# August 31 ## Spoken on August 31 *Lectures from this day: 8 recordings* *** **[1966: Bhagavad-gītā 5.22–29](spoken/1966/660831bg.ny)** > Happiness which is derived by touch senses, *saṁsparśajā... Saṁsparśajāḥ* means happiness, so-called happiness derived by touch senses. *Ye hi saṁsparśajā bhogāḥ,* enjoyment. *Duḥkha-yonaya eva te.* Lord Kṛṣṇa says that that is not real happiness. Anything, any happiness derived out of touch sensation, that is not real happiness. Rather, that is the gate of various miseries. > The whole Vedic scripture describes that happiness derived of sense perception out of the body, that is not real happiness. If we are to enjoy real happiness, then we have to transcend these bodily pleasures. Happiness is there because I am spirit soul. Actually, I am full of pleasure, but because my sense of happiness is being manifested through this matter, therefore we are being frustrated in deriving real pleasure. So those who are in the..., advanced in the spiritual life, they are called *yogī*. So *yoginaḥ. Ramante yoginaḥ anante* . *** ## [1972: Speech [Bhāgavata-dharma Discourse](spoken/1972/720831sp.nv)] *** **[1973: Bhagavad-gītā 2.30](spoken/1973/730831bg.lon)** > So whom we shall accept? The statement of Kṛṣṇa or some rascal philosopher or some so-called religionist? Whom we shall accept? We shall have to accept Kṛṣṇa, the supreme authority, the Supreme Being. He says *sarvasya.* Many places, Kṛṣṇa says. Therefore those who are learned, they do not make such distinction, that it has no soul. Everyone has got soul. *Tasmāt sarvāṇi bhūtāni.* Again He says, *sarvāṇi bhūtāni. Na tvaṁ śocitum arhasi.* It is your duty. Kṛṣṇa is simply stressing on the point that the soul is eternal; it cannot be killed. In so many ways, the body is perishable. "So it is your duty now to fight. The body may be killed, body may be destroyed, but *na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre* . But even after the destruction of this body, the soul exists. He gets another body, that's all." *Deha, tathā dehāntara-prāptiḥ* . Dehāntara-prāptiḥ.* You must get another body. And this will be explained in the next verse also. > So in the lower stage of animal life, Kṛṣṇa is there. As He says, *dehe sarvasya bhārata.* In another place, Kṛṣṇa says this *dehī,* or *kṣetra-jña,* the owner of the body is there, and there is another *kṣetra-jña,* another owner. That is Kṛṣṇa. *Kṣetra-jñaṁ ca api māṁ viddhi sarva-kṣetreṣu bhārata* . As the individual soul is there within the body, similarly, the Supersoul, Kṛṣṇa, is also there. Both of them there. Both of them there. So He is the owner of all bodies. All bodies. Sometimes Kṛṣṇa is accused by the rascals that "Why He danced with others' wife?" But actually He is the proprietor. *Dehe sarvasya bhārata.* I am not proprietor; He is the proprietor. So if the proprietor dances with His, I mean to say, maidservants, or devotees, what is the wrong there? What is the wrong? He is their proprietor. You are not proprietor. *Dehe sarvasya bhārata.* He is... The individual soul is in every body, and the Supersoul, Supersoul is the real proprietor. *** **[1973: Room Conversation with British Man](spoken/1973/730831r1.lon)** > So actually I love my soul. Then if you analyze, studying your soul, what is the constitution, you'll find the soul is part and parcel of God. Then you come to the platform that you love the soul because you love God. The ultimate issue is God. As you love this body because you love the soul, similarly, you love the soul because you love God. And that is now lost. We are embarrassed in the affairs of loving this body. The background we have forgotten. This is our present stage. Therefore we are in confusion. There is no satisfaction. > So the principle of religion is one. Take, for example, in every religion there is acceptance of God, and religion means to abide by the order of God. So how there can be two religion? There cannot be two religions. "I believe like that," "We believe like that," these are man-made. But actual religion is that God is one, and religion means the orders, the law given by God. That's all. Simple definition. Just like state is one, government is one, and to become good