# January 18 ## Spoken on January 18 *Lectures from this day: 11 recordings* --- **[1971: Lecture in Hindi](spoken/1971/710118le.all)** > The so-called believers of Vedas say that we are Vedic, believers of the Vedas. In reality they do not know Vedas, and what the opinion of the Vedas is. Only through lip service they say "we are Vedic". He says further: *veda-niṣiddha pāpa kare, dharma nāhi gaṇe.* Ah.. *veda-niṣiddha pāpa kare*. If you believe in Vedas then follow according to what the Vedas ask you to do. Vedas do not say that you kill animals in a house and then open a shop. The animal sacrifice is mentioned, so do animal sacrifice in a *yajña*. Just like in a *tantrik* [an occult] ritual, what is that? In *tamasika purāṇa,* it says eat meat by worshiping demigoddess, by worshiping Kali. If you believe in Vedas and believe in *Purāṇas*, then do according to the ritual mentioned in them. No. He has opened a shop, slaughter house, kept one statue of *Kali-ji*, and thus [say that] the *Kali-ji pūjā* is done. Oh! *Kali-pūjā* [...] It has got a procedure. It is done only once in a month on the day of *Amāvasyā*, and that too in the dead of night. It is complicated. Therefore he simply believes in Vedas through lip service, and he has gladly pleased to gratify. Such people are many. Caitanya Mahāprabhu mentions about these people: *veda-niṣiddha pāpa kare*. They commit all sorts of sinful activities prohibited in the Vedas, and *dharma nāhi gaṇe* "they do not know what the actual *yajña* is.. *dharma* is." These things are not known. Also for those who really believe in Vedas, Caitanya Mahāprabhu says: d*harmācāri-madhye bahuta 'karma-niṣṭha'*. Among the followers of Vedas, most are the fruitive workers. There are three divisions of Vedas: *karma-kāṇḍa, jñāna-kāṇḍa*, and *upaṣana-kāṇḍa*. > Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu says that: *koṭi-mukta-madhye 'durlabha' eka kṛṣṇa-bhakta*. After liberation..., it is not that one attains liberation by performing devotional service. No. Among those, among those millions who are liberated, who have attained the knowledge of Brahman* [Absolute], one may be a devotee of Kṛṣṇa. So to become Kṛṣṇa devotee is not an easy and simple thing. That is why the Lord says in *Bhagavad-gītā* : --- **[1971: Room Conversation](spoken/1971/710118r1.all)** > You must be prepared to act on the instructions of the spiritual master. If those two qualifications are not with you, then why approach anyone for anything? You will simply waste his time and your time. This is Kṛṣṇa speaking in *Bhagavad-gītā*. Kṛṣṇa says, "You just try to approach a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively. Render him all kinds of service. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth." > But our philosophy is that Kṛṣṇa says, "You surrender unto Me," and we are imploring, we are begging persons, that "You please surrender to Kṛṣṇa." Now it is *your* discretion. Whether you surrender to Kṛṣṇa or Lord Śiva, that is your discretion. But our preaching method is we are trying to preach in the world, Please sir not[?] to Kṛṣṇa." That is our... --- **[1972: Sannyāsa Initiation of Tamal Kṛṣṇa](spoken/1972/720118in.jai)** > To accept the [indistinct]. This *mantra* was previously chanted by Lord Caitanya when He took *sannyāsa*. Therefore we Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava's when we accept *sannyāsa* we follow the footsteps of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The narration is in the *Caitanya-caritāmṛta* that Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu when he completed his twenty fourth year of age, *cabbiśa vatsara-śeṣa yei māgha-māsa*. > The meaning of this verse is that I am just now following the footsteps of previous *ācāryas*. To accept *sannyāsa* so that I can completely devote myself in the service of Mukunda. Mukunda means one who can give liberation. *Mukti muk* means *mukti* liberation. So Kṛṣṇa's name is Mukunda. He can give actually liberation otherwise there is no question of liberation. --- **[1972: Lecture in Hindi](spoken/1972/720118le.jai)** > Big Big, *muni punga*, not ordinary philosophers, best of all philosophers, pungam, pungam means great, very great, they also could not understand God, without God's mercy nobody can understand God and in other places God has mentioned, *bhaktyā mām abhijānāti*, the method to understand God is this devotional service, nothing else, not mental speculation, not fruitive work, not yoga, by these methods nobody can understand God, that is why God says, *manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu kaścid yatati siddhaye.