Rent (Conversations)

Expressions researched:
"rent" |"rental" |"rented" |"renting" |"rentor" |"rents"

1968 Conversations and Morning Walks

Radio Interview -- March 12, 1968, San Francisco:

Interviewer: Now, you met a gentleman by the name of Harvey Cohen?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Interviewer: And how has he helped you?

Prabhupāda: Yes, in the beginning he helped me. Because I rented one room. That was $72 per month. So...

Interviewer: Was this in New York?

Prabhupāda: In New York, yes, Seventy-second Street West. So whatever there was shortage, he was supplying. I was getting some money by contributions in my lectures. But in the beginning my all expenditures were not sufficient collection. So the deficiency he was giving me.

Questions and Answers -- Montreal, August 26, 1968:

Prabhupāda: But it will be very expensive to arrange for the warfield. senayor ubhayor madhye. We require so many elephants, so many chariots. That panoramic manifestation of warfield, it will be very expensive. Where are the elephants? They don't find here elephants.

Devotee: Oh, you can rent elephants.

Prabhupāda: Uh?

Devotee: You can rent elephants.

Prabhupāda: You can rent, but how many you can rent?

Devotee: Well, how many do we need? (laughter)

Room Conversation -- October 27, 1968, Montreal, With First Devotees Going to London On Evening of Their Departure:

Janārdana: The building, the Strathcona, the government building.

Prabhupāda: That is very nice, but other building in front of our temple, just not in exactly front. That big signboard.

Janārdana: Oh, 16,000, 15,000 square feet, a dollar sixty a foot?

Prabhupāda: Dollar sixty?

Janārdana: Yes. We are paying forty-nine cents a foot, and they are asking there a dollar sixty a foot. They are asking three times more rent than we are paying. It's very expensive.

Prabhupāda: How many..., there? 16,000?

Janārdana: 15,000 square feet. It is a fortified place because they keep furs. They keep animal furs there, and animal furs are very expensive, and thieves very often break in. So I think that one of the reasons why it's so expensive is because it's fortified.

Prabhupāda: I do not follow. What is that?

Press Interview -- December 30, 1968, Los Angeles:

Prabhupāda: (chuckling) Yes. I came here... You will be surprised. I came here with seven dollars only and the whole establishment expenditure is not less than, I think, five thousand dollars monthly. At least.

Journalist: That's sixty thousand a year. I mean, is it donated?

Prabhupāda: Five thousand is very minimal. I think it is more than that.

Hayagrīva: I have no idea.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Because we are paying... This temple, we are paying four hundred, simply rent. Similarly each and every place we are paying three hundred, four hundred rent.

Journalist: Well, do people come to the services who are not disciples and devotees?

Prabhupāda: Yes. No, we allow everyone, "Come on, chant. Take prasādam." We offer this prasādam. Chant, dance, hear Bhagavad-gītā, and take prasādam, and go home.

1969 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation -- April 27, 1969, Boston:

Satsvarūpa: Prabhupāda, I found a place very likely for a new temple. And I've gone so far as... The lawyer even drew up a lease. So maybe tomorrow you could look at it.

Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. What is the description?

Satsvarūpa: Very excellent location, right downtown. The things wrong with it is that the temple area is no bigger than the temple area we have now, but the location is just the greatest. Second floor. Still, right downtown.

Prabhupāda: Second floor. So what is the rent?

Satsvarūpa: Three hundred a month. But we can do it as long as... Presently, Patita-pāvana is working and so am I, and sometimes the gopīs get some money. So we wouldn't have any problem as long as Patita-pāvana would continue to work.

1971 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation -- July 18, 1971, Detroit:

Mohsin Hassan: Could you recall the beginning of your first trip to USA and how you spread the message? I was told that you came here with six dollars, and then...

Prabhupāda: Yes. Because our government, India government would not allow to take money to go outside. So somehow or other I got the P-form sanction, and one big shipping company, they allowed me free passage. So I came here with great difficulty. Of course I was very comfortably situated on the sea, but still, because I am not accustomed, I got sea sickness. So the travel was very miserable. Still I came. Then for one year, I was going here and there, there was no fixed-up position, and then in 1...9, I came here in 1965, September, then 1966, July, I incorporated the society and started my preaching in a storefront, and... Second Avenue. And then gradually the students came and it developed, one branch after. Now we have got sixty branches, and our expenditure is very heavy. According to Indian calculation it is about 700,000's of rupees. We are paying every rent, we have got in each center not less than twenty-five devotees, up to hundred, hundred and fifty. So it is going on by Kṛṣṇa's grace.

Room Conversation -- July 20, 1971, New York:

Pratyatoṣa: Well, the terminal would cost $700 for one that handled upper and lower case. You can get 132 characters across.

Prabhupāda: $700 altogether?

Pratyatoṣa: Yeah, $700...

Devotee (4): Is that a rental?

Pratyatoṣa: No, that's the purchase price. Rental would be about $85 a month.

Devotee (4): In addition to the $185?

Pratyatoṣa: In addition to the $185, yes.

Devotee (4): Or else to purchase the machine for $700.

Pratyatoṣa: But then if you purchase it, you either have to...

Prabhupāda: If somebody pays $700 at a time, then?

Room Conversation -- London, August 10, 1971:

Mr. Arnold: You see, I sort of schooled Dāyananda and told him to go over and have words with the bank manager, promising that, you know, if they helped us to fund this building, then we would guarantee them tenure, and instead of paying interest back on the, on the loan, we, for bids, we would give them a guaranteed tenure, or peppercorn rent, but we would pay the original loan back, so that there was no charge at all, it was just...

Prabhupāda: Anyway, na tasya śocananarthi. Don't lament which is gone. (laughter)

1972 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation -- April 20, 1972, Tokyo:

Prabhupāda: You had been in New Vrindaban. But there are other residential quarters also. Hm?

Trivikrama: There is one rented motel for you Prabhupāda. There's a section of a small motel. He has rented.

Prabhupāda: Oh. Who has rented?

Trivikrama: Just very close.

Śyāmasundara: Sudāmā.

Prabhupāda: Sudāmā.

Śyāmasundara: He rented one nice little cottage for Your Divine Grace. And a little cottage next door for the servants.

Karandhara: Here are some gifts from the devotees in L.A.

Room Conversation -- July 5, 1972, London:

Prabhupāda: Yes, so, but Vṛndāvana and Navadvīpa I want to make some provision. So I'm negotiating for that. This is one business. So Bombay.... (Hindi exchanges) Huh?

Sumati Morarjee: Of course, you won't get so much rent for London properties. They're also very much appreciated.

Prabhupāda: London property is very costly.

Sumati Morarjee: Oh very costly, but they're day by day, appreciating.

Prabhupāda: Hmm.

Devotee: Doubled, in one year it's doubled.

Sumati Morarjee: No, no. 40 percent has gone up in a year's time, on one property.

Prabhupāda: Because the Indians are coming.

Room Conversation -- October 25, 1972, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Now in Vṛndāvana here is one temple... There is likely that they cannot (indistinct for several minutes) Suppose everything is (indistinct). Therefore accepting (indistinct) how to manage. This is between ourself. Suppose if Bharatpur Mahārāja (indistinct). In this temple also, I am making (indistinct) decision. (break) ...is not in favor of any of the parties. So if it also comes in our hands, it has to be (indistinct). Now, supposing you have got three, then how you shall manage? Simply taking over is no good. Because they are giving, means they cannot manage. That property is very valuable property, Bharatpur place. So they are thinking of giving it over to us because it is not being managed. (indistinct) position is here. So up to now we are strong. But if our, what is called, cooperation becomes slack, then our temple also the same thing will be. That, the (indistinct) that I am staying here for the last ten or twelve years and paying, but the property belongs to the Deity. And there are (indistinct) sevaites. Sometimes somebody starts noting that you neglect sometimes somebody takes money in advance. So what is my position? (indistinct) the rentor may decide what is my position. Actually, in terms of the rentor, I am tenant for these two rooms, and that also. (indistinct) Of course, I have got many (indistinct). But it is sentiment. We (indistinct) these things. This is criminal arrangement(?). Suppose when you the management of all these, how we shall manage?

1973 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation -- March 17, 1973, Mayapur:

Śrīdhara Mahārāja: I had one house in Station Road belonging to Naren Mullik. (indistinct) very small (indistinct).

Prabhupāda: Yes, yes, he wanted to rent us only for ninety rupees. I told him, "You just give me the concession. He, at that time he was getting 125, but because I am his friend, "All right, I'll give you, ninety rupees." So that could not happen somehow or other. So I was trying from the very beginning after the disappearance of Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī.

