SB 5.1.19 – Simple for the Simple

Giriraj Swami: Hare Krishna. I welcome all of you to Sri Vrindavan Dhāma which is the most auspicious place for devotional service and for chanting and hearing about Krishna from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. We have been discussing a very important section of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam because it raises a question that is relevant to all of us. The background is that Priyavrata had been living a very renounced life fully engaged in austerities for spiritual perfection. But, his father Svayambhuva Manu requested him to give up his austerities, and take charge of the kingdom which was pretty much the universe because Manu himself wanted to become free to engage in devotional service. And, Priyavrata was required to take charge of the kingdom. So, Priyavrata asked a very relevant question, “If I give up my life of renunciation, and take charge of the kingdom which would imply entering grihastha ashram and living amidst great opulence, how will it affect my spiritual life?” This is a question that we all should ask when we contemplate making any change. How will it affect my spiritual life? Will it be favorable or unfavorable? What are the pros and cons? What are the gains and losses? And, in yesterday’s verse, which Bhurijana Prabhu so nicely discussed, Lord Brahma came to sort of mitigate this, not exactly dispute, but this sort of quandary between the father and son. Lord Brahma is the superior authority being the first created being in the entire universe so he told Priyavrata, “One who is situated in household life, and who systematically conquers his mind and five sense organs, is like a king in his fortress who conquers his powerful enemies.” So, there is quite a lot in that one sentence. And, just to make sure that we heard it and remember it, who can say at least part of what we just read? What Lord Brahma told to Priyavrata? Yes.

Devotee: One who is situated in household life and controls his senses is like a king who has control of the country [Unintelligible 00:06:34]

Giriraj Swami: Close…One…repeat it.

Devotee: One who is in household life and has control of his senses is like a king who has control of the country.

Giriraj Swami: One who is in household life is like a king and if he has control of his senses, yes, he has just to be a little more clear, that household life is compared to a fortress. If we are under attack, then we get protection from a fortress. So, who are the attackers? 

Devotee: [Unintelligible 00:07:32]

Giriraj Swami: Yes, the mind and the senses. The mind and the senses. So, to get protection from the attacks of the mind and the senses, we should take shelter in a fortress. And, what is the fortress? In this verse, the fortress is… What is the fortress?

Devotee: Mind

Giriraj Swami: Grihastha ashram because grihastha ashram can be used to systematically control the mind and senses—that is the purpose. Then, Lord Brahma says, “After one has been trained in household life and his lusty desires have decreased, he can move anywhere without danger.” So, this is one level of answer. Lord Brahma was assuring him that you can enter grihastha ashram because in grihastha ashram, you can be systematically trained to control the mind and the senses, and then you don’t need to be afraid of anything; you can go anywhere and everywhere without fear. But, in the next verse, today’s verse, which is the culmination of the whole discussion, Lord Brahma gives another answer on a higher level about how one can be safe. And, this answer is relevant to all of us. This answer is meant to be applied by all of us so we should take note. So, please repeat after me:

oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya

oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya

oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya

Please repeat:

tvaṁ tv abja-nābhāṅghri-saroja-kośa-
durgāśrito nirjita-ṣaṭ-sapatnaḥ
bhuṅkṣveha bhogān puruṣātidiṣṭān
vimukta-saṅgaḥ prakṛtiṁ bhajasva        [ŚB 5.1.19]

TRANSLATION

Lord Brahmā continued: My dear Priyavrata, seek shelter inside the opening in the lotus of the feet of the Lord, whose navel is also like a lotus. Thus conquer the six sense organs [the mind and knowledge-acquiring senses]. Accept material enjoyment because the Lord, extraordinarily, has ordered you to do this. You will thus always be liberated from material association and be able to carry out the Lord’s orders in your constitutional position.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

There are three kinds of men within this material world. Those who are trying to enjoy the senses to the utmost are called karmīs, above them are the jñānīs, who try to conquer the urges of the senses, and above them are the yogīs, who have already conquered the senses. None of them, however, are situated in a transcendental position. Only devotees, who belong to none of the above-mentioned groups, are transcendental. As explained in Bhagavad-gītā (14.26):

māṁ ca yo ‘vyabhicāreṇa
bhakti-yogena sevate
sa guṇān samatītyaitān
brahma-bhūyāya kalpate

