Soft (Conversations 1977)

Expressions researched:
"soft" |"softback" |"softbound" |"softcover" |"softened" |"softening" |"softens" |"softer" |"softly" |"softness"

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

Conversation with Yogi Amrit Desai of Kripalu Ashram (PA USA) -- January 2, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: ...to wait means that waste of time.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. But Bhagavad-gītā, we're doing one lakh copies now, and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is our first experiment with the paper manufacturer here. He's making paper for us exactly like American, especially for us. So I've given Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, First Canto, Part Two. We are printing ten thousand. Four thousand we'll print on this government paper, softbound, for cheap distribution, and six thousand on expensive American paper, hardbound, for export, because we will be able to export it for a dollar forty, which is two dollars below what Los Angeles charges. Substantial... So as an experiment, I only wanted to... I've ordered paper for six thousand expensive hardbound. Let's see how the paper is. If it's good, then we'll use the same paper for one lakh. Before taking a risk on one lakh, I wanted to experiment on a smaller run.

Trivikrama: So I'm also thinking about printing again. Now we have just enough...

Prabhupāda: We can print here.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: We have very good arrangement.

Prabhupāda: At what price you are printing?

Trivikrama: Pretty cheap.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Hong Kong is very expensive.

Prabhupāda: No no, let him say.

Letter to Russian -- January 5, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: That is inevitable. The whites cannot...

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Rhodesia has rejected...

Prabhupāda: ...cannot kill them, repress any more. That is not possible. The other blacks will join.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: And it appears that even President Carter of America is more soft on the blacks now. He is more sympathetic. So if they get American support...

Prabhupāda: Nowadays you cannot be a suppressor of any particular foreigner. That is not possible.

Jagadīśa: Except the religious community.

Prabhupāda: Yes. They will suffer, both of them, because this is not civilization. This is assembly of dogs. So there trouble must be there. You cannot keep the dogs peaceful. That is my final... If you keep them animals, how you can expect...?

Jagadīśa: That's not only between nation to nation.

Prabhupāda: Everywhere. Everywhere. If the men are kept as animals, you cannot expect them peaceful citizens. That is not possible. The fighting will go on on one plea or another. You cannot stop. (pause) Was it...? You give...? Pālikā?

Room Conversation with Svarupa Damodara -- January 30, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Prabhupāda: The Absolute Truth is also chance?

Svarūpa Dāmodara: In order to write down in the form of mathematical formulas or equations in quantum mechanics this—they call probability—the theory of probability or chance should be introduced. But Einstein was against that. That's what he's saying. It says, "The Heisenberg all-tranquilizing philosophy or religion is so delicately contrived that for the time being it provides a gentle pillow for the true believer from which he cannot very easily be aroused. So let him lie there." In other words, those who believe in chance... The main concept in quantum mechanics or quantum physics is mainly from this Heisenberg and Borg. They are well-known physicists. There is a chapter called "Copenhagen Interpretation." There was a great meeting in Copenhagen about this concept of quantum mechanics, and so they call it "Copenhagen Interpretation." And there the names which were..., this Heisenberg and Borg(?). And they were saying that "Yes, we must accept that there must be chance." So the argument was put forward by these people, but Einstein is against, to that idea. So he's saying that "Those who believe, let them lie there, because the philosophy made by these people serves as a very gentle pillow, very soft. So once people lie there, they cannot be very easily aroused." That's the idea. "But," he said, "that is not a fact."

Hari-śauri: That's like... He means it's an easy way out for them to say "chance."

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Yes. "Those who don't understand, those who want to be just satisfied with that concept, let them lie there for the time being. But," he said, "that is not a truth."

Prabhupāda: So why the scientists die?

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Why scientists die?

Morning Room Conversation -- February 16, 1977, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: Yes, yes.

Hari-śauri: No, what they've done is they've taken off the paper cover, this pink, and they just hardbound it...

Prabhupāda: Softbound.

Hari-śauri: ...and stuck it back on.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: And plastic.

Hari-śauri: And plastic over the top.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Very nice.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Wonderful book, Nectar of Devotion.

Prabhupāda: Every book is... Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Nectar of Devotion. Whichever he will read, he will become Kṛṣṇa conscious. (break) And then Kṛṣṇa, then Bhāgavata, then Caitanya-caritāmṛta, simply development.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: This book is now very nice because there are many fine illustrations inside, more than there used to be. They've added. The Teachings of Lord Caitanya, I was thinking in particular. I have a copy of that, and there are many color illustrations inside now. Wonderful book, the summary of all of Caitanya-caritāmṛta. Like Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura's introduction gives a whole... It's like all of the pastimes of Lord Caitanya condensed into a few pages.

