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[Posted
October 24, 2006]
Believe or Not Believe; Fact is
Fact
His Divine Grace A.C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Founder-Acharya of the
world-wide Hare Krishna Movement, Brahma Sampradaya Acharya
The
New York Times October 22, 2006 - by JIM HOLT
Beyond Belief
New York Times BOOK REVIEW: THE GOD DELUSION
By Richard Dawkins.
406 pp. Houghton Mifflin Company
|
The nub of Dawkins’s consciousness-raising message is that to
be an atheist is a “brave and splendid” aspiration. Belief in God is
not only a delusion, he argues, but a “pernicious” one. On a scale of 1
to 7, where 1 is certitude that God exists and 7 is certitude that God
does not exist, Dawkins rates himself a 6: “I cannot know for certain
but I think God is very improbable, and I live my life on the
assumption that he is not there.”
Dawkins’s case against religion follows an outline that goes back to
Bertrand Russell’s classic 1927 essay “Why I Am Not a Christian.”
First, discredit the traditional reasons for supposing that God exists.
(“God” is here taken to denote the Judeo-Christian deity, presumed to
be eternal, all-powerful, all-good and the creator of the world.)
Second, produce an argument or two supporting the contrary hypothesis,
that God does not exist. Third, cast doubt on the transcendent origins
of religion by showing that it has a purely natural explanation.
Finally, show that we can have happy and meaningful lives without
worshiping a deity, and that religion, far from being a necessary prop
for morality, actually produces more evil than good. The first three
steps are meant to undermine the truth of religion; the last goes to
its pragmatic value.
Science
of God
|
Globalization
in the face of Disparity by
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Srimad-Bhagavatam
is the transcendental science not only for knowing the ultimate source
of everything but also for knowing our relation with Him and our duty
toward perfection of the human society on the basis of this perfect
knowledge. It is powerful reading matter in the Sanskrit language, and
it is now rendered into English elaborately so that simply by a careful
reading one will know God perfectly well, so much so that the reader
will be sufficiently educated to defend himself from the onslaught of
atheists. Over and above this, the reader will be able to convert
others to accepting God as a concrete principle. more |
Maybe
... Perhaps ... I think ....
Conversation
with disciples, October 9, 1975, Durban, S. Africa
Prabhupada: Why
we should waste our time talking with such foolish men? "I don't
believe." No, what... You believe or not believe; fact is fact. You are
going to be old man. If you say "I don't believe," then is that a very
good proposition? It does not depend on your believing or not
believing. The nature's course will take place. Prakriteh
kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvashah [Bhagavad-gita
3.27]. That will go on. What is there in your believing and not
believing? If you keep yourself in such darkness that "If you believe,
then it is fact," then you are a fool, rascal. If you depend only on
your belief, then you are a fool. What is the meaning of your belief?
"I believe if I touch fire it will not burn." Will this belief protect
me? You touch fire; it will burn. You believe or not believe. What is
this argument, "We don't believe"? This is going on. If nature's law is
that you must die, then if you believe, "No, I'll not die," will that
belief protect you? You have to submit to the nature's law. Why don't
you understand this? You are talking of "believe and not believe."
Whole world is going on in this way: "We think," "I suppose,"
"Perhaps," "I believe," like this. Where is science? Science does not
depend on your "belief, not belief, supposing, perhaps." This is not
science. But they are going on like that. Whole Darwin's theory is
based on this, "Maybe millions of years past..." We want perfect
knowledge, not such, what is called, samshayam. Therefore
Krishna says, asamshayam, "without any doubt." That is
knowledge. And samagram, "complete." So if we have got the
chance of knowing complete, without any doubt, so why shall I go to
you, rascal? Your knowledge is based on "perhaps, maybe." I will have
to go somewhere to take knowledge, so why not go to Krishna, where the
knowledge is complete and without any doubt? Why shall I go to you, you
rascal? You simply say "maybe, perhaps, I think." What is the use of
this knowledge? We don't accept. You cannot say that "You are right; I
am wrong" because you are also going to somebody to get knowledge, I am
also going to somebody to get knowledge. So here it assured, that
"complete knowledge without any doubt." But you have no such
confidence. Am I right or not?
