# November 3 ## Spoken on November 3 *Lectures from this day: 18 recordings* --- **[1972: The Nectar of Devotion](spoken/1972/721103nd.vrn)** > So actually, so long there is material existence, the so-called suffering and enjoying, they're on the same level. There is no difference. But if we take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, as Kṛṣṇa assures, *ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi*, "I shall get you relieved, released from all kinds of sinful activities..." That is real auspiciousness. Means when Kṛṣṇa takes charge, He gradually educates the devotee *buddhi-yogam,* in devotion service, so that he may go back home, back to Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. That is real auspicity. > So devotional service is rarely achieved. Rarely achieved means if you achieve, then you become free from all obligation. *Na janma-koṭibhiḥ sukṛtibhiḥ. Tatra laulyam eka-mūlyaṁ na labhyate yad janmabhiḥ sukṛtibhiḥ.* Kṛṣṇa consciousness can be achieved simply by your intense desire that "This life I shall try to achieve favor of Kṛṣṇa." Kṛṣṇa will help you. *Teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam, buddhi-yogaṁ dadāmi tam*.* If you are actually seriously engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then Kṛṣṇa gives us intelligence how to approach Him. --- **[1972: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.23](spoken/1972/721103sb.vrn)** > For this reason, *śāstra* says in this age most people are *śūdras* because there is scarcity of *sattva-guṇa* and *rajo-guṇa. Brāhmaṇa-kṣatriya. Brāhmaṇas'* activities and *kṣatriya,* practically nil. There is no protector. *Kṣatriya* means one who protects from injury, *kṣata, kṣatriya, trāyate,* one who protects people from being injured. Therefore the *kṣatriya* class, they were royal families, and the *brāhmaṇas,* they were meant for giving spiritual education. *Brahmā jānāti iti brāhmaṇa.* And the *vaiśyas,* they were meant for trading, agriculture and cow protection. As the *kṣatriyas* were interested, entrusted for protecting the citizens, similarly the *vaiśyas* were entrusted for protecting the cows. *Kṛṣi-go-rakṣya-vāṇijyaṁ vaiśya-karma svabhāva-jam*. > Now, for our..., solving our problems... What is our problem? That we do not know. There is a great problem. The problem is repetition of birth, death, old age and disease. This is the problem. *Janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi-duḥkha-doṣānudarśanam .* Those who are intelligent, they will..., they will see that these are the real problems. But they do not care. *Mṛtyu,* they think, "All right, it is coming naturally. Let us die." But they do not know, after death, where he's going. "Never mind. I shall forget." People say like that. --- **[1973: Bhagavad-gītā 3.9](spoken/1973/731103bg.del)** > So Sūta Gosvāmī addressed *dvija-śreṣṭhāḥ.* Not only *brāhmaṇa* but "the best of the *brāhmaṇa.*" "The best of the *brāhmaṇa*" means Kṛṣṇa conscious, one who knows the Supreme Personality of Godhead. *Brāhmaṇa* means one who knows the spirit distinguished from the matter. *Brahma jānāti iti brāhmaṇaḥ.* But when he understands the Supreme Brahman, Para-brahman, Kṛṣṇa, then he actually becomes *brāhmaṇa-vaiṣṇava. Brāhmaṇa* should advance further to become Vaiṣṇava. Therefore one who is Vaiṣṇava, he is already a *brāhmaṇa.* This is to be understood. So Sūta Gosvāmī said, "O the great *brāhmaṇas* present here..." *Brāhmaṇas. Ataḥ pumbhir dvija-śreṣṭhāḥ*, the best of the *brāhmaṇas. > Therefore Sūta Gosvāmī says, *ataḥ pumbhir dvija-śreṣṭhāḥ:* "O the best of the *brāhmaṇa.*" *Varṇāśrama-vibhāgaśaḥ,* every *varṇa,* caste or division of the society, social division. And *āśrama* means spiritual division. *Varṇāśrama-vibhāgaśaḥ.* As there are divisions, so, *svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya:* everyone has got his duty to do something particular. But whether he is perfect in discharging that duty, that may be considered when, *svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya saṁsiddhiḥ,* perfection. What is that? *Hari-toṣaṇam.* Whether you have satisfied the Supreme Personality of Godhead by your duty. --- **[1973: Room Conversation on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.10.11](spoken/1973/731103r1.del)** > When I was reading this verse, that *yasyāham anugṛhnāmi hariṣye tad dhanaṁ śanaiḥ*, Kṛṣṇa said that "When I show somebody My special favor, I take away all his money," I became shuddered: "So Kṛṣṇa will take my all money? If He is spe..." [laughs] And actually that happened. He took my all money, all family, all friends and everything. [laughs] And He asked me, "Go to America. You'll get many money, much money, many friends. You go ahead. Come here." Yes. That was His intention. And I was sticking to limited money, limited friends, limited society. This is special favor. >and breathing also does not stop. It goes very slow. Therefore he cannot be immortal. And *Bhagavad-gītā* proposes that is wonderful thing, if you can stop death. And whole spiritual life means how to stop death. That is *Bhāgavata's* instruction: "Don't accept *guru,* don't accept father, don't accept..., or don't be father, don't be mother, don't be..., if you cannot stop death." Either you don't accept, or don't become. Just like they want *guru.