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Kirtanananda: Srila Prabhupada... (long pause)
Prabhupada: Who is he?
Prabhupada: Oh. Hm. So, what you want? Eh?
Kirtanananda: (crying) If Krsna gives you the choice, don't go. We need you.
Prabhupada: That is your trouble now, distress.
Brahmananda: We have all met together, Srila Prabhupada. We want you to remain and lead this movement and finish the Srimad-Bhagavatam.
Prabhupada: Hm.
Brahmananda: We said you must remain at least another ten years. You've only done fifty percent work.
Prabhupada: No. There are many good... Everyone will have. Hm. Good to hear. Hm. All right. (devotees laugh with relief)
Kirtanananda: Haribol.
Prabhupada: So give me something to drink.
Devotees: Jaya Srila Prabhupada!
Kirtanananda: All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Prabhupada: That is real affection.
Kirtanananda: Is someone getting?
Brahmananda: What does he have? Grape juice?
Tamala Krsna: Srila Prabhupada? You'll drink by sitting up? (devotees sit Srila Prabhupada up) (aside:) Fold his legs.
Prabhupada: What is that?
Upendra: This is grape juice. (Prabhupada drinks juice) [break]
Prabhupada: Strawberries they have brought?
Prabhupada: I'll take some strawberries.
Prabhupada: Plain.
Devotees: Jaya.
Prabhupada: Later on, little. What is the benefit of strawberry?
Abhirama: They're like grapes, similar.
Prabhupada: Hm? Hm?
Hamsaduta: I don't know the benefit of strawberries.
Tamala Krsna: What nutritional benefit does strawberry give? Tejiyas says they have sugar in them, so it gives good energy.
Prabhupada: Where is Tejiyas?
Prabhupada: You are coming from Hyderabad?
Tejiyas: Yes, Srila Prabhupada.
Prabhupada: What is the news?
Tejiyas: We're harvesting the mung and the rice.
Prabhupada: Hm?
Tejiyas: They've got some new cows also. One cow is giving twenty liters of milk.
Prabhupada: So rice and mung.
Tejiyas: Also corn, Srila Prabhupada.
Prabhupada: The villagers will like it very much. You smash it by that dhenki. You know that machine?
Prabhupada: Yes. So as much as it is powdered, make it ruti, and the hard portion make rice. The krsanas will like, and it is very nutritious.
Tamala Krsna: Actually, Srila Prabhupada, you gave your word to Krsna in Bombay that you would see Him sitting in His new big temple. So you have yet to keep your word fully to Him.
Brahmananda: We have fixed a date for the opening of the Bombay temple-January 1st.
Prabhupada: Oh.
Brahmananda: So we would like to invite you to come, Srila Prabhupada. It is your temple. You have asked Krsna to come there, and when we all gave up, you carried on the fight.
Prabhupada: Yes. Everything I do is(?) fighting. Out of (indistinct), fighting, survival and construct such a big temple is a great triumph.
Tamala Krsna: I don't think Krsna will come into that temple unless you personally are there, Srila Prabhupada, to open the door for Him.
Prabhupada: All right. But chanting should not be stopped.
Brahmananda: Oh, no, Srila Prabhupada.
Prabhupada: It should go naturally. Kirtanananda's...
Kirtanananda: Yes?
Prabhupada: ...palace, when it will be ready?
Kirtanananda: Early spring. Soon as the weather starts to warm up. It just gives you a little time to recuperate here and then go to Bombay and open the temple there and then come to your palace. I have about fifty or seventy-five letters from the devotees at New Vrindaban. They're just all begging you to come. They say their life is finished if you don't.
Prabhupada: Hm. So let me take a little rest. Then I shall take strawberry.
Devotees: Jaya Srila Prabhupada.
Brahmananda: Thank you very much.
Devotees: Jaya! [break]
Hamsaduta: Srila Prabhupada?
Prabhupada: Giriraja? Did not go to the bank?
