Lilamrta - Prabhupada's childhood

In my childhood I have actually seen my father receive not less than four guests every day, and in those days my father's income was not very great.

According to the Vedic principles, there must always be a guest in a householder's house. In my childhood I have actually seen my father receive not less than four guests every day, and in those days my father's income was not very great. Nonetheless, there was no difficulty in offering prasada to at least four guests every day. According to Vedic principles, a householder, before taking lunch, should go outside and shout very loudly to see if there is anyone without food. In this way he invites people to take prasada. If someone comes, the householder offers him prasada, and if there is not much left, he should offer his own portion to the guest. If no one responds to his call, the householder can accept his own lunch. Thus the householder's life is also a kind of austerity. According to the Vedic principles, there must always be a guest in a householder's house. In my childhood I have actually seen my father receive not less than four guests every day, and in those days my father's income was not very great. Nonetheless, there was no difficulty in offering prasada to at least four guests every day. According to Vedic principles, a householder, before taking lunch, should go outside and shout very loudly to see if there is anyone without food. In this way he invites people to take prasada. If someone comes, the householder offers him prasada, and if there is not much left, he should offer his own portion to the guest. If no one responds to his call, the householder can accept his own lunch. Thus the householder's life is also a kind of austerity.

[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 3.41]

We were receiving daily four, five guests, and

my father was functioning so many festivals

Prabhupada: No, I have got experience. I am Calcutta born. What Calcutta was in our childhood days and what is now, I know everything. How we were happy during British days and what is now position, I can speak from my personal experience. We do not belong to the richest class nor to the poor class--middle class. So we have got practical experience. My father's income was not more than 250 rupees. How opulent we were. At least, there was no question of need. We were receiving daily four, five guests, and my father was functioning so many festivals and he was asking... My father gave in marriage four daughters. There was no difficulty. The income was not more than 250 rupees. Of course, that 250 rupees at least ten times now. But still, there was no needy. Not very opulent, but there was no need. The first necessity is to feed and to clothe. So there was no such scarcity. May not be very luxurious life, but there was no scarcity for food and shelter or cloth. There was no scarcity. Happy. That is wanted. Happiness in whatever circumstance. Not that because we did not possess a motorcar, therefore unhappy.

[S.P. Room Conversation, August 2, 1976, Paris]

In my childhood also, I was very naughty boy, and

I was not going to school. And my mother kept

a special man to drag me to the school.

Sreyah and preyah, there are two things. One is called preyah. Preyah means immediately pleasing. And sreyah means ultimately benefit, benediction. Generally, conditioned souls, they are attracted with immediate pleasing things. Just like children. They are attracted by playthings more than education. They do not like to go to school. They like to play the whole day. In my childhood also, I was very naughty boy, and I was not going to school. And my mother kept a special man to drag me to the school. At that time, there was no system like in your country, school buses. One had to go to school on foot. So my father was very lenient. I was not going to school. Preyah, pleasing. Children like to play. Similarly, there are two paths, sreyah and preyah.

[Srimad-Bhagavatam Lecture, 3.25.13 Los Angeles, November 10, 1968]

I was forced. I was not going to school. Yes.

My mother forced. My father was very lenient.

I was forced. I was not going to school. Yes. My mother forced. My father was very lenient. My mother forced me. She kept one man especially to drag me to the school.

[S.P. Morning Walk, February 1, 1977, Bhubaneshwar]

"Your boy did not go to school." "Oh, he did not go to school?" And I was sure he was very affectionate. "Why?" "No, I shall go tomorrow." Then father,

"All right, he will go tomorrow, that's all right."

But that tomorrow will never come.

In my childhood I was not willing to go to the schools. My mother forced, by force she used to... My father was lenient and my mother kept a special man, yamadhara(?), that, "Your duty is to take him by force to the school." Yes. My father, my mother would complain that "Your boy did not go to school." "Oh, he did not go to school?" And I was sure he was very affectionate. "Why?" "No, I shall go tomorrow." Then father, "All right, he will go tomorrow, that's all right." But that tomorrow will never come. This is my practical. My mother forced me. So I thought, "It is pleasure. Why shall I go to school? Let me play whole day." But it is the duty of the guardian to see that this is not pleasure, this is spoiling. A child may think something pleasure, but the guardian should not think that this is pleasure.

