Interview with Mr. Koshi
(Asst. Editor of The Current Weekly)
with His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
April 5, 1977, Bombay

Tamala Krsna: Srila Prabhupada, this is Mr. B. T. Koshi. He is the assistant editor of The Current, which is a weekly news magazine.

Prabhupada: “Current”?

Tamala Krsna: “Current.”

Prabhupada: Betiye.

Tamala Krsna: You want to set this tape recorder up? [break]

Prabhupada: He can sit.

Mr. Koshi: I have come from the material world. Totally different from what is the situation outside. You have been in the news at the festival. I decided to try and see you. There is a lot of curiosity as to what the movement is about. Not only here, but abroad. A lot of controversy. I would like to know how this movement started, what gave you the idea. What is the background? And why it was called the Krsna consciousness movement? Is it a return to something very fundamental?

Prabhupada: This movement is started to give something to the whole human society about the real culture. And that is India’s prerogative. India can give it. The whole world is in darkness of ignorance. So India was expected after independence to give the real knowledge. But instead of giving the real knowledge, they became victimized by their glimmer of material civilization. So I wanted that such a magnificent gift from the side of India, it shall remain uncontributed to the world, let me try. This is my… This culture is based on Bhagavad-gita, Krsna. Therefore it is named Krsna consciousness. In India practically every home, every person, every leader, they read Bhagavad-gita. But unfortunately they do not understand the human life. Because in the beginning of the Bhagavad-gita we find Krsna says,

dehino ’smin yatha dehe kaumaram yauvanam jara tatha dehantara-praptir dhiras tatra na muhyati [Bg. 2.13]

Take Bhagavad-gita.

asocyan anvasocas tvam prajna-vadams ca bhasase gatasun agatasums ca nanusocanti panditah [Bg. 2.11]

This is beginning. When Krsna began to instruct, began instructing Arjuna about Bhagavad-gita, the first chastisement was given to Arjuna that “You are talking like a pandita, but you are a rascal.”

Mr. Koshi: Because you are a…?

Prabhupada: “Because you are a rascal. Because you are giving stress on the body.” Asocyan anvasocas tvam [Bg. 2.11] The body is a lump of matter. It is not the subject matter for discussing or lamenting. It is a lump of matter. Now this, what is called…

Mr. Koshi: Machine. Tape recorder.

Prabhupada: This machine, so long it is working, it is valuable. If it does not work, what is the value? Throw it out. Similarly, the machine is not important, but so long it is working, it is important. So we must know what is that working principle. That is knowledge. So generally, people, they are embarrassed with the machine, this body. But they do not know what the power in the machine. Am I right or wrong?

Mr. Koshi: Hm.

Prabhupada: This is a wrong type of civilization. A civilization of ignorance. Animal civilization. Just like animals: the cat, the dog, the cow, he does not know what is the working principle in the body. So he is jumping and running as a dog, as a cat, and he appears to be very busy. Similarly, the modern civilization, they are jumping and running like cats and dogs, but does not know what is the principle which is helping him to jump and run. That is the beginning of Bhagavad-gita. Asmin dehe dehinah. The active principle is there within this body. So who knows it? Ask big, big leaders, big, big scholars of Bhagavad-gita. They are concerned with this body. Nobody is interested with the active principle within the body. So what do they know about Bhagavad-gita? The basic principle is wrong. Krsna is speaking on the subject matter within the body, the active principle. Dehino ’smin yatha dehe [Bg. 2.13]. Asmin dehe. The dehi, the owner of the body, is there. Who knows it? Tell me. This is the beginning of Bhagavad-gita lesson. But one does not know that what is the important thing in this body. Not this machine, but the power that is driving the machine. And still, they are proud of becoming scholar on Bhagavad-gita, knower of Bhagavad-gita and so on, so on. This is going on. This misconception. They are themselves in ignorance, and they are keeping their followers in ignorance. Therefore no benefit has been derived from this culture of Bhagavad-gita. We wanted to give it to the world. This is the purpose.

Mr. Koshi: This is what you have tried to do. Why is it necessary to concentrate on this name, “Krsna”?

Prabhupada: First of all, you understand what is the importance of this movement. Then you will understand Krsna. First of all, you have to know what is the important things are there. One thing is this bodily machine and the other thing is the power within the machine.

Mr. Koshi: The driving force.

Prabhupada: But you do not know what is the power. You are simply embarrassed with the machine. So just try to understand your position in ignorance. As soon as the power within machine is gone, it is useless. Everything is thrown away, a lump of matter. So who is culturing higher…

Mr. Koshi: (Hindi) Srila Prabhupada, Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada. (introduces Indian to Srila Prabhupada)

Prabhupada: Betiye, sit down.

Indian (1): No, he has come to pay respect to you.

