Service means that you obey the order of the master. It doesn't matter what it is. There is very nice example in Lord Caitanya's life, that He had His personal servitor Govinda. So after Lord Caitanya would take prasādam, then Govinda would take. So one day, Lord Caitanya, after taking prasādam, He laid down Himself on the threshold. What is called? Threshold? Door? Doorway. So Govinda crossed Him. Govinda used to massage His legs after, when He was taking rest. So Govinda crossed Lord Caitanya and massaged His legs. Then Lord Caitanya was sleeping, and, say, after half and hour, when He got, He saw, "Govinda, you have not taken your prasādam as yet?" "No, sir." "Why?" "I cannot cross You. You are lying down here." "Then how you came?" "I came across." "How you first of all came across, why not again crossing?" "That I came to serve You. And now I cannot cross You to take my prasādam. That is not my duty. That is for myself. And it is for You." So for Kṛṣṇa's pleasure you can become His enemy, you can become His friend, you can become anything. That is bhakti-yoga. Because your aim is how to please Kṛṣṇa. And as soon as the point comes, to please your senses, then you come to material world, immediately.
Take Rest (Lect, Conv and Letters)
Lectures
Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures
Just like this sputnik man, the aeronautics, they go higher and higher, twenty-five thousand or thirty thousand or hundred thousand miles away. But if they cannot take rest in some planet, they'll fall down, at once fall down again. So the rest is required. In the impersonal form the rest is uncertain, uncertain. Therefore in the Bhāgavata says that āruhya kṛcchreṇa paraṁ padaṁ tataḥ (SB 10.2.32). Even after so much endeavor, if he gets into the spiritual world and remains in that impersonal form, the risk is that patanty adhaḥ: he comes down again into this material world. Why? Anādṛta-yuṣmad-aṅghrayaḥ, because he has neglected to serve in love and devotion the Supreme Lord.
The Deity worship is there just to give chance to the devotee satatam, satata-yuktānām—always engaged in Kṛṣṇa's service. From early morning, half past three, four, up to night, ten, they are engaged. That is called satata-yuktānām. Only a few hours given to them for taking rest because, after all, we have got this material body. It requires little rest. Otherwise there is no question of resting. Twenty-four hours engaged in the service of Kṛṣṇa.
Why should I give me away to the animal life? Viṣayaḥ khalu sarvataḥ syāt. Viṣaya means the four necessities of material life. That is called viṣaya. Viṣaya, four nece... What are the four necessities? That so long we have got this material body, we have to eat. We cannot starve. That is not possible. So similarly, we have to take rest, sleeping, and similarly, we have to enjoy or give satisfaction to our senses, and similarly, we have to defend. This is called viṣaya. So śāstra says that this..., viṣayaḥ khalu sarvataḥ syāt: "In any form of life you'll get full facilities for the bodily necessities of life, full facilities." Just see the birds and bees.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures
That is here: śuśrūṣaṇe. Śuśrūṣaṇe means in service; prāvṛṣi, during the rainy season. Because saintly persons, mendicants, sannyāsīs, their business is to travel. Travel. When, of course, something established, then a sannyāsī can rest, paramahaṁsa stage. When there are many disciples, workers, it is going on, then he can take rest. Otherwise it is the business of the sannyāsī to travel.
"Now, what does this Bhāgavata says? Purā atīta-bhave. What is this?" Go on researching. That is required. That is real research work. So purā atīta-bhave abhavaṁ mune. Mune. He's addressing Vyāsadeva, mune. "So I was the son of a maidservant, and I was engaged as the boy servant of yogis, and they were taking rest for four months. So I had the opportunity of serving them four months as their boy servant. Just to take, whatever they left, prasādam, I used to take. To wash their dishes or to wash their cloth. In this way he got the opportunity of serving perfect devotees for four months," and he became Nārada. This is the importance. This is the importance, that simply by rendering... Svalpam apy asya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt. He became Nārada means he was saved from the mahato bhayāt, very great, fearful, dangerous position.
Still, I wanted to hear him. That was my only qualification.
So the... It is the process. During lecture time, if we don't care to hear or we do other things or take rest, that is not very good sign. We should be very much careful. Then we shall remain mūḍha-dṛśā. Naṭo nāṭyadharo yathā. We have taken the vow to see Kṛṣṇa or to understand Kṛṣṇa. We should be very, very serious and do the needful. Then our life will be successful.
We are not safe. Without Your protection, we are always unsafe." This should be the position of the devotees. We are actually in a dangerous position, this material world. At any time, māyā will catch, at any time. As soon as we are a little inattentive... "Now I have done my duty. Now let me take rest little." No, there is no rest. We must be always alert.
There is a verse from Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī. What is that? Avyartha-kālatvam. Avyartha-kālatvam. A devotee should be so much careful that he should see, "Whether my time is unnecessarily being spent? Whether I am now engaged in māyā's service or Kṛṣṇa's service?" That one should be very much alert.
You see in the Bhagavad-gītā. So those who have stopped preaching work and easy-going imitation, that is not very good. Because how far he's advanced? Because he goes to the forest and he'll think of woman and money, what is the use? By his action, it will be proved. The same way, taking rest, sleeping, and doing everything whimsically. So Kṛṣṇa knows everything. How can you cheat Kṛṣṇa, by so-called forest-going? Because your enemy, your senses have gone with you. So how you can get out by going to the forest? Because your real enemies are your senses. So the enemies, you cannot escape. They'll force you again to these material activities. So what is the use of going to the forest? It is simply show, make show. It has no value. Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.
So so far eating is concerned there is no difference. But we are eating Kṛṣṇa prasādam, and they are eating sense gratification. That is the difference. We are sleeping; they are also sleeping. But we are sleeping to get energy to work more diligently and nicely for Kṛṣṇa, and they are working, taking rest for working for sense gratification. So eating, sleeping, fearing. We are also fearful in this way, that "Māyā may not catch me." We are always cautious. Daivī hy eṣā guṇamayī mama māyā duratyayā (BG 7.14).
There are thousands of women, but because I have got one bodily relation with one woman, "Oh, she is my wife." There are thousands of children and because one child is bodily related, that is my child. There are many houses, but the house in which I take rest, that is my house. There are many cars, but which car I use, that is my car. So this mamāham iti manyate. The body is not mine, and in bodily relation, anything, that is also not mine. That is the conclusion. But due to the influence of māyā I am thinking, "I am this body, and anything in relation to my body, that is mine." So "My wife, my children, my house, my family, my society, my country, my nation." This is going on. This rascaldom is going on.
If you remain for very long time—I have got experience—in the sea or in the air, you feel very uncomfortable. You want to land down, land down, another air station, another port, and feel very uncomfortable. The airplane men, they come down and they take rest on the ground. It is not our nature because it is impersonal. In the air there is no variety, simply air. Similarly, in the sea there is no variety, simply water. So it becomes suffocating. Similarly, those who are aspiring to go to the Brahman effulgence... Brahman effulgence is spiritual world, certainly, but there is no variety. There is no Kṛṣṇa's enjoying with the cowherds boys or Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. You cannot find there. You simply remain in the Brahman effulgence.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Last night he had to stay up from nine o'clock 'til two in the morning preaching with someone. So I told him he should go and take rest when he came home.
Prabhupāda: That's nice. All right.
Devotee (1): Prabhupāda? You said Arjuna was lamenting, but pure devotees become... Superior qualities that all devotees possess... So why is this? So why did Kṛṣṇa call him a fool?
