Try to live decently by taking kṛṣṇa-prasāda and chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. Jīveta: in this way you can live hundreds of years. That is recommended in the Īśopaniṣad, īśāvāsyam idaṁ sarvam (ISO 1). So jīveta yāvatā, jīvasya tattva-jijñāsā nārtho yaś ceha karmabhiḥ. And why shall you live at all? What is the use of living? The trees are also living for ten thousands of years. What is the meaning of that living? Similarly you if live for a hundred years or two hundred years. What is the meaning of your living? Of course, living in this material world is not very comfortable. Every one of us will know it. Padaṁ padaṁ yad vipadām (SB 10.14.58). Those who are living in Bombay city, they know it very well. When you pass through the road in taxi-cab or motorcar, so much congested, and at any moment there may be some danger, padaṁ padaṁ yad vipadām. In America also, the cars are running in seventy-mile speed, and if one car collides with another, immediately four, five cars-disaster. So actually you are living in such a condition. Pādaṁ padaṁ yad vipadām. Every moment there is danger. It is not very peaceful living at the present moment. We are running, we are flying in the sky, we are... We do not say that this should be stopped, neither it can be stopped, but you do everything in Kṛṣṇa consciousness so that even danger takes place, ante nārāyaṇa-smṛtiḥ (SB 2.1.6), you can at least remember Kṛṣṇa at the time of death. Then your life is successful. Yaṁ yaṁ vāpi smaran loke tyajaty ante kalevaram (BG 8.6), Kṛṣṇa says. Yaṁ yaṁ vāpi. At the time of death our remembrance to a certain thing gives me next body. If I think like a dog, then I become next life a dog, and if I think like a god, then I, next life I become god. That is the test at the time of death.
Taxi
Lectures
Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures
Fifty-six years they are advocating this philosophy, Comm... What they have done? Now they are going to hold conferences, how peace. Why not peace by your philosophy, this Communist philosophy? What you could not attain working fifty-seven years, now they will attain by holding another conference. Just see. Just see the rascaldom. They could not improve anything. The same fearful of other countries. I went to Moscow. There, all people are unhappy. Their economic condition is not very developed. Simply advertisement. I was talking with that Professor Kotovsky, I asked him, "Please call for a taxi." So he was sorry, he said, "Swamiji, it is Moscow. it is very difficult to get a taxi." Just see what is the condition of the country. Then he came down personally up to the door, and he showed me one short cut, "Swamiji, if you go like this, in this way, then you'll get to your hotel." Because he was disappointed to give me immediately a taxi. Now we can understand. Either there is no demand for taxi... People cannot pay for it. That is the fact. Or the government arrange such that everyone is poor man. There is no possibility of thriving in taxi business or getting taxi. This is practical, I have seen. And actually in no other city in Europe and America I have seen so many people walking on the street. We can study. Just like there is rice cooking. You take one grain of rice and press it. If it is soft, then you know that now the rice is prepared. So it is intelligence required.
So from this taxi affair, I could understand that these people are not happy. And another incident I saw that... Śyāmasundara was there. Even... He could not collect even nice rice, nice ḍāl, only milk was available. Milk and yogurt, that is very sufficiently available. No vegetable, no fruit, no grain, at least, men like us cannot live there happily. (indistinct) But they'll not get any food. Unless he's meat-eater, he'll have to starve.
Philosophy Discussions
Prabhupāda: Improve it. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati (BG 4.7). Paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām (BG 4.8). So it can be improved, in any bad condition, by... How you can improve? By this Kṛṣṇa consciousness. As Kṛṣṇa says, "I am..." (break) Svarūpa means ādayaḥ. Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the same thing. If you are in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, that means you are living with Kṛṣṇa. And if you are living with Kṛṣṇa, then what is your fear? Just like Arjuna, fighting with Kṛṣṇa, he had no fear. Similarly, if you live with Kṛṣṇa and go on with Kṛṣṇa, then what is your fear?
Śyāmasundara: What is that quote you said last night in the taxi, padma, padma...
Prabhupāda: Padaṁ padaṁ yat vipadāṁ na teṣām.
- samāśritā ye pada-pallava-plavaṁ
- mahat-padaṁ puṇya-yaśo murāreḥ
- bhavāmbudhir vatsa-padaṁ paraṁ padaṁ
- padaṁ padaṁ yad vipadāṁ na teṣām
- (SB 10.14.58)
Śyāmasundara: And the purport?
Prabhupāda: And the purport is, one who has taken shelter of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, for him, this ocean of nescience, bhavasamudra, because just like a small pit foot created by the cow's hoof.
Devotee: Footprint.
Prabhupāda: No, not...
Śyāmasundara: Their idea is that well-being is measured by how many telephones there are, how many refigerators, how many...
Prabhupāda: That they haven't got. There is no sufficient motor car. He knows when we asked Professor Kotovsky for call taxi. He said, "Oh this is Moscow, it is very,difficult." Do you remember that?
Śyāmasundara: Yes.
Prabhupāda: Do you remember? He gave us direction: "If you kindly go in this way, in this way..."
