# May 25 ## Spoken on May 25 *Lectures from this day: 13 recordings* --- **[1966: Bhagavad-gītā 3.16–17](spoken/1966/660525bg.ny.md)** > This misconception of life will be the first installment of our profit by chanting, by regularly chanting this Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, by performing this *yajña.* The first installment. That first installment will be: I become liberated from the material conception of life at once. The many great sages, they are going to Himalaya, they are going to the forest for meditation just to realize "What I am." Now Lord Caitanya says that this, what you are, your self-realization, your spiritual realization, will be the first installment. *Ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam.* This is simply... *Ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam*means this is misconception, that what I am not, I am thinking I am. It is simply to understand that I am not. Actually I am not this. We can understand it very shortly, within a moment. That *Bhagavad-gītā...* I have already told you that *avināśi tu tad viddhi yena sarvam idaṁ tatam*. > So anyway, one has to work sincerely his prescribed duties. And by the result of such work, one has to offer sacrifices to please the Supreme Lord. That is the circle. And Lord Kṛṣṇa says, *evaṁ pravartitaṁ cakram.* Now, this circle, this moving circle, is... Just like the potter moves the circle to make production—you have seen—similarly, we have to move the circle. Circle means it is meant for moving. So anyone who does not move the circle of activity, then his life is *aghāyur indriyārāmaḥ.* His life is full of sin. His life is sinful, simply meant for sense gratification. *Aghāyur indriyārāmo moghaṁ pārtha sa jīvati*. --- **[1972: Conversation with the GBC](spoken/1972/720525r1.la)** > So that is..., my point is that those who are soldiers, fighting on behalf of Kṛṣṇa, they are brave soldiers. *Na ca tasmān manuṣyeṣu kaścin me priya-kṛttamaḥ*. Kṛṣṇa says, "Nobody is dearer than him who is in the process of preaching this *Bhagavad-gītā.*" So in order to become very dear to Kṛṣṇa [indistinct]. Actually, that is the position. So we must preach in that way—by our literature, by our magazine, by our books, by our speech, by our arrangement. Of course, very peacefully. We are not going back to be, becoming violence. But by argument, by words, by our methods, by our preaching, we have to convince. > And Kṛṣṇa says, *ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavaḥ*. Mattaḥ parataraṁ nasti.* Kṛṣṇa's version. "There is no more superior truth than Me. I am the origin of everthing." *Ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavaḥ mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate.* Everything comes from Him. The *Vedānta* says, *janmādy asya yataḥ.* So Absolute Truth is there, which is the original source of everything. --- **[1972: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.3.8 and Initiations](spoken/1972/720525sb.la)** > Nidrāhāra-vihārakādi-vijitau.* One has to conquer over sleeping, eating and sense enjoyment. *Nidrā, nidrā* means sleeping. *Āhāra* means eating or collecting more. Collecting. Eating, sleeping and *vihāra,* sense gratification. the Gosvāmīs, they conquered over that. > > oṁ apavitraḥ pavitro vā > > sarvāvasthāṁ gato 'pi vā > > yaḥ smaret puṇḍarīkākṣaṁ > > sa bahyābhyantara-śuciḥ > > > > śrī-viṣṇu śrī-viṣṇu śrī-viṣṇu > > [Garuḍa Purāṇa] --- **[1974: Bhagavad-gītā 4.10, Public Lecture](spoken/1974/740525bg.rom)** > That the whole aim is how to get out of this material attachment, and in our spiritual body, we go back to home, back to Godhead. Actually, at the present moment, there is no education of the understanding of spiritual life. Everyone is interested with this material body only. Nobody is educated, neither interested in the spiritual life. But unless you take interest in spiritual life, our this material condition of miserable life will continue. The miserable conditions of material life have been pointed out by Śrī Kṛṣṇa in the *Bhagavad-gītā.* Kṛṣṇa says that the problem of life is *janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi*, meaning that death..., birth, death, old age and disease, these are our problems. > These things can be attained by Kṛṣṇa consciousness. *Man-mayā.* Kṛṣṇa says, "When you are fully absorbed in My thought, you can get free from all these material disturbances." Kṛṣṇa says, *man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru*. He says that "Always think of Me, become a devotee of Me, worship Me and offer your obeisances unto Me." So in order to attain this perfection of life, one has to make this progressive spiritual advancement. *Vīta-rāga-bhaya-krodhā man-mayā mām upāśritāḥ.* One has to take shelter of Kṛṣṇa or His representative. Therefore this movement is to give chance to the people how to think of Kṛṣṇa constantly. The human form of life is meant for attaining *jñāna. Jñāna* means knowledge that "I am not this body. I am spirit soul." This *jñāna* can be attained by *tapasya. Tapasyā* means austerity. And if we attain knowledge and undergo austerities, then we become purified. Therefore, --- **[1974: Morning Walk at Villa Borghese](spoken/1974/740525mw.rom)** > "Simply always think of Me." We have got nice Kṛṣṇa. And attend the temple, and we see. And what is the difficulty to think of Him always? Or chanting, hearing His name? So there is no difficulty in remembering Kṛṣṇa always. *Man-manā bhava mad-bhaktaḥ.* To become devotee, worship the Lord in the temple, prepare food for Him and take the *prasādam—*where is the difficulty? The program which we have introduced, where is the difficulty there? But the rascals will not take. That is the difficulty. They will become hippies, but they will not become devotees, although a better position. This is their misfortune. *Duṣkṛtina,* misfortune. In spite of the things being so easy to perform, they will not take to it, on account of misfortune. *Duṣkṛtina.