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ANNOUNCER: The following is a
class on the Bhagavad-gītā As It
Is, 7th chapter, text number 14,
given by His Divine Grace A. C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupāda, recorded on the 8
of September, 1969 in Hamburg,
Germany.

PRABHUPĀDA: …Vedic
civilization, unless one is
inquisitive for the solution of the
problems, he is not on the
human being standard. Because
there are so many problems. The
animals cannot inquire, but a
man can inquire. So unless one
comes to this point, to inquire
how these problems can be
solved, he’s not developed to
human consciousness. He’s still in
the animal consciousness.
Actually, the problem is that…
What is this human civilization,
advanced civilization? They are
trying to solve problems. One
problem is presented, and they
try to solve it. Just like at the
present moment they have
manufactured atomic bomb, and
all the nations are anxious to
keep peace, and they have
started that United Nations
organization to solve the
problem. Although they are
unable, but they are trying. So
advancement of civilization
means by nature some problem
is offered, and they are trying to
solve it. Anything you take, it is
an attempt for trying to solve the
problem. Just like in your country
there is subway. What is that
subway? Because on the surface
there is a lot of traffic, to solve
this problem they want to go
underground. And in this way
somebody thinks, “Oh, Western
countries have advanced than
the Eastern countries. They have
made some solution.” But after
that, there is another problem. So
problem after problem.

So what is the ultimate problem?
The ultimate problem is we do
not want to suffer. That’s all. We
want comfortable, peaceful life.
This is the ultimate problem. Is it
not? Just think over. That is… In
Sanskrit language it is called
ātyantika-duḥkha-nivṛttiḥ.
Ātyantika-duḥkha-nivṛttiḥ, to
solve the problems of miseries.
We don’t want any kind of
misery. We don’t want to suffer.
We want very peaceful and joyful
life. That is… But that is not being
possible within this material
world. That is the problem. The
living entity is, by nature, he
wants joyful life… Ānandamayo
’bhyāsāt. Abhyāsāt means by
natural tendency he wants joyful
life. But… There is a song, Bengali
song. A poet writes, sukhera
lāgiyā ei ghara bandhila anale
puriya gelā:(?) “I constructed my
home to live very peacefully and
comfortably. All of a sudden,
there was set fire and everything
vanquished.” Just like in America
you have got experience that Mr.
Kennedy, he became president
after long struggle. He had very
nice wife, children, honor,
prestige, everything. And
somebody was saying, telling me
yesterday, that people took him
as a very happy man. Within a
second, all finished. He was
driving, he was in procession,
people were honoring him, and
within a second—finished.

So everyone is trying to be very
happy, comfortable, but it is
being finished within a second. Is
it not a fact? Huh? Is there any
disagreement on this point? That
is the problem. Everyone is trying
to solve this problem in his own
way. They are manufacturing
different ways only, but the
problem is not solved. The
problem is there. Here in
America, whenever I meet some
gentleman in the street and he
understands that I am coming
from India, he says, “Oh, India is
very poverty-stricken.” You see.
So… As if there is no problem in
America. There is one problem,
food scarcity. But I told him that
“You have got also many
problems. You are not problem-
free.” So there is… Suppose you
have got some pain here.
Sometimes we think that “If pain
would have been here, then it
would have been nice. Here it is
very painful.” So pain, here or
there, it is pain. You see.

So either you have got problem
of food grain or problem of
hippies, but the problem is there.
A different feature only.
Therefore one should be very
much careful to know how to
solve the problems. Actually, we
are trying. We are trying to
advance in education, in scientific
knowledge. In so many things we
are trying. The material nature is
offering problems after problem.
That is the nature’s business. You
solve one problem, and she’ll
present another problem. First of
all, one, somebody thought, “If
there is airplane, then it will be
very nice to travel in the space.”
But now the problem is that by
airplane, if there is enmity,
another country can face my
country without any fight. So
another problem. (laughs) Now
they have to go underground. I
was reading in the World
Almanac that next hundred years
people will live underground. You
have read that? That World
Almanac?

ŚIVĀNANDA: This is taking place
in Montreal.