Śyāmasundara: Take the bus.
Prabhupāda: Not if you can reach sooner, (indistinct) waiting for taxi. Do you remember?
Śyāmasundara: Yes, I remember.
Prabhupāda: And we did it. We walked too. He gave us direction, "You go in this way, this way, then you will go to your hotel sooner than we wait for a taxi." So, either there is no sufficient taxi, (indistinct) company, they do not get profit, or there is no sufficient demand. People have no sufficient income. That is the... In your country as soon as you want a taxi, you get it. Simply call, "I want a taxi." The same thing India, immediately taxi is (indistinct) go. In Boston I was calling, "Simply send taxi." You have seen? You know better than me, that there is telephone in the taxi.
Śyāmasundara: In the taxi, yes.
Prabhupāda: And they are directing can you go this side, can you go this side, so as soon as he finds that where he is, from that place the taxi is nearer; he says, "Yes, I can go." So immediately his number is (indistinct) and he'll immediately inform the taxi stand. This is the system. So, where is that system? (indistinct) European country, they are so proud of their philosophy and people are not getting their goods, nice (indistinct). There are lines, big lines for purchasing things and for foreigners you are asked, "What is your citizenship." There is fight, which foreigner is here. (indistinct) that boy related that he cannot go out (indistinct). People are not happy, that's a fact.
Śyāmasundara: Their idea is that religion is an illusion and it must be condemned.
Prabhupāda: That's right, but his theory, he is become a nuisance now. (indistinct) but his philosophy is becoming illusion. That's a fact.
Śyāmasundara: In other words its not being practiced.
Prabhupāda: Yes. That's a fact. Within how many years? The revolution was in 1917.
Śyāmasundara: About a hundred years.
Prabhupāda: No hundred.
Śyāmasundara: Fifty.
Prabhupāda: Fifty. So within fifty years his philosophy is (indistinct). And in India, we do not know when religion began. You say Brahmā. So Brahmā's twelve hours... Twelve hours (indistinct) cannot calculate. So religion, our this Vedic religion is there since so many long years and instead of being devastated by the foreigner for the last two thousand years, still the religion, the system of religion, is running. It is not illusion, at least for India.
Conversations and Morning Walks
1968 Conversations and Morning Walks
Yamunā: Five o'clock.
Prabhupāda: Five o'clock?
Yamunā: That's when we have to get out.
Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. So you are going by taxi?
Guru dāsa: To the airport?
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Guru dāsa: Yes, I think so.
Devotee (2): You'd have to.
Yamunā: Three taxis.
Prabhupāda: Why three taxis?
Mālatī: Two taxis. There are so many of us and so much baggage.
Prabhupāda: Ah, yes. So for me, I shall be ready to start as soon as we hear from you. Yes. And tomorrow I shall expect mail. I don't think I am going to Vancouver because from Upendra's letter it is not very encouraging, and I don't think Mr. Renogay(?) will, on his personal account, call me and pay me. I don't think so. So what is your next program here?
1972 Conversations and Morning Walks
Prabhupāda: And I was in month of June, still in the morning the wind was so cold. And there is double glass in every window, double glass. Just like aeroplane, double. And at half past eleven in the month of June, when in your country it is half past eleven o'clock, that is evening. And at half past three o'clock, morning. And still the little night, that is just like dusk; it is not completely dark. And laborer class... (speaks to someone in Hindi) Keep it open. (break) (indistinct) Every corner of the street, Lenin's picture. All books are sold, they are Lenin. No other literature. You cannot get taxi. Poor men, they cannot pay for taxi. Very little number. When I was talking with Professor Kotovsky, so I asked him, "Now we shall go. Get me taxi." So he, "Yes, it is Moscow." So he got down, he personally showed me, "Instead of taking taxi waiting, please go in this way when you go to your hotel." He showed me shortcut. People are walking, and they are running for the bus. It is not at all a rich country. A poor country. And if you see the shops, you will find old (indistinct), just like antique shop. Because you cannot purchase generally, everything you have to purchase from government store, and in queue. It is botheration. And actually in India it is going to happen like this. Everything you have to purchase in queue. Here?
Indian man: Oh, yes.
Prabhupāda: So you have to waste so much time.
Gurudāsa: Milk you have to purchase in queue.
Prabhupāda: Everything.
1973 Conversations and Morning Walks
Prabhupāda: No. There's not enough food. Yes. I have experienced it. You cannot get food as you like. What government supplies, you have to accept. That's all. And that is rubbish, all rubbish. Generally, they supply meat. No fruit, no vegetable, no rice, no, nothing. You cannot get. You simply eat meat. That's all. And milk is available. This is their arrangement. And in all store, lines. You have to ask, even if you want to take meat only, you cannot go and immediately purchase. You have to wait for three hours, control. This is their position. No bank. No motor car. No taxicab. Simply... There are simply symbolic. And people are poverty-stricken so much that one taxi driver, he was trying to cheat us. They have no sufficient money. So they saw us, that: "Here is a foreigner, Indian and American. Let me cheat." This is their position. Just like India. India, being poverty-stricken, they also cheat. Of course, cheating is a disease. But especially those who are poverty-stricken, generally, they cheat, they steal. No character. And all women are engaged for sweeping, fat, fat women. (pause)
Karandhara: Now in Russia, the people are starting to become disillusioned.
