Greedy, Pushy Scientists

Los Angeles, April 28, 1973

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Prabhupada: Klisyamananam. It is a very important word. Everyone is suffering here. What the scientists can do that? Future. That's all. Bluff. But everyone is suffering here. That is the word. Bhave 'smin klisyamananam, avidya...Devotee: Kama...
Prabhupada: Kama-karmabhih. Avidya-kama-karmabhih. They are creating a situation of suffering by unnecessary desire. That's all. So your scientific improvement means you are creating a situation of suffering. That's all. No improvement. You cannot. Kama-karmabhih, kama-karmabhih. They are working in such a way... Bhaktivinoda Thakura also says the same thing: anitya samsare moha janamiya jibake karaye gadha. The so-called scientific improvement means he's already an ass, and he's becoming more, better ass. That's all. Nothing more. He's already an ass because he's part and parcel of Krsna, and he has come to this material world to enjoy. That is ass mentality. There is no enjoyment. So he's already an ass. And this scientific improvement means he's becoming more attached to this material world to remain better ass. Avidya... anitya samsare, anitya. He cannot stay here. Suppose, working very hard like an ass, he gets a skyscraper building, throughout his whole life, laboring. But he cannot stay there. He'll be kicked out. Is it not ass? Is he not an ass? He cannot stay there. Anitya samsare. Anitya. Because it is not the permanent settlement. You are trying: dum dum. (sound imitation) Very strong foundation. That's all right. But your foundation is nothing. You'll be kicked out. Therefore he's an ass. That: "I'll stay here for twenty years." Why dum dum dum, foundation stone? Where is your foundation? Therefore he's an ass.
Svarupa Damodara: Anitya is temporary, Prabhupada?
Prabhupada: Yes, anitya means temporary. You cannot stay here. That they do not understand. They're making research, making research. And if we ask them: "What you are doing?" "For the next generation, future." And what about your, your...? You're going to be a tree next life. What you'll do with your next generation? But he's ass. He does not know. He s going to stand before that skyscraper building, a tree, for ten thousand years, and he's making: dum dum dum. Therefore he's an ass. He does not know where he's going. And he's making provision for the next generation. What is the next generation? If there is no petrol, what you'll do, next generation? And how the next generation will help you? You are going to be a dog, cat or tree. So next generation, how he'll help you? Jibake karaye gadha. Therefore he's an ass. He does not know his personal interest. And making research work. What research work? Simply srama eva hi kevalam [SB 1.2.8]. Simply laboring, what is called? Labor of love? Or what is that?
Devotee: Yes.
Prabhupada: Therefore Bhagavata says: bhave 'smin klisyamananam avidya kama-karmabhih. Avidya. Avidya means ass, no intelligence. He does not know what is life, what is the course of life, how things are going on. He does not know. The more he is increasing his unnecessary desires, he's making himself entangled. That he does not know. He has to take freedom from the repetition of birth and death, but he's becoming more and more entangled. Avidya kama-karmabhih. This is Bhagavata. In one line, the whole material existence explained. This is literature. In one line, there is thousands years research work. In one line. Bhave 'smin. Now this bhave 'smin, you make research. Asmin, in this world, taking birth. So you have to learn so many things on these two words. How the living entities are taking birth in this world. Wherefrom he's coming, where he's going. What is his business. So many things in these two words. Bhave 'smin. Klisyamananam. Struggle for existence. Why? Avidya. Ignorance. What is that avidya? Kama-karmabhih.
Brahmananda: Desire.
Prabhupada: Activities of sense gratification. He's becoming entangled.
Svarupa Damodara: So the modern scientific research means to increase the demands of the body, the bodily demands.
Prabhupada: Yes, what they can do? Because they're rascal, foolish, just like children, they'll simply make their body dirty. That's all. He does not know anything. If you bring a small children, what they will do? They'll take this... You see. he does not know anything. He's a rascal. Similarly you scientists, you are all rascals. You do not know anything. Punah punas carvita-carvananam [SB 7.5.30], chewing the chewed, making research. What research you can do? You do not know anything. What research you can do? And Vedic injunction is: yasmin vijnate sarvam evam vijnatam bhavati (Mundaka Upanisad 1.3). If you know the Absolute Truth, then all other things become known. But you do not know what is Absolute Truth. Therefore you are in ignorance. If you know one thing, then you... Just like you are talking. We are not official scientists or philosopher or anything. But why you are challenging, you are talking so boldly? Because we know one thing, Krsna. Therefore we can say so boldly and challenge anyone. I'm not a D.A.C. like you. How I can challenge you? I'm challenging you. How? Because I know Krsna. That's all. That is the statement of Veda. Yasmin vijnate sarvam evam vijnatam bhavati. If you know Krsna, the Absolute Truth, then all other things will be known automatically. It is such a thing. We are preaching Krsna consciousness, challenging all kinds of men in the society, so many scientists are coming, so many psychologists coming. So how we are confident to talk with him? Because we have learned little about Krsna. That's all. Is it not? You are a qualified scientist. Why I challenge you? Not that because you are my disciple, you are accepting all my challenges. You have got your reasons. You are not a fool. So how it is possible? Practically, how it is possible? Because we are trying to know little about Krsna. That's all. Therefore this Vedic injunction, yasmin vijnate sarvam evam vijnatam bhavati, yam labdhva caparam labham manyate nadhikam tatah. These statements are there. If you get Krsna, then you will not hanker after any more profit. Bas. All profit is there. Yam labdhva caparam labham. If you get Krsna, then all other kinds of profit, you'll not hanker after. And what kind of profit this is? Yasmin sthito na duhkhena gurunapi vicalyate [Bg. 6.20-23]. If one is situated in Krsna consciousness, in the greatest calamity of this world, he'll not be disturbed. This is the greatest profit. Just like Prahlada Maharaja. A big giant, Hiranyakasipu, is putting him always in difficulty, but he's confident: "Yes, there is Krsna." A five years old boy. He's not at all disturbed. Father is giving poison. "All right, give me poison." And throwing him from the hill on down. But he is steady. How it is possible? Na duhkhena gurunapi vicalyate. Guru. Guru means heavy, very heavy difficulties. But na vicalyate. He's not perturbed, not disturbed. How it is possible? It is such a thing, that if you know Krsna, you know everything. If you are in Krsna consciousness, then you are not disturbed in the heaviest type of calamity. So these things should be given to the human society. One thing. That will make his life perfect. Is it not?
Brahmananda: Yes.
Prabhupada: Now it is up to you, scientist, to explain. Yes, this is it.
Brahmananda: That is research work.
Prabhupada: This is research. Yad-uttamasloka-gunanuvarnanam. Uttamasloka. Uttamasloka means Krsna. Gunanuvarnanam. Describing His qualities. Avicyuto 'rthah. This is success of life. Avicyutah. Avicyutah means infallible. And how it is ascertained? Kavibhir nirupitah. By great personalities. They have decided: "This is the perfection of life." Kavibhih. Yad-uttamasloka-gunanuvarnanam avicyuto 'rthah. This is Bhagavata. Each word, each line, volumes of volumes of philosophy. This is called perfection. This kind of writing required. Not that I have researched, find out, and after fifteen days: "No, no. It is not right." Another thing. This is not science. This is childish play. I say: "Today it is all right." And, after fifteen days: "No, no. It is not all right."
Svarupa Damodara: That we find in science.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Svarupa Damodara: That is what we find in science.
Prabhupada: Yes. It is, it is a scientific or clever method of drawing money from others. That's all. In other words, simple words, cheating. That's all. They do not know anything, and they're teaching, scientific method. Now suppose here is big, big waves. You scientists, you say some jugglery of words, proton, atoms, this, that, and hydrogen, phoxygen, oxygen. But what benefit people will get? Simply they'll hear this jugglery of words. That's all. What else you can say? Now suppose it is hydrogen, oxygen, protons, neutrons, all these things. So your position, my position, where is the change? Still we do not get any profit by this jugglery of words.
Svarupa Damodara: Making more confusing to the innocent.
Prabhupada: That's all. Punah punas carvita-carvananam [SB 7.5.30]. Chewing the chewed. One scientist explained to some extent. The matter remained the same. Another rascal comes. He explains again. And the matter remains the same. What advancement you have made? Nothing. Simply some volumes of books. That's all. Just like there is petrol problem. What your this explanation will help? You have created problem. Now you are dependent so much on petrol. If the petrol supply is stopped, then what these rascal scientists can do? They cannot do anything. It is stopped. Now there is scarcity of water in India. What the scientists can do? There is enough water. Why the scientists cannot throw this water where there is scarcity of water? It will require the help of cloud. That is God's manipulation. You cannot do anything. Water is here, so much water. Why don't you make this sand fertile by bringing this water? Fertilization made by supplying water in the desert.
Brahmananda: Yes.
Prabhupada: So here is water, here is desert. Why don't you do it? You cannot do anything. They are going to the moon planet, the dusty planet, to make it fertilized. Why don't you do here? Sahara desert, Arabian desert, or Rajasthan desert. And the sea water is there. Bring it, and make it fertile, fertilize. "Yes, in future." That's all. "We are trying." And immediately (indistinct): "Yes, yes, they are trying. Take all money. Take all money."
Svarupa Damodara: They do not give up hopes.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Svarupa Damodara: They do not give up hopes.
Prabhupada: Even hope, there is no hope.
Brahmananda: Blind hope.
Prabhupada: Yes. Ask any doctor: "Now this patient is suffering. You are giving medicine, you are very expert. Life is guaranteed?" "No, that we cannot do. That we cannot do." "We are trying." Trying, everyone can try. Then what is your scientific knowledge? (pause)
Svarupa Damodara: So the real knowledge is taken away by ignorance?
Prabhupada: Eh?
Svarupa Damodara: The real knowledge...is taken away by ignorance.
Prabhupada: Yes. Then it says: andha yathandhair upaniyamanah [SB 7.5.31]. One blind man is claiming that: "I shall lead you, other blind men."
Brahmananda: Into the pit.
Prabhupada: That's all. (pause) And in Bhagavata, in one word, finishes all... Klisyamananam. You'll have to work hard, avidya kama-karmabhih, by your creating so many desires. By this process, you'll have to simply work hard. That's all. Because it is ignorance. You do not know what is the goal of life. So kama-karmabhih. You desire something: "Now we shall do like this." That means you create another problem. And you have to work very hard. That's all.
Prabhupada: What is the next line of that verse? Anyone remembers? No.
Svarupa Damodara: Yesterday's?
Prabhupada: Yes. (pause) This research work is kama-karmabhih. This, in the laboratory, research work, that is kama-karmabhih. They're planning something. That is kama-karma. He, he does not take the planning of Krsna. He makes his own plan. That is kama-karma. Kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah [Bg. 7.20]. In another place, it is said: When one is engaged in the matter of these unnecessary desires, he becomes lost of all intelligence. Kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah [Bg. 7.20]. (pause) It is like the child's crying. The child is crying, asking mother: "Give me that moon." The mother gives a mirror. "Here is moon, my dear son." He takes the mirror. He sees the moon. "Oh, yes..." He has got the moon. It is not story. Now these rascals are going to the moon planet. Why they have stopped talking anymore?
Karandhara: Well, after spending all that money and taking a few rocks, they decided there's nothing more to do there.
Prabhupada: Therefore, it is kept for future, or what?
Karandhara: I guess so.
Prabhupada: Or they've finished their money. That's all.
Svarupa Damodara: They're trying to...
Brahmananda: They want to go to another one now.
Svarupa Damodara: Yes, to another planet, Mars.
Prabhupada: It is, it is finished? The moon planet is finished?
Karandhara: For the time being.
Brahmananda: Yes, their, their travels there are finished.
Prabhupada: Simply by taking some dust?
Brahmananda: Yes.
Prabhupada: That's all. Just see how much...
Svarupa Damodara: Millions of dollars.
Prabhupada: How great asses they are.
Karandhara: Billions.
Prabhupada: You, you work very hard. This rascal government takes taxes and spend unnecessarily. That's all. This is their intelligence. A set of asses. That's all. They have no sympathy "that this hard-earned money is coming from the public, and we are spending like anything." But nobody can check. This is going on. And they're giving another bluff. "Don't worry. I am going another planet."
Brahmananda: Yeah, right. Another one.
Prabhupada: Yes. "From there, I shall bring more dust."
Brahmananda: Another future.
Prabhupada: More dust. Now you have got handful of dust. I'll bring tons of dust. Don't.... And if I... "Oh, yes, now we shall get tons of dust." The rascal does not know, dust is dust, and tons... What is the meaning?
Svarupa Damodara: They believe there may be life in Mars planet. So they are very hopeful...
Prabhupada: If they believe or not believe, what gain there is? Life is here also. You are fighting. This is your program. Here is life also. Here is human being. So suppose there is life. There is life, undoubtedly. But what he'll gain? What is your gain?
Svarupa Damodara: They're very curious to know what is going on there.
Prabhupada: That means for their childish curiosity they're spending so much money. Just see the fun. To satisfy their curiosity, they're spending so much money. And when they're asked that: "There are so many poverty stricken countries. Help them." "No. No money."
Nilakantha: Some people are very happy and they think: "Oh, my country has done this. They have gone to the moon. I am happy. I'm satisfied. I'm glad to be an American."
Prabhupada: What's that?
Nilakantha: Some people are very, the public, they're very satisfied: "Oh, I am an American, and we have done this. We have gone to the moon. We are so good."
Prabhupada: Why don't you say: "We have gone to Krsna-loka, Vrndavana, which you have no information"?
Brahmananda: Then all their curiosity will be satisfied.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Svarupa Damodara: This is called "scientific advancement." (pause) Srila Prabhupada?
Prabhupada: Hmm?
Svarupa Damodara: Can we hear a little bit from the Sankhya philosophy?
Prabhupada: Eh?
Svarupa Damodara: Sankhya philosophy of Lord Kapiladeva? The creative elements.
Prabhupada: Sankhya philosophy is also analysis of the material elements. That's all. Your scientific research is also sankhya philosophy. San, sankhya, it comes from the word, "san-khya".
Svarupa Damodara: To count?
