# April 14 *Lectures from this day: 10 recordings* --- **[[spoken/720414le.auc|Town Hall Lecture — April 14, 1972, Auckland]]** **Prabhupāda:** So Śrīman Hanumān-prasāda Gosvāmī, he has spoken something about Kṛṣṇa's representative. So naturally, question may be raised that how I became Kṛṣṇa's representative. Kṛṣṇa appeared five thousand years ago. I am recently born, say, seventy-six years ago. How I became Kṛṣṇa's representative, this question may be raised. But the answer is also there, ready. We have got a disciplic succession: from Kṛṣṇa, Brahmā; from Brahmā, Nārada; from Nārada, Vyāsadeva; from Vyāsadeva, Madhvācārya; from Madhvācārya, so many disciplic succession. Later, five hundred years ago, Mādhavendra Purī, in the line of Madhvācārya. Then his disciple, Īśvara Purī; his disciple, Lord Caitanya. Lord Caitanya, we consider Him Kṛṣṇa Himself, but He also accepted a spiritual master, Īśvara Purī. So Lord Caitanya is everyone's spiritual master, but for the sake of formality, He also accepted a spiritual master so that others may learn that this is essential. In the Vedic scriptures, *Kathopaniṣad,* it is said, *tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum eva abhigacchet* [Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 1.2.12]*. Upaniṣad,* whatever is spoken in the *Upaniṣad,* that is gospel truth. That is the system of understanding transcendental knowledge, *veda-pramāṇa,* evidence from the *Vedas.* According to Vedic system, amongst the learned scholars, if one presents Vedic evidences, then his position is strong. Just like in law court, two lawyers are arguing. One lawyer who quotes from the law book various bona fide quotations, the judgment is given in his favor because that is authorized. --- **[[spoken/730414sb.la|SB 1.8.22 — April 14, 1973, Los Angeles]]** **Pradyumna:** ...*vate vāsudevāya.* *Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya.* *Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya.* [leads chanting of verse] [**Prabhupāda and **devotees repeat] **Pradyumna:** *namaḥ*—all respectful obeisances; *paṅkaja-nābhāya*—unto the Lord who has a specific depression resembling a lotus flower in the center of His abdomen; *paṅkaja-māline*—one who is always decorated with a garland of lotus flowers; *paṅkaja-netrāya*—one whose glance is as cooling as a lotus flower; *namas* *te*—respectful obeisances unto You; *paṅkaja-aṅghraye*—unto You, the soles of whose feet are engraved with lotus flowers (and who are therefore said to possess lotus feet). --- **[[spoken/740414bg.bom|Bg 4.25 — April 14, 1974, Bombay]]** **Pradyumna:** **Translation: "Some *yogīs* perfectly worship the demigods by offering different sacrifices to them, and some of them offer sacrifices in the fire of the Supreme Brahman."* [[bg/4/25|[Bg. 4.25] ]] **Prabhupāda:** There are different types of *yajña,* sacrifices, and the person who offers sacrifices, he is called *yogī*. *Daivam evāpare yajñaṁ yoginaḥ paryupāsate. Yajñam* and *yoginaḥ.* Generally, the *Vedas* are divided into three types of *yajña: karma-kāṇḍa, jñāna-kāṇḍa* and *upāsanā-kāṇḍa.* Generally, the *yajñas* are performed for satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But one who hasn't got the chance of understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they offer different types of *yajña* for satisfying the demigods. Here it is said, *daivam:* "in the matter of satisfying the different demigods." In the *śāstra* it is recommended... After all, performance of *yajña* means to get the necessities of life. In the *śāstra* it is recommended that "If you want this type of benefit, then you offer *yajña* or try to satisfy this kind of demigod." There is a list in the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam:* "If you want education, you worship this demigod; if you want very beautiful wife, then you worship this goddess; if you want good health, then you worship this demigod; if you want victory..." So many ways. And we have got different types of demands. So... But that is recommended