Prabhupāda: I, I, I am traveling all over the world. My opinion is that, materially, America is happy. And spiritually some portion of India is happy. Otherwise, there is no happiness all over the world. And material happiness is illusion. That is not happiness. Because it will break at any time. Therefore that is not happiness. And spiritual happiness is real happiness. So in Russia, there is neither material nor spiritual. So they are unhappy in all respects. I asked Professor Kotovsky to call for a taxi. So he said: "Well, it is Moscow. Very difficult to get taxi." So he came down himself, he showed us this way: "Please go in this way, in this way, and you get (to) your hotel." He's a big man. He knows that taxi will not be available. And there are few taxis only, show. I did not see any store very neat and clean, well-decorated. Not a single. All old with dust. As if antique shop. The antique shop, just like in your country. I was daily having my morning walk in the Red Square. The most dangerous square...
Svarūpa Dāmodara: What square?
Prabhupāda: Red Square. Yes. I think you have got my picture.
Karandhara: Yes.
Prabhupāda: Many visitors are waiting to see the tomb of Lenin. Yes. They were worshiping Lenin. As we are worshiping Kṛṣṇa, they are worshiping Lenin. So I, I asked Professor Kotovsky: "Where is the difference in principle? You are also worshiping somebody. So you, you have not been able to stop worshiping. How you can be Godless. You have made your God, that's all. Somebody false God." I did not say him also that: "This is your false God," but I said that: "You are worshiping Lenin. We are worshiping Kṛṣṇa." Where is the difference in philosophy? "You have to worship somebody." Now it is my selection whether I shall worship Lenin or Kṛṣṇa. That is different thing. But the principle of worshiping is there in you and in me." He could not answer. What he'll answer? Everywhere it is going on.
Prabhupāda: Well. Now in India, meat is selling at high price than vegetable. Yes.
Yogeśvara: He said now in India meat is selling at a higher price than vegetables.
Prabhupāda: That is no logic.
Yogeśvara: Not logic.
Prabhupāda: Price of meat is higher than milk and vegetables. So in that consideration, why not take vegetable and milk. Why you go to meat? So she is driving taxi, girls also drive taxi?
Yogeśvara: Oh, yes.
Satsvarūpa: In New York City, they also drive taxi.
Prabhupāda: Girls?
1974 Conversations and Morning Walks
Prabhupāda: The income was nil.
Dr. Kapoor: Nil. How much money did you carry with you?
Prabhupāda: Forty rupees.
Dr. Kapoor: Forty rupees?
Prabhupāda: Yes. But I could not spend because there was no exchange for Indian currency, no (laughter). So it was kept as it is. When I came back in 1967, that was spent as my taxi fare (laughter). At that time it was spent. From Palam airport to Delhi, that Chippiwada. So they charged me thirty-five rupees or forty rupees. So at that time it was spent, and 1967 there was heart attack.
Dr. Kapoor: Oh.
Prabhupāda: Yes. I was hospitalized, but I did not like the hospital. So I thought that now I shall die, let me go back to Vṛndāvana. (Hindi)
Dr. Kapoor: Yes, it was 1967, wasn't it.
Prabhupāda: 1967, yes.
Dr. Kapoor: So it was after the heart attack that you came here?
Prabhupāda: Yes. At that time. Then there was repeated letters, come back, come back. So I returned in 1968. So, in spite of heart weakness, I worked. I suffered that weakness continually for one year.
Dr. Kapoor: Naturally, naturally.
Prabhupāda: Eh?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Petrol now costs three rupees twenty-five per liter. That means about three or four times what it was previously. So people are not so much inclined; since they have their business in the city, if they stay in Juhu...
Prabhupāda: That is one of the reasons.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: ...they have to go all the way from Juhu into the city. It costs twenty-five rupees by taxi.
Guru dāsa: This is happening all over the world to the hotel business.
Prabhupāda: Eh?
Guru dāsa: All over the world. All over the world.
Prabhupāda: Hotel business declining?
Guru dāsa: All over. Because of the petrol shortage.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: But it's not permanent.
Guru dāsa: They'll have to do something, because...
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: It's not permanent. The thing is that our life, if we put up a hotel, Prabhupāda, all of our life members, at least, I know, in fact, will use the hotel. Plus many foreigners will still use. Because we are not, we are not... Our hotel will not simply be for the business foreigners.
Prabhupāda: At least, we have got this experience in India. There are so many unemployed, educated. Because they have been educated as dog, they must find out a master. Otherwise, they have no independent power to work. Dog, unless he finds out a very nice master, it is street dog, loitering in the street.
Bhagavān: There's a report that there's so many Ph.D's who are graduating from school now that there are not enough jobs for them. So they have to take jobs as truck-driver and taxi driver.
