Prabhupāda: Page? Hmm? Who will read?
You'll read? Yes. Which page?
Devotee: One-hundred-twenty-three, text number 19.
Devotee: "Transcendental Knowledge." Text number nineteen. "One is understood to be in full knowledge whose every act is devoid of desire for sense gratification. He is said by sages to be a worker whose fruitive action is burned up by the fire of perfect knowledge."
Prabhupāda: "One is understood to be in full knowledge whose every act is devoid of desire for sense gratification." The opposite is ignorance. Those who are in knowledge of sense gratification, they are devoid of knowledge. Yes. "He is said by sages to be a worker whose fruitive action is burned up by the fire of perfect knowledge."
"He is said by sages to be a worker whose fruitive action is burned up by the fire of perfect knowledge." This is very common thing. Everyone has to act but if he acts in full knowledge, then that is perfection of activity. Just like in our ordinary life, if we do business, or whatever we do, if we are in full knowledge of the state laws and act accordingly, that is perfection of our activities.
Go on.
Devotee: Twenty: "Abandoning all attachment to the results of his activities, ever satisfied and independent, he performs no fruitive action, although engaged in all kinds of undertakings."
Prabhupāda: Yes. "Abandoning all attachment to the results of the activities." Everyone is aspiring some result of his activity. So the plain example is, suppose you are working in an office. So you are not concerned with the result. You have to simply do your duty. The result, the ultimate profit or loss of that establishment, is concern for the proprietors or the directors. But your duty is that the post which you are occupying, you must do your work very nicely—that's your duty—without being attached to the result. The result will be enjoyed by the proprietors of that establishment.
Go on.
Devotee: Twenty-one: "Such a man of understanding acts with mind and intelligence perfectly controlled, gives up all sense of proprietorship over his possessions and acts only for the bare necessities of life. Thus working, he is not affected by sinful reaction."
Prabhupāda: Yes. Suppose a man is a manager, a cashier in the bank. He is receiving millions of dollars daily, but he does not claim the proprietorship. He is simply handling millions of dollars, but he knows that "I am not the proprietor."
Similarly, in our this material activities we may have the chance of handling millions of dollars. Practically nobody comes here with millions of dollars, neither one goes with millions of dollars. Everyone comes here empty hand. The child comes empty hand and the dead body goes empty hand. So between the birth and death, this small duration of life, we are supposed to possess so many things. That is our false possession. Actually you don't possess.
Just like so long I am cashier in the bank, I am supposed to deal with millions of dollars; but that is not my money. In this consciousness..., this is Kṛṣṇa consciousness, to understand everything belongs to Kṛṣṇa. If one acts in that way that everything... Īśāvāsyam idaṁ sarvam [Īśo mantra 1].
[Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong.]
The Īśopaniṣad says, "Everything belongs to God," but God has given me chance to handle these things. Therefore my knowledge and intelligence will be there if I utilize for serving God. That is my intelligence. As soon as I utilize them for my sense gratification, then I am entrapped. The same example can be given: if the bank cashier thinks, "Oh, so many millions of dollars at my disposal. Let me something and put in my pocket," then he is entrapped.
Otherwise, you enjoy. You get good salary. You get good comforts and do your work nicely for Kṛṣṇa. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Everything should be considered as Kṛṣṇa's. Not a farthing mine. That is Kṛṣṇa conscious.
Yes.
Devotee: "He who is satisfied with gain which comes of its own accord, who is free from duality and does not envy, who is steady both in success and failure, is never entangled, although performing actions."
Prabhupāda: Yes. Now if I think that "I am poor man. Oh, the bank proprietor and directors, they have got so much money..." The theory of the..., communist theory. They have tried to attack others that "They have snatched our money." Actually one should be satisfied. Just like a bank clerk or a bank cashier should be satisfied with his post and the wages he gets. He should be satisfied. If God pleases, he will be elevated to higher position. That is God's grace. But we should not be disturbed. We should be sati... And thus disturbance can be checked only if we are in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
You'll be surprised, in 1942 there was an artificial famine in India by politicians, and practically they were starving. And one American gentleman, very responsible man, he was present. He said that "In our country if such starvation would have happened, there would have been revolution." But the Vedic culture is so nice that nobody even stole a pin from others' pocket. They starved. Because the culture is they are satisfied: "Well, God has put me in this condition. Why shall I encroach upon others' property?" That is Vedic culture. Īśāvāsyam idaṁ sarvam [Īśo mantra 1].
[Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong.]
"Everything belongs to God. Whatever He has allotted to me, that is my possession. I can..." Tena tyaktena bhuñjīthā: "Whatever is allotted to you, be satisfied." Mā gṛdhaḥ kasya svid dhanam: "You do not encroach upon others' property."
If anyone is satisfied in this way in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, where is the question of stealing? There is no question of stealing. There is no need of law for the thieves. People will become so honest. He will be satisfied.
So this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is all-pervading. Either you take socially, politically, religiously, scientifically, philosophically—any way you take. Just like sandalwood. Sandalwood, you rub it on the stone in any way, the pulp will be flavored. It is not that if you rub the wood on the stone in this way then the pulp will come flavored. No.
Kṛṣṇa consciousness is so nice, if you apply it in any field of activities you will see it is perfect—either you apply in industry or in politics or in sociology or in philosophy or in science. Therefore Bhāgavata says that whatever capacity you may have, either you are a scientist or a lawyer or an engineer or a rich man, a capitalist, whatever you may be, your duty is to utilize your talent for Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That's all. That is perfection.
Yes.
Devotee: Purport: "A Kṛṣṇa conscious person does not make much endeavor even to maintain his body. He is satisfied with gains which are obtained of their own accord. He neither begs nor borrows, but he labors honestly as far as in his own power and is satisfied with whatever is obtained by his own honest labor. A Kṛṣṇa conscious person is therefore independent in his livelihood. He does not allow anyone's service to hamper his own service to Kṛṣṇa. However, for the service of the Lord He can participate in any kind of action without being disturbed by the duality of the material world.
"The duality of the material is felt in terms of heat and cold or misery and happiness. A Kṛṣṇa conscious person is above this duality, because he does not hesitate to act in any way for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa. As he does not care for duality, therefore he is steady both in success and in failure. These signs are visible when one is full in transcendental knowledge."
Twenty-three: "The work of a man who is unattached to the modes of material nature and who is fully situated in transcendental knowledge merges entirely into transcendence."
Prabhupāda: Yes. "The work of a man who is unattached to the modes of material nature." The modes of material nature are three: goodness, passion and ignorance. Somebody is working in the material world in the quality of goodness. In Vedic culture these divisions are very distinct. Just like brāhmaṇas, sannyāsīs, they are supposed to be working in goodness, because they are simply working for God consciousness, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness, brāhmaṇas' business.
The kṣatriyas, they are working in the modes of passion. They want to possess land, they want to be king, they want to be leader of the citizens, and they see to the protection of the citizens. This is called in the mode of passion. And the third degree is the mercantile community. They are engaged in trades, commerce. In this way, the fourth grade of man is the laborer class. They have no capacity either to become brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya or vaiśya. They have to take shelter of somebody and must be satisfied with the wages he takes from that.
In this age, the Vedic literature says, kalau śūdra-sambhavaḥ.
[In the Age of Kali everyone is born a śūdrā.]
In this age practically everyone is a śūdra, laborer class, because everyone is dependent. The brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya and vaiśya, they are not dependent, but laborer class, they are dependent. So because this human civilization at the present moment is so made that everyone is dependent, nobody is self-sufficient. One has to work somewhere for his livelihood.
So in this age practically everyone is dependent, or laborer class. Now here it is said that "the work of a man who is unattached to the modes of material nature." Now this division, brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, or the intelligent class, the administrative class, mercantile class and the laborer class—you say in any way—these are material activities. But when you engage yourself in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, either you are a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya or vaiśya or śūdra, then you are transcendental immediately.
Just like in this body there are different parts and section. The head... Head is one section. The arm, another section. The abdomen, another section. The legs, another section. So the leg is considered to be laborer class, carrying me. The hand is working, protecting me. The brain is giving me intelligence. In this way, every part is working for the whole body.
Similarly, either you become intelligent class of men or you become administrator or you become mercantile class or laborer, if you engage yourself in Kṛṣṇa consciousness then your position is transcendental. You are no more in the material nature. This is the process of transcendental position.
Go on.
Devotee: "To him Brahman, the Supreme, is the offering, Brahman is the oblation and the sacrificial fire, and by Brahman the sacrifice is performed. By performing action in this way, one ultimately attains the Supreme."