Room Conversation -- July 19, 1973, London:

Pradyumna: They live now across the street, in the temple apartments.

Prabhupāda: In our house?

Pradyumna: Yes.

Prabhupāda: That's nice.

Pradyumna: Typing.

Prabhupāda: Now this house will facilitate our business. Just opposite the temple. So round about. Therefore I asked him, "Purchase these houses, purchase." Never mind. So that is not lost. They were paying rent elsewhere. They can pay here. We get our permanent tenants.

Room Conversation with British Man -- August 31, 1973, London:

Prabhupāda: Yes. That we are preaching. That is spiritual life. That you act in such a way that you haven't got to change any more apartment. Suppose, take for example, we were living in rented house. Now George has given us this house. Now we haven't got to change. It is a crude example. We can live until our death. Similarly, so long you are in material existence, you have to change this body, different types of body. But if you become fit for spiritual existence, you get rid or get out of this entanglement of changing bodies. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. We are teaching our people that "you become Kṛṣṇa conscious. Live like that." (someone comes in) Come on. "Then you get permanent life."

Room Conversation with Indian Ambassador -- September 5, 1973, Stockholm:

Prabhupāda: We passed, when we passed while coming from aerodrome to city...

Ambassador: From...

Prabhupāda: So many thatched cottages, small. So Bombay government has given them home, that "You come here, live." But what do they...? they rent to some, another man, and they live in the... In Madras also, I have seen.

Ambassador: I know. That's true.

Prabhupāda: Yes. They don't like. They don't like. They want to...

Room Conversation -- September 21, 1973, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Yes, he is doing nice there. Now he's gṛhastha. He has got a job in Spiritual Sky. So he is now steady. The Spiritual Sky is doing one thing, that providing so many gṛhastha devotees.

Gargamuni: Some activity for them to do.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Karandhara is managing very nicely, giving them some pocket expense. And instead of renting elsewhere, they are tenant of our house. So we have got tenants, but no trouble from the tenants.

Devotee: Very nice.

Prabhupāda: Ah. When it was suggested that I purchase house, I said that "I am not going to have this tenants' trouble. That is very botheration." So Karandhara suggested that "We have got our own tenants. Why they should stay in other apartment house? If we have got our house, they will stay, and there will be no trouble." "Then it is all right." They require house. So all gṛhasthas, they have got separate apartment, living very peacefully. So anyway, every one of us should observe strictly the regulative principles and serve sincerely. Kṛṣṇa will help us.

Morning Walk -- December 5, 1973, Los Angeles:

Karandhara: Step aside a little bit so that Prabhupāda can... If you stay to the side a little bit, you box Prabhupāda in.

Umāpati: There's some austerity, Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: Yes. What is that?

Umāpati: They're sleeping on the beach.

Prabhupāda: So what is the benefit of their sleeping? (laughter)

Umāpati: They save their rent money.

Prabhupāda: Eh? That is his misfortune. That is a young man's fashion in your country.

Umāpati: Yes.

Prabhupāda: That is not austerity. That is licentiousness.

Umāpati: Yes. It comes from a time when we admire swashbuckling and being free, so-called, in the material sense.

Prabhupāda: That is reaction. The rich man is trying to become a poor man. "Let me see what is the advantage of the poor man." That's right. Your country does not require to lie down like that. You have got enough arrangement. But it is a fashion. That's all. So fashion is not austerity. That is sense gratification. It appears like austerity, but it is sense gratification. Real austerity is not to make any sense gratification, simply to serve Kṛṣṇa. That is real austerity.

1974 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation -- February 9, 1974, Vrndavana:

Guru dāsa: Panchu I have not seen, because I have been here mostly, on the construction site. I don't go so much.

Prabhupāda: How he has left for some service.

Guru dāsa: Maybe. I can inquire.

Prabhupāda: No. There is no... Why you should go? Let them do their own work.

Guru dāsa: Yes.

Devotee: I can sweep over here?

Prabhupāda: Huh? Yes. Why not?

Guru dāsa: Next month is again rental, rent time. I paid him six months in advance previously. So it would go to February. Because I knew that the Śaivite was changing, so I wanted to do like that. Next month is again, March 1st, payment...

Prabhupāda: But whenever you give money, you must take receipt in this printed.

Guru dāsa: Yes. Printed receipt.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Printed form.

Room Conversation -- February 13, 1974, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. In San Francisco there are many Gujaratis, Patels.

Dr. Kapoor: Patels. Hare Kṛṣṇa. So how did you manage immediately after landing in USA?

Prabhupāda: Yes. Manage, when I got only two-hundred dollars in hand, at that time immediately I rented a storefront.

Morning Walk -- March 26, 1974, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: ...rent tax, about... Suppose the father is tenant.

Dr. Patel: Rent tax (indistinct). Rent tax.

Prabhupāda: If the father is tenant.

Guest (1): Rent tax? What is it?

Prabhupāda: No, in the rent tax, suppose the father is tenant, and the father dies, then the son be...

Guest (1): Son gets it.

Prabhupāda: Gets it.

Interview with Minister -- April 26, 1974, Tirupati:

Indian man: No, these are built by Hindees (?) and other custom. This temple is giving only Vighneśvara and Veṅkaṭeśvara. But the construction of other temples, they are raising funds.

Prabhupāda: Oh, local money.

Indian man: Yes. throughout India and also in America.

Prabhupāda: That, they are raising funds for millions of years. (laughs) I know that. Birla about... Yes, about fifty years ago there was contemplation of, that Birla would construct a very big temple in London. But there was no temple at all. Now since I have gone, I have established two temples, not very big, but still one of the temple is on the seventeen acre of land. A little outside London. One big musician, George Harrison, he has donated that temple, fifty-five lakhs. And we have got one temple in rented house...

Morning Walk -- April 29, 1974, Hyderabad:

Satsvarūpa: (break) ...but they would rather be non-devotees than work all day. They can say they are free.

Prabhupāda: Yes. I offered that, that "What is this two thousand, 2,500 per month? Oh we can earn at any moment two thousand. So you become devotee; I excuse you of rent." They are not agreeing. (break) ...like an ass simply for sense gratification. Therefore it is warned in the Bhāgavatam, nāyaṁ deho deha-bhājāṁ nṛloke kāṣṭān kāmān arhati (SB 5.5.1). (break) ...to respect the Vaiṣṇava, to water tulasī, and this aśvattha tree. These are bhakti items.

Morning Walk at Marina del Rey -- July 14, 1974, Los Angeles:

Prabhupāda: It is not their fault. Because in India a sannyāsī has become a professional beggar. Just change the dress and you can easily eat without any working.

Bali Mardana: And smoke beedies.

Prabhupāda: Everything they do. In our childhood we had a house for rental. There was a man. He was a professional beggar. You see? So other members of the house, they'll go to their office. He'll dress himself just like a sannyāsī and go for begging. (laughter) That was his business. (pause) Here in your country there is no such opportunity, but in India there is good opportunity. If you make a dress of sannyāsī, you can go anywhere, and you'll be respectable. They'll give you for eating.

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

Morning Walk Through the BBT Warehouse -- February 10, 1975, Los Angeles:

Prabhupāda: I first saw this machine in the Commonwealth Pier, Boston. (machine moving around, crashing sound)

Jayatīrtha: What are you doing, Śruta-śravā?

Rāmeśvara: Sometimes because of that roof you can't see what you're doing.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Rāmeśvara: So usually he's very careful.

Prabhupāda: Sometime they are breaking also. (laughter)

Rāmeśvara: So far, no accidents.

Kirtirāja: Just today.

Rāmeśvara: He's a little nervous. (laughter)

Prabhupāda: What is the rent?

Rāmeśvara: 1,800 dollars each month for all the offices in the warehouse. It's considered a good price in this area. We have a speaker system, so during the day, while they work in the warehouse, they're always hearing your lectures.

Interview with a German Girl and Assorted Devotees -- March 30, 1975, Mayapur:

Guest (2): You are following your principles, the four principles...

Prabhupāda: Avoid it. They are regularly advertising. I have seen in Dallas, "topless, bottomless," like that.

Haṁsadūta: Everywhere.

Prabhupāda: They do not know. What can be done. Mūḍho 'yaṁ nābhijānāti (BG 7.25). They do not know that behind everything there is a supreme power. He'll punish. "Never mind, we shall be punished." You'll become dog. "Oh what is the wrong if I become a dog?" They say like that, "What is the wrong?" He thinks that "I'll get good facilities for sex. There will be no need of apartment. I'll save the rent. To become a dog and have sex life on the street, it is good facility." This is going on.

