Health (Conversations - 1977)

Expressions researched:
"health" |"health's" |"healthful" |"healthfully" |"healthier" |"healthiest" |"healthily" |"healthiness" |"healthy"

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation -- January 7, 1977, Bombay:

Dr. Patel: So, sir, you are going by train to Kumbhamela.

Prabhupāda: I like train.

Dr. Patel: I would have accompanied you if you had gone by plane. I would lose lot of time going and coming. While coming back, you will come out to ten days, five days.

Prabhupāda: No. Train, first-class is very comfortable.

Dr. Patel: But you see, after all, it takes upon the health, twenty-four hours.

Prabhupāda: No, no. Rather, doctor, your doc..., civil ser..., man, he said that, "Avoid plane." For me he had said.

Trivikrama: Yes, because the atmosphere changes.

Dr. Patel: But pressurized plane, no. On nonpressurized plane, not.

Trivikrama: He is the knower of his body.

Dr. Patel: All right. I had gone to Allahabad by train. (laughs) I had a very bad experience myself.

Prabhupāda: No, first-class is... We reserved whole room, so no outsider there; will be very comfortable. We'll leave at...

Dr. Patel: First-class have got now berths.

Prabhupāda: Four, we reserve four whenever... So two upper berths, two lower berths—we sleep very comfortably-lock the door. And first-class...

Room Conversation -- January 7, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda;: Yes. Just like this finger is the part and parcel of my body. So this finger, I say, "Finger come here. Itch here," so it is doing that. And if it is... If it cannot do, then it is diseased. If there is some painless, painfulness or some sore, then immediately I cannot do it. So that means I am part and parcel of God. If I cannot serve God, then I am diseased. That is material condition. So material condition... Suppose this finger is diseased. So you poke up, applying some ointment and going to the doctor. This is one business. And when it is cured, when it is actually engaged in service, that is healthy state. So this social work without serving God is just like applying ointment to the diseased part of the... It has no value, practical value. If it... It has got value, provided it is cured, to serve the whole body. So if the finger is not so cured to serve the whole body, then it remains diseased. You go on applying ointment; it has no use. Similarly, to serve humanity means if you can raise him to the consciousness, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then, then, then it is right. And if you keep him in ignorance—you go on all kinds of human service—it is all useless. Śrama eva hi kevalam.

Room Conversation -- January 8, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: I'm going on the 11th.

Guest (5): 11th. And coming back about 17th?

Prabhupāda: Yes, but... Yes.

Guest (5): How is your health?

Prabhupāda: Not good.

Guest (5): No, but you are taking that medicine or...?

Prabhupāda: I stopped that medicine.

Guest (5): Too much bitter, I think.

Prabhupāda: Not only bitter. I got some trouble in the teeth. Pap(?) means suspended.

Room Conversation -- January 8, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: I am going because I have to go to Bhuvaneśvara via Calcutta. So it is on the way. And besides that, it is a big function. And because my health is not good, if Allahabad atmosphere or Bhuvaneśvara atmosphere helps me little, it is... Of all foodstuff, I see the kitri is good for me, little kitri.

Mr. Asnani: Easily digested also.

Prabhupāda: So I shall begin again kitri. (Hindi) (break) ...take agriculture, you must keep cows. Both of them are related.

Room Conversation -- January 8, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: So I did not like that idea.

Guest (1): No, but sometimes, Prabhupāda, just to keep... You may not require your body for yourself, but we require your body also for ourselves. So we, all the devotees, always pray to our Lord to give you a long physical body and healthy so that the cause which you have taken up in your hand should be completely fulfilled. This is the way I feel.

Prabhupāda: Yes, I also desire at least let me finish...

Guest (1): I have gone to the Fourth Canto, Fifth Canto.

Prabhupāda: We have finished now Eighth Canto, and Ninth Canto is also at the press. Tenth Canto is already printed, this Kṛṣṇa as the summary of Tenth. Now I have to publish in detail.

Room Conversation -- January 8, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Yes. That is good for the... So if Arundhati makes, she can come and tomorrow make one or two baras in the morning.

Hari-śauri: For your breakfast.

Prabhupāda: So you are keeping your health all right?

Girirāja: Yes.

Prabhupāda: All right.

Room Conversation -- January 8, 1977, Bombay:

Hari-śauri: I don't feel clean if I don't have three.

Prabhupāda: Also, he also. He also takes. So if it is practiced, it keeps health very nice. I was taking all along. Since I was attacked, heart, they said you should be kept from catching cold.

Hari-śauri: You wanted that description of Vāmanadeva as the dwarf brahmacārī? It says, "Mother earth gave Him a deerskin, and the demigod of the moon, who is the king of the forest, gave Him a brahma-daṇḍa, the rod of a brahmacārī. His mother, Aditi, gave Him a cloth for underwear, and the Deity presiding over the heavenly kingdom offered Him an umbrella. O King, Lord Brahmā offered a waterpot to the inexhaustible Supreme Personality of Godhead. The seven sages offered Him kuśa grass, and mother Sarasvatī gave Him a string of rudrākṣa beads. When Vāmanadeva had thus been given the sacred thread, Kuvera, the king of the Yakṣas, gave Him a pot for begging alms."

Prabhupāda: In Kanpur there is a brahmacārī aśrama. Sometimes gṛhasthas, they invite the brahmacārīs to feed them, and when a brahmacārī is initiated, they give them this pot. So that brahmacārī aśrama, the man who is maintaining, he occasionally collects these pots, so, and he sells all these pots to a brass merchant. People give sacred thread, a pot. As they give in charity to the brāhmaṇas, they give in charity to the brahmacārīs.

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

Gurudāsa: He's expected. I saw Acyutānanda Mahārāja yesterday. He's coming. I don't know if Gargamuni is going to come or not.

Prabhupāda: Why?

Gurudāsa: He says his health isn't good. I don't know if he wants to come. I think he just likes to distribute books.

Prabhupāda: That's all right.

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

Prabhupāda: We have to go to Orissa, Bhuvaneśvara, afterwards.

Gurudāsa: Yes, I heard you were planning to go. Gargamuni says it's good for the health.

Prabhupāda: Acchā?

Gurudāsa: Yes, he has about three or four places he was naming that are very good. He's going because his health, he says, isn't good.

Prabhupāda: So let him go to Bhuvaneśvara. Orissa is good for health?

Gurudāsa: Yes, he says.

Prabhupāda: Then that's why. Let him come to Bhuvaneśvara, and I want to start a temple.

Gurudāsa: Yes. Your health is...?

Prabhupāda: From yesterday it is good.

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

Prabhupāda: Everyone can see. It is...

Gurudāsa: There's no... Your health must be pakkā. So we have separate kitchen for you, separate kitchen for life members. Gargamuni Mahārāja is sending his Shantilal, his cook.

Prabhupāda: Cooking is being done with wood? That's nice. That is very good.

Gurudāsa: Yes, very nice. And in the morning, the first morning... When I went there, actually nothing was happening very much. So the first morning... It's so cold, the devotees were just staying in their blankets. So I got up at four o'clock and bathed and started a fire. And I said, "It's warmer here than in your tent. Come around the fire."

Prabhupāda: Yes, and around the fire, it is very warm.

Discussion on Deprogrammers -- January 9, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Rāmeśvara: Then it says, "Other things need to be done. We have to get supportive comments from professionals and authorities in areas of religion, education, mental health and physical health, law, and sociology. Statements by experts and professionals carry a lot of weight."

Prabhupāda: That is in our side.

Rāmeśvara: "Ask your contact to comment or express his opinion of such things as that this is not a matter of religion; that there is resulting mental and physical harm; the right of self-determination means the right to have a free mind; destruction of the family unit..."

Prabhupāda: So if one has the right to have a free mind, why he cannot chant Hare Kṛṣṇa?

Rāmeśvara: Well, their argument is that we do not allow him to consider alternatives.

Prabhupāda: Then where is the question of a free mind? That means you brainwash.

Morning Walk -- January 9, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: You can say. But this is the system. If you have got some thought, you must mix with such similar thoughtful men. That is everywhere. The scholars, they associate; the medical men, they associate. How can you stop it?

Rāmeśvara: They don't think it's healthy.

Prabhupāda: They may think anything nonsense, but this is practically going on. The medical men, they make their association. Especially in your country, unless one is member of the medical association he cannot practice.

Rāmeśvara: But the medical association does not take up twenty-four hours.

Prabhupāda: No. Not only twenty-four hours, twenty-six hours.

