# August 17 ## Spoken on August 17 *Lectures from this day: 15 recordings* --- **[1966: Bhagavad-gītā 4.37–40](spoken/1966/660817bg.ny.md)** > Mandāḥ.* They are very slow, and also unfortunate. This very word is used in the *Bhāgavata.* So therefore, in the Kali-yuga, if we want to get all this advantage of knowledge, then the only way is to become Kṛṣṇa conscious. To become Kṛṣṇa conscious. That will help us. If that Kṛṣṇa consciousness is ablaze... That... *Bahūnāṁ janmanām ante jñānavān māṁ prapadyate*. If we can surrender unto Kṛṣṇa and fully become Kṛṣṇa conscious—just the example Arjuna showed; he became Kṛṣṇa conscious—then our knowledge will be ablaze, and all the reaction of our good work or bad work will be turned into ashes. We shall be purified. *Na hi jñānena sadṛśaṁ pavitram iha vidyate*. > Just like a child. Child is playing all day and doing mischief in the house, and... So he cannot be stopped mischief-doing. He must be given some engagement. If he's given some engagement, some playthings, and if his attention is diverted there, then he'll stop mischief-making in the house. Otherwise, idle brain, devil's workshop. He will go on, go on. So therefore we must have spiritual engagement. Simple understanding that "I am spirit soul" will not help me. *Brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā*. --- **[1968: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.11](spoken/1968/680817sb.mon)** > Kṛṣṇa consciousness means to be situated in the actual fact. Whenever we claim something that "This is mine," it is called *moha,* illusion. *Ahaṁ mameti*. Janasya moho ayam.* This conception of "mine" and "I" is the platform of illusion. *Janasya moho 'yam.* This world, whole world, is moving under this illusion that "I am this body, and everything..." "I am the monarch of all I survey." This is the philosophy. "Whatever I can acquire, that is mine." This is wrong. This is called illusion. > Therefore we should try to give to Kṛṣṇa, not to ask. Because He has given us everything without asking. Without asking. We go to temple or churches to ask for our daily bread, but the birds and beasts, they have no churches, no temples, they do not ask. But how do they get their bread? Therefore according to *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,* there is no actually bread problem. The only problem is that we have forgotten our relationship with God. Whatever... *Tasyaiva hetoḥ prayateta kovido*. --- **[1968: Śrī Vyāsa-pūjā](spoken/1968/680817vp.mon)** > Spiritual master is not very... To become a spiritual master is not very wonderful thing. Simply one has to become sincere soul. That's all. *Evaṁ paramparā-prāptam imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ*. In the *Bhagavad-gītā* it is said that "By disciplic succession this *yoga* process of *Bhagavad-gītā* was handed down from disciple to disciple. But in course of time that disciplic succession is now lost. Therefore, Arjuna, I am teaching you again the same philosophy." > But this person from the saintly order of life is a very rare thing. Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā* "Out of thousands of men one comes to Me." One... And does anyone know about it? And out of this... Out of thousands of men one will know about Me. Out of thousands only one, will... Will come to know Me. So we...can... can't estimate how fortunate we are, we can only focus and try to help Svāmī tell others more about it [indistinct] Spritiual Master. --- **[1971: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.1.2](spoken/1971/710817sb.lon)** > Mayādhyakṣeṇa,* "Under My superintendence." The laws... Just like laws are there; at the same time, the government has got a department which is called law and order department. The laws are going on nicely, the law and order department examines. So that examiner, departmental, may be, but the original examiner is the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, *mayā adhyakṣeṇa:* "Under My superintendence." > Therefore it is said here, *dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo 'tra*. Cheating. Because there is no real information. Real information is *īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ* [Bs. 5.1],* the Supreme Lord has got His spiritual body, and He is... In the Christian Bible also, it is said, "Man is made after God." Is it not? So unless God has got form, two hands, two legs, like that, how man has got two hands, two legs? If we are imitation of God, then God must be person. This is natural conclusion. --- **[1972: Bhagavad-gītā 7.1 [Staged before Camera](spoken/1972/720817bg.la)** > There are so many examples. Just like