# December 20 ## Spoken on December 20 *Lectures from this day: 14 recordings* --- **[1966: Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.294–298](spoken/1966/661220cc.ny.md)** > Anyone who is not supplied as he wants, that is due to his own disease, chronic. So if God does not supply him sufficiently, it is good for him. Therefore, in spiritual advancement a poor man is in more advantage because he can think of God. Provided he is virtuous, he will think of God. *Catur-vidhā bhajante māṁ sukṛtino 'rjuna*. > Therefore we don't believe. "Oh, God is doing like that? Oh, God is lifting hill? How it is possible? This is story." How? Why it is story? God is omnipotent, and God cannot lift a hill? He is floating so many planets in the air, weightlessness, and He cannot lift a hill? Because I don't believe that He is God. *Avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā* : "Foolish rascals, they consider Me as ordinary man. 'Not Kṛṣṇa, but me. You offer your respect to me. I am God. I am competitor to Kṛṣṇa.' " So these are foolishness. He is unlimited; His everything, He is unlimited. Now Lord Caitanya [is] mentioning some of these main features of these *līlāvatāra.* --- **[1968: Bhagavad-gītā 3.1–5](spoken/1968/681220bg.la)** > We have not manufactured. It is the *śāstra* says. In the... *Kṛte yad dhyāyato viṣṇum*. Meditation of Viṣṇu was possible in the Satya-yuga, when people used to live for one hundred thousands of years. Just like Vālmīki Muni, he meditated for sixty thousands of years, he got perfection. Here it is very difficult even to meditate for sixty minutes at a time. You see? *Kṛte yad dhyāyato viṣṇum.* That process was recommended in the Satya-yuga. > So this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is not to remain in a secluded place to get cheap advertisement, "Oh, that man is meditating." No. Go, practically work. Just like Lord Jesus Christ, he practically worked. So there is practical work. No question of going into the secluded place. We should remain in the congested city and preach this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement without being affected by this contamination of city life. That is perfection. They shall not be contaminated, touched by the contamination of the city life, but still, they will go on with Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is perfection. --- **[1970: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.38](spoken/1970/701220sb.sur)** > Therefore here it is asked that *brūta dharmasya nas tattvaṁ*. So *dharma* and *adharma:* there are two kinds of activities. *Dharma*, *dharma* means one who is acting according to the order of God. That is *dharma*. And one who is not acting according to the order of, that is *adharma*. Therefore the challenge was there, "If you are actually representative of Dharmarāja, you must know what is *dharma* and what is *adharma*. You will explain." That means they were also not aware in..., what was the actual position of Ajāmila. They did not know that although throughout his whole life he was sinful, but because at the time of his death he simply remembered Nārāyaṇa... > So this Hiraṇyakaśipu was affectionate, because Prahlāda Mahārāja was very nice boy, five years old, very good looking. Natural affection, he was youngest. And one day he asked his son, "My dear boy, what you have learnt, the best thing, tell me." Just like father asks sometimes. So he replied that "One should sacrifice everything for realizing God." *Tat sādhu manye 'sura-varya dehināṁ, asad-grahāt*... --- **[1972: Lecture Manipuri Dancing Group, The Zaveri Sisters](spoken/1972/721220le.bom)** > So unless you come to that point, therefore Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā*, *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja*. That is the real life to surrender unto Kṛṣṇa and whatever we know whatever characteristics are our special profession or duty we have got we should render for satisfying Kṛṣṇa, *hari-toṣaṇam, saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam*. So our this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement does not reject anything we can accept art, music, industry or even fighting just like Arjuna did. Everything can be employed under the guidance of Kṛṣṇa or his representative. Just like Kṛṣṇa says, > If you have got artistic character, if you can dance, alright dance, if you can sing you sing. If you can fight you fight, that is all right but you take the *svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya saṁsiddhir*, how your profession has been perfected. That perfection, the standard of perfection is *saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam*. Try to satisfy Hari the Supreme Personality of Godhead by your art, culture, profession, characteristics. So that is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement we do not stop anything, we stop only committing sinful activities—that we stop. Otherwise we do not stop anything—we simply stop, *striya-sūnā-pāna-dyūta yatra pāpaś catur-vidhāḥ*. --- **[1973: Morning Walk](spoken/1973/731220mw.la)** > But when you have to keep water, you require this water jug, not this earth." That is relativity. If you have to take work, then you cannot say, "Well, this is also earth, this is also... Why...? The pot is not required. Put water here." Then you will suffer—no water. So this kind of philosophy was discussed when Caitanya Mahāprabhu was a child. [break]...and the tree is the same thing. But when I walk, I require the stick, not this tree. [break]...the dogs must be on lash [leash]. If somebody does not do that, he is criminal. So if he pleads in the court, "There is no difference, dogs on the lash or without lash. Why you are punishing me?" But will that be accepted? > Surrender does not mean to the lower. Does it mean, surrender? Surrender, this relationship means that to whom I surrender, he is greater than me. And to the lower, mercy. These two words. One who is lower than me, I may show my mercy, but one who is greater than me, there is the question of surr... [break] [end] --- **[1973: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.15.42 "In God We Trust."](spoken/1973/731220sb.la)** > Kṛṣṇa wants all these fallen souls to be delivered, because they are Kṛṣṇa's part and parcel. Just like a rich man, if his son goes out of home, he is suffering. His father knows that rascal boy is suffering. He is very anxious to get him back. "Bring this rascal at home." That is father's concern, naturally. Similarly, Kṛṣṇa is more eager to take you back. Therefore He comes. He comes. He has got His agent, the *guru.* He has got His instruction, the *Bhagavad-gītā.* The whole concern is that God is so anxious, Kṛṣṇa is anxious, to call back these rascals, back to home, back to Godhead. So sometimes He is so eager that He comes Himself. Just like I have sent some my agent to do something. I am seeing that it is being delayed, so I go there: "What you are doing? Why it is so delayed?" Like that. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, *yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata, tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmy aham*. *Dharmasya glāniḥ,* discrepancy in the execution of religion principle. > So this is meant for the *brāhmaṇa.* Therefore we offer second initiation, sacred thread, that one should become *brāhmaṇa,* not a *kṛpaṇa,* miser. No. One should be thoroughly learned what is God and teach others how to trust Him. That is *brāhmaṇa.* Simply slogan, "We Trust In God," and all rascals and fools, that is not good. Now we should take up this point, that "You write, 'In God We Trust.' What is God? Do you know what is God?" Ask the President Nixon, rascal. He will not be able to. Then who will know? If the president does not know, how the people will know? *Yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhaḥ lokas tad anuvartate*. Śreṣṭha,* the chief man, the leader Just like I am leading this society, so what I shall do, naturally it will be followed: "Prabhupāda does it." --- **[1974: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.26.8](spoken/1974/741220sb.bom)** > So we cannot be happy in this *puruṣa* mentality to enjoy this material world. We can never be happy. *Ābrahma-bhuvanāl lokāḥ*. *Even if you are... Now, just like they are trying to go to the moon planet. But what this moon planet? It is very near. Even if you go to the topmost planet, *ābrahma-bhuvanāl lokāḥ punar āvartino 'rjuna*, the struggle will go on. You cannot be happy. Either you go to the heavenly planet or the moon planet or the Brahmā planet, anywhere in this material world, the four things—birth, death, old age and disease—will go on. You cannot stop it. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says that "Don't try to be elevated to the higher planetary system, to the moon planet or sun planet or heavenly planet. Try to come to Me." *Yad gatvā na nivartante tad dhāma paramaṁ mama*. > Anyway, the living entities, they are described as *prakṛti* in the *Bhagavad-gītā, strī,* not *puruṣa.