# April 23 ## Spoken on April 23 *Lectures from this day: 14 recordings* --- **[1969: Lecture, Śrīla Prabhupāda Listening to His Own Recording](spoken/1969/690423le.buf)** > And in the *Bhagavad-gītā,* Kṛṣṇa says that "There is another nature, which is *sanātana.*" *Sanātana* means there is no history of its creation or [indistinct]. But this material creation, as you know... We say, "God created." "God created" means before creation, God was existing. "God created"—this very word suggests that before this creation of this cosmic manifestation, God was existing. Therefore God is not under this creation. If God is under this creation, then how He can create? He becomes one of the object of the material creation. > Therefore Vedic process does not accept that one should endeavor to know the ultimate truth by exertion of our present senses, which are conditioned by so many ways. Therefore those who are students in the Vedic literature, they accept authorities. Just like you are reading *Bhagavad-gītā.* The *Bhagavad-gītā* is being taught by Lord Kṛṣṇa to Arjuna. He is authority. And Kṛṣṇa says that "This *Bhagavad-gītā* is taught from time immemorial by disciplic succession," not by research work. --- **[1972: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.9.1](spoken/1972/720423sb.tok)** > *Sa guṇān samatītyaitān brahma-bhūyaya kalpate*, Kṛṣṇa says. Immediately *brahma-bhūtaḥ. Brahmā-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā na śocati na kāṅkṣati*. He has no more lamentation, no more hankering. *Samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu:* he can see everyone on equal vision. Because he knows, "Here is also another living entity. He is not a Chinaman. He is a part and parcel of God. He is not a Christian. He is not a Hindu. He is simply thinking like that." So give him Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is real benefit, to bring him to the original position. Yes? > Sarva-haraś cāham.* The death means... Kṛṣṇa says, "I am death. I take it away, all, everything. Gone." Now just think of our past life. Suppose I was a king or something like that. From *Bhṛgu-saṁhitā* it was ascertained, they said—I do not know—that I was a big physician in my last life, very spotless character, no sin, like that. He explained me. So it may be. But actually I have no remembrance that I was a physician. So what do we know? I might have been a very big physician, influential physician, having a good practice, but where is all...? All gone. --- **[1973: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.8.31](spoken/1973/730423sb.la)** > Just like Kṛṣṇa's another name is Madana-mohana. *Madana* means Cupid. Cupid enchants everyone. Cupid. And Kṛṣṇa enchants Cupid. Therefore His name is Madana-mohana. He's so beautiful that even Cupid is enchanted by Him. But again, on the other side, Kṛṣṇa, although He's so beautiful that He enchants the Cupid, still He is enchanted by Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. Therefore Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's name is Madana-mohana-mohinī. Kṛṣṇa is the enchanter of the Cupid, and Rādhārāṇī is the enchanter of the..., that enchanter. So these are very high-grade spiritual understanding in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. It is not fiction or imagination, concoction. They are facts. They are facts. And every devotee can have such privileges if he is actually advanced. > He is accepting, "My dear Mother, yes, I am offender." *Ninīya vaktraṁ bhaya-bhāvanayā,* with a feeling of fearfulness. *Sthitasya.* Sometimes when Yaśodāmātā, Mother Yaśodā, used to see that the child has become too much afraid, she also became disturbed. Because if the child is disturbed—it is a psychology—there is some mental reaction. So Mother Yaśodā did not want that "Actually Kṛṣṇa will suffer by my punishment." That was not Kṛṣṇa..., Mother Yaśodā's purpose. But as a mother feelingly, when she feels too much disturbance, the child is... --- **[1974: Morning Walk](spoken/1974/740423mw.hyd)** > You will have to change your body. Now, where it will be changed, how it will be changed, what kind of body you will get—that is not in your hand. That is not in your hand. You cannot say, "Oh, I am prime minister. I must get such and such body." That is not going to be accepted. But these foolish rascal people, they do not understand it. *Prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ*. I am acting under certain infection. So I am infecting, say, some venereal disease. So I must suffer for it. >...thing we have introduced. Very, very simple thing. But still, if he cannot... [break]...