* What is the use of achieving yoga perfections, you can acquire yoga perfections, that you fly in the air, this is yoga perfection, *lagima siddhi* and show some magic, you can do all these things by yoga perfection, but with that you cannot understand God, that is not possible, you can talk big big things about knowledge, this is Brahman, this is not Brahman, but through that you will not be able to understand God, this is mentioned by God Himself > In Kali yuga this is the only way, God is available for cheap in this Kali yuga, since Kali yuga is extremely sinful age, even though it is a very sinful age, God made Himself available for very cheap. You don't have to do *yoga, dhyana, dharana* nothing, you will not have to go to the forest, sit anywhere you like offenselessly chant Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, by God's mercy one day you will become fortunate and you will be able to see God, this is the method described in the scriptures, that is why, you see these mlecchas and yavana's they all have turned into Vaisnavas, by mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is so merciful, Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna Himself. Krsna told everyone *Sarva-dharmān parityajya mam ekam śaraṇaṁ vraja*:, Leave everything, leave all the false religions, the real religion is, *dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam*, accept this religion, why do you get trapped here there, God Himself says that those who worship other demigods, their intelligence is destroyed, his intelligence is lost, *kāmais tais tair hṛta-jñānāḥ yajanty anya-devatā* and other Demigods, it does not mean that we insult other Demigods, but worshipable object is God, *ekam*. That is why God says *Sarva-dharmān parityajya mam ekam* not others, not that let me do some devotional service to this also and that also, worship some other also, whatever little we can get from anywhere, In this there is no focus, one must perform devotional service with concentration, *Bhajate mām ananya-bhāk*, and mind should not be engaged in anything else, this thing is taught to them, with concentrated mind only focused on one thing, they surrendered their mind to Krsna look how early they have become devotees, you all can see this. So, --- **[1972: Room Conversation on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.13.48–14.11](spoken/1972/720118r1.jai)** > But at the present moment, because the institution of *varṇāśrama-dharma* is topsy-turvy, practically no more existing, everyone in this age is calculated to be *śūdras*. So therefore, there is struggle, who will capture the power. We see practically in political field, the people are interested for capturing the power, but they are not interested... Formality. So they put their manifesto before the election, that "We shall serve you in this way and that way," but because they are simply busy to keep their position in the political power... > So that happened. The people became *paśu-sāmyatām*. Therefore, the sages called a meeting of all respectable ministers and saintly persons and *brāhmaṇas* and decided, "Let us make this boy king." So he was enthroned. But because he was demonic, he was very strong. So as soon as he became king, all the bad elements of the state, they stopped their nefarious activity. *Śrutvā nṛpāsana-gataṁ venam atyugra-śāsanam*. They knew that "This king is very strong, and for any little criminal action, he will strike very severely." So the bad elements, they subsided. --- **[1974: Morning Walk](spoken/1974/740118mw.hon)** >admitted that we are controlled by nature. That you cannot refuse. That is foolishness. Now, next, how nature is working? That is also replied in the *Bhagavad-gītā, mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sa-carācaram* : "The material nature is working..." Just like we are also taking the advantage of material nature, *kṣity-ap-tejaḥ.* Here is earth, but we can take this earth and make into brick and make a skyscraper building. So it is not that the earth itself is going to become a skyscraper building. I am living entity; I am utilizing. So nature means these five elements..., eight elements. So that has been manipulated by another living entity. Just like the aeroplane is a combination of some matter, but it is being worked out by the manufacturer, by the pilot. Therefore that driver of the aeroplane or the manufacturer of the..., he's superior. So superior to the material nature is Kṛṣṇa. This is the conclusion. [break]...our position is that we are being controlled by the material nature, and..., and nature, material nature, is controlled by Kṛṣṇa. So the sense is that one who is at all sensible, that "After all, the controller is Kṛṣṇa. So why not directly under control of Kṛṣṇa?" This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Why through the material nature? I have to be controlled. I am being controlled by the material nature, and material nature is being controlled by Kṛṣṇa. So why not being directly controlled? This is good sense. > Therefore this very word is used, *vimūḍhātmā:* "befooled rascal." Actually, he's being controlled by material nature. So how to get out of this material nature? That is explained, *mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te:* "As soon as that rascal surrenders unto Me, immediately he's out of control." [*japa*] How these rascals, scientists, philosophers, politicians can refute this arrangement? Is it possible? --- **[1974: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.16.22](spoken/1974/740118sb.hon)** > Yayā