So-called speculation

Expressions researched:
"so-called speculation" |"so called speculators"

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

There are different categories of life, but one who is situated in the transcendental position, they do not see any difference because in the material world this, are all simply mental speculation. Actually, one who is not situated in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness, his higher and lower calculation—all so-called speculation.

Lecture on BG 5.14-22 -- New York, August 28, 1966: Ihaiva tair jitaḥ sargo yeṣāṁ sāmye sthitaṁ manaḥ [Bg. 5.19]. Sāmye means equilibrium. Equilibrium. Just a person in transcendental position, he sees equally the intelligent man and the dog equal. Intelligent man and the dog equally. A brāhmaṇa, a dog, a cow, an elephant, and a dog-eater. So all these categories... There are different categories of life, but one who is situated in the transcendental position, they do not see any difference because in the material world this, I mean to say, this position is higher and this position is lower. They are all simply mental speculation. Actually, one who is not situated in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness, his higher and lower calculation—all so-called speculation. That's all. So ihaiva tair jitaḥ sargo yeṣāṁ sāmye sthitaṁ manaḥ. Sāmye sthitaṁ manaḥ. One who has cultured himself that these different activities of the material world has nothing to do with him, his only business is to become Kṛṣṇa conscious.

Kṛṣṇa cannot be realized by so-called speculation, but if you render service to Kṛṣṇa, then Kṛṣṇa will reveal to you. Revelation.

Lecture on BG 7.1 -- Melbourne, June 29, 1974 (New-2003):

Devotee (3): Śrīla Prabhupāda, how..., how is one able to draw the distinction between working very hard for Kṛṣṇa and over-endeavoring?

Prabhupāda: Hm. What is that—phalena paricīyate. By the result you can understand. By service Kṛṣṇa, he will understand more about Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa will be clear to him. That is the test, because it is said, sevonmukhe hi jihvādau svayam. Kṛṣṇa cannot be realized by so-called speculation, but if you render service to Kṛṣṇa, then Kṛṣṇa will reveal to you. Revelation. So, he, how much service he is giving, that will be tested how much he has, I mean to say, realized Kṛṣṇa. This is the test. If Kṛṣṇa is still vague idea to him, then he has not advanced. This is the test. Just like if you are eating something, then you will feel satisfaction. You are hungry, you have been given some food, but you cannot say that "I am eating, also I am not satisfied in my hunger." That cannot be. If you are actually serving Kṛṣṇa, then Kṛṣṇa will reveal to you. You will know what is Kṛṣṇa, asaṁśayaṁ samagraṁ mām, without any doubt, and fullness. Here is the test. If somebody comes, "What is Kṛṣṇa," you say, "Yes, I am serving Kṛṣṇa, but I do not know what is Kṛṣṇa". What is his service? He must know, because here it is said, asaṁśayaṁ samagram, without any doubt.

If one has achieved a slight benediction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he can understand what he is. Those who have not achieved that causeless mercy, for lives together, if they go on contemplating and meditating and speculating, it is not possible. After such so-called meditation and so-called speculation... That is also valid, but it takes long way.

Lecture on BG 8.5 -- New York, October 26, 1966: The path of spiritual realization is for him who has a slight mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Athāpi te deva padāmbuja-dvaya-prasāda-leśānugṛhīta. Prasāda means mercy; leśa, a slight. If one has achieved a slight benediction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he can understand what he is. Na cānya eko 'pi. And others, eko 'pi. Those who have not achieved that causeless mercy, na cānya eko...ciraṁ vicinvan. For lives together, if they go on contemplating and meditating and speculating, it is not possible. It is not possible. Therefore Bhagavad-gītā says, bahūnāṁ janmanām ante [Bg. 7.19]. After such so-called meditation and so-called speculation... That is also valid, but it takes long, long, long way. They are not rejected, but our life is very short, especially in this age. Our intelligence is very short. We cannot perform real meditation. We cannot perform the preliminary activities. Yama niyama āsana prāṇāyāma. It is not possible at the present moment. So those principles are not rejected, but it is not possible at the present moment.

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

People are searching after God. The so-called speculators, big, big scholars, they are trying to understand God.

Lecture on SB 1.2.7 -- Delhi, November 13, 1973: People are searching after God. The so called speculators, big, big scholars, they are trying to understand God. "God may be like this, may be like that." Why "may be"? You do not know God. Just admit that you do not know. Why you are cheating? "May be" means you do not know. So why don't you say, "I do not know"? But these rascals will say "may be like this." And why "may be"? Here is God. "I am like this," Kṛṣṇa says. Kṛṣṇa says, "Here I am." Ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate [Bg. 10.8]. And He is worshiped by all sages, saintly persons. When Arjuna admitted Him that "Kṛṣṇa, You are paraṁ brahma," paraṁ brahma paraṁ dhāma pavitraṁ paramaṁ bhavān puruṣaṁ śāśvatam [Bg. 10.12]. "You are puruṣa." Puruṣa means enjoyer. Śāśvata means eternally. Not that "You are now enjoyer and formerly You were something else." No. Śāśvataṁ puruṣam ādyam, original. So this is the appreciation of Kṛṣṇa. After reading Bhagavad-gītā, if you do not understand Kṛṣṇa, if you try to banish Kṛṣṇa, then what kind of reading of Bhagavad-gītā? This is all nonsense. If actually one understands Bhagavad-gītā, if he has actually studied, then... Just like Arjuna, he'll admit, "Oh, paraṁ brahma paraṁ dhāma pavitraṁ paramaṁ bhavān [Bg. 10.12]." That is Arjuna's experience after hearing Bhagavad-gītā. And he said that "You are accepted by great personalities, Asita, Nārada, Vyāsa, Devala, big, big personalities." So svayaṁ ca, "You are also speaking Yourself. We have heard from śāstras and authorities, and You are speaking personally; therefore I accept You that You are Parabrahman." This is the study of Bhagavad-gītā.

