71. Chapter 18 (18.49 - 18.61) | Bhagavad-Gita As It Is | Bhakti-sastri (2025-26)

Added: 2026-05-04

[00:00:00]foreign.

[00:00:29]Foreign speech. Foreign speech. Foreign speech.

[00:00:58]Krishna.

[00:01:26]Krishna. foreign speech.

[00:02:10]Krishna, [snorts] Hrishna, Hrishna.

[00:02:26]Krishna Krishna Hama hurry.

[00:02:51]foreign.

[00:03:24]We are studying chapter 18 [snorts] um verse number 49.

[00:03:38]Lord Krishna is talking about going from nisham karma yoga or ghana yoga to bacti yoga.

[00:03:50]In the class yesterday, we heard about people uh situated in their particular va and then offering the fruits of their activity to Lord Sri Krishna and this gives them purification.

[00:04:10]So this kind of yoga is uh is being explained by Lord Krishna here for people to follow general people to follow.

[00:04:34]One who is self-controlled and unattached and who regards who disregards all material enjoyments can obtain by practice of renunciation the highest perfect stage of freedom from reaction. So here again we are getting the same flow of progression of someone from one stage of yoga to another stage as was explained in the previous chapters in Bhagat Gita. By performing nishkam karma one develops ghana and that ghana produces vagya renunciation and in this way that person becomes detached from material bondage.

[00:05:16]Perpet real renunciation means that one should always think himself part and parcel of the supreme lord and therefore think that he has no right to enjoy the results of his work since he is part and parcel of the supreme lord the result of his work must be enjoyed by the supreme lord this is actually krishna consciousness a person acting in Krishna consciousness is really a syasi one in the renounced order of life by such Such a mentality one is satisfied because he's actually acting for the supreme. Thus he is not attached to anything material. He becomes accustomed to not taking pleasure in anything beyond the transcendental happiness derived from the service of the lord. A syasi is supposed to be free from the reactions of his past activities. But a person who is in Krishna consciousness automatically attains this perfection without even accepting the so-called order of renunciation. This state of mind is called yoga or the perfectional stage of yoga. As is confirmed in the third chapter, one who is satisfied in himself has no fear of any kind of reaction from his activity.

[00:06:29]So here it's being explained that the stage which is attained by many years many decades of practice through the path of karma yoga and ghana yoga can very easily be attained by a short practice of bacti yoga.

[00:06:46]On the other parts, one has to first purify oneself and then take to syas and then engage in sadhana as a syasi and then maybe um attain self-realization.

[00:07:00]But here if one is practicing bi then instead of going through the external routine of becoming a sasi one can immediately come to that stage of perfection.

[00:07:12]So that perfection is possible because of attachment to Lord Sri Krishna. That attachment is the is the catalyst which makes the process of uh spiritual evolution very quick you know for a person on the path of u yoga which otherwise becomes a very arduous task and uh takes long long long time.

[00:07:40]Fine. So let's go to next verse 50.

[00:07:52]Oh son of ki learn from me how one who has achieved this perfection can attain to the supreme perfectional stage Brahman the stage of highest knowledge by acting in the way I shall now summarize.

[00:08:08]So the person who has come to this stage which is complete knowledge and renunciation has been attained that person can gradually come to the stage of Brahma. It's a stage of perfection.

[00:08:21]So this is as I said it's a step-by-step progression given by Krishna here puppet let's read the per short the lord describes for arjuna how one can achieve the highest professional stage simply by being engaged in his occupational day performing that duty for the supreme personality of one attains the supreme stage of Brahman simply by renouncing the result of his work for the satisfaction of the supreme lord that is the process of self-realization the actual perfection of knowledge is in attaining pure Krishna consciousness that is described in the following verses Har Krishna Har Krishna so next verse 51 52 53 Fore!

[00:09:30]Foreign! Foreign!

[00:09:51]Brahma being purified by his intelligence and controlling the mind with determination.

[00:09:58]Giving up the giving up the objects of sin's gratification.

[00:10:03]Being freed from attachment and hatred.

[00:10:05]One who lives in a circulated place, who eats little, who controls his body, mind and power of speech, who is always in trance and who is detached, free from false ego, false strength, false pride, lust, anger, in acceptance of material things, free from false proprietorship and peaceful. Such a person is certainly elevated to the position of self-realization.

[00:10:39]Harrishna pronounc when one is purified by intelligence he keeps himself in the mode of goodness.

[00:10:47]Thus one becomes the controller of the mind and is always in trance. He is not attached to the objects of sense gratification and he is free from attachment and hatred in his activities. Such a detached person naturally prefers to live in a secluded place. He does not eat more than what is than what he requires.

[00:11:13]He [snorts] controls the activities of his body and mind. He has no false ego because he does not accept the body as himself. nor does he desire to make the body fat and strong by accepting so many material things because he has no bodily concept of life. He is not falsely proud. He is satisfied with everything that is offered to him by the grace of the Lord and he is never angry in the absence of such of sense gratification.

[00:11:46]Nor does he endeavor to enquire sense objects. Thus when he is completely free from false ego he becomes nonattached to all material things and that is the stage of self-realization of Brahman.

[00:12:00]That stage is called the Brahma Buddha stage when one is free from the material conception of life he becomes peaceful and cannot be agitated. This is described in Bhagat Gita 2.70.

[00:12:18]Apuralist.

[00:12:39]A person who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of desires that enter like rivers into the ocean which is ever being filled but is always still can alone achieve peace and not the man who strives to satisfy such desires. Thank you prau Har Krishna.

[00:13:02]Har Krishna.

[00:13:05]So this verse 270 is basically being repeated in these verses 51 52 53 that's why praadi is quoting it here the message is the same just the language is different next verse so such a stage when a person becomes like that situated like that then he comes to One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the supreme Brahman and becomes wholly joyful. He never laments or desires to have nothing have anything. He is equally disposed toward every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto me.

[00:14:00]So the process is being again further explained as uh we do sadhana whether we are on the path of karma yoga or ghani yoga or bacti yoga there is a development of consciousness. So the consciousness comes to a point which is called brahab buddha.

[00:14:20]Anyone on any path of yoga will come to this level of development.

[00:14:26]So it's not that only a guani will come to brahabuta realization. Even a bakta will come to brahabuta realization.

[00:14:36]So that is when we becomes fixed in um the spiritual energy of the supreme lord. So then that time the soul the ja functions in a different manner. The desires, the thoughts, the feelings, everything is changed.

[00:14:58]One is not working like an ordinary human. Though externally one is doing activities like an ordinary human, but internally the there's a big shift in existence.

[00:15:13]So that's called brahmutasta.

[00:15:17]There's no hankering in that stage.

[00:15:19]There's no lamentation in that stage because there is complete bliss, satisfaction.

[00:15:27]There's no fear of sin and there is no excitement of getting any material reward. One is just happy uh to exist.

[00:15:39]So that happiness of existence is only possible if the uh if the soul is purified from material identity.

[00:15:49]Now we have fears because we identify ourselves with the material body. So we have different fears associated with the body. But in that stage all those fears are gone.

[00:16:03]Then because that person has no personal desires and that person has no feeling of enmity towards anyone as he or she doesn't fear anything from anyone. I mean if you are on the platform of soul who can do you any damage? No one can do you any damage.

[00:16:23]Only when we are on the platform of body then we are worried someone can do this to me someone can do that to me this will will not be there that will not be there how will I survive what will happen so all those things concern us because we are thinking I'm the body but if I'm on the platform of soul soul cannot be destroyed in any way it cannot be diminished in any way it is what it is and it will always be there like that so when one comes to That stage of understanding then there is no friend there's no enemy he becomes equally disposed toward every living entity then he is equal sabha so when that equality comes that means what you don't hate any aspect of Krishna's creation that's called equality you don't dislike any aspect of Krishna's creation so when That kind of uniform uh love develops in the heart for everything and everyone in that state he attains pure devotional service and [clears throat] that is called pure bi.

[00:17:38]Pure bacti is then attained because then that bacti has no no mistake or no offense or no wrong thinking wrong attitude towards anything.

[00:17:57]So this is very important for us to understand as a saddaka. This will also come in our journey. It's not that it will not come. It will come that stage of course for that we have to be very advanced but this stage will come Brahma.

[00:18:20]Okay. So however for a devotey the experience of this stage is a bit different from the experience of an impersonalist.

