Gates (Conversations)

Expressions researched:
"gate" |"gates" |"gateway" |"gateways"

1972 Conversations and Morning Walks

Interview -- July 5, 1972, New York:

Prabhupāda: So, religion, very simple—I am talking with that man over there—religion means the laws of God. Simple definition. And one who follows the laws of God, he is religious. It doesn't matter whether he is Christian, whether he is Hindu, whether he is Muslim. It doesn't matter. Take, for example, your Christian religion. Lord Jesus Christ says "Thou shalt not kill", but I think cent percent of the Christian people, they are very much engaged in killing. So there are, I mean, disobeying the laws of God. Don't you think? What is..., what is the value? And if you disobey the laws of God, then what is your religion? It is simply show. God says, or God's representative, God's son, Jesus Christ says, that "Thou shalt not kill," but the whole Christian world, the killing art is very much favored. Maintaining slaughterhouse, shooting in sports, and creating (indistinct), and so many things, simply killing. And any film shown, when it is killing film as is very much popular. Shooting film is very popular. I see in your park the soldiers killing. This, this park I was passing. What is that park?

Devotee: Prospect Park.

Prabhupāda: Prospect Park. There is big gate, because there is a killing picture.

Devotee: Yes. Praising the soldiers.

Prabhupāda: Huh?

Devotee: Praising the soldiers.

Prabhupāda: So, in this way... Of course soldiers killing and ordinary killing is not the same, but my point is that..., that God gives you the law that you shall not kill. Now if..., if you are violating that law, then how you can become religious? That is my question.

Guest (1): Grace is, is nonviolence, nonkilling.

Prabhupāda: Hmm?

Guest (1): That is part of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, isn't it?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

1973 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation With Three College Students -- July 11, 1973, London:

Prabhupāda: No, if you go to the place... Just like if you go to the airport, then you can understand which airship is starting from which gate, which gate. There are so many things you can see. But if you do not approach the airport, simply in other place, how you can study airport? First of all come to Kṛṣṇa. Then try to understand Kṛṣṇa. And if you understand Kṛṣṇa you become liberated. First of all we have to know that "Here is Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead." Then you try to understand. But if you do not approach there, where is your question of understanding Him?

Room Conversation with Sir Alistair Hardy -- July 21, 1973, London:

Revatīnandana: Temple gates.

Sir Alistair Hardy: Temple gates. Yes. And I was making a drawing of this. So I had a very big crowd around me. And my Indian friends... I'd been staying at Mandapam (?) which is the... It was a naval settlement. Well, it was really a settlement of the Indian fisheries. My biological interest had always been in the sea. And these friends came over, and they left this case while they went to take photographs. And they came back. And so the crowd were very excited. "Would you like to know what they're saying?" And so I said, "Yes." So he said, "What they're saying is, 'Isn't he wonderful! Isn't he wonderful! He's taking photographs with his fingers.' " They were more used to photographs, I think. They'd never seen anyone doing an actual... They'd seen symbolic drawings, but... I was reproducing the temple gates, and they said I was taking photographs with my fingers. I thought that was a wonderful expression really, "taking photographs with my fingers." (Someone brings in prasādam) Oh, thank you.

Prabhupāda: No, you can keep it here.

Room Conversation with Sanskrit Professor -- August 13, 1973, Paris:

Prabhupāda: I was under impression in Paris there is no nice park. Now this time I see, yes, Paris excels the whole world, having such a nice park. Yes. I saw Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. That is also very nice. But this park is nicer than Golden Gate Park.

Professor: You think so. The Bois de Bologne? is much better than the Golden Gate?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Professor: Well it depends. I like the Golden Gate too because there is the sea not far. Here, in Paris, you have no ocean, nothing.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Professor: Only a small river. That is not the...

Morning Walk -- December 16, 1973, Los Angeles:

Prabhupāda: Yes. Simply if you are passing by... Just like dog. Without any fault, bark, "Wowf! Wowf! Wowf! Worf!" This is the animal nature. Without any fault, I am passing, I am not entering his gate. Still, the dog will bark. Similarly, the snake... You simply pass through. He will feel pleasure, biting you. That is snake's business. Therefore nobody is merciful upon snake.

Karandhara: Because of his poison.

1974 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation -- March 20, 1974, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: This will be propaganda and to invite people to come and let them give in writing that "Here the Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa temple must be there." Take thousand, millions of signatures. So prove that it is not nonsense. It is the most essential thing. This way. And so far traffic is concerned, now, there is big road. So make two gates, in and out, this side, so there is no question of traffic convenience. In this way, do presentation. That is my suggestion. And this letter will not be very much effective.

Guest: ...jī? May I submit a matter?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Room Conversation -- March 20, 1974, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Uncivilized. A similar thing is happening in India where the civilization is supposed to be so... And actually it is so, but they have become so degraded that a responsible officer in the government, he is saying that "Bhajana is nuisance." You see. He has no knowledge what, how much valuable, spiritually valuable, bhajana is. In the Bhagavad-gītā... Gandhi accepted Bhagavad-gītā. It is said, catur-vidhā bhajante māṁ sukṛti... Gandhi was chanting in temple: Raghupati rāghava. So what they are following? Gandhi was against drinking and intoxication. Now they're introducing. So this is the position of the government. Therefore I suggest that according to the word, so far traffic, we are diverting the ways this way. And let people come here, join with bhajana, take prasādam, and they sign, "Yes, there must be a temple here." Let this. And make propaganda that people may come here, and... I am present here. I will speak. The same thing, as it is going on, kīrtana and speaking from Bhagavad-gītā. And after they are convinced, let them sign, "Yes, there must be a temple here." In this way, gather public opinion, one point, that bhajana is not nuisance, essential, we want it, and the other thing, we are making gate in and out to get... Submit a plan like that, that this is... There will be no... That may be a small road, lane, but here is a big road. And purchase that land in front and make a gate. Call a good architects, make a nice gate and road. Take this proposition.

Room Conversation -- May 20, 1974, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Madana-Mohana temple door?

Yamunā: Yes, putting the wooden bolt so I can't come inside. Yesterday this was. After leaving here for pravacana and going there, he had locked the gate. Then I knocked until he came.

Prabhupāda: Madana-Mohana Gosvāmī or Rādhā-Ramaṇa?

Yamunā: No, Madana-Mohana Gosvāmī.

Prabhupāda: So what business you have to go to Madana-Mohana temple at that time?

