Morning Walk Conversation
with His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
January 5, 1974, Los Angeles

Prabhupada: …service.

Devotee (1): Yes, I did.

Prabhupada: You give me… [break]

Devotee (2): He’s in the… Parking the car.

Prabhupada: Oh. [break] …plan for wasting time. (devotees laugh) So the material world means they have got different devices for wasting time, not for utilizing time. Is it correct?

Prajapati: It is considered one of our major problems, leisure time. People are having more time on their hands and they do not know what to do with it. So the government, they’re scratching their heads inventing things for people to waste their time.

Prabhupada: This is the difficulty. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum [SB 7.5.31]. Because they are rascal, they do not know how to utilize time, what is the aim of life, where you have to go. These things they don’t know. So they must waste time. So it is the… Just like child. He wastes time in so many ways. It is the duty of the parents, guardians, to cr…, synchronize his activities so that he may not waste his time. It is the duty of the guardians. Similarly these rascals, they’re wasting time. You have to engage them in Krsna consciousness. Then their time will be utilized. [break]

Devotee (3): …in Holland wasn’t any fuel Sundays, and the people could go outside with the cars, and then the statistics say that the fight between the family increased so, so much the police went… They went to the houses to, just to separate the people because there was fighting so much because they didn’t have anywhere to go on Sundays. (devotees laugh)

Prabhupada: Just see. It has become a problem, ah, to remain at home. [break]

Prajapati: …society, Srila Prabhupada, it would train up brahminical qualities. But in the people in general, how can we engage them also in Krsna consciousness? How can we provide them a means to use their leisure time to perfect their lives?

Prabhupada: Just chant Hare Krsna. Is it very difficult?

Prajapati: To get them to do it is difficult.

Prabhupada: Yes, let’s call them in our temple, be practiced. Therefore our society is the most important society. We can teach people how to utilize time properly and be perfect. [break]

Prajapati: …well you utilize your time, Srila Prabhupada, every second is engaged in Krsna’s service. And our advanced Godbrothers, they’ve also learned this art. The vast majority of us, we haven’t quite got the hang of it yet.

Prabhupada: It is practiced. As by practicing you become a first- class drunkard, similarly by practicing you can become a first-class Krsna conscious. It is equal. Abhyasa-yoga-yuktena cetasa nanya-gamina [Bg. 8.8]. Abhyasa. Practice. In association the practice is very easily done. Just like you are saying, that you are engaged. So by association you can learn also. The association is very important. [break]

Prajapati: …Srila Prabhupada. You’re very, very regulated, almost down to the minute in your activities. This is also a big help in utilizing time?

Prabhupada: Yes. Avyartha kala tam(?) That explains the… This is… This should be our aim. Not a single moment is wasted. If you try that “How I’m wasting my time,” then you’ll utilize it. You should always remember. Not a single moment should be wasted. That is advised by Rupa Gosvami. Avyartha kala tam. Vyartha means spoiling. Avyartha means not spoiling. Avyartha kala. He should be always conscious that “I am not wasting my time.” Then it will be done. Krsna… [break] …on the street. The bums, they also utilize, that they want to see that not a moment is wasted without drinking. (devotees chuckle) Yes, they actually do that. They want to drink only, twenty-four hours. As soon as the bottle is finished, they’re finding somebody who will pay one dollar, and purchase another small bottle. They’re doing only business this. [break]

Prajapati: …the holy name and devotional service.

Prabhupada: Ah?

Prajapati: You want us to be drunkards on the holy name, and be like those…

Prabhupada: Yes, yes. There is eight kinds of transcendental transformation… (pause) (devotees chant japa) [break]

Prajapati: …foolish play tennis, and the lazy foolish they play golf. (Prabhupada laughs) [break]

Prabhupada: …less dangerous than the active foolish. (devotees chant japa) [break]

Prajapati: In the Bhagavad-gita it is indicated by Sri Krsna that when we approach a bona fide spiritual master our relationship is twofold. We render service and then we also make inquiry.

Prabhupada: Yeah.