Morning Darsana and Room Conversation Ramkrishna Bajaj and friends -- January 9, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Stop breathing means you don't spend. You have got a limited breathing period. By yogic process, you stop breathing, but you remain. That is mystic yoga. So similarly, you can simply increase your life by not using the breathing process. That is praṇāyāma. That is praṇāyāma. So... But you cannot exceed the limit. That is not possible. (Hindi) You don't keep hygienic life. (Hindi) You infect. That is your fault. (Hindi) To live ordinarily healthy life, that is... But if you transgress the hygienic principle, if you transgress the law of nature, you must suffer. Similarly, we are suffering in this material world—the covering is there—because we wanted to transgress the laws of God. Kṛṣṇa bhuliya jīva bhoga vañcha kare. When we forget our relationship with Kṛṣṇa, that "Kṛṣṇa is the original master, and I am the servant," as soon as you forget this relationship, this is contamination, immediately. Everyone is trying to become another Kṛṣṇa. This is struggle. Here in this material world you'll find everyone is trying to become very, very big-big leader, big politician, big businessman, big, big, big. But he is not big. That is the disease. He is not big, and he's trying to become big.

Conversation on Train to Allahabad -- January 11, 1977, India:

Prabhupāda: Just like sex life is enjoyment, but a person who is suffering from tuberculosis—his death. He'll die if he indulges in sex life. That is medical science. "So it is condemned in the material world, not in the spiritual world. If you have good health, you can enjoy sex life. But you have tuberculosis? You'll die. Your sex life is death, and their sex life is life. That you cannot understand. You have such a poor brain that you could not follow even ordinary moral instruction of Jesus Christ." Answer should be given like that. "If you remain with your poor brain, don't try to argue. Be satisfied, your poor doggish brain, hoggish brain. You are like pigs and dogs. What you can understand about religion? First of all try to train yourself to be free from the sinful activities. Then you'll understand what is religion." Yeṣāṁ tv anta-gataṁ pāpam (BG 7.28). Ultimately, a person, sinful man, cannot go to the kingdom of God. Is it not? First of all stop this sex life; then talk of God. It is a fact. When the order of Jesus Christ, "Thou shall not kill," for the last two thousand years the rascals have never stopped killing. They are simply increasing slaughterhouse. And... So they are so poor in understanding, they say animal has no soul.

Room Conversation -- January 19, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Rāmeśvara: There'll be some relief.

Hari-śauri: At least when you go to Hawaii you always get a good rest and there's no visitors, and it's very... Your translation work increases tremendously. It's very nice there.

Prabhupāda: Our immediately problem is toward my health. I am not digesting food, so therefore there is some swelling in the hands and the legs.

Rāmeśvara: That's due to the kidney?

Prabhupāda: Kidney or whatever it may be.

Room Conversation -- January 19, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Prabhupāda: Yes, that is... But for that, no severe treatment should be accepted. Better not to take. Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Bhavānanda: Śrīla Prabhupāda, in the past, when your health has not been good, they have begun chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa in all the temples...

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Bhavānanda: ...all around the world.

Rāmeśvara: Special, additional kīrtana.

Bhavānanda: Perhaps we should institute that. That would...

Prabhupāda: No, you... Not for my health you do your kīrtana, only then. That first stroke in Second Avenue, that was fatal. You were present, I think.

Room Conversation -- January 19, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Gargamuni: And that Purī hotel was packed up with foreigners and with local people very nicely dressed. And this plot is just near the Purī hotel. So it's a nice area, and the breeze is wonderful, very nice breeze from the ocean. So if we build a nice multi-story, that breeze will be very healthy.

Prabhupāda: So...

Gargamuni: So I have to leave here tomorrow morning at 8:30 and meet with the man at around 9:30, 10:00, and he'll give me all the names and addresses, and he'll show me some other plots. Then, perhaps, if maybe you would like to see it the following day, we can drive there and show you the plot as soon as I get more information.

Rāmeśvara: Would you like to do that, Śrīla Prabhupāda?

Prabhupāda: Oh, yes.

Room Conversation -- January 21, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Nanda-kumāra: Some people say they put a picture of him on their altar, and honey drips from the picture, and they collect it, and it gives them health.

Prabhupāda: His bodily feature is just like rākṣasa.

Room Conversation -- January 21, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Prabhupāda: Actually religion means spiritual.

Rāmeśvara: But they say religion means going to church once a week. That's their religion.

Prabhupāda: Oh, that's...

Rāmeśvara: But spiritual is something different. So they say "A recent survey indicates that a projected six million people are participating in the Maharishi's Transcendental Meditation. Five million are practicing yoga in one form or another." Mostly for health. "Three million in the charismatic movements." That is like the cults. "Three million in mysticism, and two million in Eastern religions." That's a lot of people they have estimated are participating in Eastern religion.

Prabhupāda: Eastern Indian.

Evening Darsana -- January 23, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Prabhupāda: Bhāratī Mahārāja may be now about forty years? No. Little more.

Mr. Pandiya: Little more. I am now forty-nine, so he would be about four years younger.

Prabhupāda: Four years younger. Yes. But his health is nice. He looks younger. So in this book the whole incident is described. I have given everything in the commentary.

Guest (1): Everything is described. Only the thing is that we should get the sense and do in our action. That is the whole thing. Our roots are India...

Guest (2) (Indian man): Sir, how to bathe also it is mentioned.

Guest (1): Just a minute. Also India, in our country, in the recent history of our country, we had many cultured peoples like Gandhi and Patel. But how these two men became great, not others? Because only by their actions.

Prabhupāda: Our greatness in this country was considered on spiritual advancement.

Morning Walk -- January 24, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Prabhupāda: Yes. No, you can. We... It is already there, United Nation Organization, UNO. So take the ideas. Why you are thinking of... What is that? WHO. World Organization or..., health?

Hari-śauri: World Health Organization.

Prabhupāda: Huh? Why you are trying for? Simply make a show? You are thinking already, but you do not know. Your world is your father, mother, and two sisters, that's all. Yasyātma-buddhiḥ kuṇape tridhātuke svā-dhīḥ kalatrādiṣu. That is your world. A little family, a little community, that is your world. We do not think in that way. We include even the animals, trees, plants-brothers. That is our philosophy. We feel. When you cut a tree unnecessarily, we feel. This is our feeling. Unless there is absolute necessity, we do not wish to kill even a tree, what to speak of animals. When in our Bombay the coconut trees were being cut, I was feeling actually: "Why unnecessarily the coconut trees...?" You cannot give anyone life, so how, what is living, you can kill? It may be tree or animal or plant. You cannot give him life. So you have to suffer for this.

Morning Walk -- January 25, 1977, Puri:

Prabhupāda: Yes. It is very nice. (break) If not, we can pay little.

Hari-śauri: A house by the sea would be very healthy.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Hari-śauri: It'd be a very nice place for you to stay.

Prabhupāda: There are so many.

Evening Conversation -- January 25, 1977, Puri:

Prabhupāda: They are luscious(?) that... (break) Just like a tuberculosis patient. To him doctor says that "You don't have sex life. That will bring your death." Does it mean sex life is bad? The tuberculosis person, for him it is bad, not for the sane man, not for the healthy man. So when sex life is advised to..., forbidden, that is for the diseased condition. But who is never diseased—he is perfect—for him there is no forbidding of sex life. So you do not understand that in this material condition you are suffering only. You have no brain. Therefore morality, immorality, good, bad, there are so many things. But when one is perfect, healthy, for him all the activities of life is perfect. Just like a physician advised me, "You don't take salt." Does it mean salt is bad? I am in a particular condition of this kidney trouble or liver trouble. For me salt is bad. But does it mean salt bad?

Gurukṛpā: No. It's very good.

Morning Walk -- January 29, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Prabhupāda: Jaya. (break)

Satsvarūpa: You were asking yesterday what are some of the charges that the opposing party makes against us. That's another one, that we follow absolute authority, your authority and also in the temples, that the temple president or leaders, they have authority, and this is not healthy psychology, that we should...

Prabhupāda: Why you come to pose your authority? If authority is not good, then why do you come to instruct your authority? Hm? The same thing, eh, change from one authority to another authority.

Satsvarūpa: But I don't say you have to accept me absolutely as...

Prabhupāda: Then why do you speak nonsense then, if I haven't got to accept you? What is the use of speaking all nonsense? If nobody accepts you, then why do you talk nonsense? Somebody's selling something, and if he says, "Don't purchase it," then what is the use of... (laughs) All contradiction. After all, they are nonsense.

Morning Walk -- January 29, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Satsvarūpa: One person said, "This kind of thing reminds me of Hitler's Germany. If there's too much authority or blind following, it's not healthy."

Prabhupāda: No, too much authority if the authority is wrong... But if the authority is right, then it is very better to submit in one place and get everything. Just like we go to some supermarket. We get everything there, we go there.

Hari-śauri: And there's no question of blind following either.

Prabhupāda: No.

