Room Conversation – January 2, 1977, Bombay

Prabhupada: ...that a high-court judge, and he does not know what is God. How misfortunate he is. And he's speaking of God, "Surrender," all theoretical. They do not know what is surrender. If I say anybody that "Go to Dr. Patel and surrender unto him, and whatever he'll prescribe, you take it," but if he does not know what is Dr. Patel, then where he'll go, and what to surrender? This is their position. They speak big, big words but do not know where to go. It is not? What do you think?

Dr. Patel: They do not believe what you say...

Prabhupada: Huh? That is the truth. Actually they do not know, and they cheat others, speaking about God. That is the difficulty. All rascals are doing that. And if I say, "All rascals," it is little harsh, but it has to be said. They do not know what is God, and they speak of God. Let them say frankly that "I do not know what is God." That is answered in the Bhagavad-gita: bahūnam janmanam ante [Bg 7.19]. If they are sincere, then after many, many births... Kleso 'dhikataras tesam avyaktasakta... [Bg 12.5].

They do not know, and they do not accept acaryopasanam. The acarya says, Ramanujacarya says, Madhvacarya says, big, big acarya, Caitanya Mahaprabhu... They will not believe them. They will speculate in their nonsense speculation. This is the difficulty. Without going to the acarya... Tad vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet [Munḍaka Upanisad 1.2.12]. This is the Vedic process, how one can know. But they will speculate. Ciram vicinvan. Athapi te deva padambuja-dvayam janati tattvam... Athapi te deva padambuja-dvayam, lesanugrhita eva hi janati tattvam na canya eko 'pi ciram vicinvan [SB 10.14.29].

One who has little mercy of God upon him, he can understand. But others, they can speculate for many, many births, still, they'll never be able. Athapi te deva padambuja-dvayam lesanugrhita janati tattvam. Lesanugrhita eva hi. Lesa. One cannot know God full. That is not possible, because you are limited; He is unlimited. Still, if one has learned, at least if one has accepted, "Here is God, Krsna. Bas," his knowledge is perfect. If he simply believes only this, that "Here is God," he can understand.

They don't believe that Krsna is God. "Eh... He may be very powerful...," so on. Krsna says aham adir hi devanam [Bg 10.2], mattaḥ parataram nanyat [Bg 7.7]. These rascals will not believe. "So what is there for me?" Mūḍha nabhijanati. If they remain persistently mūḍhas, who can make them understand? Very difficult. [Transl. This is the position everywhere.] Gandhi did not believe in Krsna. Huh?

Dr. Patel: I don't know that. I think he...

Prabhupada: You should know. You have read Gandhi's book.

Dr. Patel: He practiced Vaisnavism. That is what my wife said. Always, he used to worship.

Prabhupada: This is not... I do not know who has taken this Gandhi's book, his Gita lecture. Why don't you purchase them? Explain.

Gopala Krsna: I'll get you some.

Prabhupada: Yes. He mentioned that, that "My Krsna is different imagination... My imagination of Krsna is different." That is his position-He imagines. He has... [Transl. said it clearly.] "My imagination of Krsna..." How he can believe Krsna? Krsna is preaching violence, and he's trying to draw nonviolence. The people will challenge, but he makes his own commentation, his own imagination.

He said, "My imagination of Krsna is different." This is his word, he has given. And actually he is the student of Bhagavad-gita, Bhagavad-gita, and in his asrama there is not a single picture of Krsna. He does not believe in Krsna. But believe or not believe, he was reading Bhagavad-gita, had respect. That will give him some profit, there is no doubt.

[break] Yesam anta-gatam papam [Bg 7.28]. Everything is clearly said in the Bhagavad-gita. I speak, therefore, to my disciples that "You simply repeat like parrot Bhagavad-gita and follow. That's all. Your life will be perfect. Don't try to become very big scholar, do interpretation. Remain foolish and believe in Krsna. Then life is perfect." And actually that is happening. They never tried to eschew any... What is called, the English word? "Draw out some meaning." Eschew, or something?

Jagadisa: Eschew is the right word.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Jagadisa: Eschew is the right word.

Prabhupada: They do, everyone. The Tilak has done like that, Gandhi has done like that, Vinobha Bhave is doing that. Dr. Radhakrishna has done like that, Vivekananda has done, Aurobindo has done-everyone. Nobody would take directly, that "Here is God." What do you think? They have taken directly? Do they believe?

Dr. Patel: They believe in God.

Prabhupada: No, believe in God, that is everyone doing. So what is their special credit? Why do they touch Bhagavad-gita and say, "My imagination of God is different"? How cheating it is. If your imagination of God is different, why do you touch Bhagavad-gita and declare yourself that "I am a student of Bhagavad-gita. My life is also for Gita"?

Dr. Patel: Even when Tilak... Tilak says he follows Bhagavad-gita always.

Prabhupada: Everyone says that. But nobody says...

Dr. Patel: But he follows a part of it, not the whole thing.

Prabhupada: Nobody says that "Here is God: Krsna." That is their fault.

Gopala Krsna: [aside:] You can bring the car down at ten o'clock.

Prabhupada: Nobody says, "Here is God." That is, perhaps... We Vaisnavas say; I am preaching. Perhaps I am first preacher to the world, that "Here is God."

Dr. Patel: Some of these great Vaisnava acaryas were doing interpretation of Bhagavad-gita...

Prabhupada: The who is acarya except the Vaisnava acarya? [laughter] All loafer class. All loafer class. They're not acaryas. Except these Vaisnava acaryas, who is acarya? They're not acaryas. Acaryam mam vijaniyan [SB 11.17.27].

Dr. Patel: But I read your Bhagavad-gita, and after that, I read Ramanuja's. They more or less the same...

Prabhupada: Same thing. There is no difference between the acaryas. Then how he becomes acarya if there is difference of opinion? They cannot be acarya. [end]