Expressions researched:
"appetite"
|"appetites"
|"appetizer"
|"appetizers"
|"appetizing"
Prabhupāda: The Japanese, they eat this seaweed.
Brahmānanda: Yes.
Prabhupāda: Yes. It is good for the fish-eaters, because it has got fishy taste, although it is vegetable. (pause) Those who are fish-eaters, even by smelling fish, fishy, they'll increase their appetite. Is it not?
Svarūpa Dāmodara: Yes.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Habit is like that. (pause)
Guest (2): And what about supāri, Swamiji?
Prabhupāda: Yes, that is also ingredient of pāna. Pāna, it is called pāna.
Guest (2): I offered Vaikuṇṭhajī supāri. You see he won't accept it. So I thought, well, it only helps digestion because it only brings the saliva in the mouth.
Prabhupāda: Well, wine is also very digestive. (laughter) An appetizer also. All Europeans, they take first of all wine to eat voraciously. I see in the airplane. And after taking wine, they eat so much.
Guest (8): And then they go for dancing to digest it.
Indian man: You have to leave just now?
Prabhupāda: Yes. I was to leave this morning, but I was to eat Yamunā's cooking. Cooking was very nice, but I had no appetite.
Yamunā: Appetite. No appetite.
Prabhupāda: From yesterday lost my appetite.
Devotee (3): Because I was massaging you from yesterday.
Prabhupāda: (chuckles) No, that's not. It is Kṛṣṇa's grace to have less appetite, I think. Less sleep, less appetite, it is good. Nidrāhāra-vihārakādi-vijitau **. They conquered over, but I have not conquered it. By Kṛṣṇa's grace, it is reduced.
Prabhupāda: ...within the fire, that will increase appetite. That is the psychology. Within the fire. Long, long years ago I did it, and I got very good appetite. And whatever nonsense it appears, it was very sweet.
Gurudāsa: Yes. I used to cook myself before meeting Yamunā.
Prabhupāda: Long, long ago?
Gurudāsa: Yes.
Prabhupāda: And it was very nice?
Prabhupāda: But if you remain diseased, then just like I have got this disease, no appetite. First-class things are being made—nothing is giving me any taste. Disease is there. Therefore, if you want to taste what is God, then you first of all try to cure your disease. Our disease, material disease is the lusty desire. Lusty desire is so strong that you will find it is existing amongst the so-called religionists performing religious rituals. But the same disease is there, that "If I execute the rituals, then I shall be promoted to the heavenly kingdom (indistinct)." Similarly, the so-called monist philosophers, meditation, this, that, the disease is there: "I shall become God." Similarly, the yogis, they can perform so many gymnastics, but the disease is there.
Prabhupāda: That's all right, good for somebody. Just like stool, stool is good for the pigs not for the human being.
Jesuit: But everything that God makes...
Prabhupāda: Not everything is good. The pigs considers stool is very good, nice food.
Jesuit: Every man is made with sex appetites. Every man is...
Prabhupāda: Yes, that is called pravṛtti, pravṛttir eṣā bhūtānāṁ nivṛttis tu mahā-phalā. This is natural inclination, but if you can stop it, that is victory.
Prabhupāda: Whole this bhakti-yoga or any yoga, the whole system is purification. Tapo divyaṁ yena śuddhyet sattvam (SB 5.5.1). Our existence is now impure. Therefore we have to accept birth, death, old age, and disease. And when it is purified, without any contamination, then there is no birth, death, old age. In diseased condition you cannot relish. Even if you are given actually rasagullā you will not taste it very nice. If there is no appetite, even it is rasagullā, it is useless. Spiritual life means curing the contamination of material disease. That is spiritual life. And when you are purified, you relish the spiritual taste.
Harikeśa: Would you like some? We can bring you some nim leaves?
Prabhupāda: Yes, little paste. I can take.
Harikeśa: Mash it in like a nim chutney.
Dhanañjaya: Mortar and pestle.
Harikeśa: Put anything else in it?
Prabhupāda: No. A small pill. It increases appetite. Which way? This way?
Harikeśa: This way. (break)
Prabhupāda: ...know how to make kichri?
Harikeśa: Yes. I made for you in Hawaii.
Brahmānanda: "Unwed mothers."
Prabhupāda: Yes. And she cannot also check that "I shall not become mother." For sex appetite she will agree, and the man will go away and she will suffer. Is that civilization?
Brahmānanda: Each year there are over one million abortions.