[indistinct] Mahārāja. He is..., he imitating *smārta paṇḍita,* but he cannot rise early in the morning. Never. And he is imitating the *smārta paṇḍita.* You know that? *Smārta,* and so on pot, and this and that, and *āsana.* [laughing] And "I had some..., consult with some *smārta paṇḍita,*" and the real business, to rise early in the morning, he will never do. He will never do. *Brāhmaṇa. Brāhmaṇa* means he must rise early in the morning. What kind of *brāhmaṇa?* [seeing Pradyumna approaching] Oh, he is coming. [laughs] Early in the morning at half past seven. If he walks early in the morning, all his disease will be cured. That he will not do. --- **[1974: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.9](spoken/1974/740423sb.hyd)** > So this is the position. *Itthaṁ brahma-sukhānubhūtyā.* Here is Kṛṣṇa. Who is that? The Supreme Brahman, Para-brahman. The *jñānīs,* they want to appreciate the Supreme Brahman. *Satām. Brahma-sukha, brahma-sukha.* They are after *brahma-sukha.* Here is the source of *brahma-sukha. Brahmaṇo 'haṁ pratiṣṭhā.* So here is the... Just like the light, illumination—there is a source of light, the sunshine, illumination. The source is the sun globe. Similarly, the *brahma-jyoti,* what is the source? Kṛṣṇa says, *brahmaṇaḥ ahaṁ pratiṣṭhā:* "I am the source. From Me it is coming." Therefore the same thing is... *Itthaṁ brahma-sukhānubhūtyā:* "the source of *brahma-sukha.*" *Itthaṁ brahma-sukhānubhūtyā dāsyaṁ gatānāṁ nara-dārakeṇa..., para daivatena.* And *dāsyaṁ gatānām:* "Those who have accepted the principle of to become the servant of God," means the devotees. The devotees, they never want to become one with Brahman effulgence, *sāyujya-mukti.* They will never accept this. They want to keep their individuality and enjoy with Kṛṣṇa. That is Vaiṣṇava philosophy. *Itthaṁ brahma-sukhānubhūtyā dāsyaṁ gatānāṁ para-daivatena. Para-daivata:* "the Supreme Lord." And *māyāśritānāṁ nara-dārakeṇa:* "And those who are under the influence of *māyā,* they are thinking Kṛṣṇa as ordinary human child," *nara-dārakeṇa.* But after all, these boys who are playing, *sārdhaṁ vijahruḥ kṛta-puṇya-puñjāḥ*: "After accumulating many lives' pious activities, now they are promoted here at Vṛndāvana to play with Kṛṣṇa." > But this thing can be purely enjoyed not alone in this material world, but you have to go back to home, go back to Kṛṣṇa, and there is your real life. Kṛṣṇa comes therefore. He displays His *rāsa* dance in Vṛndāvana to attract these fallen souls, that "If you want enjoyment, why not come back to Me? Here is the enjoyment. Here is the enjoyment, eternal enjoyment. Why you are rotting in this material world and becoming implicated, sometimes as Brahmā and sometime as the worm in the stool? Enjoyment, varieties of enjoyment. Why? Why you are so become fool?" Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, He comes here, *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja* : --- **[1975: Morning Walk](spoken/1975/750423mw.vrn)** > But this machine will be stopped as soon as the increase of population of rogues and demons. The machine is there already. *Mūḍhā nābhijānāti mām ebhyaḥ param avyayam*. The background is Kṛṣṇa. *Mayādhyakṣeṇa*, under His order. He says, "Don't supply here." *Mayādhyakṣeṇa*—the supply is stopped. That they do not know. They are making scientific research. What scientific research? Bring water. There is so much water. Bring that water, distill it and throw. Are you such great scientist? And by God's arrangement the sun is there, evaporates the water from the sea, and it becomes purified without any salt, and it is extravagantly thrown on the land. And the same water again flowing down through the river in the sea, the water is reserved. Nothing is lost. --- **[1975: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.7.6](spoken/1975/750423sb.vrn)** > "I am not exposed to everyone, because the *yogamāyā* is covering their eyes." In another place Kṛṣṇa says, *avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā mānuṣīṁ tanum āśritam*: "Because I have come here to favor these people of this world..." These rascals, *mūḍha—mūḍha* means rascal—they are deriding; they are thinking Kṛṣṇa as one of us. Therefore Kṛṣṇa is *adhokṣaja.* If you want to see Kṛṣṇa by your material speculation, you will never be able to see Kṛṣṇa. *Yogamāyā-samāvṛtaḥ.