# April 17 ## Spoken on April 17 *Lectures from this day: 13 recordings* --- **[1969: Lecture](spoken/1969/690417le.ny)** > Therefore people are not very much enthusiastic to come to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. [laughter] But He does it. Just like the Pāṇḍavas were, in the beginning, put into difficulty, but later on they became the most exalted personalities throughout the whole history. That is Kṛṣṇa's favor. In the beginning, He may do like that because we have got attachment for our material acquisitions. > Therefore in the morning we chant this *mantra, govindam ādi-puruṣam tam ahaṁ bhajāmi.* We have no other business. Simply we have to satisfy Govinda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. Then everything is complete. He is complete and His worship is complete, His devotee is complete. Everything is complete. --- **[1972: Lecture at Auckland University](spoken/1972/720417le.auc)** > There is a Vedic *mantra* which is called *aham:* "I, I am Brahman, or the spirit soul." And if we come to that position to understand that "I am not this body; I am spirit soul," then other things will follow, which is stated in this *Bhagavad-gītā, brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā na śocati na kāṅkṣati*. When one becomes Brahman-realized, that "I am spirit soul," then the first benefit will be that such person will be free from all kinds of lamentation and hankering. > In this material world two things are going on: lamentation and hankering. Things which we do not possess, we hanker after it, and things we do possess and, somehow or other, we lose, then it is lamenting. So actually the whole situation is lamenting, because we are losing. Take, for example, this body which we have gained from our father and mother on a certain date. It is losing gradually. Suppose you are twenty years old. That means you have already lost twenty years of your total duration of life. Suppose you are to live for hundred years. So twenty years you have already lost, or you have already died up to the amount of twenty years. I am seventy-six years. That means I have also died up to the amount of seventy-six years. --- **[1972: Room Conversation](spoken/1972/720417r1.auc)** > Indian Guest: So this will happen sometimes, that, Swāmījī, that description in the *śāstra* and the reality, they [indistinct]. What sometimes asks, and what we believe from the *śāstra,* is a contradiction to them. > Indian Guest:...they say why there is no living entities, because if there is living entities then there would be some changes on the surface of the moon. Because whenever there is the living entities, there would be something there, actively, and so the actual surface of the moon would be changed. But they don't see any changes there, if there is animals. They would do some kind of activities... --- **[1973: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.8.25](spoken/1973/730417sb.la)** > Kṛṣṇa says, *kaunteya pratijānīhi na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati:* "My dear Arjuna, you can declare it to the public that My devotees are never vanquished." Why declaration was advised to be made by Arjuna? Why He did not declare Himself? There is some point. Because this declaration, if Kṛṣṇa makes, there may be violation, because sometimes He violated His promise. But if His devotee promises, it will be never violated. That is Kṛṣṇa's business. "Oh, My devotee has declared this. I must see that it must be executed." That is Kṛṣṇa's position. He's so much attached to His devotee. Therefore He said that "You declare. If I declare, people may not believe it. But if you declare, they will believe it. Because you are devotee. Your declaration will never be..." *Yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādaḥ.* Kṛṣṇa wants to see that: "My devotee's promise is fulfilled. My promise may not be fulfilled, may be broken." > These people, they do not know that. They think, especially in this age, that "I am now in comfortable position. I have got enough money. I have got enough state. I have got enough comforts, enough food. So as soon as the body's finished, so I am not going to take birth again. So, so long I am living, let me enjoy life." This is the modern philosophy: hedonism. But that is not the fact. Kuntī is therefore anxious: *apunar bhava-darśanam*. Apunar bhava,* not to repeat. If you see always Kṛṣṇa, that is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Kṛṣṇa consciousness means always thinking of Kṛṣṇa. Your consciousness should be absorbed in Kṛṣṇa thought. --- **[1974: Bhagavad-gītā 4.28](spoken/1974/740417bg.bom)** > So the *bhakti-yoga* is so nice that even if you have no means to offer the Deity gorgeous worship, you can do it within the mind. That is also possible. Therefore it is said that *ahaituky apratihatā*. In any position of life you can engage yourself in *bhakti-yoga* system, *śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam*.* But the prime or the topmost perfection of *bhakti-yoga* is *śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam, śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam,* fully absorbed in the thought of Kṛṣṇa. That is recommended in the *Bhagavad-gītā* also. *Yoginām api sarveṣāṁ mad-gatenāntar-ātmanā*. This is the simplest process. You have to practice always thinking of Kṛṣṇa. That is also, Kṛṣṇa says, *man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru*. Mad-yājī.* Now, suppose if you have nothing to offer, still, you can, *man-manāḥ,* by thinking of Kṛṣṇa, by thinking of all materials for worshiping, testing them, sitting in one place, you can go on. That is called *man-manāḥ,* thinking, thinking of. You can offer Kṛṣṇa, as I described, so many things. > So charity, or sacrificing your possession for the benefit of others, this is also *yajña.* But they are called *karma-kāṇḍa yajña,* fruitive activities. By such performance of *yajña,* one can elevate his material position. Just like feeding the poor, it is also *yajña.* But the same thing, if it is dovetailed in consciousness, that becomes perfect. People are very much inclined to feed the poor with sumptuous food, but it can be done in a little different way, that the foodstuff offered to Viṣṇu, *prasāda,* that distribution foodstuff is better than ordinary distribution of foodstuff. Ordinarily, that is *puṇya,* pious activities, but when it is in connection with Kṛṣṇa, this is called *yajña. Dravya-yajña.* To distribute food and cloth, that is called *dravya-yajña,* but *yajña* can be said when it is done, dovetailing the activities with Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is *yajña. Yajña* means Viṣṇu. *Yajñārthe karmaṇo 'nyatra loko 'yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ*. --- **[1974: Morning Walk](spoken/1974/740417mw.bom)** >cry, "Oh, we are in..., put in this condition, put in this..." Complain. But what is the remedy, we do not take. That is India's position. Mr. Kanungo, he's the son of late governor of Gujarat. He came to offer me a land in Bhuvaneśvara. So he said... He's the manager of the coal organization. >says, everything... *Īśāvāsyam idaṁ...* Everything has got control of the Supreme. *Īśāvāsyam idaṁ sarvam* [Īśo mantra 1]. How you can say it is material when it is..., it can be used... There is another verse. What is called? *Prapañcikatayā buddhyā hari-sambandha-vastunaḥ.* Everything has got relation with the Supreme because it is a production of the supreme energy. So everything is connected. So, --- **[1975: Bhagavad-gītā 9.1](spoken/1975/750417bg.vrn)** > Kṛṣṇa says, "Don't speak this *Bhagavad-gītā* to the nondevotees," because nondevotees will not accept. Kṛṣṇa says, *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja*. Who will accept unless he is devotee? The Māyāvādī, *karmī, jñānī, yogī,* they cannot accept. They are envious: "I am Kṛṣṇa. I am God. Why I shall surrender to Kṛṣṇa? Why shall I accept Kṛṣṇa as God?" This is the position of the *bhukti-mukti-siddhi-kāmī.* Therefore you will find so many *yogīs,* they can play jugglery, magic, but they are not devotees. They will not surrender to Kṛṣṇa. This is their... So such persons cannot understand Kṛṣṇa. They cannot understand the science of Kṛṣṇa. They cannot understand, because Kṛṣṇa does not disclose Himself to the nondevotees. So by their own attempt, however big *yogī* or *jñānī* or *karmī* he may be, he cannot understand Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa discloses, reveals Himself, to the *anasūyave,* one who is not envious. And that is devotee. *Anasūyave* means devotee, who does not..., who is not envious of Kṛṣṇa. Others, they are envious, *karmī, jñānī, yogī*. > Jñānaṁ vijñāna-sahitam. Jñāna,* this knowledge, most confidential knowledge, it is not sentiment. *Vijñāna-sahitam.