# February 23 ## Spoken on February 23 *Lectures from this day: 10 recordings* --- **[1967: Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 7.113–17](spoken/1967/670223cc.sf)** > And in the *Bhagavad-gītā* also, *mām ekam,* "Simply unto Me, one," Kṛṣṇa says. Because one is a neophyte, he can be turned, his faith can be disturbed at any moment; therefore in the beginning one has to, I mean to say, pin his faith only in Kṛṣṇa, *mām ekam.* Otherwise, he cannot make progress. And when one understands Kṛṣṇa, *janma karma me divyam*, in truth, then he can understand other things also. > Therefore it should be understanding..., it should be understood that this glancing is not material, because before His glancing there was no material creation. So our glancing and His glancing is different. Our glancing—we are seeing with these material eyes. As soon as these material eyes will be taken away, we cannot see; you are blind. But He... Here is the statement, *īkṣāñcakre:* "He saw." "He saw" means He saw with His spiritual eyes. Otherwise where is the material creation, that He can have material eyes? So these things are to be considered. --- **[1971: Paṇḍal Lecture](spoken/1971/710223le.bom)** > And Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā, ahaṁ bīja-pradaḥ pitā*. There are 8,400,000 species of life in different forms. The father, the seed-giving father, is Kṛṣṇa, or the Lord, the Supreme Lord. By misunderstanding, we are thinking that "I am Indian; you are American," or "You are *brāhmaṇa;* I am *śūdra,*" or "You are Hindu; I am Muslim." These differences are only designation. > Just like Kṛṣṇa says, *raso 'ham apsu kaunteya prabhāsmi śaśi-sūryayoḥ* : "I am the taste of the water." When we drink water, we feel very much satisfied. The taste of water is so nice. Kṛṣṇa says, "I am that taste." Now, if you are drinking daily water and you are tasting it, so how you can say that you have not seen God? If you have tasted that water, then you have seen God. *Prabhāsmi śaśi-sūryayoḥ:* "I am the shining principle of sun and the moon." You are seeing every day the sunshine and the moonshine. How you can say that you have not seen God? --- **[1971: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.3.32–33](spoken/1971/710223sb.gor)** > This is called—*durāśayā:* who is, "The hope which will never be fulfilled." But there are persons like that, *durāśayā ye bahir-artha-māninaḥ.* They do not know that this material happiness will not make me any way happy. It is called *durāśayā*. But one has to come to that stage, so there are different methods, but here it is said simply by tasting the honey on the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa: *sa vai manaḥ kṛṣṇa-padāravindayor*. That day we have explained.Therefore Ambarīṣa Mahārāja, he engaged himself always on the lotus feet of the Lord. > Vyāsadeva... such a nice thing that *śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ*. Simply by hearing of the glorious words and vibration of Lord Kṛṣṇa one becomes purified and as he becomes purified progressively such, *naṣṭa-prāyeṣv abhadreṣu*. "Not completely purified but almost purified." Just like we are, it is not that we have been completely purified. We should always know that we are trying to be purified by this process. So *naṣṭa-prāyeṣv abhadreṣu*: "Almost purified," such persons, *nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā*, simply by culturing this Kṛṣṇa consciousness. *Bhaktir bhavati uttama-śloke naiṣṭhikī bhagavaty*: "The result is even one is not fully purified but his devotion to Kṛṣṇa becomes fixed-up." That is when devotion to Kṛṣṇa is fixed-up that means he is elevated to the platform of *sattva*-*guṇa*. He is no more in the platform of *rajo-guṇa* and *tamo*-*guṇa* and because he is no more in the *rajo*-*guṇa* and *tamo*-*guṇa* therefore he has no more any more attraction for these material things. Then he has to still more advancement and completely he will be liberated and he will be situated in transcendental platform. --- **[1972: Bhagavad-gītā 16.5](spoken/1972/720223bg.cal)** > Then, then next stage is for *brāhmaṇa* to become Vaiṣṇava. To become Vaiṣṇava. Because *brahmaṇo hi pratiṣṭhāham*. Simply one..., if one stop simply by *brahma* knowledge and does not make further progress, that is not perfection. Perfection is, Kṛṣṇa says that "I am the origin of *brahma-jyoti.*'' Therefore from the *brahma-jyoti* one should make progress up to Kṛṣṇa. Just like sunshine. You are in, everyone, is sunshine. That's all right. But if you have got power, then you'll reach the sun planet, you'll see the sun-god, because the original source of the sunshine is the sun-god. Similarly, *brahma-jyoti*, the origin of *brahma-jyoti* is Kṛṣṇa, *brahmaṇo hi pratiṣṭhā. Brahmajyoti* is emanating from the body of Kṛṣṇa. It is..., it is confirmed in the *Brahma-saṁhitā*, *yasya prabhā prabhavato jagand-aṇḍa-koṭi* [Bs. 5.40]. So in this way we make progress. > So here Arjuna, although he was fighter, Arjuna did not change his position. He did not become a *brāhmaṇa*. After hearing *Bhagavad-gītā* it is not that he gave up his profession as a *kṣatriya* and went to Himalaya to become a *brāhmaṇa*, meditation. No. He became perfect by his own profession. How? Because he satisfied Kṛṣṇa. So you can be situated in any position—that does not matter—but try to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement: how to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. It is not very difficult. Kṛṣṇa says... --- **[1972: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.6](spoken/1972/720223sb.cal)** > Just like Pāṇḍavas, they were put into distresses, artificially. Prahlāda Mahārāja was put into distresses by his father even, but ultimately he came out victorious. So one..., we should not be disturbed, even superficially we see that a devotee is in distress. Devotee, real devotee, he does not take anything as distress. He takes everything as Kṛṣṇa's mercy. *Tat te 'nukampāṁ su-samīkṣamāṇo*.* Otherwise, that is not pure devotion. > The same example: just like this hand picks up a very nice *rasagullā,* but it does not take; it gives to the stomach. Then it enjoys. That is the process. This spirit of giving to Kṛṣṇa is now forgotten. Therefore people are suffering, because they are not trying to enjoin the process, that this is the process. You take a *rasagullā,* give it to the stomach. This is the process. Similarly, whatever you possess, you give it to Kṛṣṇa and take *prasādam.* Then you will be happy. Otherwise it will not bring happiness, because that is not the process. --- **[1974: Bhagavad-gītā 7.8](spoken/1974/740223bg.bom)** > simultaneously one and different. Simultaneously. Everything. *Idaṁ hi viśvaṁ bhagavān ivetaraḥ*. It requires only realization that "Whole universe is Kṛṣṇa." *Idaṁ hi viśvaṁ bhagavān.* But it appears different from Bhagavān. Actually, it is not different. You have to understand by purified senses. That is required. Unless you have got purified senses, you cannot understand. But this is the beginning: *raso 'ham apsu kaunteya*. You just try to understand. This *rasa...* It is said by Kṛṣṇa. It is not our manufacture. When... If I say that "The taste of water is Kṛṣṇa," that may be different. But Kṛṣṇa says, *raso 'ham apsu kaunteya.* So why not think of Kṛṣṇa? > So in the material world, every one of us, more or less, are *duṣkṛtinaḥ,* sinful. More or less sinful. So it is very difficult for us to understand Kṛṣṇa. *Ataḥ śrī-kṛṣṇa-nāmādi*, I have already explained. Therefore we have to take advantage of this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. And wherever there is a chance of hearing about Kṛṣṇa, we should take the opportunity. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. And learn from the... It is not our manufacture. Kṛṣṇa says. Learn how to become Kṛṣṇa conscious. Simply you try to understand Kṛṣṇa in every step of life. In every step of life. They will be all explained in this chapter, how you can perceive Kṛṣṇa. The beginning is tasting. Everyone drinks water or drinks something else. So try to taste the liquid, thinking that "This taste is Kṛṣṇa." You see in the morning the light of sunshine: "Here is Kṛṣṇa." In the evening you see the moonlight: "Here is Kṛṣṇa." There is sound always, especially in a city like Bombay. It is full of sound. So whenever you hear any kind of sound—sound is the vibration of the sky—you remember: "This sound is Kṛṣṇa." *Śabdaḥ khe.* And whenever you meet any person very exalted, very extraordinarily able, you'll understand that "This ability is Kṛṣṇa's mercy, *vibhūti.*" --- **[1974: Morning Walk](spoken/1974/740223mw.bom)** > No, no, no. Not to take it; it is actually. If it is material body, then how they are getting benefits, if it is a material body? --- **[1975: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.1.2 [with Spanish translator](spoken/1975/750223sb.car)** > Therefore the conclusion is that you cannot manufacture any laws of religion. Man-made religion has no value. So man-made religions, there are so many religious system—the Hindu religion, Christian religion, Muhammadan religion or this religion, that religion. That is a kind of faith. But religion means the order, or the laws, given by God. Therefore here it is said, *dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavaḥ atra. Kaitavaḥ* means cheating type of religious system. Real religion means "God is there; I am there. God is great; I am subordinate. I must abide by the laws of God." This is religion. At the present moment, under the spell of illusion in this material condition, we have forgotten our real religion. Real religion means to revive our consciousness—we say "Kṛṣṇa consciousness," or God consciousness—by which we agree to abide by the laws of God. So Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā* at the end, *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja*. He says that "You have manufactured so many religious system. So you give up all these. You simply surrender unto Me." Therefore real conclusion is, real religion means to surrender unto God. It is explained in another place of *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,* > Lord says that "Under My superintendence the material nature is working, and therefore so many wonderful changes are going on." So nature is working under the order of the