Room Conversation – March 31, 1977, Bombay

So what is the use of wasting time like that, 'How are you?'

Prabhupada: ...Bengal is little educated. In the Bengali, it is called rural population.

Lokanatha: Prasadam distribution could be very successful.

Tamala Krsna: So Srila Prabhupada, generally visitors will not come up here, right? Because now that Giriraja is here, if you can explain to him what, you know, the policy as it should be...

Prabhupada: You explain.

Tamala Krsna: Prabhupada said that he will go once a week to the darsana.

Prabhupada: No, I shall go daily in the morning. At seven. And I'll stay there half an hour or more than half an hour.

Tamala Krsna: Guru-puja.

Prabhupada: Those who are visitors, they can see me. And for lecturing, on Sunday I shall lecture. You can fix up time, which time. But Sunday I shall speak from Bhagavatam. This is general program. And if it is required some special, that is another thing. So what is the use of inviting visitors here?

Giriraja: I agree with that policy.

Prabhupada: What do you think, Kartikeya?

Kartikeya: I agree. Very urgent or some special thing, then it can be done. Otherwise not for general people.

Prabhupada: Generally, people come to visit: "How are you? How you are feeling?" And it takes half an hour even. So what is the use of wasting time like that, "How are you?"

Kartikeya: Yes, they should be told that there is actually...

Prabhupada: Everyone knows that I am not feeling well.

Tamala Krsna: For that they can come in the morning.

Kartikeya: If anybody is willing to see you…

Prabhupada: Eh?

Tamala Krsna: For that they can see you in the morning.

Prabhupada: Yes. If they actually want to see me, I am going there. They can see me, for half an hour, more than half an hour. And for talking... There is no need of talking, "How are you? How you are feeling?" This is not talking.

Gargamuni: Instead, they can buy some of your books downstairs.

Prabhupada: This is waste of time. At least, I want to stop this, to answer all these things, "How you are...?"

Tamala Krsna: That will conserve a great deal of energy...

Prabhupada: Huh?

Tamala Krsna: That will conserve a lot of energy if you don't have to meet with people.

Prabhupada: And balance time saved, I will do the work.

Tamala Krsna: That's good. Practically everyone has Sunday as a holiday. So if they want to hear you speak, they are all free to come Sunday.

Prabhupada: Yes. This is general program. And if there is some special, that we shall do. [pause] I am all right so long I am able to write. But I do not stop writing book unless I am not all right. So generally arrange like that, and specifically, we shall meet once daily, half an hour to one hour. There is no difficulty. But not continually people coming. That is bad.

Giriraja: I agree with that.

Tamala Krsna: Actually, people respect that, Srila Prabhupada. It is not unusual that someone should have a program like that. Rather, they take advantage of your very, you know, compassion and mercy, but they used to come two or three hours every evening and sit.

Devotee: They'll appreciate it more. Now you are working on Tenth Canto, so you can stop seeing other people. They'll appreciate that. [break]

Prabhupada: I think I shall be able to work from today. Now I have got very nice place, full freedom. So there will be no difficulty.

Giriraja: Actually, even coming at seven in the morning, you can begin that after some time if you want to rest more.

Prabhupada: What is that, seven?

Giriraja: The program to come at seven in the morning, so if you want to gain more strength for some days, you can begin that program also after a few days.

Prabhupada: After some time. No, I can go. Provided the lift is working. [laughter] Otherwise I shall be obliged. What can be done?

Gargamuni: Will you be walking, Srila Prabhupada?

Prabhupada: Walking should be stopped at least for some time. And if I walk, I may walk on the roof.

Gopala Krsna: It's very nice on the roof.

Devotee: And there can be a garden on the roof.

Prabhupada: Yes, some flower tubs, and... You have already done? No.

Giriraja: No. Not on the roof.

Prabhupada: Some flower tubs.

Giriraja: Well, we have potted plants, but actually, we want to make like landscape.

Gargamuni: The lift doesn't go up to the roof, though.

Prabhupada: It doesn't matter. One...

Giriraja: We can take by palanquin.

Prabhupada: No, one story I can go. Not now, but I can go. So you are trying so much for my comfort. I do not know whether I shall be able to repay you. Then I shall try my best. It is not possible to repay your debts, that so kind. So I can simply pray to Krsna to give His blessings to you so that you may remain very steady in devotional service and preach this cult all over the world. Otherwise, I have no other means. Without your help I could not do anything. So you are very much kind. Kindly continue your cooperation. Paropakara. This is the movement for paropakara. I have got report from our other temples all over the world. They are doing very nice, is it not? Other temples outside India, they are doing very nice.