Prajapati: Now, you have answered all our inquiries so thoroughly in our books that to make inquiry at this point seems like…, you’ve already answered all the questions. So how may we… What is the proper relationship at that point to make inquiry?

Devotee (4): Read the books.

Prabhupada: Yes. Read the books, yes. Why I’m working so hard? Read the books. [break] …don’t find him in the class also.

Devotee (4): Who should, Srila Prabhupada?

Prabhupada: Srutakirti.

Devotees: (indistinct)

Devotee (5): He got married yesterday.

Yasodanandana: I heard yesterday he was married.

Prabhupada: Oh.

Yasodanandana: He went to officially. I… We tried yesterday to convince him, but he would not listen.

Prabhupada: Officially he’s married now.

Devotee: Yes. [break]

Prabhupada: …seen that one who is married, he’s lamenting, and who is not married, he’s also lamenting. Is it not? Ah? One who is married, he’s thinking, “Why did I marry? I would have remained free.” He’s lamenting. And who is not married, “Oh, I did not accept wife. I would have been happy.” (laughs) (Hindi) There’s a Hindi… It just like (Hindi). One who has eaten, he’s also lamenting, and who has not eaten, he’s also lamenting. [break] Trpyanti neha… That is said in Sanskrit. Trpyanti neha krpana bahu-duhkha-bhajah. Krpana, by one’s sex life he gets some children and he’s… As soon as there is child, there is suffering. The child is suffering and the parents also suffering to take care. So, again he begets another child. Therefore it is said trpyanti neha krpana bahu-duhkha-bhajah. Behind this child-producing there is so much difficulties and trouble. He knows that. But again pro… Doing the same thing. Trpyanti neha krpana bahu-duhkha-bhajah. Therefore a sane person, kandutivan manasijam visaheta dhirah. Therefore one who is dhira, one who becomes sober, he tolerates the sensations, itching sensations. It is after all itching sensation. So one who can tolerate the itching sensation, he saves so much trouble. But one who cannot, he’s implicated, immediately. Either illicit or legitimate, it is trouble. Yan maithunadi… That is the only happiness in this material world. That is only happiness. Yan maithunadi-grhamedhi-sukham hi tuccham [SB 7.9.45] One who wants to remain in this material world, his only happiness is sex life. He has no other happiness. Yan maithunadi-grhamedhi-sukham hi tuccham. And that is very abominable, tuccham happiness. What is this happiness? But they cannot understand. Kanduyanena karayor iva duhkha-duhkham. Itching, between the two hands. It produces so many bad results, but he’s not satisfied. “All right, I’ve done once, that’s all right. One children is all right, one or two.” But no, then contraceptive, abortion, so many things. But the maya is so strong, it will induce, “Yes, do this.” Again implicated. [break] Becoming master of the dog, he has become servant of the dog.

Prajapati: Yes.

Prabhupada: Just see practically. A man keeps the dog to give him protection when he’ll be attacked by somebody. But to wait for that time he has to give twenty-four-hour service to the dog. (dog barking)

Devotee (1): I think he knows you’re talking about him.

Prabhupada: Ah?

Devotee (1): I think the dog knows you’re talking about him.

Prabhupada: He knows everything. [break]

Prajapati: Everything looks brand new, looks very different.

Prabhupada: Ah?

Prajapati: This is the first time we’ve gone this direction, everything looks different, looks like a total different place.