* It is science. Just like in scientific knowledge you must know theoretically and practically. Not only that, you simply know that so much oxygen, so much hydrogen produces water by mixing... That is theoretical. You have to make water by mixing these two chemicals—that is practical. So in the B.A.C. examination they take examination, test, theoretical and practical. So theoretical is... Kṛṣṇa says, *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja*. But when you really surrender, that is practical science. That is practical. If you decide to surrender—that is called *śaraṇāgati*—then you have to learn the science how to become surrendered. That is *vijñāna. Jñāna* means theoretical knowledge, and *vijñāna* means practical knowledge. So we have to do it practically, not that "I have read *Bhagavad-gītā* and *Bhāgavata,* so I have become a devotee." No. You should practically demonstrate in your life that you are actually devotee. That is called *vijñāna-sahitam. Jñānaṁ vijñāna-sahitam.* And *yaj jñātvā.* If you learn this science, *yaj jñātvā mokṣyase aśubhāt,* the result is you become liberated from this *aśubha,* inauspicious condition of life, *aśubha.* --- **[1975: Morning Walk [Partially Recorded](spoken/1975/750417mw.vrn)** > ...there is no possiblity. Tell them, this United Nation Organization, that "You are all bogus. You cannot do it. Come to this platform, and you'll be able." They have proved themselves bogus for the last twenty-five years, I think. They started in 1947? Huh? --- **[1976: Morning Walk](spoken/1976/760417mw.bom)** >we don't want who says that "Why you are searching after God? The gods are loitering in the street." Of course, it is in higher sense, but you cannot say respectively, "Everyone is God." Maybe... --- **[1976: Room Conversation](spoken/1976/760417r1.bom)** > One who does not surrender to Kṛṣṇa, they are described in this verse as *duṣkṛtinaḥ*, means most sinful; *mūḍhāḥ,* rascal; *narādhamāḥ,* lowest of the mankind. "No, no. They are *sannyāsī*, very learned scholar." *Māyayāpahṛta-jñānā:* they have lost their knowledge by the influence of *māyā*. Why it is so? *Āsuraṁ bhāvam āśritāḥ.* The root cause is that he is in rebellion against God. You'll find this rebellious men 99.9%. Rebellious. "Ha, what is God? I am God." You'll find. If you hold meeting that "Why you are after God? You are God. You will realize by meditate..., by Transcendental Meditation you will become God, you are God." In this way if you bluff, thousands of people will come to hear your lecture, and as soon as you say, "God is there, and Kṛṣṇa is God. You surrender to Him," "Oh, these are old fools. Primitive."* [Transl.This is the point. Is it not? What do you say? Isn't this going on everywhere? If you say there is no God, you can attract huge crowd. And if you say Kṛṣṇa is God, then no one will come. "Ah, this is sectarian." This is the position.] *Āiye*. [Please come.] Real understanding: to hear and to think over the matter. *Tad viddhi. Viddhi* means understand. > I had just arrived in Mumbai from Vrindavan and I went up on the roof of the building Prabhupada stayed in then. Srila Pabhupada was seated on a low vyasasana surrounded by about 15 Mumbaiites enjoying the evening air and sea breeze.This lady brought in a basket of mangoes with an old kitchen knife on top. The blade of the knife was obviously not sharpened as it was blackish right to the cutting edge. Srila Prabhuada indicated that the basket should be placed in front of me so I could cut it. Except for perhaps his servant I was his only western disciple on the roof. I was sitting rather shy at a distance of about 15 ft away. Maybe Srila Prabhupada wanted to set the stage for a transcendental happening or else why he chose me to cut the mangoes? Maybe he hoped to have shown how expert his brahmacari disciples were. > So I tried with the side of the blade and it could not cut into the skin of the ripe mango I was holding. So I tried to use the sharp end of the knife to pierce the skin and then pull it round to make a slice in the usual mango cutting way. I had been in India since Mayapur