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Prabhupada: ...for printing. In Australia there is good field. So why you are not printing more books and send there?
Gopala Krsna: We'll print more. Now we are printing more books for them. We are printing as many books as they order. So as they increase their order, we increase our print.
Hari-sauri: That's for our Christmas distribution. That will arrive just in time for the month of December.
Prabhupada: And you can send to Europe, America also.
Gopala Krsna: Yes, England. America, we are thinking of printing small books for them, because for America to get lower price on all books they have to print many hundred thousand. So many books of yours are out of print, out of stock with BBT Los Angeles. But we can get the same price on a lower run. That means that on lower investment we can print the same books, and in this way at least they will have some books in stock of every book you have published. So if somebody wants some book, they won't say that they don't have it, but they can supply it. So I've been writing about this to Ramesvara Swami.
Prabhupada: My point is, I don't wish to keep money in the bank. Invest in printing.
Gopala Krsna: Yes, Srila Prabhupada. And now we are making a big go-down in Bombay, a professional go-down for BBT.
Prabhupada: Where?
Prabhupada: In our?
Gopala Krsna: Yes, in our Hare Krsna land. In that Gurukula building, because now we have so many books and we don't have enough space, so we're going to start work on the go-down. I just need three lakh rupees, but when Ramesvara comes I'll talk to him and then start it.
Prabhupada: No, three lakhs we have got.
Gopala Krsna: Okay. Because this will be a professional go-down then. Also New Zealand is ordering books from India, and the second print of the Bhagavad-gita, which is going to leave on the 10th of October, that has come out even better than the American, the color work. I'm going to show it to Hari-sauri and you. Actually we should print some Bhagavatams also, because many Bhagavatams are out of print, and I have been using this mail order company. We are advertising our Gita, and we've already sold more than thousand Gitas in two months. And this mail order company is paying for the advertisement. So they are very keen to also promote the Bhaktivedanta Encyclopedia. But before I do that, I must have all your Bhagavatams in stock, because as the order comes, we have to fulfill them right away. This is working out to be very, very big, Srila Prabhupada, this mail order technique. That is, we advertise, and the people write...
Prabhupada: And print Hindi books, Gujarati books also.
Gopala Krsna: Yes. The Gujarati Gita will be ready in one month. I have already finished printing the color pictures for Hindi Gita, Gujarati Gita and Telegu Gita. It's already completed. That Telegu Gita is being printed in Hyderabad, and the Gujarati Gita is also at the printers. And the Hindi Gita is being composed. Plus we are doing a Kannada Gita in Kanarese language.
Prabhupada: Is it necessary?
Gopala Krsna: Yes. We have a temple in Bangalore, and they need it for distribution in Bangalore. But this will be just your verses and translation, like they have done in Telegu two years ago, a small book which they can sell for one rupee or two rupees.
Prabhupada: Don't keep money unnecessarily. Invest.
Gopala Krsna: No, Srila Prabhupada, there's no money. (laughs) BBT is... I'm always asking Hari-sauri to make his payment quickly, because we have invested everything into printing.
Prabhupada: And now we have got..., sent four lakhs.
Prabhupada: Whatever it may be, there is no need of keeping in the bank.
Gopala Krsna: Yes. Because we can print more books and keep them in stock. And now we are finding out that this mail order technique is selling thousands of books. Like in two months I sold more books than Gargamuni's party did in one year with this mail order technique.
Prabhupada: Hm. It is very good.
Gopala Krsna: And now we are doing this for the encyclopedia and for the Hindi books. Like our advertisement came in the third page of the Illustrated Weekly of India. It came in Hindustan Times of that Sunday. Plus, we are sending a mail order campaign directly to people's houses. And thousand Gitas in two months is very, very good, Srila Prabhupada.
Gopala Krsna: Would you like to see those advertisements? Okay. You saw it earlier. It's the same advertisement in different magazines, and this company is paying for it.
Prabhupada: Not at our expense.
Gopala Krsna: No. I just give them a little higher commission, but we still make lot of money, plus it is giving us so much publicity. So many bookstores are seeing this advertisement and asking us to give them books.