[00:18:28]An impersonalist sees it in a different manner. A devotey sees it in a different manner. But that experience is there perhap >> we'll read the perut first then you ask a question to the impersonalist achieving the Brahma's bha stage be becoming one with the absolute is the last word but for a person for the person or pure devotey, one has to go still further to become engaged in pure devotional service. This means that one who engaged in pure devotional service to the supreme lord is already is already in the state of liberation called brah duta oneness with the subs.

[00:19:23]Without being one with the supreme, the absolute one cannot render service unto him. In the absolute conception, there is no difference between the served and the servtor. Yet the distinction is there in a higher spiritual sense.

[00:19:40]In the material concept of life, when one works for sense gratification, there is misery. But in the absolute world, when one is engaged in pure devotional service, there is no misery. The devotey to inrishna consciousness has that thing for which to lament or desire. Since God is full in living entity who engaged in God's service in Krishna consciousness becomes also full in himself.

[00:20:12]He is just like a river cleansed of all dirty water. Because a pure devotey has no thought other than Krishna. He is naturally always joyful. He does not lament for any material loss or aspire for gain because he is full of service of the Lord. He has no desire for material enjoyment because he knows that every living entity is a fragmental part and parcel of the supreme lord and therefore eternally a servant. He does not see in the material world someone as higher and someone as lower. Higher and lower positions are inferior.

[00:20:53]are amphal and a devotey has nothing to do with efal appearances or disappearance for him since stone and gold are of equal value. This is the brahbud stasia and this stage is attained very easily by the pure devotey. In that stage of existence, the idea of becoming one with the supreme lord and enhiting one's individuality becomes hellish. The idea of attaining the heaven he heavenly kingdom becomes phantom goria and he and senses are like serpents whose poison teeth are broken.

[00:21:40]As there is no fear of serpent with broken teeth, there's no fear from the senses. And when they are automatically controlled, the world is miserable for the materially infected person. But for devotey, the entire world is a good as vanta or the spiritual sky. The highest personality in this material universe is no more significant than an aunt for a devotey. Such a stage can be achieved by the mercy of Lord Chaitanya who preached pure devotional service in this age.

[00:22:20]Harrishna Krishna.

[00:22:32]So for a devotey this stage is easily occupied but only if one engages in sad of your devotional service then this stage comes very quickly.

[00:22:48]So praad praupad has mentioned many times in his classes if you want to come to the stage of pure devotional service then you have to become first brahmaba free from material desires hankerings and lamentations then one can come to pure devotional service and only by that pure devotional service can one actually understand Krishna by mixed devotional service Krishna cannot be fully understood. Only by pure devotional service Krishna can be fully understood.

[00:23:23]H so that's that's how slowly slowly Krishna is bringing Arjuna and all of us to the point of pure bacti which is the essence of Bhagat Gita and which is going to be the final conclusive lesson in chapter 18 of Bhagat Gita. So he started with karma yoga then went on to ghani yoga then he explained how uh through nishkam karma or ghanai yoga you can become uh quite advanced yogi you know which means now you'll also be practicing some kind of meditation dana and then the perfection of that dhan that meditation that knowledge and renunciation will be you become situated in the state of brahab buddha And then you stop there. No, you don't stop there. From Brahma Buddha then you take to devotional service to Bhagan Sri Krishna.

[00:24:21]So that's how you know the whole Bhagat Gita talks about spiritual evolution development of the soul.

[00:24:31]Okay.

[00:24:33]Let's go to the Okay. Fine. We first look at a slide which will explain what we just said now pictorially.

[00:24:47]So we can look at this point and this will help understand better. So reactionfree work through Ghana yoga will take one to Brahman platform that's process of attaining Brahman is given in verses 51 52 52 and then from Braman platform one will come to the stage of purebi and then from purebi one will come to know Krishna understand Krishna bi jadi by bi you can know me you can know me for understand me. So this is uh [snorts] yes last leg in the development of the soul mad.

[00:25:45]Yes, I was asking how to come to the stage of Rama Buddha and is it possible that in one lifetime person can come?

[00:25:57]>> Yeah, it's possible but it is difficult.

[00:26:01]It is possible to come to know one life itself.

[00:26:11]Okay.

[00:26:13]Let's let's not talk about how to come to the stage of Brahman. Let us talk about something else first. From your understanding when you understand Krishna describing different yoga systems, where do you think you are?

[00:26:32]>> I have just started.

[00:26:35]>> That's okay. You just started.

[00:26:37]Technically where you are if you have just started the journey still you should know now where you are where are you standing so technically where you are from whatever we have read so far understood so far how do you place yourself I'm totally ki yogi neither Totally yogi is my maybe >> I mean my bi is started I don't know previous birth words I have done or not >> that's not my question to you previous words you have done or not from whatever we have heard read so far where do you place yourself karma yogi nishama karma yogi ghana yogi ghana yogi Bakta yogi pure bakti yogi where do you place yourself why I'm asking you this question because just to ask a question is not enough if you don't know the basic and you ask a question on advanced subject how will you understand so in this whole journey where you are you are asking about how to come to the stage of Brahma but my question to you where are you standing now First you should know that then you can think of okay from here how how will I go to Brahaba state we have to streamline our process of thinking no if you think in the right manner then only >> if you answer is going to help you so where are you situated now.

[00:28:39]I think my network is gone.

[00:28:40]>> Sure.

[00:28:42]>> Uhhuh. [clears throat] I'm here. So, I'm not so sure.

[00:28:49]Yogi >> might be. Okay. So, let us ask others.

[00:28:54]What do you say?

[00:28:58]Kindly kindly vote for her. Where is she?

[00:29:04]What do you think from your understanding?

[00:29:11]Where is she or where are most of us?

[00:29:22]>> Huh?

[00:29:25]>> What happened?

[00:29:27]Don't Don't worry. She'll not mind if you tell that she's on a particular stage. Go ahead.

[00:29:32]Oh my I'm karma yogi I think so.

[00:29:36]>> Okay. Karma yogi. So good. So karma yogi right? Mostly karma yogi. Karma yogi who is uh by consciousness on the stage of karma yoga but by practice doing bi yoga.

[00:29:54]Practice is bi but consciousness is karma yogi. Okay. So if you want to go to brahabuta cha mata we are far from there right because karma yoga then ghan yoga then ashtanga then brahaba isn't it? So how will you come to Brahmaba?

[00:30:18]Which flight you will take? Suddenly you'll land in Brahmab Buddha. It's not going to happen.

[00:30:26]Say if you are at the stage of karma yoga. So what is the step to go from karma yoga to the next stage?

[00:30:34]What is the step?

[00:30:40]>> Come on.

[00:30:42]>> Huh? What is no bi we are doing bi we are doing bi as ai what is the next step that we need to add to karma yoga we have to add neshkam that is the point that we need to add now what does nishkam mean I'm doing so many things I should not desire any material for me >> without fruits >> without fruit.

[00:31:17]So how do you come to the stage of Brahman sha mad gi?

[00:31:22]First by practicing this. Whatever I do, let me try to be as much nishkam as possible >> means internally if like whether I got a job or not. small example. So >> small things don't be worried so much about the small thing because that is okay sometimes you will have concern about it but this nishkama it's not going to come immediately again nishkama will come gradually >> so today if you look at your heart how nishkam it is there's no there's no measurement system no like 500 lit two two liters you can't measure it in that way you can't quantify it like that But over the time let's say 5 years down the line you look at your heart and compare it to your heart now then you may see that yes there is some increase in degree of nishka okay so now this nishkam it can be developed in two ways one is I keep on just chat and go on chanting doing different activities in bacti but not consciously enough not putting efforts to be nishka and the other is now because I know nishkam has to be cultivated so I consciously put efforts to become nishka even if you don't consciously put efforts to become nishka the process of bi will make you nishka don't worry but it will take long Okay.

[00:33:13]>> What is the shortcut to go to bacti yoga?

[00:33:16]>> No shortcut.

[00:33:23]The shortcut is already given to us.

[00:33:26]So if you need a shorter cut then not possible.

[00:33:33]The shortcut is already given.

[00:33:36]It is a chance.

[00:33:41]year readrishna.

[00:33:45]So this is the process right and it's very important we as members of Iscon movement understand this thing very well as explained in books so that we know where we are we know where we are supposed to go we know how will we go there and we can also help others on the journey Right.

