Life’s Aim is Self-Realization

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lneBlxZn6sg

“This piling of stones and wood is done also by the birds. They also pick up, according to their strength, some twigs, and they make a nest.”

Prabhupada, San Diego, July 1, 1972: […] So life’s aim is self-realization—Vishnu—not the skyscrapers. These are piling stones and woods. This is not very intelligent work. The woods and pile, stones and earth is there already—big, big mountain, hills.

You do the business of a porter, carry it out, and high, I mean to say, heap, heap it in one place, it becomes a skyscraper building. And if you simply are proud of these heaps of stones and woods and iron, that is not civilization. That is not civilization.

Civilization is that the living entity who is using these resources, what, to know what is the actual business. This piling of stones and wood is done also by the birds. They also pick up, according to their strength, some twigs, and they make a nest.

That intelligence is there. The rat also, he makes subway. You see, So this is not very intelligent work, to imitate the rats, the birds, the cats, the dogs. That is not civilization. Civilization means self- realization, “What I am? Why I am forced to die? I do not like to die.”

To know this, that is civilization. When all these inquiries will come into one’s mind… “Well, I do not wish to die. Why death is there, forced? I am forced to die. I do not wish to be diseased. Why disease comes to me upon me?” When this “why” question will come, “Why?” that is humanity. And if he remains dull, “All right, let me die,” then he’s cat and dog. That’s all. If there is no “Why?” then he’s cat and dog.

So human civilization does not mean this piling of woods and stones. No. That is not human civilization. Human civilization means brahma-jijnasa, inquiry. These are the inquiry. “Why? Why I am forced to do this?” These things are taught regularly in the varnasrama system.

One is made brahmacari, celibacy, spiritual. One is made a very decently, family life, grhastha. One is made retired life, sannyasi. Very systematical. So if we don’t follow the varnasrama-dharma, then we are not even human beings. They are cats and dogs.

So therefore Ramananda Raya proposed this varnasrama… Varnasramacaravata. He quoted from Vishnu Purana. But Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, “Oh, this is rejected.” He immediately rejected. Now, so scientific institution of varnasrama-dharma system, coming from very early age, Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, “This is external.

Say something better.” So in this way, Ramananda Raya was putting some better proposal than varnasrama-dharma. Then varnasrama-tyaga. Tyaga means renouncing, renounced order. But Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s speaking, “No, no. It is … It is not very important. Go more.”

So when Caitanya Maha…, eh, Ramananda Raya quoted one verse from Bhagavatam which was spoken by Brahma, that jnane prayasam udapasya namanta eva, “When one gives up this nonsense speculative process…” Everyone is speculating. The scientist, philosopher, everyone is speculating, just to show himself that he has grown very learned, he can put some theory.

So this is first rejected. Brahma… Brahma says. Brahma’s experience… He’s the topmost living creature within this universe. He said that “When a person will give up this nonsense habit of speculation…” Jnane prayasam udapasya. He must become submissive. One should not pose himself that he knows something, he can speculate something, he can invent something.

Just like the so-called scientists, they are simply speculating and wasting labor. Nothing can be done by you. Everything is already arranged. You cannot change. You can simply see how the law is working; so much you can do.

But neither you can change the law, you can make a better facility for the law. No. That you cannot do. Daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]. Duratyaya means it is very difficult. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu, when He was informed this statement of Brahma, that one should give up the speculative method, that he can create something…

These nonsense habits should be given up. He must become very humble. Humbler than the grass. Just like we trample over the grass; it does not protest. “All right, sir, you go.” That type of humble. Trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna. Taru means tree. Tree is so much forbearing.

So Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, jnane prayasam udapasya namanta eva… “Or then I, I give up the speculative process and I become humbler, as you advise. Then what is My next duty?” Next duty is: namanta eva, being humble, san-mukharitam bhavadiya-vartam, you should approach a person who is a devotee, and you should hear from him. Sthane sthitah.

You remain in your place. You remain American. You remain Indian. You remain Christian. You remain a Hindu. You remain black. You remain white. You remain woman, man, whatever you are. Simply you lend your ear to the discourses given by realized souls. This is recommended.

And when you hear, then you contemplate also. Just like you are hearing me. If you contemplate that “What Swamiji said…?” Sthane sthitah sruti-gatam tanu-van-manobhih. Sruti-gatam. Sruti means just receiving through the ear. If you contemplate and try to understand with your body, mind, then gradually you’ll… Because your aim is self- realization. So self means Superself.

The Supreme Lord, He’s the Supreme Self. We are part and parcel. So by this process, Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, God, Ajita, one who is never conquered… If you… By challenge, if you want to know God, you’ll never understand. God never accepts challenge. Because God is great. Why should He accept your challenge. If you say, “Oh, my dear God, please come here. I shall see You,” so God is not like that, that He will carry your order. You must carry His order.

Then God realization. God says: “You surrender,” sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. That process, you’ll learn God. Not that “Oh, I shall know God. I have got good intelligence, speculate.” No.

So this hearing… We are talking of the hearing. The hearing process is so important. All our, this institute, Krishna consciousness movement has spread because the students who have joined us, they have given aural reception, by hearing. Full Lecture