gHari

Does it matter?

Why do you want to know?

I think we have seen in the news from Turkey and practically everywhere else on the globe that there is little intelligence or honesty to be engaged in that school. One might be best to just avoid such barking. Or face being bitten. Yet perhaps letting them drown in their lies and stupidity may be a sin. Maybe we should simply help them generate some sincerity, without discussing esoteric topics of religion. Fear and intimidation were the sales tools used to conquer their hearts; let us avoid generating more fear in the hearts of those susceptible to such lower emotions.

<img src=http://canoeparts.ca/KINGDOM/duck.gif>

The Light That Has Lighted The World by George Harrison I've heard how some people, have said that I've changed That I'm not what I was How it really is a shame The thoughts in their heads, Manifest on their brow Like bad scars from ill feelings they themselves arouse So hateful of anyone that is happy or 'free' They live all their lives, without looking to see The light that has lighted the world It's funny how people, just won't accept change As if nature itself - they'd prefer re-arranged So hard to move on When you're down in a hole Where there's so little chance, to experience soul I'm grateful to anyone, that is happy or 'free' for giving me hope while I'm looking to see The light that has lighted the world

Simon Peter, I want you to focus on your life before you accepted a material form, on the time when you had no attachments to this worldly plane. I think if you can remember that, you will never come back to this crass world of ego games.