Prabhupāda: Hm?
Harikeśa: I think you should preach every breakfast. Your appetite is very good.
Prabhupāda: Hm?
Harikeśa: Every breakfast you should preach. Then your appetite will be very good.
Prabhupāda: No, appetite or no appetite, I preach. (laughter) I do not preach for increasing appetite.
Devotee 2: Do you want this?
Prabhupāda: Hm? Yes. What is that?
Brahmānanda: This is lavaṇa-bhāskara (āyur-vedic medicine for increasing appetite).
Prabhupāda: Yes. There are many. There was a big, rich man in Calcutta, Raja Jyotindramana Ṭhākura. So just like you give me so many things, he was king, he was getting more supply, but he had no appetite. So one day he was given so many things—because it was routine. So one coolie was going on the street, taking a fish and chanting very pleasingly. So he said that "Instead of becoming Raja Jyotindramana Ṭhākura, if I could have been a coolie like that, at least I could enjoy by eating. And what is this? I have got everything but I cannot eat." He regretted, "I would have become a coolie like that instead of becoming a Ṭhākura."
Prabhupāda: The psychology is that when they require a man or a girl, so whatever she is or he is, they accept and they remain chaste, so there is no separation. This is the psychology. Whenever you are hungry, whatever nonsense foodstuff is offered to you, it is palatable. Is it not? Because, after all, it is the appetite which eats, not the foodstuff. Foodstuff may be very, very nicely prepared, but if you have no appetite, it is finished. You know the history of Ramakrishna? Did I say? Yes. So he had no appetite, and he very tactfully said, "Oh, you are not my wife. You are my mother." And he became Bhagavān.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So if he had no appetite it means he was transcendentally situated?
Prabhupāda: No, no. Not transcendentally. In his young time he used so many women that after marriage he was impotent. So he could not use, and he made a tact that "I see all women as my mother, even my wife." And that made him famous, this jugglery.
Hari-śauri: Would you say some eruptions from below the earth's crust comes up, and then, er, all the gases underneath push the land up above the water?
Prabhupāda: There is fire within the earth, just as there is fire within the stomach-fire. That helps digestion. In the Ayurvedic śāstra, when one does not feel an appetite, it is called agni-māṁdya (indistinct), rest and (indistinct) of the fire.
Devotee: Certain foods are cooling to the stomach.
Prabhupāda: Appetite is increased on account of the fire. The fire creates different secretions: blood. This is a big machine. It is mentioned in Bhagavad-gītā, yantra. How this yantra is working? Electricity, everything, air.
Devotee: Are persons who are trying to cut down appetite, they should eat cool foods?
Prabhupāda: Hm?
Prabhupāda: Uttamam. Pratyakṣāvagamaṁ dharmyam. You can directly understand whether you are going forward. These boys, they are educated, they are coming from rich family—at least, in rich nation. They are not fools and rascals. Unless they feel pratyakṣa avagamam, how they can stick? Just like you are hungry, you are eating. Unless you feel that you are eating, "Yes, I am getting strength, satisfying my appetite," then you can go on eating. It is like that. Pratyakṣāvagamaṁ dharmyam. You don't require to get certificate from others, that "I am eating. Whether I am satisfied?" You will feel. You don't require to take certificate from others. If you are actually eating, the result you will feel. That is pratyakṣa avagamaṁ dharmyam. Other process, you do not know whether you are actually making progress or not.
Bhagavān: My prasāda was sitting here. I'm sorry to hear that you are so sick. You are sick.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Should have, cough, to stop.(?) The coughing is continuing and practically no appetite, and palpitation of heart. Going up the step is.... So how under this condition I can travel? It is not...
Bhagavān: Very difficult
Prabhupāda: If you do not come to the point of fulfillment of your appetite—you are eating, but if you have not sufficiently eaten, then you want more to eat. But if you have sufficiently eaten, then you will say, "No, no, no, no more I want." Even if you are offered, "Take more food." You'll say "No, I have enough." It is a question of sufficiency and insufficiency. If you are insufficiently spiritually advanced, you'll feel vacancy so much. But if you are sufficiently advanced, then you'll say, "It is all right now." It is a question of sufficiency and insufficiency. So other method, jñāna, yoga, they are insufficient. And bhakti-yoga is sufficient.
Hari-śauri: That means it didn't taste very nice, but we accepted it was good.
