# May 24 ## Spoken on May 24 *Lectures from this day: 14 recordings* --- **[1972: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.3.2–7](spoken/1972/720524sb.la)** > Demigod worship is recommended in the *Vedas.* At least, they should gradually understand, "Who is this demigod? Why we are worshiping him? Wherefrom he has got this power?" Then, when one can understand that this Indra, Candra and Sūrya and Diti, Aditi, and fire, Lord Śiva, they are all different departmental heads of Kṛṣṇa's government; the real king is Kṛṣṇa—to understand that. Not that... Then one could derive all the benefits from one department. No. The different departments are recommended: "If you want this, you approach this. If you want this, you approach this." In the conclusion it will be said that "Whatever you want, you go to Kṛṣṇa. Your all desires will be fulfilled." *Yasmin vijñāte sarvam idaṁ vijñātaṁ bhavati* [*Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad* 1.3]*. Akāmaḥ sarva-kāmo vā mokṣa-kāma udāra-dhīḥ*. So? What is the time now? *Kīrtana?* > Those who are Kṛṣṇa conscious, they are first-class intelligent. They don't want anything beyond Kṛṣṇa. That's all. They don't want to know anything except Kṛṣṇa. The advantage is, if you can know Kṛṣṇa, then you know everything. And if you get Kṛṣṇa, you get everything. Therefore this conclusion cannot be perceived by less intelligent class of men. Exactly like that. If one is intelligent, he goes to the river from the village, and he takes there bath. River water is never contaminated, because constantly the wave is flowing. Suppose you contaminate a certain portion, but it does not stand; it flows down immediately. Immediately, moment after moment, you are getting pure water. And especially in India. --- **[1973: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.10.20](spoken/1973/730524sb.lon)** > So *Vedānta* means the..., the ultimate platform of acquiring knowledge, up to this. So that "up to this" is Kṛṣṇa, that if you talk of Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then you talk of all the *Vedas. Sarva-śruti-mano-haraḥ*. You talk of Vedic knowledge, but if you simply talk of Vedic knowledge, it becomes dry, speculative. But if you talk of Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa's *līlā,* Kṛṣṇa's pastimes, then it becomes simultaneously discussion of Vedic knowledge, at the same time very beautiful. Therefore Kṛṣṇa is described here, *uttama-śloka.* Kṛṣṇa is never described by ordinary verses. *Uttama-śloka. Uttama-śloka* means... *Uttama* means also liberated. *Ut. Ut* means transcendental, one who has crossed, *ud-gata. Ut. Ut* means one who has gone the other side. *Tama. Tama* means this darkness. > So *brahma-jijñāsā,* if one begins the life of *brahma-jijñāsā, brahma-jñāna,* and when it ends in understanding Kṛṣṇa, that is perfection of life. That is confirmed in the *Bhagavad-gītā, bahūnāṁ janmanām ante jñānavān māṁ prapadyate*. The, the one who is actually *jñānavān,* in knowledge, such person. Not so-called. There are two classes of men: one class of men is called *jñānavān,* and another class of men is called *māyayā apahṛta-jñāna*.* All these words you'll find in the *Bhagavad-gītā.* This is not my manufacture. --- **[1974: Morning Walk](spoken/1974/740524mw.rom)** > [pause] [break] Indian civilization is that they constructed big, big buildings, but for God, temple. And for the people, they were satisfied in small villages. So far the temples are concerned, South Indian temple, wonderful temple. --- **[1974: Room Conversation with Catholic Cardinal and Secretary to the Pope [His Eminence Cardinal Pignedoli and Monsignor Verrozano](spoken/1974/740524r1.rom)** > "It is not possible for the Brahman realized impersonalist nor the Paramātmā realized *yogī* to understand Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as the son of Mother Yaśodā or the charioteer of Arjuna. Even the great demigods are sometimes confused about Kṛṣṇa: *muhyanti yat sūrayaḥ*, *māṁ tu veda na kaścana,* 'No one knows Me as I am,' the Lord says. And if one does know Him, then *sa mahātmā sudurlabhaḥ*, 'Such a great soul is very rare...' If one does know Him, such a great soul is very rare. Therefore unless one practices devotional service to the Lord, he cannot know Kṛṣṇa as He is [*tattvataḥ],* even though one is a great scholar or philosopher. Only the pure devotees can know something of the inconceivable transcendental