# February 15 ## Spoken on February 15 *Lectures from this day: 9 recordings* --- **[1969: Bhagavad-gītā 6.6–12 [Sāṅkhya Yoga System](spoken/1969/690215bg.la)** > Therefore in the *Padma Purāṇa* says that you cannot understand about the form, name, quality, paraphernalia of God with these material senses. *Ataḥ śrī-kṛṣṇa-nāmādi na bhaved grāhyam indriyaiḥ*. By your sense speculation, because your senses are imperfect, how you can speculate on the supreme perfect? That is not possible. Then how it is possible? *Sevonmukhe hi jihvādau.* If you train your senses, if you purify your senses, that purified sense will help you to see God. > Caitanya Mahāprabhu says like that: *āśliṣya vā pāda-ratāṁ pinaṣṭu mām*. "Either You embrace me or You trample me down on Your feet, or You never come before me, I become broken-hearted without seeing You, still I love You." That is pure love of God. When we come to that stage of loving God, then we'll find, oh, all..., full of pleasure. As God is full of pleasure, you are also full of pleasure. That is the perfection. --- **[1971: Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Appearance Day, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.3.24](spoken/1971/710215b1.gor)** > According to Māyāvādī school, the Absolute Truth is imperson. In the *Bhagavad-gītā* it is also said, *kleśo 'dhikataras teṣām, adhikataras teṣām avyaktāsakta-cetasām*. Say, for meditation, it is very difficult to meditate on impersonal feature. Therefore, they artificially think like that: "I am the whole. I am moving the star, I am moving the moon." Or some color display is taking place. Artificially. This meditation is artificial. Therefore, they do not get any result. Simply waste time, and they remain the number one debauch, as they are. > Dvādaśaite vijānīmaḥ. Vijānīmaḥ* means "we know." *Dharmaṁ bhāgavataṁ bhaṭāḥ, guhyaṁ viśuddhaṁ durbodhaṁ yaṁ jñātvāmṛtam aśnute.* "We know." Therefore it is advised, *mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ*. These *mahājanas,* as they have prescribed, that is the real way for understanding Kṛṣṇa, or spiritual service[?]. So we are following the Brahma-sampradāya, the first, Svayambhū. Brahmā. Brahmā, then Nārada; from Nārada, Vyāsadeva. In this way, Madhvācārya, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, in this way. --- **[1971: Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Appearance Day Offerings in Hindi and English](spoken/1971/710215b2.gor)** > By the grace of our Guru Mahārāja we have somehow been able to hear this message of *Bhagavad-gītā* and *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam*. Before meeting Śrīla Prabhupāda our lives were very much enveloped in materialism and we were simply calculating how we could become advanced materially, thinking that we could become happy in life. But anyone who has tried simply to become happy through materialistic means knows that it is a very difficult path. In fact it is impossible to become happy materially alone. So by the grace of our Guru Mahārāja somehow we have been fortunate enough to hear this message of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. > In this Age of Kali the most effective way, or to uncover our original consciousness is by chanting this Hare Krishna *mantra*. And you can see from us here that it is not something artificial. Just like we are coming from western countries, we had perhaps never heard of Lord Kṛṣṇa five years ago. But simply by chanting this Hare Krishna *mantra* our relationship with Kṛṣṇa, our remembrance of Kṛṣṇa has been revived. So everyone has within him this natural love of God and simply it has to be revived and the process is this chanting of Hare Krishna *mantra*. --- **[1971: Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Appearance Day, Evening](spoken/1971/710215b3.gor)** > So this kind of philosophy will not make you happy. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, *sarva-dharmān parityajya*. We have created *dharma* in two categories: one for enjoyment and one for renouncement. Both these things have to be given up. Neither enjoyment, nor renouncement. Then what is this philosophy? The philosophy is that you cannot renounce anything. Because what is the value of your renouncement? You haven't got anything. Everything belongs to God. So what you can renounce? Similarly, what you can enjoy if everything belongs to God? *Īśāvasya.* > So we have to give up this renouncement or enjoyment. We have to take the real position, that "Everything belongs to Kṛṣṇa, or God. We have simply to serve Kṛṣṇa." That is *bhakti-yoga.