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Prabhupada and Visakha devi dasi

Lectures

Arrival Addresses and Talks

Arrival Conversation -- Los Angeles, June 20, 1975:

Rāmeśvara: Girl. Mūla-prakṛti.

Prabhupāda: Huh?

Rāmeśvara: That girl that was seeing you in Hawaii, Mūla-prakṛti.

Prabhupāda: Yes. She was very enthusiastic. Mūla-prakṛti? Where is Yadubara prabhu? Where is?

Jayatīrtha: He's right here.

Prabhupāda: Oh. You are feeling now nice?

Yadubara: Yes. I'm much improved.

Prabhupāda: That's nice. So everyone feeling nice?

Devotees: Yes.

Prabhupāda: You are also feeling nice?

Viśākhā: Now I am all right.

Rāmeśvara: The devotees at the Press will not feel nice until all your books are published.

Prabhupāda: Hm. That's nice.

Conversations and Morning Walks

1971 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation -- December 12, 1971, Delhi:

Prabhupāda: Otherwise, even you do ordinary killing, vegetable killing, you are killing so many germs. So in higher sense if you take this principle of Bible, "Thou shalt not kill," that means you must eat Kṛṣṇa prasādam, otherwise you will be killing. And whichever you do, it will be killing. So our process is perfect, take Kṛṣṇa prasādam. Hm?

Viśākhā: What happens to the jīva souls who were fruits and vegetables that were offered to Kṛṣṇa?

Prabhupāda: Yes, there is jīva also. I say that even vegetable you are killing, but that killing responsibility goes to Kṛṣṇa. We are killing for Kṛṣṇa. Suppose in the vegetable there is life, but we are preparing food for Kṛṣṇa.

Nara-Nārāyaṇa: I think she wants to know what happens to the soul. Supposing that a plant, we are killing the plant and offering in prasādam to Kṛṣṇa. The jīva soul who is living in the plant, what happens to him?

Prabhupāda: Because he is killed for Kṛṣṇa's purpose so he gets immediately liberation.

1974 Conversations and Morning Walks

Morning Walk -- March 25, 1974, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Yes. And because I dance, therefore they dance.

Dr. Patel: But that was becoming in America, the last part of it?

Prabhupāda: No. It was in London. Deity installation.

Dr. Patel: He did it very well, the man who edited the film.

Prabhupāda: Oh, that Yaduvara. He is very good. Where is Yaduvara? He is here? No. His wife. Yes. She's also... Viśākhā. They are, husband and wife, both of them, very expert, photography.

Morning Walk -- March 27, 1974, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Yes. (break) Jagat... Jagat-tāriṇī.

Bhava-bhūti: Oh yes.

Prabhupāda: What is the name, Jagat-tāriṇī?

Viśākhā: Dīna-tāriṇī?

Prabhupāda: No, no, Jagat-tāriṇī?

Bhava-bhūti: Jagat-tāriṇī, yes.

Prabhupāda: Who...

Bhava-bhūti: And Bhūrijana.

Prabhupāda: He married Jagat-tāriṇī. She was a famous artist. So she came to me to surrender, that "I shall become your disciple."

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

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

Prabhupāda: Jagatāriṇī.

Jayatīrtha: She can come here?

Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. She is expert dancer. She was very popular actress before joining. Very, very popular actress. You know?

Viśākhā: I've heard the name, yes.

Prabhupāda: Yes. There was a newspaper, big, big..., that "This girl has given up everything, now has joined Kṛṣṇa."

Gurudāsa: Yesterday one professional skydiver, one who parachutes from a plane for money, I talked to her. She's joining the dance company. Yesterday. Thirty-four years old, professional parachuter woman, she is joining the dance company. (laughter)

Prabhupāda: Our dance company?

Gurudāsa: Yes, our dance company. She saw the dance, and I preached to her. She's joining.

Viśākhā: We plan to make a motion picture of the Bhagavad-gītā dance that they do. My husband and I...