[S.P. Morning Walk and Room Conversation, August 9, 1976, Tehran]

So in the beginning I was admitted in a Marwari

school and I learned a little Hindi there, that's all.

Prabhupada: Oh, hm. (break) ...just in front of our house, attached to our house. That means the house belonged to one of our relatives and her son, stepson, he sold the whole house to a Marwari without the knowledge of this, my, she was in relation grandmother. So when the house was sold in those days, about say about 100 years ago, not 100 years, about 90 years. In Mahatma Gandhi road, most important, that Mullik's house you have seen? That was one of the Mullik's house, for 12,000 rupees. One bigha of land and grand building. So it was unknown to the stepmother, the stepson sold it. Then she appealed to the high court that, "I belong to a respectable family and this my spoiled stepson has sold the house without my knowledge, then where shall I go?" The high court considered that, "The drunkard son has sold at a cheap price, and she's belongs to a respectable family, where she'll go?" And the high court order was, "The half of the house shall be used by this lady. During her lifetime, you cannot take possession," the Marwari who purchased. So under that grandmother, we used to live. Therefore this half portion of the house was a Marwari school. So it is just like our temple and this. So my father first admitted me in that Marwari school. So I learned this devanagari there, for a few days I was going. I was the only Bengali student there. Because I was little, my father thought that instead of going outside the house, within the house there is a school, get him admitted. The school name was Visuddhana(?) Marwari Vijnala(?), something like that, and later on they constructed huge building Visuddhana(?). Then the house was vacated. So in the beginning I was admitted in a Marwari school and I learned a little Hindi there, that's all.
Devotee (1): (Hindi)
Prabhupada: (laughs) That was little chance also, understanding Hindi. And I was maybe 7, 6 or 7 years old, that's all. Then somebody made at Saranpur. That was of course not in the school. Then in our college there were many up-country (?) class friends, Scottish Churches College.

[S.P. Room Conversation, November 3, 1976, Vrndavana]

At least, I was like that. (laughter)

I never wanted to go to school.

Why the child is crying? He is feeling uncomfortable. Then, in this way, I grow. Then I do not want to go to school. I am forced to go to school. Yes. At least, I was like that. (laughter) I never wanted to go to school. And my father was very kind. "So all right. Why you are not going to school?" I would say, "I will go tomorrow." "All right." But my mother was very careful. Perhaps if my mother would not have been little strict, I would not have gotten any education. My father was very lenient. So she used to force me. One man would take me to school.

[Bhagavad-gita Lecture, 2.14, Germany, June 21, 1974]

We were school children at that time. So on the two sides of the road, our first place was, the king, queen passed, we saw. We were given a flag. (laughter)

Prabhupada: He, or before him, another prince. Because that Prince of... We were at that time children. So I think King George V, when he was Prince of Wales.
Brahmananda: Oh, when he came to Calcutta?
Prabhupada: Yes. I have seen. We were school children at that time. So on the two sides of the road, our first place was, the king, queen passed, we saw. We were given a flag. (laughter) "Jaya Raja, Rajesvara." We were... And very good tiffin was supplied. Two samosa, two kachori, two sandesa, and one big tangerine. Twice I saw. Once when he entered Calcutta, and again, one day, when there was a parade of military... military parade. So both days we were invited, and we saw the king.

[S.P. Morning Walk, March 11, 1975, London]

In my childhood, I remember, I went

to see football match in the Maidan.

Prabhupada: Fast. (break) ...in my childhood, I remember, I went to see football match in the Maidan.
Tamala Krsna: Calcutta Maidan.
Prabhupada: Yes. So when I was returning--of course, I was walking--throughout the whole... At that time our house was that Mullik's house. So from Maidan to Mahatma Gandhi Road I came. And all the watches throughout the road, the same time. Means every watch was, every clock was wrong. But I was going, so I, suppose I saw 5:10 here, then few steps away, 5:10, 5:10, 5:10, like that.

