# December 16 ## Spoken on December 16 *Lectures from this day: 12 recordings* --- **[1966: Bhagavad-gītā 9.26–27](spoken/1966/661216bg.ny.md)** > So here the Lord says Himself that "I eat." So we cannot say that He does not eat. "He does not eat"—in favor of my conclusion, there is no evidence. But here is the evidence, accepted evidence, that God eats. If God eats, then why don't you offer Him to eat? Where is the harm? Huh? What is the harm? If your little fruits and flowers offered to God, He accepts it, why don't you offer it? You want to please so many. You flatter so many bosses by supplying good dishes and so many things, and why don't you try to please God? What is the harm? Is there any loss? You are eating every day, and before eating, if you offer to God, what is the harm there? Why people do not take this formula and see the result? If actually God eats from your hand, oh, how much advanced you become in spiritual life you do not know. He accepts your things from your hand. How much fortunate you are. > Just like a rich father: He does not like any help from the son, but if the son, after he is grown up, he is earning, and if he offers something to the father, oh, he becomes very happy. This is natural. So our connection with the supreme father is like that. He is not in want. He does not require anything from me. But it is for my interest. If I offer something, then I become a very pet son of my father. This is called *bhakti.* This is devotional service, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness. And why should we not offer? Then we are ingratitude. Suppose the father is supplying everything, and if I do not offer anything to my father, is it very good business? No. --- **[1966: Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.172–244](spoken/1966/661216cc.ny.md)** > Similarly, this Viṣṇu and Śiva and Brahmā... From, I mean to say, gross earth the wood is produced like tree, and from tree we take wood, and from wood there is fire. So when we get fire, then we can serve our purpose. Similarly, although these three *avatāras* are there in the material world, we have to take shelter of the *viṣṇu-avatāra,* goodness. So far spiritual progress, one has to be situated on the modes of goodness first. Therefore we require to be *brāhmaṇas,* qualified *brāhmaṇas,* then Vaiṣṇava. *Brahma jānāti iti brāhmaṇaḥ. Brāhmaṇa* does not mean caste. *Brāhmaṇa* means one who knows the Supreme Brahman. He is *brāhmaṇa.* And then, after being *brāhmaṇa,* then you have to transcend that position and put yourself in the pure goodness. > Vaibhava-prakāśa, vaibhava* manifestation... The example is given: just like when Kṛṣṇa was born, He was not exactly born from the womb of His mother. So He appeared first of all with four hands. Then, when the mother prayed... She could know that Kṛṣṇa has come. She prayed for become an ordinary child, and at once He became two-handed. This is called *vaibhava-prakāśa* manifestation. --- **[1968: Bhagavad-gītā 2.46–62](spoken/1968/681216bg.la)** > A similar passage is there in the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,* the other day, as I was speaking to you, *nūnaṁ pramattaḥ kurute vikarma*. All these people, they are acting in a way which they ought not to have done. *Nūnaṁ pramattaḥ.* But they are acting as madmen. Why? *Yad indriya-prītaya,* for satisfaction of the senses. *Nūnaṁ pramattaḥ kurute vikarma yad indriya-prītaya āpṛṇoti na sādhu manye.* This is not good, because he does not know that he has achieved this material body by working in that way in his previous life. Again he is working in that way. So he'll have to accept again this material body; therefore he's miser. He's not properly utilizing. > Nothing exists without being Kṛṣṇa. That is explained in the Ninth Chapter, *mayā tatam idaṁ sarvam:* "I have expanded in all different atmosphere." *Sarvam. Mat-sthāni sarva-bhūtāni* : "Everything existing in Me." *Nāhaṁ teṣu avasthitaḥ,* "But I am not there. I am not there." You are existing in Kṛṣṇa, but unless you have Kṛṣṇa consciousness, Kṛṣṇa is not in you. But you are existing in Kṛṣṇa. You cannot exist without Kṛṣṇa. So therefore Kṛṣṇa is everywhere, Kṛṣṇa is in everything. We have to develop that consciousness. That will make me happy. --- **[1970: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.27–34](spoken/1970/701216sb.sur)** > Kṛṣṇa is so kind. As soon as He heard that "This man is chanting 'Nārāyaṇa' at the time of his death," immediately He sent His assistants, Viṣṇudūtas, to give him shelter. Therefore in the *Bhagavad-gītā* it is said, *svalpam apy asya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt*. The *mahato bhayāt...