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We cannot understand higher things unless we follow the footprints of great personalities. Just like you do not know anything about law of gravitation, but Sir Isaac Newton, he says that there is law of gravitation, you accept it. That's all

Expressions researched:
"We cannot understand higher things unless we follow the footprints of great personalities. Just like even in the scientific world, the law of gravitation. You do not know anything about law of gravitation, but Sir Isaac Newton, he says that there is law of gravitation, you accept it. That's all"

Lectures

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

We cannot understand higher things unless we follow the footprints of great personalities. Just like even in the scientific world, the law of gravitation. You do not know anything about law of gravitation, but Sir Isaac Newton, he says that there is law of gravitation, you accept it. That's all. That means you follow a great personality.

Kṛṣṇa says that out of many, many thousands of people, somebody is interested for making perfection of his life. And out of many, many thousands of men who are actually trying to make perfection of their life, you'll find somebody—or you may not find out—who knows God, or Kṛṣṇa. But Kṛṣṇa is so kind that He comes Himself to be known by everyone. And He's so kind also that before His departure from this material world, He leaves behind Him this Bhagavad-gītā so that you can know from His personal talks what is God.

So if you read Bhagavad-gītā rightly, as it is spoken by Kṛṣṇa, not foolishly interpreting nonsensically, but as it is, as it is . . . call the spade a spade. Kṛṣṇa says that "I am the Supreme Personality of Godhead." Don't interpret this version with your foolish interpretation, but accept Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And by His acts, by His śāstric knowledge, wisdom . . . everyone accepted previously, all the ācāryas. So we have to follow the footprints of the ācāryas. Mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ (CC Madhya 17.186).

We cannot understand higher things unless we follow the footprints of great personalities. Just like even in the scientific world, the law of gravitation. You do not know anything about law of gravitation, but Sir Isaac Newton, he says that there is law of gravitation, you accept it. That's all. That means you follow a great personality.

So similarly, Kṛṣṇa should be accepted the Supreme Personality of Godhead not by whims. But He has been accepted like . . . by personalities like Lord Caitanya, Rāmānujācārya, Śaṅkarācārya, great personalities who are guiding the destiny of spiritual world. Therefore you have to accept in that way.

So we shall discuss next . . . quarter past eight?

Devotee: Yes.

Prabhupāda: If there is any question, you can put.

Guest: Swāmī? You say that Kṛṣṇa consciousness is a system of purifying the senses. Does that mean that the senses become unlimited? Do the senses become unlimited when they're finally purified?

Prabhupāda: There is no question of unlimited, but at least it becomes purified. First of all purify, then the limit of senses will be also extended. Just like if your eye is defective. So you cannot see; you require the help of glass. But if the disease of your eye is cured, oh, you can see without glass.

But that does not mean that you can see for hundred miles. But at least you can see perfectly. You don't require the help of glass. Similarly, so long your senses are impure, you are completely in ignorance, you do not know what you are, what is this world, what is God—simply in darkness. Just like dull stone. Ignorance means dull stone.

So if your senses are purified, at least you can know who is God, what you are, what is this world, what is your relationship. These things will be revealed. Not that you can become the supreme controller. No. That is not possible. Purifying the senses means at least you can know your self, you know the controller, know the controlling system. These things will be revealed.

Guest (2): I have a question. If one wanted to redistribute Kṛṣṇa's property by taking from the rich and giving to the poor, and in doing so all you'd have to do is make maybe one or two false statements . . . is this . . .

Prabhupāda: Why you are anxious to take rich man's property?

Guest (2): Pardon?

Prabhupāda: Why you are so much anxious to take rich man's property? (laughter)

Guest (2): It belongs to the state. It's unemployment insurance.

Prabhupāda: Unemployment insurance company has ordered you to take the state . . .?

Guest (2): I could get this, you see, if I would make a few false statements that I was looking for work when I have not been looking for work.

Prabhupāda: Well, one who is making false statement, he'll suffer for that.

Guest (2): Even if . . .

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Guest (2): Even if it's for a good cause?

Prabhupāda: You should not be anxious to anything which is not ordered by Kṛṣṇa. That is your Kṛṣṇa consciousness. You don't manufacture your activities. Then you'll be entangled.

Yes?

Woman devotee: Swāmī, would you initiate me?

Prabhupāda: Will you follow the rules? Thank you. I shall do. (laughter)

Devotee: Jaya Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Prabhupāda: Yes?

Devotee (2): Swāmī, spiritual energy is situated in the heart as localized Paramātmā. Is this also Kṛṣṇa's personal feature?

Prabhupāda: Yes. Paramātmā is also personal. Everything is personal. Paramātmā is described as four-handed Nārāyaṇa with śaṇkha, cakra, gadā, padma, with, I mean to say, ornaments. That is the feature of Paramātmā. You have seen the Viṣṇu-mūrti. That is Paramātmā.

This voidness is an imagination, voidness. Actually God or Paramātmā or Kṛṣṇa, They are all sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha, transcendental forms. They are not material forms. Transcendental forms. Īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ sac-cid-ānanda-vigrahaḥ (Bs. 5.1). Vigraha means form. If we, part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa, we have got individuality, forms, how we can say that the Supreme has no form, no individuality? He has got complete individuality. And that is confirmed in the Vedas: nityo nityānāṁ cetanaś cetanānām (Kaṭha Upaniṣad 2.2.13). He is the supreme living entity of all living entities. Just like we are living entities, but He is the Supreme. That's all. He is also living entity. Nityo nityā . . . cetanaś cetanānām. The difference is eko bahūnāṁ vidadhāti kāmān. That one single . . . there are plural number and singular number. That singular number one is providing the necessities of other singular number . . . plural number living entities. That is the difference.

He is the maintainer, He is the predominator, He is the controller, and we are controlled, we are predominated, and we are maintained. That is the difference between me and God. Otherwise, He is a living being just like us. He is more powerful: the most powerful, the most beautiful, the most famous, the most strong, and we are all subordinate.

Page Title:We cannot understand higher things unless we follow the footprints of great personalities. Just like you do not know anything about law of gravitation, but Sir Isaac Newton, he says that there is law of gravitation, you accept it. That's all
Compiler:SharmisthaK
Created:2022-09-15, 06:18:08
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=1, Con=0, Let=0
No. of Quotes:1