GBC Meets with Srila Prabhupada
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
May 28, 1977, Vrndavana

Prabhupada: This paper was started, one page, this. Now it has developed.

Gopala Krsna: Now it’s the biggest paper in this area, Hindi paper, Amara Jana(?). In Agra, Vrndavana, Mathura. They have written about us several times. Even when the road was changed to Bhaktivedanta Swami Marg, we had a press conference—I was there—and they reproduced it that Chattikara Road name had been changed to Bhaktivedanta Swami Marg.

Prabhupada: What is that photograph?

Gopala Krsna: They have one of your photographs.

Prabhupada: Which one?

Gopala Krsna: On the right, walking on the beach, I think.

Tamala Krsna: “Transcendental autocrat.”

Gopala Krsna: Lord Caitanya’s picture is also there.

Bhakti-caru: (reads in Hindi about “Fifth Avenue Hare Krsna Sankirtana”)

Gopala Krsna: Bali-mardana’s picture is there. He was leading that kirtana party then.

Bhakti-caru: Was it written by the same person who wrote this book?

Gopala Krsna: No, no, no. No.

Bhakti-caru: I mean, this Caitanya Mahaprabhu Siksamrta.

Gopala Krsna: No.

Bhakti-caru: Somebody else.

Gopala Krsna: Yeah.

Bhakti-caru: Yet that style of writing is quite alike. [break]

Prabhupada: When I go to Los Angeles I am in Vaikuntha. When I am got to New York I am in Vaikuntha. Wherever we have got temple, that is Vaikuntha. So why shall I have objection? So do your duty nicely and see what Krsna desires. Let it be fulfilled. But you do your duty. It is your duty to pray to Krsna as affectionate children, and let Krsna decide. And I have no objection, either. So what is the next?

Giriraja: Well, in continuation of arranging for the properties and other things to be managed…

Prabhupada: Which… Bhagatji is proposed for the trustee?

Tamala Krsna: Yeah.

Prabhupada: Which?

Tamala Krsna: Of Vrndavana, Krsna-Balarama Trust.

Prabhupada: Krsna-Balarama Trust.

Tamala Krsna: We propose to you.

Prabhupada: That’s right… Bhagatji and?

Giriraja: Gopala Krsna and Aksayananda Swami.

Prabhupada: Oh.

Giriraja: And we were also going to add Gurukrpa Maharaja because he gave so much money.

Prabhupada: Oh, yes.

Giriraja: And also for Mayapura add him as a trustee.

Prabhupada: Very good. So do it. His condition will take some time. He has agreed. Then he’s gone to London.

Giriraja: Then for the bank accounts, the main fund is the ISKCON Mayapura-Vrndavana fixed deposits and savings account. So we thought that the best thing would be to have a committee to oversee the spending of this money in terms of your desire. So we propose that the committee consist of Gurukrpa Maharaja, Ramesvara Maharaja, Jayapataka Maharaja, Tamala Krsna Goswami, Gopala Krsna and myself.

Prabhupada: Very good. Approved.

Giriraja: This would represent Gurukrpa, who’s collecting also the money, and Ramesvara.

Prabhupada: I think you are all competent. Very good selection. Do it.

Giriraja: Then the persons who sign the checks, they would do so according to the decision made by the…

Prabhupada: Of this committee.

Giriraja: Yes.

Prabhupada: That’s nice.

Giriraja: And then the signers would be, in Bombay, Tamala Krsna Goswami, Gopala Krsna and myself, two out of the three. And then in Los Angeles, jointly, Ramesvara Maharaja and Satsvarupa Maharaja.

Prabhupada: Very good.

Giriraja: Then, for the BBT, the idea would be that the principle amount should not be touched, but it can be given, you know, for loan if absolutely necessary, just as you have been doing. But the idea is that that amount should always be repaid.

Prabhupada: On principle.

Giriraja: Yeah.

Prabhupada: Even by chance it is not paid, don’t mind. Business should not suffer. That’s all.

Giriraja: Yes.

Prabhupada: If you can provide, you must, of course, see that business is done. And then they should try to pay. If they are actually not able to pay, don’t mind. Is that all right?