Prabhupada: (chuckles) This is material life. We are rounding sometimes this way, sometimes that way, and we are thinking “new.” (devotees laugh) Ei rupe brahmanda bhramite kona. In this way you are wandering all over the universe. Find out something new. But there is nothing new. Everything is old. [break] …a living entity is offered change of the body. You see? When he becomes fatigued of this life, “It’s so troublesome”—old men generally think like that. So he has to change another, another new body, child. Since born he is taken care, he thinks “Now, I have got so comfortable life.” And again becomes old, disgusted, so he cannot live disgusting, therefore Krsna is so kind: “All right, change body again.” Punah punas carvita-carvananam [SB 7.5.30]. Chewing the chewed. The business is the same, but changing body gives some relief. Just like these men, the business is they’re wasting time by changing, wasting time at home, come to the golf club. That’s all. The business is the same—wasting time, either here or there. Krsna is giving so much facilities. Sometimes, “All right, you become tree.” “All right, some, become a serpent,” “All right, you become a demigod,” “All right, you become a human being,” “All right, you become king,” “You become a cobbler,” “You go to the heavenly planets,” “Go to the hellish planets.” Varieties is there. Krsna is so kind that He’s changing varieties, atmosphere of life. But he’s packed up in this material world. That freedom… He’s asking for freedom, but he does not know the freedom is the shelter of Krsna. That he’ll not accept. Therefore Krsna has arranged so many varieties. In disgust the Mayavadis, they want to make the varieties variety-less, nirvisesa. And the Buddhists they want to make it zero. But that is also not possible. Remain zero for some time. Again he will want varieties. Big, big Mayavadi sannyasi, they preach so much brahma satyam jagan mithya, but again they come to the political work, social work. Simply remain as brahma, “I am brahma,” you cannot remain for many days. Then he has to accept these material varieties. Variety is the mother of enjoyment, so therefore our proposition is “Come to the real variety, Krsna consciousness. Then your life will be successful.”

Prajapati: The Mayavadis, they not only misunderstand the nature of the Absolute, they misunderstand the function of the jiva.

Prabhupada: Yes. When one misunderstands, he misunderstands everything. One who commits mistake, he can commit mistakes in so many ways. They want to merge into the Absolute. They think that there is no variety, to avoid this variety. Ah? Just like sometimes one is suffering from some disease, they commit suicide. He thinks, “I’m suffering. If I commit suicide, then everything will be stopped.” But he does not know that by committing suicide he’ll increase another set of varieties of miserable conditions of life. He’ll become ghost. And becoming ghost, you cannot enjoy anything grossly. The subtle body will create disturbance. Therefore ghost creates disturbance. He hasn’t got gross body to enjoy. They’re ghostly haunted; therefore a male ghost haunts over woman, woman ghost haunts over man. You know that? It so happens. Ghostly haunted.

Yasodanandana: In the New York temple they had a ghost upstairs.

Prabhupada: Ah?

Yasodanandana: The New York temple in Brooklyn…

Prabhupada: Aha.

Yasodanandana: This is, this was the old house which was used by nuns. And in the upstairs floor, on the complete top, there used to be some nuns that were dying there, very old nuns. And when they moved into the temple there was ghosts, still there, still there is there. There’s one room, it still comes.

Prabhupada: Comes?

Yasodanandana: Yes. The ghost comes sometimes. They chant and put incense.

Prabhupada: Accha? But she does not go away? Or does not do any harm?

Gurukrpa: They don’t let anyone sleep in that room.

Prabhupada: Ah.

Gurukrpa: Because everyone is haunted. There’s many people have seen the ghost.

Prabhupada: Ah.

Yasodanandana: Many devotees.

Prabhupada: But ghost cannot remain where there is chanting of Hare Krsna. [break] In India, all collections should be utilized for Vrndavana temple. I shall personally supervise. So bring all collection to me.

Devotee: When we go to India.

Prabhupada: Yes. [break] …who has got (indistinct).

Devotee: The Rose Bowl.

Satsvarupa: Ramesvara said he had the figures, but I have to get them from him. [break]

Prabhupada: That is human life. Your choice, make your choice, which way. Again death or deathlessness. Stop death from you. This is human life. The karmis, jnanis, yogis, they’re trying for death. There will be death. But for the bhaktas, devotees, there is deathlessness. Punar janma jayaya. For conquering over next birth. Rascal civilized man does not know what is next life, how death can be stopped. Nothing else. Big, big scholars of Bhagavad-gita, they do not understand. The so-called scholars, they do not understand. These things are there in the Bhagavad-gita. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti [Bg. 4.9]. Yad gatva na nivartante [Bg. 15.6]. They do not understand. They say, “What is this?” They do not understand. [break]

Bali Mardana: …people could not enjoy so much in this life, they worry more about the next life.

