Prabhupāda: Idea of God, and what to speak of faith in God, or trust in God.
Jackie Vaughn: It's true. Very little faith. "In God We Trust," your original statement.
Hari-śauri: Prabhupāda wrote one letter to the secretary of the President explaining that you write on your bills "In God We Trust," but who is it that knows about God? So he was asking if it was possible for the government, they could give us some aid and we would educate. We can educate the people.
Prabhupāda: No, I did not ask for any aid.
Hari-śauri: Oh. If they would...
Prabhupāda: You can get the copy. I never asked for any aid.
Hari-śauri: No, I didn't mean monetary or anything like that. (pause)
Prabhupāda: Read it.
Mādhavānanda: "Personal Secretary to the President, Office of the President of the United States, White House, Washington, D.C. Dear Sir: On your new two-dollar note it is stated 'In God We Trust' and directly beneath, 'Declaration of Independence, 1776.' On the two-hundredth anniversary of this occasion, why not begin teaching the science of God as described in the Vedic literatures, like the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which is authorized and appreciated by all learned professors in the universities throughout the whole world? This Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is going on since 1966 throughout the whole world, especially in the United States of America. It is a great fortune for the American people that they trust in God. Why shouldn't this spiritual education be given to the American people in an organized way? The whole world is going down and becoming Godless. If the American people, who trust in God constitutionally, take this movement seriously, it will be a great service to the human society. We are prepared to cooperate in this connection if the American government takes it very seriously. Awaiting your reply with interest. Yours sincerely, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami." Dated May 9th.
Jackie Vaughn: Any answer?
Mādhavānanda: No reply.
Hari-śauri: That was three weeks back.
Mādhavānanda: Four weeks, over a month. May 9th. (pause)
Prabhupāda: Why they are not replying?
Jackie Vaughn: I suppose you were asking too much.
Prabhupāda: (laughs) Too much? So am I wrong?
Jackie Vaughn: No, not at all.
Prabhupāda: I'm not asking for money.
Jackie Vaughn: I know. But you are doing away with our approach to dealing with problems. As you pointed out so well, it's always piecemeal, of a temporary nature. I do it in Lansing. We have a problem, we patch it up, of a temporary nature. We talk to do this, as a quick answer, solution, and we go away feeling better, that we have at least made, as we say, a step in the right direction. Next year, we'll be back with the same problem. I have this problem.
Prabhupāda: Everyone.