Prabhupāda: Do it. Apply your American brain how to serve Kṛṣṇa. That is success.

Morning Walk -- June 29, 1975, Denver:

Satsvarūpa: That wealth should be shared by everyone.

Prabhupāda: That means they also do not wish to work so hard. They are seeing that "Capitalists are sitting very comfortably and (we) working." They are also thinking, "Escaping." Is it not? So the natural tendency is that "I will not work, and still, I will get my necessities." That is natural tendency. The material world means avidyā-karma-samjñānya tṛtīyā śaktir iśyate. This is out of ignorance they are working so hard. In the spiritual world there is no question of working. You get everything. Cintāmaṇi-prakara-sadmasu. Everything, whatever you want. So why not endeavor to go there? Why should you work like hogs and dogs?

Viśakha: Śrīla Prabhupāda, they will accuse us of being parasites.

Prabhupāda: No, I am not parasite. Your master. How do you say parasite? I am not going to beg from you. Parasites?

Brahmānanda: Parasite lives off another.

Prabhupāda: No, parasites means if I take others' property, others'. If I enjoy others'..., that is parasite. But we are not enjoying others' property. We are enjoying our father's property.

Morning Walk -- July 8, 1975, Chicago:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Viśakha, take photo. (break)

Prabhupāda: And the steps...

Harikeśa: The steps also.

Prabhupāda: Just try to understand. Our lake in Māyāpur we shall make like this, all sides clear and four sides, the steps, ghāṭa, and garden.

Viśakha: Four sides, the steps?

Prabhupāda: These steps, you see? Here, there... There is no... Just opposite.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Four corners.

Prabhupāda: Four... Not four corners. Four sides.

Viśakha: And also with that in the center? Island?

Prabhupāda: No, island is not required. Make a program like that.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Take photos.

Prabhupāda: And if possible, send them ideas and direction.

Room Conversation after Press Conference -- July 9, 1975, Chicago:

Prabhupāda: ...still avoid that position. (laughter) Where is the independence? Where is the independence of woman that she has to carry the weight of the pregnancy and the man is free? What is the answer to this question? Hmm? Answer Viśakha.

Viśakha: A woman is trapped by her body. She has no choice. By her body she must.

Prabhupāda: So she is already dependent on nature's law that man is free from becoming pregnant and the woman has to take the burden. Then where is the independence, equal right? Equal right means sometimes man may become pregnant, sometimes woman may become pregnant, but why only woman should become pregnant and the man goes away and she has to take care of the children, beg from government or this and that? Is that independence? Eh?

Morning Walk -- July 16, 1975, San Francisco:

Prabhupāda: Oh. Where is Yadubara?

Bahulāśva: Right here, Yadubara.

Brahmānanda: Poor Yadubara. (laughter)

Yadubara: I am one of the rats. (break)

Prabhupāda: ...also? No.

Harikeśa: Viśakha? No. (break)

Yadubara: ...four years, Śrīla Prabhupāda, and I was full of anxiety all the time. (break)

Morning Walk -- December 10, 1975, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: No, no, I don't say that I don't like women, but I cannot say that equal rights. How can I say? First of all show that you equal rights—your husband becomes sometimes pregnant and then you become pregnant, alternately.

Akṣayānanda: That doesn't mean you don't like them.

Prabhupāda: No, it is truth. I am speaking the truth, that "If you have equal right, then let your husband become pregnant. Make some arrangement."

Harikeśa: Viśākhā was preaching to her. She said that "Actually we are less intelligent." (laughter) That started a big scandal...

Prabhupāda: Yes. And that is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. (break) They are in equal right, then... Nowadays, of course, they are thinking like that, that man should remain independent, and they'll have homosex, and the woman also independent and they will make some... This is most immoral things.

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

Morning Walk -- January 8, 1976, Nellore:

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: ...we distributed about twenty of your big books in half an hour there.

Prabhupāda: In New York?

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: In that Gaṇeśa temple. I've gone there with Yadubara and Viśākhā once.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: They already built it?