Parivrājakācārya: I know by my intelligence that it is good to keep eating, even though my tongue was saying "Stop."
Prabhupāda: No, this nim is good. They say that if you eat at least two leaves of nim daily, you'll never lose your appetite, appetite will be continuing.
Hari-śauri: Who can eat two leaves of nim? (laughing)
Prabhupāda: No, if you practice, it is not impossible.
Prabhupāda: Not nice, it is not eatable even by the dogs. But you are less than the dogs if you (prepare) such thing. I was surprised. You allowed a sweeper to cook. I was surprised. We have distribution prasādam, not dog's food. Such rascals as here. You do not know. I do not wish to discuss anymore on this point. You have murdered the whole thing in two days. Now if possible, bring them, bring them first class prasādam, very palatable. Foodstuff means even one has no appetite he'll eat. That is food. Not that even one has got appetite, he'll forget. That is not food. So do like that and for money produce, use cane, sugar cane, rice. We shall spend for that. Don't spoil money, but do like businessman. He invests money, he gets a return. Spend it for Kṛṣṇa. That is wanted. There is no question of becoming a miser. I never did it. When I have got that farthing, I want to spend it. Immediately spend. Oh, what I have made this BBT? Immediately 50% for printing, and 50% for spreading this. (indistinct) and understand what I want to do. So whatever is done is done, now do it very nicely. I want to see at least 1,000 men coming from the villages. There are 20,000 men here, you cannot attract them?
Prabhupāda: And for these books, as author, if I would have taken royalty, my daily income would have been one lakh, fifty thousand. I don't take a single farthing. Whatever two cāpāṭis they give, that's all.
CID Chief: Then if that had been the objective, so much of this (indistinct) not would have come in reality.
Prabhupāda: I have no appetite also. (laughs) I do not eat too much. Whatever, one or two cāpāṭis, they give, I take. That's all. This is my royalty.
Prabhupāda: Today I think fasting.
Indian Lady: Fasting.
Prabhupāda: I have no appetite, I could not eat even breakfast.
Indian Lady: So I will be here if you want something, you can call for me.
Prabhupāda: Mm. For the time being, no appetite. You can soak some little chipped rice in water.
Jayapatākā: So this morning you won't go..., be going on a walk. You're not feeling up to a walk this morning? It affected your kidney or your digestion?
Prabhupāda: That I cannot say. But the foodstuff is not digesting. That can I say. I am not feeling at all appetite.
Bhavānanda: Śrīla Prabhupāda I haven't digested either from yesterday.
Prabhupāda: Ācchā? What is the reason?
Satsvarūpa: I don't know. Eating here was very nice, and now, since yesterday...
Prabhupāda: Very first class. The cook available, but if you cannot manage, what can be done?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Bhogilal's in Hyderabad?
Hari-śauri: Yes, he has a house there.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He was there also?
Prabhupāda: Cooking means if you have no appetite, it will create appetite. That is cooking, not that simply some ghee and masalā and cook it. No. It is a great art.
Prabhupāda: One can get good appetite?
Bali-mardana: Oh, yes. Tonight very nice fruits.
Prabhupāda: Nowadays I cannot eat.
Bali-mardana: Mango is growing on the property.
Prabhupāda: Anyway, you maintain cows and get ghee.
Bhakti-caru: Do you require anything specific at night? Or that mungoli?(?)
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: By starving you at night, Śrīla Prabhupāda, your appetite in the noontime is becoming increased.
Prabhupāda: No, I should not take at night. At night, a little milk and barley water. Light.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Today we'll leave at twenty-five of seven instead of a quarter to seven. We'll arrive by seven at the pandal.
Prabhupāda: No, Simla is not hot. This Srinagar is not hot. I know that. I went there. I know. When I crossed, there was snow on the road. So when Guru dāsa will send his report?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: As soon as he meets Dr. Karan Singh. I told him to make detailed arrangements and give detailed report. You are eager to go there, I think.
Prabhupāda: Not very eager. I was eager only that if I simply get regular appetite, then the..., I can get some strength to work, that's all. So ask them to give me little orange.
Bhavānanda: Our only concern is that in the traveling to get to a place where you may get some strength—may not—that you will lose strength in the traveling. Without a guarantee.
Prabhupāda: Yes. That's a fact.
Indian man (Doctor?): I would like to have the history of the present program which is going on. It will be apparent that so much will be there. The same thing is going on.
