Paris, August 12, 1975
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Bhagavan: They are getting cheated
from all sides. The scientists are cheating them...Prabhupada: No, they want
to be cheated. What can be done? Ye yatha mam prapadyante [Bg. 4.11]. Just like
the advertisement, "No faith, no philosophy, no restriction." You want all these
things; therefore he has come to cheat you: "Yes. No regulation. You can do
whatever you like." And then he will praised, "Oh, he is good, good swamiji. He
has no restriction. And here is a most conservative swamiji. 'Don't do this.
Don't do this. Don't do this.' " They want to be cheated. As soon as you speak
the truth they will not accept. They will argue. What is the wrong in illicit
sex? Why he's restricting? This is the... They go to guru to teach the guru, not
to take lesson from the guru. What is that?
Madhavananda: ...thinks that they have some responsibility in the world, and if you say all of a sudden that "You have no responsibility..."
Prabhupada: That is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, that "Yes, you have responsibility so long you are not Krsna conscious," not that a person who is not in the devotional service of the Lord, he can say, "I have no responsibility." He cannot say.
Bhagavan: Duty.
Prabhupada: He cannot. He has all the duties. But one who has taken to Krsna consciousness without any reservation, he has no duty. He has no respons...
devarsi-bhutapta-nrnam pitrnam
nayam rni na kinkaro rajan
sarvatmana ye saranam saranyam
gato mukundam parihrtya kartam
[SB 11.5.41]
This is the statement. As soon as we take birth, we have got so many responsibilities. We are responsible to perform sacrifices for all the demigods. You are taking light from the sun. You have got responsibility. Otherwise how you are getting so much light? If you don't pay the electric bill, the next day it will be disconnected. And you are taking so much light from the sun. You have no responsibility? You have. "No, there is no responsibility. You are taking light, air, water. So many things you are taking, supplied by the different demigods. Deva, rsi, rsi, great... Just like Vyasadeva or many other rsis, they have given you knowledge, and you have no responsibility? You have responsibility.
Madhavananda: Then the responsibility for some is to Krsna; the responsibility of some is to the demigods?
Prabhupada: Yes. Demigods, you have got responsibility. Deva, rsi, bhuta, living entities. Just like you are taking milk from the cows. You have the responsibility to protect it, but you are killing. So you must suffer.
Bhagavan: So the present system is simply expert at producing completely irresponsible people.
Prabhupada: Yes. And they are talking of responsibility. But one who is devotee... Eh?
Bhagavan: They say we are irresponsible.
Prabhupada: No, we are not irresponsible. We have finished all responsibility. We are not irresponsible. But we are in such a position that we have passed all these responsibilities.
Madhavananda: So, Srila Prabhupada, when you told this lady, this woman last night, that she should give up her responsibilities...
Prabhupada: Take to Krsna consciousness. That is the only respons... Then you can... Not that you give up all responsibility. First of all take to Krsna responsibility. Then there is no responsibility. Give up something; take something. Then it is all right. And give up everything and then you zero.
Brahmananda: But they see responsibility only in terms of making a bank balance and having a nice home and satisfying our...
Prabhupada: Therefore they are suffering. In spite of bank balance, they are suffering.
Harikesa: (whispering) ...finding it impossible on that side. Excuse me. [break]
Prabhupada: ...said, suppose you have not done your responsibility properly, so then you have become sinful. Hm? Is it not? So Krsna gives assurance that "You surrender to Me, and I give you protection from all sins." So even you think that "By giving up my all other responsibilities I am taking shelter of You. Then I will be punishable for my sinful act," so Krsna says, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami [Bg. 18.66]. Then where is my responsibility? I become free immediately, provided I surrender to Krsna without any reservations. Then. Then it is. Otherwise not.
Brahmananda: They will say that suffering is a part of life, that suffering is a necessary part of life.
Prabhupada: Then why you are trying to get out of suffering? Suffer, rascal. Why you are trying to get out of suffering. Why?
Brahmananda: Because they don't like it. But they say you have to accept it.
Prabhupada: Then, if you say... If it is a part of life, why don't you like it? Suffer. Go on suffering. You are accepting as part of life because you cannot get out of it. "The grapes are sour." That's all. After jumping, jumping, jumping, when it is not available, "Oh, the grapes are sour. It is no... There is no necessity." Jackal's philosophy.
