Room Conversation
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October 6, 1977, Vrndavana
Prabhupada: Of course, if I die, there is nothing to be ruined. You are all participants. So organize this farm project, simple living. Human life is meant for God realization. Try to help them. This is my...
Paramananda: We're always feeling your presence very strongly, Srila Prabhupada, simply by your teachings and your instructions. We're always meditating on your instructions.
Prabhupada: Thank you. That is the real presence. Physical presence is not important.
Tamala Krsna: Srila Prabhupada? Mother Satyabhama, she wrote a short note to you. Should I read it to you?
Prabhupada: Um hm.
Tamala Krsna: She said, "Dear Srila Prabhupada, please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Your Divine Grace. This shawl is made of the wool from our own sheep, spun and woven here at Gita-nagari. It is the first piece we have made. While I was working on it I would always think of you, of how I was supposedly making you a gift. But actually you are giving me the gift of engagement in devotional service. Srila Prabhupada, I always pray to Lord Nrsimhadeva to protect you and allow you to stay with us to finish your books. But I think today the rain falling from the sky is actually the tears of the demigods, crying at the prospect of your departure. I am also crying. Even Krsna cried at the passing of Grandfather Bhisma, so I have a right to cry. I cannot be so philosophical to say that you are always present in your books and teachings, though I know these things are true. I will miss you so much, Srila Prabhupada, if you go. I beg that I may always remain your menial servant and devotee. Your humble disciple, Satyabhama dasi."
Prabhupada: Thank to her. Made with our wool.
Tamala Krsna: So you'll take rest now, Srila Prabhupada?
Prabhupada: Um hm. This can be on the foot. Yes. Up.
Prabhupada: Hm, very nice. Very comfortable. Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna... Made with our wool.
Bombay
21 February, 1957
Sri K.M. Munshi,
Governor of Uttar Pradesh,
Raj Bhavan, LUCKNOW.
Dear Sri Munshiji,
Please accept my respectful Namaskar. I hope you have duly received my letter of the 18th instant in the meantime. By the by while reading some of the literatures of your great institution, it has come to my notice that you have in your mind about the various temples and their respective Pujaris also.
In this connection, I wish to draw your attention to my paper "Back to Godhead" issue No. VI dated 20.5.56 in which an idea of a Gita Nagari (PP2) and how to preach the teachings of Bhagavad-gita are suggested. In that article I have also touched the question of these various temples (PP3) of India and how to utilize them for public welfare work.
A thorough reformation of the management of these temples are required for spreading Theistic knowledge through these centres. No intelligent person is now attracted in such temples, because the purpose of these temples have been lost sight of due to negligence on the parts of both the public and pujaris. As a matter of fact, therefore, no new temples or places of spiritual enlightenment are constructed now in the newly constructed colonies of different cities. There are some of the signs of materialistic trend.
If I remember rightly, you have been criticizing in the meeting of the 16th instant about the culture of Hollywood cinemas. The Mayavadi philosophy having killed the spiritual variegatedness of the Supreme Being--the people are generally attracted in the variegatedness of material existence. In the vedanta sutras, we have direct information of how a spiritual entity is joyful--full of spiritual bliss. This idea of enjoyment is focussed through a material _ and as such the spiritual focus is reflected in a perverted manner. The attention of the people in general is attracted by the cinemas in place of temples, because the Mayavadi philosophy--impersonality of Godhead has created a void in the spiritual realm. But in fact the spiritual realm is not at all void. It is full of variegatedness of spiritual mellows. If you create a void in the Spirit unnecessarily, you have to create necessarily a fill-up in the material existence and that is the cause why temples are being replaced by vulgar cinemas.
So simple criticism of cinema houses will not fulfill the purpose. We have to create tangible interest in the temples for spiritual advancement of knowledge. With that purpose in view, it is necessary that the priests and pujaris must be enlightened men both in Theism and Sanskrit language also. They shall be primary teachers of the Bhagavad-gita in different temples. Both these temples and their management have to be reformed in the present context. We shall have to accommodate the process of temple entry by all classes of people but they may be so admitted for proper qualification and not for the purpose of a mere show.
Om Tat Sat.
Yours truly,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta
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