# April 8 ## Spoken on April 8 *Lectures from this day: 12 recordings* --- **[1966: Bhagavad-gītā 2.55–56](spoken/1966/660408bg.ny.md)** > The same thing: As Arjuna did not wanted to fight, Kṛṣṇa said that "I desire that you should fight." But he did not agree in the beginning. But at the last moment, when Arjuna was inquired, "Now what is your decision?" he said that *naṣṭo mohaḥ smṛtir labdhā tvat prasādān mayācyuta kariṣye vacanaṁ tava* : "My dear Lord, now my misgivings, my misunderstanding, is now gone by Your mercy. Now I have decided to fight, because You desire." That is the summum bonum of learning, that one should decide what God desires. That's all. That will make his life perfect. > So the whole perfection, whole perfection is that we are all active in some department. That is a fact. Now, if our activities become dovetailed with the supreme desire and He is satisfied, then *saṁsiddhi,* that is our perfection. *Svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam* [ŚB. 1.2.13]. --- **[1971: Bhagavad-gītā 16.2–7](spoken/1971/710408bg.bom)** > Our position in this dual world is we are always doubtful. Kṛṣṇa says, *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja*, but we are doubtful. That is material influence. "How it is that simply by surrendering to Kṛṣṇa I become free from all material contamination or sinful activities, results?" Doubt. But actually, you should not be doubtful. You should accept. Because Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, you should accept His word as it is. And because we are doubtful, we are presenting Kṛṣṇa in a different way. And there are so many commentators, so many *svāmīs,* they put Kṛṣṇa in a different way. > The real position is, as Kṛṣṇa says, that *mamaivāṁśo jīva-bhūtaḥ* : "All living entities are My parts and parcel." When you realize it that "I am part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa; therefore my only business is to serve Kṛṣṇa..." Just like part and parcel of my body is always serving, similarly, we, being part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa, our only business is to be engaged in devotional service of Kṛṣṇa. That is *mukti. Svarūpeṇa vyavasthitiḥ*. --- **[1973: Bhagavad-gītā 4.13](spoken/1973/730408bg.ny)** > Now, Kṛṣṇa says: *catur varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ*. Now the... When we are animals... We had to pass through animal bodies. By evolution, we have come to this human form of body. Now it is an opportunity to get out of this cycle of birth and death. This is our real problem. But people, because they have no education, poor fund of knowledge... There is no educational institution how transmigration of the soul takes place. They do not know. Big, big M.A., Ph.D.'s, but they do not know what is the actual position of the living entity. But that is the real problem. They do not know the real problem. > So why this problem? Because the human society is in chaos, a chaotic condition. There must be division of four classes. One class must be *brāhmaṇa,* intelligent class of men. And one should be *kṣatriya,* one class, the administrator. Because human society, they require good consulting brain, good administrators, good producers and good worker. That is the division of *brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra.* Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, *catur varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭam*. In order to keep smooth facilities for human life, there must be four divisions. If you say that don't..., "We don't require *brāhmaṇa,*"... If you don't require *brāhmaṇa,* then you'll suffer. --- **[1973: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.14.44](spoken/1973/730408sb.ny)** > Dharma *means... And what is that *dharma*? Kṛṣṇa says, it is very simple thing, *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ.* Real religion is to surrender to Kṛṣṇa, or God. That is real religion. Without that point, all religions, they are cheating simply. *Dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo 'tra, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* begins. > Therefore the whole world is unhappy. But if you *hrdayena...* Therefore it is said, *preṣṭhatamenātha hṛdayenātma-bandhunā.* If you love Kṛṣṇa, who is our real friend, as Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā, suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ*... --- **[1974: Bhagavad-gītā 4.19](spoken/1974/740408bg.bom)** > If one becomes atheist, then his knowledge has no value. Because real knowledge is... As Kṛṣṇa says, *bahūnāṁ janmanām ante jñānavān māṁ prapadyate*. This is real knowledge. So somehow or other, try to understand Kṛṣṇa. Then you actually become *paṇḍita,* learned, and your life is successful. > So *kāma-rāga-vivarjitāḥ. Yasya sarve samārambhāḥ.