# February 17 ## Spoken on February 17 *Lectures from this day: 13 recordings* --- **[1967: Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 7.106–107](spoken/1967/670217cc.sf)** > Now how we can hide yourself from the eyes of God? The sunshine is within your room. You are thinking that "I am alone in this room. Nobody can see. Let us do all nonsense." Oh, the sunshine is there. How can you hide yourself? Therefore He's perfect. He can see what... Besides that, that is outside looking. And inside—*īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛd-deśe 'rjuna tiṣṭhati*. He's sitting within you. So how can you hide yourself? So this is not possible. There is no flaw. His seeing, His working, His writing, His instructing—everything is perfect. First of all, you have to understand this. And the *Bhāgavata* says, *dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam*. > Therefore *īśvara,* those who are controllers, they have no such flaw. That is to be admitted first. They are flawless. And what to speak of the Parameśvara. There are two kinds of *īśvara. Īśvara,* you can..., you are also *īśvara,* but you are now in imperfect stage. When you become perfect, you become *īśvara,* controller. For example, just like, at the present conditioned stage, we are all controlled by the senses. So when you at least become the controller of the senses, then you become *īśvara.* Now we are controlled by the senses, but when you become actually controller of the senses, then you become *īśvara.* Then there will be less mistake, less illusion, less cheating, and perfection. --- **[1969: Bhagavad-gītā 6.16–24 [Sāṅkhya Yoga System](spoken/1969/690217bg.la)** > The same example: Somehow or other the finger is cut off, and it is falling on the ground; it has no value. My finger, when it is cut off and it is lying on the ground, it has no value. But as soon as the finger is joined with this body, it has got millions and trillions of dollars' value. Invaluable. Similarly, we are now disconnected with God, or Kṛṣṇa, by this material condition. Forget... Not disconnected. Connection is there. God is supplying our all necessities. Just like a state prisoner is disconnected from the civil department; he has come to the criminal department. Actually not disconnected. The government is still taking care, but legally disconnected. > Therefore here it is said, "There is no possibility of one's becoming a *yogī...*" If you try to become immediately Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī by imitating, you'll fail. Whatever progress you have made, that will be finished. No. Not that. You eat, but don't eat more. That's all. Eating more is no good. You eat. If you are elephant, you eat hundred pounds, but if you are ant you eat one grain. Don't eat hundred pounds, imitating the elephant. You see? God has given food to the elephant and to the ant. But if you are actually elephant, then you eat like elephant. But if you are ant, don't eat like elephant; then you'll be in trouble [chuckles]. --- **[1971: Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 7.119](spoken/1971/710217cc.gor)** > But that is not our position. The enjoyer is Kṛṣṇa. Enjoyer is Kṛṣṇa. Just like Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana, as we sung this song, *jaya rādhā-mādhava... Jaya rādhā-mādhava kuñja-bihārī.* He is enjoying in Vṛndāvana. His only feature is... That is the real picture of God: simply enjoying. *Bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram*.* That is the real picture of God. > Kṣitir-āp-tej-marud-van*[?]. *Prakṛtir me aṣṭadhā. Bhinnā prakṛtir me aṣṭadhā.* "They are My property. That is Mine. Actually it is Mine." You cannot create water, you cannot create fire, you cannot create earth. It is God's property. You take it and satisfy your senses. That's all. That's your business. *Prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmaṇī sarvaśaḥ*. Prakṛti* is supplying. But how *prakṛti* is supplying? How the material nature is supplying you ingredients? *Mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sa-carācaram* : --- **[1971: Lecture](spoken/1971/710217l2.gor)** > So *trayyāṁ jaḍi-kṛta-matiḥ.* By the injunction of the *Vedas,* people are captivated. "Oh, if I perform this *yajña,* then next life I'll be elevated to the heavenly planet, Svarga." Svargaloka *mem.