Todays Srimad-Bhagavatam Class1.2.19 By His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada"The Bhakti Lift To Love"

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"The Bhakti Lift To Love"

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.19

August 22, 1972, Los Angeles

 

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Pradyumna: (leads chanting, etc.)

 

tada rajas-tamo-bhavah

kama-lobhadayas ca ye

ceta etair anaviddham

sthitam sattve prasidati

[sB 1.2.19]

 

Translation: "At the time loving service is established in the heart, the

modes of passion, rajas, and ignorance, tamas, and lust and desire, kama,

disappear from the heart. Then the devotee is established in goodness, and he

becomes happy."

 

Prabhupada: So rajas-tamo-bhavah. There are three stages, you know:

sattva, rajas, tamas. The material world is conducted by three modes -- the

modes of goodness, modes of passion, and modes of ignorance. Therefore we find

varieties of men. So one has to come to the platform of the modes of goodness.

Just like illiterate, uncultured, animal-like man is trained up to come, to

become civilized. By training, it is possible. Just like, by training, even cats

and dogs and tigers, they are also become obedient. That is our practical

experience. The tiger in the circus, they play obediently to the orders of the

master. So by training, it can be possible. But there are two kinds of training

process. One process is scheduled: tapasa brahmacaryena samena ca damena ca [sB

6.1.13]. Undergoing tapasya, austerity, brahmacaryena... Brahmacaryena means

controlling sex indulgence or sex impulse. Brahmacarya means practically no sex

life. Tapasa brahmacaryena samena, damena [sB 6.1.13], by controlling the

senses, by controlling the mind. Tyagena, by giving up in charity. So there are

gradual process, but there is another process. Another process means this Krsna

consciousness. Either you practice in this way... Just like if you want to go

up, there are two vehicles or process. You go step by step, one step after

another. Suppose you have to go one hundred steps. So you have to go step by

step. Tapasa brahmacaryena samena damena [sB 6.1.13], practicing. The another

process is... (someone making tapping sound) (aside:) Why you are making this

sound? Stop it. Another process is the lift. You go by step by step or take the

process of lift. Within a second, you come up.

 

So the bhakti-yoga process is like that. Bhakti-yoga process means if you

take to this process, then immediately, very quickly, within a second, you come

to the top floor. Otherwise, you have to go by step by step, one step, two step.

Although both the process leading to the target, to the topmost floor, the one

is very slow and the other is very quick, immediate. Just like another example:

if there is fog. You have got experience in your country, sometimes there is

fog. You cannot see even a person one yard off from you. So there are so many

processes to take precaution in the fog. But somehow or other, if the sun is

little strong, immediately, the fog is over. So similarly, to purify ourself...

This is the purification process, austerity, penance, controlling sex life,

controlling the mind, controlling the senses, giving in charity whatever you

possess, everything regulated. This is one process. And the other process is

this bhakti-yoga.

 

srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah

punya-sravana-kirtanah

hrdy antah stho hy abhadrani

vidhunoti suhrt satam

[sB 1.2.17]

 

Simply by this process, sravanam kirtanam, hearing about Krsna. This is,

we were discussing. Nasta-prayesv abhadresu, simply by hearing. Abhadresu,

nasta-prayesu, all the dirty things within heart, being almost cleansed, you

come to the stage of goodness. There are three stages, three platforms --

ignorance, passion and goodness. So simply by hearing about Krsna, you are

promoted immediately to the platform of goodness. And as soon as you come to the

platform of goodness, then, tada, at that time, rajas-tamo-bhavah. Because there

are three platforms: ignorance, passion and goodness. So you have come to the

point, to the platform of goodness, means that you have passed over the other

lower stages. If you have come to the college, that means you have passed your

school stages. It is to be understood. Therefore we offer sacred thread. The

idea is one who has become Krsna conscious, he has already passed the stage of

becoming a brahmana. Brahmana means to come to the stage of goodness. That is

brahmana. Ksatriya means to remain on the stage of passion. Vaisya means to

remain on the stage of mixture, passion and ignorance. And sudra means to remain

on the stage of ignorance. There are four divisions of the three modes. So when

we come to the stage of becoming a devotee, that means we have already passed

all these lower stages. Tada rajas-tamo-bhavah [sB 1.2.19].

