# February 28 ## Spoken on February 28 *Lectures from this day: 15 recordings* --- **[1972: Second Talk with Bob Cohen [Brahmatīrtha dāsa](spoken/1972/720228ta.may)** > So one has to become a devotee, not a good cooker. But if he's a devotee, then he'll be a good cook also. *Yasyāsti bhaktir bhagavaty akiñcanā sarvair guṇais tatra samāsate surāḥ. Automatically he'll become a good cook. Therefore one has to become devotee only; then all other good qualification will automatically be there. And if he's a nondevotee, any good qualification has no value. *Harāv abhaktasya kuto mahad-guṇā mano-rathenāsati dhāvato bahiḥ*. He's on the mental plane, so he has no good qualification. > Very subtle laws of nature. Now there is no guarantee that you will get a very comfortable body or American body. No. Therefore, for human being it is essential that he should purify his existence. *Tapo divyaṁ putrakā yena sattvaṁ śuddhyed yasmād brahma-saukhyaṁ anantam*. Unless you purify your existence, your hankering after happiness, you cannot get continued happiness. That is not possible. --- **[1973: Lecture](spoken/1973/730228le.jkt)** > So *sanātana,* this word has been used in three or four places in the *Bhagavad-gītā. Mamaivāṁśo jīva-bhūta jīva-loka sanātana*. Sanātana.* These living entities, they are *sanātana.* And another place in the Eighth Chapter in *Bhagavad-gītā,* this *sanātana* word is used: *paras tasmāt tu bhāva anya 'vyakto 'vyaktāt sanātanaḥ*. There is another sky. Just like we are seeing this sky. This is called material sky, and we are seeing the sky in one universe. > Therefore this Brahman realization is being explained by Kṛṣṇa. This is Brahman. Brahman means *sanātana,* eternal. "My dear Arjuna, you also existed, I also existed in the past, because we are Brahman." Otherwise, matter does not exist eternally. Any matter, any material thing you take, it does not exist. It has got a beginning and it has got an end, and in the middle there are so many disturbances—six kinds of changes in the matter, *ṣaḍ-vikāra*. But spirit, soul, Brahman, it has no change. *Avināśi tu tad viddhi yena sarvam idaṁ tatam.* This is explained in the *Bhagavad-gītā. Avināśi..., na hanyate, na jāyate na mriyate vā kadācit na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre*. These statements are there. --- **[1973: Morning Walk](spoken/1973/730228mw.jkt)** > And he's Sai Baba, like rogues, they come to show them some magic, that "I have got some power. I can do anything I like. And if you become my devotee, you will improve." All these *yogīs,* everything, they do like that. Mahesh Yogi also: "Take my *mantra.* Within six months you become perfect man, and whatever you like, you can do." > That Japanese man who you asked to come today, he reads Mandarin, Chinese. I gave him our Mandarin Chinese *Back to Godhead* to read yesterday. --- **[1973: Room Conversation](spoken/1973/730228r1.jkt)** > But tomorrow there is a reporter from *Tempo* magazine, which is better magazine, like *Time* or *Newsweek*. And if we can get favorable article from him, then it will counteract. Before you came, it was announced in all of the newspapers. All of the newspapers, they announced that you were coming, before. > Those Bali Hindus are preparing very nicely for tomorrow morning. They want us to arrive at 7:30 in their temple, and many people will come, and they will honor you very nicely. They will bring the *vyāsāsana* all the way there. --- **[1973: Room Conversation](spoken/1973/730228r2.jkt)** > But even I got to again take ship from [indistinct] Doha, and Dubai. [indistinct] A railway from Manchester to [indistinct]. So still seven years I loitering. And this only to see old friend in Edinburgh, and I see old, old man. I realize I am also old man. Not so long time, within one year I down... > Kabul, Peshawar and Tehran, Karachi, and I come here '66. Too long here, but I cannot be enthusiastic because India is easiest place to live, easiest places to live. But too long. So I will leave from here maybe next year, via Beirut to Alexandria. I take a bus Beirut [indistinct] and take ship to go Alexandria [indistinct] Egyptian, Turkey, Alexandria. And from there along the south coast Mediterranean up to Rabat, Morocco. Rabat. Before war time pre war time I was several times all [indistinct] Suez Canal [indistinct]. --- **[1973: Room Conversation [Hindi](spoken/1973/730228r3.jkt)** --- **[1975: Purport to Parama Koruṇa](spoken/1975/750228pu.atl)** > That is the position at the present moment. There is no brain in the society. All *śūdras;* no *brāhmaṇas.