# January 12 *Lectures from this day: 8 recordings* --- **[1968: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.5.4](spoken/1968/680112sb.la)** > Because he's the spiritual master, he knows how Vyāsadeva inquired and how learned he was, how he studied very seriously. Everything known. Therefore he's asking, *jijñāsitam adhītaṁ ca brahma* : "You have inquired very elaborately about Brahman, and you have studied about the subject matter Brahman, *sanātanam,* eternal, *athāpi śocasi,* but still, I see that you are morose; you are not happy." *Śocasy ātmānam akṛtārtha iva prabho. Akṛtārtha* means "of this you have done nothing." Just like a foolish man sometimes, in very grave thought, that "What is the ultimate goal of my life? I do not know what to do," so "You are thinking like that." > So Vyāsadeva says that "You know that oldest Supreme Personality, *purāṇa-puruṣaḥ.* Therefore you can answer." Indirectly, one who goes deeper and deeper into his spiritual understanding... The first understanding is the impersonal Brahman. The next spiritual understanding is Paramātmā, or the Supersoul. The Paramātmā, or Supersoul, means God is staying..., He's situated with you, within your heart, He is Paramātmā. That is another feature. *Īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛd-deśe arjuna tiṣṭhati*. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is existing, is sitting with you. This is confirmed by the *Upaniṣads* and other Vedic literature. But the... --- **[1969: Bhagavad-gītā 4.34–39](spoken/1969/690112bg.la)** > Premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti.* Just like if you are in love with somebody, you can see him constantly—he is always on your eyes, anyone you love—so similarly, Kṛṣṇa also can be seen by development of love. Otherwise, how we can see Kṛṣṇa? He is so great, unlimited. Your eyes, your senses, are all limited. You cannot see the unlimited by your limited sense perception. But you can see... Not you can see, but *svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ*. When you are developed in the sense of love of Godhead, then He reveals unto you. Therefore you can see. > "My dear Arjuna, the most confidential knowledge I am giving you, that you give up all your occupational duties. Simply surrender unto Me." This surrender process is *dharma,* is your business, and nothing more. That's all. If you learn how to surrender to God, or Kṛṣṇa, then you, actually, you are religious or you are in *dharma.* And if you practice so many things without surrendering to Kṛṣṇa, or God, then it is all useless labor. That's all. *Dharmaṁ hi sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam*. --- **[1973: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5th Canto, Pandal Lecture](spoken/1973/730112sb.bom)** > As soon as we desire to enjoy... Because constitutionally we are not enjoyer; we are enjoyed. We are not predominator, but we are predominated. That is our position. And Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, *jīvera svarūpa haya nitya kṛṣṇa dāsa*. Our real position is to remain eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa. This is our real position. But because we have got little independence... Because we are part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa... Kṛṣṇa is supremely independent, *abhijñaḥ sva-rāṭ.* Description of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is there in the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam: janmādy asya yataḥ anvayād itarataś ca artheṣu abhijñaḥ sva-rāṭ. Sva-rāṭ* means fully independent. > That person who is engaged in pure devotional service, he transcends all the qualities of material nature. Our defect is... Just like I have already explained that we are gold because we are part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is the big gold; we are simply small particle of gold. That is the difference. But gold is always valuable, may be a small particle or big. So our position is transcendental. Our position is not material. But we have been captured by the material nature because we wanted to disobey the orders of Kṛṣṇa. *Kṛṣṇa bhuliya jīva bhoga vāñchā...* And because we disobeyed or we did not like to serve Kṛṣṇa, therefore we have been sent into this material world. *Icchā-dveṣa-samutthena sarge yānti paran-tapa*. Icchā:* "Why shall I serve Kṛṣṇa? Why shall I not become Kṛṣṇa? Let me become God." --- **[1974: Morning Walk](spoken/1974/740112mw.la)** > Yes. People have become cheaters. Therefore their representative is also cheater. You can make vigorous propaganda that "This will not help without prayer, offering prayer to Lord. You shall stopped; it is not good. And prayer means you chant the name of God. So there is no loss on your part. If there is some gain, why don't you try it?" It will be very nice, beneficial. --- **[1974: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.16.17](spoken/1974/740112sb.la)** > Why they are thinking foolishly? We see they are advanced in knowledge. They can put forward so many words about becoming God. That has been described by Śrīdhara Svāmī, *vāk-cāturya.* Their so-called explanation that they have become God, that has been described by *vāk-cāturya,* jugglery of words, to befool another fool. That's all. Therefore in *Bhāgavata,* in another place, it is said that *śva-viḍ-varāhoṣṭra-kharaiḥ saṁstutaḥ puruṣaḥ paśuḥ*. Puruṣaḥ paśuḥ.