# January 2 ## Spoken on January 2 *Lectures from this day: 12 recordings* --- **[1967: Bhagavad-gītā 10.2–3](spoken/1967/670102bg.ny)** > So, *na me viduḥ sura-gaṇāḥ prabhavaṁ na maharṣayaḥ aham ādir hi devānām* : "I am the original... I am the source of all these *maharṣayaḥ,* all these demigods." He's the father of everyone. *Maharṣīṇāṁ ca sarvaśaḥ:* "I am not only the origin of these demigods, but I am also the origin of all these great sages." That means He is the origin of this universe. In the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* it is very nicely described how this universal form took place and how Brahmā was created and from Brahmā the *ṛṣis* were created, how population increased generally. These descriptions are there. So actually, He is the origin. *Janmādy asya yataḥ.* As it is said in the *Vedānta-sūtra,* everything is emanating from Him. > Therefore, as it is stated in the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,* the Absolute Truth is realized in three phases, that *vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvaṁ yaj jñānam advayam*. Advayam* means nonduality, one. The one Supreme Truth, Absolute Truth, is realized in three phases, *brahmeti paramātmeti bhagavān iti śabdyate:* realization of the impersonal Brahman, or the glowing effulgence, just like sunshine; then the localized Supersoul; then Bhagavān, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. --- **[1967: Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.391–405](spoken/1967/670102cc.ny)** > So contamination is considered within the material world. In the spiritual world, there is no contamination. And actually, when the *gopīs* went to Kṛṣṇa, they approached there in their spiritual body, not with material bodies. Because it is stated in the *Bhāgavata* that when the *gopīs* left their house, their husbands saw that the wife is sleeping on the same bed. So Kṛṣṇa, I mean to say, danced with the *gopīs* not with their..., in their material body, but in their spiritual body. These are the descriptions are there. > So we have to rectify ourself. Unless we approach to the spiritual stage... That is the process. Just like a diseased man, he cannot imitate the healthy man. A healthy man eats as he likes, but a diseased man, if he eats as he likes, he'll die. Death is sure. So he has to be restricted, not the healthy man. So if you want really happiness, if you want really freedom, and if you really want everything is reality, then you have to transfer yourself to the spiritual world, in association with Kṛṣṇa. That is the whole process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. --- **[1969: Bhajan & Purport to Śrī Gurv aṣṭaka](spoken/1969/690102pu.la)** > So the spiritual master is not self-made. It is not that if anyone comes before you and bluffs you that "I have attained spiritual perfection, and I have realized something by some method.'' No. The spiritual master, bona fide spiritual, means he has to receive the power from authority. Otherwise it is useless. No. It is not that one can become spiritual master overnight. He has to take the power from his spiritual master. Therefore it is called *prāptasya. Prāptasya* means one who has obtained, one who has got the merciful blessings of his spiritual master. > Nobody can preach, nobody can become a spiritual master, without obtaining power from the right source. Therefore the very word, it is stated here, *prāptasya. Prāptasya* means "one who has obtained." *Prāptasya kalyāṇa.* What he has obtained? *Kalyāṇa. Kalyāṇa* means auspicity. He has received something which is auspicious for all the humankind. *Prāptasya kalyāṇa-guṇārṇavasya.* --- **[1973: The Nectar of Devotion](spoken/1973/730102nd.bom)** > So the varieties of life. *Ānanda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhāvitābhis* [Bs. 5.37]. Ānanda-cinmaya.* These varieties, this is material variety. We cannot enjoy here, but there is spiritual variety. That is *ānanda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhāvitābhis tābhir ya eva nija-rūpatayā kalābhiḥ.* Just like Kṛṣṇa Himself is expanding Himself as *gopīs,* as cowherds boys, as calves and cows and trees in Vṛndāvana. *Ānanda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhāvitābhis.* They are all *ananda-cinmaya-rasa,* expansion of Kṛṣṇa's pleasure potency. *Rādhā kṛṣṇa-praṇaya-vikṛtir hlādinī śaktir asmād* [Cc Ādi* 1.5*]. So we want liberation, but not liberation in the impersonal existence. That is... That is not very safe. We must enter into the spiritual varieties of life. That is Kṛṣṇaloka; that is Vaikuṇṭha-loka, especially Kṛṣṇaloka. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, *bhaktyā mām abhijānāti*. > "My dear Arjuna, don't labor hard, simply that there is something beyond Me." Sometimes they say that "There is still more, beyond Kṛṣṇa." But Kṛṣṇa says, "No, there is nothing beyond." *Mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat kiñcid asti dhanañjaya, mayi sūtre gaṇā iva:* "Everything is resting on Me." *Ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavaḥ*.* The *Vedānta* says, *janmādy asya yataḥ. Janma sthiti laya,* where it is staying, where it is being conducted, that is Brahman. So Kṛṣṇa answers this question that *ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo*. He's the Supreme Brahman. Therefore Arjuna accepted Him: *paraṁ brahma paraṁ dhāma*. --- **[1974: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.16.5](spoken/1974/740102sb.la)** > So sometimes we say that you take part in politics. Our business is not to take part in politics for acquiring big post like president or secretary or attorney general. What you will do that? We have no meaning for this post. Because for a devotee, what are these posts? Even the post of Lord Brahmā or Indra, the heavenly king, it has no meaning. *Vidhi-mahendrādiś ca kīṭāyate.* That is stated by Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī. He says that *kaivalyaṁ narakāyate. Kaivalyam,* the monism, to merge into the effulgence, the Absolute Truth, to become one, that is called *kaivalyam,* only spirit, that's all. So for a devotee this *kaivalya* perfection, monism, is as good as hellish condition of life. *Kaivalyaṁ narakāyate.* And *tridaśa-pūra ākāśa-puṣpāyate. Tri-daśa-pūr* means the higher, heavenly planets where big, big demigods live. Just like people are trying to go to this planet, that planet. So *tri-daśa-pūr. Tri-daśa* means thirty, three *daśa,* ten times..., ah, three times ten. So there are thirty millions of demigods. And they have got different planets also. So they are promised, "If you come to this demigod's planet, *yānti deva-vratā devān*, you will get so much happiness, you will live for so many years, you will have better standard of life, thousand times more than in the... These are... There are described in the *Vedas.* But a devotee says that this *tri-daśa-pūra,* this heavenly planet, is as good as phantasmagoria. They have no value for these things. > So by nature a living entity wants society. "Society, friendship and love, divinely bestowed upon man." That is required. And if you live in a forlorn place, nobody's there, no society, no friend, then how long you can stay there? You cannot stay. Just like if you go on the sky by aeroplane, after four, five, six hours you..., you become disturbed: "When the plane will get down? When the plane will get down?" This is natural. Why...? Why the plane...? You are flying very nicely, huh? There is no turmoil, no noise in the sky. Go nicely. No. Similarly, in the ship also, you travel for many days. So it will be disturbing. People are searching after "When we shall land in some place?" So the living entity, by nature, he wants association. Artificially he wants to... Just like some of, some of the devotees, they like that "Now we shall go in a solitary place and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa." That is a different position. It is not possible for the ordinary man. So going to the Brahman effulgence, simply realizing that "I am a spirit soul, I have nothing to do," that will not be beneficial. You will again come down. *Āruhya kṛcchreṇa paraṁ padaṁ tataḥ patanty adho 'nādṛta-yuṣmad-aṅghrayaḥ*. If you do not get shelter, simply to remain in the impersonal Brahman effulgence will not make you happy. Artificially, you can stay there for some time; otherwise, you will again fall down in this material world for varieties of enjoyment. --- **[1975: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.26.25](spoken/1975/750102sb.bom)** > All