# November 2 ## Spoken on November 2 *Lectures from this day: 18 recordings* --- **[1966: Bhagavad-gītā 8.20–22](spoken/1966/661102bg.ny.md)** > So Kṛṣṇa says, *avyakto 'kṣara ity uktas tam āhuḥ paramāṁ gatim*. That nonmanifested... Because in the material eyes, material science... It is not possible to, I mean to say, disclose by material science. What is material science? We cannot go even to this moon planet, what to speak of the spiritual planet. It is not possible. It is not possible. So *avyakto 'kṣara ity uktas tam āhuḥ paramāṁ gatim.* That is the... If we want to penetrate the outer space, we should be able to penetrate this outer space, or this covering, then enter into that spiritual sky, and there it is called *paramāṁ gatim.* That sort of journey is called supreme. Not that you go up 25,000 away from this planet and again come back. This is not very heroism. Oh, you should have to penetrate the whole material space and then penetrate the cover and then reach the real sky. Yes. > Therefore we have taken this movement, Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Join us. Cooperate with us. You'll... Yourself you will be benefited, and the world will be benefited, this Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So, *yaṁ prāpya na nivartante tad dhāma paramaṁ mama*. The Lord says, "That superior place, superior nature, if somebody can go there, then he has no more to come back here. He gets the highest perfection of life." Now, if there... What is there? What is the nature and what are the paraphernalia? Now, here it is said, *puruṣaḥ sa paraḥ pārtha bhaktyā labhyas tv ananyayā*. --- **[1972: The Nectar of Devotion](spoken/1972/721102nd.vrn)** > This means every living entity has got a little independence. Kṛṣṇa, or God, does not interfere with that independence. *Yathecchasi tathā kuru.* At the last, also, Kṛṣṇa says, *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja* : "You do it." Kṛṣṇa can instruct us, "You do it." If I don't do it, that is my option. That option is always there. Kṛṣṇa does not oblige me. Otherwise, what is the difference between me and the stone? The stone has no independence, but I am living entity; I have got my independence. > Actually, everything belongs to Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa says, *bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram*.* He's the proprietor. But because people are not educated in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, they are thinking, "I am the proprietor." *Ahaṁ mameti janasya moho 'yam*. This *ahaṁ mama,* increasing the *ahaṁ mama,* is illusion, is *māyā.* And that is going on. --- **[1972: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.22](spoken/1972/721102sb.vrn)** > So spiritual realization is the ultimate goal of our life. *Jīvasya tattva-jijñāsā nārtho yaś ceha karmabhiḥ.* We have discussed these verses previously. This human form of life, *jīvasya tattva-jijñāsā... Jijñāsā,* about the truth, inquiry about the truth, that is the main business of the living entity. But lower than human being—animals, birds, beasts, trees, aquatics, insects—they have no privilege to inquire about the Absolute Truth. It is in the human form of life one can inquire about the Absolute Truth. Athāto brahma-jijñāsā. So when one is actually inquisitive about the Absolute Truth, he realizes three transcendental subject: *brahmeti paramātmeti bhagavān iti śabdyate*. > So Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī has informed us that those who are competent, those who have become competent to associate with Kṛṣṇa, as Kṛṣṇa says, *tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti...*. This *mam eti,* that spirit soul goes to Kṛṣṇa first of all within some universe where Kṛṣṇa is having His pastimes, *bhauma-līlā.* He goes there. Then just like when a person is trained up as apprentice, then he's given the post. Just like a magistrate, after passing the examination, I.C.S. examination, he's trained up under some magistrate, and then he's given the post. --- **[1973: Room Conversation](spoken/1973/731102r1.del)** > One young girl cannot go to other young man, giving up the protection of father, brother and... So they did it. So they, according to Vedic principle, it is sinful. But because it was related with Kṛṣṇa, they became purified. That means any way if one comes in contact with Kṛṣṇa, he becomes purified, even though he's sinful. That is Kṛṣṇa's... That is the benefit of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Sun is never infected. Rather, the infected area becomes sterilized by the sunshine. This is the process. That is explained. *Tejīyasāṁ na doṣāya*. One who is very powerful, he has no fault. So how your temperature is going on? --- **[1974: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.25.2](spoken/1974/741102sb.bom)** > Very simple. And to understand Kṛṣṇa is very difficult? Yes, it is very difficult, but it is very easy also. How? Now, Kṛṣṇa says, *bhaktyā mām abhijānāti*. If you become devotee of Kṛṣṇa, then you understand Kṛṣṇa very easily. Kṛṣṇa does not say by *jñāna,* by *karma,* by *yoga* you can understand Him. No. That is not possible. *Nāhaṁ prakāśaḥ sarvasya yogamāyā-samāvṛtaḥ*. He is... It is stated here that *varimṇaḥ sarva-yoginām.