# April 21 ## Spoken on April 21 *Lectures from this day: 8 recordings* --- **[1970: Lord Buddha's Appearance Day Lecture](spoken/1970/700421le.la)** > So there are four problems. In the *Bhagavad-gītā* it is mentioned that *janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi-duḥkha-doṣānudarśanam .* If you are actually intelligent, then you must keep these four problems before you. Do not think that the problems of life are solved by material advancement. Do not think that by building, constructing skyscraper houses, the problems of life are solved. No. The problems of life are these four principles: birth, death, old age and disease. If you cannot solve these problems, then your problems of life remain the same. The solution of the problems... Just like our bodily demands, namely eating, sleeping, defending and mating: > Therefore *Bhagavad-gītā* says, *duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam.* This place is full of misery; at the same time, it is not allowed to remain here permanently. So the solution is, as *Bhagavad-gītā* says, *mām upetya kaunteya duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam, nāpnuvanti mahātmānaḥ*. Mahātmānaḥ* means... *Mahātmā* means the person who is broad-minded. --- **[1972: Conversation with Dai Nippon Representative](spoken/1972/720421r1.tok)** > So human being requires further knowledge. That is special prerogative, gift by God, by nature. Whatever you say. So we should utilize this human body for furtherance of knowledge. And the first important knowledge is that we should know that there is life after death. That is the basic principle of knowledge. Unfortunately, at the present moment, in no university there is any department of knowledge where this education is given where there is life after death. I am traveling all over the world. There is no such department. They have completely evaded or set aside, because they cannot make any solution whether there is... I talked with one Mr. Kotovsky, a Russian professor in Moscow. I was in Moscow. He said, "Swāmījī, there is no life after death." Just see. He's a big professor, and his knowledge is so imperfect that he says that there is no life after death. > So that is the position everywhere. Those who are teachers, they are with imperfect knowledge. The teachers in the universities, they are with imperfect knowledge. Now, life after death, in the *Bhagavad-gītā* it is very easily explained that just like a child has next life, boyhood; the boy has next life as youthhood; the youthhood has next life, the old age; so why not the old age next life? --- **[1972: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.9.1–7](spoken/1972/720421sb.tok)** > So in this way, *ramamāṇo guṇeṣu,* and the result is *mamāham:* "This is mine." "I cannot leave this place. This place is mine. I organized it." *Mama,* mine; *aham* "I am the [indistinct]," "I am the monarch of all I survey." This is *aham. Manyate. Manyate* means he is a rascal fool. He does not know that he is entrapped. *Prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ*. That is explained in *Bhagavad-gītā.* Actually *prakṛti,* nature, is working on him. *Prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ,* by the modes of nature. But being puffed up under the *guṇas,* he is thinking that "I am the Lord." Puffed up. > Suppose even if you finish in some minutes, so he is happy for that five, ten minutes, "Oh, how Hiroshima is burning." And again the other party, they burned into ashes city; when it will be again raised and again fire[?], this is called *māyā*. Both of them, they are not permanent. *Māyā-sukhāya bharam udvahato vimūḍhān*. Prahlāda Mahārāja says here that "Both of them are fools, rascals, so I am thinking for them, just to give them a little idea of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, so that they will become happy." --- **[1973: Morning Walk](spoken/1973/730421mw.la)** > They would not allow anyone to enter India to make trade. And that is the cause of two big world wars. This is a... Real cause is India. Because the Germans, they were very intelligent. They were intelligent nation. They wanted to trade with India. So Britishers will not allow them. Actually, Britishers were selling goods, purchasing from Germany and Japan, and when German would go to trade, they will enhance the custom duty very, very large amount. > So they accept this literature, but they date within one thousand years, one thousand five hundred years. Even this rascal, Dr. Radhakrishnan, he dates *Bhagavad-gītā* within two thousand years. That's all. Perhaps I am the first person making propaganda that *Bhagavad-gītā* was spoken five thousand years ago. I am the first person. All other so-called scholars, they have dated within two thousand years. --- **[1973: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.8.29](spoken/1973/730421sb.la)** > Because it is clearly stated in the *Bhagavad-gītā, sa guṇān samatītyaitān*. He transcends the material qualities, a *sādhu,* devotee. Then where is the question of deliverance? The deliverance... He does not require deliverance, a *sādhu,* but because he is very much anxious to see the Supreme Lord eye to eye, that is his inner desire, therefore Kṛṣṇa comes. Not for deliverance. He's