O scholars well-versed in spiritual knowledge, ever-fulfilled by the fragrant nectar of the lotus feet of the lotus-eyed Lord! As is customary, let us chant the divine name for a while, after which the subject will begin. All glories to Shri Radha Krishna! Now, please pay attention.
So far, I have explained to you that Brahm, jiva and maya – these three entities are beginningless, endless and eternal. Of these three, we are the entity known as jiva (the soul). Who am I? Who is Mine? In order to solve these two questions, we have only two options because there are only two entities apart from ourselves. One is God and one is maya. So, either God is ours or this material world, maya, is ours.
Western philosophers, based on the strength of their own intellects, have come up with various doctrines regarding the goal of life. There is a doctrine called Charvak that actually originated from India. This says that there is no need for all this knowledge. We are the body. We, meaning the awareness of ‘I’ that we experience in the waking state, in dreams, in deep sleep, everywhere, all the time. That is the body.
We can put one small question to a follower of Charvak – tell me, do you consider yourself to be the body? “Yes.” If someone insults his mother or his father, would you consider him a good person? “No, definitely not. They gave birth to us, raised us and educated us. How could we insult them?” Alright. Tell me one thing: after death, do you cremate your father? “Yes.” Why do you cremate him? You accept only the body, don’t you? So, your father is the body, isn’t he? And it is he who is lying there. Why are you setting him on fire? You used to respect your father very much. And not only do you set him on fire, but his dearest son takes a bamboo stick and breaks the skull of his dead body. This ritual is called kapal kriya. So, if you are the body, how can you insult the body in such a way, and even spend money to do it? And if you say, “No, the one who was our father has departed; this is just his body”, then do not identify your body as the ‘I’.
The Vedas say: Scriptural Verse (Chhandogya Upanishad 7.15.1) So, the followers of Charvak say, “We are the body, and … Scriptural Verse (Charvak) … you should enjoy life as long as you live, even if you have to beg, borrow, steal or harass others for your own happiness. Nothing happens after death. We are this body, and death means the end of the ‘I’.”
There was an English philosopher, Hobbes, and a Frenchman, Helvetius. Both are very renowned Western philosophers. They said, “What Charvak says is not correct. Being purely selfish would result in chaos in this world.” If everyone were to become selfish, then would any father or mother ever care for and raise their child? “Who wants to go through all this? Throw the child away after it is born.” Therefore, along with one’s own self-interest, one should also consider the self-interest of others.
There came another philosopher by the name of Butler. He said, “This philosophy of self-interest is wrong. We should only follow the principle of benevolence.” Benevolence. Note, even a lion takes care of its own offspring. As a human, how can you speak of mere self-interest? But behind this benevolence of Butler, there is a hidden element of self-interest. All of you follow Butler’s philosophy. Whatever you do for anyone else, you do so with the hidden intention that if you spend ten dollars on him, you can get a benefit of twenty dollars from him. This applies to your parents, son, spouse, neighbour or anyone else.
Then came a few more philosophers who said, “This is also not correct.” Then? “The majority!” This principle is still prevalent today all over the world. Majority rule is called democracy. What is meant by majority? Majority means that whatever most people say is correct. The Vedas, Puranas and other scriptures mean nothing. The majority of people! Tell me, if the majority of the people are foolish, which is a fact, then to base your goal on the common view of those foolish people would be disastrous. Can the intelligence of a thousand donkeys equal that of one human? Can 1,000 illiterate, uneducated, inexperienced fools compete with one intelligent politician?
What is happening in our world? The democracies of today keep changing every day. Once a country’s constitution is formed, so many revisions take place. These are known as amendments. “The politicians before us didn’t do the right thing. It should be like this.” Then the next government comes and says, “This is not right. It needs to be like this.” Therefore, this principle of majority rule is also wrong, because the majority of people are fools and always will be. After all, this is Kali Yug (the age of vice). There are billions of uneducated, illiterate people in this world of ours. What do they know about politics? They say, “Everyone in our government is a fool. Our prime minister, president and other ministers should print millions of banknotes. Then the country would be rich.” This is the level of their intelligence.
So, majority rule by these people will bring complete downfall, and that is what is happening. Laws are being passed based on the opinion of the majority, whether they harm a nation or benefit it. “This is what most people say!” That’s it. And so came this concept of majority initiated by Bentham, Mill and other philosophers, and now it has gradually spread throughout the world.
