Prabhupada: All over the world,
they are expecting something spiritual enlightenment from India. That is a fact.
But our government is callous in that respect. Therefore any so-called swami,
yogis, come from India, they gather to receive him, to hear something from him.
Yes. This is the tendency, that... The real thing is that people expected
something... Still they are respectful to India on account of the spiritual
enlightenment. That I have studied. Still they go to India to have some
spiritual enlightenment. And actually we have got this in India. If anything has
to be learned about spiritual, then it is only India. That has been admitted by
one Chinese gentleman. He's a learned scholar. His book is recommended in New
York University. I forget his name. He has written in his book that "If you want
to learn something religion and spiritual, then you must go to
India."Ambassador: It must be Lin-yu-tang, no.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Ambassador: Was it Lin-yu-tang?
Prabhupada: I don't know.
Ambassador: Yu-tang. You see he's a very great admirer of (indistinct)
Prabhupada: And that's a fact. But our Indian government is not very serious about it.
Ambassador: No, we have a difficulty, Your Eminence. We have got a problem in India because we have got this multi-religious society. So we have to be careful. But individuals can...
Prabhupada: No...
Ambassador: Because we have got to be... We should not be misunderstood. As a government, we should not take too strong a policy about any particular religion, even though it is the religion of the majority of the people.
Prabhupada: No, no, no. It is the duty of the government... Secular state means neutral to any kind of religion. But it is the duty of government to see that people are religious. Not that "Because government is secular, let the people go to hell."
Ambassador: No, that's true.
Prabhupada: Yes. If you are Muslim, and, it is my duty as government to see that you are actually acting as a Muslim. If you are a Hindu, it is the government's duty to see that you are acting as a Hindu. If you are a Christian, it is the government's duty. You cannot give up religion. Dharmena hinah pasubhih samanah. If people become irreligious in the name of secularism, then they are simply animals. So it is the government's duty to see that the citizens are not becoming animals. He may profess a type of religion. That doesn't matter. But he must be religious. That is secular state. Not that secular state means government is callous, "Let the people become cats and dogs, without religion. Government doesn't care." That is not good government. What do you think?
Ambassador: I think, Your Eminence, there's a lot in what you say, but, you know, politics is the art of the possible.
Prabhupada: No. No, politics means to see that people are advanced, citizens are advanced, not that they are degraded.
Ambassador: Your Eminence, I agree, but I think the duty of the government primarily is to provide conditions in which gifted people, spiritual people like you, leaders like you, can function. More than that, if the government does, it might probably even corrupt the religious... I don't know. Like an umpire in a game, you know, or something... Provide the conditions, provide the conditions for free speech. Not like Moscow, you know, where it is...
Prabhupada: No. That is... Just like you have got the Commerce Department. Government has got. What is the duty of the Commerce Department? The government must see that the trade enterprise, common share, or industrial enterprise, they are doing nicely, properly. The government issuing license. They have got supervision. They send sometimes, what is called, inspectors? Education. Say, for education. There is educational inspector, school inspector. They go see that the students are properly being educated in that school. Similarly, government should have expert men in the government to see that the Hindus are acting like Hindu, Muslims are acting like Muslim, and Christians are acting like Christian. The government should not be callous about religion. They may be neutral that whatever religion you profess, government has nothing to do. You do nicely. But it is the government's duty to see that you are doing nicely, you are not bluffing. That is government's duty.
Ambassador: Probably, as far as moral conduct is concerned, but more than that, how is it possible, you know? For the inner man in the spiritual mind, each individual can conceive his own philosophy, but the external conduct, the, the, what is called...?
Prabhupada: No, no. External conduct means on religious principle.
Ambassador: This is what I was...
Prabhupada: Yes. Harav abhaktasya kuto... I... You can, you can...
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: ...understand Sanskrit.
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: Harav abhaktasya kuto mahad-gunah. Yasyasti bhaktir bhagavaty akincana sarvair gunais tatra samasate surah [SB 5.18.12]. If one has got faith and devotion to God, God is one... God is neither Christian nor Hindu nor Muslim. God is one. So religion means according to... Not according to... This is the Vedic conclusion.
sa vai pumsam paro dharmo
yato bhaktir adhoksaje
ahaituky apratihata
yayatma suprasidati
[SB 1.2.6]
One must be religious. Without being religious, he cannot be satisfied. Therefore there is confusion, dissatisfaction all over the world because, because people have become irreligious. If you want to keep... In Calcutta, there was, in the American Consulate Office, I was invited. There, they have got a department: "Indo-American Cultural Society." Perhaps you know.
Ambassador: I heard about it.
Prabhupada: I was invited there to speak: "East and West." So I explained that so far we are concerned, we have no such thing as east and west. But still, there is difference between east and west that in the Eastern countries, especially in India, even in the remotest part of the village, a cultivator, poor cultivator, he'll understand God consciousness very easily. And so far in the West, I talked with Professor Kotofsky... Perhaps you know.
Ambassador: Yes. In Oriental Institute.
Prabhupada: Yes. He said, "Swamiji, after this body's finished, everything is finished." You see? Such a big professor. He...
Ambassador: That is Marxist materialism.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Ambassador: It is Marxist materialism.
Prabhupada: But Marxist materialism, does it mean a congregation of some fools and rascals?
Ambassador: I think so, true.
Prabhupada: Does it mean they like that some congregation of fools and rascals? Such a big professor, he does not know, he cannot understand even that there is life after death. He has to accept another body. As we are accepting different bodies. I was a child. You were a child. Then I became a boy. That is different body. Different consciousness also. A child, three-four years, he talks in a different way. A boy, ten-twelve years, he talks in a different way, and a young man, educated young man, he talks in a different way. So with the change of the body, the consciousness is changing. Is it not?
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: Children, small children, they're just like animals. The cats and dogs, just they are playing, they're also playing like that. But he, he does not belong to that category because when he'll get..., he'll get another body in which he'll be intelligent. Another body, he'll be highly educated. Another body, he'll be doctorate. The cats and dogs, they'll have to wait to get that body. So with the body, we are changing our consciousness. So different body, different consciousness. Similarly, why not after death a different body, different consciousness? If you make progress. Yes. This is progressive. So that is confirmed in Bhagavad-gita: tatha dehantara-praptir dhiras tatra na muhyati [Bg. 2.13].
dehino 'smin yatha dehe
kaumaram yauvanam jara
tatha dehantara-praptir
dhiras tatra na muhyati
[Bg. 2.13]
So people cannot understand. That means they are not dhira, not even, according to Vedic conc..., not even gentlemen. One who cannot understand this simple theory, that, "After this body, as I have changed so many bodies, similarly, I shall change this body also." That's a fact. So dhiras tatra na muhyati. Dhira, one who has got brain, one who can think, he'll not be puzzled. "Yes, he has... Death means he has changed body." Any gentle, good brain will understand. But people are so foolish now, they cannot understand. They are not educated even to understand this simple thing. This is the position of the world. Even a big professor like Kotofsky. So this is the position of our present human society.
Ambassador: But in the countries like Moscow, Soviet Union, they are hostile, against it, but in most countries of the world, they're indifferent. It's...
Prabhupada: No, no. Why Moscow? Everywhere. Moscow, they are, rather, good that they say, "We don't believe in God."
Ambassador: That's true, that's true.
Prabhupada: But others, they say that "I am Hindu," "I am Muslim," "I am Christian," "I believe in God," but he does not know anything.
Ambassador: I'm afraid most of us are like that, to be honest. That's true.
Prabhupada: (laughs) I should say that Moscow are gentlemen. Because they cannot understand, they say, "Don't believe."
Ambassador: It's mudha-dhi.
Prabhupada: Yes. But these rascals, they say, "Yes, I'm religious," but he's doing most irreligious activities. You see? I asked the Christian so many times that "Your Bible says, 'Thou shalt not kill.' Why you are killing?" They cannot give any satisfactory answer. This is my experience. It is clearly said, "Thou shalt not kill." And they are maintaining slaughterhouses. What is this? The other day in London, one lady, she was showing me... She... You were present? Broke some grass blade?
Hamsaduta: Oh yes, I was present.
Prabhupada: Just see. Breaking a grass blade is equal to keeping a big, organized slaughterhouse. Just see.
Ambassador: I see.
Prabhupada: This is their intelligence. She has complained, "It is also killing." Supposing it is killing. Actually it is not killing. Supposing it is killing. This killing and keeping organized slaughterhouse killing is the same thing. Just see. People have become so degraded.
Ambassador: This is sophistry.
Prabhupada: They give this example that: "You also kill vegetables, just this grass blade is broken. It is killed. So it is equal to maintaining a big slaughterhouse." You see? This is going on, under the name of re... They, they were Christian nuns. In London they come to me, talk some time. So... And in India also, we see now cow killing is going on, regular slaughterhouse and... What can I say? You are government man. (laughs) You may take some wrong views about me. What is your opinion, personal?
Ambassador: I'm afraid I'm a very democratic person. If people, if they sincerely believe that they cannot exist without meat, they should be permitted, and once that is granted...
Prabhupada: No, no, no.
Ambassador: ...you have to organize slaughterhouses.
Prabhupada: Then, then that is the, our misfortune that we have lost our Indian culture.
Ambassador: Because...
Prabhupada: Indian culture.
Ambassador: Your Grace, what you want is really a sort of complete...
Prabhupada: No, I don't want.
Ambassador: ...a strong, obedient, disciplined society. But the moment the disciplinarian becomes a dictator, it is...
Prabhupada: It is, it is the duty of the government to see. That is the government. Strong government means...
Ambassador: It's the Rama-rajya ideal.
Prabhupada: Yes. Strong government means that, that government should be very, very vigilant that citizens are doing their duty properly. That is the first duty. They should be given all protection. At the same time... Just like the father gives protection to the children, at the same time, very strict that they are morally and disciplinary, they are going, coming out nice. That is father's duty. It is government's duty. If the father thinks, "Let my son go to hell. I don't care. I give them some food. That's all." Is that father's duty? No. Father's duty, to arrange for their food, for their dress, for their shelter, at the same time, to see that they are growing nice, not rascals. That is father's duty. Similarly, government's duty is that. We see from Vedic sastra government duty is that. Otherwise why there is need of government? Government... Now it is government. But formerly it was the king. The king must be representative of God. Because... Who is God? God means nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam, eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman (Katha Upanisad 2.2.13). Kathopanisad. So God, what is God? God means He's also person. Nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam. He is also eternal, He's also cognizant. We are also eternal, we are also cognizant. But what is the difference between God and we? The difference is He maintains us. Eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman. Bahu-vacanam, nityanam, cetananam, this is bahu-vacanam. And nityah, cetanah, eka-vacanam. So what is the difference between this singular number and plural number? The singular number is maintaining the plural number. Eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman. So God is maintaining everyone. So difference is that He is so powerful, He can maintain every living entity. He's maintaining the elephants in Africa, who eat, at a time, forty kilos. He's supplying food. There's no scarcity of food in the jungle for the elephants. Neither there is scarcity... In the hole of your room, you'll find hundreds and thousands of ui. Who is feeding them, within the hole? Unless they're eating, sleeping, the same thing are there. How they are living very nicely? But who is giving them food within the hole? A small hole. You did not provide that hole. You did not provide their food. But there are hundreds and millions of ants. They're living there within the hole very happily. Sometimes they come out. We see: "Oh, wherefrom so many hundreds coming?" So eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman. That is God. He's supplying food. So there are 8,400,000 different forms of living entities. Out of that, 400,000 are human beings. Out of that, many are uncivilized. The uncivilized aborigines live in the jungle. They have no economic problem. They're also human being. They never come to city for food. They are maintaining themselves. The elephants are maintaining. The ants are maintaining. Why the civilized, a few men, they have got so problem, so many problems? Because they... We are not the only living entities. There are 8,400,000 different forms of living entities. They're all being maintained by the Supreme Lord. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said that sarva-yonisu kaunteya murtayah sambhavanti yah: [Bg. 14.4] "As many forms are there, in all different species," aham bija-pradah pita, "I am the Father." The father maintains the sons, as we see actually. He's maintaining. So why you are so much...? Our father is rich. He's not poor. God is not poor. Sad-aisvarya-purna. Six kinds of opulence fully. So why are you talking of this over-population, scarcity of food? Why? Actually the father is God. He's maintaining. And factually we see how many human beings, civilized human beings, are there. The other living beings are many hundred thousand times bigger quantity. If they can be maintained by God, what we have done, that He'll not maintain us? He'll maintain us. He's maintaining. So many people they say, "India is starving." I am Indian. I never see any man starving and died. I've never seen. This is simply advertisement. What is your opinion?
