# May 11 ## Spoken on May 11 *Lectures from this day: 9 recordings* --- **[1969: Address to Indian Association](spoken/1969/690511ad.col)** > So it is not only in India; everywhere in this age, everything is degraded, degraded in this sense: *prāyeṇa kalau asmin alpāyeṣu yuge janāḥ*. The duration of life is diminished. They are not very much active to understand what is self-realization. And if they are, some of them are very much active, oh, he is misled by so many misleading, so-called leaders. So the age is very corrupting. Therefore this Caitanya Mahāprabhu's process of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa is the best method and the simplest method. *Harer nāma harer nāma harer nāma iva kevalam. Kevalam* [*Cc Ādi* 7.76]. > So our Vedic system was so nicely designed that automatically one will be elevated to the understanding of Brahman. This caste system is condemned because they have been vitiated by designing person. Actually, caste system, as it is stated in the *Bhagavad-gītā, cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ...*. The... According to division of qualities, there are caste system everywhere. Goodness, passion, and ignorance—these three qualities are working in the material nature. --- **[1969: Room Conversation with Allen Ginsberg](spoken/1969/690511r1.col)** > So one who is trained fully to agree with Kṛṣṇa, they are accepted as associate. Therefore *Bhagavad-gītā* says, *bahūnāṁ janmanām ante jñānavān māṁ pradadyate* "After many, many births of cultivating knowledge in spiritual life, a fully conversant, wise person surrenders unto Me." *Bahūnāṁ janmanaṁ ante:* after many, many births. How he surrenders? *Vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti* : "Oh! Kṛṣṇa is everything." The *Vedānta-sūtra* gives hint, *janmādy asya yataḥ,* what is Brahman, what is supreme. > The impersonalists shall say "merging." So that is less intelligence. Merging does not mean losing individuality. Just like a green bird enters a green tree; it appears merging, but the bird has not lost his individuality. There is individuality. Similarly, Kṛṣṇa says in the Fourth Chapter..., no, Second Chapter, that "I, you, Arjuna, I and all these people who have assembled, it is not that they did not exist previously, neither it is that they will not exist." That means I, you and all these persons, they were individual in the past. At the present we see it practically, and in future they'll remain individual. --- **[1970: Śrī Īśopaniṣad, Mantra 8](spoken/1970/700511ip.la)** > So the answer was given that Kṛṣṇa cannot be contaminated. Rather, anything comes to Kṛṣṇa, even with contaminated mind, becomes purified. The same example: the sun cannot be contaminated, but anything contaminated, if you put into the sunshine, it becomes purified. So you approach Kṛṣṇa with any desire... *Akāmaḥ sarva-kāmo vā*. > The *gopīs...* Of course, that is not this material thing. Still, as young girls they were captivated by the beauty of Kṛṣṇa. So they approached Kṛṣṇa with a view to accept Him as paramour. But actually, they became purified. --- **[1972: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.7.2–4](spoken/1972/720511sb.hon)** > So these people are leaders, these rascals, rogues, thieves, debauchers, and they are supporting their debauchery by philosophy. Jawaharlal Nehru paid one Dr. Mukherjee, Rādhā-Dāmodara[?] Mukherjee, gave him a seat in the parliament and paid him money and induced him to write a book in support of cow slaughter. So a paid rogue, he search out some support from this *śāstra* and that *śāstra*, big book, that cow slaughter was done in India formerly, so there is no wrong. This was his propaganda. *Duḥkha lāge hāṅs pāi* We simply see, we could not do anything. What we shall do? Of course, these things will go on. Actually we can do something. Let us try to spread this; this will counteract all evil things. But sometimes we see that these rogues and rascals, just like this Stalin, he was the greatest criminal in the history of human society. Greatest criminal. > Govinda dāsī: Śrīla Prabhupāda, I heard of one instance where the scientists were trying to... They analyzed the seawater completely, every chemical in it, and then they made a similar exact combination of chemicals and put one fish, and asked him to live there. But the fish would die. Every time the fish would die, and they had all the chemicals analyzed, and they would try it again and again. Finally they took one drop of seawater, natural seawater, and the fish lived. Because they couldn't really analyze everything. They thought they were analyzing it, but they couldn't really analyze it. --- **[1973: Morning Walk](spoken/1973/730511mw.la)** > We hear that He has got different energies. His energy is one. *Viṣṇu-śaktiḥ parā.