Stockholm, Oct. 26, 1959-Two American atomic scientists were awarded the 1959 Nobel Physics Prize today for the discovery of the antiproton, proving that matter exists in two forms—as particles and antiparticles. They are Italian—born Dr. Emillo Segre, 69, and Dr. Owen Chamberlain, born in San Francisco.... According to one of the fundamental assumptions of the new theory, there may exist another world, or an anti-world, built up of antimatter. This anti-material world would consist of atomic and subatomic particles spinning in reverse orbits to those of the world we know. If these two worlds should ever clash, they would both be annihilated in one blinding flash.
Italy
Other Books by Srila Prabhupada
Easy Journey to Other Planets
Lectures
Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures
Lecture on BG 2.12 -- New York, March 7, 1966:
I have got experience. Have you ever traveled in the sea? No. But when I was coming from India, so everywhere I see a round only, round of water. I do not know which way the ship is proceeding. You see? But they have got a chart. They have got a chart. By latitude, longitude, by time and by chart, they are calculating. Now, I was asking the Captain, "Where we have come?" He was saying, in the Mediterranean Sea, "Oh, we are so many miles from Italy. We are so many miles from..." Like this. "Tunisia. Now we are coming to Gibraltar." Like this. But I was seeing all vast of water only. I was seeing, "Just after ten miles I shall reach," but it never reaches. So then how, what are these charts? The charts are that experienced sailors, they have made the charts. The captain was also consulting that chart because it was made by experienced sailors. That is nothing. So similarly in calculating in which way we have to find out our salvation is to follow such liberated souls.
Lecture on BG 4.18 -- Bombay, April 7, 1974:
Recently I have got several literatures printed in Swedish language. We are printing Kṛṣṇa literature almost in all languages of Europe, in English language, in Spanish language, in French language, in Swedish language, in Dutch language and German language, and then Italian language, we are publishing, and it is being sold like hotcakes, anything.
Because this idea, the Kṛṣṇa consciousness idea, is very, very new to them. Kṛṣṇa, God, can be talked with personally. One can go to God personally. These ideas were unknown in the Western countries. But that is possible. That is a fact. We can understand from Vedic literature. But they do not know.
Lecture on BG 10.1 -- New York, December 27, 1966:
Wealth, strength, and then fame. If a man is very famous, just take any famous man of the world, if he comes in this room, oh, thousands of people will come here. When Gandhi was alive I read one news from the newspaper in India that in some Italian city, there was great crowd, innumerable people gathered in the station. And nobody could understand why these people are assembled here. So when they are asked, they replied that, "We have heard that Gandhi is coming here." Mahatma Gandhi, perhaps you heard his name. He was very famous man, politician. So actually the news they are published that one, there was one Mr. Glandi. So he was coming. And people misunderstood as Gandhi. So my point is that a famous man also attracts. These things are attraction, richness, wealth, and strength, and famous, fame.
Philosophy Discussions
Philosophy Discussion on Soren Aabye Kierkegaard:
Devotee: On the ship?
Prabhupāda: Yes. They were calculating (indistinct) immediately, "Now we are here. Now we are in Mediterranean, Italy, this that." I was asking. I was very inquisitive. But actually you (indistinct). By the compass and by the map, they are coming to the right direction. The captain's business is this. They have got different types of maps, and the compass.
Śyāmasundara: (indistinct)
Prabhupāda: Everything is there. The captain ordered, "Now turn the wheel this way. Stop the wheel this way." So therefore (indistinct). Otherwise he's nonsense. (indistinct) captain. If he has got the (indistinct) and everything, "Just go on this way." (laughter)
Devotee: (indistinct)
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Conversations and Morning Walks
1973 Conversations and Morning Walks
Garden Conversation with Mahadeva's Mother and Jesuit Priest -- July 25, 1973, London:
Prabhupāda: Dunkirk.
Mother: And then they came, when Dunkirk was evacuated, they came back in all these little boats that they escaped in, and they got together and they billeted them... And I was living with my godmother in Sholden (?) in Devonshire. And we had eight acres. And the Army put up huts for them. And they lived there for about eight months until more Indians were sent to make them back to strength again, the regiments, big enough. And then they went overseas again. Some went to Burma, some to Italy. I don't know where they went, of course, but they were very good...
Prabhupāda: They went to die, after all.
Mother: They were very good soldiers. No, they didn't all die. Of course, some did, I expect.
Prabhupāda: Some, (laughs) yes.
Room Conversation with Cardinal Danielou -- August 9, 1973, Paris:
Prabhupāda: Benares.
Cardinal Danielou: Benares. Fifteen years. Fifteen years in Benares.
Prabhupāda: Oh, he was in fifteen years?
Cardinal Danielou: Oh, yes, a very long time. Oh yes. Very long time. Yes. And after he, he worked in Pondicherry and each year he comes in India. Yes. Yes. He's very well known in India for his works, especially about Indian music, but also Indian spirituality, the yogas, Indian gods and all question concerning India. Yes.
Prabhupāda: Where he is now?
Cardinal Danielou: He's now in Rome, in Rome, in Rome. He, he had especially in Greece language not in French. He lived in Rome, in Berlin. You visited Italy, Italy yourself?
Prabhupāda: Not yet.
Cardinal Danielou: No. Not yet, not yet. France. France...
Prabhupāda: I've got invitation from the secretary...
Cardinal Danielou: Yes.
Room Conversation with Cardinal Danielou -- August 9, 1973, Paris:
Bhagavān: We are beginning one branch in Italy.
Cardinal Danielou: Yes, yes, yes, yes.
Bhagavān: Your brother, he has acquired a little philosophy from India.
Cardinal Danielou: Yes, yes, very acquainted with Indian philosophy and religion. He read very well Sanskrit and...
Prabhupāda: Oh, he knows Sanskrit?
Cardinal Danielou: Oh, yes, oh yes. He knows very, very well, oh, very well. He speaks Indian modern language, Hindi, Bengali, and Tamil.
Prabhupāda: Bengali?
Cardinal Danielou: Tamil.
Prabhupāda: I am Bengali.
Cardinal Danielou: It is...
Prabhupāda: He's a linguist scholar.
1974 Conversations and Morning Walks
Morning Walk -- April 11, 1974, Bombay:
Prabhupāda: Oh!
Italian Man (1): Yes. Even twice a day until the age of fourteen, and then we went to catechism. And then I left, I left alone, you know, by my own will. (break) It would be fantastic to go back with a background of, with the knowledge of Kṛṣṇa and talk to them about Kṛṣṇa.
Prabhupāda: Yes, yes. (break) ...this boy, he is going to develop our Italian center, Rome.
Room Conversation with Irish Poet, Desmond O'Grady -- May 23, 1974, Rome:
We have to take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness because such consciousness will help us to be free from the contamination of these different types of material consciousness and save us from transmigrating from one body to another. So we accept this different association on account of our strong propensity for sense gratification. Therefore we have to purify the senses so that the senses may be engaged in the service of the master of the senses. Hṛṣīkena hṛṣīkeśa-sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate.
- sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁ
- tat-paratvena nirmalam
- hṛṣīkena hṛṣīkeśa-
- sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate
- (CC Madhya 19.170)
Bhakti means to be free from all sorts of material designation. "I am American," "I am Indian," "I am Italian,"—these are all designations of the body. So we have to become free from these designations. And that is called nirmalam, purification. And when we are nirmalam, without any contamination, then we can engage the senses in the service of the master of the senses. Master of the senses is Kṛṣṇa, or God. Actually, He is master of the senses.
Room Conversation with Irish Poet, Desmond O'Grady -- May 23, 1974, Rome:
O'Grady: This is my friend, Michael Robert (indistinct) We are colleagues together since we teach literature, English literature. And this is another friend of ours who has just come from Greece. Everybody seems to be traveling within the last twenty-four hours. This is a young painter friend of mine, Bob Jackson, also from Ireland, whose first time in Italy, out of Ireland, and he's staying with me at the moment. He came back with me from Ireland just a few weeks ago.
Prabhupāda: We are also writing books, so many. You have seen our books?
O'Grady: I have seen some, yes, because some of the friends have come up and...
Prabhupāda: Some of the books, you can show him. Here is one book, Bhagavad-gītā.
Room Conversation with Irish Poet, Desmond O'Grady -- May 23, 1974, Rome:
O'Grady: Very much so. Very badly, very bad now, very bad. What do you do about that? And that's a serious question. Is it morally correct to be sitting here, for me to be sitting here...
Prabhupāda: You see, so long people will remain under the bodily concept of life, that "I am this body," "I am Irish," "I am English," "I am American," "I am Italian," so long this misconception will go on, fight will go on. You see? Yasyātmā-buddhiḥ kuṇape tri-dhātu... There is a verse in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Just like you cannot stop fighting between the dogs and cats. Why there is fighting? Because the dog is thinking, "I am dog." The cat is thinking, "I am cat." Similarly, if I think as Irishman, "I am Englishman," it is the same thing. As the dog is thinking, "I am dog," so if I think, "I am Irishman," "I am Englishman," I am no better than the dog. So as we cannot stop the fighting between dogs, similarly, so long people will remain in bodily concept of life, the fighting cannot be stopped.
Room Conversation with Richard Webster, chairman, Societa Filosofica Italiana -- May 24, 1974, Rome:
Prabhupāda: All right but thing is that after all our prime necessity is food. So why people are not engaged to produce food?
Richard Webster: Well, in Italy they don't like to work on the land any more. They all want to live in town.
Prabhupāda: Yes, that is the defect. That is the defect.