Prabhupada: That’s all right. But wait. Let him come in. The point is that if you keep yourself in ignorance, then what is the use of advancing further? If your basic principle is calculated wrong, then whatever you construct on that wrong background, everything is wrong. One mistake done in the beginning, then plus minus, plus minus, ultimately it is wrong. So our Krsna consciousness means that unless you take seriously what Krsna says, you are simply jumping like animals. This is Krsna consciousness. First of all, you understand your position, what Krsna says. Then go ahead. You do not understand the basic principle what Krsna says and you are declaring yourself, “I am reading Bhagavad-gita and Bhagavad-gita is my life,” and so on.

Mr. Koshi: Would you say that this is a return to this Bhagavad-gita?

Prabhupada: Yes. This culture is purely Bhagavad-gita. Therefore we have given the name “Krsna consciousness.” What Krsna said, take it.

Mr. Koshi: Is it somewhat similar to the… [break]

Prabhupada: We are preaching what Krsna says. We do not mind what others says. There may be similarities, there may not be similarities. It doesn’t matter. But we are concerned with the instruction that Krsna says. I haven’t got to tally what Krsna says and what you say. I have no business to do that. We are simply concerned what Krsna says. Now if you like, you can take it. If you don’t like, you take your own. But we are speaking only on Krsna. So our lamentable subject matter, subject is that India has got so great exalted knowledge on Bhagavad-gita, and the government has got Cultural Department, and all leaders, at least they are supposed to give support to Bhagavad-gita. Why they are not taking seriously and give it to the…? And they are taking it seriously. My single attempt to preach the teachings of Bhagavad-gita as it is, they are accepting it all over the world. Why not give it an organized way. All the Indian leaders, they are simply imitating jumping like the Western people.

Mr. Koshi: But there will be the accusation that being a secular state…

Prabhupada: Secular, pecular this is… Knowledge is knowledge. We cannot compromise. Knowledge is knowledge. It cannot be changed because there is secular, pecular. Knowledge is knowledge. Just like this asmin dehe dehino ’smin. What is secular knowledge? It is knowledge for everyone. Within this body the active principle is there. And the secular knowledge says “No, no, the active principle is outside.” We have to accept it? Knowledge is knowledge. Two plus two is equal to everyone, everywhere. It is four.

Mr. Koshi: But those who do not subscribe to this process…

Prabhupada: Who do not subscribe, if they say “Five,” shall we have to take it?

Mr. Koshi: No, I agree. I agree.

Prabhupada: Then why…? What is this? This is nonsense. Two plus two equal to four. It will be accepted by everyone. Every scientist, every mathematician. And if by vote, secular state, “It is five” or “It is six,” shall we have to accept it? We have to accept knowledge as it is. Why you say secular or not secular?

Mr. Koshi: No, I think it is a question of accepting a concept of…

Prabhupada: No concept. It is science. It is not… Try to understand this. “Two plus two” is science. It is not concept.

Mr. Koshi: I know that. But let us look at it this way. You are saying that Krsna is important, but somebody else says that somebody else is important.

Prabhupada: If Krsna is important, why shall He not be taken?

Mr. Koshi: If somebody else says that Jack is important…

Prabhupada: Somebody. What is that somebody? Is he a scientist? Is he a philosopher? Is he advanced? Any loafer class man say anything.

Mr. Koshi: There are scholars from other religions also.

Prabhupada: Then you do not understand the standpoint. We have to understand the active principle of life. So why other scholars will disagree? Then he is not a scholar. Let us come to the scientific point of view. We have to understand what is the active principle within this machine. It is equally important to all scholars. That we have to preach. They may say that “Your Krsna; our this.” No. That knowledge Krsna is giving for everyone. And it is accepted by everyone. They are Christians. How they are accepting? I am not bribing them.

Mr. Koshi: They are all nationalities?

Prabhupada: Yes. Everyone. Any scientific man, any advanced in education…

Mr. Koshi: Have you put any conditions?

Prabhupada: No conditions. You try to understand. Within this body the active principle is there. Where is condition? You try to understand if you have knowledge.

Mr. Koshi: But a renunciation of something?

Prabhupada: Again why you are coming to renunciation? First of all come to the knowledge. First of all accept that within this body there is the active principle. Then whether it is required renunciation, no renunciation, that we shall discuss later on. First of all, we have to understand, as Krsna says in the very beginning, that asmin dehe dehi. Within this body, there is the owner of the body. First of all try to understand. He is speaking on that subject matter. Dehi. Not on the deha. People should understand first of all this science. Then talk of other things. When we say “Two plus two equal to four,” no scholar will deny it. “Yes, it is four.” Nobody, no rascal will say, “No, it is five or three.” Nobody will disagree, if it is science, if it is mathematics. Similarly, Krsna says within this body, the owner of the body. Who will deny it? Let them accept it. Then we shall discuss what is that owner, what is the nature of that owner. First of all let them accept it. They are accepting the machine as everything. Do you agree or not?

