Room Conversation with Tirupati Paṇḍita and Government Minister – August 24, 1976, Hyderabad

What I shall get by learning philosophy? Let me learn technology

Prabhupada: Nowadays people are taking to the imagination of industry. But we don't find in Bhagavad-gita, there is any suggestion for industry. Krsna said...

[aside:] It started?

Hari-sauri: Yes. It's recording.

Prabhupada: No, no, you stop this.

Hari-sauri: You want to play this tape back?

Prabhupada: Yes.

[break] That's nice.

Panḍita: So panca-samskara makes one dvija of Sri Vaisnava... And the saranagati makes them assured of mukti. So krta-krtya. Now, the later part of life, [Sanskrit]. Vedanta-acarya. Have you heard of Vedanta-acarya? Vedanta-desika?

Prabhupada: Yes.

Pandita: ...of Ramanuja school?

Prabhupada: Yes.

Pandita: That is, our..., this Ramanuja school has been fortified by his works, so many works on Vedanta, like Tattvamuktakalapam, Nyaya-siddhanjanam, Nyaya-parisuddhi, Satadūsani, Tattva-tika. These are all the major Vedanta works he has composed. All these works I have sat before a guru and studied for eight years at Sri Rahgam. My acarya has been a great scholar in Vedanta and tarka who was lecturer in...

Prabhupada: I know, Ramanuja sampradaya, they are very learned scholars. I know that.

Panḍita: And they are very particular about acaranas also, more than...

Prabhupada: Sadacara.

Panḍita: Hah. Sadacara.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Panḍita: And I have been given guidance by these acaryas to stick to this parampara sampradaya acara. So I belong to this Ahobila order. I have taken initiation from this guru, as well as Vedantic knowledge from another guru. I am practicing my acara, sampradaya acara, very strictly in that order. As far as I see, there is... Without disturbing this set-up, I can do service, I think. Is it not?

Prabhupada: No, our mission is to spread Krsna's mission. That's all.

Panḍita: Mission. That's all. We need not change the other set-up, need not. Necessity is not there.

Prabhupada: No. We have got already set up, what Krsna says: sarva-dharman parityajya [Bg 18.66]. So our business is how to teach people to surrender to Krsna. That's all.

Panḍita: Accha. Now, this Bhagavad-gita, this Sri Bhasya of Ramanuja, and commentary on which is Sruta-prakasika, composed by one Sudarsana Suri... He was later, about hundred years later than Ramanuja. He has commented on Sri Bhasya. These works are the standard works, for Visistadvaita. Actually, it is the foundation over which the superstructure is constructed by Vedanta-desika.

Prabhupada: You see, we have got different philosophical... Ultimately, the conclusion is how to surrender to Krsna.

Panḍita: That is it.

Prabhupada: So the Western countries, their brain is not so sharp to clearly understand the difference between visistadvaita, suddhadvaita advaita-dvaita, dvaitadvaita or advaita. [laughs] Their brain does not allow to think very deeply about... So we are simply teaching them, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg 18.65]. That includes all philosophy. In this way we are preaching all over the world, and there is little response. We are selling our books very nicely. So our main purpose is to spread Krsna consciousness. That is our mission. So what is your idea now? How you want to utilize your learning about Vaisnava philosophy? Yes.

Panḍita: That is what I want to do.

Prabhupada: Yes. How you want to do it?

Panḍita: Now, this is my idea. That knowledge that I have must be utilized in this manner. It can be utilized in this manner. You are creating so many disciples. They are interested in learning Gita and the philosophy and other things. Serious students who are interested in philosophy, who would like to go sit and...

Prabhupada: You'll find hardly anyone interested in philosophy nowadays. They are interested in technology. In Western countries the universities are closing philosophical class. No student is coming. This is the position.

Panḍita: I came for philosophy, even in this age.

Prabhupada: No, no, your case is different. But generally people, they are losing interest in philosophy because they are becoming sūdras. Kalau sūdra-sambhavaḥ. They are after some job to get money. So they see that "What I shall get by learning philosophy? Let me learn technology. I'll get a good job and good money and enjoy life." This is...

Panḍita: That is general trend. Of course, I know.

Prabhupada: Yes. In India also the same thing.

Panḍita: Yes, yes. I was working in Bombay as a stenographer in a private company. In 1964 I resigned my job after reading Vivekananda's works. I'll tell you about some of my own history. Afterwards I went and joined the... I went and stayed in Rishikesh Shivananda asrama for two months, and I wanted to study this philosophy, etcetera, in the originals. But at Shivananda asrama it was not...

Prabhupada: They have no idea.

