Srila Prabhupadas statements about the moon landing



Srila Prabhuapda himself said different things at different times. Sometimes he directly said they didn't go and it was some kind of hoax. And at other times he said they didn't go to the moon because they didn't experience the higher dimensional nature of the moon planet, which is a rational way to harmonize the Vedic perspective with the idea of three dimensional space travel. At other times he just said the whole idea was foolish and a waste of money. He saw material space travel as a foolish attempt to reach higher dimensions which can only be reached by yogic practice.

Srila Prabhupada had an amazing level of insight into the foolishness of modern society and was able to so clearly expose it for what it was: "Simply bluffing"

Srila Prabhupada: "It is my firm conviction that they did not go to the moon. Neither they'll be able to go to the Mars as they have planned it." (Room Conversation, July 6th, 1976, Washington, D.C.)
 
Srila Prabhupada: "Yes, so where is the doubt? It is a fact that they did not go to the moon. That's a fact." (Morning Walk, June 10th, 1975, Honolulu)
 
Candanacarya: There are scientists in England who agree that they didn't go to the planet.
Srila Prabhupada: Huh?
Candanacarya: There are some scientists in England who agree with you that they did not go to the moon.
Srila Prabhupada: Yes, they did not. Simply propaganda. (Morning Walk, June 4th, 1976, Los Angeles)


They have not gone to the moon
excerpt from conversation with disciples, Perth, May 12, 1975

Prabhupada: They have not gone to the moon planet.
Paramahamsa: Really?
Prabhupada: Yes. It is far, far away. Their calculation is wrong. They are going to a wrong planet.

Paramahamsa: It must be the Rahu planet.
Prabhupada: Yes, or something else. Not moon planet.

Paramahamsa: How many...
Prabhupada: It is above the sun planet.

Paramahamsa: Moon planet is further?
Prabhupada: Yes.

Paramahamsa: Oh. Because they say that the moon planet is the closest planet to the earth. That is their calculation. And they say that it orbits around the earth, and then that the earth orbits the sun.

Prabhupada: All wrong. What is the... According to them, what is the distance of sun planet?

Paramahamsa: Sun planet is 93,000,000 miles.
Ganesa: They say the moon planet is only 250,000 miles.
Prabhupada: It is wrong thing.

Paramahamsa: Is their calculation for the distance of the sun wrong also?
Prabhupada: Yes.

Paramahamsa: 93,000,000? It says in the Bhagavatam exactly what the distance?
Prabhupada: The whole universe, diameter, is panchshat-koti-yojana. One yojana equal to eight miles, and one koti is ten miles, er, ten million. So panchashata, fifty into 10,000,000 into eight.

Paramahamsa: Yeah. So it's fifty crores yojana. Fifty crores yojanas?
Prabhupada: Yes, fifty crore yojanas, panchashat. So one yojana equal to eight miles, one crore equal to ten million.
Paramahamsa: That's eighty million.

Prabhupada: Hmm?
Paramahamsa: Eighty million times fifty.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Paramahamsa: Means 400,000,000
Srutakirti: Hmm. More than that. Four billion.
Paramahamsa: Four thousand million, which is four billion?
Srutakirti: Four billion miles.
Paramahamsa: Four billion miles is the diameter.
Prabhupada: Is the diameter.
Paramahamsa: You gave that in The Teachings of Lord Chaitanya also.
Prabhupada: Yes. And the sun is in the middle.
Paramahamsa: So two billion miles from the edge of the universe.
Prabhupada: Yes. And they say? 93,000,000.

Srutakirti: That's from the earth to the sun. That's not from the sun to the edge. That's from earth to the sun.

Amogha: Is earth near the edge of the universe?
Prabhupada: No. There are many other planets down. Seven planetary system.
Paramahamsa: The higher planetary systems are closest to the sun? And then...
Prabhupada: No, sun is the middle. This is circumference. Sun is the middle. And the whole diameter is fifty lakhs and... What is...? And moon is above, 200,000 yojanas above the sun.
Paramahamsa: Ah. 200,000 yojanas. That means 1,600,000 miles above the sun.

Prabhupada: Above the sun. How they'll go? [laughter] They are going to the wrong... bluffing only. I am repeatedly saying, they have never gone, simply bluff. How it is that they brought some dust? So brilliant, it is blazing, full. There is fire blazing.

Paramahamsa: They say that they measured the moon and that it's very small compared to the earth, very tiny.
Prabhupada: All wrong.
Paramahamsa: If it's a longer distance than the sun but still it appears so big in the sky, it must be a very large planet.

Prabhupada: Yes. Similarly Venus and others, they are also above.
Paramahamsa: Oh, above the sun.

