# August 14 ## Spoken on August 14 *Lectures from this day: 7 recordings* --- **[1968: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.10–11](spoken/1968/680814sb.mon)** > Just like the sunshine. The sunshine is distributed all over the universe. According to Vedic knowledge, the sunshine is distributing its shining all over the universe, and the stars or the moons, they're glittering, being reflected by the sun. Just like in the *Bhagavad-gītā* you'll find, *nakṣatrāṇām aham śaśi*. Kṛṣṇa says that "Out of the many stars, I am the moon." That means moons and the stars are on the same category. As the moon is a reflection of the sun, similarly the stars are also a reflection of the sun. > That is also answered by Prahlāda Mahārāja somewhere else: *na te viduḥ svārtha gatiṁ hi viṣṇum*. The foolish human society, they do not know that their real profit is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Viṣṇu or Kṛṣṇa conscious, the same thing. *Durāśayā ye bahir-artha-māninaḥ.* They are trying to be profitable by the external world. They are thinking that "I shall make profit by becoming a very big businessman," just like Ford and Rockefeller and so many; in our country, Birla. No. *Durāśayā.* That is your... What is called, *durāśayā*? The hope which is never to be fulfilled. What is called that in English language? --- **[1972: Śrī Brahmā-saṁhitā 5.32](spoken/1972/720814bs.la)** > So this is understanding of Kṛṣṇa. When Kṛṣṇa says that *janma karma me divyam*, "My appearance, disappearance and activities, they are all transcendental," so how it is transcendental? Because His body is different from us. The bodily limbs are different from us. The activities of the body are different from us. And because He is full with all potency, in spite of all these transcendental qualities, He can present Himself as one of us. And those who are rascals, they think that "Kṛṣṇa is like us." Because He presents Himself as one of us by His omnipotency, the fools take him as one of us. *Avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā*. Muḍḥā* means rascals, foolish people. *Paraṁ bhāvam ajānantaḥ:* "They do not know the transcendental nature of Me." This is transcendental nature, *aṅgāni yasya sakalendriya-vṛtti.* > This is explained by Brahmā. *Brahmā-saṁhitā* means... Brahmā is the first living creature appeared in this universe, and after his realization, he is offering prayer. Realization means you should write, every one of you, what is your realization. What for this *Back to Godhead* is? You write your realization, what you have realized about Kṛṣṇa. That is required. It is not passive. Always you should be active. Whenever you find time, you write. Never mind, two lines, four lines, but you write your realization. --- **[1974: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.5.33](spoken/1974/740814sb.vrn)** > So this is *cikitsitam.* Don't work for sense gratification or personal interest. Real interest is how to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. That is real interest. But they do not know it. *Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇu*. Everyone is, "I have got my interest." But you do not know what is your interest. Your interest is to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. But the rascals, they do not know. They say, "Why Kṛṣṇa? Myself, I shall enjoy everything." This is *karma* and *bhakti*. When *karma... Karmī* means they are working for their so-called interest, and *bhakti* means they are working for Kṛṣṇa's interest. They..., superficially, the activities are the same. Same means superficially, not in essence. So our senses are so trained up that we want to satisfy the senses. Now these devotional activities means instead of satisfying my personal senses, if we want to satisfy Kṛṣṇa's senses, this method is called *bhakti.* So the activities of the senses should not be stopped; it should be repaired or reformed. That is *cikitsitam,* "properly treated." *Cikitsitam,* this is the word. *Cikitsitam* means properly treated, under the direction of physician. The physician is *guru,* and *guru's* business is to instruct the disciple, "My dear son, you do not work for your so-called sense gratification; you try to satisfy Kṛṣṇa's senses, then your life is perfect." This is the physician's duty, and this is the patient's duty. *Cikitsitam. Cikitsitam* is purification. You have got disease; purify yourself. > Therefore it is said, *tad eva hy āmayaṁ dravyaṁ na punāti cikitsitam. Cikitsitam.