Prabhupāda: So He decided that "If I remain a householder, these people will not honor Me." Because in those days a sannyāsī was honored in the society very much. If a sannyāsī comes to your village or to a householder's house it was very... Still it is going on, although not so widely. But still 80% of the population in India, if they find out a sannyāsī they give all honor. So He decided that "Now I shall become a sannyāsī." So He happened to see Keśava Bhāratī, a sannyāsī of the Śaṅkara sampradāya, and He requested him that "You give Me sannyāsa." So He took sannyāsa from Keśava Bhāratī and He was assisted by Nityānanda, Murāri Gupta, and some other people. So this is His renunciation decision and acceptance of sannyāsa.
Assist (Conversations)
Conversations and Morning Walks
1967 Conversations and Morning Walks
1968 Conversations and Morning Walks
Room Conversation -- October 27, 1968, Montreal, With First Devotees Going to London On Evening of Their Departure:
Where is Haṁsadūta? What he's doing there?
Devotee (1): I think he's cooking.
Prabhupāda: Cooking? (laughs) He's very expert cooking. (laughs) And Himavati also, assisting her husband?
Devotee (1): I don't think so.
Prabhupāda: Haṁsadūta likes to cook.
Yamunā: Oh, he loves it.
1969 Conversations and Morning Walks
Meeting with Devotees -- June 9, 1969, New Vrindaban:
Hayagrīva: But my question was that I won't get any cooperation from people if they think that my being in charge here is a concession. You see? I won't get any cooperation from anyone.
Prabhupāda: No, no, no. It is not concession. It's necessary. One man must be in charge of this place. So you don't think like that. Everyone will cooperate. Why not? It is Kṛṣṇa's. Nobody is actually the in-charge. Kṛṣṇa is in charge. We are simply assisting Kṛṣṇa. In that spirit we shall work.
Hayagrīva: Well, it's almost impossible to be in charge.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Kṛṣṇa is in charge. What do you think, Śyāma dāsī?
Śyāma: Yes. Kṛṣṇa is in charge.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Kṛṣṇa is in charge. Everyone should think that "I am acting to satisfy Kṛṣṇa." That's it.
Discussion with BTG Staff -- December 24, 1969, Boston:
Prabhupāda: So we have to create nice administrator. That is another function, you see? Every department, we shall create assistant, assistant. So that in case he is ill or he is sick, he cannot work, somebody must work for him.
Brahmānanda: That is how we can expand also.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Some assistant always must be there, training of assistant. So far your editorial is concerned, you can train. Now Puruṣottama, he can also assist you. Similarly, Gaurasundara can assist you.
Satsvarūpa: Jayadvaita is already...
Prabhupāda: Ah, Jayadvaita. So in this way you should create assistant editors also.
1972 Conversations and Morning Walks
Conversation with the GBC -- May 25, 1972, Los Angeles:
Prabhupāda: Now something is in your hand—Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That was my plan that I shall carry this baggage and give it to the Americans and they will distribute. That was my plan, therefore I came to America. So now you are so many boys, young boys, you have understood. So do it and give me relief. I remain in the background. Let me finish my Bhāgavata Purāṇa and those who are assisting in the writing, I'll be there (indistinct). That this institution, ISKCON will give to the world so many valuable jewels.
1973 Conversations and Morning Walks
Morning Walk -- December 2, 1973, Los Angeles:
Prabhupāda: I would like to open temples in every village, every city, what to speak of Greece. But we haven't got sufficient men.
Karandhara: This boy is from Greece.
Citraka: I will translate the books later.
Prabhupāda: Oh, then you can open. But alone... You can be assisted with some of our men. That's nice proposal. We want to open in every city, every village, village to village.
1974 Conversations and Morning Walks
Morning Walk 'Varnasrama College' -- March 14, 1974, Vrndavana:
Prabhupāda: For men. Women should automatically learn how to cook, how to cleanse home.
Satsvarūpa: So they don't attend varṇāśrama college.
Prabhupāda: No, no. Varṇāśrama college especially meant for the brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya and vaiśya. Those who are not fit for education, they are śūdras. That's all. Or those who are reluctant to take education-śūdra means. That's all. They should assist the higher class.
Morning Walk -- April 22, 1974, Hyderabad:
Akṣayānanda: But when we chant Hare Kṛṣṇa we are praying to God, "Please let me serve you."
Prabhupāda: That is already settled. We are also serving. We are preaching Christianity.
Pañcadraviḍa: So then the work we are doing, God is one, we are all serving God, then there should be no objection to assisting us in propagating this love of God all over the world. You are already saying...
Prabhupāda: No, what is that love of God? That is already answered, that "We have also love of God."
1975 Conversations and Morning Walks
Conversation with Devotees -- March 31, 1975, Mayapur:
Prabhupāda: Then we are spending advertisement, for?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Well, sometimes I know... Just... I mean they hire professional firms to assist in public relations work.