Prabhupada: The sun is moving near about that. This is one universe, and there are thousands and millions of universe. Jagad-anda-koti. Yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-koti [Brahma-samhita 5.40]. That is God's creation. And they are becoming God, "I am God." Yasyaika-nishvasita-kalam athavalambya [Bs. 5.48]. If we simply think of the creation of God, we can appreciate how great He is.

Paramahamsa: That's why it's described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam?

Prabhupada: They say, "God is great," but they do not know how great He is. That is explained in the Vedic literature. Of course, those who are saying "God is great," they are pious. And those who are saying that "I am God," how foolish they are. Therefore I say that anyone who says, "I am God," immediately kick with your shoes on his face. Such a cheater.

Amogha: There is... One of the disciples of Guru Maharaj-ji, Bala Yogesvara, is in Perth. They have their center here. And he is giving lectures daily, and many people are attending.

Prabhupada: That he is God.

Amogha: There was an article in the paper yesterday from India that says that the Indian court has banned Guru Maharaj-ji from leaving India. They have issued an order that he must stay until the court has finished because his brother is suing. Because his brother published a photo showing Guru Maharaj-ji embracing and kissing an American girl in the paper. So the Guru Maharaj-ji published a picture of his brother doing the same thing. But they say it was a fake photo, so the court is holding him in India, and they're having a legal battle, suing each other to see who is God.

Prabhupada: Farce.

Paramahamsa: It seems like these demons who say that they are God, eventually they will end up destroying each other.

Prabhupada: Yes. Now they are fools, rascal, bluffing, but even the scientists, they are also bluffing. Now Russia and America combined together, going? Just see where they are going.

Paramahamsa: Here's one article about scientists in the paper. It says, "Wonder food will help control heart disease." They say they have a new way of feeding beef and poultry so that the food now, when they eat the beef, it won't give them heart attack.

Prabhupada: Huh?

Paramahamsa: They say if they feed them a special diet they have found it changes the cholesterol level in the beef, so if they eat it, they won't get heart attack like they used to. And it says, "The director of the National Heart Foundation, Ralph Reeder, said he believed the process was one of the most significant contributions in recent years toward controlling heart disease. 'It should not be taken lightly by skeptics. It is a world's first,' he said."

Amogha: Now they are also thinking that different types of meat cause cancer, not only heart disease but cancer.
Ganesa: What have the scientists got to gain by bluffing?

Prabhupada: Position. Material world means they want some material gain, some adoration, and some fame. That's all. This is material world. So if by bluffing you I get some material profit and adoration and fame, why shall I not do it? Everyone is doing that.

Amogha: That's the cheating propensity.

Prabhupada: Yes. In material world they have come to imitate God—adoration, fame, material profit. Just like this man. He has come to this country. He is getting money, he is getting woman, and becoming God amongst the fools. He is satisfied. That's all. This is not gain? If I get woman, money and adoration, is it not gain for me?

Ganesa: Yes, just like Hiranyakashipu.
Prabhupada: Yes. Materialistic man means he wants all these things in different way. Somebody is becoming God, somebody is becoming philosopher, somebody is becoming scientist, in this way. Real purpose is these three things: abha-puja-pratishtha [woman, money and adoration]. And our philosophy? We don't want anything of this. Just see. Negation. Na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam [Chaitanya-charitamrita Antya 20.29, Shikshashtaka 4]. Say... All denial, "We don't want." That is Vaishnavism. Then what do you want? "We want simply to serve Krishna." This is our position. They don't want to serve Krishna; they want to imitate Krishna. And that is their satisfaction.


Simply bluffing, simply propaganda

Excerpt from conversation, Sydney, Apr 1, 1972
PRABHUPADA:The newspaper said that "Mr. such and such went to moon planet." Oh, immediately believe. See? A newspaper, ten cent worth newspaper. And in the Bhagavad-gita Krishna says, yanti deva vrata devan: [Bg. 9.25] "One who can... One can go to the demigods planets by worshiping them. You can go, yanti deva vrata devan, as others. Similarly, one can come to Me by worshiping Me." Mad yajino 'pi yanti mam.So they never worshiped Chandra, and how they can go to the Chandra planet, or moon planet? Then Krishna is false. Krishna is imperfect. They become "perfect". They are defying Krishna's instruction. They have gone to moon planet. Then our whole propaganda, Krishnaconsciousness, becomes bogus. Therefore I always protest.

SUDAMA: They have not gone.

PRABHUPADA: They have not gone. We have got our tests. I am speaking from the very beginning, "They have not gone." And practically you see, even if you have gone, what utility you have made? They are simply planning, again planning. "We shall get petrol from there. We shall have defense from there. "Simply bluffing, simply bluffing. The Americans will go to the moon planet to defend his country from the Russians. Just see. And we have to believe all these nonsense proposals. What defense they will do from there? Is it not the proposal? Yes.