Richard Webster: Especially in Italy.
Prabhupāda: You do not want to live in the village, farm. In your country I am seeing. America, the farmer's son, they are leaving. They are not coming back to the country. In India also.
Atreya Ṛṣi: Cities have become centers for sense gratification.
Prabhupāda: That's it.
Room Conversation with Catholic Cardinal and Secretary to the Pope -- May 24, 1974, Rome:
Prabhupāda: I don't think. Because they are all ahaitukī; there is motive. Motive. And conditional. Therefore it is very difficult. And it is clearly said, ahaituky apratihatā. (break)
Dhanañjaya: ...the founder of our International Society for Kṛṣṇa Consciousness.
Cardinal Pignedoli: Thank you.
Dhanañjaya: This is Prabhupāda's first visit to Rome, to Italy.
Cardinal Pignedoli: Oh yes. You will stay some days here.
Bhagavān: You have visited India?
Cardinal Pignedoli: Oh, I have been many times, yeah, in India.
Bhagavān: You have been to Vṛndāvana.
Cardinal Pignedoli: No, I have been to Vārāṇasī, to Calcutta, to Bombay, Agra, Darjeeling and many other places in... Nepal also.
Prabhupāda: Nepal. My birthplace is in Calcutta.
Morning Walk -- May 28, 1974, Rome:
Yogeśvara: So these Italian women are complaining now that their husbands are abusing them, so why can they not get divorced?
Prabhupāda: Why do you marry?
Yogeśvara: Obviously, they wanted sex in the beginning, but they didn't know it was going to be so much trouble.
Prabhupāda: That is our point. Then why do you marry? Just begin Kṛṣṇa conscious, and you will find, without sex, you will be happy.
Yogeśvara: But what do we advise such women?
Prabhupāda: Whatever they, others women, they may take lesson from them that, "If these woman are suffering or these men are suffering, why should we marry?" There is a Bengali proverb, dekhe sekhe and tekhe sekhe (?). One who is intelligent, he can see what is happening, he becomes cautious. And one, when actually experienced, then he becomes cautious. Less intelligent. So if it is not good, why you are marrying? Why you are induced by sex life? Stop it by Kṛṣṇa consciousness. If you devote yourself, the whole life, in Kṛṣṇa consciousness you will not be agitated by any sex life. And that is yad-avadhi mama cetaḥ kṛṣṇa-pādāravinde. If one is actually advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he will deride, "Huh! Nonsense! What is this?" That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness, advancement. The only remedy, prime remedy for all solution, is Kṛṣṇa conscious. That we have to say. So answers are all right or not?
Morning Walk -- May 29, 1974, Rome:
Nitāi: So the reply is that "Well, we require some place to stay."
Prabhupāda: Yes, that you can stay anywhere. Anywhere.
Nitāi: But it's a little bit cold here in Italy, so we require a building. We cannot just stay under a tree.
Prabhupāda: Well, Italy...
Devotee: It's a very wet country. The winter is very long and wet.
Prabhupāda: No no. We don't say that don't construct building, but don't think that this is everything. We don't say that you don't construct building. But you construct building, sit comfortably, but take knowledge. But they are not ready for the knowledge. They think, "This is all knowledge." That's all. That is the difficulty. We say that "All right, you have constructed this building, but you take this knowledge. This is not permanent; you are permanent. So why don't you try for your permanent residence?" Is it very unreasonable? If I say, "My dear Mr. such and such, you have constructed a very nice house. That is all right, but you cannot stay here," Is it a wrong proposal? So why he does not understand that "I will not be able to stay. Then where is that place I will be able to stay forever?" He says... Rascal, he will not take this knowledge. Then he'll say, "Oh, don't talk all these things."
Morning Walk -- May 29, 1974, Rome:
Prabhupāda: Ants also. Everyone knows. God has given that intelligence. Everyone knows how to eat, how to sleep, how to have sex life, and how to defend. Everyone knows, according to their... But everyone except the human being does not know what is self-realization. That is only prerogative of the human being. So if they are not utilizing his intelligence for that purpose, he is simply wasting time, śrama eva hi kevalam (SB 1.2.8), simply laboring for nothing.
Haihaya: Here in Italy the majority of people is communism. The majority of young people is communism.
Prabhupāda: What ism you manufacture it doesn't matter. We have to see whether you are understanding the value of life. Our point is that. We don't mind whether you are communist, capitalist, this ist, that ist, that... We want to see whether you are utilizing your human intelligence for right purpose. We don't condemn anyone. If the communists, they are also making the same plan as the capitalist, then what is the use of this communism? The same thing. It may be useful for the temporary purpose, for the rascals, but it is the same quality.
Room Conversation with Mr. C. Hennis of the International Labor Organization of the U.N. -- May 31, 1974, Geneva:
Puṣṭa-kṛṣṇa: It's true what you say Prabhupāda. They come and they put forward their idea and if you don't like it, well, "Oh!" but if you like, "Oh, very good man." They have their own ideas.
Prabhupāda: What, his nonsense idea. From the result we see nobody is happy. What is this idea? They have big, big scientists, big, big politicians, big, big..., but where is it people are happy? They are simply fighting. Now, recently in Rome, Italy, the Communists and the Fascists fought, and six innocent person died. So where is the benefit of this United Nations? They do not have really brain. Manufacturing something, concocting something. That's all. Where is the brain? They have no discrimination between sinful activities and pious activities.
Room Conversation with Mr. C. Hennis of the International Labor Organization of the U.N. -- May 31, 1974, Geneva:
Puṣṭa-kṛṣṇa: You used the example that in the United States...
Prabhupāda: Now there was fight between two opposite nations. Now, within the nation, there are so many opposite parties, they are fighting. So instead of nationwide, it has become homely affairs, my home, your home, fighting. That's all. Although we belong to the same nation. So what is the improvement? Now, in Italy the Fascist party and the Communist party, they fought and so many people died. So this will increase, increasing, partyism. So where is the brain?
Puṣṭa-kṛṣṇa: So then the first point is to educate people who they are serving, they are working for.
Prabhupāda: Yes. First of all, there must be a class of men, ideal men, brain; people will follow them. My request is therefore that you should become ideal men. If we fight... Now there is fighting amongst ourself. That is very disappointment to me. The same politics, intrigues. The nature is so strong that brain becomes, what is called? Fag brain? Brain becomes deranged.
Morning Walk -- June 2, 1974, Geneva:
Devotee: Leonardo da Vinci.
Yogeśvara: He's Italian.
Prabhupāda: Yes. It is said that he was very poor man. So he painted in a fruitshop grapes.
Devotees: Cezanne.
Prabhupāda: Ah. So the crows came to pick up the grapes, and the king was passing, he picked up, "Oh, who is that artist?" He became rich man in association. No, I have seen in that hall. So first-class picture. I have never seen such nice picture. Exactly life. (break)
Yogeśvara: ...the book glorifying the Russian ideals, he is thrown out of the country.
Prabhupāda: Just see. It is a country... People are not bad. I have seen. They are very nice. The government, the rascals, a few men, who are controlling the government, they are all rogues and thieves. The same thing in India. Everywhere mass population, they are innocent. These rascals made them..., misleading. In Russia I have seen. The mass people, they are very nice. Andhā yathāndhair upanīyamānāḥ (SB 7.5.31). They are innocent. In India also. The Pakistan happened due to these politicians. The Hindus, Muslims, they are innocent. They don't fight. These politicians engaged them to fight artificially for their political ambition. The wars also declared nowadays, on account of the rascal politicians. The people do not want it. (break) ...to the Indian railway strike, have you got any news?
Room Conversation with Prof. Regamay, Professor of Sanskrit at the University of Lausanne -- June 4, 1974, Geneva:
Prof. Regamay: But this young boy who was asking what to do with the fascists the day before yesterday, he wanted precisely violence to fight against the fascists. You, remember...
Prabhupāda: First of all, the thing is that our principle is vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām. Those who are sinful rogues, to kill them. Now, we have to judge whether the fascist, he is sinful or the person attacking the fascist, he is sinful. If both of them are of the same category, then where to use violence or to use nonviolence? Now... Formerly, there was fight between nation to nation and now, we have seen in Italy—I was in Rome—now they are fighting amongst themselves.
Prof. Regamay: Awfully.
Prabhupāda: Amongst themselves. Now they will fight in the family. So people are becoming so degraded. They require all to be killed.
Room Conversation with Roger Maria leading writer of communist literature -- June 12, 1974, Paris:
Prabhupāda: Now, sometimes he is going this side, sometimes goes that side. Sometimes he says, "Mass of people," and again he says, "Not the number of people." What is mass of people? That is the number of people. (French)
Pṛthu Putra: He says, for example, he can see the mass of people in Italy, they are Catholic. But that doesn't mean he's going to be impressed by the Catholic philosophy.
Prabhupāda: Now, now, we have to... He was comparing that the mass of people, they take to Ramakrishna. That I have proved. They're not, the mass of people, not at all interested... That I have proved. That is my answer. (French)
Jyotirmayī: He said he was not saying that thousands of people were following Ramakrishna...
Prabhupāda: What is the mass of people mean?
Yogeśvara: He says Ramakrishna, whether he knew it or not, he was expressing a sentiment of the people at that time.
Prabhupāda: At that time. That is finished. So that is not permanent settlement. But Kṛṣṇa's, Kṛṣṇa's, I mean to say, supremacy, at least for the last five thousand years, is intact. Now, he says Aurobindo, Gandhi, Ramakrishna. They're all gone. They came and gone. But Kṛṣṇa philosophy is truth, and it is standing, and it will go on standing.