Devotee: Yes.

Prabhupada: Especially in New York, Los Angeles. In all cities. You can give report. You know very well. They are doing all right?

Svarupa Damodara: I came about more than a month now.

Prabhupada: That's all right. When you were there.

Svarupa Damodara: Oh, yes. In Washington and in Atlanta and Florida...

Prabhupada: That standard should be maintained. Everywhere.

Svarupa Damodara: It will be nicer now after the court case. All the devotees must be very enthused now, because court was very favorable, New York case.

Prabhupada: How is Vrndavana going on?

Dhananjaya: By your mercy, Srila Prabhupada. [indistinct] is there. Our community is growing very nicely there. The festival is very successful. Everyone enjoyed, oh, very much-kirtanas and all the different programs.

Lokanatha: At Janmasthana we had program last year, we had four days having programs. Same as we have here-kirtana, discourses, dramas, cinemas, prasadam distribution, book distribution. Many, many people came. Whole ground was...

Prabhupada: This year or last year?

Gopala Krsna: This year. Over ten thousand people came.

Prabhupada: They are, after all, Mathura men, after Krsna. They have got natural love for Krsna.

Dhananjaya: Also the decoration was very gorgeous in the temple. All the domes were lit, and in the front door there were two cakras and one lotus flower, opening and closing. Thousands of people were coming daily to attend it. They had heard that all the American devotees had come. So they were very anxious to see the arrangements made. Also the signs are up on the road, Bhaktivedanta Swami Marga. Big marble plaque. Very nice stone fitting. In two places on the road.

Prabhupada: On all the roads?

Dhananjaya: Everyone knows, this is now Bhaktivedanta Swami Marga. No longer Chattikara Road.

Prabhupada: But you have printed Bhaktivedanta Marga.

Gopala Krsna: Bhaktivedanta...

Dhananjaya: Swami.

Gopala Krsna: ...Swami Marga.

Prabhupada: No. In the book, I see.

Devotee: In the book?

Prabhupada: Why?

Devotee: Bhaktivedanta Road.

Dhananjaya: Well, you see, what happened was, Srila Prabhupada, they put in Hindi Bhaktivedanta Swami Marga. And the marble cutters, they made marga instead of road. Bhaktivedanta Swami Marga

Prabhupada: That doesn't matter.

Gopala Krsna: But marga is now the Indian style.

Prabhupada: I am not speaking of that. You have printed in the book Bhaktivedanta Marga, not Bhaktivedanta Swami Marga.

Tamala Krsna: You left the word Swami out.

Gopala Krsna: I followed Swami Marg.

Tamala Krsna: Anyone can be Bhaktivedanta. Bhaktivedanta is mentioned in the...

Prabhupada: No, no, apart from that, actual name is Bhaktivedanta Swami Marga, but you have made Bhaktivedanta. Why?

Kartikeya: Swami is omitted.

Prabhupada: Why Swami is omitted? That is a mistake on your part. That I am saying.

Dhananjaya: Everyone, too, is remarking how beautiful the painting is inside. These Rajasthani artists, they are going on with the painting on the upper portion of the temple...

Gopala Krsna: The darsana-mandapa.

Dhananjaya: The darsana-mandapa. And everyone is remarking how gorgeous the arrangement is.

Prabhupada: Yes, it is gorgeous.

Gopala Krsna: Even the vyasasana is very beautiful. The most beautiful I have ever seen anywhere in the movement.

Prabhupada: They come to see the painting.

Dhananjaya: They come to see everything now-the painting, the way the Deities are dressed. Now we are offering many sets of clothing for the Deities. We have offered already four sets of new clothing to the Deities. And everyone comes to see the beauty of the arrangement in the srṅgara-the clothing and the painting. Everything is improving so nicely. They are becoming very...

Prabhupada: If you become nice devotee, everything will improved. Bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah [Bg 18.55]. The more you increase your devotional service, everything will be increased. Who expected such temple here? Hmm? He wanted from me fourteen lakhs. I had no fourteen hundred even. With so much difficulty we collected the money. Bali-mardana sent from New York ten lakhs. Giriraja, you were from the very beginning? No. At that time you were in Calcutta.

Giriraja: I came after about two weeks.