[00:34:18]>> Thank you.

[00:34:21]>> Okay. Let's go to verse number 55.

[00:34:27]>> Just one question here.

[00:34:31]>> Like said uh oneness with the absolute I mean call oneness with the absolute. We talking only about uh I mean in which way? Oneness with the absolute.

[00:34:48]>> We are separated.

[00:34:49]>> Oneness with the absolute.

[00:34:52][clears throat] >> Yeah.

[00:34:55]>> Oneness with the absolute means one in spirit. This oneness can be understood in multiple ways.

[00:35:02]>> When you study Shri Shopisha that will come.

[00:35:06]>> Yeah. So a very gross meaning of oneness is I become one with Bhagavad. So that is called merging in the Brahman.

[00:35:14]>> So [clears throat] that is the meaning which the impersonalist take.

[00:35:17]>> Correct.

[00:35:18]>> But then Vaynavas take another meaning of oneness and that oneness is oneness and spirit.

[00:35:27]Just like if there's a team of football players and when they see we are one that means they play in the same spirit >> cooperating with each other to attain the same goal.

[00:35:38]>> Okay.

[00:35:38]>> So that's called oneness in spirit.

[00:35:41]>> Okay.

[00:35:43]So that is the spirit which vnavas have and impersonal is their understanding of being one is I am you you are me >> but it's not a very practical approach because if I eat you don't eat you eat I don't eat so how can there be oneness >> no Okay.

[00:36:16]>> All right.

[00:36:18]Thank you.

[00:36:30]Ananda one can understand me as I am as the supreme personality of Goded only by devotional service and when one is in full consciousness of me by such devotion he can enter into the kingdom of God.

[00:36:49]So one can understand Krishna as he is only by devotional service. Now if you don't understand Krishna how will you understand Krishna's plans? And if you don't understand Krishna's plans, how will you do something good for Krishna?

[00:37:02]And if you won't do anything good for Krishna, why would Krishna have you in the spiritual world? Simple as that, isn't it? If I employ someone, I want to make sure that that person knows what do I want and how do I want it. Then only will I employ that person. Otherwise, I'll tell that person, you're not required here.

[00:37:25]So in the spiritual world which is Krishna's kingdom and not our kingdom everything happens as per Krishna's plan. So who can understand it and without understanding it one cannot go there. So Krishna says if you want to understand me you can only understand my pure bacti.

[00:37:48]So then what you do will be something favorable to my plans otherwise just make nuisance there create nuisance there.

[00:37:57]Correct? So bi is very much a subject matter of psychology.

[00:38:04]This is very interesting for us to know.

[00:38:08]Uh psychology means understanding someone's mind. That's called psychology. So bi is all about psychology.

[00:38:15]But who psychology?

[00:38:17]You want to understand Krishna's cycle.

[00:38:20]How does he think?

[00:38:23]How do you understand someone's mind?

[00:38:26]You understand someone's mind by knowing that person's nature, that person's attitude, that person's heart. Then you understand that person's mind. And it's very difficult to understand someone's mind. Right? Isn't it? It's not easy.

[00:38:41]Yeah. Many times it's seen that even if people spend 20 30 40 years in a relationship they don't understand each other right so very difficult to understand someone's mind and if it is so difficult to understand a human's mind an ordinary human being's mind then imagine how difficult it will be to understand the mind of infinite Krishna is infinite so it's not easy to understand his mind.

[00:39:13]So when one understand Krishna's mind that's called psychology of Krishna then that is called bi and that is only possible if we have love for Krishna then we can understand his mind otherwise we cannot and that is true for any relationship if you want to know someone you love that person right actually then only you can know that person properly otherwise that person will hide himself or herself from you you know and if you love that person then then that person will completely open up his heart or her [clears throat] heart and share this is me this is what I like this is how I feel this is how I desire this is everything that's natural right normal thing so similarly u we can not impress Krishna by anything we can only win his heart by giving our heart to him by loving him dearly, completely exclusively.

[00:40:18]Then he begins to you know tell us or direct us in a way that we begin to understand who he is, what does he want, what he wants from me, what can I do for him to please him, all that becomes very very clear.

[00:40:38]So this is only by baki nothing else.

[00:40:42]Therefore our whole life uh as a student in Krishna consciousness is to understand this one word bi what it is that's all what is bi seems to be so easy but it's not easy because I cannot do bi well enough if I don't know what is Krishna's mind and to understand Krishna's mind is not an Please see out but the aajayas they come to our help they say okay you are a fool you don't know anything in this subject matter you can't understand Krishna psychology we understand Krishna psychology so we tell you what you can do if you do this then maybe this will draw you closer to Krishna through the eyes they come to our help okay do this you It's just like of course I'm giving a very mundane example but I hope you'll understand the spirit of the example.

[00:41:49]Let's say a boy is there and he's trying to uh win the heart of a girl you know but he fails again and again he's not able to impress her right then suddenly one friend of that girl who knows that girl from childhood she will give a hint to the boy okay this is what you do and in this way she will she will like it and maybe she will then fall in love with you so that's how That's our situation. We want to love Krishna but we don't know how will Krishna be pleased. So then Krishna has a friend and that friend is Krishna's pure devotey guru acharia vishnava. So then that person gives us a hint okay you want to love Krishna fine do this if you do this then maybe Krishna will have some interest in you.

[00:42:46][clears throat] So this is this is bi this is bi very different from karma ghana yoga and by this we can enter into Krishna's kingdom how to purify acha har krishna har k krishna we chant so purification will be there let's read the perpetu har krishna puppet by his divine Shila prahuat prahua the supreme personality of godhead Krishna and his plinary portions cannot be understood by mental speculation nor by the non-devotees if anyone wants to understand the supreme personality of godhead he has to take to pure devotion service under the guidance of a pure devotey otherwise the truth of the supreme personality of godhead will always be hidden as stated in bhagat gita 7.25 25 praasha he is not revealed to everyone.

[00:43:43][clears throat] No one can understand God simply by aerodite scholarship or mental speculation. Only one who is actually engaged in Krishna consciousness and devotional service can understand what Krishna is. University dignities are not helpful. One who is fully conversent with the Krishna science becomes eligible to enter into the spiritual kingdom the board of Krishna. Becoming Brahman does not mean that one loses his identity. Devotional service is there and as long as devotional service exists, there must be God the devotey.

[00:44:15]The process of devotional service such knowledge is never vanquished even after liberation. Liberation involves getting free from the concept of material life.

[00:44:23]In spiritual life, the same distinction is there. The same individuality is there. But in pure Krishna consciousness, one should not mistakenly think that the world vish enters into me supports the mon theory that one becomes homogeneous with the impersonal Brahman.

[00:44:39]No, vish means that one can enter into the abboard of the supreme lord in one's individuality individuality to engage in his association and render service unto him. For instance, a green bird enters a green tree not to become one with the tree but to enjoy the fruits of the tree. Impersonalist generally give the example of a river flowing into the ocean and merging. This may be a source of happiness for the impersonalist. But the personalist keeps his personal individuality like an aquatic in the ocean. We find so many living entities within the ocean. If we go deep surface acquaintance with the ocean is not sufficient. One must have complete knowledge of the aquatics living in the ocean depths. Because of his spiritual pure devotional service, a devotey can understand the transcendental qualities and the opulences of the supreme lord in truth. As it is stated in the 11th chapter, only by devotional service can one understand. The same is confirmed here. One can understand the supreme personality of Goded by devotional service and enters into his kingdom.

[00:45:37]After attainment of the brahabuta stage of freedom from material conceptions, devotional service begins by one's hearing about the lord. When one hears about the supreme lord, automatically the brahabuta stage develops and material contamination, greediness and lust for sense enjoyment disappears. As lust and desires disappear from the heart of a devotey, he becomes more attached to the service of the lord and by such attachment he becomes free from material contamination. In that state of life, he can understand the supreme lord. This is the statement of Shrimat Bhagwatam also. After liberation, the process of bacti or transcendental service continues. The Vedanta Sutra 4.12 confirms this.

[00:46:20]This means that after liberation, the process of devotional service continues.

[00:46:24]In the Shrimat Bhagatam, real devotional liberation is defined as the reinstatement of the living entity in his own identity, his own constitutional position. The constitutional position is already explained. Every living entity is a part and parcel fragmental portion of the supreme lord. Therefore his constitutional position is to serve.