* Because nobody is interested with the Absolute Truth. Everyone is interested how to eat, how to sleep, how to have sex and how to defend. That is going on, nationwide, worldwide. Therefore our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is interested to make a section of the people *brāhmaṇa,* brain. They can guide. It is not that everyone requires; neither it is possible. Unless one is very intelligent, he cannot become *brāhmaṇa*. *Brāhmaṇa* means the most intellectual class of the society. That is *brāhmaṇa. Satya śamaḥ damaḥ titikṣa ārjavaḥ, jñānaṁ vijñānam āstikyaṁ brahma-karma svabhāva-jam*. > Śravaṇam* means hearing; *kīrtanam* means glorifying. Of whom? About Viṣṇu, not for anything else. [indistinct] So Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu approved this process. When He was talking with Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya, Rāmānanda Rāya suggested various methods of self-realization. So Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not reject them. He said, "Yes, it is also nice, but you go farther above. Go forward still." So in this way, when Rāmānanda Rāya quoted this verse from *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, jñāne prayāsam udapāsya,* He said... No, in the beginning He had, *eho bāhya, āge kaha* : "This process is not very important; it is external. If you know better than this, say." So in this way, after many rejection, when Rāmānanda Rāya came to this version, *jñāne prayāsam udapāsya,* Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not say that it is useless. "Yes, it is nice." *Eho haya:* "It can be accepted." That is the beginning, that don't try to speculate. Just become humble and meek and hear from the realized soul. *Namanta. Jñāne prayāsam udapāsya namanta eva.* Just become submissive. Do not think that you know by everything. That is your illusion, *māyā.* Because you cannot know everything. You can..., you may know something. That is not possible that you know everything. --- **[1975: Room Conversation with Svarūpa Dāmodara](spoken/1975/750228r1.atl)** > So whatever little success I have got, it is only for this reason. My Guru Mahārāja said that "You go and preach whatever you learned in English language." That's all. So I came here with this faith, that "My Guru Mahārāja said. I must be successful." I did not show any jugglery to you, gold-making jugglery. Where is my gold? I came with forty rupees first. [chuckles] So these are Vedic instruction, *guru-mukha-padma-vākya,* and *śrī-guru-caraṇe rati, ei se uttama-gati. *That is real progress. So this is Vedic instruction. We have to follow the Vedic injunction. Then you will be successful. Not these rascals' theory. It is useless. > Janmādy asya yataḥ.* So we know from the perfect. Therefore my knowledge is perfect. I am not perfect; that's a fact. But my knowledge is perfect. Just like I am not an electrician, but the electrician has told me that "You push this button. There will be light," so I am doing that. What is the use of becoming electrician? I want light, and the electrician told me, "Just put this button." I am doing that, and light is there. That's all. You cannot say, "You are not a electrician. How you can say the light...?" I know from the perfect person, and it is acting. This is our position. It doesn't require that I will have to become electrician. The electrician has told that "You put this button," and there will be light. That's all. Does it require that I will have to become a electrician to conduct this light? --- **[1976: Morning Walk [Partially Recorded](spoken/1976/760228mw.may)** > So anyone who is not Kṛṣṇa conscious, he's *māyayāpahṛta-jñāna [[bg/7/15|[Bg. 7.15] ]]. He's a *pāgal* [madman]. He's madman. Actually everyone is mad. That is the medical report. [pause] --- **[1976: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.21](spoken/1976/760228sb.may)** > She can create, she can maintain, and she can make *pralaya,* devastator. That is her business. But so powerful, still she is under the control of the Supreme Lord. Therefore here it is said, *saṁsāra-cakram aja ko 'titaret tvad-anyaḥ:* "A strong *māyā.* I cannot get out of her clutches." So Prahlāda Mahārāja knows it. *Ko 'titaret:* "Who can surpass? Who can get rid of this clutches of *māyā*?" *Tvad-anyaḥ.* That is the fact. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says that "You surrender to Me, and you'll be free from *māyā.*" *Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ sara..., ahaṁ tvām* : "I'll give you protection." *Mām eva ye prapadyante*. > Actually our position is to serve Kṛṣṇa. That is real position. Caitanya Mahāprabhu starts His instruction from this point, that we are eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa, and because we have rebelled not to serve, therefore Kṛṣṇa, out of His unlimited mercy and compassion, He comes down and teach us, "You rascal, surrender. Why you are suffering unnecessarily?" *Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ* : "You rascal, you give up all these so-called engagements. You surrender to Me." --- **[1977: Room Conversation with Svarūpa Dāmodara](spoken/1977/770228r1.may)** > And that is important because that living entity is handling this inferior. Very clear. Just like a good machine. That machine as it is, it is not important. A living entity has handled it. By handling, the machine is prepared, and by handling it is important. So who is superior: this matter or the person who is handling? And it's clear—*yayedaṁ dhāryate jagat*. Jīva-bhūtāṁ mahā-bāho yayedaṁ dhāryate.