Lecture on Srimad-bhagavatam 1.2.10 — Delhi, November 16, 1973:
“So, a brahmacari is strictly prohibited not to see even one young woman. But what can be done? 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. Therefore, I have to arrange according to the country, according to the circumstances, as far as possible. So gradually, they are coming to the perfectional stage. So, we have to adopt desa-kala-patra, according to time, according to... But we are keeping our principles as it is, but making arrangement according to the circumstances. That is required.”
Lecture on Srimad-bhagavatam 1.3.24 — Los Angeles, September 29, 1972:
“The Sankara philosophy is, that consciousness has no form, he says. Then farther development is this n philosophy, that as soon as there is consciousness, that is a person. These are the gradual development. Actually, they are not contradictory. But according to the time, circumstances, different types of philosophies are there.”
Lecture on Srimad-bhagavatam 1.3.24 — Los Angeles, September 29, 1972:
“So according to the time, circumstances, men, the different scriptures are there. The ultimate aim of scripture is to bring one to Krishna consciousness. But everything is not explained because the people are unable to understand. Just like in our Krishna consciousness movement, we are making movement, but not that everyone is understanding. Those who are very intelligent, or those who are, whose background is pious, they can understand.”
Our religion is to serve Krishna. That is our religion. Therefore, now we must serve in different ways according to time, circumstances, country.
Lecture on Srimad-bhagavatam 1.5.9-11 — New Vrindavana, June 6, 1969:
“Dharma means you exist by some natural symptom.
That is called dharma. Everyone has got some natural symptom. That is dharma. According to Sanskrit meaning, that is dharma. Just like this light is a substance. What is his dharma, religion? To give light, to illuminate. So, without illumination, there is no meaning of light. Similarly, your dharma, what is your religion? Your religion is to serve Krishna. That is your religion. Now you serve in a different way according to time, circumstances, country. That is a different thing.”
Lecture on Srimad-bhagavatam 1.7.20-21 — Vrindavana, September 17, 1976:
“I know that you are coming from a different source, so according to time, according to circumstances… Even there, there is no limit. You can chant more than sixteen-sixteen hundred times. There is no… But practically we see that even chanting sixteen rounds becomes difficult. So don’t try to imitate, but do it properly, what is advised by your spiritual master, without any offense. That mantra will save you from the dangers of maya. That’s a fact.”
Actually, we will be very much harassed on account of the time, place, circumstances, so on.
Lecture on Srimad-bhagavatam 1.8.28 — Mayapura, October 8, 1974:
“Anyone who preaches the message of God, he is guru. ‘So, they very much appreciated, and actually it is so. one who is preaching, it may be in a different way, according to time and place and the Party, they have to change something, desa-kala-patra, but we have to see the essence. Wherever there is God consciousness, wherever is there understanding… Just like we sometime consult dictionary, a small dictionary, pocket dictionary, and a big international dictionary. Both of them are dictionaries. But according to time, desa-kala-patra, for small child, that small dictionary is sufficient. Higher mathematics: higher mathematics and lower-class ma… But the two plus two is always the same, in higher mathematics or lower mathematics. It is not that in the higher mathematics two plus two equals to five, no.”