[00:46:42]After liberation this service is never stopped. Actual liberation is getting free from misconceptions of life. Har Krishna.

[00:46:55]Har Krishna. Thank you. So praad is focusing the more on defeating impersonal thoughts or ideas of merging into bhavan.

[00:47:10]Right? He says that is not the correct understanding of this verse to become one with Bangalan. Very nice examples are being given by him of not merging into the absolute. So the example of bird is given but there's a green bird in a green tree. If the green bird flies into the green tree that doesn't mean that the green bird no longer exists.

[00:47:35]Yeah. From distance you cannot make out the birds separate from the tree because the color has made them one united but at the same time in existence they are still separate. So similarly when people talk of merging into Brahman externally it may look like they have become one but in in reality they cannot become one. That difference will always be there.

[00:48:05]So these all things are there for those people who have a slight interest in becoming one with Bhagavad.

[00:48:16]Therefore this is to discourage them from such ideas. Next 56 though engaged in all kinds of activities my pure devotey. So now he has come to the stage of pure bacti bra from Ramabut to pure bacti and from pure bacti is beginning to understand Krishna. So now further what? So though engage in all kinds of activities my pure devity under my protection. So what is that protection? That protection is basically the control of spiritual energy. That's the protection reaches the eternal and imperishable abote by my grace.

[00:49:16]So that protection is there and within that protection that living entity uh makes gradual you know progress towards spiritual world.

[00:49:28]This word protection is very important because even if one has come to a high platform of development in consciousness one can fall down. It is quite possible one can become distracted or deviated and therefore if one is not careful then one may not reach the end goal. So protection is required and what is that protection for us on the path of sadhana bakti that protection is the boundary created by guru sadhu and shastra good the spiritual master the sadhus and the scriptures they create a boundary around us and what is that boundary that boundary is of dos and don'ts right so that boundary helps us remain protected If we cross that boundary okay I don't want to follow then we are on our own and there's no protection just like an example can be given from Ramayana of course there's not much evidence of this in Walmik Ramayan but still we take it because it's a good example to learn a lesson from so mother sa she was told by Lakshm now you stay within this boundary you stay within it, you remain protected. You come out of it, then there'll be problem. So similarly, there is a boundary which the achar they make for us. Okay, this is the boundary. Stay [clears throat] within. Don't go out of it. So don't do things whimsically.

[00:51:07]So we have to learn to stay within that boundary. And if you do that then we are protected.

[00:51:14]And if you step out of that boundary then then there'll be problem there'll be accident there'll be undesirable effects.

[00:51:26]So though engaged in all kinds of activities my pure devotey under my protection and therefore a devotey is always very prayerful understanding that we are in a very very dicey situation in this material world.

[00:51:42]there's no certainity.

[00:51:44]It's a very slippery situation. So we are very prayerful always praying to Krishna that my dear Lord one one uh you know one big uh attack of maya or even sometimes small attacks of maya if you're not strong enough can take me away from this path.

[00:52:05]So please be always kind upon me protect me.

[00:52:10][clears throat] So this is very important attitude on spiritual in the spiritual life that we depend on Krishna for protection and that way one can reach his abboard by his grace perhi the word mudyashra means under the protection ction of the supreme lord. To be free from material contamination, a pure devotey acts under the direction of the supreme lord or his representative, the spiritual master.

[00:52:52]There is no time limitation for a pure devotey. He's always 24 hours a day 100% engaged in activities under the direction of the supreme lord. To a devotey who is thus engaged in Krishna consciousness, the lord is very very kind. In spite of all difficulties, he is eventually placed in the transcendental abboard or Krishnaok. He is guaranteed entrance there. There is no doubt about it. In that spirit, in that supreme abboard, there is no change. Everything is eternal, imperishable and full of knowledge.

[00:53:29]Thank you. Har Krishna.

[00:53:32]>> A question arises here. How can we seek Krishna's protection always? Or how can we receive Krishna's protection always?

[00:53:43]What is the step the first step to get that kind of production?

[00:53:50][clears throat] How is it possible?

[00:53:54]>> Pranam mantra guru pranam mantra.

[00:53:59]>> So what is the way to be protected?

[00:54:04]If we pray to guru and Krishna every day.

[00:54:08]>> What else? What else?

[00:54:11]>> You stay within the boundary.

[00:54:13]>> In the devotees sa >> stay within the boundary. Stay in devotey sa.

[00:54:20]>> What else?

[00:54:22]>> The rules and reputations of the guru param be under the >> all talk at the same time.

[00:54:30]then you know it will be difficult for me and also zoo to handle it that's why talk at a time right >> how to remain projected always can I Yes ma'am. Uh >> so Babuji we need to follow the rules and regulations instructions given by the guru parumpara and uh be under the shelter of our guru and follow all the principles that have been uh given to us and according to that we will be under the shelter of uh the association.

[00:55:26]>> Thank you. So protection comes if you receive direction.

[00:55:31]So first is direction then is protection which means if you want to be protected by Bhagavan God then you have to be directed by God.

[00:55:43]If I work the way I like then then I need to protect myself. Why will Krishna protect me?

[00:55:55]But if I work the way he wants or he likes, he guides, then Krishna will protect. Very simple. And this is something so interesting which people don't understand in India or in other places also we know people go to Krishna temple other temples they pray to Krishna or other gods please give me protection.

[00:56:19]But what about direction?

[00:56:23]What about direction?

[00:56:26]We follow whose direction? We follow mind's direction.

[00:56:31]A mind says something do it do it.

[00:56:35]Right? So we don't follow Krishna's direction.

[00:56:39]So if Krishna's direction is not followed, why will there be protection from Krishna?

[00:56:45]It won't be there. Right? It's very easy to understand. So one for protection to be always there one has to be always directed. Arjuna received complete protection from Krishna on the battlefield because Arjuna told Krishna you take the ropes of my chariot in your hand.

[00:57:08]Now you drive I give it to you.

[00:57:14]So Krishna then thinks now it's my responsibility. So I have to go good job.

[00:57:21]So I'll give you complete protection.

[00:57:24]And when we tell Krishna Krishna one rope in your hand, one rope in my hand.

[00:57:30]You know sometimes you take the turn, sometimes I'll take the turn.

[00:57:36]Right? So then Krishna says okay my responsibility is 50%, 50% you're on your own.

[00:57:46]And there are some people who will say Krishna you sit in the back I'll take both the ropes in my hand right you sit in the back and you protect me so says okay as soon as there will be a problem I'll jump off the chariot and you sit there in the chariot deal with the problem so how do we approach depending on how much direction we take from Krishna Krishna is going to give us protection right and that is what we have to learn so we are studying scriptures basically we are trying to understand Krishna's direction we hear guru zwani we try to understand direction from gulu guruv spiritual master fine next >> that is the level of surrender basically like I mean how much surrender >> yeah it's a level of surrender and surrender If you want to boil it down to a simpler word then surrender means obedience.

[00:58:55]Surrender means dependence.

[00:58:58]You know you depend. We are obedient.

[00:59:00]You depend.

[00:59:02]Just like I'll give a very simple example. A small child a very small child maybe 3 years old or four years old. So when he wants to go to pass you know urine to the toilet that time also he'll ask mother mama can I go mama can I go right and mother says hey for this why you have to ask me you just go you know where the toilet is but because the dependence factor is so high of that child on the mother so for that also the child will seek permission correct but then when then that child grows become 16 18 then that child will do everything and not ask mama right because the dependence factor has gone down now so surrender basically means how much you depend on Bhagavan and then you follow right that is surrender but what happens over the time we instead of depending on Krishna we depend on our mind and our intelligence and our senses that's where we put our trust isn't it we put lot of trust heavy trust on our own mind I think like this I feel like this I want like this is correct according to me we put lot of trust in that you know but we will be cheated by our own mind right so that that dependence is surrender you need to learn to depend on Krishna which means surrender yes obedience next verse In all activities just depend upon me and work under all always under my protection.

[01:01:23]Okay. And such devotional service be fully conscious of me. So this is something which is only possible by practice.

[01:01:35]It cannot come by itself.

[01:01:38]It requires practice.

[01:01:40]To be dependent on Bhagavan, we need to practice.

[01:01:47]Practice means you train your mind to always think like that. Like Shil Prahuad once uh he was asked this question by one of the disciples.

[01:01:57]Praupad will you can you fall in Maya?