PRABHUPĀDA: Just see. They will
come on the surface just to
breathe little freely. Otherwise,
they will have to live within
underground. So another
problem is coming. (chuckles) But
intelligent persons should think
of how this ultimate problem can
be solved.

So what will be the answer? How
ultimate problem can be solved?
The problem is there, you agree
everyone? Or you have
disagreement, there is no
problem. You think there is no
problem? Eh? Problem there is,
you think? So how to solve it?
They have tried their utmost. It is
not solved. Then what is the
solution? That solution is there in
the Bhagavad-gītā in the Seventh
Chapter. Where is Bhagavad-
gītā? Is there? No Bhagavad-gītā
here?

DEVOTEE (1): I HAVE ONE IN MY
CASE.

PRABHUPĀDA: Hare Kṛṣṇa. Give
me my spectacle. Behind that,
there is small book. Just up, here.
[break] …seven. Give me that.
Hayagrīva, you can come here.
Sit down here. Seventh Chapter,
fourteenth verse.

HAYAGRĪVA: “This divine energy
of Mine, consisting of the three
modes of material…”

PRABHUPĀDA: Fourteen? That is
fourteen?

HAYAGRĪVA: 7.14?

PRABHUPĀDA: Seventh Chapter,
fourteenth verse.

HAYAGRĪVA: Fourteenth verse.
“This divine energy of Mine,
consisting of the three modes of
material nature, is difficult to
overcome. But those who have
surrendered unto Me can easily
cross beyond it.”

PRABHUPĀDA: This is the
solution. This material nature…
What is that? Read it again.

HAYAGRĪVA: “This divine
energy… This divine energy of
Mine…”

PRABHUPĀDA: Yes. This material
nature is another energy of
Kṛṣṇa, or God. So the energy is
very strong. It is very difficult to
surpass the problems put
forward by the material energy.
What is the exact language?

HAYAGRĪVA: “This divine energy
of Mine, consisting of the three
modes of material nature, is
difficult to overcome.”

PRABHUPĀDA: “Is difficult to
overcome.” There are three
modes of material nature:
goodness, passion, and
ignorance. But they are very
difficult to overcome. And now,
what is the solution?

HAYAGRĪVA: “But those who
have surrendered unto Me can
easily cross beyond it.”

PRABHUPĀDA: Yes. The solution
is we have to surrender unto the
Supreme. Just like if you are
arrested by the police, then it is
very difficult to get out of their
clutches. But if you are a good
citizen, surrendered soul to the
state, there is no problem. The
police has nothing to do with
you. Is it very difficult to
understand? The problems are
there and the problems are
under the management of this
material nature. So it is not
possible to overcome the
stringent laws of material nature,
exactly like if you are once
arrested by the police
department, it is not very easy to
come out. So mām eva ye
prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti
te [Bg. 7.14]. So if you want to get
out of these clutches of material
nature, which is putting forward
problems after problem, then
you have to become a
surrendered soul or Kṛṣṇa
conscious. Otherwise, material
nature is so strong, you think,
“Now this problem is solved,” but
actually that is not solved. You
create another problem. [break]
…there any other method for
solving the problems? Anyone
can suggest?

The ultimate problem is, of
course, death. Nobody wants to
die. Even one is very old man,
older than me, and his body is
not working, he’s invalid, he
cannot walk even, lying on the
bed—still, he wants to live. If
some suffering old man, who has
so many diseases, invalid person,
if you say, “My dear father,
grandfather, you are so much
suffering. Let me shoot you.” “Oh,
no, no, no. Don’t shoot me.” He
doesn’t want to die. So death is a
problem. Nobody wants to die,
but death comes and captures
him, just like President Kennedy,
within a second: (snaps his finger)
“Leave this position.” Forced.
Submit. “Yes. What can I do?” No
scientific advancement of
knowledge. Of course, this is also
another science, Kṛṣṇa science.
But we understand scientific
knowledge, this material
scientists, material science. They
are also trying. The Russians
sometimes say that “Time will
come when science will solve the
problems of death. Nobody will
die.” Let them think like that, but
it is not possible.