Yamunā: Madana-Mohana Gosvāmī of Rādhā-Dāmodara temple.

Prabhupāda: Ohhhh.

Morning Walk -- June 9, 1974, Paris:

Prabhupāda: So there is no coconut tree, mango tree, banana tree. Huh? These are all useless tree, simply for becoming fuel. That's all. They're also condemned. Yes. Sinful trees. There are pious trees and sinful trees. Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa... (pause) We have to go straight? (pause) This park is bigger than that Golden Gate Park?

Bhagavān: Oh yeah.

Prabhupāda: Eh? (pause)

Puṣṭa-kṛṣṇa: Kṛṣṇa says that "One who is always active within is very dear to Me." Does this mean we should struggle to keep our minds engaged all the time in Kṛṣṇa's service.

Prabhupāda: Active within? Active within?

Room Conversation with Devotees -- July 2, 1974, Melbourne:

Prabhupāda: "There are three gates leading to this hell-lust, anger, and greed. Every sane man should give these up, for they lead to the degradation of the soul."

etair vimuktaḥ kaunteya

tamo-dvārais tribhir naraḥ

ācaraty ātmanaḥ śreyas

tato yāti parāṁ gatim

(BG 16.22)

"The man who has escaped these three gates of hell, O son of Kuntī, performs acts conducive to self-realization and thus gradually attains the supreme destination."

yaḥ śāstra-vidhim utsṛjya

vartate kāma-kārataḥ

na sa siddhim avāpnoti

na sukhaṁ na parāṁ gatim

(BG 16.23)

Prabhupāda: I think you missed that verse, jagato ahitāya. Anyway, these are the description of demonic activities. So this is practical. The last two disastrous war was waged only for this industry.

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation with Tripurari -- March 2, 1975, Atlanta:

Prabhupāda: Yes, it is very nice, Purañjana. His city, his gates, various manifestation.

Devotee (4): Sometimes we are very encouraged because we find people, they come back to us. They say, "I have gotten this volume, and I'd like to have the first part" or "I'd like to have the Second Canto." I found that in the army base among the soldiers... I went to distribute at an army base with the soldiers. And one man saw me, and he came up, and he says, "Can I have the Second Canto? I liked the first one so much." It's enlivening for us.

Prabhupāda: Sometimes they come and demand.

Morning Walk -- July 16, 1975, San Francisco:

Prabhupāda: No, no, don't say. (break) This is the first time I come here.

Brahmānanda: Golden Gate Park?

Prabhupāda: Yes, Golden Gate. What happened about that house?

Citsukhānanda: We are still trying to negotiate, Prabhupāda. (break)

Prabhupāda: ...university. It is almost like, not so big. You were in, anyone? Paris?

Brahmānanda: Yes, Sorbonne. I've been there, yes.

Prabhupāda: Not so big.

Morning Walk -- August 24, 1975, Delhi:

Jayapatāka: Get Tejas. Where is Tejas?

Devotee (1): He's coming now.

Brahmānanda: There's some park near here, he said? Indian gate?

Prabhupāda: No, no. He said we shall go to Indian gate?

Harikeśa: Where you usually go?

Prabhupāda: Is there any car?

Harikeśa: Is there a car?

Brahmānanda: There's no car.

Jayapatāka: He said he knew a short walk.

Morning Walk -- August 24, 1975, Delhi:

Prabhupāda: Huh? Hare Kṛṣṇa. (break)

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: There's a lot of parks of this type.

Prabhupāda: ...India Gate?

Tejas: India Gate is this way, Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: Oh. You have to go this side or this side?

Tejas: Yes.

Prabhupāda: Ravindra Thakur?

Tejas: Ravindra Bhavan.

Prabhupāda: Yes. I sold my books here. When I was alone, I was selling books.

Morning Walk -- August 25, 1975, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Dvaitādvaita, I think. Nimbārka philosophy.

Brahmānanda: What are these things? Gates or something?

Prabhupāda: Yes, philosophy. They wanted to make it Vaiṣṇava philosophy anyway. So these are different...

Brahmānanda: Oh. Sampradāyas?

Prabhupāda: Yes, of Vaiṣṇava. (break) ...to anyone, neither he will do anything. (break)

Dhanañjaya: ...Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī.

Prabhupāda: Nobody's taking care.

Morning Walk -- August 25, 1975, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: That we want. Jaya. (kīrtana in background)

Brahmānanda: There is still fifteen minutes, Prabhupāda, before the curtains open.

Prabhupāda: So we can begin our... Curtain opens?

Dhanañjaya: The gates open at 7:30, in forty minutes.

Prabhupāda: So we can have our other function?

Dhanañjaya: Yes, Bhāgavatam class.

Harikeśa: Guru pūjā?

Dhanañjaya: Guru pūjā. (break) (end)

Morning Walk -- September 15, 1975, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: There are many. I saw in Detroit, I think. The bridge is covered?

Brahmānanda: San Francisco. The Golden Gate Bridge they have put...

Prabhupāda: Not Golden Gate. That San Diego, I think. We crossed one bridge to go to the...

Brahmānanda: Oh, yes, San Diego also. They have these fences so when people jump off they are caught by the fences. (laughter)

Prabhupāda: And I think in Berkeley? The tower?

Morning Walk -- September 18, 1975, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Six o'clock?

Guṇārṇava: 5:15.

Indian man (1): Six o'clock. The temple is going to open in the afternoon at six o'clock.

Dhanañjaya: Temple opens at four o'clock. The door of the gates.

Indian man (1): No, temple, mandir.

Dhanañjaya: The gates open at four o'clock, and the doors open at 5:15 for ārati. Ārati is at 5:15.

Prabhupāda: But 5:15 means six because you are very expert.

Dhanañjaya: Always it's 5:15.

Indian man (1): Not earlier than 5:30, I find.

Morning Walk -- September 18, 1975, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Your signboard is "five." Why you make 5:15? Everything should be on routine, strictly.

Dhanañjaya: But the main gates are open to the public at four o'clock.

Prabhupāda: That's nice. They can wait on the corridor. I wanted Praṇava to speak, but he is not interested. What I can do? I told you that "You read books and speak. Try to preach." Yes. Did I not say? Did I not say to you that you and Dikṣita, "Study together and..."

Praṇava (an older Indian man): We started immediately on the very same day. Next day I was asked to leave, so I have left.

Prabhupāda: You have left forever.

Morning Walk -- September 29, 1975, Ahmedabad:

Kartikeya: The outside or garden may not be open...