Ambassador: There is poverty.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Ambassador: There is poverty.
Prabhupada: Poverty, there is poverty in other countries also.
Ambassador: Also.
Prabhupada: There, there also... Now India has got poverty. So why in America and Europe, there are hippies. Why?
Ambassador: It's an express... It's another type of poverty.
Prabhupada: They're also thinking that "We are not sumptuously fed," or something. Some demands is there. Some demand. And they are lying down, Amsterdam and here, on the street. And why? But they are coming of rich families, rich nation. Especially America. In London also, I have seen. Regent Park. They're lying down. Police is kicking. Police is kicking: "Get up, get up!" Why? Behind them the British Empire is, British government is there. Why he's lying down there? Who has told him to...? Government is requesting, "If you have no home, come on. I shall give you home." In Bombay also, these, what is called? The huts?
Hamsaduta: Huts?
Prabhupada: Eh?
Hamsaduta: Those tent huts?
Prabhupada: They are on the... You have seen in Bombay?
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: We passed, when we passed while coming from aerodrome to city...
Ambassador: From...
Prabhupada: So many thatched cottages, small. So Bombay government has given them home, that "You come here, live." But what do they...? they rent to some, another man, and they live in the... In Madras also, I have seen.
Ambassador: I know. That's true.
Prabhupada: Yes. They don't like. They don't like. They want to...
Ambassador: They roam, yes. It's what the gypsies did, you know.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Ambassador: When they were given houses in Moscow.
Prabhupada: So there are different prakrtis. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah [Bg. 3.27]. So there are different prakrtis, different mentality. They want to live, eat. The eating, sleeping, mating, defending is there, but everyone has got different ideas. Just like you say, majority of people, they want to eat meat. They have got different mentality. But we don't want.
Ambassador: In India, of course, not majority, I think it's a minority.
Prabhupada: No, no. More...
Ambassador: Most people are...
Prabhupada: Yes, yes. In India, they're now being educated to eat meat. (Ambassador laughs) Otherwise, Indians, at least, Hindus...
Ambassador: It is true. That's true.
Prabhupada: Eh? They are being educated.
Ambassador: (laughing) I belong to vegetarian family. I eat meat now.
Prabhupada: Yes. No, in Madras, I have seen...
Ambassador: Most of them...
Prabhupada: Mostly they are vegetarian, strictly vegetarian. Actually, in Southern India, they maintain the Hindu culture. You'll find big high-court judges, they have got tilaka.
Ambassador: That's true.
Prabhupada: Yes. Strictly in Ramanuja sampradaya, or Saiva sampradaya they have got... Strictly taking bath and tilaka. In New Delhi, you'll find so many Madrasi gentlemen, big, big, high officers, they're strictly following Hindu principles.
Ambassador: You'll be surpri...
Prabhupada: And still, if I am correct, in Madras, they, there, there is not many Mohammedans. The Mohammedan culture could not enter...
Ambassador: That's very true.
Prabhupada: ...into Madras, Southern India. And you'll find also in our Caitanya Caritamrta... Now I am translating. When Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to Southern India, practically whole Southern India became Vaisnava by His preaching.
Ambassador: It is a great period of...
Prabhupada: Yes. Yes. And all the acaryas, they came from South India. Sankaracarya, Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya. I think Madhvacarya belonged to your province? Malaya?
Ambassador: No, Sankaracarya came from...
Prabhupada: Sankaracarya.
Ambassador: From Kerala. Sir, I have got a question. I have not really been able to locate when exactly Radha entered Hindu mythology. Because the Bhagavatam doesn't mention. They mention only rasa-krida as a... Before that, they were, before Gauranga, Caitanya, did you, do you have rendered exactly the bhakti cult to take... The Radha-Krsna, I mean. They were generally the gopis and...
Prabhupada: Other acaryas, they elevated people up to sakhya-rasa.
Ambassador: Sakhya-rasa.
Prabhupada: It is Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He gave us madhurya-rasa.
Ambassador: Madhurya-rasa.
Prabhupada: Therefore about Caitanya Mahaprabhu, it is said, anarpita-carim cirat. Anarpita-carim cirat karunayavatirnah kalau samarpayitum unnatojjvala-rasam...
anarpita-carim cirat
karunayavatirnah kalau
samarpayitum unnatojjvala-
rasam sva-bhakti-sriyam
harih purata-sundara-dyuti-
kadamba-sandipitah
sada hrdaya-kandare
sphuratu vah saci-nandanah
It is the gift of Sacinandana, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, that Krsna can be served in madhurya-rasa, in conjugal love. That is Sri Caitanya. And amongst the gopis, Radharani was the best gopi, foremost. Anayaradhitah. This, this is mentioned in Srimad-Bhagavatam.
Ambassador: Oh, I see.
Prabhupada: Anayaradhitah.
Ambassador: Oh, this is the beginning.
Prabhupada: Anayaradhitah. When Krsna disappeared from rasa-lila, rasa dance, then gopis went out to search Him out, and, at that time, they saw that one gopi is most beloved by Krsna. Anayaradhitah. Therefore "Radha."
Ambassador: Anayaradhitah?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Ambassador: I do not know what we can do here, Your Grace, but we will be very happy to help them if they want any special material like dahl or any vegetables or... whatever it is... I think they are quite well.
Prabhupada: Yes. We, we, we have no fixed income.
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: But Krsna has given us opportunity. Our books are selling... You have seen our books?
Ambassador: I've seen them in Moscow. One gentleman had a complete set. So I have glanced through them. Especially the Bhagavad...
Prabhupada: Bhagavad-gita As It Is?
Ambassador: ...translation, yes. And also the Bhagavatam, also.
Prabhupada: Bhagavad-gita As It Is.
Ambassador: Yes, this one, yes.
Prabhupada: This is published by Macmillan Company. We are selling about more than one lakh copies per year through Macmillan Company. Yes. Similarly, we are selling our other books. Bring...
Ambassador: The complete set I have seen. And also the other...
Prabhupada: That is not yet complete. Bhagavatam will be finished in sixty volumes.
Ambassador: Oh, sixty.
Prabhupada: We have published only six volumes. Our manuscript is ready, but it requires great amount of money to publish.
Ambassador: And also...
Prabhupada: But we are satisfied that in English-reading public, in Australia and America, in England, Europe -- we are publishing in different languages -- people are accepting our books very nicely. And lately that, one distributor...
Ambassador: Oh, I see.
Prabhupada: This. No, not this. Where is that catalog?
Hamsaduta: Brockridge, Keenan and Hall?
Prabhupada: Ah, ah?
Hamsaduta: Catalog? I think we must have left that in London.
Prabhupada: They are also distributing our books, Macmillan Company. People are... Now there will be a big meeting on the 12th, September, how to organize. Because this kind of literature was there, there was none before this. The bhakti cult, this was never presented to the western countries.
Ambassador: Yes, yes. Mostly it was Vivekananda's explanation.
Prabhupada: Vivekananda did not know anything about bhakti.
Ambassador: No, I mean he just, literally, it's not bhakti at all. Yes, it is...
Prabhupada: Neither Vivekananda nor any swami. That is the regrettable fact. They, actually... Even Dr. Radhakrishnan, he could not present Bhagavad-gita as it is. You see? He's impersonalist, and he presented in a different way, and now Professor, Dr. Pirindher...?
Hamsaduta: Philinder.
Srutakirti: Dillinger.
Prabhupada: He said, he came to see me that "Now we have rejected Dr. Radhakrishnan."
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: Yes. Because everyone has speculated in his own way. Therefore we have presented Bhagavad-gita As It Is. And if you have got time, we can read some of the portions, how we have presented as it is. So people are liking this As It Is. Otherwise, Bhagavad-gita is well-known in the western country, all over Europe. But because it was not presented as it is, there was not a single devotee of Krsna. You find out, the whole history. Bhagavad-gita is meant for making the reader a devotee of Krsna. Is it not?
Ambassador: That's true.
Prabhupada: Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. So who can become fully surrendered to Krsna unless he's a devotee? So it is a transaction between God and His devotee. That's a fact. Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65]. These are the clear declaration. He's asking everyone, "Just become My devotee. Always think of Me. Offer Me obeisances." Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji. "Worship Me." Mam namaskuru. He, He is deprecating the worship of demigods. Kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah. Find out this verse. Kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah prapadyante 'nya-devatah [Bg. 7.20]. Antavat tu phalam tesam tad bhavaty alpa-medhasam: [Bg. 7.23] "Less intelligent persons, they simply worship the demigods." This is the statement.
Ambassador: Most of... Well, I mean, I was a very political person. I must be very honest with you.
Prabhupada: No, I'm talking of...
Ambassador: To me, Gita means Gandhi's Gita which said in a very distorted, very limited version...
Prabhupada: Gandhi did not know anything about Bhagavad-gita.
Ambassador: (laughs) I understand him best.
Prabhupada: Well, you... Gandhi may give his opinion, but why he should give through Bhagavad-gita?
Ambassador: I know. Anasakta-yoga is really...
Prabhupada: He should not take advantage of... That is being done. Everyone is taking advantage of the popularity of Bhagavad-gita and he's expressing his own opinion.
Ambassador: That's true.
Prabhupada: This is going on. We want to stop this nonsense. If you have got opinion, you write different book.
Ambassador: Yes. But not...
Prabhupada: Why you should misuse Bhagavad-gita.
Ambassador: The devil can quote the scripture for his purpose.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Ambassador: That's what Shakespeare said, sir, "The devil can quote the scripture for his purpose."
Prabhupada: That's it. Yes. That's a fact. Yes, why you should try to introduce your philosophy... Now, say, for Gandhi's non-violence. Where is non-violence in Bhagavad-gita.
Ambassador: (laughs.) It's... Yeah, this is true. Ahimsa paramo dharmah, dharmo 'himsa tathaiva ca. (?)
Prabhupada: So our, our point is that you may express your own op... Everyone has got right to... Especially Mahatma Gandhi, he was actually a great personality. There is no doubt about it. But so far Bhagavad-gita is concerned, he did not know anything. But from his behavior, it was seen that at heart he was a devotee. Yes. At heart he was a devotee. Yes. Because he was chanting...
Ambassador: Yes, of course, he, of course, shares with you this belief in chants. That we noticed, yes, very much in...
Prabhupada: That raghupati raghava raja rama.
Ambassador: Vaisnavism.
Prabhupada: Ah. So that... But maybe for politics, he has explained like that. Now what is that verse?