Devotee (2): Did they actually land on the moon, Srila Prabhupada?
Prabhupada: No, they cannot go there. What is the question of landing? They cannot go there. It is far, far away. What you calculated? 1,600,000 miles away, up the sun planet. 1,600,000 miles above the sun. According to your calculation, the sun is away from this planet by 93,000,000 miles. And above that, 1,600,000 miles. Then you go to the moon. How it is possible?
Guru krpa: How is the moon behind the sun?
Prabhupada: Not behind, above.
(ACBSP. 27th May 1975. Morning Walk in Honolulu, Hawaii.)

May 11th 1975 Conversation:
Amogha: He says did they actually get to the moon or not?
Prabhupada: That I am doubtful. Always. [break] …doubt always. They have… They might have gone… Mostly, most probably they have not gone. Simply propaganda. But even they have gone, not to moon. Maybe the Rahu planet. Or there are so many other planets.

Amogha: Is that Rahu planet closer than the moon to the earth?
Prabhupada: Rahu planet orbit is in between moon and sun. So when it comes in between moon and sun there is eclipse. At night it is eclipse in the moon, and daytime it is eclipse in the sun

The Rahu planet comes in front of the moon

SB 4.29.69 P Talks Between Narada and King Pracinabarhi
  In this connection, the darkness occurring before the full moon, the lunar eclipse, can be explained as being another planet, known as Rahu. According to Vedic astronomy, the Rahu planet, which is not visible, is accepted. Sometimes the Rahu planet is visible in the presence of full moonlight. It then appears that this Rahu planet exists somewhere near the orbit of the moon. The failure of modern moon excursionists may be due to the Rahu planet. In other words, those who are supposed to be going to the moon may actually be going to this invisible planet Rahu. Actually, they are not going to the moon but to the planet Rahu, and after reaching this planet, they come back. Apart from this discussion, the point is that a living entity has immense and unlimited desires for material enjoyment, and he has to transmigrate from one gross body to another until these desires are exhausted.

740318mw.vrn Conversations
Guru dasa: Why does the moon reflect? They say the moon is sandy, but this sand here is not reflecting.
Prabhupada: That... They are not going to the moon planet.
They are going to some other planet, Rahu planet
.
Guru dasa: Rahu?
Prabhupada: Yes. There are many planets invisible. So there is a Rahu planet which comes in front of the moon planet, and that is called eclipse. So there is a planet rotating. I think they are going to that Rahu planet, not to the moon planet.

750301mw.atl  Conversations
Balavanta: In the Srimad-Bhagavatam you say that the Rahu planet is visible on the full moon night? The Rahu planet?
Prabhupada: No, when there is eclipse.
Balavanta: Oh, eclipse.
Prabhupada: Eclipse means Rahu planet comes in front.

SB 8.18.5 P   Lord Vamanadeva, the Dwarf Incarnation
Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, an expert astrologer, explains the word naksatra-taradyah. The word naksatra means "the stars," the word tara in this context refers to the planets, and adyah means "the first one specifically mentioned." Among the planets, the first is Surya, the sun, not the moon. Therefore, according to the Vedic version, the modern astronomer's proposition that the moon is nearest to the earth should not be accepted. The chronological order in which people all over the world refer to the days of the week--Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday--corresponds to the Vedic order of the planets and thus circumstantiates the Vedic version. Apart from this, when the Lord appeared the planets and stars became situated very auspiciously, according to astrological calculations, to celebrate the birth of the Lord.

SB 5th canto:
Above the rays of the sunshine by a distance of 100,000 yojanas [800,000 miles] is the moon, which travels at a speed faster than that of the sun. In two lunar fortnights the moon travels through the equivalent of a samvatsara of the sun, in two and a quarter days it passes through a month of the sun, and in one day it passes through a fortnight of the sun.
PURPORT When we take into account that the moon is 100,000 yojanas, or800,000 miles, above the rays of the sunshine, it is very surprising that the modern excursions to the moon could be possible. Since the moon is so distant, how space vehicles could go there is a doubtful mystery. Modern scientific calculations are subject to one change after another, and therefore they are uncertain. We have to accept the calculations of the Vedic literature. These Vedic calculations are steady; the astronomical calculations made long ago and recorded in the Vedic literature are correct even now. Whether the Vedic calculations or modern ones are better may remain a mystery for others, but as far as we are concerned, we accept the Vedic calculations to be correct.


