# October 14 ## Spoken on October 14 *Lectures from this day: 13 recordings* --- **[1968: Bhagavad-gītā 2.19–25](spoken/1968/681014bg.sea)** > So *avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā mānuṣīm...*. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, "Because I am moving amongst them as ordinary human being, they are thinking of Me as one of them." *Paraṁ bhāvam ajānantaḥ:* "They do not know what is My background," *paraṁ bhāvam.* "Therefore they fail to understand Me." *Mūḍha.* Rascals, fools. > So Kṛṣṇa says that "I am *suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānām.*" *Suhṛt, suhṛt* means He's such a friend... Just like you have got a friend, sincerely he wants how you shall be happy. Just like your mother. Mother is also friend. Or wife, devoted wife, she is also friend. So mother, wife or any such relative, or father. Or there are many person in our ordinary relationship. So they want actually that "My this friend be happy." That is real friend, *suhṛt.* And *mitra,* social friendship; *bandhu,* official friendship. But *suhṛt, suhṛt* means one who actually desires good of his friend, "sincere friend" which you describe in English. --- **[1972: Lecture in Hindi](spoken/1972/721014le.del)** > So, who is the highest? The one who meditates upon me constantly within his heart That is a yogi. So, yes not just sitting at a place with one's eyes closed. That is also a technique and some day in future one may be able to think of the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord but the perfection of yoga is to constantly meditate upon the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. That is why Prahlāda Maharaja says, *manye tad-arpita-mano-vacane 'hitārtha*, even though a person may be born in the family of dog eaters but at all times if he is able to meditate upon Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet, *manye tad-arpita-manah tad-arpita-manah, tad-arpita* means when one has devoted his mind completely to the Supreme Lord, then he will naturally meditate upon Him. The mind has to think. The mind cannot stay without thinking even for a second. Therefore, we should engage our minds upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead *man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru*, this is *yoga*. *Man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī*: The Lord says just this—always think of me. One should think of the form of the Lord, the qualities of the Lord, His pastimes and one should meditate upon His holy name, this it the path to devotion. > Just like Dhruva Maharaja, he worshiped the Supreme Lord to get material opulence but as soon as he had the audience of the Lord, the real thing, he said: My dear Lord, I wish for nothing else *svāmin kṛtārtho 'smi varaṁ na yāce*. My dear Lord, I don't wish to get another boon. This is the benefit of engaging in devotional service. If one wishes to get some material benediction and for that they engage in devotional service, then even though such is not a pure attitude but it is acceptable from the beginners. Because, the Supreme Lord says: *catur-vidhā bhajante māṁ janāḥ sukṛtino 'rjuna* there are four types of people who are considered pious and thus, take to my devotional service. Who are they? *Ārto arthārthī jijñāsu jñānī*. *Ārtah* those who are distressed, they pray to the Lord: My Lord, I am very much in distress. Please have mercy over me. This is also accepted because at least he has approached the Lord. However, those who are *duskrtinah*, as opposed to the above four who are pious and thus, *sukrtinah, catur-vidhā bhajante māṁ sukrtino 'rjuna. Sukrti, sukrtivan* means those who are pious having committed pious deeds. Without being pious there is no possibility of rendering devotional service. --- **[1972: Room Conversation with Kenneth Keating, U.S. Ambassador to India [Previous Attorney for Macmillan](spoken/1972/721014r1.del)** > Actually God is the proprietor. Therefore anything produced out of the land, that is also property of God. Just like if you have got a gold mine in your country. So I am not... India will not go to claim that "It is my property." It is your property, because it is produced with your land. So if the whole land, whole sky, whole air, whole light, everything belongs to God, then where is your proprietorship? It is stated, *bhūmir āpo 'nalo vāyuḥ khaṁ buddhiḥ mano eva*. Now, nobody can say, "The sky is my property." But there must be some proprietor of the sky. What do you think? If everything has got a proprietor, everything is made of