0 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:15,721 Interv AUC 1976-04-27 Press--This Religion Is Yours Also 1 00:00:15,722 --> 00:00:17,961 ANNOUNCER: The following is a conversation, 2 00:00:17,962 --> 00:00:23,381 with His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, 3 00:00:23,382 --> 00:00:47,931 recorded on the 27th of April 1976, in Auckland, New Zealand. 4 00:00:47,932 --> 00:00:50,951 INTERVIEWER: Your Grace, have you been to New Zealand before? 5 00:00:50,952 --> 00:00:52,341 PRABHUPĀDA: Twice. 6 00:00:52,342 --> 00:00:58,911 When the Deity was installed, I installed personally. 7 00:00:58,912 --> 00:01:03,601 Then I think I came last year here. 8 00:01:03,602 --> 00:01:09,551 You’re the leader of how many disciples or devotees throughout the world? 9 00:01:09,552 --> 00:01:15,341 Personally, I have got not less than ten thousand. 10 00:01:15,342 --> 00:01:20,181 But I was deputed by my Guru Mahārāja 11 00:01:20,182 --> 00:01:27,075 to make propaganda in the Western countries. 12 00:01:27,076 --> 00:01:31,097 So this movement… Of course, I have started in the 13 00:01:31,098 --> 00:01:35,795 Western countries, but in India, 14 00:01:35,796 --> 00:01:41,021 it is very common movement, Hare Kṛṣṇa. 15 00:01:41,022 --> 00:01:43,241 Everyone knows. 16 00:01:43,242 --> 00:01:45,991 Are you at all concerned about the, 17 00:01:45,992 --> 00:01:53,211 what seems to be an increasing number of gurus and swamis throughout the world? 18 00:01:53,212 --> 00:01:55,421 That I could not follow. 19 00:01:55,422 --> 00:01:56,221 PUṢṬA KṚṢṆA: The question is: 20 00:01:56,222 --> 00:01:58,705 “Are you concerned with the increasing number of 21 00:01:58,706 --> 00:02:01,471 - gurus and swamis around the world?” - No. 22 00:02:01,472 --> 00:02:12,621 We are concerned that in spite of so-called education and advancement of civilization, 23 00:02:12,622 --> 00:02:21,661 people have been kept in darkness about real knowledge. 24 00:02:21,662 --> 00:02:31,611 So it is our little attempt to awaken them to the real platform of knowledge. 25 00:02:31,612 --> 00:02:35,341 Well, what do you hope to achieve by your short visit here to New Zealand, 26 00:02:35,342 --> 00:02:40,351 where you don’t have a very big following at all? 27 00:02:40,352 --> 00:02:43,731 Just to encourage my disciples. 28 00:02:43,732 --> 00:02:49,921 They’re also trying their best to spread this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. 29 00:02:49,922 --> 00:02:54,941 So if I occasionally visit, they become encouraged. 30 00:02:54,942 --> 00:02:56,191 That’s why. 31 00:02:56,192 --> 00:02:57,541 Is your movement still growing? 32 00:02:57,542 --> 00:03:03,591 It was very popular here in the Beatles’ era and so on and so forth. 33 00:03:03,592 --> 00:03:07,061 Yes, George Harrison is a good boy. 34 00:03:07,062 --> 00:03:11,721 He likes me. 35 00:03:11,722 --> 00:03:22,051 He has given us a big house in London about 200,000 pounds’ worth. 36 00:03:22,052 --> 00:03:24,281 It’s 250,000 pounds. 37 00:03:24,282 --> 00:03:25,391 Yes. 38 00:03:25,392 --> 00:03:26,839 So would it be true to say that, 39 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:30,493 perhaps without George Harrison of the Beatles the religion wouldn’t 40 00:03:30,494 --> 00:03:33,811 - be as well known as it is today? - No, not like that; that is not that. 41 00:03:33,812 --> 00:03:38,852 But in the Western countries nobody comes forward 42 00:03:38,853 --> 00:03:41,040 to give us some contribution. 43 00:03:41,041 --> 00:03:46,271 But this boy is very nice, he gives us sometimes some thing. 