# March 17 ## Spoken on March 17 *Lectures from this day: 12 recordings* --- **[1967: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.7.32–35 [Partial Recording](spoken/1967/670317sb.sf)** > So a person who is actually in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, Prahlāda Mahārāja says that if he prosecutes the devotional service under the guidance of bona fide spiritual master... That is the beginning of this verse: *guru-śuśrūṣayā bhaktyā*, beginning with serving the bona fide spiritual master. > In the *Bhagavad-gītā* you have read that a learned person, who is actually learned, he sees everyone on the equal level, *sama-darśinaḥ.* How? *Vidyā-vinaya-sampanne.* A person who is very highly learned, very gentle, civilized, *vidyā-vinaya-sampanne brāhmaṇe,* and a *brāhmaṇa,* still higher, intellectual personality; *gavi,* a cow; *hasti,* means an elephant; *śuni,* the dog; *śva-pāke ca,* and the dog-eaters; *śuni caiva śva-pāke ca paṇḍitāḥ sama,* all these—there are different varieties of living condition—but still, one who is in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he sees everyone on the same level. --- **[1968: Bhagavad-gītā 7.1](spoken/1968/680317bg.sf)** > In the *Bhagavad-gītā* you'll find Kṛṣṇa says that the four division of society: *brāhmaṇas, kṣatriya, vaiśya* and *śūdra.* That is natural. Somebody is inclined for spiritual advancement, oh, they should be picked up as *brāhmaṇas.* Now, we are training boys who are spiritually inclined, and now unnecessarily they are being called for military service. Just see how discrepancy. The foolish person has no knowledge that "This boy is being trained up in higher science. Why he should be disturbed?" But they have no idea. Therefore imperfect. > Therefore Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa says, *cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ* : "I have created the four divisions of society according to quality and work." If somebody is working just like a *brahmacārī, brāhmaṇa,* and he has acquired the quality... What is that quality? To understand Kṛṣṇa or the Supreme Lord. So he's a *brāhmaṇa.* Why he should be called for the action of the arms? The arms for defending, that is *kṣatriya.* --- **[1971: Lecture on Teachings of Lord Caitanya](spoken/1971/710317le.bom)** > Therefore *Bhāgavata* says, *parābhavas tāvad abodha-jāta Abodha-jāta*, every one of us born foolish. And we are acting in different ways to become happy, but we do not know that in every step we are being defeated. We are fighting with the stringent laws of nature, struggle, but we are happy by some complacent thoughts that "We have become happy. We are advanced. We are happy. We are becoming educated. We are advanced in science." But *Bhāgavata* says, "No, you are not advancing; you are simply being defeated, because you do not know how to get happiness. You are not trying for real happiness." > So this is the process going on. Therefore Caitanya *Mahāprabhu* says, *sādhu-śāstra-kṛpāya yadi kṛṣṇonmukha*. Our only business is how to become Kṛṣṇa conscious. How to become Kṛṣṇa conscious. That can be done simply by the mercy of *sādhu*. Therefore *sādhus'* business is go from door to door and enlighten them. *Mahad-vicalanaṁ nṝṇāṁ gṛhiṇāṁ dīna-cetasām*. The *sādhu's* business is that he goes from door to door and tries to invoke Kṛṣṇa consciousness, dormant Kṛṣṇa consciousness. --- **[1971: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.7.14–18](spoken/1971/710317sb.bom)** > Therefore out of the ten kinds of offenses, one offense is that one who has no faith—this knowledge should not be delivered. That is stated in the *Bhagavad-gītā* also. But because we are preaching, faith or no faith, we are chanting, so that by hearing, hearing one may awake his faith also. That is recommended. *Nitya siddha kṛṣṇa*—this is a fact, that everyone has got Kṛṣṇa consciousness dormant within himself but it has to be awakened by the process of chanting and hearing. *Śravaṇādi-śuddha-citte karaye udaya*. > The difference between the people in India and in Europe at the present moment in connection with Kṛṣṇa consciousness. In