# March 22 ## Spoken on March 22 *Lectures from this day: 10 recordings* --- **[1967: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.7.46 [Partial Recording](spoken/1967/670322sb.sf)** > So that is described in *Bhagavad-gītā* very nicely, that you are this consciousness. *Avināśi tu tad viddhi yena sarvam idaṁ tatam*. That you are, that permanent, the consciousness. And what is that consciousness? That consciousness is, pure form, is Kṛṣṇa consciousness, that "I am servant of God." This is pure consciousness. So long my consciousness is designated: "I am American," "I am Indian," "I am Chinese," "I am Russian," "I am Hindu," "I am Muslim," "I am Christian..." These are all designations due to this body. But actually I am neither American, neither Indian, nor Christian, nor Hindu, nor Muslim, but I am eternally the servant of God. > Just like you say in New York when you find a sunshine in the sky, you say, "Oh, today is very nice." Why nice? Because the pure sky is open; therefore it is very nice. And so long it is over..., covered by cloud, you don't find so happy. Similarly, if you can, I mean to say, drive away the cloud of ignorance, then you actually becoming Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Cloud of ignorance. --- **[1969: Lecture [Partially Recorded](spoken/1969/690322le.haw)** > So Prahlāda Mahārāja is considering that, "Although I am a child, I have no education, my parentage is not at all bona fide; still, devotional service is unconditional. Devotional service does not depend on any material qualification. Therefore I shall try to offer my prayers to the Supreme Lord according to my capacity." *Bhāva-grāhī janardana*. > Kiṅkaraṁ: *I am Your eternal servant. These things have to be accepted. One has to realize his constitutional position. That is self-realization. What I am? I am not the supreme. This is wrong. I am subordinate. This is the Vedic injunction. God is one, and He is great, and all living entities are subordinate. --- **[1971: Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.124–25](spoken/1971/710322cc.bom)** > How I can be equal to God? I am controlled. I am controlled. Just like if I say that: "I am the government." That is craziness, madness. I am not government. I may be Indian but I am controlled by the government. Similarly we are all eternals: *nityo nityānām ceta...* We are all living entities, Kṛṣṇa is also an individual living entity and we are individual living entities. He is not impersonal, He is also person, as we are persons but His power, His strength, His beauty, His opulence, everything supreme. Therefore He is called Supreme Personality of Godhead. So this is... This knowledge is to understand our relationship with God. Caitanya Mahāprabhu says here, *kṛṣṇa sambandha*. But we are related with. Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā* : mamaivāṁśo jīva-bhūtaḥ*. "All these living entities, they are My part and parcels." > In order to chanalyze[?] all these activities the *varṇāśrama-dharma* has been observed, we Hindus. We observe these four *varṇas*, not actually observed now but we are supposed to observe the four. The institution to follow the regulative principles of four *varṇas*: *brāhmaṇa*, *kṣatriya*, *vaiśya*, *śūdra*. This is a system so that gradually you can rise yourself to the highest platform of understanding God, Kṛṣṇa. This is a system. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā* [4.13]: *cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ*. --- **[1972: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.1.1–2](spoken/1972/720322sb.bom)** > Here it is illusion. We are living under the influence of material nature, but we are thinking that we are independent. This is *kuha,* illusion. This is called *māyā*. And so long we do not understand this defect of our materialistic way of life, that is called defeat. Whatever we are doing, that is defeat. We are not conquering, but we are being defeated by the exigency of the material energy, which is explained in the *Bhagavad-gītā: daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī mama māyā duratyayā*. > So we are all under the influence of *māyā*, illusion. *Ahaṁ mameti, janasya moho ayam*. *Ayam*, this feature of our life: *ahaṁ*, "I am independent, and whatever I have created, that is mine," this is illusion. *Janasya moho ayam*. These are all explained in the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* in different places. So our author of the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam*, Vyāsadeva, he says, "Just aim your objective to the Absolute Truth, *satyaṁ paraṁ*, not to the relative truth." Here everything is in relative truth, for the time, but it appears to be truth. But actually it is not truth. Śrīdhara Svāmī comments in this connection*: satvanam savac svadu bhutendriya devata rupa amrisa satvam jasya sattvatoya mithyā savovi satvavat pratitayate*. --- **[1974: Bhagavad-gītā 4.2](spoken/1974/740322bg.bom)** > But in spite of possessing imperfect senses, people are proud of their knowledge. That is mistake. We are not concerned with imperfect knowledge. We want perfect knowledge. Therefore we are going to *Bhagavad-gītā.