That is stated in the Bhagavad-
gītā, janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi-
duḥkha-doṣānudarśanam. One
who is actually learned, advanced
in knowledge, he should know
that these four things, the
miseries of taking birth… The
misery of taking birth means we
have to take, we have to appear…
After this body is finished, we
have to take another body. How
this body is constructed,
developed? In the womb of the
mother. The father gives the
semina with the living entity
within, and mother receives it
and develops it, body. This is
nature’s law. So you have to live
within the mother, compact, air-
tight packed, for ten months, at
least. Just imagine if you are
packed in a bag and put in a air-
tight compartment, locked up,
would you like? You’ll die within
three seconds. But the
arrangement is so nice, by
nature’s law, the intestine, that
the mother (child) breathes with
the mother’s breathing, mother’s
fooding. Even unconscious, his
development of the body goes
on. That is nature’s arrangement,
but you cannot do that. It is by
God’s grace the child lives.
Otherwise, by your so-called
scientific calculation, nobody can
live in that condition. You just try
it. Take any man, pack him, and
put him in the air-tight condition.
He’ll die within three seconds.

So there is suffering during birth.
Similarly, there is suffering during
death. These are… And the
concomitant sufferings always
with this body. Similarly there is
suffering if you are diseased, and
similarly there is suffering when
you are old. Just like we are old
and some way or other, keeping
this body by massaging, by
taking some medicine, this way,
that way. This body is no longer
just like a young man’s body. It is
suffering body. As soon as you
are over fifty years, by nature, so
the old age begins. And when
you are over seventy years, you
are completely old, and you have
to suffer the consequences of old
age. You may try to keep that old
body for… But there is suffering.
A young man cannot understand,
but one who is old, he can
understand, there is suffering.
Suffering of old age, suffering of
birth, suffering of death, and
suffering of disease. Janma-
mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi-duḥkha-
doṣānudarśanam. If you are
proud of your advancement of
knowledge, that you have solved
all the questions, all the
problems, in the Bhagavad-gītā
Kṛṣṇa says, “Don’t think like that.
That is your foolishness. These
problems are there. What you
can do?” That is learning: “Yes.
Problems are not solved. The
problems are there.” That is
learning. If you have got some
problem, and… Just like the
rabbits. The rabbits, when they
face one hunter and it
understands that “Now my life is
in danger,” he closes his eyes. He
thinks that “The problem is now
solved.” (laughs) And peacefully
he is killed. (laughs) You see?
Similarly, the problems are there,
but we are closing our eyes: “Oh,
there is no problem. We are very
happy.” That’s it. (laughter) So
this is called māyā. The problem
is not solved, but they are
thinking their problem is solved
by closing the eyes. That’s all.

Now, here is the solution of
problem, as Kṛṣṇa says in the
fourteenth verse, Seventh
Chapter of Bhagavad-gītā: “It is
very difficult to surmount the
problems offered by the laws of
material nature, but one who
surrenders unto Me, he
overcomes.” Therefore we are
teaching this Kṛṣṇa consciousness
to solve the problems of life. It is
not sentiment or fanaticism or
any sectarian religion. It is a fact
that if you want to solve the
problems of life, you have to
become Kṛṣṇa conscious. There is
no other alternative. Kṛṣṇa-nāma
karo bhāi āra saba mithyā. You
understand Bengali? It says that
“Just chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.
Everything is false, all other
means of making some… False.”
Why? Palāibe patha naya ya
mache kichu.(?) “You cannot
escape. Just death is waiting
behind you.” So before death
overcomes you, you make a
solution of the problem. That is
intelligence, that “The greatest
danger is awaiting me—death.”
That is sure. “As sure as death.”
Everyone knows.