Mr. Koshi: Yeah, but who is the owner?

Prabhupada: Ah. Yes. Machine, if you take the importance of the machine and not the machine driver, then what is your knowledge? If a dog is thinking “I am a bulldog, gow gow,” and if a man is thinking “I am Indian, gow gow,” what is the difference? He is embarrassed with the machine body, and he is also embarrassed with the machine body. The dog is jumping, monkey is jumping with a machine body, and if we also imitate jumping like the dog and the monkey, so what is the difference? The human being is to understand that “I am not this body.” That is the first knowledge. That is the first principle.

brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kanksati samah sarvesu bhutesu mad-bhaktim labhate param [Bg. 18.54]

That is brahma-jnana. Athato brahma jijnasa. So these things are here in India. Instead of distributing, understanding these things, we are jumping like cats and dogs, like the Western civilization. Anthill and four-wheel dog race. These big, big buildings, they are like anthill. You know anthill? The ant also can make a big stack of earth. Does it mean it is civilization to compete with the ant? Or run with the dog? Sometimes if a car is driving, and dog is running, it is a competition and the dog running. Is that civilization? Without understanding, the whole thing is going on, running on like that. Why India should imitate? India has got so much great exalted knowledge given by Krsna. India should learn it and teach it to the whole world. That is India’s business. Paropakara. And that is being done in Krsna consciousness. Very important movement, very scientific movement. So do not neglect it. Come and join, learn it and give it to the whole world. This is the perfect knowledge, paropakara. Not to imitate there and jump like monkeys and cats and dogs. This is not good.

Mr. Koshi: All sorts of lessons are going out.

Prabhupada: All sorts may go, but you must know the real message, that within this machine the owner of the machine, the driver of the machine… All sorts of… There are three thousand parts in a motorcar. You have all sorts of knowledge about the parts of the car, and you do not know who is driving, then what is this knowledge? Every paper, every learned man, every…, every should take it seriously and implement it. It is not meant for everyone. Still, there must be an institution to teach this, I mean, the highest standard of knowledge to the human being. Why they should simply jump like cats and dogs? This is our mission. So don’t try to imitate cats and dogs, but be human being. Understand what is your position and cultivate that knowledge. That is nature’s way. The evolutionary process, after 8,400,000 species of life, it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita that if you don’t understand this opportunity, then nivartante mrtyu-samsara-vartmani. Find out this verse. Aprapya mam. Asraddadhanah purusa dharmasyasya parantapa [Bg. 9.3] “Those who are not interested in the teachings of the Bhagavad-gita, the result will be he will not understand Me, God, and he will again return to the cycle of birth and death.”

Mr. Koshi: But how many people have the capability. As you say, they are jumping up and down.

Prabhupada: Yes. So it is not for… You see. When we talk of diamond, it does not mean that everyone will be able to purchase it. But there must be the diamond. Because there is no customer, very many customer, diamond should be abolished?

Mr. Koshi: No.

Prabhupada: That is not possible. Similarly, how many men will understand or not understand, that is not the consideration. But we have got in India such exalted knowledge. We must cultivate and distribute knowledge as far as possible. It is our duty. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission. Bharata-bhumite manusya-janma haila yara [Cc. Adi 9.41]. You understand Bengali?

Mr. Koshi: No.

Prabhupada: “Anyone who has taken birth as human being in India, janma sarthaka kari’ kara para-upakara, first of all make your life successful by understanding what is life, and then distribute.” This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu. You have got this asset. You have rejected.

Mr. Koshi: You started this ten years ago. But why is it that when you were recognized…, you were recognized by others and not in this country?

Prabhupada: Huh? Because they are so poor that they cannot purchase diamond. But diamond must be there. They are so poor- hearted, their education has been so poorly given that they cannot understand.

Mr. Koshi: Poorly given.

Prabhupada: Yes. That “You are this body, jump like cats and dogs,” that’s all. What is nationalism? This is, that “You are this body. Jump like cats and dogs.” A group, as a group of crows gather together, caw caw caw caw. That has been taught. Make group and crow.

Mr. Koshi: Something is wrong.

Prabhupada: Yes. You don’t find this word “nationalism” in the Bhagavad-gita. You don’t find it. Can you find out this word? These are all borrowed words.

Mr. Koshi: And what is your alternative?

Prabhupada: Huh? What is that? We are preaching internationalism, everyone welcome. Come to Krsna consciousness. That is being done. Real United Nations. Here is Christian, here is Jew, here is African, here is Muhammadan, everything. Worldwide. That is real United Nations. They have no conception. If they would thought that “I am American,” then why he is after a poor Indian man? Indians are known outside India as poverty-stricken, and that’s a fact. So why he should come to the person born of poverty-stricken nation? But actually we are not poverty-stricken. If we cultivate our own standard of knowledge, Bhagavad-gita, then we are the richest and we can give the whole world the gift. That should be… And they will welcome. That will be glorified if they accept. Just see. This is our… I am trying for that.