Room Conversation -- April 2, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: So how many copies you have printed?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Of Hindi Bhāgavatam, how many copies do you have?

Prabhupāda: You have to print more copies, at least fifty thousand.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: They are going to sell very quickly.

Gargamuni: Gopāla has only made soft cover, but the libraries won't take soft cover, so I have asked him to make hardbound also.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Do it.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yeah, in America, whatever we make, we always make hardbound for the libraries.

Gargamuni: Yeah, you have to. They won't take softbound.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: In America everything we print, we also have to consider special printings for the libraries and standing orders.

Gargamuni: The man at the Sampurnanand Sanskrit Library at BHU, when he saw the Hindi Bhāgavatam, he said, "I will order fifty sets for our various sub-libraries." He said, "This is wonderful." Because the only Hindi Bhāgavatam is that Gītā Press, which is useless. There is no commentary, it is so unattractive.

Prabhupāda: Prepared by nondevotees. How you can expect? Bhaktyā mām abhijānāti (BG 18.55). Without being devotee, who will understand Bhāgavatam? It is not so easy. Big, big paṇḍitas, they cannot understand Bhāgavatam even.

Short Dissertations -- May 24-25, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: All right. Then you shall begin. Jaya. (break) Daily or alternately, (makes bleating sound:) "Myaaaḥ, myaaḥ." And there is religious process that the head should be eastern side and the throat should be cut up. And when the animal dies, bifurcate, cleanse it and the skin and everything... And they have got cāpāṭi. Government subsidizes. So they cook at home the meat, and in market they purchase a cāpāṭi according to the family, one big cāpāṭi, two cāpāṭi. That's all. Our men who has eaten that cāpāṭi, they say it is very nice, very soft and digesting. Huge deserted country, but some stock, some spots, water. There are trees. They raise the cattle there. Eighty percent of the land, all desert. Or ninety percent. No, eighty. Say seventy-five. And because they have got now money, they are having big, big buildings, foreign cars, roads in the air, developing. And they're importing at any cost. From Bombay the best mango they are importing at any cost.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Five hundred rupees per dozen.

Prabhupāda: Hm?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: They are paying five hundred rupees, a dozen mangoes.

Prabhupāda: They don't mind. "We must have mangoes." Money is very insignificant thing. Gold is the... And as soon as there is enough money, there is debauch, debauchery. Still there are Oriental moral principles. Girls who have become modernized... Otherwise they do not mix with any man. Their husband, that's all. And covered body, they are, very beautiful girl. And those who have become modernized, they are just like European girls. There is no difficulty to become modernized. They have got money. And they tour from one country to another extensively. Formerly for Muhammadans, drinking was the greatest sin. Now it has become... Drinking is strictly prohibited amongst the Muhammadans, according to their religious system. And sex? Before Muhammadan religion was introduced, they used to have sex even with mother. And woman could be purchased as slaves. Marketplace, women were standing for being sold.

Talk with Svarupa Damodara -- June 20, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: No. He was also older than our father. But I have seen him in childhood, when I was ten, twelve years old. Very intelligent man, soft speaker. His... This Marconi's theory is his theory. The wireless... The thief has taken. They have stolen. And the British government gave credit to Marconi. He was very sad.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: That everybody knows.

Prabhupāda: Yes. The wireless, there was a system. That was his discovery. He was very sorry. The British government stole the idea and gave the credit to Marconi. The Britishers, they always wanted to minimize the value of India, that "They are not civilized. We are present there to make them civilized."

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Very... The English were expert in diplomacy.

Prabhupāda: Therefore they paid.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: That Dr. Sharma here, he was saying that the English, they took advantage of..., I think it was either Cāṇakya Paṇḍita or one other book about military ruling, some book. Every one of them would have a copy translated into English. They'd all keep a copy of it on their desk, how to subdue by diplomacy and politics. They were all told to learn this book.

Prabhupāda: Saṁrāṭ Veda(?). That is another.

Room Conversation With Son (Vrindavan De) -- July 5, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: I rejected immediately. What is this nonsense? Why shall I refer to it? "Probably." Finished, one word. Tāvac ca śobhate mūrkho yāvat kiñcin na bhāṣate:(?) "A mūrkha, a rascal, is beautiful so long he does not speak. As soon as he speaks, we understand where he is." Bas. Just like you're cooking rice. You take one rice and press it. If it is not soft, oh, whole rice is not. If it is not soft, it is not yet cooked. Similarly, one word will give his identity. As soon as he says "Probably," finished. Why shall I take trouble?