44 00:03:46,272 --> 00:03:49,701 He gives, and another boy, 45 00:03:49,702 --> 00:03:59,751 who is the great-grandson of Mr. Henry Ford—his name is Alfred—he also helps us. 46 00:03:59,752 --> 00:04:05,351 But mostly we get our income by selling these books. 47 00:04:05,352 --> 00:04:12,631 We are selling books daily about $200,000 daily. 48 00:04:12,632 --> 00:04:16,621 That is our main source of income. 49 00:04:16,622 --> 00:04:24,906 And I have made a trust will in which fifty percent of the collection 50 00:04:24,907 --> 00:04:28,320 is spent for reprinting the books, 51 00:04:28,321 --> 00:04:34,336 and fifty percent is spent for spreading this movement. 52 00:04:34,337 --> 00:04:38,879 One thing New Zealand cities, are passing bylaws which seek to ban 53 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:41,743 the chanting of your disciples in the streets. 54 00:04:41,744 --> 00:04:44,791 Do you get much opposition like this? 55 00:04:44,792 --> 00:04:48,422 Yes, but we don’t depend on the city authorities; 56 00:04:48,423 --> 00:04:53,311 we depend on Kṛṣṇa. 57 00:04:53,312 --> 00:04:57,377 But does it worry you that your disciples, 58 00:04:57,378 --> 00:05:04,471 perhaps annoy city officials by their chanting and their activities in the streets? 59 00:05:04,472 --> 00:05:09,932 The city authorities, they like our chanting? 60 00:05:09,933 --> 00:05:11,222 They’re annoyed. 61 00:05:11,223 --> 00:05:16,292 Well they don’t really understand, what we’re trying to do. 62 00:05:16,293 --> 00:05:19,642 They see it as something new, and they may feel a little threatened. 63 00:05:19,643 --> 00:05:21,022 We’ve found all over the world, though, 64 00:05:21,023 --> 00:05:24,491 that people are coming to accept, now that they understand the 65 00:05:24,492 --> 00:05:28,115 character of people that we’re developing. 66 00:05:28,116 --> 00:05:29,682 But do you think that’ll happen here? 67 00:05:29,683 --> 00:05:34,772 Oh, yes. 68 00:05:34,773 --> 00:05:38,612 I think every government is looking to develop people of high moral character. 69 00:05:38,613 --> 00:05:40,242 And our society is doing that. 70 00:05:40,243 --> 00:05:46,047 Do you attempt to speak with governments and city officials 71 00:05:46,048 --> 00:05:53,962 and that sort of thing to spread your message? 72 00:05:53,963 --> 00:05:57,062 I think you have talked with these city authorities. 73 00:05:57,063 --> 00:05:58,162 DEVOTEE: Yes. 74 00:05:58,163 --> 00:06:01,277 Here is the boy, he can… 75 00:06:01,278 --> 00:06:05,932 Yes, we’ve spoken with some of the government officials. 76 00:06:05,933 --> 00:06:10,504 I’ve spoken with or I’ve had contact with the cities 77 00:06:10,505 --> 00:06:16,894 where we have not personal contact but through the mail, 78 00:06:16,895 --> 00:06:26,762 and also some contact with the minister of immigrations. 79 00:06:26,763 --> 00:06:33,202 How long do you intend to keep traveling and, and… 80 00:06:33,203 --> 00:06:36,872 If I stayed four days in each center, 81 00:06:36,873 --> 00:06:41,882 it takes one year to travel all the centers. 82 00:06:41,883 --> 00:06:44,412 Four days in each center takes you one year. 83 00:06:44,413 --> 00:06:46,162 Three days. 84 00:06:46,163 --> 00:06:47,382 Yes. 85 00:06:47,383 --> 00:06:51,622 We have got 102 centers all over the world. 86 00:06:51,623 --> 00:06:55,622 So how many centers does that make it? 87 00:06:55,623 --> 00:06:56,642 Over a hundred. 