(Do You get any suggestions for initiation – like things that we see that maybe can be changed or tweaked a little bit? Is there… Sometimes I would hear…) Not during initiation. (Oh, no, no, no. After initiation.) You write it down and give to me. Many Americans are only fit for Hare Krishna, maybe, or… chanting around or having the appearance of a saffron robe and things like that, hanging around on the street. They like it. OK, why not? Anything makes them happy, it’s according to God’s Will. The children, if they want to have toys, it’s alright. When they grow up, they will ask for the real thing. So why should I worry?
Actually, you know what? I’m already doing the best that I can. Yeah, like Ramakrishna or Rama? (Yes.) Swami Rama? (Swami Rama. Yes.) (Ramakrishna.) (There’s a whole bunch of them.) So many Ramas, yes. (Ramakrishna was…) There is the one who died a long time ago. (Yes, Ramakrishna.) Ramakrishna. (Yes, he was a Saint that was also in samadhi.) Yeah, that is different. That’s another one. OK, He never left India, right? (Yes.) But He sent His disciples to the West, so attracted many Westerners. (Vivekananda.) Yeah.
Sri Rama, for example, He never left India, but many Westerners came to Him. So if they want to come, they come. Of course, many other Masters didn’t leave India, too, a long time ago. And even after They died, they still came and worshiped Their tombs, begging for some leftover blessings. Something like that. So, why should I worry? I already do my best. And if they don’t appreciate it, why should I force myself? (Maybe we have to ask the Taiwanese [Formosan] government to name this country “New India,” and then they will come.) Maybe I change my name to Yananda Dananda Maharaji Matachi Paramsa Guru Tofu.
Never mind. I think I’m very satisfied with my work. It’s going well. You don’t know how much work... All kinds of translations and all kinds of things. And disaster relief and all that. Still a lot of work. (You started 10 years ago. I didn’t think You’d manage this much.) Yeah. You said it. Yes, yes. Six years since I began to get famous. Ten years, OK, even though I was not that famous really before. And I am the only one that lectured in the United Nations. Even though it was on a whim... That was a whim, but still, I’ve gone anywhere that I can. So, look at what other people do. They just sit there and wait for disciples, the ones who like to climb the mountain. And I’m the one who works hard and doesn’t get anything. So why? OK, I reap all the merit and rewards. And the American people they get nothing just because they don’t appreciate it.
You know, huh? OK. So don’t blame me anymore about this organizing or (We are not.) (Oh, no. We don’t think…) not appreciating your efforts. (We feel responsible, somehow responsible.) No, no, you’re not, you’re not. You’re not even responsible. (Oh, we know, but it’s difficult not to… We hear the people, and we see so much what You give.) OK, you know what? (We’d just like to be the cement bridge.) It’s just that I don’t stay there (America). I have no intention of anything. I stay where I feel comfortable and where God places me. And whatever else happens, that’s “que será, será (whatever will be, will be).”
(I was thinking about the Krishnas; in America, they’re everywhere. You know, they’re just always going out like) Yes, yes. (chanting on the street, and that’s how the people are coming to them.) (There’s a Tibetan Rinpoche who once coined the term called spiritual materialism.) Yes, yes. (Like they like to shave their heads and wear robes and look Indian and scare people.) Yeah, yeah. They like to look different. (Yes, yes.) (It’s true, but they’re also… The point is people are in need, right? They need something; it’s not whether they’re trying to express something.) Well, that’s what they need. (Yes. Maybe what they need is the robe and the chanting.) Or maybe it’s good for them for the moment, and they prepare for a higher teaching later on. So, you cannot say what is good for them and what is not. It’s OK. (It’s OK.) I only know that I try my best. And that satisfies me – no end. I’m finished. Whatever else we do is extra with time.
You know, in only about a few years, six to eight years, since I came to the West first time – ninety-what? (’89.) (’89.) ’89? (May of ’89.) Yes, ’88-’89. So, at that time, I didn’t even have one book in English. (Oh, wow.) The only English tape was the one from the lecture – (The lecture!) immediately, fresh, just baked – freshly baked from the oven. And all the English typing: all with Fehler (mistakes). You could read one sentence: five, 10 Fehler (mistakes) in it. Ten mistakes. Fehler is German for “mistakes.” Yes, yes. OK. So, anyhow, you see what I mean? (Yes.) And now we have so many translated books and magazines in different languages. And then we give out millions of dollars in help.
And we have disciples all over the world, in different languages. I think it’s tremendous work for just a few handfuls of Chinese. (Yes.) Even though we have more than a hundred residents here, not all of them are intellectual. (No.) Not all of them understand English and all that. Let alone Deutsch (German) and all kinds of others – Korean and Spanish language. So, we started from nothing.
I knew no one in Taiwan (Formosa) when I came here, and I knew nobody in America when I went there. I knew nobody. I had only a handful of monks and nuns and peasants and all kinds – anybody, taxi drivers and truck (drivers)… Whatnot. I started from scratch, really, from nothing. And in six years or what? In six, seven, eight (Seven years.) years… Because when I came to the West, it didn’t mean I already was famous and stable. I stayed in storerooms and had no visa for disciples or one only. (They gave You such a hard time too in the beginning.) Hard time everywhere. No visa, no disciples. I was the only one who could go. It’s good karma. And I had nobody else there.