Room Conversation with Professor Durckheim German Spiritual Writer -- June 19, 1974, Germany:
Prof. Pater Porsch: (indistinct) Chinese.
Prabhupāda: Japanese also. And Hindi.
Devotee: Italian, French. Hindi also we have. Bengali, Gujarati.
Prof. Pater Porsch: But I also noticed on the faces of the devotees downstairs that many or several faces were, we would say in the West, sublimated, that the facial features showed that a certain form of sublimation had taken place. (German)
Prabhupāda: Even children are learning how to dance, how to offer obeisances, how to chant, how to clap. They are also learning, small children.
Prof. Pater Porsch: And I think that it comes at the right time so that people may not be misled into juvenile delinquency, all of those "easy riders" and motorcycles and adolescent criminality. They find creative outlets for their energies also as a by-product.
Room Conversation -- August 12, 1975, Paris (with French translator):
Prabhupāda: Oh, you are forty-five percent advanced. Let them come forward. Oh, they are chanting. Very good.
Bhagavān: Many young people. You speak Italian. You speak French? English? Habla espanol?
Prabhupāda: Which language?
Devotee (1): Italian.
Prabhupāda: Italian. Ah.
Bhagavān: The Hare Kṛṣṇa, that is universal language everyone understands. You are from Rome?
Guest: Yes.
Bhagavān: We have a temple there.
Guest: Yes, I know. Very good.
Prabhupāda: (aside:) Come on.
Bhagavān: Umāpati is nicely editing these books also.
Prabhupāda: Oh.
Bhagavān: He is editing the philosophy, making sure everything is exact.
Prabhupāda: You are doing good service. Now you have got good engagement.
Room Conversation -- August 12, 1975, Paris (with French translator):
Prabhupāda: And Jyotirmayī?
Bhagavān: She is doing the distribution of Bhagavad-gītās in stores, and she is meeting important people. Whatever articles are written about us, she is answering the articles in the paper. Nice service. This Europe is a very good field for making devotees.
Prabhupāda: Oh, yes.
Bhagavān: You are Italian also?
Woman: No.
Bhagavān: From where?
Woman: I'm from California.
Woman (2): I am (indistinct) sister.
Bhagavān: Oh, (indistinct) sister. It is Haihaya's wife's sister.
Prabhupāda: Oh. She is French? No.
Bhagavān: No, American.
Prabhupāda: And this boy?
Devotee (1): He's from Morocco.
Prabhupāda: Morocco.
1975 Conversations and Morning Walks
Morning Walk -- (World War III) -- April 4, 1975, Mayapur:
Prabhupāda: But they, generally, during wartime...
Viṣṇujana: Everyone.
Prabhupāda: ...they ask all foreigners.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Oh, I see.
Jayapatāka: During the last war, the Christian Mission of Krishnanagar, they had many Italian priests also, but the government gave them permission to stay, although India was at war with Italians.
Prabhupāda: In the missionary consideration, they can do that.
Jayādvaita: What will be the position with the Chinese if the Russians and Americans fight?
Prabhupāda: Well I am not a politician. (laughter) China does not war, not want war. They want to...
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Develop.
Prabhupāda: Construct.
Rūpānuga: They're not ready.
Prabhupāda: Yes. They are not very much interested in war.
Morning Walk -- May 7, 1975, Perth:
Paramahaṁsa: They had this tree where I used to live, also. I don't remember the name of it. In California.
Śrutakīrti: On the airplane coming here they had some article in one of the airline books about eucalyptus trees and how these monks, they make wine out of the eucalyptus. The Trappist monks. Some kind of Trappist monks, they make wine out of the eucalyptus, and they have a big store, and they sell it, in Italy. That's their profession, making different liquors.
Amogha: Recently we have shown the film and spoken in several Catholic schools in Melbourne. They have comparative religion classes, and they ask us to come to their high schools to teach comparative religion so the students can see what other religions think. Usually they...
Prabhupāda: There is no other religion. All bogus. Dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo. Only religion is to surrender to Kṛṣṇa. That is religion.
Amogha: They think that if they sin it's all right, because man is imperfect. So they think we should believe in Jesus.
Prabhupāda: Every animal is imperfect, but man—animal can become perfect. If he likes. So it is very important life.
Morning Walk -- May 22, 1975, Melbourne:
Prabhupāda: Oh.
Madhudviṣa: So therefore during the Victorian area, era you have many elaborate houses that were built by the Britishers. And he...
Prabhupāda: Victoria died in 1903.
Madhudviṣa: He was said to have brought some Italian plasterers from Italy to do all that elaborate work on the ceilings in the house.
Prabhupāda: Oh.
Madhudviṣa: So many people are anxious to come into the house to see the work in the construction of the house. And it has been classified as a building of national importance.
Prabhupāda: Oh. The building is known everywhere.
Madhudviṣa: Oh yes. It is important building. They cannot... It is not allowed to be torn down. It is protected by the...
Prabhupāda: Historical.
Madhudviṣa: Historical building. It is protected by the government.
Śrutakīrti: Yesterday you were telling Bhūrijana they should make the temple a tourist attraction. So with this method, it would be very easy.
Prabhupāda: Yes. (coughs)
Morning Walk -- August 24, 1975, Delhi:
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Then a feast?
Prabhupāda: Hm. (break) Who is he?
Brahmānanda: He's some Italian astronomer. He invented the telescope.
Prabhupāda: Invented telescope?
Brahmānanda: So they could speculate about the stars and planets. (break)
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: ...all the British names out and replaced them with Italian and Indian and other names.
Tejas: Many Muslim names they have replaced also. Because they are supposed to be historical. (break)
Prabhupāda: This is the road. This is the bus. (break)
Tejas: Many of the members are reading the books now, Śrīla Prabhupāda. One man, he is coming tonight. He has read your Bhagavad-gītā six times now. He is very enthusiastic. Now he is thinking that he has wasted his whole life. That's the way he talks.
Prabhupāda: Yes. If he comes to that conclusion, then he becomes perfect.
Morning Walk -- November 8, 1975, Bombay:
Prabhupāda: They will create nuisance because there is no sense. It is better nuisance. Who is coming to make sense, chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa? Nobody is coming. Then nuisance is better than no sense. (Bengali:) Naya mameche khana mama baba:(?) "To possess no mama, it is better to have a blind mama." So they are blind mama. That's all right. Where is the real mama? All mamas are...
Dr. Patel: (Hindi) (break)
Prabhupāda: Mama means mother's brother.
Dr. Patel: No, but here in Gujarat... (Gujarati) Mama means he is a fool. (break)
Devotee (2): Now is not nice. The fruit is not nice.
Dr. Patel: (Hindi)
Devotee (2): You speak in Italian.
Indian man (6): I speak little only.
Devotee (2): Speak in Italian.
Dr. Patel: Don't worry. (break)
Prabhupāda: If he comes to your house you must receive him properly. Gṛhaṁ satrum api praptam viśvas tam akuto-bhayam. (end)
Morning Walk -- November 20, 1975, Bombay:
Prabhupāda: By international scholars' meeting these diacritic marks were discovered for studying Sanskrit. The diacritic marks which we use, that is international agreement of Sanskrit scholars.
Dr. Patel: Yes. Yes. Those marks. A, and a and u and ai and these dots. Yes, that is international. Nobody can claim. That is long back, sir. I think Max Muller's time.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Dr. Patel: There were so many scholars, even in Paris, Germany, and Italy.
Prabhupāda: Professor Roe and Webb, they were professor in Presidency College when we were school children. They admitted Sanskrit is the mother of all languages.
Dr. Patel: In fact, Persian is the first letter of Sanskrit which looks like that. When you study Persian, so many words-Sanskrit directly taken Persian. In the Russian language, I mean, so many words are there of Sanskrit.
Prabhupāda: No, whole world you'll find Sanskrit. The first word, mother and father, that is Sanskrit, matri and pitri.
Morning Walk -- November 20, 1975, Bombay:
Prabhupāda: By trance.
Dr. Patel: When he... On the cross they say he uttered, "Father, don't forsake me." That is the time he went into trance most probably. Eh? He must have gone in trance when he uttered the last words, "Father, don't forsake me." And then when he was brought down in the lap of his mother and they took him in the cave, no? Under the guard of those Italian soldiers. Then there was a big hurricane or something like that and they all ran away. And after that he was smuggled away from that place. Christ has rebuilt his father's temple in true sense, the way he spread the Christianity. The churches have degenerated in his teaching, unfortunately. It is the church. That happens with every, in every, I mean, these things, teachings. Race, this race is very bold, indeed, that God choicest race, these Jews, somehow or other.
Prabhupāda: Jews?
Dr. Patel: Really, it is God's choicest race. (laughter) They have produced wonderful people right from Christ up to Professor Einstein, very bold people, very bold indeed. They are truthful to their convictions. They would die for their convictions but they will not, I mean, budge an inch.
Brahmānanda: But they're impersonalists.
Dr. Patel: Very brave. Very brave race.
Brahmānanda: They are impersonalists.
Dr. Patel: Today still, those people really very brave. Very brave. It is the choicest race from God. It's a fact.
Prabhupāda: Brahmānanda is very much pleased. (laughter)
Morning Walk -- November 29, 1975, Delhi:
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: There's a worldwide trend towards communism today.
Prabhupāda: Hm?
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: There's a worldwide trend towards communism. In Europe, communism is becoming very strong. Italy has almost become communistic. Communist party has captured...
Kṛṣṇa-caitanya: Portugal.
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Portugal, there's a struggle going on. Even in France the Communist party is very, very strong.
