# August 12 ## Spoken on August 12 *Lectures from this day: 16 recordings* --- **[1966: Bhagavad-gītā 4.34](spoken/1966/660812bg.ny.md)** > Similarly, if you go on, make your progress, then you come to the Brahmā. Brahmā is the controller of this whole universe. And there are many, innumerable universes and innumerable Brahmās also. And their controller is the Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. And the Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu is controlled by Mahā-Viṣṇu, and Mahā-Viṣṇu is controlled by Saṅkarṣaṇa, and Saṅkarṣaṇa is controlled by Nārāyaṇa. And Nārāyaṇa is controlled by Vāsudeva, and Vāsudeva is controlled by Baladeva, and Baladeva is controlled by Kṛṣṇa. Therefore you'll find in the *Bhagavad-gītā* that Kṛṣṇa says, *mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat asti kiñcid dhanañjaya* : "My dear Arjuna, there is no..., nobody greater than Me." And Arjuna also accepted that "You are *asamordhva:* nobody is equal to You, and nobody is greater than You." > Now, the point is that Kṛṣṇa says that "All kinds of sacrifices, whatever sacrifice you can undertake..." There are different kinds of, mentioned: *dravya-yajña, jñāna-yajña, yoga-yajña,* so many there are different types of *yajña.* But here Kṛṣṇa concludes, "All the different types of *yajña,*" *sarvaṁ karmākhilaṁ pārtha jñāne parisamāpyate*, "whatever *yajña* you can perform, that's all right. But that is the different steps, different steps to come to the point of real knowledge." --- **[1972: Room Conversation](spoken/1972/720812r1.lon)** > Actually there is no problem. Even they are not animal. Less than animal. In animal society there is no problem. There is problem, but not so acute. They are free. Just like the ducks, the pigeons, they fly from one country to another. They have no problem of immigration department, passport or visa. They have no problem. > *Dharmeṇa hīnāḥ paśubhiḥ samānāḥ* [*Hitopadeśa*]. That is the special distinction, that their life, human life, must be based on *dharma,* religion. They have rejected *dharma.* That is another type of frustration, because the so-called leaders of religion, they could not give anything. They also exploited people under religious sentiment. Actually they could not make people religious. They did not know what is religion. --- **[1973: Bhagavad-gītā 13.4](spoken/1973/730812bg.par)** > So material nature is actually the field of activities in our conditioned life. We have... *Manaḥ ṣaṣṭhānīndriyāṇi prakṛti-sthāni karṣati*.* In the Fifteenth Chapter you'll find it, that who are these living entities, we? Kṛṣṇa says *mamaivāṁśa:* "They are all My parts and parcels." *Mamaivāṁśa.* Just like father and the son. A father has got many sons. Similarly, we are all sons of God. *Mamaivāṁśa jīva-bhūtaḥ*. *Sanātanaḥ. Sanātanaḥ. Sanātanaḥ* means eternally. It is not that we are now part and parcel, and after liberation we'll become one, or equal—the Māyāvādī theory. No. That is not. Therefore this very word is used, *sanātana,* "eternally." Eternally, we are part and parcel. > Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, *patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati*.* Kṛṣṇa, as the Supreme Lord, He can eat anything. He can eat anything, because He is all-powerful, omnipotent. But we cannot do that. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, "You give Me this vegetable, fruits, grains, milk, and I will take." Therefore indirectly it is said these are the foodstuff of the human being. Not any others things. You cannot say that "This is also eatable, therefore I shall eat." Then you become a hog. Those who have no discrimination of eating, they are going to be hog next life. --- **[1973: Room Conversation With Yadubara About Early Life & Childhood Ratha-yātrā Festival](spoken/1973/730812r1.par)** > So that confirms: this Kṛṣṇa consciousness coming from previous life. And some very authorized astrologers said that in my previous life I was a physician, and I did not commit any sinful act. He said like that. The only, if it is taken as sinful, I killed some snakes for medicinal purpose. Otherwise I did not commit any sin. He said like that. [laughing] And it is right, because I had tendency in my childhood play to imitate the physician. I would keep some medicine, and my playmates would come, I would feel their pulse and give some medicine. [devotees laugh] This was my play, I remember. Yes. Some powders. > Then in 1933 I was initiated. In this way, gradually I came in contact intimately. And Guru Mahārāja... In 1935, all my Godbrothers were meeting in Bombay. So I was living outside the *maṭha*. So they requested, "Abhay Babu is such a noble soul. Why he should live outside the *maṭha*?" Purposely I was living outside. I had my business office. I was living with my four children; family was in Calcutta. So Guru Mahārāja said, "It is better to live a little outside, and he will do the necessity automatically in due course of time." He said like that. So I could not understand what he meant by that. But it means that he was confident that "This boy in due course of time will take up this matter seriously." He said these very words: "In due course of time he will take things rightly. And it is better now to live little apart from..." [laughs] He said like that. --- **[1973: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.5.1–2](spoken/1973/730812sb.par)** > Therefore Ṛṣabhadeva advises His sons, "My dear sons, do not waste your valuable body, human form of body, like the dogs and hogs." Then what, what is the purpose of human life? If we are not meant for living like the dogs and hogs, then what is the standard of human life? The answer is, *tapo divyaṁ putrakā : "My dear son, this life is meant for *tapaḥ.