Bhagavan: They will surrender to the misery, but they will not surrender to Krsna.
Prabhupada: That is their disease.
Yogesvara: Srila Prabhupada? When you speak of taking care of your responsibilities for Krsna, doesn't that also have a material aspect to it? Just like a parent must bring up the child, must take care of the child, train it to read, and to write, and so on...
Prabhupada: Yes. That means we are taking care of the children -- why? Just to make them Krsna conscious, not to become cats and dogs. This is our responsibility. That is Krsna conscious, that "Here is a child. He may be saved to make him Krsna conscious." Therefore we are taking so much care in the Dallas. We are not irresponsible. But our responsibility is there, that "Make him Krsna conscious."
Yogesvara: So when we say that we have finished all responsibility by surrendering to Krsna, that doesn't mean that we've abandoned execution of duty, does it?
Prabhupada: No, no. Who says that?
Yogesvara: Well, some people say that "You've taken to Krsna consciousness and now you have given up all of your..."
Prabhupada: It is not duty? This is the main duty. This is the main duty. Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam [Bg. 18.66]. We have taken responsibility for Krsna consciousness movement. We are doing. Why we are traveling all over the world thrice in a year? We have taken the responsibility. Otherwise, who is, an old man, he'll take such responsibility? That is a greater responsibility. When you become a big officer of the government, it means you overburdened with responsibility, not this flickering resp... Here the material respons... means it has no use. You are simply wasting time. And here is real responsibility and real life. That I explained to that lady, that "Even if you take respons... what can you do? You cannot do anything." The example I gave, that "You have taken responsibility for your son's disease. He is suffering. You have brought good physician, you have brought good medicine, everything, but what can you do? In spite of your all responsibility, your son dies. Then where is the value of your responsibility?" Do you think simply by bringing a nice physician and nice medicine you can save your son? Then where is your responsibility? Actually you cannot do anything, so what is the use of saying that "I am responsible"? You cannot do anything. Andha yathandhair upaniyamanah [SB 7.5.31]. If one blind man says, "I'll take responsibility. You all blind men follow me," so what is the use of this responsibility? He will die and others will die. So what is the meaning of this responsibility? Even if you take as very responsible man, you cannot do anything. That is not possible. You cannot save. Who wants that "My son dies, my father dies, and I'll take them and..."? But one little disease will finish your responsibi... Every nation is taken, all the leaders, and as soon as there is war, thousands and thousands will be killed. What responsibility? As soon as one atom bomb is dropped, then is many thousand will be finished. Then what is your responsibility? You cannot give. You can make a statue: "These soldiers died. These soldiers died." That's all. But you could not save them from death.
Madhavananda: Then they would say that we also must die. Everyone must die.
Prabhupada: Yes, we die -- to live forever. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti [Bg. 4.9]. We die for that. This is the last death.
Madhavananda: Then they will say, "How do we know?"
Prabhupada: That... You are rascal. How you will know? You come to my feet; then you will know. (laughter)
Brahmananda: To your feet or to your boot.
Prabhupada: Yes, provided there is boot. Yes. Therefore there is a Vedic injunction, tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet: [MU 1.2.12] "Because you are fool, rascal, you must approach a guru." That is the way. Sa gurum eva, eva, "certainly," abhigacchet, "must go." Otherwise there is no possibility. You remain as foolish forever and suffer.
Yogesvara: There is one German historian named Frederick Engels.
Prabhupada: Yes, he is another foolish. (laughter) I can...
Yogesvara: He wrote against Vedic culture by saying that even the brahmanas of Vedic culture were not responsible because the culture failed. It ended at a certain period in history. It was simply exploitation of the workers under the guise of religion. That was his argument.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Brahmananda: That was not the fault of the
Prabhupada: The argument of foolish man -- who is caring? Vedic culture when finished?
Yogesvara: [break] ...five thousand years ago.
Prabhupada: Five thousand years ago. And Caitanya Mahaprabhu, five hundred years, how He accepted if it is finished? He is more than Caitanya Mahaprabhu, this rascal?
Yogesvara: Haribol.
Bhagavan: They are willing to take so many material risks, but they are not willing to try spiritual life.