Now, how we shall meet death?
Like cats and dogs? Then what is
the use of this human form of
life? The cats and dogs, they have
got body. They have also will
meet death. And I have got body;
I will also meet death. So am I
meant for meeting death like cats
and dogs? Then what kind of
human being I am? No. The
śāstra says that labdhvā su-
durlabham idaṁ bahu-
sambhavānte. After many, many
evolution of different kinds of
body… You understand the
evolutionary theory. It is not
exactly like Darwin’s theory, but
this evolutionary process is there.
That is admitted in Vedic
literature. From lower grade of
animal life to the higher grade of
animal life. So this human form of
life is to be understood. We have
got this human form of life after
many, many lower grades of life.
Labdhvā su-durlabham. And it’s
very rare. You count, those who
are biologists, you count how
many kinds of living entities are
there. There are 8,400,000
species of life. Out of that, the
human being are very small
quantity. Out of 8,400,000, the
human species of life are
400,000; compared with other
animals, a very small quantity.
Out of that, there are uncivilized
men, many. They are almost
animals. Then there is civilized
form of human being, just like we
are. Out of them, they do not
know… Many, they do not know
what is spiritual life.
Manuṣyāṇām. That is also stated
in the Bhagavad-gītā:
manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu [Bg. 7.3].
Out of many thousands of
human beings, one is interested
to make a solution of the
problems. Not everyone.
Everyone, they do not know even
that what is the problem. Neither
they do care for it. They think,
“All right, let there be problem.
We have got this life, let us enjoy
senses.” So they are almost
animals. But those who are
inquisitive how to solve the
problem, they are actually
accepted as human beings.
Others, they are not even human
beings. They are almost animals.

So you have got this opportunity.
This body should be utilized
properly, how to solve the
problem. If we simply give ourself
in the waves of the cycle of birth
and death, of different types of
body, that is not very good
intelligence. Not intelligence at
all. So this human form of life
should be utilized how to make a
solution of the problem. That is
Vedic civilization. They stress
more on the solution of the
problems, not to create
problems. The materialistic way
of life means to increase and
create problems. That is not
perfect human civilization. The
perfect human civilization is that
you have to sit very calmly,
quietly, and philosophically think,
“How to solve the problem?
Where I shall get the
knowledge?” This is human form.
The whole Vedic instruction is
like that. “Now you utilize this
form of life to make a solution to
the problem. Don't die. Before
death comes you make a
solution. Don’t die like cats and
dogs.” No. And one who tries…
The Veda says, etad viditvā yaḥ
prayāti sa brāhmaṇaḥ: “One who
dies after attempting to make a
solution of the problems, he is
brāhmaṇa.” And one who dies
like cats and dogs, he is called
kṛpaṇa. Kṛpaṇa means a very less
intelligent man.

So we should not die like cats
and dogs. We should die like
brāhmaṇa. Even in one life a
solution is not made, then you
get next life opportunity. Just like
all these boys who have come to
us, it is to be understood that
they tried in their last life also for
making a solution of this
problem, but it was not finished.
There is another opportunity.
These things are stated in the
Bhagavad-gītā. So now, this life,
you should be determined. Those
who are coming to the touch of
Kṛṣṇa consciousness and initiated
to execute, they should be very
determined that “In this life we
shall make a solution. No more.
No more coming again.” That
should be our determination. So
this Krishna consciousness
movement is for this purpose, to
make a solution of all the
problems of life and go back to
home, back to Godhead, where
we get eternal, blissful life of
knowledge. This is the sum and
substance of Kṛṣṇa consciousness
movement. What do you think,
our Austrian friend? What is your
name? Alfred?

ALFRED: ALFRED.

DEVOTEE: No, no, no. He is from
Austria.

PRABHUPĀDA: Very good. So
you try to understand this
Krishna consciousness movement
and just start a Centre in your
country. No chance? Why not.

There are also human being. Why
not? Let… People are suffering.
Let them have this knowledge
and be happy. Our proposal is
sarve sukhino bhavantu. That is
Vedic civilization: “You all be
happy.” The Vedic civilization is
not “Oh, here is very nice, fat.(?)
Oh, you have got money. Let me
exploit you and bluff you and
take your money.” That is not
Vedic civilization. Vedic
civilization is to think, “Oh, let
everyone be happy.” Sarve
sukhino bhavantu: “Everyone be
happy.” So we are preaching this
Kṛṣṇa consciousness cult. It is not
a cult. It is an actual, the fact for
solving all problems. People
should know. And if he is
intelligent, he’ll accept it. If he’s
intelligent. Because kṛṣṇa yei
bhaje sei baḍa catura. Without
being very intelligent, nobody
can become Kṛṣṇa conscious. It is
not possible. Less intelligent
persons cannot do it. It is meant
for the first-class intelligent men.
(aside:) Ārati? Later on.