* > So actually our material knowledge, we have discovered this electricity just to counteract these sufferings of this material body. *Kaṣṭān kāmān*. This body is therefore *anartha. Anartha* means things which are not required. That is called *anartha. Artha* means things which we require, positive. And *anartha* means things which we do not require but unnecessarily imposed upon us. So that is suffering. We are thinking that we are enjoying this electric fan, but actually we are suffering; therefore the electric fan is required. So why this electric fan is required? Because the body is *anartha;* it has created the situation. The same electric fan will be a trouble, a misery, in winter season. The same body, the same electric fan—sometimes it is pleasing, and sometimes it is not pleasing. Therefore the conclusion is this body is *anartha,* not required. But people do not know that without this material body we can exist. Actually we are existing in spiritual body, and this material body is a covering of the spiritual body. Just like your shirt and coat are covering of your real body, similarly, this material body is covering of the spiritual body. We have got our spiritual body. So when a person comes to the understanding that "This body is *anartha,* unnecessarily imposed upon me," that is called knowledge. That is called *brahma-jñāna. Brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā*. --- **[1976: Bhagavad-gītā 9.4](spoken/1976/760423bg.mel)** > So we have to take information from the right source. Then we are awareness of everything. How God is expanded everywhere, you can take this example. The sun is away from us, according to the scientists' calculation, 93,000,000 miles away. And immediately, within a second, his sunshine is expanded all over the universe. Immediately. At least 93,000,000's of miles. Within a second. So if it is possible by ordinary material thing, Kṛṣṇa, God, is full spiritual; how much spiritually powerful He is, that He can expand Himself all over the universes? This is called thoughtful consideration. So Kṛṣṇa... When Kṛṣṇa says, *mayā tatam idaṁ sarvam,* "I am expanded everywhere," where is the difficulty to understand? There is no difficulty—if we are sane person. If we can see that "In one universe there is one sun, and the sun is so powerful, it is a material thing. And there are innumerable universes and there are innumerable suns. One who has created these suns, how much powerful He is." This is the calculation, common sense. If one sun, which is material, if it is so powerful that for millions and millions of years it is giving its energy, heat and light—still, it is so bright and powerful and temperature is so high—how much powerful temperature is of God, you can just imagine. > "My dear Kṛṣṇa, I am surrendering unto You. I accept You as my spiritual master. Kindly teach me." So he became perfect by making Kṛṣṇa his friend. So nine processes. Any process you take and do it perfectly, then you become perfect. So we are opening different centers all over the world. At least if they come and hear about Kṛṣṇa they'll become perfect, without doing anything, simply by hearing, hearing. *Śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam.* It is very easy. It is not at all difficult. Where is the difficulty? God has given us ear, and if we simply hear, listen what Kṛṣṇa says, we become perfect. --- **[1976: Initiation Lecture [Partially Recorded](spoken/1976/760423in.mel)** > The living entities, they are transmigrating from one form of life to another and wandering from one planet to another, sometimes low-grade life, sometimes high-grade life. This is going on. This is called *saṁsāra-cakra-vartmani.* Last night we were explaining, *mṛtyu-saṁsāra-vartmani. This very word is used, *mṛtyu-saṁsāra-vartmani.* Very difficult ways of life, to die. Everyone is afraid of dying, because after death nobody knows what is going to happen. Those who are foolish, they are animals. Just like animals are being slaughtered, the other animal is thinking that "I am safe." So any person with little intelligence will never like to die and accept another body. And we do not know what kind of body we are going to get. > So this initiation by the grace of *guru* and Kṛṣṇa, do not take it very leniently. Take it very seriously. It is a great opportunity. *Bīja* means seed, seed of *bhakti.