As
sure as death
Garden
conversation, June 25, 1975, Los Angeles
Prabhupada: If the
tenant thinks that "This apartment is mine, I am owner," then he is
wrong. If he knows perfectly well that it belongs to the landlord, "I
have given for use," then it is knowledge.
Dr. Wolf: Srila Prabhupada,
and the tenant can be easily evicted.
Prabhupada: Yes. Evicted. At
that time he knows the owner. [laughter] When he is kicked out. That is
stated also in the Bhagavad-gita. Mrityuh
sarva-harash chaham [Bhagavad-gita 10.34]. Those
who are not believing in God, to them God will come one day as death,
"Now believe Me. Get out!" Finished. All your pride finished. Your
pride, your property, your family, your bank balance, your skyscraper
building—all taken away. "Finished. Get out." This is God. Now
understand God? To believe or not believe, God will come one day. He
will take you, take your everything, and "Get out!" That is God. You
believe or not believe. It doesn't matter. The same example, the tenant
may not believe the landlord, but when the landlord will come with
court's order, "Get out," then you have to go out. That's all. That is
stated in the Bhagavad-gita, that "Those who are not
believer in God, to them I come as death and take away everything,
finished." That one has to believe, "Yes, as sure as death." Then God
is sure. You may challenge so long you have got little life for a few
years, [laughter] but God will come and drive you away from your
present pride, prestigious position, "Get out." So unless one is
madman, he cannot say, "There is no God." Anyone who denies the
existence of God, he is a madman.
Dr. Wolf: Prabhupada,
wouldn't it be better to say he is blind, he is stupid?
Prabhupada: Yes, the same
thing. Mad is the sum total of all stupidity. [laughter] When I say
mad, it is the sum total of all kinds of stupidity.
But
what is the catalyst for the chance combination?
Bhagavad-gita
As It Is, Chapter 16: The Divine and Demoniac Natures
They
say that this world is unreal, that there is no foundation and that
there is no God in control. It is produced of sex desire, and has no
cause other than lust. (16.8)
PURPORT
The demoniac conclude that the world is phantasmagoria. There is no
cause, no effect, no controller, no purpose: everything is unreal. They
say that this cosmic manifestation arises due to chance material
actions and reactions. They do not think that the world was created by
God for a certain purpose. They have their own theory: that the world
has come about in its own way and that there is no reason to believe
that there is a God behind it. For them there is no difference between
spirit and matter, and they do not accept the Supreme Spirit.
Everything is matter only, and the whole cosmos is supposed to be a
mass of ignorance. According to them, everything is void, and whatever
manifestation exists is due to our ignorance in perception. They take
it for granted that all manifestation of diversity is a display of
ignorance. Just as in a dream we may create so many things, which
actually have no existence, so when we are awake we shall see that
everything is simply a dream. But factually, although the demons say
that life is a dream, they are very expert in enjoying this dream. And
so, instead of acquiring knowledge, they become more and more
implicated in their dreamland. They conclude that as a child is simply
the result of sexual intercourse between man and woman, this world is
born without any soul. For them it is only a combination of matter that
has produced the living entities, and there is no question of the
existence of the soul. As many living creatures come out from
perspiration and from a dead body without any cause, similarly, the
whole living world has come out of the material combinations of the
cosmic manifestation. Therefore material nature is the cause of this
manifestation, and there is no other cause. They do not believe in the
words of Krishna in Bhagavad-gita : mayadhyakshena
prakritih suyate sa-characharam.
"Under My direction the whole material world is moving." In other
words, amongst the demons there is no perfect knowledge of the creation
of this world; every one of them has some particular theory of his own.
According to them, one interpretation of the scriptures is as good as
another, for they do not believe in a standard understanding of the
scriptural injunctions.
Whose
nature?
Morning
walk, April 28, 1973, Los Angeles
Prabhupada: They do not know superior
energy. They, they simply analyze the material energy, just you are
doing. You do not know. The scientists, they do not know that there is
spirit soul. Is it? Do they know?
Svarup Damodar: No.
Prabhupada: So similarly the sankhya
philosophy also, they do not know what is spirit soul. Simply they're
analyzing the material.
