One may then justifiably ask, “How can I serve?” It is not simply a matter of meditation, which is just an activity of the mind, but of performing practical work for Krishna. In such work, we should leave no resource unused. Whatever is there, whatever we have, should be used for Krishna. We can use everything—typewriters, automobiles, airplanes, missiles.

Engaging Technology

Launch of the Espresso Book Machine in Melbourne, September, 2008

Sri Guru and Gauranga

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Using technology in the service of Krishna

The real question is, How can we remain unpolluted by material contamination while in the material world? Srila Rupa Gosvami explains that we can remain uncontaminated while in the world if we simply make it our ambition to serve Krishna. One may then justifiably ask, “How can I serve?” It is not simply a matter of meditation, which is just an activity of the mind, but of performing practical work for Krishna. In such work, we should leave no resource unused. Whatever is there, whatever we have, should be used for Krishna. We can use everything—typewriters, automobiles, airplanes, missiles. If we simply speak to people about Krishna consciousness, we are also rendering service. If our mind, senses, speech, money and energies are thus engaged in the service of Krishna, then we are no longer in material nature. By virtue of spiritual consciousness, or Krishna consciousness, we transcend the platform of material nature. It is a fact that Krishna, His expansions and His devotees—that is, those who work for Him—are not in material nature, although people with a poor fund of knowledge think that they are.

The Chaitanya-charitamrita teaches that the spirit soul is immortal and that our activities in the spiritual world are also immortal. The Mayavadis, who hold the view that the Absolute is impersonal and formless, contend that a realized soul has no need to talk. But the Vaishnavas, devotees of Krishna, contend that when one reaches the stage of realization, he really begins to talk. “Previously we only talked of nonsense,” the Vaishnava says. “Now let us begin our real talks, talks of Krishna.” In support of their view that the self-realized remain silent, the Mayavadis are fond of using the example of the water pot, maintaining that when a pot is not filled with water it makes a sound, but that when it is filled it makes no sound. But are we waterpots? How can we be compared to them? A good analogy utilizes as many similarities between two objects as possible. A waterpot is not an active living force, but we are. Ever-silent meditation may be adequate for a waterpot, but not for us. Indeed, when a devotee realizes how much he has to say about Krishna, twenty-four hours in a day are not sufficient. It is the fool who is celebrated as long as he does not speak, for when he breaks his silence his lack of knowledge is exposed. The Chaitanya-charitamrita shows that there are many wonderful things to discover by glorifying the Supreme.

Keeping Krishna in the center

PRABHUPADA: Yes. This... Everyone in the human society is trying to establish love in the society, but it is being failed. The reason is that we are missing the central point. Just like from a point you can make a circle. What is called that?

PRADYUMNA: Compass.

PRABHUPADA: Compass. Yes. That compass, you put the pointed part on the center, you can make a circle. So if I do not take the central point, I make my own point, then my circle will overlap your circle, there will be a clash. But if the center is the same, I can draw one circle, you can draw one, another circle. None of these circles will overlap. So if taking Krishna as the center... Nirbandhe krishna-sambandhe. If we relate our activities, social activities, philanthropic activities, political activities, any activity, religious activities, any activity... if you make center Krishna, then my circle, your circle, another circle will not overlap, but it will give different lights, Krishna being center. That point we were discussing this morning from Srimad-Bhagavatam. Atah pumbhir dvija-shreshtha varnashrama-vibhagashah. Everyone is trying to make his own circle. Political, social, humanitarian, philosophical, scientific. That's all right. But Bhagavata says that make your circle perfect from the point of Krishna. Don't miss the point. Svanu, svanushthitasya dharmasya samsiddhir hari-toshanam [SB 1.2.13]. Whatever you do, if you try to please Krishna, then your circle is perfect. Krishna must be center. Rupa Gosvami says, nirbandhe krishna-sambandhe. Krishna-sambandhe. You can deal in politics. Then politics will be perfect. Krishna-sambandhe, you can make circle of scientific knowledge. Then it will be perfect. Making center Krishna, either politics, sociology, philosophy, religion, whatever it may be. It will be perfect.

Yukta-vairagyam uchyate. Anasaktasya vishayan yatharham upayuñjate. Just like we are using this microphone. This is material, scientific advancement. Sometimes they criticize that "You are not materialistic, so why you are using the modern appliances? Why you are flying on the aeroplane?" So practically, our vision is that everything is Krishna's and everything must be utilized for Krishna's service. That is, that is our philosophy. Actually, it is so. This microphone is manufactured by Krishna's energy. Bhumir apo 'nalo vayuh kham mano buddhir eva cha, prakriti bhinna me ashtadha [Bhagavad-gita 7.4]. So this metal portion, or the rubber portion, or any portion of this microphone is made of the five elements, earth, water, fire, air. So Krishna says, "They are My separated energy." So although separated energy, we are dovetailing with the service of Krishna. That, we do not see that this matter is separate from Krishna. Actually it is not so. When we see the matter is separate from Krishna, that is materialism. When we see the matter is energy of Krishna, that is not materialism. That is spiritualism. So it is our intellect how we can utilize everything with Krishna.

Nirbandhe krishna-sambandhe yukta-vairagyam uchyate. Anasaktasya vishayan. If we utilize the same matter for our sense gratification, vishaya, then it is material. The same flower, if I collect it for my sense gratification, this flower is material. The same flower, when I pick up for offering on the lotus feet of Krishna, this is spiritual. Then how the material thing transformed into spiritual? By the consciousness. Therefore our propaganda is to raise the Krishna consciousness. Nitya-siddha krishna-bhakti. That is our propaganda. As soon as we raise the consciousness to the platform of Krishna, then we become spiritualized. Nirbandhe krishna-sambandhe yukta-vairagyam uchyate.

