# March 14 ## Spoken on March 14 *Lectures from this day: 9 recordings* --- **[1969: Lecture](spoken/1969/690314le.haw)** > This process we are spreading: Hare Kṛṣṇa movement. If you simply chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare, you will gradually realize *ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam*. The first status, the first stage of realization, is *ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam,* cleansing the heart. At the present moment my heart is not cleansed. I am thinking I am matter, I am American, I am this, I am that, I am... But when the heart is cleansed, then I understand that I don't belong to this material world. *Ahaṁ brahmāsmi:* "I am Brahman. I am the spiritual spark." > This prayer says that Kṛṣṇa expands His internal energy of bliss and knowledge, *ānanda-cinmaya. Ānanda* means bliss, happiness. *Ānanda.* The spirit soul is *ānanda-moya avyasat*. The nature of the spirit soul is joyful, happy, and because we are spark of that spiritual—we are spiritual spark, or part and parcel of the Supreme Lord—therefore our nature is to seek joy. Whole living entities—either birds, beasts, human beings—everyone is seeking happiness, because that is the nature. Nature of the spirit soul is to seek happiness. --- **[1971: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.6.24–30](spoken/1971/710314sb.bom)** > So the *asura*-*bāla,* the *asura* boys, that, "My dear Prahlāda you are also a son of the royal family. You never went to learn any transcendental subject matter from anybody else. You are simply coming to the school, now as you have no other chance, so how you have learned all these things?" Therefore he explained. "Yes. I learnt it from Nārada." So anyone who challenges that, "Wherefrom you go this knowledge?" So we have to say that we have got it from the *paramparā* system directly from Kṛṣṇa. The our knowledge is perfect here. Actually from practical point of view Kṛṣṇa says: *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja*. > Or Kṛṣṇa says that: *mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat kiñcid asti dhanañjaya*. "There is no more superior authority than Me. You surrender unto Me." Then what we are preaching? We are preaching the same thing that, "Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, no-one is greater than Him, you surrender unto Him." Therefore our knowledge is perfect. We are speaking nothing extra. What Kṛṣṇa says, Kṛṣṇa is perfect. So His teachings are perfect and we are distributing that teaching therefore our philosophy is perfect, our preaching is perfect. --- **[1974: Lecture](spoken/1974/740314le.vrn)** > There are many Vedāntists, many scholar in Vedic literature, but they do not know who is his *prabhu.* They will say "*prabhu,*" but I ask him, "Who is your *prabhu?*" that they cannot say. Or they will not utter the name of the *prabhu.* Caitanya Mahāprabhu said that *māyāvādī haya kṛṣṇe aparādhī* They will charge..., they will call "Brahmā," "Caitanya," "Paramātmā," "*Prabhu,*" but he will never utter the name of Kṛṣṇa. This is their disease. This is called Māyāvāda disease. Therefore, because people are so poor in knowledge, *alpa-medhasaḥ,* brain substance is very little, they cannot understand Kṛṣṇa. Therefore Kṛṣṇa Himself appeared as Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu. > Śrama eva hi.* So why this love is not invoked or awakened in us? Because we are covered by this material energy, and we have become conditioned by the material energy. Therefore, to purify ourself we require certain process. That process is called *varṇāśrama. Varṇāśrama. Varṇa* means four divisions of the society: *brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra.* And this *varṇāśrama* is created by Kṛṣṇa so that one day one may become devotee of Kṛṣṇa. The whole project is, Vedic project is, Vedic civilization... *Vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyam*. --- **[1974: Morning Walk "Varṇāśrama College"](spoken/1974/740314mw.vrn)** > But we have to show these rascal. Just like Dhruva Mahārāja. He, he was perfect Vaiṣṇava, but when he was king, he was fighting like anything. Not that "Oh, I am now become Vaiṣṇava. I cannot kill." What is this? He killed like anything. When the *Yakṣas* attacked his kingdom, he was killing like anything that the *Yakṣa-rāja* came and asked him to pardon this. He immediately accepted. So he wanted to give him some benediction, that "You are so great that simply on my request, you have stopped killing these rascals, *Yakṣas.