Silence (Conversations)

Expressions researched:
" silenced" |" silences" |"silence"

1973 Conversations and Morning Walks

You have to fight against these rascals. Make your soldier's party and start fighting against these rascals. No more toleration. No more silence.

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

Brahmānanda: The German scientist, he didn't want to come.

Prabhupāda: Why he avoids?

Svarūpa Dāmodara: He was thinking carefully and decided that he cannot defend what he has in his mind.

Prabhupāda: We are not ordinary, the so-called swamis and sādhus. We are going to give to the world something which they forgot. I told this in London airport. Yes. That was published in the papers. They asked me, "Why you have come to London?" And "Because to teach you something which you have forgotten."

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Is it before Prabhupāda came here.

Brahmānanda: In London.

Prabhupāda: In London. Here also I told in New York, "To make you intelligent. You are all fools and rascals." Yes, they are fools and rascals because they do not know what he is. He is thinking, "I am this body." So anyone who is thinking, "I am this body," he is an ass. That is stated in the Bhāgavata. Sa eva go-kharaḥ (SB 10.84.13).

Svarūpa Dāmodara: That is the basis that life started from matter. They are thinking that this is the body.

Prabhupāda: Therefore we have to make very strong propaganda against this theory. Otherwise if you sleep only and take doctorate title, what is the use? You have to fight against these rascals. Make your soldier's party and start fighting against these rascals. No more toleration. No more silence.

Why silence? He cannot explain.

Room Conversation with Rosicrucians -- August 13, 1973, Paris:

Yogeśvara: For them the word nirvāṇa means an end but an end to this material existence and an entrance into the silence of the Absolute, onto a level that is real, whereas this one is false. This one is rejected.

Prabhupāda: Why silence?

Yogeśvara: He says the term "entering into silence" is a mystic term that means...

Prabhupāda: He cannot explain. (break)

Yogeśvara: ...it is undescribable because it's something that's arrived at inside through meditation. You can't really describe it in words?

Prabhupāda: Why? You are describing so many thing in words and the ultimate goal you cannot describe.

But how it is possible to become silent?

Room Conversation with Rosicrucians -- August 13, 1973, Paris:

Prabhupāda: No, that also we say. But we must have the program. Just like he say that "Who am I?" So at least one must know who he is. If this vague reply is "I am what I am..." If I ask you, "you come," so "Who are you, sir?" then if he says, "I am what I am," is that the proper answer? (laughter) This is nonsense answer. If I ask you, "Who are you?" If he says, "I am what I am," is that the proper answer?

Yogeśvara: He would tell you his name, Mr. Belfiore. (break)

Guru-gaurāṅga: ...that forms his identity is Maurice Belfiore, but the interior, that reality, is different. (break) If we all join up here now in silence and we enter into ourselves and create one person, then we will know who we are from that silence.

Prabhupāda: But how it is possible to become silent?

Yogeśvara: ...many, many births and deaths.

Prabhupāda: That's all right. That's all right. That's all right. Now talk (break)

1974 Conversations and Morning Walks

Then let him learn that. If silence is best, then don't talk.

Room Conversation with Roger Maria leading writer of communist literature -- June 12, 1974, Paris:

Yogeśvara: So he said, what he's suggesting is that first of all, we'd be better off not giving it some kind of concrete form because he thinks ultimately the silence is the best answer.

Prabhupāda: Then let him learn that. If silence is best, then don't talk.

Yogeśvara: Well, he says, still, we can give it some form for discussion purposes.

Prabhupāda: Then what is his silence? Silence means don't talk. If you prefer silence, then don't talk.

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

Meditation is not silence. That is wrong idea. Meditation means to think of God. That is meditation.

Morning Walk -- January 6, 1976, Nellore:

Indian man (2): Giving all thoughts.... Coming to pure silence of the mind.

Prabhupāda: So how you can be silent? Is it possible?

Indian man (2): No, just by some sādhana.

Prabhupāda: Silent is also.... (dog barking) The stones are silent. Does it mean meditation?

Indian man (2): But mind cannot be silent. The mind must be made to (indistinct).

Harikeśa: Hut!

Prabhupāda: So then how you can make silent?

Indian man (2): By seeing God in everything.

Prabhupāda: Meditation is not silence. That is wrong idea. Meditation means to think of God. That is meditation.

Because they cannot speak anything good, better remain silent.

Morning Walk -- January 6, 1976, Nellore:

Mahāmṣa: Nowadays people are going in silence, but they write questions and answers by paper. They say, "I am observing silence..."