Giriraja: The bank? Well, yesterday we delivered a letter signed by Tamala Krsna Goswami and myself officially instructing them to transfer the fixed deposits from here to Delhi. So there are a couple of formalities. And so the Delhi manager gave us a note what we have to do. And Tejiyas says that the former chairman of the Punjab Bank is a life member.
Prabhupada: Oh.
Giriraja: So he said that he could even come with us and meet them. So the new chairman, I mean the present chairman, is coming on Tuesday. So I think we'll get all the formalities ready, and then we can go on Tuesday. Today is Sunday, so we couldn't do anything today.
Prabhupada: So these people have agreed?
Giriraja: The local people? Well, they have not agreed. That's why we felt that we have to meet the chairman. Legally we have every right to transfer the fixed deposit wherever we like, and if the former chairman is with us, then they can't give any false excuses because he knows all the rules. Actually we're not asking for anything special. Otherwise we're... Probably the local people will try to avoid giving it up. But this is our right, and the chairman has to uphold our right as customers of the bank.
Prabhupada: What is their plea here?
Giriraja: Local people? Well, they will say that there's no reason to transfer the fixed deposits.
Prabhupada: We have reason.
Giriraja: Yes, we have reason. That is our choice. And the manager in Delhi already said that for our foreign remittances it would be much easier to bring it in Delhi.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Giriraja: So I think we could have an account at the main office in Delhi and the money can come first there, and that will make them satisfied. And since we have our office in Delhi, and since Delhi is the main city, it's more convenient for us to have our most things there. And then when we need it in Vrndavana it can be brought here. Manager of the Delhi branch asked us if we have a branch in Delhi. So when I said that we do, he said, "Then it will be more convenient for you to deal with the main branch."
Prabhupada: So do it. Transfer.
Giriraja: Yes. [break]
Prabhupada: ...to deliver to the banks?
Giriraja: We have the copy of that letter with their stamp that they received it.
Prabhupada: So what is that copy? What you have written?
Giriraja: Well, we wrote two letters, because the fixed deposits are in the name of ISKCON Krsna-Balarama Temple Maintenance. So we said that "We are holding the following fixed deposits in your Vrndavana branch," and then we gave the list of the numbers and the amount and when it is due, and we said, "Please arrange to transfer these to your main branch in New Delhi." And then another letter for those in the name of ISKCON Vrndavana-Mayapura Trust. Same contents. So then they wrote back that we should write the same letter addressed to the Vrndavana branch and with a copy to them, and we should give the original and the copy to them, and they will present the original to the Vrndavana branch and get them to transfer the money. And the second point is that they wanted us to give them the fixed deposit receipts, and they said they would give us a receipt. But we are hesitating to do that, because we are afraid if they give those receipts to the Vrndavana branch, then they may keep them. So we want to propose that the Vrndavana people should transfer the money and they should prepare a new receipt for the Delhi branch. And when the new receipt is prepared, they can give us the new receipts and we will give them the old receipts.
Prabhupada: Very good. [break] They should give in writing.
Giriraja: Yes. Yes. [break]
Prabhupada: They have given you receipt, huh?
Giriraja: Well, they gave receipt for the letter, and what they propose for the certificates is that we give them the certificate, they will give us a receipt for the certificates, then they will endorse the certificates for Delhi instead of Vrndavana. Then they will give back the certificates and we will give them the receipt.
Prabhupada: So let them write and give us the certificates, and we shall do this.
Giriraja: They should write that they will give us the...
Prabhupada: Whatever they are asking, they can write.
Giriraja: Yes. They wrote it on the bottom portion of the letter which we wrote them. Of course, we can ask them to write again on their own letterhead. Otherwise they've already written on the copy of our letter to them, and they signed it with their rubber stamp. Anyway, there's no problem, because when we go there we can just ask them to type up the same thing on their letterhead so it's more official.
Prabhupada: What letter they gave?
Giriraja: Well, on our letter... On the copy of our letter they wrote back to us that we should give them a copy of the same letter which we addressed to them, but we should address it to the Vrndavana branch. And then they will present that letter to the Vrndavana branch and ask them to transfer the money.
Prabhupada: Well, why don't you do that?