qualities in Kṛṣṇa, in the cause of all causes, in His omnipotence and opulence, and in His wealth, fame, strength, beauty, knowledge and renunciation, because Kṛṣṇa is benevolently inclined to His devotees. He is the last word in Brahman realization, and the devotees alone can realize Him as He is. Therefore it is said: > So the human life is especially meant for understanding God. That is the version of the *Vedānta-sūtra, Vedānta* philosophy. The *Vedānta* philosophy teaches, athāto brahma-jijñāsā: "Now this human form of body, which is above the lower grades of forms..." There are 8,400,000 forms of body. The soul is transmigrating, evolution. But when we get this human form of body, our main business is to inquire about God. *Athāto brahma-jijñāsā.* Now, if somebody inquires what is God, the immediate reply is, God is the source, original source of everything. *Janmādy asya yataḥ.* So the human form of life is meant for understanding God, and according to our philosophy, if human body is not utilized for understanding God, then it is misused. If we simply spoil our life like the animals—eating, sleeping, sex life and defending—then the human life is spoiled like animals. The real necessity of human life is to understand God. Not only to understand God superficially, but to understand our eternal relationship with Him, and then *prayojana,* the ultimate goal of life, is to go back to home, back to Godhead. That is ultimate goal. And if you simply try to understand God as we get it from the revealed scriptures, then after giving up this body, *tyaktvā dehaṁ... Deham* means this body. After this death... There are many deaths in many bodies, but after this death, *tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti*, he does not enter again into the material body. In his original, spiritual body he goes back to home, back to Godhead. --- **[1974: Room Conversation with Richard Webster, Chairman, Societa Filosofica Italiana](spoken/1974/740524r2.rom)** > Therefore, to approach the Absolute Truth, God, is very difficult subject matter. Therefore our principle is *mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ*. Mahājana* means the recognized persons—recognized by the Supreme Lord—such persons we follow. We have got a list of recognized persons, just like Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva, the Manu. Just like in the *Bhagavad-gītā,* Manu's name is there. *Imaṁ vivasvate yogaṁ proktavān aham avyayam, vivasvān manave prāha*, this Manu. > This is our... We don't try to adjust things here; it is not possible. It is not possible. However big philosopher I may be—I may give my ideas—it will never be possible to make here things peaceful. No, that is not possible. Just like if you want to make the lavatory very scientifically—it is, after all, lavatory—every minute it is becoming contaminated. So similarly, this world is so contaminated that you cannot make it completely free from contamination. That is not possible. *Duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam*. It is a place of miseries. And actually it is a fact. Now we are trying to get out of miseries. Is it not? The civic activities means to get out of miseries. Is it not? --- **[1974: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.6](spoken/1974/740524sb.rom)** > Dharma,* religious principle... Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā, yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata*. Glāniḥ* means polluted. "Wherever there is pollution in the matter of discharging religious principles, I come down." *Tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmy aham.* "Then I come down to settle up things." So Kṛṣṇa came for this purpose, to settle up or to purify *dharmasya glāniḥ,* pollution in the matter of discharging religious principles. Therefore, as soon as there is pollution means there is a class of men who have polluted. They are called *duṣkṛta,* sinful. When there is increase of the number of sinful persons, there must be pollution in the system of religious life. This is the way. If everyone is following religious principle, everyone does not commit any sinful activity, so at that time, there is no chance of pollution in religiousness. > So therefore our business is to see. It doesn't matter whether you are acting as a *śūdra* or *brāhmaṇa* or *kṣatriya.