* That is spiritual only. Just like sunshine. That is sunshine. Now we are seeing it is covered with cloud. It is our imperfectness. But there, in the sun, there is no such thing cloud. Experience, practical experience. The sun is not experiencing cloud, although there is cloud. We are experiencing. Similarly, this matter and spirit is for us, not for Him. He, either He comes in so-called material body or spiritual body it is the same. It is the same. For Him it is like that, the same, because it is His energy. He can turn matter into spirit, spirit into matter. That He can do. > This policy should be adopted. Otherwise, we know they are rascals. But if I say rascal, people will say, "You are not a scientific man. How you can say he is rascal?" "Therefore I am flattering you that otherwise..." You haven't got to convince me that a rascal. I know that he is a rascal. Now, because we have to prove that he is a rascal to another rascal, we have to take your help. This is our policy. Otherwise, so far we are concerned, if they go on lecturing for millions of years, we shall kick on their face. You should know he is mistaken. Let the rascal speak whatever he likes. We know the conclusion. --- **[1975: Morning Walk](spoken/1975/750511mw.per)** > Therefore Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā,* "You rascal, give up everything. Surrender unto Me. And surrender unto Me. Follow My instruction as I have given. Then you are safe." But that they will not do. They will try to cheat Kṛṣṇa by interpretation: "This means this. This means that." That they will do, these rascals, big, big rascals. Kṛṣṇa says something, and they will misinterpret. Kṛṣṇa says, *man-manā bhava mad-bhakto*, and Dr. Radhakrishnan says, "No, no, it is not to the Kṛṣṇa person." Just see how misleading these rascals. Why you should interpret upon Kṛṣṇa's word? If you have got your own philosophy, you write another book. Why do you touch *Bhagavad-gītā?* This is their cheating. *Bhagavad-gītā* is a popular book. Gandhi also took *Bhagavad-gītā* for his political diplomacy. This is going on. And they'll never agree to accept *Bhagavad-gītā* as it is. They'll never agree. The other day I was there in Kurukṣetra. They have got their own plan—*mānava-dharma,* this *dharma,* that *dharma.* Kṛṣṇa says, *sarva-dharmān parityajya* : "You give up all these. Kick out all this so-called rascaldom. You just surrender unto Me." That they will not do. Except this, everything which is going on in the name of religion, that is cheating. Everyone is misinterpret... Just like Christians, they have misinterpreted: "Kill means murder. It is meant for man." That means they are making their own lusty desires fulfilled in the name of *Bible,* that's all. Everyone is doing like that. They are changing. Mass opinion is now homosex. They are passing abortion. They are passing... What is this? This is their business. For fulfillment of their lusty desires and greediness, they are bringing the authority of *Bible, Bhagavad-gītā.* This is going on in the name of religion. > It is all discussed in the *śāstra.* Just like I am hungry man. There is foodstuff. I want to eat it. So if I take by force, that is illegal, and if I pay for it, then it is legal. But I am the hungry man; I want it. This is going on. Everyone is lusty. Therefore they say "legalized prostitution." They want it. So marriage is something legalized, that's all. The passion and the desire is the same, either married or not married. So this Vedic law says, "Better married. Then you will be controlled." Married life... So he will not be so lusty as without married life. So the *gṛhastha* life is a concession—same lusty desire, under rules and regulation. That's all. That is our [indistinct]. Without married life he will commit rapes in so many ways, so better let him be satisfied with one, both the man and woman, and make progress in spiritual life. That is concession. Everyone in this material world has come with these lusty desires and greediness. Even demigods