NEW VRINDABAN, JUNE 22, 1976

PRABHUPÄDA VISITS

PALACE AND GARDEN

 

HIGHLIGHTS: Simple living…agriculture, the noblest profession.. nation concept versus varëäçrama concept

 

Prabhupäda: What are these pipes?

 

Kértanänanda: That’s for drainage. For when the water goes out into the sewer, and goes out into the field and drains.

 

Prabhupäda: You can utilize this water for fertilizing, drain water.

 

Kértanänanda: Well, first of all, we have to satisfy the health department…

 

Kértanänanda: We’re trying to clear all this now too.

 

Prabhupäda: This is ours?

 

Kértanänanda: Yes.

 

Prabhupäda: Oh.

 

Kértanänanda: It takes a long time to clear it, though.

 

Prabhupäda: Never mind. Do slowly, that is pleasure.

 

Kértanänanda: Well, we could do it much faster if we didn’t try to utilize the wood, but we want to utilize.

 

Prabhupäda: Yes. Unnecessarily you should not cut. When it is necessary for Kåñëa, then you cut. This is also living entity. We cannot kill them without any sufficient reason…

 

Agriculture is the noblest profession. Give him some land, he cuts the wood, makes cottages. The land is clear, now till it, keep cows and grow food grains.

 

Puñöa Kåñëa: Doesn’t put any local men out of work.

 

Prabhupäda: Simple thing. And then live comfortably, eat comfortably, chant Hare Kåñëa. Comfortably does not mean satisfaction of the senses. Comfortably means we require primary necessities, to eat something, to sleep somewhere or have some sex—this is also bodily need—and to defend, that’s all. These are the primary necessities.

 

That can be arranged anywhere. God has given all facilities. Grow your own food, eat, and live anywhere. Just this place was rough like that, now it is handled nicely, it is very attractive. (Bengali) Any damn place, you cleanse it, it becomes home. And any nasty man, you decorate him, he becomes a bridegroom. (laughs) (Bengali) (japa)

 

Let Kåñëa consciousness movement give this sense to these rascals. They do not know how to adjust things. They simply plan their United Nations, but they do not know what is that plan. Yes. United Nations. First of all why nation? Why manufacture nation and create trouble and again un-united? Nation—this word is not there in the Vedic language.

 

There’s no conception of nation. There is conception of varëäçrama, everywhere. Not for any particular nation or any particular country, but everyone, according to quality—first-class men, second-class men, third-class men. That is there everywhere. Everywhere you go, you find some people first-class intelligent, some people less than him, some people less than him, up to fourth class, that’s all. And then fifth class. So everything is there in the Bhagavad-gétä. Now you try to implement. Perfect human life. Let any sociologist, politician come forward. We shall convince them that this is only way.

 

NEW VRINDABAN JUNE 26, 1976

BHAGAVAD-GÉTÄ CHAPTER 16: LECTURE

HIGHLIGHTS: Hellish factories, fresh fields…women and children must be supplied necessities

 

Prabhupäda: Ugra-karmäëaù [“engaged in painful activities,” from Bg 16.9: “Following such conclusions, the demoniac, who are lost to themselves and who have no intelligence, engage in unbeneficial, horrible works meant to destroy the world”], the factory. This is ugra-karma. Pradyumna was describing ugra-karma, hellish. Little karma, just wheat is growing, a little tilling, that is sufficient. What is the use of opening big, big factory? Ugra-karma. What it has helped? You were talking on behalf of them. What it has helped?

Keeping them. Innocent men, women, they are kept in that factory simply for livelihood. A little work will provide his needs. Nature has given so much facility. They can grow little food anywhere. The cows are there in the pasturing ground. Take milk and live peacefully. Why you open factories? What is the use? Keeping them in hellish condition of life. So this is the description. Now discuss these points.

 

Dhåñöadyumna: You say, Çréla Prabhupäda, they engage in unbeneficial horrible works meant to destroy the world and that this refers to the atomic weapons. This is so true.

 

Prabhupäda: Yes, God’s speaking, Kåñëa is speaking.

 

Dhåñöadyumna: I was studying this nuclear energy in college, thinking that it would save the world. That by the energy they could make bigger tomatoes, bigger corn, and…

 

Prabhupäda: Bigger deaths. Conclusion is bigger deaths. Everything big. One man was dying, now many hundreds of thousands will die. Bigger deaths. You did not consider it bigger death?

 

Dhåñöadyumna: It was very frustrating, though, because for everything they were trying to do good, they found so many more things bad were coming.

 

Prabhupäda: That is… Karma jagat means that if you have to raise this house, then you have to cut the wood somewhere. You have to destroy somewhere, and then you can make house. You have to adjust things like that. You cannot create. This house was constructed, created, by destroying somewhere else. Is it not? So where is your creation? Creation is God’s creation. He has created everything, and if you want to create, you have to destroy somewhere. That is karma.

 

Puñöa Kåñëa: Sometimes these people are called duñkåtina. And you’ve mentioned that the duñkåtina, actually he has some intelligence, misused.

 

Prabhupäda: Yes. Intelligence. After destroying the wood, you use your intelligence to construct this house. You have intelligence, there is no doubt. Human being must have intelligence. But that intelligence is given to him for getting out of the clutches of birth, death, old age and disease. He’s not utilizing that intelligence for that purpose, therefore duñkåtina. Intelligence he has got. We don’t say that modern world, they are unintelligent, fools. No, they have got intelligence. But the intelligence is being utilized for duñkarya, which he should not have done. Duñkarya. Karya and duñkarya—work and bad

work. His intelligence was given so that he could get relief from these clutches of birth, death, old age and disease, but that he’s not utilizing. He’s opening factory and creating another bad atmosphere. Therefore duñkåtina. To open a factory requires intelligence. So many machine is working, that’s all right, but how this intelligence being used? To keep man in a hellish condition of life. Therefore duñkåtina…

 

Hari-çauri: Fifty years ago they were thinking it was progress to build big skyscrapers; now it’s so hellish in the cities, everybody is moving out.

