# August 21 ## Spoken on August 21 *Lectures from this day: 8 recordings* --- **[1968: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.13](spoken/1968/680821sb.mon)** > The Vedic literature informs us that everything belongs to Īśa, God. *Īśāvāsyam idaṁ sarvaṁ yad kiñcit jagatyāṁ jagat.* And by Him it is going on: the Supreme Spirit. In the *Bhagavad-gītā* also it is said, *yayedam dhāryate jagat*. Just like what is the value of this city of Montreal? Because there are so many living entities. That's all. If the all men and women immediately becomes dead, what is the value of this city? Is there any value of the matter? No. Because the living entities, the living force, is there, therefore the city has value, the land has value. Suppose if everyone was dead, what was the value of this apartment? Nobody would come and ask for rent. Valueless. > Similarly, Prahlāda Mahārāja says, "My dear Lord, these demigods, they are all devotees. They are Your obedient servant, *sattva-dhāmno.* And they are not like us, disturbing." *Kṣemāya bhūtaya utātma-sukhāya cāsya vikrīḍitaṁ bhagavato rucirāvatāraiḥ*. "And Your appearance as Nṛsiṁha-deva is not for me, but for them. Because I am born in atheistic family. It is Your determination that You want to cut down the atheistic people. So it is automatically You have cut down, You have killed my father. But Your real business was to protect these demigods, Your devotees." --- **[1972: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.18](spoken/1972/720821sb.la)** > So in the beginning we must be sincere, very sincere, to follow the rules and regulation. But due to our past habits, if there is some flaw, that is excused. Not intentionally. Because I am habituated to something, and I am, although engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, my past habits sometimes becomes manifest. So Kṛṣṇa says, "All right, you try your best. It will be rectified." *Kṣipraṁ bhavati dharmātmā. Kṣipram* means "Very soon you'll be *dharmātmā,* perfect, religious." *Kṣipraṁ bhavati dharmātmā śaśvac-chāntiṁ nigacchati:* "And you'll be elevated to the eternal platform of peace and tranquility." > So we should hear, *śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ. Sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ*. Kṛṣṇa's word is given by Kṛṣṇa. Just like *Bhagavad-gītā. Sva-kathāḥ* means "His own words." So this is *bhāgavata.* And *sva-kathāḥ, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* is also *sva-kathāḥ.* The *Purāṇas* also, *sva-kathāḥ.* Because all these books are given by Vyāsadeva. --- **[1973: Bhagavad-gītā 2.15](spoken/1973/730821bg.lon)** > That is the aim of human life: How to become immortal. How not to become... We are immortal. Just like a person, he's diseased, attacked by fever. Fever is not his natural condition, but somehow or other, he has got fever. Similarly, we are immortal. That will be explained. *Na jāyate na mriyate vā*. The living entity never takes birth, never dies; therefore immortal. Immortal means no birth, no death. That is immortal. Whenever there is birth, there is death. If there is no birth, there is no death. That is immortality. > Therefore Kṛṣṇa has explained in the previous verse, here also: *yaṁ hi na vyathayanty ete. Mātrā-sparśās tu kaunteya śītoṣṇa-sukha-duḥkha*. Here in this material world there is winter and the counterpart, summer, also. In the winter we aspire, "If it would have been warmer." That means you want summer. And again summer you'll require, you aspire had it been, I mean to say, cooler. You apply cooling machine. So this is our struggle. In the summer, we apply cooling machine, and in the winter, we apply heating machine. So undisturbed happiness, either in coolness or warm, you cannot have. --- **[1973: Śrī Śrī Rādhā Gokulānanda Deity Installation, Brahma-saṁhitā 5.43](spoken/1973/730821di.lon)** > So this Deity worship in the temple means worshiping Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He's *akhilātmā-bhūtaḥ* [Bs. 5.37].* Where you shall find Him? He's everywhere. Therefore, He has very kindly accepted to assume a form which you can handle. This form of Kṛṣṇa, the atheist will say that "Here is a form made of marble. How is that, they are worshiping God, Kṛṣṇa?" That is atheist view. But from the *śāstra,* we understand Kṛṣṇa, if He is within the atom, why not within the marble? It is simply understanding. Not only within; the marble itself is also Kṛṣṇa. Because in the *Bhagavad-gītā* we understand: *bhūmir āpo 'nalo vāyuḥ khaṁ mano buddhir eva ca*. These material elements, earth..., earth, water, fire, air, they are Kṛṣṇa's energy. Kṛṣṇa says, *bhinnā me prakṛtir aṣṭadhā:* "They are My energies, separated energy." > Therefore do not think that we have installed a marble statue. The rascals will say, "They are heathens." No. We are worshiping Kṛṣṇa personally. Kṛṣṇa personally, Kṛṣṇa has kindly assumed this form just... Because we cannot see Kṛṣṇa, the gigantic Kṛṣṇa, or Kṛṣṇa is everywhere... *Ataḥ śrī-kṛṣṇa-nāmādi na bhaved grāhyam indriyaiḥ*. Our imperfect senses cannot see Kṛṣṇa immediately. But Kṛṣṇa is so kind, as we can see... We can see stone, we can see wood, we can see earth, we can see water, we can see color. Therefore, Kṛṣṇa comes before us just quite suitable for our vision. But He's Kṛṣṇa. --- **[1973: Janmāṣṭamī Lecture](spoken/1973/730821jm.lon)** > The order is there. Kṛṣṇa says, the Supreme, *bhagavān uvāca.