already delivered. He's already delivered from the material clutches. But to satisfy him. > Kṛṣṇa says, *ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi*. You are suffering here. Just like without any shelter, you see so many people loiter in the street, no aim, no life. We go in the beach side, we see so many boys and girls without an aim, loitering, do not know what to do, all confused. So... But if you take shelter of Kṛṣṇa, then you'll know, "Oh, I have got now shelter." There is no more confusions. There is no more hopelessness. You can understand it very well. And I receive so many letters daily, how they are hopeful in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. --- **[1974: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.7](spoken/1974/740421sb.hyd)** > Therefore our request is that you take this Kṛṣṇa conscious movement, Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, very serious and try to apply yourself in the service of Vāsudeva. The very simple thing. If you cannot do anything, you follow the instruction of Kṛṣṇa. As Kṛṣṇa says, *raso 'ham apsu kaunteya.* You are drinking water. While drinking water, as soon as you taste the sweet taste, you simply remember, "This is Kṛṣṇa." Is it very difficult task? Not at all. Simply you have to agree. *Raso 'ham apsu kaunteya prabhāsmi śaśi-sūryayoḥ*. > Kṛṣṇa says, "I am the taste of the water." So you are drinking water, and as soon as you drink, if you think that "Here is the taste of water, here is Kṛṣṇa," is it very difficult? Not at all difficulty. *Prabhāsmi śaśi-sūryayoḥ.* If you forget while drinking... Nobody can forget. But even intentionally you forget. So how you can check not seeing the sunshine and the moonshine? How it is possible? They say that "Have you seen God?" But why... You have seen also God, because Kṛṣṇa says, *prabhāsmi śaśi-sūryayoḥ:* "I am the sunshine." So who has not seen sunshine? So you have to begin seeing like that. Then if you remember Kṛṣṇa, that is also seeing. Seeing, spiritual seeing, does not mean simply to see by the eyes. Spiritual seeing means by chanting you can see, by describing you can see. Because Kṛṣṇa is Absolute. Absolute. *Śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam*.* In either of these item, either you hear of Kṛṣṇa, then you are seeing Kṛṣṇa. When you chant about Kṛṣṇa, then you are seeing Kṛṣṇa. When you are thinking of Kṛṣṇa, you are seeing Kṛṣṇa. This is the process. This is called *bhakti-yoga.* --- **[1976: Bhagavad-gītā 9.3](spoken/1976/760421bg.mel)** > So God is Himself explaining how you should live. That is *Bhagavad-gītā.* Therefore it is said, *aśraddhadhānāḥ puruṣā dharmasyāsya paran-tapa* : "My dear Arjuna, if somebody has no faith in My words..." Then what will be the result? The result will be, *aprāpya mām:* "He'll not get Me." *Aprāpya* means "not getting Myself." Then what he will get? *Aprāpya māṁ nivartante:* "Again he goes back." Instead of going back to home, back to Godhead, he goes back to where? Now, *mṛtyu-saṁsāra-vartmani* : "Again in the cycle of birth and death." Again cycle of birth and death. Suppose in this human form of life you can make your life so perfect that immediately after death, after giving up this body, you go back to home, back to Godhead. You regain your eternal life. But if you misuse this human form of life, do not endeavor for going back to home, back to Godhead, then again go back to the cycle of birth and death. This is nature's law. You are not independent. Nature is working like that. > So real aim of life is to stop the cycle of birth and death. That is real aim of life. If we do not know this, then we are ignorant. We are ignorant. First of all we must know that "I am eternal." That is... In the beginning of the *Bhagavad-gītā* it is very nicely explained that *antavanta ime dehā nityasyoktāḥ śarīriṇaḥ : "My dear Arjuna, this body is destructible, but the proprietor of the body, he is eternal." That is the first instruction. I am not this body; I am the proprietor of this body. You are not this body; you are the proprietor of this body. But if we think that "I am body," then that is the same thinking as the dog is thinking. Therefore I have given in the statement that if we think this lump of matter as "myself," then we are no better than the dog. The dog is also thinking like that. That human form of life is meant for understanding that "I am not this lump of matter; I am..." *Ahaṁ brahmāsmi:* "I am spirit soul." That is required. The whole *Bhagavad-gītā* teaching is based on this principle, first of all to understand that "I am not this body; I am spirit soul, Brahman." *Ahaṁ brahmāsmi.