Prabhupāda: Let start some . . . The institution is already there. We are conducting Kṛṣṇa consciousness. But if the government cooperates that a certain number of students must be trained up scientifically what is the meaning of God, that will be very much beneficial to the state or to the country. We can give solution for any problem. "We" means Kṛṣṇa. We are simply preaching Kṛṣṇa's message. Kṛṣṇa means God. Kṛṣṇa means "black" also. Kṛṣṇa, this word, (chuckles) means "black" also. You are following?
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Another meaning of kṛṣṇa is blackish.
Jackie Vaughn: Black is beautiful?
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: He said, "Black is beautiful?"
Prabhupāda: Why not? He's the most beautiful. Otherwise, why people are attracted? There is a verse in Brahma-saṁhitā: kandarpa-koṭi-kamanīya-viśeṣa-śobham; barhāvataṁsam asitāmbuda-sundarāṅgam (BS 5.30). He has got one peacock feather on His head, and He's blackish, but wonderfully beautiful. These words are used. Kandarpa-koṭi-kamanīya. He's so beautiful that thousands of Cupids cannot be compared with His beauty. Cupid is understood to be the most beautiful person within this universe. You know Cupid? Yes. He enchants by beauty. But Kṛṣṇa's beauty is so great that millions of beauty, kandarpa, or Cupid, cannot be compared with Him. Kandarpa-koṭi-kamanīya-viśeṣa-śobhaṁ govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi (BS 5.30). It is a question of attraction. It is not a question of black and white. Attraction. So unless Kṛṣṇa is beautiful, why He has got so many millions of devotees? This very word is kandarpa-koṭi. Barhāvataṁsam asitāmbuda-sundarāṅgam. His blackness is compared with the black cloud. Asita-ambuda. Ambuda means the cloud. The black cloud is full of water. When there is black cloud in the sky, you can be sure that the rain is going to fall down. Not the white cloud. White cloud means no water. Is it not? (chuckles)
So you understand this philosophy and add water to the suffering humanity. They are suffering in the burning, blazing fire of material existence. So blazing fire can be extinguished when the water falls from the sky, not by your fire brigade. When there is blazing fire in the forest, it is beyond your control. You cannot get there fire brigade. So these small attempts of fire brigade is useless to extinguish the blazing fire of this material existence. The water must come from the cloud. That is by Kṛṣṇa's grace. You have no control over the cloud. But that water wanted. Not your fire brigade water, when there is all around blazing fire. The small fire brigade—(imitates bell) dung-dung-dung-dung-dung. It can vibrate very loudly—dung-dung-dung—"I'm going to, going to," but they'll go when everything finished. That is practical. I have seen in India. There was a fire in a house, and they came late, when the business is finished. And still they're insisting, "We shall pour some water." (laughter) Everyone asked them that "What is the use of?" "No, this is our system." (laughter) The house is burnt into ashes, and they are looking the formality, "Yes, we must put some water," so that they can write in their books, "Here we attended the fire and we have . . ." (laughter) This cheating is going on. In every problem, this kind of cheating is going on. Official, that's all. The same example: you ask to the charity-taker of welfare activities. The fire is going on, but officially the government satisfied, "Yes, we are after all pouring water." So what is the use of pouring water if the fire is going on? But officially, that's all. We must see that the purpose is being carried. No. The house is burnt into ashes, but we are satisfied that our fire brigade man has poured some water, that's all. They do not know that they cannot do any benefit to anyone by this imperfect process. If the whole money of the government is given to us, we can show result within six months how it is beneficial. Will the government give us money?
(pause)
Prabhupāda: Actually, people do not want to trust in God. That is the real fact. But this writing of slogan is a formal . . . (indistinct) . . .. At the present moment, nobody has got any idea of God nor faith in God. What do you think?
Hari-śauri: Nobody's got any . . .?
Prabhupāda: Idea of God, and what to speak of faith in God, or trust in God.
Jackie Vaughn: It's true. Very little faith. "In God We Trust," no. Your original statement.
Hari-śauri: Prabhupāda wrote one letter to the secretary of the President explaining that "You write on your bills 'In God We Trust,' but who is it that knows about God?" So he was asking if it was possible for the government, they could give us some aid and we would educate. We can educate the people.
Prabhupāda: No, I did not ask for any aid.
Hari-śauri: Oh. If they would . . .
Prabhupāda: You can get the copy. I never asked for any aid.
Hari-śauri: No, I didn't mean monetary or anything like that.
(pause) (Hari-śauri goes to get letter)
Prabhupāda: Read it.
Mādhavānanda: "Personal Secretary to the President, Office of the President of the United States, White House, Washington, D.C. Dear Sir: On your new two-dollar note it is stated 'In God We Trust,' and directly beneath, 'Declaration of Independence, 1776.' On the two-hundredth anniversary of this occasion, why not begin teaching the science of God as described in the Vedic literatures, like the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which is authorized and appreciated by all learned professors in the universities throughout the whole world? This Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is going on since 1966 throughout the whole world, especially in the United States of America. It is a great fortune for the American people that they trust in God. Why shouldn't this spiritual education be given to the American people in an organized way? The whole world is going down and becoming godless. If the American people, who trust in God constitutionally, take this movement seriously, it will be a great service to the human society. We are prepared to cooperate in this connection if the American government takes it very seriously. Awaiting your reply with interest. Yours sincerely, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami." Dated May 9th.
Jackie Vaughn: Any answer?
Mādhavānanda: No reply.
Hari-śauri: That was three weeks back.
Mādhavānanda: Four weeks; over a month.
Hari-śauri: May 19th?
Mādhavānanda: May 9th.
Hari-śauri: Oh.
(pause)
Prabhupāda: Why they have not replied?
Jackie Vaughn: I suppose you were asking too much.
Prabhupāda: (laughs) Too much? So am I wrong?
Jackie Vaughn: No, not at all.
Prabhupāda: I'm not asking for money.
Jackie Vaughn: I know. But you are doing away with our approach to dealing with problems. As you pointed out so well, it's always piecemeal, of a temporary nature. I do it in Lansing. We have a problem, we patch it up, of a temporary nature. We talk to do this, as a quick answer, solution, and we go away feeling better, that we have at least made, as we say, a step in the right direction. Next year, we'll be back with the same problem. I have this problem.
Prabhupāda: Everyone.
Jackie Vaughn: Everyone. Monday I'll go back to the State Capitol . . .
Prabhupāda: That is explained, daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī mama māyā duratyayā (BG 7.14). We think, "Now this problem is solved," but actually it is not solved; it has created another problem. Therefore this word is used, daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī mama māyā duratyayā. You . . . the problems are so great that you cannot solve it.