Prabhupada: Hm. That's nice.
Gopala Krsna: Plus it increases our prestigethey see so many advertisements of Bhaktivedanta Swami's Bhagavad-gita.
Prabhupada: So follow this policy. Don't keep idle money in the bank.
Prabhupada: Although drinking nothing, cough is coming.
Prabhupada: No medicine, no drinking.
Prabhupada: Hm?
Tamala Krsna: Not very much reducing. Why you're not drinking anything, Srila Prabhupada? I noticed yesterday you did not drink much.
Prabhupada: First of all there is no inclination to drink anything.
Prabhupada: And secondly, if I drink, then there is cough.
Prabhupada: Um, hm.
Prabhupada: I think so.
Upendra: It's just starting again.
Tamala Krsna: What is your conclusion, Srila Prabhupada? Maybe when Dr. Ghosh comes he can give some relief from the coughing.
Prabhupada: You have written him?
Tamala Krsna: Yes. The real problem is the digestion. There's no digestion. Anything you take forms mucus. Instead of forming blood, it forms mucus. You're not as warm as you were yesterday, but you're still a little warm. The rest of your body is not warm. Your head is not so warm. Your pulse is very fast. I don't know what to say, Srila Prabhupada. It's certainly bewildering. I can only expect somehow Krsna has to do something, unless Dr.Gosh with some Western-type medicine can do something.
Prabhupada: This oil massage is very pleasing.
Tamala Krsna: It's pleasing for you and for the masseur also. [break] ...simply have to chant Hare Krsna for you and read Bhagavata, take nice care as much as we are able to, and leave the rest to Krsna, Krsna-Balarama. At least we're sure that that is the right medicine. That shawl that mother Satyabhama made is very nice. It's the first thing that any..., first time that any ISKCON devotee has spun the wool from the sheep. And her letter was also very nice.
Prabhupada: It is fur purchased from the market? Fur? Wool. Wool.
Tamala Krsna: We have sheep on our land, Srila Prabhupada, at Gita-nagari. So Paramananda, he takes care of the sheep, and we take the wool from the sheep. And then from the wool she spins on a spindle and makes the thread, and then she made the shawl by knitting the wool threads. In other words, it's completely begun from scratch. We didn't purchase the wool at a shop or anything. It came from the sheep that we're keeping on our land.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Prabhupada: Rice water required. So what is the time now?
Prabhupada: So in a small pot just soak rice water, little. And after two hours use that water. Let me.
Prabhupada: Yes. One globule, little honey and little rice water. Let me try.
Prabhupada: Yes. You know. But this must be smashed very nicely.
Tamala Krsna: ...in addition to the telegram. The reason I hesitated was that we were not using this kaviraja, so I was wondering whether there was need to call him. I mean I have already sent telegram.
Prabhupada: Second. Second telegram.
Tamala Krsna: All right. No. I haven't sent a second one yet. Should I do that? I could do it. It's not very costly. Two or three rupees. Might be a good precaution to take if we feel that he is needed here now.
Prabhupada: Kaviraja's, his mentality I did not like.
Prabhupada: He was charging five rupees, and because we have gone to him second time, he is charging...
Prabhupada: How much?
Tamala Krsna: Fifty-five rupees just for sixteen little packets, doses of medicine. Two days' medicine, fifty-five rupees. Eighty-five rupees for two days' total. No. Seventy-five rupees for two days.
Prabhupada: We are not hesitating to pay, but this mentality...
Tamala Krsna: Yes, exactly. The point is if that a man has this mentality, then how much can we trust him for medicine? It means he's dishonest man. He's becoming dishonest. Still, some husband must be there, you said. We should have a doctor's help. I still believe that. If possible. After all, we are not doctors.
Tamala Krsna: You are just beginning that now, of course. Tomorrow you might give it up. Then what will be our position?
Prabhupada: Don't have widow.(?) (laughter) Krsna is ultimate husband.
Prabhupada: This here Sac-cid-ananda, where he is?