Prabhupāda: Disappointment. Disappointment. People are becoming more and more poverty-stricken. This is the...
Haṁsadūta: They are forced to accept it.
Prabhupāda: The European economic problem is failure.
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Actually this oil crisis has been of great help to the Communists, because because of this oil crisis the world economy has fallen, and as people become frustrated, more and more people are turning towards communism.
Prabhupāda: But what the Communist has done for the world benefit?
Harikeśa: Well, it's a nice philosophy.
Prabhupāda: In India there are many Communists, but the price of foodstuff increasing daily. What they can do?
1976 Conversations and Morning Walks
Morning Walk -- January 16, 1976, Mayapur:
Bhavānanda: He weeds all of the hedges under Tapomaya.
Prabhupāda: So why they are drying? They should water it. (break) (Bengali) They are doing rightly. There are so many men. Why this should be not taken care of? (break) ...not indulge to give shelter persons—in the name of so-called japa they take advantage of free boarding and lodging. You should be very careful. Everyone should be, according to capacity, must be engaged to some work. Don't allow this stupidity. (break) ...plants are grown properly you get so many fruits. They are drying. There is so much space. You can get the sak and the fruit also.
Sudāmā: (break) We made vegetable from that stem.
Prabhupāda: Yes, it is very good vegetable. (break) ...and cycle.
Bhavānanda: That is one of our boys from Italy. He is working in the gośālā.
Prabhupāda: Oh. That is not utilized. (Bengali) (end)
Magazine Interview -- June 10, 1976, Los Angeles:
Prabhupāda: In India, also.
Guest: They are sold throughout the world.
Rāmeśvara: Yes, and they're published in many different languages. French, Dutch, Swedish, German, Italian, Indian languages. Spanish, very big.
Prabhupāda: Get this light.
Interviewer: Where did you get these paintings?
Prabhupāda: Paintings? Our students did.
Rāmeśvara: Our art studios are here in Los Angeles.
Interviewer: What happens when that inevitable time comes when a successor is needed?
Rāmeśvara: He is asking about the future, who will guide the movement in the future.
Prabhupāda: They will guide. I am training them.
Room Conversation -- June 10, 1976, Los Angeles:
Hari-śauri: Yes. That's going on everywhere. There was a, John Paul Getty's nephew in Italy, he was taken by kidnappers, and they petitioned Getty, "Give us so many millions of dollars, otherwise we'll kill your nephew." So he refused. So after a long, long time the nephew was returned somehow or other, and one of the times when they demanded a ransom, they chopped off his right ear and put it in an envelope and sent it through the post: "This is proof that we have your nephew, now give us money." And still he refused. And then eventually the boy was returned minus his ear.
Hṛdayānanda: And you were saying, Prabhupāda, that even when they have so much money they want more. This man is one of the richest men in the world, and for his own family member he would not pay some money to save him.
Prabhupāda: Who was that man?
Hari-śauri: Getty. He just died.
Prabhupada Visits Palace and Garden -- June 22, 1976, New Vrindaban:
Prabhupāda: Plumbing?
Kīrtanānanda: Like those on the doors. But we are just śūdras; we don't know how to do anything else.
Prabhupāda: Hare Kṛṣṇa. What for these marbles?
Kīrtanānanda: That will go on the wall in the bathroom, Italian cremo marble. Here's a picture of how the windows are being done in jāli work. This is being cast out of white cement.
Prabhupāda: Doing here?
Kīrtanānanda: Yes. This is some of the castings they've done. This goes up on the ceiling.
Prabhupāda: Cornice.
Kīrtanānanda: Cornice, yes. Then around the top of the building on the outside, there's a railing with these balusters.
Prabhupāda: This is made of cement?
Kīrtanānanda: No, this one is plaster, this was our first model, but the ones that will be used will be done out of cement. This is very light. Do you have your drawing of the outside?
Prabhupāda: Somebody's staying here?
Kīrtanānanda: Yes, Bhāgavatānanda and a couple of the other construction members stay here. (break) This is the way it will look when it's finished—the balusters and the brackets supporting the sunshade. (break)
Prabhupāda: ...When God is there, within the heart, He'll give you, "Do like this." Buddhi-yogaṁ dadāmi taṁ yena mām upayānti te. If one is sincere to serve the Lord, the Lord is situated in everyone's heart, He'll give him, "Do like this." Teṣām evānukampārtham aham (indistinct) (BG 10.11). It is special favor of God. Even if he's less aware of everything to be arranged(?), He'll give instruction, "Do like this." So there is no scarcity of instruction if one is sincere. Thank you very much. (leaves house) (break) ...I came to your country for preaching this, I had no idea how to do it. (laughs) But things are being model. People are surprised how within a short so many short years this world movement has sprung. I had no idea how to do it. (laughter)
'Life Comes From Life' Slideshow Discussions -- July 3, 1976, Washington, D.C.:
Prabhupāda: Therefore He is God. He's not dog like you, barking only and doing nothing. (Prabhupāda knocks on table or flooring) What is this stone?
Hari-śauri: Marble. It's a type of Italian marble, I think. They call it terrazzo. Something like that.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: It's very soft underneath.
Hari-śauri: They often put this on the facings of buildings, big buildings.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Comes off on the fingers, very soft stone.
Hari-śauri: In Detroit temple, that stairway that goes up, this is the same marble, marble steps.
Prabhupāda: Move this.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Would you like this fan on at all, Śrīla Prabhupāda?
Prabhupāda: Yes. (end)
(break—next day)
Rūpānuga: Svarūpa Dāmodara Prabhu, You want to ask some questions?
Svarūpa Dāmodara: Yes.
Room Conversation With Scientists -- July 6, 1976, Washington, D.C.:
Prabhupāda: You can't see so many things. What is the value of your eyes? Why do you believe so much your eyes? You cannot see even your eyelids, so close. Still, you are blind. When there is some particle, you cannot see. You have to struggle how to get out this particle. If you see, then take it. So what is the value of your eyes? Why do you believe so much? Adhyakṣa, they are called adhyakṣa, only believe in direct perception.
Hari-śauri: Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa.
Prabhupāda: Let him come. So?
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Getting French visa was done, and tomorrow I pick up your passport and apply for Iran visa. Then just one more, Italy, remains.
Prabhupāda: Why do they speak about seeing? What is the value of your seeing? I have seen the Atlantic Ocean, that means I have seen everything? This is ludicrous.
Rūpānuga: They may simply speculate from a distance, that "Here is the surface," like here...
Prabhupāda: That's all. Real business is speculation.
Rūpānuga: Here it says, here, this is some great, here...
Prabhupāda: Oh, that is "I am not stealing."
Room Conversation -- July 26, 1976, London:
Prabhupāda: Fifty thousand?
Bhagavān: Twenty-five thousand. The translators have been working day and night for the last two weeks to get everything ready. They are now in Italy. We are printing this book in Italy.
Prabhupāda: Oh. Cheaper?
Bhagavān: Very cheap. Very cheap. Including composition, the book cost $1.75.
Prabhupāda: Oh, very cheap.
Bhagavān: Sixty-four color pictures.
Prabhupāda: It is very nice.
Bhagavān: And Upadeśāmṛta, that is coming out in one week, twenty-five thousand copies.
Prabhupāda: Which book selling now?
Bhagavān: Which book are we selling right now? Gītā, and we'll have a quantity of this in about three weeks, and then we'll begin selling Bhāgavatam, and Īśopaniṣad, Easy Journey, Back to Godhead.
Prabhupāda: French language is understood practically all over Europe, especially France, Switzerland.
Room Conversation -- July 26, 1976, London:
Prabhupāda: It is alluring. (laughter)
Jayatīrtha: Yes, Bhagavān is trying to allure you, I think.
Bhagavān: And we are having Deity installation also. The Kṛṣṇa-Balarama Deity is there. They're very beautiful, extremely. And we have a new Vyāsāsana. I had it made in Italy with all marble, temple. Anyway...
Jayatīrtha: You can send him pictures in India. I was going to ask you, Srila Prabhupāda. If I wanted to install Gaura-Nitai Deities also, like the ones in Baltimore and this farm, here also, along with the Radha-Kṛṣṇa Deities, without two altars...
Prabhupāda: Here?
Jayatīrtha: Yes. Whether or not that's all right.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Room Conversation -- July 26, 1976, London:
Prabhupāda: So why you did not come yesterday?
Bhagavān: I was putting together your Vyasasana. (laughs) All night long I stayed up. Also our printer from Italy, he is wanting to present you with the Kṛṣṇa book. He has had his men working seven days a week, composing. They are composing. It is going to be a very nice book. We had one article in the paper. We went to a book fair, and thousands of publishers.... So the article they wrote on us was that "The association for Kṛṣṇa consciousness produces luxurious books."
Prabhupāda: Why not? Our Kṛṣṇa is most luxurious person. He is never poverty-stricken. Always with gopīs, cowherd boys, killing all demons.
Jayatīrtha: Harikeśa Maharaja and I were discussing last night about your travel plans, and we were debating on what was actually the best place for you to go. So someone was saying Tehran, someone was saying Paris farm, like this, but the point that came out was that as far as health is concerned, India is not the best place for you to go at all.
Prabhupāda: India.
Room Conversation -- July 26, 1976, London:
Prabhupāda: Śrīmad-bhāgavatam amalam purāṇam.
Harikeśa: These books are exquisite. The books they make in France are just marvelous.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Harikeśa: It was printed in Italy, I think, but this here is so nice.
Prabhupāda: Yes, embossed. I think our other books are not like that.
