Dictaphone

Expressions researched:
"dictaphone" |"dictaphoning"

CC Adi-lila

CC Adi 7.119, Purport:

The separated energy can be understood from a practical example. I compose books by speaking into a dictaphone, and when the dictaphone is replayed, it appears that I am speaking personally, but actually I am not. I spoke personally, but then the dictaphone tape, which is separate from me, acts exactly like me. Similarly, the material energy originally emanates from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but it acts separately, although the energy is supplied by the Lord. This is also explained in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.10): mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sa-carācaram. "This material nature is working under My direction, O son of Kuntī, and it is producing all moving and unmoving beings." Under the guidance or superintendence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the material energy works as if independent, although it is not actually independent.

Nectar of Instruction

Nectar of Instruction 3, Purport:

Under the direction of the bona fide spiritual master, one has to make everything favorable for Kṛṣṇa's service. For example, at present we are using a dictaphone. The materialist who invented this machine intended it for businessmen or writers of mundane subject matters. He certainly never thought of using the dictaphone in God's service, but we are using this dictaphone to write Kṛṣṇa conscious literature. Of course, the manufacture of the dictaphone is wholly within the energy of Kṛṣṇa. All the parts of the instrument, including the electronic functions, are made from different combinations and interactions of the five basic types of material energy—namely, bhūmi, jala, agni, vāyu and ākāśa. The inventor used his brain to make this complicated machine, and his brain, as well as the ingredients, were supplied by Kṛṣṇa.

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

Lecture on BG 1.4-5 -- London, July 10, 1973:

We are living in this house. If somebody, some rascal, says, "It is false," why false? We are utilizing this house. We are utilizing this microphone. We are utilizing the dictaphone. Why it is false? There is sambandha. There is relationship with Kṛṣṇa. Anything material, made of earth, water, fire, air, they are Kṛṣṇa's energies. Therefore there is direct relationship with Kṛṣṇa. And if Kṛṣṇa is reality, why His energy should be false? No. We must know how to utilize it.

Lecture on BG 3.31-43 -- Los Angeles, January 1, 1969:

People may say, "What they are doing? They are also eating, they are also cooking, and offering Kṛṣṇa, and they say it is Kṛṣṇa conscious. What is the difference between this foodstuff with the hotel foodstuff?" In this way they may think. "Oh, they are also typewriting, they are also using dictaphone and this tape recorder and all this material." But they do not know that everything is being used for Kṛṣṇa. Therefore there is far different. There is no lust. So you can utilize everything if it is in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, not for satisfaction of your lust. Then your life is sublime.

Lecture on BG 4.9 -- Montreal, June 19, 1968:

Just like here is a dictaphone. We're using it, that's all right, but how we are using it? We're recording the talks about Kṛṣṇa. This apartment, this... It is used for Kṛṣṇa. This body is being used for Kṛṣṇa. We are preparing foodstuff for Kṛṣṇa. In this way, if you develop your consciousness in touch with Kṛṣṇa, that is called Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Lecture on BG 4.18 -- Bombay, April 7, 1974:

Although it looks like similar activities, that they are also using motorcar, they are also using microphone and typewriter and dictaphone and airplane... "So everything he is using. So how they have become so great or so advanced?" This is the intelligence. Here it is said that karmaṇy akarma yaḥ paśyet. Although they are acting just like ordinary human being—they are using everything, they are also fighting for the land, for Kṛṣṇa, and everything looks like that—but akarmaṇi, that is akarma, they are not producing any result, because it is being done for Kṛṣṇa. This is the secret.

Lecture on BG 4.19 -- Bombay, April 8, 1974:

So that is explained here: yasya sarve... Factually we are using everything. We have got everything. We have got cars. We have got microphone. We have got typewriter. We have got dictaphone. What we have not? Just like ordinary men. We have got everything. We have got office. We have got lawyer. We have got engineer. What is not? Everything is there. But the point is kāma-saṅkalpa-varjitāḥ. There is no lusty desire that "I shall become happy, my wife shall become happy," or "My children shall become happy, my nation shall become happy, my community shall become happy." Extend. This extension has no meaning. This is all kāma-saṅkalpa-varjitāḥ.

Lecture on BG 4.24 -- August 4, 1976, New Mayapur (French farm):

Just like I am speaking in the dictaphone, but after some time, without me, it will speak exactly like this. So, I am speaking, but I'm not present there. Similarly, material world means it is being conducted by Kṛṣṇa, but still, Kṛṣṇa, personally, He's not present there.

Lecture on BG 4.24 -- August 4, 1976, New Mayapur (French farm):

Devotee: Śrīla Prabhupāda: Is there is actual difference between the material energy and the spiritual energy?

Prabhupāda: Yes, difference, there are many differences. The same example, electricity. So many things are working, difference of energy. Even the dictaphone is working, electricity. By the same energy, electricity. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavaḥ (BG 10.8). He's the origin of everything.