Mr. Koshi: How are you trying?

Prabhupada: India is not poverty-stricken. India can give him something which will glorify your life. It is meant… I do not say India is poverty-stricken. I say India is the richest. Believe it, take it. So we have no such concern as “India” or “America,” no. We are concerned with the living entities. We have no such stagnant idea. Stagnation. We have no such thing. Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Bharata-bhumite haila manusya-janma. That bharata-bhumite manusya. Manusya means man. He is different from others. Therefore he should know what is his position. Make his life successful and distribute the knowledge because they are ignorant. This should be India’s position, teacher to the whole world. Not beggar.

Mr. Koshi: This support that you want… People have not taken sufficient interest in this distribution.

Prabhupada: Because they have been taught like that.

Mr. Koshi: Taught to receive, not to give.

Prabhupada: Yes. They have been taught to become group of dogs and crows. That’s all. These political party.

Mr. Koshi: You are against politicians.

Prabhupada: No, no, we are not against, neither for. But these things will go on. This is going on since the creation, but that will not help. There have been, in other countries there has been Napoleon, there has been Hitler, there has been Mussolini, there has been Churchill. In India also we had many leaders like Gandhi and others. So what contribution they made? People are suffering.

Mr. Koshi: But you yourself were involved in some of the movements.

Prabhupada: Yes. It is not movement, it is knowledge. It is not artificial movement. It is knowledge, real knowledge, that you are not this body. You are not this machine. It is knowledge. It is meant for everyone. But you take an artificial movement. It is not. It is knowledge. And it is your duty to give knowledge to the people. If you have got any knowledge… All scientists do like that. It is not movement. When a scientist goes all over the world, he gives about his discovery, it is not movement. It is scientific knowledge. Movement is you create something and make your followers. That is movement. It is not like that. It is scientific knowledge that you are not this body. Dehino ’smin yatha. That is the beginning of Bhagavad-gita. Those who are fortunate, they will accept it. Manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye, yatatam api siddhanam [Bg. 7.3]. Find out this verse. Everything is there in the Bhagavad-gita, but we are neglecting. Allah… We are getting photograph(?) in Bhagavad-gita. This is… Actually understand Bhagavad-gita and distribute the knowledge. That is our aim.

Mr. Koshi: But are there anything… Isn’t there something more fundamental than that?

Prabhupada: There are many things, and they are all subordinate. First of all you understand the body and the owner of the body. In the body there are so many things. Similarly, the owner of deha, greater number of things to know. First of all try to understand the beginning, that you are not this body. That is the fundamental understanding. Then you understand what is the composition of the body and what is the composition of the… The first knowledge is lacking, mistaken, that “I am this body.” Yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke [SB 10.84.13]. They are accepting this body as atma. Apasyatam atma-tattvam [SB 2.1.2]. We have written so many books, eighty-four books. And they are reading. In the Western world they are taking it.

Mr. Koshi: Yes, I was told.

Prabhupada: Russia also they are taking it. So gradually they will take. They are intelligent. And we are neglecting. This is our misfortune. And misled we are. We are neglecting. But the leaders, they do not know what is Bhagavad-gita, and they are professing as “I am scholar in the Bhagavad-gita.” They do not know what is distinction between the body and the owner of the body. The first lesson of Bhagavad-gita they do not know. Then what they will understand Bhagavad-gita? This is the first lesson.

Mr. Koshi: What is the solution?

Prabhupada: Solution, you learn it!

Mr. Koshi: But they don’t want to do it.

Prabhupada: Then let them, they will go to hell. What can be done? If you want to cut your own throat, you can do it, who can save you? But our duty is don’t make suicide. We must be all sane and tactful. But if you commit suicide, that is your business. What can I do? We shall go on. This is suicidal condition, to live like cats and dogs and jump like monkeys. Losing the opportunity of human being, where you can understand? Athato brahma jijnasa. This is Vedanta-sutra. They are neglecting it. They are neglecting it. You will go to hell. Krsna says mam aprapya. Everything is there.

asraddadhanah purusa dharmasyasya parantapa aprapya mam nivartante mrtyu-samsara-vartmani [Bg. 9.3]

They do not know what is the risk of mrtyu-samsara-vartmani. After all, you have to die. After death, if you become a tree in front of my house, who can check it? It is law of nature. You cannot check it. Then what will be your position? Stand up for thousands of years in one… So risky. They do not understand. They do not discuss these things in the Bhagavad-gita, and still they are scholars of Bhagavad-gita. They write comment on the Bhagavad-gita, whimsically. This is going on. There are so many things to be learned from Bhagavad-gita. They do not understand. And they are writing comment on Bhagavad-gita, misleading others. It is clear. Dharma-ksetre kuru-ksetre samaveta [Bg. 1.1] It is clear. They will comment, they will make some bogus meaning.

