Expressions researched:
"film"
|"filmed"
|"filming"
|"filmings"
|"filmmakers"
|"films"
Devotee (3): Prabhupāda, when they said they went to the moon and they showed films of them landing and walking on the moon, was this all a bluff?
Prabhupāda: Yes, here they... All laboratory work, that's all.
Devotee (3): They all made it up?
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Prabhupāda: That one film?
Śrutakīrti: Oh, King Kong. (laughter)
Prabhupāda: King Kong. It was made in laboratory.
Bali-mardana: Yes.
Harikeśa: Also 2001 was very expertly made like that. There is one movie, 2001, which looked even better than the moon shots.
Devotee: Someone was arguing with me that if, like Russia and America both are enemies, if Russia achieves something great like going to the moon, America will immediately try to expose it. But on the contrary, America accepted all those things. And because...
Prabhupāda: Then there is also... Both of them are thieves, they have made agreement, "Don't expose me. I'll not expose you."
Devotee: So that is their agree... But they are enemies...
Prabhupāda: No, no, enemies, they are not enemies. They are simply rogues and thieves, that's all.
Prabhupāda: In India also, they are still making so much propaganda. They are making propaganda that "These American devotees, they are CIA." (laughter) This propaganda is very strong in India, making the people against these American boys who are preaching. So this is going on. They financed one film, "Hare Krishna." That is spite against us. But still, those who are sincere, they are praising, "Yes, this is a real."
Brahmānanda: In India the effect of that film is just the opposite that everyone is chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Now appreciate. Yes.
Brahmānanda: It was very popular, the chanting.
Prabhupāda: That "Hare Krishna" film at least helped us in the matter of propagating the Hare Kṛṣṇa word.
Prabhupāda: Anyone who is not God conscious, Kṛṣṇa conscious, he is immediately grouped amongst the miscreants, duṣkṛtinaḥ. Kṛti means very meritorious. Just like these scientists. They have got good merit, but that merit is being applied for sinful activities. Just like expert thief, rogue. He has got merit, but he is applying the merit for sinful activities. And next word is mūḍha. Why they are misusing in this way? Because they are rascal, mūḍha, ass. You have seen yesterday film, the ass?
Bahulāśva: Last night in the movie?
Brahmānanda: The donkey was carrying that big heavy load.
Dr. Judah: Oh yes, yes.
Prabhupāda: So they are heavily loaded, and they agree. So these rascals are asses. They are simply heavily loaded, but they do not know why he should agree to bear so much load. That is ass. (laughter) They take great responsibility. You see? So they are asses.
Prabhupāda: That's nice. Spiritual energy does not get tired. That is spiritual. When we get tired, that is material. Spiritual means one would not feel tired. Ānandāmbudhi-vardhanam. Vardhanam means increasing. (break) ...has not come?
Brahmānanda: He left last night for Las Vegas. He will go to Denver. He will see you there.
Prabhupāda: Last night at two o'clock (chuckles) he took film.
Brahmānanda: Yadubara.
Harikeśa: You were translating, he was filming? (break)
Prabhupāda: ...night I was working from half past ten. (laughs)
Prabhupāda: The same example as I give always, that the movies spool, each is a different picture, but when it is put into the projector, you cannot understand. But actually on the background there are different pictures. So if ordinary cinematograph, cinema picture, we can make like that, how much nicely and subtle machine is there, it is being done—that you do not know. But each body, each second, you are being supplied a different body.
Brahmānanda: Like each of the different frames.
Prabhupāda: Huh?
Brahmānanda: On the film each frame is different.
Prabhupāda: Is different.
Brahmānanda: Each picture. But what appears to be a complete...
Prabhupāda: So in one picture you will find hand is here, another picture hand is here, another hand is here, but when they are taken together, it means the hand moves. The example is there. Each picture is a different picture. As soon as you stop it, the hand is here. That's all.
Ambarīṣa: So each second the body is a little different?
Prabhupāda: Yes. Each second the body is different. But what this rascal will do? How they will know? They have no brain.
Prabhupāda: Arrange a meeting with the D.M.
Dhanañjaya: Yes. Mr. Bagla, the D.M.
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: I've heard he wants to see the film very badly. He wants to see our Hare Kṛṣṇa film, the D.M. So we are waiting for it from Delhi.
Dhanañjaya: It is coming this morning.
Prabhupāda: Oh. D.M. is coming?
Dhanañjaya: No. The film is coming this morning.
Devotee (1): There's a cart.
Brahmānanda: The D.M. heard that Indira Gandhi saw the film. So there's so much talk going on now. So now he wants to see the film.
Prabhupāda: So then he will come.
Brahmānanda: We have photographs of our temples in Kenya.
Cyavana: We have about thirty disciples in Nairobi, Africans.
Brahmānanda: You should see the film.
Cyavana: Yes.
Brahmānanda: If you come this evening, we have a nice film about our movement all over the world.
Prabhupāda: Yes. We go interior to African village.
Prabhupāda: Picture you can manufacture here.
Harikeśa: And they have earth dust as if it came from the moon.
Prabhupāda: And the other scientist says this kind dust can be had here. So what is the proof they went there? It can be collected here.
Harikeśa: And their dust does not reflect. They say the moon is reflective, but the dust and the pictures, it was all dark gray. No reflection.
Prabhupāda: So therefore if I say that they did not go to the moon, how they can support?
Harikeśa: They cannot prove. They are so clever and sophisticated with their nonsense, they can even make the astronauts believe...
Prabhupāda: Therefore I asked you to ask them, "Why Sunday first and Monday next?"
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: It's very conceivable that they could have tricked everyone. They simply have a video. They go up in a space ship around. They simply show a film from the space ship back to the earth, how they were practicing in the Arizona desert and they collected some rocks and took it with them. It's very easy.
