A Day in the Life of Srila Prabhupada - August 17

August 16 - August 18

Srila Prabhupada's letters, lectures and conversations throughout consecutive years

• Click on the year dates to go to the Timeline of Srila Prabhupada's Life for that year.

The Days in the Life of Srila Prabhupada presents 2200+ of his lectures; 905+ of his conversations; 490+ of his morning walks; 65+ of his interviews and 6,570+ of his letters.

This listing covers all available material and includes:

• 10,300+ links to Vanisource - our repository of all of Srila Prabhupada's words;
• 450+ short audio clips - Nectar Drops from Srila Prabhupada sprinkled throughout the months;
• 1,080 short video clips extracted from lectures, conversations, morning walks and interviews, with subtitles in up to 88 languages, sprinkled throughout the months;
• 13,350+ concise statements, drawn from Srila Prabhupada's lectures, conversations and letters, highlighted within quoteboxes;
• For further study on the different subjects addressed, each statement links to the various categories in our thematic section of Vanipedia named Vaniquotes.

These statements from the Days in the Life of Srila Prabhupada offer unparalleled insights into his devotional character; his vision to re-spiritualize human society; his dedication to translate, publish & distribute his books; his expertise to tirelessly lead & manage his worldwide movement; his empowered ability to encourage, care for, train & clearly communicate the disciplines he expects from all his disciples as he engages them in their pursuit of Krsna consciousness & performance of missionary activities. Through all these situations one can also experience how Srila Prahhupada consistently represents the pure teachings of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates.

• See also: A Month in the Life of Srila Prabhupada.

1966 - August 17

Lecture BG 04.34-38 - New York

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Not that you have to submit yourself blindly. Although your spiritual master may be self-realized and experienced in the Absolute Truth, still, you have to question. You have to understand from him all critical points by your intelligent questions. That is allowed. So it doesn't matter. If anyone is able to answer about the science of Kṛṣṇa, he is spiritual master. He is spiritual master. It doesn't matter where he's born or what he is, whether he's a brāhmaṇa, or a śūdra, or an American or an Indian or whatever he is. Never mind.

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When I speak of Krsna, you must remember that I am speaking of God. There are millions of names of God in different parts of the world, but Krsna is the supreme name according to Vedic knowledge.

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We require hundreds and thousands of spiritual masters who have understood this Krsna science and preach all over the world.

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Just like children, they are born after the conjugation of the father and mother, similarly, the father is God; the material world is the mother. We have got this body just like the child gets his body from the mother's womb. The father is the seed-giver. Similarly, as spiritual souls, we are part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, but we are put into this material world because we wanted to enjoy this material world.

1968 - August 17

Lecture SB 07.09.11 - Montreal

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Neither any material opulence, nor a qualified brahmana with twelve high qualifications can satisfy the Lord simply by such acquisition. One can satisfy the Lord simply by love and devotional service.

Nectar Drops from Srila Prabhupada

"In order to instruct us the principle that everything belongs to God, this is the beginning, that we should try to offer whatever we have got. Kṛṣṇa is ready to accept from you a little bit of water, little bit of flower, a little bit of leaf, or fruit. Practically there's no value, but when you begin to give to Kṛṣṇa, then gradually a time will come when you'll be prepared to give everything to Kṛṣṇa like the gopīs. This is the process. Sarvātmanā. Sarvātmanā. Sarvātmanā means with everything. That is our natural life. When we are in consciousness that 'Nothing belongs to me. Everything belongs to God, and everything is meant for God's enjoyment, not for my sense enjoyment'. that is called Kṛṣṇa consciousness."

680817 - Lecture SB 07.09.11 - Montreal

Letter to Hayagriva written from Montreal

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Today they will observe Vyasa Puja ceremony (my Birthday Anniversary), so from this day, I will be stepping on the 73rd year. I hope the remaining days of my life may be utilized to serve you all Western devotees of Krishna. Please pray to Krishna that he may give me the necessary strength to discharge the duty entrusted by my Spiritual Master.

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If in future coal industry is developed and if it is required, the government may at once ask us to vacate and no law can stop it. Even if the government does not acquire our land, if in our vicinity some such industry (coal or oil industry) is started, the whole idea of Vrindaban will fade away. Vrindaban conception is a transcendental village, without any botheration of the modern industrial atmosphere.