Svarup Damodar: So just the
creative material elements?
Prabhupada: Yes. Material
elements are not creative. Creative is the soul. Just like you make
something with matter. Matter does not create itself. You living
entity, you take them, hydrogen, oxygen, mix them, and becomes water.
So matter it, itself, has no creative energy. You keep here one bottle
of hydrogen and... Will they make water? Will they make?
Svarup Damodar: Hydrogen,
oxygen?
Prabhupada: Yes, if you keep
here hydrogen bottle, oxygen. Will the combination come in contact?
Svarup Damodar: Not unless it
is mixed.
Prabhupada: Yes. Therefore
you require a superior energy. This is inferior energy, and the
superior energy comes, mixes. Then the fact is there. The inferior
energy has no power unless the superior energy tackles. Just like this
sea will remain calm and quiet. But another superior, air, when it
pushes, it becomes high waves. It has no power. Another superior...
Similarly another superior, another superior, another superior. So
ultimately Krishna, the most superior. This is research. These waves
are not moving by itself. Although the vast mass of water is there.
When the superior energy, air, pushes it, it becomes big waves.
Svarup Damodar: So the action
of force is necessary?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Svarup Damodar: Force.
Prabhupada: Yes. That is some
scientists' theory, Newton's? That originally there must be some
pushing. What is it? Whose theory it is? To set in motion.
Devotee: Newton?
Prabhupada: I think Newton's.
Svarup Damodar: The Newton
has the laws of motion.
Prabhupada: Motion. So one
must give the motion. Then another motion, another motion, another
motion. Just like big, big, that trucks, railway, trucks. The engine
pushes one truck. Have you seen shunting? The... the truck pushes.
Another truck, another, kat, kat, kat, kat, kat, kat, kat, kat.
Like that.
Brahmananda: Shunting, yeah.
Prabhupada: So who is giving
the pushing? The living entity, driver. A big truck is being pushed: kata
kak kata kak kata kak kata kak, one after another. Similarly the
whole creation, Krishna is giving the pushing. Then one after another,
one after another, one after another working. You see. Mayadhyakshena
prakritih suyate sa-characharam [Bhagavad-gita
9.10]. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita
... mayadhyakshena. Krishna gives the pushing first. Then
everything comes, one after another. But His pushing capacity is so
perfect that everything is coming out perfect, perfect, perfect,
perfect. Just like Krishna says:
bijo 'ham sarva-bhutanam [Bg 7.10]. "I am the seed of everything
created." Now take the seed of the banyan tree. Krishna has created. He
says, "I am the seed." Now you sow the seed. A big tree will come out.
Big tree will come out. Not only big tree. Many millions of seeds will
come out of it. And each seed, again big tree. So the original seed,
Krishna, pushes. Then one after another, one after another, one after
another... So you are simply observing when the things are coming into
existence by such pushing. But you are trying out, trying to find out
who is the original pusher. That you do not know. That you do not know.
Who has originally pushed this energy? That you do not know.
Svarup Damodar: So the
material elements...
Prabhupada: You are simply
observing the immediate cause. You do not know what is the remote
cause. There are two causes, immediate cause and remote cause. Another
call: "Efficient cause and..."? The two words?
Brahmananda: Efficient cause
is the ultimate.
Prabhupada: No, remote cause.
Svarup Damodar: The remote
cause is Krishna.
Prabhupada: Yes. Sarva-karana-karanam
[Brahma-samhita 5.1]. Vedic literature: sarva-karana-karanam.
The cause of all causes. That is remote cause. Therefore if you
understand the sarva-karana-karanam [Bs. 5.1], the cause
of all causes, then you understand everything.
Yasmin vijnate sarvam evam vijnatam bhavati. If you know the
original cause, the later, subordinate causes, you know. Brahmeti
paramatmeti bhagavan iti shabdyate [Srimad-Bhagavatam
1.2.11]. You do not know the original cause, and when we say... "We
say" means when the Vedas says: "Here is the original
cause," you won't take it. Although you are searching after the
original cause. Is it not? But when Veda,... Veda means
knowledge, perfect knowledge. But when gives you: "Here is the original
cause." You won't take. You shall stick to your imperfect knowledge.
