# April 19 ## Spoken on April 19 *Lectures from this day: 13 recordings* --- **[1972: Arrival and Interview](spoken/1972/720419ar.hk)** > There are divisions of social order or spiritual order, but one should try to see [indistinct], he must try to see that his life is successful. And what is that life is successful? *Varṇāśrama-vibhāgaśaḥ.* S*vanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam:* you have to see whether by your activities, by your behavior, by your actions Kṛṣṇa is satisfied. That is all. If you try to understand this only one point, that by your work Kṛṣṇa is satisfied... Just like Arjuna satisfied Kṛṣṇa by fighting. Similarly, by your whatever occupation you are doing, if you try to satisfy Kṛṣṇa, that is perfect. > So by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa we are associating with Kṛṣṇa, and as we are associating with Kṛṣṇa we are becoming purified. Therefore repeatedly chant, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare, and you will be purified of your material existence; then your life will be successful. --- **[1973: Morning Walk at Cheviot Hills Park](spoken/1973/730419mw.la)** > God says, "I'll become many." So because there is consciousness, therefore He's saying that "I shall become many." Without consciousness, there is no question of by-products. > There are ants, there are spider, there are so many. So that does not mean because I have left that room, it is lacking the accommodation. The accommodation is there. Other living entities are living there; I have left. I am individual. I have left. Therefore the individual soul is proved. --- **[1973: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.8.27](spoken/1973/730419sb.la)** > Just like Kṛṣṇa says: *mṛtyuḥ sarva-haraś ca aham.* Now we have got a propensity to take other's thing. You can say it is stealing. We have got that propensity. Why? Now, Kṛṣṇa has got. Kṛṣṇa is known as the butter-thief. The beginning, thieving, stealing. So unless that stealing propensity is there, how I can get? But Kṛṣṇa's stealing and my stealing is different. Because I am materially contaminated, therefore my stealing is abominable, whereas the same stealing in the spiritual absolute platform is so nice that enjoyable: Mother Yaśodā enjoying the activities of stealing by Kṛṣṇa. That is the difference, material and spiritual. Any activity spiritual, that is all good, and any activity material, that is all bad. This is the difference. Here, the so-called morality, goodness, they're all bad. And in the spiritual world, so-called immorality is also good. That you have to understand. > These Māyāvādī philosophers, they think that "Why shall I keep my individual, separate existence? I shall become merged into..." That is not possible. Because we are created, or not created, from the very beginning. We are separated part and parcel. We are separated parts and parcel. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā,* "My dear Arjuna, you, Me and all these persons who have assembled in this battlefield, we were in the past individuals, we are, at present, individuals, and in the future, we shall continue to remain as individuals. We are all individual." *Nityo nityānāṁ cetanaś cetanānām* [*Kaṭha Upaniṣad* 2.2.13]. --- **[1974: Bhagavad-gītā 13.3](spoken/1974/740419bg.hyd)** > Imaṁ vivasvate yogaṁ proktavān aham avyayam*. Kṛṣṇa says that "This system of *yoga* as it is described in the *Bhagavad-gītā* was first of all described by Me to the sun-god." *Imaṁ vivasvate yogaṁ proktavān aham avyayam, vivasvān manave prāha* : "And the sun-god again handed over the knowledge to his son Manu." *Manur ikṣvākave 'bravīt:* "And Manu explained the same thing to his son Ikṣvāku." *Evaṁ paramparā-prāptaṁ rājarṣayaḥ*. So that means the knowledge is actually coming from Kṛṣṇa. > So therefore the Vedic injunction is *tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum eva abhigacchet* [Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad* 1.2.12]. Abhigacchet,* "must." *Gacchet.* This form of verb, *vidhi-liṅ,* is used when there is the meaning "must." *Abhigacchet.* So it is not optional, that "I may go or I may not go." No. You must go. That is Vedic injunction. So here is the perfect teacher, Kṛṣṇa, real *jagad-guru.* Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, it appears in due course of time. There is a time when Kṛṣṇa appears. Everything is there in the calculation of the *śāstras.