Room Conversation -- January 31, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Prabhupāda: And therefore I'm asking. Potential is wonderful, so why they are not attracted to live in the farm and be self-independent and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa? That is our farm project. Our farm project is they should be satisfied with simple living. That is nice living. If you get milk, if you get fruit, if you get grain and open air, it is very healthy life. Why they should not be attracted?

Yogeśvara: It is still the beginning, and because it's the beginning, it is a little difficult sometimes.

Prabhupāda: That may be. But this should be our aim. We should not be attracted by the modern city life. Simplified life. Save time and utilize for advancing in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is perfect life. Just like Vṛndāvana. Vṛndāvana life means agriculturist, cowherd boys, uneducated girls, cows and calves, and tree, fruits. This is Vṛndāvana. The center is Kṛṣṇa.

Room Conversation -- February 14, 1977, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: Actually it is brainwash, ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam (CC Antya 20.12), but it is for the good. People are suffering with these dirty things within the brain. We are washing them. That is brainwash actually.

Satsvarūpa: "Indian Brain Research Association, Department of Biochemistry, University of Calcutta. Gentlemen: The Hare Kṛṣṇa kīrtana mantra used in meditation or chanting of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa has been practiced not only by the Vaiṣṇavas of India, but by most of the Hindus as a regular religious and social practice in Hindu families. Millions of Hindus practice with sublime devotion the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. We are not aware of any case where such practice has resulted in any detrimental effect to the health or mind of anyone. We can submit that the worshiping of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa, as being practiced in West Bengal, India, does not differ from that of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra chanting of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. And as such, either of them cannot do any harm to the devotee or to the observer. Further we can add that the rhythmic dance and musical (Bengali:) svara in Hare Kṛṣṇa kīrtana mantra may have profound beneficial effect on a distorted human mind. These practices do not have any relation with brainwashing, although the word seems to carry no scientific meaning at all. Statement by Professor Ajit K. Mytee. Yours faithfully, J.J. Ghosh, President on behalf of the Indian Brain Research Association."

Prabhupāda: It is good certificate. And University of Calcutta. So you publish this.

Evening Darsana -- February 15, 1977, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: That is brainwash.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. That is brainwashing. In fact, they may have given her shock treatments and drugs. They give very heavy drugs with the idea that they will make her forget about Kṛṣṇa, and now they will bring her to court to testify against the Society, that "They did this to me. The Society was making me do this and this, and now I'm much healthier."

Prabhupāda: No, then the authorities are, mean, determined to stop this.

Room Conversations -- February 20, 1977, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: We have to do so many things always.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: But at the same time traveling may not be so...

Prabhupāda: Fruitful.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Prabhupāda's health. It may not be so wise.

Prabhupāda: If Manipur is prepared to help me... What is this? The same tablet? No.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I've gotten a week's supply of these other tablets. I got the prescription filled.

Prabhupāda: Keep it here.

Room Conversations -- February 20, 1977, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: Monkeys are very friendly.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Oh, yes. They're much more friendly than monkeys in Vṛndāvana. (laughing) I have seen that many, very healthy. There's some sort of welcome people coming. There are many. That place is some sort of a central place of Imphala. It's a very..., spiritually, a very conducive area. Many kinds of birds, and it's very natural surroundings. So I went with two of our life members, and they are thinking that maybe we can approach the government so that we can get the land from Manipur government, and then we can construct a temple.

Prabhupāda: That's good idea. Yes. So now organize things. My presence or no presence, we have got now a position. We have to push on this movement very cautiously.

Evening Darsana -- February 25, 1977, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: Pūrṇam idam (Īśopaniṣad, Invocation). Everything is complete by the arrangement of Kṛṣṇa. Simply we mismanage. That's all. I do not know why people are engaged with politics, fighting, and so on, so on. By Kṛṣṇa's grace everything is complete. You eat sufficiently, you be strong and keep your health good and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. This is the arrangement. These rascals, they have created civilization, simply animosity-fighting, politics. This is Kali-yuga. Kali means simply unnecessarily fights. There is no need of fighting, but they'll create a situation, fighting. That's all. This is Kali-yuga, unnecessarily. Why politics? Why so much discussion, barking in the United Nations? Kṛṣṇa has given the formula. Annād bhavanti bhūtāni (BG 3.14). In America, Australia, Africa, they can produce so much grain that ten times of the population as it is now can be maintained. Similarly, Australia can produce ghee. So by Kṛṣṇa's arrangement everything is all right, the economic problem. Why they create this situation and occasionally fight and finish the whole...? Such a rubbish civilization, rākṣasa, unnecessarily increasing military power and spending all the revenues. Russia spends sixty-five percent-unnecessarily. And still starving. So this is mūḍha, duṣkṛtina. Duṣkṛtina, only engaged in sinful activities, duṣkṛtina, and rascals, mūḍha, narādhama. He got the opportunity of this human life, and it misusing unnecessarily-narādhama.

Room Conversation With Artists and About BTG -- February 25, 1977, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: That is the defect.

Rāmeśvara: And they're stating that in general, to meditate, to chant mantra, this is good, this is healthy for the mind.

Prabhupāda: That's all right. The thing is that some way or other, if you are near the fire, you'll get some heat, but there is a process how to take heat.

Rāmeśvara: Oh, yes.

Prabhupāda: That you cannot reject. "Because I am getting little heat, it is sufficient," that is sahajiyā.

Rāmeśvara: So we are trying to use their endorsements and then make it very specific that "Therefore to meditate using the Hare Kṛṣṇa, this is healthy." So why are you attacking us?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Room Conversation -- February 27, 1977, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: Yes. That is too much difference. But eight years, ten years usual.

Rādhā-vallabha: Eight or ten years is best. So he also wanted to know if...

Prabhupāda: That is healthy.

Rādhā-vallabha: He wanted to know also...

Prabhupāda: And in no case... The girl must not be older than the boy. That's not good at all.

Rādhā-vallabha: At the time of the agreement, when they are not yet old enough, they do not associate at all. So not until the actual marriage do they associate or wear white or anything like that.

Prabhupāda: No, even they can be married, but no association.

Room Conversation -- March 2, 1977, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: That is also good.

Girirāja: Because, I mean, if your health permits and if you could come every day, then we could arrange very leading people for all of those days...

Prabhupāda: Yes, yes.

Room Conversation with GBC members -- March 2-3, 1977, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: Yes. It is all right.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Śrīla Prabhupāda, we were wondering that one time when you were ill in Vṛndāvana you requested that the devotees in our temples around the world could chant kīrtana all the time, twenty-four hours, till you recovered your health. So the GBC was wondering whether we could request again for that.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Jaya Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: Bhavauṣadhāc chrotra-mano-'bhirāmāt. This is the real remedy for any disease. Very good idea. So, finished?

Devotees: Jaya Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: Jaya.

Room Conversation -- March 22, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: If more men come, then I shall describe all this anthill civilization. "Health." Nonsense, what "health"? He'll be kicked out immediately.

Guest (2) (Indian man): Even healthy development.

Prabhupāda: No, who is healthy if he's going to die? "I am so healthy that I am going to die tomorrow." This is their health.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Illusion. They don't know. Every one of those questions was about the body.

Prabhupāda: Kṛṣṇa said, na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre (BG 2.20). That is healthy, when you do not die even the body is destroyed. That is healthy life. What is this healthy life? The body is finished and everything, everything is... Actually everything is finished. And to keep people in that ignorance—"The body is finished; everything is finished." That's not the fact. Kṛṣṇa very clearly said, na jāyate na mriyate vā kadācin na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre (BG 2.20). They do not question even how it is possible. That is the most important question. Some lady asked me, "What is the important...?"

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: "What is the most important thing in life?"

Prabhupāda: This is the most important question.

Room Conversation -- March 22, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Perfect. They do not know. Ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā kartāham iti manyate (BG 3.27). So at least in India these things should be stopped. That is my ambition. India cannot go in that way. We have got so much stock of knowledge. Bhārata-bhūmite haila. That I want. Others rascals may be misled, but in India at least there must be an ideal class. That I want. Why India's name should be defamed? That... They are following in the same blind man's way. Therefore I repeatedly said that "I invite you all. Come. Join. Understand." What is this nonsense? "Health. What will be health?" But where is your health, nonsense? You are going to die next moment. And "WHO"? What is that "WHO"?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: That Rajneesh.

Prabhupāda: Huh? No, no, that...

Guest (2): Question last night.

Prabhupāda: United Nation, WHO.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Oh. World Health Organization.

Prabhupāda: World Health Organization. Rascal, who is healthy? Everyone is going to die. "World Health Organization." They are manufacturing. They do not think that "Where is health?" Such foolish things are going on all over the world. So organize something reality and spread, slow but sure.

