The lily-flower garlands around the necks of the gopīs were strewn to pieces due to the gopīs' embracing the body of Kṛṣṇa, and the flowers were reddish from being smeared with the kuṅkuma on their breasts. The bumblebees were humming about in order to get honey from the flowers. Kṛṣṇa and the gopīs entered the water of the Yamunā just as an elephant enters a water tank with his many female companions. Both the gopīs and Kṛṣṇa forgot their real identities, playing in the water, enjoying each other's company and relieving the fatigue of rāsa dancing. The gopīs began to splash water on the body of Kṛṣṇa, all the while smiling, and Kṛṣṇa enjoyed this. As Kṛṣṇa was taking pleasure in the joking words and splashing water, the demigods in the heavenly planets showered flowers. The demigods thus praised the superexcellent rāsa dance of Kṛṣṇa, the supreme enjoyer, and His pastimes with the gopīs in the water of the Yamunā.
Tank
Srimad-Bhagavatam
SB Canto 2
During the rainy season, all the waters of the rivers become muddy, but in the month of July-August, the autumn season, when there is a slight rainfall, the muddy waters of the rivers all over the world become at once clear. By addition of some chemical, a small reservoir of water like that of a metropolitan waterworks tank can be cleared, but by such a tiny effort it is not possible to clear up all the reservoirs of water like the rivers. A powerful pure devotee of the Lord, however, can deliver not only his personal self but also many others in his association.
In other words, the cleansing of the polluted heart by other methods (like the culture of empiric knowledge or mystic gymnastics) can simply cleanse one's own heart, but devotional service to the Lord is so powerful that it can cleanse the hearts of the people in general, by the devotional service of the pure, empowered devotee.
As explained before, the Mahābhārata is the history of ancient India, and so also are the Purāṇas. Pious acts are prescribed in the supplementary Vedas (smṛtis), which specifically mention digging tanks and wells for the water supply of the people in general. To plant trees on the public roads, to construct public temples and places of worship of God, to establish places of charity where the poor destitutes can be provided with foodstuff, and similar activities are called pūrta.
Similarly, the process of fulfilling the natural desires for sense gratification was also inquired about by the King for the benefit of all concerned.
SB Canto 9
Crows have no independent life; they fully depend on the remnants of foodstuffs thrown by householders into the garbage tank. Therefore, because a brāhmaṇa depends on his disciples, when Śarmiṣṭhā was heavily rebuked by Devayānī she charged Devayānī with belonging to a family of crowlike beggars. It is the nature of women to fight verbally at even a slight provocation. As we see from this incident, this has been their nature for a long, long time.
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta
CC Adi-lila
This verse is from the Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta, which was written by a great Vaiṣṇava sannyāsī named Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura, who is also known as Līlāśuka. He intensely desired to enter into the eternal pastimes of the Lord, and he lived at Vṛndāvana for seven hundred years in the vicinity of Brahma-kuṇḍa, a still-existing bathing tank in Vṛndāvana. The history of Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura is given in a book called Śrī-vallabha-digvijaya. He appeared in the eighth century of the Śaka Era in the province of Draviḍa and was the chief disciple of Viṣṇu Svāmī. In a list of temples and monasteries kept in Śaṅkarācārya's monastery in Dvārakā, Bilvamaṅgala is mentioned as the founder of the Dvārakādhīśa temple there. He entrusted the service of his Deity to Hari Brahmacārī, a disciple of Vallabha Bhaṭṭa.
Other Books by Srila Prabhupada
Krsna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead
Since Kṛṣṇa was absent from home, His wife Satyabhāmā was present on the night Satrājit was murdered, and she began to cry, "My dear Father! My dear Father! How mercilessly you have been killed!" The dead body of Satrājit was not immediately removed for cremation because Satyabhāmā wanted to go to Kṛṣṇa in Hastināpura. Therefore the body was preserved in a tank of oil so that Kṛṣṇa could come back and see the dead body of Satrājit and take real action against Śatadhanvā. Satyabhāmā immediately started for Hastināpura to inform Kṛṣṇa about the ghastly death of her father.
When Kṛṣṇa was informed by Satyabhāmā of the murder of His father-in-law, He began to lament like an ordinary man. His great sorrow is, again, a strange thing. Lord Kṛṣṇa has nothing to do with action and reaction, but because He was playing the part of a human being, He expressed His full sympathy for the bereavement of Satyabhāmā, and His eyes filled with tears when He heard about the death of His father-in-law.
Light of the Bhagavata
Thus the Lord has preserved water on three fourths of the globe and has made it salty to preserve it. Salty water does not decompose, and that is the arrangement of providence. The Lord has engaged the powerful sun to evaporate the water of planets like earth and distill it into clear water in the clouds and then stock it on the peaks of mountains, as we stock water in overhead tanks for later distribution. part of the stock of water is refrigerated into ice, so that it will not flood the earth for no good purpose. The ice melts gradually throughout the year, flows down through the great rivers, and glides down to the sea again for preservation.
Therefore the laws of God's nature are neither blind nor accidental, as men with a poor fund of knowledge conclude. Behind the laws of nature is the living brain of God, just as there is always a lawmaker behind all the laws of the state. It does not matter whether or not we see the lawmaker behind the common laws; we must admit that there is a lawmaker.
Lectures
Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures
Pūrṇam idaṁ pūrṇam adaḥ (Īśopaniṣad, Invocation). Everything created by God is complete. Don't you see this earth? Take the aggregate existence of this earth. It is complete. There is sufficient water stock in the sea and oceans. The sunlight is acting, evaporating the water and it is turned into ocean. Then it is overcast all over the land and there is production. And there is river flowing down. You stock your water tank high, and there are mountain heads, there is stock of water and all year the river is flowing, supply water. Don't you see how nice brain it is? Can you pour water? If you want to evaporate hundred gallons of water you have got to make so many necessary arrangements. And here, millions of tons water is taken away immediately from the ocean and sea and turned into cloud, light cloud so that it may not fall down immediately. You see? Not like a tank. And it is reserved on the head of the mountain and it is sprayed all over the land so everything is there. You require water to produce grains, vegetables. So everything is there.
Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures
That is the process. Vedavān. I have given you several times this example, that in the Vedas it is said that cow dung is pure, although it is the stool of an animal. We accept: "Yes, it is pure." And actually you find, yes, it is pure. If you analyze, you'll find all antiseptic properties. Now how in stool? Stool is septic. Septic tank, where has stool. But this stool is anti... It is practical. You can see. But wherefrom we get this information? From the Vedas. The knowledge received from the Vedas, there is no mistake. There is no illusion. It is perfect. Just like here, we have read the passage that four lakhs of years, 400,000's of years after from this time, there will be incarnation of Kalki. His father's name should be Viṣṇu Yaśā. The place where He will appear, it is Sambhal. Everything is stated there. Now 400,000's of years it will... Lord Buddha appeared 2,500 years after the Bhagavat was written. That's came a fact.
And the water, whatever for the time being in the rainy season, is distributed. And for future supply it is stocked on the head of the hills and mountains. And from that hills and mountains the rivers—they are supposed to be water supply source—throughout the year will supply water. It is stocked on the head. The same principle. We simply imitate. We also keep a very big tank on the head of the house, and through pipe we get water supply. So here nature's pipe water supply is the big, big rivers, and the water is being supplied from the stock on the head. There are big, big lakes and it is supplied. The same process.
So nadyaḥ, samudrāḥ, and girayaḥ. Full cooperation. The stock is the samudrāḥ and the... Just see that such huge stock of water is salty. Why it is salty? It will never decompose. It will never decompose. But you cannot take the salty water. Therefore it is distilled by the sunshine, distilled. You take the distilled clear water.
Yes. They are thinking, "Better than horse. Now I have got this tin carriage." As soon as it is old it has no value. You throw into the street, especially in your country. Nobody takes care of it. And..., but one must have this carriage. And it must run on petrol, and take labor, so hard labor, goes wihin the desert, drill it, and then take out the oil, then bring it in tanks. And it is called ugra-karma. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, that these rascals, demons, they have created ugra-karma simply for trouble to the whole people. That's all. Kṣayāya jagato 'hitāḥ, and bringing destruction nearer, nearer. Now they are going on, and that may be big work that means destruction and simply for creating a little comfort. Formerly also they were moving. Transport was there. But they do not like to remain in the former ways, because they have no other engagement. Better engagement that they do not know. Here is the better engagement: to come before Rādhā Kṛṣṇa and glorify the Lord. Try to understand our relationship. This is our real, real business, but nobody is interested in the real business.
