710214 - Conversation - Gorakhpur

Conversations by Date, 1971

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

710214R1-GORAKHPUR - February 14, 1971 - 10:35 Minutes

Prabhupāda: . . . my Guru Mahārāja was in his last days, these rascal doctors injected . . . our, this Kuñjabihārī, Tīrtha Mahārāja brought so many big, big doctors. And he protested, "Why are you giving me injection?" He protested. He personally said: "Why are you giving me injection?" And if you bring a doctor, the rascals will not stop, "Oh, that is our treatment. We must try our best." They will plead like that. "To give more trouble to the patient, that is our business."

Inventing new medicines means inventing new means of giving trouble. That's all. As soon as you ask them whether by injection the life is guaranteed, they will say: "No. There is no guarantee. Let us try, make experiment." (laughter)

(indistinct comment by devotee)

Yes. In hospital, as soon as you get . . . (indistinct) . . . whatever nonsense knowledge they have got, they make experiment, at the risk of other's life.

Haṁsadūta: When Himāvatī broke her leg they wanted to operate. I said: "Oh, no chance. No operation." Then they immediately said: "Then maybe she'll never walk again."

Prabhupāda: Just see.

Haṁsadūta: So I said: "Well, how can we tell?" They said: "Well, there's no way to tell."

Prabhupāda: Huh? (laughter)

Haṁsadūta: I said: "Suppose we operate. Then it's guaranteed that everything will be all right?" They said: "No." But they thought they should do that, you know.

Prabhupāda: Yes. They canvass, they convince like that and make experiment. That is their business. They have no, I mean to say, assured idea. Simply experiment. All these hospitals, they are meant for making experiment. I think I have told you one story of my servant. Did I?

Haṁsadūta: No. I don't think so.

Prabhupāda: Heh?

Haṁsadūta: No. Tell us the story.

Prabhupāda: Heh?

Haṁsadūta: Please tell us the story. (laughter)

Prabhupāda: (laughs) The servant was crying, "Oh! I am dying, I am dying, I am dying." So I immediately called ambulance and took her (him) to the hospital. Then, when I went there, there were so many neophyte doctors. They experimented, and they said: "Immediate operation is required."

"Why?" They gave us some technical terms. Then their leader doctor came. He said: "All right. Let us see this night. Then, next morning we shall operate." So I asked him, "I can go? He may remain in your charge?" "Yes." So I went, came back.

And when I was absent, another servant was with neighbor, he told to my wife that, "Babuji"—Babuji means master—"it is unnecessarily he has taken to hospital. He was drunk, and he was crying like that. (laughter) He's drunk." So my wife told that he was drunk, and he was therefore crying like that. "No, no. Doctor says that it is a serious case (laughter) and it is to be operated."

And the next morning the servant came back. "And why you come back? You were to be operated?" "Oh, thik hai. It is now all right." Just see. The rascals were going to operate. He was drunk. In drunken state he was crying, and they took it a case of operation. That is my practical experience. Everything you take there: "Operation."

Devotee (1): That's a symptom of the modern civilization, Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: Operation. That is . . . demons are to be cheated like that. Simply operation. Simply operation. Bās.

Devotee (2): Also they're trying to get money.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Injection and operation, that is in their hands.

Revatīnandana: Should we try to avoid getting injections as much as possible?

Prabhupāda: That is my opinion. But as soon as you go to a medical man, especially in your country, first of all you have to give blood. Immediately. (laughter) One ounce of blood immediately. First business. And then other injection. Because I underwent so many medical examination, I have got experience. For my immigration.

I think, three or four times I was under health examination, and blood-taking, and injection. Of course, it is not very painful. (chuckles) That arrangement is there. But the business is like that, "First of all give your blood, then talk of other things." Better to die without a doctor. (laughter) That's the best principle. Don't call any doctor. Simply chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and die peacefully.

Revatīnandana: But what about when you're not going to die? What about when you have some problems that's not fatal. Then who do you call?

Prabhupāda: Then go take injection. What can be done? (laughter) There is no alternative.

Devotee (1): (indistinct) . . . body. How long will you be feeling bad from the injection?

Prabhupāda: If it remains simply for a while, that is sufficient to kill you. There is no question of how long.

Devotee (1): It's just that you don't look very . . . you don't look like your normal self. There's no . . . (indistinct)

Prabhupāda: Sometimes they do business, simply water they inject. Yes. Simply water and take fee. They know there is no necessity of medicine; still, they will inject some water, distilled water, and take the fees.

Devotee (1): There are some people, doctors . . .

Prabhupāda: I have seen the doctors and some, I mean to say, ordinary man, illiterate: "What kind of treatment you want? Injection or medicine?" So naturally, he will say: "The best one. I want to . . ." "Then you have to take injection."

Revatīnandana: Or both. You might get both.

Prabhupāda: Yes. I have seen, they have spoken like that. Because the patient will think, "Oh, if I take injection, I'll be very nicely . . . very quickly cured." He will canvass like that. Because if he gives a bottle of medicine, that will not be very costly. But injection in his hand, he'll at least five rupees, that much. So he'll canvass like that, "What kind of treatment you want, injection or ordinary medicine?" So he'll say: "Sir, best medicine I want." "Then you take injection." That's all.

It is a fact that the whole human civilization is a society of cheaters and cheated. That's all. Any field. Māyaiva vyāvahārike (SB 12.2.3). The whole world in this Kali-yuga: māyaiva vyāvahārike. Vyāvahārike means ordinary dealings, there will be cheating. Ordinarily, there will be cheating. Daily affairs. Not to speak of very great things. Ordinary dealings, there will be cheating. That is stated in the Bhāgavata, māyaiva vyāvahārike.

The sooner you get out of this scene is better. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So long you live, you simply chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and preach Kṛṣṇa's glories, and that's all. Otherwise, you should know that this is dangerous place. Padaṁ padaṁ yad vipadāṁ (SB 10.14.58). In every step there is danger. (cut) (end)