Prabhupāda: I have no appetite. I cannot digest. This is going on. (break) (doctor has left) ...You have seen the birds, the sparrow, the crows. They are different birds. They have got different movements.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I think simply it is just weakness now. Due to not, you know, it is like a fast. You've been maintaining a fast now for nearly two months.
Prabhupāda: Yes. I like that. If there is no appetite, what is the use of forcibly eating? When appetite will come, we shall eat. Natural. Nature's...
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So we are not at a loss, because we can chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.
Prabhupāda: In northern India first of all they give sweets. So they eat sweet to the heart's content. Then to counteract the sweetness...
Ram Jethmalani: The best way to destroy your appetite is to eat sweet first.
Prabhupāda: Yes. (laughs)
Indian man: They eat last to digest.
Prabhupāda: No, their climate is very nice. So you could accept it. If such things are available, now you'll get appetite and your health will increase.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Actually it's a fact. I remember that when I was traveling in Bhopal, and even in Bihar also—Bihar is similar climate; Bihar is similar—that I got a much bigger appetite in the summertime.
Prabhupāda: But the disease is not ordinary. It is always fatal. But by His especial mercy anything can be done. That is another thing. Lost appetite means life finished. (pause) Tāvad tanu-bhṛtāṁ yad upekṣitānām. If Kṛṣṇa neglects, then nobody can live, but if He likes that "He must live," anything can happen. That is possible. Anityam asukhaṁ lokam imaṁ prāpya bhajasva mām. Anityam asukhaṁ lokaṁ bhajasva mām. Otherwise failing. Everything is there in the Bhagavad-gītā. (pause) (break) (Hindi) (break) ...London. Guru Mahārāja sending him regularly seven hundred rupees per month. In those days seven hundred means at least...
Prabhupāda: We have become very, very weak. No appetite. The brain is not working. Brain is working, but body is not allowing... Don't worry. Everyone will die, today or tomorrow. I am also old man. There is nothing to be regrettable. So as far as possible in my body, I am complete... Now it is up to Kṛṣṇa to judge... I have no objection.
Bhavānanda: What can we do, Śrīla Prabhupāda?
Prabhupāda: You can pray Kṛṣṇa. That's all. Kṛṣṇa is all-powerful. I am only requesting that whatever I have done, you don't spoil it. That's all. Think this. I am getting report, very hopeful, as you gave report from Māyāpura, very good.
Upendra: Yes. (aside:) I will make rice, ḍāl, and preparation called laktha, bread balls that go around a cow dung fire, in an earthen pot.
Prabhupāda: You can begin experiment, one, two, three, and become perfect.
Upendra: Yes.
Prabhupāda: It is very digestive, very palatable and suitable for me, this kind of food. Yes. It will automatically increase appetite. It is so nice.
Upendra: It all sounds very natural and wholesome, clay pot...
Prabhupāda: So you can try.
Upendra: They say they are living more comfortably.
Prabhupāda: Nonsense comfortably... They have changed the season? Is it comfortable? We have to take this cooling machine. What is the practical benefit? You can say that it is comfortable. That's all right. But that does not mean that you have moved the uncomfortable situation. You are struggling against. That much you can take credit. Real benefit is not there. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā. Janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi (BG 13.9). Real unhappiness is this, that you are: "Why I am struggling? I don't want death." Actually why I am taking massage and so on, so on? So that I may not die. So where is the scientists' guarantee, "No, you'll not die"? Has he any...? You'll struggle only. That's all. The scientists cannot guarantee, "No, you'll not die." That is real guarantee. "You'll die comfortably." Hm? Die comfortably? Now there is no appetite. Where is the scientist, assuring, "Take"? What actual benefit they have done? They are giving some... Nothing they have given. It is simply bluff.
Prabhupāda: No, activity will give appetite.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yeah, it has to. Change of atmosphere gives appetite also.
Prabhupāda: So let us artificial activity. I think this is a nice arrangement.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Upendra and I could see it for the last... (break)
Prabhupāda: And nobody is going to disturb you there. Make your own field and continue to become ṛttvik and act on my charge. People are becoming sympathetic there. The place is very nice.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Powder isn't working effectively, and milk is keeping you going. I don't see that this medicine is doing anything. It's not giving you appetite.
Prabhupāda: Not even taste.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: No. It's giving you bad taste. You don't like to take it.
Prabhupāda: So your opinion not to take?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: My opinion is that if you feel that... I don't see that it's having any effect. I think the milk is the best thing, milk, mango milk like you're taking, little juices. This is for creating appetite, I think.