* So whatever you have promised before the Lord, before your spiritual master, before fire, before Vaiṣṇavas, never deviate from this promise. Then you will keep fixed up in your spiritual life: no illicit sex, no meat-eating, no gambling, no intoxication—these four no's—and chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa—one yes. Four no's and one yes. That will make your life successful. It is very easy. It is not difficult. But *māyā* is very strong, sometimes deviates us. So when there is endeavor by the *māyā* to deviate us, just pray to Kṛṣṇa, "Please save me. I am surrendered, fully surrendered, and kindly give me protection," and Kṛṣṇa will give you protection. But don't miss this opportunity. That is my request. I have all my good wishes and blessings upon you. So let us take the opportunity of *bhakti, bhakti-latā-bīja. Mālī hañā sei bīja kare āropaṇa*. --- **[1976: Room Conversation with Minister Dixon, State Minister for Social Services, Sport and Recreation, State of Victoria Liberal Party](spoken/1976/760423r1.mel)** > These animals which has no leg, they are food for the animals with four leg. Just like cow eats grass, the goat eats grass. So eating vegetable, there is no credit. Then the goats and the cows are more credit, have more credit, because they don't touch anything except vegetable. So we are not preaching to become goats and cows. No. We are preaching that you become servant of Kṛṣṇa. So whatever Kṛṣṇa eats, we eat. If Kṛṣṇa says that "Give me meat, give me eggs," so we shall offer Kṛṣṇa meat and eggs, and we shall take it. So don't think that we are after vegetarian, nonvegetarian. No. That is not our philosophy. Because either you take vegetable or you take meat, you are killing. And you have to kill, because otherwise you cannot live. That is nature's way. > When you accept Kṛṣṇa, or God... When I say Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa means God. God is the proprietor of everything. Just take for example the United Nation. They are going and making noise, full speeches, for the last fifty years, but the fighting is going on. But they do not... Why do they not pass a resolution that "This earth planet..." Take... Only take this earth planet, earthly planet. Other you leave aside. "This is the property of God, and we are all sons of God. Let us enjoy the property of the..." But you will not allow. You Australian, you have got so much land. You won't allow anybody to come, because you think it is your land. --- **[1976: Room Conversation with Mormons](spoken/1976/760423r2.mel)** > "I am the taste of the water." So when you drink... Who is not drinking water? At least three times, four times we drink water, everyone of us. So when you drink, and the water quenches your thirst, and you feel some taste nice, Kṛṣṇa says, God says, "I am that taste." So where is my difficulty to remember God? If you simply remember this formula, that "The taste of the water is Kṛṣṇa," immediately you remember Kṛṣṇa. *Prabhāsmi śaśi-sūryayoḥ*: "I am the shining of the sun, shining of the moon." So who does not see the shining of the sun and the moon? At night you see the shining of the moon, and day you see... So where is the chance of forgetting God? There is no chance at all. As soon as you see the sunshine you remember, "Oh, here is Kṛṣṇa." As soon as see the moonshine, "Oh, here is Kṛṣṇa." As soon as you taste water, "Oh, here is Kṛṣṇa." So in this way there is list, that you cannot avoid the chance of remembering Kṛṣṇa. Every moment, every time, you can remember Kṛṣṇa. And Kṛṣṇa, God, says, *man-manā bhava mad-bhaktaḥ*: "You always think of Me." So where is my difficulty to think of Kṛṣṇa, unless I purposefully do not do it? It is not that when I go to the church and temple I can remember. I can remember Him..., twenty-four hours. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. > So Kṛṣṇa says, "Give Me food from the vegetables." So we offer Him very nice, palatable dishes and we eat. This is our principle. So even while eating, we remember God: "Kṛṣṇa has so nicely eaten this. Let me take the remnants." So while eating, we are remembering God. So if God said that "You remember Me always," we can do it. He has explained how to remember Him. He said, *raso 'ham apsu kaunteya* : --- **[1977: Meeting with Mr. Dwivedi](spoken/1977/770423me.bom)** > You must take *Bhagavad-gītā* as it is. Then there is authority. You cannot change it. If you change it, where is the authority? Can you change the simple law, "Keep to the right," "Keep to the left"? No. It is authority. If the direction is "Keep to the right," you must keep to the right. You cannot say that "What is the wrong if I keep to the left?" Then there is no authority. So Gandhi, Tilak and Aurobindo and so on, so on, they took *Bhagavad-gītā* as a childish play. Whatever they want, they interpret like that. And Vivekananda supported, *yato mata tato patha:* "You can have your own opinion." These are all nonsense. Therefore country is ruined. You must take as it is. Then it will be... You cannot change the authority of *Bhagavad-gītā.