Prabhupada: Yes. Count, count. That's all. Analytically. What are the ingredients? Analytical studies. That is called san-khya, count. Suppose you take this sand. You count. It is called sankhya. So, from the sankhya, the word, it comes sankhya, knowing analytically. This is sankhya philosophy. So you are also sankhya philosopher. Everyone is sankhya philosopher. We are also sankhya philosopher. Because we are counting the material elements, as Krsna says: bhumir apo 'nalo vayuh [Bg. 7.4]. We are analyzing: "This is land, this is water, this is air, this is sunshine, fire." Then I am counting with my mind, intelligence, ego. And further, I do not know. Krsna says: "There is further." That is the living force. That they do not know. They are thinking: "Life is combination of these matters." But Krsna says: "No." Apareyam. This is inferior. The superior energy is living entity. So we are also sankhya philosopher. But we are taking direction from Krsna, and they're making their own attempt. That is the difference. They're depending on their own intelligence. We don't depend on my own intelligence. We depend on Krsna's intelligence. That is the difference. Then, if Krsna is perfect, then my intelligence is perfect. I may be not perfect, but because I take Krsna's intelligence, therefore I'm perfect.
Svarupa Damodara: The, the nature of the inferior and the superior energies...
Prabhupada: Yes.
Svarupa Damodara: ...are also described in the sankhya philosophy?
Prabhupada: They do not know superior energy. They, they simply analyze the material energy, just you are doing. You do not know. The scientists, they do not know that there is spirit soul. Is it? Do they know?
Svarupa Damodara: No.
Prabhupada: So similarly the sankhya philosophy also, they do not know what is spirit soul. Simply they're analyzing the material.
Svarupa Damodara: So just the creative material elements?
Prabhupada: Yes. Material elements are not creative. Creative is the soul. Just like you make something with matter. Matter does not create itself. You living entity, you take them, hydrogen, oxygen, mix them, and becomes water. So matter it, itself, has no creative energy. You keep here one bottle of hydrogen and... Will they make water? Will they make?
Svarupa Damodara: Hydrogen, oxygen?
Prabhupada: Yes, if you keep here hydrogen bottle, oxygen. Will the combination come in contact?
Svarupa Damodara: Unless it is not mixed.
Prabhupada: Yes. Therefore you require a superior energy. This is inferior energy, and the superior energy comes, mixes. Then the fact is there. The inferior energy has no power unless the superior energy tackles. Just like this sea will remain calm and quiet. But another superior, air, when it pushes, it becomes high waves. It has no power. Another superior... Similarly another superior, another superior, another superior. So ultimately Krsna, the most superior. This is research. These waves are not moving by itself. Although the vast mass of water is there. When the superior energy, air, pushes it, it becomes big waves.
Svarupa Damodara: So the action of force is necessary?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Svarupa Damodara: Force.
Prabhupada: Yes. That is some scientists' theory, Newton's? That originally there must be some pushing. What is it? Whose theory it is? To set in motion.
Devotee: Newton?
Prabhupada: I think Newton's.
Svarupa Damodara: The Newton has the laws of motion.
Prabhupada: Motion. So one must give the motion. Then another motion, another motion, another motion. Just like big, big, that trucks, railway, trucks. The engine pushes one truck. Have you seen shunting? The, the truck pushes. Another truck, another, kat, kat, kat, kat, kat, kat, kat, kat. Like that.
Brahmananda: Shunting, yeah.
Prabhupada: So who is giving the pushing? The living entity, driver. A big truck is being pushed: kata kak kata kak kata kak kata kak, one after another. Similarly the whole creation, Krsna is giving the pushing. Then one after another, one after another, one after another working. You see. mayadhyaksena prakrtih suyate sa-caracaram [Bg. 9.10]. That is stated in the Bha... mayadhyaksena. Krsna gives the pushing first. Then everything comes, one after another. But His pushing capacity is so perfect that everything is coming out perfect, perfect, perfect, perfect. Just like Krsna says: bijo 'ham sarva-bhutanam [Bg 7.10]. "I am the seed of everything created." Now take the seed of the banyan tree. Krsna has created. He says, "I am the seed." Now you sow the seed. A big tree will come out. Big tree will come out. Not only big tree. Many millions of seeds will come out of it. And each seed, again big tree. So the original seed, Krsna, pushes. Then one after another, one after another, one after another... So you are simply observing when the things are coming into existence by such pushing. But you are trying out, trying to find out who is the original pusher. That you do not know. That you do not know. Who has originally pushed this energy? That you do not know.
Svarupa Damodara: So the material elements...
Prabhupada: You are simply observing the immediate cause. You do not know what is the remote cause. There are two causes, immediate cause and remote cause. Another call: "Efficient cause and..."? The two words?
Brahmananda: Efficient cause is the ultimate.
Prabhupada: No, remote cause.
Svarupa Damodara: The remote cause is Krsna.
Prabhupada: Yes. Sarva-karana-karanam [Bs. 5.1]. Vedic literature: sarva-karana-karanam. The cause of all causes. That is remote cause. Therefore if you understand the sarva-karana-karanam [Bs. 5.1], the cause of all causes, then you understand everything. Yasmin vijnate sarvam evam vijnatam bhavati. If you know the original cause, the later, subordinate causes, you know. Brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate [SB 1.2.11]. You do not know the original cause, and when we say... "We say" means when the Vedas says: "Here is the original cause," you won't take it. Although you are searching after the original cause. Is it not? But when Veda,... Veda means knowledge, perfect knowledge. But when gives you: "Here is the original cause." You won't take. You shall stick to your imperfect knowledge. This is your disease. Is it not a disease?
Svarupa Damodara: Yes.
Prabhupada: Yes. You do not know what is the original cause, and if some person suggests... Some... Not ordinary persons. Authorized person. You won't accept.
Svarupa Damodara: The scientists do not know that there are two types of energies.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Svarupa Damodara: They do not know that there are two types of energies...
Prabhupada: Yes.
Svarupa Damodara: ...inferior and the superior.
Prabhupada: Yes, yes. That they're actually seeing every day.
Svarupa Damodara: Yes.
Prabhupada: Handling every day. Still they'll not. Dog's obstinacy. That's all. They're seeing practically, that the material energy cannot work independently unless the spiritual energy joins. So how they can expect the whole cosmic manifestation, which is matter only, has come out automatically? We are practically seeing, a very nice car, Cadillac. But if there is no driver, what is the use of that car? A computer machine. Unless the man knows how to work it, pushes the button, it does not work. So practically we are seeing that without superior energy, the material energy does not act. Still they'll not believe it. Therefore in this wonderful cosmic manifestation, there must be handling of a superior energy. And that they do not know. They are amazed with this material arrangement. Just like a foolish person is amazed by seeing the mechanical, big machine. So many parts. But another person knows that, however wonderful machine it may be, unless the operator comes and pushes the button, it will not work. This is intelligence. Therefore who is important? The operator or the machine? So we are concerned with the operator, Krsna, not with the machine. If you say: "How do you know that He's the operator?" He says: mayadhyaksena prakrtih suyate sa-caracaram [Bg. 9.10]. "Under My superintendence, the whole cosmic manifestation is working." The difference is you don't believe. I believe. That's all. I take it immediately: "Yes, Krsna is operating." Therefore I have no problem. Somebody's operating, that you have to accept. But you do not know who is that person. At least, we have got knowledge, here is the person. That's all. Now if you say: "No, Krsna is not the person," then you have to accept another person. So present him, that "Here is the person, not Krsna. Another..." That you cannot. So in the absence of your knowledge, you have to accept my proposal. [break] Can you create a stem like this in your laboratory?
Svarupa Damodara: That's not possible.
Prabhupada: No, no. But see how Krsna's energy is working. You cannot create even a few grains of sand, and you are claiming that: "We have become more than God." How foolishness it is.
Svarupa Damodara: They will take the, the matter from Krsna, and they will manipulate, and they will claim that they have done it. For example, they can make some, some sands...
Prabhupada: That's all right. At least if you accept that "I have taken this matter from Krsna." That is also good. Just like we take. We take Krsna, from Krsna is coming everything. That's all.
Svarupa Damodara: But they will not say that they are taking from Krsna. They'll say that they have created.
Prabhupada: How they have created? You take the sand and mix with some chemicals, make glass. So you have not created the sand. The chemicals, you have not created. You have taken from the earth. So where is your creation?
Svarupa Damodara: They will say that: "I have taken from the nature."
Prabhupada: Eh? Nature? That means you have taken from somebody. You have not created. You have stolen. Thief you are. And we say: "Yes, you have taken from the nature, but every property of nature, that belongs to Krsna." Isavasyam idam sarvam [Iso mantra 1]. Isavasyam, it is all God's creation. And that is also stated in the Bhagavad-gita. Yes... If one does not perform yajna, he's a thief. Yajna means acknowledging that things have been taken from Krsna. And we must satisfy Krsna. "Krsna, You have given so many things for our maintenance." This much acknowledgement Krsna wants. That's all. Otherwise, what He can expect from you? What you are in His presence? Prasada. Prasada means acknowledging: "Krsna, You have given us this foodstuff. So first of all You taste. Then we take." This much. Krsna's not eating. He's not hungry. He's eating. Although He's not hungry, He can eat the whole world. Again produce it, as it is. That is Krsna's power. Purnat purnam, purnasya purnam adaya purnam evavasisyate [Iso Invocation]. Krsna is so perfect, that you take from Krsna, whole Krsna's energy, still the original energy's there. That is conservation of energy.
Svarupa Damodara: There is a very scientific journal called Nature, the title of the journal is called Nature. What they do is... Mostly they talk about the natural products like the plants, flowers, the natural living matters that we find. But they do not talk about God.
Prabhupada: So they...
Svarupa Damodara: But they say about nature.
Prabhupada: Nature, that's all right. You are observing the plants are being produced by nature. But who has produced the nature? This is intelligence.
Svarupa Damodara: They don't think about this.
Prabhupada: That is foolishness. Wherefrom the nature comes? As soon as we speak nature, then next question should be: "Whose nature?" Is it not? Just like I say: "It is my nature." You say: "It is my nature." Therefore as soon as you talk of nature, the next inquiry should be: "Whose nature?"
Karandhara: They don't want to think of that because they want to use it themselves.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Karandhara: They don't want to think...
Prabhupada: Nature means energy. What is the definition of nature?
Svarupa Damodara: Somethings which are already existing.
Prabhupada: Yes, they're already existing. That's all right. But what is the nature's activities? It is some power. Is it not? So power means energy. As soon as you say energy, there must be some source of energy. Just like you say: electric energy. So there is source, the electric powerhouse. How can you deny it? Electricity's not coming automatically. You have to install powerhouse, machine, generating machine. Then the electricity will come. And the resident engineer. Who is the engineer? What is the machine? And then electricity, there is question of electricity.
Svarupa Damodara: From Gita we find...
Prabhupada: Hmm?
Svarupa Damodara: In the Gita, we find that...
Prabhupada: Yes.
Svarupa Damodara: And the... "This material nature is working under My direction."
Prabhupada: Yes. Yes, as soon as you speak of energy, nature, there must be some background. Where is the source of this nature? (pause) What is this meant for?
Karandhara: Catches crabs. Catches little crabs. It's used for bait.
Prabhupada: Oh. (pause) [break] Scientists, they are studying... It is called stratum?
Svarupa Damodara: Layers. Yes.
Prabhupada: Layers. Such layers, thousands of layers being manufactured and vanished every moment. And they are studying. As these layers are, they're being created and broken every moment, so all these universal, so-called layers a few years. That's all.
Svarupa Damodara: That is one of the tools...
Prabhupada: Eh?
Svarupa Damodara: That is one of the tools that the geologists use to trace the origin of the earth.
Prabhupada: No, you can stress. But I mean to say these stratas?
Svarupa Damodara: Strata.
Prabhupada: Strata is being created and vanquished every moment.
Svarupa Damodara: So the, the background is not solid.
Prabhupada: No. Just like the one strata is like that. After an hour, it will be different. So what is the use of your studying this strata? Therefore it is called jagat. Jagat means always changing. The material world is always changing. Your body. This body will stay, say, for fifty years, hundred years. Then you get another body. That's all. Another body. Jagat means changing. Now this color is there. Say, after one hour it will be white. You see. Then you study this black color. Again you study the white color. Again this black color. Punah punas carvita-carvananam [SB 7.5.30]. Chewing the chewed. That is your business. Just like seasonal changes. Now it is cold. Any moment, you'll have to get out (of) these clothes. It is very warm. So these changes are going on. The whole material cosmic manifestation is subjected to different types of changes. Therefore it is called jagat. Jagat means going, changing. Your body's changing. Similarly everything is changing. What is the eternity behind these changes? That is knowledge. That, the eternity, they do not find. Therefore they are disappointed: "It is void, zero. Eternity is zero." That's all. And when they are asked wherefrom the zero, varieties come...? Zero means there is nothing. So how the varieties come? Therefore Vedic conclusion, the varieties, there is, eternity variety. And this is only shadow of that variety. It is not eternal because it is shadow. But the real variety spiritual world, is there.
Svarupa Damodara: So the material planet, material universe, is a real image.
Prabhupada: Yes. Image. Yes. Mirage.
Svarupa Damodara: Mirage.
Prabhupada: Yes, mirage.
Svarupa Damodara: No mirage is... Mirage is not the real image....
Prabhupada: No, it is illusory. Just like I see there is water in the desert. There is no water. This is illusion. But actually there is water. Therefore I get the conception that there is water. Water is there, but it is not there. Similarly these varieties is here, what we see, the varieties, enjoyment, that is only like that mirage. We have got the experience of water. But we are illusioned. We are seeing in a false place there is water. Similarly, we living entities, we are meant for enjoyment, but we are seeking enjoyment in a false place. Or illusion. Just like animal runs after that desert water. But the intelligent man knows: "Oh, that, there is no water. It looks like water."
Svarupa Damodara: It is a reflection from the sand.
Prabhupada: Whatever it may be, there is no, actually there is no water. But the animal runs after that water and dies out of thirst. Because they, he cannot satiate his thirst by such illusory water. Similarly we, ignorant, avidya kama-karmabhih, we are trying to manufacture so many things to satisfy our thirst of joyfulness, but we are being baffled. Because it is illusion. Therefore real intelligence is: "Then where is the reality? Where is real water?" That is intelligence. Bhagavata gives: vastava-vastu vedyam atra. Vastava vastu. "Real reality, you'll find here." (end)

