# The Acharya Part 3 **Duration:** 31:22 <div class="video-container" style="position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%;"> <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VaYzJExqB6M" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; pointer-events: auto; z-index: 10;" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div> [Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaYzJExqB6M) --- ## Transcript **[00:11]** For a dedicated follower of the Vaishnava religious tradition, Vridaban, India is the most sacred place on earth. **[00:19]** In 1965, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada left the holy city of Vrindaban **[00:26]** to deliver the message of Krishna Consciousness to the Western countries. **[00:31]** At the request of his spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada gave up his peaceful and contemplative life there **[00:37]** in order to preach the profound wisdom of ancient India to the rest of the world. **[00:41]** No one could have imagined that in a few short years, Srila Prabhupada would have created a revolution **[00:48]** in spiritual consciousness and become the Acharya, the spiritual teacher, to so many people. **[00:53]** He had founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, a worldwide confederation **[01:00]** of over one hundred ashrams, schools, temples, farm communities, **[01:05]** and had made the chanting of Hare Krishna familiar to millions of people. **[01:10]** And, he had written and published over eighty volumes of translation and commentary on self-realization, **[01:16]** which are now standard in universities and libraries around the world. **[01:20]** Srila Prabhupada circled the globe eleven times between 1966 and 1977 and he met **[01:28]** countless political, social, and religious leaders in scores of countries on every continent. **[01:33]** He would speak at great length and often with considerable intensity on various subjects. **[01:39]** During these discourses, Srila Prabhupada would turn the profound Vedic philosophy **[01:44]** into a practical cutting edge that penetrated every sphere of life and thought. **[01:49]** Srila Prabhupada taught that there can be no real peace or brotherhood in human society, **[01:56]** as long as we are murdering our brothers, the animals. **[02:00]** Nature's laws of karma, action and reaction, ensure that violence is repaid with violence. **[02:07]** In other words, as you sow, so shall ye reap. **[02:11]** Srila Prabhupada's views were always persuasive because they rested on systematic logic **[02:17]** and sound philosophy. He once said philosophy without religion is mental speculation, **[02:24]** and religion without philosophy is sentimentality. **[02:33]** For example it is necessary, for the food of man, to eat, to eat (animals). **[02:45]** Man can eat grains, food grains, fruits, milk, sugar, wheat. **[02:55]** Not flesh? **[03:00]** No. **[03:02]** Why? Just like the fruits. The fruits are meant for human beings. **[03:10]** The tiger does not come to eat your fruits. **[03:13]** So tiger's food is another animal. Man's food is fruit, food grains, milk products. **[03:24]** But why? Because grain and plants are also living beings. **[03:34]** That's all right. That we also understand. **[03:37]** But if you can live, just like, generally, if I can live on fruits, and grains, and milk, **[03:51]** why should I kill another animal? **[03:55]** Another thing, how can you support that animal killing is not sin? **[04:06]** Cardinal Danielou Paris 1975 **[04:09]** How do you justify that killing animals is not a sin? **[04:20]** Because we think that there is a difference of nature between the life of man, **[04:37]** life of spirit, and biological life. We think that animals, plants are not real beings. **[04:47]** They are world of appearance and that the human person only is real being. **[04:53]** and that in this sense the material world is without importance. **[05:00]** That only the spirit is real being and the remainder is appearance and not really existing. **[05:17]** We think so, we think that animals, plants are not real beings, **[05:24]** are world of appearance, and that the human person only is real being. **[05:31]** And that in this sense the material world is without importance. **[05:38]** Now, I follow. Suppose you are living in this house. **[05:44]** So, you are not this house. That's a fact. **[05:52]** But if I come and break your house, is it not inconvenience for you? **[05:59]** Surely it is inconvenient. **[06:02]** So if I cause inconvenience to you, is it not criminal? **[06:07]** It is inconvenient