Prabhupāda: Not in... What is that?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: As an example, last year at Ratha-yātrā, two thousand dollars were spent to hire a professional group to assist them in making up the advertisements and other things, giving them guidance, general assistance...
Prabhupāda: If you get really assistance, there is no harm. Just like sometimes we go to the court; we pay to the lawyer because we are not expert. In that sense, it can be spent.
Room Conversation with Justin Murphy (Geographer) -- May 14, 1975, Perth:
Prabhupāda: At least one class of men must be thoroughly conversant, thoroughly aware of the things as they are. They are called brāhmaṇas. Therefore the society should be divided into four classes. The first-class men, who have got full knowledge of life and the problems of life... That there should be, the first-class men. They may be very few; it doesn't matter. Ideal class. People will learn by their behavior, by their character, by their knowledge. So must be there. Then the next class would be the administrators. They would be advised by the first-class men, and they would administer the state. And the third-class men, they should produce food, enough food for the whole population. And the fourth-class men would assist these three higher class, first class, second class and third class. This is the arrangement, nature's arrangement.
Room Conversation with Two Lawyers and Guest -- May 22, 1975, Melbourne:
Amogha: He says that we all want to be heads.
Prabhupāda: No. That is a very good idea, but the leg is also required. If you simply keep the head and there is no leg, then it is incomplete. Everything is required. To keep the body fit you require head, you require arms, you require belly, you require leg. That is the system of varṇāśrama-dharma. In India you have heard that there is a class, brāhmaṇa. Now it is now broken. But this is the Vedic civilization, that one class of men should be the brāhmaṇas, first class. One class of man should be kṣatriya, the administrators, politicians. One class of man should be food producer, vaiśya. And one class of man should be laborer, who has no brain but he can assist the other three.
Garden Conversation with Dr. Gerson and devotees -- June 22, 1975, Los Angeles:
Prabhupāda: The Vedic civilization, therefore, teaches the student, brahmacārī, how to remain without sex life. Those who are unable to continue that, they are allowed, "All right, be married life." And that is also for twenty-five years. A student remains brahmacārī up to twenty-five years, and if we wants to take this sex license-household life means sex life—so he can get the license for twenty-five years more. So at the age of fifty years, fiftieth year, he gives up voluntarily. He keeps his wife with him just to assist him to advance in spiritual life, and they go from one holy place to another. And then when they are practiced, then the woman is sent to his elderly sons to take care and the man takes sannyāsa.
Morning Walk -- July 1, 1975, Denver:
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: When we distribute these books, Śrīla Prabhupāda, we think that it is you who are distributing them, that they are your books, and we are simply assisting to offer them to people. It is actually you who are doing all the preaching.
Prabhupāda: It is Kṛṣṇa's book, we are all servants, engaged. (break) (laughing) Here your parents accusing me, and in India the caste brāhmaṇas accusing me. My standing... I do not know what is my standing. Your parents are accusing me, "This rascal, converting our sons to become mendicant without any material enjoyment." And there, "This rascal is giving sacred thread to the mlecchas and yavanas." (Still laughing)
Room Conversation with Lt. Mozee, Policeman -- July 5, 1975, Chicago:
Lt. Mozee: I recognize, sir, that your time is very valuable and I won't delay you much longer. If I could return to my original purpose for coming in the..., what words you may have that would assist us, my superintendent and my department, in the reduction of crime, other than, I recognize, that the first and the foremost way would be a return to God as you said, that there is no doubt about that. But is there something else that you may know or that you may feel that you may be able to say that would assist us in a reduction less than the ideal?
Prabhupāda: Yes. That I have already in the beginning said, that give us facilities, the authorities, to chant the holy name of God and distribute prasādam. Prasādam means...
Lt. Mozee: Yes, I understand.
Prabhupāda: ...some refreshment as remnants of foodstuff of God. Then it will make tremendous change. I came from India alone; now I have got so many followers. So what did I do? I did the same thing. I asked them to sit down, and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, and distribute them little prasādam. This should be done in a mass scale, and then things will become very peaceful. It is fact. So I want little cooperation of the authorities to give me the facility, how I can call many men together, chant together Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, and I supply them little refreshment, that's all.
Lt. Mozee: I will definitely convey your message to my superiors.
Television Interview -- July 9, 1975, Chicago:
Woman reporter: Where do women fit into these four classes?
Prabhupāda: That I already explained. Women's position is subordinate to man. So if the man is first-class, the woman is first-class. If the man is second-class, the woman is second-class. If the man is third-class, the woman is third-class. In this... Because woman is meant for assisting man, so the woman becomes suitable according to the man, her husband.
Woman reporter: Would you say that women are inferior to men?