Upendra: In all of your books there's not that word.

Śatadhanya: That way we avoid wasting time.

Prabhupāda: Yes. "Probably," "maybe," "in millions of years."

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: We call that "closet talk." That means when you start talking like that, we advise him to go into the closet and close the door. Then only they will have to hear it.

Prabhupāda: We take Kṛṣṇa's word. Na māṁ duṣkṛtino mūḍhāḥ prapadyante... (BG 7.15). (break)

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Very positive. He says, "One additional note. Our Library Party in America recently attended the annual convention of the largest organization of libraries." That's called the American Library Association. It's made up of all of the libraries in the US, and it's the most prestigious library association. "At this convention, the booth of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust won the first prize..."

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

Prabhupāda: So you have corrected that paste?

Upendra: Yes, Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: It has become soft?

Upendra: Yes, it's very soft and moist.

Prabhupāda: That's good.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Prabhupāda? It seems like your voice has become a little congested tonight. Are you feeling congested? Your voice seems a little...

Prabhupāda: Congested, my vice?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Voice. In the nose. Congestion.

Prabhupāda: My nose? Not very much.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Oh.

Prabhupāda: So you can go.

Room Conversation -- July 19, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Wool, yes. You make some warm cloth. Very easy to live.

Bhakti-caru: (Bengali)

Prabhupāda: (Bengali)

Upendra: She said that they would be soft because there is honey.

Prabhupāda: Oh, there is honey?

Upendra: It's made with honey and brown sugar, molasses. All these are soft sweeteners. And since there's no preservatives...

Prabhupāda: Call the (indistinct). And distribute.

(break) (Hindi or Bengali) (break)

Devotee (1): Tamāla Kṛṣṇa was saying to me earlier on, Prabhupāda, last night, that it is very pleasing to you possibly if we can supply some ghee...

Prabhupāda: Oh, yes.

Devotee (1): ...from Australia. So I'm thinking that this might be good to do with any money that we have.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: What we have decided is that food relief money which Australia has to give, it's going to send it in the form of ghee.

Prabhupāda: That's nice.

Room Conversation -- October 6, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: First class.

Kulādri: Thank you, Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: So make a list and keep with you.

Kulādri: Inventory. And the checks?

Prabhupāda: Check out. (pause) We want kīrtana. (soft kīrtana starts) (break)

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: You're a pure devotee. But as you are always saying, "You should pray," therefore we're not very strong in praying. But you are a pure devotee. So Kṛṣṇa will hear your prayers. If you desire to live, then Kṛṣṇa can make it happen.

Prabhupāda: You are all pure devotees, because you have no other desire.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: We are very neophyte, though. Now you're not drinking, so how will you live, Śrīla Prabhupāda? If you stop drinking everything, how will you get any strength? You're tired of trying anymore? You don't think it's possible, Śrīla Prabhupāda? (Prabhupāda coughing mucus) (break) (devotees chanting in background)

Prabhupāda: That jewelry, etcetera, Kīrtanānanda gave...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: What about the...? I have them here.

Prabhupāda: Who gave? Kulādri?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Kulādri brought them. Silk.

Room Conversation -- October 8, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Oh.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Śrīla Prabhupāda? Do you want a little more juice? Sit you up for a minute just to drink this juice? You want some more now, or a little later?

Prabhupāda: Later.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Okay. (soft kīrtana starts) (break)

Prabhupāda: No luxuries. Live very simple life and you save time for chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Haṁsadūta: Yes, Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: That is my desire. Don't waste time for bodily comforts. You have got this body. You have to eat something. You have to cover yourself. So produce your own food and produce your own cloth. Don't waste time for luxury, and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. This is success of life. In this way organize as far as possible, either in Ceylon or in Czechoslovakia, wherever... Save time. Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. Don't be allured by the machine civilization.

Haṁsadūta: Yes, Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: This is soul-killing civilization, this kind way of life, especially European countries. Anywhere you can inhabit it. It is not very difficult. A cottage; you can produce your own food anywhere. Am I right?

Haṁsadūta: Yes, Prabhupāda. We will do it.

