Arrival of Rāmeśvara - BBT manager – January 8, 1977, Bombay

Vigorously push, and whatever available, spend

Ramesvara: All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Jaya!

Prabhupada: I was just talking about you, that "When Ramesvara is coming? What is time?" Very good, early in the morning.

Ramesvara: Srila Prabhupada, you look well. Are you feeling well?

Prabhupada: At the present moment I am feeling well because you are here. [laughing]

Ramesvara: This is daksina from Los Angeles temple.

Prabhupada: Yes, bring more money. [Hari-sauri laughs]

[break] I am going to spend this money in huge advertisement propaganda. I have given him the idea. Because here in India we haven't got devotees pushing as in USA and America we have got our devotees, they are attacking and pushing. Here there is no such devotee. And therefore I have proposed huge, big advertisement in the paper.

Ramesvara: Oh.

Gopala Krsna: Paper and billboards.

Prabhupada: Especially newspapers. I have given the instruction. You are here, and you can arrange, three. I am reading the matter also like this. Read it. It is very simple.

Ramesvara: "Read worldwide Hare Krsna literatures and be happy. Books by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. 1] Srimad-Bhagavatam, Cantos 1-9, twenty-seven volumes, Rs..." [aside:] Not so many. Per volume. "Bhagavad-gita As It Is; Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, seventeen volumes; Teachings of Lord Caitanya; The Nectar of Devotion; Sri Isopanisad; Easy Journey to Other Planets; Krsna Consciousness, the Topmost Yoga System; Krsna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, three volumes; Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers; and so on. Recommended by learned scholars and professors all over the world. Available for reading from all university, college and public libraries of the world, and can be purchased."

Gopala Krsna: We can give the name of few leading bookstores in each city.

Prabhupada: Not through bookstore. Only our...

Gopala Krsna: Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

Prabhupada: Say Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. And you can give that Calcutta agent, Vrinda Book Company... That's all.

Ramesvara: And for the books you have in Hindi you should write "available in Hindi."

Prabhupada: No, Hindi we shall advertise differently.

Gopala Krsna: In Hindi papers.

Hari-sauri: Advertise in Hindi.

Prabhupada: Hindi, yes. And this is English. In this way I have given the idea. We'll make the space contract and ask them the concession, because it is charitable.

Gopala Krsna: That they will give.

Prabhupada: Yes. In this way immediately arrange.

Gopala Krsna: I can put one for next Wednesday's paper.

Prabhupada: First of all take the rate. Then when we shall begin, that we shall decide. So Ramesvara is there. He has got very good experience in everything. How do you like this idea?

Ramesvara: It's excellent.

Prabhupada: That's all right. Then it is final. [laughter] Do it.

Ramesvara: I think... What if we also mentioned how many copies of Bhagavad-gita have been sold in the last year?

Gopala Krsna: Well, we can say "sold to date." I tell people over four million copies sold.

Prabhupada: No, no, that is not required.

Ramesvara: Not required.

Prabhupada: We are selling all worldwide. That is there.

Ramesvara: And also the American universities are using these books in their courses as required.

Prabhupada: That we have said, "Available for reading from university, public libraries all over the world."

Jagadisa: Before you said that we should put also a line that "These books are available in all major languages of the world."

Prabhupada: That is not very important. "All over the world" means it is understood in all other languages. Otherwise how they are reading?

Ramesvara: In Europe, when men go to the libraries, sometimes they don't speak English. So they're already taking standing orders for the Srimad-Bhagavatam in French and other languages.

Prabhupada: So make this immediately.

Ramesvara: This is the notice of the money we just sent to Bombay from Los Angeles, seventy thousand dollars.

Prabhupada: So now do the needful about this. And the invoice? You have sent the books?

Gopala Krsna: Yes.

Prabhupada: So these books are there?

Gopala Krsna: Yes. Now I have everything in stock. We have everything.

Prabhupada: And which we have not got stock, you print here. Keep for sufficient stock, in this way. So I was asking last night that at least in Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, simply whatever collection is there, fifty percent print books and fifty percent spend for temple or for pushing on the books. No money available. Bas.

Ramesvara: That is always the situation. [laughing]

Prabhupada: [laughs] As soon as there will be money, there will be headache and income tax, this tax, that tax. So keep always empty. Bas. Vigorously push, and whatever available, spend. Bas. Finished. How do you like?

Ramesvara: That is always our policy.

Prabhupada: That's all right. And if we have to take contribution, take ISKCON. They're free. But for Bhaktivedanta Trust there is no need of contribution. Then there will be exemption certificate required and so on. We don't want any contribution. If anyone wants to contribute, let him contribute to the ISKCON. They're tax free. And here there is no tax, no tax free. That's all. Print book and sell and spend. Follow this policy there and here also, and push these books. That is our main preaching. Somehow or other, it must go, from door to door, hand to hand. Then our preaching is successful. Anyone who will read, he'll get some benefit, that is sure. Because such literatures are not available throughout the whole world. It is a new revolution to the people in general. Am I right or not?