Room Conversation -- March 22, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Not this section, this nation, this religion, no, not like that. They are going to die, and they're organizing "health." Just see their intelligence. Butchers' health organization. Butcher is going to kill the animal tomorrow, and today he's seeing that health is..., healthy is animal. "Animal is...?" This is... So there is a health organization, WHO? World Health Organization?

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. WHO. Geneva.

Prabhupāda: A butchers' health organization. Take these ideas all, there, everything is there, already mentioned. Cultivate. Try to give Kṛṣṇa in every... Let everyone come, stay with us, learn this art, preach all over the world. And Bombay is a city where you'll get all kind of help. Besides that, we shall get help from all over the world. But do it very cautiously, thoroughly. You don't take it as insignificant thing. Very important thing. I am talking of this Māyāpur. So this is Caitanya Mahāprabhu's mission. Bhārata-bhūmite haila manuṣya. Why He's stressing bhārata-bhūmi? Yes. It's a fact. Real knowledge is here, Bhagavad-gītā. Speaking Kṛṣṇa Himself. Why such knowledge should be denied? Is that all right?

Pañcadraviḍa: To lose this knowledge? No, it's not all right.

Prabhupāda: People are in darkness. To keep them like dogs, hogs, camels, and take vote from them and become a leader... Nobody protested that we call all the men dogs, hogs, camels. Nobody came forward, that "You are using very strong words." It's a fact.

Room Conversation -- March 26, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: ...condition was so, still I thought... Still I am eighty-percent not good. But twenty percent.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: It's very strange even now, because it doesn't seem to be anything apparently wrong, yet it's not good health. You know, like in Māyāpur you were very visibly ill, from fever and so many other things. So those visible symptoms have gone, but still, full health is not...

Prabhupāda: Strength, strength. That requires a little time.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I think it just requires some gradual recuperation. And also I think, Śrīla Prabhupāda, if there is still a chance of going to Kodaikano for a month, you should take that opportunity.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Room Conversation -- March 26, 1977, Bombay:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: It may be Kṛṣṇa's will that you... I think that if for one month you are under the care of Dr. Ghosh in a very first class healthy weather...

Prabhupāda: I think also. He is a very kind doctor. Whole family is attentive. Living is... That we have already discussed. Trees also live for many years. That is not wanted. To live for living forever, that is wanted. Yad gatvā na nivartante tad dhāma paramaṁ mama (BG 15.6). That should be the human endeavor, not this dog race, changing condition, from four legs to four wheels. This logic was never taught, from four legs to four wheels. They are astonished.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: And anthills. Yes, it's a very unique presentation of the philosophy. They have never heard it so nicely adapted to the modern situation.

Prabhupāda: So they have got farther two days, so I think they will be able to do it. That, my, apartment in Juhu.

Room Conversation with Ratan Singh Rajda (Member of Parliament) -- March 27, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: No, I am..., my life is dedicated for this purpose. I am... It is convenient for me at any time. Otherwise, I am not keeping good health at the moment. Still, I have come. I am just trying even up to the last moment of my life, if I can deliver some good to these people. That is my determination. What is this life? Life will end today or tomorrow or day after. But if you live just to the point, that is the idea. Otherwise trees are also living thousands of years. What is the benefit?

Room Conversation -- March 27, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: That is natural. If one gets little prominence, other becomes envious. So it is so polluted. Mātsarya. So we have to adjust. (aside:) Give me my shirt. So take care of your health and circumstances. You have to adjust things according to... (long pause) If there is difficulty, his wife and children may come to Vṛndāvana.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Yes. His family's more or less provided. They have...

Prabhupāda: They've got good position.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Yes.

Prabhupāda: Yes. They are zamindars.

Room Conversation -- April 2, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: So how we shall utilize it?

Guru dāsa: Well, I was mostly thinking for your health, if you wanted it.

Prabhupāda: Now I am trapped. I am trapped here.

Guru dāsa: It is a tourist center, but not a big one.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Not much preaching there.

Prabhupāda: Is there any Deities?

Guru dāsa: No. Actually, my opinion is that it would be a great endeavor to take it, because the house needs also some repair. Although it is in good structural condition, it needs cleaning. But the only advantage is that there is no place left in Kali-yuga like it. Because it is such a beautiful mansion. And one hundred acres and a lake and in a hill, that's the advantage.

Prabhupāda: And what price does he want?

Room Conversation -- April 2, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Mahā-pāpī. But one pāpī replaced by is another pāpī. Yes. If they take our advice, then it can be...

Guru dāsa: So your health appears all right to me.

Prabhupāda: I think due to Bhavānanda Mahārāja. He is taking care.

Guru dāsa: Then he should always be with you.

Prabhupāda: I have no objection. He is good preacher in Bengal.

Interview with Mr. Koshi (Asst. Editor of The Current Weekly) -- April 5, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Yes, they are manufacturing. They have to do artificially. My things are ready, but I have simply distributed. Why shall I not be happy? If you do something artificially, you have to manufacture. I am not doing that. My things are ready.

Mr. Koshi: How is your health now?

Prabhupāda: Not good. Health or not health, it is the outward machine. That doesn't matter. But if it is a good machine then it helps, that's all. Otherwise, machine good or bad, it doesn't matter to machine driver.

Mr. Koshi: What happens when the machine stops?

Prabhupāda: It changes. Tathā dehāntara-prāptiḥ (BG 2.13).

Room Conversation -- April 5, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: To become brahmacārī.

Girirāja: The minister of health and family planning, he said, he denied, that "This name should be changed to just minister of health, because this type of family planning is against the traditional values of India."

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: It is totally against it. It's Western, the whole Western conception.

Girirāja: Actually, a short time ago, everyone knew that these things were wrong, but now they are trying to pretend that it is not wrong. They are trying to forget.

Prabhupāda: They can do, all their political divisions. These rascals, they can do. Anything. They have no principles, no morality, no standard of morality, nothing. Simply all rogues and thieves. It will more and more. All rogues and thieves will take part in politics. That is stated. Dasyu dharmeṇa. Just like dasyu, the burglar, the thieves, they have got organization how to get money. So they, the government, they'll be rogues and thieves. And whenever there is necessity of money, then tax. You work hard; they will tax. Organized burglars, organized guṇḍās. And Indira was doing that. Indira and company. Take the power and club(?) them and do whatever you like. She is a prostitute; her son is a guṇḍā. This is the sample of the... But it will be done all round the world. This is a sample of that.

Room Conversation about Harijanas -- April 10, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Chief minister.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Kashmir is part of India, a province. (pause) Then if you get your health back in May, that will be very nice. Regarding that tīrtha yatra, this going in the monsoon, it doesn't seem like a good time. June and July, those are not good months for touring India.

Prabhupāda: No, if we get good response, we can spend little more.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Maybe we should go with some kīrtana party. If we see there is a response, then we should...

Prabhupāda: If we, you get one kīrtana party if you like.

Morning Conversation -- April 11, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: The same, sense enjoyment, maithuna. All these rogues and thieves and bokā.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: (reading:) "Hoxar pleads for healthy land-man relationship. Mr. P. N. Hoxar, deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, yesterday pleaded for developing a healthy and rational land-man relationship as the foundation to build the socio-economic superstructure. Unless such relationship is developed through proper land reforms, it is useless to talk about science and technology in employment-oriented planning, he added. Eighty percent of the people live in the villages and till the land which they do not own. The holdings were fragmented and the tenant was uncertain. They were burdened with debt to such an extent that they could not pay them back and fell into bondage of one sort or another."

Prabhupāda: Another rascal.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: "He said that industry must rest on a secure foundation and a healthy land-man relationship. It cannot rest where man owns thousands of acres of land and villages, but stays in Calcutta or Patna and is only interested in collecting money."

Prabhupāda: That I say always. Hm.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes.

Prabhupāda: We have already seen the defect.

Room Conversation with Ratan Singh Rajda M.P. 'Nationalism and Cheating' -- April 15, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Mr. Rajda: Last time we had talked about this, and in Delhi, actually, I was on the verge of arranging the meeting, but never here. But then our Girirāja telephoned me, and in deference to your health we didn't arrange that meeting in Delhi. When Morarji-bhai is coming here, we shall see that...

Prabhupāda: Yes. First of all you can talk. It is not expected that everyone will be able to understand. It is not expected.

manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu

kaścid yatati siddhaye

yatatām api siddhānāṁ

kaścin māṁ vetti tattvataḥ

(BG 7.3)

It is not easy job. But still, some ideal institution should be there who are actually serious to understand. They may be given the chance. That must be there. In the university, when we were students, there were some postgraduate classes that no student was coming. But still, the university maintained that class, paying, in those days, 1,200, 1,500, salaries to the professors. They maintained that. So here there is no question of salary. Here the institution must be maintained, strictly following the principles of Bhagavad-gītā. It is open. It is not difficult at all. Just like Kṛṣṇa says the perfect life, how one can become perfect, man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru: (BG 18.65) "Always think of Me," man-manāḥ, "just become My devotee," mad-bhaktaḥ, "worship me," mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru, "simply offer your obeisances unto Me." One, two, three, four-four items.