like Lord Śiva, Lord Brahmā. The Lord Brahmā became lusty after his daughter. And Lord Śiva became so mad after Mohinī-mūrti. So what to speak of us insignificant creatures. So lusty desire is there. That is material world. Unless one is fully Kṛṣṇa conscious, this lusty desires cannot be checked. It is not possible. --- **[1976: Lecture](spoken/1976/760511le.hon)** > Now this point, whether there is life after death or not, we can put our reasons in this way, that "I am living. My childhood body is gone; my boyhood body is gone. That is not existing. My youth-hood body is gone, and still I am existing. So this is reasonable, that even if I lose this body, that I'll not..., not that I will not exist." In the *Bhagavad-gītā* it is plainly said, all these things, that "Don't think we did not exist in the past." We are existing at present, and we shall go on, we shall continue to exist in the future. Not that after this body is gone, *na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre*. This is *ātma-tattvaṁ*. This is spiritual knowledge, basic principle of spiritual knowledge. Therefore Śukadeva Goswāmī said, *apaśyatām ātma-tattvaṁ*: those who are incapable of understanding this science of soul, *ātma-tattvaṁ*, how the soul is eternal: *na jāyate mriyate vā kadācin*. *Na jāyate,* "never takes birth." Soul does not take birth. It is existing eternally with God. > So where is the protection? Even if there is nice state, even if there is nice family, even if there is nice, good wife and children, everything, but they cannot give me protection when I shall die. Nobody can give protection. Just like dozens of airplanes flying in the sky. Sometimes military planes, they fly all together, almost—not together; almost in a bunch. But if there is danger, the other plane cannot give me protection. When there is danger in one of the planes—there are, say, dozens of planes around—none of them can give protection. You have to fly on your own strength. Similarly, in this material world I have to protect myself. Nobody can give me protection. Therefore how I can take protection? That is *ātma-tattvaṁ*. That is understanding Kṛṣṇa. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Kṛṣṇa is *suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ*. He is friend of all living entities. So if I want to protect myself from the onslaught of the stringent laws of material nature, then I will have to take protection from the supreme friend, God, Kṛṣṇa. Otherwise these things will not give me protection. --- **[1976: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.10](spoken/1976/760511sb.hon)** > Avidyā.* If somebody is kept into darkness, then there is no use of this punishment, or *prāyaścitta.* So he proposes that the man in darkness should be educated. *Vimarśanam. Vimarśanam* means cultivation of knowledge, culture. So where is that culture? There is no culture. We propose that the beginning of culture is "No illicit sex." This is the beginning. Who is accepting that? "Illicit sex? Why illicit sex? Sex is sex." No, that is the beginning of culture, because in the dog society there is no marriage, and why in the human society there is marriage? They could avoid it. And nowadays they are being avoided. In the Kali-yuga there will be no more marriage. That is stated in the *Bhāgavata.* It is stated. Five thousand years ago it was foretold that during Kali-yuga, *svīkāra eva codvāhe*. Just see. This is called *śāstra.* Five thousand years ago it was foretold that marriage means agreement. It will be in Kali-yuga. *Svīkāram eva codvāhe.* This is called *śāstra. Bhūta bhaviṣyat vartamāna,* everything. That is *śāstra,* and that is perfect knowledge. And *dām-patye ratir eva hi. Rati* means sex satisfaction. So husband and wife means sex satisfaction. It will be the standard of man and woman's relationship. *Dām-patye ratim eva hi. Vipratve sūtram eva hi * : to become a *brāhmaṇa* means a thread, a two-cent worth, one thread. That's all. This is going on. These are all foretold. So that is being explained. > Unless one comes to the knowledge... So modern education there is no real knowledge. Real knowledge begins in the *Bhagavad-gītā.