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Evolution And Elevation

May 13, 1973

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Prabhupada: ...to stop him for taking another Nobel Prize. Where is? (laughter) I am giving him notes that life is not from matter. Matter is from life. So he is going to write thesis on this.Paramahamsa: Jaya. Vedanta-sutra.
Prabhupada: This is the fact. The so-called scientists, they are going on a wrong theory. Krsna says, aham sarvasya prabhavah: [Bg. 10.8] "I am the origin of everything." So Krsna is life. Krsna is not dead stone. Svarupa Damodara?
Svarupa Damodara: Prabhupada?
Prabhupada: Krsna says that "I am the source of everything." He is life.
Svarupa Damodara: Yes.
Prabhupada: He is not a dead stone. Then how matter can be the cause of life?
Svarupa Damodara: Matter is caused by life.
Prabhupada: Yes, matter grows upon life. Just like why this body has grown upon me? I am the spirit soul. This is maya. Just like, this is... I have explained in Bhagavad-gita. I am putting on this overcoat. The overcoat is made according to the size of my body, but I am thinking, "I am overcoat." This is foolishness. Just like I got my hand, therefore this overcoat is made of warm cloth. It has got a hand also. Because originally I have got hand, therefore the overcoat has got a hand. Similarly, originally I am spirit soul, I have got my spiritual body, and the material body has grown, cut according to the body.
Paramahamsa: Srila Prabhupada, what about in mineralogy? Scientists have proven that, for example, mountains are growing by sedimentary activity.
Prabhupada: Yes, that is also growing on spirit soul, Supersoul.
Paramahamsa: In the mountain?
Prabhupada: Yes, everything. Mountains have been described in the Bhagavata as the bones of God. These grasses are described as hairs on the body of God. These holes, there are holes, we saw that. They have been described as oceans. So in this way, this virat, the biggest body. As the smallest body is producing chemical, similarly the biggest body also, producing chemical. A small tree, lemon tree, how many pounds of the citric acid it is produced?
Paramahamsa: I do not know.
Prabhupada: No, producing, you know.
Paramahamsa: Yes.
Prabhupada: So if the tree can produce so much chemicals, how much the body of God can produce chemicals, we can imagine only. They are giving the theory that "From these chemicals life begins, or evolution begins." But wherefrom that chemical developed? That they do not know. That explanation is here, Krsna: "I am the source."
Paramahamsa: Srila Prabhupada, in the Srimad-Bhagavatam or the Krsna Book, you state that even clouds have souls. But then again they dissipate, in the rain they dissolve. Does that mean they die?
Prabhupada: No. Just like your body dissolves. Does it mean you die?
Paramahamsa: So that means the life span of a cloud is very minute or very short. Is that so?
Prabhupada: Yes, there are many living entities.
Svarupa Damodara: Srila Prabhupada, my understanding of the evolution and the transmigration is that evolution is uni-directional, only in one direction.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Svarupa Damodara: Whereas the transmigration can be both, in both directions. They can go up or can go down.
Prabhupada: No. Both ways. When you say "trans," "trans" does not mean stereotyped. For lower animals, that is one side, and for human being, both sides. Because after all, the body is made according to your desire. The lower animals, they have got one kind of desire, but the human being, he has got thousands and millions of desires.
Svarupa Damodara: So the platform of transmigration from the human platform, so it works, either it can go down or it can go up.
Prabhupada: No, transmigration (is) going on. They are coming automatically, animals, to the upper level of human form. But when you come to human form, if you don't cultivate Krsna consciousness, you remain as cats and dog, then you become again cat and dog.
Svarupa Damodara: But the evolution stops when the spirit soul reaches the eternal abode in the spiritual...
Prabhupada: Yes, when he is no more entangled by a material body. Hare Krsna.
Svarupa Damodara: The scientists have no information that there is evolution after human platform.
Prabhupada: That is their rascaldom. Therefore I say they are rascals. They have no knowledge; still, they proclaim they are scientists.
Paramahamsa: They think that evolution is continuing. They think that the human species will...
Prabhupada: Yes, evolution... That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita: yanti deva-vrata devan pitrn yanti pitr-vratah [Bg. 9.25]. Progress is going on. That progress, the ultimate progress is yad gatva na nivartante tad dhama paramam mama [Bg. 15.6]. That where you're going, you do not return, that is the supreme progress. Samsiddhim paramam gatah. That is the highest perfection. You read Bhagavad-gita. Everything is there. Mam upetya kaunteya punar janma na vidyate. Duhkhalayam asasvatam, napnuvanti mahatmanah samsiddhim paramam gatah [Bg. 8.15]. They have no idea what is the highest perfection of human life.
Svarupa Damodara: They are saying that the material body started from elements, the chemical elements.
Prabhupada: That we admit also. That we also admit. But on what basis?
Svarupa Damodara: And when the spirit soul, when the living entity reaches the human platform, then again goes back to the...
Prabhupada: Do the rascals believe in the living entity?
Svarupa Damodara: No, they don't say living entity. Bodies.
Prabhupada: Then?
Paramahamsa: Something akin to Buddhism.
Prabhupada: Yes. Yes.
Paramahamsa: The Buddhists also say that the body is like a house. You put the house together, you put the body together with chemicals. And when the bodies die, just like you take the house apart, all the wood, and then there is no more house... no more soul, no more life.
Prabhupada: Yes. That is called nirvana. And with the chemicals you can build another house. Buddhists they do not give any information of the soul. That is Buddhism. What...? Oh, wet? (the ground?)
Svarupa Damodara: No, it's dry.
Paramahamsa: There's another very interesting factor that scientists, they state that matter is, or that there is, they dispute the fact that there's one soul within the body. There's a special kind of worm, it's an earthworm, that if you cut it in half, both parts will live.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Paramahamsa: So they wonder how is it possible that if there is soul, that there could be two souls within one body?
Prabhupada: Yes, why not. Souls takes the opportunity.
Paramahamsa: Oh, it takes the opportunity of the other body, the fertile...
Prabhupada: Yes, yes.
Svarupa Damodara: The spirit soul must necessarily have a body, either spiritual or material.
Prabhupada: He has got already spiritual body. Material body is his covering. It is unnatural. Real body is spiritual. Just like your coat, this is unnatural. But your real body is natural. Otherwise how transmigration is possible? I am accepting different unnatural bodies. Unnatural means to my constitution. My real constitutional body is servant of Krsna. So, so long I do not come to that position, I remain servant of nature and I get so many bodies. According to the nature's direction I am getting body, I am giving it up, again I am desiring something, I am getting another body. This is going on. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah, ahankara-vimudhatma [Bg. 3.27]. He is a rascal. He is thinking, "I am this body." Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati, bhramayan sarva-bhutani yantrarudhani mayaya [Bg. 18.61]. This is a yantra, machine. And we are traveling many species of life, all riding on this car, given by nature. Yantrarudhani mayaya. Maya has given this vehicle, anywhere wandering, up and down, sometimes demigod, sometimes dog. This is going on. And in this wandering process, if he gets in touch with a devotee, then his real spiritual life begins. Otherwise he has to go on, rotating.
ei rupe brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva
guru-krsna-krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija
 [Cc. Madhya 19.151]
Svarupa Damodara: Mahaprabhu?
Prabhupada: Yes, Caitanya Mahaprabhu. By mercy of spiritual master, the mercy of Krsna, he gets the seed of devotional service, and if he cultivates, then his life becomes successful. Otherwise he has to rotate, sometimes up, sometimes down. Sometimes this grass, sometimes lion.
Paramahamsa: But ultimately if we come to Krsna, there's no return. But nevertheless, Jagai, and..., the two gatekeepers, they returned?
Prabhupada: There is return, that is voluntary. Return there is.
Paramahamsa: If we want.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Paramahamsa: So we can come to the spiritual world and return?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Paramahamsa: Fall down?
Prabhupada: Yes. As soon as we try, "Oh, this material world is very nice," "Yes," Krsna says, "yes, you go." Just like nobody is interested in Krsna consciousness. Do you think everyone is interested? So. They want to enjoy this material world. Otherwise what is the meaning of free will? Every living entity has got a little free will. And Krsna is so kind, He gives him opportunity, "All right, you enjoy like this." Just like some of our students, Krsna conscious, sometimes go away, again come back. It is free will, not stereotyped. Just like one goes to the prisonhouse, not that government welcomes, "Come on. We have got prisonhouse. Come here, come here." He goes out of his free will; again comes out, again goes. Like that. Krsna-bahirmukha hana bhoga vancha kare, nikata-stha maya tare japatiya dhare (Prema-vivarta). The police is there. Just like the police car was there. We have nothing to do with it. But if you do anything criminal, immediately you will be arrested, under police custody. The maya may be there, but maya captures him who is not a devotee of Krsna. That's all. Therefore, mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te: "Anyone who surrenders unto Me, maya does not interfere anymore."
Paramahamsa: So our desire to enjoy, we achieve these bodies; and our desire to achieve Krsna brings us to our natural position.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Paramahamsa: But then again there's this constant struggle with our lower nature? We are constantly fighting our desires even though we want to serve Krsna? This continues?
Prabhupada: What is that? I do not follow.
Paramahamsa: Well, like, many devotees, they experience the difficulty that although they sincerely want to love God and serve Him, yet their body is almost like another dictator within them.
Prabhupada: Yes. That means he is strongly under the grip of maya.
Paramahamsa: Even though the desire exists.
Prabhupada: Yes. Just like a thief, he knows that "If I steal, I will be arrested. I will be put into jail." And he has seen that one thief, he has stolen, he is arrested. Still he commits theft. He knows everything. Why does he commit theft?
Paramahamsa: Why?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Paramahamsa: Ignorance?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Svarupa Damodara: Srila Prabhupada gives the example of the elephant.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Svarupa Damodara: Takes shower again and...
