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First of all, try to understand...(Conversations)

Expressions researched:
"first of all try to understand" |"first of all you try to understand" |"first of all, try to understand" |"first of all, you must try to understand" |"first of all, you try to understand" |"they first of all come, associate, try to understand"

Conversations and Morning Walks

1969 Conversations and Morning Walks

First of all try to understand yourself, then you will understand what is God. You do not know yourself.
Discussion with Guests -- December 23, 1969, Boston:

Guest (2): ...what you are doing by chanting is kind of...

Prabhupāda: You chant and you will understand. If you have no child, then how can you understand what is the labor of producing a child?

Guest (3): But then it is like saying that if you haven't ever leaped into a well, you don't know what will happen to you if you leap into a well.

Prabhupāda: First of all you do not know yourself. The first ignorance is that you are identifying yourself with this body, which you are not. First of all try to understand yourself, then you will understand what is God. You do not know yourself.

1971 Conversations and Morning Walks

First of all you try to understand. Because you have got a form, your coat has got a form. You try to understand this.
Room Conversation -- January 17, 1971, Allahabad:

Guest (1): Though mind has got no form outside but mind has a form.

Prabhupāda: The spirit, he has a form.

Guest (1): Intelligence is also accepting...

Prabhupāda: These are different coating. Just like you have got your form, therefore your coat has got a form.

Guest (1): No, I was thinking in this form.

Prabhupāda: Don't think like that way. First of all you try to understand. Because you have got a form, your coat has got a form. You try to understand this.

First of all you try to understand the principle. Why you have come to ask me?
Room Conversation -- January 17, 1971, Allahabad:

Prabhupāda: Just like child is thinking something. His thinking is lower level. But when he inquires from his father, that is higher level. The same thinking is he, but one stage his thinking is lower level; in another stage his thinking is higher level. But thinking always, he.

Guest (1): Yes, thinking is his always.

Prabhupāda: Yes. So tat knowledge is higher level, and therefore you have to accept that tat knowledge from a higher level personality, not from by yourself, because you are in the lower level.

Guest (1): No, how do we know lower level and higher level?

Prabhupāda: Because you do not know, therefore you... Why you are thinking? Because you do not know.

Guest (1): No, it is not that...

Prabhupāda: Then there is no question of asking me. Then you think yourself.

Guest (1): No, we were trying...

Prabhupāda: First of all you try to understand the principle. Why you have come to ask me?

No, first of all you try to understand this, that Kṛṣṇa says, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ: "only unto Me."
Discussion with Indians -- January 18, 1971, Allahabad:

Guest (2): Surrender to Kṛṣṇa, not surrender to all who...

Prabhupāda: No, no, no. Surrender to Kṛṣṇa. We are saying not "Surrender unto me." We say, always saying, "Surrender to Kṛṣṇa." Therefore the same word. I am not saying that "I have become Kṛṣṇa. I have become God. You surrender to me." We are preaching, "Surrender to Kṛṣṇa." That is Kṛṣṇa conscious. So we are not speaking differently from Kṛṣṇa. You try to understand. We are saying... Suppose if I say, "Give me a glass of water," and if you say, "Oh, give Swamiji immediately a glass of ...," the same thing.

Guest (2): Kṛṣṇa also says in Gītā that...

Prabhupāda: No, first of all you try to understand this, that Kṛṣṇa says, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ: (BG 18.66) "only unto Me."

It is not that all of a sudden a student comes and becomes our disciple, no. They first of all come, associate, try to understand. We do not canvass.
Conversation with Prof. Kotovsky -- June 22, 1971, Moscow:

Prof. Kotovsky: But does that mean the students, they abstain for normal West European universities their own, all their... How to explain it? Their... For instance, can a normal student from, for instance, from one of the best universities, who is attending lectures in normal way, etc., also be initiated and admitted to your community?

Prabhupāda: No, both ways. Both ways. If you want to be initiated, you are welcome. If not, you come. Try to understand our philosophy. Read our books. There are so many books, magazines. And question, answer. Try to understand the philosophy. It is not that all of a sudden a student comes and becomes our disciple, no. They first of all come, associate, try to understand. Then... We do not canvass. When he voluntarily says that "I want to be your..."

Prof. Kotovsky: No, yes.

Prabhupāda: Yes. There is no canvassing.

First of all, try to understand what is religion. Then you come to different types of religion.
Conversation with Journalists -- August 18, 1971, London:

Journalist (1): What about the Western religions like Christianity? That's been with us now for two thousand years and doesn't seem to have helped people to become particularly...

Prabhupāda: First of all, try to understand what is religion. Then you come to different types of religion. Religion means to understand God. Do you agree to that or not?

1972 Conversations and Morning Walks

First of all try to understand the philosophy. It is very nice attitude that you have.
Room Conversation and Interview with Ian Polsen -- July 31, 1972, London:

Ian Polsen: There is another question, Your Grace. I wear leather shoes, and I know they come from animals...

Prabhupāda: Huh?

Ian Polsen: ...which have been slaughtered for this. Should I stop wearing leather shoes?

Prabhupāda: Well, that also you can continue. That is not... Just like we are using so many things made of skin. But as far as possible, you avoid. There are many shoes without skin, nowadays they are available. First of all try to understand the philosophy. It is very nice attitude that you have.