Prabhupāda: Yes. In spite of our superior qualities, we are always fool. You should know. Don't be puffed up with your superior qualities. You should remain always fool. Just like Caitanya Mahāprabhu, He presents Himself as a fool.
Initiation Lectures
The solution is by tapasya. Tapasya means voluntarily accepting some rules and regulations to purify him. That is called tapasya. Just like in diseased condition, one has to voluntarily accept the rules and regulations enforced by the physician: "You should not eat this. You should not do this. You should not go out. You should take rest. You should not, should not, should not," so many. Similarly, if we want to purify ourselves, then four principles of purificatory process, namely illicit sex life and intoxication, meat-eating, and gambling, these four things must be...
These four things are paraphernalia of your civilization. In the western... Not only western, eastern, everywhere. The Kali-yuga is spreading very rapidly, and wherever the Kali-yuga is very prominent, these four items are very prominent: unrestricted sex life, gambling, and meat-eating, and intoxication.
General Lectures
Oh. So it is Kṛṣṇa's grace. (laughter) He had some affection for the dog. Now he can turn his affection for Kṛṣṇa. The dog is lost. So... No, dog will not be lost. He will greet. The dog, they are very... They will soon smell and find out the way. Dog will never be lost.
So our Mr. D.D. (referring to Dvārakādhiṣa) is in samādhi. Let him take rest. You can take rest. Go. (laughs) Yes. You are feeling samādhi, Mr. Ekendra? No, you can go and take rest. Yes. You are very good. So these children, they are coming. I especially request Swami Kīrtanānanda to take care of them. And here is a nice, motherly girl, Satyabhāmā, and her husband.
He has got the ideas. Here is Keśighāṭa also. And try. Cooperatively you can do. Kṛṣṇa will help. So... And Jack and you... You have decided to remain here? Very nice. You have got very nice child. And now Mr. Ekendra is feeling samādhi. He can also take... (laughter) Let him take rest. You take rest. Ekendra? You take rest. Go.
Prabhupāda: No. You are feeling samādhi. Take rest. Yes. That will be nice. Then I shall call you again. No? All right. Let him stay. Hare Kṛṣṇa. Let us begin. Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. Do it like that, as I have done. Little, little. Yes. (devotees chanting japa; initiation ceremony beginning?)
Kīrtanānanda: Three times. Now like this.
Brahmānanda: Drink. Drink.
Kīrtanānanda: And now once and throw.
Prabhupāda: Throw it. Yes. That's all. You take. (end)
Rest will be disgusting. Of course, so long we have got this material body, we have to take rest, but this rest is also not required, because in the spiritual world there is no such fatigue. Everyone is always active. So that is perfectional stage. Bhavantam evānucaran nirantaraḥ praśānta-niḥśeṣa-mano-rathāntaraḥ. And how one can be pacified fully? When he does not manufacture the fulfillment of desire. We manufacture. The whole material world is going on by manufacturing ideas. The so-called scientists, the so-called philosophers, poets, they are manufacturing ideas that "We shall be happy in this way, in that way." So this will not help us, this manufacturing. I may be satisfied by some manufactured ideas.
Prabhupāda: Four, six, eight, nine. Gopāla is sick? Just see how he is.
Devotee: He has a strong fever today.
Prabhupāda: Oh, then taking rest completely. Come on. Where the box are?
Haṁsadūta: I haven't prepared it.
Prabhupāda: You should prepare.
Haṁsadūta: They have to be at least three or four...
Himāvatī: Reinforce the handle so it's stronger.
Prabhupāda: You do one thing. Have you got rope?
Philosophy Discussions
Prabhupāda: Sleep should be avoided, but that is not possible. Therefore it should be adjusted to the minimum. Just like Gosvāmīs, they are sleeping not less, not more than two hours. Even we hear about some karmī, just like Napoleon, he was also not sleeping. He was taking rest on the back of the horse. I do not know whether it is so.
Hayagrīva: Yes.
Prabhupāda: But I know about Gandhi. He was sleeping when he is parking his car, because he was so busy.
Purports to Songs
So Locana dāsa Ṭhākura says that parama koruṇa, pahū dui jana, nitāi gauracandra, that They are essence of all incarnation. Kevala ānanda-kanda. And Their preaching process is very pleasing. Caitanya Mahāprabhu recommends "You chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, dance nicely, and when you feel tired, just take rest and eat Kṛṣṇa prasādam." So His formula is very pleasing. Kevala ānanda-kanda. While He was present in Jagannātha Purī, every day in the evening, dancing was, chanting and dancing continued. And after dancing is finished, He used to distribute sumptuously prasādam of Jagannātha. So many thousands of people used to assemble every night. So simply transcendentally pleasing, this movement. Kevala ānanda-kanda.
Conversations and Morning Walks
1969 Conversations and Morning Walks
Satyabhāmā: Yes. To eating prasādam.
Prabhupāda: Two hours for eating?
Paramānanda: Eating and taking rest.
Satyabhāmā: Well, noon prasādam, morning prasādam, milk in the evening.
Paramānanda: Morning and evening, half hour, noon, one hour.
Hayagrīva: Bathing, bathing takes an hour.
Prabhupāda: So you want to stop chanting and reading?
Satyabhāmā: No. No. (laughs)
Paramānanda: That is not enough time, though, in the afternoon for chanting.
Hayagrīva: What do you mean? The whole afternoon...
Prabhupāda: That is nice, that in the morning you work and after prasādam you are at ease, take rest or read or whatever you like.
Hayagrīva: There's plenty of time. From two o'clock until bedtime. That's eight hours. From two to ten. You can't chant sixteen rounds in eight hours?
Paramānanda: Well, I have to begin my duties with the cow at five o'clock. So we'll be finishing prasādam and rest at about four o'clock. That leaves me one hour, which is filled up with other odd chores.
Hayagrīva: Well, then, if you have to take... You have an extra hour you have to work in the afternoon. You have an extra hour?
1972 Conversations and Morning Walks
Prabhupāda: Not very tired. What was it?
Devotee: Pradyumna didn't take rest last night, I don't think.
Prabhupāda: Pradyumna... Nanda Kumāra was sleeping.
Devotee (2): Charlie Chaplin kept us up all night.
Prabhupāda: Hm.
Devotee (2): Charlie Chaplin kept us up all night. (laughs) Charlie Chaplin show.
Prabhupāda: Hm. That was nice. (laughter) He is really funny man. (laughs) He has got originality. All his comic play has got some originality, that is the beauty. How he invented! (laughs) I think that character, when he was a drunkard, he was a great friend, (laughs) and when he's not drunkard, "Who is this man?" (laughs) He's grave(?) as rich man. And as drunkard, "You pay. You are my friend, life-long friend.
1973 Conversations and Morning Walks
Devotee: After one year.
Guest (1): ...like a special prize. This (indistinct) master. But this is essential and this initiation (indistinct) after novitiate.
Prabhupāda: (indistinct) ...I'll go and take rest.
Devotee: O.K.
Prabhupāda: So he'll explain, I'm going to take rest.
Guest (1): O.K. (pause Śrīla Prabhupāda leaves and devotee and guest continue conversation about four regulative principles and so on)
Prabhupāda: No, why? There is... Go and sleep.
Guest (1): Go and sleep?
Prabhupāda: Yes, go and sleep. Take rest. Go on.