 

So what are the symptoms of goodness? Kama-lobhadayas ca ye. Lusty. Lust

and greediness. The whole world is moving by lust and greediness. This is the

stage of ignorance and passion. Those who are embarrassed with the lower

qualities of material nature, they are embarrassed with two things: lust, not

satisfied; and greedy, and lobha. "Give me more, give me more, give me more."

"Give me..." Anything, he's not satisfied. The whole world, you see... They,

sometimes they think that "If I get my income, say, one thousand dollars, I will

be satisfied." But as soon as he gets one thousand, he wants one hundred

thousand. If he gets one... Just like in your... Everywhere, all over the world,

the worker class, they are given increment, but again they undergo strike,

"More, more wages, more wages, more wages." So... But as soon as they get more

money... Not only... Here in these Western countries, then they'll utilize it

for lust. Lust and greediness. That's all. They do not know how to utilize

money. That a millionaire is so lusty that... I have seen in Paris. They are

going to some clubs. What is the business in that club? Old men, they are going.

So lusty that they enter the club by paying fifty dollars, and then there is

young women and wine, and that is their pleasure. Lust, kama-lobhadayas ca ye.

One thing, one side, they are not satisfied, even they have got millions of

dollars, "Still I want, still I want, still I want." This is one side,

greediness, lobha, and the other side is lust. This is called kama-lobhadayas ca

ye.

 

So to become Krsna conscious means immediately -- that is the test --

immediately he will become free from lust and greediness. If he's not free from

lust and greediness, he is making a show; he's not Krsna conscious. This is the

test. If one is actually advanced in Krsna consciousness, then these two

symptoms will be visible in his character: no more lusty, no more greediness. He

should be satisfied with one wife or one husband. Why hankering after others?

That is lusty. That means it is not on the stage of Krsna consciousness; it is

in the material platform. These are the test. Therefore we advise our students,

"Voluntarily, you try or you become free from these things: illicit sex,

intoxication, meat-eating, and gambling." Because indulging in these four

things, you'll remain in darkness.

 

So voluntarily you have to try to give up these bad habits, and at the

same time, to maintain yourself on the platform, you have to chant sixteen

rounds: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama,

Rama Rama, Hare Hare. This is the process. Tada rajas-tamo-bhavah

kama-lobhadayas ca ye [sB 1.2.19]. Then the result will be this: ceta etair

anaviddham. Because they are, maya is attacking you with these... Daivi hy esa

gunamayi mama maya duratyaya [bg. 7.14]. Gunamayi. Guna means these qualities,

the three modes of nature. The material nature is gunamayi. Gunamayi means

involved or full of these three modes of material nature, gunamayi. Maya

means... Just like golden. It is smeared with gold or it is gold, you can...,

you can say golden. Golden means it is made of gold or it is covered with gold

glittering. Similarly, this maya, this material nature, is made of these three

modes of nature, sattva, rajas, tamas. Therefore it is called gunamayi.

 

Gunamayi... Another meaning of guna is rope. Just like you have seen rope.

There are three layers, they are twisted very strong, and such rope becomes

strong. So similarly, these three gunas, these three modes of nature, are

twisted like rope, and we are bound up. You cannot get out. Daivi hy esa

gunamayi mama maya duratyaya [bg. 7.14]. If your hands and legs are tied with

such rope, then it is very difficult. Similarly, we are all bound up. We are

declaring freedom, and so many things, nonsense, we are speaking, but we have

forgotten that we are under the grip of this maya. Immediately, you can be

overcome by maya. Maya is so strong.

 

So therefore by this process,

 

srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah

punya-sravana-kirtanah

hrdy antah stho hy abhadrani

vidhunoti suhrt satam

[sB 1.2.17]

 

nasta-prayesv abhadresu

nityam bhagavata-sevaya...