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Woman reporter: Why?
Prabhupāda: By physiological condition. Just like you are. Your bodily features are different from the man's features. You cannot deny it. So according to the bodily features, the psychological condition and everything is there. How you can deny it?
Morning Walk -- July 10, 1975, Chicago:
Prabhupāda: Intolerant?
Jayatīrtha: No, "and tolerant." " 'Such MEN,' " capital M-E-N again, "he said, 'are first-class citizens and should be advisors to the world. Second and third-class MEN have not found God and should be administrators and workers.' " Not exactly right. "He spoke thirty minutes and never mentioned women. I asked how women fit into his system. 'Women,' he said, 'is not equal in intelligence to man. Man's brain weighs sixty-four ounces; women's weighs thirty-six ounces. It is just a fact.' He continued, 'Women are meant to assist men. That is all.' He said women do not figure in his class system except as daughters or wives. 'An unmarried woman presumably is classless. Is that,' asked a male reporter..."
Prabhupāda: (chuckles) That is fact. She is prostitute, that's all. If you classify, then she is prostitute. (laughter) That's all. There is no other way.
Press Conference -- October 2, 1975, Mauritius:
Prabhupāda: ...for the kṣatriya? Kṣatriya means one who gives protection from being hurt, kṣat. Kṣat means hurting. So suppose if I unnecessarily hurt you, then it is the duty of the government to give you protection. So unless I am also punished by violence, I cannot..., He cannot give you protection. So this is also necessary. Therefore in the society there must be kṣatriya. The brāhmaṇas should be learned; they should give instruction, advice. The kṣatriyas should give protection; the vaiśyas should produce, economic development; and rest, they should assist-śūdras, that's all. This is the program of Aryan society.
1976 Conversations and Morning Walks
Morning Walk -- March 25, 1976, Delhi:
Ātreya Ṛṣi: And amongst devotees, Godbrothers, an advanced devotee is one who sees that "Everybody is serving Kṛṣṇa so nicely..."
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Ātreya Ṛṣi: "...so let me assist them."
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Ātreya Ṛṣi: "Let me facilitate their service."
Prabhupāda: Yes. Therefore we say prabhu. Prabhu means "You are my master. Please order me. What can I do for you?" That should be the attitude.
Interview with Professors O'Connell, Motilal and Shivaram -- June 18, 1976, Toronto:
Viśvakarmā: ...Professor O'Connell came over to the temple when this, some man came, Ted Patrick, he came to Toronto last year—I think we told you about it—and he took one of our devotees and deprogrammed her. There was big publicity in the paper for an entire week. So Professor O'Connell came forward and spoke on behalf of our movement, saying that he felt that it was a bona fide system of Vaiṣṇavism. He came to the temple and assisted us.
Prabhupāda: O'Connell knows me from a such long time. Yes. We first met in Harvard University. Next he saw me in London, Bhaktivedanta Manor. I think Boston also
Evening Darsana -- July 8, 1976, Washington, D.C.:
Prabhupāda: No, (indistinct). There is separate arrangement for management, but the idea and philosophy is the same. Ultimately, I am managing. I have my twenty secretaries, they are called GBC, they are assisting me to manage. Every GBC has got a certain number of temples to supervise, and ultimately, I supervise everything. Therefore I come occasionally, stay for few days to see how things are going on. I have got hundred temples, big, big temples, very nice. They have organized palatial buildings, but I cannot stay anywhere.
Morning Walk -- July 11, 1976, New York:
Prabhupāda: When the spiritual master goes there, somewhere, his nearest assistants, they automatically go there to assist him. When Kṛṣṇa comes the demigods also come to help Him. That is there in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. All these Yadus, Yadu family, they came from heaven. So before Kṛṣṇa's disappearance, by some trick they were all killed and they returned to their original place. It is nicely described in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta.
Evening Darsana -- July 13, 1976, New York:
Prabhupāda: That's right. Try this experiment.
Rāmeśvara: Anything that we can do to assist you in the translating work is the best service...
Prabhupāda: Hm, yes.
Room Conversation -- August 3, 1976, New Mayapur (French farm):
Prabhupāda: My mother used to make puffed rice at home. So there is special rice available for making puffed rice. Either you can prepare at home or you can purchase in the market, special rice. So she was preparing nice puffed rice, very, very nice. In a sand pot. My mother was always engaged in making some food preparation. Some pickle, some chutney, and this puffed rice, or something else, something else, something else. Besides cooking for the family, she was being assisted by my sisters. Always palatable foodstuff. So many guests were there, and if son-in-law would come, they would specially prepare food for him. To receive guests, give them nice food to eat, prepare nice food for the family, this is the Indian pleasure.
