# June 20 ## Spoken on June 20 *Lectures from this day: 14 recordings* --- **[1968: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.4.25](spoken/1968/680620sb.mon)** > So the seed is eternal. That we get information from Vedic literatures. *Bījo 'haṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ*. Na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre*. That *bīja,* that seed, does not, I mean to say, annihilate because the body is annihilated. This is the basic principle of understanding for making progress in spiritual life. One who does not understand this basic principle, that the spirit soul, the seed, is eternal, and it is transmigrating different body... And factually we know that "My father gave the seed in the womb of my mother, that seed. And from that seed developed this body. But I am... When my body was just like, as small, just like a pea, I was there. And I have become so big; I am there. So many bodily changes have taken place, but I am there." > So, *śrī-kṛṣṇa-śravaṇādhi-prāyeṇa parama-praśna kṛta eṣa tu varīyan*. *Śukadeva Gosvāmī is congratulating Mahārāja Parīkṣit, that "You have raised the question of Kṛṣṇa, understanding Kṛṣṇa. It is very welcome." *Yaḥ praśno 'pi śrotavyādiṣu paraṁ:* "Such kind of question is the topmost question. Topmost question. There is no more better question than this." In other words, when you become inquisitive to understand the Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then that very questions will elevate you to the highest perfectional stage. --- **[1972: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.3.23](spoken/1972/720620sb.la)** > Then immediately, Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced him, that "You are... Your reading of *Bhagavad-gītā* is perfect, because you have understood the essence of the *Bhagavad-gītā.*" The scholars, they will say... When Kṛṣṇa says, *man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru*, the scholars will say, "It is not to Kṛṣṇa the person, it is to the impersonal Brahman which is within Kṛṣṇa." They cannot conceive that the Supreme Absolute Truth can become a person. > After all, this body is dead. Everyone knows. It is simply moving on account of the presence of the spirit soul. As soon as the spirit soul is out of this body, out of this bag of flesh and bone... We are so much attached to this bag of flesh and bone, but those who are learned, they know that this body is nothing but flesh and bone. The real person, the real force, is the soul. *Yasyātma-buddhiḥ kuṇape tri-dhātuke* : a bag of bones and fleshes. This is not our identification. I am not this body. --- **[1973: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.10.5](spoken/1973/730620sb.may)** > Everything is perfectly being done by nature. Nature is appointed by Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā, mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sa-carācaram* : "Under My control." So *prakṛti* will work very nicely provided you are also nice, Kṛṣṇa conscious. If you are not nice, then *daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī mama māyā duratyayā*. "My *māyā,* My *prakṛti,* My energy, is very strong, *duratyayā.*" These rascals, they are trying to control this flood, government. So much money they have wasted, but still in this quarter there are havoc. Therefore *daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī mama māyā duratyayā.* You cannot control the nature's way. That is not possible. > Kṛṣṇa does not say that "You give Me meat, eggs and fish." Kṛṣṇa does not say. When you have got Kṛṣṇa as your guest... Kṛṣṇa has come very kindly to be handled by you. He's unlimited. But He has agreed to become limited by your limited hands. This is Kṛṣṇa, this *arcā-vigraha. Arcā-vigraha.* If Kṛṣṇa, if you want to handle Kṛṣṇa is His gigantic universal form, you have no capacity. Therefore, Kṛṣṇa has become very small, and He's giving you chance to serve Him, to dress Him, to wash Him, to offer Him foodstuff, to offer *ārātrika.* Kṛṣṇa is giving these chances. So whatever Kṛṣṇa says. He's your guest. He has come very kindly. He says, "Give Me such kind of food," it is your duty to give such food. *Patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalam...* You cannot say, "Kṛṣṇa, this is also nice food, eggs and fish." No. That you cannot do. --- **[1974: Morning Walk](spoken/1974/740620mw.ger)** > Where is the difficulty to understand the simple thing, how the soul is transmigrating? They sometimes say that "We do not see how it is going." No, how...? Can you see the mind? But can you deny, "There is no mind"? Mind is there. Everyone knows I have got mind, you have got mind, but do I see your mind? Therefore I shall deny the existence of mind? Mind, intelligence and ego—these three things are there, but we cannot see. How my mind is working, can you see? Or how your mind is working, can I see? And because I cannot see, therefore shall I conclude that you have no mind, I have no mind? How foolish they are. What is their explanation, Satsvarūpa? > The same things, means mind, intelligence and ego, according to the body they act differently. But the mind, intelligence and ego are there. The dog is coming, and if I say "*Hut!