Room Conversation -- October 8, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda? You know how you were asking me about what those dates were? So I told you that today and tomorrow is difficult days. Then the day after that is not a difficult day, and it's also Govardhana-pūjā. Then the day after that becomes difficult again for one day. But the day in between, Govardhana-pūjā, is not considered to be a difficult day. (some discussion with Hari-śauri) It's the wrong date, Śrīla Prabhupāda. It's not Govardhana-pūjā . Our information was wrong. So we'll get Kṛṣṇa dāsa? Okay. (kīrtana starts) Śrīla Prabhupāda, have you been thinking about parikrama? (aside:) Let him chant.

Hari-śauri: Softly.

Prabhupāda: Do you think in this stage is it possible?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I think it would be difficult. Better that we go parikraming around our temple, Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma Mandira. That's a little easier. Don't you think that's better? If you get a little stronger, then it may be possible. That will depend on Kṛṣṇa. So Kṛṣṇa dāsa, we should bring him here. Anyone else you want to see? Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja? Yes. We went to see him just to inquire about the necessary ceremony, and he gave us instruction. I sent Bhakti-caru Mahārāja and Bhakti-prema Mahārāja, and they wrote down everything. But Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja was very concerned. He said he's going to try to come to see you tomorrow. That's all right, isn't it? So Kṛṣṇa dāsa can be called for. Anytime? Okay. He stays at Rādhā-kuṇḍa? We'll inquire... Does he stay at the Gauḍīya Maṭha here?

Prabhupāda: Hm.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He does. In Vṛndāvana. Okay.

Room Conversation -- October 9, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Hm. So let me take a little rest. Then I shall take strawberry.

Devotees: Jaya Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Brahmānanda: Thank you very much.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: While you're resting you want soft chanting? Soft kīrtana? Haṁsadūta?

Hari-śauri: Śrīla Prabhupāda ki...

Devotees: Jaya! (break)

Haṁsadūta: Śrīla Prabhupāda?

Prabhupāda: Girirāja? Did not go to the bank?

Girirāja: The bank? Well, yesterday we delivered a letter signed by Tamāla Kṛṣṇa Goswami and myself officially instructing them to transfer the fixed deposits from here to Delhi. So there are a couple of formalities. And so the Delhi manager gave us a note what we have to do. And Tejiyas says that the former chairman of the Punjab Bank is a life member.

Prabhupāda: Oh.

Girirāja: So he said that he could even come with us and meet them. So the new chairman, I mean the present chairman, is coming on Tuesday. So I think we'll get all the formalities ready, and then we can go on Tuesday. Today is Sunday, so we couldn't do anything today.

Visit From Allopathic Doctor -- October 10, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: What did you do with food? (?) (break)

Śatadhanya: Prasādam. And they have kīrtana. They are so-called communists. Actually Bengalis are devotees, Śrīla Prabhupāda. Simply that they know your name is enough to purify all of Bengal, what to speak of if you remain present, the whole world will become completely flooded by kṛṣṇa-prema. That is why we are begging you, Śrīla Prabhupāda, that you remain with us for some time longer, because we are very weak and are still attached to material sense gratification. But if you are present, it is like a transcendental ocean.

Prabhupāda: There is some strain here. Why not make big or...? (soft kīrtana in Prabhupāda's room)

Upendra: You have some pain.

Prabhupāda: Not pain, but veins straining.

Upendra: Veins. Just here, Śrīla Prabhupāda?

Prabhupāda: Where is Bhakti-caru?

Devotees: Right here, Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: (Bengali)

Bhakti-caru: (Bengali)

Prabhupāda: Where is Bhavānanda? (break)

Bhavānanda: The Bengali Gītā is going out now for printing.

Prabhupāda: Bengali Gītā with explanation.

Room Conversation -- October 11, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Hm?

Ātreya Ṛṣi: It is sweet lemon. The juice is very sweet.

Prabhupāda: Now give me.

Ātreya Ṛṣi: These are plums. They could be skinned and the drink is very good for you, soft.

Upendra: Juice comes from them?

Ātreya Ṛṣi: Yes. It's very, very good for digestion.

Prabhupāda: Sit down.

Parivrājakācārya: Śrīla Prabhupāda? This is a pre-publication copy of our first magazine in Persian language.

Prabhupāda: This is Persian language?

Ātreya Ṛṣi: Parsi, Parsi.

Brahmānanda: This is the name of it here?

Ātreya Ṛṣi: Yes. The name is "Bhakti."

Prabhupāda: I understand that you go to the royal family and talk with them for hours. So it is very good sign.