This is your disease. Is it not a disease?
Svarup Damodar: Yes.
Prabhupada: Yes. You do not
know what is the original cause, and if some person suggests... Some...
Not ordinary persons. Authorized person. You won't accept.
Svarup Damodar: The
scientists do not know that there are two types of energies.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Svarup Damodar: They do not
know that there are two types of energies...
Prabhupada: Yes.
Svarup Damodar: ...inferior
and the superior.
Prabhupada: Yes, yes. That
they're actually seeing every day.
Svarup Damodar: Yes.
Prabhupada: Handling every
day. Still they'll not. Dog's obstinacy. That's all. They're seeing
practically, that the material energy cannot work independently unless
the spiritual energy joins. So how they can expect the whole cosmic
manifestation, which is matter only, has come out automatically? We are
practically seeing, a very nice car, Cadillac. But if there is no
driver, what is the use of that car? A computer machine. Unless the man
knows how to work it, pushes the button, it does not work. So
practically we are seeing that without superior energy, the material
energy does not act. Still they'll not believe it. Therefore in this
wonderful cosmic manifestation, there must be handling of a superior
energy. And that they do not know. They are amazed with this material
arrangement. Just like a foolish person is amazed by seeing the
mechanical, big machine. So many parts. But another person knows that,
however wonderful machine it may be, unless the operator comes and
pushes the button, it will not work. This is intelligence. Therefore
who is important? The operator or the machine? So we are concerned with
the operator, Krishna, not with the machine. If you say: "How do you
know that He's the operator?" He says: mayadhyakshena prakritih
suyate sa-characharam [Bg. 9.10]. "Under My superintendence, the
whole cosmic manifestation is working." The difference is you don't
believe. I believe. That's all. I take it immediately: "Yes, Krishna is
operating." Therefore I have no problem. Somebody's operating, that you
have to accept. But you do not know who is that person. At least, we
have got knowledge, here is the person. That's all. Now if you say:
"No, Krishna is not the person," then you have to accept another
person. So present him, that "Here is the person, not Krishna.
Another..." That you cannot. So in the absence of your knowledge, you
have to accept my proposal. [break]
Can you create a stem like this in your laboratory?
Svarup Damodar: That's not
possible.
Prabhupada: No, no. But see
how Krishna's energy is working. You cannot create even a few grains of
sand, and you are claiming that: "We have become more than God." How
foolishness it is.
Svarup Damodar: They will
take the, the matter from Krishna, and they will manipulate, and they
will claim that they have done it. For example, they can make some,
some sands...
Prabhupada: That's all right.
At least if you accept that "I have taken this matter from Krishna."
That is also good. Just like we take. We take Krishna, from Krishna is
coming everything. That's all.
Svarup Damodar: But they will
not say that they are taking from Krishna. They'll say that they have
created.
Prabhupada: How they have
created? You take the sand and mix with some chemicals, make glass. So
you have not created the sand. The chemicals, you have not created. You
have taken from the earth. So where is your creation?
Svarup Damodar: They will say
that: "I have taken from the nature."
Prabhupada: Eh? Nature? That
means you have taken from somebody. You have not created. You have
stolen. Thief you are. And we say: "Yes, you have taken from the
nature, but every property of nature, that belongs to Krishna." Ishavasyam
idam sarvam [Isho mantra 1]. Ishavasyam,
it is all God's creation. And that is also stated in the Bhagavad-gita.
Yes... If one does not perform yajna, he's a thief. Yajna
means acknowledging that things have been taken from Krishna. And we
must satisfy Krishna. "Krishna, You have given so many things for our
maintenance." This much acknowledgement Krishna wants. That's all.
Otherwise, what He can expect from you? What you are in His presence? Prasada.
Prasada means acknowledging: "Krishna, You have given us this
foodstuff. So first of all You taste. Then we take." This much.
Krishna's not eating. He's not hungry. He's eating. Although He's not
hungry, He can eat the whole world. Again produce it, as it is. That is
Krishna's power. Purnat purnam, purnasya purnam adaya purnam
evavashishyate [Isho Invocation]. Krishna is so
perfect, that you take from Krishna, whole Krishna's energy, still the
original energy's there. That is conservation of energy.