Guest (3): You know, Prabhupāda, when you came to my house that evening...
Prabhupāda: Eh?
Guest (3): You had hari-kīrtana at our house and everything.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Prabhupāda: The tongue must work. And as far as possible, should be heard... That is... And officially, krkshaharama (Prabhupāda chants very fast with words running into each other indistinctly). Not like that (chants again like that) Not like that. That will not... Every word should be distinctly chanted and heard, not official. So stress on this point. As far as possible, people should be encouraged to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and try to bring the ecstasy and dance. Even there is no ecstasy, dance, it will bring ecstasy. Dancing is so nice. Chanting, dancing and take prasādam. Take rest. That's all. Not that you shall take rest like Kumbhakarṇa. (Prabhupāda laughs) Just to, I mean to say, answer the call of this deficient body, we have to take little rest. But as far as possible this should be conquered. Nidrāhāra-vihārakādi-vijitau **. The Gosvāmīs, they conquered over eating, sleeping... Stress on saṅkīrtana, and let them chant and dance as long as possible.
1974 Conversations and Morning Walks
Prabhupāda: No. At night I get up at one, at half past one, sometimes half past twelve. But I take a little rest, one or two hour in the daytime. So two hours at night, two hours at day, or three hours at night, two hours in day. In this way, altogether five hours, not more than that. Our predecessor gurus, Gosvāmīs, they were taking rest not more than two hours or 2-1/2 hours. So we should come to that standard, yes. Nidrāhāra-vihārakādi-vijitau **. About them this description is: they reduced their sleeping, nidra. Nidra means sleeping. And āhāra. Āhāra means eating and collection. Collection is also āhāra. Yes. So they were mendicant. They had no collection. And they had no preaching mission. They were simply writing books. Nānā-śāstra-vicāraṇaika-nipuṇau, very expert to study different scriptures just to get the essence of scripture and give to the people.
Prabhupāda: No, classless society is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. "Eat Kṛṣṇa-prasādam." Everyone will like. That is classless: "Everyone chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, everyone eat Kṛṣṇa-prasādam." Life is successful. Classless society on the spiritual platform, not on the material platform. That is not possible. Brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā na śocati, samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu (BG 18.54). At that stage, samatā, equality, when one is brahma-bhūta (SB 4.30.20), spiritualized... Otherwise not possible. So Dipaka is not here? No, he has gone.
Madhudviṣa: He's at the temple. He will be coming tonight, though. He usually comes to prepare you something before you take rest. I can send for him.
Prabhupāda: All right, no, no. No, no, let him come. I am not in a hurry. What is the time now?
1975 Conversations and Morning Walks
Paramahaṁsa: Most people think he's too puffed up.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Otherwise how they say he's God? Then? You can stop. Those who are tired can take rest. What is the local time?
Amogha: 8:30
Prabhupāda: 8:30?
Paramahaṁsa: Usually people don't have a very clear idea of what spiritual life is. So when they see someone who is a good musician or a good artist or something like that, sometimes they automatically think, "Oh, he must be spiritual, because he is so good at this. No one else can do it. He must be some spiritual power." So therefore someone like Ravi Shankar, a lot of people either they become envious or they worship him as being an incarnation or something like that.
Amogha: I was talking to one Buddhist monk, and I asked him, "What is your actual practice? What is your daily schedule?" And he said, "Well, we get up around sunrise and go out with our begging bowls and fill it up and then come back at about 11:00 to the temple. And then we sit down and eat everything in the begging bowl. And then we take rest." I said, "What about the rest of the day?" And he said, "Well, that's all free, open time."
Amogha: Śrīla Prabhupāda, we are distributing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam you explain that it's best to start from the beginning and go gradually. So...
Prabhupāda: No, anywhere you can see.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Pregnancy is understood at three months. From that month till further, sixteen months at least, she should not come to be near husband. That is eka-kadi (?). The child does not live. And they are not inclined to come unless a man induces. So the man, if he has got more than one wife, so man will not disturb her. And she will take rest for the next eighteen months. So after ten months she will give birth to the child, and for six months continually she will take care of the child. Feeding the child with breast milk, the child will be healthy. If the child can take mother's milk for six months at least continually, he'll become healthy for life.
Dr. Patel: Up to three o'clock we are taking rest.
Prabhupāda: No.
Dr. Patel: No.
Prabhupāda: Up to four.
Dr. Patel: If I come at four-thirty, you are there.
Prabhupāda: No. At that time, I shall not be able to... You can come at five. Because after waking up I prepare. Then at five I begin. Let us meet. And Kṛṣṇa says, tathā dehāntara-prāptir dhīras tatra na muhyati (BG 2.13). So one has to become dhīra. If one remains adhīra, then he'll never be able to understand the distinction between body and soul.
Hariśauri: No, I was there. You had just taken rest in the bedroom, so I thought it best not to disturb you.
Prabhupāda: Oh, yes, I was taking rest.
Dr. Patel: I wrote out the prescription and gave it.
Prabhupāda: Yes, I got that. Huh.
Lokanātha: So you can come?
Prabhupāda: So I was resting.
Dr. Patel: No, I won't come. I want only humble obeisances today. Thank you very much. (leaves)
1976 Conversations and Morning Walks
Prabhupāda: No, no. What is the difference? If by practicing severe yogic means you fly, the birds are also flying. They are flying without airplane. Does it mean that it has become very great? There are many birds, garuḍa bird. They can fly from one planet to another. Just like small birds—they fly from one tree to another, take rest again—so they fly from this planet to another. Take rest, again another. What is the value of your airplane? You cannot go to another planet. There are birds; they catch up elephants and take it away for eating. Does it mean he has become, it has become God? There are Siddhaloka planets where the people can go without any airplane from one planet to another, Siddhaloka. They have got all yogic siddhi automatically, by birth. Just like we cannot fly, but a small bird, a small fly, from the birth it can fly. There are so many.
Bharadvāja: What happens when he dreams of the spiritual master or Kṛṣṇa?
Prabhupāda: That's all right. Dreaming means he's seeing. The seer is the same.
Rādhāvallabha: In Hawaii you were saying that they take rest for six months and wake up a dog.
Prabhupāda: Yes. (laughter) (break) ...a small garden like this, that is called a hanging garden.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes, we can walk there in the mornings.
Prabhupāda: Hm.
Prabhupāda: I have tried all these. They are useless.
Vṛṣākapi: We have written all the Parliament and we have asked them to come, but they are too busy.
Prabhupāda: So you go and take rest.
Devotees: Jaya. Haribol.
Prabhupāda: There is much time difference from...?
Devotees: Same time. It is ten-thirty now.
Prabhupāda: No, New Vrindaban and...?
Devotees: Same time, New Vrindaban.
Rūpānuga: Should I close this, Prabhupāda?
Prabhupāda: They're required. So long we have got this body, we require to eat something, we require to sleep sometimes, we require a little sense gratification, and we require defense. But it should be minimized, not increased. That is tapasya. In the human life this is possible, this is possible. Nidrāhāra-vihārakādi-vijitau **. One can conquer over these things, by practice. The more we minimize this āhāra-nidrā-bhaya-maithuna, this means we are advanced in spiritual taste.(?) It is practiced. My, my personal life, I don't sleep at night. And nowadays, at most, one hour. Yes. But I take rest in the daytime, at least two to three hours. So it is not that I am sleeping one hour. I sleep three to four hours total. But if practiced, it can be reduced, practiced. We see in the life of Gosvāmīs. About them, it is said: nidrāhāra-vihārakādi-vijitau **.