Morning Walk -- May 27, 1975, Honolulu:

Bali-mardana: Prabhupāda, in the Bhāgavatam it also states that there are nine divisions of creation, and that in the first creation there's the plants and trees.

Prabhupāda: That's all right, but these different bodies, and the soul is transmigrating, that they do not know. The soul is getting a different type of body according to his desires, not the body is developing. This I have explained many times, that you get the apartment according to the rent you are able to pay, not that a small apartment is becoming a skyscraper building. That is their theory.

Morning Walk -- June 27, 1975, Los Angeles:

Prabhupāda: ...your American Congress Library they placed a standing order, eighteen books, whatever I published each book. So I have tried so many, what is called, GBC. They are not very expert to organize in India. So if you think you can do it... Now we have got sufficient place in Bombay. So if you take charge of this distribution of books not only in India but neighboring countries just like Hong Kong, Singapore, if you think you can do that, that will be nice. You have got experience, how to distribute books. So you think over. Now we have got very nice place in Bombay. We have got place for at least fifty men very comfortably. Is it not?

Brahmānanda: Oh, yes. And there's godowns and (indistinct) space, everything.

Prabhupāda: Everything, we have got enough facility. We are not going to rent anyone, anyway, any room. We shall utilize it for our purpose only, receiving guest, organizing this book sale. That is my idea.

Room Conversation with Lt. Mozee, Policeman -- July 5, 1975, Chicago:

Lt. Mozee: Just a personal question, how long has your group been in the United States?

Prabhupāda: I came here in 1965. But for one year there was no program; I was loitering only. And then, in 1966, July, I registered this society in New York, and gradually these students... I rented one storefront in New York, Second Avenue, and in this way practically it was started in 1966. Then in 1967 I was attacked with heart attack. Then I returned India. Then again I came back in 1968. So practically the movement is going on regularly from 1968. Yes.

Morning Walk -- August 7, 1975, Toronto:

Jagadīśa: Yesterday I saw a statistic saying that in the United States, 21% of the population is in poverty.

Prabhupāda: Hm. So?

Brahmānanda: But that poverty means that they earn five thousand dollars or less. Less than five thousand is the line.

Prabhupāda: Well, it is all proportionate, that... You are paying rent for this room where I am staying, $175 per month?

Uttamaśloka: It has just been changed to 175 from 150.

Prabhupāda: So out of five hundred dollars if you have to pay 175, rent, then why it is not poverty? Almost one third money is finished by paying rent. (break) ...seen in India the Narmada Falls? Huh? Jabalpur? Ah, it is wonderful.

Indian man (1): The location of that church is very nice because there are so many thousands of cars pass every morning and in the evening.

Prabhupāda: Where?

Indian man (1): Avenue Road. It is very busy street. There are so many cars coming in the morning, I think, twenty thousand a day.

Morning Walk -- September 19, 1975, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Kṛṣṇa has given me. So depend on Kṛṣṇa. He says, teṣāṁ nityābhiyuktānāṁ yoga-kṣemam: "One who is engaged in My service, all that he wants, I supply." He says. See practically. Whatever we wanted, it is coming. It is coming not for my credit or another, anyone credit. It is all Kṛṣṇa's credit. He is giving. As soon as He sees that "They are working for Me," He'll supply everything, whatever you need. Simply we must be sincere and spend it very cautiously, not squandering the money. Then He will give us everything. There is no need of surma(?)-making. I say it is nonsense that by surma-making I will be happy. Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. Hare Kṛṣṇa. Tasyaiva hetoḥ prayateta kovidaḥ. Only for advancing in Kṛṣṇa consciousness we should work. Then everything will come, whatever we want. That is called anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ (Brs. 1.1.11), without desiring for anything else. (break) "...in a rented house, there was no trouble. And as soon as this Devidatta gave us this marble palace, then there was competition who will occupy which room. In this way dissension began. So I am desiring that this dissension will increase and there will be fire. So to save this fire, I wish to get out all the marbles from this house and sell it and publish some books. That will remain." He said to me. Then I understood that he is giving more stress on books. "Sell the marbles and publish book instead of creating dissension amongst ourself." So, strictly, anyone occupies this guest room, he must pay. (end)

Morning Walk -- November 30, 1975, Delhi:

Tejās: They are losing several crores of rupees every year. One man told me that he rents buses to them, one of the men who came two, three days ago. So, he was telling before, he rents buses to the D.T.C., to the Delhi Transportation Corporation. He rents it to them for a rupee a kilometer and he makes about forty paisa. And even though they are getting it for a rupee a kilometer, they are still losing money on it. He is making profit and they are losing it. Because they sell the spare parts. They're so corrupt.

Prabhupāda: Take away the...

Tejās: Yes, the workers there... There's about sixty percent of their buses only, running. Forty percent are disabled because they are always losing the parts somehow.

Prabhupāda: Just see.

Morning Walk -- December 14, 1975, New Delhi:

Haṁsadūta: Their idea of dancing is different to...

Prabhupāda: No, you, you sell tickets for ten rupees, then they'll (indistinct). If you make free then they'll...

Caitya-guru: International dance.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Why don't you try? Just see. I think they allow dancing by renting the halls, no? What is that?

Tejas: Which one? That Kamani Hall?

Prabhupāda: Any one. This one.

Tejas: They have performances.

Prabhupāda: But they sell tickets. So similar way, why not ours? (break) Enquire from the authority that we want to hold festival, dance and chant. And singing, don't say chant. See if you can dance, for one week. So what will be the terms. Enquire.

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

Morning Walk -- January 2, 1976, Madras:

Yaśodānandana: This vehicle is the vehicle in which we travel to all the different cities for making the life members and arranging all the programs in South India, this vehicle.

Prabhupāda: This is your own?

Yaśodānandana: We are renting.

Prabhupāda: When I was in South Africa...

Indian man (1): South Africa.

Prabhupāda: Yes, Johannesburg. This beach reminds me of that beach. You were with me?

Harikeśa: Yes.

Prabhupāda: All statues are crying here.

Acyutānanda: This is Annie Besant.

Morning Walk -- January 2, 1976, Madras:

Dhṛṣṭadyumna: ...sleep on the streets. They've arranged this housing, it is very minimal. So what many of these slumdwellers do when people are living on the streets is they come here, and they go back and live on the streets, but they rent out the apartment that the government has given them and they keep the money. They go back and live on the streets.

Indian man (1): This houses? This is all rented by the government and given free of charge to the poor to clear the slums.

Prabhupāda: Therefore Bhāgavata says,

tasyaiva hetoḥ prayateta kovido

na labhyate yad bhramatām upary adhaḥ

tal labhyate duḥkhavad anyataḥ sukhaṁ

kālena sarvatra gabhīra raṁhasā

(SB 1.5.18)

(Hindi) So three classes of men are there: upper class, middle class. You cannot change it. It is laws of nature.

Morning Walk -- January 19, 1976, Mayapur:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Same way, these people in Madras, the poor people living on the street, so the government gives them the house. Then they take the house and rent it and live...

Prabhupāda: In Bombay also they do that.

Morning Walk -- January 20, 1976, Mayapura:

Jayapatākā: What ha... In the... Because now this field is the only field that is ripening, so that if he doesn't scare the bird away, all the bird will come and eat his field. When all the wheat is ripening at the same time, then nobody cares. They let the birds eat. But if one man only is growing one crop at one time, then all the birds come. They will clean out and they all get...

Prabhupāda: No, therefore everyone should grow seasonal grains. Everyone should take wheat. I think the number of men is more than the number of bricks. (break) ...rooms will be finished. They are not being finished. This? (break) ...Calcutta. So landlords became very perplexed. So one landlord asking, "You don't go. I shall reduce the rent." "Yes, that's all right, but your house is also not very good. There are so many rats." "All right, you can remain without rent." "And still, there are rats." "All right, I shall give you one cat so there will be no dis..." "Ah, who is going to keep a cat? I will require milk also to feed." "All right, I shall give you half kilo or one kilo milk also." "All right." So then he says, "Now no rent and one kilo milk, that's all right." This was in 1942.

Morning Walk -- February 10, 1976, Mayapura:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So from Mathurā everyone went to Allahabad?

Prabhupāda: Yes, or they went to somewhere. But I came back. From Allahabad I went to Mathurā, and I came back to Allahabad at my own place.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Initiation was held at that Gauḍīya Maṭha in Allahabad?

Prabhupāda: Hah. At that time that Gauḍīya Maṭha also not there. That is at a rented house.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Did you help to build that one?

Prabhupāda: Eh?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Did you help to establish that Gauḍīya Maṭha?

