# March 20 ## Spoken on March 20 *Lectures from this day: 10 recordings* --- **[1967: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.7.40–44 [Partially Recorded](spoken/1967/670320sb.sf)** > Now everything we are planning, *sukhāya,* for matter of happiness, and *duḥkha-mokṣāya,* and to get rid of all miseries. This is our plan. *Sukhāya duḥkha-mokṣāya saṅkalpaḥ,* our determination; *iha,* in this world; *karmiṇaḥ,* those who are working. That determination is to make life happy and avoid distress. That is the plan. *Sadāpnotīhayā.* But that is simply plan-making within our mind. Actually, it is never achieved. It is never achieved. > The desirables are simply for making this body perfect. Not perfect—comfortable. Perfect it cannot be, but as far as possible... We are manufacturing nice cushions for sitting comfortably, nice bedroom, buy nice motorcars, and..., everything for this body. The ultimate aim is to make this body comfortable. That's all. --- **[1968: Morning Walk [Partially Recorded](spoken/1968/680320mw.sf)** > So it is a question of qualification, how you can go to the planets of the demigods, how you can go to the planet of the *pitṛs. Ūrdhvaṁ gacchanti sattva-sthā*. If you develop your modes of goodness, then you go to the..., promoted to the higher planets, because in the higher planets, the third-class living entities are not allowed. Don't you see that in here also, in America, for permanent visa we have to undergo so many formalities? Why? The restriction is there, that American government cannot allow everyone to become a permanent resident here. Restriction. > Similarly, in higher planets, only those who have developed the quality of goodness. The quality of goodness contains those eight principles: religiosity, truthfulness, cleanliness... So *ūrdhvaṁ gacchanti sattva-sthā*. Sattva* means quality of goodness. So one has to develop the quality of goodness. Not an upstart, simply having as play sputnik, he wants to go to the Candraloka, moon planet. [chuckles] It is not possible. What quality he has got? He will immediately die. Temperature is so... [end] --- **[1971: Lecture](spoken/1971/710320le.bom)** > You have to free..., you have to become free from the designated condition. You have to forget yourself, that you are Indian, you are American, you are German, you are *brāhmaṇa*, you are *kṣatriya*, you are *śūdra*. No. Your real identity is, as Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, *jīvera svarūpa haya nitya kṛṣṇa dāsa*. Our real identity is eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa. You stick to that, that "I am servant of Kṛṣṇa," and act accordingly. Then you will be happy. That is *bhakti*. > How it is possible? One has to see, whether by his professional duty, he is satisfying Kṛṣṇa, that's all. *Saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam*. That is the test. It doesn't matter whether you are businessman or lawyer, but if you test your occupation by satisfying the Supreme Lord, that is your perfection. --- **[1971: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.7.25–29](spoken/1971/710320sb.bom)** > [coughs] Śrīdhara Svāmī, giving the same formula, that you have to act something. You can not remain silent for a moment. It is said, "I, I will see," that is making surrender. No. You'll not see, you'll dream. So you can not make yourself, I mean to say, without activities for a moment either mind, body may be stopped acting but the mind will go on acting. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says that *yat karoṣi*, just, "Whatever you do—do it for Me." This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. We therefore say that whatever talents you have got, just engage in Kṛṣṇa's service. You are a painter, alright. > You know in Jain religion they're, make charity very cheap. You know in Bombay you'll find many Jains, they give some grains. In your country also, bird feeding, what is it called? Cheap charity. Say ten shillings, grains, you throw in the street, so many birds will come. That is also charity. That is also charity. So Vivekananda's *daridra-nārāyaṇa*-*sevā* can be done in various ways. If you pass stool there will be many worms. That is also charity. Your stool will be eaten up by many worms. So why you should exert energy for that purpose? Kṛṣṇa says, "Give Me", that is real charity, *parasmin vā tad-arpaṇam*. --- **[1972: Lecture](spoken/1972/720320le.bom)** > So there are varieties of life due to *pāpa* and *puṇya*. *Pāpa* and *puṇya*. So we should not be interested even in *puṇya*. *Puṇya,* by *puṇya* we may have better life, but unless we come to the point of surrendering to Kṛṣṇa, even better life, the demigod's life, that is also not very appreciable. Kṛṣṇa says, *ā-brahma-bhuvanāl lokāḥ punar āvartino 'rjuna*, *kṣīṇe puṇye martya-lokaṁ viśanti*. So *puṇya* is just like bank balance. So bank balance, so long you have got bank balance you may draw and enjoy, but when the bank balance is finished, again you are poor man. So *kṣīṇe puṇye martya-lokaṁ viśanti*. These things are there. > This Brahman effulgence is the bodily glow of Kṛṣṇa. *Yasya prabhā prabhavato*. In the *Bhagavad-gītā* also it is said, *brahmaṇo 'haṁ pratiṣṭhā* : "I am the original source of this Brahman effulgence." Therefore Śukadeva Gosvāmī says that those who are seeking after Brahman effulgence, the origin point is here—Kṛṣṇa. *Itthaṁ satāṁ brahma-sukhānubhūtyā*. And *dāsyaṁ gatānāṁ para-daivatena*: and those who have dedicated their lives, those who have understood clearly, as it is instructed by Lord Caitanya, *jīvera 'svarūpa' haya 'nitya-dāsa'* : that is our *svarūpa,* actual constitutional position. --- **[1974: Room Conversation](spoken/1974/740320r1.bom)** > These are the symptoms of *mahātmās.