# December 14 ## Spoken on December 14 *Lectures from this day: 13 recordings* --- **[1966: Bhagavad-gītā 9.24–26](spoken/1966/661214bg.ny.md)** > The real thing is love. "Anyone who is offering Me these four things in love," *tad ahaṁ bhakty-upahṛtam,* "because he has brought these four things with love and devotion," then God says, Lord says, *tad aham aśnāmi,* "I eat. I eat," *bhaktyā prayatātmanaḥ,* "because with devotion, with faith and with love he has brought." > So here Kṛṣṇa says, "Those who are trying to worship the demigods, they'll go to the planets of the demigods." *Yānti deva-vratā devān pitṝn yānti pitṛ-vratāḥ . Pitṛ-vratāḥ.* There is a form of worship of the forefathers. So there is a particular planet. The worshiper of the forefathers, they go there. *Pitṝn yānti pitṛ-vratāḥ.* And *bhūtejyā yānti. Bhūtāni yānti bhūtejyā.* And those who are materialistic, those who want to worship these earthly things in this material..., not material world; everywhere, but *bhūtejyā,* especially material worship, so *bhūtejyā,* those who are worshiper of material elements, they go to... They remain in the material platform. *Yānti mad-yājino 'pi mām : "And those who are worshiping Me, Lord, they will come to Me." This is very nice, clear. --- **[1970: Lecture in Hindi](spoken/1970/701214le.ind)** > Even after doing all sorts of things if one does not worship the Lord, then all so-called austerity has no value. It has no value; *antar bahir yadi haris tapasā tataḥ kiṁ*. One who sees the Lord everywhere inside, outside and in everyone's heart, for him there is no need for austerity. And *nāntar bahir yadi haris tapasā tataḥ kim*, if by doing all sorts of things one does not realize the Lord within and without, then that kind of austerity has no value. Lord Himself says in Gītā on this realization, everyone equal, to realize God [..]: *mayy arpita mano-buddhiḥ* > Caitanya Mahāprabhu says: *paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam, śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam paraṁ vijaya lābha*. Why? *Ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ*. More you perform *hari-kīrtana* more will be cleansing of the dirt accumulated in your hearts. *Ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ*. In other words, all your misconceptions will be washed off. What is misconception? Like *ātma-buddhi*. So far we understand that this body, a physical body is our identity. This misconception will go away. Only by rid of this misconception will you be liberated. *Ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaṁ. Bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaṁ* means, "you will be liberated." It is called *dāvāgni* in this world, *bhava*. *Dāvāgni* means.., "just like a forest fire." No one goes to light a fire in a forest, but it catches fire by itself. Similarly, everyone in the world wishes that there will be peace, but no one remains peaceful. There will be fire. Somehow or other...., whatever you try to remain in peace, but there will be fire. Therefore it is called: *bhava-mahā-dāvāgni*. --- **[1970: Room Conversation](spoken/1970/701214r1.ind)** > Just like Washington. What is the value of Washington? It is nothing. Simply because it is headquarters of the President it has got importance. Similarly, Delhi is that. Otherwise it is not important. But Calcutta, Bombay is really important city in India: big business, port, all rich men, every kind of, all cultural, everything—Calcutta and Bombay. Originally only Calcutta, now Bombay also. Because the Britishers, they made Calcutta capital. And Calcutta was very, very important city. But this Calcutta man, they create sometimes situation, very complicated. > And there are instances; whenever there was a bad king, they were dethroned. Not for political purpose. He was dethroned, but his son was on the... Just like Lord Rāmacandra did. Rāmacandra killed Rāvaṇa, but He never occupied the kingdom. His brother Vibhīṣaṇa proved to be faithful. He was enthroned. From the same family. And that was the system. Even a king was wrong, he would be dethroned, but from his family, either his son or brother or somebody would occupy there. Not that "Because I have conquered you, therefore I shall sit down." No. There are many instances. And therefore India was ruling all over the world. The emperor was in India, and the kings of different states, their family was. --- **[1970: Room Conversation](spoken/1970/701214r2.ind)** --- **[1972: Bhagavad-gītā 7.1–3](spoken/1972/721214bg.ahm)** > So if one is actually interested to make his life perfect, then we should accept the standard knowledge instead of manufacturing now different ways. No. Here is standard knowledge, *Bhagavad-gītā,* the *śāstra. Sādhu-śāstra-guru-vākya tinete kariyā aikya. Yaḥ śāstra-vidhim utsṛjya vartate kāma-kārataḥ*. If you do not follow the standard knowledge of perfect *śāstra,* then Kṛṣṇa says, *na siddhiṁ sāvāpnoti:* he never gets *siddhi.