# August 23 ## Spoken on August 23 *Lectures from this day: 5 recordings* --- **[1968: Lecture [Partially Recorded](spoken/1968/680823le.mon)** > Just like you have seen the pictures in our *Back to Godhead* about Bhīṣma, that it was just joking, but he knew that "Arjuna cannot be killed, because he is very dear friend of Kṛṣṇa. So these people are requesting me to kill Arjuna. So I shall show my," I mean to say, "capacity of fighting." And actually Arjuna became perplexed. > Bhīṣma wanted to see that Kṛṣṇa shall have to break His promise for His devotee. "I know I shall not be able to kill Arjuna, but at least I shall see that Kṛṣṇa has broken His promise." So Kṛṣṇa actually did not break His promise. He did not accept any weapon, but He simply showed Bhīṣma that "I have come to kill you with this wheel of the chariot." His *sudarśana-cakra* is different. --- **[1972: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.20](spoken/1972/720823sb.la)** > There are many other *yoga* system—*karma-yoga, jñāna-yoga, dhyāna-yoga, haṭha-yoga.* Everything you endeavor for spiritual enlightenment, that is called *yoga.* So there are different types of *yoga,* but real *yoga* is *bhagavad-bhakti,* devotional service. Therefore in the *Bhagavad-gītā* it is said, *yoginām api sarveṣām:* "Of all the *yogīs...*" There are different types of *yoga* system and different types of *yogīs* also. But Kṛṣṇa says, "Of all the *yogīs*..." > Therefore Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu was recognized by Rūpa Gosvāmī, *namo mahā-vadānyāya kṛṣṇa-prema-pradāya te* : "My dear Lord, You are the most munificent of all incarnation. The other incarnation, people could not understand; but You are freely distributing Yourself." *Kṛṣṇa-caitanya-nāmne. Kṛṣṇāya kṛṣṇa-caitanya-nāmne gaura-tviṣe namaḥ.* Therefore we have to follow the footsteps of Rūpa Gosvāmī, *rūpānuga.* Then we can understand Lord Caitanya. And if we get favor of Lord Caitanya, we can very easily understand Kṛṣṇa. This is the process. --- **[1973: Bhagavad-gītā 2.17](spoken/1973/730823bg.lon)** > So who does not understand there is consciousness all over the body? *Tad viddhi. Yena sarvam idaṁ tatam.* They'll jump over, "Yes, I am the Supreme God." God's consciousness is also spread all over. That's all right. But is your consciousness spread all over the universe? Both of us, we are conscious. But He is supreme conscious. Therefore His consciousness is spread all over the universe, all over the creation. In the Thirteenth Chapter you'll find Kṛṣṇa says, *kṣetra-jñaṁ cāpi māṁ viddhi sarva-kṣetreṣu bhārata* : "I am also *kṣetra-jña,*" Supersoul. What is the difference between Supersoul and soul? Soul, consciousness, is spread all over this body. You are soul; your consciousness spread all over your body. I am soul; my consciousness spread all over the body. But my consciousness not spread all over your body, neither your consciousness spread all over my body. But God's, Kṛṣṇa's, consciousness is spread over your body and my body, His body and everyone. > So this Kali-yuga so strong that it attacks even the so-called devotees also. Kali-yuga is very strong. Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu has recommended that if you want to save yourself, if you at all desire to take the position of *amṛta,* if you are interested... Nobody is interested. Kṛṣṇa says, *sa amṛtatvāya kalpate.* That is the aim of life: How I shall become immortal. How I shall not become subjected to the four principles of distressed condition—birth, death, disease and old age. Nobody is serious. They are so dull. Therefore they have been described *manda. Manda* means so bad, so rascal, that they have no ambition of life. --- **[1973: Lecture "What is Religion?"](spoken/1973/730823le.lon)** > Therefore Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā* that *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja*. This is *dharma*. We have created so many *dharmas* or duties, so-called duties—social duty, political duty, humanitarian duty, so many. But we are violating God. So many humanitarians, philanthropist, they are thinking of good welfare for the human being, but they are not thinking any welfare for the poor animals. They are being sent to the slaughterhouse under some plea. So they are all punishable, because every living being is the son of the Supreme Person. *Bhagavad-gītā* says. > Actually, this world is also God. *Idaṁ hi viśvaṁ bhagavān ivetaro*. Viśvam* means the whole universal creation. Because it is creation of God—God has created—therefore the whole universe, the whole creation is also God, although it appears different from God. For example, just like the sun and the sunlight or sunshine. Although apparently different—sun is different from the sunshine—still, sunshine is also sun. Without sun, how there can be light in the sunshine? So in broader sense there is nothing but God; everything God. This is explained in the *Viṣṇu Purāṇa: eka-deśa sthitasyāgner jyotsnā vistāriṇī yathā sarvaiva brahmaṇaḥ śakti..., tathedaṁ brahmaṇaḥ śakti* [Viṣṇu Purāṇa 1.22.52]. --- **[1976: Morning Walk in Public Gardens](spoken/1976/760823mw.hyd)** > The, everyone is, in this material world, is going on in the cycle of birth and death, *tathā dehāntara-prāptiḥ*, transmigrating from one body to another. And after many millions of years he gets the chance of becoming a human being. Now in this life he can stop the birth and death. *Punar janma jāya.