# Room Conversation, Living Outside the Temple, NYC, 1972 **Location:** New York City (1972) **Duration:** 19:09 <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/j2UXFvy92H0" 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=j2UXFvy92H0) --- ## Transcript **[00:15]** Prabhupada, you've said in past lecture that for one who wants to take up 'bhakti,' **[00:25]** the work that you're engaged in is not stopped. **[00:27]** This has been a source of confusion for myself and maybe other people. **[00:32]** Could you sort of delineate what is meant by that? **[00:49]** No, 'Bhakti," that's what we are defining…Definition of 'bhakti' means: **[00:59]** ["Devotional service should be devoid of material motivation"] **[01:06]** That is 'bhakti.' Try to understand what is 'bhakti.' You are following me? Now you come sit. **[01:12]** You come forward. Try to understand what is 'bhakti.' **[01:20]** 'Bhakti' means, we have no other desire than to satisfy Krishna. That is 'bhakti.' **[01:33]** Just like Arjuna. Arjuna satisfied Krishna by fighting. And he became a pure devotee. **[01:47]** On the battlefield, Arjuna was hesitating. "What is the use of killing my own men? **[01:58]** My family men, my brothers, my nephews, my grandfathers, all on the other side." **[02:05]** And you have to fight with them. Fight with them and to kill them. So he was hesitating. **[02:13]** He was a warrior, very great warrior, he knew, "When I fight I shall kill them. **[02:18]** Although they have come to fight with me, they do not know. But I know. **[02:23]** They are my men. So why shall I fight with them? Let them enjoy. I don't want…" **[02:31]** That was [his] confused feeling. But after understanding Bhagavad Gita, **[02:43]** when he came to the understanding that it is his duty to satisfy Krishna, **[02:52]** so he sacrificed his own conviction that he would not kill his men. **[03:03]** He satisfied Krishna. By the same art, he was warrior. **[03:11]** So he did not change his position. **[03:15]** After reading Bhagavad Gita, he did not become a Vedantist or went away to Himalaya for yoga practice **[03:26]** and give up the fight in battlefield. No. He did not change. **[03:32]** But he changed his consciousness. That is 'bhakti.' **[03:38]** At the present moment our consciousness is that we are working for our own sense gratification. **[03:48]** When this consciousness will be changed, that we have to work for satisfying Krishna, **[03:57]** then our lives will be complete. You haven't got to change your work or position. **[04:03]** But when you understand that you have to work, not for your personal sense gratification, **[04:11]** but for satisfaction of Krishna, that is Krishna Consciousness. **[04:16]** So there is no question of changing your position. Changing your consciousness, that is the question. **[04:25]** Can I ask another question? **[04:30]** First of all, is this clear? **[04:32]** This is very clear. **[04:33]** 'Bhakta' does not mean that you have to change everything. No. He hasn't go to change. **[04:40]** Simply he has to change his consciousness. This is 'bhakti.' **[04:48]** Change his consciousness in favor of Krishna. How I am acting now, I would like this, to do. **[05:00]** This is our preoccupation. I'd like. I'd like to eat like this. I'd like to sleep like this. **[05:07]** So present material position means: "My like." And spiritual position means: "Krishna's liking." **[05:19]** That's all. How you're doing, you think Krishna has liked? **[05:25]** Material position means "I simply want to satisfy my likes." **[05:30]** Therefore, Krishna Consciousness means to change this mentality. **[05:39]** My like. But to accept the principle of satisfying Krishna. **[06:09]** So 'bhakti' means to act according to Krishna's likes. Is it clear? **[06:18]** It does not mean change of place, change of occupation. Change of mentality. That's 'bhakti.' **[06:31]** Prabhupada, what if you're engaged in some occupation that Krishna does not like? **[06:46]** That you have to learn from Krishna's representative. What He likes, what He does not like. **[06:54]** And we should accordingly, give it up immediately? **[06:57]** Therefore you have to accept spiritual master. **[07:03]** If the spiritual master is pleased, then you know Krishna is pleased. **[07:08]** If spiritual master is displeased, then you know, that Krishna is displeased. **[07:14]** You cannot be in contact with Krishna at the present moment. **[07:19]** In the beginning therefore you require the help of Krishna's representative. **[07:25]** To learn whether Krishna is pleased or Krishna is not pleased. But your business is to please Krishna. **[07:40]** I'm not living in a temple. I'm working and I'm married. So what should my activities be like? **[07:51]** You should make your home a temple. What is the difference between temple and home? **[08:00]** This is a temple. The next house is a house. **[08:06]** This is also made of brick and stone. That