# January 31 ## Spoken on January 31 *Lectures from this day: 11 recordings* --- **[1969: Lord Nityānanda Prabhu's Appearance Day Nitāi-Pada-Kamala Bhajana & Purport](spoken/1969/690131pu.la)** > So here, Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura is singing that "The whole world is suffering under the blazing fire of material existence. Therefore, if one takes the shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Nityānanda," whose birthday is today, 31st January, 1969... So we should relish this instruction of Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura that in order to get relief from the pangs of blazing fire of this material existence, one should take shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Nityānanda, because it is as cooling as the moon rays combined together of millions of moons. > The Nityānanda, very name suggests... *Nitya* means eternal; *ānanda* means pleasure. Material pleasure is not eternal. That is the distinction. Therefore those who are intelligent, they are not interested with this flickering pleasure of material world. Every one of us, as living entity, we are searching after pleasure. But the pleasure which we are seeking, that is flickering, temporary. That is not pleasure. Real pleasure is *nityānanda,* eternal pleasure. So anyone who has no contact with Nityānanda, it is to be understood that his life is spoiled. --- **[1971: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.2.48 Māgha-melā](spoken/1971/710131sb.pra)** > Just like Kṛṣṇa says Himself, *avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā mānuṣīṁ tanum āśritam* : "Because I have appeared on this planet exactly like a human being, these *mūḍhās*, these rascals, those who cannot understand what is the Personality of Godhead, they deride." They think because Kṛṣṇa is a person, therefore He is inferior to Brahman effulgence. Their theory is the Brahman is the ultimate: impersonal Brahman is the ultimate Absolute Truth, but when Brahman comes as incarnation, He accepts a material body. > Śrutayo vibhinnā* means those who are not actually conversant to the Vedic knowledge, they think that *Upaniṣad* is different and *Bhagavad-gītā* is different. But actually that is not. All *Upaniṣads*, all *Vedas,* they are aiming on the target: Kṛṣṇa. *Vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyaṁ*. --- **[1973: Lecture at Indo-American Society "East and West"](spoken/1973/730131le.cal)** > Janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi-duḥkha-doṣānudarśanam*. We are trying to have, become happy by our scientific knowledge, by advancement of knowledge, but Kṛṣṇa says that you cannot make any solution of these four problems. What is that? Birth, death, old age and disease. That is not possible. So we are happy by false happiness. This is called *māyā*. This is culture, this Indian culture. They agree, there is a *māyā*. This is Eastern culture. *Māyā*. *Māyā* means we are falsely happy. > Therefore the *śāstra* says: *yasyātma-buddhiḥ kuṇape tri-dhātuke*. Tri-dhātuke.* This body is made of three elements, according to Āyur-vedic system: *kapha pitta vāyu,* mucus, bile and air. So actually, the combination of this body is like that. As soon as the spirit soul goes out of this body, it is nothing but bone, flesh and urine and stool, and it has to be thrown away. In every society, as soon as the man is dead... So while he was living, he was acting so nicely, so intelligently. Now as soon as the soul is gone, immediately everything is gone. So do you think it is a combination of bones and flesh? --- **[1973: The Nectar of Devotion](spoken/1973/730131nd.cal)** > So therefore pure devotional service surpasses all kinds of liberation. Caitanya Mahāprabhu also teaches, *mama janmani janmanīśvare bhavatād bhaktir ahaitukī tvayi.* Liberation means no more birth. But Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, *mama janmani janmani—*birth after birth. But the..., a devotee does not want anything of the material things. *Na dhanaṁ na janaṁ na sundarīṁ kavitāṁ vā jagad-īśa kāmaye* [*Cc Antya*20.29, Śikṣāṣṭaka4]. So this pure devotional service is a different subject matter. *Dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo atra*. > "Similarly, in the same Seventh Canto, Eighth Chapter, thirty-ninth verse*, when the demigods are offering prayers to Lord Nṛsiṁha, Indra, the king of heaven, says, 'O Supreme One, these demons talk of our share of participation in the performance of ritualistic sacrifices, but simply by Your appearance as Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva You have saved us from terrible fears. Actually our shares in the sacrificial performances are due to You only because You are the Supreme Enjoyer of all sacrifices. You are the Supersoul of every