# March 9 ## Spoken on March 9 *Lectures from this day: 11 recordings* --- **[1966: Bhagavad-gītā 2.12](spoken/1966/660309bg.ny.md)** > Now, here it is clearly stated by the Supreme Personality of Godhead that *na tu eva ahaṁ jātu*. Aham. Aham* means Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself. Now sometimes we make some grammatical jugglery of words, but I cannot understand. Now, *aham,* "myself," when I speak *aham,* or "myself," is applicable to me. When you speak, the *aham* is applicable to you. But that does not mean because there is a common understanding of myself between you and me, therefore I..., now that "I" and "you" become one. When you speak, you say, "I speak." But I say, I say, "I speak." That does not mean this "I" and that "I" becomes one. So Śrī Kṛṣṇa says like that, *na tu aham.* > Now, if I say that our interpretation of *aham,* I, myself, yourself, and he, or she, different vision, this is due to our ignorance. You can say. Because I am ignorant, it may be my mistake that I see differently from you. But Śrī Kṛṣṇa, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, cannot see like that. He is above all this ignorance, because He's all-perfect. And we have already defined that the Supreme Lord is full of knowledge. So... He's full of knowledge, supreme knowledge. Now, if the Supreme Personality, with full knowledge... He cannot commit any mistake. --- **[1968: Interview](spoken/1968/680309iv.sf)** > So from this book we understand from the version of Kṛṣṇa, or God, that *ā-brahma bhuvanāl lokāḥ punar āvartino 'rjuna*. Even if you go to the highest planetary system, again you have to come back. In this way, all living entities are rotating from one planet to another, from one species of life to another. But we don't want this, actually. If I say that "If I give you a nice body, youthful body and eternal body, full of knowledge," would you not like to have it? Nobody likes old age, nobody likes death, nobody likes to die, nobody likes to take birth again, enter into the womb of mother and live there ten months. You are tight packed. Nobody likes. > Therefore... Kṛṣṇa wants these things. We prepare these things, and we eat the remnants of food. If Kṛṣṇa says that "You give me meat," then we can offer Kṛṣṇa meat also. But Kṛṣṇa does not say that. Kṛṣṇa says, "Give Me fruits, flowers, grains." So we have no quarrel with the meat-eaters. Let them do whatever he likes. But our concern is that unless Kṛṣṇa takes, we don't take. --- **[1968: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.6.3–4](spoken/1968/680309sb.sf)** > In the *śāstra* it is said that *kṛte yad dhyāyato viṣṇum*. Meditation on Viṣṇu was possible in the golden age, or in the Satya-yuga. Satya-yuga means at that time the people used to live for one hundred thousands of years. And they were all perfect in religious life. There was no flaw. Then came the Tretā-yuga, when they were perfect three-fourths and the duration of life reduced to ten thousand years. > Therefore the prescription is *kṛte yad dhyāyato viṣṇum tretāyāṁ yajato makhaiḥ*. In the first millennium, meditation was possible. In the second millennium, sacrifice. Big, big *yajña,* or sacrifice, was performed by people. And the third millennium, temple worship. And in the fourth millennium, *kalau tad dhari-kīrtanāt:* in this age of Kali, simply by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa you can attain the perfection. So these are the prescription. We have to follow. --- **[1969: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.8](spoken/1969/690309sb.haw)** > Therefore I cannot believe it, how the cause of this cosmic manifestation can be a person. They are thinking imperson. Impersonal bigness, they think it is very important. Actually, it has no value. Background is person. Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā* that *brahmaṇo 'haṁ pratiṣṭha :* "The impersonal Brahman, I am the cause. I am the source of impersonal Brahman." > So nothing is void or impersonal. Everything is full of varieties, personalities. So you can understand. And what are these planets? These planets are called *dvīpa. Dvīpa* means island. Just like this is an island. We are sitting in this Kauai island. Why it is island? Because all around water. Similarly, all these planets are called also island. Why? Because all around the space, space water. As this is surrounded by water, the planets are surrounded by space. So if you take the space, ethereal ocean, then it is island. Every planet is an island. --- **[1972: Bhagavad-gītā 9.4–6](spoken/1972/720309bg.cal)** > That is defied by Kṛṣṇa: *avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā mānuṣīṁ tanum āśritam*, "Because I come as a human being, these rascals take Me as one of the human being." This is the beginning. *Mūḍhā,* this word is used, very word. *Mūḍhā* means rascal. Because Kṛṣṇa comes as this child of Yaśodā-mā or as the son of Vāsudeva, therefore these Māyāvādīs, they mistake that Kṛṣṇa or Brahman has taken the form, accepting the body from *māyā.