others, even incarnations, even demigods, even we are—we are all servant of Kṛṣṇa. And what to speak of ourself, even the expansion of Kṛṣṇa, *viṣṇu-tattva,* They are also serving Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa is so exalted. Therefore, Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā, mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat*. Even the incarnation Viṣṇu, Lord Śiva, demigods and others—nobody is greater than Kṛṣṇa. *Asamordhva. Asama,* nobody is equal to Him; nobody is greater than Him. Everyone is lower than Him. Therefore He is described in the *Caitanya-caritāmṛta,* > Kṛṣṇa is open for everyone. Everyone can worship. Kṛṣṇa is not monopolized by any section or any religion or any nation, any country. No. Kṛṣṇa claims, *sarva-yoniṣu kaunteya sambhavanti mūrtayo yāḥ*. All the species of life, as many forms of life as there are, Kṛṣṇa claims, *ahaṁ bīja-pradaḥ pitā:* "I am the original seed-giving father." So Kṛṣṇa is open for everyone. And by worshiping Kṛṣṇa, you worship everything. If you have got a mentality to worship different demigods, different incarnation, that is not possible. Therefore you can concen... *Sarvārhaṇam acyutejyā* : by worshiping Kṛṣṇa, everyone is worshiped. You have no more obligation. --- **[1976: Morning Walk](spoken/1976/760102mw.mad)** > [break]...created a havoc by misinterpreting *Bhagavad-gītā,* all people. According to their whims, "Five rupees note means four rupees," by imagination, they have created havoc all over the world. Otherwise everything is there. *Avajānanti māṁ mūḍhāḥ*. If we take Kṛṣṇa's instruction, then whole world becomes immediately happy. But they will not take it. They will manufacture their own: "Two plus two equal to five" or "three," not exactly to four. > But the Vedic injunction is *asato mā sad gamaya.* He cannot go to the real platform of life. *Asato.* They do not understand that this godless civilization is the root cause of all calamities in the world. --- **[1976: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.6.1](spoken/1976/760102sb.mad)** > So a Vaiṣṇava can understand what kind of part he is playing. So in this way there are different activities going on, and they have been taken as different, I mean to say, types of *dharma.* But real *dharma* is *bhāgavata-dharma.* Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja*. This is *dharma.* That is called *bhāgavata-dharma,* intimate relationship with the Lord, Bhagavān. *Brahmeti bhagavān iti... Brahmeti paramātmā iti bhagavān iti. Tattva-vit. Vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvaṁ yaj jñānam advayam*. > This is the statement of Yamarāja about the authorities of *dharma. Dharma* means *bhāgavata-dharma.* I think I have explained last night, *dharma* means *bhāgavata-dharma. Dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītaṁ*. Just like our Mr. Chief Justice gives judgment on the law. So the law cannot be manufactured by any common man or any businessman. No. Law can be manufactured only by the state, by the government. Nobody can manufacture. That will not give us... If in the high-court, if somebody pleads, "Sir, I have got my own law," Mr. Justice will not accept. [laughs] So similarly, *dharma* you cannot manufacture. Either you are a very big man... Even Chief Justice, he cannot make a law. The law is given by state. Similarly, *dharma* means *bhāgavata-dharma,* and other so-called *dharmas,* they are not *dharmas.* They will not be accepted. Exactly in the same way, law manufactured at your home is not accepted. Therefore *dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītaṁ*. --- **[1977: Conversation](spoken/1977/770102mw.bom)** > Then he becomes *parama-bhakta.* Otherwise he cannot become.* [Transl. Only when one becomes *brahma-bhūta* can he become a pure devotee.] *Brahma-bhūta* is the first stage. This they consider the final. I mean, that is my understanding. I don't know; I may be right or wrong. But I want to [be] corrected by you. > Everyone is walking with big, big leg. In fact it is right from Bhubaneswar. On Bhubaneswar sea, water, these mosquitoes breed even in saltish water. They are those [indistinct] type of mosquitoes. I mean I have made a special study of malaria—I am a malariologist—so I have studied all the types of mosquito, and that particular mosquito on that coast is called Sundayaka, because they came right from Sundar islands. --- **[1977: Room Conversation](spoken/1977/770102r1.bom)** > [break] *Yeṣām anta-gataṁ pāpam*. Everything is clearly said in the *Bhagavad-gītā.