Purport: "A person who is fully absorbed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is sure to attain the spiritual kingdom through his full contribution to spiritual activities, for the consummation is absolute and the things offered are also of the same spiritual nature. How activities in Kṛṣṇa consciousness can lead one ultimately to the spiritual goal is described here. There are various activities in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. All of them will be described in the following verses. But for the present, just the principle of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is described.
"A conditioned soul entangled in material contamination is sure to act in the material atmosphere, and yet he has to get out of such an environment. The process by which the conditioned soul can get out of the material atmosphere is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. For example, a person who is suffering from a disorder of the bowels..."
Prabhupāda: "A patient." "A patient." "A patient who is suffering." Yes.
Devotee: Oh. "For example, a patient who is suffering from a disorder of the bowels due to overindulgence in milk products is cured by another milk product, curd. Similarly, the materially absorbed conditioned soul can be cured by Kṛṣṇa consciousness as is prescribed here in the Bhagavad-gītā."
Prabhupāda: Yes. It is a very good example. Sometimes... In India, of course, out of our greediness we take too much milk products—khīr and sweet rice and burfī, pranāl[?], so many. So if you take too much milk then there is possibility of [indistinct], disorder of the bowel. Ghee. Therefore when you go the physician he will give you some medicine, and he will ask you to take this medicine with yogurt. Now what is this yogurt? This yogurt is also milk preparation. Now you can doubt, "How is that? My disorder of bowel is due to taking too much milk preparation. How it will be cured by yogurt?" So this is the way. The yogurt is a..., although milk preparation, its action is different.
Similarly, you will find that these boys and girls acting in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, what they are doing? They have rented a nice house which is called temple. They are cooking there, eating there, dancing and singing. The outsider they will say, "What is this Kṛṣṇa consciousness? They are living in the nice house and they are eating very nicely, dancing, singing. What is the difference? We also do that. We go to the club and eat very nicely and dance also. What is the difference?" There is the difference. What is that difference? The one milk preparation causes disorder, another milk preparation cures. This is practical. Another milk preparation cures you.
If you go on dancing in the club and eating in the club, then gradually you become diseased materially. And the same dancing and same eating here, you become spiritually advanced. So nothing has to be stopped. Simply it has to be changed by the direction of an expert physician. That's all. As the expert physician gives you yogurt mixed with some medicine—actually, medicine is just to bluff the patient; actually, the yogurt will act—so similarly, we have to do everything.
But because it is mixed up with that medicine of Kṛṣṇa consciousness it will cure your material disease. That is the process. Because it is mixed up with some medicine which is called Kṛṣṇa consciousness, therefore your dancing, your eating, your loving affairs—all, whatever you want there is, but it is well-treated. It will not entangle you. It will give more and more enlightenment of spiritual understanding. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Yes.
Devotee: "This process is generally known as yajña, or activities simply meant for the satisfaction of Viṣṇu, or Kṛṣṇa. Therefore the more the activities of the material world are performed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or for Viṣṇu only, the more the atmosphere becomes spiritualized by complete absorption. Brahman means spiritual. The Lord is spiritual, and the rays of His transcendental body are called brahma-jyotir, His spiritual effulgence. Everything that exists is situated in that brahma-jyotir. And when the jyoti is covered by the illusion of māyā, or sense gratification, it is called material."
Prabhupāda: Now, this is the difference between material and spiritual. Try to understand. Just like in the sunshine there is cloud. That cloudy atmosphere is not very good. But when there is bright sunshine you say, congratulate your friend, "Oh, today is very nice day." But the sunshine is always there. The cloud also is an interaction of the sunshine. The cloud is nothing, but due to excessive heat it absorbs water from the sea or anywhere else, and it becomes gas and it stands in the sunshine. But it does not cover all the sunshine.
Similarly, Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the original consciousness. As soon as it is clouded by material consciousness... What is that material consciousness? That "It is mine. It is for my sense gratification." That is material consciousness. And if you keep yourself always intact that everything is for Kṛṣṇa, then there is no cloud. The cloud is material. Actually there is no material existence. Just like cloud appears in the sky, it remains temporary for a few day or few hours and again disappears. We do not know where that cloud has gone. Similarly, material consciousness is the covering of the spirit soul. So as soon as this covering is taken away the bright sunshine is there, the cloud. As soon as the cloud is gone, the bright sunshine is there. Then everything is sunshine, light.
