# August 19 ## Spoken on August 19 *Lectures from this day: 9 recordings* --- **[1966: Bhagavad-gītā 4.39–5.3](spoken/1966/660819bg.ny.md)** > Therefore here Lord Kṛṣṇa says, *sannyāsaḥ karma-yogaś ca niḥśreyasa-karāv ubhau* : "Either you take *sannyāsa* or you remain in your position, that doesn't matter. You can attain the highest perfection from any position, provided you are Kṛṣṇa conscious." That's all. *Jñeyaḥ sa nitya-sannyāsī yo na dveṣṭi na kāṅkṣati*. Hear how nicely Kṛṣṇa says. *Jñeyaḥ sa nitya-sannyāsī.* Just try to understand. That person is always a *sannyāsī—*not by dress, but by his actual activities. What? *Na dveṣṭi na kāṅkṣati:* "He does not," I mean to say, "hate anything, and he does not desire anything." These two qualification. He does not hate anything, and he does not desire anything. > Bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram*.* That is the perfect knowledge, when we understand that the Supreme Lord, He is the supreme enjoyer—*bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram*—He is the supreme proprietor. And if we think very, I mean to say, scrutinizingly with cool head, then we can understand that everything, whatever there is in our presence, the actual proprietor is God, or Kṛṣṇa. We are not proprietor. We have got the right to use them, the things which are given by God to us. We shall have the right to use them, but we are not proprietor. So that is real knowledge. --- **[1968: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.12](spoken/1968/680819sb.mon)** > So Prahlāda Mahārāja is encouraged. *Tasmād ahaṁ vigata-viklava īśvarasya sarvātmanā mahi gṛṇāmi yathā manīṣam* : "Therefore I shall try to offer my prayers according to my capacity." It is not that because one does not know Sanskrit or a particular type of language and he cannot pray very nicely with poetic simile, metaphor... These things are not required. Simply you have to open your feelings of love of Godhead. Then He's pleased. It does not depend on the particular type of language or poetic ideas. No. > So people are not even schooling. First we have to surrender by the regulative principle, by the order of the spiritual master: "You do this, you do that, you do this, you do that." Then gradually, *ādau śraddhā,* if you have got faith, then *ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu-saṅga*. Sādhu-saṅga* means to associate with the bona fide spiritual master and abide by his order. *Ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu-saṅgo 'tha bhajana-kriyā.* And as soon as you intimately associate with the spiritual master, he teaches you how to develop devotional service. *Bhajana-kriyā.* And if you are perfectly executing devotional service, then *anartha-nivṛttiḥ syāt,* then all your misgivings and misunderstanding will be cleared. Then *niṣṭha,* then you get firm faith. --- **[1971: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.1.3](spoken/1971/710819sb.lon)** > Ultimate knowledge means to inquire about the Supreme. We are getting knowledge... We are inquiring, "What is the newspaper today? What has happened?" That is also knowledge. But that is not ultimate knowledge. Ultimate knowledge is Kṛṣṇa. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā, vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyaḥ*. Ultimate... *Vedānta* means to know the Supreme Absolute Truth. That is ultimate knowledge. *Vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyaḥ.* > So in the *Brahma-saṁhitā* it is clearly stated about Kṛṣṇa's place, original place. This is also Kṛṣṇa's place. That is also Kṛṣṇa's place. But here, because we are forgetful of Kṛṣṇa, therefore we are accepting this place as material. Just like king: he possesses all the places of the country. Similarly, Kṛṣṇa is the proprietor. Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā, sarva-loka-maheśvaram.* --- **[1972: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.16](spoken/1972/720819sb.la)** > So *śuśrūṣoḥ, śuśrūṣoḥ śraddadhānasya*. Those who are engaged in hearing with faith, *śraddadhāna... Ādau śraddhā.* Without faith, you cannot make any progress. This is the beginning of spiritual life. *Ādau śraddhā.* "Oh, here is..., Kṛṣṇa consciousness is going on. It is very nice. They are preaching nice." People still, they are praising our activities. If we keep our standard, then they will appreciate. So this is called *śraddhā.* This appreciation is called *śraddhā, śraddadhānasya.* Even he does not join, if one says, "Oh, it is very nice, it is very... These people are good..." Sometimes they, in papers they say that "These Hare Kṛṣṇa people are nice. We want more of them." They say. > So *ruci,* the taste for hearing *vāsudeva-kathā, kṛṣṇa-kathā,* this materially diseased person cannot taste. This *ruci,* taste. To get this taste there are preliminary activities. What is that? First thing is that appreciation: "Oh, it is very nice." *Ādau śraddhā, śraddadhāna.