Jayapatāka: I never had time to go. Bhāvananda knows. (break) ...the Bengali language also. We have one copy at Māyāpur. If we have a festival here in Calcutta with a Bengali film, many people can appreciate it. Of course, English they also.... That first paṇḍāl, we didn't have any movie then.
Prabhupāda: Hm?
Jayapatāka: Those first paṇḍāls we never had a cinema.
Prabhupāda: Oh, yes.
Jayapatāka: Only kīrtana.
Hari-śauri: The more vulgar you are, the more glorified you become, especially like all these film stars and public figures. The more of a drunkard they are, then the more they're publicized in the news.
Prabhupāda: Just like John Lennon. He is a public man.
Dayānanda: Yes.
Prabhupāda: Just see. What he is? He's standing naked and taking photograph. His wife and he, standing naked. I have seen. And that picture is there in his sitting room, fireplace. That is the picture. (laughs)
Prabhupāda: Everyone. Everyone. They are very fortunate. And I am very much indebted to them because they have helped me. Yes.
Reporter (5): Helped in what sense?
Prabhupāda: Helped in cooperation. Without their cooperation.... Now, these books I am writing surely, but they are pushing on, even facing great danger. They are helping me in my translating work, in typing, in composing, in printing. Have you got that film, how they are doing?
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: No.
Hari-śauri: Have you got that film? That book film?
Yadubara: I don't have the projector here, Prabhupāda. That suitcase is not here.
Prabhupāda: So if we invite them to see it, that how they are helping efficiently with latest machine.... Therefore it has been possible. Otherwise while in India with great hardship I could publish three books only.
Rāmeśvara: But they have TV camera on the sputnik, and the sputnik is flying over the planet, and they are filming it, and they don't see any life. That is their argument.
Prabhupāda: No, we have got our own argument, that the other planet is as good as this planet. If this planet is full of life, why the other not? Analogy. Analogy is also another science.
Prabhupāda: This is evidence. I ask you to show me your childhood body. Where it is? Can you show? That is finished. So if the childhood body finished, you get another body, boyhood body. Similarly, the conclusion should be that after this body—I am old man; it will be finished—then I'll get another body.
Jay Warner: That makes sense.
Prabhupāda: Very common sense. But we are so dull-headed we cannot understand.
Jay Warner: I am so what?
Prabhupāda: We are so dull-headed.
Devotees: We, dull-headed.... (laughter)
Prabhupāda: Just like in the, what is called, movie spool....
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Film strip.
Prabhupāda: Film, yes. There are hundreds of bodies in the film, and when they are played, it seems that it's the same—one man is moving—but actually, in the film there are hundreds of bodies, but it is changing so swiftly it appears one.
Jay Warner: A man's eye cannot see it changing.
Prabhupāda: Huh?
Jay Warner: A man's eye cannot see it change.
Prabhupāda: Yes. By nature's law it is changing every second in such swift way that we cannot understand.
Prabhupāda: Film companies, these are?
Hari-śauri: Twentieth Century Fox. It is a very well known film company.
Rāmeśvara: Movie company. This is that park where we sometimes go. When they have this war it will reduce everything, just finish off all the industries and factories. So everything will be reduced to a primitive stage.
Prabhupāda: No, they will again repair.
Prabhupāda: This project should be advanced-plain living, high thinking.
Dhṛṣṭadyumna: I think we'll take around that film of New Vrindaban to all the colleges this year when we are preaching and show it to the students as our practical example.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: This evening, Śrīla Prabhupāda, we are arranging that you can see the film a little bit later in your room. Perhaps you would like to sit outside in the garden?
Prabhupāda: Very nice.
Ṛṣi Kumāra: It was very beautiful.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Ṛṣi Kumāra: Very nice film.
Prabhupāda: Now make Indian Bengali edition. It will be very much appreciated in India. Yes. Is it not?
Ṛṣi Kumāra: Yes, everything looks so pleasing.
Prabhupāda: Yes. They will very much like this movement. Make some Hindi version, Bengali.
Kīrtanānanda: I think it will be a great success in India.
Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. Kumbhamela we can show.
Prabhupāda: You had been in Kumbhamela?
Ṛṣi Kumāra: No, I haven't. Last time it was Kumbhamela, I was in Bombay. I had to do some business with books and stuff.
Prabhupāda: So you begin this preaching work in India with this film. With few assistants go village to village. They'll appreciate very much. Here also they will appreciate. What do you think? School, college, university. They'll get an idea of new life.
Kīrtanānanda: Yes. There are many colleges that give courses now in alternate life styles.
Prabhupāda: Yes, this a...
Kīrtanānanda: This film, they will love to show this in class.
Prabhupāda: Yes. This is the alternative life style. It is not that... This is the only. The other thing is fictitious. That's nice. Keep it. Any other film? No. Make similar films. And I was anxious about food production. That is there, already there.
Kīrtanānanda: Could have been a little more.
Prabhupāda: No, it is... In nutshell everything is there. Our agriculture, our temple, and food growing, and everything is there. Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa worship. The sum and substance, everything...
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Viśākhā was wondering who..., if you have any idea or choice who should do the Hindi translation or Bengali translation and speaking for the film like this. Did you have anyone in particular in mind, or inquiry should be made?
Prabhupāda: It requires some professional man. Laymen cannot go with the film.
Hari-śauri: It needs a trained speaker.
Prabhupāda: Huh?
Hari-śauri: Needs someone who's trained to speak nicely.
Prabhupāda: Anyone can do. We can do also.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: But it may not come out so nice.
Prabhupāda: But it may not be perfect.
Viśākhā: We want to try make a film to prove this point that life comes from life.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Svarūpa Dāmodara: We can do that with film?
Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. Why not?
Svarūpa Dāmodara: We can show it to colleges.
Yadubara: We wanted to work with Svarūpa Dāmodara and the other scientists...
Prabhupāda: Oh, yes.
Yadubara: ...in collaboration.