Similarly, as soon as this consciousness, material consciousness that everything belongs for my satisfaction, sense gratification... That is material. And if you are in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, that is spiritual. The things does not change. Simply the consciousness changes. Just like the sunshine does not change; simply the cloud changes. It appears and disappears. Bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate [Bg. 8.19].
[Again and again the day comes, and this host of beings is active; and again the night falls, O Pārtha, and they are helplessly dissolved.]
So if you keep yourself always in bright sunshine... Just like if you go above the cloud, as you have experience by plane journey that you go above the cloud and there you will find simply sunshine, no more cloud, no more cloud. So just keep yourself in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and this cloud of material existence will disappear, or you will be above; even you can see them, that will not affect you. This is the process.
Go on.
Devotee: "This material feature can be removed at once by Kṛṣṇa consciousness, wherein the offering for the cause of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the consuming agent of such an offering or contribution, the process of consumption, the contributor and the result of such activities are all combined together Brahman, or the Absolute Truth.
"The Absolute Truth covered by māyā is called matter. Matter dovetailed for the cause of the Absolute Truth regains its spiritual quality. Kṛṣṇa consciousness is a process of converting the illusory consciousness into Brahman, or the Supreme. When the mind is fully absorbed in such Kṛṣṇa consciousness it is said to be in samādhi, or trance. Anything done in such transcendental consciousness is called yajña, or sacrifice for the Absolute, and in that condition of spiritual consciousness, the contributor, the contribution, the consumption, the performer or leader of the performance, and the results or ultimate gain, everything becomes one in the Absolute, the Supreme Brahman. That is the explanation of Kṛṣṇa consciousness."
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Devotee: Twenty-five.
Prabhupāda: Go on.
Devotee: "Some yogīs perfectly worship the demigods by offering different sacrifices to them, and some of them offer sacrifices in the fire of the Supreme Brahman."
Purport: "As described above, a person engaged in discharging duties in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is also called a perfect yogī, or a first-class mystic. But there are others also, who perform similar sacrifices in the worship of demigods, and still others who sacrifice to the Supreme Brahman, or the impersonal feature of the Supreme Lord.
"So there are different kinds of sacrifices in terms of different categories. Such different categories of sacrifice by different types of performers only superficially demark varieties of sacrifice. Factual sacrifice means to satisfy the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu, and is also known as yajña."
Prabhupāda: Just like a small example: Now you are paying some tax in the waterworks department. So this waterworks department, or the director of the waterworks department, may be considered as a demigod. But the money you sacrifice for payment in the waterworks department, that goes to the government. The waterworks department or the man in charge, director of the waterworks department, does not consume that.
Similarly, in the Vedic rituals there are many sacrificial ritualistic ceremony, demigods, but in that sacrifice there is Viṣṇu also. Therefore Viṣṇu is called Yajñeśvara, the master of the sacrifice. The demigods cannot accept the result of the sacrifice. Viṣṇu is there. Of course, we have no experience of these performances. That is a Vedic ritual performance. Actually, the demigods, they cannot accept anything from you. But the sacrificer, he approaches a demigod for quick result for material benefit, and these things will be explained in the Eighth Chapter of the Bhagavad-gītā.
So this is the process. Ultimately it goes to the Absolute Truth. So those who are intelligent, they directly makes connection with the Absolute Person, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa; then everything is automatically done.
Go on.
Devotee: "All the different varieties of sacrifice can be placed within two primary divisions: sacrifice of worldly possessions and sacrifice in pursuit of transcendental knowledge. Those who are in Kṛṣṇa consciousness sacrifice all material possessions for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord, while others, who want some temporary material happiness, sacrifice their material possessions to satisfy demigods such as Indra, the sun, etc. And others, who are impersonalists, sacrifice in the sense of merging into the existence of impersonal Brahman.
"The demigods are powerful living entities appointed by the Supreme Lord for the maintenance and supervision of all material functions like heating, watering and lighting of the universe. Those who are interested in such supplies of material benefits worship the demigods by various sacrifices according to the Vedic rituals. They are called bahv-īśvara-vādī, or believers in many gods."