Then came the followers of adhibhautik philosophy. What do they say? They say, “This concept of majority is incorrect. Follow your conscience!” What on earth is this conscience? It is something internal. You should do whatever your conscience tells you. Now tell me, this conscience of yours is different in everyone, is it not? “Yes. It is different in everyone.” And even the conscience of one person keeps changing! “Yes, this is also correct.” So then what will the philosophy eventually be? This is all nonsense.
Human beings have four defects: bhram, pramad, vipralipsa and karanapatau. Because of these four defects, whatever their views may be, they are wrong. Bhram means to mistake one thing for another. To mistake a rope for a snake. To mistake brass for gold. To assume the soul to be the body. This is bhram. And pramad is carelessness of the mind. The mind is fickle, isn’t it? It changes in a minute. Our ideas towards the very same mother, father, spouse and children, change so many times throughout the day! Our mind is not in our control. So what opinion can it give? It constantly changes. This is the defect of pramad.
And vipralipsa is a very big fault in all of us. What is it? Vipralipsa means the tendency to hide reality, the tendency to hide the truth. We have all the faults of lust, anger, greed and desire. We keep hiding them so that no one will know. “Everyone should think that I am a very honest and good person.” We are not, nor do we want to be. However, we want people to have this opinion of us. If we wanted to become good, we would have become Saints a long time ago.
In fact, since childhood, we have been taught in school and by our parents too: Scriptural Verse (Kabir) Scriptural Verse (Ramayan 1.2.28) Everyone knows this, but everyone tells lies. “We shouldn’t lie? But they say that things just won’t work without lying.” When we do business, if an item costs us ten dollars, we say it is eleven dollars, so that we can earn a dollar. If something costs us ten dollars and we say it is ten dollars, we will go bankrupt.
There was a rich man whose son never attended spiritual talks. So, he scolded him many times. Finally his son said, “Alright, I will come along.” So, he started going. The story of Harishchandra was being narrated there. Even God was compelled to glorify the truthfulness of Harishchandra. Therefore, everyone should adhere to the truth. Scriptural Verse (Taittiriya Upanishad 1.11) The Vedas say this. Scriptural Verse Taittiriya Upanishad 1.11 The Vedas say this.
So, the next day the son went to the shop, and when a customer asked for the price of an item, he spoke the truth and told him the actual cost. His father was listening and wondered what was wrong with him. “What’s happened to his memory? He has always done business properly. Why is he saying something so absurd today? Well, maybe he said that for only one item.” The father observed him very carefully, and the son did the same for another item too. The father thought, “At this rate, my shop will close down.” So, he said, “Hey! Go home. Your mother is calling you.” He sent him away from the shop, and when he came home, he slapped him. “You fool! Is this how you sell things? How will we pay the shop’s rent, the electricity bills and all of the taxes? How will I provide for all of you?” – “But Father, it was you who asked me to attend the lectures.” “Son, there is an idea you have to adopt while listening to the lectures.” – “What is that?” “When you listen to the lecture, spread the hem of your shirt or tunic or whatever, and sit like this. And when the lecture ends, then do this.” Meaning, “I offer this back to the speaker! Don’t take it seriously.” So, this tendency to hide the reality is known as the defect of vipralipsa.
And karnapatau? What is this fourth defect? Lack of experience. Limited experience. All souls under the control of maya have limited experience. They do not have perfect knowledge in any subject. A person spends his entire life learning one subject, yet he says his knowledge is incomplete. So, although all the scholars of the world claim to be very great geniuses, they still have these four defects because they are under maya. So, whatever doctrines they will make or have made are all wrong. That is why it is said in India: Scriptural Verse (Ramayan) Understand through scriptural evidence who you are and who is yours.
So, we took the support of the Vedas, the Shastras and the Puranas and discovered that not all three entities (the soul, God and maya) are independent. Both the soul and maya are powers of God. They are part of God and are under the control of Brahm. They are under the control of God. And the subject of the soul was discussed in great detail. The soul is infinitesimal. It is neither all-pervading nor the same size as the body. And this soul is not just one; there are infinite souls. And they have come to the world with the past impressions of countless lifetimes. Scriptural Verse Bhagavatam 10.87.30 Scriptural Verse Shvetashvatara Upanishad 5.9
We, who are naive, say, “When God created the world, He made one a human; He made one a donkey; He made another a dog. Why?” Some live in water, some on earth, some fly, some are born from sweat, some from eggs, some from seeds and some from the womb. Why is there so much disparity across the 8.4 million species in this creation? What wrong has the soul done? Creation has only just begun. Yes, the Vedas say: Scriptural Verse Narayana Upanishad 5.7 Scriptural Verse Bhagavatam 3.9.43 Scriptural Verse Bhagavatam 2.9.38 The universe was manifested by God exactly as it was before. He did not create anything. Scriptural Verse (Brahma Sutra 2.1.34) Scriptural Verse (Brahma Sutra 2.1.35) Brahma Sutra 2.1.34, 2.1.35 In other words, whatever our state was at the time of universal dissolution due to our karmas from beginningless time, the universe was manifested accordingly. God did not just make something of His own accord.
