# May 20 ## Spoken on May 20 *Lectures from this day: 10 recordings* --- **[1966: Bhagavad-gītā 3.8–13](spoken/1966/660520bg.ny.md)** > The Lord says that "You have not do. You have to do nothing. You simply surrender unto Me." *Sarva-dharmān parityajya.* "You have got so many obligations; it is right. But it is impossible for you." Of course, there are systems how to liquidate your obligation. But especially in this age, oh, who is going to satisfy the demigods? Who is going to satisfy the forefathers? Who is going to satisfy the so many obligation with ordinary living being? Nobody is going. But if you don't satisfy your indebtedness, then there will be reaction. But if you surrender unto the Supreme Lord, you will be protected from all reaction. Therefore it is very easy. By one installment we become free from all obligation. > Now, God or God's agent is supplying you so many things, and if you do not acknowledge or repay by sacrifice, then what is your position? *Yo bhuṅkte:* "One who enjoys," *stena eva saḥ,* "he is a thief." He is a thief, therefore punishable. As a thief is punishable by the state law, similarly, one who takes advantage of these natural facilities and do not acknowledge it and do not offer sacrifice to the Supreme, then he is considered to be a thief, it is said in the *Bhagavad-gītā. Stena eva saḥ*. So *yajña-śiṣṭāśinaḥ santo mucyante sarva-kilbiṣaiḥ.* So, we are becoming debtors and debtors life after life in this way, and the only way to liquidate our so many debts is to perform *yajña.* --- **[1969: Bhajan & Purport to Jīv Jāgo](spoken/1969/690520pu.col)** > Actually, when the child remains within the womb of his mother, packed up in airtight bag, at the age of seven months within the womb, when he develops his consciousness, he feels very uncomfortable, and the fortunate baby prays to God, "Please relieve me from this awkward position, and this life I shall fully engage myself in developing my God consciousness, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness." But as soon as the child comes out of the womb of his mother, under the spell of these three modes of material nature he forgets, and he cries, and the parents take care, and the whole thing is forgotten. > There is one instance of Parīkṣit Mahārāja. When he was in the womb of his mother, their paternal, I mean to say, enemy, Droṇa..., son of Droṇācārya, Aśvatthāmā, he released a weapon called *brahmāstra.* The *brahmāstra* could kill even within the womb. So at that time Lord Kṛṣṇa entered and saved the child. The child saw the form of Kṛṣṇa and was remembering. And when the child came out, he was trying to find out where is that form. He was searching after Kṛṣṇa. So the astrologers who were present there, they could understand that "This child is seeking something." Therefore his name was given, Parīkṣit. *Parīkṣit* means one who is trying to test. *Parikṣa. Parikṣa* means test, examination. --- **[1972: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.3.1–2](spoken/1972/720520sb.la)** > So *Bhagavad-gītā* informs us, *idaṁ śarīraṁ kaunteya*. What is called? The field. This body is called field. What is that *śloka*? Can you remember? *Idaṁ śarīraṁ kaunteya kṣetram ity abhidhīyate. Kṣetra. Kṣetra* means field. Field. Just like you work, you play on the field. So the... You are not the field. You are not the field. Because you are walking on the field or you are playing on the field, it does not mean you are field. But these nonsense, these rascals, they take it, "I'm playing on this field; therefore I am field." No. > Therefore Kṛṣṇa says particularly, *idaṁ śarīraṁ kaunteya kṣetram ity abhidhīyate. Kṣetra.* It is field. Just like "a field of activities," we say. So every individual soul is given a chance of field of activities. So this is a field. Now you can act. This field, this body, human body, is very nice field. Here, by acting, you can understand your real position. --- **[1975: Morning Walk in the Botanical Gardens](spoken/1975/750520mw.mel)** > You have endeavored your sincere effort. That is recognized by Kṛṣṇa. That is the order of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. *Yāre dekha, tāre kaha 'kṛṣṇa'-upadeśa* : "Whomever you meet, you give him, you inform him the instruction of Kṛṣṇa." Caitanya Mahāprabhu never said that "You see that he has actually become Kṛṣṇa conscious." Never says. You simply say and go and say. That is your business. It is not that you have to see that he has become Kṛṣṇa conscious. It is not so easy to become Kṛṣṇa conscious. It is not so easy. It will take, *bahūnāṁ janmanām ante*, after many, many births. But you have to do your duty. Go and preach. *Yāre dekha, tāre kaha 'kṛṣṇa'-upadeśa*. Your duty is finished. Of course, you will try to convert him. If he is not converted, that is not deviation of your duty. You have to simply go and speak. Just like when I came to your country, I never expected any success because I knew, "As soon as I will say, 'No illicit sex, no meat-eating,' they will reject me immediately." [laughter] So I was not hopeful at all. > You have to follow the regulative principles. *Sato vṛtteḥ.