Fine (Conversations 1968 - 1975)

Expressions researched:
"fine" |"finely" |"fineness" |"finer" |"finest"

1968 Conversations and Morning Walks

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

Prabhupāda: Yes. I was speaking to Gaurasundara that Janārdana speaks, "The winter season is the busiest season," and you said, "It is dull season"? (chuckles)

Janārdana: January and February are the busiest, and they are the coldest months too.

Prabhupāda: Very busy?

Janārdana: Yes.

Prabhupāda: How you are feeling, Śāradīyā? Nice?

Śāradīyā: I'm fine.

Prabhupāda: You are going to Europe? No? You have got to attend your school? That's nice. So your program is starting tomorrow morning?

Yamunā: Five o'clock.

Prabhupāda: Five o'clock?

Yamunā: That's when we have to get out.

Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. So you are going by taxi?

Interview with LA Times Reporter About Moon Trip -- December 26, 1968, Los Angeles:

Reporter: Why leave there because the place is more comfortable than this place?

Prabhupāda: Yes, yes. The duration of life is more, the standard of living is fine, everything is, knowledge advanced.

Hayagrīva: He's saying, if you're going to take the trouble to go to the planet, why not go to the planet that you can live in with your present body, and why go someplace where you have to make so many accommodations with spacesuits because the atmosphere is not conducive to our...

Reporter: But we're not going there with a mind that they themselves won't live there.

Interview with LA Times Reporter About Moon Trip -- December 26, 1968, Los Angeles:

Reporter: Okay. Fine.

Prabhupāda: Our Kṛṣṇa... You should kindly note it that our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement has nothing to do with this moon planet. But we are not aiming to go to the moon planet.

Reporter: I realize that. Yes. Your name was Howard...?

Hayagrīva: Wheeler.

Reporter: Wheeler? Thank you very much. Okay. Thank you.

Prabhupāda: Thank you very much. (end)

1969 Conversations and Morning Walks

Discussion with Guests -- December 23, 1969, Boston:

Guest (4): Okay. Fine.

Prabhupāda: That's all. Now if by serving God I can serve whole humanity...

Guest (4): That's good.

Prabhupāda: That's good. But you, how many human beings you can serve? So my process is better.

Guest (4): But I don't know what is God, but I know man within which God is present, a part of God is present.

Prabhupāda: That's all right. That's all right. That means we are, I mean to say for argument's sake. If God is everything...

Discussion with Guests -- December 23, 1969, Boston:

Prabhupāda: All right. Car is waiting.

Satsvarūpa: Come to the temple and ask any questions you have.

Guest (4): Okay. Next time I go to Harvard I'll just get...

Prabhupāda: Thank you. I thank you for your questions.

Guest (4): Oh, okay, fine. I'll ask you again. (end)

1971 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation -- July 18, 1971, Detroit:

Prabhupāda: We require help from personalities like you, because it is very important movement, checking a great mistake in the modern world. Modern civilization is very risky. Risky in this sense: that the human form of life is an opportunity for self-realization, but our leaders, they are miseducating that "You are this body." A basic mistake. But I am not this body, but just like you are sitting there, if I take account of your shirt and coat only, not you as a person, then there is a great mistake. Similarly, the modern civilization, education, everything is based on this bodily concept of life. But actually we are not body. Body is my shirt and coat. Mind, intelligence and ego, that is the shirt, finer dress. And this five element body—earth, water, fire, air, ether—this is gross. Just like shirt and coat.

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

Pratyatoṣa: OK, fine. But maybe someday then I can get this, do you think?

Prabhupāda: Hm?

Pratyatoṣa: Do you think someday we could use that machine?

Prabhupāda: I do not know, but I have got experience Tanberg is very nice.

Pratyatoṣa: Yeah, they're very reliable. They're reliable machines. And also, my job is computer programming, and I think that computers could be used.

Prabhupāda: Computer?

Room Conversation -- August 14, 1971, London:

Guest (2): Yes. Fine. Fine. Let's look at the "yes's." What exactly can you eat?

Revatīnandana: We can eat anything: fruit, vegetables, milk products, grains, sugar, nuts, all kinds of vegetable foodstuffs.

Guest (2): Broadly speaking, anything that comes out of the earth.

Revatīnandana: Yes. And we can eat it after it's been offered to the Lord with love and devotion. This we call prasādam or Kṛṣṇa's mercy.

Prabhupāda: Actually, any foodstuff is Kṛṣṇa's mercy. Any foodstuff is Kṛṣṇa's, God's mercy. Just like grain. You cannot manufacture grain. It is by God's mercy you get it.

Room Conversation -- August 17, 1971, London:

Prabhupāda: Your health is all right?

Śivānanda: My health is fine.

Prabhupāda: Thank you. You are the pioneer of European activities.

Śivānanda: Yes.

Prabhupāda: From Montreal, you were pushed. Yes. And from San Francisco, Gaurasundara was pushed to Hawaii. (chuckles) So Śivānanda Prabhu was also pushed from Montreal. So Kṛṣṇa is very much pleased. And Sudama was pushed to Japan. Now, anyway, that pushing has not become unsuccessful. (end)

Room Conversation with Dr. Karan Singh, -- November 25, 1971, Delhi:

Prabhupāda: One glass of water will be fine.

Dr. Singh: Only water? Only water, Swamiji? (Hindi) We have made a truly sattvic bhojana today so there is no problem.

Prabhupāda: I am very glad to see original kṣatriya. (Dr. Singh laughs) Rājarṣi.

Dr. Singh: (Hindi)

Prabhupāda: Your generation are kṣatriya. Actually we give stress in our civilization, brāhmaṇa and kṣatriya. Kiṁ punar brāhmaṇāḥ puṇyā bhaktā rājarṣayas tathā (BG 9.33). And Kṛṣṇa says, evaṁ paramparā-prāptam imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ (BG 4.2). (Hindi?) We have lost our kṣatriyas, we have lost our...

