Live Lecture | 1 Aug 2022 | Toronto | Srila Gopal Krishna Goswāmī

Hare Krishna, everyone. Hare Krishna.

Hare Krishna.

There are a lot of people today. We request everyone to please take your seat and slide a little bit forward. We want to make some space for everyone at the back. Request everyone to get settled down as quickly as possible. Sahaja Yogi, as we settle down, everyone is requested to have your masks on. As you can see, there are a lot of people in this room, so I need this. If you don't have a mask, please come by the front desk and you'll be able to get one for yourself. To request everyone at the back to also please settle down, take a seat, and move forward as you can, please. All right, Prasad Raaval, everyone at the back, please. We want to get started with program.

Please remain seated.

And temples from—

if you go to the west end, there is in the middle of this, in the east end there is Ghaziabad, there is Rondi, Vadodara, so many temples swarming with so many Paka devotees, resident devotees, congregational devotees. And right now, while we are speaking, there is someone somewhere in the world who's inspired to distribute Bhagavad Gita or any Vedic literature to any part of the world. And that's all happening because he's spearheading that. So we are really, really thankful to Himaraj Ji here. It's a highest fortune to be able to get—

Is it the maximum? That's the maximum. Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya. Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya.

Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya.

Canada, or travel out of India, beautiful world. So we have seen that how the Asians try. Now things are opening up and the world is expanding and peace means— everyone who comes to this He is a better Bhagavad Gītā also. Concludes by saying, 'Āntimām avijñānti.' Bhagavad Gītā is a medium through which this living God may be— everyone who comes finds wonderful. It generates hope, or intuition, bhakti, yoga. Many processes. In our scriptures we read about the importance of sadhu-sanga. You all may know what sadhu-sanga is. Sadhu-sanga means association with the purest spiritual beings, those who live in the spiritual realm of life. Sadhu, a sadhu is recognized You hear me in the back? Yes?

No?

Sadhu is recognized by what he practices and what he teaches. You should not think that anybody who wears saffron robe, that's sadhu. Sadhu is one who wants to preach the message of God. Kṛṣṇa's name. We have spiritual association, then we can purify our life. Prabhupāda opened the Poitierskund Temple in New York. After Prabhupāda opened the first, started the Sunday program. Prabhupāda is speaking in a Sunday program, and there's a feast. Ashramas they had all over the world. So Prasad Raaval knew that day would come when most of the world will be doing jobs and businesses, but still there should be an avenue that they can pursue spiritual life. Every Sunday In this context around the world, we have this program. What does this program contain? Exposure to the Deities and taking part in our teachings and listening to the lecture, then having discussion. So many of you have come to me recently to— We can do full of it. Why I want to ask you, are all of you happy today? What will be the answer? Are all of you happy today?

Yes.