Svarup Damodar: There is a
very scientific journal called Nature, the title of the
journal is called Nature. What they do is... Mostly they
talk about the natural products like the plants, flowers, the natural
living matters that we find. But they do not talk about God.
Prabhupada: So they...
Svarup Damodar: But they say
about nature.
Prabhupada: Nature, that's
all right. You are observing the plants are being produced by nature.
But who has produced the nature? This is intelligence.
Svarup Damodar: They don't
think about this.
Prabhupada: That is
foolishness. Wherefrom the nature comes? As soon as we speak nature,
then next question should be: "Whose nature?" Is it not? Just like I
say: "It is my nature." You say: "It is my nature." Therefore as soon
as you talk of nature, the next inquiry should be: "Whose nature?"
Karandhara: They don't want to think of that because they want to use
it themselves.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Karandhara: They don't want to think...
Prabhupada: Nature means
energy. What is the definition of nature?
Svarup Damodar: Somethings
which are already existing.
Prabhupada: Yes, they're
already existing. That's all right. But what is the nature's
activities? It is some power. Is it not? So power means energy. As soon
as you say energy, there must be some source of energy. Just like you
say: electric energy. So there is source, the electric powerhouse. How
can you deny it? Electricity's not coming automatically. You have to
install powerhouse, machine, generating machine. Then the electricity
will come. And the resident engineer. Who is the engineer? What is the
machine? And then electricity, there is question of electricity.
Svarup Damodar: From Gita
we find...
Prabhupada: Hmm?
Svarup Damodar: In the Gita,
we find that...
Prabhupada: Yes.
Svarup Damodar: And the...
"This material nature is working under My direction."
Prabhupada: Yes. Yes, as soon
as you speak of energy, nature, there must be some background. Where is
the source of this nature?
In
the following excerpts, Srila Prabhupada takes the part of atheist and
challenges his students to defeat him—and they fail the test!
Why
shall I believe in God?
Morning
walk with disciples, June 17, 1975, Honolulu
Prabhupada: Why shall I believe in God?
What is the benefit? Work hard... Now, of course, I shall work hard; I
will get money. That's all right. Why shall I believe in God?
Srutakirti: Because if you
work hard and believe in God then He'll save you at death. By working
hard, then you'll be saved.
Prabhupada: That's what the
Communists say. They do not believe in God. So?
Harikesa: Believing in God
makes it all worthwhile. It makes you feel better while you're working
hard.
Prabhupada: Those who are
atheists, they are also working hard. They are feeling nice by
drinking. Why shall I believe in God? Let me drink.
Harikesa: Because they're
being satisfied by sense gratification, but in...
Prabhupada: That's all right.
Why shall I believe in God? Sense gratification is there. Why shall I
believe in God?
Upendra: There has to be a
certain amount of self-respect that the Christians give the people...
Prabhupada: Nobody respects.
Nowadays, if somebody is religious, he is thought of as a fool. He's
not...
Siddha-svarupa: Actually,
because what you're saying is right, people are going away from
religion. There is no use for it anymore.
Prabhupada: No religion. No,
they do not know what is the meaning of religion. Therefore they create
some religious system. They create: "Let me create something. After
all, it is bluffing. So if I can..." Just like this, from India there
are so many come. Here also there are many. They create some. It is...
After all, it is bluffing. "So let me create something." Real business
is to bluff and take money.
Bali-mardana: They like to
make a show.
Prabhupada: That's all.
Bali-mardana: Even President
Nixon he was having Bible meetings while he was cheating everyone.
[Prabhupada chuckles.] [break]
Prabhupada:
They think in,
believe in God, and "There is no God; believe in God." Create some God
and believe, that's all; finished. Therefore there are many, so many,
religions.
Bali-mardana: Everyone has a
tendency to worship something. If they don't worship Krishna, they will
worship someone else. Like Mao or Lenin...
Prabhupada: One fashion is
meditation. This fashion is very prominent. What meditation, they do
not know.
Bali-mardana: They think that
it is simply a...
Prabhupada: Sit down... I
have seen meditation. [makes snoring sound] I have seen.
