# January 22 ## Spoken on January 22 *Lectures from this day: 10 recordings* --- **[1967: Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.31–38](spoken/1967/670122cc.sf)** > The part and parcel of this body, hand, what is it meant for? It is meant for serving the whole body. Similarly, if I am part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, then what is my duty? My duty is to abide by the orders of the Lord. That is the version of all Vedic scriptures. And *Bhagavad-gītā* is the essence of all Vedic scripture. It says, *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja* : "You give up all other engagement. Just be surrendered unto Me and be engaged in My service." This is perfection. > So one who does not know this simple fact, then he may go on indulging, wasting his time by meditation, by cultivation of knowledge, by exercise, by pressing nose, or so many things. He is not in the, actually, in the factual position. So such person, in spite of their austerity, in spite of their severe penances... *Āruhya kṛcchreṇa paraṁ padaṁ tataḥ*. --- **[1969: Bhagavad-gītā 5.1–2 [radio interference](spoken/1969/690122bg.la)] > Therefore that thing should be sought after: Where is Kṛṣṇa? Where is spiritual master? That is perfection of life. *Ei rūpe brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān*. In this way the living entities are wandering throughout the whole universe in different planets, in different species of life, but somehow or the other if he becomes fortunate, then by the mercy of spiritual master and Kṛṣṇa he gets the seed of devotional service. And as soon as he gets the seed, if he waters, then it becomes sprouted, gradually grows. What is that water? *Śravaṇa-kīrtana-jale karaye secana*. > This material world is false, and Brahman, the supreme spirit, is reality. So their philosophy is to merge into the supreme reality and stop this material activity. That is the sum and substance of Śaṅkarācārya's philosophy. Lord Buddha's philosophy also almost the same. He says *nirvāṇa*. *Nirvāṇa* also means "extinguish." Just like this flame is there. If you extinguish this flame, it is called *nirvāṇa*. So Buddha's philosophy is also that extinguish this blazing fire of material activities: stop this; try to understand your life; meditate. This is another science. --- **[1972: Lecture in Hindi [Partially Recorded](spoken/1972/720122le.jai)] > Just like when the Lord says, we should simply accept it and in this way we will save time for research work. What is the need of wasting time for research work Krishna has said in the *Bhagavad gita mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat kiñcid asti*, there is no truth higher than me. As soon as we understand this our business is finished. There will remain no need to create theosophist association, this association and that association just to get to know God. And neither is this the way to know God. > Ciraṁ vicinvan, athāpi te deva padāmbuja-dvaya-prasāda-leśānugṛhīta eva hi jānāti tattvaṁ*, those who have even just a trace of the mercy of the Supreme Lord, they can understand Him. *Nāyam ātmā pravacanena labhyo*, this knowledge of the soul and the Supreme Lord is not attained just by making big discussions, *na medhayah* nor just by having good brain substance, na *bahunāśrutena* nor by reading all the *vedas*, the Vedanta, *srmameva tena* [K*aṭha Upaniṣad* 1.2.23], upon those whom the Lord is merciful they get this knowledge. That is why, the Lord Himself says *bhaktyā mām abhijānāti yāvān yaś cāsmi tattvataḥ*, only by devotional service can I be [me] known there is no other way. That is why for everyone it is required to take up this Kṛṣṇa *bhakti* as preached by the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Please accept it, it is very easy to practice. --- **[1974: Morning Walk](spoken/1974/740122mw.hon)** > Mahātmānas tu māṁ pārtha daivīṁ prakṛtim āśritāḥ* : "Mahātmā, those who are devotee, they are not under this material influence." *Daivīṁ prakṛtim āśritāḥ:* "the spiritual influence." So how he's accepted Kṛṣṇa? By his own concoction? He... If he accepts Kṛṣṇa, he must abide by the injunction of the Kṛṣṇa. --- **[1975: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.26.47](spoken/1975/750122sb.bom)** > So to achieve this goal of life, *premā pum-artho mahān,* in this age especially, in Kali-yuga, because we cannot do any other thing, it is very, very difficult. The time is very obstacle, full of obstacles. Therefore *kalau...