* You should be honest. You are not following, and still you say, "I am devotee." That means you are not honest. *Sato vṛtteḥ sādhu-saṅge,* and in the association of devotees. *Ṣaḍbhir bhaktiḥ prasidhyati.* By following these six principles, you advance. This is the Rūpa Gosvāmī's instruction. --- **[1975: Room Conversation with Dr. Copeland, Professor of Modern Indian History](spoken/1975/750520r1.mel)** > "He should be accepted as such." Similarly, if a man born in *brāhmaṇa* family, but he has the qualities of the *śūdras... Paricaryātmakaṁ kāryaṁ śūdra-karma svabhāva-jam*. Paricarya* means service. To accept the subordinate... [break] So therefore, according to *Bhagavad-gītā,* nobody is *brāhmaṇa.* A *brāhmaṇa* should remain independent. He should live by his qualities. People will honor him. Just like we are training. We do not serve anyone, but we are maintaining big establishment. This is *brāhmaṇa.* We do not serve anyone, any merchant, officer, any... No. We chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. That's all. If Kṛṣṇa wants, He will give us food, or we shall starve. We are not going to serve. > So *nāsau munir yasya...* So if I take the opinion of one *muni* and another *muni,* another *muni,* then where is the real view? Therefore it is said, *mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ*. Big personalities, what they have done, we have to follow that. So our principle is that, that we are following Caitanya Mahāprabhu, *mahājana,* a great personality. Or the Christians are following Christ, a great personality. *Mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ.* You follow some *mahājana,* great personality. Don't take opinion this man, that man, this man, this man. Then you will be bewildered. *Dharmasya tattvaṁ nihitaṁ guhāyāṁ mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ.* So you have to follow one great personality, *ācārya.* That is also recommended in the *Bhā..., ācāryopāsanam*, following the *ācārya.* So we have got recognized *ācārya,* just like you said, Rāmānujācārya, Madhvācārya, Nimbārka, Viṣṇu Svāmī, Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Or Śaṅkarācārya even. You follow one *ācārya,* like Christians, they follow Christ, *ācārya.* The Muhammadans, they follow *ācārya,* Muhammad. That is good. You must follow some *ācārya.* But don't give *your* opinion. That is our process. *Evaṁ paramparā-prāptam.* Just see, [aside:] find out. --- **[1975: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.1–4](spoken/1975/750520sb.mel)** > If you want to go to the higher planetary system where the demigods live, you can go there. Therefore the *karmīs,* by performing Vedic ritualistic ceremonies, they want elevation to the higher planetary system where the life, prolongation of life is very, very big. As we have got day and night, in the higher planetary system the waxing and waning moon, then when the moon is present there and the sky is in light, that is the day of the higher planetary system. And when the moon is dark, that is the night. That means our fifteen days—in the higher planetary system, twelve hours. Just imagine their year. And such ten thousands of years you can live if you can go to the moon planet. The day and night, fifteen days, your fifteen days is equal to their one day. No, twelve hours. That means your one month is their one day. Now calculate one day; then thirty days, one month; then twelve months equal to one year. Such ten thousands of years, just imagine. You can go there and live like that, *yānti deva-vratā devān ,* if you like. But that is not eternal life. After that long period, you have to die. So Kṛṣṇa says, *janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi-duḥkha-doṣānudarśanam .