Prabhupāda: Bahv-īśvara-vādī. Bahv-īśvara-vādī means believing in many gods. Actually, God is one, but His servants, who are known as demigods... So less-intelligent class of men, they accept demigods as God. Just like a less-intelligent class of man takes a police constable, he raises his hand like this, and the car is stopped, even it belong to a great, rich man.
So his child may think that "This constable is very great man," you see, "He is very important man." [chuckles] But the father knows he is nothing. Similarly, those who are interested in demigods, they are like children: "Oh, this constable is very important," you see, "because by his hand my father had to stop my car." You see?
So the antavat tu phalaṁ teṣām [Bg. 7.23].
[Men of small intelligence worship the demigods, and their fruits are limited and temporary. Those who worship the demigods go to the planets of the demigods, but My devotees ultimately reach My supreme planet.]
Therefore in the Bhagavad-gītā you'll find there is a statement, kāmais tais tair hṛta-jñānā yajanti anya-devatāḥ [Bg. 7.20]:
[Those whose minds are distorted by material desires surrender unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their own natures.]
"Those who go to worship the demigods, they have lost their intelligence on account of too much lusty propensity." Just like sometimes a person goes to bribe the policeman, constable, because he is illegal. But if you become, I mean to say, true to your state laws, you haven't got to bribe the constable or this officer, that officer. You see?
So you be true Kṛṣṇa conscious. Then there will be no disturbance from these demigods. But the less-intelligent class of men, in order to save themself from the disturbance of the demigods—there are many varieties of demigods—they go to this, to that, to this, to that. But an intelligent man... That is also stated, bahūnāṁ janmanām ante jñānavān māṁ prapadyate [Bg. 7.19]: "One who is perfectly intelligent, after many, many births of culturing knowledge, he comes to Me and surrenders, 'Yes.' " Vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti.
[After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.]
"O Kṛṣṇa, you are everything." That is the highest intelligence. So Caitanya-caritāmṛta says, kṛṣṇa ye bhaje sei baḍa catura: "Anyone who is engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is very intelligent man." Very intelligent man. Kṛṣṇa ye bhaje sei vara catura. Catura means intelligent. Yes.
Go on.
Devotee: "Whereas others, who stick to the impersonal feature of the Absolute Truth and regard the forms of the demigods as temporary, sacrifice their individual selves in the supreme fire and thus end their individual existences by merging into the existence of the Supreme. Such impersonalists relinquish their time in philosophical speculation for understanding the transcendental nature of the Supreme. In other words, the fruitive workers sacrifice their material possessions for material enjoyments, whereas the impersonalist sacrifices his material designations with a view to merging into the existence of the Supreme.
"For the impersonalist, the fire, altar and the sacrifice is the Supreme Brahman, and the offering is the self being consumed by the fire of Brahman. The Kṛṣṇa conscious person, however, sacrifices everything for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa, and as such all his material possessions, as well as his own self, everything, are sacrificed for Kṛṣṇa, as with Arjuna. Thus he is the first-class yogī, for he does not lose his individual existence."
Prabhupāda: That's it. [devotees offer obeisances] Any question? Yes?
Devotee: If we're eternally individual, so how do the impersonalists, upon attaining their goal, merge into the impersonal brahma-jyotir?
Prabhupāda: That is their sign of less intelligence. Therefore we call the impersonalist as less intelligent. Just like the same example: the child is thinking that the constable is very important man. Similarly, the impersonalists are less intelligent in this sense, that what is this brahma-jyotir?
The brahma-jyotir is combination of atomic spiritual sparks, just like sunshine is combination of molecular shining particles. This is scientific. Anything you take, either take sunshine or fire or water, you'll find atomic, even earth, they are all atomic, small, very small parts. Similarly, the brahma-jyotir is combination of the atomic spiritual sparks who are individual living entities.
So they may merge into that existence of brahma-jyotir, but because every individual living entity has got individual desires, therefore they cannot exist very long in that individual condition..., I mean to say, impersonal condition. That is stated in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam: ye 'nye 'ravindākṣa vimukta-māninas tvayy asta-bhāvād aviśuddha-buddhayaḥ [SB 10.2.32].
[Someone may say that aside from devotees, who always seek shelter at the Lord's lotus feet, there are those who are not devotees but who have accepted different processes for attaining salvation. What happens to them? In answer to this question, Lord Brahmā and the other demigods said:] O lotus-eyed Lord, although nondevotees who accept severe austerities and penances to achieve the highest position may think themselves liberated, their intelligence is impure. They fall down from their position of imagined superiority because they have no regard for Your lotus feet.