No possessions. Why? Nirmama nirahaṅkāraḥ. Nirmama. Nirmama means... Mama means "my." Mama means "my." And nir means negation. This is called nirmama. And nirahaṅkāra. Ahaṅkāra, "egotism," and nir means "not."
So in order to become nirmama... Because here, material world, we are simply fighting, "It is mine, mine." The Arabians, they are, "This oil tank, this oil deposit is mine." Or "our." The same thing, individually or collectively. You just make up a gang, and you steal something, and then you say, "It is our." Your possession is by stealing, but still, you are claiming, "It is our." So the petrol tank belongs to God, but some way or other, they are in possession. They fighting it, "It is our." So this is called mama. So one has to become nirmama. "It is not mine. It is Kṛṣṇa's." Immediately you become nirmama. Everything is bondage so long you claim, "It is mine." And as soon as you understand, "It is not mine; it is Kṛṣṇa's," then you are free. This is the difference of bondage and freedom. Actually, everything belongs to Kṛṣṇa. Everything. Īśāvāsyam idaṁ sarvam (ISO 1).
So we are debtor to so many demigods. The sun is supplying heat and light. The king of heaven, Indra, he is supplying water. These rascals, they say it is coming by nature. It may come from nature, but nature is controlled. Just like we are getting water. If somebody says, "Oh, what is that? It is coming from the water tank. So where is the question of paying taxes or rent?" No. The water tank is being filled up by the Municipality. If you don't pay tax, it will be cut off. Similarly, don't think that the water is coming as your father's property. No. You are becoming debtor. You are becoming debtor. Therefore, if you don't pay debts, if you don't perform sacrifices, then there will be scarcity of water. And one day it will come there will be no water. That you expect. Because you are not paying any tax. You are thinking, "Water is coming, my father's property." No. Your father's property... That's all right. But you are not father's son at the present moment. You are māyā's son. You don't care for your father.
Therefore father said, mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sa-carācaram (BG 9.10).
So actually, spirit soul has nothing to do for livelihood. They are working so hard. That is māyā. Because everyone is working for economic development, this is māyā. Just like the newspaper reporter asked me, "the crisis." They created a situation that ultimately it has come to a crisis. The big, big oil tankers are now standing without any work, and they're feeling scarcity. Actually, we haven't got to work for our livelihood. There are 8,400,000 species of living entities. Out of that, only 400,000 species of life are human form. Other 8,000,000, they are bird, beast, trees, insect, aquatics, so many varieties. So they have no economic problem. The bird, beast, aquatic, they have no economic problem. They have sufficient... Our material necessities are to eat, to sleep, to have sex life, and to have protection from danger. These are our problems. So living entities less intelligent than the human being, they have no problem of this field of activities. They are eating. They have no problem for eating. They have no problem for sleeping. They have no problem for sex life. And neither they have problem for any defense.
"Oh, I'll not do it again, I'll not do it again." But when he's again cured, again he does it. Therefore, Parīkṣit Mahārāja... The same, confession, or anything you take, atonement. So Parīkṣit Mahārāja is comparing it, kuñjara-śaucavat. It is just like the elephant's taking bath. The elephant... This is natural, one can see. The elephant takes bath very thoroughly, he washes the body in the water, in the tank, very thoroughly for long time, becomes very cleansed. And as soon as it comes on the shore it takes some dust and throws it. (laughter) That is nature, we have seen. So Parīkṣit Mahārāja... This is just like cleaning the body of an elephant like. The elephant cleanses the body very nicely, but as soon as he comes to the land, he takes dust and throws over it. So what is the use of such atonement if I have to commit again? I do it again and again. Again I commit sinful activities and again I atone. So what is the benefit of this atonement? This is a strong criticism of so-called confession and atonement.
How useless? Manye, "I think it is as useless as kuñjara-śaucavat."
Kuñjara means elephant. Elephants taking bath. Perhaps you have not seen. In India we had some opportunity. They wash the body very nicely, repeatedly throwing water with the trunk, and as soon as come on the shore of the tank, again take some dust and throws over the body. We have to study from nature that how is that. This rascal washed so nicely his body, and immediately, coming out of the tank, he throws dust. Śaucye manye kuñjara-śaucavat. Very appropriate. It is that hasti-snāna. In Sanskrit it is called hasti-snāna. Snāna means bathing and hasti means elephant. So if we are not changing our character, then what is the use of advancement of knowledge, education? That I told you yesterday, that in spite of so-called advancement of education, culture, science, philosophy, the result is when you go to the airport you are proved you are a dishonest man. Everyone is checked means everyone is dishonest, it is to be supposed.
Nectar of Devotion Lectures
Parakīya-rase yāṅhā brajete pracāra. So these things are very higher principles of spiritual life. But we can understand that whatever we are experiencing in this material world, that thing, in its pure form, is existing in the Supreme Absolute. That is the fact. Otherwise they cannot be manifested in this material... Just like on the bank of a tank, pond, there is a tree, and you find the tree just upverted. The upper portion of the tree has gone down. That is described in the Bhagavad-gītā. Find out in the Fifteenth Chapter: ūrdhva-mūlam adhah-śākhaṁ aśvatthaṁ prāhur avyayam (BG 15.1). Find out this verse. This material world is the reflection, urdhva mulam. Generally the tree has got its root down, but the material world... So... It is described as a big banyan tree, but the root is upwards. Read it.
Festival Lectures
So Mahārāja Pratāparudra was very powerful king, and at the same time he was a devotee of Lord Caitanya. So his open order was that whenever and whatever Caitanya Mahāprabhu will ask anything, it must be supplied. So on this day Caitanya Mahāprabhu used to wash that Guṇḍīca Mandir with hundreds of His followers. And they were ordered to bring water from the nearest tank. There is one tank. If you go sometimes to Jagannātha Purī, you'll see that place. So from that tank hundreds of waterpots were brought, and first of all it was... What is called? Sweeping. The sweeping process is first of all taken. And He wanted to see all the devotees, "How much dust you have gathered." He'll see personally. "Let Me see what is the amount of your dust you have gathered by sweep... (break) Then I will understand that you worked very hard." So then after it is very finely, twice. First of all, once swept, then second time. Not even a small particle grain should remain. That was His order. (break)
Departure Talks
Siddha-svarūpa: And it's the most horrible service, too.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Now this, as you say that the Hawaiians, they are meant for cleansing the hotel to get some money. And without money, he cannot live. So he forced to serve. What are the tanks? Petrol?
Siddha-svarūpa: I think so. Yeah. Shell Oil.
Prabhupāda: (break) Therefore the good intelligence is kāmādīnāṁ kati na katidhā pālitā durnideśān teṣāṁ mayi na karuṇā jātā na trapā nopaśāntiḥ: "I have served. I have served the so-called master. Actually I have served my senses." As they come to the hotel for sense gratification and do all nonsense and I have to serve him, so why I am serving? Oh, that is also for serving my senses. Without money I cannot serve my senses.
Siddha-svarūpa: Yes. So that's ultimately the problem.
Conversations and Morning Walks
1970 Conversations and Morning Walks
Prabhupāda: Simply, wherever you go, (makes traffic noise) "sonh, sonh, sonh, sonh," and "gonh, gonh, gonh, gonh, gonh." Up in the sky, "gonh, gonh, gonh, gonh," and in the street, "sonh, sonh..." And then, when digging, "gut-gut-gut-gut-gut-gut-gut-gut-gut!" (laughter) Is it not? Don't you feel botheration. But they are thinking, "Oh, America is very much advanced in machine." And when there is that garbage tank? "Ghon-ghon-ghon-ghon-ghon-ghon-ghon-ghon-ghon!" (laughter) So many sounds are going on, always. Eh? Of course, you have got very nice city, nice roads everywhere. But this trouble... You have created so many troubles. And there are news that one lady was a patient. She became mad for the sounds. And I think they are thinking very seriously how to stop all these sounds. Is it not?
Śyāmasundara: Especially they have these airplanes now.
Prabhupāda: Oh.
1973 Conversations and Morning Walks
Karandhara: Tanker.
Prabhupāda: Tanker. Carrying petrol.
Karandhara: Most likely. Yes. (pause)
Prabhupāda: Just like we are seeing this ocean. We find it a vast ocean. But this vast ocean is nothing but a drop of water in the universe. There are so many, thousands or millions of vast oceans in the sky. So therefore the sky becomes the biggest. Then again, if you try to find out what is the bigger than this universe. We get information that these universes are coming out from the nostrils of Mahā-Viṣṇu. Yasyaika-niśvasita-kālam... (Bs. 5.48). Just like with our breathing so many germs are coming out and going. So these all these universes are coming and going. So long it is exhaling, the universes are coming out. And inhaling, all finished. Then He becomes the biggest. Then you search out wherefrom this biggest personality comes? Then you come to Saṅkarṣaṇa. If you come to Saṅkarṣaṇa, then you come to Nārāyaṇa. If you come to Nārāyaṇa, then you come to Baladeva. If you come to Baladeva, then you come to Kṛṣṇa. And therefore Kṛṣṇa, the biggest.