First of all try to understand what is bondage. Bondage and freedom. Bondage means to be subjected to the condition of this material body. That is called bondage.
Conversation with Bajaj and Bhusan -- September 11, 1972, Arlington, Texas, At Their Home:

Prabhupāda: No, nothing hypothetical. Your bondage... Bondage means that birth, death, old age and disease. This is bondage. We are all living entities, part and parcel of God. We are spirit soul. So this is not our business, birth, death, old age and disease. So bondage means so long you'll get this material body you are under this bondage: birth, death, old age, and disease. Because you are very rich man, getting good salary, it does not mean that you will not die, or disease will not attack you. This is bondage. First of all try to understand what is bondage. Bondage and freedom. Bondage means to be subjected to the condition of this material body. That is called bondage. The body may be elephant's body or tiger's body or Brahmā's body or ant's body, but that is bondage. Because as soon as you get a material body you are under this bondage of birth, death, old age and disease. So your problem is how to get out of this bondage, not that to accept the bondage—just like I am bound up by iron shackles—"Let me be bound up by golden shackles." So that is bondage. The people do not know. They are satisfied when they are bound up with golden shackles. That is called ignorance. He feels satisfied when he is locked up with golden shackles. That is called ignorance.

First of all you try to understand one point. Don't jump like that. The same thing is applicable to parents and everything.
Conversation with Bajaj and Bhusan -- September 11, 1972, Arlington, Texas, At Their Home:

Guest (1): How about love towards relatives? They say, "Love your parents," or "Love your wife and children." Isn't that also bondage?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Guest (1): Does that mean you should not love your parents?

Prabhupāda: No, there is no love in the material world. You love somebody with some personal interest. So that is not love. Everyone loves. To be frank enough, a wife loves husband so long he is nicely earning, and the husband loves the wife so long she is beautiful. That's all. This is the love. It is not love. It is lust. Love is different thing.

Guest (1): How about serving the parents?

Prabhupāda: First of all you try to understand one point. Don't jump like that. The same thing is applicable to parents and everything. There is no love in this world. That is illusion.

1973 Conversations and Morning Walks

First of all, try to understand. The brain requires the help of the leg. But does not mean that brain has to learn how to walk also.
Garden Conversation with Mahadeva's Mother and Jesuit Priest -- July 25, 1973, London:

Prabhupāda: Our training is... First of all, try to understand. We... Just like you have got four divisions in the body for maintaining the body. So the head division, the arm division, the belly division, and the leg division. The leg is doing its own work, walking. The hand is doing its own work. And the belly's doing its own work. And the brain is doing own work. It does not mean that when the brain is work, it does not require the help of the leg. But a brain does not require to learn the business of the leg. This is the idea. The brain requires the help of the leg. But does not mean that brain has to learn how to walk also.

Try to understand God, instead of thinking foolishly, "Oh, what I shall do, this? What I shall do, that?" First of all, try to understand the situation.
Room Conversation -- September 19, 1973, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Just like this Vivekananda philosophy, daridra-nārāyaṇa-sevā, to serve the poor Nārāyaṇa. Nārāyaṇa has become poor. These are manufactured things. This is not with reference to the authorized śāstras or knowledge. What they can do? They raise subscription, huge subscription, on this plea, daridra-nārāyaṇa-sevā. And Swami Nikhilananda in New York, he personally said, "Now these Americans ask me that you take from us so much money for daridra-nārāyaṇa-sevā, but when we go to India, we see all these daridra-nārāyaṇas are lying on the footpath." What you are doing for them? What you can do? You are simply thinking falsely. What you have got to give? Just oil in your own machine. Try to understand God, instead of thinking foolishly, "Oh, what I shall do, this? What I shall do, that?" First of all, try to understand the situation.

First of all, try to understand what is the meaning of guru.
Morning Walk -- December 15, 1973, Los Angeles:

Candanācārya: ...there must have been very many gurus. Were there many gurus then?

Prabhupāda: When? Guru or... First of all, try to understand what is the meaning of guru. Guru means heavy. So one who knows more than you, or one who knows perfectly, that, he is guru. So if you know anything perfectly, then you are guru. But if you do not know anything perfectly, then you are not a guru. You are rascal. So guru means one who knows perfectly. So if you find out somebody, that he knows everything perfectly, then he is guru.

1974 Conversations and Morning Walks

Just first of all try to understand. If I have got this shawl, if I am thinking, "I am shawl," that is my ignorance. But either shawl or shirt, we are all individuals.
Morning Walk -- March 25, 1974, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Body consciousness, that is ignorance. That is... Just like you are dressed with this shirt. If you think that you are shirt, that is your ignorance.

Guest (1): Body consciousness...

Prabhupāda: Just first of all try to understand.

Guest (1): Yes.

Prabhupāda: If you think that you are a shirt, that is ignorance, gross ignorance.

Guest (1): That's right, correct.

Prabhupāda: And if I have got this shawl, if I am thinking, "I am shawl," that is my ignorance. But either shawl or shirt, we are all individuals. That is (indistinct) This, this is ignorance. But ignorance or knowledge, we are all individual.

First of all, try to understand. You can surrender to a person when you think that "This person is better than me."
Morning Walk -- March 25, 1974, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: You cannot... You do not go to a blind man. Therefore it is said, tad viddhi praṇipātena (BG 4.34). Where you shall surrender? You are blind. If you surrender to a blind man, what is the benefit?

Dr. Patel: Who surrenders there, you also surrender. Not the body...

Prabhupāda: No, no. First of all, try to understand. You can surrender to a person when you think that "This person is..."

Guest (1): Good.

Prabhupāda: "...better than me."

Guest (1): He has realized it.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Guru. Guru means he is heavier than you.

First of all, try to understand one word please. One word, if you understand, your life will be successful. Don't go further. Ācāryopāsanam. This is the very important thing.
Morning Walk -- March 30, 1974, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: ...That is the first thing, ācāryopāsanam. But these rascals, they do not do that. They have no ācārya; still, they, write comment on Bhagavad-gītā. You see? This is the rascaldom. Ācāryopāsanam. One must go... Ācāryavān puruṣo veda. Unless one accepts ācārya, he does not know anything.

Dr. Patel: And then amānitvam adambhitvam...