* It is clear. And similarly, whole machine must be handled by a living creature. *Mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sa-carāca...*. Clear. How you can deny it? Taking this whole cosmic manifestation as machine... It is machine. We admit that. But it is being handled by a living being, the supreme living being. That is God. But they have no intelligence to understand. Such a rascal civilization. Practically we are seeing. *Mūḍhaḥ nābhijānāti mām ebhyaḥ param avyayam*. > I am proposing this because Kṛṣṇa consciousness means *namo brahmaṇya-devāya go-brāhmaṇa-hitāya ca.* That must be... The state must be in favor of brahminical culture and cow protection. Then everything will be all right. So Manipur is small state. If they agree, the leaders of the... It is not politics; it is betterment of the situation. And without brahminical culture, all these third class, fourth class, loafer class, simply by votes, hooks and crooks, and becomes president, Nixon and so on. Where is the betterment? It will never be. --- **[1977: Conversation with Italian Woman with Translator](spoken/1977/770228r2.may)** > Oh, yes. *Jaya.* Let her read our Italian *Bhagavad-gītā,* and wherever there is difficulty, she can ask me. Yes. You show her our Italian... She has seen? Italian? That will help her. --- **[1977: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.8](spoken/1977/770228sb.may)** > So *ugra-jāteḥ* means demonic family, passionate. *Ugra.* There are three qualities within this material world. Therefore it is said *guṇa-mayī. Daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī*. Guṇa-mayī* means three *guṇas,* three modes of material nature: *sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa* and *tamo-guṇa.* So our mind is jumping. Everyone knows the nature of the mind—sometimes accepting one thing, again rejecting it. *Saṅkalpa-vikalpa.* This is the quality of the mind or nature of the mind. Sometimes the mind is jumping over *sattva-guṇa,* sometimes on the *rajo-guṇa,* sometime on the *tamo-guṇa.* In this way we are getting different types of mentality. In this way, at the time of death the mentality which is just at the moment of leaving this body will carry me to a different body of *sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa, tamo-guṇa.* This is the way of transmigration of the soul. Therefore we have to train up the mind until we get the another body. That is the art of living. So if you train up your mind simply to think of Kṛṣṇa, then you are safe. Otherwise there is chance of accidents. *Yaṁ yaṁ vāpi smaran bhāvaṁ tyajaty ante kalevaram*.* At the time of leaving this body, if we have not practiced the mind to fix up at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, then there is... > So *mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ*. We can learn Kṛṣṇa consciousness perfectly well if we follow the *mahājanas. Mahājana* means great personality who are devotees of the Lord. They are called *mahājanas. Jana* means "person." Just like in ordinary way, in India a person is called *mahājana* who is very rich. So this *mahājana* means one who is rich in devotional service. He is called *mahājana. Mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ.* So we have got Ambarīṣa Mahārāja; we have got Prahlāda Mahārāja. There are many, many kings—Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja, Parīkṣit Mahārāja—they are *rājarṣi.* So Kṛṣṇa consciousness, actually, it is meant for very great personalities. --- ## Letters on February 28 *Letters from this day: 24* --- **[1967: Letter to Rayarama](letters/1967/670228_rayarama)** > These pictures of Krishna and the Gopis are not understandable by a layman who has no idea of Krishna. Please, therefore, consult me before putting any such picture or interpretations. --- **[1968: Letter to Mr. Mittra](letters/1968/680228_mr._mittra)** > It is understood that from my New York office five hundred dollars has already been remitted to you through the First National City Bank of New York on the 3rd January, 1968. You were to ship the cases of books and musical instruments on the 11th of January, 1968, but I have heard nothing from you until now. --- **[1968: Letter to Mukunda Janaki](letters/1968/680228_mukunda_janaki)** > I thank you very much for that nice sketch done by Janaki, and I shall have Jadurani begin a painting from that pose. So far the spirit soul is concerned, if conditions are for some reason not favorable in some place, he is forced to leave that womb and take shelter in another. --- **[1969: Letter to Brahmananda](letters/1969/690228_brahmananda)** > Regarding the distribution of Teachings of Lord Caitanya, the principle will be that 60% will go to the book fund, and the rest will go to you as the distributer. --- **[1969: Letter to Janaki](letters/1969/690228_janaki)** > You are so anxious to see me in London and I am also very anxious to see you all. --- **[1969: Letter to Mukunda](letters/1969/690228_mukunda)** > About