* So you can take some benediction from me." He said, "That's all right. Thank you. You give me the benediction that I may be a pure lover of Kṛṣṇa. That's all." This benediction he asked. Although he was so powerful and the *Yakṣa-rāja,* he could give him the wealth of the whole universe, but he made that "Thank you very much. You give me this benediction that I may remain a pure devotee of Kṛṣṇa." This is Vaiṣṇava. He is doing everything, but his aim is to please Kṛṣṇa. Similarly, even if we take to *varṇāśrama,* we do not belong to any... Just like Kṛṣṇa says, *mayā sṛṣṭam.* "I have inaugurated." But Kṛṣṇa has nothing to do with *varṇāśrama.* Similarly, if we act as *varṇāśrama,* still, we have nothing to do with the *varṇāśrama.* --- **[1975: Morning Walk [Partially Recorded](spoken/1975/750314mw.teh)** > Ātreya Ṛṣ > Yes. It's all dictatorship. Democracy is also a dictatorship, but by election. They elect a fool, and then he can be..., do whatever he wants. --- **[1975: Room Conversation with Yoga Student and Other Guests](spoken/1975/750314r2.teh)** > Actually, it is very difficult to understand Kṛṣṇa. But you can understand Kṛṣṇa if you adopt this process: *praṇipātena, paripraśnena, sevayā*—three things. You have to go to a person where you can surrender, not to a bogus person or one who is not competent to accept your surrender. And then you make question that "Kṛṣṇa says like this. What is the meaning of this?" *Manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu kaścid yatati...*. And *sevayā.* Three things required: first of all surrender, and then question, and *seva.* You cannot question by challenging. You have to render service and surrender. Between the two, *praṇipāta* and *sevayā,* there is *paripraśna.* Then you will understand. *Upadekṣyanti tad jñānaṁ jñāninaḥ tattva-darśinaḥ. Tattva-darśi,* one who has seen the truth, he can enlighten you. This is the process. Otherwise, even Gandhi, Dr. Radhakrishna, Vivekananda, all they have committed mistake. Aurobindo. Aurobindo has understood little to some extent, but not fully. But if we are fortunate enough, then we can understand Kṛṣṇa very easily. What is that? Kṛṣṇa says, *mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat kiñcid asti dhanañjaya*. "My dear Dhanañjaya, Arjuna, there is no more superior truth than Me." > So our this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is like that. We are simply repeating the perfect statement of our predecessor. That's all. So there is no difficulty. We haven't got to write thesis on Kṛṣṇa. The perfect knowledge is already there, and supported by the *ācāryas.* And we are simply submitting that "This is Kṛṣṇa. This is God." That's all. All over the world we are placing this statement that "Here is *Bhagavad-gītā,* and Kṛṣṇa spoke. He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is like this. He is the original source of everything." Kṛṣṇa says, *ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavaḥ* : "I am the origin of everything." And Kṛṣṇa also says, "After many, many births one come to this understanding that *vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti* : 'Vasudeva is everything.' " Kṛṣṇa says, "I am everything." And when one understands that Kṛṣṇa is everything, *sa mahātmā su-durlabhaḥ,* that *mahātmā* is very rare. --- **[1976: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.36](spoken/1976/760314sb.may)** > So Brahmā, Lord Brahmā, began austerity to change the *bhāva.* He is the first created living being. How much great he is. But because he came into this material world... He is coming from Viṣṇu, *ātmā-yoni.* Not only Brahmā; every one of us, we are coming from Viṣṇu. Every one of us, like the small sparks of fire, we are coming from the big fire. That's a fact. But as soon as we come to this material world, our that quality, fiery quality, extinguished. Therefore we have to revive the fiery quality, change of *bhāva. Pariśuddha-bhāva.* As soon as I come... The same example: the big fire and there are sparks, small fire. We are not big fire; we are small, sparklike. The spark, so long it is with the fire, it is very beautiful. The fire is also beautiful, and the spark is also beautiful. And if by chance the fire falls down, the small... The big fire never falls down. Therefore Kṛṣṇa is *acyuta.