Room Conversation Prabhupada: So there is no civilization except in Krsna consciousness. That’s a fact. All madmen. Ramesvara: I remember about a year ago you told me that the biggest problem facing America in the future is unemployment. Prabhupada: Yes. That’s a fact. That’s a fact. Ramesvara: I think you even said that “This unemployment will destroy your country.” You once said that. Prabhupada: Yes. At least, the black men will spoil everything if they are unemployed. Ramesvara: He’ll simply become a thief. Prabhupada: Thieves, rogues and plunderers. That’s all. Hari-sauri: Detroit has the highest murder rate in the world, ’cause all the city population is black. Prabhupada: Therefore we could purchase that palace which costs six million dollars fifty years ago. And we have got for three hundred thousand. Why? Nobody was purchasing. Who will go to purchase there? I took it. “Yes it is…” I offered him… He was asking 350,000. So I told him, “I’ll pay you cash, all three hundred.” He immediately agreed. (laughs) I should have offered him less. He would have agreed. Nobody was purchasing. Hari-sauri: Yes, we could have got it for half… Prabhupada: So he immediately agreed. Anyway, that’s a very nice place. You have seen? Ramesvara: Yes. Prabhupada: Very nice place, unique palace. Hari-sauri: Yes, a very good center. Prabhupada: Oh, yes. Very nice building. We haven’t got such building anywhere. On the waterside, big, big rooms, very nicely decorated, aristocratic, really aristocratic, really aristocratic. How many devotees are living there? Ramesvara: In Detroit? I think between forty and sixty devotees. Prabhupada: I think more. There are many devotees. And we can accommodate one hundred very easily. Ramesvara: There can’t be more than seventy there right now. It’s not that big yet. Prabhupada: So many rooms, big, big. Hari-sauri: Oh, yes. The place is huge. Prabhupada: If you can make brahmacari, brahmacarini separate, each room can accommodate fifteen men. Very high. Ramesvara: You may remember the property in Los Angeles. Right next to the temple there are these groups of stores. There’s a Mason Temple. There’s the karate place. Then there’s a laundromat, then a meat restaurant, barber shop. So we have just bought half of the block. Prabhupada: Accha? Which side? Ramesvara: Furthest away from us. We purchased the laundromat… Prabhupada: Mason? Mason? Ramesvara: No. That they will not sell yet. The other side. But including that meat restaurant. Prabhupada: Then they have to go? Ramesvara: Well, now we are the landlords. They have got still a lease agreement which we now inherited. So they are paying us rent. Prabhupada: The washerman also? Ramesvara: Yes. So we have the choice… Prabhupada: And this man. (sic:) karadri? Ramesvara: No. Stopped just before karate. The only thing left is the karate… Prabhupada: And the Mason. Ramesvara: …and the Mason Hall. And then the plan… Prabhupada: No, in between them, there is a small space, some worker. Ramesvara: Yes. From karate down we do not own yet. But on the other side we’ve just purchased it. Prabhupada: That’s nice. Ramesvara: Now we have a plan. Actually I have started a business with Karandhara called the… Prabhupada: He has a plan to make… Hari-sauri: Skyscraper. Prabhupada: Skyscraper. Ramesvara: That’s the plan. We’re making money by truck business. [break] …the farms. Sometimes we may invest in some advertising or promotion. And you gave Gopala Krsna the hint that he should take paid ads in the newspapers. Prabhupada: Hm. Ramesvara: So in America… Prabhupada: If there is response, good. Ramesvara: We should experiment in different areas also in America. Prabhupada: America, I don’t think so good. Ramesvara: Although there is a way to develop mail order business. We found out that mail order businesses in America make millions of dollars. Prabhupada: Yes. Ramesvara: So it’s possible. Prabhupada: Hm… That is worth. Ramesvara: Now, one thing… [break] …because he’s very passionate, because he takes intoxicants, so he wants to control that money. He made a plan that if the whole money is given to San Diego he will match it gradually. So now I’ve already given seventy thousand dollars to San Diego. So maybe we can… Prabhupada: So I’ll tell him that they don’t bother. He is doing nice. Ramesvara: But we can suggest to him that “We have already given seventy thousand. So now you match that. Then, when we give more, you can match that.” Prabhupada: No, he’s a good boy. You can talk with him. All right. Take rest. (end)
with His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
January 21, 1977, Bhubaneswar