# December 8 ## Spoken on December 8 *Lectures from this day: 7 recordings* --- **[1966: Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.142–144](spoken/1966/661208cc.ny.md)** > Liberation, the definition of liberation, is in the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, mukti..., svarūpeṇa vyavasthitiḥ. Hitvā... Muktir hitvānyathā rūpaṁ svarūpeṇa vyavasthitiḥ*. *Mukti* means *hitvā anyathā rūpam.* Now we are now represented in different kinds of formalities. You have got a different kinds of idea; I have got different kinds of idea; another man has different from others. There are difference; therefore we are clashing each other. This is the sign of bondage. And *mukti* means when we are liberated from these different kinds of ideas, and *svarūpeṇa vyavasthitiḥ,* when we are situated in our constitutional position, that is called *mukti,* liberation. > Therefore a devotee of Kṛṣṇa, pure devotee of Kṛṣṇa, they are not hankering after Kṛṣṇa..., *mukti.* They say, *muktiḥ mukulitāñjali sevate asmān* [*Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta* 107]: "Oh, the *mukti* lady is standing with folded hands, 'My dear sir, what can I do for you?' " And devotee doesn't care. "Oh, what can I [you] do for me? I don't want your help." There is a nice verse of Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura. He lived for seven hundred years in Vṛndāvana, and he was..., became a great devotee of Kṛṣṇa. In the beginning he was an impersonalist. His life is very nice. It is better to cite his life. --- **[1972: Rotary Club Address "The Present Need of Human Society"](spoken/1972/721208ad.ahm)** > So that is called *āstikyam. Āstikyam* means to accept the Vedic instruction as it is. Therefore we are presenting *Bhagavad-gītā* as it is. There is no need of interpreting. If we accept it, the truth, as it is, then we are benefited. In the *Bhagavad-gītā,* Kṛṣṇa says that "I am the Supreme." *Mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat kiñcid asti dhanañjaya*: "My dear Dhanañjaya, Arjuna..." Arjuna is called Dhanañjaya. That's a background, how he became a *dhanañjaya.* So *mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat:* "There is no more superior person than Me." > So, according to Vedic principle, that is not *dharma.* Vedic principle says, *sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhokṣaje*. That is first-class religion which teaches people how to become devotee of the Supreme Lord. *Paro dharmaḥ. Paraḥ* means transcendental. There are many kinds of *dharmas,* and according to Vedic system, there are twenty different types of books, *viṁśati-prakāśa-dharma,* given by different sages. But the conclusion is that that is first-class *dharma* which is convenient for becoming a devotee of the Lord. --- **[1973: Morning Walk](spoken/1973/731208mw.la)** > Actually, that is the fact. If there was no sky, where would you fly your scientific advancement? And if there was no metal, how could you manufacture? If you had no intelligence, how could you do it? So everything is given by Kṛṣṇa, and you are denying Kṛṣṇa. How fool you are, just see. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Simply accept that "Everything is given by Kṛṣṇa. We are utilizing it." That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. > We have no ambition. Just like we are *brāhmaṇas.* We have nothing to do, but according to Vedic civilization, the *brāhmaṇas* guides the *kṣatriyas* how to rule. So our position is to reform the politicians. We are not going to compete with them; we have no business, neither we have time. But because people are suffering—we want everyone to be happy—therefore we want to reform these rascals. That is our goal. What we shall do, taking part in politics? We have no business. But our real aim is how people will be happy. That is our real aim. So these rascals are leading, misleading. Therefore we want to check them. Is that all right? Is that all right? --- **[1973: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.15.30](spoken/1973/731208sb.la)** > Just like the South Indian *brāhmaṇa.