Conversation – July 6, 1971, Los Angeles

710706R1-Los Angeles [10:14 Minutes]

On another planet? [laughter] What is far from here?

Govinda dasi: [laughing] [indistinct] souls in the universe…

Prabhupada: Yes. And your name will be perpetuated in the Bhagavat. You've done a great service. Yes. This is recognized. So introduce this tulasiplant; teach them. That is your special concern, how to grow tulasi.

Govinda dasi: I planted some yesterday. They should be up by next weekend.

Prabhupada: Who has taken charge?

Govinda dasi: This boy. What's his na...? It starts with a V.

Prabhupada: Anyway, give him always instructions, and enquire how it is done, how it is going; if not, what is the defect. In this way, all the centers, that is your special business: how to grow tulasi. It is very important task. Without tulasi, no temple is perfect. If tulasi does not grow, it means there is want of devotion. This is the point. I am commenting on the…, my Guru Maharaja's devotional service instruction in Bhagavat.

He has written, there is mention of tulasi. In that connection I am mentioning in regard of Krsna consciousness movement, "Govinda dasi has done a great service." Yes. In this way, that is your special… And you also plan how to introduce our books in the educated circles. I have no shortage. You should always be engaged-not a single moment to spare without serving Krsna. That is Krsna consciousness. Not a single moment. Even sleeping we shall serve.

[devotees enter, offer obeisances] Jaya. Sai is also a nice boy, improving his Krsna consciousness. Try to convert all these hippies to this Krsna consciousness. They are our good friends. Give them nice prasada, call them, bring them here, chanting. In this way. And decide who has come [indistinct]. We have to work for it.

Gaurasundara: Together with Sai, there are two other boys that were initiated, so they should have sacred thread, also. [indistinct]

Prabhupada: The process is I shall send you the sacred thread, and… You have got tape?

Gaurasundara: No, we haven't....

Prabhupada: Tape should be played, directly hear, on the right ear, and then yajna performed. Offer the sacred thread and read the mantras, chant the holy names, pranamas, nicely. Then teach him how to chant ten times, om bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ tat savitur varenyam bhargo devasya dhimahi dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayat. This is one. Again, om bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ tat savitur varenyam bhargo devasya dhimahi… Ten times, each mantra. Try it.

Gaurasundara: Could we make the tape now, if we have no tape?

Prabhupada: I sent you one tape.

Gaurasundara: No, we sent it back to Hridayananda Maharaja. He...

Devotee: There is no tape. We were going to....

Prabhupada: Get one, several small tapes, and I can chant and distribute.

Devotee: Not…, not Dictaphone tapes.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Devotee: Not Dictaphone tapes?

Prabhupada: Yes, Dictaphone. It will be dictated in the Dictaphone, and the tape will be sent, and you can hear the sound.

Devotee: So it [indistinct].

Govinda dasi: Or a three-inch reel. You can get three-inch reels that look the same. I don't know about the speed.

Devotee: [indistinct] play on the Dictaphone.

Govinda dasi: Speed. Well, it depends on the speed of the tape recorder.

Prabhupada: Eh? Speed will be mentioned there, that speed.

Govinda dasi: Srila Prabhupada?

Prabhupada: Hm?

Govinda dasi: Last year, just when I was leaving I asked you a question that how can I. Is there some prayer for understanding the separation with the spiritual master?

Prabhupada: There is no separation, so long you are engaged in service. I never think that I am separated with my guru, spiritual master. I never think it. Why do you think like that? You should be engaged in the service.

Govinda dasi: There was a prayer by Lord Caitanya.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Govinda dasi: There was a prayer that you told me, by Lord Caitanya…

Prabhupada: Hm.

Govinda dasi: …and I...

Prabhupada: What is that prayer?

Govinda dasi: I don't…, I don't remember what... You just said that last prayer of Lord Caitanya, and I was uncertain which prayer. Gaurasundara asked me which prayer that was, and I was uncertain which it was.

[talking to Gaurasundara] You can explain [indistinct]…

Prabhupada: Anyway, so long you are engaged in the service of the spiritual master, carrying his orders, you are not separated. That is [indistinct]. If we do something else besides spiritual master, according to my whims, then we are separated. Just like when you read Bhagavad-gita you're not separated from Krsna. When you worship Deity of Krsna, you are not separated from. This is the conclusion, absolute world. Either he can be present physically or he's present with his order-the same thing.

Gaurasundara: So you will be sending three tapes...

Prabhupada: Huh?

Gaurasundara: ...tapes here?

Prabhupada: Yes, yes.

Devotee: So is it better to [indistinct]

Prabhupada: You get the small reel tape..., Dictaphone tape with the speed mentioned, that will be...

Devotee: I think the tape recorder is [indistinct].

Prabhupada: Is it working or not?

Aravinda: It will work. I will need a fuse. I've asked them to get a fuse.

Prabhupada: Fuse?

Aravinda: A fuse, because this is 120 volts coming, so a different fuse is needed.

Prabhupada: Oh!

Aravinda: So I have asked him to get it. I hope he got it.

Prabhupada: So, who will fix something, then why did he bring it?

Aravinda: Hm?

Prabhupada: The fuse cannot be had?

Aravinda: Yes, they are getting it. A little difficulty.

Prabhupada: Difficult?

Aravinda: The difficulty is that the place that carries them is far away.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Aravinda: The difficulty is that the place that carries the fuse, that has the fuse in stock, is far, far from here.

Prabhupada: Far from here?

Aravinda: Yes, and we have to make a special...

Prabhupada: On another planet? [laughter] What is far from here?

Aravinda: [indistinct]

Prabhupada: We are going in…, traveling all over the world, and within Los Angeles it is far from here? [devotees laugh] I have got another tape, Dictaphone. You have?

Aravinda: Yes.

Prabhupada: Here, another.

Aravinda: It is working?

Prabhupada: I do not know.

Aravinda: I'll see.

Govinda dasi: [indistinct] [devotee enters, offers obeisances]

Prabhupada: If he wants to come here, I am here until the fifteenth. He can come here. But you will see, he is very weak.

Govinda dasi: He can sleep out in the car.

Prabhupada: All right. [devotee offers obeisances] Wherever we may remain, Krsna is always there. I mean Krsna, Krsna's representative, is always there. Simply we have to engage ourselves in his service. Jaya. Hare Krsna.

Devotee: [to other devotee] You were at the airport? [indistinct] fuse…

Govinda dasi: [explaining to other devotee what Prabhupada had said] He said…, Aravinda said it's far place from here, then "What do you mean, far? On another planet? We're traveling all over the world..." [break] [end]