# August 22 ## Spoken on August 22 *Lectures from this day: 11 recordings* --- **[1966: Lecture [Partially Recorded](spoken/1966/660822le.ny.md)** > So this is the position of spiritual. From spiritual, you may draw as much as you can, but it is always full. That is the spiritual idea. So God is so full. He's *puripūrṇa, pūrṇa.* So even God comes out of God, still, God is there. That is incarnation. If God Himself comes out of God... So therefore, God in the heart of so many millions and billions of living entities does not mean that God has lost Himself. God is still there. That is the spiritual idea. And this is not... I am not talking to you some manufactured, coining some word. No. There is Vedic hymn, --- **[1971: Initiation Lecture](spoken/1971/710822in.lon)** > These six principles. One must be very much enthusiastic: "Yes, in this life I shall complete my Kṛṣṇa consciousness business. I'll not wait for the next life. This life I shall finish." This is called *utsāhān.* And *dhairya. Dhairya* means patience. Not that "Sometimes I do not find that I'm making much improvement." But still, you should have patience. And *niścayāt,* with confidence: "Because we are following the standard rules and regulation, success is sure." That confidence must be there. Just like two plus two equal to four. That is a fact. Similarly, if you follow the principles as laid down in the *śāstras,* then success is sure. But if you don't follow, Kṛṣṇa says, *yaḥ śāstra-vidhim utsṛjya vartate kāma-kārataḥ, na siddhiṁ savāpnoti* : anyone who does not follow rigid principle, then he cannot have success. > So *Caitanya-caritāmṛta* says, *ei rūpe brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva*. In this way, the living entities while wandering throughout the whole universe... Sometimes in nice place, nice life, nice society... There is no nice place, but we accept, "This is good," "This is bad." That is our mental concoction. Actually, in the material world there is no happiness, there is no nice place, because wherever you go... As it is stated in the *Bhagavad-gītā, punar āvartino 'rjuna*. --- **[1972: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.19](spoken/1972/720822sb.la)** > Simply God has given you these ears and you hear, *śṛṇvatām.* Hear about Kṛṣṇa from realized soul. This process will make you to be situated on the platform of goodness, and as soon as you are promoted to the platform of goodness, that means you have already surpassed the other two platforms—means ignorance—and the symptom will be... That is clear here. The symptom is that the two things, lust and greediness, will not disturb you. You haven't got to take certificate from anyone, "Just give me certificate that I have become a Kṛṣṇa conscious." > Because everything is in the heart. Whole thing is cleansing the heart. So heart is being pinched. "Here is... I am beautiful boy," "I am beautiful girl. Why not come?" So this is pinching. So if you are actually situated on the platform of Kṛṣṇa consciousness—not fully; a little advanced—then these things will be visible. *Tadā ceta etair anāviddham.* And when you stop, when you are able to stop this pinching in your heart by these two modes of material nature, passion and greediness—*tadā ceta etair anāviddhaṁ sthitaṁ sattve prasīdati-prasīdati—*then you become joyful. That is the stage of joyfulness. --- **[1973: Bhagavad-gītā 2.16](spoken/1973/730822bg.lon)** > These are nine kinds of services. They are *sat.* The more we are engaged in these nine kinds of different occupation of devotional service, the more we are elevated. And the more we are engaged in activities of material sense gratification, we are degraded. *Śrama eva hi kevalam*. You have got nice office, material point of view, nice business. So if you perform that business, office work, your duty, very nicely, but you have no Kṛṣṇa consciousness, *śāstra* says that *śrama eva hi kevalam.* It is simply wasting time and laboring hard. That's all. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says that this is the distinction between *sat* and *asat.* And we should not be very much interested with the *asat.* Then our life is spoiled. We should be interested with *sat.* That will make our life successful. Then we make progress for *amṛtatva.* > That is being explained here. *Nāsato vidyate bhāvaḥ. Asataḥ,* or this material body, it has no endurance. It will not endure; it will not be permanently existing. *Nābhāvo vidyate sataḥ:* And the soul is permanent. He..., it has no change; it will never be nonexistent. Kṛṣṇa is explaining. When Kṛṣṇa says, "My dear Arjuna, you, Me and all these kings and soldiers who have assembled here, it is not that we did not exist in the past," so what is that? That means we are not this body. This body was not existing in the past, in my past life, or duration of life. But as I am soul, I am existing now, I did exist in the past, and I will exist in the future. That is *sat.