* So *śraddhā,* the appreciation, this is the beginning. Then *sādhu-saṅga*.* Then mixing: "All right, these people are chanting and talking of Kṛṣṇa. Let me go and sit down and let me hear more." This is called *sādhu-saṅga:* those who are devotees, to associate with them. This is second stage. --- **[1973: Bhagavad-gītā 2.13](spoken/1973/730819bg.lon)** > He is more powerful, the most powerful, supreme powerful. We have got little power. That is the difference between Kṛṣṇa... We cannot be equal. Nobody can be equal with Kṛṣṇa, or God, or greater than Him. Everyone under Kṛṣṇa. *Ekale īśvara kṛṣṇa āra saba bhṛtya* [*Cc* Ādi5.142]. Therefore everyone is servant of Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is the only master. *Bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram : "I am the enjoyer only. I am the proprietor," Kṛṣṇa says. That is the fact. So we are changing our body, but Kṛṣṇa does not change. One should understand this. > The proof is that Kṛṣṇa says, *vedāhaṁ samatītāni*. He remembers past, present and future. Just like Kṛṣṇa says Arjuna, in the Fourth Chapter you will find, Kṛṣṇa says that "This philosophy of *Bhagavad-gītā* I spoke to the sun-god, some forty millions of years ago." How He remembers? Because He does not change His body. This is simple fact. We do not remember because we are changing body every moment. That is medical science. We are changing the corpuscles of blood. Every second the body is changing, imperceptibly. Imperceptibly, body is changing. Therefore the father, mother cannot understand how the body is changing. Imperceptibly. But third person, if he comes all of a sudden and sees the child has grown very big, he says, "Oh, you have grown so big?" But the father, mother does not see that he has grown so big, because he is always seeing, and the change is taking place very imperceptibly, although every moment... --- **[1975: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.58](spoken/1975/750819sb.bom)** > Therefore, The Supreme Lord says you have solved all other problems but your real problem is birth, death, old age and disease. Solve this! We get 10, 20 or 50 or 100 years maximum to live and then we have to die and accept another body, this is our real problem. And once we become liberated from this problem then we will not be born nor will we die again. One who is not born will not die either. No old age also. Only if we are born will we have these problems. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, this is the teaching of *Bhagavad-gītā*, that you can all be liberated from this birth and death. And how? Only understand Kṛṣṇa, that's all! This is our only business. > There were no written books. Vyāsadeva wrote books at the beginning of Kali-yuga when he realized that the remembering power of human beings would decline in this yuga and so they will not be able to acquire knowledge only through hearing. There must be books to read and keep. That is why I am printing so many books. Just to come here and listen and then go away, this will not work. Read all these books. By reading these books you will acquire Vedic knowledge. Why this *Brāhmaṇa* boy Ajāmila is in such a bad position today is being explained here by the messengers of Yamarāja. This person had all the brahmanical qualities. What are those qualities—*śruta-sampannaḥ*. He had heard Vedic knowledge throughly. *Sampannaḥ* means he had heard all the four Vedas till the end. And *Śīla-vṛtta-guṇālayaḥ*, in his social dealings he was of good character, and endowed with good qualities. *Śīla-vṛtta-guṇālayaḥ*. And *dhṛta-vrata* means something done with a vow, in other words, full determination. *Dṛḍha-vrata*. The Lord says in the *Bhagavad-gītā*, --- **[1976: Room Conversation About Māyāpur Construction](spoken/1976/760819r1.hyd)** > It is cultural movement. Caitanya Mahāprabhu's movement is aiming *pṛthivīte āche yata nagarādi.* So "Tarun Babu, you are such a devotee of Caitanya. Caitanya Mahāprabhu wants it. *Pṛthivīte āche yata...