View source for Proud of advancement of knowledge

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[[Category:Proud of Advancement of Knowledge|1]]
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<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam" class="section" sec_index="1" parent="compilation" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam"><h2>Srimad-Bhagavatam</h2>
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<div id="SB_Canto_1" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 1"><h3>SB Canto 1</h3>
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<div id="SB1343_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_1" book="SB" index="99" link="SB 1.3.43" link_text="SB 1.3.43">
<div class="heading">They have no information of the spirit soul beyond the jurisdiction of the subtle mind, intelligence or ego, but they are very much proud of their advancement in knowledge, science and material prosperity.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 1.3.43|SB 1.3.43, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">The conditioned souls, who are entrapped by the material energy, hardly know all these principles of life. Most of them are like animals engaged in eating, sleeping, fearing and mating. They are mostly engaged in sense enjoyment under the pretension of religiosity, knowledge or salvation. They are still more blind in the present age of quarrel, or Kali-yuga. In the Kali-yuga the population is just a royal edition of the animals. They have nothing to do with spiritual knowledge or godly religious life. They are so blind that they cannot see anything beyond the needs of the body. They have no information of the spirit soul beyond the jurisdiction of the subtle mind, intelligence or ego, but they are very much proud of their advancement in knowledge, science and material prosperity. They can risk their lives to become a dog or hog just after leaving the present body, for they have completely lost sight of the ultimate aim of life.</p>
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<div id="SB_Canto_3" class="sub_section" sec_index="3" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 3"><h3>SB Canto 3</h3>
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<div id="SB31719_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_3" book="SB" index="686" link="SB 3.17.19" link_text="SB 3.17.19">
<div class="heading">One may be very proud of his material advancement in knowledge, but he cannot be immune to the four principles of material existence, namely birth, death, old age and disease.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 3.17.19|SB 3.17.19, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Actually, it is impossible even for Lord Brahmā to give anyone the benediction of becoming immortal, but indirectly Hiraṇyakaśipu received the benediction that no one within this material world would be able to kill him. In other words, because he originally came from the abode of Vaikuṇṭha, he was not to be killed by anyone within this material world. The Lord desired to appear Himself to kill him. One may be very proud of his material advancement in knowledge, but he cannot be immune to the four principles of material existence, namely birth, death, old age and disease. It was the Lord's plan to teach people that even Hiraṇyakaśipu, who was so powerful and strongly built, could not live more than his destined duration of life. One may become as strong and puffed up as Hiraṇyakaśipu and bring under his control all the three worlds, but there is no possibility of continuing life eternally or keeping the conquered booty forever. So many emperors have ascended to power, and they are now lost in oblivion; that is the history of the world.</p>
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<div id="SB_Canto_4" class="sub_section" sec_index="4" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 4"><h3>SB Canto 4</h3>
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<div id="SB41251_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="545" link="SB 4.12.51" link_text="SB 4.12.51">
<div class="heading">Materialists are very proud of their advancement in education, in philosophical speculation and in scientific knowledge, but no one actually knows what the Absolute Truth is.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.12.51|SB 4.12.51, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Jñānam ajñāta means knowledge which is unknown almost throughout the entire world. No one knows actually what is the Absolute Truth. Materialists are very proud of their advancement in education, in philosophical speculation and in scientific knowledge, but no one actually knows what the Absolute Truth is. The great sage Maitreya, therefore, recommends that to enlighten people about the Absolute Truth (tattva), devotees should preach the teachings of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam throughout the entire world. Śrīla Vyāsadeva especially compiled this great literature of scientific knowledge because people are completely unaware of the Absolute Truth. In the beginning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, First Canto, it is said that Vyāsadeva, the learned sage, compiled this great Bhāgavata Purāṇa just to stop the ignorance of the mass of people. Because people do not know the Absolute Truth, this Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam was specifically compiled by Vyāsadeva under the instruction of Nārada. Generally, even though people are interested in understanding the truth, they take to speculation and reach at most the conception of impersonal Brahman. But very few men actually know the Personality of Godhead.</p>
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<div id="Other_Books_by_Srila_Prabhupada" class="section" sec_index="3" parent="compilation" text="Other Books by Srila Prabhupada"><h2>Other Books by Srila Prabhupada</h2>
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<div id="Easy_Journey_to_Other_Planets" class="sub_section" sec_index="3" parent="Other_Books_by_Srila_Prabhupada" text="Easy Journey to Other Planets"><h3>Easy Journey to Other Planets</h3>
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<div id="EJ2_0" class="quote" parent="Easy_Journey_to_Other_Planets" book="OB" index="3" link="EJ 2" link_text="Easy Journey to Other Planets 2">
<div class="heading">Although people have no knowledge, they are very proud. But it is not advancement of knowledge to go to the moon after ten years of effort and take a rock and come back.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:EJ 2|Easy Journey to Other Planets 2]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">This cosmic manifestation is called "nature," but there is another nature, which is superior. The cosmic manifestation is inferior nature, but beyond this nature, which is manifested and unmanifested, there is another nature, which is called sanātana, eternal. It is easy to understand that everything manifested here is temporary. The obvious example is our body. If one is thirty years old, thirty years ago his body was not manifested, and in another fifty years it will again be unmanifested. That is a factual law of nature. It is manifested and again annihilated, just as waves in the sea rise frequently and then recede. The materialist, however, is simply concerned with this mortal life, which can be finished at any moment. Furthermore, as this body will die, so the entire universe, this gigantic material body, will be annihilated, and whether we are fortunate or unfortunate, on this planet or another planet, everything will be finished. Why then are we wasting our time trying to go to a planet where everything will be finished? We should try to go to Kṛṣṇaloka. This is spiritual science; we must try to understand it, and, after understanding it ourselves, we should preach this message to the whole world. Everyone is in darkness. Although people have no knowledge, they are very proud. But it is not advancement of knowledge to go to the moon after ten years of effort and take a rock and come back. The space travelers are very proud: "Oh, I have touched it." But what have they gained? Even if we were able to live there, it would not be for long. It will all be destroyed in the end.</p>
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<div id="Sri_Isopanisad" class="sub_section" sec_index="8" parent="Other_Books_by_Srila_Prabhupada" text="Sri Isopanisad"><h3>Sri Isopanisad</h3>
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<div id="ISO10_0" class="quote" parent="Sri_Isopanisad" book="OB" index="12" link="ISO 10" link_text="Sri Isopanisad 10">