 

Prabhupäda: Yes. Yes. Actually, when there are so many skyscraper buildings, it is hell. The natural air is obstructed. In Bombay you’ll see. If you are in the top floor you have got little facility; in the lower floor it is hell. If there are several skyscraper building, in the first floor, second floor, it is simply hell. No air. Simply you have to run on this electric fan. You cannot see the sky. Therefore it is meant skyscraper? What is scraper? What is the meaning?

 

Hari-çauri: It touches, touching the sky.

 

Prabhupäda: So you have touched the sky in such a way I cannot see even. (laughs) This is the result. You demon, you have captured the sky, so I have no opportunity to see even. Always electric light.

Now we see the sky, the sun, how nice it is. This is life. Green, down and up, clear sky, sun, this is life. We get rejuvenation in this atmosphere. What is this nonsense, all skyscraper building, no air, no light? Jagato ’hitäù. The mind becomes crippled, the health becomes deteriorated, children cannot see even the sky, everything is spoiled.

 

Kulädri: Every day in the city they make a report, pollution report. And they say you should go outside or not go outside. Some days it is not good for your health to leave your home.

 

Devotee: They are also selling fresh air, Prabhupäda.

 

Prabhupäda: Fresh air? (laughter) Fresh water, also.

 

Hari-çauri: In Tokyo there are special machines you can get air, clean water.

 

Prabhupäda: Fresh, by cleaning the urine? Now they are doing that. Fresh water by cleaning urine. Fat derived from stool. Yes, German people did it. Fat extracted from stool. Scientifically. You can use it with butter very nicely on your bread. This is going on.

Puñöa Kåñëa: Some of the materialists may argue that these activities are not all that unbeneficial. For example, they have made a tractor, and in America they can produce so many grains, so much so that practically they could feed the world.

Prabhupäda: Why do they not?

Puñöa Kåñëa: Because their mentality is very abominable.

 

Prabhupäda: Do that. There are so many overpopulation, and you can do it in America. So much land lying vacant here.

 

Dhåñöadyumna: Better to put the people in factories in the fields. If they are going to work, let them work growing grain and milking the cows.

 

Prabhupäda: Yes, then they will live very happily. That will not do. Jagato ’hitäù. Read it.

Dhåñöadyumna: Kñayäya jagato ’hitäù. [“For the destruction of the world” from Bg 16.9: “Following such conclusions, the demoniac, who are lost to themselves and who have no intelligence, engage in unbeneficial, horrible works meant to destroy the world.”]

Prabhupäda: Kñayäya, kñayäya means all for ruination, bringing ruin, ruination. So save them from ruination…

Prabhupäda: Mm. (pause) So you don’t require covering? This girl? This cloth is sufficient? What you think? Why you have no covering? Mm? You do not require cloth?

Kulädri: It is warm for us Çréla Prabhupäda.

Prabhupäda: No, if they require, there must be supply. You must ask them what they need and provide them because they do not say you’ll also keep silent. That’s not good. Every month they must be asked what they need. Necessities, they must be supplied. We have already discussed this point, the women, they require protection, children, women.

 

WASHINGTON, D.C., JULY 8, 1976 — EVENING DARÇANA

HIGHLIGHTS…

Vedic civilization is training…

duties: social and spiritual…

government, good and bad

 

 

Mr. Boyd: How do we handle these people who don’t seem to want to carry their own weight, though, Prabhupäda? The ones who don’t want to work and help produce this food?

 

Prabhupäda: They should be trained up. Therefore Vedic civilization is training. Some section of the people, they should be very intellectuals, brain, just like to maintain this body we require first of all the brain. If the brain is not order, then other parts, they may be there, but they are also useless. So similarly, in the society, some intellectuals should be main tained. They are called brähmaëas, and some of the brähmaëas, they are sannyäsés. They are simply meant for giving good instruction. They should personally become very good and intellectual, and they should give instruction to other people what is the value of life, how to live. This is one section. They should be free from the anxiety of maintaining themselves. The society should treat them as children and give them all necessities, bare necessities, not they are meant for living very luxuriously. No. Simple living.

 

Then the next class, kñatriyas, the politicians, administrators, they are also required to give protection to the people from injury. Kñatriya, kñat means injury, and träyate, “one who saves people from injury.” It is kñatriya’s duty. So kñatriya should protect all the living entities, including the animals. They are also subjects. So the first, intellectual brähmaëas, then kñatriya.

 

Then vaiçyas, their business is to produce food. Food production you can do by agriculture, kåñi, and by giving protection to the cows. If you get sufficient food grains, like rice, wheat, pulses, and sufficient milk—from milk you get yogurt, butter, ghee—then your all food problem is solved. You must eat. You must eat, you must live properly. So this first, second, third, the intellectual class, the administrative class, and the productive class, these three classes must be there in the society.

 

And those who cannot be grouped either of these three classes, they should generally help as workers. They are called çüdras. So the workers means… Suppose you require a sitting place: the carpenter is there. Suppose you require a knife: so the blacksmith is there. You require clothing: the weaver is there. In this way, four classes of men. First class, second class, third class, or the intellectuals, the administrators, the producers and the general workers. This is Vedic system of division. Brähmaëa…

 

This is for our living condition, and then human life especially meant for spiritual realization, self-realization. For that purpose, again, another four divisions. Generally, the brahmacäré, student life; gåhastha, married life; vänaprastha, retired life; and sannyäsa, renounced life. So at the end of life one should be renounced from all other responsibilities and completely devote his life for Kåñëa consciousness, or God consciousness. In this way, when a person dies in God consciousness, his life is perfect. This is Vedic civilization. Eight divisions, varëa and äçrama. And if you simply produce çüdras, working class, then you cannot have any happiness. That is not possible. And nowadays democratic, if you send some çüdras to act as kñatriyas, they cannot do it. You have got practical experience. In Vietnam, what happened?

 

Puñöa Kåñëa: The American soldiers, they were simply taking intoxication, hunting after prostitutes and running from the enemy.

