This is called conditioned life. There are so many instances. Just like even on this planet if you want to go to other countries, say, America, you have to fulfill so many conditions. Passport, visa, then P-form and so many other forms. Not easily. This is called conditioned life. We have no freedom to move.

Breaking out from conditional life

Getting free from conditioned life

There are two conditions of life. Actually, conditioned life and non-conditioned life, liberated life and conditioned life. That is real nomenclature, liberated life and conditioned life.

Conditioned life means this material world. We are conditioned by the laws of material nature. Just like we are trying to go to the moon planet, but we are conditioned; we cannot go. There are so many impediments. This is the nearest planet. Still, because we are conditioned, we cannot go. No free access. Otherwise, a living entity name is sarva-ga. Sarva-ga(tah) sthanur achalo 'yam. Sarva-ga means a living entity can go anywhere. As we see, there are so many planets. Why we cannot go? There are means also. We are flying in the air, but we cannot go. This is called conditioned life. There are so many instances. Just like even on this planet if you want to go to other countries, say, America, you have to fulfill so many conditions. Passport, visa, then P-form and so many other forms. Not easily. This is called conditioned life. We have no freedom to move.

And there is another life which is life of freedom. Just like Narada Muni. Narada Muni travels everywhere. He goes in the spiritual world. He comes in the material world. In the material world he can go in any one of the planets. Sometimes by yogic practice we can go also, but not so easily. So there is a life of freedom. That is spiritual life.

Nitya-mukta, the living entities who are living, who are residing in the spiritual world, their number is greater than the conditioned soul. Just like some of our friends or citizens, they are in the jail. Their number is not as many as we who are free. Similarly, the number of free living entities in the spiritual world is greater than the number of the conditioned souls. A few only, we are conditioned.

And this conditioned means karmani. Karmana daiva-netrena jantur dehopapattaye [Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.31.1]. As we are doing work, fruitive activities, under the influence of a particular type of modes of nature, we are getting different types of bodies, and there are 8,400,000 forms of bodies, and we are rotating. Because we do not know, we have forgotten how to become free from this cycle of birth and death and transmigration of the soul. This is called karma. Yajñarthat karmano 'nyatra loko 'yam karma-bandhanah [Bhagavad-gita 3.9].

Therefore in the human form of life we must perform yajña. Yajña [sacrifice] means to satisfy the Supreme Lord. Yajñarthe, for the sake of the Supreme Lord, for satisfying Him, that is our business.

So to do that business in the previous verse it has been prescribed that the human society should be divided into four classes of men. There are, but they should be systematically divided. Just like in any office there are departments. Without departmental work, nothing can be successful. Anywhere you go, either in the law court or in the office or anywhere, there must be departments. Similarly, the human society must be divided into four divisions—not four divisions, but eight divisions, varnashrama.

In the Vedic literature there is no such thing as Hindu dharma or Muslim dharma or Christian dharma or Buddha dharma. These are recent manufacture. Actually, Vedic instruction is to divide the whole human society into four varnas [social orders] and four ashramas [stages of life]. That is Vedic dharma, sanatana-dharma. It is called sanatana-dharma [the eternal occupation of the living entities].

A living entity has got the chance of getting this human form after many, many births. This present rascal civilization does not know that how with great difficulty we have come to this human form of life after so many evolutions. The Darwin's theory of evolution, there is some idea, but it is not clear, not scientific. They are trying to prove that it is scientific. That is not scientific. But the evolution theory is there, 8,400,000 species of life. We are rotating in this way.

So the human form of life must be systematized, not live like animals. So therefore if in the human society there is no this systematic division of persons. The aim is one. It is not that because one is in the lower division, he does not get the benefit, no. Just like in the state, in an organized state, as we have seen in foreign countries, especially in USA, very organized state, everyone has got the facility. It doesn't matter whether he is rich man or poor man. Everyone has got. Similarly, this chatur-varnyam maya srishtam [Bg. 4.13], brahmana, kshatriya, vaishya, shudra... It doesn't matter one is shudra [member of the working class] or one is brahmana [highest order of society comprised of thinkers, seers, king's counsel], but everyone has got the facility to become connected in relationship with the Supreme Lord.

mam hi partha vyapashritya
ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah
striyo vaishyas tatha shudras
te 'pi yanti param gatim [Bg. 9.32]

Param gatim, that is open for everyone. It is not that because one is shudra or one is chandala [dog-eater], he is not allowed to enter into the kingdom of God and only the brahmanas are allowed. No, it is not like that. The same thing, same example, that in the body there are four divisions: the head division, the arm division, the belly division, and the leg division. It is not that only the head get the facilities of living condition. No. Everyone.

But there must be division. That is scientific. Otherwise the human life will be spoiled. That I have tried to explain last night. There must be division, because it is ordained by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. How we can violate? There must be the brahminical class, the kshatriya class, the vaishya class and the shudra class. Then everything will be maintained very proficiently.

Because it is karma, karma-yoga. The material world means you work, and you enjoy or suffer the result of your work. This is material world. Everyone is given facility, but it is karmanubandhanah [bound up by the law of action and reaction], just a facility for the living entities who wanted to enjoy this material world. This material world is not wanted.