* He never falls down. If He comes in this material world, He does not fall down. *Etad īśanam īśasya*. This is His all-powerful. He comes also in this material world. He says, *tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmy aham. Paritrāṇāya. Yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata, tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmi*. He also comes, but He does not fall down. We fall down. > So in the previous verse we understood that Lord Brahmā executed severe austerity for hundreds of years just to become purified. *Tīvra-tapasā pariśuddha-bhāvaḥ. Bhāva,* situation, or nature—*bhāva,* nature also—so we have a *bhāva,* nature, at the present moment which is not real *bhāva.* We have acquired this *bhāva* on account of long, long years' material association. But this *bhāva* can be changed. That is spiritual. Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī also says *bhāva,* and another place, in *Bhagavad-gītā,* it is said, *budhā bhāva-samanvitāḥ*, bhāva.* --- ## Letters on March 14 *Letters from this day: 28* --- **[1949: Letter to: Juggannath Babu — March 14, 1949](letters/1947-1965/490314_juggannath_babu)** > Yesterday evening when we were talking at your veranda we had some talks over the advent day of Lord Caitanya which falls today the most auspicious *Dol-yatra purnima* day and as such I myself along with some members of my family today observing fast till the advent moment of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu just in the evening. Guru Maharaj Sastriji advised the members assembled yesterday to observe fast today and this is being done as a matter of course on the occasion of *Gaura Jayanti* day. --- **[1967: Letter to Brahmanandaa](letters/1967/670314_brahmanandaa)** > Because a female is never considered independent and Sannyasam was never awarded to any female in the past by the great Acaryas like Sankara, Ramanuja etc. The female Sannyasins are to be immediately understood as pretenders or prostitutes. --- **[1967: Letter to Brahmanandab](letters/1967/670314_brahmanandab)** > Goldsmith suggested that he would take $200.00 and we have already paid him $300,00 and still he wants $150.00. Without it I think I cannot go to Canada because as soon as I leave the border of U.S.A. --- **[1969: Letter to Prahladananda](letters/1969/690314_prahladananda)** > I hope this meets you in good health, and happily executing Krishna Consciousness. --- **[1969: Letter to Rupanuga](letters/1969/690314_rupanuga)** > There is an important engagement in Boston on the 24th April, and perhaps next on the 29th and I think after finishing these I can go to your place. --- **[1969: Letter to Swami Bhaktivedanta](letters/1969/690314_swami_bhaktivedanta)** > This office is charged with the responsibility of making an administrative determination concerning the status of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness as a religion within the meaning of the Military Selective Service Act of 1967. --- **[1970: Letter to Labangalatika](letters/1970/700314_labangalatika)** > I advised in my previous letter that I have closed my account for the time being in Montreal, so all money should be sent to me here. --- **[1970: Letter to Satyabhama](letters/1970/700314_satyabhama)** > Regarding the organization of our theistic school at New Vrindaban, I am happy to know that you are now proceeding with regular classes. So it is better late than never, and now it will develop nicely. --- **[1972: Letter to Manager Of Punjab National Bank](letters/1972/720314_manager_of_punjab_national_bank)** > The following is a copy of resolution passed by the Governing Body of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, at a meeting of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness held on... --- **[1974: Letter to All Iskcon Centers](letters/1974/740314_all_iskcon_centers)** > Now that our ISKCON is growing into a huge, world wide organization, it has come to my attention that sometimes centers are printing my literature, taking collection and spending all outside the jurisdiction of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. --- **[1974: Letter to Hrdayananda](letters/1974/740314_hrdayananda)** > I was pleased to appoint you as GBC of South America in the hope that you will organize the printing and distribution of my literature there, on the scale of the U. --- **[1974: Letter to Jayatirtha](letters/1974/740314_jayatirtha)** > He is feeling some inconvenience, as he states it, due to the younger devotees not showing proper respect to him as he is their elder, old enough to be their father. --- **[1975: Letter to Augusto Romeo](letters/1975/750314_augusto_romeo)** > It is not compulsory that