kama-lobhadayas ca ye^[1]

Too much attraction for sense gratification. This is called passion. And lobha: greediness, not satisfied. Now we are coming from a cottage, very nice cottage, self-sufficient; little land also, growing vegetables. Nice cottage, very warm. There is no need of air conditioning. We can live very simple life anywhere, any part of the world. There are so many jungles, you cut one or two trees, and with the logs you can make into little cottage. And after the trees being cut, the land becomes open, so you can utilize the land for growing food grains, for pasturing ground. Then if you have got cows, food grains, vegetables and a cottage, then where is your economic problem? [laughter] Where is your economic problem? Live peacefully in the open air, take sufficient milk, all vitamins, and vegetables full of vitamins, A, B, C, D. You have to take, vitamins. [laughter] You get nice life and save time for chanting Hare Krishna.

Devotees: Jaya!

Prabhupada: This is life. We are trying to introduce in this New Vrindaban colony this simple life. But the kama-lobhadayas ca ye. We can live very simple life, but because we are infected by the rajo-guna and tamo-guna, we require the pigeonholes of skyscraper buildings—unnecessarily. Unnecessarily, why? Your time is so valuable that you cannot get back your life, one day of your life or one moment of your life, by paying millions of dollars. What is the day today? Twentieth?

Devotees: Twenty-first.

Prabhupada: Twenty-first. Now the 20th July, 1974, which is past of our life, it cannot be returned, even if you try to bribe material nature millions of dollars. It is not possible. What is gone is gone. Therefore Canakya Panḍita said, very good moral instruction,

ayusah ksana eko ‘pi

na labhya svarna-kotibhih

Even the moment of time we cannot get back by payment of millions of golden coins. That is not possible.

na cen nirarthakam nitih

ka ca hanis tato ‘dhika^[2]

If such valuable time you simply waste, then just estimate it what is your loss, practically, from monetary point. One moment of your life cannot be returned by millions of dollars.

Therefore our Rupa Gosvami also teaches,

avyartha-kalatvam^[3]

A Krishna conscious person should see, “Whether my time has become wasted? Whether I am utilizing my time, the short duration of my life, properly?” All Krishna conscious persons should be vigilant to see that the time is not wasted. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore advises, kirtaniyah sada harih.

trnad api sunicena

taror api sahisnuna

amanina manadena

kirtaniyah sada harih^[4]

We have therefore introduced chanting Hare Krishna twenty-four hours. I am glad to see all the devotees, they are carrying the beads, that this is nice practice. It must be. Chant Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, for twenty-four hours, while working, even in sleeping. If you practice, in sleep also you will chant Hare Krishna. That is possible. It is not impossible; it is fact.

So the human life, if you want actually peace and prosperity, as it is stated,

ceta etair anaviddham

sthitam sattve prasidati

You have to keep yourself always in the sattva-guna, the modes of goodness, brahminical platform.

satya, samah, damah, titiksah,

arjavam, jñanam vijñanamastikyam

brahma-karma svabhava-jam^[5]

So those who are going to be initiated brahmana, they must observe; otherwise what is the use of taking a sacred thread? Don’t think by simply having a sacred thread, this business is finished. No. They should be practiced how to keep yourself on the platform of sattva-guna. That platform of sattva-guna can be maintained when you are engaged in devotional service. Here it is said, sthitam sattve prasidati, simply being situated on the platform of goodness, you will be happy. Prasidati, you will feel happiness, because you are in the knowledge. But the bhakti process is so transcendental that by discharge of devotional service you will be far above the sattva-guna.

Sattva-guna, that is material good qualities. But these material good qualities can be contaminated sometimes, because the material nature is very powerful.

daivi hy esa guna-mayi

mama maya duratyaya^[6]

Very, very powerful. Therefore sometimes we see that those who are not sticking to the principles, they fall down—immediately. The material nature will drag, “Please come here.” But if you remain fixed up in devotional service, then you go above the sattva-guna. That is also stated in the Bhagavad-gita:

mam ca yo ‘vyabhicarena

bhakti-yogena sevate

sa gunan samatityaitan

brahma-bhuyaya kalpate^[7]

So we are introducing this process to become directly a pure devotee. A pure devotee. Devotee, pure and impure? Yes. Impure means those who are still contaminated by these three qualities, sattva-guna, raja-guna, tamo-guna. And pure means above; no contamination. So take directly, because in this age it is very difficult to go step by step. Life is very short. You do not know at any moment. Material world is full of danger, especially in this age.

[1] Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.19

[2] [Niti Sastra, Canakya-sloka 34]

[3] Caitanya Caritamrita Madhya-lila 23.18

[4] Caitanya Caritamrita Adi-lila 17.31

[5] Bhagavad-gita 18.42

[6] Bhagavad-gita 7.14

[7] Bhagavad-gita 14.26

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