(4) Become Aloof to Material World

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Preaching programme, morning class
Translated into English from Bengali
15 February 2020, part 4

(1) Dyuta: do not gamble—do not play dice, cards and so on. (2) Pana: do not take intoxicants—no alcohol, drugs, paan, bidi, cigarettes, tea. You must give up even tea. If you think of drinking tea, suck on some chocolate, then your attachment to tea will go away. [Devotees giggle] No, I am telling the truth. If you suck on some chocolate, your addiction to tea will slowly go away. (3) Striya: avoid illicit association with men or women. You know yourself that it is not good when a wife has a husband but associates with other men, or when a man has a wife but associates with other women. There are such bad people in this world, and they only increase disturbance. (4) Suna: do no kill other jiva souls. Lord Krishna resides within all living entities (sarva-jive Krishna-adhisthan; সর্ব্ব-জীবে কৃষ্ণ-অধিষ্ঠান).

Somebody can say that we also kill—we cut some squash or banana trees, for example. The difference is that when sadhus cut some plants, they do not do it for their own food—they cut trees and plants for the Lord. For example, they cut a banana tree, cook thor (the stem) and offer it to the Lord. Everything is created for the Lord. Lord Krishna says in Srimad Bhagavad-gita, "Everything that is created in this world is created for Me. If you take something without giving it to Me, it means you are stealing My things and eating them." So, if we take something and eat it ourselves, it means we become thieves. But sadhus do not do anything for themselves. They cut a banana tree, take the thor (stem), cook it and offer it to the Lord. I have seen that they are also making thor and some red spinach here today. They must have cut a tree also—the purpose of a tree's life is to serve the Lord, but how can a tree do it? A sadhu comes and uses it for service. For example, if somebody sells banana flowers, those who sell it get sukriti, those who buy it get sukriti, and those who cook it also get sukriti. This is how sukriti comes.

Many times we cannot come to this line, especially Bengalis. Why? Because they say, "I want to come to this line, but my husband does not want it," or the husband wants to come, but the wife does not want to come, or both husband and wife want to come, but their children do not want to come. So, sometimes, it happens so that they have to cook some meat for their children or husbands. There is no way out, they have to do it, but even that is an offence. Those who cook meat, those who sell meat, those who cut meat are all offenders, but sometimes it is not possible to avoid it. If that is the case, then you must not think, "Oh, I will not chant the Holy Name." You must chant the Holy Name, crying and praying that your family members may keep taking prasad and one day become attracted too. Instead of that, people often say, "Oh, when my son gives up meat, then I will take initiation," but you do not know if you will be alive then, and if he never gives up meat in his life, then you will never take initiation and come to this line. That is why, in some case, we give some solution—you can arrange for somebody to cook it or, if that is not possible, cook yourself and repent, "O Lord! What am I cooking?! What kind of fate has befallen me!" Not everybody has the fortune to come and practise Krishna consciousness. Sometimes, girls want to take initiation at a young age, but what happens when they do not get a devotee husband? Then it is horrible—they will fight and divorce quickly under Section 498A [Section 498A: "Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty. Whoever, being the husband or the relative of the husband of a woman, subjects such woman to cruelty shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine.] [devotees laugh]. This has happened once. So, this is a very difficult situation, but if both husband and wife join this line, then it is easier.

Anyhow, you have heard about the rule and regulations. Are you following all these rules? Never eat meat or fish again. Do you promise it? [Devotees: yes.] Come, sit in front of me. [His Divine Grace bestows initiation into chanting the Holy Name to two fortunate souls.]

...If somebody sees the tilak on your forehead and says mockingly, "Oh, here is is a Hare Krishna going!" they can get some benefit because when they see you, the Holy Name comes to their mind. This is written in the scriptures: "Namabhase mukti paibe (নামাভাসে মুক্তি পাইবে): they will be rescued through Namabhas, shadow-chanting of the Holy Name." One time, I went to Russia with Guru Maharaj and saw some naked girl [indecently dressed] dancing with a bottle of alcohol. We were sitting in a car, it was cold. The girl came dancing to the car, and when she saw Gurudev, she said, "Hare Krishna! Hare Krishna!" Gurudev told me, "Look! A naked girl is telling me 'Hare Krishna'!" Even through that, they get some sukriti. In that country, naked girls drink alcohol in parks and dance, drunk. Have you ever seen anything like that? You can see such things in mobile phones. Those who can see this without becoming affected can truly practise Krishna consciousness. We did not feel disturbed to see it. You know, once, when Kamadev (Cupid) came to Sivji Maharaj, Sivji Maharaj compeltely subdued him—such is his great power.

Anyhow, this is how we must practise spiritual life. Our behaviour and practice must be right, then we can practise Krishna consciousness. You cannot take random gurus, although many fall for this. They think, "Oh, this guru is very nice—he tells me to eat meat and fish and anything I want. I like this guru very much." There is one guru who comes to his disciples' houses and asks them for big cigarettes. His disciples say, "Oh, my gurudev is so nice—he was sitting in a chair cross-legged, swinging his leg in the air, and smoking so nicely!" What kind of gurus there are in this world! They are gurus in name only. There are so many gurus in this world...

Anyhow, we shall chant some kirtans now, and after that we can hear more Hari-katha.

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READ OTHER PARTS:

1) Our Golden Chance
2) Detach Yourself from Mental World
3) Awaking from Lethargic Sleep
4) Become Aloof to Material World
5) Calling Out for Mercy
6) Cultivate Your Heart
7) Imperilling Imprudence
8) Take Shelter