A Month in the Life of Srila Prabhupada - November 1973

October 1973 - December 1973

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The Months in the Life of Srila Prabhupada present 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;
470+ short audio clips Nectar Drops from Srila Prabhupada sprinkled throughout the months;
1,080 short video clips extracted from lectures, conversations, morning walks or interviews with subtitles in up to 93 languages sprinkled throughout the months;
13,350+ concise statements, drawn from Srila Prabhupada's lectures, conversations and letters are 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 Months 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 Day in the Life of Srila Prabhupada

See also: the Timeline of Srila Prabhupada's Life - November 1973

Nov 1 to 18 - Delhi

1973 - November 01

Arrival - Delhi

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In India plain cloth is sufficient. Most of the…, most part of the year in the villages, they remain naked body. There is no need of any heavy clothing. But sometimes, to keep up the modern civilization, we dress heavily with coats, pants and necktie and..., just see them covered. So unwanted. Similarly, we have got our spiritual body. This material body is unwanted. There is no need.

Conversation A - Delhi

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The same thing here. Just like prostitute, they are going to the club. The father is going also; the son is going. And the prostitute is the same. Everywhere, this material happiness, wine, women... Yes. Your father also said like that (You leave Krsna consciousness and I will give you a car and women). (laughter) Here father will feel shame to advise the son, or the son will feel shame to talk about sex with father or mother.

Letter to Acyutananda written from Delhi

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In the beginning we must treat the Lord with awe and veneration. Later one when we are perfectly on the spiritual platform, we treat Krsna more intimately, and therefore we forget the exalted position of Krsna. But, we never imitate the Brijbasis from the beginning as do the sahajiyas.

Conversation B - Delhi

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Enclosed please find one letter addressed to me from one of our Bengali devotees, which I am forwarding to you for necessary action. Try to pacify him if he is offended. Everyone comes to us to offer voluntary service, so amongst ourselves there must be good behavior. One may not feel sorry. So the leaders must take precautions as far as possible.

1973 - November 02

Conversation - Delhi

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The gopīs came with lust. They became purified with Kṛṣṇa's association. Gopīs actually, superficially, externally, they are, means, nitya-siddha, ever-liberated expansion of Kṛṣṇa's energy, internal energy. But apparently, they left their father, husband and came to Kṛṣṇa. So that is, from Vedic principle, it is wrong. One young girl cannot go to other young man, giving up the protection of father, brother, and... So they did it. So they, according to Vedic principle, it is sinful.

Letter to Satsvarupa written from Delhi

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This racial color distinction may continue, but when a devotee is actually advanced these things will disappear. Therefore we have to be a little tactful how to induce people to take to Krsna consciousness seriously. That should be our main object. Encourage her to sell books. If black men read our books, it will be a great achievement. As your President Lincoln gave the blacks equal rights, let us cooperate with them.

1973 - November 03

Lecture BG 03.09 - Delhi

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This movement was started only for the satisfaction of my spiritual master. He wanted. Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted that this movement should be spread all over the world. So he ordered many of my godbrothers, and desired... Even not ordered, he wanted. He sent some of my godbrothers to the foreign countries to spread, but some way or other, he was not very successful. He was called back. So I thought, "Let me try in this old age." So the only desire was to satisfy the desire of the spiritual master.

Conversation - Delhi

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When you have got this center, it is not that you should be engaged from morning till you go to bed for sense gratification. That is not life. That is karmī's life. You have no time for sat-saṅga, for association. You cannot make any progress by this sort of karmī's life. We have to work for organization, but not that whole day and night engaged and no sat-saṅga. That is a misguided policy, and it will spoil the whole structure.

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In Los Angeles, they regularly assemble during ārati and class. If this regulative principle is lost, then you are karmīs. They must come back by six o'clock, suspending all other duties, and assemble by seven o'clock. Joint mess program is not good.

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You cannot make any progress by this sort of karmi's life. We have to work for organization, but not that whole day and night engaged and no sat-sanga. That is a misguided policy, and it will spoil the whole structure.

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"What he'll do by becoming Birla, rich man like Birla?" That was Kṛṣṇa's plan. "Come here. Do this work." You see.

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My Guru Mahārāja ordered. Kṛṣṇa wanted. I was resisting Him. That's all. I was actually very expert businessman in chemical line. I did it very creditably in Bose's laboratory as manager and my own business. And everyone knows... Even in manufacturing also.

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I was simply planning in different way. Therefore Kṛṣṇa's favor. I never deviated from this plan. Since I heard it from my Guru Mahārāja, I've simply planning how to do it successfully. But I thought at that time, that "I'll be able to do it if I get some money. Let me do some business for the time." That I was thinking.