* As soon as he opened his... He was illiterate, he could not read *Bhagavad-gītā.* But his Guru Mahārāja said that "You shall read every day eighteen chapters of *Bhagavad-gītā.*" So he was puzzled, that "I'm illiterate. I cannot read. All right, take me the..., take *Bhagavad-gītā.*" So he was in a Rāmaṇatha temple. He took the *Bhagavad-gītā* and went like this. [gesticulates] He could not read. So his friends who knew him, they were joking, "Well, *brāhmaṇa,* how you are reading *Bhagavad-gītā?*" He did not answer because he knew that his friends are "Joking me because I do not know... I'm illiterate." But when Caitanya Mahāprabhu came, he was also puzzled. "*Brāhmaṇa,* you are reading *Bhagavad-gītā?*" He said, "Sir, I am illiterate. I cannot read. It is not possible. But my Guru Mahārāja ordered me to read. What can I do? I've taken this book." This is [indistinct] follower of *guru's* word. He's illiterate. He cannot read. There is no possibility. But his Guru Mahārāja ordered, "You must read *Bhagavad-gītā* daily, eighteen chapters." Now what is this? [laughs] This is called *vyavasāyātmikā buddhiḥ*. I may be quite in..., I mean to say, complete. It doesn't matter. But if I try to follow the words of my Guru Mahārāja, then I become complete. > So *Bhagavad-gītā* as it is, therefore we are presenting, because we are presenting *Bhagavad-gītā* as it was understood by Arjuna. We do not go to Dr. Radhakrishnan, this scholar, that scholar, this rascal, that ra... No. We do not go. That is not our business. That is *paramparā.* So Arjuna here says, *bhagavatā,* "What I heard from that personality, Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavān." Bhagavān means full of six opulences. I've described it many times. So here is the direct hearer, listener. He says *bhagavatā.* How you can say that Kṛṣṇa is not Bhagavān—ordinary person? How you can say? One who heard the message, he says directly. This is called *paramparā* system. This is called *paramparā. Evaṁ paramparā-prāptam imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ*. --- **[1974: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.25.39–40](spoken/1974/741208sb.bom)** > So Kṛṣṇa says, *kṣetra-jñaṁ cāpi māṁ viddhi:* "You are *kṣetrajña.* You are owner of this body. But I am also *kṣetrajña.* So I am *kṣetrajña.* I am the real proprietor. You are simply occupier. You are not the proprietor." *Yantrārūḍhāni māyayā*. He gives you. You wanted a body like this, oh, you have got, "Now take this body." Kṛṣṇa is giving all facilities to enjoy this material world. Sometimes you want the body of a *devatā* like Brahmā, Indra, Candra. "All right." *Yānti deva-vratā devān*. It is said in the *Bhagavad-gītā, yānti deva-vratāḥ.* If you want to become *devatā,* so you act like that. You qualify yourself, and you will go there, and you will get a body. You can get a body like Brahmā or you can get the body of the worm in the stool, as you like. Now it is... "Or if you like, a body like Me," Kṛṣṇa says. *Yānti mad-yājino 'pi mām.* And if you want to get a body like Kṛṣṇa, *sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha* [Bs. 5.1]—*that is our body, real body, *sat, cit, ānanda—*then you can get it. > So in this way the Paramātmā, Parameśvara, that is Kṛṣṇa. Therefore it is said, *visṛjya sarvān anyāṁś ca mām eva.* Bhagavān says, Kapiladeva... Kapiladeva is also Kṛṣṇa. He says, *mam eva:* "Only unto Me." "And what is the difference between you and Me? No, I am *viśvato-mukham.* I am all-pervading. You are not all-pervading." That is the difference. You are sitting here. You are not at your home. But Kṛṣṇa is here, being worshiped in this temple, but He is present in many, many millions of temples. *Viśvato-mukham.* He is accepting devotional services from the devotee in many thousands of temple. Not only that; as Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā* that... What is that? I forget now. Now I am becoming old, I am forgetting. --- **[1975: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.6.6](spoken/1975/751208sb.vrn)** > This family life, *gṛheṣu, gṛha-medhinām,* who are very much attached, this is *māyā.