# September 1 ## Spoken on September 1 *Lectures from this day: 9 recordings* --- **[1972: Janmāṣṭamī [Kṛṣṇa Book Reading](spoken/1972/720901re.nv)** > Next. Who is that reading? Yes, now. --- **[1973: Bhagavad-gītā 2.31](spoken/1973/730901bg.lon)** > So here Kṛṣṇa says that "You are *kṣatriya*; your duty is to fight." *Dharmyāddhi yuddhāt.* "This fight arranged by Me in the battlefield of Kurukṣetra, because it is sanctioned by Me, it is *dharma-yuddha,* it is religious fighting." It is not the political diplomats declaring war to keep the people in ignorance. No. It is sanctioned by Kṛṣṇa. Whatever is sanctioned by Kṛṣṇa, that is *dharma. Dharma,* the explanation of *dharma* I have several times given you, that *dharmaṁ hi sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam:* whatever God sanctions, that is *dharma.* So God, Kṛṣṇa, personally has sanctioned this Battle of Kurukṣetra. So therefore it is *dharma, dharma-yuddha,* religious fight. It is not ordinary fighting of the diplomats and the politicians. It is *dharma-yuddha.* So therefore He says, *dharmyāddhi yuddhāc chreyo 'nyat kṣatriyasya na vidyate:* "You are *kṣatriya.* You are fighting for the sake of religious system. That is the..., your first-class duty." *Śreyaḥ.* > So this is... Those who are in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, those who have decided to serve Kṛṣṇa only, they are no longer in the categories of *sva-dharma,* the bodily *sva-dharma, brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra,* or *brahmacārī, vānaprastha.* He is transcendental. That is confirmed in every *śāstra.* So, so far we are concerned, Kṛṣṇa conscious, so long our bodily concept of life is not completely eradicated, we must follow the *sva-dharma* of the body: *brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra, ity ādi.* But when actually advanced, that is *mahā-bhāgavata.* We should not imitate that, but our process is the more we advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, we become transcendental to this bodily concept of life, *brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra.* But Kṛṣṇa says, --- **[1973: Room Conversation with Peter](spoken/1973/730901r1.lon)** > The *Bhagavad-gītā* is the perfect information of everything. One has to study carefully, that's all. It is perfect information. And you can accept it with your good logic. Not that blindly you accept. Now just like Kṛṣṇa says, "The material elements are My energy." Now you can consider, you can argue, you can make argument, you'll come to the conclusion. Just like material elements, water, the vast water. The ocean, Atlantic Ocean, vast water. So it is created by God's energy. How can you explain with your argument? Because it is said there, Kṛṣṇa says, that "This is My energy." Now, if you accept it, it is all right. But if you have got hesitation, what is your reason? > "This example is given in the *smṛti:* when there is a fragrant flower before someone, the fragrance is touched by the smelling power of the person, yet the smelling and the flower are detached from one another. There is a similar connection between the material world and the Supreme Personality of Godhead; actually He has nothing to do with this material world, but He creates by His glance and ordains. In summary, material nature, without the superintendence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, cannot do anything. Yet the Supreme Personality is detached from all material activities. --- **[1973: Room Conversation](spoken/1973/730901r2.lon)** > So these things are all explained in the *Bhagavad-gītā*. Therefore *guru* means who is taking the words of the Supreme by *paramparā* system. Just like from Vivasvān, Manu; from Manu, Ikṣvāku; from Ikṣvāku to others. Same way. So sometimes we are missing the connecting link, but we can capture it anyway. Just like Arjuna. Arjuna is hearing directly from Kṛṣṇa, and as Arjuna heard to Kṛṣṇa... Because he directly heard Kṛṣṇa, he is bona fide. Kṛṣṇa says that "You are bona fide. Because you are My devotee and friend, I shall speak to you again." So you take the version of Arjuna, then you can be bona fide. But Arjuna is taking in one way, and you are taking in another way, then you are missing. This is the way. It is not very difficult. A *guru* means he speaks the same thing as the original master says. The original master is Kṛṣṇa. And *guru* means he has to repeat the words of Kṛṣṇa, that's all. To become *guru* is not very difficult. Kṛṣṇa says that He is the Supreme; a *guru* will say that "He is Supreme; I am servant." *Guru* will never say that "I am He." That is nonsense. That is [indistinct]. > Bhaktiḥ pareśānubhavo viraktir anyatra syāt*. That is *bhakti. Bhakti* means God-realization. *Bhaktyā mām abhijānāti* : "One can understand Me only through *bhakti*." So that is first-class religion, *bhakti.