* You can act. We must always remember, this acting has begun... *Cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ*. First of all, the acting should begin according to *guṇa* and *karma.* Not that everything will be done by everyone. No. Suppose if I want to do some engineering work. That is not possible for me. I must take help of an engineer. But if one wants to understand something about *Bhagavad-gītā,* about the spiritual movement, he may consult me. Therefore, the society must be divided into four divisions. *Cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ*. There must be a class of men very intelligent, brahminical class. They should also work just like *brāhmaṇa.* The *kṣatriya,* they should work just like *kṣatriya,* because there will be some violence, *kṣat.* So one who defends or protects from injury, that person also should be there in the society, *kṣatriya.* So on this basis the society must be divided. --- **[1974: Morning Walk](spoken/1974/740408mw.bom)** > Because they are demons, therefore their so-called knowledge is useless, *apahṛta-jñāna.* And apparently, they seem to be very learned scholar, but there is no knowledge. There is no knowledge. This is the demonic... Just like Rāvaṇa. He was very much advanced student in Vedic literature, but he was a demon. So simply by studying *Vedas* one does not become out of the jurisdiction of demons. Just like Jarāsandha. He was also worshiping Viṣṇu, but he was a demon. He was a demon. His purpose was different. The yajñic *brāhmaṇas,* they also could not understand Kṛṣṇa. So this is the crucial test. If one does not understand Kṛṣṇa and become submissive to surrender, he remains a demon, however big scholar he may be. > He also becomes *brahma-bhūta*. Just like if you be in touch with the fire, then you become also warm. The quality of fire is warm. So if you keep yourself always, constantly in touch with the fire, you also become warm. So this Kṛṣṇa's qualification, that He's not affected by the material happiness and distress, can be attained by anyone who always keeps his association with Kṛṣṇa. Is it clear? --- **[1975: Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 1.15](spoken/1975/750408cc.may)** > So Kṛṣṇa begins, therefore, His instruction that "Don't think you are this body. This is your covering. You are within this body." That is the beginning of Kṛṣṇa's instruction. And at last He, as a father, advises, *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja*. So when we do that—giving up everything, we surrender to Kṛṣṇa—at that time we revive our relationship with Kṛṣṇa. This is wanted. Therefore the author is instructing us, *jayatāṁ suratau paṅgor mama. Manda* means one who cannot go very fast; or bad. *Manda* means mad; *manda* means slow. In this age especially, in Kali-yuga we become very, very slow in spiritual progress, although that is our main business. But on account of this Kali-yuga, we are all very, very slow. We think that "Spiritual cultivation is meant for old age. Now let us enjoy our life in this material world." > That *kurukṣetre* is still existing. It is not a myth or mythology. The nonsense people, they may say like that, but Kṛṣṇa is the supermost person both in history... *Purāṇa* means history, *itihāsa purāṇa. Saraṁ saraṁ samuddhṛtam*. Vyāsadeva compiled the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* by collecting the most important news from history. *Purāṇa. Purāṇa* means old history. It is not mythology. The foolish people, they say like that: "Mythology means something created." No. Don't take it that way. It is the essence of important historical incidences. Record. Both *itihāsa,* history... *Mahābhārata* is also history. *Mahā* means great, and *bhārata* means this land. Actually it is a history. But foolish people, without understanding through the *guru-paramparā* system, they manufacture their own way of understanding; therefore they are misled. They cannot take full advantage of this Vedic literature because they are misled. We should not be misled. Here, we should know always that we are lame, *paṅgoḥ.* Just like a lame man cannot go very fast. But by the grace of Kṛṣṇa, even a lame man can go fast—not only go fast, but cross over the mountain. --- **[1975: Morning Walk](spoken/1975/750408mw.may)** >always to be chastised by the spiritual master for perfection. And if he thinks that now he has become perfect, then he's a foolish. Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, *guru more murkha dekhi:* "My spiritual master saw Me a fool number one." Was He fool number one? He's God Himself. But that is the position. He should remain always a fool number one, ready to be chastised. Then he's perfect. In the moral instruction, Cāṇakya Paṇḍita gives this instruction, that *lālane bahavo doṣas tadane bahavo guṇaḥ:* "If you chastise your, the son or disciple, he'll improve, and if you say, 'Oh, you are all right,' then he'll degrade." *Tasmāt putraṁ ca śiṣyaṁ ca tāḍayet na tu lālayet:* "Therefore you always chastise your son and disciple. Never flat..." What is called? > But there is no harm chanting "Rādhe, Nitāi-Gaura." But better stick to this Pañca-tattva and *mahā-mantra.* Just like "Nitāi Gaura Rādhe Śyāma, Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Rāma." There is "Nitāi-Gaura, Rādhe Śyāma," but it is not approved. *Mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ*. We have to follow the *mahājana.* In *Caitanya-caritāmṛta* you'll find "Śrī-Kṛṣṇa-Caitanya Prabhu-Nityānanda, Śrī-Advaita Gadādhara...," never "Nitāi Gaura, Rādhe Śyāma." So why should we do that? --- **[1976: Lecture in Hindi](spoken/1976/760408le.vrn)** > Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the best of all the incarnations. Because the Supreme Personality of Godhead Kṛṣṇa instructed everyone *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja*, but people did not follow His instructions properly.* Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Kṛṣṇa Himself. In order to teach people how they could take shelter at the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord He again appeared as Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Therefore while offering prayers, in the first prayer, no in the second prayer I have offered obeisances, *namo mahā-vadānyāya kṛṣṇa-prema-pradāya te*. First of all it is difficult to understand Kṛṣṇa only. > To understand Kṛṣṇa is very difficult in the first place. But Caitanya Mahāprabhu is so merciful that not only He distributed Kṛṣṇa but also distributed love of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore Rūpa Gosvāmī addresses Him *namo mahā-vadānyāya*, You are the most munificent personality because You are distributing love of Kṛṣṇa. And love of Kṛṣṇa is the fifth objective of life. *Dharma, artha, kāma, mokṣa*: religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation—these are the four objectives of life. Above that is love of God. Therefore, as you all know, in the very beginning of *Śrīmad Bhāgavatam* it has been said *dharma projjhita kaitavo'tra*. These *dharma, artha, kāma, mokṣas* are cheating. One has to rise above that. Above that...Even above *mokṣa* prevails love of God. Above mokṣa. One who has attained love of God, know for sure that he has already attained mokṣa long ago. Therefore a devotee is never covetous for *mokṣa. muktiḥ svayaṁ mukulitāñjali sevate 'smān*. [*Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta* 107] --- **[1976: Morning Walk](spoken/1976/760408mw.vrn)** > He'll give you, "Ride on this car, you wanted, or this body." And this... This is creation of *māyā. Īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛd-de*śe...* Kṛṣṇa is there, orders *māyā,* "He wants to enjoy life. Give him this body." "Come on, here is a hog's body; eat nicely stool. Come on." He did not like to eat *prasādam.* He wanted something rubbish. "All right, come here. Take this stool." These things are going automatically. The same way, as you infect some disease, immediately the disease is there. You haven't got to manufacture the disease. Because you have infected yourself with the disease germ, "Take this disease." Therefore it is warned, *anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam* [Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu*1.1.11], "Don't desire anything except Kṛṣṇa's service." Then you are immune. Otherwise you have to take birth. The Māyāvādī philosophers, they take the Absolute Truth void, so they have no good desires; again they come to material desires. > You cannot escape. But still they're thinking, "We are independent." That is *ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā:* by false prestige, by false identification. He is [indistinct], and he's thinking so many nonsense. *Ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā.* Everything will be explained in *Bhagavad-gītā.