Brahmānanda: Park gate is closed.

Kartikeya: We can walk on the road.

Prabhupāda: All right. When it is open?

Kartikeya: Normally six. (break)

Prabhupāda: (Hindi) ...mandāḥ, all bad men. Mandā sumanda-matayaḥ. And if he is supposed to be a good man, he will manufacture some mata, manda-mata, not approved by the śāstras. This is going on. They will not hear Kṛṣṇa. They will give quotation from Brahma-kumārī. This is the greatest defect of modern civilization, that they won't accept real authority. They will create some authority. Or rascal, he becomes authority. Especially in India, this is the drawback. In the Western countries they do not know much about this. Therefore they accept what I say. But here they bring so many. So such an important man, he is bringing authority, Brahma-kumārī, a house of prostitution. If he is bringing their quotation as authority, then what to speak of others? (break) Just like that Christian convent house. They supply woman to rich men, and they supply money. That's all.

Morning Walk -- November 3, 1975, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Rather inconvenient to Mr. Matrey, because in front practically. We have got wall. He has no very much objection. And how will they allow? (break)

Girirāja: Have a gate in the middle of the wall and so many people will be passing. It will be a big international center so it will look bad for India that...

Prabhupāda: Yes. So stick to that point. That's nice. (break) ...may take advantage of offering obeisances consciously or unconsciously. (break)

Dr. Dr. Patel: My son and his wife came. Especially for them... They don't have other holidays.

Prabhupāda: (Hindi) (break) What is the use of the fighting?

Morning Walk -- December 3, 1975, Vrndavana:

Harikeśa: No, and then they worship in that temple. That's a temple there.

Prabhupāda: Oh. (aside:) Hare Kṛṣṇa. No, the road is, er, gate is closed. (break) People in general, they take that "There is no God, and if there is God, He is now dead." This is general impression.

Harikeśa: There is one nice thing I saw on one wall. It says, "God is dead. Nietzche "And then right underneath it somebody wrote, "Nietzche is dead. God."

Prabhupāda: Nietzche? Nietzche means?

Harikeśa: Nietzche, that philosopher. He was the one who first...

Prabhupāda: (Aside:) Hare Kṛṣṇa. Jaya. Yes.

Morning Walk -- December 14, 1975, New Delhi:

Prabhupāda: What is written there? Ravindra. Ravindra's Gate. Ravindra's gate is, how to enjoy illicit sex. This is his gate. He introduced māgha-melā, inviting young boys and girls to dance together. And taking this opportunity, he was enjoying young girls. That was his purpose. They would come, the young girls would come, Ravindra (Bengali), grandfather, and he'll, "Alright you sit down on my lap." That's all. This is Ravindra Bhavan, to become debauch. And if you teach young man debauchery, he can attract millions. There is no doubt of it. The pride(?) philosophy. Hm? Debauchery. Allow sex without any discrimination. (observes passing hand drawn cart) Economic development. Where is economic development for these men?

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

Morning Walk -- January 16, 1976, Mayapur:

Prabhupāda: Sell.

Jayapatāka: No. We don't have surplus yet.

Prabhupāda: (break) You also? (laughter)

Jayapatāka: Arch or anything be put on this gate?

Prabhupāda: Hm?

Jayapatāka: Should we put any little arch on this gate?

Prabhupāda: Yes, why not? Later on. It is not very urgent. (break)

Satadhanya: Yes.

Prabhupāda: Other one?

Morning Walk -- January 16, 1976, Mayapur:

Prabhupāda: This is a plea, excuse.

Jayapatāka: Generally at 7:15 they start cleaning.

Prabhupāda: No, no. I see. Why it is not clean? It must have been clean. (break) (Bengali) Yes, but I don't see they are working at the gate. (break) ...theoretical.

Jayapatāka: They make every day the rice for the day.

Prabhupāda: So where they are doing? Today is no rice required?

Jayapatāka: They start when the schedule starts at 7:30.

Prabhupāda: What is the time now?

Jayapatāka: They're all waiting for you to...

Prabhupāda: Very punctual, 7:30. Not waiting.

Morning Walk -- January 19, 1976, Mayapur:

Prabhupāda: Everyone is trying to exploit you. They freely say, the rickshawalla, that they will charge five hundred rupees per bīghā to others and they will charge four thousand rupees to you. This is going on. Don't allow them to paint unless the rate is settled.

Bhavānanda: We had one day guard on our front gate last week. He worked for three days. His monthly salary was forty rupees plus his meals. So after he was here for three days the rickshawallas, they said, "Why you are working for them for so little money? They are so wealthy." And he left.

Prabhupāda: Who is supervising this department?

Bhavānanda: Tapomaya.

Prabhupāda: Where is Tapomaya? (Bengali)

Morning Walk -- January 21, 1976, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: Ghosh wanted to give us land that side for making a path to the Ganges.

Jayapatākā: Sell us.

Prabhupāda: Ah, yes. So we have got a plan beginning from this gate up to the Ganges. If we get land we can do that. (break) Foundation stone in Nellore can be transferred to Madras?

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes, that's what I'm going to do.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Madras is far better place than Nellore. (break) ...if we take charity from such fallen woman, then we have to share his sinful activity. Yes.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: So we should be careful from whom we accept charity?

Morning Walk -- February 3, 1976, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: (break) ...made so gigantic and so opulent. And we make Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura on the gate? How foolish they are. The doorkeeper?

Jayapatākā: I challenged them that "Why you are putting Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura on the gateway?" So they say, "Well, this was in memory because when..." They say when Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura was a magistrate that he used to go there and he used to watch the local people do their..., do some sports and horse-racing and things, and so as memory they are making there.

Prabhupāda: So you are so intelligent, Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura was not so intelligent that he could place him. But you are so very intelligent, you are surpassing Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī. So you are intelligent or fool? You should answer like this.

Morning Walk -- February 3, 1976, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: So that means he is on the same level. (break) ...Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura on the gate is the proof how fool he is. He has not shown respect to Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura; he has disgraced.

Jayapatākā: Now the government is saying that they have to knock down those temples because of the encroaching on the roadside.

Prabhupāda: Now where Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura...?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Will go now? What was... What was your guru mahārāja's plan for where he...? I don't understand. I mean, did your guru mahārāja want a...

Prabhupāda: Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura's statue was there.

Morning Walk -- February 3, 1976, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: Huh?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So they did it?