* There are many different varieties of *yogī,* and He is the greatest *yogī.* Therefore He is known as Yogeśvara. *Yatra yogeśvaro hariḥ*.* So He is far, far above all yogic processes. > The yogic..., *yogīs,* they can show you some magic. The *yogī* can walk over the water. There are so many—*aṇimā-laghima-siddhi.* But see Kṛṣṇa's yogic mystic power that big, big planets, they are floating in the air. Can you do that? Can you float even a small piece of stone, floating in the air? Then see... Therefore it is said here, *varimṇaḥ sarva-yoginām.* What *yogī*s can, these ordinary *yogīs,* can show? Of course, we are foolish persons. If some *yogī* shows some mystic power, and little gold if he can manufacture, we accept him as God. But we forget the real *yogī* who has created millions of gold mine floating in the air. So we Kṛṣṇa conscious person, we are not so fool that we shall accept this kind of *yogī* as Bhagavān. We want the foremost *yogī*. *Varimṇaḥ sarva-yoginām.* That Kṛṣṇa, Yogeśvara. We accept Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because why? Now, because we are trying to become devotee. And Kṛṣṇa says, *bhaktyā mām abhijānāti yāvān yaś cāsmi tattvataḥ, tato māṁ jñātvā tattvataḥ...*. That, the verse. --- **[1975: Morning Walk](spoken/1975/751102mw.nai)** > Śaktimatī: My nature also absolutely changed. A few days before I been here for the flowers [indistinct] my family complained me, "Mom, you don't know. Yesterday was very big day. Which day? Big day? Oh, you forget." I could not understand. I really forgot. [indistinct] Kṛṣṇa's wedding ceremony. I said ok. That is all right, I will go. Myself I forget everything. They start to complain I go there, sit together, I have not to say anything. They start to talk with me business, this and that. So still, immediately I will give, answer immediately because I always saying about our movement, mission and about you. Sometimes guest there are I start to preach [indistinct] say something. "It's okay. Then you like talking your matter." Then I will talk my matter. > This is Nārada's version. So it is the symptom. Just like a doctor, medical man. He diagnoses according to the symptom. He finds out the cause. So symptom is required, not that a man has become diseased or healthy by birth. No. By birth he is born. Then again, when he develops certain types of symptom, so one has to take him in that way. That is *śāstra.* We are accepting, or giving them sacred thread, *brāhmaṇa,* after seeing that they are actually acting as a *brāhmaṇa,* not superficially. Therefore we take some time to see whether he can develop brahminical symptom. That is our process. Not that anyone comes, and we give him a sacred thread and he becomes immediately *brāhmaṇa.* We don't do this. First of all give him chance. Let him chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, follows the rules and regulations. Then let us see. If he is actually serious, he has developed the symptom, then... This is the proper way. Even one comes from the *brāhmaṇa* family—he wants initiation—we don't give immediately, even if he is coming from a *brāhmaṇa...* That is a good facility, that he is born in a *brāhmaṇa* family, but the symptom is the first necessity. Either you are born in a *brāhmaṇa* family or *śūdra* family, it doesn't matter. --- **[1976: Room Conversation about New York Court Case](spoken/1976/761102r1.vrn)** > *Kṛṣṇa,* in the dictionary it is said that Hindu God, but we are claiming, that Kṛṣṇian, Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa conscious. Kṛṣṇa conscious means "Broader than the Hindu." When you say we are not Hindu, that we are not restricted with the Hindi community. That is the meaning. --- **[1976: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.5.14](spoken/1976/761102sb.vrn)** > So in order to know that science, one has to approach a perfect teacher. *Tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet* [Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad* 1.2.12].* Here also it is said, *gurau haṁsa. Haṁse gurau mayi.