Convenience (Conversations)

Expressions researched:
"convenience" |"convenienced" |"conveniences" |"convenient" |"conveniently"

1968 Conversations and Morning Walks

Interview -- February 1, 1968, Los Angeles:

Interviewer: What is the purpose of the robes and having your head shaved?

Prabhupāda: That is not very difficult to understand. Just like you dress in a certain way, I dress in certain way. So we have got this dressing system in our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, and this is taken from Vedic literature. A brahmacārī should dress like that. And that is very economical. Our dress is saffron dress. It does not become dirty very quickly, and we... (break) This dress is not very important thing, but when one is initiated, he accepts the regulations which I give them. So it is not that if you do not come in that dress in our temple you will not understand our philosophy. That is not... We don't mean that. But it is convenient. But anyone who does not want to change this dress, that does not matter. We don't insist. These brahmacārīs, they voluntarily change. Otherwise there are many students, just like we have got two, three students, they are working. They come just like ordinary American gentlemen. So there is no objection in that way. Dress is not very important thing.

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

Interviewer: He is the world's most famous guru at the present time.

Prabhupāda: He's not guru. But he's advertised his name like that (laughs). A guru is different thing. But people are, in your country, in the western part of the country, of the world, people are after some spiritual information. So anyone who comes professing as spiritualist, he is welcome, and if he flatters, then it is very convenient to get followers. So we don't follow exactly in that way. We follow exactly the principles of Vedic ways of life. So in that way, sex life for a sannyāsī is strictly prohibited.

Interviewer: So many of the people are going to him for meditation. Is meditation part of your philosophy?

1969 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation with Allen Ginsberg -- May 12, 1969, Columbus, Ohio:

Prabhupāda: Material energy that's said by Kṛṣṇa aparā, inferior energy. Bhūmir āpo, bhūmir āpo analo, prakṛtir me bhinnā aṣṭadhā. Apareyam itas tu viddhi me prakṛtiṁ parā (BG 7.5). So material energy is the covering energy, is also Kṛṣṇa. Just like police department is also government, but it is not very convenient because putting under police department. (laughter) That is also government department. For government the university department and the police are equally important. They are spending equally, are taking care of both the, but for us, "Oh, police department horrible." This man is under police department, police custody, and that man is in education.

Room Conversation with Allen Ginsberg -- May 14, 1969, Columbus, Ohio:

Allen Ginsberg: I'll call. Thank you for your words and thank you for letting me join you.

Prabhupāda: My... You are already chanting. But if we do together, it will be very nice.

Allen Ginsberg: So let's do something together in New York City this summer. I'm free all summer, so it's at your convenience this time 'cause I'll be free. I don't have any dates or appointments. So if you just let me know maybe two weeks or somebody let me know a few weeks in advance, then I can come down from the farm, spend a day with you and then we chant. I'd be happy to do that. Hare Kṛṣṇa. Hare Kṛṣṇa.

1970 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation -- November 7, 1970, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: It is not we are teaching that you become afraid of God. (break) (Hindi) Bahut easy process hai. You come, sing, dance, and take prasādam. Is there any difficulty? If people come to us, in melodious songs they sing and they dance and when they are tired they take sumptuously prasādam, so what can be the more convenient way? (Hindi) You are a qualified lawyer, but you cannot do for want of money. (Hindi) He has no right because he does not know what is name. Nāma-cintāmaṇi-kṛṣṇaś caitanya-rasa-vigrahaḥ. (Hindi) Yes. Because you are responsible, if you cut throat of a goat, then you'll be responsible. Just like in your jurist(?) law, if you commit murder—you are lawyer—you have to be hanged. So, (Hindi) "...life for life." So I am killing one life. I shall not be liable to repay by my life.

Room Conversation -- December 17, 1970, Surat:

Prabhupāda: You are present, a tourist program here?

Guest (2): I was there. I...

Prabhupāda: So this program...

Guest (2): I wanted to join with the camp in the public but nobody was convenienced...

Prabhupāda: No, you could have informed him. You could come to the pal... Anyway, next, next, tomorrow also we'll have.

Guest (2): I no way want to disturb...

Hamsadutta: No, you won't disturb. You'll enhance us.

Guest (2): Tomorrow I'll come.

1972 Conversations and Morning Walks

Conversation with Author -- April 1, 1972, Sydney:

Prabhupāda: At least, they can take by shaving head means it cleans, cleanses. The head is not overburdened with unnecessary... (laughter) We want clear brain, and that is the system, Vedic system. All learned scholars, they cleanse head. Cleanse head. Yes. And at least we get relief. A little hair growing is also burdensome. We cleanse. So it is personal convenience. So that is not the point of preaching.

Conversation with the GBC -- May 25, 1972, Los Angeles:

Prabhupāda: That's all right, that's all right. Bali-mardana will be stagnant.

Śyāmasundara: He can oversee some foreign...

Prabhupāda: Yes, he has this book department. Book department and... They may move according to convenience, Bali-mardana and Karandhara. He has got also very responsibility, with this department, that department. He has to purchase small houses. So big brain (indistinct). So similarly, you also think on the books. Everyone take big responsibility. Then we have to serve this mission. The people are foolish, they have forgotten God.

Room Conversation -- June 14, 1972, Los Angeles:

Marilyn: Cymbals. We sang Hare Kṛṣṇa on the airplane.

Prabhupāda: You're chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa on the airplane?

John Fahey: Yeah, it was fun.

Prabhupāda: You can chant anywhere. There is no restriction. There is no special rules and regulations. You can chant anywhere. Whenever you find it convenient, you can chant.

John Fahey: We were singing Hare Kṛṣṇa, so...

1973 Conversations and Morning Walks

Morning Walk -- April 30, 1973, Los Angeles:

Prabhupāda: Rascals, they are thinking it is advancement. And if he goes to sell the plastic plates, nobody will pay even cent. But one of those metal plate, if he's in difficulty, he can get some money. This is scientific advancement. Instead of gold coins, now there is papers: "I trust in God. We trust in God." Cheating, "We trust in God." Take hundred dollars. And what is this hundred dollars? It is paper. "We trust in God." By the name of God, I give you. And it is scientific. That's all.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: They call it convenience.

Prabhupāda: Eh?

Svarūpa Dāmodara: They call it convenience.

Prabhupāda: Yes, convenience means going to hell. That's all. It is very convenient to go to hell. Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa. Everything synthetic. Cotton is disappearing.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Everything's artificial.

Prabhupāda: Eh?

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Artificial.

Morning Walk -- April 30, 1973, Los Angeles:

Prabhupāda: Never use this china clay. Never. No respectable gentleman will use china clay. Still. So if a poor family is in need of money, immediately he can take one Benarsee sari, or some metal utensils to the pawn maker. He'll immediately offer some money. "Yes." So these are conveniences. Investment was in gold ornaments. Still we have seen that so many jewelry shop, silver dishes shop, ornament shop. Still. Every marriage, the father must give at least fifty tolās. I was not a rich man. Still I had to give to my daughter fifty tolās of gold during marriage. Fifty tolās. Two and a half tolās makes one ounce. So what is the value of fifty tolās?

Morning Walk -- April 30, 1973, Los Angeles:

Svarūpa Dāmodara: The material world itself is temporary. So the scientists still make it much more temporary?

Prabhupāda: Eh? Eh?

Svarūpa Dāmodara: By investing, by, by finding out the different ways of..., they're called conveniences. So by producing these things makes much more comfortable.

Prabhupāda: Easier. Easier to die. They have invented the atomic. Very easy to kill. Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa ... (pause) But, in, despite all these disadvantages, if the scientists bring in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then that is success. It will be success. The sea, without waves, does not look well. Without waves, when the sea's calm and quiet, it does not look well. What do you think? Eh?

Room Conversation with David Wynne, Sculptor -- July 9, 1973, London:

David Wynne: And the Upaniṣads and the Vedas and the...

Prabhupāda: Oh, you are fortunate.

David Wynne: So I've always known that it was true, but one, one's knowledge is very shallow. It's always felt true, is what I mean. Because an arti..., you know, a sculptor goes more by feeling than by thinking, you know.

Prabhupāda: Sometimes in your, by your convenience you can come to our temple and see how they are executing devotional...

David Wynne: Hm. Also one can tell a little bit about your teaching by the people one knows who were taught. I know Sam and I know George, and they've changed. George has grown much more, much more than the others. But I knew them when they were very young, you know.

