# November 23 ## Spoken on November 23 *Lectures from this day: 5 recordings* --- **[1966: Bhagavad-gītā 9.11–14](spoken/1966/661123bg.ny.md)** > You will be in confidence. *Teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam*.* Those who have taken this line with faith and love, always engaged in the transcendental loving service of Kṛṣṇa, *buddhi-yogaṁ dadāmi tam,* then from within... Kṛṣṇa is within you. We have no realization. Due to my material conception of life, I have no realization. So you have to realize that Kṛṣṇa is there, and you have to purify yourself by service attitude. Then Kṛṣṇa will reveal. You will see, eye to eye. > Sthāne sthitāḥ śruti-gatāṁ tanu-vāṅ-manobhiḥ*. If you be situated in whatever position you are, it doesn't matter. We are not going to enquire what you are: "Are you businessman, engineer, doctor, or police, or intelligent, or educated, non-educated, black, white?"—there is no question. No question. The only thing is that *sthāne sthitāḥ śruti-gatām. Śruti-gatām* means... *Śruti* means this aural reception. You have to receive this word little submissively. *Namanta eva.* Don't think yourself that you are very, mean, man of knowledge. Because our knowledge is very limited, so we should not be puffed up with false thinking that "I am very learned man." No. Just become a little gentle and submissive, and hear these messages from Kṛṣṇa. --- **[1968: Introduction to Bhagavad-gītā As It Is](spoken/1968/681123bg.la)** > Therefore the last instruction of *Bhagavad-gītā* is *sarva-dharmān parityajya*. *Dharma...* You have created so many religious principles, so many concocted spiritual ways of life or material ways of life. Somebody are materialist and somebody are so-called spiritualist. So Kṛṣṇa says that you have to give up all this nonsense—on the mental platform and bodily platform. You have come to the transcendental platform. And what is that transcendental platform? To understand your relationship with Kṛṣṇa. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. > So this instruction you will find in the Ninth Chapter, *man-manā bhava mad-bhaktaḥ*. "Always think of Me." That is the perfection of life, always thinking of Viṣṇu. But one commentator, very big commentator, he says, "This meditation is not up to Kṛṣṇa." Just see. Kṛṣṇa says, "That meditate upon Me" in the *Bhagavad-gītā*, and the commentator says, "It is not up to Kṛṣṇa." --- **[1972: Bhagavad-gītā 2.18](spoken/1972/721123bg.hyd)** > But the planets and this material world, everything will be annihilated. *Antavat tu phalaṁ teṣām*.* Suppose you are promoted to the Brahmaloka. That is also *antavat.* It will be finished, because by the end of Brahmā's duration of life, everything within this universe will be finished. Therefore *antavat.* That is not permanent. But if you manage to go back to home, back to Godhead, then *yad gatvā na nivartante tad dhāma paramaṁ mama .* Then that is perfect life. > Therefore this process, *arcana.* Everyone is engaged only in Kṛṣṇa's service. They are, from the beginning of the day, four o'clock, they are rise from the bed; they offer *maṅgala-ārātrika.* You are seeing practically. We are demonstrating the Kṛṣṇa con..., how one can become Kṛṣṇa conscious perfectly. Therefore we have brought this Deity. Anyone can do it at home. Where is the difficulty? If these Europeans and Americans, they can do, our Indians, which is our heritage, we are born in this land of Bhārata-varṣa, we cannot do it? But we are neglecting. We are so fallen. *Mandāḥ sumanda-matayo manda-bhāgyāḥ*.* We have become so unfortunate that we cannot take to this process. --- **[1974: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.25.23](spoken/1974/741123sb.bom)** > Kṛṣṇa says to Arjuna that "These material sufferings are just like the sufferings of season, seasonal suffering." In summer season also, you suffer, and in winter season also, we suffer. *Śītoṣṇa-sukha-duḥkha-dāḥ.* And the same thing: this fire, in summer season it is suffering, the heat is suffering, and in the winter season the same fire is pleasing. Similarly, water, in the winter season, is suffering, but in the summer season it is pleasing. The same water, the same fire—sometimes it is suffering; sometimes it is pleasing. But the matter is the same. Why? *Mātrā-sparśāḥ:* it is due to the touch of the skin. Because we have got this skin disease, "I am this body," therefore you are suffering, because you have become so nonsense rascal that "I am this body." *Yasyātma-buddhiḥ kuṇape tri-dhātuke. Tri-dhātuke:* This is the bag of three elements: *kapha, pitta, vāyu. Kapha, pitta, vāyu.* According to Āyurvedic system, they are called *tri-dhātu.* So this body is made of material elements: *kapha, pitta, vāyu.