* Prahlāda Mahārāja, from the age of five years he condemned, *hitvātma-pātaṁ gṛham andha-kūpam*: "The *gṛha,* this so-called family life, is a dark well." We are thinking we are very happily living with nice wife and children and working very hard, getting money. But *śāstra* says, "You are fallen in the dark well." *Gṛham andha-kūpam.* And "All right, let me remain here." "No." *Ātma-pātam.* If you remain in this way, then you will kill your soul. *Ātma-pātam.* Therefore in the Vedic civilization there is compulsory: "Get out." *Pañcaśordhvaṁ vanaṁ vrajet.* "Now you are fifty years old past. Immediately get out." "No, I have got so many duties. I have got this." "No, no." *Vrajet,* "compulsory." This verb is used, *vidhiliṅ,* where there is no argument; you must. Just like when natures calls you, you must do it, similarly... This is Vedic civilization. Not that unless you are killed or being shot down by somebody else, you are not leaving the *gṛham andha-kūpam.* This is not Vedic civilization. > Vedic civilization is that *brahmacārī, gṛhastha, vānaprastha, sannyāsa.* You must be prepared, especially the higher castes, especially the *brāhmaṇas.* The *brāhmaṇas* must observe the four *ādhyātmika* principle: *brahmacārī, gṛhastha, vānaprastha... Brāhmaṇa,* they do not go even to the *gṛhastha* life. Remain *brahmacārī.* But even he goes, only for twenty-five years. It is said, *puṁso varṣa-śataṁ hy āyuḥ.* So divide this *varṣa-śatam,* hundred years: twenty-five years, *brahmacārī;* twenty-five years, *gṛhastha;* twenty-five years, *vānaprastha;* and last twenty-five years, *sannyāsa.* That is real civilization, not that no *brahmacārī,* no *vānaprastha,* no *sannyāsa,* simply *gṛhastha.* They are not *gṛhastha.* They are called *gṛhamedhi. Apaśyatām ātma-tattvaṁ gṛheṣu gṛha-medhinām*. --- ## Letters on December 8 *Letters from this day: 28* --- **[1967: Letter to Krsna Devi Subala](letters/1967/671208_krsna_devi_subala)** > Please make it a point that once a center is opened should not be closed. You and your husband must take charge of the Santa Fe center and Krishna will bestow all blessings upon you. --- **[1967: Letter to Mukunda](letters/1967/671208_mukunda)** > You will be glad to know that after the petty trouble in Calcutta and the city being normal, I have today booked my ticket for San Francisco via Tokyo. --- **[1968: Letter to Kirtanananda](letters/1968/681208_kirtanananda)** > I have received today your letter dated 4, December 1968 and have carefully read the contents. --- **[1969: Letter to Jayagovinda](letters/1969/691208_jayagovinda)** > The magazine is already selling, and if you make further improvements, the sales will also improve. Just like our English *BTG*: from 5,000 copies they have increased to 25,000 copies per month, and they are going to increase the number of pages from 32 to 40 pages. --- **[1969: Letter to Kulasekhara](letters/1969/691208_kulasekhara)** > Please follow the routine work as you are doing now and everything will be pleasing and smooth. --- **[1969: Letter to Sucandra](letters/1969/691208_sucandra)** > You have already mentioned the exemplary character of Lord Jesus Christ that he sacrificed everything for God. --- **[1971: Letter to Hansadutta](letters/1971/711208_hansadutta)** > I am pleased that you want to improve your speaking of German language for preaching and for translating books. --- **[1971: Letter to Locanananda](letters/1971/711208_locanananda)** > Our Movement is now growing like anything all over the world, and practically it is being recognized as the best solution for the general world crisis. --- **[1971: Letter to Patita Uddharana](letters/1971/711208_patita_uddharana)** > I am pleased to see that routine work is going on nicely in Columbus center under your supervision. --- **[1971: Letter to Upendra](letters/1971/711208_upendra)** > Now keep the standard of our routine work very high, and you will always meet with all success. --- **[1971: Letter to Vamanadeva Indira](letters/1971/711208_vamanadeva_indira)** > I am very pleased that you have opened another Center for spreading Lord