* Just like we have got a fixed time for the sunrise. Everyone knows that in the morning at 6:30 there will be sunrise. That is certain. Similarly, in the *śāstras* there is description when Kṛṣṇa comes down, descends, in this universe. In one day of Brahmā at the end of Dvāpara-yuga... Brahmā's days are described in the *Bhagavad-gītā, sahasra-yuga-paryantam ahar yad brahmaṇo viduḥ*. --- **[1974: Lecture in Hindi](spoken/1974/740419le.hyd)** > Because their real business is to become devoted, however they choose to become devoted to everything else, up to a dog, but not God. They have to become devotees anyway, but they don't want to become devotees of God. This is their disease, their ailment. Therefore, the Lord says regarding all those who are devoted to anything else, *daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī mama māyā duratyayā*, so *māyā* makes them sleep, saying; "why become a devotee of God? Become my devotee, become a devotee of all these demigods". *Kāṅkṣantaḥ karmaṇāṁ siddhiṁ yajanta iha devatāḥ*, this is how we are entangled." > Which as the Lord Himself says, *mām eva ye prapadyante*, this devotional service is never destroyed. However, much devotional service is performed in this life. If it is completed then one is sure to go back to Godhead *tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti so 'rjuna* and if it is not fully accomplished and some of it is left out *śucīnāṁ śrīmatāṁ gehe yoga-bhraṣṭo 'bhijāyate*, this *yoga*, those who fall away from this *bhakti yoga*, they don't lose anything. If they take to devotional service but for some reason couldn't reach perfection, false back to the hands *of māyā*. This is possible because *māyā* is very strong. It defeats us again and again. Therefore, we have to become strong ourselves. How can we become strong like that? *mama māyā duratyayā māyām etāṁ taranti te* so, if we hold on tightly to the lotus feet of the Lord, then māyā will not be able to influence us. This is the solution. Such an easy a solution. To attain liberation, the Lord says *mama māyā duratyayā māyām etāṁ taranti te*. There are big, big *sannyasis* who try to become free *from māyā*, the *jñānīs*, they take *sannyāsa*, give up their homes, perform severe austerities, some go to the Himalayas, some to the forests. So, many things they do. Why? To become free from *māyā*, *brahma bhuta*, to attain the knowledge of brahman. And here the Lord is saying *mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te*. if only one surrenders unto my lotus feet, just that that moment he becomes free from *māyā*. Without delay, within a second, so many people ask us, that how much time does it take for a person to attain perfect devotional service? --- **[1974: Morning Walk [Partially Recorded](spoken/1974/740419mw.hyd)** > Yes. So that is, we have done already. Satsvarūpa has got practical experience. He can give you advice. He started this *gurukula.* Practically this *gurukula* I suggested, but he began. Yes. So you can take practical advice from him. [break] --- **[1975: Morning Walk](spoken/1975/750419mw.vrn)** >says, *mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca* : "From Me there is remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness." So why Kṛṣṇa is interested to induce one to forget? Why? --- **[1975: Room Conversation](spoken/1975/750419r1.vrn)** > The things are there already, especially in India. We have got everything ready, and especially this land India. It is specially meant for God realization. By the birth, one is Kṛṣṇa conscious, or God conscious. Still in these days, whenever... You have seen in Hyderabad. Although your conference was going on, still, at least five thousand men were attracted to hear me. [guest laughs] And I was speaking the dry subject of Kṛṣṇa. So India is so fortunate. They are still ready to assimilate the instruction of Kṛṣṇa. The land is so fortunate. So we must give them the chance. That is our duty. That is government's duty. That is teacher's duty. That is father's duty. That is explained in *Śrīmad-Bhāgavata. Pitā na sa syāt. Guru's* duty. One who has got the chance of accepting something very easily... The guardians... The first guardian, the government; the second, the father; then the teacher; then so many, friends, relatives—that chance should be given. So Nandajī is thinking... He is an experienced... > Sumedhasaḥ,* "one who has got good brain substance." There is one word in *Bhagavad-gītā, alpa-medhasaḥ:* "poor brain substance." So we require some *sumedhasaḥ,* not *alpa-medhasaḥ. Antavat tu phalaṁ teṣāṁ tad bhavaty alpa-medhasaḥ*. They are making plans by their material concoction that... That is *antavat.* That will be finished. *Antavat tu phalaṁ teṣāṁ tad bhavaty alpa-medhasaḥ.