* So if you have got *bhakti,* then you will realize God daily, every moment. That is real understanding. So by becoming a follower of [indistinct] Thakur, whether we have developed that Kṛṣṇa consciousness or not, that is the test. But how can I say? It is up to you. That is up to you. --- **[1975: Morning Walk](spoken/1975/750901mw.vrn)** > That is the material nature. You must be always in trouble—*ādhyātmika, ādhibhautika.* "No." They will say, "No, this trouble is better than that trouble." [laughter] This is their... "This trouble is better than that trouble." Hare Kṛṣṇa. This Dr. Ghosh, he said... When he was student in Calcutta he was doctor of tropical medicine. So one English doctor was his professor, Cornel Mellor. So he was lecturing and... Now the friends have come to greet. He said that "In our country seventy-five percent, at least, students are infected with syphilis." > This place is *duḥkhālayam,* full of miseries. And Kṛṣṇa is canvassing, "Why you are suffering? Come to Me." This mercantile community, they are earning money for mitigating suffering, but for earning money they are accepting any means. In future he is creating field of another suffering. That he does not know. He thinks, "Now, if I get money somehow or other, my present sufferings will be mitigated." But he does not know that he is creating another field of suffering. --- **[1975: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.64–65](spoken/1975/750901sb.vrn)** > The *prakṛti*... We are *prakṛti,* nature, I mean to..., spiritual nature, *parā prakṛti.* The material nature is *aparā prakṛti,* and we living entities, we are trying to enjoy this *prakṛti.* Therefore sometimes the living entity, either man or woman, he is described as *puruṣa. Puruṣa* means the one who keeps the feeling of becoming enjoyer. That is *puruṣa.* So this material world is *prakṛti* and *puruṣa.* It is said in the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* in the instruction of Ṛṣabhadeva, *puṁsaḥ striyā mithunī-bhāvam etat*. The whole basic principle of materialistic civilization is the attachment between man and woman. *Puṁsaḥ striyā mithunī-bhāva. Mithunī-bhāvam* is sex. And *tayor mitho hṛdaya-granthim āhuḥ:* on account of this sex relationship, the man or woman is bound up. *Hṛdaya-granthi. Granthi* means knot, and *hṛdaya* means heart. So the man is thinking of the woman, and the woman is thinking of man. *Hṛdaya granthim āhuḥ.* Then we require material possession: *ataḥ gṛha-kṣetra-sutāpta-vittair janasya moho 'yam ahaṁ mameti*. This is our material, conditional life. > So in this way the material world is very, very entangled. And if we become Kṛṣṇa conscious, then we become free from this entanglement. All these criticisms or the divisions are there for *grāmyaiḥ.* Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu has advised, *grāma-kathā nā kahibe, bhāla nā kahibe nā bhāla nā paribe.* This is *vairāgya*— "Don't indulge in *grāmya-kathā*." Therefore we always advise, "Don't read newspaper. Don't read any other book," because it is full of *grāmya-kathā, grāmyaiḥ.* So to avoid it as far as possible. There is no need. What is the news of a *grāmya-kathā* newspaper? The same thing repeated: here there is flood; where there is train disaster; where there is accident; and political, and one politician is giving speech, another politician is giving speech. These are the *grāmya* things. --- **[1976: Evening Darśana](spoken/1976/760901ed.del)** > Ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā.* I am worried about them. This is the consideration of a *vaiṣṇava*. *Śoce tato vimukha-cetasa indriyārtha-māyā-sukhāya bharam udvahato vimūḍhān. Vimūdhān* refers to those who do not know what is the real happiness. Just like a boy, he gives up the purpose of life to take education and accomplish many things, and plays around. Similarly, we are *vimūdhā*. What is the purpose of life? We have got the human form of life. What is wanted? Ignoring all these, we are busy how to eat nicely, how to sleep, how to enjoy life nicely. This is called *māyā sukhāya*. One cannot enjoy fully. There are so many problems in that. > "It is a great offense, therefore, to consider Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, to be an ordinary man. Those who do so are certainly deluded, because they cannot understand the eternal form of Kṛṣṇa. In the *Bṛhad-vaiṣṇava mantra* it is clearly stated that one who considers the body of Kṛṣṇa to be material should be driven out from all rituals and activities of the *śruti.