Prabhupada: Hm. Yes. So that cursian(?) massaging?
Prabhupada: Why not?
Tamala Krsna: I like it. I think it's good for you. Can we put some just now? I can do? Okay. [break]
Prabhupada: Let the first gate be finished.
Tamala Krsna: Okay. I also told him that first do the first gate, then we'll take a second one. (pause)
Prabhupada: Second gate, how much?
Tamala Krsna: First gate is thirty thousand. The temple was going to arrange to pay. Second gate is bigger, forty-five thousand.
Prabhupada: Why?
Prabhupada: So let it be finished.
Tamala Krsna: The first one. And if it's finished nicely, are we prepared to give them money for that?
Prabhupada: Yes, why not?
Upendra: Srila Prabhupada? Would you like some mint tea now? I have the mint tea, that podina chay.
Prabhupada: What is the benefit?
Upendra: It's... You might like the taste, and it's very simple. It's not complicated or anything, certainly not mucus-forming, and it's cooling and refreshing to drink. It's just a nice drink and very simple.
Prabhupada: What is that?
Tamala Krsna: Well, mint tea is water boiled with some mint leaves, so it gets the essence of the taste of mint in boiled water. Sometimes they add a little honey. I think they must have added a little bit of honey. So it's flavored warm water with honey in it. Probably it would be good for you to take some liquid. One should drink some liquid. You are not performing austerities that you don't have to... (Prabhupada chuckles) Just like I think it was Dhruva Maharaja. He did not take anything. We don't want you to do that, Srila Prabhupada. So this is a nice drink. Sometimes in the past I've had it. It has a pleasant taste, and it's soothing on the stomach because it's warm. More or less, it's boiled water with a little flavor and some honey. It will give you little bit of liquid inside, which isn't bad. Not to drink anything, I don't think that would be good.
Prabhupada: So give.
Tamala Krsna: You must be feeling empty inside, Srila Prabhupada. I covered your body with powders. How do you find the taste?
Prabhupada: Not bad.
Tamala Krsna: Want to lay down again? I think that this pillow is not... Probably leg is wrong. No, no, no. One pillow down, Sac-cid-ananda. That's it. [break]
Prabhupada: There is nothing lamentable. What is the special news from New Vrindaban?
Kirtanananda: Everything is going very nice, Prabhupada. Your palace is almost finished. Already many, many people are coming every day to see it. At least thirty a day are coming just to see your palace now, and it's not even finished. But it will be finished in a couple of months. People are talking... One lady the other day, she went in and she turned to one of the boys and she said, "I cannot tell you what I am feeling. It is so wonderful. I just cannot express it."
Prabhupada: Yes, it is wonderful in that quarter. Hm. Let us see which palace I am going. [break]
Abhirama: He just went for getting your water, Srila Prabhupada.
Prabhupada: I want to take little rest.
Abhirama: Take rest now. All right. He wants to rest now. He doesn't want to wash. [break]
Tamala Krsna: After bathing, would you like to go to see Krsna-Balarama today? Very nice. The devotees very much enjoyed seeing you see Krsna-Balarama. They like that very much. I think this powder has had a little effect. Maybe after you come back from Krsna-Balarama I can put some powder on, more powder. Yesterday you did not drink very much.
Prabhupada: Due to that coughing.
Tamala Krsna: Today no coughing yet. So if there is no coughing, you can increase a little bit today.
Prabhupada: Survive. (laughter)
Tamala Krsna: Yes. We're not ready to let you go yet, Srila Prabhupada. We can't resign ourselves to it. All of your disciples are coming. We're not ready yet. Srila Prabhupada, I wanted to show you something.
Prabhupada: What is that?
Tamala Krsna: A very nice statue was made of you, and it's being placed in many libraries and museums. People donate it. Members pay for it to be donated to libraries and schools. It's a bust of Your Divine Grace. It's very heavy. It's made of bronze.
Prabhupada: Oh.
Tamala Krsna: It's a cadara you wear on a cold morning. Very ecstatic pose. It's made of metal. (taps it)
Prabhupada: Strong?
