# August 1 ## Spoken on August 1 *Lectures from this day: 9 recordings* --- **[1966: Bhagavad-gītā 4.14–19](spoken/1966/660801bg.ny.md)** > So we should be very much cautious. We should not miss this chance of this human body to become Kṛṣṇa consciousness..., to become conscious of Kṛṣṇa. So therefore we must know how to work. How to work. *Kiṁ karma kim akarmeti*. If we do not know how to work, then we shall be entangled in these material activities. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says *saṅga-varjitaḥ.* Of course, a Kṛṣṇa conscious person, he also acts just like another material actor, but because he works in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, therefore he's not bound up. > Now here is a nice verse. The Lord says, "One who can see *karmāṇi, akarma,* any work which is being done, but it has no reaction..." *Karmāṇi, akarma yaḥ.* "I am doing something, but the ultimate result of that work has no reaction." One who can see like that... *Karmaṇy akarma yaḥ paśyed akarmāṇi ca yaḥ karma.* And *akarmāṇi* means one who is trying to avoid the reaction of *karma,* but he is being entangled in *karma. Sa buddhimān manuṣyeṣu* : "He is the most intelligent person." *Sa yuktaḥ kṛtsna-karma-kṛt, sa:* "He is dovetailed with Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and therefore, after doing so many work"—*kṛtsna* mean all sorts of work—"still, he is free," *karmaṇy akarma,* "even working." --- **[1970: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.1.11 Prabhupāda Teaching Nṛsiṁha Prayers](spoken/1970/700801sb.la)** > Etan nirvidyamānānām.* There are three classes of men. One class of men, *karmīs,* they are trying to enjoy the material resources. *Icchatām,* always desire: "I want this, I want this, I want this." And another class, they are con..., or rather, what is called? Frustrated. After trying utmost, "I want this, I want this, I want this," when at the end do not get anything, he is frustrated. That is called *nirvidyā.* "I don't want." Or actually one is satiated or disgusted: "No more material world. I don't want it." They are called *nirvidyamānām.* So the one class is trying to possess, and another class is trying to renounce: "I don't want." > So *akuto-bhayam* means the devotees. The devotees, just like Prahlāda Mahārāja, his father teased him in so many ways, but he was not at all fearful. He was simply thinking of Nṛsiṁhadeva and he was fearless. So only the devotee who has fully surrendered to Kṛṣṇa, he can be fearless. *Nārāyaṇa-parāḥ sarve na kutaścana bibhyati*. Nārāyaṇa-parāḥ* means devotees who have dedicated their life to the service of Nārāyaṇa, Kṛṣṇa. *Na kutaścana bibhyati.* He does not fear in any condition of life. --- **[1971: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.15](spoken/1971/710801sb.ny)** > Similarly, any service of the Lord. This is service by *śravaṇam* and *kīrtanam.* That is the beginning. *Śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇa : then always remembering Kṛṣṇa. When you are perfect in chanting and hearing, then you'll always remember Kṛṣṇa. That means in the third stage you become the greatest *yogī*. Because Kṛṣṇa says, *yoginām api sarveṣāṁ mad-gatenāntar-ātmanā śraddhāvān bhajate yo mām* : "One who is always engaged..." > So our conception is very clear; therefore we are liberated. Liberation means to become free from all false conception of life. That is liberation. Liberation does not mean that you have got now two hands and, as soon as you are liberated, you'll have ten hands. No. Liberation means that you become free from all nonsensical, false conception of life. That is liberation. That is the definition given in the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,* what is liberation. *Muktir hitvā anyathā rūpam. Mukti* means to give up, *anyathā rūpam.* As we are now living under some false conception, so when one gives up this all false conception, that is called *mukti. Muktir hitvā anyathā rūpaṁ svarūpeṇa vyavasthitiḥ*. And when one is situated in his original, constitutional position, giving up all false notions, he's liberated. That is liberation. --- **[1972: Bhagavad-gītā 2.11](spoken/1972/720801bg.gla)** > As I am a person, so God is also person. God cannot be imperson. If we take God as the original father, supreme father... The Christian religion believes. All other religion believes. And we also believe, *Bhagavad-gītā.* Because Kṛṣṇa says, *ahaṁ bīja-pradaḥ pitā* : "I am the original father of all living entities." So if God is father of all living entities and we all living entities, we are individual person, how God can be imperson? God is person. This is called philosophy. This is called logic. > So *bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram*.