Don't Do Your Own Thing.doc

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"Don't Do Your Own Thing"

Los Angeles, December 5, 1973

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Prabhupada: ...has done a great mistake. I never expected... (noise) ...all of a

sudden... [break] You see the so-called swamis and yogis. They could not do

anything, because they are outsider. They are not within the jurisdiction of

Krsna. One must remain within the jurisdiction of Krsna. Then his spiritual life

is assured. Otherwise, paramour(?). [break] Similarly, everything, everyone

belongs to Krsna's family, but we have to see what he's doing for Krsna. Just

like everyone is citizen of the state. Why a man is given high position and big

title? Why? Because he's recognized.

Sudama: Right.

Prabhupada: So one must give service. Simply to feel, "I belong to Krsna's

family," and doing nothing for Krsna, that is not...

Sudama: That's no good.

Prabhupada: That's no good. That is not good. That means he'll... Very soon

he'll again forget Krsna. He'll again forget Krsna.

Sudama: Actually, the other element is so powerful. These people here,because, even though they are part of Krsna's family, but because they have

forgotten, then we become influenced by their forgetfulness.

Prabhupada: Yes. Forgetfulness means maya.

Sudama: Yes.

Prabhupada: Maya is nothing. It is a forgetfulness. That's all. It has no

existence. Forgetfulness, it does not stand. But so long it is there, it is very

troublesome.

Sudama: I've been asked a question by some devotees sometimes that they

don't feel happy. So even if they are unhappy, mentally, should, they still

should continue in Krsna consciousness. I tell them, even if one is unhappy...

Prabhupada: But you should show example. If you show example different
http://prabhupadavani.org/Morning_Walks/m3u/MW002.m3uhttp://prabhupadavani.org/Morning_Walks/m3u/MW002.m3u


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way, how they will follow you?

Sudama: Yeah.

Prabhupada: Example is better than precept. Why you are living outside?

Sudama: Well, I...

Prabhupada: [break] ...last time I was so much deteriorated in health, I had to

leave this place. That does not mean I'll leave the Society. I went to India and

recuperated. Or came to London. That's all right. So health may be

sometimes... But that does not mean we shall give up the Society. If my health

is unsuitable here, I go... I have a hundred centers. And you'll not go out of this

universe for your health recouping. You have to remain within the universe.

Then why do you go out of the Society? [break] ...Sri Narottama dasa Thakura.

We have to live with devotees. Why I left my family? Because they were not

devotees. Therefore I come... Otherwise, in old age, I would have been

comfortable. No. We should not live with the nondevotees, may be family men

or anyone. Just like Maharaja Vibhisana. Because his brother was not

devotee, he left him, left him. He came to Ramacandra. Vibhisana. You know

that?

Sudama: Yes.

Hrdayananda: So Prabhupada, it says that a sannyasi should live alone. That

means only with devotees.

Prabhupada: Who...! Where it is said sannyasi should live alone?

Hrdayananda: I mean, sometimes in your books.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Hrdayananda: Sometimes in your books. So that means with devotees.

Prabhupada: In general, sannyasi may live alone. But sannyasi's duty is to

preach.

Sudama: That I don't ever want to stop.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Sudama: I don't ever want to stop preaching.


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Prabhupada: Yes. Well, preaching, you cannot manufacture preaching. You

must do preaching according to the principles ordered by your spiritual master.

You cannot manufacture your own way of preaching. That is required. There

must be some leader. Under the leadership. Yasya prasadad bhagavat... Why

it is said? Everywhere, in the office, there is some immediate boss. So youhave to please him. That is service. Suppose in office, in a department there is

office superintendent. And if you do in your own way, "Yes, I'm doing my

business," and the office superintendent is not pleased, do you think that kind

of service is nice? No. Similarly, we have got, everywhere we have got

immediate boss. So we must work. That is systematic. If everyone

manufactures, invents his own way of life, then there must be chaos.

Sudama: Yeah, that's true.

Prabhupada: Yes. Now we are world organization. There is spiritual side, and

there is material side also. That is not material side. That is also spiritual side,

means systematic management. Otherwise how it will be done? Just like

Gaurasundara sold the house, and there is no trace of the money. What is

this? He did not ask him, anyone. He sold the house, and where is the money,

there is no trace. [break] Ah, Hare Krsna. What is that badge? Tennis?

Devotee: It's not a badge. It's the only sweater I...