1972 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation -- March 12, 1972, Vrndavana:

Dr. Kapoor: It is fine. (break) (laughs) But now I changed so there is a Radha-Kṛṣṇa photo in the background which is cut.

Prabhupāda: You can give some of that. It is not very nice.

Yamunā: We need the nice ones.

Guru dāsa: We don't have any others.

Yamunā: We didn't bring so many things with us, but we'll give him very nice.

Prabhupāda: Here Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa photo is cut, it's not good. You have got any in your photo...

Room Conversation -- April 18, 1972, Hong Kong:

Prabhupāda: Vaibhavī? Oh. (indistinct) This is very fine.

Bhūrijana: When you were in Sydney last time, not this time, these were the pictures that they used, these two over here. And then they sent them to us.

Devotee: Guru Mahārāja is very attractive.

Prabhupāda: So have kīrtana, yes. (break)

Śyāmasundara: We have one hour extra because they've moved up... (break)

Prabhupāda: From?

Room Conversation -- April 2, 1972, Sydney:

Prabhupāda: Any philosopher, any scientist comes, I can say that "You are simply creating fools and rascals because you are also fools and rascals." I can say, challenge. Then let us come to argument. "You are such a fool and rascal and you are creating fools and rascals, that's all. That is your business." And that is going on as the advancement of education. You do not know. What do you... How do you explain? You say nature. That means you are fool. We have got our explanation. Kṛṣṇa, His energy is working. Svābhāvikī jñāna-bala-kriyā ca. His energy is so fine and nice that automatically it appears that the color has come, the painting has come, but there is working, very fine work, working. The modern science, you want to talk with a friend, immediately you pay something, telephone, "Yes, I am speaking."

Room Conversation -- April 2, 1972, Sydney:

Prabhupāda: So if this energy, electric energy, can work so wonderful, how much wonderful energies are there in Kṛṣṇa that He is working and it is coming out, automatically. You say..., cannot explain, you will say it is nature. No. The same working is there. Just like if you paint one flower, you have to take the brush, color, and nicely... You cannot do as nice. So Kṛṣṇa has also to do the same thing, but the energy is so fine and quick, svābhāvikī jñāna-bala-kriyā ca. Kṛṣṇa says and this will go on. Just like if you want to create something, a house, you have to apply, your engineer, your contractor, the ingredients. But Kṛṣṇa also will do the same thing. But His energies are so fine and expert, He desires, "Let there be a skyscraper," immediately there is. But the process is there. Don't think it has come automatically. The same thing. If you want to speak to a friend a thousand miles away, you have to go there and find him, or he has to come. The process is there. By electricity, immediately he comes.

Room Conversation -- April 2, 1972, Sydney:

Prabhupāda: That process is crude. They are thinking that it is very fine, but it is still crude. Just like here, the... What I was speaking?

Śyāmasundara: The more scientists investigate the workings of nature, the more complicated it becomes. They can never understand it.

Prabhupāda: No.

Śyāmasundara: They think it's complicated, but still...

Prabhupāda: Not complicated, it is perfect.

Śyāmasundara: Yes.

Prabhupāda: But they have no brain to understand.

Room Conversation with Kenneth Keating, U.S. Ambassador to India -- October 14, 1972, New Delhi:

Mrs. Keating: Oh, fine, fine. Yes.

Śyāmasundara: Today we received a telegram. Macmillan Company has just agreed to print Prabhupāda's Bhagavad-gītā.

Ambassador: Oh, really!

Śyāmasundara: Thirty-five thousand copies.

Ambassador: Oh!

Mrs. Keating: Oh, that's marvellous. It's a very good...

Ambassador: I used to be the attorney for the Macmillan Company.

Prabhupāda: Yes, here is, here is my headquarters address.

Room Conversation with Kenneth Keating, U.S. Ambassador to India -- October 14, 1972, New Delhi:

Mrs. Keating: Oh, good. Fine.

Prabhupāda: That is my Press address.

Śyāmasundara: This was received today.

Ambassador: "Macmillan enthusiastic. Commitment letter sent to you. 30,000 paper, 10,000 hard."

Śyāmasundara: Forty thousand.

Mrs. Keating: Excellent.

Ambassador: Forty thousand.

Mrs. Keating: Forty thousand. That's wonderful.

Ambassador: That's great.

Mrs. Keating: Really, and it's a fine company.

Prabhupāda: Yes, fine.

Room Conversation -- October 25, 1972, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: In our ISKCON Press in New York, our men are working.

Indian man: That's fine.

Prabhupāda: We don't pay anything outside. We do everything ourself.

Indian man: Good, very good.

Prabhupāda: Even ordinary repairing, we do ourself. We cannot pay outsider, it is so expensive.

1973 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation -- February 26, 1973, Jakarta:

Prabhupāda: It's a rough quality rice. It is not made from fine quality rice.

Guest (1): Unpolished.

Prabhupāda: Unpolished, rough quality rice. It is washed nicely, then mixed with little salt, then it is fried, then it is... They know the temper, fried, then they get it out. In Bengal they make. My mother used to do it. Then on sand bath, hot sand you put this prepared hot rice and puff, puff, puff, puff, puff, puff, it becomes puffed. And then you take it out. And then mesh it, to get out of the sand. Then you cook it. It is cooked in sand bath, hot sand. All this bujiya, bujiya, grains. In India there is professional maker. You... They have got hot sand always ready. You take some grains, and then you put in the hot sand and put, put, put, put, put, put, then they mesh it, return it (indistinct).

Morning Walk -- April 27, 1973, Los Angeles:

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Finer sort. Normally silicate is shining, but this is not shining because it contains various mixtures. Not only soda, but other magnesium, calcium silicates.

Prabhupāda: Silicate of soda is mixed with soap also.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Yes.

Prabhupāda: Adulteration. That's not first-class soap. Washing soap, they are mixed with silicate of soda. (pause) What is this cottage?

Room Conversation with Krishna Tiwari -- May 22, 1973, New York:

Prabhupāda: "Change is the law of nature," that's fine...