Ramesvara: Definitely.

Prabhupada: That's all. [laughs] Then do it now. And I shall spend all this money for advertisement. That's all.

Gopala Krsna: One of the biggest bookstores in Bombay, International Book House, has arranged a whole window display of your books.

Prabhupada: That is useless.

Gopala Krsna: Many people were seeing it.

Prabhupada: Useless. I know these men. But you can get some customers. That's all right.

Gopala Krsna: They got some customers.

Prabhupada: Do they purchase or simply display?

Gopala Krsna: No. They purchase also.

Prabhupada: That's nice.

Ramesvara: Actually, in Belgium the National Museum has also set up in their main window a display of your books. And that's very good for a museum, because they do not sell there, but they are considering it so important and scholarly that they are displaying them for the public to see.

Prabhupada: That is good recommendation, yes. If that museum is so important, so to keep our books there is prestigious. In Europe, America, it is going on nice. Now here we have to take advantage of these papers. So I have already given Jagadisa the idea. Now you immediately put into effect. You keep that also with your papers, this format. Yes.

Hari-sauri: Will there be an address on the advertisement for people to write to?

Gopala Krsna: Yes. The Book Trust officer.

Prabhupada: So you take your rest now. Then you shall come and go on talking.

Ramesvara: I'm not actually tired.

Gopala Krsna: He's not tired.

Ramesvara: I'm feeling completely rejuvenated just seeing you, Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Hare Krsna. Yes. Utsahan. This kind of utsaha required. Utsaha means enthusiasm. Utsahan dhairyat . So did you write to Dr. Sukla for sending the translation?

Gopala Krsna: Yes.

Prabhupada: So do it enthusiastically. It is a new peaceful revolution throughout the whole world. What other news?

Ramesvara: Actually, it's not so peaceful in America.

Prabhupada: No?

Ramesvara: In America there are some atheists who are organizing constantly to attack us.

Prabhupada: That is peaceful. That will bring peace.

Ramesvara: Yes. I... We're seeing it. Because now it has become such a controversy that the biggest television and radio programs are begging us, "Come on my show and explain the issue, whether you are brainwashing." So we have been already invited to be on the biggest nationwide television programs, and we're on radio...

Prabhupada: And you are presenting nicely.

Ramesvara: Usually what they do is they bring someone on the show to ask us questions, and this person is very demoniac. He distorts and...

Prabhupada: Why they should question? We shall explain.

Ramesvara: Well, we get the opportunity to, but that's how they set it up. In other words, they want to see us defeated, but in the end they are always defeated.

Prabhupada: Yes, that is in our charge. Yes. They are afraid of their demonic civilization being killed by this movement. That is their...

Gopala Krsna: Fear.

Prabhupada: Therefore they are combining together. The demons, without illicit sex, without intoxication, without meat-eating, without gambling, their life is finished. So they are thinking, "How we shall live if this movement is allowed to make progress like epidemic?" And that is the idea behind.

Ramesvara: We are always saying that "Actually we are not brainwashing; you are brainwashing. You are convincing the people there is no God."

Prabhupada: We are presenting God, His address, His father's name, His residence-everything. If you are intelligent, you can go back home, back to Godhead. If not, you may suffer. Others will go.

Gopala Krsna: That example you gave of the deaf husband... Prabhupada gave an analogy-it is very good-to indicate who is being brainwashed. The example was a deaf husband was calling his wife. That is a very good example.

Ramesvara: They're actually doing service, because they are forcing all these newspapers...

Prabhupada: That is... Hare Krsna-this name has become popular all over the...

Ramesvara: Yes. [to Gopala:] You have to experience it. [laughs] The learned people in America are very concerned that we are being...

Prabhupada: Harassed.

Ramesvara: ...harassed, and they are organizing groups to defend us. In Harvard University...

Prabhupada: That is very good news.

Ramesvara: ...the biggest professors and theologians have organized now a nationwide committee to defend us.

Prabhupada: Very good. This is Krsna's mercy.

Ramesvara: And also the lawyers and psychologists are also organizing in their own fields nationwide committees just to defend us.

Prabhupada: It is so much mercy from Krsna. Krsna wanted all these things. Unless there is... Krsna became important when He killed so many demons, not lying down on the lap of Mother Yasoda. And while He was on the lap of Mother Yasoda, from that day He began to kill. He began to kill. And there was attack. Therefore Krsna became the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So even Krsna was not exempted, what to speak of us. Prahlada Maharaja was not exempted. As soon as you speak of God, this opposition will come. Jesus Christ was crucified. So they are so kind they have not crucified me or my men. [laughs] Otherwise you have to expect all these things. Nityananda Prabhu was personally injured. So these are the... Haridasa Thakura was beaten in twenty-two bazaars. This task is like that.