in the *śāstra,* in the *Vedas,* because gradually, one has to be taken to the transcendental position. To worship a type of demigod for certain type of benefit, at least it indicates that you can get the benefit from higher authorities. Indirectly the higher authority is accepted. Or otherwise we become atheist. --- **[[spoken/740414mw.bom|Morning Walk — April 14, 1974, Bombay]]** **Dr. Patel:**Sex, merriment. I have not seen a single nightclub, though I studied in England for two years. [break] **Prabhupāda:** ...Nārada, but still they are sinful. Such a great personality like Nārada they have seen, but still they are sinful. Go on. **Girirāja:** "As such, the great sage Nārada considered that because the demigods Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva were so infatuated by false prestige, they should be put in a condition of life devoid of opulence." [break] --- **[[spoken/750414l2.hyd|Life Member House Lecture — April 14, 1975, Hyderabad]]** **Prabhupāda:** Alright. So Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura has sung, *kīṭa janma hao yathā tuyā dāsa, bahir nā brahma janme nāhi mora āsa. Kītā janma hao yathā tuyā dāsa. Tuyā dāsa* means "your servant." Actually, we are all servants of Kṛṣṇa. *Jīvera svarūpa hoy nitya kṛṣṇa dāsa.* But forgetting our position, we are now acting as *dāsa* of *māyā, māyāra-dāsa. Hoiya māyāra dāsa kori nānā abhilāṣ.* The advantage of *kṛṣṇa*-*dāsa* is that he has got only one desire: *ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānu-śīlanam* [[cc/madhya/19/167|[Cc. Madhya 19.167] ]], to serve Kṛṣṇa purely. That's all. Kṛṣṇa is not impersonal. Kṛṣṇa is person, and whatever He orders, whatever He says, if you carry out faithfully, then our original constitutional position is regained. It can be done very quickly. Kṛṣṇa says, *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja* [[bg/18/66|[Bg. 18.66] ]]. And if you do that immediately, then you revive your original position immediately, within a second. *Hoiya māyāra dāsa kori nānā abhilās.* We are making plans in so many ways to be happy. But if we accept this one plan, that immediately surrender to Kṛṣṇa, then our life is successful. And if we do not accept this proposal of Kṛṣṇa, and if we make our own plans to be happy, it will be never be possible. *Hoiya māyāra dāsa kori nānā abhilāṣ. Anādi bahirmukha jīva kṛṣṇa bhuli gelā, ataeva māyāra tare goliyā badila.* We are not independent. If we do not agree to serve Kṛṣṇa, then we have to serve *māyā.* Our position as servant is never changed. We remain servant. So if we don't agree to accept Kṛṣṇa's proposal, *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja* [[bg/18/66|[Bg. 18.66] ]], then we have to take shelter of *māyā* and you have to perpetually serve. *Bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate* [[bg/8/19|[Bg. 8.19] ]].* To serve *māyā* means to continue this material existence one after another. Now I've got this body, you've got this body, and if we do not change our attitude to serve Kṛṣṇa, then we get again next body. There are 8,400,000 different forms of body. We can see. There are so many trees, plants, insects, animals. They're all living entities. Also there are nice body—Americans, Europeans, beautiful body, or demigod's body. There are different bodies, eight million... So long we shall remain *māyā-dāsa,* we have to change this body one after another. It may be of higher standard or it may be of lower standard. That will depend on my work. *Karmaṇā daiva netreṇa jantor deha upapattaye* [[sb/3/31/1|[SB. 3.31.1] ]]. This is the philosophy, Kṛṣṇa consciousness. You are... We are not independent. We are completely under the control of material nature, and we get different types of bodies on account of associating with different modes of material nature. *Kāraṇaṁ guṇa saṅga asya sad-asad janma yoniṣu* [[bg/13/22|[Bg. 13.22] ]].* --- **[[spoken/750414le.hyd|Lecture on Science of Kṛṣṇa — April 14, 1975, Hyderabad]]** **Prabhupāda:** [break] ...*śakti, śaktimān.* The Supreme Lord is *śaktimān.