Mr. Koshi: Interpretation.

Prabhupada: Yes. Spoil their own life and spoil others. This is going on. The meaning is clear, but these rascals are thinking that “Meaning is not clear. Krsna left for me to clear the meaning.” That’s all. Such rascals, they are touching Bhagavad-gita. As if Krsna left for him to clear the meaning. These rubbish things we want to stop. Of course, it is not possible. Many others are. But we are trying little, that’s all. We cannot make any compromise. Therefore Krsna consciousness. What Krsna says, that is a fact. They are completely under the grip of material nature. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani [Bg. 3.27]. They are declaring independence. Ahankara-vimudhatma kartaham iti manyate [Bg. 3.27]. False, ahankara, egotism. Nature in one slap, crack! Indira Gandhi is so powerful, one slap, “Get out.” What can you do? One slap is sufficient. They do not understand. Jump. They do not know. They are completely under the control of prakrti, and prakrti is under the control of Krsna. Mayadhyaksena prakrtih suyate sa-caracaram [Bg. 9.10]. They do not discuss this. Still they are scholar in Bhagavad-gita. Simply picking up some words, they become scholar. Is that scholarship? They do not read even the whole Bhagavad-gita, neither they understand. This is going on.

Mr. Koshi: Is interpretation necessary or not?

Prabhupada: Why interpretation?

Mr. Koshi: Some passages, they do not know to understand it.

Prabhupada: Just like if they do not know this is a tape recorder. What is interpreting? Everyone knows that this is a tape recorder. So what is interpretation? Interpretation required when you do not understand.

Mr. Koshi: Is it that simple and clear for everybody?

Prabhupada: No, that is the way of interpretation. Amongst the learned circle, interpretation required when the things are not clear. If the things are clear, why nonsense interpretation? There is no need of interpretation. Dharma-ksetre kuru-ksetre [Bg. 1.1]. Kuruksetra is still there, and people go there for pilgrimage. And in the Vedas it is stated kuru-ksetre dharman acaret. “Go to Kuruksetra and perform ritualistic ceremonies.” What is the difficulty? Why should I interpret, “Kuruksetra means this, and means this, that”? Why? To mislead others and mislead himself. This is not required. But they are doing it. That is misleading. If you can interpret Bhagavad-gita by your own interpretation, then what is the authority of Bhagavad-gita? Everyone can do like that. Everyone can say “It is my interpretation.” Then where is the authority of Bhagavad-gita? These things should be stopped. Real Bhagavad-gita should be studied. People should make life Bhagavad-gita and preach all over the world. This is our movement.

Mr. Koshi: Can I change the subject now?

Prabhupada: Subject?

Mr. Koshi: I mean to something different, about the… You all have list, some conditions in this…

Prabhupada: No condition. Study Bhagavad-gita. Make your life…

Mr. Koshi: No, for example, the saffron robe, the beads…

Prabhupada: That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita.

Mr. Koshi: And the shaving of the head with the little…

Prabhupada: Oh, yes. Varnasrama. Varnasrama. This is asrama. He is sannyasi, he must take to it.

Mr. Koshi: And the avoidance of…

Prabhupada: Catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah [Bg. 4.13] So just like if you take, become a police officer, you must take the dress.

Mr. Koshi: Uniform. No, but say the avoidance of tea and coffee and all that.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Mr. Koshi: Is something wrong with tea?

Prabhupada: Yes. It is sinful, pana.

Mr. Koshi: By itself it is not bad.

Prabhupada: Itself is bad, sinful.

Mr. Koshi: It’s a neutral thing.

Prabhupada: You say, but sastra says striya, suna, pana, dyuta, four kinds of sinful activities. Illicit sex; pana, intoxication. Pana, pana, so it is intoxication. Therefore it is sinful.

Mr. Koshi: And what is the fourth?

Prabhupada: Striya, suna and jiva-himsa, unnecessarily killing animals.

Mr. Koshi: And therefore vegetarianism. Is that why vegetarianism is…?

Prabhupada: First of all, you try to understand the principles. These are the four principles of sinful life. So you should avoid. Unless… Yesam anta gatam papam. That is the… Unless you are free from sinful activities, you cannot understand Krsna. Yesam anta gatam papam jananam punya-karmanam, te dvandva-moha-nirmukta [Bg. 7.28].

Mr. Koshi: What is the meaning of that?