Vegetation and water on the moon

"It is understood from this verse that the predominating deity of the moon is the maintainer of all the trees and plants throughout the universe. It is due to the moonshine that trees and plants grow very luxuriantly. Therefore how can we accept the so-called scientists whose moon expeditions have informed us that there are no trees or vegetation on the moon? Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura says, somo vrksadhisthata sa eva vrksanam raja: Soma, the predominating deity of the moon, is the king of all vegetation. How can we believe that the maintainer of vegetation has no vegetation on his own planet?" (SB 6.4.6, purport)

"If we hear from those who are actually self realized, then the nectarean rivers, like those which are flowing on the moon planet, will flow into our ears." (Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 10)

"So moon is not desert. These are simply rascals. They do not know anything, and rascals believe that the moon is desert, and the sun is desert. Only this planet is full of variety and beauty. No. We have to take lessons from the sastras." (Garden Conversation, October 9th, 1976, Aligarh)

Srila Prabhupada: ...the moon planet, there is no rainfall?
Karandhara: No, according to scientists there is no (indistinct) of rainfall on the moon.
Srila Prabhupada: Huh?
Bhagavan: It's very hot and very cold.
Yogesvara: Have they made another mistake?
Srila Prabhupada: And there is no water also.
Karandhara: No.
Bhagavan: No, water.
Yogesvara: They say that the moon is covered by a very thick layer of dust.
Srila Prabhupada: But according to our sastra, moon is one of the heavenly planets. [break] ...is moon in any way? Because there is no water?
Srila Prabhupada: So how you can say there is no water in the moon planet?
Karandhara: Well, they can take samples in the desert and find out if there is certain degree of moisture in the soil. They have taken the same samples on the moon and say that there is no moisture.
Srila Prabhupada: So why the moon planet is bereft of? Material, anything material, it is combination of earth, water, fire, air, ether. Anything material. It is a combination.
Karandhara: Well, there are probably very minute quantities of moisture on the moon. But they say nothing significant, nothing suitable for agriculture.
Yogesvara: There are no plants growing on the moon. In the desert we find some plants, but they have not found any vegetation on the moon.
Srila Prabhupada: That means they have not gone thoroughly. One portion of it.
Karandhara: Well, they have scanners on these satellites which pick up vegetation or life. From hundreds miles away, it will show up on a screen. And they sent it all around the moon, and it hasn't shown any indication of any organic matter or life. They can send this satellite up around the earth planet and they can locate fields of corn, fields of wheat, from hundreds of miles away, just by the way it shows up on these different electronic devices. [break] (Morning Walk, June 3rd, 1974, Geneva)


COMMON SENSE

Sattava Guna  means he can go higher planets. Meat-eaters, drunkards HOW they can go moon?

751128SB.DEL Lectures
You can utilize this body properly for higher standard of life. You can go to the higher planetary system. The higher planetary system begins from the sun. That is another subject matter. But so far we get information from Srimad-Bhagavatam, there sun, then moon, according to Bhagavatam. And I think... We were talking about these things, that whether the moon is the first planet or the sun is the first planet. So far we understand from Vedic literature, the moon is the second planet. The sun is the first planet. If we consider like that, then moon is beyond the sun planet. The estimation is there in the Srimad-Bhagavatam: 1,600,000 miles above the sun the moon is situated. Now, if we take consideration of the sun planet situated 93,000,000 miles from earth, then add 1,600,000 miles again, it comes to 15,000,000..., 95,000,000's miles away from the earthly planet. And how you can reach there in four days, 95,000,000 miles away? If we apply our common sense, then it appears they have never gone to the moon planet. It is all bogus propaganda. It is not possible.

740620BG.GER Lectures
Prabhupada: Yes. (translator reads German translation) So our natural tendency is to go to other, better planets. Therefore people are trying to go to the moon planet. Similarly, you can go to the sun planet, heavenly planet. There are so many. But the information is, even though you reach the topmost planet of this universe, still, there the four principles of material life, namely, birth, death, old age and disease, are there. So we can go to the topmost planet. There is process how to go.

urdhvam gacchanti sattva-stha
madhye tisthanti rajasah
jaghanya-guna-vrtti-stha
adho gacchanti tamasah

If you keep yourself in sattva-guna, or in the modes of goodness, you are promoted to the higher planetary system. Even to the topmost planetary system. That is called urdhvam gacchanti sattva-sthah. And if you keep yourself in the modes of passion, you shall remain within the middle planetary system. This is middle planetary system. This earthly planet, it is called Bhurloka. Then, above this, there is Bhuvarloka. Then, above that, Svargaloka. That is heavenly planets. The heavenly planets begins from the moon planet. Jaghanya-guna-vrtti-stha adho gacchanti tamasah. And those who are in the modes of darkness, they go down, down, down. The animal life is also amongst the down, I mean to say, modes of life. So this human form of life is a chance to make our choice where we shall go next, in the higher or in the lower, or we shall remain here. So how to go to the higher planetary system, that is also mentioned. Yanti deva-vrata devan. Read this.

yanti deva-vrata devan
pitrn yanti pitr-vratah
bhutani yanti bhutejya
yanti mad-yajino 'pi mam