<div class="heading">No one cares for the cultivation of real knowledge, yet people are falsely proud of being advanced in both material and spiritual knowledge.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:ISO 10|Sri Isopanisad 10, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">There are innumerable suns and innumerable planetary systems also. As infinitesimal parts and parcels of the Supreme Lord, we small creatures are trying to dominate these unlimited planets. Thus we take repeated birth and death and are generally frustrated by old age and disease. The span of human life is scheduled for about a hundred years, although it is gradually decreasing to twenty or thirty years. Thanks to the culture of nescience, befooled men have created their own nations within these planets in order to grasp sense enjoyment more effectively for these few years. Such foolish people draw up various plans to render national demarcations perfectly, a task that is totally impossible. Yet for this purpose each and every nation has become a source of anxiety for others. More than fifty percent of a nation's energy is devoted to defense measures and thus spoiled. No one cares for the cultivation of real knowledge, yet people are falsely proud of being advanced in both material and spiritual knowledge.</p>
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<div id="Lectures" class="section" sec_index="4" parent="compilation" text="Lectures"><h2>Lectures</h2>
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<div id="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="0" parent="Lectures" text="Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures"><h3>Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures</h3>
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<div id="LectureonBG14142LondonJuly291973_0" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="25" link="Lecture on BG 1.41-42 -- London, July 29, 1973" link_text="Lecture on BG 1.41-42 -- London, July 29, 1973">
<div class="heading">An animal has no such feelings of connections. Simply the number of days he will eat. He will eat, sleep, have sex life and die, that's all. This subtle regulation of family connection is unknown at the present moment, and still they are very proud of advancement of knowledge.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 1.41-42 -- London, July 29, 1973|Lecture on BG 1.41-42 -- London, July 29, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">When there are unwanted children, then the family tradition, the family obligation, they are all forgotten. At the present moment, nobody knows that after death there is life, and still such life is connected with the family, the forefathers and the descendants. Nothing of this science is known at the present moment. More or less, exactly like animals. That's all. An animal has no such feelings of connections. Simply the number of days he will eat. He will eat, sleep, have sex life and die, that's all. This subtle regulation of family connection is unknown at the present moment, and still they are very proud of advancement of knowledge. So unwanted children, as we have discussed in the previous... Praduṣyanti kula-striyaḥ ([[Vanisource:BG 1.40 (1972)|BG 1.40]]). If the woman, kula-striyaḥ, family... Family woman and prostitute are different. Still in India, the uncontrolled woman, or there is a class of prostitutes. They are not family women. But kula-striyaḥ, family women, they have got so many obligations. There is a verse that svargāpta-kāma-mokṣāya dharā samprati hetutā. Dharā means wife. Wife can help one to be elevated to the heavenly planets, and dharmārtha-kāma, to become helpful in the matter of advancement in religious and spiritual knowledge: dharma; artha, economic development; kāma, satisfying the husband for sense gratification; dharma artha kāma; and mokṣa also, also for salvation. The wife is so important. If there is chaste wife, she can help the husband in these four principles of life, dharma artha kāma mokṣa (SB 4.8.41, Cc. Ādi 1.90), dharā samprati hetutā.</p>
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<div id="LectureonBG213NewYorkMarch111966_1" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="58" link="Lecture on BG 2.13 -- New York, March 11, 1966" link_text="Lecture on BG 2.13 -- New York, March 11, 1966">
<div class="heading">You may be proud of your scientific advancement of knowledge, but Bhagavad-gītā says that four things... Janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi-duḥkha-doṣānudarśanam. "My dear sir, however you may make advancement in scientific knowledge, you cannot stop birth, you cannot stop death, you cannot stop old age, neither you can stop diseases."
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 2.13 -- New York, March 11, 1966|Lecture on BG 2.13 -- New York, March 11, 1966]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prahlāda Mahārāja says, sadā samudvigna-dhiyām. And why this anxiety? Now, asad-grahāt. Asad-grahāt: "Because he has accepted this temporary body." He is eternal. A living spirit is eternal, but he has been forced to accept this temporary body. This is my position. One should be conscious of his precarious position, that "I am eternal, but I am encaged in a temporary body which will not exist. However I may try to make it youthful by so many arrangement, but no..." The science cannot give you permanent life. That is not possible. You may be, may be proud of your scientific advancement of knowledge, but Bhagavad-gītā says that four things... Janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi-duḥkha-doṣānudarśanam ([[Vanisource:BG 13.8-12 (1972)|BG 13.9]]). "My dear sir, however you may make advancement in scientific knowledge, you cannot stop birth, you cannot stop death, you cannot stop old age, neither you can stop diseases." You see? So, so long we have got this body, so we must have anxieties. That is the law of nature. Now, here, here it is said that... Now let us finish that. Prahlāda Mahārāja said, sadā samudvigna-dhiyām: "My dear father, for persons who have accepted this temporary material body and is full of anxiety always, for them, my idea is that they should give up this materialistic life and surrender unto Hari." Hari means Bhagavān, the Supreme Lord.</p>
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<div id="LectureonBG22025SeattleOctober141968_2" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="83" link="Lecture on BG 2.20-25 -- Seattle, October 14, 1968" link_text="Lecture on BG 2.20-25 -- Seattle, October 14, 1968">
<div class="heading">However they may be proud of their advancement of knowledge, it is childish civilization because they have no future. Everlasting. "How I am going to be everlasting," they do not think of it. You see?
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 2.20-25 -- Seattle, October 14, 1968|Lecture on BG 2.20-25 -- Seattle, October 14, 1968]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Your everlasting position is that you are spirit soul. You have to transfer yourself in that healthy condition. Not this diseased condition. This is disease. My birth and death is disease. You have to cure this disease. That is your problem, real problem. But they are not serious about solving this real problem, birth and death. They are thinking, "So long I live, let me enjoy senses as far as possible, and let me enjoy." That's all. That's their philosophy. Child's philosophy. Just like child does not look forward his future. He's very playful. He sees that "This playing will make me happy." Similarly, these rascals, they are simply enjoying senses, forgetting their future life. So this is a rascal civilization. This is not a good civilization. You see? Childish civilization. However they may be proud of their advancement of knowledge, it is childish civilization because they have no future. Everlasting. "How I am going to be everlasting," they do not think of it. You see? This one word can give so many volumes of thoughts to the real philosopher, to the real thinker. Here it is stated that the living entity is everlasting, and where is that living entity everlasting? Why it is not so? This is the problem.</p>
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<div id="LectureonBG71116NewYorkOctober71966_3" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="282" link="Lecture on BG 7.11-16 -- New York, October 7, 1966" link_text="Lecture on BG 7.11-16 -- New York, October 7, 1966">
<div class="heading">By advancement of knowledge, we have manufactured atom bomb so that killing process can be accelerated. People are dying, and that dying process is accelerated, and we are proud. Advancement of knowledge. Oh, manufacture something which will stop death; then you will have advancement of knowledge.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 7.11-16 -- New York, October 7, 1966|Lecture on BG 7.11-16 -- New York, October 7, 1966]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So this is the māyā. This is called māyā. You are creating facilities, but it is being created for your future nonfacilities. You have got experience. When there was strike in your New York City, so for crossing one mile, one had to spend four hours. But if you could go on foot, within ten minutes you could cross that space. So these are the facilities. We are thinking that we are enjoying facilities, but actually they are not facilities. So instead of wasting our energy for so-called facilities, we should apply our energy: "What I am? Why I am suffering? I do not like to suffer. Why suffering is imposed upon me?" This is called knowledge. But by the illusory energy of māyā, the so-called knowledge, our real knowledge has been taken away, and some foolish knowledge has been imposed upon us that we are thinking, "Oh, we are advancing. Advancement of knowledge." By advancement of knowledge, we have manufactured atom bomb so that killing process can be accelerated. People are dying, and that dying process is accelerated, and we are proud. Advancement of knowledge. Oh, manufacture something which will stop death; then you will have advancement of knowledge. Killing is there. What advancement? Killing is there and you are facilitating, you are making more killing at one drop. This is not knowledge. This is called māyayāpahṛta-jñāna, "the knowledge taken by the illusory energy."</p>