[sB 1.2.18]

 

This is the process. Nityam, daily. Or twenty-four hours. By studying

Srimad-Bhagavatam or associating with devotees, bhagavata-sevaya... Bhakti,

bhagavaty uttama-sloke bhaktir bhavati naisthiki. Then the Supreme Personality

of Godhead, bhagavaty uttama-sloke, bhaktir bhavati naisthiki, devotional

service becomes strong and fixed up. Simply by this process, hearing. There is

no necessity of education or Ph.D. degree. Simply God has given you these ears

and you hear, srnvatam. Hear about Krsna from realized soul. This process will

make you to be situated on the platform of goodness, and as soon as you are

promoted to the platform of goodness, that means you have already surpassed the

other two platforms -- means ignorance -- and the symptom will be... That is

clear here. The symptom is that the two things, lust and greediness, will not

disturb you. You haven't got to take certificate from anyone, "Just give me

certificate that I have become a Krsna conscious." You take your certificate

yourself, see yourself, whether you are free from lust and greediness. That's

the certificate. If you are confident that "I am free from lust and greediness,"

then I am making progress. Otherwise, (chuckles) I am again in the same, no

progress. This is test.

 

This is test. If we want to cheat others, that is a different thing, that

"I have become very advanced in Krsna consciousness." That is another thing,

cheating. But you test yourself by this process, whether you are free from lust

and greediness. This is the test. Tada rajas-tamo-bhavah [sB 1.2.19]. And when

you become free from these two things, lust and greediness, tada, ceta etair

anaviddham sthitam sattve prasidati. Ceta, consciousness, not being attacked by

these two nonsense things, ignorance and passion... Ceta etair anaviddham.

Viddham means piercing. They are always piercing, pinching, pinching. "Come on,

come on." They are always pinching. But if you are actually situated in Krsna

consciousness, these things will not pinch you. Tada, ceta etaih... Because

everything is in the heart. Whole thing is cleansing the heart.

 

So heart is being pinched. "Here is... I am beautiful boy,I am

beautiful girl. Why not come?" So this is pinching. So if you are actually

situated on the platform of Krsna consciousness, not fully, a little advanced,

then these things will be visible. Tada ceta etair anaviddham. And when you

stop, when you are able to stop this pinching in your heart by these two modes

of material nature, passion and greediness -- tada ceta etair anaviddham sthitam

sattve prasidati -- prasidati, then you become joyful. That is the stage of

joyfulness.

 

brahma-bhutah prasannatma

na socati na kanksati

samah sarvesu bhutesu

mad-bhaktim labhate param

[bg. 18.54]

 

That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita. When you have come to this status,

joyful, no more pinching by these two modes of material nature, joyful, that is

called brahma-bhuta stage, the platform of liberation.

 

So the next stage is brahma-bhuta. So brahma-bhuta stage means na socati

na kanksati. No more hankering, no more demanding. Na socati na kanksati.

Because here the business is we hanker after something which we do not possess,

and if we lose something which we possessed, then we lament. This is our

business. Some... First of all, we possess. Then, by nature, we lose it. When it

is lost, then we cry. So these two things are material position, na socati...

But when you come to the brahma-bhuta stage, spiritual platform, then these two

things will be absent. Na socati na kanksati samah sarvesu bhutesu. Then you

will be able to see everyone on the spiritual platform. Panditah sama-darsinah

[bg. 5.18]. Then you are learned. You are seeing the cats and dogs and a human

being, a learned man, because you don't see the dress, outward covering,

tabernacle, but you see, "Here is a spirit soul, part and parcel of Krsna." That

is universal brotherhood. Not by passing resolution with the United Nations and

fighting. That is not possible. You have to come to the stage of spiritual

platform; then there is question of love, brotherhood, equality, fraternity,

otherwise, all bogus propaganda. It's not possible. Samah sarvesu bhutesu

mad-bhaktim labhate param [bg. 18.54]. Then real, pure devotional service

begins. Then we become completely fit to serve Krsna. Krsna accepts your service

at that time.

 

This is the process, but if we follow the rules and regulations given by

spiritual master, sastra, then gradually, gradually... Therefore we should be

very careful. We should be very cautious that maya may not attack us. Because

she is always ready to attack. Rajas-tamo-bhavah. Even in goodness also, maya,

there is maya. Therefore in the material platform, even goodness is not pure.

Therefore there is another stage, which is called suddha-sattva. Goodness is

sattva, sattva-guna. There is another stage, transcendental stage, which is

called suddha-sattva. Sattvam visuddham vasudeva-sabditam. That is called

vasudeva stage, and in the vasudeva stage, Vasudeva, Krsna, appears. You can see

Krsna. Not that a rascal inviting everyone, "Come on. I shall show you God, I

shall show you God," and some rascals are going there to see God. God is not so

cheap. One has to qualify himself to see God. These are the processes.