Krishna Tiwari: And therefore...

Prabhupāda: ...but one should know the whole duration of change. Just like we know that sunrise, from the morning 'till evening, there are so many changes, but I know what is that changes. That is knowledge.

Krishna Tiwari: That is true, but you...

Prabhupāda: But you cannot say that "I know seventh year. I do not know what is going to happen ninth, eighth year."

Room Conversation with Krishna Tiwari -- May 22, 1973, New York:

Devotee (1): That's fine.

Prabhupāda: Now the fact, first of all, we are under the laws of nature.

Krishna Tiwari: All right...

Prabhupāda: And the laws of nature... (break)

Krishna Tiwari: From my opinion, something which I do know.

Prabhupāda: But we know, we know, in this way, that Lord Kṛṣṇa says that mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sa-carācaram (BG 9.10), "Under My control, under My superintendence, the material law of nature is working."

Room Conversation with Krishna Tiwari -- May 22, 1973, New York:

Krishna Tiwari: Yes. But who? The book... You see, the difference is philosophically. As far as the philosophy of the Bhagavad-gītā is concerned, fine. But when since we start talking about somebody controlling, and identifying somebody with somebody, I have troubles, as everybody else does.

Prabhupāda: Well, no, no trouble. First of all, we have accepted that we are under the control of laws of nature. That is a fact.

Krishna Tiwari: Oh, yes.

Prabhupāda: Now we say... Not we say; our Vedic literature says that there is a controller of the laws of nature.

Room Conversation with Krishna Tiwari -- May 22, 1973, New York:

Devotee: Fine. But about that person, you see, you can find and find and find. You've got an outlet. You can get his hair and analyze. Each hair you can see millions of atoms. You can count the atoms in each hair. You can go further and further and further. But if you don't know that is an elephant, that's...

Krishna Tiwari: No, we have to know.

Ātreya Ṛṣi: So we're talking about the whole, which includes, includes that creator.

Krishna Tiwari: Right.

Ātreya Ṛṣi: Now, when...

Krishna Tiwari: I think we don't have much difference of opinion.

Ātreya Ṛṣi: And we go, to find about that creator, we go to the source of authority...

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Room Conversation with Krishna Tiwari -- May 22, 1973, New York:

Krishna Tiwari: That's fine. I don't think we have any disagreement on that point.

Prabhupāda: That's all right. Let us agree to that point.

Krishna Tiwari: Yes.

Prabhupāda: Let us agree to that point. Now what is that something, that remains, for the time being. I may say "I know"; you may say "I don't believe in it." That is a different thing. But there must be something above the laws of nature which is controlling. That's all.

Room Conversation with Krishna Tiwari -- May 22, 1973, New York:

Krishna Tiwari: No, no... Okay, go on saying like that. Fine. (laughs)

Prabhupāda: Yes, because you are godless in this sense: because you are born in India, born in a brāhmaṇa family, and you do not believe Kṛṣṇa the Supreme Lord.

Krishna Tiwari: Oh. I do not believe, but uh, I do believe that God is, but I do not understand whether the... (indistinct) God or not. I don't know.

Prabhupāda: You do not understand, that is your godlessness. That is your godlessness, because...

Conversation with Sridhara Maharaja -- June 27, 1973, Navadvipa:

Śrīdhara Mahārāja: And the scientific fineness that is also in the jurisdiction of matter. But a more subtle and subtler knowledge is possible.

Prabhupāda: Now we are presenting through two of my scientific students, Doctor of Chemistry, that matter is, the source of matter is spirit. This is our theory. Generally they believe the life, life comes from matter...

Śrīdhara Mahārāja: Life comes from matter.

Prabhupāda: Matter. But we, we are presenting, "No, matter comes from life."

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

Buddhist Monk (1): Yes. Gautama the Buddha, whom I follow, who is my teacher, a poor man came, and he found him panting, asked him, "Well, what's the trouble?" "Oh, I've got news that you're here. I want to see you." And the Buddha found that not only had he run... He asked him, "When did you last have a meal?" He said, "That's quite a few days ago." He said, "We cannot preach on empty stomachs. Ānanda, give this man a good meal before he could come to me." And this fine virtue of hospitality, much as we have treasured in the past, when people leave their shores, they are inclined to forget this. I've been addressing various groups. I do not confine myself to Buddhist groups only. Whatever group was interested, to foster some understanding, good will and peace, I addressed. I said three things that many people forget when they leave their countries are first, their serene smile; secondly, hospitality; thirdly, they become ashamed of their own cultures because many are strangers of their own cultures.

Prabhupāda: Hm.

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

Buddhist Monk (1): Because greed causes the rat-race. Greed causes these wars. But if we reduce this, and the reduction parallelly followed by simple living, high thinking and high practice. There is no other remedy, whatever religion a man follows. If they get involved in this rat-race of materialism, war is inevitable, whether for a stretch of water or of land. But if man lives a simple life, this Mother Earth can be made to produce everything that is necessary. Soya beans are a very fine substitute for meat. And if they do not damage the crust of the earth, and if they scientifically control birth, scientifically, not by drugs and pills, which are dangerous...

Prabhupāda: What is that scientifically?

Buddhist Monk (1): It's a control of the sex, sex.

Prabhupāda: That is brahmacārī.