Parivrājakācārya: Yes. There's... Some people in their family are very good, and they're very interested in learning about Bhagavad-gītā, Kṛṣṇa consciousness. They can do... They can do very good things for the world if they simply have knowledge of what to do. So we're trying to preach to intelligent people.

Room Conversation -- October 14, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: I have given the ideas. Now you give the shape.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: We want some more ideas also. You have to give enough ideas for at least ten thousand years. (Prabhupāda chuckles softly) This is a great idea, Śrīla Prabhupāda. It's wonderful. I think that each year, if we hold one conference, at least one in Vṛndāvana, it gradually will become one of the main events of the scientific community of northern India. No doubt about it. In fact I'm certain that people will be begging to be able to come. There'll be big competition for who is able to be given the permission to come and the reservation in the guesthouse. I think we'll have to build many guesthouses here.

Prabhupāda: Yes. We shall do.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: And also I took darśana of Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma, and Lord Balarāma's club looks like it will destroy anyone (Prabhupāda chuckles) who dares to interfere with Kṛṣṇa's plan. He has a very big club, silver, all silver. And many people were coming, many pilgrims. Just you were asking me whether there's many people coming as when we were previously here. There are as many. The temple was very much crowded with people having darśana. I could tell that some of the people were pāṇḍās, the guides. They have to bring everyone to this temple, because the people want to see Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma Mandir. People were making a lot of expressions of joy to see Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma. They were very surprised to see how beautiful They were appearing. And also Rādhā-Śyāmasundara is very big attraction, because that boy dresses Them very beautifully. All the Deities look very nice today. They look especially happy about this science conference, I think. If we do this in Bombay, also Śrīla Prabhupāda, it will be tremendous success. I think that Kṛṣṇa postponed...

Prabhupāda: Bhakti-caru? (Bengali with Bhakti-caru)

Room Conversation -- October 15, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Somewhere. So so far he has to collect fifty thousand, 'cause that's already there.

Jayapatākā: He has to match that first before he can get it. (laughs softly) Just yesterday night, the SP of Cuttack District, Orissa, he came here, and he said that he was very impressed by the mandira. He told Bhāgavata... I happened to meet him also. He was very pleased. His wife and family were here. He gave his name and address and said, "When you come back to Orissa, you kindly see me and what I can do... I'm not so big a man, but whatever I can do to help you, I'll do." He's very pious man.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: You told him we will have Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma there?

Jayapatākā: Details Bhāgavata was discussing.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: We're installing Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma there, Śrīla Prabhupāda?

Prabhupāda: Hm.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Orissa.

Prabhupāda: That construction is not so important as printing of books.

Jayapatākā: The president of the Bhadrak temple that Lokanātha Swami got donated from the Gauḍīya Maṭha to ISKCON, he has been collecting life members, hoping that he can build and improve a little bit on it. He was hoping to get the same facility of Bhuvaneśvara, of matching fifty-fifty. He's collecting everything locally in Orissa.

Room Conversation -- October 17, 1977, Vrndavana:

Bhavānanda: Prasādam.

Dr. Ghosh: Prasādam. Rice water or rice, a little rice, soft rice. Very good soft rice a few teaspoon.

Bhavānanda: A little luci and legume.

Dr. Ghosh: Well, if he can take it, let him have.

Upendra: Should we give Prabhupāda a bath now?

Dr. Ghosh: Bhāla luci? Yes, certainly, he must have something.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Jaya Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: So, let me sit up.

Bhavānanda: Would you like a blanket around you, Śrīla Prabhupāda? Hm?

Dr. Ghosh: (indistinct)

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Urine, urine? To do what? Take blood pressure?

Dr. Ghosh: (indistinct)

Bhavānanda: Yes, he took. He took one at 11:15. Yes. Vitamin C and liquid vitamin. Then the next one should be... We mix the B with the C. Three times a day. Three times? Three times? He should take today. Two more.

Dr. Ghosh: Yes. (faint background talking about diet, etc.) Stomach is all right. Liver is all right. So then only what have got to do is to eat. (Bengali)

Bhavānanda: Apricot, raisin, dahi and milk. Papaya. Avocado, coconut milk...

Room Conversation -- October 18, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Yes. Hm. Hare Kṛṣṇa kīrtana.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Kīrtana? Do you want some kīrtana?