* So *madhu-puṣpitāyām.* That is also stated in the *Bhagavad-gītā*. *Veda-vada-ratāḥ pārtha nānyad astīti vādinaḥ*. Those who are simply after the formulas of the *Veda,* they cannot understand. The same example: Even at the present moment, because here is temple, people are attracted. If you simply chant, very few people will come. Very few people will come. Therefore both things are recommended. > Tato rajas-tamo-bhāvāḥ*,* as soon as you are fixed up... The devotional service is so nice. As soon as you are fixed up, the other two qualities... To be fixed up in devotional service... Therefore we offer the brahminical position. One who is... When we see that "This man is chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra,* and his bad habits, contaminated stage, is much improved, *naṣṭa prāyeṣu...*" *Prāyeṣu* means almost he is purified. At that time he is fixed up in devotional service; therefore we offer the brahminical position, sacred thread. --- **[1971: Room Conversation](spoken/1971/710217r1.gor)** > But our business is... Suppose I am earning for my livelihood. Everyone is working for... Livelihood requires only six annas per day. But he is earning six thousand per day, and he says, "It is my livelihood." Is it not fact? Very, very... Many, many big businessmen, they are earning six thousand per month..., per day. But actually, for his livelihood he requires six annas. Why he's earning six thousand? Then Kṛṣṇa says, "Give it to Me." *Yat karoṣi kuruṣva tad mad-arpaṇam.* > So you are accepting different bodies in the material world, and that is *bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate*. You are accepting one type of body, it is becoming vanished; again you have to accept another. But as soon as you become perfectly Kṛṣṇa conscious, *tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti*, then, after leaving this body, he does not come to this material world. He is immediately... *Mam eti,* he transfers. Similarly, he accepts spiritual body. Is it clear or not? You are accepting material body now, birth after birth. Is it not? That is transmigration. Sometimes you are accepting human body, sometimes you are accepting dog's body, sometimes you are accepting king's body, sometimes you are accepting somebody else. Is it not? Is it clear? --- **[1971: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.3.27](spoken/1971/710217sb.gor)** > Otherwise, the whole purpose is to induce him to surrender to Kṛṣṇa. *Vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vidyam*, Kṛṣṇa says. All these Vedic literatures, they are meant for bending the stubborn atheist to come to this point. Therefore there are so many ways of... Otherwise, the ultimate goal is to surrender to Kṛṣṇa and chant His holy name. > So what is the necessity of these *dharma-śāstras*? Actually, there is no need of *dharma-śāstra.* Kṛṣṇa also says the same thing. *Sarva-dharmān parityajya*. There are twenty kinds of *dharma-śāstras,* religious principles, in the Vedic literature, beginning from Manu, Parāśara, and other great, great sages. --- **[1972: Lecture in Hindi [Partially Recorded](spoken/1972/720217le.vis)** > This is nothing ordinary because when once Arjuna heard the *Bhagavad gita* from Kṛṣṇa what did he say? *Paraṁ brahma paraṁ dhāma pavitraṁ paramaṁ bhavān* so, God is the purest, Supreme pure and therefore it is not possible for an impure sinful person to reach him. Therefore, one should purify one's life. So, there are four pillars of impure life, such as illiict sex, why do humans have the institution of marriage and not the animals? Just so the humans can be prevented from sinful life. So, one is recommended to have relations only with one's own wife and no others. This has been said in the *Cāṇakya Nīti Vākyas*, the general behavior of the society is: > You may have not heard about this but one of our Swamis earlier went to London. There he met Lord Zetland who asked him if Swamiji could make him a *brāhmaṇa*. The Swami said, yes, all you have to do is give up these four activities—no illicit sex, no meat eating, no intoxication and no gambling, and I will make you a *brahmana*. Zetland replied, "oh, this is impossible! In our country this is impossible. We need such acts like