Hamsaduta, August 11, 1973, Paris: […] Yes. Their argument is… They will say that just the fact that the living entity has the independence and, and the possibility is there for him to make a mistake, they consider it to be a flaw.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Yogesvara: If it’s better to be…
Hamsaduta: But they consider it to be God’s flaw.
Prabhupada: No, why God’s flaw?
Yogesvara: Because He has given us the chance to fall down.
Prabhupada: Independence means that you may obey me or not obey me. It is not my flaw. Otherwise, independence has no meaning. Independence has no meaning. If I give you independence… Just like Krishna is giving independence to Arjuna: “Now I have explained to you everything. Now I give you independence. Either you accept or not accept, that is your position.” So if this independence has no such quality, acceptance… That is not independence. If one has to be forced by the law of God, that is not independence. Then one does not know what is the meaning of independence.
Yogesvara: Then why has He given us independence if…
Prabhupada: Yes, He must give because we, He, He has got…
Yogesvara: …if we misuse it?
Prabhupada: He has got, He’s the Supreme Independent, and living entities are part and parcel of God. Therefore you must have independence. Otherwise, how he becomes perfect part and parcel?
Guru Gauranga: And if he did not have independence, that would be the flaw.
Prabhupada: Yes. That will be the fault.
Bhagavan: That makes everything complete.
Prabhupada: Yes. Independence means that you can do or not do. That is independence.
Bhagavan: Their definition of perfect is wrong. Just like this boy’s definition of a poet.
Prabhupada: He’s a rascal. He’s simply bogus. He’s trying to… There are so many parties like that. They’re four or five, they make a group and imitate these Beatles. As if… Beatles have made money. They’ll also make money. That is the… And speak all nonsense. That’s all. These are crazy fellows. So independence means that you can do or not do. Just like you, as a nation, American nation, or English nation, you are all independent. But why you go to the jail? Is it government’s fault that you go to the jail? Therefore government has fault? Why this nonsense question. When a man, instead of going to the university, goes to the police custody, is it government’s fault? Is it?
Hamsaduta: No.
Prabhupada: Then? It is a common sense affair. The God has given you independence. If you do something wrong, against the will of God, then you must suffer. Therefore we find so many varieties of living entities. In different grades of life. That is due to misuse of independence.
Yogesvara: Very popular today is the idea that if we are use, misusing our independence, it’s because of our upbringing, our childhood, our society, something is wrong in our psychology. Not that it’s the soul, not that it’s a question of spiritual problem, but material one, that our parents were cruel or our society, our education was imperfect or something. But not spiritual problem.
Prabhupada: So that is independence. Your parents were cruel. Therefore you have revolted against the parents. That is your independence. Why you revolted against parents? Because you have got the independence.
Devotee: What shall we say to someone, Prabhupada…
Prabhupada: Otherwise, if you are doing stereotyping, then in spite of your father being cruel, you would not declare independence and go away from home. Because you have got this independence, therefore you can understand that: “Why shall I obey this father? I go out.” That is independence. They do not understand the meaning of independence.
Hamsaduta: Because they’ve lost their independence.
Prabhupada: Hmmm?
Hamsaduta: Because they’ve lost their independence.
Prabhupada: Not lost. Misused.
Hamsaduta: Fallen into maya. Or misused.
Prabhupada: Not lost. Independence still there. He can go back again to father, go back to home, back to Godhead. God says that: sarva-dharman… “You have come here to enjoy your independence, but you have created a havoc, entanglement. Now, if you simply surrender unto Me, abide by My orders, I give you all concessions. Immediately you are free from all reaction and come back to Me.” Therefore, God comes to canvass, He sends His devotee to canvass, that: “You give up your misuse of independence and become happy.” That is Krishna consciousness program. But if you still stick to the independence, misuse of independence, you remain here. Read More
Speak Your Mind