Prabhupāda: Future means he'll have to come back again, either in the same family or in the dog's family, dog's life. Bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate (BG 8.19). In this way, he'll take birth and die. Yes.
Rādhāvallabha: You were saying they take rest for seven months and wake up a dog.
Prabhupāda: Maybe dog or maybe somebody else; that doesn't matter.
Svarūpa Dāmodara: In the last, about three years ago or so, there is a new branch of study, it is called biomedical ethics, that deals with the symptom of death: How can one define when a person dies? What are the symptoms? and How can we judge that this man is dead? It is a great controversy in medical science.
Prabhupāda: Yes. In Caitanya-bhāgavata there is a word, vaiṣṇavera kriyā-mudrā vijñe nā bujhāya: "The activities of a Vaiṣṇava, even the most intelligent person of this world cannot understand." Vaiṣṇavera kriyā-mudrā vijñe nā bujhāya.
Hari-śauri: I remember reading in the Kṛṣṇa Book, you mention that to the ordinary man a Vaiṣṇava appears to be crazy.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Prabhupāda, if they are going to have another interview at one, I think perhaps you can take rest now.
Prabhupāda: No, one and a half hour.
Interviewer: That's it?
Prabhupāda: Yes. Of course in daytime I take rest two hours. So in this way altogether about three to four hours. Our philosophy is not that you sit idly and God will send everything, no, not like that. We know God will send everything, still we work. Without God's sanction nothing can come. But we must be qualified to receive the favor of God. That is our philosophy.
Prabhupāda: So where is Ambarīṣa?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He was not in the parade.
Bali-mardana: He is going back to..., I spoke to him for a little while. He's going back to Boston right after the parade, I think, with Aja? I spoke to him; he seemed to be a nice boy. I asked him, because we were meeting with reporters. So they like to ask who is giving you big donations. I wasn't sure whether he wanted his name to be used or not, but he said, "Oh, yes, you can use it without any question. I do not mind at all." (pause)
Prabhupāda: All right, go take rest, you have worked so hard.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: No, we didn't.
Prabhupāda: So if you want to take little rest, we can arrange for that. Resting.
George Harrison: Rest?
Prabhupāda: Yes, for you.
George Harrison: No, no.
Jayatīrtha: I think, Śrīla Prabhupāda, you want to rest.
George Harrison: You take a rest.
Prabhupāda: I am taking rest now these twenty-four hours. I have no other business than to take rest. (laughter)
Jayatīrtha: Always resting at the lotus feet of Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
Devotee (1): He takes rest during the middle of the day?
Jñānagamya: How is Mahārāja? Has he been sick here? Hari-keśava,(?) has he been sick?
Devotee (3): Always sick.
Devotee (4): What is this park?
Jñānagamya: It's called Niavaran Park. There's a palace here called Niavaran Palace. The Shah has several palaces. This is the one where he usually meets visiting diplomats, heads of state. And this is the park that adjoins that palace. The palace is over beyond that wall.
Nava-yauvana: Jaya, this is where he's getting off. (conversation continues outside car)
Ātreya Ṛṣi: This is His Majesty's palace. This building is the servants' quarters, which has the best granite. (break)
Prabhupāda: ...that this body which we are taking so much care, will leave automatically when the time is finished. And I'll have to accept another body. Useless. The body, which I am taking so much care, will leave me. I'll not have to say, "Body, you leave me," but the body will leave me.
Prabhupāda: Yes, when you are practiced. Sleep means what you do when you are awakened, the same thing you'll dream, that's all. Physical, I've told you there are two phases of senses. Gross and subtle. When the gross senses are not working, the subtle senses work. Just like you dream, your mind is working. Although your hands and legs are taking rest, but mind is working. That is dreaming. So there are two phases of physical senses, gross and subtle. When the gross senses are stopped, the subtle senses continue to work. And when you are above even subtle senses, that is spiritual. Sometimes we misunderstand subtle senses are spiritual. No. Spiritual senses are different from the subtle stages.
Prabhupāda: Kṛṣṇa Consciousness.
Hari-śauri: Śrīla Prabhupāda, it's ten-thirty. Would you like anything to eat or drink before we take rest?
Devotee: Śrīla Prabhupāda, there's puffies and peanuts and hot milk. Puffies.
Prabhupāda: Puffies?
Hari-śauri: Puffed rice.
Prabhupāda: Puffed rice.
Devotee: And some fried, and there's hot milk.
Prabhupāda: Four o'clock. All right.
Mahāṁśa: Today so early now? But your rest. It's time you take rest, Prabhupāda.
Prabhupāda: I take rest up to four or half past four.
Mahāṁśa: Can you come at five o'clock?
Endowment Commissioner: At five o'clock there will be another program of our ministers.
Prabhupāda: So I will go. You send car?
Endowment Commissioner: Car, I will send one car.
Hari-śauri: He says, "They say that he's Śiva and Pārvatī combined together. He certainly embodies both masculinity and femininity. Kṛṣṇa, as we read of Him in the scriptures, must have resembled Swamiji. His walk is that of a dancer floating in a graceful movement."
Prabhupāda: All right. I will take rest.
Hari-śauri: You want to keep this?
Prabhupāda: No, no. (break—moves to garden)
Hari-śauri: They're all Māyāvādīs. He was just...
Pradyumna: I was just underlining that thing and...
Prabhupāda: So you write. I've already told you. I cannot speak now. You write. I have given you already hints.
Prabhupāda: So is there any regulation given in the pañjikā, when?
Pradyumna: Just... Only regulation given for timing is that for Deity going to rest at noon. The Deity should take rest at noon, two yāmas after sunrise, and take rest in evening, one yāma after sunset. But it didn't say anything about the other āratis.
Prabhupāda: The ārati, it is called sandhya ārati. Sandhya ārati means just in the evening. So when evening time is there... After sunset it is not evening. What is the time of sunset nowadays? Bring pañjikā.
Akśayananda: Around 5:30, isn't it?
Prabhupāda: What is the time of sunset?
Prabhupāda: That's nice.
Jagadīśa: And then, at 6:30, there will be ārati and they'll stay for ārati. Then, after ārati, they take a little prasādam and then take rest.
Prabhupāda: That's nice. That's all right.
Jagadīśa: And as far as everyone's duties are concerned, Rūpa-vilāsa is the English teacher. He teaches English, and math, and, of course, Pradyumna teaches the Sanskrit program. And Dhanurdhara Prabhu has been. He works in the āśrama, overseeing the boys...
Prabhupāda: Taking care.
Prabhupāda: Yes, otherwise where is consciousness? If you do not think of Kṛṣṇa. Just like these boys. They are always thinking of Kṛṣṇa, either chanting or reading book or selling book or writing book, preaching Kṛṣṇa, twenty-four hours, taking Kṛṣṇa's prasādam, taking rest for working in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, everything in Kṛṣṇa, chanting always Hare Kṛṣṇa. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. They have no other business.
Guest (6) (Indian man): What is the meaning of good citizen? Good citizen?
Prabhupāda: Yes, Kṛṣṇa consciousness is spiritual vision. Kṛṣṇa is the supreme spirit, and if you remain Kṛṣṇa conscious, then spiritual vision. That is spiritual.