*" *Tapaḥ* means austerity. *Tapaḥ,* another meaning is that temperature. Just like if we go in front of the fire, or if you go in the open sunlight, we get some temperature. That is called *tapaḥ,* or *tāpaḥ,* sometimes it is called *tāpaḥ,* temperature. Yes. So this *tāpaḥ* means some temperature. > But here Ṛṣabhadeva says that the human life is meant for *tapasya,* and not for living like pigs, hogs and dogs. Next He says, *tapo divyam, because *tapasya* means to accept voluntarily some painful situation. It is not very much painful, but they consider. But we are undergoing already some painful situation working day and night. To satisfy the senses, that also requires *tapasya,* hard labor. But here Ṛṣabhadeva says that you accept some painful condition—it is not at all painful, but it appears—*tapo divyam,* for God realization. [break]...that everyone is working hard day and night, but that is for sense gratification. Similarly, if you take little trouble, if you accept voluntarily some painful condition for realizing God, *divyam,* that is the human mission. --- **[1974: Bhagavad-gītā 7.6](spoken/1974/740812bg.vrn)** > So Kṛṣṇa is the original source of *prabhavaḥ pralaya*. But Kṛṣṇa is not under this *prabhava* and *pralaya*. This should be understood. *Aham evāsam evāgre*. It is stated in the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* that... Therefore Kṛṣṇa is not within this creation. From Him is created, and He existed before the creation. Because if you say Kṛṣṇa is the source of creation, or if we understand that, then He is beyond creation. So His body is not of this created energy. That is stated in the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam*, *sambhavāmy ātma-māyayā*; that is spiritual energy. Kṛṣṇa is spiritual energy. Kṛṣṇa is not subjected to this creation and annihilation. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, *janma karma me divyam*. > So combination of two energies, material and the spiritual—anything. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, *etad-yonīni sarvāṇi*. Not exception; everything. That is the combination of two energies, material and spiritual. And *ahaṁ kṛtsnasya:* "But these two energies are generated by Me. Therefore I am the source of everything." As it is..., *Vedānta-sūtra* it is said, to find out the original source of everything—*athāto brahma-jijñāsā*. That original source is here, Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa says, *ahaṁ*. *Ahaṁ kṛtsnasya jagataḥ*. The whole universe, the whole cosmic manifestation, *prabhavaḥ*. *Prabhavaḥ* means "generation." The same thing, just like the electric light. I push the button: switch on, switch off. As soon as switch off, everything is dark. And as soon as switch on, it is light. Similarly, Kṛṣṇa says, *jagataḥ prabhavaḥ pralayaḥ*. *Prabhavaḥ*: on; the creation goes on. And as soon as He wants, this creation is off, immediately. That is the *sṛṣṭi-sthiti-pralaya-sādhana-śakti* [Bs. 5.44]. So everything is there. *Parāsya śaktir vividhaiva śrūyate* [*Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad* 6.8]. He is the source of the switch on and switch off. --- **[1974: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.5.31 [Partially Recorded](spoken/1974/740812sb.vrn)** > So these are the instruction. These are the confidential message given by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His followers. That is *yena.* If you follow this *yena gacchanti tat-padam*, then you are sure going back to home, back to Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. And that is the highest perfection of life. > So long we are materialistic, it is impossible to see what is Kṛṣṇa. Therefore we have to follow the path chalked out by Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His immediate disciples, the six Gosvāmīs. Caitanya Mahāprabhu was mad. In Jagannātha Purī at night He became mad, "Where is Kṛṣṇa? Where is Kṛṣṇa?" He'd go on the seaside and drown Himself in the sea. And Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī could not see where is Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Sometimes He was caught by the fisherman, and He became exhaus..., all night chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, simply by touching Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. --- **[1975: Morning Walk](spoken/1975/750812mw.par)** > Actually you cannot do anything, so what is the use of saying that "I am responsible"? You cannot do anything. *Andhā yathāndhair upanīyamānāḥ*. If one blind man says, "I'll take responsibility. You all blind men follow me," so what is the use of this responsibility? He will die and others will die. So what is this meaning of this responsibility? Even if you take as very responsible man, you cannot do anything. That is not possible. You cannot save. Who wants that "My son dies, my father dies, and I'll take them and..."