* I speak, therefore, to my disciples that "You simply repeat like parrot *Bhagavad-gītā* and follow. That's all. Your life will be perfect. Don't try to become very big scholar, do interpretation. Remain foolish and believe in Kṛṣṇa. Then life is perfect." And actually that is happening. They never tried to eschew any... What is called, the English word? "Draw out some meaning." Eschew, or something? > One who has little mercy of God upon him, he can understand. But others, they can speculate for many, many births, still, they'll never be able. *Athāpi te deva padāmbuja-dvayaṁ leśānugṛhīta jānāti tattvam. Leśānugṛhīta eva hi. Leśa.* One cannot know God full. That is not possible, because you are limited; He is unlimited. Still, if one has learned, at least if one has accepted, "Here is God, Kṛṣṇa. *Bas,*" his knowledge is perfect. If he simply believes only this, that "Here is God," he can understand. --- **[1977: Conversation with Yogi Amrit Desai of Kripalu Ashram, Pennsylvania, USA](spoken/1977/770102r2.bom)** > If you practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness then it is possible; otherwise not. *Tyaktvā deham.* Everyone has to give up, because this body will be old, and one has to give it up. But *tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma*: he doesn't accept any more material body. Then? What does he...? He's finished? No, he's not finished. *Mām eti.* He becomes eligible to go back home, back to Godhead, and there he dances with Kṛṣṇa. That is real *mukti. Muktir hitvā anyathā rūpaṁ sva-rūpeṇa vyavasthitiḥ*. Anyathā rūpam.* Now this *rūpa* is not spiritual, it is material. And *mukti* means when he gives up this material body and no more accepts any material body, he is transferred to the spiritual world to play with Kṛṣṇa, to dance with Kṛṣṇa, to talk with Kṛṣṇa. That is real... *Paramaṁ siddhi. Mām upetya kaunteya duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam*. > [break] On the whole, the whole human civilization is; and all the directors, they are not giving chance to know the value of life and how to conduct life. It is the first time, that we are giving the real idea of life. Otherwise whole world is in darkness. *Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatim*. They do not know what is the end of life. *Adānta... Matir na kṛṣṇe parataḥ svato vā. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* [*7.5.30*], Vyāsadeva's real contribution... *Ajānataḥ, lok*asyājānato* vidvāṁś cakre sātvata-saṁhitām*. He has given the right direction. And they are not taking advantage of it. If they come to sense some day, they'll read all these books, and they will come to know how to live life. That is our contribution, Kṛṣṇa consciousness. --- **[1977: Room Conversation](spoken/1977/770102r3.bom)** --- ## Letters on January 2 *Letters from this day: 17* --- **[1969: Letter to Hansadutta](letters/1969/690102_hansadutta)** > I am awaiting your pictures of the house which might be used for prasadam program. --- **[1970: Letter to Bhagavan](letters/1970/700102_bhagavan)** > If people do not take to Krishna and simply want to utilize the Goddess of Fortune for sense gratification as it was the policy of the demons like Ravana and Hiranyakasipu, then the finishing touch will certainly culminate in releasing the nuclear weapon exactly like Ravana was vanquished by such policy. --- **[1970: Letter to Rupanuga](letters/1970/700102_rupanuga)** > It was a great transcendental pleasure to meet you all. I was thinking that my preaching work in this country would be a difficult job for me on account of the country's position being completely different from the principles of Bhakti cult. At that time I was also thinking of chanting and dancing in Sankirtana as well as distributing prasadam in the matter of my preaching Bhagavatam. --- **[1971: Letter to Bank Of Baroda](letters/1971/710102_bank_of_baroda)** > The purpose and duration of my stay abroad