Happy spiritually, but for material angle, are people happy? You see that wars are going on. You see that inflation is going on. You see that food society, the more unrest in the world. And it becomes a spiritual vacuum in society. So the scriptures say, take spiritual association. All of you probably do jobs and businesses, but once a week Sunday you should reserve to come to the temple. Bringing you to the temple on Sunday will enable you to concentrate on the technique of Kriya. Now if you go in the Soju Vishal, we get the real coffee. We had a vision of Swamiji, and what happened? And you hear about the glories of Swamiji. But when you hear of the Lord, then it is different from that. It is not different from that at all. You hear of the Lord, you like Him calmly, touchstone, touchstone. Wherever you place it, it turns to gold. It is like that. Similarly, your holy name, chanted knowingly or unknowingly, gives you children. Prabhupāda started the movement in America in '66, and in 1970 he went to India. There was an important devotee, When they went to India, it created quite a sensation. Indians had never seen so many Westerners in dhoti, kurta, saree. So there was one Hollywood producer who made a movie called "Hare Rama Hare Krishna." Did you hear of that? That movie was a big hit. The good thing in the movie was Gāyā-gṛhā-māntara was playing in the background. The bad thing in the movie was it showed that people took drugs and then felt high and gendered people. When the movie was released, the movie went to Prabhupāda and said, Prabhupāda, the movie "You will spoil our reputation. We should go to the court." "Abaddha, no need, no need. People will hear the Holy Name." It was expressed to him. And they heard the Holy Name and I met Yudhi Gurujī. We came to Gurujī. He went out. He was miserable in me. Chanting. This chanting the name of God is so powerful that knowingly or unknowingly, every chant gets benefit. Just like for different diseases, there are different medicines, right? You go to a drugstore, you see medicine, some medicine help, We do. Now, when we breathe, let the breathing go. So we very quickly acknowledge 4 principles. It is Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, and then Baba Yuga, Kali Yuga. In Satya Yuga, lifespan is 100 Then came, next was what? Sri Aurobindo. Sri Aurobindo, a nice man, gets abused and—— that too will be related. And Kali Yuga, what are they guided? People are misguided. What does misguided mean? They don't know where they are going or not. People are quarrelsome. Is that a fact? Are people quarrelsome in this age? Yes or no? Yes. Any lawyer in here? Any lawyer in the audience? You know lawyers? One lawyer in here, you. I'm fine. So, tell him that, that call us. With small issues, big, you will see. And there's so many wars, so So many wars in which so many innocent people are killed. So, it's very bad. We are born again. Then, people are lazy. People lazy? Yes. I'm not lazy. People may not be materially lazy, but spiritually they are lazy. Spiritually we are lazy. No, no, no. He tells someone, "Abbu, get up, time to go to the temple." He gives you so many reasons. So, in Kalinda, he was lazy, misguided, quarrelsome, was born differently. So, in this age, the Lord These names of God are not spiritual, they are material. Mahārāja Mahāprabhu. Mahārāja Mahāprabhu. You can chant the Holy Name, for example, day and night and all the time. You are right. There is a long weekend in Canada right now. Yes. We are looking forward to the long weekend. You look forward to vacation. Why you look forward to vacation? School children look forward to vacation. Yes, we look forward to vacation. Why? When we get bored, we want to get free. I am studying in school, I am looking forward to watching when the holidays start, when I am bored. I am working in the legal system, when I am bored, I am looking forward to go on vacation. And we are planning when is the next long weekend going to be. Why? Because we don't enjoy what we are doing. Is that right? Is that true? When the COVID took place, people started working from home. Isn't that right? You know what happened? People started working from home, and by and by, people Write everything. You have the smartphone. The smartphones are a blessing and a curse. When are they a blessing? They are a blessing when you keep Prabhupāda books in there. Then it is a blessing. You have the Deities there. In Kaliyuga, the Lord had put many symbols. Sharing the name of God. As Lord Jesus said, "There is no harder path than chanting the Holy Name." So, chanting the Holy Name should be done by everyone. There are innumerable quotes in the scriptures that describe the glory of chanting. And very much I want you to chant. One benefit of chanting is the anathā, the undesirable elements, go away. Another benefit of chanting is it gives you— another body part now gives you realisation. After the guru, it gives you realisation. Prasad RAVAL says, nātha mūḍham svādha-gatemi uviṣṇu. People do not know how you get access to people. All those who come to the Centre are very fortunate. Why fortunate? You are fortunate because you have understood what the goal of life is, and you understand, "Okay, let me make a beginning, let me go to the temple and learn." and get the full sleep. So, this chanting of the Holy Name, where is this chanting coming from? Where is it coming from? The spiritual world. There is a material world and a spiritual world. And the Holy Name is there, coming from the spiritual world. When chanting the Holy Name, you are going to be liberated. Great. Krishna says, "Lash anger and grief, free honey will take you there." So, when Chaitanya Mahāprabhu came, we developed higher level of consciousness. Then the Lord said, "Nīrājīvān Bhāgavatam anupānaṁ." Just like there is material knowledge, there is also spiritual knowledge. Everyone is hankering for material knowledge. Is that true? All of you want degree. I am sure many of you came to Canada to get higher degree. No, in spiritual education, The children's education is also needed. Governmental education, name it as you will, direct skills. Especially education is one of the most important things. You must know who you are. If I was to ask you, who are you? Then you may not be able to tell me. Was spiritually educated. And he said, "Who you are, that I'm going to find out." So Rājāvidyāna, Rājā, there is not anything you know better than me. So we are not absolutely against traditional education. We are not against people going to work with along with traditional education. You must cultivate. What must you cultivate? Spiritual knowledge, knowledge of Godhead. Prasad RAVAL was giving a lecture at a prominent institute, university in America. He said, "In this great university, is there any department that tells you what happens after death?" And the boys cried out. So, our education today Then you can see, and we have a complete, we also cultivate spiritual knowledge. Spiritual knowledge is found where? Where? In the Bhagavad Gītā. The Bhagavad Gītā presents the summary of the vast Vedic literature. You all have to have a copy of the Bhagavad Gītā. Is there anyone in this assembly who doesn't have a copy of Bhagavad Gītā? All of you have it. Is there anyone who doesn't have a copy of the Bhagavad Gītā?

No.

No one has no copy. How many of you have read the Gītā at least once? And what was your observation? I was Gita and it valued the Gita. Once I was travelling with a Russian professor on a train. He told me he teaches the Gita to his students. I said, "What is in the Gita that you like?" You see, he answers all your questions. Any question you may have, you will find the answer. He tells you how to lead a peaceful life. We all want peace of mind. Can you get peace of mind? Many years ago, a survey was done in America, and people were asked, "What is it you want in life?" that money cannot buy? Money buys everything. You can have more than anyone born to God. I didn't go off it. What is it that you want in life that money cannot buy? What was the answer?