Prabhupāda: First of all, try to understand one word please. One word, if you understand, your life will be successful. Don't go further. Ācāryopāsanam. This is the very important thing.

First of all try to understand that... Just like we have got prasāda distribution program. But that does not mean that we shall say, "We are feeding daridra-nārāyaṇa." We are offering to Nārāyaṇa and then feeding to the daridras.
Morning Walk -- March 30, 1974, Bombay:

Dr. Patel: You may be feeding, but others are throwing it away. That is why they have said daridra-nārāyaṇa.

Prabhupāda: That is... Others are throwing, others are doing this, this... That is not considered.

Dr. Patel: But they have not seen you doing it, you see...

Prabhupāda: Dari... Why not first of all offer to real Nārāyaṇa and then distribute to the daridras? (break) First of all try to understand that... Just like we have got prasāda distribution program. So... But that does not mean that we shall say, "We are feeding daridra-nārāyaṇa." We are offering to Nārāyaṇa and then feeding to the...

No, first of all try to understand this. Then talk big, big words. You try to understand Kṛṣṇa by drinking water. Is it very difficult?
Morning Walk -- March 31, 1974, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: But you can know when you surrender to Kṛṣṇa. (break) So if you are so unintelligent, then it is impossible. But if you have got little intelligence, then you can see Kṛṣṇa. Because Kṛṣṇa says... We were explaining that, that "The taste of the water I am." So don't you taste water? So the taste is Kṛṣṇa. What is the difficulty? Where is the difficulty?

Guest (5): Each life being a plan of God, God is responsible...

Prabhupāda: No, no, first of all try to understand this. Then talk big, big words. You try to understand Kṛṣṇa by drinking water. Is it very difficult?

Guest (5): No.

Prabhupāda: Then?

Guest (5): But it will take millions of years before you understand Him like that...

Prabhupāda: No, because you won't understand. If you don't understand, then it takes millions of years. Otherwise in a second. Where is the difficulty? Kṛṣṇa says, raso 'ham apsu kaunteya (BG 7.8). "I am the taste of the water." Prabhāsmi śaśi-sūryayoḥ. So you see the sunshine. This is Kṛṣṇa. The moonshine is Kṛṣṇa. First of all try to see Kṛṣṇa in... There are two kinds of snakes. One snake is poisonless, and another snake is poisonous. So before catching the poisonous snake, you practice to catch the non-poisonous snake. Then gradually, you'll be able. Similarly, Kṛṣṇa is everywhere, and this is the process to see Kṛṣṇa. That is a fact. When Kṛṣṇa says, "I am the taste of the water," that is a fact. So you see this Kṛṣṇa. Then you will, one day you will realize the Supreme Kṛṣṇa.

First of all try to understand. Akṣara means, "that does not fall down." That is akṣara. Akṣara and kṣara. The spiritual world is akṣara, and this material world is kṣara.
Morning Walk -- April 1, 1974, Bombay:

Dr. Patel: Param Brahman is akṣara.

Prabhupāda: Akṣara? First of all try to understand. Akṣara... Akṣara means, "that does not fall down." That is akṣara. Akṣara and kṣara. The spiritual world is akṣara, and this material world is kṣara. So the living entities or God in the spiritual world, they are all akṣara. And in the material world we are all kṣara. Therefore akṣaram paramaṁ brahma.

First of all try to understand what is written in the Bhagavad-gītā. Then you try to understand the philosophy.
Press Conference -- April 18, 1974, Hyderabad:

Guest (1): Since you are following Bhagavad-gītā, do you believe in dvaita philosophy or advaita philosophy?

Prabhupāda: Well, first of all try to understand what is written in the Bhagavad-gītā. Then you try to understand the philosophy. It is simple thing. Kṛṣṇa says that annād bhavanti parjanyāt. So there is no need of dvaita philosophy or advaita philosophy. You require anna to maintain the animals and living men. Practically. Dvaita philosophy and advaita philosophy, this is controversial. But even though we agree to dvaita philosophy or advaita philosophy, the question of food grain will be required, either you become dvaita philosophy or advaita philosophy.

Guest (1): What I mean to say is do you believe that the soul and God is one as Rāmānuja and Śaṅkarācārya says, or as Madhvācārya says...

Prabhupāda: We are speaking from the Bhagavad-gītā as it is. What Śaṅkarācārya says, what Rāmānujācārya says, that we shall consider there. You try to understand Bhagavad-gītā as it is.

First of all try to understand that what is the defect. The defect is that malinterpretation, bad interpretation.
Press Conference -- April 18, 1974, Hyderabad:

Guest (6): So you mean the lack of spiritual leadership has driven us to this state of affairs?

Prabhupāda: Yes. Because there have been so many. Just like Bhagavad-gītā, it is standard book. The so-called spiritual leaders, they give different interpretation. Why different interpretation? One interpretation is there. Anyone can understand. Man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru (BG 18.65). It is plain thing, Kṛṣṇa says that "You always think of Me." Man-manā bhava mad-bhaktaḥ. "You become My devotee, you just worship Me, offer your obeisance." And Dr. Radhakrishnan says, "It is not to Kṛṣṇa personally." What right he has got to say like that? Kṛṣṇa says, man-manā bhava. Dr. Radhakrishnan says, "It is not to Kṛṣṇa." This is going on. Just see. He is scholar, he is a philosopher. Even Gandhi says that "There was no Kṛṣṇa; it is all mythology." Then? How people will learn it? If Kṛṣṇa becomes mythology, the Bhagavad-gītā becomes imagination and anyone can interpret in any way. Then where is the teaching?

Guest (7): Are the teachings themself spiritual?