Panḍita: They have no facilities. No facility. So I left there. I came all the way, decided to select a place for myself. After touring Mathura, Vrndavana, all these places, Kasi, I came to Lucknow. In Lucknow Ramakrishna Mission I had been to. There was one Gauri Shivananda. He discussed with me, and he directed me to Calcutta. Then I went to Calcutta, and when I went to Calcutta, that Swami Gambhirananda, who is the general secretary now, was there. He asked me to join the Mission. I joined Ramakrishna Mission. I was in Ramakrishna Mission in Calcutta for one year. And I was taking care of their printing section, this proof-reading, editing, etcetera. Ramakrishna Vivekananda literature, for one year. But still, my idea of going to the original texts of this Vedanta prasthanatraya etcetera was not fulfilled. So I was not satisfied. Then I left that Ramakrishna Mission and traveled all the way from Calcutta to Kerala. There is another asrama at Kerala, Palakkad, near Trichur, where there was one Swami Purnananda Tirtha who used to come to Bombay every year for giving lectures. So I went to his asrama. I knew of that. And there I started studying this Sahkara Bhasya, Gita Bhasya and Sūtra Bhasya for six months under one Swami Atmananda, who is no more, who has written Sahkara's words, the words, in his own words, teachings in his own words. Bhavan's Journal has published, and the four yogas and so on and so forth, such books. He was a disciple of Swami Ramadasa of Kanaiḥ. So after six months that was also not satisfying to me. I then came to Sri Rahgam. There I went to a Vaisnava acarya. He said, first you equip yourself with the fundamental sastras of tarka, vyakarana and mimamsa. Then come to Vedanta. Then, later on, in Sanskrit College I went and studied for two and a half years this fundamentals of Vedanta, tarka, vyakarana, mimamsa, and then I came to Sri Rahgam back and studied Vedanta. There, for eight years I studied Vedanta. Say in all twelve years. Ten years. Another two years... I have been in Tirupati for the past two years, specializing in the higher texts of Mimamsa.

[indistinct aside question by devotee to Prabhupada]

[pause]

Prabhupada: Then?

Panḍita: So this is how for the past twelve years I have been going in search of this sources from where I can get all this knowledge, and after much roaming about, I have got this knowledge. So I would like to put it to proper use. I would like to teach it to so many people who are interested in it. At least... That is all...

Prabhupada: So that opportunity you'll get in our mission.

Panḍita: That is how I want to serve.

Prabhupada: That opportunity you'll get. [aside:] So now give him some resting place just now. And you take some of our books and go on. Then, after taking my meals, I shall come.

Hari-sauri: Srila Prabhupada, this Minister Rao, he's just arrived.

Prabhupada: Just now? So...

Hari-sauri: What shall I do? Ask him to wait or...?

Prabhupada: Yes.

Hari-sauri: It's ten minutes before prasadam.

Prabhupada: Call him. Come in.

Panḍita: I shall wait till you finish your meals.

Prabhupada: Yes. So you can take in your room. Give him some place.

[greeting Mr. Rao:] Hare Krsna. [Transl. Come. Come. Please come.]

Mr. Rao: [Transl. This is Sai Baba. She is from Poland. She married an Indian Telegu gentleman. She lives here nowadays. Her husband is very learned in Science. He is expert in manufacturing alloy steel, stainless steel etc. Her forefathers were kings of Jharkhanda. Now she lives very simply. She follows some bhakti-marg. Not of high standard, but something. I travel with her to different places and thought let us have darsana of the Svamiji.]

Prabhupada: Take prasadam. You give him. [Transl. No, no, let them take.] [to Palika:] So you have brought? [to Mr Rao:] So if you kindly wait, then I can finish my meals. Then I shall talk.

Mr. Rao: Oh, yes. We will go. We have come here just to have your darsana.

Prabhupada: No, I have to talk with you something. So if you kindly wait...

Mr. Rao: I will wait.

Prabhupada: Then give him some place. Give him some book. He may read it.

Mr. Rao: I'll sit for a while.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Mr. Rao: In the evening I am coming to six o'clock.

Devotee: You are driving to Airport?

Mr. Rao: I have to fix up my cloth.

Devotee (1): Seven o'clock.

Mr. Rao: Seven-thirty, plane takes off, I think.

Devotee (1): Yes, but Prabhupada's going to the... Before one hour.

Mr. Rao: Before one hour?

Prabhupada: So I heard that you were coming at 4:30.

Mr. Rao: Five o'clock, they said, because I won't be able to come here. That is why I thought that now I'll just go and have your darsana and take your program of Delhi, whenever you're going to be. Now I've become chela of yours. [laughs]

Prabhupada: I have asked your wife and children to chant Hare Krsna mantra before Balaji as much time as possible.

Mr. Rao: As many times as possible.

Prabhupada: So she has told you?

Mr. Rao: Yes.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Mr. Rao: They're doing that.

Prabhupada: It is a great fortune that Balaji is there in your home. Take full advantage and simply chant Hare Krsna. Simple. Then everything will come automatically. Buddhi-yogam dadami tam.

This is the very easiest method. Chant Hare Krsna maha-mantra. Sit down as much time as you can devote. The Lord is at your home. It is a great fortune. So do this, both, all family together. Yes. And I have seen, you are fortunate enough that you have got good wife and good children. That is a great fortune. Nobody is against you. Everyone is favorable. Oh, that's a great opportunity. In some family the wife goes another way, the children goes another way. That is very disturbing. But you are so fortunate that everyone is just obedient to the head of the family. So utilize, whole family, this simple method. Chant Hare Krsna mantra. Sit down before Balaji. You are fortunate Balaji is there. Do this. Then we shall talk further.

Mr. Rao: Right. So when shall we meet?

Prabhupada: As you like.

Mr. Rao: I'll come to Delhi.

Prabhupada: So if you are coming to the airport, then we shall talk further. That all. Thank you very much. You have taken little prasadam?

Mr. Rao: Yes, I have.

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