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<div id="LectureonBG714HamburgSeptember81969_4" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="283" link="Lecture on BG 7.14 -- Hamburg, September 8, 1969" link_text="Lecture on BG 7.14 -- Hamburg, September 8, 1969">
<div class="heading">If you are proud of your advancement of knowledge, that you have solved all the questions, all the problems, in the Bhagavad-gītā Kṛṣṇa says, "Don't think like that. That is your foolishness. These problems are there. What you can do?" That is learning: "Yes. Problems are not solved. The problems are there." That is learning.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 7.14 -- Hamburg, September 8, 1969|Lecture on BG 7.14 -- Hamburg, September 8, 1969]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">As soon as you are over fifty years, by nature, so the old age begins. And when you are over seventy years, you are completely old, and you have to suffer the consequences of old age. You may try to keep that old body for... But there is suffering. A young man cannot understand, but one who is old, he can understand, there is suffering. Suffering of old age, suffering of birth, suffering of death, and suffering of disease. Janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi-duḥkha-doṣānudarśanam ([[Vanisource:BG 13.8-12 (1972)|BG 13.9]]). If you are proud of your advancement of knowledge, that you have solved all the questions, all the problems, in the Bhagavad-gītā Kṛṣṇa says, "Don't think like that. That is your foolishness. These problems are there. What you can do?" That is learning: "Yes. Problems are not solved. The problems are there." That is learning. If you have got some problem, and... Just like the rabbits. The rabbits, when they face one hunter and it understands that "Now my life is in danger," he closes his eyes. He thinks that "The problem is now solved." (laughs) And peacefully he is killed. (laughs) You see? Similarly, the problems are there, but we are closing our eyes: "Oh, there is no problem. We are very happy." That's it. (laughter) So this is called māyā. The problem is not solved, but they are thinking their problem is solved by closing the eyes. That's all.</p>
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<div id="LectureonBG1367MontrealOctober251968_5" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="355" link="Lecture on BG 13.6-7 -- Montreal, October 25, 1968" link_text="Lecture on BG 13.6-7 -- Montreal, October 25, 1968">
<div class="heading">We may be very proud of advancement of knowledge, but actually we are not yet advanced, so far material science is concerned, to understand the basic principle of the moving force which is moving this body.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 13.6-7 -- Montreal, October 25, 1968|Lecture on BG 13.6-7 -- Montreal, October 25, 1968]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So we may be very proud of advancement of knowledge, but actually we are not yet advanced, so far material science is concerned, to understand the basic principle of the moving force which is moving this body, the... On account of the presence of the soul, we have got so much intelligence, we have got so much thoughtful, psychological effect. So many things wonderful they are. But as soon as the soul is not there, everything collapses. So the Buddhist theory that the intelligence or consciousness takes place at a certain point of material mixture... But that may be an argument, but actually it is not a fact. Any amount of material mixture, you cannot produce soul. They have produced so many things by material mixture, but nobody has produced. In India, of course, we heard so many news that "In America they have produced life in chemical laboratory." And sometimes they say, "In Russia they are trying." But this is not possible. Nobody has found. And greatest scientists, they have admitted that the problem of life is beyond the scope of material science.</p>
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<div id="LectureonBG1367MontrealOctober251968_6" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="355" link="Lecture on BG 13.6-7 -- Montreal, October 25, 1968" link_text="Lecture on BG 13.6-7 -- Montreal, October 25, 1968">
<div class="heading">Suppose I am very much advanced in spiritual knowledge, but I should not be very much proud of it.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 13.6-7 -- Montreal, October 25, 1968|Lecture on BG 13.6-7 -- Montreal, October 25, 1968]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Adambhitvam means one should not think... Suppose I am very much advanced in spiritual knowledge, but I should not be very much proud of it. Generally, in this age people want false, I mean to say, designations, that "I am very religious. I know everything. I am God." So many things. These are false pride. So actual knowledge is that "I am smaller than the straw in the street." That is the instruction of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Caitanya Mahāprabhu says that tṛṇād api sahiṣṇunā: one should be tolerant. One should be humbler than the straw in the street. Sunīcena. One should think himself as smaller than the grasses on the street. And tṛṇād api sunīcena taror api sahiṣṇunā. And one should be tolerant like the tree. Amāninā, without claiming any respect from others. Amāninā mānadena, but one should give all respect to others. Mānadena kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ ([[Vanisource:CC Adi 17.31|CC Adi 17.31]]). In that stage one can chant Hare Kṛṣṇa very nicely. Of course, it is very difficult, but Kṛṣṇa will help us.</p>
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<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Lectures" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures"><h3>Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures</h3>
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<div id="LectureonSB181819BombayApril91971_0" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="201" link="Lecture on SB 1.8.18-19 -- Bombay, April 9, 1971" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.8.18-19 -- Bombay, April 9, 1971">
<div class="heading">They are very much proud of their knowledge, advancement of knowledge, scientific knowledge. But Kṛṣṇa says, māyayāpahṛta-jñānāḥ. Their knowledge has been taken away by māyā.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.8.18-19 -- Bombay, April 9, 1971|Lecture on SB 1.8.18-19 -- Bombay, April 9, 1971]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu (Bs. 5.38). Santaḥ, those who are devotees, they are twenty-four hours seeing God. That is to be... That is the highest stage of perfection. And by Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, one can be brought to the platform, how to love Kṛṣṇa twenty-four hours without any cessation.</p>
<p>But others, they cannot see. Why they cannot see? Māyā-javanikācchannam ajñādhokṣajam avyayam. Because their eyes are covered by a curtain created by māyā. Māyā. Māyayāpahṛta-jñānāḥ ([[Vanisource:BG 7.15 (1972)|BG 7.15]]). In the Bhagavad-gītā it is said. They are very much proud of their knowledge, advancement of knowledge, scientific knowledge. But Kṛṣṇa says, māyayāpahṛta-jñānāḥ. Their knowledge has been taken away by māyā. Apahṛta means taken away. Here also, the same thing, Kuntī says, māyā-javanikācchannam ajñā. Māyā-javanikācchannam ajñā adhokṣajam avyayam. They cannot see Adhokṣaja. Kṛṣṇa, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is also known as Adhokṣaja. Adhokṣaja. Akṣaja. Akṣa means direct perception. Just like we sometimes say, "Can you show me? Can you show me?" So the answer is, "Whether you have got eyes to see?" God or Kṛṣṇa cannot be seen by these eyes. So Adhokṣaja.</p>
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<div id="LectureonSB1826LosAngelesApril181973_1" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="215" link="Lecture on SB 1.8.26 -- Los Angeles, April 18, 1973" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.8.26 -- Los Angeles, April 18, 1973">
<div class="heading">Suppose you are American. You are rich, you are beautiful. You are advanced in knowledge, and you are, you can be proud of become American. But how long this intoxication will exist?