Prabhupada: So, if we like, we can go to the higher planetary system, heavenly planetary system. Just like we are trying to go to the moon planet, but we have not been successful. In this way we cannot go there. Each planet, each and every planet, has got different atmosphere. So unless your body is completely competent to live in such planet, you cannot go there. Just like the scientists say that in the moon planet the temperature is two hundred degrees below zero. Similarly, in the sun planet the temperature is very, very high, hundred and thousand times degrees above the normal. So in this way, every planet has got different atmosphere, different temperature, different standard of life, different duration of life. So one has to become competent to transfer himself in a particular type of planet. So we, as spirit soul, dehi, the possessor of this body... Dehi means one who possesses this body, or the occupier of the body, the spirit soul. That is eternal. Changing body only, but eternal. Therefore we should not be interested to these different types of temporary body. That is not very good intelligence. So we have to prepare our self. If we want... There is a full description of each and every planet. And we can prepare our self according to our desire, which planet we wish to go. But Krsna says, mad-yajino 'pi yanti mam. "Persons who are engaged in My occupational duties, they will come to Me."


The story of the grocer

Prabhupada: So he went to purchase something from a grocer. The grocer asked him, “Why you are shaven-headed?” “Oh, such person has..., is now dead.”
Trivikrama: Sargal Singh?
Prabhupada: No, I’ll come to that. So the grocer also thought, “Now I also should shave.” Something saying like that. Then another man met him. He also said. He also said. Then at last, one intelligent man, he asked, “Who is this man?” Then again the news come back through the parampara, (laughter) yes, who is this man. Then he called the man, first, who said. He was a dhobi, and his ass was dead. The ass was dead, so hearing, it has gone so far. The other men... The unintelligent persons are like that. They do not know, inquire what is the real thing. Just like twenty years ago I said, “This is all nonsense, moon-going.” And now they are coming: “Oh, it is hoax.” So that is the difference. Twenty years before and “This is all childish waste of money. This rascal will never be able to go to the moon.” And now they are coming. That is the difference. I said from common sense. Naknatranam aham sasi. And we read in the Bhagavatam that to go to the moon planet, one has to execute such yajnas, karma-kanda. We understand from sastra. And how this rascal with a machine will go there? That is a common sense. But they do not believe in the words of the sastra. Rascals, they were bluffed and they believe. Sastra-caknus. Your eyes should be through the sastra. Yah sastra-vidhim utsrjya vartate kama..., na siddhim sa... We believe in this. Therefore I said twenty years before. That is the difference. We take the words of sastra, words of Krnna, ultimate. That’s all. So we have no difficulty. They do not believe in sastra. They do not believe in Krnna. So they were bluffed. That is the difference. We have... I started this movement. It is not manufactured by me. Take the words of authorities and spread. There is no adulteration. There is no alteration. That is... Mahajano yena gatah... (end)
(ACBSP. 1st July 1977. Conversation with devotees, Vrindavana)

Svarupa Damodara: It also makes difficult for others to argue.
Prabhupada: (laughs) When there is argument? Nonsense, how you can argue? And therefore you are rascal. And that is also forbidden. Acintyah khalu ye bhava na tams tarkena yojayet: “Things which are beyond your conception, don’t foolishly argue, rascal.” That will prove your rascaldom. Better accept what the authority says. It is beyond your conception, rascal. Why you are wasting time? That we want to say, that all of them are rascals, and they are simply wasting time by false idea. Cheating. You know, there are companies. They’ll... They have got photographic studio. So they adjust their moon hoax. They’ll help you. If you have got particular idea... They are going to the moon planet, Mars. Nowhere the rascals go. There is no knowledge. How they can go? Teeny, imperfect. So if we can prove that they have no knowledge of the universe, neither of the position of their...
(ACBSP. 21st June 1977. Room Conversation with Swarup Damodar, Vrindavana)


The story of the Himalayan mountain going to deliver a child

Prabhupada: Vibhrama, the Sanskrit is vibhrama-milita-kriya. The arambha, arambha means endeavor. Very gorgeous. The result is sand and rocks. Going to the moon planet, the arambha was so much expensive. And the result is to bring some sand and rocks. This is hoax. And another: parvatan munakodbhavah. Hoax. There was a great advertisement that the Himalayan mountain is going to deliver a child. So people gathered on, to see, “Oh, such a big mountain. The child must be a very big child.” So they went to see there, and they saw one rat is coming from the hole of.... A rat is coming. They expected another Himalayan mountain, and they saw from the holes, one rat is coming. This is going on. And they are satisfied. “Now the Himalaya has delivered the child.” One rat. (laughs) This attempt is like Himalayas begetting a child. If some elephant would have come, it would have saved the..., not even elephant, one rat. And in English, another is, “Much ado about nothing.”
Hari-sauri: Shakespeare.
Prabhupada: Yes. The result is nothing. What is the meaning of “ado”?
(ACBSP. 18th June 1976. Room Conversation. Toronto)

Hari-sauri: When they originally started sending sputniks to the moon, they couldn’t even land them properly. They would crash, they said that they were crash-landing spaceships into the moon’s surface.
Prabhupada: Crashed?
Hari-sauri: Crash-landing. The spaceship was supposed to just smash into the surface of the moon, like that.
Prabhupada: They have never gone. Simply propaganda. Even they have gone, what is the result? Simply with big report that it is inhabitable.
(ACBSP. 2nd July 1976. Room Conversation. New Vrindavana.)

