# August 27 ## Spoken on August 27 *Lectures from this day: 7 recordings* --- **[1969: Initiation Lecture](spoken/1969/690827in.ham)** > So either His name or His form or His quality or His paraphernalia or His activities—none of these can be understood by your material senses. It is not possible. *Ataḥ śrī-kṛṣṇa-nāmādi na bhaved grāhyam indriyaiḥ*. Indriyaiḥ,* the senses. Then how it is understood? *Sevonmukhe hi jihvādau svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ.* When we take to the transcendental loving service of the Lord, then the Lord reveals Himself. We cannot understand. He reveals Himself. Therefore *sevonmukhe hi jihvādau. Jihvā* means tongue. The first business of us is to engage the tongue in the service of the Lord. > Ataḥ śrī-kṛṣṇa-nāmādi na bhaved grāhyam indriyaiḥ*. By our present senses, we cannot understand what is Kṛṣṇa, or what is God, what is His name, what is His form, what is His quality. Therefore immediately if we try to understand Kṛṣṇa by His picture, "Oh, Kṛṣṇa is embracing Rādhārāṇī or the *gopīs,*" we shall mistake. Because unless our senses are purified, we shall accept Kṛṣṇa and Rādhārāṇī as ordinary young boy or girl and their dealings. But actually it is not. It is pure. --- **[1971: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.6](spoken/1971/710827sb.lon)** > But these occupational duties are not *para. Para* means transcendental, supreme. This is temporary. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja* : "This is your real occupation. You have got some bodily occupation, some mental occupation, some intellectual occupation, but you have to give up all these things. Simply surrender unto Me. This is your real occupation." Kṛṣṇa says. And Kṛṣṇa descends to teach us this *dharma,* or occupational duty. > So these occupational duties, this is faith. He thinks that "This is my duty." "Oh, as Hindu, I have to do it," "As Christian, I must believe it," "As Muslim, I must do it." But here it is stated, *sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhokṣaje*. Bhakti.* This is real *dharma.* Except *bhakti,* they are all pseudo. Therefore in the beginning of the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* it is said, *dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavaḥ.* All so-called cheating, pseudo-religious system is rejected. *Dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavaḥ. Kaitava* means cheating. --- **[1972: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.24](spoken/1972/720827sb.la)** > So anyway, *brahma-darśanam. Brahmā-darśanam* means the preliminary understanding of the Absolute Truth. *Brahmeti paramātmeti bhagavān iti śabdyate*. In the preliminary understanding, impersonal Brahman is realized; and if you make further progress, then you are..., you realize the localized aspect, Paramātmā. *Īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛd-deśe 'rjuna tiṣṭhati*. In your heart you will see. And further progress means you'll see Viṣṇu, or Lord Kṛṣṇa—*brahmeti paramātmeti bhagavān iti.* The one thing, thing is one, absolute, but a different capacity. > Therefore it is gradual evolution, from mode of ignorance to mode of passion. And passion, there is little activity. Just like animal, they have got activity. Just like a dog, we have seen, in the beach and other places, running very swiftly here and there, but there is no meaning. A monkey is very active. You have not seen monkey in your country; in our country there are monkey, unnecessarily creating disturbance. But they are very active. But human being, they are not so active, but they have got brain, they're working with brain. --- **[1973: Bhagavad-gītā 2.23–24](spoken/1973/730827bg.lon)** > Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, *imaṁ vivasvate yogaṁ proktavān aham avyayam* : "I spoke first of all this *Bhagavad-gītā* system to the sun-god." Now rascals will think that "How there is a god or there is a person in the sun planet?" They'll think like that—everything from his own angle of vision. This is modern science: "I cannot think of such thing; therefore there cannot be any such thing." Just like everything should be within my experience. This is going on. > Therefore Kṛṣṇa says very distinctly, *nainaṁ chindanti śastrāṇi,* that "Soul cannot be cut, any weapon. It cannot be pierced by your arrows, it cannot be cut into pieces by your sword, or if you use firearms it will not burn." *Nainaṁ dahati pāvakaḥ.* This is the position of soul: immutable, indestructible. Another... This is the negative description of the soul. *Nainaṁ chandanti śastrāṇi, chindanti śastrāṇi.* Is there anything in this material world which cannot be cut into pieces? Have you got any experience? Take wood, stone, iron, or anything, it can be cut into pieces. --- **[1973: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.1.4](spoken/1973/730827sb.lon)** > But the difficulty is that Kṛṣṇa does not eat all nonsense, [laughs] and one has to eat all nonsense. So therefore they are not... They are afraid of becoming Kṛṣṇa conscious. Yes. Because they'll be forbidden. Kṛṣṇa said, *patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati*.