Ramesvara: They are getting everyone in America to ask the question, "What is Hare Krsna?"

Prabhupada: Huh?

Ramesvara: Because of all their false propaganda, everyone is asking, "What is Hare Krsna? What is Hare Krsna?"

Prabhupada: And that is our triumph. They're chanting Hare Krsna.

Gopala Krsna: I read that even the New York Daily News took a poll to find out. They were asking every person what they think about Hare Krsna. Usually they only take polls for very important issues.

Ramesvara: Yes, but it was terrible. [laughter]

Gopala Krsna: The poll?

Ramesvara: Yes.

Prabhupada: And Dialectic Spiritualism is published?

Ramesvara: This year, after the Mayapur Festival. Hayagriva hasn't finished working on it completely.

Prabhupada: How many pages it will be?

Ramesvara: Two volumes.

Prabhupada: Two volumes?

Ramesvara: Two volumes, eight hundred pages.

Prabhupada: Oh? So, big?

Gopala Krsna: Is that Harikesa's book?

Jagadisa: Syamasundara.

Ramesvara: Prabhupada explaining the different philosophies of the world. This was something that just appeared just before I left Los Angeles. This shows how they are fighting back. This a four-page article... [break] ...as if it is a very nice thing. And they say in the article that the parents have to pay these professionals $25,000 just to steal a devotee.

Hari-sauri: Twenty-five thousand...

Prabhupada: Heavy tax.

Hamsaduta: We don't pay them anything. They come to us.

Prabhupada: Yes. We are getting advertise, publicity, paying nothing. This is our profit.

Ramesvara: We still have to work very hard to defeat them.

Prabhupada: Oh, yes. That is necessary. You don't sleep. Never, never Krsna said to Arjuna that "I am your friend. I am God. You sleep here. [laughter] I'll do everything." No. "You must fight." That is wanted. Yuddhyasva mam anusmara [Bg 8.7]: "You fight and remember Me. Then I'll do everything." This is an opportunity of remembering Krsna always-krsna-seva.

[break] So what are these pictures? Against us?

Ramesvara: Yes. This shows that if they kidnap you and they convince you to give up your belief in God, you will be very happy. You will have nice girlfriend. You will be very happy.

Prabhupada: Ohhh. Yan maithunadi-grhamedhi-sukham hi tuccham [SB 7.9.45]. This material world means this sex. That is happiness. And we are saying, "Don't enjoy this happiness like hogs." Nayam deho deha-bhajam nrloke kastan kaman arhate vid-bhujam ye [SB 5.5.1]. "This kind of happiness available in the hog's life, dog's life. Why you are anxious for this happiness?" This is our philosophy. Real happiness? Tapo divyam: just undergo some austerity for attaining Krsna. This is our... How they will understand it? Therefore they are thinking, "Unless there is brainwash, how this philosophy is being preached?" Just opposite. They are thinking, "This is happiness," and we have condemned it: "This is happiness of the hogs." Actually that is... Hog is also enjoying that sex without any discrimination whether it is mother or sister or daughter. That is going on. Sex must be there. It doesn't matter who he is. This is the world's position, hog civilization. Why a person is condemned as hog, especially in India?

He's suyar ka baccha . Why? The hog has no discrimination of sex. No animal has got-especially this hog. You'll find a study, that one side, drinking the milk, and next, plies over him. Cannot reach. Still, hog wants.... Small kiddies for sex. That sex desire is so strong from the very beginning of... And no sense that "It is my mother."

Hari-sauri: Yes, we have seen that in Vrndavana.

Prabhupada: Yes. Nature's study gives the... And therefore Bhagavata gives the example: "Don't work so hard simply for hog civilization." So if we use this word-it is very, very harsh for the Western people-"It is the hog civilization," actually it is so. But you cannot say. Satyam bruyat priyam bruyat Unless it is palatable, you cannot say straight. That is... They take it seriously, that "You are criticizing our mode of life." Hare Krsna.

[Dr. Patel enters] Aiye, aiye, aiye.

Dr. Patel: You're not going to walk upstairs?

Prabhupada: Yes. It is not yet six.

Dr. Patel: I did not go for a walk today.

Prabhupada: Oh. You want to go to Magha-mela? Er...

Gopala Krsna: Kumbha-mela?

Dr. Patel: See, the thing is, I am prepared to come, but difficulty would be to come back.

Prabhupada: Why?

Dr. Patel: I would not stay all the time that you are there, you know.

Gopala Krsna: We can help him get a ticket, because we have a letter of introduction from a very big Central Railway officer for the chief man in Allahabad at the Central Railway. He got us the tickets.