* We should handle everything material properly treated. Properly treated. Not to work for anyone. As Caitanya Mahāprabhu has given us lesson that you are *jīvera svarūpa haya nitya-kṛṣṇa-dāsa*. Every living entity is eternally the servant of Kṛṣṇa. So instead of becoming servant of your senses, just try to become the servant of Kṛṣṇa, then your life will be successful. --- **[1975: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.56–57](spoken/1975/750814sb.bom)** > So the Ajāmila later on became a great sinful person. Therefore he was to be taken to Yamarāja. But because he chanted at the end of his life "Nārāyaṇa," he became purified from all sinful activities. So the order carriers of Nārāyaṇa came to deliver him, save him from the hands of the Yamadūta. So the Yamadūta is describing the history of Ajāmila in the past, how he was in the beginning. Because he was the son of a *brāhmaṇa,* his father trained up the *brāhmaṇa* boy like a *brāhmaṇa.* So as such, he got this training. What is that? *Ayaṁ hi śruta-sampannaḥ:* "This boy got training to become expert in Vedic knowledge." *Śruta-sampannam. Śruta* means Vedic knowledge, and *sampannaḥ* means finished. Within twelve years a *brāhmaṇa's* son is supposed to finished all the studies of *Vedas, vyākaraṇa,* grammar. That was education. From five years he is trained up. He goes to... Nowadays also, the children are sent to school at five years' age, but the mode of education, different. Formerly, within twenty years a student, a *brahmacārī,* was trained up with all these qualifications, as it is described. What is that? The first is *śruta-sampannaḥ,* "expertly aware of Vedic knowledge." *Ayaṁ hi śruta-sampannaḥ, śīla, śīla-vṛtta-guṇālayaḥ. Śīla* means *śuddhācāra,* cleansing. Because *brāhmaṇa's* qualification is *śamo damo satyam...* What is that? *Śamo damo... Tapo satyam.* Cleanliness. So this is also trained up, how to become clean, to rise early in the morning, take bath, wash mouth, feet. *Guṇa-sampannaḥ.* Then take to *maṅgala-āratika.* In this he was also trained up. *Ayaṁ hi śruta-sampannaḥ śīla-vṛtta-guṇālayaḥ. Guṇa* means *sad-guṇa,* this *śamo damo titikṣā ārjava, jñānaṁ vijñānam āstikyam.* > So here the example is that Ajāmila, although he had forgotten Nārāyaṇa, but on account of his chanting the holy name of Nārāyaṇa, although he meant his son, it was effective. We have to understand like this. Somehow or other, if you chant the holy name of the Lord, knowingly or unknowingly, it will have its effect. Just like you touch fire knowingly or unknowingly, it will burn; similarly, if you chant Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra* knowingly or unknowingly, it will be effective on your life. Therefore we see it practically that in the Western countries, although they did not know who is Nārāyaṇa or Kṛṣṇa... It is in the dictionary, English dictionary, there is statement, "Kṛṣṇa is the name of Hindu god." So..., but nobody is consulting dictionary for chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. But the *śāstra* says that somehow or other, if you chant the holy name of God, then you gradually become purified. --- **[1976: Evening Darśana](spoken/1976/760814ed.bom)** > Gṛhamedhī,* attached to this home, from which he'll be kicked out. Kṛṣṇa says, "I'll take it out, everything." *Mṛtyuḥ sarva-haraś cāham*. "I come before you as death and take everything, whatever you have got." That's a fact. Everyone is accumulating, but at the time of death he'll be forced to give it up. He'll be forced to give up the body which he is maintaining so nicely. That he is experiencing. Still, *apaśyatām ātma-tattvam.* Because he does not know what is self-interest, he remains ignorant and dies. This is going on. And leaders—*andhā yathāndhair upanīyamānāḥ*. Blind leaders, they are encouraging, "Yes, kick yourself. You live here as nationalist. This is your interest. And fight between one nation to one nation, one man to one man." And they have taken this is value. *Apaśyatām ātma-tattvaṁ gṛheṣu gṛha-medhinām*. Next verse you read. > "I am the origin." *Mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja.* What is the difficulty? But unfortunately you have got fertile brain. You manufacture things. And that is your misfortune. It is better to remain a fool before the *ācārya.* Then he'll make progress. As Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, *guru more mūrkha dekhi' karila śāsana* [*Cc* Ādi 7.71]: "My *guru* saw Me a fool number one, and he has chastised Me." When Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī asked Him that "You are a *sannyāsī,* You are simply chanting," so He replied like that: *guru more mūrkha dekhi' karila śāsana.