* That will give you actual peace. That is stated in the *Bhagavad-gītā. Bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ...* Kṛṣṇa is the supreme enjoyer. You simply supply ingredients of His enjoyment; then you'll be happy. Because He is enjoyer. And *bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram*.* And He is the proprietor. --- **[1972: Room Conversation Favorable news report in The Hindu Daily Newspaper](spoken/1972/720215r1.mad)** > Lord Caitanya, during His visit to a temple in South India, found a man scanning the pages of the *Bhagavad-gītā* without seeming to read the verses, and inquiring, the same found that the person was illiterate, and yet he was turning the pages of the *Gītā* at the instruction of his master, because as he did so, he had a vision of Śrī Kṛṣṇa expounding spiritual knowledge to Arjuna on the Kurukṣetra battlefield. Thereupon Caitanya embraced him in all admiration for his devotion, sincerity, faith and guidance of the spiritual master as necessary for God realization.'' They give very nice article. You have seen it? > [laughs] These rascal philosophy statement is like that. Make zero. Make imperson. Then the difficulties of personality... Because they have got very bad experience of personality here. He had to become minister, he has become king and this and that, householder, all botheration. So make imperson. Let go. That's all. Negation. Personality is giving us trouble, so make imperson. God must be imperson, because as soon as we are person, there is struggle. They have got experience. But the Buddha's philosophy is there and as soon as they... Form is there, make it zero, then there is no pains and pleasure. This body, because Buddha philosophy does not give any idea of soul—bodily concept. So body is combination of matter, so dismantle this combination. --- **[1975: Bhagavad-gītā 2.15 [with Spanish translator](spoken/1975/750215bg.mex)** > > yaṁ hi na vyathayanty ete > puruṣaṁ puruṣarṣabha > sama-duḥkha-sukhaṁ dhīraṁ > so 'mṛtatvāya kalpate > [[bg/2/15|[Bg. 2.15] ]] So we have been discussing for the last four days about the constitutional position of the soul. First thing, we have discussed that the living being... --- **[1976: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.8](spoken/1976/760215sb.may)** > So this *ugra-karma,* formerly this *ugra-karma* was entrusted to the demons. Those who were in the *sattva-guṇa,* they do not like this *ugra-karma. Sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa, tamo-guṇa. Rajas-tamo-bhāvāḥ*.* The... Those who are under the control of *rajo-guṇa* and *tamo-guṇa,* they are engaged in *ugra-karma. Ugra-karma,* industrial enterprise: big, big roads, big, big skyscraper. This is called *ugra-karma.* So *ugra-karma* is very pleasing to the *ugra-jātis,* just like Hiraṇyakaśipu. What was the trouble between the father and the son? The father was for *ugra-karma,* and the son, Prahlāda, was for *sāttvika* life. So when Prahlāda Mahārāja engaged himself in *sāttvika* life... Not only *sāttvika, śuddha-sāttvika.* In the material world there are three *guṇas: sāttvika, rājasika, tāmasika.* The *sāttvika* is the best. So... And devotional activity is *śuddha-sāttvika,* where there is no contamination. In the material world, *sāttvika,* a person who is a *brāhmaṇa,* he may be contaminated by *tamo-guṇa* and *rajo-guṇa.* Just like Ajāmila: he was the son of a *brāhmaṇa,* and he was executing the *brahmacarya* regulation very nicely, but he became infected with *rajo-guṇa* and *tamo-guṇa,* became attached to a prostitute and left everything, all brahminical qualification, and he became a rogue, thief, cheater, drunkard, woman-hunter, so on. There are many instances. And Jagāi-Mādhāi, they were born of very good *brāhmaṇa* family, rich family, but with bad association they became drunkard, woman-hunter, meat-eater. > So Prahlāda Mahārāja is considering himself born of a father, Hiraṇyakaśipu, as *ugra-karma.* So he's saying, *harir ugra-jāteḥ,* that the... *Brahmādayaḥ sura-gaṇa,* "Lord Brahmā and other demigods, they are coming from the higher planetary system, and they are in the *sattvika guṇa, sattva-guṇa.* They are not ordinary person." Just like coming from some pious pilgrimage, he's supposed to be very nice man, similarly, *brahmādayaḥ,* they are coming from *svarga-loka.