* Vyāsadeva writes *bhagavān uvāca.* One should know what is Bhagavān. Vyāsadeva could have written *kṛṣṇa uvāca.* No. He says... If one may misunderstand Kṛṣṇa, therefore he writes in every stanza, every verse, *śrī bhagavān uvāca.* So Bhagavān is there. Bhagavān is speaking. Bhagavān is accepted by all the *ācāryas*—Rāmānujācārya, Madhvācārya, Viṣṇu Svāmī; latest, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, even Śaṅkarācārya, he also accepts Kṛṣṇa: *sa bhagavān svayaṁ kṛṣṇa.* So the verdict of the modern *ācāryas,* and in the past also, Vyāsadeva, Nārada, Asita, everyone accepted Kṛṣṇa the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Arjuna, who heard from Kṛṣṇa, after understanding *Bhagavad-gītā* he said, *paraṁ brahma paraṁ dhāma pavitraṁ paramaṁ bhavān puruṣam ādyaṁ śāśvatam*. > Therefore, Kṛṣṇa says that *janma karma ca me divyaṁ yo jānāti tattvataḥ*. The advent of Kṛṣṇa, it is very important thing. We should try to understand Kṛṣṇa, why He advents, why He comes on this material world, what is His business, what are His activities. If we simply try to understand Kṛṣṇa, then what is the result? The result is *tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti kaunteya*. You get that immortality. The aim of life is to achieve immortality. *Amṛtatvāya kalpate.* --- **[1975: Room Conversation with Lalita Bose](spoken/1975/750821r1.bom)** > Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: [Transl. Although by talking with you over the telephone we received informations about New Vṛndāvana, but here the densely forest areas are so aloof that only after a great deal of difficulty we could reach there. This place is so remote that the nearest villege which has a post office is Mounsville and even after inquiring from a few local people there we could not ascertain which was the right way? After passing about one and half to two miles of the hilly road we reached here. After arriving here we understood that we have reached the āśrama of the western devotees of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The Mātājīs were wearing sāri and blouse and constantly chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra on bead bags. By behaviour, dealings and the process those ladies were following with devotion it appeared they were personified Miras. [aside:] Mirabai. Many of them were engaged in cooking in the kitchen varieties of milk and sweet based foodstuffs for the residents of the āśrama the guests. Usually the residents of America cannot stay without travelling here and there on Saturdays and Sundays. Therefore on Sundays, despite travalling hundreds of miles by car, they visit tourist places in large numbers for enjoying life. The same thing happens in New Vṛndāvana also but here the atmosphere is spiritually surcharged unlike other places.] > Lalita Bose: [Transl. Tarunbabu repeatedly told me that bring Mahārājajī him anyhow. Because if he is here now then we can together do something...Besides, everybody knows you are American guru.] Yesterday somebody came to me when I am... [Transl. Just imagine how Central Intelligence is working! To know where I am! They asked, whose house is that? I said, Mr. Badiraja house. [Transl. Guru Mahārājajī is Indian or American?] Thrice they phoned from the Prime Minister's office. [Transl. We are are telling them, he is a Bangali: Bengali after all! From where? I said from there, Calcutta, West Bengal!] And I know, my grandfather knows him, and I told this. [Transl. They are thinking that you are some American Guru.] And again and again they are phoning. I said, "No, no." [Transl. Therefore she will meet you with lot of interest. I will keep asking her to grant more and more facilities in a very dignified way. I will tell her that he is an important person and so kindly give her some more time. Mahārājajī wants to talk to you. One thing you should know for sure that if she is impressed then she will not look back or front.] What she will feel? She has got that power. --- **[1976: Room Conversation](spoken/1976/760821r1.hyd)** --- ## Letters on August 21 *Letters from this day: 21* --- **[1968: Letter to Acyutananda Jayagovinda](letters/1968/680821_acyutananda_jayagovinda)** > The next important thing is that if you both, both of you, jointly work, then our mission in India will be successful. Now so far printing of the books, let me know whether you can take charge of doing this work nicely. --- **[1968: Letter to Krsna Devi](letters/1968/680821_krsna_devi)** > Anyway, I am so much pleased to read the contents of the letter for your intelligent questions and many other things, and all mentioned there. --- **[1968: Letter to Subala](letters/1968/680821_subala)** > Sacisuta also has written me that he was in Los Angeles, now