* And God is proprietor of everything. That's a fact. Now suppose such big ocean. Are you proprietor? We are claiming that I am proprietor of this land or this sea. But actually, before my birth the sea was there, the land was there, and after my death the sea will be there, the land will be there. When I become proprietor? Just like in this hall. Before we entered this hall, the hall was existing, and when we leave this hall, the hall will exist. Then when we become proprietor? If we falsely claim that sitting here for one hour or half an hour, we have become proprietor, that is false impression. --- **[1972: Room Conversation](spoken/1972/720801r1.lon)** > Now he sees that "I can work anywhere else; I can get money. Why should I waste my time?'' He neglected. That means *viṣaya* attracted him. He thought, "I am qualified man. Why should I waste my time with this Press?'' Therefore he gone to hell. He sacrificed Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and now he's getting some money he's satisfied. He's thinking that he has become a big man. > And actually it is a fact: simply for want of God consciousness they are suffering. That's all. There is no other reason. The only reason is this. Just like this morning I said that "God is the proprietor. Why you are claiming proprietor? You may be manager, not proprietor.'' Actually, that is our position. Just like I am head of this institution, but I am not dealing as proprietor. I am dealing as manager, head. Is it not? --- **[1973: Bhagavad-gītā 1.45–46](spoken/1973/730801bg.lon)** > So many big, big professors, learned scholars, they do not understand what is Kṛṣṇa. And they talking about Kṛṣṇa. They are taking the position of instructing about Kṛṣṇa. Just see how rascaldom. You do not know something perfectly, and still, you are talking about it. This is going on. *Puṇya-yaśo murāreḥ.* What is Kṛṣṇa? Kṛṣṇa says, *bahūnāṁ janmanām ante jñānavān māṁ prapadyante*. We have to know Kṛṣṇa. Because as soon as you know Kṛṣṇa, you become immediately liberated. > So knowing Kṛṣṇa is not so easy thing. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, *manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu kaścid yatati siddhaye .* First of all you become *siddha,* perfect. Perfect means perfect knowledge. That is called *siddha.* And another *siddha* means very powerful, master of all yogic perfection. That is also *siddha. Yogī* is perfection, eight kinds of perfection: *animā-laghimā siddhi prāptiḥ asita-vasita, prākāmyaṁ*. So they obtain eight kinds of *siddhis.* They are also called *siddhas.* --- **[1975: Room Conversation with Devotees](spoken/1975/750801r1.no)** > Save them. If it is not possible to save everyone—as many as possible. This is human life. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness, to save others who are in the darkness. It is not a profession: "Now, Kṛṣṇa consciousness is my profession. I'm getting very easily food and shelter." Just like the Indians they are doing, a profession, say another means of livelihood. Not like that. It is for *para-upakāra,* actually benefiting the others. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Then Kṛṣṇa will be very much pleased: "Oh, he is trying." 'Cause Kṛṣṇa personally comes for doing this benefit to the people, and if you do, then how much Kṛṣṇa will be pleased. Then? Just like I am traveling in my centers, and if I see that my students, my men, are doing very nice, everything is going nice, how much pleased I will be, that I'll save my labors and now write books for the rest of my time. Similarly, if Kṛṣṇa sees that you are, on behalf of Kṛṣṇa, you are trying to save these rascals, then He'll be very pleased with you. > So make, organize. I can give you the idea, but I'll not live very long. If you can carry out, you can change the whole... Especially if you can change America, then whole world will change. Then the whole world... And it is the duty, because they are kept in darkness and ignorance, then the human life is being spoiled. These rascals, because they do not know how to live... *Andhā yathāndhair...*. They are blind, and they are leading... Others are blind, and they are leading and they, all of them, going to ditch. So it is the duty. There is... Caitanya has explained, *para-upakāra* [*Cc* Ādi 9.41]. --- **[1975: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.49](spoken/1975/750801sb.no)** > So this civilization, modern civilization, is just like madman civilization. They have no knowledge of past life, neither they are interested in the future life. *Nūnaṁ pramattaḥ kurute vikarma*. And fully engaged in sinful activities, because they have no knowledge of the past life. Just like a dog. Why he has become dog, that he does not know, and what he is going to have next? So a dog might have been in his past life the prime minister, but when he gets the dog's life, he forgets. That is also another influence of *māyā. Prakṣepātmikā-śakti, āvaraṇātmikā-śakti.* [throwing and covering, *Paramātmā-sandarbha* 54] *Māyā* has got two potencies. If somebody for his past sinful activities has become a dog, and if he remembers that "I was prime minister; now I have become dog," it will be impossible for him to live. Therefore *māyā* covers his knowledge. *Mṛtyu. Mṛtyu* means forgetting everything. That is called *mṛtyu.