740209 - Conversation - Vrndavana

Conversations by Date, 1974

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

740209R1-VRNDAVAN - February 09, 1974 - 21:14 Minutes

Prabhupāda: Seven hundred?

Devotee: . . . (indistinct)

Prabhupāda: Oh.

Devotee: On the other side of . . . (indistinct) . . . I think it crosses . . .

Prabhupāda: In USA . . . (break) Ek ghanta me . . . (indistinct) (In one hour or so) . . . (indistinct)

Guest (1) (Indian man): Hmm. Ji ha. (Okay.)

Gurudāsa: Even car, the roads are so big.

Prabhupāda: Ah, bus service is all right? Nahi, wo to transportation to bahut hi acchi hai USA me. Ek Greyhound motorcycle hai, Rockefeller company . . . (indistinct) . . . (No, transportation is very nice in the USA. There is one Greyhound motorcycle of the Rockefeller company . . . (indistinct) . . .) (break)

Guest (1): I don't think these people have seen the ekka here, have you?

Prabhupāda: Huh?

Guest: Have you seen the ekka?

Prabhupāda: I think it is now obsolete.

Guest (1): Obsolete now. I don't see it now.

Gurudāsa: Train?

Guest (1): No . . . (indistinct) . . . (laughter) Just like . . . (indistinct)

Prabhupāda: The ekka had like this . . .

Guest (1): There is a platform like this.

Prabhupāda: It moves on the roof of the house. (laughter) Unka desh me abhi wo ho gaya na, helicopter. (Now, in their country they have helicopters.)

Guest (1): Helicopter.

Prabhupāda: Wo chat pe. (On the roof.) (break) . . . New York, goes to Los Angeles and then to Honolulu, then Tokyo, then Hong Kong, then New Delhi . . . no. Hong Kong to Bangkok, Bangkok to New Delhi, New Delhi to Karachi, Karachi to Beirut, then, I think, London, then again New York. One. One round. Usi ka ticket hum log kharidte hai. (We buy tickets for that only.) One round.

Guest (1): To beech me stoppage . . . (So is there a stoppage in between) . . . (break) (laughter)

Prabhupāda: (indistinct Hindi) . . . Aj kal restriction . . . (Nowadays there is restriction . . .) (laughing) (break) Fifty crores.

Guest (1): Huh? More than that. (laughter) More than that? Why not?

Prabhupāda: Not fifty crores. Fifty-five lakhs.

Guest (1): Fifty-five lakhs. Oh.

Prabhupāda: This George Harrison, he came here.

Guest (1): George Harrison? He has donated in cash or that building?

Prabhupāda: Not that building.

Guest (1): That building.

Prabhupāda: He has purchased for me.

Guest (1): Ācchā.

Prabhupāda: It is named Bhaktivedanta Manor.

Guest (1): Ācchā.

Guest (2) (Indian man): Bhaktivedanta . . .?

Prabhupāda: Manor.

Guest (2): Manor.

Prabhupāda: He contributed for this book $19,000. Practically he gave starting. Yes. No. Starting was that Teachings of Lord Caitanya. I printed. Then I printed this book. Then by selling this book, this book, that book, like that. He is very good boy. He is chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Guest (1): Chanting?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Guest (2): Sab chod diya? (He left everything?)

Prabhupāda: Nahi, wo apna business chal raha hai. (No, he is doing his business.) Now what is the latest record?

Gurudāsa: "Kṛṣṇa, I miss You. Kṛṣṇa, where are You?"

Guest (1): The song?

Prabhupāda: There was . . .

Guest (1): Song?

Prabhupāda: Yes, song. His song, as soon as one record is published, then millions is sold. Then millions.

Guest (1): I see. And this is the song he has sung, on the recording. Wonderful. Mahāprabhu has chosen right . . . perfect method of prachār.

Prabhupāda: No, all the musicians, they're attracted to me. Big, big musicians. Another is, what is his, Dylan?

Gurudāsa: Bob Dylan.

Prabhupāda: Bob Dylan. He is as good as, or more than. He has asked one of my students, "Ask Prabhupāda what can I do for him." He is reading my books. There is another Indian, Ravi Shankar, he also came. He also attracted.