Europe and America, the boys and girls, they are taking it under some faith whereas in this country* [India] when there is *kṛṣṇa-kathā*. *Bhagavad-gītā* preaching or Hare Kṛṣṇa, they know what this is, "Oh this is old thing." So they have no faith, they have lost the faith. They are so much enamored by politics and technology they have lost faith. Therefore it is not acting. This is want. --- **[1972: Initiations and Lecture](spoken/1972/720317in.bom)** > Therefore this cow protection and expansion of brahminical culture is essential throughout the whole world. But we should not think that brahminical culture is only limited within India. No. Kṛṣṇa says, *cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ*. What is created by Kṛṣṇa, or God, that is not for a particular country or particular nation. It is meant for everyone. Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, *yei kṛṣṇa-tattva-vettā, sei 'guru' haya*. > So this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is pushing on the consciousness. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness means the original consciousness. At the present moment our consciousness is diluted, or rather polluted, with so many consciousness. We are thinking, "I am American," "I am Indian," "I am African." But if actually we come to the original consciousness, then we become free. We have got students from all parts of the world, but they do not think in terms of this bodily concept of life. That is our first education: *dehino 'smin yathā dehe kaumāraṁ yauvanaṁ jarā*. --- **[1972: Paṇḍāl Lecture](spoken/1972/720317le.bom)** > This Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is very important at the present moment. It is important in this sense: that throughout the whole world, I have traveled, everyone is practically without God consciousness. This means that this human form of life, which is achieved after many, many births, *labdhvā su-durlabhaṁ bahu-sambhavānte*. > So our background, this Vedic civilization, is very great. We should remember it always. Now these boys, American boys, European boys, they have come to India not to see your industrial improvement or economic development. They have seen enough of these things in their own country. They are highly economically developed, industrially, so they have nothing to learn about these things from India. They have come here to understand Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or God consciousness. Even the yogic activities, *aṣṭa-siddhi*-*yoga*, practically by mechanical arrangement they almost come to the perfection of yogic principles. Just like the *yogī,* by his *laghimā-siddhi* he can fly in the space. --- **[1973: Māyāpur Temple Inauguration Bengali](spoken/1973/730317t2.may)** > [aside:] you remain. And now [indistinct]...that powder cheating the stomach. [laughter] Maharaja you rememberthis [indistinct] [Bengali] You take care. [Bengali] [break] > *Haribol!* --- **[1973: Māyāpur Temple Inauguration with Śrīdhara Mahārāja, plus Mahāṁsa's Sanyass Initiation](spoken/1973/730317to.may)** > Yes they are nothing but slaughter houses and this sort of institution what our Guru Mahārāja has inaugurated in this world to uplift us and all *jīvas*, towards the Supreme... Supreme worship, the loving service of the Supreme Entity. We are like oasis in a desert. Hm? All these are oasis's in the desert, they are life-giving and not slaughtering institutions like so many educational institutions that we find... *sā vidyā tan-matir yayā* However this sort of training comes, that go towards center, towards reality, towards beauty, towards harmony, towards solution of life, towards... towards nectar giving life, these institutions... > Crossing all sorts of reality with this material. Directivity with this material world whatever of conception it may be. And to learn that, *īśāvāsyam idam sarvaṁ.