* Therefore spirit has no such change. --- **[1973: Lecture "What is a Guru?"](spoken/1973/730822le.lon)** > To... *Guru* means Kṛṣṇa's representative, former *ācāryas'* representative. Kṛṣṇa's... All *ācāryas* are representative of Kṛṣṇa; therefore *guru* should be offered the same respect as you offer to God. *Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta*. Therefore Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura says, *yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo.* Because *guru* is bona fide representative of Kṛṣṇa, or God, so if you surrender to *guru,* bona fide *guru,* that means you surrender to God. God is accepting your surrender through the *guru. Yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo.* If you surrender to *guru,* that means Kṛṣṇa is pleased. Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja* : surrender. That somebody argues, "Where is Kṛṣṇa, I shall surrender?" No. You surrender to His representative, then you surrender to Kṛṣṇa. This is the process. > Who needs a *guru*? A third-class, fourth-class man, ordinary man, doesn't require a *guru.Guru,* to keep a *guru* or to have a *guru,* is not a fashion. One who is very serious to understand spiritual life, he requires a *guru.* Otherwise, there is no need of *guru.* Just like you keep a dog as a fashion, don't keep a *guru. Guru* means..., is a question of necessity. One must be very serious to understand what is spiritual life, what is God, what is my relation with God, how to act. When we are very much serious on this subject matter, then we require a *guru.* Don't go to a *guru* as a matter of fashion. That is useless. That is useless. Therefore *śāstra* says, *tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta.* Because we have to go to *guru* and surrender there. Without surrendering, you cannot learn anything. If you want to challenge *guru,* it is not possible. Then you'll learn nothing. *Tasmad guruṁ prapadyeta. Praṇipātena.* So just like Arjuna accepted Kṛṣṇa as *guru,* he said, *śiṣyas te 'haṁ śādhi māṁ tvāṁ prapannam : "I am now surrendered unto You." That is the process. *Tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā*. --- **[1973: Śrī Vyāsa-pūjā Lecture](spoken/1973/730822vp.lon)** > Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā, na ca tasmān manuṣyeṣu kaścin me priya-kṛttamaḥ* : "One who is doing this humble service of preaching work, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, nobody is dearer than him to Me." So if you want to become recognized by Kṛṣṇa very quickly, you take up this process of becoming spiritual master, present the *Bhagavad-gītā* as it is, your life is perfect. > Kṛṣṇa is within everyone. *Īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛd-deśe 'rjuna tiṣṭhati*. So He is called *caitya-guru,* means *guru* within the heart. And when Kṛṣṇa understands... Because Kṛṣṇa knows everything, whatever we are willing, whatever we are doing. He is the Paramātmā; He's sitting within our hearts as a witness. *Anumanta upadṛṣṭā. Upadṛṣṭā* means simply observing what we are doing and what we are desiring. So as we desire, Kṛṣṇa is very kind, He gives us facility. We have many times explained. Therefore, we have got varieties of bodies to enjoy this material world. So when Kṛṣṇa sees... --- **[1976: Bhagavad-gītā 7.1](spoken/1976/760822bg.hyd)** > So to understand Bhagavān, Para-brahman, that is the mission of human life. The cats and dogs cannot understand Bhagavān. That is not possible. A human being can understand. This *Bhagavad-gītā* is for the human being, not for the cats and dogs. So Kṛṣṇa says that "If you want to know Me..." It is not easy to understand Bhagavān, or God. "God" is not the exact word of Bhagavān; therefore we use the word "Godhead." "Back to Godhead." Bhagavān means the Supreme Lord, the Supreme Being. God means the ruler, the controller. But when we come to the supreme controller, He is Bhagavān. You are controller, I am controller. I am controller of my disciples within the Kṛṣṇa conscious society, but I cannot control the whole world. I have got some... You are controller in your home, of your wife, children, servants. But you are also controlled. You are not the absolute controller. Therefore Bhagavān means the absolute controller. > Śrī bhagavān uvāca.* Vyāsadeva could have written *śrī kṛṣṇa uvāca,* but purposefully he's writing *śrī bhagavān uvāca.* Because *avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā mānuṣīṁ tanum āśritam*. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, because He descends as human being, *mūḍhās*, those who are rascals, they consider Him just like one of us, human beings. *Avajānanti.* Therefore, to avoid the offense on the part of the *mūḍhās*, he writes *bhagavān uvāca.* Direct claim. *Bhagavān* means full with six opulences. --- **[1976: Initiation Lecture](spoken/1976/760822in.hyd)** > Here is Kṛṣṇa Deity. You see every day and think of Him. It is very easy. As soon as you become practiced to see the Deity, the impression is within your mind. So you can think of Kṛṣṇa, *man-manā.