“One who engages in full devotional service, who does not fall down in any circumstance, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman.” Lord Brahmā herein advises Priyavrata to remain transcendental in the fortress not of family life but of the lotus feet of the Lord (abja-nābhāṅghri-saroja). When a bumblebee enters the opening of a lotus flower and drinks its honey, it is fully protected by the petals of the lotus. The bee is undisturbed by sunshine and other external influences. Similarly, one who always seeks shelter at the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead is protected from all dangers. It is therefore said in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.14.58):

COMMENT

I am going to interrupt the purport here because the verse that Srila Prabhupada quotes in the purport was a verse that we would sing every morning in the Boston temple. And, it was a very, it was a highlight every day to sing this verse because the lines are very poetic and the substance is very encouraging. So, this was the tune that we used to sing. 

samāśritā ye pada-pallava-plavaṁ

mahat-padaṁ puṇya-yaśo murāreḥ

bhavāmbudhir vatsa-padaṁ paraṁ padaṁ

padaṁ padaṁ yad vipadāṁ na teṣām

I will sing it again: 

samāśritā ye pada-pallava-plavaṁ

mahat-padaṁ puṇya-yaśo murāreḥ

bhavāmbudhir vatsa-padaṁ paraṁ padaṁ

padaṁ padaṁ yad vipadāṁ na teṣām

PURPORT (continued)

For one who has taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord, everything becomes easier. Indeed, even crossing the great ocean of nescience (bhavāmbudhi) is exactly like crossing the hoofprint created by a calf (vatsa-padam). For such a devotee, there is no question of remaining in a place where every step is dangerous.

Our actual duty is to carry out the supreme order of the Personality of Godhead. If we are fixed in our determination to carry out the supreme order of the Lord, we are always secure, regardless of where we are situated, whether in hell or in heaven. Herein the words prakṛtiṁ bhajasva are very significant. Prakṛtim refers to one’s constitutional position. Every living entity has the constitutional position of being an eternal servant of God. Therefore Lord Brahmā advised Priyavrata, “Be situated in your original position as an eternal servant of the Lord. If you carry out His orders, you will never fall, even in the midst of material enjoyment.” Material enjoyment achieved by dint of one’s fruitive activities differs from material enjoyment given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. A devotee sometimes appears to be in a very opulent position, but he accepts that position to follow the orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore a devotee is never affected by material influences.

COMMENT

Now, Srila Prabhupada speaks about us.

PURPORT (continued)

The devotees in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement are preaching all over the world in accordance with the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

COMMENT

So, the point here, in fact, it is in a way, it is the point that Srila Prabhupada made in his concluding words to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta about following the order of the spiritual master. Here, Srila Prabhupada is saying it doesn’t matter what position you are in as long as you are fixed in following the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And, in particular, he refers to the order of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Now, what is the order of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu? This, we should all know because this is our order. This is our order from the Supreme Personality of Godhead coming to us through disciplic succession. What is the order of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu? 

Devotee: Prithvi te ache nagar adi gram sarvatra prachar hobe mor naam.

Giriraj Swami: He says, Prithvi te ache nagar adi gram sarvatra prachar hobe mor naam. It means, in every town and village of every country of the world Mahaprabhu’s name or Krishna’s name should be preached. That is correct; that is one correct answer. Yes.

Devotee:

yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa
āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa

Giriraj Swami:

yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa
āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa

Wherever you go, whomever you meet, repeat the message of Krishna. In this way, become a guru and liberate everyone in that place. That is also correct; that is also correct. And, when you read or hear what Srila Prabhupada has put in the purport, you will appreciate how relevant that verse is. Both; but they are the same, they are the same. Now, all right.

PURPORT (continued)

The devotees in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement are preaching all over the world in accordance with the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. 

COMMENT

So, we know what the order is. 

PURPORT (continued)

They have to meet many karmīs,

COMMENT

Prabhupada is using this word in a technical sense. But, he did say that we should not use the word karmi too much otherwise we might feel that we are superior, but here he is using the word with a purpose. 

PURPORT (continued)

They have to meet many karmīs, but by the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu they are unaffected by material influences.