to me, but… **[06:11]** Now, if I cause some inconvenience to you, is it not criminal? Is it not sinful? **[06:23]** I think if there is a serious reason, it is not the destruction of the spiritual man himself. **[06:41]** By example, it is perfectly possible to use the reality of the material world, of the natural world, **[06:59]** to the valuable finality of human vocation. **[07:08]** We think that the question is a question of motivation. **[07:15]** There could exist a bad reason for killing an animal. **[07:26]** But if the killing of animal is to give food to children, men, women, who are hungry, it is legitimate. **[07:47]** It is difficult for me to admit that in India the cows, it is not permitted, **[07:59]** to kill a cow to give to children who are hungry. **[08:08]** Another consideration. Cow's milk we drink, therefore she is mother, is it not? **[08:31]** According to the Vedic version we have got seven mothers. **[08:39]** Adumata, the original mother. Guru patni, wife of the spiritual master. **[09:00]** Adumata, Guru patni, Brahmani, the wife of the priest. Raj patrika, the wife of the king, the queen. **[09:16]** Four, adumata, guru patni, brahmani, raj patrika, dhenu, dhenu means cow. **[09:27]** Dhenu, dhatri, dhatri means nurse. Tatha prithvi, prithvi means earth. **[09:34]** These are seven mothers. **[09:39]** So cow is mother because we drink milk, cow's milk. How can I deny that she is not mother? **[09:50]** So how can we support the killing of mother. **[09:55]** Yes, it is a motive, but we think that… **[10:04]** Therefore, in India, those who are meat-eaters, they are advised, that is also under restriction, **[10:14]** advised to kill some lower animals, like goats, even up to buffaloes. **[10:27]** But cow killing is the greatest sin. **[10:32]** I know this. This is for us a difficulty. **[10:42]** Yes, because the cow is mother, you take the milk from the mother, **[10:50]** and when she is old, she cannot give you milk, therefore she should be killed. **[10:57]** Is that a very good proposal? **[11:11]** If men are hungry, the life of men is more important than the life of cows. **[11:20]** Therefore because we are propagating this Krishna Consciousness, **[11:24]** we ask people not to eat meat of any kind, but if under certain circumstances **[11:38]** you are obliged to eat meat, eat the flesh of some lower animals. **[11:46]** Don't kill cows. That is the greatest sin. And so long one will be sinful, **[11:57]** he will not be able to understand what is God. **[12:01]** But human beings' main business is to understand God and to love Him. **[12:10]** But if he remains sinful, neither he can understand God and what is the question of loving Him? **[12:19]** Therefore at least for human society, this cruel maintenance of slaughterhouses must be stopped. **[12:51]** I think that perhaps this is not an essential point. **[12:58]** I think that in this realm the users of various religions can be good. **[13:08]** The important thing is to love God, but the practical commitment can be varied. **[13:15]** That is like if God says that you can do this, that is not sin. **[13:28]** But if God says that you cannot do it, then it is sin. **[13:35]** That is our philosophy, isavasyam idam sarvam. Everything belongs to God. That's a fact. **[13:51]** Under the influence of maya, we are thinking that this is my property. **[14:01]** Just like suppose this cushion, where from the wood has come? **[14:14]** Has anybody produced the wood? Who has produced it? **[14:21]** It is God's property. **[14:26]** Rather, we have stolen God's property, and claimed it as my property. **[14:32]** There is Australia, the Englishmen came here, but is that the property of the Englishmen? **[14:42]** It was there, America, it was there, and when everything will be finished, it will still be there. **[14:54]** In the middle we come and claim it is my property and fight. Is it not? **[15:03]** You are the barrister, you can judge better. **[15:07]** That was the argument he used. **[15:14]** Originally everything belongs to God. So why are you claiming it is my property? **[15:22]** The son must know the property is father's. That is the real knowledge. **[15:32]** Now whatever father has given me, I will use it. **[15:40]** Why shall I encroach upon my other brother's property which he has gotten from the father? **[15:47]** This is good sense, why shall I fight with my other brother? **[15:53]** My father has given him this property. **[15:57]** So let his use that and whatever he has given me, let me use it. **[16:03]** Why shall I encroach upon his property? That is good