Guest (1): He's also attracted.

Prabhupāda: Bombay (laughing), all the cinema artists, they're attracted with the movement. One, one that actress Vijaya?

Gurudāsa: Vaijayanti Mala.

Prabhupāda: Huh?

Gurudāsa: Vaijayanti Mala.

Prabhupāda: Vaijayanti.

Guest (1): Vaijayanti Mala. She's a very famous actress.

Prabhupāda: She's very nice girl, actually . . . (indistinct)

Guest (1): They are my sister, my younger sister. Younger sister.

Prabhupāda: Dekhiye bhai saheb jaisa bhajan karta hai ap bhi . . . (Perform bhajan just like your brother) . . . (break) ISKCON Hotel. Government se do crore rupaya manga hai. (I have requested the government for two crore rupees.)

Guest (2): Government loan, loan? Indian government se? Kaha ka? (From the Indian government? From where?)

Prabhupāda: Loan. Here Indian government. (break) My eldest son was born in 1921.

Guest (2): I was born in 1917.

Prabhupāda: Seventeen . . . (indistinct Hindi) . . . (break)

Guest (2): Mayavadi thode hi na hu prabhuji. (I am not a mayāvādi prabhuji.)

Guest (3): Mayavadi to Krishna hote hai so hum hote hai. (Kṛṣṇa is a mayāvādi so we are too.)

Prabhupāda: Mayavadi ka ashray le rahe hai. Huh? Nahi, ye swayam Krishna hai, wo mayadhisha hai. Mayavadi nahi, mayadhisha. (Taking shelter of mayāvādis. Huh? No, He is Kṛṣṇa Himself, He is māyādhīśa. Not mayāvādi, māyādhīśa.) (break) . . . Jo Krishna ko bhul gaya, to Krishna kehte hai mattaḥ . . . jñānam apohanaṁ. Krishna ko bhul jana . . . (One who has forgotten Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa says mattaḥ . . . jñānam apohanaṁ (BG 15.15). Forgetting Kṛṣṇa) . . . (break) . . . transcendental . . . every part. Purana tuta-futa, ye sab kuch nahi, sab transcendental. Aisa ye kutta, suar, jo kuch hai sab transcendental. Idhar koi kharab chiz nahi. (Old and broken, there is nothing like that, all this is transcendental. Even these dogs, pigs, everything is transcendental. There is no bad thing here.) (break) . . . Vrindavan chodne ko nahi chahta . . . (indistinct) . . . humara jo quarter hai, humara jo baithne ka sitting room, isse dedh guna aur humara bathroom iska three-fourth. Aur bedroom, wo bhi half samajh lijiye. Half nahi, half se zyada. Ye sab . . . (Do not want to leave Vṛndāvana . . . (indistinct) . . . our quarter, the sitting room, that is one and a half times bigger than this and our bathroom is three-fourth of this. And the bedroom, that is also half. Not half, a little more than half. All this) . . . (break)

Guest (2): (break) . . . jisme ke itne hazaro hazaro souls ka career involve ho wo kisi ek . . . (where thousands and thousands of souls' career is involved, for one) . . . (break)

Guest (3): Humare shri gurudev kaha karte the, bade param pandit the . . . (Our respected gurudev used to say, he was a big pandit) . . . (break)

Prabhupāda: (break) . . . trustees. Because he contributes. He contributes, and that boy, Gopāla Kṛṣṇa, he also contributes. (break) (laughter) You are not religious, huh? (laughter) (break)

Guest (4): . . . stay at Rādhā-Rāmaṇa in Puruṣottama Gosvāmī's old house, in Rādhā-Rāmaṇa. Lately I'm staying at . . . (indistinct) . . . Mahārāja's āśrama . . . (indistinct) . . . (break)

Prabhupāda: So what is the condition of the work? Finished?

Gurudāsa: Not finished. (break)

Prabhupāda: He requires so many things.

Gurudāsa: Yes.

Prabhupāda: Whether he is connected. Encourage him to the Deity worship at Yamunā. What can we do? (pause) So wood has come?

Gurudāsa: Yes.

Prabhupāda: So they're arranging for roofing?