Prabhupada: Oh, that's nice. Yesterday I received one letter from Rupanuga

Maharaja. He's preaching very nice. Yes.

Hrdayananda: Rupanuga?

Prabhupada: Yes.

Umapati: There have been several people here in Los Angeles...

Prabhupada: Eh?

Umapati: ...that have wanted to meet you. A councilman, a councilman here in

Los Angeles would like to meet you, a city councilman.

Prabhupada: Yes. Oh, yes. He's welcome.

Umapati: So, and, and um, also a Professor Scharfe at the UCLA, he's...

Prabhupada: Professor?


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Umapati: Professor Scharfe. He's a Sanskrit scholar of the Vedic, Vedic...

Svarupa Damodara: Scharfer?

Umapati: Scharfe. Scharfe.

Svarupa Damodara: It's not Scharfer?

Devotee: Scharfe, spelled S-c-h-a-r-f-e.

Svarupa Damodara: Yes, I met him.

Umapati: Yes. He would like very much to meet with you.

Prabhupada: All right. Make appointment. What, what is his purpose to meet

me?

Umapati: Well, Professor Scharfe is interested in your writings, and I don't

know the councilman's motives. He just sent word to me that he would like to

meet with you.

Prabhupada: We welcome any respectable gentleman. We have to go this

way?

Karandhara: Uh, yeah, Prabhupada, we can go this way, through here. [break]

Hrdayananda: The scientists will never give up.

Prabhupada: They are trying.

Hrdayananda: They are like Jarasandha. They come back every day on your

walk.

Svarupa Damodara: Srila Prabhupada, we have any specific reference for

acintya in the Vedic reference?

Prabhupada: Acintya, acintya, yes, acintya. Acintya potency, even you havegot acintya potency. That I have already explained. Because we are part and

parcel of Krsna, therefore there is pinch of acintya, inconceivable potency, in

us also. Harer nama harer nama harer nama... [Cc. Adi 17.21].

Svarupa Damodara: Do we have any specific reference?

Prabhupada: Yes. Jiva Gosvami. Jiva Gosvami has stated that unless we


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accept acintya, inconceivable energy, there is no conception of God. There is

no conception of God. If you bring God to your conception, he's not God.

Umapati: Acintya, acintya-bheda is a unique contribution of Vaisnavas to the

concept of God.

Prabhupada: Yes, yes. Actually, that is the fact. We cannot explain what is

God. We have to accept what is God from God.

Yasomatinandana: Avaroha.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Yasomatinandana: Avaroha process?

Prabhupada: Yes, not ava... Yes, avaroha process. Yes, thank you. Here

Krsna says, mattah parataram nanyat [Bg. 7.7]. We have to accept that.

Mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya [Bg. 7.7]. So "There is no

more superior authority than Me." Harer nama harer nama... [Cc. Adi 17.21].

Yasomatinandana: (loud waves drowns out voice)

Prabhupada: Ah, na me viduh sura-ganah... [Bg 10.2].

Yasomatinandana: What to speak of these teeny scientists, even the great

sages can't know Him.

Prabhupada: Yes. Aham adir hi devanam...

Yasomatinandana: Maharsinam ca sarvasah.

Prabhupada: Ah.

Yasomatinandana: Even Lord Brahma, when he saw the innumerable Visnu

forms of the child Krsna, then he himself said that "As far as I know, as far as I

am concerned, I don't know anything about You."

Prabhupada: No, he... Yes. That is the Brahma's position, what to speak of

others. Yasyantam na viduh surasura-gana devaya tasmai namah. Yam

brahma varunendra-rudra-marutah stunvanti divyaih stavaih. Brahma, Varuna,

all demigods. Yam brahma varunendra-rudra. Rudra even, Siva, Lord Siva.

Stunvanti divyaih stavair vedaih sanga-pada-kramopanisadair gayanti yam

sama-gah, dhyanavasthita-tad-gatena manasa pasyanti yam yoginah [SB


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12.13.1]. That Bharati cited this verse. Yes.

Hrdayananda: The five gods?

Prabhupada: No, no, this verse.

Yasomatinandana: Is that by Sankaracarya, Prabhupada?

Prabhupada: No, no. It is Vedic.

Svarupa Damodara: Where is it from, Prabhupada?

Prabhupada: Eh?

Svarupa Damodara: Where is it from?

Prabhupada: Eh?

Svarupa Damodara: It is the Bhagavatam?