Ramesvara: Yes, Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Principle should be they should return back. But if by chance they cannot, don’t press. Let them go on with business. But don’t be lenient. (laughter)

Jayatirtha: I think they’ll be able to pay.

Prabhupada: That’s nice.

Tamala Krsna: They should want to pay, out of duty to you.

Prabhupada: Krsna will give them. You are increasing the book sale. That is Krsna’s favor. Krsna is assuring, “Don’t be disturbed about money matters. I’ll pay you.” But don’t be very loose or extravagant. Every paisa should be spent very cautiously. That is wanted. So it is all right.

Giriraja: So the signers on this account would be Tamala Krsna, Gopala Krsna and myself, two out of three.

Prabhupada: Don’t open many accounts at the bank. The same signer, one or two of them must sign the… The accounts may be in your books, but there is no necessity of opening so many accounts and different signers. That is not necessary.

Giriraja: Right. So these are actually the same signers as the Mayapura-Vrndavana Fund.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Giriraja: And in some cases… I mean, there are different accounts distributed in different places that should be…

Prabhupada: That you can keep in your books, not in the bank.

Giriraja: So all the funds can be consolidated…

Prabhupada: Yes.

Giriraja: …in the accounts in Bombay.

Prabhupada: Yes. To see your accounts…

Jayapataka: This evening we’re going to change the names.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Giriraja: No, no, what he’s saying…

Ramesvara: We should consolidate the accounts. Just on paper keep it simple.

Giriraja: Yeah. And then for the BBT money the decision to give out loan should be unanimously approved by all three of us, Tamala Krsna, Gopala and myself.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Giriraja: Then the accounts in your personal name… We thought that those funds could be transferred to the Mayapura-Vrndavana Fund, just as you suggested, and just keep our own account, how it is spent in terms of your desire.

Prabhupada: Yes. You can transfer at any moment.

Giriraja: And then for the fixed deposits, the interest for your family members, that we would just leave them in your name, as it’s mentioned in the will, and throughout their life they will get the income.

Prabhupada: That we shall do. I shall… How to do it… For the time being you haven’t got to bother.

Giriraja: No.

Prabhupada: So that I shall pay.

Tamala Krsna: We also felt that. We wouldn’t bother with that.

Prabhupada: That’s nice. Very good.

Giriraja: So we are…

Prabhupada: Do it very nicely, cool-headed. Mattah smrtir jnanam apohanam ca [Bg. 15.15]. We shall be always prepared to take instruction from Krsna. That is best.

Tamala Krsna: Srila Prabhupada?

Prabhupada: Hm.

Tamala Krsna: There’s a kirtana party waiting to come in.

Prabhupada: Yes. Come on.

Jayapataka: And I think your prasada.

Tamala Krsna: Oh, yes, there’s some prasadam for you.

Prabhupada: Prasadam? I am not just now very much willing. And if I require, I shall call for it.

Tamala Krsna: All right. Kirtana party should be called?

Prabhupada: Oh, yes.

Tamala Krsna: Jaya Srila Prabhupada.

Devotees: Jaya Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Jaya. [break]

Satsvarupa: Srila Prabhupada, we were all asked by the rest of the GBC to come to ask some questions. Most… These are the members of the original GBC as you first made it up. So our first question is about the GBC members. We want to know how long should they remain in office?

Prabhupada: They should remain for good.

Tamala Krsna: They should remain for good.

Prabhupada: Selected men are chosen, so they cannot be changed. Rather, if some competent man comes, he should be added. I shall recommend that Vasudeva become one of the GBC.

Tamala Krsna: Vasudeva is Deoji Punja. He’s the founder of our… He’s building the temple in Fiji.

Prabhupada: How many GBC’s are there already?

Tamala Krsna: Twenty-three.

Prabhupada: So add him. GBC is not to be changed.

Satsvarupa: But then, in the event that some present GBC member leaves, either leaves…

Prabhupada: Another should be elected.

Satsvarupa: By the votes of the present GBC. Then our next question concerns initiations in the future, particularly at that time when you’re no longer with us. We want to know how first and second initiation would be conducted.