Prabhupada: Hm?

Bali Mardana: When people realize they cannot enjoy so much in this life, they worry more about what is going to happen to them in the next life.

Prabhupada: No, how does… They do not know what is next life?

Bali Mardana: They don’t know.

Prabhupada: They make it zero. Therefore, closing the eye. “There is no next life. Finished. There is no next life.” In that way they’re satisfied. Just like the rabbit. There is danger, enemy, he closes his eyes. He thinks there is no danger. (devotees laugh) So these rascals are like that. Because they cannot accommodate that this life is so troublesome, again, next life… So that they can realize. Next life means again troublesome; that’s why they sometimes commit suicide. They think that after suicide it will be zero, so no trouble. These are all ignorance.

Karandhara: In psychology that’s called repression.

Prabhupada: Repression.

Karandhara: Taking something which is a fact, but refusing to believe it, pushing it out of your mind, repressing it.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Bali Mardana: There is a philosophy called Stoicism. They believe they… This life is meant to suffer, so they should just become very sturdy to suffer a great deal.

Prabhupada: So sturdy or not sturdy, you have to suffer. How you can check? We cannot change by simply… Becoming sturdy…

Bali Mardana: No, stoic.

Prabhupada: Ah. What is that?

Bali Mardana: It’s a philosophy, a school of philosophy, stoic.

Prabhupada: Oh, yes. What is their conclusion?

Bali Mardana: That the world is very, is full of suffering…

Prabhupada: Yes.

Bali Mardana: …so they become very sturdy to bear the suffering.

Yasodanandana: Emotionless.

Prabhupada: So one who can suffer without any protest, he’s first- class man.

Bali Mardana: (laughs) Yeah.

Prabhupada: That means they do not know how to stop suffering.

Bali Mardana: Yeah.

Prabhupada: The… Here is one class, they’re trying to become very strong to tolerate suffering, and other philosophies, they’re making everything zero. There is no question of not suffering, but making zero. No suffering, nor neither suffering. Suffering or not…, both of them abolished, dismissed. This philosopher is… “This suffering cannot be dismissed. Therefore you be strong to tolerate it.” Other philosophers they say, “There is suffering, so make it zero.” But both of them have no information that there is real life where there is no suffering. Still there is life. That is Krsna consciousness. There is life, but no suffering.

Bali Mardana: They’re like owls.

Prabhupada: Yes. (pause)

Bali Mardana: There’s a river. [break]

Prabhupada: …duhkha-nivrtti. Ultimately, stop of all sufferings. This is Krsna consciousness. Anandamayo ’bhyasat. Simply ananda. Dancing with Krsna, rasa dance. Supposing if there is such life— dancing and eating and chanting, no suffering. So would anybody deny that? Is there any such fool?

Bali Mardana: Yeah, they’re all denying.

Prabhupada: Ah?

Bali Mardana: They deny. Just like the Puritans…

Prabhupada: No, no. Deny… You deny or accept, that is the… Suppose there is such life where you can simply dance, eat and live eternally, happy life. Would you not like to accept it?

Devotee (2): Yes, of course, anyone would.

Prabhupada: Ah?

Devotee (2): Anyone would like to accept that.

Prabhupada: You see? That we are giving.

Devotee (2): But they think no such thing would exist.

Prabhupada: They think, may think, but it is theoretical. Supposing there is such life, would you not accept it? You may believe, not believe. That is another chapter. First of all, this is our proposition, that there is a life like this. Would you like? So who would say “no”? Everyone will say, “Yes, I like.” It is a question of understanding. There is such life, but because he is disappointed at being cheated, cheated, cheated, he thinks, “Here is also another cheating.” Just see. Therefore Krsna consciousness preaching means to convince them that there is life like this. That is propaganda.

Bali Mardana: What would convince them that it is simply not another cheating?

Prabhupada: Yes, it is cheating, it is fact.

