Room Conversation in Bengali with Śrī Lalitā Prasāda Ṭhākura – January 22, 1976, Māyāpur
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760322R1.MAY
760322R1-Mayapur [54:57 Minutes]
Prabhupada: [Transl. So what's your… Several times there have been talks earlier. Has anything been decided?]
[Lots of indistincts throughout.]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. What decided? My physical movements have been stopped. Mostly I am confined to this room.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Who will discuss? Ah? Who will talk?]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. What I will say you cannot understand. You all vaisnavas discuss. I am eighty years old.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. [aside:] Call your mother.]
Jayapataka: Call Bhaktima.
Bhaktima: [Transl. Did you call me?]
Prabhupada: What is that?
Jayapataka: Ghee.
Prabhupada: Who told you to bring?
Jayapataka: This is from America. The other ghee, the other ghee is not fr…
Prabhupada: Big tin?
Jayapataka: Big tin…It is taken from the big tin and put it into this tin.
Prabhupada: Just see. The same foolishness again.
Jayapataka: Anyway, it's already…
Prabhupada: All right. That's all… Simply rascals. Repeatedly say and they commit mistake, commit mistake.
Bhaktima: [Transl. He says, I want to talk with you alone. I have trouble speaking so much in front of others. So he would like to speak with you alone.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. All of you go outside.] You go out and we will talk.
Jayapataka: [Transl. I won't go from here.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Can't you hear he wants to speak with me alone?]
Jayapataka: I really don't want to leave.
Prabhupada: You all go out.
Bhaktima: [Transl. Now speak with Prabhupada.]
Prabhupada: What… If you want to take breakfast, you can take it.
Jayapataka: Breakfast is over there.
Prabhupada: [Transl. This is ghee. Very nice ghee.]
Bhaktima: [Transl. I see.]
Guest: [Transl. It's written, Los Angeles.]
Jayapataka: [Transl. American ghee. You keep it to use for the Lord's service. This big bask…]
Prabhupada: That's all right. We shall talk. I asked you not to bring that and you brought that only. Repeatedly said no, no, no still you brought it.
Jayapataka: They asked everyone to leave.
Bhaktima: [Transl. What's his name?]
Jayapataka: [Transl. He will stay.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Nobody will stay.]
Jayapataka: He has to also.
Bhaktima: [Transl. I am asking what's his name?]
Prabhupada: Hmm. Don't require.
Jayapataka: Close the door. [Transl. You also go.]
Prabhupada: Now you can close the door.
Jayapataka: Close the door, Bhagavat.
Prabhupada: That's all. [Transl. Now tell me.]
Guest: [Transl. Tell him how you want to tell.]
Bhaktima: [Transl. We have to discuss about Jayapataka's plan of building a new temple here.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Wait, wait. Let him speak.]
Bhaktima: [Transl. He has told me. I am just reminding him.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Now what we have to discuss? Talk about now.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Dropped, then no further discussion required.]
Jayapataka: [Transl. I often come and talk to you about it.]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. Yes, you come. But what I can do? I am growing older. I cannot do it any more.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Hmm. Whom should we talk to then?]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. I left my house and everything and chanting the holy name here whole life in seclusion. This is my job.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Then no point talking.]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. You all come here. Good. You come, sit down, give your feetdust. Have I ever stopped you? Ever stopped you?]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Stoping…]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Why are you talking these things?]
Jayapataka: [Transl. We are trying to help you.]
Bhaktima: [Transl. We are trying so that you are supported.]
Jayapataka: [Transl. Look at your health condition.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. This is not my job. I have to travel and preach all over the world. Will I sit here and do this?]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. That's what I am saying. You travel all over the world and spread the holy name. I will be very glad. I will be elated that the holy name is being preached. Bhakti Siddhanta has gone. His books are there. The confidential meaning of his words…They print and sell them. Vidhi-marga, Raga-marga and bhajan-marga-these three margas no one knows properly…. I have made all arrangements.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Hmm. So now there is no question of any other discussion.]