Harikeśa: Of course, in France this is very much appreciated because the people are like that.
Prabhupāda: Fancy.
Harikeśa: Yes.
Hari-śauri: There's big competition now between our French and Spanish and English, between our publishing, French, Spanish and English. They are always competing. And the Germans also.
Harikeśa: I think the French are on top though.
Hari-śauri: Their French Bhagavad-gītā, the French one, when it came out, it's so much better than any other version we've had. Every time they bring a new book out, it seems to be an advancement on everything else.
Harikeśa: Yogeśvara is very...
Prabhupāda: Oh, he is very expert, very enthusiastic. His wife is...
Harikeśa: Very nice.
Hari-śauri: They included a number of photos also. In the picture sections they've headed each section with a photo. There's one of Vṛndāvana temple. They have a photo of your room in Rādhā-Dāmodara.
Prabhupāda: Oh! Where it is?
Hari-śauri: In one of the sections here.
Arrival at Farm -- July 29, 1976, New Mayapur (French farm):
Prabhupāda: Harikeśa, have you came here?
Harikeśa: Yes.
Bhagavān: All the marble, I had it made in Italy especially for you. This is all lotus flower carving they have done. And the bookshelves also.
Prabhupāda: This also marble?
Bhagavān: Yes.
Prabhupāda: Oh!
Bhagavān: Everything is designed for Prabhupāda.
Prabhupāda: So I can use this closet?
Bhagavān: All these are closets. These are many pillows, if people come, they can sit.
Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. Very nice, so you can keep here. (break)
Hari-śauri: It's coming in a few minutes. Have to order that. Tapioca.
Prabhupāda: Is there any store near here?
Bhagavān: Yes.
Prabhupāda: Not immediately. Just or you have got barley powder?
Bhagavān: They are getting this morning. They are taking it to get ground.
Prabhupāda: Immediately, there is no stock?
Bhagavān: No.
Arrival at Farm -- July 29, 1976, New Mayapur (French farm):
Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. Very good.
Bhagavān: Table is close enough?
Prabhupāda: Oh, yes, everything is comfortable. These stones are not available in India. Maybe very costly. Italian.
Bhagavān: This is from Portugal. The white is from Italy. They have put the different marbles together, very expert.
Prabhupāda: Combination.
Bhagavān: They have also made your Vyāsasana.
Prabhupāda: That one. So this side, marble is cheaper?
Bhagavān: Yes, it's very..., it's not expensive.
Prabhupāda: Oh. They have done very nice this furniture. We cannot expect this furniture in India. They may make, but it will be very costly. (coughs) You bring one spittoon.
Prabhupāda: How many devotees are there?
Bhagavān: Hundred and fifty.
Prabhupāda: Very good. They are all happy?
Bhagavān: Oh, yes.
Room Conversation -- July 31, 1976, New Mayapur (French farm):
Prabhupāda: Just fix on the light.
Bhagavān: Is now the right time to ask? She has some questions on Gurukula. Is now okay?
Prabhupāda: (indistinct)
Harikeśa: They haven't come as yet.
Bhagavān: Yogeśvara has just come back from Italy.
Prabhupāda: What is the news, Italy?
Yogeśvara: They've finished the preparation for the printing of the French edition of Kṛṣṇa book and Śrī Upadeśāmṛta and the Italian Bhagavad-gītā, and they should be ready within the next ten days.
Prabhupāda: French language.
Bhagavān: And Italian Bhagavad-gītā is done.
Prabhupāda: What is the political position of the Fascists and Communists?
Yogeśvara: Very mixed up.
Bhagavān: They are called Christian Democrats.
Prabhupāda: They can manufacture so many. Fertile brain in the tract of deserted world. This world is desert, and they have got fertile brain. They call? The fertile land in the deserted land, in the desert, is called oasis. So similarly, these rascals, they have got fertile brain in the world of desert, where there is no happiness. But they have got fertile brain, how to manufacture happiness. And māyā kicks on their face and baffles everything. This is the illusion. Daivī hy eṣā guṇamayī mama māyā (BG 7.14). They, the world is desert, duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam (BG 8.15), but they have got fertile brain, how to become happy. And as soon as they make some arrangement, kicks on his face and he falls down. That's all. What do you think? Is it right? Sometimes you have got fertile brain. (laughter) This fertile brain, he will not accept. He'll be kicked out. Everything will be finished. If you want to be happy, then you have to go back home, back to Kṛṣṇa. That is the only way. Otherwise, your fertile brain will... What do you think, Jyotirmāyī? You are intelligent.
Room Conversation -- August 2, 1976, New Mayapur (French farm):
Prabhupāda: Very nice, very fresh, so many things can be done.
Hari-śauri: This is zucchini?
Prabhupāda: This called, this is, I do not know what you call. It is called komura.(?) It is very nice.
Hari-śauri: We used to call them marrows.
Devotee (1): Tomato. It's an Italian type of tomato, and there's another one.
Prabhupāda: This is apple?
Devotee (1): Yes, that's for cooking.
Hari-śauri: Cabbage.
Devotee (1): Pears.
Bhagavān: They're growing chick peas. They're not ripe yet.
Devotee (1): You can see inside, inside the pod. They have to go yellow on the plant and then we pick them and then put them in sacks for the winter.
Bhagavān: We had a whole field planted of chickpea. They're very expensive here, so it's nice.
Prabhupāda: So you have got immediately some pods?
Devotee (1): And also you have been taking the fresh coriander, dhane.
Prabhupāda: Oh, nice. So, this pod?
Devotee (1): Peas, beans.
Evening Darsana -- August 14, 1976, Bombay:
Prabhupāda: Oh, that he has done. He promised...
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Motaji. He told me to give it to him and he'd print it on his press.
Prabhupāda: Give this light. (break)
Indian man: Chinese, German, French, Italian, English...
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Swedish is coming.
Prabhupāda: Dutch. Dutch.
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Italian is at the printer. Italian Gītā.
Devotee: French Bhāgavatam.
Prabhupāda: French Bhāgavatam. No, Dutch Bhāgavatam? Dutch also. No, they have printed, I have seen it.
Devotee: Spanish also.
Prabhupāda: They may read and translate. And why in India where there is Bhagavad-gītā? Apart from all other Vedic literatures, set aside, the gist of all Vedic knowledge, Bhagavad-gītā, there is. And still, people are kept into darkness. How much lamentable. Still, big, big leaders, at least, they want to preach Bhagavad-gītā—without Kṛṣṇa. They have set aside lakhs of rupees for preaching Bhagavad-gītā, but condition is if you preach without Kṛṣṇa. Just see. Bhagavad-gītā in every page it is written "śrī-bhagavān uvāca." Not even it is said "kṛṣṇaḥ uvāca." Because some rascal may take Kṛṣṇa as ordinary human being, therefore Vyāsadeva has specifically said... People know it, "kṛṣṇaḥ uvāca," but he says "śrī-bhagavān uvāca." The bhagavān word. People may not mistake that Kṛṣṇa is somebody else. And they want to banish Kṛṣṇa from Bhagavad-gītā. Even Gandhi did it. So you explain Bhagavad-gītā as it is there in Ahmedabad?
Room Conversation -- September 11, 1976, Vrndavana:
Prabhupāda: In this way make a nice design Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. And Rādhārāṇī should be like this. This is Vṛndāvana style. Not this. This is Lakṣmī style. This. Make these arrangements. I am hopeful of this business. Very good business we'll have. I want to introduce in every family. They'll do it. If they do not worship, let them keep as dolls. That will also give them inspiration.
Dhanañjaya: Actually so many Indians in their house they're keeping just like dolls. They are not worshiping regularly. They're keeping on the mantlepiece or on the side.
Prabhupāda: In this way be encouraged and in full capacity do business and get others.
Dhanañjaya: There was one boy who just came from Italy and he's expert in wood carving.
Prabhupāda: That's all right.
Dhanañjaya: So we can take artists for wooden siṁhāsanas. Siṁhāsanas he said he can make. He even brought his tools. He has a whole box of tools he brought just for carving and he studied in the south of Spain, religious architecture.
Prabhupāda: He can make a small siṁhāsana for the Deities, collapsible. So that if anyone wants, he can dispatch them. (end)
Room Conversation with Dr. Theodore Kneupper -- November 6, 1976, Vrndavana:
Prabhupāda: God is not Hindu God, Muslim God, Christian. God is God. Now, when I say, "Here is God. His name is Kṛṣṇa. His father's name is Nanda Mahārāja," now they will laugh.
Dr. Kneupper: Do you think if a person is to be a real believer in God he has to also worship Kṛṣṇa or speak of Him?
Prabhupāda: No, God means Kṛṣṇa. He has to understand it. Therefore so many books. God has many names, millions, of which Kṛṣṇa name is the most important. Kṛṣṇa means all-attractive. Then you have to understand the science of God. How Kṛṣṇa is God, that you have to understand. But for that reason we are publishing so many books. We have already published eighty-four books, simply in English language. And they are being translated in German, French, Portuguese, then Spanish, Dutch, Swedish, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Hindi, Bengali, like that.
Dr. Kneupper: It's a very great effort.
Prabhupāda: Yes. And we are getting response. Our books are selling like hotcakes. (laughter) Yes.