Prabhupada: Oh, in the summer. Venus is very cold? Why they have selected summer season? (laughter) [break] ...could not go to the moon, and Venus is far above moon. How they will go?
Bali-mardana: They’re not going to Venus, are they?
Paramahamsa: Are they going to Mars?
Bali-mardana: No, they’re just going around the earth, right?
Ambarina: Yeah, they’re linking up in space.
Devotee (3): Prabhupada, when they said they went to the moon and they showed films of them landing and walking on the moon, was this all a bluff?
Prabhupada: Yes, here they... All laboratory work, that’s all.
Devotee (3): They all made it up?
Prabhupada: Yes.
(ACBSP. 2nd June 1975. Morning Walk in Honolulu, Hawaii)

Madhudvina: The demons are trying to go to the heavenly planets by building their skyscrapers higher and higher.
Prabhupada: Ravana’s, Ravana’s staircase for going to the heaven. He promised that “Oh, what is the use of austerity? I shall make a staircase directly. You can go.” As their... It is the same, Ravana’s staircase and the modern attempt to go to the moon planet, the same thing. They will never be able to go, but imagining that “We shall do it.” The same process, Ravana’s process. For how many years they are going? Since 1950?
Devotee: To the moon expedition?
Prabhupada: Yes, moon expedition.
Devotee: Maybe 1955.
Madhudvina: 1955.
Devotee: The first moon landing was 1961.
Prabhupada: That is beginning. First of all they sent dog. (laughter)
Madhudvina: Space dog. Space mouse.
Prabhupada: Huh? Space mouse.
Devotee: Space monkey also.
Prabhupada: So since 1955 even. So twenty years, what they have done?
Devotee: Spent billions of dollars.
Prabhupada: Yes, simply they have brought little dust, that’s all.
Madhudvina: Now they have found that that same dust is here on the earth.
Prabhupada: Yes. Simply propaganda. They are not going. Now the Russian scientist and American scientist are combined. Because both of them thieves, so one thief is asking, “Don’t expose me. I will not expose you, so that our business will go on.” This is the way. “Let us combine together and cheat these rascals, and otherwise, if you expose me, then I will expose you. Then our business will stop.”
Devotee: They are cooperating.
Prabhupada: Cooperating. Thief, thief’s cooperation.
(ACBSP. 21st May 1975. Morning Walk in Melbourne, Aus.)


It boils down to faith in either God or the scientists


excerpt from morning walk conversation, Los Angeles, Jun 11, 1976
PRABHUPADA:...If we don't believe that they have gone to moon planet, they will reject us. They will immediately take as "Oh, these people are crazy. "Even if you give sufficient reason or argument, they will not take it. That is their obstinacy.

RAMESVARA: They're convinced by the photographs.
PRABHUPADA: Eh?
RAMESVARA: They have some photographs of the men in the spacesuits walking around on that other planet.
KIRTANANANDA: But they are convinced because the scientists have told them. They believe the scientists. They have faith, and the scientists can tell them anything, and they'll believe it.

PRABHUPADA: Yes, that is.... That is the disease.
KIRTANANANDA: They have put faith. Everyone has faith. You cannot live without having faith in somebody. So they put their faith in the scientists, and we are saying it is wrong.
HARI-SAURI: Nobody could possibly believe that the scientists would cheat them. They think they are very intelligent, honest men.
PRABHUPADA: No, we have got our faith—in Krishna. Similarly, they have got their faith—in scientists.
HARI-SAURI: That article in the last BTG [Back to Godhead magazine].... Sadaputa, he said, "So what it boils down to is they are putting their faith in chance, and we are putting our faith in God."

PRABHUPADA: Yes. That is statement of the scientists. Adau shraddha: in everything, faith is the beginning. Adau shraddha. Without faith you cannot make any progress.


A staged production


excerpt from evening conversation, Puri, Jan 25, 1977
SATSVARUPA: What about our promise, in the future also, that you go to Krishna in the future?

PRABHUPADA: We have got proof. Krishna says. We believe in Krishna. You believe in some rascal; we believe in Krishna. That is the difference. Krishna says, tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti [Bg. 4.9]. So we believe that. That's all. We have got evidence. Youhave no evidence. You are simply suggesting in future you'll do. But wehave got evidence.

