So I ask for the blessings for all the devotees, so many senior devotees here, almost everyone. So I need your blessings to be able to speak something on this verse. Śrīla Prabhupāda says in the first sentence that, "As the contamination of the germ of a particular disease can influence a weaker person, similarly, the influence of material nature or illusory energy can act on the weaker or conditioned soul, but not on the liberated soul."
So I just thought of this story of Typhoid Mary. I guess you have all heard about her. No? Okay. Prabhupāda said that the devotee has to become like Typhoid Mary. Typhoid Mary was an Irish immigrant who came to the USA in, I don't know, maybe around 1900 or 1800 something. And she started to work as a cook in different places, different families. She moved from one family to the other, and everywhere where she went, people got typhoid. At one point, they investigated her, and they found that she, although she was completely healthy, she didn't have any symptoms herself, but she was full of this typhoid bacteria. So she was affecting so many people, and many of them even died unknowingly by her cooking, because in those days they didn't know much about hygiene, so they didn't wash their hands properly and things like this. She was infecting so many, but she herself was completely healthy and strong and no symptoms of any disease. Prabhupāda gave that example that the devotee has to become so strong that he is not infected by the illusory energy, by the material energy, but the devotee himself has to be able to infect others by his Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So that is how we have to cultivate Kṛṣṇa consciousness to the point that we become very, very strong, that we get this firm faith in Kṛṣṇa, and then we will be able to affect so many others and help them to awaken Kṛṣṇa consciousness. I heard one nice example in a class that just like we have these endangered species in the world, and if a species is about to become extinct, usually they try to save that species. They take those individuals that are still left, and they put them in a protected environment. And there they make everything very good for them, perfect environment that they can thrive and become strong. And once they are strong and they have expanded, then they are again let out into nature, into the wild nature, and then they can again become strong. Just like we have, for example, the wolf in Sweden. Some years ago, it was almost extinct. There were just a few of them left in Sweden, and then a big project was made to save the wolves. They did all kinds of things to, I guess, put them in some protected space, and they procreated and they became more, and then they let them out. And now we have many wolves again in Sweden, it's increasing. Of course, not everyone is so happy about it, but all the species are actually needed in this ecosystem. Similarly, devotees are also like a little bit like that. In our neophyte stage, we are very weak, and we are very vulnerable to the influence of māyā. So therefore, in the beginning, we have to be in a protected environment like the temple environment where we practice very strictly according to this sādhana program, everything very, very strict. And we are in a protected environment, we are with devotees. Everywhere in the temple, everyone is a devotee. So in that sense, it's like a protected environment. But then once we become strong from that practice, then we are not meant to stay just in the temple, but we are meant to go out in the world and try to spread this Kṛṣṇa consciousness when we are sufficiently strong, when we have sufficient faith ourselves. We have to go out and also try to affect others. In the beginning, māyā is very dangerous to us when we are weak. But when we become strong, actually the devotee becomes dangerous to māyā, so to say. Pure devotees, they can just go anywhere and spread this germ of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, affect all these conditioned souls with this spiritual disease, so to say, or spiritual epidemic, and make everyone a devotee. Just like Prabhupāda, he was one person, and he left Vṛndāvana, his home, and his place of spiritual where he made... Of course, Prabhupāda was always strong, he was a nitya-siddha. But he prepared himself for his mission in Vṛndāvana, and very deeply absorbed himself in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and in writing and like that. And then he went to the West. He left Vṛndāvana, and he came to the most degraded place, to New York, and not only to New York, but to a very degraded place called the Bowery. He was surrounded by all these hippies and drug addicts and very fallen people. But he was not affected by them, but they became affected by him. So Prabhupāda said, "I made hippies into happies."
Once he was asked, "Can you make some miracles, Prabhupāda?" And then he just pointed to his devotees and said, "These are my miracles because I made these hippies, these very fallen people, I made them blissful, happy, Kṛṣṇa conscious devotees. So that is my miracle."