1977 Conversations and Morning Walks
Room Conversation -- January 7, 1977, Bombay:
Prabhupāda: You can write as secretary, "Dear Sir, I am instructed by His Divine Grace Prabhupāda to thank you for your postcard dated such and such. And we condole for your bereavement in the absence of your father late, Principal N. Bannerji. You know that your father was intimately related with Śrīla Prabhupāda, and he assisted him with some money, loan. Your father attempted to repay it, but he could not. Now, after his death, you are worthy sons..."
Room Conversation -- January 7, 1977, Bombay:
Prabhupāda: Principal N. Bannerji.
Jagadīśa: "You know that your father was intimately related with Śrīla Prabhupāda, and he assisted him with..."
Prabhupāda: "And Prabhupāda assisted him."
Jagadīśa: Okay. "And Śrīla Prabhupāda assisted him with some money loan. Your father attempted to repay it, but he could not. Now, after his death, you are good sons behind him. You have observed the death ceremony very pompously. Why not repay the debts of your father so that he may live very peacefully in his next life? A line in reply will much oblige us. Yours sincerely, Secretary..."
Prabhupāda: Is that all right? Let us see how worthy sons they are. Everyone knows. They know.
Conversation and Instruction On New Movie -- January 13, 1977, Allahabad:
Rāmeśvara: Now, this Governor of California, he invited us to assist him for helping the conditions in these mental retarded hospitals. So that is like mundane charity, in one sense. So is it all right for our men to take some time? Because the end result will be that we will become appreciated.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Yes, you do. Wherever we get opportunity, we shall chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. That's all.
Rāmeśvara: We can teach them to chant.
Prabhupāda: Yes. This is our medicine.
Room Conversation 'GBC Resolutions' -- March 1, 1977, Mayapura:
Prabhupāda: So he'll be assistant secretary?
Satsvarūpa: No. What we resolved is that Bhagavān dāsa would stay in his present zone: France and Italy and Sweden and Amsterdam; but that as far as Jayatīrtha, he would visit Paris and New Māyāpura to assist with the financial problems there, and after some time...
Prabhupāda: Jayatīrtha and Ātreya Ṛṣi, both.
Room Conversation with Ratan Singh Rajda M.P. 'Nationalism and Cheating' -- April 15, 1977, Bombay:
Mr. Rajda: Now this information will.... I shall be interested to read from it.
Prabhupāda: So where is that note? Bring. (Hindi) Those who are assisting me, let them have permanent visa so that I can work this way.
Letter from Yugoslavia--'Books!' -- June 30, 1977, Vrndavana:
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Oh, okay. I'll make one for Rāmeśvara for duplication, and the rest, I'll make a few for keeping here. Śrīla Prabhupāda? When the visiting GBC man comes, he can assist me, work with me, and also, can he do what Śatadhanya Mahārāja is doing?
Prabhupāda: Not necessarily. Whatever he can do, that's all. You are also doing.
Room Conversation with Mr. Myer -- July 2, 1977, Vrndavana:
Prabhupāda: First-class... Everyone would like. That was going on, ḍāl, cāpāṭi, and one vegetable. I'll take pleasure. Sometimes somebody would come to assist me. He wanted to eat immediately. And "No, that you cannot. After I have finished, when it is offered to Kṛṣṇa, then I'll give you sumptuous prasādam, not before." So there was no... And little rice. Ḍāl, cāpāṭi, rice, vegetable, bas. Oh, it was so nice. Everyone would praise. The same thing, when I took my own apartment I did the same thing, distributed prasādam. Then, gradually, they came forward to assist me. First came Kīrtanānanda. He is the first cook. Then Acyutānanda. Brahmānanda was washing dish. He could not help the cooking.
Room Conversation Arrival of Jayatirtha and Harikesa -- October 8, 1977, Vrndavana:
Prabhupāda: Who assists him?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: About three other devotees. There's no hired people. They're all fired and gone. Only devotees are cooking, and very tasteful, and everybody, about a hundred and twenty devotees sit together and take prasādam.
Room Conversation -- October 17, 1977, Vrndavana:
Prabhupāda: You can get local brāhmaṇa to assist us. Perform the yajña little gorgeously, that's all. If you can distribute to the local brāhmaṇas, important, some (indistinct) silk cloth, and grains, and..., they will come. And let them cook themselves and take prasādam and do that.
Room Conversation -- November 8, 1977, Vrndavana:
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: There's some maximum amount?
Prabhupāda: Bhagatji.
Bhagatji: Śrīla Prabhupāda?
Prabhupāda: You can assist?
Bhagatji: (Hindi)
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Jayapatāka can go with him. This man that came yesterday was Visvanath Misra?
| Page Title: | Assist (Conversations) |
| Compiler: | Archana, Labangalatika, Sureshwardas |
| Created: | 22 of Dec, 2008 |
| Totals by Section: | BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=34, Let=0 |
| No. of Quotes: | 34 |