sammohito jīva ātmānaṁ tri-guṇātmakam*. Ātmānam* means the soul. Soul, they're thinking that it is a product of this matter, by evolution or so on. So many nonsense theories they have got, all rascaldom. There is no evolution. Evolution is there in the matter of consciousness. Just like a child: his consciousness is not developed. A child goes to capture a fire because his consciousness is not developed. But that does not mean the child has no consciousness or the child has no soul. Just like some rascal says, "The animals, they have no soul." So why the animals have no soul? Their consciousness is not developed, but soul is there. If the animal has no soul, then the child has also no soul, because the child behaves like an animal. In the family, a small child and a dog, they're behaving similarly, and therefore dog is also considered as one of the family members, children, because his consciousness is not developed. > So these rascal, position, the rascal guardians, you have to fight with them, but not with sword or any other weapon: the *saṅkīrtana* movement, *yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyaiḥ.* If you stick to this principle of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra, yajñaiḥ,* if you have got good brain, *su-medhasaḥ,* then you will take this means, and by the help of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu you'll conquer all over the world. All over the world. You cannot take up any other means. That will not be successful, because the *śāstra* says, *yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ*. --- **[1975: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.26.43](spoken/1975/750118sb.bom)** > So if you simply come here, take the impression of Kṛṣṇa and think of Kṛṣṇa while drinking water, you become a devotee. Is it very difficult job? Very easy. Anyone can do. Anyone can do. *Patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati*.* Then, if you develop... This is *śānta rasa.* Then, when you develop your *śānta-rasa,* then there is *dāsya-rasa. Dāsya-rasa* means that you want to serve Him. That is further development. "Here is God. No, why not...?" Therefore, according to the Vedic principle, whoever comes to the temple, he brings something to offer to Kṛṣṇa. Not that He requires huge amount of money. No. You must offer something. What is that? Kṛṣṇa says, *patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati.* Kṛṣṇa is not in want, but if you give something to Kṛṣṇa, that is for your benefit. If Kṛṣṇa accepts something from you, then your life becomes successful. So... "But I have no money. What can I offer to Kṛṣṇa?" Oh, that is not the fact. We have got money for going to cinema, and you have no money to bring one flower for Kṛṣṇa. This is denial. This is denial. Kṛṣṇa does not say that "You bring one thousand dollars." No. He says, *patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati.* > Śānti.* If we learn these three things, then we'll get *śānti. Śānti,* that is clearly explained in *Caitanya-caritāmṛta* also. It is said in the *Bhagavad-gītā,* Kṛṣṇa says, *jñātvā mām:* "Me," Kṛṣṇa says—person. Just like "Give me." So Kṛṣṇa says, *jñātvā mām.* What is that? So we have to know Kṛṣṇa, that He is actually enjoyer. Master and servant. If the servant knows that "In this house my master is the proprietor. He is the enjoyer. I am simply servant," then he is peaceful. But if he artificially tries to become the master, although he is servant there, then there is all disturbance. --- **[1976: Room Conversation](spoken/1976/760118r1.may)** > Indian devotee: [Transl. No, no. I think many persons have now realised. Those who have realised they are now accepting that this is noble work. We are happy about it.] > If one wants to push on this *saṅkīrtana* movement... Prabhupāda... We are insignificant creature. So many persons. You cannot avoid it. The best way is to learn how to tolerate. That is very nice. Otherwise Caitanya Mahāprabhu not have said *taror api sahiṣṇunā.* That is the best. So we are not like Caitanya Mahāprabhu, neither like Prabhupāda, and we shall have to learn to tolerate. --- ## Letters on January 18 *Letters from this day: 24* --- **[1968: Letter to Jaya Mazo](letters/1968/680118_jaya_mazo)** > Your letter is very interesting to me and when I shall meet you in N.Y. sometimes in March or April, we shall talk frankly and I shall officially initiate you. --- **[1968: Letter to Rayarama](letters/1968/680118_rayarama)** > *Bhagavad-gita* is nearing completion—I heard this before I started from India. Now I request you to come here for a week with the full manuscript so that I can see it personally, along with you, and finish the editorial work, within a week. --- **[1969: Letter to Balai](letters/1969/690118_balai)** > You have wished me to live until all of my publications are finished, and I thank you very much for these good wishes. May it be fulfilled by the good will of all of my disciples. --- **[1969: Letter to Bhurijana](letters/1969/690118_bhurijana)** > I