Gurudāsa: Any for roofing? No, this is for scaffolding. Actually, also some wood planks for the roof to be casted with the steel. So that plank wood has also come, and all these for casting, uh, for scaffolding has also come. And Guṇārṇava spoke to Tejiyas on the telephone, and he said that within a few days the steel would be ready. So I'm also going to go to Delhi the day after tomorrow and check on the steel, and I think we'll bring it down and start. (break)

Prabhupāda: . . . (indistinct)

Gurudāsa: Yes.

Prabhupāda: . . . (indistinct)

Gurudāsa: Yes, we'll do that. I'll do that. (break) . . . so one can learn Deity worship in Vṛndāvana. I also will learn that Deity worship.

Prabhupāda: Los Angeles they are doing very nice.

Gurudāsa: Hmm.

Prabhupāda: (indistinct) . . . three men.

Gurudāsa: Hmm. That's nice, that's nice.

Prabhupāda: Three men at the time at ārati.

Gurudāsa: I was wondering. In Imlitala they do one man, but I was thinking three is very . . . at that JK temple in Kanpur, three men. That's nice.

Prabhupāda: Three men . . . (indistinct)

Gurudāsa: Very nice. (break)

Prabhupāda: Profusely flowers, they do it. Los Angeles is most gorgeous, temple. We are to do like that here in Vṛndāvana.

Gurudāsa: Hmm.

Prabhupāda: Very gorgeous. All decorated, chandeliers . . . (indistinct) . . . gongs, bells, mṛdaṅgas. Keep at least well-trained devotees, at least twelve. And for all that comfortable life . . . (indistinct) . . . even if you do not know, that money. (break)

Gurudāsa: Some people make the . . . cut the coat to fit the pocket.

Prabhupāda: Huh?

Gurudāsa: Cut the coat to fit the pocket.

Prabhupāda: That's right.

Gurudāsa: Basics. Then after everything is built and nicely established, then we will increase. Very clear and very nice.

Prabhupāda: Is that very good. (break) . . . that is good . . . one who desires well-being . . .

Gurudāsa: Yes.

Prabhupāda: . . . he is called sūrya.

Gurudāsa: Yes.

Prabhupāda: So he desires.

Gurudāsa: Yes. And he is not motivated.

Prabhupāda: No.

Gurudāsa: He is very good, good. (break) Kapoor also is increasing more and more, very much favorable. Sat Bisanchand also is favorable. Is nice.

Prabhupāda: Influential man he is?

Gurudāsa: Somewhat influential, but . . . (break)

Prabhupāda: . . . that, but now from Rādhā-Dāmodara Temple he cannot take anything.

Gurudāsa: No.

Prabhupāda: So how he will maintain?

Gurudāsa: I don't know. He must have some money.

Prabhupāda: And what Panchu is doing?

Gurudāsa: Panchu I have not seen, because I have been here mostly, on the construction site. I don't go so much.

Prabhupāda: How he has left for some service.

Gurudāsa: Maybe. I can inquire.

Prabhupāda: No. There is no . . . why you should go? Let them do their own work.

Gurudāsa: Yes.

Devotee: I can sweep over here?

Prabhupāda: Huh? Yes. Why not?

Gurudāsa: Next month is again rental, rent time. I paid him six months in advance previously. So it would go to February. Because I knew that the śevaite was changing, so I wanted to do like that. Next month is again, March 1st, payment . . .

Prabhupāda: But whenever you give money, you must take receipt in this printed.

Gurudāsa: Yes. Printed receipt.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Printed form.

Gurudāsa: So I should again pay to Gaurachand Gosvāmī? I think so.

Prabhupāda: This, this, this . . . (indistinct) . . . complete.

Gurudāsa: But that . . . that will be complete soon. Saurabha says it will be complete soon.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Next time I, when I come . . .

Devotee: Come, it, roof should be ready.

Prabhupāda: . . . I want to see that it is, roof is complete, and then we begin. So another thing: should I take rates for the marble from others, or we shall accept this?

Gurudāsa: I've already taken rates, Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: Oh.

Gurudāsa: And now this man, Narayan Das, says that yesterday they said that it did . . . the rates did not include people to put the marble in. It did not include laborers to install.

Prabhupāda: No, no. They have . . . they have to order this, because . . . (indistinct) . . . include everything.

