# May 4 ## Spoken on May 4 *Lectures from this day: 8 recordings* --- **[1968: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.5.1–3](spoken/1968/680504sb.bos)** > So in this material world the reflection, perverted reflection, of the pleasure potency is there. A deficiency is there. Here we cannot have any pleasure on a permanent basis. Real pleasure is eternal: *ramante yogino 'nante satyānande cid-ātmani*. Therefore *yogīs*, they try to enter into that eternal blissful life. Just like diseased person who is actually serious about healthy life has to undergo certain restriction by the physician in order to quickly get out of the diseased condition. Similarly, if we want eternal bliss... We are hankering after bliss, but we do not know how to enjoy eternal bliss. That prescription is here, instructed by Mahārāja Ṛṣabha to his sons, that *tapo divyaṁ putrakā* : "My dear sons, this life, this human form of life, is not to waste for seeking material pleasures after so much hard struggles for life, because such temporary material pleasure is also enjoyed by the dogs and hogs." > So *mahat-sevāṁ dvāram āhur vimuktes*. So therefore in order to get ourselves freed from sex life completely, we have to associate with a person who is actually freed from sex life. That is called *mahat-sevā,* great soul. *Mahat-sevāṁ dvāram āhur vimuktes, tamo-dvāraṁ yoṣitāṁ saṅgi-saṅgam*. Because material existence means that attraction for sex life. Therefore this training—*brahmacārī* training*, gṛhastha* training*, vānaprastha* training—that is called *tapasya*. --- **[1969: Initiation of Baradrāj and Chandanācārya](spoken/1969/690504in.bos)** > Begin from here. Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. Then take next. In this way you'll come this side. You don't cross this. Again from..., begin here, and come to this. > Such sixteen rounds must be done every day. Your spiritual name is Chandanācārya dāsa. Chandanācārya. C-h-a-n-d-a-n-c-h-a-r-y-a dāsa. Chandanācārya, a great preacher of this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. So you are servant of that. You have to preach very nicely. Bow down. --- **[1970: Śrī Īśopaniṣad, Mantra 1](spoken/1970/700504ip.la)** > So that foolishness, when it is come to light... That is stated in the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam: parābhavas tāvad abodha-jāto yāvan na jijñāsata ātma-tattvam* This foolishness will continue so long as he does not come to the platform of understanding self-realization. Otherwise, all these universities and institution for imparting knowledge, they are continuation of that same ignorance and foolishness. > So we should be careful not to eat anything which is not offered to Kṛṣṇa, *prasādam.* That should be determination. We cannot purchase things from the market and eat. No. That is not possible. We cannot eat. We can simply eat such things which are offered to the Deity, Kṛṣṇa. That is *yajña-śiṣṭāśinaḥ*. Even if we have committed some sin, by eating this *prasādam* we counteract it. *Mucyante sarva-kilbiṣaiḥ. Yajña-śiṣṭa... Aśiṣṭa* means the remnants of foodstuff after offering *yajña.* If one eats, then *mucyante sarva-kilbiṣaiḥ.* Because our life is sinful, so we become, I mean to say, freed from the sinful activities. How it is? That is also stated in the *Bhagavad-gītā,* that *ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi *[1972: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.9.15](spoken/1972/720504sb.tok)** > So..., and foolish like that... Just like a foolish child, he is declaring himself, "I am God," and there are so many followers: "Oh, he is God. He is God." You see? They do not know what is God. At least we know what is God in this sense: that our God, when... Actually He is God. Therefore, at the age of seven years, He lifted a big mountain on the finger. So we accept this God. When He was young man He married sixteen thousand wives. These are the unique instances. And why shall I accept a cheap God who cannot provide even one wife? We are not... Because he cannot provide it, he does not marry. > If He is all-powerful, what is the difficulty for Him to lift a mountain? If He is all-strong, then where is the difficulty to maintain sixteen thousand wives? Why sixteen thousand? If He maintains sixteen millions of wives, still, it is insufficient. Because if we say "all potency, all-powerful, all-good," then to maintain sixteen thousand wives with sixteen thousand palaces and all the palaces made of first-class marble and gold and jewels, and