What are our duties? | Sunday Feast | 25 July 2022 | ISKCON Detroit | Srila Gopal Krishna Goswami

Hare Krishna. Hare Krishna. Thank you. Welcome everyone for Sunday program. Om namah bhagavate vasudevaya! Oh my God— you're gonna die soon? Thank you. Prabhupāda took the position of the G.O.I. chairman in the year 1966. And after that, the G.O.I. chairman also, Prabhupāda introduced this program on Sunday, Lāfīja. Which meant that every Sunday, the temple would host a Sunday program, which we do kirtan, we do this kind of pastime. This is popular in purva-dwara. In Bhagavad-gītā it is said, the two characteristics of a charyangya, one is dukkhaṇaṁ, the other is aushaṇaṁ. Doesn't matter how rich you are, how powerful you are, how influential you are, that is a void, really. Really, it's coming to us very easily. It is both. Both is a very beautiful concept. And in Bahá'u'lláh's language, it is a very nice expression. And then, then, then he was going to die. No, okay. Well, when he was going to die? Early. Then he was dying early. And he went to— and then suddenly a young man, they said to him, "How old do you look?" And he was rather old person. They said to him, "How young do you look?" God really likes money. Isn't it? And that's a calamity. Just like he says, "No religion." That's a calamity everywhere. In the country, in the States, have the best of technology. They have a forest fire.— in the night. Then they have water shortage. Previously people called that water shortage "uninexistent" in India and throughout the country. Today you see water shortage everywhere. In California, in many, many parts of the United States, What are we witnessing? A severe water failure. So the— the tradition strikes us immediately. So what is drought? The sense of drought is so white. Then you have forest fires. And then you have heat waves. Be careful. It eats babes. It is being experienced by Europe right now. They're almost eating the people. Nobody ever thought that things would become so warm. In the meantime, people say, "Let me go to India. It's really warm." India is getting warmer. It was warm and people would say, "Aloha nui, hot Africa." But it was getting warmer. And they predicted by scientists that it could get warmer, maybe it is. And then, maybe the United States, "Pretty hot."— water shortage, etc. Nobody ever thought that in the United States there would ever be a water shortage. And then you go to— you see in Europe, big gravity, and the heat wave, so strong. In London they closed the airport because of planes, they were landing, they were landing, on the airport field. So we see that. Similar stories. We see a picture where, still in Spain, they're traveling in a train, where to the left and the right side of the train, they have forest fires going on. Forest fires are going on in the middle of the train. So, we can see that In spite of the pressures of the government, the scientists, scientists, Congressmen, you know, all of it, the pressure stayed. Kāraṇaṁ. And they were very energetic examples. The Bhāgavad-gītā educates us in choosing higher values. Bhagavad-gītā-nāmśrī, book of knowledge. It's not just a religious doctrine. And that knowledge is universal in nature. For example, the second chapter of Kṛṣṇa explains the position of the soul. Kṛṣṇa explains what a soul— and it was— it was— so he started forgetting. One more idea. We explained the program last night. Was there management of the school? Was there management? One tenth hung on me. "How is it that it's me?" So, Bhagavan explained, "For the soul there is no birth, no death. It just transmigrates from one body to the other. And on what basis you will transmigrate? Anybody has all the karma." You know, karma states in simple language, "As you sow, you shall reap." Based on your action, you get rewarded or punished. Therefore, Bhagavad Gita says, form action that is in accordance with the Supreme Spirit. So, I want to be karma of karma. What karma mean? What may I give you? I do not give you any negative reaction, then it's me karma. What karma mean? Gaining the activities, gaining the love of God. 'Sri Paramahamsa'—'Om Namo Narayana Jayate.' So, we have a choice. In the second chapter, Arjuna says, 'My dear Lord, I am confused about my duty. Now I am the soul surrendered to You. Please instruct me.' He had surrendered, to some personality or the other. Is that right? Right or wrong? Right. Okay, let's go on it. Maybe we need to try this out. Right or wrong? Right. Right. I think all females are hungry. So, what would I say? In this knowledge. The first imparted to me, Sangha Guru, and this knowledge was retold by the Lord to Praśad RAVAL. Why? Why was it retold? Because Praśad said, "You are my friend and devotee. Therefore you can understand the transcendental secrets of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness." So