* "My Guru Mahārāja saw Me a fool number one. Therefore he has said, 'You simply chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. You rascal, You cannot do anything.' So I am doing and this is the result." He represented Himself a representative of the fools and rascals. So *kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā* [*Cc. Ādi*7.76]. --- **[1976: Room Conversation](spoken/1976/760814r1.bom)** > "Sir, I have come to you." "Why?" "To request you that you become Kṛṣṇa conscious." "How?" *Man-manā bhava mad-bhaktaḥ,* "Always think of Me, just become My devotee, offer little obeisances." Anyone can do. A child can do. You cannot do? What is the difficulty to become Kṛṣṇa conscious? Is there any difficulty? You haven't got to practice any *yoga* process, pressing your nose or keeping your head or this or that. No. Nothing. *Man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru mām evaiṣyasi asaṁśayaḥ* : "Without any doubt you are coming back to Me." And that is the highest perfection, *tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti*. There is no difficulty in preaching this Kṛṣṇa consciousness. There is no difficulty to accept it. And the result is the supreme. > So the time is very bad, but nature's law is very strict. We may defy it, "There is no God, there is no next birth, there is no nothing." We may say like that, but when death will come, you cannot say anything. *Mṛtyuḥ sarva-haraś cāham*. Bās,* all your talkings, all your intelligence taken away. *Tathā dehāntara-prāptiḥ*. Immediately transferred to another body. *Daiva-netreṇa. Karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa jantur dehopapattaye*. Kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo 'sya sad-asad-janma-yoniṣu*. "No, no, I am Prime Minister!" "No, you must become a dog." [laughter] Immediately. How can you protest? You cannot protest. You have acted like dog; just become a dog. *Kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo 'sya.* Just like your medical science: you have infected the disease, you must suffer it. *Kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgaḥ. Guṇa-saṅgaḥ.* There's infection. --- **[1976: Room Conversation Hindi](spoken/1976/760814r2.bom)** > Prabhupāda:* [Transl. You build a gurukula here to train boys to have good character. That is the real thing. Simply by speaking Sanskrit nothing special could be accomplished. But yes, that is also good. But the actual thing is character. *Brahmacārī guru-kule vasan dānto guror hitam.* > Prabhupāda:* [Transl. I too don't eat *puri*. I eat dry *chapati*. In this planetarium, we will display how the whole planetary system is hanging. *Ūrdhva-mūlam adhaḥ-śākham.* What they show the planetarium, in that the sun is fixed up and all the planets are rotating around it.] --- ## Letters on August 14 *Letters from this day: 26* --- **[1958: Letter to Anand Prakash](letters/1947-1965/580814_anand_prakash)** > As you are a gentleman in public welfare activities, I am in need of your help for advancing the cause of my missionary activities. --- **[1958: Letter to Darshanacharya Dr. B.L. Atreya M.A. D.Litt Etc](letters/1947-1965/580814_darshanacharya_dr._b.l._atreya_m.a._d.litt_etc)** > As you are a visiting professor to foreign countries on religious and philosophical mission, I am in need of your help for advancing the cause of my missionary activities. --- **[1968: Letter to Upendra](letters/1968/680814_upendra)** > Kirtana means both lecturing and chanting with music. The chanting with music is specially attractive for the mass of people, but talking from philosophical point of view on Krishna Consciousness is also chanting. The whole Srimad-Bhagavatam is full of philosophical discussions and we are prepared to present our Krishna Consciousness movement both ways, whichever is suitable in special circumstances. --- **[1970: Letter to Bhagavan](letters/1970/700814_bhagavan)** > Now that I have formed this Governing Board Commission, the twelve members should each act as my zonal secretaries. --- **[1970: Letter to Hansadutta](letters/1970/700814_hansadutta)** > Now that I have formed this Governing Board Commission, the twelve members should each act as my zonal secretaries. --- **[1970: Letter to Hayagriva](letters/1970/700814_hayagriva)** > 6-16, 2-chome, Ohhashi Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan My Dear Hayagriva, Board Commission, the twelve members should each act as my zonal secretaries. --- **[1970: Letter to Karandhara](letters/1970/700814_karandhara)** > Now that I have formed this Governing Board Commission, the twelve members should each act as my zonal secretaries. --- **[1970: Letter to Krsna