Prabhupāda: Where?
Bhagavān: In the United States.
Prabhupāda: Just see.
Puṣṭa-kṛṣṇa: And that is supposed to be the brāhmaṇa class too, the professors. They're the educated class of people.
Prabhupāda: No, no. They are not brāhmaṇas. Those who give education in exchange of money, they are not brāhmaṇas. Just like we are lecturing, educated, educating people. We don't say that "Give us salary." We simply ask them, "Please come." Therefore we are making food. I'll give you food. I'll give you good seat. Please come and hear. We are not asking money, that "First of all pay the fees. Then you come and learn Bhagavad-gītā." We never say so. So those, these so-called teachers, they first of all set up salary, "What salary you'll give me?" That is dog's business. That is not brāhmaṇa's business. Brāhmaṇa will never ask. Brāhmaṇa is eager to give lesson only. That's all. Brāhmaṇa is eager to see that people are educated. "Take free education and be educated. Be a human being." This is brāhmaṇa's business. I came here not to ask for any money. But I want to give lesson. This is brāhmaṇa's business.
1975 Conversations and Morning Walks
Pañcadraviḍa: So see: Churches for illicit sex, churches for intoxication, churches for gambling, and churches for meat-eating.
Acyutānanda: Every (?) Sunday they all have.
Trivikrama: Once I was driving a taxi, and a woman got in the cab, and she said, "I hope my goddamn luck is better tonight." She was going to a church. (laughter) She was going to a church to play bingo, and she was speaking like that.
Śrutakīrti: There's the word "logos," "logo." "Logos" is here. It means "word, or second person of a trinity."
Prabhupāda: No, no. "Logy."
Śrutakīrti: "Logy" is not here.
Pañcadraviḍa: Logic.
Prabhupāda: Logic.
Śrutakīrti: Logic is here. "Scheme of or trustees (?) on, science of reasoning..."
Prabhupāda: That... That...
Śrutakīrti: "...chain of reasoning, arguments, logical..."
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Śrutakīrti: "...of logic, in conformity with principles of logic."
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Science of reasoning.
Prajāpati: In words.
Prabhupāda: So "logy" means logic.
Prabhupāda: Then the lion is better than them. The elephant is better than them. Why do you call them, "They are animals"? They are better situated. One lion can kill hundreds of Russians. Then lion is better than the Russian? You have to accept that.
Harikeśa: I mean, but they're not poor because they're so, you know, they're well fed.
Prabhupāda: There everyone is poor, begging. You are talking theoretically. I went to Moscow. The taxi driver was wanting something excess. They are so poor, begging, "Give me something more." They are so poor. Most of the people, they are walking on the street. There is no taxi. Nobody can pay for taxi. This is their situation.
Harikeśa: Yes, but why should somebody be rich and I be poor? What gives him the right to have money?
Prabhupāda: That is everywhere. That is called, that... He is born in a rich family; I am born in a poor family. So why this is happening?
Harikeśa: Yes, that's unfair. I mean, I should take his money.
Prabhupāda: No, no, not unfair. This is nature's arrangement, uccavacca. Why one has become animal? Why one has become man? The same living entity.
Harikeśa: Chance.
1976 Conversations and Morning Walks
Prabhupāda: So what kind of government it is? It is a horrible government. And they are hackney only in literature. These communist country, the people are forced to accept the government regulation. And that is all bad. I have seen in Moscow, generally the people are morose, their face not very happy. They are also Europeans, they want freedom to go here and there (indistinct) and to work. The taxi driver-first of all there is scarcity of taxi, you can not get taxi...
Guru-kṛpā: Even in Moscow, big city.
Prabhupāda: Yes. That Professor Kotofsky, I asked him, "Please arrange for a taxi." (indistinct) "Well, Swamiji, this is Moscow." So he came down to the gate—he was very virtuous—he showed me, "You go this way, actually there was 3 or 4 lane then you find a short lane, then you go this way, this way, then you get to your hotel. He showed me some short cut, personally. They... He could not call a taxi. And somewhere we went, we got a taxi, private taxi, and that man was begging for more than the fare.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: That means the system...
Prabhupāda: "Can you not give me little more?"
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: That means the system is a failure.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Recently, in New York, my parents came to visit me. You know they.... Actually they didn't come to see me, they came to the restaurant, but I happened to be there. (Prabhupāda laughs) So, ah, they related a very unusual incident that one of their friends is a lawyer in New York. So they were having dinner with him the other day, and he mentioned that recently he had gone to Las Vegas for a vacation. In Las Vegas there are many gambling casinos. So when he was about to depart on the plane, one of his friends gave him a five dollar bill and told him that "In order that your gambling to be fortunate, the first good person you see there, you give this five dollar bill to him, and it will automatically bring you good luck." So the man went to Las Vegas, and when he got out at the airport, one of our devotees approached him, and this gentleman happens to be a lawyer who's fighting against us to keep us out of the New York airport, he's representing the airline company. So he didn't know it was one of our devotees because they were in the regular clothes, civilian clothes. So the devotee said, "Please, we're doing good work, educating people, you kindly give a donation." So the man thought: "Well, my friend gave me this," he gave him five dollars, and naturally, the devotee gave him a book. So the man didn't look at it, but he went into the taxi, the lawyer, and then when he looked he realized-(laughter) he was supporting the enemy. And another incident they related is that they go on vacation to South America. So there were in the Amazon, in the jungle, in the Amazon...