Lecture on BG 7.1 -- San Francisco, March 17, 1968:

So far I can do, I want work. I want to..., day and night. At night I work with dictaphone. So I am sorry... I become sorry if I cannot work. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. One must be very much anxious to work. It is not that it is an idle society.

Lecture on BG 9.34 -- New York, December 26, 1966, 'Who is Crazy?':

Therefore what is the difference between materialism and spiritualism? The same typewriter is there. The same dictaphone is there. The same mimeograph machine is there. The same paper is there. Same, I mean, ink is there. The same hand is there. Everything is same, but everything is done for Kṛṣṇa's account. That's all, Kṛṣṇa's account. This is spiritualism. Don't think spiritualism something uncommon. You can turn the whole material world into spiritualism, if you simply become Kṛṣṇa conscious.

Lecture on BG 15.15 -- August 5, 1976, New Mayapur (French farm):

The other day I explained, Vedas means just like this dictaphone machine is manufactured along with one literature is also compiled. So customers, they are given the delivery of the machine as well as the literature how to use it. That is the Vedas.

Lecture on BG 15.15 -- August 5, 1976, New Mayapur (French farm):

The Māyāvādī philosophy is stop everything. Stop everything, what is the gain? Stop nonsense, do something sensible, that is wanted. Just like Kṛṣṇa says, sarva-dharmān parityajya (BG 18.66), give up everything. Does He say, "And then stop"? No. Mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja, "Come here." That is wanted. Just like the dictaphone. Stop recording cinema songs, record kṛṣṇa-kathā, discussion of Kṛṣṇa. That is utilization properly. So everything has got utility. When it is used for Kṛṣṇa, that is proper utility. When it is used for other purpose, that is māyā.

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

Lecture on SB 1.2.6 -- Montreal, August 3, 1968:

The Māyāvādī philosophers, they take advantage of this word, and they say that "Kṛṣṇa or anyone," I mean to say, "incarnation of God, that is created." That means they understand that as so many material things are created... Anything which we find here in this room, that is created. This dictaphone, this microphone or anything, that is created. But here, if you say this word in that sense, that "Kṛṣṇa is created. Anything created, that is material. Therefore Kṛṣṇa is also material," then you will be in misunderstanding.

Lecture on SB 2.1.1 -- Paris, June 9, 1974:

So this kind of intelligence, they are called animals. The animal does not know. The dog does not know. The dog will live for six years to ten years, but he is very proud: "I have got a very nice master. Gow! Gow!" You see? So this kind of intelligence is no good. Therefore it is said here, ātmavit-sammataḥ. This kind of question, approved by persons who are self-realized. Ātmavit, one who knows what he is. Sammataḥ. Sammataḥ means approved. Ātmavit sammataḥ puṁsāṁ śrotavyādiṣu yaḥ paraḥ. Yaḥ paraḥ. Paraḥ means superior. We are accustomed to hear so many things, radio and dictaphone and so many things. We are hankering after hearing tape record or this gramophone album, and news from in the newspaper. We are always anxious, very anxious. Big, big news...

Lecture on SB 2.1.2-5 -- Montreal, October 23, 1968:

Don't you see what are our activities? Is it very secret? You can see what are our activities. We are discussing about Kṛṣṇa. We are talking about Kṛṣṇa. We are chanting about Kṛṣṇa. We are eating about Kṛṣṇa. We are typewriting about Kṛṣṇa. We are dictaphoning about Kṛṣṇa. Don't you see it? Then? Everything engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness—that is our activity.

Lecture on SB 3.25.4 -- Bombay, November 4, 1974:

Don't try to receive spiritual knowledge or transcendental knowledge very cheaply. Although it is very easy, there is no difficulty, but the process must be known. Just like any machine—we have got experience—just like sometimes our typewriter machine or this dictaphone does not work. So if we go to the proper person, who knows the work, he immediately tightens one screw or changes something; it works. The process we must know. So if I go to a pān-wala for repairing my machine, that will be not good. He does not know the process. He may know to..., how to make pān, biḍi; but doesn't matter, he does not know how to repair a machine.

Lecture on SB 7.6.1 -- Montreal, June 10, 1968:

The other day there was some difficulty in my dictaphone and the mechanic man came. He opened. So many arrangements of different kinds of wires. Similarly, we have got this body, a similar arrangement. The veins are so nicely arrangement, the intestines are so nicely arranged. Just like the same way as in a machine the wirings are very nicely arranged. So if for that machine there is a brain, don't you think that in this machine, behind this, there is no brain? There must be brain. This is common sense affair.

Lecture on SB 7.9.24 -- Mayapur, March 2, 1976:

We are discussing now in our tape dictaphone. You'll hear that. That there is no such thing to become master. It is useless. You cannot become master. Ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā kartāham iti manyate (BG 3.27). You cannot become master. Jīvera svarūpa haya nitya kṛṣṇa dāsa (Cc. Madhya 20.108-109). Either man or woman, everyone is servant of Kṛṣṇa. We have to be trained up in that platform, how to become the best servant, not only servant directly, but servants, of the servant. This is called paramparā servant.