Prabhupada: Yes. I shall recommend some of you. After this is settled up, I shall recommend some of you to act as officiating acaryas.

Tamala Krsna: Is that called rtvik-acarya?

Prabhupada: Rtvik, yes.

Satsvarupa: Then what is the relationship of that person who gives the initiation and the…

Prabhupada: He’s guru. He’s guru.

Satsvarupa: But he does it on your behalf.

Prabhupada: Yes. That is formality. Because in my presence one should not become guru, so on my behalf, on my order… Amara ajnaya guru hana. Be actually guru, but by my order.

Satsvarupa: So they may also be considered your disciples.

Prabhupada: Yes, they are disciples. Why consider? Who?

Tamala Krsna: No, he’s asking that these rtvik-acaryas, they’re officiating, giving diksa. Their… The people who they give diksa to, whose disciple are they?

Prabhupada: They’re his disciple.

Tamala Krsna: They’re his disciple.

Prabhupada: Who is initiating. He is granddisciple.

Satsvarupa: Yes.

Tamala Krsna: That’s clear.

Satsvarupa: Then we have a question concer…

Prabhupada: When I order, “You become guru,” he becomes regular guru. That’s all. He becomes disciple of my disciple. That’s it.

Satsvarupa: Next we have a question about the BBT. At present, no translation work is to be published without your seeing and approving it. So the question is, is there any system for publishing works in the future that you may not see? For example, we’ve heard suggested that the Padma Purana or the Sat-Sandarbha may be translated. But what would the system be to insure the parampara if you would not personally see these translations?

Prabhupada: That you have to examine expertly.

Tamala Krsna: In other words, there’s no set principle that only the works which you have already translated can be published by the BBT. If there is some worthy translation of a bona fide Vedic reference, if it’s properly done, the BBT could publish it.

Prabhupada: That we are doing, just like Hindi. We are doing other languages. If it is properly translated, it can be…

Tamala Krsna: Even if it’s a work which you have not yet translated yourself.

Prabhupada: No, no, no, the principle is… Just like my translation, another person translating into Hindi or other languages, we are publishing. Similarly, if somebody has translated properly, it can be published. But amongst our disciples, I don’t think there are many who can translate properly.

Ramesvara: None. We’re not eager to publish anything which is not perfect, because you have already set the highest standard for the BBT. The name BBT means the highest standard right now in the world.

Prabhupada: That is good answer.

Kirtanananda: Therefore, Srila Prabhupada, we think that you cannot leave us very soon.

Prabhupada: I don’t want. But if I am obliged, what can I do?

Kirtanananda: If you don’t want, Krsna will not want.

Prabhupada: A realized soul, must be. Otherwise, simply by imitating A-B-C-D will not help. My purports are liked by people because it is presented as practical experience. (aside:) It is within the mouth.

Bhavananda: I’m sorry.

Prabhupada: Such a nice instrument, (laughter) that it must enter into the mouth. Then it will act. That kind of instrument not required. It must remain three miles off. Our translation must be documents. They are not ordinary… One cannot become unless one is very realized. It is not A-B-C-D translation.

Bhagavan: It’s not a matter of scholarship.

Prabhupada: And Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, amara ajnaya guru hana. One can understand the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he can become guru. Or one who understands his guru’s order, the same parampara, he can become guru. And therefore I shall select some of you. (hums)

Satsvarupa: That’s all the questions.

Prabhupada: So there is no question of changing GBC.

Satsvarupa: No.

Prabhupada: Rather, one who is competent, he can be selected to act by the board of the GBC.

Tamala Krsna: Of course, if someone has a falldown, just like in the past some GBC men have fallen down…

Prabhupada: He should be replaced.

Tamala Krsna: Then he should be replaced. But that’s a serious falldown, not some minor discrepancy.

Prabhupada: They must be all ideal acarya-like. In the beginning we have done for working. Now we should be very cautious. Anyone who is deviating, he can be replaced.

Tamala Krsna: So Srila Prabhupada, there’s chanting party ready to do sankirtana. So may they come in?

Prabhupada: Hm.

Tamala Krsna: Thank you, Srila Prabhupada.

Devotees: Jaya Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Jaya. (end).