“The whole human Society will be benefited”

Prabhupada, Press Conference, April 27, 1976, Auckland, New Zealand: […] There is slight description of the evolution by Darwin. But he’s also not in perfect knowledge. The real fact is that, I am not this body, you are not this body. I am living entity within this body. Just like you are within your coat and shirt.

The coat and shirt you are not. Similarly, we living entities, we are within this gross and subtle body. The gross body is made of earth, water, air, fire, and the subtle body is made of mind, intelligence, and egotism. So we are within this.

So nobody knows; there is no educational system, what is our real constitutional position. We are wrongly accepting this body. And that kind of acceptance is there in the animals. The dog also thinking that “I am this body.” So if I am thinking like that, “I am this body,” then what is the difference between the dog and me?

We are educating from him that point of view, that the living entity is entrapped within this body, and according to his desire, he’s changing different types of body and undergoing continually birth and death. So in order to save him from the cycle of birth and death, one has to understand God, or Krsna. Krsna means God.

Then he comes to his real, identical position as spiritual body, and then he lives forever. He lives forever. Just like a man changing constantly dresses; that does not mean he’s dying. Similarly, we do not die. Na hanyate hanyamane sarire [Bg. 2.20].

After destruction of this body, we are not dying. We remain. But we simply accept another body. So this is a great botheration. But people are in ignorance. They’re thinking that after death there is no life. This ignorance is a great, I mean to say, difficult position.

So we are trying to educate them how to get out of this entanglement of cycle, birth and death. And therefore there are so many books on this subject matter. It is a very serious movement.

It is not compared to the so many rascal movements. So if you are serious, you can study our books, you can try to understand the philosophy, science; then the whole human society will be benefited.

Interviewer: Well, I’m sure many New Zealanders would like to know the very reason why your…

Prabhupada: Oh, everywhere we are liked.

Interviewer: No, why do your followers chant the Hare Krsna chant in the street? What is the reason behind this?

Prabhupada: Reason is that Hare Krsna… Krsna is the name of God, Krsna. So if you… Krsna is absolute, God is absolute. God’s name and God, there is no difference. That is absolute idea.

So if you chant Krsna’s name, that means you associate with Krsna directly, God. And by associating with God, you become purified. Then the dirty things within your mind… You are thinking, “I am this body,” as the dog is also thinking, “I belong to America,” “I belong to Australia,” “I belong to New Zealand,” “I… India,” and…

These wrong conception will go away. Then we’ll understand that “I am not this or that; I am spirit soul, part and parcel of God.” Then real knowledge begins, and if we act accordingly, our life becomes successful. So this movement is not meant for you and me—for everyone who is intelligent human being.

Interviewer: Thank you, Swami. That wraps it up for me unless anybody’s got any more questions? Thank you, thank you very much.

Prabhupada: Hare Krsna. Thank you very much. (end)