* Here it is said, *siddhaye. Manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu kaścid yatati siddhaye . Siddhaye,* to become perfect. > The first thing is *utsāha. Utsāha.* Simply on the words of Kṛṣṇa, that Kṛṣṇa says, *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja*, we must be very enthusiastic, that "I must surrender to Kṛṣṇa. Although my mind is going outside, but I must be determined that I must surrender." *Utsāha.* This is called *utsāha,* enthusiasm. --- **[1973: Chanting Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi-līlā 8th Chapter](spoken/1973/731214ch.la)** > Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, is fully independent. Therefore, although it is the most confidentially stored benediction, He can distribute love of Godhead to anyone and everyone without consideration. > When one's transcendental loving service to the Lord is actually awakened, it generates transformations in the body such as perspiration, trembling, throbbing of the heart, faltering of the voice and tears in the eyes. --- **[1973: Morning Walk](spoken/1973/731214mw.la)** > So how you can make yourself separated from God, who is everything? Because they do not know what is God, therefore thinking like that, that God can be separated. But if they study *Īśopaniṣad*, that God is present everywhere, it is not possible to separation. *Yena sarvam idaṁ tatam*. ust like your consciousness is everywhere, in any part of your body, similarly the Supreme Consciousness, God, is everywhere. *Vedāhaṁ samatītāni*. Kṛṣṇa says, "I know everything." Unless He is everywhere, how He can know everything? What do you say, scientist? > These rascals, leaders, they are glorified by another set of rascal fools, because the whole population is rascal. Therefore they elect these rascals as leader. That is the mistake. Once they elect some rascal as leader, and then, being dissatisfied, they make another revolution and they elect another rascal... That is called *punaḥ punaś carvita-carvaṇānām*, chewing the chewed. He does not know whom to elect. He elects one rascal, repents, then makes agitation to get him out, then elects another rascal. --- **[1973: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.15.36](spoken/1973/731214sb.la)** > That is not within our experience. But we get it from the *śāstra.* In the *Bhagavad-gītā* it is said, *paras tasmāt tu bhāvaḥ anyaḥ*. Kṛṣṇa says, "There is another nature." *Paras tasmāt.* "This material nature, beyond that there is another nature." *Paras tasmāt tu bhāvo 'nyo 'vyakto 'vyaktāt sanātanaḥ.* That is eternal. This material nature is not eternal. Just like your body, my body, it is not eternal; similarly, this gigantic body of universe, that is also not eternal. It has a date of creation, and it has a date for dissolution. That is the nature. Therefore it is said that "That material nature is *sanātana.* That is never created; neither it is annihilated." > Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, *avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā mānuṣīṁ tanum āśritam* : "*Mūḍhas,* the rascals, they think, because I appear as a human being, they think as ordinary human being." *Paraṁ bhāvam ajānantaḥ:* "They do not know the great potentiality of Myself." *Paraṁ bhāvam ajānantaḥ.* Still, they will go on explaining *Bhagavad-gītā,* writing *Bhāgavata,* comments on. These rascals, *mūḍhas,* one who does not know that Kṛṣṇa has no such distinction, as we have got distinction body and soul, Kṛṣṇa has no such distinction... Kṛṣṇa has no distinction between this Kṛṣṇa's form of stone and Kṛṣṇa Himself, because the stone is also Kṛṣṇa's energy. *Bhūmir āpo 'nalo vāyuḥ*. The earth, water, air, fire, everything is Kṛṣṇa energy. That we have already explained. *Parasya brahmaṇaḥ śaktiḥ.