Room Conversation – October 19, 1977, Vṛndāvana

[Very Poor Recording]

Prabhupada: So you [indistinct]…

Dr. Gopal: Except weakness, do you feel more?

Prabhupada: Hmm?

Tamala Krsna: Except for weakness, do you have any other complaints, Srila Prabhupada?

Prabhupada: No desire for eating.

Dr. Gopal: Is there any cough?

Tamala Krsna: Hmm?

Dr. Gopal: Is there any cough?

Tamala Krsna: No, no cough.

Dr. Gopal: No cough. Mucus?

Tamala Krsna: Mucus? No, no. Is there any mucus?

Prabhupada: Purified.

Dr. Gopal: No mucus, just some symptoms. Did you have clear motion today, yesterday?

Prabhupada: I think...

Bhavananda: Srila Prabhupada, he is saying, Dr. Gopal, that you have moved your bowels…

Prabhupada: Hmm.

Bhavananda: [indistinct]

Dr. Gopal: I see. If your bowels are moving very well these days [indistinct], so that [indistinct] problem [indistinct] [pause] ...the amount of urine...

Tamala Krsna: [indistinct] the amount of liquid intake [indistinct].

Dr. Gopal: [indistinct] ...the amount of urine, if it is more than 700, he will suffer...

Bhavananda: ...more than 700?

Tamala Krsna: So how much does [indistinct] usually have 700cc's.

Dr. Gopal: [indistinct] I will find out and in that way I'll know better [indistinct].

Tamala Krsna: Four hundred.

Dr. Gopal: Four hundred, hmm. Could you pass me [indistinct] or more [indistinct]? This is the clear [indistinct] or [indistinct].

Tamala Krsna: How is the color today?

Bhavananda: Slightly cloudy.

Dr. Gopal: Slightly cloudy but not much cloudy because, ahm, much improvement...

Bhavananda: Much improvement. Much improvement!

Dr. Gopal: I think that I [indistinct] ...I say ...that eh, this is [indistinct].

Tamala Krsna: Did you hear any of that, Srila Prabhupada?

All: [laugh]

Prabhupada: Very enjoyable[?]

Dr. Gopal: Because I want that. Ah, you are feeling at the moment a few [indistinct]. I was maybe wrong, but afterwards I suppose [indistinct] you have not oral food so that [indistinct].

Tamala Krsna: [indistinct]

Dr. Gopal: Best [indistinct]

Tamala Krsna: Hmm.

Dr. Gopal: And, eh, simply taking a [indistinct] give him some [indistinct].

Tamala Krsna: [indistinct]

Bhavananda: Yes, [indistinct] with all of the juices we have been putting glucose. Srila Prabhupada, Dr. Gopal …

Dr. Gopal: I am of the opinion that don't [indistinct] affects mucus [indistinct] glucose. You don't want to give sugar, because by giving him glucose it will cause more gas organization.

Prabhupada: [Bengali]

Tamala Krsna: Prabhupada asked what about misri?

Bhavananda: Misri dahi[?].

Dr. Gopal: This is very good [indistinct]. Misri he can have, the sugar he can have. Ordinary sugar can have, because the sugar has glucose.

Prabhupada: Misri water, I want.

Dr. Gopal: Misri water [indistinct].

Bhavananda: Srila Prabhupada, we have spoken with Dr. Gopal. He also, like all of the other doctors, and like yourself and all of your disciples, he says that you should take milk. However, he has suggested that you take ice cream and ice cold milk. He said that will... And cold cream, he said. Dr. Gopal said that will…, that will reduce the nausea.

Dr. Gopal: By taking these four things you will not have this feeling of nausea, vomiting and mucus if you had [indistinct].

Prabhupada: Hmm. I'm taking…

Dr. Gopal: And secondly, don't take much of [fruit] juices [indistinct] ...because it will produce [indistinct].

Tamala Krsna: What about, eh...

Others: Pomegranate...

Tamala Krsna: Pomegranate?

Dr. Gopal: Pomegranate, this you can give.

