# July 8 ## Spoken on July 8 *Lectures from this day: 12 recordings* --- **[1971: Śrī Īśopaniṣad Lecture [recites verses 1–12](spoken/1971/710708ip.la)** > The spiritual master... In India still there are *gotras. Gotras* means coming from that great sage. Just like our family belongs to the *Gautama gotra.* Gautama Ṛṣi, from him the familywise *gotra,* and similarly disciplic succession is also *gotra.* There is no difference between *putra* and *chatra. Putra* means son, and *chatra* means disciple. Cāṇakya Paṇḍita said, *putrāṁś ca śiṣyāṁś ca:* they are equally treated. Both of them equally eligible for hereditary rites from the person, either he is son or disciple. > So Brahmā distributed knowledge to some... Practically everyone was his son, because he was the first living creature. So later on, disciples also, son's son. So in this way Brahmā distributed this Vedic knowledge, some to the sons, some to the... Vyāsadeva also, he distributed knowledge, some to his sons, some to his disciples. That is explained in the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.* So that is the process of disseminating Vedic knowledge. --- **[1974: Arrival Address](spoken/1974/740708ar.la)** > So I am very glad to see that you are maintaining the temple standard as good as I saw when I left. That is my satisfaction. And keep this, I mean to say, situation, atmosphere, always, and follow the regulative principles, chant sixteen rounds, you'll remain always happy. Because although we are in Los Angeles, we have nothing to do with the material atmosphere of Los Angeles. Therefore a devotee who lives with Kṛṣṇa or in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he does not live in the material world. He always live in the spiritual world. That is confirmed in the *Bhagavad-gītā. Māṁ cāvyabhicāriṇi-bhakti-yogena yaḥ sevate:* "Anyone who is engaged in *bhakti-yoga* with Kṛṣṇa," *sa guṇān samatītyaitān brahma-bhūyāya kalpate*, "such person is always above these material modes of nature." > Our difficulty, or miserable condition of life, is due to being under the material laws of nature. So it is very simple method, and you are all intelligent boys and girls in the Western country, and I am very happy that you have taken it seriously. And continue this. You'll never be unhappy. And not only here but also, as Kṛṣṇa said, *man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru*, if you simply practice these four principle—always think of Kṛṣṇa, *man-manā,* or become Kṛṣṇa's devotees and offer Kṛṣṇa obeisances and worship Kṛṣṇa—these four... We are teaching these four principle in the temple: how to worship Kṛṣṇa, how to serve Kṛṣṇa, how to become Kṛṣṇa's devotee, and how to think of Kṛṣṇa twenty-four hours. And if we do this, there is guarantee. Kṛṣṇa says, *mām eva eṣyasi asaṁśaya:* "Without any doubt, you will come to Me. You will go back to home, back to Godhead." --- **[1974: Room Conversation](spoken/1974/740708r1.la)** > Devotee (3): He came in contact with our movement in Los Angeles, and he just asked me the question, when he was a young boy in Fukushima he used to go to the Buddhist temples, and they play the drums. And he wanted to know why now, after so many years, he saw our *saṅkīrtana* party in Los Angeles, and he was very much attracted, so much so that he went with them to the temple and shaved his head. So I told him it was natural for him; that is why it is our position to be Kṛṣṇa conscious. So he has a desire to return back to Japan and help with translating and study, and he has a good mind. His name is Fuji. > He was supposed to go to Korea and file for missionary visas, and I looked in his drawer in his files, and he had not gone. But he had been away, and he came back and said that he went. So I took over all the money and everything, took over all the accounts, but I did not trust him because he was not chanting properly, and he was not Kṛṣṇa conscious. And then he snuck away. --- **[1975: Morning Walk](spoken/1975/750708mw.chi)** >not after that philosophy, that *jagan mithyā brahma satya.