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My idea of developing New Vrindaban is to create an atmosphere of spiritual life where people in bona fide order of social division, namely, Brahmacaris, Grhasthas, Vanaprastha, Sannyasis, or specifically Brahmacaris and Sannyasis, and Vanaprasthas, will live there independently, completely depending on agricultural produce and milk from the cows. The life should be simplified without being hampered by laboring day and night for economic development, without any spiritual understanding.

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The New Vrindaban idea is that persons who live there will accept the bare necessities of life to maintain the body and soul together and the major part of time should be engaged in development of Krishna Consciousness. The whole Vedic principle is to develop Krishna Consciousness, without creating much botheration for the program of sense gratification. Industrial development (or mining industry) in the neighboring places will mar the whole idea.

Letter to Jayananda written from Montreal

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Yesterday, Mukunda and Gurudasa were telling me that the man known as Asoka Fakir, now living in San Francisco, is advertising himself that the members of our temple are all his disciples. This man has written me letter also, from which I can understand that he is a hodge-podge man. He is not a pure devotee of Krishna, neither his behavior is quite up to the standard. Therefore you should warn all our devotees not to mix with this man very intimately.

1969 - August 17

Letter to Govinda dasi written from Los Angeles

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You write that you have desire to avail of my association again, but why do you forget that you are always in association with me? When you are helping my missionary activities I am always thinking of you and you are always thinking of me. That is real association. Just like I always think of my Guru Maharaja every moment, although He is not physically present, and because I am trying to serve Him to my best capacity, I am sure He is helping me by His spiritual blessings.

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The only thing wanted is that we should work very sincerely, with full faith in Krishna and the Spiritual Master. Then all help will come automatically.

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Regarding celebrations of other holidays, they will be described as to how they should be celebrated in future memos to all of the temples.

Letter to Mahapurusa written from Los Angeles

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I was very glad to learn from Upendra's letter that you have lectured nicely, and improve this preaching habit. Kirtana means whatever we hear from the Spiritual Master we repeat it again nicely. One who can reproduce the sound vibration heard from the Spiritual Master, he will be a good preacher.

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You just try to improve the Seattle temple conjointly with Upendra. I was very glad to learn from Upendra's letter that you have lectured nicely, and improve this preaching habit. Kirtana means whatever we hear from the Spiritual Master we repeat it again nicely. One who can reproduce the sound vibration heard from the Spiritual Master, he will be a good preacher.

1970 - August 17

Letter to Balai written from Tokyo

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Now you have such a good daughter who is naturally devotee of Krsna, so if you kindly continue to advance on these lines as I have already chalked out for you your perfection of life in Krsna's service is guaranteed.

Letter to Jayapataka written from Tokyo

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I am glad that you are getting good collections also and there is good prospect of getting more. So if we work sincerely keeping faith in Krsna and Spiritual Master there will be no difficulty at all in our preaching work.

Letter to M. L. Chand written from Tokyo

Letter to Sri Trivediji written from Tokyo

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I do not know why Sri Caitanya Research Institute has falsely declared to the Chief Controller of Import and Export that the Murtis were donated by them while that is not a fact. There were five pairs of Murtis, one pair being donated by Dalmia-Jayan Trust and the other four pairs being donated by the Birla Trust.

Letter to Srimad Vamana Maharaja and Trivikrama Maharaja written from Tokyo

1971 - August 17

Lecture SB 01.01.02 - London

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I don't say that your religion is cheating or my religion is bona fide. I don't say that. We have no right to say that. I want to see... "I" means, we are Bhāgavata. We are representative of bhāgavata-dharma. Or Bhāgavata wants to see. Any religion you may profess—it doesn't matter—I want to see whether you have got the result of religion. The result of religion is you will love God. That is result of religion.

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In our institution, International Society for Krishna Consciousness, although I am the head, still, I have got so many assistants, the GBC members. They are assisting me, departmental. Somebody is here, somebody is there. Similarly, God has departmental management, and because it is such a huge affair, there are... What is a koṭi? Koṭi means ten million? Huh? Ten millions multiplied by thirty-three.

