Guru-gauranga: (translating from
French) In the name of the Canton of Geneva and the city, we wish to extend our
heartfelt welcome to you. This republic is an independent state, part of
Switzerland, and it has a reputation for being a great center of dialogue
between all men of science, philosophy and religion. Geneva is the seat of the
World Council of Churches, and there is a Protestant pastor who is there as
representative of the Canton of Geneva. Unique among the cities of the world,
Geneva has had the privilege to greet many great religious heads such as Pope
Paul VI, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, and many others. As civil
authorities, we are very much encouraged by religious or spiritual groups
because they contribute to wake up the consciousness of the people, provided, of
course, that they respect all the laws. For thousands of years, man has tried to
find perfection through religious means, and for us what is so much important is
that this be done with tolerance, that whatever the books, whether they be the
books of India or the Torah or the Koran, that they contribute to a general
welfare of all men and not that they fight each other. There is the need
currently for men to understand each other better and hear each other better.
The modern world neither has the time nor the interest to tolerate divisions
between men, especially on the spiritual platform. As a result, everyone must
try to improve the fate of the individual man through these means. Should we
not, then, try to find some common language with which to solve these problems,
all the while respecting the dignity of the common man? And we hope finally that
this trip in Europe will give Your Divine Grace new perspectives in the search
for the truth.
Prabhupada: I can speak in English?
Guru-gauranga: (he asks in French) The president says that you may speak directly in English, no translation needed.
Prabhupada: So Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen, the kind words that you have spoken to receive me, I thank you very much for the same.(?) Our preaching principle is bhagavata-dharma, and we do not say "This is Christian religion" or "Hindu religion" or "Muhammadan religion." We speak the science of God. So in the Srimad-Bhagavatam there is a verse which says,
sa vai pumsam paro dharmo
yato bhaktir adhoksaje
ahaituky apratihata
yenatma samprasidati
[SB 1.2.6]
"That is first-class religious system which teaches the follower how to love God." It doesn't matter what is the type of religion, religious process. Phalena pariciyate. The thing is proved by the result, how one has learned to love God. Sa vai pumsam paro dharmah. There are two kinds of religious engagements: one is called inferior and the other is called superior. The superior religious system is that which teaches the followers how to love God. Now, what kind of love? That is also expressed there: ahaituki, without any motive, and apratihata. Apratihata means that religious system cannot be checked by any kind of material impediments. If we come to that platform, then atma-atma means the mind, the soul, also the body, intelligence -- everything becomes fully satisfied.
So our this principle of teaching is based on Bhagavad-gita. (aside:) Give him the book. Perhaps you have heard the name of Bhagavad-gita, and some of you might have read it, Bhagavad-gita. Bhagavad-gita was spoken in the Battlefield of Kuruksetra to groups of cousin-brothers. They were fighting to occupy the kingdom, and in that place Lord Krsna, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, happened to be present as the chariot driver of one group, Arjuna. So Arjuna was trying to avoid the fighting because the other side, there were relatives, brothers. At that time he was lamenting his bodily relationship: "The other side is my brother, my grandfather, my nephews, my son-in-laws." So that was the platform of speaking Bhagavad-gita. So first of all, Krsna explained that "We are not this body." The first instruction was given,
dehino 'smin yatha dehe
kaumaram yauvanam jara
tatha dehantara-praptir
dhiras tatra na muhyati
[Bg. 2.13]
The first instruction of spiritual life is to understand that "I am not this body." The example is given, very simple thing, that I am present, although I remember that I had a small body lying down on the lap of my mother. I remember, when I was six months old, I was lying down on the lap of my elder sister, and she was knitting. I still remember that. So everyone, we remember that we had a small body, and then another small body, then another small body. Those bodies are gone. I have got a different body now, but I remember that I had all these body. Therefore the conclusion should be for the sober man that "Although we have changed so many bodies, I, the person, the soul, am existing." Therefore Bhagavad-gita says, tatha dehantara-praptih [Bg. 2.13]. Similarly, when I shall give up this body, I shall accept another body. This is the beginning of understanding, that "I am not this body. I am living in this body just like I am not this coat, but I am living within the coat." There is very vivid example in the Bhagavad-gita. If we read, we can understand that "I am not this body. I am spirit soul." When this realization is there, that "I am spirit soul," aham brahmasmi... The exact word used in the Vedic literature, aham brahmasmi. That stage has to be attained in human form of life. In the animal forms of life, this understanding, that "I am not this body. I am spirit soul," in the animal stage of life it is not possible to understand. But in the human form of life it is possible because human being is advanced in consciousness and knowledge, and if he is educated, he can understand. And if he actually understands, then his position becomes brahma-bhutah, self-realized, prasannatma. Immediately he becomes jubilant. There is no more any cause of moroseness. That is the symptom. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kanksati [Bg. 18.54]. Then there is no more hankering or lamentation. Samah sarvesu bhutesu. At that stage, brahma-bhutah stage, we can see everyone, spirit soul. I don't see an American or a Swiss gentleman or a French gentleman or a cat or dog or tree, but I see the spirit soul. That, in that spiritual state, brahma-bhutah stage, samah sarvesu bhutesu, one can see that within this body there is the spirit soul, and he wants to work for benefit of the spirit soul, not for the temporary body.