What is it? Huh? He said love.

What is it in life that you want? Money, money, peace of mind. You may have millions of dollars, but if you don't have peace of mind, why not? People are happy with money too. There are so many mental cases, mental disorders, and people are ending their life. Why? They want more and more, but they don't get it. So, people are very unfortunate. They are involved in this evil. We have the Bhagavad Gītā, all of us. I have a request to you. Please make it a principle that you read at least 1 or 2 verses in the day. Have you heard of this phrase, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away"? You learn that when you're in school? Yeah? So many people, English like you, in the profession, want to read the book. How will we let in? Not a religious book, the book of the Prophet. They said, "We are not." How will we let in the Jew? How will we let in the Chinese? How will we let in the Muslim? I will translate to you. So, share and stay with devotees, Holy Name, read the Bhagavad-gītā and the Śrīmad-Bhāgavata. Have you heard about the Śrīmad-Bhāgavata? Śrīmad-Bhāgavata. Then I went to Buddha Vedic College. There are 18,000 boys there. And it was spoken by a sage called Sudeva Swami to a king who was about to die, Prasada. And the question Prasada was asked was, "Why should one who is about to die worry his foolish life?" Sri Yukteswarji, you hear what I say, sir. Now we are all going to die today or tomorrow. Is that true? You are getting so many warnings. We ignore them. Once a lawyer was about to die. You know how lawyers will give you notices. Indian lawyer. Poor Yama. Yama, my Yamadutas are coming to take me. You can't take me, so we should You give me warning, and then you can take me. Yama said, "Who says I didn't give you any warning? How many hair do you have on your head?" Yama laughed, and the boy said, "Now I don't have any hair on my head. I have become bald-headed like the Hare Krishna." PRASAD RAVALAD] How good your eyesight now? Now I'm almost blind, but one time I had a 20 by 20 vision. How strong your legs now? Now I can barely walk. And how strong were your legs 20 years ago?— he was part of the Olympic team. So, Prasad Raaval said, "Your eyes started getting weak, your hair started turning grey, you started getting bald, your neck started failing, your hands started failing. He would say, 'I didn't give you warning.' Gave you so many warnings, you ignored them all. So, we are all getting old." Baba Namdev said, "The rising and setting of the sun, Duration of life for everyone is big with this. Every day that you get up in the morning, do you ever realize, "Oh, I have one less day left in my life." You ever think like that? Yes? No. We take it for granted. Nothing is going to happen without my permission. On this day, Jai Jai Ramakrishna. We should read the Gītā. Gītā hai— Because that will make you content in life. Nobody is content, isn't it? Everybody wants more, more, more. You are right. Why are there so many diseases too? Why are there people depressed, going to drugs, etc.? Because everybody wants more, more, more. And they don't realize Doesn't matter how much you get defined by your habit. Your habit will fall. You are in a position of starting fresh all over again. Being shared the holy name of the Lord, nothing is ruined and everything is forgiven. And the only is, I'm How many of you chant the Holy Names every day? And how many of you don't chant at all? So I'm sure those who are chanting are chanting with love and giving them some satisfaction. And this is real satisfaction. He said, "You two, here." "Chant, read the Gītā and read the Bhāgavata." Then the Lord said, "Pushyaprādīdī." He said that, "When you come to a temple, you see there are deities of Mūrtī." In our temple here we have Mūritāi and Akīśoropinā. These deities are not different from the Lord. One should not think, "He has statues." God can manifest himself in any form. He manifested himself in the form of Lord Shiva. My request to all of you is, please, with seriousness, take this path of Krishna consciousness. It is, it is truthful. Papa presented the Bhagavad Gītā as it is. Many times people want to know, "What do you mean by as it is?" I probably fail. He presented the philosophy, the same spirit that Krishna spoke in Arjuna's life. And there is danger at every step. Is that true? Yes. People die in accidents. There's inner abuse. So please don't waste time. Time and tide wait for all. And what does time do? Time destroys everything. You have a healthy body today, tomorrow you won't have it. Have a melodious voice today, tomorrow you won't have it. So please take responsibility. Sociology. At the same time, of course, you have materials. A lot of people are coming from India, Canada to study. You can get 1 block, 2 blocks, 3 blocks. Study as much as you want. Also, the tuition. 1 zero plus 10 zeros is equal to? How much? Zero. Sure. The figure 1, and it becomes meaningful. Well, Krishna took a life. You have an intuit, and that is exhibited by the fact you are coming to the temple. Please inquire, and that will give you real idea. So we will be grateful that all of you come. I mean, you come to the temple every Sunday. Amir-e-Rukhba, understand this. You make it for yourself by listening and taking part in these movements. That will give you real happiness. We thank you very much. Peace continue every Sunday. And be determined, both this person and I. Determination is needed. Without determination,— is a city in India here. And then we will determine to come by train. Please share the Hōgyōjin, Hidagīda, and that will be the path of real happiness.