* And if one by chance sees his face, he should at once take bath in the Ganges to rid himself of infection. People jeer at Kṛṣṇa because they are envious of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Their destiny is certainly to take birth after birth in the species of atheistic and demoniac life. Perpetually, their real knowledge will remain under delusion, and gradually they will regress to the darkest region of creation." --- ## Letters on September 1 *Letters from this day: 21* --- **[1949: Letter to: Gita Mandir Trust — September 1, 1949](letters/1947-1965/490901_gita_mandir_trust)** > I am so much obliged to your kindly conveying the blessings of Reverend Swamiji 108 Sri Srimad Vidyanandji Maharaja. --- **[1969: Letter to Manager Of The Punjab National Bank](letters/1969/690901_manager_of_the_punjab_national_bank)** > In further reference to our past correspondence, I am wondering if you have as yet advanced 100 Rs. --- **[1969: Letter to Prosanta Mukherjee](letters/1969/690901_prosanta_mukherjee)** > I am wondering if you have any information as to what is the difficulty in this connection. This is to inform you that in spite of my writing to so many Mukutwalas and Murtiwalay I am receiving no reply to my letters. --- **[1970: Letter to Punjab National Bank](letters/1970/700901_punjab_national_bank)** > Re: My Savings Fund Account No. --- **[1971: Letter to Damodara](letters/1971/710901_damodara)** > It is good news that Ocean City temple, started by Baltimore and Washington centers as a summer project, has succeeded and even one devotee has come from there also. --- **[1971: Letter to Gurudasa](letters/1971/710901_gurudasa)** > So far Indira Gandhi is concerned, I have replied that point in Tamala's letter enclosed. If you can arrange one meeting between her and myself that will be very nice. --- **[1971: Letter to Sukhada](letters/1971/710901_sukhada)** > Also I have received your generous check for $50 as daksina. You are such a sincere and intelligent girl and if you will just stick to our principles you are sure to make rapid advancement in this Krishna Consciousness. So work cooperatively with Satsvarupa and the others and help to make all of Boston city Krishna Conscious. --- **[1971: Letter to Tamala Krsna](letters/1971/710901_tamala_krsna)** > I am glad that you have admitted about the GBC members not very appropriately discharging their duty. --- **[1971: Letter to Vrindaban Candra](letters/1971/710901_vrindaban_candra)** > I am very much anxious to know about your wife. I hope that she is doing well after that accident. Please offer her my blessings. --- **[1972: Letter to Gurudasa](letters/1972/720901_gurudasa)** > So Bhavananda is coming there in a few days, and Tamala Krishna is coming with one engineer, so conjointly you three men consider everything with these points in mind and do the needful. If you all three big men think that it is a good bargain, then you may offer as you think best, but consulting with me first. --- **[1973: Letter to Karandhara](letters/1973/730901_karandhara)** > Regarding initiation of the new devotees, I am sending herewith the names against each of them, the beads may be chanted upon by you and delivered by regular ritualistic ceremony. For second initiation find herewith the sacred threads duly chanted by me and you do the rest work. --- **[1974: Letter to Gurukrpa](letters/1974/740901_gurukrpa)** > Regarding the allurements of money and women, Krsna will protect you. Caitanya Mahaprabhu at a young age took sannyasa and Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya was also thinking like you are thinking. --- **[1975: Letter to Alanatha](letters/1975/750901_alanatha)** > I think the translation work was done by Vegavan and Ajita Prabhus. It is not simply a matter of ABC's, but it requires spiritual realization to do it properly. --- **[1975: Letter to Badarinarayana](letters/1975/750901_badarinarayana)** > Upon your recommendation I am accepting her as my initiated disciple, and her spiritual name is Padmahasta dasi. Please see that she chants regularly 16 rounds. --- **[1975: Letter to Bahu Rupa](letters/1975/750901_bahu_rupa)** > How can you prove that Vedic culture did not exist before 5,000 years? Darwin's theory says millions and millions of years in calculation. So how are these millions of years existing? --- **[1975: Letter to Hansadutta Bhagavan](letters/1975/750901_hansadutta_bhagavan)** > Kotovsky and also the one with Syamasundara, and translate it into Russian and distribute in Russia. Whatever success I have got, it is because the Westerners have cooperated. --- **[1975: Letter to Jayananda](letters/1975/750901_jayananda)** > What you have done is good. Why should you remarry? Rather you should take sannyasa. Now you are getting very good training. Why has Jayatirtha suggested you to remarry? --- **[1975: Letter to Mr. Aubrey L. Duke](letters/1975/750901_mr._aubrey_l._duke)** > If you take away the girl, I have no objection. We do not force anyone to go or to stay. --- **[1975: Letter to Ramesvara Co](letters/1975/750901_ramesvara_co)** > Let me first of all finish Srimad-Bhagavatam, then we can take up others. For me to publish alone the first three volumes, I had to take so much trouble, but by the cooperation of you American boys and girls now this has become possible. --- **[1976: Letter to Dr. S.B. Chatterjee](letters/1976/760901_dr._s.b._chatterjee)** > If you want to see me in Calcutta, you will have to wait until December when I may arrive there. --- **[1976: Letter to Jagajivana](letters/1976/760901_jagajivana)** > I am very pleased that you have taken up this mission of spreading the Krsna consciousness movement all over the world. ---