* unless it has got intelligence, how it goes away the other way? There is intelligence. There is no language, but because he has got intelligence, he can immediately understand I don't want him to come here. So how you can say there is no intelligence? The rascals says, "The animals have no intelligence; therefore they have no soul." If one has no intelligence, there is no soul, that is admitted. But here is intelligence. How can you deny, "There is no soul"? The animals, the cows, when they are taken to the slaughterhouse, why they cry? Because he has intelligence that "Now I am going to be killed." And these rascals say there is no soul. And still, they are religious priest. Such fools and rascals are made religious fool, priest. No common sense. And they also get degree, Doctor of Divinity, D.D. [*japa*] --- **[1974: Room Conversation with Christians](spoken/1974/740620r1.ger)** > Yāmunācārya, a great saintly person, he was formerly big king, so he said, "Since I have become Kṛṣṇa conscious and enjoying, since that time, as soon as I remember even sex life, I spit on it and my mouth becomes turned." [makes sound of repugnance] This is the test. Not that you become very advanced spiritualist and at the same time advance in sex life. That is not. *Bhaktiḥ pareśānubhavo viraktir anyatra... . > That is the test, that as soon as you are advanced in spiritual life, all these materialistic habits will be rejected automatically. This is the test. Four things are material demands—eating, satisfaction of the tongue or belly and satisfaction of the genital, *āhāra;* and sleeping; and to become a good defender, defense measure. These are material necessity. And the one who is spiritually advanced, these things will be reduced, almost nil. What Christ says, Jesus Christ, about sex life? What does he say? --- **[1975: Arrival Address](spoken/1975/750620a2.la)** > They are attracted because that attraction is there already. We are trying simply to awaken that attraction. *Śravaṇādi-śuddha-citte karaye udaya*. The matter is already there. Just like the young man and young woman, the attraction is already there, *nitya-siddha.* It is natural. And when they come near, talk little confidentially, then attraction increases, not that an artificial attraction. Similarly, our attraction for Kṛṣṇa is already there. Therefore... That is the Vṛndāvana picture. Vṛndāvana, everything is attracted with Kṛṣṇa. That is Vṛndāvana. The animals, the trees, the flowers, the land and the cowherd boys, the elderly cowherds men, Nanda Mahārāja and others—all are attracted to Kṛṣṇa. This is Vṛndāvana. The Yamunā water—everything. Fruits, flowers and everything. That is Vṛndāvana. So Kṛṣṇa is the center of attraction. You might have read that when Brahmā stolen all Kṛṣṇa's associates, so He created Himself again all of them, and everyone was feeling more attracted by Kṛṣṇa. So this is natural. This is not unnatural. Our position is, natural position is, to be attracted by Kṛṣṇa. If we do not become attracted by Kṛṣṇa, that is unnatural. And to become attracted by Kṛṣṇa, that is not unnatural. That is natural. > So we want to revive our natural position, uncovered position. Now we are covered by dust, by dirt, by corroding materials. So we have to cleanse this. Therefore the *bhakti* process is *sarvopādhi-vinirmuktam*. I am thinking I am Indian. You are thinking you are American. This is a dirty thing, covering the spirit soul. So we have to cleanse this. *Hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa. Sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁ tat-paratvena nirmalam. Nirmalam* means cleansed. When we become cleansed of all dirty things of material modes of nature, then we are prepared to serve Kṛṣṇa. That is wanted. That... We do not become zero, *śūnyavādi.* No. We become cleansed, and as soon as we become cleansed, with clean senses when you serve Kṛṣṇa, that is perfection. *Hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate*. So this process, the *śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam,* this is the process of cleansing. So more you chant, more you hear, the more you become cleansed, more you become Kṛṣṇa conscious. Just prolong this process and be happy. --- **[1975: Arrival Conversation in Car & Room](spoken/1975/750620ar.la)** > Still, He is asking, "Surrender to Me." He doesn't require anyone's surrender. But it is for him good, one who surrenders. Not Kṛṣṇa is in need of anyone's service. He is complete. But He comes as if He is in helpless condition and asking for us to surrender. So that is for his good. One who is surrendered, he'll get the result. Kṛṣṇa is self-sufficient. Similarly, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura is self-sufficient. But if he said that "I keeping unfinished," that means he gave us the chance, the opportunity. So we should always pray to Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura to be merciful upon us so that we can execute his unfinished task. That should be our... And never we should think that "What Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura could not finish, I have finished." [laughs] Don't think like that. It is not like that. Caitanya Mahāprabhu says in the *Caitanya-caritāmṛta, ekakī āmāra nāhi pāya bala.