Room Conversation with Ratan Singh Rajda M.P. 'Nationalism and Cheating' -- April 15, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Now, if this is fact, tathā dehāntara-prāptiḥ and na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre (BG 2.20), what we are doing for that? This is Bhagavad-gītā. Na jāyate na mriyate vā kadācin na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre (BG 2.20). So when my body is destroyed, I am going... (break) ...from door to door, selling the books and sending money. We are pushing on our mission in the way. I am not getting any help neither from the government, from the public. And the record is there in the Bank of America, how much foreign exchange I am bringing. Even in this feeble health also, I am working four hours at least, at night. And they are also helping me. So this is our individual attempt. Why not come here? If you are actually very serious student of Bhagavad-gītā, why don't you come, cooperate? And harāv abhaktasya kuto mahad-guṇā manorathenāsati dhāvato... (SB 5.18.12). You cannot make public honest simply by legislation. That is not possible. Forget it. That is not possible. Harāv abhaktasya kuto.... Yasyāsti bhaktir bhagavaty akiñcanā sarvaiḥ... If you, if one becomes devotee of the Lord, all good qualities will be there. And harāv abhaktasya kuto mahad... If he's not a devotee... Now so many things, condemnation, is going on, big, big leaders. Today's paper I have seen. "This man, that man, is rejected even." Why? Harāv abhaktasya kuto. What is the benefit of becoming a big leader if he's not a devotee? (Hindi) You are very intelligent, young, and therefore I am trying to give you some idea, and if you can give some shape to these ideas... It is already there. It is no secret. Simply we must be serious, that this institution must be there for educating the whole human society. Never mind, a very small number. It doesn't matter. But ideal must be there.

Talk with Svarupa Damodara -- April 18, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: What is his age?

Svarūpa Dāmodara: He's seventy-three years old. He's very old, but still, he's very active, in good health. And he expressed that he's missing something. So we told that it is ripe time for to be in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. And he comes to a point that he wanted to come and stay in the temple for a week just to learn more and try to get away from all the...

Prabhupāda: So this is very nice. Bring him and give him a nice accommodation.

Talk with Svarupa Damodara -- April 18, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: ...and see what can be done.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: So I also suggested that, that Śrīla Prabhupāda, if he becomes healthy...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Who's in control of the other place?

Svarūpa Dāmodara: The other place is a committee.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: They also want to give us the land?

Svarūpa Dāmodara: We could take both pieces.

Prabhupāda: Hm?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Seems like there's so many devotees there that it wouldn't be difficult to...

Prabhupāda: No.

Morning Conversation -- April 23, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Now I am getting old, old age, not good health, so try to give me relief. Otherwise it is too much. Brain has to be taxed. But if my foreign(?) business is there, if you tax my brain in this way, that will be suffer. So try to give me relief from this managerial... (pause) Still I can hint like this. But where is the work going on?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yeah, you have to just point it out to me like that.

Prabhupāda: There is no work. So dangerous.

Second Meeting with Mr. Dwivedi -- April 24, 1977, Bombay:

Mr. Dwivedi: I can say I'm not conversant with your physical condition. That's my misfortune. Personally, though, I am very young before you, though I am running sixty-eight. I don't find any difficulty. I go anyway, standing, sitting, and I...

Prabhupāda: No, you are quite healthy.

Mr. Dwivedi: I'm quite healthy, by God's grace. Quite healthy by God's grace. And I enjoy better sleep in the train than at home. I sleep in the train at will. And usually I make good the deficiency of my sleep in the train.

Prabhupāda: No, sleeping in the train, there is no difficulty.

Second Meeting with Mr. Dwivedi -- April 24, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: So do that.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Okay.

Prabhupāda: And if I actually feel little healthy, I shall stay there for some time to improve my health.

Mr. Dwivedi: Climate is healthy. That's one thing I could say.

Prabhupāda: That is healthy.

Mr. Dwivedi: Climate is healthy. Water is healthy.

Prabhupāda: Then let us go there.

Kārttikeya: What is the height of the place, from the sea level?

Mr. Dwivedi: Sea level, we are 1700 feet.

Prabhupāda: That's all.

Second Meeting with Mr. Dwivedi -- April 24, 1977, Bombay:

Kārttikeya: That is very good thing, not only the height.

Prabhupāda: Forest breeze is very healthy. So let us arrange.

Mr. Dwivedi: This is literally correct. If from the boundary of our school I take a gofen(?) and throw a stone, it will go to the forest next side.

Prabhupāda: So make arrangement.

Mr. Dwivedi: And very near about there are beautiful places. Mahārāja will be able to enjoy them only from below, but we have a Kedara Sakti, a beautiful cave temple.

Prabhupāda: Oh.

Second Meeting with Mr. Dwivedi -- April 24, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: (Hindi) If you agree to cooperate with me, you'll see immediately. Because I want to deliver the real thing, therefore in my feeble health I am prepared to go. If one man can understand, that I want to see. I am traveling all over the world to see that at least one man may understand. They have spoiled the whole situation by misinterpreting, by malinterpreting, and by bringing some rascal and pose as leader. The whole world is spoiled. If you want to preach some rascal philosophy, you do. Why you take Bhagavad-gītā? That is cheating.

Morning Talk -- April 25, 1977, Bombay:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: And I told him, "Cow's milk?" He said, "Yes, we can arrange." Everything he has. They have basmati rice. He says, "That's all we eat is basmati rice." Nice āṭā, and everything they say...

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: Bhopal is better than Bihar.

Morning Conversation -- April 29, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Hm? Stryadhīśa. So after getting that shelter, I began to grow. Everything was very precarious condition-vagabond. I was selling some books. I thought that "This boy will be trained up" when I got that place. He invited me to "Come to my loft." It was very big loft. I was holding class, collecting ten dollars. Then he was not paying rent. He gave me the charge of paying rent. So Kṛṣṇa was giving by collecting. It was on the top. Still, people were coming. Great story. Never mind. Now we... From my part, whatever is possible. Now you take care. That is my request. Don't spoil it. Now it is up to you. My, this ailment... I can pass away at any moment. My health is not good. I am old man. It is not surprising. Now you GBC, young boys, all, American, expert, you have got all intelligence, resources, so don't spoil. Let the movements go forward more and more. Now you have got nice places, filled with devotees. Don't be anxious for me. That, Kṛṣṇa will take. And even if I go, where is the harm? Old man. I have given my ideas and direction in my books. People appreciate. I think from my side I have done everything.

Morning Conversation -- April 30, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: That is not your settlement.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Okay.

Prabhupāda: If I improve my health, I shall stay there.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: In Madhya Pradesh? It is good for health?

Prabhupāda: I have heard, they say.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Good water, they say.

Prabhupāda: But I have got little experience, that side is nice.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Madhya Pradesh side is good.

Prabhupāda: No, not Madhya Pradesh but especially between Jhansi and Gwalior, the Shivapuri, that is healthy place.

Morning Conversation -- April 30, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Forest and open place combined together becomes healthy. Besides that, in particular place the water is good.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: They say best in district.

Prabhupāda: Hm?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: They said it was the best well in the district.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Śrīla Prabhupāda, we are taking part in the World Book Fair in Russia. The space is already booked.

Prabhupāda: That you have already told.

Evening Darsana -- May 15, 1977, Hrishikesh:

Prabhupāda: They have also manufactured. (laughter) This is going on. So Vedic injunction is tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum eva abhigacchet (MU 1.2.12). Guru is required to understand tad-vijñānam, transcendental science, not for any material understanding. Material understanding, there are so many chemists, (sic:) physists and many other department of... When we speak of guru, it means beyond this material world. For that purpose we require guru. So... Just like now it is being very much advertised that "You execute meditation. Your mind will be strong. Your health will be strong." That means from material point. But keeping your health strong, the medical science is there and so many other thing. But people are taking advantage of this yoga system. The śāstra says that dhyānāvasthita-tad-gatena manasā paśyanti yaṁ yoginaḥ (SB 12.13.1). He is yogi who is meditating and mind is fully absorbed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Otherwise it is material. Material things does not require... Maybe a gymnastic, muṣṭika.