Giriraja: Yes, we're doing that. And the second point is the Delhi office wrote that we should give them the fixed deposit receipts and they will give us a receipt for that. Then they will get those fixed deposit receipts changed over to the New Delhi office, and then they will give us back the certificates and we will give them back the receipt.
Prabhupada: So there is no problem. Huh?
Giriraja: Well... The only problem is if the Vrndavana people try to hold on to the receipts and make difficulty. In ordinary course of business there is no difficulty. This is the ordinary procedure. So we will try to arrange that the endorsement of the certificates to New Delhi could be done in our presence instead of our giving them the certificates.
Prabhupada: What is that endorsement?
Giriraja: That this money, instead of being payable from Vrndavana, now we can take that money from the New Delhi office.
Prabhupada: The money is due after some years.
Giriraja: Yes.
Prabhupada: So do we have reason, deposit them? (?)
Giriraja: Yes. I feel that we can do this.
Prabhupada: Thank you. Tejiyas has come.
Giriraja: Yes.
Prabhupada: That's good.
Giriraja: He will come with me and then we'll meet the former chairman, who is also a life member, and he can come with us and just see it through very safely.
Prabhupada: Don't try to receive payment.
Giriraja: No, no.
Prabhupada: Just transfer to your Delhi head office.
Giriraja: Yes. [break]
Prabhupada: Hm.
Prabhupada: How are you?
Ramesvara: I'm feeling very well, knowing that you're feeling better.
Prabhupada: Hm.
Ramesvara: I was just visiting in Tehran with Atreya Rsi and Parivrajakacarya Swami. They are successfully preaching to the most important people in that country.
Prabhupada: Oh, yes.
Ramesvara: Actually, just yesterday Parivrajakacarya met the king.
Prabhupada: Hm. Shah.
Ramesvara: The Shah. Very briefly. And he is allowing Parivrajakacarya to visit the court. Practically every day they send a car to pick him up, chauffeured car. And he goes every day to the palace and he preaches to different members of the royal family.
Prabhupada: He tries to understand the philosophy.
Ramesvara: Not yet the Shah. He is simply smiling that he's... He's happy that he's coming. But the other members of the family, some princes and princesses, they are taking it very seriously. They are eager to help us.
Prabhupada: That's good news. What is this?
Prabhupada: It is a good news.
Ramesvara: It is very difficult to publish any books in Iran, but the princess is personally giving our first book to the Minister of Information and ordering him to give us permission to print. It's a Muslim country, so it's very difficult. But the royal family is ordering the ministry that censors all publications. They are ordering them to let us have permission to start publishing your books in the local language, Persian, or Parsi.
Prabhupada: So they are going to do that?
Ramesvara: She is personally going to the minister and ordering him, "Now you give permission that this book be printed." Whatever... It is a monarchy. Whatever they want, it is arranged. So in this way they are helping us. She also came to Los Angeles temple for a visit and saw the doll museum. She liked that very, very much. She was very, very astonished at how devotional.
Prabhupada: (aside:) Why not scratch hard?
Prabhupada: Yes. Whole area.
Ramesvara: And she requested one painting from the Tenth Canto, which she wants to hang in the palace. And in this palace the rulers of all the countries of the world pass through as visitors. So she is hanging this painting of Krsna stealing butter. (Prabhupada laughs) Very big painting. So I brought the painting with me when I went to Tehran so they could display it.
Prabhupada: Anyone can scratch very hard?
Kirtanananda: I'm afraid you won't have any back left.
Prabhupada: Oh, Kirtanananda, you are doing. (devotees laugh)
Jayatirtha: He is your original masseur. He wants his old job back now.
Prabhupada: Not so hard. (laughs)
Ramesvara: Actually the princess is very eager to come to India to meet you. She's been planning to do this with her husband. Her husband is the most powerful prince in the country. He's involved with the oil exporting and buying weapons and so many matters. And they're both very eager to have your darsana.
Prabhupada: They have got money. Now if they follow little our instruction, it will be an ideal country.