Hṛdayānanda: Oh, I heard this when I...
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: ...and they, right in the middle of the jungle, suddenly the devotees were there. (laughter) Hṛdayānanda's men were there preaching, and they said they could not imagine that they were in this most unusual place, no one was around, but suddenly the Hare Kṛṣṇa devotees were. (laughter)
Hṛdayānanda: They told me they met Tamāla Kṛṣṇa's mother.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes.
Rādhāvallabha: If he gets a book in an unusual place, they always say, "You people are everywhere."
Rāmeśvara: When we tell the public that we only have maybe ten thousand devotees, they are very surprised there are so few Hare Kṛṣṇa devotees, because they see us everywhere.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Therefore we're the most enthusiastic missionaries in the world.
Prabhupāda: (break)...say that all the ten thousand devotees, each of them is a moon, not a star.
Prabhupāda: Oh.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: There's one gentleman named Fritt.
Rāmeśvara: This taxi driver is saying Hare Kṛṣṇa.
Prabhupāda: Our Jayānanda was driving taxi and chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, and one day (laughter) he brought to me five thousand dollars.
Rāmeśvara: And you used it to print Teachings of Lord Caitanya.
Prabhupāda: Huh?
Rāmeśvara: Was that the time?
Prabhupāda: I think, yes.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: You kept it then.
Prabhupāda: It was given for publishing Bhagavad-gītā, but I think Macmillan took it. So I spent it for...
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Then you put him in charge to sell all the Teachings of Lord Caitanya, I remember. (Prabhupāda laughs)
Prabhupāda: He's also very intelligent boy, but sometimes spoiled.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: We have a lot of them here.
Prabhupāda: Anyway, we have to take care of so many souls. (Karmī yells) What does he say?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He said you have a nice car. That's good they like the car.
Prabhupāda: (laughs) Ask why him don't you come here? (laughter) Why you are driving taxi? Come here.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: It's amazing how everybody is looking at us.
Prabhupāda: Now, formerly it was thirty-five, now it is
sixty-five?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes, Prabhupāda. Everything has doubled in price. This car is very ordinary, but it is because you are in it, Prabhupāda, that they are looking. Ordinarily it is not such a special car.
Prabhupāda: What is the make of it?
Hari-śauri: LTD. What is it?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: It's the same, more or less the same car that you had when you were driving in Los Angeles.
Hari-śauri: The same as what you had in Melbourne also.
Prabhupāda: But Mercedes is strong. (indistinct)
Devotee: No, Mercedes is strong.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Very long lasting. (pause) But Mercedes they say it's supposed to last about two hundred thousand kilometers.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: The engine.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: In Europe most of the taxi drivers use Mercedes because they are so long lasting.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: That means the engine.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: And the body also lasts. Good quality.
Devotee: You see them ten years old, still running. (break)
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: ...telling you that the Māyāpur time, the Rāma-navamī comes in April, Gaura-pūrṇimā is in March, it will take a total of six weeks. This year our saṅkīrtana book distribution was set back severely on account of the over-long duration of the festival and all of the devotees and GBC men wanted that it should be about three weeks.
Prabhupāda: That's all right.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So the problem is that Gopāla Kṛṣṇa is saying that he wants all of the devotees to stay there for the opening of the Bombay temple.
Prabhupāda: Not necessary.
Prabhupāda: No, I have got experience. I am Calcutta born. What Calcutta was in our childhood days and what is now, I know everything. How we were happy during British days and what is now position, I can speak from my personal experience. We do not belong to the richest class nor to the poor class-middle class. So we have got practical experience. My father's income was not more than 250 rupees. How opulent we were. At least, there was no question of need. We were receiving daily four, five guests, and my father was functioning so many festivals and he was asking... My father gave in marriage four daughters. There was no difficulty. The income was not more than 250 rupees. Of course, that 250 rupees at least ten times now. But still, there was no needy. Not very opulent, but there was no need. The first necessity is to feed and to clothe. So there was no such scarcity. May not be very luxurious life, but there was no scarcity for food and shelter or cloth. There was no scarcity. Happy. That is wanted. Happiness in whatever circumstance. Not that because we did not possess a motorcar, therefore unhappy. I purchased one motor car in 1925, Buick car. Not for personal use, but for using it as a taxi. My one nephew, he was a good driver, so my father, "Why don't you give him? He can do that, we can use it our own car also taxi." So I took it, Buick car, I think I paid eight thousand rupees.
Hari-śauri: Buick?
Prabhupāda: Buick, yes, very strong car. At that time, Ford, Chevrolet and Buick, these cars were very popular in India. Ford for the poorer class and Buick for the first class.