ENGLISH BOY (2): Is it possible
for one to make it in this life?
This one…? Is it possible that one
falls down?

PRABHUPĀDA: It is possible in
one second, provided you are
serious. It is not difficult. Kṛṣṇa-
bhakti… Bahūnāṁ janmanām
ante jñānavān māṁ prapadyate:
[Bg. 7.19] “After many, many
births, one, when one is
intelligent, wise, fully grown, wise,
he surrenders unto Me,” Kṛṣṇa
says. So if I am intelligent, then I
will see that “If that is the goal of
life, that after many, many births
one has to surrender to Kṛṣṇa,
why not myself surrender
immediately?” This is intelligence.
If this is a fact, that one has to
come to this point after
cultivating knowledge for many,
many births, then why not accept
it immediately? Why shall I wait
for many, many births if this is a
fact?

So that requires little intelligence.
It does not require many, many
births. It requires little
intelligence. Take to this Kṛṣṇa
consciousness seriously; your
problems are solved. Now, if you
don’t believe in it, then come to
argument, come to philosophy,
come to reason. Go on arguing.
There are volumes of books. You
can be convinced. You can learn
it. Every answer is there in the
Bhagavad-gītā. You can try to
understand it with your reason,
with your arguments. It is open.
Just like Arjuna. Arjuna was
taught Bhagavad-gītā, how much
time? At most, within half an
hour. Because he was very
intelligent. This Bhagavad-gītā,
the people of the world are
reading. Very, very learned
scholar, wise men, they are
reading. They are trying to
understand, giving different
interpretation. And there are
thousands of edition,
commentaries. But Arjuna was
intelligent; he understood it
within half an hour.

So it requires relative intelligence.
Everything… This world is relative.
Law of relativity. That is scientific.
Professor Einstein’s theory? Law
of relativity? So it is relatively.
One can become immediately
Kṛṣṇa conscious within a second,
and one cannot become Kṛṣṇa
conscious after many, many
births. So it is relative. If you have
got sufficient intelligence, you
can accept it immediately. If
there is less intelligence, then it
will take time. You cannot say
that “It will be possible after so
many years.” That cannot be said.
It is relative. Everything is relative.
For a human being, from here to
here, one step; and for a small
microbe, it is ten miles from here
to here, ten miles for him. So
everything is relative. This world
is relative world. There is no such
formula that “One can be Kṛṣṇa
conscious after so many years.”
No. There is no such formula.
One cannot become Kṛṣṇa
conscious even millions after…,
births, and one can become
within second Kṛṣṇa conscious.
But on the other edge, within this
life we can become perfect in
Kṛṣṇa consciousness if we take it
seriously. Especially you are all
young boys. We expect at least
you’ll live for fifty years more. Oh,
that is sufficient time. Sufficient.
More than sufficient. More than
sufficient. If for fifty years one
chants simply Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare
Kṛṣṇa, he is sure to become
perfect. There is no doubt about
it. Simply if you chants this
mantra, Hare Kṛṣṇa, oh, there is
no doubt about it.

GUEST (3): I had a question.
Whose choice is it? In other
words, you said it takes an
intelligent person to become
Kṛṣṇa consciousness, but it’s
obvious that (there) are not so
many intelligent people. Whose
choice is it? If a person isn’t
intelligent, is it because he wants
to enjoy that makes him
ignorant?

PRABHUPĀDA: YES.

GUEST (3): Or is it because he has
to wait until he is…

PRABHUPĀDA: It is his choice.
Just like if somebody offers you
one million dollars, “Take it.” You
do not know what is the value of
one million dollars; you will
refuse it. So little intelligence. So
the choice is yours. In all the case,
the choice is yours. If you know
the value, instantly you accept it.
If you do not know the value,
then it will take time. But after all,
the choice is depending on you
to accept it or not accept it. It is
your choice. Kṛṣṇa also says in
the Bhagavad-gītā. After
instructing him, He inquires,
“Whether your illusion is now
over? What you decide to do
now?” He said, “Yes, my illusion is
over. I will act what You say.”
That’s all. The choice is mine.

