# July 9 ## Spoken on July 9 *Lectures from this day: 17 recordings* --- **[1968: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.10](spoken/1968/680709sb.mon)** > The essence of spiritual realization is very secret and confidential. Therefore Lord Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā* that "I am... Just now I am speaking to you the most confidential part of knowledge." *Sarva-guhyatamaṁ.* "Why You are speaking to me the most confidential...?" "Because you are My very dear friend." And what is that? *Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja* : "Give up everything. Simply surrender unto Me." > So the *Vedas* indicate therefore that *mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ*. If you want to understand the Absolute Truth, then you have to follow great personalities, great devotees. Just like in the Western world, Lord Jesus Christ, you have to follow his principles. That is all right, his Ten Commandments. But we do not follow. We simply fight: "Oh, I am Christian, you are Hindu," "I am Muhammadan," "I am this." Nobody tries to follow. You see? That is not the way. You have to follow. If you believe in certain personality... Of course, not believe, not blind believing; he must be authority. --- **[1971: Śrī Īśopaniṣad Mantra 4](spoken/1971/710709ip.la)** > So if you enhance your eagerness, then you enhance your eagerness one time, one percent, and He is approaching you ten percent. So that eagerness, *laulyam,* is very difficult to obtain*. Na janma-koṭi-sukṛtair*, even after many, many births' accumulation of pious activities you cannot have this *laulyam.* But you can have it if you like it. That is the little independence we have got. If you [are] actually eager to have Kṛṣṇa, then you will have Him. > If you have got still any desire that "I shall enjoy this material world, at the same time I shall have personal touch with God," then it will be difficult. *Sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁ* : One has to be freed from all material contamination. one has to become purified in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That purification process is devotional service. The more you become purified, more you realize God. --- **[1971: Wedding of Prabhāvatī and Hari-nāma](spoken/1971/710709we.la)** > In many places of the authoritative scripture these things are stated. *Mahat-sevāṁ dvāram āhur vimuktes*. *Vimukteḥ. Vimukteḥ* means liberation from this material bondage. If anyone wants liberation from the material bondage... Unfortunately, we do not know what is material bondage. They are so much callous that we have no knowledge. The material bondage is birth, death, old age and disease. This is called material bondage. > You can understand it very easily. Just like if you are a nice citizen, so there is no restriction of your activities. But as soon as you become criminal, oh, immediately there is trouble. So at the present moment we are all criminals; therefore there is so much crisis in the world. But if we live simple life, there is no crisis. If we abide by the laws of God, there is no question of poverty or distress or famine or disease—nothing. There is nothing. --- **[1973: Bhagavad-gītā 1.2–3](spoken/1973/730709bg.lon)** > Dronācārya was everyone's teacher, *ācārya. Ācārya* means teacher. *Ācāryam upasaṅgamya*. The military teacher. So Duryodhana, he was military teacher of the Pāṇḍavas also. When all of them were children, they were given under the instruction of Dronācārya. Dronācārya was *brāhmaṇa,* but he knew the military art. Therefore he was appointed teacher for all the boys, the Kaurava. So... But Ācārya, Dronācārya, joined with Duryodhana. Bhīṣmadeva joined with Duryodhana. None of them joined with Arjuna. Because Arjuna or Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira was not king at that time. The financial control was not in their hands, and these people, sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, they were on the government political power. The financial control was in their hand. So they were giving enough money for maintenance to Dronācārya and Bhīṣmadeva. So they felt obliged. Of course, they knew everything, but externally they felt obligation: "Arjuna, I am getting money from Duryodhana. So in this point of danger, if I do not join him, it does not look well. I am getting financial maintenance." > So *dṛṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkam.* Duryodhana did not expect that the Pāṇḍavas would be able to accomplish military strength so nicely, because they were bereft of all sources. Their kingdom was taken away, their money was usurped, they were sent into the forest—so many tribulations. But the foolish Duryodhana did not know that above all, there was Kṛṣṇa on their side. That he could not calculate. Therefore when he saw the Pāṇḍavas are well equipped with good number of soldiers, *pāṇḍavānīkam,* he was little surprised, that "How they could gather so many soldiers?" So immediately, to consult the commander-in-chief, Dronācārya... --- **[1973: Room Conversation with David Wynne, Sculptor](spoken/1973/730709r1.lon)** > Kṛṣṇa is always ready to take responsibility, provided we give. If we think that "Let me do in my own way, and Kṛṣṇa be responsible for my fault..." [laughs] No. That is not. Reciprocal. Responsive cooperation. Kṛṣṇa is always ready to cooperate. Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, an expansion. "Whomever you meet, you just give him the advice Kṛṣṇa has given." Kṛṣṇa has given all instruction, advice, in the *Bhagavad-gītā.* So you simply repeat, your life is perfect. Kṛṣṇa says, *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja*. > So everything is being defeated. *Parābhavas tāvad abodha-jāto yāvan na jijñāsata ātma-tattvam Abodha-jāta,* these rascal fools, born foolish. He does not inquire about the self-realization, so whatever he is doing, it is all defeat, he is spoiling his time, because he does not know. *Ātma-tattvam:* the science of self-realization. So in ignorance, whatever you do there is defeat. And they're being defeated, and they're thinking, "I am victorious." This is called *māyā.* This is called *māyā.* --- **[1973: Room Conversation](spoken/1973/730709r2.lon)** > Anyone who is in the bodily concept of life, he is no better than animal. The cats and dogs, they are also in the bodily concept of life. *Sa eva go-kharaḥ.* So he has not advanced beyond these cats and dogs because he is in the same conception, that "I am this body." A dog cannot understand that you are not this body. So similarly, if the human being cannot understand that he is not this body, what is the difference between him and the dog? So *śāstra* says, *sa eva go-kharaḥ : he's no better than the cows and the asses. That's all. > And actually it is a fact. The first instruction of *Bhagavad-gītā*, they cannot take it, and they're scholars. That is the most regrettable situation, that these fools and rascals under the bodily concept of life, they are become authorities. Actually they are asses. Yes. --- **[1974: Morning Walk](spoken/1974/740709mw.la)** > If the people refuse to take Kṛṣṇa consciousness, they'll never be happy. This is a fact. [pause] But if you present properly, they will take. That is a fact. The other day in San Francisco, there were about twelve to fifteen thousand men. They were hearing so patiently. They also applauded. And many came to my car, "Thank you, Prabhupāda. Thank you, Prabhupāda. Thank you, Prabhupāda." Said like that. > Whatever is going on throughout the whole world in the name of religion, *Bhāgavata,* according to *Bhāgavata,* they're all cheating. They're all cheating. *Bhāgavata kāhe taha paripūrṇa chale. Chale* means cheating. --- **[1974: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.16.19](spoken/1974/740709sb.la)** > So those who are going to religious life making God as their servant, they will be failure. You must approach God as master. You should become servant. The so-called religionist, they accept God as their order-supplier servant: "I must pray to God..." Whenever there is some inconvenience, "I must pray," or "I must... " Not "must." "At that time I shall pray, and then I shall finish that prayer, and God must supply. If God does not supply, then there is no God." This is the general attitude. But that should not be done. The real religion is, as Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā,* is *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekam*. First of all surrender. Then talk of mercy and this or that. Also, although God is very merciful, even those who are simply asking from God, not prepared to give anything, God is merciful, even though he... > Therefore Kṛṣṇa said, *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja*. That *mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja,* "Surrender unto Me," that is religion. So one has to surrender. Either he is a Hindu or a Christian or Muhammadan, he has to surrender. That is religion. One cannot say that because we are professing Christian religion, we haven't got to surrender to God. Will anybody say? Will any Christian will say like that? Or any Hindu will say like that? Or any Muhammadan will say like that? No. Everyone has to surrender to God. That is religion. Therefore in the *Bhāgavata* you will find the verse: *sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhokṣaje*. That is first-class religion which is teaching the followers to understand the Supreme. --- **[1975: Television Interview](spoken/1975/750709iv.chi)** > "Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, wisdom, knowledge and religiousness—these are the qualities by which the *brāhmaṇas* work." --- **[1975: Morning Walk](spoken/1975/750709mw.chi)** >*prabhaviṣṇave namaḥ* This is the power of God. He can deliver anyone, without any consideration. Therefore *paṇḍita* is *sama-darśinaḥ.