Festival (beginning in 1976 February?) so it was probably not my first attempt at mango cutting. But perhaps these Mumbai mangoes were perhaps the first ripe mangoes I had ever encountered in India. > > [aside:] Oh, you cannot cut it? > Srila Pabhupada was watching. The bluntness presented a serious problem to me in my service so I spoke up. > Maha Vishnu: The knife's not really sharp enough. > > Huh? > Maha Vishnu: The knife's not really sharp enough. > I tried jabbing the point into the side of the mango. > Guest (2): No, that's not the way to cut it. > > Hm? > Guest 2 was sitting right next to me. He was a fashionably dressed man who could have been a film star, > Guest (2): Take off the slice, full slice. > As he was saying this he pulled from his pocket a first class small stainless steel penknife and opened it showing a shining sharp blade. He gestured to me for permission to show me how to cut the mangos properly with his knife. > > Yes. > Guest (2): And cut it into pieces. > Guest 2 does the necessary. > > Yes. You do not know how to cut. One who knows, let him cut. > Guest (2): Take a full slice. > Guest 2 was demonstrating his skill at mango cutting. I naturally felt embarrassed by my public failure but as it was all part of Srila Prabhupada's jolly philosophical demonstration I didn't mind. > > [Hindi] *Tad vijnanartham gurum evabhigacchet* [MU 1.2.12]. [laughter] Everything requires a guru. Otherwise he remains a fool, rascal, that's all. [Hindi] In every item you require a guru, and to understand Krsna, or God, everyone is independent. [laughter] Just see the foolishness. *Yata mata tata patha*. "Oh, you consider about your own God. It doesn't require any guru." This foolishness is going on. For cutting a mango he requires a guru, and to understand Krsna he doesn't require a guru. This foolishness is going on. And Krsna says, --- **[1976: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.12.6](spoken/1976/760417sb.bom)** > Dakṣa śraddadhānaḥ:* faithful. Faithful to whom? To the spiritual master. Whatever he says, the *brahmacārī* should take it: "Yes, it is my life and soul." That is the explanation given by Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura. He is explaining with reference to the verse *vyavasāyātmikā buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana*. He very nicely explains. You have perhaps read it, Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura's... Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura has taught very, very nicely about *guru.* Therefore he has written in *Gurvaṣṭaka, yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādaḥ.* He is example, practical example, of *guru-bhakti,* Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura. He accepted his *guru,* Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura. So he said that "I am not interested for my salvation or going back to Godhead. I am not interested." Interested means "It may come; it may not come. That I don't mind. But I am interested only with the words of my *guru,*" Viśvanātha Cakravartī said. "That is my life. Whether I will be successful or not successful, it doesn't matter. I must take the words of my Guru Mahārāja as my life and soul." Actually, that is the secret of success. *Yasya deve parā bhaktir yathā deve tathā gurau.* > If you want to offer Kṛṣṇa something, we must know what Kṛṣṇa wants to eat. Just like if you call a friend, you ask him, "My dear friend, what do you like to eat?" Then it is etiquette. And that is going on. Similarly, you have invited Kṛṣṇa here. He has come. Don't think He has not come. He is here, *sākṣād vrajendra-nandana-hari.* [Lord Hari is directly the son of king of braja.] The atheist may say, "Oh, these rascals are worshiping a stone," but that is not the fact. We are not spending so much energy and money for installing a stone. Stone is already there. Therefore it is forbidden, *arcye śilā-dhīr guruṣu nara-matiḥ* [*Padma Purāṇa].* If you think the Deity as *śilā,* means stone, and *guruṣu nara-matiḥ,* if you think *guru* as ordinary human being, *vaisnave jati-buddhi,* and if you think a Vaiṣṇava, "He is American Vaiṣṇava. He is Indian Vaiṣṇava," *jāti—buddhi nārakī—*you become *nārakī* immediately. These are the descriptions. So *jitendriya.