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

Buddhist Monk (1): That's right. You are... One has to... (Sanskrit or Pali:) Śambhuḥ pāpas cākāraṇa, kuśalasya upasampada sac citto parayodapanam etaṁ buddham anuśāsana. (?) Abstain from the unwholesome, the source of all our problems and suffering, lobha, doṣa, moha. Kuśalasya upasampada. Practice the virtues, that is when the mind is rooted in alobha, that is nongreed, liberality, including hospitality; adoṣa, nonhatred, evil, all-loving kindness; amoha opanya (?) wisdom. And why? When one is on the noble, eight-fold path-right understanding, right thinking, right speech, right bodily action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration—there is that oozing joy and delight. And that is the finest substitute. Men, because of avidyā, have not tasted delight. Because of his weakness, they thought mokṣa,... (knock on door)

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Buddhist Monk (1): ...that it was here in this earth when they indulge in sensualities. (More people coming in)

Prabhupāda: Hare Kṛṣṇa. Aiye. Jaya. (pause) You are from India? (Hindi—few sentences with guest) So we are therefore presenting Kṛṣṇa, the most delightful feature. So chanting and dancing before Kṛṣṇa, taking His prasādam, and practicing delightful nature, awakening the delightful consciousness, Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Room Conversation with Sir Alistair Hardy -- July 21, 1973, London:

Sir Alistair Hardy: Yes, yes, I must. I've been to the great temple of Rāmeśvaram in southern India, south of Madras. It was a very fine experience.

Prabhupāda: All the temples you have seen? South India?

Sir Alistair Hardy: A temple in southern India.

Revatīnandana: Which one?

Mukunda: Rāmeśvaram.

Sir Alistair Hardy: Rāmeśvaram.

Prabhupāda: Rāmeśvaram.

Garden Conversation with Mahadeva's Mother and Jesuit Priest -- July 25, 1973, London:

Mother: But they were, they were very fine men.

Jesuit Priest: Well, anyhow, thank you very much, father, for letting us talk and for letting us listen to you.

Prabhupāda: Thank you very much for your coming here.

Jesuit Priest: Very nice to come here, and congratulations for...

Prabhupāda: No, our only proposal is that you try to love God. That's all. God is one. God is neither Hindu, nor Muslim, nor Christian. God is God. So let us love God. That's all. That is perfection of life.

Room Conversation with Sanskrit Professor -- August 13, 1973, Paris:

Professor: That's fine. That is fine.

Prabhupāda: What, what is your opinion about interpretation?

Professor: Well, it's much better to have a commentary separated, not an interpretation given mixed with the translation. It is not to be...

Prabhupāda: It is not good. No. Yes. We cite them...

Professor: It has to be different.

Prabhupāda: No, if you have got your own opinion, you can write your own book. But you cannot interpret on the Bhagavad-gītā.

Room Conversation -- September 1, 1973, London:

Prabhupāda: Oh yes. There are varieties. Ānanda, ānanda, pleasure means varieties. Variety is the mother of enjoyment. Without varieties, just like we prepare from grains, sugar, ghee, hundreds of varieties. If you simply give grain, ghee and sugar, it will not be enjoyable. But the same thing, you prepare in varieties and give you a plate, oh, you'll say, "Oh, so nice thing." The ingredients are the same. Grains, ghee and sugar, that's all. Similarly, this material world, the ingredients are the same. Namely five gross elements and three subtle elements, finer. Earth, water, air, fire, sky. These are gross elements. And mind, intelligence, ego these are finer elements. Combined together this material world has come. The brain behind is a living entity.

Room Conversation -- September 2, 1973, London:

Prabhupāda: No, soul is different. Soul is different. Soul is finer than intelligence. These things are explained in the Bhagavad-gītā.

indriyāṇi parāṇy āhur

indriyebhyaḥ paraṁ manaḥ

manasas tu parā buddhir

yo buddheḥ paratas tu saḥ

(BG 3.42)

First of all, gross understanding. This body means the senses. Indriyāṇi. Those who are animals, they are thinking this is all. But they do not understand that these indriyas are being controlled by the mind. If one's mind is, what is called, distorted, then the indriyas cannot work. That is madman. You try to cure the mental disease just to bring him in proper position to control the senses. Otherwise, he does not know how to control the senses.

Morning Walk -- December 2, 1973, Los Angeles:

Prabhupāda: That's all right. How it is made? That they do not know, how subtle things are being done... (aside) We can go this way. That is their ignorance. They do not know subtle things. Simply gross manifestation attracts their attention. That's all. Jaḍā-dṛṣṭi. It is called jaḍā-dṛṣṭi, material vision. No sukhā-dṛṣṭi. Every, every field, they have no finer introspection. Simply gross. They deal with gross things. Just like the same example: Here is a tree, but it is a fact, this tree has grown from a small seed. So what do they know about the seed, how it is manufactured, how it has got the potency of bringing out such a big tree? Not only that, in that seed there will be millions of fruits, and each fruit there will be millions of seeds, and each seed contains again millions of trees. Where is your science? Where is that potency?

Morning Walk -- December 3, 1973, Los Angeles:

Prabhupāda: And finer than the vāyu is the ether, the sky. Finer than the sky is the mind. Finer than the mind is the intelligence, and finer than the intelligence is the soul. So they do not know this. They capture only middle thing, vāyu. Wherefrom the vāyu came? Wherefrom the gas came?

Svarūpa Dāmodara: That part remains unanswered. That part cannot be answered.

Prabhupāda: But we answer, we answer. We have got the knowledge. The gas came from ether, and ether came from mind, and mind came from intelligence, and intelligence came from the soul.

Morning Walk -- December 6, 1973, Los Angeles:

Prabhupāda: Any law, as soon as you say, "law", you must have to accept a law-maker. Any law. Otherwise, there is no... Just like the law is: "When there is red light, you must stop." You don't see any person, but if you don't stop, then you go to a person who will prosecute you. You don't see the person here, but if you violate, you'll have to go to a person who will fine you, "You rascal, you have done this." So ultimately a puruṣa, person.

Karandhara: (break) ...just for atheists who want to be a little pious, but they're not...

Prabhupāda: Yes, little, little moralist.

Morning Walk -- December 17, 1973, Los Angeles:

Karandhara: It's a very high price.

Rūpānuga: Pay fine.

Prabhupāda: Yes. The more dangerous is the disease, you have to pay more. (break)

Karandhara: ...very mercenary, hospitals...

Prabhupāda: Everywhere mercenary. Lawyers...

Karandhara: The hospital across the street from our temple, if you go there with an emergency, they say, "First give us money. No money, go away." No matter how serious the injury. "First give us money."

