Room Conversation — July 4, 1972, New York

Devotee (1): A brush. 

Prabhupāda: No soap? 

Devotee (1): I don’t think so. It’s wire, metal. 

Prabhupāda: What? 

Devotee (1): It’s a metal brush. It would be too hard for the nails, for the body. 

Ātreya Ṛṣi: Yeah. For toes? For toenails. 

Devotee (1): For feet? 

Ātreya Ṛṣi: Toenails, perhaps. 

Prabhupāda: [indistinct] cord? 

Devotee (1): Silk cord? 

Prabhupāda: What is it meant? 

Devotee: Round the neck. Some brass shoes. [loud noises of fireworks exploding] 

Prabhupāda: You [indistinct]? 

Devotee (1): Match your bead bag. 

Prabhupāda: Huh? 

Devotee (1): It will match your bead bag. 

Devotee (2): Handkerchief. 

Prabhupāda: Popularly. [laughter] 

Devotee (1): Time magazine, special issue. 

Prabhupāda: [devotees are laughing as they look at magazine] First name [indistinct]? What is that? 

Devotee (1): It says “Vai…, Vaikuṇṭha Playhouse, statement of purpose.” There’s a theatrical group called the Vaikuṇṭha Players. [break] 

Ātreya Ṛṣi: …Śrīla Prabhupāda, Fourth of July. 

Prabhupāda: Huh? 

Ātreya Ṛṣi: It’s Fourth of July. 

Prabhupāda: Today? 

Ātreya Ṛṣi: Yes, Śrīla Prabhupāda. 

Prabhupāda: Hmm. Keep it all in almirah. 

Devotee (1): This is some peanuts. 

Prabhupāda: Distribute. 

Ātreya Ṛṣi: It’s a very sad day for us, Śrīla Prabhupāda. 

Prabhupāda: Hmm? 

Ātreya Ṛṣi: It’s a sad day for us. 

Prabhupāda: Sad day? 

Ātreya Ṛṣi: Sad. 

Prabhupāda: Why? 

Ātreya Ṛṣi: You have, [indistinct] very limited opportunity for associating, so offensively. You’ll be leaving today. 

Prabhupāda: Hmm? 

Ātreya Ṛṣi: You’ll be going away. 

Prabhupāda: Home-made soap you can make? 

Devotee (1): I could make it if I found out how. I don’t know the ingredients. 

Prabhupāda: Hmm? 

Devotee (1): I don’t know the ingredients, but I could find out the ingredients and the process. I could try. 

Prabhupāda: Who can make home-made soap. You can? 

Devotee (3): We will be making in… 

Prabhupāda: Huh? 

Devotee (3): …the Spiritual Sky business. We’ll be making. It’s the same business, this soap, I think. 

Prabhupāda: No, it is not needed. 

Devotee (1): [indistinct] [fireworks explode] 

Prabhupāda: It is [indistinct]. 

Devotee (1): Yes. [break] 

Prabhupāda: …a cheater is not disqualification in this country. 

Ātreya Ṛṣi: It’s a good qualification. 

Prabhupāda: [laughs] Good qualification. 

Ātreya Ṛṣi: Biggest cheaters are in control, in charge. 

Prabhupāda: What is the disqualification? Not to become cheater? 

Ātreya Ṛṣi: Yes, then they will be stupid. 

Devotee (4): To be an honest man. 

Ātreya Ṛṣi: See, then they call you stupid. 

Prabhupāda: Oh. The standard is different, completely. Human intelligence means you must be a big cheater. 

Devotee (1): Śrīla Prabhupāda? 

Prabhupāda: Ah? 

Devotee (1): What would you like to take for lunch today? 

Prabhupāda: I’m not feeling very much hungry. Don’t prepare now. If I feel hungry, it can be done. Call Śyāmasundara. 

Ātreya Ṛṣi: Śrīla Prabhupāda? 

Prabhupāda: Hmm. 

Ātreya Ṛṣi: Would you have any instructions as to how I could serve you better? For me? 

Prabhupāda: By convincing people of… [end] 

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