if you want to understand the Bhagavad-gītā, you take help of— I don't know what you will call— this is why Prabhupāda's presentation of Bhagavad-gītā. There have been over 500 presentations of the Bhagavad-gītā. None inspired society. We didn't feel it like the Bhagavad-gītā has inspired us. Why? Because Baba said it is a prophecy. And it has been. In the same spirit, when Kṛṣṇa spoke, and Sharīkīṇa, Baba explained, the soul is immortal and we know that. And one who is intelligent doesn't lament when anyone is dead. Bhagavad Gītā explains that the body is temporary. And what is intelligent is an element. Āryaṣṭhaṇḍra is more intelligent. Bhagavad Gītā educates us to, and advises us, how to work in the spirit of eternalness. And in Bhagavad Gītā, there is a beautiful example. Lotus lake. Lotus leaf is in water, but— "touched." Doesn't touch the water. When we use this example in the Western countries, people don't believe it. They say, "No, it's a myth about lotus leaf." But in India, you have lotus leaf, you see, it is in water, isn't it? Arjuna said, "Now I'm confused about my duty, and I'm begging you, God." Don't we all get confused about our duty? Yes, we do. Yeah. And after Arjuna surrendered, Kṛṣṇa began to speak his thoughts to Arjuna. In the 8th chapter, Kṛṣṇa said, "Arjuna, do you really know God?" "What did Arjuna say?" "Yes, my dear Arjuna, I know God." So then the Lord said, "Now you will do as you like." So, you all may get confused, but And you go to the right teacher, forget proper gusset. Bhagavad Gita and Sādhanā Dandavāt. And Bhagavad Gītā, the main tool, enlightenment educator. I was traveling years ago, I was flying from Moscow to near to Moscow, and next to me was a Russian professor sitting. He had no connection with ISKCON. I met him for the first time. As the plane flew, we started talking. He said, "I'm a professor of philosophy at St. Petersburg University." So, and he said, "I teach the Bhagavad-gītā." I said, "You teach the Bhagavad-gītā? What is it that you teach in the gītā?" special. He said, "Bhagavad Gītā gives us the knowledge and answer to all questions that we may have." And by reading it, practicing Bhagavad Gītā, our students also will develop values of life and they can find answer to all their questions. So Bhagavad Gītā can answer all their questions. And Mārīyā Jātā, Āum, Shu, Voi, Dibhu, Fai. What would be the end? Neither should be taught from the age of 5. You see people studying the Bible, studying the Quran, at a young age. We should also cultivate It's all— So Bhagavad Gītā enlightens us. And Bhagavad Gītā says, "Bhāgavatā prasādaḥ kāṇḥ śrīḥṣrīlaḥ prasādaḥ." One who is constantly situated in yoga, he doesn't lament, he doesn't— So in the absence of spiritual knowledge, can we find real happiness? Any of you? Yes. Do you think that money can buy happiness? No. Do you think that we obtain a position of power, should we be happy? Sure. But if we take shelter of the Lord, if we take shelter of the Lord's teaching, then we will be happy. In July, We all are expected to find happiness. Pranāma Mādhavī Śrī Śrīla Prasāda RAVAL. Pranāma Mādhavī Śrī Śrīla PRASAD RAVAL. People do not know how to realize happiness anymore. So this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is giving people this valuable philosophy. And this valuable philosophy, if practiced, It will happen. Pranamōṣa, Prasād RAVAL. And you will be joyful. We will be happy. We do not know that we will be happy. Every New Year, what do we notice? We exchange pleasantries. You send someone a message, "Happy Birthday" and "Happy New Year." Naysaying you. I said, "What do you mean?" In some of the pictures you're happy to hear. What do you really imply? What do you think? What is better? Old year was bad, but— Maybe. Maybe you'll be happy this old year. Maybe you'll never see old age, these days. You'll be much very happy. But if you do,— we do it in answer. Over the years, it goes by. Last year, full of happiness. But no, we open it. So it doesn't matter how sweet the language is. German means "you must experience." And we can see that in society. German means "I experience the world." That's life. We all experienced COVID. Well, who had ever experienced such a long-lasting virus? But it came and so many other viruses are coming and going. This is like a death decree. The devotees of the Krishna consciousness Look for every opportunity to preach to people. Look for every opportunity to enlighten mankind. This is what a real sage, a devotee of the Lord is. Prasad RAVALUKI. Seeing others in distress, causing them distress. What does he try to do? He preaches the value of spiritual life. Instructed his followers to write books. He gave very detailed instructions and so on. He left behind 8 courses. We had an advice— Summarized the point in a 5-minute point. So, first is