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To save this human civilization, these two classes are required very urgently. So you American boys and girls, you are intelligent, you have got all facilities. At least in your country, create these two classes, brāhmaṇa and kṣatriya. The world will be saved, and you will be saved, and Kṛṣṇa will be pleased. Brāhmaṇa's business means that people should know what is God, what is our relationship with Him. That is brāhmaṇa's... And kṣatriya's business is to give protection to the people so that may all know what is God.

Letter to Gurudasa written from London

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It is very encouraging that you are getting prominent men of Calcutta to sign the invitation to Indira Gandhi. In the meantime I have induced the high commissioner in London to request her in the same way. So try to induce Indira Gandhi your best to attend the cornerstone ceremony.

Letter to Hansadutta written from London

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Our principle is not to work like the karmi or under a karmi. We are not sudras. Sudras are meant for working under somebody, not brahmanas. If you do not know this principle, you should know it now. All our men living in the temple are basically brahmanas. Otherwise, why they are offered sacred thread?

Letter to Locana written from London

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Your ideas for toys are nice, but I don't think that is a very sound proposal. You have to engage your time in that way where you could better be selling magazines and books. That is better utility of your valuable time. Our Krishna Conscious children are not very much after toys and playthings. They are given from the very beginning beads and they are happy chanting in that way.

1972 - August 17

Lecture SB 01.02.14 - Los Angeles

Nectar Drops from Srila Prabhupada

"If you say, 'Why you are interested to save the human society?' That is Kṛṣṇa's business. Kṛṣṇa wants, God wants, that 'All these living entities, they should come back home, back to Godhead. Why they are suffering?' Therefore Kṛṣṇa comes personally. paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām dharma-saṁsthāpanārthāya sambhavāmi yuge yuge (BG 4.8) Kṛṣṇa is very anxious. We are suffering here, rotting here. We are sons of Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa does not like to see that we shall rot here. He wants, 'Come back home, dance with Me, eat with Me'. But these rascals will not go. They will stick here: 'No, sir. It is very good here. I shall become hog and eat stool. That is very pleasant'. So this is position."

720817 - Lecture SB 01.02.14 - Los Angeles

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Social system should be organized in such a way that automatically people become interested in the ultimate goal of life. That is civilization. This is not civilization, simply animal propensities: eat voraciously and sleep twenty hours and have sex life without any restriction and have atom bomb for the defense. That's all, finished, civilization.

720817 - Lecture BG 07.01 - Los Angeles

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I shall speak on Bhagavad-gītā As It Is. The purpose of saying Bhagavad-gītā as it is, explained, that there are many editions of Bhagavad-gītā, they have interpreted in their own way, giving up the spirit of Bhagavad-gītā. So this particular name, "As It Is," significant. Perhaps there is no other edition of Bhagavad-gītā where it is written, "As It Is."

1973 - August 17

Lecture BG 02.11 - London

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Kṛṣṇa is there within your heart. As soon as you become little serious, immediately, Kṛṣṇa is ready. Kṛṣṇa is ready, He is sitting with you as a friend. Simply looking for the opportunity when you'll come back to Him. That is Kṛṣṇa. He's always sitting with you. But we are not willing to go back to home, back to Godhead. We want to become God in this material world. This is our position.

Lecture BG 02.11-12 - London

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All living entities, they are individual persons. Just like you are a person, I am a person, the dog is also person, a cow is also person—everyone is individual. But Bhagavān means the Supreme Person.

Letter to Karandhara written from Bhaktivedanta Manor, UK

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Syamasundara Prabhu is still unable to pay because the things are not sold yet. Let us wait & see.

Letter to Nityananda written from Bhaktivedanta Manor, UK

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I have appointed these GBC men to oversee and manage all the affairs of the society giving me relief to do my translation work fully.

Letter to Vamanadeva written from Bhaktivedanta Manor, UK

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I am referring your letter to Satsvarupa Goswami since he is the GBC Secretary for your zone. I have made him in charge of Gurukula so he is competent to answer your question, please write to him in matters of management.

1974 - August 17

Lecture SB 01.05.36 - Vṛndāvana

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Our saṅkīrtana movement is increasing in every country. Europe, America, even in Africa, Canada, everywhere. Why? Caitanya Mahāprabhu, when He was traveling in South India, He was chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. So somebody heard Him chanting this mantra, he became purified, and he went back to his village, he also began to chant. So another person who heard him, he became purified. It is such a nice thing.

