“Here is Krsna”—that is the beginning of spiritual life

Therefore Krsna is canvassing that “If you do not take this process, that process, you simply, while drinking water, you think of Me: ‘Here is Krsna. Here is Krsna.’ ” As it is said here, tapa apanodah. Everyone drinks water, so everyone can remember Krsna, or God, if you simply learn this art, that “While drinking water, while I feel satisfaction, I must know, ‘Here is God.’ ” Your devotional life immediately begins, without any education, without any enlightenment. Even a child can… If you teach the child that “When you drink water, you think of God…” Of course, one must have some knowledge what is God. So that according to different status of life… So here from Bhagavad-gita or Bhagavata we understand, krsnas tu bhagavan svayam. So Krsna is here in the temple. Krsna is in my room in picture.

So that is also not difficult. How easy it is, just try to understand, that if drinking water and if I think, “Here is Krsna,” and I have seen Krsna in the temple, I have seen Krsna in my room, my father has shown me, “Here is Krsna,” then where is the difficulty? And if you think Krsna like that—“Here is Krsna”—that is the beginning of spiritual life. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam [SB 7.5.23], memorizing.

So we request everyone to come to the temple because he will have the impression what is Krsna, how He looks. Here is Krsna. It is not imagination. Don’t think it is imagination, we have imagined some form. Just like the Mayavadis say, “It is imagination.” No. It is fact. Because this Krsna, this form of Krsna, the our forefathers or acaryas they have seen when Krsna was present on this planet. And there are many, many old temples. The same feature of Krsna, two hands, playing on the flute, and anywhere you will see Krsna He has got this flute. Because that is His most beloved, favorite instrument. That is stated in the sastra, not imagination. Venum kvanantam aravinda-dalayataksam barhavatamsam asita… [Bs. 5.30] In the Vedic language it is said that Krsna, He has got a flute in His hand. He likes to play on flute. Venum kvanantam aravinda-dalayataksam barhavatamsam asitambuda-sundarangam [Bs. 5.30]. Barhavatamsa means the peacock. He likes peacock feather. These symptoms are described in the Vedic literature, and when Krsna was present on this earth, the same feature was there. So this picture, this photo, or this statue of Krsna, this arca-murti, is not different from the original Krsna.

So if you simply come here, take the impression of Krsna and think of Krsna while drinking water, you become a devotee. Is it very difficult job? Very easy. Anyone can do. Anyone can do. Patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati. Then, if you develop… This is santa rasa. Then, when you develop your santa- rasa, then there is dasya-rasa. Dasya-rasa means that you want to serve Him. That is further development. “Here is God. No, why not…?” Therefore, according to the Vedic principle, whoever comes to the temple, he brings something to offer to Krsna. Not that He requires huge amount of money. No. You must offer something. What is that? Krsna says, patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati. Krsna is not in want, but if you give something to Krsna, that is for your benefit. If Krsna accepts something from you, then your life becomes successful. So… “But I have no money. What can I offer to Krsna?” Oh, that is not the fact. We have got money for going to cinema, and you have no money to bring one flower for Krsna. This is denial. This is denial. Krsna does not say that “You bring one thousand dollars.” No. He says, patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati.

Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.26.43
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Bombay, January 18, 1975