living entity, and therefore You are the actual owner of everything. --- **[1974: Bhagavad-gītā 7.1–5](spoken/1974/740131bg.hk)** > So if anyone... *Janma karma divyam*. *Divyam* means His birth is not ordinary birth. If it had been ordinary birth, then why we are still performing the Janmāṣṭamī ceremony, Kṛṣṇa's birthday ceremony? Many big, big kings came and gone. Who is performing the birthday ceremony of that king? But we perform according to Vedic system the birthday ceremony of Lord Rāmacandra. Nowadays we have imitated so many other birthday ceremony, but in the *śāstra* it is enjoined the birthday ceremony of the advent of God should be observed. The birthday ceremony of God is called *jayantī*. That is special constellation of the stars. But now the *jayantī* has been used for so many rascals and fools. This is not *śāstric*. So because Kṛṣṇa's *janma* and ordinary man's *janma* is not the same thing, therefore Kṛṣṇa says, *janma karma me divyam*. *Divyam* means transcendental, not material. Not material. It is spiritual, or transcendental, *divyam*. *Janma karma me divyam yo jānāti tattvataḥ*. Still you have to learn it in truth. > "That *yogī's* perfect who's always thinking of Me,'' *mayy āsakta-manaḥ*. This is being taught. "Always thinking.'' And *Bhagavad-gītā*, in another place it is said, *man-manā bhava mad-bhaktaḥ mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru mam evaiṣyasi*. *Asaṁśaya*. The aim of life should be, especially of the human body, that try to understand Kṛṣṇa. And as far as possible... Kṛṣṇa cannot be understood fully because He is unlimited, and we have got limited knowledge. But still, as far as possible, as much as possible, if we try to understand Kṛṣṇa, *janma karma me divyam evaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ*. --- **[1975: Bhagavad-gītā 16.5](spoken/1975/750131bg.hon)** > The Darwin's theory... He does not know. He has caught up some words from this *Padma Purāṇa* and tried to give his own invention. The evolution is already there. But this is the evolution: from aquatics to plants, trees, then insect, then bird, then beast, then human being, civilized and not civilized. Then demigods, then others. That is the evolutionary process. So Kṛṣṇa says that *sarva-yoniṣu kaunteya sambhavanti mūrtayo yāḥ* : "All kinds of forms that are coming out of the 8,400,000 species of life," *tāsāṁ mahad yonir brahma ahaṁ bīja-pradaḥ pitā,* "I am the seed-giving father, and the material body is given by the material nature." Just like father gives the seed, impregnates the mother, and the mother supplies the body. The body belongs to the mother, and the spirit soul belongs to—not be...—to the supreme father. But it comes through the material father. Actually the supreme father is Kṛṣṇa. Therefore He says, *ahaṁ bīja-pradaḥ pitā.* So Kṛṣṇa is for everyone. Kṛṣṇa is not monopolized. This is a wrong theory, "He is a Hindu god." No. He is for everyone. Otherwise, how you Americans, Europeans and others outside India, how you are accepting? Because originally Kṛṣṇa is your father, everyone's father. *Mamaivāṁśo jīva*, all living... Not only you, but the animals, the trees, the plants, the insects, the serpent, the aquatics, the fish—everyone the son of Kṛṣṇa. This is *daivī sampat.* > So when we come to this platform of knowledge, that *daivī sampad vimokṣāya,* then you become liberated immediately. Liberation means who come to the platform of real knowledge. That is called liberation. That is the definition given in the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,* what is liberation, *mukti.* It is said, *muktir hitvā anyathā rūpaṁ svarūpeṇa vyavasthitiḥ*. Hitvā* means giving up. *Mukti* means *hitvā,* giving up, *hitvā anyathā rūpam,* something otherwise. I am spirit soul. I am thinking, "I am American." I am thinking, "I am Indian." This is *anyathā rūpam.* That is not the real conception of life. Real conception of life is *ahaṁ brahmāsmi:* "I am the spirit soul, part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa." That is realization. That is called self-realization. --- **[1977: Room Conversation](spoken/1977/770131r1.bhu)** > To know about Kṛṣṇa. It is not also difficult. Science of Kṛṣṇa is there, *Bhagavad-gītā.