Bhaktima: [Transl. Then for now no need to talk about that.]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. If possible, later we will see. Now not possible. You can see the condition of my health.]
Jayapataka: [Transl. If you cannot do it now then when will you be able to do?]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. Will be done. Everything is there. Have I ever checked? I never stopped. I have never put any obstacles in any way. You are doing good work. I have never complained.]
Jayapataka: What he said 'badha'?
Jayapataka: [Transl. What does he mean?]
Prabhupada: [Transl. If we come here he never says no.]
Jayapataka: [Transl. There are so many devotees from all over the world. They will come here and have darsana. How that will be…]
Jayapataka: [Transl. You were saying that fruits etc are stolen away from here and there is no one to look after.]
Bhaktima: [Transl. Yes, many things get stolen.]
Jayapataka: [Transl. We feel very sad about that. If some proper arrangement is not made then what is the use of so many peoples' visiting here?]
Lalita Prasad: [indistinct]
Prabhupada: [Transl. What did he say?]
Bhaktima: [Transl. The same thing. Kunjababu always says, "You have spoiled and wasted everything." But I have tolerated all that. That's what he is saying.]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. Easier said than done. The whole world is now awakened. Can anyone imagine? Is it a small task? I love him so much. Because of his busy schedule we could not meet more often.]
Jayapataka: [Transl. What?]
Bhaktima: [Transl. He is busy in many things so we could not meet.]
Jayapataka: [Transl. He has many disciples and he has to look after their benefit.]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. I decided to talk with him separately about this. But somehow it was not possible.] [indistinct]
Bhaktima: [Transl. You wanted to ask something about the photographs of the literatures or something?]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. Yes. The literatures and photographs were to be published. But nothing. I only hear, it will be done, it will be done. I am already aged. I won't live long.]
Bhaktima: [Transl. The photographs which you took…]
Jayapataka: [Transl. He has come.]
Bhaktima: [Transl. They are all done?]
Jayapataka: [Transl. He has come here again today. He has come again.]
Lalita Prasad & Bhaktima: Jananivasa?
Jayapataka: [Transl. Yes. He has come today.]
Bhaktima: [Transl. Couldn't recognise him.]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. I am very sad. I feel hurt. All I do is sit down and chant the holy name. What else can I do? Whatever I could do here I did.]
Jayapataka: [Transl. You see, so many people coming and going, but they are not doing anything for here. Also no contribution is coming from his disciples. His disciples and others are not helping him now. Therefore our Guru Maharaja has taken the trouble to come here and I think some arrangements should be made to preserve this place. I have no other intention.]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. I have many painful things to say in my mind. But does it possible to disclose everything to everyone? I am not angry on anyone. I am not unhappy on anybody. Whatever distress I have I simply tolerate and chant the holy name of Hari. Oh my Lord, protect me! Oh Bhakti Vinoda Thakura, Protect me! Who will look after me?]
Bhaktima: [Transl. He had a desire to publish these literatures. That's why he saved the originals one copy each.]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. He wanted that everyone should chant the holy name. But nobody will do. All are interested in whimsical way. [indistinct] I have gone through terrible life. My heart longs for repeating Harinama.] [indistinct]
Jayapataka: [Transl. What did he say?]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. You hear my sad story. How much will you hear? I have gone through so many problems to build and maintain this. Has it been constructed of its own? For whom?] [indistinct]
Jayapataka: [Transl. What does he say?]
Jayapataka: [Transl. If you kindly make up your mind and show us a way…]
Prabhupada: [Transl. If they want to do then why don't you allow them?]
Prabhupada: [Transl. It will be. Those who want to do, whoever, why you don't allow? What's the reason?]
Bhaktima: [Transl. [to Lalita Prasad:] You say it will be done. But he says that those who want to do why don't you allow them to do?]
Lalita Prasad: [indistinct]
Prabhupada: [Transl. What did he say?]