is also made of Brick and stone. **[08:13]** But it is called temple, because here the business is Krishna. **[08:21]** And that is called house, because there is no Krishna business. **[08:29]** So if you make your house Krishna business, then that is also temple. **[08:36]** You do the same thing has the members here are doing in you apartment. **[08:50]** In you house, with your wife and children. **[08:52]** You work independently, spend independently, but do it for Krishna. Then you house is temple. **[09:01]** That we want. Here, the temple means, we are simply giving example how to live. **[09:11]** So this example can be followed everywhere. Every house can be turned into a temple. **[09:18]** Here, everything is Krishna centered. **[09:24]** Similarly, if in your home you make Krishna center, not you center, then your home is also temple. **[09:48]** Srila Prabhupada, I understand Krishna to be the Supreme Controller over all activities that happen in this material world. **[10:07]** So how can Krishna allow such slaughter and other such "maya's" [illusory] activities to take place under His control? **[10:22]** Krishna does not allows animal slaughter and such things. **[10:27]** Krishna says that, "I am the Father of every living entity." Just like father. He has got ten sons. **[10:39]** Some of them are like animals. But those who are advanced in knowledge, **[10:47]** if such sons request the father that, "My other brothers are useless. Let us kill them and eat!" **[11:00]** Will the father agree? Will the father say, "Yes. My…These sons are useless. You kill them and eat." **[11:10]** Will the father say? So Krishna has no sanction for animal killing. **[11:15]** We are doing, violating the laws of Krishna. **[11:19]** Therefore we are becoming entangled in sinful activities. We are doing. Krishna does not sanction. **[11:28]** Krishna says, "Ahimsa...[non-violence]." These are the qualities to be developed. **[11:38]** You cannot be violent. You cannot break anything. This is violation of God's law. **[11:46]** Just like in the Bible it is stated: "Thou shalt not kill!" **[11:51]** So those who are killing, they are violating the laws of God, and become, I mean to say, **[11:58]** liable to be punished. Criminals. So Krishna doesn't…The government does not say that **[12:08]** you kill your fellow. If you kill, then you will be hanged. Government says this. **[12:14]** But when you kill your fellow man, it is your responsibility. It is not the government's responsibility. **[12:23]** Similarly, when you kill another fellow living being that is your responsibility. **[12:29]** It is not Krishna's responsibility. **[12:41]** Prabhupada, I've heard different procedures for acquiring remaining Krishna conscious. **[12:53]** What is the procedure now? Has it been changed? **[13:00]** Our procedure is we are asking everybody to chant Hare Krishna Mantra. **[13:06]** That simple thing will help you in every respect. Chant Hare Krishna. **[13:16]** Then gradually, you will be enlightened. No other recipe. And you'll do it yourself. **[13:26]** Make association with devotees. Chant Hare Krishna. This is our procedure. **[13:39]** In your books, you've explained that within the "Kali-yuga" age. **[13:44]** Is "Kali-yuga" age coming to a close now? **[13:47]** No. It will continue for another 427 thousands of years. **[13:57]** The age of Kali-yuga is 432 thousands of years. Out of that, we have passed only five thousand years. **[14:11]** The balance is 427 thousands of years. And it will become…Condition of society, world, will be worse. **[14:25]** Not better, but worse. In the last leg of Kali-yuga, there will be no food grains, no milk, no fruits... **[14:42]** A very horrible time. People will kill their own children and eat, just like animals. **[14:53]** So the last stage of Kali-yuga will be like hell. So before coming to that stage, **[15:02]** better to take Krishna Consciousness and go back to Krishna. That is our philosophy. **[15:10]** Don't…Foolish to wait for the worst thing. The worst things are already happening. **[15:21]** It will be still more worse. Instead of waiting up to that time, better, be perfect by chanting Hare Krishna, **[15:33]** and go back home, back to Godhead. That is our philosophy. Yes. **[15:46]** As a devotee now who's in the temple, is it good consciousness for me to think that Krishna **[15:51]** will be presenting me many opportunities to serve, but I would prefer to do a particular thing **[15:57]** that I like best, rather than consulting the authorities as to what should be done? **[16:01]** Yes. But we have to wait to see the fruits. **[16:05]** What should be done? **[16:09]** Other than that, we are practically doing. **[16:12]** You do accept, yes… We're talking of Krishna, from so many books. We're thinking of Krishna. **[16:26]** We're chanting of Krishna. We're eating Krishna's Prasad. **[16:29]** Our whole day and night is engaged in Krishna's business. This is devotee.