Prabhupāda: No, no. First of all try to understand that what is the defect. The defect is that malinterpretation, bad interpretation. Interpretation is required when a thing you cannot understand. But if a thing is clearly understood, why you interpret to mislead the leader? That is our protest.

First of all, try to understand. A devotee is neither brāhmaṇa nor śūdra. He may act like a śūdra, but he is not śūdra. He may act like a brāhmaṇa; he is not brāhmaṇa. He is Vaiṣṇava.
Morning Walk -- April 20, 1974, Hyderabad:

Pañcadraviḍa: A śūdra, if he is working, he cannot take brāhmaṇa initiation, but he can take hari-nāma, is that it?

Prabhupāda: Just like sometimes our men, my devotee, they wash the cupboard. Does it mean he is a methar(?)? No. He can go to the Deity room also. He is not a methar(?) or sweeper. But sometimes we do that. So devotee is above all these consideration. But because there is management, they should appear as brāhmaṇa, as śūdra, as kṣatriya, like that.

sa guṇān samatītyaitān
brahma-bhūyāya kalpate
māṁ ca vyabhicariṇi
bhakti-yogena yaḥ sevate
(BG 14.26)

A devotee, because he is working as a śūdra, he is not a śūdra; neither he is a brāhmaṇa. He is already in the spiritual platform. But for management we have to do that. One can do the śūdra's work nicely—let him be engaged in that way. Why he should imitate?

Mahāṁsa: Does he get second initiation?

Prabhupāda: Everything he will get.

Mahāṁsa: He gets.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Second initiation means recognized: "Now he has become fully competent Vaiṣṇava." Just like master is teaching the servant, "Now you give massage in this way, this way." But that does not mean he has become servant.

Pañcadraviḍa: What if the person working as śūdra says, "I can do so much. I can...,"

Prabhupāda: First of all, try to understand. A devotee is neither brāhmaṇa nor śūdra. He may act like a śūdra, but he is not śūdra. He may act like a brāhmaṇa; he is not brāhmaṇa. He is Vaiṣṇava.

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

We living entities, we are nityas, eternal. First of all try to understand eternity.
Room Conversation with Woman Sanskrit Professor -- February 13, 1975, Mexico:

Prabhupāda: The knowledge of existence, that nityaḥ-śāśvato 'yam, nityaḥ ṣāṣvataḥ, that is knowledge of existence. So you have to learn which is nitya and which is not nitya from the authority. "This is nitya, and this is anitya." So nityo nityānāṁ cetanaś cetanānām (Kaṭha Upaniṣad 2.2.13). These are the Vedic version: "There is one chief nitya amongst the many nityas." Just like we, we living entities, we are nityas, eternal. First of all try to understand eternity. You were a child or I was a child. Now that body, child body, is no longer existing. But I understand, I know, that I had a body, child. Therefore I am nitya. I am existing. The body has gone, but I am existing. Therefore I am eternal, nitya. Is it clear?

First of all try to understand what is bhakti-yoga.
Room Conversation with Yoga Student -- March 14, 1975, Iran:

Indian man: In the elementary way, if he starts...

Prabhupāda: What is that elementary way?

Indian man: Half-heartedly.

Prabhupāda: No, no what is that process elementary?

Indian man: In the dvaita way. In the dvaita way, not in the advaita way, assuming that He is different and I am different. That is the elementary way of starting worship.

Prabhupāda: Yes, that is always. Why elementary?

Indian man: He is considering in that way.

Indian man: No, no. Assuming there had been, supposing bhakti-yoga...

Prabhupāda: Bhakti-yoga... First of all try to understand what is bhakti-yoga.

I have told you that first of all you try to understand Kṛṣṇa from the Bhagavad-gītā.
Room Conversation with Yoga Student -- March 14, 1975, Iran:

Indian man: I will be knowing what He has preached, if I... That preaching itself is enough and we need not look anything about Him. We can surrender.

Prabhupāda: That He preaches...

Indian man: That preaching is enough.

Prabhupāda: That's all right.

Indian man: We need not know what He is.

Prabhupāda: That's all right. You accept His preaching?

Indian man: If it is accepted, then we can surrender. I was questioning only this point, whether the Kṛṣṇa of Bhāgavata is necessary to accept...

Prabhupāda: No, no, set aside Bhāgavatam. I have told you that first of all you try to understand Kṛṣṇa from the Bhagavad-gītā.

Indian man: If that is enough, it's enough.

Prabhupāda: Enough. But if you say that you don't believe in the Kṛṣṇa, whether He was living or not, then you have not understood Bhagavad-gītā.

Indian man: I know the living Kṛṣṇa will come in Bhagavad-gītā, I hope.

Prabhupāda: No. He says... He says that mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat kiñcid asti dhanañjaya: (BG 7.7) "There is no superior authority than Me." Then if you do not understand what is that Kṛṣṇa, then how you accept Him as superior authority?

Guest: I think we have to define the concept of God first, and then only...

Prabhupāda: No, no, concept of God is there in the Bhagavad-gītā.

Why you play Rādhā-kalyāṇa? Preach Kṛṣṇa's philosophy. Why do you go to Rādhā? First of all try to understand Kṛṣṇa.
Conversation with Indian Guests -- April 12, 1975, Hyderabad:

Guest (3): I say they have got a lot of bhakti towards Kṛṣṇa because in the house, all of us are...

Prabhupāda: Then preach Kṛṣṇa's philosophy. That is Kṛṣṇa's order.

Guest (3): Daily we celebrate that Rādhā-kalyāṇa.

Prabhupāda: Why you play Rādhā-kalyāṇa? Preach Kṛṣṇa's philosophy. Why do you go to Rādhā? First of all try to understand Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa in the Bhagavad-gītā has never said about Rādhā. That is very confidential. So why do you jump to Rādhā? Has Kṛṣṇa said anything about Rādhārāṇī in the Bhagavad-gītā?