Prabhupada: [Transl. I can't understand anything. I can't understand what he is saying.]
Bhaktima: [Transl. He says whatever I want to do, Narada Muni chastises me and it is obstructed. Always some impediments. In our Calcutta house, after my parents left, I tried to develop it but things didn't work out. I helped build 'Bhakti Bhawan.' In Mayapur I built my mother's samadhi, but there also same the thing. At Bhakti Vinoda Thakura's samadhi mandir I tried to develop it but again there was obstacle. Whatever I try to do there is always some impediments.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. If there are obstacles that is also the Supreme Lord's will.]
Bhaktima: [Transl. That's what he says.]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. Only obstacles. I have no one to tell my agony. You won't undersrand, won't understand, won't understand. Nobody understood.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. What he says about no one understood?]
Bhaktima: [Transl. He says no one understood my intention. He says that.]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. I sacrificed my life. I gave my all for this. I told them, don't stop me whether I succed or not. What you are doing is great. I am very happy about you. Till now nobody in the world could do it.]
Bhaktima: [Transl. Yes, we will.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Arrange place for them.]
Jayapataka: [Transl. [Aside:] Give all these devotees.]
Prabhupada: Go. Go.
Jayapataka: Prabhupada wants all these devotees to take.
Prabhupada: I am not. Later on.
Jayapataka: Corner?
Jayapataka: [Transl. [Aside:] Where is Bhaktima? Send her here. We can't understand what he says.]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. Without Ma no one will understand. Send her. Only Ma understands little bit.]
Jayapataka: [Transl. Ma always tells me…She tells that here there is so much disturbances. Fruits etc are stolen. Many other things get stolen. No one protects. No one maintains. No one helps. So we have come to help you. All you have to do is give us an opportunity. If you give…Why are you hesitating?]
Jayapataka: [Transl. Stop. Why would you stop? There is no question of stoping.]
[long indistinct talk about sitting arrangements and taking prasada.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Arrange a place out there.]
Indian: [Transl. Let me sit outside. It's been a long time.]
Indian (2): [Transl. Are you all well?]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. I will eat later. [indistinct] 'We eat first. We eat first. That's all. We eat first.' Let them eat.] [indistinct]
Lalita Prasad: [indistinct]
Indian: [Transl. We have to serve. Look after.]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. Make sure that everything is all right. In Mayapur I have literally worked with my own hands for that temple. The birthplace at Mayapur. So much hardship I have gone through. At that time I was only fifteen years old. I went to Mayapur. [indistinct] Ye mane ye na mane saba tara dasa.] All are servants of the Supreme Lord. Whether you accept Him or not you are a servant of the Supreme Lord. [indistinct] These bananas are of very good quality. Mangoes from our own garden I never eat. No one knows. [indistinct] I tolerated so much. There is a limit of tolerance. I only pray: O Supreme Lord, please protect me. I don't know anything. Whatever You wish You do.]
Bhaktima: [Transl. I will bring some water?]
Prabhupada: [Transl. You also eat.]
Indian: [Transl. Open the gate. Yes, that one.]
Jayapataka: [Transl. I can bring him some other…]
Prabhupada: Ah?
Bhaktima: [Transl. Could you pass on to me that glass kept on the table?]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. I know this Jayapataka is a nice person. Jayapataka. Cool headed. Cool temper. [about Prabhupada] What he is doing is a noble work. He has captured the whole world. Nobody is happier than me in the whole world about your preaching work.] [indistinct]
Prabhupada: [Transl. What is the need of glorifying me? Kindly bless me.]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. [to one of his brother:] I am six years older than him. He is seventy-four and I am eighty. Six years. We, all the brothers were very affectionate to each other.]
[Prabhupada and Jayapataka whispers in English]
Bhaktima: [Transl. Jayapataka said he would…you said before that you would help expand this temple and also give some monitary contribution every month. And construct some rooms here so that the devotees can visit. We have no objection. But there are other members in this property who do not agree. This is the internal matter. And he is very sorry about it. What can I do? Nobody understands my intention. I didn't keep anything for myself. I gave it all away.]