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.8.26 -- Los Angeles, April 18, 1973|Lecture on SB 1.8.26 -- Los Angeles, April 18, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Just like if you drink wine, you become intoxicated. You are flying in the sky. You are thinking like that. You have gone to the heaven. Yes. So these are the effects of intoxication. But the intoxicated person does not know that this intoxication, intoxication will be finished. It is within the time limit. It is not going to continue. That is called illusion. One is intoxication, that "I am very rich. I am very educated, I am very beautiful, I am very..., I am born in high family, in high nation." That's all right. But this intoxication, how long it will exist?</p>
<p>Suppose you are American. You are rich, you are beautiful. You are advanced in knowledge, and you are, you can be proud of become American. But how long this intoxication will exist? As soon as this body's finished, everything is finished. All, all intoxication. Just like... Same thing. You drink something, become intoxicated. But as soon as that intoxication is over, all your intoxicated dreams are over, finished. So this intoxication, if you remain in intoxication, hover in the sky and mental platform... These are mental platform, egoistic platform. Bodily platform.</p>
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<div id="LectureonSB32622BombayDecember311974_2" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="483" link="Lecture on SB 3.26.22 -- Bombay, December 31, 1974" link_text="Lecture on SB 3.26.22 -- Bombay, December 31, 1974">
<div class="heading">They are proud of education, proud of learning, advancement, everything, all right, complete. But real knowledge—"Do you know God?"—that he cannot explain. That he cannot explain. He will explain something hodgepodge.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 3.26.22 -- Bombay, December 31, 1974|Lecture on SB 3.26.22 -- Bombay, December 31, 1974]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So Prahlāda Mahārāja says, śoce tato vimukha-cetasa māyā-sukhāya bharam udvahato vimūḍhān ([[Vanisource:SB 7.9.43|SB 7.9.43]]). That is the thankless task of the devotees, to turn these vimūḍhān from this māyā-sukha to real sukha. This is the business of the devotees. They have no other business. Their business is not for making money. Money, they have got enough, and Kṛṣṇa supplies all their money. So there is no such problem for a devotee of how to secure money. Their only problem is how to turn these rascals to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, all rascals, vimūḍhān. We say clearly, "If you are not Kṛṣṇa conscious, you are rascal number one." "No, I am M.A. Ph.D." "Still, you are rascal." That is our verdict. "We don't care for your Ph.D. I know that you are a rascal because you do not know Kṛṣṇa." Just a few minutes before, one gentleman came to see me, and he advertised himself that "I have read Vedas, I have read the Purāṇas, I have seen Dr. Radhakrishnan, but I do not get peace of mind." So I asked him, "You have studied so many literatures. Do you know who is God?" And the God who has created this, what is His name, what is the address—that he does not know. Yes. This is going on. Vimūḍhān. They are proud of education, proud of learning, advancement, everything, all right, complete. But real knowledge—"Do you know God?"—that he cannot explain. That he cannot explain. He will explain something hodgepodge. This is the disease. Therefore they are vimūḍhān.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB618NewYorkJuly221971_3" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="593" link="Lecture on SB 6.1.8 -- New York, July 22, 1971" link_text="Lecture on SB 6.1.8 -- New York, July 22, 1971">
<div class="heading">Unfortunately modern universities, educational systems, they do not know anything about this. And still, they are very much proud of advancement of education. Actually, there is no education.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 6.1.8 -- New York, July 22, 1971|Lecture on SB 6.1.8 -- New York, July 22, 1971]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So this is going on, but unfortunately modern universities, educational systems, they do not know anything about this. And still, they are very much proud of advancement of education. Actually, there is no education. Without this knowledge, spiritual knowledge, this education for earning bread, eating, sleeping, mating... That can be done without education. The animals, they are not educated—they are not technologists, or they have no education in the universities, degrees—they're also eating, sleeping, mating and defending. So if our education is meant for simply eating sleeping, mating and defending, then what is the difference? That is not education. Real education is to understand what you are. That is real education. Ātma-jñāna. In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it is said, parābhavas tāvad abodha-jāto yāvan na jijñāsata ātma-tattvam. So long a man does not develop consciousness to understand his self, ātma-tattvam, the truth of the self, then whatever he's doing in ignorance, it is all defeat for his life. This human life is meant for victorious, to become victorious over the laws of material nature. Actually we are trying for that purpose. The whole struggle is how to counteract the onslaught of material nature. The whole activities are going on. But what is the ultimate victory? The ultimate victory is how to conquer over birth, death, disease and old age. That is the outcome, victory.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB6112LosAngelesJune251975_4" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="604" link="Lecture on SB 6.1.12 -- Los Angeles, June 25, 1975" link_text="Lecture on SB 6.1.12 -- Los Angeles, June 25, 1975">
<div class="heading">We accept one kind of body and struggle for existence, suffer so much, again we get another body, and new chapter of suffering begins. This knowledge is lacking in modern education. And they are very much proud of becoming advanced in knowledge.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 6.1.12 -- Los Angeles, June 25, 1975|Lecture on SB 6.1.12 -- Los Angeles, June 25, 1975]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Nobody can say that "By being diseased, I am very happy." Nobody will say that. Disease means suffering. "So the śāstra says—and I am practically experiencing—that I am eternal. I am changing body every moment. So I am eternal. Why I am put into this condition, repetition of birth and death?" This is intelligence. Unless one comes to this intelligence, he is not human being. Yasyātma-buddhiḥ kuṇape tri-dhātuke ([[Vanisource:SB 10.84.13|SB 10.84.13]]).</p>
<p>So this wrong thing is going on. So here the example is given that if you live in regulative principle, then you will not suffer from this disease. This disease means this material world. Bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate ([[Vanisource:BG 8.19 (1972)|BG 8.19]]). We take one kind of..., we accept one kind of body and struggle for existence, suffer so much, again we get another body, and new chapter of suffering begins. This knowledge is lacking in modern education. And they are very much proud of becoming advanced in knowledge. What is the advancement of knowledge? You have to cure your disease. The whole Vedic civilization is how to cure this disease of repetition of birth and death. That they do not know. All tapasya, all austerities, penances... This will be explained next verse. Why needed? Now, just to cure this disease, repetition of birth and death. They have no knowledge.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Sri_Isopanisad_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="4" parent="Lectures" text="Sri Isopanisad Lectures"><h3>Sri Isopanisad Lectures</h3>
</div>
<div id="SriIsopanisadMantra11LosAngelesMay161970_0" class="quote" parent="Sri_Isopanisad_Lectures" book="Lec" index="20" link="Sri Isopanisad, Mantra 11 -- Los Angeles, May 16, 1970" link_text="Sri Isopanisad, Mantra 11 -- Los Angeles, May 16, 1970">