[01:02:01]So praa said very strongly in complete confidence he said no I can never fall in maya maya cannot touch me.

[01:02:12]So the devotees were amazed by understanding the position of Shilap Prahub and how pure he is Maya cannot touch him and then later after few days praad was standing in front of Radha Krishna Vigara and praying and one devotey he overheard praupad's prayer and shraad was saying please please my is very strong Krishna you should protect me so then that devotey got confused few days ago you said you can never be touched by maya and now you are praying in front of Krishna. So what is the what is this mystery? So then praad said because I every moment depend on Krishna therefore maya cannot touch me.

[01:03:02]I depend on Krishna.

[01:03:06]So Maya cannot touch me.

[01:03:08]Now that dependence has to be cultivated you know so it's more it's not so much of a vocal thing that you keep on telling people around you that you love Krishna you are a devotey of Krishna and you are doing this for Krishna and that in your own internal dialogue which goes on 24 hours a day we are talking to our own mind so that that you know development of attitude is there to depend on Krishna to ask Krishna for direction.

[01:03:44]What should I do? Not just what should I do? What should I say?

[01:03:50]What should I think? How should I feel?

[01:03:53]What should I do? What should I desire?

[01:03:56]Everything you want guidance of Krishna.

[01:04:00]You want to have Krishna guide you.

[01:04:05]So then then when we depend on Krishna like that he's sitting in the heart as super soul he's always ready to take the ropes of the chariot he's a driver who is always available interesting isn't it there are drivers in this world who who may take a holiday okay today I'm not coming you drive your car on your own but Krishna is a driver always available you ask him to drive he will immediately take that seat driver's seat so we ask Krishna what should I do in this moment and then Krishna will guide so either we ask Krishna or we ask gurus Maharaj we ask acharas so we depend on their direction right that's called here that's what is being mentioned here and then be fully conscious so if you are praying to Krishna like that now something very interesting happens you are praying to Krishna give me direction show me the way and Krishna very mercifully sits on the driver's chariot a driver's seat and he tells okay Arjuna we take a right turn but then you think right is not good for you you think left is good for you no why right left seems to be a better option Krishna Right?

[01:05:35]So then there again this this will bring problem because it is fair is saying right then right should be taken.

[01:05:43]Krishna knows better than us.

[01:05:46]So similarly sometimes we pray for direction from Krishna. Krishna gives direction but then our mind and intelligence tells us something else. No no that direction is not correct. I have some other idea you know.

[01:06:00]So we have to be conscious of Krishna's help. Therefore those who are advanced devotees sakas they tell us don't just pray to Krishna for help. When Krishna is giving you help you also conscious of how you're getting it because the help is coming but if you're not conscious of how it is coming you may see help as danger you know but that is help. So we need to have that faith right. You need to have that faith that it is hell.

[01:06:34]And why that faith should be kept?

[01:06:36]Because Krishna knows more than me. He sees farther than me. I don't see everything but he sees.

[01:06:46]Are you understanding?

[01:06:49]So that's why Krishna says be conscious of me because if I'm helping and you're not conscious of me, you'll not see the help as help.

[01:06:57]So we should be conscious and therefore uh this is something which is very much important for us to cultivate as a practitioner. If you sincerely go in front of Krishna and ask for something please make it a point very much fixed in your in your heart and head. Krishna listens to it. Krishna does not neglect it.

[01:07:26]So it's going to come to us the help the direction the guidance but we just have to be conscious of how it is coming because he's not there just standing and doing a doing you know bluffing us all you see I'm standing here no he's actually standing there and he listens and if you go and tell him that this is this is a problem and I need your guidance I need your then he very much does also help.

[01:07:59]But sometimes that help comes in a way which you cannot comprehend.

[01:08:06]Sometimes that help comes at a time when you don't expect it.

[01:08:13]It comes. So we have to be very conscious that yes it is coming. And you know if you are a more introspective person then you will notice if you have prayed to Krishna for something and in [clears throat] retrospect if you look at your years that you have spent in Krishna consciousness you'll find at some point of time Krishna does it for you without you actually realizing that Krishna did it for you you know but to do all that sometimes lot of arrangements have to be made and therefore it takes So Krishna does all that. It takes time.

[01:08:57]So we have to be conscious. If you are not conscious then it will be like you call Krishna for help. Krishna comes he gives you he gives you help and then you tell Krishna I'm not so satisfied with your suggestion or advice. I'm sorry.

[01:09:12]I'll contact you again next time. Right. So then that is not very nice way of dealing with Krishna isn't it?

[01:09:28]>> Babu can I >> Yes.

[01:09:32]>> Uh Babu G like we say giving free will to guru or Krishna.

[01:09:38]So um um like if we write to guru also of course guru knows our level we are not on so high level but we want to give because we have realized we have lived our lives our own way and um we have not got anything so better to the answer of your question m sometimes when we do such times uh okay I will want to I want to give my free will to my guru Maharaj and I want to do this I want to do that we do it only on sentimental platform we don't really know what it means you know we like the idea of it we find it to be a very very mesmerizing idea Oh, I want to give myself complete to Krishna. Like this lines sounds very magical. No, I have given my heart to Krishna. Sounds so wonderful, isn't it? You may get goosebumps if you if you think like that.

[01:10:55]But then at the same time that's not so easy.

[01:11:02]Like I'll give you an example. Then you're watching a movie and you see of course you are in a woman body so you may not get such feelings but if someone is in a man's body and he watches the hero kick the villain in a certain manner so he the person sitting in the audience he also thinks yeah if I'll be in such a situation and my girlfriend is being troubled by someone I will also keep in the same way you know so that sudden surge of emotion is there but that doesn't make you do that actually in reality because you don't know how to kick in that way you have you have not practiced it you don't have such stamina nothing similarly when we read about all these things giving your heart to guru complete surrender your will is this that that so we have a fanciful imagination of what it means and we think yes now I'm ready for But we are not ready for it.

[01:12:07]>> When we will be ready >> when that time will come, you'll come.

[01:12:10]No, you you'll know about that. So you just practice with patience.

[01:12:16]>> Uh so what is meant by praupad lecture?

[01:12:20]I don't know. He said somebody asked praupad prahuad how much time it takes to surrender?

[01:12:28]I don't know. He said 1 second or 1 minute but he said >> he said 1 second and then he gave the example of Katwan Maharaj.

[01:12:38]So how many examples he gave?

[01:12:44]How many?

[01:12:49]>> I just heard that video.

[01:12:53]>> One example, right? So what does this mean?

[01:12:59]What does it mean?

[01:13:02]Means out of very out of all people only self.

[01:13:09]>> Yeah. So that also we should take into consideration. No. Yes. It is possible.

[01:13:14]Possibility is there. But the reality of that possibility is also very high. No.

[01:13:25]So that is also very high. Yes, it is possible. But it is also very rare.

[01:13:31]So we should not we should not neglect that aspect.

[01:13:36]Therefore first of all give up this idea of getting things quickly, getting things easily, getting things faster.

[01:13:45]That is not really uh there's not really the nice spirit.

[01:13:50]Yeah, if you're working very hard to get it fast, then maybe you can ask Krishna, give me quickly. But if you're not working so hard and you just tell Krishna give it me fast I want to come to this stage quickly then that is like demanding from Krishna you know so if you are really really working very hard like giving an example of working hard let's say you are giving up your food your sleep you're chanting 128 rounds every day 192 rounds every day every single moment you are just living to survive no sense gratification at all and You are just like g maraj was in the forest giving every single breath for self-realization. Then you can tell Krishna Krishna I want it in 1 second 3 months 6 months 1 year 2 years but based on how much we are giving we can't expect Krishna to give it to us so quickly that is not a very nice attitude right that will be more of like a demand you know Krishna do it for So we have to we have to be very patient on this path and you know uh the one who patiently waits for the mercy to come doesn't doesn't demand it just waits waits and waits and at that time strives very hard to please Krishna and that will be the first person to go back home toward Thank you.

[01:15:41]Not the person who will jump to the front of the queue. Krishna, I want to be the first.

[01:15:48]Not that person.

[01:15:51]But that person will stand last in the queue, you know, thinking I'm so fallen. Why will I go back to work? If someone else will go, then this devotey will go. That devotey will go. Their number will be first and my number will be last.

[01:16:16]No.