* Kṛṣṇa is limiting. He can eat everything. He can... Just like in Vṛndāvana, He swallowed the fire. So for Kṛṣṇa to eat meat is not very difficult job. He can eat, because He is Kṛṣṇa, all-powerful. But He has prescribed that "Give Me this foodstuff." Just like if you call me at your house, you'll ask me, "What can I offer you?" So similarly, we have called Kṛṣṇa, "Kṛṣṇa, please come and stay with us in this temple." So therefore we must give Him food what *He* wants. Not whimsically. And it is clearly stated, Kṛṣṇa says, "All right. Give Me *patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyam.*" *Patram,* vegetables; *phalam,* fruits; *toyam,* milk, water. In this way. Kṛṣṇa says, "You give Me this." So you give Him. And Kṛṣṇa says, "If it is offered with faith and love, I eat. I eat." So Kṛṣṇa is saying, lying, that He does not...? He eats. But we do not know how He is eating. That is a spiritual process. > Therefore Kṛṣṇa is canvassing, *yat karoṣi yaj juhoṣi yad aśnāsi yat tapasyasi yad dadāsi yat kuruṣva tad mad-arpaṇam*. Yat karoṣi.* Everyone is engaged in some work. *Yat karoṣi.* Everyone, they're engaged in performing sacrifices... *Juhoṣi.* Everyone is liking to give in charity. He has got some money; he wants to make some charity. *Dadāsi yat.* Everyone is eating. *Yad aśnāsi.* [break] That is Kṛṣṇa. If you give me a plate, thinking that "Guru Mahārāja will keep some *prasādam,*" I eat everything. [laughter] That's all. No *prasādam.* You see? You are cheated. But Kṛṣṇa will not cheat. Kṛṣṇa will eat everything and you still keep everything. So where is your loss? Why don't you offer to Kṛṣṇa? Why in the temple? Everyone can do it at home. Everyone is eating. Why not offer to Kṛṣṇa? That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Is it very difficult? --- **[1975: Morning Walk](spoken/1975/750827mw.vrn)** > Yes. That is the test. [aside:] Hare Kṛṣṇa. --- **[1976: Morning Walk at Lodi Gardens](spoken/1976/760827mw.del)** > After this body, one has to go somewhere. So this is the description, who will go where. *Mad-yājino 'pi mām.* Those who are preparing to go back to Godhead, they can go. Otherwise, if you go..., want to go in the higher planetary system or in the lower planetary, that you also go. Hare Kṛṣṇa. --- ## Letters on August 27 *Letters from this day: 13* --- **[1967: Letter to Brahmananda](letters/1967/670827_brahmananda)** > Your nice letter of 8/18 in hand; your nice philosophy that Krishna takes and Krishna gives, is very nice. --- **[1967: Letter to Jananivasa](letters/1967/670827_jananivasa)** > I am very glad to receive your letter of 8/20, and glad to hear that everything is going so nicely at our newest center. --- **[1967: Letter to Mrinaline](letters/1967/670827_mrinaline)** > The feeling which you had by becoming compassionate to the fallen bum is very good, but the best way to deliver a bum is to revive his dormant Krishna Consciousness. If you cannot do that, then simple supplying food and shelter, is serving the Maya. --- **[1967: Letter to Subala](letters/1967/670827_subala)** > Please offer my blessings to Krishna devi dasi, Harsarani, Aniruddha das, Rasikananda das, and Jananivasa, and any others who may be with you. I am so pleased you have started this branch, as Kirtanananda did in Montreal. --- **[1969: Letter to Brahmananda](letters/1969/690827_brahmananda)** > I am pleased to inform you that our journey from New York to Hamburg was very comfortable, and we safely arrived at the scheduled time. --- **[1969: Letter to Hayagriva](letters/1969/690827_hayagriva)** > We have safely reached exactly at the scheduled time in Hamburg, and the journey was quite comfortable. --- **[1969: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1969/690827_satsvarupa)** > Please let me know what is the position of the house at the present moment. You have promised to pay them 6,000 dollars down, and if it is possible, why not pay him the 6,000 down immediately. --- **[1970: Letter to Revatinandana](letters/1970/700827_revatinandana)** > I am very glad that you are all following the regular chanting of sixteen rounds daily very strictly. This schedule which you have made is very satisfactory, so follow the rules and regulations according to schedule and execute your duties in Krsna's service and everything will be alright. --- **[1971: Letter to Gargamuni](letters/1971/710827_gargamuni)** > As per your request I have immediately sent one brahmacari, Madhavananda Das, there to assist you. --- **[1971: Letter to Gurudasa](letters/1971/710827_gurudasa)** > So far London temple is concerned, things are going on here very nicely under the supervision of Dayananda Prabhu who is appointed treasurer and Tribhuvanatha as president. Tamala said that there is so much potential for preaching in India and that is a fact. --- **[1971: Letter to Himavati](letters/1971/710827_himavati)** > Always be engaged in serving the Deity; nice dress, nice jewelry, nice prasadam. His life is very important, so take care of him nicely; that is your duty. --- **[1971: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1971/710827_satsvarupa)** > So far your travelling throughout the south, particularly Atlanta center, I have no objection. --- **[1971: Letter to Shyama Dasi](letters/1971/710827_shyama_dasi)** > When I received the letter the envelope had been opened and then stapled closed and some portion of the letter was missing; it came in two parts. ---