a machine: A child is seeing, but he cannot see properly. He sees a lump of matter. But an engineer, when he sees, he immediately understands that this machine is made by such and such; it is working for this; a good machine, bad machine, nice. He can see in different way, because he has got the eyes to see. Similarly, to understand Kṛṣṇa, God, we require to purify our senses. That is defined by *Nārada Pañcarātra*, *sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁ*, being freed from all kinds of designation. Just like we are seeing Kṛṣṇa consciousness, accepting Kṛṣṇa consciousness, in a vision, and somebody else, ordinary man, suppose somebody is a Christian, he sees Kṛṣṇa consciousness as a movement of the Hindus. But actually it is not. > So Kṛṣṇa is addressed here as *paraṁ dhāma*, the resting place of everything. Everything is resting, Kṛṣṇa also says, *mat-sthāni sarva-bhūtāni*, everything, material manifestation, is resting on Him, *nāhaṁ teṣu avasthitaḥ*, "But I am not there." These contradictory things. Everything is resting on Him, but "I am not there." But it is not contradictory. It is very simple to understand. Just like the, all the planets, they are resting on sunshine, but the sun is far away from the planets, some millions of miles away. But resting on the sunshine means resting on the sun. That's a fact. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, --- **[1972: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.14](spoken/1972/720817sb.la)** > Similarly, everyone has to work. Therefore there must be systematic work so that whole society may develop Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the ideal or the goal of life. Without program working... Just like I was hearing in Japan they are very much..., the people are very much liking for working, but by law they are being prohibited: "Don't work." So this civilization has been created that they do not know anything more. They are not taught that working is not our main business. Our main business is, as it is stated, *hari-toṣaṇam. Saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam*. We have to satisfy Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, or God, whatever you say. But they do not know what is God. > And that is suggested here, *svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam*. That common platform means how to please Kṛṣṇa. Never mind you are *brāhmaṇa,* you are *kṣatriya,* you are *vaiśya.* But so long we are in the material world, there must be four divisions. The *kṣatriyas* should give protection; otherwise the demons will disturb. So there is necessity of war with the demons, for *kṣatriya.* So these three classes are required, *brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya,* to give protection. And as soon as the social system is organized, the perfectional point is to satisfy Kṛṣṇa, or the Supreme Lord. --- **[1973: Bhagavad-gītā 2.11–12, Engagement](spoken/1973/730817b2.lon)** > Therefore Kṛṣṇa says... Arjuna also. First of all he was talking with Kṛṣṇa as friend, but when he thought it wise, that "We are talking like friends; this will not come to any conclusion," he surrendered to Kṛṣṇa, *śiṣyas te 'haṁ śādhi māṁ prapannam* : "My dear Kṛṣṇa, so long I was talking with You as friend to friend, but I don't think this will be producing any good result. Therefore I surrender unto You as Your disciple," *śiṣyas te 'haṁ. Śiṣya* means voluntarily accepting the orders of the spiritual master. Voluntary. That is called *śiṣya. Śiṣya* means one who agrees, voluntarily, to accept any order from the spiritual master. That is called *śiṣya. Śas-dhātu,* "ruling." Who accepts the ruling of the spiritual master, he is called *śiṣya.* So Arjuna placed himself to the position of *śiṣya, śiṣyas te 'haṁ śādhi māṁ prapannam.* > This is the right process of knowledge. If, with our imperfect senses, we try to carry out advancement of knowledge, that will never be perfect. We have to receive knowledge from the perfect source. That knowledge is perfect. Just like a child, he is always receiving knowledge from the parents. He is not concluding anything by his own research. He asks father, "Daddy, what is this?" Daddy explains, "This is this," and he accepts. This is our position. Similarly, we have to receive knowledge from the perfect source; otherwise our knowledge is imperfect. Here Kṛṣṇa says... Kṛṣṇa has taken the position, superior position of spiritual master, and Arjuna has placed himself under Kṛṣṇa to be taught, and He begins the deliverance of knowledge in this way. First of all He chastised, that "You are thinking..." That everyone thinks, that "I am very much advanced in knowledge. I don't require any spiritual master, I don't require any *guru.