* If one person who is not devotee, if he is praised as very exalted, so wherefrom these praising words are coming? *Śva-viḍ-varāhoṣṭra-kharaiḥ.* Such praising comes from the persons who are like dogs, *śva; viḍ-varāha,* the stool-eater pigs. *Śva-viḍ-varāha uṣṭra,* camel, and *khara* means ass. These classes of men, they praise such another big, big animal, *śva-viḍ-varāha uṣṭra.* Because anyone who is not a devotee of the Lord—he is not *rājarṣi, devarṣi—*he is not praiseworthy at all. He is a fool. He is a rascal. That is our conclusion. No, it is real conclusion, because Kṛṣṇa says *mūḍha. Mūḍha* means rascal. *Na māṁ duṣkṛtino mūḍhāḥ prapadyante narādhamāḥ*. > "I am sitting in everyone's heart." So suppose you are planning to do something, mischievous activity. You can cheat the man-made law or the man-made police, but how you can cheat Kṛṣṇa? He is sitting within your heart. *Sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭaḥ:* "I am sitting in everyone's heart." So whatever you're thinking, feeling and willing, it is immediately being observed and noted, "This rascal wants to do this." Besides that... This is inside. Then outside there is sun, there is moon, there is day, there is night. Everyone, there are eight kinds of witnesses, whatever you are doing. And *karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa*. Just like a man is punished according to his gravity of criminality, similarly, whatever you are doing... Here everything is criminal in this material world. Everything is criminal. Therefore *Caitanya-caritāmṛta-kāra* says, --- **[1975: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.26.35–36](spoken/1975/750112sb.bom)** > These are all different transformation of the ethereal existence. So in the *Bhagavad-gītā* it is said, *mātrā-sparśās tu kaunteya śītoṣṇa-sukha-duḥkha-dāḥ*. So our these material pains and pleasure are felt on account of this *sparśa,* an arrangement of the ether and transformation of ethereal activities. Actually, it has nothing to do with the spirit soul. Spirit soul is untouched by all these thing. It requires simply realization. Great devotees like Bharata Mahārāja or Prahlāda Mahārāja, Haridāsa Ṭhākura, because they were very, very much advanced in spiritual consciousness, these ethereal activities on the external body did not touch them. Even in our Western world, Lord Jesus Christ, he was also crucified, but it did not touch him. > So Caitanya Mahāprabhu has therefore taught us, *tṛṇād api sunīcena taror api sahiṣṇunā* [*Cc Ādi* 17.31, *Śikṣāṣṭaka* 3]. We must be tolerant like the tree, or more than the tree. The trees, they are standing in the open air, and there are so many disturbances—storms, scorching heat, and somebody is taking the leaf, somebody cutting. It doesn't protest. Tolerance. This is very good example of tolerance. So in order to execute our spiritual consciousness, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness, we shall learn tolerance. Tolerance, that is advised in *Bhagavad-gītā,* that *tāṁs titikṣasva bhārata* : "Don't be disturbed." Just like a *brāhmaṇa* or a *sannyāsī* has to take three times bath. And if it is very chilly cold, it does not mean that he will give up that taking bath three times, early in the morning. He must take. That is called tolerance. This is one of the example of tolerance. There is severe cold, chilly cold, but my duty is to take bath in the morning. So we must tolerate. I must tolerate that chilly cold, and still, I take my bath. This is called *tapasya.* Not that "It is very chilly cold. I will not take my bath." No, that is not allowed. Then you are lagging behind. You must take. Of course, if it is very serious..., somebody seriously ill, that is different thing. Generally, Kṛṣṇa advises, *tāṁs titikṣa... Mātrā-sparśās tu kaunteya śītoṣṇa-sukha-duḥkha-dāḥ, anityāḥ*. Anitya. Anitya* means they are not permanent. *Āgamāpāyino 'nityāḥ.* They are seasonal changes. They will come and they will go. Simply ethereal arrangement only, we must know, external arrangement. It is, rather, illusion. --- **[1976: Morning Walk](spoken/1976/760112mw.bom)** > "...to understand Your personality. It is very, very difficult." Arjuna has said. And he has accepted Him as person, *puruṣaṁ śāśvatam:* "You are eternally person." *Paraṁ brahma paraṁ dhāma pavitraṁ paramam, puruṣaṁ śāśvataṁ divyam ādyam*. These things are there. The real understanding is there. And he said, "This is... This is accepted by Vyāsadeva, Nārada, Devala." *Svayaṁ caiva:* "And You are also speaking." Then where is the question of imperson? > We accept atheist, one who does not believe in the *Vedas.* Therefore we have rejected the Buddha philosophy. They could not exist in India. But those who are preaching atheism through *Vedas,* impersonal, they are more dangerous. --- **[1976: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.5.1 in Hindi Translated into English](spoken/1976/760112sb.bom)** > [Transl. This is stated in *Bhagavad-gītā*. One who has knowledge, he sees. Therefore it says, *dhīras tatra na muhyati* One who is sober, who is knowledgeable, who is advanced, for him it is not difficult to understand. *Tathā dehāntara-prāptir*. For foolish people who do not know anything, who have never associated with saintly persons, who haven't heard the reality from *sādhus*, and who think whimsically, it is difficult. But for those whose eyes are enlightened with knowledge, there is no problem. They understand. *Dhīras tatra na muhyati.