* Why *svarga-loka* is better than this *loka*? The thing is, in the *svarga-loka,* although they are attached to material enjoyment, still, they are great devotees. Therefore *svarga-loka* is praised. They are not like us. Here, those who are attached to material prosperity, they forget Kṛṣṇa, or God. --- **[1977: Evening Darśana](spoken/1977/770215ed.may)** > If you sit idly, then you'll starve. Otherwise everything is there. You work little and get your all necessities. *Eko yo bahūnāṁ vidadhāti kāmān* [Kaṭha Upaniṣad* 2.2.13*]. That one person, God, He's supplying everyone, whatever necessities. You have to simply work little. That is material world. In the material world you have to work. And in the spiritual world there is no question of work. Whatever you require, you desire, everything is there. *Cintāmaṇi-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vṛkṣa* [Bs. 5.29]. You get everything as soon as you desire it. You haven't got to work. That is spiritual world. In material world, to get your necessities you have to work. You get this flower, little working. You grow the seeds, put little water, and it will be... And in spiritual world, as soon as you desire, "I want this flower," it is ready. There also *māyā* is working. *Māyā* means energy, Kṛṣṇa's energy. Here also energy is working. *Bījo 'haṁ sarva-bhūtānām*. > Kṛṣṇa is preparing the seed. You have to work little. You cannot prepare the seed. That is in Kṛṣṇa's hand. You cannot prepare the seed in your so-called rascals' laboratory. That is not... Is it possible? Hmm? So why they are so much proud with their scientific knowledge? Our Svarūpa Dāmodara is convinced this so-called scientific knowledge is bogus. --- ## Letters on February 15 *Letters from this day: 43* --- **[1967: Letter to Kirtanananda](letters/1967/670215_kirtanananda)** > Your absence from New York is not advisable while I am not there. Please take care of the bill of Lading for clearing the Mrdangas. --- **[1967: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1967/670215_satsvarupa)** > I have now just five tapes with me out of which I am returning one to day. Neal was to come here but he has not come; therefore, I am sending you the tape both for typing and editing. --- **[1968: Letter to Brahmananda](letters/1968/680215_brahmananda)** > As requested by you, I am sending herewith the beads and respective letters of Yadunandana Brahmacari, and Sudarsana devi; which please deliver to them with your good wishes and hand over to them the requisite list of regulations, etc. Also, Bhaktijana is there in N.Y., he may be nicely treated as he has come back, so he will understand the philosophy nicely. --- **[1968: Letter to Jadurani](letters/1968/680215_jadurani)** > You must know that a person with whom God had to fight is not an ordinary person. He could play almost equally with the Lord, but nobody can excel the Lord. --- **[1968: Letter to Rayarama](letters/1968/680215_rayarama)** > My special thanks are due to Jaya Govinda who—who has so nicely sketched the story of the Grand Procession. --- **[1968: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1968/680215_satsvarupa)** > There isn't any difference between chanting the Holy Name at the same time washing the dishes of the Temple. There is variegatedness in transcendental activities. --- **[1968: Letter to Sudarsana](letters/1968/680215_sudarsana)** > Please follow the regulations and chant 16 rounds daily at least without any offense. The list of offenses, 10 kinds, are in my apartment in N.Y., and you ask your God-brother, Brahmananda, and he will supply you. --- **[1968: Letter to Syamasundara](letters/1968/680215_syamasundara)** > I am returning the design as requested. I am feeling well so don't worry about me. --- **[1968: Letter to Yadunandana](letters/1968/680215_yadunandana)** > In reply to your letter of February 8, 1968, I thank you very much for it, and I have accepted you as my initiated student and your spiritual name is Sriman Yadunandana das Brahmacari. --- **[1969: Letter to Rayarama](letters/1969/690215_rayarama)** > I have to read it very carefully and reply you in due course, but I wish to inform you that the advertisements are not very congenial to our prestige, especially the hippy kind of advertisements. --- **[1970: Letter to Bapi](letters/1970/700215_bapi)** > Some years ago, when I was visiting your house, your father requested me to teach you Bhagavad-gita. I immediately agreed to this proposal, but later on your father changed his mind and he wanted to wait until your education would be finished. --- **[1970: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1970/700215_satsvarupa)** > I have sent a few tapes to Bhagavan das. He sends to you his edited copies and they may be made final. I want two editings only, just to see if there is any grammatical or spelling mistake. --- **[1971: Letter to Central Bank Of India](letters/1971/710215_central_bank_of_india)** > I beg to inform you that I am travelling