illicit sex, meat eating, intoxication, and gambling." That is why I was sitting at the harbor thinking that how can such a population be turned into *Vaiṣṇavas*. --- **[1973: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.6](spoken/1973/730217sb.syd)** > Our real problem is not this temporary problem that we are in such-and-such distressed condition. That is temporary. But real problem is, as Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā*, *janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi-duḥkha-doṣānudarśanam*. If anyone is intelligent enough, he should always keep before him that there are..., these are my distresses: *janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi*. I don't want to die, so what I have done for stopping my death? What have I done to stop my birth? Huh? Because as soon as I die, again I enter into the womb of a particular type of mother. Again I have to live there, packed up. That is the... Everyone knows. I cannot move even. No independence. > The different types of body means that is our punishment. We may think it as happiness, but as soon as you accept a material body, you are subjected to the four principles of material distresses. What is that? *Janma*, *mṛtyu*, *jarā*, *vyādhi*. You may think that you are very scientifically advanced—"There is no more distress in my life''—but Kṛṣṇa says, "No. If you are intelligent, then you should think of these four principle as distresses.'' What is that? Birth, death, old age and disease. But the modern so-called scientist, they cannot make any solution for birth, death, old age and disease; therefore they have left them aside: "Oh, don't care for them.'' That is ignorance. --- **[1974: Morning Walk](spoken/1974/740217mw.bom)** > [Hindi]..."godless civilization" *saba boka mare hai, bās.* [break]...take shelter of Kṛṣṇa, everything is false. You cannot escape. [Hindi] The death is there. *Mṛtyuḥ sarva-haraś cāham*. So at the end everything will be taken away by Kṛṣṇa in the form of death. *Mṛtyuḥ sarva-haraś cāham.* [*japa*] Everyone, especially the *karmīs,* they think that they will live forever. > Eating, sleeping, sexual intercourse and defense—this is there in the animals. And if you remain in that jurisdiction only—eating, sleeping and sexual intercourse and defense—you are animal, no more than animal. Why you are thinking that you are more than animal? [man laughs] You are animal. This is the *śāstric* injunction. You are no better than animal because your business is eating, sleeping, sexual intercourse and defense. Whole world is busy. --- **[1975: Bhagavad-gītā 2.17 [with Spanish translator](spoken/1975/750217bg.mex)** > > avināśi tu tad viddhi > yena sarvam idaṁ tatam > vināśam avyayasyāsya > na kaścit kartum arhati > [[bg/2/17|[Bg. 2.17] ]] Now Kṛṣṇa is giving a practical way of understanding the presence of soul. He says, *yena sarvam idaṁ tatam:* "One thing, which is spread all over the body, that is *avināśi.*" That means immortal. --- **[1976: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.10](spoken/1976/760217sb.may)** > So *śvapacaṁ variṣṭham.* Who is that *śvapaca*? Now, who has given everything to Kṛṣṇa, *tri-daṇḍa.* That means even a person coming out of the family of a *śvapaca,* dog-eaters, dog-eaters, pig-eaters, yes. *Śvapaca* means dog-eater. Yes. Pig-eaters are also better. But the dog-eaters, they are the lowest. I think in China and Korea they are very much fond of dog-eating. So they are the lowest. So if... So here it is proof that dog-eaters or pig-eaters or any low-grade man is not prohibited to become a devotee. That is our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. They say that without becoming a Hindu or born in India, nobody can become *brāhmaṇa,* nobody can become *sannyāsī.* But here is the proof. In the *śāstra* it says, *śvapacaṁ variṣṭham.* The dog-eater is also highly praised. When? *Tad-arpita-mano-vacana:* "When he sacrifices everything—his body, his mind, his words—only for Kṛṣṇa." This is called *tri-daṇḍa-sannyāsa.* So why the low-grade man cannot be offered *tri-daṇḍa* if he is qualified? If he has dedicated everything to Kṛṣṇa, why he should be prohibited? No. That is not the *śāstric* injunction. *Śāstric* injunction is for anyone. Nobody is prohibited to become Kṛṣṇa conscious. *Māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya ye 'pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ*, Kṛṣṇa says. Kṛṣṇa says even *pāpa-yoni,* less than the *śūdra... Śūdra* is also *pāpa-yoni.