View source for If you were American, how would you say the chant? In other words, I know it has many translations, but what would it mean to you? How would you say it in English?

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{{terms|"if you were American, how would you say the chant? In other words, I know it has many translations, but what would it mean to you? How would you say it in English"}}
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{{compiler|Mangalavati}}
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[[Category:I Was (Prabhupada)]]
[[Category:American]]
[[Category:How]]
[[Category:Would]]
[[Category:I Say (Prabhupada)]]
[[Category:Chanting]]
[[Category:In Other Words]]
[[Category:know]]
[[Category:It Has]]
[[Category:Many]]
[[Category:Translate]]
[[Category:Would]]
[[Category:What Does It Mean?]]
[[Category:Me (Prabhupada)]]
[[Category:English]]
[[Category:Questions asked to Srila Prabhupada]]
[[Category:Questions asked to SP... 1969]]
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<div id="Lectures" class="section" sec_index="4" parent="compilation" text="Lectures"><h2>Lectures</h2>
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<div id="General_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="11" parent="Lectures" text="General Lectures"><h3>General Lectures</h3>
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<div id="LectureatHarvardUniversityBostonDecember241969_1" class="quote" parent="General_Lectures" book="Lec" index="66" link="Lecture at Harvard University -- Boston, December 24, 1969" link_text="Lecture at Harvard University -- Boston, December 24, 1969">
<div class="heading">Proper noun is never translated. That everyone knows. But the meaning can be translated. So we have got translation of the meaning, what is this Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra means. But so far chanting is concerned, that if I call you, you are American boy, Mr. John, so I'll have to call you Mr. John. I cannot translate into Sanskrit and call you.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture at Harvard University -- Boston, December 24, 1969|Lecture at Harvard University -- Boston, December 24, 1969]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Student (6): How would you say the chant in English?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Chant in English?</p>
<p>Student (6): Yes. How would you say it in English?</p>
<p>Devotee: He wants a translation in English.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: So there are many boys. You can have the translation. We have got our translation in many literatures. In our paper, Back to Godhead, in many books. We have got many books. So translation is there. We are simply publishing so many English translation. So there is no scarcity of translation. Yes?</p>
<p>Student (7): Are you happy always in reflection?(?)</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: What do you think? What do you think? I'm happy or not happy? What is your opinion? And if I say false, why do you believe? If I say falsely, "I am happy," will you believe it? If I say falsely, "I am happy," will you take it?</p>
<p>Student (7): That I don't know.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes?</p>
<p>Student (6): If I can rephrase that, if you were American, how would you say the chant? In other words, I know it has many translations, but what would it mean to you? How would you say it in English?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: English, the translation... What is that?</p>
<p>Jadurāṇī: These words are Sanskrit. He wants to know if they were English what would they be?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Well, proper names cannot be translated. You know that. Suppose if your name is John, and if I come from India I cannot translate into Indian language. I have to speak "John." You see? Just like people say "Swami Bhaktivedanta." Is there any translation, Bhaktivedanta Swami? Proper noun is never translated. That everyone knows. But the meaning can be translated. So we have got translation of the meaning, what is this Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra means. But so far chanting is concerned, that if I call you, you are American boy, Mr. John, so I'll have to call you Mr. John. I cannot translate into Sanskrit and call you. Yes?</p>
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