Svarūpa Dāmodara: They have no human quality, these doctors.

Morning Walk -- December 17, 1973, Los Angeles:

Prabhupāda: At will. So the soul is still finer. Intelligence is finer than the mind. And soul is finer than the intelligence. So just imagine what is the velocity. Soul is so powerful. By yogi, simply giving up this material body, they can capture the sun rays and immediately go to the sun planet. Beams of the sun. This is science. Where is that science?

Prajāpati: Śrīla Prabhupāda, are thoughts made of matter or spirit?

Prabhupāda: Yes. Thoughts actually made by spirit, but it is covered by matter. Therefore in the material condition you can think only of matter. Just like this body is covered by so many material things, but actually, the spirit is covered. So the soul being spirit, so long it is covered by matter, it cannot act spiritually. It is obstructed. Not obstructed. Covered. It cannot be obstructed. If you like, you can get out of the covering of the matter. So matter cannot obstruct. But it is the will of the soul. Therefore it is called taṭastha, marginal.

Morning Walk -- December 29, 1973, Los Angeles:

Dr. Wolfe: Fine, thank you.

Prabhupāda: Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: I brought a friend, Śrīla Prabhupāda, from Calcutta. He was my class friend in Calcutta. He is from St. Xavier's College. He graduated.

Prabhupāda: Oh. Bengali?

Sujit: Bengali. (Bengali conversation)

Prabhupāda: (Bengali) ...Mahatma Gandhi Road.

1974 Conversations and Morning Walks

Morning Walk -- January 16, 1974, Hawaii:

Prabhupāda: (laughing) Then it is all right. You are American fools. And she is Japanese. Japanese are very intelligent. Yes. Extraordinarily. They're just like Bengalis. Yes. Because mostly they eat fish. Fish is very good thing. It has got sufficient quantity of phosphorus. So brain becomes nice—for this crude work, not for fine spiritual work.

Bali Mardana: No.

Sudāmā: Śrīla Prabhupāda, yesterday I received a telephone call from Gopāla and he said that in a month-

Prabhupāda: Gopāla Kṛṣṇa?

Sudāmā: -yes, Gopāla Kṛṣṇa, Mahārāja, in Tokyo.

Bali Mardana: No, Gopāla Svāmī.

Sudāmā: Gopāla Svāmī.

Prabhupāda: Gopāla Svāmī, yes.

Morning Walk -- March 24, 1974, Bombay:

Dr. Patel: Real pleasure is coming at six. It is really very fine here.

Prabhupāda: (break) And they want to come when there is little light. I can come at two o'clock. (laughter)

Dr. Patel: Shall I come Monday?

Prabhupāda: Everyone knows.

Dr. Patel: Shall I come Monday at three o'clock and wake you up?

Prabhupāda: Oh yes, anytime. I get up at one o'clock. Everyone knows.

Morning Walk -- March 29, 1974, Bombay:

Indian man (3): Perfectly right, but what I say what he has... Finer points.

Prabhupāda: Now you say there are seven branches, and they're preaching in a different way. So how people will understand...?

Indian man (3): Because then those people were reading all so many śāstras he narrowed to five. He wanted the Veda you must read, Vyāsa-sūtra... (break)

Prabhupāda: Beginning should be Bhagavad-gītā. (break) Pañcopāsanam. Pañcopāsanam is not for the Vaiṣṇava.

Morning Walk -- June 19, 1974, Germany:

Prabhupāda: Yes, that may be, according to the body you are getting. There are 8,400,000 species of body. So according to your work you will be allowed to enter into the womb of mother. How can you check it? Where is your scientist? That is nature's law, automatically. Just like if you are infected, you get this disease. That's all. There is no need of mother nature will take personal... No, the rules are so fine that you will get automatically. Parāsya śaktir vividhaiva śrūyate svā-bhāvikī jñāna-bala-kriyā ca (Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport). The Kṛṣṇa's energies are so powerful and subtle that it takes everything takes automatically. One set up, then after that, after that, after that, after that—everything is there. Parāsya śaktir vividhaiva śrūyate. Prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi (BG 3.27). Everything is described in the Bhagavad-gītā. You have no control.

Room Conversation with Reverend Gordon Powell, Head of Scots Church -- June 28, 1974, Melbourne:

Reverend Powell: Yes? Hm. Another thing. We, of course, have been impressed by the number of young Australians who have become interested in the Hare Krishna Movement and we really congratulate you, sir, on the very fine work (Prabhupāda chuckles) that you've done, and the ones who have rescued the ladies from the fire the other day. But I think everybody recognizes that they're most sincere, that they're not involved because they're not being blessed. They feel they're getting something out of it. But how do you explain... I gather that most countries, in Britain and America and so on that there are many thousands...

Prabhupāda: In Africa. In China, in Japan. Everywhere.

Room Conversation with Reverend Gordon Powell, Head of Scots Church -- June 28, 1974, Melbourne:

Reverend Powell: Thank you. Your Grace, I was in Moscow, many years ago now. And everywhere I went in Russia, well right down to Stalingrad, as it was called then. They said, "This society is based on the principle, 'From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.' " Now, I felt that in principle that was a very fine thing because it's based on the parable of the talents and the parable of what we call the penny wage, the same wage is paid to all however long they work because they all have the same need, really. That principle, I think, is a Christian principle, I mean from that point of view it is. But I see what you were saying earlier...

Prabhupāda: The principles, as they are stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, it is not limited within Christian or communist or capitalist.

Room Conversation with Bhurijana dasa and Disciples -- July 1, 1974, Melbourne:

Prabhupāda: ...human being. It is not meant for the beast. God has given different food for different person, different. You will find even food grains, rice-first quality rice, second quality rice. Why nature has produced? Because there are persons who cannot eat third quality rice. So God has given: "Oh, here is first-class quality." They will eat little. And in India there are classes, they will eat so much. So for them that red rice is good. They do not like this fine basmati. I have got practical experience. Sometime we used to give even the servants the same rice. So this man came. He complained, "Bahu." "Bahu" means master. "This rice is not suitable for us." That fine basmati rice. He did not like it. Then the next day that red, big, big. Have seen that?

