June 21, 1975 : Los Angeles
Satsvarupa: While walking on Venice Beach, Srila Prabhupada delivered an extraordinary ultimatum for the delayed Caitanya-caritamrta. Surrounded by devotees, he walked along, poking the sand softly with his cane. "These seventeen volumes unpublished," he began, "are a great problem for our movement. So I think they can be printed in two months," Srila Prabhupada said conclusively. Ramesvara wasn't sure he had heard correctly. The Press had only just opened. The artists didn't even have the lights in their room. Two months was illogical, impossible. Now was the moment to tell Srila Prabhupada the plan for increased production.
"Srila Prabhupada," Ramesvara said, "I think that's impossible. Maybe we can go faster..." Srila Prabhupada suddenly stopped walking. Planting his cane firmly in the sand, he turned to Ramesvara and said, without anger but very gravely, "Impossible is a word found in the fool's dictionary." Suddenly Ramesvara realized his spiritual life was on the line. To say "impossible" now would mean he had no faith in Krishna's representative, no faith in the power of God. He must throw away his material estimations and rational common sense.
While Ramesvara and Radhavallabha stood speechless, Srila Prabhupada resumed walking, accompanied by the others. The two devotees hurried to catch up, but now everyone looked at them as if to say, "Come on. Stop doubting. You have to do it." Ramesvara asked Srila Prabhupada if he could discuss this with the other devotees at the Press and then report back. "Oh, yes," Prabhupada replied, "whatever is required."
All through the morning program in the temple, Ramesvara and Radhavallabha tried to concentrate on chanting their japa and on Prabhupada's class, but all they could think of was arranging for the production of seventeen volumes in two months. And by the time they met with the Press workers, they had become convinced it could be done. It was as if some mystical power was going to descend. Somehow or other it could be done. So they presented the plan and convinced the other workers. "It can be done," Ramesvara said later, talking with Srila Prabhupada. "Hmmm," Srila Prabhupada replied. Ramesvara and Radhavallabha felt that they had a chance. They left Srila Prabhupada's room, running down the stairs. The marathon was on.
"Srila Prabhupada," Ramesvara said, "I think that's impossible. Maybe we can go faster..." Srila Prabhupada suddenly stopped walking. Planting his cane firmly in the sand, he turned to Ramesvara and said, without anger but very gravely, "Impossible is a word found in the fool's dictionary." Suddenly Ramesvara realized his spiritual life was on the line. To say "impossible" now would mean he had no faith in Krishna's representative, no faith in the power of God. He must throw away his material estimations and rational common sense.
While Ramesvara and Radhavallabha stood speechless, Srila Prabhupada resumed walking, accompanied by the others. The two devotees hurried to catch up, but now everyone looked at them as if to say, "Come on. Stop doubting. You have to do it." Ramesvara asked Srila Prabhupada if he could discuss this with the other devotees at the Press and then report back. "Oh, yes," Prabhupada replied, "whatever is required."
All through the morning program in the temple, Ramesvara and Radhavallabha tried to concentrate on chanting their japa and on Prabhupada's class, but all they could think of was arranging for the production of seventeen volumes in two months. And by the time they met with the Press workers, they had become convinced it could be done. It was as if some mystical power was going to descend. Somehow or other it could be done. So they presented the plan and convinced the other workers. "It can be done," Ramesvara said later, talking with Srila Prabhupada. "Hmmm," Srila Prabhupada replied. Ramesvara and Radhavallabha felt that they had a chance. They left Srila Prabhupada's room, running down the stairs. The marathon was on.
Reference: Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta Volume 6 - Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami
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