Squander (Conversations)

Expressions researched:
"squander" |"squandered" |"squandering" |"squanders"

1970 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation -- December 12, 1970, Indore:

Guest (6): You must be knowing that Vidyananda, Swami Vidyananda.

Prabhupāda: Oh, he's a great nonsense.

Guest (6): Oh, no.

Prabhupāda: I know.

Guest (6): He has constructed that from Gujarat. He's a Gujārati.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Guest (6): He constructed a temple there.

Prabhupāda: I have seen in Ahmedabad his temple. He established one deity, a woman shape, and there is no Kṛṣṇa. "Gītā." "Gītā" means a woman. So I don't think he has full understanding of Gītā. He has money; he has spent. That's all. But he does not understand Gītā. Gītā means unless one takes Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead he does not understand anything of Gītā. That is the test. He may advertise himself as scholar or this or that, but our only test is whether he accepts Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja (BG 18.66). That is the test. Is that person accepting Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead? He himself accepts that "I am God." Is it not? Therefore he's a foolish. He is squandering money, public money. That's all. That is his business. He might have some qualification to collect money, but he does not know what is Kṛṣṇa.

1973 Conversations and Morning Walks

Morning Walk At Cheviot Hills Golf Course -- May 17, 1973, Los Angeles:

Kṛṣṇa-Kāntī: You know they made another blunder.

Prabhupāda: That's all right. What is that?

Kṛṣṇa-Kāntī: They made a spaceship that they wanted to orbit around the earth so that they could send men and ship an outpost.

Karandhara: A house, station.

Kṛṣṇa-Kāntī: So they sent it up and it failed. It cost two billion dollars or something, squandered.

Prabhupāda: Just see why they are wasting time in that way? Money.

Kṛṣṇa-Kāntī: They were criticized in the paper.

Prabhupāda: Fool. Simply childish. Bālaka. What are they gaining? For the last, how many years they are trying? For going to the moon planet?

Room Conversation -- November 3, 1973, New Delhi:

Śrutakīrti: "Purport: As far as the duties of mankind are concerned. There are innumerable duties. Every man is duty-bound, not only to his parents, family members, society, country, humanity, other living beings, the demigods, etc., but also to the great philosophers, poets, scientists etc. It is enjoined in the scriptures that one can relinquish all such duties and surrender unto the service of the Lord. So if one does so and becomes successful in the discharge of his devotional service unto the Lord, it is well and good. But it so happens sometimes that one surrenders himself unto the service of the Lord by some temporary sentiment and in the long run, due to so many other reasons, he falls down from the path of service by undesirable association. There are so many instances of this in the histories. Bharata Mahārāja was obliged to take his birth as a stag due to his intimate attachment to a stag. He thought of this stag when he died. As such, in the next birth he became a stag, although he did not forget the incidents of his previous birth. Similarly Citraketu also fell down due to his offense..."

Prabhupāda: Therefore we forbid to take to the karmī's life. Because at the time of death, if he remains a karmī, then he'll have to take birth as a karmī. That is the risk. So this regulated life, holding class, chanting, that will not make us fall down. That is essential. It is essential, regulate, to follow the regulative principles, chanting sixteen rounds, holding class. You can do anything, but this will keep us alive to the Kṛṣṇa consciousness platform. If you neglect that, then that is very risky. Even if you get next life birth in a rich man's family, that is not guarantee. Because generally, rich man's sons, they go astray. They get money for nothing and they want to squander it. And material world, if you have got money, so many bad associates will come and help you to squander your money and spoil your life. Because you have got money, then so many friends will come. As soon as you have no money, nobody will come. Even your wife, children will not come. Therefore hariṣye tad dhanaṁ śanaiḥ. Kṛṣṇa, first of all, takes away the money, makes him poor so that everyone will neglect him, and because he's Kṛṣṇa conscious, he'll take Kṛṣṇa, "Sir, I have no other alternative. Please give me protection." That is also another Kṛṣṇa's policy, special favor, that "This man wanted Me. Now he's going astray. All right. That's all right.

Morning Walk -- December 9, 1973, Los Angeles:

Prabhupāda: There is life already. It is practical. Everyone sees that a man and woman combines and there is child, life, another life. And now, foolishly they want to prove that life comes from matter. And as soon as we offer that "You take this matter. Produce," "That we shall see later on." Just see. In this way, they're spoiling money. So because there is no good leader, these rascals are not stopped.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: They call this "A new frontier of knowledge."

Prabhupāda: Eh?

Svarūpa Dāmodara: "New frontier of knowledge."

Prabhupāda: Yes, because the new frontier of knowledge for the rascals not for the intelligent men. They're... The same example. If somebody imitates barking of the dog, if he says, "This is new frontier of knowledge," so a foolish man can believe that "How you have learned to bark like dog! Oh, great advancement." But an intelligent man says "What is the use of this barking, imitation barking? There is already dogs who are barking." Just like there is a... It is a fact, not story. One man, he went out of his village, and after ten years, he came back, advertised himself that "I have become successful in yoga practice." So naturally villagers surrounded him. "Oh, you have...? What yoga practice you have learned?" "I can walk on the water." "Oh?" Actually, even at the present moment, if somebody comes and says, "I can walk...," many people will come, thousands of men. So when everything, arrangement was that he'll cross the river, walking on the water, one old man came. He said, "Sir, it is very wonderful, but it is two paise worth. Two paise worth." "Why?" "Now, you will walk and go the other side; I'll take a boat, pay him two paise. I'll do the same thing. So what is your credit?" So those who are actually intelligent men, they will take like that, that "What actual profit you have made? You have spent millions and millions of dollars, and you say, 'Now, we have seen in the moon there is a crack.' " So this bluffing to the public must be stopped. They're squandering money, public money, and we Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, we cannot do our activities for want of money. They have become so fools. How they are squandering money simply by bluffing another set of rascals that they are advancing in scientific knowledge. They are rascals, and they're cheating other rascals that they're advancing. And result is they're squandering public money. What do you think, Mr. Scientist?