Room Conversation with Two Buddhist Monks -- July 12, 1973, London:

Guest (1): It's only a question of time and your convenience.

Prabhupāda: No, I am, I am for your service.

Room Conversation with Dr. Arnold Toynbee, Famous Historian, at his home or office -- July 22, 1973, London:

Dr. Arnold Toynbee: It was very kind of you to come.

Prabhupāda: Eh?

Dr. Arnold Toynbee: I'm sorry I couldn't see you next week which would have been more convenient to you, but unfortunately next week I was very much occupied, and I'm very grateful to you for coming this afternoon. It was kind of you.

Prabhupāda: Thank you. (pause)

Devotee: These are some of His Divine Grace's books here, Dr. Toynbee.

Dr. Arnold Toynbee: Hm? Yes?

Room Conversation with Mister Popworth and E. F. Schumacher -- July 26, 1973, London:

Prabhupāda: Yes. Thank you very much for your coming. I have read some of your ideas. So from your writing it appears you are nice, thoughtful man. Muni, the Sanskrit word is muni. Just like Nārada Muni. They are very thoughtful. So I have read one description of, "Crisis of Increasing Motor Cars," in this paper. Actually, we are creating a crisis. This advancement of modern civilization is simply creating crisis. One Vaiṣṇava poet, he has sung: sat-saṅga chāḍi kainu asatye vilāsa. Sat-saṅga means spiritual association. So we have given up spiritual association, and asatye vilāsa, we have taken to material enjoyment. So sat-saṅga chāḍi kainu... There are two things, material and spiritual. So sat-saṅga chāḍi kainu asatye... "I have given up spiritual association, and I have taken to material association. Therefore I have become entangled." Sei karaṇe lāgilā mora karma-bandha-phāṅsā. We are becoming more and more entangled in material activities. We are trying to solve one problem, and creating another big problem. Just like I was reading the "Motor Car Crisis." We thought that with a horseless carriage it will be very convenient to travel. But against that convenience, so-called convenience, we have created so many inconveniences. It is very nicely described in that paper I was reading.

Room Conversation with Cardinal Danielou -- August 9, 1973, Paris:

Cardinal Danielou: When God says that it is not good to Indian, and says to the Jews that it is...

Prabhupāda: No, no. Now take... Therefore I say that Jesus Christ, either you call him God, or confidential representative of God, both of them are one, when he says: "Thou shalt not kill," why should we interpret in an another way, to our convenience?

Cardinal Danielou: Yes, but Jesus eated (French, refers to passover lamb)

Yogeśvara: (French)

Cardinal Danielou: Mutton, mutton.

Room Conversation with Anna Conan Doyle, daughter-in-law of famous author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle -- August 10, 1973, Paris:

Prabhupāda: Spiritual understanding does not depend on material conditions, no.

Anna Conan Doyle: That is true, that is true.

Prabhupāda: You may be in any material condition. Still you can develop your spiritual consciousness. That is there. But sometimes we accept a certain position for our personal convenience. That is another thing. But spiritual consciousness is not dependent on any material condition. It is spontaneous. Either he's a householder or a sannyāsī or brahmacārī or business man, or... It doesn't matter. He can become fully Kṛṣṇa conscious if he accepts the principles. (break) ...we have got our regulative principles, no illicit sex. So is it very difficult thing? A householder has got his wife. Why he should indulge in illicit sex? It is simply self-control. (aside:) You can keep it here. If somebody comes, you shall give him.

Room Conversation -- November 1, 1973, New Delhi:

Prabhupāda: Sarvatra vyasanad apy atra... (?) Now here, as soon as we came, we thought it very nice, and immediately...

Śrutakīrti: So many things.

Prabhupāda: So many inconveniences. (laughter) Vyasanad apy atra. Wherever you go, even though you found it is very convenient, very nice, you must know there is, there is inconvenience. Don't be so sure that it is full of nice things. No. That is not possible. Sarvatra vyasanad api. What is that?

Śrutakīrti: Fifteen minutes of water.

Prabhupāda: Oh... So you, you can get that connection disconnected now. Otherwise you're going...

1974 Conversations and Morning Walks

Morning Walk 'Varnasrama College' -- March 14, 1974, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Just like we do not want money. But they are having money by so many ways. So we take their money and construct a temple. We can sit down here and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. We don't require that temple. But these rascals are accumulating money for wine and women. Take their money, some way or other, and builds a temple. And invite them, "Come and see." Give them prasādam. This is our policy. We are not constructing big, big buildings and temples for our convenience. For their convenience. This is sannyāsī.

Morning Walk 'Varnasrama College' -- March 14, 1974, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: That is... This is not good.

Hṛdayānanda: Prabhupāda...

Prabhupāda: You should remain always sannyāsī within. Outwardly, for others' convenience, you may do something. Similarly, we are accepting this varṇāśrama. We are not varṇāśrama; we are above varṇāśrama. But to give others facility to come to the stage of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, this program must be done.

Hṛdayānanda: Prabhupāda, generally in colleges in the West, they charge some fee for going to the college. What is our position?

Room Conversation -- March 20, 1974, Bombay:

Guest: You want revolving? Is it on?

Hari-śauri: Yeah, more or less, but it's not so good though.

Prabhupāda: This will be propaganda and to invite people to come and let them give in writing that "Here the Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa temple must be there." Take thousand, millions of signatures. So prove that it is not nonsense. It is the most essential thing. This way. And so far traffic is concerned, now, there is big road. So make two gates, in and out, this side, so there is no question of traffic convenience. In this way, do presentation. That is my suggestion. And this letter will not be very much effective.

Guest: ...jī? May I submit a matter?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Room Conversation with Richard Webster, chairman, Societa Filosofica Italiana -- May 24, 1974, Rome:

Richard Webster: Well, I don't think they are restricted now.

Prabhupāda: No, it is going on. In India I know. They are selling sugar at two annas, four annas a pound, or seer, outside, and India, it is four rupees. What is this nonsense? This is going on. They want to import some war materials or something else, therefore they want export exchange. So they are sacrificing the convenience of the local people for export exchange. These things are going on. These politicians, they create an atmo... Therefore I say the head of the state, they must be clean. But they are all motivated.

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

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

Hṛdayānanda: That means "beyond." "Beyond Birth and Death." And that's the cover for our Bhāgavatam.

Prabhupāda: Oh.

Gurudāsa: It is also spicy.

Rāmeśvara: It's very convenient for him to print here because he has all the credit from BBT, so the printers immediately want to do business with him.

Prabhupāda: That's it. Yes, businessman never invests his own money. He does business with others' money. That is business. Just like I am doing. (laughter) I brought only forty rupees. That was also not spent. (laughter)

Room Conversation with Svarupa Damodara -- March 1, 1975, Atlanta:

Prabhupāda: The motorcars are already there. When there was no car, motorcar, the first man who manufactured, he had some credit. Who manufactured? The Daimler or somebody else? So he had some credit, "Yes, you have done something, horseless carriage. People will get something convenience. That's all right." But when there are thousands and millions of motorcars and creating accident only, and still, if I manufacture motorcar, what is my credit? What is my credit?

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Zero.

Prabhupāda: Zero. And they are going to put this zero, and they are going to have some big conference. So many people will come and spend money unnecessarily.

Mādhava: They want to make a better human being by making life themselves. They want to make it better.

Room Conversation with Yoga Student -- March 14, 1975, Iran:

Yoga Student: ...to chant the names of Nitāi-Gaurāṅga before we encourage them so much to chant the mahā-mantra?

Prabhupāda: No. Why? Now, what is the difference, Nitāi-Gaurāṅga and Hare Kṛṣṇa? Nitāi-Gaurāṅga and Hare Kṛṣṇa, there is no difference. Nitāi-Gaurāṅga is also nice. Whatever he finds convenient, let him chant.

Yoga student: This country, which was, once at one time followed the Āryan path of Zoroastrianism, which is now practices primarily Islam although having absorbed many of the original elements in it. Do you have a recommendation as to how people of this country might feel the grace of Kṛṣṇa, perhaps even within the forms of their own traditional practice?

Morning Walk -- March 15, 1975, Tehran:

Devotee: But the form is the same.

Prabhupāda: Huh?

Devotee: What is filling the body is consciousness. The consciousness...