* [*Śaraṇāgati. Bhajana-lālasā* 7.3]. You have not given index. That I have instructed. You should now prepare index. > That is the verdict of *Bhāgavata. Harāv abhaktasya kuto mahad-guṇā.* Anyone who is not a devotee, his material qualification has no value. *Mano-rathenāsati dhāvato bahiḥ.* He is hovering over the mental plane. Therefore in your country, Western country, the so-called big, big philosophers, scientists, they could not do anything tangible, because they are hovering on the mental plane. [breaks squeal] Hare Kṛṣṇa. *Manorathena. Mana* means mind, and *ratha* means car. They are driving on the mental car. So mind is material. [pause] Tamāla Kṛṣṇa Mahārāja—selling more books? --- **[1975: Departure](spoken/1975/750620dp.hon)** > So read *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam*, assimilate it and preach in your own language. Or repeat whatever there is in the purport. Yesterday I was very much pleased to read the essays by our Bali-mardana d*ā*sa. So similarly, you also write. Writing means if you have digested the idea, you can produce in your own words. *Śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ.* One who has actually heard attentively, his next business will be how to describe it, *kīrtanaṁ. Śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ*. One who has heard nicely from the spiritual master, the next business will be how to chant it, repeat it. That is natural. *Śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam...*. These are the nine different processes. > The same Vedic mantra is sung by Bhaktivinode Thakura, *jīva jāga, jīva jāga.* So we have to awaken them. They are sleeping under the spell of *māyā*, and forgotten his real identity, and suffering—not only this life, life after lifetime. So, *ei rūpe brahmāṇḍa brahmite kona bhāgyavān jīva*. --- **[1976: Bhagavad-gītā 9.3](spoken/1976/760620bg.tor)** > This is the beginning of this chapter. *Rāja-vidyā,* the king of education. *Rāja-vidyā rāja-guhyam.* And very confidential. It is not understood by any ordinary man, because it is very confidential. You go anywhere. Suppose you go to a bank. A few persons in the bank, like the manager or the cashier or the accountant, they know everything confidential. Not the clerks or the customers—no. So this is..., also Kṛṣṇa concludes *Bhagavad-gītā* with these words, *guhya guhyatamam.* This knowledge is very confidential. This means when one thing is very confidential, means it is very, very important. So Kṛṣṇa says therefore that *aśraddhadhānāḥ puruṣāḥ*. "This is so nice confidential. And I am speaking personally to enlighten the people in general." Not general, but people like Arjuna. Arjuna was not an ordinary person. He was born in royal family, and he was so exalted that he could speak with Kṛṣṇa face to face. He's not an ordinary person. So this confidential knowledge is not for ordinary person, but it is so easily, as it is said, *susukhaṁ kartum avyayam.* It is so easy to perform that everyone can do it. > So this is called *mṛtyu-saṁsāra-vartmani.* If we want to save this botheration, then hear what Kṛṣṇa says. Then your life will be successful. If you don't accept Kṛṣṇa's words, which are very plainly explained in the *Bhagavad-gītā,* then you have to remain in this *mṛtyu-saṁsāra-vartmani.* It is very plain truth. There is no doubt about it, that... You may be very proud of your strong body, your social condition or political condition, but after death it is not under your control. It is under the control of the material nature. So don't be falsely proud, bewildered. *Ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā kartāham iti manyate*. Don't be foolish person by false egotism, that "I am free. I can do whatever I like." Then you'll suffer and remain in this path of repetition of birth and death. And there are 8,400,000 species of life. We have to go through this process, we fall down. --- **[1976: Morning Walk](spoken/1976/760620mw.tor)** > This is your problem. You are repeatedly taking birth and dying, and so long you are living there are so many troubles. *Jarā-vyādhi.* Especially old age and disease. So this is the problem. What mysticism will help you? Will the mysticism stop your birth, death, old age and disease? Then that is mysticism. Otherwise, what is the use of such nonsense things? [break]...misleading from the real path. They do not know what is the aim of life, what is the problem of life. They create some mysticism, and some rascal people are after them. That's all. "Here is mystic." That's all. > That is the *Nectar of Instruction. Tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt.* This is traditional. One has to follow the traditional rules and regulations. *Utsāhān dhairyāt niścayād tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt* [*Upadeśāmṛta* 3]. First of all one must be enthusiastic: "I shall become devotee." Then, *utsāhān dhairyāt,* with patience. Then *niścayāt,* with conviction: "Yes, I am following the rules and it will be successful." And *tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt:* you have to follow the traditional rules and regulations. *Sato vṛtteḥ,* you must be honest. *Sādhu-saṅga: and these things in the association of devotees. *Ṣaḍbhir bhaktiḥ prasidhyati.* Then your *bhakti,* devotional life, will be successful. --- **[1976: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.6.4](spoken/1976/760620sb.tor)** > Animals. *Go* means cows and *khara* means ass. So without self-realization, without understanding what I am, whether I am this body or something other than the body, without this knowledge, it is animal civilization. Therefore Prahlāda Mahārāja says, "Don't waste your time in the matter of animal civilization." *Na tat prayāso kartavyo.* "Don't waste your time." It is very important verse. Everyone is trying to improve the condition of animal life, that's all. What is animal life? Eating, sleeping, sex and defense. Our big, big states, big, big countries, especially nowadays, USA and Russia or China, manufacturing atom bomb. So what is this atom bomb? Defense. Defense. How to get out of fear. *Āhāra-nidrā-bhaya. Bhaya* means fearfulness. So why they are manufacturing this atom bomb? To get out of fearfulness. That you may try, but it will never be successful. You may waste your time, but you'll never be successful. *Bhaya* will always be there; either you have got atom bomb or any big type of defense, when death will come, it will not defend you. By force. That is God. You may try to make very good arrangement for defending, but your life will never be saved. *Mṛtyu-sarva-haraś cāham.* The atheistic class of men, they are trying to make arrangement for defending his life, but Kṛṣṇa says that "I'll come to you as death. I'll take out all your possessions." *Mṛtyu-sarva-haraś cāham.* "Whatever defensive measure you have made, I'll take everything. You'll be alone." "No, my nation, my country, my society, my wife, my children, my bank balance, they will save me." No, that will not save you. Then what is that verse? > This is first-class man: truthful, very peaceful, full of knowledge, very simple, tolerant, and believer in the *śāstra.* These are the symptoms of first-class men. So where is that first-class man throughout the whole world? So this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is trying to create at least one section first-class men so that people may see, "Oh, here are ideal men." Therefore my request to persons who have joined this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, they should very carefully keep them as first-class men. People will appreciate, and they will try to follow. *Yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ*. --- **[1977: Talk with Svarūpa Dāmodara](spoken/1977/770620r1.vrn)** > "The Institute presents most specifically modern science and other fields of knowledge in light of the Vaiṣṇava philosophy and tradition, providing a completely new perspective on the reality, quite different from that of modern educational systems. One reason for the increasing interest of the Western and the young intellectuals in Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings is doubtlessly the growing awareness that in spite of their scientific and technological advancements, the real goal of human life has somehow been missed. The philosophy of the Bhaktivedanta Institute begins from a totally different premise from that of modern science. The central doctrine of modern science is that all phenomena, including those of life and consciousness, can be fully explained and understood by the course of matter alone. The dictum that life is a manifestation of matter is indeed the ultimate rationale for the entire civilization of material aggrandizement. The *Vedas,* on the other hand, teach that conscious life is original, fundamental and eternal. This in fact is the essence of *Bhagavad-gītā*: *ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate* [10.8]. On this fundamental and critical point, modern science and the Vedic knowledge find themselves opposed. > "The Bhaktivedanta Institute has therefore begun a worldwide lecture tour in order to bring this most fundamental knowledge to every continent. This Institute is clearly demonstrating that the Vedic version is not a matter simply of faith or belief but is scientific in the strict sense of the term. Although many of its features may appear difficult