Morning Walk -- December 9, 1973, Los Angeles:

Prabhupāda: Their basic principle is like animal. The animal cannot understand that there is soul and there is transmigration of the soul. And if the human society makes progress of their so-called knowledge on this wrong basis understanding, then what will be the result? Everything wrong, everything wrong, everything wrong. Everything foolish. That is stated in the Bhāgavata: parābhavas tāvad abodha-jāto yāvan na jijñāsata ātma-tattvam: "If somebody does not know what is ātma-tattva, what is the science of soul, then whatever he is making, so-called advancement that is all defeat." Parābhava. That is being done. And defeat they are taking as success. Just like these rascal scientists, they could not go and settle in the moon planet. Still, they are saying, "It is success. It is success." Just see the fun. What success? You could not stay there, and what success you have got? Simply by seeing a crack? "Yes." That's all right, success. And people are accepting, "Oh, yes, you are successful. Now go to another planet." These bogus things are going on.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: They're called technolo... (heavy waves)

Prabhupāda: They may call whatever they like. But we are sane man. We cannot take the... We can say only that "You are all defeated." They may say. A fool will never agree that he's a fool. He'll always say, "I am very intelli..." That is another foolishness. After spending millions of... for one coat for going to the moon planet? Forty-thousand dollar? What is that?

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Oh. Billions of dollars were spent.

Prabhupāda: That coat?

Śrutakīrti: No, coat.

Brahmānanda: Spacesuit.

Karandhara: Oh yes. Millions of dollars.

Prabhupāda: Just see how they are spending, squandering public money. You see? But nobody is to stop this.

Prajāpati: The demons have always been trying to make staircases and towers up to heaven.

Prabhupāda: Yes, yes. Demonic.

Morning Walk -- December 9, 1973, Los Angeles:

(break)

Prabhupāda: ...first-class economist. We are trying to save the state money from being unnecessarily squandered away. The so-called scientists, politicians, they are simply wasting money. (break)

1974 Conversations and Morning Walks

Morning Walk -- March 4, 1974, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: ...every payasā you should spend for Kṛṣṇa. Not that "Kṛṣṇa is giving money. Let us squander it as much as we like." Then there will be scarcity. (break) What is that?

Jayapatākā: This is a short cut.

Prabhupāda: Oh, all right. (break) ...pūjyante dhanya yatra sucancitam (?), "Where a rascal is not worshiped, where foodstuff is kept very carefully," and dam-patyoḥ kalaha nāsti, "and when there is no fight between husband and wife, or family-wise," tatra śrīḥ svayam āgataḥ, "there goddess of fortune is always present." Hare Kṛṣṇa. This is the principle given by Cāṇakya Paṇḍita, the greatest politician and moralist. Mūrkha means who is not pure devotee of Kṛṣṇa. He's a mūrkha or mūḍha. Not that ABCD learned. ABCD learned is no use. And another śloka, Cāṇakya Paṇḍita says who is learned man. Mātṛvat para-dāreṣu: "One who does not think of any illicit sex life." Mātṛvat... Every woman-mother. Except his married wife, every woman is mother. Mātṛvat para-dāreṣu para-loṣṭravat "And others' money, just like garbage." Nobody touches. Mātṛvat para-dāreṣu para-dravyeṣu loṣṭravat, and ātmavat sarva-bhūteṣu: "And one who sees like himself all other living entities, he's paṇḍita, he's learned." Not by MA, Ph.D. Hare Kṛṣṇa. (break) ...yaḥ paśyati. Samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu. (break) ...nihāram iva bhā... It is called nihāra. As long, as soon as the sun becomes strong, immediately, everything finished. Just see. This... What is called fog, or...?

Jayapatākā: Just like when you came to the West, Prabhupāda, you cleared away the fog.

Prabhupāda: At least, I tried for that. Whatever is done it is done by Kṛṣṇa.

Morning Walk -- April 17, 1974, Bombay:

Girirāja: I read the... Shall I read it now?

Prabhupāda: Yes, so that others may hear. (break) ...you simply present the card anywhere—you get things. You don't require to pay. Then your bills will be paid by the bank. This is the system. (break) ...Bank of American card, in any American, bank of America, I can get one hundred to five hundred dollars immediately. I have got that card. (break) ...the respectable customers... Yes. (break) ...money, then you can squander it, and that is the idea. And you more spend money; then they manufacture consumer goods. That is the policy. (break) ...ṣad says, tena tyaktena bhuñjīthā: (ISO 1) "Don't use anything more than what is allotted to you." That's all. But they are creating artificial demand, and the demand is being paid for by artificial paper. The government is issuing: "This is five hundred pounds or five hundred rupees," but it is paper only. Actually it is cheating. But we are satisfied. (break) ...said, "In God we trust." That's all. "In God we trust." What is that?

Devotee: Oh, yes.

Dr. Patel: They have written, "In God we trust"?