* So, > So those who are Kṛṣṇa conscious... Kṛṣṇa conscious means, here it is said, *mad-gata-cetasaḥ. Naitān mad-gata-cetasaḥ. Mad-gata.* Bhagavān said, "Those who are always thinking of, in the mind, within the heart," *mad-gata-cetasaḥ,* "they are not suffering." They are not suffering in this way, because they know that "Even if I am suffering, it is Kṛṣṇa's desire." So they welcome. Just like Kuntī. Queen Kuntī, when Kṛṣṇa was departing, taking farewell from Kuntī, so Kuntī said, "My dear Kṛṣṇa, when we are in full of danger, at that time You are always present as our friend, as our advisor. Now we are well situated. We have got our kingdom. We are well established. So You are going away to Dvārakā? No, no, no, this is not good. Better we may again go to that suffering so that we can remember You always." So the devotee sometimes welcomes suffering because that is an opportunity of remembering Kṛṣṇa very constantly. *Tat te 'nukampāṁ su-samīkṣamāṇo bhuñjāna evātma-kṛtaṁ vipākam*.* So when a devotee suffers, he thinks that "It is due to my past misdeeds. So I am suffering not very much, a very little, on account of Kṛṣṇa's grace. So it doesn't matter." So after all, it is, everything, in the mind, suffering and enjoying. So a devotee's mind is trained up in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Therefore he does not care for suffering. That is the difference between a devotee and nondevotee. --- **[1976: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.6.1](spoken/1976/761123sb.vrn)** > That is Vasudeva feature of Kṛṣṇa. He is, as Garbhodakaśayī Viṣṇu, *aṇḍāntara-stham,* within this universe. And *paramāṇu-cayāntara-stham. Īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛd-deśe 'rjuna tiṣṭhati*. So this Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa, if we engage ourself in devotional service, that is *yoga. Yogaṁ yuñjan mad-āśrayaḥ,* Kṛṣṇa says. *Mayy āsakta-manāḥ pārtha yogaṁ yuñjan mad-āśrayaḥ*. That is real *yoga, mad-āśrayaḥ.* "Under Me, or a person who has taken shelter in Me, *mad-āśrayaḥ.*" *Mad-āśrayaḥ* means either... It is not possible to take shelter of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa directly. That is not possible. You have to take shelter of a person who has already taken shelter of the lotus feet of... That is *mad-āśrayaḥ.* So that *yogam...* So this *ātmārāma.* These Gosvāmīs, Prahlāda Mahārāja, they are *ātmārāma.* Their *karma-bīja* is fried. What is said? *Ava-bharjitāni.* Even if you pour water, no, it is finished. > He knows what I am desiring, and He is asking *māyā,* "Give him this body." So in this way, if we remain entrapped in the laws of material nature, then it is not good. *Na sādhu manye yata atmāno yam asann api kleśada āsa dehaḥ*. This practice we should give up: *mano-dharma,* mental concoction. We should immediately accept Kṛṣṇa's instruction and be situated in *atmā-dharma.* That is *ātmārāma.* Kṛṣṇa says, *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekāṁ śaraṇam vraja*. --- ## Letters on November 23 *Letters from this day: 24* --- **[1967: Letter to Lynn](letters/1967/671123_lynn)** > Krishna Consciousness is so nice that if one takes part in it in either ways, like hearing, chanting, remembering, worshiping, praying, or even simply by eating prasadam, the transcendental effect will be visible. I am very glad that you have developed these nice sentiments and now you are living with other devotees. --- **[1967: Letter to Rayarama](letters/1967/671123_rayarama)** > Certainly I shall be in need of your assistance in finishing Srimad-Bhagavatam. On my return I shall make practical progress so that both of us may go on compiling Srimad-Bhagavatam and opening different centers in all parts of the world simultaneously. --- **[1967: Letter to Woomapati](letters/1967/671123_woomapati)** > I am so glad to receive your letter dated 15th Nov. I am so glad to learn that you are now getting the fruit of chanting Hare Krishna. Hare Krishna is so nice that it clears the dirty things from the mind of the devotee and the more one is used to chant the Holy Name offenselessly, the more one develops love of God, forgetting the whole material nonsense. --- **[1968: Letter to Devananda](letters/1968/681123_devananda)** > I can understand from your letter that you are working nicely for the spreading of Lord Caitanya's mission. Just keep this your attitude of sincere service and without a doubt Krishna will give you all intelligence to serve Him nicely. --- **[1968: Letter to Hayagriva](letters/1968/681123_hayagriva)** > I am very much pleased by your renewed and serious efforts to help me in my service to my Guru Maharaja. Please continue