# India and the West *On the spiritual legacy of India and its message for the West* --- ### India's Real Treasure > India's real treasure is this spiritual knowledge. We are not very rich materially, but we are very rich spiritually. This spiritual knowledge should be exported to the whole world. That is India's duty. — [[spoken/1976/761016bg.cha|Bhagavad-gītā 9.3, Chandigarh, 1976]] --- ### West Has Technology > The Western countries have developed technology, industrial strength. That is good. But they have no spiritual knowledge. And India has spiritual knowledge but no material prosperity. So let them combine. Let India give spiritual knowledge and let the West give technology. — [[spoken/1972/721017sb.vrn|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.6, Vṛndāvana, 1972]] --- ### Caitanya Mahāprabhu's Prediction > Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu predicted that this Hare Kṛṣṇa movement will spread to every town and village of the world. And we are seeing it happening. Europeans, Americans, Africans—everyone is chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. — [[spoken/1970/701219sb.sur|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.34–39, Surat, 1970]] --- ### Born in India, Responsible > Anyone who is born in India, he has got a special responsibility. Because in India, the Vedic knowledge is available. So he should take advantage of this Vedic knowledge and distribute it to the whole world. That is real national service. — [[spoken/1976/761016bg.cha|Bhagavad-gītā 9.3, Chandigarh, 1976]] --- ### Westerners Are Accepting > It is very encouraging that the Western boys and girls are accepting this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. They have everything materially. They are not poor. But they have understood that material prosperity cannot make them happy. They need something spiritual. — [[spoken/1969/690510r1.col|Room Conversation, Columbus, 1969]] --- ### Not Hindu Religion > This Kṛṣṇa consciousness is not Hindu religion. It is for everyone. Kṛṣṇa says sarva-yoniṣu—in all species of life I am the father. So this is universal. It is not limited to any particular sect or nation. — [[spoken/1972/721017sb.vrn|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.6, Vṛndāvana, 1972]] --- ### Frustration in the West > After too much material enjoyment, the next stage is frustration. That stage is coming to your country. Therefore the boys are becoming hippies. After too much material enjoyment, the next stage is—that is natural—frustration. — [[spoken/1969/690510r1.col|Room Conversation, Columbus, 1969]] --- ### Take to Kṛṣṇa Consciousness > So before reaching to that point of frustration, if you take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then you reach the real standard of happiness, because everything belongs to Kṛṣṇa. — [[spoken/1969/690510r1.col|Room Conversation, Columbus, 1969]] --- ### India Forgetting > Unfortunately, the Indians are now imitating the Western way of life and forgetting their own culture. This is very unfortunate. They should take their own culture and give it to the world. — [[spoken/1976/761016bg.cha|Bhagavad-gītā 9.3, Chandigarh, 1976]] --- ### Real Unity > This Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement can unite the whole world. Because everyone is a child of Kṛṣṇa. On this platform, the whole world can be united. Not by any other platform. — [[spoken/1972/721017sb.vrn|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.6, Vṛndāvana, 1972]] --- *10 quotes from Śrīla Prabhupāda on India and the West* [[wiki/quotes|Back to Quotes]]