Prabhupāda: No, majority was paid by one of my Godbrothers, that three thousand, purchasing land. Then gradually developed. We used to pay something. (break) ...before to here?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Oh, yeah. He has come many times, Tarun Babu.

Prabhupāda: He came many times? (end)

Morning Walk -- March 21, 1976, Mayapura:

Jayapatākā: They showed me that one flat of five bighās that.... They were considering giving this to us if we would develop one guesthouse and one institute.

Prabhupāda: No, they cannot make any condition. Whatever we shall like we shall do. There is no condition. If they give us on lease, they are concerned with the rent. That's all. Yes.

Morning Walk -- June 10, 1976, Los Angeles:

Candanācārya: ...density that we already have some population like in China and things like that.

Prabhupāda: In Los Angeles we find so many houses: "Now Renting." (break)

Room Conversation with Ambarisa and Catholic Priest -- June 14, 1976, Detroit:

Śrutikīrti: We took a few pictures that you could see. We took some pictures for you to look at of the restaurant. It's still being built, so there's not actually that much to see. This street that it's on is very heavily traveled all day. This is taken at about five o'clock in the morning, so there's no one there. It's still under construction, you can see all the cinderblocks inside. But it's all glass building.

Prabhupāda: It is being rented or purchased?

Śrutikīrti: That's still being worked out. I think...

Ambarīṣa: I think we're going to purchase.

Śrutikīrti: I think Ambarīṣa is purchasing.

Prabhupāda: The back building? That is a different building?

Śrutikīrti: No, yeah. This is condominiums, houses, for people living above, so the restaurant is just that one floor. That's what we would be purchasing, not the whole building.

Arrival Room Conversation -- July 2, 1976, Washington, D.C.:

Vṛṣākapi: There's a swimming pool here, Prabhupāda. You have a garden by the pool; you can take your massage there.

Prabhupāda: This is your own house? What you have paid for it?

Rūpānuga: Well, now we are leasing with option to buy. We have ten-year lease, we can purchase anytime before ten years.

Prabhupāda: Price is fixed?

Rūpānuga: Six hundred fifty thousand. But all money paid for rent goes toward purchase.

Prabhupāda: That's nice.

Rūpānuga: How much a month?

Vipina: Right around now, it's about twenty-five hundred, and it will average that for ten years. At the end of ten years, it will drop to like twenty-two, twenty-one, which is..., it will be worth much more in ten years. It's very good. And he also is responsible, the owner is responsible for any major malfunctions in any equipment on the property. We just had your water pump replaced for six hundred dollars, and he had to pay because of our contract.

Rūpānuga: It is an exceptional arrangement.

Vṛṣākapi: No interest.

Prabhupāda: How many rooms?

Vṛṣākapi: Several buildings, Prabhupāda. We have one big temple building down there, very gorgeous, with big kitchen.

Prabhupāda: I may see now?

Rūpānuga: If you like.

Prabhupāda: Or it is closed.

Rūpānuga: Deities are resting.

Prabhupāda: That's all right.

Arrival Comments in Car to Temple -- July 9, 1976, New York:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: One of them now says that he wants to rent a room for the whole year in our building.

Rāmeśvara: He loves the prasādam.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He says he likes the prasādam.

Prabhupāda: Why don't you stay here? No rent, you stay here. You are devotee. Stay here.

Arrival Comments in Car to Temple -- July 9, 1976, New York:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes, it's Fifty..., it's either Fifty-fifth or Fifty-third, and it's called, it's one of main sub-branches. Yes, it's a very well known one.

Prabhupāda: Free rent?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: "Free rent. Rent a safe deposit box for one year and we'll give you an extra six months free." But first you have to pay for one year. Chemical Bank. Huge buildings now everywhere.

Prabhupāda: This is Rockefeller?

Arrival Comments in Car to Temple -- July 9, 1976, New York:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: We're very lucky, we rented a garage one block away which can house four buses and twenty vans. Only one block away from it, its very unusual. Otherwise...

Prabhupāda: You have taken the whole garage?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes, otherwise it's not possible to get parking space in New York. See the "Hare Kṛṣṇa" now, Prabhupāda, on the side of the building?

Prabhupāda: Yes, yes.

Morning Walk -- July 10, 1976, New York:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: The rent, this is the middle of Manhattan, only one block from the temple, so we got it for about $3.75 a square foot, very cheap, and on a three year lease, which is also very good.

Prabhupāda: What is this road?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Tenth Avenue.

Prabhupāda: Our temple is between Eighth and Ninth?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. Jayānanda has been working very faithfully.

Prabhupāda: They've come to see what they are doing here?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. Blow the horn. You want to get out, Prabhupāda? (walking)

Prabhupāda: Oh, yes.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: We have rented it from the railroad. This whole area is eight hundred dollars, we have rented. First class-electricity, water, it's first class. We can go around this way, Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: Oh, very strong.

Morning Walk -- July 10, 1976, New York:

Jayānanda: This is a little Ratha-yātrā cart from last year. We use it as an advertisement for the Ratha-yātrā.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Oh, it's a good advertisement. Quite an improvement from last year to this year.

Prabhupāda: The whole go-down is rented.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes, look at the area we get for eight hundred dollars, it's a great deal.

Prabhupāda: Eight hundred dollars per month?

Ādi-keśava: For the whole period, for three months.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Three months. It's very good, because it gives protection for working in the sunshine and because it's so open there's a lot of air blowing, it's very cool for the workers.

Prabhupāda: What is this factory?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Jayānanda, what kind of factory is this?

Jayānanda: Steel. They make sheet metal. It's owned by the railroad company.

Morning Walk -- July 12, 1976, New York:

Prabhupāda: It was an office room. That building is meant for office, not for residences.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: You rented a room there?

Prabhupāda: Yes, I was paying seventy-two dollars a month.

Car Ride -- July 20, 1976, New York:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: No, you can't get their land either, not for a building like that. You can put a hospital maybe. Thing is, park space is so short in that area of the city that they..., I don't think they'd give it up for a building. Prabhupāda told us yesterday that we should rent a small building downtown in that area and call it Guṇḍicā, so that Lord Jagannātha will stay down there.

Prabhupāda: For one week.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: For one week. And we'll keep a restaurant there.

Prabhupāda: And then they'll again come in procession.

Rāmeśvara: Wow!

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes, two festivals.

Car Ride -- July 20, 1976, New York:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. We'll go to Fifty-ninth Street and have another feast at the park.

Rāmeśvara: Yes, there has to be another feast.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: We'll have the feast, we may have buses, we'll have all our buses, and we'll bus the people to the temple. We could rent buses, Rāmeśvara.

Prabhupāda: Return Ratha-yātrā. Ulṭā-ratha.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: What is it called?

Prabhupāda: Ulṭā-ratha.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Ulṭā-ratha.

Rāmeśvara: Should the actors perform the Herā Pañcamī ceremony?

Prabhupāda: That is in the middle.

Rāmeśvara: In the middle.

Prabhupāda: Do that(?).

Morning Walk Around Grounds -- August 2, 1976, New Mayapur (French farm):

Bhagavān: It's a quarry for stone. The same kind of stone that the chateau is built from.

Prabhupāda: Oh.

Bhagavān: This is the factory here.

Prabhupāda: Factory of the proprietor? The proprietor?

Bhagavān: Yes, and he rents to Spiritual Sky.

Devotee (3): These incense packs, we are reorganizing the stock now.

Prabhupāda: Where you are selling?

Devotee (3): Everywhere in France. We're doing now also Germany and also Holland and Belgium.

Prabhupāda: Where it is printed?

Hari-śauri: These are all from the U.S. I think.

Room Conversation -- August 2, 1976, New Mayapur (French farm):

Woman devotee (1): There's two buildings, one for the gṛhasthas behind the temple, and then the āśrama for the brahmacārīs.

Prabhupāda: Rented or purchased?

Woman devotee (1): We own the gṛhastha āśrama, and the temple is rented. It's to our advantage to rent it, for some reason, so they are renting it.

Hari-śauri: You were thinking about walking? It's about 6:15, so this would be a good time if you want to go down.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Bhagavān: All glories to Prabhupāda.

Devotee: Haribol! (end)

Morning Walk at Niavaran Park -- August 8, 1976, Tehran:

Ātreya Ṛṣi: This is His Majesty's palace. This building is the servants' quarters, which has the best granite. (break)

Prabhupāda: ...that this body which we are taking so much care, will leave automatically when the time is finished. And I'll have to accept another body. Useless. The body, which I am taking so much care, will leave me. I'll not have to say, "Body, you leave me," but the body will leave me. When my period... Just like the house rented under lease, and as soon as the lease is over you have to vacate that house, or forcibly the house owner will oblige you to vacate. So what is the use of becoming so much attached to the body? What is the answer?

