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You do some business. So the result is one million dollars profit. So you take it. And the result is one million dollars loss. You take it. This is karma. You act on your own account and you take the result. Is it clear? This is called karma

Expressions researched:
"you do some business. So the result is one million dollars' profit. So you take it. And the result is one million dollars' loss. You take it. This is karma. You act on your own account and you take the result. Is it clear? This is called karma"

Conversations and Morning Walks

1968 Conversations and Morning Walks

What is the difference between bhakti and karma? Karma means you do something, and whatever you do, there is result. So you take the result also. Suppose you do some business. So the result is one million dollars' profit. So you take it. And the result is one million dollars' loss. You take it. This is karma. You act on your own account and you take the result. Is it clear? This is called karma. But our activity is for Kṛṣṇa. So we act. If there is profit, it is Kṛṣṇa's. If there is loss, it is Kṛṣṇa's. We are unaffected.

Simply enthusiasm but no work . . . but you must be engaged in the prescribed duties of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. And you must keep always yourself in the association of devotees. These things are, I mean to say, impetus for development of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So the more you enthuse yourself with these six principles: patience, enthusiasm, then confidence, then engaging in the activities, keeping association with devotees and avoiding association with nondevotees . . . that is also another thing. Just like if you want to ignite a fire, then the more the dried the wood is, you get good fire. If you get wet wood, the fire is very difficult to burn.

Therefore we should keep ourself dry from being wet by the association of nondevotees. That is also another process. You see. If you come to our class and go to some other class, some nightclub class, then it is counteracted immediately. You see. So you have to, if you want to ignite fire, you must protect it from water. And if you ignite fire and pour water, then what is the benefit? Nothing. So to make progress in Kṛṣṇa consciousness you have to keep company with devotees. Similarly, you have to avoid the company of nondevotees. So these six principles will develop Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

And then your last question is, "Does Kṛṣṇa consciousness bring in karmic action as part of its belief?" Yes. Kṛṣṇa consciousness activities apparently seem to be karma. We must understand what is the difference between karma and bhakti. Just like we are using this tape records, this microphone. So if you go to a politician, you will find the same paraphernalia. I am speaking and he's also speaking interview. So apparently it appears all the same. But this is bhakti and that is karma.

Then what is the difference between bhakti and karma? Karma means you do something, and whatever you do, there is result. So you take the result also. Suppose you do some business. So the result is one million dollars' profit. So you take it. And the result is one million dollars' loss. You take it. This is karma. You act on your own account and you take the result. Is it clear? This is called karma. But our activity is for Kṛṣṇa. So we act. If there is profit, it is Kṛṣṇa's. If there is loss, it is Kṛṣṇa's. We are unaffected.

We are making this preaching work of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. If somebody comes, he's Kṛṣṇa's, he's not mine. These boys serving me, not for my sense gratification; for developing Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Similarly, if he goes to serve a master, he serves the master for the sense gratification of the particular person. Therefore he pays him. So he does not serve that master; he serves that payment. And what is that payment? For his sense gratification. Therefore he serves his sense gratification. The karma is serving one's sense gratification. And bhakti is serving Kṛṣṇa's sense gratification, "Kṛṣṇa will be satisfied in this way." We work in that way. So it is not karma.

And as soon as I'll work, "Oh, I'll get this money and satisfy my senses," that is karma. So I become subject to the result. It may be good or bad. But when you work for Kṛṣṇa, He is all good. There is no question of bad. And all good goes to the all-good. I'm simply His eternal servant. That's all. Another example: this finger takes some foodstuff and gives to the stomach. So when the stomach is satisfied, the finger is satisfied automatically. It does not require to take separately any food. But the karmīs are trying to enjoy themselves. Just like the finger—if it takes a nice cake and if he thinks that, "Why shall I give it to the stomach?" so it cannot eat, it simply spoils. That's all.

Page Title:You do some business. So the result is one million dollars profit. So you take it. And the result is one million dollars loss. You take it. This is karma. You act on your own account and you take the result. Is it clear? This is called karma
Compiler:Soham
Created:2023-02-26, 13:55:12
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=1, Let=0
No. of Quotes:1