# June 16 ## Spoken on June 16 *Lectures from this day: 13 recordings* --- **[1968: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.6.3](spoken/1968/680616sb.mon)** > So we have to live very peacefully so that we may not be disturbed in our material existence. But our ultimate aim should be spiritual realization. *Sukham aindriyakaṁ daityā deha-yogena dehi..., sarvatra labhyate*. If you are after sense enjoyment... *Sarvatra* means in all species of life. Suppose you happen to get a body, next body, as a hog, as a dog, or even lower than that, that sense enjoyment will be there. But this opportunity will not be there. This opportunity, to make yourself Kṛṣṇa conscious and just to leave this condemned place and go back to Godhead, that opportunity will not be there. That opportunity is for the human being. Therefore Prahlāda Mahārāja said, *tat-prayāso na kartavyo yata āyur-vyayaḥ param* : "Therefore we should not simply waste our time for improving the paraphernalia of sense enjoyment." > Therefore *Bhāgavata* says that "He is not a spiritual master. He is not a father. He is not a mother. He is not a friend." In this way. "He is not a husband." Who? "Who cannot protect his ward from the impending death." That means the father, the spiritual master, the husband or the protector should be so spiritually advanced that he will teach, he will protect his ward in such a nice way that no more birth, no more death. In this life Kṛṣṇa consciousness education is finished so that after leaving this body, *tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti* : after quitting this body, no more birth again. --- **[1972: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.3.20](spoken/1972/720616sb.la)** > So these people, the voidists and impersonalists, because they have no information of the Supreme Lord and His activities... Activities are there. Kṛṣṇa is coming, showing His activity. But they will say, "It is *māyā.* Kṛṣṇa is *māyā."* Although Kṛṣṇa is practically showing them that it is not *māyā,* it is completely spiritual, but their dull brain cannot accommodate that Kṛṣṇa is Supreme Absolute Truth. Therefore the so-called scholars, when Kṛṣṇa says, *man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru*, Kṛṣṇa says, "Just become My devotee, offer your obeisances unto Me, always think of Me," *man-manā bhava mad-bhaktaḥ*—the scholar, the so-called scholar, says, "This is not to Kṛṣṇa the person. It is to the unborn which is within Him." > So if you change your consciousness to Kṛṣṇa consciousness and utilize the senses for that purpose... *Sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁ tat-paratvena nirmalam*. Just like you are American and I am Indian. We are not concerned about hearing about Indian and America. We have no other business, no more any business. I am not interested hearing about something Indian, and you are also not interested to hear something about American. No. This is called *sarvopādhi-vinirmuktam*. The designation is... Freed from the designation. *Tat-paratvena nirmalam.* When we simply hear about Kṛṣṇa, then we are purified. --- **[1973: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.10.1](spoken/1973/730616sb.may)** > So these are mental concoction. *Caitanya-caritāmṛta-kāra* says, *ei bhāla ei manda saba manodharma*, "mental concoction." Real *dharma* is what is ordered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is *dharma.* Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja* : "Give up your all manufactured *dharma.* Here is the real *dharma.*" *Śaraṇaṁ vraja.* "Just become surrendered unto Me, and that is real *dharma.*" *Dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam*. Just like law. Laws can be manufactured, or can be given, by the government. You cannot make any law at your home. That is not law. Law means the order given by the government. The supreme government is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. *Ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo*, mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat*. > There is nobody better than Kṛṣṇa, therefore the order given by Kṛṣṇa is *dharma.* Our this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is that *dharma.* Kṛṣṇa says, *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja* : "You give up all other so-called *dharmas,* this *dharma,* that *dharma,* so many *dharmas.* Simply just surrender unto Me." So we are preaching the same principle, and that is confirmed by Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Śrī Caitanya Mahā... --- **[1974: Bhagavad-gītā 2.1–5](spoken/1974/740616bg.ger)** > So here Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is speaking, and that is the final authority. He says to Arjuna as follows. He says, *aśocyān anvaśocas tvaṁ prajñā-vādāṁś ca bhāṣase : "My dear Arjuna, you are talking like very learned scholar, but you are lamenting on a subject matter which you should not do." *Gatāsūn agatāsūṁś ca nānuśocanti paṇḍitāḥ. Gatāsūn* means this body. When it is dead or when it is alive, bodily conception of life is foolishness. So no learned man takes serious consideration of the body. Therefore in the Vedic literature it is said that "One who is in the bodily concept