<div class="heading">We are very proud of our advancement of knowledge. So many things we do not know, and it is not possible to know even, by our modern experimental knowledge. It is not possible.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Sri Isopanisad, Mantra 11 -- Los Angeles, May 16, 1970|Sri Isopanisad, Mantra 11 -- Los Angeles, May 16, 1970]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So people do not understand what is immortality. They think that it is a vague idea, because no knowledge... So many things... We are very proud of our advancement of knowledge. So many things we do not know, and it is not possible to know even, by our modern experimental knowledge. It is not possible. Therefore, if you want real knowledge, then you go to knowledge. Vedas means knowledge. These Vedas means knowledge. Vetti veda vido jñāne. Veda, Veda means knowledge. So if you want real knowledge, then you have to take shelter of these Vedas, Vedic literature, just like Īśopaniṣad. There are 108 Upaniṣads, out of which, nine are very important. Out of that nine, this Īśopaniṣad stands first, then Taittirīya Upaniṣad, Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad, Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad. So the Upaniṣad... Upa, upa means nearing. So this knowledge will take you nearer to Kṛṣṇa. And amongst the learned society, ācāryas, the śruti-pramāṇa... Evidence is śruti. Śruti means these Vedas. They are not experimental knowledge. They are not knowledge established by the research work of contaminated, conditioned soul. Contaminated, conditioned soul, their senses are imperfect. They cannot see things as they are. Simply they theorize, "It may be like that." So much they can say. So "It may be like that," that is no knowledge. Knowledge definite. There is no mistake.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Festival_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="6" parent="Lectures" text="Festival Lectures"><h3>Festival Lectures</h3>
</div>
<div id="GundicaMarjanamCleansingoftheGundicaTempleLecturethedaybeforeRathayatraSanFranciscoJuly41970_0" class="quote" parent="Festival_Lectures" book="Lec" index="8" link="Gundica Marjanam Cleansing of the Gundica Temple, Lecture (the day before Ratha-yatra) -- San Francisco, July 4, 1970" link_text="Gundica Marjanam Cleansing of the Gundica Temple, Lecture (the day before Ratha-yatra) -- San Francisco, July 4, 1970">
<div class="heading">The jñānīs, they are very much proud that they are advanced in knowledge and renouncing, but if somebody asks, "Sir, what you are renouncing?" "This world." "All right. When this world became your property that you are renouncing? When this world became your property?"
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Gundica Marjanam Cleansing of the Gundica Temple, Lecture (the day before Ratha-yatra) -- San Francisco, July 4, 1970|Gundica Marjanam Cleansing of the Gundica Temple, Lecture (the day before Ratha-yatra) -- San Francisco, July 4, 1970]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">You should not be attached with Kṛṣṇa's property. The karmīs are attached to the Kṛṣṇa's property. They are trying to steal, unlawfully enjoy, Kṛṣṇa's property. That is karmī. And the jñānīs, so-called jñānīs, out of ignorance trying to renounce Kṛṣṇa's property. The jñānīs, they are very much proud that they are advanced in knowledge and renouncing, but if somebody asks, "Sir, what you are renouncing?" "This world." "All right. When this world became your property that you are renouncing? When this world became your property?" You renounce something which you possess, but if you do not possess something, what is the meaning of your renouncement? You came here empty-handed, you live here for some time and go away. So in the beginning you are not proprietor, and when you go away you are not proprietor. Then what is the meaning of your renouncement? That is the defect. So we don't renounce. We think, we see that everything is given by Kṛṣṇa to us. Tena tyaktena bhuñjīthā ([[Vanisource:ISO 1|ISO 1]]). Now, I... Nothing belongs to me, everything Kṛṣṇa's. Even my body, that is also Kṛṣṇa's. My mind, that is also Kṛṣṇa's. My thoughts, my speech, whatever I create, everything belongs to Kṛṣṇa. This is Kṛṣṇa philosophy, and actually, that is the fact.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="General_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="11" parent="Lectures" text="General Lectures"><h3>General Lectures</h3>
</div>
<div id="LectureatEngagementBostonMay81968_0" class="quote" parent="General_Lectures" book="Lec" index="6" link="Lecture at Engagement -- Boston, May 8, 1968" link_text="Lecture at Engagement -- Boston, May 8, 1968">
<div class="heading">The animal life is based on four principal things: eating, sleeping, mating, and defending. And at the present moment the human civilization is very much proud of advancement of knowledge, but they are concerned with these four principles of life, namely eating, sleeping, defending, and mating.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture at Engagement -- Boston, May 8, 1968|Lecture at Engagement -- Boston, May 8, 1968]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So the whole world, or the mostly people are hovering in ignorance, and he does not know that he is spirit soul, and he is transmigrating from one body to another. He does not want to die, but the death, cruel death, is enforced upon him. So these problems, they do not consider very seriously, and they are thinking very happy on the principles of animal life. The animal life is based on four principal things: eating, sleeping, mating, and defending. And at the present moment the human civilization is very much proud of advancement of knowledge, but they are concerned with these four principles of life, namely eating, sleeping, defending, and mating. So according to Vedic literature, this way of life is no better than animal life. Human life is meant for advanced knowledge. And what is that advanced knowledge? To know oneself, what I am. In every civilized country, in every civilized form of society, there is some kind of religious principles, either you accept Muhammadanism or Christianism or Jewism or Hinduism or Buddhism. And what is the purpose of the scriptures and religious principles? To understand this consciousness, to understand the spirit soul and how it is fallen into this material conditional life, how they are transforming or transmigrating in different species of life.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonTeachingsofLordCaitanyaSeattleSeptember251968_1" class="quote" parent="General_Lectures" book="Lec" index="17" link="Lecture on Teachings of Lord Caitanya -- Seattle, September 25, 1968" link_text="Lecture on Teachings of Lord Caitanya -- Seattle, September 25, 1968">
<div class="heading">The distress of taking birth, the distress of dying procedure, janma-mṛtyu, and distress of old age, and distress of diseases. So we are very much proud of our advancement of knowledge, but actually there is no solution for these four principles of miseries. There is no remedy.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on Teachings of Lord Caitanya -- Seattle, September 25, 1968|Lecture on Teachings of Lord Caitanya -- Seattle, September 25, 1968]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Actually, when people will come to the understanding, when they will inquire that "Why I am suffering from the threefold miseries...?" The threefold miseries is summarized in Bhagavad-gītā by four principles: janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi-duḥkha-doṣānudarśanam ([[Vanisource:BG 13.8-12 (1972)|BG 13.9]]). If a man is actually learned and intelligent, he should always see before him that there are four kinds of distresses. What is that? The distress of taking birth, the distress of dying procedure, janma-mṛtyu, and distress of old age, and distress of diseases. So we are very much proud of our advancement of knowledge, but actually there is no solution for these four principles of miseries. There is no remedy. They are trying to control birth rate, janma, but still, every minute there are increasing, the population of the world is increasing. Similarly, they are trying to save people from death, but still, people are dying in hundreds and thousands. And they are trying to get out of this old age. So many medicines, so many cosmetics, but old age is taking place. And so far disease, we can discover many high-grade medicines, but there is no stoppage of disease. So one should be very intelligent that there is no remedy for these four kinds of miseries, janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi. And a learned man should be inquisitive, "If there is any remedy?" So Sanātana Gosvāmī is presenting himself before Lord Caitanya, that "People say that I am very learned man. But I am so learned man that I do not know what I am and why I am suffering from these miseries although I do not like to suffer."</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureExcerptLosAngelesJanuary131969_2" class="quote" parent="General_Lectures" book="Lec" index="34" link="Lecture Excerpt -- Los Angeles, January 13, 1969" link_text="Lecture Excerpt -- Los Angeles, January 13, 1969">