Without
Krishna I am enjoying
Conversation
with disciples, guests, October 29, 1975, Nairobi
Prabhupada:
Prasadad bhagavat-prasadah. By pleasing the spiritual master,
you please Krishna. That's nice. But why Krishna should be pleased?
Why? What is the necessity of pleasing Krishna?
Devotee (1): To please the
representative of Krishna.
Prabhupada: No, no, that is
all right. Guru is representative of Krishna, but why one
should bother himself for pleasing Krishna? Answer this.
Devotee (1): 'Cause our real
position is to serve Krishna, and because we've fallen in this illusion
of the material energy, so we forgot our position.
Prabhupada: We shall do it
otherwise. Why shall I please Krishna? We are making scientific
progress. What is the use of bringing God?
Devotee (2): Because we shall
never become perfect or see the answer.
Prabhupada: That is begging
the question.
Indian man (3): For spreading
the name of the Krishna, in the world.
Prabhupada: No, no. It is not
the question of guru. Guru is doing all right. Why you should
be so much anxious and feel obligation to please Krishna?
Indian (4): Everybody has to
serve somebody, so Krishna is the reservoir of all pleasure and
everything exists from Him. So instead of serving anybody, we should
serve the Krishna.
Prabhupada: That's all right.
Without serving Krishna, I am getting pleasure by drinking wine. Why
shall I...?
Cyavana: That pleasure will
not last. That pleasure is only temporary.
Prabhupada: No, I will not
also last. [laughter] That...
Cyavana: But to accept such a
mentality, we say that is third class. Actually our life is eternal.
Prabhupada: That is your
statement, "third class," but my statement is: It is first class.
[laughter]
Harikesa: Is it first class
if every time you are going to eat something nice I was standing over
you with a stick, and as soon as you took, I would beat you? So every
time you have some enjoyment, there is some concurrent suffering. Like
you enjoy the wine, but then you have a headache, hangover. You enjoy.
Then you get sick.
Cyavana: Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita
in the Tenth Chapter, He says, "For those who are constantly devoted
and worship Me with love, I will give the understanding by which they
can come to Me." So this is our desire.
Prabhupada: I don't want to
go.
Cyavana: You don't want to go
to Krishna?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Harikesa: All right, suffer.
[laughter]
Prabhupada: I don't suffer.
[laughter] I am enjoying.
Harikesa: You are enjoying
death and old age?
Prabhupada: Yes, you are
putting upon me some impression, "suffering," but I am enjoying.
Harikesa: Your knee is hurt.
Is that enjoying?
Prabhupada: That I am curing.
That is also nice. [laughter]
Harikesa: But soon the whole
thing will be finished. You will not... No one enjoys death. No one
will take voluntarily a death pill.
Prabhupada: Nobody of you
could answer the question. Now I give you again chance to answer this
question very properly. Why one should be obliged to please Krishna?
Why?
Harikesa: Just like this
finger. Its position is to serve the body. Just like the stomach.
Everyone may be jealous of the stomach and not want to feed the
stomach, but if all the hands and the legs and the mouth went on strike
not to feed the stomach...
Prabhupada: This is the right
answer.
Harikesa: ...they would
ultimately be destroyed.
Prabhupada: This is right
answer, that you cannot non-cooperate with the stomach. You must serve
the stomach. Otherwise your position is very precarious. That is the
answer. If the finger thinks that "I shall remain independent and be
happy," that is not possible. The stomach must be supplied food, and
then all the parts of the body, they'll be happy. That is the point. So
you cannot non-cooperate with the stomach. Similarly, Krishna is the
central enjoyer. Bhoktaram yajna-tapasam sarva-loka-maheshvaram
[Bg. 5.29]. He is the center. Just like ordinarily this African state,
if you do not satisfy the state or the president, then you cannot
remain happy. Independently you cannot be happy. We require in every
step ... We have come to this park because state is cooperating. In the
morning we shall come, and they have prepared it nicely. We are not
going to the jungle. So if we actually want happiness we must cooperate
with the state. This is crude example. Similarly, if our ultimate aim
is to become happy, then we must cooperate with Krishna. This is
obligatory. You cannot escape it. Then you'll be unhappy. This is
the... Stomach. Pranopaharach cha yathendriyanam.