Prabhupāda: No. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura's picture was there, not that on the gateway.

Bhavānanda: In the back.

Prabhupāda: They should have taken away that building which was constructed, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, and placed him there as separate temple. You see? That red... That was constructed by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: You mean that school building?

Bhavānanda: No, no, in the back.

Prabhupāda: Just on the side of the temple.

Morning Walk -- February 4, 1976, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: We shall go? No.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: If you like. It's a little early still. You could walk out to the front gate today and see how they are painting.

Prabhupāda: Yes, yes. Yes. So let us go. (break) ...says, uttiṣṭhata jāgrata prāpta-varān nibodhata.(?)Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura says, jīv jāgo, jīv jāgo. Still he will sleep in this human form of life and remain animal, cat and dog. A simple word, jīv jāgo, jīv jāgo. This is Vedic instruction. Uttiṣṭhata jāgrata: "Get up. Be awakened. You have got this body. Try to understand God." That they will not do. They'll come to fight: "Oh, you are playing mṛdaṅga at four o'clock and disturbing my sleeping?" This is going on. "Let me go to the police. You are trying to awaken me from my sleeping? You are trying to make me intelligent? Let me remain fool. Why you are disturbing me?" Māyā's influence. Kota nidrā jāo māyā-piśācīra kole. Simply wasting of time. Nidrāhāra-vihārakādi-vijitau **. The Gosvāmīs, they conquered over sleeping first, nidrā, then eating. Nidrāhāra-vihārakādi-vijitau. What is this?

Morning Walk -- February 4, 1976, Mayapura:

Bhavānanda: It says, (break) "...when not in use."

Prabhupāda: What is this?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: It's for the gate.

Prabhupāda: So why it is like that? People may fall down.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: In other words, it should be up there in the day.

Prabhupāda: (break) ...again mūḍha.

Sudāmā: (break) ...speaking about how they are complaining that we are waking them up. A very interesting story... In Hawaii for one year every day this one man living next door to us every morning would call the police force at guru-pūjā. So many cars would come, three, four police cars. So finally, after one or two weeks' coming, they would come very happily, and they would take prasāda. So they came because he called, they had to follow his complaint, but they told me personally, "We are coming not to arrest you or complain. We like your activities. Please give us some prasādam."

Hṛdayānanda: Also in Caracas many, many police cars come to the temple for prasādam.

Morning Walk -- March 11, 1976, Mayapur:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: There's a nice example given in Nectar of Devotion about the digging for a treasure.

Prabhupāda: Hm? Yes. (break) ...shenai on the gate, that is nice. Jayapatāka?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Jayapatāka.

Jayapatāka: Yes, Śrīla Prabhupāda?

Prabhupāda: They should play shenai on the gate, and here kīrtana will go on, not that kīrtana will be stopped to hear their dundubhi.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Shenai is not a replacement for kīrtana.

Prabhupāda: No. Shenai is meant for.... That is navadhana. That is called navadhana. (break) ...must be played. Not this dundubhi. They are playing as a dundubhi. That will not work. And along with shenai they can play.

Morning Walk -- March 17, 1976, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: Yes. (laughter)

Guru-kṛpā: And the road, you could not even walk down it. It took me fifteen minutes to get to the gate.

Prabhupāda: I therefore planned four buildings like that. You know. And that was my plan, four buildings like that besides temple and my house. That was the original plan.

Dharmādhyakṣa: There was one Kṛṣṇa-kṛpā Brahmacārī. You met him a few years ago, told him to come here, and he saw the prasāda room. He said he has never seen such a well-organized prasādam room, prasādam distribution. Everyone was very well disciplined and what-not. He was very impressed. He'll be coming today at five p.m. He was a physics professor at some college in Calcutta.

Meeting with Bankers -- April 6, 1976, Vrndavana:

Indian (1): Now Mahārājajī has told you the story about the Kuvera of the old days. I will tell you the story of the Kuveras of the today. That is us. In fact, it was in a paper. There was a cartoon. A bank manager, means today's Kuvera, was sitting in an office, and he received a call, such and such big Dalmiya or Birla, "We want two lakhs of rupees just now." He said, "Yes, come along. Here is our Swamiji. He'll pay you two lakhs." Then there was another call. There was some industrialist or a small-scale industrialist man. He said, "I want to start an industry. Could I get a lakh of rupees as a loan from you?" He said, "Yes, yes. Please do come along and we'll make some arrangements." Then he also. And ultimately the third picture in the cartoon, that the manager—that is today's Kuvera—he goes out of the bank. He is standing on the gate, and he says to that caukidāra, (Hindi punchline-laughter). It is today's Kuvera is not in any position to give anything. He also wants your blessings, you see, in fact.

Prabhupāda: Very good.

Indian (1): So if about the bankers, if you permit me, I'll give you another interesting story. There was a man who was very ill in America and he had a heart trouble. In fact he had no heart, I would say. So, you know, they can replace the hearts nowadays. He went to a hospital, and the doctor offered him two or three hearts, "Which one would you like? One is of the general, the other is of a big businessman, and the third is of a banker. What would you like?" So he thought, "Let me have the heart of a..."

Prabhupāda: Banker.

Morning Walk -- April 9, 1976, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Yes, he is gentleman. He is Kṛṣṇa conscious. This can be used very nice dako(?) If you stack it nicely, you can use as dako(?). It is very good...

Jayādvaita: (break) Cintāmaṇi gate.

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Śrīla Prabhupāda, the Vaiṣṇavas in general in Vṛndāvana, are they lamenting for the physical upkeep?

Prabhupāda: Hm?

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Are the Vaiṣṇavas in general lamenting for the physical upkeep of Vṛndāvana, or are they indifferent?

Morning Walk -- April 13, 1976, Bombay:

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Actually, Prabhupāda is doing everything. We are simply like puppets. He tells us what to do. Transcendental management.

Indian man (2): Śrīla Prabhupāda? Just in Bombay, what you are constructing, the gate, are they going to be like another Indian temples, only gates? Will they look like a big temple?

Dr. Patel: You mean those.... (Hindi) In south we have got those temples, gates. That is only common in southern India but not anywhere else. Gopurams.

Prabhupāda: Gopurams.

Room Conversation -- May 7, 1976, Honolulu:

Guru-kṛpā: Even in Moscow, big city.