Prabhupada: Yes, Bhagavatam is there. Yam brahma varunendra-rudra-

marutah stunvanti divyaih stavair vedaih sanga-pada-kramopanisadair gayanti

yam sama-gah.

Svarupa Damodara: I remember Srila Prabhupada used this "acintya" to

differentiate between the life and the non-living.

Prabhupada: Acintya means living.

Svarupa Damodara: No, acintya-sakti. Life, life has acintya...

Prabhupada: Yes.

Svarupa Damodara: Whereas non-life doesn't have.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Svarupa Damodara: Matter, just like a molecule doesn't have this acintya. But

they may...

Prabhupada: No, it has, but it is covered too much. Consciousness is covered.

Potency, potent. It is potent.


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Svarupa Damodara: Molecule has consciousness?

Prabhupada: Yes, everything has consciousness, but it is covered. The degree

is of covering.

Umapati: I was reading the writings of Bhaktivinoda Thakura in Jaiva Dharma.

Prabhupada: Ah.

Umapati: And he is explaining the word "sraddha," and he defines it in there as

the tendency of the mind towards devotion without regard to jnana or karma.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Yasomatinandana: Sraddha.

Umapati: Sraddha. And I have heard it variously interpreted as meaning "faith"

or "belief," which really falls short of that interpretation.

Prabhupada: What is that interpretation?

Umapati: Could you elaborate on the definition of sraddha?

Prabhupada: Sraddha is explained in Caitanya-caritamrta. Sraddha means

firm conviction. That is sraddha. Just like Krsna says that "I am the

Supermost." So if you have firm conviction in Krsna's words, that is sraddha.

Umapati: Yes.

Prabhupada: If you have doubts, then that is not sraddha.

Umapati: So therefore one can understand only if one is in sraddha.

Prabhupada: No, that sraddha has to be increased.

Umapati: How it is increased?

Prabhupada: The beginning of sraddha means firm conviction.

Umapati: How is it sraddha does not exist in one person, and it does exist...

Prabhupada: No, sraddha is there. It has to be awakened.


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Umapati: Sraddha is in every person then.

Prabhupada: Yes. Therefore I say it is covered. It is covered. That covering

has to be taken away. That is called bhajana (indistinct). That is called culture.

Umapati: Upasana.

Prabhupada: Upasana, bhajana, sadhana, culture, whatever you say. He has

to awaken that sraddha, more and more.

Yasomatinandana: Prabhupada, is every jiva given a chance in the beginning

to go in the spiritual world? Then he falls down, or...?

Prabhupada: Eh?

Yasomatinandana: Or sometimes the jiva may choose directly...

Prabhupada: The jiva is atomic. It is smaller than the atoms. One ten-

thousandth part of the tip of the hair. Kesagra-sata-bhagasya satamsah

sadrsatmakah [Cc. Madhya 19.140]. So every living entity, atom.

Yasomatinandana: Is he first allowed...?

Prabhupada: Less than the atom. Smaller than the atom.

Yasomatinandana: Is he allowed to associate with Krsna in the beginning?

Prabhupada: Eh?

Yasomatinandana: As jiva, as jiva is...

Prabhupada: He's always with Krsna. Simply he has forgotten. Have you not

been with Krsna? We are standing on this sand. The sand is Krsna, Krsna's

energy. We are standing by the water. This is Krsna's energy. Bhumir apo

'nalo vayuh [Bg. 7.4]. Don't you read that? So is it different from Krsna?

Yasomatinandana: No, but it is...

Prabhupada: My body is also Krsna's energy. I am also Krsna's energy. I am

always with Krsna. Simply I have forgotten it.

Yasomatinandana: But this is Krsna's inferior energy, right?

Prabhupada: That may be. That is a comparative study, inferior or superior.


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But it is energy.

Yasomatinandana: Yes.

Prabhupada: As energy, it is not different from Krsna, as energy.

Yasomatinandana: Vasudevah sarvam iti [Bg. 7.19].

Prabhupada: Yes. As energy, how can you differentiate from Krsna?

Umapati: You give the... It could be described as like the growth of a plant as

compared to the energy of the sun.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Umapati: The growth of a plant as compared to the energy of the sun.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Umapati: The growth of the plant is the inferior energy, and the... (loud waves)

Prabhupada: Yes, there are so many things. That is comparative study. But...

(loud waves) Energy is not different from the energetic. Sunshine is not

different from the sun. Idam hi visvam bhagavan ivetarah. Everything is

Bhagavan, but it appears like different.