Everyone should live in the spiritual world. There is spiritual world. Paras tasmat tu bhavo 'nyo 'vyakto 'vyaktat sanatanah [Bg. 8.20: "Yet there is another unmanifest nature, which is eternal and is transcendental to this manifested and unmanifested matter. It is supreme and is never annihilated. When all in this world is annihilated, that part remains as it is."]. There is no birth and death. Yad gatva na nivartante tad dhama [Bg. 15.6: "Those who reach it never return to this material world."]. Everything is there. People do not know it.

Therefore the karma should be systematized, and it should be regulated by brahminical culture, by kshatriya culture, by vaishya culture, by shudra culture.

But Krishna says that "Don't think... Because I have prescribed this for the systematic life of all the conditioned souls, it does not mean I am also one of them." Krishna is not one of them. And some foolish rascals they say that "Krishna is also bound up by the laws of karma." No. Krishna is free. Not only Krishna, but Krishna's devotees also. That is stated here. Iti mam yo 'bhijanati karmabhir na sa badhyate [Bg. 4.14: "There is no work that affects Me; nor do I aspire for the fruits of action. One who understands this truth about Me also does not become entangled in the fruitive reactions of work."]. Simply by knowing, simply by knowing that Krishna is transcendental. Krishna gives us prescription how to live in this conditional state, but He is not one of us. He is not one of us. He is above, transcendental. Therefore He says, na mam karmani limpanti ["There is no work that affects Me."]. Because Krishna is fighting in the battlefield... He is not fighting. He is directing. Still, you may call that He is inducing Arjuna to fight. That does not mean he is becoming entangled in the sinful reactions. Krishna is killing so many demons. He is not bound up by karma. Similarly, if we also become devotee of Krishna and if we abide by His order, then sinful reactions cannot touch us. This is bhakti [devotion].

Karmani nirdahati kintu cha bhakti-bhajam [Brahma-samhita 5.54]. [footnote 1] That is stated in the Brahma-samhita. There are millions and millions of living entities beginning from the king of heaven whose name is Indra. And there is one worm that is called indra-gopa, very small. You have to see with microscope. Very small, insignificant living entity. And that Indra, the king of heaven, is very important living being. So beginning from that Indra up to this Indra, everyone is bound up by the fruitive resultant action of his karma. This is called karma-phala. Going on under the laws of karma. Just like Arjuna was hesitating to fight because he thought that "I shall be entangled in the karma-phala if I kill my family men and my grandfather, my teacher." So he was thinking. That was good consideration, papa-punya. But because he fought for Krishna, because he satisfied Krishna, he was not bound up. Yajñarthat karmano 'nyatra loko 'yam karma-bandhanah [Bg. 3.9: "Work done as a sacrifice for Vishnu has to be performed; otherwise work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, O son of Kunti, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain free from bondage."]. If you do anything for your satisfaction, then you become entangled in the karma-phala. But if you do anything for the satisfaction of Krishna, there is no karma bondage. This is the secret. That is clearly stated. He is the Supreme. He can direct, but He is not under the direction. He is free. Similarly, those who are Krishna's devotees, they are also free.

Abhijanati means one who knows that "Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He is not ordinary human being, He is nityo nityanam chetanash chetananam (Katha Upanishad 2.2.13), He is the supreme living entity amongst all living entities, He is the Supreme Living Being amongst all living beings"—that is abhijanati, know with complete experience, not superficially. Abhijanati means "Knows Me perfectly well, that 'Krishna is transcendental.' " And that is also explained by Krishna,

mam cha yo 'vyabhicharena
bhakti-yogena sevate
sa gunan samatityaitan
brahma-bhuyaya kalpate [Bg. 14.26]

So those who are engaged in the bhakti-yoga, unflinching bhakti-yoga, unalloyed bhakti-yoga, such person is above this material entanglement. Material entanglement is within the modes of material nature. That is brahmana, kshatriya, vaishya, shudra, or brahmachari, grihastha, vanaprastha, sannyasa, and gradually develop your spiritual constitutional position and be transferred to the transcendental position... Paras tasmat tu bhavo 'nyo 'vyakto 'vyaktat sanatanah [Bg. 8.20: "Yet there is another unmanifest nature, which is eternal and is transcendental to this manifested and unmanifested matter. It is supreme and is never annihilated. When all in this world is annihilated, that part remains as it is."]. That is the process.

But if you live in the conditioned life like animals, then you continue the life of animals—eating, sleeping, mating and defending, and struggle for existence. Then you struggle within this material world forever. Sometimes you become the king Indra, and sometimes you become that germ indra. This is karma-phala. But we are so ignorant of this law of karma, we are thinking "Now this position of American or Indian or this or that, for fifty years or sixty years, utmost, that is one, everything, all in all. There is no more life." Yes. I have talked with many big, big professors. They are under the impression, atheism, voidism, that after death there is nothing; everything is void, finished. Atheism. "The body is burned into ashes. Who is coming again?" This is atheism. Because the atheists, they cannot see that how the soul is transmigrated by the subtle body from one body to another. They have no knowledge... gross, gross materialists. So we should not follow the gross materialists, but we should follow the perfect leader, Krishna, who says, tatha dehantara-praptir dhiras tatra na muhyati [Bg. 2.13: "As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death."]. This we must follow. That is human civilization.