Room Conversation with Dr. Theodore Kneupper -- November 6, 1976, Vrndavana:
Prabhupāda: Well, in your country there is some adjustment because it is very big country and you are all intelligent people. In other countries they... But even though you have got resources, if you not properly utilize it, then the bad time is coming. You should expect. If your energy is all engaged in manufacturing tires and wheels, then who will go to the... Actually I have seen in your country. Now the farmers' son, they do not like to remain in the farm. They go in the city. I have seen it. The farmers' son, they do not like to take up the profession of his father. So gradually farming will be reduced, and the city residents, they are satisfied if they can eat meat. And the farmer means keeping the, raising the cattle and killing them, send to the city, and they will think that "We are eating. What is the use of going to..." But these rascals have no brain that "If there is no food grain or grass, how these cattle will be...?" Actually it is happening. They are eating swiftly. "The cattle will die. Before they die, let us kill and eat." Actually it is happening. In Italy they killed because the problem is twenty thousand cows. This is going on. They do not care that killing is sinful because they don't care for God. This is going on. And sinful, sinful, sinful, everyone will be punished. The nature's law will act. Tag wande gao(?) (Bengali) There is a Bengali proverb, tag wande gao(?), that "One man wanted to take statistics, 'How many thieves are there in this village?' So when he began to take statistics, he saw everyone is thief. Then he said that 'What is the use of making statistics? This is village of thieves, that's all.' " So it is... At the present moment this is the position. If you make a statistics who is sinful and who is not sinful, you will find all sinful. And because they are sinful, they decry the existence of God. Na māṁ duṣkṛtino mūḍhāḥ prapadyante... Find out this, seventh... Because they are all sinful, they deny the existence of God. This is the position.
Room Conversation -- December 29, 1976, Bombay:
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: No, international. French, Italian...
Guest (2): In India? Indian languages.
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil, Oriya, Bengali, Gujarati. Every major Indian language.
Guest (1): Can you tell us the different subjects covered by the...?
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: It's Vedic subjects, the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
Prabhupāda: We are stressing especially on Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
Guest (3) (Indian man): Do you have special on each chapter of Gītā?
Prabhupāda: Oh yes. Each word. You can show Bhagavad-gītā.
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: A very authoritative presentation. For example, here's the original Sanskrit śloka, word for word...
Guest (3): For example, sāṅkhya-yoga. You have a separate book? Then sthita-prajñā. You have a separate...?
Prabhupāda: No separately. It is there in the Bhagavad-gītā.
Guest (3): But that way, your volumes are dealing with each chapter of Gītā?
Prabhupāda: Yes.
1977 Conversations and Morning Walks
Room Conversation -- January 5, 1977, Bombay:
Prabhupāda: And that is also younger age, no old. Old age, they are never... There is no such case. Only younger generation, within thirties, twenty to thirty, they are fighting.
Hari-śauri: Even in the West, the Roman Catholic Church wouldn't allow divorce. The Church of England was started on that because Henry VIII didn't like his wife, and he wanted to divorce, and the Roman Catholic Church wouldn't let him. So then he did do, so they excommunicated him. So then he started his own church and made up his own laws. Otherwise, now there's a big push in Italy for divorce and everything, but even in the last ten years there's been no divorce. They don't allow it. And chastity of the woman was still very greatly appreciated too.
Prabhupāda: Woman infidel, they are stoned among the Muhammadans. Christian also. "You have done..." Woman proved unchaste, she was punished. Is it not? The public would stone and kill. You know that punishment? Stoning?
Hari-śauri: Stoning, yes. It's mentioned a lot in early Christian times. They used to stone.
Prabhupāda: Everyone will throw a stone. Very tortuous death, stoning.
Hari-śauri: I remember my auntie's mother. She was Italian, and she used to wear black all the time. Just like the widows here, they wear white, so she was wearing black. She was a widow. So all the widows, even I saw some young women...
Prabhupāda: Here also, in Gujarat, they wear black, black sari.
Room Conversation on 1976 Book Scores -- January 16, 1977, Calcutta:
Rāmeśvara: This is just English.
Prabhupāda: (Bengali) ...French, German, Dutch, Swedish, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese. (Bengali) We want. (Bengali) Person to person... (Bengali) Huge organization. (Bengali) ...Bhaktivedanta Book Trust... (Bengali)... stock, distribution, salesmen control. (Bengali) ...Delhi paper... (Bengali) We have got substance. (Bengali) So it is very encouraging, this report. What else?
Rāmeśvara: Now the next two reports. First of all, for the month of December there's the ratings for the whole Society. So in the top ten, number one was New York, Rādhā-Dāmodara, with $170,000. (Bengali)
Prabhupāda: (Bengali) Give him some book to read.
Gargamuni: Where's the Bhagavad-gītā?
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Guest (Indian man): I should have some basic knowledge about.
Prabhupāda: (Bengali) Bhagavad-gītā gives basic knowledge.
Room Conversation -- January 27, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:
Guest (1): It has been translated into fifteen languages.
Prabhupāda: Yes. These are all Bhagavad-gītā. These are Bhagavad-gītā. We have translated English, Chinese, Japanese, all European languages-Spanish, Portugal, Dutch, Swedish, Italian. They are accepting it. This is the process to know. Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. The whole world is chanting this Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. We are known as "Hare Kṛṣṇaś." You read another verse aloud. Māṁ ca yo 'vyabhicāreṇa bhakti-yogena sevate.
Pradyumna:
- māṁ ca yo 'vyabhicāreṇa
- bhakti-yogena sevate
- sa guṇān samatītyaitān
- brahma-bhūyāya kalpate
- (BG 14.26)
Prabhupāda: Just like there is infection, and if you take a vaccine, then it will not infect, the contaminous disease. Similarly, if you take to bhakti-yoga, then you'll not be infected by these three guṇas. Sa guṇān samatītyaitān brahma-bhūyāya. You'll remain immune. This bhakti-yoga... Māṁ ca yo 'vyabhicāreṇa bhakti-yogena (BG 14.26). Not vyabhicāreṇa, avyabhicāreṇa. Then you'll remain above the qualities transcendental. This is bhakti-yoga. Śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam. Satataṁ kīrtayanto mām (BG 9.14). If you cannot do anything, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa twenty-four hours. Bas. Sa guṇān samatītyaitān brahma... (BG 14.26). You remain on the brahma stage.
Arrival of Devotees -- February 24, 1977, Mayapura:
Prabhupāda: That's nice.
Rādhā-vallabha: Want to hear more?
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Rādhā-vallabha: Sixth is Portuguese, 835,000. Seventh, Dutch, 593,000. Eighth, Italian, 448,000. Ninth, Hindi, 315,000. Tenth, Bengali, 305,000. Eleventh is Telegu, 115,000. Twelfth is Swahili... This is also another estimate, 110,000. Fourteenth is Chinese... Thirteenth is Gujarati, 90,000. Fourteenth is Chinese, 55,000. Fifteenth is Marathi, 25,000. Korean, 20,000. Yugoslavian, 20,000. Oriya, 20,000. Polish 10,000. Hungarian, 10,000. Czechoslovakian, 10,000. Tamil, 10,000. Russian 5,000. And the total is 55,314,000.
Prabhupāda: (laughs) Russian is last. Yes.
Rāmeśvara: It's the most difficult.
Prabhupāda: But something is better than nothing. Kānā māmā. ("Blind Uncle")
Gargamuni: When we were in Rangoon and Bangkok, they were most interested in those Russian reviews, and we got very good response there. In Rangoon they're doing reviews, and they loved the books. They treated them as gold. They said, "This printing and Sanskrit and word-for-word... We have never seen such a translation!"
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Conversation with Italian Woman with Translator -- February 28, 1977, Mayapura:
Prabhupāda: Otherwise we are all part and parcel of God. When we realize this, then our life is perfect.
Italian woman: (Italian-translated into English by translator throughout)
Translator: She's saying that after rediscovering of last past life...
Prabhupāda: Past life means... As we are not this body, past life means there was another body; we have forgotten it. Just like at night we dream, "I have gone to some foreign place and talking with some foreigners and so on, so on." But in the morning that situation is changed and we forget everything. Again, at night we forget this body and we dream in another body. Every night we have experience that we forget this body. This is going on.
Translator: She says she's conscious of the relation, karmic relation, with a person that for last life she's having, and right now that person is also present with her in this life.
Prabhupāda: Past life?
Translator: Yes. She's says that four past lives she's having some relations.
Prabhupāda: Yes, that is forgotten or...
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: She says that she's remembered it.
Translator: Yeah. She said she remembers it.
Prabhupāda: If she remembers, that's a special qualification, but generally people forget. It is not astonishing. You can remember, but that is rare, very rare.
Conversation with Italian Woman with Translator -- February 28, 1977, Mayapura:
Prabhupāda: Yes, I'm ready to help, but spiritually.
Translator: So she said that probably would be the first and last time she will see you, so she wants to know if she can continue to contact you.
Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. Jaya. Let her read our Italian Bhagavad-gītā, and wherever there is difficulty, she can ask me. Yes. You show her our Italian... She has seen? Italian? That will help her.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes, Pāñcajanya is the president of our Italian temple.
Prabhupāda: That will help her.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So she has any question she can write to Prabhupāda.
Translator: I told her she must read and study Bhagavad-gītā.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Study. And so long she is here, she can meet me and ask question.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Oh.
Translator: She wants a special advice of... Because she's going back to Milan, and she would like to spread the sun that's here present, and she wants to know if you have any advice how she should do it because she would like to go spread it.
Prabhupāda: This is the way. You read regularly Bhagavad-gītā, and if there is any difficulty, ask me. I shall explain.
Conversation with Italian Woman with Translator -- February 28, 1977, Mayapura:
Prabhupāda: Mother, that's nice.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Jayapatākā's mother.
Prabhupāda: That's nice. So she may also become a daughter of Jayapatākā's mother. And live together and read. She understands Italian? No.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I don't know if Jayapatākā's mother...
