Devotee: . . . (indistinct)
Prabhupāda: Certainly.
Devotee: . . . (indistinct)
Prabhupāda: Yes, provided they take it seriously. Otherwise if they keep their mentality differently then according to mind one has to get a body. But just like so many boys they come here in the beginning out of curiosity, but gradually they get the chance to become a devotee. Similarly if they take the chance then they will be liberated. They come out of curiosity but if they take it seriously then they will be liberated. Just like hospital is meant for curing the disease. So one should take the treatment if he simply goes and visits the hospital and thinks now I am cured how it can be. Hospital is . . . suppose if I advertise that anyone who comes to this hospital he will be cured of his disease. That's a fact, but if he thinks that I have comes here, now I am going. Then how he will be cured?
You see Jaganātha on the Ratha Yātrā, his way for liberation is open. But if he comes back again and entangles himself . . . then? One goes to the doctor and he gives injection the disease is cured, but again he comes back and does the same thing so that he develops this disease again. So who's fault is it? This is called pratiñṭā. Pratiñṭā means, elephant takes bath very nicely and as soon as he comes on the bank of the river or the lake, he takes dust and throws (break) again. If we do that then we shall remain always dirty. We go take bath, clean but don't take dirt again. That is not going on. They become immediately mukta, liberated but they come, again become entangled. If it is a fact seeing Jaganātha is mukta, that how easy he comes to mukta but if he again comes to māyā then who can take it.
Just like we are following the path of liberation but if you again come back to māyā then where is your liberation? Why Jaganātha in the Ratha here but if somebody comes here and sees the path of liberation is open, now he should protect himself. Just like disease, fever it's subsided, now one should be careful not to relapse again. That care is in my hands, everyone's hands and if you become prone to relapse again, then again the same thing. Just like in Christian church they confess for that is injunction. That's alright after confessing the sins are excused. That's a fact, but if he comes back, again commits the sin, then what is the account? But they are happy in that way. Then after one week you can go to the church, "And confess my sins". Then everything will be neutralized. This is alright, suppose on Sunday you become free from all contamination of your sins. On Monday, you again do the same thing so you become again become contaminated and say on Tuesday you should die then you are dying with sin. Is it not? Then what is your condition? If God or Christ excuses of your sinful life that's alright but when you come back you don't commit again sin then you are alright.
But we are taking it as a business, that we go on Sunday naturalize all sins and come back again and do the same thing. So from logical point of view, suppose you do the same sinful activity and if you die immediately then you'll die with sinful activities and go to hell. What benefit is derived by confessing in the church? This business is going on. Now I have seen Jaganātha my liberation is guaranteed now I can do anything. This mentality, this mentality is not really nice. You have seen Jaganātha your sinful activities are now neutralized but don't commit again. Now make progress then your liberation will be there, is it clear?
- nāmno balād yasya hi pāpabuddhiḥ
The chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa Mantra, one chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa is sufficient to make us pure from all sinful activities reaction. But if we commit sin again in the hope that because I'm chanting this will be neutralized and that is the greatest sin. So one side you should chant always Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra so that you may not fall down and other side you should be careful. No illicit sex life, no intoxication, no meat eating, in this way if you carefully make progress then your liberation is guaranteed. Just like doctor, if you go to a doctor for treatment of the disease he gives you medicine. At the same time he prohibits you, don't do this. So you take medicine and don't do this, follow these instructions, you are cured, yes. But if you don't follow the don't do this and don't take the medicine regularly then how you can expect cure?
It maybe but it will take long time but if you want quick, take it seriously. Just like Dhruva Māhāraja in six months he saw God. In six months . . . (indistinct) . . . he followed self-realization and if you don't follow the regulative principles and instruction then our liberation will be delayed. Otherwise it's guaranteed.
Devotee: How do you develop . . . (indistinct) . . . knowledge.
Prabhupāda: Seriousness, if you become serious then you will develop. Develop seriously, if you are fickle then how you can develop seriously. Therefore the injunction is
- yasya prasādād bhagavat–prasādo
- (Śrī Śrī Gurvaṣṭaka)
we should be very serious to abide by the orders of the Spiritual Master then you are serious. If you think the spiritual master is a man like me why should I follow . . . (indistinct) . . . the instructions so strictly, then you are not serious. And what is the use of your . . . (indistinct) . . . this is seriousness and we are singing daily yasya prasādād bhagavat prasādo, what is the meaning of this?
Devotee: By the mercy of the Spiritual master one receives the mercy of Kṛṣṇa.
Prabhupāda: So if you don't follow the spiritual master then how can you get His mercy? Mercy is always there but if you don't take it? Then what . . . (indistinct) . . . spiritual master or the father will do? You have to take it. That is civilization, therefore Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura says that the order of my spiritual master is my life. I do not know whether I get liberation or not that is not my business. My business is to carry out the order of my spiritual master, Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura. If one is serious on this point then he is liberated. First of all we have to approach a spiritual master, who is actually spiritual master and then if he carries the order of the spiritual master then everything . . . (indistinct) . . . the same example first of all you find out a right physician and you put yourself under his treatment, follow his instruction and the disease is cured. But if you go to your false Physician or if you are false, then you become implicated . . . (indistinct)