1973 - November 04

Lecture SB 02.01.01 - Delhi

Nectar Drops from Srila Prabhupada

"We are working very hard in this material world, but we are not preparing ourself for death, which is a "must" fact, everyone must die."

731104 - Lecture SB 02.01.01 - Delhi

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We are working very hard in this material world, but we are not preparing ourself for death, which is a "must" fact. Everyone must die. The modern civilization, they are afraid of death, but they do not know how to counteract death.

Conversation - Delhi

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If somebody is claiming that "I am brahmana," then government should force him to become actually a brahmana. That is government's duty; that is secular state. Not that "Let people go to hell. We don't care for them." That is not required.

1973 - November 05

Conversation A - Delhi

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They will have to come to this point gradually. They're disappointed. Life is not very pleasing. Politics life is not… Even Gandhi, such an exalted man, on the day he was killed, he was the same.

Conversation B - Delhi

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They think, "I have conquered. I have got three crores of rupees." Speculating on (indistinct) and share, that's all. Then parabhavah: his three crores of rupees remain with his bank, and he goes with his wife, and he accepts another body. And he is rascal number one. Abodha.

1973 - November 06

Lecture SB 02.01.03 - Delhi

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Every student, every disciple, they write me letter how much they are feeling grateful, that "We have got something. Prabhupada, you have given us something."

Nectar Drops from Srila Prabhupada

"When you are engaged in the loving service of the Lord, beginning with your tongue, sevonmukhe hi jihvādau, by chanting this Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and taking prasādam, in this way, gradually, when you will be purified, you will understand what is Kṛṣṇa. He will reveal. Kṛṣṇa reveals."

731106 - Lecture SB 02.01.03 - Delhi

Conversation - Delhi

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The yogic process is like that. But that is not the process of check, stopping death. You can delay death. That you can delay, so it's a hundred years, two hundred years, five hundred years, or even more than that.

Letter to Indira Gandhi written from Delhi

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We are not only preaching the cult by chanting and dancing, but also by presenting in the English language the books of the bhakti cult, especially Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam all over the world.

Letter to Mukunda written from Delhi

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Another request I have to you is that there have now been two instances of when somebody does not agree you try to get them out by calling the police. This is never to be done. This is the mistaken policy of Shayasundar, but do not follow this principle.

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With great difficulty we get a man. We have to reform them. Our business is to become sympathetic to fallen souls. So in future do not do it all. Everything should be done amicably.

1973 - November 07

Lecture SB 02.01.04 - Delhi

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"Your question is very nice, that 'Whom shall I take shelter of? Shall I take shelter of Kṛṣṇa?' Yes." Tasmād bhārata sarvātmā. Kṛṣṇa is sarvātmā. He is situated in everyone's heart as friend. He is the real friend. He is giving me advice. He is within, conscience, which we..., or good instruction, counsel. He says that "Don't be materially attached." Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekam: (BG 18.66) "Come to Me. Just become surrendered to Me. I will give you protection. I will give you intelligence."

Letter to Karandhara written from Delhi

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One thing for Caitanya Mahaprabhu's Appearance Day, I want that there be published one volume of Caitanya Caritamrta. You have got the Adi lila from Chapter Seven onwards. So at least one volume must be published of 400 pages, hardbound edition. Copies must be there in Mayapur for distribution on the appearance day. So please arrange for this.

Letter to Tamala Krishna written from Delhi

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I am glad to learn that you are preaching nicely. It is very important business. Unless our men understand thoroughly the philosophy, how will they be able to preach?

Letter to Tusta Krsna written from Delhi

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Kindly take my word and do not leave our society. If you cannot agree with the GBC, I can take up your matter personally and do the needful. I love you all very much, and if you go away and stay independently that will be a great shock for me.

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If there is any misunderstanding with the GBC men, that can be readjusted by mutual understanding. I wanted to see you all to mitigate this misunderstanding, but I was very busy in Bombay for the same Juhu land of Mr. Nair.

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Please therefore all of you go to your respective positions and revive your devotional activities without any further delay, and if you cannot cope with the GBC men, which I suppose there must have been some disagreement, I shall deal with you directly. But, do not leave the Krsna consciousness movement, at any cost.

1973 - November 08

Lecture SB 02.01.05 - Delhi

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The small children, four years, five years old, they are hearing about Kṛṣṇa, about God. They are chanting about Kṛṣṇa, they are rising early in the morning, attending maṅgala-ārātrika. Anyone goes there... Even the education superintendent came to visit our temple. He was astonished that "How these children are happy."

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The first thing is we must hear. Śrotavyaḥ. Just try to hear what is God, what is His kingdom, how He acts, how He is cheerful. These things are to be heard. Śravaṇam. Then as soon as you are convinced, "Oh, God is so nice," then you will be eager to demonstrate or to broadcast this news to the whole world. This is kīrtanam. This is kīrtanam.

