# December 15 ## Spoken on December 15 *Lectures from this day: 8 recordings* --- **[1966: Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.164–173](spoken/1966/661215cc.ny.md)** > So in His *svayaṁ-rūpa,* in His personal feature, He always remains at Vṛndāvana, and He is just like a cowherd boy. That is His real feature, Kṛṣṇa. The Kṛṣṇa in the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra, that is not the real feature of Kṛṣṇa. Just like a person, high-court judge, where you will find his real feature? His real feature you will find at his home, not on the bench. In the bench, even his father comes, the high-court judge's father, he will have to address the judge, "My lord." That is the court. The same person at home and same person in the court is different, although the same person. > So one expansion is *vaibhava* at Vṛndāvana, and another expansion was made by Kṛṣṇa at Dvārakā when He was grown up and He was obliged to marry sixteen thousand wives. Sixteen thousand wives. He had actually... Because the *kṣatriyas,* the administrator, the royal family, royal class, they are allowed to marry more than one wife; not other class. Because they were rich, they were royal, kingly order, they had sufficient means. They could maintain many wives with the same comforts. So they were allowed; not others, not the poor *brāhmaṇas* or others. No. --- **[1970: Room Conversation](spoken/1970/701215r1.ind)** > Mr. Agarwal: [indistinct] and then we were not informed [indistinct]. What else can you do those to you who have promised Life Membership of this [indistinct] become either a subscriber member or a donor member, if not Life Member [indistinct]. Something has to be sorted [indistinct]. > Mr. Agarwal: [indistinct] some one thousand people [indistinct] at his temple [indistinct] then he will call my name to come [indistinct] we can come [indistinct]. --- **[1970: Room Conversation](spoken/1970/701215r1.sur)** > Instead of going through the instruction, first of all let me understand what do you understand about this [indistinct] *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.* That is essential. So you cannot explain what is *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.* You have read *Bhāgavatam* from the beginning? *Dharma projjhita kaitavo atra*. > 701215R1-SURAT [03:24 Minutes] [indistinct].Prabhupāda: > You understand what is the meaning of *bhāgavata,* this word *bhāgavata?* You understand? These are the common questions. If you do not understand this common question, then how you can instruct others? --- **[1970: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.27](spoken/1970/701215sb.ind)** > This is the system of *varṇāśrama-dharma—*four kinds of *varṇas* and four kinds of *āśrama.* It is very scientific. The whole idea of human civilization should be how to push one to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, to Viṣṇu. Because they do not know, *na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇum*. The real interest is to approach Viṣṇu, to go back to home, go back to Godhead. That he does not know. He is entangled with these material affairs. *Anartha.* They are called *anartha.* They are not required. > A *sannyāsī... Sannyāsī* means *sat nyāsa,* to fully surrender to Kṛṣṇa. But the *sannyāsīs,* they misuse in another way. Actually *sannyāsa* means to fully surrender. Even nowadays in India there are so many *sannyāsīs,* some three million *sannyāsīs.* They are wandering all over the country. They have no food problem, still, although India is considered to be poverty-stricken. Either *sannyāsī* or *gṛhastha,* nobody has to have problem. You have created such... Simply artificially you have created such problem. --- **[1973: Morning Walk](spoken/1973/731215mw.la)** > But the next question is: "Does it mean that *guru* is Kṛṣṇa? Therefore no more Kṛṣṇa wanted?" No. *Kintu prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya:* "*Guru* is exalted because he is very confidential servant of Kṛṣṇa." Here it is clear. Not that he is respected as Kṛṣṇa, therefore he has become Kṛṣṇa. This is Māyāvāda: "He has become Kṛṣṇa." No. "But don't think that there is no more Kṛṣṇa. Finished. *Guru* is here." Just like the Māyāvādī says, just like this rascal Guruji, that "I am Kṛṣṇa." Not that. *Kintu prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya.* He is the most confidential servant. *Vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam.* This is clear explanation. > There is suffering, and our struggle for existence means to, I mean to say, mitigate the suffering, to minimize or to make it nil. That is our struggle. We are not submitting to suffering. Then what is the civilization? What is human civilization? We don't want suffering. That is our position. Why this rascal says that "We shall suffer"? Just see. The theologician is a rascal. Therefore we say everyone rascal. --- **[1973: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.15.37](spoken/1973/731215sb.la)** > But the king was so responsible that now he wanted to retire. There is no other way. As far as possible, he controlled. That is king's business. The government's business is to control these things, and citizen must be happy in every way. Even Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira's time, there was no excessive heat or cold; neither there was prominence of disease or pestilence, famine. These things were absent. Because Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja himself was very pious, and he conducted his government in such a way that people were also pious. *Yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhaḥ lokas tad anuvartate*. If the leaders are perfect, then the citizens will be perfect. If the leaders are rascals... > Therefore how *Bhāgavata* has selected the specific animals, how they are suffering, very instructive. *Śva-viḍ-varāhoṣṭra-kharaiḥ*. He forgets his own business, that he has got this human form of life to understand, "What I am? Why I am suffering? What is the remedy? How to relieve... How to become relieved this problem?" He has forgotten that. Simply he is busy earning money. *Divā cārthehayā rājan kuṭumba-bharaṇena vā*. These *karmīs,* they are thinking that... --- **[1974: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.26.3](spoken/1974/741215sb.bom)** > Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad..., brahmaṇaḥ ahaṁ pratiṣṭhā*. The *jyoti* is coming, *brahma-jyoti* is coming, from Kṛṣṇa's body. Therefore you will find in the picture of Kṛṣṇa there is some *jyoti* on His face. That is expanded. That is *brahma-jyoti.* That is explained in the *Brahma-saṁhitā. Yasya prabhā prabhavato jagad-aṇḍa-koṭi-koṭiṣv aśeṣa-vasudhādi-vibhūti-bhinnam* [Bs. 5.40]. On account of that *jyoti, brahma-jyoti...* Just like on account of the sunshine all the planets are resting and rotating. That is scientific. Due to the heat of the sunshine, all the planets in the sky, they are rotating. It is due to sunshine. Similarly, this *brahmāṇḍa,* this universe—not only one universe, but millions of universes—they are also rotating in the *brahma-jyoti. Yasya prabhā prabhavato jagad-aṇḍa-koṭi.* And what is that *jagad-aṇḍa*? *Koṭiṣv aśeṣa-vasudhādi-vibhūti-bhinnam.* In each *brahmāṇḍa,* in each universe, there are unlimited number of planets. *Yasya prabhā prabhavato jagad-aṇḍa-koṭi-koṭiṣv aśeṣa-vasudhā. Vasudhā* means planets or globes. This earthy planet is called *vasudhā. Aśeṣa—*not one, but *aśeṣa,* unlimited. *Aśeṣa-vasudhādi-vibhūti. Vibhūti* means each planet is saturated with different types of atmosphere. Just like the moon planet. The scientist says that it is below zero two hundred degrees. It is very cold. That's a fact. Because it is very cold, therefore the shining from so much distance in the evening, we feel very comfortable. Not in the sunshine. God's arrangement is so nice. You require both. The sunshine also you require, and the moonshine also you require. If simply there is sunshine, then you die. And if there will be simply moonshine, then you will also die. Both. > So there are two kinds of *puruṣa:* one *puruṣa* in the material world, as we are. We are artificially claiming to be *puruṣa. Puruṣa* means enjoyer. The *karmīs,* they are trying to enjoy this material world. They are working day and night very hard to enjoy. That is..., means *puruṣābhimāna.* Actually, we are not *puruṣa.* We are *prakṛti,* as it is described in the *Bhagavad-gītā* that "Above this material *prakṛti—*earth, water, air, fire—there is another *prakṛti,*" Kṛṣṇa says to Arjuna, "which is *parā-prakṛti.*" And what is that? *Jīva-bhūtāṁ mahā-bāho yayedaṁ dhāryate jagat*. Jīva-bhūta,* that living entity, that is superior *prakṛti.* This is inferior *prakṛti,* matter, and *jīva* is superior *prakṛti.* But the *jīva,* under false ego, he is trying to enjoy this material *prakṛti. Yayā,* "by the superior *prakṛti,*" *yayedaṁ dhāryate jagat.* --- **[1976: Bhagavad-gītā 16.7](spoken/1976/761215bg.hyd)** > Within this body the spirit soul is there. They cannot understand. Therefore their self-interest is mistaken. Real self-interest is that "I am spirit soul. I am son of God. My father is very, very rich, opulent. I have given up my father's association and therefore I am suffering." Otherwise there is no question of suffering. We have got experience. A very rich man's son, why he should suffer? So here Kṛṣṇa says that *ahaṁ bīja-pradaḥ pitā* : "I am the seed-giving father of all living entities." Then... God means *ṣaḍ-aiśvarya-pūrṇaḥ,* six kinds of opulences. He is complete. He is the proprietor of everything, *bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram*.* So if I am the son of a person who is the proprietor of everything, then where is the question of my suffering? So therefore the basic principle of self-interest is lost. > Why you are covering this body? The body is the cause of suffering, and in contact with the atmosphere I feel cold. Therefore I have to cover. It is a means of mitigating the suffering. The position is suffering, but somehow or other we are trying to mitigate the suffering. Similarly, in summer season also, the suffering is there. At that time we don't want this covering; we want electric fans. So always there is suffering. Either in the summer season or winter season, suffering must be there. That we do not come to understand. This is due to our asuric *svabhāva.