Thank you.

I have a few minutes for questions. Many people have a lot of questions. We have few minutes of questions. You don't have any question?

Yeah. Prasad, you mentioned that the story of the lawyer, how he was told by Yambhraj, warnings that each one of us are getting. So we get those warnings, but the The material world has started giving so many solutions. You have grey hair, there is a hair color available. And we get, you know, so much illusion that we have solution for all the worries. Despite knowing everything, the sincerity and seriousness is missing.

So how to develop that? We have the solution, but these are eyeball, these are part-time solution. You get old. Your hair is falling, turning grey. You dye your hair. How long can you dye your hair? How long? A few years. And then your dyeing machine won't work. You go to the beautician to cover the wrinkles on your cheek. And for some time the wrinkles are hidden. What do you find? The makeup doesn't work anymore. Am I right? Yes. So even if you have the so-called cosmetic covering, they're more than temporary. Eventually, I think time catches up. So just like there's so many medicines in the market. Now we got a new wire, new solution. How long will that solution work? So there is no real solution to the misery of life except taking shelter of God. Yes, last question.

It's not every day that we get to I am very happy to meet a senior devotee who has actually met Śrīla Prabhupāda in person. So Prabhuji, could you please relate one or two incidents during the assassination which you have gone through?

Śrīla Prabhupāda was a Hare Kṛṣṇa, a Prabhupāda, a pure devotee of the Lord, who had only one mission in life. Make the world healthy. Real sage, only as one, he went through tough period, friendly with everyone. And I met him, like he said, a very blissful Krishna person. That's why He gave us the Pure Mercy. He created an institution, Pure Mercy. Those was His dream. Prabhupāda came to Australia also. He even came to this center's life. So we are everything of Prabhupāda's hard work. Prabhupāda says to read Prabhupāda books. You have Prabhupāda books? You have Prabhupāda Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam at home? Read it. Prabhupāda said, "If you want to know Me, read My books." These books are known all over the world. And these books are available now in virtually every language of the world. Every year on our Mahādhāva Pūrṇima, we have a Bhāgavatam marathon. One. Are you aware of that? This year also, more passion, more passion.

Hare Krishna, Gurumaharaj. Thank you for the amazing class.

So sometimes you will see the same person the thing.

So what do you say, why is that one person get advanced really fast and the other one doesn't?

One person is not only chanting but following all the guidelines of the doctor. And the other person is taking the medicine but not following any guidelines. He has diabetes, but he can't stop eating sugar. He has liver trouble, he can't stop taking fried food. So if you follow medicine and the diet, then the medicine work. You only take the medicine. That's something. Does that make sense? Yes. Okay, quickly, any more?

Yes.

Can you tell us where, how does, where do we get the desire for spiritual life? You get the desire if you're fortunate enough to contact with Rīyāsī. Then this, this night, you're fortunate enough to get a book of Prāabhupāda, your guru, that will really give you the association with the book, association with his Ācārya. Our opportunity, I should call it, I should call it. Many of us, somebody gave us a book, read it, we decided to— we were— I'm going to take one more question. Any more question?

English, no. Guruji, my parents were really devoted and I, Shri Swachakra, would have read Bhagavad Gita many times. You said Bhagavad Gita has all answers, but what is the necessity to know all answers? Isn't one answer enough, that 'Mam kūram antra' is?

That means, you may ask, Ask any type of question, Bhagavad-gītā has an answer. There are so many questions people have in life. Bhagavad-gītā gives very good answer. Bhagavad-gītā is a book of knowledge and philosophy and— if you want— it's not a sectarian book.

Okay.

Please try and come every Sunday. Come every Sunday. That would be such a great pleasure. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Yes, the last question. Last question.

Motherji over there.

Maharaj, someone asked me before, he said when we do activity like mayavadi activity or talking or some party or some gossip, we never sleep. But whenever we do chant, we always sleep.

All right.

Like they feel like sleepy, dizzy when they start chant. They said why is that?

It's not true. I know many people when they chant are fully awake. When they breathe, they're fully awake. Of course, some people go to sleep anytime. That's why there's so many road accidents. But many are also awake. Please come every Sunday and read the Bhagavad Gītā.

Nothing to be gained, nothing to Thank you once again for Pankaj Maharaj. Let's show some appreciation for Maharaj for taking the time to be here with us.