GARGAMUNI: Sometimes they ask, "Show us somebody who's come [back from there]."
PRABHUPADA: Hm?
GARGAMUNI: "Show us someone who has come from there."
PRABHUPADA: Many.
GARGAMUNI: "But we don't find any."
PRABHUPADA: Many. It is in the shastra. "He was formerly like this, and now he has become this." There are many.
GARGAMUNI: Well, that's in the shastra. They say now we want...

PRABHUPADA: But shastra is the proof. Our proof is shastra. Your proof is your "shastra". Did you go to the moon planet or you believe the newspapers? Have you gone?

GARGAMUNI: No.
PRABHUPADA: Then if you can believe newspaper, why shall I not believe in the Veda, Vedanta?
GARGAMUNI: No, but one man has come.
PRABHUPADA: So one man... You have not done. You have no experience. So one man you believe authority.
GURUKRPA: But we saw the television. They showed on the television.

PRABHUPADA: No. Television could not show that. You can arrange in thelaboratory such television, cheat others. And you have done it. But anyway, television or man or newspaper—you believe on others. You have not personally gone. So you believe some authority. We believe some authority. What is the difference? You take newspaper as authority. We take Vedic literature as authority. Where is the difference? You have personally not gone. How do you believe? The difference is that you believe somebody, we believe somebody. I asked this question to Professor Kotovsky, that "You believe Lenin; we believe Krishna. Then where is the difference between philosophy?" Now it is to be judged whether Lenin is all right or Krishna is all right. That is another thing. But the principle is there. "You believe in Lenin; we believe in Krishna. The process is the same. So where is your improvement?"


The value of seeing

760706r2.wdc Conversations
Prabhupada: Why do they speak about seeing? What is the value of your seeing? I have seen the Atlantic Ocean, that means I have seen everything? This is ludicrous.
Rupanuga: They may simply speculate from a distance, that "Here is the surface," like here...
Prabhupada: That's all. Real business is speculation.
Rupanuga: Here it says, here, this is some great, here...
Prabhupada: Oh, that is "I am not stealing."
Rupanuga: Twelve hundred miles above the surface. Now they want to speculate what is there.
Prabhupada: Who asked him that who is stealing? But he said "I am not stealing."
Rupanuga: That is perfect, Srila Prabhupada.
Prabhupada: Why he brings Arizona? Who asked him? That means that their business in Arizona.
Rupanuga: They have exposed themselves.
Prabhupada: Rascals, how they are cheating people.
Rupanuga: Such a big hoax. They have spent billions of dollars for such a hoax.
Prabhupada: Now you consider whether I am right or wrong. The moon planet is also Arizona. (laughs) All their business asset is there.
Rupanuga: So one of the things we want to do is expose this cheating. Should we expose this kind of thing directly like this, or should we indirectly deal with it?
Prabhupada: No, you do scientifically. I give you the hint. (laughter)
Svarupa Damodara: If we say that, they will be mad at the...
Prabhupada: Give psychology. Say "Who asked him about Arizona? Why he is speaking Arizona?" That means they are in Arizona.


Seeing through the eyes of shastra


excerpt from conversation, Vrindaban, Jul 1, 1977
Prabhupada: ...Twenty years ago I said, "This is all nonsense, moon-going." And now they are coming: "Oh, it is hoax." So that is the difference. Twenty years before and "This is all childish waste of money. This rascal will never be able to go to the moon." And now they are coming. That is the difference. I said from common sense. Nakshatranam aham shashi. And we read in the Bhagavatam that to go to the moon planet, one has to execute such yajñas, karma-kanda [sacrifices, pious activities]. We understand from shastra [revealed scriptures - the words of the Supreme Personality of Godheadand His representatives, the Acharyas and saintly persons]. And how this rascal with a machine will go there? That is a common sense. But they do not believe in the words of the shastra. Rascals, they were bluffed and they believe. Shastra-chakshus. Your eyes should be through the shastra. Yah shastra-vidhim utsrijya vartate kama-karatah, na sa siddhim avapnoti [Bg. 16.23]. We believe in this. Therefore I said twenty years before. That is the difference. We take the words of shastra, words of Krishna, ultimate. That's all. So we have no difficulty. They do not believe in shastra. They do not believe in Krishna. So they were bluffed. That is the difference.




Did NASA fake the moon landing? A program aired on British television explored the possibility

This subject matter is naturally interesting to many devotees because Srila Prabhupada himself was doubtful about the moon landing. A section of the program was dedicated to analyzing NASA photographs, which curiously depict shadows that are inconsistent with the direction of the sunlight. The program clearly proved that shadows in the photographs fall at different angles and at different lengths in the same pictures, as though illuminated by more than one light source close to the scene. Had they actually been on the moon, of course, this would have been impossible as there was no other light source other than the sun. Some photographs taken of the astronauts facing in the shadows are illuminated as if by fill-in lighting.

