# May 9 ## Spoken on May 9 *Lectures from this day: 11 recordings* --- **[1969: Bhagavad-gītā 4.1–2](spoken/1969/690509bg.col)** > So everything is in detail. This is called Vedic literature. Vedic literature is not concerned only with this planet. Vedic literature deals with all the universal planets. Just see, here is the statement. Kṛṣṇa says that "In the beginning I explained this science of *Bhagavad-gītā* to the present predominating deity of sun planet, whose name is Vivasvān." > So do you think that Kṛṣṇa is playing joke or speaking something lie, that he said to Vivasvān, the present presiding deity? No, that is not possible. Actually He has spoken. And Kṛṣṇa... One... Others may think of Kṛṣṇa, *avajānanti māṁ mūḍhāḥ .* Rascals and fools may think of Kṛṣṇa as ordinary man. But in India the great *ācāryas,* just like Śaṅkarācārya, Rāmānujācārya, Madhvācārya, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu—practically these *ācāryas* are guiding the whole destiny of the Hindu world—they have all accepted Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So whatever Kṛṣṇa is speaking, that is right. --- **[1969: Temple Opening](spoken/1969/690509to.col)** > These are real knowledge, and these things you will get from our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. And by chanting this *mantra,* Hare Kṛṣṇa, you will be fit to receive this knowledge, because at the present moment our heart is full with contaminated dust—garbage. This will be fin... This will be finished. This will be cleansed, *śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇa puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ*. > Veda* means knowledge. Knowledge means..., ultimate knowledge means to know God, or Kṛṣṇa. That is perfection of knowledge. *Bahūnāṁ janmanām ante* : after many, many births' cultivation of knowledge, when one comes to the point of understanding God, or Kṛṣṇa, then there is perfection. *Bahūnāṁ.* That there, --- **[1970: Śrī Īśopaniṣad, Mantra 7](spoken/1970/700509ip.la)** > So real identity is in the Vedic literature we find that just like the fire, big fire, and the sparks of the fire, they are of the same quality, but the small spark, when he goes out of the fire and falls elsewhere, then, at that time, its fiery quality becomes covered. So this covering becomes manifest according to different qualities. Just like the fire. If a fire spark, if it drops on the water, then it is..., it assumes completely extinguished. Similarly, the living entity, although qualitatively the fire, with God, when it contacts the modes of ignorance, his spiritual quality becomes almost extinct. > So one has to come, therefore, to the platform of goodness in this material world. If one does not come to the platform of goodness... The platform of goodness is the brahminical qualification. That we are preaching. Our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is to bring some men on the platform of goodness. The world requires it now. The world is [in] need of some *brāhmaṇas,* qualified *brāhmaṇas.* Not that... You are being trained up to become qualified *brāhmaṇas.* So be always careful that you may not contact the quality of passion and ignorance. --- **[1973: Morning Walk](spoken/1973/730509mw.la)** > When you find out somebody who controls but is not controlled by anyone, He is God. Where is the difficulty to understand? Everyone here we see that although a person is controller, at the same time he is controlled. Therefore the ideal living entity is, he controls but he is not controlled by others. That is supreme. > There is no use of mixing another chemicals. And it will actually be. Then let the water remain for some time. When it will decompose, the life will come. The is stagnant water, life will come. Just like in the ocean, there are so many lives are coming out. Who is going to put the chemical? Nonsense. Where you have got so much chemical? And you can find out tons and tons, millions of tons of fish, but nobody went to give there the chemicals. --- **[1973: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.8.47](spoken/1973/730509sb.la)** > Svāmin kṛtārtho 'smi varaṁ na yāce :* "My dear Lord, I am so satisfied that I have no more need of asking any benediction." This is perfection of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. When he is fully Kṛṣṇa conscious, he has achieved all success; so why he will ask for anything more? He is so full in power and satisfaction that even great calamity, dangerous position, he doesn't care. He doesn't care. He knows that "These things are coming and going. Why I shall be agitated? Let me depend on Kṛṣṇa." > Therefore who are thinking, anyone who is thinking that "I am this combination of bones and blood or chemicals..." They will say some jugglery of words, combination of chemical, "Take this chemical." No, that is not possible. Therefore it is my mistake to think that "I am a product of this material thing." That is nonsense. *Sa eva go-kharaḥ. Such person who is thinking like that, that "I am the combination of this matter," he is no better than the cows and the asses. *Sa eva go-kharaḥ.* Everything is detailed in there. --- **[1974: Morning Walk](spoken/1974/740509mw.bom)** > > yasyātma-buddhiḥ kuṇape tri-dhātuke > > sva-dhīḥ kalatrādiṣu bhauma-ijya-dhīḥ > > yat-tīrtha-buddhiḥ salile na karhicij > > janeṣv abhijñeṣu sa eva go-kharaḥ > > > The *go-khara* class. You can say plainly that "For the present, we are not interested. We have got many more important business than this hospitalization." [break] --- **[1976: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.8](spoken/1976/760509sb.hon)** > The position is that we are part and parcel of God. If God is good, we are also good. Just like gold and particle of gold. If gold is valuable, the little particle, it may be less valuable, but it is valuable. It is not ordinary thing. Similarly, we living entities, *mamaivāṁśo jīva-bhūta*.* Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā* that "These, all these living entities, they are My part and parcels," means "as good as I am." But thing is that *manaḥ-ṣaṣṭhānīndriyāṇi prakṛti-sthāni karṣ...* He is concocting; he is manufacturing ideas to become happy. *Manaḥ-ṣaṣṭhānīndriyāṇi.* And with the senses he is trying to satisfy himself. But because he has no information how to become happy, *manaḥ-ṣaṣṭhānīndriyāṇi prakṛti-sthāni karṣati. Karṣati* means that is struggle for existence. That struggle for existence is explained by different scholars and philosophers in different way. But actually there is struggle for existence, and they are trying to be happy manufacturing different types of struggle for existence. The other day who was saying that they have now discovered another way of happiness? Flying in the air? Yes. Now the sufferers, or what is called? > So there are different varieties of sinful activities, just like there are different varieties of diseases. To become diseased is not our normal life. To remain healthy is our normal life. When we become diseased, that is abnormal condition of life; therefore we want to treat, get out of the disease. Similarly, this material life is the diseased condition of the living being. We are all living beings, but because we have accepted this material body, we are suffering. *Mātrā-sparśās tu kaunteya śītoṣṇa-sukha-duḥkha-dāḥ*. Now we require this fan. Why? Because feeling some pains on account of heat. That heat is felt by the body, not the soul. Therefore in the *Bhagavad-gītā* it is said, *mātrā-sparśās tu kaunteya śītoṣṇa-sukha-duḥkha-dāḥ.* These material pains and pleasure, they are simply touching this body, not the soul. Soul is always aloof. Just like we are on a car. Suppose there is some accident: the car is broken, but not the person, the driver, is broken. The car is broken. But because the driver or the proprietor of the car is too much adhered to the car, when the car is broken, his heart fails. Actually, the person has nothing to do with the car, but because he is too much attached to the car, when the car is broken, he thinks, "I am finished." Heart is broken. Like that. --- ## Letters on May 9 *Letters from this day: 35* --- **[1970: Letter to Candanacarya Bharadraja](letters/1970/700509_candanacarya_bharadraja)** > So it is very nice. Lord Caitanya has introduced a very nice system of self-realization through arts and songs. Both of you are expert in singing and musical science as well as painting work. --- **[1970: Letter to Gurudasa](letters/1970/700509_gurudasa)** > This means that he gradually wants to introduce Aurobindo philosophy. Please let me know what is the necessity of learning Devanagari script. --- **[1970: Letter to Patita Uddharana](letters/1970/700509_patita_uddharana)** > This binding work is so nicely made. You have done it very well, and I am completely satisfied. I very much appreciate your efforts in our ISKCON bindery, and if such binding is done we will have sure success with our books. --- **[1970: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1970/700509_satsvarupa)** > Regarding the Vedas personified, they should be drawn just like you have seen some pictures of great sages. They are young in appearance like perfect Vaisnavas, and they may be shown with tilak and Vaisnava markings in that way. --- **[1970: Letter to Tamala Krsna](letters/1970/700509_tamala_krsna)** > I am enclosing herewith the copies of two letters which will speak for themselves. Please immediately let me know what is the actual situation regarding this matter. --- **[1972: Letter to Amogha](letters/1972/720509_amogha)** > I am very much pleased to hear from you that all the programs in Melbourne are increasing enthusiastically under your supervision. --- **[1972: Letter to Bali-Mardana](letters/1972/720509_bali-mardana)** > I have written one letter to Rupanuga that he should take your help how to organize the weekly inventory and payment for books distributed, so you may see that letter from him and do the needful. --- **[1972: Letter to Bhavananda](letters/1972/720509_bhavananda)** > Yes, the attraction should be so made that the Muslims will somehow come to our Mayapur temple, for learning English, for seeing arati, like that. --- **[1972: Letter to Damodara](letters/1972/720509_damodara)** > Regarding the high school programmes, this is very good opportunity to introduce our movement and try also to introduce our cheap editions of Krishna Book. --- **[1972: Letter to Rupanuga](letters/1972/720509_rupanuga)** > There seem to be vast discrepancies between your figures and those of Karandhara. --- **[1972: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1972/720509_satsvarupa)** > Your observations are nice, and I think this will be a nice way to arrange the world into zones for GBC management. --- **[1973: Letter to Caturbhuja](letters/1973/730509_caturbhuja)** > In answer to your several questions, first; what is meant by conditioned soul? Conditioned soul means one who has accepted something illusion as reality. --- **[1973: Letter to Jayapataka Bhavananda](letters/1973/730509_jayapataka_bhavananda)** > Many students from America will very soon go there to learn the art of doll making as desired by you. It is better to go there and learn the art instead of the teacher coming here. Mayapur is already wonderful being the transcendental birthplace of Lord Caitanya. --- **[1974: Letter to Caru](letters/1974/740509_caru)** > I am glad to hear, although there were many