<div class="heading">They are very much proud of advancement of knowledge, but they do not know that the cause of suffering is this body. They do not know. And they do not know how to make a solution of this material existence.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture Excerpt -- Los Angeles, January 13, 1969|Lecture Excerpt -- Los Angeles, January 13, 1969]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">"Anyone who comes to Me, he has no more to go back to the miserable material existence." Therefore it is the duty of a spiritual master, it is the duty of the parents, that they should enlighten their dependents to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. If one becomes fully Kṛṣṇa conscious, the simple factor, then he is saved from this material existence, or accepting repeated birth and death. Bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate ([[Vanisource:BG 8.19 (1972)|BG 8.19]]). Here, everything in the material world, everything is born, it remains for some time, it grows then dwindles then vanishes. So this is not very desirable. But unfortunately, the modern civilization, they do not know. They are very much proud of advancement of knowledge, but they do not know that the cause of suffering is this body. They do not know. And they do not know how to make a solution of this material existence. Therefore parābhava. Bhāgavata says all their so-called, nonsense advancement of civilization is defeat. Defeat. Lord Jesus Christ also said like that, that "If one gains everything and then loses his own soul, what does he gain?" Similarly, parābhavas tāvad abodha-jāto yāvan na jijñāsata ātma-tattvam. A man's life is defeat only. However he may be very expert in driving motorcar day and night, this way and that way, very busy man, but if he does not inquire about his self—"What I am? Wherefrom I have come? Where I have to go to? Why I am suffering? Why I am put to this disadvantageous position?"—when one does not inquire for all these things, then his activities are defeat, only defeat.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureHawaiiMarch231969_3" class="quote" parent="General_Lectures" book="Lec" index="40" link="Lecture -- Hawaii, March 23, 1969" link_text="Lecture -- Hawaii, March 23, 1969">
<div class="heading">This material world, we cannot even estimate one universe, what is the length and breadth and how many planets are there, how they are working. We have no information. And we are very proud of advancement of knowledge.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture -- Hawaii, March 23, 1969|Lecture -- Hawaii, March 23, 1969]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">These materialistic scientists, they are simply speculating like the frog in the well. They do not know; neither they have means. But a Kṛṣṇa conscious person knows. He gets information from Kṛṣṇa.</p>
:athavā bahunaitena
:kiṁ jñātena tavārjuna
:viṣṭabhyāham idaṁ kṛtsnam
:ekāṁśena sthito jagat
:([[Vanisource:BG 10.42 (1972)|BG 10.42]])
<p>"Now, this material world is simply a fractional part of My creation." And what is this material world? This material world, we cannot even estimate one universe, what is the length and breadth and how many planets are there, how they are working. We have no information. And we are very proud of advancement of knowledge. And there are innumerable universes. All taken together, that is called material world. Yasya prabhā prabhavato... (Bs. 5.40).</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="ConwayHallLectureLondonSeptember151969_4" class="quote" parent="General_Lectures" book="Lec" index="61" link="Conway Hall Lecture -- London, September 15, 1969" link_text="Conway Hall Lecture -- London, September 15, 1969">
<div class="heading">You may be very much proud of your scientific advancement of knowledge, but here is the real science. If you can overcome birth, death, old age and disease, then you can say your science is triumphant.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Conway Hall Lecture -- London, September 15, 1969|Conway Hall Lecture -- London, September 15, 1969]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">You have seen the great President of United States, Mr. Kennedy. He was supposed to be the happiest man in the world, but within a second he was kicked out, immediately. In our country Mahatma Gandhi was very popular leader, but in a second he was removed from the field. So we do not know when we shall be removed immediately by the freaks of nature. Therefore the intelligent man should try to know, "What is my constitutional position? Why I want to stay, but some superpower kicks me out of this stage? Why?" (Why?) This is question. This is called brahma-jijñāsā. Athāto brahma jijñāsā. The Vedānta-sūtra instructs that every human being, not the animals but human being, you should not be bewildered. You should question, "Why I am suffering threefold miseries? Why... I do not want death. Why death overcomes me?" Janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi-duḥkha-doṣānudarśanam ([[Vanisource:BG 13.8-12 (1972)|BG 13.9]]). An intelligent man should always keep before him four principles of material miseries: birth, death, old age and disease. These are instructions of the Bhagavad-gītā. One who is making progress in knowledge, he must keep before him these four problems—birth, death, old age and disease. You may be very much proud of your scientific advancement of knowledge, but here is the real science. If you can overcome birth, death, old age and disease, then you can say your science is triumphant.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Departure_Talks" class="sub_section" sec_index="12" parent="Lectures" text="Departure Talks"><h3>Departure Talks</h3>
</div>
<div id="DepartureLectureLondonMarch121975_0" class="quote" parent="Departure_Talks" book="Lec" index="5" link="Departure Lecture -- London, March 12, 1975" link_text="Departure Lecture -- London, March 12, 1975">
<div class="heading">Even in this material world, in this universe, we have heard of so many planets, but it is not possible to go and see. They cannot go even in the moon planet, and still, they are very much proud of their advancement of knowledge.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Departure Lecture -- London, March 12, 1975|Departure Lecture -- London, March 12, 1975]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">When Caitanya Mahāprabhu was requested by one of His devotee that "Sir, You have come. You just liberate all the residents of this universe, and that will make me very happy. And if You think they are so impious they cannot be liberated, then I am ready to take up their sinful activities. But You take them away," at that time Caitanya Mahāprabhu said that "Even one universe is liberated, still there are so many universes. This universe is just like one mustard seed in the bag of mustard seeds." So just imagine how many universes are there. All these together, that is one-fourth energy demonstration of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is said in the Bhagavad-gītā, ekāṁśena sthito jagat ([[Vanisource:BG 10.42 (1972)|BG 10.42]]). It is only one-fourth of the demon..., manifestation. The three-fourth manifestation—in the spiritual world. So just imagine God's creation. It is inconceivable by us, but we can learn it by śravaṇam. That is the only way. We, even in this material world, in this universe, we have heard of so many planets, but it is not possible to go and see. They cannot go even in the moon planet, and still, they are very much proud of their advancement of knowledge. So we cannot understand even.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="section" sec_index="5" parent="compilation" text="Conversations and Morning Walks"><h2>Conversations and Morning Walks</h2>
</div>
<div id="1972_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="5" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1972 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1972 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="TalkwithBobCohenFebruary27291972Mayapura_0" class="quote" parent="1972_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="5" link="Talk with Bob Cohen -- February 27-29, 1972, Mayapura" link_text="Talk with Bob Cohen -- February 27-29, 1972, Mayapura">