Arrival Speech -- May 17, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: So I cannot speak. I am feeling very weak. I was to go to other places like Chandigarh program, but I cancelled the program because the condition of my health is very deteriorating. So I preferred to come to Vṛndāvana. If death takes place, let it take here. So there is nothing to be said new. Whatever I have to speak, I have spoken in my books. Now you try to understand it and continue your endeavor. Whether I am present or not present, it doesn't matter. As Kṛṣṇa is living eternally, similarly, living being also lives eternally. But kīrtir yasya sa jīvati: "One who has done service to the Lord lives forever." So you have been taught to serve Kṛṣṇa, and with Kṛṣṇa we'll live eternally. Our life is eternal. Na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre (BG 2.20). A temporary disappearance of this body, it doesn't matter. Body is meant for disappearance. Tathā dehāntara-prāptiḥ (BG 2.13). So live forever by serving Kṛṣṇa. Thank you very much.

Conversation with M.P., Shri Sita Ram Singh -- May 19, 1977, Vrndavana:

Sita Ram Singh: He told me, "His lordship in good health..." "Of course, I won't speak to him, but simply I will have his darśana." Because you are still part human being... (Prabhupāda chuckles) Everyone wants a blessings of persons like you. What you have done and to remember these things... One should feel himself satisfied only after having your darśana.

Prabhupāda: You... You belong to Delhi?

Sita Ram Singh: No, I belong to Bihar. I come from the... (explains where he is coming from, about his family, political party, etc., difficult to understand) But what I want, I want darśana. And if you have got any sympathy for me, kindly...

Prabhupāda: I have got sympathy for everyone.

Conversation Pieces -- May 27, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: We have no other business. We want to see people live, eating very nicely nutritious food, keeping good health. But unnecessarily artificial things, bothering, that we don't want. Keep your health very nice, live for as many years as possible, and be Kṛṣṇa conscious. Then, next life, you go back to home, back to Godhead, permanent life. Yad gatvā na nivartante (BG 15.6). This we want to give. There is no cheating. There is no politics, no personal ambition fulfilling. This is our mission. Try to convince them. There is not a little tinge of personal sense gratification. This is our... Now can you point out, any one of them, that "Here is the point, the personal sense gratification"? We are talking amongst ourselves, so if there is any flaw, you can point out. Can anyone? That "Here is the point, personal sense gratification"? There is no such things in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Tāṅdera caraṇa-sebi-bhakta-sane bās. Our only ambition is we live among devotees and execute the mission of our predecessors, Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Kṛṣṇa. This is our ambition.

Conversation with Svarupa Damodara -- June 21, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: They like prasādam.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yeah, very much. Because vegetarian is becoming now a very popular thing. People are thinking that it is more healthy to eat vegetarian. They call it health food. It's called health food. In fact, they have places called "health food bar." Instead of getting a whiskey, they get carrot juice, like that. People come... They comes sometimes just for one glass of juice. They'll pay dollar and a half, any price. They'll pay anything in America. If you know how to sell it, you can ask any price. Now, this month of June, now the prasādam carts will be doing more and more, all day long, because New York...

Prabhupāda: No, I have seen. They are always busy. Always.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: In our New York building we have two elevators. And that impresses people when they come there to see. If you own a building with two elevators in it, it's a big thing.

Prabhupāda: It goes up to the roof.

Conversation with Svarupa Damodara -- June 21, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Nobody understands that these are bad things.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: No. Before I met you, Śrīla Prabhupāda, I was smoking cigarettes. So I tried to stop so many times 'cause someone would say it is bad for health. But when you said it is bad for spiritual life, then I could stop, 'cause no one ever said that before, that these things are against spiritual life. No one every said that. Everything is put on such a mundane level, no one cares. But when we're told that "You are spirit, and this is against your spiritual life," then it hits very deeply. Apart from you, no one has ever said anything about spiritual life in the West.

Prabhupāda: They do not know what is spirit, what is spiritual life. Everywhere.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yeah, what to speak of the West, these Communist countries...

Prabhupāda: Everywhere, in India also.

Conversation with Svarupa Damodara -- June 21, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Just like the finger is my part and parcel of the body. It must work according to my desire. Then it is healthy. Otherwise diseased. I am moving this. It is in healthy condition. If it cannot move by some cause, then it is diseased. So when we are working under the direction of Kṛṣṇa, that is our healthy stage. Otherwise diseased. I am... I am correct?

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Jaya. If a scientist thinks very carefully...

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Conversation -- July 1, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Very good.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: "We are sending our balance sheet for your inspection. Hope this meets you in good health. P.S. Book distribution is increasing two hundred percent this month, as desired." Oh, doubling it. They also wrote him that he has to double the book distribution. He says, "Local people are enthusiastic to distribute Prabhupāda's literature." He sent a very professional balance sheet, chartered accounts.

Prabhupāda: He can... You can see.

Mr. Myer: Yes, very nice.

Prabhupāda: These things you'll have to take.

Conversation -- July 1, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Everywhere book selling is...

Mr. Myer: Everywhere it's just going on doubling. That's how the whole world people are looking toward your good health and balance(?). Sometime...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: We're looking forward to the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, tenth, eleventh and twelfth cantos. That is what we're all...

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Room Conversation with Mr. Myer -- July 2, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: And the cabinet minister... But they are in prestigious position. They do not come here. They want me to go to them. I could have come, but in this position...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yeah, and, you know, if your health improves a little, what we may be able to do is to arrange a program in our center in Delhi simply for the selected persons like cabinet ministers, or maybe at one of their homes, and have them invite just the cabinet members and Mr. Desai, and that would be very nice, very high-level meeting. That could be... You know, just like supposing when you go to Bombay, you'll have to stay in Delhi overnight. So on that evening we can make an arrangement like that.

Prabhupāda: Or we can stay in Delhi. No fault.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: One or two days. Probably you wouldn't be able to speak to all of them 'cause they're not all in the station at once, but even if a few of them came, it would be very good.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Room Conversation With Son (Vrindavan De) -- July 5, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: I have heard that still he is keeping, "I am devotee of Kṛṣṇa," still, in this fallen condition. How (indistinct). Take this. (break) Kṛṣṇa consciousness is so nice. It is great ocean of such glory. Tad-vīrya-gāyana-mahāmṛta-magna-cittaḥ.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: It says, "Now it is again possible for us to think, to act. Our senses have regained their consciousness, enabling us to expand the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement by selling more..." (break) He says, "We pray that your health may continue for years to come so you may conquer the whole world by your pure devotion and you may continue to bless us more and more so that we may be instrumental in this work. I am your puppet. You are controlling the strings. Make me dance as you like. I am simply awaiting the tugs of your lotuslike hands upon my strings. I would like to make a report of the activities here. Eastern Europe..." (break)

Prabhupāda: Where I landed in your country there is a storehouse of lobster. They have become so rotten that some of them are coming like pus.

Room Conversations -- July 7, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: The local, mean, senior sannyāsīs can do that.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: That's what we were doing... I mean, formerly we were... The local GBC, sannyāsīs, were chanting on their beads, and they were writing to Your Divine Grace, and you were giving a spiritual name. So should that process be resumed, or should we...? I mean one thing is that it's said that the spiritual master takes on the... You know, he takes on the... He has to cleanse the disciple by... So we don't want that you should have to... Your health is not so good, so that should not be... That's why we've been asking everybody to wait. I just want to know if we should continue to wait some more time.

Prabhupāda: No, the senior sannyāsīs...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So they should continue to...

Prabhupāda: You can give me a list of sannyāsīs. I will mark who will...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Okay.

Prabhupāda: You can do. Kīrtanānanda can do. And our Satsvarūpa can do. So these three, you can give, begin.

Room Conversation -- July 19, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: No, they eat also.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: And they eat very nicely.

Prabhupāda: They are healthy men.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: The Bengalis, they do a lot of clerical jobs, sitting in one place.

Prabhupāda: They get diabetes.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Really?

Prabhupāda: No, no, not the Bengalis. Anyone who cannot physically work. They eat sitting, and it is not digested, and therefore the diabetes. Diabetes is caused by eating more which is not digested. They say it is medically proven, and that's a fact. And tuberculosis is the wasting disease. As much food requires, he'll not get.

Room Conversation -- July 19, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: That's good.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Then... "I hope this letter finds Your Divine Grace in good health."

Prabhupāda: It doesn't depend on my good or bad health. It is all spiritual news. Spiritually I become very much enlivened.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Should I tell him that you're thinking about going to the West?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Meeting With Governor of Tamil Nadu -- July 31, 1977, Vrndavana:

Governor: No, they won't give you injections. They also... There doctors give yogic treatment also, and nature cure treatment. But... See I have taken that Ravi Shankar Maharaj. You've heard the name in Gujarat, he was one of the very great saintly person, Ravi Shankar Maharaj from Gujarat. I have taken him there. He's stays in my Raj Bhavan, and best doctors attending him, he is improving the health. And we have very good Raj Bhavan, big Raj Bhavan.