* It doesn't matter. If by your actions, *sva-karmabhis tam abhyarcya,* if by your action Kṛṣṇa is satisfied, then your life is successful. It doesn't matter in what position you are. It doesn't matter, if Kṛṣṇa is satisfied. This is the principle of life. That is real *dharma.* Kṛṣṇa says, *sarva-dharmān pa..., mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja*. --- **[1975: Bhagavad-gītā 7.1](spoken/1975/750524bg.fij)** > We are engaged in different types of austerities, penances and performing *yajñas,* but who is the *bhoktā*? *Bhoktā,* Kṛṣṇa says, "I am the *bhoktā,* I am the enjoyer." *Bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram:* "And I am the proprietor of everything within this universe." Not only in this universe, there are many other millions of universes. Therefore says, *sarva-loka-maheśvaram.* There are different *lokas* in each and every universe. And *maheśvaram, mahā īśvara,* the supreme proprietor. *Bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram, suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānām*.* Although He is so great, still, He is friend of all living entities. *Sarva-loka-maheśvaram, suhṛdam..., jñātvā māṁ śāntim ṛcchati.* This is the culture. If anyone can understand that God is the proprietor of everything, God is the enjoyer of all activities, the resultant action, God is the supreme friend of everyone—simply by understanding these three formulas, one attains real platform of peaceful life. That is peaceful life. > This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. And this is the basic principle of *bhakti-yoga.* Kṛṣṇa says here, *yogaṁ yuñjan mad-āśrayaḥ. Yogam. Mayy āsakta-manāḥ.* The business is that we have to increase our attachment for God. This is our main business. We are attached to so many things. That is material life. Everyone has got. Therefore we have got different types of body. *Kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgaḥ asya sad-asad-janma-yoniṣu*.* Why you have got different types of body? The *kāraṇam,* the reason, is that we are associating with particular type of infection in this material world, and we are getting particular type of body. I have explained it several times that there are three *guṇas: sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa, tamo-guṇa.* So in the *Bhagavad-gītā* it is said, *kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgaḥ asya.* As soon as we are in the material world, we are under the influence either of these three *guṇas: sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa, tamo-guṇa.* Those who are purely in association with the modes of goodness, *sattva-guṇa,* they are considered as *brāhmaṇa.* And those who are associated with the *rajo-guṇa,* passion, they are called *kṣatriyas.* And those who are associating with the *tamo-guṇa,* ignorance, they are called the *śūdras.* And the mixture of *tamo-guṇa* and *rajo-guṇa* is the position of the *vaiśya.* In this way, there are four divisions of men everywhere. *Cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ*. According to the association of particular type of modes of nature and working in that way, it makes a division of the human society. That is required. --- **[1976: Room Conversation](spoken/1976/760524r1.hon)** > As soon as one becomes *gṛhastha*, he has got his own unit. So everyone has got his fashion how to maintain their unit. Now how the temple can do it, handle this? Better avoid. This is our [indistinct] small temple [indistinct], it is not possible. Temple is meant for person who is exclusively interested for Kṛṣṇa culture. We are advising to stop sex, and *gṛhastha* life is sex life. So how we can [laughs] tax our brain? The *gṛhastha* life is sex life, straightforward sex life. So we are advising "No sex." > 760524R1-Honolulu [13:20 *Minutes]> Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: She has come to an impasse in her family life. She doesn't know what to do. So the situation, I think you are familiar with, that Gaurasundara has been living with this other girl for three years, and Govinda dāsī is under the impression that you've sanctioned that Gaurasundara can have two wives. --- **[1976: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.24](spoken/1976/760524sb.hon)** > So he was engaged in maintaining the family. Everyone is engaged like that. Cats and dogs also do that. It is not very extraordinary thing. Sometimes they say, "It is my duty." Yes, it is duty, but the prime duty is to solve the real problems: how to stop *mṛtyu, janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi .* That we forget. Minor duties we take prominent. That is the present situation. They do not know that there is life after death, and according to our *karma,* we are getting the next life. Just this morning we were discussing. Kṛṣṇa is always ready. Automatically it is going on. *Kāraṇaṁ guṇa saṅgo 'sya*.* As you desire according to the contamination of different modes of material nature, immediately the body's ready. Immediately after death. > So this Ajāmila, on account of bad association with prostitute, he lost his character and he became thief, cheater, somehow or other being punished. So in this way, while he was maintaining his children and family, then the time of death came. That will not wait, that "I have not finished my duty, family duty. Please wait few years more." "Oh, that is not possible." So *kālo... Atyagāt. Kālo 'tyagān mahān rājann aṣṭāśītyāyuṣaḥ samāḥ*. He became very old, eighty-eight years old, *aṣṭaśīti. Aṣṭa* means eight; *aśīti* means eighty-eight. In this way, *aṣṭāśītyā āyuṣaḥ samāḥ.* So at that time he had ten sons. *Tasya pravayasaḥ putrāḥ.* He begot so many children, number is ten. So *putrā,* how many? *Daśa,* ten; ten children he had. *Teṣāṁ tu yaḥ avamaḥ.* Out of the ten sons, the youngest son, *teṣāṁ tu yaḥ avamaḥ bālaḥ,* the child, *nārāyaṇaḥ nāmnā,* he kept the name Nārāyaṇa, Nārāyaṇa dāsa, just like we give name to an initiate. So this is his great fortune. He gave the youngest son the name Nārāyaṇa. Naturally father, mother becomes affectionate to the youngest kiddie. So by way of calling the young child, he was chanting "Nārāyaṇa." So this is very good system, that if you keep the name of your children "Nārāyaṇa," "Govinda," "Kṛṣṇa," "Rāma," then you will get some chance to chanting this Hare Kṛṣṇa. Therefore in India still the system is they keep some name which is with reference to Kṛṣṇa. He has got thousands of names, so you can keep one name so that you have the opportunity of repeating, chanting the holy name of the Lord. --- **[1977: Short Discussions](spoken/1977/770524r1.vrn)** > Tāvad tanu-bhṛtāṁ tvad upekṣitānām*. If Kṛṣṇa neglect, then nobody can live, but if He likes that "He must live," anything can happen. That is possible. *Anityam asukhaṁ lokam imaṁ prāpya bhajasva mām*. Anityam asukhaṁ lokaṁ bhajasva mām.* Otherwise failure. Everything is there in the *Bhagavad-gītā.* --- **[1977: Short Discussions](spoken/1977/770524r3.vrn)** > Similarly, these people are envious. Although they have become so-called Vaiṣṇava, they are ferocious. They have not acquired the qualification of Vaiṣṇava. Simply *veśopajivī* [earning livelihood], by dress. So what is there? They could not do for the last fifty, sixty years. Still... They wanted to exchange. I stopped it, the Mohini Babu. Mohini... *Bali hatti zamindar.* So if we do not get that place, we can get other place? --- ## Letters on May 24 *Letters from this day: 6* --- **[1967: Letter to Mukunda](letters/1967/670524_mukunda)** > Please convey my blessings to Janaki and other girls. Since I wrote you last an important negotiation is going on in respect of purchasing a very nice house for the ISKCON H.Q. --- **[1967: Letter to Upendra](letters/1967/670524_upendra)** > Please inform Hayagriva that Gargamuni has sent him the whole set of English Caitanya Caritamrta which he may read carefully and then return it back. --- **[1970: Letter to Govinda Maharaja](letters/1970/700524_govinda_maharaja)** > I am so glad to note that you remember the auspicious day sometimes in 1944 when I started my "Back to Godhead" magazine. I think in the first issue you wrote some article also, and you took the trouble of going several times to the Sarasvati Press for supervising the printing work. --- **[1972: Letter to Giriraja](letters/1972/720524_giriraja)** > Actually it is the duty of the spiritual master to find fault with his students so that they may make progress, not that he should always be praising them. --- **[1976: Letter to Manager Central Bank Of India](letters/1976/760524_manager_central_bank_of_india)** > Herewith please find a copy of advice to the Liberty Bank in Honolulu, Hawaii, to transfer U. --- **[1976: Letter to Manager Liberty Bank](letters/1976/760524_manager_liberty_bank)** > Please herewith find our passbook for the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust as well as $297 for deposit in the same account. ---