Gurudāsa: If it includes, it is a good rate.

Prabhupāda: Ah.

Gurudāsa: But in, in Makrana I got the rate seven-fifty, eight rupees. Seven, seven-fifty, eight for dungri, that kind. And about two-fifty to three extra for labor. So if they charge eight or seven, including labor and delivery and polishing, it is good rate, but if it is just delivery, it is not a good rate.

Prabhupāda: So, Mr. . . . (indistinct) . . . said that he'll send the contract form. So we have to see.

Gurudāsa: If it does not include the delivery and the polishing . . .

Prabhupāda: (indistinct) . . . must include delivery, polishing, everything.

Gurudāsa: If it does, it's good rate. Also this black marble, I've gotten the price in Makrana four, four rupees and fifty paisa.

Prabhupāda: That is excluding labor.

Gurudāsa: Yes. So if they can do it for five, it is good rate.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Gurudāsa: But if they do it five for just the marble, it is not good rate.

Prabhupāda: No, no. That is not good. It is included everything. That I was informed by . . .

Gurudāsa: Then it's . . . then it is good. It is very good for us.

Prabhupāda: Then we shall accept.

Gurudāsa: Oh, yes. It is good quotation. But he is not willing to do the bank guarantee.

Prabhupāda: Eh?

Gurudāsa: The pound, the huṇḍa, what is it called?

Prabhupāda: huṇḍi.

Gurudāsa: huṇḍi.

Prabhupāda: No. That we shall . . . he is not bringing all the goods at a time.

Gurudāsa: Oh.

Prabhupāda: Partially. We have to pay.

Gurudāsa: All right. (break) Śrīla Prabhupāda, I want you to feel that we will do this, and this work, and spend frugally and thrifty.

Prabhupāda: Very frugally. You have already become very unfrugal.

Gurudāsa: I am agitated that you are anxious about it, because yes, I commit many mistakes, no doubt.

Prabhupāda: So, that's all right. Don't commit more, that's all.

Gurudāsa: Yes. But there's also some mistakes I have not committed. There's some very good things that have happened.

Prabhupāda: That's all right. Don't commit mistake.

Gurudāsa: Yes.

Prabhupāda: Devotee should not commit mistake. He's above it.

Gurudāsa: But I want you to feel . . .

Prabhupāda: No. It is my business to worry.

Gurudāsa: Yes, yes. You are the best father I have. My father spared the rod. He spoiled me.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Gurudāsa: And you are not doing.

Prabhupāda: But don't take, because I do not show the stick, don't take advantage of it.

Gurudāsa: You have shown the stick, verbally.

Prabhupāda: Now do it nicely. Keep me less anxiety.

Gurudāsa: I want to do.

Prabhupāda: It is natural when money is misspent, one who brings money he thinks this.

Gurudāsa: Yes.

Prabhupāda: I take so much trouble, and then . . . that is, that is always . . . (indistinct)

Gurudāsa: Yes. I also would feel that way.

Prabhupāda: So the money raised for the other business, that should be spent for that purpose.

Gurudāsa: Yes.

Prabhupāda: And the temple money . . . so you'll go to the bank tomorrow? Yes?

Gurudāsa: Yes.

Prabhupāda: Which bank he has dispatched the 50,000?

Gurudāsa: Yes, Syndicate.

Prabhupāda: But they have not yet informed. How is that? He said he has already sent.

Gurudāsa: He has telegrammed.

Prabhupāda: Who?

Gurudāsa: Girirāja has telegrammed.

Prabhupāda: Ah.

Gurudāsa: But the bank has not informed. Guṇārṇava is checking today.

Prabhupāda: Telegrammed the money?

Gurudāsa: Girirāja has telegrammed myself, directly . . .

Prabhupāda: Oh.

Gurudāsa: . . . that he has sent it.

Prabhupāda: When he has sent it?

Gurudāsa: Telegrammed yesterday . . . day before yesterday, evening.

Prabhupāda: Day before yesterday.

Gurudāsa: Evening.

Prabhupāda: Evening.

Gurudāsa: Late evening.

Prabhupāda: So they must have received the money by today.

Gurudāsa: Yes. Guṇārṇava is checking. (end)