* So don't accept a *guru* who cannot stop your death. And from *guru's* side, it is advised, "Don't become *guru* if you cannot stop the death of your disciple." This is *Bhāgavatam's* statement. So our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is to stop death, live eternally with Kṛṣṇa, go back to home, back to Godhead. This is our movement. --- **[1974: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.25.3](spoken/1974/741103sb.bom)** > ...*śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam*. You hear about Kṛṣṇa—Kṛṣṇa and Viṣṇu, the same. Kṛṣṇa is the origin of *viṣṇu-tattva,* and Viṣṇu is expansion of Kṛṣṇa. So when we speak of Viṣṇu, the origin of Viṣṇu is Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā, aham ādir hi devānām*: "I am the origin even of the *devas.*" The most important *devas* are Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Maheśvara. Creation, in the beginning of creation, Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Maheśvara. From Viṣṇu, Brahmā is born; from Brahmā, Lord Śiva is born. And they take charge of the three modes of material nature. Brahmā... Viṣṇu takes the charge of *sattva-guṇa,* and the Lord Brahmā takes the charge of *rajo-guṇa,* and Lord Śiva takes the charge of *tamo-guṇa.* But in the creation, before the creation, when there was no Brahmā, no Śiva, there was Kṛṣṇa. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, *aham ādir hi devānām.* The create... All the *devas,* demigods, or living entities, they are created after this cosmic manifestation is created. Therefore in the *Vedas* it is said, "In the beginning there was no Brahmā, no Śiva. Only Nārāyaṇa *āsīt.*" *Eko nārāyaṇa āsīt.* That Nārāyaṇa is also another plenary expansion of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā, mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat kiñcid asti dhanañjaya*. So we have to learn from the *śāstra* that Kṛṣṇa is the origin, Bhagavān. *Kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam. Ete cāṁśa-kalāḥ puṁsaḥ kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam*. > So Kṛṣṇa says, *bhūmir āpo 'nalo vāyuḥ khaṁ mano buddhir eva ca, bhinnā me prakṛtir aṣṭadhā*. It is His energy. So His energy... He is the source of energy. So energy, how it can be untruth? That is not untruth. We don't say that "This metal has no connection with Kṛṣṇa." Yes, it has connection, because it is production of His own energy. So... Just like this material world, this cosmic manifestation, is the production of the sunshine. The sun and the sunshine—you cannot say the sunshine is false and the sun is true. That is not nice philosophy. If the sun is true, then the sunshine is also true. So we don't say that this *jagat mithyā.* No. It may be temporary, but it is not *mithyā.* Therefore our Gosvāmīs, they instruct, or Kṛṣṇa also instructs, that everything belongs to Him; therefore everything should be utilized for His purpose. That is wanted. --- **[1975: Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.101-104](spoken/1975/751103cc.bom)** > So we change body; otherwise we are eternal. *Na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre*. This is the information we get, that after this destruction of this material body, the eternal soul is never destroyed. *Na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre.* We get another body. The same example: the child gets the body of a boy, boy gets the... Therefore we are eternal. And what is God? He is also eternal. So *nityo nityanānām.* We are eternal, we are many, and God is also eternal, but He is one. He is singular number. Not that all of us, we are God. That is nonsense. We are part and parcel of God, but we are not as powerful as God. Anyone can understand it very easily. They are claiming to become God. So does he think that he is equal in power with God? No. That is foolishness. *Mūḍha.* God is one, but we are... We are also eternal, God is also eternal, but we are many. There is no... > A disciple, when he accepts *guru*... This is the example, Sanātana Gosvāmī. *Tasmād prapadyeta... Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam*. This is the injunction of the *śāstra.* Who requires a *guru*? It is not a fashion, that one has to accept anyone as *guru.