Lecture on SB 7.9.55 -- Vrndavana, April 10, 1976:

It is called niyamāgraha, "without any profit," to follow the regulative principle without any profit. No. If we get opportunity, preaching facilities for going on car, on airplane, using typewriter, dictaphone, microphone, we must use it. Because this is Kṛṣṇa's property, it must be used for Kṛṣṇa. This is our philosophy. This microphone is Kṛṣṇa's. Īśāvāsyam idaṁ sarvam (ISO 1). So when it is used for Kṛṣṇa it is not material; it is spiritual.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Lectures

Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.358-359 -- New York, December 29, 1966:

That, bhaktas, they are not addicted to karma, but they are simply addicted to the service of the Lord. That service of the Lord and ordinary work sometimes appears one and the same. Just like we are also typewriting. They, your mother was asking the other day, "Oh, you have got dictaphone?" "Yes." "Oh, why do you say that materialism bad?" "And we are spiritualizing this. You have produced these material things. We eve spiritualizing."

Philosophy Discussions

Philosophy Discussion on Hegel:

Prabhupāda: If you have got material idea, then it will... (break) ...so the fire makes it warm, warm, hot, red hot. When it is red hot, you cannot say it is iron, it is actually burning. You touch that red hot iron, you know it is iron rod but it is acting as fire. Similarly, when everything is acting for Kṛṣṇa's (indistinct). It has no other business. Just like in this dictaphone and all these things, you don't use for any other purpose, therefore it is spiritual.

Philosophy Discussion on Ludwig Wittgenstein:

Prabhupāda: So we are not such rascals, because our knowledge is received from the greatest scientist, Kṛṣṇa. I personally may be rascal, but because I follow the greatest scientist, therefore my proposition is scientific. I do not know how this dictaphone is working, but somebody has said "This is dictaphone," I accept. And it is working. That is my scientific knowledge. I may not be the mechanic, but I am working.

Philosophy Discussion on The Evolutionists Thomas Huxley, Henri Bergson, and Samuel Alexander:

Prabhupāda: New things means I create a necessity, and then, according to the plan of the necessity, the thing is there. Just like dictaphone. I feel inconvenience to dictate or the secretary has no time to take my dictation. So I may feel that "If I keep record of my dictation, the secretary will take it later on according to his convenience." So therefore the invention of a dictaphone.

1969 Conversations and Morning Walks

Discussion with BTG Staff -- December 24, 1969, Boston:

Hayagrīva: Then the process thus far we have, someone types off the dictaphone. Now, thus far you've been doing this?

Satsvarūpa: Yes.

Hayagrīva: Thus far Satsvarūpa...

Prabhupāda: That dictaphone can be done in Detroit. That boy Bhagavān dāsa is here. He has offered service.

Discussion with BTG Staff -- December 24, 1969, Boston:

Hayagrīva: A tape recording of dictaphone.

Jayadvaita: Yes. And you check the copies.

Hayagrīva: And you can check the copies after. Why don't you do that? Make a tape recording, and then, when the manuscript comes back, you can check it off the tape recorder. I've done that before.

Brahmānanda: I also have a dictaphone in New York, Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: That is mine.

Brahmānanda: No. I have another one also. I also can have tapes typed.

Prabhupāda: So that can be distributed, tapes. Yes. In different centers they will have dictaphone and they'll do it.

Satsvarūpa: And then send me the copy to edit.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Yes.

Hayagrīva: I have a dictaphone also, so they can also be sent to Śyāma dāsī.

Discussion with BTG Staff -- December 24, 1969, Boston:

Hayagrīva: Then he does the first editing. After it's typed up off the dictaphone, Satsvarūpa does the first editing. Then I go over what he has gone over and check the manuscript...

Prabhupāda: Yes. What you do, he goes. And what he does, you go. Then final. In this way. But the last editing should be checked twice. The dictaphone, then checked by him and then by you. Or checked by you and then by him. That's all.

1972 Conversations and Morning Walks

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

Prabhupāda: Everything is known, can be known, from authorized source of knowledge. A child does not know what is this. He asks father, "Father, what is this?" The father explains, "My dear boy, this is dictaphone. When I speak, it records." Childlike, you see? That is the way of knowledge. If you do not know God, you must approach a person who knows God. There is knowledge. There is no difficulty.

1973 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation -- July 9, 1973, London:

Prabhupāda: Simply for Kṛṣṇa, there is simply to understand Kṛṣṇa. Anything else-waste of time. But in Kṛṣṇa's connection there are varieties. Does it mean, although the dictaphone is there, still I shall write in my hand? Kṛṣṇa consciousness cannot touch this. We don't follow this nonsense philosophy. Unnecessary vairāgya. Śuṣka-vairāgya, dry knowledge.

Room Conversation with Sanskrit Professor, Dr. Suneson -- September 5, 1973, Stockholm:

Prabhupāda: I am doing in my dictaphone daily one tape. One tape, about how many pages?

Pradyumna: Ten to twelve pages.

Prabhupāda: And he's editing. After typing, he edits, and then it is gone to the press. In this way, our work is going on.