88 00:06:56,643 --> 00:06:58,432 A hundred and two. 89 00:06:58,433 --> 00:07:03,412 Do you spend your whole year traveling, or is it only part of the year? 90 00:07:03,413 --> 00:07:04,502 Huh? 91 00:07:04,503 --> 00:07:09,512 Do you spend your whole year traveling, or only part of the year? 92 00:07:09,513 --> 00:07:18,192 I am traveling either in Europe, America, Africa, Canada, 93 00:07:18,193 --> 00:07:21,652 India, everywhere. 94 00:07:21,653 --> 00:07:23,912 So, do you have a home, or do you have… 95 00:07:23,913 --> 00:07:29,582 I have 102 houses, but nowhere I am allowed to live. 96 00:07:29,583 --> 00:07:33,707 That is the difficulty. 97 00:07:33,708 --> 00:07:35,632 How old are you, Swami? 98 00:07:35,633 --> 00:07:39,112 - How old? - What do you think? 99 00:07:39,113 --> 00:07:45,312 - Oh,… How old? - When one becomes old? 100 00:07:45,313 --> 00:07:48,492 Do you know? 101 00:07:48,493 --> 00:07:50,242 Well, how many years do you have? 102 00:07:50,243 --> 00:07:51,352 Yes. 103 00:07:51,353 --> 00:07:55,422 - How many years? - I am eighty years. 104 00:07:55,423 --> 00:07:57,702 Eighty. 105 00:07:57,703 --> 00:08:01,782 How long have you been a Hare Kṛṣṇa man? 106 00:08:01,783 --> 00:08:03,622 Ten years. 107 00:08:03,623 --> 00:08:07,982 I began this movement when I was seventy years old. 108 00:08:07,983 --> 00:08:11,692 What were you before that? 109 00:08:11,693 --> 00:08:15,402 I was householder. 110 00:08:15,403 --> 00:08:24,072 And I retired, and I was living in Vṛndāvana, a holy place in India. 111 00:08:24,073 --> 00:08:27,502 My Guru Mahārāja asked me to do this. 112 00:08:27,503 --> 00:08:32,002 So I could not begin earlier. 113 00:08:32,003 --> 00:08:38,232 So I thought it wise to begin at seventy years. 114 00:08:38,233 --> 00:08:40,732 So somehow or other, 115 00:08:40,733 --> 00:08:48,272 Kṛṣṇa has given us some opportunity to get cooperation of these young boys, 116 00:08:48,273 --> 00:08:57,762 and they’re helping me. 117 00:08:57,763 --> 00:09:03,582 What is your opinion of the Guru Maharaj-ji? 118 00:09:03,583 --> 00:09:08,002 - What is your opinion of Guru Maharaj-ji? - Huh? 119 00:09:08,003 --> 00:09:12,892 Not only Guru Maharaj- ji, so many Mahārāja. 120 00:09:12,893 --> 00:09:17,862 So this movement is authorized. 121 00:09:17,863 --> 00:09:20,912 Others, they are some imaginary sentiments. 122 00:09:20,913 --> 00:09:24,292 That’s all. 123 00:09:24,293 --> 00:09:32,652 This Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is authorized movement, Vedic culture. 124 00:09:32,653 --> 00:09:37,702 And they, in the name of Vedic culture, talking some nonsense. 125 00:09:37,703 --> 00:09:42,592 That’s all. 126 00:09:42,593 --> 00:09:45,932 That is the difference. 127 00:09:45,933 --> 00:09:47,722 Do you know about Guru Maharaj-ji? 128 00:09:47,723 --> 00:09:49,552 No, no. 129 00:09:49,553 --> 00:09:51,582 None of you? 130 00:09:51,583 --> 00:09:52,642 You’ve met him? 131 00:09:52,643 --> 00:09:53,132 Huh? 132 00:09:53,133 --> 00:09:54,472 You’ve met him, have you? 133 00:09:54,473 --> 00:10:00,292 No, what business I have got to meet him? 134 00:10:00,293 --> 00:10:03,392 He says that he is God. 135 00:10:03,393 --> 00:10:08,772 Do you believe that bogus statement? 136 00:10:08,773 --> 00:10:10,632 That he’s God? 137 00:10:10,633 --> 00:10:14,502 - Do you think he’s an egotist? - Do you think he’s an egotist? 138 00:10:14,503 --> 00:10:17,512 That is all simply foolishness. 139 00:10:17,513 --> 00:10:24,432 If somebody says “I am God,” do you think it is very reasonable statement? 140 00:10:24,433 --> 00:10:26,382 Bogus. 141 00:10:26,383 --> 00:10:27,812 Simple thing, bogus. 142 00:10:27,813 --> 00:10:28,502 Bogus? 143 00:10:28,503 --> 00:10:30,662 Bogus! 144 00:10:30,663 --> 00:10:34,772 Oh, bogus. 