Jayatirtha: Yes, Srila Prabhupada. You used to say "American money and Indian knowledge." But now all the money is in the Arab countries. So we have to get it from them. [break]
Ramesvara: We sent the second volume of Tenth Canto to the printers two weeks ago, so within one more week the advanced copies will be ready to send.
Jayatirtha: This last week the European zones were number one, two, and three in the world. All the American zones were behind.
Jayatirtha: Yes. Last week in London we distributed seventy thousand books.
Jayatirtha: This is the world's record for the most books ever distributed by any temple any week in history. But this week Bhagavan has sworn he'd beat it. That's why he hasn't come yet. He'll be here tomorrow.
Tamala Krsna: Bhagavan is personally staying there to make sure his zone beat Jayatirtha's zone. And only after he's achieved victory, then he's going to come and see you.
Prabhupada: Vedic civilization is sarve sukhino bhavantu: "Everyone be happy." This is Vedic civilization. And this is the way, Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission. The same house?
Ramesvara: The same house that you stayed at last time.
Prabhupada: Good house.
Ramesvara: Also in downtown they purchased one house which cost $170,000. And the brahmacaris live on the top floor, and then the ground floor is the restaurant.
Prabhupada: Hm.
Tamala Krsna: I think you went there when there were still other people living there. You said that the man received you very properly?
Prabhupada: Hm.
Ramesvara: Every evening they get about eighty to one hundred people for dinner at the restaurant, and they're just starting the lunch shift. When I was there the president of the largest bank was coming for dinner, and other important people in the country of Iran were coming.
Prabhupada: Vegetarian dinner.
Jayatirtha: And they're all Muslims.
Prabhupada: Oh, he is very able.
Ramesvara: He just recently left his company, Arthur Young, and started his own business. And all the customers from Arthur Young switched over. So now he is making more money by this arrangement.
Prabhupada: What Dayananda is doing?
Ramesvara: During the day he has a job with computer work, and in the evening he manages the restaurant. He is the general manager of the restaurant.
Ramesvara: His wife also helps in the kitchen. She spends the whole day working in the kitchen at the restaurant. And the two girls, they help as waitresses, serving the food and taking the plates.
Prabhupada: They are all Muslim. That quarter is very busy where the house, restaurant.
Ramesvara: Yes. It's only about five minutes from the Senate and the main Parliament buildings. Also the biggest museums are very nearby. Very good location. And one man has also joined, a local man who is very intelligent. And he has begun translating Bhagavad-gita into Parsi. And in three months' time his translation of the entire Bhagavad-gita will be completed.
Ramesvara: That's a different man.
Prabhupada: It will be locally published.
Prabhupada: Locally published.
Ramesvara: Yes.
Prabhupada: You are helping that.
Prabhupada: Hm. He has got a Mercedes car?
Ramesvara: They have one car. I don't think it is a Mercedes.
Prabhupada: But that car is good.
Ramesvara: Yes.
Tamala Krsna: You want some head massage, Srila Prabhupada? Little oil? Without oil. Would you like a little kirtana, Srila Prabhupada?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Prabhupada: He opened a branch in Pakistan.
Ramesvara: Not yet. There's one woman in Karachi who is Hindu woman. But her husband was a governor, one of the governors in Pakistan. He was a Muslim and he just died. And now she wants to reestablish her Hindu faith. She contacted me in Los Angeles and she wants to help open the temple in Pakistan. So I have given the name and address to Atreya. (leads kirtana) [break]
Prabhupada: That will be our excellent achievement. This is our mission, the... Whatever we have got, teach others. In this spread. The whole world is chanting. Did you recite the verses in Fiji?
Prabhupada: They appreciated?
Prabhupada: Very good. The Gurukula is meant for this purpose. Teach them and let them go around the world to teach. Taroho e bhava-sindhu. Durlabha manava-janama sat-sange, taroho e bhava-sindhu re. This is our mission. Isopanisad?
Brahmananda: Sing it, Srila Prabhupada?
Prabhupada: Jijiviso. What is that verse? Jijiviso?