all over the country and whenever there is some collection I transfer the money by mail transfer. --- **[1971: Letter to Devi](letters/1971/710215_devi)** > I am very glad that a sincere soul like you has become attracted with this Movement of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Now please take care of your advancement in Krsna consciousness by following strictly the prescribed methods for reviving your dormant love of Krsna. --- **[1971: Letter to Jagadisa](letters/1971/710215_jagadisa)** > It is very encouraging that we are being so favorably presented everywhere by the media. Just today two editors of Indian newspapers have informed me of their intention to print special issues devoted to our Movement as well as give daily one article on our philosophy. --- **[1971: Letter to Karandhara](letters/1971/710215_karandhara)** > I was very glad to initiate Sandy and her spiritual name is now Srimati Kanta Devi Dasi. I have sent reply to her letter and her beads duly chanted by separate post. They should be arriving soon. --- **[1971: Letter to Madhudvisa](letters/1971/710215_madhudvisa)** > I am very glad to learn that there is good chance of presenting and preaching our cult in South India, so immediately I've sent you a telegram reading as follows: ARRANGE MADRAS PROGRAM READY TO JOIN FIRST WEEK MARCH LETTER FOLLOWS, and so you can arrange for Madras accordingly. The Sankirtana Party here will be free by the 28th February, 1971 and it will not be difficult for them to reach by 1st March, 1971. Provisionally the Sankirtana Party may remain there at least one week but if there is good chance of preaching, they may continue to stay there more than one week. --- **[1971: Letter to Sridama](letters/1971/710215_sridama)** > I am expecting to return to the States by the end of March, so I will be very happy to see you all at that time. I think that from now on initiations may be held until I return to the States. --- **[1971: Letter to Syamasundara](letters/1971/710215_syamasundara)** > From the beginning it was my program not to sell books but to make life members. 30/ for Bhagavad-Gita As It Is, practically their hearts begins to fade because in India most of them are not accustomed to pay so much price but when we speak of membership they agree to contribute very easily because Indian mentality is still charitable toward the cause of spiritual activities. --- **[1971: Letter to Yugalakisora](letters/1971/710215_yugalakisora)** > You should take severe warning from this incident and not treat the matter as very light. --- **[1972: Letter to Amogha](letters/1972/720215_amogha)** > So far Bali Mardan is concerned, I think he is presently managing our ISKCON Press, but I have asked for the GBC to review the position of our Press, and the question of managing the Far East Zone may be also settled by them at that time. For the time being, since there is no one there to supervise as GBC, you may address your questions to Karandhara in Los Angeles and he will advise you. --- **[1972: Letter to Gargamuni](letters/1972/720215_gargamuni)** > I have just now received your letter, and I thank you very much for understanding our philosophy correctly. --- **[1973: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1973/730215_satsvarupa)** > I am very pleased to hear of your determination in spreading this Krishna Consciousness philosophy on all these campuses. --- **[1975: Letter to Doctor Currier](letters/1975/750215_doctor_currier)** > Gobernador Tiburcio, Montiel No. Not only that, but I have also instructed that whatever they eat must be first offered to the Supreme Lord Krishna for His pleasure and then they can take the remnants which are called Prasadam or mercy of the Lord. I have never said that my disciples should sever all relationships with friends, relatives and others, but sometimes an inexperienced devotee may do it out of fear of being too much attracted to the materialistic way of life by associating with such persons. --- **[1975: Letter to Giriraja](letters/1975/750215_giriraja)** > The interest rate here in the west is very low now, so I am thinking very seriously to invest about 410,000 dollars (approximately 32 lakhs rupees). --- **[1975: Letter to Gopiparanadhana](letters/1975/750215_gopiparanadhana)** > Regarding your problem of not being able to get married, this is not the proper type of question to place before your spiritual master. Anyway, you should be sure to follow all the regulative principles without fail and to chant at least 16 rounds daily. Krishna is fully aware of your every necessity and he will surely provide everything that you need for your