Prabhupada: Anyone who is completely free from sinful activities, he can understand Krsna. If you are engaged in sinful activities, how you will understand Krsna? Therefore these things are forbidden. “Don’t do this. Understand Krsna.”

manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye yatatam api siddhanam kascin mam vetti tattvatah [Bg. 7.3]

Mr. Koshi: I don’t understand.

Prabhupada: You don’t understand, therefore I say you become a student. Understand it. That is our institution. If you don’t want to understand, that is another thing.

Mr. Koshi: No. I try to understand, but I drink coffee and tea. I cannot…

Prabhupada: Because you have not been taught by proper teacher.

Mr. Koshi: That I accept.

Prabhupada: That is not your fault. Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum eva abhigacchet [MU 1.2.12] This is Vedic injunction. So therefore our brahmacari system. First of all one becomes brahmacari. Brahmacari guru-kule vasan danto guror hitam [SB 7.12.1]. These things are there. Everything is there and we don’t take advantage of this knowledge. We are after becoming dogs, that’s all.

Mr. Koshi: But there are several millions like me.

Prabhupada: That does not mean… Several zeros does not mean one. Millions of zeros does not mean one. Zero is zero. If several millions of zeros, adding, you cannot make one. That is not possible. One is required. And if you want after zero, you go on. But if you are after one, mam ekam saranam vraja, then you are Krsna conscious. Sarva-dharman parityajya [Bg. 18.66]. Don’t after these zeros. Mam ekam saranam vraja. This is the… If you are after zeros, that is your business. Krsna says “Come after one.” Then…

Mr. Koshi: So you say one, you mean this…

Prabhupada: “One” means Krsna.

Mr. Koshi: Yes, I know. But what about the rest in the pantheon? There are hundreds in the…

Prabhupada: Why you are concerned? If you become perfect by one, why you’re after so many? Aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah. So we have taken that one. That’s all. Krsna. We are not after zeros. Ask these boys to come after zeros and bribe them millions of dollars. They will refuse: “No, we’re after one, Krsna.” They have been trained up. Kasmin tu bhagavo vijnate sarvam idam vijnatam bhavati. We have written these big, big books, eighty-four books, only on Krsna. Now it is recognized that Hare Krsna movement is genuine, in New York high court.

Mr. Koshi: Yes, I saw the review in the Times of India also. But there was a lot of controversy there. It was called brainwashing and all that.

Prabhupada: There are so many accusations. Now in the court has acknowledged, “It is genuine.”

Mr. Koshi: But you don’t require recognition of any court, do you?

Prabhupada: You require. (laughter) I don’t require. You require.

Mr. Koshi: Until then, there is a doubt.

Prabhupada: Yes. Because you are after the court, after the judges. We are not after anyone. We are after one: Krsna. That’s all. For you, it is confirmed. We know what our duty is. For the last twelve years there were so many impediments. It did not stop us. There was so much harassment.

Mr. Koshi: Where? Here, in this country?

Prabhupada: Not here, there.

Mr. Koshi: In the United States.

Prabhupada: Oh, yes. They were kidnapped, they were taken by force, and so on, so on. So many times.

Mr. Koshi: No, I think the opposition comes because of…

Prabhupada: Opposition comes means there was some strength of this movement. Therefore there was…

Mr. Koshi: No, I think the complaint was of families…

Prabhupada: Whatever it may be, they felt the strength. In Bengali it is called capale babale.(?)

Mr. Koshi: What is the meaning of that?

Prabhupada: Meaning means when there is some weight, is a (indistinct). So now they are feeling the weight of this Hare Krsna movement.

Mr. Koshi: They were afraid of something.

Prabhupada: Oh, yes.

Mr. Koshi: Why?

Prabhupada: Because the young men are taking it.

Mr. Koshi: But how does it…

Prabhupada: It is not such yoga system. (imitates snoring) Meditation. It is not like that. Young men, they are taking it. They are preaching, they have sacrificed their life. So they are intelligent persons, they can understand that we should not die. It is not old man’s recreation.

Mr. Koshi: No, but you are responsible for it.

Prabhupada: I am not… Krsna is responsible. I am just distributing. My duty is to distribute. That’s all.

Mr. Koshi: Would you call yourself a guru?

Prabhupada: Yes, I am guru.

Mr. Koshi: Because there are others who call themselves Bhagavan.

Prabhupada: Let them call.

Mr. Koshi: Are you a Bhagavan?

Prabhupada: Guru is not Bhagavan. Guru is the servant of Bhagavan.

Mr. Koshi: Servant of Bhagavan. Are you happy with the way the movement has really spread? The…

Prabhupada: Why not? Because I am giving the standard movement. I am not manufacturing anything. I am giving what is said by Krsna. I am just distributing that. Why shall I not be happy? I am not manufacturing anything. That is not my business.

Mr. Koshi: How are others doing?