Hari-śauri: Your nephew was a taxi driver.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Nephew was my sister's son. We had to maintain one sister and her family. She became widow. So this is Hindu family obligation. When the daughter is widow, she comes to the father's shelter with all family. The father has to maintain.
Hari-śauri: You wouldn't get that in the West. (laughs) They don't even maintain their own parents.
Prabhupāda: On the whole, during British time, people were happy, that I can... The thing is that Britishers were little afraid that "If the government is not good, it will go against our credit, that we may agitate." So they were careful to see that people are happy. But here nobody's careful. Everyone thinks "I'm in my own country. Whatever I do, it is all right." They were conscious, that "We are foreigners. If the management is not good, then it will go against our credit and it will be difficult working such a big England empire." So they were little careful. But these rascals are not... Just like the governor, he was friendly, but what is the report? Did he say? Did not behave very nicely?
Harikeśa: He wasn't interested to help for the tax exemption.
Hari-śauri: Yes, you told me before, Bon Mahārāja and Tīrtha Mahārāja, they were writing all these big, big men, but they told them frankly, that "I'm not going to do anything for you."
Prabhupāda: None of them. Formerly, a British governor, secretary, was a friend. You could get some service from him. The Britishers they knew the etiquette that if friends ask some help, I must help you. That is etiquette.
Prabhupāda: A taxi driver, he was asking some bhakshish.
Krishna Modi: In Russia.
Prabhupāda: And I was talking with Professor Katovsky. I asked him please call for a taxi. So he said, "Swamiji, it is Moscow." That means taxis are not available. Then he came down with me and from the gate he showed me, "You take this shortcut when you go to your hotel." He could not call a taxi. Taxis are not available. He said, "Oh, it is Moscow."
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: But even the taxi drivers are very corrupt because of the shortage of taxis in Russia. You have to stand in line for taxis.
Prabhupāda: Not taxi, bus.
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Even for taxis they have no taxi stands where you stand in line. So the taxi driver, he will park his car a little bit away.
Prabhupāda: In my opinion it is a poor country. I think poorer than India.
Krishna Modi: They have advertised only.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: They have good propaganda.
Prabhupāda: And people are not happy. They are terrorized.
Prabhupāda: And people are not happy. They are terrorized.
Krishna Modi: That is correct. That is correct. In Parliament we are telling that they are a first-class prisoner. First-class prison.
Prabhupāda: Yes. First-class prisoners. Not first-class, third-class. (laughter)
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: But I was told, because a lot of people in Russia who are chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa also. It's very... There's a lot of corruption. Even the taxi drivers are corrupt. They'll park their taxi a bit away then come and approach you when you are standing in a line and say, "Okay, I'll take you there," but he'll tell you three times the price because everyone's waiting in such a long line for a taxi.
Prabhupāda: Black market.
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. And one friend of ours told us what they do because all the cars belong to the state, a lot of taxis, the people...
Krishna Modi: The taxis are not independent.
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: No, they all belong to the state. But the driver, if he makes extra money, that goes in his pocket and they have tipping also.
Prabhupāda: And they are always anxious to get extra. Buses are not very good. Third-class buses.
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: And a lot of people want foreign exchange there. Like they'll ask...
Krishna Modi: I'm going.
Prabhupāda: Hm. Not Stalin.
Haṁsadūta: Or in the years before, sorry.
Prabhupāda: That is during the Czar. They could not build any.
Haṁsadūta: That university, very old, that university and all the big buildings, very old. And like you say there is no taxi.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Haṁsadūta: No food, the women are working like...
Prabhupāda: Sweeper.
Haṁsadūta: Sweeper, all fat...
Prabhupāda: Why they're fat?
Haṁsadūta: Just eating potatoes and and...
Prabhupāda: Meat.
Haṁsadūta: Meat, pork meat, pig's meat.
Prabhupāda: Very miserable condition.
Haṁsadūta: Oh yeah.
Prabhupāda: Hm. Means terrorism, if they do anything against, then (snaps fingers) finished.
Hari-śauri: Subdued.
Prabhupāda: Very miserable.
Haṁsadūta: All these communist countries are like that. I was in many of these countries, people are all depressed.
Prabhupāda: There is no taxi. You cannot get taxi on call. And the taxi drivers, they want something more.
Haṁsadūta: Yes, they...
Prabhupāda: Hm?
Haṁsadūta: They do that.
Prabhupāda: Very bad country, the communist country.
Haṁsadūta: I was asking this boy, that was here a few days ago from South India, from Kerala, he was in Russia. I asked him. "What did you eat there?" What did you, you stayed for one year?
Prabhupāda: He must be eating meat.
Haṁsadūta: No, he said, "I was able to get frozen vegetables from the south of Russia. They freeze it and then they sell it," he said, "but it is very expensive, very costly." He was getting frozen.
Prabhupāda: Punjab is the best province in India.
Mr. Malhotra: You know we came and settled in Poona after partition of the country. Previously we were in Rawalpindi. (Hindi) (break)
Prabhupāda: On my way to Kashmir.