Prabhupada: Yes. Hasti-snana. Therefore, knowledge giving, that is the beginning of spiritual life. Krsna gives Arjuna, knowledge giving, that "You are not this body." This is the beginning of knowledge. What is that knowledge, all over the world? Where is that university? This preliminary knowledge which Krsna begins, Bhagavad-gita, where is that university? Svarupa Damodara, where is that chemical laboratory or university?
Svarupa Damodara: There is none in the universities.
Prabhupada: Yes. So this is the position of your education. There is no knowledge, and you are simply advertising, "Advancement of knowledge, university, PhD's, Nobel Prize holder." But they are all rascals. Fools' paradise. It is called, fools' paradise.
Svarupa Damodara: If the scientists know that we are not this body, then definitely the whole outlook will be changed.
Prabhupada: Yes. That we want to do.
Paramahamsa: They don't want to admit their failure.
Prabhupada: That is another foolishness. If you are a fool and if you want to pose yourself as intelligent, that is another foolishness. You cannot make progress. Stubborn dogs. If you are seeking after knowledge, you must take the right knowledge. That is intelligence. And if you want to remain in ignorance and advertise yourself that "I am man of knowledge," how much cheater you are! You are cheating yourself and cheating others. That is going on. We want to stop this.
Paramahamsa: Just like many of our devotees, we experienced when we tried to preach to our parents, because they are much older, to admit that Krsna consciousness is the right path in life, means to also admit that they have wasted their entire life.
Prabhupada: Real knowledge is to be given to the younger section. Older section, it is not possible. They will have to forget first of all, what they have learned. That they cannot. Therefore it is impossible. Therefore knowledge begins from the school children, not from the man who is going to die. (laughing) That is not... Impractical. Therefore Prahlada Maharaja said kaumara acaret prajno dharman bhagavatan: [SB 7.6.1] "Krsna consciousness should be taught from the very childhood." Not that at the time of death. That is not possible. Therefore our students, they are all young generation, they capture. These rascals, they cannot. Old fools, they cannot. There was a practical examination. One father and one daughter, both appeared for BA examination in India. The daughter passed and the father failed. It was in the newspaper. In old age they cannot take any lessons. They forget.
Krsna-kanti: Because of sense gratification or mind...
Prabhupada: Anyway, they say all... Yes. The bodily functions, intelligence...,
Svarupa Damodara: Blunt, intelligence becomes blunt.
Prabhupada: Yes, blunt. When the knife is sharp, it can cut, but if it is become blunt, then you cannot cut.
Paramahamsa: Or worn by age.
Prabhupada: Yes. They have all been described as mayayapahrta-jnanah: [Bg. 7.15] "Their real knowledge is taken away by maya." Therefore we don't give any credit to all these rascals. Although we are very small, but we don't give any credit. We frankly say, "These are rascals, fools."
Paramahamsa: After the 20th...During the Industrial Revolution in the western world....
Prabhupada: The Industrial Revolution means revolution of the sudras. That is Industrial Revolution. Increasing the number of sudras. These scientists, they are also sudras. Because they have no real knowledge. Brahmana means one who has got real knowledge. Brahma-janatiti brahmanah. And this industrial development means technologists; they are sudras.
Krsna-kanti: But they have taken the position of brahmanas in the society.
Prabhupada: No, no. They are never as... They are always working. How they can take the position of the brahmana? Brahmana's position is to teach brahmana knowledge, brahma-jnana. That is brahmana.
Paramahamsa: Prior to the growth of technology...
Prabhupada: Yes. No, there was technology. But not in such large scale. Village technology. There was a blacksmith. You want a knife. You take one piece of steel, and he will do it, phut phut phut phut, and he'll put in the fire, and everything do. And now you are manufacturing these cutleries, cutleries, in larger scale. So they are sudras. Similarly any factory, it is a combination of sudras. Kalau sudra-sambhavah: "In this age, all are sudras." Only we are trying to become brahmana. Otherwise all sudras. So therefore there is no adjustment. Just like if you have got only legs, no arms, no mouth, so what is this body?
Paramahamsa: Corpse.
Prabhupada: Corpse, yes. You require everything, full body. You require head, you require arms, you require belly, you require legs. But if you have got simply the belly and legs, then it is a dead body. It cannot work properly. The brain is lost; therefore they are mad after so much advancement of civilization. They are exactly like cats and dogs. As soon as you enter some country, dog, watchdog: "Wowf! Wowf! Why you have come? What is your position?" ("Where is your visa?"?) This is dog's business. This is dog's business. (laughter) And they have set up immigration department. But it is a dog's business, watchdog. I say it is watchdog's business. A first-class gentleman is being searched out pocket, whether you have got revolver. Cannot be trusted, all these educated rogues and thieves. So what is this advancement of civilization? It is civilization? No sober man, no intelligent man, all cats and dogs, thieves, rogues. Is that civilization? It is not civilization.
Paramahamsa: The question I have, Prabhupada is that before scientific advancement, many people would listen to, like, scriptural knowledge.
Prabhupada: Yes. That means sudras. That I have already said.
Paramahamsa: But now they listen more to scientists.
Prabhupada: That means sudra. Sudras are interested to hear from sudra.
Paramahamsa: For example in the Bible they quote that the world is flat. So therefore when they found out the world is round, they say, "Oh, scripture is false."
Prabhupada: Yes.
Paramahamsa: Scientists, they have proven the truth that the world is round. Therefore scientists...
Prabhupada: Yes. That must be, therefore the scriptures must be transcendental. Nonsense scripture, and people become nonsense. So except Vedic literature, all nonsense scripture. They are not scripture. Manufactured. This Bible was manufactured by the saint, this saint, that, according to their imagination. It was not spoken by Lord Jesus Christ. What was spoken by Jesus Christ, that they ignore: "Thou shalt not kill." They kill. Nobody is following Christian principle; neither Bible is perfect. But that, if we say, we will be shot. (laughter)
Paramahamsa: That is what they do now in the Vietnam. For God they are killing.
Prabhupada: Huh?
Paramahamsa: One of the reasons that the Vietnamese war was beginning was because Communists, being atheists, it was a fight between the theists and the atheists. This was an excuse given.
Prabhupada: Yes. But that is quite all right. We also prepare to kill atheists.
Paramahamsa: But preach first.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Paramahamsa: They don't preach.
Prabhupada: That is, killing is also preaching. If I kill your ignorance, that is also killing. That is also killing. Not... Killing does not mean that everyone has to take the sword.
Paramahamsa: A new method of warfare.
Prabhupada: Yes, it is always there. By argument, by knowledge.
Svarupa Damodara: It's a little wet.
Paramahamsa: Srila Prabhupada, when you are not present with us, how is it possible to receive instructions, for example, on questions that may arise?
Prabhupada: Well, the questions... Answers are there in my books.
Paramahamsa: Other than that, for example, that we would ask you in...
Prabhupada: Yes.
Paramahamsa: Do you direct us also through the heart? Besides the Paramatma?
Prabhupada: If your heart is pure. Everything depends on purity. Whether there. What is this? Sacrificial arena? (laughter)
Paramahamsa: For children, I think. No? For cooking, yeah. (pause)
Prabhupada: (About tennis players) How people are kept into ignorance. Life is so valuable, and they are wasting time in that way. Life is valuable, how life should be utilized, what is the object of life -- they do not know anything.
Svarupa Damodara: Without knowing that the soul is eternal, everybody would be acting like this.
Prabhupada: Yes. That is... Bodily concept of life means animal life. The animal does not know. Sa eva go-kharah [SB 10.84.13]. Go-kharah. Go means cows, and kharah means ass. One who is in the, under bodily concept of life, he is no better than animals. So when the animal talks of knowledge, an intelligent man laughs. That is our position. The animals, they are talking of knowledge.
Paramahamsa: At least, the animals live by certain codes. They do not kill unless necessary. They only eat when necessary, whereas man, he kills unnecessarily, eats unnecessarily. So forgetting God, we are even lower than animals.
Prabhupada: Yes. Therefore we suffer also, more than the animals. (pause) So Krsna consciousness movement is not a bogus religious sentimental movement. It is a scientific movement. So now it is up to you to prove this. Then you will be actually Krsna conscious. (pause) [break]
Svarupa Damodara: So they were saying that everything in the universe is just happening by chance.
Prabhupada: So you are writing book by chance. Then what is the value of your book?
Karandhara: The book is also by chance.
Prabhupada: Yes. Everyone can write chance, so what is your credit? Anything nonsense can be written.
Svarupa Damodara: Monod is his name. He got Nobel Prize in 1965 from... He is Frenchman, physiologist. And his, chance and necessity about life, he said everything started by chance. So he is saying that by chance these chemicals combined together, forming these molecules, the basic molecules...
Prabhupada: But wherefrom the molecules came?
Svarupa Damodara: According to him it is simply by chance.
Prabhupada: Chance. So everything is chance. So what is the necessity of your writing book?
Svarupa Damodara: Then necessity arises, so these molecules re-orient, change as a fashion because of necessity.
Prabhupada: Why? If everything is by chance, where is the necessity? What is the meaning? Let the chance take place. Why necessity?
Paramahamsa: He is hoping for another Nobel Prize by his chance.
Prabhupada: All fools' paradise. That's all. Why do they send their children to school? Why not let them grow by chance? Is there any excuse if I say, "By chance I have violated this rule?" Is that the cause of excuse?
Svarupa Damodara: That's because of my ignorance.
Prabhupada: That is chance. That is chance. Because I am ignorant, therefore there is chance.
Paramahamsa: It would be just as stupid as saying a beautiful instrument like a car was made by chance.
Prabhupada: Yes. Yes. That is the most regrettable condition, that these rascals are getting recognition; talking all foolish, and they are getting recognition.
Svarupa Damodara: It's so strange. When I read that book. He defines the difference between the living and the non-living by a term called teleonomy. I tried to find out in the dictionary and I couldn't find any word like that. But I understood that what he meant was...
Prabhupada: Hyerpolosvel. (Prabhupada's mythical scientific word) (laughter)
Krsna-kanti: He invents his own word jugglery.
Svarupa Damodara: He was trying to present the difference between organic beings and the non-organic beings. So he goes in such a round about fashion just to differentiate.
Prabhupada: Petitio principii. This logic is called petitio principii. He has to prove something, but he is taking his premises from that something. (end)

