Rabindra Svarupa das Remembers Srila Prabhupada

Prabhupada Memories

Interview 01

Rabindra Svarup: Once, at the temple on Henry Street, Pradyumna brought a teaching assistant from Columbia University to see Srila Prabhupada. Prabhupada asked him, “What do you teach?” He said he taught religion. Prabhupada said, “What is religion?” The man said, “Religion is a search after the divine.” Prabhupada said, “Yes, that’s very good, but there must also be finding.” Then there was an incredible discussion, because Prabhupada began mak- ing statements and then saying, “Do you agree or do you disagree?” The man would say, “Well, that’s true.” Then Prabhupada asked the next question, and said, “Do you agree or disagree?” If the man kept agreeing, he was going to have to surrender. It was amazing. The man figured out what was happening one step before the final step. Prabhupada again asked him, “Do you agree or disagree?” The man was silent. He said, “Well, I think it is very nice.” Prabhupada laughed, “Partial agreement is better than none,” and then he changed the subject. There was a bunch of reporters there, and they started asking Prabhupada questions. One reporter said, “Do you consider yourself the savior of the American youth?” Prabhupada’s eyes got big, and he said, “Yes, but not just in the future, it is already a fact. Just see my students and how they are bright-faced. Formerly they were morose because they were hippies, but now everyone knows them as bright-faced. So it is already done. Your government is trying to stop this drug-taking, but their attempts are unsuccessful. If they gave me money, then I would be able to stop this drug problem.” That was his appeal. It was amazing the way he did things.

Once, at the temple on Henry Street, Pradyumna brought a teaching assistant from Columbia University to see Srila Prabhupada. Prabhupada asked him, “What do you teach?” He said he taught religion. Prabhupada said, “What is religion?” The man said, “Religion is a search after the divine.” Prabhupada said, “Yes, that’s very good, but there must also be finding.” Then there was an incredible discussion, because Prabhupada began mak- ing statements and then saying, “Do you agree or do you disagree?” The man would say, “Well, that’s true.” Then Prabhupada asked the next question, and said, “Do you agree or disagree?” If the man kept agreeing, he was going to have to surrender. It was amazing. The man figured out what was happening one step before the final step. Prabhupada again asked him, “Do you agree or disagree?” The man was silent. He said, “Well, I think it is very nice.” Prabhupada laughed, “Partial agreement is better than none,” and then he changed the subject. There was a bunch of reporters there, and they started asking Prabhupada questions. One reporter said, “Do you consider yourself the savior of the American youth?” Prabhupada’s eyes got big, and he said, “Yes, but not just in the future, it is already a fact. Just see my students and how they are bright-faced. Formerly they were morose because they were hippies, but now everyone knows them as bright-faced. So it is already done. Your government is trying to stop this drug-taking, but their attempts are unsuccessful. If they gave me money, then I would be able to stop this drug problem.” That was his appeal. It was amazing the way he did things.

To view the entire unedited video go to Memories 15 - The 1996 NYC and LA Reunions

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