Lower planetary systems (Conversations)

Expressions researched:
"Lower planetary systems" |"Lower planetary system"

1968 Conversations and Morning Walks

Those who are in the modes of ignorance, they are allowed to live in the lower planetary system.

Interview with LA Times Reporter About Moon Trip -- December 26, 1968, Los Angeles:

Prabhupāda: In the Bhagavad-gītā it is stated that there are three planetary system, upper, lower and middle. So ūrdhvaṁ gacchanti, those who are in the modes of goodness, they are allowed to live in the upper planetary system. And those who are in the modes of passion, they are allowed to live in this middle planetary system, and those who are in the modes of ignorance, they are allowed to live in the lower planetary system.

Reporter: Now where would the moon planet fit?

Prabhupāda: Moon planet is the upper. That is the beginning of upper planetary system. Still upper, upper, upper, there are many layers.

1973 Conversations and Morning Walks

So a living entity is wandering up and down, sometimes in the higher planetary system and lower planetary system, sometimes this, sometimes rich, sometimes poor, sometimes this, sometimes a cat, sometimes dog, sometimes demigod.

Room Conversation -- London, August 24, 1973: Prabhupāda: No, not like that. Unless you endeavor for going to Kṛṣṇa, there is no possibility. That is there in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, tasyaiva hetoḥ prayateta kovido na labhyate yad bhramatām upary adhaḥ [SB 1.5.18]. Human life is meant for trying for that thing which he has not achieved by wandering up and down. So a living entity is wandering up and down, sometimes in the higher planetary system and lower planetary system, sometimes this, sometimes rich, sometimes poor, sometimes this, sometimes a cat, sometimes dog, sometimes demigod. In this way he is suffering.

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

"I don't care for God, don't care for what is going to happen." That is foolishness. People, lower planetary system, they are like that. In this planet also.

Morning Walk -- May 20, 1975, Melbourne:

Hari-śauri: Is the irregularity in the weather and...

Prabhupāda: That is due to sinful life.

Hari-śauri: So if we increase the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement...

Prabhupāda: Then it will be regular. It is nature's punishment. You may not care what is sinful life, but that is recorded. That is foolishness. "I don't care for God, don't care for what is going to happen." That is foolishness. People, lower planetary system, they are like that. In this planet also. In Western countries there are many places. "Don't care for anything, what is sinful life, what is going to happen. Let us enjoy, that's all." This is their philosophy. "Let us enjoy, that's all." Materialistic point of view is like that. They do not know that we are eternal and we are responsible for our activities. That is knowledge. But they have no knowledge. They simply want to enjoy. They do not care for death also. Simply sense gratification. That's all.

If we do not properly use this human form of body, if we become subjected to sinful life, then we get a different type of body, birth, death, old age and disease, we cannot avoid, either in the higher planetary or in the lower planetary system.

Press Conference -- July 9, 1975, Chicago: Prabhupāda: There are 8,400,000 different types of body. So if we do not properly use this human form of body, if we become subjected to sinful life, then we get a different type of body, very—animal life, tree's life, plant's life, aquatic's life, insect life. Or even we are promoted to the higher standard of life, as in higher planets the demigods, the four principles of material miseries, namely birth, death, old age and disease, we cannot avoid, either in the higher planetary or in the lower planetary system. But if we want eternal life of bliss and knowledge, then we must endeavor in this life how to go back to home, back to Godhead. And such persons who are endeavoring for this purpose, they are called first-class men. And they are called brāhmaṇas or the first-class men.

If a person has done very nicely, in goodness, then he will be promoted to the higher planetary system. And if he has not done anything nice then he will remain here or he will be degraded to the lower planetary system.

Conversation with Professor Hopkins -- July 13, 1975, Philadelphia:

Prabhupāda: Dangerous means if one is not completely educated of self-realization he has the risk of degradation.

Prof. Hopkins: He has what?

Prabhupāda: The risk of degradation. Now I have got human form of body, I may degrade to animal. Because transmigration of the soul. In the Bhagavad-gītā it is said, tathā dehāntara prāptir, after death one gets another body. Now, what kind of body, that depends on his work. Ūrdhvaṁ gacchanti sattva-sthāḥ [Bg. 14.18]. If he has done very nicely, in goodness, then he will be promoted to the higher planetary system. And if he has not done anything nice then he will remain here or he will be degraded to the lower planetary system.

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

After birth in higher planet, at the end he will falldown and again he can make choice whether he goes to higher planetary system or lower planetary system or back to Godhead.

Evening Darsana -- July 8, 1976, Washington, D.C.: As soon as they spend up their resultant action of pious activities, then again drop down, kṣīṇe puṇye punar martya-lokaṁ viśanti. And again begins life from the grass. They fall down with rains, and then they grow as grass. Then evolutional life begins, from plant life to insect life, to insect life to bird's life. [break] Again he can make choice whether he goes to higher planetary system or lower planetary system or back to Godhead. Yānti deva-vratā devān pitṟn yānti pitṛ-vratāḥ [Bg. 9.25]. He makes his choice. This is an opportunity. And the instruction is there in the Bhagavad-gītā, whether you want again go to the higher planetary system, demigod's residence, yānti deva-vratā devān. Or you want to remain here, bhūtejyāḥ. Or you want to go down. Or you want to go back to home, back to Godhead. That is your selection.

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

So we have to change the body according to our desire. If we want to go to the higher planetary system, we can go. God will give us the facility. If you want to go to the lower planetary system, He'll give you. And if you want to go to Him, He'll give you.

Evening Darsana -- May 11, 1977, Hrishikesh: So God knows what I want, and according to my desire, He is giving me certain type of body, not directly, but through His energy, material nature. Bhrāmayan sarva-bhūtāni yantrārūḍhāni māyayā [Bg. 18.61]. He has got so many agents. Parāsya śaktir vividhaiva śrūyate [Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport]. So this material nature is also one of the agents. And He knows what I desire. He's very friendly, that "This living entity wants this, so give him a body like this." So we get a body. Tathā dehāntara-prāptir dhīras tatra na muhyati [Bg. 2.13]. So we have to change the body according to our desire. If we want to go to the higher planetary system, we can go. God will give us the facility. If you want to go to the lower planetary system, He'll give you. And if you want to go to Him, He'll give you.

The jīva comes along with the rain. That is described in the śāstra. In this way they come to the lower planetary system. Coming with water and begin again with water.

Conversation Pieces -- May 27, 1977, Vrndavana:

Svarūpa Dāmodara: That jīva comes along with the rain?

Prabhupāda: Hm?

Svarūpa Dāmodara: That jīva, the ātmā, comes...

Prabhupāda: Comes from. Yes.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: ...along with the rain.

Prabhupāda: That is described in the śāstra. Kṣīṇe puṇye punaḥ martya-lokaṁ viśanti. In this way they come to the lower planetary system. Coming with water and begin again with water.