* --- **[1976: Arrival Lecture](spoken/1976/760419ar.mel)** > Not for the loafer class. But a loafer-class man can become *rājarṣi* by Kṛṣṇa consciousness. This is the secret. As the *rājarṣi* becoming... By materialistic way of life, a *rājarṣi* becoming as a loafer class. Just like you see, so many kingdoms were there, Moghul Empire, British Empire, Roman Empire, and so many empires were there. Where are those empires? Finished, all. That will finish. It will not stay. Now the so-called kings, the emperors, they are now practically beggars. So if we do not decorate Kṛṣṇa, if we simply decorate our personal body, then gradually it will be finished. You'll be forced to become naked, what to speak of decoration? This is the way of nature. But if you try to decorate Kṛṣṇa, then without decoration you'll be worshiped; you'll be beloved. And this is the secret: just opposite. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, *yat karoṣi yaj juhoṣi yad aśnāsi*. > So try to understand. Of course, I have given a glimpse of idea in the Western countries of this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Now you are able young boys, young girls. You are intelligent. You have got so many credits behind you for material civilization. Now you take it. Just convert it. Material civilization means to endeavor for one's personal benefit. Just the opposite. The same thing should be done, but for the benefit of Kṛṣṇa. So Kṛṣṇa does not want any benefit from you. He is quite competent. He does not want. But if you do for Kṛṣṇa, then you are benefited. This is the secret. Kṛṣṇa says, *patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati : --- **[1976: Bhagavad-gītā 9.1](spoken/1976/760419bg.mel)** > Therefore Kṛṣṇa says here in the Ninth Chapter, *śrī-bhagavān uvāca, idaṁ tu te guhya-tamaṁ pravakṣyāmy anasūyave:* "My dear Arjuna, I shall speak to you..." He is giving him so many instruction, because Arjuna has submitted to Kṛṣṇa. *Śiṣyas te 'haṁ śādhi māṁ prapannam : "I am now perplexed. I am therefore submitting myself unto You." Kṛṣṇa was his friend. There was no submission. A friend does not submit to another friend. Then there is no meaning of friendship. But here Kṛṣṇa voluntarily, er, Arjuna voluntarily said that "I am submitting. Don't treat me as Your friend. Now You treat me as Your disciple. I am submitting." So therefore Kṛṣṇa says, "My dear Arjuna, now I shall speak to you the most confidential part of knowledge." *Idaṁ tu te guhyatamam. Guhya* means confidential. And there is comparative, superlative degree. That is *guhya, guhyatara* and *guhyatama.* So Kṛṣṇa said, "I'll speak to you the most confidential part of knowledge." *Pravakṣyāmi. Pravakṣyāmi* means "I shall explain to you." *Vakṣyāmi* means "I will speak," and *pra* means *prakṛṣṭa-rūpeṇa,* "Very explicitly I shall speak to you." > Just like the controversy is... The modern scientists, they say that "Life is generated from matter." We are protesting. We are protesting because... We are not scientists, of course, but we are scientists so far our knowledge is concerned. Because here it is said..., Kṛṣṇa says, *jñānaṁ te 'haṁ sa-vijñānam*, so Kṛṣṇa is the authority. He is the opulent, most opulent, the wisest. So if we receive from Him knowledge, then that is perfect. I may not be perfect, but the knowledge I receive from Kṛṣṇa, that is perfect. That is perfect. Therefore we should receive from Kṛṣṇa knowledge. That is perfect knowledge. A small child, he does not know what is this watch, and the father explains to him, "My dear child, this is called watch. It is moving by this machine," and as far as the child can understand, it is explained. So when the child says, "This is watch, and it is working like this. I have heard it from my father," that is perfect knowledge. That is perfect. He may be imperfect, but his knowledge is perfect because he has received the knowledge from the perfect person. This is a crude example. Similarly, any knowledge you receive from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, it is perfect. Therefore Kṛṣṇa said that, --- **[1977: Conversations](spoken/1977/770419r2.bom)** > [pause] Rather, they have criticized, that "This fantastic thing, it is going to be like Aurobindo's city, list of fifty thousand, 400 foreigners only." They are not taking it very seriously. Otherwise why he has remarked? Indirectly he has said, "This man is speaking like lunatic." They are not taking very seriously. That very remark shows that "It is going to be meet the same fate." So many fantastic ideas. >is a Bengali common word. It is said, *chobḍā niye ṭānāṭāni*. Chobḍā, that is like a coconut. Coconut pulp is within, and it is covered with a hard... What is called? --- ## Letters on April 19 *Letters from this day: 20* --- **[1968: Letter to Sivananda](letters/1968/680419_sivananda)** > Your reasoning is all right that the Brahma energy must have conscious direction to manifest form. Therefore He who gives that direction is the Ultimate Controller or Param Isvara. --- **[1968: Letter to Syamasundara Mullick](letters/1968/680419_syamasundara_mullick)** > I hope in the meantime you have received the reply of your letter dated 27th March, 1968. --- **[1969: Letter to