So our Krsna consciousness movement is just on the principles of this Bhagavad-gita, to understand his real identity, spiritual identity. Panditah sama-darsinah.
vidya-vinaya-sampanne
brahmane gavi hastini
suni caiva sva-pake ca
panditah sama-darsinah
[Bg. 5.18]
One who is actually pandita... Pandita means learned, and in spiritually learned (life), he sees that a very learned scholar, brahmana, and a dog, an elephant, a cow, or a low-born man, creature -- all on the same platform of spiritual life. So unless we come to that point, this so-called fighting and sectarianism will go on. So we want to teach people... Not only sectarian people in India or the so-called Hindus or Muslims or Christians. Everyone. Because everyone is spirit soul, and as soon as he understands that "I am not this body. I am spirit soul," then he becomes completely happy. Yenatma samprasidati. So people will not be happy, will not be satisfied, unless and until he comes to that spiritual understanding. So our humble method is on this principle, that "I am not this body. I am spirit soul." And the spirit soul is eternal; therefore he has got to come to the platform of eternal happiness, eternal life and full knowledge. That is the perfection of life. And any type of religion -- it doesn't matter what it is -- which teaches this philosophy of life, that is first-class religious system. That is our conclusion.
Thank you very much. Hare Krsna.
Guru-gauranga: (has conversation with someone in French) The president would like to talk to you for a few minutes.
Prabhupada: Yes. Give me little water. (more French conversation) I was formally received by the French Cardinal.
Guru-gauranga: Danielou.
Prabhupada: Daniel. (French)
Guru-gauranga: He says that the discussion you had with the Cardinal was very interesting.
Prabhupada: Yes. Unless you come to that position of understanding, that "I am not this body," real spiritual knowledge does not begin. (French conversation)
Guru-gauranga: Understanding the philosophy, Monsieur de President does not understand why we find it necessary to dress differently, though.
Prabhupada: The different dress means as you have paid for it. Just like we can go to a tailor, he will supply you dress according to the payment you can make. Similarly, according to our karma, according to our work, we are given a type of body by the material nature. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah [Bg. 3.27]. According... Because actually I do not possess this material body, but because I am in this material world, I am given a type of body by the material nature according to my work. (French conversation)
Guru-gauranga: Speaking about clothes, Monsieur le President says that he has been to India, and he understands that one dresses like this in India. But why would the disciples dress in America or in Europe in this way? Is it necessary?
Prabhupada: No. It is not necessary. Dress you can have as you like. It doesn't matter, because dress is a dead thing. Real thing is that we want a living being who can understand. That is real the position.
Guru-gauranga: Monsieur le President would like to know, if this movement gets bigger and bigger, won't it create problems in terms of working, the economy? Won't the economy suffer if our movement gets bigger and bigger?
Prabhupada: No. Economy will not suffer, but economy will be simplified because we have made some artificial economy. Actually, in the Bhagavad-gita we find the economic problem is solved by producing food grains. It is stated there, annad bhavanti bhutani: [Bg. 3.14] "By eating food grains, both the animals and the men, they become stout and strong." That's a fact. According to Bhagavad-gita, economic problem can be solved anywhere. If you get, if you have some land, you produce your food grain and give it to the animals, especially to the cows, and she will give you in return milk. So if you get milk, fruits, vegetable and food grains, the whole economic problem is solved. We have already started this example in New Virginia. A group of men, we have got about five hundred acres of land, and we keep cows, and they work to produce some vegetable and food grain. So they don't go outside for solving economic problems. At the present moment -- now I am coming from India -- in Bombay there is strike, railway strike. People are in so miserable condition to go to their work fifty miles, forty miles, hundred miles, for earning their bread. This kind of economic situation has increased the problems of life. Rather, if we accept this economic problem solution, then anywhere, any part of the world, you live. You don't require to go outside, hundred miles, two hundred miles, five hundred miles. No. You produce your food there, keep animals, then everything is solved. Actually, the problem is, as it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-
Guru-gauranga: (translating for president) Thank you very much. (end)
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