SrImad-BhAgavatam 1.2.11 -- Tirupati, April 26, 1974 Pradyumna: (leads chanting, etc.) vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvaM yaj jJAnam advayam brahmeti paramAtmeti bhagavAn iti zabdyate [SB 1.2.11] Translation: "Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth call this nondual substance Brahman, ParamAtmA or BhagavAn." PrabhupAda: I will speak, then you translate. vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvaM yaj jJAnam advayam brahmeti paramAtmeti bhagavAn iti zabdyate [SB 1.2.11] Yesterday we have been discussing the aim of life. That is described in the SrImad-BhAgavatam, that kAmasya nendriya-prItiH. KAma... LAbho jIveta yAvatA. The purpose of life is not sense gratification. KAmasya na indriya-prItiH. We have got this body and we have got some bodily demands, AhAra-nidrA-bhaya-maithuna, the bodily demands. We want to eat something, we want some resting place, we want to satisfy our senses, and we want to defend from dangers. These are bodily demands. But we should not be simply concerned with the bodily demands. Then we shall become on the level of animals. Our real demand is self-realization. As it is stated in the Brahma-sUtra, athAto brahma jijJAsA, similarly, here it is advised, kAmasya nendriya-prItir lAbho jIveta yAvatA jIvasya tattva-jijJAsA nArtho yaz ceha karmabhiH [SB 1.2.10] This is very important verse for understanding the aim of life. JIvasya tattva-jijJAsA. Not that simply economic development for sense gratification. Tattva-jijJAsA. What is the value of life? That is the aim business. (aside:) Yes, you can translate. [break] ...to give you one example of SanAtana GosvAmI. SanAtana GosvAmI, he was minister in the government of Nawab Hussein Shah. Somehow or other, he came in contact with SrI Caitanya MahAprabhu and he decide to retire from government service and join the KRSNa consciousness movement started by Lord Caitanya MahAprabhu five hundred years ago. About them it is said by one learned scholar, tyaktvA tUrNam azeSa-maNDala-pati-zreNIM sadA tucchavat. Because they were ministers, their association was with aristocratic family, big, big men. But he decided, tyaktvA tUrNam azeSa-maNDala-pati-zreNIm. MaNDala-pati means leaders, social leaders, political leaders. So they gave up the company of the so-called aristocratic circle--tyaktvA tUrNam azeSa-maNDala-pati-zreNIM sadA tucchavat--as most insignificant. BhUtvA dIna-gaNezakau karuNayA kaupIna-kanthAzritau. Just to give real service to the mass of people, they became mendicants, kaupIna-kanthAzritau, or accepted the sannyAsa order. As SrI Caitanya MahAprabhu accepted sannyAsa order, all the AcAryas, RAmAnujAcArya, MadhvAcArya, ViSNusvAmI, they accepted for the greater benefit of the human society. tyaktvA tUrNam azeSa-maNDala-pati-zreNIM sadA tucchavat bhUtvA dIna-gaNezakau karuNayA kaupIna-kanthAzritau gopI-bhAva-rasAmRtAbdhi-laharI-kallola-magnau muhur vande rUpa-sanAtanau raghu-yugau zrI-jIva-gopAlakau So they gave up this life of luxury, exuberance, but adopted sannyAsa order for greater benefit of the human society. So when SanAtana GosvAmI approached SrI Caitanya MahAprabhu to become His disciple, he inquired from Him, tattva-jijJAsA. (to translator, MahAMza Swami:) Shall I stop here? MahAMza Swami: (indistinct) PrabhupAda: Who is the disciple? SanAtana GosvAmI. [break] So this SanAtana GosvAmI, when (he) approached Caitanya MahAprabhu... That is the system. We sometimes accept one guru. But why should we accept guru? What is the necessity of accepting guru? This is the necessity for tattva-jijJAsA, for inquiring about the Absolute Truth. Tad-vijJAnArthaM sa gurum eva abhigacchet, samit-pANiH zrotriyaM brahma-niSTham [MU 1.2.12]. This is the Vedic injunction. Simply if we remain engaged in the four activities of this material body, namely eating, sleeping, sex life, and defense, then we are animals. Our human life should be executed with the aim of life. The aim of life is tattva-jijJAsA. That SanAtana GosvAmI did when he approached SrI Caitanya MahAprabhu. He inquired from Him, ke Ami kene AmAya jAre tApa-traya: "My dear Lord, kindly let me know who am I and why I am put into the threefold miserable condition of life." Then one can say, "You are minister. You know what you are." Then he says, "No, actually I do not know what I am." GrAmya-vyavahAre paNDita tAi satya mAni: "Some neighborhood men, they call me I am very big man, I am very learned man, and when I study myself," ApanAra hitAhita kichui nA jAni, "I do not know what I am, wherefrom I have come, where I have to go after leaving this body, why I am put into the tribulation of threefold miseries. I do not want to die. Why death is enforced upon me? I do not want to take birth. Why that is also enforced upon me? I do not want old age. Why it is enforced upon me? I do not want disease. Why it is enforced upon me? And what is the purpose of my coming in this material