 

Prabhupäda: And when they were attacked, they were running away. Because they are çüdras. How they can fight? They are not trained up as kñatriyas. Huh? Anyone who is unemployed, let him become a soldier, but he cannot fight. That is not possible. Neither this class of men can have good brain to give direction to the society. The democracy means anyone can go to the government, and because he’s not kñatriya, his only business is how to get money so long he’s on the post.

 

Just like you did not like your President, Mr. Nixon. So that is the risk. If you keep the society in chaotic condition, any department, intellectual, administration, production, they’ll be all topsy turvy, and there cannot be any peace in the world. So this Vedic scheme, varëäçrama, is a very important scheme. If possible it should be introduced and taken up very seriously. That is one of the items of Kåñëa consciousness movement, to reestablish the institution of varëa and äçrama. Not by birth, but by qualification. Cätur-varëyaà mayä såñöaà guëa-karma-vibhägaçaù. [Bg. 4.13]: “According to the three modes of material nature and the work associated with them, the four divisions of human society are created by Me…”] Guëa-karma, by quality.

 

In India, the varëäçrama is there, but it is not organized because the government does not take care. The government is imitating Western way of life, “There is no need of brähmaëa, there is no need of kñatriya, simply çüdras.” Everywhere this is the position, the çüdra population, kalau çüdra sambhavaù. In this age everyone is a çüdra.

 

So it doesn’t matter, everyone is born çüdra, but he should be trained up. Just like in our practical life we see that everyone is not born a scientist or engineer or lawyer. Everyone is born innocent, child, then he’s trained up by the guardians. Similarly, there should be a training how to become brähmaëa, how to become kñatriya, how to become vaiçya. And the government should see that everyone, as he is trained up, he is working according to his quality and occupational duty. Then there will be complete peace and harmony. That human society is perfect.

 

Vipina: His question is that now the government is corrupt, so what can be immediately done?

 

Prabhupäda: How there can be, because the democracy? You are corrupt, therefore your government is corrupt. You correct yourself, the govern ment will be automatically corrected. If you are rascals, the government will be rascals. The government means elected. So if you are not rascal, you’ll not elect another rascal to take charge of the government affairs. But because you are rascal, you’ll send another rascal.

 

So how can you expect good government? You do not know whom to select. And besides that, the whole population is rascal, çüdra. So anyone you elect, if he’s by qualification he’s a çüdra, worker, he’s not intelligent person, he’s not brähmaëa, he’s not kñatriya. Actually, the legislative assembly, or in your country, Senate? They should be all brähmaëas. They give advice. Formerly this was the system. Although it was monarchy, even Lord Rämacandra or similar kings, they were not ruling independently—they were taking advice from learned brähmaëas, sages.

 

So the legislative assembly should be composition of intellectual brähm aëas. Then

the other administrators, the President or the minister, they should be kñatriyas. In this way, if social organization is made, then there will be perfect peace. If çüdras are allowed to rule over, what they know? Their only aim is that so long he is in the office, “Let me collect some money,” that’s all. And that will be the latest atmosphere, dasyu- dharmabhiù. Räjanyair dasyu-dharmabhiù. All the government men will become thieves and rogues. Dasyu, dasyu means thieves and rogues. So as the thieves and rogues capture you on the street and ask “Whatever you have got, give, otherwise I shall kill you,” so this will be the position in the Kali-yuga. It is happening now. You cannot have any private property; everything you have to declare. Otherwise, it will be taken by force.

So people will be very much embarrassed by two things: one thing is taxation, and another thing will be scarcity of food. In this way, all the people all over the world will be embarrassed, so much so that they will leave their home, hearth and home, äcchinna-dära-draviëä yäsyanti giri-känanam. [From SB 12.2.8: “Losing their wives and properties to such avaricious and merciless rulers, who will behave no better than ordinary thieves, the citizens will flee to the mountains and forests.”] Being separated from family and property, they will take shelter in the hilly ranges or in the forest to get relief. This will be the position. Harassment, so much harassment, by nature, by government.

So therefore for complete happy society, this Kåñëa consciousness movement is essential. All intelligent persons, they should join this movement and reform the present social, political, religious. All field of activities, they should reform. Then people will be happy. Not only happy in this life, but also next life.

 

NEW YORK, JULY 14, 1976

INTERVIEW WITH

NEWSDAY NEWSPAPER

HIGHLIGHTS: Plain living, high thinking…come to our farms and see how we are living independently…simple living promotes good health

 

Interviewer: How important is it to look after physical life?

Prabhupäda: Physical life, so you must keep yourself fit to execute Kåñëa consciousness. It is not our desire that you become sick and you cannot chant. But our purpose is to chant and we require the physical necessities just to keep ourselves fit, not more than that. Eating is necessary. Without eating, I will die. So we take Kåñëa prasädam, not in the restaurant or hotel anything, no. We take nice vegetables, nice food grains, rice, wheat, sugar, milk, all vitaminous, full of vitamins. So there is no deficiency of food. Even from food value it is very nice. We do not unnecessarily kill animals.

 

Interviewer: You run farms as well, do you not?

Prabhupäda: Yes. Yes.

Interviewer: What do they…

Prabhupäda: So you try to…

Interviewer: Are they working farms, producing farms?

Prabhupäda: Yes, there are many farms in your country. Just now I am coming from New Vrindäban in West Virginia. They are living. If you go sometime, you can see how independently they are living. And there are other farms, New Orleans, and just now we are going tomorrow…

Rämeçvara: Pennsylvania.

Prabhupäda: Pennsylvania. So we get enough milk, enough food grains, enough fruits. So there is no economic problem. Our purpose is to save time from unnecessary necessities of life, from unnecessary necessities of life, to save time and utilize the time for developing Kåñëa consciousness. And so far the body is concerned, as much as it is required take and maintain the body. That’s all.

Interviewer: Your devotees’ health is looked after, then.

Prabhupäda: Yes.

Interviewer: By who?

Prabhupäda: They are instructed in that way, plain living, high thinking.

Interviewer: Do you have arrangements with hospitals in case somebody gets sick, and do you watch diet carefully and…?