1974 Conversations and Morning Walks
Jayapatākā: This is... This is the land here.
Prabhupāda: This is the land?
Jayapatākā: Yeah, we're walking over it. We're going through... (break)
Śyāmasundara: Elizabeth, in England, she's got a..., what she calls a "think-tank" or a board of advisors who meet and advise her on different policies.
Prabhupāda: Privy council.
Śyāmasundara: Something like that. It's called a "think-tank". She's named it. It's presided over by Lord, Lord Goodman.
Prabhupāda: No, no. The thing is, unless the people are Kṛṣṇa conscious, either this board or that board, that will not help. First of all, people should know what is the aim of life, what is culture, how the human activity should be directed. The people should know first of all this. Otherwise, changing from frying pan to the fire, it is useless. That is going on. That change, revolution, is going on. Just like the Russian people, they changed the Czarist government into communist government, revolution, but still, they're unhappy. They're trying to change by another revolution.
Bali Mardana: If vegetables are not available.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Kṛṣṇa-kānti: They don't have to cultivate seaweed. They just take.
Jayatīrtha: They have to go diving with lungs and tanks to collect it rather than plough the earth.
Rāmeśvara: They consider it a delicacy in the restaurants for the macrobiotic people, the young people who are into health foods. It's a health food. It's a delicacy.
Prabhupāda: This is also eaten. (laughter) Yes. This is eaten by the Japanese. They eat it.
Bali Mardana: They say it contains much iodine, certain minerals.
Prabhupāda: They make some food and it is sold. What is called, that? They make some cakes by soaking in the water.
1975 Conversations and Morning Walks
Paramahaṁsa: Also, Prabhupāda, Atreya Ṛṣi said that the Arabs are preparing for the war. They're buying billions and billions of dollars worth of missiles and jets and tanks from America.
Prabhupāda: Yes, so they are being prepared. War will soon start.
Viṣṇujana: The Arab men all go to America to be trained in the armed forces there.
Prabhupāda: Hm?
Viṣṇujana: In all the armed forces centers in America, they train the Arab nations to fight.
Prabhupāda: Oh.
Viṣṇujana: They let the young men come into the U.S.A. to learn how to use the missiles and everything.
Pañcadraviḍa: Recently, this Bhutto of Pakistan, he was very happy because they were talking about lifting a ten-year holding on arms from the United States, and now, they say, Pakistan will soon get arms from America.
Prabhupāda: They will not introduce; they will declare like that, falsely. That's all.
Paramahaṁsa: Even in some countries where Communism has a very light influence, like in Thailand there's a little bit of Communist influence, when they had a student revolt, the government came in with tanks and machine guns and immediately killed about three thousand students.
Prabhupāda: In Thailand?
Paramahaṁsa: Yes. In Bangkok. That was about two years ago.
Prabhupāda: Oh, just see.
Paramahaṁsa: So the people are very afraid to cause any upheaval. They are afraid that immediately the government will just come and kill them. 'Cause the government has all the weapons. They have the tanks and the guns and everything. And the normal people, they don't have any weapons.
Prabhupāda: But first of all, you want water. If the water is reserved on the top of the hill, then it gradually comes down. That is nature's, God's, arrangement: Let river fall down, and you can use that water. That is the nature's arrangement. Just like you keep your water on the tank, and by pipe you get down. But there is nature's arrangement. The water is stocked on the top of the hill, and throughout the whole year the pipe is the river. That water must be there. That is the first problem. Therefore here it is said, parjanyād anna-sambhavaḥ. You must have sufficient water. Water is already there. But it has to be purified, kept on the top of the hill, water tank, and it will come down in rivers. Then you take and utilize. And when the water falls down and there is sufficient water, the ground becomes cleansed so it is no more polluted.
Gurukṛpa: You told us the story that in New York you walked in one yoga āśrama, and the man who was teaching yoga, and he told you in Hindi, "Don't reveal it. This is my... I am feeding my family by this method."
Prabhupāda: That is tanker? Oil tanker, yes. He is carrying so much oil.
Gurukṛpa: They have this type of gas now that they freeze it, and it shrinks five hundred times. And they put it in these big tanks, and they bring it across the ocean, and then when they get it to port, they again heat it up into the big tanks and it expands. So they freeze it and it becomes smaller and they can export more.
Prabhupāda: Oh, it becomes solid?
Devotee: Just like liquid oxygen, they cool it and yes, it comes to the liquid state.
Prabhupāda: There are so many living entities living within this sand, and on unfortunate moon there is no living entities. And we have to believe it. Hm? What is that?
Gurukṛpa: I was telling them we should come pick these flowers every day, this jasmine. Nobody is picking.
Prabhupāda: There will be petrol. You take it.
Ambarīṣa: How would they get it back here?
Prabhupāda: As they are coming. They are going and coming. So let them go, and if the surface is desert, then find out oil within.
Paramahaṁsa: But their answer would be: "Well, even if we found oil, it would be impossible to bring it to the earth."
Indian man: They can make up tanks.
Prabhupāda: No, you can make devices, fill it up, and throw it. (laughter) (break) ...mad, you should give them mad suggestion. (laughter) (end)
Prabhupāda: Such boat does not drown?
Viṣṇujana: They keep it up by huge air tanks. By holding so much air they keep the cement up. (break)
Prabhupāda: ...ficial means. Otherwise it will drown.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Sink, yeah. (break)
Prabhupāda: ...officially closed. (break) ...water increases? I don't think. It does not.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: The lake water, doesn't increase. (break)
Prabhupāda: ...never. (break) Dirty water?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: This is a boat ramp, where they let boats down. The water doesn't look very clean.
Brahmānanda: There's a lot of shipping in these lakes.
Devotee 1: They also pump a lot of refuse from the industry in there. I think it's polluted. (break)
Prabhupāda: In India still, in the villages they do not know, other than this wood fuel, anything else. They are misusing these trees by cutting, manufacturing paper, heaps of paper, in each house throwing daily. They do not read, but they are supplied heaps of paper and cutting these trees. Simply waste. Now wood and paper shortage all over the world. It takes so much time to grow, and one day they cut hundreds of trees like this and put into the paper mill. And heaps of paper is given every house, and he throws away. Then you bring garbage tank. In this way, waste.
Nityānanda: There are some beehives down here behind this building. I have twelve, and every year we can get hundreds of pounds of honey. Honey is very nice because it does not spoil, just like ghee. It can keep for many, many months, or a long time. We can go up here to see the cows if you like. Right now they are milking them.
Prabhupāda: So if we go, it will be disturbed?
1976 Conversations and Morning Walks
Prabhupāda: Huh?
Harikesa: The soldiers, they start the war. One stands on one side, the other stands on the other side, and there's one shot, one shot, ten shots, ten shots, then mortars, then tanks, then atom bombs.
Prabhupāda: No, why this is? If you have improved scientifically, let two, three scientists keep flying and the handy atom bomb. As soon as war starts, "plum," finished.
Harikesa: They have that also.
Prabhupāda: Then.... Why also? That should be the only. It is waste of time. What kind of scientists they are? If you have actually improved in science for killing others by atom bomb, so keep one atom bomb very carefully. Fly in the sky. And as soon as the war-world, "plum." Finished.
Prabhupāda: I told that this is being farce, and somebody told me you have guaranteed. And the other day, when I was walking, I said, "This is going to be farce," and somebody told me, "They have guaranteed."
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Around the kuṇḍa, around the tank, putting up there, paṇḍal.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: The same man?
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: No.
Prabhupāda: Where is Jayapatāka?
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Jayapatāka Mahārāja. (break) ...almost sixty years.
Prabhupāda: Sixty years, they could not do any of these books. And still they are envious. Within sixty years they could not attract any foreign student or any book published. And still, they are proud. They have got all the blessings of Bhaktisiddhānta.
Prabhupāda: (break) ...purify the whole atmosphere. (break) ...world we are all condemned. Still, Kṛṣṇa has given so many facilities. There is a Bengali proverb. Bondhīr astekur bhaga.(?) Ast kur(?) means the place of garbage. If a aristocrat asks that "You have to live in my garbage place," "Oh, that is also better." Similarly, Kṛṣṇa.... This is garbage. This material world is garbage. Still, we live so comfortably. Now just imagine what is His dhāma. It is the garbage tank. Still so nice. And just think what is His real place, Goloka Vṛndāvana. (break)
Jayapatāka: ...gave us a very good record, very clean.