* Everything Kṛṣṇa's energy. So He can appear in any form, from anywhere, from anything. That is Kṛṣṇa. That is Kṛṣṇa. --- **[1974: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.26.2](spoken/1974/741214sb.bom)** > This is highest perfection, Kṛṣṇa says. All *śāstra,* it says like that, and the whole Vedic literature is meant for achieving the highest perfection of life. Vedic literature, you will get all kinds of knowledge. *Veda* means knowledge, and the Vedic literature is full of knowledge. *Nigama-kalpa-taru*. *Nigama* means Vedic knowledge, and *kalpa-taru* means the tree from where you can get anything you desire, whatever you desire. Generally we have got experience that a mango tree, if you desire mango, you can get from the mango tree. If you desire coconut, then you can get from the coconut tree. But you cannot get coconut from the mango tree and mango from the coconut tree. But there are trees where you go, you can get both mango and banana and coconut, and everything you like. That is called *kalpa-vṛkṣa.* We have no experience in this material world, but there is a tree. That is not in this material world; that is in the spiritual world. *Cintāmaṇi-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vṛkṣa-lakṣāvṛteṣu surabhīr abhipālayantam [*Bs*5.29]. > So we have to come to this platform, spiritual platform. We are suffering on account of being on the material platform. So by keeping yourself always in the fire of Kṛṣṇa, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness, you are transferred to the spiritual world. Very nice example, this iron rod, red hot. You cannot use it for any other purpose. It is simply for burning. Similarly, you can become Kṛṣṇa-ized. That we have already discussed in the previous verses. The..., anyone who is fully absorbed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness in devotional service, he is two kinds of external body, namely the gross body, material body—this gross body made of earth, water, fire, air and sky—and the subtle body made of mind, intelligence and ego. These two kinds of body becomes dissolved. Just like if you eat something, put into your stomach, and if you have got good digestive function, then everything will be digested. Similarly, if you become Kṛṣṇa conscious, spiritualized, the material activities will have no effect. It is dissolved. Otherwise, any material things you will do, it will have repercussion, or reaction. That is stated in the *Bhagavad-gītā: yajñārthe karmaṇo 'nyatra loko 'yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ*. Yajñārthe. Yajña* means Kṛṣṇa, Yajña-puruṣa, Yajñeśvara. Kṛṣṇa's another name is Yajñeśvara. *Bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasām*,* Kṛṣṇa says. *Yajña-tapasām, bhokta.* So therefore there is Yajñeśvara. So whatever you do for Kṛṣṇa, it will have no reaction—digest everything. And if you do not do for Kṛṣṇa, then it will take time to digest. --- **[1975: Morning Walk](spoken/1975/751214mw.del)** > Enquire from the authority that we want to hold festival, dance and chant..., and singing; don't say chant. See if you can dance, for one week. So what will be the terms, enquire this. --- **[1975: Room Conversation](spoken/1975/751214r1.del)** > This choice has to be made by the human being. If he makes his choice after getting good education from the right source, that "I am going on in the wrong way by the desire to lord it over the material nature, but I am eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa, therefore I must surrender now," *bahūnām janmanām ante jñānavān mām...*. > So if one wants to continue this business then he'll continue this material body, and if he wants to stop this business, come to his original position, then he makes real progress in life. But nobody is interested in advancement of spiritual life. Generally they take to religion, religiosity, for material happiness. *Ārto arthārthī.* I am distressed, I have no money, or I am suffering from some disease—you'll find all these. So all of them go to see *sādhu* only for this purpose. "Sir, I am suffering from some disease, so without going to the doctor, and saving so much money, let me pay hundred rupees to the *sādhu,* and he'll give me his blessing. So I will save thousands of rupees for curing the disease." For this purpose they go to *sādhu.