Prabhupäda: Oh, yes. Why not? Why not? Take care of the body. But we keep our habits in such a way that we don’t fall sick very often.

 

 

PHILADELPHIA, JULY 15, 1976

EVENING LECTURE AT

GÉTÄ-NAGARÉ FARM

 

HIGHLIGHTS: Live as Kåñëa lives…how to use milk…protect Kåñëa’s cows…the village ideal

 

So Kåñëa consciousness means to follow the instruction of Kåñëa. Our life has a certain aim in this material world, sometimes we forget. Material world means forgetting our aim of life; that is natural. The basic principle of material life is forgetting Kåñëa:

kåñëa- bahirmukha jéva bhoga-väïchä kare

nikaöa-stha mäyä täre jäpaöiyä dhare

[From Jagadänanda Paëòita, Prema-vivarta: “Turning his face away from Kåñëa, the jéva develops the desire to enjoy. Standing nearby, Mäyä slaps him and seizes hold of him.” {Translation by Gopéparäëadhana däsa.}]

Forgetfulness is our nature, we are not as perfect as God, therefore, there are so many inefficiencies. So forgetfulness is also another material quality. So material life means forgetting Kåñëa. Mayä means when one has forgotten his relationship with Kåñëa, that is called mayä. So Kåñëa is very kind. When we forget too much, this material world is forgetfulness, but still, according to the Vedic system, Kåñëa consciousness is maintained to some extent if you follow the Vedic principles, then we revive our consciousness, our relationship.

 

That is explained by Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu when he was talking with Särvabhauma Bhaööäcärya, that the Vedic principle is to revive or to remind our relationship with Kåñëa. In the Bhagavad-gétä also Kåñëa says, vedaiç ca sarvair aham eva vedyaù [Bg. 15.15], the real purpose of Vedic knowledge is to come to the understanding of Kåñëa consciousness. So this Kåñëa consciousness movement is trying to revive the original, constitutional position. So one of them, in Kåñëa consciousness movement, is village organization, as you are trying here.

Kåñëa, in His natural life, is a village boy in Våndävana. Våndävana is a village.

 

There is no factory, there is no motor-car, there are no big, big sky-scraper buildings; it is village. That Kåñëa likes. In the çästra it is said, våndävanaà parityajya, sa kvacin naiva gacchati [From Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé, Laghu-bhägavatämåta 1.5.461: “…Kåñëa manifests His pastimes in the cities of Mathurä and Dvärakä, but Kåñëa the son of Nanda Mahäräja never at any time leaves Våndävana.”]

 

Kåñëa is so fond of that Våndävana village life, with His cowherd boys and cowherd girls, His gopés, Mother Yaçodä, Father Nanda, and Upänanda, uncles, and big family, the cows and the calves, the trees, the Yamunä River. He is satisfied in that life. So at least those who are Kåñëa conscious, they should be satisfied with simple life in the village. That is part of Kåñëa consciousness.

But it does not mean that we shall avoid city life or town life, not. Everything, every place is Kåñëa's place. Everywhere there should be Kåñëa consciousness.

 

But if we keep ourself within the village and properly organize as Kåñëa personally showed us the example, He was personally taking care of cows, calves. When He was a child, He was taking care of the calves. When He was grown up, He was taking care of the cows, although He was a very rich man's son; Nanda Maharaj was the village king. But still, He was working hard the whole day, going in the morning to the pasturing ground and coming back in the evening. Then He used to take His bath, change dress, and immediately go to sleep. This was Kåñëa's pastime. So we should follow His footprints. What is that verse?

açraddadhänäù puruñä

dharmasyäsya parantapa

apräpya mäà nivartante

måtyu-saàsära-vartmani

[Bg. 9.3]

 

[Bg 9.3: “Those who are not faithful in this devotional service

cannot attain Me, O conqueror of enemies. Therefore they return to the path of birth and death in this material world.”]

 

So whatever Kåñëa has taught by His personal life, by His teaching, to follow that is Kåñëa consciousness.

Everything is there in the Çrémad-Bhägavatam. His personal life is there, and Bhagavad-gétä, His teaching are there, and He comes for this purpose:

pariträëäya sädhünäà

vinäçäya ca duñkåtäm

dharma-saàsthäpanärthäya

sambhavämi yuge yuge

[Bg. 4.8]

 

[Bg 4.8: “To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I Myself appear, millennium after millennium.”]

 

Those who are naturally God-conscious, to deliver them, to make their life perfect, in this life. This life should be the last material life and next life they should go directly to Kåñëa.

janma karma ca me divyam

evaà yo vetti tattvataù

tyaktvä dehaà punar janma

naiti mäm eti so ’rjuna

[Bg. 4.9]

 

[Bg 4.9: “One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.”]

If we become fully Kåñëa conscious, simply try to under stand what is Kåñëa, there is no difficulty: Kåñëa is the Supreme Controller, that's all. There is a supreme controller—that we have to accept, as we were discussing in the bus this morning. There is no way out, there is not way out that you will deny the Supreme Controller, that is not possible.

So there is a Supreme Controller. If you are a sane man you'll understand very easily, and that Supreme Controller is Kåñëa. He comes personally and says:

mattaù parataraà nänyat

kiïcid asti dhanaïjaya

mayi sarvam idaà protaà

sütre maëi-gaëä iva

[Bg. 7.7]

 

[Bg 7.7: “O conqueror of wealth, there is no truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread.”]

There is no other controller above Kåñëa, therefore, He is the Supreme Controller: éçvaraù paramaù kåñëaù [Bs. 5.1], the Supreme Controller. The Su preme Controller, He is giving us instruction. If we follow His instruction, very simple, and remain in this village, satisfied with simple life, agricultural produce, milk, how many nice things you have produced, where is the difficulty? There is no economic problem. You are getting so much milk that it is becoming a problem how to utilize it.