Prabhupada: That is their fault. That is their foolishness. Mudho nabhijanati mam ebhyah param avyayam. Therefore they are called mudhas.
Yogesvara: How would we define the word responsibility in Krsna consciousness?
Prabhupada: Responsibility is that you have got this human form of life. Realize God. This is your responsibility. Otherwise you are finished. Three words: "You have got this human form of life. Your only responsibility is to understand God. This is your responsibility." That is Vedic culture. For understanding God, many, many kings, many, many saints, they left everything and went to the forest to realize God. That is Vedic culture. Bharata Maharaja, under whose name India is called Bharatavarsa, he was the emperor of this planet, and at the age of twenty-four years he left everything to realize God. This is Vedic culture. Caitanya Mahaprabhu, His position was very, very nice, as a grhastha -- a nice beautiful wife, affectionate mother, good influence, brahmana family, learned scholar, everything first class. He left everything just to show us. He was God Himself, but to set the example, tyaktva sudustyaja-surepsita-rajya-
Dhananjaya: Not so much here. [break]
Prabhupada: When you ask me... What is that, definition of respons...? So you understand what is the responsibility?
Yogesvara: We have this human life. We must realize God.
Prabhupada: This, three words. Make the rascals understand it. We speak the whole responsibility in three words. Is it complete or not?
Brahmananda: Yes.
Prabhupada: Or you have got any protest? This is the only...
Bhagavan: Let Srila Prabhupada go through.
Brahmananda: They have not taken God realization as a responsibility.
Prabhupada: That is their misfortune.
Brahmananda: Simply as a pastime.
Prabhupada: That is their ignorance. They do not know what is respons...
Madhavananda: They would say that so many may have taken God realization as responsibility, following some Christ... church or something like that, but they are also frustrated.
Prabhupada: We are not frustrated. Eh? We are not frustrated. Are we frustrated? Then? How the rascal says, "frustrated"? If you take false thing, then you will be frustrated. If you take real path of God realization, there is no question of frustration. It is anandambudhi-vardhanam, increasing pleasure, no frustration.
Madhavananda: Then they say that no one has real information of God.
Prabhupada: You have no, rascal, because you are rascal. I have got. You just wash my feet, and I will inform you.
Devotees: Jaya. Haribol. [break]
Prabhupada: ...not know how to swim; that does not mean I do not. Is it a very honest statement? Oh, nobody can swim because he does not know. But if anyone knows how to swim, then why do you say that no one has done? You do not know. You accept that.
Madhavananda: Everyone thinks in terms of their own relative position.
Prabhupada: Yes. [break] Even an insignificant bird, because he knows swimming, he knows swimming, so he can challenge, and because you do not know swimming, you cannot say like that. Even insignificant bird, just see how nicely he is swimming. He knows the art. [break] ...one, cent percent of the modern people, they do not believe in God, and they do not know what is religion. That is the position. They think, "Religion is sentiment. Anyone can manufacture his own sentiment. There is no God." This is the position. So we are in fault. "It is folly to be wise where ignorance is bliss." The whole world is under this conception. Therefore we are at fault. We are preaching God consciousness.
Brahmananda: Generally they make it difficult for us to preach.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Brahmananda: They hinder us in so many ways.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Brahmananda: Because they have not realized that we have taken a responsibility. When a man has a responsibility usually he is given some certain facilities to carry out that responsibility.
Prabhupada: Everyone, cent percent godless, neither they have got intelligence to understand what is God. This is the position.
Yogesvara: Then we are giving them the intelligence as well as the answers? Because if they have no intelligence to understand...
Prabhupada: Yes. Our organization is that. Why we are opening so many centers? Just to give these rascals intelligence. Why Krsna is recognizing so nicely a preacher? Because He knows that he has to face so many difficulties. He is not easygoing, armchair politician, no. He has to face so many difficulties.
Madhavananda: Therefore Krsna recognizes by giving knowledge of Himself?
Prabhupada: Yes. Krsna immediately gives him all facilities.
Madhavananda: There has never been a movement like this which has given factual knowledge of God. Therefore they think it's sentiment, religion.
Prabhupada: So we have to abide by their sentiment? Because they are rascals, we have to become rascal?
Yogesvara: (aside:) The top has come down? (pause)
Prabhupada: What is the... Time now?