* So that we have got experience every day and night. When at night we dream in a separate atmosphere, separate life, we forget about this body, that "I am lying down. My body is lying down in a very nice apartment, nice bedding." No. Suppose he is loitering on the street or he is on the hill. So he is taking, in dream, he is taking... Everyone, we take interest of that body. We forget the past body. So this is ignorance. So ignorance, the more we become elevated from ignorance to knowledge, that is success of life. And if we keep ourself in ignorance, that is no success. That is spoiling the life. > For special, for the devotees... He is situated in everyone's heart, but a devotee who is trying to understand Kṛṣṇa He helps. He helps. To the nondevotees, they have no concern with the... They are just like animal—eating, sleeping, sex life and defense. They do not care for anything, to understand God or his relationship with God. For them, they think there is no God, and Kṛṣṇa also says, "Yes, there is no God. You sleep, that's all." Therefore *sat-saṅga* required. This *sat-saṅga, satāṁ prasaṅgāt.* By the association of devotee we awaken our inquisitiveness about God. Therefore the centers are required. It is not unnecessarily we are opening so many centers. No. It is for the benefit of the human society. [aside:] You can... This fly... --- ## Letters on August 1 *Letters from this day: 15* --- **[1966: Letter to Madhava Maharaja](letters/1966/660801_madhava_maharaja)** > I hope that you are aware of the correspondence which I had been exchanging with Sriman Brahmacari Mangalaniloy and you also know it that I am desiring to get him here in United States of America for my assistance. You may also know that I am trying to construct a Temple of Sri Sri Radha Krishna in New York specially and I was trying to get exchange from the Government of India. --- **[1969: Letter to Jayapataka](letters/1969/690801_jayapataka)** > I am pleased to note that the French edition of *BTG* will be ready by the end of the week. --- **[1970: Letter to Dinesh](letters/1970/700801_dinesh)** > Yes, I have received the Tandberg Speakers and they are very nice sounding. We are playing the tapes which I have recorded on this machine in stereo and they are very nice. --- **[1970: Letter to Krsnakanti](letters/1970/700801_krsnakanti)** > I beg also to thank you for the check which you enclosed for $100 to my book fund and I receive it very gladly as we have expended recently so much for printing our literatures and we have many more manuscripts ready for publication. --- **[1970: Letter to Nayanabhirama](letters/1970/700801_nayanabhirama)** > Regarding your proposed marriage with Srimati Daivisakti, she appears to be a very nice intelligent devotee, so if she is agreeable to your proposal I have all blessings for your marriage. Now please work combinedly in Krsna's service with your new wife when you are married and make your lives perfect in Krsna consciousness. That is my desire. --- **[1972: Letter to Batu Gopala](letters/1972/720801_batu_gopala)** > I have turned the matter of your temple management over to Sriman Bhagavan Das in Paris, as he has some knowledge of the situation there. --- **[1972: Letter to Bhavananda](letters/1972/720801_bhavananda)** > I am so much pleased that your Rathayatra procession was so nicely received by the citizens of Calcutta. --- **[1972: Letter to Cyavana](letters/1972/720801_cyavana)** > Kindly keep me informed how you are getting on by your travelling and preaching work. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter from Calcutta dated July 24, 1972 wherein you inform that you have obtained visas to travel to China, Vietnam, Korea, and other places in the far east. --- **[1972: Letter to Gurudasa](letters/1972/720801_gurudasa)** > Regarding the visa problem in Vrindaban, if you always remain very careful with the authorities there, then we shall have no problems in the future. But if there is even one incident or scandalous rumor, that may ruin everything. --- **[1972: Letter to Karandhara](letters/1972/720801_karandhara)** > I have just received the newscuttings from Calcutta, and the Rathayatra festival there was simply spectacular. In one day, we have captured the full attention of the Calcutta people and they are very much favorable. --- **[1972: Letter to Ranadhira](letters/1972/720801_ranadhira)** > When we get Bangladesh visas and actually begin our preaching work there, then we shall be able to advertise and collect. --- **[1972: Letter to Tamala Krsna](letters/1972/720801_tamala_krsna)** > It is of course regrettable that we are stopped for the time being from entering into Bangladesh for spreading our propaganda there. --- **[1972: Letter to Tulasi](letters/1972/720801_tulasi)** > So you have many festivals like this, and engage the public in Krishna consciousness as much as possible. --- **[1973: Letter to Jahnava](letters/1973/730801_jahnava)** > You have written so many nice things in praise of me but I think that my Guru Maharaja is great, I am not great he is great. So sometimes by association of the great one appears great. Just like the sun is great heat and light and by reflecting the greatness of the sun's light the moon in dead of night also appears great, but actually the moon is by nature dark and cold, but in association with sun it has become accepted as great, this is the real position. --- **[1976: Letter to Mr. Jootee Boonsoong](letters/1976/760801_mr._jootee_boonsoong)** > He has also spoken to me of your interest in the activities of our movement. I thank you very much. ---