[S.P. Morning Walk June 22, 1975, Los Angeles]

Just like I was not desiring to take my medicine.

When I was a child it was very difficult to give me

medicine. Three men required. (laughter) Yes.

Syamasundara: No. I mean that seems like he..., there's a fallacy in his reasoning, because if the medicine were undesirable, still it will cure you.
Prabhupada: Yes, yes. Just like I was not desiring to take my medicine. When I was a child it was very difficult to give me medicine. Three men required. (laughter) Yes. One will capture me, another (laughing) will take my legs, and then my mother will by force, I will do like this. (gestures locking of teeth, trying to force spoon into mouth, much laughter all around) This was my position. I won't agree to take any medicine. I was so obstinate.
Syamasundara: So that which is really desirable...
Prabhupada: But because it is desirable, the force was applied.

[S.P. Philosophy Discussions - John Stuart Mill]

In my childhood I would not take medicine.

Exactly like this, now also. (laughter) So I

was given medicine by force in the spoon.

Prabhupada: Yes. By force if you give some good medicine, that is good for him. In my childhood I would not take medicine. Exactly like this, now also. (laughter) So I was given medicine by force in the spoon. Two men will catch me and my mother take me on the lap and then force and I shall take. I never agreed to take any medicine.
Harikesa: Should we do that now, Srila Prabhupada?
Prabhupada: Then you'll kill me.
Harikesa: You would not go to school either.
Prabhupada: I don't like... Yes.
Harikesa: You were telling us last year, you wanted to play mrdanga.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Pusta Krsna: The bus is coming.
Prabhupada: (break) ...disagreement between my father and mother. My father would give me all independence, and mother was going that "You are spoiling the child by giving too much independence.

[S.P. Morning Walk October 3, 1975, Mauritius]

In Calcutta, in our childhood, I was taking bath

in the Ganges with my father....So we used

to drive away the stool and take bath.

Prabhupada: Because even if you find somebody diseased, still, spiritual consciousness is not hampered. That is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, ahaituky apratihata. Apratihata means without any impediment. There is no checking. Just like in the Ganges water you will sometimes find the stool is floating there. But that does not mean the Ganges water has become polluted. It is practical. In Calcutta, in our childhood, I was taking bath in the Ganges with my father. Many gentlemen regularly takes bath in the Ganges. And the modern scientific method is: all the garbage, throw into the river. So we were taking bath, and here is some stool floating. So we used to drive away the stool and take bath. The stool is unable to pollute the Ganges water. You will find in India still. The advanced gentlemen... "The dirty water," they say, Ganges water. But you will find practically, that anyone who is taking regular bathing in this dirty water, he is healthy. You will find. It is very healthy. No disease touches him ordinarily. Of course, the body is susceptible to disease, but generally, those who are taking regular bath in the Ganges water, they are not diseased. You will find it practically still. So as the stool floating in the Ganges water cannot pollute the Ganges water, similarly, a devotee, even if you find scientifically that he is crazy or he is diseased, that is not impediment.

[S.P. Garden Conversation with Dr. Gerson and devotees, June 22, 1975, Los Angeles]

In my childhood I was very naughty boy, and

I used to catch my father in so many ways

demanding unreasonable things, and my

father used to satisfy me.

You have written to say that you are my disobedient son, but I think I am your disturbing father. I am putting more and more burden upon you but you are so tolerant that you have no hesitation to accept my demands even although sometimes they are unreasonable. So practically you are acting as my father. In my childhood I was very naughty boy, and I used to catch my father in so many ways demanding unreasonable things, and my father used to satisfy me. So although I lost my father in 1930, about 40 years ago, by Krishna's Grace I have got so many American young fathers. But the same nature continues, and I am demanding from my fathers the same thing which may be a little burdensome. But I am sure Krishna will be very much pleased if you will kindly tolerate some unreasonable demands from me. [S.P.Letter to: Brahmananda, Los Angeles, 27 February, 1969]

When I was a child my father gave me one red gun, and then I was not more than eight years. Then, after

getting one, I said, "I must have another one."

