American government is good organization.
Someone brought Srila Prabhupada a copy of the original leaflet he had printed in India when he set off on the Jaladuta to come to the West in 1965. Srila Prabhupada was curious to see it, asking me to read it out to him. His picture was on the front, with the title reading, "Srimad-Bhagavatam, India's message of peace and good will. Sixty volumes of elaborate English version by Tridandi Goswami A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami. Carried by the Scindia Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., Bombay, all over the world for scientific knowledge of God." While Prabhupada relaxed behind his desk, I read out the body of the text. "It says,'The sufferings of the entire human society can at once be brought under control simply by individual practice of bhakti-yoga, a simple and easy process of chanting the holy name of God. Every country, every nation and every community throughout the world has some conception of the holy name of God, and as such either the Hindus or the Muhammadans or the Christians, everyone can easily chant the holy name of God in a meditative mood, and that will bring about the required peace and good will in the present problematic human society. Any inquiry in this connection will be gladly answered by Sri Swamiji. The Hindus generally chant the holy name of God in sixteen chain of transcendental sound composed of thirty-two alphabets as Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. The Vedic literatures like the Upanisads and the Puranas recommend chanting of the above-mentioned sixteen holy names at a stretch, and Lord Sri Caitanya, whose cult of chanting the holy name of God gave special importance on these transcendental sounds. In this Age of Kali, or the age of hate, hypocrisy, corruption and quarrel, the only remedial measure is that every man should chant the holy name of the Lord, both individually and collectively.'"
Then it went on to give the English translations of the eight prayers written by Lord Caitanya in glorification of the holy name. It ended with some highly complimentary reviews of Prabhupada's translation of the Srimad-Bhagavatam.
After hearing this, Prabhupada retired to his bedroom. He lay in the tranquility of the darkened room as I stood by his side massaging his legs and feet. It was the end of another day for us, a short intermission for him. He relaxed, his eyes closed, now and then reflecting out loud on events both past and present.
I was intrigued by the pamphlet and the hidden mysteries of Srila Prabhupada's life before he came to the West. From my scant knowledge of his pre-ISKCON era, I asked him, or rather suggested, "But you were preaching before that in India though."
"Not very much," Prabhupada said. "Oh, yes, that Back to Godhead."
"In Vrindavana you were just translating?"
"Yes."
"The Library Party said that everywhere in Delhi they went, they found that you had already placed your three volumes of Bhagavatam."
"Yes. In American also. The Congress Library purchased nineteen sets."
I wasn't that familiar with things American. "Oh, Congress. The one in Washington? The Library of Congress?"
"There is a branch in India," he confirmed.
I reminded him that they also had a copy of his first Back to Godhead.
Prabhupada hummed softly, then he said, "American government is good organization."
He fell silent for a while, occasionally still coughing, but at least not dislodging the heavy mucus of just a few days ago. After five minutes of contemplative silence he said, "From 1954 to '66 I struggled very hard, alone."
"Twelve years."
"Yes. Twelve years means one yuga."
I was puzzled. "One ...?"
"One yuga." Prabhupada repeated. "And big yuga, another."
"Oh, the term is used differently? It can be used in different ways? We always think of one yuga as being like Kali-yuga, or ..."
"Yes, that is a big yuga, this is small yuga."
"It's very fortunate for us that you were so determined," I told him.
But he didn't reply. He let ten minutes lapse, and then mused about the temple. "They have got so many cars."
"Actually, I think most of our centers have got many, many vans and cars," I said.
"That means they are rich." Prabhupada smiled.
I chuckled, "Just like in India they used to measure wealth by how many cows, in the West they measure wealth by how many cars."
"And we have both?cows and cars, both." Then, after a pause he asked, "So the devotees like this evening class?"
"Oh, yes, it's a very enlivening program. In the evening it's very nice out of doors, it's warm from the day. No one falls asleep, except for the children, and that's very good because then they're quiet."
Prabhupada had also observed them. "Small children, they also clap and dance on the lap of the mother. They were smiling. Very fortunate children, otherwise from the birth, associating with devotees."
He let another five or ten minutes drift by?his body inert, his mind and spirit forever active. Then he made another reflection, this time on society in general. "Nowadays cheating is a good qualification, huh?"
"Yes," I agreed. "It's their only qualification."
"If you cheat somebody and get some money, you are very expert."
"Top-class businessman, first-class scientist," I returned. "And the best politician. Just like in America?once they'd found Nixon was cheating, now they're investigating one man after another, and every one, they're finding all the same."
"America, cheating is a policy," he said. "How a real estate man, lawyer, they're simply planning how to cheat."
"The lawyers are the worst because they know the law, so they know how to cheat in such a way that they can stay within the law," I said.
Another ten minutes quietude passed and then he gave his final soft "Hmm," releasing me for the night. I offered my obeisances and retired to my room next door.
Reference: Transcendental Diary Volume 3 by Hari Sauri Dasa
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