* But here it is said, *puruṣam, puruṣam,* because in the material world we have given up the idea that constitutionally we are *prakṛti,* subordinate. We want to declare independence, not under the protection of Kṛṣṇa, or God. This is our position in this material world. Therefore the mentality is not to become *prakṛti* but to become *puruṣa,* the mentality. In the material world, constitutionally the living entity is *prakṛti.* It is described in the *Bhagavad-gītā, apareyam itas tu viddhi me prakṛtiṁ parām, jīva-bhūtāṁ mahā-bāho*. --- **[1975: Bhagavad-gītā 7.1](spoken/1975/751220bg.bom)** > So for a devotee, there is no question of *mukti.* A devotee is already *mukta.* Why? Kṛṣṇa says, *ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi* : "Immediately, as soon as you surrender to Me, immediately I give you protection." You are awaiting some fruitive result of your past *karma,* that is bondage. You have to take birth and you have to serve according to that *karma.* Then from that position you are immediately liberated. *Ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi...* Then you are *mukta.* So if you remain in the position to serve Kṛṣṇa, then you are always *mukta. Muktiḥ mukulitāñjali sevate asmān.* [*Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta* 107] A great devotee, Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura, he said this *muktiḥ mukulitāñjali,* "With folded hands she is standing at my door, 'What can I do for you?' " Maidservant. So devotee is not after *mukti,* because they are already *muktas. Sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁ tat-paratvena nirmalam*. He is already *nirmala,* without a tinge of material modes. Therefore he is able to serve Kṛṣṇa. *Hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate*. > So to know God, the God, He is personally giving instruction how to know God. Kṛṣṇa says, *bhagavān uvāca.* Here it is not... Vyāsadeva is not speaking; Kṛṣṇa said. Because sometimes Kṛṣṇa is misunderstood; therefore Vyāsadeva writes or says in this connection, *bhagavān uvāca.* Bhagavān means the fully opulent, *samagrasya. Aiśvaryasya samagrasya vīryasya* [*Viṣṇu Purāṇa* 6.5.74]: He is the most powerful, the supreme rich, supreme wise, supreme beautiful and at the same time supremely renounced. These qualification makes one Bhagavān. So *kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam*. That is the verdict of Vedic literature. So *īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ* [Bs. 5.1].* --- **[1975: Morning Walk](spoken/1975/751220mw.bom)** > You cannot understand; that is not possible. My Guru Mahārāja used to say that the honey, huh? Honey, honey, if somebody says, "Take this honey," the bottle, and he began to lick up the bottle: "It is not sweet. Now why it is not sweet?" You go to a person who can open the bottle. [laughter] Then you'll see. You cannot taste the sweetness of honey by licking up the bottle. It must be... There must be some expert who can open it, and then you can taste. So they are trying to taste the honey in the bottle by their own imagination and licking up the bottle. Where is the taste? Otherwise why Kṛṣṇa says, > Two things required: *guru* and Kṛṣṇa. *Guru-kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya pāya bhakti-latā-bīja. Mālī hañā sei bīja karaye ropana.* "I have got some seed of *bhakti,* and I keep it in the iron chest." No. You must make cultivation of *bhakti-bīja: mālī hañā sei bīja karaye ropana.* And how to nourish the *bīja? Śravaṇa-kīrtana-jale karaye śecana* : by *śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam.* Water is this. Then the *bhakti-latā* will come out a tree, and you will get the fruits and enjoy. --- **[1976: Arrival Conversation](spoken/1976/761220ar.bom)** > Is there a garage? Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: There is a garage, Śrīla Prabhupāda, in the temple where it is being built, and Mr. Gonia [Guniya?] told me it will be ready in three or four days. --- **[1976: Lecture in Hindi [Translated](spoken/1976/761220le.war)** --- **[1976: Conversation with Rādhā-vallabha](spoken/1976/761220r1.bom)** > Prabhupāda:* [Transl. From America 10 lakhs of rupees come every month. And that money we spend here. Here it is...] *Guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja*. > Our plans were for him to become a Catholic priest, but he has chosen this. We can see that his life in the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement is so nice. We