 

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Don't try to work outside of Krishna Consciousness

December 5, 1973

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Prabhupada: ...has done a great mistake. I never expected... (noise) ...all of a sudden... [break] You see the so-called swamis and yogis. They could not do anything, because they are outsider. They are not within the jurisdiction of Krsna. One must remain within the jurisdiction of Krsna. Then his spiritual life is assured. Otherwise, paramour(?). [break] Similarly, everything, everyone belongs to Krsna's family, but we have to see what he's doing for Krsna. Just like everyone is citizen of the state. Why a man is given high position and big title? Why? Because he's recognized.Sudama: Right.
Prabhupada: So one must give service. Simply to feel, "I belong to Krsna's family," and doing nothing for Krsna, that is not...
Sudama: That's no good.
Prabhupada: That's no good. That is not good. That means he'll... Very soon he'll again forget Krsna. He'll again forget Krsna.
Sudama: Actually, the other element is so powerful. These people here, because, even though they are part of Krsna's family, but because they have forgotten, then we become influenced by their forgetfulness.
Prabhupada: Yes. Forgetfulness means maya.
Sudama: Yes.
Prabhupada: Maya is nothing. It is a forgetfulness. That's all. It has no existence. Forgetfulness, it does not stand. But so long it is there, it is very troublesome.
Sudama: I've been asked a question by some devotees sometimes that they don't feel happy. So even if they are unhappy, mentally, should, they still should continue in Krsna consciousness. I tell them, even if one is unhappy...
Prabhupada: But you should show example. If you show example different way, how they will follow you?
Sudama: Yeah.
Prabhupada: Example is better than precept. Why you are living outside?
Sudama: Well, I...
Prabhupada: [break] ...last time I was so much deteriorated in health, I had to leave this place. That does not mean I'll leave the Society. I went to India and recuperated. Or came to London. That's all right. So health may be sometimes... But that does not mean we shall give up the Society. If my health is unsuitable here, I go... I have a hundred centers. And you'll not go out of this universe for your health recouping. You have to remain within the universe. Then why do you go out of the Society? [break] ...Sri Narottama dasa Thakura. We have to live with devotees. Why I left my family? Because they were not devotees. Therefore I come... Otherwise, in old age, I would have been comfortable. No. We should not live with the nondevotees, may be family men or anyone. Just like Maharaja Vibhisana. Because his brother was not devotee, he left him, left him. He came to Ramacandra. Vibhisana. You know that?
Sudama: Yes.
Hrdayananda: So Prabhupada, it says that a sannyasi should live alone. That means only with devotees.
Prabhupada: Who...! Where it is said sannyasi should live alone?
Hrdayananda: I mean, sometimes in your books.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Hrdayananda: Sometimes in your books. So that means with devotees.
Prabhupada: In general, sannyasi may live alone. But sannyasi's duty is to preach.
Sudama: That I don't ever want to stop.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Sudama: I don't ever want to stop preaching.
Prabhupada: Yes. Well, preaching, you cannot manufacture preaching. You must do preaching according to the principles ordered by your spiritual master. You cannot manufacture your own way of preaching. That is required. There must be some leader. Under the leadership. Yasya prasadad bhagavat... Why it is said? Everywhere, in the office, there is some immediate boss. So you have to please him. That is service. Suppose in office, in a department there is office superintendent. And if you do in your own way, "Yes, I'm doing my business," and the office superintendent is not pleased, do you think that kind of service is nice? No. Similarly, we have got, everywhere we have got immediate boss. So we must work. That is systematic. If everyone manufactures, invents his own way of life, then there must be chaos.
Sudama: Yeah, that's true.
Prabhupada: Yes. Now we are world organization. There is spiritual side, and there is material side also. That is not material side. That is also spiritual side, means systematic management. Otherwise how it will be done? Just like Gaurasundara sold the house, and there is no trace of the money. What is this? He did not ask him, anyone. He sold the house, and where is the money, there is no trace. [break] Ah, Hare Krsna. What is that badge? Tennis?
Devotee: It's not a badge. It's the only sweater I...
Prabhupada: Oh, that's nice. Yesterday I received one letter from Rupanuga Maharaja. He's preaching very nice. Yes.
Hrdayananda: Rupanuga?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Umapati: There have been several people here in Los Angeles...
Prabhupada: Eh?
Umapati: ...that have wanted to meet you. A councilman, a councilman here in Los Angeles would like to meet you, a city councilman.
Prabhupada: Yes. Oh, yes. He's welcome.
Umapati: So, and, and um, also a Professor Scharfe at the UCLA, he's...
Prabhupada: Professor?
Umapati: Professor Scharfe. He's a Sanskrit scholar of the Vedic, Vedic...
Svarupa Damodara: Scharfer?
Umapati: Scharfe. Scharfe.
Svarupa Damodara: It's not Scharfer?
Devotee: Scharfe, spelled S-c-h-a-r-f-e.
Svarupa Damodara: Yes, I met him.
Umapati: Yes. He would like very much to meet with you.
Prabhupada: All right. Make appointment. What, what is his purpose to meet me?
Umapati: Well, Professor Scharfe is interested in your writings, and I don't know the councilman's motives. He just sent word to me that he would like to meet with you.
Prabhupada: We welcome any respectable gentleman. We have to go this way?
Karandhara: Uh, yeah, Prabhupada, we can go this way, through here. [break]
Hrdayananda: The scientists will never give up.
Prabhupada: They are trying.
Hrdayananda: They are like Jarasandha. They come back every day on your walk.
Svarupa Damodara: Srila Prabhupada, we have any specific reference for acintya in the Vedic reference?
Prabhupada: Acintya, acintya, yes, acintya. Acintya potency, even you have got acintya potency. That I have already explained. Because we are part and parcel of Krsna, therefore there is pinch of acintya, inconceivable potency, in us also. Harer nama harer nama harer nama... [Cc. Adi 17.21].
Svarupa Damodara: Do we have any specific reference?
Prabhupada: Yes. Jiva Gosvami. Jiva Gosvami has stated that unless we accept acintya, inconceivable energy, there is no conception of God. There is no conception of God. If you bring God to your conception, he's not God.
Umapati: Acintya, acintya-bheda is a unique contribution of Vaisnavas to the concept of God.
Prabhupada: Yes, yes. Actually, that is the fact. We cannot explain what is God. We have to accept what is God from God.
Yasomatinandana: Avaroha.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Yasomatinandana: Avaroha process?
Prabhupada: Yes, not ava... Yes, avaroha process. Yes, thank you. Here Krsna says, mattah parataram nanyat [Bg. 7.7]. We have to accept that. Mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya [Bg. 7.7]. So "There is no more superior authority than Me." Harer nama harer nama... [Cc. Adi 17.21].
Yasomatinandana: (loud waves drowns out voice)
Prabhupada: Ah, na me viduh sura-ganah... [Bg 10.2].
Yasomatinandana: What to speak of these teeny scientists, even the great sages can't know Him.
Prabhupada: Yes. Aham adir hi devanam...
Yasomatinandana: Maharsinam ca sarvasah.
Prabhupada: Ah.
Yasomatinandana: Even Lord Brahma, when he saw the innumerable Visnu forms of the child Krsna, then he himself said that "As far as I know, as far as I am concerned, I don't know anything about You."
Prabhupada: No, he... Yes. That is the Brahma's position, what to speak of others. Yasyantam na viduh surasura-gana devaya tasmai namah. Yam brahma varunendra-rudra-marutah stunvanti divyaih stavaih. Brahma, Varuna, all demigods. Yam brahma varunendra-rudra. Rudra even, Siva, Lord Siva. Stunvanti divyaih stavair vedaih sanga-pada-kramopanisadair gayanti yam sama-gah, dhyanavasthita-tad-gatena manasa pasyanti yam yoginah [SB 12.13.1]. That Bharati cited this verse. Yes.
Hrdayananda: The five gods?
Prabhupada: No, no, this verse.
Yasomatinandana: Is that by Sankaracarya, Prabhupada?
Prabhupada: No, no. It is Vedic.
Svarupa Damodara: Where is it from, Prabhupada?
Prabhupada: Eh?
Svarupa Damodara: Where is it from?
Prabhupada: Eh?
Svarupa Damodara: It is the Bhagavatam?
Prabhupada: Yes, Bhagavatam is there. Yam brahma varunendra-rudra-marutah stunvanti divyaih stavair vedaih sanga-pada-kramopanisadair gayanti yam sama-gah.
Svarupa Damodara: I remember Srila Prabhupada used this "acintya" to differentiate between the life and the non-living.
Prabhupada: Acintya means living.
Svarupa Damodara: No, acintya-sakti. Life, life has acintya...
Prabhupada: Yes.
Svarupa Damodara: Whereas non-life doesn't have.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Svarupa Damodara: Matter, just like a molecule doesn't have this acintya. But they may...
Prabhupada: No, it has, but it is covered too much. Consciousness is covered. Potency, potent. It is potent.
Svarupa Damodara: Molecule has consciousness?
Prabhupada: Yes, everything has consciousness, but it is covered. The degree is of covering.
Umapati: I was reading the writings of Bhaktivinoda Thakura in Jaiva Dharma.
Prabhupada: Ah.
Umapati: And he is explaining the word "sraddha," and he defines it in there as the tendency of the mind towards devotion without regard to jnana or karma.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Yasomatinandana: Sraddha.
Umapati: Sraddha. And I have heard it variously interpreted as meaning "faith" or "belief," which really falls short of that interpretation.
Prabhupada: What is that interpretation?
Umapati: Could you elaborate on the definition of sraddha?
Prabhupada: Sraddha is explained in Caitanya-caritamrta. Sraddha means firm conviction. That is sraddha. Just like Krsna says that "I am the Supermost." So if you have firm conviction in Krsna's words, that is sraddha.
Umapati: Yes.
Prabhupada: If you have doubts, then that is not sraddha.
Umapati: So therefore one can understand only if one is in sraddha.
Prabhupada: No, that sraddha has to be increased.
Umapati: How it is increased?
Prabhupada: The beginning of sraddha means firm conviction.
Umapati: How is it sraddha does not exist in one person, and it does exist...
Prabhupada: No, sraddha is there. It has to be awakened.
Umapati: Sraddha is in every person then.
Prabhupada: Yes. Therefore I say it is covered. It is covered. That covering has to be taken away. That is called bhajana (indistinct). That is called culture.
Umapati: Upasana.
Prabhupada: Upasana, bhajana, sadhana, culture, whatever you say. He has to awaken that sraddha, more and more.
Yasomatinandana: Prabhupada, is every jiva given a chance in the beginning to go in the spiritual world? Then he falls down, or...?
Prabhupada: Eh?
Yasomatinandana: Or sometimes the jiva may choose directly...
Prabhupada: The jiva is atomic. It is smaller than the atoms. One ten-thousandth part of the tip of the hair. Kesagra-sata-bhagasya satamsah sadrsatmakah [Cc. Madhya 19.140]. So every living entity, atom.
Yasomatinandana: Is he first allowed...?
Prabhupada: Less than the atom. Smaller than the atom.
Yasomatinandana: Is he allowed to associate with Krsna in the beginning?
Prabhupada: Eh?
Yasomatinandana: As jiva, as jiva is...
Prabhupada: He's always with Krsna. Simply he has forgotten. Have you not been with Krsna? We are standing on this sand. The sand is Krsna, Krsna's energy. We are standing by the water. This is Krsna's energy. Bhumir apo 'nalo vayuh [Bg. 7.4]. Don't you read that? So is it different from Krsna?
Yasomatinandana: No, but it is...
