Room Conversation with Dr. Sharma – July 8, 1976, Washington, D.C.

We are presenting Bhagavad-gita as it is, that's all

Prabhupada: Give little, a small pot.

Hari-sauri: Some prasadam?

Dr. Sharma: Prabhupada, you have given such beautiful temples, so many devotees, now to have a point of jump so that all India and all the world and other people can join in this. Your answers today were very penetrating. That can help a lot, saying that people can work outside but still be devotees, and if they can chant, if they can devote work, and if they can submit all the fruits of their action, if this can be somehow made available, this particular...

Prabhupada: It is available.

Dr. Sharma: Yes, but these few questions only, the answers, that these are from you and these are there, then it will be a point of jump in the movement. It will be a big jump in the movement. And what can we do...?

Prabhupada: So come and join us and help us.

Dr. Sharma: I would be most honored to do it, and I am trying from the outside.

Prabhupada: No, you are in Washington?

Dr. Sharma: Yes, I am in Washington.

Prabhupada: So organize here.

Dr. Sharma: I certainly will be.

Prabhupada: Talk with the scientists and everyone here.

Dr. Sharma: I come two or three times a week for the temple, and I will be coming more.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Dr. Sharma: Your idea of the Institute is possibly the most magnificent idea, because that will bring all the scientists...

Prabhupada: Yes, actually it is. At least those who are Indians, let them join. It is Indian culture.

Dr. Sharma: Yes, it is such a wonderful thing. I was a hard-core Vedantist before I came, and I was not satisfied. I feel that by chanting one really changes. Yes, one changes.

Prabhupada: Oh, yes.

Dr. Sharma: I bring all the Indian people I can, because I know, I am a scientist, I still believe in God.

Prabhupada: What is your subject matter?

Dr. Sharma: I have four doctorates in four different areas.

Prabhupada: Oh?

Dr. Sharma: I have a Ph.D. in chemistry, a Ph.D. in biochemistry, a Doctor of Science in clinical endocrinology. I have a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chemistry of London, which is a higher Ph.D. I am in computer information and control engineering...

Prabhupada: Royal College of... That... What is is called?

Dr. Sharma: Royal Institute of Chemistry, London. And I have a law degree. And I am in computer information and control engineering.

Prabhupada: [laughing] You are such a big man. Kindly join us and help us.

Dr. Sharma: I would be most honored, and I'm slowly trying to work it out in such a way that I can...

Prabhupada: No, the formula is all given in this Bhagavad-gita.

Dr. Sharma: I find your Bhagavad-gita most illuminating as compared to other Gitas I have read, the translations.

Prabhupada: We are presenting Bhagavad-gita as it is, that's all.

Dr. Sharma: How can we best serve the movement? By joining it? I have joined it in a...

Prabhupada: Pranair arthair dhiya vaca [SB 10.22.35]: "By life, by money, by intelligence, by words." Either four or three or two-at least one. Then it will be all right.

Dr. Sharma: I'll be writing...

Prabhupada: Yes.

Dr. Sharma: ...about the movement in scientific journals.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Dr. Sharma: That I'll be writing.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Dr. Sharma: And I'll be writing...

Prabhupada: That is dhiya.

Dr. Sharma: And I'll be writing...

Prabhupada: Vacaiḥ.

Dr. Sharma: I'll also be writing, in scientific way, books about it.

Prabhupada: You write in our... We are going to publish one magazine.

Dr. Sharma: 'Cause I think the movement is very scientific.

Prabhupada: Yes. [rings bell; aside:] So, call Svarūpa Damodara.

Dr. Sharma: I shall write in books and give it to the editors here to use it the way they best can. I'll write it... I normally publish... I only last month got a medical prize, a large prize, for medicine. My name is known internationally, medical journals. So I'll submit it to the Book Trust and let them publish it.

Prabhupada: So, you are qualified medical man?

Dr. Sharma: No, I am only in research. I am not qualified to practice medicine, but in clinical medical practice and clinical journals I am qualified. I used to be a full professor.

Prabhupada: From chemical point.

Dr. Sharma: No, from medicine point of view.

Prabhupada: Accha?

Dr. Sharma: From medicine point. In physics and mathematics I'll write in those ways, and I'll submit it and let them use it the way they feel like it. Previously I was with the asrama, and I was...

Prabhupada: Which asrama?

Dr. Sharma: Kohasat[?].

Prabhupada: Accha.

Dr. Sharma: And before that with the Swami Rama Tirtha Mission in New York. I was a follower of Vivekananda.

Prabhupada: Oh.

Dr. Sharma: And at the Belur Math in Belur Math Dakshineswar in Calcutta. But I find that by really chanting... I was crying to God, literally, at night, that "Find me the path again," and then I found your movement. And I find it, yes, it does make a difference. I was also amazed that evening when the first two days ago I was thinking I will ask you five slokas of Gita to give me. Out of that, you discussed four. And I was meditating on Haridwar, where I was born. All the time your face was appearing behind Ganges, and it was very strange phenomena. I do not know when I will be fortunate enough to have your darsana again, but in the meantime, I'm slowly... I feel that this movement you have done supernatural thing. Now, somehow...

Prabhupada: That's a great certificate, because it is coming from you.

Dr. Sharma: It's a supernatural thing. I do not believe that it is natural. It is in the world again to be done. I have been here... To be able to convert these people, to be able to make devotees, is unusual.

Prabhupada: [aside:] Where is Svarūpa Damodara?

Pusta Krsna: I don't know, Srila Prabhupada. That indemnity bond? I think I can pack it away until New York City.