Prabhupāda: Soft kīrtana.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Okay. (break)

Prabhupāda: ...thakur re.(?) I want association of Vaiṣṇava. You are all pure Vaiṣṇavas. You have sacrificed everything, material comforts, for Kṛṣṇa's sake. That is Vaiṣṇava. Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam (Brs. 1.1.11). You have no other desire. You Europeans, Americans, you are born amongst material desires. And when you become free from material desires... Therefore you are all Vaiṣṇava, anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam (CC Madhya 19.167). So you are so merciful. Where Tamāla gone?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I'm here Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: So, you are taking care of that conveyance?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes, we are, Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Jayapatākā: Because you are a paramahaṁsa, Śrīla Prabhupāda, you are seeing everyone else as surrendered to Kṛṣṇa. But only by your mercy, you are forcing us to serve Kṛṣṇa.

Prabhupāda: Hare Kṛṣṇa. One Bengali gentleman has come from New York?

Room Conversation -- October 18, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: The mosquitoes, they are warning.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Don't worry. They won't get you while we're near. The mass... The professional massage man, he massages with oil, and we are massaging with love.

Prabhupāda: That oil creates some ant.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. The ants are attracted by its sweetness. But we are only hoping to attract you by the sweetness of our massage. No ants will come.

Bhagavān: Your juice is here, Śrīla Prabhupāda. Would you like to sit up? (pause) (break)

Prabhupāda: ...softly and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. (break) ...mind, niveśaya, fix up in Kṛṣṇa. This is Rūpa Gosvāmī method. Yena tena prakāreṇa manaḥ kṛṣṇe niveśayet. So you are already attached to Kṛṣṇa. You'll see the picture and enjoy. So you can give this picture to him, his own.

Haṁsadūta: We'll put it in his room. (end)

Room Conversation -- October 20, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Huh? Dugal. What about him?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He's a rogue. I said it from the beginning, he's a rogue. Anyway, they couldn't throw the manager out. They had to throw the... That would have been a disgrace. They couldn't do that. This Dugal was president formerly of Hrishikesh for twenty-five years. I mean, how is that to deal with... (talking softly to someone else) Śrīla Prabhupāda, you haven't had anything to drink for awhile. Would you like something? It's been quite awhile since you last took. Upendra is here. He could make something for you.

Prabhupāda: Fruit juice?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Fruit juice? Yes. What kind do you have, Upendra, that you could make? Some grape juice? Or do you have that pomegranate? Would you like some pomegranate, Śrīla Prabhupāda?

Prabhupāda: I did not like that.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: It's bitter.

Upendra: That's because they mixed it with honey.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: They made it with honey, Śrīla Prabhupāda, instead of miśri-jala. What kind would you like to have?

Prabhupāda: That other fruit?

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

Prabhupāda: Cold are better.

Dr. Gopal: Cold better. Liking is towards cold rather than towards hot.

Guest (1): Ice cream?

Dr. Gopal: Don't worry about this passing of flatus, stools, every time by the urination. You should not worry. Because a scab(?) is still there, this will be unavoidable(?). Otherwise you can give a little soft enema so that that scab should come out, and so there is no spurious(?) there, a little one is coming out every time with the eating.

Prabhupāda: We are not worried.

Dr. Gopal: So you should not bother about that diarrhea, because he's really exactly on proper diet. It is only the part. They are obstructing the free passage of stool because of that scab(?), dry feces there. So should it come out easily, either by enema or by manual pushing, then it's all right. So then there will be no problem of this diarrhea. Don't do anything to stop diarrhea.

Bhavānanda: And the restlessness at night, insomnia?

Dr. Gopal: Insomnia. Yes, he had. Because somebody told me yesterday also it is his usual feature that he doesn't want to sleep, or he's not sleeping, but he will... And it were before... As a routine he's not sleeping. So it may be that it is his habit that he doesn't like to sleep in the night. Because how many times he goes for urination in the night also? Does he go? How many times?

Room Conversation -- October 21, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: That's not much. You have so much distribution. (they discuss softly)

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Plus we are starting to construct a BBT godown. Surabhī Swami is working on that because now we are printing so many books, and also we have a big shipment of books from America that we definitely need a very huge godown in Bombay. Last time you had approved giving a loan of four lakhs for the godown.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: No. Three lakhs. One lakh for printing, three lakhs for the godown.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: (softly) No.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. You said that the godown would only cost three lakhs.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. Three to four is the estimate. (to Prabhupāda:) So we are going to start work on the godown in November.

Prabhupāda: That's nice.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Yeah, that's nice. Now, as soon as our six Gujarati books are ready, we are starting this mail order campaign even for Gujarati books and for Hindi books. Actually by this mail order technique we will sell more books than we sell on the streets or in colleges. Just in two months I sold more Gītās...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: How many?