* I'll..., I'll get knowledge by my own effort, mental speculation." That is not possible. We have to receive knowledge from the right source. And who can be better right person than Kṛṣṇa? --- **[1973: Bhagavad-gītā 2.11](spoken/1973/730817bg.lon)** > So Kṛṣṇa says this body, either in living force or without living force... Without living force it is called dead. With living force it is called living. In both the condition, a learned man..., learned man means one who knows *brahma-bhūtaḥ,* one who knows Brahman, one who has realized Brahman. *Brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā*. As soon as one is on the stage of *brahma-bhūtaḥ* stage, he can understand that "I am not this body. I am separate from this body." This knowledge was very common knowledge. At least we can see five thousand years ago that the *kṣatriyas* were fighting severely one another, but still they are not in bodily concept of life. > So those who are in the bodily concept of life, they cannot advance in this real knowledge, that we are eternally servant of God; our constitutional position is like that. If we do not serve God, we do not agree... We are servant of God, but if we deny that "No, I am not servant," so that means I become servant of *māyā.* Servant I'll have to remain. That is my constitutional position. So one must first of all understand what is his identity. So this is the beginning of a lesson given by Kṛṣṇa, that "You are lamenting for this body. This is not your identity. This is not your identity. You are wrongly thinking." Just like if your coat is some way or other destroyed, that does not mean that you are destroyed. If your car by accident is broken, that does not mean that you are finished. Sometimes we get accident, that is another thing. But I am not the car, I am not this body, I am not this coat. This is real knowledge. Although sometimes we become little sorry, but the identity is different. So Kṛṣṇa says that "You are talking like learned man, but you do not know your identity. You are not this body." This is the summary information, *aśocyān anvaśocas tvaṁ prajña-vādāṁś ca bhāṣase*.* --- **[1974: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.5.36](spoken/1974/740817sb.vrn)** > This material body means suffering. We have repeatedly said. People do not understand it. And there are different kinds of suffering, different types of body. But if we follow this process, as it is stated, *kṛṣṇasya anusmaranti...* Kṛṣṇa. While acting, doing something, at the same time, we can remember Kṛṣṇa. *Anusmaranti. Anusmaranti. Anu* means follow. You cannot remember, memorize Kṛṣṇa by your whims. No. Therefore this word is used, *anusmaranti. Anusmaranti bhagavac-chikṣayā.* As Kṛṣṇa has personally taught. Just like Kṛṣṇa says that... What is that? *Aps...* The water, taste? *Raso 'ham apsu kaunteya. Raso 'ham apsu kaunteya prabhāsmi śaśi-sūryayoḥ*. > [indistinct] *Kṛṣṇasya... Mukta-saṅgaḥ paraṁ vrajet.* [break] This is the advantage of this age, Kali-yuga. We have got many disadvantages. [break] People are implicated in sinful activities, more and more trouble. And it will be exhibited there will be no food grains, no milk, no sugar. These things will be completely absent. Now you are getting. In the later age it will be not possible to get them. And there will be scarcity of food, scarcity of rain. *Anāvṛṣṭi durbhikṣa.* And other side, taxation, heavy taxation. So we should be very alert in the matter of preparing ourself back to home, back to Godhead. Otherwise, if we take birth again and again, *bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate*,* then we have to suffer some things. --- **[1975: Morning Walk [Partially Recorded](spoken/1975/750817mw.bom)** > That's all right. Let us first of all construct. Then we can consider. Dogs cannot enter anymore. Now they enter. Hare Kṛṣṇa. [break] No. I'm not feeling very well. --- **[1976: Bhagavad-gītā 13.22](spoken/1976/760817bg.hyd)** > So our this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is a humble attempt to awaken the whole human society to this spiritual knowledge and act according to the instruction of spiritual life, and be happy, and be prepared for the next life. The perfection of next life is to become free from the laws of material nature. That is the highest perfection. *Saṁsiddhiṁ paramaṁ gataḥ*. That can be possible when you go back home, back to Godhead. But that is not very difficult at the same time. Kṛṣṇa says, > That is the defect of modern civilization. Atheistic civilization. Eat, drink, be merry and enjoy. This