Bhurijana](letters/1969/690419_bhurijana)** > Replying to your letter dated April 14, 1969, I have already confirmed your meeting on the 15th and 16th of May, 1969, and I hope you have duly received the telegram which I have sent. --- **[1969: Letter to Sudama Kartikeya](letters/1969/690419_sudama_kartikeya)** > Regarding Kartikeya's question about worshiping Lord Jagannatha, He should always be worshiped with awe and reverence. Krishna's picture as a Naughty Child should not be treated by us as a naughty child. --- **[1969: Letter to Tamala Krsna](letters/1969/690419_tamala_krsna)** > Also, it is good news that you now have a weekly course in the University there. Regarding the draft lawyer, I have enclosed the circular which I am sending out to the temples. --- **[1969: Letter to Upendra](letters/1969/690419_upendra)** > While I was in New York, I got your colored pictures, and each and every one of them is so nice and captivating that I have kept them for future paintings by our artists. --- **[1970: Letter to Bali-Mardana](letters/1970/700419_bali-mardana)** > The Bhagavad-gita is well known all over the world and it is widely read by scholars and philosophers especially. I have never seen a priest of other religion reading this book, but there are many scholars and philosophers all over the world who read Bhagavad-gita regularly. --- **[1970: Letter to Robert Karen](letters/1970/700419_robert_karen)** > Just like when a child is born, he is relative—he is born by his father. Then you go on researching and you will find that his father is also born of his father and so on. --- **[1971: Letter to Bali-Mardana](letters/1971/710419_bali-mardana)** > Yes, I have received the Deed of Gift for the asrama land and it is going to be mailed today. --- **[1971: Letter to Deputy Commissioner Of Police](letters/1971/710419_deputy_commissioner_of_police)** > The thing is that this Sankirtana Movement which I am propagating all over the world was also exhibited in the Cross Maidan for eleven days which I think you must have seen. So in India I am especially present here to popularize this movement for awakening God Consciousness of people in general and they are appreciating it very much. --- **[1971: Letter to Tamala Krsnaa](letters/1971/710419_tamala_krsnaa)** > Your first letter has been duly replied and this evening I have received two telegrams from you acknowledging receipt of the first check as well as asking for power of attorney. --- **[1971: Letter to Tamala Krsnab](letters/1971/710419_tamala_krsnab)** > I have sent my passport by registered, insured mail. Kindly let me know whether you have picked up the new passport in exchange for this old one. The old passport may not be delivered to them, but it may be taken back with the word "CANCELLED". --- **[1973: Letter to Amarendra](letters/1973/730419_amarendra)** > Both you and your wife are nice Krishna conscious devotees. You have all good talents to use in Krishna's service. My request is that you simply remember Krishna always and I will pray for your ever increasing advancement in Krishna consciousness. --- **[1973: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1973/730419_satsvarupa)** > Regarding Gurukula, it is not required that parents live there with there children. Any parents there must be engaged preaching and selling books, and going on the Sankirtana party. --- **[1975: Letter to G.L. Nanda](letters/1975/750419_g.l._nanda)** > I request you to study all our books very carefully because in the future we will have to preach from these books and without reading them we will not be able to do so. --- **[1975: Letter to John Panama](letters/1975/750419_john_panama)** > P.S. In the meantime, please chant Hare Krishna as often as possible for purification of the heart. ACBS/ps --- **[1975: Letter to Mr. Ramanbhai M. Patel](letters/1975/750419_mr._ramanbhai_m._patel)** > By associating and rendering service to the Vaisnavas and hearing the philosophy of Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-bhagavatam as well as chanting Hare Krishna, your life will become perfect. --- **[1975: Letter to Ramacandra](letters/1975/750419_ramacandra)** > Please try your best to come to our temple in Caracas and to follow all of the rules and regulations very carefully. --- **[1975: Letter to Viruha](letters/1975/750419_viruha)** > This body belongs to Krishna and therefore we must always keep it in healthy condition to the best of our ability, but if due to some past sinful activities, we are suffering some bodily miseries we should not become discouraged. --- **[1977: Letter to Dr. G. Ghosh](letters/1977/770419_dr._g._ghosh)** > The holy name of Krsna is the panacea for all cures to the diseases of this material existence. The entire Vedic civilization is meant how to avoid taking another material body. ---