Prabhupāda: Yes. Because I am giving you this paper—I am cheating you-therefore I am "In God we trust." (break) And the best in the world. That is a fact.

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

Conversation with Devotees -- April 14, 1975, Hyderabad:

Prabhupāda: There is a proverb, kalo brāhmaṇa kota śūdra bete mussulman kalki chele busi... (?) A brāhmaṇa, black... Brāhmaṇa's another name is śukla, white. So as soon as a brāhmaṇa is black then he's (indistinct) kalo brāhmaṇa. Kota śūdra, and śūdra, just like African, if they become white there is something mystery. Kalo brāhmaṇa kota śūdra bete mussulman, Mohammedan, because Mohammedan means the Afghans, they are very tall, so a Mussulman is dwarf, a brāhmaṇa is black, the śūdra is white, kalo brāhmaṇa kota śūdra bete mussulman and kalki chelo, that means the bastard and (indistinct) ...these are all of the same class. Adopted son, he gets money, without any labor, he spends like anything. In your country there is adopted son?

Devotee: Yeah, yeah.

Prabhupāda: Here there are many adopted son. A rich man has no son. He adopts somebody, rascal, and he spends money like... There are so many instance. Squanders. He'll be satisfied after finishing... There are many instances. In our childhood, many you have heard, you have seen one, when the adopted son (indistinct) ...big property and he was not satisfied to squander all the money unless it became (indistinct) That I've seen. He had many cars and I saw him, he was drenched by water, rainfall, sitting in a rickshaw. Nobody cares for him. When he was rich, big, big men would come to see him, even Burdwan Mahārāja. Now I saw him that he was in Dharmatala, it was raining and he was sitting in a rickshaw. Nobody cares for him. And he was satisfied at that time after finishing the whole money. Otherwise hundreds and two hundred friends, there was very big house, bring, I mean to say, received as guests daily.

Morning Walk -- June 23, 1975, Los Angeles:

Indian guest: They are saying they are trying to learn the universe creation, see the relationship between earth's soil and geology and the geology of the moon, if there is some relationship. If the evolution process came through in some kind of joint relationship, they can establish some kind of hereditary of evolution process. They are trying to... On the top of that, they came out with a lot of electronic and gadgets to go over there. And to do any kind of adventure like this they have to design all kinds of gadgetry. And those gadgetry, they claim, is useful to human being on the earth over here because that came out...

Prabhupāda: The useful is that they have squandered so much money of the human being.

Brahmānanda: It's a big business.

Prabhupāda: And bluffed. That is usefulness.

Morning Walk -- June 30, 1975, Denver:

Prabhupāda: (break) ...you meet Bon Mahārāja, and if he talks again time, say, "You were sent in London for establishing a temple, why you could not do it? You remained there for three, four years. And why you were called back by Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī? What did you do for the three, four years in spite of full support from Gauḍīya Maṭha?" We were sending seven hundred rupees. In those days seven hundred rupees means nowadays seven thousand. He was squandering the money. "Authority, authority, scholarly, how many books you have published from your institution for the last forty years?" He was in London. In the 1930's he came back. Came back means Guru Mahārāja called him back. Then he separated from Gauḍīya Maṭha, and he tried to start this institution. Sometimes in the 1945, '47..., not '40, '30. And it is '75, clear forty years. So what books you have published? Authority, scholarly, what books you have published? And how many scholars you have produced? Why it is closed now?

Morning Walk -- September 18, 1975, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Yes. So you see to fix it up nicely. Harer nāma, harer nāma (CC Adi 17.21). Saccidānanda said they are purchasing vegetables, fruits-125—but you have increased, 190. Why?

Dhanañjaya: The devotees' prasāda? Devotees' bhoga?

Prabhupāda: Devotees or... Daily they were purchasing 125. But you said, "No, it must be more," and the banana is rotting. Why do you purchase more?

Dhanañjaya: No, I allotted five rupees per person.

Prabhupāda: Therefore it must be spent.

Dhanañjaya: No, not it must be spent.

Prabhupāda: Then? Because five rupees allotted, then it must be spent. Never mind the fruits are rotten. What is this intelligence? To save money or to squander it, that is your policy.

Dhanañjaya: So when you told Smara-hari to purchase in quantity, the first thing he purchased was bananas.

Prabhupāda: Because he is monkey, he wants banana, very nice.

Smara-hari: You see, Prabhupāda, yesterday we fasted in the morning and because it was ekādaśī there were extra bananas bought for yesterday morning, and they weren't used, so there are some left over. So this is why...

Prabhupāda: Why some left over?

Smara-hari: Because they weren't used yesterday morning.

Prabhupāda: They weren't, but why it is left over?

Smara-hari: They were saved for this morning to save money, Śrīla Prabhupāda. Rather than eat a lot of bananas yesterday afternoon, they were saved for this morning.

Prabhupāda: When it is required, you can purchase. But I understand that you purchase more and it is left over. Don't squander money. Atyāhāraḥ prayāsaṣ ca prajalpo niya... (NOI 2). Atyāhāra—to eat more, to collect more, they are against bhakti principle. And why they are going twice in the market?

Morning Walk -- September 19, 1975, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: So if distress comes automatically, then happiness also will come automatically. Why should you try for this so-called distress and happiness? You try for Kṛṣṇa. This is life. Just like the other day your liver fractured?

Indian man: Yes, sir, very badly.

Prabhupāda: So you did not want this.

Indian man: No.

Prabhupāda: So why did it, it happened?

Indian man: Kṛṣṇa is only that who is...