* He also understands by knowledge where does a person go after death? In the *śāstra... śāstra-cakṣuṣāt*: [*Vedānta-sūtra*] One should see through the via media of *śāstra*. That's why the *śāstras* are made for. > [Transl. To realize this science. Just like students go to school and college, that interest is gone now, now they go to school and college to learn how to strike hammer. They don't go there for acquiring the knowledge of self realisation. They want to know how to open a hammer factory, be trained in that art, and for that they go to foreign countries to learn more so that they can earn more money and enjoy life. This is going on. Therefore Ṛṣabhadeva said that these activities—to work hard whole day, what for so much work? *Nāyaṁ deho deha-bhājāṁ nṛloke kaṣṭān kāmān arhate.* Taking so much hardship only for sense gratification is the work of a hog. Therefore the name 'hog' is mentioned. So much hard labour day and night. --- *Letters *[1969: Letter to Hansadutta](letters/1969/690112_hansadutta)** > I am very glad to note when you write to say that both you and Himavati miss your sleep and go to bed late. By Krishna's grace, Himavati is not only beautiful externally, but she is beautiful within also. --- **[1969: Letter to Kirtanananda](letters/1969/690112_kirtanananda)** > So far as we are concerned, our new year is every day because Krishna belongs to the nitya lila. Nitya lila means that all of His Pastimes are going on in either of the so many universes. --- **[1970: Letter to Tamala Krsna](letters/1970/700112_tamala_krsna)** > Now first of all, let me inform you that in the Temple you finish Deity worship by 12 o'clock noon and then the Temple should be closed for 1 hour. Then after 1 o'clock you can continue earlier program for eight hours, as suggested by you, with out any impediment. --- **[1971: Letter to Vaikunthanatha](letters/1971/710112_vaikunthanatha)** > I think as you say that Trinidad is the "stepping stone" to South America and it is very good proposal that you and your wife shall go there with the encouragement and support of some natives. When people are so eager for Krsna consciousness, it is our duty to go and enlighten them. --- **[1974: Letter to Kausalya](letters/1974/740112_kausalya)** > The sentiments you express are very praiseworthy in devotional service. Especially it is pleasing to me that you are so happy in your service to the deities. --- **[1974: Letter to Kirtanananda](letters/1974/740112_kirtanananda)** > Regarding installing larger deities at the New Vrindaban farm temple, which is now exclusively for brahmacaris, yes, why not? Brahmin brahmacaris are very nice for deity worship. --- **[1974: Letter to Madhudvisa](letters/1974/740112_madhudvisa)** > Regarding the confusion you have about receiving book from India, you may go ahead and send ghee in exchange for the books. From India there was no possibility of sending money. --- **[1974: Letter to Mukunda](letters/1974/740112_mukunda)** > Regarding your proposal newsletter to all-ISKCON branches for recruiting men for agricultural work at Bhaktivedanta Manor. No one from a for country will go to London for agricultural work. --- **[1975: Letter to Gandharva](letters/1975/750112_gandharva)** > Please do not fail to chant 16 rounds, rise early, read my books carefully and follow all the regulative principles. --- **[1975: Letter to Jagadisa](letters/1975/750112_jagadisa)** > If you think it best, you can set up headquarters at Gurukula. --- **[1975: Letter to Kirtiraja](letters/1975/750112_kirtiraja)** > Regarding food-stamps and welfare, if we have to fabricate some lie, that is not good. --- **[1975: Letter to Lesley Fordham](letters/1975/750112_lesley_fordham)** > This constant chanting of Krishna's names will assure you of not falling down from His service. Never leave the association of devotees, otherwise it will be very difficult to chant constantly. --- **[1975: Letter to Mr. Lepesqueux](letters/1975/750112_mr._lepesqueux)** > 28, 1974 and have noted the contents. I am sorry for such a late reply, but I have just received your letter last night due to the poor postal system in India. --- **[1975: Letter to Nari](letters/1975/750112_nari)** > If you like, you may come to Vrndavana and live for some time. --- **[1975: Letter to Sukadeva](letters/1975/750112_sukadeva)** > Please set a strong example of Krishna Consciousness for all the devotees there who are under you care. --- **[1977: Letter to Visvadharini](letters/1977/770112_visvadharini)** > Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 9.1.77 and have noted the contents. Our strength is in following the regulative principles and chanting 16 rounds japa. Then Krsna will give you protection. We don't believe in material protection, like so-called family, friends, etc. *Dehapatya-kalatradisu, atmasainyassv asatsv api, tesam pramatto nidhanam, pasyann api na pasyati.* "Persons devoid of atma-tattva do not inquire into the problems of life, being too attached to the fallible soldiers like the body, children, wife, etc. Although sufficiently experienced, still they do not see their inevitable destruction" sb/2/1/4. We do strongly believe in Krsna's protection. Real, spiritual protection is firm faith in Krishna. So go on with your real life as Krsna's devotee. ---