Dasa](letters/1970/700814_krsna_dasa)** > Now that I have formed this Governing Board Commission, the twelve members should each act as my zonal secretaries. --- **[1970: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1970/700814_satsvarupa)** > Now that I have formed this Governing Board Commission, the twelve members should each act as my zonal secretaries. --- **[1970: Letter to Syamasundara](letters/1970/700814_syamasundara)** > Now that I have formed this Governing Board Commission, the twelve members should each act as my zonal secretaries. --- **[1970: Letter to Tamala Krsna](letters/1970/700814_tamala_krsna)** > Now that I have formed this Governing Board Commission, the twelve members should each act as my zonal secretaries. --- **[1971: Letter to Acyutananda](letters/1971/710814_acyutananda)** > Regarding the bricks, it is a very good idea that you have ordered 10,000 bricks but as soon as the rainy season is stopped we will build our temple. So if possible, why not purchase them now and soak them in the water. --- **[1971: Letter to Aniruddha](letters/1971/710814_aniruddha)** > Please be engaged in the service of Lord Krishna very enthusiastically. You are my old disciple and I know how much enthusiastically you were working in the beginning at the old L.A. --- **[1971: Letter to Dinesh Babu](letters/1971/710814_dinesh_babu)** > So conveniently you may go sometime at Mayapur and stay with our men and negotiate with persons. I learned from other members of our society that you kindly sometimes visit our Mayapur center where we have already got one cottage. --- **[1971: Letter to Hansadutta](letters/1971/710814_hansadutta)** > For the time being this measure of taking outside work may be taken up but the principle is that everyone should engage full time for various propaganda work of the Krishna Consciousness Movement and... --- **[1971: Letter to Madhudvisa](letters/1971/710814_madhudvisa)** > the article enclosed by you is very very nice and I have read it thoroughly. They are very much appreciative and it will help your Bombay branch very much because this paper has very good circulation. --- **[1971: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1971/710814_satsvarupa)** > Enclosed please find tape no. 14; S.B. 4th canto, 11th chapter continued. This is the third tape sent from London. Also please find one poetry enclosed for publication. --- **[1971: Letter to Tamala Krsna](letters/1971/710814_tamala_krsna)** > I approached the high commissioner here requesting him to write a letter to Indira Gandhi to accept our invitation. If the reply is favorable then I shall go towards India, maybe visiting Switzerland for a few days. --- **[1974: Letter to Bali-Mardana](letters/1974/740814_bali-mardana)** > Regarding the temple opening ceremony, it has been postponed on account of the temple being unfinished. --- **[1974: Letter to Bhagavan](letters/1974/740814_bhagavan)** > This house is so nice. --- **[1974: Letter to Gurukrpa](letters/1974/740814_gurukrpa)** > You have sent some money for Mayapur and Vrindaban projects and I am very much thankful to you. --- **[1976: Letter to Drstaketu](letters/1976/760814_drstaketu)** > Whatever contribution you have, you may deposit in the Bank of America, Los Angeles Branch, a/c no. --- **[1976: Letter to Pusta Krsna](letters/1976/760814_pusta_krsna)** > If you relieve me of the burden of management, that will be a very great service to Krsna and the movement. See that everything is going on nicely. With great endeavor we have made the framework, now we have to see that things are going on nicely. --- **[1976: Letter to Radhe-Syama](letters/1976/760814_radhe-syama)** > I thank you very much for your many gifts to me and your concern for my well being. This is the correct attitude for a disciple. The disciple should be prepared to offer everything he has including his body, mind, and words, in the service of the guru. --- **[1976: Letter to Ramesvara Radhavallabha](letters/1976/760814_ramesvara_radhavallabha)** > The report of the book printing is both encouraging and surprising. Every time I see this I remember the words of my Guru Maharaja when he told me that wherever there was money it should be used to print books, not that we shall have big big temples and then fight in the court. --- **[1976: Letter to Sons And Daughters](letters/1976/760814_sons_and_daughters)** > If you feel at all indebted to me then you should preach vigorously like me. That is the proper way to repay me. Of course, no one can repay the debt to the spiritual master, but the spiritual master is very much pleased by such an attitude by the disciple. ---