Pradyumna:
kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah
prapadyante 'nya-devatah
tam tam niyamam asthaya
prakrtya niyatah svaya
[Bg. 7.20]
"Those whose minds are distorted by material desires surrender unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their own natures."
Prabhupada: Hm. Next verse.
Pradyumna:
yo yo yam yam tanum bhaktah
sraddhayarcitum icchati
tasya tasyacalam sraddham
tam eva vidadhamy aham
"I am in everyone's heart as the Supersoul. As soon as one desires to worship the demigods, I make his faith steady so that he can devote himself to some particular deity."
Prabhupada: Hm. Then next.
Pradyumna:
sa taya sraddhaya yuktas
tasyaradhanam ihate
labhate ca tatah kaman
mayaiva vihitan hi tan
Prabhupada: That also kaman. Whatever benediction they get, that is sanctioned by Krsna. They cannot give it independently. You can keep it here. These six volumes are already published.
Ambassador: Oh, I see, Bhagavad-gita.
Prabhupada: But, uh, no, this is Bhagavatam.
Ambassador: Sri Bhagavatam.
Prabhupada: Similar, another fifty-four volumes is to be published.
Ambassador: Oh, it's a tremendous undertaking.
Prabhupada: Oh yes.
Ambassador: Whatever might be the difference of opinion about the, you know, the subtleties, you see, this itself is very great.
Prabhupada: And we have given each meaning of... You can see the Sanskrit verse, how we have explained. Here and in America especially, as soon as they see, they purchase the whole set. Six copies. See.
Ambassador: Beautiful. Very, very elegant English also. (Reads Sanskrit verse:) Brahmane darsayan rupam avyalika-vratadrtah. And then you, you make it easy. Actually, it's...
Prabhupada: Transliteration also.
Ambassador: ...It's for students also.
Prabhupada: Yes. Transliteration.
Ambassador: Yes. Transliteration and then (Sanskrit) and then...
Prabhupada: Translation.
Ambassador: Viccheda. How long will Your Divine Grace be here?
Prabhupada: Four days?
Hamsaduta: It's on the 11th. Eleventh morning we're leaving, back to London.
Ambassador: Back to London. And you'll be visiting only Sweden this time?
Hamsaduta: Yes.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Ambassador: Not Copenhagen or Oslo?
Hamsaduta: No.
Paramahamsa: Srila Prabhupada attem... He traveled to Paris, and also, previously, to Amsterdam and Germany, in years previously.
Ambassador: This temple is going to be a permanent situation, this particular building, or...?
Paramahamsa: Yes.
Ambassador: Or somewhere.
Paramahamsa: In the beginning stage, yes.
Ambassador: Yes, then you'll have to locate something.
Prabhupada: So practically single-handed I am trying to give this original Indian culture to the world. And nobody's helping me. Neither, if some rich man wants to help me, government will not allow to help me.
Ambassador: Oh, yes, especially...
Prabhupada: Now just like Sir Padampat Singhania of Kanpur, he promised that, "You just construct a nice temple in New York." He wanted to give the money. The government will not allow.
Ambassador: Oh, foreign exchange.
Prabhupada: Yes. Not allow. I made correspondence with the government. The last reply was that "You can raise fund locally, but you cannot take money from here." Now who will pay...? Of course, these boys are paying me. We are getting... Now recently, one boy, you know his name, George Harrison. He's a very famous singer.
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: So he has purchased for me one house, fifty-five lakhs worth. But what, no Indian could help me. At two hundred and twenty thousand pounds. So it is equivalent to fifty-five lakhs.
Ambassador: But I'm told that you have fifty-five temples in the west...
Prabhupada: No, why fifty? More than fifty... In U.S.A. we have got about fifty temples. And Australia, also, we have got five temples. And Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and...
Paramahamsa: Perth.
Prabhupada: Perth. And Darwin.
Ambassador: Darwin also.
Prabhupada: Yes. And we had very gorgeous Ratha-yatra ceremony in Australia. In London also. You know that? Ten thousand people participated, and we distributed prasadam.
Ambassador: On the 12th you'll have it in London.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Ambassador: This big meeting will be in London, on the 12th.
Hamsaduta: That is another meeting. Our Ratha-yatra is held on July 8th in London.
Ambassador: Yes, that's right.
Hamsaduta: July 8th. And simultaneously in San Francisco and in Sydney, all over the world.
Prabhupada: And during Janmastami, the...
Ambassador: Ah, Janmastami.
Prabhupada: The, the ambassador, Mr. Rasagotra...
Ambassador: Rasagotra.
Prabhupada: He came. He's very nice man.
Ambassador: Yes. He suffered, you know.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Ambassador: In personal life also, he has suffered.
Prabhupada: One of his sons died.
Ambassador: That's what I was telling. He's a very good man. His wife is also coming from a very religious family, like what your grace said, you know. His wife's grandfather was one of the real sadhus, you see. He lived in a... He was a Jat, but he was also a yogi.
Prabhupada: Oh.
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: Yes. Our history, we find so many grhasthas, householder, kings, rajarsi. In the Bhagavad-gita, it is said, evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh [Bg. 4.2]. Raja, king, at the same time, rsi. This was the king. Just like Maharaja Yudhisthira. Rajarsi. He's a king, but rsi. You read that portion. Yes. The government of Maharaja Yudhisthira, how they were happy, just see. Kamam, kamam vavarsa parjanyah [SB 1.10.4]. Parjanya. Parjanya means cloud, yes. Kamam vavarsa parjanyah [SB 1.10.4]. The, all our necessities come from the rain. Now there is scarcity of rain. What the government can do or the scientists can do? And if there is no rain, then all your plan is finished.
Ambassador: Yes, that's true.
Prabhupada: All his plan is finished. Read it.
Ambassador: Anavrsti, avrsti-bhuj.
Prabhupada: And that is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam: anavrsti, durbhiksa and kara-pidita. One side, there will be no rain, and there will be scarcity of food grain, and government will tax heavily. In this way, people will become mad and they will give up their hearth and home and go to the forest. This is the foretelling also. This is going to happen. Actually, people are being perplexed in that way. There is scarcity of food, and there is scarcity of rain, and government tax is increasing every year. Read that.
Pradyumna:
kamam vavarsa parjanyah
sarva-kama-dugha mahi
sisicuh sma vrajan gavah
payasodhasvatir muda
[SB 1.10.4]
"During the reign of Maharaja Yudhisthira, the clouds showered all the water that people needed, and the earth produced all the necessities of man in profusion. Due to its fatty milk bag, and cheerful attitude, the cow used to moisten the grazing ground with milk."
Prabhupada: Now, happy attitude. Now the cow are going to be killed. They know it, that "We are going to be killed." They're also intelligent living entity. So how they can be happy? If some human being concentrated in a camp, and they know that "We are going to be killed," can they be happy? So if one is not happy, if the cow is not happy, can she supply sufficient milk? No. No. Therefore just they were happy. Therefore milk was supplied so much that the grazing ground became wet with milk. Muddy. With milk, not with water. So we, we have no intelligence how to live. We... Our Bhagavad-gita says, krsi-go-raksya vaisya. Means krsi-go-raksya, to protect cows. Nowadays not to protect cows -- to kill cows. Just see, business. Vaisya means businessman. So vaisya's business is krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam vaisya-karma svabhava-jam [Bg. 18.44]. But no go-raksya. Cutting the throat of go. This kind of sinful activities are going on, and they want to be happy. Instead of giving protection to the cows... In the Bible, also it is said that the animals are given under the protection of the human being.
Paramahamsa: Man, yeah, yes.
Prabhupada: Man. The protection means to kill them. Just see. They have interpreted like that, that "The animals have been given to us to kill them and eat." This is their interpretation.
Ambassador: Swamiji, I have taken already... You have been so kind.
Prabhupada: No it is very kind of you that you have come.
Ambassador: No, it's all on you.
Prabhupada: Give him prasada.
Hamsaduta: Yeah, we're preparing prasadam.
Prabhupada: Puris.
Hamsaduta: Puris and sweet rice.
Prabhupada: So we are simply trying to revive people's dormant Krsna consciousness. So every sane man, every good government, everyone should come forward to help this movement. It is not a personal affair. We are not presenting that "I am avatara, I am God." We are presenting science, philosophy. You see? Why we are taking so much trouble to write so many books? If we... We want to convince people through science, philosophy, logic, religious principle, by practical behavior. All these boys are being trained up not to have any illicit sex, not to eat meat, and not to take any intoxication up to tea, coffee, cigarette and not to indulge in gambling. They're doing that. So we are making men of character, men of religion, men of philosophy. Why people should not cooperate with us? We are not presenting any blind, so-called religious faith. No. That is not our business. Our business is sri-krsna-caitanya-daya karaha vicara. You understand little Bengali? You understand Hindi.
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada:
sri-krsna-caitanya-daya karaha vicara
vicara karile citte pabe camatkara
[Cc. Adi 8.15]
If you are sane man, if you give due consideration, and then give your judgement, then you'll find that it is wonderful. Sri-krsna-caitanya-daya karaha vicara. We don't say that you take it blindly. No. Vicara. After full logic, and consideration, you accept, not blindly. But if you do that, you'll see it is wonderful. It is wonder... So why those who are advanced in education, they should not take this movement seriously and try to understand seriously and cooperate with us? It is not a blind thing. So... Actually, from government level, we are not getting any support. Not... I don't speak in India. Anywhere.
Ambassador: Yes, I am aware of the government problem.
Prabhupada: Eh? Because they think, "Oh, it is religious." Not only they are... In America there are big, big foundation. As soon as we submit some petition, "Help us," "No, no, we don't help any religious movement." That's all. We don't get any help. Simply Krsna has given us this chance of selling these books. That's all. Nobody's cooperating. Rather, when our people go to sell these literatures and chant Hare Krsna, they're arrested and harassed.
Ambassador: I see.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Ambassador: That is because of, I think, a lot of confusion with drug movement, hippies and all that...
Prabhupada: Oh. But... It may be... You might have been cheated by counterfeit money in some place. Does it mean there is no good money? What is this reasoning? "Because I have been cheated by some man, he gave me some counterfeit money, therefore I'll not touch money any more. No. Any note, that's all. We don't like." What is this? He must judge whether it is counterfeit or real. That is required. So if you can help us in some way or other, try to help us. Otherwise we shall go on with this single-handed. But I am not getting any help from any other source. Then this movement had been, would have been very, very rapidly progressing. It is progressing, but... Because we don't get any support... Lord Buddha's movement was spread because King Asoka supported.
Paramahamsa: Christ.
Ambassador: Christ also? Constantine?
Paramahamsa: Protestantism, yes.
Prabhupada: Hmm?
Paramahamsa: The Protestant movement also, when they broke away from the Catholic church, the kings would protect the movement and fight to protect.
Prabhupada: It is king's duty.
Ambassador: (indistinct)
Prabhupada: Yes.
Ambassador: But we are... We are small people. We can only, we cannot go beyond the...
Prabhupada: Yes. That I know.
Ambassador: But as individuals we'd be very happy to...
Prabhupada: No, even if we approach higher authorities... Our men in New Delhi saw Indira Gandhi.
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Prabhupada: Yes. She said that "This is the position, that we are secular. We cannot support." Of course, we want simply Krsna's support. And we are increasing. We are not decreasing. The movement was started in 1966.
Ambassador: Oh, only?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Ambassador: That's tremendous.
Prabhupada: Now it is all over.
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: All over the world. From this Sweden to Australia, New Zealand, North and South. And all round the world.
