"You can send all these alcohol and drug patients here and they will be cured,"

Amogha had arranged a meeting between Srila Prabhupada and representatives of WAADA (Western Australian Alcohol and Drug Authority). At 10am, four doctors and staff members arrived at the house, and Amogha introduced them to Srila Prabhupada. Mr. Naylor was a social worker, and Dr. Leahy a medical doctor. A young Buddhist, Mr. Hong Myut, was a clinical psychologist from Burma; Sister Jan Blanc was a psychiatric nurse. Amogha explained to Srila Prabhupada that WAADA?s main business was to counsel people who had drug and alcohol-related problems. Prabhupada wasted no time in coming straight to the point. ?You can send all these alcohol and drug patients here and they will be cured,? he said. ?These American and European boys were all addicted to alcohol and drugs. Now they have given them up. It is practical.? Mr. Myut asked about the methods that Prabhupada used to cure these problems. Prabhupada explained that his conditions were simple. ?I say that ?If you want to be my students, then you must give up four things: illicit sex, meat-eating, intoxication and gambling?. So they give up, and they become my students.? When asked whether they suffer withdrawal symptoms, Prabhupada chose to quote from Bhagavad-gita. Amogha, hand on the Sanskrit index, read on cue. ?The embodied soul may be restricted from sense enjoyment though the taste for sense objects remains, but ceasing such engagements by experiencing a higher taste he is fixed in consciousness.? Jayadharma read the purport, concluding with the words: ?When one is actually Krishna conscious, he automatically loses his taste for pale things.? Mr. Myut wondered whether patients would have to actually take up Krishna conscious practices to stop addiction. Prabhupada reiterated that it was a practical process. ?It is like a doctor?s instructions,? he said. ?If the patients do not practise, then how can they be cured?? The well-spoken social worker, Mr. Naylor, asked how long the withdrawal process took. ?If one lives with us for at least six months,? Prabhupada said, ?he will give up.? ?Six months. And are there any cases of relapse?? ?Maybe one in five hundred.? Mr Naylor was surprised. ?One in five hundred!? ?Of course,? Prabhupada added, ?everyone is prone to fall down. But that percentage is very low. Even the American government is pleased with this movement, because they have spent so many millions of dollars for stopping LSD, and they are surprised that when people come here, they give up.? ?We have about 10,000 students all over the world,? Prabhupada added. Mr. Naylor was again surprised. ?You mean you have 10,000 students that used to be addicted to something?? ?Yes,? Prabhupada replied, ?addicted to everything?illicit sex, meat-eating, intoxication and gambling.? ?And those who relapsed, can they be treated again?? ?Ah, yes.? Dr. Leahy wondered if Srila Prabhupada taught his ?patients? abstinence or moderation. Prabhupada was frank. ?No, we say ?stop!? We don?t allow even smoking and drinking tea. That is also intoxication. We are so strict, but still, they give up. None of us take tea. We eat very simple things: vegetables, wheat, rice, little milk, that?s all.? Mr. Naylor was dubious. ?But your method of curing drug addiction has no definite practical use, surely?? Prabhupada opened his eyes wide. ?Why not practical?? ?Well, not everyone who wants to stop taking drugs can spend six months in solitude or in company like yours.? Prabhupada explained that it required proper training. ?Then it will be done. But the influence of association is very strong. Just like if you take association with drunkards, you become a drunkard. And if you take saintly association, you become a saint.? Although Dr. Leahy and Dr. Naylor remained a little aloof, Ms Blanc and especially Mr. Myut were open and continued to ask submissive philosophical questions. After some time, Dr. Leahy looked at his watch and the session soon came to an end. Afterwards, Ms Blanc expressed her desire to refer people to the devotees but was disappointed to learn that the Marimba Crescent address was not permanent. Amogha promised to keep in touch.