* You are trying to avoid all kinds of miserable condition, but your real miserable condition is your birth, death, old age and disease. Try to avoid it. That is perfection. That is spiritual life. > Now, Kṛṣṇa says, *tathā dehāntara-prāptiḥ*. The spirit soul will change this body, as it has already changed from babyhood to childhood, childhood to boyhood. That I already explained. So what type of body I am going to accept next life? I am not going to die; I am simply changing body. Just like we change dress. If one dress is torn or old, we change another dress. Exactly like that. This body we change when it is no more usable. We have got our spiritual body. And they say the spirit is formless. No. Now if this body is my dress, then how the body has got these hands and legs? Just like because you have got actually hands and legs, therefore your coat and pant has got hands and legs. If you have no form, then how the coat and pant is made? The coat... The pant has got legs because actually I have got leg. The coat has hands or body because actually I have got body. So the argument that the spirit is formless, that is bogus. Unless I have got form, how the dress body is made with hands and legs and heads and everything? --- **[1976: Room Conversation](spoken/1976/760520r1.hon)** > Devotee (2): Purport. "This should not be misunderstood. In the Seventh Chapter the Lord says that one who is engaged in mischievous activities cannot become a devotee of the Lord. One who is not a devotee of the Lord has no good qualifications whatsoever. The question remains, then, How can a person engaged in abominable activities—either by accident or intention—be a pure devotee? This question may be justly raised. The miscreants, are stated in the Seventh Chapter, who never come to the devotional service of the Lord, have no good qualifications, as it is stated in the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam*. Generally, a devotee who is engaged in the nine kinds of devotional activities is engaged in the process of cleansing all material contamination from the heart. He puts the Supreme Personality of Godhead within his heart, and all sinful contaminations are naturally washed away. Continuous thinking of the Supreme Lord makes him pure by nature. According to the *Vedas,* there is a certain regulation that if one falls down from his exalted position he has to undergo certain ritualistic processes to purify himself. But there is no such condition, because the purifying process is already there in the heart of the devotee, due to his remembering the Supreme Personality of Godhead constantly. Therefore, the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare should be continued without stoppage. This will protect a devotee from all accidental falldowns. He will thus remain perpetually free from all material contaminations." > Dharmaḥ projjhita kaitavaḥ *. All cheating type of religion is kicked out. This is no religion at all. All bogus. Is that religion, disobeying the instruction of Christ, "Thou shall not kill"? "Therefore I shall kill him." Is that religion? And they are showing how he was killed. --- **[1976: Room Conversation](spoken/1976/760520r2.hon)** > Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Purport: "There are many devotees who assume themselves to be in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and devotional service but at heart do not accept the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, as the Absolute Truth. [laughter—at something happening in room?] For them, the fruit of devotional service—going back to Godhead—will never be tasted. Similarly, those engaged in fruitive pious activities and who are ultimately hoping to be liberated from this material entanglement will never be successful either, because they deride the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. In other words, persons who mock Kṛṣṇa are to be understood to be demonic or atheistic. As described in the Seventh Chapter of *Bhagavad-gītā,* such demonic miscreants never surrender to Kṛṣṇa. Therefore their mental speculations to arrive at the Absolute Truth bring them to the false conclusion that the ordinary living entity and Kṛṣṇa are one and the same. With such a false conviction, they think that the body of any human being is now simply covered by material nature, and that as soon as one is liberated from this material body there is no difference between God and himself. This attempt to become one with Kṛṣṇa will be baffled because of delusion. Such