Krsna Can Be Seen If We Practice

Ratha-yatra [Festival of The Chariots] Lecture
--San Francisco, June 27, 1971

Prabhupada: When our eyes are anointed with love of God, we can see Him everywhere. That is the injunction of the sastras. We have to develop our seeing power by developing love of Godhead. Premanjana-cchurita bhakti-vilocanena [Bs. 5.38].

When one is sufficiently developed in Krsna consciousness, he can see the Lord every moment within his heart and everywhere, wherever he goes. So this Krsna consciousness movement is an attempt to teach people how to see God, how to see Krsna. Krsna can be seen if we practice. Just like Krsna says, raso ’ham apsu kaunteya. Krsna says, “I am the taste of the water.’’

Every one of us, we drink water everyday, not only one, twice, thrice or more than that. So as soon as we drink water, if we think that the taste of the water is Krsna, immediately we become Krsna conscious. To become Krsna conscious is not very difficult job. Simply we have to practice it. Just like this is an example how to practice to become Krsna conscious. Whenever you drink water, as soon as you are satiated, your thirst is quenched, immediately you think that this thirsting, the quenching power is Krsna. Prabhasmi sasi suryayoh. Krsna says, “I am the sunshine. I am the moonshine.’’ So during daytime, every one of us seeing the sunshine. As soon as you see sunshine, immediately you can remember Krsna, “Here is Krsna.’’

As soon as you see moonshine at night, immediately you can remember, “Here is Krsna.’’ In this way, if you practice, there are many instances, many examples given in the Bhagavad-gita, in the Seventh Chapter, if you read them carefully, how to practice Krsna consciousness. Then at that time, when you are mature in love of Krsna, you will see Krsna everywhere. Nobody has to help you to see Krsna, but Krsna will be revealed before you, by your devotion, by your love. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adah. Krsna, when one is in service mood, when one understands that “I am eternal servant of Krsna, or God,’’ then Krsna help you how to see Him.

That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita,

tesam satata-yuktanam
bhajatam priti-purvakam
dadami buddhi-yogam tam
yena mam upayanti te
[Bg. 10.10]

Krsna says, those who are constantly, twenty-four hours engaged in Krsna’s service... Just like these students, the member of Krsna Consciousness Society, you’ll find them twenty-four hours engaged in Krsna’s service. That is the, I mean to say, significance of Krsna consciousness. They are always engaged. This Ratha-yatra ceremony is one of the item, so that at least, one day, all of you will be able to be engaged in Krsna consciousness.

So this is only practice, and if you practice throughout your whole life, then at the time of death, if you can fortunately remember Krsna, your life is successful. That practice is required. yam yam vapi smaran loke tyajaty ante kalevaram. We have to give up this body, that is certain. But at the time of death, if we remember Krsna, immediately you are transferred to the abode of Krsna. Krsna is everywhere, but still Krsna has got a special abode, which is called Goloka Vrndavana.

You can understand that our body, body means the senses, and above the senses there is the mind, which is very subtle, which is controlling the senses, and above the mind there is intelligence, and above the intelligence there is soul. We have no information, but if we practice this bhakti-yoga system, gradually we understand what I am. I am not this body.

This, generally even big, big scholars, big, big philosophers, scientists, they are also in the concept of this body. Everyone is thinking, “I am the body,’’ but that is mistake. We are not this body. Just I explain. Body means the senses, but the senses are controlled by the mind, and the mind is controlled by the intelligence, and the intelligence is controlled by the soul. That you do not know.

There is no educational system throughout the whole world how to understand the existence of soul, which is the prime necessity of understanding for the human being. A human being is not meant for wasting his time like animals, simply eating, sleeping, mating and defending. That is animal life. The extra intelligence of human beings should be utilized how to understand “I am... What I am? I am a spirit soul.’’ If we understand that “I am spirit soul,”’ that this bodily concept of life, which has played havoc in this world... On the bodily concept of life I am thinking “I am Indian,’’ you are thinking “American,’’ he’s thinking something, something. But we are all one. We are spirit soul. We are all eternal servant of Krsna, Jagannatha.

So today is a very nice, auspicious day. On this day Lord Krsna, when He was present on this earth, He attended a solar eclipse ceremony at Kuruksetra, and Krsna, along with His brother Balarama, and Subhadra, sister, came to visit the Kuruksetra field. That Kuruksetra land is still present in India.

If someday you’ll go to India you’ll find that Kuruksetra land is there. So this Ratha-yatra ceremony is performed in commemoration of Krsna’s visiting Kuruksetra with His brother and sister. So Lord Jagannatha, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He was in ecstasy. He was in the mood of loving spirit like Radharani, so He was thinking, “Krsna, please come back again to Vrndavana.’’ So He was dancing before the Ratha-yatra, and you will understand, if you read some of the books published by you..., published by our society. One of the book is known as Teachings of Lord Caitanya.

It is very important book. If you want to learn this Krsna consciousness movement, we have got enough books. You can scientifically and philosophically study. But if you have no inclination to study, if you simply take to this chanting of Hare Krsna, gradually everything will be revealed unto you, and you will understand your relationship with Krsna.