sense. **[16:10]** I can understand when you say don't encroach on other people's property, **[16:15]** and I think if I can understand you correctly what you're saying is that **[16:21]** if you have something, your father has given you something, and someone **[16:25]** else wants to use it, well, let him. **[16:26]** I can understand that, but then you can get to the stage at times, **[16:31]** that for some reason or other, you don't want him to use it. **[16:40]** We are believing that everything belongs to God, and someone else **[16:46]** does not believe in that concept… **[16:48]** That is wrong, that I say. That is his wrong concept. **[16:53]** How do you reconcile…. Well if everything belongs to God, we have to run society. **[17:18]** You don't forget that everything belongs to God. **[17:21]** Because you have to run society it does not mean that you forget the real thing. **[17:28]** I really don't object to that idea at all, but the thing is that there are **[17:35]** the system we're working within has got different concepts. **[17:41]** Then you should rectify. **[17:50]** First think is that everyone should be convinced or understand clearly that everything belongs to God. **[18:00]** But they have no conception of God even. That is the difficulty. **[18:07]** The whole human society at the present moment, the majority, they are Godless. **[18:14]** Especially the communists. **[18:18]** They don't acknowledge, the scientists, the philosophers, the scholars, all Godless. **[18:28]** You can't say that scientists are working in a way that is opposite to God's will? **[18:36]** Yes, they say. Oh yes, I have met many scientists. **[18:38]** They say that we shall solve everything by scientific advancement. **[18:43]** We have done already. They say like that. Just like there is a big theory, chemical theory. **[18:53]** One big scientist, big or small, whatever he may be. He has got a Nobel prize. **[19:02]** He was medium-sized. **[19:06]** He is making the theory that life has come from chemicals. By chemical combination, chemical evolution. **[19:17]** Darwin's theory is also like that. This is there. **[19:21]** Big, big scientists, they are so foolish - that life has come from matter, where is the proof? **[19:30]** One lecturer in California University, and there was one student, he was my disciple, **[19:41]** he challenged him, that if he could get the chemicals, whether you can manufacture life? **[19:49]** To that the answer was: "That I cannot say" **[19:53]** You're putting this theory that life has come from chemicals. **[19:59]** So science means observation and experiment. **[20:04]** Now experimentally prove, get the chemicals and produce life. **[20:12]** They're trying! **[20:14]** That is another foolishness. **[20:16]** When you are trying to be a lawyer, a barrister, that does not mean you are barrister. **[20:22]** When you are a student of law you cannot say that I am a barrister or advocate. **[20:30]** That you cannot say. You are trying to be, that is another thing. **[20:36]** But while they are trying to be, they are taking the position of leader. That is the misleading. **[20:44]** That is described in Srimad Bhagavatam. Andha yathandair upaniyamanas. **[20:49]** One blind man is trying to lead many other blind men. What is the use of such leading? **[20:57]** But can't you have people doing good for the sake of goodness? **[21:12]** He does not know what is good. Therefore I said blind. **[21:20]** He does not know what is good. Real goodness is to understand God. **[21:26]** That is real goodness. **[21:28]** There are certain things that you don't…that are good that you can accept as being good. **[21:33]** Just by themselves. You see an old lady who gets run over by a car. **[21:40]** You go and help her. Now, there are certain things that are good by themselves. **[21:47]** And that people will react and do the good things **[21:51]** even though they might not have any concept of God. **[21:54]** No. Unless you have got the real platform, how can you do good? **[22:05]** Just like our Madhuvisa Maharaj, who lies to you: We have done some good, legal affairs. **[22:17]** But unless you are a lawyer, legal man, how can you do it? **[22:22]** You have a mind to do good. But if you are not a lawyer, how can you do it? **[22:34]** But there would be a lot of lawyers… **[22:37]** That is another thing, I am talking of yourself. **[22:39]** If one does not know what is good then how will you do good? **[22:45]** First business is, that he must know what is good. Then he can do something good. **[22:56]** Otherwise what is the use of jumping around like a