these five elements—sky, water, air, earth... > So although the body has changed—either you say it has grown or changed—I am the same. Therefore conclusion should be that after giving up this dress, *tathā dehāntara-prāptiḥ*, I must have another body. This is the proof of immortality of the soul and transmigration from one body to another. --- **[1973: Bhagavad-gītā 13.20](spoken/1973/731014bg.bom)** > Just like we create favorable circumstances to enjoy even in this life. Why this struggle for existence? We are trying to make a favorable condition for enjoyment. This is struggle for existence. Nobody is satisfied with the present position. Everyone is struggling hard. But he does not know that any material arrangement according to my intelligence will never make me happy. That we do not know. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, "You rascal, nonsense, give up this business." *Sarva-dharmān parityajya*. "You are rascal number one. You have forgotten your constitutional position. Now you give up all these engagements if you want to be happy." *Mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja.* "Just be under My control." "And what benefit I shall derive?" *Ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ:* "I'll give you protection." Because you're suffering for your sinful activities... Everything is sinful activities. Everything. > Just like when we are diseased, we go to the physician and we try to cure the disease; similarly, we do not know what is our main disease. That is explained by Kṛṣṇa previously. *Janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi T*his is our real disease, to take birth, to die, to become old and to become victims of disease. But nobody knows how to cure this, and still, we are very much proud of becoming advanced in education and civilization. This is called illusion. This is called illusion. The real disease is how to stop *janma-mṛtyu.* --- **[1974: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.8.34](spoken/1974/741014sb.may)** > So this is called faith. This is called faith. Unless you have got faith, you cannot understand what is Kṛṣṇa. *Ādau śraddhā. Śraddhā:* "Yes, Kṛṣṇa can make anything possible." That faith we must maintain. That is the basic. That has been explained by Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī, what is faith. Faith means complete conviction. *Śraddhā-śabde viśvāsa kahe sudṛḍha niścaya*. That is faith. *Viśvāsa.* If I say something, and if you believe cent per cent, that is called faith. That is called faith. Not that "It may be," or not. No. So *śraddhā-śabde viśvāsa. Viśvāsa* means faith. How? What kind of faith? *Sudṛḍha niścaya:* firm faith, without any doubt. *Niścaya.* And what is that faith? *Kṛṣṇe bhakti kaile sarva-karma kṛta haya.* If one is surrendered to Kṛṣṇa, then his all duty is done, finished. He has nothing to do. *Na tasya kāryaṁ karaṇaṁ ca vidyate* [*Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad* 6.8]. > According to quality, it can be done. But people are not interested. They want hodgepodge. Therefore they are suffering. They cannot systematically do anything. So when the system of *varṇa* and *āśrama* is destroyed... Just like in Western countries there is no such thing as *varṇa* and *āśrama.* Therefore the *varṇa-saṅkara,* the hippies... That is *varṇa-saṅkara.* The *varṇa-saṅkara...* In the *Bhagavad-gītā...* If the *varṇa-saṅkara* increases, *strīṣu duṣṭāsu varṇa-saṅkaro vibhavate.* When women become polluted, no fixed-up husband—that is pollution for a woman; no chaste, no chastity—then this *varṇa-saṅkara* will come out. And when the world is overpopulated by *varṇa-saṅkara,* it will become a burden. Therefore it so became, atheist, *varṇa-saṅkara,* demons. So it was unbearable by the earthly planet. And it is said, *yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata, tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmy aham*. Therefore Mother Earth went to appeal, "Please come and save me. I am very much overburdened." Therefore it is said, *bhārāvatāraṇāya:* "diminish." --- **[1975: Lecture in Johannesburg](spoken/1975/751014le.joh)** > Now I have got this human form of body, and according to my work I'll get next another body. That body is not guaranteed that I shall get human form of body. In the *Bhagavad-gītā* it is stated, *tathā dehāntara-prāptir* : "You'll get another body." Just like I am old man. I shall die, or I shall change body. Death means I will change the body. Just like I have changed my body many times. When I was in the womb