cannot tell you how very much I enjoyed listening to this wonderful tape recording. --- **[1969: Letter to Brahmananda](letters/1969/690118_brahmananda)** > In my previous letter to you I inquired about the invoice sent by United Shipping Corp. --- **[1969: Letter to Jadurani](letters/1969/690118_jadurani)** > The picture of Vasudeva exchanging the babies is not correct because Nanda Maharaja should not be in this scene. --- **[1969: Letter to Janaki](letters/1969/690118_janaki)** > Regarding your unstable condition of mind, I beg to request you to always remember that you have all gone to London with a great mission and responsibility. I am so much pleased with you all six boys and girls who are doing so much for my missionary work. --- **[1969: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1969/690118_satsvarupa)** > From this letter I can understand that texts number 6 and 7 are missing in the manuscript of the third canto which you have in Boston. --- **[1969: Letter to Sivananda](letters/1969/690118_sivananda)** > I have noted your scheme for a greater Sankirtana party in Germany. Your ambition will certainly be fulfilled, but wait till Krishna gives you the adequate chance. --- **[1969: Letter to Sri Balmukundji](letters/1969/690118_sri_balmukundji)** > The purport is that if somebody acquires Krishna Consciousness, then all of the good qualities of the demigods develop in his person. On the other hand, what is the value of all kinds of material qualifications for a person who is not in Krishna Consciousness? --- **[1969: Letter to Syama](letters/1969/690118_syama)** > You have asked me some questions about the functions of sex life in Krishna Consciousness, and the basic principle is that it should be avoided as far as possible. However, if it is unavoidable, then it should be utilized only for begetting Krishna Conscious children. In that case, the husband and wife should chant at least fifty rounds before going to sex. --- **[1969: Letter to Vaikunthanatha](letters/1969/690118_vaikunthanatha)** > It was very encouraging. Please try to materialize this idea into practical shape, and I know that Krishna will help you for your sincere endeavors. --- **[1971: Letter to Gargamuni](letters/1971/710118_gargamuni)** > I hope everything is going on well with your preaching activities in Florida state. --- **[1971: Letter to Sri D——Ji](letters/1971/710118_sri_d------ji)** > We are having daily artik ceremony many times with kirtan, and there is prasadam distribution, Sankirtan, and so many activities. And our pandel is very big, so if you come there is accommodation for staying. We invite you to come here with your family. --- **[1972: Letter to Cyavana](letters/1972/720118_cyavana)** > It sounds that you are doing well, and I'm so pleased to learn that Damji Devji, as well as Mr. --- **[1972: Letter to Hayagriva](letters/1972/720118_hayagriva)** > As soon as we adulterate or add something of our own manufacture, the whole thing is spoiled. Our Krishna philosophy is so luxurious that you can explain the same idea from many many angles of vision and thus relish the Truth in this way and help others to increase their understanding. --- **[1972: Letter to Niranjana](letters/1972/720118_niranjana)** > I am very pleased that you are trying very determinedly for following the regulative principles of Vaisnava way of life, despite lack of association with devotees. --- **[1975: Letter to Mrs. Bhatt](letters/1975/750118_mrs._bhatt)** > I hope that by now, you have had the opportunity to come and visit our center in Toronto. You are cordially invited to visit there anytime. The address is: 187 Gerrard St., East, Ontario M5A 2E5. --- **[1976: Letter to Dr. W. H. Wolf-Rottkay](letters/1976/760118_dr._w._h._wolf-rottkay)** > Karmis are considered like asses because they are working so hard day and night without profit. The Bhagavad-gita states: *antavat tu phalam tesam/ tad bhavaty alpa medhasam* bg/7/23. --- **[1976: Letter to Dvarakesa](letters/1976/760118_dvarakesa)** > Whether you thank me or not, if you understand the importance of this Krishna Consciousness Movement, that is my success. The whole world is thinking in the bodily conception of life and thus remaining like animals. --- **[1976: Letter to Mahamsa](letters/1976/760118_mahamsa)** > I have already informed you what is our purpose in the matter of the Nellore establishment. --- **[1976: Letter to Ramesvara](letters/1976/760118_ramesvara)** > In the material world competition one thinks my competitor can do so much, how can I bring him down? In the spiritual world there is appreciation: he has done so nicely, I could not do so well. --- **[1976: Letter to Yasomatinandana](letters/1976/760118_yasomatinandana)** > I accept all the new devotees as my initiated disciples. Their spiritual names are: --- **[1977: Letter to Manager Central Bank Of India](letters/1977/770118_manager_central_bank_of_india)** > Please find enclosed two Fixed Deposit Receipts. Please keep these Receipts with you in your safe custody,and renew them from the date of maturity as follows: ---