Prabhupada: ...keep one's status position as gentleman, he must have sufficient income. That's all. One should be satisfied in that way and be happy in Krsna.

Prabhupada: Huh? Yes. That is real happiness. You should know what is happiness. Whatever we're getting, that is sufficient if... Simply to keep your status quo nicely. That's all. This is secret of happiness. I must not be poverty-stricken, neither I shall hanker after becoming very, very so-called rich. That is happiness. That arrangement is there. Your present position will never be disturbed, you'll improve, and you get, after seven years, 2,500 rupees per month. What do you want more? This is simply idea, that "My father has got so much property for me." And even if your father leaves so much property for you, if you have no luck to enjoy it, you'll be Harendranatha Singh. That you have seen, that your maternal uncles, what they have done? They're all rich men's son. My father-in-law left sufficient property. But what did they do? Simply drunk and die. Where is happiness? Is that happiness, do you think? Now still they are suffering, his family. If Krsna has saved you from that...

Vrindavan De: With provocative disturbance.

Prabhupada: Just see. To enjoy happiness they are sitting in that house. Your grandfather left such a nice property. But they are not happy. And they disturb you. You came out... (coughs) Practically seeing, you are happy more than them.

Vrindavan De: True. That is a correct. That is correct.

Prabhupada: If you had lived in that house, you would have been simply harassed. So Krsna has done so much mercy that you got free from their association, and now you are doing...

Vrindavan De: Also the mercy of Krsna.

Prabhupada: So happiness does not depend on money.

Vrindavan De: They became old, but they are still unhappy like previous, as in the past.

Prabhupada: So you become devotee. Come as soon as possible, here, or wherever, you'll get advice. I'll give you advice how to become happy. It is not happiness, that "I have got so much property from my father." Balasya neha saranam pitarau nrsimha. Prahlada Maharaja said. Prahlada Maharaja said that "The father-mother cannot make one happy." There are so many examples. Balasya neha saranam pitarau nrsimha. There are many rich father, and the sons are suffering. You have seen your maternal uncles. Their father was rich and left immense property, and what was their happiness?

Tamala Krsna: Drinking.

Prabhupada: Bas. They simply died by drinking. Got some cheap money from the father, and they habituated. Is it not? Your two uncles, this Barbhavan, Caturbhavan?(?) So what is their happiness?

Vrindavan De: Simply frustrating, they died. That's all. Finish.

Tamala Krsna: Actually this has always been your program, that you give us a little money to begin, but then you insist that "Now develop it on your own strength."

Prabhupada: Yes.

Tamala Krsna: "I'll give you help to begin it..."

Prabhupada: Yes.

Tamala Krsna: "...but you must develop it." In all of the temples, like that.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Tamala Krsna: Like in Hyderabad now...

Prabhupada: Yes.

Tamala Krsna: ...you want to give some to begin, but they must now develop.

Prabhupada: That is the duty. But not that you can get happiness. Happiness is in your hand, in your fortunate... That is a different thing. Don't think that "My father left so much property. Let me eat and drink and go to hell." That is not happiness. Sukham atyantikam yat tad atindriya-grahyam [Bg. 6.21]. Everything explained. Read books. Be devotee. That will bring happiness. And economically you may not be disturbed that you're poverty-stricken, you have to beg something or... No. Whatever is absolutely... More than that. More than that. One man does not require 2,500. Nowadays, even it is very expensive, one thousand is sufficient. Although everything is expensive, one thousand rupees sufficient for a person. You are each getting that. So the plan is all right. Now you try to become devotee. That will bring happiness. Otherwise there is no happiness.

Tamala Krsna: We have experience of that for sure.

Prabhupada: Yes. They were all rich men's sons. Where is happiness? They became hippie.

Tamala Krsna: We gave up all of that because we weren't happy.

Prabhupada: Yes. Everyone wants to be happy. Who does not want to be happy? But he does not know how to become happy.

Tamala Krsna: I could see my parents. They had so much money, but they weren't happy.

Prabhupada: Nobody's happy, I have seen. Therefore they drink. Whenever there is unhappiness, they cannot adjust it"Let me drink." This is Western happiness.

Tamala Krsna: Or sex life.