Prabhupada: My body is also Krsna's energy. I am also Krsna's energy. I am always with Krsna. Simply I have forgotten it.
Yasomatinandana: But this is Krsna's inferior energy, right?
Prabhupada: That may be. That is a comparative study, inferior or superior. But it is energy.
Yasomatinandana: Yes.
Prabhupada: As energy, it is not different from Krsna, as energy.
Yasomatinandana: Vasudevah sarvam iti [Bg. 7.19].
Prabhupada: Yes. As energy, how can you differentiate from Krsna?
Umapati: You give the... It could be described as like the growth of a plant as compared to the energy of the sun.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Umapati: The growth of a plant as compared to the energy of the sun.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Umapati: The growth of the plant is the inferior energy, and the... (loud waves)
Prabhupada: Yes, there are so many things. That is comparative study. But... (loud waves) Energy is not different from the energetic. Sunshine is not different from the sun. Idam hi visvam bhagavan ivetarah. Everything is Bhagavan, but it appears like different.
Yasomatinandana: Is that what it means by sarvam khalv idam brahma?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Yasomatinandana: Everything is spiritual, but when it is... due to our ignorance, we think it is material.
Prabhupada: Yes, but don't associate with... (indistinct) ...must realize.
Yasomatinandana: So Mayavadis artificially think that?
Prabhupada: Yes. They have no realization.
Yasomatinandana: Somebody even asked me about what is material and what is spiritual, Prabhupada. I said that whatever is in connection with God is spiritual and whatever is not in connection with God is material. Is that right?
Prabhupada: That's nice, that's nice.
Karandhara: The consciousness makes a difference.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Karandhara: Your consciousness makes the difference.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Karandhara: Because everything is in connection with God except for our own consciousness when we're in maya.
Prabhupada: Just like we are taking prasadam. How it is spiritual?
Yasomatinandana: It is offered to Krsna.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Umapati: By our knowledge, that it is...
Prabhupada: By knowledge... Because it is offered to Krsna. The Krsna consciousness is there. So anything which is accepted in Krsna consciousness, that is spiritual thing.
Umapati: In perfect knowledge, would the first step be faith that it is offered to Krsna? One may, may make an offering without being...
Prabhupada: Well, he must learn under superior direction. Otherwise, how he can offer?
Umapati: Well, he may make an attempt. There is a natural impulse to serve, a natural impulse to offer in man, and he may not be aware that he is seeking Krsna in his conditioned state. Then, if...
Prabhupada: Then whom he's offering? If he doesn't know Krsna...
Umapati: That is his ignorance. If he is seeking.
Prabhupada: Then, if he's in ignorance, what is the value of his offering?
Umapati: I did not hear the last point.
Hrdayananda: If he's in ignorance, what is the value of the offering?
Umapati: That is true.
Hrdayananda: He needs a spiritual master.
Umapati: Yes.
Prabhupada: You cannot do anything in ignorance.
Umapati: But then the spiritual master gives him knowledge...
Prabhupada: Yes.
Umapati: ...and then from that knowledge he becomes aware that...
Prabhupada: Yes.
Umapati: ...Krsna is in the offering.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Hrdayananda: Jaya.
Yasomatinandana: Spiritual master gives knowledge, and then a disciple is eternally indebted to spiritual master.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Yasomatinandana: It is not that, like Mayavadis, they serve the spiritual master in the beginning and then they...
Prabhupada: Then they...
Yasomatinandana: ...themselves become...
Prabhupada: ...throw him away, "Go away. I have now learned." Guru-mara-vidya, to, the knowledge of how to kill guru. Guru-mara-vidya. Their, the philosophy is that you cannot rise up. You take a ladder. But as soon as you rise, throw away the ladder. No more. No more needed. That is Mayavada philosophy. Our philosophy is dhyayan stuvams tasya yasas tri-sandhyam.
Yasomatinandana: Three...
Prabhupada: Eternally.
Yasomatinandana: Somebody told me, Prabhupada, about Vallabhacarya, that he sometimes, he once went to Lord Caitanya and said that he wrote a better commentary than a previous acarya, and Lord...
Prabhupada: Yes. Sridhara Svami.
Yasomatinandana: Lord Caitanya chastised him?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Karandhara: An unchaste wife who abandons a swami.
Prabhupada: He referred to Sridhara Svami. So swami means husband. So He sarcastically remarked, "Anyone who does not accept swami, she is prostitute."
Yasomatinandana: Is Vallabhacarya, Prabhupada, in accordance with our philosophy?
Prabhupada: Yes, he's Vaisnava, acarya. But that very deviation, that "I have done something better than Sridhara," that is not our parampara system. Then he was thinking himself better than Sridhara. That is not allowed. We should always remain servant of the servant [Cc. Madhya 13.80]. Never we shall think that "I am better than my Guru Maharaja." That is fall down. Hare Krsna Hare... Our Juhu Beach is very nice.
Yasomatinandana: Yes, Prabhupada.
Prabhupada: All clean, and you can walk very nicely. In Bombay.
Yasomatinandana: And lot of people can see you. And they bow down to you?
Prabhupada: If they do not, what can I do?
Yasomatinandana: Well, no, if they do, then they will go to Vaikuntha. (laughter)
Prabhupada: That is our sastric injunction, that as soon as you see a sannyasi, you must bow down. Otherwise, you should fast one day. It doesn't matter, I or you. This is the injunction of the sastra, that sannyasi is supposed to be the guru of the society. So one must bow down.
Yasomatinandana: Prabhupada, in our movement there are so many sannyasis. If we see the sannyasi, same, so many times in one day, we should bow down every time we see him?
Prabhupada: If you can, of course.
Srutakirti: It wouldn't hurt.
Prabhupada: Yes. [break] ...this time He used to take His sankirtana party for strolling all over the city.
udilo aruna puraba-bhage
dwija-mani gora amani jage
Hare Krsna Hare Krsna...
Hrdayananda: Prabhupada, we are helpless without you.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Hrdayananda: We are helpless without you.
Prabhupada: Hm. Yes. Today sky is clear.
Umapati: With this energy crisis now, it'll be even clearer.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Umapati: With this energy crisis it'll be even more clear. [break] ...these people, these politicians, this power that we have in our government would be..., come to an end.
Prabhupada: It has already come to an end. There is no government anywhere, simply chaos.
Yasomatinandana: Prabhupada, do you think that the ISKCON will, this Krsna consciousness will become a major religion in any country?
Prabhupada: Eh?
Yasomatinandana: Krsna consciousness will become a major religion in any country?
Prabhupada: So far the statement goes, manusyanam sahasresu [Bg. 7.3], one can understand. But even one person understands, it is beneficial for many. Yes.
Yasomatinandana: Just like you understood your Guru Maharaja's message, and the whole world is benefited.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Hrdayananda: Jaya, Srila Prabhupada.
Yasomatinandana: Not everybody can be that potent. [break]
Prabhupada: ...just like the sunshine is open to everyone, but if you do not take advantage of it, that is your fault. Sunshine is not meant for, specifically for any person. It is open to everyone. But if you purposefully close your door, and do not see the sunshine, that is your fault.
Yasomatinandana: Yes, Prabhupada, but there's only one earthly planet, and you have conquered it already.
Umapati: Is not a true Vaisnava also a sannyasi? Would you explain the difference between them?
Prabhupada: Eh?
Umapati: Is not a, one who is truly a Vaisnava, is he not also a sannyasi by his...?
Prabhupada: Sannyasi, sannyasi is in the material platform, and Vaisnava is in the spiritual platform.
Umapati: So then the Vaisnava is superior to a sannyasi?
Prabhupada: Yes. He's not sannyasi. He's above sannyasi.
Umapati: Oh. But a Vaisnava would always offer his respects to a sannyasi. Is that not true?
Prabhupada: Yes, Krsna was offering respect to His elderly persons. That is etiquette.
Karandhara: Step aside a little bit so that Prabhupada can... If you stay to the side a little bit, you box Prabhupada in.
Umapati: There's some austerity, Prabhupada.
Prabhupada: Yes. What is that?
Umapati: They're sleeping on the beach.
Prabhupada: So what is the benefit of their sleeping? (laughter)
Umapati: They save their rent money.
Prabhupada: Eh? That is his misfortune. That is a young man's fashion in your country.
Umapati: Yes.
Prabhupada: That is not austerity. That is licentiousness.
Umapati: Yes. It comes from a time when we admire swashbuckling and being free, so-called, in the material sense.
Prabhupada: That is reaction. The rich man is trying to become a poor man. "Let me see what is the advantage of the poor man." That's right. Your country does not require to lie down like that. You have got enough arrangement. But it is a fashion. That's all. So fashion is not austerity. That is sense gratification. It appears like austerity, but it is sense gratification. Real austerity is not to make any sense gratification, simply to serve Krsna. That is real austerity.
Umapati: So if Krsna required us to sleep on the beach, then...
Prabhupada: Eh?
Umapati: ...that would not be... if Krsna required us to sleep on the beach, that would not be sense gratification.
Prabhupada: No. And why Krsna will require like that? Do you mean to say Krsna is a madman?
Umapati: No.
Yasomatinandana: Yes, I was thinking that too. Why would Krsna require any of his devotees to sleep on the beach?
Prabhupada: He wants to see His devotees are comfortably situated. Why He'll unnecessarily ask that "Go to the beach and lie down?"
Umapati: You say that Krsna stands there smiling very sweetly, playing the flute.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Umapati: So why should he require us to go through austerities like...?
Prabhupada: Yes. Acarya means he must show by example. Apani acari bhakti sikhaimu sabare. Hare Krsna...
Umapati: Is there such a thing as a sincere atheist...
Prabhupada: Eh?
Umapati: ...who benefits by austerity?
Prabhupada: Atheist? Atheist? How he's sincere?
Umapati: That's what I... That's what I'm asking.
Prabhupada: Honest thief? It is contradictory. If I say, "Here is an honest thief," is that a good designation, honest thief?
Umapati: Well, in that case, that's so. You're right. It's absurd. Yes.
Prabhupada: So...
Yasomatinandana: A sincere atheist...
Umapati: But there are those who appear... At least, they think, they feel they are sincere when they go through austerities, but they won't accept Krsna consciousness as, at this point in their, in their existence.
Prabhupada: No, some atheists say that "We are Godless because nobody has convinced us about the existence of God." That is honesty. That is honesty. But there are rascals, however you may convince him, he'll not take it. That is rascaldom.
Yasomatinandana: Believe in God.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Hrdayananda: So the honest ones become devotees?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Hrdayananda: We were all...
Prabhupada: If he's honest, then he must take.
Yasomatinandana: We were all atheists, Prabhupada.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Yasomatinandana: We were all atheists.
Prabhupada: Yes. If you, if, if, if an atheist is honest, then when he's convinced, he must accept Krsna. That is honesty. If after convincing him, he does not take, that is dishonesty.
Umapati: Yes.
Prabhupada: This is dishonesty.