Prabhupāda: Do it, do it.
Prabhupāda: We are giving the solution, let them take it. This is our greatest contribution.
Viśākhā: The problem is they believe what they see.
Prabhupāda: Believe or not believe, we shall have to give the people by books, by knowledge, by film.
Rāmeśvara: Next year at the Ratha-yātrā they are planning to have a press box, so that the newspapermen and television cameras can come and film the activities on stage also. They can film your lecture, they can film the play.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: We're also thinking to have a press box along the parade route, so that they can stay in an elevated position and take photos. We collected a total of about seven thousand dollars, Prabhupāda.
Prabhupāda: And what you spent?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Spent ten thousand. But we also collected another fifteen thousand in advertisements. So total collection was about twenty, over twenty thousand, and expenditure was under ten.
Prabhupāda: Good business. (laughter)
Mukunda: We just showed him our film.
Prabhupāda: How did you like?
Cline Cross: Oh, it was very interesting. Again it taught me a lot that I did not previously know.
Prabhupāda: We are trying to give real life.
George Harrison: I saw the photograph, looks really nice. It's big.
Gurudāsa: Now they say it's the most beautiful modern temple in Vṛndāvana.
Prabhupāda: You have seen our.... There is any film of the temple?
Gurudāsa: No, but there's photographs.
Jayatīrtha: We have a nice photograph at the reception room downstairs.
Jayatīrtha: Here's some more pictures of our farms. We have about eighteen farms.
Hari-śauri: Actually, we have a whole film that shows this farming project; it's very nice.
Prabhupāda: You come here every Sunday. You come here every Sunday, take our, this prasādam.
Mike Robinson: I'd very much like if I could sometime in the future perhaps to come and interview some of the people who are here.
Prabhupāda: Come and see, he's the president, he can see you. He's the more command. You can see him.
Prabhupāda: Actually, the American boys are fighting against so many unfavorable situations. They are sometimes beaten in the airport, you know that? Still they are preaching; that is preaching, that is preaching. "The unfavorable situation, so let me give it up," that is not preaching. Yes, we must know that there is unfavorable situation, still I have to. That depends on your brain, how to tackle. You cannot expect favorable situation.
Jñānagamya: Is it good to publicize these situations, Prabhupāda, that we are encountering so much difficulty? Is it good to publicize that, in a film, say?
Prabhupāda: Film?
Jñānagamya: In a film can we talk about these things that we...
Prabhupāda: No, no, you don't talk of film. You are very much in favor of film. You better stop that idea.
Jñānagamya: It is very potent, though, for preaching. No?
Prabhupāda: Some of them may be preaching. In North America.(?) What favorable film will do? You can show our activities, that film may be for our advertisement. Otherwise, in which way, by showing film, film, and film. There are so many films. They see, they see.
Jñānagamya: Devotees are interested.
Prabhupāda: Devotees are devotees. If you want to preach to the public, what impression they'll have? Some of our documentary film, just like we are feeding the poor, or we are working, making such things, that may be favorable. Say we're doing something in America, the Indians may appreciate, or we are doing something in India. That's all right. There is little effect of course, but not very much.
Jñānagamya: But if we make a film to go in the movie houses all over the world, the big movie houses, not just for little schools or little groups, not just for the temple.
Prabhupāda: What kind of film?
Jñānagamya: A film that would show activities of devotees. And have some story...
Prabhupāda: But you said they do not like it.
Jñānagamya: No, I never said they do not like it.
Prabhupāda: You said that sense gratification. How they'll appreciate?
Jñānagamya: They will appreciate, it is something new, it is very different, it is very beautiful and attractive.
Prabhupāda: Of course, I cannot understand. What is the favorable condition of film?
Ātreya Ṛṣi: Jñānagamya prabhu is interested in making a very big film.
Prabhupāda: What is the subject matter?
Ātreya Ṛṣi: The subject matter is devotees in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. How they learn, how they study, how they go on saṅkīrtana.
Prabhupāda: They are seeing already.
Jñānagamya: They are seeing in real life, but so many people, they do not know of devotees, and films would go to every little town and village, and there would be chanting in the film, and there would be interest in what the devotees are doing.
Prabhupāda: But their opinion is not in favor, as you said.
Jñānagamya: But the film can change the opinion. Many times...
Prabhupāda: That is... How they can change?
Jñānagamya: Great books have done this. Uncle Tom's Cabin started a whole war against slavery in the United states. Books and films are very potent. They can make public opinion.
Prabhupāda: Books are different thing, we are publishing.
Jñānagamya: In America the Negro situation was very bad, and they made many films showing heroic Negroes and now the situation is much better. The people are not so much agitated by seeing Negroes. They think "Oh, now a Negro has some good qualities." Because of these films they have come to appreciate. So like that, if a devotee is a hero they will also appreciate.
Prabhupāda: Do they? I don't appreciate. I don't think the Negro question is solved.
Jñānagamya: No, it's not, but it is making steps to that end.
Prabhupāda: The whites, they do not like the Negroes still. Wherever there are Negroes, in that quarter the whites do not go in. So is it not? They do not go. Although they have been given equal right, but at heart the whites, they do not like it. Is there any improvement? I don't think. Officially, "Yes, yes, you are good, I am good."
Nava-yauvana: Because people are still on the bodily conception of life, so they are...
Prabhupāda: Yes. That is the real disease. So long one is situated in the bodily concept of life, he is animal. First of all, you have to educate them. That is the difficulty.
Jñānagamya: But we are not Negroes. We are actually devotees and we are very attractive, and we have all good qualities, and people do not have to be afraid to come into our section of town. We will not kill them. That is why they are afraid of the Negroes. So we actually have good things to offer.
Prabhupāda: That is by your behavior, not by showing the film.