* A *brahmacārī* means *jitendriya. Śamena damena vā. Tapasā brahmacaryeṇa*. Tapasā. Brahmacārī* life means *tapasya.* --- **[1977: Room Conversation Meeting with Dr. Sharma [from Russia](spoken/1977/770417r1.bom)** > Dehinaḥ asmin dehe. Asmin dehe,* this material body... Within this body, there is *dehī,* the owner of the body. Now, you will find so many scholars, commentators on *Bhagavad-gītā*, but nobody understands this first line. This is the fact now going on. *Tathā dehāntara-prāptir dhīras tatra na muhyati*. If you accept this first principle... You have to accept. Accept or deny, it doesn't matter. You are young man; I say that you will become old man. You accept or deny, it doesn't matter; you must be an old man. Similarly, Kṛṣṇa says, *tathā dehāntara-prāptiḥ,* there will be change of the body. So you accept or not accept, it doesn't matter. It will take. But if I am going to change my body, and if I am eternal, *na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre*, then what is my next body, it should not be my concern. But nobody cares for it. "Never mind what body I am going to get next. It doesn't matter. Let me enjoy this body." This is animal civilization. The dog, at night barking, jumping, he is not able to understand what is next life, what is rebirth, what is his... He cannot understand. But a human being can understand. So if he is put into the darkness, then what is the difference between animal and human being? So this is the problem. > Bhārata-bhūmi, anyone who has taken birth in *Bhārata-bhūmi,* especially in high family, it is the duty of every Indian to understand this sublime knowledge and distribute it to the world. *Para-upakāra.* That is Caitanya Mahāprabhu's mission. Because we have got this knowledge, everything. This knowledge you cannot have anywhere. Therefore scholarly people, man or elderly persons, many, they are accepting our books very nicely. In foreign country—and *Bhāgavata,* it is not their religious book—we are selling... In Russia also we have got copies. What is that institution, they have ordered? --- **[1977: Conversation with Yadubara [after seeing film](spoken/1977/770417r2.bom)** > So we have to become sober. These restless rascals, how they will become sober? Suppose a child is restless child, how you can convince him about philosophy? Sober man, cool-headed man, he can be convinced. So this is a childish civilization. This is not sober civilization. There is no full-brain man. All restless dogs and hogs. And they have taken it is first class, dogs and hogs. Actually, they are living dogs and hogs, and they are claiming civilized. There is no difference dogs' and hogs' life and the modern man. The dogs and hogs whole day work. *Kaṣṭān kāmān arhate*. > Beyond this material things, there is another *prakṛti.* That is the... That does not die. *Na jāyate na mriyate*. And that is being carried by mind, intelligence and ego. By our gross eyes, we see the body is burnt into ashes. Where is Soul and where is... everything is finished. The atheist will say like that. *Bhasmi bhūtasya dehasya tataḥ punar āgamano bhavet. *"If the body is already burnt into ashes, who is coming and who is going?" The atheists. Kṛṣṇa does not say. No. *Na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre.* So will you accept the atheists or Kṛṣṇa? That is our process. The atheist will say, "It is burnt into ashes. Where, where is soul?" Kṛṣṇa says, "No," *na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre*. "He is not dead. He has gone to another body." *Dhīras tatra na muhyati*. Those who are sober, they are not disturbed. --- ## Letters on April 17 *Letters from this day: 21* --- **[1970: Letter to Balmukundji](letters/1970/700417_balmukundji)** > The Secretary of Sri R. D. Birla has replied my first letter, and I have also replied that asking him to supply immediately four pairs of Sri Murtis, but so far I have not received confirmation. --- **[1970: Letter to Brahmananda](letters/1970/700417_brahmananda)** > Regarding George's introduction, it is now definitely decided not to be published. We have already mentioned his contribution in the preface and that is sufficient for the present. --- **[1970: Letter to Jayapataka](letters/1970/700417_jayapataka)** > You should take a long visa and Acyutananda will arrange for that, so you write