Tamala Krsna: Yes. And this says, "His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Author of Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Caitanya-caritamrta, Sri Isopanisad, Nectar of Devotion, Nectar of Instruction, Back to Godhead Magazine, Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness." This is placed in prominent museums and libraries. There's four different models. This is solid wood, and this will be a bronze plaque, and this is made of bronze, metal. You can feel it. Nice?
Prabhupada: Very nice.
Tamala Krsna: I think it's very beautiful. Very artistic. Very feeling... It shows a tremendous amount of feeling. It also advertises all of your books, so they place it in libraries. Libraries like to have it because you're a very..., most prominent author. People usually have a book display.
Prabhupada: Very nice. (discussion amongst disciples about where in the room to put it)
Tamala Krsna: Bhakti-prema Swami came. Gopala brought him. Shaved his head. He was growing his hairs a little, but now he looks the same as before. Gopala wants to encourage him. Maybe when you see him, if you encourage him to continue Bhagavatam, tell him everyone has praised his translating... I thought after you finish bathing and you have tilaka on, I'll bring him. He's brought a gong for you.
Tamala Krsna: A little more spacious, yes. Same palanquin. Simply they have increased the size. [break]
Prabhupada: Live comfortably. We have got nice place, and whatever comfort you want, you'll get. These Americans, Europeans... When I was in London, I was thinking of getting you there. Anyway, by Krsna's grace you have come. Good for us, good for you.
Bhakti-prema: Gone down(?) over the subject matter about esoteric geography and esoteric history, and I have gotten many good points more.
Prabhupada: Thank you. Perhaps Krsna wanted it.
Prabhupada: Anyway, thank you very much. [break]
Kuladri: ...daksina, eight thousand dollars in daksina, for... Before... With the new system of initiation that you've initiated, he asked them to write you a check for $111 for each devotee he's initiating for you. So he has a check for eight thousand dollars for you. One of the girls has taken silver thread and crocheted this silver bead bag with silver thread. (Prabhupada chuckles) Silver thread on satin.
Prabhupada: Silver thread.
Kuladri: Yes. Also there is some jewelry for you. We have taken some of the onyx from your palace and put some precious stones and made a little jewelry box. And here's one ring one of the girls... Sapphire, star sapphire ring on gold.
Upendra: All made by the devotees?
Kuladri: Made by devotees, yes. The box is also made by devotees. This is onyx from your palace with gold trim. This they have also made. This is a medallion made with sapphire and rubies on gold. The devotees have also made this. Here's some rubies and emeralds and opals.
Prabhupada: So, why don't you find out some bride? (laughter)
Upendra: The handwork, everything...
Kuladri: Everything is done by devotees in New Vrindaban. And here's a new set of clothes, Srila Prabhupada, silk clothes.
Prabhupada: So this will be... At least this one will be given to Krsna-Balarama. So who will take care of?
Kuladri: Yes, should be taken care of. Or it can sit on the altar, Srila Prabhupada? The box is here. It is also jewelry. It can sit on the altar at Their feet?
Upendra: No, "Who takes care that someone...?" They have one safe, almirah, for the jewelry, small.
Kuladri: At least you can wear the ring, Srila Prabhupada.
Prabhupada: Hm?
Kuladri: At least you'll wear the ring. Does it fit?
Prabhupada: Yes. Other ring?
Kuladri: No, this one you're wearing is... Just this. He had one request. Kirtanananda Maharaja asked me... He said you asked us to pray to Krsna before, he said, but he doesn't feel qualified to pray to Krsna. But he asked that you please pray to Krsna for us, because we cannot pray to Krsna directly. We don't know Krsna. But if you ask Krsna, Krsna must be sure to fulfill your desire. So would you please pray to Krsna to stay with us? 'Cause you're His pure devotee, Krsna will certainly grant what you pray for. So on our behalf... I think He must want you to come to the palace, Srila Prabhupada, if it is possible.
Prabhupada: I wish...
