# May 18 ## Spoken on May 18 *Lectures from this day: 6 recordings* --- **[1970: Śrī Īśopaniṣad, Mantra 13–15](spoken/1970/700518ip.la)** > So these planets are covered by the *brahma-jyoti* effulgence. So here it is prayed that *hiraṇmayena pātreṇa satyasya apihitam. Apihitam* means covered. Just like you cannot see the sun globe on account of this dazzling sunshine, similarly, the Kṛṣṇa planet... Here you have the picture. From the Kṛṣṇa planet, the effulgence is coming out. So one has to penetrate this effulgence. That is being prayed here. *Hiraṇmayena pātreṇa satyasya.* The real Absolute Truth, Kṛṣṇa, His planet is covered by the Brahman effulgence. So the devotee is praying, "Kindly move it. Wind it so that I can see You really." > Speculation means the blind man seeing the elephant. Somebody thought, "Oh, it is just like a pillar." Yes. Big, big legs. Somebody understood the trunk. Somebody understood the ears, elephant. There is a story, some blind men studying the elephant. So they were giving different conclusions. Somebody: "The elephant is just like a pillar." Somebody says, "Elephant is just like big boat." Somebody is... Somebody is... But actually what is elephant, if you have no eyes to see, you can go on speculating. Therefore it is here said that *pūṣann apāvṛṇu:* "Please uncover the covering. Then I can see You." --- **[1972: Arrival Lecture](spoken/1972/720518ar.la)** > And Kṛṣṇa comes Himself to give you this message. Kṛṣṇa appeared five thousand years ago on this planet, and at Vṛndāvana He exhibited His real pastimes in the spiritual world, so just to give practical demonstration and to invite you there. Kṛṣṇa [is] canvassing: *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja*. > Otherwise, the simple method—simply chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma, Rāma, Hare Hare, and you'll realize the whole thing. The child can take part, the philosopher can take part, the scientist can take part, the politician can take part, the religionist can take part, the public can take part. It is so universal. And it is open; there is no secrecy. It is not that "I shall give you some secret *mantra,* and give me some money, I go away." It is open. --- **[1972: Lecture](spoken/1972/720518le.la)** > The real thing is in the spiritual world. There is a spiritual world. Those who have read *Bhagavad-gītā,* they can understand. The spiritual world is described there, *paras tasmāt tu bhāvo 'nyo 'vyakto 'vyaktāt sanātanaḥ*. Bhāvaḥ* means nature. There is another nature beyond this nature. We can see this nature up to the limit of the sky. The scientists, they're trying to go to the highest planet, but they are calculating it will take forty thousands of years. So who is going to live for forty thousands of years, go and come back? But there is planet. > So we cannot calculate even the length and breadth of this material world, what to speak of the spiritual world. Therefore we have to know from authoritative sources. That authoritative sources is Kṛṣṇa. Because we have already described, nobody is wiser or in knowledge than Kṛṣṇa. So Kṛṣṇa gives this knowledge, that *paras tasmāt tu bhāvo 'nyo* : "Beyond this material world there is another spiritual sky." There are also innumerable planets. And that sky is far, far greater than this sky. It is one fourth only. And the spiritual sky is three fourth. That is described in the *Bhagavad-gītā, ekāṁśena sthito jagat .* --- **[1976: Room Conversation About New Vrindavan](spoken/1976/760518r1.hon)** > Govinda dāsī: There was, there was one family of devotees that came from New Vrindavan. They were sort of semi-hippy, semi-devotee. And..., and so they got, and they moved to Hawaii—not to this island but to another island in the country. And we sent one party of devotees there for starting a temple, for doing preaching work. And they were just getting started, so they asked, "Can we stay at your house just temporarily?" And they said, "Oh, all right. You can stay there for a few days." But they wouldn't even feed them. They would go into the other room and eat; they would... > Govinda dāsī: They wouldn't even feed the devotees. It was not very nice. And then the children were performing āratik, and they were saying, "Oh, how cute. How sweet," and everything. But when it came to practical..., practically helping to start our temple there, there was no help at all. It was... It wasn't very helpful. --- **[1976: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.18](spoken/1976/760518sb.hon)** > So there are different methods how to get out of the suffering condition, *karmī, jñānī, yogī.* But ultimate, very easy process is, if you become a devotee, if you become engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then it is very easy. *Kṣemaḥ akuto-bhayaḥ.* Then your prosperity, your auspicity, is guaranteed. *Kṣemaḥ akuto-bhayaḥ. Akuto-bhayaḥ* means "without any fear." You can keep yourself in Kṛṣṇa consciousness as it is prescribed. Then your life is secure, *akuto-bhayaḥ.* Therefore no more fear. Because why? Kṛṣṇa says, *ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi* : "If you become surrendered unto Me and if you keep yourself under My instruction, then I'll give you protection." Therefore it is said, *akuto-bhayam.* Then your character will be formed, you'll become..., you'll manifest your all good qualities simply by becoming *nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇa.* And so far atonement... We began this atonement. So atonement is concerned, here it is said, *prāyaścittāni cīrṇāni nārāyaṇa-parāṅmukham.