Guest (6): Swamiji, you have seen Kṛṣṇa?
Indian lady: Yesterday I was (indistinct). The way it was for me, prema-bhakti. Through music it is very easy. (indistinct) You have to take rest now.
Prabhupāda: No, I have to take prasāda. (indistinct)
Indian man: Śrīla Prabhupāda, I've got some good quality tape. If you like it you can get more. Very good quality. (break)
Prabhupāda: ...saintly person. Such men should understand. Rājarṣi. Not ordinary king. Ṛṣi. Ṛṣi tulya. So if one is religious, then he will institute. Yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ (BG 3.21). If the big, big leaders, politicians, they accept Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, then others will follow.
1977 Conversations and Morning Walks
Prabhupāda: All right, you take rest.
Haṁsadūta: I'm not tired. I can... (break) The signatures were just a... (break)
Guest (6): Prabhu was telling about the Bombay farm now... (break)
Prabhupāda: First of all we must attract people, then give them prasāda. If you have no power to attract them, then how..., what is the position? Program means men will do. If there is no men, who will do this program?
Girirāja: In that area, in Thana, they drink at night.
Rāmeśvara: It will be permanent. Even if you brush into it, it will not break. Very durable.
Prabhupāda: All right. You take rest. We shall go a little... (everyone leaves room) (break)
Hari-śauri: They've actually legalized it. There's one group, they're claiming that by deprogramming people they give him freedom of thought.
Prabhupāda: But you are... By deprogramming... They are thinking of Kṛṣṇa. You are checking. Where is the freedom of thought? Then you are illegal. They want to think of Kṛṣṇa, and you are checking.
Prabhupāda: No, we do our own business. Why do you wait for sweeper?
Hari-śauri: Yeah, we need a broom.
Prabhupāda: You take one paper, that black one there.
Jagadīśa: Do you want to take rest, Śrīla Prabhupāda?
Prabhupāda: No.
Hari-śauri: (to child) Finished? It's too hot? He can't eat the samosa. It's too hot. He can't eat the samosa. It's too hot.
Prabhupāda: Oh. So is there any remaining in...?
Gargamuni: But you can rest assured that I will investigate and see.
Prabhupāda: Don't make it a burden. If it is properly utilized, do it. All right. Take rest. So you want this...? (break) This is the only camp connected with that unfortunate sunhouse? (somehow?)
Indian man (1): That's... I am wondering
Indian man (2): (Bengali)
Prabhupāda: Eh?
Indian man (3): (Bengali)
Devotee: It is not the first day that it has happened
Prabhupāda: Hm... That is worth.
Rāmeśvara: Now, one thing... (break) ...because he's very passionate, because he takes intoxicants, so he wants to control that money. He made a plan that if the whole money is given to San Diego he will match it gradually. So now I've already given seventy thousand dollars to San Diego. So maybe we can...
Prabhupāda: So I'll tell him that they don't bother. He is doing nice.
Rāmeśvara: But we can suggest to him that "We have already given seventy thousand. So now you match that. Then, when we give more, you can match that."
Prabhupāda: No, he's a good boy. You can talk with him. All right. Take rest.
Hari-śauri: "In this chapter the Lord explains that the process..." (break)
Prabhupāda: So this is sannyāsī. Sannyāsī is not the dress. This mentality, that is sannyāsa. So you have taken all prasādam? No.
Jayapatākā: Now you take rest, Śrīla Prabhupāda?
Prabhupāda: Yes. So things are going nicely?
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes.
Prabhupāda: Thank you very much.
Prabhupāda: Ācchā? He was saying like that?
Jayapatākā: Yes. I was surprised.
Prabhupāda: When?
Jayapatākā: When you took rest and they were downstairs. So he said like that to Dāmodara.
Prabhupāda: Oh. He is appointed to take secret reports.
Jayapatākā: Yes. I guess he goes and gets the report.
Bhavānanda: Self-appointed.
Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. It cannot. Prahlāda Mahārāja... Such a gigantic demon could not do anything. He was five years old boy, was sticking to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That's all, only that strength and he faced the dangerous position of a gigantic demon like Hiraṇyakaśipu. Even the demigods were afraid. So remain like Prahlāda Mahārāja, pure. Nobody can do anything. Hare Kṛṣṇa. So take rest and...
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Thank you, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Prabhupāda: Hare Kṛṣṇa.
Guru dāsa: It is put on the upraised portion where your daṇḍa is. Is that all right?
Prabhupāda: Which room?
Guru dāsa: In the place where you took rest.
Prabhupāda: So offering every day.
Guru dāsa: Yes, that is being done.
Prabhupāda: That's nice.
Guru dāsa: Do you want me to try and also get the rental of the room in the Nandagrāma temple, the old?
Prabhupāda: It is available?
Prabhupāda: ...always studying, for the last ten years. It is my conclusion that originally everything Indian, that is very, very high grade—for human society, for personal. That is actual human civilization. Everything, hygienic principles, Vedic knowledge, moral knowledge, everything perfect.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I'm going to tell them to... It's good to take rest now.
Prabhupāda: Hm. Otherwise it will increase. In your sickness, if you go on working, it will increase. Better take rest.
Devotee: Ginger, and keep warm.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Last night you were translating a little bit.
Prabhupāda: I began, but...
Prabhupāda: (laughs) So they want to say like that.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Garuḍa eats timiṅgila fish as his diet.
Prabhupāda: No, he can eat. He flies from one planet to another. Just like one bird flies, he starts from one tree and takes rest another. The Garuḍa bird, they do that. They start from one planet and take rest in another planet. This is their flying. And while flying, they lay down eggs, and the eggs, while falling down, become birds. By the heat.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: That's very scientific. Because normally the bird has to sit on the egg for producing heat to hatch the egg.
Prabhupāda: The heat is produced by the, what is called, motion.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yeah, friction.
Prabhupāda: Invite all of them.
Girirāja: I can invite all of them. They're four very important M.P.'s, and they can all come. So if you take rest from one to two, then you can meet them at two.
Prabhupāda: Hm?
Girirāja: You take rest usually from..., up to two o'clock?
Prabhupāda: No, up to three.
Girirāja: Oh, up to three?
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Girirāja: ...12:30 to two. So I thought we could keep him busy until two. Otherwise, if you want, he can come straight away at one to meet you, and then, after that, you could take rest, and then we could give him prasādam and show him...
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: In other words, you could either meet him after taking your prasādam at noon but before taking rest, or you could meet him...
Prabhupāda: My prasādam-taking is now very important, because I do not take. So I can talk anytime.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Would you like to talk before resting or after, Śrīla Prabhupāda, 'cause to him it's the same. So it's up to you.
Prabhupāda: No, no, I said according to their convenience...
Prabhupāda: Suppose a child is restless child, how can you convince him about philosophy? Sober man, cool-headed man, he can be convinced. So this is a childish civilization. This is not sober civilization. There is no full-brain man. All restless dogs and hogs. And they have taken it is first class, dogs and hogs. Actually, they are living dogs and hogs, and they are claiming civilized. There is no difference dogs and hogs life and the modern man. The dogs and hogs whole day work. Kaṣṭān kāmān arhate. In London, in New York, early in the morning they will to the work, put-put-put-put. They could not take rest even at night peacefully. The anxiety is "If I do not reach early in the factory, I will (indistinct). The whole day's salary will be..." He is anxious. Sadā samudvigna-dhiyām. Always full of anxieties. Asad grahāt. On account of this body. The same principle is being followed by the hogs. "Where is food, where is food?"
