# May 16 ## Spoken on May 16 *Lectures from this day: 9 recordings* --- **[1970: Śrī Īśopaniṣad, Mantra 11](spoken/1970/700516ip.la)** > So this material knowledge, this nationalism, this socialism, they are simply spoiling time. Real knowledge is the Vedic knowledge and the knowledge of Kṛṣṇa. That is real knowledge. *Bahūnāṁ janmanām ante jñānavān māṁ prapadyante*. Therefore one who is in real knowledge, after many, many births, he comes to Kṛṣṇa and surrenders unto Him, *vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti*: "Vasudeva, Kṛṣṇa, You are everything." > Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā, na ca tasmān manuṣyeṣu kaścin me priya-kṛttamaḥ* "Anyone who is preaching this Kṛṣṇa consciousness knowledge, oh, nobody is dearer than him to Me." So if you want to be very dear to Kṛṣṇa quickly, so you preach this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement very nicely. --- **[1971: May 16, 1971, Sydney](spoken/1971/710516iv.syd)** > Go* means cow and *kharaḥ* means ass. Such a person is either a cow or an ass who is identifying this body as self. This body is a bag of bones and flesh, blood and urine. So I am not this body. I am within this body. But people are identifying with this body. So this is the grossest type of ignorance, and we are trying to dissipate this ignorance and bring people to real consciousness, real identity. And that is called Kṛṣṇa consciousness. > So those who are coming to this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, they are very fortunate, because they are not in the category of ordinary men. They are serious to know about God. Therefore you cannot find in our group many thousands of people, only selected, fortunate people. So... But anyone can become fortunate, provided he agrees that "There is God, and I must submit to God." --- **[1971: Morning Walk [Partially Recorded](spoken/1971/710516mw.syd)** > Suppose when the water was here. Here there was water. That's a fact. Then so much water reduced, again reduced, again reduced, again reduced, many thousands of years. > He wanted to preach the glories of name, but there are teachers with title. *Ācārya* title was given to Haridāsa because he was chanting daily, regularly. --- **[1973: Room Conversation with Krishna Tiwari](spoken/1973/730516r1.la)** > Therefore the laws of nature is controlled by somebody, controller, and we get this information from Vedic knowledge. And practically it is so, that just by the example, law must be given by somebody. Law is not blind, or something dropped from the sky. Law is law. It is made by somebody. That is law. It is working systematically. That is law. > Śyāmasundara: So then your process is imperfect. You admit. We're saying that there's a process which is perfect, and it's a process of receiving knowledge which is absolute, that is descending, and receiving that with a submissive attitude. And you're saying that by your sensuous endeavor with your different machines and instruments, you can ascend to the Absolute Truth. But the symptom of a person who is in knowledge is that he's satisfied, he's peaceful within, and we can understand that this Kṛṣṇa consciousness Society is developing, is helping living entities, people, become satisfied within by receiving knowledge and actually coming to..., to understand themselves and what's around them and so forth, whereas, let me ask you, how many people have actually come to this stage of peacefulness and knowledge, of being freed from the need for intoxication and so many different things, by your scientific method? --- **[1973: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.9.2](spoken/1973/730516sb.la)** > So it has to be scientifically arranged, how all classes can cooperate for one purpose and they develop very nicely in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, *cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭam*. Mayā sṛṣṭam* means anything created by God, you cannot nullify it, you cannot reject it. That is not possible. You have to accept it and possibly utilize it. Therefore devotees, they take it for granted, even there is distressed condition of life, they take it that "It is created by God. I am now in distress. It is creation of God. So why shall I hate it? Let me tolerate. Let me undergo this distressed condition of life." > Therefore *Bhagavad-gītā* recommends, *cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ*. Here you cannot find all one class of men. That is not possible. There is those rascals who are trying to have a classless society, no class, all one. That is rascaldom. That is not possible. There must be classes. That is scientific. Why? Because this material nature is