Translator: She speaks very little. I think she learned a few new words when she came. But like an Italian lady, she speaks a lot and very quick, but for the mother of Jayapatākā it's a little difficult.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: They're associating.
Prabhupāda: Anyway, you read Bhagavad-gītā, Italian, and study nicely, and whenever there is any doubt, you can ask me.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Jaya Śrīla Prabhupāda. (end)
Room Conversation 'GBC Resolutions' -- March 1, 1977, Mayapura:
Prabhupāda: So that's a good idea. No, Jayatīrtha will be sent there.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes.
Prabhupāda: So he'll be assistant secretary?
Satsvarūpa: No. What we resolved is that Bhagavān dāsa would stay in his present zone: France and Italy and Sweden and Amsterdam; but that as far as Jayatīrtha, he would visit Paris and New Māyāpur to assist with the financial problems there, and after some time...
Prabhupāda: Jayatīrtha and Ātreya Ṛṣi, both.
Satsvarūpa: Ātreya Ṛṣi would also go visit in June to try and help with the financial problems. And then...
Prabhupāda: What is the actual financial problem?
Bhagavān: There was just a little cash flow since last Māyāpur. We spent a lot of money coming here. And this year a lot of saṅkīrtana devotees were ill.
Prabhupāda: Lot of money coming here from France? How is that?
Gargamuni: On transportation. Air flight.
Room Conversation with GBC members -- March 2-3, 1977, Mayapura:
Prabhupāda: Oh. That's nice.
Satsvarūpa: Then... Also, Rāmeśvara permission to open in the summer to cover these national parks: Yosemite, Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore. In South America, Pañcadraviḍa Swami permission for the next year to open Monterrey, Mexico; Guatemala, and Panama; Medellin, Columbia. Hṛdayānanda dāsa Gosvāmī, permission for a few cities in Brazil, Bolivia, and Valencia, Venezuela. In Europe, Bhagavān dāsa given permission to open centers in Barcelona, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; Milan, Italy; and Harikeśa Swami has already started centers in Berlin, Zurich, Helsinki, Hamburg and... Rockshaw?
Harikeśa: Warsaw.(?)
Satsvarūpa: Permission given for Norway, Vienna and Copenhagan for the next year. Brahmānanda Mahārāja has been given permission to turn the following preaching centers into temples with Deities: Mombassa and Mauritius, and permission for a new center in Lagos.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Nigeria?
Hṛdayānanda: Preaching center in Nigeria. Richest African country.
Satsvarūpa: Bali-mardana has been given permission to move the Adelaide center to the Australian farm. Ātreya Ṛṣi permission to open centers in Karachi and Istanbul. Jayapatākā Mahārāja permission to open Panihati and Dacca. And Haṁsadūta Mahārāja in South India, Bangalore, Madras, Kodaikanal, Colombo in Ceylon, and Kathmandu, Nepal; and Goa.
Prabhupāda: Lage laghu.(?) Very good.
Room Conversation during lunchtime -- July 8, 1977, Vrndavana:
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Ah. The heading is "Eleven Krishna Devotees Held for Firing." "Five Indian and six foreign Vaiṣṇava devotees were arrested from Māyāpur maṭha of ISKCON, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, in Nabadwip last night when shots fired from inside the celebrated temple injured fifteen persons, most of them milkmen. A double-barreled gun was seized from the maṭha, it is reported. Police pickets have been posted since there is considerable tension in the nearby villages. Among those arrested is Swami Bhavānanda, an American in charge of the maṭha. Some time ago he was forced to leave the country after the expiry of his visa, but he returned later. The incident occurred at about 5 p.m. on Friday. Some boys were grazing their cattle on the fields outside the maṭha when some cows strayed into its compound. The cattle were beaten up by the inmates and driven out." It doesn't sound like our devotees. Beat up cows? "Angry milkmen from a nearby village crowded outside the maṭha. Shots were then fired from inside the maṭha, it is reported, injuring fifteen persons, two of them seriously. The police arrived on the scene within an hour. Among the six foreigners arrested are a Romanian, an Italian, and some Americans. The founder of the maṭha, Prabhupāda A.C. Bhaktivedanta, was not present." This is called slanted reporting. I mean, first of all, our devotees don't beat up the cows. We worship the cow. We don't beat cows. I can't take this as very factual account. So many statements here say, "It was reported," "It was reported." This is from a... It was published in Delhi, but it's datelined Calcutta, and the event happened in Māyāpur. So by the time it got to Delhi it seems to have taken a strange shape. I thought you'd want to...
Prabhupāda: These goyālas are very aggressive.
Śatadhanya: Milkmen means goyālas.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Bālāi goyālas.
Prabhupāda: It is not the Muhammadans.
Śatadhanya: Not according to this.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: This is still not conclusive.
Prabhupāda: No. Police inquiry must be there.
Visit From Allopathic Doctor -- October 10, 1977, Vrndavana:
Prabhupāda: Healthy... I have nothing to do with this body. Have to do with your work. All right. (devotees offer obeisances) (break)
Bhagavān: All the devotees want to give you a nice offering. So in three days, so far they have done almost eleven thousand big books. Marathon will end on Wednesday night, and they hope to do over twenty-thousand big books in one week. We have about seventy-five devotees out distributing fourteen hours every day. They were thinking this was suitable offering for Your Divine Grace. Also in Italy they are doing almost 3,500 big books every week now.
Prabhupāda: Hm. Rome.
Bhagavān: Yes.
Prabhupāda: Which book?
Bhagavān: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, First Volume. The devotees are thinking if they can do over twenty thousand big books in one week you'll be encouraged to stay. And then they will do even more.
Prabhupāda: No. Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī will give them blessing. He'll delay.(?) He wanted this.
Bhagavān: When the book distribution is going on so strongly, everything is remaining very pure. It is taking away all inauspicious elements.
Prabhupāda: Thank you. (break) You can note down from him the crisis day.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: You want me to get those dates? Tomorrow is one of them.
Prabhupāda: There are so many.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Others come at the end of this month. I'll give him the dates. Tomorrow is the first one.
Prabhupāda: I think every day is crisis. (laughs) Things becoming bad.
Room Conversation -- November 3, 1977, Vrndavana:
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Arabic, Chinese, Japanese. Twenty-seven languages altogether. One by one, they're being translated. Some are doing... Of course, the German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, these are the main languages. And Hindi. These books are going quicker in translation. Shall I finish reading this report, Śrīla Prabhupāda? (break)
Dr. Kapoor: It's a miracle what is happening, Prabhupāda.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: There's another report, from Africa. Should I read it? It says, "The saṅkīrtana movement in the dark continent." This was written by Jalakāra and Śyāmalāl. Śyāmalāl is a Bengali devotee, Śrīla Prabhupāda. You may remember him from Calcutta? He's gone to Africa to preach, and he and this other boy Jalakāra travel together all over Africa.
Prabhupāda: Yesterday... No, yesterday some prominent men, Dalmiya. Who came?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Dalmiya was here, Rāma-Kṛṣṇa Bajaj, Śrīmān Nārāyaṇa, and some gentleman from Auroville Society was here to see you. I think they were participating in that conference, Gītā-pratiṣṭhāna.
Dr. Kapoor: I was also invited. I'm sorry I couldn't come because my wife was very ill.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Dr. Kapoor could not attend. His wife was very ill, he said. He couldn't attend the conference. Śrīla Prabhupāda, maybe you should rest now a little bit. Okay. (Bengali)
Prabhupāda: I'm tired.
Correspondence
1947 to 1965 Correspondence
Letter to Members -- Bombay:
Back to Godhead is devoted to this mission for all round human welfare work with wider outlook and for this there are many appreciations by educated circle. It is now decided that copies of the above paper will be posted to the leading men of the world in the following scale: (1) Afghanistan 1,000, (2) America 10,000, (3) Argentina 500, (4) Belgium 500, (5) Brazil 500, (6) Burma 1,000, (7) Canada 500, (8) Chile 500, (9) China 10,000, (10) Czechoslovakia 500, (11) Denmark 500, (12) Egypt 1,000, (13) Ethiopia 500, (14) France 1,000, (15) Germany 5,000, (16) Greece 1,000, (17) Indonesia 500, (18) Iran 500, (19) Iraq 500, (20) Italy 1,000, (21) Japan 2,000, (22) Laos 500, (23) Mexico 500, (24) Monaco 500, (25) Mongolia 500, (26) Nepal 500, (27) Netherlands 1,000 (28) Norway 1,000, (29) Philippines 500, (30) Poland 500, (31) Saudi Arabia 500, (32) Sudan 500, (33) Syria 500, (34) Thailand 500, (35) Sweden 500, (36) Turkey 500 (37) Vietnam 500, (38) U.S.S.R. 10,000, (39) Yugoslavia 500, (40) Austria 500, (41) Bulgaria 500, (42) Finland 500, (43) Holy See 500, (44) Hungary 500, (45) Rumania 500, (46) Switzerland 500, (47) Australia 2,000, (48) Cambodia 500, (49) Ceylon 500, (50) Ghana 500, (51) Malaya 500, (52) Pakistan 1,000, (53) United Kingdom 10,000. It is expected that all intelligent men will join this spiritual movement for a total reformation. This propaganda work is a part of SAMKIRTANJAJNA recommended for the people of this age.