world, and where I shall go after my death? Or this is the finish?" There are so many things to inquire. That is called tattva-jijJAsA. This is called tattva-jijJAsA. JIvasya tattva-jijJAsA. The BhAgavata recommends that in the human form of life, the only necessity is to inquire about the Absolute Truth. That includes so many other things. The Absolute Truth is experienced by different persons from different angle of vision. That is explained here. Vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvam [SB 1.2.11]. That is the Absolute Truth--Brahman or Parabrahman--which is nondual. Vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvaM yaj jJAnam advayam [SB 1.2.11]. Advayam means without any duality. When we say Brahman, impersonal Brahman, or when we speak ParamAtmA, or when we speak of BhagavAn, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there is no difference between these three terms. Just like sunshine and the sun globe and the sun-god. According to Bhagavad-gItA, we have got the name of the predominating deity in the sun globe. ImaM vivasvate yogaM proktavAn aham avyayam [Bg. 4.1]. This is said in the Bhagavad-gItA. First of all KRSNa says, "Long, long ago, millions of years ago, I spoke this philosophy of Bhagavad-gItA to VivasvAn." VivasvAn means the present predominating deity of the sun globe. Just like we have got a president, similarly, but he has got a particular name, similarly, the president of the sun globe is called SUrya, SUryadeva. But he has got a particular name. So at the present moment, the predominating deity of the sun globe is called VivasvAn. So this VivasvAn or the sun-god and the sun globe and the sunshine, they are not different. All of them are light. Without light in the sun globe, how so much light is emanating? So therefore the inhabitants of the sun globe, their body is made of fire. Therefore everything is glowing. And we, from distant place, we see the sun globe also glowing. And the sunshine is also glowing. Similarly, Brahman, ParamAtmA and BhagavAn, they are one, the glowing or the light, but still, there is difference. What is that difference? If you remain in the sunshine... Every one of us, we remain in the sunshine. That does not mean that I am in the sun globe or I have seen the predominating deity, VivasvAn. Similarly, brahmeti paramAtmeti bhagavAn iti zabdyate [SB 1.2.11], you can realize the Absolute Truth in three features: Brahman, ParamAtmA... [break]... brahmeti paramAtmeti bhagavAn iti zabdyate. The same Absolute Truth is realized from three angles of vision. Those who are trying to understand the Absolute Truth by their own scholarship, eruditely... There are many philosophers. They are trying to find out what is the original source of everything. The scientists, they are also trying to find out the original source of everything. So somebody, say, for example, the scientists, they are finding original of everything as matter, chemical, chemical evolution, the modern theory of originality. But actually, if we study what is the position of chemical theory, the so-called scientists, they could not produce life from chemicals, although their theory is that from matter life comes. This is against our Vedic knowledge. Vedic knowledge says, as it is said in the Brahma-sUtra, VedAnta-sUtra, that the original cause of the Absolute Truth is a living entity. It is not matter. Just like KRSNa says in the Bhagavad-gItA, ahaM sarvasya prabhavo mattaH sarvaM pravartate [Bg. 10.8]. That aham, KRSNa, is not a dead matter. He is the living entity, supreme living entity. And we also understand from UpaniSad, nityo nityAnAM cetanaz cetanAnAm (KaTha UpaniSad 2.2.13). The Absolute Truth is person, a living entity. He is the supreme living entity. Similarly, the original Absolute Truth is KRSNa. KRSNa says in the Bhagavad-gItA, mattaH parataraM nAnyat kiJcid asti dhanaJjaya [Bg. 7.7]. That is Absolute Truth. There is no more para-tattva, superior tattva. Here the question is vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvam [SB 1.2.11]. We want to know the Absolute Truth. And here is KRSNa, BhagavAn. BhagavAn is the Absolute Truth, KRSNa. BAlajI is Absolute Truth, BhagavAn, person. BrahmaNo 'haM pratiSThA. In the Bhagavad-gItA it is said, "The impersonal Brahman is situated on Me." Just like the sunshine. Although it is all-pervading throughout the universe, the light is there, but wherefrom the light is coming? The light is coming from KRSNa. That is explained in the Brahma-saMhitA: yasya prabhA prabhavato jagad-aNDa-koTi- koTiSv azeSa-vasudhAdi-vibhUti-bhinnam tad brahma niSkalam anantam azeSa-bhUtaM govindam Adi-puruSaM tam ahaM bhajAmi [Bs. 5.40] The Brahman effulgence is the bodily glowing of KRSNa. Yasya prabhA. When KRSNa expands His bodily effulgence, then everything generates. This material world has also come out of the brahmajyoti, or from the rays of the body of