Prabhupāda: No, no, Kṛṣṇa is all right. Why it happened? You did not want it.

Indian man: No, I did not want it.

Prabhupāda: So similarly, the happiness which is destined to you, that will also happen, even though you do not want it. (break) ...rupees. Now I have got forty crores. Who has given me?

Indian man: Yes. Kṛṣṇa.

Prabhupāda: Kṛṣṇa has given me. So depend on Kṛṣṇa. He says, teṣāṁ nityābhiyuktānāṁ yoga-kṣemam: "One who is engaged in My service, all that he wants, I supply." He says. See practically. Whatever we wanted, it is coming. It is coming not for my credit or another, anyone credit. It is all Kṛṣṇa's credit. He is giving. As soon as He sees that "They are working for Me," He'll supply everything, whatever you need. Simply we must be sincere and spend it very cautiously, not squandering the money. Then He will give us everything. There is no need of surma(?)-making. I say it is nonsense that by surma-making I will be happy. Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. Hare Kṛṣṇa. Tasyaiva hetoḥ prayateta kovidaḥ. Only for advancing in Kṛṣṇa consciousness we should work. Then everything will come, whatever we want. That is called anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ (Brs. 1.1.11), without desiring for anything else. (break) "...in a rented house, there was no trouble. And as soon as this Devidatta gave us this marble palace, then there was competition who will occupy which room. In this way dissension began. So I am desiring that this dissension will increase and there will be fire. So to save this fire, I wish to get out all the marbles from this house and sell it and publish some books. That will remain." He said to me. Then I understood that he is giving more stress on books. "Sell the marbles and publish book instead of creating dissension amongst ourself." So, strictly, anyone occupies this guest room, he must pay. (end)

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

Morning Walk -- January 17, 1976, Mayapur:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Actually in Tirupati, one of the reasons the government took over is that the trustees themselves were squandering the money.

Prabhupāda: Yes, that is everywhere.

Morning Walk -- February 3, 1976, Mayapura:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Śrīla Prabhupāda, another twenty thousand dollars was transferred. (break)

Prabhupāda: He cannot complain. There is money; there is men; now you have to complete. You cannot say, "For this purpose, it..." No. (break) ...Mādhava Mahārāja, you can say that "Have you seen ever twenty thousand at a time?" And I am bringing daily twenty thousand. Twenty thousand dollars. Not money..., rupees, but dollars. "Have you seen twenty thousand dollars at a time?" (break) Detroit temple, you know? Jagadīśa? Are you going to negotiate.

Jagadīśa: Where is this?

Prabhupāda: Detroit, the temple.

Jagadīśa: Oh, yes, Detroit temple, yes.

Prabhupāda: And he was asking 350,000. So I told, "All right, you take cash, 300,000," and he immediately accepted, though I had not three paisa even in the bank. So immediately... The girl has paid?

Jagadīśa: Yes.

Prabhupāda: She agreed to pay half and our Ambarīṣa agreed to pay half. It was purchased immediately.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Cash. And you only had three paisa. That means one who is servant of the richest, he also becomes rich. You always said, "Serving the greatest, you become great."

Prabhupāda: Yes. A big man's son squanders money and the father pays. Similarly, if you become a pure devotee of Kṛṣṇa, the father will spend for you. Why do you care wherefrom money comes?

Morning Walk -- March 14, 1976, Mayapur:

Prabhupāda: That meeting was very nice. (break) ...experience. So much money is being spoiled and squandered. You are collecting money.... (end)

Conversation with News Reporters -- March 25, 1976, Delhi:

Prabhupāda: Yes. I want that.... Bhagavad-gītā was spoken in India. Every Indian should take Bhagavad-gītā very seriously. Then India's fortune will change. But they have rejected Bhagavad-gītā, and they are making their own imagination as the goal of life. So how they will be happy? If you have your father's property, you squander it and then you beg from others, "Give me some money," then how much unfortunate you are, just see. Your father's property, you squandered it. Then you become a beggar and beg from others, "Give me some money, sir." So how much unfortunate you are, just imagine.

Morning Walk -- August 14, 1976, Bombay:

Acyutānanda: They are the "Hindus." We are the foreigners.

Yaśomatīnandana: But they don't go too long, because in Ahmedabad they have started one Gujarat, one Bhāgavata-hṛdaya-pīṭha.(?) Just outside Ahmedabad. And he had a plan to build a whole huge temple and dharmaśālās and schools, gurukulas. That Krishna Shankara Shastri, that poor fellow, he started something, and now he has scarcity, he cannot find funds to finish his project. So the project is lying idle for almost two years. They collected sixty, seventy lakhs initially, but then...

Prabhupāda: Sixty seventy lakhs? And he squandered it?

Yaśomatīnandana: No. He has got land and he has got some buildings, but now he has no funds to go further. And there also no local people give. All he collected in London and Africa from the Gujaratis. (break) ...in becoming trustees and managing the things, but they will not give any money.

Prabhupāda: So bring some sitting place.

Room Conversation -- November 3, 1976, Vrndavana:

(Śrīla Prabhupāda is taking prasādam during first part of the conversation)

Prabhupāda: ...and we don't smoke even. We don't spend a paisa even for sense gratification.

Jagadīśa: They're squandering billions of dollars.

Prabhupāda: Yes. And they, you spend money for cigarette, for cinema, for restaurant, unnecessarily. We don't spend a farthing even, for all this purpose. Simply we take little rice, cāpāṭi, that's all. And still, you are culprit?

