Room Conversation about Rādhā-Dāmodara Property – November 1, 1973, Delhi

731101R2-DELHI [24:04 Minutes]

[Poor Recording]

Prabhupada: ...then our, this Deity worship is not regulated. Better you revitalize it. It is not that hard. Just see, just like a few days you remain at our temple to see our kirtana, our arati, nobody [indistinct]. If a few men remain there, then [indistinct]... And gradually, I am there in Mayapur, somebody goes, somebody comes [indistinct] maintain fifteen or twenty men. So revitalize. This program.

Syamasundara: Has there been any response from that Gaurachand Gosvami? Did he reply to your letter?

Prabhupada: He has sent it with [indistinct], but the advancement has not come.

Syamasundara: Last Monday. On the Monday.

Prabhupada: Where is that copy?

Syamasundara: I have the copy in the file. [break]

Prabhupada: ...speaking the right-that ah. They are important men. But in Vrndavana, they have no scope for preaching.

Devotee (2): It is up to the preacher to create a scope.

Prabhupada: Huh? Huh?

Devotee (2): It's up to the preacher... [break]

Prabhupada: Therefore we preach sincerely, then people will come. [break] ...our Deity worship, kirtana and the whole [indistinct], then people will come. Gradually the people will come. [break]

Devotee (2): Sahkirtana. Because it's... [break]

Prabhupada: Chant, read, or go outside-preach. Some [indistinct]. And reduce sleeping. Reduce sleep. Sleeping is not good. And to reduce sleeping, you must eat less. [laughter]

Tamala Krsna: I have been following your advice, Prabhupada, and I have been getting up at three-thirty in the morning to chant my rounds before arati...

Prabhupada: That's good. That will give you strength. This is the only way to get…, to be stronger in spiritual life.

Tamala Krsna: I think we should introduce that all over the society.

Prabhupada: First of all, you introduce to yourself. [laughter]

Devotee: All society, I mean…

[break]

Prabhupada: It is made of dalda.

Devotee: What is that?

Devotee (2): Dalda. Oil.

Prabhupada: Too much ghee. You should not accept that. No eating.

Tamala Krsna: It was not made by them-I think they bought it...

Devotee: I think it was one that I... [break]

Prabhupada: Then you'll pay for it. That is danger.

Devotee (2): Mr. Gaurachand drinks? Ohh.

Prabhupada: You don't disclose-I know that. He drinks, and he serves ganja.

Devotee (3): Ganja. The son I have seen, doing that.

Prabhupada: That is their difficulty. That all their other brothers also, they know this. Therefore it is spoilt, that "You are earning money from the Radha-Damodara, and you are spoiling it." Therefore they want to get you out. They are also rogues-fifty cousin-brothers. But I have given you formula that we can arrange for distributing prasadam daily, at least for fifty men. In that fifty men, they also may be included, all [indistinct]. That much I can do. "You go on with your own saivite business. We have nothing to do with that." But if I am given facilities, that means, at least, what better opportunity will be than?

Devotee: Regarding duties?

Prabhupada: Regarding duties.

Tamala Krsna: Prasadam.

Devotee: [reading] "I can arrange for Radha-Damodara temple worship very nicely, namely at least fifty devotees will be offered prasadam daily, including two times refreshment and two times meals. The disciples will remain with me. They will have daily chanting, reciting scriptures very nicely to attract hundreds of persons during the performances. Last time when I was in Vrndavana, you know how much attractive and pure sahkirtana was performed by my disciples.

To arrange for fifty men's prasadam nowadays means daily expenditure. Now plus the rupees 100 daily are rupees 3000 per month. I do not wish to disturb the position of the saivites of Radha-Damodara temple, but simply if I am given the facility to live there with my disciples, it will be my pleasure to serve Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha-Damodara to my best capacity. Now it is up to you, all sevaits, to decide on this fact." [break]

Prabhupada: "You give me facility to live there; other expenses will be taken care of. So fifty men, you can also be included in that." So, what can I offer more? "But I cannot give any cash. That is not possible. That will be arranged [indistinct]."

Tamala Krsna: Your business is with Radha-Damodara.

Prabhupada: That's all. I want to see Radha-Damodara dressed nicely. I shall require I shall dress, I shall offer nice food; daily we can offer kirtana, dancing-everything.

Tamala Krsna: Nice proposal, Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: And now you go on with your sevaits and fight amongst yourselves. I don't care for it. What can I... What can I offer more than this?