Prabhupāda: As if there is no sound.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: In Allahabad we met a man like that. He was moving around so much that he was more active than if he had talked.

Prabhupāda: No, that "ooohh." That is the...

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Even Basarilal Nanda, I have heard, one day a week, on Sunday, it's his silence day. He doesn't speak to anyone on Sunday.

Acyutānanda: Yes, Mahatma Gandhi.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: That's a good day to ask him for a donation.

Prabhupāda: (break) What is the use of becoming silent? What is the utility?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: For people who are rascals it is a very good idea. Then they won't talk nonsense.

Prabhupāda: Yes. For them it is all right.

Mahāmṣa: It is good for them.

Prabhupāda: Because they cannot speak anything good, better remain silent. (break) ...chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, yan-nāma śruti-mātrena pumān bhavati nirmalaḥ. Simply by hearing he'll become purified. So why we shall become silent? Let them hear.

So many, meditation, silence—these are not recommended in the Bhagavad-gītā.

Morning Walk -- January 6, 1976, Nellore:

Prabhupāda: Huh. Man-manā bhava mad-bhakto: "The mind should be absorbed in My thought," man-manā. That is recommended. Where does He say that "Make your mind vacant and think of nonsense"? He never says. And where does He say that you become silent? He never says.

ya idaṁ paramaṁ guhyaṁ

mad-bhakteṣv abhidāsyati

na ca tasmān manusyeṣu

kaścid me priya-kṛttamaḥ

(Bg 18.68)

"Anyone who speaks about this Bhagavad-gītā, he is My dearmost friend," He said. So why one should be silent? Our ultimate aim is how to become dearmost to Kṛṣṇa. And He never says that "You become silent." Why shall I become silent? Satataṁ kīrtayanto mām (BG 9.14). Rather, He recommends that "You always be engaged in glorifying Me." Where is the "silent"? These are all manufactured by these rascals. So many, meditation, silence—these are not recommended in the Bhagavad-gītā.

So all these penances, silence, meditation, then studying the Vedic literature, and so many things are there. Prahlāda Mahārāja, in one word he says, "They are meant for ajitendriyāṇām, one who could not conquer over the senses, for them."

Morning Walk -- February 4, 1976, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: They are all in the material world, karmīs. Karma-kāṇḍa, ritualistic ceremonies. Prahlāda Mahārāja has described them. What is that very word used? And meaning is "one who cannot control their senses." Avijita-indriya. Ajitendriyāṇām, ajita, "one who could not conquer the senses," they are called karmīs. Ajitendriyāṇām. So all these penances, silence, meditation, then studying the Vedic literature, and so many things are there. Prahlāda Mahārāja, in one word he says, "They are meant for ajitendriyāṇām, one who could not conquer over the senses, for them."

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

Silence means we shall not talk nonsense. We shall chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. That is silence. Instead of wasting time, talking on this material thing, let us chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. That is positive. And the silence is negative. Stop nonsense; speak sense.

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

Yogi Amrit Desai: Yes. Lord Kṛṣṇa and Rādhā is our Deities. My guru is Swami Kripalu-anandi. He is in... Near Baroda he has an āśrama. He practiced his sādhana for twenty-seven years, and twelve years was complete silence. The last few years he is speaking once or twice a year because many people request.

Prabhupāda: He's not chanting?

Yogi Amrit Desai: He chants. During his silence, his chanting is allowed. Because when he says... When you say the name of the Lord, that is not called breaking the silence. So he chants.

Prabhupāda: Silence means we shall not talk nonsense. We shall chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. That is silence. Instead of wasting time, talking on this material thing, let us chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. That is positive. And the silence is negative. Stop nonsense; speak sense.

The principle should be silence. Then it will be all right. I will be free to work.

Room Conversation -- March 31, 1977, Bombay:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: These are your quarters, no one else should come.

Prabhupāda: And we shall arrange for seeing our own men, at a time. That we shall see. But it should be... The principle should be silence. Then it will be all right. I will be free to work.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Very good. We'll see to that, Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Not only silence. In favor of or against us. Now if the Central Government properly inquires, the whole thing will be discovered.

Room Conversation Mayapura attack -- July 15, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. He's saying... His silence on all the points except this one point...

Prabhupāda: And the behavior of the police.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yeah. Indicates that everything else is wrong. His silence in reporting that the police...

Prabhupāda: Not only silence. In favor of or against us. Now if the Central Government properly inquires, the whole thing will be discovered.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: And at least they're going to have to get our side. They're going to have to get our side.

Prabhupāda: Yes.