# May 1 ## Spoken on May 1 *Lectures from this day: 7 recordings* --- **[1972: Lecture](spoken/1972/720501le.tok)** > Māyā* is nothing but an illusion which is covering my Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is called *māyā.* I am... Kṛṣṇa says that *mamaivāṁśo jīva-bhūtaḥ* : "All these living entities, they are My parts and parcel, *sanātana,* not that they have now become servant of Me by material contact, but they are eternally servant." Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, *jīvera svarūpa haya nitya kṛṣṇa dāsa* : "The real identity of the living entity is that he is eternal servant of God, or Kṛṣṇa." When we speak of Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa means God. *Kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam*. > So this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is very important movement—important in this sense, that we are educating people without any discrimination about Kṛṣṇa, what is Kṛṣṇa. And actually, as we understand from the *Bhagavad-gītā,* if we simply can understand what is Kṛṣṇa, as Kṛṣṇa says, that *manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu kaścid yatati siddhaye, yatatām api siddhānām... .* It is very difficult to understand Kṛṣṇa. But still, Kṛṣṇa is understandable if we simply follow the instruction of the *Bhagavad-gītā* as it is, without any malinterpretation. --- **[1972: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.9.2–3](spoken/1972/720501sb.tok)** > Therefore Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says, *nānā yoni brāhmaṇa kare*, *karma-kāṇḍa jñāna-kāṇḍa sakale viṣera bhāṇḍa* [*Prema-bhakti-candrikā*]. Those who are taking to the *karmīs'* life or *jñānīs'* life... Even *jñānīs'* life... *Jñānīs'* life means higher type of forms of body. Just like where so long... Here the *jñānīs* have got a very nice body, brahminical body, pure, cleansed and beautiful, knowledge. The higher development, they can go still up, Maharloka, Janaloka, Tapoloka, Satyaloka, Siddhaloka, Brahmaloka. *Ūrdhvaṁ gacchanti sattva-sthā*. > The same thing explained in *Bhagavad-gītā: ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā* : by false ego they have become befooled. *Kartāham iti manyate. Kartā. Kartā* means the proprietor, or the master. He is not actually master, but under the influence of different modes of material nature he is feeling, "I am master. I am enjoyer. I am *bhokta.*" This is the trouble. --- **[1973: Initiations](spoken/1973/730501in.la)** > Asura*. *Asura* means just the opposite number of devotees. That's all. This is the general definition of demons: opposite number. So anyone who is against Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he is a demon. That's all. This is general. Come on. What are the rules and regulation? --- **[1973: Morning Walk](spoken/1973/730501mw.la)** > Similarly, you surrender, you will be protected. Kṛṣṇa says that. *Ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ* : "Don't be worried. I will give you protection. You surrender unto Me." And the scientists say, "Oh, what is God? These are all nonsense, primitive ideas. Primitive." They have become advanced; therefore they should give up the idea of God. Now India is declared famine. What these leaders will do? > If you help one murderer, if you help one thief, then you also become criminal. Is it not? So they are helping one another, all these thieves and rogues. Therefore there is so much trouble in the world. They are all criminals. *Stena eva sa ucyate*. One who does not recognize the proprietorship of the Lord, he is a thief. Find out, take statistics how many people recognizes God. Take statistic. Everyone will say, "Eh! What is God? Nonsense." Everyone will say. Therefore they are in trouble. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura summarizes this fact: *māyār bośe, jāccho bhese, khāccho hābuḍubu bhāi, jīv kṛṣṇa-dās, e biśwās, korle to ār duḥkho nā.