Devotee: That will be the greatest contribution to Vrndavana if that temple is revived.

Prabhupada: Yes. So you can talk with him, that "If you agree, then we immediately begin. If you don't agree, then we'll have to start our own temple. We are serious about this matter. So this expenditure will be in other temple, we shall... We are getting land, we shall construct temple, and we shall do this business. But the same business you want to do here, if you give us facilities." That's all.

Devotee: He has some land, open land, behind, he can give us.

Prabhupada: That we shall consider later on. For the time being, we must have living accommodation. And then we will begin. But I am prepared to pay rent also. That I will. "So what do you want more?"

Syamasundara: Is there any accommodation there?

Prabhupada: Accommodation... [break] ...can live there. This is best opportunity I am giving them.

Tamala Krsna: In your two rooms, fifteen or twenty men.

Prabhupada: No, no. Above. There are big, big rooms, at least three, four. You can go down also, there...

Tamala Krsna: That downstairs.

Prabhupada: Downstair. So fifteen, twenty men we can accommodate.

Tamala Krsna: Easily.

Prabhupada: Easily.

Devotee: It seems like a big building they have built...

Prabhupada: Huh?

Devotee: It seems like a big building they have built. It goes back...

Prabhupada: Others... They can lack whatever they have got. Let them give us a lease; we shall construct externally.

Devotee: Residential quarters, classrooms and everything.

Prabhupada: Yes. [break] "We shall repair. We shall repair the whole temple nicely. And we shall make nice silver throne for the Deity, give Him like that." You see? "And daily, fifty to a hundred men gradually will take prasadam here. We shall cover this with, what is called, railing, so that monkey may not come. So it will be unique thing. If you want, we can do it. Otherwise, we start our own temple somewhere. We are prepared to spend, but if you give us chance, we spend here; otherwise we spend somewhere else."

Devotee: And it's not that we are poor men.

Prabhupada: Huh?

Devotee: It's not that we are poor men; we're not just making promises.

Prabhupada: No. That he knows. But actually we shall spend-what is that-we can spend hundreds rupees.

Devotee: For Radha-Damodara.

Prabhupada: Yes. Hundred, two hundred we shall spend. We want to make it unique in Vrndavana. Because it is Jiva Gosvami's place. That is my... Because Rūpa Gosvami and Jiva Gosvami sat there. Therefore.

Tamala Krsna: That will be the very best thing in Vrndavana. That will be the best choice for Radha-Damodara. The temples are... [break]

Prabhupada: You can go to Jaipur, the other partner.

Devotee: Mukherjee?

Prabhupada: No. These are Gosvami. [indistinct] Gosvami. I have sent the copy.

Devotee: Shall I read the purport? [break]

Prabhupada: Amongst themselves, divided the property. That is not legal. That is not legal. Devata's property cannot be partitioned like that. That is illegal. [break] ...devata's property-means property dedicated to the service of the Lord-cannot be divided amongst the saivites. That is not possible. They have done these things illegally. [break] ...can go; try for this. And if possible, then immediately you begin.

Devotee: So we should try for the three choices.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Devotee: There are three choices for Radha-Damodara. [break]

Tamala Krsna: We can make that offer.

Prabhupada: "Why you have come here, Americans? This is occupied all the time." [break] ...for developing Vrndavana and Mayapur. [break]

Devotee: You like that photo?

Prabhupada: Very much.

Devotee: That was at the Calcutta panḍal. Everyone was looking at...

Prabhupada: Yes, Calcutta panḍal. Don't you think it is very nice? [break] All of them. That I want. Asamordhva. Nobody should be equal to you; nobody should be greater than you. Otherwise, why you American come here? Nixon is trying to become leader in a wrong way. You become leader in this way, the whole world will worship you. Whole world. You have got such a thing in your hand, and coming from a great nation, you distribute it, you do it properly-your nation, you, everyone will be happy. You have got a genuine thing.

[pause]

Just like when I saw first my Guru Maharaja-my friend took me there-the first remark I will..., "Here is the right man who will spread Lord Caitanya's mission," I remarked. And he also said, "You are the right man who will preach to the Western countries." I appreciated in that way, and he appreciated me like that. That was the first-side visit. The friend who took me there, he asked my opinion, and "Here is the right man who will preach Caitanya cult all over the world." He is doing that what I am. Actually he is doing it.