Kuladri: You wish? Then come at once. I think that will make Him very happy.
Prabhupada: But unless I become little strong, how can I go?
Kuladri: Hm. So we've also brought some sweets and ice cream, but just now is not so good for you to take it. The ice cream is not so good for you to take just now, so shall we keep it for you?
Prabhupada: Distribute.
Kuladri: You'll take one little taste, Srila Prabhupada? You'll take one little taste? (Prabhupada takes taste)
Prabhupada: First class.
Kuladri: Thank you, Srila Prabhupada.
Prabhupada: So make a list and keep with you.
Kuladri: Inventory. And the checks?
Tamala Krsna: You're a pure devotee. But as you are always saying, "You should pray," therefore we're not very strong in praying. But you are a pure devotee. So Krsna will hear your prayers. If you desire to live, then Krsna can make it happen.
Prabhupada: You are all pure devotees, because you have no other desire.
Tamala Krsna: We are very neophyte, though. Now you're not drinking, so how will you live, Srila Prabhupada? If you stop drinking everything, how will you get any strength? You're tired of trying anymore? You don't think it's possible, Srila Prabhupada? (Prabhupada coughing mucus) [break] (devotees chanting in background)
Prabhupada: That jewelry, etcetera, Kirtanananda gave...
Prabhupada: Who gave? Kuladri?
Prabhupada: Very, very costly thing.
Hari-sauri: Yes. That's an onyx jewelbox with emeralds and things in it. And eight thousand dollars' worth of checks.
Tamala Krsna: Checks. These checks are from initiations I think, Srila Prabhupada. They're guru-daksina for initiations.
Prabhupada: Where Kuladri kept it?
Hari-sauri: He had them locked away, Srila Prabhupada. He was waiting until Tamala Krsna Maharaja woke up, because at that time he was taking rest. Then he was going to give them.
Prabhupada: Where is Kirtanananda?
Prabhupada: It can be given everything.
Prabhupada: So many things have been stolen.
Tamala Krsna: Then let Kirtanananda offer it to his Deity. But the checks I think can be deposited in your account. And these jewels can be given to Radha-Vrndavanacandra.
Prabhupada: Everything.
Prabhupada: Call him.
Tamala Krsna: Do you want to keep the checks or give them to him? You want to keep them in your accounts or give them to him? They are...
Prabhupada: He is developing. He can utilize it.
Tamala Krsna: Hm. That's a fact. That's a fact, Srila Prabhupada. Here is Kirtanananda Maharaja, Srila Prabhupada.
Prabhupada: Kirtanananda Maharaja? This valuable presentation may be utilized for New Vrindaban, Vrndavanacandra, all the jewelries and the money also. You are developing. I have accepted your gifts, and now you can utilize it for developing.
Kirtanananda: Thank you very much, Prabhupada. If it would please you, I'd like to save it for the murti in your palace and use it there.
Prabhupada: You require money, so you take back and utilize it there. That is my request.
Kirtanananda: Thank you very much. Most of all we want you, though.
Prabhupada: Huh? Yes, I know that. And if I survive, I have a strong desire to go where you live there and live there. It will be a great pleasure.
Kirtanananda: All the devotees feel you are already living there, Prabhupada. They are already having puja there every day, twice a day.
Prabhupada: That is the way.
Kirtanananda: And everyone feels when they come in there that it is a very holy place.
Prabhupada: You are worshiping Radha-Vrndavanacandra very intelligently, and the place is being developed very nicely.
Kirtanananda: We have some nice pictures here of your Palace. Can you... Do you feel like seeing them now, or would you rather wait till some other time?
Prabhupada: I can see them.
Kirtanananda: This looks like the king coming to his palace. We are building now a large wall about fourteen feet high all along the road.
Prabhupada: Here is the palace.
Kirtanananda: Yes. It has a big dome on the top. Here's a better picture of it, closer. This was on vyasa-puja day. All the devotees were there offering respects to Your Divine Grace.
Prabhupada: Do it very nicely. [break] ...unique testament.