of my mother the first day after the sex, my body was just like a pea. These are..., these information are there in the Vedic literature. The secretion from the father and mother combine together, they become emulsified, and it forms a substance like a pea. Within that pea, the living spirit soul is there. Then it develops. The pea develops. Then there becomes holes, nine holes. We have got nine holes: this nostril, the ear, mouth, the eyes, the genital, the rectum, the navel. We have got nine holes. These nine holes develop. In this way, the body is formed. In seven months' time, the body gets consciousness back. Before that it is in the deep sleeping state. Then after seven months, it is in dreaming state. At that time, it feels inconvenience. To live in the midst of urine, stool, and worms biting so many inconvenience within the womb of the mother. At that time, if he is little pious, he prays to God, "God, give me relief from this state of life. This time I shall engage my time only for Your service, how to realize You." But as soon as he comes out, he forgets everything. > The subtle body mind, intelligence and ego that does not annihilate. The gross body earth, water, air, fire that is finished. Then the subtle body carries me to another gross body. Just like the flavor; the air carries the flavor. If it is blowing on some nice rose garden, the air carries the flavor of the rose. Similarly, my activities in this life will be, at the time of death, will be carried by the subtle body to form another gross body. So that gross body may be any one of the 8,400,000's. There are 8,400,000 forms of body. And by the laws of nature, I will have to enter in one of them. Therefore you will find varieties of living entities. So *bhakti-yoga* means to get relief from this business of being entangled in different bodies. That is called *bhakti-yoga*. --- **[1975: Room Conversation](spoken/1975/751014r1.joh)** > Now everyone, when there are so many cars... I saw one advertisement, Ford car, that "Bring all '79's and compare. Ours is the best." You cannot condemn him. It is advertisement. "Bring all '79 cars, others, and compare with our car." You can have your counselling. That is not cheating. So we say like that, that "Bring all knowledge and compare with *Bhagavad-gītā's* knowledge." Now it is up to you if you accept this or don't accept it. That is not cheating. But these rascals, they are simply placing some bogus theory without any authorized statement: "All of a sudden monkey once gave birth." And where is that authority? --- **[1975: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.7.2–4](spoken/1975/751014sb.joh)** > There is a place, Śamyāprāsa, above Haridvāra, there Vyāsadeva's *āśrama* was situated on the river Brahmanadī, Sarasvatī, on the eas..., western side, *paścime taṭe. Ṛṣīṇāṁ satra-vardhanaḥ:* there all the great sages and saintly persons used to perform sacrifice. *Tasmin āśrame..., tasmin sva āśrame vyāso badarī-ṣaṇḍa-maṇḍite* : the *āśrama* was surrounded by berry trees, *badarī-ṣaṇḍa. Ṣaṇḍa* means trees. *Āsīno 'pa upaspṛśya praṇidadhyau manaḥ svayam.* So in that *āśrama...* Formerly, big, big saintly persons, they used to live in forest *āśrama.* Now they have to come far away from *āśrama* to South Africa, because people have forgotten. Formerly, big, big persons, they used to visit the *āśrama,* but nowadays people are not interested. *Anartha.* They are captivated by the material, external energy. It is said that... Not only now, formerly also, but formerly the number of people who were not interested were very, very small. At the present moment, the number of interested people are very, very small. That is the difference, Kali-yuga. Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu, He inaugurated this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, that people in this age are no more interested in their value of life. They are in darkness. Therefore Vaiṣṇava, under the instruction of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, should go door to door, country to country, town to town, and preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness for their benefit. > "Because I am come just like a human being, these rascals, *mūḍhās*, asses..." *Mūḍhā* means asses. The example of *mūḍhā,* just like in our vernacular language, we condemn some person who is useless, *gādha.