<div class="heading">These words are there in the Vedic literature. Liberation and entanglement. But at the present moment they do not know even what is liberation, what is entanglement. They're so ignorant and foolish, and still, they're proud of their advancement in knowledge.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Talk with Bob Cohen -- February 27-29, 1972, Mayapura|Talk with Bob Cohen -- February 27-29, 1972, Mayapura]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Bob: What about a person who does, tries to do what is right and is very conscientious instead of being unconscientious about the things he does? Like the servant who is very honest to his master, but if he was not honest he knows he would not be caught. But he stays honest anyway, a person like that. Is that some kind of good karma?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes, to become honest is also good karma. How to become good man, they're described in the Bhagavad-gītā. Daivī sampad and asurī sampad. These are very elaborately described in the Bhagavad-gītā. So if you become qualified with the daivī sampad, then daivī sampad vimokṣāya ([[Vanisource:BG 16.5 (1972)|BG 16.5]]), then you'll be liberated. And nibandhāyāsurī matā. And if you are qualified with the demonic qualification, then you'll be more and more entangled. Unfortunately, the modern civilization, they do not know what is liberation and what is entanglement. They're so much ignorant. They do not know... Suppose if I ask you, "What do you mean by liberation?" Can you answer? And if I ask you, "What do you mean by entanglement?" Can you answer? These words are there in the Vedic literature. Liberation and entanglement. But at the present moment they do not know even what is liberation, what is entanglement. They're so ignorant and foolish, and still, they're proud of their advancement in knowledge.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="1973_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="6" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1973 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1973 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="MorningWalkApril191973LosAngeles_0" class="quote" parent="1973_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="11" link="Morning Walk -- April 19, 1973, Los Angeles" link_text="Morning Walk -- April 19, 1973, Los Angeles">
<div class="heading">That is a bluff. When that future will come? That they do not know. That is another bluff. And still, they're proud of advancement of knowledge. Still, they're talking of future. And what is your advancement?
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- April 19, 1973, Los Angeles|Morning Walk -- April 19, 1973, Los Angeles]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Brahmānanda: Sometimes when we ask someone to become a life member, they say: "Yes, sometime in future." We become very disappointed.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: We shall make vigorous propaganda against all this rascalism. That is our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Mūḍhāḥ. Challenge them.</p>
<p>Brahmānanda: Saying "In future", that is a bluff.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Bluff. That is a bluff. When that future will come? That they do not know. That is another bluff. And still, they're proud of advancement of knowledge. Still, they're talking of future. And what is your advancement?</p>
<p>Svarūpa Dāmodara: So long as the future is there they have a voice to say...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Future we cannot trust. Trust no future however pleasant. This is our philosophy. Everyone says that. Trust no future, however pleasant. You may talk that future is very bright, but we don't believe in that.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="1974_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="7" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1974 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1974 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="RoomConversationwithScientistsJuly21974Melbourne_0" class="quote" parent="1974_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="136" link="Room Conversation with Scientists -- July 2, 1974, Melbourne" link_text="Room Conversation with Scientists -- July 2, 1974, Melbourne">
<div class="heading">The first beginning of knowledge is that at the present moment, people, although very much proud of their advancement of knowledge, he does not know what is the active principle of life.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation with Scientists -- July 2, 1974, Melbourne|Room Conversation with Scientists -- July 2, 1974, Melbourne]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: And the other day Reverend Powell came. He also has given his announcement in the paper. What is that?</p>
<p>Satsvarūpa: "Don't be alarmed at the Hare Kṛṣṇas." (laughter) Reverend Gordon Powell...</p>
<p>Guest (2): Yes, if we were alarmed we wouldn't be here.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: No, actually we are pledged to give something substantial to the human society. This is our mission. We are not that group, that showing some magic and take some fees and... It is not our business. We have got so many literatures full of treasurehouse of knowledge. We have to distribute that. Not bluffing, showing magic or this or that, miracles. No. We are not this. It is an institution for giving knowledge to the human society. The first beginning of knowledge is that at the present moment, people, although very much proud of their advancement of knowledge, he does not know what is the active principle of life.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="8" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1975 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1975 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="RoomConversationMarch21975Atlanta_0" class="quote" parent="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="19" link="Room Conversation -- March 2, 1975, Atlanta" link_text="Room Conversation -- March 2, 1975, Atlanta">
<div class="heading">Yes, that if you admit then you will get knowledge. But that is not the position. You are falsely proud that you are very advanced in knowledge.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation -- March 2, 1975, Atlanta|Room Conversation -- March 2, 1975, Atlanta]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: No, if science is really science, that is helpful. If science is based on wrong theory, then what is the use of that. Everything is wrong. So many mathematical calculation, if there is any item wrong, then whole thing is wrong.</p>
<p>Guest (1): So we are all moving in the darkness, ignorance, to begin with.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes, that if you admit then you will get knowledge. But that is not the position. You are falsely proud that you are very advanced in knowledge.</p>
<p>Guest (1): No Swamiji, no...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Then you are qualified.</p>
<p>Guest (1): Even for a small experiment, I don't pretend that we know anything, whatever it is.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Actually that is the position, therefore our business is to surrender to Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa demands that, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja ([[Vanisource:BG 18.66 (1972)|BG 18.66]]). Then Kṛṣṇa will give you intelligence how to become perfect.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="9" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1976 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1976 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="RoomConversationJanuary191976Mayapur_0" class="quote" parent="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="19" link="Room Conversation -- January 19, 1976, Mayapur" link_text="Room Conversation -- January 19, 1976, Mayapur">
<div class="heading">Everywhere you are dependent. And still, they are very much proud that they are advancing in scientific knowledge so that they can overcome the stringent laws of nature and so on, so on.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation -- January 19, 1976, Mayapur|Room Conversation -- January 19, 1976, Mayapur]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: The stricture of nature's law, that is science. Is it not scientific effort? They will never be able to do so, but still, they are... To stop death, birth, death, old age, is very major problem, but even in small things you cannot do anything. Everywhere you are dependent. And still, they are very much proud that they are advancing in scientific knowledge so that they can overcome the stringent laws of nature and so on, so on. Durāśaya. It is called durāśaya, hope which will never be fulfilled. Is it not? Durāśaya. Śāstra, Bhāgavata, says, durāśaya. This is their foolishness. They are expecting something which will never be fulfilled. Therefore śāstra says, durāśaya.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="GardenConversationJune101976LosAngeles_1" class="quote" parent="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="124" link="Garden Conversation -- June 10, 1976, Los Angeles" link_text="Garden Conversation -- June 10, 1976, Los Angeles">
<div class="heading">Nobody likes death, but death is there. Nobody likes to become old, but the old age is there. Why they set aside these big problems and he's proud of scientific advancement of knowledge? What kind of education this is?