the furnitures are made of ivory... These are description. That is God. Why we shall accept a nonsense God simply having a big beard or some...? You see? No. We don't accept. We accept real God. --- **[1973: Morning Walk](spoken/1973/730504mw.la)** > Just like the king or the president, we may make mistake. We may accept somebody as "Here is president." No. But the associates of the president, he knows. They know that "Here is president." Similarly, there is no question of mistake there. Four kinds of defects of material life—to commit mistake, to become illusioned, to cheat, and imperfection of the senses—these things are not there. Everyone's senses are perfect. When he sees God, he sees perfectly. He does not mistake. He is not illusioned. And there is no cheating and there is no imperfection of the senses. There is no mistake. These are spiritual life. > That thing is minus in the spiritual world. They are also attracted by the bodily features of the women. There is attraction, but they are more attracted by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra.* Therefore this bodily attraction of woman does not affect them. Just like if you have got better attraction, you don't care for the lower attraction. The attractions are there. The body of the woman is very beautiful. But men are not so much attracted with the body of the woman. They are more attracted to Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra.* These are described in the *Bhāgavata*. Here also, practically we see, those who are attracted by the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra,* they are not very much attracted with the bodily features of the women. Is it not? --- **[1973: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.8.42](spoken/1973/730504sb.la)** > So similarly, even in this material world, if you simply increase your Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then you are also in the spiritual world. Just like in this temple. In this temple we are living, we are living in the spiritual world, because here there is no other business than Kṛṣṇa consciousness. There is no other engagement. Although it is practice just like apprentice..., this Deity worship, *śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyam*,* so many engagement. But it is on account of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore those who are strictly following the regulations of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he's living in the spiritual world. He's not in the material world. Just like we are not living in Los Angeles; we are living in Vaikuṇṭha. Yes. That's a fact. It is consciousness. > So if we increase our attachment for Kṛṣṇa, then the detachment or renouncement of this material world will automatically come. *Bhaktiḥ pareśānubhavo viraktir anyatra syāt*.* If we increase our attachment, then that, Kuntīdevī is praying.That is also Kṛṣṇa's mercy. You cannot increase your attachment for Kṛṣṇa without Kṛṣṇa's mercy. You cannot become devotee... Therefore we have to simply serve Kṛṣṇa, *sevonmukhe.* By service Kṛṣṇa is very satisfied. Kṛṣṇa does not require anyone's service; He's perfect Himself. But if you give Him service wholeheartedly, sincerely, then by the mercy of Kṛṣṇa, you'll make advancement. *Sevonmukhe hi jihvādau svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ* [*Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu* 1.2.234]. --- **[1974: Morning Walk](spoken/1974/740504mw.bom)** > Prakṛtaḥ.* They are on the material platform; they're not on the spiritual platform. But this *rāsa-līlā* hearing is meant for persons who are actually on the spiritual platform. But they hear from the material platform; therefore... > Hare Kṛṣṇa. Go on. Parīkṣit Mahārāja said, when he was sitting on the bank of the Ganges, prepared for meeting death within seven days, all the great personalities, sages, saints, kings, they came to see him. So he said that "My dear *brāhmaṇas,* here is Ganges, and you are also present here. So take me as your surrendered soul. I am surrendered to you. So at the present moment let that *takṣaka,* the snake-bird, or anything may come and bite. I don't care for it. Please go on with the *kṛṣṇa-kathā.* Go on with your *kṛṣṇa-kathā.*" Yes. --- **[1976: Room Conversation](spoken/1976/760504r1.hon)** > "Oh, you are so nice; therefore I am flattering you. I humbly obeisance. Kindly hear one thing. Keep some books. It is not very costly." *Bās.