Prabhupāda: Yes. That Professor Kotofsky, I asked him, "Please arrange for a taxi." (indistinct) "Well, Swamiji, this is Moscow." So he came down to the gate—he was very virtuous—he showed me, "You go this way, actually there was 3 or 4 lane then you find a short lane, then you go this way, this way, then you get to your hotel. He showed me some short cut, personally. They... He could not call a taxi. And somewhere we went, we got a taxi, private taxi, and that man was begging for more than the fare.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: That means the system...

Prabhupāda: "Can you not give me little more?"

Room Conversation -- May 7, 1976, Honolulu:

Prabhupāda: Bigger?

Guru-kṛpā: Yes. And they say these neighbors back here are the ones that do all the complaining. So some were expressing that this might be better, they could come in off the street. Also, many tourists come to Hawaii, and if we make it very nice, then they can, many tourist buses may come here to see the temple. So if it is near the gate then you'll come right out. But it's just that I have no knowledge how to build anything.

Prabhupāda: So?

Guru-kṛpā: Myself, how to go about it. I don't have any experience or knowledge of that.

Prabhupāda: No, you have no experience. I know, so that Australian boy who works constantly, there is one temple,...

Morning Walk -- June 7, 1976, Los Angeles:

Prabhupāda: Yes, yes.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: (pause) Prabhupāda, wherever you walk, the water turns off.

Candanācārya: The entire Golden Gate park was cultivated by men.

Rādhāvallabha: Instead of planting grass by the roads, they are now putting green rocks. They figure it looks the same, and it saves money.

Kīrtirāja: They are also planting plastic grass in the middle of the road.

Hṛdayānanda: No opulence.

Morning Walk -- June 11, 1976, Los Angeles:

Prabhupāda: Private house.

Rāmeśvara: This is a richer district.

Hari-śauri: There's a big sign on the gate. It says, "No Trespassing." (break)

Prabhupāda: ...patrolling here always to stop trespassing.

Rāmeśvara: Always living in fear.

Prabhupāda: Sadā samudvijña-dhiyam asad-grahāt. As soon as you accept material things as everything, immediately bhaya. Āhāra nidrā maithuna bhaya. (japa) (break) ...country, they'll not allow any individual person to live so comfortably. No, illegal. If you have got money, then give it to the government. The ministers will enjoy it. This is democracy. Democracy means "Somehow or other, I capture the government, and whatever money you have got, I snatch it from you, and then I enjoy." This is democracy. Dasyu-dharma. In Bhāgavata it is said dasyu-dharma, the business of the rogues. How is that? If I can earn some money and keep it for myself, I have no right? This is communistic idea: "Make everyone poor." Here is police, two cars. Police we saw.

Garden Conversation -- June 14, 1976, Detroit:

Mādhavānanda: Yes, we can have a place here where they can stop and we can serve prasāda.

Prabhupāda: No, that is our gateway?

Mādhavānanda: Place there. Serve prasāda and preach.

Prabhupāda: Yes, you invite them: "Come in, take prasāda." So out of inquisitiveness, they may come, and give them prasāda, show them temple. In this way.... Show them our books. Simply put there signboard, "Please come in and take prasāda." (break) ...and read our books, like that. The bird took a fish in that way?

Room Conversation -- July 2, 1976, New Vrindaban:

Prabhupāda: And that is on the prominent roadside. And our temple is off. Still, so many people are coming. Neither there were inhabitants nor their outsider, visitors. Gate was closed, we had to open and then enter. And he constructed temple at least for the last twenty years.

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: They have no vision of expanding, except maybe their...

Prabhupāda: They make this money-making machine. They do not know the money will automatically come you are sincere. You haven't got to make it a machine. Money Kṛṣṇa will send. But they have no faith in Kṛṣṇa. They have faith in their own ability. "Yes, we shall earn money in this way, by showing the Deity." They don't recognize Kṛṣṇa's everything. They think "By high-court judgement, if we capture this place, then money will come."

Arrival Conversation -- August 13, 1976, Bombay:

Driver: Should I take it around the gate? (conversation in Hindi)

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Also a lot of people are coming to the Delhi temple. The Maharani of Jaipur comes every second day. She is the daughter-in-law of the Maharani Gayatridevi. Everyone, lot of, many people are coming every day to our temple in Delhi.

Prabhupāda: What about Hyderabad?

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Hyderabad will be ready, I was there last week. It will be ready in time. The chief minister of Andhra Pradesh is coming as the chief guest on the day the temple will be opened.

Driver: We are getting very good bungalow in Ahmedabad. Six bedroom with six baths, all marble.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: But we don't have any devotees there. What will we do?

Room Conversation -- August 22, 1976, Hyderabad:

Prabhupāda: Nephew, nephew of Ford, that's a fact. Alfred is from the daughter's side. So the present Mr. Ford, his nephew, certainly, because daughter's side. His mother is the daughter, granddaughter of Henry Ford. Alfred's mother is the granddaughter of Henry Ford. Therefore the present Ford is the maternal uncle of Alfred.

Maṇihāra: "This will be a cultural gateway of India for the people of the world. Hyderabad is the South Indian headquarters for ISKCON in India. The magnificent Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Madana-mohana temple at Nampally Station Road, inaugurated by Swami Prabhupāda, will serve as a center of the cultural, spiritual, educational and social activities given to uplift the lives of people here. According to Śrī Mahāṁśa Swami, the president of the Society here, the devotees will hold seminars in colleges, factories, business centers, universities, schools, etc., to teach the techniques of spiritualizing the day-to-day life. Deity worship accompanied by the constant chanting of the holy names will be a special feature at the center.

Morning Walk -- August 27, 1976, Hyderabad:

Prabhupāda: ...the tomb? Very big.

Harikeśa: I was just thinking that this was really a case of decoration of the dead body.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Well, see the Taj Mahal. That's thousand times better than this.

Prabhupāda: In the gate it is said that bicycle prohibited. (break) ...tomb was constructed before Taj Mahal. Hare Kṛṣṇa. (break)

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: ...improvement on this park.

Indian man: the last two years the have rebuilt this park.(?) (break)

Prabhupāda: ...there are similar buildings.

Hari-śauri: In Rome?

Prabhupāda: Yes. Old. And hundreds of tourists go to see them.

Morning Walk Conversation About Bombay -- August 29, 1976, Delhi:

Girirāja: And then in the temple itself they're starting to fix the carved marble on these columns and it's just getting very exciting. Then on the gate they're starting to put the domes. And yesterday Saurabha and I went to see some samples of furniture, very attractive furniture. So we're going to make a model room.

