# September 8 ## Spoken on September 8 *Lectures from this day: 6 recordings* --- **[1971: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.5.22–30](spoken/1971/710908sb.lon)** > "Such persons immediately becomes liberated from the bondage of three modes of material nature." *Sa guṇān samatītyaitān.* Great philosophers, great *yogīs,* they are undergoing severe type of austerities. Why? Just to get out of the clutches of these three modes of material nature, the three modes of material nature: goodness, passion and ignorance. Everyone is being conducted under the influence of these different types of material nature. Even in this material world, goodness, that is also bondage, and what to speak of passion and ignorance. So Kṛṣṇa says anyone who is engaged in devotional service, immediately, *sa samatītyaitān guṇān. Etān guṇān* means these three qualities of material nature, *brahma-bhūyāya kalpate*.* That is real stage of *ahaṁ brahmāsmi.* > Everything is there in the *śāstras.* If you simply refer to *śāstras* for the right source of knowledge, then you get. In the *Bhagavad-gītā* also it is said, *yaḥ śāstra-vidhim utsṛjya.* If you do things without reference to the *śāstras,* then, Lord Kṛṣṇa says, *na siddhiṁ sa avapnoti:* "You will never get perfection." "Neither happiness." --- **[1972: Bhagavad-gītā 2.13](spoken/1972/720908bg.pit)** > So in order to understand... Just like Kṛṣṇa is teaching Arjuna. Before this, Kṛṣṇa* [Arjuna] surrendered himself: *śiṣyas te 'haṁ śādhi māṁ prapannam*.* Although they were friends, Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna were friends... First of all, they were talking like friends, and Arjuna was arguing with Kṛṣṇa. This argument has no value, because if I am imperfect, what is the meaning of my argument? Whatever I shall argue, that is also imperfect. So what is the use of wasting time by imperfect argument? This is not process. The process is that we must approach to a perfect person and take his instruction as it is. Then our knowledge is perfect. Without any argument. > So past, future..., past, present and future, relatively we can understand in any condition of life. Therefore the conclusion is that when this aged body as I have got now... I am seventy-seven years old. So when this body will be finished, I'll get another body. As I have got consecutively from boyhood to childhood, childhood, I have..., from childhood to boyhood, boyhood to youthhood, aged body, so why not next body? This is simple truth, that the living entity, or the soul, is transmigrating from one body to another. This is the basic principle of spiritual understanding. --- **[1973: Bhagavad-gītā 7.1 At Uppsala University](spoken/1973/730908bg.sto)** > Description of God. He's *nitya. Nitya* means eternal. And we living entities, we are also eternal. *Na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre*. We, at the present moment, in the material condition, we are changing body. That change of body is called death. Actually, the living entity within the body, he has no death, no birth. *Na jāyate na mriyate vā kadācit.* This description we have got in the Vedic literature. So God is also *nitya,* eternal. We are also eternal. God is also cognizant, and we are also cognizant. We have got knowledge, and God has got knowledge. The difference is that I have got knowledge limited within this limit of this body. I have no knowledge what is going on in your body; neither you know what is going on in my body. Therefore, we are individuals. But God is, although individual, He's spread everywhere. That is God. > We can think of Kṛṣṇa. We have Kṛṣṇa's form, Kṛṣṇa Deity, we worship. So if we engage ourself in the worship of the Deity, the form of Kṛṣṇa, which is nondifferent from Kṛṣṇa, or, in the absence of Deity, if we chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, that is also Kṛṣṇa. *Abhinnatvān nāma-nāminoḥ*. Kṛṣṇa is Absolute. Therefore, there is no difference between Him and His name. There is no difference between Him and His form. There is no difference between Him and His picture. There is no difference between Him and His topics. Anything about Kṛṣṇa is Kṛṣṇa. This is called absolute knowledge. So either you chant the Kṛṣṇa's name or you worship Kṛṣṇa's form—everything is Kṛṣṇa. So there are different forms of devotional service. --- **[1973: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.5.1](spoken/1973/730908sb.sto)** > And here, these verses of Ṛṣabhadeva, he says warning. He's warning, He's speaking to His sons, but we can take the lesson, that He says, *nāyaṁ deho deha-bhājāṁ nṛloke kaṣṭān kāmān arhate viḍ-bhujāṁ ye*. Kāmān* means the necessities of life. You can get your necessities of life very easily. By tilling the field, you get grains. And if there is cow, you get milk. That's all. That is sufficient. But the leaders are making plan that if they are satisfied with their farming work, little grains and milk, then who will work in the factory? Therefore