Letter to Bhurijana written from Vṛndāvana

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I am very pleased that you have gone to that place simply on my order, alone, to preach the message of Lord Caitanya. I like this kind of spirit in you very much. You know I went to your country also alone, in old age, because of the order given to me by my spiritual master.

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I get great pleasure when I see my own disciples from America going to far off places leaving their rich nation with all facilities and their families, to preach. The secret of success in spiritual life is to satisfy one's spiritual master. This is the essence. You have captured this. So now go on in this way and do not falter.

Letter to Hrdayananda written from Vṛndāvana

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I have accepted the following students as my initiated disciples, and their spiritual names are as follows: Walter - Vanasancari das; Miguel - Munipriya das; Elba - Adhara das; Thais - Tadakari das; Janoski - Jayahatakosthaka das, Magaly—Manohara dasi; Americo—Adhari das; Guillermo—Gopa das, Rafael—Rasakeli dasi; Ramon—Rajivalicana das; Orasess—Prabhudas; Miguel Angel—Mantri das; Fernando—Kutahanta das; Georgina—Jaladhosa dasi; Malena—Mathura dasi.

1975 - August 17

Morning Walk - Bombay

Letter to Abhinanda and Gopesvara written from Bombay

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This distribution of books to the libraries is very encouraging. Please expand this program all over India. In one library carrying my books, hundreds of people will be able to read.

Letter to Kirtanananda written from Bombay

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Upon your recommendation I am accepting the following as my initiated disciples and their spiritual names are as follows: Barbara Wolfe—Vedanta dasi; Janet Cleaver—Viduttama dasi; Kurt Cleaver—Sarvasaksi dasa; Florence Walldeck—Vedapriya dasi; Carlos Ordenoz—Nityodita dasa; Gary Williams—Rsi Kumar dasa; Jeff Long—MahaRudra dasa; Jeff Wiseman—Atmabhu dasa; Jeff Daniels—Visvamohan dasa; Eileen Daniels—Vinalangi dasi; Karen Bogdonoff—Janani dasi.

Letter to Mahamsa written from Bombay

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You may construct a library and a meditation hall to please the donors, but as far as possible the library should carry our books and books of other Vaisnava acaryas.

1976 - August 17

Lecture BG 13.22 - Hyderabad

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It is a very dangerous type of civilization without any spiritual knowledge. Very, very dangerous position. Risky. So this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement on authoritative basis trying to enlighten people to release him from these clutches of māyā and ignorance. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. And it is authorized because we are speaking on the basis of Bhagavad-gītā. On the basis of Vedic knowledge. And Bhagavad-gītā is the essence of Vedic knowledge.

Lecture CC Madhya 20.395 - Hyderabad

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Just like we are opening the temple. This is also nitya-līlā. In some brahmāṇḍa there is this opening ceremony of temple. When tomorrow we shall open, day after tomorrow it is opened, but day after tomorrow in some brahmāṇḍa it is being opened. This is nitya-līlā. Some other brahmāṇḍa.

Conversation - Hyderabad

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We have to get ourselves nil of all these material rasas and we have to be situated in the cinmaya. Then our life is perfect. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Rasa is there. Here perverted reflection. My Guru Mahārāja used to say to taste milk in white lime water. White lime water, it looks like milk. But it is not milk. It is different thing. Similarly, we are trying to taste the rasa of milk in lime water. Therefore we are baffled.

Interview - Hyderabad

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You have neglected. My charge is that you have neglected. Bhagavad-gītā is there. Bhagavad-gītā is spoken in India. Bhagavad-gītā is there. I think every home has got a Bhagavad-gītā. But you do not study; you neglect it. That is your fault.

1977 - August 17

Conversation - Vṛndāvana

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Eighty-one years will be completed, and eighty-second year will begin. It doesn't matter I leave this body. Even in death I'll live. One year before or one year after... Now as far as possible, I have trained you. Try to follow the principles. And go ahead. Don't be set back by māyā's tricks. Go ahead, forward, at any cost.

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Live like gṛhastha, but don't leave... So remain as gṛhastha and render your service. There is no harm. If one could not proceed, it doesn't matter. Failure is the pillar of success. Then try. Again you shall try.

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