Nava-yauvana: There is no use.

Room Conversation -- August 8, 1976, Tehran:

Hari-śauri: This is the key to this cabinet, Śrīla Prabhupāda. I put the bag in it. (break)... very expensive.

Prabhupāda: This is a rented house?

Ātreya Ṛṣi: Yes, Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: What is the rent?

Ātreya Ṛṣi: The rent now it is twelve hundred dollars. But of course everything is now much more expensive. So I was negotiating in New York for better arrangements, because in Iran price is going up and up and up. And I told my company that they should buy one house. And they have agreed. So there is going to be that house, we will buy something like this for Kṛṣṇa.

Prabhupāda: This is very nice.

Morning Walk -- August 11, 1976, Tehran:

Ātreya Ṛṣi: Depends on how one lives; it is quite expensive. Eight thousand, ten thousand rupees per month.

Prabhupāda: For rent?

Ātreya Ṛṣi: No. Just for food, it is per head, simple devotee food, per person, about five hundred rupees per month.

Prabhupāda: Oh. In India... India, two hundred rupees per month. And it has increased very recently. In 1930, we were paying servant twelve to fourteen rupees per month, and they were satisfied. With food, six rupees. And without food, twelve rupees, fourteen.

Morning Walk -- August 12, 1976, Tehran:

Hari-śauri: So we should all aim towards leaving the cities. If everyone becomes sāttvika...

Prabhupāda: That tendency is there, why these bungalows are here? They do not like to live in the city. They are paying so high rent. Why? The inner tendency is to live like this, with trees, with lawn. (to passerby:) Hare Kṛṣṇa, thank you. (end)

Room Conversation -- August 12, 1976, Tehran:

Hari-śauri: Oh, in the family members.

Prabhupāda: Yes, but practically that is now their income. The more one gets the worshiping term longer, he gets more income. (laughs) The Deity has got very, very good income. All the temples in India... Just like I am trying to make some fund for Vṛndāvana and Māyāpur. Even no contribution comes, it will go on. The sevā-pūjā will not stop for want of money. So there will be no want of money. Still, I must make some provision, by the income the sevā-pūjā will go on. Contribution may come or not. That provision should be made. Now in Vṛndāvana Akṣayānanda is collecting in so many ways. Suppose nobody collects. That does not mean this temple will be closed. It must go on. So I am trying to make some provision from that bank interest. At least five to ten thousand rupees so that the Deity worship will not be stopped. That is the system in all Indian temples. It must go on, nitya-sevā. It must go on. These big, big temple in Vṛndāvana, they have got such arrangement. Otherwise how it is going on for five hundred, six hundred years? They have very good income. Govindajī has got eighteen thousand rupees monthly income. That is... He's the richest Deity in Vṛndāvana. And Raṅganātha is tenant of Govindajī. Land is taken from Govindajī, and Raṅganātha's temple is constructed. The Raṅganātha's temple management pays the rent. So Govindajī is the landlord and Raṅganāthajī is tenant. Raṅganāthajī is Rāmānuja-sampradāya, Govindajī is Gauḍīya-sampradāya. (laughter) So Rāmānuja-sampradāya is the tenant of Gauḍīya-sampradāya. (break) No, as many as we want. Why? (end)

Room Conversation -- August 14, 1976, Bombay:

Yaśomatīnandana: We are publishing monthly magazine every month now, one is coming out in a few days for Janmāṣṭamī. We have changed new house, very good house.

Prabhupāda: What is the rent?

Yaśomatīnandana: Land also...

Prabhupāda: No, no, rent.

Yaśomatīnandana: Rent is thousand rupees. One thousand rupees, plus tax for government.

Prabhupāda: Plus twelve hundred?

Yaśomatīnandana: No, plus two hundred tax. They are life members from Ahmedabad. They came to see Your Divine Grace.

Prabhupāda: Oh, thank you. So give them place to stay. (end)

Evening Darsana (on night of arrival) -- August 16, 1976, Hyderabad:

Prabhupāda: ...not Paris. Paris we have got rented. What is the?

Devotee: It's a hundred miles away from Paris(?).

Prabhupāda: It is a big name. What...?

Hari-śauri: Lucay de La Male.

Prabhupāda: The interior, near Orleans. So we have got very nice, beautiful palace. We have installed Gaura-Nitāi and Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma.

Indian man: (Hindi) Vṛndāvana Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma.

Room Conversation About Mayapura Construction -- August 19, 1976, Hyderabad:

Gargamuni: No, no. Even if he doesn't. Any construction...

Prabhupāda: No, I don't think that is the law. That is the law? I am feeling inconvenience; I cannot repair?

Gargamuni: No.

Jayapatākā: No, how that can be? You can tell the police.

Gargamuni: No, then you have to go to the court, and that takes ten years. Just like he's in the court for five years now. He is not taking our rent.

Prabhupāda: Then let us repair. Let him go to the court. Because by repairing, we have broken the law, so let him go to the court. The same logic.

Room Conversation About Mayapura Construction -- August 19, 1976, Hyderabad:

Gargamuni: Now, we have one flat that we are renting.

Prabhupāda: Not renting. Purchase.

Gargamuni: Well, the only thing is with these flats in Calcutta, they are so mismanaged, these new places. They become a slum in two months. In Bombay the flats are managed nicely, but in Calcutta when they build a new one, within two months the whole thing is filthy dirty. The elevators don't work. It's not worth purchasing a flat. I have one now. I am renting. It's on the twelfth floor, and the members of our traveling party stay there. There is nice water and so many things. But the building is so mismanaged. Who wants to stay there more than a year? We need our own place. Then we can keep it clean and nice.

Prabhupāda: Where is that own place?

Gargamuni: Well, there are buildings that we can get. In Balijunj we have some offers. That's if this park doesn't come through. If the park does not come through, then we can...

Prabhupāda: Yes. First of all all try to make... This is the best place in Calcutta.

Room Conversation -- August 22, 1976, Hyderabad:

Maṇihāra: Now they are trying to drive away. Because they know they have money. They are taking over.

Prabhupāda: Money and intelligence also. They can organize the English very nicely. And they're not extravagant. European and American, as soon as they get money they spend it. And Indians know how to save something. I saw in London almost all Indians have got their own house. Maybe small house, it doesn't matter. But they have got their own quarters. Every Indian. And they're living very comfortably. Englishmen, local men, renting.

Room Conversation -- December 7, 1976, Hyderabad:

Prabhupāda: All right. So that room, if it is done, it is all right. If not, this room and that room. That's all. Better bring him. He'll be very useful.

Mahāṁśa: Yes.

Prabhupāda: That's all right. Purchase one canopy instead of renting. We shall have to continue this program.

Mahāṁśa: Right now it will be difficult to purchase because we don't have enough money.

Prabhupāda: What is the money? How much?

Mahāṁśa: We don't have enough money. It will cost at least a thousand rupees or more, the whole thing, at least a thousand, maybe more. We don't have so much money right now.

Prabhupāda: So I'll pay you thousand. But... You pay me the rent, I'll pay you thousand. Yes. What is the rent per day?

Mahāṁśa: I'll get it free, without rent.

Prabhupāda: Then don't purchase.

Morning Walk -- December 25, 1976, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Kṛṣṇa consciousness is so nice. Kṛṣṇa says,

sarva-dharmān parityajya

mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja

ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo

mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ

(BG 18.66)

Our difficulties are due to our sinful activities. So Kṛṣṇa assures, "I will excuse you from the resultant action of all sinful activities. You surrender to me." But I will not do that. What Kṛṣṇa will do? He says, He assures, but nobody will do that. I say to my tenants here, that "You become Kṛṣṇa conscious. You won't have to pay rent." (laughter) Because the whole rent... I am getting two-thousand, 2,500. That is my one day's expenditure.

Room Conversation -- December 27, 1976, Bombay:

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: No, this is how all these yoga camps are working. They make their money from the rest, from the rent.

Prabhupāda: One who is not going to learn yoga system, then they have to pay increased rate.

Room Conversation -- December 27, 1976, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Yes. I have replied that letter on the other day. You do not know?

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Did you want us to use that room? The room in which the bank is?

Jagadīśa: Oh yes. You mean about the rent?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Jagadīśa: Yes, he said 250.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Find out that letter.

Hari-śauri: There's a reply to it too.

Prabhupāda: Where is the letter?

Hari-śauri: He says there's going to be women coming...

Prabhupāda: But there is no instruction. For women there is no such thing.