Caitanya's sublime Krishna Conscious Movement all over the world. --- **[1973: Letter to Kadamba](letters/1973/731208_kadamba)** > His lovely features are very nice and he appears to be a first class brahmacari. Always be an example to him by being steadfast in Krsna Consciousness and your motherhood will be perfected. --- **[1973: Letter to Madhudvisa](letters/1973/731208_madhudvisa)** > Do not introduce any new styles. NB: The picture is good from artistic point but we want to worship the Lord. --- **[1973: Letter to Mahajan 3](letters/1973/731208_mahajan_3)** > I am happy to have you as my second initiated disciples and I request that you take this responsibility very seriously and carry on with this Krsna consciousness Movement. --- **[1973: Letter to Trai](letters/1973/731208_trai)** > I hereby accept the devotees you have recommended as my duly initiated disciples and their names are as follows: Take good care of them all and always be an example for them to follow in Krsna Consciousness. --- **[1974: Letter to Ameyatma](letters/1974/741208_ameyatma)** > Regarding the two portrait paintings of myself you have done, both are nice but the close-up one is better. --- **[1974: Letter to Gargamuni](letters/1974/741208_gargamuni)** > and also your telegram reading as follows: ONE THOUSAND RUPEES BOOKS SOLD MAYAPUR RAS PURNIMA DAY THOUSAND VISITED CHANDRADOYA MANDIR PRASADAM DISTRIBUTED— --- **[1974: Letter to Gopijanavallabha](letters/1974/741208_gopijanavallabha)** > Then when there is the necessity of money the BBT will supply for purchasing the house. --- **[1974: Letter to Hansadutta](letters/1974/741208_hansadutta)** > If there is a possibility of moving the Press within a year, then you may not move the Press now. --- **[1974: Letter to Malati](letters/1974/741208_malati)** > Induce Syamasundara to follow the regulative principles and chant Hare Krishna, and then his position will be secure. --- **[1974: Letter to Radhavallabha](letters/1974/741208_radhavallabha)** > I have seen your letter addressed to Brahmananda Maharaja dated November 26, 1974 and I am glad to learn that the situation in New York is proper again. --- **[1974: Letter to Sacimata](letters/1974/741208_sacimata)** > It is good that you are keeping under your parent's protection for the time being, but wherever you remain do not forget to follow the four regulative principles and chanting at least 16 rounds daily --- **[1974: Letter to Vamanadeva](letters/1974/741208_vamanadeva)** > Regarding monthly donations, you can send the money to either of the following accounts whichever is more convenient: 1. --- **[1975: Letter to Kadamba Kanana](letters/1975/751208_kadamba_kanana)** > The mercy of the spiritual master is always there, but we have to take it. So I do not know what you have done, but now you remain strict in the regulative practices of devotional service and make progress. --- **[1975: Letter to Mr. S.D. Purmanan](letters/1975/751208_mr._s.d._purmanan)** > I shall be in Bombay by the 15th December, so you can meet me at that time any day after 5:00 PM till 23rd December. My address there is, Hare Krishna Land, Gandhi Gram Rd. Juhu, Bombay 54. --- **[1975: Letter to Sri D. N. Mishra](letters/1975/751208_sri_d._n._mishra)** > I had been to Kuruksetra with the idea of constructing a temple, the negotiations are going on with the late home minister G.L. Nanda. So far my injuries are concerned, by the grace of Krishna and good wishes of friends and relatives it is already completely cured. --- **[1975: Letter to Sri Krishna C. Batra](letters/1975/751208_sri_krishna_c._batra)** > In reply to your letter dated 26 November 1975, I beg to submit herein that our International Society for Krishna Consciousness is a Bhakti yoga asram as it is enunciated in the Bhagavad-gita. --- **[1976: Letter to Dr. Suresh Candra](letters/1976/761208_dr._suresh_candra)** > So, if you continue this status of life for the matter of executing devotional service, that will be a great advantage. Many great personalities remain brahmacari throughout their whole lives and get freedom from material bondage very easily. ---