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: No, they have a temporary one, but they're building a.... They've been building it for five years. They just have a layout of all...

Prabhupāda: What is their cult, this Tirupati committee?

Conversation with Clergymen -- June 15, 1976, Detroit:

Jayādvaita: That should be finished in not more than one or two days.

Viśākhā: Tell him this has to be turned over when it stops.

Hari-śauri: If it runs out.

Viśākhā: Yeah, it flops up.

Hari-śauri: Yeah, keep it there.

Lekhaśravantī: Śrīla Prabhupāda, this is Father Kern and Father Scheverman. Father Scheverman is from the church across the street from the temple here. He came also tonight.

Prabhupāda: Yes, let him.... Bring one āsana.

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

Kulaśekhara: Śrīla Prabhupāda, if you take milk in other forms, like if you eat cheese, if you take curd or cheese, is it the same as drinking milk or ... ?

Prabhupāda: Yes. Any milk preparation. And if you have got enough milk, then keep it as ghee and open restaurant in the city. Give them nice samosā, kachorī. So in exchange you get money, you require little money, so that money will help you. Actually, in India, before these British, the poorer class of men, they were simply keeping, say, a dozen of cows, and that was their means of livelihood, that's all. From the milk they'll eat the, that, little milk, then yogurt, then..., what is called? It is another milk?

Devotees: Casein? Curd? Cheese?

Visakha: Buttermilk.

Prabhupāda: Buttermilk, yes, and in this way after drinking and eating so many things, whatever balance is there, churn it and they get ghee, and that ghee is kept in stock. On the market day, they go to the city and sell it. You'll find in Vṛndāvana, so many cultivators, they have brought ghee. So the inhabitants of the city, town, they require ghee, they purchase, and with that money they get some necessities, just like some oil or some spices, salt, like this, which is not available.

Room Conversation After Film -- June 28, 1976, New Vrindaban:

Prabhupāda: The more people will be sinful, the place will be dark with cloudy. Nature will always disturb. Tān ahaṁ dviṣataḥ krūrān (BG 16.19). They will not be happy. It is not possible. This is the only way to become happy. So, so far as possible, I have given you some framework. Now you fill up. Make it a nice building. Yes. All right. (devotees offer obeisances) (break)

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Viśākhā was wondering who..., if you have any idea or choice who should do the Hindi translation or Bengali translation and speaking for the film like this. Did you have anyone in particular in mind, or inquiry should be made?

Prabhupāda: It requires some professional man. Laymen cannot go with the film.

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

Prabhupāda: So many are... Because they're speculating. No valid knowledge.

Viśākhā: It seems that since they have imperfect senses, they're unable to perceive...

Prabhupāda: It is impossible to say anything scientifically. So-called scientifically.

Viśākhā: So they cannot perceive that there is somebody with perfect senses.

Prabhupāda: Eh?

Viśākhā: They deny that there is someone with perfect senses.

Prabhupāda: So they may, but we have got. Our knowledge is paramparā. That Kṛṣṇa says, whatever He says is all right. Kṛṣṇa is not common man, avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā mānuṣīṁ tanum āśritam (BG 9.11). He's not man at all He's Supreme Personality of Godhead. Abhijñaḥ. Experience in everything.

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

Svarūpa Dāmodara: That is called to make castles in the air?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Actually it is like that.

Prabhupāda: Yes. (chuckles)

Viśākhā: We want to try make a film to prove this point that life comes from life.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: We can do that with film?

Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. Why not?

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

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Everything will be very harmonious and come to a common conclusion. But so long as...

Prabhupāda: We are giving the solution, let them take it. This is our greatest contribution.

Viśākhā: The problem is they believe what they see.

Prabhupāda: Believe or not believe, we shall have to give the people by books, by knowledge, by film.

Hari-śauri: But if somehow or other that sun-moon thing can be proved, then they'll all be finished, completely.

Prabhupāda: It will not be finished because some rascals, fools will remain to support it.

