better to water eggplant

[Guest guest]

> One time an atheistic svami remarked, "What is the use of watering the

> tulasi plant? It is better to water eggplant. By watering the eggplant one

> can get some fruits, but what is the use of watering the tulasi?"

>

> >>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 3.15.19

>

>

>

> Who is the svami referred to here? I thought it must be Vivekananda but

> his followers deny so.

 

 

Sravanananda: At the Ramakrishna Mission school in Madras near a football

field, there is one slogan on the arch that says, "The playing of football

will bring one closer to heaven than the study of the Gita."

Prabhupada: Just see. Has Neccolla(?) carved this?

Sravanananda: He said, "Tear up all the big tulasis..."

Dr. Patel: Is it a fact? We don't know.

Prabhupada: It is a fact if he says.

Sravanananda: Yes. It is written right there, it's written right there. They

say the playing of football will bring one closer to heaven than the study

of the Gita.

Prabhupada: Yes, Vivekananda taught this.

Sravanananda: He said "Pull out the tulasi and plant brinjal."

Prabhupada: Yes, he advised, better water what is called, eggplant tree,

than tulasi tree. It will bring some fruit. What is the use of watering

tulasi tree?

Dr. Patel: Tulasi has got great medicinal properties.

Prabhupada: That he is not even prepared to...

Dr. Patel: He must not be knowing. Those rascals.

Prabhupada: And "Why you are searching out God here and there? There are so

many Gods loitering in the street." This is the Vivekananda's statement. And

therefore everyone is God. Everyone is thinking, "I am God." This is going

on.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Morning Walk -- December 19, 1975, Bombay

 

Prabhupada: Oh yes. We have got tulasi.

Dr. Patel: You may have to keep it in hothouse during winter.

Prabhupada: Yes. We make that arrangement. And what Vivekananda said, that

it is better to water eggplant tree. Why tulasi plant? What you will get?

Eggplant tree means you'll get some eggplant, begun. (Hindi) This is his

culture. Make your body strong and stout by eating meat, and there is

nothing to do with the...

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Room Conversation -- December 31, 1976, Bombay

 

Prabhupada: "....Our philosophy is very difficult to understand. Suppose you

are giving some medical relief, and if I say that "Why you should waste your

time by giving medical relief? Why not give him relief from birth and

death?" they'll laugh. Is it not? They'll laugh, that "What nonsense he's

speaking? This man is suffering. He immediately requires." We don't say that

"You don't give medical relief," but why do you forget the real business?

That is our.... Vivekananda said, "What is the use of pouring water in

tulasi? Better pour water in a eggplant saka. You'll get some eggplant."

This is.... Vivekananda said. Eggplant is also a small tree, and tulasi...

So if somebody is pouring water on a tulasi leaf for bhakti, he condemns

him, "Why you are wasting time? Pour water on this eggplant. Tomorrow you'll

get two." (laughs) This is karmi. "God is fictitious. God's service is

another sentiment. Do something practical."

Mr. Asnani: He was a politician. Pseudopolitician.

Prabhupada: He went to preach Vedanta, but instead of preaching Vedanta, he

learned so many things which is objectionable from Vedic civilization.

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Room Conversation -- January 8, 1977, Bombay

 

 

Your humble servant,

Hari-sauri dasa