You must have watched a game of cricket. A test match is played for five days. “Yes, it is.” So, on the first day, let’s assume two batsmen were bowled out and one player had 99 runs. When time was up in the evening, the umpire blew his whistle and play ended. So, the next day, the two who were bowled out earlier would still be considered out; and the one who had scored 99 runs would resume play from the same position. That is, play starts the next day from the position that it ended the previous day. This creation is similar. Ask those who do not believe in rebirth why their God has made all these distinctions, differences and disparities. Our God did not create anything at all. He only manifested it just as it was before. Yatha purvam (Bhagavatam 3.9.43) Hence, there is no disparity, nor is there any cruelty. God is not cruel. He is … Scriptural Verse (Bhagavad Gita 9.29) He is fair to all.
So, that God, known as Brahm, Bhagavan or Paramatma, assumes many forms. He Himself is the embodiment of sat, chit and anand. He also makes others the same as Himself. However, the soul retains its identity forever. The soul can never become Brahm. Manifesting the world, protecting and dissolving it; all these various works are performed by God Himself. However, He does bestow His knowledge and bliss. He gives all this.
After having told you all of this, I told you that God is our origin, our master, our mother, our father, our brother, our everything; and that we have sajatya, sadeshya, sakhya and sayujya relationships with Him. So, how do we meet this God? Let us go to the Vedas again: Scriptural Verse (Shvetashvatara Upanishad 3.8, 6.15) The Vedas say, “Only Him.” Pay attention to this word. Ev means ‘only’. Meaning, alone! After knowing God alone, after attaining Him alone, what will happen? Scriptural Verse (Shvetashvatara Upanishad 3.8, 6.15) You will transcend death. You will never die.
This fear that we have of dying all the time at every moment exists even in a child, a young man, an old man or a diseased person. The doctor has given up hope; even then he does not want to die. “What will happen now? The doctor has totally given up. Oh, I remember there is a holy man who lives there! Go to him and he will bless you.” Everyone runs around doing useless things in an attempt to make the impossible possible. O fool, tell me. To this day, has there ever been any materialist, any spiritual person, any Saint or Mahatma in this world who has not died? Is there anyone? “No.” Everyone dies? “Yes, absolutely!”
Even the greatest of Saints have passed away. Even the descension of Lord Shankar, Shankaracharya, departed at the age of thirty-two. Now, someone may say, “You are a God-realised Saint; you can choose when to die. So, please stay here for the welfare of the world. What will you achieve by returning to God’s abode?” Nevertheless, we don’t want to die. Others might have died, but we don’t want to die. Such naivety is called abhinivesh. Everyone suffers from this affliction. The one who attains God will also die, but will not feel the pain. And after death, he will forever be free of these afflictions. He will not take birth again. Scriptural Verse Bhagavad Gita 15.6 Scriptural Verse Jabala Upanishad 22 For eternity. Scriptural Verse Subala Upanishad 6.7 Scriptural Verse (Taittiriya Upanishad 2.1) The Vedas reiterate this.
Again the Shvetashvatara Upanishad says: Scriptural Verse (Shvetashvatara Upanishad 1.8) The first mantra says that you will become immortal. The second says that all your sufferings will end. All! Trigun, trikarm, tridosh, panchklesh and panchkosh will all disappear. And the mother of all these miseries, maya, will also depart.
The Shvetashvatara Upanishad again says: Scriptural Verse Shvetashvatara Upanishad 4.16 Scriptural Verse Shvetashvatara Upanishad 4.14 Scriptural Verse Shvetashvatara Upanishad 2.15 Scriptural Verse (Shvetashvatara Upanishad 4.11) You desire peace, don’t you? “Yes, I am always tense.” Yes. Then you will have to know Him. 4.11 Scriptural Verse Shvetashvatara Upanishad 6.13 Scriptural Verse (Shvetashvatara Upanishad 6.12) You desire happiness, don’t you? 6.12 Scriptural Verse Katha Upanishad 2.2.12 Scriptural Verse Katha Upanishad 2.2.13 Scriptural Verse (Katha Upanishad 1.2.12) And joy too? “Yes, even joy is material. Sorrow too is material.” Joy? But doesn’t joy mean happiness? “Yes, it does.”