Bali Mardana: But what would convince them of that? What qualities?

Prabhupada: Just see example, our. We are chanting, dancing, and eating nicely. What you are doing? You are simply talking nonsense. There is no peace in your life. And see our devotees in Krsna consciousness. This is the proof, practical proof.

Yasodanandana: Practical proof that they cannot get purified.

Prabhupada: Ah?

Yasodanandana: Even though they have big posts…

Prabhupada: No, either purify or… You come with us and you will be purified. Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, radha-krsna bolo sange calo, ei-matra bhikha cai. We don’t want anything from you. You, I shall give you eating. I shall give you everything. You simply come with me and chant. This is our propaganda. We don’t say that “You do this, do that.” We don’t do anything. Simply come with us and chant.

Bali Mardana: Just like the Catholic church, in different places around the world they feed the people.

Prabhupada: Ah.

Bali Mardana: But we cannot only… If we not only feed them, but give them chanting and dancing…

Prabhupada: Yes.

Bali Mardana: …they will accept it as superior.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Devotee (2): Actually we can see that happening very practically. At Spiritual Sky many big, big businessmen they come, and they see how these boys are making money and yet they are singing and dancing all the time. (laughs)

Prabhupada: This is practical. It’s practical. Therefore in India we are considered as the richest community. They was a question in Parliament, “Wherefrom these Krsna consciousness movement they get their money?” And the Parliament would reply, Home Member, that “They get money by distributing literature.” This is the reply. This is recorded in the Parliament, Indian Parliament.

Hrdayananda: Delhi.

Prabhupada: So if you simply push on our literature, then our movement is going, you must know. It is really going forward. And there will be no scarcity. You’ll get everything. [break] Our neighbors they inquire, is it not? That, “You are living so happily, where do you get money?”

Devotee: Yes.

Prabhupada: The storekeepers, they inquire. They’re envious, that “How these people enjoying life without earning, without working hard?” Now whole Bombay is surprised when you purchased this land.

Bali Mardana: Yeah.

Prabhupada: So much fighting was there. Immediately I went and purchase and everything stopped. (devotees laugh) They are surprised. This man, they… You know there are two very stubborn parties who have cheated. Chaganlal, he advanced fifty-one thousand as advance, and when there was question of settlement, so he came, he wanted that “If you give me three lakhs, then I’ll compromise.” So I was prepared to pay him three lakhs. So that Mr. Ganotra, Mayor, I induced him just to make settlement. Then down he came—two lakhs twenty-five thousand. Then asked Mrs. Nair, “Now you’ll pay this…” Where I have got… If he takes all money, then what shall I get? Then I had to settle with her how much he will pay. So she came from one lakh to one lakh, forty thousand. So what is the balance?

Bali Mardana: Sixty. Sixty… Eighty-five thousand.

Prabhupada: Ah? Eighty-five. So I said, “Yes, I’ll pay it. Settle up. The balance I’ll pay.” Eighty-five thousand. The other man, what is called? Ratna Parik?

Karandhara: Chaganlal.

Prabhupada: That Chaganlal this, I pay him extra eighty-five thousand. That is also black. No more white. So the black money was paid in this way, that the money was counted and it was put in a handbag, and it was locked by him. So the key was with him, and the bag was with me. As soon as court accepted the agreement, then I handed over, “Take this bag.” Then again this Ratna Parik, he first of all proposed twenty thousand to sell that house. Then when I went there, he knew that he’s settling at any cost, he said, “Now that twenty thousand was cost formerly. Now things have gone very high, I cannot sell.” So he knows that we are eager to purchase. Then I said, “Then what do you want to do?” “Now I want thirty thousand.” “All right, yes. Take it.” I did not argue. In this way I settled up. And our Giriraja’s father appreciated that “It is better a bad settlement than to prolong the case.” So I took this policy. It is bad settlement, from twenty thousand to thirty thousand. But settled out. “I give you 85,000 black.” But one thing I gain—that by cancelling the agreement, their proposal was that increase the price, twenty lakhs from fourteen lakhs. That was the arrangement between the attorneys. They cancelled the agreement and take twenty lakhs from him, and the balance should be divided by…, amongst us. That was the agreement. So that addition of twenty lakhs I satisfied Mrs. Nair by fourteen lakhs fifty thousand.