atheistic and demoniac cultivation of spiritual knowledge is always futile. That is the indication of this verse. For such persons, cultivation of the knowledge in the Vedic literature, like *Vedānta-sūtra* and the *Upaniṣads,* is always baffled. > "It is a great offense, therefore, to consider Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, to be an ordinary man. Those who do so are certainly derided, because they cannot understand the eternal form of Kṛṣṇa. In the *Bṛhad-vaiṣṇava-tantra* it is clearly stated that one who considers the body of Kṛṣṇa to be material should be driven out from all rituals and activities of the *śruti,* and if by chance one sees his face, he should at once take bath in the Ganges to rid himself of infection. People jeer at Kṛṣṇa because they are envious of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Their destiny is certainly to take birth after birth in the species of atheistic and demoniac life. Perpetually, their real knowledge will remain under delusion, and gradually they will regress to the darkest region of creation." The Most Confidential Knowledge. --- **[1976: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.20](spoken/1976/760520sb.hon)** > So this body, how you'll be transferred to another body, that will be judged by the Yamarāja. *Daiva-netreṇa. Karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa*. By our activities we shall be judged. Those who are criminal, they will be judged, not that everyone will be judged. So..., and because those who are devotees, they are... *Mad-yajino 'pi yānti mām .* Those who have devoted their life, dedicated their life only in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, they are sure. Kṛṣṇa says, *tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti*. That is sure, they are going back to home, back to Godhead. And those who are not dedicated or taken to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, they are criminals. They will be taken to the Yamarāja's court, and Yamarāja will decide what kind of body. There are 8,400,000 different forms of body, and he will be given a certain type of body. This is called transmigration of the soul. > This is called to live in the modes of goodness. So our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is to bring every person to the platform of goodness. Not even on the platform of passion, no, because *ūrdhvaṁ gacchanti sattva-sthā*. At least, if you remain on the platform of goodness, then you can be promoted to the higher planetary system. *Svarga* begins... Higher planetary system begins from the sun, moon, and there are others, Janaloka, Tapoloka, Maharloka, like that, up to Satyaloka, Brahmaloka. So this is the chance. So now you make your selection: either you go in the upper planetary system or remain where you are or go down in animal life also. So this is the chance. We should not neglect. --- ## Letters on May 20 *Letters from this day: 23* --- **[1969: Letter to Sudama](letters/1969/690520_sudama)** > I understand that Kartikeya has left for San Francisco, and there is no grudge. I hope in the association of the devotees there, he will feel jolly, and his moroseness will be cleared off. If there is possibility of your living in the temple along with the other devotees, then live there. --- **[1970: Letter to Tejiyas](letters/1970/700520_tejiyas)** > Please follow the rules and regulations for advancing in Krsna Consciousness beginning with strict observance of the four restrictions, and chant daily the prescribed number of sixteen rounds on the beads, and you will grow strong in spiritual strength. Study our literatures with the cooperation of your God-brothers and sisters in Buffalo, and any questions you may have may be submitted to Srimad Rupanuga for answering. So in this way always find some engagement in Krsna's service and you will be supremely happy and successful in your life. --- **[1972: Letter to Dayananda](letters/1972/720520_dayananda)** > I shall be very glad to see Lord Jagannatha dancing in His new dress when I come to London sometime in July. --- **[1972: Letter to Don](letters/1972/720520_don)** > I am especially engladdened that you have gone to such cold climate as northern Canada and despite all difficulty you are making good progress in the advancement of Krishna Consciousness there. --- **[1973: Letter to Arjuna](letters/1973/730520_arjuna)** > So far as your engagement is concerned, I am most satisfied to