Prabhupāda: That will be...
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: When do you want it done?
Prabhupāda: Oh, any time.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: After you wake up? Take rest now.
Prabhupāda: Just see. Here it is cooler or there?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: It's much cooler... It's cooler in this room. It's more airy and it's cooler. Because that cooler is on. You hook up that other cooler in there and you'll get just as cool.
Prabhupāda: No... (break) (end)
Prabhupāda: Where is suitable.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Actually there's room up front where the water, the water fountain carrier, when you enter. There's a lot of open space there.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Now you can go and take rest. Again you can come at one. What is the time now?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: 9:20.
Prabhupāda: That's all.
Devotees: Jaya Śrīla Prabhupāda! (obeisances)
Prabhupāda: Make just this garland... (break) ...keep hair. Look very beautiful by keeping hair. What is that explanation?
Jayapatākā: Bhaskar lavan. (pause)
Prabhupāda: Now you can go take rest.
Rāmeśvara: Jaya Śrīla Prabhupāda. (pause) (break)
Svarūpa Dāmodara: They asked me what program can be initiated for the Bhaktivedanta Gurukula and Institute for Higher Studies. So I suggested that during some auspicious time in Vṛndāvana like Janmāṣṭamī we'll hold a conference, the Institute, when the... They told us it will be opened in July. So I suggested that we're coming, all the scientists together. We would like to present "Kṛṣṇa Consciousness, the Scientific Philosophy." We can invite scholars from Delhi and surrounding Vṛndāvana communities and...
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: If you're feeling tired, maybe you'd like to take a little rest, Śrīla Prabhupāda. It's still early now.
Prabhupāda: Hm. I have been taking rest in... (break)
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: They are all rascals and they're all crazy.
Prabhupāda: Who?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: The karmīs. They don't know what is what. They don't know what is good for them. If they have their choice, they won't immediately talk with a devotee. But we are like the doctors. We don't consider what the patient says. Somehow we have to administer the medicine because we know it will be good for them. There's a letter that just came from Satsvarūpa.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Mythology or childish. "Only a child would believe such a thing." But it's common sense. They have no faith, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Prabhupāda: Hm. Go and take rest. (break) Because I am very much fond of traveling, touring, they might have caused some danger. So Kṛṣṇa has detained me. What do you think?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I think you're right, Śrīla Prabhupāda. Yes. Actually the GBC, we all were thinking that it might be dangerous for you...
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: ...to travel.
Prabhupāda: That is wanted.
Governor: So may I take leave? You also take rest?
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Governor: Don't take much strain...
Prabhupāda: No, I...
Governor: ...because your life is precious to... And that should not be.
Prabhupāda: No, I...
Governor: He must not take much strain also.
Prabhupāda: Um hm.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Okay. We'll have enough people here so that we can do it. We will start this tomorrow, Śrīla Prabhupāda, tomorrow morning, because it's difficult to arrange now. Most of the devotees have begun to take rest.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: They'll definitely like it, though, because they like to be with you.
Prabhupāda: Yes, I also.
Hari-śauri: Within one or two days every GBC and sannyāsī will be here to come and do kīrtana.
Prabhupāda: (laughs) Not yet.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: (laughs) But now it is very dry, so what does that mean, that we have to apply fresh again? Or even when it's dry does it have effect? (pause) Śrīla Prabhupāda, I was thinking to take rest now. It's about 9:30. Is that all right?
Prabhupāda: Hmm.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I'll be in the next room if you want me for anything.
Prabhupāda: Thank to her. Made with our wool.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So you'll take rest now, Śrīla Prabhupāda?
Prabhupāda: Um hm. This can be on the foot. Yes. Up.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Is it warm?
Prabhupāda: Hm, very nice. Very comfortable. Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa... Made with our wool.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Would you like a little sweet singing, Śrīla Prabhupāda? (kīrtana begins) (break)
Prabhupāda: I want to take little rest.
Abhirāma: Take rest now. All right. He wants to rest now. He doesn't want to wash. (break)
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: After bathing, would you like to go to see Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma today? Very nice. The devotees very much enjoyed seeing you see Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma. They like that very much. I think this powder has had a little effect. Maybe after you come back from Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma I can put some powder on, more powder. Yesterday you did not drink very much.
Prabhupāda: Due to that coughing.
Prabhupāda: Where Kulādri kept it?
Hari-śauri: He had them locked away, Śrīla Prabhupāda. He was waiting until Tamāla Kṛṣṇa Mahārāja woke up, because at that time he was taking rest. Then he was going to give them.
Prabhupāda: Where is Kīrtanānanda?
Hari-śauri: He's in his room right now, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Śrīla Prabhupāda, I think this can be given to the Deities.
Prabhupāda: It can be given everything.
Prabhupāda: It is not prepared? And you were asking me if you can...
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: When I asked you was... You took rest again, Śrīla Prabhupāda, so I couldn't make it at that time. We started it at the bathing time.
Prabhupāda: How long it takes?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: It shouldn't take this long. (pause)
Prabhupāda: More. (pause)
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I'll rearrange it, Prabhupāda.
Prabhupāda: I want to lie down.
Hari-śauri: "Enter like a needle and come out like a plow."
Prabhupāda: If you say in the beginning, "I am a plow," he'll not allow you to enter. Say "I am needle." Let us try to serve Kṛṣṇa. He'll give all intelligence. Buddhi-yogaṁ dadāmi tam. Now go on. Take rest.
Hari-śauri: Jaya Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Prabhupāda: Jaya-ho.
Hari-śauri: Would you like some chanting?
Prabhupāda: Chanting I like always.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: What, Śrīla Prabhupāda?
Prabhupāda: Now you can go to your respective...
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Śrīla Prabhupāda? Do you want to take rest now for a while? Little rest. You want kīrtana or anything?
Prabhupāda: Not now.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Not now. Okay. (break)
Prabhupāda: Is it cloudy?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: No, Śrīla Prabhupāda, it's not. It's clear weather. The sun is shining. It's hard to tell, of course, through these curtains and through the windows.
Prabhupāda: Who is there?
Prabhupāda: Any part. (break)
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I think it's very important that you take something to drink. By drinking something it'll give you a little reason to sleep better. The program this morning should be that you drink something now, then take rest, and then, after resting, then we'll bathe you. (break)
Hari-śauri: This morning I was speaking to Girirāja, and he told me that this woman Śaktimātā was here and...
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: She came from Vancouver, Śrīla Prabhupāda, to be... Because she heard how ill you were, so she came here to see if she could help in any way.
Hari-śauri: So she said that she knew how to make some juices from..., like carrot juice but with some ginger and a little hing and other things mixed which would give you very much strength, but at the same time not cause mucus or anything.
Prabhupāda: Let her make.
Prabhupāda: So you have taken your dinner?
Girirāja: Yes.
Prabhupāda: All right. Then take rest.
Girirāja: Jaya Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Prabhupāda: Hare Kṛṣṇa. So Mr. Dugal...?
Girirāja: Mr. Dugal?
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Prabhupāda: Dr. Gopal.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes, Śrīla Prabhupāda. Is he still here, Dr. Gopal?