1974 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation with Irish Poet, Desmond O'Grady -- May 23, 1974, Rome:

Bhagavān: There's original text in Bengali. This book is in Bengali.

O'Grady: And Sanskrit.

Bhagavān: Sanskrit, which Prabhupāda translates himself and gives the explanation and purport. Every night Śrīla Prabhupāda dictates into a dictaphone, and his secretaries type and edit. And then we have a press in New York which composes and prints.

O'Grady: It's a very nice edition, that Macmillan edition. Very nicely done.

Prabhupāda: Yes, they have fifth edition within two years. Five editions.

Room Conversation with Mr. C. Hennis of the International Labor Organization of the U.N. -- May 31, 1974, Geneva:

Prabhupāda: Nature's way is not better share, but equal share. Just like when you take foodstuff, put it in the stomach, and when it is easily digested and transformed into different secretion and comes to the heart and becomes blood, there is equal distribution. Not that because brain is first-class, therefore the blood transformation to the brain should go more. No. Then it will be blood pressure, high blood pressure. This is nature's way, that... But when the energy goes to the brain, it acts differently. When the energy goes to the hands, it acts differently. The electricity energy is the same, but sometimes by working on the dictaphone, sometimes on the microphone, sometimes in electric heater, sometimes in refrigerator... The different apparatuses are there, but the energy is the same, equal.

Room Conversation with Professor Durckheim German Spiritual Writer -- June 19, 1974, Germany:

Prabhupāda: Yes. We are writing these books for distribution.

Prof. Pater Porsch: Yes. Yes. Yes, I've already suggested that one.

Prabhupāda: Yes. And they are not manufactured knowledge. They are standard knowledge, Vedic knowledge, I am explaining for understanding of the people in general. Each word is being explained. Here is my dictaphone. I am sitting here. So as soon as I stop talking, I shall write immediately. At night also, I get up at two o'clock, one o'clock, and write these books.

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation with Professors -- February 19, 1975, Caracas:

Professor: Are you perfect master?

Prabhupāda: Oh, yes, because I am heard from the perfect. I am not perfect, but what I say, that is perfect. Just like a child does not know what is this dictaphone, but he has learned from the father, "This is dictaphone," so when he says, "This is dictaphone," it is perfect. The child is not perfect, but because he has heard from his father perfect, so the knowledge is perfect.

Professor (Hṛdayānanda): That if you are not perfect, how can you interpret the truth?

Prabhupāda: Because I am giving the perfect truth. Anyone who will accept, it will act. Just like a child says that "This is dictaphone. If you use it like this, you'll get this result." That is perfect.

Room Conversation with Professors -- February 19, 1975, Caracas:

Professor (Hṛdayānanda): He's saying that just like you give the example of the dictaphone, but it seems like if he just recorded the knowledge within his brain and then repeated it, that he would just be like an instrument, and he might not really be conscious of the knowledge himself. He'd just be transmitting it. It seems like... He thinks that's a defect because he's not really, he might not be conscious.

Prabhupāda: No, he doesn't require. Just like I am working with this dictaphone. I am not a mechanic, but my business is going on. That is required. I have read the instruction paper, that "You use this microphone like this. You put this button," and three, four instruction. So I have learned it and it is giving my business. That's all.

Room Conversation with Professor Olivier -- October 10, 1975, Durban:

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Yes, a standing order of books even which haven't been published yet. Prabhupāda is translating on his dictaphone each night, throughout the hours of the night. And now about fifty books so far, many more to come.

Prabhupāda: The total number of books will be about eighty. Out of that, we have published about fifty. So the balance they are giving standing order, "As soon as published, you give..."

Room Conversation -- October 29, 1975, Nairobi:

Prabhupāda: They put this chance theory like this. But this is not chance. If... Because we are changing our life, so everything is recorded in the mind, dictaphone. So sometimes some idea which I had contact with many, many years ago, it comes. It comes. It is not chance. I had contact with such thing. All of a sudden, that idea comes.

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation With Radha-Damodara Sankirtana Party -- March 16, 1976, Mayapur:

Prabhupāda: The devotee's vision is: in everything there is Kṛṣṇa. That is a fact. Just like we are using this dictaphone and tape record. It is material things. Sometimes they accuse that "You are against material things. Why you are using these material advantages?" Do they not? You do not meet such men?

Ādi-keśava: Yes.

Prabhupāda: But for us there is nothing material. We have no such vision as "material" and "spiritual." Material means when we forget Kṛṣṇa's right.

Morning Walk -- April 9, 1976, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: We should not possess anything which is not absolutely necessary. We are keeping these cars for preaching facility, not for sense gratification. We are keeping this dictaphone for preaching facility. Otherwise why it should be required?

Room Conversation -- April 20, 1976, Melbourne:

Prabhupāda: Yes, it is the activity which concerns. In the university there is only activity of education, learning. And here, all the criminals are violating the laws, they are put together. But superficially they look the same room, same food, same office, same typewriter. So it is the question of understanding why it is called criminal department and why it is called university. So as soon as it is university department, that is good. The same building, the same dictaphone, the same typewriter, same table, same chair, when they are used for Kṛṣṇa, it is spiritual. The same money, everything, it looks like that.