First of all, try to understand this. Just like Kṛṣṇa says, mayā tatam idaṁ sarvam: "I am expanded by My energy everywhere." So the everywhere how you can go? You love Kṛṣṇa, and your love will go everywhere.
Garden Conversation with Professors -- June 24, 1975, Los Angeles:

Prabhupāda: First of all, try to understand this. Just like Kṛṣṇa says, mayā tatam idaṁ sarvam: "I am expanded by My energy everywhere." So the everywhere how you can go? You love Kṛṣṇa, and your love will go everywhere. You pay tax to the government, and the tax is distributed in so many departments. So it is not your business to go every department and pay tax. Pay to the treasury of the government; it will be distributed. This is intelligence. And if you say that "Why shall I pay to the treasury house? I shall pay the this department, that department, that department, that department," you can go on, but it will never be sufficient, neither complete. So you may love humanity, but because you do not love Kṛṣṇa, therefore you do not love the cows; you send them to slaughterhouse. So your love will remain defective. It will never be complete. And if you love Kṛṣṇa, then you will love even the small ant. You will be not interested even to kill even an ant. That is real love.

What is that thing that enables the Brahmavādīs to advance? That you will know later on. First of all try to understand this. Don't try to understand everything in a moment.
Morning Walk -- July 2, 1975, Denver:

Prabhupāda: Māyāvādīs remain fools forever.

Harikeśa: They never leave this material platform.

Prabhupāda: They do not know. They have no knowledge. Aviśuddha-buddhayaḥ (SB 10.2.32), always impure. Otherwise how they are thinking, so 'ham: "I am same. I am God. I am moving the sun, I am..." Such rascals, they remain always in ignorance. (break) ...no sense that "If I am the same, then why I have fallen down in this māyā?" They say, "It is my līlā. I have become dog. So it is my līlā. I have become hog. It is my līlā." (laughs) This is their philosophy. Hare Kṛṣṇa. (break) Māyāvāda. They are fools, mūḍha. Māyayāpahṛta-jñānā. They are described in the Bhagavad-gītā. Māyāvādī means māyayāpahṛta-jñānā: "Their knowledge has been taken away by māyā." Fools. Either you call them fool or call them lowest of the mankind or the most sinful, whatever way you can call, they are like that. All good qualifications. Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu has warned, māyāvādī-bhāṣya śunile haya sarva-nāśa: (CC Madhya 6.169) "If you hear from Māyāvādī, then your spiritual life is finished." It's so dangerous.

Harikeśa: The Brahmavādīs have some possibility of advancement?

Prabhupāda: Oh, yes.

Harikeśa: What is that thing that enables them to advance?

Prabhupāda: That you will know later on. First of all try to understand this. Don't try to understand everything in a moment. That is foolishness.

First of all try to understand that you depend.
Television Interview -- July 9, 1975, Chicago:

Woman reporter: Many women have children and have no support from husbands. They have no husband.

Prabhupāda: Then they have to take support from others. You cannot deny that. The government is giving you support. But the government is embarrassed. If the husband supports the wife and children, the government is relieved of so much welfare contribution. So that is a problem.

Woman reporter: What happens when women support men?

Prabhupāda: First of all try to understand that you depend. The... After man and woman unite, there is children, and the man goes away, and you are embarrassed. The woman is embarrassed. Why? Why this is, is made possible? A man and woman unites, and the woman becomes pregnant, and the husband goes away. Then the poor woman is embarrassed with the child. She has to beg from the government. So do you think it is very nice thing? The Vedic idea is that woman should be married to a man and the man should take charge of the woman and the children independently so that they do not become a burden to the government or to the public.

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

First of all you try to understand. Everything is sin. Disease means sin. Unless you commit sinful life, there is no question of suffering.
Conversation with News Reporters -- March 25, 1976, Delhi:

Reporter (1): But suffering may not necessarily be because of sin. It might be because of something else, you know?

Prabhupāda: "Might be something," that is your sinful activities. That "something" is some sinful activity.

Reporter (1): Now a poor man suffers of hunger. This is not sin if he doesn't get proper food or anything.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Yes. But how you can help? You cannot help. Just like a prisoner in the, suffering in the prison house, you cannot help him.

Reporter (1): I may suffer because I have cancer...

Prabhupāda: No, first of all you try to understand.

Reporter (1): But cancer is not a sin, you know.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Everything is sin. Disease means sin. Unless you commit sinful life, there is no question of suffering.

First of all you try to understand yourself. Then talk of God.
Room Conversation -- April 22, 1976, Melbourne:

Brian Singer: What is the God that these other religions believe in? Is that...

Prabhupāda: First of all you try to understand yourself. Then talk of God. If you do not understand yourself, how you'll understand God? That is a big thing. Try to understand the small thing, that you are not this body. Talk on this subject matter, that as.... When you understand that "I, the proprietor of the body, I am different from this body," then you will understand God also, very easily.

The real point is, first of all try to understand that you are not this body. So where is the hampering, becoming a businessman or family man or this or that?
Room Conversation -- April 22, 1976, Melbourne:

Prabhupāda: Everyone can be devotee.... It is a question to understand that "I am not this body." That is beginning. So a businessman can try to understand, a lawyer can try to understand, or a philosopher can try to under.... Everyone can do that. The real point is, first of all try to understand that you are not this body. So where is the hampering, becoming a businessman or family man or this or that? There is no hampering. We are trained up from the very beginning of our life by our parents. We got the opportunity. And businessman, no businessman, it doesn't matter. Ahaituky apratihatā yayātmā suprasīdati. Sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo... (SB 1.2.6). Find out this verse. Ahaituky apratihatā. Kṛṣṇa conscious is unhampered by anything material. It does not mean that because you are a businessman you cannot be Kṛṣṇa conscious. No. That is not. You may be whatever you are, but you can become Kṛṣṇa conscious at the same time.