Prabhupāda: Purest in the world.
Prabhupāda: Yes, on the top, so high. There is no pipe. There is no pump, nothing. You do it. Instead of calling a plumber, you do something that the water will come in this tank.
Devotee (2): Well, they will say that the roots of the tree is bringing the water up.
Prabhupāda: That is a nonsense. You make such root and bring water here. Then your scientific knowledge will be proved. But you cannot do it. Can you do it? We are spending so much money for bringing water. Bring that root and bring water.
Madhudviṣa: We have done better. We can do it faster. Within, within a few minutes we can bring so much water here. You must...
Indian: (break) ...nobody. Only (indistinct) would come here, they would stay here for a few hours and then go back.
Prabhupāda: The tank is not with water.
Indian: Yes, they used to have water at both sides of the inside. Now, probably, they are short of water or they have switched on to agriculture. So many they used to have flowers and tulasī and all that. Now they have come to agriculture-wheat, barley.
Prabhupāda: Money. Such a nice tank is vacant.
Indian: I remember my young days. People, young boys, they used to come swim here.
Prabhupāda: Oh. Just see. So you may pay them, say, 150, 200 rupees each. Then it will be all maintained, and that much money you can spend.
Hari-śauri: I used to have a friend that was in the Merchant Navy. He was working on oil tankers. So he would only go on the runs to Vietnam. The oil tankers were always in danger of being blown up, so they had to pay them twice as much as any other job just to simply go to Vietnam, and then he would get a huge bonus as well. So he would only work on those jobs.
Prabhupāda: So the modern civilization, there is no program for peaceful, happy life. Things are becoming more and more problematic. Everywhere. Here our Kīrtanānanda Mahārāja is asking everyone to go to his New Vrindaban. There is no problem. We have seen yesterday pictures of our New Vrindaban. There is no problem. Practical. If you can see the picture, you'll see that they have no problem. Is there any problem?
Prabhupāda: What was that argument? (laughs)
Jayādvaita: He said that two fish are swimming in a tank, and one fish said to the other fish that there must be God because someone must be changing the water in the tank. So he was trying to ridicule that these fish are speculating something. But I just said to the students, "So this is a very good conversation. The fish is intelligent. There must be someone who is running the environment, nature." So he couldn't say anything against us, although he was trying to be a big atheist.
Prabhupāda: What was the point?
Jayādvaita: He was trying to show somehow that these foolish fish were speculating something just to make some story that would sound..., that this is a ridiculous thing to think. But it was a very sensible thing to think.
Prabhupāda: What is that sensible thing?
Jayādvaita: That the environment is being controlled by someone, not by us. So there is someone superior. So I just said that to his students, "So your professor is giving a good example."
Prabhupāda: What is this? Another barn?
Kīrtanānanda: This is an oxbarn here.
Prabhupāda: No, this.
Kīrtanānanda: That tank? That tank we are making for grain storage.
Prabhupāda: Oh, much improvement. (end)
Prabhupāda: That mercy depends on Him. You cannot dictate Him. If I am merciful, that will depend on me, whether I can show you mercy or I can condemn you. That is, depends on me. Simply on the basis of "God is merciful," I can do all unlawful things, this is not practical proposal. Merciful means it depends on me. Whether I shall show mercy or I shall be very strong and strict, that is my will, freedom. I may show you mercy, I may not show. You cannot force me, that "You must become merciful." That is not right. God is really merciful. Otherwise, how He's supplying this... In the morning if a fog, so God mercifully has asked sun, "Now give them some sunlight." So we are enjoying. He is merciful. When there is sunshine you see the sinful man and the pious man, both enjoy. That is His mercy. When he bestows His mercy, it is for all of them, either you are sinner or you are pious. That is God's mercy. Just like the cloud when it pours water, it does not make any discrimination. On the sea, there is also rainfall; on the rocks also, there is rainfall, where there is no necessity of rain. Therefore where is necessity of rainfall on rock? What is the use? There is no use. It is simply waste. So God also wastes: "All right, you take. You don't require; you also take." In the ocean there is no need of water, but when... The cloud pours water on the ocean also. Only on the land we can utilize, but God is so merciful, exactly like the raincloud, He is so merciful, where there is no necessity they are also getting rain, "Take rain." That is merciful. Without any discrimination, whether you want or not want, "Take it." That is mercy. You can show your mercy when there is scarcity water—you can bring some tanks of water from other places and put here—but how long you'll do it?
Prabhupāda: Vegetables, ghee, milk, wheat, then what do you want more?
Kīrtanānanda: The wheat is just about ready for harvest.
Prabhupāda: No, I mean to say we can grow all these things and eat very nicely. Where is economic problem? Yajñād bhavati parjanyo parjanyād anna-sambhavaḥ. (break)
Kīrtanānanda: It's full of cow stool and urine.
Prabhupāda: Ācchā, for fertilizer?
Kīrtanānanda: Yes, fertilizer. Nothing is wasted.
Prabhupāda: You can make gas also.
Kīrtanānanda: Yes. That was originally an oil tank. (end)
Prabhupāda: There is an example. In a water tank you throw one stone. It becomes a circle. And the circle expands, expands, expands unless the circle comes to the shore. Similarly our loving affair begins from personal self to family, from family to society, community, nation, international. But still, it is imperfect unless the circle reaches to the lotus feet of God. Then it is satisfied. Svāmin kṛtārtho 'smi varaṁ na yāce (CC Madhya 22.42). Here, any loving affairs, that is more or less lusty. A man or woman love each other with some desire, not without desire. That desire is sense gratification. But actually that is lust not love. Pure love can be exchanged in relationship with God. Here there are temporary... A boy, a girl or a man, a woman in relationship of love but it breaks as soon as the lusty desire is not fulfilled. So here there is no question of love. It is all lusty desire. Real love can be achieved when it is exchanged with Kṛṣṇa or God. Premā pum-artho mahān, that is the recommendation given by Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Prabhupāda: They have got large quantity of milk in Philadelphia.
Jayatīrtha: Oh, yes, very good cows there. They bought the best cows, first-class cows.
Prabhupāda: They have got tank, one-fourth of this room.
Bhagavān: In New Vrindaban?
Jayatīrtha: No, in Philadelphia, New Barṣaṇa. First-class farm.
Prabhupāda: They have very well managed. And everyone is eating very nicely. (laughter) Similarly in New Vrindaban. What is the.... I want this, that you have sufficient grain, sufficient milk, then where is your economic question? And from milk, by intelligence you can get so many preparation-luci, puri, halava, rasagulla, sandesh, rabri, wonderful.
George Harrison: Of milk? Who owns this? Who milks the cows?
Gurudāsa: Some of the devotees.
Prabhupāda: We have got tanks for storing milk, tanks.
George Harrison: Yes?
Prabhupāda: Yes. All up-to-date refrigerator and everything. That extra milk they are selling. Similarly, in New Vrindaban we are getting one thousand pounds milk daily. One thousand pounds.
Mukunda: That's our place in West Virginia.
George Harrison: How many cows? Must be hundred of them.
Prabhupāda: But the Philadelphia is more organized.
George Harrison: No, just, well, that (indistinct) pond. Originally the lakes all were filled just like this as well as flooding the drains, and when it rained off the house everything would go, and we have a big storage tank, and then there's ball cocks, and underneath that big bank of rhododendrons was like a room built there, which was a storage tank. Then any other water he must have used just from the mains. But these days, you know, they have meters on the mains, so you have to pay for every gallon.
Mukunda: What about getting those water diviners to come and find water?
George Harrison: Well, you can find it I think anywhere if you just bore a hole. So what we did was just bore at the end of the lake. But you have to go down to the depth of the riverbed, and there there's not much water because the rain, it's all chalk and limestone, so the rains.... That's the problem with watering in the summer, if you put water...
Prabhupāda: From your house the river is near?
George Harrison: Yes.
Prabhupāda: Thames?
Prabhupāda: ...fruits, flowers, also grains, milk sufficient. In one farm, Philadelphia, they are producing so much milk that they are selling $1500 per month. And they've arranged so nice, and big tank. And the pipes regularly as they do in dairy farm. When it is not working, only hot water is passing through the pipes to keep them clean. And one cow, the milk bag is so big. He gives 102 pounds daily. Similarly, in France also we have got farm. New Orleans, Philadelphia, West Virginia, we have got four or five.
Kartikeya Mahadevia: San Diego near Los Angeles.
Prabhupāda: Yes. And all of them are successful. This time I installed Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma Deity in France.
Kartikeya Mahadevia: Paris, near Paris.