Ambassador: What about Germany also?
Prabhupada: Yes. He's in charge of this zone.
Ambassador: The Germans are very...
Hamsaduta: Yes, we have a temple in Berlin, and Munchen, and Hamburg and Heidelberg.
Prabhupada: No, we are not discouraged. We are not discouraged. But sometimes we are sorry that such a nice movement...
Ambassador: Is not supported. I mean, I... We have this dilemma. I'm being very honest with you. First, we have got the dilemma of choosing the right thing, you know, because so many people claim to speak about reviving Hinduism.
Prabhupada: But, as, as you find out... Just like you issue license to medical practitioner. Registered medical... Why don't you see that which movement is genuine? That is the duty of the government. But the government is also, they're unaware about which one is actually... (Devotees bring in prasada.)
Ambassador: Oh, I'm... I'm very grateful to you, but this is, it is a meal.
Paramahamsa: Jaya. It is our pleasure.
Prabhupada: You can keep here.
Ambassador: I'll take the real prasada. I'll be happy.
Prabhupada: No, you can take. It is all real prasada.
Ambassador: But, you know this, to us is, we call in Kerala. This is called tryamrta.
Prabhupada: What is that?
Ambassador: Tryamrta is sugar and honey and...
Prabhupada: Oh.
Ambassador: ...sugar and grapes.
Prabhupada: Pancamrta, we have got.
Ambassador: Hmm...
Prabhupada: Tryamrta.
Ambassador: Yes. All this is prepared by these young men? (eating.)
Prabhupada: Oh, yes. One thing I can request you, that you give us, some of, some of our men, going to India, missionary visa.
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: So that they can stay there. Because we have now four, five temples. And I require their assistance. To maintain.
Ambassador: In India.
Prabhupada: In India. So if you kindly give some of our men the missionary visa, it will be very kind of you. It is missionary.
Ambassador: I'll immediately write and find out because it is a very logical thing.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Ambassador: Because we give them to other religions.
Prabhupada: Yes. Why not this? So if you kindly help in this way. That is within your power.
Ambassador: I'll simply write. Of course.
Prabhupada: Yes. No, there is no use of writing. You can do it. We can immediately submit some of the names. And you can give us.
Ambassador: Of course, from Sweden, I mean, it depends upon the nationality. People can go for three months without any visa.
Prabhupada: No, that is different thing. But missionary visa. From missionary... When there's missionary, there is no question of any particular country, because we have got men from different countries. Our men, ISKCON representatives, they should be given missionary visa when they want to go. That is my... That much help I want.
Ambassador: Who is the representative in India? Of this...? In Delhi, of your organization? In Delhi?
Prabhupada: In Delhi?
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: Yes, there is. Tejas.
Paramahamsa: Tejas dasa.
Ambassador: He should meet someone fairly senior in the home ministry.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Ambassador: I can write to him, and he can also meet. I think...
Prabhupada: So you can, you can give some introductory...
Ambassador: Yes, I will give the names, too. You come to the Embassy.
Prabhupada: No, visa, of course, it is to be given from here. So why you should refer to Delhi? You can use your discrimination.
Ambassador: I don't think so. I'll see. I doubt very much. If I can exercise, I am prepared to exercise it.
Prabhupada: So... No, no. Visa, visa is issued from the country...
Ambassador: Yeah, from the embassy, but we have got some, some people we can straight-away issue. In some cases they would refer to India. But if we make a positive recommendation, they will agree.
Prabhupada: So that I do not know. But visa is given by the embassy, from the local place.
Paramahamsa: Srila Prabhupada, would you like prasadam?
Prabhupada: Later on.
Ambassador: Much too early.
Prabhupada: So they have done nice?
Ambassador: They have done so well, you know. I feel...
Prabhupada: So you kindly eat all of them.
Ambassador: I feel privileged(?), but I can't eat them all.
Prabhupada: No, no. It is only two.
Ambassador: I'll eat only two paratas.
Prabhupada: Ah, two paratas.
Ambassador: Because you have done it so well.
Prabhupada: Prasadam prapti-matrena bhoktavyam. That is the Vedic injunction. Even it is brought from distant place, even it is dried up, even it is touched by the untouchable, still it should be taken immediately.
Ambassador: Yes, that's true...
Prabhupada: Prasadam prapti-matrena bhoktavyam.
Ambassador: Remember how Krsna received Sudama?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Ambassador: When he brought the...?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Ambassador: Have you been to Kerala ever?
Prabhupada: Yes, I was in Cochin. While coming to New York, I came on ship. So my ship stopped in Cochin. Yes.
Ambassador: I see. We have got some wonderful Krsna temples, Krsna temples.
Prabhupada: In Cochin?
Ambassador: In Cochin? Not in Cochin town. There is, but not very famous, but the one about ten miles from Cochin, where I come from, is one of the greatest temples called Purna-trayesa (?). This is a very good. The Cochin royal family used to stay...
Prabhupada: Oh. Oh, you come from there?
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: Swami Cinmayananda also comes from there?
Ambassador: Yes. Swami Cinmayananda comes from Vernayakulam.(?)
Prabhupada: Vernayakulam(?), yes.
Ambassador: I come from about five miles. I actually used to know him when, before he became... When he was a journalist.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Ambassador: I used to know him when he was a journalist.
Prabhupada: Oh, he was a journalist?
Ambassador: Yes, before. In Dacra.(?)
Prabhupada: Oh.
Ambassador: But is there any special, specific person who wants to go to India immediately?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Ambassador: Who would like to have visa?
Prabhupada: No, we can give you the names if...
Ambassador: I see. Please give me the name and the nationality. I can immediately (indistinct).
Prabhupada: Yes. So you can submit immediately some of the names. Because we are organizing there, and the security department there: "Oh, your visa is now complete. You please return."
Ambassador: I know.
Prabhupada: But who... We have got now temples. Who will manage that? Big, big temples I have constructed. In Navadvipa, in Hyderabad.
Ambassador: Navadvipa... Of course, Navadvipa is...
Prabhupada: In Vrndavana.
Ambassador: (indistinct)
Prabhupada: Yes, In Vrndavana. We have got very, very, big, big temples now. So those temples, the Indians are callous. They are after technology. They are not coming. So how I'll manage, how I'll manage them if they are driven away? That is my problem. But the Indian boys, they are not coming. Indian educated... They are coming, but not very educated.
Ambassador: That's... I, I understand what you mean.
Prabhupada: Yes. The educated Indian, boys, they'll accept good service. Why they come to temple?
Ambassador: I'm sorry. You are right.
Prabhupada: That is education. They are not prepared to spread this Krsna consciousness. They want some good service and enjoy life. That's all.
Ambassador: (indistinct)
Prabhupada: No, no. You can place there. What you want just now?
Ambassador: I just want to place it here, and that washroom.
Prabhupada: Yes, you can wash inside. [break]
Ambassador: I'm sorry. I came immediately after lunch you know. Leaving only one hour between the lunch and one hour, you know. So I'll remember this, Your Grace, and of course, I will do personally what I can. I've...
Prabhupada: Yes, that...
Ambassador: ...distributed the invitations to all the Indians, you see. But I'm afraid the Indians in Sweden are extremely...
Prabhupada: Eh?
Ambassador: How shall I put it? Extremely material and...
Prabhupada: No, everywhere. Everywhere.
Ambassador: So I do not expect much response. I'm being very honest with you, you know.
Prabhupada: No, everywhere. In India also. Indians are everywhere.
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: But they think... Familiarity breeds contempt. "Oh, Krsna, we know. What you have got to teach us?" Although he doesn't know anything, because he, he belongs to the country where Krsna appeared, therefore he knows everything. That... You know that Hindi. (Hindi)
Ambassador: Poetic. "The prophet is not honored in his own country."
Prabhupada: Yes. (Hindi) That is this position. So do you think I shall submit some name?
Ambassador: Certainly, Your Grace, and I will look into it and if I have got right, I will do it, or I will send...
Prabhupada: No. You are... Why you have not right? Because...
Ambassador: Yes, I've got, there are discretions.
Prabhupada: Then, then it will be useless. Because as soon as you send to Delhi, they'll refuse. So then don't try for it. If you can, if you can help personally, then we'll submit the names. Otherwise, if you go in official channels, I don't expect.
Ambassador: No, I'll look at the rules you see and... I can't break the rules.
Prabhupada: So you see the rules. If you can...
Ambassador: I can't break the rules.
Prabhupada: ...then I'll submit.
Ambassador: Quite right.
Prabhupada: Then when I shall send some of my men to know that you can? When I shall send?
Ambassador: By tomorrow afternoon.
Prabhupada: All right. That's all right. Then I shall... Otherwise, useless. If you officially forward, and they reply, it will be... No.
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: I do not know why. The Christian missionaries, they get missionary visa.
Ambassador: But I would... If you permit me, I am still, if I find a rule, rights, I'll do it. Otherwise, I'll be very happy to write a very strong letter to the Deputy Secretary concerned and also...
Prabhupada: Anyway, in whatever way you can help. This is a difficulty for me, that there are chasing after our men.
Ambassador: I personally think that there is not much reason to... Because we are allowing...
Prabhupada: There is no reason at all.
Ambassador: And this is the... Hypocritical.
Prabhupada: If, if they're giving missionary visa to the Christian missionaries, what we have done? So kindly be seriously thinking and, if possible, give us. So he'll go in the afternoon and see him. If he's able, then we can send some men. And many men, they're prepared to go to India. But this botheration. They'll go, after spending so much money, and they'll be chased. That has become a problem. Otherwise I have told some years ago that "Sometimes you'll have to import brahmanas from this place."
Ambassador: Looks like they are better brahmanas than...
Prabhupada: Yes.
Ambassador: I agree with you.
Prabhupada: Thank you.
Ambassador: Because there is a... The definition of brahmana, of course, is made by Buddha's said: (Sanskrit )
Prabhupada: No, in Bhagavad-gita it is said: catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah [Bg. 4.13]. And Bhagavata says,
yasya yal laksanam proktam
pumso varnabhivyanjakam
yad anyatrapi drsyeta
tat tenaiva vinirdiset
[SB 7.11.35]
These are clear indications that brahmana is not from particular family. And Krsna says, another place,
mam hi partha vyapasritya
ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah
striyo vaisyas tatha sudras
te 'pi yanti param gatim
[Bg. 9.32]
Everyone, Krsna is open for everyone. Krsna does not say that only... He says that kim punar brahmanah punyah. Everyone is accepted. Why not the brahmanas? But te 'pi yanti param gatim. Those who are not even born in brahmana family... Caitanya Mahaprabhu also says, kiba vipra kiba sudra...
Ambassador: Oh. Kiba vipra kiba sudra...
Prabhupada: Kiba vipra kiba nyasi sudra kene naya, yei krsna-tattva-vetta, tattva-vetta, sei guru haya. He becomes spiritual master. It doesn't matter what he is. Sudra, or vipra, it doesn't matter. The Ramananda Raya, he was a sudra. According to social position, he was a sudra. But Caitanya Mahaprabhu took lessons from him.
Ambassador: Oh, I see.
Prabhupada: Yes. That is in the Eighth Chapter of the Madhya Khanda.
Ambassador: So I'll remember it, sir.
Prabhupada: Thank you, sir.
Ambassador: And if I'm able to come for some meetings, I'll come. If I do not, that means only I am busy, you know. Because it's a little busy. But I think some of the members of our embassy will come.
Prabhupada: No, you...
Ambassador: No, I mean to the functions.