Harikesa: 6:17.
Prabhupada: Even if you take so-called responsibility, you will not be allowed to carry it out. The example I was giving: Napoleon, Hitler, and Gandhi. They took responsibility, but they were driven away. What can I do? So what is the meaning of your responsibility? You will not be allowed to execute your responsibility. What remedy you have done that you will not be allowed, kicked out? Then where is your responsibility? Even if you are very nice gentleman -- you have taken responsibility -- but nature will not allow you to execute the responsibility. What is your answer to that? Big, big Napoleon, big, big Hitler, big, big Gandhi came and gone. Where is the responsibility executed? The Napoleon was given horse urine. You know? By the Britishers.
Brahmananda: To drink.
Prabhupada: Yes. At the last stage when he was asking for water he was given horse urine. He died like that. Hitler committed suicide. Gandhi was killed. So where is their responsibility? They falsely thinking, "Without me, everything will be lost." But they are kicked out; everything is going on.
Dhananjaya: It's the same with President De Gaulle. President De Gaulle.
Prabhupada: Yes. Now, Nixon is there, but when he was on the office, he was thinking, "Without me America will go to hell." But he has gone to hell; America is there. (laughter) Just see. Just see the position of the... You can see the Nixon. When he was in the office, oh, he was a big man. He was responsible man. Now he is kicked out. He is begging, and America is going on. Where is the need of this responsibility? For several months he was asked that "You give up your responsibility." The rascal will not give: "No, without me America will go to hell." Just see. This is responsible.
Yogesvara: All of these big politicians, they seem to fall very ill afterwards. They seem to become very sick. Nixon is also sick.
Prabhupada: Not only sick, they die very soon.
Yogesvara: Radhakrishnan was paralyzed.
Prabhupada: Yes. Brain paralyzed. [break]
Harikesa: Give this to Yogesvara. (Prabhupada and devotees get into car and drive away)
Bhagavan: Actually they are envious. We are doing the same things they are doing, but better, and getting the results. We are working. We are doing so many things like they...
Prabhupada: We are not lazy. [break] ...Nixon was elected. I saw propaganda, "America needs Nixon." You have seen?
Brahmananda: Yes.
Prabhupada: People also thought, "Yes." He never said, "Nixon needs money." (laughter) This is cheating. He needs some money; he said, "America needs Nixon." And the rascals were befooled. [break] All these politicians do like that. What is their responsibility?
Brahmananda: Now Nixon is in debt. He is now in debt.
Prabhupada: Debt? Why?
Brahmananda: For his legal fees. He owes 300,000 dollars. So one rabbi...
Prabhupada: So he cannot give 300,000 dollars?
Brahmananda: No, he has no money. He had to pay taxes.
Prabhupada: So we are paying 300,000. So we are better than him. [break] ...rabbi is a Jew?
Brahmananda: Yes. So this rabbi, he is a personal friend. He has taken the responsibility for raising the money. Actually the fees were 500,000. He has already raised 200,000. 300,000 to go.
Prabhupada: And nobody is excusing the fee, the lawyers?
Brahmananda: No. But now he is writing his book.
Prabhupada: Yes, another fallacy.
Brahmananda: For that book he will get two and a half million dollars.
Prabhupada: About his life history?
Brahmananda: Yes. He is very sick now. Now he sleeps twelve hours a day.
Prabhupada: Oh. That is good. [break] He is released from all political obligations or not?
Brahmananda: From the charges?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Brahmananda: No. Actually he can be called to give testimony.
Prabhupada: Testimony?
Brahmananda: Yes. There are certain pending investigations. So he is eligible for being called to give testimony for these investigations. But on the plea of his bad health, therefore he is not being called. He is afraid actually. Right now he does not go to any social gatherings, he does not make any public appearances. He is afraid that as soon as he makes public appearances, then he will be called to give testimony. So he is actually being forced to live a very lonely life.
Prabhupada: Lonely life means drinking. What he will do? [break] ...this was made by Napoleon?
Bhagavan: Yes.
Brahmananda: So the arch is still here. (laughs)
Prabhupada: People, they come to see the arch. Just like in Rome, so many broken buildings, thousands of men go to see them, and they get good income, tourist.
Bhagavan: On New Year's we took our sankirtana party through that arch.