they are taxing so that you cannot live even simple life—this is the position. Even if you desire, the modern leaders will not allow you. They'll force you to work like dogs and hogs and asses. This is the position. > So the atheist class man will always think that Deity is a doll: "These people, crazy fellow, they are worshiping doll." But not for a devotee. For a devotee, the Deity is prepared to talk and offer His blessings. So therefore, we should consider either the picture or the Deity not as such, but... This is very reasonable, because in the *Bhagavad-gītā* we see Kṛṣṇa says that, --- **[1975: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.2.4](spoken/1975/750908sb.vrn)** > So the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement is so strong, and indirectly, directly, or some way or other if you chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, you become benefited. It is so. So if you neglectfully chant Hare Kṛṣṇa you become so benefited, then how much you will be benefited if you carefully chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. That should be the ideal. Therefore, *sa yat pramāṇaṁ kurute lokas tad anuvartate.* Unfortunately, those decrying this Kṛṣṇa movement or Kṛṣṇa... They directly making propaganda. When Kṛṣṇa says, *man-manā mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru*,* the so-called scholars, they say, "It is not to Kṛṣṇa." They're misleading. *Lokas tad anuvartate.* The people are becoming against Kṛṣṇa: "Why Kṛṣṇa should be God? I have got another God, manufactured. Here is God." Kṛṣṇa was so beautiful, and I am God, so ugly God? No. There are so many ugly Gods nowadays, that ferocious face and he is God. We worship God, so nice face, people come and become enchanted. And they bring a God, a ferocious head, and he becomes God. This is going on. The whole propaganda is like that. Even big, big political leaders, they'll say, "We don't believe in Kṛṣṇa, there was a person as Kṛṣṇa living ever." > Dāmpatye ratim eva hi.* These will be the signs of Kali-yuga. *Dāmpatye* means husband and wife. Their relation will stand so long they satisfy one another by sex, *rati. Rati* means sex. *Dāmpatye ratim eva hi.* And as soon as there is sex disturbance, divorce: "I don't want you." "A *brāhmaṇa* means one two-*paisa* thread." That's all. "A *sannyāsī* means a rod." These are the explanations. And a very expert man means *kuṭumba, dākṣyaṁ kuṭumba-bharaṇam.* If anyone can maintain a family—family means one wife and one or two children—then he is to be considered very expert, successful, because... Therefore you will find in these days no wife, no children, no family. In Western countries they take dog as the best friend, and television. That's all. Because this is Kali-yuga, no family. But he must have some companion, but he doesn't want family, the botheration of family. Then dog is the best friend. What can be done? This is going on, and it will increase more and more, more and more. --- **[1976: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.7.9 [Partially Recorded](spoken/1976/760908sb.vrn)** > Suppose if somebody is assured that now, henceforward, you haven't go to do anything, everything will come automatically, naturally one becomes *prasannātmā,* very jolly. I am free from the anxieties. Because this material world means full of anxieties, *sadā samudvigna-dhiyām.* That is material world. And when you come to the spiritual platform, there is no anxieties, no..., *na śocati na kāṅkṣati.* That is anxiety-free. So anxiety-free does not mean you haven't got to do anything. Your material life is purified, *sarvopādhi vinirmuktaṁ tat paratvena nirmalam*. When we become free from the designation, "I am this body," therefore "I am American," "I am Indian," "I am the father of this family, so I have got my wife, I have got my children," so many things, this is material relationship. So when we understand that I am nothing to do with all these things, certainly I become jolly, *prasannātmā.* But it is not that cessation of our activities. No. *Mad-bhaktiṁ labhate parām . > In other words, the *ātmārāma,* they cease their material activities, but they begin their spiritual activities. Therfore we find Śukadeva Gosvāmī, he ceased from all material activities, but when he saw that Parikṣit Mahārāja is very much anxious what to do—he is a Vaiṣṇava, perfect Vaiṣṇava, and Śukadeva Gosvāmī is perfect Vaiṣṇava—he approached him, that "Parikṣit Mahārāja is perplexed..." --- ## Letters on September 8 *Letters from this day: 24* --- **[1969: Letter to Gargamuni](letters/1969/690908_gargamuni)** > Regarding Brahmananda's letter, I have asked him not to open Spiritual Sky business on the Eastern Coast, and a copy of the letter is enclosed herewith for your reference. --- **[1969: Letter to Tamala Krsna](letters/1969/690908_tamala_krsna)** > I am very much concerned why ____ is not complying to the principles of the temple. --- **[1970: Letter to Punjab National