Bhavānanda: Yes, he's still here. So, Śrīla Prabhupāda, I think that we should... Dr. Ghosh has come all this distance, and he'll get very upset if we don't at least try this course of medicines. I think that we should try and see what happens. It was a lot of medicines, but they can be combined together in one dosage, once in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening, so it won't be all the time having to take.
Hari-śauri: It can be drunk down with some liquid as well.
Bhavānanda: Yes. You can mix it with fruit juices or...
Prabhupāda: So do it.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: You want to take rest now, Śrīla Prabhupāda? Okay.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: All right, we'll go an arrange, Śrīla Prabhupāda. (devotees chant japa) (break)
Prabhupāda: (Bengali)
Bhavānanda: Śrīla Prabhupāda, I'm going to take rest now.
Prabhupāda: Oh, yes.
Bhavānanda: Hare Kṛṣṇa.
Prabhupāda: So, for giving the medicine, Tamāla Kṛṣṇa and Bhakti-caru in charge. Eh?
Bhavānanda: I think that's good.
Prabhupāda: Is that all right?
Prabhupāda: Where he is?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He's gone to take his meals now. Then he's going to take rest, he said.
Prabhupāda: And he has got the papers?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He gave them back to me to keep in the almirah locked up. He said until he goes he wants me to keep them carefully. I said all right. And I'm getting him a ticket as well as sending the letters by special mail service to Bombay for Girirāja's signature, so that at least from our side there will not be any reason to delay. And when I showed him the letter that I had written to the bank, he was very satisfied. He could understand that there should be no difficulty now. He was quite confident after reading the letter. The letter is very clearly written, and with the power of attorney it's a complete document. I think everything was done all right. He seemed to be satisfied.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: This is for the kidneys?
Kavirāja: (Hindi) Vṛkka-sañjīvanī. (Hindi)
Bhakti-caru: Vṛkka. V-ṛ-k-k-a. Kidney. The Sanskrit name for kidney is vṛkka. Araka(?) means extract, and sañjīva...
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: What does that mean? Extractive.
Bhakti-caru: Yes. Extract, to revitalize the kidney. No, our medicine for revitalizing the kidney.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Śrīla Prabhupāda, would you like a little soft kīrtana?
Prabhupāda: No. Now let me take rest.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Take rest. Okay, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes, I really don't feel that this would be enough of a reason to stay here. The whole consideration of whatever we do is your health. That is the major consideration. Our going was on account of your health; our staying now is on account of your health. These other things may be done or not. That doesn't matter. I work all day doing all of your other businesses only because I know your health is well looked after. Otherwise, if I thought it wasn't, I would drop whatever else I'm doing and simply do this, take care of you here. There's so many qualified men doing that, so I don't... I'm engaging myself in your other businesses. Otherwise the main thing is that first of all you should be..., we should try to help you to get better. And if I say, "If you want to take rest, you take rest and don't be worried that this business may not get done tonight." That is not the issue at all.
Prabhupāda: But how is that they did not come?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: No. Śrīla Prabhupāda, would you like to take rest now?
Prabhupāda: Hm.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Okay. They must be tired. They traveled all night long. The kavirāja didn't sleep at all, I heard. Is that true, Jayapatākā?
Jayapatākā: Yes. The flight was three hours delayed. Three hours he was sitting, and he didn't leave Calcutta... 8:00 flight left at 10:30, 11:00, and arrived in Delhi 1:00. Then it took to 5:00 to get here, so he's quite tired.
Prabhupāda: It did not start on time.
Prabhupāda: It did not start on time.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: No, three hours delayed.
Jayapatākā: The flight was late.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So everyone can take rest now.
Jayapatākā: Just seeing Your Divine Grace gives us so much strength.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: If you can just request Kṛṣṇa to allow you to stay, Śrīla Prabhupāda... Everyone wants you to stay.
Correspondence
1947 to 1965 Correspondence
Just after "Bhogarati" function, the members will be served with "Prasadam" which shall consist of the following items: (1) Rice, (2) Dal, (3) Capatis with ghee (4) 2 curry (5) Bhija (6) Khicheries (7) ___ (8) Sauces (9) Pampar (10) miscellaneous.
(13) After taking "Prasadam" in the noon the member may take rest from one to three in the after noon.
(14) At three in the after noon there will again "Baikali" ceremony in the temple which the members will be requested to attend. And again at the end of the "Baikali" ceremony at about 4, the members shall be served with Prasadam consisting of a cup of milk & some fruits.
At nine in the night, there will be again Bhogarati ceremony which members will be requested to attend. After this "Prasadam" will be served consisting of capatis or rice with dal, currys & some milk preparation at the end.
(18) From 10 to 4 at night the members shall take rest for the night,
(19) After six months of living or earlier as the case may be the members will be expected to be initiated in the devotional service of Theism or Vaisnavism.
1967 Correspondence
I have duly received your kind letters and it was so pleasing to me that you are all sincere souls in Krishna Consciousness. I am making progress very nicely and tomorrow I shall be discharged from the hospital, to go to New Jersey to take rest for a fortnight in front of the natural sea. The basic principle of Krishna Consciousness is to receive one and all as our Master, and serve them with prasadam as diet and Krishna Kirtana as medicine for being free from materially diseased condition. So we shall follow this principle and Krishna will help us on our onward march.
1968 Correspondence
I thank you for your letter brought to me by Rayarama. Yes, 15 minutes is sufficient time for the offering to remain on the altar. You do not need to lay down Lord Jagannatha on a bed, by mantra you say my dear Lord please take rest. In temples, there are two sets of deities, the big set is always on the throne, and the smaller set is handled, taken out for a stroll, laid to bed, etc. There is no difference in the small and large set, of course.
If we keep the Statue of Krishna in our room, we must know that Krishna is present, and as such we must be careful in our dealings, talkings and behavior, as we are present before Krishna directly. The altar should be so made, with curtain, that it may be closed when Krishna and Radha are taking rest. Dress them as nicely as possible, we have so many Radha Krishna pictures, you can take idea from them.
1969 Correspondence
So the picture and the arrangement is very nice. The most concerning part of your letter is about your health. You write to say that by 3 o'clock in the evening you get a slight fever, and your head begins to ache, and you feel tired and wish to take rest. This is not a very good sign. The immediate program is that you will have to be relieved from these symptoms. So the first thing is that you should take complete rest. So far as New York is concerned, I don't think different engagement there will allow you to take rest. I would have advised you to go to New Vrindaban immediately but it is cold there like in New York. Under the circumstances, if you like to come here and take rest you are welcome. But wherever you like you may take rest and not be strained at all.
At last I may inform you that if you are thinking of transferring your department to San Francisco, I have no objection, but before you do so please come here to Los Angeles first. Then you may either remain here or proceed to New Vrindaban, San Francisco, Seattle, or Sante Fe as you think is best for you to take rest there. Also, regarding another editor to work as co-editor, I wish to invite Hayagriva to again become joint editor.
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated March 14, 1969 and I am so glad to learn that everyone in L.A. is working very hard. And Krishna Consciousness is so nice that you are aspiring for still more work. That is the sign of spiritual life. In the material world we want to minimize our activities and take rest more but in the spiritual world, there is no rest and there is no limit of activities. Krishna is unlimited, His service is unlimited, and the energy of His servants is unlimited. Although we are in the midst of ignorance, still if we keep ourselves alert there is no place of ignorance. I am glad that you have deposited $100 in the Bank of America for your consignment of goods.