Prabhupāda: You may have a big coat or small coat, overcoat, the form is the same. But for convenience (indistinct) or small coat. This has been, body has been, described as the dress so the form of the dress cannot be there unless there is form of the person who puts on the dress. How can I deny it? Because the dress has got form, the person who puts on the dress must have form. How can I deny this argument? You cannot say formless. Maybe you cannot see, that is the way, but the person must be form. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā. Kṛṣṇa says, "Arjuna, you and Me and all these persons who are here, they are existing like that in the past, they are now existing, and (indistinct), they will always be (indistinct)."

Room Conversation -- April 4, 1975, Mayapur:

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Devotee (2): Our movement is not... (break)

Prabhupāda: ...situation. The... Why America is after this Pakistan? This requires little intelligence. The America has no interest either in Pakistan or India, but both of them, being on the border of Russia, it will be convenient for them to fight with the Russians from these places.

Room Conversation with Ganesa dasa's Mother and Sister -- May 14, 1975, Perth:

Prabhupāda: So why the picture of God is not God? We say "God is omnipotent, omnipresent." So why Kṛṣṇa is not present in the picture? Then what is the meaning of omnipresent? If He is omnipresent, He is present also within His picture. Where is the objection? And that's a fact. He is omnipresent. He is present everywhere. Now, to become convenient for you, He has appeared like picture.

Sister: But you don't need to see the picture... With His omnipotence, you don't need to have the picture.

Prabhupāda: No, because you, without seeing Him, you do not develop Kṛṣṇa consciousness. You require to see Him. So He has appeared before you so that you can see Him. That is His mercy, so that you see Him and you think of Him. Man-manā bhava mad-bhaktaḥ.

Morning Walk -- May 20, 1975, Melbourne:

Prabhupāda: Yes. Arjuna said, kariṣye vacanaṁ tava: (BG 18.73) "Yes, I shall carry out Your order, nothing else. Yes, You are asking me to fight. I will fight. That's all."

Devotee (3): Śrīla Prabhupāda, if one goes to the temple, if one attends the temple regularly and inquires from the devotees about the devotional principles, and because of some reason, it's not necessarily... it's not convenient for him to live in the temple at that time, and he is living with people...

Prabhupāda: No, no, you live in temple or without temple, if you follow the instruction, that is wanted. If you live without temple and chant sixteen rounds and observe the regulative principle, that's all right. It doesn't require that you should live in the temple. And if you live in the temple and do all nonsense, then what is the use of living in the temple?

Room Conversation with Director of Research of the Dept. of Social Welfare -- May 21, 1975, Melbourne:

Prabhupāda: Gṛhastha is also called āśrama, gṛhastha-āśrama. As sannyāsa is called āśrama, similarly gṛhastha is called āśrama. Anywhere cultivation of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is going on, that is āśrama. Now it depends on my personal convenience either I remain as gṛhastha or I be a sannyāsī. But when you have accepted the gṛhastha life, so that's all right. Remain at least for fifty years. Then you can give up when your children are grown up. You just give them education, settle them, then you can leave home. That is gṛhastha-āśrama. So, we shall... That's all.

Morning Walk -- June 10, 1975, Honolulu:

Harikeśa: They are turning Hawaii into New York City.

Siddha-svarūpa: Yeah, they're making it very difficult. They're going to develop this entire side of the island more and more, and so that they're taking agriculture land, and they'll be building subdivisions and people from the mainland will be moving, living in condominiums on this island.

Prabhupāda: That means for one convenience, they create another inconvenience.

Siddha-svarūpa: Yes.

Prabhupāda: This is the business. In this way they will take three hours to go to the other side.

Morning Walk -- June 21, 1975, Los Angeles:

Prabhupāda: All right.

Jayatīrtha: And inform you about the schedules.

Prabhupāda: What time do you want to go there?

Jayatīrtha: Perhaps around... When is convenient? Ten o'clock? Before the massage?

Prabhupāda: Yes. (break) ...fed up with so-called religion. Therefore they're angry. But when they find this is real, genuine, everyone will accept. (break)

Brahmānanda: ...wants to come and see you, he likes your movement very much. He has written one review of one of your books. He also met you I think briefly. He is from Boston, Mr. Leo Prudden, Professor Leo Prudden. Now he lives here in Los Angeles.

Garden Conversation -- June 25, 1975, Los Angeles:

Dr. Wolfe: Prabhupāda, wouldn't it be better to say he is blind, he is stupid?

Prabhupāda: Yes, the same thing. Mad is the sum total of all stupidity. (laughter) When I say mad, it is the sum total of all kinds of stupidity. Now you can give them prasādam. I think we have occupied their time.

Bahulāśva: Śrīla Prabhupāda, when would you like to speak to Dr. Judah about the college?

Prabhupāda: Whenever he finds convenient. I am always ready.

Dr. Judah: About the college?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Dr. Judah: Well, I understand you are interested in founding a college, and er...

Prabhupāda: Everyone should be interested.

Morning Walk -- July 1, 1975, Denver:

Brahmānanda: It's a type of cannon. (break)

Yadubara: You mentioned before that it is better that we not do so much cooking. If everyone is separately cooking, then that is such a time-consuming thing for everyone.

Prabhupāda: But you said that "If we cook, it is cheaper." Then? If it is cheaper, convenient, then you cook. I said that "You save time. Don't cook."

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: The cheapest thing is to cook one thing for... cook for everyone. That is the cheapest and quickest.

Bhāvānanda: During Māyāpur festival, Śrīla Prabhupāda, nicest thing was when we all sat down together and took prasādam.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Morning Walk -- July 9, 1975, Chicago:

Brahmānanda: Yes. Of raising the child. Therefore they create some...

Prabhupāda: Otherwise, what is the reason? They know there are so many troubles. To avoid the troubles, "Kill this." That's all. So to save trouble, people are prepared to kill child even.

Brahmānanda: And that's considered advancement, in modern life, to remove trouble. The whole life is conveniences, remove trouble. That shows they will go to any extent.

Prabhupāda: So trouble that is, atyantika-duḥkha-nivṛtti, how to mitigate or finish all trouble, that they do not know. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma (BG 4.9). So long you will get this body, you will have trouble. But that they do not know, how to stop getting another body. So trouble is not mitigated in that way. You increase your entanglement, become sinful. You again take another body to suffer this sinful reaction.

Morning Walk -- July 10, 1975, Chicago:

Prabhupāda: Huh?

Satsvarūpa: You were saying that everyone should take the Deity's prasādam. But it sounds like the women are being trained to cook, so...

Prabhupāda: No, no, no. No, no. The thing is that Deity or at home, she must be very first-class cook. That is wanted. That is according to convenience. If possible, they can take prasādam in the temple. If not possible, they must cook. But she must be first-class cook. That is wanted, either in the temple or outside. In India still, 80%, 90%, they are very happy in their family life, never mind one is poor or rich, because the wife knows these three things: to remain chaste and faithful to the husband, and she knows how to cook nicely. (pause) And women and men should live separately. That is also essential. Butter and fire must be kept apart. Otherwise the butter will melt. You cannot stop it. (pause) The drama was a drug-addicted boy killed some friend?

Morning Walk -- July 31, 1975, Dallas:

Brahmānanda: They are all against us.

Prabhupāda: Simply political gain. (break)

Jagadīśa: ...back to the temple we'll be performing āratik to Your Divine Grace. And there was not very much time. I was wondering whether during the time we're performing āratik to you, whether it's proper to be giving out cookies to the children?

Prabhupāda: As you make convenient.

Jagadīśa: Is that proper?

Prabhupāda: No. So we can go back now. Again program. (break) .now?

Jagadīśa: 6:30.

Prabhupāda: Yes. (break) I am not feeling very well. Last yesterday also. Heaviness. I am not clearing my bowels very nicely.

Room Conversation -- July 31, 1975, New Orleans:

Brahmānanda: Yes, that is..., therefore we can solve this commotion.

Prabhupāda: That is Kṛṣṇa. Give this garland... Center is Kṛṣṇa. That I (indistinct) to say. Bring one, the zeros will have value. And if you get out the one, all zeros. This is our philosophy. (pause) World can be ruled, they believe so also. Is that

Brahmānanda: The modern civilization has made everything easy, everything convenient.

Prabhupāda: Not easy, difficult.

Brahmānanda: Well as far as doing one's life's activities, they make it easy for you, buying in the supermarket, canned food, it's already cooked, you put it in the oven, five minutes it's ready. They have laundry machines.