* So try to explain. That is Caitanya Mahāprabhu's order, *yāre dekha, tāre kaha, 'kṛṣṇa-upadeśa'*. Bās,* finished, "You become a *guru.*" *Kṛṣṇa-upadeśa* is there. You haven't got to manufacture your ideas. Just like I'm quoting from Kṛṣṇa's preaching. --- **[1976: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.53](spoken/1976/760408sb.vrn)** > Whatever You have said I accept in total. No reduction, no..." *Sarvam etam ṛtaṁ manye:* "Whatever You have said, I believe. I have taken. I have understood." That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Kṛṣṇa says something, and I understand something. That you go on with your millions of years; it will never be possible. You have to understand Kṛṣṇa as He says. Therefore we are presenting *Bhagavad-gītā* as it is. That is real understanding. Arjuna says, *sarvam etam ṛtaṁ manye. Ṛtam* means fact. "Everything, whatever You have said." Not that "I cut this side and that side..." > There are two common questions. Everyone, so many people, come to us. Their first question is that "I am not getting peace in my mind. How can I get peace?" Yes, how can you get peace? You have no connection with the Supreme Person. *Kuto śānty ayuktasya,* in the *Bhagavad-gītā* it is... How you can get peace? It is impossible. Many examples we have given many times. A child is crying. Everyone is trying to pacify the child—still crying. But as soon as the mother takes the child on the breast, immediately pacified. This is the... You are searching after peace life after life, moment after mo..., hour after... You cannot have peace unless you come to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is not possible. Therefore it is advised, *tasyaiva hetoḥ prayateta kovido*. For that purpose, how you can see God or you can please God, *tasyaiva, hetoḥ,* for that purpose only, *prayateta,* one should endeavor. No other endeavor. Human life is meant for... That is *Vedānta-sūtra. Athāto brahma-jijñāsā.* Where is Brahman? Where is the Absolute Truth? Where is God? *Govinda-viraheṇa me* [*Śikṣāṣṭaka* 7]. --- **[1976: Speech in Hindi [Partially Recorded](spoken/1976/760408sp.vrn)** > So as you have said, actually we are famous all over the world as "Hare Kṛṣṇa people." As soon as they see us they say "Hare Kṛṣṇa." Sometimes they put cartoons in the newspapers. There was one cartoon that one old lady was telling to her husband in the funeral pyre, "chant, chant, chant," and the old man said "can't, can't, can't." The old lady says chant, chant, chant, and the man says can't, can't, can't. This is the position. > Just as Hakimji has said that an exalted *vaiṣṇava* is he by seeing whom one automatically remembers the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. Once I was flying from London to Africa. The plane landed in Athens at twelve midnight. So I had to wait there for 45 minutes. We alighted and as soon as we went to the waiting room, we were four or five persons, immediately a few young men greeted us saying "Hare Kṛṣṇa." This was at midnight in Athence airport. --- ## Letters on April 8 *Letters from this day: 26* --- **[1968: Letter to Jadurani](letters/1968/680408_jadurani)** > So far the 9 blocks are concerned, I do not mind a long walk, if it is flat land and not hills. --- **[1968: Letter to Pradyumna](letters/1968/680408_pradyumna)** > I shall be glad to know how you are making progress, and I am anxious that you are still feeling pains. --- **[1970: Letter to Turya Shramy Maharaja](letters/1970/700408_turya_shramy_maharaja)** > You will be pleased to know that we have got twenty-six centers all over the world, namely; Europe, America, Canada, Japan, and Australia. Of all the centers this Los Angeles center is my headquarters. --- **[1972: Letter to All Iskcon Temple Presidents](letters/1972/720408_all_iskcon_temple_presidents)** > I beg to inform you that recently some of the Governing Body Commission members held a meeting at New York on 25th through 28th March, 1972, and they have sent me a big big minutes, duplicated, for... --- **[1972: Letter to Bibhu](letters/1972/720408_bibhu)** > I am so glad to know that your temple is growing and you are expanding your programs. --- **[1972: Letter to Gurudasa](letters/1972/720408_gurudasa)** > I beg to inform you that very soon I shall be going to Tokyo from here, and I wish to arrange with Dai Nippon to send many of our books to India, via Bombay, for selling in India. --- **[1972: Letter to Puri Maharaj](letters/1972/720408_puri_maharaj)** > You have requested me in your letter to consider for purchasing another house. But there is