* This man, this Ajāmila, is fallen into great calamity. The Yamadūtas, the assistants of the superintendent of death, Yamarāja, has come there to drag him. So *mahato bhayāt.* It was a great, fearful, dangerous place. But simply by uttering "Nārāyaṇa" he was saved. > Therefore the result of yogic performances are achieved by the inimical personalities. In the impersonal Brahman effulgence, not only the highly learned scholars who are trying to attain *brahma-jñāna,* they enter, but also the enemies who are unfavorably thinking of Kṛṣṇa, they also enter into that spiritual kingdom, impersonal effulgence, *nirviśeṣa-brahma-jyoti.* Therefore a devotee's position is different from the *jñānī's,* impersonalist's, because the destination which is achieved by the *jñānīs* is also achieved by the enemies of Kṛṣṇa. So that is not a very high position. --- **[1973: Morning Walk](spoken/1973/731216mw.la)** > Actually, I have seen. There was a snake in our Māyāpur temple. So Guru Mahārāja was standing on the..., while some devotees were waiting. "Yes, kill it." So at that time I could not understand that "Such a saintly person, why he is ordering to kill a snake?" Then when I found in *Bhāgavata, modeta sādhur api vṛścika-sarpa-hatyā* : "A saintly person also becomes engladdened when a snake is killed." Because it is very harmful. He said that "He will do so many harmful activities. Better kill him." Because his business is to create harm. That's all. > When they are fatigued. After being *karmī,* then *jñānī:* "This is not good. What is actually our aim of life, let us search out." But because they make research in their teeny brain, they come to the conclusion voidism and impersonalism, that "Make it zero, this botheration." That is also imperfect. So when they come to Bhagavān and engage himself in the service, then it is perfect. Original. --- **[1973: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.15.38](spoken/1973/731216sb.la)** > So unless one is qualified, highly qualified, how he can be installed as the head of the executive of the state or the world? And this has been given charge through a third-class voters, who has no character. So how you can expect the elected persons to be perfect? That is not possible. This is not the system. This is the system: The head of the state should be perfect, and the next head should be selected by this perfect head of the state, not by the rascal voters. This is perfection. If the head of the state is perfect, then naturally the citizens will be perfect. Because all the laws are there. If the head of the state says, "No more meat-eating," all slaughterhouses will be closed. If the head of the state says, "No more intoxication," then all the cigarette factories and liquor factories will be closed. Is it not? Because... So therefore the head must be perfect. Then *yad yad ācarati śreṣṭha tat tad eva itaro janaḥ*. In the *Bhagavad-gītā* it is said that "What the chief man behaves, others will follow." Therefore it is called leader. Leader. > So you have read in *Bhāgavatam* about the reign of Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, how perfect it was, that at that time the cows were supplying so much milk, the bag was packed with milk, that where the cows were moving, milks were dropping, and the pasture ground became muddy with milk, so much milk was being supplied. And it is said, *sarva-kāma-dughā mahī*. And exactly in right time, the right quantity of rainfall was there. Not like nowadays: sometimes there is no rain and there is sometimes excessive rain, flood. What the scientist can do? They cannot check. These regulative principle depends on nature, and nature is being conducted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. --- **[1974: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.26.4](spoken/1974/741216sb.bom)** > So therefore, here it is said that *vibhuḥ...* Kṛṣṇa is *vibhuḥ,* and if He is covered by *māyā,* as the Māyāvādī philosopher thinks, that "When God comes within this material world, He is also covered by *māyā...*" He is not covered by *māyā.