Sadhu Sangh. Sadhu Sangh is also known as missionary service. Now, why Sadhu Sangh is so important? Because if you have the fortune to associate with some genuine sadhu, then you get a real blessing. These days in the market, there are plenty of so-called preachers. They don't necessarily give you a blessing. Krishna. So if you are fortunate enough to have the association of a qualified devotee, then you get opened up to the right path. That's how Prasad RAVAL. He brings back to his very culture, what we call another group. He was a gentleman, he didn't have a common mind, and he brings it to And if you go by the scriptures, then what do you learn about it? What do you learn? It is easier crying about the suffering of the next day. We cannot believe in God. We cannot believe in the Lord. We're going to hang out on the street. We're going to wander. Wherever we end up. Why? Because the Holy Name of the Lord is so powerful that anyone, knowingly or unknowingly, receives it, he benefits. Prasad Raaval, when his brother should die, he invited the sages and beg their pardon on it. Anyone who met him, "Oh!" What should one do when one will die? And the answer was, "Yervey, name of the Lord." So, in the scriptures it is said, "Chanting the name of the Lord, yervey, you will be liberated." This principle, chanting the name of the Lord, is common and also mentioned in other scriptures. For example, in the Bible it is said, "We shall always chant the name of the Lord." Chanting the name of the Lord, explained in all the scriptures. And in this sense, 'Krīyādhāyā du viṣṇu, krīyāviṣṇu bhāvār bhujanaḥ, yāmaṇaṇaṇi.' In this age of Kali, by chanting the names of the Lord, you will get the same benefit you had in other ages, other periods. For example, in Satya Yuga, the lifespan was how much? 100,000 years. 100,000 years. And what were the causes of meditation? What were the causes of civilization? And realization? Meditation. People who meditate, they have same behavior. That's not possible. Meditation will change? I'm just a big girl. In senior youth, the lifespan gets abused and death. And when it comes to Malcolm X and the others, and then today the borders are broken. Who knows? In Santikagarh, people would perform great sacrifice. And when they sacrifice pure butter or egg ghee in the video, you're going to fall asleep. Then came Next day he did. God be praised. Then the lines that he said to me, "You, Matthew, you want to say 'Pavasam' in language, give it to the Lord." If he gave a ritual to you, "Kāvadāśchanaṇ sannē, please bring." It would be good also. He will say, 'Bhishyaka gurāsa vāyaḥ.' So the Lord is in this scene. And Kaliyuga, what is the maximum lifespan? What is the maximum lifespan? 100 years. It means, what is the total life? What does it mean? So this change of religion In the most important person, Śrīmatāsādhaka da Kṛṣṇa, Yugaśrīpaka da Kṛṣṇa. The Holy Name of the Lord will completely depart. The Bhāgavatam says, "Chant the Holy Name." And the Holy Name is so powerful, even someone like me can chant to get blessed. There was a movie produced in India long ago, made a movie called Haiyama Hai people. Probably you have heard of them. So, Papa and me went back to India for the first time in 1970s. We were very soon disappointed. The KKK had revolution in India. We were shocked. So, one producer, we don't want to do this, and we got Haiyama Hai. And in that movie, good thing was, the, the Hare Krishna melody was being played in the whole movie. The bad thing was, images of Hare Krishna in the movie. They said they take drugs, everything like that. So, the movie was very upset. He told my wife, "You should file a complaint with the police." We went also. When they had Mr. Birendra, Baba said, "Now people will hear the Holy Name and benefit." And later on, so many people are affected by it. So the Holy Name of the Lord changes and it does we— like He then made I'm going to go and hide out. And people would say, "Look at this crazy Hindu." I didn't know any English word. I couldn't care. So, chanting the name of the Lord is an important solution for the past, back to Godhead. Then, what else did he say? Read the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Bhāgavad-gītā. We are all searching for knowledge, and Bhāgavad-gītā presents knowledge at its fullest. The knowledge that is infinite, unlimited. So, you should study these books. How many of you have read the Bhāgavad-gītā? At least one? How many of you try to read the Bhagavad Gītā every day? How many of you have the Shreem Brāhmaṇa recited? Everybody is so sure, it's okay. Maybe you have the Bhagavad Gītā at home. And I don't even read about it. What happens when you read these books? You know only the trend. And if you know only the trend, you can just create. So, what Jesus said, Read the scripture. Read the scripture. Any