* --- **[1973: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.8.39](spoken/1973/730501sb.la)** > So therefore Kṛṣṇa consciousness must be there. If we actually want to be free from the reaction of sinful life that we are doing, knowingly or unknowingly, then Kṛṣṇa consciousness must be there. Kṛṣṇa says, *ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi*. Therefore it is recommended, *kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ* [*Cc Ādi* 17.31]. Always we have to be engaged in chanting: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma..., so that Kṛṣṇa will save us. Knowingly we cannot commit any sinful activities. That is one thing. Unknowingly also we cannot do it. Then we'll be liable. > Therefore if you remain in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, if you always keep Kṛṣṇa within your mind, then... Just like when the sun is there, there cannot be any darkness. Similarly, if you keep *kṛṣṇa sūrya,* the Kṛṣṇa sun... That is our motto in the *Back to Godhead: kṛṣṇa sūrya sama māyā andhakāra*. Kṛṣṇa is just like brilliant sunshine, and the *māyā,* ignorance, is just like darkness. But when or while or where the sun is there, there cannot be any darkness. Similarly, you keep Kṛṣṇa in consciousness always, there cannot be any ignorance; there cannot be any darkness. You'll be walking very freely in bright sunshine of Kṛṣṇa. Don't try to make Kṛṣṇa absent. That is Kuntī's prayer. "My dear Kṛṣṇa, You are going to Dvārakā..." This is an example. They are not going. Kṛṣṇa is not going from the Pāṇḍavas. --- **[1974: Morning Walk](spoken/1974/740501mw.bom)** > So both the *sādhu* and the *duṣkṛtina,* by Kṛṣṇa's two activities, act differently to the devotees and to the demons. They realize. That is their achievement. By punishment, this Kāliya realized, "Oh, Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Lord." And devotees, by out of love they realize. Therefore Kṛṣṇa is Absolute. In either process He is realized. *Mama vartmānuvartante manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ*. If one is sincere, then they gradually make progress. Yes. > That is described. *Kṛta-puṇya-puñjāḥ. Puñja... Puñja* means heaps, volumes, volumes of pious activities. Then one can come to Kṛṣṇa. *Yeṣām anta-gataṁ pāpaṁ janānāṁ puṇya-karmaṇām*. Nobody can come to Kṛṣṇa unless he has background of pious activities and one who has become freed from all sinful activities. *Yeṣām anta-gataṁ pāpaṁ janānāṁ puṇya-karmaṇām.* This is the qualification. [break] --- **[1976: Room Conversation](spoken/1976/760501r1.fij)** > So everything is explained in the Vedic literature. If you can present them properly, it will act. The voters are *śva-viḍ-varāhoṣṭra-khara*. And the president is another big animal. That's all. This is transaction of animal kingdom. A lion is the king of some asses, pigs, dogs and hogs. What business you can expect there? This is their real picture. One who is a human being, he's seeing that how the animals are enjoying by voting and electing president. But they are thinking, "We are busy in a very great business. We are electing president." [laughter] This is going on. >and you say that these rascal pigs, hogs, they elected president, and this president will eat them, and they will understand what kind of president they have elected. This thing is happening in the most advanced country of USA, and what to speak of other animal kingdoms. Even the topmost state at the present moment, there also is happening the same thing. And what to speak of other small states. --- ## Letters on May 1 *Letters from this day: 17* --- **[1967: Letter to Janardana](letters/1967/670501_janardana)** > Regarding my Canadian Visa, I shall go to Montreal when you are confident of getting it there. So conveniently you try to get information from the right source and the best thing will be to get me as a teacher as you suggested in your previous letter. --- **[1969: Letter to Dayananda](letters/1969/690501_dayananda)** > Just yesterday morning I was thinking of you that I did not hear from Dayananda for so many days, and immediately I got your nice letter dated April 25, 1969. --- **[1970: Letter to Kenneth](letters/1970/700501_kenneth)** > I am so glad to receive your letter dated April 1970, and I am so pleased to learn that you are chanting Mahamantra Hare Krishna. --- **[1970: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1970/700501_satsvarupa)** > I have replied the boy, and the letter is enclosed herewith, please forward it to him. --- **[1970: Letter to Tamala Krsna](letters/1970/700501_tamala_krsna)** > Perhaps you know Tamala is a nice