* And because you come to the temple and always see Kṛṣṇa and His daily program, then you become a *bhakta. Man-manā bhava mad-bhakto. Mad-yājī,* you worship Kṛṣṇa. Whatever you have got, little *patram puṣpam phalam toyam*,* just try to offer. And at last just offer respectful obeisances. Then you become perfect. You become eligible to go back home, back to Godhead. Very simple thing. It is not at all difficult, this Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Anyone. There is no distinction. *Māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya ye 'pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ*. Never mind one is born in low-grade family, but still he can take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. *Māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya, striyo śūdrās tathā te 'pi yānti parām.* Everything is open. > So Kṛṣṇa is always ready to help us provided we are eager to take His help. Then *jñāna-dīpena bhāsvatā.* When Kṛṣṇa takes charge of making you enlightened in knowledge, who can be better person of knowledge, man of knowledge, or wise, than a devotee? A devotee, they say a devotee: only the foolish person who has no knowledge, he becomes a devotee. That is a wrong conception. Without full knowledge, nobody can become devotee. Because he has no scarcity of knowledge. Kṛṣṇa says, *jñāna-dīpena bhāsvatā.* He gives special—*teṣām evānukampārtham aham ajñāna-jaṁ tamaḥ*. "Darkness I drive away." *Ajñāna-jaṁ nāśayāmy ātma-bhāva-stho.* --- **[1976: Room Conversation with Mr. K. Purushotamma Naidu, Endowments Commissioner of Andhra Pradesh](spoken/1976/760822r1.hyd)** > Because we have accepted this *asat* body, material body, which will not exist, and we are concentrating our attention only on this body, therefore we are always anxious. *Asad-grahāt. Sadā samudvigna-dhiyām asad-grahāt.* On account of *asat.* So this is going on all over the world. Simply anxiety. They have created United Nation, but where is the United Nation? The people go there with anxiety, that's all, and come back again with anxiety, because their *asad-graha* remains. The Indian is thinking, "I am Indian, this body," and the American is thinking, "I am American," and the Pakistani is thinking, "I am Pakistani." So *asad-graha* is there. So how the anxiety will go away? But they do not know this. There is no education. They want to keep him... "Feel always that you are Indian," "Feel always that you are American." "You feel always you are Hindu," "Feel always you are Muslim." *Asad-graha.* How there can be no anxiety? *Sadā samudvigna-dhiyām asad-grahāt.* > So *asato mā sad gamaya.* This is Vedic injunction. Don't remain on the *asat* platform. Come to the *sat* platform. *Asato mā sad gamaya. Tamaso mā jyotir gamaya.* Don't remain ignorant. But unfortunately, people are so absorbed in *asat* things they do not know what is *sat.* They cannot go to the *sat* platform. They cannot go to the light platform. And they are struggling like that. No solution. *Punaḥ punaś carvita-carvaṇānām*. --- **[1976: Room Conversation](spoken/1976/760822r2.hyd)** >is destroy them. And still another store. So therefore supply is sufficient. Civil supplies become controlled. Whatever they want, supply them. The Britishers, British time, I have seen, in the village they will let loose the soldiers to rape anyone. > Prabhāv*iṣṇu*:* Well, when we were working from Bombay, Bombay was sending them by rail. But now Gargamuni Swami, he has given us some books to supply immediately to the libraries, and then others that we can't... If we don't have enough to supply all the libraries, he's going to arrange for more to be sent. I think he wants to send a van, a vehicle around all the colleges to deliver the books. --- **[1976: Conversation with Seven Ministers of Andhra Pradesh](spoken/1976/760822r3.hyd)** > So we have to make choice in this human form of life. Actually, the aim should be to go back home, back to Godhead. *Yad gatvā na nivartante tad dhāma paramaṁ mama*. Ābrahma-bhuvanāl lokāḥ punar āvartino 'rjuna. Otherwise, within this material world, even if you go to the higher planetary system, then *punar āvartinaḥ,* you have to come back again. Now the human form of life should be properly utilized. If we think that this life is everything, that is wrong conception of life. Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā, tathā dehāntara-prāptiḥ*. > So nature's law is there, *prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ*. We are not independent. We are dependent under the laws of material nature. So we should properly utilize this human form of life, and government or king means to guide the citizens how to make progress of life. That is the duty of the government. They should be given all chances to make progress. Formerly, all the kings were responsible for the progress of the citizens, progress of life. The same principle should be followed. That is the statement of the *śāstra.* The *brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra...* To maintain the body, just like we require the head, the arms, the belly and the legs, similarly, we must maintain the brain of the society, the *brāhmaṇa;* and the arms of the society, *kṣatriyas*; and the belly of the society, the *vaiśyas*; and the legs of the society, the *śūdra.* Everything is required. Not that simply brain is required and leg is not required. No, everything is required under proper guidance for the total benefit of the society. So direction is there. That is *śāstra. Yaḥ śāstra-vidhim utsṛjya...