bodily maintenance. --- **[1975: Letter to Govardhana](letters/1975/750215_govardhana)** > Your list of qualifications for choosing candidates for 2nd initiation is very good. Regarding Rudra dasa, he can worship Gaura-Nitai in his home. --- **[1975: Letter to Jennifer](letters/1975/750215_jennifer)** > Regarding initiation, it is required that you be recommend by one of our temple presidents to me and then I shall consider it. First of all, one must have followed the regulative principle for at least six months without deviation. It is not necessarily required to live in the temple, but you must observe the rules. --- **[1975: Letter to Krsna Dasa](letters/1975/750215_krsna_dasa)** > You are very fortunate to be attending the Gurukula school. You please take advantage of it and become a pure devotee of Lord Krishna. Be very careful to follow all of the regulative principles nicely and chant 16 rounds and study my books very deeply. --- **[1975: Letter to Mrdapriya](letters/1975/750215_mrdapriya)** > It is never too late to become Krishna Conscious. If you actually follow all of the regulative principles and chant 16 rounds avoiding the offenses, and attend the mangala arati and classes, then Krishna will see that you are sincerely trying to follow the real process of Krishna Consciousness. Now you simply have to follow it strictly and Krishna will give you all help. --- **[1975: Letter to Nityananda](letters/1975/750215_nityananda)** > I have accepted the two persons that you have recommended for 1st initiation. Train them to be first class devotees by following very strictly all of our rule regulations, chanting at least 16 good rounds daily. --- **[1975: Letter to Pancananda](letters/1975/750215_pancananda)** > The problem that you are experiencing may have something to do with the drugs you were taking previous to joining our movement. Any way, you should try very sincerely to become a pure devotee of Krishna by following all of the four regulative principles and chanting at least 16 rounds daily, as well as rising early, attending mangala arati, attending classes, etc. By this simple method, you will be very strongly fixed in spiritual life and whatever problems you may have will seem insignificant. --- **[1975: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1975/750215_satsvarupa)** > Thank you very much for sending the book reviews. --- **[1975: Letter to Svarupa Damodara](letters/1975/750215_svarupa_damodara)** > I was very glad to receive your letter and to hear that you are feeling very happy in Krishna's service. --- **[1975: Letter to Yadhavacarya](letters/1975/750215_yadhavacarya)** > Anyway, you can use such a situation as an opportunity for preaching Krishna Consciousness. I am very glad to hear that you have already distributed some books in prison. --- **[1976: Letter to Bhaktijana](letters/1976/760215_bhaktijana)** > Regarding preaching in Harlem and taking sannyasa order of life, you may speak to Madhudvisa Maharaja and work with him. He is senior man and sannyasa, so I will consider seriously his recommendation. --- **[1976: Letter to Krishnanga](letters/1976/760215_krishnanga)** > Do not let your mind be disturbed by so many things. Our movement is for chanting Hare Krishna. One can be happy under any condition. --- **[1976: Letter to Michael S. Darby](letters/1976/760215_michael_s._darby)** > Later this year I plan to come to America and at that time you may find out my itinerary from Kirtanananda Swami and you may come and see me. --- **[1976: Letter to Tejiyas](letters/1976/760215_tejiyas)** > Regarding our sending someone to see Mr. Patnaik at Bhuvaneśvara, we can do this immediately, however, we may not get a good reception from this man. --- **[1976: Letter to Yasomatinandana](letters/1976/760215_yasomatinandana)** > Yes, I approve your distribution ideas, namely subscriber agents, news agents. And if you regularly publish and get registered, you can get a one or two paise charges (postal concession). --- **[1977: Letter to Kuladri](letters/1977/770215_kuladri)** > As for mailing me sweets wherever I am, don't spend unnecessarily. Distribute your sweets to newcomers so they will become attracted. --- **[1977: Letter to Lokanath Swami](letters/1977/770215_lokanath_swami)** > You ask for further instructions and suggestions, and the main instructions are to go on, to push on and preach and distribute books. If possible you can also hold a festival which is also part of preaching. --- **[1977: Letter to Tracy And Rita](letters/1977/770215_tracy_and_rita)** > Continue chanting and associating with devotees and your spiritual growth will be assured. ---