is not very good position. Today I may be in good position, I may be millionaire, I may be prime minister, but when death will come it will take everything from you, and it will oblige you to go to a species, form of life, which you cannot you deny. *Puruṣaḥ prakṛti-stho hi bhuṅkte prakṛti-jān guṇān*. If you have infected some disease, you must suffer from it. There is no excuse. Even a child, if he touches the fire, the fire will not excuse, "Because it is a child, he does not know; therefore I shall not burn his finger." No. No excuse. *Daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī mama māyā duratyayā*. --- **[1976: Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.395](spoken/1976/760817cc.hyd)** > So Bhagavān, His *līlā,* His form, His pastimes, His place, they're all Bhagavān. Even higher, those who are highly elevated devotees, they do not see even this material world different from Bhagavān. *Idaṁ hi viśvaṁ bhagavān ivetara.* That is described in the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,* Nārada Muni says. The whole universe is Bhagavān, although it appears different from Him. *Bhagavān ivetara.* So actually everything is Bhagavān, but it is not this Māyāvāda philosophy, that because everything is Bhagavān, there is no Bhagavān. No. Everything is Bhagavān, and still Bhagavān is there. Kṛṣṇa says, *mayā tatam idaṁ sarvam*. > Āgama-purāṇa* means Vedic literature. *Āgama,* "which is coming from higher plane," not manufactured here. *Āgama-purāṇa.* And *Purāṇa* means the old history of the world, *Purāṇa. Purāṇa,* some of the modern scholars, they take everything as mythology, imagination. That is not fact. They're real history. *Purāṇa. Purāṇa* means very old. *Nityaḥ śāśvato yaṁ purāṇo*. In Hindi it is called *Purāṇa. Purāṇa* means "old." The *Purāṇas* means the old history, not only of this world, but of the whole universe. *Purāṇa* is also Vedic evidence. *Purāṇa* is not ordinary thing. Therefore here it is said, *āgama-purāṇa,* Vedic literatures. Śrīla Madhvācārya has accepted the Vedic literatures—four *Vedas, Vedānta-sūtra, Upaniṣads, Purāṇas, Rāmāyaṇa, Mahābhārata.* They're all Vedic literature. So here it is said, *kono brahmāṇḍe.* [aside:] Come here. This room is very nice. --- **[1976: Press Interview at Muthilal Rao's House](spoken/1976/760817iv.hyd)** > When Arjuna accepted Kṛṣṇa as the spiritual master, *śiṣyas te 'haṁ śādhi māṁ prapannam*. First of all, he was talking like friends. When he saw, "The friendly talking will not help us," so Arjuna accepted Kṛṣṇa as his spiritual master. Then as spiritual master He said, *aśocyān anvaśocas tvaṁ prajñā-vādāṁś ca bhāṣase* : "My dear Arjuna, you are lamenting on the subject matter which is not the subject matter of lamentation, and you are talking like a very learned man." *Gatāsūn agatāsūṁś ca nānuśocanti paṇḍitāḥ.* This body, either alive or dead, it is not a serious subject matter of study, neither a learned man laments over it. This is the subject matter of *Bhagavad-gītā,* or spiritual knowledge. Those who are not human being... According to Vedic *śāstra*, anyone who has no self-realization, he's animal. *Yasyātma-buddhiḥ kuṇape tri-dhātuke*. > Those who are not fixed up, they have got so many "isms," and those who are fixed up, they have got one "ism"—that is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja*. We are teaching that. --- **[1976: Room Conversation](spoken/1976/760817r1.hyd)** > Therefore they are appreciating. Everyone, learned circle, they are giving appreciation. In scholarly circles. So, there was no such literature. It is the first time. *Śrīmad-bhāgavatam amalaṁ purāṇaṁ vaiṣṇavānām...*. So unless they're really relishing some *rasa,* how they are purchasing? This is the first distribution of *ānanda-cinmaya-rasa* throughout the whole world, this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. So I am very happy that you are also very intelligent person. Let us join together; we shall raise... > Dr. Ghosh: [Transl. You didn't see or think of yourself who you are? We know who you actually are. The associates can recognize. You said, "Have faith." If I break my head nobody will believe me. And if you say, believe me, or die, they will die. So they are all your associates. If you tell me to die here, I will die. But not because you ask me to. We are your associates. We have to sacrifice our lives for you. Otherwise humanity has no value.] --- ## Letters on August 17 *Letters from this day: 19* --- **[1968: Letter to Hayagriva](letters/1968/680817_hayagriva)** > When you were here I suggested to purchase the land out-right. But I think it has not been possible. But on