D. D. Desai: Now, since you have shown the repeated willingness to talk to her directly, so I'll talk to her . . .
Prabhupāda: It is science. There is no difficulty to understand
D. D. Desai: I'll talk to her. Even I'll talk to her personally, that "Swāmījī would be delighted to . . ."
Prabhupāda: But whether she has got time?
Indian man: Yes, she's . . . That is the . . . Now, that is on one point I must tell you one small thing, that presently . . .
Prabhupāda: One lady . . . She is Subash Bose's niece, Lalitā Bose. Because these family are very intimately . . . Subash Bose's family and Nehru family. So she calls Indira didi, means "elder sister." So she took me, and she gave me interview at a very critical moment, just day before that Bujhibanlal(?) was killed, and she was guarded by heavy number of police and soldier. Still, she allowed my car to enter. I am very much obliged. But it was ten minutes' time. So what Bhagavad-gītā could be discussed in ten minutes? Tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā (BG 4.34). One has to learn Bhagavad-gītā submissively, praṇipātena, paripraśnena, by sincere inquiry, and learn it from a person who has seen. Upadekṣyanti tad jñānaṁ jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ (BG 4.34). You cannot have any knowledge, who has not seen the truth. If you say that "How it is possible that you have . . .?" We have seen through this paramparā system. The same thing: "This is pencil." I have learned it from my father, "It is pencil," that's all. You cannot call it stick; it is pencil. My father has taught that "This is pencil," I know it. That's all. It is very easy. But if one follows, his life is successful. Very easy.
D. D. Desai: So your impression is that ten minutes or whatever time is not adequate, and unless she prepares her ground for stable, continuous . . .
Prabhupāda: No, she can . . . Paripraśna. From scientific point of view, from logic, that is accepted. But if he takes blindly something, then it is not possible.
- tad viddhi praṇipātena
- paripraśnena sevayā
- upadekṣyanti tad jñānam
- jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ
- (BG 4.34)
Just like Arjuna learned Bhagavad-gītā from Kṛṣṇa. He submitted, śiṣyas te 'haṁ śādhi māṁ prapannam (BG 2.7). So in that attitude . . . But pariprasna, counter-inquiry, is allowed. Just like good logician, good scientist, one can . . . That answer is there. But if one inquires as a blind person, keeping her faith or his faith in something differently, then it is as useless. It must be flexible to the level of logic and science. Then it is very easy. That is like I explained. Kṛṣṇa said, tathā dehāntara-prāptiḥ (BG 2.13). So where is the difficulty? I am changing my body, so why I shall not get another body after my death? Eh? Na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre (BG 2.20). And wherefrom this knowledge is coming? From Kṛṣṇa, the supreme authority. In the beginning I may not understand, but it is a fact. If you think over, you'll understand, "Yes, I am eternal. Why I am put into this difficulty, changing this body?" This is common sense. "Why I shall die? Why not stop death?" That is knowledge. That is knowledge. But then going on, (Hindi): "Everyone dies. I will die. What is that?" But why you shall die? You live. And Kṛṣṇa gives the formula: tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti (BG 4.9). Take this process. This body is material; you have to give it up. But no more material body. Why don't you take this science, how it is possible? Why do you not contribute this science to the whole world as India's contribution? They need it. Why you go beg? Give something. In Berkeley University, one Indian student, "Swāmījī, what this hari-kīrtana will do? We require now technology." So I replied, "Yes, you have come to beg here. I have come here to give something. I am not a beggar like you." So we are working . . . Of course, we are Indian; we are poor. That is another thing. But I never went to beg something from them. I never asked them any money. I never asked them. They give me money because they understand that I am giving something. Do you know how we are selling our book? Daily, five, six lakhs rupees collected. So I am getting the money. I am giving them the knowledge. (aside:) Bring that telegram. In one week how many books we have sold? Because they're hankering after this knowledge.