* The *mayi* is also significant. That means..., *paramahaṁsa guru* means he's as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, because he does not deviate from the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is the symptom of *guru. Guru* does not deviate from the instruction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He does not manufacture something new, novel. No, the same thing. Just like Kṛṣṇa says in the Fourth Chapter, although He is the speaker, millions of years ago He instructed the science to sun-god, and again when He was instructing to Arjuna, He said that "I am instructing the same thing." *Sa evāyaṁ purātanaḥ*. Not that on account of change of time, the instruction has been changed. No. > So in this way, if we practice according to the prescription, *śāstra-vidhi,* that is wanted. Not that without *śāstra-vidhi* you can become liberated. That is not possible. *Yaḥ śāstra-vidhim utsṛjya vartate kāma-kārataḥ na sa siddhim avāpnoti*, Kṛṣṇa says. And if you give up *śāstra-vidhim* and act according to your whims, then there is no question of perfection. *Na sa..., na siddhim avāp..., na sukham,* like that. The *śāstra-vidhim* even. Rūpa Gosvāmī also advised like that, --- **[1977: Lecture](spoken/1977/771102r2.vrn)** > Five thousand years ago it was detected by the Lord Himself that the disciplic succession was broken, and therefore He declared that the purpose of the *Gītā* appeared to be lost. In the same way, at the present moment also there are so many editions of the *Gītā,* but almost all of them are not according to the authorized disciplic succession. There are innumerable interpretations rendered by different mundane scholars, but almost all of them do not accept the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, although they make a good business on the words of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. > There are many *yogas*. The aim is how to come to the topmost *yoga.* That is *bhakti-yoga.* And Kṛṣṇa says to Arjuna, *bhakto 'si me.* What is that verse? Eh? *Evaṁ purātanaḥ yogaḥ.* --- **[1977: Lecture](spoken/1977/771102r3.vrn)** > Room Conversation > — > *November 2, 1977, Vṛndāvana >...that "After you, who will take the leadership?" And "Everyone will take, all my disciples. If you want, you can take also. [laughter] But if you follow. They are prepared to sacrifice everything, so they'll take the leadership. I may, one, go away, but there will be hundreds, and they'll preach. If you want, you can also become leader. We have no such thing, that 'Here is leader.' Anyone who follows the previous leadership, he's a leader. 'Indian,' we have no such distinction, 'Indian,' 'European.' " --- **[1977: Lecture](spoken/1977/771102r4.vrn)** > Vāsudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogaḥ prayojitaḥ, janayaty āśu vairāgyam*. Janayaty āśu vairāgyam.* [Transl. Rejecting all these scriptural statements.] *Yaḥ śāstra-vidhim utsṛjya vartate kāma-kārataḥ, na siddhiṁ sāvāpnoti*. [Transl. One who discards scriptural injunctions, he will never achieve perfection of life. *Śrama eva hi kevalam.* [Transl. He will simply labor hard. These are the facts. Aurobindo has said this, that person has said that, another person has said something, all that...Hmm.] --- **[1977: Lecture](spoken/1977/771102r5.vrn)** > Their aims and object is superficially good, that "We all altogether preach." But they do not know the ways. --- --- **[1977: Lecture](spoken/1977/771102r6.vrn)** > Room Conversation > [Partially Recorded] > — > *November 2, 1977, Vṛndāvana > Actually, I think you're the only one on the whole planet who is not Māyāvādī—Māyāvādī or influenced by Māyāvādī philosophy. Actually, until you came to the West, the only philosophy that had come to America from India was Māyāvādī philosophy. No one knew anything else. [break] [end] --- **[1977: Lecture](spoken/1977/771102r7.vrn)** > Room Conversation > — > *November 2, 1977, Vṛndāvana > [looking at *Preaching is the Essence?] *Each verse is like a separate lecture, Śrīla Prabhupāda. --- **[1977: Room Conversation Kavirāja Visit](spoken/1977/771102r8.vrn)** > [whispering by Svarūpa Dāmodara as he tries to explain what *kavirāja* is saying]Bhakti-cā > [to Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:]Do you understand? He's saying that "As a physician, in this condition, I wouldn't advise you to go. But if you desire to go there, then I have enough confidence on my medicine, and since you have the will, so I can assure you that I can take you over there safely. Now it's up to you whether you want to go or whether you want to stay." He's saying that "If you stay here for ten more days, then you'll become strong enough and you can travel." And he's willing to come back again after about a week, and then he'll stay here for a day or two and then take him. --- ## Letters on November 2 *Letters from this day: 19* --- **[1967: Letter to Brahmananda](letters/1967/671102_brahmananda)** > Now I understand that I may return with my visitors visa which can be altered once I am in USA. --- **[1967: Letter to Himavati](letters/1967/671102_himavati)** > and I may advise you that in your pregnant condition you may not take any pungent foodstuffs. --- **[1967: Letter to Madhusudana](letters/1967/671102_madhusudana)** > Kirtanananda