Room Conversation -- April 23, 1976, Melbourne:

Prabhupāda: We are interested in Kṛṣṇa. To help our Kṛṣṇa consciousness we may be in touch with the material world as much as possible. Just like we are riding car also, we are also using dictaphone, everything, but it is not for any ulterior purpose. It is for Kṛṣṇa's service. Just like we are writing books. This is Kṛṣṇa's service.

Room Conversation with Reporter -- June 4, 1976, Los Angeles:

Reporter: Does it...? Is it more difficult to do this when you're traveling a lot?

Prabhupāda: No. I..., my work is going on. By traveling also, I carry this machine. Dicta..., dictaphone. I dictate, and then my assistants, they write, transcribe, and then it is..., it goes to the Press. In this way my work is....

Interview with Professors O'Connell, Motilal and Shivaram -- June 18, 1976, Toronto:

Prabhupāda: I write in the night. I get up at half past twelve. I go to bed at half past ten, and I get up at half past twelve. Then I finish my chanting, if there is any balance, and then I begin dictating. And the morning they take it and type it. So this dictaphone is always with me, wherever I go, so my writing book is not stopped. Maybe few pages, but something is there daily. Little drops of water wears the stone. So in that way we have translated so many books. About fifty-four books are already published, besides the small booklets.

'Life Comes From Life' Slideshow Discussions -- July 3, 1976, Washington, D.C.:

Hari-śauri: Even anyone with a little common sense can understand that a very simple thing cannot produce a highly complicated thing. It's such an obvious point, but they have to have so many mathematical equations to accept it.

Prabhupāda: Dictaphone, so many complicated, then it is working.

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: And if one slight thing is off...

Prabhupāda: Immediately, work stopped.

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

Rūpānuga: As a matter of growth even. Because life is present, then this small pea grows.

Prabhupāda: That means that soul is not complicated.

Rūpānuga: No, not the soul. But that the presence of the soul causes growth.

Prabhupāda: Just like the dictaphone. The dictaphone is complicated, but my finger is not complicated. Finger is simple. I simply push, and it works.

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

Hari-śauri: But isn't the complexity of the body due to trying to accommodate the desires of the spirit soul? Such a complicated body is there because the spirit soul desires to do something. So the complexity is a product of the desire.

Prabhupāda: Just like you want to do something, different machine, but the power is the same. You want to, we use a dictaphone or a typewriter, you want to use a, so many, so many... The complication is of the matter, but the electricity is the same. Either this machine or that machine.

Evening Darsan -- August 10, 1976, Tehran:

Ali: Does this mean that a person should turn his attention from the world, from his surrounding?

Prabhupāda: That you cannot do. Just like we are, although we are interested fully in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, it doesn't mean that we do not live in a house, we do not eat, we do not use motorcar, we do not use typewriter, dictaphone. We are using everything. But the purpose is different.

Room Conversation -- August 21, 1976, Hyderabad:

Prabhupāda: This is the advancement on that idea, dictaphone. Telephone. And the dictation of the author. He's hearing and typing. Nowadays everyone is using. The doctors dictate prescription. The doctor, instead of sending note, he dictates for such and such patient, "He should receive this, take like that..." That is recorded. Another, another, and immediately taken and the compounder hears and... No writing.

Jayapatākā: Actually you are dictating the prescription for the whole world.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Meeting with Endowments Commissioner -- August 24, 1976, Hyderabad:

Prabhupāda: Nobody will be able to check it. He'll go on. That is Kṛṣṇa. Here is dictaphone. I work at night. I get up at half past twelve, one, and I write books. And daytime I'm engaged. And daily either ten page, twenty page written, that is sent to Los Angeles.

Press Interview -- October 16, 1976, Chandigarh:

Prabhupāda: And by this collection, from this collection, we are bringing money in India. We are bringing money in India not less than ten lakhs of rupees per month. Our buildings and temples are going on in Bombay, in Vṛndāvana, in Navadvīpa. So we have got at least ten lakhs of rupees expenditure for these temples, and that I am bringing from foreign countries. So if by laboring hard at night in this dictaphone, I write books and I sell them in the foreign countries and I bring the money here for spending in India, do you think it is faulty?

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation with C.I.D. Chief -- January 3, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Now... I am talking to you as a CID official. Now, here is my dictaphone. I... (clicks dictaphone switch) It is not working. (Prabhupāda plays back section of Bhāgavatam dictation he has made) This is a Sanskrit verse. (synonyms) Tatra(?) saumika. So the whole night I write books, and then this is typed. In the daytime they are typing. And then it is composed, and then it is made into book, and we take so much trouble to sell it, as you got the selling of, and we collect money and they send money, ten lakhs of rupees in India, and I construct the temple, not only here.(?) So is that my fault?