are preaching work on the philosophy of Caitanya cult and the duration was two (2) years and nine (9) months. I was being maintained by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness of which I am the Founder and Acarya. --- **[1971: Letter to Randas Agrawal](letters/1971/710102_randas_agrawal)** > Out of the many life members, Maharaja Bharatasingh gave one check numbered 0011644 from the State Bank of Indore and this is now returned with remark "refer to Drawer." This is the first time that we've got such experience. I am therefore handing over the check which is enclosed. --- **[1971: Letter to Tamala Krsna](letters/1971/710102_tamala_krsna)** > In the meantime, our program in Surat is going on very well. I have just finalized the arrangements for my coming to Calcutta and you may revise the information sent in my previous letter dated December 30th, as follows: --- **[1972: Letter to Bali-Mardana](letters/1972/720102_bali-mardana)** > Yes, I have very much appreciated the new covers to *Easy Journey* and *Topmost Yoga.* As much as possible go on reprinting all the books and distributing them profusely. Your idea for issuing a series of Transcendental Teachings is good. --- **[1972: Letter to Kirtiraja](letters/1972/720102_kirtiraja)** > Regarding the list of my Godbrothers, you do not any longer need to send them issues of BTG or other books. That we will do from here in India. Similarly whenever you get requests for BTG subscriptions or other literature, you can forward these requests to Bombay ISKCON to the Secretary and he will deal with the requests. --- **[1972: Letter to Von Paul Reed](letters/1972/720102_von_paul_reed)** > Suffering must be there so long as we are conditioned in this material world, but for the devotees the suffering is minimized compared to that of the nondevotees. We have to tolerate any difficulties which come up, and somehow go on with our chanting, reading and routine work. --- **[1973: Letter to Hansadutta](letters/1973/730102_hansadutta)** > Now you appear little restless, I know that is your nature, you like to do big things and you are very capable and intelligent young man for executing tremendous tasks on behalf of Krsna. But I think that you have got a huge field of endeavor in the German speaking countries and other countries of Scandinavia, Communist countries and other places like that. --- **[1973: Letter to Tejiyas](letters/1973/730102_tejiyas)** > I am including herewith one letter to the Minister of Home Affairs. You present him with a full set of our books, including *Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita,* like that, and give him also my letter. Try to present them personally to him. --- **[1974: Letter to Bhumata](letters/1974/740102_bhumata)** > Actually this material world is full of suffering conditions and the only way to become free from these sufferings which are due to past sinful activities is to chant Hare Krsna. In this age no other method of rectification is possible. --- **[1974: Letter to Tejiyas](letters/1974/740102_tejiyas)** > It is a source of great pleasure for me to hear that you are seriously undertaking publication of the abridged version of Bhagavad-gita As It Is in India. --- **[1975: Letter to Adi-Kesava](letters/1975/750102_adi-kesava)** > Deity worship or lecturing in the colleges is just as important as book distribution. So, these things must be done very nicely and at the same time, book distribution should be done. Not that we should do one thing at the sacrifice of another. --- **[1975: Letter to Laksmimoni](letters/1975/750102_laksmimoni)** > The thing is, we should have little common sense in all activities. The example can be given that women by nature do not forget to dress very nicely although always engaged in household affairs. --- **[1975: Letter to Mr. Punja](letters/1975/750102_mr._punja)** > I am writing this letter to inform you that I am now sending Bhagavata dasa brahmacari there to Fiji to be co-manager with your good self. --- **[1975: Letter to Visnuprasada N. Decai](letters/1975/750102_visnuprasada_n._decai)** > I thank you very much for your kindly visiting our land the other day. The thing is that we are in a little difficulty on account of our entrance road being very narrow. ---