Everything is connected with Krishna

Bhagavata-dharma is not a concocted sectarian belief, for it entails research to find how everything is connected with Krishna (ishavasyam idam sarvam [Ishopanishad mantra 1]). According to the Vedic injunctions, sarvam khalv idam brahma: Brahman, the Supreme, is present in everything. Bhagavata-dharma captures this presence of the Supreme. Bhagavata-dharma does not consider everything in the world to be false. Because everything emanates from the Supreme, nothing can be false; everything has some use in the service of the Supreme. For example, we are now dictating into a microphone and recording on a dictating machine, and thus we are finding how the machine can be connected to the Supreme Brahman. Since we are using this machine in the service of the Lord, it is Brahman. This is the meaning of sarvam khalv idam brahma. Everything is Brahman because everything can be used for the service of the Supreme Lord. Nothing is mithya, false; everything is factual.

Renunciation and enjoyment

Srila Rupa Gosvami, then, recommends that one should not be attached to material sense enjoyment, but should accept everything enjoyable which is in relationship to Krishna. For example, eating is necessary, and one wants some palatable dishes to satisfy his sense of taste. So in that case, for the satisfaction of Krishna rather than for the satisfaction of the tongue, some palatable dishes may be prepared and offered to Krishna. Then it is renunciation. Let the palatable dishes be prepared, but unless they are offered to Krishna one should not accept them for eating. This vow of rejecting anything which is not offered to Krishna is actually renunciation. And by such renunciation one is able to satisfy the demands of the senses.

The impersonalists, who try to avoid everything material, may undergo severe austerities, but they miss the opportunity of being engaged in the service of the Lord. Thus their renunciation is not sufficient for perfection. There are many instances where, following such artificial renunciation without any contact with devotional service, the impersonalist again fell down and became attracted to material contamination. There are many supposed renouncers even at the present moment who officially become sannyasis, or renouncers, and outwardly claim that spiritual existence is truth and material existence untruth. In this way, artificially they make a show of renunciation of the material world. However, because they cannot reach the point of devotional service, they fail to achieve the goal, and they again come back to material activities, such as philanthropic work and political agitation. There are many examples of so-called sannyasis who gave up the world as untruth but again came to the material world, because they were not seeking their real repose at the lotus feet of the Lord.

One should not give up anything which can be utilized in the service of the Lord. That is a secret of devotional service. Anything that can be utilized in advancing Krishna consciousness and devotional service should be accepted. For instance, we are using many machines for the advancement of our present Krishna consciousness movement, machines like typewriters, dictating machines, tape recorders, microphones and airplanes. Sometimes people ask us, "Why are you utilizing material products if you condemn the advancement of material civilization?" But actually we do not condemn. We simply ask people to do whatever they are doing in Krishna consciousness. This is the same principle on which, in Bhagavad-gita, Krishna advised Arjuna to utilize his fighting abilities in devotional service. Similarly, we are utilizing these machines for Krishna's service. With such sentiment for Krishna, or Krishna consciousness, we can accept everything. If the typewriter can be utilized for advancing our Krishna consciousness movement, we must accept it. Similarly, the dictating machine or any other machine must be used. Our vision is that Krishna is everything. Krishna is the cause and effect, and nothing belongs to us. Krishna's things must be used in the service of Krishna. That is our vision.

Not a change of activity, but a change of purpose

If you come to Krishna consciousness, then the seed of material existence will be completely stopped. Because there will be no... It is very practical.

What is this Krishna consciousness? We have described several times that anukulyena krishnanu-shilanam [Cc. Madhya 19.167]. Anukulyena krishnanu-shilanam. You have to serve Krishna favorably. That's all. And, in another passage we find Krishna consciousness means that ... our senses, at the present moment, they are engaged in material activities. So you have to change the rubber stamp simply. You have to act. Not that by Krishna consciousness, you will be a dull stone. No. The activity will be there. Therefore sometimes we are misunderstood that "What sort of Krishna consciousness is there? They are also eating. They are also typewriting. They are also going to office. They are also working. And everything is there. They are looking after printing press. And so many things, everything. What is this Krishna?" Because it is simply being done on account of Krishna.

The consciousness is the same. Your consciousness, my consciousness is the same. If you apply to certain objective, that is called "that-consciousness." Similarly, if you apply your consciousness simply for Krishna, anukulyena krishnanu-shilanam [Cc. Madhya 19.167], just favorably, you engage your senses for the purpose of Krishna. As Krishna advises in the Bhagavad-gita, yudhyasva mam anusmara: [Bg. 8.7] "You fight. At the same time, think of Me." That is the prescription. So Arjuna, he was a fighter. In the beginning, he was a fighter. At the end he remained a fighter. He did not change his position. After hearing Bhagavad-gita, he did not change his position—he was a fighter, and he became a mendicant, or he became a swami. No. He did not become a swami. He remained as fighter, but the account was changed. Rubber stamp was changed. That's all. He was considering fighting from his own standard point of view. He was thinking, "Oh, how can I fight with my grandfather? How can I fight with my teacher? How can I..." So he was thinking on his personal account. But when Krishna informed him, instructed him, Bhagavad-gita, that "Your business is to fight for Me," then he changed his decision. This is Krishna consciousness. You have to change your position only. That's all. This is Bhagavatam. If you practice acting only for Krishna, then that seed of your material existence will be wiped out completely.