* Why don't you help us? Your family is devotee of Lord Caitanya, and this is spreading Caitanya's mission. You should give up everything and join this movement, if you are actually a devotee of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. And Prabhupāda says that he knows at your heart you want that Caitanya's movement is spread all over the world, so far he has studied you. So let us join together. Why we should unnecessarily be biased, 'American' and 'Indian' and... Let us join together and spread Caitanya Mahāprabhu's movement all over the... They'll be happy. Everyone will be happy. It is such a nice... India will be glorified. America will be glorified." If we... You came here. You have got so much strength. If you work continually, the whole world will be... So those who are offering, take. Take those places. Let us begin. If anyone wants some property, we should take immediately. You said there is already building cost fifty thousand? So that's a property. So if they are offering, you take it and develop. These are historical places. Haridaspur is also historical, I think. Hmm? > So instead of becoming envious from political... We have nothing to do with... To the Americans unnecessarily thinking they are CIA. CIA... Let American money and India's culture combine together, and the whole world will be benefited. America has got enough money; they can spend. Either they give me as the price of my book or anything, money is there like anything. India has got culture. So Indian culture, Vedic culture, *Bhagavad-gītā* culture, pushed through American money, the whole world will be benefited. Convince these things. It is not the question of "India," "America," here... It is a cultural movement for the benefit of the whole world. *Pṛthivīte āche yata nagarādi-grāma* [*CB Antya-khaṇḍa* 4.126]. --- **[1976: Śrī Vyāsa-pūjā Lecture](spoken/1976/760819vp.hyd)** > So that is going on. It has no meaning. You cannot interpret on the words of God. That is not possible. And *dharma* means *dharmāṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam*. You cannot manufacture at your home a kind of religious system. That is rascaldom, that is useless. *Dharma* means *sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam.* Just like the law. Law means what is given by the government. You cannot manufacture law at your home. Suppose in the street, common sense, the government law is "Keep to the right" or "Keep to the left." You cannot say, "What is the wrong there if I go to the right or left?" No, that you cannot. Then you'll be criminal. Similarly nowadays... Not nowadays—from time immemorial there are so many religious systems. So many. But real religious system is what God says, or Kṛṣṇa says. *Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja*. This is religion. Simple. You cannot manufacture religion. Therefore in the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,* the beginning is *dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo 'tra paramo nirmatsarāṇām*. So the... Somebody may envy, that "This person has sophisticated some disciples, and they are offering prayers and *pūjā*." No. It is the system. Don't envy the... *Ācāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyān nāvamanyeta karhicit*. > So Kṛṣṇa says that *ācāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyān* : "You accept *ācārya* as I am." Why? I see that he is a man. His sons call him father, or he looks like a man, so why he should be as good as God? Because he speaks as God speaks, that's all. Therefore. He does not make any change. Just like God says, Kṛṣṇa says, *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja*, the *guru* says that you surrender to Kṛṣṇa, or God. The same word. God says, *man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru*. --- ## Letters on August 19 *Letters from this day: 25* --- **[1968: Letter to Balai Advaita](letters/1968/680819_balai_advaita)** > It was so kind of you that you have sent me a Birthday cake, and you will be pleased to know that Govinda dasi and her husband Gaurasundara, decorated the bread with nice different kinds of candles,... --- **[1968: Letter to Brahmananda](letters/1968/680819_brahmananda)** > I was duly in receipt of your letter dated 13rd August, 1968, and noted the contents carefully. Please offer them good wishes and a nice send-off so that they can safely reach there and make an attempt for starting a nice temple there. And possibly I can improve more and more, and if Krishna desires, I may be able to work with renewed vigor, although I have stepped on the state of 73 years of my life. --- **[1968: Letter to Gargamuni](letters/1968/680819_gargamuni)** > Renovich,* asking for the passage money to go to Vancouver, but I have received neither any letter nor any passage money from either of them. --- **[1968: Letter to Purusottama](letters/1968/680819_purusottama)** > I thank you very much that you are always thinking of me; similarly, take it from me I also always think of you. --- **[1968: Letter to Sacisuta](letters/1968/680819_sacisuta)** > The principle to be followed by devotee is clear and nice. It is