* Those who have read *Bhagavad-gītā,* the first understanding, Arjuna was given lesson. When he was perplexed and he became a disciple of Kṛṣṇa, *śiṣyas te 'haṁ śādhi māṁ prapannam : "Kṛṣṇa, let us stop this friendly talking. Let us stop this friendly talking. Now I agree to become Your disciple. Now You teach me." So the first teaching was chastisement. *Aśocyān anvaśocas tvaṁ prajñā-vādāṁś ca bhāṣase : "You have no knowledge." *Gātāsun agatāsūṁś ca nānuśocanti paṇḍitāḥ:* "You are talking like a *paṇḍita* but you are not *paṇḍita.*" He indirectly said, "You are a fool," because *nānuśocanti,* "This kind of thinking is not maintained by learned scholars." That means "You are not a learned man." That is going on at the present moment. Everyone is thinking that he is very highly elevated, learned, but he is fool number one. That is going on, because there is no standard knowledge. Sanātana Gosvāmī also, when he approached Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he also said the same thing. He was in the sense. He was prime minister. He was very learned scholar in Sanskrit and Urdu—in those days Urdu, because it was Muhammadan government. But he thought it wise that "They call me learned scholar, but what kind of scholar I am?" He put this question before Caitanya. *Grāmya vyavahāre kahaye paṇḍita satya kari māni, āpanāra hitāhita kichui nāhi jāni:* "My dear Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, these common men, they say that I am M.A., Ph.D., D.A.C. and so on, so on. I am very learned scholar. But I am so big scholar that I do not know what I am and what is my aim of life." Just see. Ask any so-called scholar that "What is the aim of life?" He cannot say. The aim of life is the same, like the dog: eat, drink, be merry, and enjoy and die. That's all. So where is education? There is no education. Real education is different: that one must know his own position and act accordingly. That you can get from Vedic knowledge. --- ## Letters on May 11 *Letters from this day: 29* --- **[1970: Letter to Hit Sharanji](letters/1970/700511_hit_sharanji)** > So I will be very much pleased if you dispatch them immediately to Scindia Steam Navigation Co. Kindly treat this as urgent, and let me know what is the situation. --- **[1972: Letter to Bhaktijana](letters/1972/720511_bhaktijana)** > I very much approve of your plan for spreading Krishna Consciousness in the black African neighborhoods in New York and other places. --- **[1972: Letter to Gargamuni](letters/1972/720511_gargamuni)** > Your idea for helping Vrindaban by sending money upon their sending you invoices will be very nice. --- **[1972: Letter to Gopala Krsna](letters/1972/720511_gopala_krsna)** > I thank you very much for your letter dated May 8, 1972, and the check for $517.50. You are so nice and eager to serve Krishna, so all blessings of Krishna will be bestowed upon you, rest assured. Your wife has proven turbulent, that is the grace of Krishna. --- **[1972: Letter to Tamala Krsna](letters/1972/720511_tamala_krsna)** > He is complete in Himself, but He is most pleased to see that we are very much enthusiastic to serve Him. That much He wants, that is bhakti, that enthusiasm for Krishna's service. --- **[1973: Letter to Giridhari](letters/1973/730511_giridhari)** > I bet to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated nil. You are right when you say that “Krsna Consciousness is not a matter of over endeavoring for Krsna.” Work in Krsna Consciousness must be executed quickly, carefully and with attention to detail. The first principle is that one must himself be steady in Krsna Consciousness. --- **[1973: Letter to Gurudasa](letters/1973/730511_gurudasa)** > Herewith please find the letter I have replied to Madan Mohan Goswami in response to his letter dated 4/5/73. --- **[1973: Letter to Madan Mohan Goswami](letters/1973/730511_madan_mohan_goswami)** > I am already paying Rs 10/ per month and there is deposit of Rs. Now all of you together fix up the legal rent after adjusting the deposit money with interest for the last seven years. --- **[1974: Letter to Ksirodakasayi](letters/1974/740511_ksirodakasayi)** > Since the Mayapur and Vrindaban festivals in March I have been mostly staying here in our Hare Krishna Land. --- **[1975: Letter to Bhagavata](letters/1975/750511_bhagavata)** > This is to introduce Sriman Svadhin Kumar Mullick of 50A, Hari Ghose St., Calcutta-6. Anyway, please admit him to be trained up to be a devotee. --- **[1975: Letter to Brijratanji](letters/1975/750511_brijratanji)** > I have advised my assistants to publish one chapter in each issue from the Bhagavat