145 00:10:34,773 --> 00:10:39,282 Do you believe that Hare Kṛṣṇa is the only true faith? 146 00:10:39,283 --> 00:10:42,092 Yes. 147 00:10:42,093 --> 00:10:46,702 This is real knowledge. 148 00:10:46,703 --> 00:10:50,052 We have got, I have already told you, 149 00:10:50,053 --> 00:10:57,282 only on this Hare Kṛṣṇa movement, there is one book by Professor Judah. 150 00:10:57,283 --> 00:10:58,472 Have you got that book? 151 00:10:58,473 --> 00:10:59,532 No. 152 00:10:59,533 --> 00:11:02,222 He has written one book very authorized, 153 00:11:02,223 --> 00:11:06,012 'Hare Kṛṣṇa and Counterculture'. 154 00:11:06,013 --> 00:11:12,502 So we are being accepted by learned circle, and who cares for these rascals? 155 00:11:12,503 --> 00:11:13,932 Nobody cares. 156 00:11:13,933 --> 00:11:17,022 Only some sentiment. 157 00:11:17,023 --> 00:11:21,792 There is no science; there is no knowledge. 158 00:11:21,793 --> 00:11:28,642 Here it is authoritative knowledge based on Vedic culture. 159 00:11:28,643 --> 00:11:32,232 But if you consider your religion to be the only religion… 160 00:11:32,233 --> 00:11:34,102 It is not my—everyone’s. 161 00:11:34,103 --> 00:11:39,152 You are in ignorance; you do not know; therefore we are trying to educate you. 162 00:11:39,153 --> 00:11:41,392 It is yours also. 163 00:11:41,393 --> 00:11:44,492 It is not a personal thing. 164 00:11:44,493 --> 00:11:49,142 It is meant for the living entities. 165 00:11:49,143 --> 00:11:57,222 That you people, you do not know, that we are all living entities. 166 00:11:57,223 --> 00:12:04,972 There is slight description of the evolution by Darwin. 167 00:12:04,973 --> 00:12:09,012 But he’s also not in perfect knowledge. 168 00:12:09,013 --> 00:12:12,875 The real fact is the… 169 00:12:12,876 --> 00:12:16,402 I am not this body, you are not this body. 170 00:12:16,403 --> 00:12:20,723 I am living entity within this body. 171 00:12:20,724 --> 00:12:23,722 Just like you are within your coat and shirt. 172 00:12:23,723 --> 00:12:27,493 The coat and shirt you are not. 173 00:12:27,494 --> 00:12:36,003 Similarly, we living entities, we are within this gross and subtle body. 174 00:12:36,004 --> 00:12:41,983 The gross body is made of earth, water, air, fire, 175 00:12:41,984 --> 00:12:50,153 and the subtle body is made of mind, intelligence, and egotism. 176 00:12:50,154 --> 00:12:52,933 So we are within this. 177 00:12:52,934 --> 00:12:57,003 So nobody knows; there is no educational system, 178 00:12:57,004 --> 00:13:00,223 what is our real constitutional position. 179 00:13:00,224 --> 00:13:05,283 We are wrongly accepting this body. 180 00:13:05,284 --> 00:13:08,413 And that kind of acceptance is there in the animals. 181 00:13:08,414 --> 00:13:12,243 The dog also thinking that “I am this body.” 182 00:13:12,244 --> 00:13:15,463 So if I am thinking like that, “I am this body,” 183 00:13:15,464 --> 00:13:19,493 then what is the difference between the dog and me? 184 00:13:19,494 --> 00:13:22,673 We are educating him from that point of view, 185 00:13:22,674 --> 00:13:30,783 that the living entity is entrapped within this body, and according to his desire, 186 00:13:30,784 --> 00:13:40,433 he’s changing different types of body and undergoing continually birth and death. 187 00:13:40,434 --> 00:13:45,383 So in order to save him from the cycle of birth and death, 188 00:13:45,384 --> 00:13:49,303 one has to understand God, or Kṛṣṇa. 189 00:13:49,304 --> 00:13:51,913 Kṛṣṇa means God. 190 00:13:51,914 --> 00:14:01,603 Then he comes to his real, identical position as spiritual body, 191 00:14:01,604 --> 00:14:05,223 and then he lives forever. 