being conducted under three modes: first class, second class, third class. Goodness, passion and ignorance. So how you can make classless society? There must be divisions. There must be classes, color, colorful. --- **[1975: Morning Walk](spoken/1975/750516mw.per)** > You will get another body. So how you can say that "No, I am not going to be a dog"? You cannot say; you are not independent. You cannot make your choice. *Karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa*. By your work, it will be decided by higher authorities. Then how you can say, "No, no, I am not... There is no life, there is no..." It is all nonsense. Therefore without this knowledge, all this material opulence, it is all zero. It may be some fact for fifty or sixty years, but the world is not for fifty or sixty years—for millions and millions of years. [end] > [on walk]...during the time of Mahārāja Parīkṣit's grandson. Mahārāja Parīkṣit was the grandson of Yudhiṣṭhira, and Yudhiṣṭhira ruled over five thousand years ago. So the Yayāti... Mahārāja Parīkṣit... Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira's grandson is Parīkṣit. His son is Janamejaya. And his son is Yayāti. And his son started Greek and Roman Empire. So therefore the Greek history is not more than three thousand years. Mahārāja Yayāti banished his two sons to the European quarters. *Mleccha-yavana.* Later on they became *yavana,* from Vedic culture deviated. This is the history. --- **[1975: Room Conversation with Alcohol and Drug Hospital People](spoken/1975/750516r2.per)** > Anādi* means He has no beginning. But He is the beginning of everything. This is simple definition of God. *Anādi... Anādi* means He has no beginning, but He is the beginning of everything. *Anādir ādir govindaḥ sarva-kāraṇa-kāraṇam* [Bs. 5.1], the cause of all causes. > "It should be understood that all species of life, O son of Kuntī, are made possible by birth in this material nature, and that I am the seed-giving father." --- **[1976: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.16](spoken/1976/760516sb.hon)** > Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, *guru-kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya pāya bhakti-latā-bīja*. You can enter into the devotional service by double mercy. One mercy is Kṛṣṇa; another mercy is the spiritual master. Therefore here it is said, the same thing, *kṛṣṇārpita-prāṇas tat-puruṣa niṣevayā.* One cannot be *kṛṣṇārpita prāṇaḥ,* one cannot dedicate his life to Kṛṣṇa, unless he has gotten the mercy of spiritual master. This is the way. You cannot get directly. That is not possible. Therefore Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura said in many of his songs, *chāḍiyā vaiṣṇava-sevā, nistāra peyeche kebā:* "Without serving Vaiṣṇava, who has got liberation? Nobody has." > Therefore here it is said, *bhakti-yoga* means not only dedicating life to Kṛṣṇa but also to serve the Vaiṣṇava, *tat-puruṣa. Tat-puruṣa* means to serve a person who has dedicate his life to Kṛṣṇa. Two things: dedication to Kṛṣṇa and dedication to the devotee of Kṛṣṇa. So in this way if we advance, then it is very easy to become free from this material contamination. That is stated. *Na tathā hy aghavān rājan pūyeta tapa-ādibhiḥ*. Tapa-ādibhiḥ,* it is general process, but it is very, very difficult, especially in this age. So if we simply take this course, that dedicate life to Kṛṣṇa and dedicate life to Vaiṣṇava, then our life will be successful. --- ## Letters on May 16 *Letters from this day: 20* --- **[1966: Letter to Mangalaniloy Brahmacari](letters/1966/660516_mangalaniloy_brahmacari)** > Your strong desire to come to western countries is very laudable because Srila Prabhupada had a great hope to preach the gospel of Sri Rupa and Raghunath in these parts of the world. At the same time there is a great prospect for preaching the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in this part of the world. With this aim in view I tried my godbrothers to join together for this preaching work in the foreign countries by combined force. --- **[1970: Letter to Bhagavan](letters/1970/700516_bhagavan)** > I hope everything is going well with you in Detroit Temple. Perhaps by now you have received my invitation to you to visit our L.A. Temple at your convenience. --- **[1970: Letter to Gurudasa](letters/1970/700516_gurudasa)** > Regarding the letter dated 8th May, you write therein "the enclosed are humble offerings from all of your disciples here," but I have not received any enclosures. I am very glad that Trivikrama is helping you there, and he may stay as long as he likes. --- **[1970: Letter to Sivananda](letters/1970/700516_sivananda)** > Thank you very much for