Prabhupāda: We cannot keep money and without any... They will give interest. What is that interest? And he said we have printed fifty paisa and selling hundred paisa. So that much interest they cannot give. They'll give, utmost, ten percent. Ten percent per annum—not even one percent in a month.
Gargamuni: Your books will be our bank.
Prabhupāda: Yes. We have got business. Why shall I keep in the bank? This is the policy. If your money is idle, we can spend it in our books, in our purchasing land in temple, constructing temple, developing... So where you got that water? Water's there? Don't touch that water.
Hari-śauri: No, there's one bucket of mixed with half a bucket of hot water. Yesterday what happened, the tank, some blockage... (End)
Prabhupāda: United States. So you have got certain area. But when you go to the seaside, then who is the proprietor of the sea? As philosopher, will you not think it?
Dr. Kneupper: There is no proprietor, strictly speaking.
Prabhupāda: Why no proprietor? A small tank if you dig, you immediately claim, "This is my tank," and such a big ocean, and there is no proprietor? As philosopher, how you can think like that?
Dr. Kneupper: Well, I think of what is the basis of... (break)
Prabhupāda: Suppose I go in a park. There is nice tank, reservoir of water, very decorated. And if I think, "There is no proprietor," is it not my foolishness? There must be one proprietor, but I do not know him. That is real sense. Similarly, everything has got proprietor. Why the sea and the land, the so many other things, why there is no proprietor? This is foolishness.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Mahāṁśa: This whole rocky area which we see here used to be like a natural dam, and the land on that side which is now our field used to be a big tank so the soil there is very good. It's like silt. But then, afterwards, somebody had cut through this natural dam and there's a canal that flows through here and goes into that tank over there.
Prabhupāda: The canal is in our land?
Mahāṁśa: Yes, it passes through our land. Plenty of water, and it goes and flows into that land, into that tank.
Prabhupāda: So but you cannot use that?
Prabhupāda: So but you cannot use that?
Mahāṁśa: That tank is not practical to use, to pump so far. But we can dam this again and make a reservoir and let the excess flow. But they won't let us stop all the water because it will ruin their fields but we can stop a part of the water for our field. We can get a good source reservoir of water over here.
Hari-śauri: Tejas is getting breakfast ready, I think.
Jagadīśa: Yeah, he has to cook.
Devotee: You can see the canal from here. You can see (indistinct).
Hari-śauri: Just down there at the base of that rock.
Prabhupāda: Kṛṣṇa is taking with great pleasure. That prasādam you have to distribute. Not that dog is rejecting and you have and you distribute that prasādam. Why do you think like that? This prasādam, this so-called, rubbish thing which is rejected by dog and you are offering to the human being. You do it. If you have no money I shall pay. There is no question of scarcity of money. Don't spoil money, but spend for real purpose, that's all. And you arrange for huge agricultural... Whatever is required, water, we shall arrange for that. Labor. Everything. And if you perform yajña, there will be rain. Anyway, I asked you the other day to fill up the tank. What is the difficulty?
Mahāṁśa: Which tank?
Prabhupāda: That big tank. Well, big well.
Devotee (1): Just here. The one that's been pumped empty. Anyway the big empty...
Prabhupāda: But you were surprised. You do not know that we have got a big well here.
Mahāṁśa: The one that we drink water from?
Prabhupāda: Why the well is empty? There is no water. He's surprised. As if dropping from the sky. You do not know that well?
Mahāṁśa: It's just a tank.
Prabhupāda: Tank, yes. Why it is empty?
Mahāṁśa: Because I didn't know what purpose it will serve by filling it.
Prabhupāda: Filling it, we shall pump and distribute water. You shall fit pipes. And pump water and distribute to the field, so there will be no scarcity of water, and produce. What it was meant, you do not know?
Mahāṁśa: No, right now, that field does not need water to...
Prabhupāda: Then why you are not growing there something?
Prabhupāda: Ha. So why, when you will arrange? Arrange it immediately.
Mahāṁśa: Yes, before...
Prabhupāda: And that is also one of the water pool to solve water problem. The tank. Do you follow what I say?
Mahāṁśa: Yes.
Prabhupāda: You fill up the tank and by pumping through pipe, you distribute water.
Jagadīśa: The viaducts are already there.
Mahāṁśa: Yes.
Prabhupāda: If you have got water filled up in that tank, we can water so many lands. We shall spend for that. We shall... Pipe line, pumping. Here is so much land we can produce gur (?). But you have no brain. Produce gur, get money and spend it for Kṛṣṇa. This is wanted. Not simply planning and talking. The world is suffering for want of right planning. Otherwise, there is no question of suffering. Pūrṇam idam, complete it is, everything complete. That is the Vedic verse. Why (indistinct) ...incomplete means he's rascals. That supply (break) and still all right.
Prabhupāda: And you are expert. Do it immediately. If there is requires some money, we shall pay. Fill up. What is the difficulty in filling up this tank?
Mahāṁśa: I'm not still understanding which tank you are... Because there are many tanks...
Devotees: (indistinct—all speak at once)
Harikeśa: ...it's empty.
Mahāṁśa: No one ever swim in here. We took out water to water the fields.
Prabhupāda: So why it is empty? Have it filled up.
Mahāṁśa: How to fill? It has to come by itself. The water comes from the recuperation from the soil, so it is not in our hands to fill it. It just comes by itself slowly. It takes six days. If we empty the well it takes takes 6 days to fill it.
Prabhupāda: No, no. By the... By digging a well or something you cannot...
Prabhupāda: Where is that sitting place?
Dr. Patel: (Hindi) Go down. (break)
Prabhupāda: Harer nāma eva kevalam, kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva (CC Adi 17.21). (break) ...is a big tank of Calcutta Gas Company. That looks like this.
Dr. Patel: We have got also tank like this in Bombay. We have also gas company tanks. It's in (indistinct). We have bigger tanks here of the petroleum companies. Huge tanks, petroleum tanks.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Guru dāsa: When I was in Northern Ireland preaching, they blew it up. The gas tank, by bombs. They blew the whole gas tank up.
Prabhupāda: Where?
1977 Conversations and Morning Walks
Prabhupāda: That is very good. There our men suffer very much. If that room is available, then it is very good.
Gurudāsa: They made a... Abhirama made a bathroom. He put four tanks on the top, and there's running water in that bathroom.
Prabhupāda: In our side?
Gurudāsa: In the one we have.
Prabhupāda: That's all right.
Gurudāsa: So that's somewhat of an improvement.
Prabhupāda: Yes, why not? Improvement can be done. There is space. Anyway, if we get the down room, it will solve a problem. What is the rent?
Prabhupāda: Some of them should go there, in the pond.
Abhirāma: I have just informed today.
Prabhupāda: Yes. When you have got that water tank, it is enjoyable, more, to take bath.
Abhirāma: Yes. It is Ganga water also, Ganga water.
Prabhupāda: Yes. So as soon as possible they should go there.
Hari-śauri: I bathed there this afternoon. It was all right.
Prabhupāda: Yes, it is very nice. Avagana-bhak. (?) To dip into the water is refreshing, very refreshing. It is enjoyable. You artificially create tank in your country, bathing tank. And here is tank. Why should you not enjoy?
Hari-śauri: Swimming pools.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Abhirāma: Gargamuni Swami says it is contaminated, that water.
Prabhupāda: It is contaminated for you, not for us. Why contaminated? So many people are taking. In Bengal, all villagers, they take bath in the pond, this tank. Large quantity, water, is not contaminated. A small quantity, water, is contaminated.
Abhirāma: Everything is there, the fish and this...
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Abhirāma: Everything is keeping it clean. So Śrīla Prabhupāda? I have built one home at Māyāpur. Perhaps you have been told. My plan was to leave my wife there because she likes a peaceful place. City life she cannot live. And I would stay in Calcutta, say, four days a week and go on weekends to Māyāpur.
Prabhupāda: Oh, long distance.
Gargamuni: Yes. Very long flight. So I was number 15,000 on the list. Everybody camped out at the airport. Because of the war everyone wanted to leave. So there was a line of 15,000 people. They gave me my number. I was 15,000. So we waited at the airport. I said, "I can't wait here," because the bombs were dropping and the tanks were coming and the troops were coming and... I said, "I gotta get out of here." So I spoke with the commander, and I played him a tape of kīrtana. I had a tape, and they... All the officers, they were Mussulmen from Pakistan, and they started clapping: "Oh, kīrtana." You know. So I asked him, "Could you allow me to go on board before all the others? There's no use in us staying here. Who knows what will happen? We are foreigners." We were dressed as sādhus also. So he allowed us to go on in front of everyone. So we managed to leave.
Prabhupāda: What was the condition at that time, general, during the war?