Umapati: But there's a quality in this age that one does not accept defeat philosophically, philosophical defeat. If one is presented with philosophically sound arguments, it is a tendency today to refuse to accept the superiority of Krsna consciousness philosophy over any other philosophy.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Umapati: It's very popular to put all philosophies in the same... "Well, that's philosophy," they say. They say that "Everybody has his opinion. That's your opinion," they say.
Prabhupada: No.
Umapati: So no one will accept any kind of superior philosophy. It's very difficult to discuss these things among them.
Prabhupada: No, then everyone, if becomes superior, then where is the question of philosophy? If everyone is superior himself, then there is no question of philosophy. Is there any necessity? You are superior, I am superior; then where is the question of discussing philosophy?
Umapati: That is trying to be God. He's trying... Then we are always God.
Prabhupada: Then philosophy becomes null and void. As soon as everyone becomes his own authority, then philosophy becomes null and void. There is no necessity of philosophy.
Umapati: That is the difficulty of our age.
Prabhupada: That means they are rascals. Mudhah. If you do not accept philosophy, you do not accept authority, that means all rascals.
Hrdayananda: You said, "alpa-medhasah..."
Prabhupada: Outlaws, they are called outlaws. Just the outlaws, they do not accept any authority, government authority, or authority of the law, they're called outlaws. Rejected.
Umapati: Yeah, well, this is a nation of outlaws.
Prabhupada: So they are rejected. If anyone, everyone becomes his own authority, then it is chaos.
Umapati: Well, that is the fashion today.
Prabhupada: Yes. Fashion means...
Umapati: It's called "Do your own thing."
Prabhupada: No, who are you to say me, "Do your own thing"? Then you become master. You are directing me. Why should you direct me, "Do your own thing"? You stop. Don't talk. If your philosophy accepted that everyone is authority, you cannot say, "Do your own work." Why should you say? Then you become authority. You should not speak at all.
Karandhara: That is also a philosophy.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Karandhara: That is also a philosophy.
Prabhupada: What is that philosophy?
Karandhara: That "Do your own thing" is also a philosophy.
Prabhupada: Yes. That is a philosophy. Why you are dictating? You'd better stop. Don't talk. That's all. You have no facility for talking. Have you?
Umapati: No, I haven't.
Prabhupada: Then? You keep yourself satisfied with your own philosophy. I keep myself satisfied with my philosophy. There is no need of talking.
Hrdayananda: Jaya.
Prabhupada: And that is good. If a foolish man does not talk, it is good for him and good for others. Because he'll talk foolish. Better not to talk. That is good. That... Infectious diseased man... what is called? Quarantine.
Karandhara: Quarantine.
Prabhupada: He's put separately so that he may not poison others. He may not poison others. So that is the position of the self-sufficient authority.
Yasomatinandana: In Gujarati we call it: bhanji moti laksmim.(?) When the palm is closed it is worth lakh rupees, but when it is open, it doesn't mean anything. A foolish person, when he talks, he reveals everything.
Prabhupada: Yes. Foolish person means busy rascal. There are four kinds of division: lazy intelligent and busy intelligent and lazy rascal and busy rascal. The first-class man is lazy intelligent, and second class, busy intelligent, and third class, lazy rascal, and fourth class, busy rascal. A rascal, if he's busy, then what he will do? He'll simply do harm. That's all.
Karandhara: Create havoc.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Karandhara: Create havoc.
Prabhupada: Havoc, create havoc. Just as they are doing now. All rascals, they are very busy.
Yasomatinandana: Creating atom bombs.
Prabhupada: Ah, therefore the whole world is in confusion. All rascals, they are busy. What is the use of such business? Like monkey. Monkey's very busy, always, but doing harm. That's all. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, ugra-karmanah ksayaya jagato 'hitah. These rascals, they are busy just to destroy the whole world and do the mischief. That's all. Actually, they are doing so. That we also... In English language, sometimes it is said, "A sharp razor in the hands of a child." The child... That is this imitation. They want to imitate their father. So if he imitates the razor sharp, then he will create havoc. So these rascals, they have got now all power, and therefore creating havoc. They do not know how to use it. According to Vedic principle, the sudras, they should not be given more money, the worker class. Now the worker class is given more money. So what they'll do? They'll produce drunkards. That's all. In America, it is evident. They do not know how to use money. So therefore we see, fifty-two percent drunkards in your country. Eh? What is the percentage?
Devotee: I'm not sure, Srila Prabhupada.
Karandhara: It's probably close to that.
Prabhupada: Eh? At least fifty-percent. Eh?
Karandhara: Drunkards, debauchers.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Karandhara: Criminals.
Prabhupada: Harer nama harer nama... [Cc. Adi 17.21]. What is the time?
Hrdayananda: Quarter to seven.
Prabhupada: Oh. So we can...?
Karandhara: We can walk around a little bit.
Prabhupada: Oh, yes.
Umapati: So how... Is it a waste of time then to present Krsna consciousness philosophy to someone who believes in doing your own thing? Do you think that that is a...?
Prabhupada: No. It is, it is... We should push Krsna consciousness as disinfecting agent. They're all infected, the whole world. So by chanting you disinfect.
Umapati: Just by our presence chanting then?
Prabhupada: Yes. Therefore chanting is so important. Philosophy later on. First of all, ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12], cleansing the heart.
Devotees: Jaya.
Prabhupada: Cleansing the heart. So by hearing this chanting their heart will be cleansed gradually. Then they will understand the real position.
Umapati: Oh. Jaya.
Hrdayananda: Oh, Krsna.
Prabhupada: So we have to do this chanting, not sit down in a solitary place, chanting himself. No, not like that. You are to vibrate the sound for the benefit of others.
Umapati: That is the mystical process of this movement.
Prabhupada: Yes, yes. So that their heart may be cleansed and they can understand. And if I sit down in a solitary place, for my benefit, that may be his benefit, but it is not very high class engagement. He must sacrifice for others. Pararthe prag utsri, utsri(?). That is the Canakya Pandita's moral instruction, that "Everyone should sacrifice for the Supreme." Caitanya Mahaprabhu is God Himself. He comes down to preach, to become sannyasi, and to take so much trouble all over India and everywhere, and giving instruction and sending men, "Go, go, go, go." What? Why you...? He's perfect. Why He's coming? He doesn't require. No. For the benefit of others, we must follow the footsteps of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. (aside:) That's all right. Why water is here?
Karandhara: I don't know, Prabhupada. It's a low spot.
Prabhupada: A Vaisnava's first qualification that he's unhappy by seeing others unhappy. Vaisnava cannot be unhappy. That Prahlada Maharaja says, that "I have no problem. I am unhappy seeing these people who are simply engaged in false activities and they do not care for Krsna consciousness. Therefore I am unhappy." This is Vaisnava's qualification. Not that "I am saved. That's all right." That is materialism. "Let others go to hell. I am saved." That is materialism. A Vaisnava should think always, "Oh, so many people are suffering. What I am doing for them?" That is Vaisnava. Para-duhkha-duhkhi.
Svarupa Damodara: That is also said by scientists. They also say that "People are suffering. So we are trying to make them happy."
Prabhupada: That's all right, but if you do not know, how you'll make them happy? You'll create havoc.
Yasomatinandana: Janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi [Bg. 13.9].
Prabhupada: Yes, you do not know how to make them happy. First of all learn how to make them happy. You cannot manufacture your program to make them happy. That everyone is doing. But the more they are acting, the world becoming in chaotic condition. You know what is the standard of happiness, how to make them happy; then you can work. If a medical man, he has never seen a medical college and if he wants to treat patient, what is this?
Hrdayananda: A criminal.
Prabhupada: Yes. Quack. He must know how to make them happy. That is first business.
Yasomatinandana: Jaya, Srila Prabhupada.
Prabhupada: Hare Krsna.
Karandhara: Thank you, Srila Prabhupada.
Prabhupada: Jaya.
Hrdayananda: Jaya. All glories to Prabhupada. (Prabhupada gets in the car)
Prabhupada: [break] ...basic disease. He has made himself voluntarily under the clutches of maya. And maya's business is to give trouble. That's all. Otherwise, he's free, but he has voluntarily accepted the custody of maya. Yaya sammohito jivah. Sammohitah means bewildered. Jiva, the living entities. Atmanam tri-gunatmakam. Everyone is identifying, "I am American," "I am Indian," "I am this body," "I am that body." This is identification with maya. Atmanam tri-gunatmakam. Tat-krtam cabhipadyate. And as soon as he becomes under the clutches of maya, he'll act according to the dictation of maya. Tat-krtam cabhipadyate. [break] ...to see their Los Angeles Zoo? Why they're advertising?
Sudama: The Los Angeles what, Prabhupada?
Hrdayananda: Zoo.
Prabhupada: Zoo.
Sudama: Oh yeah?
Karandhara: It's not a very good zoo.
Sudama: No, it's not.
Karandhara: Just a small little one.
Hrdayananda: The big zoo is in San Diego.
Prabhupada: Eh? No, zoo in the Africa.
Sudama: Oh yeah?
Prabhupada: Yes. (laughter) No, actually they go. There is a national zoo. Thousands of... Practically Africa's main income is from the tourists.
Srutakirti: Tourism.
Prabhupada: Yes. People go to see. You'll, you'll drive your car. You'll find lions, elephants, or...
Srutakirti: Recently one of Brahmananda's men had an accident by hitting some animal on the road. Large animal, I think it was.
Prabhupada: Oh, what accident?
Srutakirti: One of the vans. One of the devotees ran into an animal on the road.
Prabhupada: Accha?
Srutakirti: I'm not sure what it was.
Prabhupada: No, the national garden means there is arrangement. The animals are free, roaming. But you can go with your car and...
Hrdayananda: Oh yes.
Prabhupada: And they cannot attack within the car.
Sudama: No.
Prabhupada: But if you come out, they'll attack. The lions are there, elephants are there. [break]
Sudama: Not very cold?
Prabhupada: Not very cold.
Sudama: No, no. Compared to Hawaii, it is very cold.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Sudama: Compared to Hawaii, it is very cold.
Prabhupada: Oh. Hawaii is very pleasant.
Sudama: Yes, now it is eighty-five degrees every day.
Prabhupada: Oh.
Sudama: It's wintertime now.
Prabhupada: And summer?
Sudama: Summer's very hot. Hundred and five.
Prabhupada: But there is rainfall.
Sudama: Yes.
Prabhupada: Summer.
Sudama: Yes. There's quite a bit now. Sometimes in the winter it rains. So that one devotee brought up the point of the philosophy of "Do your own thing," and that's what the devotees were instructed in Hawaii to do. When they closed the temple, Gaurasundara just said, "Now everyone go and do your own thing for Prabhupada."
Prabhupada: If he does Prabhupada's work, then where is the own thing?
Sudama: Yeah, right. There's...
Prabhupada: "Do your own thing on behalf of Prabhupada." So if he wants Prabhupada, he must abide by the order of Prabhupada.
Sudama: Yeah. My thing is your thing. Actually, I have nothing of my own.
Prabhupada: No, they have been misguided. But temple closing was very irresponsible... [break] ...house many years.
Sudama: Many years. (end)