Hari-śauri: They, in the papers report that, that we spend very lavishly for the Deities, but for ourselves we eat only very simply.

Prabhupāda: So is it not credit? We spend for God. We are servant of God. We want to see God gorgeously situated, and for us we have no comforts, we don't care for any comfort. We simply spend minimum just to keep the body and soul together, that's all. This is our principle. We don't spend a farthing for our sense gratification. This should be noted down if some case is there, this should be presented. We don't go to restaurant, we don't go to cinema, we don't spend lavishly for dress or something else, no. Neither for furniture (laughter). Eh? If you sit down in a, a pad is that faulty?

Hari-śauri: Then when they go to any of our temples, they're amazed because we don't...

Prabhupāda: We sit down, don't use any chair, any couches, unnecessarily, carpet. What expenditure? We have no expenditure for personal self. And still you are faulty? What can be done? We don't purchase any cosmetic, this clay tilaka is sufficient. We don't apply any pomade or cosmetic or ointment. Either for our girls or ourselves. We don't do that, we live very simply. After 15 days we shave, there is no use of cutting or decorating. Note down all these things. We have no doctor's bill even.

Morning Walk -- December 25, 1976, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Their one qualification is that they are not poverty stricken. And our boys, they are poverty stricken. So daridra-doṣa guṇa-rāśi-nāśī.(?) Even though are educated, on account of poverty they sacrificed everything their culture, their knowledge. Daridra-doṣa guṇa-rāśi-nāśī.

Guest (1): Yes, hunger is the cause of all. (Sanskrit)

Prabhupāda: I chastise them only because they don't care for money. (laughter)

Guest (1): They are extreme. It is contradiction...

Prabhupāda: And because they are fortunate, wherever they go, they get money.

Guest (1): That is law of nature. All the big rivers go to the sea where water is not wanted.

Prabhupāda: I have seen them. They squander so much money, and I chastise them that "You are so loose, you are so rascal and..." But still, whatever money I have got, it is due to them.

Guest (1): That's true, that's true. (laughter) That's true. That's true.

Prabhupāda: Otherwise... (laughing)

Guest (1): Really, it is true. (break)

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

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

Rāmeśvara: In America, say a music group becomes popular, very popular. Then automatically, every time they make their record album, one million people will buy it in the stores without any salesmen. Automatically one million. It's considered very popular.

Prabhupāda: Yes. So make records "Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa."

Rāmeśvara: And for each record our profit is $2.50. So $2.50 times one million records becomes millions of dollars.

Prabhupāda: Spend it for prasāda distribution. Don't squander it. Every cent should be utilized for Kṛṣṇa, not for sense gratification.

Rāmeśvara: Now, some of the money could be sent to India for ISKCON Food Relief.

Prabhupāda: Oh, yes.

Rāmeśvara: That would be very good.

Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. That will make our movement very popular in India.

Room Conversation -- January 23, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Hari-śauri: In Vṛndāvana no one was coming to Rāman Reti until our temple was there. Now thousands come.

Prabhupāda: Nobody was coming. What...? Why they will come Rāman Reti?

Hari-śauri: It was a very dangerous area, actually, to come to.

Prabhupāda: And Bon Mahārāja is there for the last forty years. Nobody came. Nobody goes there. (laughter) It is always locked, great failure. So much money he has squandered, lakhs and lakhs.

Hari-śauri: No kīrtana, no Deities.

Prabhupāda: And he wanted to attract foreigners. And not a single foreigner.

Room Conversation -- February 27, 1977, Mayapura:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: The thing is, though, that when we get these donations, it's because we suggest that they be invested in a particular way. The people often state that. It's not that they're so dedicated to the particular way we invest the money. I've seen that very often. It's due to our suggestion.

Rādhā-vallabha: In some cases, but in other cases it's not possible to get money unless you... Like with the Laguna Beach people. Unless they know exactly what it's going for, they won't give something. And this is the type of thing that can inspire them to give a little money, especially the ones that don't give anything. Anyway, even if a donation comes, I won't do anything with it until I speak to you.

Prabhupāda: No, donation may come for causes good, many, but investment must be conscientious.

Rādhā-vallabha: So I'll save it until I speak to you.

Prabhupāda: Not that because you are getting donation very easily and you spend it, squander it, like that, anything. No. That should not be.

Room Conversation -- May 2, 1977, Bombay:

(break)

Prabhupāda: ...the mess. He has paid only one hundred rupees from his pocket, and he's everything, and he has squandered so much.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Who?

Prabhupāda: The Sanjay Gandhi.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: That, I haven't read that yet. Is he going to be put in prison for...?

Prabhupāda: I think so.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: What about her?

Prabhupāda: Hm?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: What about his mother?

Prabhupāda: Well, mother, personally what did she do, I do not know.

Conversation -- July 1, 1977, Vrndavana:

Mr. Myer: Sometimes there are so many different areas. There is temple management. There is book distribution. There is guesthouse. Now the gurukula is coming.

Prabhupāda: Therefore we want some expert manager to stick to this. When they cannot manage, it is not their fault, because they are not meant for this.

Mr. Myer: Quite right.

Prabhupāda: So if you kindly take up the general management, you are welcome. Money is being squandered. I know that. If you can save some money, that is your great success.

Conversation -- July 1, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Almanac. It is always written there, Nūtana Pañjikā, "New Pañjikā," although it may be fifty years old.

Mr. Myer: I understand. Who will read it? I recently bought a book. I bought a fifty-eighth anniversary book of...