Morning Walk -- September 27, 1975, Ahmedabad:

Prabhupāda: (break) Jaya. Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Indian man (3): We have got our Punjābī samāj. We have got our building and some two, three years back when you people come, there was one meeting over there. So we wish that this year also, if you spare some time, which time can be suitable to you. You are already booked for Rajasthan? After that are you staying here?

Prabhupāda: No. So when you can arrange meeting?

Indian man (3): When it is convenient to you. Today, tomorrow. Can it be tomorrow evening? No.

Brahmānanda(?): Tomorrow morning we are leaving.

Indian man (3): Tomorrow morning you are?

Brahmānanda: We are leaving.

Room Conversation with Bill Faill (reporter) -- October 8, 1975, Durban:

Prabhupāda: This saffron robe is not very essential, or cut the hair, but it creates some good situation, mental. You see? Just like a military man, when he is dressed properly he gets some energy to feel like a military man. But it does not mean that unless you are dressed, you cannot fight. It does not mean. So God consciousness can be revived in any condition, without any check. But these conditions are helpful, helpful. Therefore it is prescribed that "You live like this," "You dress like this," "You eat like this," "You do like this." These are convenient. These are convenient. So they are not essential. At the same time, if we take to these processes, then it will be helpful.

Morning Walk -- October 16, 1975, Johannesburg:

Prabhupāda: Yes. That is going on. Therefore price is increasing daily. Formerly British government, in the beginning, to prove their honesty, as soon as you go to the currency for changing, they will offer you, "You want coins or paper currency?" So if you think that paper currency will be convenient, you can take. Otherwise, if you want coins, they will pay you.

Morning Walk -- October 18, 1975, Johannesburg:

Prabhupāda: Thank you very much. Hare Kṛṣṇa. That... Jaya. Hare Kṛṣṇa. (Hindi) If any question, we are discussing so many things.

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Do you have any questions?

Indian (3): This... We've arrived from home, you know. We were at the temple and Bhattasauri says, "Swamiji has gone for a walk at the golf course," so it was quite convenient to find us here. We just rushed up. I said, "Let me rush in to join the walk."

Prabhupāda: So you can repeat what I have spoken. They can hear.

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Yes. Kṛṣṇa, He describes so...

Prabhupāda: No, you can play this.

Morning Walk -- December 23, 1975, Bombay:

Harikeśa: After this there will be...

Devotee: Imitation. (Prabhupāda laughs)

Lokanātha: There should not be any medical service in the building, new building, so what about there should be any other place on the land, or they should not...?

Prabhupāda: That we shall do conveniently. It is not very urgent. When there is spare room-then. Medical service is to cure the material disease, not this temporary headache and stomachache. There are so many medical services for these things, but where is the medical service for curing bhava-roga, material disease? That is wanted. (aside:) Hare Kṛṣṇa! Medical service does not give any guarantee that there will be no more disease. Our service is guarantee, there will be no more birth, death, old age and disease. That is the difference. (pause) Mauritius, I was suffering so much from dental pain, I never went to the dentist; I invented my medicine, and it cured. (laughter)

Morning Walk -- December 24, 1975, Bombay:

Devotee: Yes. In one purport in Caitanya-caritāmṛta.

Prabhupāda: Is there, "servant," this word is used?

Devotee: Becomes his friend.

Prabhupāda: That's all right. (break) ...stated in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Fifth Canto, that there are gṛhasthas, they are not attached to gṛhastha. They actually, they are attached to Kṛṣṇa, but maybe for convenience sake he remains a gṛhastha. Gṛhastha, there are two words: gṛhastha and gṛhamedhī. One who is gṛhamedhī, he is hopeless. One who is gṛhastha, that is all right.

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation -- January 8, 1976, Nellore:

Prabhupāda: This is idea. Mano-rathena, by mental speculation, asato dhavato, they will come to materialism. As soon as they will hover over mental concoction, they will remain in the material pool, because mind is subtle form of matter.

Acyutānanda: Also, in their evidences by which they base their dialectic discussions, have they regarded the Vedic scriptures? They have avoided them very conveniently.

Prabhupāda: No, there is no question of dialectic discussion. Suppose I am discussing, you are discussing something, but if I am imperfect, you are imperfect, what is the value of such discussion? That is the point. The party discussing something, whether he is perfect? If he is not perfect, then go on discussing. We first of all say that any conditioned soul is defective, and that is admitted. They say, "We are not perfect." "I think," they say. "In my opinion," they say. Never they say, the so-called scientists, "definite." And they cannot say it.

Morning Walk -- February 3, 1976, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: Therefore rascals. They see one thing and speak another. That is rascal. Yac-cakṣur eṣa savitā sakala-grahāṇāṁ rājā samasta... Huh? Yac-cakṣur eṣa savitā sakala-grahāṇāṁ rājā samasta-sura-mūrtir aśeṣa-tejāḥ. Aśeṣa-tejāḥ. The... aśeṣa-tejāḥ, unlimited temperature and light. They are studied. This is aśeṣa-tejāḥ. If they have studied the quality of the sun, how they can say something wrong about the movements? That is also right. Yasyājñayā bhramati saṁbhṛta-kāla-cakro govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi. This is statement. Bhramati. It is never discussed, sthira. Fixed up means sthira. Bhramati saṁbhṛta-kāla-cakraḥ. And that is also... That movement is also within the time limit fixed up by Kṛṣṇa: "Morning, half past six, you get up." "Yes." You cannot stop it. Kṛṣṇa's ājñā. It is order of Kṛṣṇa. You stop it, you scientists. You make it conveniently. Not half past six, make it eight. Can you do this? You rascal, you are claiming scientist. Yasyājñayā. It is only by His order you can... You ask him to rise from this side. Why from this side? Is there any scientist can change? Then why they are claiming that there is no God? Huh? What is the answer? Hm? Yasyājñayā. There is some arrangement. What is their answer? Hm? Jagadīśa Prabhu? What is the answer?

Morning Walk -- March 13, 1976, Mayapur:

Prabhupāda: What he says?

Satsvarūpa: "Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the Indian classic par excellence on bhakti-yoga, attributed to Vyāsa, is one of the most important and influential religio-philosophical works within the Vedic tradition. Thanks to the devoted and scholarly endeavors of Śrī A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, the entire work of twelve cantos will be available in a superb English edition for the benefit of the English-reading peoples. In his impeccable style the author presents each verse in original Sanskrit, followed by roman transliteration, English equivalents, translation, and elaborate commentary. The lucid and cogent exegesis brings into relief the theory and practice of Bhāgavata philosophy in relation to contemporary man and his problems of life. I have read the first volume containing First Canto, Part One, Chapter 1-7, with pleasure and profit. A brief account of the life of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu included in this volume illustrates the central theme of the entire text, the loving service of God. A glossary and index to Sanskrit verses and a general index have been added for the convenience of scholars. This monumental work is immensely valuable alike to historians of religion, linguistic scholars, cultural anthropologists, pious devotees, as well as to the general reader interested in spiritual matters. I recommend it highly to every student of Indian philosophy, culture, and religion."

Devotee (1): Then he ordered two standing orders for the library, and they took it. (break)

Prabhupāda: Oh, that Australian...?

Room Conversation -- April 20, 1976, Melbourne:

Prabhupāda: Yes. Immediately manufactured as soon as the living enters. Their chemical composition is that, that even you cut a living entity, he can enter. The living entity enters through the semina of the father in the womb of the mother, the same process. Unless the living entity enters, the body does not form. It is matter only. When the living entity enters, then the formation takes place according to his mind. What do they know about it? Hm? Yaṁ yaṁ vāpi smaran bhāvaṁ tyajaty ante kalevaram (BG 8.6). The matter simply is set up according to the desire. Just like we have constructed this big house according to my desire. The matter has not taken shape like this big house automatically. I am the proprietor. I desire: "Let the rooms be like this." Similarly, the material elements, the semina of the father and the ova of the mother, mix. It creates a suitable, what is called, cement, and now, according to the desire of the living being, he'll settle. Not that the cement automatically becomes a room or pipe or this or that. Cement is cement, the same thing, earth, water, air, fire. By mixture it becomes so convenient that it takes a shape and becomes a different body, a different body for the man, a different body for the animal.... (aside:) Hare Kṛṣṇa. Jaya. Thank you.

Morning Walk -- May 27, 1976, Honolulu:

Hari-śauri: Well, there should be law, but that law is dictated by man.

Prabhupāda: Ha?

Hari-śauri: That law is decided by man in accordance with his...