Mr. Malhotra: Yes, because at Rawalpindi you could get taxi, then buses. After Rawalpindi you have to go by train. Then from there you could get car, taxi, and in those days there were yakas (?) also. You know. Tongas. Tongas, buses. (break)
Prabhupāda: ...young age when I was 25 years. (break) ...via Jammu.
Mr. Malhotra: Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir.
Prabhupāda: Yes. And I came back via Rawalpindi.
Mr. Malhotra: Ācchā, you came back via Rawalpindi. (break) You have I mean thought of spiritual bending, or spiritual...
Prabhupāda: No, we are trained up, because we belong to Kṛṣṇa family. So this Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa worship is our family tradition. Our forefathers, my father, my maternal uncles, we are Vaiṣṇava family. Belonging to the Caitanya-sampradāya.
Mr. Malhotra: But how you entered in business, I mean.
1977 Conversations and Morning Walks
Gargamuni: That Kesi-ghāṭa, that is made of that red stone.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Gargamuni: They're using it, I saw, in one hotel on the front in Bombay, very beautiful.
Prabhupāda: Where?
Gargamuni: In Bombay. I saw while we were driving in a taxi downtown. It's a new hotel, and they had that red stone. It's the first time I saw it in Bombay.
Prabhupāda: Hm. The red stone is very durable.
Gargamuni: But the building... Whatever building we build would require much maintenance due to the fact that it's near the ocean. Like I've noticed fans. They rust when they're near the ocean. So they probably would have to painted once a year. We'd have to paint at least once a year, paint everything.
Prabhupāda: Anything made of iron will corrode.
Gargamuni: Yes.
Prabhupāda: Therefore this reinforced concrete is not good.
Gargamuni: No. Unless it is, we put marble over it. Then it's all right.
Prabhupāda: Even bricks.
Prabhupāda: It means few dollars.
Hari-śauri: Yes. Three or four hundred dollars.
Prabhupāda: In taxi in the beginning, I saw, "Three hund..., three thousand dollar." So (laughs)... And "Three thousand yen." So I did not know. I have got... They changed. Not dishonest. Honest or dishonest, I did not know. Whatever they took and returned, that's all. But I know they are not dishonest. They are nice people, hard worker, honest. But Japanese... This Tojo attempted that "This is the time for expanding with German help." Bad luck. They could not do. They wanted to keep China under their control. That also failed. They fought with the Russians in the beginning, when we were children, to expand-failed. This time they wanted to occupy Hawaii.
Hari-śauri: They had many, many islands. They took a lot. But gradually the Americans won them all back.
Prabhupāda: Now they are migrating. In Hawaii there are many Japanese. Many Japanese.
Hari-śauri: They're very much wanted in other countries as well. They're technicians.
Prabhupāda: So if you can educate people, they will be united. This is actually united nations movement. Actually see how these Europeans, Americans, and Africans, and others, without any artificial allurement, how we are keeping together. Nobody is dissatisfied with humble eating, humble living, humbly, plain living. So it is possible. There is possibility. We live simple life, high thinking-United Nation. We can possibly... And there will be no scarcity. If we live simple life with Kṛṣṇa conscious thinking, There will be no scarcity.
Prabhupāda: They are very glad.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Some of them come for thirds and fourths, regular customers.
Brahmānanda: Then they have a cart that goes on the street and keeps it hot.
Prabhupāda: Distribution.
Brahmānanda: Yes. I went to see it. Regularly people are coming. Even the taxi drivers.
Prabhupāda: Here also they are selling. They are paying sufficiently, khicuṛi and other, and they prepare very nice. This should be continued, prasāda distribution.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: They say, "Prasādam is our secret weapon."
Prabhupāda: (laughs) Yes. Yes. They say?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. Many people are understanding now how we are defeating the enemy with prasāda. People become addicted.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Some devotees, I've noticed... Sometimes some weak devotees, they leave our movement but still, in New York, even after leaving, they have to come every evening for their regular meals in the restaurant, because they are addicted to prasādam. They cannot do without it.
Prabhupāda: Oh. Where?
Svarūpa Dāmodara: In the airport, Calcutta airport. He arrived last night, but somehow his luggage was left in Bombay airport. So the luggage is coming tonight at seven o'clock for Bombay-Calcutta flight, and he told me that he's coming after, a taxi. So he'll be arriving about nine o'clock tonight.
Prabhupāda: Oh. He has received that telegram.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: In Hawaii.
Prabhupāda: He is coming from Hawaii?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes.
Prabhupāda: Ācchā. (laughs)
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He went all the way back to Hawaii.
Prabhupāda: All right.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I think we're doing all right.
Prabhupāda: He's enthusiastic.
Prabhupāda: Oh. "Unfortunately, after seven-hour stopover in Tokyo, they lost my reservations on my connecting flight. That, coupled with the fact that after arriving last night I find they've sent my belongings to Bombay, so I am waiting until the evening for the flight from Bombay when I get my trunk. I shall try to hire a taxi directly to Māyāpur. I would come now but I have absolutely no personal clothes or anything. Please tell Prabhupāda that I am due this evening. If not, then I shall ask the Calcutta devotees to care for my luggage and I'll proceed immediately."