* But that's not the fact. Kṛṣṇa is not under *māyā.* Kṛṣṇa says, *sambhavāmy ātma-māyayā:* not accepting this material energy. He's ordering, *sambhavāmi yuge yuge, sambhavāmy ātma-māyayā*. > But actually leading, actually leader is Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa says, *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇam*. He is actual leader. So don't follow all these nonsense things. Don't follow all these "isms"; you'll spoil your life, because you are not this body, that is the first... *Tathā dehāntaraṁ prāpti, dehino 'smin yathā dehe*. So everything clearly explained in the *Bhagavad-gītā.* So instead of accepting these blind leaders, we should know who is actual leader. Kṛṣṇa is the leader. We'll, if we take leadership of Kṛṣṇa, then our life is perfect; we could properly utilize the utility of human life. Otherwise we have been mislead. --- **[1974: Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 7.7](spoken/1974/740309cc.may)** > Bhagavān means six opulences. Nobody is richer than Bhagavān, nobody is stronger than Bhagavān, nobody is more beautiful than Bhagavān, nobody is wiser than Bhagavān, and nobody is more renouncer than Bhagavān. That is Bhagavān. *Aiśvaryasya samagrasya vīryasya yaśasaḥ śriyaḥ* [*Viṣṇu Purāṇa* 6.5.74]. That is Bhagavān. *Svayam bhagavān* means He is opulent *ṣaḍ-aiśvarya-pūrṇa,* not partially. He knows everything. Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā, vedāhaṁ samatītāni*. He knows past, present and future. He says, therefore, that "All these, My dear Arjuna—yourself, Myself and all the soldiers and kings who have assembled here—it is not that we were not existing before. We are existing at the present moment also, and in future also we shall continue to exist." And how we shall exist? Individually. Otherwise Kṛṣṇa would have said that in future, when we become liberated, then we shall become one. No. He says, "Even in future also, we shall continue to exist like this. You are individual. You are Arjuna. I am Kṛṣṇa. And all other living entities..." That is real understanding. Every one of us living entities, we are all individual person, and Kṛṣṇa is also individual person. This is knowledge. *Nityo nityānāṁ cetanaś cetanānām eko yo bahūnāṁ vidadhāti kāmān* [*Kaṭha Upaniṣad* 2.2.13]. > Kṛṣṇa, or God, He's also *nitya,* eternal. We are also *nitya,* eternal. *Na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre*. We do not die. That is the preliminary knowledge of spiritual understanding, that "I am not this body; I am spirit soul, *ahaṁ brahmāsmi,* but I am individual." *Nityo nityānām.* Kṛṣṇa is individual person; I am also individual person. When Kṛṣṇa says that *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja*, it does not mean that I become one with Kṛṣṇa or merge into the existence of Kṛṣṇa. I keep my individuality, Kṛṣṇa keeps His individuality, but I agree to abide by His order. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā* to Arjuna that "I have spoken to you everything. Now what is your decision?" Individual. It is not that Kṛṣṇa is forcing Arjuna. *Yathecchasi tathā kuru* : "Now whatever you like, can do." That is individuality. --- **[1974: Morning Walk](spoken/1974/740309mw.may)** >for all *gṛhastha* devotees, you should begin preaching amongst the *gṛhasthas.* It is not forbidden for the *gṛhasthas* to preach, because preaching is required everywhere. Arjuna was *gṛhastha.* So *yei kṛṣṇa-tattva-vettā sei guru haya*. One must know the science of Kṛṣṇa. Then you can become preacher. > This is preaching. It doesn't matter whether one is *sannyāsī* or *gṛhastha,* or a *brāhmaṇa* or a *śūdra.* It doesn't matter. If one knows the science of Kṛṣṇa then he can become *guru.