# May 12 ## Spoken on May 12 *Lectures from this day: 12 recordings* --- **[1969: Lecture with Allen Ginsberg at Ohio State University](spoken/1969/690512le.col)** > My dear boys and girls, I thank you very much for your coming here and participating with this *saṅkīrtana* function. The *saṅkīrtana* function, or... It is called *saṅkīrtana-yajña,* sacrifice. There is a statement in *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* that *saṅkīrtanair yajñaiḥ prayair yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ*. In this age... As poet Ginsberg has explained to you, this is called Kali-yuga, or very degraded age. From the spiritual point of view, from material point of view also, people are reducing their duration of life and their merciful tendency, their strength, their stature. > Whatever we see, that is the property of the Supreme Lord. And this claiming that "This is my property," "This is my body," "This is my country," "This is my home," "This is my...," "This is my...," this is called illusion. Actually we do not possess anything. So when you actually come on the spiritual consciousness, you understand that nothing belongs to you. *Brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā na śocati na kāṅkṣati*.Kāṅkṣati* means hankering, and *socati* means lament. --- **[1969: Room Conversation with Allen Ginsberg](spoken/1969/690512r1.col)** > The *Bhāgavata* says that *dharma* is not meant for acquiring money. Money is not meant for satisfying senses. Sense gratification should be accepted simply to maintain this body. That's all. The real business is *tattva-jijñāsā,* to understand. The human life is meant for understanding the Absolute Truth. *Jīvasya tattva-jijñāsā naś ceha yat karmabhiḥ. Kāmasya nendriya-pritir labho jīveta yāvatā*. Kāmasya,* sense gratification, does not mean you have to increase the volume of sense gratification. No. *Jīveta yāvatā,* you have to accept sense gratification so far as you can live very nicely. > Now, the next verse, the Absolute Truth is explained, analyzed, *vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvaṁ yaj jñānam advayam*. Now, Absolute Truth is always one. There is no... Absolute Truth cannot be two. Then it is relative truth. Absolute Truth means one. So the knowledge of the Absolute Truth is one. *Vadanti tat tattva-vida. Tattva-vida* means those who are in knowledge of the Absolute Truth, they say that Absolute Truth is one. But He's realized in three phases. *Brahmeti paramātmeti bhagavān iti śabdyate.* Brahman means impersonal, and Paramātmā is localized, and Bhagavān, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So these are different stages. --- **[1970: Śrī Īśopaniṣad, Mantra 8](spoken/1970/700512ip.la)** > We are forgetting our real business. We are engaged in different..., so many businesses. Misleaders. *Andhā yathāndhair upanīyamānāḥ*. The rascal, blind leaders are leading to hell. *Te 'pīśa tantryām uru-dāmni-baddhāḥ.* All of them are tied up by the stringent rules and regulation of the material nature, and they have become leader. They do not like any authority. This is called *māyā.* This is called *māyā.* They are being misled; still they are following that. This is called *māyā.* > So this verse, you'll read what is important. "Such person must know in fact the greatest of all, who is unembodied, omniscient..." That is the distinction between God and ourself. We are embodied. This body is different from me; therefore when I leave this body, this body becomes "Dust thou art, dust thou..." That "thou" means this body. I am not dust; I am spirit soul. --- **[1971: Lecture at Boys' School](spoken/1971/710512le.syd)** > So our this movement, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, is teaching that thing. Don't think that it is a sectarian religion. We are making people God conscious. It doesn't matter whichever religion you may belong; we want to see whether you are actually God conscious. Our *Bhāgavata* says, *sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhokṣaje*, that "That religious system is first class wherein God consciousness, or love of God, is taught." That is first-class religion. It doesn't matter whether it is Christian religion or Hindu religion or Muhammadan religion. If by following the principles of religion one becomes advanced in God consciousness, that is first-class religion. That is our motto, and we are preaching all over the world. > Take for example... Just like an Australian citizen: he is under the laws of the state of Australia. But if he says, "I don't care for the government," he becomes lawless, and sometimes he becomes criminal, and he is put into the prison life. In the prison also, he has to abide by the laws of the government, and outside the prison also, one has to abide by the laws of the government. But outside the prison the citizens abide by the laws of the government voluntarily, and inside the prison house, the criminals, they defy the laws of government, and therefore they are put into the prison house. --- **[1972: Room Conversation](spoken/1972/720512r1.hon)** > At the time of death the mental condition will give you another body. There is proof also, just like Mahārāja Bharata. He was advancing in spiritual life—he left his kingdom—but at the time of death he was thinking of a deer, so he became a deer. Such an advanced... Of course, he did not forget himself. Therefore he was speaking always amongst the saintly persons, their association. He was remembering that "I was King Bharata. Now I have assumed this body." But the nature's process is that at the time of death, whatever