The first lecture in America – no disciples! (It was Labor Day, too.) Labor Day, and there… (It was a long day, and nobody was there.) One of the friends of the friends of the friends of the friends of the disciples’ friend lent me a room, or something like that. I didn’t even know where to stay. Vegan food and all that would be a problem. And I did not even dare to stay in a first-class hotel where I could order vegan food with ease and things like that – nothing! It’s all we could do. And it’s really God’s Will that I’m doing it; otherwise, I could never succeed in such a short time and have so many disciples from all walks of life.
Of course, you are Americans, and you care about them, but look at all these friends we have. And I have been to Europe only once, been to Australia only once – and so many Australians came. And I’ve been to America many times; only you or two came. So, time to catch up.
Who cares? (Come to Australia.) Come to Australia. Very near, six hours. (Let’s move to Australia.) (Yes!) (We don’t care.) Six hours… (But going through the USA is very beautiful.) Yes, yes. (We have another way…) (Hawaii.) What is it? Anywhere, right? (Anywhere.) (Hawaii.) You see that? (Hawaii is nice.) Hawaii costs a bomb (a fortune). (Yes, it costs a lot.) I wanted to buy a Center for the Hawaiian people there, but whoa, costs so much! Eight million dollars, at least, for a few acres of land. Whoo-hoo. You said it, you said it. So… It is not always easy, huh? (No.)
And I think God has blessed me a great deal. I can’t complain. For all the beautiful disciples that I have, I can’t complain. Compared to anyone else; I don’t want to compare. I’m so blessed, so loved, and so successful, (Yes.) I think. I think bless God. He’s really the Best, that Guy. (Or Girl.) Yes, yes. Now, I have a different name for God, but I also forget myself. Him and Her become what? (Hirm.) Hirm. Yes, that’s right. There is no more He and Him, but I forget. It seems strange; I also have to get used to it. (Yes.) In the magazine, it’s OK, so people maybe don’t argue anymore why I say it’s a Her and I say it’s a Him. They argue over such things.
You know, I’m really satisfied with what I have. And if God consents to give me more in the future, more Occidental disciples, I’d be more happy and more grateful. Otherwise, OK, fine. I don’t think other gurus have such wonderful disciples as I have, I’m proud to say. Really disciplined, really sincere, and practicing – not just numbers. I’m very proud of the friends that I have, the so-called disciples that I have. Some of them are a little bit troublesome, but they are not bad. They don’t go and do anything harmful to society. Really. Like for example, her – the only stupid thing she does is ask about toilets. For example. You know what I mean?
And for what I scold here… for the mistakes that I scold you here, oh, other disciples in other so-called groups have to learn 10 years or 10,000 years to learn the mistake that you do here, to arrive at the mistaking level that you do, that you make here. You know what I mean? Other disciples are still hanging around with a lot of things, criminal records and all that. Here we deal with toilets and things like that. That’s the only “crime” that she committed. Maybe asks a lot, she likes me to look at her, talk to her or know what she’s doing. That’s all. It’s only childish behavior, that’s all; nothing bad. The worst disciples here are saints compared to those elsewhere. You know what I mean?
I’ve been around, too, myself, and I have been mixing with all kinds of so-called disciples. I have been a so-called disciple myself, and I’m proud to say that you are the best in the world – really, really. God’s gift. Truly God’s gift. So, it’s not the number that’s important. What can you do with a lot of numbers? And then it’s so confusing. Really, I must let you know: I’m very proud of you, whoever can come here, I know who you are, and I know what you are. I’m sure of your identity, your quality and your spiritual progress. Like I read a book. What if I have a lot of disciples and I don’t even know? What they do, I can’t control.
And they bring harm to society in the name of “my faith and my religion” and all that. Just trying to get more numbers and get prouder and more noise so that people notice them. What for? You don’t get respect that way. Maybe people join them for a while, but then they lose their purpose, and then they go out again, or they do their own purpose. And even blacken the name of the religious order that they so desired to join in the beginning. See what I mean? No big deal what the number of disciples; means nothing to me. Don’t you think? (Yes.) You’ve seen a lot of noisy and crowded groups of other so-called disciples. And more remarkable – everybody knows who they are by the look of the dress and appearance, and things like that. But what do they do? What do they do? What do they do with their lives? What do they do for society? Then you know.
OK. Be happy. We are really blessed. Really blessed. But your suggestion, I will think about it. But then you must let me know where you stay; otherwise I never know if you are there. And then it’s no good. OK. Time. (Thank You.) (Thank You, Master.) Go down. (Thank You, Master.) (Thank You, Master, for everything.) What? Don’t worry, it will be cleaned. It’s not the worst thing. The karma is difficult, but this… Walkie-talkies and saints with mobile phones, high heels… (Yes. High-tech Master.) Yeah. High-tech, yes. Fashionable. (Yes.)
Those who came out are kind of messengers, not masters yet – it takes a longer time. If you want, you may try. Stay around for a while. OK? Let me get to know you – correct your shortcomings and mistakes before I send you out. Make the perfect teacher. OK? (Thank You.) But if you think you are perfect already, then well, I don’t say anything. (No.) Now, get lost. (Thank You.)