KRSNa. Therefore KRSNa says that brahmaNo 'haM pratiSThA. In another place KRSNa says that mayA tatam idaM sarvaM jagad avyakta-mUrtinA. His impersonal feature, the Brahman, feature, is expanded everywhere. SarvaM khalv idaM brahma. Mat-sthAni sarva-bhUtAni: [Bg. 9.4] "Everything is resting on my bodily effulgence, Brahman." NAhaM teSu avasthitaH: "But I am not there." This is tattva-jJAna. It is not that because everything is resting on Brahman, therefore everything should be worshiped. No. That is not. So brahmeti paramAtmeti. If we try to understand the Absolute Truth, then we can approach only up to the impersonal feature. Just like if we simply want to come to the light, so we can see the sunshine is light. But if we want to study what is the sun globe and if we want to study what is the predominating deity in the sun globe, that is different thing. That is, simply coming to the light, sunshine, will not help you. You must have strength and process to go to the sun globe. The same example: One can understand impersonal Brahman by dint of his speculative knowledge, but he cannot understand ParamAtmA, who is situated in everyone's heart. IzvaraH sarva-bhUtAnAM hRd-deze 'rjuna tiS... [Bg. 18.61]. That is ParamAtmA feature. That ParamAtmA feature is also one fourth expansion of KRSNa's personal existence. And it is also stated in the Bhagavad-gItA, athavA bahunaitena kiM jJAtena tavArjuna viSTabhyAham idaM kRtsnam ekAMzena sthito jagat [Bg. 10.42] The ParamAtmA feature is one fourth part expansion of KRSNa's bodily expansion. (aside:) Shall I stop here? [break] So BhagavAn is the ultimate Absolute Truth. Therefore KRSNa confirms it, mattaH parataraM nAnyat. You go, make progress. You understand the impersonal Brahman feature. You understand ParamAtmA feature by yogic process. By yogic... The yogis, they try to understand the ParamAtmA. IzvaraH sarva-bhUtAnAm [Bg. 18.61]. The ParamAtmA is sitting in everyone's heart. The yogis try to understand the ParamAtmA. And the jJAnIs, impersonalists, they try to understand the all-pervading feature of the Supreme Lord. But one who understands KRSNa, then he understands both the features, the ParamAtmA feature and Brahman feature. Therefore in the Vedas it is said, kasmin tu bhagavo vijJAte sarvam idaM vijJAtaM bhavati. If you simply understand KRSNa, then the Brahman feature and ParamAtmA feature will be automatically understood. You haven't got to understand Brahman and ParamAtmA separately. Simply by understanding KRSNa, you will understand both. Another example is: just like if you see a mountain. Just like surrounding your this place, Tirupati, there are so many hills. From the distant place, your vision is not clear. You simply see something like cloudy, the same mountain. But if you make little further progress, you see the same mountain or hill greenish. And if you actually go in the same hill, you will find there are so many animals, so many men and so many houses. So object is the same, but from different angle vision, it appears differently. Similarly, unless one can understand KRSNa perfectly, he realizes the Absolute Truth as impersonal, nirAkAra Brahman. Unless one understands KRSNa perfectly well, he cannot understand what is ParamAtmA, which is realized by yogic principles. But when you understand KRSNa, then you understand ParamAtmA and Brahman also. This is the verdict of the zAstra. Just like if you have got one lakh of rupees, your possession of few thousands of rupees or few hundred of rupees are already there. Similarly, KRSNa says, janma karma me divyaM yo jAnAti tattvataH. The same thing, tattvataH. Vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvam [SB 1.2.11]. KRSNa says that "My appearance," ajo 'pi sann avyayAtmA, "how I appear, how I disappear, if anyone understands in truth..." Because we do not understand KRSNa in truth, therefore we consider KRSNa as ordinary human being. AvajAnanti mAM mUDhAH [Bg. 9.11]. MUDhAH means asses or rascals. They consider KRSNa as something of this material world. But He is not that. Therefore KRSNa says that janma karma me divyaM yo jAnAti tattvataH. If anyone understands KRSNa as Absolute Truth, then immediately his mission of life is complete. TyaktvA dehaM punar janma naiti mAm eti kaunteya [Bg. 4.9]. Therefore this is tattva-jJAna. Vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvam [SB 1.2.11]. This is tattva-jJAna. Try to understand KRSNa, what He is. But that understanding, how it can be achieved, that is explained in the next verse: tac chraddadhAnA munayo jJAna-vairAgya-yuktayA pazyanty Atmani cAtmAnaM bhaktyA zruta-gRhItayA [SB 1.2.12] BhaktyA zruta-gRhItayA. You have to hear of KRSNa in devotion, bhaktyA, not as a nondevotee. A nondevotee cannot understand KRSNa. He has no scope. If a nondevotee interprets on the Bhagavad-gItA, he is simply wasting time of himself and others. Here it is clearly stated, bhaktyA zruta-gRhItayA. One