720720 - Interview A - Paris

Conversations by Date, 1972

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

720720IV-PARIS - July 20, 1972 - 04:52 Minutes

Devotee: Yes. I think this gentleman would like to have some interview with Śrīla Prabhupāda. (to other devotee:) You're going to translate . . . (indistinct) . . .?

(to guest:) And you can sit here? And you can sit here, please?

Prabhupāda: Give him some . . .

Devotee: Sit here.

Bhūgarbha: We have a cushion. (break) . . . speak any English. (break)

Prabhupāda: Hmm?

Bhūgarbha: The listeners probably only speak French.

Guru-gaurāṅga: (French)

(devotee translating questions and answers throughout)

Frenchman: . . . great spiritual master, you kindly present yourself to the listeners to . . . (indistinct)

Prabhupāda: I have already explained what is our mission, what is this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Already I have explained to some extent, and if he wants some particular answer, he can ask me.

Frenchman: (French)

Guru-gaurāṅga: He would like to know who you are, Śrīla Prabhupāda, and how old you are.

Prabhupāda: I am now seventy-seven.

Frenchman: (French)

Guru-gaurāṅga: (translating) For how long are you at the head of this movement?

Prabhupāda: Well, for the last five years.

Frenchman: (French)

Guru-gaurāṅga: (translating) Can you please describe the dress in which you are clothed?

Prabhupāda: You can ask about some philosophy. Dress, what people will benefit knowing about my dress? Instead of wasting time in that way . . . I can ask you why you are in dressed in that way . . . that's not very important thing.

Guru-gaurāṅga: (translates and then asks man to please pose questions about the philosophy)

Bhagavān: Anyone can answer those questions.

Frenchman: (French)

Guru-gaurāṅga: (translating) What do you think of the future?

Prabhupāda: Huh?

Guru-gaurāṅga: Of the future, Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: Future you can guess . . . because I am seventy-seven. I may die. But these young men, they are taking. They will live, and they will spread all over the world.

Frenchman: (French)

Guru-gaurāṅga: He's asking about your childhood, Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: Hmm?

Guru-gaurāṅga: He'd like to know something about your childhood, would be my guess.

Prabhupāda: So?

Guru-gaurāṅga: Childhood.

Prabhupāda: My childhood? I was all along a devotee, from my childhood. Yes. My father was a devotee, and he trained me a devotee.

Guru-gaurāṅga: (again asks man to ask about the philosophy)

Frenchman: (French)

Guru-gaurāṅga: (translating) Are you happy? (devotees laugh)

Prabhupāda: What do you think? What do you think? I'm happy or unhappy? (break) (end)