 

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© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

Recalling a Life of Pure Devotion

August 12, 1973

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Prabhupada: ...of the same age of neighboring quarters, they will join. There will be feast, procession, sankirtana, everything in miniature form. And my father would spend. He will not hesitate. Yes. Therefore, my father's friends used to joke that "Rathayatra ceremony is going on at your home, and you do not invite us. What is this?" Father would reply, "They are all children playing." "Oh, children playing. You are avoiding us by the name of children." It was regular procession. And for eight days there was feasting.

Yadubara: That was the same time as the big procession?

Prabhupada: Huh?

Yadubara: That was the same time as the big procession?

Prabhupada: Yes. During the Rathayatra festival. Eight days, eight different varieties of foodstuff my mother would cook and offer to Jagannatha. Regular bhoga-aratrika, decoration with flowers. It was regular.

Yadubara: What did the cart look like?

Prabhupada: Eh?

Yadubara: What did the Ratha cart look like? Just a miniature of the one at Puri?

Prabhupada: That I can give you diagram. I will give. Because I played with, I remember perfectly.

Yadubara: What about... Did the girls participate? Did the...

Prabhupada: No...

Yadubara: Small girls?

Prabhupada: Small girls they..., one or two.

Yadubara: How many boys were there?

Prabhupada: Not less than a dozen. And then public will gather. So it was regular procession. Not very big. Everyone knew that "It is children; they are playing."

Yadubara: Did they play at...

Prabhupada: The Ratha, Ratha I used to decorate myself, painting, with color. I will give you a diagram of the Ratha. [Prabhupada drawing] Covering. This is diagram.

Yadubara: So this was..., it is not solid inside, so that you could see through.

Prabhupada: No, there were many columns. Sixteen columns supporting.

Devotee: Like the Ratha cart here, with the columns? The wooden...

Prabhupada: Yes. No. Here there is not column.

Yadubara: This was horse?

Prabhupada: Yes. Wooden horse.

Yadubara: This is driver.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Yadubara: What kind of clothing did the boys wear, did you wear?

Prabhupada: No, no, ordinary.

Yadubara: Just shorts?

Prabhupada: No, ordinary... Yes, dhoti and shirt.

Yadubara: Dhoti and shirt.

Prabhupada: Someone without any shirt, because it is summer season. So there was no particular dress.

Yadubara: And were there instruments you were playing?

Prabhupada: Yes, on this khol, karatala, then that [gaazh? indistinct]. Where is our Pandit Maharaja? And call also Hamsadutta. [devotee goes to find]

Yadubara: When you did Deity worship as a child...

Prabhupada: Yes?

Yadubara: ...how did you do?

Prabhupada: I would imitate the brahmanas and my father.

Yadubara: With the lamp and the incense?

Prabhupada: Everything, complete. I would perform aratrika and offer prasadam. Radha-Govinda Deities, there was altar decorated, small Deity, daily changing cloth. Everything. Offering obeisances. Everything.

Yadubara: When you... Would the Ratha ceremony go on in the court of Radha-Govinda temple, in the courtyard?

Prabhupada: No, that was... They are separate. I was doing in my... But I was imitating how the worship is going on there.

Yadubara: Would the Ratha cart..., was that going on in the courtyard, Radha-Govinda?

Prabhupada: Yes, yes. The first courtyard from the road, that circle?

Yadubara: Yes.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Yadubara: Just inside.

Prabhupada: There inside there, and stay for some time, then again circling, go away. Our house was... You know that Mullik's house?

Yadubara: Yes.

Prabhupada: Yes. That was also Mullik's house, our. Our number was hundred and fifty-one, and in the middle there was hundred and fifty-three, and their house was hundred and fifty-five. Just [indistinct].

[Pradyumna enters and offers obeisances]

Prabhupada: Have you written anything about that article?

Pradyumna: Yes, I'm just finishing editing it.

Prabhupada: All right. That's all right. Then you shall send it on.

Hamsadutta: When he is finished.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Yadubara: So part of the movie, it calls for either some narration by yourself...

Prabhupada: Hm?

Yadubara: It calls for some narration either by yourself or by someone else.

Prabhupada: No. Someone else can narrate.

Yadubara: We wanted to describe the Deity worship, why we are worshiping Deities, because people...

Prabhupada: I was simply imitating because my father was worshiping, and we were always going that Mullik's Radha-Govinda temple, their festival. We are practically same family. I was known as one of the children of Mullik's family. Other neighborhood men, they would know that I was belonging to their family. Because the house in which we are living, that belonged to the Mullik family, one partner.

Yadubara: I saw that beautiful room, very aristocratic room, with chandelier and glass.

Prabhupada: They were... Now they are reduced. Otherwise they were the most aristocratic family of Calcutta. Kasinatha Mullik. There are roads and names, Kasinatha Mullik name. We belonged to... The house where we were living, that was Kasinatha Mullik's second brother. Second brother. So his wife was living, and she was a distant relative, grandmother, of me. So she had no children. So we were living. With some relative she was living.

Yadubara: So we wanted to explain in the movie to people in general how the Deity worship is authorized: how it's not worshiping just stone, how the Deity is actually Krsna Himself.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Yadubara: Things like that.

Prabhupada: Krsna and Krsna's form, Krsna's quality, they are all the same. That you know. You can explain.

Yadubara: Also we wanted to give some, just some very brief explanation of your past. How you were attached to Krsna from the very beginning of your life, how your friends offered you intoxication.

Prabhupada: That is explained in the Bhagavad-gita. Sucinamsrimatam gehe yogo bhrasto sanjayate  [Bg. 6.41]. It has come from previous life. Therefore I was given the opportunity to take birth in that family, Krsna association. And my father was a great Vaisnava. So sucinamsrimatam. Both things were confirmed. My father was suci, and although I did not belong to that family, but I was born in that aristocratic family and I was raised amongst them. So that confirms: this Krsna consciousness coming from previous life. And some very authorized astrologers said that in my previous life I was a physician, and I did not commit any sinful act. He said like that. The only, if it is taken as sinful, I killed some snakes for medicinal purpose. Otherwise I did not commit any sin. He said like that. [laughing] And it is right, because I had tendency in my childhood play to imitate a physician. I would keep some medicine, and my playmates would come, I would feel their pulse and give some medicine. [devotees laugh] This was my play, I remember. Yes. Some powders.

Yadubara: Pills?

Prabhupada: No, pills... [laughs] Very small child at the time. So I would play that my playmates would come as patient, they would stand. I would give them some medicine.

Hamsadutta: And still you are giving medicine.

Prabhupada: Yes, I was giving medicine in business. I was appointed Dr. Bhose's laboratory manager.

Hamsadutta: But still you are giving medicine. You are giving Krsna medicine.

Prabhupada: Yes, bhagavat-sakti. I know how to prepare so many medicines still. Practically all allopathic medicine I can prepare. Ayurvedic also, some of. What is that they are written in the book, I can prepare. So that confirms my previous life also.

Yadubara: We wanted to include some very brief notes on your family. You had some family life and business.

Prabhupada: My father was a businessman. He was doing business. Although we were living the most aristocratic family, my father was middle class. In those days about five hundred rupees' income, it was not very much. But seventy years ago five hundred rupees means nowadays twenty times. Everything has gone up ten times, twenty times. We were purchasing at that time rice. My father always, there must be full stock of rice, at least for six months. Rice and fuel and ghee and potato, he would stock. So we had no difficulties. Everything was sumptuous, by father's plan.

Yadubara: What about your family after you were married?

Prabhupada: I have got sons. They are still there in Calcutta. A sannyasidoes not require the history of his previous life. In summary I have already given.

Yadubara: We wanted to include like this, some very brief history of your..., that you were in some business, of your meeting with your Guru Maharaja.

Prabhupada: That is already explained in that Isopanisad.

Yadubara: Yes. So it is all right to include all these.

Prabhupada: 1922 I met my Guru Maharaja. In 1933 I was officially initiated. Then Guru Maharaja passed away in 1936. And he asked me, fifteen days before his passing away, that "You preach in English language in the Western countries. That will be your good, and the person amongst whom you preach, they will be also benefited." This was his last instructions to me.

Yadubara: That was fifteen days before...

Prabhupada: Fifteen days before his passing away. He passed away in 1936, December 30th, and that letter was written 13th December, 1936.

Yadubara: Didn't he say something right away after he met you personally?

Prabhupada: Yes. He said that Caitanya Mahaprabhu... I argued with him so many times. At that time I was Congress man, non-cooperated. I gave up my education. But I was appointed manager. I stopped my education 1920, and then '21 I was appointed manager in Bhose's laboratory. Then 1933 I resigned that post. I was appointed their agent, Northern India. Then my business flourished. Gradually I started my own laboratory in Lucknow, in Varanasi, in Allahabad. So that was very successful business. Everyone knew me in the chemical business. Then in 1933 I was initiated. In this way, gradually I came in contact intimately. And Guru Maharaja... In 1935, all my Godbrothers were meeting in Bombay. So I was living outside the matha. So they requested, "Abhay Babu is such a noble soul, why he should live outside the matha?" Purposely I was living outside. I had my business office, I was living with my four children; family was in Calcutta. So Guru Maharaja said, "It is better to live a little outside, and he will do the necessity automatically in due course of time." He said like that. So I could not understand what he meant by that. But it means that he was confident that "This boy in due course of time will take up this matter seriously." He said these very words: "In due course of time he will take things rightly. And it is better now to live little apart from..." [laughs] He said like that.

Hamsadutta: He had some premonition.

Prabhupada: Then in 1936 he passed away, and he left his letter, "You do this." So I was thinking, "What shall I do?" Of course, I took up this missionary idea as soon as I saw him in 1922, because we were trained up to some extent by our family tradition. So one of my friends took me to Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura in 1922. So at that time I could understand that "Here is a person who is actually doing the missionary activities of Caitanya Mahaprabhu." Because we were Vaisnava family. My father was Vaisnava, my grandfather was Vaisnava. We were all worshiper of Krsna and Lord Caitanya by family tradition. So at that time I could understand that "Here is a saintly person who is trying very nicely." So he asked me to join immediately. But at that time, I was family man. In 1921 my first child was born. I was married in 1918, during student time. I was at that time third-year student. So I was thinking, "How to do? How to do?" So in 1944, I started this Back to Godhead.

Hamsadutta: From Allahabad?

Prabhupada: No, from Calcutta.

Hamsadutta: From Calcutta.

Prabhupada: So I was practically distributing. I was spending, in those days, 300 rupees, 400 rupees. Was a large amount, but I was spending somehow or other from my business, and practically it was being distributed. You have seen some of the copies?

Hamsadutta: I saw some of the old copies.

Prabhupada: So in this way, gradually things changed. I wanted to become a very big businessman and earn money and spend for this missionary work, but that was not very successful. [laughs] So in 1950, I retired practically. Not retired, but little in touch with business, whatever is going on, going on. Then 1954 I gave up connection with my family. I went to Jhansi. There I got a very big building. So I wanted to start the missionary activities under the name of The League of Devotees.

Hamsadutta: I saw your prospectus, an old prospectus.

Prabhupada: Yes, it was registered. So that was a very nice building. Somebody gave me. Then the governor of the province, that Munshi, K. Munshi, his wife had an association of the women; she wanted that house. So the governing, government circle, they began to press me to leave that house through the proprietor. So I was sticking. All my friends, they said that "You don't go away. We shall help you." Then I thought that "They are government circles. If they give pressure, how can I fight with them?" And that was not a very nice place, Jhansi, although the building was first class. That building is still there. Then I thought that instead of fighting with them, let me go to Vrndavana, then we shall see. So I too went to Vrndavana. And then in 1956... No, I left '54. In '56 I was living with my Godbrothers. Then I started again. In the meantime, for some years, two, three years, the Back to Godhead was stopped. Then I started again in Delhi. You have seen my Delhi Radha-Krsna temple?

Yadubara: I went to one place that you stayed at...,

Prabhupada: Yes.

Yadubara: ...near...

Prabhupada: [indistinct]

Yadubara: Something, yes.

Prabhupada: So I was staying in Vrndavana in a very nice place. Then these Radha-Damodara temple men, they call me, that "Why don't you come, live here. We give you two rooms. You just repair and live here. Whatever you like, you can do." So I thought, "It is Jiva Gosvamis place"; otherwise living in a very big palace, Kesi Ghat, for seven years. Then I came to Radha-Damodara temple. So I was writing Bhagavatam, Back to Godhead, and printing in Delhi. In this way, when some books were prepared, then I came to America. Then after coming America, everything you know. [end]

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