* This much you can do. And let them become puffed up by their false notions. But if they keep some books, sometimes they will read or their sons will read. That's all. Therefore I am stressing so much on books, that if the puffed-up rascals take some book and sometimes, if they read, he'll be benefited, perfectly benefited. > Janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi-duḥkha-doṣānu*. First of all surpass this, *janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi.* Then talk of surpassing the laws of nature. Can the Communists overcome, stopping old age? No Communist will be old man? Then what way you have surpassed the laws of nature? No Communist will die? Then where is your surpassing laws of nature? Ultimately you are under the grip of laws of nature. So what is the meaning of this foolish talking, that "I am going to surpass the laws of nature"? Show us first of all. --- ## Letters on May 4 *Letters from this day: 30* --- **[1967: Letter to Malati](letters/1967/670504_malati)** > You have desired me to return to San Francisco by the 1st of June. My program was to go to Montreal but there is some difficulty about the visa so I may not go to Montreal, and in case I do not go it will be not difficult for me to return by 1st June to San Francisco. --- **[1967: Letter to Syamasundara](letters/1967/670504_syamasundara)** > For the balance eight books you can send me your check conveniently, there is no hurry. --- **[1967: Letter to Upendra](letters/1967/670504_upendra)** > Your humbleness and sincerity will make you more and more advanced in Krishna Consciousness. --- **[1969: Letter to Sivananda](letters/1969/690504_sivananda)** > Regarding your idea of supporting the temple by Sankirtana collections, it is nice. --- **[1970: Letter to Citsukhananda](letters/1970/700504_citsukhananda)** > As each and every ISKCON Center is my life and soul for preaching this movement, I hope you are doing your best to conduct the regular routine duties of the Temple—chanting regularly the beads,... --- **[1970: Letter to Damodara](letters/1970/700504_damodara)** > As each and every ISKCON Center is my life and soul for preaching this movement, I hope you are doing your best to conduct the regular routine duties of the Temple—chanting regularly the beads,... --- **[1970: Letter to Gurudasa](letters/1970/700504_gurudasa)** > As each and every ISKCON Center is my life and soul for preaching this movement, I hope you are doing your best to conduct the regular routine duties of the Temple—chanting regularly the beads,... --- **[1970: Letter to Iskcon Temple Presidents](letters/1970/700504_iskcon_temple_presidents)** > As each and every ISKCON Center is my life and soul for preaching this movement, I hope you are doing your best to conduct the regular routine duties of the Temple-chanting regularly the beads,... --- **[1970: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1970/700504_satsvarupa)** > As each and every ISKCON Center is my life and soul for preaching this movement, I hope you are doing your best to conduct the regular routine duties of the Temple—chanting regularly the beads,... --- **[1970: Letter to Sudama](letters/1970/700504_sudama)** > As each and every ISKCON Center is my life and soul for preaching this movement, I hope you are doing your best to conduct the regular routine duties of the Temple—chanting regularly the beads,... --- **[1970: Letter to Vamanadeva](letters/1970/700504_vamanadeva)** > As each and every ISKCON Center is my life and soul for preaching this movement, I hope you are doing your best to conduct the regular routine duties of the Temple—chanting regularly the beads,... --- **[1972: Letter to Gurudasa](letters/1972/720504_gurudasa)** > I have already written to Gargamuni, and he will not bother to become president. So combinedly you do everything nicely, he will supply money, but you can supply accounts and vouchers to Gargamuni for checking. --- **[1972: Letter to Hrdayananda](letters/1972/720504_hrdayananda)** > I was ready to send some threads and gayatri mantras to Houston, but now you have moved, so I shall send them to Pusta Krishna instead. --- **[1972: Letter to Karandhara](letters/1972/720504_karandhara)** > I have no objection if Kesava tours the USA and gives instruction how to sell books, then when he is finished USA he can go to London. --- **[1972: Letter to Ksirodakasayi](letters/1972/720504_ksirodakasayi)** > It is good news that you have come to your senses that nothing should be done by contractor. --- **[1973: Letter to Bhavananda](letters/1973/730504_bhavananda)** > Since leaving