You cannot understand Kṛṣṇa personally by your so-called speculation, neither you can understand Kṛṣṇa simply by studying Vedas as a scholar.

Lecture on SB 1.5.29 -- Vrndavana, August 10, 1974: Out of many millions of persons, one is perfect, and out of many millions of perfect persons, one can hardly understand what is Kṛṣṇa. And these rascals understand Kṛṣṇa. They remark that "Kṛṣṇa is like this. Kṛṣṇa is like this." How much rascaldom it is. This is the... Kṛṣṇa says personally, and Lord Brahmā says, vedeṣu durlabham. Vedeṣu durlabham. You cannot understand Kṛṣṇa simply by studying Vedic literature. It is not possible. Then? How we shall understand Kṛṣṇa? Adurlabham ātma-bhaktau. If you want to understand Kṛṣṇa, then go to His devotee. He'll make known Kṛṣṇa. That is mahātmā. You cannot understand Kṛṣṇa personally by your so-called speculation, neither you can understand Kṛṣṇa simply by studying Vedas as a scholar. There are many Vedantist scholars. They cannot understand. So many Vedantists there are in India, but they cannot understand Kṛṣṇa. Nāhaṁ prakāśaḥ sarvasya yoga-māyā-samāvṛtaḥ [Bg. 7.25]. Kṛṣṇa says, "I am not exposed to everyone." That is Kṛṣṇa.

Kṛṣṇa is the original person. Another significance of this verse: Kṛṣṇa is not woman. Just like there are some so-called speculators, that "Kṛṣṇa is also... Kṛṣṇa, the Absolute Truth, or the Supreme Person, can, is also woman." But He's not woman. He can assume the role of woman if He likes, but does not mean He's woman. He's man.

Lecture on SB 1.8.18 -- Mayapura, September 28, 1974: Only the Pāṇḍavas knew Him perfectly. The Pāṇḍava family. And some of the other, Kuru family. Bhīṣma knew Him. Even Dhṛtarāṣṭra also knew Him. And many other saintly persons, Vyāsadeva, Devala, Nārada Muni. Nārada Muni, of course, does not belong to this planet. So to know Kṛṣṇa is not very easy job. Manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu kaścid yatati siddhaye [Bg. 7.3]. Still, if Kṛṣṇa is pleased, then He can make Himself known to a devotee. Athāpi te deva padāmbuja-dvaya-prasāda-leśānugṛhīta eva hi, jānāti tattvam [SB 10.14.29]. Anyone who is in receipt of little favor of Kṛṣṇa, he can understand Kṛṣṇa. So Kṛṣṇa is the original person. Another significance of this verse: Kṛṣṇa is not woman. Just like there are some so called speculators, that "Kṛṣṇa is also... Kṛṣṇa, the Absolute Truth, or the Supreme Person, can, is also woman." But He's not woman. He can assume the role of woman if He likes, but does not mean He's woman, woman. He's man. Man means the enjoyer. Man, or puruṣa. Not man. Puruṣa. So They are puruṣāvatāra. The three Viṣṇus, They are called puruṣāvatāra. Kāraṇārṇavaśāyī Viṣṇu and the Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu and Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, They are called puruṣāvatāra. So Kṛṣṇa is puruṣa. Kṛṣṇa is the enjoyer. And ādyam, the original enjoyer. Ādyam, puruṣam. But what kind of puruṣa? Like you and me? Just like we are also assuming puruṣa, "I am male." Not like you. Prakṛteḥ param. These puruṣa... I am puruṣa, another man is, another living entity is woman. These are dresses given by this material nature.

I am servant of lusty desires. So I am servant, but this servitude should be transferred to Kṛṣṇa. That is perfection of life. That is bhakti. And if you are situated in that transcendental position, bhakti, then you can understand Kṛṣṇa. Not by so-called speculation.

Lecture on SB 3.25.10 -- Bombay, November 10, 1974: I am servant of anger. I am servant of lusty desires. So I am servant, but this servitude should be transferred to Kṛṣṇa. That is perfection of life.

sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁ

tat-paratvena nirmalam

hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-

sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate

[Cc. Madhya 19.170]

That is bhakti. And if you sta..., if you are situated in that transcendental position, bhakti, then you can understand Kṛṣṇa. Bhaktyā mām abhijānāti [Bg. 18.55]. Not by so-called speculation. No. That is not possible. Otherwise Kṛṣṇa would have said, "By jñāna, by yoga, by karma, one could understand Me." Kṛṣṇa says "No" clearly. Bhaktyā mām abhijānāti yāvān yaś cāsmi tattvataḥ [Bg. 18.55]. If you want to know Kṛṣṇa as He is, then you have to accept this process of bhakti, and that bhakti means sarvopādhi-vinirmuktam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. You should not consider yourself...