to verify experimentally, others have direct implications concerning what one may expect to observe, as this viewpoint will show as a stimulating challenge to the truly scientific state, to whom we owe the very restricted framework imposed upon our scientific understanding of nature for the past 200 years. Modern science started as an experiment to see how far matter could be explained without invoking God. The Bhaktivedanta Institute has come forward to introduce Vedic knowledge on a genuinely scientific basis for the first time in the history of this modern scientific age. The lecture series in the Indian subcontinent will start from September 1977 and last until February 1978. We request the scientists, scholars and students to kindly participate in this most challenging educational program, which will open up wide fields for fertile thought and meaningful study. --- **[1977: Talk with Svarūpa Dāmodara](spoken/1977/770620r2.vrn)** > So unless you understand the supreme cause, Kṛṣṇa, there is no knowledge. And if you understand Kṛṣṇa, then you understand everything. *Yasmin vijñāte sarvam evaṁ vijñātaṁ bhavanti.* Kṛṣṇa also says, *aham ādir hi devānām*, ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate*. If you understand Kṛṣṇa, then everything.... And how Kṛṣṇa can be understood? *Bhaktyā mām abhijānāti*. No other way. You cannot understand by any other way. Therefore *bhakti-vedanta* is last knowledge. There is... Argument there is. > So what this nonsense Darwin will tell us? Rascals. We have already information—*jīva-jāti,* they are already existing, one after another. [break] "...missing, fossil." What is this nonsense? What is missing? The monkeys, they, your father, is there, monkey. Where is monkey is missing? Your father, grandfather is there. So why you have got this body of all a sudden? Enjoy. You have to accept. You are changing body from monkey to man. So these so-called scientists, they are hovering for some false understanding. Now they should come to welcome this point and accept that the living entity is completely different from these eight elements, physical or chemical or mental. This should be propagated. Then they will understand what about this spiritual... Actually the spirit soul is the basis of all activities. *Jīva-bhūtāṁ mahā-bāho yayedaṁ dhāryate...*. Actually, because the living entity is there, all activities are going on. Who else would have taken care of this garden unless there was a living entity? Not that all of a sudden the bricks have developed to become a fountain. What is this nonsense? Such a rascal scientific theory? --- ## Letters on June 20 *Letters from this day: 9* --- **[1968: Letter to Jadurani](letters/1968/680620_jadurani)** > I am simply remembering your face when you were crying in the plane. Please remain fixed up in Krishna Consciousness and you will always be happy. And now you have got a very nice assistant, Madhavi Lata devi, and she is also very good and sincere girl, so you will have good company to talk, and paint; wherever you may be, Krishna is always with you, as He is always with everyone. --- **[1968: Letter to Madhavi Lata](letters/1968/680620_madhavi_lata)** > I am so much pleased to receive your nice letter of June 11, 1968, all full with humility and love and very nice sentiments. --- **[1969: Letter to Isana](letters/1969/690620_isana)** > Regarding the land which you now own, if you are conveniently able to keep it, that is all right. --- **[1969: Letter to Pradyumna](letters/1969/690620_pradyumna)** > It is all right to have the changes made on the two type fonts because it will be suitable for our purposes. --- **[1969: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1969/690620_satsvarupa)** > I am very pleased to learn that you are planning for a nice Rathayatra Festival in Boston. Please do it nicely, and take many nice photographs for publication in *BTG.* Yesterday I received one telegram from London to send them by cable $1,025.00. --- **[1972: Letter to Rupa Vilasa Candrika Bhavatarini Bhanutanya](letters/1972/720620_rupa_vilasa_candrika_bhavatarini_bhanutanya)** > Upon the recommendation of Stoka Krsna I am glad to consent to accept all of you as my duly initiated disciples. --- **[1972: Letter to Stokakrsna](letters/1972/720620_stokakrsna)** > Upon your recommendation I am very glad to accept the boys and girls you have recommended to be my duly initiated disciples. --- **[1972: Letter to Yadubara](letters/1972/720620_yadubara)** > Today I have received one telephone call from Giriraja and he has informed me that there is some disagreement among you leaders there in our Bombay Center. --- **[1973: Letter to Gunagrahi](letters/1973/730620_gunagrahi)** > Everything appears to be going very nicely there under your management. You are facilitating sankirtana and book distribution by travelling and going to colleges in a trailer, and you are preparing for a large Ratha-yatra festival. This is all pleasing and inspiring to me. ---