Ātreya Ṛṣi: One of the points, Śrīla Prabhupāda, that you're making, if I understand correctly, is that Kṛṣṇa consciousness is like gold, like diamond. If somebody's sincere, they will come. When they are selling cigarettes or Negroes or cars, they make films. But with Kṛṣṇa consciousness, we have the books, which are paramparā. And we have ourselves as examples. If we can be paramparā and we can be good examples...
Prabhupāda: That is my opinion, that instead of spending so much money for films, if you spend some money for propagation of book distribution... Any advertisement is good, it never goes in vain, but the film advertisement is very expensive. Very, very expensive.
Ātreya Ṛṣi: It is very true. Very expensive and very much endeavor.
Prabhupāda: Advertisement never goes in vain, that's a fact. But if it is too much expensive, it touches our financial position.
Jñānagamya: But you said to make everyone fortunate.
Prabhupāda: Yes, that is by your preaching. That we have to do. We are doing that. That I have given the example, Nityānanda Prabhu, He faced rebellion, and by His power converted the Jagāi-Mādhāi. By chanting. They injured, Jagāi-Mādhāi injured, and Nityānanda Prabhu said, "Never mind you have injured Me, please chant Hare Kṛṣṇa." That is not advertisement, that is personal behavior.
Jñānagamya: In Dallas where I was there's a town next door, Ft. Worth, there are many rich Baptists, Fort Worth. They have big studio for producing many different films, television shows.
Prabhupāda: These Christian people, they have got money, and still the churches are being closed. What is the effect?
Jñānagamya: They have no potency to their message. It's not the medium, it's their message.
Prabhupāda: Whatever it may be, by their advertisement, the effect is the church is being closed. Eh? Is it not?
Jñānagamya: But there is also a movement in America, in Christianity, but they do not want to go to church. They want to be Christians, but not go to church.
Prabhupāda: That means it has no effect. Now talk about something substantial.
Hari-śauri: They got one of those movie projectors—the ones in the small suitcase? With all the films. We were just testing it. They were just testing it downstairs.
Ātreya Ṛṣi: We were planning to have..., to show one movie tonight for the guests, that new movie that is made about New Vrindaban. When our other guests arrive we will show it at about eight o'clock. Would you like also to see it again, Śrīla Prabhupāda?
Prabhupāda: I have no objection. Where it will be shown?
Hari-śauri: They can show it anywhere.
Ātreya Ṛṣi: (movie dialogue—break) Would you like to see another, Śrīla Prabhupāda?
Prabhupāda: Yes, why not?
Harikeśa: "As Brilliant As the Sun"? This film is really first class. (some discussion while setting up film) (break)
Prabhupāda: This is due to American boy's cooperation.
Mr. Sahani: Yes, very nice. A great achievement.
Ātreya Ṛṣi: Due to Śrīla Prabhupāda's mercy.
Prabhupāda: And now we are trying Middle East with the cooperation of Iranians.
Mr. Sahani: I'm sure next year there'll be a film on Iran. When are you going to make the public announcement for this temple?
Ātreya Ṛṣi: It is announced. Śrīla Prabhupāda's visit was sufficient.
Vasughoṣa: "Tinge the eyes with the salve of love."
Prabhupāda: Salve, yes. That is the word, salve. The salve of love. One who has painted the eyes with salve of love, he gets it.
Guest (1) (Indian man): But sir, there will only be a few who can reach that stage, but the down-trodden...
Prabhupāda: That's a fact,
You cannot make such person by showing film. It is not possible.
Guest (1): Well, that I agree. It is not possible to make men devotees or religious by showing films. But at least those who cannot read our books, to whom individually we cannot reach in spite of our...
Prabhupāda: But they know, they hear. They hear. There are different processes.
Prabhupāda: If one goes in the village without any dress, without any, if he plays the part of Kṛṣṇa's and somebody plays the part of Rādhārāṇī, thousands of people will come. There is no need of film. Yatra-party.
Guest (4): Yatra-party, sir, in the films we do those...
Prabhupāda: No, I mean to say, that mass of people will come. As soon as they hear that here is some play going on, Kṛṣṇa pastimes, still in India...
Guest (4): It is there, sir, so what my submission was that what we do as film producers and in this line of business, that we do it more on commercial basis. Gimmicks are there, castings are there, but then it is not so much educative. What your Prabhupāda wants to convey. If, as a member of...
Prabhupāda: Education you cannot give. Education means it is practical practice. But to show something, that you can attract even without film. The yatra-party can.
Guest (5): Yatra-party, sir, here again the problem is India's a vast country and for that purpose if you take the whole world as a place, how many yatra-parties can you...
Prabhupāda: No, I mean to say, that even if you attract better crowd, what will be the benefits? Unless, because unless you come to the point of practicing, there is no profit. Who will be attracted to practice Kṛṣṇa Consciousness. Nobody is... We are getting practical experience.
Yaśomatīnandana: I think generally people are more attracted to our society by the behavior of devotees rather than philosophy, Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa's pastimes. Philosophy is there but generally when they see the devotees, and by association, purification comes. As you say, there are so many books about... If the movie is made, just like our Hare Kṛṣṇa People movie, this is showing the practical example of how one can live Kṛṣṇa consciously and solve all the problems of the day-to-day life. Such a movie can attract people to become devotees.
Guest (1): For the students it is good idea.
Yaśomatīnandana: For everyone. I mean...
Prabhupāda: Those who cannot read the book, they are still better. Those who can read the book, they are still more dangerous.
Guest (1): They will misinterpret the whole thing. They will misrepresent, the danger is still more there. It is rather more with the educated people that the danger is there than the uneducated. But to reach the uneducated we have, I was thinking this is a better media. This is one of the medias perhaps, I wouldn't say better. Perhaps one of the medias by which we can reach them in a larger crowd.
Guest (2): But not in the way that the films are made.
Guest (1): No, that is not say. I don't want. I could produce...