to him and arrange for it and then go. Don't take the short period visa, it is simply botheration. --- **[1970: Letter to Sudama](letters/1970/700417_sudama)** > Please enlighten me by return mail how you are making progress in our movement, how the Japanese people are responding. --- **[1971: Letter to Advaita](letters/1971/710417_advaita)** > I hope everything is going on well with you, your good wife and child and ISKCON PRESS. --- **[1971: Letter to Ksirodakasayi](letters/1971/710417_ksirodakasayi)** > Regarding the Deities, I am enclosing a copy of the letter from Sri Hitsaran Sharma in this connection. Four pairs of Deities were said to be donated by the Birla Trust and another two pairs by the Dalmia-Jayan Trust. So far, four sets have been dispatched, but where are the other two pairs? --- **[1973: Letter to Nityananda](letters/1973/730417_nityananda)** > That you are sending good amount to the BBT even you have smaller size temple is much appreciated by me. --- **[1973: Letter to Sarva Suhrit](letters/1973/730417_sarva_suhrit)** > I am expecting to go to London, and at that time I will personally initiate both of you. It is not sufficient for us to just chant 16 rounds, but we must endeavor to chant offenselessly 16 rounds. Even we must be always chanting Hare Krsna, why only 16 rounds. --- **[1974: Letter to Embar Sampath Kumarachar](letters/1974/740417_embar_sampath_kumarachar)** > This latter can be taken as sponsoring your stay in any temple; we will pay all charges for boarding and lodging. Please send me five or six photos of yourself so I can send letters instructing my different branches as mentioned, so there will be no misunderstanding. --- **[1975: Letter to Amogha](letters/1975/750417_amogha)** > I am also hoping that you will be able to print our books in that part of the world in the local languages. It is a great service to sell our books to educational institutions. The more you do this, the more you become recognized by Krishna. --- **[1975: Letter to Bali-Mardana](letters/1975/750417_bali-mardana)** > Thank you for sending the $1,000 to Bombay. Your article is very nice. You should continue to write very nicely. I am giving your article to the press editors to check over for printing. --- **[1975: Letter to Dvarakesa](letters/1975/750417_dvarakesa)** > I am very anxious to see all of my books printed in the Swedish language, so continue your printing, and distributing with all enthusiasm. --- **[1975: Letter to Jitasvara](letters/1975/750417_jitasvara)** > The best thing for your wife is to try and tolerate the pains and to execute her devotional service to the best of her capacity. --- **[1975: Letter to Lilavati](letters/1975/750417_lilavati)** > Bhagavan das and Brahmananda Swami have suggested that you go to London and collect the money for your ticket there and then immediately go to Africa to help there. --- **[1975: Letter to Nandarani](letters/1975/750417_nandarani)** > So, please remain always fixed in devotional service and live peacefully. Your going away, I did not take very seriously. --- **[1975: Letter to Narinder Natha Bagai](letters/1975/750417_narinder_natha_bagai)** > Regarding your taking sannyasa, first, you must come and live with us for some time and then we shall see. --- **[1975: Letter to Niranjana](letters/1975/750417_niranjana)** > Go ahead and continue your work and try to work co-operatively with Yasomatinandana dasa. Concerning a temple in Gorakhpur, Ramananda can consult with me about that. --- **[1977: Letter to Radha-Sarana](letters/1977/770417_radha-sarana)** > Just because there are no men is not a good reason to make someone a brahmana. Not that we open centers and have no devotees to manage them and therefore we create brahmanas. --- **[1977: Letter to Ramesvara](letters/1977/770417_ramesvara)** > Do not worry, I am working at night, a couple of hours, although I am not quite fit. --- **[1977: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1977/770417_satsvarupa)** > I beg to thank you for your letter dated March 25, 1977 along with the copy of "Readings in Vedic Literature." --- **[1977: Letter to Sushil Kumar Arora](letters/1977/770417_sushil_kumar_arora)** > I beg to thank you for your letter dated March 22nd, 1977 which has only now reached me having been forwarded to Vrndavana. ---