Prabhupāda: Man will dictate law according to his own convenience. Well what about the trees? They are also living entity. You are cutting the trees and making it ugly, because they have no voice to protest. So why man should be given the chance?

Devotee (2): Most people think that if it's very confusing, and if their philosophy is very contradictory, then it's very profound. They think that if a philosophy is confusing...

Prabhupāda: Jugglery.

Garden Conversation -- June 8, 1976, Los Angeles:

Prabhupāda: No, no. Bad way, good way, man proposes, God disposes. You want something, bad or good.... Actually, everything is bad. This body or the fish's body or the dog's body, that is all material body. So everything is bad. But I prefer to get the body of a human being or a dog or a fish or a bird. That is my choice. So God gives you that body. Everywhere God's mercy is there, because whatever you want, ye yathā māṁ prapadyante tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham (BG 4.11). In the material world, you have come to enjoy. You cannot enjoy. You are thinking.... Just like child. He's playing with something for sometime, again taking another thing, again taking another thing, childish. So similarly we want to enjoy this material world. Sometimes I am thinking it will be convenient if I get a man's body, it will be convenient if I get a tiger's body, it will be convenient if I get a fish's body. So God is supplying you: "All right, you take this body." So what is God's fault? He is very kind. You wanted to do something. Do it. Not only that, if he forgets that "I wanted the fish body, now how I have got it?" No, he forgets that he wanted it. So God reminds him that "You wanted this body; you have got this body." Mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca (BG 15.15).

Morning Walk -- June 9, 1976, Los Angeles:

Prabhupāda: Yes. They like to come here on this planet. Just like you Kṛṣṇa conscious men, you are very much enthusiastic to go to India. India has no material attraction, but why our men wanted to go to India in spite of so many difficulties? Similarly, in the higher planet, heavenly planet, they are so much engrossed with material happiness that there is no facility. But here there is facility, in this earth, Bhūrloka. Bhogaiśvarya-prasaktānāṁ tayāpahṛta-cetasām (BG 2.44). One who is too much attached to material convenience and everything, they have no opportunity for Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Room Conversation -- June 24, 1976, New Vrindaban:

Prabhupāda: So what is not practical for you, our system, your system is also not practical for us. We cannot live in this way. Anyway, if you can maintain a perfect community of plain living, high thinking, that is sufficient. We do not canvass, but naturally they will see that this is convenient. After all, they are human beings. They are learning. So that is part of our business to preach, but to practice personally, that is our main business. To practice personally, that is our main business. Not that everyone will be preacher, but at least his own life be perfect. What is this kijariya?

Answers to a Questionnaire from Bhavan's Journal -- June 28, 1976, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: One may feel some inconvenience fasting or simply eating fruits. No. It must be done. There are so many rules and regulations which is essential. It must be done. That is called tapasya. Without consideration whether it is convenient or inconvenient for you, which is, must be done, that is called tapasya. Tapaḥ, divyam... Just like Rsabhādeva orders that this human life is meant for tapasya. Therefore in our Vedic civilization we find so many rules and regulations. This is tapasya. From the very beginning of life, brahmacārī, to go to the spiritual master's place and act like menial servant.

Garden Conversation -- June 28, 1976, New Vrindaban:

Prabhupāda: So you cannot ask. This is going on, legalized cheating. You have to accept this paper money. That's all. Don't ask for gold. And there is no honesty at all. I can take paper money for my convenience sake, but how you can force me to take paper money? That is not honesty. So dishonesty begins from the government. You cannot keep gold. If you have kept gold, there will be searching, and if it is found that you have gold, you'll be punished. In India it is now being done. There is no freedom even at your home, in your private life.

Room Conversation With Scientists -- July 6, 1976, Washington, D.C.:

Rūpānuga: Śrīla Prabhupāda, you catch them red-handed.

Prabhupāda: Oh, yes, that I can do. It is like that. Who asked them to speak of Arizona? You are speaking of Arizona. "No, no, I am not stealing." (laughter) It is like that. They could have mentioned other places.

Rūpānuga: Arizona is convenient.

Prabhupāda: That means they are working in Arizona. The mind is there. Arizona-minded because they are working in Arizona, so they are disclosing mind.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: But they are claiming that this photograph was taken two hundred million miles away from the earth.

Interview with Newsweek -- July 14, 1976, New York:

Prabhupāda: That is the standard of education.

mātṛvat para-dāreṣu

para-dravyeṣu loṣṭravat

ātmavat sarva-bhūteṣu

yaḥ paśyati sa paṇḍitaḥ

Paṇḍita means educated. So how one is educated? How it is tested? When a person takes all women except his wife as mother, then he is educated. When one thinks others' property as garbage in the street, then he is educated. And when one thinks that all living entities are of the same level, ātmavat sarva-bhūteṣu, then he is educated. Not that for my convenience I say, "The animal has no soul, so send them to the slaughterhouse." He is not educated.

Rāmeśvara: Prabhupāda said one of the standards of education is to see all living entities equally. So not that we say that an animal has no soul, therefore he can go to the slaughterhouse, but a man has soul, so he cannot. Because we see all living entities equally, so we do not send man to slaughterhouse, and we do not send animals to slaughterhouse. That is education.

Room Conversation -- July 17, 1976, New York:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes, if I can have about five minutes, I'll ask a few people.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Then I'll adjust.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So you're agreeable at any time as long as that convenience... That's a good convenience, I think, that we'll have that vehicle.

Prabhupāda: That's all.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So I'll just inquire. This is a general idea of what's going on the whole day tomorrow. I'll leave it with Hari-śauri.

Prabhupāda: The preaching is going on. Nobody has become our student?

Indian man: Among the Indian people...

Room Conversation -- July 31, 1976, New Mayapur (French farm):

Bhūgarbha: Every one he saw. We showed him some... He was very happy to see the Caitanya-caritāmṛta.

Prabhupāda: Yes, I offered him the post of editing.

Bhūgarbha: Now he's sorry. Now he's simply sitting in debt(?).

Prabhupāda: But he did not say no. He wanted to do conveniently. Then I thought, it will not be... (coughs). "When he will return, he'll do it." That is not possible.

Bhūgarbha: He gave me some of his books that he wrote, he gave me some to read. And actually the English in your books is much better than his books, so better he's not editing. It's coming out better.

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

Prabhupāda: Bottom shop and the first floor, I took my...

Harikeśa: With a garden.

Prabhupāda: Not a garden, but there was some vegetables.

Hari-śauri: Few plants.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Not bad. For me, it was very convenient, come down immediately to my down storefront. And some boys were living in the storefront. There was a sink in the storefront, and for toilet I allowed them sometimes in my bathroom. Not some, only two or one. So he was washing my dishes also. In this way, I was living.

Hari-śauri: That was Mukunda, or...?

Room Conversation -- August 10, 1976, Tehran:

Prabhupāda: That's all. You are trying to unify the so-called human beings, but you are keeping the poor animals for cutting their throat. This is your humanity. Because these poor animals cannot protest, so you are strong. And this is your humanity, you cut their throat and eat. But that is not humanity. Humanity is here mentioned: God is the seed-giving father all living entities. That is the fact. That is humanity. They do not know what is meaning by humanity. Here is the explanation, humanity. That is called brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā (BG 18.54). Unless you come to that stage, there is no question of humanity. Artificially, you manufacture something and you think humanity. According to your convenience. "Let us combine together and exploit other living entities for our benefit." That is not humanity. They do not know what is humanity. Here is the explanation. How humanity can be established unless there is the understanding of the supreme father, how there is question of, how this question of brotherhood can come in? Here Kṛṣṇa says ahaṁ bīja-pradaḥ pitā: (BG 14.4) "I am the seed-giving father." So you try to understand this, then humanity. You cannot manufacture some ideas of humanity, imperfect, because you are imperfect. Here is perfect idea.

Evening Darsana -- August 12, 1976, Tehran:

Mrs. Patel: It is convenient for them to.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Not convenient, foolishness. A rabbit, when there is some big animals, he closes his eyes. He thinks, "There is no danger." That does not mean he's out of danger. He'll be eaten up. So simply by concocting that there is no life after death, you'll not be escaped. In Bhagavad-gītā informs, tathā dehāntara-prāptiḥ. There is no need of studying any literature, Vedic literature. Dehāntara-prāptiḥ, Kṛṣṇa is giving evidence.

Room Conversation -- August 17, 1976, Hyderabad:

Prabhupāda: Yes. When they'll make program, conveniently.