Prabhupada: Functions.
Ambassador: We'll try to come whichever is we are able to come, you know, from the embassy...
Prabhupada: That, of course, you are...
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: Yes. Thank you very much.
Ambassador: Thank you very much.
Prabhupada: Jaya. So give him... [break] (end).
Prabhupada: Eh?
Ambassador: Was it Lin-yu-tang?
Prabhupada: I don't know.
Ambassador: Yu-tang. You see he's a very great admirer of (indistinct)
Prabhupada: And that's a fact. But our Indian government is not very serious about it.
Ambassador: No, we have a difficulty, Your Eminence. We have got a problem in India because we have got this multi-religious society. So we have to be careful. But individuals can...
Prabhupada: No...
Ambassador: Because we have got to be... We should not be misunderstood. As a government, we should not take too strong a policy about any particular religion, even though it is the religion of the majority of the people.
Prabhupada: No, no, no. It is the duty of the government... Secular state means neutral to any kind of religion. But it is the duty of government to see that people are religious. Not that "Because government is secular, let the people go to hell."
Ambassador: No, that's true.
Prabhupada: Yes. If you are Muslim, and, it is my duty as government to see that you are actually acting as a Muslim. If you are a Hindu, it is the government's duty to see that you are acting as a Hindu. If you are a Christian, it is the government's duty. You cannot give up religion. Dharmena hinah pasubhih samanah. If people become irreligious in the name of secularism, then they are simply animals. So it is the government's duty to see that the citizens are not becoming animals. He may profess a type of religion. That doesn't matter. But he must be religious. That is secular state. Not that secular state means government is callous, "Let the people become cats and dogs, without religion. Government doesn't care." That is not good government. What do you think?
Ambassador: I think, Your Eminence, there's a lot in what you say, but, you know, politics is the art of the possible.
Prabhupada: No. No, politics means to see that people are advanced, citizens are advanced, not that they are degraded.
Ambassador: Your Eminence, I agree, but I think the duty of the government primarily is to provide conditions in which gifted people, spiritual people like you, leaders like you, can function. More than that, if the government does, it might probably even corrupt the religious... I don't know. Like an umpire in a game, you know, or something... Provide the conditions, provide the conditions for free speech. Not like Moscow, you know, where it is...
Prabhupada: No. That is... Just like you have got the Commerce Department. Government has got. What is the duty of the Commerce Department? The government must see that the trade enterprise, common share, or industrial enterprise, they are doing nicely, properly. The government issuing license. They have got supervision. They send sometimes, what is called, inspectors? Education. Say, for education. There is educational inspector, school inspector. They go see that the students are properly being educated in that school. Similarly, government should have expert men in the government to see that the Hindus are acting like Hindu, Muslims are acting like Muslim, and Christians are acting like Christian. The government should not be callous about religion. They may be neutral that whatever religion you profess, government has nothing to do. You do nicely. But it is the government's duty to see that you are doing nicely, you are not bluffing. That is government's duty.
Ambassador: Probably, as far as moral conduct is concerned, but more than that, how is it possible, you know? For the inner man in the spiritual mind, each individual can conceive his own philosophy, but the external conduct, the, the, what is called...?
Prabhupada: No, no. External conduct means on religious principle.
Ambassador: This is what I was...
Prabhupada: Yes. Harav abhaktasya kuto... I... You can, you can...
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: ...understand Sanskrit.
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: Harav abhaktasya kuto mahad-gunah. Yasyasti bhaktir bhagavaty akincana sarvair gunais tatra samasate surah [SB 5.18.12]. If one has got faith and devotion to God, God is one... God is neither Christian nor Hindu nor Muslim. God is one. So religion means according to... Not according to... This is the Vedic conclusion.
sa vai pumsam paro dharmo
yato bhaktir adhoksaje
ahaituky apratihata
yayatma suprasidati
[SB 1.2.6]
One must be religious. Without being religious, he cannot be satisfied. Therefore there is confusion, dissatisfaction all over the world because, because people have become irreligious. If you want to keep... In Calcutta, there was, in the American Consulate Office, I was invited. There, they have got a department: "Indo-American Cultural Society." Perhaps you know.
Ambassador: I heard about it.
Prabhupada: I was invited there to speak: "East and West." So I explained that so far we are concerned, we have no such thing as east and west. But still, there is difference between east and west that in the Eastern countries, especially in India, even in the remotest part of the village, a cultivator, poor cultivator, he'll understand God consciousness very easily. And so far in the West, I talked with Professor Kotofsky... Perhaps you know.
Ambassador: Yes. In Oriental Institute.
Prabhupada: Yes. He said, "Swamiji, after this body's finished, everything is finished." You see? Such a big professor. He...
Ambassador: That is Marxist materialism.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Ambassador: It is Marxist materialism.
Prabhupada: But Marxist materialism, does it mean a congregation of some fools and rascals?
Ambassador: I think so, true.
Prabhupada: Does it mean they like that some congregation of fools and rascals? Such a big professor, he does not know, he cannot understand even that there is life after death. He has to accept another body. As we are accepting different bodies. I was a child. You were a child. Then I became a boy. That is different body. Different consciousness also. A child, three-four years, he talks in a different way. A boy, ten-twelve years, he talks in a different way, and a young man, educated young man, he talks in a different way. So with the change of the body, the consciousness is changing. Is it not?
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: Children, small children, they're just like animals. The cats and dogs, just they are playing, they're also playing like that. But he, he does not belong to that category because when he'll get..., he'll get another body in which he'll be intelligent. Another body, he'll be highly educated. Another body, he'll be doctorate. The cats and dogs, they'll have to wait to get that body. So with the body, we are changing our consciousness. So different body, different consciousness. Similarly, why not after death a different body, different consciousness? If you make progress. Yes. This is progressive. So that is confirmed in Bhagavad-gita: tatha dehantara-praptir dhiras tatra na muhyati [Bg. 2.13].
dehino 'smin yatha dehe
kaumaram yauvanam jara
tatha dehantara-praptir
dhiras tatra na muhyati
[Bg. 2.13]
So people cannot understand. That means they are not dhira, not even, according to Vedic conc..., not even gentlemen. One who cannot understand this simple theory, that, "After this body, as I have changed so many bodies, similarly, I shall change this body also." That's a fact. So dhiras tatra na muhyati. Dhira, one who has got brain, one who can think, he'll not be puzzled. "Yes, he has... Death means he has changed body." Any gentle, good brain will understand. But people are so foolish now, they cannot understand. They are not educated even to understand this simple thing. This is the position of the world. Even a big professor like Kotofsky. So this is the position of our present human society.
Ambassador: But in the countries like Moscow, Soviet Union, they are hostile, against it, but in most countries of the world, they're indifferent. It's...
Prabhupada: No, no. Why Moscow? Everywhere. Moscow, they are, rather, good that they say, "We don't believe in God."
Ambassador: That's true, that's true.
Prabhupada: But others, they say that "I am Hindu," "I am Muslim," "I am Christian," "I believe in God," but he does not know anything.
Ambassador: I'm afraid most of us are like that, to be honest. That's true.
Prabhupada: (laughs) I should say that Moscow are gentlemen. Because they cannot understand, they say, "Don't believe."
Ambassador: It's mudha-dhi.
Prabhupada: Yes. But these rascals, they say, "Yes, I'm religious," but he's doing most irreligious activities. You see? I asked the Christian so many times that "Your Bible says, 'Thou shalt not kill.' Why you are killing?" They cannot give any satisfactory answer. This is my experience. It is clearly said, "Thou shalt not kill." And they are maintaining slaughterhouses. What is this? The other day in London, one lady, she was showing me... She... You were present? Broke some grass blade?
Hamsaduta: Oh yes, I was present.
Prabhupada: Just see. Breaking a grass blade is equal to keeping a big, organized slaughterhouse. Just see.
Ambassador: I see.
Prabhupada: This is their intelligence. She has complained, "It is also killing." Supposing it is killing. Actually it is not killing. Supposing it is killing. This killing and keeping organized slaughterhouse killing is the same thing. Just see. People have become so degraded.
Ambassador: This is sophistry.
Prabhupada: They give this example that: "You also kill vegetables, just this grass blade is broken. It is killed. So it is equal to maintaining a big slaughterhouse." You see? This is going on, under the name of re... They, they were Christian nuns. In London they come to me, talk some time. So... And in India also, we see now cow killing is going on, regular slaughterhouse and... What can I say? You are government man. (laughs) You may take some wrong views about me. What is your opinion, personal?
Ambassador: I'm afraid I'm a very democratic person. If people, if they sincerely believe that they cannot exist without meat, they should be permitted, and once that is granted...
Prabhupada: No, no, no.
Ambassador: ...you have to organize slaughterhouses.
Prabhupada: Then, then that is the, our misfortune that we have lost our Indian culture.
Ambassador: Because...
Prabhupada: Indian culture.
Ambassador: Your Grace, what you want is really a sort of complete...
Prabhupada: No, I don't want.
Ambassador: ...a strong, obedient, disciplined society. But the moment the disciplinarian becomes a dictator, it is...
Prabhupada: It is, it is the duty of the government to see. That is the government. Strong government means...
Ambassador: It's the Rama-rajya ideal.
Prabhupada: Yes. Strong government means that, that government should be very, very vigilant that citizens are doing their duty properly. That is the first duty. They should be given all protection. At the same time... Just like the father gives protection to the children, at the same time, very strict that they are morally and disciplinary, they are going, coming out nice. That is father's duty. It is government's duty. If the father thinks, "Let my son go to hell. I don't care. I give them some food. That's all." Is that father's duty? No. Father's duty, to arrange for their food, for their dress, for their shelter, at the same time, to see that they are growing nice, not rascals. That is father's duty. Similarly, government's duty is that. We see from Vedic sastra government duty is that. Otherwise why there is need of government? Government... Now it is government. But formerly it was the king. The king must be representative of God. Because... Who is God? God means nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam, eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman (Katha Upanisad 2.2.13). Kathopanisad. So God, what is God? God means He's also person. Nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam. He is also eternal, He's also cognizant. We are also eternal, we are also cognizant. But what is the difference between God and we? The difference is He maintains us. Eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman. Bahu-vacanam, nityanam, cetananam, this is bahu-vacanam. And nityah, cetanah, eka-vacanam. So what is the difference between this singular number and plural number? The singular number is maintaining the plural number. Eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman. So God is maintaining everyone. So difference is that He is so powerful, He can maintain every living entity. He's maintaining the elephants in Africa, who eat, at a time, forty kilos. He's supplying food. There's no scarcity of food in the jungle for the elephants. Neither there is scarcity... In the hole of your room, you'll find hundreds and thousands of ui. Who is feeding them, within the hole? Unless they're eating, sleeping, the same thing are there. How they are living very nicely? But who is giving them food within the hole? A small hole. You did not provide that hole. You did not provide their food. But there are hundreds and millions of ants. They're living there within the hole very happily. Sometimes they come out. We see: "Oh, wherefrom so many hundreds coming?" So eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman. That is God. He's supplying food. So there are 8,400,000 different forms of living entities. Out of that, 400,000 are human beings. Out of that, many are uncivilized. The uncivilized aborigines live in the jungle. They have no economic problem. They're also human being. They never come to city for food. They are maintaining themselves. The elephants are maintaining. The ants are maintaining. Why the civilized, a few men, they have got so problem, so many problems? Because they... We are not the only living entities. There are 8,400,000 different forms of living entities. They're all being maintained by the Supreme Lord. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said that sarva-yonisu kaunteya murtayah sambhavanti yah: [Bg. 14.4] "As many forms are there, in all different species," aham bija-pradah pita, "I am the Father." The father maintains the sons, as we see actually. He's maintaining. So why you are so much...? Our father is rich. He's not poor. God is not poor. Sad-aisvarya-purna. Six kinds of opulence fully. So why are you talking of this over-population, scarcity of food? Why? Actually the father is God. He's maintaining. And factually we see how many human beings, civilized human beings, are there. The other living beings are many hundred thousand times bigger quantity. If they can be maintained by God, what we have done, that He'll not maintain us? He'll maintain us. He's maintaining. So many people they say, "India is starving." I am Indian. I never see any man starving and died. I've never seen. This is simply advertisement. What is your opinion?