see that my books are being distributed profusely. --- **[1973: Letter to Candanacarya Kasturika](letters/1973/730520_candanacarya_kasturika)** > Now I am in Dallas and the climate here is very suitable with plenty of good sunshine. I shall remain here for a few days and if my health improves there will be no need for my going back to India. --- **[1973: Letter to Eric](letters/1973/730520_eric)** > I am very pleased to see that you are taking this Krsna Consciousness movement seriously. --- **[1973: Letter to Kirtida Kanyaka](letters/1973/730520_kirtida_kanyaka)** > My request is that you please take this Krsna Consciousness Movement very seriously. --- **[1973: Letter to Tusti](letters/1973/730520_tusti)** > You ask: "You said when you gave me the name Tusti dasi, 'Now you can be satisfied without eating. --- **[1973: Letter to Vrndavana Vilasini](letters/1973/730520_vrndavana_vilasini)** > I am very pleased to hear that you are distributing many of my books, especially Krsna Book. Please continue to engage wholeheartedly in Krsna's service and there is no doubt that you may go back to home, back to Godhead in this life. --- **[1975: Letter to Kerry Welsh](letters/1975/750520_kerry_welsh)** > I am in due receipt of your note and your hand-knitted sweater gift. Please continue living nicely in Krishna Consciousness, chanting 16 rounds daily minimum, rising early, following the rules and regulations, reading my books, and make your life perfect. Regarding your initiation, I will be pleased to accept you as my disciple if Tusta Krishna Swami gives me his recommendation. --- **[1975: Letter to Madhava](letters/1975/750520_madhava)** > You go to those rascals and they will convert you. It is distinctly said in the Bhagavad-gita that the purpose of Vedic knowledge is to understand Krishna, vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyo, [[bg/15/15|(Bg. So, we are presenting Krishna in so many ways, politically, socially, economically, philosophically, and religiously, etc. --- **[1975: Letter to Prabhanu](letters/1975/750520_prabhanu)** > Train all of our boys and girls to follow the rules carefully, chanting 16 rounds and reading our books very carefully. --- **[1975: Letter to Subhalaksmi](letters/1975/750520_subhalaksmi)** > Try to maintain the standard of a perfect person as is given in the Bhagavad-gita, and do not deviate from this wonderful method of Krishna consciousness. --- **[1975: Letter to Tusta Krsna](letters/1975/750520_tusta_krsna)** > Thank you for the U.S. 226 dollars and the A. 50 dollars daksina. I am very glad to hear that you are keeping yourself busy preaching. Don't become a dead man. Always preach. --- **[1976: Letter to Abhirama](letters/1976/760520_abhirama)** > You can continue to work at trying to get the park for constructing our temple there as previously planned. Keep me informed as to the progress. --- **[1976: Letter to Dr. Wolf](letters/1976/760520_dr._wolf)** > Why should our temples support or denounce Hitler. If somebody says something in this connection it must simply be some sentiment. We have nothing to do with politics. --- **[1976: Letter to Gopala Krsna](letters/1976/760520_gopala_krsna)** > So far that your request for funds to construct Vrindaban Gurukula, is concerned, I approve your plan to take one lac (Rs. 1 lac), out of the money that Bombay receives from Los Angeles. --- **[1976: Letter to Madhudvisa](letters/1976/760520_madhudvisa)** > I want to meet you immediately. If you do not come to Hawaii and you want to come to Los Angeles to meet me, then I can go to Los Angeles immediately. If you actually want to give me service, then you can live with me. --- **[1976: Letter to Manager Of Bank Of America](letters/1976/760520_manager_of_bank_of_america)** > Please prepare an account payee only bank draft to the credit of Engineering Construction Corporation Limited, for a sum of Rs. --- **[1976: Letter to Revatinandana](letters/1976/760520_revatinandana)** > On your recommendation I agree to accept the following persons for first initiation. Their spiritual names are as follows: --- **[1976: Letter to Saurabha](letters/1976/760520_saurabha)** > Incidentally, you mentioned that there was a sketch of my house in Mayapur enclosed however I did not find it enclosed in the letter you sent me. --- **[1976: Letter to Svarupa Damodara](letters/1976/760520_svarupa_damodara)** > The idea of lecture seminars is very good. This is required. It is a very nice idea. ---