681108 - Lecture BS 5.29 - Los Angeles
Prabhupāda: What is this? Oh. For taking?
Viṣṇujana: Would you like a plate, Swamiji?
Prabhupāda: No, no. A sannyāsī should always take in his hand. That is the system. Not in a plate. That means if you take in a plate, you'll take much. (laughter) So in hand, he cannot take much. Kara-pātrī. That is the instruction. But in this age such strict laws cannot be followed. The Bhāgavata says that when there is flat grass cushion, why should you ask for bedding? When you have got natural pillow, this hand, why you ask for a pillow? Then when there is river, so much water, why do you stock water? When there are fruits in the tree, why do you go and beg? When there is cave, why you are searching after apartment? (laughs) When the old garments are thrown in the street, then why you are searching after clothing? These are the instructions. Completely free. Kasmād bhajanti kavayo dhana-durmadandhān SB 2.2.5 . Why should you go and flatter these monied men? That is complete independence. But those days are now gone. (laughs) It is a different age. Los Angeles, I think it is a good place. Hm? What is your...? Your problem solved?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Good news. We went to the Hollywood police station and the man told us that part of the duty of the police station is to... He said he should protect religious people like us.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He mentioned other religious people, and he said if we can just keep the crowd moving, then we have every right to be there. So he has given us right to go to Hollywood. In downtown Los Angeles we don't have that right yet. We'll still go there, but in Hollywood it is all right. So that's good enough.
Prabhupāda: That's all right. It is Kṛṣṇa's grace. I was telling the same thing to Dayānanda, that he should present this case to the higher officer. That's all. We are preaching God consciousness. We should be given... That was the Vedic law. Saintly persons, they should be given all protection. If somebody insulted a saintly person, there was a special punishment for that. That's all right. So you take that house, that is Hollywood quarter? Hm. Give him more. No. I have got. You take. Oh, Nandarāṇī is outside? Why she is outside?
Woman: It's the baby.
Prabhupāda: Baby was not disturbing. I have received one letter from San Francisco. They are shortage of men. So Dinadayal is going back?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Oh no. We need more men here. (Prabhupāda laughs) We are so short. That is the problem. We have too few people here. Dīnadayālu is so essential. I was just going to ask you if we could have some more men. Jayarāma...
Prabhupāda: Create men. Bring some men.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Recruit.
Prabhupāda: Here is a new boy, I see.
Viṣṇujana: He's very intelligent.
Prabhupāda: Hm. You have not taken prasādam? You have taken these fruits? This is the first time you come here?
Boy: Yes. [break]
Woman: If you live with people... If you live around people and they say offensive things, because they are ignorant or they are sinful as you say...
Prabhupāda: Try to excuse them.
Woman: Do I leave...
Prabhupāda: As far as possible.
Woman: Excuse them. I shouldn't move out of there?
Prabhupāda: Yes. As far as possible tolerate.
Woman: Tolerate.
Prabhupāda: They are all crazy. Yes. They are crazy.
Woman: Just one man, the owner. I asked him so many times if he would make room for, to have a meeting. The place is gigantic. You know cause you stayed there. Remember? At that motel. He said he didn't have any room.
Prabhupāda: Oh. They have got very big hall?
Woman: So I was just wondering maybe I should... You know, well, if that's how they're going to act, then I should move out of there. But I don't know. I don't know if that's the right attitude on my part. I don't know. They say they didn't have any room.
Prabhupāda: Oh, you are... Govinda dāsī? (end)