* No. We say *jagat* is also *satya* because *brahma satya,* the *jagat* is also *satya.* It is *mithyā* because it is improperly utilized. Let it be utilized properly, it is also truth. It is truth actually. You cannot say, "This is a false tree." This is the ignorance. Why it is false? But it is being misused. That is false. You cannot misuse anything which is given by God. You should properly utilize it. Then it is truth. And as soon as you misuse it, it is untruth. >not these concocted "isms"—this "ism," that "ism," that "ism." Because it is *andhā yathāndhair upanīyamānāḥ.* These all rascals are blind. They do not know how to direct. *Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇuṁ durāśayā*. They are trying to adjust the world affairs blindly. They do not know. So let us combine. Let them come forward, take direction from us. After all, your money, my money, your intelligence, my intelligence—everything belongs to Kṛṣṇa. *Sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭhaḥ*. --- **[1975: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.24](spoken/1975/750708sb.chi)** > This is not proper life that up to the point of death one has to beget a child. This is animal life. Human life, maximum fifty years, that's all. After that, by force, *pañcāśordhvaṁ vanaṁ vrajet,* give up this family life. And if you don't give up, then you remain and go on begetting children. *Yan maithunādi-gṛhamedhi-sukhaṁ hi tuccham*. What is the happiness of this *gṛhamedhī* life, attached to family life? The only happiness is this sex, that's all. Otherwise there is no happiness. They are working day and night. Therefore, at the present moment the tendency is to kill the child. Because to enjoy sex life means there must be pregnancy. But when there is pregnancy, either illicit or..., legal or illegal, the child-bearing, the giving birth to the child, then taking care of it, then growing, raising, feeding him, education—so many troubles there is. But *tṛpyanti neha kṛpaṇā bahu-duḥkha-bhājaḥ*. > So to enter into this elevated life, fulfilling the desire or the aim of life, is *varṇāśrama-dharma. Varṇāśramācāravatā puruṣeṇa paraḥ pumān, viṣṇur ārādhyate. Viṣṇur ārādhyate,* that is required, how to become Kṛṣṇa conscious or Viṣṇu conscious and to worship Him. So that begins with this *varṇāśrama.* So Caitanya Mahāprabhu, He knew that this is Kali-yuga; it is very, very difficult to engage people strictly in the *varṇāśrama-dharma.* Actually it is difficult. Who is going... If you open a *varṇāśrama* college, there will be no student, because they will think, "What is this nonsense, *varṇāśrama*? Let us learn technology. We shall get good salary. We shall earn money." Yes. So Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately said, *eho bāhya, āge kaha āra*. In this age it is not possible, *varṇāśrama-dharma.* So "If you know something better than this, you say." So in this way Rāmānanda Rāya recommended that *karma-tyāga, sannyāsa,* so many stages. And Caitanya Mahāprabhu went on saying, *eho bāhya āge kaha āra:* "This is useless now. If you know better, then something, something." --- **[1976: Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.103](spoken/1976/760708cc.wdc)** > > 'sādhya'-'sādhana'-tattva puchite nā jāni > kṛpā kari' saba tattva kaha ta' āpani > [[cc/madhya/20/103|[Cc. Madhya 20.103] ]] The injunction in the *Bhagavad-gītā* is that *tad viddhi,* [[bg/4/34|[Bg. 4.34] ]] try to understand. --- **[1976: Interview and Conversation](spoken/1976/760708iv.wdc)** > This is a spiritual movement, and the present moment people are more interested with material improvement. But our real interest is... Not only our, every human being's interest should be for spiritual upliftment. --- **[1976: Room Conversation with Scientists](spoken/1976/760708r2.wdc)** > Then why do they talk nonsense? You stress on this point. If they say, "Yes, we shall do after millions of years," then he should be challenged that "You give up your title, 'Doctor,' let the sparrow take it. --- **[1977: Room Conversation about Māyāpur Attack Talk with Vrindavan De](spoken/1977/770708r2.vrn)** > Prabhupāda:* [Transl. That is okay. There is no objection for that, but if he doesn't want to take risk in life then here is the opportunity. *Kṛṣṇera samsāra kara chādi anācāra.