Room Conversation about BTG the Moon -- February 18, 1977, Mayapura:

Hari-śauri: Even the world's best computer has to have a programmer behind it.

Prabhupāda: So the computer worker or this dictaphone, everything is living being.

Room Conversation First Day in Juhu Quarters -- March 30, 1977, Bombay:

Bhavānanda: And then if we pull the drapes over the doors it will be very quiet, these drapes.

Prabhupāda: All right. You can open. So that was my dictaphone.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. This is for dictaphone.

Evening Darsana -- May 9, 1977, Hrishikesh:

Indian man (1): Disciplic succession.

Prabhupāda: Succession, yes. So Kṛṣṇa says that the real truth is in the paramparā system. You cannot take anything and misinterpret. Then it is lost. Suppose from the very beginning of my life I have been taught by my father that this is called dictaphone. Now, if I misinterpret in a different way, then it is lost. "Call a spade a spade." And Kṛṣṇa very distinctly said that "Because that paramparā system is now lost, I am again speaking to you."

Room Conversation -- October 14, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Should I... One thing I can do. Since Arundhatī will be typing, I can sit here with the dictaphone rather than tape recorder. Then she can do just as she always did, typing off the dictaphone.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Is that all right? And if you want, that way we can play back also very easily.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I'll sit here personally whenever you do this and take it on the dictaphone.

Prabhupāda: You all think, and as you..., I'll hear and do the needful.

1967 Correspondence

Letter to Brahmananda, Hayagriva, Kirtanananda, Satsvarupa, Gargamuni, Acyutananda, Jadurani -- San Francisco 19 January, 1967:

I have not as yet received the tapes for Dictaphone and I have sent you tapes yesterday.

Letter to Gargamuni -- San Francisco 3 February, 1967:

Please consult the Dictaphone supplier why the it stops sometime while working. It appears that it clogs either for the tape or for the machine. Please let me know what is to be done. Does the tape or the machine require to be cleaned. So far the machine is concerned it is brand new and there is no need of cleaning the machine. But if the tapes are to be cleaned how it is to be done. Please consult the gentleman who supplied the machine and let me know the instruction. If there is cleaning instruction either of the tape or some part of the machine how it is to be done and what are mediums please let me know in detail.

Letter to Gargamuni -- San Francisco 10 February, 1967:

I have already informed you that the Dictaphone is clogging at the last stage from point 25. Is it due to the tape or the machine? Please let me know what to do.

Letter to Gargamuni -- San Francisco 11 February, 1967:

I am anxious to hear from you about the clogging of the tapes in dictaphone. Please ask the supplier why it is clogging at the end say from .25 to .30 situation. How to solve this problem. Please let me know. I have now only one tape with me and what about the others. I shall be glad to hear from you.

Letter to Brahmananda -- San Francisco 14 February, 1967:

Your note on the dictaphone is taken care of. It is sent for adjustment because there is some defect in the machine. In the meantime they have supplied a machine for my work. I have now five tapes only. Three more required.

Letter to Brahmananda -- San Francisco 18 February, 1967:

Please send me all the tapes that are lying there. I hope you will realize the repairing charges for Dictaphone. There is again some defect in the microphone. It is not rewinding by pushing the finger clip. I do not know what to do.

Letter to Gargamuni -- San Francisco 21 February, 1967:

Since Neal is not available here, I am sending the recorded tapes to New York for typing as you have the Dictaphone there. I am also returning the letter of authority to the shipping company duly signed by me. There is some defect in microphone also of the dictaphone. What is to be done. The dictaphone seller does not appear to be very honest. When I inquired they told that it should be taken to some local dealers and when it is repaired they say that they are not going to pay for the labor. So if there is any defect, has it to be sent to New York at their expense?

Letter to Hayagriva -- New York 10 June, 1967:

The complete fair copy of Gitopanisad has to be submitted. I hope you have completed fair copies of at least seven chapters. The balance are typed from the dictaphone, and there does not appear to be any possibility of their being edited here, so I think you have to do it. After sending fair copies of what you have done already you will have to edit the dictaphone copies. The original verse (sanskrit) is to be taken from Dr. Radhakrishnan's edition, and the word to word English equivalent, as well as the translation and purport is to be found already on the dictaphone copies. The only thing you have to do is to place them properly and to make the complete fair copy.

I am thinking of going to San Francisco just after getting some strength, which I hope I will get by the end of the month; but in case I cannot go, you have to do it carefully, and send it to Japan. Please, therefore, let me know whether you'll do it. If you say yes, then I will send you the dictaphone copies for doing the needful. This will give me great relief, and I am expecting a reply as soon as possible.

Letter to Brahmananda -- Calcutta 12 December, 1967:

I am already in negotiations with the government of Rajasthan for securing one palace in Vrndavana. This house is perhaps the best house not only in Vrindaban but also it is one of the best palaces in all of India. When you arrive in India you will see it and you will be pleased. I am leaving behind my dictaphone and when you come here you will take it back to me.