you think, you get a body like that. So how is again guaranteed? It is guaranteed for *yogīs*. Either *jñāna-yogīs*, *haṭha-yogīs*, [indistinct]-*yogīs*, Their whole life they devote, maybe impersonal Brahman, so he can be merged into the impersonal feature of the Lord. Paramātmā. The *yogīs*, all kinds of *yogīs*, they are guaranteed next life. And all these *yogīs,* after many, many such births, *bahūnāṁ janmanām ante*, he becomes a devotee. *Sa mahātmā sudurlabhaḥ:* such saintly person is very rare. *Brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam:* taking shelter of the Supreme. > "Never mind, I will take My birth one after another." But the demons, they do not believe in God or God's service or next life. These are the demons. They are thinking that this is the chance for sense enjoyment. Therefore they are trying to save in so many ways and engage the duration of life, as much as possible, varieties of sense gratification. This is demon. They don't know that after this body finished, everything. So here is an opportunity to enjoy sense gratification. Therefore they are manufacturing so many varieties of sense gratification. They have no hope. And the Christian religion also says that they will go to hell or they will go to heaven. Destined. You have read Bible? --- **[1973: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.8.50](spoken/1973/730512sb.la)** > The battlefield... It is therefore called *dharma-kṣetra. Dharma-kṣetre kuru-kṣetre*. That fight was right. And especially when Kṛṣṇa was present, it is already *dharma-kṣetra.* Wherever... Just like this is temple. Similar houses are there, many. Why it is temple? Because Kṛṣṇa is there. Therefore it is called *dharma-kṣetra,* temple. What is the difference between temple? In other houses there may be big hall like this. There may be many men eating, sleeping. That is not temple. Where actually God is there, that is called temple. Similarly, although Battle of Kurukṣetra was a fighting place, because Kṛṣṇa was there, therefore it is *dharma-kṣetra.* Wherever Kṛṣṇa is there, that is *dharma-kṣetra. Tatra tiṣṭhāmi nārada yatra gāyanti mad-bhaktāḥ* [*Padma Purāṇa, Uttara-khaṇḍa*, 71.270]. So those who are *bhaktas,* they can make every place a pilgrimage, because they can sing the glories of the Lord and they can bring the Lord in that place. So it doesn't matter whether if he is here or there, in America or India; wherever Kṛṣṇa is there, that is *dharma-kṣetra. Dharma-kṣetre kuru-kṣetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ*. > So this system—*brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra*—very scientific system. *Cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ*. But now everything is lost. But to make people happy, the Vedic culture is the most perfect. The *kṣatriyas* are meant for fighting. *Kṣatriyas* are meant for ruling, punishing. These are meant for the *kṣatriyas.* They are exacting taxes. That is their means of livelihood. The government can levy tax for expenditure. You cannot levy tax. So there are living means of everyone. For *brāhmaṇa,* the living means *paṭhana, pāṭhana, yajana, yājana, dāna, pratigraha. Brāhmaṇa* is meant for teaching others and become himself a learned scholar. That is *brāhmaṇa* business. --- **[1974: Bhagavad-gītā 12.13–14](spoken/1974/740512bg.bom)** > Kṛṣṇa says *aham,* "I," "I." "I am the seed-giving father." Not only human society, but there are other societies—animal society, bird society, beast society, vegetable society, insect society, aquatic society—they are also Kṛṣṇa's son, God's sons. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, "One who is actually devotee and wants to be very dear to Me, his qualification must be *adveṣṭā sarva-bhūtānām:* he must be nonenvious to all living entities." > Therefore Kṛṣṇa says who is devotee, real devotee. And not only real devotee; "Who is very dear to Me." Devotion means the activities... My Guru Mahārāja used to say that "You don't try to see God." Just try to understand. "Just work in such a way that God may see you." This is the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Everyone is busy to see God. Of course, it is not so easy to see God. But a devotee is not busy to see God, but he wants God to see him. Because just like if you are working in some establishment, if you are working very nicely, faithfully, then the proprietor will automatically see you. Don't try to see the proprietor. Work in such a way that the proprietor will be inclined, "Well, this man is working very nicely. Who is this man?" --- **[1975: Morning Walk](spoken/1975/750512mw.per)** > Paramahaṁsa*:* There is... One of the disciples of Guru Mahārāj-jī, Balyogeshwar, is in Perth. They have their center here. And he is giving lectures daily, and many people are attending. --- **[1975: Room Coversation with Psychiatrist and Indian Boy](spoken/1975/750512r1.per)** >gradually appreciate. *Ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ*. This is the process of cleansing the mirror of the heart. Mirror, when it isThis treatment is, in the beginning, just cleansing the mirror of the heart. That is the treatment. Just like a mirror, when it is overcast with dust, it requires cleansing. So the mental mirror is covered with material dust, so it has to be cleansed. That is the treatment. And when it is cleansed, you can see your real face in the mirror. Similarly, as soon as our heart disease, contaminated by the modes of material nature, is cleansed, you can understand what is your real position. That is the success of psychiatric treatment. One comes to