COMMENT

This is the fact; maybe not 100 percent in all cases but this is the principle. And, if we remain fixed on the order of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu coming to us through paramparā through Srila Prabhupada, we will be unaffected. We will be unaffected by material association. So,

PURPORT (continued)

They have to meet many karmīs, but by the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu they are unaffected by material influences. He has blessed them, as described in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 7.129):

kabhu nā bādhibe tomāra viṣaya-taraṅga
punarapi ei ṭhāñi pābe mora saṅga

A sincere devotee who engages in the service of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu by preaching His cult all over the world will never be affected by viṣaya-taraṅga, material influences. On the contrary, in due course of time he will return to the shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and will thus have perpetual association with Him.

COMMENT

So, this is a tremendous boon or blessing that if we sincerely preach the message of Krishna and follow the order of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu all over the world, we will be unaffected by material influences, and in the end, we will gain the eternal association of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. So, this is very clear. This is very clear, and all we have to do is do it. It is like… it is amazing, it is amazing! 

Now, to give the background of this verse quoted in the purport, when Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was touring South India, He visited the home of a devotee named Kurma. And, it appears that Kurma was quite materially opulent because when Chaitanya Mahaprabhu entered his house, he said, “Now my birth, my family, my wealth everything has become successful.” But, when Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was about to leave, Kurma begged him, “Please, do not leave me behind. Please take me with you.” And, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu replied, “Do not speak like this. Remain at home and Krishna nām nirantara.” Remain at home and constantly chant the holy name of Krishna. And, Srila Prabhupada comments that especially in Kali-yuga, people are not trained to leave home. They are definitely not ready to leave home abruptly. So, this instruction of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s to the brahman Kurma is for us that we should not try to abruptly leave home but stay at home, and Krishna nām nirantara: constantly chant the holy name of Krishna. And then, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says, who knows? What is the next instruction Chaitanya Mahaprabhu gave the brahman Kurma? 

You said it but you don’t know. Yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa. And, then He instructed him in addition to constantly chanting the holy name that he should repeat the message of Krishna, and in that way become a guru and deliver all of the people where he is. So, that can begin with wife, children, friends, relatives, anyone. yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa. Wherever you go, whoever you meet, just repeat the message of Krishna. In other words, don’t speculate, don’t concoct but repeat the Krishna upādhis as found in the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

And, then Chaitanya Mahaprabhu instructs him as quoted here in the purport. Kabhu—kabhu means at any time, at any time. Kabhu nā bādhibe tomāra viṣaya-taraṅga. We discussed that taraṅga—waves; vishaya taraṅga—waves of sense gratification. You will not at any time be affected by the waves of sense gratification. punarapi ei ṭhāñi pābe mora saṅga but rather you will have my association again, or you will never lose my association. So, this is the process. By instructing the brahman Kurma, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu instructed all of us. We can stay wherever we are and Krishna nām nirantara—always engage in chanting the holy name of Krishna and yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa—repeat the message of Krishna, and in the end, we will have the eternal association of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. It is so clear; so clear. All we have to do is do it.

But, as Srila Prabhupada said in… Anyway, in one lecture in Boston that Krishna Consciousness is simple for the simple but difficult for the crooked. So… Hare Krishna… but it is simple provided we are simple. Now, this is extraordinary that the Lord instructed Priyavrata, who was completely renounced to enter grihastha ashram, take charge of the kingdom, and enjoy the objects of the senses. Of course, that could be another discussion—what it means to enjoy? But, I will tell you a story that Srila Prabhupada told us in Bombay, in the winter of 1972. Srila Prabhupada was reading to the devotees from The Nectar of Devotion. And, early in The Nectar of Devotion, there is a discussion of Bhakti-rasa. Nectar of Devotion, Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu. And, Srila Prabhupada explains that the rasa or the taste of devotional service continues eternally whereas the tastes in the material world are temporary, and therefore, people in the material world always want to change their position. And, this is called bhoga and tyāga. They, say in simple terms, they work hard, that is like tyāga—they give up enjoyment to work hard to earn money, but after a week of working hard, they become disgusted. I mean, actually, it doesn’t even take a week but they have to wait a week. And, they get disgusted and they can’t wait to leave. I mean I have seen they are just looking at their watches just waiting for the magic moment to come when they can leave the office or the shop and enjoy bhoga, the weekend. Bhoga, they can enjoy. But, after enjoying for the weekend or whatever the duration is, they become restless because the money is being spent; no new money coming in. So, they go back to their hard work. So, this is always alternating back and forth. So, this is on the material platform. 