When a devotee becomes strong, he can influence so many others. He becomes like a touchstone. Just like there is this touchstone, whatever you touch, it becomes gold. Similarly, a pure devotee is so pure, and he is so elevated in his consciousness, so whoever comes in contact with him becomes infected or affected by his Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Or like another example is fire. When the fire is burning in the heart of a devotee, he becomes fire-like. Just like you take a fire and whatever you touch it to, it starts to burn. Similarly, the pure devotee can awaken the spiritual consciousness in the wood-like living entities. Actually, I read a very beautiful purport by Prabhupāda the other day about that. It's like this, "As fire is kindled from wood by another fire, the divine consciousness of man can similarly be kindled by another divine grace. His Divine Grace, the spiritual master, can kindle the spiritual fire from the wood-like living entity by imparting proper spiritual messages injected through the receptive ear." So we are like wood, or the conditioned soul is like wood. Wood is dead matter, and similarly, if we are not spiritually awakened, we are like sleeping or living dead. Real life is actually spiritual life, Kṛṣṇa consciousness. And as long as this Kṛṣṇa consciousness is not awakened, the soul is like a zombie walking around, it's actually like living dead. But the spiritual master, by the torchlight of knowledge, can awaken the spirit soul by transcendental sound vibration. So that is the potency of a pure devotee. Once some devotees were put into prison in Australia, and in the prison they were just continuing, they were on harināma, and somehow the police didn't like that, so they put them in prison. But in the prison, they just continued to chant continuously, non-stop. So then they became so much of a disturbance in the prison that those in charge of the prison said, "You are more dangerous inside the prison than outside. So just go." So they let them out. So that is how we are supposed to become dangerous to māyā. By strong Kṛṣṇa consciousness, we can actually attack māyā instead of māyā attacking us. We are supposed to attack this māyā's influence. Śrīla Prabhupāda says here that real devotional service, it actually begins in the liberated stage. brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā na śocati na kāṅkṣati [BG 18.54]. So it is said in Bhagavad-gītā that real devotional service, it starts when you are actually liberated from this material condition, above the three modes of nature. That's the bhāva stage, when you are very elevated in devotional service. Then actually you can perform real devotional service. Prabhupāda states here in this last sentence, very heavy sentence, "One who is attached to material contamination cannot be a devotee." So what about me then? I ask. Definitely, I have so many attachments to this. But we are practicing devotional service. Real devotional service means pure devotional service, and then there are no more material attachments, and one is in the liberated stage. But as long as one is not pure, of course, we still practice. It's still devotional service, but it's in practice. It's not yet pure. We are practicing under the guidance of a perfect devotee, under the guidance of the spiritual master. And because our service is not pure, we offer it first to him, and he, the spiritual master, can then further, so to say, our devotional service to Kṛṣṇa because he is pure. But still, the pure devotees never think themselves liberated. Prabhupāda said, "I'm always praying to Kṛṣṇa that He will protect me from māyā." And they said, "But, Prabhupāda, you are not in māyā, you don't need to pray." And Prabhupāda said, "I'm protected because I'm always seeking the protection of Kṛṣṇa." And he said to his disciples, "That's your problem, you don't understand that you have to pray like that." So the pure devotees, they show us this example that we have to always seek shelter of Kṛṣṇa. We can never think that, "Okay, now we are devotees, and now we are safe, and now we are okay." But we have to always understand that we are in this actually very precarious position in this material world. Any moment, the material energy can strike us down. When we read, for example, prayers of ācāryas, they are always in this mood that they are very, very fallen, that they need all protection, they need all help, they cannot do it alone, etc. Like Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, he sings like, "gopīnātha, mama nivedana śuno, viṣayī durjana, sadā kāma-rata, kichu nāhi mora..." "O Gopīnāth, Lord of the gopīs, please hear my request. I am a wicked materialist, always addicted to worldly desires, and no good qualities do I possess."
"O Gopīnāth, how will You purify me? I do not know what devotion is, and my materialistic mind is absorbed in fruitive work. I have fallen into this dark and perilous worldly existence. O Gopīnāth, everything here is Your illusory energy. I have no strength or transcendental knowledge, and this body of mine is not independent and free from the control of material nature."