Prabhupada: When I was a child my father gave me one red gun, and then I was not more than eight years. Then, after getting one, I said, "I must have another one." Eh? Then father said, "Why another one? You have got already one." So I said, "No, I have got two hands. I must have two guns." Then my father, "No, you are not.... I am not going..." Then I made so much agitation, he was obliged to give me two guns. (laughter) I was very pet child of my father and very pet son-in-law also. And I am very pet guru also. (laughter) Hare Krsna. Thank you.

[S.P.Morning Walk, April 14, 1976, Bombay]

My father was not very rich man, but still,

whatever I wanted, he would give me.

He never chastised me, but full love.

Adi-kesava: From this window here you can see the Empire State Building and all the big buildings in New York.
Prabhupada: Oh, very nice.
Ramesvara: There will not be any noise here either, because this is the eleventh floor.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Ramesvara: So it's very peaceful for translating work.
Prabhupada: Oh, yes. (pause) My Guru Maharaja left alone, so he has sent so many gurus to take care of me. You are all my Guru Maharaja's representatives.
Bali-mardana: We are guru dasa.
Prabhupada: So you are taking care. I am very much obliged to you. I sometimes think in my childhood I was very, very pet son of my father. I have admitted that in that book I told. My father was not very rich man, but still, whatever I wanted, he would give me. He never chastised me, but full love. Then of course I got friends and I was married, so by Krsna's grace everyone loved me. (laughs) And I came to this foreign country without any acquaintance. So Krsna has sent so many fathers to love me. In that way I am fortunate. At the last stage if I live very peacefully, that is a great mercy of Krsna. By Krsna's mercy everything is possible. So we shall stick to Krsna's lotus feet and everything is possible.

[S.P. Room Conversation, July9, 1976, New York]

In our childhood with my father I used to walk

10 miles to save a ticket of 5 paise on the tram

car. So we are trained up in that way.

I have seen the rough trial balance in which it is stated that about Rs 13,000.- was spent for travelling expenditure. Of course you are all sons of big rich Americans so it may not be very big amount for you but we poor Indians, to us it is a shocking amount. In our childhood with my father I used to walk 10 miles to save a ticket of 5 paise on the tram car. So we are trained up in that way. Of course it was a very pleasant morning walk. So I wish to know how this big amount was spent for travelling expenditure. You must be very careful in the future. If we have spent Rs 13,000.- for local travelling in Calcutta, then why not purchase a car? One can be gotten for Rs 20,000.- only.
So how these things happen? It is your responsibility as zonal secretary. Besides that you are supposed to be one of the members of the book trust but in your presence the book fund money is being eaten up.
[S.P. Letter to: Tamala Krsna, London, 1 September, 1971]

In my childhood I was thinking... The tramcar is going on trolley. So I was thinking I shall stand on

the tram line and just take a stick and touch the wire and I will go. I was planning like that. (laughter)

Prabhupada: No, no. Not 67, 57. Sixteen years before. They are all childish. I am a layman. It will never be successful. It is already written there in my Easy Journey to Other Planets. Here also, that, some press reporter asked me in San Francisco, when I landed, "What is your position about this moon planet?" "It is simply a waste of time and energy. That's all. You cannot go there."
Svarupa Damodara: They have very big plan in the future, going to the surface of the Mars planet.
Prabhupada: Yes, that is future. That is all your statement, future. With future hope you become a big man. That is their foolishness.
Svarupa Damodara: Future, about ten years.
Prabhupada: Whatever... It may be one year, but we do not accept such proposition. We want to see what you have done now.
Svarupa Damodara: First of all they have to develop the methods how to do it by a small scale...
Prabhupada: In my childhood I was thinking... The tramcar is going on trolley. So I was thinking I shall stand on the tram line and just take a stick and touch the wire and I will go. I was planning like that. (laughter)

[S.P. Morning Walk At Cheviot Hills Golf Course, May 17, 1973, Los Angeles]