Room Conversation -- December 31, 1976, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: By fourteenth or by thirteenth. It takes only one night from here to Allahabad.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Twenty-six hours. We're thinking of renting a small bus for devotees because coming back would be a problem.

Prabhupāda: I think Allahabad takes twenty-four hours.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Twenty-six hours.

Prabhupāda: Twenty-six hours by train?

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes.

Prabhupāda: And Calcutta?

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Calcutta it is thirty-six hours.

Prabhupāda: Another ten hours.

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

Morning Discussion about Kumbhamela -- January 8, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: That is very good. There our men suffer very much. If that room is available, then it is very good.

Gurudāsa: They made a... Abhirama made a bathroom. He put four tanks on the top, and there's running water in that bathroom.

Prabhupāda: In our side?

Gurudāsa: In the one we have.

Prabhupāda: That's all right.

Gurudāsa: So that's somewhat of an improvement.

Prabhupāda: Yes, why not? Improvement can be done. There is space. Anyway, if we get the down room, it will solve a problem. What is the rent?

Gurudāsa: One thousand.

Prabhupāda: That's all right.

Gurudāsa: But C. L. said he would pay.

Prabhupāda: Oh, that is very kind of him.

Gurudāsa: We will see...

Prabhupāda: Yes, we will be his guest. He will pay rent. That's all right. Very good.

Discussion on Deprogrammers -- January 9, 1977, Bombay:

Trivikrama: Their center is Kṛṣṇa also, only they're demons.

Rāmeśvara: These are receipts, Śrīla Prabhupāda, each one for two thousand dollars deposited in your account in Los Angeles.

Prabhupāda: That is rent tax.

Rāmeśvara: Yes. We already entered that. Both times from Balavanta in...

Prabhupāda: You enter. Enter this.

Hari-śauri: Two from Balavanta, two from Rūpānuga.

Prabhupāda: Debit.

Hari-śauri: Yes.

Room Conversation -- January 9, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: So who will be the big ticket purchaser?

Rāmeśvara: Satsvarūpa. Oh. You mean in Los Angeles?

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: The Hindus.

Rāmeśvara: There are approximately eight thousand Hindus living in Los Angeles, and we have rented one auditorium that seats six thousand people. So if they only sell two thousand seats, it does not cost any money. It covers all the expenses. Anything over two thousand seats is profit for ISKCON.

Prabhupāda: So how many Indians are there?

Rāmeśvara: Altogether in Los Angeles, eight thousand. Plus Indians from San Francisco will come to this concert because she is very popular. Gopāla sent one devotee, Jagat-puruṣa, to manage the ticket selling.

Prabhupāda: Yes, he is expert.

Room Conversation -- January 9, 1977, Bombay:

ePrabhupāda: So who will be the big ticket purchaser?

Rāmeśvara: Satsvarūpa. Oh. You mean in Los Angeles?

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: The Hindus.

Rāmeśvara: There are approximately eight thousand Hindus living in Los Angeles, and we have rented one auditorium that seats six thousand people. So if they only sell two thousand seats, it does not cost any money. It covers all the expenses. Anything over two thousand seats is profit for ISKCON.

Prabhupāda: So how many Indians are there?

Rāmeśvara: Altogether in Los Angeles, eight thousand. Plus Indians from San Francisco will come to this concert because she is very popular. Gopāla sent one devotee, Jagat-puruṣa, to manage the ticket selling.

Prabhupāda: Yes, he is expert.

Room Conversation -- January 21, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Prabhupāda: So he brought some men from Calcutta?

Gargamuni: Yes. He brought some people in a tourist bus.

Prabhupāda: Indian?

Gargamuni: Yes. We have noticed recently many tourist buses there in Māyāpur now. They are coming from other areas, middle class people. They rent this tourist bus, and they have been touring Māyāpur. Sometimes they come and at the time of prasādam they ask, "Can we get our food here? We're about forty persons." So we take them over to the prasādam pavilion and they take. But this was never before. Never was there a tourist bus in Māyāpur.

Prabhupāda: No.

Gargamuni: Never.

Room Conversation -- January 21, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Rāmeśvara: Furthest away from us. We purchased the laundromat...

Prabhupāda: Mason? Mason?

Rāmeśvara: No. That they will not sell yet. The other side. But including that meat restaurant.

Prabhupāda: Then they have to go?

Rāmeśvara: Well, now we are the landlords. They have got still a lease agreement which we now inherited. So they are paying us rent.

Prabhupāda: The washerman also?

Rāmeśvara: Yes. So we have the choice...

Prabhupāda: And this man. (sic:) karadri?

Rāmeśvara: No. Stopped just before karate. The only thing left is the karate...

Room Conversation -- January 31, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Prabhupāda: What is the prospect, Hong Kong? I don't think there is any.

Hari-śauri: Bangkok.

Prabhupāda: Er, Bangkok, yes.

Yogeśvara: No, my personal conclusion after a few weeks there is that either there should be a traveling party doing that part of the subcontinent... Otherwise, if there is a gṛhastha couple with some experience, we could have an information center in this one house. Because it's not expensive. Living there is very cheap. There is good foodstuffs and rent is not expensive.

Prabhupāda: Now, this house, we can continue to live there?

Yogeśvara: We can continue to rent. Rent is only $175 a month, including utilities. So it is not at all expensive.

Prabhupāda: And it is a very nice house.

Room Conversation -- January 31, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Prabhupāda: Every GBC is for everywhere. Let it be considered in the next meeting.

Yogeśvara: At Māyāpur.

Prabhupāda: You can continue rent for one or two months more and see if there is possibility. Our mission is for every city, every town, every village, and if we can maintain for some utility, that is very good. If you have no men, we cannot linger on there. Otherwise we want to open branches everywhere. That is our mission. (aside:) We have... What is...?

Evening Darsana -- February 19, 1977, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: Former paisa, when sixty-four paisa was one rupee. Now hundred equal to one. The purchasing power of money was big. Now thirty percent has gone up, but people's income has not gone up so much. Thirty percent, thirty times. Formerly gold was priced twenty rupees per tolā. Now it is six hundred rupees. So thirty times. But people have not increased their income thirty times. My father was earning two hundred fifty to three hundred per month. So we were middle class. So now thirty times of three hundred means nine thousand. So which middle-class man has increased so much? Middle class man now, if he's earning one thousand rupees he's considered very well-to-do. But what is that one thousand rupees? Nothing. My father had from one business, one hundred rupees, from another business sixty rupees, and we had a house rented, eighty rupees. Eighty rupees, sixty rupees and hundred rupees. How much? Two hundred forty, plus something more. Utmost, three hundred. And in our house four, five guests was always present. It didn't matter. Besides that, he was inviting some Vaiṣṇava, some sādhu. He married four daughters, and we were eating very sumptuously, daily two and half kg milk. Two annas per kg. Very nice milk. This man was coming from outside Calcutta. So we were so many children. We would stand, "Give some phāo:" Two half kg's milk and half kg phāo. He wouldn't mind.

Evening Darsana -- February 24, 1977, Mayapura:

Jayatīrtha: We need about half that size, but bigger, nicer temple and meeting hall. We can rent out for weddings. People are paying five hundred pounds a day for renting just one room, a big room, and they can't get sufficient rooms in London. So they told us that they could book for two years in advance at five hundred pounds a day every weekend, Saturday, Sunday, for a wedding hall. If we can arrange to do the wedding for them, then they'll pay us an additional couple hundred pounds. There's a lot of..., so many Indians there.

Prabhupāda: Yes, there are Indians there.

Evening Darsana -- February 25, 1977, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: Because that stool and urine is also useful. Cow is so important. They'll eat and they'll pass stool and urine. That is also important. If they supply milk, it is well, very good. Otherwise the stool and urine is also important. From that point of view we should give protection. So they are doing this cow slaughter business. (aside:) For you. Therefore they are suffering so much. So Kṛṣṇa has given you very nice occupation, translation work, and you are earning your livelihood independently. So do it very nicely. And if there is strain to work, then don't work. We shall pay you for the rent, etc... It doesn't matter. But you must maintain your status of translating work. That is very good. If you can work, you can work. Otherwise don't worry.

Evening Darsana -- February 25, 1977, Mayapura:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I was in New Vrindaban. That boy was staying with Kīrtanānanda Mahārāja.

Trivikrama: Sāmba.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Sāmba.

Rāmeśvara: He comes to the temple once or twice a month.

Prabhupāda: What you have to pay?

Rāmeśvara: Five hundred dollars a month. Pays for rent and gas and food.

Prabhupāda: He pays that five hundred. Hm. But he is very slow nowadays in editing.

Rāmeśvara: He finished editing the Kapila book, and he finished the first volume of the philosophy book since he last saw you.