* And He said, "By My order, you become *guru* and deliver your country." *Ei deśa. Ei deśa* means "your country." "So what is to be done?" "Now, just whomever you meet, you instruct him about the instruction given by Kṛṣṇa." --- **[1975: Bhagavad-gītā 7.1](spoken/1975/750309bg.lon)** > Then *cit. Cit* means knowledge, and our body is full of ignorance. We cannot understand knowledge. We have no knowledge immediately what is beyond this wall. If you ask me what is beyond this wall, then I will have to ask some of my disciples, "What is there beyond this wall?" Therefore it is not *cit,* not full of knowledge. But Kṛṣṇa knows, He says in the *Bha..., vedāhaṁ samatītāni* : "I know everything past, present and future." When Arjuna enquired... Kṛṣṇa..., Arjuna, he is also playing just like Kṛṣṇa's friend. So he enquired for dissipation of the ignorance that "My dear Kṛṣṇa, You are saying that You spoke this philosophy, *Bhagavad-gītā,* formerly to the sun-god." Without asking Him, "How did You go? How did You return?" he simply asked that "Kṛṣṇa, I know that You are my contemporary. We are of the same age. And how can I believe that millions and trillions of years ago You spoke to sun-god?" So the answer was that "My dear Arjuna, at that time, because you are My friend, you were also there, but you have forgotten. I have not forgotten." Therefore He is full of knowledge. We cannot say what we did in our childhood. We have forgotten. This is one of our qualification, forgetfulness. But Kṛṣṇa says that "You have forgotten. Because you are living being, your nature is to forget. But because I am the Supreme Lord, I have not forgotten." Therefore His knowledge is perfect. > So this *mayy āsakta,* Kṛṣṇa is summarily... But the *ācāryas,* they have defined how we can... We have got attachment. Every one of us got this propensity or the quality of attachment to others. The wife is attached to husband; husband is attached to wife. The son is attached to the father; father is attached to the son. Everyone. That attachment you increase, then to your family, to your community, to your society, to your country, to your nation. The attachment is there. You cannot say that "I have no attachment for anything." That is not possible. When... *Sannyāsī. Sannyāsī* mean *sat nyāsī,* one who has given up attachment for this false material world. That is the philosophy of Śaṅkarācārya. He says, *brahma satyaṁ jagan mithyā.* Therefore he is advising that "You have got attachment for this material world. This is false." *Brahma satyam. Jagan mithyā:* he simply explains the negative side. But *brahma satyam:* "Brahman, the Supreme Absolute Truth, is truth." So attachment for that. You cannot give up the attachment spirit, but you have to change the attachment. That is freedom. We have got so many attachments for this material world. You have to transfer that attachment for Kṛṣṇa. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, *mayy āsakta-manāḥ pārtha.* He doesn't say that "You give up your attachment." How you can give up your attachment? That is not possible. He says, "Just transfer the attachment to Me." --- **[1975: Room Conversation with Reporter](spoken/1975/750309r1.lon)** > And Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā, mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat kiñcid asti dhanañjaya*. But these things are there. God is great, we are all subordinate, and we are maintained. *Eko yo bahūnāṁ vidadhāti kāmān.* This is the Vedic information. *Nityo nityānāṁ cetanaś cetanānām* [*Kaṭha Upaniṣad* 2.2.13]. So this principle should be broadcast. People should know what is his position. > He says that "That is first-class religion which teaches the followers how to become obedient to God." It doesn't matter whether it's Christian religion or Hindu religion or Muslim religion. If they are teaching this fact, that... Actually they are doing that. Muslim, they say, *allahu akbar.* Christian people say, "God is great," and the Hindus also say, *eko brahma dvitīya nāsti.* So you go... This the same teaching. --- **[1976: Morning Walk](spoken/1976/760309mw.may)** > Prabhupāda:* [Transl.Ḍhābā type. That's all. I don't need to tell you again.] We cannot accept food from the demons. [aside:] Hare Kṛṣṇa. [break]...supplied at least nice food. [break] You are the first time here? --- **[1976: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.31](spoken/1976/760309sb.may)** > Therefore Prahlāda Mahārāja says, *yad ātma-para-buddhir iyaṁ hy apārthā.* This is misconception, *ātma-para-buddhiḥ. Ātma* means "mine," and *para* means "others." Where is "my" and "your"? Everything Kṛṣṇa's. *Hy apārthā.