Brahmananda: Many people come here?
Bhagavan: For New Year's. And they all applauded us.
Prabhupada: There is another arch this side? No. Where is the other boy? I do not see him. What was the name? Yesterday he was there. One of your...
Brahmananda: Visvambhara?
Bhagavan: Oh. He is managing things at the farm today. (end)
Madhavananda: ...thinks that they have some responsibility in the world, and if you say all of a sudden that "You have no responsibility..."
Prabhupada: That is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, that "Yes, you have responsibility so long you are not Krsna conscious," not that a person who is not in the devotional service of the Lord, he can say, "I have no responsibility." He cannot say.
Bhagavan: Duty.
Prabhupada: He cannot. He has all the duties. But one who has taken to Krsna consciousness without any reservation, he has no duty. He has no respons...
devarsi-bhutapta-nrnam pitrnam
nayam rni na kinkaro rajan
sarvatmana ye saranam saranyam
gato mukundam parihrtya kartam
[SB 11.5.41]
This is the statement. As soon as we take birth, we have got so many responsibilities. We are responsible to perform sacrifices for all the demigods. You are taking light from the sun. You have got responsibility. Otherwise how you are getting so much light? If you don't pay the electric bill, the next day it will be disconnected. And you are taking so much light from the sun. You have no responsibility? You have. "No, there is no responsibility. You are taking light, air, water. So many things you are taking, supplied by the different demigods. Deva, rsi, rsi, great... Just like Vyasadeva or many other rsis, they have given you knowledge, and you have no responsibility? You have responsibility.
Madhavananda: Then the responsibility for some is to Krsna; the responsibility of some is to the demigods?
Prabhupada: Yes. Demigods, you have got responsibility. Deva, rsi, bhuta, living entities. Just like you are taking milk from the cows. You have the responsibility to protect it, but you are killing. So you must suffer.
Bhagavan: So the present system is simply expert at producing completely irresponsible people.
Prabhupada: Yes. And they are talking of responsibility. But one who is devotee... Eh?
Bhagavan: They say we are irresponsible.
Prabhupada: No, we are not irresponsible. We have finished all responsibility. We are not irresponsible. But we are in such a position that we have passed all these responsibilities.
Madhavananda: So, Srila Prabhupada, when you told this lady, this woman last night, that she should give up her responsibilities...
Prabhupada: Take to Krsna consciousness. That is the only respons... Then you can... Not that you give up all responsibility. First of all take to Krsna responsibility. Then there is no responsibility. Give up something; take something. Then it is all right. And give up everything and then you zero.
Brahmananda: But they see responsibility only in terms of making a bank balance and having a nice home and satisfying our...
Prabhupada: Therefore they are suffering. In spite of bank balance, they are suffering.
Harikesa: (whispering) ...finding it impossible on that side. Excuse me. [break]
Prabhupada: ...said, suppose you have not done your responsibility properly, so then you have become sinful. Hm? Is it not? So Krsna gives assurance that "You surrender to Me, and I give you protection from all sins." So even you think that "By giving up my all other responsibilities I am taking shelter of You. Then I will be punishable for my sinful act," so Krsna says, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami [Bg. 18.66]. Then where is my responsibility? I become free immediately, provided I surrender to Krsna without any reservations. Then. Then it is. Otherwise not.
Brahmananda: They will say that suffering is a part of life, that suffering is a necessary part of life.
Prabhupada: Then why you are trying to get out of suffering? Suffer, rascal. Why you are trying to get out of suffering. Why?
Brahmananda: Because they don't like it. But they say you have to accept it.
Prabhupada: Then, if you say... If it is a part of life, why don't you like it? Suffer. Go on suffering. You are accepting as part of life because you cannot get out of it. "The grapes are sour." That's all. After jumping, jumping, jumping, when it is not available, "Oh, the grapes are sour. It is no... There is no necessity." Jackal's philosophy.
Bhagavan: They will surrender to the misery, but they will not surrender to Krsna.
Prabhupada: That is their disease.
Yogesvara: Srila Prabhupada? When you speak of taking care of your responsibilities for Krsna, doesn't that also have a material aspect to it? Just like a parent must bring up the child, must take care of the child, train it to read, and to write, and so on...