* You can have some atonement, but if you are bereft of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, so this purification will not be complete. How? *Rājendra surā-kumbham ivāpagāḥ.* According to Vedic civilization, a pot in which wine was kept, it is impure forever. It is impure forever. You cannot use for any other purpose, it is so abominable. If you think that "This bottle contained wine. Now wine is finished. Wash it, then it becomes pure," then according to Vedic civilization wine is so impure that even the pot in which wine was kept, it will never become pure. *Surā-kumbham.* These examples outsider cannot understand, but it is said in the *śāstra.* > So therefore they do not know what is the aim of life, and the nature's law is, unless you come to the point of understanding what is the aim of life, the nature will go on punishing you in so many ways. Little mistake, you'll be punished. *Daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī mama māyā duratyayā*. We have come to this material world, disobeying the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So just like police: as soon as you become outlaw, the police will take you and the police will go on punishing you unless you become lawful. This is the... So without understanding "Why I am put into the jail?" if I simply think that "It is all right. Let me remain here and suffer the punishment..." Jail life is not for happiness. That is, everyone knows. Jail life is for punishment. Similarly, in this material world everything is punishment, but by the illusory energy you are thinking, "This is all right." Every step there is punishment. Just study your life or my life. What is that? That beginning from the womb of my mother, when the body is formed, the soul, spirit soul, is injected in the womb of the woman, and then the formation of the body takes place. So the body grows. And now imagine when we are in the womb of the mother, how much difficult position, packed up in a bag, airtight bag. If we, at the present moment, if I put into some airtight condition, within three minutes I shall die. Within three minutes. But similarly, just like packed the child remains within the womb of the mother. It is very, very painful. But by the grace of God he lives. He lives. Otherwise it is suffocating. Just imagine if you are put in a airtight box, tied up, hands and legs. How long you can live? So we remain in that condition, unconscious stage. Then, when the body is formed, we get our consciousness. Therefore at the age when the child is seven years, er, seven months old, it moves because he feels the pains. --- ## Letters on May 18 *Letters from this day: 11* --- **[1971: Letter to Dinesh Candra](letters/1971/710518_dinesh_candra)** > Also I have received one letter from Yacov Shames and he acknowledges that he has been corresponding with you in regards to opening one branch there in Jerusalem. --- **[1973: Letter to Bhagavan](letters/1973/730518_bhagavan)** > Thank you very much for your complete report of the situation in London. We can understand from this incident that the most important point is that everyone, especially the leaders, must always stick to the basic regulative practices that I have given, especially 16 rounds each day. --- **[1973: Letter to Citsukhananda](letters/1973/730518_citsukhananda)** > Tomorrow I am going to Dallas because the weather here in Los Angeles is not good for my health. If the weather there is not suitable, I may come at once to Caracas. --- **[1973: Letter to Hansadutta](letters/1973/730518_hansadutta)** > Thank you very much for your report of the London situation. We can understand from this incident that the most important point is that everyone, especially the leaders, must always stick to the basic regulative practices that I have given, especially 16 rounds each day. --- **[1976: Letter to Brahmananda](letters/1976/760518_brahmananda)** > Somehow or other I want that the Nairobi center is maintained, not closed. As sannyasi you can come and go, but my only ambition is that the center may not be closed. --- **[1976: Letter to Gurukrpa](letters/1976/760518_gurukrpa)** > I do not want that Sukadeva be removed from his position as I can see that he is sincerely following the principles at present. The GBC can not whimsically change the temple president, there is a resolution to this effect. --- **[1976: Letter to Jamadagni](letters/1976/760518_jamadagni)** > I am in receipt of your letter dated May 15, 1976, and I have gladly noted the contents. Our aims and objects in the Krishna Consciousness Movement are very sublime. --- **[1976: Letter to Jayatirtha](letters/1976/760518_jayatirtha)** > The house that you mentioned in London, if it is necessary, I approve the L40,000 loan. There is another Hindu very sympathetic by the name of Mr. Modi. --- **[1977: Letter to Gurukrpa](letters/1977/770518_gurukrpa)** > I am so much grateful to you and to all of your men how much you are sacrificing for spreading the movement of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. --- **[1977: Letter to Hari-Sauri](letters/1977/770518_hari-sauri)** > It is not possible to reply you by telegram because there is necessity of sending beads, and sacred thread which can only be sent through a regular letter. --- **[1977: Letter to Mahamsa Swami](letters/1977/770518_mahamsa_swami)** > I was very surprised to know that you did not receive my letter dated the 13th April, 1977. Enclosed please find a copy of that letter. ---