Nectar Drops from Srila Prabhupada

"We, every one of us, we are changing our body exactly the same way as the child is changing his body to boyhood, the boy is changing his body to youthhood, the youth is changing his body to old body. Similarly, after old age, there is next stage is death. So after death, what is the proposal? That they do not know."

731108 - Lecture SB 02.01.05 - Delhi

Letter to Bhagavan written from Delhi

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I may request you in this regard to please immediately send Mandakini there (to Moscow) for being married to Ananta Santi Das. Both of them will get good strength from it. So please do the needful.

Letter to Hansadutta written from Delhi

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Yes, have our literature translated into Russian. Why not have our Bhagavad gita distributed underground there as they are doing the Bible?

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So far my coming to Moscow, yes I will come, but I may not be arrested. Still I shall go, and I shall speak on pure communism.

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You have taken the right view of the importance of my books. Books will always remain. That was the view of my Guru Maharaja, and I also have taken it. Therefore I started my movement with my books.

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I am also glad to note the work going on in East Germany. Try to impress upon them to make communism God-centered. God is the father of everyone, and we are all His sons. Everything is His property, and everyone has the right to enjoy it. Without being God-centered, Communism will fail. So we have got good potency to be the leaders of the world if we carefully push on this movement.

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I want that you give me the facility to write my books, but I can attend some meetings of important people and elites. You have taken the right view of the importance of my books. Books will always remain. That was the view of my Guru Maharaja, and I also have taken it. Therefore I started my movement with my books. And we shall be able to maintain everything with the sales of the books. The temples will be maintained by the book sales, and if there are no more temples, then the books shall remain.

Letter to Jadurani written from Delhi

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Salagrama sila is a black stone ball, round, with eyes and nose painted with gopicandana with a golden crown on and placed on one small srngasana.

1973 - November 09

Letter to Dinesh Candra Sarkar written from Delhi

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For the time being I am keeping my health fairly well. Certainly I was sick when I left Calcutta for London, but I improved my health there. So after all, this is an old body. I am 78 years, and still by the grace of Krsna it is going on. So I am very much thankful for your enquiry about my health.

Letter to Vegavan written from Delhi

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It is very good to hear of your programs in the high schools. Please continue and increase this program there.

1973 - November 10

Lecture Pandal - Delhi

Nectar Drops from Srila Prabhupada

"Dharma, the simple description of dharma is 'the codes which are given by God'. It doesn't matter whether you are Hindu, Muslim or Christian or any. Everyone, any civilized man has got some religion. Because dharmeṇa hīna paśubhiḥ samānāḥ (Hitopadeśa 25). If you haven't got..., not religion... It doesn't matter whether Hindu religion, Muslim religion. You must have some religion. Religion means to understand God. That is religion."

731110 - Lecture Pandal - Delhi

Conversation - Delhi

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One boy, he appeared in his examination. His father asked, "How did you reply to your examination paper?" "Yes, quite nice." Then he said, "How?" "So there were very difficult questions that I could not answer, and there were easier questions, they are known to me; I did not answer." (laughter) "They are known to me. What is the use of answering? The difficult questions I could not answer, and the easier, that I know, there is no use of answering." That means he did not do anything.

Letter to Bhakta dasa written from Delhi

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I thank you very much for installing Radha-Giridhari. From my childhood I was very much fond of Radha-Krsna, and now my good disciples are helping me to open so many Radha-Krsna temples all over the world. It gives me so much pleasure.

1973 - November 11

Lecture SB 01.02.06 - Delhi

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When we speak of "Krsna," means God. God has got many thousands of name, but this one name is chief. Krsna means "the all-attractive." Krsna attracts everyone. Or one who attracts everyone, He is God.

Nectar Drops from Srila Prabhupada

"We, the living entities, we are part and parcel of God. Mamaivāṁśo jīva-bhūtaḥ (BG 15.7). Jīva-bhūta, jīvas, all jīvas, living entities, they are part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa, or God. When we speak of 'Kṛṣṇa', means God. God has got many thousands of name, but this one name is chief. Kṛṣṇa means 'the all-attractive'. Kṛṣṇa attracts everyone. Or one who attracts everyone, He is God."

731111 - Lecture SB 01.02.06 - Delhi

Chanting SB 05.05.06-16 Verses - Delhi

Letter to Govinda dasi written from Delhi

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I do not know why you have parted from the Deities. Who has told you to do this? If you are at all interested, you can return. Your service was there. Why did you leave, and now you are whimsically asking for service. You never asked me before leaving. How can I guide you? If you act whimsically, nobody can make you happy.