Letter to Jadurani -- San Francisco 16 December, 1967:

Inform Satsvarupa that very soon I'm going to overload him with tapes for typing. My dictaphone is a little out of order (Gargamuni has taken charge of repairing it) and as soon as I get it back my work on Srimad-Bhagavatam will begin.

Letter to Brahmananda -- San Francisco 21 December, 1967:

I think the magnetic tapes for Dictaphone are lying in my compartment. If so please send them here and oblige.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- San Francisco 23 December, 1967:

Please accept my blessings. Your letter dated 17, Dec. duly in hand. I am preparing the text in dictaphone for sending you as usual, but you must have a dictaphone there, otherwise how you can hear the tapes? So arrange for this, either one to hire or on purchase system. And as soon as you let me know that you have one dictaphone there, I will send you the tapes regularly.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- San Francisco 30 December, 1967:

I have received back the tape which you have typewritten. The inquiry about porce should be force. Today I am sending you two Krishna Conscious lectures, tape recorded into the dictaphone. Please write them properly and send me one copy. The best thing will be as soon as you typewrite the two, send me one copy after editing as you were doing formerly. I'll keep one copy with me, you keep one copy with you, and if further editing is required for which another copy should be kept with you.

1968 Correspondence

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 30 January, 1968:

I am just in receipt of your letter of yesterday's date, along with a copy of Srimad-Bhagavatam 316/1, beginning from page 1708. I have sent 1 tape this morning, probably you are getting tomorrow. So far I have received your edited copy of Srimad-Bhagavatam it is very nicely done. For the last few days I am feeling a little trouble in my brain. There is a buzzing sound always which sometimes disturbs me, and therefore my tape recordings in dictaphone has become a little slow, but I will go on sending tapes as far as possible.

Letter to Mukunda -- Los Angeles 18 February, 1968:

The dictaphone affair is still lying pendant. Most probably Rayarama is going to India by the middle of March so I would like that he may take with him the dictaphone suitable for Indian electricity. This will save me too much burden when I may return. If the arrangement is made that the N.Y. office of the firm with whom you are negotiating may deliver the dictaphone suitable for India to Rayarama, it will be very nice. Please think over this.

Letter to Mukunda -- Los Angeles 24 February, 1968:

Regarding Dictaphone, Aniruddha is doing something.

Letter to Mukunda, Janaki -- Los Angeles 28 February, 1968:

have received both dictaphone machines, and the new one is working nicely. The foreign one I have yet to test at some shop, which I will do this week.

Letter to Brahmananda -- Montreal 10 July, 1968:

Also, if somebody is coming here in Montreal from New York, please send me the dictaphone transcribing set lying in my closet. I think there are two sets—one of them may be sent.

Letter to Anapurna, Ananda -- Montreal 4 September, 1968:

I shall give you one engagement and if you secure one dictaphone then I shall send you regular tapes for transcribing it into English version, and you will make two copies. One copy shall be sent to me, another copy shall be sent to Hayagriva Brahmacari. As Govinda dasi and her husband, is trying to help me in compiling essays and texts of Caitanya Caritamrta, similarly, I shall give you a task for the Science of Devotion. So that will be nice duty for you, because both of you are well versed in typewriting, so you can do that.

Letter to Hayagriva -- San Francisco 9 September, 1968:

Please accept my blessings. And I hope by this time you have reached your headquarters, at Wheeling, and I hope you are feeling well. And you have taken the dictaphone. Now immediate task is that you revise the 1st, 2nd, 3rd volumes of Srimad-Bhagavatam. As soon as they are revised, we shall immediately print in one volume.

Letter to Hayagriva -- Los Angeles 8 November, 1968:

Whenever you think I should go to New Vrindaban, I am prepared to go there. But I think I shall go there when there is electricity, because I want to work my dictaphone with me, and I understand the electricity is not connected there still. And I shall be glad to know when you expect to have electricity connection.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 14 November, 1968:

I am sending herewith the tape, so you do the work on your dictaphone and send me regularly the typed copies. Don't stop sending them, it makes me stop also. Unless I get back the typed copies it doesn't encourage me. So you send me the typed copies regularly and I shall send you the tapes regularly.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 29 December, 1968:

Regarding Nectar of Devotion, you needn't bother about it now. We have solved the problem of what is to be done. Purusottama is now typing with the dictaphone, and he will then edit it and send to Rayarama for a final copy.

1969 Correspondence

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Los Angeles 21 January, 1969:

I am pleased to learn that Eve Levine is expert typist, and that she is willing to begin typing the Vedanta Sutras. She will require a dictaphone for this work, and I would like to know if there is one available for her.

Letter to Govinda -- Los Angeles 26 January, 1969:

Regarding your dictaphone work, I have got two kinds of tapes. Either you can type up my lectures (Purusottama has already sent you one tape), or you can do tapes of Caitanya Caritamrta as you were doing formerly.

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Los Angeles 9 February, 1969:

I am pleased to note that you are seeing into obtaining a dictaphone for helping me in preparing so many Krishna Consciousness literatures. The maker of my present dictaphone is Grundig, and it is an Embassy de Jur, Sterorette. This model was purchased by Hayagriva in New York for $190 by cash payment, but it can be had by installment payment at a higher price. So you may do the needful in this matter.

