You have created this material civilization, very advancement. That is all right. But whether you have made any security arrangement that you'll be able to enjoy them? Is there any arrangement? Eh? This requires little brain. Because at any moment we may be kicked out of the situation. There is no guarantee.

Not At All Safe and Secure

Eyes closed to danger

Prahlada Maharaja said, "My Lord, I have no problem, so why shall I ask You for anything? I have no problem." Naivodvije para duratyaya-vaitaranyah: "Everyone has got problem in this material world. They're trying to overcome the problem. But I have no problem." Naivodvije para duratyaya-vaitaranyas tvad-virya-gayana-mahamrita-magna-chittah [Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.43]. "I have no problem because my mind is always absorbed in glorifying Your Lordship. Therefore, I have no problem."

Kirtana [singing or chanting the names of God]. You'll feel immediately refreshed. However burden you may feel, as soon as you perform krishna-kirtana, you'll find immediately refreshed. So one who has got taste for this kirtana, he has no problem. That is what Prahlada Maharaja says. Tvad-virya-gayana-mahamrita-magna-chittah: "Because my heart is always merged into the ocean of Your glorification, I have no problem." This is the devotee. Everyone goes to God to mitigate some problem, that "God, give us our daily bread." That means bread is a problem, and... That is the general tendency. They go to temple, church, to mitigate some problem. And as soon as the problem is finished, they forget God. No more church, no more temple. You see? That is not devotion. Devotion is that "No problem. I am ready to serve You, my Lord." That is life. No problem. We should not take to Krishna consciousness or sankirtana to solve some problem. No. That is not pure devotion. When you will feel that "There is no problem. I am chanting, glorifying. So I am becoming merged into the ocean of bliss," that is life. That is the symptom.

So that Prahlada Maharaja said, that "I have no problem." That is pure devotee. "Then... [the Supreme Lord spoke to Prahlada:] But you seem to be very unhappy. Why?" "Yes, still, I am unhappy." What is that? Shoche tato vimukha-chetasa indriyartha-maya-sukhaya bharam udvahato vimudhan: [SB 7.9.43] "I am unhappy for these rascals, these rascals. These rascals, they have created a huge mode of civilization for temporary happiness, temporary happiness." That is not happiness. Maya-sukhaya. Maya, illusion.

Just like you have created these skyscraper buildings. Now, is there any guarantee that you shall be able to live here? Have you made any arrangement? Eh? Where is that arrangement? Just like, if you earn millions of dollars, but to keep that money, you keep in a safe custody, in a bank, so that you're assured that your money is safe and you'll be able to use it. Similarly, you have created this material civilization, very advancement. That is all right. But whether you have made any security arrangement that you'll be able to enjoy them? Is there any arrangement? Eh? This requires little brain. Because at any moment we may be kicked out of the situation. There is no guarantee. At any moment. Suppose with hard labor you create something for living. Everyone wants at old age to live very peacefully, comfortably. There must be some good bank balance, a very nice house. But where is that guarantee? That they do not understand.

Therefore they are called abodha-jatah. If after creating so many things for material enjoyment, if you are kicked out... But therefore they do not accept the next birth. Because it is very horrible. Because if they understand that "I have done all these things by sinful activities, these material..., and I'll have to suffer in my next life...," they'll, they'll not do. But therefore they do not believe next birth or soul. They try to forget it. This kind of forgetfulness means... I have already given several times. The rabbit, when they find some hunter, they close their eyes, yes, as if the hunter has gone away. But that is not the fact. That is his foolishness. Simply by closing the eyes, he's thinking, "Now I am safe." So these materialistic persons, denying the next birth, denying sinful activities, denying God, they're closing their eyes, that "There is no danger. Let us go on doing all this nonsense." But that will not save. That will not save.

Meanwhile, Krishna, He's seeing everything. He's seeing everything, not as a policeman but as a friend, that He is recording that "You want to do it? All right, I'll give you this facility. I'll give you facility." Because within the mind you are creating so many ideas for enjoyment, Krishna is noting, "Yes, you'll have it. You'll have it. Just wait. Next life, next life, next life." In this way we are going. Ei rupe brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva [Cc. Madhya 19.151: The living entity is wandering throughout the material universe, having to accept one body after another.].

We are placing our program... Because His name is anumanta. Without His sanction, you cannot have anything. Just like I am moving this hand. It is by His sanction. As soon as He stops His sanction, immediately paralyzed. And still, we are proud, "I have got my hand. I have got my eyes." What is the use of your eyes? Unless God helps you to see, what is the value of your eyes? Practically you see. Unless there is sunshine, what is the value of your eyes? So but still, we are so fool, we are thinking, "Can you show me God?" And what power you have got to see? First of all consider. Then you'll see God. You cannot see even what, ordinary things, what to question of seeing God. So this is called foolishness. He does not consider that "I am seeing under certain conditions, and if still..., I am so much proud of possessing my eyes." This is called foolishness, abodha-jatah. And In the Upanishads it is said that "When God sees, you can see." So your seeing is subordinate to the seeing power of God. Just like yach chakshur esha savita sakala-grahanam. When the God sees by His eyes, the sun, then you can see. As soon as the sun is not there, then where is your power of seeing? So why you are so much proud of seeing? No. That is not possible. In every respect, we are simply dependent on the mercy of God. So why not become directly dependent? That is intelligence. That is intelligence.

Therefore it is said, abodha-jata. These rascals, who have no sense what is what, to understand — the atheist class of men — abodha-jata, whatever they are doing, their so-called scientific advancement, material advancement, that is all their defeat, defeat, simply being defeated, simply creating problems. Even those problems are not existing in the society of birds and bees. You'll see. There may be big fire, but the birds are dancing in the street. They have no problem. Because they are living under condition as they have been offered by God. Similarly, if we also live God conscious... Your only business is to inquire about the soul, about the spirit soul. Athato brahma jijñasa. This is the Vedanta-sutra. This human life is meant for only inquiring about the soul. That is the only business. And besides this, whatever you are doing, you are simply being defeated, abodha-jata, because you are all fools and rascals. And so long we'll make program how to become happy materially, your mind being absorbed in material things, not in the spiritual matter, you'll have to accept another body. This is your problem.

So Krishna comes, His avatara comes, His incarnation, to... Because we are very thickly, intimately, related, we are sons, we are part and parcel of Krishna, therefore He... Just like your father is always anxious to see you happy. If you are doing something wrong, he's more anxious than yourself. He knows that you are... A child is going to capture fire. The father, parents says, "No, my dear child, don't touch it. It is harmful." That is the duty, natural. So this, in this material world, we have come here, we are sons of God, part and parcel of God, and doing all nonsense. So Krishna is not happy; therefore He comes, avatara. He comes, "My dear child, why you are doing this?" And He advises, sarva-dharman parityajya: [Bhagavad-gita 18.66] "Give up all this nonsense business. Come to Me. I shall give you protection." But we are so foolish rascal that we are prepared to become servant of the most abominable activities of our senses, but we are not prepared to surrender to Krishna and become His servant.