* So we do not question. In the summer season and the winter season... The summer season, we like something cool, and in the winter season we want something which is warm. So two things are there. So sometimes the warmth is suffering; sometimes this cool is also suffering. So where is enjoyment? We simply hanker that "At this time, if there were warm..." But warm is also suffering. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says that "Don't bother about the suffering. It will continue. You are thinking in summer season something as very pleasing. The same thing in winter season will not be pleasing. So they will come and go. Don't bother about this so-called suffering and enjoyment. Do your duty, Kṛṣṇa consciousness." --- ## Letters on December 15 *Letters from this day: 17* --- **[1966: Letter to Nripen Babu](letters/1966/661215_nripen_babu)** > Since I came to America I desired to write you letter several times but I forgot your address. I wrote several letters to your brother at Vrindaban but I have received no reply from him. I do not know why. --- **[1969: Letter to Cidananda](letters/1969/691215_cidananda)** > I was very much anxious to hear from you since I did not receive any letter for a long time. --- **[1969: Letter to Gargamuni](letters/1969/691215_gargamuni)** > These wisdom teeth are a good example of Maya's tribulations to us. In my younger days, by Krishna's Grace I had no such trouble, but I saw in my eldest sister this suffering from the wisdom teeth problem, and her gum was also operated upon. --- **[1969: Letter to Manager Of Punjab National Bank](letters/1969/691215_manager_of_punjab_national_bank)** > RE: SHIPMENT OF 8 CASES OF *SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM* TO NEW YORK PER S.S. JALAKALA, AND YOUR LETTER DATED DECEMBER 5TH (3732) --- **[1972: Letter to Capt. Singhal](letters/1972/721215_capt._singhal)** > Now I am going to Bombay on Monday and shall be staying at the following address: Your suggestion to hold a meeting of the Life members is very much welcomed. --- **[1972: Letter to Nirmala](letters/1972/721215_nirmala)** > We have neither changed our plan nor have we any intention of changing our plan of developing Hare Krishna Land in Bombay. --- **[1973: Letter to Bhutatma](letters/1973/731215_bhutatma)** > Enclosed find three sacred threads and three gayatri mantras for the second initiates. Hold a fire yajna, after which they may listen to the mantra once through the right ear from from the cassette tape I have have made. --- **[1973: Letter to Govardhan](letters/1973/731215_govardhan)** > I hereby accept the devotees you have recommended for first and second initiation. --- **[1973: Letter to Kurusrestha](letters/1973/731215_kurusrestha)** > I hereby accept the devotees as you have recommended for initiation and their names are as follows: You may send their beads of Kirtanananda Maharaja for chanting upon. --- **[1973: Letter to Madhudvisa](letters/1973/731215_madhudvisa)** > I have seen pictures of the house you are trying for and it is very gorgeous. Krsna will recognize your service and it will be a great push forward for our movement. --- **[1973: Letter to Mukunda Madhavananda](letters/1973/731215_mukunda_madhavananda)** > Work together cooperatively and develop things nicely there. Enclosed find one letter I just received from Jaya Laksmana das. --- **[1973: Letter to Nityananda](letters/1973/731215_nityananda)** > I hereby accept the two devotees you recommended for second initiation and enclosed find two sacred threads and two gayatri mantras. Take instruction from Satsvarupa Goswami on how to properly perform the fire yajna after which the initiates may listen once to the mantra in the right ear from the cassette tape I have made. --- **[1974: Letter to Bahudak](letters/1974/741215_bahudak)** > I am very glad to hear about your new farm-asrama existing there. We want to develop many such farms all over the world. Your are enthusiastic and intelligent and it appears that you are managing in nicely. --- **[1974: Letter to Bhakta Mark](letters/1974/741215_bhakta_mark)** > It is very nice that you have met with my disciple, Visnujana Swami and you should try to remain with him and learn as much as possible about this wonderful philosophy of Krsna Consciousness from him. --- **[1974: Letter to Revatinandana](letters/1974/741215_revatinandana)** > I am very glad to hear of your program of travelling on the West Coast preaching in the colleges and having radio interviews. --- **[1974: Letter to Tribhuvanatha](letters/1974/741215_tribhuvanatha)** > As far as taking Deities to the programs that sounds like a very nice plan. But if you want to take the Deities permanently on your party there may be difficulties because you have to maintain Them nicely. --- **[1975: Letter to Vishvambhar Dayala](letters/1975/751215_vishvambhar_dayala)** > I understand that Sri Bhawatyaji has come to Vrindaban for transferring land for Gurukula. I hope by the time this letter reaches you, you will have finished the transaction. ---