* If we do not care for the *śāstra,* whimsically manufacture our own ways of life, *na siddhiṁ sa avāpnoti,* it will never be successful. *Na sukham.* And there will be no happiness. *Na parāṁ gatim.* Therefore the whole process is *yajñārthāt karmaṇa. Yajñārthāt karmaṇo 'nyatra loko 'yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ*. --- ## Letters on August 22 *Letters from this day: 18* --- **[1967: Letter to Brahmananda](letters/1967/670822_brahmananda)** > It is very good news for me that you are going to have $5300 very soon, and I thank you very much for offering the entire amount to me. --- **[1967: Letter to Jadurani](letters/1967/670822_jadurani)** > I am so glad to receive your letter along with Brahmananda's. He has no complaint now for his health, and I hope, by Krishna's Grace, he will keep well here. I am so satisfied with your service for the cause of Krishna Consciousness, and I shall simply pray to Krishna for your good health, sound mind, and steady progress in the matter of K.C. --- **[1967: Letter to Rayarama](letters/1967/670822_rayarama)** > Krishna's Janmastami ceremony may be celebrated in the same way as last year. --- **[1968: Letter to Brahmananda](letters/1968/680822_brahmananda)** > At last in this connection, I must offer you my heartiest blessing because it is due to your endeavor that we are finding our Bhagavad-gita to be published by a great publisher. And through your grace also we are going to publish Teachings of Lord Caitanya. --- **[1968: Letter to Daniel](letters/1968/680822_daniel)** > I am so much thankful to you for your good wishes, and your realization that you are the eternal servant of Krishna. --- **[1968: Letter to Jayananda](letters/1968/680822_jayananda)** > I understand from various sources that our San Francisco center under your good leadership is going on very nicely; I thank you for your such transcendental activities, and Krishna will be certainly very much pleased and give you more and more strength to understand Krishna Consciousness and make advancement in that line. I also beg to acknowledge receipt herewith of your letter dated July 13, 1968, which was not delivered so long due to mail strike. --- **[1968: Letter to Mr. David Exley](letters/1968/680822_mr._david_exley)** > Such meeting and discussions would be of great interest to many persons, and would be extremely beneficial to everyone involved. --- **[1968: Letter to Vinode Patel](letters/1968/680822_vinode_patel)** > Anyway, I am very glad to learn that you are approaching the Gujarati people in San Francisco, and asking them for their support in the temple, that is a great satisfaction for me. --- **[1970: Letter to Karandhara](letters/1970/700822_karandhara)** > Regarding shipping of the books, I hope you have already received message from Tamala Krsna. --- **[1971: Letter to Amogha Hanuman Others](letters/1971/710822_amogha_hanuman_others)** > I understand from Bali Mardan that there in Kuala Lumpur Kamal Devi is making so many demands and is not willing to construct the temple there according to our standard. So if the situation is not good there then you can have a touring program of preaching and distributing our literatures. --- **[1971: Letter to Kirtanananda](letters/1971/710822_kirtanananda)** > I understand that during the festival Hayagriva Prabhu was not there. How is that? Where he is now? --- **[1971: Letter to Nayanabhirama](letters/1971/710822_nayanabhirama)** > Because there is some similarity of the word Jew and Yadu so some historian or scholar, so called, created this notion. Lord Krishna killed his own dynasty under His personal supervision. --- **[1971: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1971/710822_satsvarupa)** > So far the "tracts" or booklets are concerned, that is a nice idea, Jayadvaita has already asked about this and I have agreed. --- **[1972: Letter to Batu Gopala](letters/1972/720822_batu_gopala)** > So far the fire yajna is concerned, you can wait until Janmastami celebrations in New Vrindaban, and they can take part in that yajna. --- **[1972: Letter to Gaura Sakti](letters/1972/720822_gaura_sakti)** > This second initiation is very, very serious business, and you must become very strong and firmly situated in devotional service, and stick rigidly to chanting at least 16 rounds daily, without fail,... --- **[1972: Letter to Gurudasa](letters/1972/720822_gurudasa)** > I am returning to Vrindaban by October 15, and I want to see by that time that the construction work is going on there. I am here in Los Angeles now, and will be going to New Vrindaban by the end of August. --- **[1972: Letter to Madhudvisa](letters/1972/720822_madhudvisa)** > His beads have been duly chanted by me and they have been sent under separate post. --- **[1976: Letter to Dr. Channa Reddy](letters/1976/760822_dr._channa_reddy)** > I am much obliged to you for your kind appreciation of how we are practically maintaining our temples. Kindly come see our new Hyderabad Temple the next time you visit your home. By the grace of Lord Krishna, we now have more than 100 centers all over the world. ---