But, what about us devotees? It appeared that Priyavrata was engaged in tyāga and then the Lord Himself asked him to engage in bhoga. How does this work for a devotee? Our Srila Prabhupada asked the very same question to his Guru Maharaja, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. He said that Rupa Gosvami was sleeping under a different tree every night so it seemed to be tyāga. Actually, he was a minister and living in very great opulence but he left it to come to Vrindavan and live under a different tree every night. So, that appears to be tyāga. And, Ramananda Raya, he was a governor; he lived in great opulence and had great power. So, it seemed that he was in the position of bhoga but both Rupa Gosvami and Ramananda Raya were devotees of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. So, how do we reconcile this? And, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura gave an amazing answer. And, he referred to a technical term proṣita bhartṛkā which is a wife when her husband is away from home. When the husband is away from home, the wife dresses in very plain cloth, sleeps on the floor, does not bathe or dress herself very nicely. She lives in a very austere way like tyāga. And, the same wife, when her husband is at home, she takes baths twice a day. She puts aromatic oils on her body and she dresses a nice cloth and decorates herself with ornaments. It is like bhoga, but actually, she is the same in both situations because in both situations, the central point is the husband, to please the husband. So, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said that that is the position of a devotee. He may be sleeping under a tree like Rupa Gosvami but the purpose is to please Krishna. The central point is Krishna. And Ramananda Raya may be living in an opulent palace but the central point is Krishna, to please Krishna. And, so he said that we are not interested in bhoga or tyāga but we are interested only in pleasing Krishna. 

After telling that story, Srila Prabhupada said the same thing to us: we have nothing to do with bhoga; we are not after bhoga or tyāga; we are after Krishna’s satisfaction, and that is pure bhakti. And, Srila Prabhupada exemplified it; he exemplified it. Sometimes, he lived in very opulent circumstances and sometimes he lived in very simple circumstances but he was not concerned he was concerned only with Krishna’s satisfaction. When we went to the Ardha Kumbha Mela with Srila Prabhupada in 1971, end of 1970 beginning of 1971, he was living in a tent and it was very cold; it was very cold. I mean, I shouldn’t say but the truth must be told that it was so cold that we disciples didn’t want to get out of our sleeping beds in the morning. We had our tent and we had our sleeping beds. And Srila Prabhupada became aware of the fact that we were sleeping late and Srila Prabhupada did not… I mean it was a fixed principle that you had to attend maṅgala-ārati. It was not a matter of discussion. I mean, you had to attend maṅgala-ārati. And, when Srila Prabhupada understood what was happening with us. His usual schedule was to take bath later in the day but for our sake, he came out. And, this is another point that the water that we took bath with, came from a well, and that water was really cold at four in the morning. But, Srila Prabhupada, at his advanced age, and in his fragile health, he came out and took bath in that cold water early in the morning. And, of course when the news reached us cuddled up in our sleeping bags, we immediately jumped out of our sleeping bags and went to take our baths. So, that Prabhupada did that for us to… yes example.. precept.. example is better than precept. And, then sometimes, he would live in an opulent donor’s home but he was the same; he really was the same. He didn’t have attachment or aversion for either but he accepted whatever was favorable for Krishna’s service. 

Now, one point that we should keep in mind is that because of our conditioning, even though we are fixed in the order of the guru, in the order of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu but because of our conditioning, we might be at least superficially affected by the circumstances. And here also, Srila Prabhupada set a wonderful example for us. In one class, in London, Srila Prabhupada said to the devotees.. I mean this.. I mean everything that Prabhupada said is so deep, I mean, any word could be discussed in in detail but anyway he said that the difference between you and me is, not your Giriraj Swami and me, this is Prabhupada, “The difference between you and me is that you can fall down and I cannot.” Then, afterwards, he was praying in front of the deities and so one of the disciples asked him, “Srila Prabhupada, what were you praying?” And, Srila Prabhupada replied, “I was praying to the deity that I may not fall down.” And, the disciple said, “But Srila Prabhupada, I thought you said you couldn’t fall down.” And, Srila Prabhupada replied, “Yes, because I am always praying that I may never fall down. Therefore, I cannot, I will never fall down.” And, he even told us that when whenever he would go to a rich man’s house in India, he would always be praying not to be enamored of the rich man’s opulence—mansion or furniture or whatever. So, we should keep this mood of humble prayer because we need shelter at every moment. We need protection at every moment because we are very small; we are very small. 