Prabhupāda: "New Almanac." And... Although you'll see a fifty years old almanac, there is "New Almanac."

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So for the person who picks it up, it's new.

Mr. Myer: Quite right. I should liken to Readers Digest. I bought recently the fiftieth anniversary. They have published articles from last fifty years of books almost. So...

Prabhupāda: Hm.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I tried to suggest to Mr. Myer that one thing is that before he introduces too many new things, first of all make the things that are already introduced successful.

Prabhupāda: First of all thing is that the money is unnecessarily squandered. Try to save it.

Mr. Myer: Quite right.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: That's the first point.

Room Conversation with Mr. Myer -- July 2, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He's saying that whatever the case is, more money is being spent here than is being made.

Prabhupāda: So save it. First of all save it. More money, to increase, that is not difficult for us. We go to beg, "Please give us." We can get.

Akṣayānanda: So the idea is to save it.

Prabhupāda: Real thing is how to save it. In business circle they say, "To earn money is not difficult, but to spend money is difficult." That is intelligence. To earn money is not difficult because we do not earn. Whatever Kṛṣṇa gives, we take it. But if Kṛṣṇa's money is not squandered, misspent, that is intelligence. So we have to see first of all present... I know that. So much money is squandered. Just like the other day. To secure one eye glass... It is four annas' worth. We have spent at least twenty rupees. In this way our money is being squandered.

Room Conversation with Vrindavan De -- July 6, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: So wherefrom the money is coming unless Kṛṣṇa sends? Did I go to America with some money?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Forty rupees.

Prabhupāda: That's all. And one tin box. (laughs) Give up this mistaken idea that "If we get some large sum of money from our father, then we shall be happy." That is not... That is wrong idea. Happiness depends on Kṛṣṇa consciousness. You can take advantage from your father that you may not live uncomfortably. That's all, that much. That I am making sufficient arrangement. In your present position you'll never be disturbed. Now try to become happy by advancing in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is required.

nūnaṁ pramattaḥ kurute vikarma

yad indriya-prītaya āpṛṇoti

na sādhu manye yata ātmano 'yam

asann api kleśada āsa dehaḥ

(SB 5.5.4)

Pramattaḥ. These persons are mad, pramattaḥ. Prakṛṣṭa-rūpeṇa mattaḥ. Mattaḥ means mad, and pra means still more, more than mad. Kurute vikarma. They are engaged in so many nefarious activities—black market, white market, stealing, burglaring, so on, so on. Vikarma. Idam adya mayā labdham idaṁ prāpsye punar dhanam. This is asuric thing. If one can squander away crores of rupees like Harendra Singh... Suppose if I give you each one lakh of rupees, how long it will take? You can squander away in one day. Take some regular income. Be comfortably situated. Advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Bas. That is happiness. In your whole life you'll never be disturbed for economic condition. That I am arranging. That's all. That "I am suffering for money." No. It will regularly. Is not that scheme? So what is next Mukherjee? Hyderabad (Hindi) It will be great service to Kṛṣṇa. (Hindi)

Indian (2): (Hindi)

Prabhupāda: (Hindi) Provided they take up the step. Yajñād bhavati parjanyaḥ (BG 3.14). Let them chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, and pāni will come from up, not from the ground. Otherwise Gītā is false. Yajñād bhavati parjanyaḥ. (Hindi) That is going on. (Hindi) This is the way. The nature is forcing, yajña. Yajñaḥ karma-samudbhavaḥ. Perform yajña. And in Kali-yuga the yajña is so easy. Saṅkīrtanair yajñaiḥ, yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ.

Room Conversation -- July 19, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He says, "However, the collections are poor. Only sixty-five rupees. I was wondering if we could also get some of the Food Relief money being sent to India to Śrī Lanka."

Prabhupāda: Why not? Oh, yes. America's money collect and send. So that is my proposal, American money and give this culture. They are squandering so much money. Channelize to spend through this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Their money will be properly utilized and our Kṛṣṇa consciousness will be spread.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: "People say they have never had such wonderful tasty food. If we can get money from Food Relief, it should be sent directly here."

Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. First thing is you get ghee.

Room Conversation -- July 19, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Very encouraging letter. Very encouraging letter. I am very pleased. If our farm project is organized all over the world... (break) You know that? Are you aware of this plan?

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes.

Prabhupāda: One man is kneading flour, five sers, and he's getting two hundred rupees' salary, and paratha and halavā. This is management, going on. Now today it has been checked. They are eating paratha and our men are starving. He is getting two hundred rupees, three hundred rupees. This is management. What can be done? And he has... Three dozen manager, four dozen cook. This is... That's all. I am giving you report which he has given to me. Money is squandered like anything, and live blindly, and "Still, I want everything for myself." Everything is in my notice. I can feel now actually (indistinct) is coming. Anyway, we want... In India, the affairs are most mismanaged. That we see. In foreign countries they are doing very nice. In New York, in Los Angeles, in Chicago. Now there is Toronto report. This Toronto report... I do not know how things are managed there very nicely, and here..., three dozen cook. "Too many cooks spoil the broth."

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: They're not cooking for any more people here than they do in New York. They don't have one hired person.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: How many you have?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: We have plenty of devotees here. There the devotees are being...

