Conversation at Gītā Bhavan – December 6, 1970, Indore

A spiritual master is addressed Prabhupada

Prabhupada: Begging from door to door for laksmi. How can I [indistinct].

Indian (1): [Laughs] if you [indistinct], Maharaja.

Devotee: Program for Caitanya Mahaprabhu hated when people call him Narayan. [indistinct]

Prabhupada: Within this coat you are, therefore I shall not ask you coat.

Indian (1): [Laughs]

Prabhupada: Is that any reason? Because within the coat you are, therefore can I address you Mr. Coat? So in this way so many things are misused.

Indian (1): [indistinct] [background chatter]

Prabhupada: That is wrong.

Indian (1): Sometimes if one is usual the karma prospect[?], so they say.

Prabhupada: Therefore say, over respecting himself. That example I gave you. That if I say, "Your Majesty" that is an insult. This is not respect it is insult.

Indian (1): [indistinct]

Prabhupada: Law of identity, he.., one should be addressed as he is. Not more than that, not less than that.

Indian (1): [indistinct]

Prabhupada: Eh?

Indian (1): [indistinct]

Prabhupada: Yes, your Holiness. That is sufficient.

Indian (1): [indistinct]

Prabhupada: Eh?

Indian (1): [indistinct]

Prabhupada: Maharaja, Swamiji, Maharaja, Prabhupada. This is sufficient.

Indian (1): Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Yes. A spiritual master is addressed Prabhupada. A sannyasiis addressed as Maharaja, or Swamiji, like that.

Indian (2): But sometimes we don't know the certain distinction between Maharaja and Swamiji and that..., because in India it is a common term.

Prabhupada: Swamiji, Swamiji means the master of the senses. One who is master of the senses. Generally we are servant of the senses. Generally.

Indian (1): [indistinct]

Prabhupada: [Laughs] So one who has control of his senses he is called Svami or Gosvami.

Indian (1): Gosvami?

Prabhupada: Yes. Svami or Gosvami the same thing. Go means senses and svami means master. Generally people are servant of the senses. So one who has controlled the senses. The senses act according to his order. He does not act according to the senses order. He is.

Indian (1): [indistinct]

Prabhupada: Eh?

Indian (1): [indistinct]

Prabhupada: Acha. [indistinct, Hindi discussion]. [break] [end]