of life, he is nothing more than an animal." Therefore at the present moment, without knowledge of the self, the whole world is going on under the bodily concept of life. The bodily concept of life is there amongst the animals. The cats and dogs, they are very proud of becoming a big cat or big dog. Similarly, if a man also becomes similarly proud that "I am big American," "big German," "big...," what is the difference? But that is actually going on, and therefore they are fighting like cats and dogs. > So spiritual understanding means first of all to know what is spirit. If you do not know what is spirit, then where is spiritual understanding? People are too much engrossed with the body. That is called materialism. But when you understand what is spirit and you act accordingly, that is called spiritualism. So Arjuna was hesitating to fight with the other party because he had bodily relationship with them. So between Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa there was discussion, but that was friendly discussion. Therefore, when Arjuna understood that simply friendly discussion could not solve the problem, he became His disciple. Kṛṣṇa... Arjuna surrendered to Kṛṣṇa, *śiṣyas te 'ham śādhi māṁ prapannam : "My dear Kṛṣṇa, so long we are talking as friend. Now I become Your regular disciple. Kindly save me by instruction. What I have to do?" Therefore, when this stage was arrived, Kṛṣṇa is advising Arjuna as follows: *śrī-bhagavān uvāca.* --- **[1975: Morning Walk](spoken/1975/750616mw.hon)** > Padaṁ padaṁ yad vipadāṁ na teṣām.* It is not meant for them, all these dangerous condition. Now the nuclear war means it will not continue very long. The first party who will drop the bomb on the other party, he will be victorious, and immediately the war will stop. They are simply arranging how to drop the atom bomb first. So one who will be able to drop the bomb first, he will be victorious. It doesn't require long time. Just like in Japan, as soon as the Americans dropped the atom bomb in Hiroshima, immediately they surrendered. This will be the result. Now the question is who will be able to drop the bomb first. > > samāśritā ye pada-pallava-plavaṁ > > mahat-padaṁ puṇya-yaśo murāreḥ > > bhavāmbudhir vatsa-padaṁ paraṁ padaṁ > > padaṁ padaṁ yad vipadāṁ na teṣām > > [1975: Room Conversation with Govinda Dāsī](spoken/1975/750616r1.hon)** > Govinda dāsī: [describing illustrations]...because the co-wife complains. And so Dhruva is very upset and goes to his mother, and his mother is real upset, and she's crying. And so she takes him on her lap, and she tells him about Lord Viṣṇu, that He's the only solace. And so Dhruva leaves home. He leaves the palace immediately and goes to the forest to search out the Lord. And there he meets Nārada, who sees what's going on all this time. And Nārada tells him that he should take brahminical instructions, but Dhruva isn't able to, because he is determined as a *kṣatriya* boy. And so Nārada sits down and gives him instruction about Lord Viṣṇu and tells him to go to the forest, Madhuvana forest, and sit there in Vṛndāvana. And so Dhruva takes his instruction and goes there and sits in meditation in the forest. This will be Vṛndāvana in the background, and he sits there in meditation. In the meantime, King Uttānapāda is upset because he has offended his son, and so he is lamenting, and Nārada comes to him and tells him that "Your son's glories are already spread everywhere." So then Dhruva is perfecting his meditation in the later stages and standing on one toe and pressing down on earth planet, and all of the universe is becoming upset. I just studied your *Bhāgavata* and did from each *śloka*. > And so the demigods go and pray to the Lord at the Ocean of Milk. This would be like in the bubbles, because I know they can't see Him, but it would be like He's seen, but not clearly. And so they pray to the Lord, and the Lord tells them, "Don't worry. I shall do something. " And so the Lord comes to Dhruva, who is in full meditation, and Dhruva, all of a sudden, he doesn't see the Lord, and he opens his eyes because he's upset, and he sees the Lord before him and falls down at His lotus feet. And then, because he's just a child, he doesn't have any knowledge of how to offer prayers, so the Lord touches him with the conch, and he's blessed with the ability to offer prayers. So then he offers prayers, and I'm going to put some of the glories of Mahā-Viṣṇu here. And so he's offering prayers to the Lord. And this drawing is not yet transferred, but this is the Lord, who then benedicts Dhruva with the kingdom on the planet earth and then also the polestar, or his own planet. Then Dhruva... The Lord leaves on Garuḍa, and Dhruva watches Him go. --- **[1975: Room Conversation](spoken/1975/750616r2.hon)** > I have raised this question with Professor Kotovsky, that "Where is the difference between your philosophy and ours? You are keeping your faith on certain authority; we are keeping our faith on certain authority. Your Communism is dependent on the faith on Lenin, and our Kṛṣṇa consciousness is depending on the faith on Kṛṣṇa. So the principle is the same. You have to keep your faith on somebody. Philosophy means... From a philosophical point of