And yes, so both moods are there—that confidence, but the other mood is also required that of being humble and feeling oneself to be vulnerable and praying constantly for protection. And, one needs both otherwise if we are too fearful, we won’t go out. We’ll just stay in the house all day afraid of maya but guess what maya is in the house too; maya is everywhere. So, we don’t want to be too fearful and neglect the order yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa but we don’t want to be overconfident that I am liberated, I can go anywhere and do anything; that is not, that is not liberation. Yes, once one of our god brothers asked Srila Prabhupada about a liberated soul, how a liberated soul thinks? And Srila Prabhupada immediately replied, “Liberated does not think he is liberated. As soon as you think you are liberated, you are a rascal. Liberated soul never thinks he is liberated.” And, he quoted Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu that He was liberated, I mean, not of course, He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He is liberated, but even otherwise, by following the instructions of His spiritual master to chant the holy name, He manifested ecstatic symptoms that are possible only for a devotee on the liberated platform. So, even though He was liberated but he approached his spiritual master that, “You have told me to chant this mantra and I have been following your instructions and sometimes I am laughing; sometimes I am crying; sometimes I am rolling on the ground; I feel that my knowledge has been lost by the power of the mantra. I don’t know what to do.” And His Guru Maharaja was very pleased that he had developed love of Godhead. But he told him initially, anyway… it is a whole story but Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said that His Guru Maharaja guru more mūrkha dekhi’ karila śāsana … that my Guru Maharaja considered me to be a great fool and he chastised me, and Srila Prabhupada said that is liberated. When you feel yourself to be a fool before your spiritual master, and are always ready to be chastised by him, that is liberation. And, as soon as you think you are liberated, you are a rascal. 

So, we should have that mood; we should have that mood because that chastisement can come in different ways. We want to preach; we want to take up the order āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa but at the same time we have to be careful that Krishna and guru always remain the center; not that I become the center because that is our whole material disease that we want to be the center. And, when one takes up the order, people, they appreciate the message, they appreciate the message and they honor you; they respect you; they worship you; they give you nice prasāda; they give you dakṣiṇā; they give you a lot of respect and offerings, so we can fall into that bad habit of thinking we are the center. Yes, they should worship me; I am Krishna’s representative; they should serve me; that is really bad, to think like that is really bad. So, we may get a little chastisement from our guru in some form or another. And, we should accept that chastisement and adjust. The guru is very merciful, the Pancha-tattva are very merciful so if they see we are going astray, they will give us warnings; they will give us instructions. But we should be humble and take that warning and make the adjustment. Otherwise, maya is such, the mind is such, go a little off, a little off, a little off, little off, eventually we are off. So, and yes, we shouldn’t be attached obviously. Then, it will be easy to, whatever the order is, it will be easy to accept it… stay here, go there, go there, stay here. 

Srila Prabhupada as our Acharya, made, told us of when he made his world headquarters in Los Angeles, it was a very good facility for preaching, and it was by far the most opulent and extensive property that we had in ISKCON. But, something went wrong with the disciples and Prabhupada felt that he should not stay there anymore. So, even though he had every facility for his translating; for his preaching; for his organizing; he left. But, still he had a question “Why?” He actually asked the deity in Los Angeles, “Why are you taking all of this away from me?” And, then from that Prabhupada came to India, and eventually got the land here, and eventually built the Krishna-Balarama temple. And then, he prayed that “Now I know that you took that away from me in Los Angeles to give me something better in Vrindavan.” It is all absolute but still Prabhupada says that this is many times better than Los Angeles. So, that is another consideration; Srila Prabhupada said Krishna never takes anything away from a devotee except to give the devotee something better. So, we feel that Krishna is taking something away or Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is taking something away. We should also think, maybe there is a purpose to it and not resist.