Bhavananda: But no mosambi or sweet, lemon and citrus.

Tamala Krsna: What about sweet lime?

Dr. Gopal: [indistinct] at the moment we are trying to utilize for the...

Tamala Krsna: What about grape juice?

Dr. Gopal: Grape juice?

Tamala Krsna: Grape juice is all right, and pomegranate juice is all right.

Bhavananda: Dr. Gopal, what about mucus which…

Dr. Gopal: Mucus [indistinct]. For one who is rendered diseased, mucus is [indistinct], and one who is suffering from [indistinct], it is coming from the bowel. Because a bowel, the function, one of the functions is to form mucus, so that as other parts of the body. The eyes, they have tears, [indistinct], the mouth, parallel whether the function moves properly. The urine, for example [indistinct], there should not be any [indistinct]. In the same way the bowels [indistinct], it is something which creates mucus. So that the mucus is coming normally without any [indistinct].

Bhavananda: Call you?

Dr. Gopal: Secondly, [indistinct] but I have already [indistinct]. I think, though, the cough must be less than you were telling me two or three days back?

Tamala Krsna: You're not getting much cough now, Srila Prabhupada. The doctor says it's because of the syrup he is giving.

Upendra: [indistinct] just the immediate result of giving milk and some syrup… [indistinct] cough.

Dr. Gopal: That is you can have a gargle. I told you on that day also that you can have Listerine gargles. Listerine you can have, put in a cup of water and he can have gargles with that, and rinse his mouth…

Tamala Krsna: Yeah, we can give that with water?

Devotee: [indistinct] Prabhupada said that after bath [indistinct] and after one hour [indistinct] mucus...

Dr. Gopal: That's right, I said on that day also that he can have a plain steamed inhalation, but I think that the steam [indistinct]. …and whatever cough and mucus is there, without any aversion.

Devotee: [indistinct] When the mucus comes out [indistinct].

Dr. Gopal: [indistinct] the cause is mucus [indistinct] comes out with great difficulty. When he will have steamed inhalation, then it will come out very easily [indistinct]. Then he will not have any difficulty or any [indistinct].

Tamala Krsna: No, and if he does get a cough again the easiest way to get it out very easily is the steamed inhalation.

Devotee: [indistinct]

Dr. Gopal: [indistinct]

Tamala Krsna: Prabhupada likes that.

Bhavananda: And the restlessness?

Dr. Gopal: Restlessness, I think…

Tamala Krsna: What about that restlessness at night?

Dr. Gopal: He is very much restless?

Bhavananda: It comes at night. During the day he is always able to rest, but in the evening...

Dr. Gopal: At the moment he has only got a little amount of blood as far as I know.

Tamala Krsna: Prabhupada, maybe you're not sleeping at night because you always used to stay up and translate. [laughter]

Devotee: [indistinct]

Tamala Krsna: He was never sleeping at night. Maybe he still remembers that.

Dr. Gopal: I see. I don't want to be... [indistinct discussion follows with Tamala Krsna]

Prabhupada: Bhavananda?

Bhavananda: Yes, Srila Prabhupada?

Prabhupada: Did you get the kaviraja [indistinct] medicine?

Bhavananda: No, Srila Prabhupada [indistinct]. [indistinct discussion follows]

Tamala Krsna: No, no. That was eight months ago.

Dr. Gopal: Only a drop of blood, not much. [indistinct discussion follows then long pause as the doctor is doing something]

Bhavananda: How many times do you do this? [indistinct discussion follows]

Tamala Krsna: Srila Prabhupada, the doctor says that these exercises would be good for getting the muscles more stronger. [indistinct] ...a little movement.

Bhavananda: If you don't do some little exercise like this, then how will you be able to walk for darsana of Krsna-Balarama? [laughs] [indistinct discussion follows]

Tamala Krsna: Radha-Rasabihari aratik, separation…

All: [laugh]

[indistinct discussion follows]

Bhavananda: Dr. Gopal [indistinct] good for itching back.