Maha-Purana. This will contain the devanagari script as well as the roman script. --- **[1975: Letter to Dinesh Candra Sarkar](letters/1975/750511_dinesh_candra_sarkar)** > We are not interested to purchase any land at so high a price. That is not practical. I have already spoken with Jayapataka Swami about all details of Mayapur. You may hear from him my ideas. --- **[1975: Letter to Hansadutta](letters/1975/750511_hansadutta)** > So, they have agreed to our terms and made a draft agreement form which I have not yet seen. --- **[1975: Letter to Jamuna](letters/1975/750511_jamuna)** > Your husband recently came to Delhi and Vrndavana and he has sold so many properties of ISKCON through the Mukutwalla. --- **[1975: Letter to Jayadvaita](letters/1975/750511_jayadvaita)** > From now on, include one chapter from Srimad-bhagavatam in every issue of Back to Godhead magazine. --- **[1975: Letter to Kunj Bihari Shastri](letters/1975/750511_kunj_bihari_shastri)** > Your desire to stay with us for regular recitation of the Srimad-bhagavatam is welcome. --- **[1975: Letter to Mr. K.C. Nigam](letters/1975/750511_mr._k.c._nigam)** > I am very glad that you are holding some spiritual conference, but my only request is to follow the standard method of spiritual consciousness. Anyone who is accepting this body as the self, he is no better than the cats and dogs. --- **[1975: Letter to Mr. Punja](letters/1975/750511_mr._punja)** > I have also received from Madhudvisa Swami one copy of the Constitution that you have drawn up there. --- **[1975: Letter to Sri Ananga Mahan](letters/1975/750511_sri_ananga_mahan)** > It is understood that you are arranging for passport for going to the foreign countries and if you will get it, there will be no difficulty to see our temples in the foreign countries. --- **[1975: Letter to Svadhan Kumar Mullick](letters/1975/750511_svadhan_kumar_mullick)** > So, I am enclosing herewith one introduction letter to my disciple Bhagavata dasa, in care of our temple at #3 Albert Road, between Camac St. --- **[1975: Letter to Swami Sachchidanand Bharati](letters/1975/750511_swami_sachchidanand_bharati)** > For the time being, we don't want the books you have mentioned in your letter dated 23-4-75. --- **[1976: Letter to Ajita](letters/1976/760511_ajita)** > Concerning renaming your temple, if I have already given a name previously, then what is the need to re-name it. Now I can see that there is good preaching potential everywhere in your country as you mention the good response at the universities. Push on with these preaching activities and distribute my books profusely. --- **[1976: Letter to Giriraja](letters/1976/760511_giriraja)** > So far the new towers are concerned, not a single space should be allotted without my permission. --- **[1976: Letter to Mahabuddhi Library Party](letters/1976/760511_mahabuddhi_library_party)** > Continue with this program of standing orders. It is very important preaching work. --- **[1976: Letter to Sri Govinda](letters/1976/760511_sri_govinda)** > I know that you are a very intelligent devotee and that you are very capable. Why not contact Tamala Krsna Goswami in New York and see if you can work together with him to distribute our literature all over the world. He is now formulating plans how to increase our distribution everywhere, and perhaps you can be instrumental. --- **[1977: Letter to Ambarisa](letters/1977/770511_ambarisa)** > This idea of doll exhibitions to demonstrate our philosophy has long been proposed, and my Guru Maharaja was very keen to execute this idea. Therefore I am just trying to give some shape to what my Guru Maharaja wanted. --- **[1977: Letter to Giriraja](letters/1977/770511_giriraja)** > Mohatta has recommended, I have enclosed a letter to Bank of America advising them to make payment to E.C.C. This letter as well as the other letter advising a transfer of Rs. --- **[1977: Letter to Jagadananda](letters/1977/770511_jagadananda)** > Regarding your daughter's illness, all of the family members should sit down together and hold Hare Krsna kirtan. --- **[1977: Letter to Ramesvara](letters/1977/770511_ramesvara)** > All of the artists' drawings are alright as they are showing, except for this one correction, that baby Krsna should be showing lying down, not standing up in front of Visnu. I am very glad to know that you are all working so hard to double the book distribution this year. ---