Room Conversation with Kuwaiti Guests – March 29, 1977, Bombay

So there is no question of 'your God,' 'my God' or 'his God'

Prabhupada: … revive our whole original consciousness. So any system of religion which revives this consciousness is first-class religion. It doesn't matter whether it is Christian religion or Hindu religion or Muhammadan religion. The system which revives original consciousness-that "I am eternally related with God as part and parcel. My aim of life is go back to home, back to Godhead, and to act accordingly"-this is God consciousness.

Guest: Let me ask you one question. Now your God is Hare Krsna, and Krsna ...

Prabhupada: God is one.

Guest: God is one, that's right.

Prabhupada: Your God, my God-there is no difference.

Guest: God is one.

Prabhupada: There is no such thing.

Guest: Exists and..., xeris [Greek: "I know"] Is there any prohibitions in your...

Prabhupada: God means the supreme controller. So everyone has to accept the supreme controller. So there is no question of "your God," "my God" or "his God."

Guest (2): God is one.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Guest: So that means... My religion is...

Prabhupada: There is no "my religion" also. If God is one, then to know God or to abide by the orders of God is religion. According to Bhagavata definition: dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam [SB 6.3.19]. Dharma means the orders or the law given by God. Just like law means the order given by the state. Nobody can manufacture law at home. The state has ordered, "Keep to the left," that is law. You cannot make "Keep to the right." That is not law. Therefore religion means the order of God. So we must know what is God and what is His order-then you are religious. Otherwise there is no religion. If there is no government, then where is the law? There is no question of law. Law means there must be government, and the order given by the government that is. Similarly...

Guest (2): Do you have a book?

Prabhupada: Hmm?

Guest: About your religion like this?

Guest (2): Teaching the rules.

Tamala Krsna: Do we have a book which teaches the rules of our religion?

Prabhupada: Oh, yes.

Guest: You have a book.

Prabhupada: The Bhagavad-gita. We have got many books-this is the beginning, A-B-C-D.

Guest (2): A-B-C-D?

Prabhupada: Yes. First of all let us learn A-B-C-D, then you go to higher standards.

Bhavananda: It's available all over the world. I don't think it's..., is it available...?

Tamala Krsna: We can get him a copy. We have extra copies.

Guest: It is not available in my country.

Bhavananda: It's not available in Kuwait.

Indian devotee: He is saying, "It is not available in my country."

Tamala Krsna: In Kuwait this book is not yet...

Indian devotee: It is available here at the panḍal.

Tamala Krsna: Here we have a copy.

Bhavananda: We can have one sent to him in Tehran.

Prabhupada: We have got our center in Tehran, city.

Guest: Actually I saw a picture, sing Hare Krsna, movie.

Prabhupada: Where?

Guest (2): It was last year, about your religion. I saw a picture-Hare Krsna, Hare Rama.

Prabhupada: Yes, we have got many followers in Tehran. In-charge man, formerly his name was Attar.

Tamala Krsna: Feroze Attar.

Prabhupada: Now he is-I have changed his name-Atreya Rsi. I have got many Muhammadan disciples. One Dr. Ramzan…

Tamala Krsna: From where?

Prabhupada: He is my disciple. In Portland University. I have given him the name Rama Ranjana.

Guest: Well, actually sir, I respect your religion, but I would like just to read some books.

Prabhupada: You will benefit.

Guest: I will take some books with me. I just came from Bombay Hospital after treatment, and the doctor allowed me. I've been walking like this, and then I came here. This gentlemen see me and offered the opportunity to meet you.

Prabhupada: Thank you very much.

Guest: Thank you very much.

Tamala Krsna: Can you stay for our program this evening? It'll only be for about an hour, hour and a half.

Guest: Yes. Of course I will.

Tamala Krsna: You can stay?

Guest: Yes.

Tamala Krsna: Oh, thank you.

Guest: Thank you very much.

Prabhupada: We have got also chanting beads.

Guest: Like ours. Yes. This is, you know, in our religion actually before I pray I have to put this in, what do you call it, seyara, we call it seyara. So I have...

Prabhupada: We keep these beads in a bag so that I may not touch here the dust of the floor.

Guest: Oh, I see. No, I don't keep it on the floor, I keep it on the seyara because I pray...

Prabhupada: Just to protect it, because we chant God's name, so it is not different from God.

Guest: That's right.

Prabhupada: God's name and God, the same, absolute.

Guest: Absolute.

Prabhupada:

There is no difference of quality between God and His name. When you say Allah and Allah-u-akbar-as you say-there is no difference.

Guest: Allah-u-akbar.

Prabhupada: Yes. Allah means "the great." I think so. "God is great." So in connection with His name, whatever is there, it is great.

Guest: Yes.

Prabhupada: So I am very glad that you have come. Please try to study the philosophy.

Guest: Thank you very much, sir.

Prabhupada: Keep his name and address.

Tamala Krsna: You can hold this up? I have pen. [guest writing his name and address] Thank you. Maybe sometime we can visit you there?

Guest: Oh, yes. Why not?

Guest (2): Can I give you my address?

Tamala Krsna: Yes, please. [guest writing the address] Which is the address?

Guest (2): This is the address, this is my telephone number.

Tamala Krsna: This is your address?

Guest (2): Kuwait..., state of police.

Tamala Krsna: What does this mean, "state of police."

Guest: Police department.

Tamala Krsna: Are you a member of the police department there?

Guest: Yes, municipal police.

Tamala Krsna: Municipal?

Guest: Inspector.

Tamala Krsna: Inspector of police. So we won't have any difficulty finding you there.

Guest: Of course not, you just call. [laughs]

Tamala Krsna: Very kind of you to give this address.

Guest: Okay, thank you, this is very good opportunity. Hare Krsna.

Tamala Krsna: Please stay for the program.

Guest: Yes, I will stay.

Tamala Krsna: [aside:] Bhavananda is... [break] [end]