The pure devotees, although they are completely above the modes, they are completely transcendental, always feel themselves very helpless, very fallen. And so it is said that the humility of the pure devotees is the reality of the conditioned soul. Actually, they are above this, but they are speaking this, they are feeling like this. But this is our reality, that we are completely helpless, lost in this whirlpool of material existence. But unfortunately, we don't understand that. We think we are quite okay, and everything is quite nice. But the pure devotee realizes this, and therefore they are crying out for Kṛṣṇa all the time for protection. When they are chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, they are really deeply praying to Kṛṣṇa to please protect them, "please engage me in Your devotional service."
So this is very nice. One can read these prayers by the pure devotees, and somehow or other, if we read them regularly, this enters into our consciousness, and we can get a little bit of a glimpse of that or get affected by that kind of attitude and mentality of the pure devotees. In this world, I heard a lecture by Keshava Maharaj, he said, "We need a strong mind and a soft heart." But usually in this material world, it's the opposite. We have a weak mind and a little bit hard heart. But the strong mind, Prabhupāda says here, "We have to become strong in devotional service so that this infection of the material disease cannot touch us."
First, it starts with knowledge. First, we need this knowledge, sambandha-jñāna, who we are, who is Kṛṣṇa, what is our relationship. And when we practice this knowledge, at one point it becomes vijñāna. jñāna turns into vijñāna by practice. We cannot just read the books, but we need to practice. And then eventually, this realization will come, the realization who we actually are, that we are small particles of Kṛṣṇa and His eternal servants, it will come with the practice. And also, when the realization comes, then also detachment comes, that we are not anymore so much attached to this material world, to this material energy. And this is actually the fruit of knowledge. Fruit of knowledge is detachment, that we actually are not anymore so much attached to all these material pleasures and so on. And in that stage, Prabhupāda said, "Then the real devotional service begins."
So somehow or other, we need to strengthen our spiritual life. We need to develop this firm faith. And how do we do that? Of course, we have sādhana, sādhana-bhakti, our sādhana. Our chanting and our hearing is essential. Later in this chapter, it is said, satāṁ prasaṅgān mama vīrya-saṁvido bhavanti hṛt-karṇa-rasāyanāḥ kathāḥ [SB 3.25.25]. So it's very much emphasized that we need to do this hearing and chanting in the association of pure devotees. Then the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa are very pleasing and satisfying to the ear and to the heart. Simply by associating or discussing kṛṣṇa-kathā in the association with devotees, then one quickly becomes advanced on the path like śraddhā ratir bhaktir anukramiṣyati, they all follow. First, it begins with a little bit of śraddhā, but then in the association of devotees, this will quickly turn into advanced. Here, it even says from śraddhā to rati, that's a very far step actually. But that's how it's said here, rati and then bhakti. So association is very, very powerful, and especially hearing about Kṛṣṇa and chanting together, that is the swift way to develop to the higher stages in devotional service. So the more we do this and prioritize this and find time for this, then the quicker our progress will go. This material energy is very, very difficult to overcome. daivī hy eṣā guṇamayī mama māyā duratyayā [BG 7.14], it's said in Bhagavad-gītā, it's very, very difficult to conquer māyā. But mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te, if one simply surrenders to Kṛṣṇa, then it becomes very easy. Of course, once one has surrendered, then it's easy, but surrendering in itself is of course not such an easy process. It's hard work, and we need to endeavor very, very sincerely, we need to really put our heart into this practice of devotional service, both the external like temple program service and so on, but also the internal, to look inside like what are my weak points, because māyā will attack where we are weak. So we need to find out what are our weak points, and we need to work on that. And to see, always think how we can improve. Like every day, how can I improve my chanting, how can I improve my attitude and all my service, everything, how can I improve. So that we don't fall into this mechanical devotional service, because then it will take very long if we become mechanical and if we just go on routine, so to say. No, it has to be always very conscious and very thoughtful and in that way. In that way, one becomes detached. Like Prabhupāda says, "He becomes indifferent to material existence, and the material influence acts less powerfully on him." So we become detached and also the material existence or māyā will... Kṛṣṇa will tell māyā at one point that, "Now you don't have to attack this devotee anymore." So then Kṛṣṇa will... māyā will let us go, so to say. Okay. Sorry for this boring class, but not every time I get so much inspiration. Anyway, yes?
Q: brahma-bhūtaḥ [inaudible] devotional service...