Any person who is thinking that by merging, or one who has already merged into the brahma-jyotir, he has become liberated, Bhāgavata says that is not intelligent, what to speak of liberation. He says, ye 'nye 'ravindākṣa vimukta-māninaḥ. Vimukta-māninaḥ means he is simply falsely thinking that he is liberated. Māninaḥ. Just like you think yourself, just like so many rascals, he is thinking, "I am God." You see? "I am God."
So this is only thinking. Actually they do not know what is God. Otherwise they would not have dared to say that "I am God." They do not know the meaning of "God." You see? Therefore they are less intelligence. They are thinking, "I am merged into the..." Just like the rabbit. The rabbit, when he is faced with some enemy, he closes his eyes. He thinks, "Now I am safe." [laughter] [laughs] The rascal animal thinks that he is safe now. "I cannot see the enemy."
Just like a child. When there is something fearful, the child—it is nature—closes the eyes. I have practical experience. When I was young man I went to the zoo with my little son, and as soon as there was a tiger cage, oh, the child closed the eyes. Yes. He could not bear the vicious sight. This is natural.
Similarly, these impersonalist, they are closing their eyes. That's all. Just like voidists, they are also doing that. "Now I have become free by smoking," or by gāñjā eating, drinking, or smoking. You see? These things are simply false imagination. Therefore they are less intelligent. They are not intelligent. Bhāgavata says, ye 'nye 'ravindākṣa vimukta-māninaḥ. They are self-complacent, that "I have become free, liberated," this and that. But actually their intelligence is very contaminated.
Ye 'nye 'ravindākṣa vimukta-māninaḥ. They are simply thinking like that. Māninaḥ. Māninaḥ means actually he is not, but he's thinking. You can think that "I am the proprietor of all the banks of this Los Angeles city." You can think. Who checks you? But are you actually the proprietor of all the banks of this Los Angeles city? Anyone can think, intoxication, like anything. He has got the liberty. But that is not the fact.
So ye 'nye 'ravindākṣa vimukta-māninas tvayy asta-bhāvād aviśuddha-buddhayaḥ [SB 10.2.32]. Their intelligence is contaminated, because they have no information of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So long one does not reach to that point, vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti [Bg. 7.19], "Oh, Kṛṣṇa is everything..."
[After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.]
It can take some time, but unless you reach to that point, your all intelligence is imperfect. Your knowledge is imperfect. That you must know. Therefore one who takes Kṛṣṇa, he is most intelligent. Tvayy asta-bhāvād aviśuddha-buddhayaḥ, āruhya kṛcchreṇa paraṁ padaṁ tataḥ [SB 10.2.32].
[Someone may say that aside from devotees, who always seek shelter at the Lord's lotus feet, there are those who are not devotees but who have accepted different processes for attaining salvation. What happens to them? In answer to this question, Lord Brahmā and the other demigods said:] O lotus-eyed Lord, although nondevotees who accept severe austerities and penances to achieve the highest position may think themselves liberated, their intelligence is impure. They fall down from their position of imagined superiority because they have no regard for Your lotus feet.
Just like these foolish men, they are going very high on sputniks and other machine, but they cannot find out the shelter, and come back. You see? But they are thinking, "Oh, we are so much advanced in science. We go so high." You go high; what is your result? You come back again. They will be puffed up: "Yes, it will be perfect in so many years, in this way and that way." They will never accept defeat. But actually you see they go and come back, that's all.
Similarly, these foolish persons who are thinking that "I shall merge into the brahma-jyotir," they are less intelligent, because they cannot exist there. He has got inclination, desires. There is no facility for fulfilling your desires unless you go to Kṛṣṇa. Therefore in order to fulfill the desires he'll come again to this material world. Because he wants activities, pleasure. Ānanda-mayo 'bhyāsāt [Vedānta-sūtra 1.1.12].
[By nature, the Supreme Lord is blissful.]
The spirit soul and the Supreme Lord is by nature joyful. Whenever there is question of joyfulness there must be varieties. So there is no variety. So without variety he cannot remain there for very long. He has to come. But because he has no information of the spiritual varieties, he is bound to come back to this material variety. That's all. So therefore their intelligence is less. They are not very high class men. Yes. [end]