Dr. Gopal: For that you can apply…

Tamala Krsna: Poultice[?]. [indistinct discussion follows]

Dr. Gopal: ...and this gargling helps the bowels [indistinct]. [indistinct discussion follows]

Bhavananda: And are there any other solid foods that you would recommend that he should take?

Dr. Gopal: [indistinct] [indistinct discussion follows]

Bhavananda: Still, Dr. Gopal, Prabhupada becomes vomiting, as Tamala[?] explained. Prabhupada has to take? [indistinct]

Dr. Gopal: [indistinct] still more [indistinct] liver…

Bhavananda: Srila Prabhupada, Dr. Gopal says that because you are only taking liquid, therefore it is causing some nausea, and if you take some solid, like this dalia[?], or a capati soaked in milk…

Dr. Gopal: Can he take potatoes?

Others: Yes. Oh, yes.

Dr. Gopal: Cooked potatoes, mashed potatoes. [indistinct discussion follows] I don't like fried things.

Prabhupada: Boiled?

Dr. Gopal: Ah, boiled or mashed. [indistinct] ...or boiled potatoes.

Bhavananda: [indistinct, laughs] And ice cream, ice cream and ice cold milk. Ice cold Complan...

Dr. Gopal: Complan or...

Bhavananda: All cold.

Dr. Gopal: Put in it [indistinct].

Bhavananda: ...for reducing, that will be, mucus will be reduced. If this is applied, is that correct? What is the purpose of taking it cold?

Dr. Gopal: [indistinct] ...cold… [indistinct]. Any more questions?

Bhavananda: Srila Prabhupada, do you have any questions or anything you would like to know from Dr. Gopal?

Prabhupada: [indistinct]

Tamala Krsna: I think he may have gotten something for getting rid of a cold [indistinct].

Prabhupada: [indistinct]

Tamala Krsna: Dr. Ghosh?

Prabhupada: [indistinct]

Tamala Krsna: That is a good idea.

Prabhupada: [indistinct]

Tamala Krsna: Well, first of all, Dr. Ghosh has not yet established his dispensary, so he won't be able to give any help to anybody until he gets his dispensary set up. And the second point is that for common colds and other things, this kaviraja seems to be very expert. But your condition is not a simple cold. In fact, we have tried to use this kaviraja for six months, five months, to no avail. So when someone has a cold, then maybe it is kaviraja who can manage to work in very difficult cases. Not that it doesn't seem to be very effective. In any case, if Dr. Ghosh would set up his dispensary as an institute, then I don't think anyone would want to go to the kaviraja. Because as Westerners, we have found that the allopathic medicines act a little bit more quickly, and very often these Ayur-vedic medicines, they are not potent enough, or they are not prescribed properly and they don't work always very properly. Erm, this change of the weather suddenly, warm in the day and cold at night, a couple of the devotees have caught a little cold. In any case, for a difficult case, then Dr. Gopal is there.

Prabhupada: [indistinct]

Tamala Krsna: No, he could, but they have chosen to go through the kaviraja. I don't know why, because if I had a cold I would go to Dr. Gopal. I wouldn't waste my time going through the kaviraja. Because I've seen that in dealing with you. Although I would like to learn much, and he seems like a nice devotee, I haven't seen any improvement in his condition, and he has been…, not even I got any improvement when I went for that [indistinct] in Calcutta. Simply I got my money taken. But at least with this Dr. Gopal, so far we notice that nothing very bad is happening, and in fact if anything, you are able to increase your intake of foodstuffs. Well, about four or five days ago you were taking about the equal of one glass or cup of liquid. Now you're taking the equivalent of about four cups. You've increased by four times what you were taking previously.