* And that is Vedic culture: how to conquer over this process of repetition, birth and death. That is only possible in the human life. A chance is given, and if he misses this chance then again he'll be cycle... Therefore the father and mother's duty is to train up the children in such a way that this is the last birth. No more birth. *Tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti*. And that training, that is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. > Mr. Ramrao: Dr. Sairaja Swāmī, retired Samplex officer. Retired state officer. This is Mr. Ghoshbābu. He's from Bengal. He is in high rank.Prabhupā > Oh. You are Bengali? [Transl. *Where are you from?] [Transl. *From Howrah District.][Transl. *Howrah District. You are living here since a long time?][Transl. *I completed eight years. This is my ninth year.]*Prabhupāda:* [Transl. *What is your profession?][Transl. *I work in the Reserve bank.] [Transl. *Oh. Come all of you.][Transl. *I often visit.]*Prabhupāda:* [Transl. *Come in the evening and we will have some discussion. Hare Kṛṣṇa.] Mr. Ramrao*:* The cycle is going on. That's what you were saying. Cycle, as we see it is going on since millions of years. And it is likely to go on like this. --- ## Letters on August 23 *Letters from this day: 16* --- **[1968: Letter to Bon Maharaja](letters/1968/680823_bon_maharaja)** > I beg to inform you that many of my American disciples have become seriously interested in the philosophy of Krishna Conscious. They want to come to Vrindaban to study the Krishna philosophy as authorized by explained by the Gosvamis and specifically by Jiva Goswami in his six Sandarbha. --- **[1968: Letter to Kirtanananda Hayagriva](letters/1968/680823_kirtanananda_hayagriva)** > Now I can understand clearly the mining position; anyway, as it is clear to everyone of us, now we can work with great enthusiasm for constructing a New Vrindaban in the United States of America. --- **[1970: Letter to Gargamuni](letters/1970/700823_gargamuni)** > Fortunately Sriman Madhudvisa Maharaja has given me to read your letter dated 16th August, 1970 addressed to him. I have gone through the letter carefully and it gives me a great pleasure. --- **[1970: Letter to Himavati](letters/1970/700823_himavati)** > I have already acknowledged your letter dated August 13rd, 1970, along with my last reply. --- **[1970: Letter to Umapati](letters/1970/700823_umapati)** > I shall be so much pleased to see the French and German BTG's published as soon as possible. --- **[1971: Letter to Tamala Krsna Gurudasa](letters/1971/710823_tamala_krsna_gurudasa)** > Besides that there are some mistakes in spelling as Sanskrit verses. On the whole we can immediately start the Bengali paper but there is not one qualified man who can check over the correctness of the papers. --- **[1972: Letter to Giriraja](letters/1972/720823_giriraja)** > TAKE BANK MORTGAGE PAY OFF NAIR NARANARAYANA IMMEDIATELY RETURN TO USA MUST OBSERVE FAST JANMASTAMI TILL 12 AM In the conveyance deed, there is a clause on page 7 that states that the purchaser shall not be required to pay either of the last two installments, namely E and D, aforesaid, until the suit filed against the vendor in the Bombay High-Court (suit #94 of 1968, Messrs. --- **[1973: Letter to Giriraja](letters/1973/730823_giriraja)** > Writing is a very important part of our work and satsvarupa is always anxious to have new material from the devotees for expanding the BTG. --- **[1973: Letter to Tamala Krsna](letters/1973/730823_tamala_krsna)** > Herewith please find fixed deposit certificate xerox copy for 143,727.78 which is equal to 10 Lakhs Rs/., now deposited with First National City Bank in the name of ISKCON on the 20th August 1973. So you can utilize this xerox certificate that we have money. --- **[1976: Letter to Gurukrpa](letters/1976/760823_gurukrpa)** > During discussions with Jayapataka and Gargamuni Maharaja's regarding the construction of the present new guest house in Mayapur, they informed me that 9,70,000. --- **[1976: Letter to Krsna Mahanu Bhava](letters/1976/760823_krsna_mahanu_bhava)** > May you be blessed by Lord Krishna so that you may become His pure devotee. I do not know Marathi but I appreciated the books very much. --- **[1976: Letter to Lokanatha](letters/1976/760823_lokanatha)** > Either I go with you or not, the program which you are doing is completely approved by me. As long as we are following the regulative principles of devotional service I am always with you. --- **[1976: Letter to Pusta Krsna](letters/1976/760823_pusta_krsna)** > Please send that Bhavan's Journal Manuscript to me in either Delhi or Vrndavana. It is approved by me if you want to sell the farm. --- **[1976: Letter to Ramesvara](letters/1976/760823_ramesvara)** > Yes your proposal sounds very nice and you may do it. It is very good that this project be a world-wide effort. --- **[1976: Letter to Sri Paramanand Patel](letters/1976/760823_sri_paramanand_patel)** > So if you come timely in Delhi that is all right, otherwise you have to come via Delhi to Vrndavana. So do the needful and in the meantime I hope you are in good health. --- **[1976: Letter to Tusta Krsna](letters/1976/760823_tusta_krsna)** > Generally people are spoiling their lives for decorating the dead body and giving no attention at all to the spirit soul within. Our business is just the opposite, to give more time to the spiritual life and accept material necessities only as required. ---