* Just like the sun and the sunshine and the sun-god, and practically they are one. From the sun-god there is... The abode of the sun-god is the sun globe, and the shining of the sun globe is also sunshine. So in one sense they are one; in other sense they are different. Just like the sunshine is reaching here, it does not mean the sun globe is reaching here. That is also explained in the *Bhagavad-gītā, mayā tatam idaṁ sarvaṁ jagad avyakta-mūrtinā* [[bg/9/4|[Bg. 9.4] ]]: "I am spread." So *sarvaṁ khalv idaṁ brahma* [*Chāndogya Upaniṣad* 3.14.1], everything is Kṛṣṇa. But at the same time, if you commit mistake... The same way, "Because the sunshine is here, therefore sun is here," that is a mistake. This is *viśiṣṭa-advaita.* They are all one, *advaya-jnana,* but still they're different. *Advaita-viśiṣṭa.* That is explained in the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,* that *brahmeti paramātmeti bhagavān iti śabdyate. Vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvaṁ yaj jnanam advayam* [[sb/1/2/11|[SB. 1.2.11] ]]. Advayam* means *advaya, advaita,* no difference, the same thing. But *viśiṣṭa*—this is Brahman, this is Paramātmā—*viśiṣṭa. Advaita* but *viśiṣṭa.* A specific reference: Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān, they are one. But still, you cannot say Brahman is Bhagavān. The same example: the sunshine and the sun globe, they are one. Unless there is appearance of the sun globe, sun planet, you cannot have sunshine. So in that sense, they are one, but still, if you take sunshine as the sun globe, that is not correct. --- **[[spoken/750414r1.hyd|Conversation with Devotees — April 14, 1975, Hyderabad]]** **Prabhupāda:**"...to take the credit. And what is your credit? It is already there for millions of years. Why you are anxious to produce this? Without your help it is being produced. So why you spending our hard-earned money and cheating us? You are cheater. You should be punished. These things are already going on. For you there is no scarcity of life. Then why you are spending our tax to show your talent? What is your talent? You are simply cheating us—'We shall do it. We shall do it.' You do or do not, the things are already there. Why you are taking our money to make research? You are cheating us. You should be punished. You will be punished. Even the state does not punish, you'll be punished by the Supreme Lord because you are cheating. So you can cheat us, but you cannot cheat God. Regular punishment will be there. Millions of years it is going on, and I want to tell[?] take credit... what is that. The same example—millions of dogs are barking, and this man has learned how to bark; he is selling tickets. You see? You are driving away barking dog, and because this rascal has learned how to bark, we have to pay for it." What do you think? **Yaśodānandana:** So they would say, "Well, we do not claim any credit, but, similarly, you cannot give God credit, because it is going on as a biochemical reaction." **Prabhupāda:** Why not? That is your rascaldom. You cannot produce it. Why do you say like that? You rascal, you produce by biochemical combination. That is your rascaldom. That is not science. You are talking like a child, that's all. Credit must be given to God. He's already doing it very systematically. Why shall I... I am not such a fool that I have to give credit to you. --- **[[spoken/760414mw.bom|Morning Walk — April 14, 1976, Bombay]]** **Prabhupāda:** When I was a child my father gave me one air gun. And then I was not more than eight years. Then, after getting one, I said, "I must have another one." "Eh?" Then father said, "Why another one? You have got already one." So I said, "No, I have got two hands. I must have two guns." Then my father, "No, you are naughty. I am not going..." Then I made so much agitation, he was obliged to give me two guns. [laughter] I was very pet child of my father, and very pet son-in-law also. And I am very pet *guru* also. [laughter] Hare Kṛṣṇa. [aside:] Thank you. What is this? [break] ...that these people are coming for Indian culture, and government is restricting, "Don't come here. Don't come here." They are so degraded. **Indian:** [Transl. Doctor-*sāheb*, can't an Indian become CIA?]