Letter to Govinda -- Los Angeles 10 February, 1969:

I understand that you have some difficulty with your dictaphone, and as soon as you fix it, I will continue to send you some tapes.

Letter to Gargamuni -- Hamburg 29 August, 1969:

Both our typewriter and dictaphone are useless here because the electric current is different. We have therefore hired another set for working.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Tittenhurst 15 October, 1969:

Yes, this Uher tape recorder is very nice. It can act both as tape recorder and dictaphone also. It has got exactly the same speed for direct typewriting, but because you have not got a tape recorder that plays at this dictaphone speed, we send you higher speed tapes.

1970 Correspondence

Letter to Bhagavan -- Los Angeles 2 January, 1970:

In your previous letter, you proposed to get some tapes from me for transcription. It is a good proposal. In this connection I may inquire if you have got a nice dictaphone and if among yourselves you can edit nicely. So, on hearing from you on this point, I shall do the needful.

Letter to Bhagavan -- Los Angeles 10 January, 1970:

I am glad that you have a nice dictaphone. I am sending, herewith, one tape, number 6. Please try to work on it, edit it nicely and make two carbon copies and one original. The original may be sent to me and the carbon copies may be kept with you for the present and we shall call for them when needed.

Letter to Dinesh -- Los Angeles 22 January, 1970:

Regarding the Uher tape recorder, it will be very welcome. Our "Dicto-trans" dictaphone is not working and is always giving some difficulty; if the Uher is in good condition, it will be most useful. Also I would like to record permanent tapes at the same time that I am making dictaphone tapes. Can you arrange some device so that one control microphone will stop and start recording on both machines simultaneously?

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Los Angeles 23 January, 1970:

Regarding dictaphone: I can send you presently the tapes for Krishna and if Howard Resnick can work it nicely it will be a great help. But before purchasing the dictaphone you can hire it for a month to see how Mr. Resnick will work on it. Besides that, if you purchase a dictaphone, you should do it through authorized dealers of Grundig. So if you are eager, on hearing from you, I shall send one tape and let me see how does it work.

Letter to Govinda -- Los Angeles 7 April, 1970:

I am very glad you have repaired your dictaphone and you are anxious to work on it. For the time being I can send you tapes of my lectures which you can transcribe either directly or through the dictaphone, as it is convenient. Both yourself and Gaurasundara or any other educated boy or girl can edit the transcriptions for being printed.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Bombay 28 November, 1970:

I just want to see that these books be printed, whether it be on our own press or by Dai Nippon; that is my ambition. I have become slackened in my dictaphone work because the manuscripts already there are not being pushed ahead.

1971 Correspondence

Letter to Candanacarya -- Bombay 23 March, 1971:

I have again begun speaking on the tapes and very soon you will get transcribed copies of my dictaphoning for being edited and laid out for printing, chapter-wise, the fourth canto. Let the second and third cantos be finished quickly so that the fourth canto can be started. Henceforward I shall be supplying material for all cantos and you must do the rest; editing, layout, printing, etc.

Letter to Jadurani -- Bombay 8 June, 1971:

Regarding Satsvarupa's engagement, his main business is editorial and to improve the condition of the Boston temple also. There is a vast amount of editing work. It is not an easy job. We have to print so many books and if he becomes an expert editor it will be a great asset to our mission, and he has got the capacity. Very soon I am returning and I shall overburden him with dictaphone tapes. He will have more than enough engagement.

1972 Correspondence

Letter to Bali-mardana -- Bombay 2 January, 1972:

Here in Bombay I have resumed my translating of Bhagavatam. Every day I am translating and Syamasundara. is transcribing them from the dictaphone tapes. But the best place where I can do my translation work is in Los Angeles and New York. If in both places there is facility that as soon as I translate, the matter can be composed and if ISKCON PRESS can actually run efficiently so that they can print Bhagavatam chapter by chapter as it is composed, then this arrangement will be very favorable. Try and arrange for this.

Letter to Jayadvaita -- Calcutta 18 February, 1972:

Yes, because no one else can do them, I shall do the sanskrit synonyms. You simply send me now the manuscripts as required by you, and I shall send back either dictaphone tapes or tape-recorder cassettes. There is presently shortage of tape-recorder cassettes here in India, so if you can send a few that would be a help. One thing is you must send them in small packets of a few tapes each, clearly marked "unsolicited gift, value less than $5, no commercial value," like that. You may send to Calcutta ISKCON before 29th this month, otherwise send to Bombay.

1973 Correspondence

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Los Angeles 21 April, 1973:

N.B. The dictaphone I left there for repairing may be kept in London after it is repaired.

Letter to Eric -- Dallas 20 May, 1973:

Your question as to why we use light bulbs, is answered as follows: light bulbs are also a part of Krsna's energy. Just as we use automobiles, adding machines, typewriters, dictaphone etc.