has to become devotee and hear from the authorities. Just like Arjuna. Arjuna was a bhakta. Bhakto 'si priyo 'si sakhA ceti. And he heard from the Absolute Truth, KRSNa. Therefore he understood Bhagavad-gItA. So one who has not heard Bhagavad-gItA or about KRSNa and who is not a devotee, his speaking on Bhagavad-gItA is simply useless waste of time. Yes. [break] So as it is stated here in the SrImad-BhAgavatam, pazyanty Atmani ca AtmAnam, this is paramAtma-darzana, Atmani. Or there is another verse in the Brahma-saMhitA, premAJjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena. The same word, bhakti. premAJjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santaH sadaiva hRdayeSu vilokayanti yaM zyAmasundaram acintya-guNa-svarUpaM govindam Adi-puruSaM tam ahaM bhajAmi [Bs. 5.38] So one has to learn the art of seeing the Absolute Truth in three features--as BhagavAn, as ParamAtmA and as impersonal Brahman. That prescription is given here. Tac chraddadhAnA munayaH. The ordinary person not. MunayaH. Those who are very much advanced in the process of thinking, munayaH, or great saintly persons... Tac chraddadhAnA munayo jJAna-vairAgya-yuktayA [SB 1.2.12]. JJAna and vairAgya--these two things are required. First of all, one must have sufficient knowledge and vairAgya, renunciation, detachment. Then he can see what is BhagavAn, what is ParamAtmA, and what is impersonal Brahman. It is a very long subject matter, but as it is stated here by VyAsadeva that pazyanty Atmani cAtmAnaM bhaktyA zruta-gRhItayA, through bhakti and zruti, by hearing the Vedic literature... Not whimsically, not by sentiment. One has to develop his dormant bhakti consciousness or KRSNa consciousness by thorough study of the Vedic literature. Then he can understand what is Brahman, what is ParamAtmA and what is BhagavAn. Otherwise it is not possible. Therefore in the Bhagavad-gItA also, it is said, "The basic principle is bhakti." BhaktyA mAm abhijAnAti yAvAn yaz cAsmi tattvataH [Bg. 18.55]. One has to learn the Absolute Truth through bhakti. Bhakti is the principle. If you have got bhakti, then jJAna-vairAgya will automatically come. But if you remain only on the platform of jJAna-vairAgya, you may not develop bhakti. This is the process. That is also mentioned in the beginning of this chapter. vAsudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogaH prayojitaH janayaty Azu vairAgyaM jJAnaM ca yad ahaitukam [SB 1.2.7] This is the... You must have complete knowledge, jJAnam and vairAgya, detachment. JJAna means detachment. If one is attached to the material activities, he is not a jJAnI, because he is in the bodily concept of life. Therefore he is not jJAnI. YasyAtma-buddhiH kuNape tri-dhAtuke [SB 10.84.13], sa eva go-kharaH: "If one is in the bodily concept of life, he is no better than the cows and asses." This is the verdict of the zAstra. So you cannot understand the Absolute Truth on the platform of bodily concept of life. You must get yourself on the transcendental platform, and bhakti is the transcendental platform for the activities of the spirit soul. brahma-bhUtaH prasannAtmA na zocati na kAGkSati samaH sarveSu bhUteSu mad-bhaktiM labhate parAm [Bg. 18.54] You can attain bhakti when you are already Brahman realized person, or perfect brAhmaNa. Brahma jAnAtIti brAhmaNaH. So when you have realized, when you are a brAhmaNa, when you have complete knowledge of Brahman, that is the beginning of bhakti life. Not that by bhakti one comes to the Brahman realization platform. One who has got complete understanding of Brahman, he can make progress to the bhakti platform. brahma-bhUtaH prasannAtmA na zocati na kAGkSati samaH sarveSu bhUteSu mad-bhaktiM labhate parAm [Bg. 18.54] After all these qualifications, making oneself brahma-bhUta [SB 4.30.20] and prasannAtmA, no more lamentation, no more hankering, always joyful, jubilant, blissful... This is the symptom for Brahman realization. Brahma-bhUtaH prasannAtmA na zocati na kAGkSati, samaH sarveSu bhUteSu [Bg. 18.54]. Then he can see on equal level to all living entities. SamaH sar... Then he can enter mad-bhaktiM labhate parAm. So I do not wish to take much of your time, and the children are disturbing. It is a very great subject matter. So our this KRSNa consciousness movement is this expanding this bhakti cult on the basis of Vedic knowledge. It is not a sentimental thing. These European, American boys and girls who have joined us, they are not going on sentiments. They are being taught actual knowledge, zruti. BhaktyA zruta-gRhItayA. And therefore they are being fixed up. So our request is that this temple, BAlajI's temple, is the greatest temple in the world, and KRSNa's temple. For spreading KRSNa consciousness all over the world, the temple authorities should fully cooperate in spreading KRSNa knowledge. Thank you very much. Hare KRSNa. A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja BSST