Ambassador: There is poverty.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Ambassador: There is poverty.
Prabhupada: Poverty, there is poverty in other countries also.
Ambassador: Also.
Prabhupada: There, there also... Now India has got poverty. So why in America and Europe, there are hippies. Why?
Ambassador: It's an express... It's another type of poverty.
Prabhupada: They're also thinking that "We are not sumptuously fed," or something. Some demands is there. Some demand. And they are lying down, Amsterdam and here, on the street. And why? But they are coming of rich families, rich nation. Especially America. In London also, I have seen. Regent Park. They're lying down. Police is kicking. Police is kicking: "Get up, get up!" Why? Behind them the British Empire is, British government is there. Why he's lying down there? Who has told him to...? Government is requesting, "If you have no home, come on. I shall give you home." In Bombay also, these, what is called? The huts?
Hamsaduta: Huts?
Prabhupada: Eh?
Hamsaduta: Those tent huts?
Prabhupada: They are on the... You have seen in Bombay?
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: We passed, when we passed while coming from aerodrome to city...
Ambassador: From...
Prabhupada: So many thatched cottages, small. So Bombay government has given them home, that "You come here, live." But what do they...? they rent to some, another man, and they live in the... In Madras also, I have seen.
Ambassador: I know. That's true.
Prabhupada: Yes. They don't like. They don't like. They want to...
Ambassador: They roam, yes. It's what the gypsies did, you know.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Ambassador: When they were given houses in Moscow.
Prabhupada: So there are different prakrtis. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah [Bg. 3.27]. So there are different prakrtis, different mentality. They want to live, eat. The eating, sleeping, mating, defending is there, but everyone has got different ideas. Just like you say, majority of people, they want to eat meat. They have got different mentality. But we don't want.
Ambassador: In India, of course, not majority, I think it's a minority.
Prabhupada: No, no. More...
Ambassador: Most people are...
Prabhupada: Yes, yes. In India, they're now being educated to eat meat. (Ambassador laughs) Otherwise, Indians, at least, Hindus...
Ambassador: It is true. That's true.
Prabhupada: Eh? They are being educated.
Ambassador: (laughing) I belong to vegetarian family. I eat meat now.
Prabhupada: Yes. No, in Madras, I have seen...
Ambassador: Most of them...
Prabhupada: Mostly they are vegetarian, strictly vegetarian. Actually, in Southern India, they maintain the Hindu culture. You'll find big high-court judges, they have got tilaka.
Ambassador: That's true.
Prabhupada: Yes. Strictly in Ramanuja sampradaya, or Saiva sampradaya they have got... Strictly taking bath and tilaka. In New Delhi, you'll find so many Madrasi gentlemen, big, big, high officers, they're strictly following Hindu principles.
Ambassador: You'll be surpri...
Prabhupada: And still, if I am correct, in Madras, they, there, there is not many Mohammedans. The Mohammedan culture could not enter...
Ambassador: That's very true.
Prabhupada: ...into Madras, Southern India. And you'll find also in our Caitanya Caritamrta... Now I am translating. When Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to Southern India, practically whole Southern India became Vaisnava by His preaching.
Ambassador: It is a great period of...
Prabhupada: Yes. Yes. And all the acaryas, they came from South India. Sankaracarya, Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya. I think Madhvacarya belonged to your province? Malaya?
Ambassador: No, Sankaracarya came from...
Prabhupada: Sankaracarya.
Ambassador: From Kerala. Sir, I have got a question. I have not really been able to locate when exactly Radha entered Hindu mythology. Because the Bhagavatam doesn't mention. They mention only rasa-krida as a... Before that, they were, before Gauranga, Caitanya, did you, do you have rendered exactly the bhakti cult to take... The Radha-Krsna, I mean. They were generally the gopis and...
Prabhupada: Other acaryas, they elevated people up to sakhya-rasa.
Ambassador: Sakhya-rasa.
Prabhupada: It is Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He gave us madhurya-rasa.
Ambassador: Madhurya-rasa.
Prabhupada: Therefore about Caitanya Mahaprabhu, it is said, anarpita-carim cirat. Anarpita-carim cirat karunayavatirnah kalau samarpayitum unnatojjvala-rasam...
anarpita-carim cirat
karunayavatirnah kalau
samarpayitum unnatojjvala-
rasam sva-bhakti-sriyam
harih purata-sundara-dyuti-
kadamba-sandipitah
sada hrdaya-kandare
sphuratu vah saci-nandanah
It is the gift of Sacinandana, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, that Krsna can be served in madhurya-rasa, in conjugal love. That is Sri Caitanya. And amongst the gopis, Radharani was the best gopi, foremost. Anayaradhitah. This, this is mentioned in Srimad-Bhagavatam.
Ambassador: Oh, I see.
Prabhupada: Anayaradhitah.
Ambassador: Oh, this is the beginning.
Prabhupada: Anayaradhitah. When Krsna disappeared from rasa-lila, rasa dance, then gopis went out to search Him out, and, at that time, they saw that one gopi is most beloved by Krsna. Anayaradhitah. Therefore "Radha."
Ambassador: Anayaradhitah?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Ambassador: I do not know what we can do here, Your Grace, but we will be very happy to help them if they want any special material like dahl or any vegetables or... whatever it is... I think they are quite well.
Prabhupada: Yes. We, we, we have no fixed income.
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: But Krsna has given us opportunity. Our books are selling... You have seen our books?
Ambassador: I've seen them in Moscow. One gentleman had a complete set. So I have glanced through them. Especially the Bhagavad...
Prabhupada: Bhagavad-gita As It Is?
Ambassador: ...translation, yes. And also the Bhagavatam, also.
Prabhupada: Bhagavad-gita As It Is.
Ambassador: Yes, this one, yes.
Prabhupada: This is published by Macmillan Company. We are selling about more than one lakh copies per year through Macmillan Company. Yes. Similarly, we are selling our other books. Bring...
Ambassador: The complete set I have seen. And also the other...
Prabhupada: That is not yet complete. Bhagavatam will be finished in sixty volumes.
Ambassador: Oh, sixty.
Prabhupada: We have published only six volumes. Our manuscript is ready, but it requires great amount of money to publish.
Ambassador: And also...
Prabhupada: But we are satisfied that in English-reading public, in Australia and America, in England, Europe -- we are publishing in different languages -- people are accepting our books very nicely. And lately that, one distributor...
Ambassador: Oh, I see.
Prabhupada: This. No, not this. Where is that catalog?
Hamsaduta: Brockridge, Keenan and Hall?
Prabhupada: Ah, ah?
Hamsaduta: Catalog? I think we must have left that in London.
Prabhupada: They are also distributing our books, Macmillan Company. People are... Now there will be a big meeting on the 12th, September, how to organize. Because this kind of literature was there, there was none before this. The bhakti cult, this was never presented to the western countries.
Ambassador: Yes, yes. Mostly it was Vivekananda's explanation.
Prabhupada: Vivekananda did not know anything about bhakti.
Ambassador: No, I mean he just, literally, it's not bhakti at all. Yes, it is...
Prabhupada: Neither Vivekananda nor any swami. That is the regrettable fact. They, actually... Even Dr. Radhakrishnan, he could not present Bhagavad-gita as it is. You see? He's impersonalist, and he presented in a different way, and now Professor, Dr. Pirindher...?
Hamsaduta: Philinder.
Srutakirti: Dillinger.
Prabhupada: He said, he came to see me that "Now we have rejected Dr. Radhakrishnan."
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: Yes. Because everyone has speculated in his own way. Therefore we have presented Bhagavad-gita As It Is. And if you have got time, we can read some of the portions, how we have presented as it is. So people are liking this As It Is. Otherwise, Bhagavad-gita is well-known in the western country, all over Europe. But because it was not presented as it is, there was not a single devotee of Krsna. You find out, the whole history. Bhagavad-gita is meant for making the reader a devotee of Krsna. Is it not?
Ambassador: That's true.
Prabhupada: Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. So who can become fully surrendered to Krsna unless he's a devotee? So it is a transaction between God and His devotee. That's a fact. Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65]. These are the clear declaration. He's asking everyone, "Just become My devotee. Always think of Me. Offer Me obeisances." Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji. "Worship Me." Mam namaskuru. He, He is deprecating the worship of demigods. Kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah. Find out this verse. Kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah prapadyante 'nya-devatah [Bg. 7.20]. Antavat tu phalam tesam tad bhavaty alpa-medhasam: [Bg. 7.23] "Less intelligent persons, they simply worship the demigods." This is the statement.
Ambassador: Most of... Well, I mean, I was a very political person. I must be very honest with you.
Prabhupada: No, I'm talking of...
Ambassador: To me, Gita means Gandhi's Gita which said in a very distorted, very limited version...
Prabhupada: Gandhi did not know anything about Bhagavad-gita.
Ambassador: (laughs) I understand him best.
Prabhupada: Well, you... Gandhi may give his opinion, but why he should give through Bhagavad-gita?
Ambassador: I know. Anasakta-yoga is really...
Prabhupada: He should not take advantage of... That is being done. Everyone is taking advantage of the popularity of Bhagavad-gita and he's expressing his own opinion.
Ambassador: That's true.
Prabhupada: This is going on. We want to stop this nonsense. If you have got opinion, you write different book.
Ambassador: Yes. But not...
Prabhupada: Why you should misuse Bhagavad-gita.
Ambassador: The devil can quote the scripture for his purpose.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Ambassador: That's what Shakespeare said, sir, "The devil can quote the scripture for his purpose."
Prabhupada: That's it. Yes. That's a fact. Yes, why you should try to introduce your philosophy... Now, say, for Gandhi's non-violence. Where is non-violence in Bhagavad-gita.
Ambassador: (laughs.) It's... Yeah, this is true. Ahimsa paramo dharmah, dharmo 'himsa tathaiva ca. (?)
Prabhupada: So our, our point is that you may express your own op... Everyone has got right to... Especially Mahatma Gandhi, he was actually a great personality. There is no doubt about it. But so far Bhagavad-gita is concerned, he did not know anything. But from his behavior, it was seen that at heart he was a devotee. Yes. At heart he was a devotee. Yes. Because he was chanting...
Ambassador: Yes, of course, he, of course, shares with you this belief in chants. That we noticed, yes, very much in...
Prabhupada: That raghupati raghava raja rama.
Ambassador: Vaisnavism.
Prabhupada: Ah. So that... But maybe for politics, he has explained like that. Now what is that verse?
Pradyumna:
kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah
prapadyante 'nya-devatah
tam tam niyamam asthaya
prakrtya niyatah svaya
[Bg. 7.20]
"Those whose minds are distorted by material desires surrender unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their own natures."
Prabhupada: Hm. Next verse.