* This is the method, *harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam* [*Cc Ādi* 7.76]: "Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra,*" *kevalam,* "only." *Kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā.* In the Kali-yuga, because main business is how to get relief from this material bondage... *Bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate*.* People do not understand even that what is really our distress. Kṛṣṇa says, the Supreme Personality of Godhead says personally, "These are your miseries." What? *Janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi :* "Repetition of birth and death. This is your real misery of life." What you are thinking of this misery or that misery? They are all temporary. They are all under the laws of material nature. You cannot get out of it. *Prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ*. > Therefore Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura has described this Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra,* "not of this material sky." *Golokera prema-dhana, hari-nāma-saṅkīrtana. Hari-nāma-saṅkīrtana,* this is not a material sound. And in the *Vedānta* it is stated, *śabdād anāvṛtti.* By chanting the spiritual sound... The impersonalists, they chant *oṁkāra: praṇavaḥ sarva-vedeṣu.* All Vedic *mantras* are preceded by the spiritual *oṁkāra.* That *oṁkāra...* Kṛṣṇa says, *akṣarāṇām oṁkāro 'smi. Vedeṣu, praṇavaḥ sarva-vedeṣu, A, U, M,* these are described in the *Bhagavad-gītā.* So either you vibrate *oṁkāra* or Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra,* they belong to the spiritual world. This sound does not belong to this material. Material sound, if you chant once, twice, thrice, you will feel disgusted. But spiritual sound, if you chant twenty-four hours, you will never feel disgusted, but you will feel more and more spiritual bliss. That is the difference. Actually, you see these boys and girls and others, they are chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa practically from early in the morning, five o'clock, till ten o'clock daily, but nobody is feeling any disgust. They like to chant. That is the difference between material sound and spiritual sound. --- **[1976: Morning Walk](spoken/1976/760122mw.may)** > And if we want to see God with our these blunt eyes, it is not possible. *Na bhaved grāhyam indriyaiḥ.* This said. *Sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁ tat-paratvena nirmalam*. [Transl.When you are free from all designations and become pure then you can see Bhagavān.] Or in the material world if our mind is always disturbed for sense gratification, it is not possible. *Ataḥ śrī-kṛṣṇa-nāmādi.* Even you cannot understand what is this chanting, *śrī-kṛṣṇa*... Because God worship begins from the chanting of name, therefore it is said, *ataḥ śrī-kṛṣṇa-nāmādi. Nāma, līlā,* form. Begins from *nāma.* So *na bhaved grāhyam indriyaiḥ.* If you keep your senses blunt, then it is not possible. Purify. And what is that? *Hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate. Hṛṣīka* means senses. When you engage all your senses in the service of the Lord, then you become *nirmala. Hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate. Tat-paratvena nirmalam.* > Kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ*. [*Śrī Śikṣāṣṭaka* 3] Follow these things.] Don't write concocted poetries. That is not beneficial. Simply follow. Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, *yāre dekha tāre kaha kṛṣṇa-upadeśa*. That is your business, not to give *upadeśa* to Kṛṣṇa: "Kṛṣṇa, do this." *Nāciye nāciye āire gopāla*: "My dear Gopāla, please come to me, *nāciye*, dancing." And the Gopāla is father's servant. Ordering, "Gopāla, come," *nāciye nāciye*, "for my sense gratification." It is all nonsense. Why should you ask Gopāla to come to you?* [Transl. These kinds of songs are found in Bengali. Do you know this?] --- **[1977: Bhagavad-gītā 7.1](spoken/1977/770122bg.bhu)** > Therefore, because in this material world people are inclined to stand on the animal platform of life, that is *dharmasya glāniḥ.* So Kṛṣṇa said, *yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati* [[bg/4/7|[Bg. 4.7] ]]. This is *dharmasya glāniḥ.* Means when human society forgets God, or Kṛṣṇa, or Bhagavān, and simply lives like ordinary animal, cats and dogs, for eating, sleeping, sex life and defense, such society is animal society. --- **[1977: Room Conversation with Film Producer about Kṛṣṇa Līlā](spoken/1977/770122r1.bhu)** > That's all right. Not... You are going to produce some film. --- **[1977: Room Conversation with Sannyāsīs](spoken/1977/770122r2.bhu)** > Yes. People heard that Indian philosophy is Māyāvāda. *Māyāvādam asac chāstraṁ pracchannaṁ bauddhaṁ ucyate.