Bhaktima: [Transl. Yes, I said you sit down here I am bringing prasada for you. But he said he will take outside.]
Bhaktima: [indistinct]
Bhaktima: [Transl. I will be very happy to serve you. I love to serve. I will be glad to serve Prabhupada. This is mango. And are these raisins? These were in your fruits basket. And these are plums. Did you print any of those literatures? Devotional literatures?]
Prabhupada: [Transl. We haven't been able to print any Bengali literature as yet. Nobody is there to do.]
Bhaktima: [Transl. Not yet printed. Will those be translated into English? Those they took from here?]
Prabhupada: [Transl. What will they do with them? They don't know Bengali to read them.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. That's done.]
Bhaktima: [Transl. In English?]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Yes. I have done it. I have done all the books. They can neither translate from Bengali to English nor English to Bengali.]
Bhaktima: [Transl. He wants a copy.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Of what?]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. You send one copy here and we will keep it in the Library and ma will protect it.]
Bhaktima: [Transl. I show all the literatures. Whoever comes here I show him all the books. I keep all the books in my Almirah.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Call one of my men.]
Bhaktima: [Transl. Do you have with you?]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Let me ask.]
Indian: [Transl. He wants to find out from his men if they have a copy here.]
Indian: [Transl. He cries in the mood of gopibhava like that.]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. That you are spreading the holy name all over the world this is the highest beneficial work. There is nothing more beneficial to people than this. You have fulfilled my desire. Therefore I touch your feet. I pray to the Supreme Lord that since you have done it may He give you power to do more. He surely will bestow all power upon you.]
Indian: [Transl. Mahaprabhu had predicted that the holy name will be spread in each and every home.]
Bhaktima: [Transl. He has empowered you to preach like this and you are doing it.]
Indian: [Transl. This is the will of the three Lords [Lord Caitanya, Lord Nityananda, Lord Advaita] that when will it happen.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Now throughout the world we have one hundred and two temples.]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. [to Bhaktima:] "Ma, always take care of him whenever he comes here. Serve him."]
Prabhupada: [Transl. America, Africa, South America, Canada, Germany, Australia, Sydney, everywhere. Africa.]
Bhaktima: [Transl. Russia?]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Russia also. China.]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. You are a daring Bengali and I am an insignificant useless fellow. Simply sitting idle. Shameless. [indistinct] Explain to him.]
Bhaktima: [Transl. He has understood what you said.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. What he says?]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. He is protecting the big family and I am protecting a small family.] [Indistinct]
Bhaktima: [Transl. "I am sitting in a small pond and he is sitting in an ocean."]
Indian: [Transl. He is sitting here and empowering, and the whole world is being benefitted.]
Bhaktima: [Transl. If you want some flowers and tulasi leaves I can go and pick some from the garden.]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. Don't be afraid. You are our man. Feel free to take as much as you want. "milimisi kari kaja hari jiti nahi laja:" Work together, no shame either lose or win. [Bengali proverb] Bhakti Vinoda told me, Narada muni told me that no one can kill you. They all left. I am sitting here like a fool with no eyesight.]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. They are all young. What do they know? They have many things to learn yet. What does Kunjababu know?] [indistinct]
Prabhupada: [Transl. What happened?]
Bhaktima: [Indistinct]
Lalita Prasad: [indistinct]
Bhaktima: [Transl. He said to all the members of Bhakti Vinoda Thakura's asrama that this personality is still alive. Learn from him how to make avancement, beg mercy from him. Learn how to do pracara etc. Madhava Maharaja also came. He also said, we have nobody else. So kindly guide us like Bhakti Vinoda Thakura.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Take this, brand new.]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta? Wah! Beautiful! English! We don't know much English though.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Total seventeen volumes.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Yes.]