Room Conversation with Scientists -- July 2, 1974, Melbourne:

Madhudviṣa: One thing that we would like to mention, as our spiritual master says, there is a definite, according to the Vedic scripture, there is a definite link between consumption of milk and development of fine brain tissues. And if your department of knowledge has some research in that area, we think it would be a great service to mankind if they can be informed how they can develop fine brain tissues. Fine brain tissues which are needed for coping with the problems of this day and age. Not that simply if I disagree with you we'll just fight. There has to be fine brain tissues in order to say, "Let us sit down and talk about this together." And we say, not we, but according to the scripture, there is a definite link between the consumption of milk products, not just milk, but cheese and all different milk products, the consumption of milk products and development of the necessary intellect. This is why, as our spiritual master said, the highly intelligent people of India have lived predominantly, not just drinking milk, but everything they ate was cooked in milk products. The vegetables, rice, even if rice was boiled, milk was put on, ghee was put on the rice. So that is like an unavoidable essential in their diet, not simply from the palatable standpoint, but actually from the relationship between the physical and the metaphysical progress.

Prabhupāda: And thousands of tons of ghee, clarified butter, was offered in the yajña. The smoke created a kind of cloud which is very good for cultivation.

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation with Tripurari -- March 2, 1975, Atlanta:

Prabhupāda: That is fine. That is wanted. You are expert mṛdaṅga player? I have seen. He is very, very nice.

Tripurāri: Sometimes when we go to the temples they ask us to give class, saṅkīrtana class on book distribution techniques. We tell them that before you can take any techniques, first you must follow the principles and study the books.

Prabhupāda: Yes. That is real technique. Our only technique is to be very devout followers of the rules and regulation.

Morning Walk -- (World War III) -- April 4, 1975, Mayapur:

Prabhupāda: Atomic body? Atomic body means material body. Unless you are free from this material body, the atomic body will go on with you. That means unless you are mukta, the atomic body will go on. Mind, intelligence, ego—they are also atomic, finer atomic body.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: But within each atom the living entity is present?

Prabhupāda: Yes. God is present; therefore living entity is present.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So the living entity is present within the atom just as I am present within this body. When I leave this body, my body breaks apart.

Prabhupāda: Yes, you leave this body, enter another body.

Morning Walk -- May 9, 1975, Perth:

Amogha: My parents used to tell me that nothing can be absolutely true, because everything is really finer shades of grey.

Prabhupāda: He has no idea what is absolute truth. He is in darkness. He does not know there is absolute world. This is the relative worlds.

Amogha: They think that people who say there is Absolute Truth have not observed the other thoughts of other people, so they haven't seen everything.

Prabhupāda: What is that other thought? We know everyone's thought. We know everyone's thought.

Room Conversation with Justin Murphy (Geographer) -- May 14, 1975, Perth:

Justin Murphy: Fine. But how... O.K. How about, then the, some of the ancient and maybe even now the latter-day philosophers...

Prabhupāda: No, just see...

Justin Murphy: ...the men of sobriety and gentleness, the Bertrand Russells for example.

Prabhupāda: They have to be trained. Just like you have been trained up as geographer; similarly, a certain man can be trained up as first-class man by education.

Room Conversation with Dr. Copeland, Professor of Modern Indian History -- May 20, 1975, Melbourne:

Dr. Copeland: Okay, fine. I thank you very much for your time. And when do you come back again?

Prabhupāda: When?

Dr. Copeland: When do you come back to Australia again?

Madhudviṣa: January. Hopefully in January. Will session be in then?

Dr. Copeland: Oh, no, that won't work.

Madhudviṣa: When is session?

Dr. Copeland: Session will end in October and start again in March. But if when you come back in January, they tell me that you're here, I'll come talk to you again if you want to talk to me again.

Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. You are always welcome. Educated man like you is welcome.

Morning Walk -- May 29, 1975, Honolulu:

Prabhupāda: Oh. No, no, they will fine.

Gurukṛpa: No, no, they don't know.

Prabhupāda: What is the use, coming here, spending so much motor oil to steal this?

Gurukṛpa: No, we are doing that anyway. We are doing that anyway. To pick these flowers daily, they are going so many places and being chased away. They would rather see them rot than to give them to us. They don't let us pick. (break)

Prabhupāda: All nonsense. They are professing I am Christian, I am Hindu, I am Muslim, but they are enemies, one another. So where is their religion? Just see, common sense. Even the animals, amongst themselves, they do not say "Keep out." Sit down together. They sit down actually. The birds, beasts of the same position, they keep together. Birds of the same feather flock... But human being, having, professing so many religions-enemies.

Morning Walk -- May 31, 1975, Honolulu:

Prabhupāda: Yes, yes. Another example is given. In South India there are a class of dancer. They keep a waterpot on the head, and they will dance, but it will not fall down. Careful. (break) ...kṛṣṇa-padaravindayor kṣīṇa-tavābhrāṇi ca sākaṁ pramodaḥ. If we remember always Kṛṣṇa, then all our inauspicity is driven away, and prosperity increases. Sākaṁ pramodaḥ. (break) If you know a little Sanskrit, they will see the composition of Bhāgavatam so fine. It is not possible to be composed now.

Gurukṛpa: Sweet.

Prabhupāda: Five thousand years ago it was composed by Vyāsadeva. (break) ...only for the Juhu Beach so many hotels are being maintained. Even this Holiday Inn, they have also...

Room Conversation with Dr. John Mize -- June 23, 1975, Los Angeles:

Prabhupāda: By the material life, these are our field of activities. The body is a combination of all these things. Just like a huge computer machine. It is made of these material things, but the mechanical parts are very minute, different. All these are matter. But within this matter, because the soul is there, therefore the finest machine is working. Just like your composition machine, (imitates machine:) "Kut, kut, kut, kut, kut, kut." But one has to push the button; otherwise useless. However very nicely made the machine, without a living being's touch, it is useless. So all this big machine, body, is wonderful so long the soul is there. And as soon as the soul is out it is lump of matter, useless, not worth a penny. Throw it away. So we are giving importance to the machine, not to the person who is dealing with the machine.

