If we get little cooperation from the authorities, we can push on this movement more solidly

Expressions researched:
"if we get little cooperation from the authorities, we can push on this movement more solidly"

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

America is resourceful and they are intelligent. And the movement is already there, Hare Kṛṣṇa movement, people are appreciating gradually. So if we get little cooperation from the authorities, we can push on this movement more solidly.

Room Conversation with the Mayor of Evanston -- July 4, 1975, Chicago:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: "As the embodied soul continually passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. The self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change."

Prabhupāda: So this education is required. America is resourceful and they are intelligent. And the movement is already there, Hare Kṛṣṇa movement. People are appreciating gradually. So if we get little cooperation from the authorities, we can push on this movement more solidly. So you are the chief of this city. If you give us some facility, then we can be useful to counteract this position.

Mayor: Well, we'd like to cooperate, and we certainly need a different approach, I think, because we're not being successful now in trying to . . .

Prabhupāda: No, this way will never be successful. It will degrade more and more. So our process is very simple. That is the Caitanya Mahāprabhu's contribution, that we chant . . . (aside) Where is that letter? Professor Judah's? Just read that.

Brahmānanda: "I feel certain my book will help people both to understand the teachings of Kṛṣṇa and of His descent as Caitanya, and to realize how Kṛṣṇa consciousness has transformed lives from drug-addicted hippies to loving servants of Kṛṣṇa and humanity."

Prabhupāda: This is his study. He has written a book. So we can stop this, provided we are given the facility to work on.

Mayor: Yes.

Prabhupāda: Yes. So I was thinking. Just in front there is a very nice house, big house. You have knowledge about this house?

Mayor: No, I . . .

Prabhupāda: What is that building?

Śrī Govinda: Merrywood.

Mayor: Oh, we are right across the street from Merrywood, yes, uh-huh, which we're going to have as a city hall.

Prabhupāda: Oh. You have decided?

Mayor: Yes, uh-huh, about, oh, just two weeks ago actually, the council . . .

Prabhupāda: So is it not possible to use this house at least for some time for this movement?

Mayor: The, er . . . I'm not sure what the time schedule is, but it's my impression that they were going to start remodeling it for city purposes later this year. It's about a three-million-dollar project, both for the purchase of the land from the sisters and the remodeling to make it suitable for various city needs. And then they're going to . . . the city is now located at nine different locations, that is, their facilities. And they're trying to incorporate them all in this one place so that when people need city services, they can just go one place and get all the . . .

Prabhupāda: But this is more important. City service is going on, but criminals are increasing. So why not give us little opportunity?

Mayor: Well, I could certainly discuss this with the city manager and see what could be worked out.

Śrī Govinda: Possibly we could invite the city manager also to come to discuss with Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: No . . . so if we get a good place with the cooperation of the authorities, then our simple program is that, as Professor Judah has remarked, drug-addicted hippies, they have been turned into devotees. We shall invite anyone to come and chant this Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and take prasādam.