A: Yeah.
Q: [Inaudible] devotional service...
A: Yeah.
Q: [Inaudible] And the material influence acts less powerfully on him [inaudible]...
A: Yeah, but that...
Q: [Inaudible] devotional service...
A: Yeah, so it's not just from bhāva that pure devotional service starts. I understood it like that. Okay.
Q: [Inaudible]
A: Okay, thank you.
Q: Yeah, yeah, it's a long way from niṣṭhā to bhāva.
A: Okay, any other question or comment? Lakṣmaṇa?
Q: What does it mean to actually surrender? Because most devotees who practice for some years, it's quite easy to philosophically understand that, okay, the goal is devotional service to Kṛṣṇa. And so, what is the actual surrender?
A: What is real surrender? Well, we have this of course from Śāstra, we have these six symptoms of surrender: to accept everything... how does it start in Sanskrit, anyone remembers? ānukūlyasya saṅkalpaḥ prātikūlyasya varjanam [Hari-bhakti-vilāsa 11.676]. To accept everything favorable, so we try to really sincerely take shelter of all those things Prabhupāda has given us that are favorable to devotional service. And we reject everything unfavorable. That means we are strict. We don't eat non-offered food, we don't associate with mundane people in a way that is loose or not recommended. We practice strictly, and we really take shelter of those things that will help us in devotional service, like we really take our chanting seriously, we come to programs as much as we can, associate with devotees, read the books, hear the lectures, and sincerely try to serve, to take some responsibility in devotional service and do it to the best of our ability. And then what is else? goptṛtve varaṇaṁ tathā, do you remember the two? ānukūlyasya saṅkalpaḥ prātikūlyasya varjanam, rakṣiṣyatīti viśvāso goptṛtve varaṇaṁ tathā, ātma-nikṣepa-kārpaṇye ṣaḍ-vidhā śaraṇāgatiḥ. Yes, so we accept Kṛṣṇa as our only protector, we really try to depend on Kṛṣṇa in all situations, and we accept Him as our protector and maintainer, yes?
Q: Yes.
A: Yes, so we just... that means we try to depend on Kṛṣṇa more and more, not just on our own strength. But we actually try to surrender, that means that we try to become an instrument, and we beg for the strength and for the blessings from Guru and Kṛṣṇa to do our service. We don't just think that we are the doers. And, of course, ātma-nikṣepa means completely surrendering ourselves and always be meek and humble. So, yeah, these are the six symptoms of surrender. So it means that it's an ongoing process, it's not that we just, "Okay, now we are devotees, and now we just coast along," so to say. But we actually work on these things all the time, and we try to always go deeper and deeper and do it better and better and be very conscious about what we are doing and what we are practicing. That's just what comes to my mind. Maybe all the learned devotees can add something from what it means actually to surrender in a deeper way.
Q: Surrender has six symptoms.
A: Yeah.
Q: Yes.
A: That's what I was trying to refer to.
Q: In each stage, was it you ended the class in that very hopeful sentence that then māyā will release its clutch or māyā will release us. I somehow, from the neophyte point of view, that would sound like the first possibility to start surrendering. Because as long as māyā is having us in a clutch or at least māyā has such a strong grip on me that everything affects so strongly, the human energy is too much. So what was the stage of when māyā will...
A: No, at one point when Kṛṣṇa sees that the devotee really surrenders, then He will tell māyā, "Okay, now you let him go." When Kṛṣṇa...
Q: When he tries to surrender?
A: What did you say, "when"?
Q: When he surrenders?
A: Yeah, when you actually surrender. We are trying to surrender, but when one actually surrenders, then māyā will, Kṛṣṇa will order māyā to let us free, so to say. When one is actually... but I mean, it goes in stages. (laughter) Somewhere, 101 times... (laughter)
Q: One moment.
Q: It is already, it could be, but already when we are in the same position like we are trying, we are humbling, and we want to hear, that's already a very nice position from what Prabhupāda says. Then you can do progress. Many don't even feel that. Such a rare...
A: Yeah. That's very positive when we understand our fallen position, that's very positive. Then it's already advanced, so to say. Okay, anything else? Otherwise, we stop here. grantharāja Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam kī jaya!