Prabhupada 0215 - You Have to Read. Then You'll Understand
Interview with Newsweek -- July 14, 1976, New York
Interviewer: Could you tell me a little bit about your background, when you were young, what types of things you did...
Prabhupāda: Why shall I tell you?
Interviewer: Pardon me?
Prabhupāda: Why shall I tell you?
Interviewer: If you wish.
Prabhupāda: Why shall I wish?
Interviewer: Well, reporters have to ask these questions. Otherwise I would be out of business.
Hari-śauri: Prabhupāda is hoping that you'll ask something that is relevant to this...
Rāmeśvara: People are interested to know about you, Śrīla Prabhupāda. And if they take an interest in you, then they will automatically be interested in your books also. They are very eager to know about the author of all these books that we are selling.
Prabhupāda: But these books, books... We'll speak about the books. Does it depend, what the author was doing previously?
Interviewer: You are the translator of many books, from what I understand.
Prabhupāda: Yes. So that translation, the book, will speak how I have translated.
Interviewer: Um hm. I was wondering...
Prabhupāda: You read the books, Then you'll understand. Instead of asking me, you better read the books. That is real understanding.
Interviewer: I was just wondering how he personally got interested or involved, and what his route to his consciousness was.
Rāmeśvara: I see. She's asking about your relationship with your Guru Mahārāja, how you became inspired to start the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement and write so many books.
Prabhupāda: These things you can answer. It is not very important things for public.
Rāmeśvara: I think the public always likes to know about the person behind the movement.
Lady Guest: Yes, it helps. People are interested. People are interested in development of a man like you because they relate. And that way they decide to read what you write.
Prabhupāda: First thing is that if you are interested in our book, so, you read our books. You'll understand.
Interviewer: Understand you?
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Interviewer: Is that what you're saying?
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Interviewer: Is that what he's saying?
Prabhupāda: A man is known when he speaks. When he speaks. Tāvac ca śobhate mūrkho yāvat kiñcin na bhāṣate: "A fool is so long beautiful as long as he does not speak." When he speaks, then you can understand what he is. So my speaking are there in the books, and if you are intelligent, you can understand. You haven't got to ask. Speaking... Just like in a court. A big lawyer is known when he speaks. Otherwise everyone is a good lawyer. But when he speaks in the court, then he is known, whether he is good lawyer or not. So you have to hear. You have to read. Then you'll understand. Real understanding is there.