? But one little disease will finish your responsibi... Every nation is taken, all the leaders, and as soon as there is war, thousands and thousands will be killed. What responsibility? As soon as one atom bomb is dropped, there is many thousand will be finished. Then what is your responsibility? You cannot give. You can make a statue: "These soldiers died. These soldiers died." That's all. But you could not save them from death. > This is the statement. As soon as we take birth, we have got so many responsibilities. We are responsible to perform sacrifices for all the demigods. You are taking light from the sun; you have got responsibility. Otherwise how you are getting so much light? If you don't pay the electric bill, the next day it will be disconnected. And you are taking so much light from the sun. You have no responsibility? You have. "No, there is no responsibility." You are taking light, air, water. So many things you are taking, supplied by the different demigods. *Deva, ṛṣi, ṛṣi,* great... Just like Vyāsadeva or many other *ṛṣis,* they have given you knowledge, and you have no responsibility? You have responsibility. --- **[1975: Room Conversation [with French translator](spoken/1975/750812r1.par)** >but if the head—king or president—excuses him, he can save. So nobody in this material world can transcend or overcome the laws of material nature. But if one is devotee, by the mercy of Kṛṣṇa, he can. This is the sum and substance. Therefore we have no responsibility. If we have touched fire, then it must burn. So whatever we may be, very big man, we cannot violate the laws of nature. Tit for tat we accept. So those who are violating laws of material nature, they will suffer continuously. But when he takes to Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet shelter, sincerely surrendering, then he can be saved. Otherwise not. So everyone should become Kṛṣṇa conscious, and he should try to save his relatives, friends, husband, wife, children from these clutches of laws of material nature by educating him to become Kṛṣṇa conscious. That is the only responsibility. That is intelligence. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, *na ca tasmān manuṣyeṣu kaścin me priya-kṛttamaḥ. Ya idaṁ paramaṁ guhyaṁ mad-bhakteṣu abhidhāsyati*. Na ca tasmān manuṣyeṣu*, find out. > [reads French translation] So here in this verse, sixty-sixth verse, Eighteenth Chapter, Kṛṣṇa says, "Give up all other forms of religion and simply surrender unto Me. I will protect you from all sinful reaction. Therefore you have nothing to fear." --- **[1976: Morning Walk](spoken/1976/760812mw.teh)** > Brains... Complete whole is *pūrṇam idaṁ pūrṇam adaḥ pūrṇāt pūrṇam udacyate.* That is complete. *Pūrṇasya pūrṇam ādāya pūrṇam evāvaśiṣyate [Īśo* Invocation]. --- **[1976: Visit to Proposed Restaurant and Room Conversation](spoken/1976/760812r2.teh)** --- **[1976: Conversation in Car](spoken/1976/760812r4.teh)** --- ## Letters on August 12 *Letters from this day: 7* --- **[1968: Letter to Hayagriva](letters/1968/680812_hayagriva)** > Just on Saturday, several devotees have arrived from San Francisco: Mukunda, Janaki, Gurudasa, Yamuna, Syamasundara, Malati (and their little child, Srimati Sarasvati devi), and Saradia, all of them have come here for two weeks to practice together as our Sankirtana party, then they will all go to London and begin preparations for our center there. They are all ready for opening up a center there, so we are going to try to make it as successful a venture as Krishna desires. While they are here, we are having rehearsal of Kirtana daily, and I want also that they shall practice rehearsal of your play, about Lord Caitanya's activities. --- **[1969: Letter to Jayapataka](letters/1969/690812_jayapataka)** > Regarding Narottama das, our policy should be to keep members as much as possible. --- **[1969: Letter to Rukmini](letters/1969/690812_rukmini)** > I thank you for the nice sentiments you have expressed, and I am awaiting to see the pictures that you and Bharadraja have completed. --- **[1969: Letter to Trivikrama](letters/1969/690812_trivikrama)** > I have already told Yamuna to put the Deities away for the time being, so this will solve your question. --- **[1969: Letter to Yamuna](letters/1969/690812_yamuna)** > Regarding your questions about details for Deity worship, I have already mentioned in a previous letter that I shall teach you these things when I arrive in London. --- **[1971: Letter to Giriraja](letters/1971/710812_giriraja)** > So far the Mayapur program is concerned, if Indira Gandhi is not available, then forget this program. --- **[1971: Letter to Sankarsana Parasara Pulasta](letters/1971/710812_sankarsana_parasara_pulasta)** > Upon the recommendation of His Grace Visnujana Maharaja I have gladly consented to accept you three as my duly initiated disciples. ---