citizen means to abide by the laws of the government. That's all. Those... One who is abiding by the laws of God, he is perfect religionist. It doesn't matter whether he's a Hindu, he's a Muslim or Christian. Whether he has got proper sense what is meant by God and what is the order of God, then he is religionist, perfect religionist. *** **[1975: Vyāsa-pūjā Lecture](spoken/1975/750831le.vrn)** > To be firmly devoted to the Absolute Truth one must accept the path of hearing from authorities [*śrauta-panthā*]. Caitanya Mahāprabhu also says at the time of imparting knowledge to Rūpa Goswāmī, *Guru-kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya pāya bhakti-latā-bīja.* Through the mercy of the spiritual master and Kṛṣṇa we get the seed of the creeper of devotional service. These are some conclusions. Therefore it is the duty of the disciple to celebrate the appearance day of the spiritual master* [Vyāsa-pūjā], the spiritual master will teach. It is not that I want to increase my prestige by having them to worship me, this is not the case. So we have around one hundred two centers all over the world and all their offerings, a book has been printed, every year such a book is printed on the occasion of Vyāsa-pūjā to give the spiritual master. Śrīmān Brahmānanda Svāmī will read one or two offerings from that book. After that you can partake in the *prasāda* and be merciful. > The scriptures, the holy books, the *Vedas-śruti*. That is why the Vedic scriptures are called *śruti*. *Śruti* means we have to hear through the medium of disciplic succession only. The spiritual master instructs his disciple, the disciple in turn instructs his disciple and he in turn instructs his dispciples, this is called *sampradāya*. Brahma-*sampradāya*, Rudra-*sampradāya* and Sri-*sampradāya*, so there are similar *sampradāyas.* *Kumāra-sampradāya*. *Sampradāya-vihīnā ye mantrās te viphala mataḥ* [*Padma Purāṇa*]. Those who do not follow any sampradāya and whimsically interpret Vedic literatures, they will be unsuccessful. That has no value. *** **[1976: Initiations](spoken/1976/760831in.del)** > You must know how to associate with the *sādhus,* to always honor them and worship them and not to make offense. The second offense is that we should not put the..., understand that the names of Śrī Kṛṣṇa or *Viṣṇu-tattva* personalities, which are completely spiritual, are the same as the material designations of *jīvas* like ourselves. There's *Viṣṇu-tattva,* there is *jīva. Viṣṇu-tattva* is God; *jīva* is this ordinary living entity. The name of the Supreme is the same as the Supreme. The name of the *jīva* is different from the *jīva.* So we should not confuse these. We should understand the name of Viṣṇu is the same as Viṣṇu. The name of *jīva* is not the same. So the names of demigods—the demigods are also *jīvas—*their names are not spiritual. If we call names of some demigods, it will not do us the same spiritual..., it will not give us this spiritual result as calling the name of Kṛṣṇa. *** **[1976: Morning Walk](spoken/1976/760831mw.del)** > Bhakta Robin*:* They think once you're dead, you're dead, and that is the end of it. They don't... They think, "We'll enjoy now and we shall die, and that's the finish." If you say to somebody, "Have you heard about reincarnation?" "I do not believe in this." Many people in the West cannot accept that the soul will transcend into another body, move on or move down. To them it's fantasy and humbug. This is why they are afraid. They are... > Bhakta Robin*:* Does this mean, Śrīla Prabhupāda, we should not speculate about the future? Like if someone says, "Next year we should do this," and so forth. And "Next month we'll go here and we'll do that." And people are always making arrangements for the future and what they are going to do, with nothing in mind that death will take them within a flash. And they're making all these speculative arrangements. *** **[1976: Meeting with Mr. Krishna Modi, Member of Parliament](spoken/1976/760831r1.del)** > Krishna Modi: But I was called by Mr. Home Minister Brahmānanda Reddy, and he told me that you have come here with gurujī and all, so that I want to know something [indistinct] asking me. One