Prabhupāda: You see how things are mismanaged. There is no place for accommodating the cooks. What is the question of cooking? Have you seen it? They have no place where to accommodate the cooks, so many cooks. Similar thing I noticed in Bombay also, so many laborers. What can I do? Anyway, don't be discouraged. But things are going actually. I am discouraged. At the same time, let things go on like that. Therefore I say do not mind for little more charges. If things are coming quickly, good work, pay. You are already squandering money in this way, in the kitchen. Why not for your own?(?) Hm? Unnecessarily you're feeding some rascal paratha, halavā, and paying him. Who is going to see?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So now, with this new arrangement, they can't do that.

Prabhupāda: You cannot eat more than dahl, roti. That's all. Halavā...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: They shouldn't even be here.

Prabhupāda: Huh?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: First point is that all those cooks aren't even needed.

Prabhupāda: Dismiss. Whoever will remain, they'll eat in front of us. Nobody will be allowed to take food.

Room Conversation -- July 19, 1977, Vrndavana:

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: By Kṛṣṇa's grace we have a very nice devotee cook now. He just came from Toronto.

Prabhupāda: Kṛṣṇa's grace is always there, but we spoil Kṛṣṇa's grace. That is our business. "But Kṛṣṇa is giving us so much grace. Let us spoil it." That is our proposal. If there was no Kṛṣṇa's grace, how this institution would have come into existence? It was not possible, such a big institution, all by one man's endeavor, starting with forty rupees. Simply Kṛṣṇa's grace. So don't spoil that. This... This... That's not good. Then Kṛṣṇa will not help. Just like the father gives you money. If you squander that, He'll be very sorry. Tat te 'nukampāṁ susamīkṣamāṇaḥ (SB 10.14.8). "Oh, Kṛṣṇa is so kind by giving me this opportunity." You should take things like that, not that "For nothing the father has given me so much money. Let me squander it." Have to work much for it. So anyway, Mr. Mani has said.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes.

Prabhupāda: That means your situation is not bad.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: No, it's not very bad. (end)

Room Conversation -- August 8, 1977, Vrndavana:

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Śrīla Prabhupāda? Surabhī Swami is going back to Bombay...

Prabhupāda: So what can I do? Money. Money is... If there is here, you can take. Surabhī Swami comes for money, I know that. He'll give me some plan. If there is money, we'll pay.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: How much money do you want?

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: I had a meeting in Bombay by Girirāja...

Prabhupāda: Meeting or no meeting, you want money and squander. That I know. So if there is money, he'll give you. Throw away.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: They want a lot of money, though.

Prabhupāda: Lot of money give and throw. What can be done! I know.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: We can explain to Tamāla Kṛṣṇa.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: They're asking twenty-two lakhs of rupees.

Prabhupāda: No, give twenty-two crores, I don't mind. Then do it.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: It will be paid back starting...

Prabhupāda: All right.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Rāmeśvara promised us to pay it back.

Prabhupāda: All right. That's all right.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Then we can get the building complete in October.

Prabhupāda: Whatever money you have got, you squander. I don't mind. I know that the kitchen, so much money is squandered, and that is given. Squander. And increase the period of squander. That I know. So don't bother me now with your money. But finish within that period. That's all.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes.

Prabhupāda: That is my only request. Otherwise, you are squandering money. Do it. Do it. But after all, do it in time. I'm not going to live for long. If possible, I'll see and...

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Every Sunday in Bombay hundreds of people come just to look at the building. It is so attractive.

Prabhupāda: Yes. So kindly finish it. Take money and squander and finish it at a time.

Room Conversation -- August 8, 1977, Vrndavana:

Dhanañjaya: But you did mention previously that our ISKCON ladies, if they so desire, they can learn.

Prabhupāda: If they are idle, then you can give engagement. Otherwise don't bring engagements. If they are idle—there is no work—give them. Not that you bring engagement and then... We want to be free from engagement, but if there is idle men, doing nothing, give them engagement. Now that we have got so many work. Simply unnecessarily, paid men are there for cutting vegetables. They have got so much... Means management is a rascal. Our men are idle, and they're bringing paid men to cut vegetables and paying two hundred rupees. This is management. First of all, whatever business is already there, engage them. Then bring further engagement. Now he has understood the situation. Do it very carefully. Don't make plan for squandering money. There are so many engagements. They're not doing anything. They're bringing one paid man to do the work. And you are finding out another engagement. Apply some brain.

Room Conversation -- October 29, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: We should try. Śrīla Prabhupāda? I had meeting with that lawyer? That man is wonderful. He is the first lawyer I have ever met that I honestly feel is an honest man. That Jagadish...