Prabhupada: That's all. They have no other information. So just try. You are comfortably situated. There is no economic shortage. Now you become devotee. Then you'll be happy. Otherwise it is not possible. Don't think by getting large sum money one becomes happy. That is not the fact. That is mistake.

Tamala Krsna: We've all given our..., that position up. We were all coming from money, but now we don't have any personal money, but we're millions of times happier.

Satadhanya: And we don't lack any material benefit. We have spiritual and material.

Prabhupada: Who can live in such house? Royal. Royal palace. We have 102 royal palaces. More than that. So even from economic point of view nobody is happier than us. Nobody is happier.

Tamala Krsna: That New York building cost over one million dollars.

Prabhupada: Yes. If you go I shall give you chance to see how my devotees are living happy in big, big houses. Big, big house. Do you think to possess a twelve-story house in New York is joke?

Vrindavan De: Even I cannot think of.

Prabhupada: Is joke? We have got. In Detroit we have got a house which was constructed at the cost of six million dollars, fifty years ago. What is the price six million dollars?

Vrindavan De: Sixty lakhs.

Indian: Five lakhs forty thousand.

Tamala Krsna: No, no, no. Six million means five crores.

Indian: Five crores for...

Vrindavan De: No. One million is ten lakhs.

Tamala Krsna: Six crores.

Prabhupada: So that house we are possessing.

Tamala Krsna: You should see this house. Fourteen hundred ounces of gold on the ceilings. The ceilings are coated with gold, fourteen hundred ounces. Yes. The floors are heated from underneath.

Vrindavan De: Twenty-two-karat gold.

Tamala Krsna: Yes. And the floors are heated underneath. All the floors. Because it's cold climate, they have heating underneath the floors.

Prabhupada: When I entered the toilet bathroom I was surprised. (laughs)

Vrindavan De: In USA or Detroit?

Tamala Krsna: Detroit, Michigan, USA. Prabhupada's bathroom is nearly the size of this room, and it's all gold-covered on the ceiling, and the sink is a piece of marble this thick.

Prabhupada: In London my sitting room is bigger than this, double. My sleeping room is like this. And my toilet room is half this. This is my quarters.

Tamala Krsna: You have so many places that you cannot visit them all in a year.

Prabhupada: In everywhere. I have got now 120 places, palaces.

Tamala Krsna: And each place with fifty to one hundred servants.

Prabhupada: Yes... So happiness, unless Krsna gives, there is no question of happiness. Our business should be that we may not be uncomfortably living which will disturb our progress of Krsna consciousnessthat much. Other things? Depend on Krsna. If He wants to make you Indra, you become Indra. There is no happiness even by becoming Indra. You... We read from books. Indra is how much disturbed, always fighting, devasura. He has to fight. The same thing as here. Only difference is the standard of living in the heaven and the duration of life are greater. But if you have to struggle for existence, then what is the use of this duration of life, greater? Simply struggling, where is happiness? So in different planets, in different species of life... I see at night these small bugs. They have got the same happiness. The husband and wife or the male and female together, jumping and having sex, and everything in a different body. And same thing is going on in higher planetary system. There is no other business. Ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithunam: eating, sleeping, sex, and defense. But breath must be there. Janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-duhkha-dosanudarsanam [Bg. 13.9]. So one who is intelligent: "So here is unhappiness. Why I'll have to die?" And that can be solved only by Krsna consciousness. There is no other.

Tamala Krsna: No more death for a devotee.

Prabhupada: No. Tyaktva deham punar janma [Bg. 4.9]. If you don't attain Krsna in this life, then again you go back to the process of birth and death. That's all. And in that process of birth-death, sometimes you become Indra and sometimes you become that small bug, that's all, according to your karma. So our struggle should be how to stop this birth and death, punar-janma-jayaya, to conquer over rebirth. That is real life. Again dying, again entering in the mother's womb, lie down packed up for ten months and then again come out, again another chapter beginsis that life? These rascals, they do not understand.

Tamala Krsna: Imprisonment.