* Because they have committed so many sinful activities, it is difficult to accept this. Otherwise, the thing which we are presenting is very easy to be accepted by anyone, even by a child. And actually we see. The children, they are also dancing, chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, and very happy, in Dallas. In all schools the children are unhappy, their face. And we see in Dallas, all children, they are so happy. The teacher is happy. The student is happy there. Have you not marked the face in the picture, how they are happy? Did you mark it? --- **[1975: Radio Interview](spoken/1975/750525iv.fij)** > Therefore our paper's name is *Back to Godhead.* Don't make any false advancement. You will never be happy. This is our propaganda. It is called *nivṛtti-mārga. Nivṛtti-mārga* means stop material way of life; begin spiritual way of life and come to Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, back to home, back to Godhead. *Tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti*. If you cultivate spiritual life, then, after giving up this body... We have to give up. This is material body. And after giving up this body, we can accept..., we can continue our spiritual body or we can accept again material body. That will require our sense how to cultivate. So if we cultivate spiritual life some percentage—not that everyone will be able—at least the higher class, higher section of the society, if they cultivate spiritual life and remain ideal, so others may follow. This is our propaganda. > Persons who have lost their consciousness on account of being too much attached to material enjoyment, they cannot understand Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So I thought that America, they have enjoyed enough of this material happiness, money and women, and they are now becoming disappointed. So they are at least on the platform of renunciation. They don't want any more like their fathers and grandfathers. Of course, they are not guided. Therefore I preferred to go there to guide them. So almost fifty percent of my devotees are..., they are collected from these disappointed persons, young men. They are going astray. So they appreciate that I have saved them. Therefore they are after me, this younger generation, and they are helping me in broadcasting this Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So I think my attempt was successful. --- **[1975: Lecture after Prahlāda-caritra Play](spoken/1975/750525le.hon)** > So people do not know. They manufacture religion. So how you can manufacture religion? Law can be given by the king, by the state, by the government. If you manufacture some law at your home, consulting your wife or father and mother, who will accept it? Nobody will accept. You may be puffed up that you have manufactured a law, but nobody will care for it. The law given by the state will have to be accepted, either you like it or don't like it. The law will not depend on your liking and disliking. You must accept. If you don't accept, then you are a law breaker; you will be punished. Similarly, the religion means, as Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad..., sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja*. That is religion, that "You have manufactured so many types of religion. You give it up. Kick it out. This is religion: you surrender unto Me." So if you become a surrendered soul to God—that means you become a devotee—then you are religionist. Otherwise you are criminal. Therefore *śāstra* says that you should follow the great devotees. That is religion. You cannot manufacture religion, you cannot concoct religion. You just try to follow the great personalities, and that is religion. > So Prahlāda Mahārāja is one of the great personality in devotional line. *Dharmasya tattvaṁ nihitaṁ guhāyāṁ, mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ*. It is very difficult to understand what is the purpose of religious principle. People actually do not know what is religion; therefore we have got so many religious system, man-made, or concocted ideas. Actually, religion means the law given by God. That is religion. *Dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam*. --- **[1976: Morning Walk](spoken/1976/760525mw.hon)** > Today I calculated that it will take seven months to reach the moon planet at the speed of eighteen thousand miles per hour. And they're going in four days. [laughter] Just see how bluffing. >if you can answer my question why Monday first, er, yes, Sunday first and Saturday last? All over the world, in India also, Sunday, er, Monday first... No. Sunday first, Monday second. Ask your scientist friend why this arrangement, Sunday first, Monday second, Saturday last? --- **[1976: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.25](spoken/1976/760525sb.hon)** > So it is clear that the soul is different from the body. But because we are fools and rascals, we learn it after death. That is foolishness. Not in the beginning. In the beginning the *Bhagavad-gītā* says, Kṛṣṇa says, that *asmin dehe,* "Within this body, the soul is there." "No, no. I don't believe." Dull brain cannot understand. But after death, he sees, "Yes. The body's not my son. The body's not my husband." So that is foolishness. The foolish person understands late, and intelligent person understands very quickly. That is the difference. So I love my body. I love my husband's body or wife's body. Why? The real husband, wife or son is within the body. Therefore I love. Then the conclusion is that the soul is important more than the body. Then the question will be that "Why you love the soul?" Then the answer will be, "Because the soul is part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa." Kṛṣṇa says, *mamaivāṁśo jīva-bhūta*.