Prabhupāda: Agarwal.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Is that his name? Agarwal? From Mathurā. Whew! Very high class man, thoroughly gentleman.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Noble-minded.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: We met. Svarūpa Dāmodara and I spent an hour at Bhagatji's house. Bhagatji brought him. So he's going to do that Trust. He says in three or four days time he can finish it, Bhaktivedanta Swami Charity Trust, with the aims and objects we have given. Then I talked about that squandering amendment. So he explained that the best way to do it is that we amend it to say that they always get 250 rupees for their maintenance, and the other 750 rupees, instead of fixing it in their names, fix it in the name of ISKCON, and ISKCON executors of the will shall see that they give them the money at the time of seven years for the purposes of three: purchasing property, business, and for buying government stocks. And the profits from those, they can do anything they want with. He said don't let them put the 750 rupees in their name, because then they can do anything they want with it, squander it. But if you put the money in fixed deposit in ISKCON's name, then ISKCON can give them the money after seven years, for those three purposes. So if you approve, then he can make an amendment clause, and then you can sign it, and then it can be done. He understood everything very perfectly. He said actually... He understood it perfectly. Actually, because everything belongs to ISKCON, the whole will is more or less a moral, spiritual guidance, because legally everything is already ISKCON's. So I said, "But we want it to be morally and guided spiritually. To us, this is the will. Whatever this will says, we must follow as Prabhupāda's disciples." He said, "Then I can make an amendment, which would be like that, that every month they'll get 250 rupees for their whole lifetime, and the 750 rupees will be put in fixed deposit for seven years in the name of ISKCON, and at the end of that, the ISKCON executors of the will, will give them each the money each month, fifteen hundred rupees, for the purpose of..., in those three ways, and that the money should not be squandered." He said that way, if ISKCON sees that the money is being squandered, then they stop giving them that money and they'll just give 250 rupees. Two hundred fifty rupees they must get. And Radharani De, she may get always one thousand rupees. She is older. Let her have that. Whatever she does is her business with the money. And, I think, it is a very good way. And we'll all make sure that they get the money, but they must use it properly. It's Kṛṣṇa's money.

Prabhupāda: And they'll remain in that house lifetime.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. It's a very good house. I spoke to him. I said, "Have you made any friends in that house?" He said, "Oh, they're all..." He called them lakhi-pati and crore-pati. (Prabhupāda laughs) I said, "So it's very good house. Such big people are living there."

Prabhupāda: Who said lakhi....

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Vrindavan. He was saying that they're all big people living there. So I said, "That's good. It means a high class place. You don't move out of there." He said, "It is a good place."

Prabhupāda: Very first class place.

Room Conversation -- October 31, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: And if he does not give substantial order then stop it.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Well, he's not giving any order. I mean the point I made to him was that...

Prabhupāda: Then don't give.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I told him, "Vrindavan, you're netting 800 rupees so for that 800 rupees you must be booking ten to twenty thousand rupees worth of orders."

Prabhupāda: So if he's not giving, then stop it.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So I said to him if you're getting ten to twenty thousand, either, two things are happening, either you're not getting the orders, then what is the use of spending 800 rupees?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Or the other thing is that you're getting the orders but you're not giving any money to the BBT.

Prabhupāda: Then be satisfied with stipends, two hundred, three hundred, live in that house and then like that nothing wrong.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I have no objection to paying him if he was doing business but...

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I just see he's not doing it.

Prabhupāda: I fully depend on your discrimination. I, if he's not giving bill then just stop it.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I told him that if you do business, you take the 800 rupees but doing business means you'll pay the BBT some bills.

Prabhupāda: Hm.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: If you're not paying any bills it means you're not doing business. He is...

Prabhupāda: Very carefully the... I want they may not...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Squander.

Prabhupāda: ...suffer for want of stipend and place. That's all.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yeah.

Prabhupāda: Do like that and I fully depend on you. If he's not giving business what is the use of?

Room Conversation -- October 31, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He is spen... I think he's just taking the money and using it for some other business. He can't be spending 800 rupees and not doing any business.

Prabhupāda: Hm.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: And if he's spending the 800 for travelling and not booking order then what is the use of spending the 800 rupees?

Prabhupāda: Yes. Tell him frankly.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yeah.

Prabhupāda: Then stop everything.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I told him. I said, "You think about it tonight and tomorrow we'll talk again."

Prabhupāda: Hm. Hm. Do everything very cautiously.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Oh yes.

Prabhupāda: It is not that out of affection we shall squander money.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Mm.

Prabhupāda: So use your best intelligence and if he has not given then stop everything, let them have 250 per month per head and live in that house. That's all. This is my final.

Room Conversation -- October 31, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: At least five thousand rupees business must be given otherwise... That's all.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. Immediately there should be business. If a man spends nearly a thousand rupees for travelling every month, he must be making fifteen, twenty thousand rupees. But he is not giving any money at all to the BBT. So where's the one thousand rupees going that he's given? He couldn't be using it for...

Prabhupāda: So we have given in charge and now stop it.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He was giving him travel money now for about two years. And he hasn't given any money to the BBT out of it so I, I really question. I'll talk with him further.

Prabhupāda: You deal.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yeah, I know how to do this because I was doing the saṅkīrtana, so I know what should come from the money he's spending. It's the same idea as anywhere in the world. You spend, it's business, business, whether it's dollars or rupees. I'll try...

Prabhupāda: That man who has kept, he's working as assistant, he is plundering.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yeah, I think so.

Prabhupāda: He's a foolish man.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Well the thing is Śrīla Prabhupāda, he's not that intelligent. He's going to be plundered, I mean that's the unfortunate part. That's why we just have to help them and at the same time...

Prabhupāda: Try to help but not squander.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yeah, that's the point.

Prabhupāda: I give you full freedom. As you learn. But arrange that they may remain in that house, lifelong and get each two hundred and fifty. Only my wife five hundred, that's all.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: What happens after when they start getting seven hundred fifty rupees after seven years, they may squander a little bit. But we'll be...

Prabhupāda: No, that is already invested. I read government paper.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: OK. Those three things.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: OK. Good. When the seven hundred and fifty rupees is put in fixed deposit for them, it's put in their name so it belongs to them and you can just tell the bank...

Prabhupāda: Then let them...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Let them have it.

Prabhupāda: After seven years.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: They can have it, even if they...

Prabhupāda: Squander, I don't mind.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: All right.

Prabhupāda: Our money is not touched.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: No, it's not.

Prabhupāda: That's all.