Yasomatinandana: Is that what it means by sarvam khalv idam brahma?

Prabhupada: Yes.

Yasomatinandana: Everything is spiritual, but when it is... due to our

ignorance, we think it is material.

Prabhupada: Yes, but don't associate with... (indistinct) ...must realize.

Yasomatinandana: So Mayavadis artificially think that?

Prabhupada: Yes. They have no realization.

Yasomatinandana: Somebody even asked me about what is material and what

is spiritual, Prabhupada. I said that whatever is in connection with God is

spiritual and whatever is not in connection with God is material. Is that right?


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Prabhupada: That's nice, that's nice.

Karandhara: The consciousness makes a difference.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Karandhara: Your consciousness makes the difference.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Karandhara: Because everything is in connection with God except for our own

consciousness when we're in maya.

Prabhupada: Just like we are taking prasadam. How it is spiritual?

Yasomatinandana: It is offered to Krsna.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Umapati: By our knowledge, that it is...

Prabhupada: By knowledge... Because it is offered to Krsna. The Krsna

consciousness is there. So anything which is accepted in Krsna

consciousness, that is spiritual thing.

Umapati: In perfect knowledge, would the first step be faith that it is offered to

Krsna? One may, may make an offering without being...

Prabhupada: Well, he must learn under superior direction. Otherwise, how he

can offer?

Umapati: Well, he may make an attempt. There is a natural impulse to serve, a

natural impulse to offer in man, and he may not be aware that he is seeking

Krsna in his conditioned state. Then, if...

Prabhupada: Then whom he's offering? If he doesn't know Krsna...

Umapati: That is his ignorance. If he is seeking.

Prabhupada: Then, if he's in ignorance, what is the value of his offering?

Umapati: I did not hear the last point.


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Hrdayananda: If he's in ignorance, what is the value of the offering?

Umapati: That is true.

Hrdayananda: He needs a spiritual master.

Umapati: Yes.

Prabhupada: You cannot do anything in ignorance.

Umapati: But then the spiritual master gives him knowledge...

Prabhupada: Yes.

Umapati: ...and then from that knowledge he becomes aware that...

Prabhupada: Yes.

Umapati: ...Krsna is in the offering.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Hrdayananda: Jaya.

Yasomatinandana: Spiritual master gives knowledge, and then a disciple is

eternally indebted to spiritual master.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Yasomatinandana: It is not that, like Mayavadis, they serve the spiritual master

in the beginning and then they...

Prabhupada: Then they...

Yasomatinandana: ...themselves become...

Prabhupada: ...throw him away, "Go away. I have now learned." Guru-mara-vidya, to, the knowledge of how to kill guru. Guru-mara-vidya. Their, the

philosophy is that you cannot rise up. You take a ladder. But as soon as you

rise, throw away the ladder. No more. No more needed. That is Mayavada

philosophy. Our philosophy is dhyayan stuvams tasya yasas tri-sandhyam.

Yasomatinandana: Three...


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Prabhupada: Eternally.

Yasomatinandana: Somebody told me, Prabhupada, about Vallabhacarya, that

he sometimes, he once went to Lord Caitanya and said that he wrote a better

commentary than a previous acarya, and Lord...

Prabhupada: Yes. Sridhara Svami.

Yasomatinandana: Lord Caitanya chastised him?

Prabhupada: Yes.

Karandhara: An unchaste wife who abandons a swami.

Prabhupada: He referred to Sridhara Svami. So swami means husband. So

He sarcastically remarked, "Anyone who does not accept swami, she is

prostitute."

Yasomatinandana: Is Vallabhacarya, Prabhupada, in accordance with our

philosophy?

Prabhupada: Yes, he's Vaisnava, acarya. But that very deviation, that "I have

done something better than Sridhara," that is not our parampara system. Then

he was thinking himself better than Sridhara. That is not allowed. We should

always remain servant of the servant [Cc. Madhya 13.80]. Never we shall think

that "I am better than my Guru Maharaja." That is fall down. Hare Krsna Hare...

Our Juhu Beach is very nice.

Yasomatinandana: Yes, Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: All clean, and you can walk very nicely. In Bombay.

Yasomatinandana: And lot of people can see you. And they bow down to you?

Prabhupada: If they do not, what can I do?