* Even woman is called *pāpa-yoni* according to strict... *Striyaḥ śūdras tathā vaiśya. Vaiśya.* Except *brāhmaṇa* and *kṣatriyas,* everyone is considered to be lowborn, according to the Vedic injunction. But not that because he is lowborn, he cannot elevate himself. That is not the fact. The present, so-called Hindu society is degraded because if one is born in higher family, *brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya*—he may be less than a *śvapaca*—he's accepted as a *brāhmaṇa.* That is the fault. > Dharma* means the order that is given by God. That is *dharma.* And anything, so-called *dharma,* that is not *dharma.* That you manufacture, so many things. That is another thing. But real *dharma,* the... Just like I have several times explained, law means given by the government. You cannot manufacture law. That is not law. Similarly, *dharma* means the order given by God. That is *dharma.* Just like Kṛṣṇa says. He said, *yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata, tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmy aham* : "When there is discrepancies, misuse of *dharma,* I appear." So He has appeared. He therefore said that "This is not *dharma.*" You are declaring, "This is Hindu *dharma,*" "This is Muslim *dharma,*" "This is Jain *dharma,*" "This is Christian *dharma,*" "This is family *dharma,*" "This is country *dharma,*" so on, so on, so on. You have created so many *dharmas.* But Kṛṣṇa said, *sarva-dharmān parityajya* : "You give up all these *dharmas.*" "Then what I..., shall I accept?" *Mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja.* That is *dharma.* Otherwise there is no *dharma.* --- **[1977: Room Conversation](spoken/1977/770217r1.may)** > But they have no brain. They cannot understand what is the difference between dead man and living man. That is the distinction between man and animal. But if you cannot understand, then where is your brain? On this point. Actually he has no brain. *Sa eva go-kharaḥ.* That was the point Arjuna was chastised, that "You rascal, you have no brain. You are lamenting on this body and talking like very learned man." *Aśocyān anvaśocas tvaṁ prajñā-vādāṁś ca...*. The whole world is going on like that. They're talking like very big scientist, very big philosopher, very big, big, big, but real thing they do not know. "So where is your brain?" Challenge them like that. "You cannot answer. You are big, big scientist, putting forward 'by combination of chemical...' So why don't you combine the chemical and give the dead man to become alive? Where is your brain? You simply say 'combination of chemical,' but you take the chemicals and combine, then we can understand you have got brain. That you cannot do, falsely taking prestigious position that you have got brain. Actually you have no brain. Cheating people." Write articles on this. They have no brain at all. [Bengali proverb. *Mūle māthā nāi uttara śuyā.*] In India there is a prejudice that you should not lie down putting your head towards northern side. Whatever truth may be, one man was asked that "Don't keep your head toward northern side." So he answered, "Where is my head? The head is already cut off." So these people are like that. They are making propaganda "brainwash," but where is your brain? Challenge them, "Where is your brain?" Cannot answer this simple thing. "Where is your brain?" Write a strong letter on this point and try to publish it. "If there is brain, there is question of washing or doing something else. But where is your brain? You have no brain." [aside:] What is that? > But the *Gītā* explains that within this body there is something. Not body itself is moving, but *dehinaḥ asmin dehe.