know, "What I am." *Ahaṁ brahmāsmi:* "I am spirit soul. I am not this body." That is called *brahma-bhūtaḥ* stage. *Brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā*. He becomes immediately happy. And happiness means *na śocati na kāṅkṣati:* "He does not lament, neither he desires." > Our present disease is we hanker after things which we do not possess, and when that thing is lost, we lament. So hankering and lamenting. So when one is cleansed in the heart, he has no more hankering or desire. This is the symptom. And *samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu:* "Then he becomes equal to everyone." "Everyone" means every living being, man and animal, trees, plants, lower or higher. *Paṇḍitāḥ sama-darśinaḥ*. Then he enters into the sphere of devotional service. This is the symptom. Then he is perfectly in his original position. Then he is happy. Just like a diseased man: so long the disease is there, he is unhappy; and as soon as the disease is cured, he will be happy. So this material disease, as soon as it is cured, one becomes happy, because he is, by constitution, spiritual being. People have no knowledge even, his..., even about his spiritual identity. Therefore they are unhappy. --- **[1976: Room Conversation](spoken/1976/760512r1.hon)** > Govinda dāsī: He speaks of the guru principle and that his spiritual master is within his heart, and that..., and he doesn't accept the personal service of the physical manifestation. --- **[1976: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.11](spoken/1976/760512sb.hon)** > These things are there. The devotional service is so nice, if you simply take to devotional service, then all good qualities will come. You don't have to educate him, to send some reformatory school or this or that. That will be explained. The devotional service, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, is so nice. If you simply take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then all your... Because originally you are good. You have become bad on account of the material association. Therefore devotion means to be purified. This is a purificatory process from material contamination. *Sarvopādhi vinirmuktaṁ tat paratvena nirmalam*. > This is the beginning of human life, that unless you come to this knowledge... *A*thāto brahma-jijñāsā. [*Vedānta-sūtra* 1.1.1] This is called *brahma-jijñāsā.* So that is possible in the human form of life. A dog cannot. A dog comes within your room, and you drive him away, you punish him, and still, with some plea he will come. So therefore Parīkṣit..., Śukadeva Gosvāmī suggests that we have to make him free from the *avidyā,* ignorance. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Everyone is under the spell of *māyā. Punaḥ punaḥ. Bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate , it is going on. But we do not inquire that "Why I am repeatedly accepting the cycle of birth and death?" That is *avidyā.* They are, rather, supporting, "Suppose if I become dog, what is the wrong there?" They say like that: "What is the wrong there?" So this means *avidyā,* ignorance. So for eradicating ignorance from life, it requires culture, cultivation. That is suggested in the next verse: --- ## Letters on May 12 *Letters from this day: 10* --- **[1969: Letter to Balabhadra](letters/1969/690512_balabhadra)** > I can understand that you are working very nicely and sincerely for helping our movement in Hawaii, and this is very encouraging to me. --- **[1969: Letter to Colin Jury](letters/1969/690512_colin_jury)** > Practically, our Krishna Consciousness movement is based on transcendental pleasure. --- **[1969: Letter to Gaurasundara](letters/1969/690512_gaurasundara)** > I think you should send United Shipping Corporation the price in advance of the sitar, and for the balance they can make their invoice. --- **[1972: Letter to Bhagavan](letters/1972/720512_bhagavan)** > Regarding the zone redistribution, others have also pointed out the discrepancy in middle USA zone, so we have changed that zone to include also all centers north of the Ohio River, Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana. --- **[1972: Letter to Karandhara](letters/1972/720512_karandhara)** > You may borrow the $15,000 from me, I have no objection. --- **[1973: Letter to Jadurani](letters/1973/730512_jadurani)** > I hope that by now you have received my letter of 2/5/73 in answer to your letter of April 25. I have not received any letters from you since then. --- **[1974: Letter to Devaprastha](letters/1974/740512_devaprastha)** > I regard Hong Kong as an important center and I agree with your statement very much that if the Chinese are approached intelligently they will become strong devotees, because their moral character and steadfast nature is very strong. --- **[1974: Letter to Lilavati](letters/1974/740512_lilavati)** > As for your questions you have asked for clarification in the KRSNA Book when Maha Visnu says to Krsna and Arjuna that you are my incarnations in my appearance as Nara-Narayana. --- **[1974: Letter to Madhudvisa](letters/1974/740512_madhudvisa)** > So it will not be possible for me to attend Rathayatra if you have scheduled it for June. I am immediately going to the US after Europe to attend Rathayatra in Chicago on July 6 and then Rathayatra in San Francisco on July 8. --- **[1975: Letter to Tejiyas](letters/1975/750512_tejiyas)** > Also keep in constant contact with that Oriya Minister of Defense. I wish to develop a Janmastami Park there and invite all the residents of New Delhi there to observe a grand festival on Janmastami day. ---