Prabhupada: Yes. That means we are taking care of the children -- why? Just to make them Krsna conscious, not to become cats and dogs. This is our responsibility. That is Krsna conscious, that "Here is a child. He may be saved to make him Krsna conscious." Therefore we are taking so much care in the Dallas. We are not irresponsible. But our responsibility is there, that "Make him Krsna conscious."
Yogesvara: So when we say that we have finished all responsibility by surrendering to Krsna, that doesn't mean that we've abandoned execution of duty, does it?
Prabhupada: No, no. Who says that?
Yogesvara: Well, some people say that "You've taken to Krsna consciousness and now you have given up all of your..."
Prabhupada: It is not duty? This is the main duty. This is the main duty. Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam [Bg. 18.66]. We have taken responsibility for Krsna consciousness movement. We are doing. Why we are traveling all over the world thrice in a year? We have taken the responsibility. Otherwise, who is, an old man, he'll take such responsibility? That is a greater responsibility. When you become a big officer of the government, it means you overburdened with responsibility, not this flickering resp... Here the material respons... means it has no use. You are simply wasting time. And here is real responsibility and real life. That I explained to that lady, that "Even if you take respons... what can you do? You cannot do anything." The example I gave, that "You have taken responsibility for your son's disease. He is suffering. You have brought good physician, you have brought good medicine, everything, but what can you do? In spite of your all responsibility, your son dies. Then where is the value of your responsibility?" Do you think simply by bringing a nice physician and nice medicine you can save your son? Then where is your responsibility? Actually you cannot do anything, so what is the use of saying that "I am responsible"? You cannot do anything. Andha yathandhair upaniyamanah [SB 7.5.31]. If one blind man says, "I'll take responsibility. You all blind men follow me," so what is the use of this responsibility? He will die and others will die. So what is the meaning of this responsibility? Even if you take as very responsible man, you cannot do anything. That is not possible. You cannot save. Who wants that "My son dies, my father dies, and I'll take them and..."? But one little disease will finish your responsibi... Every nation is taken, all the leaders, and as soon as there is war, thousands and thousands will be killed. What responsibility? As soon as one atom bomb is dropped, then is many thousand will be finished. Then what is your responsibility? You cannot give. You can make a statue: "These soldiers died. These soldiers died." That's all. But you could not save them from death.
Madhavananda: Then they would say that we also must die. Everyone must die.
Prabhupada: Yes, we die -- to live forever. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti [Bg. 4.9]. We die for that. This is the last death.
Madhavananda: Then they will say, "How do we know?"
Prabhupada: That... You are rascal. How you will know? You come to my feet; then you will know. (laughter)
Brahmananda: To your feet or to your boot.
Prabhupada: Yes, provided there is boot. Yes. Therefore there is a Vedic injunction, tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet: [MU 1.2.12] "Because you are fool, rascal, you must approach a guru." That is the way. Sa gurum eva, eva, "certainly," abhigacchet, "must go." Otherwise there is no possibility. You remain as foolish forever and suffer.
Yogesvara: There is one German historian named Frederick Engels.
Prabhupada: Yes, he is another foolish. (laughter) I can...
Yogesvara: He wrote against Vedic culture by saying that even the brahmanas of Vedic culture were not responsible because the culture failed. It ended at a certain period in history. It was simply exploitation of the workers under the guise of religion. That was his argument.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Brahmananda: That was not the fault of the
Prabhupada: The argument of foolish man -- who is caring? Vedic culture when finished?
Yogesvara: [break] ...five thousand years ago.
Prabhupada: Five thousand years ago. And Caitanya Mahaprabhu, five hundred years, how He accepted if it is finished? He is more than Caitanya Mahaprabhu, this rascal?
Yogesvara: Haribol.
Bhagavan: They are willing to take so many material risks, but they are not willing to try spiritual life.
Prabhupada: That is their fault. That is their foolishness. Mudho nabhijanati mam ebhyah param avyayam. Therefore they are called mudhas.
Yogesvara: How would we define the word responsibility in Krsna consciousness?
