Remembering Srila Prabhupada - They have created havoc bymisinterpreting Bhagavad-gita

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They have created havoc by misinterpreting Bhagavad-gita

 

As we were about to return to our residence, a few gentlemen accompanying us on

the walk told Prabhupada how much they appreciated his practical explanations

of spiritual life, although they admitted that sometimes they were difficult to

accept. One of them commented candidly, "Two and two will always be four. But

we people don't agree so far."

 

Prabhupada smiled. "Yes. You want five."

 

They burst out laughing. "We want five, correct!"

 

He told them a short story about a grocer's son who was doing business on his

father's behalf. He was giving change of four rupees instead of the correct

amount, five.

 

So the customer said, "Why you are giving me four rupees?"

 

The boy pleaded innocence. "No, I do not know what is the exchange."

 

So the customer then said, "No, it is six rupees."

 

To which the anxious boy replied, "No, my father will be angry!"

 

Amidst loud laughing Prabhupada explained, "It means he knows perfectly well

what is five rupees, but he is innocent when he was giving four rupees. And

when the customer wanted six rupees, 'No, my father will be angry!'"

 

He used the anecdote to illustrate the mentality of men who want to comment on

the Gita and other works without accepting the real meaning, adding distortions

to suit their own purpose.

 

"They have created havoc by misinterpreting Bhagavad-gita, all people," he

said. "According to their wish, 'Five rupees note means four rupees.' By

imagination. They have created havoc all over the world. Otherwise everything

is there. If we take Krsna's instruction, then the whole world becomes

immediately happy. But they will not take it. They will manufacture their own:

two plus two equal to five or three, not exactly four."

 

He advised the men to read his books, especially the new The Nectar of

Instruction. When they complained that no books were available at his lecture

last night, Prabhupada was extremely concerned.

 

Mahamsa Swami reassured him there had indeed been a book table present and many

books were sold.

 

The men hadn't seen it, so Srila Prabhupada told the sannyasis, "Keep the book

table in a prominent place so that others can see. And any book which is not in

stock, you can note down his order so that you can send him later on. Recently

we have published a very important book, The Nectar of Instruction. For the

common man it is very nice."

 

- From the "A Transcendental Diary Vol 1" by HG Hari Sauri dasa

 

 

 

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