Therefore the natural process is you pick up... A child even. He picks
up some something, but he does not put anywhere—immediately in the
mouth. Why he does not bring it in the ear? Why? The child immediately
takes it. He does not know what is what. But the nature is that as soon
as he captures something, even he does not know... Because his position
is eating, he knows this much, sense gratification. Other senses are
not yet developed. So the child, he knows taste with tongue and eats.
That he knows. So immediately anything he captures, he brings to the
mouth, naturally. He hasn't got to be educated. So our position is like
that. We being part and parcel of Krishna, our natural tendency is to
serve Krishna. Natural tendency. It is not artificial. When you forget
Krishna, that is artificial. So our normal life means to love Krishna,
to serve Krishna. That is our normal life. Without serving Krishna our
life is abnormal, madman's life. Therefore Krishna says... When you
forget Krishna, He comes to preach the normal life. Sarva-dharman
parityajya mam ekam [Bg. 18.66]. This is normal life. So Krishna
does not require your help. He can create many helpers. But for your
good Krishna comes, that "If you want normal, happy life, then
surrender unto Me." This is the proposal. Therefore the whole Bhagavad-gita,
all Vedic knowledge, is there. We have forgotten our position. Our
posit..., normal position, is to love and serve Krishna. Therefore anadi
bahir mukha jiva Krishna bhuli gela ataeva Krishna veda purana karila.
Because we do not know... From time immemorial we cannot ascertain when
this incidents have happened, to forget Krishna, but it is
practically... Life after life, life after life, we are changing body,
but forgetting Krishna. So here, in the human form of life, there is
the opportunity to revive our original position, and we require the
help of knowledge, perfect knowledge. And that is there in the Vedas.
Atha eva krishna veda purana karila. If we don't
take advantage, although we have got... We can read Bhagavad-gita,
and if we don't take advantage of Bhagavad-gita and go
on whimsically, then we'll suffer. You cannot non-cooperate with
Krishna as you cannot non-cooperate with the stomach. This is the...
You must. There is no question of alternative. You may, may not know.
It is not. You must. This is the position. Otherwise you'll never be
happy. And happiness is your aim of life. Atyantika-duhkha-nivrittih.
We are... I'm suffering from this knee's trouble because I am in this
material world. I have got this material body. So
atyantika-duhkha-nivrittih means no more material world, no more
material body. And for that purpose we have to cooperate with Krishna.
Otherwise it is not possible. Any question about this? Just like these
African women. They are going to work. There is no question of no work.
They must. Otherwise they cannot eat. Anyone, if by working his
livelihood is going on, how he can non-cooperate? This is not
possible.
Brahmananda: The thief is
also eating.
Prabhupada: That is Krishna's
grace, just like the government gives the prisoners also to eat. But
they are condemned. And government's grace that government provides all
necessities. If a prisoner is sick, he is given the hospital facility.
But he is restricted free movement, that much. Otherwise government
gives the same facilities within the prison house and without the...
The standard may be little different. Eko yo bahunam yo
vidadhati kaman. He satisfies... Why this human being prisoner?
Even He is giving food to the animals, to the birds, beasts, everyone.
Noncooperation cannot be. Krishna says, bijo 'ham sarva-bhutanam
[Bhagavad-gita 7.10]. Now, you have to grow trees, plants
and vegetables for your eating. So that you cannot have without
cooperation with Krishna. Krishna gives all the seeds. Bijo 'ham.
You cannot manufacture the seed. He gives the seed. You work little,
sow it and get the result. But without cooperation with Krishna, how
can you get the seed? Then where is your food? No food. You must
take... "God, give us our daily bread." Krishna gives the seeds, and
you sow it and get the fruit or grains. Then you can exist. Even if you
are animal-eater, the animal must also come from Krishna. You cannot
manufacture the animal. That is also coming from Krishna. Bijo
'ham sarva-bhutanam [Bg 7.10]. The animal is produced by father
and mother, but the seed is given in the semina by Krishna. And then
animal is produced. So how you can non-cooperate Krishna? You have to
cooperate.
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Sri Guru and Gauranga
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