Prabhupada: Responsibility is that you have got this human form of life. Realize God. This is your responsibility. Otherwise you are finished. Three words: "You have got this human form of life. Your only responsibility is to understand God. This is your responsibility." That is Vedic culture. For understanding God, many, many kings, many, many saints, they left everything and went to the forest to realize God. That is Vedic culture. Bharata Maharaja, under whose name India is called Bharatavarsa, he was the emperor of this planet, and at the age of twenty-four years he left everything to realize God. This is Vedic culture. Caitanya Mahaprabhu, His position was very, very nice, as a grhastha -- a nice beautiful wife, affectionate mother, good influence, brahmana family, learned scholar, everything first class. He left everything just to show us. He was God Himself, but to set the example, tyaktva sudustyaja-surepsita-rajya-
Dhananjaya: Not so much here. [break]
Prabhupada: When you ask me... What is that, definition of respons...? So you understand what is the responsibility?
Yogesvara: We have this human life. We must realize God.
Prabhupada: This, three words. Make the rascals understand it. We speak the whole responsibility in three words. Is it complete or not?
Brahmananda: Yes.
Prabhupada: Or you have got any protest? This is the only...
Bhagavan: Let Srila Prabhupada go through.
Brahmananda: They have not taken God realization as a responsibility.
Prabhupada: That is their misfortune.
Brahmananda: Simply as a pastime.
Prabhupada: That is their ignorance. They do not know what is respons...
Madhavananda: They would say that so many may have taken God realization as responsibility, following some Christ... church or something like that, but they are also frustrated.
Prabhupada: We are not frustrated. Eh? We are not frustrated. Are we frustrated? Then? How the rascal says, "frustrated"? If you take false thing, then you will be frustrated. If you take real path of God realization, there is no question of frustration. It is anandambudhi-vardhanam, increasing pleasure, no frustration.
Madhavananda: Then they say that no one has real information of God.
Prabhupada: You have no, rascal, because you are rascal. I have got. You just wash my feet, and I will inform you.
Devotees: Jaya. Haribol. [break]
Prabhupada: ...not know how to swim; that does not mean I do not. Is it a very honest statement? Oh, nobody can swim because he does not know. But if anyone knows how to swim, then why do you say that no one has done? You do not know. You accept that.
Madhavananda: Everyone thinks in terms of their own relative position.
Prabhupada: Yes. [break] Even an insignificant bird, because he knows swimming, he knows swimming, so he can challenge, and because you do not know swimming, you cannot say like that. Even insignificant bird, just see how nicely he is swimming. He knows the art. [break] ...one, cent percent of the modern people, they do not believe in God, and they do not know what is religion. That is the position. They think, "Religion is sentiment. Anyone can manufacture his own sentiment. There is no God." This is the position. So we are in fault. "It is folly to be wise where ignorance is bliss." The whole world is under this conception. Therefore we are at fault. We are preaching God consciousness.
Brahmananda: Generally they make it difficult for us to preach.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Brahmananda: They hinder us in so many ways.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Brahmananda: Because they have not realized that we have taken a responsibility. When a man has a responsibility usually he is given some certain facilities to carry out that responsibility.
Prabhupada: Everyone, cent percent godless, neither they have got intelligence to understand what is God. This is the position.
Yogesvara: Then we are giving them the intelligence as well as the answers? Because if they have no intelligence to understand...
Prabhupada: Yes. Our organization is that. Why we are opening so many centers? Just to give these rascals intelligence. Why Krsna is recognizing so nicely a preacher? Because He knows that he has to face so many difficulties. He is not easygoing, armchair politician, no. He has to face so many difficulties.
Madhavananda: Therefore Krsna recognizes by giving knowledge of Himself?
Prabhupada: Yes. Krsna immediately gives him all facilities.
Madhavananda: There has never been a movement like this which has given factual knowledge of God. Therefore they think it's sentiment, religion.
Prabhupada: So we have to abide by their sentiment? Because they are rascals, we have to become rascal?
Yogesvara: (aside:) The top has come down? (pause)
Prabhupada: What is the... Time now?
Harikesa: 6:17.
Prabhupada: Even if you take so-called responsibility, you will not be allowed to carry it out. The example I was giving: Napoleon, Hitler, and Gandhi. They took responsibility, but they were driven away. What can I do? So what is the meaning of your responsibility? You will not be allowed to execute your responsibility. What remedy you have done that you will not be allowed, kicked out? Then where is your responsibility? Even if you are very nice gentleman -- you have taken responsibility -- but nature will not allow you to execute the responsibility. What is your answer to that? Big, big Napoleon, big, big Hitler, big, big Gandhi came and gone. Where is the responsibility executed? The Napoleon was given horse urine. You know? By the Britishers.