Sankirtana movement, in New York, Brahmananda has also begun Sankirtana in different colleges, and I quote herewith a few lines from his letter; "You will be pleased to know that we had a very successful kirtana engagement at two colleges in Pennsylvania, Dickenson College and Franklin and Marshall. At Dickinson the students were so enthusiastic that practically all of them (50 at least) were all dancing, what to speak of everyone singing and clapping. --- **[1970: Letter to Bank Of Barodaa](letters/1970/700228_bank_of_barodaa)** > Kindly enlighten me immediately why they have denied to have received the money from you. --- **[1970: Letter to Bank Of Barodab](letters/1970/700228_bank_of_barodab)** > If there is any discharge form, please send it to me, which I shall fill up and return. 6,000 from your Delhi Branch, I have got already a debit note from your Chandni Chowk Branch, Delhi, dated 22 January, 1970, and I am surprised that you write to say, even after a month, that the amount has not been received by you. --- **[1970: Letter to Hit Sharanji](letters/1970/700228_hit_sharanji)** > I may once more give the following list for dispatch of the Murtis, and please note the corrected Boston address. I am sending by separate air mail one copy of my new publication, Sri Isopanisad, as my complimentary present to Sethji. --- **[1970: Letter to Manager Of Punjab National Banka](letters/1970/700228_manager_of_punjab_national_banka)** > So out of this money immediately a consignment of books worth Rs. 13,000 and odds was sent to U.S.A., and then again these eight cases under reference were sent. --- **[1970: Letter to Manager Of Punjab National Bankb](letters/1970/700228_manager_of_punjab_national_bankb)** > I beg to inform you that on 13 January, 1970, I advised your Vrindaban Branch to transfer Rs. 5,500 from my account there to my account with you as above mentioned. --- **[1970: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1970/700228_satsvarupa)** > Now what I want is that one tape in two days must be finished for being composed. This does not mean that one tape has to be finished so quickly, but the arrangement should be made in such a way that after some time the process will produce at least fifteen tapes completely in one month or 30 days. --- **[1972: Letter to Caturbhuja](letters/1972/720228_caturbhuja)** > You enquire about the mode of goodness, and why such people do not worship Krishna. --- **[1972: Letter to Harsarani](letters/1972/720228_harsarani)** > You have mentioned that your father of your two children has left you and you are forced to live outside the temple. --- **[1972: Letter to Kirtiraja](letters/1972/720228_kirtiraja)** > I am very much pleased to hear that our mail-order department for books and BTG's is increasing steadily. --- **[1972: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1972/720228_satsvarupa)** > You ask one question about the nature of books I want you to write as my disciples; on this point, Krsna Consciousness is not limited. --- **[1972: Letter to Satyabhama](letters/1972/720228_satyabhama)** > I always had great hopes for New Vrindaban, and gradually we are developing, as I can understand from Hayagriva's recent Cow Protection Report. --- **[1972: Letter to Sudama](letters/1972/720228_sudama)** > Tentatively, I shall leave India by end of March and I want to spend one to two weeks in Australia, Hong Kong Tokyo, Honolulu, then reach Los Angeles by late Spring. --- **[1976: Letter to Aksayananda](letters/1976/760228_aksayananda)** > If we get chance, we must open a center in Kanpur. It is a very important city in India. I heard that there was someone who was willing to give us a house. --- **[1976: Letter to Gaura Govinda](letters/1976/760228_gaura_govinda)** > Gopala Krishna was just here to see me, so he has been made aware of Sri Jagadisa Prasad again. He is going to contact Mahamsa Swami and certainly if the man has paid the fee, he should get the benefits as much as the others are getting. --- **[1976: Letter to Ramram Maharaja](letters/1976/760228_ramram_maharaja)** > As I am scheduled to stay in Mayapur up to the end of March, I am giving a copy of your letter to my zonal secretary. So you should hear from him shortly. --- **[1976: Letter to Srinath Khanna](letters/1976/760228_srinath_khanna)** > It is too bad that you are suffering too much. However this may be taken as the mercy of the Lord. If the Lord gives us some inconvenience then we may take it that He has reduced our actual punishment and just given us a token punishment. --- **[1977: Letter to Caru](letters/1977/770228_caru)** > Regarding your standing in the book distribution as number three in the world, I am very pleased that you have worked so hard to help me in carrying out the order of my Guru Maharaja. Be convinced that you are doing the highest service for your fellow countrymen by distributing books of Krsna Consciousness. --- **[1977: Letter to Chaityaguru](letters/1977/770228_chaityaguru)** > The ceremony will be performed on Gour Purnima, the 5th March. ---