[01:16:18]So when that spirit is cultivated by a person, then that spirit attracts Krishna's attention.

[01:16:28]But if the spirit is of me in the front, me first, then that doesn't catch Krishna's attention.

[01:16:42]Okay, >> let's read the purp or we read the verse now. We have not read this verse 57.

[01:16:56]My son. Yes. Oh, we read this. We read perpet also.

[01:17:03]>> I don't think so. Yes.

[01:17:14]In Krishna consciousness it does not act as the master of the world. Just like a servant one should act fully under the direction of the supreme lord. A servant has no individual independence. He acts only on the order of the master. A servant acting on behalf of the supreme master is unaffected by profit and loss.

[01:17:36]He simply discharges his duty faithfully in terms of the order of the lord. Now one may argue that Arjuna was acting under the personal direction of Krishna.

[01:17:46]But when Krishna is not present, how should one act? If one acts according to the direction of Krishna [clears throat] in this book as well as under the guidance of the representative of Krishna, then the result will be the same. The Sanskrit word maka is very important in this verse. It indicates that one has no goal in life safe and except acting in Krishna consciousness just to satisfy Krishna and while working in that way one should think of Krishna only. I have been appointed to discharge this particular duty by Krishna. While acting in such a way one naturally has to think of Krishna. This is perfect Krishna consciousness. One should however note that after doing something whimsically it should not offer the result to the supreme lord that sort of duty is not in the devotional service of Krishna consciousness. One should act according to the order of Krishna. This is very important point that order of Krishna comes through discipline succession from a bonafide spiritual master. Therefore the spiritual master's order should be taken as the prime duty of life. If one gets a bonafide spiritual master and acts according to his direction then one's perfection of life in Krishna consciousness is guaranteed Krishna Harrishna so we have to take the direction that is very important Krishna fine uh next verse anxiously. If you become conscious of me, you will pass over all the obstacles of conditional life by my grace.

[01:19:44]And if however you do not work in such consciousness, but act through false ego, not hearing me, you'll be lost.

[01:19:57]So this is very interesting. Krishna is now showing two paths. One path you follow Krishna, other path you don't follow Krishna. So follow one path you get Krishna's grace, protection, ultimate destination.

[01:20:12]Follow the other path then there is vinasi which means destruction will be lost.

[01:20:22]So we have to learn this. Sri Shimmed Gorgovin Swami Maharaj he was once asked by a devotey maybe some other disciple of Shri Prahuad that uh Maharaj do you hear prahuad tips you know praupad tips means praad's lectures audio lectures tips so uh gowin maharaj asked that devotey you are asking me if I hear praupati It's do you hear pragmopath?

[01:21:01]So the devotey part confused what do you mean?

[01:21:06]So go mah said you hear the tapes for 2 hours in a day, 90 minutes in a day, 60 minutes in a day but I hear praad every second.

[01:21:20]I hear him every second.

[01:21:24]And how that hearing happens in the heart because of the connection.

[01:21:33]Wow. So that kind of connection is required with spiritual master with Krishna that kind of connection. Therefore we as practitioners in bacti movement should understand this is not a common process.

[01:21:53]This is not something very cheap that we are getting to do. It's a very very mystical, very very magical, very very powerful process.

[01:22:07]No one pure personalities or Bhagavan that one can be in uh complete conversation with them every single moment.

[01:22:21]But that can but that has to be of course cultivated.

[01:22:25]So that's called listening to Krishna's voice every single moment every single second.

[01:22:32]One should desire it. First of all is one should desire. Now yes I want to have that kind of connection with Krishna or pure devotees of Krishna.

[01:22:43]Right? One should desire it then one can do. So therefore what we do is only external and superficial.

[01:22:51]But when someone becomes a pure devotey then they are in actual communion with Bhagavad. Actual communication is going on at every single moment. If you ask such a pure devote of Krishna at this moment, today's 26th of April and it's maybe you know what time would it be in India 12:25 p.m. So if one asks a pure devotey of Krishna at this moment what does Krishna want?

[01:23:27]So a pure devote will not say okay Krishna said this in Bhagat Gita Krishna said that in Bhag Bhagwatam Krishna asked for that that time he or she can tell you right now what Krishna wants.

[01:23:43]Krishna exist as a person and he or she can tell that because he can ask Krishna directly Krishna what do you want and Krishna will say some nice pineapples in the market these days fresh get me some so that devote will go to the market buy pineapples and offer to fresh so that kind of connection is possible It's a reality. It's not something just an imagination.

[01:24:18]Right?

[01:24:20]So when one is connected like that, then one will always do what Krishna wants.

[01:24:24]But Krishna says if you don't work in such consciousness and you act through your false ego, then you won't hear me.

[01:24:31]Then you'll hear your ego, right? And then you'll be lost.

[01:24:37]Puppet.

[01:24:41]Okay, let's read Ardi Madrishna 58.

[01:24:52]Uh, a person in full Krishna consciousness is not unduly anxious about executing the duties of his existence. The foolish cannot understand this great freedom from all anxiety. For one who acts in Krishna consciousness, Lord Krishna becomes the most intimate friend. He always looks after his friend's comfort and he gives himself to his friend who is so devotedly engaged working 24 hours a day to please the Lord. Therefore, no one should be carried away by the false ego of the bodily concept of life. One should not falsely think himself independent of the laws of material nature or free to act. He is already under strict material laws. But as soon as he acts in Krishna consciousness, he's liberated free from the material perplexities. One should note very carefully that one who is not active in Krishna consciousness is losing himself in the material whirlpool in the ocean of birth and death. No conditioned soul actually knows what is to be done and what is not to be done. But a person who acts in Krishna consciousness is free to act because everything is prompted by Krishna from within and confirmed by the spiritual master. Thank you.

[01:26:14]>> Yes. So everything is prompted by Krishna from within you know and I'll tell you something very very interesting.

[01:26:24]You see like matri was asking this question if we tell our spiritual master I want to give myself complete to completely to you all that stuff. So the spiritual master is not a fool.

[01:26:40]The spiritual master is not going to buy our statements very easily you know.

[01:26:46]So the spiritual master knows the science more than us.

[01:26:51]Right? So what is that? Please try to understand.

[01:26:56]If you are if you are actually following the instructions of spiritual master nicely, if you are practicing Krishna consciousness sincerely, if you are doing what you are supposed to do, then only Krishna, only spiritual master will not guide. Spiritual master also knows very well that Krishna sitting in the heart will also guide.

[01:27:21]You know so the spiritual master is going to also observe us observe us in what sense >> was a few months >> I don't interrupt me I just took your name that doesn't mean I'm giving a comment on what you said personally I'm just trying to point out an explanation which is very important to understand h So uh keep yourself aside from that example and hear this properly then you'll understand when we think take things personally then we become emotional and we don't use intelligence.

[01:28:01]So when we when we approach the spiritual master we ask the spiritual master some questions we tell the spiritual master I want to do some sava for you. We do all those things. So we should know that spiritual master knows the process of Krishna consciousness. He understands. If you are practicing bi nicely then you will not be saying something now on your own.

[01:28:30]You'll be guided by a by a voice from within Krishna's voice.

[01:28:38]Krishna will give you good intelligence.

[01:28:40]You want to do me, you want to do some sava for me, do it in this way. You want to know me, ask this question. You want to have some desires, cultivate these desires. So then when we go in front of the spiritual master and we talk, we say something or we do something or we express something. So the spiritual master then observes us you know are you doing these things because you are being internally directed by Krishna because you have made some progress and Krishna is guiding you so that's why Krishna is giving you a good intelligence now and therefore you have asked me this question or you have expressed some desire to me or you want to do some sa to me or you are just doing this thing in a superficial manner with incomplete understanding from the platform of false ego.

[01:29:39]So the spiritual master will also observe all those things and not just spiritual master any devotey who advanced knows the science knows the process that as we make progress in Krishna consciousness our questions will not remain the same our thoughts will not remain the same our desires will not remain the same what we want to do what we want to achieve will not remain the same no not just that uh not because when we actually really come to this process of Krishna consciousness. Now I'm saying something very very you know um sometimes you may one may say it's difficult to digest. If you have really taken to the process of Krishna consciousness, I mean really really really then there will be magic happening in your life every day.