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Over a thousand ...than we did in two years of library party. And I'm expanding this to...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: No. They sell more. They have more than that, standing orders.

Room Conversation -- October 24, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: No, the thing is the man who would prepare, he must be experienced. That is wanted. And sincere. Then it will work, either you prepare there or here. When our men...? (devotees talk among themselves softly about who should go to Śrī Raṅgam)

Prabhupāda: Hm?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Oh, in the meantime, some treatment should be there. In the meantime, before you get this makara-dhvaja, some treatment should be there.

Prabhupāda: What treatment?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Well, we were thinking that this Vanamali Prabhu, he has made this medicine. So why not find out what is this medicine from him and you can take that in the meantime. He's made this medicine, Vanamali.

Prabhupāda: What is the benefit?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Well, according to him, this is makara-dhvaja. I mean, I don't discount that this may be Makara-dhvaja. I am not rejecting it simply on the word of that Rāmānujī kavirāja who was here. Otherwise, then we simply wait for the makara-dhvaja.

Prabhupāda: That we'll do.

Room Conversation With Sri Narayana and Rama-Krsna Bajaj -- October 31, 1977, Vrndavana:

Kavirāja: (Hindi) (Prabhupāda drinks medicine)

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: This is for the kidneys?

Kavirāja: (Hindi) Vṛkka-sañjīvanī. (Hindi)

Bhakti-caru: Vṛkka. V-ṛ-k-k-a. Kidney. The Sanskrit name for kidney is vṛkka. Araka(?) means extract, and sañjīva...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: What does that mean? Extractive.

Bhakti-caru: Yes. Extract, to revitalize the kidney. No, our medicine for revitalizing the kidney.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Śrīla Prabhupāda, would you like a little soft kīrtana?

Prabhupāda: No. Now let me take rest.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Take rest. Okay, Śrīla Prabhupāda. (end)

Room Conversation -- October 31, 1977, Vrndavana:

Bhakti-caru: Cow urine, that... (kavirāja interrupts) How is the stool?

Śatadhanya: It was soft and a medium amount.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: What color was it?

Śatadhanya: It was brown, dark brown.

Kavirāja: Huh? Brown colored.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Dark brown. Dark color. You have to ex...

Bhakti-caru: Yes. Not watery, but... It was soft.

Kavirāja: (Hindi)

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Just drinking fruit juice it doesn't seem like Prabhupāda will get much strength.

Kavirāja: (Hindi about milk, barley and coughing)

Prabhupāda: (Hindi)

Room Conversation -- November 3, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: You said that we should always keep you surrounded. We should never leave you alone and always keep you surrounded. So Ātreya Ṛṣi told everyone that, so all the temples, they're going to be sending some devotees to be with you each month. So I think fifty, sixty devotees every month will be with you. So I was wondering if when they come, sometimes they're here, if they chant softly, is it all right if they are in the room? If they chant softly, then even when you feel like resting you'll be able to rest. Because they have come... They'll be coming from five, ten thousand miles to see you. So that'll be very pleasing if they can be with you a few hours each day and chant quietly. Would that be all right? (break)

Prabhupāda: Resting. (Bengali)

Dr. Kapoor: Can hardly speak.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. Resting is good in this case. Best thing. Maybe I can read some nice news, Śrīla Prabhupāda. Would you like that? This is a very nice report, Śrīla Prabhupāda, from Peru. Dr. Kapoor said anyone would fall in love with it at first sight. (laughter) Pañca ought to see the Tenth Canto. This is a new edition of Tenth Canto that has just come out. You'll find some illustrations at the very beginning.

Dr. Kapoor: I think you have excelled all other publishers in this art. (laughs)

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: These are Spanish publications. We were just reading. These are the books that they were distributing, that they were talking about, Kṛṣṇa book in Spanish, three parts. There's also some Spanish nectar that came.

Upendra: It's in the other room, I think.

Room Conversation -- November 3, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Sounds like a good place to take you sometime, Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Girirāja: The air is very, very pure. They hardly have any industry there, and very few motorcars. It's very unspoiled. So the air is clean and the people are also nice. Until a few years ago, there was no system of compulsory education, so the new ideas, Western ideas, have not come very much there.

Bhakti-caru: Śrīla Prabhupāda? (Bengali)

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Śrīla Prabhupāda, would you like a little soft chanting?