Gargamuni: Where? In Dacca?
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Gargamuni: So there was great fear in the hearts of the people 'cause they're very small. And all of the equipment was imported from America, all the tanks, the jeeps, all the planes and—all American
Prabhupāda: Why American patronize Pakistan?
Gargamuni: Because... Against Russia. India is with Russia. And China... Also the Pakistanis... When I was in Pakistan, they have great love for the Chinese people. When I was there it was more than the Americans. They liked the Chinese more than the Americans. 'Cause I went to the Karachi University 'cause I thought we could start some preaching there. So I met the professor of philosophy and he had agreed that we could give some lecture, but not on Indian culture but on yoga or something. So the students there were very much... They liked the Chinese. They were always talking, "Oh, China." So China is also opposed to Russia. So in this way the sides were taken. But it's a hellish place there. It's all sand.
Prabhupāda: Karachi.
Hari-śauri: But what is the use of having big strong body if now they're using airplanes and tanks and guns.
Prabhupāda: That is your useless waste of time. Why? Therefore the war does not stop, unnecessary war, and such a big war, Kurukṣetra, in eighteen days it is finished. This is decision. And this is going on, continually war, strain, politics, diplomacy, lecture, Parliament. There is no finishing of war. There is no finishing. It will go on. Just like same example: If you keep the dogs as dogs, they'll going on barking. It will never finish. So this is the civilization of dog work. It is not human civilization. Therefore it is going on. War is not stopped. Where is stop? War is stopped? No. Going on. And it will go on because they are dogs. You cannot stop their barking. There are so many things. If we follow the instruction of Bhagavad-gītā, then whole world will be... This is a fact. Now, how to implement it, that is another thing. It is a fact.
Prabhupāda: Oh. Both of them are very old?
Patita-pāvana: No. The wife is rather old. He has some problem with lungs. He's about sixty-five. The other is seventy-two. The other one walks like a Sherman tank, very powerful.
Prabhupāda: So we cannot give...
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: What we could do...
Prabhupāda: Here there is no difficulty with lift.
Patita-pāvana: With the lift, yes. Fine.
Prabhupāda: It is luxurious. (break) ...the āṭā dough. So after it is cooked... They have got ghee. That ball soaked in ghee and the ḍāl, it is so nice when taken. That is called baṭī. Very quickly made. And after eating, with that ash the two or three utensils, mean the loṭā and the plate, they'll cleanse it very nice and walk away. And that food is sufficient for twenty-four hours. Within twenty-four hours he will not be hungry and feel very strong. The two things. And you can cook anywhere without any difficulty. In India, especially in village, you can get so many dried cow dung. So fuel is ready. The āṭā is packed up. And ghee in a pot. That's all. How simple life. Simply they'll sit down where there is water, and they'll take water. Then everything is arranged. No hotel. Or even there is no āṭā, they keep their own ghee, homemade, pure. Āṭā can be purchased anywhere in the village. There is no need of carrying āṭā. So this preparation for tourists... Tourists, Indian tourists, means going to some holy place. They have no other sightseeing, no program. All villagers, they are still... The pilgrimage in holy places, now no educated man goes. Very rarely. All these villagers by thousands... They... You see this Tirupati, Tirumala. All the contribution by the villagers. By their hard-earned money they keep something for going. You have seen Tirupati, Tirumal...? Standing for hours to contribute in a line. Hundreds of people. They'll come, contribute something. Then they'll shave their head, see the Deity, have some bath in the adjoining lake. Then they'll take prasādam. That is very big tank. Everywhere. In India, wherever some famous temple is there, there is a tank. Now the haircutting, that lakhs of rupees are sold to foreign countries is hair. Heaps.
Prabhupāda: That's all. (break) (Hindi)
Guest (1): (Hindi) (Hindi conversation)
Prabhupāda: (Hindi) Then why we have to make another tank?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: They said that the... If we want water in that bathroom, then we have to have our own water hookup there.
Prabhupāda: Who said?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: The electric men who came there, the men from the electricity department. Their point was that there's more parties using the water than just ourselves. So if we do not... There has to be some way of determining who's using what water supply.
Prabhupāda: Talk with the same man.
Prabhupāda: Oh, this is made of..., the outer portion is made of candle? No.
Śrutakīrti: Yes, all wax. Most of it is all just plain white wax, and then you have different color waxes, tanks of different colors so you'll dip it in one tank. You have to do that several times. And then they just get a knife and slit on different angles and twist it.
Prabhupāda: Something artistic, wonderful.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: It's really attractive. Gurukṛpā Mahārāja was telling me that the people, not just young people, but people of all ages are attracted to buying such a nice-looking thing. Even an old grandmother would be proud to have such a candle, not just young people. All ages, all types.
Prabhupāda: Get a new life all around. No depression, no hopelessness. Is it not? American boys and girls, they became so much depressed out of hopelessness. Now here is a life, future. Your latest Back to Godhead is very nice. (indistinct)
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Oh, I got the advice. Today I got the, ad... I wrote to the Bombay office of Central Bank. I wrote a letter to... You wrote a letter. Girirāja wrote a letter to Central Bank of India, Bombay, Gwalior Tank. And just today... When Prasannātmā Prabhu went there... I told him to go to the bank, and he got the advice, and I received it today-four lakhs received on time before the tenth and deposited and credited to our account, in time for gaining interest this month.
Prabhupāda: So it is all right.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Oh, yes. Transaction is complete. I just got it today.
Girirāja: Thanks for telling me.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I just got it.
Girirāja: Śrīla Prabhupāda, I have a present for you from Lord Kṛṣṇa, Śrīnāthajī. This is a coat which was worn by Him. So, He sent it to you.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Śrīnāthajī wore that?
Guest (1): Paddy is good this year. They have grown. There was drought. For one month there had been no rains when it should have been, in September. Whole of September was dry. Otherwise entire twenty acres of paddy they had, and six acres which is fed from irrigation from tanks is very good. Paddy, maize also. (break)
Prabhupāda: Things are improving.
Guest (1): Yes, they are. There is no worry as far as the management of the temple and farm is concerned.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Mahāṁśa is doing nicely.
Guest (1): Both are very much dedicated and devoted.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Tejiyas is doing nice?
Guest (1): Tejiyas, his movements are too many. That is a problem.
Prabhupāda: Hm?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Your sister. I'm just calling right now. (break) (long pause-Śrīla Prabhupāda is sleeping) ...of the different businesses of Vrindavan? Well, first of all he was getting money for traveling expenses. So I have written a letter to Mr. Bekkar, the manager of the Central Bank of India at Camac Street, informing him that henceforward the interest from the fixed deposits in the name of BBT should be stopped from giving it to Vrinda Book Company, and instead the money should be transferred by mail transfer to the Central Bank of India, Gwalior Tank Road, to BBT account. I gave all the details. That's one letter. Then furthermore, I also addressed a letter to the Punjab National Bank, Brabourn Road, informing them that the Rs. 500 should be stopped from being given to Shrimati Radharani De, because... I didn't mention this, but the reason is that she'll be getting one thousand rupees from Indian Overseas Bank. And I'm sending that letter...
Prabhupāda: Oh... Has Indian Overseas arranged?
Prabhupāda: Then next incarnation is Bhṛgupati, Paraśurāma. Paraśurāma is a śaktyaveṣa avatāra. So He, twenty-one times, killed the kṣatriyas. So out of Paraśurāma's fear, all the kṣatriyas, they migrated towards Europe, it is said in the history, Mahābhārata. So twenty-one times he attacked all the kṣatriyas. They were not in order, so He killed them, and there is a big tank in Kurukṣetra where all the bloods were reserved. Later on it became water. So kṣatriya-rudhira, in order to pacify the aggrieved Earth, He soaked the earth with the blood of the kṣatriyas, snapayasi payasi ṣamita-bhava-tāpam.
Vitarasi dikṣu raṇe dik-pati-kamanīyaṁ daśa-mukha-mauli-balim ramaṇīyam. Then next avatāra is Rāmacandra. So the Rāvaṇa, who had ten heads, he challenged the Lord, and Lord Rāmacandra took up the challenge and killed him. Then vahasi vapuṣi viśade vasanaṁ jaladābhaṁ hala-hati-bhīti-milita-yamunābham. When Baladeva wanted Yamunā to come near Him, so she was not coming. Therefore with His plow He wanted to bifurcate the earth, and at that time Yamunā submitted, and she came near to the Lord. Hala-hati-bhīti-yamunā, hala-hati-bhīti-milita-yamunābham, Yamunā was punished by Lord Baladeva. Keśava dhṛta-haladhara-rūpa, hala, haladhara means plow, haladhara-rūpa jaya jagadīśa hare.