question was put up in Rājya-sabhā, and he's [indistinct] there. I told him that he's [indistinct]. There are some gentlemen of, er..., Labor Minister and from two or three gentlemen and they have come from Andhra Pradesh. They were also there. One MP, Mr. D. D. Desai, he is also there. Some two, three members. And there was a dinner also from Brahmananda Reddy. And we have discussed at length. And we have told them, and there is no restriction Mohammedans, Christians and to everybody. And you see then it is in Indian history, it is first time that something has been done. All people are saying that they have done in America, they have done in so many centers all over the world, and then we are, something like that, it is shameful.Prabhupāda:** > It is Indian culture. > Krishna Modi: Why not? Let us find out true or false. And if you don't mind, I will give one suggestion more. In the Indian nation's interest in Hinduism also, in this country's interest, that I should prepare some interested members to see all over the world, our, this..Prabhupāda:** > That will be very nice. *** ## Letters on August 31 *Letters from this day: 17* *** **[1968: Letter to Krsna Dasa](letters/1968/680831_krsna_dasa)** > Please accept by blessings. *** **[1968: Letter to Sivananda](letters/1968/680831_sivananda)** > Please accepting my blessings and those of Lord Krishna. *** **[1969: Letter to Satya Pal](letters/1969/690831_satya_pal)** > I think this is the first letter I received from you since I met you sometimes in 1959. *** **[1969: Letter to Syamasundara](letters/1969/690831_syamasundara)** > You are improving in every respect of our London Yatra program, and I think your labor to make friends with the Beatles has been successful in the matter of pressing the Hare Krishna record. *** **[1971: Letter to Abhirama](letters/1971/710831_abhirama)** > Your proposal to open centers in South America by your "floating ISKCON temple"* is very much encouraging to me, so if it is possible then certainly you have my blessings. *** **[1971: Letter to Ekayani](letters/1971/710831_ekayani)** > In spite of all your faults you will go to Vaikuntha because you are a great devotee. *** **[1971: Letter to Hansadutta](letters/1971/710831_hansadutta)** > In one letter you decide to close Hamburg center and in the next letter you change your decision. *** **[1971: Letter to Vamanadeva](letters/1971/710831_vamanadeva)** > Your program of travelling in a van from town to town and distributing our books and literatures and having street Sankirtana sounds very encouraging, so you can go ahead and do it with my full approval. *** **[1973: Letter to Jagadisa](letters/1973/730831_jagadisa)** > Regarding the Regina temple, if it is already opened then maintain it, otherwise we should not open more centers at this time, especially in the smaller cities, it is better to go there with traveling Sankirtana parties, that was my point. *** **[1974: Letter to Candanacarya](letters/1974/740831_candanacarya)** > You, and the others who have signed your proposal, should know that the BBT advanced to Spiritual Sky money without my consent. *** **[1974: Letter to Citsukhananda](letters/1974/740831_citsukhananda)** > Your work there is very much pleasing to me. *** **[1974: Letter to Karandhara](letters/1974/740831_karandhara)** > Please accept my humble obeisances. *** **[1975: Letter to Minister For Land Revenue](letters/1975/750831_minister_for_land_revenue)** > I have been told by Sri Ram Pandey who is the Editor of INPF Samachar Samiti, Allahabad, and the District Youth Counsellor for the District Planning Office, Allahabad; that there are enough barren... *** **[1975: Letter to Sri Rameshji Mahalingam](letters/1975/750831_sri_rameshji_mahalingam)** > Please accept my greetings. *** **[1975: Letter to Svarupa Damodara](letters/1975/750831_svarupa_damodara)** > It is very nice how you are worshiping the Deities. *** **[1976: Letter to Karandhara](letters/1976/760831_karandhara)** > So you are already engaged in the service of Krsna. *** **[1976: Letter to Navayogendra](letters/1976/760831_navayogendra)** > Please continue to render very nice service and certainly Krishna will be pleased upon you. ***