* --- **[1976: Morning Walk](spoken/1976/760421mw.mel)** > They have decided to kill the cow. They have decided, "No brain. Eat." And our prayer is *go-brāhmaṇa-hitāya ca,* "to do good to the *brāhmaṇas* and the cows." [*Viṣṇu Purāṇa* 1.19.65] Actually it is revolutionary to the modern age. But how it is possible we say otherwise? That Bon Mahārāja can say, I cannot say. When Bon Mahārāja here... When our students said something, "Oh, that you cannot say. That you cannot say." He said like that. > If you infect some disease, you'll have to suffer, automatically. It is not that the disease has to be injected. No. Because you have infected, you'll suffer. The same law is there: you have done this sinful—you'll suffer that. That is the cycle of birth and death. You have created mentality; you'll become the same animal, and you suffer. *Kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo 'sya*. --- ## Letters on April 21 *Letters from this day: 20* --- **[1968: Letter to Boys And Girls](letters/1968/680421_boys_and_girls)** > and my message unto you is that this Krishna Consciousness movement in your country is the greatest boon to you all. --- **[1968: Letter to Malati](letters/1968/680421_malati)** > Yes, here everything is very joyous, because so many nice boys and girls have joined the society, and they are joyfully dancing and chanting. You can let Syamasundara know that the calculation of Rathayatra was made one month ahead. --- **[1969: Letter to Govinda](letters/1969/690421_govinda)** > Your humble sentiments are very nicely expressed and I thank you for them. I have already written to Jivananda and Harsarani, and they are inclined to go to New Vrindaban but I have advised them to go to Hawaii after spending a short period in San Francisco training up the devotees there in Deity worship and Sankirtana Party. From Sudama's letter I can understand that some people are coming to your kirtanas, so try your best to develop your center and Krishna will surely help you. --- **[1970: Letter to Gopala Krsna](letters/1970/700421_gopala_krsna)** > I am very glad to learn that you are doing spiritual activities very nicely and you are always alert to see whether you are committing some offense. --- **[1970: Letter to Gurudasa](letters/1970/700421_gurudasa)** > So please send a full size photograph without any dress up to: Please take this photograph of the Deities without Their clothes on and send it immediately by airmail to the manufacturers. --- **[1970: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1970/700421_satsvarupa)** > I am glad to know that you are about to enlarge your altar and throne to accommodate the new Deities. However, you should not put the Vyasasana in the rear as they are doing in L.A. L.A. --- **[1970: Letter to Sudama](letters/1970/700421_sudama)** > So from your account and pictures also, the program of the 29th appears to have been very nicely executed. I am so very glad to learn that you have some boys coming regularly and two of them are now living with you. --- **[1971: Letter to Bhagavan](letters/1971/710421_bhagavan)** > Another thing is that I wanted some cost quotation from U.S.A. for first class paper like that used in TLC, KRSNA, NOD, and BTG. --- **[1971: Letter to Ksirodakasayi](letters/1971/710421_ksirodakasayi)** > Your former letter dated 13rd April has been duly replied and I hope you have received the same by this time. --- **[1971: Letter to Ranadhira](letters/1971/710421_ranadhira)** > For some reason I haven't received your package until just now, and I have not received your two previous letters either, otherwise I would have replied them immediately. --- **[1971: Letter to Tamala Krsna](letters/1971/710421_tamala_krsna)** > Sriman Bhagavan das is mailing out one newsletter of our activities to the Indian families in U. --- **[1972: Letter to Radha-Damodara](letters/1972/720421_radha-damodara)** > Upon the recommendation of Paramesvari I have gladly consented to accept you as my duly initiated disciple. --- **[1973: Letter to Hansadutta](letters/1973/730421_hansadutta)** > I am also enclosing Gayatri Mantras for the 14 disciples and 10 sacred threads duly chanted upon by me for the men disciples. --- **[1973: Letter to Jagadisa](letters/1973/730421_jagadisa)** > I was glad to receive the book distribution results from Toronto and especially the Vancouver Travelling Party. --- **[1974: Letter to Hansadutta](letters/1974/740421_hansadutta)** > I am also enclosing the names of 13 new disciples recommended by your. This is the result of our preaching propaganda, when our family members increase. --- **[1976: Letter to Ambarisa](letters/1976/760421_ambarisa)** > I am happy to know that you are appreciating our work amongst the academic community. --- **[1976: Letter to Madhudvisa](letters/1976/760421_madhudvisa)** > But, I'm seeing everything is going nicely, the same as when it was under your management. You can also establish the kirtana hall on the farm and install Gaura Nitai Deities. --- **[1976: Letter to Mrs. Blasko](letters/1976/760421_mrs._blasko)** > Now that the Dallas Gurukula has been closed we have opened many smaller regional Gurukulas on some of our farming communities, such as our farms in Vancouver, Pennsylvania, and also Mississippi as well as others. It is best if you go to one of these regional Gurukulas where you can be nicely engaged in Krishna's service, and your young daughter can go to Gurukula. --- **[1976: Letter to Puranjana](letters/1976/760421_puranjana)** > I have noticed how you are producing so many of our books now in the Spanish and Portuguese language. I shall be in Fiji by the 28th April, and shortly thereafter in Hawaii. --- **[1976: Letter to Vrindaban Chandra De](letters/1976/760421_vrindaban_chandra_de)** > By this time you must have received my letter dated April 13, 1976, along with the enclosed copy of letter verifying that the F. ---