Correspondence
1968 Correspondence
Regarding our Gaudiya Math in Bombay: I am very sorry that you are disappointed in respect of their activities. I know this fact because in 1934 I was one of the active members in starting this Math. The Gowalia Tank center was opened by me, and although I lived separately from the Math, practically I was in charge of the Math and under the instructions from His Divine Grace. Then after His Departure, you know so many unhappy things happened, but, as I was a householder, I remained always aloof from those unhappy incidences. I have accepted this renounced order of life in 1958, and since then I am completely devoted to the service of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. You'll be very glad to know that by the Grace of Srila Prabhupada, the duty which was entrusted upon me is being discharged as faithfully as possible, and by the Mercy of His Divine Grace, I have got here many American boys and girls, who are sincerely assisting me. I have got 8 branches in U.S.A. and one in Canada, and probably my next move will be in European countries, beginning from London.
1970 Correspondence
In the meantime, while writing this letter, I have received your letter dated 1st June, 1970, and I am glad to know that the program for Rathayatra is well under way.
Regarding your first question, the bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannatha is observed by His Lordship standing in a bathing tank while each of the devotees in turn offers prayers and obeisances, then pours water to bathe the Lord, then offers obeisances and the next devotee follows the same procedure. All the other devotees are holding kirtana throughout the bathing ceremony which takes place on June 19th.
Regarding your second question, after being bathed, Lord Jagannatha catches fever and at that time you may carry Him along with Balaramaji and Subhadra to my room for recovering. During this time, up to Rathayatra, any repairs may be made. In Jagannatha Puri during this recuperation period the Deities are completely repainted. But that is especially in Jagannatha Puri that this is done so.
On October 28th, 1970 I had to advise you to transfer by mail Rs. 1,728 to your Gwalia Tank Branch in Bombay and the copy of the advice is sent herewith.
The money was immediately deposited with your cashier and I possess the receipt slip, but here in Bombay your Gwalia Tank Branch says that they have not received the money.
1971 Correspondence
You have so kindly desired to contribute Rs. 500 in this connection. So you can conveniently directly send this money by Mail Transfer, to my book fund account, no. HSS 14538 in the Central Bank of India, Gowalia Tank branch, Bombay. The procedure is that you go to the local Central Bank in Surat and ask them to transfer your money by mail which is technically called M.T. So there will be no difficulty. You can simply intimate me that you have transferred such and such amount through the Central Bank at Surat. Then I'll take care of it.
We have now taken a very nice floor in Bombay; the address is given above as our CAMP address. By the end of March we will have Deity installation ceremony for one week. At that time, if possible please come and join us. I hope you are reading my books with interest and any questions that arise out of such studies may be inquired from me directly. Very soon you'll receive all the other books, as they have arrived in Bombay.
Please transfer from Central Bank of India, Gowalia Tank Branch Account of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Book Fund Account, (HSS Account #14538) the sum of Rs. 2756/76 to Central Bank of India, Head Office, in favor of International Society for Krishna Consciousness Building Fund (Current Account #9/381.)
Central Bank of India, Head Office, Bombay
"International Society for Krishna Consciousness Building Fund," Current Account No. ?????.
Central Bank of India, Gowalia Tank Road Branch, Bombay
"A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Book Fund"
"International Society for Krishna Consciousness Book Fund" H.S.S. Account No. ??????
I am very anxious that Hindi Back to Godhead publication may go on as soon as possible, so work combinedly with Dr. Rao and others in this connection. In the meantime, you can get registered in Delhi and I shall let you know about Vrndavana at a later date. For now, Delhi will do.
All book sale proceeds should be immediately transferred by mail transfer. 50% should go to the book fund account and 50% to the building fund account. The building fund account number is 9-381, Central Bank, head office. The book fund account number is 14538, Central Bank, Gowalia Tank branch, Bombay.
The visa problem is also most urgent. If we cannot stay in India, what is the use of purchasing a house and taking so much risk?
I have already sent Central Bank a letter to change my book fund to "ISKCON Book Fund" but they have not replied, so you can send the money to the original book fund account, no. 14538; Central Bank of India, Gowalia Tank Road Branch; Warden Court, 79-81; Gowalia Tank Road; Bombay-26. So far as the Gorakhpur situation, I am writing to Durdaivanasana (D.L. Chopra) about this.
Yes, Revatinandana and Madhudvisa Swami will go there just as soon as you send money for their passage, and they will take the marble Deities with them also. And I shall be going there also by the 13rd May via Kuala Lumpur and Sydney. For the throne design you will have to write Gurudasa in Delhi (c/o S.K. Joshi; 4-A Kamala Nagar) about it. There is no such photo here. You have got idea of the length and breadth of the throne already. It should be as you have done in Gorakhpur.
You can tell Tamala that in Bombay, the book fund deposit is in the name of International Society for Krishna Consciousness. The account no. is 14876, in Gowalia Tank branch of Central Bank of India. So you can directly transfer book fund money to Bombay by mail transfer.
Enclosed please find a copy of a letter sent to the Manager, Central Bank of India, Camac Street Branch. Henceforward, you can send all book fund a/c collections to Bombay for credit in International Society for Krishna Consciousness Book Fund Account no. 14876, Gowalia Tank Branch, Bombay-26.
Also I have received one letter from Gurudasa Prabhu dated 21st July, 1971 and have noted the contents. I have received report from Bombay that things are going on very nicely there, so there is no need for him to go there at the present time.
On the whole our account should be kept very nicely because we are dealing with the public's money.
In Calcutta there is no International Society Book fund a/c. So all book fund money may be directly transferred by mail to Gowalia Tank Road Branch of Central Bank of India to account number 14876. Central Bank will dispatch free of charges. Gowalia Branch has already issued a letter in this connection that all mail transfer will be free of charges.
Regarding exporting of mrdangas, I am very glad that you are in charge of this department. It is so nice that you are taking care of temple affairs and exporting of instruments, beads, etc.
1972 Correspondence
(Gwalior Tank Branch) Gwalior Tank Bombay, Central Bank of India
P.S. One devotee Dharmavira is offering one apartment in his possession in Patel Nagar. Gurudasa is returning soon to occupy the place. I think you can live there and work cooperatively.
There is no difficulty to send all of the vouchers and receipts for materials to Bombay, so I want that you shall send all of them, never mind their amount.
Why it shall take so long to have one tube well made there? We must have water. Or erect a tank, just like in front of Vrndavana station. Water supply must be there sufficient. I do not think it will take very much time to dig one tube well, in Mayapur they have dug two tube wells very quickly. Some way or other before the rainy season begins all bricks must be purchased so they will be able to soak in the rainwater, just as in Mayapur.
So we have made friends with the Singhanias. Padmapat Singhania can alone construct the temple. He is a Vaisnava devotee of Lord Krishna and he wanted to construct one temple in New York but the government did not allow exchange. Guru dasa can go to see him and ask him to construct one temple on our behalf.
Also, there are some Hindi translators here in Los Angeles who are willing to send you regularly articles for Back To Godhead, so you may open correspondence with them also. They are named Vinode and Niranjana, husband and wife, and you may address them in care of Los Angeles temple. One thing, it is not good if we engage any professional translators, our own men must do the work. As soon as you receive payment for BTG's you may deposit immediately in the book fund account in Bombay and acknowledge to me. ISKCON Book Fund a/c is in Central Bank Gowalia Tank Branch, Bombay.
We have fenced the land but otherwise we have done nothing. So immediately bricks must be bought so they can sit during the rainy season and become soaked. A tube well must be dug immediately. I don't know why it was not done. If needed we can draw up the water by pump and store it in a tank, just like before Vrndavana Station. We shall require much water for construction and for the vegetation. So a water supply must be there. We must have our own well, sweet or salty, it does not matter. So far the land of Mr. Dalmia, first develop what you have got. Or if they will accept a low price, or if we pay him the Rs. 60,000/- whether he will pay us back as donation? Your proposal for a separate asrama for women, that is a very nice proposal, and that must be done. At present, at all of our temples around the world no husband and wife live together.
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 9, 1972, wherein you have told me the water from the well is sweet. That is very good news. Now erect one large tank, similar to the one in front of Vrindaban station. Pump the water into the tank and store it. Water in Vrindaban, if it is sweet, it is very digestive, and simply by drinking water one becomes healthy. So far the sign is concerned, you can call our place the ISKCON Krsna-Balarama Temple.
Regarding the Cox and Kings proposal, that is very nice. I have no idea about Haridwar and Hrshikesa. I think Acyutananda was there, along with Harivilasa. But our point is that the tourists may concentrate in Vrindaban with us, live with us, and learn from us the spiritual life. What is the use of wandering here and there, simply seeing this and that and going home? Our main business is to teach them Krishna Consciousness.