time you want, you can. You don't have time. If you are determined, you'll find that. And finding that, something was special in July. Then Lord Caitanya said, you should worship Rādhārī with Faith and love. So the Lord expands the purity in answer to your form. Even in India, the class of impersonal is maintained. God has no form. God has a form. He is India. In this evil, God can perform any function anyone possibly thought. For example, if you have to eat, What is the— what is the— what is the defection? He's today Lord. When the Lord, he used to lie in the earth, and people said, look at his foot, but sure, this is God, he used to lie. For God, nothing is impossible. When he died also. So, brought it in the silver chamber. So, worship the Deity, he said. These Deities are— no, no, no, no, no. And decided to be the worshipper. Or, we go on our own and be the worshipper. That's like, he had a choice. We have a beautiful temple. This temple was purchased at the inspiration of Prabhupāda through Amish Bhagavan. And Prabhupāda visited it and we have a nice temple built here. Prabhupāda came here how many times? 4 times. 4 times. This is also the place of faith. You are a bhakti dasami? Came to this location for it. So taking the mākhā with me, it was also very easy. So we want to request all of you who come here regularly, how many of you come here every Sunday to the program? Hmm? That's not very encouraging. We should make it a point, come every Sunday. You come, what happens? You hear the philosophy, you hear, you see the deity, and with the electric remote, which you all try and hit it, but if you hit it here, you get nothing. So this Krishna Consciousness movement has only one goal: make people happy. But this happiness can only be derived from performing. Performing. This is the key. And that is explained in this scripture. You also bring in a point, you come every Sunday. In Bombay, few years ago, there was a survey done by regarding my question. The question asked was, "How frequently do you visit the church?" And he showed that, that he was a dedicated member. He would go to the church every Sunday. So, you make a point, come every Sunday, get the sermon of the Lord, get to hear the philosophy, and Repetition is necessary to drive a point home. Prabhupāda says this in Bhāgavad-gītā. We forget what we hear, we forget the importance of spiritual life. When we attend these, we attend this satsang, and what happens? You constantly get reminded about the goal of life. It's not the spiritual association, not the winning, was returning from the way he saw many half-killed animals in the jungle. Nārada Mūṇi said, "Who is that single person who is responsible for this?" He said, "It was a hunter." He said, "Who was?" "A guy. When he saw Nārada Mūṇi coming, he hid behind a bush." He didn't want to get chastised. When he heard that, "Amma Ganamuni didn't die. Who is that sinful person? Who is responsible for that?" He got scared. He hesitated and he came forward and said, "I! I'm responsible for that." Then Amma Muni explained to him, "Do you know what the consequences of this are going to be?" So then Amma Muni explained to him, The hunter said, "This is a family profession." "Fine, you know, I do this business." "But how will you live then?" "In another way." "In what way?" "In order for—" So this hunter, this hunter Prasad Raaval, he came Gandhi Modi, Jhārat Shandeng. And the voice spread around. And there was a guy hunting. And he became a great devotee. And that Rūnī was passing by with his pūlī. Who was the Rūnī? Rūnī said, "Let me go and see how my disciple is doing." I have a disciple, there is anyone. And another way he saw that he would not place his feet on the ground, he made sure that it was the world beginning to end. This is the transformation. Wrong, sinful life too, by his life. So by spiritual association, Prabhupāda changed the life of thousands of people by that association. We want spiritual life, You have to make an effort. You want spiritual happiness, you have to make an effort. Nothing comes without effort. Nothing comes without it. Never is. So we hope that all of you who are here, you're here because you have an interest in spiritual life. Otherwise, why would you be here? You're not getting bribed to come here. Anyone getting bribed to come here? No, no. You are coming here with knowledge. You have an ambition of knowledge. Please take advantage of it. We often say, "Tomorrow I am going to start spiritual life." Tomorrow, tomorrow, like that. So, kālāra, this fellow. Don't waste this valuable human life. All of you have some interest, that's why you are here. Please pursue it with determination. And then I will give you real help. Thank you very much. You can take up some questions, I guess today. Hare Krishna. I'll be happy to answer questions if you have them.