 

In India we are in scarcity of milk. So, kåñi-go-rakñya-väëijyaà. [Bg. 18.44]: “Farming, cow protection and trade are the natural work for the vaiçyas…”] If you have got enough milk you can make trade. Vanijyam, that is Kåñëa's instruction. It is not that we hate the modern system. No, we do not hate anything. Nirbandhaù kåñëa-sambandhe. [From Bhakti -rasämåta- sindhu 2.255: “When one is not attached to anything, but at the same time accepts everything in relation to Kåñëa, one is rightly situated above possessiveness. On the other hand, one who rejects everything without knowledge of its relationship to Kåñëa is not as complete in his renunciation.”] we want to try to engage everything in Kåñëa's service. If modern machine is there, we don't hate it. We must find out the means how this machine can be utilized for Kåñëa's service. So if you have got excess milk, you can make it powdered milk and you can send to India in any amount. It will be consumed. At least we can use it in out different centers, we can distribute. So there is no question.

 

Besides that, you can prepare ghee from milk. From milk first of all drink as much as you like. then convert it into yogurt, next day, next day, next day. And then, when that is also enough, then churn it, take out butter…buttermilk and butter…and drink butter milk with capäté. It is very palatable, very nutritious. Then butter…if you have got excess butter, then turn into ghee, and ghee can be preserved for years. There's no question of preservation. You send it to cities and towns. And we are now encouraging to open prasad distribution restaurant. They can utilize the ghee. Then where is the problem? There is no problem. Each drop of milk you can utilize to the perfect utility point.

 

And if there are excess cows, you have got some woods, so you cut out the trees and make an encirclement and keep them there. They will live there. So there is no problem. Kåñëa was maintaining 900,000 cows. There is no problem. But give protection to the cows. That is the order of Kåñëa. We cannot be so ungrateful that we kill our mother. Milk is so important. We are drinking the milk of the cow, and in exchange, if we cut the throat of our mother, that is not civilization. That is barbarism, less than animal. Animals also, they have respect for mother. So try to give protection to the cow, that is a pious activity, and you'll not be in scarcity.

Live village life, simple life, and be satisfied with the bare necessities. There is no need of luxury. And save time and chant Hare Kåñëa. This is ideal life. So I am very pleased that you are doing that, and do it more nicely so that others may be attracted.

 

This town life, industrial life, factory life, is asuric life. It is killing human ambition. It is killing civilization. So there are many other businesses for a Kåñëa conscious person, because in the Bhagavad-gétä, Kåñëa speaks all around: sociology, politics, philosophy, religion, culture, economics, everything is there. If you simply follow Kåñëa's instructions, then you get cultural life all around.

 

So this is an ideal village. Develop it more and more. Our Paramänanda is there. He is very experienced, and others are there. Do it very nicely. I am very happy to see that things are going nicely. Thank you very much.

 

PARIS, AUGUST 2, 1976 —

ROOM CONVERSATION

NEW MÄYÄPUR FARM

 

HIGHLIGHTS: Work the land…cows and calves together

 

Prabhupäda: The classes should be regularly held. Those who are engaged in the field work, then let them work, but woman or others, they should hear in the class. They should attend.

 

Bhagavän: There is regular class for everyone in the afternoon after prasädam.

 

Prabhupäda: That’s nice…

 

Hari-çauri: You said you had some plan? For the land here? When we came in, you were saying you had some plan for the land.

 

Prabhupäda: Plan is that we have got woods. Cut the woods, make small cottages, and engage them for growing fruits, flowers, grains, and make the complete arrangement nicely. Water…

 

Hari-çauri: Irrigation.

 

Prabhupäda: In this way make it ever green.

 

Bhagavän: There was a question about the cows: At what point should the calf be separated from the mother? Because sometimes when the calf is separated, the mother, she cries.

 

Prabhupäda: No, they should not be taken away.

 

Bhagavän: Shouldn’t be.

 

Hari-çauri: I think in all our farms they do that.

Bhagavän: I heard in New Vrindaban they took them away very early.

Hari-çauri: The problem is that the calves drink so much milk that they become very sick, so they have to separate.

Prabhupäda: Therefore they should not be allowed always. Once in a day, that’s all.

Hari-çauri: Oh.

Prabhupäda: Not too much allowed, but once. At least while milking they should be allowed to drink little milk, and that will encourage the mother to deliver more milk.

Hari-çauri: Oh. At the same time they’re milking the cow, the calf can come.

Prabhupäda: Yes. They can bring it milk. And while milking, the calf may be standing before the mother.

Hari-çauri: They do that in India.

 

Prabhupäda: So she will not be sorry. Completely separation is not good. And after birth at least for one week the calf should be allowed. Because after this giving birth the milk is not fit for human consumption. The calf should not be allowed to eat more, but at the same time the mother must see once, twice, then it will be all right. Of course, we are born in big, big towns, we do not know, but I know this is the process. In Allahabad I was keeping cow, there was facility.

 

Bhagavän: I don’t think our farms are doing like that. In New Vrindaban they do?

 

Hari-çauri: What, letting the calves come? I don’t think so. You can write a letter to… The whole system’s so perfect, it’s completely satisfying in every respect.

 

Prabhupäda: And if you make others dissatisfied for your pleasure, that is sinful. You should act in such a way that nobody is dissatisfied. Then there is balance.

 

 

PARIS, AUGUST 3, 1976 —

ROOM CONVERSATION

NEW MÄYÄPUR FARM

 

HIGHLIGHTS: Produce must be fresh…puffing grains in hot sand… anything grown in a garden is worth a hundred times more than if it is purchased in the market…

(Prabhupäda is eating) Umm, better give this fresh fruit. Don’t bring all rotten. In the market you cannot get fresh. All three hundred years old. Anything fresh, that is full of vitamin. Grow fresh, take fresh. In India there is no system to purchase three-hundred-years-old bread and eat. It must be freshly made. Wife is preparing in the simple oven, husband is eating, children are eating. You know Yaçodämäyé calling Kåñëa? “Come back! Your father is waiting!” You remember this? That is Indian system. The father and the children, they sit down, mother will bring fresh däl, rice and cäpäöi, and distribute, and they eat. We used to do that. Along with father we shall sit down for eating, separately. There was no need of table—on the ground. And mother will distribute, cook. No servant; mother personally, wife personally.