1966 Correspondence
Letter to Sir Padampat Singhania -- New York 20 January, 1966:
America is just in the middle. On one side of America is Europe and on the other side is Asia. So we can expand the Bhagavatam mission both wise. On one side towards England, Germany, Italy etc and on the other side towards China Japan etc. If we sincerely do this work Lord Krishna will help us in so many ways and because you are a sincere devotee of the Lord, you have very kindly responded to my humble call.
1970 Correspondence
Letter to Bhagavan -- Los Angeles 8 February, 1970:
This change of his heart has been possible by the endeavor of Syamasundara. Syamasundara tried to win his friendship by all means and the result obtained thereof was offered to Krishna. In the London Temple the first class Italian marble throne worth about $3,000 was also contributed by George through the service of Syamasundara. So actually George's leaning towards Krishna Consciousness has been greatly influenced by Syamasundara's endeavor. Srimad-Bhagavatam recommends that we shall employ our life, money, intelligence, and words for the service of the Lord. So Syamasundara employed his intelligence to bring George Harrison into the service of Krishna Consciousness and thus George's money has been employed in Krishna's service. This is the whole process of Krishna Consciousness—First of all one should dedicate his life for Krishna's service; that is very nice. If he cannot dedicate his whole life, then let him devote his money; if he cannot devote his money, then let him devote his intelligence; and if he cannot devote his intelligence also, then let him devote his voice in Krishna Consciousness by uttering Hare Krishna Mantra. Therefore Hare Krishna Mantra is the greatest common factor for self-realization. Please preach this philosophy whole-heartedly and Krishna will be very much pleased upon you.
1973 Correspondence
Letter to Dhananjaya -- Los Angeles 23 December, 1973:
Karandhara has informed me of the receipt of the letter from you reporting the establishment of an ISKCON Center in Rome, Italy. The transcendental bliss I have derived from hearing the news is not measurable within the three dimensions. I thank you very much for your humble service and I pray to Krsna to always protect and bless you. I will look forward to seeing the first Italian Back to Godhead which I understand you are printing at present. We shall try and locate some Italian speaking devotees to send there to assist you. Kindly offer my blessings to your good wife Bala Gopala dasi.
1974 Correspondence
Letter to Dhananjaya -- Los Angeles 5 January, 1974:
So it is very good news. Now recruit more Italian devotees. It is a very good chance to have a center there in that important city. Organize everything and when it is all going nicely I will come.
As for seeing the Pope, I can see to that when I go there. Mr. Pant knows me well. Please convey my greetings to him and I shall be glad to see him when I go to Rome. You say there are important Indians there so make them all life members and distribute our books to them.
As for Italian marble, if it is cheaper there, why not? Italian marble is known to be very good. I am sending you a photo of the L.A. deities. Ask a cost estimation for deities 40" high and then we can consider. Krsna may be black or white, Radharani is always white.
I am very encouraged that you are helping me so strongly in carrying out the wishes of my Guru Maharaja. I request all the devotees there please cooperate and become very serious about Krsna Consciousness. By your pure example and following regulative principles you will be spiritually strong and attract many Italians who are looking for the actual meaning to life.
Letter to Syamasundara -- Bombay 8 April, 1974:
I have not visited Jagannatha Puri because my men are not allowed to see the deity. When you arrange that we can visit the temple with my disciples then I can come immediately. Now I am in India up until May 15 then I am going to Europe to visit in France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany etc., and then I will come back and remain until the end of August, and then go again to England, and the U.S. This is my program. I am still here until the 15th of May. I am going to Hyderabad on the 18th of April and then going to Tirupati. So from there I can go to Jagannatha Puri if arrangements can be made.
Letter to Hamsaduta -- Bombay 15 May, 1974:
I am going on May 17th to Vrindaban, to take a last look at the construction before going to Europe, and I may also buy a piece of land in Vrindaban. Then according to the itinerary given us by Bhagavan das we are leaving the 23rd May to arrive on the same day in Rome, Italy. On the 24th and 25th there is a Hare Krishna Festival in Rome, and we will stay there until the 30th when we are to go to Geneva for another festival and for meetings with the World Health Council. Then on June 6th we are scheduled to arrive in Paris, France and there are meetings there all week. Thereafter, on your invitation I will go to Amsterdam on the 15th of June and on the 22nd go to Koln, and then Heidelberg and Sweden. My plan is to attend the Rathayatra ceremony in Chicago in the U.S. on the 6th of July and then the Ratha Yatra in San Francisco on July 8th. So I will have to leave Europe by the 5th July or 6th July.
Letter to Haihaya -- Bombay 21 November, 1974:
I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 7, 1974 and was glad to hear from you. So I want you to organize Rome temple for the time being. When you train up someone and produce sufficient literatures in the Italian language, then you go to the Spanish speaking countries. We have got a few books in Spanish language, and they are selling them in south America.
I look forward to seeing the Italian Sri Isopanisad. In France they have now published. There is very good scope in Europe for this Sankirtana movement. If you just spread this chanting in Europe, then it becomes Vaikuntha. Side by side push on the literature distribution as far as possible. This should be done very vigorously, and you will have great success there. My guru maharaj was always very pleased when even a small pamphlet was distributed. So I thank you for your assisting me in this mission to fulfill the order of my guru maharaj.
1975 Correspondence
Letter to Sridhara Maharaja -- Mexico City 14 February, 1975:
At that time, I may be informed about your health and then I shall do the needful. As you have mentioned in your letter under reply that you cannot take any active part in executing the performances, I have asked my assistants in Vrndavana to take help from the local panditas in Vrndavana to do the needful. I have asked them to invite all different categories of saintly persons and devotees to take part in the ceremony. I am very much thankful to your Holiness for your good wishes in the matter of my preaching work. Factually, it is all being done by the grace of Prabhupada and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, otherwise it was not possible. Srila Prabhupada was very much fond of publishing books and he especially advised me to preach in English language. So, by his blessings, we have now about 30 big books of 400 pages and more than 20 small booklets in English and all of these books and booklets are being translated into French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Swahili, Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Italian, etc.
Letter to Bhagavan -- Vrindaban 7 September, 1975:
I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 29, 1975 with enclosed copy of Italian Back to Godhead. This is very encouraging. Thank you very much. Regarding the farm, you can call it Bahulaban.
Letter to Gargamuni -- Bombay 13 November, 1975:
I am in due receipt of your letter undated from El Paso, Texas and I have noted the contents. So I am glad to see that you are doing well. Similarly, now we are getting literature published all over the world. I just received very nice books in Swedish and also Italian Isopanisad and similarly our Bhagavad-gita is being prepared in Dutch language. And also our literatures are being received very nicely. Bhagavan das in Paris has reported that they are collecting $20,000 per week in literature distribution. Our Bhagavad-gita in French language is being received very enthusiastically by the people, libraries and schools.
Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Bombay 13 November, 1975:
We have received good reports from Europe, Paris, Geneva, Amsterdam. And Bhagavan is doing very well. We have just now received Italian Easy Journey and Isopanisad.
The Bombay temple progress construction is now begun. It was started by you. It is a very nice project. The temple is very large and magnificent and there are so many facilities for guests, restaurant, theater. So I am remaining here to see that the temple construction is completed. We hope that it may be completed within three months.
Letter to Bhagavan -- Bombay 14 November, 1975:
Regarding Rome, that is very good that you have 50 devotees. Are they all Italian? Yes, that is nice that you are looking for a new building in Rome. Rome is a crowded city. We must have there a very big building. The climate there is also nice. It is always sunny. In Rome I have seen many houses exactly like Indian houses. Also in Paris I have seen this. I have received the Italian new literatures and they are very, very nice. Thank you very much.
1976 Correspondence
Letter to Jnanagamya -- Mayapur 27 January, 1976:
Unless they hear from devotees and then practically perform devotional service themselves, what benefit will there be? As far as your point that those who say movies about Hitler identified with him and followed him, Hitler was still finished despite so much propaganda. Napoleon, Mussolini, Churchill—they all made so much propaganda—but the French, Italian, British, and German empires are all lost now. Our real propaganda is to chant the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra, and let the mass of people chant and dance with us. If this movie induces people to chant and dance it is O.K. If it aids our cause then it is welcome. The best thing is for you to give this subject matter to your GBC for discussion at this year's GBC meeting in March.
Letter to B.R. Sridhara Maharaja -- Los Angeles 6 June, 1976:
They are supposed to be very close associates of Your Holiness, so if you kindly ask them not to obstruct this program, it will be very kind of you. My program is until the middle of August, 1976, in Europe and America. In Europe we are going to open 2 new centres, one in Athens, Greece, and the other on Corsica, a French island. Another good news, we are selling books in Communist countries headed by Russia and Yugoslavia, and learned scholars are appreciating our books. We have published the Bhagavad-gita now in so many different languages, some of which are: English, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish, and now Chinese language, and also Russian language is in progress. We are getting very good response, especially where Spanish and Portuguese are spoken, in South America.
Letter to unknown 2 -- 28 September, 1976:
With the grace of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu by and by ISKCON's 40 temples in America's important cities were constructed and throughout Europe in England, France, Germany, Italy and in Melbourne and Sydney in Australia, New Zealand, Auckland, Africa, Canada and Tehran and other places as well in the world all total of 102 such centres of ISKCON for distribution of Krishna cult were established. Amongst all these the very big temples in London, New York, Los Angeles, and Detroit can be specially mentioned. In these temples the minimum number of devotees attached is 50 and maximum 250 and they are engaged to distribute Krishna hymns leading an austentious life.
| Page Title: | Italy |
| Compiler: | Mayapur |
| Created: | 08 of Oct, 2011 |
| Totals by Section: | BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=1, Lec=4, Con=60, Let=16 |
| No. of Quotes: | 81 |