* No. A person requires a *guru* when he is inquisitive, *tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥ,* when he is very much eager to understand the spiritual, *śreya uttamam. Uttamam. Ut* means transcendental, and *tama* means darkness. This world is called darkness, ignorance. So one who wants to transcend this position of ignorance and wants to know the transcendental subject, means spiritual subject, *brahma-jijñāsā,* he requires a *guru,* not any person, other person. If you are interested in things which is beyond this material world... That is necessary inquiry. So here is the enquiry, that Sanātana Gosvāmī says that "You have delivered me from the clutches of material attachment. I was minister, getting good salary, very nice post. So many aristocrats was offering me respect. So I think it was not necessary. My real necessary is to advance in spiritual consciousness. So kindly You have given me relief from this material concept of life. Now, according to Your desire, I have left everything. Now let me know what is my duty." --- **[1975: Morning Walk](spoken/1975/751103mw.bom)** > So if you remain in the material platform, there is no question of *nirmatsara. Para-utkarṣa-asahanam.* [to not be able to tolerate others' prosperity] This is called *matsaratā.* [enviousness] The whole basic principle... Unless you come to the spiritual platform, there is no question of uniformity, peace, prosperity. Nothing. Therefore our movement is "Change consciousness. Come to the spiritual platform, Kṛṣṇa conscious. Then everything will be all right." Otherwise not possible. What is that, *māṁ aprāpyaiva mūḍhā janmani janmani*? > You may do whatever occupational duty you are... But you have to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. Then your everything is perfect. And if you satisfy your senses, then you are going to hell. This is the position. Therefore it is... *Sva-karmaṇā tam abhyarcya.* Even that *karma* is abominable, *sa-doṣam api na tyājet*. You go on with your work. Even there is some fault, it doesn't matter, but you satisfy Kṛṣṇa. Then it is perfect. Just like Arjuna did. The fighting is not good business, but he satisfied Kṛṣṇa. Therefore by fighting, he became a great devotee—*sva-karmaṇā.* He did not leave his position as a *kṣatriya,* as a *gṛhastha,* but he... *Karisye vacanam tava* : --- **[1976: Room Conversation](spoken/1976/761103r2.vrn)** > "There are many different kinds of living entities—human beings, demigods, animals, etcetera—and each and every one of them is under the influence of material nature, and all of them have forgotten the transcendent Personality of Godhead. Those who are in the modes of passion and ignorance, and even those who are in the mode of goodness, cannot go beyond the impersonal Brahman conception of the Absolute Truth. They are bewildered before the Supreme Lord in His personal feature, which possesses all beauty, opulence, knowledge, strength, fame and renunciation. When even those who are in goodness cannot understand, what hope is there for those in passion and ignorance? Kṛṣṇa consciousness is transcendental to all these three modes of material nature, and those who are truly established in Kṛṣṇa consciousness are actually liberated." > "However, these designations are not permanent. I may either be a *brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya *or whatever—in any case, this life is temporary. But although life is temporary and we do not know what we are going to be in the next life, still, by the spell of this illusory energy, we consider ourselves in the light of this bodily conception of life, and we thus think that we are American, Indian, Russian or *brāhmaṇa, *Hindu, Muslim, etc. And if we become entangled with the modes of material nature, then we forget the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is behind all these modes. So Lord Kṛṣṇa says that men, deluded by these three modes of nature, do not understand that behind the material background is the Supreme Godhead. --- **[1976: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.5.15](spoken/1976/761103sb.vrn)** > So this is going on. But that is not the fact. Fact is different. Therefore, *putrāṁś ca śiṣyāṁś ca. Śiṣya...* The citizen, they are also *śiṣya. Śiṣya* means one who is controlled. That is called *śiṣya:* who is disciplined, disciple. The same meaning. Disciple means one who is controlled, one who is disciplined. So controller is the teacher or spiritual master and the government. So the government's rules and regulation, teacher's rules and regulations should be in such a way that the dependent, either the *śiṣya* or the citizen, they must know that this is not life. This material life is not life. Real life is in the spiritual world. *Satyaṁ paraṁ dhīmahi*. That is real truth. And this is... This material world is illusion, illusion, the mirage. We are finding here happiness. Kṛṣṇa says, "No, no, there is no happiness." *Duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam*: "Why you are finding out happiness here? It is not possible." Kṛṣṇa personally teaching. This is *duḥkhālaym aśāśvatam.