* Otherwise what is the use? If it is an ordinary book—you can interpret in your own way, I can interpret in my own way—then what is the value of *Bhagavad-gītā* with other books? No. It is not like that. Therefore the words of Kṛṣṇa should be understood through the devotees: perfect channel. As Kṛṣṇa..., Kṛṣṇa says, *imaṁ vivasvate yogaṁ proktavān aham avyayam*. > If you're actually interested in *ātma-jñāna,* self-realization, then you cannot understand by your so-called academic education. No. *Nāyam ātmā pravacanena...* Or because you are a big speaker, you can speak very nicely, decorating language, therefore you have understood—that is also not possible. The spiritual knowledge has to be understood by the grace of the Supreme Spirit. *Yam evaiṣa vṛṇute tena labhyaḥ* [Kaṭha Upaniṣad* 1.2.23].* One who is favored by the Supreme... Here Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Being, God, He's explaining about Himself. So you have to learn about God, or Kṛṣṇa, from Kṛṣṇa, or through the *paramparā.* As Kṛṣṇa says, *evaṁ paramparā.* --- **[1975: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.7](spoken/1975/750322sb.cal)** > Follow any religious principles, it does not matter, but you have to see the end result of it. Just by talking about Hindu, Muslim, Christian etc. there is no gain. Actually one has to see the ultimate benefit, and that benefit is *bhakti yogaṁ adhokṣaje.* Adhokṣaje-Adhakṛta akṣaja-jñānam.* Whatever knowledge we have got that is material knowledge. This knowledge we acquire by our senses. Just like we see with our eyes, we taste with our tongue, we write with our hand, we smell with our nose, we hear with our ears, In this way we have got eleven senses. Out of which, we gather knowledge with five senses and they are called *Jñānendriya* or the knowledge acquiring senses. And *Karmendriya* or the five working senses plus the mind, so all together eleven senses. > If you want to see Him in His universal form that form is there, and if you want to worship Him then He agrees to accept a small form suitable for you. So *Vāsudeve bhakti* or devotional service to Lord Vāsudeva should be started in every house. Not only in the temple. In the temple we teach how to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And especially the householders should engage in v*āsudeve bhagavati bhakti yoga,* v*āsudeve bhakti yoga or* devotional service unto Lord Vāsudeva. However, *vairāgya* or detachment must be there. Without being detached the cycle of birth and death will continue. One will have to die and accept another body, and according to his karma he will have to suffer or enjoy. This birth, death, old age and diseas—these are the real miseries of life. But people do not understand this. People think that as soon as you get a chance just enjoy life. You have got opportunities to enjoy, but if you indulge in sense gratification you will be entangled. Lord Ṛṣabhadeva has said, *nūnaṁ pramattaḥ kurute vikarma* If you are too much entangled in the path of enjoyment then you will have to commit *vikarma* or sinful activities. *Nūnaṁ pramattaḥ kurute vikarma*. The word *vikarma* means activities which are forbidden in the scriptures. And you will have to indulge in such activities. By force, *kurute vikarma*, you will be forced to act sinfully. And why am I engaging in *vikarma*? This is because *indriya-prītaya* or simply for the satisfaction of the senses, sense pleasure. What is the gain? The gain is you will again become entangled and you will have to accept another body. *tathā dehāntara-prāptir*. --- **[1976: Arrival Talk](spoken/1976/760322ar.cal)** > Unfortunately, Bhārata-vāsī is not interested. Here we see side by side the two wings of this house. The one room is interested in making money, and one room is interested in spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So this is the position. We are... Indians, we are neglecting this movement. That is not very good. Recently I had the chance to travel in the villages of Bengal. Oh, it is so pitiable, full of... They have given up this culture of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. They have not profited. They have not profited. But unfortunately the leaders, they think that by development of industries they'll be able. No. That is not possible. *Harāv abhaktasya kuto mahad-guṇā*. > It was the duty of the Indians. But in one sense, Bhārata-varṣa means this planet. Formerly there was one flag, Bhārata-varṣa, and the capital was Hastināpura. Gradually the control of the Pāṇḍavas declined. Up to Mahārāja Parīkṣit, the whole world was Bhārata-varṣa. Now it has become a teeny land, peninsula. So in that sense, anyone who is..., who has taken birth on this planet, it is the duty of him to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So by the grace of Kṛṣṇa, you European boys and girls, you have taken very seriously, and Kṛṣṇa will be very much pleased upon you. --- **[1976: Lecture](spoken/1976/760322r1.may)** > Lalitā Prasād:* [Transl. That you are spreading the holy name all over the world this is the highest beneficial work. There is nothing more beneficial to people than this. You have fulfilled my desire. Therefore I touch your feet. I pray to the Supreme Lord that since you have done it may He give you power to do more. He surely will bestow all power upon you.] --- **[1976: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.42](spoken/1976/760322sb.may)** > Normally we, because we are sinful, because we are *mūḍhās,* we do not surrender to Kṛṣṇa. *Na māṁ prapadyante.