* [*Iso *mantra* 1] The fundamental truth given in the *Upaniṣad*, *Īśopaniṣad*, that: *īśāvāsyam idam sarvaṁ*, that everything there is the presence of the Supreme Entity and also the Supreme Lord with this conception we are to live in such a training house. I was told that in Back to Godhead one gentlemen he wrote that so-called universities and the colleges and the schools are slaughter houses, hmm? I'm very much pleased with this idea. --- **[1974: Morning Walk](spoken/1974/740317mw.vrn)** > So *nānā-śāstra-vicāraṇa.* One must be very conversant all kinds of *śāstras.* And what for? For establishing real religion. Real religion is this: *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja*. Why there are other religions existing? That means there is no *gosvāmīs. Gosvāmī...* If there is *gosvāmī,* he should stop functioning all other rascal religions. Simply this: *mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja,* that religion. That is religion. And all bogus thing. A *gosvāmī* has to prove that. *Nānā-śāstra-vicāraṇaika-ni..., lokānāṁ hita-kāriṇau.* Why? For the benefit of the whole human society. Therefore they should be honored. *Tri-bhuvane mānyau.* Not that within some neighborhood. All over the world. *Tri-bhuvane.* That is *gosvāmī.* What is this *gosvāmī? Tri-bhuvane mānyau śaraṇyākarau.* He is fit to take shelter of. A cheating *gosvāmī,* cheating *gosvāmī* is no good. >have sufficient quantity of grains, then you are *dhanavān.* This is all false, so-called *dhanavān.* [Hindi conversation] *Annād bhavanti bhūtāni*. If you want to flourish, you must have sufficient grains. Where is that grain? Some... [Hindi] Lecture. What is that lecture? Where is *anna?* --- **[1974: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.1.2 [Significance of Ṣaḍ-gosvāmy-aṣṭaka](spoken/1974/740317sb.vrn)** > So we should be distinct from the so-called *gosvāmīs.* Those who will remain in Vṛndāvana, esp... Everywhere. Everywhere is Vṛndāvana. Wherever there is Kṛṣṇa's temple, Kṛṣṇa's *saṅkīrtana,* that is Vṛndāvana. Caitanya Mahāprabhu said that "My mind is always Vṛndāvana." Because He's always thinking of Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is there—He's Kṛṣṇa Himself—just to teach us. So similarly, anywhere you live, if you are actually follower of the instruction of Kṛṣṇa, as Kṛṣṇa says, *man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru*, then that is Vṛndāvana. Wherever you live. Do not think that "Because in Melbourne we have got a temple, the Melbourne Deities are here, so that is not Vṛndāvana." That is also Vṛndāvana. If you worship the Deity very rigidly, follow the rules and regulation, so wherever you do, that is Vṛndāvana. Especially this Vṛndāvana *dhāma,* where Kṛṣṇa actually appeared. So this is Vṛndāvana, Goloka Vṛndāvana. Here, those who will manage this institution, they must be first-class *gosvāmī.* This is my proposition. Not *gṛhamedhi.* Not *gṛhamedhi. Gosvāmī.* As... > So for them Śukadeva Gosvāmī says that they have many subject matter to hear. *Śrotavyādīni. Nṛṇām, śrotavyādīni rājendra*. The Parīkṣit Mahārāja is addressed here as *rājendra,* the best of the kings. *Rājendra, rāja,* he was king, *rāja.* But *indra* means the best. Best of the... Because he was listening *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* at the point of his death, therefore he's addressed especially *rājendra,* "Because you are best of the kings." Generally, people are not interested. Or course, in those days, everyone was interested. But he was the most interested—*rājendra. Śrotavyādīni rājendra nṛṇām*. --- **[1976: Morning Walk](spoken/1976/760317mw.may)** >*kṛṣṇa viśvāsa pālana,* Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura has said. You know this song? *Avaśya rakṣibe kṛṣṇa viśvāsa pālana* [*Śaraṇāgati,* Song 1, Text 3]. --- **[1976: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.39](spoken/1976/760317sb.may)** > So this process, that we first of all accept anyone who is prepared to chant, we accept to give him *hari-nāma*—what is the idea? The idea is that he'll gradually become *brāhmaṇa.* Of course, chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra* is beyond the position of *brāhmaṇa. Nivṛtta-tarṣair upagīyamānāt*. This chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra* is meant for the *nivṛtta-tarṣaiḥ. Nivṛtta-tarṣaiḥ* means one who has finished all kinds of desires, all kinds of material desires. For him. *Nivṛtta-tarṣair upagīyamānāt.