* If *māyā* is greater than Kṛṣṇa, then *māyā* can cover Kṛṣṇa. But that is not the fact. Kṛṣṇa says, *mama māyā.* That means... *Mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te*. If one surrenders to Kṛṣṇa, then he becomes free from the clutches of *māyā.* So how Kṛṣṇa can be caught by *māyā*? This is contradictory. If anyone surrenders to Kṛṣṇa, he becomes free from the influence of *māyā,* simply by surrendering. Then how Kṛṣṇa can be influenced by *māyā*? It is common sense. By surrendering to Kṛṣṇa, by becoming a devotee of Kṛṣṇa, you become free from the clutches of *māyā. Mām eva ye prapadyante.* Simply by surrendering. *Māyām etāṁ taranti te.* So never think that Kṛṣṇa... The Māyāvādī thinks like that, that "We are one, Kṛṣṇa and we. We are one." Yes, we are one—in quality. The same thing: just like the fire and the spark, one in burning capacity. Even a small spark of the fire, it can burn. So we are one in the spiritual quality, but in quantity, we are different. Same example: *vibhu* and *aṇu.* This is very nice verse in the *Bhagavad-gītā, mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te.* In another verse is there, > Jāti—brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra—*that is within this material world, not in the spiritual world. Spiritual world, everyone is eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa. There is no more *jāti,* no more distinction. Everything serving. That one. The master is also spiritual, and the servant is also spiritual, and there is no other relationship. Here in the material world we artificially want to become..., we want to become God. But in the spiritual world there is no such conception. In the spiritual world there are also living entities. They are called *nitya-siddha. Nitya-siddha* means eternally perfect. There are two kinds of living entities: *nitya-siddha* and *nitya-baddha,* eternally conditioned. Yesterday we were reading that *nitya-supta-buddhiḥ.* Here in this material world, however we may be acting, we are sleeping. *Yā niśā sarva-bhūtānām*. --- **[1975: Engagement at Birla House, Talk on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.6.1](spoken/1975/751216le.bom)** > Kṛṣṇa is explaining that everyone is trying to understand God, but by speculation you cannot understand. By service only you can understand, by attachment. You cannot serve Kṛṣṇa without being attached. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says in the Seventh Chapter, *mayy āsakta-manāḥ pārtha yogaṁ yuñjan mad-āśrayaḥ:* "Taking shelter of Me or My devotee, if you practice this *yoga* system, *bhakti-yoga* system, increasing your attachment for Me, this is wanted." Kṛṣṇa consciousness means we have got attachment so many things, but that attachment has to be transferred to Kṛṣṇa. Then you'll become Kṛṣṇa conscious. *Mayy āsakta-manāḥ pārtha yogaṁ yuñjan mad-āśrayaḥ asaṁśayam.* Then *asaṁśayam,* without any doubt. To understand God there are three features: *brahmeti paramātmeti bhagavān iti śabdyate*. > That is first-class religion, *sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo. Para* means supreme. There are different types of religion, but the supreme religion is *para dharma,* that is *yato bhaktir adhokṣaje,* that religious system which instructs the followers how to become a perfect devotee of the Supreme Lord. That is first-class religion. We are fighting in this material world. "You are Hindu," "I am Muslim," "I am Sikh," "I am Jain," "I am this," "I am that," but this is not *paro dharma;* this is *aparo dharma. Parā* and *aparā,* there are two qualities, just like material and spiritual. Material is called *aparā,* and spiritual means *parā,* as it is stated in the *Bhagavad-gītā, apareyam. *Bhūmir āpo 'nalo vāyuḥ khaṁ mano buddhir eva ca, bhinnā me prakṛtir aṣṭadhā . --- **[1975: Morning Walk](spoken/1975/751216mw.bom)** > Dr. Patel: Marx is teaching the highest...Prabhupā > Everyone is manufacturing; that is my point. Either Karl Marx or this one or that one, everyone is manufacturing. Nobody is taking the instruction. And our mission is "Take instruction of Kṛṣṇa." This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. We don't manufacture like nonsense. What you'll manufacture? You are imperfect, your senses are imperfect... > That's all. How simple it is. You, every one of us, we take this missionary activities