* Anyone who does not surrender to Kṛṣṇa, He is classified as *duṣkṛtina, mūḍha, narādhamā, māyayāpahṛta-jñānā.* It is not at all possible to become independent of Kṛṣṇa's will. That is not possible. Therefore those who are trying to work independently, without Kṛṣṇa's favor, they're *mūḍha,* all rascals. They will not accept what Kṛṣṇa says, and they are trying to establish some law without Kṛṣṇa. "There is no need of God." This is the... Most scientists, they say like that. "Now we have got science. We can do everything." They are *mūḍhās.* It is not possible. Independently you cannot do without Kṛṣṇa's favor. > So Kṛṣṇa is *bhava-sambhava-lopa-hetoḥ.* Everything which is going on—creation, maintenance and also annihilation—the original cause is Kṛṣṇa. When there is need of creation, the cause is Kṛṣṇa. When there is need of maintenance, the cause is Kṛṣṇa. Everything, the cause is Kṛṣṇa. And there is annihilation—the cause is Kṛṣṇa. So *sṛṣṭi-sthiti-pralaya* [Bs. 5.44], although it is being done... *Sṛṣṭi* means creation; *sthiti* means maintenance; *pralaya* means destruction. These things are going on in the material world. Everything is created. Just like your body, my body, it is created at a certain date. There is history. And it will maintain, say, utmost, for fifty, sixty or hundred years. It will never be eternal. Because it is created, it cannot be eternal. Anything created cannot be eternal. So this *sṛṣṭi-sthiti-pralaya-sādhana* is actually being done by Kṛṣṇa, whatever way. But because we cannot see Kṛṣṇa in the background, we see only the wonderful activities of the nature. Nature is working not independently—by the direction of Kṛṣṇa. *Mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sa-carācaram*. --- **[1977: Room Conversation](spoken/1977/770322r1.bom)** > Modern education, they are creating twinkling stars, millions. All useless for light. No light. And our Vedic civilization is: "Create one moon. That's all." That is sufficient. We respect, therefore, *ācāryas*—Rāmānujācārya, Madhvācārya—not the so-called voted leaders. We don't care for them. What is their value? *Śva-viḍ-varāhoṣṭra-kharaiḥ saṁstutaḥ puruṣaḥ paśuḥ*. > You say, "Oh, they are being liked, eulogized, by so many hundreds and thousands," but what these hundreds and thousands of people are? *Śva-viḍ-varāhoṣṭra-khara.* They're kept in ignorance like dogs, hogs, camels and asses. This propaganda should go on by the ISKCON movement. Bombay is the nicest place. Invite them. Convince them. We have got answer for everyone, however big scientist, big philosopher, big politician. *Bhāgavata* has answered everyone. How selected animal's name has been given. This is *Bhāgavata.* How the comparison is perfect. I have tried to explain why a particular animal has been selected. --- ## Letters on March 22 *Letters from this day: 11* --- **[1968: Letter to Balai](letters/1968/680322_balai)** > Yes, Sri Tulasi is the eternal consort of Krishna, and the most pure devotee, and therefore, the Tulasi plant is worshiped by Vaisnavas. --- **[1968: Letter to Terry And Associates](letters/1968/680322_terry_and_associates)** > I am so much pleased to hear the wonderful news of your Sankirtana meetings in N. --- **[1969: Letter to Dinesh](letters/1969/690322_dinesh)** > I am sorry that I could not acknowledge receipt of your albums which I duly received, although I could not play them for want of machine. --- **[1972: Letter to Arundhati](letters/1972/720322_arundhati)** > That is very good news to me, as I am always glad to see when my disciples exhibit good sense. --- **[1972: Letter to Bali-Mardana](letters/1972/720322_bali-mardana)** > Now, first thing is don't sign any contracts without hearing from me, I am thinking about the matter. --- **[1972: Letter to Hayagriva](letters/1972/720322_hayagriva)** > I am so much engladdened by the news that you are producing many books, faster than they can print, so this is especially pleasing to me and I have wanted all along that you should especially do this work of writing and editing. --- **[1972: Letter to Karandhara](letters/1972/720322_karandhara)** > I am so much thankful to you for your letter dated nil, and for the telegram wherein you have requested that I shall return to Los Angeles immediately if possible, and all blessings to you for Lord... --- **[1972: Letter to Meenakatan](letters/1972/720322_meenakatan)** > So it is also very nice that you are also layout man for the Press, because Ksirodakasayi Prabhu will live in Vrindaban also and his job is to layout the Hindi BTG there and send it to Dai Nippon for printing each month one issue. --- **[1972: Letter to Nityananda](letters/1972/720322_nityananda)** > The newsletter is also very nice, and you may encourage all centers to correspond in this way regularly amongst yourselves. When I shall come there to Los Angeles, then we shall see when I can also come to stay at your new temple. --- **[1974: Letter to Jayapataka Bhavananda Brahmananda](letters/1974/740322_jayapataka_bhavananda_brahmananda)** > Of course I do not know what is the actual expenditure, but I request you to finish the business as far as possible and the money will be supplied. But this time when I go I want to see that everything under construction is completed. --- **[1974: Letter to Tejiyas](letters/1974/740322_tejiyas)** > In response to your telephonic message, I beg to enclose herewith one check, \#PHF 431993 for Rs 24,000. ---