* So we have to make position that *bhajana* is so important. And *Bhagavad-gītā* is meant for all solution of material problems, but we are not accepting it. So why not try to follow the principles of *Bhagavad-gītā?* And the most easiest process, *satataṁ kīrtayanto mām*: always chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra.* "So you please come with us. We are foreigners, but we know Kṛṣṇa is not for this or that. Therefore we have taken seriously this, here. So why, Indians, you are lacking here? This is... You come forward. You are all educated youths, gentlemen. You take your culture. We have taken our cul..., your culture. It is not 'your,' 'our,' but you think that it is your culture. But Kṛṣṇa is neither for Indian or for you. He's for everyone. So therefore we have taken to Kṛṣṇa. So why not try this, that it is stated in the..., [indistinct] *kīrtanād eva kṛṣṇasya mukta-saṅgaḥ paraṁ vrajet*. > Gandhi was chanting in temple *raghupati rāghava.* So what they are following? Gandhi was against drinking and intoxication. Now they're introducing. So this is the position of the government. Therefore I suggest that according to the word, so far traffic, we are diverting the ways this way. And let people come here, join with *bhajana,* take *prasādam,* and they sign, "Yes, there must be a temple here." Let this. And make propaganda that people may come here, and... I am present here. I will speak. The same thing, as it is going on, *kīrtana* and speaking from *Bhagavad-gītā.* And after they are convinced, let them sign, "Yes, there must be a temple here." In this way, gather public opinion, one point, that *bhajana* is not nuisance. Essential, we want it. And the other thing, we are making gate in and out two gates... Submit a plan like that, that this is... There will be no... That may be a small road, lane, but here is a big road. And purchase that land in front and make a gate. Call a good architects, make a nice gate and road. Take this proposition. Our business is there. If we invite people, "Come..." Even without temple, if it is go on like that, people may come and take *prasādam,* and they give their consent, "Yes, it is nice," that is sufficient. Even there is no temple. But then, if such way, public opinion's created, and the sanction is there, immediately there will be temple. It may take some time. It doesn't matter. So far *satyagraha* is concerned, it will be useless. Hungry people, they are making *satyagraha,* and they are replied with fire, killing them. In Patna it has become so. --- **[1975: Arrival Lecture](spoken/1975/750320ar.cal)** > Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* does not name any particular type of religion. It says, "That religion, that system of religion, is first class," *sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmaḥ,* "transcendental." This Hinduism, Muslimism, Christianism, they are all *prākṛta,* mundane. But we have to go, transcend, this *prākṛta,* or mundane conception of religion—"We are Hindus," "We are Muslim," "We are Christian." Just like gold. Gold is gold. Gold cannot be Hindu gold or Christian gold or Muhammadan gold. Nobody... Because a lump of gold is in the hand of Hindu or in the Muslim, nobody will say, "It is Muslim gold," "It is Hindu gold." Everyone will say, "It is gold." So we have to select gold—not the Hindu gold or Muslim gold or Christian gold. When Lord Kṛṣṇa said, *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja*, He did not mean this Hindu religion or Muslim religion. These are designated. So we have to come to the platform where it is pure; there is no designation. *Ahaṁ brahmāsmi:* "I am part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa." This is real religion. Without this conception, any kind of designated religion, that is *prākṛta.* That is not transcendental. > So our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is transcendental, *paro dharmaḥ. Sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmaḥ. Para* means "above," above the so-called religious system. So this is not our manufactured things. It is said in the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* in the beginning, *dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavaḥ atra:* "Any kind of *kaitavaḥ,* pretentious or false, illusory," *kaitavaḥ. Kaitavaḥ* means cheating. "Cheating type of religion is rejected, thrown away," *projjhita. Prākṛṣṭa-rūpeṇa ujjhita.* Just like we sweep over the floor, we take the last particle of dust and throw it away, similarly, to become Kṛṣṇa conscious means we have to give up all these so-called or cheating type of religious system. Because experience has shown that following the so many different designated religious systems, nobody has attained the platform of how to love God. Nobody has attained. This is practical experience. It is Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He introduced. But Lord Kṛṣṇa gave hint that "This is real religion, *mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja.* This is religion." Any other religion, system of religion, which does not train the followers how to love God, that is cheating type of religion. To... Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, *premā pum-artho mahān.* And *Bhāgavata* says also same thing. Real achievement of success in life is how to love God, or Kṛṣṇa. That is the highest perfection of life. --- **[1977: Room Conversations](spoken/1977/770320r1.may)** > This is your position. So at least this institution must be there. People may take little advantage of it. If he begins, that is also great guarantee that he gets another chance, another chance. *Svalpam apy asya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt*. Eh? Yoga-bhraṣṭo *sanjayate*.* Why this chance should not be given to the human society? What is this nonsense dog dancing, election, and bribing, stealing and unnecessarily struggle? What they'll do? They are all nothing, all of these. What will be gained by this? > India cannot tolerate this. Do you follow? When... Even it is not possible to introduce this movement in a larger scale, there is no harm. Anyone who takes it, he is happy. It is very difficult. We are not expected that *manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu*, everyone will be able to do it. But the ideal should be there. And it is India's duty to keep this ideal, Indian people's duty, government's duty. That will keep India's prestige in the highest level. Make propaganda like that. Why India should be lowered down unnecessarily while we have got so much stock of knowledge, scientific knowledge? Am I right? --- ## Letters on March 20 *Letters from this day: 12* --- **[1961: Letter to Ministry For Scientific Research And Cultural Affairs](letters/1947-1965/610320_ministry_for_scientific_research_and_cultural_affairs)** > I beg to inform you that I am in the renounced order of life devoted in the service of researching in the science of cultural affairs of human spirit. --- **[1969: Letter to Rayarama](letters/1969/690320_rayarama)** > Your index idea for Bhagavad-gita is very nice. If we continue to get our printed matters from Dai Nippon then certainly it will be very much convenient if the whole staff comes here to Hawaii, as it is nearer, but if we have to change the printing work to our own press, then we have to reconsider the whole idea. So let us depend on Krishna and hope for the best arrangement by Him. --- **[1970: Letter to Brahmananda](letters/1970/700320_brahmananda)** > In the meantime, I have also received your note dated 18 March, 1970, along with the new set of beads for Nityananda Das. --- **[1970: Letter to Krsna Dasa](letters/1970/700320_krsna_dasa)** > Yes, I am very glad to learn that Hansadutta and Himavati have arrived with Tamala Krishna, and they have in such short order set up a good program of activities. So now your Deities are being cared for under Himavati's direction, and Sankirtana Party is more successful led by Hansadutta and Tamala. Now with this good organization please continue to work combinedly for spreading our Krishna Consciousness movement throughout Germany. --- **[1970: Letter to Pradyumna](letters/1970/700320_pradyumna)** > At that time it was known as Sailapura, and now it is known as Solapura. It is still a pilgrimage in Mahar, and because Balaramaji was traveling in South India, this is Solapura is in South India. --- **[1970: Letter to Rukmini](letters/1970/700320_rukmini)** > Very, very much thanks for your laddus. They are very, very tasteful, and we have eaten with great relish. Still they are in stock, and I shall go on eating. --- **[1970: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1970/700320_satsvarupa)** > Regarding your question about the art department, for the present we should finish the pictures for KRSNA first. Then, if there is opportunity, they can print pictures for Nectar of Devotion. Both are required, but most important is KRSNA. --- **[1971: Letter to Central Bank Of India](letters/1971/710320_central_bank_of_india)** > With reference to your letter number 20/84, dated 2nd March, 1971, addressed to Gorakhpur, I beg to inform you that I have come back to Bombay and I am travelling all over the country. I shall therefore require to transfer money from anywhere, especially Calcutta, Bombay, Delhi, Gorakhpur, etc. --- **[1971: Letter to Karandhara](letters/1971/710320_karandhara)** > It is not a very important meeting, so you can send one Sankirtana Party there. You and Dayananda can speak something also. But by that time I may be in Los Angeles. --- **[1971: Letter to Kirtanananda](letters/1971/710320_kirtanananda)** > I have been traveling on our usual touring program of India and the mails have been piled up here in Bombay for some time. Now I am replying so many letters and some of them are a little late. --- **[1971: Letter to Madhusudana Bhakti Vilas Ms Chaterjee](letters/1971/710320_madhusudana_bhakti_vilas_ms_chaterjee)** > Please accept my humble obeisances. I am so glad to receive your letter dated 15th March, 1971. I am so glad to learn that you are in Bombay and are eager to see me. I have therefore fixed up time on Tuesday at 9:00 A.M. It will be very pleasant to see you from 9:00 A.M. to 10 A.M. on the 23rd March. --- **[1977: Letter to Acharya Omkar Giri](letters/1977/770320_acharya_omkar_giri)** > Sri Mayapur Chandradoya Mandir P.O. Sreedham Mayapur, Dist. Nadia, West Bengal. ---