Chandogya Upanishad 4.14 Lecture 144 on 05 October 2025 Q&A

On the Degradation of Intelligence in Kali Yuga and God Realization

Student A: Two questions. One, the calibre of people in general during the Vedic age is very high. You've mentioned that. But generation after generation, it seems the intelligence is degrading, which is what will happen in future also.

Maharaj: Correct.

Student A: At the same time, Thakur has mentioned that it is easier to realise God in the Kali Yuga.

Maharaj: Correct.

Student A: Does it mean that God also adjusts his expectations according to the degrading times?

Maharaj: Let me tell you, he has no choice. Otherwise, he is not going to get a single disciple.

Once, I was teaching Gita to somebody. There were 5-6 students were there. Somebody remarked, "Only 5-6 students." I told them, "You don't have intelligence, very low intelligence. I am much much better than Krishna. He had only one disciple. And later on, he told, 'I forgot the whole lot.'"

What I am trying to tell you is that who created all these Yugas? And every Yuga, the intelligence is becoming polluted, corrupted, impure. Isn't it? By whose will?

Student A: By the Divine Will.

Maharaj: Ahh. So, since it is His will, he also has to show us the path. So, that is why it is said in Satya Yuga and Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga —people have to do, in Satya Yuga, they have to do, what is called, head down, legs up, Sirsasana Tapasya. In Treta Yuga, they have to do lot of these Yagnas, Yagas, like Vishwamitra, etc. In Dvapara Yuga , they have to do lot of these, what is called, duties for Varnashram Dharma.

And in Kali Yuga, everything got so mixed up. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Hare Rama,

harer nāma harer nāma

harer nāmaiva kevalam

kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva

nāsty eva gatir anyathā (Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā Ch 6.242)

So, he said, but sincerely, longingly, like a child praying to God, if one calls upon God, then that would be the easiest. But when you say it is easiest way, that can be grave mistake. Just as it is so difficult to perform Tapasya, to perform Yagna Yagas and to do Karma Yoga and all those, even to take the name of God is extremely difficult.

So, Ramakrishna offered, "You take my name morning and evening, dawn and dusk," to whom? (Girish) And he said, "I don't know in what condition I will be. So, I am not going to do it. I can't tell you a lie."

"Alright, at least once, no. At least while you are taking food."

He said, "Many times I have taken food without noticing what I am doing."

Finally, Ramakrishna said, "Alright, you practise Sharanagati Bhava."

Then, Girish Chandra Gosh said immediately, "Practise the path Sharanagati." So, it is not that easy.

On the Purpose of Religion and Comparative Study

Student A: Next question, the purpose of every religion, I understand, is the purification of mind.

Maharaj: Correct

Student A: So, if a person is really after leading a religious life or spiritual life, then he or she would be just sincere about purifying the mind. There wouldn't be any time or leisure to think about or comparison with other religions.

Maharaj: Correct, should not.

Student A: So, if I see somebody talking about religion or something, it just means, does it mean that person is really not spiritual?

Maharaj: Absolutely no. Even YouTube is talking all about spirituality. Have you seen YouTube getting Moksham? Look at the character of the person always. Look how much our character has changed. That is the most important.

Student A: When does it become really necessary to learn about, at least fundamentally, about other philosophies? Today you mentioned Madhavacharya.

Maharaj: You see, what I am telling, when I am talking about philosophies, if a person is intellectually fit and has plenty of time they can devote, then that is a good way of keeping the mind pure, that's all. But otherwise, take the essential essence of their teachings, which are all to be found in our own Thakur and Maa. You don't need to go anywhere. Meditate upon this.

Today, I have talked so much about Swamiji's interpretation of all this. Where else do you get this kind of interpretation? You go to traditional level, Brahma Sathyam, Jaganmithya, Jaganmithya. All these things, they go on talking, wearing you, everybody down. Including the microphones also get tired. Mobile phones also get tired. But look at this, only positive thought. No distraction, no illusion. More and more revelation after.

On the Discordance Between Mind and Body in Sadhana

Student B: Is there a kind of a time phase in the sadhaka's life where there is a bit of a discordance, that on a mind level you can feel very good, very strong in your high thoughts, however, the body action, it kind of lags behind, it doesn't follow quite the same note. Is there a discordance?

Maharaj: No, I don't call it discordance. We have to bring up the reaction slowly, slowly to our ideal. What you are talking, this is my ideal. But ideal is always higher, isn't it?

Student B: Yeah, that is true.

Maharaj: So, our body, mind, both are in harmony. So, it is not that the mind is high and the body is low. That never happens. Both go in the same way. So, we have to slowly progress. Do whatever efforts we can do. That is the only way. There is no other way.

On Contemplation

Student B: We are going through this Upasana Vidya. We are learning so much about contemplation. Can contemplation itself be thought of as a worship?

Maharaj: Let me define. What is contemplation? Whatever enlarges our vision, takes us nearer to Reality, that alone deserves the name contemplation.

On Protecting Spiritual Practice with Discipline

Student B: Initially there is a lot that we must be protecting ourselves, the spiritual plant, be fenced with very strong fencing. And what would that in reality mean? What will that fence be?

Maharaj: That would be, once we decide about certain routine, stick to it like super glue. Everybody is a [dilly-dallier?]. When they feel like, they attend the class. When they feel like, they do a little japam. When they feel like, they do a little charity. When they feel like, they will do something. But there is no consistency there.

Student B: But Maharaj Ji, why is so? Because I am struggling.

Maharaj: No, no, forget about why and all those things. We have discussed it so many times. You take, make a routine and stick to it. Try to not deviate. That is the way.