GERMAN DEVOTEE (4): I know so
many people, young people, that
when they see us chanting on the
street, I can see their eyes, that
they really want to chant also,
but something is stopping them.

PRABHUPĀDA: That is māyā.
Māyā is there. Therefore Kṛṣṇa
says, “The māyā is very strong.”
But if you capture Kṛṣṇa very,
more strongly, then māyā cannot
do anything. If something is
opposing your chanting, then
you’ll have to chant more loudly:
Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa
Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/Hare Rāma,
Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare
Hare. So you defeat māyā. The
medicine is the same. At least, I
do so. When I am in some
danger, I chant Hare Kṛṣṇa
loudly. Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa,
Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/(laughter)
Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma
Rāma, Hare Hare. That’s all.
Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura… There is
song: jāy sakal bipod bhaktivinod
bole jakhon o-nām gāi. He says,
“As soon as I chant this Hare
Kṛṣṇa, I become immediately free
from all dangers.”

So the means is there. We have
to utilize it. That requires
intelligence. So my request to
you all boys, that you try to
understand and… You
understand or not understand, it
is a standard method. Try to
induce people to chant Hare
Kṛṣṇa. They will be happy. They
will get the… Real thing will be
delivered to them. That is a fact.
So such a simple method and
such sublime gain, so why one
should lose this opportunity?
There is no loss, but the gain is
very great. So why should you
lose this opportunity? Let us
make an experiment, chanting,
Hare Kṛṣṇa. And those who are
making, those who are chanting,
they are being convinced, they
are being advanced. They are
realizing. Otherwise… They are
not wasting time. Here is a boy,
he is postgraduate. He is teacher.
So he’s not a fool. So why he’s
sticking unless he’s feeling that
“Yes, I am advancing”?

So anyone who will take to it, he
will understand, yes, he is
advancing. It may take little more
time or quickly; that doesn’t
matter. But he will feel it.
Pratyakṣāvagamaṁ dharmyam.
Just like you are suffering, you
are hungry. If actually nutritious
foodstuff is given to you, when
you eat, you understand, “Yes, I
am getting strength. My hunger
is being satisfied.” This is also like
that. If you take to chanting, you
will feel, “Yes, I am getting
strength. My misgivings are
being moved.” In this way you go
on, go on, go on. The perfect
stage will come. It may take little
more time or it may come
quickly. That depends on my
relative endeavor. But it will
come. Be sure. And with this faith
and conviction and
understanding, you make
progress. Everything will be all
right. But don’t be misled that
“There is no problem of life; we
are very happy, eating, sleeping,
mating.” This is animal life. There
is so many great problems. Very
great problems. This birth, death,
old age, disease and repeated…
Bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate. Once
manifested, again
nonmanifested, again
manifested, again
nonmanifested. This body is
manifested; now it will be
finished. Again we will have to
take shelter of a mother’s womb
by such process, maybe human
being or other than human
being. Then another body
manifested. Then again finished,
then again manifested.

So it is, this is very troublesome
business. (laughs) So why should
we accept this troublesome
business? Bhūtvā bhūtvā
pralīyate. This body is changing.
Just remember your childhood.
Oh, how much troublesome life
we have undergone in our… At
least I can remember. Everyone
can remember. So stop this
problem. Yad gatvā na nivartante
tad dhāma paramaṁ mama [Bg.
15.6] And what is the difficulty?
You do your own work and chant
Hare Kṛṣṇa. We don’t say that
you stop your business, stop your
occupation. You remain. Just like
he is teacher. All right, he is
teacher. He is jeweler. Remain
jeweler. He’s something, he’s
something. That doesn’t matter.
But be Kṛṣṇa conscious. Chant
Hare Kṛṣṇa. Think of Kṛṣṇa. Take
kṛṣṇa-prasādam. Everything is
there. And be happy. That is our
propaganda. You learn yourself,
and preach this cult. People will
be happy. Simple method.