Prabhupāda: Hm. Do whatever you think is good.

Room Conversation -- February 27, 1977, Mayapura:

Rādhā-vallabha: This system of the money, I stopped that in Los Angeles. It was becoming prevalent that whenever they wanted to do some extra service, they would want money. So I told them if they want money they can't do it in service to you. It has to be something else. Otherwise the whole thing is spoiled.

Prabhupāda: No money.

Rādhā-vallabha: All right. I'll enforce that strictly. The only money is for rent and some small maintenance, eating. That's all.

Prabhupāda: And if we have got our own place, no rent even.

Rādhā-vallabha: In some cases we do. The rents mostly are to Māyāpur fund.

Prabhupāda: And to... If there is no our place, then we'll pay rent.

Rādhā-vallabha: Yes.

Prabhupāda: Otherwise you must accommodate him in our place.

Rādhā-vallabha: Most of the rent I pay is to the ISKCON property account, and that all comes back to Māyāpur, etc., so there's no problem there. Also another thing is children's books. I was looking at the gurukula books. You don't want to get into that. Oh.

Prabhupāda: They are not wanted. We have got one color book?

Room Conversation -- April 2, 1977, Bombay:

Guru dāsa: Do you want me to try and also get the rental of the room in the Nandagrāma temple, the old?

Prabhupāda: It is available?

Guru dāsa: The room is occupied now.

Prabhupāda: Then not possible. Otherwise you could have taken.

Guru dāsa: I can ask though, for the future.

Prabhupāda: Gopāla. Nowadays nobody is... I do not know what is the arrangement, but if it is available...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Probably you could get it. Somebody is probably paying fifteen rupees or twenty rupees a month for it.

Guru dāsa: He is very favorable, Gopāla. He has your old telegram receipts. He saves them. Just like a devotee would save anything you write, he has them also.

Prabhupāda: Did you talk with him?

Guru dāsa: Not about the rooms. I just know him. Because I didn't receive the instructions until yesterday.

Prabhupāda: He formerly offered me that "You deposit in the name of Deity ten thousand," he would give me the Sevā-kuñja. So at that time ten thousand was not..., dream for me. So let him remain as he is doing, but we can do something with. You can improve by repairing and everything.

Room Conversation -- April 5, 1977, Bombay:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Prabhupāda said that if they are willing to pay the rent, even if in the beginning it is only an extension counter, that's not so bad.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Like Indian Overseas, I gave them a rate of Rs. 4.50 per square foot, but the market rate was 4.

Prabhupāda: They are also ready to...

Girirāja: Yes, because that's the rate I established. We checked the market rate. Plus we want them to give six months of rent in advance, plus we want another benefit from them. I was recently in Hyderabad, and I saw an advertisement in the Hindu paper of Madras by a temple, which advertised the deity of the temple and said you can make a donation, and you can make a donation at any of the branches of the Indian bank, Bank of Madras. So one of the things I have been talking to these banks is when we open a Bombay temple we would like to try this approach here, advertise the Deities, have a small story about the Deities, and say anyone who wants to make a donation can make it at any branch of State Bank of India without any charge. And then the bank must agree to give us this service, collect the money and remit to us. So with the banks who have been coming I have been asking them...

Prabhupāda: They will deposit in Bombay.

Room Conversation about Harijanas -- April 10, 1977, Bombay:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yeah. Unless you change the inner make-up of a man, he won't improve. They are thinking that by spending money, by giving a better home, by these things they'll improve. But we have practically seen in Madras on the beach, these harijanas were given some of the better houses, and they immediately did one of two things. Either they rented the house to someone else and kept living on the street, which is by their nature, or else they turned the house into the street.

Prabhupāda: Hell.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Like hell. So unless you actually reform a person, just by artificially giving him money or stamping approval, it won't change anything. You have to change him. And they have no plan for that.

Prabhupāda: They do not know that.

Morning Conversation -- April 29, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: So immediately I transferred myself to Jergens, keeping my goods at Mukunda's place, Michael. Then I searched out that 26 Second Avenue. From going to 26 Second Avenue taking this risk of two hundred dollars, then I became little relieved. Before that, I was simply vagabond. That was the first shelter. Then this Kīrtanānanda, Hayagrīva, Satsvarūpa, Umāpati, they guided. Brahmānanda. Some other boys also came, and they left.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Stryadhīśa.

Prabhupāda: Hm? Stryadhīśa. So after getting that shelter, I began to grow. Everything was very precarious condition-vagabond. I was selling some books. I thought that "This boy will be trained up" when I got that place. He invited me to "Come to my loft." It was very big loft. I was holding class, collecting ten dollars. Then he was not paying rent. He gave me the charge of paying rent. So Kṛṣṇa was giving by collecting. It was on the top. Still, people were coming. Great story. Never mind. Now we... From my part, whatever is possible. Now you take care. That is my request. Don't spoil it. Now it is up to you. My, this ailment... I can pass away at any moment. My health is not good. I am old man. It is not surprising. Now you GBC, young boys, all, American, expert, you have got all intelligence, resources, so don't spoil. Let the movements go forward more and more. Now you have got nice places, filled with devotees. Don't be anxious for me. That, Kṛṣṇa will take. And even if I go, where is the harm? Old man. I have given my ideas and direction in my books. People appreciate. I think from my side I have done everything. Is it not? Do you think or not?

Morning Conversation -- May 29, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Not a... If you're going to get that building, then you rent it to people, not to devotees. There's no need for devotees to rent it.

Ātreya Ṛṣi: Well, the upstairs we can rent to people, and the place where Prabhupāda lived could be a pilgrimage.

Prabhupāda: As soon as you rent, it become botheration.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: It means you have to collect the rent.

Ātreya Ṛṣi: No, your apartment can be a place of pilgrimage.

Indian man: (Hindi)

Prabhupāda: Ha. As soon as you rent out, then botheration.

Ādi-keśava: That... Śrīla Prabhupāda, that area has become a very, very bad neighborhood.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Very bad.

Ādi-keśava: Very, very bad. There's nothing but dacoits and drug addicts.

Prabhupāda: Yes, it was when I was there. (laughter)

Conversation with Svarupa Damodara -- June 21, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: The elevator charge, for the electricity, twenty-five hundred dollars a month. It's not a joke to run a building of that size. That's why in New York to have, own a building in that location they get a very good rent. Every apartment, say, a two and half room apartment, 250, 300 dollars per month.

Prabhupāda: USA.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: And we have three hundred rooms. It would fetch... If it was divided up as an all-apartment building, it would make very..., lot of money. To run a building like that... It's very prestigious. Even though it's not a new building, still, it is prestigious. People are impressed. Many Indian people come there from India at night. A number of officials came, and they were all very... They said, "Oh, we didn't know you had such a building like this." They said like that. They were very impressed. And they liked the... They were very much impressed with the temple room and the restaurant and the general size of the building. Those three features are impressive. The restaurant they're very impressed by, pure vegetarian prasādam served with a restaurant atmosphere.

Prabhupāda: And so palatable.

Morning Conversation -- June 23, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Hippie. The result is hippie. In Western countries I see and lament. So many percent of their population are hippies. What is the benefit? They cannot do anything, useless population. They cannot utilize. And in America the Vietnam was selected—"Let them die," in disappointment. Useless waste of... They require... Could not manage. "Let them die." Marawara gar leka.(?) When we have finished all sorts of condemnation, we say, "You die." That's all. Tell them. They have no idea how to reform this degraded population. This is the only way, Kṛṣṇa consciousness. In New York I have seen in ordinary places how niggardly they live. No human being can live like that. In good places, nicely dressed, nicely... But in East... East Village or something?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yeah, in the East Village.

Prabhupāda: No gentleman can live. So niggardly. The shops, the neighborhood, the area, all...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: That's where you went to begin the movement.

Prabhupāda: No, no, I did not select that. Unknowingly I was thrown. I did not know which quarter is good way.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Who showed you that area?

Prabhupāda: Mukunda. I asked him that "Find out some upper class...." He found out that 26 Second Avenue. (laughs) I did not know. That's all. Anyone...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Humble beginning.

Prabhupāda: The landlord took advantage. He was receiving rent, eighty-nine rupees or eighty rupees. He charge me 125. And another room, he was getting fifty. So he charged me seventy-five. Little room.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Dollars.

Prabhupāda: Ah, yes, dollars. Eighty and fifty, 130. He charged me two hundred.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Oh, you were paying too much. 'Cause I was living right there. I was not paying so much. I was paying sixty-five dollars.

Prabhupāda: How many there was...?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: For four rooms.

Prabhupāda: Just see.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He took advantage.