Prabhupäda: The cucumber cutting, there is a process. I’ll show you. Sometimes cucumber is bitter. By that process it can be avoided.

Harikeça: You mean chop the top and you go…

Prabhupäda: Ah, yes. That’s all right.

Devotee: This is bitter?

Prabhupäda: We tasted one piece. Yes, little bitter.

Prabhupäda: Very good. This should be arranged with lemon juice. If you have got these fruits, there is no need of purchasing.

Bhagavän: The tomatoes are supposed to be as good as oranges. The tomatoes are supposed to be as healthy as oranges.

Prabhupäda: Yes. In our childhood, these tomatoes were called foreign eggplant, biläti beguna. And because it was foreign, nobody will touch it. In our childhood we’d never eat the tomato. It was rejected by whole Indian Hindu culture.

Harikeça: Tomatoes don’t grow in India?

Prabhupäda: No. It was imported. Because it was imported they would not touch. The mill cloth, because they were imported, no gentleman will touch. No religious function would allow to use mill-made cloth. And so far medicine is concerned, they would never touch it.

(additional tape)

Prabhupäda: …any expert in your country who can fry food grains in hot sand.

Bhagavän: Like they make puffed rice, I think, like that. I don’t think so. They do it by machine.

Prabhupäda: Puffed rice? How? What is that machine?

Bhagavän: When they make a thatcher, they use some kind of machine.

Prabhupäda: But we can do it very easily. Sand should be very hot. You can make hot sand, it is not difficult. Any fire. And then take the grains in some, another pot, and put the hot sands under it and then agitate. And it will puff-puff-puff-puff-puff-puff, they’ll be finished.

Bhagavän: Put the hot sand where?

Prabhupäda: Sand is being heated in fire, so you put the grains in another pot and put the hot sand there.

Hari-çauri: Underneath the pot?

Prabhupäda: Why underneath? I said another pot. You are so dull brain. Here is hot sand. I bring in another pot, the grains, and the hot sand I pour on it.

 

Hari-çauri: Pour on it, on top of the grains. Oh.

 

Prabhupäda: Yes. And then agitate and then put the whole thing on a mesh and make it like this, again put the hot sand there. Is it clear? Then you get the puffed-up grains. That is very good food.

 

Hari-çauri: Devotees make popcorn.

 

Bhagavän: That’s another thing.

 

Prabhupäda: Popcorn, they fry it in ghee, hot ghee.

 

Hari-çauri: Not much though, just a little.

 

Prabhupäda: No, I’ve seen it. They do it. But that is not very digestive. If you make this sand, hot sand…

 

Bhagavän: It’s light.

 

Prabhupäda: Very light. In the morning you can give them this puffed grains, then fruits and milk, very good breakfast. I mean to say all self-dependent. Yes. We should save time, as much for this purpose, for chanting, discussing grantha [scripture]. Not for any personal so-called comforts. We can sit down anywhere on the grass here, and whatever available we make our food. This is the idea. Life will be sublime. Man-manä bhava mad-bhakto mad-yäjé mäm. [From Bg 9.34: “Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, become My devotee, offer obeisances to Me and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me.”] That is real business…

 

My mother used to make puffed rice at home. So there is special rice available for making puffed rice. Either you can prepare at home or you can purchase in the market, special rice. So she was preparing nice puffed rice, very, very nice. In a sand pot. My mother was always engaged in making some food preparation. Some pickle, some chutney, and this puffed rice, or something else, something else, something else. Besides cooking for the family, she was being assisted by my sisters. Always palatable foodstuff. So many guests were there, and if son-in- law would come, they would specially prepare food for him. To receive guests, give them nice food to eat, prepare nice food for the family, this is the Indian pleasure. They are not very much, nowadays, for upkeep of the home, very… That, in their own way, they keep it very nicely. Every utensils, very cleansed, they are kept ready for use, some cloth. If you go in a poor man’s home, but you’ll find everything very neat and clean. Ask these gåhasthas to keep their home very neat and clean. Are they keeping?

 

Bhagavän: Yes.

 

Prabhupäda: What are the general program for eating?

 

Bhagavän: For eating? Every morning everyone has a nice glass of yogurt, chickpeas and apple, orange and banana.

 

Prabhupäda: Chickpeas fried?

 

Bhagavän: Boiled, chick peas. And apple, orange and banana. And in the afternoon they have rice, däl, cäpäöi, and salad, and in the evening they have a glass of milk and a little bread.

 

Prabhupäda: That’s nice.

 

Bhagavän: This, in July, this is normal weather now, in August and July. But generally in July it has some rain.

 

Prabhupäda: This year…

Bhagavän: Yes. And it was the hottest weather in a hundred years.

 

Prabhupäda: Now.

 

Bhagavän: It was, in July. Extremely hot. And actually our well was one of the only ones functioning in the whole area, and we were watering the crops and everything. Our corn is very nice, very high, and our tomatoes are very good. The barley harvest was five tons.

 

Prabhupäda: Five times more.

 

Bhagavän: Five tons of barley we got, from our harvest. It was very nice.

 

Prabhupäda: Oh.

 

Bhagavän: Did you get some barley flour?

 

Prabhupäda: I don’t have any.

 

Hari-çauri: (laughs) We can’t make, it’s not finely ground enough. We can’t make it into cäpäöis. It’s just too coarse.

 

Prabhupäda: You could do one thing. You just smash that and boil with milk.

 

Hari-çauri: You mean a mortar and pestle?

 

Prabhupäda: Smash and boil with milk. Don’t put sugar. Then I shall put sugar according to my taste.

 

Hari-çauri: You want that this evening?

 

Prabhupäda: No.

 

Hari-çauri: No. Tomorrow morning.

 

Bhagavän: We are the only farm in the whole area that is growing chick peas. The man said he did not think they can grow. But we have a whole field of chick peas. They’ll be coming up ripe for harvest in about three weeks.

Prabhupäda: Chick peas very nutritious. If you simply boil soft, oh, it is very nutritious. A little, so much, is as good as full meal.