* [[cc/madhya/6/182|[Cc. --- **[1977: Room Conversation](spoken/1977/770122r3.bhu)** > Yes. After all, Kṛṣṇa is there. He'll look after. So, so far we are concerned, there is no disturbance. --- ## Letters on January 22 *Letters from this day: 15* --- **[1967: Letter to Janardana](letters/1967/670122_janardana)** > To open a branch and to conduct it nicely according to our line of action is the path of Krishna Consciousness. In the spiritual world also there is competition for the best satisfaction of Krishna. --- **[1968: Letter to Hansadutta](letters/1968/680122_hansadutta)** > Another proposal is I want to form a sankirtana party in which two members will play mrdanga, eight will play the cymbals, two will play on tampura, and one harmonium, besides that there will be the leader of the party. This party will be so trained that exhibitions of our chanting and dancing along with distribution of prasadam will be performed on a stage and for this performance we will sell tickets to the public. --- **[1968: Letter to Pradyumna](letters/1968/680122_pradyumna)** > Regarding diacritical markings, you may refer to the book First Lessons in Sanskrit Grammar and Reading by Judith Tyberg of the East-West Cultural Center published in 1964. Each letter should be transliterated in a careful manner so that one may be able to know the Devanagari character corresponding. --- **[1968: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1968/680122_satsvarupa)** > I have duly received back the tapes from San Francisco. Herewith please find another tape. I have received back the edited papers on Srimad-Bhagavatam. --- **[1969: Letter to Vilasavigraha](letters/1969/690122_vilasavigraha)** > You have asked me how one can know that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead? How do you know that the president is the supreme person in your state? You know this through the government organizations, the constitution papers, and by traditional knowledge. --- **[1970: Letter to Barindra Babu](letters/1970/700122_barindra_babu)** > It is very encouraging to me that you are taking so much active interest in the matter of spreading Krishna Consciousness and willing our Society to gather strength throughout the world. --- **[1970: Letter to Brahmananda](letters/1970/700122_brahmananda)** > Regarding the confidential letter, I may inform you that a Sannyasi has no connection with his family. So at the present status, I have no legal obligation to my family. --- **[1970: Letter to Dinesh](letters/1970/700122_dinesh)** > I am very pleased to learn that both you and your wife have been lecturing on Krishna Consciousness at the George Washington University and there was good response to your program. --- **[1970: Letter to Rukmini](letters/1970/700122_rukmini)** > I have also received your gift of two boxes of laddu expertly prepared by you.* They have so far lasted and I am enjoying some each day. They are first-class. --- **[1971: Letter to Sudama](letters/1971/710122_sudama)** > It is very good news that your wife has taken to learn the Japanese language. So you should train your wife like that instead of fighting and creating misunderstanding. You must tolerate such misunderstandings. --- **[1974: Letter to Aradhana](letters/1974/740122_aradhana)** > I can understand that you are feeling disturbed because your wife has left you, and also that you are not living within the association of devotees at our Paris temple. My advice to you is that you associate always with Krsna through chanting the Holy Name. --- **[1976: Letter to Jagadisa](letters/1976/760122_jagadisa)** > Another thing, is that you are expecting a BBT loan of $150,000. but the BBT has already taken responsibility for Bombay, Kuruksetra, Mayapur, so this money has to go to India. --- **[1976: Letter to Jayatirtha](letters/1976/760122_jayatirtha)** > I beg to thank you for your letter dated December 12th, 1975 reporting on your Zone for November, which arrived late due to having been redirected a number of times. --- **[1976: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1976/760122_satsvarupa)** > Your November report was also received by me and I have replied it on the 5th January. By now you should have received it. --- **[1976: Letter to Sir](letters/1976/760122_sir)** > It is understood from His Holiness Babaji Advaitanandan das Bhaktibhusan that some respectable gentlemen, headed by your Honor, have selected me as the President of Sri Krishna Caitanya Sangeet College, Bhaktivedyalaya Bisramtala, at Serampur. ---