* But for the ordinary man, *bhavauṣadhi,* even it is meant for the liberated person, chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra,* but still, those who are not liberated, if he chants, then he becomes cured from the material desires. *Kāmāturam.* Material desires... *Kāmāturaṁ harṣa-śoka-bhayaiṣaṇārtam.* This is material desires. We are full of lusty desires, *kāma, kāmāturam,* and therefore you are distressed. Our distressed condition is due to lusty desires, *kāmāturam.* And the result is *harṣa-śokaḥ.* When we can fulfill our desires—"I am very much inclined to a woman or a man"—*kāmāturam,* lusty desires, if we can fulfill, then it is very nice, *harṣa:* "Oh, I am very successful." And if you cannot fulfill, then *śoka.* The two things are there. *Śoka,* there are so many things. We have got practical examples. The so-called loving affairs of man and woman ends in even murder. We have got experience. So *śokāturam.* The lusty desires means for the time being it may be very happy condition, but the result is *śoka.* It will end. Either illicit sex or legal sex, the end is *śoka, śoka,* lamentation. There are many examples, practical. > So it can be, I mean to say, avoided, or cleansed. *Ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam*, Caitanya Mahāprabhu has assured. The whole process of education and advancement of civilization is how to cleanse the dirty mind. Why it is dirty? the lusty desire and greediness. So we should always remember this, that mind is the best friend and the worst enemy. If it remains *kāmāturam,* the worst enemy, and if it is Kṛṣṇa conscious, the best friend. So we have to control this mind. And that is very easy, as Ambarīṣa Mahārāja did: *sa vai manaḥ kṛṣṇa-padāravindayor vacāṁsi vaikuṇṭha-guṇānuvarṇane*. --- ## Letters on March 17 *Letters from this day: 8* --- **[1968: Letter to Hayagriva](letters/1968/680317_hayagriva)** > I have come back to San Francisco on the 8th March, and while I was in Los Angeles for two months, I received the balance portion of Bhagavad-gita edited by you. --- **[1968: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1968/680317_satsvarupa)** > I am pleased to learn that Rupanuga is fully conscious about our movement and he has full confidence in his spiritual master. --- **[1970: Letter to Suridas](letters/1970/700317_suridas)** > Mukunda, Tamala, yourself, Syamasundara, Gurudasa, and if possible, George, as well as Hansadutta and all your better halves just make a very rigid plan for opening centers in every nook and corner of the European countries. I am arranging with Indian sympathizers to get some nice Deities like those in London. --- **[1970: Letter to Tamala Krsna](letters/1970/700317_tamala_krsna)** > I received one similar letter from London, and I have sent the reply to Gurudasa, and the copy is enclosed herewith so that all of you may follow the same instructions and open hundreds of Temples in Europe combinedly. --- **[1971: Letter to Bhavananda](letters/1971/710317_bhavananda)** > So far as making speaking engagements is concerned, by all means you may do so but first of all I shall let you know definitely when I am going to N.Y. Yes, let the devotees wait for initiation until I go there and under your care let them become more and more strong in Krishna Consciousness. --- **[1971: Letter to Jayadvaita](letters/1971/710317_jayadvaita)** > I do not know what may have happened to the letter dated 9th January, 1971, but I have not received it. --- **[1971: Letter to Mukunda](letters/1971/710317_mukunda)** > Presently I am in Bombay and will be here until 4th April. Now, better late than never, try to establish the position of the London temple as it was before. Richard Prime and Jim Counsilman have already been initiated and they should have received their beads duly chanted on by now. --- **[1974: Letter to Dr. Ghosh](letters/1974/740317_dr._ghosh)** > > kaler dosa-nidhe rajann asti hy eko mahan gunah > kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta-sangah param vrajet > [SB 12.3.51] ---