AUGUST 3, 1976, PARIS

ROOM CONVERSATION WITH

FRENCH COMMANDER

(French translations throughout)

HIGHLIGHTS: how to create qualified husbands?—train them nicely when they are boys

 

 

Prabhupäda: Yes. Anyway, just inquire. These are our garden flowers.

 

Jayatértha: Oh, very nice.

 

Prabhupäda: This is also?

 

Bhagavän: Yes.

 

Prabhupäda: Yes. Anything grown in the garden, that is hundred times valuable than it is purchased from the market. (pause)

 

Bhagavad-gétä is a book which can guide the whole human society. In all different branches of knowledge, namely in politics, in sociology, in religion, in culture, in philosophy, in economics, everything, all lines are described very vividly, and the human society can take advantage of it. The Bhagavad-gétä begins in the battlefield with politics…

 

(Mrs. Marchand speaks)

 

Translator: She wants to know if it is recommended that a woman become a sannyäsé.

 

Prabhupäda: Woman should stay under the father, under the husband, and under the elderly sons. Nothing more. Therefore it is the duty of the father to give her in charge of a young man when she is young. This is Vedic culture.

 

Translator: She’s asking what should a woman do if she is alone?

 

Prabhupäda: She cannot be alone. Na sataritatam ananti(?). Woman should not be allowed… Just like children. Children cannot be alone. They must taken care of.

 

Similarly a woman, in childhood, should be taken care of by the father; when she’s young, she should be taken care of by the husband; and when she’s old, she should be taken care of by elderly sons. You’ll find in the Vedic literature, the father’s responsibil ity is until she’s handed over to a suitable young man.

 

And the husband’s responsibility is so long she hasn’t got elderly chil dren. At that time, when she has got elderly children, he can leave home and take sannyäsa. So the process is a woman is kept under protection always. There is no independence for woman. That is… Still, in India it is going on. The father is obliged to find out a suitable husband for the daughter and give her in his charge. Then his responsibility finished. Until that, she is, he’s responsible to take care of the daughter. Unmarried girl to remain always under the protection of the father.

 

Yogeçvara: But today there seem to be so few qualified husbands.

 

Prabhupäda: Because you do not train the boys to be qualified. You train them to become debauch. What can be done? You train them from brahmacäré, then they’ll be responsible husbands. Both the girls and the boys should be trained up.

 

Then they’ll be responsible husband and wife and live peacefully. In their young days, if you give them freedom, they’ll spoil. What can be done? Young, youthful days, if you give them full freedom, they’ll be misguided and spoiled.

 

Translator: She’s asking that since in these Western countries the families are so broken up and the women sometimes cannot find a qualified husband, what should she do?

 

Prabhupäda: That, here is the society. You train them. You have got all children. You train them in that way, so that… Whatever is done is done. Now you can make very good society, Kåñëa conscious society. Not that one mistake has been done, you should continue. Rectify it.

 

HYDERABAD, AUGUST 22, 1976

CONVERSATION WITH

SEVEN MINISTERS

OF ANDHRA PRADESH

 

HIGHLIGHTS: Government should be scripture-based…training for the social body

 

Prabhupäda: Our subject matter of Kåñëa consciousness movement is that systematize… The progress of human society should be systematized according to çästra. Just like your government, it is conducted under certain rules and regulations. You have to refer to the government regulative principles, and expert government officers, they are selected. Formally it was ICS, now it is IAS. That means reference to the authorities. Similarly, there are authorities which are called çästra. Çäs-dhätu means to rule. From Çäs-dhätu, çästra and çastra. Çastra means weapon. If you do not act according to the çästra then there is çastra. Çastra means weapon, government. If you violate the rules of the government then there is police department, there is military department which will force you to accept the government regulation. And from the same çäs-dhätu is çiñya, one who voluntarily accepts the discipline.

yaù çästra-vidhim utsåjya

vartate käma-kärataù

na sa siddhim aväpnoti

na sukhaà na paräà gatim

[Bg 16.23: “He who discards scriptural injunctions and acts according to his own whims attains neither perfection, nor happiness, nor the supreme destination.”] The aim of human life is paräà gatim. Paräà gatim means the supreme perfection. Gatim means progress, and paräm means the supreme. Our life is progressive…

So nature’s law is there, prakåteù kriyamäëäni guëaiù karmäëi sarvaçaù. [Bg. 3.27]: “The spirit soul bewildered by the influence of false ego thinks himself the doer of activities that are in actuality carried out by the three modes of material nature.”] We are not independent. We are dependent under the laws of material nature. So we should properly utilize this human form of life, and government or king means to guide the citizens how to make progress of life. That is the duty of the government. They should be given all chances to make progress. Formerly, all the kings were responsible for the progress of the citizens, progress of life.

The same principle should be followed. That is the statement of the çästra. The brähmaëa, kñatriya, vaiçya, çüdra. To maintain the body, just like we require the head, the arms, the belly, and the legs, similarly, we must maintain the brain of the society, the brähmaëa; and the arms of the society, kñatriyas; and the belly of the society, the vaiçyas; and the legs of the society, the çüdra. Everything is required. Not that simply brain is required and leg is not required. No, everything is required under proper guidance for the total benefit of the society. So direction is there. That is çästra. Yaù çästra-vidhim utsåjya… If we do not care for the çästra, whimsically manufacture our own ways of life, na siddhià sa aväpnoti, it will never be successful. Na sukham. And there will be no happiness. Na paräà gatim.