 

Read the purport.

 

Pradyumna: "A living being in his normal constitutional position is fully

satisfied in spiritual bliss. This state of existence is called brahma-bhuta or

atmanandi, or the state of self-satisfaction. This self-satisfaction is not like

the satisfaction of the inactive fool. The inactive fool is in the state of

foolish ignorance..."

 

Prabhupada: Yes, just like a cat and dog are sitting silently, very good

men. That kind of inactivity is useless. Rather, one who is devotee, he is very

active to serve Krsna: "How shall I serve Krsna more and more? How shall I

advance this Krsna consciousness movement?" That activity, you see; not sitting

idly, "I have become Krsna conscious." Go on.

 

Pradyumna: "The inactive fool is in the state of foolish ignorance,

whereas the self-satisfied atmanandi is transcendental to the material state of

existence. This stage of perfection is attained as soon as one is fixed up in

irrevocable devotional service. Devotional service is not inactivity, but the

unalloyed activity of the soul."

 

Prabhupada: Soul. This is, this is the activity of the soul. You stop the

activity of the body, of the mind; then you must be engaged in the activity of

the soul. Actually, the soul is active, not this body and mind. As soon as the

soul is out of this body, there is no activity. So the real source of activity

is coming from the soul. So how it is that after one becomes liberated, he

becomes inactive? That is the theory of the Mayavadis. Real activity begins

there. Here we are active. We have got so many impediments offered by the mind

and the body; and when we actually come to the platform of soul, that is

liberated position. The activity should be very nice and very polished, very

advanced. Then?

 

Pradyumna: "The soul's activity becomes adulterated in contact with

matter, and as such the diseased activities are expressed in the form of lust,

desire, hankering, inactivity, foolishness and sleep. The effect of devotional

service becomes manifest by complete elimination..."

 

Prabhupada: Sleep and inactivity is a sign of ignorance. The more we are

inactive and sleepy, that means we are in the modes of ignorance. And passion

means activity for sense enjoyment. And goodness means free from the inactivity

of ignorance and the activity of passion, but to see things as they are: "Oh, I

am eternal servant of God. So my actions should be to serve God." That is

goodness. These are the stages. When one is inactive, lazy, sleeping, that means

ignorance. When one is very active for sense enjoyment, it is passion; and when

one is neither active like the sense gratifiers nor sitting idly like the

ignorant, but he is trying to engage himself in Krsna consciousness, service,

that is goodness. And one who is actually serving Krsna, that is transcendental

platform, liberated platform. Then?

 

Pradyumna: "The effect of devotional service becomes manifest by complete

elimination of these effects of passion and ignorance. The devotee is fixed at

once in the mode of goodness, and he makes further progress to rise up to the

position of vasudeva, or the state of unmixed sattva, or suddha-sattva state. In

this suddha-sattva state only can one always see Krsna state, eye to eye, by

dint of pure affection for the Lord. A devotee is always in the mode of

unalloyed goodness; therefore he harms no one. But the nondevotee, however

educated he may be, is always harmful. A devotee is neither foolish nor

passionate. The harmful, foolish, and passionate cannot be devotees of..."

 

Prabhupada: The... It is said, manina bhusitah sarpah kim asau na

bhayankarah. Snake. Some snakes are decorated with jewel on the hood. So this

materialist, however qualified he may be, just like jewel on the head. The

sastra says, "Do you think that a snake coming to you with a jewel on head is

not dangerous or ferocious?" He's as dangerous, as ferocious, as the serpent

without jewel. Similarly, any materialistic person, however educated he may be,

so-called educated, he is simply a snake, dangerous. That's all. He has no

qualification. Harav abhaktasya kuto mahad-gunah. One cannot have good qualities

unless one is advanced in Krsna consciousness. Read.

 

Pradyumna: "The harmful, foolish and passionate cannot be devotees of the

Lord, however they may advertise themselves as devotees by outward dress. A

devotee is always qualified with all the good qualities of God. Quantitatively,

such qualifications may be different, but qualitatively, both of them are one

and the same."

 

Prabhupada: Chant Hare Krsna. (end)

 

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Your Servant,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Jaya Kesava

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