Prabhupāda: Hm.

Bhavānanda: Śrīla Prabhupāda, you haven't passed urine in some time. Would you like to try?

Prabhupāda: There is no...

Bhavānanda: No need. (end)

Room Conversation -- November 3, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Show him. Wow.

Śatadhanya: That one's a little soft, but...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Give him a good one.

Prabhupāda: Hm.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Fat.

Śatadhanya: You'll take, Śrīla Prabhupāda? Also some jinga.

Prabhupāda: Very good.

Śatadhanya: In Māyāpur, when they heard that Your Divine Grace was coming, it was like electricity. There was... I've never seen anyone so excited as they were. They were electrified. Everyone was... All the Gurukula, little boys who had never even seen... "Prabhupāda is coming! Prabhupāda is coming!" There were shouts all through the āśrama. And everything was very well organized by Jayapatākā Mahārāja for your arrival.

Bhavānanda: Mrs. De at the airport?

Śatadhanya: At the airport that Mrs. De, who... I think she met you previously. She had told you, "I am also a De."

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Remember when we flew to Bombay that lady helped us for getting special seating?

Śatadhanya: So she very kindly made all the nice arrangements at the airport. There was a big caravan with flowers to take you to Māyāpur.

Room Conversation -- November 3, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: In Māyāpur I shall stay in my quarter?

Śatadhanya: Yes, Prabhupāda. Everything is very nicely arranged. There's one nice, big bed, this same size, with nice, soft mattress.

Prabhupāda: Why another bed?

Śatadhanya: The other bed is still there...

Bhavānanda: The other bed, Śrīla Prabhupāda, is not wide enough. (break) ...very high. We find for moving you about on the bed, sitting you up and turning you on your side, that it's safer and more convenient if we're able to get up on the bed itself. So the bed that you had at Māyāpur was single bed. It wasn't very wide. This will be much more comfortable for you.

Prabhupāda: How long it takes to go to Mathurā?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: From here to Mathurā? It would take about twenty minutes.

Prabhupāda: Not much.

Room Conversation -- November 7, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Softly. (break) Kavirāja says that he has so many nice patients he will not leave. So how he's treating now?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I have not inquired about that, Śrīla Prabhupāda. His point was that they depend upon his presence for treatment. That means that even if they were to die because he was not personally available to treat them, he did not think that it was very much important in comparison to treating Your Divine Grace. Because they are materialists, so whether they live or die does not affect anything so much. But because you are a great transcendentalist, your presence means that so many thousands of people can be saved. How are you feeling, Śrīla Prabhupāda?

Prabhupāda: Not so good. I am passing stool.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: We'll bring that to his notice. Now that he's here, all of these things can be adjusted. Actually, Śrīla Prabhupāda, he explains that because of the fact that you have not eaten for so many months, all of your inside has become dried up and shriveled, and therefore you cannot expect that you'll be healed very quickly. He says it will take time, but it can be done. As far as your passing stool, you are passing so little stool that it's not very significant.

Room Conversation -- November 7, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: (Hindi) ...choke... (Hindi) ...choke... (Hindi)

Bhakti-caru: We have to increase the quantity of that Arak.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: That's for the kidney? Next one we'll keep. There'll be more. Prabhupāda, you want to try for passing urine?

Prabhupāda: Immediately?

Bhakti-caru: No, whenever...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Śrīla Prabhupāda? You want to rest now? You've been talking for a long time. You want kīrtana or not now, Śrīla Prabhupāda?

Prabhupāda: Soft.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Soft kīrtana. Shastriji? You can close curtain? (kīrtana) (end)

Room Conversation -- November 8, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Hm. Now stop talking. (long pause) You have given him ten rupees?

Svarūpa Dāmodara: To that brāhmaṇa?

Girirāja: Yes. He gave ten rupees.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Tamāla gave him ten rupees?

Girirāja: Yes. Śrīla Prabhupāda? Would you like soft kīrtana now, or quiet?

Prabhupāda: You were reading something?

Svarūpa Dāmodara: No.

Girirāja: Oh, Tamāla Kṛṣṇa. He's... (break) Yesterday I spent the day in Delhi, and I opened an account with the Punjab Bank in the name of Bhaktivedanta Swami Charity Trust. And we also gave them a letter that the interest from the ten lakhs sixty thousand should go into that Bhaktivedanta Swami Charity account. And I took the original trust of the new trust, the original deed, and I made some photocopies and got them notarized by notary.

Prabhupāda: Photocopy of?