Therefore the whole process is yajïärthät karmaëa. Yajïärthät karmaëo ’nyatra loko ’yaà karma-bandhanaù [Bg. 3.9]. Yajïa means the Supreme Lord, Viñëu. Yajïa means yajïa-çiñöäçinaù santo mucyante sarva-kilbiñaiù. After performing yajïa, if we enjoy life, then there is no sinful reaction. Otherwise, bhuïjate te tv aghaà päpä ye pacanty ätma-käraëät. [From Bg 3.13: “The devotees of the Lord are released from all kinds of sins because they eat food which is offered first for sacrifice. Others, who prepare food for personal sense enjoyment, verily eat only sin.”] So all directions are there in the çästra, and the essence of all Vedic literature is the Bhagavad- gétä. So at the present moment, our, this Kåñëa consciousness movement is that it doesn’t matter what kind of state it is, but it should follow the principle of yajïa. Yajïärthe karmaëa. Otherwise, we shall be responsi ble…

This is the principle. Yajïärthät karmaëo ’nyatra loko ’yaà karma- bandhanaù. [Bg. 3.9]: “Work done as a sacrifice for Viñëu has to be performed, otherwise work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, O son of Kunté, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain free from bondage.”] I have seen in Bälajé temple, mostly cultivators, they come, stand whole day there just to offer something, yajïärthe, for the satisfaction of the Lord. It’s a great culture. Yajïärthe karmaëo ’nyatra. So karma, ordinary fruitive activities should be carried on for yajïärthe, for the satisfaction of Bälajé, or Kåñëa. Not otherwise. The same, what is gathered as contribu tion, it should be utilized for yajïa. Because the money is given for yajïa, not for other purposes. That is a fact. Of course, the money is there. The innocent villagers, they have given the money in good faith that Kåñëa or Bälajé will accept it and their hard labor will be successful. Yajïärthe karmaëa. Now that money should be properly utilized for yajïärthe.

Actually, everything belongs to God, Bälajé. Éçäväsyam idaà sarvam. We are claiming unnecessarily, “This is mine.” That is called mäyä. Nothing belongs to us. Everything belongs to the Supreme Lord. But we have claimed the Lord’s property as our own. That is misgiving. Therefore yajïa is recommended. Return to the Supreme voluntarily. That is called yajïa.

varëäçramäcära-vatä

puruñeëa paraù pumän

viñëur ärädhyate panthä

nänyat tat-toña-käraëam

[Viñëu Puräëa 3.8.9: “The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viñëu, is worshiped by the proper execution of prescribed duties in the system of varëa and äçrama. There is no other way to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One must be situated in the institution of the four varëas and äçramas.”] The varëäçrama-dharma, brähmaëa, kñatriya, vaiçya, this is plan just to teach the whole society how to perform yajïa. Varëäçramä cära- vatä. Therefore this is the beginning of human civilization. Varë äçrama. How to return back. Just like Bali Mahäräja. Bali Mahäräja achieved, obtained, throughout the universe all the property, and he again returned to Vämana. That was his success of life. So this Kåñëa consciousness movement is an educational movement to teach people how

one should voluntarily return the property of the Lord to the Lord. That is called yajïa. Yajïärthät karmaëo ’nyatra loko ’yaà karma-bandhanaù [Bg. 3.9]. So people actually suffering. Not only… This material life means suffering….That is stated in the Bhagavad-gétä:

ya idaà paramaà guhyaà

mad-bhakteñv abhidhäsyati

na ca tasmän manuñyeñu

kaçcin me priya-kåttamaù

[Bg 11.1: “Arjuna said: By my hearing the instructions You have kindly given me about these most confidential spiritual subjects, my illusion has now been dispelled.”] This idaà guhyam, this confidential knowledge of Bhagavad-gétä, should be spread all over the world. People are suffering. And that is the mission of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. He advises that

yäre dekha, täre kaha ‘kåñëa’-upadeça

ämära äjïäya guru haïä tära’ ei deça

[Cc. Madhya 7.128]

[Madhya 7.128: “Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Çré Kåñëa as they are given in the Bhagavad-gétä and Çrémad-Bhägavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land.”] So it will be glory of India if we preach the message of Kåñëa, Bhagavad-gétä. They’re accepting. And I wish that the Bälajé’s estate, Bälajé’s money, should be spent for spreading Kåñëa consciousness, not for any other purpose. That is my request.

Devotees: Jaya Çréla Prabhupäda.

Indian: Please permit…

Prabhupäda: Your question is?

Indian: Yes, varëäçrama, I wanted to, Swamiji…

Prabhupäda: Yes. Varëäçramäcära-vatä. The varëa and äçrama I’ve already explained. Just like for maintenance of the whole body there are different parts: the brain, the arm, the belly, and the leg. Similarly, varëäçrama means the head—brähmaëa; the arms—kñatriya; the belly—vaiçya; and the leg—çüdra. So by nature these divisions are there. Varëa, four varëas and four äçramas. Four varëas means social divisions, and four äçrama, spiritual division. So apart from spiritual division, brahmacäré, gåhastha, vänaprastha, and sannyäsa, the social division must be observed. The brain must be there. Brähmaëa. Everything must be there. Not only the brain. The arms also required—military department or kñatriya department. yuddhe cäpy apaläyanam [“in battle not fleeing” from Bg 18.43: “Heroism, power, determination, resourcefulness, courage in battle, generosity and leadership are the natural qualities of work for the kñatriyas”]. The kñatriyas are so brave, they don’t go away from fighting field, battlefield. Just like Arjuna was trying to become nonviolent. Immediately Kåñëa chastised him:

kutas tvä kaçmalam idaà

viñame samupasthitam

anärya-juñöam asvargyam

akérti-karam arjuna

[Bg 2.2: “My dear Arjuna, how have these impurities come upon you? They are not at all befitting a man who knows the value of life. They lead not to higher planets but to infamy.”] So everything is required. It is not that everyone should become brähmaëa. Neither it is possible that everyone should be able to become brähmaëa. It is not so easy thing. But a class of brähmaëa must be maintained. A class of brähmaëa must be there as ideal to consult with them.

Similarly, a class of kñatriya must be there, a class of vaiçya must be there. This is called varëäçrama. For the peaceful execution of material life, these things are required, division. Just like in your government you have got some different ministerial department. You have introduced, this minister is for this department, this minister… Similarly, the brain department must be there. Without brain, even… Suppose a madman, he has got his hands and legs, but it is useless because the brain is lost. So brain must be there. So this varëäçrama, revival of varëäçrama is required. A class of men, brähmaëa:

çamo damas tapaù çaucaà

kñäntir ärjavam eva ca

jïänaà vijïänam ästikyaà