice to please the Supreme show respect and honor to a great kaman: "Among all the eternal living Personality of Godhead, Kt�qa. This is man, so a Hare Kr$Da fe stival is es­ beings, there is one Supreme Being, usually called sankirtana. The process pecially organized to please the Su­ who fulfillsthe desires of allthe others." of chanting, dancing and feasting on preme Person. For example, among many citizens, prasada (spiritual food) was introduced When we say "Supreme Person," we one is the leader or president. God, simi­ by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu al­ mean God, or Kr�qa. God is not name­ larly, is the leader of all living beings. most five hundred years ago as the less, formless or impersonal. We under­ He is a person who thinks, feels and authorized process of God realization stand God to be the Supreme Personali- wills, but He is always transcendental. for the present fallen age of Kali. "In the Kali-yuga the Supreme Lord comes as one who always chants the holy name of Sri Kt�IJa, who is Krg1a Himself and whose complexion is yellow. Persons endowed with suffi­ cient intelligence will worship the Supreme Lord in this form, who will always be accompanied by His eternal associates and will chant and dance to the holy names of God." (Srimad­ Bhiigavatam, 11.5.32). These words of Srimad-Bhagavatam, recorded more than 5,000 years ago by the author of the fa mous Bhagavad­ gitii, Vyasadeva, fo retell the advent of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the incar­ nation of Godhead for our age, Kali­ yuga, the age of quarrel and dissension. Lord Caitanya, like Christ, was a spiri­ tual revolutionary who taught that the conceptions of Hindu, Muslim, black, white, male, female and so on are "bodily designations that are finished when the body is fi nished." Lord Caitanya taught that every living being, regardless of his outer dress as an ani­ mal, human, aquatic, bird, fish, etc., is an infinitesimal, eternal spiritual spark of the supreme spirit whole, Kr$1Ja. To revive our lost consciousness of God and our eternal relationship with Him, Lord Caitanya introduced this sankir­ tana movement when He was only sixteen years old, and in a short time He flooded the subcontinent of India with the sound of the Hare Kr$Qa mahii-mantra. Lord Caitanya systematically staged gigantic Hare K�wa festivals in which hundreds and thousands of people would sing and dance for days together, fe asting on spiritual food and thus feeling fully satisfied, realizing the transcendental pleasure of Kr$1Ja con­ sciousness. Lord Caitanya predicted that in the fu ture this Hare Krg1a movement would spread to every town

Photo: Bhargava dasa Back to Godhead 25 "If one simply charrts the holy name of Kr�IJa, the holy name will rise within one s heart like the powerful sun and will immediately dissipate all the darkness of ignorance." -The Nectar of Devotion A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

and village of the earth. This predic­ Everyone-young, old, black, white, prabhu everyone can take advantage of tion of the Lord is today being ful­ German or American-can participate the holy name of God by taking part filled by His Divine Grace A. C. in sankirtana. For this reason Lord in such Hare �$!fa festivals as the one Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Caitanya predicted that the congrega­ conducted recently in Heidelberg. who is the authorized representative tional chanting of the Lord's holy Practically the whole city popula­ of Lord Caitanya in our time and the names would soon become the univer­ tion was in one way or another con­ aciirya (spiritual master who teaches sal religion. In every community we nected with our Hare �$Qa festival. by his life) of the Hare ��J;la move­ find scriptures that give us names of To get permission to conduct the ment that is now rapidly sweeping the God like Allah, Jehovah or ��!)a. parade on the Haupt Strasse and the world. Authorized scriptures like the Bible, fire ceremony on the Markt Platz, we We can see from the pictures how Bhagavad-gita and Koran give hundreds took permission from Herr Handshu­ universally applicable the process of and millions of names for God, and sheirn, the director of city planning, chanting the Lord's holy names is. through the mercy of Caitanya Maha- and from the chief of the Heidelberg

26 Back to Godhead The chanting of the holy dasa performs a fire sacrifice. names creates an atmosphere Such colorful ceremonies are of transcendental pleasure on performed for purification at the streets of Heidelberg. Kr�C�a conscious initiations At the far left, HamsadOta and marriage celebrations.

police, who was very happy to give our This technique of applying one's Sometimes people critici.ze us when parade a police escort. We engaged a natural activities in the service of the they see us arranging to print advertis­ printer to do our poster, which an ad­ Lord is recommended in Bhagavad-gitii ing posters or applying for permits from vertising company placed all over the by l