Prabhupāda: After all, the thing is that so long we have got this body, the janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi (BG 13.9), you have to accept. This is the statement in the Bhagavad-gītā. So the human endeavor should be diverted how to stop this repetition of birth and death. That is the prime instruction in the Bhagavad-gītā. Tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti (BG 4.9). Kṛṣṇa says that,

janma karma ca me divyaṁ

yo jānāti tattvataḥ

tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma

naiti mām eti...

(BG 4.9)

So our movement is on that platform, how to stop. Our whole Vedic culture is based on that process. When Viśvāmitra Mahārāja went to see Daśaratha about..., Daśaratha Mahārāja inquired from Viśvāmitra, aihistaṁ(?) yat punar-janma-jayāya: "You are great saintly person. You are trying to conquer over birth and death. Is your process going on nicely?" Viśvāmitra inquired Daśaratha Mahārāja about royal activities, government, prosperity, because he was kṣatriya and he was brāhmaṇa. So my request... This, our Gītā philosophy, that cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ... (BG 4.13). There must be a class of men, ideal brāhmaṇas; a class of men, ideal kṣatriyas; class of men, ideal vaiśyas; and balance, śūdras, to help. That will make the human society happy. Cooperate. Just like body. There are different departments: head department, then arms department, then the belly department and the leg department. If they are all in good condition, the health is all right. And now, at the present moment, I am suffering because my belly department is not working nicely. So we cannot neglect any department. There must be all the departments, and they must be cooperative and healthy. So this movement is meant for that purpose. It is the duty of government to give us protection. The counter movement is this Communistic movement. They want to drive away God conscious and we want to give God con..., completely opposite.

Room Conversation -- August 8, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Yes. So kindly finish it. Take money and squander and finish it at a time.

Surabhī: Śrīla Prabhupāda? When I was in Jaipur I inquired from some people regarding your health, because I met Yaśodānandana Swami in Delhi, and he told me that you wanted to know from an astrologer about the situation. So I went to one man who was previously the advisor of the Mahārāja of Mansingh of Jaipur. One life member brought me to him. So I inquired.

Prabhupāda: What he is?

Surabhī: He's a paṇḍita. He uses numerology.

Prabhupāda: Hm? Numerology?

Surabhī: Numerology. By numbers. So he takes the name and then he... So he said... You want to know what he said? He told me that your disease is going to last altogether about two and a half years, two years and five months, of which eight months have passed.

Room Conversation -- August 8, 1977, Vrndavana:

Surabhī: And before I asked the question, he told me what my question was. So he said, "You have two questions." I said, "No, I have one." He said, "No, you have two." Because my question was how long you will stay. So he said, "No, you want to know about health and about life span." So he gave both answers. He also said that the medicine... The best thing for you to take is milk of a black cow and juice, fruit juice. That is the best to take.

Prabhupāda: Fruit juice.

Surabhī: Yes. Lot of juice and milk of black cow. And then tulasī.

Prabhupāda: That is not difficult.

Room Conversation -- August 8, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: So stay.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Here's Bhānu, Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: Oh! Yaśodānandana dāsa. I am very glad to see you. Keeping good health?

Bhānu: Yes.

Prabhupāda: That's nice.

Room Conversation -- August 10, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Our men should not talk with them. That's all right. And then what does he say further?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Then he says, "By September, Śani (Saturn) will enter the eighth house, and it could create further health troubles." September to October does not...

Prabhupāda: But this will not counteract?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yeah, well... See, what I read you was on page six. Now I'm going back to page five. In other words, after saying all of these things about the difficulties, then he said, "Now get a blue sapphire, and that shall counteract what I've already told you before." But you asked me after, so all I can tell you after is what it says here. It doesn't say what will happen after if you wear your blue sapphire. It only says what would happen ordinarily. I was explaining, though, that... When I saw Gurukṛpā Mahārāja, I said, "Gurukṛpā Mahārāja..." Because he was telling me how hard it was in Tokyo. He wasn't eating. Everything was bad. I said, "But you look very strong. How is that?" He said, "One week in Hawaii." That's how. He said, "Simply one week in Hawaii." It is so healthful. The air, the water, the foodstuffs, the flowers... He said just breathing the flowers you can get strong.

Prabhupāda: So if I feel little strength, I shall go to Hawaii.

Room Conversation -- August 10, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: That's nice.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: It's a fact. From the point of view of health, Hawaii is the best place in the world. It's paradise. There's nothing that can compare with it. And you'll get juices there. You can live on the fruit juices.

Prabhupāda: And wherever there are my established Deities, that is Vṛndāvana. Anywhere I have got temple, that is Vṛndāvana. So wherever the health will remain very nice...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: There we should go. I'll talk further with them. Find out what the climate is like, everything. Make sure. Wherever we go, we should pretty much be sure it is just nice. Would you like to hear some reading now, Śrīla Prabhupāda?

Prabhupāda: Hm. You can sit down here. As far as possible, while reading Caitanya-caritāmṛta you should not sit down(?) because you are with Caitanya-caritāmṛta. Unless there is some inconvenience. So at least it should be on the same level. It is respect to Caitanya-caritāmṛta book. Sit down. So you can bring milk?

Upendra: Milk.

Room Conversation With Madhudvisa and others -- August 17, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: So I wanted to return again.

Śrutakīrti: If not for the traveling, it would certainly be the best place to be for your health. I remember last time when you were sick, you recovered very well in Hawaii.

Prabhupāda: Let us see. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa wants me, wants to go back to...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I was encouraging Prabhupāda to... I said that if he goes to the Western temples, that the welcome from his disciples would be so much that he would live for hundreds of years.

Room Conversation -- October 2, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: You can what?

Prabhupāda: Avoid any food.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: You don't like fruit juice?

Prabhupāda: I mean to say, I can drink in the meantime, but by simply drinking this milk, I can live healthy. I think so.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: The saintly persons in the past did adopt that policy. They were living simply on milk. Are you feeling all right?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Room Conversation -- October 4, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: (Hindi) (pause) (break)

Hari-śauri: Of course, you have so many disciples around the world who are always praying for your health, so ten brāhmaṇas would not achieve very much. He repeated also what he said before, that the period up until next March would be very difficult time.

Prabhupāda: Hm?

Hari-śauri: He said that up until next March, that would be a very difficult time. But if Your Divine Grace goes beyond that time, then for three or four years, then health will return.

Prabhupāda: Back side itching.

Room Conversation -- October 4, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: You can itch back side.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Scratch. Śrīla Prabhupāda? I think that on behalf of Lord Kṛṣṇa you can take service from the whole world. At least, we all want to serve you so much. Next is a letter, telegram, rather, from... This one is from Berkeley temple, New Jagannātha Purī. It says, "Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda, please accept our fallen obeisances. Please excuse our offenses. By your potency, every single magazine is distributed this weekend. This weekend we distributed 4,888 big books and 15,063 magazines. We are praying for your health to improve. Your worthless servants at New Jagannātha Purī." It seems, Śrīla Prabhupāda, that even in your illness you're increasing the preaching.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Visit From Allopathic Doctor -- October 10, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Harikeśa: Now you just have to become better, more healthy.

Prabhupāda: Healthy... I have nothing to do with this body. Have to do with your work. All right. (devotees offer obeisances) (break)

Bhagavān: All the devotees want to give you a nice offering. So in three days, so far they have done almost eleven thousand big books. Marathon will end on Wednesday night, and they hope to do over twenty-thousand big books in one week. We have about seventy-five devotees out distributing fourteen hours every day. They were thinking this was suitable offering for Your Divine Grace. Also in Italy they are doing almost 3,500 big books every week now.

Prabhupāda: Hm. Rome.

Bhagavān: Yes.

Prabhupāda: Which book?

Bhagavān: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, First Volume. The devotees are thinking if they can do over twenty thousand big books in one week you'll be encouraged to stay. And then they will do even more.

Prabhupāda: No. Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī will give them blessing. He'll delay.(?) He wanted this.

Room Conversation -- October 12, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Who is he?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Mādhava Mahārāja. He sent you a telegram from Chandigarh. It says, "Extremely anxious for your health. Praying to Śrīla Prabhupāda and Lord Gaura-Kṛṣṇa for Their blessings unto you."

Prabhupāda: So send him back telegram: "Thank you. Excuse my offenses—all Godbrothers." What you have written?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: "Thank you. Excuse my offenses, all Godbrothers."

Prabhupāda: What is the other say here?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: The other telegram is from Australia.

Prabhupāda: Oh.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: "Dearest Śrīla Prabhupāda, please do not leave us, for without your lotus feet we have no shelter. We are trying to distribute more books. Your eternal servants at Sydney Mandir."