Prabhupāda: I took advantage, "Let me stay somewhere." I was loitering in the street, so I thought, "Let me stay somewhere. Then I shall see later on."

Morning Conversation -- June 23, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Mukunda. I asked him that "Find out some upper class...." He found out that 26 Second Avenue. (laughs) I did not know. That's all. Anyone...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Humble beginning.

Prabhupāda: The landlord took advantage. He was receiving rent, eighty-nine rupees or eighty rupees. He charge me 125. And another room, he was getting fifty. So he charged me seventy-five. Little room.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Dollars.

Prabhupāda: Ah, yes, dollars. Eighty and fifty, 130. He charged me two hundred.

Room Conversation about Grhasthas -- July 17, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: They have paying a few months' rent, but not pagri.

Prabhupāda: There are so many houses. Why they should pay?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yeah. That's true.

Prabhupāda: Multi-story building. Why people should pay? Now Bombay have got many multi-story building; therefore that demand is reduced. But still, you have to pay in important place, pagri or underhand. What is called?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Bribe.

Prabhupāda: Bribe is very bad word. "Under table." (chuckling)

Room Conversations Bangladesh Preaching/Prabhavisnu Articles by Hamsaduta -- August 11, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Ah. He's exposed now. "...whereas these men have actually qualified themselves in bona fide institutions of learning by submitting their theses for Ph.D. degrees. Dr. Kovoor boasts that for over twenty years he has challenged holy men to show him God or the soul, and no one has ever dared to take up his challenge. But now someone has come forward to challenge him. I have rented the Ramakrishna Mission Hall on the 20th of August, Saturday, 6:30 PM, and invite him to accept my challenge on the stage before the public to produce life from chance biochemical combination. All are invited to attend. Admission free. Bring some chemicals if possible." He rented a hall. He's put out a challenge in the newspaper. Now we'll hear what the public is saying. I think he gave a good reply.

Prabhupāda: Very good. This is preaching.

Room Conversation -- October 18, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Cultural or wedding... We could rent it for wedding ceremonies, things like that also.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Yes. It's already a cultural center. Just like the Gītā Conference is coming next month, I was told? They would like to hold here. Something like that, we can always get some engagements. Also we can get some...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: What do you think, Śrīla Prabhupāda?

Prabhupāda: No, whatever you think is approved.

Doctor Visit and Conversation -- October 20, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yeah, once someone is there, you can't stop them. We could take them to court. It's not very likely, that's a fact. In other words, they're not paying rent...

Prabhupāda: No.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: ...so how can they sublet? If you're not paying rent, you can't sublet.

Prabhupāda: And there is no much room, that's all, for sub... The place is still insufficient for...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: No, I mean supposing they were to move out completely and let someone else move in?

Prabhupāda: Than that must be stopped. Sublet, they cannot.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Supposing, you know, they move out completely and someone pays them a thousand rupees a month? And with that thousand or more they get some other place?

Prabhupāda: Then they'll have to vacate.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: See, once they pay corporation taxes, they can claim tenancy. And a tenant... I can give you an example. In Calcutta, in Albert Road, where we currently have our temple, it was being rented by one member friend. Then he let Jayapatākā stay there, and then we took over. Of course, he was paying rent, but still, they can also be looked upon as a tenant because they'll be paying taxes.

Prabhupāda: Then you pay tax. Cut down from their pension. Huh?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes, it could be done.

Prabhupāda: We pay, and you cut down. Other tenants are there. But not tenants-occupier. What they are doing?

Doctor Visit and Conversation -- October 20, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Jayapatākā Mahārāja, if someone owns a flat and someone else is allowed to live there, if the person who's allowed to live there, but doesn't pay rent, when he pays taxes, the receipt for the taxes should be issued in the owner's name, isn't it?

Prabhupāda: If other owners are doing that, do that for us, in my name.

Prabhupada Vigil -- November 1, 1977, Vrndavana:

Brahmānanda: I remember you went there I think two years ago, and (indistinct) Bon Mahārāja there within one room. And he came to turn the light on in the room, and there was no light bulb in the socket. They had to go and get a light bulb and put it in. I mean he doesn't even use that.

Prabhupāda: It is closed now.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Soon he will rent a room here in the guesthouse.

Akṣayānanda: He was at the (indistinct). This morning.

Prabhupāda: In the guesthouse they can remain. But they cannot hold meeting.

Room Conversation -- November 2, 1977, Vrndavana:

Bhavānanda: I don't think so, Śrīla Prabhupāda. Just like yesterday, I was noticing in their afternoon meeting, they had microphone, and you could hear the speakers outside. I was thinking that this Māyāvādī... Someone is speaking Māyāvādī philosophy, it's polluting the boys. Even you don't understand Hindi, the sound vibration itself is polluting. You once told me, Śrīla Prabhupāda, that to even hear Sanskrit Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from the mouth of a Māyāvādī, it will poison you. Even you don't understand, just the sound vibration coming from that source is polluting. So what is the necessity for us to rent out our facility to them?

Prabhupāda: Tamāla Kṛṣṇa?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. Well, the point is that we have not built these temples for profit-making basis. We have built these temples to demonstrate to the world an ideal, perfect Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So if we are going to allow these people to come here, that means we're compromising. Then we should have gone into business...

Prabhupāda: Just like to take advertisement in the magazine. Eh?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. It's the same thing. We're trying to make something ideal. We don't care if anybody does join or doesn't join, but our business is to show the perfect ideal.

Prabhupāda: Jayādvaita?

Jayādvaita: I agree. This...

Room Conversation -- November 2, 1977, Vrndavana:

Bhavānanda: That is such an insult, especially it's our facility. And as soon as you rent out to people, then you are compromised that they can tell you not to speak of Gītā at their Gītā conference in your hall. And you have to listen because they're giving you money.

Akṣayānanda: Because they're paying.

Bhavānanda: It's outrageous.

Prabhupāda: Tamāla Kṛṣṇa? Hm?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yeah. I mean I'm more concerned about Bombay, because there in Bombay I feel that... I don't think that there's a proper understanding on the part of some of the leaders there about the danger of this. I think that the leaders there are not very clear on this point. I'm a little worried about Bombay. I think that they're... They're going to compromise. There's a danger for compromisation there.

Jayādvaita: To be popular.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. To be popular and profitable, they're approaching it on a very businesslike basis. And also the other point is that they're afraid that... In Bombay they've made this hall, such a beautiful hall. So they don't want it to lie vacant or empty, and they just can't think of what can be done inside that hall every single day of the year. It's a fact that hall should be used every day of the year.

Bhavānanda: By us.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: By us. But since they feel that there's not going to be any constant use from our side, they're thinking that it doesn't make sense to have built and spent so much money on such a good hall and not utilize it daily, which from the business point of view is a fact. But that means that you're going to have to invite all kinds of semi... It's not even Kṛṣṇa conscious. I wanted to say semi-Kṛṣṇa conscious, but they're going to have to invite different theater people, entertaining people.

Bhavānanda: So the Kṛṣṇa conscious solution is to utilize the hall every night for our own purposes. Kṛṣṇa consciousness is unlimited. There's so many dramas, so many lectures, so many symposiums.

Prabhupāda: No, suppose you construct some house and rent out. Then they can do as they like. So similarly, if that hall is made, constructed for making some money, then the money will not come if we don't rent out to the cinema actors, actresses. It is just like... What is called? Village house. Hm? The hall is called? When one pays, marriage ceremony... For making some money you have made.

Room Conversation -- November 3, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Hm. You've been thinking about having that for a long time. You talked about it on and off before. Avocado is said to be very good, nutritious.

Prabhupāda: What is the rent of the house?

Girirāja: The rent? It's about twelve hundred rupees, but that's less than one thousand Indian rupees, and it's right on the way to the Paśu-pati-nātha temple, which is the biggest temple in Nepal.

Prabhupāda: Hm. Very famous temple.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: You've heard of it, Śrīla Prabhupāda?

Prabhupāda: Hm. People go there to see.

Room Conversation -- November 8, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Fixed deposit money. Well, of course, but that we would have gotten anywhere. But from the point of view of rent it is certainly very substantial rent. That was your scheme, Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: No, Kṛṣṇa is giving us all facility. Utilize it.

Room Conversation -- November 10, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: (Hindi) Lokanātha?

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Lokanātha has already gone, Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Haṁsadūta: He has gone to Mathurā for renting.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He has gone out for renting the bullock cart.

Prabhupāda: Oh. (Hindi)

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Lokanātha says that the bullock cart could probably go around Vṛndāvana in about five to six hours, parikramming Vṛndāvana town.

Prabhupāda: Make an experiment. Then we shall decide.