So the right thing are given to the right hand, and you are all sincere. You do in such a way that wherever you go, make it unique. Don't bother about paltry things and fight amongst yourselves. That will spoil. [break] Now these girls also-Yamuna's letter, how nice. So we have got all nice boys and girls. Utilize very nicely. [break] So take these two centers, Mayapur and Vrndavana. Make such a nice thing that everyone will be attracted. I don't think there is scarcity. You are getting money. You have got literature, you have got books; everyone is appreciating all over the world-that means some [indistinct] are appreciating. It is not a joke. They say that we... The statistics are other books are decreasing in sale, and this book is increasing. You have seen that letter, Macmillan & Company? Gopala has shown? You have seen?

Tamala Krsna: Yes, Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: What do you want more? And one other remark, that "This Macmillan, through them, all other books will be increased in sale." People will enquire, "What is this book?" The ISKCON Press is getting regular nice order. That I know. So manage things very nicely. Organize things-American expert management. I take this business very ideal. [laughter] Without any investment, they are earning millions of dollars daily, these Americans-simply by giving the papers. One government, they issued as currency notes in the country where they are issuing currency notes in the shape of traveler's check, all over the world. How organized business. And people blindly purchase. So this is organization. [laughter] Eh?

Tamala Krsna: Very intelligent business.

Prabhupada: So you can do, these nine[?] members. You can do better than them. If people become little interested, the whole world will be like that: "Let me read. Where is this Krsna book? What is this? Give me." The more they read, your propaganda is success, and you'll get money for expanding. And spend half for increasing temple and half for printing books. I have given the formula very nicely.

[pause]

And our Bhagavata-gita is selling. Our preface… The professors have given the most scientific preface. You cannot find such preface in any other edition of Bhagavata-gita. You have read carefully, the preface?

Devotee: Yes. The Introduction.

Prabhupada: Introduction, yes.

Devotee (3): I heard that on tape, when you first spoke that.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Devotee (3): It is on a tape recording, a very long time ago.

Prabhupada: Yes, in the Second Avenue I was speaking. The impetus was given by one American lady. I forgot her name. She was a disciple of Dr. Mishra.

Tamala Krsna: You mentioned that in the Introduction.

Prabhupada: Yes. Then I began to write. Bhagavata-gita which I wrote in India, that was lost.

Tamala Krsna: You wrote Bhagavata-gita As It Is when you were in America, Prabhupada?

Prabhupada: Yes. This one.

Tamala Krsna: When was that, that you were writing?

Prabhupada: In Second Avenue. The Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Nectar of Devotion, Krsna-everything was written in America.

Tamala Krsna: What about this Caitanya-caritamrta? Essays of text, Caitanya-carita…

Prabhupada: That I wrote here.

Tamala Krsna: Is it in its complete form?

Prabhupada: Not complete form. But if you preach, I can complete it.

Devotee (3): In San Francisco weren't you and Gaurasundara working on it? Long time ago, in San Francisco?

Prabhupada: Yes.

Devotee (3): Because I remember it.

Prabhupada: So do it nicely, make program, work constructively. It is a huge task. We are appreciated by the whole world. Keep your position. Don't spoil it.

[pause]

In Africa also, there is good response.

Tamala Krsna: We have yet to take Japan, Prabhupada. We have yet to make a real effect in Japan, for that is an important place.

Devotee (2): That's coming around fast, though [indistinct]. [break]

Prabhupada: "…the letter which I have written to you," that "This is our idea. Application is already there. Now this is our idea, and this is our plan."

Devotee (2): I have shown the Mayapur plans.

Prabhupada: This which... Mayapur plans and the picture?

Devotees: [indistinct] [break]

Prabhupada: Thousands of people will come.

Devotee (2): There will be advertising. [break]

Tamala Krsna: I have 10 minutes to 9 [indistinct].

Devotee (2): I have 3 to.

Prabhupada: No, that is right. [laughter]

Tamala Krsna: I recall, Prabhupada, that your watch was off about three seconds in London, and you asked to get it fixed. Your watch was running slow, I think, by about three or four seconds, and you wanted it still to be fixed, more correct. You were telling by the sound of the church, or was it [indistinct]?

Prabhupada: Yes. [break] ...can also.

Tamala Krsna: Yes. That has to be done very nicely.

Prabhupada: Hm. [end]