# December 23 ## Spoken on December 23 *Lectures from this day: 8 recordings* --- **[1966: Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.318–329](spoken/1966/661223cc.ny.md)** > Pañca-lakṣa* means fifty millions. Not fifty millions; ten millions a *lakṣa.* That means five millions... Five millions and four thousands of Manus are there in one Brahmā's life. Five thousand and..., er, five million and four hundred thousand of *manvantarāvatāra,* incarnation of Manu, in one *brahmāṇḍa.* And Lord Caitanya... *Ananta brahmāṇḍe aiche karaha*. And there are innumerable *brahmāṇḍas,* universes. Now you can calculate how many Manus are there. Therefore you cannot calculate. He says "innumerable." > So the more we will pass this Kali-yuga, the symptoms will be more acute, intolerable. So we should care. We should take care of this so that we may not come back again to this Kali-yuga. [laughter] You see? This life should be utilized. Now we are conscious, Kṛṣṇa conscious. It should be so utilized that no more coming back to United States of America and no more coming back of this condemned earthly planet. That should be the aim. *Yad gatvā na nivartante tad dhāma paramaṁ mama .* --- **[1968: Bhagavad-gītā 3.6–10](spoken/1968/681223bg.la)** > And Caitanya Mahāprabhu says..., gives you the easiest method. He says that "In this age simply chant 'Kṛṣṇa' and you'll get all perfection." So that is the easiest process. Therefore if you follow the footprints of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, then it become easier. Kṛṣṇa says, *sarva-dharmān parityajya* In the *Bhagavad-gītā.* Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, "All right. You cannot give up all of a sudden everything. You just join in this chanting." That is more magnanimous. You see? > They do not know it. They are thinking they are advancing. What advancement you have made? These sufferings are there—birth, death, old age and disease. You cannot stop it. *Ā-brahma-bhuvanāl lokāḥ*, and even you go to this moon planet or to the highest planet, these four things will follow. So therefore sense gratification must be stopped. But if you want to stop it artificially it is impossible, neither by this *yoga* process, neither by this *jñāna* process. Simply for the time being you can check. --- **[1968: Recorded Speech to Members of ISKCON London](spoken/1968/681223sp.la)** > Kṛṣṇa consciousness is therefore an art of changing our hearts by purification from the dust of material desires. We cannot stop our desire, because as living entity, desiring is the component part of our constitution. Therefore we cannot give up our desire, but we can purify our desire. Killing of desire is no solution, but curing the desires, diseased condition of desire, is the right solution. As such, therefore, this dust of misunderstanding is cleared off. We can see our real position of life and make steady progress towards the ultimate goal of life. > We have forgotten the ultimate goal of our life due to lack of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Therefore our entire activity should be executed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness to revive our lost relationship with God, or Kṛṣṇa. We do not prohibit anyone to cease from the present occupational duties, but we simply recommend that he execute such duties in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu never recommended changing one's position of life, but He favored the process of hearing about Kṛṣṇa from the right, bona fide source. --- **[1969: Lecture](spoken/1969/691223le.bos)** > That is a fact. Because you are part and parcel of God, you are minute God; therefore you have the potency of becoming not God. Just like fire and spark of fire. A spark, when it is with the fire it is bright fire, but as soon as it goes out of the fire, it extinguishes. But the big fire never extinguishes. Similarly, you are not that big fire; you are that small spark fire. You have fallen down; therefore you are not God. Now you have to raise yourself again to the fire, you will be again blazing spark. > So the real idea is, so long we shall continue this hallucination that "I am God," "There is no God," "Everybody is God," so many things like that, there is no question of getting favor of God. Then you do your own business, and try to find yourself whether you are God or something else. As soon as I think that "I am God," that is I am trying to cheat myself. Who will help me? That is going on. Everyone is thinking, "I am God." --- **[1970: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.41–42](spoken/1970/701223sb.sur)** > Just like in *Bhagavad-gītā* you will find, *satyaṁ śamaḥ śaucam ārjavaṁ titikṣā, jñānaṁ vijñānam āstikyaṁ brahma-karma svabhāva-jam*. Those who are actually *brāhmaṇas,* they must be truthful, always clean, inside andBy nature a *brāhmaṇa* will be truthful. *Satyaṁ śamaḥ.