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Our policy is to live with devotees. Immediately return and live with devotees and take care of the Deities and Tulsi. That is our main business. My Guru Maharaja condemned living alone in a lonely place. He wrote as follows: "O rascal mind, what kind of Vaisnava are you. In a lonely place your chanting of Hare Krishna is simply cheating."

Letter to Mukunda written from Delhi

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If you can arrange a meeting with the Pope then I can stop off there in Rome. So please inform His Holiness the Pope that I shall be returning to USA via Europe sometime after December 1, so if a meeting could be arranged at that time it would be very nice.

1973 - November 12

Lecture SB 01.02.06 - Delhi

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How important this Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement means we are not manufacturing anything by our fertile brain. No. We don't create anything. We simply repeat, but we try to explain for modern understanding. That's all. Otherwise there is no question of manufacturing. Because nobody can manufacture the perfect knowledge, because we are all imperfect.

Letter to Jayapataka written from Delhi

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Regarding the Government's plans to construct a three crore tourist lodge, why not give the money to us, and we can construct? If this money is used for four such buildings as we have got plus a temple, this will satisfy the Government as well as our needs.

1973 - November 13

Lecture SB 01.02.07 - Delhi

Nectar Drops from Srila Prabhupada

"The idea is that Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, when He comes upon this material world just like ordinary human child, He accepts His devotee as His father, His devotee as His mother. That is the way. Therefore Kṛṣṇa appeared as the son of Vasudeva, and He is well known as Vāsudeva."

731113 - Lecture SB 01.02.07 - Delhi

1973 - November 14

Lecture SB 01.02.09-10 - Delhi

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This is the distinction between bhakti and karma. Karma is sense gratification, and bhakti is satisfying the Lord. The same thing. Therefore people cannot understand what is the difference between a bhakta and a karmi.

Nectar Drops from Srila Prabhupada

"So death means forgetting the past life. Otherwise, there was past life. That's a fact. But as we forget daily night body in the daytime and day body at nighttime, so similarly, we are changing our body according to the infection of the quality of material nature, and we are entangled in this material world."

731114 - Lecture SB 01.02.09-10 - Delhi

Letter to Karandhara written from Delhi

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Regarding the initiations I accept the following as my initiated disciples: Hamsavatara das - Howard; Ramacandra das - Ron; Amrtananda das - Fred; Jagannatha Puri das - Jesse; Sangita devi das - Susan; Sangita devi das - Susan; Jaya Gopi devi dasi - Jane; Atma Shakti devi - Wendy; Champak devi dasi - Chava; Jayagourangi devi - Joanne.

Letter to Revatinandana written from Delhi

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Hold a condolence meeting for Raghava dasa brahmacari and pray for his soul to Krsna for giving him a good chance for advancement in Krsna consciousness. Certainly Krsna will give him a good place to take birth where he can again begin in Krsna consciousness activities. That is sure. But, we offer our condolences to a departed soul separated from a Vaisnava. Do you know that there must be prasadam distributed? After three days after the demise of a Vaisnava a function should be held for offering the departed soul and all others prasadam. This is the system.

Letter to Sons and Daughters of Atlanta written from Delhi

Letter to Sukadeva written from Delhi

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. Regarding your going to other's meetings, yes, you can go to preach but do not pick a quarrel or have any violence. Try to attract the sincere devotees there.

1973 - November 15

Lecture SB 01.02.10 Hindi - Delhi

Letter to Sankara Pyne written from Delhi

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You can still advance in krsna consciousness even in the office by chanting and giving some percentage to the mandir. Our philosophy is that all the fruits of our activity go to Krsna for His enjoyment. It does not matter what our position may be.

1973 - November 16

731116 - Lecture - Delhi

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In the Western countries, the boys and girls, they mix very freely. And if I say, "My dear boys, you cannot see even a young girl," then finished. My business there is finished.

Nectar Drops from Srila Prabhupada

"So we are worshiping Kṛṣṇa. His simple business is, as we have described, Rādhā-Mādhava, He is lover of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. Kṛṣṇa means lover. This very word Kṛṣṇa means 'all-attractive'. You can attract by your love, not by anything else. Therefore His name is Kṛṣṇa."

731116 - Lecture - Delhi

1973 - November 17

Lecture Hindi - Delhi

1973 - November 18

Lecture SB 01.02.12 - Delhi

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So the Absolute Truth is one. There is no doubt about it. But according to our angle of vision, we appreciate the Absolute Truth in different ways, although the Absolute Truth is one.

Nectar Drops from Srila Prabhupada

"Kṛṣṇa says, 'I am the seed-giving father'. So Kṛṣṇa is father for all living entities. They are simply struggling here in this material world under different desires, and therefore they are getting transmigrating from one body to another, and in this way they are wandering within this material world."

731118 - Lecture SB 01.02.12 - Delhi