of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, we see immediately the face of the country will change. Every gentleman, every sane man, may speak to his family, to his community, to his nation, to his friend, what Kṛṣṇa has said. Then see the result. But they're all manufacturing concoction, becoming big scholars. The more you deviate from Kṛṣṇa's instruction, you become a scholar. --- **[1976: Bhagavad-gītā 16.8](spoken/1976/761216bg.hyd)** > First of all make yourself perfect. You can make yourself perfect because in the Bhārata-varṣa there are this *Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,* Vedic literature. Just study them. And therefore we are publishing so many books on the basis of *Bhagavad-gītā* and *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,* and people are appreciating very much all over the world. So it is the duty of every Indian to make his life perfect by understanding *Bhagavad-gītā* at least, and spread the message. That is Caitanya Mahāprabhu's mission. *Yāre dekha tāre kaha kṛṣṇa-upadeśa*. Every one of you can become a *guru.* He says that. *Āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra' ei deśa.* Wherever you are, you can deliver the persons, surrounding person in your neighborhood. "How can I become *guru*? I have no qualification." No. There is no need of qualification. Simply repeat. *Yāre dekha tāre kaha kṛṣṇa-upadeśa*. Very simple thing. Anyone you meet: "My dear friend, just hear little." "What is that?" "Now, Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You kindly think of Kṛṣṇa. Just offer your obeisances to Kṛṣṇa, just become a *bhakta* and chant His holy name." *Bās.* Your *gurugiri* is finished. So it is not very difficult task. Anyone can do this. And then everyone will be benefited. And that is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. > You can go, *sarva-ga.* Every living entity can go wherever he likes, but he must fulfill the condition because we are in the conditional state. The material world means we are conditioned. So in order to be eligible to go to the higher planetary system like moon planet and others, we must be efficient to prepare ourself. So that preparation means the more you become situated in the *sattva-guṇa, śaucam... Satyaṁ śaucam,* the brahminical qualification, *ārjavam āstikyam, jñānaṁ vijñānam āstikyaṁ brahma-karma svabhāva-jam*. Unless you acquire the qualities of *sattva-guṇa,* you cannot go even in the higher planetary system, what to speak of going beyond the universe. Beyond the universe, beyond this, there are Vaikuṇṭha-loka, or the Brahmaloka, *brahma-jyoti.* Then topmost is the Goloka Vṛndāvana. But you can go there. Kṛṣṇa says, *mad-yājino 'pi yānti mām .* If you prepare in this life, then you can go there. There is no impediment. Simply you have to be purified. This *bhakti-mārga* is the process of purification. --- **[1976: Press Conference](spoken/1976/761216pc.hyd)** > So unless you accept this formula, how you get conception of God? God is not a proprietor of three *bīghās* of land. Here is God: *sarva-loka-maheśvaram.* That is God. God is not limited. He is unlimited. I can say I have got *lakh* of rupees, you can say you have got *crore* of rupees, but God says, "I am the proprietor of all the riches." That we cannot say. That is God's wealth. And because He is the proprietor, He is the enjoyer, supreme enjoyer, *bhoktā.* But we are manufacturing different *bhoktās;* therefore there is controversy. If we accept "God is *bhoktā;* we are simply dependent on Him," then the whole question is solved. The United Nation is passed it's resolution, why they are barking... [break] > Bhagavān. These are the *bhagas,* opulences. One who possesses all these opulences, He is God, Bhagavān. *Asty arthe vatup.* So all opulences. God is not shortage of opulences. All opulences. All the riches. *Bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram*. This is God. He is the proprietor of everything. --- **[1976: Room Conversation](spoken/1976/761216r1.hyd)** > Pāpa-yonis* are untouchable. *Te 'pi yānti parāṁ gatim*. So why not... There is no question of untouchable. "Anyone who comes to Me, actually, seriously," *te 'pi yānti parāṁ gatim*. *Parāṁ gatim*, highest perfection of life, if one goes, then where is *pāpa-yoni*? Not only that, in the *Bhagavat,* Śukadeva Gosvāmī says the *caṇḍālas*, *kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbhā,* and then, *śudhyanti,* they can be purified by Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So in the *śāstra* there is sanction. Nārada Muni says in the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* that *yasya yal lakṣaṇaṁ proktaṁ puṁso varṇābhivyañjakam*. > Etaro janaḥ.