Prabhupāda: That Kṛṣṇa consciousness is developed when one practices according to the prescribed method,
These are the process, tapasya, brahmacaryena. So it is very difficult for the common man to undergo tapasya. Little tapasya we have introduced, no illicit sex, no meat eating, no gambling, no intoxication. That is also become very difficult nowadays.
Guest (3): But is it not possible that we (indistinct) name of society for Kṛṣṇa consciousness and then they will be attracted more and more and they will...
Prabhupāda: When you want to attract people you have to show that you (indistinct).
Guest (5): ...distorting the life of Kṛṣṇa. Your divine grace the film producers are distorting all our mythological...
Prabhupāda: But as soon as you say "mythology," there is no Kṛṣṇa.
Guest (5): Don't say "mythology," I mean to say, my meaning was that they are distorting all our religious... They are making films, putting something, unusual things and cheap things. We can reform them and bring...
Prabhupāda: No, unless (indistinct) it will not to the art.
Guest (5): You can bring these (indistinct) into the art.
Prabhupāda: No, that you can use your art.
Guest (5): Yes.
Prabhupāda: Just to give some incentive but the thing is unless we practice...
Prabhupāda: What about the car(?) there? But a film project, it can be done, provided it is done in foreign countries. Here everything is expensive and lacking manpower. (break) To make a film it requires huge amount of money.
Indian man (3): Money perhaps we would be able to..., that problem we will be able to solve now because initially for the project, not only making the film, the whole project of the campus, I have got the blueprint with me. When you are little better, I'll show the blueprint and I'll have your blessings that if I am able to achieve it. What I was thinking that a short film, say, about eight to ten thousand feet, which occupies an hour and twenty minutes or so, initially made. And dubbed into as many languages as can be done, because the sound portion is always separate. And as I was discussing to Saurabha, Girirāja... (break)
Prabhupāda: The life of Kṛṣṇa is known almost everyone. So...
Indian man (3): Yes. And also, sir, there are...
Prabhupāda: What benefit they will get?
Indian man (3): ...numerous pictures also. What we have to educate the people...
Prabhupāda: (break) By practice. We are training them to practice how to become devotees. By superficial seeing the activities of Kṛṣṇa, this is not... One has to practice.
Prabhupāda: We are not Kṛṣṇa. But if we remain Kṛṣṇa conscious Vaiṣṇavas, then our position is strong, If there is slackness, then they will come to kill us. That we have to see. Āpani ācari' prabhu jīve śikhāilā. Our behavior should be very clear. "Caesar's wife must be above suspicion." Then it will be... This Aghāsura, Bakāsura, will come and... In the beginning there was Aghāsura, Pūtanā. That Devānanda, "Hare Kṛṣṇa Film," he wanted to do some harm. And he is gone, finished. Nobody talks of Devānanda. They talk of our movement. So if you remain strong in your spiritual activities, these Aghāsura, Bakāsura will come, go. But we should take precaution and counteract to reduce them. Real strength will remain from Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma's strength. Balarāma. Balarāma means strength. Nāyam ātmā bala hīna na labhyaḥ.(?) If you are not supported by Balarāma, then it is not possible.
Mahāṁsa: He's the head. He himself never gave. And we went a hundred times to him.
Prabhupāda: And now he saw the film...
Mahāṁsa: Yes. And today also he was there in the morning. Now he will definitely give. You had also previously said that they are very conservative. But once they take it up, then they will take it up very nicely.
Prabhupāda: Nobody will be able to check it. He'll go on. That is Kṛṣṇa. Here is dictaphone. I work at night. I get up at half past twelve, one, and I write books. And daytime I'm engaged. And daily either ten page, twenty page written, that is sent to Los Angeles. You have seen our press? And they take care. How our books printed, have you got that film?
Mahāṁsa: I have it in 16 mm only. Yes.
Prabhupāda: Why don't you show?
Mahāṁsa: Just now?
Prabhupāda: Yes. It will take little ...
Mahāṁsa: I don't have a Fairchild. I have it in 16 mm film.
Prabhupāda: That's all right. But the Press...
Mahāṁsa: Yes, the Press film.
Prabhupāda: You can show, they'll be... How in the American industrial process we are printing our books. I made the Book Trust, sixty thousand dollars they are selling. So as author, I could have derived from them at least six thousand, ten percent minimum. Six thousand dollars per day. Six thousand dollars means sixty thousand rupees. That could have been my daily income. But I take little khicuḍi from them, that's all. (Harikeśa laughing)
Prabhupāda: When I was in India I published three parts of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with great difficulty. And now since I have gone there I am publishing every month a book. So on account of their cooperation we are able to publish so many books and organize the sale all over the world. But it is true that this culture is very much welcome all over the world. That is happening. That is real execution of the mission of Kṛṣṇa. Not to keep Kṛṣṇa within the boundaries of certain areas. Ahaṁ bīja-pradaḥ pitā. Sarva-yoniṣu kaunteya (BG 14.4). He's the father of all living entities. They should know it. We have got many other films also. How we are giving protection to the cows in different farms, how we are getting sumptuous milk. Two years ago there was an article in the Navabhārata Times in Delhi, big article, one full page, first page. And the heading was that New Vrindaban (Hindi). They gave this heading. And they gave all details how to use the land New Vrindaban in Virginia, we have got one thousand acre of land and they are utilizing it. How they are living peacefully. So we want to make an example here with this six hundred acres of land, if it is given to us. Kṛṣṇa's formula is there.
Prabhupāda: Film-wala...? What is his name?
Girirāja: Devanand?
Prabhupāda: Yes. He purposefully criticized this movement by Hare Kṛṣṇa film.
Guest (1): Yes, yes, I have seen that film.
Prabhupāda: We are going on. He is finished. His film is finished, but we are going on. But he tried purposefully that "This is a hippie movement."
Guest (1): Yes, "Hippie movement, bhāng, gāñjā, and all sex and perversion of all sorts."