* He will be controlling of the senses, controlling the mind, very cleansed, *śaucam. Satyaṁ śaucaṁ śamaḥ damaḥ titikṣā,* tolerant. Even in the severest type of danger, he is never disturbed. Tolerant. *Satyaṁ śamaḥ damaḥ śaucam ārjavam,* and simplicity; *jñānam,* full of knowledge; and *vijñānam,* practical application in life; *āstikyam,* firm faith in the scripture and Kṛṣṇa—these are the qualification of *brāhmaṇa.* > So therefore the mass education should be how to become good man. And how one can become good man? That is also stated in the *śāstras: yasyāsti bhaktir bhagavaty akiñcanā sarvair guṇais tatra samāsate surāḥ*.* If one is simply made a devotee and he has got unflinching faith in God, Kṛṣṇa, then all the good qualities automatically develop. --- **[1973: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.15.45](spoken/1973/731223sb.la)** > This is the only test: "Whether you know God?" "No, sir." "Then you are rascal." That's all. No more test. One test. One test is sufficient: "Whether you know God?" Because this human life is meant for knowing God. This temple is meant for human being, not for the cats and dogs. So if you do not know God, then you are a rascal. You are exactly like the cats and dogs. That's all. This is the verdict. Now you can fight: "Why you are calling me cats and dogs?" But this is the... We are talking, following Kṛṣṇa, the great authority. But what Kṛṣṇa says, that is right. If you scrutinize by your logic, argument, philosophy, science, you will find that Kṛṣṇa is perfectly right. Therefore we accept Kṛṣṇa. > So human civilization means *gṛhastha,* not *gṛhamedhi.* If you become *gṛhamedhi,* then you are cats and dogs. And if you become *gṛhastha,* then you are nice. Then you are advancing towards self-realization. That is required. Because the cats and dogs, they cannot become *gṛhastha.* That is not possible. If you say... If you have got a dog, you get another female dog, "My dear dog, you get your wife, live peacefully, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa," "No, sir, it is not possible, because I am dog. Because I am dog, therefore I cannot be satisfied. I must find out another illicit sex and create trouble," then *phat!* He [indistinct]. Then fight. That is Kali-yuga. Unnecessarily create, by illicit sex life, enemy, and then become killed and finish your life. That is called *gṛhamedhi. Gṛhamedhi.* You require wife. That's all right. Take wife. There is no scarcity of wife. Live peacefully. Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. "No, I have got my wife; I want another. I want another, I want another," like dogs. Yes. So the dog civilization cannot help us. This will not help us. Human life is meant for something else. *Nāyaṁ deho deha-bhājāṁ nṛloke kaṣṭān kāmān arhate viḍ-bhujām*. Everything is discussed in *Bhāgavata.* Therefore we request the whole human society to read these valuable books. Valuable. Oh, they are missing the opportunity. Let them read these books. Then life will be successful. --- **[1974: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.26.11–14](spoken/1974/741223sb.bom)** > Pradhāna. Prakṛti, puruṣa, pradhāna.* So *pradhāna* is the total material energy, which is called *mahat-tattva.* We have discussed this subject matter last night, *mahat-tattva.* So *mahat-tattva* is the original total energy for material creation. Therefore Kṛṣṇa, Mukunda, is sometime described as *mahat-padam. Mahat-padam. Mahat-padam* means "under whose lotus feet this whole total material energy is resting." *Samāśritā ye pada-pallava-plavaṁ mahat-padaṁ yaśo murāreḥ*. > Dehino 'smin yathā dehe kaumāraṁ yauvanaṁ jarā*. These twenty-four elements is changing the body from *kaumāraṁ yauvanaṁ jarā.* Our body is being developed. It is not development; it is changing. But because the..., from one body to another... In medical science they also admit change of, what is called, blood corpuscle. It is changing every moment. But how it is changing and coming into different body, that we cannot understand. But it is changing. Actually, it is changing from one body to another. That boy, the same boy, when he is grown up, he speaks differently than childish way because the body has changed. The body has changed. That is understood. But because we have no very nice brain, we cannot understand that the body is changing. We say, "It is growing." You can say it is growing, but growing is also changing. The original form is changed. That is called growing. --- **[1975: Morning Walk](spoken/1975/751223mw.bom)** > Yatra tri-sargo'mṛṣā. Tejo vāri-mṛdāṁ vinimayo yatra tri-sargo'mṛṣā. Dhāmnā svena sadā nirasta-kuhakaṁ satyaṁ paraṁ dhīmahi.