Experts quoted on the show pointed out that the moon pictures were perfectly framed and exposed even though the cameras used had no viewfinder or exposure meter and were strapped to the astronauts' chests.

According to moon landing sceptics, there are also numerous inconsistencies between the live TV record and the photographs that were published later.

For example, several photographs, which were supposed to be taken on different parts of the moon's surface, have identical background landscapes. This suggests that they used the same backdrop for several photos supposedly in different areas. Some rather amusing NASA film footage includes the American flag apparently flapping in the wind, a strange phenomena given that, at least according to the modern understanding; there is no atmosphere and therefore no wind on the moon.

One of the most convincing arguments used against the moon landing relates to an official NASA photograph of the Lunar Module on the moon's surface. The photograph shows that there was clearly no sign of disturbance on the soft lunar surface caused by the exhaust of the Lunar Module's powerful descent engine. A crater should have been created in the soft lunar dust.

In response to these accusations, a NASA spokesman on the show said, "There are too many seeming inconsistencies for me to answer to right now."

Sadaputa das, in his book "Vedic Cosmography and Astronomy" writes on this subject in a sub-chapter entitled "Moon Flight." I will summarize it's contents:
Srila Prabhupada often said that the astronauts have never actually visited the moon. His reasoning was that 1) Demigods do not allow human beings to enter the higher planets because human beings are not qualified to do so. 2) The astronauts did not experience the celestial opulence’s actually existing on the moon, and therefore could not have gone there.

Srila Prabhupada also described the attempt of the scientists to reach the moon as being as demoniac as the attack of Rahu (SB 5. 24. 3p), and said that Indra would bar such travel. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 6, Chapter 4, purport to text 6 and Canto 8, Chapter 5, purport to text 34, he comments that since the moon-god is the presiding deity of vegetation, there must be vegetation on the moon. Yet the scientists say it is a barren desert.

Srila Prabhupada also made statements suggesting that higher-dimensional travel is needed to reach the moon and he refers to the futility of trying to use mechanical spacecraft. Finally, he indicated that to reach the moon it is first necessary to cross the Manasa Lake and Sumeru Mountain.

So as ISKCON devotees we are left with various possibilities:

1) Astronauts did indeed land on the moon, but they did not perceive the world of the demigods (Candraloka) because it is invisible to gross sense perception.

2) The astronauts were deluded by the demigods at some stage in their journey and diverted to the planet Rahu. (SB 4. 29. 69p)

3) The entire moon-landing story is a complete conspiracy, which has fooled millions of people all over the world for over 30 years. (Some say that they filmed the "moon's surface" in a place in America known as Area 51, according to the TV program.)

Perhaps in the near future we will never know for sure, but it is logical to suggest that at some time in the future we will. If the truth is indeed different to how NASA has been portraying it, ISKCON is in a prime position to say something about it.

SB 10.14.7: In time, learned philosophers or scientists might be able to count all the atoms of the earth, the particles of snow, or perhaps even the shining molecules radiating from the sun, the stars and other luminaries. But among these learned men, who could possibly count the unlimited transcendental qualities possessed by You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who have descended onto the surface of the earth for the benefit of all living entities?

FAITH in our BONAFIDE  Guru Srila Prabhupada -  Prabhus. It requires FAITH. THAT personality who has SEEN Krsna FACE TO FACE - AND - COMES FROM GOLOKA - HIS WORDS ARE TO BE TRUSTED NOT SOME RASCAL WHO IS DETERMINED TO HEAR ABOUT movie made in ARIZONA DESERT  "moon landing".


Fake Dutch 'moon rock' revealed
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8226075.stm

A treasured piece at the Dutch national museum - a supposed moon rock from the first manned lunar landing - is nothing more than petrified wood, curators say.

moon rockIt was given to former Prime Minister Willem Drees during a goodwill tour by the three Apollo-11 astronauts shortly after their moon mission in 1969.

When Mr Drees died, the rock went on display at the Amsterdam museum.

At one point it was insured for around $500,000 (£308,000), but tests have proved it was not the genuine article.

The Rijksmuseum, which is perhaps better known for paintings by artists such as Rembrandt, says it will keep the piece as a curiosity.

"It's a good story, with some questions that are still unanswered," Xandra van Gelder, who oversaw the investigation that proved the piece was a fake, was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency.

"We can laugh about it."

The "rock" had originally been been vetted through a phone call to Nasa, she added.

The US agency gave moon rocks to more than 100 countries following lunar missions in the 1970s.

US officials said they had no explanation for the Dutch discovery.


MoonFaker: Australia & The Conspirators

The mon landing hoax I
The moon landing hoax II
ApolloHoax-www.billkaysingtribute.com.pdf

Srila Prabhupada a conditioned soul?
Why Pratyatosa is criticising Srila Prabhupada?