Prabhupada: [indistinct]

Tamala Krsna: Actually, Srila Prabhupada, everyone passes stool every day. In fact, I was thinking…

Prabhupada: [indistinct]

Tamala Krsna: I was thinking that because you were not passing stool for so many months properly, maybe once every five days, four days. So you're not accustomed to passing stool in a regular way, natural way. I don't think that we should take it that this is such a serious difficulty. It might be a slight inconvenience, but that will be passed over. When you're... Just like... Just like anything that when done, there must be ways with the good effects and the bad effects. So in some things there may be some slight bad effect, just like a botheration. But if one gets cured, then that is the main thing. So we are trying to see how to cure you, and if in doing so you may pass a little extra stool, that should not be taken as so important that it does away with the cure.

Prabhupada: [indistinct]

Tamala Krsna: The kaviraja's medicine, it stopped the passing of stool?

Prabhupada: [indistinct]

Tamala Krsna: I don't think anyone [indistinct]. As far as I know, people were going to the kaviraja for the purpose of their own needs. Bhavananda Maharaja sometimes gets a little congestion due to the air here, and Giriraja had a cold…

Prabhupada: [indistinct] Bombay.

Tamala Krsna: Yes, he will be going back in about two days' time.

Prabhupada: [indistinct]

Tamala Krsna: Yes, actually we have all been discussing. When I just walked in the room, Pancadraviḍa Maharaja was making as... He was looking a little better today. And actually [indistinct], as you yourself said, "At least I am not feeling any worse or weaker." Is that fact, Srila Prabhupada?

Prabhupada: [indistinct]

Tamala Krsna: Prabhupada said, "What is weaker than a dead body?"…

Prabhupada: [indistinct]

Tamala Krsna: Actually, [indistinct] your [indistinct], Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: [indistinct]

Tamala Krsna: It is the sign of a great yogi.

Prabhupada: [indistinct]

Tamala Krsna: Oh, we should add some, ah, flesh to the bone. And the way to do that is by taking regularly some nourishing drink. Then you won't be bones anymore.

Prabhupada: [indistinct]

Tamala Krsna: If you take something solid, then the stool business will stop. Anyone here who drinks only liquids will pass stool all the time. Anyone. That is natural. But if you take a little bit of something solid, or binding, then you won't pass stool.

Prabhupada: [thick, heavy cough] [indistinct]

Tamala Krsna: That was Dr. Gopal's reasoning, that anybody drinking liquid only, he will pass stool more. So I think you should try to take something solid.

Prabhupada: [indistinct]

Tamala Krsna: The only things that have to be taken, Dr. Gopal was discussing.

Devotee: [indistinct]

Tamala Krsna: Well make a few things up...

Devotee: [indistinct]

Tamala Krsna: Smashed potato.

Devotee: [indistinct]

Tamala Krsna: Smash it.

Prabhupada: [indistinct]

Tamala Krsna: In the meantime, you can take a little pomegranate juice, and then by the time everything gets ready we will make a few things. A little custard also would be good. And some smashed potato. A few things, take a little, little of each. And in that way your condition will improve. Actually, according to Dr. Gopal, you will be sitting up on your own within a few days' time.

Prabhupada: [indistinct]

Tamala Krsna: Most of them say four days, he only said two [chuckles]. Usually they say four. The kaviraja would say four. Anyway, one should think positively and always...

Prabhupada: [indistinct]

Tamala Krsna: That Dr. Ghosh of Kodiakanal said four days. But Dr. Gopal is the best. He says two days. Of course, that is to encourage you, Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: [indistinct]

Tamala Krsna: Did you do any exercising today?

Prabhupada: [indistinct]

Tamala Krsna: Actually, Srila Prabhupada, in the Caitanya-caritamrta it is described how one great devotee of Lord Caitanya, he did not have any disciples. So everyone was asking him, "Why you don't take any disciples?" He said, "All right, the first person who I meet tomorrow I will make him my disciple." So then he went down to the Ganga for a bath in the morning, and the first person he met was a dead body floating down the river. So, he was so pure that simply by touching this body, the person came back to life again, and he made him his disciple. So by the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, a dead body can become alive again. And we are expecting that same thing for you, Srila Prabhupada. You told us that we should understand everything from your books, so it is stated in your books that it is possible. [end]