Prabhupada: Hmm?

Pusta Krsna: I could take care of that and pack it away until we get to New York.

Prabhupada: Who will pack it?

Pusta Krsna: I think I put it on your desk in there.

Prabhupada: What is that?

Pusta Krsna: Indemnity bond. But the letter has to be written also.

Dr. Sharma: Today's discussion was possibly the most magnificent, and very clearly given, about people can be in work as well as...

Prabhupada: Oh, yes.

Dr. Sharma: ...devotees. This, today's discussion, if that is available in some publication form, just that much, then I shall be most happy to distribute it among all the Indians.

Prabhupada: Yes, do it.

Dr. Sharma: I will do that among all the...

Prabhupada: Sthane sthitaḥ... That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's recommendation. Sthane sthitaḥ sruti-gatam tanu-vah-manobhiḥ [SB 10.14.3]. You remain your place, but engage your body, tanu, vak, your words, and mind. Tanu-vah-manobhiḥ. Engage all these things for Krsna. So tanu means senses. You hear about Krsna and act for Krsna. Then van, automatically, words, and mind also. If you hear of Krsna, you'll think of Him. In this way there is no need of changing the place. Sthane sthitaḥ. Sthane sthitaḥ sruti-gatam tanu-vah-manobhiḥ, prayaso 'jita jito 'py asi: "My Lord, You are Ajita; nobody can conquer You. But this person who has engaged his body, mind and words for Your service, he can conquer You." Sthane sthitaḥ sruti-gatam tanu-vah-manobhiḥ. This was spoken by Lord Brahma, that there is no question of changing the position. Caitanya Mahaprabhu never says so, neither sastras. But in a regulative way there are steps: brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha, sannyasa. But on the transcendental platform these things are useless. Simply engage in the service of the Lord. That is mukti.

Dr. Sharma: I am thinking that when the Institute is formed, I shall perform all the services, whatever are needed to help.

Prabhupada: Kindly do that.

Dr. Sharma: I'll be doing that. I'll be writing now, and...

Prabhupada: Your family is also here?

Dr. Sharma: Yes, I will be married very soon, in about a month.

Hari-sauri: They said Svarūpa Damodara went down to the prasadam pavilion, so we sent someone down to find him.

Prabhupada: Oh. Good. Now here is... [Svarūpa Damodara enters] All right.

Dr. Sharma: Yes, we think that you have done supernatural things. We can do at least just a little bit, just a little bit.

Prabhupada: Finishing touch.

Dr. Sharma: Well, no, just a little bit. We may not be able to finish it, but we will be able to...

Prabhupada: No, the student does roughly, and the master gives the finishing touch, painting.

Dr. Sharma: You are very kind. But we will try. It is supernatural. To me it is...

Svarūpa Damodara: Srila Prabhupada?

Prabhupada: Now here is Dr. Sharma. He is Ph.D. in four subject matters, and besides that he is a lawyer, so he's very highly qualified man, and he wants to give his all aid so that...

Svarūpa Damodara: So we need his help.

Prabhupada: Yes. And he is convinced about our bonafideness of this movement. So by his example many other qualified Indians... And it is the business of the Indian. It is Indian culture. They are accepting. Present them most scientifically, and it will be a glory of India.

Dr. Sharma: It is up to us to bring Krsna's words now...

Prabhupada: Yes. Yes.

Dr. Sharma: ...to the world. He wanted us to do it.

Prabhupada: Yes, kindly do that. So you talk with him in detail how to. If you..., whether our, this branch will be situated. They say here it is good?

Svarūpa Damodara: For Institute? Yes. I am also going to Boston to see the facilities there.

Prabhupada: But he can write. He can give you.

Svarūpa Damodara: Oh, yes, he can participate in so many ways, and we are going to need Sharma's help, because he's in the government agency in the scientific field, so...

Prabhupada: Yes. If he wants to help us, he can help us in so many ways.

Dr. Sharma: Yes, I'll be very much honored to help.

Prabhupada: And he's convinced. He's not an ordinary person. He's convinced. So let us take his help and...

Dr. Sharma: I'll see what the government and the foundations... I can go to the foundation to help it. Once the Institute is formed, I can go to the foundations to get the money from them both to support the movement, for the Institute, for education.

Prabhupada: Yes. Yes.

Dr. Sharma: Once we get started on that... You must be very tired now. You have a...

Prabhupada: Yes, yes.

Svarūpa Damodara: Today is Ekadasi also.

Dr. Sharma: I do not know when I will be fortunate to have your darsana again, but I certainly think God will again give me the blessing to have your darsana. India is fortunate to have...

Prabhupada: We shall see every moment, every day with our work. If the work is going on, then I see you, you see me. [laughs]

Dr. Sharma: And I think that Vivekananda came here before. He brought some things. After that, it was nothing was brought out. The only thing which has been brought out which is genuine, which is really in the benefit of Indian...

Prabhupada: Indian culture, it is really a fact.

Dr. Sharma: These are the only two things which I have seen.

Prabhupada: Hare Krsna.

Svarupa Damodara: Jaya. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Thank you very much. Jaya. Take this.

Dr. Sharma: I will remember you always out of seeing you in this.

Prabhupada: Your full name?

Dr. Sharma: Dinesh.

Prabhupada: Very nice name.

Dr. Sharma: Dinesh Sharma.

Prabhupada: Dina bandhu, dinesa. [laughs] Hare Krsna. All right.

Dr. Sharma: God's kindness has brought me to your feet.

Prabhupada: Thank you very much, Hare Krsna. [end]