the face of the lease, it appears as good as sale document. --- **[1968: Letter to Jayananda](letters/1968/680817_jayananda)** > I am as much anxious to go to San Francisco as you are always anxious get me to San Francisco, and receive me there. --- **[1969: Letter to Govinda](letters/1969/690817_govinda)** > Regarding mango recipe directions, it may be done as follows: first of all collect the juice, then boil it on fire until it is a thick pulp. Then spread the boiled pulp in thin layers on dishes or suitable pots and dry it in the sunshine. --- **[1969: Letter to Mahapurusa](letters/1969/690817_mahapurusa)** > All of these things will save you, as they will save anyone who persists in Krishna Consciousness faithfully and sincerely. --- **[1970: Letter to Balai](letters/1970/700817_balai)** > I am so glad to see that you are raising your daughter in Krsna consciousness and that is your duty as conscientious mother to give the child proper education in spiritual living. --- **[1970: Letter to Jayapataka](letters/1970/700817_jayapataka)** > We were all expecting either your telegram or phone call at every moment, but I have received none. In the meantime I have received your letter under reply. I have again sent you another telegram reading as follows: "I have sent telegram/why no reply? --- **[1970: Letter to M. L. Chand](letters/1970/700817_m._l._chand)** > I did not receive any reply from you, but on the contrary I have received a copy of letter addressed to the Chief Controller of Import and Export by the Sri Caitanya Research Institute in which it is said that this letter has got reference to my letter addressed to you. --- **[1970: Letter to Sri Trivediji](letters/1970/700817_sri_trivediji)** > The matter appears to be very complicated because I do not know why Sri Caitanya Research Institute has falsely declared to the Chief Controller of Import and Export that the Murtis were donated by them while that is not a fact. There were five pairs of Murtis, one pair being donated by Dalmia-Jayan Trust and the other four pairs being donated by the Birla Trust. --- **[1970: Letter to Srimad Vamana Maharaja Trivikrama Maharaja](letters/1970/700817_srimad_vamana_maharaja_trivikrama_maharaja)** > In future if you kindly send such Panjikas, please send it my air mail otherwise it takes four to five months to reach and sometimes it gets lost. --- **[1971: Letter to Hansadutta](letters/1971/710817_hansadutta)** > In further reference to my letter dated 14th August, 1971, I understand from Syamasundara that you have engaged all our Sankirtana members of Amsterdam to work in a cigarette factory. --- **[1971: Letter to Locana](letters/1971/710817_locana)** > Just this morning I received your charcoal portrait of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura and it is done very expertly. This means you have got special talent for this. So you should go on painting pictures of the acaryas. --- **[1973: Letter to Karandhara](letters/1973/730817_karandhara)** > ACBS:hda N.B. Syamasundara Prabhu is still unable to pay because the things are not sold yet. Let us wait & see. --- **[1973: Letter to Nityananda](letters/1973/730817_nityananda)** > On your recommendation I accept Srimati Hamsini Devi Dasi for second initiation. --- **[1973: Letter to Vamanadeva](letters/1973/730817_vamanadeva)** > I am referring your letter to Satsvarupa Goswami since he is the GBC Secretary for your zone. --- **[1974: Letter to Bhurijana](letters/1974/740817_bhurijana)** > I am very glad to receive your letter dated 8/7/74 from Singapore. I am very pleased that you have gone to that place simply on my order, alone, to preach the message of Lord Caitanya. You know I went to your country also alone, in old age, because of the order given to me by my spiritual master. --- **[1974: Letter to Hrdayananda](letters/1974/740817_hrdayananda)** > Upon your recommendation I have accepted the following students as my initiated disciples, and their spiritual names are as follows: --- **[1975: Letter to Abhinanda Gopesvara](letters/1975/750817_abhinanda_gopesvara)** > This distribution of books to the libraries is very encouraging. In one library carrying my books, hundreds of people will be able to read. --- **[1975: Letter to Kirtanananda](letters/1975/750817_kirtanananda)** > Upon your recommendation I am accepting the following as my initiated disciples and their spiritual names are as follows: Barbara Wolfe—Vedanta dasi; Janet Cleaver—Viduttama dasi; Kurt... --- **[1975: Letter to Mahamsa](letters/1975/750817_mahamsa)** > The photographs show that the Nellore land is very nice and that a nice center can be constructed there. ---