Anyway, I think I will… there is so much here but anyway… So one theme here is the higher taste that by being becoming attached to Krishna, one gives up the attachment to material things paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate. And there is another verse, actually, beautiful verse in the Fourth Canto Yat-pāda-paṅkaja-palāśa-vilāsa-bhaktyā and the meaning is that the waves of material desire keep coming without cessation. And, those who are not devotees, karmis, or jnanis or yogis, they may try to stop the waves by different processes but they are unsuccessful. But a devotee, by engaging in the service of Krishna or Vasudeva, he can give up those hard-knotted desires for material enjoyment. And, in the purport, Srila Prabhupada explains that the waves of a river keep coming; they never stop but the river flows into the ocean. And, sometimes, at high tide, the waves of the ocean over-flood the river and the waves of the ocean become more prominent than the waves of the river. He says, “In the same way even though desires for sense gratification and material enjoyment keep coming, but they can be over-flooded by superior desires to serve Krishna.” And, he says that when a devotee makes plans with his intelligence how to serve Krishna, those desires can be more prominent than the other desires for material enjoyment. 

So, I will conclude with one story of my own, which is meant to illustrate this point. In the… Do you have time for this? Do you have ten more minutes? Anyway, this goes back to Juhu and the owner of the Juhu land Mr. Nair, he was a very cunning and powerful man. So, anyway, we entered into this… Prabhupada entered into an agreement to buy the land from Mr. Nair. But, it turns out that Mr. Nair had a… anyway…. so the idea was that Mr. Nair and I were going to go down to downtown Bombay to the lawyer’s office. And, he came with a car. We didn’t have anything, barely had bus fare or train fare. So, he had a car; he came with a car, and of course, a driver. And, then there was a lady. And, so he arranged it that I was in the back seat in the middle and he was on one side and the lady was on the other side. So, I thought, This isn’t right, I am a brahmachari, I am not supposed to sit next to a lady. But, I was pretty intimidated by the whole situation and then I figured, well, all right, she may be someone important so she should have one of the window seats, and He is Mr. Nair so he should have the other window seat. So, I get the middle, I am the humble brahmachari. I got the middle, okay in a way, it made sense but I didn’t feel comfortable, but I went along with it. So, as we are driving, this lady started to put her hand on my upper leg, quite, upper leg. And, I was twenty-four years old and so, my mind and senses got a bit wild, and under that influence of youthful energy that Prabhupada mentions, I was thinking, not thinking but my mind was saying, Well, don’t worry about the consequences, just do it. What is the big thing? Don’t worry about the consequences.” But then I thought, if I actually did something with her and later it turned out that she was a, I don’t know, if I should say, reputed or notorious prostitute. But, I thought, if I do something with her, then eventually the word is going to get out. And, if the word gets out it will be a disgrace to Srila Prabhupada and his whole mission in Bombay will be thwarted. And then, I thought, I can’t do this because I can’t do this to Srila Prabhupada. And, then I had sort of a glimmer of a realization that I loved, I mean, love I didn’t know but I loved Srila Prabhupada more than I loved myself because in that state for myself, I was ready to be a little reckless. I mean, it wasn’t really thought out, but it was, but I couldn’t do that with Srila Prabhupada. So, I think this is the principle that our service to our spiritual master and to Srila Prabhupada or paramparā, that has to be more important to us than anything else. 

We may not be beyond some of the conditioning of the mind and the senses. In fact, we won’t be completely beyond that until we are liberated but at least our attachment to Krishna consciousness, to the order of Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada and the paramparā, that should be stronger than any other attachment. And, then, on the basis of the strength of our attachment to the guru, the order of the guru, the order of Mahaprabhu, we will be able to continue step-by-step just like what Prabhupada said. And, we will get that blessing that in the end, we will meet Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and all of His associates and be in His company eternally. So, we really need to cling to the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the paramparā and really beg for their mercy, beg for their guidance, beg for their protection so that we won’t be deviated by the mind and senses from their order and the promise that following their order carries. And, that is that we will be in their association eternally. Hare Krishna. 

So, any questions or comments? All right, so any announcements? All right, thank you for listening so patiently and attentively. And, we will meet again or we will never be separated. Hare Krishna!