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

Dr. Judah: Yes, fine.

Prabhupāda: So we can talk in details.

Bahulāśva: We showed Dr. Judah the press and all the books, how they were published. He was very impressed.

Dr. Judah: Yes. You seem to... You have, it would seem, the very latest knowledge of technology. They're doing these things by means of computers, you know, and all of the very highest technology. In fact, technology that I haven't seen in many publishing companies, and I have looked at a lot of publishing companies. And this is the most advanced technology I have ever seen in publishing. (laughter) It's amazing really.

Devotee: Beware, it'll do you in. (laughter) No, we can use it for Kṛṣṇa. That is the important thing, as long as we're using it for Kṛṣṇa.

Room Conversation -- June 26, 1975, Los Angeles:

Devotee (2): That would be fine.

Devotee (1): Okay.

Prabhupāda: Before me. You are saying something. They may say something else. So brothers together, we sit down together, and bring this...

Devotee (2): All right. But we have some, also, questions that don't require that. These are philosophical questions. For instance, in Kṛṣṇa Book there is a statement that King Ugrasena had four billion personal servants. Now you have asked that we go and spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness to the scientific community.

Prabhupāda: So everyone is servant. What is the question of four billion? Kṛṣṇa's servant...

Room Conversation -- June 26, 1975, Los Angeles:

Devotee (2): In some respects it's going fine. But these are problems which can be dealt with amongst us, and they are affecting all of us. And for some people these are problems though they may not be for you. I think, as far as I know, your conduct has always been very honorable. But for some people who it's not and where these misconceptions apply, it's a real problem and we're trying to deal with it because it affects our lives.

Upendra: The strength to deal with those problems comes from following sādhanācāra.

Devotee (2): We are also attempting to follow sādhanācāra. And if we are imperfect...

Prabhupāda: Anyway, if he has said so, that is wrong.

Room Conversation with the Mayor of Evanston -- July 4, 1975, Chicago:

Mayor: No, this is fine. Thank you very much. We'll see you all.

Prabhupāda: (laughing) Hare Kṛṣṇa. (mayor leaves) Now, try to get this house from the... He can... If he likes, he can do it.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. They're in a position. They have many such buildings, Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: If not this building, they could give an alternate building.

Prabhupāda: Yes. But this is very good building. We can keep five hundred men.

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

Lt. Mozee: No, this is fine, thank you.

Prabhupāda: You take one more of this cheese.

Lt. Mozee: All right. (laughter)

Prabhupāda: Give the devotees.

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

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

Room Conversation with writer, Sandy Nixon -- July 13, 1975, Philadelphia:

Prabhupāda: We don't say anything which is not spoken by God in the Bhagavad-gītā. Therefore it is appealing everywhere. Although it is in Sanskrit language, still, it is appealing. Just like if you go on the street and the signboard is, "Keep to the right," this is law. I cannot say, "What is the wrong if I keep to the left?" Then I am criminal. You cannot dictate. The government has said, "Keep to the right." You have to do that, that is law. If you violate, then you are criminal. Pay fine. But ordinarily, one may think, "What is the wrong there, instead of keeping right, if I keep to the left?" He may think like that, but he doesn't know that is criminal.

Room Conversation with writer, Sandy Nixon -- July 13, 1975, Philadelphia:

Prabhupāda: Self-analysis, that requires intelligence. But our process is, "Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa." There is no difficulty. So it is better than A.A.

Devotee: Yes, much better. (laughter)

Prabhupāda: So why should you bother about that process? You chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. That's all. Is that all right?

Devotee: That's fine. (end)

Room Conversation with Bernard Manischewitz -- July 13, 1975, Philadelphia:

Bernard Manischewitz: Thank you very much. This is fine. This is fine. I have here a check for the life membership.

Brahmānanda: Oh, yes.

Bernard Manischewitz: I'll cash it.

Brahmānanda: Mr. Manischewitz is becoming life member.

Prabhupāda: Ohh. Thank you very much. So give him books.

Brahmānanda: Yes.

Bernard Manischewitz: This is fine, thank you very much.

Prabhupāda: Now you can... I saw you before?

Room Conversation with Bernard Manischewitz -- July 13, 1975, Philadelphia:

Bernard Manischewitz: I'm fine, thank you.

Prabhupāda: She's your daughter?

Bernard Manischewitz: My daughter. My son-in-law. My sleeping grandson. (laughter)

Prabhupāda: So make him active like you.

Bernard Manischewitz: I have a question. May I ask? Is it sometimes possible that a person is reborn in the same body (indistinct, Prabhupāda coughs).

Prabhupāda: Same body? What is that?

Brahmānanda: Is a person reborn in the same body?

Prabhupāda: Yes, you are reborn every moment. You were like this child sometime. Is this body the same? You think your body is the same when you were a child like that, lying down on the lap of you mother? Is the same body?

Conversation with Professor Hopkins -- July 13, 1975, Philadelphia:

Prof. Hopkins: Fine thank you.

Prabhupāda: Thank you.

Prof. Hopkins: I have several questions that I would like to raise. I have a long-standing interest in the...

Prabhupāda: You can sit down.

Prof. Hopkins: In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. And this I know is very important to you and to the Caitanya tradition.

Prabhupāda: You have seen all the parts published? Books and... Which Canto you have read?