Supreme Lord, and we are under the stringent laws of nature. Therefore we are obliged to carry out the natural sequences. Just like I already explained, from childhood to boyhood, boyhood to youthhood, youthhood to old age, these are natural laws. And after mature old age, you have to change this body and accept another body. So if we say that "I have no faith in the orders of the material nature. I can avoid it," that is not possible. So therefore this *dharma* means you may have faith or may not have faith, you have to abide by the laws of nature. People therefore say, "As sure as death." I may think or you may think that "Don't care for death. There will be no death," but it will happen. --- **[1976: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.16](spoken/1976/760223sb.may)** > This temple means to give chance to the people in general, *ajñāta-sukṛti.* Anyone who will come to this temple where the Deity is there, and even by imitating others, if one offers obeisances to the Lord, that is taken into account. That is not useless, because Kṛṣṇa says, *mad-yājinaḥ. Man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru*. This is Kṛṣṇa's desire. He gives the four principles, that "Always think of Me," *man-manā,* "and become My devotee," *mad-bhakta, mad-yājī,* "worship Me," and *mad-yāji... Man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru*: "Just offer little obeisances. These four principles will deliver you from this bondage of material existence and," *mām evaiśyasi asaṁśaya,* "without any doubt, you'll come back to Me." So, so simple thing. It is not at all difficult. This child, he can do this. Old man can do this. Learned man can do this, without any knowledge. Even an animal can do it. Very simple. *Bhakti-yoga* is very simple. Therefore, somehow or other, if somebody comes into the temple, and even by imitating one offers obeisances... We have seen so many people, our devotees are offering obeisances, they also think that "It is the etiquette. Let me do that," by association. Therefore it is recommended, *sādhu-saṅga* [Cc Madhya* 22.83]. Sādhu-saṅga.* Simply by association, one can be delivered. *Saṁsāra-cakra-kadanāt.* It is so nice thing. > Niṣkāma,* no desire. *Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam [Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu*1.1.11], this is devotee, no desire: "As You..." As Kṛṣṇa likes. Simply how to take charge of serving the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore Prahlāda Mahārāja says, *prīto 'pavarga-śaraṇaṁ hvayase kadā nu:* "My Lord, You are *apavarga-śaraṇaṁ.*" This is very important word, *apavarga. Pavarga* and *apavarga. Pa* means just the opposite, and *pavarga,* here in this material world, we are in the *pavarga. Pa* means *pariśrama,* laboring. Here you cannot get food without any labor. Just see, these laborers here, they have come. Whole day they are working. But if I say that "Why you are working so hard? Come here, live here, take little *prasādam* and make progress in Kṛṣṇa consciousness," nobody will come. Nobody will come. "No, no. I am very happy here." This is *pa, pariśrama. Pariśrama.* They... Sometimes we are accused that we're escaping labor, we are parasites, we are dependent on the society. We are not dependent on the society; we are dependent on Kṛṣṇa. *Yoga-kṣemaṁ vahāmy aham*. --- ## Letters on February 23 *Letters from this day: 7* --- **[1967: Letter to Brahmananda](letters/1967/670223_brahmananda)** > I hope this time you have received the goods from India Jaladuta in good condition. --- **[1969: Letter to Cidananda Dindayal Aniruddha Makhanlal](letters/1969/690223_cidananda_dindayal_aniruddha_makhanlal)** > I have duly received all of your elaborate letters, and there are so many points to reply, it will take time to reply you properly. --- **[1970: Letter to Harer Nama](letters/1970/700223_harer_nama)** > I inquired about your temple's financial condition just to know if you are doing well without any difficulty, there was no other cause for this inquiry. --- **[1970: Letter to Hayagriva](letters/1970/700223_hayagriva)** > I am very glad to know that you have sent the final manuscript of *KRSNA* book to Brahmananda and that it now reads very well. Thank you very much. --- **[1970: Letter to Syama](letters/1970/700223_syama)** > Women are by nature endowed with many artistic tendencies, and from the Vedic age we find that high grade women and girls were highly qualified in sixty-four arts. Srimati Radharani was fully qualified in those arts, and therefore, by Her super-excellent transcendental qualities, she could charm Krsna who is the charmer of the three worlds. One of the Principle Gopis was Syama dasi, and you are supposed to follow the footsteps of Syama dasi. --- **[1971: Letter to Jayapataka](letters/1971/710223_jayapataka)** > You have asked for some men so immediately another batch of two men, Revatinandana and Durlabh Das Adhikari are going today carrying this letter. --- **[1976: Letter to Manager Of Punjab National Bank](letters/1976/760223_manager_of_punjab_national_bank)** > REG.: The opening of your bank's office at the Krishna-Balarama Mandir, Raman Reti, Vrindaban, U.P. ---