Kirtanananda: All of this detail work, Srila Prabhupada, is being done in gold leaf on white background. This is all marble. This is the main temple room and kirtana hall. The columns are being covered with marble cut in patterns like this.
Prabhupada: It will be a very... What is called? Attractive spot? What is called? It will be tourist?
Kirtanananda: Yes. Tourist attraction. It will. Already it is that. The walls of the temple room, they are all marble. This is your study room. It has a marble floor. This is the marble floor. And the walls are all being done in marble in this pattern. This is the bedroom floor. This is the lower portion of the bedroom walls, and this is the upper portion, all done in these little... These is all onyx, and these are marble. And these are the outside doors. It's all ornamental carved concrete.
Prabhupada: You have got so many artists.
Kirtanananda: This is a view of the outside near the top railing.
Prabhupada: How they learned so much?
Kirtanananda: (laughs) Krsna's in the heart. Nobody's ever done this before. This is the bracket that goes under the sun shade. This is a view of Bahulaban farm. This is the big guesthouse that is just completed, and this is another new building that has gone up since you've been there. This will be a utility building for all different kinds of shops where they can make jewelry and cast concrete and carpenter shops and all different shops. So we all thank you very much, because it is only by your grace we have gotten this inspiration.
Prabhupada: Besides that, whenever you require money, you can ask. He'll give.
Kirtanananda: Thank you, Prabhupada. I prefer to give it. (laughs)
Prabhupada: No. Give and take. [break] You are fulfilling my dream, New Vrindaban. I dreamt all these things. Wonderful things have been done. He is the first student, from the very beginning. When I was in the storefront he was bringing carpet, bench, some gong, some lamp. In this way...
Kirtanananda: Thank you. [break]
Prabhupada: ...are also so nice, and whatever little prasadam they get, they are satisfied, New Vrindaban. New Vrindaban.
Prabhupada: That is devotee. So for the time being you utilize the money and checks, everything, for developing. So you have returned?
Hamsaduta: And we're also considering that a farm is very important there, to have a farm.
Prabhupada: Apartment?
Hamsaduta: No. It's a house. Quite a large house. Large area.
Prabhupada: What foot is area?
Hamsaduta: It's forty feet wide by maybe three hundred feet long. It's ten minutes from the center of the city. That particular piece of land is worth about two lakhs. There's another man, very rich man. He saw the Bombay project, and he promised to give us a piece of land right on the beach for which he already had zoning permission to build a hotel. It's also a very nice area. But the most important thing is we're trying to get some books published in Tamil and Singhalese languages. And we do a lot of preaching. Is there something special you want me to do there, Prabhupada? Do you have some...
Prabhupada: No. There is every chance of making it successful, and the... As Kirtanananda has developed New Vrindaban, similarly you can do.
Hamsaduta: Something along that line?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Hamsaduta: You mean like a community, spiritual community like Kirtanananda?
Prabhupada: Hm.
Hamsaduta: Yes, that would be very good there because it's also a very ideal climate. Everything grows there very easily because there's plenty of rain, fertile soil, and there's only one citythat's Colombo. And it's a very small city. People are all agriculturalists. The government is also giving land free to encourage agriculture. Simply that it has to be cleared. It's jungle land; it has to be cleared. Shall we try for something like that?
Prabhupada: What you can do it easily...
Hamsaduta: Do.
Prabhupada: Yes. This Dr. Kovoor affair has given you some position.
Hamsaduta: Yes.
Prabhupada: As an atheist... He's an atheist.
Hamsaduta: Yes.
Prabhupada: His position is lost.
Hamsaduta: Yes. It's quite lost. Everyone has been enlightened about his flimsy position.
Prabhupada: (coughing) Our secretary, Krsna? Secretary... Eh? I just forget his speak...(?)
Prabhupada: Yes.
Hamsaduta: I'll get Tamala. (end)
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/conversations/1977/oct/vrndavana/october/06/1977-1 Previous: Room Conversation -- October 6, 1977, Vrndavana Next: Room Conversation -- October 8, 1977, Vrndavana
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