monkey. **[23:01]** So therefore anyone who is posing himself as leader to do good to the society, **[23:09]** he must know first of all what is good. **[23:12]** But you should see whether you're successful, and what is the standard of success? **[23:19]** The standard of success is whether you have pleased God. **[23:27]** Read this: Atah pumbhir dvija srestha Find out this verse. **[23:56]** "Oh, best among the twice born it is therefore concluded that the highest perfection **[24:10]** one can achieve by discharging his prescribed duties, dharma, according to caste divisions **[24:17]** and order of life to please the lord, Hari." **[24:22]** That is it, that should be there. **[24:25]** So whether by my profession, by my business, by my talent, by my capacity, **[24:33]** there are different categories. whether I have pleased God, then it is success. **[24:54]** India is still - if one has a very good garden with flowers. **[24:59]** If somebody goes: Sir, I want to take some flowers from your garden for worshipping God, **[25:06]** yes, you can take. They'll be very glad. **[25:15]** This man, his livelihood depends on those flowers, and I don't think… **[25:23]** his possessions were more important to him. **[25:27]** It's funny, there's a funny follow-up the flowers were taken from two men who **[25:39]** ran nurseries, and we had to go through an appeal to get home but just **[25:50]** before the appeal came off, the boys needed a glass house, for the plants that you've got outside. **[26:01]** So they're driving around, and one says, well, lets go and find something out **[26:11]** about glass houses. Oh, there's a nice nursery **[26:14]** The car drives up, you see. And he says, "Excuse me sir, we're interested in **[26:29]** glass houses. "Would you please get out of my land." - Same nursery. **[26:46]** Yasyati bhaktir bhagavati akincana Sarvair gunais tatra samasate surah **[26:54]** Harav abhaktasya kuto mahad-guna Manorathenasati dhavato bahih. **[27:00]** The meaning is that anyone who is God conscious, a devotee, he has got all the good qualities. **[27:12]** What we consider as good qualities, he has got. **[27:19]** And similarly, one who is not a devotee of God, he has no good qualities. **[27:27]** Because he will hover on the mental platform. There are different platforms, **[27:36]** bodily concept of life, generally, I am this body, therefore, my business is to satisfy the senses. **[27:47]** This is bodily concept of life. **[27:52]** And others, they are thinking, "I am not this body." "I am mind." **[28:00]** They are going on mental speculation, like philosophers, thoughtful men. **[28:08]** And above that there is intelligent class of men, practicing some yoga. **[28:22]** And spiritual platform is above that. **[28:27]** First, bodily concept gross, then mental, then intellectual, then spiritual. **[28:37]** So this Krishna consciousness movement is on the spiritual platform, **[28:46]** above body, mind, and intelligence. **[28:52]** But actually, we should come to that platform, because we are spirit soul. **[28:57]** We are neither this body, nor this mind, nor this intelligence. **[29:03]** So, one who is on the platform of spiritual consciousness, **[29:11]** they have got everything: intelligence, proper use of mind, proper use of the body. **[29:21]** Everything is there. **[29:26]** If I say, at the same time, although he is hero, he must be generous. **[29:29]** Just like Alexander the Great, perhaps you know this story. **[29:35]** He arrested one thief. **[29:39]** So when he was arrested and he was being judged by Alexander, **[29:45]** the thief pleaded that what is the difference between you and me? **[29:51]** You are a great thief, I am a small thief. **[29:54]** So Alexander understood it and got him released, yes… **[30:01]** This is generosity. **[30:07]** You must agree to the principle. **[30:09]** Well, there's another one, the battle. Remember the big battle, where the opposition... **[30:18]** What was his name? Was on the ground and he said... **[30:21]** Abhimanu was surrounded by the maharatis. There was no mercy then. **[30:26]** So now Jnana was objecting that you cannot shoot a man if he gets of his chariot. **[30:36]** And Krishna said there was no mercy for Abhimanu so there will be no mercy now. **[30:40]** Tit for tat. In war that is happening, tit for tat. **[30:43]** Where was generosity? **[30:45]** That is war tactics. **[31:00]** Give some prasadam for them. **[31:06]** We invited everyone over to Uggashrava's house one night, we had a big party, **[31:13]** and Walley came, and Raymond came, and they became addicted to prasadam.