**Dr. Patel: Then what is the cause?Indian:**[Transl.*They are not CIAs.]*Prabhupāda: CIA. Government **[Transl.*knows they are not CIAs.] They have admitted in the Parliament.**Dr. Patel: They are frightened in the beginning. --- **[[spoken/760414r1.bom|Room Conversation — April 14, 1976, Bombay]]** **Prabhupāda:** What can young man... What do they understand the aim of life? Educated young men? They are being educated by you. [indistinct], but they do not know what is the aim of life. What kind of education? **Devotee:** Śrīla Prabhupāda, I was reading an examination book in Bengal when we were in that small village. And under the psychology section they have one question, "What is the physical basis of consciousness?" This was standard question in Bengal on psychology for high school: "What is the physical basis of consciousness?" So that is what they are asking them. This is exactly... With mind and the senses, six senses, the living being is struggling in this material world, *prakṛti.* Everyone is struggling; that is also true. Western theories, struggle for existence. They are struggling, and this is the relief, Kṛṣṇa consciousness. When he gets Kṛṣṇa consciousness... Just like the other day, the Mathurā meeting, one small child, two years old, was young, and one boy took him on the stage, and his mother came. So how anxiously he went to his mother, happy, steady. He was feeling vacant, all world, without mother. So many people are gathering, but because he could not find out his mother, he was abject. That is struggle for existence. Everything is there, but he is finding vacant. And that is our position. We are also part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa. So without Kṛṣṇa the hard struggle for existence is going on. But as soon as he will get Kṛṣṇa, he will be relieved. That is natural, exactly like the child without mother. World, seeing everything vacant; at that stage he cried. That is exhibited by Caitanya Mahāprabhu, --- **[[spoken/760414sb.bom|SB 7.12.3 — April 14, 1976, Bombay]]** **Pradyumna:Translation:** "Being called by the spiritual master, one should study the Vedic *mantras* regularly, and every day, before beginning his study and at the end of the study, the disciple should offer respectfully his obeisances unto the spiritual master." **Prabhupāda:** > chandāṁsy adhīyīta guror > āhūtaś cet suyantritaḥ > upakrame 'vasāne ca > caraṇau śirasā namet > [[sb/7/12/3|[SB. 7.12.3] ]] This is the training. The *brahmacārī* should rise early in the morning and worship *guru, agni,* fire, *sūrya,* and in the morning there should be class, and on the order of the *guru,* they should assemble and begin reading Vedic literature, *chandāṁsi.* --- ## Letters - [[../../letters/1967/670414_janardana.md|Letter to Janardana, 1967]] - [[../../letters/1967/670414_kirtanananda.md|Letter to Kirtanananda, 1967]] - [[../../letters/1967/670414_sripad_narayana_maharaja.md|Letter to Sripad Narayana Maharaja, 1967]] - [[../../letters/1970/700414_brahmananda.md|Letter to Brahmananda, 1970]] - [[../../letters/1970/700414_madhudvisa.md|Letter to Madhudvisa, 1970]] - [[../../letters/1970/700414_tamala_krsna.md|Letter to Tamala Krsna, 1970]] - [[../../letters/1971/710414_dr._g._g._godson.md|Letter to Dr. G. G. Godson, 1971]] - [[../../letters/1971/710414_mulchand_deomal.md|Letter to Mulchand Deomal, 1971]] - [[../../letters/1971/710414_niranjana.md|Letter to Niranjana, 1971]] - [[../../letters/1971/710414_satsvarupa.md|Letter to Satsvarupa, 1971]] - [[../../letters/1972/720414_bhavananda.md|Letter to Bhavananda, 1972]] - [[../../letters/1972/720414_jayapataka.md|Letter to Jayapataka, 1972]] - [[../../letters/1973/730414_giriraja.md|Letter to Giriraja, 1973]] - [[../../letters/1976/760414_aksayananda.md|Letter to Aksayananda, 1976]] - [[../../letters/1976/760414_hasyapriya.md|Letter to Hasyapriya, 1976]]