Prabhupāda: Yes, I am willing to stay. After all, it is Kṛṣṇa's desire. (Bengali)

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: You want kīrtana, Śrīla Prabhupāda?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Room Conversation -- October 14, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He's your top preacher. I could see that in the future this man... He's the most important preacher, because people are basing everything on these rascal scientists. I think this is only one of your many plans, Śrīla Prabhupāda. There's no doubt that you have to make every effort to get back to health. This is only one plan, and I'm seeing it's really inconceivable how these scientists... I never thought to see such people walking into Vṛndāvana. Who would have ever expected it? They all look like Darwin's representatives. But our men look even more scientific than they do. That's the best part of it. And then, even though Svarūpa Dāmodara is in shirt, coat and pants, he has a big tilaka on, and mallikā.

Prabhupāda: That is wanted.

Room Conversation -- October 14, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Bhakti-caru? (Bengali with Bhakti-caru)

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: It might be that Kṛṣṇa postponed the opening of Bombay to get you..., so that you could have enough time to get a little health. It could be.

Prabhupāda: (Bengali) He has arranged alone.

Room Conversation -- October 14, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Tomorrow shall I take the risk of taking little milk?

Hari-śauri: Generally when you take milk it causes lot of difficulty with mucus. This sweet lime juice, that seems to be doing some good, though. Perhaps it might be better not to take the milk for a little while until your system becomes more healthy.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Room Conversation -- October 15, 1977, Vrndavana:

Girirāja: Well, I wrote a prayer to Lord Kṛṣṇa for your health. So I was... It's in the next room. I was thinking of bringing it and reading it.

Prabhupāda: Oh, yes.

Hṛdayānanda: Also a message arrived for your health, prayers from the devotees in Central America. They're all praying for you. A letter has just arrived.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I get many letters all week, Śrīla Prabhupāda, all praying for your recovery. The devotees cannot resign themselves to letting you go. They don't want to live without you. They cannot...

Prabhupāda: Viśvambhara, everywhere they want me. You also...

Viśvambhara: I can give my life, Prabhupāda. I can give some of my years. I pray that I may go early, Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: No, why you should go early? You live on.

Room Conversation -- October 18, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Let them learn to rise early in the morning and cleanse. This is the first scheme. This will keep their health nice. Cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭam (BG 4.13). Unless in the human society the varṇāśrama system is introduced, no scheme or social order, health order or any order, political order, will be successful.

Room Conversation -- October 24, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Still, they criticize us. Hm? Affirmations(?) good character, good health...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Another article says, "Procession draws hundreds. The hundreds lined the streets of Durban on Sunday to watch young and old Hindus taking part in the colorful procession which was held as part of Lord Kṛṣṇa's birthday celebration." It tells all about a celebration in the city of Durban organized by our society.

Prabhupāda: It will be good for propaganda.

Room Conversation -- October 26, 1977, Vrndavana:

Ātreya Ṛṣi: And the letter wished you good health by the royal family.

Prabhupāda: No, preaching also, it is going on. I know that. Where is the cotton sweater?

Pañca-draviḍa: We brought one sweater from Peru, Śrīla Prabhupāda. (break) (loud kīrtana)

Prabhupāda: I'm not tired.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: What, Śrīla Prabhupāda?

Prabhupāda: I am not tired.

Devotees: Jaya Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: I am quite comfortable.

Room Conversation -- October 27, 1977, Vrndavana:

Guest (1): Everybody is concerned about your health.

Prabhupāda: And sevā-pūjā is brilliant?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Sevā-pūjā is very nice?

Guest (1): Yes, everything is very, very much regulated now.

Prabhupāda: Execute. Śrī-vigrahārādhana-nitya-nānā-śṛṇgāra-tan-mandira-mārjanādau **. Here it was vacant, my lot. Now, by Kṛṣṇa's grace, so many people are coming. Prasādam distribution is going there?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: At the farm?

Guest (1): No, Prabhupāda. So far, they haven't started. When you were there for a few weeks, one or two weeks they had done it.

Prabhupāda: Huh?

Guest (1): When you were there at Hyderabad, at the farm, for one or two weeks the prasādam distribution was there.

Prabhupāda: Hm. Why? Why they are not distributing now?

Guest (1): They have stopped it.

Room Conversation -- October 29, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: No. Ours is spiritual education, no medical education.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Right. That's the point.

Prabhupāda: Preliminary health principles, they can le...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: That's already going on.

Room Conversation -- November 2, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: What is the report?

Akṣayānanda: They have just... Śrī Nārāyaṇajī and Rāma-Kṛṣṇa Bajajī have just left. I just saw them off. They are very happy. All the members of the committee, of their committee, they made a prayer that Your Divine Grace would have long life and good health. And regarding their meeting, I simply put their... They had the loudspeaker outside. I just put it inside so no passerby can hear, and they just did their business and left. They had no problems.

Prabhupāda: What resolution they passed?

Akṣayānanda: I do not know. (Prabhupāda laughs) I could not attend it, Śrīla Prabhupāda. I had to go... Next door we had some work with one bābājī. We had given him money last year, and I had to get that money back for his land. They're given a security.

Prabhupāda: Money?

Akṣayānanda: Yes. We were using his land for a sewer, water waste. So we had given him two thousand rupees' security. We were going to buy that land. You remember once Your Divine Grace came to see it. We were going to put all that waste water and make a garden and all this. So now we have connected with the municipal sewer line, so there's no need for that land, and that problem is solved. So we took the money back that we had given as a security. I have been there for the last two or three hours, so I was unable to come.

Prabhupāda: They have returned the money.

Room Conversation -- November 3, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Let me be in health. Then I'll do that.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Do you understand? Prabhupāda says that the answer is that first of all they should pray to Kṛṣṇa for Prabhupāda's cure, pray to Jagannātha for Prabhupāda's cure immediately, for his health. And then, when he is physically fit, then he will do the needful. But first of all, by their prayers to Jagannātha, they should make him physically fit. Is that right, Śrīla Prabhupāda?

Prabhupāda: Hm.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Who did you have talk with, Anantadeva or Śyāmasundara?

Gaura-govinda: Anantadeva.

Prabhupāda: Who is Anantadeva?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Prabhupāda said, "Who is Anantadeva?"

Gaura-govinda: Anantadeva... They have written letters to you, from that Śyāmasundara Brahmacārī and Anantadeva.

Room Conversation -- November 3, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Oh. Girirāja?

Girirāja: Yes.

Prabhupāda: How is your health?

Girirāja: Oh, I'm better, improved.

Prabhupāda: What is the news of Nepal?

Girirāja: Oh, well, they have a very nice program there. They have a nice house with many rooms, and the Nepalese people...

Prabhupāda: How many rooms?

Girirāja: About nine big rooms. And they do street saṅkīrtana every day in the main street, and they distribute literature. And the Society is not yet registered there, but I went with Prabhaviṣṇu to a lawyer, and we've set up the formalities for getting registered, but the government is presently reviewing the registration law, so it might take a few weeks before they accept our case.

Prabhupāda: On the whole, it is favorable. Hm?

Girirāja: Oh, yes. There is a tremendous scope. And the royal family is very powerful. They run the whole country, and, of course, they're Hindus. So I also went with Prabhaviṣṇu to meet one relation of the Queen Mother, and this lady was very enthusiastic about our activities. So I discussed with Prabhaviṣṇu the strategy how to approach the royal family, and... It's a Hindu state.

Room Conversation -- November 3, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Why not?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He says, "I am a fallen wretch, but I am hoping and praying to the best of my capacity that your health will improve." (break) Would you like Bharadvāja to sing a little?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Room Conversation -- November 3, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: That is my point.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: But if actually you can show signs of improving and recovering, then there is reason to move for health.

Prabhupāda: That is another thing.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Traveling now should only be undertaken for health purposes.

Prabhupāda: That is welcome. But at the present moment, I don't see any such... (Bengali)

Kṛṣṇa dāsa Bābājī: (Bengali)

Prabhupāda: Why Tamāla Kṛṣṇa gone?

Śatadhanya: I'll get him, Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Bhakti-caru: Śrīla Prabhupāda? (Bengali)

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Jaya Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: Bābājī Mahārāja also I have consulted that "Being afraid, don't move me in the hospital." He also says, "No, don't do."

Room Conversation -- November 8, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Kavirāja may say...

Jayapatāka: ...that even that your body is going to, is got a life of six to ten years but he said even a healthy cow, if it's kept locked up inside of a room, then it will deteriorate.

Prabhupāda: And therefore I say, (laughs) don't keep me locked up. You do your duty as I have trained you and let me be free and if money required, he'll come and take and go back again as he is coming to take book.