We shall arrive in Hamburg this Monday, August 25th, at 6:10. We are taking Lufthansa Airlines, flight 409. We are starting from Los Angeles at 8:00 AM on 23rd August, and reaching New York sometimes in the afternoon about 4:00 o'clock New York Time. I shall take rest there for 24 hours, and then start for Hamburg on Sunday, the 24th, and then reach Hamburg on Monday, the 25th at 6:10 AM. So kindly arrange to receive me. We are both starting together, Purusottama and myself. To inform you earlier I sent you one telegram this morning reading as follows: ARRIVING HAMBURG FLIGHT 409 LUFTHANSA AUGUST 25TH AT 6:10 AM.
1970 Correspondence
Regarding the exact date for celebration of Rathayatra Festival, it is on the 5th July until the return journey of Lord Jagannatha on the 14th July. Before Rathayatra, on June 19, there is a ceremony of bathing Lord Jagannatha after which Lord Jagannatha falls sick with fever from too much bathing. Then He takes rest and no one is allowed to visit, but He reappears on Rathayatra day.*
This is very important as our movement is now growing and attracting greater notice.
Regarding sleeping, there is no need of confusion on this subject. At this stage, if we do not take sufficient rest, we shall fall ill. There is no need of forcing the matter. So one should take rest enough to keep in good health. Sleeping two hours out of 24 is a later natural development. For the present, take six hours sleep at night, that is enough; and if necessary, take another hour during the day. If chanting rounds at night is not a disturbance of your daily schedule, then it is alright. But by perseverance at rigid following of devotional service your demands for extra hours sleeping will automatically diminish.
Make a thin paste of fuller's earth and lime juice and rub this mixture on Their bodies and then bathe them and then dry and buff Them with a small towel for the purpose. You can make one very nice bed and place it to the backside of the throne, and you can make night clothes. So after the last Aratrik at night, you can change to Their night clothes for taking rest. Because They are small Deities, They may be lain on the bed with some pillows (because the base may raise Their feet up); if this can be arranged it will be nice.
I do not think there is any inconvenience or loss on your part if you do so all the time. Even when you are walking, you can softly chant Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, or even when you are on the bus going to somewhere you can also chant. When you are working with your hands you can also chant and when you are resting or going to take rest you can also chant. Even in your toilet room while taking bath you can also chant. In this way there is no limitation or restriction for chanting this Holy Name of God, Krishna, and His Energy, Hara. In doing this business there is no loss, but there is very great gain which is transcendental realization.
I am in due receipt of your letter dated 26 April, 1970, and I am so pleased to note the contents which are exactly befitting your name Tamala. Perhaps you know Tamala is a nice tree in Vrndavana, and because the color of the tree exactly resembles that of Krsna, therefore Srimati Radharani always used to take rest underneath the Tamala tree when she was feeling separation from Krsna.
1971 Correspondence
This is called bhoga-tyaga, or alternating between sense gratification and renunciation. A living entity cannot remain steady in one or the other because changes are going on. That is the nature of the material world. Just like the businessman who works so hard the whole week long and then on the weekend takes rest and tries to forget his business. But bhakti, or devotional service, does not change. It does not even finish with the end of the body, but it continues eternally. And it is joyfully performed. At first, though, there may be some inconveniences, but we must tolerate them and we shall realize the goal.
If the Deities are small, as they appear to be from the photograph, then they can be laid down in a bed at night. And they can be given nightgowns to wear before taking rest. That is nice. If there is time and facility then these things can be implemented. So far as bathing is concerned, it requires two hands and one tongue. In your left hand be ringing a bell and simultaneously with your right hand pour water. Chant Hare Krishna, Cintamani, Govinda Jaya Jaya, etc., like that.
For dressing at least Yamuna should be in charge and for offering of bhoga Dayananda may go on with his duties. At least two devotees should take care of the Deities constantly.
If you are feeling tired, you may take rest. Your body is very valuable. It is dedicated to Krishna, so you must take care of the body very carefully. The best medicine is to rest and chant Hare Krishna Mantra, along with the doctor's prescription. Hare Krishna Mantra is bhavausadhi, the panacea for all material disease.
There is a story about one man, a cook, who bought a nice new pair of shoes. But all morning long he was in the kitchen cooking and so he couldn't wear his shoes. Similarly, all afternoon he was cooking. So what did he do? At night, when he went to sleep he wore the shoes. So these shoes are so nice, but I don't know when I shall be able to wear them. So when taking rest at night I shall wear them.
They are not yet covered by false prestige and will very quickly take to tapasya as if it were amusing like a game! Just see the young brahmacaris in India. The Guru says do this, do that—immediately they do—they go out and beg all day in the hot sun and come back with a little rice, then take rest on the floor with no covering. And they are enjoying, it is pleasurable to them to work very hard. So it is very important to train children to endure all sorts of hardships and restrictions at the boyhood stage. Later, no one will renounce what he has accepted as the standard of enjoyment, to accept a standard of less enjoyment.
1975 Correspondence
I am in due receipt of your letter dated Dec. 12, 1974 and have noted the contents. You can work on the hair sets while the Deities are taking rest. Regarding your other questions, they can be answered by your temple president or GBC man.
They were very much pleased to understand our activities. I am also invited by Mr. L. N. Handa, the late Prime Minister in the central government for a conference at Kuruksetra. We are going there with our party, the morning of the third instant and most probably, I shall come back the same evening. On the fourth instant I shall take rest and then on the fifth morning I shall go to Bombay. This is my present program. I shall be very glad to see you in Bombay on the fifth morning, and we shall discuss how to improve our activities in Hare Krishna Land, Juhu, Bombay.
At the present moment, I am in New Delhi. We came here on the invitation of two big ministers, the Home Minister and the Railway Minister and we had two successful meetings here. Now, on the third instant, we shall go to Kuruksetra invited by Mr. G.L. Nanda. Then I shall come back on the same evening. On the fourth, I shall take rest and on the fifth, I shall go to Bombay. I do not know how much you have proceeded about the land donation by Mr. Hari Prasad Badruka and brothers. If Hari Prasad Badruka donates the land as stipulated, then I wish to make him one of the trustees of Hare Krishna Land, Bombay. I am going to make a trust board for the Bombay Hare Krishna Land in which I wish to include Sri Panalala Pithi, Hari Prasad Badruka, as well as yourself as members of the trustee board.
1976 Correspondence
The devotees should be accepted as permanent residents on our recommendation. If it is a question of economics, then they can bring food, and cloth from abroad sufficient for themselves and others. Neither they are going to occupy big, big tracts of land for residential purposes. No, they are trained up to lay down on the floor for taking rest. Whatever is required we shall do, but let them stay. The government allows Christian missionaries to stay, and the foreigners come to learn Indian religion, they are not allowed to stay? This is not a very good policy.
Regarding the two men who have come to us from Gaudiya Math, for the time being we should try not to give shelter to such persons unless they are tested.
Regarding the Narayana Kavaca mantra, the Hare Krsna mantra is everything. But, I think that you are working too hard. Your illness is the result of too hard work. Remain in Mayapur. Take rest as much as necessary. And work through your assistants. And chant Hare Krsna.
| Page Title: | Take Rest (Lect, Conv and Letters) |
| Compiler: | Sahadeva, RupaManjari |
| Created: | 21 of Sep, 2011 |
| Totals by Section: | BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=21, Con=68, Let=24 |
| No. of Quotes: | 113 |