Guest (2): This cloud on the movement in America, is that vanishing?
Prabhupāda: It will vanish.
Guest (2): It will. It's bound to.
Prabhupāda: Although they are making some strong movement against this.
Guest (2): But what is the position now? Is it dying out or increasing?
Prabhupāda: No, no. We are selling more books.
Guest (1): There will be immediate protest the moment... This film has got the connotation that Hare Kṛṣṇa means... Now, these boys, by their own conduct and by their own hard work, whosoever has come into contact with them have realized that this is genuine and actually...
Prabhupāda: No, you see, something cheating which is going on for long time, to stop it, it will take some time.
Prabhupāda: No, you can study. It is going on throughout the whole world. Now the Western world, they're feeling the strength. They have now begun opposition. Their politicians are thinking that "This Hare Kṛṣṇa movement is spreading like epidemic." Actually it is so. "And if it is spread so quickly, within ten years they'll take our government." They say like that. And that is possible because these young men, they have taken seriously and they're pushing on. If the majority is after them, they can take over. It is democratic, America. And how they are after this movement... If you see our latest picture of Ratha-yātrā... You have seen that film? Ratha-yātrā?
D. D. Desai: Yes. So many thousands of...
Prabhupāda: Fifth Avenue.
D. D. Desai: Yes. They're pulling the chariot.
Prabhupāda: You might have seen.
D. D. Desai: I think San Francisco or somewhere?
Girirāja: This is very recent, in New York.
Prabhupāda: People become mad, and the papers admitted, "Here is the place for East and West to meet." And the police were so satisfied, they said, "Next year we shall make very, very nice arrangement."
Prabhupāda: Yes. I have told them that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Lord, and they have accepted. This is my magic, and this is their magic. That's all. You ask them if I did any magic with them.
Guest (10): This is magic itself.
Prabhupāda: (laughs) Yes, it is magic. It is magic undoubtedly. But I never created any gold or some other... And neither I do know it, how to do it, although there is no scarcity of gold in my pocket. I started this business with forty rupees. So I'll go to take massage. Thank you very much. (Hindi) ...prasāda. Show. Show the film.
Prabhupāda: People misunderstand this Kṛṣṇa's behavior with Rādhārāṇī and the gopīs as ordinary woman-hunters.
Guest (2): No, no.
Prabhupāda: You say no, but they take it like that. Even a person like Vivekananda, he said long ago that "This Vaiṣṇavism is sex religion." They misunderstand. So just try to understand. This līlā is kept in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in the Tenth Canto, and middle of Tenth Canto, Thirty-fourth, Thirty-fifth Chapter. So one has to understand Kṛṣṇa first of all. So it is not for ordinary men. So we discourage these things to be discussed or presented even for ordinary men. This is our preaching. It cannot be taken as ordinary film show.
Guest (2): No, sir, he was taking it in different angle, that Kṛṣṇa was by these Vaiṣṇavas.
Prabhupāda: That's all right...
Guest (2): That is the rasa. We are talking of the rasa-līlā.
Prabhupāda: Rasa, that is not for ordinary persons. It is most confidential. So this has deteriorated.
Prabhupāda: Just like one learns from ABCD, not jumping over M.A. class. That is my point. Teach people from the ABCD. So this is the beginning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Janmādy asya yataḥ (SB 1.1.1). What Kṛṣṇa? He is the original. Ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavaḥ (BG 10.8). Show that by film, how He is sarvasya prabhavo. That will be...
Guest (1): So He is always supreme power.
Prabhupāda: That's all right. Not... You are going to produce some film. Begin from the first chapter of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Why you jump over the Tenth Canto? That is kept very confidential. Unless one understands... By understanding nine cantos of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, he has no entrance.
Satsvarūpa: I remember in school seeing films of India, and they would say, "This is very backward. They're living as they used to live hundreds of years ago by using the ox and the plow."
Prabhupāda: Yes. Now we have, hundred years after, we have learned how to kill ox and bulls. That is your advancement. And kill your own children also. Rascal civilization. They say "primitive." I was talking with a priest in Australia. So he said, "This civilization you are suggesting, this is primitive."
Devotee (1): Prabhupāda? Is it possible to see the lot of films now? (?)
Prabhupāda: Hm.
Pṛthu-putra: Because I went to some universities. They have big, big universities in Cairo and in every places in North Africa, because now they try to be educated. The white Africans, they have some intelligence to understand to a certain extent philosophy, because when I was talking about the Bhagavad-gītā, when I showed the table of contents, they more or less agreed to take interest in it because they didn't see anything specific about another religion, another God. They were seeing the titles like "Confidential Knowledge," "Transcendental Knowledge," "Karma-yoga," "Jñāna-yoga." They are very interested about knowing these things.
Prabhupāda: That is good the first, beginning, let them come. Let them sit down, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, and take prasāda. In Iran we are doing that. Gradually it is becoming interesting.
Yadubara: I was surprised, but the karmīs, their attention is held throughout the film. They seem to enjoy it very much. And several people have said that "It is very clear now that we're not the body."
Prabhupāda: It will be a great service if you can educate. Yasyātma-buddhiḥ kuṇape tri-dhātuke (SB 10.84.13). To keep them as animals is a great sin. Our Svarūpa Dāmodara has got this film?
Yadubara: No.
Prabhupāda: Not yet.
Yadubara: It just came out.
Prabhupāda: Oh. We can produce more detailed film later on.
Yadubara: You asked us to make that one point, that we're not the body.
Prabhupāda: Hm?
Yadubara: In Māyāpura last year you asked me to make that one point, that we're not the body. So we tried to do that only.
Prabhupāda: That's nice. That can be, and this..., done that.
Yadubara: Do you think there should be any sequel to this film? In other words, to carry on the philosophy?