in this attitude and Krishna will save you, you need have no doubt. --- **[1968: Letter to John Darsinos](letters/1968/681123_john_darsinos)** > I have read your letter (undated) and am very pleased that you are appreciating this movement of Krishna Consciousness. --- **[1968: Letter to Malati](letters/1968/681123_malati)** > You have asked if I found it difficult to carry on devotional service when in my household life, and yes, I did. In my household life I was strictly following the regulative principles but my wife was reluctant to assist me properly. --- **[1968: Letter to Nayanabhirama](letters/1968/681123_nayanabhirama)** > Regarding your article in Back To Godhead about Ayurvedic Medicine, I do not think this is very worthwhile endeavor. --- **[1969: Letter to Advaita](letters/1969/691123_advaita)** > I have also noted down the lawyers instruction that outside work can be taken if the profit does not go to some individual person. I think if it is legally possible, this is all right. I have no objection if you make some profit on outside work. --- **[1969: Letter to Madhusudana](letters/1969/691123_madhusudana)** > The Spiritual Master is meant for answering any honest question. It is said that He has eternal, blissful Body, full of knowledge. --- **[1969: Letter to Vamanadeva](letters/1969/691123_vamanadeva)** > I am so glad to receive your letter dated November 16, 1969, and thank you very much for your opening a branch at St. Now both you and your wife are trained how to arrange for maintaining a temple and center. The beginning is sounding so hopeful that I am sure very soon your center will be one of the first class preaching places of our society. --- **[1971: Letter to Mahamaya](letters/1971/711123_mahamaya)** > I am very pleased by your attitude to surrender yourself completely by engaging cent per cent in Krishna's service. --- **[1972: Letter to Kurusrestha](letters/1972/721123_kurusrestha)** > I am very glad to hear all the good news, especially that you want to sell books more and more. --- **[1972: Letter to Mr. Ravel](letters/1972/721123_mr._ravel)** > Yes it is a fact that this material world is a place of tortures and only by taking shelter of the Spiritual Master and Lord Krishna can one obtain relief. --- **[1974: Letter to Hansadutta](letters/1974/741123_hansadutta)** > Regarding the grazing land at Bhaktivedanta Manor, it is not very clear from your letter whether you have got the sales document or not. --- **[1974: Letter to Kirtanananda](letters/1974/741123_kirtanananda)** > In your letter you mention a recent letter relating to Bali Mardan's plan to infiltrate East Coast temples. What is that letter? --- **[1974: Letter to Mukunda](letters/1974/741123_mukunda)** > Do not sign these documents. No, without removing shoes nobody can visit the temple. --- **[1974: Letter to Saurabha](letters/1974/741123_saurabha)** > Now Bhugarbha reports that you say the asrama will not be completed for the opening festival. The program was already postponed because the asrama was not finished. --- **[1974: Letter to Surati Morarji](letters/1974/741123_surati_morarji)** > The present immediate problem is that we require the Police Commissioner's consent to construct a temple. --- **[1975: Letter to Cyavana](letters/1975/751123_cyavana)** > So far your becoming GBC is concerned, yes, I had wanted that, but there are so many complaints. GBC must mean that by his managing, there is not any complaints so that I can be relieved in order to do my translation work. --- **[1975: Letter to Miss P. Boodhena](letters/1975/751123_miss_p._boodhena)** > I am very glad to see that you are taking keen interest in this sublime movement of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu for benedicting the entire world with the holy name, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna,... --- **[1975: Letter to Mr. Himtsinh J. Bhatia Mrs. Manjula H. Bhatia](letters/1975/751123_mr._himtsinh_j._bhatia_mrs._manjula_h._bhatia)** > I have understood from Sripada Nava Yogendra Swami that you have taken keen interest in our Krsna Consciousness Movement. --- **[1976: Letter to Adi-Kesava Dhrstadyumna](letters/1976/761123_adi-kesava_dhrstadyumna)** > Upon your recommendation I will be pleased to accept Drsya Krsna, Hamsarupa, and Subuddhi Raya for second initiation. Now hold a fire sacrifice for devotees only. Let the initiates hear the tape of me chanting Gayatri in the right ear. --- **[1976: Letter to Balavanta](letters/1976/761123_balavanta)** > I am very glad to hear how the book distribution is increasing more and more. This is our greatest weapon. The more the books are distributed, the more the ignorance of the Age of Kali will be smashed. ---