Prasad.

Prasad, thank you so much for such a wonderful encouragement for all of us to come every Sunday. Now, how to make this Sunday program a priority in our life? Because we have a lot of other options. So, what makes our mind to come fixed to Sunday program?

We have a variety of activities in India. The Sunday program is part of our management. The Sunday program is a medium through which we can inspire people to take to spiritual life. I am, as Pandit Prasad RAVAL, Few hours a week we observe relatively. Maybe we can end that at some other time. We have to endeavor. That's what endeavor is. And there's so many instructions of the Divine. Feel free to ask questions. Good morning, Prasad. Sometimes we have a strong tendency to fight with colleagues, especially seniors. So how can we mitigate that? Fall fighting. Who has ever, ever basically been in fall fighting? Most of us have a PhD degree. We are expert form finders. And some people just look at the bad and ignore that. So, myself, Prasad, discussed elaborately in the book, and our goal should be to look at the good in everyone. If you look at the good in everyone, position 5. Sometimes you get very little. It's very easy to fall 5, very easy to go to 5. But that's how it happens. As Prabhupāda said, you know what you do? You get put in every way. If we, if we make something constructive, You can give that advice. But we should not be burdened with advice. Envy, jealousy, hatred, normally envy is deep-rooted. Envy, we take negatively. More questions? Prasad Raaval. Thank you very much.

Thank you. You mentioned in a Bhagavad-gītā text that one who is spiritually situated doesn't lament, doesn't anger also. We see though from life of Vaiṣṇavas that they lament also.

Is this allowed for devotees, or is this—

You mentioned that, you said that one who is spiritually situated He does not lament.

He lives with it. Yeah. So when we see Vaiṣṇavas, great devotees, they also lament.

So is this allowed for devotees?

The devotee laments in the sense that he is going to miss his association more than an ambition. At the same time he realizes that in the laws of God everything is simple. And the materialist, he demands because of thinking that, as I said in German, the holy friendship is when he sees the holy of the Lord, whom we have declared. Sri Mataji has said, 'When a devotee knows the will of the Lord, even if he may take birth, he will certainly take life.' And if somebody has used his valuable life in service of the Lord, then there is nothing better. Thank you. More questions? Yeah.

I'm sorry, repeat that. To persist spiritual life, one needs to have determination. So how to develop that determination? How do we cultivate that determination?

Determination is needed. In every area. Even if you want to pursue as a Kedarnath Missioner at IIT, you have to work hard with determination. And Baba gives a nice example in the Bhagavad Gita. There was a sparrow who stole the egg and removed it. Return my egg. And the Sparrow would not do it. And then, "If you don't return my egg, I'm going to dry you up." He wanted that one. Like a small boy in a Hollywood house with a water. Let's see what he's going to do. And he started drying up the ocean.— and then he committed himself to his guru. And guru came to his rescue. You will surely anchor that ālprāya. The point is, the boy was determined. He was making effort. Then God came to his help. In the Bhāgavad-gītā, Kṛṣṇa says, "Those who worship Me with devotion, I preserve what they have and I make out of their lack." So, Krishna says, "I preserve what they had." If you have some good quality, Krishna preserves that. But if you lack so many qualities, Krishna says, "I will make it up." Very good. Okay. Any more? Yes.

How should we? How should we?

Make our chanting, chanting attentive. Again, determination. Chanting attentively doesn't mean mind is at one. The mind may wander, but when you're doing this exercise, try and make that a single-pointed activity. And if you do that, it will help in the chanting getting purified. And the more purified it gets, the stronger it becomes. That's why again and again this point gets mentioned in the scriptures. As the Holy Name is not different from the Lord, you should be very attentive. So whose name are you attending? God's name.

Okay.

Go ahead. Maharaj, Krishna says in Bhagavad Gītā that all the senses and the mind, so it almost means like Krishna is He is testing us through the mind whenever we are chanting. I tell you, really, really, really, really, really. So, thank you very much.