* Those who are in the subordinate grade, they follow the leaders. So the leaders have given up this science. So how the subordinate class, they will understand? They must understand the spirit of *Bhagavad-gītā,* how it is essential, how people will be happy by following the instruction. Unless *rājarṣi* understands, how the people? So actually if she wants blessing, the blessing is already there: *Bhagavad-gītā.* And if she gives some time, we can make her convinced that this is essential. Without this, there is no question of peace and prosperity. There is no question. I think that these contents are essential. All these contents are explained with reference to *Bhagavad-gītā,* no other. --- ## Letters on December 16 *Letters from this day: 12* --- **[1967: Letter to Advaita](letters/1967/671216_advaita)** > Yes, you can marry but wait until my arrival in N.Y. very soon. I have very much enjoyed your appreciation of my humble service to Krishna. --- **[1967: Letter to Jadurani](letters/1967/671216_jadurani)** > When I left your country on the 22nd of July, I had very little hope to come back again. But Krishna informed me that I'm not going to die immediately; therefore, I have come back again to get inspiration of Krishna Consciousness from you all good souls. --- **[1967: Letter to Krsna Devi](letters/1967/671216_krsna_devi)** > I am so glad to know that Krishna did not allow you to do something that was not His plan. --- **[1967: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1967/671216_satsvarupa)** > with manuscript of Teachings of Lord Caitanya. I pray Krishna for your more & more improvement in Krishna Consciousness. --- **[1967: Letter to Subalaa](letters/1967/671216_subalaa)** > I hope in the meantime you have received my letter posted yesterday. Therefore my advise is that Srimati Krishna devi may look after the center for a few days during your absence for N.Y. And for 2 or 3 days Srimati Krishna devi will manage and Krishna will give her all protection, don't worry. --- **[1967: Letter to Subalab](letters/1967/671216_subalab)** > On my arrival from India I am very much pleased to receive your letter of 12/13/67 and much encouraged to know that you have again found out a nice place in the city of Santa Fe to continue your transcendental activities. --- **[1974: Letter to Bhakta Lance](letters/1974/741216_bhakta_lance)** > My simple request is that you remain in association of devotees and continue to chant your 16 rounds daily and follow strictly the four regulative principles and read our books daily with great care. --- **[1974: Letter to Bhakta Steve](letters/1974/741216_bhakta_steve)** > It is very nice that you have joined the Radha-Damodara travelling Sankirtana party and that you are engaged in spreading the message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu along with Visnujana Swami and Tamala Krsna Goswami. --- **[1974: Letter to Christy Hendryx](letters/1974/741216_christy_hendryx)** > Thank you for the information about your land in Oregon. I think the best procedure is for you to contact either our temple president in Seattle, Washington whose name is Sukadeva dasa or you can write a letter to our headquarters in Los Angeles to Jayatirtha dasa and they will be able to make the proper decision and let you know about this land offer. --- **[1974: Letter to Durgesh](letters/1974/741216_durgesh)** > It appears that you have understood our philosophy very nicely, and that is a great boon for someone who is as young as yourself. --- **[1974: Letter to Jayatirtha](letters/1974/741216_jayatirtha)** > Regarding the GBC meeting to be held in Mayapur 1975, the meeting should be held five days before the actual festival is to begin and it will be held in my presence. --- **[1974: Letter to Rsabhadeva](letters/1974/741216_rsabhadeva)** > I am in due receipt of you letter dated Dec. If we sincerely desire to spread Krsna Consciousness then Krsna provides all facility. I am very happy to hear of the large number of new devotees you are recruiting there in Laguna Beach. ---