Who but the transcendental autocrat, Sri Krsna, could say "I am that I am".

That is absolutely wrong, as explained explicitly by both Srila Sridhara Maharaja and by Srila Govinda Maharaja. It won't take much research to find the appropriate quotes. Stay unattached, and find the truth.

and my hat is off to all of them for keeping ISKCON alive so long. Bottom line: I am happy that ISKCON is here, that Gaura-Nitai are here, that Radha-Gopinatha are here, and my Lord Jagannatha still strolls down the streets of Toronto every summer. Bottom line: Srila Prabhupada you did it.

Ooops, thought this was the Krsna-katha thread.

Don't let him call the Deities of God "idols". They are not. The arrogant murdering British gave that word to India because they had no idea who God was. Don't do your friend the disservice of giving him the wrong impression of what a Deity is. As far as a crucifix is concerned, a great guru spoke these words about Christ and Krsna: PrabhupAda: KRSNa, Christ... Of course, this question was several times put to me. Christ says that "I am son of God." And KRSNa says "I am God." So there is no difference. Son of God and God, we respect everyone. If I respect your father, I respect you also. Do you mean to say if I disrespect your father, you'll be pleased upon me? No. That is our philosophy. So Caitanya MahAprabhu says that I am servant of the servant of the servant of the servant of the servant of KRSNa [Cc. Madhya 13.80]. So if anyone loves KRSNa, he must love Lord Jesus Christ also. And if one perfectly loves Jesus Christ he must love KRSNa. If he says, "Why shall I love KRSNa? I shall love Jesus Christ," then he has no knowledge. And if one says, "Why shall I love Jesus Christ? I shall love...", then he has also no knowledge. If one understands KRSNa, then he will understand Jesus Christ. If one understands Jesus Christ, you'll understand KRSNa.

Guest, for your wife: <a href=http://canoeparts.ca/KINGDOM/GayatriByNinaHagen.mp3>short MP3 file of Gayatri Mantra by Nina Hagen</a>.

Sunni Pakistan has nuclear missiles, so Shiia Iran must arm themselves. Pity the people under their fallout cloud as it floats over Asia/Europe/anywhere after their upcoming nuclear sectarian war. We underestimate how foolish these people are. Would you buy a used car from this man:

That was my exact response to that news of a 100 academics being kidnapped. They have made a complete joke of their religion. They are not even human.

There are only two religions: surrender to God, and atheism. Everyone chooses between the two every moment. The rest is just words.

If one doesn't eat flesh then they would not be able stomach the taste, the stench, the crunch, the blood of eating even already dead creatures. It is just abominable to even think about it. Barf! Would I eat sand, even if it's free? The question is the same to me.

Many groups offer us benediction: Sridhara Maharaja's successor Govinda Maharaja, Tripurari, Narasingha, Siddhaswarupananda, Narayana Maharaja, Puri Maharaja - all immediately come to mind. There is no scarcity of Caitanya's mercy at this time of good fortune. Perhaps associating with their words, sounds, and sentiment over the internet first will attract you to the one(s) who can best take you from here to there.

