Interview , Paris , 1972-07-20

Devotee: Yes. I think this gentleman would like to have some interview with Śrīla Prabhupāda. [to other devotee:] You're going to translate, [indistinct]?

[to guest:] And you can sit here? And you can sit here, please?

Prabhupāda: Give him some...

Devotee: Sit here.

Bhūgarbha: We have a cushion. [break] ...speak any English. [break]

Prabhupāda: Hmm?

Bhūgarbha: The listeners probably only speak French.

Guru-gaurāṅga: [French]

[devotee translating questions and answers throughout]

Frenchman: ...great spiritual master, you kindly present yourself to the listeners to [indistinct].

Prabhupāda: I have already explained what is our mission, what is this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Already I have explained to some extent, and if he wants some particular answer, he can ask me.

Frenchman: [French]

Guru-gaurāṅga: He would like to know who you are, Śrīla Prabhupāda, and how old you are.

Prabhupāda: I am now seventy-seven.

Frenchman: [French]

Guru-gaurāṅga: [translating] For how long are you at the head of this movement?

Prabhupāda: Well, for the last five years.

Frenchman: [French]

Guru-gaurāṅga: [translating] Can you please describe the dress in which you are clothed?

Prabhupāda: You can ask about some philosophy. Dress, what people will benefit knowing about my dress? Instead of wasting time in that way... I can ask you why you are in dressed in that way... That's not very important thing.

Guru-gaurāṅga: [translates and then asks man to please pose questions about the philosophy]

Bhagavān: Anyone can answer those questions.

Frenchman: [French]

Guru-gaurāṅga: [translating] What do you think of the future?

Prabhupāda: Huh?

Guru-gaurāṅga: Of the future, Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: Future you can guess... Because I am seventy-seven. I may die. But these young men, they are taking. They will live, and they will spread all over the world.

Frenchman: [French]

Guru-gaurāṅga: He's asking about your childhood, Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: Hmm?

Guru-gaurāṅga: He'd like to know something about your childhood, would be my guess.

Prabhupāda: So?

Guru-gaurāṅga: Childhood.

Prabhupāda: My childhood? I was all along a devotee, from my childhood. Yes. My father was a devotee, and he trained me a devotee.

Guru-gaurāṅga: [again asks man to ask about the philosophy]

Frenchman: [French]

Guru-gaurāṅga: [translating] Are you happy? [devotees laugh]

Prabhupāda: What do you think? What do you think? I'm happy or unhappy? [end]