Pradyumna:
yo yo yam yam tanum bhaktah
sraddhayarcitum icchati
tasya tasyacalam sraddham
tam eva vidadhamy aham
"I am in everyone's heart as the Supersoul. As soon as one desires to worship the demigods, I make his faith steady so that he can devote himself to some particular deity."
Prabhupada: Hm. Then next.
Pradyumna:
sa taya sraddhaya yuktas
tasyaradhanam ihate
labhate ca tatah kaman
mayaiva vihitan hi tan
Prabhupada: That also kaman. Whatever benediction they get, that is sanctioned by Krsna. They cannot give it independently. You can keep it here. These six volumes are already published.
Ambassador: Oh, I see, Bhagavad-gita.
Prabhupada: But, uh, no, this is Bhagavatam.
Ambassador: Sri Bhagavatam.
Prabhupada: Similar, another fifty-four volumes is to be published.
Ambassador: Oh, it's a tremendous undertaking.
Prabhupada: Oh yes.
Ambassador: Whatever might be the difference of opinion about the, you know, the subtleties, you see, this itself is very great.
Prabhupada: And we have given each meaning of... You can see the Sanskrit verse, how we have explained. Here and in America especially, as soon as they see, they purchase the whole set. Six copies. See.
Ambassador: Beautiful. Very, very elegant English also. (Reads Sanskrit verse:) Brahmane darsayan rupam avyalika-vratadrtah. And then you, you make it easy. Actually, it's...
Prabhupada: Transliteration also.
Ambassador: ...It's for students also.
Prabhupada: Yes. Transliteration.
Ambassador: Yes. Transliteration and then (Sanskrit) and then...
Prabhupada: Translation.
Ambassador: Viccheda. How long will Your Divine Grace be here?
Prabhupada: Four days?
Hamsaduta: It's on the 11th. Eleventh morning we're leaving, back to London.
Ambassador: Back to London. And you'll be visiting only Sweden this time?
Hamsaduta: Yes.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Ambassador: Not Copenhagen or Oslo?
Hamsaduta: No.
Paramahamsa: Srila Prabhupada attem... He traveled to Paris, and also, previously, to Amsterdam and Germany, in years previously.
Ambassador: This temple is going to be a permanent situation, this particular building, or...?
Paramahamsa: Yes.
Ambassador: Or somewhere.
Paramahamsa: In the beginning stage, yes.
Ambassador: Yes, then you'll have to locate something.
Prabhupada: So practically single-handed I am trying to give this original Indian culture to the world. And nobody's helping me. Neither, if some rich man wants to help me, government will not allow to help me.
Ambassador: Oh, yes, especially...
Prabhupada: Now just like Sir Padampat Singhania of Kanpur, he promised that, "You just construct a nice temple in New York." He wanted to give the money. The government will not allow.
Ambassador: Oh, foreign exchange.
Prabhupada: Yes. Not allow. I made correspondence with the government. The last reply was that "You can raise fund locally, but you cannot take money from here." Now who will pay...? Of course, these boys are paying me. We are getting... Now recently, one boy, you know his name, George Harrison. He's a very famous singer.
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: So he has purchased for me one house, fifty-five lakhs worth. But what, no Indian could help me. At two hundred and twenty thousand pounds. So it is equivalent to fifty-five lakhs.
Ambassador: But I'm told that you have fifty-five temples in the west...
Prabhupada: No, why fifty? More than fifty... In U.S.A. we have got about fifty temples. And Australia, also, we have got five temples. And Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and...
Paramahamsa: Perth.
Prabhupada: Perth. And Darwin.
Ambassador: Darwin also.
Prabhupada: Yes. And we had very gorgeous Ratha-yatra ceremony in Australia. In London also. You know that? Ten thousand people participated, and we distributed prasadam.
Ambassador: On the 12th you'll have it in London.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Ambassador: This big meeting will be in London, on the 12th.
Hamsaduta: That is another meeting. Our Ratha-yatra is held on July 8th in London.
Ambassador: Yes, that's right.
Hamsaduta: July 8th. And simultaneously in San Francisco and in Sydney, all over the world.
Prabhupada: And during Janmastami, the...
Ambassador: Ah, Janmastami.
Prabhupada: The, the ambassador, Mr. Rasagotra...
Ambassador: Rasagotra.
Prabhupada: He came. He's very nice man.
Ambassador: Yes. He suffered, you know.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Ambassador: In personal life also, he has suffered.
Prabhupada: One of his sons died.
Ambassador: That's what I was telling. He's a very good man. His wife is also coming from a very religious family, like what your grace said, you know. His wife's grandfather was one of the real sadhus, you see. He lived in a... He was a Jat, but he was also a yogi.
Prabhupada: Oh.
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: Yes. Our history, we find so many grhasthas, householder, kings, rajarsi. In the Bhagavad-gita, it is said, evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh [Bg. 4.2]. Raja, king, at the same time, rsi. This was the king. Just like Maharaja Yudhisthira. Rajarsi. He's a king, but rsi. You read that portion. Yes. The government of Maharaja Yudhisthira, how they were happy, just see. Kamam, kamam vavarsa parjanyah [SB 1.10.4]. Parjanya. Parjanya means cloud, yes. Kamam vavarsa parjanyah [SB 1.10.4]. The, all our necessities come from the rain. Now there is scarcity of rain. What the government can do or the scientists can do? And if there is no rain, then all your plan is finished.
Ambassador: Yes, that's true.
Prabhupada: All his plan is finished. Read it.
Ambassador: Anavrsti, avrsti-bhuj.
Prabhupada: And that is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam: anavrsti, durbhiksa and kara-pidita. One side, there will be no rain, and there will be scarcity of food grain, and government will tax heavily. In this way, people will become mad and they will give up their hearth and home and go to the forest. This is the foretelling also. This is going to happen. Actually, people are being perplexed in that way. There is scarcity of food, and there is scarcity of rain, and government tax is increasing every year. Read that.
Pradyumna:
kamam vavarsa parjanyah
sarva-kama-dugha mahi
sisicuh sma vrajan gavah
payasodhasvatir muda
[SB 1.10.4]
"During the reign of Maharaja Yudhisthira, the clouds showered all the water that people needed, and the earth produced all the necessities of man in profusion. Due to its fatty milk bag, and cheerful attitude, the cow used to moisten the grazing ground with milk."
Prabhupada: Now, happy attitude. Now the cow are going to be killed. They know it, that "We are going to be killed." They're also intelligent living entity. So how they can be happy? If some human being concentrated in a camp, and they know that "We are going to be killed," can they be happy? So if one is not happy, if the cow is not happy, can she supply sufficient milk? No. No. Therefore just they were happy. Therefore milk was supplied so much that the grazing ground became wet with milk. Muddy. With milk, not with water. So we, we have no intelligence how to live. We... Our Bhagavad-gita says, krsi-go-raksya vaisya. Means krsi-go-raksya, to protect cows. Nowadays not to protect cows -- to kill cows. Just see, business. Vaisya means businessman. So vaisya's business is krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam vaisya-karma svabhava-jam [Bg. 18.44]. But no go-raksya. Cutting the throat of go. This kind of sinful activities are going on, and they want to be happy. Instead of giving protection to the cows... In the Bible, also it is said that the animals are given under the protection of the human being.
Paramahamsa: Man, yeah, yes.
Prabhupada: Man. The protection means to kill them. Just see. They have interpreted like that, that "The animals have been given to us to kill them and eat." This is their interpretation.
Ambassador: Swamiji, I have taken already... You have been so kind.
Prabhupada: No it is very kind of you that you have come.
Ambassador: No, it's all on you.
Prabhupada: Give him prasada.
Hamsaduta: Yeah, we're preparing prasadam.
Prabhupada: Puris.
Hamsaduta: Puris and sweet rice.
Prabhupada: So we are simply trying to revive people's dormant Krsna consciousness. So every sane man, every good government, everyone should come forward to help this movement. It is not a personal affair. We are not presenting that "I am avatara, I am God." We are presenting science, philosophy. You see? Why we are taking so much trouble to write so many books? If we... We want to convince people through science, philosophy, logic, religious principle, by practical behavior. All these boys are being trained up not to have any illicit sex, not to eat meat, and not to take any intoxication up to tea, coffee, cigarette and not to indulge in gambling. They're doing that. So we are making men of character, men of religion, men of philosophy. Why people should not cooperate with us? We are not presenting any blind, so-called religious faith. No. That is not our business. Our business is sri-krsna-caitanya-daya karaha vicara. You understand little Bengali? You understand Hindi.
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada:
sri-krsna-caitanya-daya karaha vicara
vicara karile citte pabe camatkara
[Cc. Adi 8.15]
If you are sane man, if you give due consideration, and then give your judgement, then you'll find that it is wonderful. Sri-krsna-caitanya-daya karaha vicara. We don't say that you take it blindly. No. Vicara. After full logic, and consideration, you accept, not blindly. But if you do that, you'll see it is wonderful. It is wonder... So why those who are advanced in education, they should not take this movement seriously and try to understand seriously and cooperate with us? It is not a blind thing. So... Actually, from government level, we are not getting any support. Not... I don't speak in India. Anywhere.
Ambassador: Yes, I am aware of the government problem.
Prabhupada: Eh? Because they think, "Oh, it is religious." Not only they are... In America there are big, big foundation. As soon as we submit some petition, "Help us," "No, no, we don't help any religious movement." That's all. We don't get any help. Simply Krsna has given us this chance of selling these books. That's all. Nobody's cooperating. Rather, when our people go to sell these literatures and chant Hare Krsna, they're arrested and harassed.
Ambassador: I see.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Ambassador: That is because of, I think, a lot of confusion with drug movement, hippies and all that...
Prabhupada: Oh. But... It may be... You might have been cheated by counterfeit money in some place. Does it mean there is no good money? What is this reasoning? "Because I have been cheated by some man, he gave me some counterfeit money, therefore I'll not touch money any more. No. Any note, that's all. We don't like." What is this? He must judge whether it is counterfeit or real. That is required. So if you can help us in some way or other, try to help us. Otherwise we shall go on with this single-handed. But I am not getting any help from any other source. Then this movement had been, would have been very, very rapidly progressing. It is progressing, but... Because we don't get any support... Lord Buddha's movement was spread because King Asoka supported.
Paramahamsa: Christ.
Ambassador: Christ also? Constantine?
Paramahamsa: Protestantism, yes.
Prabhupada: Hmm?
Paramahamsa: The Protestant movement also, when they broke away from the Catholic church, the kings would protect the movement and fight to protect.
Prabhupada: It is king's duty.
Ambassador: (indistinct)
Prabhupada: Yes.
Ambassador: But we are... We are small people. We can only, we cannot go beyond the...
Prabhupada: Yes. That I know.
Ambassador: But as individuals we'd be very happy to...
Prabhupada: No, even if we approach higher authorities... Our men in New Delhi saw Indira Gandhi.
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Prabhupada: Yes. She said that "This is the position, that we are secular. We cannot support." Of course, we want simply Krsna's support. And we are increasing. We are not decreasing. The movement was started in 1966.
Ambassador: Oh, only?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Ambassador: That's tremendous.
Prabhupada: Now it is all over.
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: All over the world. From this Sweden to Australia, New Zealand, North and South. And all round the world.
Ambassador: What about Germany also?
Prabhupada: Yes. He's in charge of this zone.
Ambassador: The Germans are very...
Hamsaduta: Yes, we have a temple in Berlin, and Munchen, and Hamburg and Heidelberg.
Prabhupada: No, we are not discouraged. We are not discouraged. But sometimes we are sorry that such a nice movement...