* We are providing to so many people. In our Society we are distributing *prasad* to at least ten thousand people every day. At least. We are doing.] > Vṛṇdāvana De: [Transl. That temple of the Mahārāja of Jaipur, high altitude. That place is good. Nandagrām is not bad. Nice view from all sides. Latika garden or something is there. They explained to me everything.] --- ## Letters on July 8 *Letters from this day: 29* --- **[1967: Letter to Jadurani](letters/1967/670708_jadurani)** > On the whole I am getting strength little by little, and I hope very soon I shall be able to work. --- **[1969: Letter to Bhurijana](letters/1969/690708_bhurijana)** > I can understand that you are in need of some more brahmacaris there, and I have already told Tamala Krishna to send some devotees there. --- **[1969: Letter to Brahmananda](letters/1969/690708_brahmananda)** > You are correct that Tamala Krishna's endeavor is very successful, and we should cooperate with him fully, and other centers should follow the same principles to make it successful. Recently, Tamala Krishna has sent Madhudvisa to San Francisco to organize the temple there, and as soon as he had gone there, the Sankirtana collection has become raised from $17 to $70. --- **[1969: Letter to Mr. Nair](letters/1969/690708_mr._nair)** > I came here alone in 1965. Gradually the young men here took the philosophy very nicely, and now they themselves are spreading and opening many branches, even without my presence. Similarly, you can do this also, under my instructions. --- **[1969: Letter to Rayarama](letters/1969/690708_rayarama)** > So I am glad to learn that your program is to do some work independently, and at the same time to do work for our Krishna Consciousness Movement. --- **[1969: Letter to Subala](letters/1969/690708_subala)** > Regarding your arrest by the police, it was Krishna's desire, so that it is now authoritatively admitted that we are not guilty. It will be of considerable aid in getting permission from the police. --- **[1970: Letter to Manager Of Security Pacific Banka](letters/1970/700708_manager_of_security_pacific_banka)** > Please transfer $546.00 (Five hundred and forty-six dollars and no cents) to the First National Bank of Boston, Brighton Avenue Branch, in favor of account No. 516-5642, ISKCON Press, and charge the same to my account as above mentioned. --- **[1970: Letter to Manager Of Security Pacific Bankb](letters/1970/700708_manager_of_security_pacific_bankb)** > Please issue a cashier's check for $1,400.00 (One thousand and four hundred dollars and no cents) in favor of Dai Nippon Printing Company Limited, and charge the same to my account as above mentioned. --- **[1970: Letter to Manager Of Security Pacific Bankc](letters/1970/700708_manager_of_security_pacific_bankc)** > Please transfer $1,500.00 (One thousand and five hundred dollars and no cents) to the First National Bank of Boston, Brighton Avenue Branch, in favor of account No. ISKCON Press, and charge the same to my account as above mentioned. --- **[1970: Letter to Sridama](letters/1970/700708_sridama)** > I am so happy to learn that you have been so well received in Provincetown by the young boys and girls. It is a fact that the hippies are our best clients. I had very good response in San Francisco during Rathayatra festival. --- **[1971: Letter to Batu Gopala](letters/1971/710708_batu_gopala)** > Please find your beads enclosed herewith and chanted on by me. I have given you the spiritual name Batua Gopala Das Brahmacari. Batua Gopala was a great devotee of Lord Caitanya. --- **[1971: Letter to Gopala Krsna](letters/1971/710708_gopala_krsna)** > So do your duty nicely, taking it as Krishna's mercy, and try to serve Krishna as far as possible. And if you like, and you think it is possible, then surely you can open a center in Connecticut State. --- **[1971: Letter to Jagadisa](letters/1971/710708_jagadisa)** > I am so glad to hear that things are going on