Gurukrpa:
Prabhupada: How many things we have to do for preaching, for teaching. And live hundreds of years. That is jijiviso satam yah?
Prabhupada: We are receiving very good report from Iran.
Tamala Krsna: The royal family is taking to Krsna consciousness. I think even your Guru Maharaja would have been surprised to hear that.
Prabhupada: Everyone, if one is actually gentleman. So we have this Gurukula, good chance for teaching future preacher. Here is Yasoda-nandana Maharaja and others. You can do. Prepare, send. Prepare and send.
Brahmananda: "Prepare and send," Prabhupada said. Prepare them and send them.
Prabhupada: How much tremendous work we have to do.
Brahmananda: The whole world, Srila Prabhupada.
Prabhupada: Eh? Unlimited.
Prabhupada: Yes. I am prepared, provided Krsna allows me.
Hari-sauri: In the Bhagavatam you mentioned that Narada Muni has the free will to travel anywhere within the universe-spiritual or material. So you must also have the same ability.
Tamala Krsna: Today we were discussing how nice a devotee you are, Srila Prabhupada, that you are so faithful servant and devotee of Lord Krsna that He allows you to do whatever you want, because He knows that you'll do everything for Him.
Prabhupada: Visaya means material activity. One side is visaya chariya, se rase majiya. One has to give up material activities and engage himself in Krsna consciousness. This is one side. Another side, my Guru Maharaja said, krsna sevai, yanha kahe anukula, visaya boliya tanha haya bhula. Anything which is favorable for krsna-seva, if we give up that business as visaya, that is mistake.
Tamala Krsna: So your life, Srila Prabhupada, is the most favorable thing in this whole world for spreading Krsna consciousness. You should not give it up.
Prabhupada: Anyway, Krsna has given us so many innocent boys. Yasoda-nandana Maharaja, teach them...
Prabhupada: ...like you so far as chanting.
Prabhupada: Hm. Let there be struggle for existence for this purpose.
Brahmananda: Let there be struggle for existence for this purpose. For spreading the movement?
Prabhupada: What is the time?
Brahmananda: Srila Prabhupada? I was thinking that the religion of Jesus Christ has spread all over the world, and you are much greater than Jesus Christ. Your teachings are far, far greater, and your power is far, far greater. So if you remain here more, more years, then certainly this Krsna consciousness movement will spread all over the entire world.
Prabhupada: I am willing.
Brahmananda: Actually we can make this whole world Krsna consciousness.
Prabhupada: Yes. It is not difficult.
Tamala Krsna: You say that you still want to see the world overflooded with Krsna consciousness. You said you wanted to see that happen.
Prabhupada: We can do that.
Prabhupada: Two things. Visaya chariya. Material motive should be given up, and everything should be engaged for Krsna's..., whatever favorable. Then it will... [break] ... Rsi is doing nice. Who is that Maharaja?
Prabhupada: Very nice. Good combination.
Tamala Krsna: He's been there now, Parivrajakacarya Swami, he's been there now for, I think, two or three years now. He's worked pretty faithfully there. He tricks them. In the guise of teaching a little hatha-yoga, then he teaches bhakti.
Prabhupada: That is preaching.
Brahmananda: You also tricked us, Srila Prabhupada, when you came to New York. You were just chanting Hare Krsna and speaking on Bhagavad-gita, and we came and we listened, and then you took everything. You took our lives, took all of our money... (devotees chuckle) We left our families.
Prabhupada: There is a Bengali word, "Enter like a needle and come out like a plow." (laughter)
Prabhupada: If you say in the beginning, "I am a plow," he'll not allow you to enter. Say "I am needle." Let us try to serve Krsna. He'll give all intelligence. Buddhi-yogam dadami tam. Now go on. Take rest.
Prabhupada: Jaya-ho.
Prabhupada: Chanting I like always. (Bengali) (end)
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/conversations/1977/oct/vrndavana/october/09/1977 Previous: Room Conversation Arrival of Jayatirtha and Harikesa -- October 8, 1977, Vrndavana Next: Room Conversation -- October 10, 1977, Vrndavana
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