192 00:14:05,224 --> 00:14:07,143 He lives forever. 193 00:14:07,144 --> 00:14:12,723 Just like a man changing constantly dresses; that does not mean he’s dying. 194 00:14:12,724 --> 00:14:15,853 Similarly, we do not die. 195 00:14:15,854 --> 00:14:19,053 na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre [Bg. 2.20] 196 00:14:19,054 --> 00:14:23,015 After destruction of this body, we are not dying. 197 00:14:23,016 --> 00:14:23,923 We remain. 198 00:14:23,924 --> 00:14:27,463 But we simply accept another body. 199 00:14:27,464 --> 00:14:31,442 So this is a great botheration. 200 00:14:31,443 --> 00:14:33,133 But people are in ignorance. 201 00:14:33,134 --> 00:14:38,553 They’re thinking that after death there is no life. 202 00:14:38,554 --> 00:14:43,593 This ignorance is a great, I mean to say, difficult position. 203 00:14:43,594 --> 00:14:47,764 So we are trying to educate them how to get out of this 204 00:14:47,765 --> 00:14:52,833 entanglement of cycle, birth and death. 205 00:14:52,834 --> 00:14:56,493 And therefore there are so many books on this subject matter. 206 00:14:56,494 --> 00:14:58,323 It is a very serious movement. 207 00:14:58,324 --> 00:15:03,053 It is not compared to the so many rascal movements. 208 00:15:03,054 --> 00:15:06,433 So if you are serious, you can study our books, 209 00:15:06,434 --> 00:15:09,893 you can try to understand the philosophy, science; 210 00:15:09,894 --> 00:15:14,793 then the whole human society will be benefited. 211 00:15:14,794 --> 00:15:17,818 Well, I’m sure many New Zealanders would like to know 212 00:15:17,819 --> 00:15:21,833 - the very reason why your… - Oh, everywhere we are liked. 213 00:15:21,834 --> 00:15:25,943 No, why do your followers chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa chant in the street? 214 00:15:25,944 --> 00:15:27,893 What is the reason behind this? 215 00:15:27,894 --> 00:15:37,213 Reason is that Hare Kṛṣṇa… Kṛṣṇa is the name of God, Kṛṣṇa. 216 00:15:37,214 --> 00:15:43,813 So if you… Kṛṣṇa is absolute, God is absolute. 217 00:15:43,814 --> 00:15:49,763 God’s name and God, there is no difference. 218 00:15:49,764 --> 00:15:51,843 That is absolute idea. 219 00:15:51,844 --> 00:16:01,123 So if you chant Kṛṣṇa’s name, that means you associate with Kṛṣṇa, directly, God. 220 00:16:01,124 --> 00:16:08,413 And by associating with God, you become purified. 221 00:16:08,414 --> 00:16:13,833 Then the dirty things within your mind… You are thinking, 222 00:16:13,834 --> 00:16:18,313 “I am this body,” as the dog is also thinking, 223 00:16:18,314 --> 00:16:21,374 “I belong to America,” “I belong to Australia,” 224 00:16:21,375 --> 00:16:25,783 “I belong to New Zealand,” “I… India,” and… 225 00:16:25,784 --> 00:16:28,923 These wrong conception will go away. 226 00:16:28,924 --> 00:16:34,383 Then we’ll understand that “I am not this or that; I am spirit soul, 227 00:16:34,384 --> 00:16:37,353 part and parcel of God.” 228 00:16:37,354 --> 00:16:45,333 Then real knowledge begins, and if we act accordingly, our life becomes successful. 229 00:16:45,334 --> 00:16:48,533 So this movement is not meant for you and me— 230 00:16:48,534 --> 00:16:56,203 for everyone who is intelligent human being. 231 00:16:56,204 --> 00:16:57,193 Thank you, Swami. 232 00:16:57,194 --> 00:16:59,613 That wraps it up for me unless anybody’s got any more questions? 233 00:16:59,614 --> 00:17:04,163 - Thank you, thank you very much. - Hare Kṛṣṇa. 234 00:17:04,164 --> 00:17:13,014 Thank you very much 235 00:17:13,015 --> 00:17:13,016 Subtitles by Gopī Kāntā Dāsa, Causelessmercy.com Sponsored by Jitarati Dāsa & Pratyatoṣa Dāsa