your contribution from yourself and your wife of $8, I have placed it in book fund account. --- **[1971: Letter to Bhavananda](letters/1971/710516_bhavananda)** > I am so glad to hear how rapidly our New York center is expanding and how enthusiastic the devotees have become. That is first class qualification for making advancement in Krishna Consciousness. --- **[1972: Letter to Acyutananda](letters/1972/720516_acyutananda)** > I have already advised Tamala Krishna Goswami to go to Bangladesh and if you also sometimes join with him and preach this Krishna Consciousness movement amongst the Mohammedans in Bangladesh, it will be a great service. So far the practical side is concerned, as it was possible to attract so many Christians and Jews to this movement in your country, similarly, it is possible to attract the Muslims in Bangladesh by administering the right medicine. --- **[1972: Letter to Bhavananda](letters/1972/720516_bhavananda)** > Last time when I was in India you told me that Lalita Prasad wanted to see me and according to his desire I saw him. --- **[1972: Letter to Gurudasa Yamuna](letters/1972/720516_gurudasa_yamuna)** > Yes, Tejiyas is a very good worker, and I very much appreciate, you may ask him to write me his report and I shall be very glad to hear from him. --- **[1972: Letter to Madhudvisa](letters/1972/720516_madhudvisa)** > By now you have received our request for you to become the GBC man for South-east Asia, South Pacific zone. --- **[1972: Letter to Tamala Krsna](letters/1972/720516_tamala_krsna)** > I have read the letter from Turya ___, so he is anxious to get our papers, so arrange to send him our English and Bengali literature and advise he should regularly get all our papers. When you go there, on cooperation with him you can establish a center in Bangladesh by mutual arrangement, and that will be very suitable for your preaching. --- **[1973: Letter to Bali-Mardana](letters/1973/730516_bali-mardana)** > So now my plans have changed. Karandhara has made arrangements for my physician to come here, thus saving much expense and time. So now I shall remain here in Los Angeles up to the 30th of May, then to New Vrindaban for a few days and then on to London. --- **[1973: Letter to Gurudasa](letters/1973/730516_gurudasa)** > I have received the picture of the front elevation of our temple, it looks very nice. --- **[1973: Letter to Hrsikesa](letters/1973/730516_hrsikesa)** > You are welcome to join us at any moment provided you do so in your original status. You have to immediately leave India for working outside. --- **[1973: Letter to Kurusrestha](letters/1973/730516_kurusrestha)** > Upon your recommendation I am happy to accept the devotees you have mentioned, Dattatreya das and Rama Tulasi dasi, for second initiation. --- **[1973: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1973/730516_satsvarupa)** > Upon your recommendation I am happy to accept Giridhari das and his wife for second initiation. --- **[1974: Letter to Bhima Krsna Dasa Sanat Kumara Nityananda Samba Joseph](letters/1974/740516_bhima_krsna_dasa_sanat_kumara_nityananda_samba_joseph)** > All of the sentiments expressed in all of your letters are just according to the Vaisnava parampara. --- **[1974: Letter to Sri Pannalalji](letters/1974/740516_sri_pannalalji)** > We are of course increasing the number of centers all over the world, but the difficulty is that as soon as foreigners accept the cult our men in India especially the rigid Brahmin society does not accept them as regular Vaisnavas. In some temples they are not even allowed to see the deity. The learned sanskrit scholars with English education must be well versed in the Vaisnava sastras, especially Bhagavad-gita and Srimad bhagavatam. --- **[1976: Letter to Gopala Krsna](letters/1976/760516_gopala_krsna)** > I have requested Radhavallabha in Los Angeles to send you all the transparencies for printing the color pictures in all of our books. So you can proceed to print all of the books and distribute them profusely. --- **[1976: Letter to Trivikrama](letters/1976/760516_trivikrama)** > Yesterday my secretary received a telephone call from you indicating that everything was mended between yourself and Gurukrpa Maharaja, and then today he received a call from Gurukrpa Maharaja saying that the both of you were not cooperating. --- **[1976: Letter to Yasodanandana](letters/1976/760516_yasodanandana)** > I have informed Gopala Krsna that you may also use the color transparencies for the printing of your books in South India. Radhavallabha is sending Gopala Krsna all the transparencies from all of our books as we intend to print all of our books in India for profuse distribution. ---