Syamasundara: Today we are discussing Gottfried Wilhelm Leibnitz. Leibnitz was a great mathematician. He invented the calculus. But he was also a philosopher. He said that in the universe every act is purposeful; that the purpose of the universe is to realize the goals set forth by God.
Prabhupada: Very nice. I see that he’s first-class. Yes. Actually the aim is to reach God. That is the Bhagavata version: na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum [SB 7.5.31]. These rascals, fools, they do not know that the goal is to reach God. This version, na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah [SB 7.5.31]. Durasaya means they are hoping something which is never to be realized. All these people… [break] Actually this is the point: surrender. But they are so rascal they will not do it; therefore maya is giving them trouble in every way, ultimately. Just like my Guru Maharaja’s plan was that I should come and preach. That was his first instruction. But I wanted that I will not take sannyasa and remain as a grhastha, and then I shall do it. That is special favor. Krishna says, yasya anugrhni harisye… “Especially if I am very much anxious to get one reformed, by My mercy, the first thing is that I take away all his money.”
Syamasundara: Where is this stated?
Prabhupada: It is in Bhagavata. This question was raised by Yudhisthira Maharaja. So sometimes that is special favor. By force the whole plan is like that, but everyone wants to delay. By special favor he draws by force, “Come on. This time.” Because that is explained in Caitanya-caritamrta that a rascal, he wants Krishna, or he wants God, but at the same time he wants to enjoy this material world, because to want God means finish with material world. But sometimes he is both ways. When Krishna sees the other way is hampering, He breaks his profit by force, so that in helpless condition. Everything is explained in the Bhagavata. “I take away his all money. He may try to get money—again I take. So in this way, when he becomes hopeless and there is no money, then he surrenders to Me.” And as soon as he has no money, his so-called relatives, friends, wife, children, they neglect, “Oh, what is this man? He is useless.” So he is bereft of money, he is bereft of friends, bereft of any love from wife and children, then hopelessly he surrenders to Krishna. So the plan is that: all these rascal living entities, those who are trying to be happy in this material world, nature’s plan is to give him trouble—every attempt shall be frustrated, every attempt shall fail—so that he may come, after many, many births. Bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyante [Bg. 7.19]. So He has pointed out that there is a plan, and this is the plan: to bring you back to home, back to Godhead. It is not partial, that somebody may remain here and somebody may go to Godhead. No. The whole plan is that everyone must come back. But he is obstinate, he is obstinate. Just like a bad boy, father says, “Come on,” he’s not. He’s crying, “No, I’ll not go.” But the father’s only business is to drag him. Therefore the final, after speaking all the proposals in the Bhagavad-gita, Krishna says finally, “I am giving you final, very confidential instructions,” sarva guhyatamam. “You give up all this rascaldom, arguing with Me. Just surrender unto Me.” Arjuna was arguing. “Just surrender unto Me. That is your business. If you think you will be sinful by killing your… I will give you protection.” Therefore, before citing this verse He says, “I am speaking to you most confidentially.” That means unless one is very sincere to God, he does not heed the final confidential instruction. “All right, you go on with your own work.” But to show Arjuna special favor, He says that “I am talking to you now the most confidential instruction. I have talked to you about karma, jnana, yoga, and so many things, but the most confidential thing is this: that you fully surrender to Me. I will give you all protection.”
Syamasundara: He explains the mechanistic phenomena, like the laws of nature. He explains that that is the only effective means of fulfilling God’s purpose.
Prabhupada: That’s it. Yes. All the laws of nature are working (indistinct). The body is durga, the superintendent of the fort. This is called durga. Just like fort is very much fortified; you cannot go; they say nobody can enter, nobody can leave, like that. This is called durga. And the superintendent is called Durga. From durga it has come to Durga. She is also confidential maidservant of Krishna, but she has got (indistinct) to punish these demons. Demon is (indistinct), that I worship his mother, but mother is engaged to punish him because (indistinct). She is giving whatever the demon wants. “Give me money. Give me good wife. Give me reputation. Give me strength.” “All right,” but at the same time everything is frustrated with this materialism. Two things are going on. One thing, that whatever he wants he is given: “I will get it.” On the other side, punishment. This is nature’s flow, and she is doing this under the instruction of Krishna. “This living entity, he has, or he wants immediately to become an enjoyer, so give him all sources of material enjoyment, but at the same time go on punishing him.” Just like sometimes politicians give them everything (indistinct) military force. So that is going on. And this nature is working under the direction of Krishna. That is confirmed in the Brahma-samhita, (Sanskrit). Durga, the goddess of the fortress of the material world, she is so powerful that she can create such things, she can maintain cities, (indistinct) she has got all the power. (indistinct), she is so powerful. Her name is Durga. But (indistinct), but she is working just like a shadow. Shadow is called not independent-moving. Here is shadow; I move this hand, then it is moving. She is called (indistinct). But the movement is from Krishna. Srsti-sthiti (Sanskrit). All our activities are just like shadows. Icchanurupam (Sanskrit). She is working under the direction of Govinda. Therefore, “I worship Govinda, the cause of all causes.” This is stated in Brahma-samhita.
So these rascals, foolish, they are thinking material nature is for our enjoyment. That is the materialistic view. There is a flower. “Nature has produced this flower for me. Everything is for me.” Just like in the Bible, Jesus Christ says the animals are given under the protection of man. So they are thinking, “They are given to us for eating. God has given.” Suppose I entrust Brahmananda Swami that you give him protection, but if you think, “He’s in my protection. I can eat him…” How intelligent! How magnanimous! They are giving protection by eating. And the Mayavadi philosophers support them, that when they eat animals, Vivekananda’s philosophy, “So what is there? I am Brahman, he is Brahman, so we become united.” What is that? And I ask him, “Why don’t you go to the tiger Brahman?” Because they are thinking that he is Brahman, the goat is Brahman, so when the man Brahman eats the goat Brahman, they unite. So why don’t you unite with the tiger Brahman? This is rascaldom. They are all rascals. Anyone who has no trace of Krishna consciousness, he is a rascal. There is our challenge. He may be great philosopher, religionist—he is a rascal, degree only. Cent percent rascal, or maybe ninety percent rascal, or seventy percent rascal, but they’re all rascals. The same example: stool, this side and that side. Because the upside of stool is dried up, you cannot say, “It is very nice.” And they’re all stool. Anyone who is not Krishna conscious, who does not know the science of Krishna, he’s useless.
http://prabhupadabooks.com/classes/philosophy/syamasundara/gottfried_wilhelm_von_leibnitz
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