First of all, try to understand the analogy. There is car and there is the driver. That car is always different from the driver and the driver is always different from the car. Is it not?
Interview with Religious Editor Of the Associated Press -- July 16, 1976, New York:

Bali-mardana: We are also utilizing the car but our attention is on the life principle, not on the dead metal.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Interviewer: Appears to be separated, that's the way you would put it. Well, is it separated?

Prabhupāda: It is always separated. It is always separated. Just like the driver and the car, they are always separated.

Interviewer: I'm talking about the movement, from the secular world.

Prabhupāda: First of all, understand the analogy. The car and the driver is always separated. The driver is not car, neither the car is the driver.

Interviewer: Well, is the Kṛṣṇa movement the driver or the car?

Prabhupāda: Why you bring Kṛṣṇa? First of all, try to understand the analogy. There is car and there is the driver. That car is always different from the driver and the driver is always different from the car. Is it not?

Interviewer: Absolutely. The car can't drive itself.

Prabhupāda: So, if you take attention of the car and you do not know anything about the driver, then what is your knowledge?

First of all, if you do not understand what is the movement then how you can give your verdict like that? First of all, try to understand what is this movement.
Interview with Religious Editor Of the Associated Press -- July 16, 1976, New York:

Bali-mardana: If you pay attention to the car without paying attention to understanding who the driver of the car is, what is the driver, then what is the use of your knowledge? In other words, the driver is the living entity or the soul and the car is this body, the material elements of this material world including the body. So without understanding who you are, who the living entity within the body or the driver within the car, then what is the use of your knowledge of the material elements without understanding who you are?

Interviewer: Well, since this dichotomy appears to be the case, I mean that there is, that the movement is sort of cut off from the world in general, does that not deprive the world of the service, of the usefulness of these people?

Prabhupāda: First of all, if you do not understand what is the movement then how you can give your verdict like that? First of all, try to understand what is this movement.

Interviewer: The Hare Kṛṣṇa movement, the Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Society.

Prabhupāda: Then what is that Kṛṣṇa movement? That Kṛṣṇa movement is, just like to understand the driver.

First of all try to understand the car is moving with the help of the driver. So the driver and the car they are always different identity. So when the car is dead, the driver do not work with the car, but the driver is important within the car or without the car.
Interview with Religious Editor Of the Associated Press -- July 16, 1976, New York:

Interviewer: I don't know how I'm going to get the point you're making there across. If the car and the driver are separated, the car is useless and the driver is a person. The driver is always important.

Prabhupāda: Yes, yes, driver is always important. Within the car or without the car.

Interviewer: Within or without the car, and if he's a chauffeur driving a carload of people then he becomes less important, the people are primarily the ones that are important, that are in the car. (laughter)

Prabhupāda: First of all try to understand the car is moving with the help of the driver. So the driver and the car they are always different identity. So when the car is dead, the driver do not work with the car, but the driver is important within the car or without the car.

First of all, try to understand this. The mother is there, the children are there. So there must be father. This is scientific.
Radio Interview -- July 27, 1976, London:

So the material nature is giving birth to so many living entities. So if the material nature is the mother and all these living entities are children, then where is the father?

Mike Robinson: I don't know. The father is God.

Prabhupāda: There. You must know there must be father. I may know, not know him, but without father the children cannot be brought into existence. This is science. First of all, try to understand this. The mother is there, the children are there. So there must be father. This is scientific. So who is that rascal scientist who can say "No, there is no father"? Then he's not a scientist, he's a rascal. How you can deny the existence of father? You may not see him or may see Him, it doesn't matter. There must be father. This simple understanding.

First of all, you must try to understand what is spiritual culture.
Evening Conversation -- August 8, 1976, Tehran:

Prabhupāda: Practically you do not know what is spiritual culture. That is a fact. So first of all, you must try to understand what is spiritual culture. Spiritual culture means... There are two things within our experience. Matter and spirit. So matter is this body, and spirit is the soul within the body. Without spirit, this material body has no value. That we experience every day. When a man is dead, we take it, now the body is useless, throw it away. Therefore the body is important so long the spirit soul is there. And that is spirit. And when we study that spirit soul, that is the beginning of spiritual culture. If you have no idea of what is that spirit, then there is no question of spiritual culture. With this body we cannot make any progress of spiritual culture. That is not possible. The body is matter. They're explained in the Bhagavad-gītā. Antavanta ime dehā. Bring Bhagavad-gītā. Antavanta ime dehā nityasyoktāḥ śarīriṇaḥ. So try to understand what is spirit, what is matter.

Modern civilization is trying to mitigate miseries of life. And Bhagavad-gītā proposes that first of all try to understand what is your misery of life.
Morning Walk -- August 23, 1976, Hyderabad:

Prabhupāda: What you will do with the material progress? Suppose you have got good bank balance, nice house and everything, good society, friendship, relative... But at any moment death will come and kick you out. What you can do? Mṛtyuḥ sarva-haraś cāham (BG 10.34). Death will come and will take everything, what you have got. Finished. And he will make you a dog. Now bark. How can you stop it? Prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi (BG 3.27). You have practiced how to bark in the legislative assembly, now go and become a dog and go on barking. Yow, yow, yow. This is going on. They do not know what is life, what is the purpose of life. Asatyam apratiṣṭhaṁ te jagad āhur anīśvaram (BG 16.8). This is going on. Asatyam. Somebody says this is false. Asatyam. Apratiṣṭham, there is no cause. There is no God. And this is going on. Asatyam apratiṣṭhaṁ te jagad āhur anīśvaram (BG 16.8). Everything is explained in the Bhagavad-gītā. And this Bhagavad-gītā is Indian. Of course, it is meant for everyone, but it was spoken in India, and Indians are rejecting. And if somebody takes it, he misinterprets and spoils himself and spoils others. This is going on. Their modern civilization is trying to mitigate miseries of life. And Bhagavad-gītā proposes that first of all try to understand what is your misery of life.