[01:30:32]You know it will happen. If one has actually taken into Krishna consciousness properly this magic is definitely going to happen and this magic will not just amaze the devotey in whose life this magic is happening. This magic will also amaze the spiritual master because the spiritual master will see how this particular devotey of Krishna or a disciple of mine is working in the working Krishna's magical. So they will evaluate on that basis. They will not just evaluate on what we say or what we do.

[01:31:16]They will observe and they will evaluate that is it is are you really taking to this process? Are you really understanding? Are you really applying is there a change? Is there a transformation? Is there a development?

[01:31:30]And what is the development? And how much is the development?

[01:31:35]So that all is understood by them because they know the science very well.

[01:31:39]They know how it works.

[01:31:44]Can I speak more?

[01:31:49]Do you want to continue that point which you are telling and then try to say that you meant something else?

[01:31:55]>> No, I just want to tell what I meant and u what just >> that's okay. Even if you meant something else, no problem. So that's why I said don't take that thing personally. I >> I just I just know from one devotey said I want to remove my free will that devotees here only. So I never said that time copying her but I realized in my life whatever actions I have done might be I have created wrong things in my life so I'm suffering.

[01:32:38]So I think my decision will make me suffer but if spiritual master takes up the decision I I'm fine. So I was in this mindset.

[01:32:50]So I said >> what if you're in that mindset? and he congratulate you that you have come to this realization so quickly. So that's very nice.

[01:33:00]>> So I said uh my parents won't allow to serve you endlessly but uh uh like so but if I get married might be they allow because husband would be like that. Now I have left the hope of husband also but I desire to serving nothing else and magic I can tell one only not everything when I went for a movie with >> no no we don't we don't we don't need that mat we can't open the floor for everyone to share the magic in their life everyone must have some experience of Krishna's magic if that was not there no one would be here practicing bacti Right? So don't worry, we understand that that everyone here has experienced some kind of Krishna magic.

[01:33:52]Okay?

[01:33:54]So let's go to uh this verse, next verse 59.

[01:34:24]If you do not act according to my direction and do not fight then you will be falsely directed by your nature.

[01:34:36]you will have to be engaged in warfare.

[01:34:40]So here then comes a very very interesting part of the chapter and very much instructive part also Krishna is telling Arjuna if you do not act according to my direction. What is Krishna's direction? Arjuna you should fight that is Krishna's direction. So he's saying if you do not act according to my direction and do not fight then you'll be falsely directed. Directed by what? What will direct him? If Krishna does not direct or he doesn't accept Krishna's direction, what will direct him?

[01:35:11]>> Maya and intelligence, ego, >> na. So maya means what?

[01:35:16]>> Mode of nature.

[01:35:17]>> To be more clear, huh?

[01:35:19]>> Mode of material nature.

[01:35:21]>> Modes of material nature. So what is Arjuna's nature?

[01:35:30]>> That is his nature.

[01:35:32]Correct. Huh? So if he doesn't listen to Krishna and he tells okay fine I I leave the battle I don't want to fight.

[01:35:43]So is that decision of Arjuna a decision of Ashadhatria?

[01:35:51]No >> no >> right Ashadhatria never does such thing.

[01:35:56]So what will happen after 2 three days of going away from the battlefield Arjuna will be prompted and inspired by his own nature of shatria to come back and fight you understand isn't it because that's his nature so he can't avoid it so now look at these two scenarios what is Krishna telling him to to fight.

[01:36:28]If he doesn't follow Krishna's advice, what will he end up doing?

[01:36:35]>> Fight.

[01:36:36]>> Fight. In both the cases, he's going to fight.

[01:36:41]You understanding? In the first case also, he listens to Krishna. He fights.

[01:36:45]In second case, he doesn't listen to Krishna. He does what he wants to do.

[01:36:51]And then because of his nature which is of a chhatria he will be again forced to come to battlefield and fight.

[01:36:58]So the point here which is very interesting is in both the case is fighting in the first case also second case also he's doing the same thing he's not doing a different thing but the result is not going to be the same.

[01:37:22]the result is not going to be the same.

[01:37:24]So why there's a difference in why the result will not be the same?

[01:37:34]The first case is protected. The second case is not protected >> by what?

[01:37:44]>> Protection by what? direction of Krishna by >> ah correct the difference is the first case there is protection because Krishna is directing him and he's obeying Krishna the second case there won't be protection because he is not obeying Krishna and he's doing it on his own but he ends up doing the same thing you know he ends up doing the same thing but there's a difference and there's another big point to learn here very big point here and what is that point when he does it on his own he does it out of false ego and when you do things out of false ego that I am this I am that and then I'm supposed to do this I'm supposed to do that then the activity which is carried out by us it's not bi it's not bi we may be doing we may be doing the right thing but it's not called bacti right so in this world most of the people's standard of being good is I am so and so and this is my duty then I am doing my duties all very well so I am a good person I am a wife as a wife this is my duty I'm a husband this is my duty I'm a parent this is my duty I am this this is my duty I am that this is my duty and I'm doing my duties very honestly.

[01:39:18]So being just on the platform of doing your duties doesn't make you a devotey because that can also be done out of ego false ego. I am this I am that right? So when Arjuna fights because Krishna tells him to fight and when he fights for Krishna then that becomes bi.

[01:39:48]So this is something which people who read Gita hardly understand. Most of the people who study Gita they say Gita teaches us to do our duties.

[01:39:59]But that's not what Gita teaches only.

[01:40:02]No, it's not a very big thing to be just beautiful. You are in little satwaguna, you'll become beautiful.

[01:40:09]Even if you don't know what Bhagat Gita is telling, if you are in satwaguna, satwaguna will bring a sense of duty, right? Isn't it? [clears throat] So if there are people who are standing on the border fighting for the country, sometimes you can see so much of dutifulness in them.

[01:40:29]They will give up their food, their sleep, their their physical comfort and very dutifully protect the country.

[01:40:39]Right? So being beautiful is not sufficient. Not teach us something. If Bhagan is speaking something, how can he give you basic knowledge? He has to give some knowledge that no one else can give. Then only is Bhagavad.

[01:40:54]I give a very funny example to explain this. Let's say you are a man or a woman whatever and you are working you are doing a job.

[01:41:06]So you feel lazy so you don't go to the job you're sitting at home sleeping you know. So the wife or husband notices let's say let's say here wife notices husband is not going to the job first date second day third day fourth day. What happened? I'm going to see why you not going to work. No, it should go away. If you don't earn, how will we pay our bills? So the man said, "Come on, don't don't don't uh disturb my peace. I just want to remain at home, do nothing." So the guy said, "What has happened to you?" You know, he says, "Why are you?" The man says why you know traumatizing me like this leave me alone. So the lady will say I'm not doing anything wrong. I'm just telling you what you should be doing. What is your duty?

[01:42:06]Correct. That's your duty. You're working. The company is paying you. You should go and work. Do some hard work.

[01:42:13]Get some money. Take care of family. So that man says, "Well, I don't think this is my duty." So the lady will say okay if you don't believe me go to the street walk out of the home go to the street find any man on the street and ask him you see I'm a married man I have three kids and I have this job and I don't have any savings so I don't feel like going to my job should I go or not so that he says what will that person say a common man walking on the street what will that What does that person say?

[01:42:57]You have to work. You have to work.

[01:42:59]Yeah.

[01:43:00]>> Listen to your wife.

[01:43:02]>> Yeah.

[01:43:03]>> Listen to your wife. Okay. So, listen to your wife. Go to work. Right. So, for anyone to give this knowledge or advice, you have to be very learned person.

[01:43:16]>> No.

[01:43:18]very knowledgeable philosopher.

[01:43:21]>> No, >> we have to be bhagan to tell someone this.

[01:43:30]Which means anyone can tell us now.

[01:43:34]So if Krishna is teaching only this in Bhagat Gita do your duty then what makes Krishna Bhagavan? I mean this anyone can tell what makes Gita special.

[01:43:50]If this is all what Gita is teaching then what makes Gita special >> because he's telling who is I mean >> so what Krishna is teaching what Krishna is teaching through Bhagat Gita is not be beautiful Krishna is teaching in Bhagat Gita be devotionally beautiful right that's what Krishna is teaching and that's what people hardly understand the devotion factor not the not just the duty factor we devote devotionally dutiful do things what you have to do in a devotional temperament. So when we add duty uh when we are devotion to duty then that is called Krishna consciousness and Krishna is teaching Arjuna exactly that through this whole Bhagat Gita. Now that Arjuna you learn to do things in a beautiful manner and in a devotional manner.