Prabhupāda: Take the courage of an Englishman and the heart of a Bengali mother.
Prabhupāda: And now... Just now, I have no taste.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So I don't think there is any problem. I mean, what you ate today was more than I saw you eat in three months, Śrīla Prabhupāda. You ate a Love Feast today. So whenever we eat a Love Feast, we never have much appetite in the evening. Usually we simply chant.
Prabhupāda: So I am trying to drink a little fruit juice.
Bhakti-caru: Prabhupāda wanted to drink some of this sweet lemon juice.
Prabhupāda: What do you think?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. I personally feel that the prasādam here at lunchtime is some of the nicest prasādam I have eaten ever. Every day it's consistently very nice, served very nicely, and sufficient quantity.
Prabhupāda: So kindly maintain this standard. That is very important item. I am not eating, but I am hearing (laughter) and getting the appetite.
Devotees: Jaya.
Prabhupāda: In that also, I am diminished.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: That's a fact. Now when you try and sit up, you always fall over to the side.
Prabhupāda: So in case... "In case," no. From the fact I can see that I have no appetite. Then how I can increase strength?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Well, I can only repeat the words of the kavirāja.
Prabhupāda: No, that is not...
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He states that you can't expect to eat as long as the liver and the kidneys are not functioning properly.
Prabhupāda: So that is not functioning.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Why don't we cross that hurdle when the time comes.
Prabhupāda: It is already come.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Well, no, because we're still saying "in case."
Prabhupāda: No, no. Because I don't feel appetite for anything except that little one sip barley and one sip juice.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: But again the point is that the whole idea of this medicine is that it takes time.
Prabhupāda: Practically I have seen that it is not working.
Prabhupāda: If there is no appetite, how there will be strength?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: No, unless there is appetite, there cannot be any genuine strength. Let us see what this kavirāja finally says, Śrīla Prabhupāda. We have to say that he seems to have at least given medicine which has done what he said it would do. That much we have to admit. He did not promise that the medicine would give strength yet. Let him come and let us see. He's a very honest man. He admitted that he cannot guarantee that he can save Śrīla Prabhupāda. He said, "But if anyone can, I promise you that my medicine is effective. I make it myself, and I do it according to the Vedas. So if Kṛṣṇa desires, then medicine will have effect of saving Prabhupāda." So that's honest, at least. He's not claiming to be some magician, neither his medicine causes any pain, I think. Sometimes not so tasty, but not painful.
In future, if MacMillan or any other company, takes our publication work, it is well and good, but at least one edition should be printed without further delay. Kindly think over this matter and chalk out program for progressive work. I say once more that both you and Satyavrata may take up this editorial work. I shall be glad to hear also about your health and how you are feeling now about your appetite and general health.
So far your observation that the Bengalis have been degraded by bogus so-called sadhus, yes, the Bengali's are generally fish-eaters and some are flesh-eaters, so the Ramakrishna Mission gave this concession that there is nothing harmful in eating flesh. The Bengalis got this appetite for eating flesh and fish and at the same time becoming one with God. This foolish theory and fanaticism has killed the Bengali culture. Not all, but a few percentage.
Now by the grace of Krishna, I am walking in the morning but I am still very weak. Neither do I feel any proper appetite. So the weakness is there, but I feel that I am progressing a little each day. So your preaching work is very encouraging to me. You have got the proper field now. So continue with the cooperation of Visnujana Maharaja, so that your example can be followed by others.
Regarding my coming there, I want to come, especially your Mauritius program is attractive, but my present state of heath will not allow me to travel outside of India. I am not having any appetite so I am eating less. By eating less where is the energy for travelling?
I thank you very much for your kindly remembering me. Sometimes I wish to take Jagannatha prasada, because nowadays I have no appetite here. I went to Jagannatha Puri in 1958 during some special function. I was taking Lord Jagannatha prasada very sumptuously. I am praying to Lord Jagannatha to take me there again at His will and honor His remnants of food.
You will be glad to know that I am feeling a little recovered now and every evening I am again able to do my translation work. Now my only disease is that I have no appetite.
| Page Title: | Appetite (Conversations and Letters) |
| Compiler: | MadhuGopaldas, Serene |
| Created: | 28 of Dec, 2010 |
| Totals by Section: | BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=41, Let=6 |
| No. of Quotes: | 47 |