First of all try to understand what is God's mission.
Meeting with Endowments Commissioner -- August 24, 1976, Hyderabad:

Prabhupāda: We have to take... You cannot manufacture where God goes. You should have to take lesson from God. That is one thing. If we manufacture ideas, that will never be successful. That will never be successful. Don't manufacture ideas. If you want to be servant of God, you must take instruction from God. That is wanted. You cannot manufacture idea that "God wants this." So first of all try to understand what is God's mission. God's mission is, it is clearly said, yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati (BG 4.7). So, more or less, everyone is entangled with this glānir dharma. They have manufactured. Just like the demigod worship. This is a glānir dharma. Kṛṣṇa says sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja (BG 18.66). And Kṛṣṇa clearly says kāmais tais tair hṛta-jñānāḥ yajante anya-devatāḥ (BG 7.20). So if you want to utilize, people are giving in good faith, Bālajī, Kṛṣṇa. Their hard-earned money, whatever we are giving something. Yajña, that is wanted. Yajñārthāt karmaṇo 'nyatra loko 'yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ (BG 3.9). That money should not be utilized for any other purpose except yajña. First of all, you have to decide like that. Then we can give you direction. First of all, you have to decide that this money, not a single farthing should be spent for any other purpose than performing yajña. Then we can give you right direction. And if you have plan to utilize this money for any other purpose, that is not Kṛṣṇa's mission. That is your mission. So first of all you have to decide whether you are going to execute Kṛṣṇa's mission or your mission.

How you can make equal the maintainer and the maintained? First of all, try to understand.
Room Conversation -- August 25, 1976, Hyderabad:

Indian man: ...the soul. How you are reconciling it if you say that the... I mean what a man is different from Kṛṣṇa. Or ātmā is different from Paramātmā. If you say that, then how do you say that ātmā is eternal? And what is the fate of the ātmā?

Prabhupāda: No, ātmā is eternal. That is said, nityo nityānāṁ cetanaś cetanānām (Kaṭha Upaniṣad 2.2.13). Why don't you understand? Ātmā is eternal, God is eternal. But the difference is, next line, eko yo bahūnāṁ vidadhāti kāmān. That one ātmā, God, He is maintaining others, and the others are being maintained. So how you can make equal the maintainer and the maintained? First of all, try to understand.

That is the first instruction in the Bhagavad-gītā, that first of all, try to understand what is the person.
Room Conversation with U.N. Doctor -- September 29, 1976, Vrndavana:

Doctor: How to find the...? How to get to the ātman, the inner body?

Prabhupāda: Yes, that is the first instruction in the Bhagavad-gītā, that first of all, try to understand what is the person. So because we have no eyes to see, indirectly dehino 'smin yathā dehe kaumāram... (BG 2.13). Na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre (BG 2.20). Antavanta ime dehā nityasyoktāḥ śarīriṇaḥ (BG 2.18). So many things. Nainaṁ dahati pāvakaḥ. So many indirect way because we cannot directly perceive.

First of all try to understand. The free will is there. If you don't surrender, then, Kṛṣṇa says, "Instead of sitting idly, better you do your prescribed duty."
Morning Walk -- December 5, 1976, Hyderabad:

Prabhupāda: First of all try to understand. It is... The free will is there. If you don't surrender, then, Kṛṣṇa says, niyataṁ kuru karma tvaṁ karma jyāyo hy akarmaṇaḥ: "Instead of sitting idly, better you do your prescribed duty." So the prescribed duty is cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ (BG 4.13). According to guṇa and karma, there are four divisions. So if you are in the first-class division as brāhmaṇa, you do the brāhmaṇa's work. If you are a kṣatriya, you do the kṣatriya's... Niyataṁ kuru karma. What is you are destined, you do that nicely. Don't be idle. That is Kṛṣṇa's in... But if you are intelligent, then Kṛṣṇa says, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekam (BG 18.66). But you are foolish; then you be engaged in your prescribed duty. And if you are intelligent, then "You give up everything; simply surrender to Me." That depends on you. If you are intelligent, you'll surrender; if you are not intelligent, be engaged in your karma. Kṛṣṇa is giving all facilities. Now it is up to you to make your selection.

First of all, try to understand Bhagavad-gītā. Then go to the sari of gopī. You do not know what is Kṛṣṇa and you are going to His gopīs.
Room Conversation -- December 29, 1976, Bombay:

Guest (2): How you explain the act of Kṛṣṇa taking away the saris of the gopīs?

Prabhupāda: First of all, try to understand Bhagavad-gītā. Then go to the sari of gopī. You do not know what is Kṛṣṇa and you are going to His gopīs. This is another malinterpretation. You are studying Bhagavad-gītā, talk of that. In the Bhagavad-gītā the gopīs' saris are not mentioned. So why you are bringing gopīs' saris now? This is our fault.

Guest (2): Normally, you know our people...

Prabhupāda: No, no. This is our fault There is no mention of gopīs' saris. We are talking of Bhagavad-gītā, why you are bringing gopīs' saris?

Guest (2): Because that...

Prabhupāda: Again because. There is no subject matter there. You have no right to bring that. That is our fault. To bring a horse before a cart. We are talking of Bhagavad-gītā. There is no mention of Kṛṣṇa and gopīs' saris there. So let us talk. Finish that.