Guest: I'm leaving on 29th morning. If you can give me a word by tomorrow evening. Not 29th, 19th. Today is 17th.

Prabhupāda: They cannot decide so soon. Janmāṣṭamī kare, another program is that we are going that side during (indistinct). So we have to see. You also send this.

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

Prabhupāda: Then what other?

Jayapatākā: There were some other lighter matters. When I was traveling in my preaching, then last time in Māyāpur, when that Haridaspur, when they offered, you mentioned to me that you liked that we develop these holy spots. So just as a matter of convenience, whenever I was near any holy spot that you mentioned in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta I would go and just visit the place. So in my tours, one place I went to was very nice, and that sevaite, he spontaneously, when I showed him all your work, he offered me that he would like to give the temple to you. That temple is much, much more developed than Haridaspur. That's the temple of Maheśa Paṇḍita.

Prabhupāda: Oh.

Room Conversation -- August 20, 1976, Hyderabad:

Prabhupāda: ...disorder. (break)

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: ...everything to Bombay.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: It is very convenient.

Prabhupāda: Yes. That, that is better.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: I moved everything to Bombay.

Prabhupāda: The main distribution should be from Bombay.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. Now because this Usa Printers is much bigger also, and we're getting better quality.

Evening Darsana -- September 1, 1976, Delhi:

Prabhupāda: I'm going to... Oh, Vṛndāvana, three weeks.

Indian man (1): Where are you spending your...

Prabhupāda: Any time in your home.

Indian man (1): Any time (indistinct) which is convenient to Your Grace. I'll come over to Vṛndāvana on the 15th evening. 15th evening, I'll come over to Vṛndāvana?

Prabhupāda: Oh yes.

Indian man (1): And then what is the program? Your Divine Grace is coming back to Delhi? From Vṛndāvana after three weeks?

Room Conversation -- September 11, 1976, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: No, no. Not so. First of all, give them, then we shall see later on. Why immediately want facilities? Or he can, the other man can go with the brahmacārīs.

Harikeśa: The younger one.

Prabhupāda: No, no. Yes, somebody may go to the brahmacārīs. Just now make them accommodated there, then we shall see what to do. That "First of all you stay here, then we shall see what is convenient to you then."

Harikeśa: Because they're in an awful small room. If I put three in that room, that one man who's already there may become upset.

Prabhupāda: He has already gone there?

Harikeśa: No, I mean I know. I've been there. But that one man who's there now...

Room Conversation -- September 30, 1976, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: So in this way, with great hardship—sometimes here, sometimes there—in this way, I got two hundred dollars by selling books, and then I asked Mukunda to find out an apartment. He found this apartment, 26 Second Avenue. One storefront down and one living quarters up. So I found it very convenient. Down I would lecture and hold kīrtana. So he charged 75 dollars per month for the apartment, small apartment. I think in a space like this room or less than that, everything is there.

Press Interview -- October 16, 1976, Chandigarh:

Prabhupāda: We take Vedas as the authority. But if you interpret in your own way and squeeze out some meaning in your own way, then where is authority of the Vedas? So our special stress on this point is that don't squeeze out some meaning of Bhagavad-gītā for your own convenience. Present Bhagavad-gītā as it is, and people will be benefited. And that is being practically seen. We are preaching Bhagavad-gītā as it is. You have seen our book?

Room Conversation -- December 26, 1976, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: No, if you read as it is, then you will be benefited. But if you read these rubbish commentaries, then (speaks to another man) You inquired about that land? He wants to avoid the land.

Indian man: We have met the court, and the land is still available. Depends on your convenience at how things go.

Girirāja: Yes, we'll take a look at it.

Devotee: When can we go?

Girirāja: Tuesday?

Indian man: Or Wednesday would be even better.

Devotee: Morning?

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

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

Yogi Amrit Desai: Right. They don't know the key part of it.

Prabhupāda: Neither they can set up similar arrangement. They're simply studying.

Yogi Amrit Desai: They can study what is, but they do not know how it came about.

Prabhupāda: Yes. So where is jñāna? Ajñāna.

Yogi Amrit Desai: And it can at the most increase the convenience on the material plane.

Prabhupāda: Jñāna, real jñāna, is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā. Find out. Etaj jñānam iti proktam ajñānaṁ yad ato 'nyathā. What is jñāna, that is stated. But where is jñāna? Everyone is ajñāna. General people, they're karmīs and, little more, jñānīs. But jñāna is not complete unless he knows the Supreme Lord.

Yogi Amrit Desai: Unless he has realized.

Conversation on Train to Allahabad -- January 11, 1977, India:

Rāmeśvara: Many people... Most people in the world, they are gṛhamedhīs, and they cannot give it up so easily.

Prabhupāda: "No, you remain... Come here with your wife, children. You remain gṛhamedhī."

Jagadīśa: New Vrindaban is very austere. If we build little bungalows with modern convenience...

Prabhupāda: Oh, yes.

Jagadīśa: There has to be some modern convenience.

Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. Then we shall do that.

Rāmeśvara: But for many people who live in the cities, they have their jobs already. They don't want to give it up.

Prabhupāda: (train slows down) What is the nonsense? No, there is a station? No station.

Conversation on Train to Allahabad -- January 11, 1977, India:

Prabhupāda: So, why don't you make a solution that you'll not die? Then it is perfect.

Rāmeśvara: "We are working on it."

Prabhupāda: That's all right. Then kick on your face. "We are working on it."

Rāmeśvara: But in the meantime, it should be as convenient as possible to live.

Prabhupāda: This is all childish. We cannot accept it. Madmen. In the history there is no such thing, and you are trying. And we have to believe it. These things are believed by rascals, and it is proposed by rascals. Rascals believe it. No intelligence at all.

Room Conversation -- January 21, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Hari-śauri: Now you're not speaking in the evening, so the devotees were wondering if there was a class in the morning.

Prabhupāda: They want? No.

Hari-śauri: Anybody want a class in the morning? (laughter) Yes, everybody wants.

Devotee: But not if it's uncomfortable.

Hari-śauri: But only as far as it's convenient to you.

Prabhupāda: I shall speak in the evening.

Hari-śauri: All right.

Evening Conversation -- January 25, 1977, Puri:

Prabhupāda: No, even when he was old man and leader he would go, keeping, resting his hand on two young girls. That means he was very fond of sex. There is no doubt about it. What business he...? He is speaking of "Mahatma" Gandhi. He could not get the help of two young men? Why two young girls?

Satsvarūpa: "Such great kings were more responsible than modern elected executive heads because they obliged the great authorities by following their instructions left in Vedic literatures. There was no need to enact daily a new legislative bill by impractical fools and to alter it again and again conveniently to serve some purpose. The rules and regulations were already set forth by great sages like Manu, Yājñavalkya, Parāśara, and other liberated sages, and the enactments were all suitable for all ages and all places. Therefore the rules and regulations were standard and without flaw or defect. Kings like Mahārāja Parīkṣit had their council of advisors and all..."

Prabhupāda: Our things on the veranda can be kept inside. Because they are here, somebody may... So many men are coming and going.

Evening Conversation -- January 25, 1977, Puri:

Gargamuni: Rāmeśvara told me that in ISKCON mail order there are many people outside who are following. They are offering their food, having kīrtanas.

Prabhupāda: Yes. No, you can accept a suitable situation according to your convenience. There is brahmacārī, gṛhastha, vānaprastha, sannyāsa. Four orders are there. Whichever is suitable for you, accept. But don't forget the problem and the aim of life. And we don't want men giving some quotation from a book just like these so-called scholars do. He has not gone through the book, but take some suitable passage and note, and then he advertises himself that he has studied so many book. "Bibliography." Is it not? So-called scholar?

Satsvarūpa: Footnotes, bibliography.

Room Conversation -- January 31, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Prabhupāda: No, no, where is happiness? That is our misunderstanding. If you have to die, if you have to suffer from disease, if you have to become old... Just like I am old. I have got so many inconvenience. You are young man. I feel that you are so in convenient position. I was also young man. So how can I check it? I may be spiritual master of so many young men, you are trying to give me all comfort, but because I have got this body, old body, I am suffering. How you can relieve it?

Morning Walk -- February 1, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Satsvarūpa: Śabda-pramāṇa.

Prabhupāda: Śabda-pramāṇa. Yes.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: There is another very strange statement in this regard saying that though we cannot prove something by experiment, but sometimes it is convenient to assume that way.

Prabhupāda: No, that is foolishness. How you assume?