Yasomatinandana: Well, no, if they do, then they will go to Vaikuntha.(laughter)

Prabhupada: That is our sastric injunction, that as soon as you see a sannyasi,

you must bow down. Otherwise, you should fast one day. It doesn't matter, I or

you. This is the injunction of the sastra, that sannyasi is supposed to be the

guru of the society. So one must bow down.


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Yasomatinandana: Prabhupada, in our movement there are so many

sannyasis. If we see the sannyasi, same, so many times in one day, we should

bow down every time we see him?

Prabhupada: If you can, of course.

Srutakirti: It wouldn't hurt.

Prabhupada: Yes. [break] ...this time He used to take His sankirtana party for

strolling all over the city.

udilo aruna puraba-bhage

dwija-mani gora amani jage

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna...

Hrdayananda: Prabhupada, we are helpless without you.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Hrdayananda: We are helpless without you.

Prabhupada: Hm. Yes. Today sky is clear.

Umapati: With this energy crisis now, it'll be even clearer.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Umapati: With this energy crisis it'll be even more clear. [break] ...these

people, these politicians, this power that we have in our government would

be..., come to an end.

Prabhupada: It has already come to an end. There is no government

anywhere, simply chaos.

Yasomatinandana: Prabhupada, do you think that the ISKCON will, this Krsnaconsciousness will become a major religion in any country?

Prabhupada: Eh?

Yasomatinandana: Krsna consciousness will become a major religion in any

country?


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Prabhupada: So far the statement goes, manusyanam sahasresu [Bg. 7.3],

one can understand. But even one person understands, it is beneficial for

many. Yes.

Yasomatinandana: Just like you understood your Guru Maharaja's message,and the whole world is benefited.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Hrdayananda: Jaya, Srila Prabhupada.

Yasomatinandana: Not everybody can be that potent. [break]

Prabhupada: ...just like the sunshine is open to everyone, but if you do not

take advantage of it, that is your fault. Sunshine is not meant for, specifically

for any person. It is open to everyone. But if you purposefully close your door,

and do not see the sunshine, that is your fault.

Yasomatinandana: Yes, Prabhupada, but there's only one earthly planet, and

you have conquered it already.

Umapati: Is not a true Vaisnava also a sannyasi? Would you explain the

difference between them?

Prabhupada: Eh?

Umapati: Is not a, one who is truly a Vaisnava, is he not also a sannyasi by

his...?

Prabhupada: Sannyasi, sannyasi is in the material platform, and Vaisnava is in

the spiritual platform.

Umapati: So then the Vaisnava is superior to a sannyasi?

Prabhupada: Yes. He's not sannyasi. He's above sannyasi.

Umapati: Oh. But a Vaisnava would always offer his respects to a sannyasi. Isthat not true?

Prabhupada: Yes, Krsna was offering respect to His elderly persons. That is

etiquette.

Karandhara: Step aside a little bit so that Prabhupada can... If you stay to the


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side a little bit, you box Prabhupada in.

Umapati: There's some austerity, Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Yes. What is that?

Umapati: They're sleeping on the beach.

Prabhupada: So what is the benefit of their sleeping? (laughter)

Umapati: They save their rent money.

Prabhupada: Eh? That is his misfortune. That is a young man's fashion in your

country.

Umapati: Yes.

Prabhupada: That is not austerity. That is licentiousness.

Umapati: Yes. It comes from a time when we admire swashbuckling and being

free, so-called, in the material sense.

Prabhupada: That is reaction. The rich man is trying to become a poor man.

"Let me see what is the advantage of the poor man." That's right. Your country

does not require to lie down like that. You have got enough arrangement. But it

is a fashion. That's all. So fashion is not austerity. That is sense gratification. It

appears like austerity, but it is sense gratification. Real austerity is not to make

any sense gratification, simply to serve Krsna. That is real austerity.

Umapati: So if Krsna required us to sleep on the beach, then...

Prabhupada: Eh?

Umapati: ...that would not be... if Krsna required us to sleep on the beach, that

would not be sense gratification.

Prabhupada: No. And why Krsna will require like that? Do you mean to sayKrsna is a madman?

Umapati: No.

Yasomatinandana: Yes, I was thinking that too. Why would Krsna require any

of his devotees to sleep on the beach?


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Prabhupada: He wants to see His devotees are comfortably situated. Why

He'll unnecessarily ask that "Go to the beach and lie down?"

Umapati: You say that Krsna stands there smiling very sweetly, playing the

flute.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Umapati: So why should he require us to go through austerities like...?