Back to Godhead 27 impersonal . They criticize, "If you are � he accepts that he is an eternal servant actually spiritual people, why are you � of God and spends aU his intelligence using automobiles, tape recorders, � and energy-whether in the shape of money and so many other material CD money, strength or whatever-to praise 0 o things?" We reply according to what .c God . we have been told by our spiritual "' If we want to be happy and peaceful, master and the statements of scripture: this is the simple fo rmula we shouM everything belongs to God. keep in mind: God is the creator of As Kr�Q.a Himself says in Bhagavad­ all things, the proprietor of all things gitii. "Of all that is material and all and therefore the natural enjoyer of that is spiritual, I am both the origin all things. He is also the only one and dissolution." lf we can understand qualified to be the true friend of every­ that everything is Kr�Q.a or Kr�r:ta's one. The mistake of the materialist is energy, we can also understand further that he tries to use everything for his that everything should be used in His own sense gratification. He takes him­ service. This is not a very difficult fact self as God, the proprietor and enjoyer to understand ; yet if one applies it, the of everything, but because he does not results are profound and revolutionary. have the power of God, he is always in We cannot accept that spiritual things anxiety, trying to fulfill his false desires. have no substance, as if spiritual meant When one is actually enlightened as only aery, unknowable or form less. In EveryTown and Village to his constitutional position in rela­ No. Rather, the criterion of whether a HarhsadOta dasa leading chanting tion to God, he tries to please the thing is material or spiritual is whether of the Hare Kr�Qa mantra. Lord, and by this endeavor the Lord it is used in forgetfulness ofGod or the is pleased to reveal Himself. Kr�t:Ja loving service of God. The important the one hundred devotees of German says, "As one surrenders unto Me, I fa ctor is the consciousness in which ISKCON. The activity: sat1kirtana, con­ reveal Myself accordingly." we use things. For example, an auto gregational chanting. There is no meaning to life without mechanic's tools are neither criminal As for the fifth in gredient, the will Kr�l}a, just as there is no meaning to nor lawful. We cannot describe them of God, that is always most certainly one's hand unless it is properly con­ like that. But to use the tools to steal there in a Hare Kr�tla festival. Kr�pa nected to the whole body. ln material a car is criminal, whereas to use them had not only encouraged our Heidel­ life one is disconnected from Kt:�r;�a, to fix a car in a workshop is lawful. The berg festival, but in His form of Lord and this is a most unfortunate plight. same tools are used, but one engage­ Caitanya He had said, "In every town Therefore it is the aim-- of the Hare ment is criminal and another lawful. and village of the world My name will Kr�t:�a festivals to bring those who have Therefore, the activities of the festival be heard." Not only had He given His forgotten Kr�r:ta back to their original -singing, dancing and eating-are all sanction, but, as God, omnipotent in connection with Kr�t:Ja through the spiritual, since they are only for the will, He had declared that it would be simple chanting of the transcendental glorification of God. done. Therefore the festivals go on sound vibration Hare Kr�r;�a, Hare According to Bhagavad-gitii, to exe­ because God Himself is sponsoring Kr�t:Ja, Kr�t:Ja Kr�t:Ja, Hare Hare/ Hare cute any endeavor, five things are them. Our part is simply to become Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare needed-the place, the senses, the His devotees and arrange them on Hare. doer, the activity and also the will of Kr$1}a's behalf. Otherwise Kr�·�a will Singing, dancing and eating in Kr�t:Ja's providence, or, more exactly, the sanc­ get someone else to do it. service, under the direction of an ex­ tion of the Supreme Personality of There is always the question of pert spiritual master, are all spiritual Godhead. So, like any activity, material money. In ordinary political rallies, activities, and those who participate be­ or spiritual, our festival required prac­ millions of dollars are spent for propa­ come surcharged with spiritual con­ tical arrangements. ganda to elect an unknown man as sciousness. Not only the performers of The place: We rented the Kurfalshees leader. We are also making propaganda, the festival but also those who come to Museum and used the streets and but for the real leader-God, or Kr$t:Ja. listen, and even the place where it is marketplace of Heidelberg for our The Ve das say that God is the leader of conducted, all become sanctified and public activities. The senses: the hands, all living entities. To make this fact blissful. Everyone should try to become legs, brains and bodies of the devotees, known, we are prepared to collect un­ active, somehow or other, in this move­ who did everything from making pos­ limited amounts of money and spend ment of Kr�t:�a consciousness by de­ ters and cooking food for ��':Ia to it to glorify K.r�t:Ja. ln material life, an voting his life, money or intelligence to singing the Hare Kr$t:Ja mantra ecstati­ insignificant person tries to make him­ Kr�t:Ja. Or, if nothing more, one can at cally for hours. We engaged all our self God by artificial propaganda. But least chant Hare Kr�IJa, Hare Kr�t:Ja, senses fully and always in a mood ab­ in spiritual life one accepts his position Kr�Qa Kr�pa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rarna, sorbed in praising Kr$•�a. The doers: as infinitesimal in comparison to God; Hare Rllma, Rama Rama,Hare Hare.f:J

28 Back to Godhead FREEDOM IN KNOWLEDGE TheBoo ks of His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swa mi Prabhupada

The Vedic literature is a guide to attaining true freedom by transcending material illusion and reviving one's eternal Kr�11aco�sciousness. It is this simple but sublime Vedic knowledge that Srila Prabhupada's translations, commentaries and summary studies convey.

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