Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura said, "Let me become the servant of the servant and live with devotees. That is my desire."
So this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is that let us live amongst devotees. Why we are struggling to get so many centers open? Because devotees will live there, follow the regulative principles according to the instruction of the śāstra and spiritual master, guided by, and people will get chance. As soon as one comes in this society of devotee, he'll get some opportunity. And svalpam apy asya . . . that is meant. Even by sentiment one comes . . . tyaktvā sva-dharmaṁ caraṇāmbujaṁ hareḥ (SB 1.5.17). Nārada Muni said, "Even by sentiments one gives up his occupational duty, so-called occupational duty, and surrenders to Kṛṣṇa, even not understanding fully . . ." So śāstra says, "What is the loss there?" And if one is performing his material duties very perfectly, then what is gain there? He's simply wasting time. And a devotee, even by sentiment or whimsically comes in this center and gives some service, that is permanent record. And these karmīs, although they are acting very sincerely, but there is no guarantee what is the next life. He may become a dog. There are 8,400,000 species of life, and tyaktvā deham (BG 4.19) . . . then he has to accept another body. So if we do not work according to the rules and regulation of nature, then we have to accept another body, and we do not know what kind of body you are going to accept. But it will be a gift by nature. Prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni (BG 3.27). Eh? Kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo 'sya sad-asad janma-yoniṣu (BG 13.22).
So they do not know these things, the rascal civilization. Just like dancing like dog, that's all. This is rascal civilization. They have no responsibility of life, and dancing like dog. No. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is very scientific movement. Everyone should try to understand. If he wants to understand through science, through philosophy, through logic—in any way—through religion, through culture—any way he wants to understand, we have got volumes of books. Try to understand. It is not a bluff. It is all scientific. So either you accept as Kṛṣṇa . . . as Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, that jīvera svarūpa haya nitya kṛṣṇera dāsa . . . if you immediately accept the words of, accept the words of Kṛṣṇa—sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ (BG 18.66)—that is very good. But if you are very learned philosopher, scientist, then read books. Both ways we have prepared to convince you.
So,
- jīvera svarūpa haya kṛṣṇera nitya-dāsa
- kṛṣṇera taṭasthā-śakti bhedābheda-prakāśa
- (CC Madhya 20.108)
Bhedābheda-prakāśa. Bheda means "different," and abheda means "one." Two philosophies are going on. The Māyāvādīs, they say, "We are the same." So 'ham: "I am the same." Ahaṁ brahmāsmi: "I am the Supreme Brahman." But the Vedic literature says, ahaṁ brahmāsmi, but Kṛṣṇa, or God, is Param Brahman. In the Vedas there is no such thing as ahaṁ paraṁ brahmāsmi. (laughter) No. They are misusing. The . . . instead of understanding . . . Brahman, every one of us, we are Brahman. There is no doubt about it. But unfortunately, by mistake, by illusion, I am thinking, "I am this body." So spiritual education means first of all one has to understand that ahaṁ brahmāsmi: "I am Brahman. I am not this body." That is the beginning of spiritual education.