Prabhupada: Yes. Acarya means he must show by example. Apani acari

bhakti sikhaimu sabare. Hare Krsna...

Umapati: Is there such a thing as a sincere atheist...

Prabhupada: Eh?

Umapati: ...who benefits by austerity?

Prabhupada: Atheist? Atheist? How he's sincere?

Umapati: That's what I... That's what I'm asking.

Prabhupada: Honest thief? It is contradictory. If I say, "Here is an honest thief,"

is that a good designation, honest thief?

Umapati: Well, in that case, that's so. You're right. It's absurd. Yes.

Prabhupada: So...

Yasomatinandana: A sincere atheist...

Umapati: But there are those who appear... At least, they think, they feel they

are sincere when they go through austerities, but they won't accept Krsna

consciousness as, at this point in their, in their existence.

Prabhupada: No, some atheists say that "We are Godless because nobodyhas convinced us about the existence of God." That is honesty. That is

honesty. But there are rascals, however you may convince him, he'll not take

it. That is rascaldom.

Yasomatinandana: Believe in God.


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Prabhupada: Yes.

Hrdayananda: So the honest ones become devotees?

Prabhupada: Yes.

Hrdayananda: We were all...

Prabhupada: If he's honest, then he must take.

Yasomatinandana: We were all atheists, Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Yasomatinandana: We were all atheists.

Prabhupada: Yes. If you, if, if, if an atheist is honest, then when he's

convinced, he must accept Krsna. That is honesty. If after convincing him, he

does not take, that is dishonesty.

Umapati: Yes.

Prabhupada: This is dishonesty.

Umapati: But there's a quality in this age that one does not accept defeat

philosophically, philosophical defeat. If one is presented with philosophically

sound arguments, it is a tendency today to refuse to accept the superiority of

Krsna consciousness philosophy over any other philosophy.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Umapati: It's very popular to put all philosophies in the same... "Well, that's

philosophy," they say. They say that "Everybody has his opinion. That's your

opinion," they say.

Prabhupada: No.

Umapati: So no one will accept any kind of superior philosophy. It's very

difficult to discuss these things among them.

Prabhupada: No, then everyone, if becomes superior, then where is the

question of philosophy? If everyone is superior himself, then there is no

question of philosophy. Is there any necessity? You are superior, I am


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superior; then where is the question of discussing philosophy?

Umapati: That is trying to be God. He's trying... Then we are always God.

Prabhupada: Then philosophy becomes null and void. As soon as everyonebecomes his own authority, then philosophy becomes null and void. There is

no necessity of philosophy.

Umapati: That is the difficulty of our age.

Prabhupada: That means they are rascals. Mudhah. If you do not accept

philosophy, you do not accept authority, that means all rascals.

Hrdayananda: You said, "alpa-medhasah..."

Prabhupada: Outlaws, they are called outlaws. Just the outlaws, they do not

accept any authority, government authority, or authority of the law, they're

called outlaws. Rejected.

Umapati: Yeah, well, this is a nation of outlaws.

Prabhupada: So they are rejected. If anyone, everyone becomes his own

authority, then it is chaos.

Umapati: Well, that is the fashion today.

Prabhupada: Yes. Fashion means...

Umapati: It's called "Do your own thing."

Prabhupada: No, who are you to say me, "Do your own thing"? Then you

become master. You are directing me. Why should you direct me, "Do your

own thing"? You stop. Don't talk. If your philosophy accepted that everyone is

authority, you cannot say, "Do your own work." Why should you say? Then you

become authority. You should not speak at all.

Karandhara: That is also a philosophy.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Karandhara: That is also a philosophy.

Prabhupada: What is that philosophy?


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Karandhara: That "Do your own thing" is also a philosophy.

Prabhupada: Yes. That is a philosophy. Why you are dictating? You'd better

stop. Don't talk. That's all. You have no facility for talking. Have you?

Umapati: No, I haven't.

Prabhupada: Then? You keep yourself satisfied with your own philosophy. I

keep myself satisfied with my philosophy. There is no need of talking.

Hrdayananda: Jaya.

Prabhupada: And that is good. If a foolish man does not talk, it is good for him

and good for others. Because he'll talk foolish. Better not to talk. That is good.

That... Infectious diseased man... what is called? Quarantine.

Karandhara: Quarantine.

Prabhupada: He's put separately so that he may not poison others. He may

not poison others. So that is the position of the self-sufficient authority.