After I have discussed this matter thoroughly with Ksirodakasayi, I will let you know. But one thing is, why there should be disagreement between you? Our process is to work cooperatively, otherwise how the things will go on? And whether Acyutananda will stick there? If you and Acyutananda can manage, then there is no need of Ksirodakasayi coming there. The water with slightly iron taste is not bad, so you may construct the tank as before decided. One thing is, the 2 1/2% interest to be charged by the architect, Mr. Suri, that is too much. Why he should not donate his services? Sometimes in the past months you have told me that Mr. Suri would be donating his services. We shall not pay fees for such things. Now in Vrindaban the financial situation is being conducted nicely by Gargamuni Maharaja, but the work is not going on. In so many months, there is only one fence one small hut, and a well. So I think it will be to the advantage, on the whole, to invite our Tamala Krsna Goswami to come to Vrindaban and bring one of his qualified engineer friends from Calcutta to do the work in Vrindaban.
With reference to the above Account in the name of the International Society for Krishna consciousness Book Fund, said Account shall be closed and terminated, after first transferring (1) the sum of Rs. 10,000/= (Rupees Ten thousand Only) to our Account No., Central Bank of India, Head Branch, Flora Fountain, Bombay-l, (ISKCON Building Fund Account), and (2) the sum of Rs. 19,000/= (Rupees Nineteen Thousand Only) to my personal Account No. 14876 with your Bank CBI, Gwalior Tank Branch. The entire balance in the above Account, after transferring the abovementioned two sums, shall be divided as follows: (1) Re. 1,00,000/= (Rupees One Lakh only) shall be entered into a Fixed Term Deposit for the period of Fifteen Days (15 Days) Only, after which time it shall be transferred as per my Advice; I, the undersigned, shall be the sole operator;
(2) Rs. 1,00,000/= (Rupees One Lakh Only) shall be entered into a Fixed Term Deposit, being divided into Two sums of Rs. 50,000/= (Rupees Fifty Thousand ), each sum for the period of Six Months Only (6 months); furthermore, a Recurring Interest Account shall be opened in my name and the Interest on this Amount shall be transferred monthly into the Recurring Interest Account; furthermore, the said Fixed Term Deposit Account shall be in the name of "Bhaktivedanta Book Trust Fund," as per the enclosed copy of the Trust Agreement, and I, the undersigned, shall be the sole operator of the Account;
1973 Correspondence
We have already paid 275,000/- Rs. and in India there is 3 lacs in the Book Fund. So out of 14 lacs Rs. 575,00/- is there, and the balance Rs. 825,000/- is ready here. As soon as you send me the favorable decision, this money will be transferred to India without delay. In the meantime you negotiate with Central Bank authorities Gowalia Tank or Head Office. On transferring the above amount they will have to guarantee either to the vendor Mrs. Nair or to the court, assurance of payment, because Mrs. Nair's attorney may plead that we have no money. In that case we can reply that we can supply Bank's guarantee of payment.
Things in Bombay are very much complicated. Tamala Krishna Goswami is already there but he is more or less engaged in preaching work. If you think so, I can send Brahmananda Swami to go to India to help you.
Please let me know how much you have deposited in the BBT account since you have taken a loan of 1 lac 50,000 on the Mayapur scheme. I have advised Gargamuni Maharaja to deposit part of his collection to the BBT account against the loan. The BBT is in the Gwalior Tank Road Branch, Central Bank of India, but Gargamuni Maharaja says you have opened another account in the Indian Overseas Marine Lines. Please let me know what is this idea? I never knew of it. Your early reply will be much appreciated.
Yes! I have received the Bank statements from C. B.I. I shall talk of this thing later.
Out of the 150,000 Rs/. you have repayed only 27,000 Rs/. you have to complete this immediately so 3 lakhs will be shown from Gowalia Tank Branch and 9 Lakhs from C. B.I. Head office, so whatever money you collect use it to fill up this blank. You fill up the 50,000 Rs/. and I shall show the balance of 9 lakhs in the C. B.I. Head office.
So pay immediately another 30,000 Rs/. and free the second 50,000 Rs/.
The collections from your part meant for Vrindaban may be sent later because the construction is going on there. First of all fill up if you are serious about negotiations.
I have met Mr. Therany in Zurich and he is a nice gentleman, he will pay as promised, so keep him satisfied.
1974 Correspondence
I beg to acknowledge your letter of April 29, 1974 with copy of the $50,000 check. I have also received a telegram from you today reading "Money traced to Central Bank of India Madurai 1 Tamil Nadu South PO Box 8 Second cable sent to transfer funds to Bombay Gowali Branch". Now Giriraja reports that the check has finally been deposited in the Gowalia Tank Branch.
I have also seen your reports of BBT loans to temples for various projects in the upcoming months. Regarding using New Vrindaban land for building for the older Gurukula boys it is a very good idea. As for the younger children it may be better to keep them in Dallas. But there are only 100 of them; whether they actually need new buildings in Dallas? This is to be investigated and decided upon by the GBC.
We are expecting that shortly L.A. is to transfer Dollars 40,000.00 in that account, and this money should be kept there until you receive the balance pf that account to date.
Srila Prabhupad had also given to you for deposit into his personal account in CBI Gowlia Tank Branch Dollars 2,000.00; Dollars 1,000 from Tejiyas and Dollars 1,000 from himself; so please report on this. You can send the deposit receipt from the Bank.
Did you receive the copy of the Bhubaneswar gift deed? I sent a photo copy to you. This should be returned to me. Please acknowledge receipt. Let me know if it is necessary for a document form form Geeta Devi Saraf.
Regarding the new Life Membership fee. I understand you compromised with Gargamuni Swami by creating a Patron Membership for Rs. 2222/=, but what are the additional benefits of a Patron Membership? Tejiyas das writes that he is also getting 90% success with the increased fee.
1976 Correspondence
I am in due receipt of your letter dated March 8, 1976 and I have noted the contents carefully. Why should they complain about the way we are living there? We have our cottages and we take our own food. However, if it is necessary to make alterations, you can do. Concerning plumbing indoors, that is not difficult. This can be done very easily if you have a high water tank, and sufficient water there. Just like sometimes we see at big, big factories. If the water supply is sufficient, there is no question of insanitation. Disease comes when there are dirty conditions. Also, don't eat more than necessary. As soon as palatable food is offered, they eat. That is the disease. Concerning the outhouses, if they are not approved then you can have a septic tank, or pass stool in the open field. I was doing that. I never liked to go to the nonsense toilet so I was going in the field.
I beg to inform you that I have sent two separate telegraphic transfers in Indian Rupees to the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust a/c 16066, care of the Central Bank, Gowalia Tank Branch, Bombay. I am enclosing the two receipts, one for Rs. 8,857.15 and the other for Rs. 14,797.17. So the total amount is Rs. 23,654.32. Now please see that this is recorded in the passbook and inform me accordingly.
I had taken some Rs. 59,000/- from the BBT account, so you can deduct the Rs. 23,654.32 from this. Hence I must still give Rs. 35,345.68 towards this.
Herewith please find one copy of a letter to the Central Bank of India, Gowalia Tank Road Branch, Bombay. I sent one bank draft to them by registered post. See that the transaction is executed and have the funds entered in the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust passbook.
On Yasodanandana Swami's plea, I have sent him Rs. 15,000/- care of the Hyderabad Temple. This will be used for printing books by Yasodanandana Swami in South India.
Now, I originally owed Rs. 59,000/-, and I sent 2 telegraphic transfers totalling Rs. 23,654/32 from Melbourne, Australia (see my letter dated 27th April, 1976 to you).
I am in due receipt of your letter dated 9-6-76 (June 9th), and I have noted the contents with care.
I do not think that it will be a good idea to construct my residence over the Gurukula as it will be very noisy with the children there so close. You can begin the "kutir" as you mentioned by the side of the present tank, but it may require some trees and flowers and plants, then it will be alright. It is alright to have the guest rooms as shown in the plan of 3-6-76. I like the idea of being near the west gate as I want to go to the Ganges daily and during the summer I can take bath there.
It may not be a good idea to start immediately as the monsoon will check the work. The monsoon rains have already begun so how you can work? Who will take the contract to construct my house?
n.b. the hand-looms should also be moved if my house is going to be constructed there by the tank.
| Page Title: | Tank |
| Compiler: | Visnu Murti, RupaManjari |
| Created: | 02 of Jul, 2012 |
| Totals by Section: | BG=0, SB=3, CC=1, OB=3, Lec=12, Con=49, Let=28 |
| No. of Quotes: | 96 |