Prabhupāda: Model room? What is that model room?

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: A model, sample.

Morning Walk -- August 30, 1976, Delhi:

Prabhupāda: This is an example, that without being put into the fire, there is no purity of the gold or silver. Similarly, without being engaged in the service of the Lord, there is no question of purifying the desire. (break—no longer in car)

Hari-śauri: This is another gate in the Lodi.

Prabhupāda: Oh.

Child: Jaya Śrīla Prabhupāda! Jaya Prabhupāda! (break)

Prabhupāda: (dogs barking in background) United Nations. And as soon as he finds another dog, immediately barking. (end)

Meeting With Member of Parliament, Mr. Krishna Modi -- August 31, 1976, Delhi:

Prabhupāda: And I was talking with Professor Katovsky. I asked him please call for a taxi. So he said, "Swamiji, it is Moscow." That means taxis are not available. Then he came down with me and from the gate he showed me, "You take this shortcut when you go to your hotel." He could not call a taxi. Taxis are not available. He said, "Oh, it is Moscow."

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: But even the taxi drivers are very corrupt because of the shortage of taxis in Russia. You have to stand in line for taxis.

Prabhupāda: Not taxi, bus.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Even for taxis they have no taxi stands where you stand in line. So the taxi driver, he will park his car a little bit away.

Room Conversation -- November 20, 1976, Vrndavana:

Hari-śauri: That's in the big building on the, right on the side of the ghāṭa?

Prabhupāda: Which gate?

Hari-śauri: That's in the big building right on the side of Keśī-ghāṭa?

Prabhupāda: No.

Hari-śauri: No?

Prabhupāda: No. There is a big building, Bharat Maharaja, yes, Bharatpur, just by the side of that house. It is in the corner. The door is in the corner. The road is going this way in the corner. It is stone. Face is stone. Good building, but... (break) ...in thought of Kṛṣṇa, outside cleaning by oil and soap. Soap. Bāhyābhyantara-śuciḥ. This is quite comfortable, not very chilly, within this room.

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation -- January 3, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Yes. That is agricultural land.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Right opposite...

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Hari-śauri: Where that gate is.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Right before the gate. That is... I was under the impression that belonged to some Christian man.

Prabhupāda: No, no, no. That is first. After crossing the road, the corner.

Hari-śauri: Where the parikrama path is.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: That is available for...?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Room Conversation -- January 3, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: I had such experience. I had some experience in my childhood in 1911. I was thirteen years old. There was a riot. So our house was there in Mahātmā Gandhi Road, and all sides Muhammadans. We are simply... The Mulliks and our house are simply some respectable men. Otherwise it was surrounded (surrendered?) by... That is called Kwalabala and Bastik, all Muhammadans, backside fully Muhammadans. So the riot was there, and I went to play. There is a square, Marker(?) Square. So I did not know the riot has taken place. I was coming home. So one of my class friends said that "You do not go to your house. That side is rioting now." So because we are in the Muhammadan quarter, this fighting between two parties, that was going on. It is usual. So I thought it may be like that, that two guṇḍās are fighting. I have seen. One guṇḍā is stabbing the other guṇḍā. I have seen. And they are pickpockets. When you are passing they would... I have seen, he is pickpocketing. (laughter) And they were our neighbor men. So I thought "It must be like that. This is going on." But when I came the crossing of Mahatma Gandhi... At that time Harrison Road it was. Harrison Road and Holi..., Holiday, Halliday Street, yes. So one shop was being plundered. Putamat putamat putamat..." So I was child, a boy. I became... "What is this happening?" In the meantime all, my father, mother, members: "Oh, the child has not come." They became so mad, they came out of home expecting, "Wherefrom the child will come?" So what could I do? When I saw, then I began to run towards our house, and one Muhammadan, he wanted to kill me. He took his lāṭhi and actually... But I passed through some way or other. I was saved. So as soon as I came before our gate they got their life.

Morning Walk -- January 6, 1976, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: I have seen in San Francisco, what is that (indistinct)?

Devotee: (indistinct).

Prabhupāda: I think San Francisco. What is that park?

Girirāja: Golden Gate.

Prabhupāda: Golden Gate park.

Devotee: San Diego?

Prabhupāda: No, no, San Francisco. There is a lake. So there the ducks, the male duck is attacking the female duck, what is called? When man forcibly attacks?

Girirāja: Rape.

Morning Discussion about Kumbhamela -- January 8, 1977, Bombay:

Gurudāsa: Yes. We have Life Member tents, and some visitors have been coming. I have been receiving them. So we have... There's one thing I wanted to ask you. A lot of youths are coming, Western youths, some hippies, but mostly clean. Some hippies. But there are two hippies, and I saw what they were like, and I didn't allow them to stay. But mostly our camp is... Until the devotees come, there are some tents that are empty. So they said, "We need a place to stay. Is it all right?" So I said, "Tonight you can stay. Then I'll let you know later on." And we preached to them. We have a morning program there, and we have an evening program. So they attended. So I thought with your permission I could erect some tents, not in our living area... The chokidhars I put outside, right on the gate, because I didn't think they should live in our area, but they should be there, so the chokidhars have a tent. I thought behind the pandal I could erect some tents, or even behind our tin where people wouldn't see them so much, we could invite some guests, charge them something for living and preach to them.

Prabhupāda: Hm. But they smoke.

Morning Discussion about Kumbhamela -- January 8, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: No, no. Darbhanga, the entrance to Bengal from Bihar.

Dr. Patel: Darbhanga. Door to Bengal.

Prabhupāda: Hardwar. "Door to Hari." Dwar means gate.

Gurudāsa: Someone invited me last year to Hardwar for the Kumbha, and I said, "Why should I go to the door when I live in the house?" I was in Vṛndāvana.

Prabhupāda: We are not interested with the door. You are doormen, dvar-men. We are inmates. That Vidyāpati has sung, kata catur anana, mari mari yāvata. Catur anana means Brahma. They also die. And kata means "how many." (pause) So what is the amount of the bank that he transferred?

Room Conversation -- January 15, 1977, Allahabad:

Prabhupāda: Yes. India did not know what is tea. They started the tea gardens, and they recruited labors from India. We have seen in our childhood that Mahatma Gandhi Road. When I was standing on the gate, five hundred, six hundred laborers recruited from Bihar. Bihar and Orissa, these two provinces very poor. Even all these colonies, just like Trinidad... Where is Englishmen? If the laborers and Indians were sent... Therefore we find in Mauritius, in Africa, so many Indians. Their kingdom, first of all it was conquered by Indian soldiers. Then, when it was to be organized-Indian coolies, Indian laborers, Indian guards. They have got men and money, but they expanded Empire. So I am doing the same business: American money, American... (laughs) I am also a great politician.