Prabhupāda: No, you have given the evolution of from fish to plant, plant to insect, bird, animal. That can be little elaborately, evolution. Then human being, full consciousness. Now, this is the chance for understanding God. And if they are still kept in darkness like the animals, that's a dangerous civilization.
Prabhupāda: This is beginning of Bhagavad-gītā. And in the bodily concept of life where is spiritual knowledge? They talk of spiritual, that life is... First of all one has to understand that "I am not this body." Ahaṁ brahmāsmi. Athāto brahma jijñāsā. "Then if I am Brahman, then what is my value? So far I have led my bodily concept of life, but I am Brahman?" Then brahma-jijñāsā. Athāto brahma jijñāsā. How Brahman lives, how Brahman is produced, what is his real life. So I think this film will be useful for Svarūpa Dāmodara.
Yadubara: We would like to try to get it in the schools, in high schools and colleges.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Yes. And ask them to read Bhagavad-gītā. They will get all information.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: The movie should be given out with also a copy of Bhagavad-gītā along with it. To be a part of the film.
Prabhupāda: You can give in this course(?) Bhagavad-gītā, Sanskrit, dehino 'smin yathā dehe (BG 2.13). Or the English translation. You have got that abridged edition?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: No, we don't have a copy of it here.
Prabhupāda: How is that you don't have copy? Find out...
Yadubara: To show that on the film? At the end?
Prabhupāda: It is best to impress them: "You read this book; you get all information."
Yadubara: It's a little bit difficult to change the film.
Prabhupāda: No. That I am suggesting. If it is difficult, that is another thing. But this should be.
Yadubara: It should be there.
Prabhupāda: And actually, there is evidence.
Yadubara: What about reincarnation, Śrīla Prabhupāda? What about transmigration of the soul? 'Cause we were thinking to do that for a next film, because it seems like a very natural thing.
Prabhupāda: That's all. Therefore śruti, which is beyond the sense perception, you have to hear it from authorities. That is knowledge. Who has seen it? These rascals... Who has seen it? So grossly educated they are. "Everything can be seen." Why everything? The same example we give. You have not seen your father. You have to hear, "Here is your father." That's all. That is the proof.
Yadubara: Just like in this last film, we suggested that there is a soul in the hand sequence—when the hands were always changing, and the body grows old. So the idea was that there is something that's not changing there. So in film there are certain techniques we can use to suggest, as Tamāla Kṛṣṇa Goswami said, certain ideas.
Prabhupāda: Idea, that idea is given there. Just like you cannot see the flavor, but still, you are smelling, some flavor is nice. In the air, it is rose flavor, it is passing. You cannot see what is that flavor and how it is being carried, but you can smell. Similarly, the soul is being carried by the mind, ego and intelligence. You cannot see it, but you have to understand by hearing from the authorities like Kṛṣṇa.
Yadubara: I would like to show the origins of Kṛṣṇa consciousness in India in the next film.
Prabhupāda: Origin? There is no origin. It is always there. Origin is Kṛṣṇa. He has always been. Aham evāsam agre. The Bhāgavata śloka. Where is that śloka, aham eva āsam agre? First part? Where is that Gītā-bhāṣya.(?) You are doing nice. Go on doing like that. Try your best to convince. Manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu (BG 7.3). Out of many millions of men, one can understand Kṛṣṇa.
Prabhupāda: Śyāmasundara. Tribhaṅga-murāri.
So you have brought some films?
Yadubara: Yes, I brought two of these cassette films of the new film, and one 16 millimeter, three films in all. And then one "Hare Kṛṣṇa People" and also "Spiritual Frontier."
Prabhupāda: So we can see them. Jaya.
Dr. Sharma: No, that's a different. Because Harrison is more popular in Europe and West than Lata Mangeskar. Raj Kapoor they know. They know, I think more than George Harrison(?), Raj Kapoor is a most popular man in Soviet Union because of his films. And second is Jawaharlal Nehru. So they can make anybody popular or unpopular. Because there is only one paper. They write whatever they want. Unfortunately, the whole thing is in the hands of those (indistinct). They publish whatever they want. So this type of popularity is not real popularity. You cannot take the face value popularity. So I think this type of creating a drama or taking a film for educating about God, and then there will be some sort of a scientific discourse as if intellectual level that...
Prabhupāda: Scientific research...
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: How about that new film that Yadubara has just made? That's presenting everything as seemingly unreligious way. What is it called? "A Spark of Life" it's called. A new film. Are you going to be showing it here tonight, Yadubara?
Yadubara: Yes.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Maybe we could see it. That would be nice.
Dr. Sharma: I would like to know some such film they would popularize these things.
Prabhupāda: So why don't you show some film? Is it possible now?
Yadubara: To show it now?
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Yadubara: Yes.
Prabhupāda: You show.
Dr. Sharma: Because I have been seeing some of the films in the temple shown here.
Prabhupāda: He should not produce such thing without consulting the scientific men.
Svarūpa Dāmodara: Actually I suggest that we make another movie.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Svarūpa Dāmodara: The article that we are writing right now is very appropriate, that, the difference between spirit and matter. That is what he's trying to show there, but here we have many scientific evidence, and we can make it... So it will be very nice when we finish this monograph.
Prabhupāda: So make it improved, and another film you can make. It doesn't matter.
Svarūpa Dāmodara: Yes.
Prabhupāda: What is made is made. You can reject it. Make another, authentic. And I have asked to pay you for your department... What will be the savings?
Prabhupāda: So we can pay you so much. What was your estimate? You made some estimate.
Svarūpa Dāmodara: Yeah. It is about six thousand, six thousand dollars.
Prabhupāda: Six thousand dollars, but we are ready to spend fifteen to twenty thousand dollars. Make it nicely, everything. We shall spend. Make worldwide propaganda. And there will be no scarcity of money. Tour. Make extensive tour, especially in Russia. In Russia send this film group, the scientific group, and if the Doctor is seriously our friend, let him translate. And that translation, it shall be good.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He said it's very good.