* "If you don't want it, then come to Me." *Mām upetya kaunteya duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam nāpnuvanti mahātmānaḥ.* That is *mahātmā.* > Each body is for a short period. It will not last forever. But so long it will last, it will be cause of suffering. That we do not understand. This is the ignorance, *mūḍha.* And this suffering can be ended only by surrendering to Kṛṣṇa. *Mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te*. The suffering is inflicted by *māyā. Bhuṇkte prakṛti-jān guṇān*. But there is no education. The people are so dull, rascal, they cannot understand that they are suffering, and the suffering they are accepting as enjoyment. In this way they are rotting in this material world. The whole purpose is therefore how to get out of this suffering. *Vindate tāpān mūḍha.* So the aim of life is how to stop this suffering. The *guru* or the government should rule over the dependents with this point, with this aim in view. *Mal-loka-kāmo mad-anugrahārthaḥ.* These two things required: how to get the pleasure or the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and how to go back home, back to Godhead. This is the aim, not that we are making plan to be happy. Unless we go back home, back to Godhead, there is no question of peace or happiness. This place... We are trying to be happy within this material world by material adjustment. That is not possible. *Duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam*. Ā-brahma-bhuvanāl lokāḥ punar āvartino 'rjuna *. --- **[1977: Prabhupāda Vigil](spoken/1977/771103r1.vrn)** > That's Sixth Chapter, *Madhya-līlā,* verse 169. "Śrīla Vyāsadeva presented the *Vedānta* philosophy for the deliverance of conditioned souls, but if one hears the commentary of Śaṅkarācārya, everything is spoiled." Shall I read the purport, Śrīla Prabhupāda? --- **[1977: Room Conversation](spoken/1977/771103r2.vrn)** > Maybe sometime later on today you can do a little translating, Śrīla Prabhupāda. No? Actually, the *kavirāja* recommended that you shouldn't do that for a few days. Does that sound right? Okay. Anyway, I think Pradyumna and Jayādvaita have some work to catch up with, so they have enough to stay busy. Should we chant *japa* now, Śrīla Prabhupāda? --- **[1977: Room Conversation](spoken/1977/771103r3.vrn)** --- **[1977: Lecture](spoken/1977/771103r5.vrn)** > Room Conversation > with *Gaura-Govinda and Girirāja> — > November 3, 1977, VṛndāvanaBhakti-cā > [Transl. He has come Śrīla Prabhupāda, Gaura-Govinda Mahārāja.] --- **[1977: Room Conversation with Gaura-Govinda](spoken/1977/771103r6.vrn)** --- **[1977: Room Conversation](spoken/1977/771103r8.vrn)** > [Transl. They hold the tulasī bead and pull it quickly. Mahārāja has taught us to chant clearly and distinctly—Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare. They are actually teaching us how to chant the holy name. Someone may chant in the mind and try to finish his prescribed rounds, but when one chants loudly then only it is dedected whether he is missing any name or uttering the name correctly. > Gaura-Govinda said maybe it was due to the drugs that caused some severe reaction. We see one example after another that these hospitals, they are simply meant to kill, not to save life. I mean, I don't think we have any faith either in them, Śrīla Prabhupāda. And apart from our faith, which makes no difference, you strictly ordered it. So we're not going to disobey your order under any circumstance, even if we risk our own life. If someone says to us that "We will kill you if you don't let us take your Guru Mahārāja," then we'll say, "Then kill us." Your order is our command. --- ## Letters on November 3 *Letters from this day: 20* --- **[1968: Letter to Mukunda](letters/1968/681103_mukunda)** > I have not heard anything from you in about a fortnight, and I am anxious to hear how you are doing there. --- **[1968: Letter to Pradyumna](letters/1968/681103_pradyumna)** > Regarding the diacritic marks, there are many systems and I do not know which one of them is the standard, but I think the system followed by Dr. RadhaKrishnan in transliterating the Bhagavad-gita is the approved. --- **[1968: Letter to Purusottama](letters/1968/681103_purusottama)** > I suspected in the beginning that they would not allow us to work with freedom and, therefore, in spite of their promise to enter into lease agreement I wanted to clear up the situation. --- **[1968: Letter to Sivananda](letters/1968/681103_sivananda)** > I have not heard anything from you in about a fortnight, and I am anxious to hear how you are doing there. --- **[1968: Letter to