Prabhupāda: No, there is no need of coming. We are going.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: (laughs) It's hard to reach him. He's...
Svarūpa Dāmodara: In the airport.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: (laughs) ...stationed in the Calcutta airport.
Prabhupāda: Oh.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: You have quite a big entourage now.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Scientist...
Prabhupāda: But our most auspicious sign is this, "Hare Kṛṣṇa movement is bona fide religion."
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: This is preceding your arrival in Bombay.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: It's announcing your coming, practically. Very prominent.
Svarūpa Dāmodara: Yes, I found Bombay very good scope.
Prabhupāda: Gradually the whole world will be sympathetic. Everyone will recognize that they are doing real service.
Svarūpa Dāmodara: It's already so famous in Bombay. Everybody knows, all the taxi drivers. You say, "Hare Kṛṣṇa Land, Juhu." Everybody knows.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Śrīla Prabhupāda? We'll sit you up now for you to take a little bit of prasādam. All right?
Prabhupāda: I think you have to cleanse my...
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Okay. First we'll cleanse, then we'll sit Prabhupāda up. (break) For one thing, just like this prasādam that Bhakti-caru Mahārāja prepared is good for stopping... It's against passing stool. It will make a binding effect. That's why I thought you might appreciate it. Bhakti-caru made it especially because of that. It's like medicine. But nice-tasting medicine. You could try.
Prabhupāda: Yes, I can try.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Okay. You should do it just to please us, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Upendra: You can take the shoulders and... (indistinct)
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Many people were in the temple tonight. The kīrtana party that has come from Māyāpur, they were chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa very sweetly, and the whole temple room was filled with people sitting, listening and waiting for the ārati. Very nice program. Think you'll try to take a little now. Śrīla Prabhupāda? Bhakti-caru can feed you.
Bhakti-caru: (Bengali)
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: You'll sit up for a little while? Can I scratch your back?
Prabhupāda: Hm.
Correspondence
1971 Correspondence
So far your travelling expenses, if you spent Rs 13,000/ in four months that means over 3000 Rs in a month or more than Rs 100/ in a day; that is certainly extravagancy. That means if you have collected one member in a day then 10% is immediately spent for taxi fare. That is not a very good proposal. When the accounts will be audited, the auditors will want debit vouchers for each payment. Whether all expenditures have been made under such vouchers. Otherwise the auditor will not pass the account.
So far the debt of Rs 23,000 if you adjust it in that way then the same problem remains. The fact is that we require at least 25 lakhs for Mayapur. Before beginning our construction work there we must be confident that the amount will be easily collected. Better to realize the Rs 23,000/ by another source. The fact is not that how it should be realized but some plan how this extravagancy may be stopped. That is the real problem. Hence forward all expenditure, proper debit voucher must be maintained. If we do not place audited accounts to the Registrar of Societies they may cancel us. That is the law.
There is a big project in Mayapur also. So consult seriously the GBC whether all these things can be taken in hand simultaneously. It requires a very cool brain and expert management.
Both in Calcutta and in Bombay there is discrepancy in accounts. You wanted to check them by auditors but so far I know the auditors will not pass any account not supported by regular vouchers. For all expenditures there must be regular vouchers. Here last night I was talking with one Mr. Patel at whose house we are staying now. He said that even for travelling expenses, the auditor requires vouchers in which the taxi cab number is also required to be mentioned. The auditor does not accept any expenditure without proper voucher. If the expenditure is not supported by proper voucher, the amount is debited to the personal account.
Regarding model making, I don't think Nara Narayana is capable to do that. The only boy capable I know is Ranchor Das Adhikari in London who did the architectural drawings for the Mayapur scheme. So you can immediately open correspondence with him and see if it is possible.
1974 Correspondence
This whole institution was started singlehandedly without any capital. I went to your country with only Rs. 40/- and 200 sets of books. So if we take the capital of the whole business, it was the books and the Rs. 40/-. The Rs. 40/- was not even touched because Indian Rupees currency could not be spent in your country. In 1967 when I came back to India the Rs. 40/- was paid for the taxi cab. The 200 sets of books was sold, and I was maintaining myself with great difficulty. Now by the grace of Krishna books sales have increased tremendously, and whatever money we are spending it is from the books sales; or whatever money is also being squandered that is also from the book sales.
Now by the grace of Krishna we have got sufficient properties all over the world, so there cannot be any diplomacy or conspiracy by any sane man. All these properties and opulences, whatever we have got, this will not go with me when I go away from this world. It will remain here. I am training some of my experienced disciples how to manage after my departure. So if instead of taking the training, if in my lifetime you people say I am the Lord of all I survey, that is dangerous conspiracy.
| Page Title: | Taxi |
| Compiler: | Visnu Murti, RupaManjari |
| Created: | 25 of Nov, 2013 |
| Totals by Section: | BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=5, Con=28, Let=3 |
| No. of Quotes: | 36 |