* Kṛṣṇa says, *kṛṣi-go-rakṣya-vāṇijyaṁ vaiśya...*. > We test like that. Anyone who is not Kṛṣṇa conscious, he is a *mūḍha, duṣkṛtina, narādhamā.* That is our general definition. How we do it? Kṛṣṇa says. That's all. *Mūḍhas.* So therefore it is required that people should be Kṛṣṇa conscious. Then everything is all right. *Yasmin vijñāte sarvam idaṁ vijñātaṁ bhavati* [*Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad* 1.3]. Everyone, time, will believe.[?] So we can take up, we can immediately begin, but if local people cooperate, then we can do the rest. That is... --- ## Letters on April 23 *Letters from this day: 13* --- **[1967: Letter to Hayagriva Shyamsundar And Haridas](letters/1967/670423_hayagriva_shyamsundar_and_haridas)** > I request herewith all devotees to conduct Kirtan movement without any stoppage and this will bring about real peace and prosperity in the world. It is something genuine and authorised. By following the principles one is sure to be both materially and spiritually advanced. --- **[1970: Letter to Sri Birlaji](letters/1970/700423_sri_birlaji)** > Actually there is nothing like materialism. Materialism means forgetfulness of Krishna or God. We are preaching therefore Krishna Consciousness. --- **[1971: Letter to Manager Of Bank Of Baroda](letters/1971/710423_manager_of_bank_of_baroda)** > Manager, Bank of Baroda Bombay-20 BR Re: My a/c no. --- **[1971: Letter to Professor G. G. Kotovsky](letters/1971/710423_professor_g._g._kotovsky)** > My life is dedicated to spreading this Krishna culture all over the world. I think if you give me a chance to speak about the great Krishna culture and philosophy in your country, you will very much appreciate the simple programme with great profit. This culture is so well planned that it would be acceptable by any thoughtful man throughout the whole world. --- **[1972: Letter to Giriraja](letters/1972/720423_giriraja)** > This food distribution program is to be done very, very nicely as I have already written in my last letter. --- **[1972: Letter to Krsnakanti](letters/1972/720423_krsnakanti)** > Your endeavors to spread Krishna consciousness by means of radio and television is very encouraging to me, and I am looking forward to participating in this program when I return to Los Angeles soon. --- **[1973: Letter to Thakura Haridasa](letters/1973/730423_thakura_haridasa)** > Now you have to impress upon hm, that when talent is used to glorify the Supreme Lord, that is perfection of talent. Just like one of our students, he is scientist, Ph.d, and he can present God by scientific statement. --- **[1974: Letter to Mr. Saxena](letters/1974/740423_mr._saxena)** > My Krsna Consciousness movement is especially meant for this purpose. I wish that from the very beginning of life everyone should be enlightened with Krsna Consciousness, because the human life is very important for fulfilling this mission. The mission of human life is to understand the real constitutional position of the spirit soul and to know that everyone of us living entities is an eternal servant of Krsna. --- **[1974: Letter to Niranjana](letters/1974/740423_niranjana)** > You are asking what should your preaching work be now that you are attending the university. So the first preaching work is that yourself should become an ideal devotee. Lord Caitanya said that one should first make himself perfect and then attempt to instruct others. --- **[1976: Letter to Ramesvara Ranadira](letters/1976/760423_ramesvara_ranadira)** > Firstly, there is no need to print the *Reservoir of Pleasure* as if it were an excerpt from Dr. --- **[1976: Letter to Shaktimati](letters/1976/760423_shaktimati)** > It is best that you stay there in Nairobi. There you have your family, and you can assist in the activities of the Nairobi Temple. Try to remain always engaged in Krishna's service. --- **[1976: Letter to Sons And Daughters](letters/1976/760423_sons_and_daughters)** > I am very grateful for all your offerings of daksina to your spiritual master. and always chanting Hare Krishna, minimum 16 rounds daily. If you take very seriously these principles then Krishna will bless you without any doubt. --- **[1976: Letter to Yasodanandana](letters/1976/760423_yasodanandana)** > Concerning the printing of the Brahmasamhita, I have informed Ramesvara Maharaja that the BBT Trustees can discuss this, and if they approve it, then I have no objection. You have stated that you would also assist in the printing costs. I can write an introduction to the book if it is approved by the others to go ahead and print it. ---