Room Conversation -- November 15, 1976, Vrndavana:

Jagadīśa: He wrote me a letter. He met one of our travelling parties and he heard that I was here and he was interested to, in our educational program. So I invited him to come here, perhaps to teach Hindi, and so he's here.

Prabhupāda: Hm.

Devotee: Prabhupāda, this is some honey, this is from my wife. And this is from Viśakha, Yadubara's wife from Los Angeles. She asked us to... And this is from all the devotees in San Diego, this is ghee.

Prabhupāda: Oh.

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

Conversation with Tamala Krsna about Yadubara -- April 22, 1977, Bombay:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He plans to meet with Svarūpa Dāmodara in Boston when he returns in July to discuss the possible films to make. He says he decided with Svarūpa Dāmodara that it would be best to wait before making a film until they have published their thesis and had some feedback from the material scientists. It's a good point. "Because their theories are always changing, our scientists also have to change their approach. It is for this reason that a film does not seem so suitable for their purposes, because it cannot be so easily changed as with a slide presentation. Also Svarūpa Dāmodara's presentation is highly scientific, and I feel somewhat dry for the film medium, which is more an artistic medium."

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So he frankly admits that it is a little difficult to make a very scientific film because it may become very, you know, a little bit dry for the...

Prabhupāda: Yes. So they may not film. Their lecture is good. That's all.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Right. And slide show accompanying. He says slides are good, but a movie may be too...

Prabhupāda: No, no.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He says, "I feel that these points should be carefully considered before taking on a subject..."

Prabhupāda: No, no, don't make film. Let them have slide...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Very good. He says, "One last thing, about three years ago Your Divine Grace asked Viśākhā Prabhu to write a book based on the movie 'The Hare Krishna People.' The book would present the basic idea of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement to people in general."

Prabhupāda: Book we... Others are writing. They may not bother.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Okay.

Prabhupāda: That is not their business. They are doing very... Slide...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Well, I think you've given him a lot of information that he wanted, Śrīla Prabhupāda. These are the guidances.

Prabhupāda: They may not bother, writing book.

Room Conversation Varnasrama -- July 14, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: She has very good handwriting. "Śrī Śrī Guru-Gaurāṅga Jāyate. Dearmost and respected Śrīla Prabhupāda, please accept our repeated humble obeisances at your sanctified lotus feet. Although we are certainly unfit to offer you our prayers and offenseless chanting for your well-being, still we beg to become purified to pour the nectar of the holy name of the Lord into your eternal transcendental service by following your divine instructions. From the beginning you have instructed to serve in sincere faith in vapu or vāṇī. That is our life's work, to make each and every moment a fit receptacle for receiving your benedicting rays of mercy. Enclosed is an offering of digestive spice for your pleasure as well as two photos of Śrī Rādhā-Vana-vihārī on Candana-yātrā and Śrī Nṛsiṁha-caturdaśī. Viśākhā devī remained here to photograph for the upcoming Vedic cookery book. The program here is flourishing under your shelter and glories. We beg to remain your servants eternally. Yamunā devī dāsī and Dīnatāriṇī devī dāsī." They sent these preparations. It says, "savory," and "sweet." It looks like they made these. Very expert.

Prabhupāda: So you can give me little bit.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: And they sent photographs. These Deities are superwonderful.

Prabhupāda: Very nice.

Room Conversation -- October 21, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Okay. Yadubara wanted to film you translating. Is that all right? You don't mind. We can have a little light here while he films for about half a minute? It wouldn't disturb you.

Prabhupāda: Yadubara is good devotee.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yadubara is a good devotee. Very dedicated devotee. You remember he cooked bati chachury(?) very nice also for you. He was cooking for you in Hrishikesh, massaging. Very intelligent.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: His wife is also intelligent, Viśākhā.

Prabhupāda: Yadubara has become first devotee.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Has become first, Śrīla Prabhupāda?

Prabhupāda: First devotee before his wife.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: First devotee before his wife, yes. You convinced him. He did not come here thinking to become a devotee. Remember, he came for photography work.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: But his good fortune was that he chose to photograph you, Śrīla Prabhupāda, and the devotees. So he became very attracted.