Brahmananda: To drink.
Prabhupada: Yes. At the last stage when he was asking for water he was given horse urine. He died like that. Hitler committed suicide. Gandhi was killed. So where is their responsibility? They falsely thinking, "Without me, everything will be lost." But they are kicked out; everything is going on.
Dhananjaya: It's the same with President De Gaulle. President De Gaulle.
Prabhupada: Yes. Now, Nixon is there, but when he was on the office, he was thinking, "Without me America will go to hell." But he has gone to hell; America is there. (laughter) Just see. Just see the position of the... You can see the Nixon. When he was in the office, oh, he was a big man. He was responsible man. Now he is kicked out. He is begging, and America is going on. Where is the need of this responsibility? For several months he was asked that "You give up your responsibility." The rascal will not give: "No, without me America will go to hell." Just see. This is responsible.
Yogesvara: All of these big politicians, they seem to fall very ill afterwards. They seem to become very sick. Nixon is also sick.
Prabhupada: Not only sick, they die very soon.
Yogesvara: Radhakrishnan was paralyzed.
Prabhupada: Yes. Brain paralyzed. [break]
Harikesa: Give this to Yogesvara. (Prabhupada and devotees get into car and drive away)
Bhagavan: Actually they are envious. We are doing the same things they are doing, but better, and getting the results. We are working. We are doing so many things like they...
Prabhupada: We are not lazy. [break] ...Nixon was elected. I saw propaganda, "America needs Nixon." You have seen?
Brahmananda: Yes.
Prabhupada: People also thought, "Yes." He never said, "Nixon needs money." (laughter) This is cheating. He needs some money; he said, "America needs Nixon." And the rascals were befooled. [break] All these politicians do like that. What is their responsibility?
Brahmananda: Now Nixon is in debt. He is now in debt.
Prabhupada: Debt? Why?
Brahmananda: For his legal fees. He owes 300,000 dollars. So one rabbi...
Prabhupada: So he cannot give 300,000 dollars?
Brahmananda: No, he has no money. He had to pay taxes.
Prabhupada: So we are paying 300,000. So we are better than him. [break] ...rabbi is a Jew?
Brahmananda: Yes. So this rabbi, he is a personal friend. He has taken the responsibility for raising the money. Actually the fees were 500,000. He has already raised 200,000. 300,000 to go.
Prabhupada: And nobody is excusing the fee, the lawyers?
Brahmananda: No. But now he is writing his book.
Prabhupada: Yes, another fallacy.
Brahmananda: For that book he will get two and a half million dollars.
Prabhupada: About his life history?
Brahmananda: Yes. He is very sick now. Now he sleeps twelve hours a day.
Prabhupada: Oh. That is good. [break] He is released from all political obligations or not?
Brahmananda: From the charges?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Brahmananda: No. Actually he can be called to give testimony.
Prabhupada: Testimony?
Brahmananda: Yes. There are certain pending investigations. So he is eligible for being called to give testimony for these investigations. But on the plea of his bad health, therefore he is not being called. He is afraid actually. Right now he does not go to any social gatherings, he does not make any public appearances. He is afraid that as soon as he makes public appearances, then he will be called to give testimony. So he is actually being forced to live a very lonely life.
Prabhupada: Lonely life means drinking. What he will do? [break] ...this was made by Napoleon?
Bhagavan: Yes.
Brahmananda: So the arch is still here. (laughs)
Prabhupada: People, they come to see the arch. Just like in Rome, so many broken buildings, thousands of men go to see them, and they get good income, tourist.
Bhagavan: On New Year's we took our sankirtana party through that arch.
Brahmananda: Many people come here?
Bhagavan: For New Year's. And they all applauded us.
Prabhupada: There is another arch this side? No. Where is the other boy? I do not see him. What was the name? Yesterday he was there. One of your...
Brahmananda: Visvambhara?
Bhagavan: Oh. He is managing things at the farm today. (end)
>>> Ref. VedaBase =>
Morning Walk -- August 12, 1975, Paris
© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.