nicely in Toronto and that there are so many devotees there and that many of them are qualified for initiation. --- **[1971: Letter to Kaliya Krsna](letters/1971/710708_kaliya_krsna)** > Yes, I am so glad to accept you as my duly initiated disciple, as you were recommended highly by Sriman Bhagavan dasa Prabhu. --- **[1971: Letter to Laksmi Narayana](letters/1971/710708_laksmi_narayana)** > I am so pleased to know that you have been recommended by Sriman Bhagavan das Prabhu for gayatri mantra initiation. --- **[1971: Letter to Sukhasagari](letters/1971/710708_sukhasagari)** > Sukhasagari means the ocean of happiness. So always remain in Krishna's transcendental loving service and you will always remain immersed in such ocean. --- **[1972: Letter to Bhagavatananda](letters/1972/720708_bhagavatananda)** > One thing is, our process of Krishna Consciousness, if it is followed with determination and enthusiasm, automatically it has the effect of fixing us, body, mind and soul, to the Lotus Feet of Lord... --- **[1972: Letter to Madhudvisa](letters/1972/720708_madhudvisa)** > I am very much pleased to see the photos of the Jagannatha cart being made by you in Melbourne, and I can understand that you energy and experience are being put to good use there in Australia. --- **[1972: Letter to Nandarani](letters/1972/720708_nandarani)** > I have seen this special Rathayatra issue of "Back to Godhead" written by you, and I am so much pleased that so intelligently you have assorted the matter to completely understand our philosophy in a nutshell. --- **[1974: Letter to Bhakta Dasa](letters/1974/740708_bhakta_dasa)** > I have gladly accepted for first initiation those devotees recommended by you and their spiritual names are as follows. --- **[1975: Letter to Gurukrpa](letters/1975/750708_gurukrpa)** > If the restaurant is making profit daily of $200.00 as was reported, then they may purchase the truck by paying $100.00 per day. On the whole I am not in favor of investing in this property. --- **[1975: Letter to Hasyakari](letters/1975/750708_hasyakari)** > As for your going to Mayapur is concerned, that is a very good suggestion. But, it is best that you earn the money for the fare independently by doing Sankirtana. --- **[1975: Letter to Ramacandra](letters/1975/750708_ramacandra)** > If the devotees are always busy with service, there will be no time for maya to enter. Service and preaching is our only concern. --- **[1975: Letter to Yasomatinandana](letters/1975/750708_yasomatinandana)** > I am enclosing some correspondence with Goswami Radheswaranand. There is one reply to him and also his latest letter. --- **[1976: Letter to Balavanta](letters/1976/760708_balavanta)** > Concerning the distinction between the innocent and the atheists, those who give time to listen to us are innocent. Those who naturally oppose us and have no time are atheists, because we are the only ones talking about God. We don't talk anything about politics, etc. --- **[1976: Letter to Nandarani](letters/1976/760708_nandarani)** > Iranians have very much respect especially for the Americans and your dealings with them will be very much appreciated. Also, if the collections are very good there you can send some money to Gargamuni Swami in Mayapur for the project. --- **[1976: Letter to Nitai](letters/1976/760708_nitai)** > Continue with your program in the temple. It is a good program and it sounds that you are doing very nice! You may begin translations of Brhad-Bhagavatamrtam, and Laghu-Bhagavatamrtam as requested. --- **[1976: Letter to Ramesvara](letters/1976/760708_ramesvara)** > Please deposit this and send me receipt to the New York address. $2190.00 (two-thousand one-hundred and ninety) for deposit in the Mayapur-Vrindaban account ("ISKCON Mayapur-Vrindaban Fund a/c \#6004-07143) at the Bank of America, 600. --- **[1976: Letter to Yasodalala](letters/1976/760708_yasodalala)** > The only way that we can overcome maya is by seriously and sincerely taking shelter of Krishna. *Daivi esa guna mayi mama maya duratyaya, mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te* bg/7/14. ---