Svarūpa Dāmodara: That is logical positivism, saying that... How, there's a house. Let's say there is a temple there, but since I don't see the temple there, but I don't know that the temple is existing or not, but it is convenient to assume that there is a temple.

Prabhupāda: No, no. When there is a possibility of getting proof, why shall I assume?

Morning Walk -- February 1, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Svarūpa Dāmodara: ...to disprove their own theories.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: It's very convenient. Like this logical positivism...

Prabhupāda: Yes, it is very good argument, that these rascals have never produced life, and why do they say like that? It's good argument because they say that "We have not seen; therefore we don't believe." They're experimental. But you have not experimented. Why you push? Why you brainwash my brain?

Svarūpa Dāmodara: According to this logical positivism, you can say that it is convenient to say that man has arisen from apes, but that is not the truth.

Prabhupāda: There is no experiment.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: There's no experiment, but it is convenient to assume according to this logic, but that's not a fact.

Prabhupāda: But why the modern ape is not producing any human being?

Svarūpa Dāmodara: They say that's a long time ago...

Morning Walk -- February 1, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Millions of years ago.

Prabhupāda: But why man is producing man? Not the ape? Just see how they lunatic they are.

Bhāgavata: Why does the process of evolution stop?

Svarūpa Dāmodara: It's convenient to assume that way, but that's not a fact.

Gurukṛpā: Convenient means for your sense gratification.

Prabhupāda: So we have to discuss so many things, immense field. Go out... (break) At least you have to accept that "I am blind." So how you can show others the path? You are blind.

Morning Walk -- February 1, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Svarūpa Dāmodara: This is a nonsense theory.

Prabhupāda: Simply rascals. And because we have become rascals, we accept them, "Oh, here is scientist."

Gurukṛpā: They find it convenient to accept what these scientists say.

Prabhupāda: No, accept, we accept, but we accept the real scientist, Kṛṣṇa. Therefore we are triumphant. We understand.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Śrīla Prabhupāda, in an audience like that, in, let's say, one hour lecture, we cannot say that "You go to the temple and chant and do all these things."

Prabhupāda: No, that is later on. First of all you have to accept that there is original father. That is God. Now, how to realize that God, that is another detail.

Room Conversation with Ratan Singh Rajda (Member of Parliament) -- March 27, 1977, Bombay:

Mr. Rajda: Yes, yes...

Prabhupāda: No let us first of all meet some of the subordinate worker. When they agree, then we will have...

Mr. Rajda: That meeting could be arranged any time. Whenever it is convenient to you, you can, we can talk to him.

Prabhupāda: No, I am..., my life is dedicated for this purpose. I am... It is convenient for me at any time. Otherwise, I am not keeping good health at the moment. Still, I have come. I am just trying even up to the last moment of my life, if I can deliver some good to these people. That is my determination. What is this life? Life will end today or tomorrow or day after. But if you live just to the point, that is the idea. Otherwise trees are also living thousands of years. What is the benefit?

Room Conversation -- April 13, 1977, Bombay:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He couldn't say yes, and he couldn't say no.

Prabhupāda: Position is tottering.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: You have invited some members of the Parliament?

Girirāja: So when would it be convenient for you? Because we can adjust their activities according to when you'll be free.

Prabhupāda: Four.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Four is the nicest time for Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: I don't think the... Better arrange according to their convenience.

Girirāja: Well, I could try to arrange at four, but then they won't take prasādam.

Room Conversation -- April 13, 1977, Bombay:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Noontime, after your bath? But then that's not...

Prabhupāda: No, my bath I take twelve o'clock. At that time how they will come here?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: They said that it's convenient.

Girirāja: Well, say... What I had arranged was that he would come here, reach here at about one. So I had thought that you rested from about...

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Room Conversation -- April 13, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: My prasādam-taking is now very important, because I do not take. So I can talk anytime.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Would you like to talk before resting or after, Śrīla Prabhupāda, 'cause to him it's the same. So it's up to you.

Prabhupāda: No, no, I said according to their convenience...

Girirāja: Okay, what I would say is that let them meet you first of all...

Prabhupāda: Hm, yes.

Girirāja: ...at about one o'clock.

Prabhupāda: That's nice.

Room Conversation -- April 13, 1977, Bombay:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: What date?

Girirāja: Day after tomorrow.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Very good.

Prabhupāda: I am sitting here whole day and night, so they will come according... They are busy men. They must have program according to their convenience.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Śrīla Prabhupāda, this is the checks. The amount remaining in the bank is 371 rupees and 19 paisa. Should I make out the check?

Prabhupāda: Why check? There is standing visa(?). Check, they will come.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Well, the reason why we need the check is that this letter is only signed by Your Divine Grace, but this check is signed by the joint signers, Śyāmasundara and...

Conversation with Patita-pavana -- April 20, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Why not request Mr. Acarya to exchange? They may go to his...

Girirāja: Okay.

Prabhupāda: That "We have kept your request."

Girirāja: Yeah, we obliged him by making him the tenant.

Prabhupāda: "So, if you kindly go up there, as we have been a little convenient..."

Girirāja: That's a very good idea.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Downstairs will be utilized in a solid way.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: You wanted that Mr. Acarya to move to your...?

Prabhupāda: No, no.

Meeting with Mr. Dwivedi -- April 23, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Seventy-five miles, it is two hours. That's all.

Mr. Dwivedi: Yes, about two hours...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: If it's a good road, two hours.

Mr. Dwivedi: So also from Savaimadapur(?), equidistance.

Prabhupāda: So by train, where it is convenient?

Mr. Dwivedi: If we travel by car, then Gwalior will be better. Or even if we get down at Jhansi, that will also be very nice.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Which is better by car, from Gwalior or Jhansi?

Mr. Dwivedi: Just the same. Just the same. Gwalior will be slightly convenient in this way that you get down at Gwalior, then I have my own house at Gwalior, so at our own house we have little rest, take our food and then start. The plane also reaches there from Bombay, say, about 12:30 or so.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: A direct flight between here and Gwalior? Direct?

Indian man: No, that is via Indore...

Mr. Dwivedi: Indore, Bhopal, Gwalior. That's it.

Meeting with Mr. Dwivedi -- April 23, 1977, Bombay:

Mr. Dwivedi: Yes, on the 3rd I shall be free.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So what day is the 3rd? Wed... We can come any time after you're free, 3rd, 4th, like that.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: If it's convenient to you, then we can come.

Mr. Dwivedi: No, it is quite convenient to me.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: We have no other program pending now.

Mr. Dwivedi: Then you want to this way? I send a letter and a wire over to you on the 2nd or 3rd itself.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: No, the thing is, we need at least ten days to make the train booking. Booking by train requires ten days to get reservations.

Second Meeting with Mr. Dwivedi -- April 24, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: So?

Mr. Dwivedi: So if I get the letter from you... In fact, I drafted this letter for you also. You can make necessary changes in it, so if I get it, even a tentative day, that will be convenient for me. I'll be able to approach the press people over here, and they will just spread out the news.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: "As per your request and as per interview you had with His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda on 23/4/77, His Divine Grace with his entourage will..." (break) ...is a Thursday. Fifth: the program was to be from 5th to 8th, meant Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Now whether these days will be easier for people to attend? Just like your idea is that some people from Gwalior will come and others. My feeling is that they'll have an easier time to come on a Sunday or on a Saturday evening.

Second Meeting with Mr. Dwivedi -- April 24, 1977, Bombay:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: When will you get it confirmed?

Mr. Dwivedi: I think... Today, 29th... 24th, 25th, 26th... On 30th.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So how can we book our tickets? Supposing Mr. Jetthi says that "I'll come on the 12th..." We don't know. He's the President of India. Supposing his calendar is only available that he can come by the 12th?

Prabhupāda: No, you can conveniently book. We shall wait.

Kārttikeya: No, it is easily bookable, this... For this purpose you go to the Mr...., Central Manager. I know the man.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So my only point is, should we book any specific date until it from, here from Mr....?

Second Meeting with Mr. Dwivedi -- April 24, 1977, Bombay:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes, that's the best.

Kārttikeya: So if that is good, so when we can stay there?

Mr. Dwivedi: You reach there on the 6th. So that 7th morning will be... So Saturday you are at Gwalior, and then Sunday you'll be there. Evening program will start.

Prabhupāda: You book whichever date is just convenient. That's all.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Prabhupāda, may I ask you a question?

Prabhupāda: Hm.