Upendra](letters/1968/681103_upendra)** > Your desire for India should be suspended for the time being because formerly I thought that there would be development of a branch of our institution in Vrndavan, and the matter was entrusted to... --- **[1969: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1969/691103_satsvarupa)** > I thank you for your letter dated November 18, 1969 and have noted all the points carefully. So these two devotees will be posted in Boston for the time being to centralize the activities. --- **[1970: Letter to Dr. Chakravarti](letters/1970/701103_dr._chakravarti)** > Your tendency to give Srila Jiva Goswami the proper position a philosopher is very much appreciated. Some years back I attended a meeting in Calcutta wherein Pramathanath Tarkabhusan, the learned Sanskrit scholar, was present. He said about Jiva Goswami very highly that there was no comparison with Jiva Goswami and any other philosophers of the world. --- **[1970: Letter to Sagar Maharaja](letters/1970/701103_sagar_maharaja)** > Please accept my obeisances. I beg to thank you very much for your Bengali letter dated 16th, October, 1970. In Calcutta, the following inquiry should be made immediately: Madhudvisa Maharaja wrote me a letter which is missing, that somebody is willing to pay to my book fund 11,000 rupees on my return to Calcutta. So please inquire from Madhudvisa Maharaja if my immediate return to Calcutta will be helpful in this connection. If so, he can send me immediately a telegram and I shall go to Calcutta by plane. So far your acceptance by my other disciples is concerned, in the beginning there may be some inconveniences but if your decision is to work with us without any reservation, then there will be no difficulty. When I come to Calcutta this will be adjusted. Another thing is that since I've come to India, I've received many Hindi and Bengali letters. So if you work as my Indian secretary, it will be of great help to me. I shall be glad to know your decision in this matter. You have inquired from me about your future activities with our mission. Therefore this is the first offer to you. --- **[1972: Letter to Brahmananda](letters/1972/721103_brahmananda)** > I am just now in receipt of your letter from Zambia dated October 21, 1972 along with the photos which were very nice, and I have shown them to many guests. --- **[1972: Letter to Karandhara](letters/1972/721103_karandhara)** > We have now decided to take legal proceedings against Nair because we have received one telegram from Tamala Krishna as follows: "Nair unreasonable, settlement impossible, immediately filing criminal and civil suits, letter follows, Tamala Krishna. --- **[1972: Letter to Sivananda](letters/1972/721103_sivananda)** > I am very glad to hear from you that Berlin centre is progressing nicely under your expert supervision. --- **[1972: Letter to Tamala Krsna](letters/1972/721103_tamala_krsna)** > Enclosed please find the copy of one notice drafted by a lawyer friend visiting Vrindaban, so if you are able to utilize it. --- **[1974: Letter to Bali-Mardana](letters/1974/741103_bali-mardana)** > I have sent you one letter dated 20/10/74 but not yet received any reply. The copy is enclosed herewith. --- **[1974: Letter to Bijay Kumar Kannungo](letters/1974/741103_bijay_kumar_kannungo)** > I would like to especially invite you to come here to Bombay. We have kept two rooms vacated for you, so you can come with your wife and family to visit. --- **[1974: Letter to Radhavallabha](letters/1974/741103_radhavallabha)** > Regarding the indexing for Srimad-Bhagavatam, that has caused some confusion. From you letter it appears that you are printing a one volume index covering the first four Cantos, in a softcover edition. --- **[1974: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1974/741103_satsvarupa)** > So they are putting me, as well as the others, for getting the students to learn Bengali. That's nice. --- **[1976: Letter to Disciples In New Dwaraka](letters/1976/761103_disciples_in_new_dwaraka)** > I am in receipt of your telegram regarding the avocado tree. As far as possible killing the tree should be avoided. --- **[1976: Letter to Hrsikesananda](letters/1976/761103_hrsikesananda)** > I shall send Aksayananda as soon as possible. Let him survey the situation there. As soon as possible I shall also come. --- **[1976: Letter to Sacimata](letters/1976/761103_sacimata)** > You may send the money (1.000 DM) that you have offered to my account here in the name of A.C. The name of the bank is Punjab National Bank, Krishna Balarama Branch, account #1. --- **[1976: Letter to Vasudeva](letters/1976/761103_vasudeva)** > Regarding the Fiji situation, your solution to amend the constitution is nice. Your idea to sell BTGs, collect donations, hold kirtanas and distribute prasada profusely, yes, do that. ---