* Vyāsadeva offers his respect to the real truth, *satyaṁ paraṁ dhīmahi,* where there is no mirage, there is no false water; real water. And Kṛṣṇa gives the same information: *yad gatvā na nivartante tad dhāma paramaṁ mama*. "That is My real abode, where if you go you don't come back. And so long you are in this material world, *bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate*, you accept one body, suffer or enjoy, there is no enjoyment, suffering, and again accept another body," *tathā dehāntara praptir.* This is going on. Therefore they do not understand when you speak of the other world. But if you speak of this world, that "I'll make you happy in this world," thousands and millions will follow you. And as soon as you say that "I shall make you happy in the next world," "These are all nonsense, crazy fellow!" >*Bhagavad-gītā, arto 'rthārthī jijñāsur:* when one is in distress, he comes to Kṛṣṇa. So that is not pure *bhakti.* Pure *bhakti* means "I shall not take a farthing from Kṛṣṇa; I shall give everything to Kṛṣṇa." That is pure *bhakti*. "I shall not take any return from Viṣṇu." Prahlāda Mahārāja says that "I am not a merchant, that for my service I take some return for it." No. But sometimes when, since we are not pure devotees, we have no other alternative than to beg Kṛṣṇa for some material benefit. That is also good. They have said, *catur-vidhā bhajante māṁ sukṛtinaḥ,* they're pious. Although they are not pure devotee, but they are pious. But the *duṣkṛtinaḥ,* they do not approach Him. That is the difference. --- ## Letters on December 23 *Letters from this day: 23* --- **[1967: Letter to Jadurani](letters/1967/671223_jadurani)** > Regarding your coming to San Francisco, I have no objection, but because you are only three in Boston, your absence may be felt by your other God-brothers. So if Satsvarupa agrees to leave you, you can come to S.F., otherwise, wait for the proper time. Now by Krishna's Grace, we have got many fine art students like Govinda dasi, Indira dasi, and Malati and many others. --- **[1967: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1967/671223_satsvarupa)** > I have already written to Rayarama about Lord Caitanya's Teachings, that there is no need of editing the final manuscripts. Better let us prepare for its printing. He had some correspondence with Dai Nippon Printing Company of Tokyo, and our Dvarakadhisa did all the negotiation. --- **[1972: Letter to Atendriya Bahusira Jitamitra Maharha Omkara Vajasana](letters/1972/721223_atendriya_bahusira_jitamitra_maharha_omkara_vajasana)** > Upon the recommendation of Sudama Goswami I have gladly consented to accept all of you as my duly initiated disciples. --- **[1972: Letter to Bali-Mardana](letters/1972/721223_bali-mardana)** > Another thing is, if we get our headquarters in the very important business quarter of New York, just like I saw those photos, big, big skyscrapers surrounding, millions of people passing daily, oh, that will be very wonderful thing. But that quarter of 77th Street, that is costly also, but it is not very important. --- **[1972: Letter to Hariprasada](letters/1972/721223_hariprasada)** > That is the first qualification to attain the supreme perfection of your life: enthusiasm. --- **[1972: Letter to Sudama](letters/1972/721223_sudama)** > So I am very much pleased upon you for your kindly guiding and training the new devotees in so many ways. Yes, if you simply instruct them as I have taught also you, being yourself always the perfect example and above suspicion, that will act with great force. --- **[1973: Letter to Dhananjaya](letters/1973/731223_dhananjaya)** > Karandhara has informed me of the receipt of the letter from you reporting the establishment of an ISKCON Center in Rome, Italy. --- **[1973: Letter to Hansadutta](letters/1973/731223_hansadutta)** > I gladly accept the devotees you have recommended for initiations and enclosed find their names, threads and gayatri mantra sheets. You may chant on the beads of the first initiates and hold a fire sacrifice amongst our members. --- **[1974: Letter to Brahmananda](letters/1974/741223_brahmananda)** > You should stay in Honolulu and see that things are settled up there. Sudama must return the property to the Society's name, otherwise