* So ultimately the conclusion is that I love Kṛṣṇa and, because the soul is part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa, therefore I love the soul. And because the soul loves within this body, therefore I love... There is no difficulty to understand. But so long one is under illusion, he's under the bodily concept of life. Therefore *śāstra* says that one who is in the bodily concept of life, he's animal. He's animal. > Four things. A child can; they are learning. They're also offering a flower, *mad-yājī.* This is worship. If a child can do it, you cannot do it? What is the difficulty? If you offer a flower to the Deity, if you offer your obeisances... The child, it's learning. Don't think it is going for nothing. Everything is calculated, "Ah, here is this child. He is offering obeisances." Credit. "He's offering flower." Credit. This is... [laughter] Yes. From his childhood, if one becomes..., simply deposits credit, then someday it will be a big balance, a good bank balance. So therefore this institution means to give everyone the chance to do these four things: *man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru*. And Kṛṣṇa says *maṁ evaiṣyasi asaṁśayaḥ:* "Without any doubt, simply by doing these four things, you'll come back to Me." So what is the difficulty? Do it properly and be happy. --- **[1977: Short Discussions](spoken/1977/770525r1.vrn)** > Indian man (2): On 28th May, he is expected to attend the civil judge, Mathura, you see. So on that day, if he comes here, have a discussion from him. > Indian man (1): [Transl. Here. It is on since you came and kept next to you. So you talk carefully. Otherwise if you want to have the tape recorded turned off while speaking to Swāmijī, you say.] --- **[1977: Short Discussions](spoken/1977/770525r2.vrn)** > Daily or alternately, [makes bleating sound:] *"Myaaaḥ, myaaḥ."* And there is religious process that the head should be eastern side and the throat should be cut up. And when the animal dies, bifurcate, cleanse it and the skin and everything... And they have got *chapāti.* Government subsidizes. So they cook at home the meat, and in market they purchase a *chapāti* according to the family—one big *chapāti,* two *chapāti.* That's all. Our men who has eaten that *chapāti,* they say it is very nice, very soft and digesting. Huge deserted country, but some stock, some spots, water. There are trees. They raise the cattle there. Eighty percent of the land, all desert. Or ninety percent. No, eighty. Say seventy-five. And because they have got now money, they are having big, big buildings, foreign cars, roads in the air, developing. And they're importing at any cost. From Bombay the best mango they are importing at any cost. --- ## Letters on May 25 *Letters from this day: 10* --- **[1969: Letter to Ananda](letters/1969/690525_ananda)** > I have learned from Mandali Bhadra and Vrndavanesvari that you have been disturbed in your center by some rascal boys, and now you are living with Mandali Bhadra. --- **[1969: Letter to Mandali Bhadra](letters/1969/690525_mandali_bhadra)** > Now I am staying in New Vrindaban and it is a very nice spot for developing our community project. --- **[1969: Letter to Vrndavanesvari](letters/1969/690525_vrndavanesvari)** > Actually, in our London branch, already about six young English men have joined seriously, and although they are not officially initiated, they are exactly following my other initiated, American disciples who are now working there. So I don't think there is any cause of apprehension as suggested by Sadanandaji. Besides that, in Hamburg the boys who are working have reported that German boys and girls are coming to join Sankirtana, and they are getting at least fifteen or twenty guests every Sunday for their feasts. --- **[1970: Letter to Bali-Mardana](letters/1970/700525_bali-mardana)** > I am very glad to learn that you have decided to live in Sydney. Sydney is your jurisdiction, so you cannot leave this place unless there is very urgent engagement in other place. You have got to organize this center very nicely and Krsna has sent you already some help in the shape of a nice actress who is willing to help us in any way. --- **[1970: Letter to Upendra](letters/1970/700525_upendra)** > I know you are sincere servant of Krsna, so sometimes we may do something which is not very congenial, but Krsna is so kind that one who is engaged in His transcendental loving service is corrected immediately from within as Krsna is sitting within everyone's heart. So you have gone there with a great responsibility on behalf of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and try to convince people about the importance of Krsna Consciousness, that will make everything nice and in order. --- **[1971: Letter to Chief Controller Of Imports And Exports](letters/1971/710525_chief_controller_of_imports_and_exports)** > Please accept our prayers for your well being. Our society wishes to thank you for your kind cooperation in the past, regarding CCP application and import of books. --- **[1971: Letter to Sudama](letters/1971/710525_sudama)** > So even though you are there by yourself, I can understand that things are going on nicely. --- **[1972: Letter to Jayarge Lindon Lomese](letters/1972/720525_jayarge_lindon_lomese)** > I am very much pleased that you have joined with us and that you are following all the regulative principles of Krishna Consciousness spiritual life. --- **[1974: Letter to Indra-Pramada](letters/1974/740525_indra-pramada)** > I have just received a copy of Back to Godhead number 62 and I wish to express to you how pleased I am with the layout and design of the magazine. --- **[1974: Letter to Muralidhara Jadurani Artists](letters/1974/740525_muralidhara_jadurani_artists)** > As far as your questions which information you urgently need for completion of the paintings, the answers are as follows. ---