Prabhupada: Solve this problem. And don't be poverty-stricken. That's all. That is happiness. There is no need of... So we, the members of Krsna consciousness movement, we are living hundred times happily than anyone else, hundred times. They cannot dream. They are envious. In Los Angeles the neighborhood men, they're envious, that "These people, these devotees, they do not do anything, and they are living so comfortablyso many cars, nice palace, nice food." They inquire. They do not know. Don't expect in that way happiness. That is futile, that "Our father will leave lakhs of rupees and we shall get the interest and enjoy and then drink and go on." That is not happiness. Work hard how to advance in Krsna consciousness and be happy in this way. Krsna will give. And yoga-ksemam vahamy aham. Tesam nityabhiyuktanam yoga-ksemam vahamy aham [Bg. 9.22]. He knows what is your need. Depend on Krsna, but don't sit down like lazy. Yudhyasva mam anusmara [Bg. 8.7]. This is instruction. We are trying to teach the whole world that "Be Krsna conscious, and keep your status quo very nicely without any being poverty-stricken, and that is happiness." That is happiness. And so far the bodily disadvantages, so as soon as you get this material body, you'll have to... You have to die. You have to suffer from disease. You have to take birth. Janma-mrtyu-jara. So therefore sastra says, that verse, that "Don't be attached to karma-kanda, fruitive activities." Na sadhu manye yata atmano 'yam. "By karma-kanda you can get better body, but that will not solve your problem." Yata atmano 'yam asann api klesada asa dehah [SB 5.5.4]. This body is temporary, but so long you have got this body, you have to suffer, this way or that way. So this is your real unhappiness, to get this material. Klesada. Klesada means always giving trouble. From the childhood they are crying. He has got some klesa. The mother cannot understand. He's crying.

Tamala Krsna: The first sound the baby makes is the crying.

Prabhupada: He cannot express what is his inconvenience, and he's feeling one inconvenience, and the mother is trying to make him happy in other way. He's crying more, more, more, more. Where is happiness? Within the womb there was unhappiness, packed-up. When he comes down there is unhappiness. Then go to school, take education, appear for examinationthat is unhappiness. Then grow up, then engage in some earning moneythat is unhappiness. Then maintain your children, and that is unhappiness. Where is happiness, rascals? Rascal. Both are suffering.

Tamala Krsna: Without Krsna, there is no question of happiness.

Prabhupada: This is simply anarthas, unnecessary creating unhappiness. Unnecessary.

Tamala Krsna: But with Krsna, all those things you describe become happy.

Prabhupada: Yes. Krsna makes adjustment. Therefore Krsna comes and He is giving advice that "Do like this. You'll be happy in this life and next."

Tamala Krsna: Actually we work all day longno salary, no vacationand we're...

Prabhupada: Still, they are happy.

Tamala Krsna: ...feeling ecstasy.

Prabhupada: Every letter I receive from my disciple, how happy they are, it is explained.

Tamala Krsna: Every letter it's the same.

Prabhupada: Cakhu-dan dilo jei, janme janme...

Devotees: Prabhu sei.

Prabhupada: Prabhu sei. So this eye-opening is given by guru. Cakhu-dan dilo jei, janme janme prabhu sei. Then?

Satadhanya: Divya-jnan hrde prokasito.

Prabhupada: Divya-jnan hrde prokasito. Oh, he understands, "This is the way of happiness." Sri-guru-carane rati, ei sei uttama-gati, ar na koriho mane asa. That if one gets just guide, then that is happiness. Otherwise there is no happiness. Sri-guru-carana-padma, kevala-bhakati-sadma... Hm?

Bhakti-caru: Bandon mui savadhana...

Prabhupada: Bandon mui savadhana. So fortunately we got right guru. He has given us the way how to live, and that is happiness. Munayah sadhu prsto 'ham... [SB 1.2.5]. What is that verse I referred?

Tamala Krsna: Today? Dharmah projjhita-kaitavo 'tra nirmatsaranam [SB 1.1.2].