Prabhupada: Or let us go by car.

Dr. Patel: By car?

Prabhupada: Yes.

Dr. Patel: It would take three days.

Prabhupada: Never mind. What is that?

Dr. Patel: All right. I'll come with you.

Prabhupada: We shall enjoy. We shall stop somewhere and have picnic. I like that.

Gopala Krsna: Your car from Vrndavana is reaching there. [pause]

Prabhupada: So work very vigorously.

Hari-sauri: [to devotee] I can record that.

Prabhupada: [Transl. See, we bring money from foreign country and they accuse "We send from here." [To Hari-sauri: Just show him.]

[break]

Ramesvara: I can show you this later. This is a copy of a newsletter that we have intercepted from the enemy camp. We have our newsletter, and they also have their newsletter. So we have gotten ourselves on their mailing list, so we can find out all their strategy.

Prabhupada: Yes. When there is fight these things are studied. Ature niyamo nasty [necessity knows no law] When there is fight there is no question of immoral or moral. "We must get victory," that's all. Krsna did it. Krsna asked...

Hari-sauri: According to this, they've made it legal, deprogramming.

Ramesvara: Yes, in some places.

Hari-sauri: They're making it legal that they can hold a person by force until they break him mentally.

Jagadisa: Ramesvara? Are there many of our devotees who've been deprogrammed, or are they mostly other groups?

Ramesvara: Mostly others. Srila Prabhupada, the business of the Book Trust has gotten very big. So the warehouse in Los Angeles has become too small. So we have gotten a new warehouse.

Prabhupada: We have got a warehouse like Howrah Station.

Ramesvara: This is a picture of the new building.

Gopala Krsna: Looks very nice.

Ramesvara: It is not yet completed. They are building it just for us.

Prabhupada: [Transl. Just see Doctor-sahab, what they all are doing!]

Ramesvara: This is a picture of the side of the building. This truck holds 20,000 copies of Bhagavad-gita. It's being unloaded into the warehouse.

Prabhupada: [Transl. I simply sit here and order and they carry it out.]

Ramesvara: These are pictures of the inside as we are beginning to fill it up with books.

Prabhupada: It is not yet filled up.

Ramesvara: It will be, very soon. This is part of it. We just moved in as I was leaving for India, so I had them shoot these pictures very quickly.

Prabhupada: [Transl. Just show.]

Ramesvara: And the former warehouse... We now need more space for the dioramas. We're going to start manufacturing them for all the temples. So we're going to use the former warehouse, that you once visited, for Baradraj. He needs that much space because he's going to be making the dolls, then making a mold. Then once you have the mold, you can mass produce.

Prabhupada: So that we can show in every center.

Ramesvara: Yes. They'll make them out of a different substance so that they can be shipped, without breaking, all over the world.

Prabhupada: What is the material?

Ramesvara: The original doll will be straw and clay. But then for mass production it will be fiberglass.

Prabhupada: Fiberglass.

Ramesvara: Very hard and light. Not so heavy.

Prabhupada: It is not... What is called? Burn? Fire? Inflammable?

Ramesvara: No, it is fireproof.

Prabhupada: Oh. That's all right. Then it is all right.

Ramesvara: It will be permanent. Even if you brush into it, it will not break. Very durable.

Prabhupada: All right. You take rest. We shall go a little...

[everyone leaves room] [break]

Hari-sauri: They've actually legalized it. There's one group, they're claiming that by deprogramming people they give them freedom of thought.

Prabhupada: But you are... By deprogramming... They are thinking of Krsna; you are checking. Where is the freedom of thought? Then you are illegal. They want to think of Krsna, and you are checking. Then who is illegal? We have to put in that way, in their word, that "Then you have no right to check him about thinking of Krsna." This will be our argument. Yes. How you can check? Let him think of Krsna freely, because Krsna wants. Then you have to take Bhagavad-gita as illegal.

Hari-sauri: Yeah. If they condemn the whole thing, they have to condemn the whole, entire Hindu religion.

Prabhupada: That's it. We have to fight in that way.

Hari-sauri: This is really separating us from these other cults, because most of these other cults, they have no defense, because their whole thing is a concoction. But for ourselves, we're actually practicing a standard way of worship, and we have so many testimonials from actual Hindus themselves.

Prabhupada: No, outside scholars...

Hari-sauri: And from all the scholars and professors and everything.

Prabhupada: "It is bona fide thinking, and you are checking."

Hari-sauri: What complicates it is that they get ex-cult members to come and testify that "Yes, I was psychologically kidnapped. I was made into a robot just to think of God."

Prabhupada: Yes.

Hari-sauri: So that the whole thing's become a very...

Prabhupada: We have to defend in our way.

Devotees: All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Jaya. Ramesvara Maharaja ki jaya.

[end]