* Within this body there is the real power, *dehī,* who has got this body. That is there. And because he is there, the body is changing. They cannot understand. No brain, exactly like the dogs and cats. The dog cannot understand that "Within my body, I am." They cannot understand. Therefore you are no better than dogs. And actual fact is you are not this body; you are within this body. It is a dress. In so many ways *Bhagavad-gītā* teaches, but you have no brain. Then where is brainwashing? You have no brain to understand your real position. --- **[1977: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.3](spoken/1977/770217sb.may)** > So Brahmā, Lord Brahmā, he is supposed to be the first living being within this universe. Lakṣmī became afraid; Brahmā also became very afraid. Therefore Brahmā requested Prahlāda Mahārāja that "You go forward, my dear son, and appease the Lord. You can do because for you He has appeared in this fierceful feature. Your father offended Him in so many ways by teasing you, by punishing you, by putting you into difficulty. Therefore He has appeared in very angry. So you can appease Him. We cannot. It is not possible." *Prahlāda preṣayām āsa brahma avasthita antike.* So Prahlāda Mahārāja, being very exalted devotee, he could appease the Lord. *Bhaktyā,* by *bhakti,* you can control the Supreme Lord. That is the only way. *Bhaktyā maṁ abhijānāti*. > So everything is there. Don't think that God is zero, no, *śūnyavādi.* He is everything. *Janmādy asya yataḥ*. *Athāto brahma-jijñāsā. You are inquiring about Brahman. *Paraṁ brahma paraṁ dhāma pavitraṁ paramaṁ bhavān*. So there must be anger, not that God should be always peaceful. But the difference is His anger and His peaceful attitude produces the same result. Prahlāda Mahārāja, a devotee... He is very satisfied with Prahlāda Mahārāja, and He is very much dissatisfied with his father, but result is the same: both of them got liberation. Although a devotee becomes associate, whereas the demon who is killed by God, he does not become an associate*—*he is not qualified*—*but he enters into the spiritual kingdom. He gets liberation from this material bondage. So why a devotee should take the same position? Therefore, *māṁ eti. Tato māṁ tattvato jñātvā viśate tad-anantaram*. They *viśa*te*,* enters, enters in the spiritual kingdom. Everyone who is liberated, he is entered. --- ## Letters on February 17 *Letters from this day: 25* --- **[1967: Letter to Brahmananda](letters/1967/670217_brahmananda)** > In continuation of my yesterday's letter and in reply to your very long letter of the 13rd February 1967 I beg to inform you that I have received one letter from Mr. --- **[1967: Letter to Carl E. Maxwell-Payne](letters/1967/670217_carl_e._maxwell-payne)** > I thank you very much for your letter of February 14, 1967 and I have received the copies of your schemes which did not fructify. --- **[1968: Letter to Hansadutta](letters/1968/680217_hansadutta)** > I am very happy to hear you are making nice arrangements for the Kirtana Party; I am anxious to see the idea take shape. Yes, the more you develop the attitude for service sincerely, the more opportunities Krishna will give you to serve Him, in so many varieties of ways. --- **[1968: Letter to Pradyumna](letters/1968/680217_pradyumna)** > Presently I am using one copy of the Gita Press version of Srimad-Bhagavatam in connection with my translating work, but in due course I may send it to you and you may transliterate the second and third cantos at that time. So if you can do this transliteration we have enough assignments. --- **[1968: Letter to Rayarama](letters/1968/680217_rayarama)** > Herewith please find one letter from Acyutananda Brahmacari, and read it carefully, and then return it back to me for filing. --- **[1969: Letter to Brahmananda](letters/1969/690217_brahmananda)** > Regarding the books, *True Conception of Religion* and *Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu,* for *True Conception* you may send 40 cents per copy to S. --- **[1969: Letter to Gargamuni](letters/1969/690217_gargamuni)** > Regarding your reprinting of my letters, if you will not detract from your other important engagements you may do it. --- **[1969: Letter to Harer Nama](letters/1969/690217_harer_nama)** > I am so glad to hear that you are having nice response now and soon you hope to hold some feasts. --- **[1969: Letter to Mukunda](letters/1969/690217_mukunda)** > Now you should also start program for selling our *Back To Godheads* along with the Sankirtana as Tamala Krishna is doing here. --- **[1969: Letter to Prabhas Candra Mittra](letters/1969/690217_prabhas_candra_mittra)** > Regarding