India more than one month I have not received any report of the Mayapur project, how it is going on. --- **[1974: Letter to Bhavatarini](letters/1974/740504_bhavatarini)** > Your enthusiastic response to my instructions is very encouraging. Actually the disciple is supposed to find relief from all his problems just by carrying out the orders of the spiritual master. Just as Arjuna in the beginning was completely confused and lamenting, but after accepting Krsna and hearing from Him he said, "Now my illusion is over, and I am prepared to do whatever you say." If the guru is a representative of the Supreme Lord in disciplic succession and the student is sincere, only then he can get him out of the clutches of the material energy to become situated in spiritual happiness above all material desires, in Krsna Consciousness. --- **[1974: Letter to Hansadutta](letters/1974/740504_hansadutta)** > There is no question of asking you to go away from Bhaktivedanta Manor. I have received word also from other sources that the situation has improved since you have come there. I have sent a detailed letter to Mukunda and this explains my desire. --- **[1974: Letter to Madhudvisa](letters/1974/740504_madhudvisa)** > Jaya tirtha has written inviting me to the Rathayatra in San Francisco on July 7. I will be in Europe until the end of June and I may go to the Ratha yatra in San Francisco on July 7. --- **[1974: Letter to Prabhakar](letters/1974/740504_prabhakar)** > I thank you very much for your letter dated nil, and I have carefully noted the contents. And I still maintain the feeling hoping you will be a great help in the Krsna Consciousness Movement. I am leaving the country by the 23rd May and before leaving I may go to Vrindaban via New Delhi to see how the temple construction is going on. --- **[1974: Letter to The Management Of Tirupati-Tirumala-Devasthanam](letters/1974/740504_the_management_of_tirupati-tirumala-devasthanam)** > I wish to express my heart-felt gratitude for the kind treatment given me and my disciples, members of the Hare Krishna Movement on our recent two day visit in Tirumala. --- **[1975: Letter to Aksayananda Dhananjaya](letters/1975/750504_aksayananda_dhananjaya)** > He would like to stay with us very much so see that full prasadam as well as a room is given during his stay in Vrndavana. --- **[1976: Letter to All Gbcs In The U.S.A](letters/1976/760504_all_gbcs_in_the_u.s.a)** > I have met with Tamala Krishna Goswami and it appears impractical to send anyone to China at this time. --- **[1976: Letter to Gaurasundara](letters/1976/760504_gaurasundara)** > I am presently here in Hawaii and I would be very pleased if you could come to meet with me. Hoping that this meets you in good health. --- **[1976: Letter to Giriraja](letters/1976/760504_giriraja)** > Seeing the success of the BBT Library Party, I am therefore stressing so much on the book distribution. --- **[1976: Letter to Kashinath Mullick](letters/1976/760504_kashinath_mullick)** > I am very glad to know that you are going to discuss the proposed matter amongst your contemporaries of the Subarnabanik Community and I shall be glad to hear the report. --- **[1976: Letter to Kirtanananda](letters/1976/760504_kirtanananda)** > Concerning the construction of a new temple for Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Candra, our men can see how the Indian mistris are doing the work there, and they can learn the art. During the construction, the Deities can be moved to some temporary place. The worship must continue, it doesn't matter if the Deities are moved. --- **[1976: Letter to Nityananda](letters/1976/760504_nityananda)** > On your recommendation I am accepting the following devotees for initiation: Hold a yajna and instruct the initiates that they must follow the 4 regulative principles: no intoxication, no meat-eating, no gambling, and no illicit sex-life, and chanting minimum 16 rounds of Hare Krishna Mahamantra daily. --- **[1976: Letter to Puranjana](letters/1976/760504_puranjana)** > I am in due receipt of the Spanish edition of the Srimad-Bhagavatam first Canto, Chapters 12-15, and I thank you very much. It is transcendental literature. --- **[1976: Letter to Radhavallabha](letters/1976/760504_radhavallabha)** > I would like to know who has done the advertising layout for the ad on page 98 and 99 of the brochure entitled, Association for Asian Studies, San Francisco, March 24-25, 1975. Please make enquiry and inform me who has done the layout and who placed the advertisement. ---