one difficulty, because the present administration of Jagannath Puri sometimes do not allow us to enter the temple. Of course, for our vaisnavas this discrimination is spiritually illegal: Arche siladhi gurusu navamati vaisnave janavate: if one is dressed in vaisnava dress, according to vaisnava law, if he is considered not a vaisnava, then that is a hellish condition. --- **[1972: Letter to Tarkikchuramoni](letters/1972/720408_tarkikchuramoni)** > Upon the recommendation of Bibhu I have gladly consented to accept you as my duly initiated disciple. --- **[1973: Letter to Giriraja](letters/1973/730408_giriraja)** > We have arrived in New York on the fifth bypassing London for now because the new place is not yet ready. --- **[1973: Letter to Sudama](letters/1973/730408_sudama)** > I am still in New York, but if the climate is not suitable, I may be going to Los Angeles very soon. --- **[1974: Letter to Manager Of Punjab National Bank](letters/1974/740408_manager_of_punjab_national_bank)** > Regarding the fixed deposit ISKCON Vrindaban Temple Construction Fund, receipt RNPIK 270090 for Rs 743,879. --- **[1974: Letter to Syamasundara](letters/1974/740408_syamasundara)** > I have not visited Jagannatha Puri because my men are not allowed to see the deity. When you arrange that we can visit the temple with my disciples then I can come immediately. Now I am in India up until May 15 then I am going to Europe to visit in France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany etc., and then I will come back and remain until the end of August, and then go again to England, and the U.S. --- **[1974: Letter to Tejiyas](letters/1974/740408_tejiyas)** > As far as the checks needed for Vrindaban construction I am handing them along with this letter by hand delivery by Gurudasa who is here now. One check listed by you for Rs 23,000 to Punjab National Bank has already been send separately by express post. --- **[1975: Letter to Bhakta Dennis](letters/1975/750408_bhakta_dennis)** > I think that the best thing for you is to study our books very carefully and then try to write something. --- **[1975: Letter to Daruka](letters/1975/750408_daruka)** > If you follow my instructions very carefully as you promise in your letter, then your life will be perfect. --- **[1975: Letter to Devakinandana](letters/1975/750408_devakinandana)** > Your service would be very valuable here in India. So, if you like, come to India as soon as possible. --- **[1975: Letter to Gupta](letters/1975/750408_gupta)** > Regarding your idea for writing articles for different legal journals, that will be very nice. --- **[1975: Letter to Krsnanandini](letters/1975/750408_krsnanandini)** > Regarding Bhumata devi dasi's affliction, she should simply take the proper treatment. --- **[1975: Letter to Mantrini](letters/1975/750408_mantrini)** > In order to start the proposed project in your letter you must have full sanction of the GBC. --- **[1975: Letter to Mr. Ashis Roy](letters/1975/750408_mr._ashis_roy)** > I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to our Vrndavana festival which will be held on the 20th of April up to the 27th of April. We will be opening our temple there. If you can come, then we can talk in detail about a center at Nagpur. --- **[1975: Letter to Mr. Faul](letters/1975/750408_mr._faul)** > Culver City Please accept my greetings. I am glad to hear that you have visited our temple in L.A. I request you to take an active part in our movement as much as possible and your spiritual understanding will increase manifold. --- **[1975: Letter to Mr. Fitzgerald](letters/1975/750408_mr._fitzgerald)** > I hope that you will continue your service nicely following all of the rules and regulations and that you are chanting 16 rounds daily on your beads. --- **[1975: Letter to Mr. Gururaja R. Rao](letters/1975/750408_mr._gururaja_r._rao)** > I am very pleased to know that you are feeling the greatness of the Krishna Consciousness movement. --- **[1977: Letter to Baradraj](letters/1977/770408_baradraj)** > Just recently I have received one letter from His Holiness Guru Kripa from Japan. --- **[1977: Letter to H.S. Dwivedi](letters/1977/770408_h.s._dwivedi)** > The prospectus which you have sent appears to be very encouraging and I am considering how to do the needful. I will write you again in the near future regarding your party’s coming to Bombay. --- **[1977: Letter to Swami Sri Radhey Baba](letters/1977/770408_swami_sri_radhey_baba)** > I beg to thank you for your letter dated 4th April, 1977 along with the enclosed essay entitled "Back." ---