Morning Walk -- January 21, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Hari-śauri: So that ideal should be the persons who are living in our āśramas.

Rāmeśvara: No, they're in there.(?)

Gargamuni: That's our man. He jumped over the fence to get the gate open open.

Rāmeśvara: But now, suppose there is some businessman, and he knows that everybody is wanting this sex. So he is making movie or writing a book describing these things.

Prabhupāda: These things were formerly restricted-censor board.

Rāmeśvara: So there must be censorship...

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Room Conversation -- January 28, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Prabhupāda: Big road.

Gurukṛpā: Yes. So many people coming, all respectable people.

Prabhupāda: Our gateways, you mean to say.

Gargamuni: This year we've noticed that more respectable people are coming, well dressed, from the areas.

Prabhupāda: That, er... Behind our new house, that Muhammadan wanted to sell that land. But if he wants to sell at our price, not his price, we can take it.

Gargamuni: Yes, at our price. He knows that. But he wants his price.

Prabhupāda: No.

Room Conversation -- January 28, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Gargamuni: Well, land prices have gone up since then. I think now they're running eighteen hundred. That was in '71 we were paying fifteen hundred. But now we have to expect to pay, say, eighteen hundred. This land is valuable because it produces so much. That is why it is most costly. You get very good crops from our, this land.

Prabhupāda: No, that land I shall use, if I take it, for another gate, in and out. That is my idea.

Gargamuni: Oh, I see

Gurukṛpā: We are putting a road in front of this new building. There's a road in front of the new building.

Prabhupāda: Why?

Morning Room Conversation -- February 16, 1977, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: That building is also coming very nice.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Gurukula.

Prabhupāda: Gurukula. Very gorgeous and nice. And if there are gates and road in our name, (laughing) that will be unique in India. Then people will come to Vṛndāvana to see our... Nowadays also, they are coming to see our temple. Anyone who comes. That prasāda distribution is going on in the evening?

Devotee: Daily.

Prabhupāda: Yes. That must be done. Anyone who comes to see the ārati, at least two puris, little vegetable, halavā should be given. Prasāda distribution should go on everywhere. Who said that that is my trick? Who was...?

Evening Darsana -- February 25, 1977, Mayapura:

Devotee (1): They keep iron gates in front of the doors. When you knock on the doors, and they open the doors, and they just become very afraid and they slam the door right in your face.

Prabhupāda: That is in America also.

Devotee (1): Hong Kong. But here even more so.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: The dogs.

Prabhupāda: Hong Kong?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: No, in America.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: To scare people

Devotee (2): Attack. Attack dogs.

Prabhupāda: In Hong Kong there is no dog, only people. (laughter)

Short Dissertations -- May 24-25, 1977, Vrndavana:

Bhavānanda: Fifteen-twenty men maybe, at the most. And when you go by there, it's like ghost town. (Prabhupāda chuckles) Now no action. You don't see anyone. You don't hear any sound. Therefore all the people, they walk right by and come right in our gate, where the taktaki is going, the boys are...

Prabhupāda: Here also, Mādhava Mahārāja temple, nobody goes.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Is this his temple here, in Vṛndāvana?

Prabhupāda: Yes. It is always closed. They are cooking.

Bhavānanda: And the photo exhibit is very popular. Everyone goes.

Prabhupāda: To see.

Morning Conversation -- May 29, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Those people, they always used to look from the outside in, but they were never allowed to come in. The people from that neighborhood, they used to stare within, wondering what is inside there. Now, since we have come, we have opened our gates and doors and said, "Please come." Oh, they're very much happy to come in and see us there.

Prabhupāda: They're grave. They behave very nicely.

Rāmeśvara: Tourists.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: There's two boat docks underneath for boats to come, underneath the house. They're 80 foot long, two boat docks, to come in their boats right into the house.

Prabhupāda: The boats were sold by cheating our... Who was in charge of that?

Conversation with Bhakti-caitanya Swami-New GBC -- June 30, 1977, Vrindaban:

Prabhupāda: What is the time now?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: It's about five minutes after nine, Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Akṣayānanda: I went to the gate site this morning. They are digging. They have made enormous holes, taking about two days to dig. Now there's some hitch from the P.W.D. about materials list... When our construction man Adbhuta comes at ten o'clock, I will meet with him and find out exactly... They had bogus sculptor working.

Prabhupāda: (indistinct)

Akṣayānanda: Yeah, but our... At ten o'clock I'll find out. After your darśana I'll find out what the details are. But they've already dug two enormous big holes.

Prabhupāda: The municipality has got sanction.

Room Conversation Mayapura attack -- July 15, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: And it has gone to the Central Government?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: You said that. I guess you must have got that information from the newspaper. I didn't know that. I mean just see. Fifty of them together stealing the grass. That's organized. Two hundred fifty people waiting in the bushes, knowing that we will try to stop them from stealing, and suddenly they all rush into the gate, destroy the gate, cut the wires, cut the telephone line, destroy the waterpumps. Every one of these things is criminal. We did not do anything wrong, no wrong in any case. And yet they arrest us. The American government... Actually this should be pushed from the American government. That will have tremendous effect. We should let the American government defend us.

Prabhupāda: Is the Consulate has come?

Room Conversation Mayapura attack -- July 15, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Government published this. The Statesman, therefore, has not given any description.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I didn't notice. Here's a little news clipping. It's probably the same. You probably have seen this already. This is from Indian Express. "Why Krishna Mandir Men Fired Salvo." By a... "An attack on the devotees and destruction of the premises of ISKCON Māyāpur Chandrodaya Mandir, West Bengal, led to the shooting incident, according to Mr. Gopāla Kṛṣṇa Dāsa, Secretary, Bombay center of the organization. Mr. Dāsa, in his statement issued on Monday, said the news from their sources in Bengal stated that on July 8th about fifty miscreants were found encroaching on our agricultural field and stealing our crops. When a devotee requested them to stop, they became angry and beat him up, fracturing his skull. Nearly 250 supporters of the miscreants..." Notice how they're not going to use "Muslims." They say "miscreants." They don't say "Muslims." Probably the paper wants to avoid. This is a hot issue. No one wants to write "Hindu-Muslim." "Nearly 250 supporters of the miscreants armed with sticks and spears suddenly appeared from behind the bushes and all of them entered the temple area. Mr. Dāsa said the miscreants beat several more devotees, including the Gurukula school headmaster, whose both hands and skull were broken. They also stripped naked a female disciple. They cut off electrical connections, telephone lines and water pipes. The police did not come for two hours, and meanwhile the group destroyed the gate, broke windows and stole two bulls.