* So *gādha,* that is *mūḍhā. Gādha,* why he is condemned? Because he does not know his interest. He works under one washerman and loads tons of cloth on the back, and the washerman gives a morsel of grass. And he stands the whole day, again carrying back the big tons of cloth. But why he is *gādha*? Now, this grass can be had anywhere, but he is thinking, "The washerman is supplying me grass; therefore I must carry his burden." Therefore he is *gādha,* ass. [chuckles] He can get grasses anywhere, but he is thinking that "This Mr. Washerman is so kind that he is giving me grass, so I have to bear his cloth." So the *karmīs,* they are like that. They are thinking that "Unless we work, we cannot get our grass." Therefore they have been described in the *śāstra* as asses, *mūḍhā. Mūḍhā. Mūḍho 'yaṁ nābhijānāti*. --- **[1976: Address in Hindi [translated](spoken/1976/761014ad.cha)** > This is the scriptural injunction. The form of the Supreme Lord in Kali-yuga is Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He is present before you. Simply by performing *Hari-kirtana*, just like these people have demonstrated it by following the footsteps of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Caitanya Mahāprabhu has displayed us and we follow Him. We belong to Caitanya *sampradāya*. People have become so foolish in *Kali-yuga* as I have already said earlier, that they don't know religious principles or anything. Therefore to revive them this is the only alternative. > This is not gentlemanly. That is ungentlemanly. You are so fool. You came to fight. You are My friend known to Me and you are declining to fight?" That was his desire. The Supreme Lord says, you fight, but *Na kariṣye vacanaṁ tava*. No. I will not follow Your advise. But after hearing *Bhagavad-gītā* he concluded, *kariṣye vacanaṁ tava*. That "*Na*" was missing. No more "Na." Yes, I will do. This change took place. It is not difficult to understand. Before it was, *na kariṣye vacanaṁ tava*, then it became, *kariṣye vacanaṁ tava.* This change should take place. One who changes like this that what the Supreme Lord is saying in *Bhagavad-gītā*, *kariṣye vacanaṁ tava,* I will do, his reading of *Bhagavad-gītā* is successful. Otherwise he remains a fool. --- **[1976: Morning Walk](spoken/1976/761014mw.cha)** > Ātmā* becomes very happy. *Na śocati na kāṅkṣati.* He has no more any lamentation and hankering. There are two things in this material world: we are hankering after something which we do not possess, and we are lamenting for something which we possessed and we have lost. This is the disease, material disease. So when one comes to the platform of *jñāna,* then he has no more such disease, hankering and lamenting. Here the whole world is going on, lamenting and hankering. So *brahma-bhūta* means *na śocati na kāṅkṣati* and *samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu.* And here, so long we are on the material platform, we are not *samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu.* We are thinking, "You are different from me; I am different from you. My interest is first." You are thinking your interest is first and so on, so on. So not *samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu.* But when you become actually *jñānī, brahma-bhūtaḥ, samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu.* When you are in distaste, *na śocati na kāṅkṣati, samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu, prasannātmā,* then *bhakti* begins. *Mad-bhaktiṁ labhate parām*. So *bhakti* is not so easy thing. > "The body is changing. From baby body is coming, becoming a boy; a boy is becoming a young man; young man is becoming middle-aged man; and the middle-aged man is becoming old man." The body is changing every moment, and still, they do not believe. Every one of us, we know that we had a childhood body, a boy's body. Where is that body? That body is gone. I am existing, but the body is not existing. Therefore I have changed body. This simple word, they do not understand. Therefore they are called *mūḍha.* Kṛṣṇa is pointing out, *dehino 'smin yathā dehe kaumāraṁ yauvanaṁ jarā tathā dehāntara-prāptiḥ*. Similarly, there is after this, after so-called death, the soul changes to another body, and He still further clearly says, *na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre* : "After this destruction of this body, the person is not killed. He's not dead." *Na jāyate na mriyate vā kadācit.* These things are there, but nobody understands. And they're very good scholar, big, big student of *Bhagavad-gītā.