Regarding haḿsa-sańgaḥ, Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.18: [...] But if we read authorized literature, then that... What will happen then? Then ajas titarmy anugRNan guNa-vipramukto. Very easily, simply by reading such book, we shall be free from material entanglement, simply. Because... Just like Bhagavad-gItA. Bhagavad-gItA and BhagavAn KRSNa, they are identical. There is no difference. Don't think, "When I am reading Bhagavad-gItA not with purpose, then I am bereft." But to associate, to..., with a desire that "I shall be able to associate with devotee and KRSNa," then Bhagavad-gItA is nondifferent from KRSNa. There is no difference. Advaya-jJAna. Advaya-jJAna means without any difference. Vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvaM yaj jJAnam advayam [sB 1.2.11], Advayam. If you are a devotee, bona fide devotee, when you read Bhagavad-gItA, you must know KRSNa is there. If you are a pure devotee, when you chant Hare KRSNa, KRSNa is there on your tongue, dancing. Don't think otherwise. KRSNa is there. NAma-cintAmaNi-kRSNaH. NAma. Anyone who is chanting Hare KRSNa without any offense... Ten kinds of offenses, you know that. By avoiding offense, if you chant Hare KRSNa, then you must know KRSNa is there. NAma-cintAmaNi-kRSNaH caitanya-rasa-vigrahaH pUrNaH zuddho nitya-mukto abhinnatvAn nAma-nAminoH. Similarly, when we read literature, lIlA-kathA... Lila-kathA. Just like we are reading now SrImad-BhAgavatam. This is lIlA-kathA of KRSNa and His devotee, PrahlAda MahArAja. This is lIlA, exchange of dealings between devotee and the Lord. The whole BhAgavata, it is called BhAgavata, why? The only subject matter is BhagavAn and bhakta. That's all. BhagavAn is the Lord, and bhakta is devotee. It has no other. You won't find any newspaper item, that "There was earthquake in London," and this and that. You don't find all these things. It is not like that, tad vAyasa-tIrtham, not for the enjoyment of the crowslike men. It must be swan, haMsa. HaMsa. Why haMsa is taken, paramahaMsa? HaMsa has the capacity... HaMsa means swan. He has got capacity. If you give to the haMsa milk mixed with water, the haMsa has got the capacity, so it will drink the milk and reject the water. Therefore haMsa. And paramahaMsa, paramahaMsa means although they are in the material world, they have kicked out the material things, but he has taken KRSNa. That's all. KRSNa is there. Everywhere is KRSNa. IzAvAsyam idaM sarvam [izo mantra 1]. Even in this material world there is KRSNa, but the haMsa can take it, not the crows. The crows cannot take it. Therefore difference between the crows and haMsas. So those who are in KRSNa consciousness, they are being trained up to become haMsas, or they are haMsas. They don't care for anything, material thing. They are concerned with KRSNa. Therefore paramahaMsa. KRSNa is everywhere. Goloka eva nivasaty akhilAtmA-bhUtaH [bs. 5.37]. But the devotees can take KRSNa from anywhere. IhA... How it can be taken? What is the process? The process is this devotional service. If you are engaged in devotional service in anywhere, you are with KRSNa. ihA yasya harer dAsye karmaNA manasA vAcA nikhilAsv apy avasthAsu jIvan muktaH sa ucyate If one has got sincere desire to serve KRSNa in any position, in any body, in any circumstance, he is jIvan-mukta. That is paramahaMsa. JIvan-mukta means although he's living in this body, he's paramahaMsa. He has nothing to do with this body. He has everything to do with KRSNa. So we have to take shelter of such person. Therefore it is said, pada-yugAlaya-haMsa-saGgaH. A devotee who is always living under the protection, shelter, of KRSNa's lotus feet, like haMsa... HaMsa, you'll find, they enjoy. When there is a lotus they go down within the water and entangle with the stems of the lotus flower. There is a prayer by Mukunda, Mukunda-mala-stotra. Adyaiva me mAnasa-haMsaH, like that. Just now I forget. So our mind should be trained up like haMsa who entangles himself with the stem of lotus flower. So we have to take shelter of this