Room Conversation -- October 2, 1977, Vrndavana:

Bhagatji: ...slow, due to the difficulty of cement. Cement was the problem. But we have store now full. Gate will be finished within this month, one gate. The other gate will begin after finishing this.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: That gate looks very good, Śrīla Prabhupāda. Bhaktivedanta Swami gate, Bhaktivedanta Swami Marg, Bhaktivedanta Swami Gurukula.

Bhagatji: (laughs)

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Śrīla Prabhupāda, this is Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma's garland, tulasī garland. Fragrant.

Upendra: Would you like to go back into sitting up here, Śrīla Prabhupāda? It's more comfortable. (pause) (break)

Bhagatji: (Hindi) For eleven days it stopped, and then from since last two days it has again become.

Prabhupāda: And rate have been...?

Room Conversation -- October 6, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: He is bho(?) kavirāja, 1971 or '2. No, fifty... (break) (Bengali conversation) (break)

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: ...arrange for that?

Prabhupāda: Let the first gate be finished.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Okay. I also told him that first do the first gate, then we'll take a second one. (pause)

Prabhupāda: Second gate, how much?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: First gate is thirty thousand. The temple was going to arrange to pay. Second gate is bigger, forty-five thousand.

Prabhupāda: Why?

Room Conversation -- October 18, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: That's all.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Jaya. Thank you.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Śrīla Prabhupāda, would you like kīrtana? (break) ...would that be all right? Of course, first they're going to finish this gate. Should I go and see it tomorrow?

Prabhupāda: Not...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Just inquire. (aside:) You can keep chanting.

Prabhupāda: Hm?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I just told them to keep chanting.

Prabhupāda: You did not read that conveyance?

Room Conversation -- November 2, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: They have returned the money.

Akṣayānanda: Yes, they have returned it. Bhagatji was there. He arranged everything. He is pakka bāniyā. He has arranged very nicely.

Prabhupāda: What about the gate?

Akṣayānanda: That's going on. Construction is going on. Saurabha Mahārāja came yesterday, and he has given that idea. He had some objection before. He's clarified that objection. It was an architectural point, just for the beauty. So he's clarified that with the engineer, and it's going on now. I haven't had time, Prabhupāda, to talk to the members—some of the members are still remaining-about their conference, because I had to go for this work. But I'll go now and meet some of these gentlemen, get some idea what is their aims and objectives and resolutions. Otherwise, unfortunately, I could not be present there. But I'll give you a report.

Room Conversation -- November 3, 1977, Vrndavana:

Gaura-govinda: Hundreds.

Pañca-draviḍa: These paṇḍitas, Śrīla Prabhupāda... Five years ago I got permission to go into the temple and they let me in the gates, only the paṇḍitas blocked the door. They would not let us in. But we were allowed inside the temple gates and everything. It was only the one paṇḍita came and stopped us. (break)

Prabhupāda: Management is in the hands of government?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Is the management in the hand of the government?

Gaura-govinda: Yes, government. One administrator is there. He's governmental power.

Room Conversation -- November 6, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: They go.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: They are all Vaiṣṇavas.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Just on the western gate of Jagannātha Purī there is also a place for Manipur. Devotees there, they serve Lord Jagannātha in Purī, special section for Manipur on the western gate of Jagannātha Purī.

Prabhupāda: Everywhere. Navadvīpa there is Manipur Mandir. Here also.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes, the Maharani of Manipur Mandir in Navadvīpa.

Indian man: In Vṛndāvana also Prabhupāda there is one? Which is that?

Prabhupāda: The Sevā-kuñja.

Room Conversation -- November 7, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Prabhupāda was saying that Tīrtha Mahārāja's brother says that our gate alone is worth all the other temples, that front gate alone. (laughter) When I told Śrīla Prabhupāda that people say that our new building is like a..., worth a whole train, Prabhupāda said, "A double train."

Jayapatākā: When one of the Communist papers was writing a critical report about us, then they said that "They even have a building that's longer than the Writer's Building. How they have done this, shamed our state building?" (laughter)

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: The gate is bigger than the Governor's gate and the building is longer than the Writer's Building. Kṛṣṇa is first. When we build that temple, it will... (laughter) Then everyone will simply be silent. That will end all comment.

Prabhupāda: They are already silent. (laughter)

Room Conversation -- November 8, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: And they are getting benefit.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. It was the proper bank to have there. And because it's right on the ground floor and just near the entrance of the gate, people don't mind coming from the outside. And I've noticed people, after they come and do their banking business, they go for darśana.

Prabhupāda: Very good.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Maybe our Deity will get known that people who bank in our bank, they get more money. (laughs) I think the I.O.B. is thinking like that, that to be connected with the Deity is very auspicious, so they're accentuating the involvement with ISKCON and Your Divine Grace and Rādhā-Rasabehari.

Prabhupāda: That's a fact.

Room Conversation -- November 8, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Yes. Mm. You have tried doctor, kavirāja, medicine, everything. Everything has failed. Now suppose I am taking the risk of death, what is wrong? When the..., I am dead you go India, within India, you go and bring the body either in Māyāpur or Vṛndāvana. Māyāpur the land is already there. Vṛndāvana I think on the gate side, that's all. That's wherever you like you'll do.

Jayapatāka: Śrīla Prabhupāda, you commented that when Ṭhākura Bhaktivinoda was put on the gate side that that was no way to respect a Vaiṣṇava.

Prabhupāda: Mm.

Jayapatāka: So then doesn't seem proper to put you by the gate.

Prabhupāda: No, not by the gate. There is ample land. Or in Māyāpur, that will be very nice. Mm.

Room Conversation -- November 13, 1977, Vrndavana:

Lokanātha: Yes, so the main party does not lose time in finding or looking for the place.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: They're not inconvenienced in any way.

Lokanātha: Right. So that advance party could wait at the gate of the...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Wherever. But that's the idea.

Prabhupāda: And when you go in procession, have kīrtana.