tree in Vrndavana, and because the color of the tree exactly resembles that of Krsna, therefore Srimati Radharani always used to take rest underneath the Tamala tree when she was feeling separation from Krsna. --- **[1971: Letter to Laksmimoni](letters/1971/710501_laksmimoni)** > So far as taking care of the Deities and your family simultaneously, you have to do both mutually, but the main importance is Deity worship. Just like a busy housewife always busy in household affairs, yet still she is engaged in dressing herself nicely, combing her hair, etc. --- **[1971: Letter to Lance Nally](letters/1971/710501_lance_nally)** > I am so glad to hear that you are now becoming serious about engaging in devotional service. --- **[1973: Letter to Amogha](letters/1973/730501_amogha)** > I am sorry to learn that you had to leave your engagement in Indonesia. Anyway, so now you are in Australia, so you can consult with Madhudvisa Swami as to what to do there in Indonesia, and you also consult with Karandhara Prabhu as to the passport problem. --- **[1973: Letter to Giriraja](letters/1973/730501_giriraja)** > But, you all have cancelled our claim, that weakens our case. So, why not let the Rent Court settle up and determine the rent of the land, and we will pay the actual rent of the land. --- **[1974: Letter to Acarya Prabhakar Mishra](letters/1974/740501_acarya_prabhakar_mishra)** > Sometimes in the year 1950 or 51 I first met you in Jhansi and since then we were very intimately connected and you took Hare Nama from me and I also expected in the future both of us would preach the Krsna Consciousness movement all over the world. So practically more than 20 years have passed and you are working in a different field of activities. I am also working in a different field of activities. --- **[1974: Letter to Evening News Of India](letters/1974/740501_evening_news_of_india)** > With reference to your advertisement, "Wanted Land", we can offer you a plot of vacant land, area about 6,000 square yards very good location near Juhu Beach, on lease terms only. --- **[1974: Letter to Jayatirtha](letters/1974/740501_jayatirtha)** > Concerning how to induce grhasthas to take part in Krsna Consciousness activities rather than in activities of Maya it is very simple: they should attend the temple program rigidly. Morning arati, classes, sankirtana. We have given houses with the purpose to execute devotional service exactly like the Brahmacaris and sannyasis. --- **[1974: Letter to Karandhara](letters/1974/740501_karandhara)** > After receiving your letter of April 12, 1974, I sent you a telegram requesting you as follows: "Come immediately to Bombay. --- **[1974: Letter to Mahatma](letters/1974/740501_mahatma)** > Regarding your wanting to give up household life for vanaprastha you may do it and spend your time positively by going on traveling sankirtana, provided it is recommended by the temple president and there is facility for taking such a party. I was preaching and writing for eight or nine years as Vanaprastha and then in 1959 I took sannyasa. --- **[1974: Letter to Markandeya Rsi](letters/1974/740501_markandeya_rsi)** > You are of course welcome to come to India, but if you are not living in a temple now in the association of devotees, how can you expect to live that way in a foreign country like India? My point is, just coming to India may not automatically be the solution to your problems. You say the U.S. --- **[1974: Letter to Trivikrama](letters/1974/740501_trivikrama)** > It is very good news that you have found Taiwan such a favorable place, with the people and the government inclined towards religious men. Of course only Krsna Consciousness can provide the real understanding of religion beyond sectarian dogmas, and it is the only movement which can really bring benediction in the form of Love of God to everyone, without difficulty. So take it as Krsna's mercy that the atmosphere is somehow favorable and try to recruit Chinese boys to worship of Lord Krsna. --- **[1977: Letter to Hari-Sauri](letters/1977/770501_hari-sauri)** > May Krsna bless you and give you more and more intelligence how to manage everything very nicely in Australia and New Zealand. As you have recommended them I accept Michael Pepper and Jackie as my duly initiated disciples. ---