Bali Mardana: Saves 500,000, lakhs.

Prabhupada: Yes. The attorneys were settling at seventeen lakhs, but by Krsna’s grace I was able to settle up fourteen lakhs fifty thousand.

Bali Mardana: You were able to convince her to settle up for less.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Gurukrpa: This was white?

Prabhupada: Ah? Yes, fourteen lakhs fifty thousand white.

Bali Mardana: She must’ve been very surprised to receive the money, such a large payment.

Prabhupada;: Yes. [break] …only ten lakhs.

Bali Mardana: Yeah.

Prabhupada: Then Karandhara sent… How much you sent?

Karandhara: Excuse me, Prabhupada?

Prabhupada: What you sent?

Karandhara: Sent twenty thousand.

Prabhupada: Twenty thousand. That was… Not two lakhs, nowadays. Eight rupees. About one lakh sixty thousand. Then we had about three lakhs. In this way, somehow or other, we paid seven, more than sixteen lakhs. Black, white, everything.

Gurukrpa: For Krsna anything can be done.

Prabhupada: She was to be paid fourteen lakhs fifty thousand, then stamp duty two lakhs… Sixty thousand or six thousand? Then registration fee… Oh, it was very expensive. [break]

Devotee (2): …that at the end of this month the United States will be destroyed by the comet, the Kahutek comet.

Prabhupada: Yes. Their demonic principles will be destroyed. They’ll take to Krsna consciousness.

Devotees: Jaya, haribol!

Prabhupada: What do they say… After destruction, then what is next?

Devotee (2): Oh, they all move to Mexico and Canada, so they wouldn’t be in the way of the destruction. They don’t know what’s going to happen after that.

Prabhupada: So at the time of danger they’ll go away. Very good. (devotees laugh)

Bali Mardana: Lord Jesus came to save the fallen souls…

Prabhupada: Yes.

Bali Mardana: …they are all running away.

Prabhupada: They are so good Christian that at the time of danger, they’re all going away to Canada. Just see—afraid of death, even though they are preaching themselves, priest, they are also the same common man, afraid of death. And if we people keep to Krsna consciousness, we are not afraid of death. For going from one place to another, that’s all. Going home, nobody becomes afraid going back to home. He becomes pleased. [break] You avoid death, there is no death. Visaya.(?) If we simply practice this, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama… No more death. Finished death. This is a fact. [break] …or do something for Krsna. Don’t waste time, single moment. Then your… No more death. Because this is deathless condition. And the changing of the body, that is momentary, that is all.

Bali Mardana: So our service is deathless.

Prabhupada: Ah? Deathless…

Bali Mardana: Devotional service.

Prabhupada: …yes, this is deathless position.

Bali Mardana: But if we stop serving…

Prabhupada: You admit or not, theologian? (devotee laughs) Eh? Eh? Or you have got anything to say? This is deathlessness.

Bali Mardana: Because the soul is acting.

Prabhupada: Yes. Ah?

Karandhara: Looks like it may start raining a bit, Prabhupada. We may cut over here.

Prabhupada: All right.

Karandhara: And I can bring the car over.

Prabhupada: No, no, what is that? We shall not die. (devotees laugh)

Bali Mardana: We will melt.

Prajapati: The soul cannot be wet.

Prabhupada: No, it is pleasant. Visvam purna-sukhayate. For a devotee, everything is very happy. There is no unhappiness. Any condition, they are happy. Visvam purna-sukhayate. For nondevotees everything is a problem. (devotees laugh) And for devotee everything is happiness. That is the difference.

Devotees: Jaya. (thunder sounds in background)

Prabhupada: This is fact. This is not imaginary…, I mean to say… Krsna says, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami. The suffering is due to sinful activities. So a devotee is not acting sinfully; he’s fully surrendered… (end)