Correspondence

1972 Correspondence

Letter to Gurudasa, Yamuna -- Tokyo 25 April, 1972:

Regarding Yamuna's questions, if possible, you can have all 8 Gopis of 42" height, but it may be cumbersome. There is one Asta Sakhi Temple there in Vrindaban, you may see how this is arranged there. Krishna may be black, Balarama of white, and the pose of the back of the BTG is very nice. You cannot get Lord Caitanya with all five of His Associates? Formal seated pose of me can be there, Visakha has taken photos for that in Jaipur, but one thing is it possible to be made correctly? If not, it is no good.

Letter to Yadubara -- Los Angeles 21 May, 1972:

Gujarati is important language, so I do not think there is lack of market. Your idea for distributing our literatures in outside cities by sending altogether in one parcel to one person is very much appreciated. In this way all our members in one place may be advised to take delivery from him. Just like in Surat. Books may be sent to our Mr. Jariwalla and he can advise the others to take delivery from him. In this way we save postage and we do not risk that some mails may be lost or stolen. I shall look forward to seeing you and your good wife Visakha dasi in Bombay when I return there this autumn.

Letter to Visakha -- Mexico City 6 June, 1972:

I am in due receipt of your letter from Bombay dated May 24, 1972, along with the very nice article, Prabhupada: India's National Hero. I am very grateful to you for your kind words about me, but I do not think that I have done anything, but I am only delivering the best message as it is. Actually, anyone who is a sincere devotee of Krishna and who is rendering service by preaching His message is to be considered as hero. So you are all heroes of your country and your humanity. Hero means someone who others want to follow as example of the best type of person. So you all become like that, perfect examples of Krishna Consciousness heroes and heroines, and preach the message exactly as I have taught it to you very seriously and being fully convinced, and others will automatically come forward and join us. We shall all be like one great army of heroes for Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

I am very glad to hear that you are using your talents very nicely to do artwork and photographic designs to make brochures. It is very important to have such brochures for presenting to important men of the Indian society, so make them very elegantly and just to the points of interest.

I have met with your good husband's parents in Los Angeles and they are both very nice and they respect me also.

Letter to Giriraja -- Los Angeles 21 June, 1972:

That is a good idea to print the articles which I have written and insert with photos and advertisements. Visakha will be the leader of designing pamphlets, and she has written also one article, "Hero of India," and she has written it very nicely. One thing is, in one letter to you some days back I gave you notice to send Rs. 1,000/- to Puri Maharaja to his address in Rajhmundry, so if you have not yet sent, do so immediately. After sending, write to me the acknowledgement.

Letter to Karandhara, Tamala Krsna, Giriraja, Bhavananda -- Vrindaban 24 October, 1972:

I am just now in receipt of your letter dated October 20, 1972, and Visakha dasi has just arrived and has told that you have not received any letter from me, and that you have sent several telegrams and letters. I have not received all of them I think. I received one express letter from the four of you dated Oct. 16th on Oct. 20th, four days from posting. Your letter dated Oct. 19th was received by me however on Oct. 21st, and just now I have received the letter of Oct. 20th. Enclosed find the copy of my letter of 20th.

1974 Correspondence

Letter to Visakha -- Vrindaban 14 September, 1974:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 3, 1974. The advertisement proposals for BTG are approved by me. Yes, you use your American ingenuity in this way to spread Krsna Consciousness. I also thank you very much for the photograph of the sannyasis taken in Mayapur. I have had it framed and it is hanging here in my room in Vrindaban, amongst the large paintings of the Disciplic succession. It is by their kindness, of the previous acaryas that they let us sit between them just like a father calls for a child to sit down next to him. Actually we are unqualified but by their kindness they let us sit next to them.

Page Title:Prabhupada and Visakha devi dasi
Compiler:Visnu Murti
Created:23 of Jun, 2010
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=1, Con=20, Let=6
No. of Quotes:27