[01:44:50]Right? That's what makes us understand Bhagat Gita. So whatever we do it may be anything we have to learn to do it in a dutyful manner and emotional manner. If you understand bacti we can do then we may be in the best place surrounded by best people having all the resources and still not be able to do bi.

[01:45:23]The spirit of bi has to be caught catch. You'll have to learn to catch the spirit of bacti which is being beautiful being devotional right and then in that way under the guidance of Krishna performance activities so this is what Bhagat Gita is telling us here let's see the poet Priyanka Krishna Arjuna was a military man and born of the nature of chhatria therefore his natural duty was to fight but due to false ego he was fearing that by killing his teacher, grandfather and friends he would incur sinful reactions. Actually he was considering himself master of his actions as if he were directing the good and bad results of such work. He forgot that the supreme personality of godhead was present there instructing him to fight. That is the forgetfulness of the conditioned soul. The Supreme Personality gives direction as to what is good and what is bad and one simply has to act in Krishna consciousness to attain the perfection of life. No one else uh no one can assertain his destiny as the Supreme Lord can. Therefore, the best course is to take direction from the Supreme Lord and act. No one should neglect the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead or the order of the spiritual master who is the representative of God. One should act unhesitateatingly to execute the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead that will keep one safe under all circumstances.

[01:47:02]Harrishna, under illusion, you are now declining to act according to my direction but compelled by the work born of your own nature. You will act all the same. Oh son of ki. If one refuses to act under the direction of the supreme lord then is compelled to act by the modes in which he situated. Everyone is under the spell of a particular combination of the modes of nature and is acting in that way. But anyone who voluntarily engages himself under the direction of the supreme lord becomes glorious. So when you become a devotey honestly speaking you don't do something exceptionally wonderful.

[01:47:54]Those things are only done by very advanced devotees.

[01:47:58]Ordinary devotees they don't do exceptionally wonderful things. They do ordinary things only.

[01:48:06]Right? But they ordinary things in an not so ordinary manner.

[01:48:12]That's what makes them special.

[01:48:14]Right?

[01:48:16]Sometimes as a saddaka we may think oh if I can do something very wonderful like what praupad did or some great devotey did in the past. We hear of so many stories of great devotees. No they did something this and that. So we think if I also do something like that then that means yes I have I have come to certain level of Krishna consciousness.

[01:48:40]But we should know that that kind of special uh uh activities are done by devotees were chosen by Krishna and they are not ordinary. No one can jump like Hanuman Tanka only Hanuman can do it you know.

[01:49:00]So that is only for those devotees who are maybe nity siddha vaynavas greatly empowered vaynavas very very exalted pure you know for them such things happen but for those who are ordinary devotees their life is actually ordinary only they'll be doing ordinary things only you know simple job and all that stuff wor in the dity form chanting holy names and maybe some SA whatever one gets but in that ordinary thing which looks ordinary one thing is not ordinary which is not like other people and what is that the bha the attitude you know the consciousness and that's what makes the complete difference that is what makes the complete difference so we end up doing the same but it's not the same right we end up doing the same but it's not the same that makes complete difference so that's what we have to learn Arjuna was supposed to fight whether he heard he kita or not he will fight what is the difference uh the difference is the consciousness in which he fights and this if we understand we'll very much know what bacti He is Shil Prahuad. He was a Grihasta when he met his guru.

[01:50:34]Bakti Siddhand Swati and Bakti Sadant told him you should um preach to people in western countries in English language.

[01:50:49]He gave him instruction. So praupad he did not think oh to follow this instruction of mine I have to give up my wife I have to give up my kids I have to give up my business I need to change my city I need to change this I need to change that shraat understood because of my karma I am put in a particular situation and that's my karma that's why I'm in a certain situation I have a certain social you know situation a social situation ations in life is based on our karma.

[01:51:23]How life is taking us. It has a particular [clears throat] direction in which it is taking us. So praad understand okay that is my karma and I cannot escape it. It's going to be with me my nature my surrounding everything is going to be but how in this setup how in this setup I can offer everything to Krishna?

[01:51:48]How in this setup I can do everything for Krishna?

[01:51:55]Then that is what actually understanding bacti means that you catch the spirit of bacti.

[01:52:03]So is also being told the same thing. Do whatever you are doing but you do it in complete surrender.

[01:52:11]Right?

[01:52:13]This is very subtle point about >> [snorts] >> The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone's heart of Arjuna and is directing the wanderings of all living entities who are seated as on a machine made of the material energy.

[01:52:40]So Krishna is telling that you you you don't just receive guidance from me from outside like I'm talking to you but you also receive guidance from me from inside as perma sishwara everyone is guided you know of course permatma guides in a neutral manner understanding that um uh understanding also what you desire what you want So uh Arjuna may say right I have my independence if I like I don't want to fight and I I make a strong resolve I will not fight at all. Krishna is saying come on you are not controller supreme controller. Even if you make up your mind you'll not fight. There is someone sitting inside you who is far greater controller than you and he can completely change your mind and that is so don't think that you you have complete control over over the course of your life. You are like a puppet in the hands of the supreme controller. So you'll at the end at the end uh do what whatever you are being inspired to do from within based on your karma and the three moons.

[01:53:59]So ultimately it brings us to this understanding that whether you want or not whether you desire or not whether you consider it as a choice or not actually it's not a choice everyone has to used to say no you surrender to Krishna or you surrender to Maya who is also Krishna's agent but you have to surrender you have to listen to either Krishna or Maya and in both ways you are actually following Krishna's order only you are not independent you are doing things as he desires right it's just that either you accept it happily okay Krishna you say this I do or to have some grudging some grudge inside no I can't do this then Krishna will say okay you can't do this I'll make you do it through my maya but you have to do it you have to do it either you do it happily or you do it by force by control so I'll make it done fine let's read the purpose Harrishna pranam was not the supreme no and his disision his fight or not to fight was confined to his limited discussion. Lord Krishna instructed that the individual is not all in all the supreme personality of God or he himself Krishna as the localized super soul sits in the art directing the living being. After changing bodies, the living entity forgets his past deeds. But the super soul as a know of the past, present and future remains the witness of all his activities. Therefore, all the activities of living entities are directed by this by this super soul. The living entity gets what he deserves and is carried by the material body which is created in the material energy under the discretion under the direction of the super soul. As soon as living entity is placed in a particular type of body, he has to work under the spell of that bodily situation. A person seated in a high-speed motor car goes faster than one seated in a slower car. Though the living entities, the drivers may be the same. Similarly, by the order of the super soul, material nature fashions a particular type of body to a particular type of living entity so that he may work according to his past desires. The living entity is not independent. One should not think himself independent of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The individual is always under the Lord's control. Therefore, one's duty is to surrender and that is the injection of the next verse. Har Krishna the Thank you.

[01:56:52]>> Yes. So, one has to uh one has to surrender. This is like no choice. One has to surrender. So one has to realize this and intelligence means this either I surrender today or I surrender tomorrow or I surrender next life I can only delay this I can't say complete no I can only delay it further [clears throat] so the sooner I realize I have to surrender the more fortunate I become that's that is a harsh reality of life.

[01:57:32]So people who say it's your choice. You believe in God or you don't believe, they're fools. It's not your choice.

[01:57:40]It's not at all a matter of choice because we are very insignificant small.

[01:57:48]We think I'm not controlled. But we are fully controlled. Our mannerisms, our way of thinking, behaving, everything is so controlled.

[01:57:56]No.

[01:57:58]So if we are then what is what is what is you can say free will if we are fully controlled >> free will is to choose to listen and not listen that much free will is >> if I don't listen I will be in trouble.

[01:58:23]Yeah, you will be in trouble because if you don't listen there >> then there will be consequences of it.

[01:58:31]So that that freedom is there. No, you want to listen, you don't want to listen.

[01:58:38]>> So surrender means okay whatever you want do it.

[01:58:46]>> Whatever you want or whatever Krishna wants.

[01:58:49]>> Whatever Krishna wants. I'm saying to Krishna whatever Lord is praying to him like whatever you not just for sake of praying from inside it will be paid.

[01:59:03]>> Yeah. So you pray to Krishna whatever you desire please do it.

[01:59:08]>> Okay.

[01:59:18]>> Okay. Anything else?

[01:59:41]We stop here then. See you next week.