difficulties, that Madhudvisa Maharaja will be able to return to Australia with permanent residence status. Please have him write me as soon as he returns. I do not have the exact date of your Rathayatra in June, although I think it is June 21. --- **[1974: Letter to Gangamayi](letters/1974/740509_gangamayi)** > I am glad to hear that you are determined to stay and live in the temple now and that you are becoming very much attached to the Deity worship and very serious about serving the Deity along with Malati Prabhu. --- **[1974: Letter to Jayapataka Bhavananda](letters/1974/740509_jayapataka_bhavananda)** > You write that you are very careful utilizing funds that are sent for that particular purpose. In all matters of management this careful attitude must be taken. I have been requesting my disciples for sometime to release me from the management aspects of ISKCON so I can be free to translate. --- **[1974: Letter to Madhava](letters/1974/740509_madhava)** > I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 1974. Yes there is no objection to your casting clay forms of Deities into plaster. --- **[1974: Letter to Manager Of Liberty Bank](letters/1974/740509_manager_of_liberty_bank)** > Brent Selden, who is the president of the Honolulu branch of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. --- **[1974: Letter to Radhavallabha](letters/1974/740509_radhavallabha)** > As far as subtitles all the volumes should have on the cover just as it is on the cover of Vol.2, "The Pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu". --- **[1974: Letter to Ramesvara](letters/1974/740509_ramesvara)** > You are always broadcasting the glories of the Sankirtana movement in the shape of ISKCONs book distribution and surely you will be recognized by Lord Caitanya for your unbounded enthusiasm and expertise in seeing that my books are distributed all over the world. In your letter of April 29 you give the astounding report that in the year 1973, 4,169,004 total books were bought by the temples from BBT. --- **[1974: Letter to Tejiyas](letters/1974/740509_tejiyas)** > 25079/65—Yourselves—draft to Orissa Cement for hundi repayment Please continue to keep accurate accounting and send me the ledger sheets periodically. --- **[1974: Letter to Visala Visalini](letters/1974/740509_visala_visalini)** > So you are both exemplary Vaisnavas and I want that you, husband and wife, preach together. --- **[1975: Letter to G.L. Nanda](letters/1975/750509_g.l._nanda)** > With further reference to my last letter dated 7th May, 1975, I beg to submit herewith another verse from Srimad-bhagavatam in which it is said (vide Srimad-bhagavatam, 6th canto, 3rd chapter, verse number 19-22). --- **[1975: Letter to Mr. Fletcher](letters/1975/750509_mr._fletcher)** > Geoffrey Fletcher St. You are very fortunate to be taking part in the Krishna Consciousness movement. If you take it very seriously, then you will not have to take another birth in this miserable material world. --- **[1975: Letter to Pavanadeva](letters/1975/750509_pavanadeva)** > Do not be discouraged. Rise early, attend mangala arati, attend class, chant 16 rounds and follow the four basic rules and regulations. Without these things, there is no spiritual life. --- **[1975: Letter to Satkrita](letters/1975/750509_satkrita)** > Try to work hard for Krishna and co-operate very nicely with the temple authorities. Anyway, I hope that you are following all of the rules and regulations very carefully without any deviation. --- **[1976: Letter to Abhirama](letters/1976/760509_abhirama)** > Please let me know how negotiations are going on with acquiring the park across the way, for making "Bhaktivedanta Park. --- **[1976: Letter to Balabhadra](letters/1976/760509_balabhadra)** > As you know, I have requested the devotees here to construct one beautiful temple on the grounds in order that many people may come from all around and see the gorgeous worship of the Deities. --- **[1976: Letter to Gopala Krsna Tejiyas](letters/1976/760509_gopala_krsna_tejiyas)** > Now, you must be very sure to keep a stock of each and every book so that you can supply all of these orders immediately. --- **[1976: Letter to Personal Secretary To The President Of The United States](letters/1976/760509_personal_secretary_to_the_president_of_the_united_states)** > On your new $2 note it is stated "In God We Trust," and directly beneath "Declaration of Independence, 1776. --- **[1976: Letter to Ramesvara](letters/1976/760509_ramesvara)** > Now, there must be sufficient stock of each book in our India warehouse to supply all of these orders immediately. --- **[1976: Letter to Sri K.K. Joshi](letters/1976/760509_sri_k.k._joshi)** > Just now I am on my 15th world tour and your letter was forwarded to me here in Hawaii from my Bombay address. It will take at least 3 months to return to India. I am very much pleased that you have invited us to cooperate with you in this matter of humanitarianism. --- **[1976: Letter to Susheel Asnani](letters/1976/760509_susheel_asnani)** > The best thing is that you engage yourself in chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra as many times as possible and Krishna will save you. --- **[1976: Letter to Temple President And Gbc For Hawaii](letters/1976/760509_temple_president_and_gbc_for_hawaii)** > I have consented that when and if a new set of Pancatattva Deities are installed in the Hawaii Temple, the old set of Pancatattva Deities may be given to Govinda dasi. --- **[1976: Letter to Trivikrama](letters/1976/760509_trivikrama)** > I am here in Hawaii and when you come we shall talk in detail. Maybe you shall be required by Tamala Krishna Goswami and Dhrstadyumna Maharaja for organizing world book distribution. ---