* This is misconception. But the whole world is going on on the basis of this *ātma-para-buddhiḥ:* "my country," "my city," "my building," "my family," "my, my, my," that's all. And "my" and "your." Neither your nor mine. It is all Kṛṣṇa's, the different energies, manifestation of different energies. Just like fire. From fire, two energies are coming, and if we fight that this..., you say, "The light energy is mine, and the heat energy is your," that is foolishness. The heat and light, both of them, are coming from the fire. Everything belongs to the fire. But we are fighting: "Heat is mine, and light is your. Let us divide." How you can divide? *Parāsya brahmaṇaḥ śaktiḥ.* Everything is manifestation of energy. *Parasya śaktir vividhaiva śrūyate [Cc Madhya*13.65*, purport].* We see in the garden so many flowers, different color, different flavor, different utility. But wherefrom it is coming? It is coming from this earth. We do not know even how much inconceivable energies are there within this earth. We do not know. Where is the scientist? They are very much proud of their scientific knowledge. Let them say how many varieties of things are within this earth. They analyze the earth. What do they find? They see only sixty percent soda bicarb. No. There are many, many finer chemicals. Who is that rascal who can say that so many things are there, "This is soda bicarb"? And this is scientific, that's all. Nobody scientist; all fools and rascals, *mūḍhā.* They do not know anything. Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā,* "I am this." That is the actual fact. But His energies are so, mean, manifestedly variegatedness energy. You'll find so beautiful world. It is condemned place. Still, you see, by Kṛṣṇa's energy the world is so beautiful—so many trees, so many flowers, so many fruits, so many varieties of life, so many varieties of human beings. This is Kṛṣṇa: varieties. *Parāsya śaktir vividhaiva śrūyate svābhāvikī...* And every energy is acting automatically. You give the seed, sow the seed on the earth, and automatically the flower, flavor, beauty—everything will come automatically. There will be no... There is no question of accidents. The so-called scientist, they cannot explain. "Accidents." Why accidents? A rose flower seed, rose will come. Why not by accident lemon? No. There is no such things as accidents. This is all rascaldom. Everything is going on... *Parāsya śaktir vividhaiva śrūyate svābhāvikī jñāna-bala-kriyā ca.* In the energy there is automatic knowledge and activities, and they are being manifested. > Cause and effect, *sad-asad.* One disappears... The cause appears, disappears, and the effect comes into being. The very good example is given here, *aṣṭi-tarvoḥ. Aṣṭi* means "seed," and the... From the *aṣṭi,* from the seed, a big banyan tree comes out. At that time the *aṣṭi,* the seed, disappears; a tree is manifestation. So this is example of *sad-asat. Aṣṭi,* the seed, disappears, and the tree is manifest. So the creation of God is like that. Therefore, in the *Bhagavad-gītā* it is said, *bījo 'haṁ sarva-bhūtānām*. --- ## Letters on March 9 *Letters from this day: 6* --- **[1969: Letter to Sivananda](letters/1969/690309_sivananda)** > I shall be glad to hear what about the press matter and printing Back To Godhead in German Language. Chanting 16 rounds without fail, performing Kirtana at least twice daily, morning and evening, discussion on Bhagavad-gita, and Srimad-Bhagavatam in the class, and work diligently and cooperatively amongst yourselves is my fervent request. --- **[1970: Letter to Gopala Krsna](letters/1970/700309_gopala_krsna)** > Regarding publication of French "Back to Godhead," for the present you are doing very excellently. My point is that BTG in French language must come out even irregularly. So you are fulfilling my desire in that way. --- **[1970: Letter to Hayagriva](letters/1970/700309_hayagriva)** > Regarding your question do the Vedic histories refer to this planet only. Our history begins from the beginning of the creation because the creation takes place with the birth of Brahma from the abdomen lotus flower of Lord Visnu. --- **[1970: Letter to R. D. Birla](letters/1970/700309_r._d._birla)** > I want to establish many Radha Krishna Temples in all important towns and countries of the Western World. I am not only establishing Temples, but I am creating the devotees of the Temples. There are many thousands of disciples in America, Europe, Canada, Japan, and Australia. --- **[1970: Letter to Rudra](letters/1970/700309_rudra)** > I am very glad to learn that you are finding the atmosphere congenial in the new Toronto center. --- **[1975: Letter to Gurudasa](letters/1975/750309_gurudasa)** > You should send this money to the Bank of America in Bombay in favor of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Mayapur Vrndavana Fund) account number 16026. ---