However, there is a sattvic joy and there is a divine joy. There are two types of happiness. The self-realised souls enjoy sattvic happiness. The yogis enjoy sattvic happiness in the state of sampragyat samadhi. So, this sattvic joy that you experience when embracing your mother – “Oh, I feel so happy” – this happiness that you experience throughout the day comes and goes repeatedly. This recurring drama is worldly, material happiness. It is a temporary, insentient happiness. This is not what you will receive. You will receive that divine bliss. Scriptural Verse Chhandogya Upanishad 7.23.1
The Shvetashvatara Upanishad says: Scriptural Verse (Shvetashvatara Upanishad 1.6) Again the Shvetashvatara Upanishad states: Scriptural Verse (Shvetashvatara Upanishad 4.7) These two birds reside within your heart. Scriptural Verse Shvetashvatara Upanishad 4.6 This mantra is also in the Mundaka Upanishad, 3.1.1. Of these two birds, one is you, and one is your Father, God. Meaning, one is you, the child; one is God, your provider. These two birds reside within you. So, the soul is like this: look at my hands. God is seated right behind the soul, just like this. If the soul takes an about turn to the left or right – just turns around – then that’s it! Maya leaves. Darkness vanishes. Everything is attained.
Scriptural Verse (Shvetashvatara Upanishad 1.10) This other bird who lives in your heart … Scriptural Verse (Shvetashvatara Upanishad 1.10) … meditate on Him and love Him so much that you are absorbed in Him. Then that’s it; maya leaves. Scriptural Verse Taittiriya Upanishad 2.7 “You desire bliss, don’t you?” Then you must attain Him. Him! Your master, your origin, your everything.
Note, every kind of misery originates from maya. Understand this. The Gita says, “Listen to the conclusion.” Scriptural Verse (Bhagavad Gita 7.14) “Arjun! Listen very carefully. This maya that belongs to Me …” – “Yes.” “Do you know its nature?” Scriptural Verse (Bhagavatam 2.9.33) Such a beautiful explanation in just one verse! ritertham yat pratiyeta God is saying, “Wherever I am not, maya is there. Maya resides wherever I am not. Therefore, it does not stay near Me, nor can it stay near My Saints. But without Me, maya has no existence either. Wherever I am not, maya dwells there; and without Me, maya can do nothing.”
Take the sun; you can see its reflection in water. The sun’s rays are separate from it, but without the sun, where will the rays come from to cast a reflection? They are connected with the sun. No power can be independent from its possessor. However, the power cannot have any effect on its possessor. Scriptural Verse (Bhagavatam 10.37.23) “O Arjun! Only he is freed from maya … Scriptural Verse (Bhagavad Gita 7.14) … who exclusively surrenders only, only, only, only to Me alone.” Whether he is a karmi, gyani, yogi or anyone else. It is as simple as that. We must know God and attain Him. There is no other way. Scriptural Verse (Shvetashvatara Upanishad 6.15) There is simply no other path.
So then? Let’s go to the Vedas again. We went to the Vedas and said, “Please tell us.” Now listen. Scriptural Verse (Shatyayani Upanishad 4) He can be known only through the Vedas. Without the Vedas, He cannot be grasped by anyone. So, the Vedas say: Scriptural Verse (Shvetashvatara Upanishad 3.19) No one can know Him. The Vedas gave their answer: “No one can know Him without us.”
However, no one can know Him at all. “Hey! How can you speak like this? We are the Vedas.” But you say: Scriptural Verse (Shatyayani Upanishad 4) No one can know God without understanding the Vedas. And then you go on to say … Scriptural Verse (Shvetashvatara Upanishad 3.19) … no one can know that God at all. Why? Scriptural Verse (Shvetashvatara Upanishad 3.19) This is 3.19 from the Shvetashvatara Upanishad. Scriptural Verse Kena Upanishad 1.3 Even the senses cannot reach there. Speech cannot reach there, nor can the mind. What else do we have that we can use to know Him? These are the only means we have. Yes, you do have these things. However, God simply cannot be grasped by these things. Why not? I will explain next time. All glories to Shri Radha Krishna!