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

First of all try to understand. Just like the sunshine. The sunshine is important or the sun is important?
Room Conversation -- January 8, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: So He is the pratiṣṭhā. Just like in this room there is illumination. The illumination is spread all over the room. (Hindi—"Please hear") So the illumination is important or the light is important? What is important?

Guest (2): The original light. Source of the light. Isn't Brahman the source of the light?

Prabhupāda: No, first of all try to understand. Just like the sunshine. The sunshine is important or the sun is important?

Guest (2): The original sun.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Similarly, this impersonal Brahman illumination or effulgence, that is the bodily rays of Kṛṣṇa. Yasya prabhā prabhavato jagad-aṇḍa-koṭi (Bs. 5.40). So ultimately Kṛṣṇa is important, not this impersonal Brahman illumination.

Our education begins from that. First of all try to understand what is spirit.
Room Conversation -- February 17, 1977, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: Why he said dhīra, sober, cool-headed? These rascals are cats and dogs. They are not civilized, even big, big professors, they say, "Swami, after finishing this body, everything is finished." Has he got brain? And they're Communist leader. Identifying with this body. This is the actual platform of that body, dehātma-buddhiḥ. And they're described in the śāstra as no better than the asses. So next point will be that where you think beyond your capacity, we begin our education from there, seeing the... Our education begins from that. First of all try to understand what is spirit.

First of all try to understand what is that living force.
Room Conversation about BTG the Moon -- February 18, 1977, Mayapura:

Hari-śauri: Even the world's best computer has to have a programmer behind it.

Prabhupāda: So the computer worker or this dictaphone, everything is living being.

Hari-śauri: Must be living.

Prabhupāda: Yes, there must be touch of a living being. Therefore the whole cosmic manifestation—there is touch of Kṛṣṇa. Mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate (BG 9.10). Dead matter cannot work. We are beginning our knowledge from this. First of all try to understand what is that living force. Apareyam. This dead matter, kiñcid, itas tu viddhi me prakṛtiṁ parām. There is another nature. What is that? Jīva-bhūtam, living... That is superior.

Hari-śauri: Which is sustaining the universe.

Prabhupāda: You can practically experience. A machine may be very complicated, but without the man who will push the button there is no value. It has no value, a lump only.

Within this body, there is the owner of the body. First of all try to understand. He is speaking on that subject matter.
Interview with Mr. Koshi (Asst. Editor of The Current Weekly) -- April 5, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Again why you are coming to renunciation? First of all come to the knowledge. First of all accept that within this body there is the active principle. Then whether it is required renunciation, no renunciation, that we shall discuss later on. First of all, we have to understand, as Kṛṣṇa says in the very beginning, that asmin dehe dehī. Within this body, there is the owner of the body. First of all try to understand. He is speaking on that subject matter. Dehī. Not on the deha. People should understand first of all this science. Then talk of other things. When we say "Two plus two equal to four," no scholar will deny it. "Yes, it is four." Nobody, no rascal will say, "No, it is five or three." Nobody will disagree, if it is science, if it is mathematics. Similarly, Kṛṣṇa says within this body, the owner of the body. Who will deny it? Let them accept it. Then we shall discuss what is that owner, what is the nature of that owner. First of all let them accept it. They are accepting the machine as everything. Do you agree or not?

First of all try to understand the beginning, that you are not this body. That is the fundamental understanding.
Interview with Mr. Koshi (Asst. Editor of The Current Weekly) -- April 5, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Actually understand Bhagavad-gītā and distribute the knowledge. That is our aim.

Mr. Koshi: But are there anything... Isn't there something more fundamental than that?

Prabhupāda: There are many things, and they are all subordinate. First of all you understand the body and the owner of the body. In the body there are so many things. Similarly, the owner of deha, greater number of things to know. First of all try to understand the beginning, that you are not this body. That is the fundamental understanding.

First of all, you try to understand the principles. These are the four principles of sinful life. So you should avoid.
Interview with Mr. Koshi (Asst. Editor of The Current Weekly) -- April 5, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: You say, but śāstra says striya, sūnā, pāna, dyūta (SB 1.17.38), four kinds of sinful activities. Illicit sex; pāna, intoxication. Pāna, pāna, so it is intoxication. Therefore it is sinful.

Mr. Koshi: And what is the fourth?

Prabhupāda: Striya, sūnā and jīva-hiṁsā, unnecessarily killing animals.

Mr. Koshi: And therefore vegetarianism. Is that why vegetarianism is...?

Prabhupāda: First of all, you try to understand the principles. These are the four principles of sinful life. So you should avoid. Unless... Yeṣām anta gataṁ pāpam. That is the... Unless you are free from sinful activities, you cannot understand Kṛṣṇa. Yeṣām anta gataṁ pāpaṁ janānāṁ puṇya-karmaṇām, te dvandva-moha-nirmuktā (BG 7.28).

Why do you jump over to spiritual life? First of all try to understand your material nature, what you are at the present moment, that you are on the rules of material nature.
Room Conversation -- May 8, 1977, Hrishikesh:

Prabhupāda: So you accept or not accept, you have to follow the rules of material nature.

Young man (3): I admit I can't...

Prabhupāda: Then you are under the rules of material nature. You have to admit.

Young man (3): Ah, but in spiritual life...

Prabhupāda: Why do you jump over spiritual life? First of all try to understand your material nature, what you are at the present moment, that you are on the rules of material nature. Prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ (BG 3.27). That you cannot avoid. So what is the use of making your own rules?

Young man (3): Ah, but you're not understanding the rules of nature.

Prabhupāda: No, that understanding... First of all you have to understand that you are under the rules of material nature, and you accept or not accept, you'll be forced by nature.

Page Title:First of all, try to understand...(Conversations)
Compiler:Labangalatika
Created:09 of Nov, 2009
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=49, Let=0
No. of Quotes:49