* Nobody goes to *sādhu* for going back to home, back to Godhead. It is only we are proposing. Otherwise the so-called *yogīs, sādhus, svāmīs*, they are making good-luck business simply by promising that you'll get this material power. This Mahesh Yogi, he says that... What is his philosophy? --- **[1976: Bhagavad-gītā 16.7](spoken/1976/761214bg.hyd)** > This is... This is beginning of *asuras'* life, *pravṛtti* and *nivṛtti. Pravṛtti* means the, what is called, incentive which makes... There is a grain of sugar, and the ant knows there is a grain of sugar. He is running after it. That is *pravṛtti.* And *nivṛtti* means I have passed my life in this way, but it is not actually my progress of life. I should stop this way of life. I should go to the spiritual realization. That is *nivṛtti-mārga.* There are two ways: *pravṛtti* and *nivṛtti. Pravṛtti* means we are going to the dark, darkest region. *Adānta-gobhir viśatāṁ tamisram*. > Tathā dehāntara-prāptir dhīras tatra na muhyati*. Everyone is suffering on account of this body, and this human body is meant for ending this suffering. That should be the aim of life. But those who are *asuras,* they do not know how to end this life of suffering and accept the life of *ānandamayo 'bhyāsāt* [*Vedānta-sūtra* 1.1.12], simply *ānanda* in Vaikuṇṭha, in Goloka Vṛndāvana. Kṛṣṇa, to live with Him as His associate, you have no information. We are demons, and therefore we take pleasure in so-called material activities, and that means we are doomed. We should stop this nonsense and take to the principles of *nivṛtti-mārga.* Then our life will be success. --- ## Letters on December 14 *Letters from this day: 12* --- **[1967: Letter to Rayarama](letters/1967/671214_rayarama)** > On my arrival in San Francisco amongst my sincere spiritual sons, daughters and practically in my spiritual home in U. --- **[1968: Letter to Gurudasa](letters/1968/681214_gurudasa)** > It is just like that in the milk, there is butter, but if you want concentrated butter, you have to churn milk and take out the butter. Similarly, Krishna is spread everywhere by different potencies but when there is question of love, we have to be in direct touch with Krishna. --- **[1968: Letter to Jadurani](letters/1968/681214_jadurani)** > The thing is, Deity worship is compulsory, and you can increase if you have got time to do so. But Mangala aratrik is essential (morning arati), and Sandharatrik (evening aratri) is essential, and offering of Prasadam to Deity is essential. --- **[1969: Letter to Manager Of Bank Of Baroda](letters/1969/691214_manager_of_bank_of_baroda)** > Kindly refer to my letter dated September 7, 1969 in which I had to instruct you to pay BINA MUSICAL STORES Rs. --- **[1972: Letter to Gwalior Tank Branch](letters/1972/721214_gwalior_tank_branch)** > With reference to the above Account in the name of the International Society for Krishna consciousness Book Fund, said Account shall be closed and terminated, *after* first transferring (1) the sum of Rs. --- **[1972: Letter to Karandhara Bali-Mardana](letters/1972/721214_karandhara_bali-mardana)** > One thing is, that you should inform me in detail and send the plans of that place, along with how you shall make all the payments. --- **[1972: Letter to Tusta Krsna](letters/1972/721214_tusta_krsna)** > Now try to keep a cool head under all circumstances and always remember that Krishna will protect you in any case, you haven't to worry anything. --- **[1972: Letter to Visvambhara](letters/1972/721214_visvambhara)** > (1) So far your question about the Gopis, in the beginning there is no such question. In the beginning we have to follow the principles of devotional service rigidly, like chanting 16 rounds, regularly following the instructions of the Spiritual Master, which includes study, temple worship, sankirtana, like that. --- **[1976: Letter to Gurudasa](letters/1976/761214_gurudasa)** > Jagadisa informs me that Sri Garbha came to him saying that he preferred to go to Mayapur, but that due to pressure from you he had agreed to go to Poland. --- **[1976: Letter to Gurukrpa](letters/1976/761214_gurukrpa)** > Your proposal to purchase a new temple in Sydney is good. I remember the bay side, it is the best side. It's a very nice bay. It will certainly increase the preaching to have a center there. --- **[1976: Letter to Lokanatha](letters/1976/761214_lokanatha)** > Continue this program enthusiastically and increase your number of company. You have to create devotees by your preaching work and train them according to your needs. --- **[1976: Letter to Yasomatinandana](letters/1976/761214_yasomatinandana)** > The publishing you are doing is very good. That is very enthusiastic propaganda work. ---