view, there is no difference, that all these things, the Communist, the independence movement, the same thing. The only difference is that you keep your faith on Lenin, and I keep faith on my Kṛṣṇa. Now we have to judge whether Lenin is good or Kṛṣṇa is good. But the principle is the same. You cannot go without any leader, a *guru*. Similarly, we cannot go without any *guru*. If the *guru* is bona fide, then I am benefited. If the *guru* is rascal, then I am lost." This is fact. We have to keep faith on somebody. That is fact. But if our faith... Just like a child sleeps on the lap of the mother; every child has got that faith. If the mother is sinister, kills the child, then what is...? He has no other shelter. Faith is the beginning; that is all right. But if you keep your faith on perfect, then you will become perfect, and if you keep your faith on imperfect, then you will be imperfect. The process is the same. That I inquired from the Communist leaders, that "Where is the difference of process?" There is no difference. Now whether we should follow Kṛṣṇa or whether we shall follow Lenin, and that depends on my choice. But the process, the philosophy, is the same. He could not answer. That..., that he became little grave and respectful. > Devotee (2): [continues reading] "And in all cases the living entity thinks himself to be the master of his circumstances, yet he is under the influence of material nature. How he is put into such different bodies is explained here. It is due to association with the different modes of nature. One has to rise, therefore, above the three material modes and become situated in the transcendental position. That is called Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Unless one is situated in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, his material consciousness will oblige him to transfer from one body to another because he has material desires since time immemorial. But he has to change that conception. That change can be effected only by hearing from authoritative sources. The best example is here: Arjuna is hearing the science of God from Kṛṣṇa. The living entity, if he submits to this hearing process, will lose his long-cherished desire to dominate material nature, and gradually and proportionately, as he reduces his long desire to dominate, he comes to enjoy spiritual happiness. In a Vedic *mantra* it is said that as he becomes learned in association with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he proportionately relishes his eternal, blissful life." --- **[1975: Room Conversation About Making Deities](spoken/1975/750616r3.hon)** > Govinda dāsī:...you know, and, and then there's this hydrostone, which is real fine. We tried that once before, remember? But we couldn't get the mold to work. > Govinda dāsī: Śrīla Prabhupāda, Vṛṣṇi made the Deities along with me. He's a very excellent sculptor. He is the boy who is responsible for most of the work on the Deities. And so I called, you know, so far as making more Deities... --- **[1975: Room Conversation about Modern Society](spoken/1975/750616r4.hon)** > But these Māyāvādīs, coming to the spiritual platform, but they do not take the spiritual attraction, Kṛṣṇa, therefore there must have at least some attraction. Attraction... Unless one has got spiritual attraction, he will be attracted by the material. And the material attraction means a white women. This is their attraction. So this woman is very good. That they are pushing that in the villages. But they must have attraction. Instead of brothels, theater and cinema, if they are become attracted to temple, Deity worship, chanting, taking *prasādam*, holding festivals-same thing is there-then that will change the consciousness. Then they will stay. > Eternal. That's..., that is the way. Why the village people are attracted by the cities? When they come to the city they see, "Oh, it is heaven. So nice roads are there, they are very nicely riding on motorcars and buses, so nice lights, [indistinct] We can go to cinemas. Get money here if you want, in the factory. Get women, money, wealth." --- **[1976: Morning Walk](spoken/1976/760616mw.det)** --- **[1976: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.50](spoken/1976/760616sb.det)** > Therefore our business is... "Artificially, I shall not see anything." Now how it is possible? You'll see in the mind. Suppose you close your eyes, but there are so many impressions, they will come within the mind, even if you close your eyes. The so-called meditation means he has closed his eyes but he's thinking of his beloved or his business or something like, something like that. So it is not possible. First of all, you have to fix up your mind in Kṛṣṇa. Always think of Kṛṣṇa. That is advised by Kṛṣṇa. *Man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru.* These four principles guarantees, Kṛṣṇa says. *Mām evaiṣyasi asaṁśayaḥ*. If you simply execute these four things, then Kṛṣṇa guarantees, *asaṁśaya,* without any doubt, "You are coming back to Me, back to home, back to Godhead." It is so nice. > So unless we are free from all kinds of desires, we shall be entangled with these elements. Therefore *bhakti, bhakti-mārga,* devotional service, means no more material desire. It is difficult, because we are associated with the material desires life after life, from time immemorial. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura sings therefore, *anādi karama phale paḍi bhavārṇava-jale taribāre nā dekhi upāya*. [*Gītāvalī, Śrī Śikṣāṣṭaka*, 5.1] time immemorial I am fallen in this ocean of fruitive activities, and I have no rescue from this ocean. *Taribāre nā dekhi upāya.* This is our position. Very, very difficult to come out of these elements. But if we practice, that is possible. *Abhyāsa-yoga-yuktena cetasā nānya-gāminā. --- ## Letters on June 16 *Letters from this day: 18* --- **[1968: Letter to Aniruddha](letters/1968/680616_aniruddha)** > If a preparation is cooked all together, then offer all together. But if it is prepared separately, then the milk, the sugar and the cereal should be offered separately. --- **[1968: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1968/680616_satsvarupa)** > Yes, I am getting some good opportunities to meet here several learned scholars. --- **[1969: Letter to Arundhati](letters/1969/690616_arundhati)** > Regarding your question about offering Prasadam, whatever is offered to the Deity actually it goes through the Spiritual Master. --- **[1969: Letter to Pradyumna](letters/1969/690616_pradyumna)** > I am sure that the monthly payments shall be arranged by you, and this is very good. Special care should be given to keep the machine in a safe room which is always closed and always locked. --- **[1969: Letter to Rayarama](letters/1969/690616_rayarama)** > Sometimes ago you proposed that you would remain with me constantly and help me in editing my books specially *Srimad-Bhagavatam. --- **[1969: Letter to Rupanuga](letters/1969/690616_rupanuga)** > I am very glad to hear that you are successfully carrying on the Sankirtana Movement, and Krishna is giving you encouragement by mercifully giving some money also. --- **[1969: Letter to Steve](letters/1969/690616_steve)** > You have asked me to tell you everything that you should know, and this, of course, is a great subject matter. --- **[1969: Letter to Visala](letters/1969/690616_visala)** > I have not heard anything from you for some time so I am very pleased to receive your letter. --- **[1971: Letter to Karandhara](letters/1971/710616_karandhara)** > You will be glad to know that I have written one letter to Dai Nippon asking that they suspend printing of Penguin series KRSNA book for the time being. And so far as the $6,000 saved up for repaying the loan of $20,000 for BTG, it may be sent to the Press for printing of Bhagavad-gita. --- **[1972: Letter to Bhagavan](letters/1972/720616_bhagavan)** > My money is already invested in a Mayapur Trust Fund, so there is no possibility of lending you any money. --- **[1972: Letter to Bob](letters/1972/720616_bob)** > I am very much glad to hear that you are associating with us, and I know that you are a very good boy, very intelligent and your behavior is gentle, so I have all confidence that very quickly Krishna... --- **[1972: Letter to Jayapataka](letters/1972/720616_jayapataka)** > You have described the building progress there, but if you can send me photo then I can understand the situation as it is. --- **[1972: Letter to Madhudvisa](letters/1972/720616_madhudvisa)** > I am very much stressing at this point that all of my students shall be very much conversant with the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness, and that they should read our books very diligently at least one or two hours daily and try to understand the subject matter from varieties of angles. We are holding our morning class here in Los Angeles in the temple and I am speaking from 7 to 8 am, and the process is that we are going through some chapters of Srimad-Bhagavatam by taking one sloka each day, and reading the Sanskrit aloud, each word is pronounced by me and repeated by the students and then altogether we chant the sloka several times until we have learned it. --- **[1972: Letter to Prajapati](letters/1972/720616_prajapati)** > It is very nice to hear that all the activities are going on with full enthusiasm there in Boston. --- **[1972: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1972/720616_satsvarupa)** > If you require more men and women to teach there at Gurukula, you can send from your jurisdiction as GBC man Central USA zone. You will not be too much involved with local temple management, but for management which will require the larger interests, that will be your responsibility as GBC. You mention you like to speak now very often, but the first business should be to preach to the devotees. --- **[1972: Letter to Tribhuvanatha](letters/1972/720616_tribhuvanatha)** > I was wondering what you are doing, so I am very glad to hear your report of getting the very nice temple in Edinburgh. --- **[1975: Letter to Narayana](letters/1975/750616_narayana)** > Regarding your report on Hanuman, I am forwarding your letter to Hrdayananda Goswami who can present this problem to the GBC for their solution. --- **[1975: Letter to Yadunandana](letters/1975/750616_yadunandana)** > Please continue executing your Krishna Conscious activities, strictly following all of the rules and regulations carefully. ---