Prabhupada: Our Tamala Krsna Maharaja, he refused to take charge; Madhudvisa. I was little hopeless. And Brahmananda encouraged me, "I will do." And then silent. "Give him fifty dollars." And his policy was that where he will get this money from? He is beggar. Fourteen lakhs? Whatever one, two lakhs he gives, that's all. Swallowed. I told him frankly that "I have no so much money. Immediately I can collect four lakhs. I shall give you two lakhs against your money, and two lakhs I shall spend for construction. Of course, within three years I shall fill up." He thought that whatever two lakh, one lakh comes, he will not be able to... That was his... I knew that I had no money, but I never thought that "I shall not be able to do." That I was confident. So it's a great history. So many things happened. It is all Radha-Rasavihari's lila. Otherwise it is... Now next program, yours. Make a strong party, and you travel extensively all over the world, amongst the scientist. And whatever amount is required, I shall spend. What do you expect monthly expenditure will be without any difficulty, a whole party? How many you want to travel?

Svarupa Damodara: To start with, three of us should travel. Three scientists can travel together, and if it is necessary...

Prabhupada: You are recruiting other scientists also?

Svarupa Damodara: Yes.

Tamala Krsna: Supposing you were recruiting, how many would you make ideally as a team?

Prabhupada: And here is one philosopher also. He knows perfectly well English, Sanskrit, Vedas. Where is he? I don't find him.

Dhananjaya: Prem Yogi?

Gopala Krsna: He is in his room.

Svarupa Damodara: About five will be ideal. The biggest group will be too expensive, and sometimes...

Prabhupada: No, make five.

Svarupa Damodara: Yes, five.

Prabhupada: Recruit two others and make it at least five, and travel all over the world. All institution, all universities, all scientists. We have got commodity, deliver. It is not a bluff, gold manufacturing. It is not that. Actual fact. That day, your presentation was very nice. Any scientist will be convinced by such presentation, learned speeches. So now at least five men, and estimate what will be the expenditure. I shall arrange. Don't worry.

Svarupa Damodara: I will submit that at the time of opening our this temple, and we will make...

Prabhupada: For expenditure there is no worry. What will be the rough expenditure?

Svarupa Damodara: It will depend on what part of the world we are traveling. If it is just...

Prabhupada: You travel all over the world. Why part of the world? We are not preaching part. Prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama . We are concerned. Nothing shall be left over.

Svarupa Damodara: Tamala Krsna Maharaja can give us some hints how much it costs, travel hints, some experience in traveling.

Tamala Krsna: Maybe ten thousand dollars.

Prabhupada: Sanctioned. I will give you ten thousand. Do it.

Devotee: A year?

Tamala Krsna: A month.

Prabhupada: Ten thousand dollars means one lakh of rupees. So we shall save from that luxury department. And this is solid work. Yes. It must be done. Without any hesitation, without any impediment. That will increase our prestige of the movement. And go in good dress, because people...

Gopala Krsna: In suits.

Prabhupada: In suit, yes. You get first dress, then address. [laughter] But tilaka must be there. You dress like up-to-date gentlemen, but tilaka must be there. That is our trademark.

Tamala Krsna: Some hair for him is all right? Little bit of hairs? Or a shaved head?

Prabhupada: I don't think hair is required. Nowadays many gentlemen shaven.

Tamala Krsna: Shaved head.

Prabhupada: Yes. Many gentlemen. I have seen many Russian scholars and politician, they shave clean.

Gopala Krsna: There is a very big American actor who always has a shaved head. [laughter]

Prabhupada: That is now fashion, shaved head. But if you think it is impediment, you can have hair.

Svarupa Damodara: In India it is all right, but in the West, especially in the United States...

Prabhupada: Then you keep hair. I have no objection. That should not be an impediment. Whichever you determine. But tilaka is objectionable?

Svarupa Damodara: Oh, no. Tilaka we can always have.

Prabhupada: That's nice. Then it is all right. You belong to Hare Krsna. That should be there. That cannot be missing.

Svarupa Damodara: I would use tilaka many times when I was doing my thesis, also like this. But in giving lectures, especially amongst the scientists, sometimes if we come with head shaved, sometimes they think it very strange. We can do it when...

Prabhupada: No, no, no. Don't disturb them, that "These are strange people." No, we don't want that. But we must have our position. Tilaka is our position. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's stricture. He would not see one face if there is no tilaka. He used to say it is cremation ground. Yes, without tilaka. smasana-bhumi. Tilaka must be there. And so far dress is concerned, you can dress up to the taste of the modern people. So what is your breakfast time here?

Gopala Krsna: Nine o'clock usually.

Prabhupada: Nine o'clock?

Gopala Krsna: Yes.

Devotees: Jaya Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Thank you very much. Jaya. [end]