the letter of credit, I beg to inform you that I have got good accounts in some of the very respectable banks in America in which there are branches in Calcutta. --- **[1969: Letter to Tosana Krsna](letters/1969/690217_tosana_krsna)** > If you have received any letter from Bhurijana in North Carolina, then you can immediately go there. --- **[1970: Letter to Krsna Devi](letters/1970/700217_krsna_devi)** > I am very much pleased to read your letter dated 13 February, 1970, and thank you very much for your appreciation. Now I see that in our society the girls are more intelligent than the boys. --- **[1970: Letter to Rupanuga](letters/1970/700217_rupanuga)** > The arrangement of sending tapes to many difference centers was becoming too confusing, so I have agreed to send the tapes only to Boston and Detroit alternately. I am glad to see that you are eager to do editorial work, and in this connection you should work in close cooperation with Satsvarupa. --- **[1970: Letter to Sridama](letters/1970/700217_sridama)** > I did not know where you were staying and I was very much anxious about your health, so I wrote to Subala and he has conveyed my message to you. Now I am relieved to learn that your are engaged in cooking and your injury is healing nicely. I am also feeling very well here in Los Angeles. --- **[1970: Letter to Sudama](letters/1970/700217_sudama)** > The potency of spreading Krsna Consciousness is everywhere the same. That was experimented by me in your country, where I came alone without any support; and Krsna is so kind that He has sent me so many boys and girls like you. Lord Caitanya said that every village and town on the surface of the world will know the message of the Sankirtana movement. --- **[1973: Letter to Govinda](letters/1973/730217_govinda)** > You are the pioneer of pushing forward Tulasi worship in the Western world and I can understand that proportionally as your Tulasi plants are growing, your devotion and love is also growing. I am glad to hear that you are opening another workshop in Kauai for the manufacturing of the Gaura-Nitai Deities and this is a very great service to our society and devotees. --- **[1973: Letter to Hansadutta](letters/1973/730217_hansadutta)** > While in India last it was brought to my attention that our Sriman Hayagriva das has become deviated from the four basic principles which I have given to all my students for adherence to when they are first initiated. --- **[1973: Letter to Karandhara](letters/1973/730217_karandhara)** > While in India last it was brought to my attention that our Sriman Hayagriva das has become deviated from the four basic principles which I have given to all my students for adherence to when they are first initiated. --- **[1975: Letter to Gurudasa Prajapati](letters/1975/750217_gurudasa_prajapati)** > Regarding the dance troupe, I request you to prepare 7 different dances (a new one each day) from the Caitanya Caritamrta for displaying and performing during the Mayapur festival. --- **[1976: Letter to Madhava](letters/1976/760217_madhava)** > It is very nice and why not publish in BTG? It must be published in BTG. And you must also publish in other journals. --- **[1976: Letter to Prabhas](letters/1976/760217_prabhas)** > In reply I have sent you one telegram as follows: Prabhas immediately come to Mayapur. --- **[1976: Letter to Raja Laksmi](letters/1976/760217_raja_laksmi)** > My advise is always chant 16 rounds minimum and follow the four regulative principles. All of my disciples must agree on this point otherwise they are not my disciples. Let one live anywhere, but stick to the principles. --- **[1976: Letter to Vic](letters/1976/760217_vic)** > Thank you for the nice sentiments expressed therein. Go on chanting and reading our books, and gradually you will advance in Krishna Consciousness. --- **[1977: Letter to Bbt Gopal Krsna](letters/1977/770217_bbt_gopal_krsna)** > Please supply me the following BBT information. 1) What amount of order is the Vrinda Book Co. --- **[1977: Letter to Mayesvara](letters/1977/770217_mayesvara)** > Regarding whether to follow Tamal Krsna Goswami and work at architecture and mechanical plans in the Pennsylvania farm or to come and work in the same way with Saurabha in India, now Tamal Krsna himself is in India. ---