* Kṛṣṇa speaks Himself. --- **[1977: Room Conversation](spoken/1977/770131r3.bhu)** --- ## Letters on January 31 *Letters from this day: 20* --- **[1969: Letter to Hayagriva](letters/1969/690131_hayagriva)** > I am very pleased to learn that the entire first canto should be completely edited by March 8th, and I am also glad to hear that your Lord Caitanya play is at last completed. --- **[1969: Letter to Rukmini](letters/1969/690131_rukmini)** > This picture is a great joy to me, and it is now hanging in my room in the temple where I may always gaze upon it. --- **[1969: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1969/690131_satsvarupa)** > Regarding your letter dated January 25, 1969, I have already sent to you tapes #2 and #3. As an experiment, I sent tape #3 by ordinary mail at the concession rate for tapes. --- **[1969: Letter to Vamanadeva](letters/1969/690131_vamanadeva)** > First of all I am pleased to know that you are feeling comfortable in Hawaii and you are keeping yourself busily engaged. --- **[1971: Letter to Mulchand Deomal](letters/1971/710131_mulchand_deomal)** > We have now taken a very nice floor in Bombay; the address is given above as our CAMP address. By the end of March we will have Deity installation ceremony for one week. At that time, if possible please come and join us. --- **[1972: Letter to Amarendra Das](letters/1972/720131_amarendra_das)** > Whatever you can do to turn the minds of the people towards Krsna Consciousness, that is very much appreciated by me. --- **[1973: Letter to Gunagrahi](letters/1973/730131_gunagrahi)** > Krsna Consciousness means always increasing, so I am glad to see that you are remaining enthusiastic to push on this Krsna Consciousness movement more and more. Your request for initiation is approved by me, and I have sent a letter in this regard. You are president of Buffalo temple, so in consultation with your GBC man you may discuss how to push on the spreading of this Krsna Consciousness movement through street sankirtana, book distribution, etc., whatever is practical for you to follow. --- **[1973: Letter to Rajiblocan](letters/1973/730131_rajiblocan)** > Regarding the question of your wife's initiation, that is certainly approved by me. You may arrange with Kirtanananda Maharaja for receiving beads duly chanted upon by him. --- **[1973: Letter to Sri Govinda](letters/1973/730131_sri_govinda)** > It is so very nice to hear how the book distribution is going on. This is our main business, distributing these books all over the world and thus turning the minds of the fallen souls towards Krsna. --- **[1975: Letter to Gaurasundara](letters/1975/750131_gaurasundara)** > I shall be very happy if you would kindly come and see me here. I am scheduled to leave Hawaii on the morning of Feb. 9th, so if you could possibly come before that time it would be very nice. --- **[1975: Letter to Tamala Krsna](letters/1975/750131_tamala_krsna)** > Regarding your meeting with Satsvarupa Maharaja and your 3-fold attack plan for preaching on the campuses, it is a very good idea. If you think in terms of Krishna's instructions, then Krishna will give the intelligence how to execute. --- **[1976: Letter to Bhurijana](letters/1976/760131_bhurijana)** > Unless there is loving feeling, how is it possible for you to always make offerings to me? --- **[1976: Letter to Gaura Govinda](letters/1976/760131_gaura_govinda)** > Regarding the mutation, I understand the Settlement officer has asked you to wait still another month. Also you have no men nor books. Neither you have any place to live. --- **[1976: Letter to Nalinikanta](letters/1976/760131_nalinikanta)** > Their spiritual names are Sarvasiddhirat das and Svayamprabha dasi. Now you must hold a fire ceremony and they should vow to always chant minimum of sixteen round daily and strictly to adhere to the regulative principles. --- **[1976: Letter to Sri I Kulabhandra Singh](letters/1976/760131_sri_i_kulabhandra_singh)** > I am looking forward to visiting Manipur in April. The list of Foreign and Indian devotees who will accompany me which Mr. L. Kulabidhu Singh has is quite alright. --- **[1976: Letter to Sri K. C. Kapur](letters/1976/760131_sri_k._c._kapur)** > I am remaining in Mayapur most likely until the end of March. At that time I shall be going to Vrindaban. Vrindaban and Kanpur are not far from each other, so it will be most convenient for me to come. --- **[1977: Letter to Giriraja](letters/1977/770131_giriraja)** > Yes, train the others in responsibilities in Bombay, and go on as you are doing. In five days at Kumbhamela we were able to distribute 30,000 pieces of literature. --- **[1977: Letter to Jagat-Guru](letters/1977/770131_jagat-guru)** > I like your plan to take a travelling party for concentrating on book distribution in India. Our recent success in distributing 30,000 books in Kumbha Mehla indicates that there is a big scope for this distribution in India. --- **[1977: Letter to Rajendra Sahai](letters/1977/770131_rajendra_sahai)** > I was very glad to receive your note hand carried by my disciple Prtha Prthu (sic) [Prthu Putra] Maharaj who came from Kumbha Mehla. --- **[1977: Letter to Saurabha](letters/1977/770131_saurabha)** > As for your invitation to help in construction projects in Bhubaneswara and Jagannath Puri, you have to help in every construction. ---