* He does not make these divisions. He sees that "He is spirit soul. So let him be delivered." That's all. *Paṇḍitāḥ sama-darśinah*. Materially there is division: he is black, he is white, he is this, he is that. This is material. Spiritually, there is no division. One. >that requires complete overhauling. This religion, that religion will not help. They have no idea what is spiritual knowledge. Everyone is hovering on the mental plane. --- **[1975: Press Conference](spoken/1975/750709pc.chi)** > So we living entities, we are eternal, part and parcel of God. God is eternal and we are also eternal. Just like gold and little portion of gold: both of them are gold, but the big gold and the small gold, that is different. Similarly, we being part and parcel of God, qualitatively we are one; quantitatively we are different. Although we are different, still, in the spiritual world we can enjoy the same facilities in cooperation with God. We are trying to be happy in this material world. That is not possible, because here there are four principles of miserable condition, which we cannot avoid. They are birth, death, old age and disease. In the spiritual world there is no such thing as birth, death, old age and disease. Therefore in this life, in the human form of life, where we come after evolutionary process, 8,400,000 species of life, our consciousness being developed, we should decide now whether we shall remain within this material world or we shall go to the spiritual world, where the life is eternal: there is no birth, death, old age and disease. > And if we learn how to love God without any motive, nobody can check our love of God. And if we reach that platform, then we become actually happy. God is the supreme proprietor of everything, He is friend of everyone, and He is the enjoyer. We, being part and parcel of God, our duty is to serve God how He is pleased. Our... Just like part and parcel of our body, this finger, it is always engaged in serving the body according to the desire of the person. Similarly, we being part and parcel of God, our duty is to serve God as He wants service from us. This is perfection. If the finger or any part of my body cannot give service to the whole body, it is to be understood that the part is diseased. Similarly, when we do not give service to God, that is our material condition, or diseased condition, or miserable condition. And if we learn how to love God, how to serve Him, that is our healthy condition. --- **[1975: Room Conversation after Press Conference](spoken/1975/750709r1.chi)** > "O son of Pṛthā, those who take shelter in Me, though they be of lower birth—women, *vaiśyas,* merchants, as well as *śūdras,* workers—can approach the supreme destination." Purport: "It is clearly declared here by the Supreme Lord that in devotional service there is no distinction between the lower or higher classes of people. In the material... [break]...than great *jñānīs* and *yogīs*." > So He is the cause of all causes. So if milk is the cause of curd, then Kṛṣṇa is the milk. [some children enter room] Come on. Cause of all causes. Come forward. Come forward. [pause] [end] --- **[1975: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.25](spoken/1975/750709sb.chi)** > So this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement means to give them idea of real enjoyment. If... So real enjoyment means that when you are uncontaminated with this material body. Spiritual enjoyment. Now we are trying to enjoy with this body. The body is senses. *Indriyāṇi parāṇy āhuḥ.* Bodily enjoy means the sense enjoyment. *Indriyāṇi parāṇy āhur indriyebhyaḥ paraṁ manaḥ, manasas tu parā buddhiḥ*. In this way we have to understand that this body is false; therefore the bodily enjoyment is also false. That they cannot understand. This is their misfortune. Therefore one who does not understand in the beginning of spiritual life that "I am not this body. I am different from body..." Then his spiritual life begins. Otherwise, cats and dogs and everyone is engaged with this bodily enjoyment. So long we shall be captivated by this bodily enjoyment, we are in the groups of animals. That's all. > So we have to understand where is that spiritual world. That is... You have... Those who are reading *Bhagavad-gītā,* you will find, *paras tasmāt tu bhāvaḥ anyaḥ:* "There is another world." *Bhāva* means nature. *Paras tasmāt tu bhāvaḥ anyo 'vyakto 'vyaktāt sanātanaḥ*. Sanātana* means eternal. The living entity is described as *sanātanaḥ. Mamaivāṁśo jīva-bhūtaḥ jīva-loke sanātanaḥ*. Sanātana* means eternal. And there is another nature which is also described, *sanātana.* So when a living entity is constitutionally *sanātana,* if he wants to go back to that *sanātana* nature, that is called *sanātana-dharma.* It is called... You have heard the name *sanātana-dharma. Sanātana-dharma* means when the *sanātana-jīva,* living entity, tries go to back home... That is our real home. Here it is not home. We have taken America as home. How long it is your home, sir? Say, fifty years, hundred years, that's all. Not this kind of home. So that home is eternal. That is called, therefore, *sanātana. Avyakto 'vyaktāt sanātanaḥ.*. Yasmin sarveṣu naśyatsu* means when in the material world everything will be dissolved, annihilated, then it is said that the other nature... --- **[1976: Arrival Address](spoken/1976/760709ad.ny)** > We are loitering throughout the whole universe. This is conditional stage of our materialistic life, and we are simply suffering. People are kept into ignorance without knowing the aim of life, how we are suffering in this materialistic way of life. They are so dull-brained that Kṛṣṇa says personally that here the real problem is *janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi duḥkha-doṣānudarśanam .* You are simply busy with some petty problems. And they are not problems. Real problem is *janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi.* Why...? We are eternal living entities. Why we should be subjected to birth, death, old age and disease repeatedly? This is real problem. > Why enviousness? You are human being, I am human being. Why we should be envious of one another? This is artificial. There is no need of. But we are put into certain condition that we have to become envious by nature or somehow. So this materialistic way of life is full of enviousness, rivalry, competition, then birth, death, old age, disease, threefold miseries—*ādhyātmika ādhibhautika,* miseries from the mind, from the body, from other living entities, natural disturbance. And we are trying to be happy here. This is called foolishness. It is not possible. *Duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam*. --- **[1976: Arrival Comments in Car to Temple](spoken/1976/760709ar.ny)** > That is simply a popular applause, "Ah, the dead body is decorated." But what is the value of it? Similarly, without spiritual knowledge, this dead civilization simply on the bodily concept of life, it is ludicrous. That we have to condemn. Take Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then everything is... Just like one, if there is zero, then it is ten. Another zero, hundred. But without one, simply zero, it is only useless. --- **[1976: Morning Walk](spoken/1976/760709mw.wdc)** --- ## Letters on July 9 *Letters from this day: 14* --- **[1963: Letter to Dr. S. Radhakrishnan President Of India](letters/1947-1965/630709_dr._s._radhakrishnan_president_of_india)** > At present I am at Vrindaban. Last time (Feb. 9th 1963) when I met your Excellency to present my Srimad-Bhagavatam, you promised to read it to see what is there in it. --- **[1968: Letter to Jadurani](letters/1968/680709_jadurani)** > This means your picture is helping us forward in Krishna Consciousness so that we could attract even the yogis like Sat-chit-ananda's students. --- **[1970: Letter to Jagadisa](letters/1970/700709_jagadisa)** > I am very glad that you are all devotees working hard to improve the temple in both appearance and program. I understand that you are doing very nicely on Sankirtana Party and now you have been able to purchase a Sankirtana van for travelling. --- **[1970: Letter to Janmanjaya Taradevi](letters/1970/700709_janmanjaya_taradevi)** > You opening a new center of ISKCON in Atlanta, Georgia, has given me great transcendental pleasure because it is Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's desire that in every city and town and village of the earth... --- **[1970: Letter to Nirmal Babu](letters/1970/700709_nirmal_babu)** > When you meet the Prime Minister and other Ministers of Government, kindly try to impress upon them that Krsna Consciousness movement is not a type of religion. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that everyone is constitutionally servant of Krsna or God. In the Bhagavad-gita the same thing is confirmed that the living entities are parts and parcels of God. --- **[1971: Letter to Gaura Hari](letters/1971/710709_gaura_hari)** > And it is very encouraging to hear that so many new devotees are coming. The more sincere you are in pushing this movement forward, so Krishna will reciprocate and send you many new devotees. --- **[1971: Letter to Giriraja](letters/1971/710709_giriraja)** > Please send me a report every week & oblige. Please treat this letter as urgent and reply immediately. --- **[1971: Letter to Jadurani](letters/1971/710709_jadurani)** > So far your questions: The demigods, when they try to ascertain who is the Supreme, they become bewildered, what to speak of ordinary men. There is no need to show the demigods bewildered; I have already explained in my previous letter that inside the body the soul is suffering and that suffering is expressed by the bodily features. --- **[1971: Letter to John Milner](letters/1971/710709_john_milner)** > I am so glad to hear that you will be going with Brahmananda Maharaja to Africa and that Harold Prabhu will be going also. --- **[1971: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1971/710709_satsvarupa)** > So far Moscow is concerned, there was only one substantial meeting, with one Professor Kotovsky and the tape of that conversation is being transcribed. --- **[1971: Letter to Umapati](letters/1971/710709_umapati)** > You write to say that you do not understand this movement, but if you do not understand this movement after so many years then when you will understand? --- **[1972: Letter to Ish Kumar Puri](letters/1972/720709_ish_kumar_puri)** > Enclosed you will find information of several of our major works, such as number of pages, size of pages, etc. --- **[1974: Letter to Madhudvisa](letters/1974/740709_madhudvisa)** > After leaving your place I went to Chicago and then San Francisco and in both the places the Rathayatra ceremony was very successfully performed. --- **[1977: Letter to All G.B.C. All Temple Presidents](letters/1977/770709_all_g.b.c._all_temple_presidents)** > - representative of the acarya, for the purpose of performing initiations, both first initiation and second initiation. His Divine Grace has so far given a list of eleven disciples who will act in that capacity:. ---