Prabhupāda: And the person who is translating, encourage him. Do this.
Prabhupāda: Hm? What shall I advise? I have no experience about this. You do. But this scientific film should not be done independently.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: His reason for coming to India this time was to give you that film and to now make a film about India. He proposes to travel to holy places and festivals to show people engaged in the nine processes of devotional service. "My first immediate trip," he says, "would be to Trichur, Kerala, to show the Puram Festival, where thousands of people join in a procession through the streets. A Deity of Kṛṣṇa is carried on an elephant. At some of these big festivals there may be many non-Vaiṣṇavas. Is it all right to show these people? Or should we only show Vaiṣṇavas in this movie?"
Prabhupāda: No, no. But what will be the benefit of our taking photograph of other procession? There are so many processions like that. So what will be benefit?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He says, at the end he would like to get "a short statement by Your Divine Grace in the movie on the importance of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement in the world today. This film could, hopefully, be distributed to schools and colleges, showing that India is full of transcendental knowledge and that this knowledge is meant for the entire world for the benefit of all humanity."
Prabhupāda: That I am speaking of, that this, that this knowledge should not be kept locked up. That is my mission.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I think this is an important movie to make, Śrīla Prabhupāda, the way he described it. He says in regard... He says, many people are approaching him with ideas for other films and he doesn't want to get misdirected, so he's mentioning to you. He says...
Prabhupāda: Whose idea is this?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He says they've been requested by the various temples around our society to film Sudāmā Mahārāja's theater group playing "The Age of Kali" and, perhaps, other plays so that these films could be shown at Sunday feasts, because they can't have the theater group in every temple.
Prabhupāda: Oh, it is good idea. Good idea.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: You like that idea.
Prabhupāda: Hm, hm.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He says, "Also these films could be shown on television. 'The Age of Kali' play is especially dramatic and would appeal to a mass audience for television." He says, "In this way we could introduce our philosophy to many millions of people. The players are very expert, and I feel the people in general will appreciate their efforts."
Prabhupāda: He can do.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He says he's also eager to help Svarūpa Dāmodara in whatever way he can because his project is so much stressed by you.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He plans to meet with Svarūpa Dāmodara in Boston when he returns in July to discuss the possible films to make. He says he decided with Svarūpa Dāmodara that it would be best to wait before making a film until they have published their thesis and had some feedback from the material scientists. It's a good point. "Because their theories are always changing, our scientists also have to change their approach. It is for this reason that a film does not seem so suitable for their purposes, because it cannot be so easily changed as with a slide presentation. Also Svarūpa Dāmodara's presentation is highly scientific, and I feel somewhat dry for the film medium, which is more an artistic medium."
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So he frankly admits that it is a little difficult to make a very scientific film because it may become very, you know, a little bit dry for the...
Prabhupāda: Yes. So they may not film. Their lecture is good. That's all.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Right. And slide show accompanying. He says slides are good, but a movie may be too...
Prabhupāda: No, no.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He says, "I feel that these points should be carefully considered before taking on a subject..."
Prabhupāda: No, no, don't make film. Let them have slide...
Prabhupāda: He's an animal, and he's praised by some small animals. That's all. This is their position. They are not actual leader. They are animals, but because we are small animals, we are praising. So it is very difficult to understand our philosophy, but still, we have to preach. That is our mission. A little drop, maybe like a film or less than that... Still, they are... And again, when you cleanse this, you kill them—you become implicated. You have killed. You have to suffer. They are disturbing; still, you cannot kill them. This is your position. But people are with Flit (a bug killer) killing thousands of mosquitoes and flies, becoming implicated.
Prabhupāda: They distribute pills. I have seen the boys and girls dancing together, embracing, in the school film. That ruins the career. Both of them are ruined. That is very regrettable. Then you shall require this sterilization, pills, another big program. They are creating animal civilization, and when the animals are disturbing, they are trying to find out some other means. This is their program. First of all create animals. Then, when the animals behave like animals, then another program. Why do you create animal? Woman brahmacāriṇī, this is artificial.
Prabhupāda: This is intellectual dishonesty. They produce sputnik and going to the moon in the laboratory.
Svarūpa Dāmodara: Yes.
Prabhupāda: And then it is exposed, "Moon Hoax." This is intellect... There was a... There were many films. One film was... What is that? A big monkey?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: King Kong.
Prabhupāda: (laughs) King Kong. They are producing chemical laboratory, yes, studio, and the monkey played...
Bhakti-caru: (Bengali) Prabhupāda said, "I kick them on their face." "I literally kick them on their face." (Bengali)
Prabhupāda: They showed film?
Upendra: Today I don't know.
Prabhupāda: Why?
Upendra: Let me look at today's program. Yes. At 8:30, just now, films. And then tomorrow also at 8:30, films and slides. (break) Whatever you say, Śrīla Prabhupāda, is being recorded, and then Tamāla Kṛṣṇa and Hari-śauri, they're all busy copying down, rewriting into their diaries, 'cause your words are so nectarine. And then all the devotees are anxious to hear. So then they copy down from them. It's like a little press, already. Bhakti-caru, if you speak in Bengali, then Bhakti-caru translates.
Prabhupāda: I'm very glad to see you here. (Hindi) So, Tamāla Kṛṣṇa?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Prabhupāda: Who has got these films, you can...
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. I'm going to arrange it with Akṣayānanda Mahārāja. The temple has everything here.
Prabhupāda: Call Akṣayānanda Mahārāja.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: All right.
Śrī Nārāyaṇa: (Hindi)
Prabhupāda: Just see our activities all over the world.
| Page Title: | Film (Conversations, 1975-1977) |
| Compiler: | Labangalatika, Matea |
| Created: | 22 of May, 2010 |
| Totals by Section: | BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=67, Let=0 |
| No. of Quotes: | 67 |