Prabhupada: Yes, they are manufacturing. They have to do artificially. My things are ready, but I have simply distributed. Why shall I not be happy? If you do something artificially, you have to manufacture. I am not doing that. My things are ready.

Mr. Koshi: How is your health now?

Prabhupada: Not good. Health or not health, it is the outward machine. That doesn’t matter. But if it is a good machine then it helps, that’s all. Otherwise, machine good or bad, it doesn’t matter to machine driver.

Mr. Koshi: What happens when the machine stops?

Prabhupada: It changes. Tatha dehantara-praptih.

Mr. Koshi: What is the meaning of that?

Prabhupada: If your machine is stopped, you take another machine. That’s all. You go on hearing. Not that your work will stop. You give up this machine. Take another machine. Actually you do that. Why shall I be overwhelmed, “Oh, machine is gone, machine is…”? Therefore Krsna says, asocyan anvasocas tvam: [Bg. 2.11] “You are lamenting for the machine, nonsense. This is not pandita’s business.” Nanusocanti panditah. Machine is gone, take another one, that’s all. Go on.

Mr. Koshi: What is your day like, typical day? In the morning, what time you get up? Your day, how do you spend the day?

Prabhupada: How can I say? I have got so many things.

Mr. Koshi: But do you receive visitors most of the time, or do you do a lot of reading?

Prabhupada: No, no. I am sometimes receiving important visitors. Just like you are editor, if you understand, you can, if you like, there will be so many gains, beneficial. Therefore I…

Mr. Koshi: Do you take interest in the political happenings?

Prabhupada: That will go on.

Mr. Koshi: No, but do you take interest?

Prabhupada: Indira Gandhi goes, another Gandhi comes, another Gandhi goes, another Gandhi comes, another. That is the history, whole history of the world. There is nothing new. Punah punas carvita-carvananam [SB 7.5.30], chewing the chewed. Politics means chewing the chewed, that’s all.

Mr. Koshi: Chewing the?

Prabhupada: Chewing something, just like sugar candy. You have chewed it, taken all the juice, you have thrown it away. Another man is chewing it. It is like that. Indira Gandhi also promised so many things, and she is now out, and somebody is speaking something.

Mr. Koshi: Morarji now.

Prabhupada: Anyone. And in some day he will not be there, somebody will come. That is the history of the whole world. But that will not benefit the human society, politics. It is useless. This knowledge will help make the solution. Dehino ’smin yatha dehe [Bg. 2.13] We are suffering in this material condition, and He is delivering from this. That is real upakara. That’s the repetition of history, politics.

Mr. Koshi: But it has been going on for quite some time.

Prabhupada: It is going on, but time immemorial. That is not the solution.

Mr. Koshi: They have seen to have more control over people than others. When a person is empowered, his actions can affect so many people.

Prabhupada: So what kind of people?

Mr. Koshi: Cats and dogs.

Prabhupada: That’s all. Sva-vid-varaha. They have been described in the Bhagavata as dogs, camels, asses and hogs. Sva-vid-varaha-ustra-kharaih samstutah purusah pasuh. [break] The leader of hogs, dogs, camels and asses. Our civilization is brahminical, brahmana. That is wanted.

Mr. Koshi: Is that good or bad?

Prabhupada: That is good. Unless you become brahmana, real brahmana, sama, dama, titiksa, how you will understand? We are not for the hogs, dogs, cats. Therefore it is sometimes said that without becoming brahmana, nobody should try to understand Vedas. What he will understand? Param satyam dhimahi. Dhimahi. This word is used because it is meant for the brahmanas. Om bhur bhuvah svah… dhimahi. Dhimahi. Dhimahi is gayatri-mantra. It is chanted by the brahmanas. That word is used in Bhagavatam also.

Tamala Krsna: Srila Prabhupada, I wanted to suggest that if he has some further questions, we could try to answer them, and then if there is still some unanswered…

Prabhupada: No. He has no answer on this spiritual matter. He’ll ask me some political… We have no function in politics.

Mr. Koshi: No, there was a few other questions regarding the Society.

Prabhupada: The fundamental principle is that we are teaching about the owner of the body.

Mr. Koshi: Yeah, but what we are in the outside world… I am not in the Society. What I see outside is totally… You see, when I see a group of young people like these boys here dancing in the street, it is something jarring to my eyes. I am not used to it. What is the necessity for the chant and the…

Prabhupada: That is going on. One man’s food, another man’s poison.

Mr. Koshi: No, no, there is a purpose behind it.

Prabhupada: Yes. Purpose… That is the way. That is the way.

Mr. Koshi: To?

Prabhupada: To spiritual understanding in this age. Ecstasy. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh [SB 7.5.23]. You have to follow the Vedic injunctions. Krsnotkirtana-gana-nartana-parau. Utkirtana-gana-nartana-parau.