* But these things they do not understand. And they're writing very, very big, big comments. --- **[1977: Room Conversation](spoken/1977/771014r2.vrn)** > Whatever you say, Śrīla Prabhupāda, is being recorded, and then Tamāla Kṛṣṇa and Hari-śauri, they're all busy copying down, rewriting into their diaries, 'cause your words are so nectarine. And then all the devotees are anxious to hear. So then they copy down from them. It's like a little press, already. Bhakti-caru... If you speak in Bengali, then Bhakti-caru also translates. --- **[1977: Room Conversation](spoken/1977/771014r3.vrn)** > > naite sureśā ṛṣayo na caite > > tvam eva bhāsīśa bhid-āśraye 'pi > > sarvaṁ pṛthak tvaṁ nigamāt kathaṁ > > vadety... > > ## Letters on October 14 *Letters from this day: 17* --- **[1967: Letter to Brahmananda](letters/1967/671014_brahmananda)** > "Swami Kirtanananda has returned to the United States and is causing quite a stir among the devotees. --- **[1968: Letter to Hayagriva](letters/1968/681014_hayagriva)** > My program for European tour is not yet fixed and as such I shall be glad to go to Columbus as soon as you call me. --- **[1971: Letter to Vasudeva](letters/1971/711014_vasudeva)** > I have heard a serious complaint against you that you are in intimate relation with Aradhana's wife Santanu. --- **[1971: Letter to Vrinda](letters/1971/711014_vrinda)** > Our ISKCON Society married couples means that both parties fully are engaged in Krishna's service. I have noted your several complaints against the devotees but it would be better to set the example rather than to criticize the defects of the devotees. --- **[1973: Letter to Bali Mardan](letters/1973/731014_bali_mardan)** > The day before yesterday whatever money I had in the Bombay account, about 4 lakhs, I've given Mrs. Nair another 3 lakhs, and I have compensated Ch__ganlal with 2 lakhs, 16 thousand, out of which 1 lakh 40 thousand has been paid by Mrs. --- **[1973: Letter to Dhrstaketu](letters/1973/731014_dhrstaketu)** > Regarding the money sent from New York, whatever comes to India, it is never returned. --- **[1973: Letter to Gunagrahi](letters/1973/731014_gunagrahi)** > Krsna has given you nice opportunity to preach the philosophy so you must be sure to understand it rightly. So go on with your travelling and preaching program and you can count on it that Krsna will give you all facility. --- **[1973: Letter to Patita Uddharana](letters/1973/731014_patita_uddharana)** > Yes, regarding your poems, I shall like to see what you have written. The encyclopedia is too great a task. Do not attempt it. --- **[1974: Letter to Frederico Lourenco](letters/1974/741014_frederico_lourenco)** > You should read Bhagavad-gita As It Is carefully verse to verse and word to word, and you will be benefited, and if you have any difficulty to understand anything I shall be very glad to have your inquiry. --- **[1974: Letter to Gurudas Prabhu](letters/1974/741014_gurudas_prabhu)** > Ample money is already coming without your having to go, and Srila Prabhupad has taken responsibility for providing funds whatever you need himself. --- **[1974: Letter to Hanuman](letters/1974/741014_hanuman)** > I had heard that you have since gone to Buenos Aires, so please let me know what is your program. --- **[1974: Letter to Stephen Graham](letters/1974/741014_stephen_graham)** > We have our centers in London, or if you like you can come here to Mayapur where we have got a very nice temple and open land. Anyway, if you are sincere, Krishna will help you in all respects. --- **[1974: Letter to Tusta Krsna](letters/1974/741014_tusta_krsna)** > So for your preaching you should just request everyone you meet to chant Hare Krishna and to follow the four regulative principles. --- **[1976: Letter to Dr. W.H. Wolf-Rottkay](letters/1976/761014_dr._w.h._wolf-rottkay)** > Regarding the scientists, we have entrusted our own three scientists namely Svarupa Damodara, Sadaputa, and Madhva and we leave the matter to them, we do not say anything ourselves, but are leaving it to them. But there are many common men who do not believe that they have gone to the moon planet. --- **[1976: Letter to Giriraja](letters/1976/761014_giriraja)** > Yes, you can do as you have suggested, reply in the monthly news letter to the members, followed by the reply I sent to Smt. Your preaching in the colleges is nice, try to make some Indian devotees. --- **[1976: Letter to Sriman Bajaji](letters/1976/761014_sriman_bajaji)** > I accept your invitation. --- **[1976: Letter to Yasomatinandana](letters/1976/761014_yasomatinandana)** > Do not install Gaura Nitai deities until sufficient men are there to take proper care of them. Regarding men; everywhere there is shortage, we cannot continue to import men continually. ---