was awarded the position of a Sannyasi because he wanted it although I could understand it that he wanted to be a spiritual master himself. --- **[1967: Letter to Rayarama](letters/1967/671102_rayarama)** > I may say that in reply to your letter of Oct 24, you may go to England around the first of Dec. He is my spiritual son and I shall never allow him to fall down. I thank Lord Krishna for Satyavrata (Moskowitz) and Woompati and I hope sincerely that Kirtanananda will also come back again with renewed energy. --- **[1968: Letter to Brahmananda](letters/1968/681102_brahmananda)** > I wrote one letter jointly addressed to Acyutananda and Jaya Govinda but they have not replied the same. I think as Bon Maharaja poisoned the mind of Hrsikesa, similarly these boys have been entrapped by Parvat. --- **[1969: Letter to Arundhati](letters/1969/691102_arundhati)** > Regarding your working hours, if you can work more, of course that is very good. --- **[1969: Letter to Hansadutta](letters/1969/691102_hansadutta)** > Regarding your question about Lord Jesus Christ, we accept him as saktyavesa avatara. Lord Buddha is mentioned specifically in *Srimad-Bhagavatam* as incarnation of Godhead, and yet Vaisnavas do not accept his philosophy, which is classified as atheism. --- **[1969: Letter to Hayagriva Vamanadeva Pradyumna](letters/1969/691102_hayagriva_vamanadeva_pradyumna)** > I have received also a spearate letter from Vamanadeva who is going to open a center in St. --- **[1969: Letter to Krsna Devi](letters/1969/691102_krsna_devi)** > It is very good news that Visnu Arati is advancing nicely in Krishna Consciousness and I know that you and your husband will always do your best to bring her up on the right path of Krishna Consciousness. --- **[1969: Letter to Kulasekhara](letters/1969/691102_kulasekhara)** > In a new place sometimes one feels loneliness, but gradually this subsides. But this feeling is not very good for a Krishna Conscious devotee. If not, she should be satisfied with her natural companion and together execute Krishna Consciousness. --- **[1969: Letter to Mandali Bhadra](letters/1969/691102_mandali_bhadra)** > The London devotees are planning to go to Hamburg for four days this month, so if they take me during that occasion, surely I shall come to see you again. It is around the middle of the month of November, and I shall let you know in my next letter what is the exact date. --- **[1969: Letter to Vamanadeva](letters/1969/691102_vamanadeva)** > I am so glad to receive your letter dated October 28 in which you propose to go with your good wife, Indira Dasi, to St. Louis for opening a Krishna Consciousness center. I hope that Lord Krishna will give both of you all necessary strength to execute this service nicely. --- **[1972: Letter to Bali-Mardana](letters/1972/721102_bali-mardana)** > According to the list of names left in the file by Nanda Kumara, there are nine names listed for New York, as follows: Mike/Mahamuni; Steve Anderson/Sevananda; Steve Chichi/Satajit; Jeremy Darling/Yogendra; Jack/Jitasvara; Saul/Sunanda; Andrea/Alarka; Susan/Sikhandini; Rosemary/Ramesvari. So I do not know why they have never received their beads. I think best thing is to write to Nanda Kumara, who is now president of Laguna Beach temple, and he can explain. --- **[1972: Letter to Bhutatma Kesava](letters/1972/721102_bhutatma_kesava)** > Regarding our travelling parties, I have got some complaint from London and other places, so I have given Dhananjaya this policy, that from outside if any one party comes they must work under the direct supervision and instruction of the local management, not that they shall remain separate competitor, no. I want to sell as many books as possible, that is the main thing. --- **[1972: Letter to Mukunda](letters/1972/721102_mukunda)** > Now we are in Vrindaban, and the programme for speaking daily morning and evening in the courtyard samadhi-place at Radha-Damodara temple is very much being appreciated by the devotees. You have mentioned nothing of your wife, so what is her position? --- **[1973: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1973/731102_satsvarupa)** > Yes, I have received your report dated September 25, 1973 and have replied it on October 4, 1973. --- **[1976: Letter to Morris Lapidus](letters/1976/761102_morris_lapidus)** > I am sorry to see that you have so many quarrels with my disciples. They are working very hard on my behalf trying to serve Krsna. --- **[1976: Letter to Prthu Putra](letters/1976/761102_prthu_putra)** > I am very happy to see you are trying to spread Krsna consciousness in Egypt. You should present Krsna consciousness not as a religion, but a science of God realization. --- **[1976: Letter to Shasta](letters/1976/761102_shasta)** > Regarding Sukadeva, it has been found that he has got a substantial amount of money in private bank accounts. ---