Mr. Koshi: So by looking at him you are trying to rouse the interests of the people, or curiosity?

Prabhupada: You can take interest in so many ways. If you are not interested in that way, read books. Are you not interested in reading books? Read. We have got many ways. That is for mass of people. The class of people who wants to understand this movement through science, philosophy, come on, read these books.

Mr. Koshi: One of the conditions is illicit sex.

Prabhupada: That is sinful. Don’t you see, illicit sex, what havoc it has done?

Mr. Koshi: What exactly do you mean?

Prabhupada: Illicit sex, do you think it is…?

Mr. Koshi: Outside marriage, you mean?

Prabhupada: Yes. Not only outside marriage. Even in marriage, you cannot have sex as you like. You must have sex according to the regulative principle or religious principle.

Mr. Koshi: Could you explain?

Prabhupada: Yes. Just like only for begetting nice children.

Mr. Koshi: For begetting?

Prabhupada: Nice children.

Tamala Krsna: Good children.

Mr. Koshi: What is the meaning of good children?

Prabhupada: Good children means not these rogues and thieves, but one who can understand God. That is good children.

Mr. Koshi: It is the parents’ responsibility.

Prabhupada: Yes. Garbhadhana-samskara. These are stated. It is not secret matter. When the father goes to beget child, he has to perform ritualistic ceremonies in the presence of relative, brahmanas. They will understand that “He is going now to beget a child.” It is not a secret thing. It is garbhadhana. And if in a brahmana family the garbhadhana-samskara is not observed, then immediately he becomes a sudra.

Mr. Koshi: What is not a secret thing?

Prabhupada: Secret… Just like when we go and have sex with wife secretly. It is not secret.

Mr. Koshi: There is a ceremony.

Prabhupada: Yes. This is ceremony.

Mr. Koshi: Don’t you think that the children should be given freedom to choose voluntarily?

Prabhupada: Do you want to give freedom to your children?

Mr. Koshi: I am asking you.

Prabhupada: No, no. What is the use of giving freedom to a child with a razor? He will cut his throat, that’s all.

Mr. Koshi: But at a later age, perhaps when he is better…

Prabhupada: Later age, yes. That is enjoined. When child is sixteen years old he can do as he likes, not before that.

lalayet panca varsani dasa varsani tadayet prapte tu sodase varse putram mitravad acaret

This is the moral instruction of Canakya Pandita. Up to five years, don’t chastise, don’t take any action. Let him be free. Whatever he likes, he can do. Then after fifth year, for ten years you must be very strict. Then five years and ten years, fifteen. And when he is sixteen years, treat him like a friend. Prapte tu sodase varse putram mitravad acaret. At that time, no stricture that he will break. “My dear boy, if you do this…” This is necessary. And from fifth year to fifteenth year you should chastise the sons and disciples just like tiger. After five years.

Mr. Koshi: Using the stick.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Tamala Krsna: That’s how you trained us, Srila Prabhupada.

Mr. Koshi: Did you get?

Tamala Krsna: Yes, by Prabhupada. Even though we were not five years old, he treats us just like as if we were five. Because spiritually we are still like that. So he is very strict with us.

Prabhupada: All these boys I chastise vehemently. Even a little mistake.

Mr. Koshi: You…?

Prabhupada: They tolerate. They know.

Tamala Krsna: We are afraid.

Mr. Koshi: What is your message to the world?

Prabhupada: Again you ask me. (laughter) (Hindi)

Mr. Koshi: Yes, I know. but…

Prabhupada: After reading Ramayana you are asking whose father is Sita. (laughter) I have explained already.

Mr. Koshi: (Hindi) I have to return to.

Indian: No, we can make your…, you can make your choice. If you want to know about the Society, we can show you the whole thing. How the whole thing started and everything. For eight years we are doing everything. (Hindi)

Prabhupada: Write nice article.

Mr. Koshi: Don’t worry about that. It is my job.

Prabhupada: It is very important.

Mr. Koshi: I think we will read out the article when it appears. Could you do that?

Gargamuni: We will bring the article to you. It is coming next week.

Mr. Koshi: Yes, within the next two, three weeks, depending on the availability of space.

Tamala Krsna: So print some of this philosophy that Prabhupada has been explaining…

Mr. Koshi: Yeah, but have to report it so simply, because our readers may not be able to understand. And I don’t know Sanskrit.

Prabhupada: I am explaining. You have recorded.

Mr. Koshi: I have accidentally stumbled into the…

Indian: That’s okay. You are most welcome. You can see the film, because there is no time today. Today they have program, and they are doing every day practically. (telling him to come and he will show him around the temple, etc.)

Mr. Koshi: Okay.

Prabhupada: Give him some prasadam.

Mr. Koshi: Thank you very much.

Prabhupada: All right. (guests leave) (end)