extinct species

Svarūpa Damodara: Also, that will add attractions to the outsiders, if we have these nice places. Everybody who came here, those few scientists... About fifty-five, I think, all came. Most of them told me that they never knew that such thing existed in Vrndavana. It's such a nice place, and very peaceful and... They never expected that these things existed in Vrndavana. And they were very impressed. Even our incomplete building and with all our incomplete arrangements, they were very amazed that such thing existed. And one... Actually a few of them from Agra told me that "Next time, if you hold a conference," he said, "I will take all responsibility to bring all the scientists from around Agra, Delhi, and everything." He said he didn't know that such things might exist. So Vrndavana is also a place where people come and we can cultivate their..., to bring them to the spiritual consciousness, Krsna consciousness. Actually, it's very true that when they see our temple and to see our children, oh, they were so impressed that they say they will come back. And some of them attended mahgala-arati and some of them attended Bhagavatam class, even those who came for our conference. And so... Especially those who came with wives, very attracted to see our Deities and the photographs, nice, from all over the world. Everything was so attractive. Even the Mishra, who was so Mayavadi during our conference, also was almost materialist, his wife was so influential. His wife was actually a devotee. And I spent about two hours in his room with them, and she was instructing him that "You think that everything is just chemicals." And she was telling him that "Why don't you think that God existed before-there was God, and everything's coming from Him? And do research on the basis of that. If you do that, then everything will be nice." She was telling him that "Without bhakti, your science isn't going to give you any happiness, no pleasure." So actually she... Then he almost became a devotee. He said, "Yes, yes, yes." [laughter] And they wanted to see Srila Prabhupada just before they went. I told them that doctor told us that we shouldn't allow any, even the devotees, not so crowded in the room, because doctor advises not to do so. So I requested that "When Prabhupada gets better, you please come back. Prabhupada's going to get better. Then we'll have the opportunity to allow you to have Prabhupada's darsana." So they say they will come back, bring their children. Especially they were very impressed by our gurukula boys. They said it reminded them Krsna's boyhood pastimes just seeing these our gurukula boys. Especially every day we had invocation by the gurukula boys with Yasodanandana Maharaja from Brahma-samhita. The vibrations were so potent that everybody was very impressed. Though we didn't have all the guests that we invited, but still, I think, those few who came, I think they had very good appreciation about Srila Prabhupada's program. Especially bhakti-vedanta... Mishra's relation was very significant. He said he never had in his life to see this bhakti-vedanta. He called all of us as Bhakti-vedantist. He said he was always Advaita-vedantist, and he said he never saw a bhakti-vedanti. He said it was a great experience. He said he was very grateful that he came to the conference. And he had great appreciation of the whole movement. They said, "Just imagine that in about ten years a big empire can be built in such a pure spirit." So like that, Dr. Soni... Soni is the Deputy General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research. He's also a big government scientist. To see these people... Actually, even one cannot just go and see them. You have to wait for so many red tapes just to go them. They came. He came with his family. Actually, he was the chief guest on Sunday, and he had a great appreciation of our whole Movement, and he told me very frankly in his opening speech that a few years ago he saw the devotees in Piccadilly Circus, first time in London. And about that time he said he had a very wrong impression, negative impression of the whole Movement. He said he thought something that was not very impressive. Then he told me very frankly that when I came to invite him for this to be the chief guest on Sunday, he said just on the basis of that, he said he was not willing to accept the invitation. But then, he said, after talking with me for a few minutes, he said he changed his whole attitude and then just decided to come. And then he expressed that he was very grateful that he came, and he learned a lot. He said this is one of the noblest causes that one can dedicate. So he had a great appreciation for the Movement. So like that, we'd like to make some friends, especially in the higher, educated classes of people. And I think I'm very hopeful, by the mercy of Your Divine Grace and Krsna's mercy, that we can at least follow your instruction. Then I think we can do it.    (More...)

Tamala Krsna: Srila Prabhupada, shall I continue with this report? Another thing that's beginning to happen is that the professors, after getting your standing orders and after teaching with your books in their courses, they are starting to become very friendly to Krsna consciousness. For example here is one example cited. He says... It says here that "Dasaratha Prabhu went straight to the Chairman of Philosophy who happens to teach in that field, and that chairman also bought a copy of Monograph 2...," which is Svarūpa Damodara's science books; these are also becoming important, "...and promised to review it. During this time, Sesa was meeting with Fritz Blackwell, an Asian language specialist who has used Krsna book in his course as a textbook and has known devotees for four years. Fritz's exchanges with Sesa were so intriguing that we shall simply list them one by one. The two passed in the hallway, not knowing each other, but later, when they met, Mr. Blackwell said, 'Oh, I knew you must have been with ISKCON. No one else would be so nicely dressed.' Sesa had corresponded with Mr. Blackwell previously and sent him copies of 'The Hare Krsna People' and 'Spiritual Frontier' movies to review for a special national survey of audio-visual materials on new spiritual movements. Fritz related that ISKCON's response was the quickest among his many suppliers for the project, and when he told his wife the Hare Krsnas were the first to send their films, she simply replied, 'They would be.' [laughter] Sesa acquired advance copies of Mr. Blackwell's reviews on the two films, which we'll enclose with this report if possible. Introducing Mr. Blackwell to the Readings in Vedic Literature prompted him to say, 'I will definitely use this in my course next year.' He also agreed to send a review by December. Fritz told Sesa, 'It's amazing that you've come today. We're just going to start our study of Krsna tomorrow. Can you come and speak in my class?' Sesa immediately complied. Fritz introduced him as an authority and personal colleague, so the students listened attentively and took notes. Sesa used slides to supplement his academic glorification of Lord Krsna. Interested, the students asked many questions, such as 'Why is Krsna blue?' 'What is prasadam?' Fritz was very pleased with the whole thing and gladly helped Sesa make arrangements to get another Caitanya-caritamrta standing order in the library." They already had one order, and they got another order. "On the same campus, Sesa sold a preview order..." Anyway, then they sold some more books. That's just an example of the way professors are beginning to be more and more helpful, and they're actually becoming devoted to Krsna consciousness. They've been very much impressed with the Library Party. The Library Party devotees come in suits with ties. They look very proper. They're scholarly. The books are the most prestigious, scholarly presentations of the philosophy available. And these people, they first ordered the standing order; now they're ordering course textbooks. And now they're starting to teach your books in the courses, Srila Prabhupada. They're preaching Krsna consciousness right in the classrooms. So automatically, when they see the devotees, they are very much attracted and friendly with our devotees. They want to take prasadam. So the scholars, who are the most intellectual community in America, are becoming devoted now to Your Divine Grace and this movement.    (More...)

Now, then the devotee says that durlabha manava-janama sat-sahge taroho e bhava-sindhu re. Now, this body, this human body, is durlabha. Durlabha means very valuable. It is obtained with..., after a great struggle of existence. We have to come through so many species of life: aquatics, birds, then trees, then reptiles, then beasts... There are so many. So many. There are eighty-four lakhs, means 8,400,000 species of life, and we had to pass through by gradual evolution. This theory is accepted by Darwin also, evolutionary theory. So this human body is very valuable.    (More...)