Bank](letters/1970/700908_punjab_national_bank)** > Kindly receive the following draft of the State Bank of India in your favor and credit the same to my account above mentioned. --- **[1974: Letter to Adi-Kesava](letters/1974/740908_adi-kesava)** > Allston, Massachusetts I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 20th. Regarding taking the Deities out on travelling sankirtana, I think you can take guidance from Visnujana Maharaja and Tamala Krishna Goswami who are giving you the example in this connection. --- **[1974: Letter to Dixit](letters/1974/740908_dixit)** > By the grace of Lord Nrsimhadeva I am improving in my health. I expect to be coming to Bombay as soon as Giriraja completes my new quarters on Hare Krishna Land. At that time I may see you. --- **[1974: Letter to Jadurani](letters/1974/740908_jadurani)** > Regarding Picture #1, it was not enclosed, but yes Mother Yasoda feeding Krsna is parental love, or sometimes you can show Krsna with great difficulty placing the slipper of Nanda Maharaja on his head. --- **[1974: Letter to Jayapataka](letters/1974/740908_jayapataka)** > By the grace of Lord Nrsimhadeva I am improving in my health. --- **[1974: Letter to Ksirodakasayi](letters/1974/740908_ksirodakasayi)** > By the grace of Lord Nrsimhadeva I have recovered from the danger and am improving daily and I thank you for your prayers. --- **[1974: Letter to Mrs. Singhal](letters/1974/740908_mrs._singhal)** > Bombay 56 I thank you very much for your letter dated August 31st. By the grace of Lord Nrsimhadeva my health is improving. --- **[1974: Letter to Sarvabhauma Putanara Gandharvi](letters/1974/740908_sarvabhauma_putanara_gandharvi)** > Anyway I am expecting to arrive in Calcutta some time this month and at that time I will be glad to see you and answer all of your questions. --- **[1974: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1974/740908_satsvarupa)** > Your letter is very much pleasing to me with the report of the book distribution. --- **[1974: Letter to Srutadeva](letters/1974/740908_srutadeva)** > It is this sankirtana which is the life and soul of our movement. Sankirtana and book distribution should go on together side by side. --- **[1974: Letter to Svarupa Damodara](letters/1974/740908_svarupa_damodara)** > Be fully strong to push on this cult amongst the educated scientific circle. That you are getting many speaking invitations is a good indication. --- **[1974: Letter to Tamala Krsna](letters/1974/740908_tamala_krsna)** > Your program for distributing books and having the street festivals and then preaching and making devotees is very good. Also by teaching by your personal example and attending to the Deity worship is the most convincing. --- **[1974: Letter to Vibhavati](letters/1974/740908_vibhavati)** > So whether you are alone or with your husband you must continue to follow the regulative principles. --- **[1974: Letter to Visala](letters/1974/740908_visala)** > 1st, as well as enclosed daksina of 111/- rupees. I thank you very much for this. --- **[1975: Letter to Manager Central Bank Of India](letters/1975/750908_manager_central_bank_of_india)** > I am enclosing herewith the forms duly signed and shall be thankful if you open my personal account with your bank. --- **[1976: Letter to David B. Richeter Hughes](letters/1976/760908_david_b._richeter_hughes)** > Thank you very much for your kind offer to have me as your Permanent Acarya and Honorary Chairman. --- **[1976: Letter to Dixit](letters/1976/760908_dixit)** > Thank you very much for offering your services at the new university, but first let us get the opportunity and as soon as we start the establishment it will be a great pleasure. --- **[1976: Letter to Ramesvara](letters/1976/760908_ramesvara)** > It is very good that all this business has stopped *sato vrtte sadhu sange.* Revatinandana Swami is a very good preacher and you should encourage him. He can do nicely. --- **[1976: Letter to Sri Kamal Krishna](letters/1976/760908_sri_kamal_krishna)** > In reply to your Bengali letter registered posted to Delhi, I have advised the president of the Mayapur center to do the needful. The copy is enclosed and you can see personally. --- **[1976: Letter to Sri Santosh Kumar Pyne](letters/1976/760908_sri_santosh_kumar_pyne)** > Similarly the relief from this material world comes from above as we have got instructions in the Bhagavad-gita. So if you like you can retire from family life—you are old enough—and it may be possible for us to give you some shelter. I am in Vrndavana at present and shall remain here at least for one month. --- **[1976: Letter to Surendra Babu](letters/1976/760908_surendra_babu)** > On my return from Europe and America I have received your Vyasa Puja greetings and I thank you very much for the sentiments you have expressed therein. --- **[1976: Letter to Trivikrama](letters/1976/760908_trivikrama)** > Unless there is some favorable opinions there is no need of opening a temple there. ---