Second Meeting with Mr. Dwivedi -- April 24, 1977, Bombay:

Mr. Dwivedi: About ten hours' rest.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: It sounds all right.

Mr. Dwivedi: About ten hours' rest.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: To you or me, at least.

Mr. Dwivedi: And the function could be minimized according to our convenience. That also...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: All right, so let's keep it at that. I mean, I'm not trying to go against everybody. I'm only trying to think for your well-being.

Prabhupāda: No, no, my attendance there... Actually kīrtana and other things will be done by you.

Evening Darsana -- May 15, 1977, Hrishikesh:

Pradyumna:The Lord is omnipotent and all-powerful. Therefore, by His incarnation as arcā-vigraha, He can accept the service of the devotee just to make it convenient for the man in conditioned life. So for a devotee, there is no difficulty in approaching the Supreme immediately and directly, but for those who are following the impersonal way to spiritual realization, the path is difficult. They have to understand the unmanifested representation of the Supreme through such Vedic literatures as the Upaniṣads, and they have to learn the language, understand the nonperceptual feeling, and they have to realize all these processes..."

Prabhupāda: Just like in the Upaniṣads it is said, paśyaty acakṣuḥ: "He sees, but He has no eyes." So what is that? How we can think of, one is seeing without eye? Aiye. There are so many. Śṛṇoty akarṇaḥ: "He has no ears..." So both things are there. When it is said, paśyaty acakṣuḥ... Mean cakṣuḥ, eyes, as soon we think of eyes, we think of our eyes, own eyes, and therefore it is forbidden, "Not like your eyes." Paśyati. He can see everywhere.

Conversations with Kirtana Groups -- May 29, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Your?

Prema-bhakti: Prema-bhakti Swami.

Prabhupāda: And your?

Bhakti-caru: Bhakti-caru Swami.

Prabhupāda: So now you can go attend the, yes, sacrifice. Then, conveniently, you have to take the gāyatrī-mantra, and he has to take the gāyatrī-mantra. Then it will be all right.

Bhakti-caitanya: So come again to take that...

Prabhupāda: Yes, after initiation. And here is...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He already had gāyatrī.

Room Conversation with Alice Coltrane -- July 1, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: This is my message.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: She says that she likes the mental chanting more than chanting out...

Alice Coltrane: With the mind, you know.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: She likes to chant more with the mind.

Prabhupāda: As it is convenient. But chanting with mouth is better. You can hear; others can hear. If you chant within, then you'll remember only. But you chant loudly, others can hear. Others are benefited. (japa)

Alice Coltrane: (indistinct)

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: She said, how many rounds should she chant? Every day she does some meditation, so before meditating, she wants to know, how many rounds should she chant?

Conversation -- July 1, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Or doing something or not doing, whatever I'll order...

Mr. Myer: No, this may mean certain major reorganization in terms of the managing account. It is sort of personal. So it will have to be...

Prabhupāda: They'll do. They'll do whatever I ask.

Mr. Myer: That is fine. I shall... That way, it is very convenient, because Prabhupāda is now guiding us, and we have no problem. That is all for guru because I am managing only people, and as Prabhu said, it's more a spiritual management here. It's not just purely material management.

Prabhupāda: Whatever you think, you can do. Now, now... So let me see practically that... What is that? Thirteen thousand only?

Room Conversation -- October 4, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Śrīla Prabhupāda? Today we did kīrtana starting in the afternoon till the evening. So do you want more than that?

Prabhupāda: I can hear day and night.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So should we arrange...? Maybe we should arrange starting in the morning going till night.

Prabhupāda: That is according to your convenience. But kīrtana is very sweet.

Hari-śauri: Last June we were doing twenty-four hours.

Prabhupāda: That is real business. These astrologer are karmīs. We have nothing to do with the karmī.

Hari-śauri: Their measurement of happiness and distress is how much nice wife and children they get and how much money they get.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Bhāgavata reading and kīrtana... Hm. Hm.

Room Conversation -- October 8, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: He can arrange.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja. Yes, actually he wanted to do that. He gave us instructions, but he also wanted to take part. So better I call Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja than Kṛṣṇa dāsa? Okay. I'll send a car for him tomorrow morning. He was saying he was thinking to come tomorrow, so I'll send a car and say "Prabhupāda requests if it's convenient that you can come this morning." That'll be all right? Jaya Śrīla Prabhupāda. (break)

Prabhupāda: When you have come back?

Room Conversation -- October 9, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: We have reason.

Girirāja: Yes, we have reason. That is our choice. And the manager in Delhi already said that for our foreign remittances it would be much easier to bring it in Delhi.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Girirāja: So I think we could have an account at the main office in Delhi and the money can come first there, and that will make them satisfied. And since we have our office in Delhi, and since Delhi is the main city, it's more convenient for us to have our most things there. And then when we need it in Vṛndāvana it can be brought here. Manager of the Delhi branch asked us if we have a branch in Delhi. So when I said that we do, he said, "Then it will be more convenient for you to deal with the main branch."

Prabhupāda: So do it. Transfer.

Girirāja: Yes. (break)

Prabhupāda: ...to deliver to the banks?

Girirāja: We have the copy of that letter with their stamp that they received it.

Prabhupāda: So what is that copy? What you have written?

Room Conversation -- October 10, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: We were talking about... Not now. I think a little while later giving you full sponge bath and then changing the sheets. You want to do it now? We can do it now.

Prabhupāda: No. You can do later.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I think if we do it... Don't do it now 'cause he already bathed. Upendra thinks this is a convenient time, Śrīla Prabhupāda, 'cause you're sitting up already. He'll give you a light sponge bath. Is that all right? Okay. (break)

Prabhupāda: (Bengali)

Dr. Kapoor: He came? Again he came? Did Hakeemji come? Did the doctor come? Hakeemji?

Prabhupāda: When he came? He did not come.

Dr. Kapoor: You want him?

Prabhupāda: No, what do you think of him?

Room Conversation -- October 27, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: But we have no hall in that building. There's no... The place where they held the meeting last time is now going to become the restaurant.

Prabhupāda: Let it become.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So there won't be any place to have any future meetings. There's no big room.

Prabhupāda: That we shall have in..., conveniently, not immediately. Immediately there is Bombay.

Room Conversation -- October 31, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: ...some rest, backside, I can sit down.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: With some rest?

Bhavānanda: Something to rest against on his back. Then he can sit.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes, and in any case we were going to purchase three seats for Your Divine Grace so that you can lie down conveniently in the plane also. No harm in taking... Because one thing you have to remember: the entire journey will take ten hours, so you should conserve your strength by laying down as far as possible. Here you can sit up for two hours because the bed is stationary, and then you can always be resting. But this will be a ten-hour journey. So we should try to take every possible means to allow you to be comfortable the whole way and to relax as much as possible.

Room Conversation -- November 3, 1977, Vrndavana:

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?

Room Conversation -- November 5, 1977, Vrndavana:

Bhakti-caru: Śrīla Prabhupāda wants him to come every day, once a day, and check him out. (Bengali)

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Hundred cc's, Śrīla Prabhupāda. Your urine was 100 cc's.

Prabhupāda: No, urine is all right. Urine, it is all right. I am lying here. He can come conveniently.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Bhakti-caru, Prabhupāda says he's lying here, so the kavirāja can come whenever it's convenient, 'cause he's always here.

Bhakti-caru: Right. That's what I told him.

Prabhupāda: And you should pay for that.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: No problem.

Room Conversation -- November 10, 1977, Vrndavana:

Lokanātha: Yes. This is what they earn for living. Usually they carry different loads from place to another place. Each trip they take twenty rupees, thirty rupees, fifty rupees, according to distance and the load they carry. But it's expensive to keep it for many days.

Prabhupāda: No. If it is inconvenient, we may not keep.

Lokanātha: If it is convenient?

Prabhupāda: Then we shall keep.

Lokanātha: So we'll hire first and see how it goes, works. And if you think it is nice, or comfortable, all right with you, then we can purchase.

Prabhupāda: So how many we are going?

Room Conversation -- November 11, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Oh, tomorrow's function. Day after tomorrow?

Kṛṣṇa dāsa Bābājī: Ha, day after tomorrow.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Tomorrow is no good?

Kṛṣṇa dāsa Bābājī: Day after tomorrow.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: What time is convenient?

Kṛṣṇa dāsa Bābājī: Every time.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: For you, Śrīla Prabhupāda, any time is convenient.

Prabhupāda: Yes.