haMsa. Pada-yugAlaya-haMsa-saGgaH. Unless we associate with such haMsa who has nothing to do with this material world, who has taken the cream of the material, KRSNa, such haMsa, if we become his servant... GopI-bhartur pada-kamalayo dAsa-dAsa-dAsAnudAsa. Then it will be successful. Pada-yugAlaya-haMsa-saGgaH. Then it will be possible. If we associate with haMsa, pure devotees, then our life will be successful. AJjas titarmi. Very easily we shall cross over this ocean of nescience. There is another verse like that. BhavAmbudhir vatsa-padaM paraM padaM padaM padaM yad vipadaM na teSAm. SamAzritA ye pada-pallava-plavam. The same thing, differently expressed. samAzritA ye pada-pallava-plavaM mahat-padaM puNya-yazo murAreH bhavAmbudhir vatsa-padaM paraM padam... BhavAmbudhiH, this great ocean of nescience in which we are now fallen and very much struggling for existence, exactly just like if you are thrown in the ocean, you may be a very good swimmer, but the condition is very dangerous... You'll have to struggle. You cannot say, "I am a good swimmer. I shall be very easily able to cross over the ocean." No. That's not possible. But if you take the shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord, samAzritA ye pada-pallava-plavam... Anyone who has taken shelter of the lotus feet of KRSNa... What is that lotus feet? Mahat-padam. It is... It is the shelter of the whole material creation, Mahat-tattva. Mahat-tattva. From mahat-tattva, the total material energy... That is called mahat-tattva. From mahat-tattva the whole cosmic manifestation has come. Therefore the lotus feet of KRSNa means there is also mahat-tattva, many, many mahat-tattva. SamAzritA ye pada-pallava-plavam mahat-padaM puNya-yazo murAreH. MurAri. KRSNa's another name is MurAri. PuNya-yazaH, always... PavitraM paramaM bhavAn. Then this... BhavAmbudhir vatsa-padam. This great ocean of nescience becomes a small spot of water as it is made by the footprint of the calves, vatsa-padam. So PrahlAda MahArAja, in the previous verse he describes what is the position of this material world, yasmAt priyApriya-yoga-viyoga: simply lamentation. Sometimes we are so-called happy by getting the desirable things, and mostly we are unhappy, associating with undesirable things. So in order to save ourself from these opposing elements, the best thing is suggested. So 'haM priyasya suhRdaH paradevatAyA lIlA-kathAs. Let us be engaged always chanting the, or reading the pastimes of the Lord, lIlA-kathA. If you read SrImad-BhAgavatam, then it is full of lIlA-kathA, the pastimes of Lord KRSNa. So that is the only way to get out of the miserable condition of this material world. [...]

.... on a plane to San Diego, when I read verse 2.2.5 from Srimad-Bhagavatam: <B>Are there no torn clothes lying on the common road? Do the trees, which exist for maintaining others, no longer give alms in charity? Do the rivers, being dried up, no longer supply water to the thirsty? Are the caves of the mountains now closed, or, above all, does the Almighty Lord not protect the fully surrendered souls? Why then do the learned sages go to flatter those who are intoxicated by hard-earned wealth?</B> Right between the eyes. That computer salesman died. That world ended. Thank God. Many years later, the earth and stars fell away, and now it is only Sri Krsna that is real. The world has ended. The dream is gone, the fever finished. Now I am simply, gHari

10. I don't buy it. 9. Will all my kids lose all their bodily hair like this one? 8. How can this one head write as well as a million monkeys at a million typewriters over a million years? 7. Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio: a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy. 6. How come I didn't come out like all my brothers? 5. There goes the gene pool! 4. With that big brain, these ones will probably destroy the planet. 3. Yes, Dad, I should have been more sincere with my japa. 2. I wonder if this species understands "simple living, high thinking"? 1. Darwin must have been a crackpot!

Ya, T-Rex, make a joyful noise unto the Lord.