one live in the temple, but in order to make spiritual advancement, one must follow all the rule and regulations of Krishna Consciousness, just as the devotees in the temples do. One must rise early, hold mangala arati, have class and chant at least 16 rounds daily as well as follow the four regulative principles. It is always best to associate with devotees as much as possible if one cannot live in the temple. --- **[1975: Letter to Bhanutanya](letters/1975/750314_bhanutanya)** > You should understand that Krishna Consciousness is a purificatory process. Just because some body has made some mistakes does that mean that you should give up your whole career in Krishna Consciousness? The fact that you have left our movement just on account of some minor disagreements shows that you are not actually serious about going back to home, back to Godhead. --- **[1975: Letter to Jagaddhatri](letters/1975/750314_jagaddhatri)** > Thank you for your kind sentiments. From your letter I can understand that you are advancing very nicely in Krishna Consciousness. --- **[1975: Letter to Jayahatakosthaka](letters/1975/750314_jayahatakosthaka)** > Regarding your going to Spain, if Hansadutta and Bhagavan think it is a good idea, then it is alright with me. --- **[1975: Letter to Krsna Devi](letters/1975/750314_krsna_devi)** > Thank you for the karatala bag. You are so fortunate to have such training in Krishna Consciousness from the very beginning of childhood. Chant Hare Krishna all day and dance nicely. --- **[1975: Letter to Mr. Dennany](letters/1975/750314_mr._dennany)** > Dennany 8653 South 2nd St. Please continue to do so as much as possible and visit our temple in Miami frequently. You mentioned in your letter that you had read many other Bhagavad-gitas before you read mine and that none of them revealed as much to you as Bhagavad-gita As It Is. --- **[1975: Letter to Mr. Lourenco](letters/1975/750314_mr._lourenco)** > Sintra, Portugal Please accept my greetings. That will help you advance nicely in spiritual life. By reading my books and chanting Hare Krishna, your life will become perfect. --- **[1975: Letter to Nandakisora](letters/1975/750314_nandakisora)** > I think it is best if you consult with Prajapati prabhu on these points. Keep yourself always engaged in Krishna's service following very strictly the rules and regulations so that Maya will not be able to discourage you in your attempt to become Krishna Conscious. --- **[1975: Letter to Samjata](letters/1975/750314_samjata)** > Krishna has given you a nice responsibility there in Australia, so work nicely with the devotees there and remain always strong in Krishna Consciousness by following all of our rules and regulations very carefully and chant at least 16 good rounds daily. --- **[1975: Letter to Sandipani](letters/1975/750314_sandipani)** > I thank you for you kind sentiments and I am glad to hear that you are feeling happy in Krishna's service. --- **[1975: Letter to Sivani](letters/1975/750314_sivani)** > To take shelter of the Spiritual Master means to follow his instructions. You should be very careful to chant 16 rounds daily and read all of the books carefully. If you do these simple things, you will make steady advancement in Krishna Consciousness and there will be no fall downs. --- **[1975: Letter to Tirthanga](letters/1975/750314_tirthanga)** > Regarding sending children to Gurukula, that is also optional, not compulsory. The most important things are that you follow very carefully all of the rules and regulations such as rising early, and having mangala arati and classes, etc. --- **[1975: Letter to Vaikunthanatha Bahulasva](letters/1975/750314_vaikunthanatha_bahulasva)** > Thank you very much for sending this article. --- **[1975: Letter to Yogamaya](letters/1975/750314_yogamaya)** > I am in due receipt of your short note (dated nil) and poem. Keep yourself strongly fixed in Krishna Consciousness by following all of the rules and regulations. Chant 16 rounds daily without fail and observe the four regulative principle. --- **[1976: Letter to Ambarisa](letters/1976/760314_ambarisa)** > I am glad to hear of your program. Try to satisfy your parents also. Your parents desire that you become educated also, although they do now know that someone who is a devotee is best educated. --- **[1976: Letter to Srutakirti](letters/1976/760314_srutakirti)** > I have received one letter from our Ambarisa das. He is presently in Boston living at the following address: Alfred Ford, 124 Chandler St. #5, Boston, Mass. ---