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Garden Conversation -- June 10, 1976, Los Angeles|Garden Conversation -- June 10, 1976, Los Angeles]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: Modern education, they cannot understand that this repetition of birth, death, old age and disease is a botheration. They do not understand that. Why they accept it? Accept it, they think there is no other way. But if there is a way to stop this, why do they not take it? Hm? What is the value of this education? They cannot distinguish between right and wrong. Nobody likes death, but death is there. Nobody likes to become old, but the old age is there. Why they set aside these big problems and he's proud of scientific advancement of knowledge? What kind of education this is? If they cannot distinguish between right and wrong, then what is the result of this education? Education means one must be able to distinguish between the right and wrong. But they cannot, or even they do know that death is not good, but why they are not trying how to stop death? Where is the advancement? They are very much proud of advancement of science. Where is the advancement? You cannot stop death. You cannot stop old age. You can manufacture advanced medicine, but why don't you stop disease? Take this pill, there will be no more disease. Where is that science? Hm?</p>
<p>Nalinīkaṇṭha: They say they're working on it.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: That is another foolishness. Bluffing.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="1977_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="10" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1977 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1977 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="MorningDarsanaandRoomConversationRamkrishnaBajajandfriendsJanuary91977Bombay_0" class="quote" parent="1977_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="25" link="Morning Darsana and Room Conversation Ramkrishna Bajaj and friends -- January 9, 1977, Bombay" link_text="Morning Darsana and Room Conversation Ramkrishna Bajaj and friends -- January 9, 1977, Bombay">
<div class="heading">The body is machine. The subjects are there. Why you do not try to understand the subject matter? Then where is your advancement? That is my challenge. Why you are so much proud of your advancement of knowledge. What is this knowledge? Tell me. You are young man. I am giving you the challenge.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Darsana and Room Conversation Ramkrishna Bajaj and friends -- January 9, 1977, Bombay|Morning Darsana and Room Conversation Ramkrishna Bajaj and friends -- January 9, 1977, Bombay]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: Just like the same—Arjuna is asking Kṛṣṇa, senayor ubhayor madhye rathaṁ sthāpaya me 'cyuta: ([[Vanisource:BG 1.21-22 (1972)|BG 1.21]]) "Just between these two parties of soldiers, please keep my chariot." The same thing. The chariot driver, He is the Supersoul. In this body there are two souls. Kṣetra-jñaṁ cāpi māṁ viddhi sarva-kṣetreṣu bhārata. That he's also kṣetrajñā. Kṣetra is this body, and kṣetrajñā one knows, this body.... Just like I know it is my finger. I never say, "I finger." It is my finger. So similarly, the driver also can say, "It is my car," and the proprietor also can say. So two persons, one driver and one passenger, or the proprietor.... And the body is machine. The subjects are there. Why you do not try to understand the subject matter? Then where is your advancement? That is my challenge. Why you are so much proud of your advancement of knowledge. What is this knowledge? Tell me. You are young man. I am giving you the challenge. Either you admit that you are not advanced or make advancement. Why you set aside this difficult subject matter and become proud by making a small machine that you are advanced? Where is your advancement?</p>
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<div id="MorningDarsanaandRoomConversationRamkrishnaBajajandfriendsJanuary91977Bombay_1" class="quote" parent="1977_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="25" link="Morning Darsana and Room Conversation Ramkrishna Bajaj and friends -- January 9, 1977, Bombay" link_text="Morning Darsana and Room Conversation Ramkrishna Bajaj and friends -- January 9, 1977, Bombay">
<div class="heading">I am within this room, sitting so comfortably, and the tree is standing there. I can get that life also, karmaṇā, by my work. So this technology is unknown. And we are very much proud of advancement of knowledge.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Darsana and Room Conversation Ramkrishna Bajaj and friends -- January 9, 1977, Bombay|Morning Darsana and Room Conversation Ramkrishna Bajaj and friends -- January 9, 1977, Bombay]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: People are not given the opportunity to utilize this valuable life for understanding higher things. This is plight of this civilization. They are growing like cats and dogs and dying like cats and dogs. And yathā dehāntara-prāptiḥ ([[Vanisource:BG 2.13 (1972)|BG 2.13]]), and according to his work, he has to accept another body. That is nature's law. So in this life I am very big man, but by work, karmaṇā daiva netreṇa ([[Vanisource:SB 3.31.1|SB 3.31.1]]), by superior administration, I have to accept a body of dog. Then what is the value of your being great now? That technology is unknown, although it is stated there in the Bhagavad-gītā. Everything is. Tathā dehāntara-prāptiḥ ([[Vanisource:BG 2.13 (1972)|BG 2.13]]). So Kṛṣṇa never says that "You'll get such and such body." Dehāntara. "You'll have to change the body." Now, suppose... There are 8,400,000 types of bodies. Suppose next time I become a tree. Then just see horrible position. Here is a tree. I am within this room, sitting so comfortably, and the tree is standing there. I can get that life also, karmaṇā, by my work. So this technology is unknown. And we are very much proud of advancement of knowledge.</p>
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</div>
<div id="Correspondence" class="section" sec_index="6" parent="compilation" text="Correspondence"><h2>Correspondence</h2>
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<div id="1971_Correspondence" class="sub_section" sec_index="6" parent="Correspondence" text="1971 Correspondence"><h3>1971 Correspondence</h3>
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<div id="LettertoBhagavanLondon21August1971_0" class="quote" parent="1971_Correspondence" book="Let" index="403" link="Letter to Bhagavan -- London 21 August, 1971" link_text="Letter to Bhagavan -- London 21 August, 1971">
<div class="heading">All the universities and educational institutions are in darkness and still they are very much proud of advancement of knowledge. This we shall challenge everywhere and come out victorious.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Bhagavan -- London 21 August, 1971|Letter to Bhagavan -- London 21 August, 1971]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So it appears that things are going on nicely there in Detroit. So we have to work very hard and with intelligence and sincerity for this movement. It is a great movement undoubtedly but it takes a little time to convince the higher section of the society. Still that is one of our businesses because unless the higher section understands this movement, it will make progress slowly. If the higher section says yes, it is a nice movement, it will progress very quickly. Our mission is undoubtedly the highest welfare activity to the human society. Everyone has forgotten his real constitutional position. Therefore all of them are hovering in the air without any concrete knowledge of the goal of life. Actually we are in the position to teach everyone, never mind however great a philosopher or scientist he may be, but everyone must learn from us about spiritual activities. All the universities and educational institutions are in darkness and still they are very much proud of advancement of knowledge. This we shall challenge everywhere and come out victorious.</p>
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