we will take action immediately. --- **[1974: Letter to Dr. Ghosh](letters/1974/741223_dr._ghosh)** > You are cordially invited to come and visit us anytime here in Bombay at your convenience. I am planning to stay in Bombay until mid-Jan. and then I shall go to Australia. --- **[1974: Letter to Kisora](letters/1974/741223_kisora)** > If you like you can come immediately to Bombay and work under the direction of Giriraja who is also anxious to have you as an assistant. --- **[1974: Letter to Patita Uddharana](letters/1974/741223_patita_uddharana)** > You should send a copy of that document to me immediately of if Hansadutta is coming to Bombay you can send it with him. --- **[1974: Letter to Sri Bagai](letters/1974/741223_sri_bagai)** > I have instructed my in-charge of my Bombay Headquarters to send you the literature and other items you have requested as far as possible, and you should be hearing from me shortly. --- **[1974: Letter to Sri Raghava Charyulu](letters/1974/741223_sri_raghava_charyulu)** > Please accept my greetings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 7th Nov, 1974 addressed to my Los Angeles headquarters. I was so much pleased with your interesting letter and I wish you will understand more and more through your learning of mathematics and physics about the intricacies of God's creation. It is the duty of a learned scholar to glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead by his talent of knowledge, austerity, penance, etc. Why one should become great mathematician? What is the perfectional stage? That stage is when he describes the glories of the Lord by utilization of his talent of education. So I request you to observe more and more the cosmic manifestation; how it is created by the energy of the Supreme Lord. Actually by the evolutionary process when a living entity comes to the status of human life it is his duty to solve all the problems of life. The chief problems of life are collectively birth, death, old age and disease. *Bhagavad-gita* gives information how to solve these four problems. It is the essence of all Vedic knowledge presented by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. I am so glad to learn that you have taken so much interest in my book, *Bhagavad-gita As It Is.* I shall be staying in Bombay up till mid-Jan. and I wish to cordially invite you to see me at your convenience. Generally I can be seen between 5 and 7 p.m. Thank you once more for your interesting letter. --- **[1974: Letter to Sri Srinivasan](letters/1974/741223_sri_srinivasan)** > Tiruchy Junction 1, India Please accept my greetings. Your life will become perfect if you can engage yourself fully in the devotional service of Sri Krsna. Therefore, according to Varnasrama Dharma you should spend the rest of your life simply engaged in there devotional service of the Lord. --- **[1976: Letter to Alanatha](letters/1976/761223_alanatha)** > Upon your recommendation I am pleased to accept the devotees you have recommended for initiation. Instruct the first initiates to always chant a minimum of sixteen rounds daily and to follow strictly the four regulative principles. --- **[1976: Letter to Amogha](letters/1976/761223_amogha)** > If you are happy there and can execute devotional service with enthusiasm that is nice. --- **[1976: Letter to Dharmatma](letters/1976/761223_dharmatma)** > I'm very pleased that you are taking my order to distribute books so seriously. All blessings of Krishna are on these girls who are working so hard to distribute my books. that is very nice that you want to distribute more books than Tamala Krsna goswami's sankirtana party. --- **[1976: Letter to Jayasacinandana](letters/1976/761223_jayasacinandana)** > 30, 1976 accompanied by your translation of Srila Bhaktivinode's songs. --- **[1976: Letter to K.C. Kapur](letters/1976/761223_k.c._kapur)** > Thank you very much for the offer of the use of your place in Allahabad during the Kumbha. Yes, most probably we are going. I shall let you know later on. --- **[1976: Letter to Lokanatha](letters/1976/761223_lokanatha)** > Regarding having more Hindi books to distribute, that you'll have by the end of the month. --- **[1976: Letter to Saurabha](letters/1976/761223_saurabha)** > I have no objection to your going to visit your family and then to Los Angeles to discuss the doll exhibitions for the planetarium. --- **[1976: Letter to Trivikrama](letters/1976/761223_trivikrama)** > Your description of how you are distributing Bhagavad-gita is very nice. Organize this system all over Southeast Asia and distribute as many books as possible. ---