Bhaktima: [Transl. Very good.] [indistinct]
Prabhupada: [Transl. That ghee is from Australia.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Pure ghee. There, they don't mix.]
Bhaktima: [Transl. We will use it for cooking and offer to the Lord. We don't get good things here. That ghee from Haringhata is not at all good.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. If people don't buy then how it will be available in the market. You need people to buy pure things. Where are such people? They make and there are rich people to buy it. That's why they keep. Who will buy adultrated?]
Bhaktima: [Transl. It comes packed in a tin container?]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Yes.]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. There used to be three tigers here. Three. Now no more. I told them, go away I will live here. So all of them left.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Do tigers sometimes roam around here?]
Bhaktima: [Transl. Not now. About five, seven years ago they used to. Now this area has been thickly populated.]
Indian: [Transl. There was a huge asvattha: peepul tree here. Under that tree this temple was first constructed.]
Bhaktima: [Transl. No, he is asking if tigers wander about. No. Not now. Five, six years ago they used to. Now they don't come out in public. Now so many people around here.]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. I live in this jungle. I have no fear. In one way it is good, because I won't be entangled in matter. Explain to him. Better not to get involved in matter.]
Jayapataka: [Transl. What?]
Indian: [Transl. He is saying that it is not good to be entangled in matter. Better to remain in touch with spirit. This is matter. Spirit is within.]
Lalita Prasad: [indistinct]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Which is matter?]
Jayapataka: [Transl. In order to preach littlt bit of matter is required.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. No, no. Which is matter?]
Indian: [Transl. Whatever is seen by eyes is all matter. That which is subtle, which is spiritual...]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Then the Deity is also matter. The structure of the Deity is also matter.]
Indian: [Transl. No, within the Deity...]
Prabhupada: [Transl. If everything is matter then He is also matter. That body, it is matter then.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Have we come from so far away to see matter?]
Lalita Prasad: [indistinct]
Prabhupada: [Transl. No, no. Have I taken so much trouble to come here to see matter?]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Is that the conclusion?]
Prabhupada: [Transl. It is coming from the Supreme Lord only.]
Lalita Prasad: [indistinct]
Prabhupada: [Transl. If the Supreme Lord is spiritual then how His energy which is coming from Him is material?]
Lalita Prasad: [indistinct]
Lalita Prasad: [indistinct]
Lalita Prasad: [indistinct]
Lalita Prasad: [indistinct]
Indian: [Transl. His only.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Isn't it? The government has police department and the university department. Both belong to the government. For a thief police is fearful. And one who is not a thief he has no connection with the police. Only if one is a thief he has connection with police. For the government both are same. It is spending lakhs of rupees for the university department and also for the police department. The business of the police is for the thieves.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Police are out friends. They come. Big, big Magistrates come to our temple. They don't come to quarrel with or arrest us. Therefore those who are devotees of the Supreme Lord, they... Only to the thieves He is silent and to the devotees He talks.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Many Magistrates come to us as a friend. They are our friends.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. These flowers are from the garden?]
Bhaktima: [Transl. Yes.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. Beautiful.]
Lalita Prasad: [Transl. We have to educate people to liberate them from this jail. That is good. Somebody will understand this. Even one out of hundred will understand.]
Indian: [Transl. Spirit can be realised by ordinary people, but matter is such a department…]
Lalita Prasad: [indistinct]
Lalita Prasad: [indistinct]
Bhaktima: [indistinct]
[Someone enters. They arrange for a seat.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. I wanted to take this plate. But nonsense…] [indistinct]
Bhaktima: [coughing heavily] [Transl. I will pick it up.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. No, I will take.]
Bhaktima: [Transl. He want's me to pick it up. He can't do it himself. Oh mother, take prasada before you go. Prasada is being served over there. Wash your hand. Here is water.]
Prabhupada: [Transl. [to Jayapataka:] Just see where there is a toilet?]
Jayapataka: [Transl. Why? For urine?]
Jayapataka: Hare Krsna.
Lalita Prasad: [indistinct] [end]
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