like the principles that this Society stands for. We have only wanted the best for our son, and now we can see that he has it, and we both feel that our prayers have been answered. Mr. and Mrs. John Avery." "We are thankful that our son has joined the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement. We both think all the devotees are very nice godly people. Mr. and Mrs. I. J. Bitner." That is Rāmeṣṭa, who is in the Sanskrit department, BBT. "I have two lovely children and three grandchildren in this Hare Kṛṣṇa movement, and I am proud of it. They have never been in trouble with drugs or the police, and they live plain and peaceful lives, and they give me very much happiness every time I see them. If my husband and I were younger and not so set in our ways, we would proudly have joined such a movement. Thank you A. C. Bhaktivedanta." [laughter] "Julius and Shirley Killman." --- **[1976: Conversation at the Gītā Pratiṣṭhāna [Conference](spoken/1976/761220r1.war)** > But All-India Conference, it is not for mass understanding. Kṛṣṇa said *yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhaḥ. Śreṣṭhaḥ* people, the leaders of society, *rājarṣayo.* Not ordinary politicians. --- ## Letters on December 20 *Letters from this day: 13* --- **[1968: Letter to Rupanuga](letters/1968/681220_rupanuga)** > This accredited course which you have attained at the University of Buffalo is a very nice breakthrough for Lord Caitanya's movement in the West. --- **[1969: Letter to Himavati](letters/1969/691220_himavati)** > So there is not distinction between the child and the child's parents in the matter of Krishna Consciousness. All of them are equally participating and deriving transcendental benefit. --- **[1969: Letter to Manager Of Lloyds Bank](letters/1969/691220_manager_of_lloyds_bank)** > With further reference to your letter JC/RB, dated November 24, 1969, and my reply dated November 27, 1969, I beg to inform you that I am leaving London tomorrow. --- **[1970: Letter to Jayapataka](letters/1970/701220_jayapataka)** > This morning I have received also your telegram and I have replied as follows; "Reduce the period as they like. --- **[1973: Letter to Atreya Rsi](letters/1973/731220_atreya_rsi)** > Please offer my blessings to your wife, Navayauvana Prabhu, and all of the other devotees there. I hope that you are coming to our Mayapur festival March 1st to 8th. --- **[1973: Letter to Haribolananda](letters/1973/731220_haribolananda)** > Yes, we want to develop our land there and Bhaktivedanta Manor very nicely with cows and gardens. So after discussing the matter fully with Madhavananda and Mukunda you make a practical plan for doing this, simultaneously carrying on the Sankirtana program and book distribution. --- **[1973: Letter to Mukunda](letters/1973/731220_mukunda)** > Regarding the entry certificate from the Home Office of Great Britain, what is the value of such a certificate if it remains at the discretion of the local immigration officer whether or not the... --- **[1974: Letter to Dr. Santosh Kumar](letters/1974/741220_dr._santosh_kumar)** > of Medicine McMaster University St. Actually this Hare Krsna Movement is going all over the world, because the message of Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is spoken. I am just like a peon carrying the message of Lord Krsna and Lord Krsna's message, being perfect, it will be appreciated everywhere in any part of the universe. --- **[1974: Letter to Jayadvaita](letters/1974/741220_jayadvaita)** > Yes, in the future you should make sure that all the books, no matter what size or color, have the words Bhaktivedanta Book Trust under the logos. Whether it is clear or unclear it should be there. --- **[1976: Letter to Jayatirtha](letters/1976/761220_jayatirtha)** > The place is nice, but the building is not so nice (7 Bury Place that is). Your idea to in the future build a major temple is very good. --- **[1976: Letter to M.N. De](letters/1976/761220_m.n._de)** > Regarding Bhuvaneśvara temple, whatever you have said is alright, but we have received estimate much less than that of yours. --- **[1976: Letter to Rupanuga](letters/1976/761220_rupanuga)** > Kirtanananda's offer to Brisakapi is good. If one is fully engaged in preaching, his mind will be subdued. That is the only way. --- **[1976: Letter to Tamala Krsna](letters/1976/761220_tamala_krsna)** > Your book distribution report is very encouraging. If I see our leaders are enthusiastic, that gives me more enthusiasm. Your suggestion to get new buses is good. ---