Prabhupada: No, no. Munayah sadhu prsto 'ham bhavadbhir loka-mangalam, krsna-samprasno yenatma suprasidati [SB 1.2.5]. Happiness is there. Unless you become Krsna conscious, there is no question of... This is a false happiness, that "If I get money, I'll be happy." That is false. So many men, they have got money. We see practically. The whole European civilization, American civilization, is based on this fundamental idea that "Let us have money and we shall be happy." And nobody is happy. Nobody is happy, a single man. Very big, big buildings, very nice car, very nice road, but there is no question of happiness. Always restlessness. Is it not? They are practically proved. And becoming implicated, karma-bandha, loko 'yam karma-bandhanah [Bg. 3.9], one after another, one after another. Because he is not independent, he is under karma-bandhana. If you touch fire, it must burn you. You cannot avoid it. That is not possible. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sar... [Bg. 3.27], ahankara-vimudha. Are you independent? Suppose if you touch fire, are you independent that your finger will not burn? It must burn. So you'll search after so much so-called happinessthey're simply burning their finger, that's all. Karma-bandhanah. Yajnarthe karmano 'nyatra loko 'yam karma-bandhanah [Bg. 3.9]. So I'm insisting you about this distribution of the book. That is a service. If you can do some pushing on these books some way or other, you get material profit; at the same time, it is service.

Tamala Krsna: Hm. Not just a business.

Prabhupada: No. That is not my proposal. Why shall I engage you in business, karma-bandhana? That is not. If you can give little service, that is benefit. Svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat. They are doing without any personal profit. You are grhastha. You can take some profit. That's all. But it is service. Anyone who will give some service to Krsna consciousness movement, he'll make progress. Therefore I'm trying to engage everyone in this movement some way or other. A little help, svalpam api. It is such a nice thing. With that spirit you do and live comfortably. There is no question of unnecessarily taking a life of poverty-stricken. There is no necessity. But there is no necessity of luxurious life. And luxurious will already come for devotees. That I have already example. Who can live more luxuriously than ourself? Where is that? It is practical. All over the world we are living like princes. Princes even cannot live like that. All our devotees, and what to speak of myself? Six crores of rupees one house, who can possess? How many men there are in the world who has got many houses, each six crores of rupees? Hm? Bolo.

Tamala Krsna: Another letter just came today about the property they want to purchase in Washington. Ambarisa wants to purchase?

Prabhupada: Now this Ambarisa, Alfred Ford, he is prepared that "Here is two hundred seventy crores of rupees for you. You take it whenever you like." Two hundred seventy crores. He has got his property. He has offered, "You take it immediately, and I'll give you." So you are engaging that money to construct a huge building in Washington for showing this planetary system. What shall I do with the money, two hundred seventy crores? (chuckles) Three hundred million? No?

Tamala Krsna: About thirty million. But he has other, plus other... That he has, money in the bank.

Prabhupada: So wherefrom the money is coming unless Krsna sends? Did I go to America with some money?

Tamala Krsna: Forty rupees.

Prabhupada: That's all. And one tin box. (laughs) Give up this mistaken idea that "If we get some large sum of money from our father, then we shall be happy." That is not... That is wrong idea. Happiness depends on Krsna consciousness. You can take advantage from your father that you may not live uncomfortably. That's all, that much. That I am making sufficient arrangement. In your present position you'll never be disturbed. Now try to become happy by advancing in Krsna consciousness. That is required.

Indian (2): (Hindi)

Prabhupada: (Hindi) Provided they take up the step. Yajnad bhavati parjanyah [Bg. 3.14]. Let them chant Hare Krsna, and pani will come from up, not from the ground. Otherwise Gita is false. Yajnad bhavati parjanyah. (Hindi) That is going on. (Hindi) This is the way. The nature is forcing, yajna. Yajnah karma-samudbhavah. Perform yajna. And in Kali-yuga the yajna is so easy. Sankirtanair yajnaih, yajanti hi su-medhasah.

Tamala Krsna: Srila Prabhupada, I think it's time for you to go upstairs. Vrindavan, he has to take his meals in the evening or he may miss... [break]

Prabhupada: ...you try to become Vaisnava. Keep it, whatever it may be. For the time being, you have got guarantee that your present position will never be disturbed. Is that all right?

Tamala Krsna: Whatever he wants. If he becomes a Vaisnava, then he'll only want Krsna.

Prabhupada: So you... For the time being, we have given guarantee they'll not be disturbed in the present position. Be satisfied. Do business. (end)