Yasomatinandana: In Gujarati we call it: bhanji moti laksmim.(?) When the

palm is closed it is worth lakh rupees, but when it is open, it doesn't mean

anything. A foolish person, when he talks, he reveals everything.

Prabhupada: Yes. Foolish person means busy rascal. There are four kinds of

division: lazy intelligent and busy intelligent and lazy rascal and busy rascal.

The first-class man is lazy intelligent, and second class, busy intelligent, and

third class, lazy rascal, and fourth class, busy rascal. A rascal, if he's busy,

then what he will do? He'll simply do harm. That's all.

Karandhara: Create havoc.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Karandhara: Create havoc.

Prabhupada: Havoc, create havoc. Just as they are doing now. All rascals,

they are very busy.

Yasomatinandana: Creating atom bombs.

Prabhupada: Ah, therefore the whole world is in confusion. All rascals, they

are busy. What is the use of such business? Like monkey. Monkey's very


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busy, always, but doing harm. That's all. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita,

ugra-karmanah ksayaya jagato 'hitah. These rascals, they are busy just to

destroy the whole world and do the mischief. That's all. Actually, they are

doing so. That we also... In English language, sometimes it is said, "A sharp

razor in the hands of a child." The child... That is this imitation. They want toimitate their father. So if he imitates the razor sharp, then he will create havoc.

So these rascals, they have got now all power, and therefore creating havoc.

They do not know how to use it. According to Vedic principle, the sudras, they

should not be given more money, the worker class. Now the worker class is

given more money. So what they'll do? They'll produce drunkards. That's all. In

America, it is evident. They do not know how to use money. So therefore we

see, fifty-two percent drunkards in your country. Eh? What is the percentage?

Devotee: I'm not sure, Srila Prabhupada.

Karandhara: It's probably close to that.

Prabhupada: Eh? At least fifty-percent. Eh?

Karandhara: Drunkards, debauchers.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Karandhara: Criminals.

Prabhupada: Harer nama harer nama... [Cc. Adi 17.21]. What is the time?

Hrdayananda: Quarter to seven.

Prabhupada: Oh. So we can...?

Karandhara: We can walk around a little bit.

Prabhupada: Oh, yes.

Umapati: So how... Is it a waste of time then to present Krsna consciousness

philosophy to someone who believes in doing your own thing? Do you thinkthat that is a...?

Prabhupada: No. It is, it is... We should push Krsna consciousness as

disinfecting agent. They're all infected, the whole world. So by chanting you

disinfect.


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Umapati: Just by our presence chanting then?

Prabhupada: Yes. Therefore chanting is so important. Philosophy later on.

First of all, ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12], cleansing the heart.

Devotees: Jaya.

Prabhupada: Cleansing the heart. So by hearing this chanting their heart will

be cleansed gradually. Then they will understand the real position.

Umapati: Oh. Jaya.

Hrdayananda: Oh, Krsna.

Prabhupada: So we have to do this chanting, not sit down in a solitary place,

chanting himself. No, not like that. You are to vibrate the sound for the benefit

of others.

Umapati: That is the mystical process of this movement.

Prabhupada: Yes, yes. So that their heart may be cleansed and they can

understand. And if I sit down in a solitary place, for my benefit, that may be his

benefit, but it is not very high class engagement. He must sacrifice for others.

Pararthe prag utsri, utsri(?). That is the Canakya Pandita's moral instruction,

that "Everyone should sacrifice for the Supreme." Caitanya Mahaprabhu is

God Himself. He comes down to preach, to become sannyasi, and to take so

much trouble all over India and everywhere, and giving instruction and sending

men, "Go, go, go, go." What? Why you...? He's perfect. Why He's coming? He

doesn't require. No. For the benefit of others, we must follow the footsteps of

Caitanya Mahaprabhu. (aside:) That's all right. Why water is here?

Karandhara: I don't know, Prabhupada. It's a low spot.

Prabhupada: A Vaisnava's first qualification that he's unhappy by seeing

others unhappy. Vaisnava cannot be unhappy. That Prahlada Maharaja says,

that "I have no problem. I am unhappy seeing these people who are simply

engaged in false activities and they do not care for Krsna consciousness.Therefore I am unhappy." This is Vaisnava's qualification. Not that "I am

saved. That's all right." That is materialism. "Let others go to hell. I am saved."

