“We are trying to give Freedom to everyone”

Prabhupada, January 11, 1977, India: Where is leisure time? You rise early in the morning and start for your office. Where is your leisure time? All imagination. I have seen in New York. They are coming from the other parts, starting early in the morning, two hours in the ferry and two hours in the cars, and standing two hours. What is this? Leaders, rich men, can think like that, that “I have leisure,” but a worker, lower class, they have no freedom. That is illusion, and we are trying to give freedom to everyone. That is freedom. You are forced to go to the factory and work there in a hellish condition of life. Is that freedom?

Ramesvara: There must be still education so the people will… Say we are one day…

Prabhupada: No education, no. Education will be required only for the guiding class: brahmanas, ksatriyas, not for anyone, sudras. They are two only. Others will… What education required? Suppose if you produce… If you…, you are accustomed to agriculture, cow protection, there is no need going to college and schools. If you remain illiterate, still you can do.

Ramesvara: But in America…

Prabhupada: No, no, America is not… I am talking of the (indistinct), the class who will guide the aim of life, brahmana class, and a class that will give them protection from injuries by others, ksatriya class. Then the next class, food-producing men, they do not require. Actually only brahmanas, they require education, or all others, they will simply see and learn. So little education required—that you can learn by hearing only, that’s all. Suppose a brahmana class says that “This is good; this is bad.” So you hear and accept. It doesn’t require to go to school and college. So education will be simplified. [break] It has become very much complicated.

Ramesvara: They have given too much power to the people, so the people demand so many things.

Prabhupada: Therefore they’re suffering. Ordinary people, what they’ll do? Anarthas. Actually it is anartha. They have created so many things.

Ramesvara: They are very much afraid if we close down the gambling houses and the prostitution houses that there will be no more enjoyment. Life will be boring.

Prabhupada: “What we’ll do?” (laughter) So we shall give you opportunity to chant Hare Krsna and dance here. (train stops) What is this nonsense?

Ramesvara: It seems that if one day the Krsna conscious movement has actually achieved some powerful position in America…

Prabhupada: That we want.

Ramesvara: …we will have to tolerate all these things—cinema, nightclubs. How can we close all these things? The people want these things.

Prabhupada: No. If you educate people, if you give them better enjoyment, they’ll give up.

Ramesvara: Very gradual.

Prabhupada: Just like our men. They are not after cinema or brothel house or restaurants. It requires education.

Hari-sauri: We have to make them devotees.

Ramesvara: But can all the masses of people become devotees?

Prabhupada: Oh, yes, cent percent devotees, by this process: ask them to chant and take prasada.