stated in the Bhagavatam, that one should be chanting the Hare Krishna mantra in such a nice way that he shall become completely disassociated with any other contamination. That should be our point of view. --- **[1968: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1968/680819_satsvarupa)** > Regarding collection from the park: Please try to get the permit. This responsive contribution of our kirtana is very nice program for our propaganda. --- **[1968: Letter to Tamala Krsna](letters/1968/680819_tamala_krsna)** > I am glad to see in your letter indication that within very short time, you have been entrapped by Lord Krishna's Grace and you have expressed your transcendental feelings in such a nice way, that I... --- **[1969: Letter to Jananivasa](letters/1969/690819_jananivasa)** > There was some mix-up with these beads, and they have been sent to Krishna Kamini Dasi (Mrs. --- **[1969: Letter to Oliver](letters/1969/690819_oliver)** > You have so quickly picked up the importance of the Hare Krishna Movement and are so much eager for propagating Krishna Consciousness. --- **[1969: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1969/690819_satsvarupa)** > I was very much anxious to receive your letter, but I did not know that you stopped writing me on account of the memo issued a few days ago. --- **[1969: Letter to Subala](letters/1969/690819_subala)** > In our lifetime, if we can fix up at least one soul in Krishna Consciousness, Krishna immediately recognizes the service. --- **[1971: Letter to Himavati](letters/1971/710819_himavati)** > There is no question of your falldown. Chant 16 rounds regularly and no power in all three worlds will make you fall down. Krishna will save you always. --- **[1973: Letter to Bhavananda Jayapataka](letters/1973/730819_bhavananda_jayapataka)** > From your report it appears that everything is progressing very nicely. What can I say? I am so much indebted to all you nice American boys and girls for helping me to execute the order of my Guru Maharaja, may Krishna bless you. --- **[1973: Letter to Madana Mohana Mohini](letters/1973/730819_madana_mohana_mohini)** > Hansadutta is GBC for your zone and if you have any questions you may inquire from him. --- **[1973: Letter to Meenakatan](letters/1973/730819_meenakatan)** > Yes you may return to India I have no objection. We very much need workers in India, so if you go there that will be nice. --- **[1974: Letter to Atreya Rsi](letters/1974/740819_atreya_rsi)** > I am glad to note that you had nice Rathayatra festival for the Indian community there. --- **[1974: Letter to Bankatesh](letters/1974/740819_bankatesh)** > Paris is the nearest temple to you so if you like you can go there. I suggest that you confer with Hansadutta prabhu who is in Germany. --- **[1974: Letter to Hiranyagarbha](letters/1974/740819_hiranyagarbha)** > Jagadisa prabhu has informed me that he has already gone over the points with you at New Vrndavana recently. --- **[1974: Letter to Madhukara](letters/1974/740819_madhukara)** > Just as you were pleased that I was able to visit New Vrndavana, so did I also enjoy my visit to New Vrndavana. --- **[1974: Letter to Miss Johnson](letters/1974/740819_miss_johnson)** > Regarding the lecture that I gave at the Rathayatra festival, I think if you contact our San Francisco temple, they might be able to provide you with a transcript. --- **[1974: Letter to Mr. Lourenco](letters/1974/740819_mr._lourenco)** > I am glad to learn that you are so much keenly interested in our books Bhagavad gita as it is. --- **[1974: Letter to Sri Ganatra](letters/1974/740819_sri_ganatra)** > You may know that we have had to postpone the opening of the temples due to the temple and asrama not being completed. --- **[1974: Letter to Sridhara](letters/1974/740819_sridhara)** > I am glad to hear that now in Bombay finally you have good facilities for eating and sleeping, other-wise how will you live? Regarding your question about eternal spiritual and temporary spiritual, the temporary spiritual is the impersonal brahma-jyotir. --- **[1974: Letter to Vidarbha Kanya](letters/1974/740819_vidarbha_kanya)** > All of you are coming from backgrounds of bad habits, so to make progress in Krishna Consciousness we must overlook the faults of others. Chanting offenselessly is the remedy for all of these diseases. --- **[1976: Letter to All Gbc Secretaries](letters/1976/760819_all_gbc_secretaries)** > It has come to His Divine Grace's attention that many members of our society are engaged in the same business that Rsabhdeva (ex-President Laguna Beach) and devotees of Laguna Beach Temple were engaged in. The list of devotees doing this business includes some senior devotees. ---