Ambassador: Is not supported. I mean, I... We have this dilemma. I'm being very honest with you. First, we have got the dilemma of choosing the right thing, you know, because so many people claim to speak about reviving Hinduism.
Prabhupada: But, as, as you find out... Just like you issue license to medical practitioner. Registered medical... Why don't you see that which movement is genuine? That is the duty of the government. But the government is also, they're unaware about which one is actually... (Devotees bring in prasada.)
Ambassador: Oh, I'm... I'm very grateful to you, but this is, it is a meal.
Paramahamsa: Jaya. It is our pleasure.
Prabhupada: You can keep here.
Ambassador: I'll take the real prasada. I'll be happy.
Prabhupada: No, you can take. It is all real prasada.
Ambassador: But, you know this, to us is, we call in Kerala. This is called tryamrta.
Prabhupada: What is that?
Ambassador: Tryamrta is sugar and honey and...
Prabhupada: Oh.
Ambassador: ...sugar and grapes.
Prabhupada: Pancamrta, we have got.
Ambassador: Hmm...
Prabhupada: Tryamrta.
Ambassador: Yes. All this is prepared by these young men? (eating.)
Prabhupada: Oh, yes. One thing I can request you, that you give us, some of, some of our men, going to India, missionary visa.
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: So that they can stay there. Because we have now four, five temples. And I require their assistance. To maintain.
Ambassador: In India.
Prabhupada: In India. So if you kindly give some of our men the missionary visa, it will be very kind of you. It is missionary.
Ambassador: I'll immediately write and find out because it is a very logical thing.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Ambassador: Because we give them to other religions.
Prabhupada: Yes. Why not this? So if you kindly help in this way. That is within your power.
Ambassador: I'll simply write. Of course.
Prabhupada: Yes. No, there is no use of writing. You can do it. We can immediately submit some of the names. And you can give us.
Ambassador: Of course, from Sweden, I mean, it depends upon the nationality. People can go for three months without any visa.
Prabhupada: No, that is different thing. But missionary visa. From missionary... When there's missionary, there is no question of any particular country, because we have got men from different countries. Our men, ISKCON representatives, they should be given missionary visa when they want to go. That is my... That much help I want.
Ambassador: Who is the representative in India? Of this...? In Delhi, of your organization? In Delhi?
Prabhupada: In Delhi?
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: Yes, there is. Tejas.
Paramahamsa: Tejas dasa.
Ambassador: He should meet someone fairly senior in the home ministry.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Ambassador: I can write to him, and he can also meet. I think...
Prabhupada: So you can, you can give some introductory...
Ambassador: Yes, I will give the names, too. You come to the Embassy.
Prabhupada: No, visa, of course, it is to be given from here. So why you should refer to Delhi? You can use your discrimination.
Ambassador: I don't think so. I'll see. I doubt very much. If I can exercise, I am prepared to exercise it.
Prabhupada: So... No, no. Visa, visa is issued from the country...
Ambassador: Yeah, from the embassy, but we have got some, some people we can straight-away issue. In some cases they would refer to India. But if we make a positive recommendation, they will agree.
Prabhupada: So that I do not know. But visa is given by the embassy, from the local place.
Paramahamsa: Srila Prabhupada, would you like prasadam?
Prabhupada: Later on.
Ambassador: Much too early.
Prabhupada: So they have done nice?
Ambassador: They have done so well, you know. I feel...
Prabhupada: So you kindly eat all of them.
Ambassador: I feel privileged(?), but I can't eat them all.
Prabhupada: No, no. It is only two.
Ambassador: I'll eat only two paratas.
Prabhupada: Ah, two paratas.
Ambassador: Because you have done it so well.
Prabhupada: Prasadam prapti-matrena bhoktavyam. That is the Vedic injunction. Even it is brought from distant place, even it is dried up, even it is touched by the untouchable, still it should be taken immediately.
Ambassador: Yes, that's true...
Prabhupada: Prasadam prapti-matrena bhoktavyam.
Ambassador: Remember how Krsna received Sudama?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Ambassador: When he brought the...?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Ambassador: Have you been to Kerala ever?
Prabhupada: Yes, I was in Cochin. While coming to New York, I came on ship. So my ship stopped in Cochin. Yes.
Ambassador: I see. We have got some wonderful Krsna temples, Krsna temples.
Prabhupada: In Cochin?
Ambassador: In Cochin? Not in Cochin town. There is, but not very famous, but the one about ten miles from Cochin, where I come from, is one of the greatest temples called Purna-trayesa (?). This is a very good. The Cochin royal family used to stay...
Prabhupada: Oh. Oh, you come from there?
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: Swami Cinmayananda also comes from there?
Ambassador: Yes. Swami Cinmayananda comes from Vernayakulam.(?)
Prabhupada: Vernayakulam(?), yes.
Ambassador: I come from about five miles. I actually used to know him when, before he became... When he was a journalist.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Ambassador: I used to know him when he was a journalist.
Prabhupada: Oh, he was a journalist?
Ambassador: Yes, before. In Dacra.(?)
Prabhupada: Oh.
Ambassador: But is there any special, specific person who wants to go to India immediately?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Ambassador: Who would like to have visa?
Prabhupada: No, we can give you the names if...
Ambassador: I see. Please give me the name and the nationality. I can immediately (indistinct).
Prabhupada: Yes. So you can submit immediately some of the names. Because we are organizing there, and the security department there: "Oh, your visa is now complete. You please return."
Ambassador: I know.
Prabhupada: But who... We have got now temples. Who will manage that? Big, big temples I have constructed. In Navadvipa, in Hyderabad.
Ambassador: Navadvipa... Of course, Navadvipa is...
Prabhupada: In Vrndavana.
Ambassador: (indistinct)
Prabhupada: Yes, In Vrndavana. We have got very, very, big, big temples now. So those temples, the Indians are callous. They are after technology. They are not coming. So how I'll manage, how I'll manage them if they are driven away? That is my problem. But the Indian boys, they are not coming. Indian educated... They are coming, but not very educated.
Ambassador: That's... I, I understand what you mean.
Prabhupada: Yes. The educated Indian, boys, they'll accept good service. Why they come to temple?
Ambassador: I'm sorry. You are right.
Prabhupada: That is education. They are not prepared to spread this Krsna consciousness. They want some good service and enjoy life. That's all.
Ambassador: (indistinct)
Prabhupada: No, no. You can place there. What you want just now?
Ambassador: I just want to place it here, and that washroom.
Prabhupada: Yes, you can wash inside. [break]
Ambassador: I'm sorry. I came immediately after lunch you know. Leaving only one hour between the lunch and one hour, you know. So I'll remember this, Your Grace, and of course, I will do personally what I can. I've...
Prabhupada: Yes, that...
Ambassador: ...distributed the invitations to all the Indians, you see. But I'm afraid the Indians in Sweden are extremely...
Prabhupada: Eh?
Ambassador: How shall I put it? Extremely material and...
Prabhupada: No, everywhere. Everywhere.
Ambassador: So I do not expect much response. I'm being very honest with you, you know.
Prabhupada: No, everywhere. In India also. Indians are everywhere.
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: But they think... Familiarity breeds contempt. "Oh, Krsna, we know. What you have got to teach us?" Although he doesn't know anything, because he, he belongs to the country where Krsna appeared, therefore he knows everything. That... You know that Hindi. (Hindi)
Ambassador: Poetic. "The prophet is not honored in his own country."
Prabhupada: Yes. (Hindi) That is this position. So do you think I shall submit some name?
Ambassador: Certainly, Your Grace, and I will look into it and if I have got right, I will do it, or I will send...
Prabhupada: No. You are... Why you have not right? Because...
Ambassador: Yes, I've got, there are discretions.
Prabhupada: Then, then it will be useless. Because as soon as you send to Delhi, they'll refuse. So then don't try for it. If you can, if you can help personally, then we'll submit the names. Otherwise, if you go in official channels, I don't expect.
Ambassador: No, I'll look at the rules you see and... I can't break the rules.
Prabhupada: So you see the rules. If you can...
Ambassador: I can't break the rules.
Prabhupada: ...then I'll submit.
Ambassador: Quite right.
Prabhupada: Then when I shall send some of my men to know that you can? When I shall send?
Ambassador: By tomorrow afternoon.
Prabhupada: All right. That's all right. Then I shall... Otherwise, useless. If you officially forward, and they reply, it will be... No.
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: I do not know why. The Christian missionaries, they get missionary visa.
Ambassador: But I would... If you permit me, I am still, if I find a rule, rights, I'll do it. Otherwise, I'll be very happy to write a very strong letter to the Deputy Secretary concerned and also...
Prabhupada: Anyway, in whatever way you can help. This is a difficulty for me, that there are chasing after our men.
Ambassador: I personally think that there is not much reason to... Because we are allowing...
Prabhupada: There is no reason at all.
Ambassador: And this is the... Hypocritical.
Prabhupada: If, if they're giving missionary visa to the Christian missionaries, what we have done? So kindly be seriously thinking and, if possible, give us. So he'll go in the afternoon and see him. If he's able, then we can send some men. And many men, they're prepared to go to India. But this botheration. They'll go, after spending so much money, and they'll be chased. That has become a problem. Otherwise I have told some years ago that "Sometimes you'll have to import brahmanas from this place."
Ambassador: Looks like they are better brahmanas than...
Prabhupada: Yes.
Ambassador: I agree with you.
Prabhupada: Thank you.
Ambassador: Because there is a... The definition of brahmana, of course, is made by Buddha's said: (Sanskrit )
Prabhupada: No, in Bhagavad-gita it is said: catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah [Bg. 4.13]. And Bhagavata says,
yasya yal laksanam proktam
pumso varnabhivyanjakam
yad anyatrapi drsyeta
tat tenaiva vinirdiset
[SB 7.11.35]
These are clear indications that brahmana is not from particular family. And Krsna says, another place,
mam hi partha vyapasritya
ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah
striyo vaisyas tatha sudras
te 'pi yanti param gatim
[Bg. 9.32]
Everyone, Krsna is open for everyone. Krsna does not say that only... He says that kim punar brahmanah punyah. Everyone is accepted. Why not the brahmanas? But te 'pi yanti param gatim. Those who are not even born in brahmana family... Caitanya Mahaprabhu also says, kiba vipra kiba sudra...
Ambassador: Oh. Kiba vipra kiba sudra...
Prabhupada: Kiba vipra kiba nyasi sudra kene naya, yei krsna-tattva-vetta, tattva-vetta, sei guru haya. He becomes spiritual master. It doesn't matter what he is. Sudra, or vipra, it doesn't matter. The Ramananda Raya, he was a sudra. According to social position, he was a sudra. But Caitanya Mahaprabhu took lessons from him.
Ambassador: Oh, I see.
Prabhupada: Yes. That is in the Eighth Chapter of the Madhya Khanda.
Ambassador: So I'll remember it, sir.
Prabhupada: Thank you, sir.
Ambassador: And if I'm able to come for some meetings, I'll come. If I do not, that means only I am busy, you know. Because it's a little busy. But I think some of the members of our embassy will come.
Prabhupada: No, you...
Ambassador: No, I mean to the functions.
Prabhupada: Functions.
Ambassador: We'll try to come whichever is we are able to come, you know, from the embassy...
Prabhupada: That, of course, you are...
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupada: Yes. Thank you very much.
Ambassador: Thank you very much.
Prabhupada: Jaya. So give him... [break] (end).
>>> Ref. VedaBase =>
Room Conversation with Indian Ambassador -- September 5, 1973,
Stockholm
© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.
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