he is in San Francisco, and he wants to go to Buffalo. I have asked him to go to Boston, because in Boston there is necessity of such person to help Satsvarupa. --- **[1969: Letter to Girish](letters/1969/690821_girish)** > Immediately upon receipt of them I have placed these ornaments upon Sri Sri Radha Krishna, and they are looking very gorgeous. --- **[1969: Letter to Kirtanananda](letters/1969/690821_kirtanananda)** > I am sorry that I was not able to see how you have nicely made the sandesh because upon arrival it was found to have gone bad. --- **[1969: Letter to Krsna Dasa](letters/1969/690821_krsna_dasa)** > I hope you will do the needful, and as you are anxious to see me, similarly, I am also very much anxious to see you all. By the Grace of Krishna now the arrangement is complete to meet each other on the 25th of August. --- **[1969: Letter to Swami B.S. Bhagavata Maharaja](letters/1969/690821_swami_b.s._bhagavata_maharaja)** > His Holiness Swami B.S. I see it is in order, but similarly, we have also incorporated our International Society for Krishna Consciousness pursuant to the religious corporation laws of the state of New York. The main purposes of this institution are as follows amongst others: 1) To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large and to educate all peoples in the techniques of spiritual life in order to check the imbalance of values in life and to achieve real unity and peace in the world. --- **[1970: Letter to Bali-Mardana](letters/1970/700821_bali-mardana)** > You are now elected as one of the Commissioners of the GBC, so you have got great responsibility. So far we are concerned in the disciplic succession of Lord Caitanya, if we simply abide by the order of the Acarya in disciplic succession, then things are made very easy. --- **[1970: Letter to N.C. Chatterji](letters/1970/700821_n.c._chatterji)** > I know you are very busy in your professional work, but still I am giving you trouble because I know you love this cause. I am confident of this great Krsna Consciousness Movement for worldwide peace and prosperity. I am therefore coming to India as of the 29th August, 1970, to meet all respectable Indians to help me in this great Movement. --- **[1971: Letter to Bhagavan](letters/1971/710821_bhagavan)** > Also I have seen the article enclosed and it is very nice indeed. Actually we are in the position to teach everyone, never mind however great a philosopher or scientist he may be, but everyone must learn from us about spiritual activities. --- **[1971: Letter to Giriraja](letters/1971/710821_giriraja)** > This is a very serious discrepancy that in four months Rs 23,000/- has been spent without any proper account. I have asked both Jayapataka and Tamala to explain about this and I am still awaiting their reply. --- **[1972: Letter to Yadubara](letters/1972/720821_yadubara)** > Regarding printing BTG Hindi in India your scheme to print them in Bombay is accepted by me. So you do the needful being contact with Ramananda. --- **[1973: Letter to Tamala Krsna](letters/1973/730821_tamala_krsna)** > Please immediately send me the names and addresses of all the foreign devotees in India. Please also their passport numbers and nationality. --- **[1974: Letter to Bhagavan](letters/1974/740821_bhagavan)** > I am pleased that you are treating this matter of initiation as a serious business. I have accepted the following as my disciples: --- **[1975: Letter to Abhirama](letters/1975/750821_abhirama)** > I also accept the following as twice born initiated brahmanas: Langa Ganesa dasa, Janardana das, Nandana Acarya das, and Raghunatha Puri das. Hold a fire sacrifice and let them hear my recorded tape through the right ear. --- **[1975: Letter to Gurudasa](letters/1975/750821_gurudasa)** > The purpose of sannyasa is that now one has no hindrances for preaching work. The purpose is to increase preaching. So if one takes sannyasa and does not increase preaching, then there is no value. --- **[1975: Letter to Nityananda](letters/1975/750821_nityananda)** > The news clipping was nice. Regarding your festival of Ratha Yatra, you have got my blessings. Either with or without my presence, you will be successful, so do not worry. --- **[1975: Letter to Radhavallabha](letters/1975/750821_radhavallabha)** > Do not worry, in spite of war, Srimad-Bhagavatam will be distributed. Your desire for the complete Srimad-Bhagavatam will be fulfilled. --- **[1975: Letter to Ramesvara](letters/1975/750821_ramesvara)** > Yes, when Krsna was present, the religious principles were going on nicely, but when He retired back to His abode, then deterioration infiltrated. --- **[1975: Letter to Rupanuga](letters/1975/750821_rupanuga)** > Regarding your questions, no, the large Deity can never be moved, not at all. Regarding remarriage, no, remarriage should be always discouraged. --- **[1975: Letter to Sravanananda](letters/1975/750821_sravanananda)** > Madras is a good field, so do your work there very carefully, and you will be very successful. Do not waste any time, but work always to please Krishna within your heart. ---