Morning Walk -- July 25, 1975, Los Angeles:

Hayagrīva: Oh, fine, Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: That's nice. Hare Kṛṣṇa. (break) Caitanya Mahāprabhu's order is yāre dekha, tāre kaha 'kṛṣṇa'-upadeśa (CC Madhya 7.128). Don't talk nonsense. Whomever you meet, if you want to become a leader and talk something, talk Kṛṣṇa-kathā, yāre dekha, tāre kaha 'kṛṣṇa'..., what Kṛṣṇa has said. Then satisfy your ambition to become a talker. Otherwise, you rascal, remain a talker only. You talk only; you get nothing. If you want to utilize your talking power, then talk what Kṛṣṇa has instructed. Then your life will be successful. And if you talk foolishly, then you will be revealed as a rascal. Tāvac ca śobhate mūrkho yāvat kiñcin na bhāsate: "A rascal fool is so long beautiful as long he does not speak. As soon as he speaks, then he is revealed that he is a rascal." So don't talk this. Tāvac ca śobhate mūrkha. You can dress yourself, very nice gentleman. People will res...But as soon as you talk nonsense—"Oh, here is a rascal," that's all. That is going on. They are... In the name of scientist, philosopher, they are talking nonsense and exposing themselves that they are all rascals.

Morning Walk -- August 28, 1975, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Oh. Therefore we have established Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma temple.

Dhanañjaya: The sands are very fine and soft here.

Prabhupāda: Sands are always soft. (break) ...old house. (break)

Dhanañjaya: ...been all jungle like this at one time.

Prabhupāda: Hm? Gardens, not jungle.

Dhanañjaya: Not jungle. Forest.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Vana means forest. What is this?

Morning Walk -- October 3, 1975, Mauritius:

Prabhupāda: Britishers were advertising outside India that "Indians are uncivilized. Therefore we are making them civilized. Therefore we should stay there. Don't object." Because United Nations, they were asking, "Why you are occupying India?" So they used to forward this argument, that "These people are uncivilized. We are making them civilized." (laughter) Now, how there should be Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose? Therefore they used to suppress always. Everything Indian wanted to do, they would suppress: big businesses, this mining... They would suppress. This Morarji, Sumati Morarji, her father-in-law started that... He had to face so many impediments from the Britishers to start the shipping company. Formerly there was no shipping company, Indian. Now, before that, there was shipping, not shipping company, but navigation was there from India to Rome, Greece, Turkey, there was regular business of spices and fine cloth.

Morning Walk -- October 6, 1975, Durban:

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Yes. They were making finer cloth by hand than the British were making by machines. So in order to discourage, they would cut off the thumb so they couldn't weave.

Prabhupāda: So many things. And to make a show, the Lord Hasting was impeached in the Parliament. Here the black men, they are Africans.

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Yes. In this country there's nineteen million Africans and about over five million Europeans, about one million Indian people, and about one million colored people.

Prabhupāda: So these women, what they are carrying on the head?

Room Conversation with the Rector, Professor Olivier and Professors of the University of Durban, Westville -- October 8, 1975, Durban:

Prabhupāda: Again you say religion. It is not religion. It is science.

Professor: Fine. You say it is science; I say it is religion.

Prabhupāda: Now, you have to say, because you also grow. You shall also grow old man like me, not that because you are Christian you will not grow old man like me.

Professor: In any case...

Prabhupāda: No, this is the first proposition, that if you keep people in darkness—he does not know what is his future—then what is the use of education and university?

Indian man (2): So do you mean that the university should be abolished?

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

Faill: I think that's fine. I'll just take that and do what I can with it. I've spoken to them, and they're quite happy if I can get a feature out of it. You wouldn't know what time the planes leave yet on Monday?

Harikeśa: I can find out.

Faill: I was thinking we might try and get a photographer out and get the group leaving, if that would be all right.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Yes. That can be done.

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

Faill: That's fine. Well, I'll try and get a photographer out and just get the group with you when you're catching the plane.

Prabhupāda: Thank you. Yes.

Faill: The plane is at 9:45.

Harikeśa: Yes. It's leaving at 9:45.

Faill: You'll have to be there about 9:15, I think. Good. Well, thank you very much.

Prabhupāda: Now, now... So we are leaving this place at nine?

Room Conversation -- October 21, 1975, Johannesburg:

Prabhupāda: There is no clear conception.

Guest: That's right. And I think this is the reason that leads you away. We've been led away from the Bible because of that. There is nothing clear, and everybody who has read it to us has read it to us in a different way. But I would say that the finest book we have read is Bhagavad-gītā. There's no question.

Morning Walk -- November 21, 1975, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Yes. That's fine.

Mahāṁsa: So we can distribute to all the villagers.

Prabhupāda: Distribute rice and dahl and little vegetables, and they will come, take prasādam and chant.

Mahāṁsa: Also this bullock cart party can recruit many persons from villagers to come and stay at the farm.

Prabhupāda: That is first business, that they should join this movement and eat prasādam and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. (break) ...food, they have begun spinning their own cloth.

Morning Walk -- December 12, 1975, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Yes, that is finer.

Harikeśa: So is that example of the space, then the thinner air, and the air, and the water, and the earth, and in between electricity...

Prabhupāda: The grosser, grosser...

Harikeśa: Is that a good example?

Prabhupāda: Everything is coming from the subtle form, finer. Finer than the ether is the mind, and finer than the mind is intelligence.

Morning Walk -- December 17, 1975, Bombay:

Dr. Patel: Very fine. After the building of this completely as per plan...

Saurabha: Yes. And then we still have area for gurukula also. Another hundred rooms.

Dr. Patel: Most people (indistinct) (break)

Prabhupāda: Yesterday... Last night, I explained at the Birla house that you have to change only your care of. Now we are care of under material energy, and you have to transfer your under care of spiritual energy. They appreciated.

Morning Walk -- December 23, 1975, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Huh? The only defect is that all the ingredients are not very finely powdered. If it is very finely powdered, then it will be very nice.

Lokanātha: You are perfect in all respects. You are your own doctor...

Prabhupāda: I am not doctor, but I created many doctors. (break) (to Dr. Patel:) Hare Kṛṣṇa! Jaya. (Hindi)

Dr. Patel: (Hindi: ap lok hamye sa chaye) I have decided not to come today with you. Because I was driven away yesterday morning by your men. I came to look after you.

Prabhupāda: How is that?