Therefore he prescribes that brahmana, kshatriya, vaishya, shudra... Either you become brahmana or follow the instruction of the brahmanas, then your life is perfect. Both things are there. If you like to be brahmana, that you can become also. This is Krishna consciousness movement. Because in this age everyone is a shudra. There is no culture. There is no brahminical culture, kshatriya culture. Therefore all together, they are simply shudras. So this Krishna consciousness movement is to raise the shudras or less than that. Everyone is open to come to Him. Everyone. It doesn't matter. And there are less than that. Less than they are called chandalas [dog-eaters]. They are also mentioned in the Bhagavata. They can be purified. They can be purified. Prabhavishnave namah. The Lord Vishnu is so powerful that He can make anyone a purified Vaishnava. That is His special... It is not that because one is kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasha or papa-yoni, he cannot be elevated. He can be elevated. That is possible. Because guna-karma-vibhagashah [Bg. 4.13: "According to the modes of nature"]. If you make him qualified like a brahmana and work like a brahmana, then he can be elevated. That is Krishna consciousness movement. We are trying to educate anyone. It doesn't matter. Anyone can be elevated.

So who will do that? Krishna says that "Anyone can be elevated." So who will do that? Therefore Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has said.... Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is also Krishna. Now,

bharata-bhumite haila manushya-janma yara
janma sarthaka kari' kara para-upakara [Cc. adi 9.41]

This is the duty of the Indian, bharata-bhumi. One who has taken birth in the holy place of this Bharata-varsha, it is huge duty: make his life perfect and do welfare activities for others. This is India's business. This is Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's order.

bharata-bhumite haila manushya-janma yara
janma sarthaka kari' kara para-upakara [Cc. adi 9.41]

India is meant for para-upakara [giving], not for exploiting others. That is not India's business. That may be for the fools and rascals in other countries. But in India is dedicated. Therefore in India Krishna comes, in India Lord Ramachandra comes.

But they have now taken it very cheaply. All rascals and fools and rogues, they are claiming that "I am Krishna, I am." They have taken because India has fallen. Because there is no brahminical culture, they cannot understand these rascals, that the fools and rascals, they are claiming to be Krishna. Krishna is so cheap? No. That is our misfortune, that instead of Krishna, we are accepting some imitation, rogue Krishna. This is our misfortune. But we should not do that. There is Krishna. Here is Krishna, in His words. Krishna is Absolute. He is not different from Krishna. The words of Krishna and Krishna, there is no difference. When you read Bhagavad-gita, if you feel like that, that "Here Krishna is speaking before me," then your life is successful. Krishna is speaking. Actually, it is a fact. It is a fact. It is not that "Krishna is no longer here. Five thousand years He spoke; therefore this Bhagavad-gita has become null and void." This is nonsense. Krishna can speak at every moment, at every second. Does He say that "Simply in this age"? No. At any time. One who understands Krishna, at any time, at any place, iti mam yo 'bhijanati karmabhir na sa badhyate [Bg. 4.14]," he becomes liberated person, simply by this understanding that Krishna is the Supreme Lord. He is not bound up by the laws of karma and He is not conditioned by this material nature."

Krishna says, daivi hy esha guna-mayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]. Maya is under His control. Prakriti is working under His direction, under His superintendence. So we should know Krishna like that. We should not take Krishna to be ordinary conditioned soul. Because He is speaking like a man, we are thinking that Krishna came, and Krishna is now dead, and His instruction is also dead, obsolete. No, that is not. Krishna is ever-existing, nityo nityanam. We are also ever-existing. We are covered by this material body, but Krishna is not covered by the material body. He comes in His original body. So Krishna comes to save us and gives us His instruction so that after His disappearance from this world, people will take advantage of His instruction and make his life perfect. This is Bhagavad-gita.

But if we misuse our intelligence and do not take advice from Krishna and manufacture so many plans for prosperity, that will all fail. Mogha means frustrated. They will be frustrated. Anyone who does not take the direction of Krishna, then whatever he is hoping, that will be frustrated. Moghasha mogha-karmanah. And whatever he is planning, "I will do like this, he will do like that," that will not stay. Because the maya is there. Maya will kill all your plans. And if you follow Krishna and do accordingly, then you will not be frustrated. Your life will be successful. This is the philosophy of Bhagavad-gita.

1. - Brahma-samhita 5.54: I adore the primeval Lord Govinda, who burns up to their roots all fruitive activities of those who are imbued with devotion and impartially ordains for each the due enjoyment of the fruits of one's activities, of all those who walk in the path of work, in accordance with the chain of their previously performed works, no less in the case of the tiny insect that bears the name of indragopa than in that of Indra, king of the devas." Back to text