That is materialism. A Vaisnava should think always, "Oh, so many people are

suffering. What I am doing for them?" That is Vaisnava. Para-duhkha-duhkhi.

Svarupa Damodara: That is also said by scientists. They also say that "People


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are suffering. So we are trying to make them happy."

Prabhupada: That's all right, but if you do not know, how you'll make them

happy? You'll create havoc.

Yasomatinandana: Janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi [Bg. 13.9].

Prabhupada: Yes, you do not know how to make them happy. First of all learn

how to make them happy. You cannot manufacture your program to make

them happy. That everyone is doing. But the more they are acting, the world

becoming in chaotic condition. You know what is the standard of happiness,

how to make them happy; then you can work. If a medical man, he has never

seen a medical college and if he wants to treat patient, what is this?

Hrdayananda: A criminal.

Prabhupada: Yes. Quack. He must know how to make them happy. That is

first business.

Yasomatinandana: Jaya, Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Hare Krsna.

Karandhara: Thank you, Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Jaya.

Hrdayananda: Jaya. All glories to Prabhupada. (Prabhupada gets in the car)

Prabhupada: [break] ...basic disease. He has made himself voluntarily under

the clutches of maya. And maya's business is to give trouble. That's all.

Otherwise, he's free, but he has voluntarily accepted the custody of maya.

Yaya sammohito jivah. Sammohitah means bewildered. Jiva, the living

entities. Atmanam tri-gunatmakam. Everyone is identifying, "I am American," "I

am Indian," "I am this body," "I am that body." This is identification with maya.

Atmanam tri-gunatmakam. Tat-krtam cabhipadyate. And as soon as he

becomes under the clutches of maya, he'll act according to the dictation ofmaya. Tat-krtam cabhipadyate. [break] ...to see their Los Angeles Zoo? Why

they're advertising?

Sudama: The Los Angeles what, Prabhupada?

Hrdayananda: Zoo.


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Prabhupada: Zoo.

Sudama: Oh yeah?

Karandhara: It's not a very good zoo.

Sudama: No, it's not.

Karandhara: Just a small little one.

Hrdayananda: The big zoo is in San Diego.

Prabhupada: Eh? No, zoo in the Africa.

Sudama: Oh yeah?

Prabhupada: Yes. (laughter) No, actually they go. There is a national zoo.

Thousands of... Practically Africa's main income is from the tourists.

Srutakirti: Tourism.

Prabhupada: Yes. People go to see. You'll, you'll drive your car. You'll find

lions, elephants, or...

Srutakirti: Recently one of Brahmananda's men had an accident by hitting

some animal on the road. Large animal, I think it was.

Prabhupada: Oh, what accident?

Srutakirti: One of the vans. One of the devotees ran into an animal on the

road.

Prabhupada: Accha?

Srutakirti: I'm not sure what it was.

Prabhupada: No, the national garden means there is arrangement. Theanimals are free, roaming. But you can go with your car and...

Hrdayananda: Oh yes.

Prabhupada: And they cannot attack within the car.


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Sudama: No.

Prabhupada: But if you come out, they'll attack. The lions are there, elephants

are there. [break]

Sudama: Not very cold?

Prabhupada: Not very cold.

Sudama: No, no. Compared to Hawaii, it is very cold.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Sudama: Compared to Hawaii, it is very cold.

Prabhupada: Oh. Hawaii is very pleasant.

Sudama: Yes, now it is eighty-five degrees every day.

Prabhupada: Oh.

Sudama: It's wintertime now.

Prabhupada: And summer?

Sudama: Summer's very hot. Hundred and five.

Prabhupada: But there is rainfall.

Sudama: Yes.

Prabhupada: Summer.

Sudama: Yes. There's quite a bit now. Sometimes in the winter it rains. So that

one devotee brought up the point of the philosophy of "Do your own thing," and

that's what the devotees were instructed in Hawaii to do. When they closed the

temple, Gaurasundara just said, "Now everyone go and do your own thing forPrabhupada."

Prabhupada: If he does Prabhupada's work, then where is the own thing?

Sudama: Yeah, right. There's...

Prabhupada: "Do your own thing on behalf of Prabhupada." So if he wants


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Prabhupada, he must abide by the order of Prabhupada.

Sudama: Yeah. My thing is your thing. Actually, I have nothing of my own.

Prabhupada: No, they have been misguided. But temple closing was veryirresponsible... [break] ...house many years.

Sudama: Many years. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Morning Walk -- December 5, 1973, Los Angeles

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