with
Reverend Gordon Powell,
Head of Scots Church
&
His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Reverend Powell: Thank you.
Your Grace, I was in Moscow, many years ago now. And everywhere I went
in Russia, well right down to Stalingrad, as it was called then. They said,
“This society is based on the principle, ‘From each according to his ability,
to each according to his need.’ ” Now, I felt that in principle that was
a very fine thing because it’s based on the parable of the talents and
the parable of what we call the penny wage, the same wage is paid to all
however long they work because they all have the same need, really. That
principle, I think, is a Christian principle, I mean from that point of
view it is. But I see what you were saying earlier...
Prabhupäda: The principles,
as they are stated in the Bhagavad-gétä, it is not limited
within Christian or communist or capitalist.
Reverend Powell: No.
Prabhupäda: No. The
principle... Wherever there are these talented persons, he is to be considered
as first class man. He does not say that “If it is found among the Hindus
or amongst the Christians...” No. Anywhere. Cätur-varëyaà
mayä såñöaà guëa-karma-vibhägaçaù.
These guëa, these modes of material nature, is all-pervasive. So even
in India they protest. Because I am making them brähmaëa. My
disciples, they’re offered sacred thread. They’re regularly made into brähmaëa.
So the Indians, in India, they’re very conservative, perverted. So they
accuse that “Swami Mahäräja is spoiling the Hindu system of religion,
because he’s accepting brähmaëa from outside.” So actually they’re
also not aware... Creation of God... Here God says that “I have created.”
So God’s creation is not limited. Suppose the sun is creation of God. It
is not for India or for Australia. It is for everyone. So whatever created
by God, that is not monopoly of a certain class of men. Yes. This is the
idea. So these people, they do not know what is the meaning of a Vaiñëava
or brähmaëa. That is not limited with a certain circle or certain
country or certain society. Just like Christ says, “Thou shalt not kill.”
This is applicable to every man. Not only that the Christians should follow.
Unfortunately, Christians, they do not follow. They are killing. So how
there can be religious life? Unless you follow the rules and regulations
given by the authority, then where is the meaning of becoming within that
community?
Reverend Powell: Yes.
Prabhupäda: And God
or God’s representative, whatever they say, that is not meant for a limited
area.
Reverend Powell: Right.
Prabhupäda: That is
not. Either you take Christian principle or Hindu principle, what is real
principle, really principle, that is applicable everywhere.
Reverend Powell: Yes.
Prabhupäda: Yes. Just
like Christ said that “Thou should be, one should be meek and humble to
go to, back to home, back to...” Eh? It is not?
Satsvarüpa: Yes.
Prabhupäda: So this
is for everyone.
Reverend Powell: Yeah. (indistinct)
Prabhupäda: Yes. It
is not limited within the Christian community. Everyone.
Reverend Powell: Well, it’s
a great privilege to talk with you, Your Grace. And, uh, you must be tired,
you’ve got a big day tomorrow. I’m mustn’t keep you. If I may.
Prabhupäda: Just here,
please wait. Little, take little. Bring that sweetball. Sit down please,
one minute. You have been today there today in meeting?
Guest: Yes. I appreciated
it very much. It was very nice...
Prabhupäda: You were
all present?
Guest: Yes.
Reverend Powell: You’ll be
pulling the chariot tomorrow, will you?
Devotee: Yes.
Reverend Powell: You’ve got
a job on that. In the afternoon, isn’t it? Tomorrow. I’ll see something
of it.
Prabhupäda: These flowers
are very nice. They are called?
Devotee: Daffodil?
Prabhupäda: Daffodils.
Oh.
Reverend Powell: No, jonquils,
aren’t they?
Devotee: Jonquils.
Prabhupäda: Very...
Just see how God’s artistic brain.
Reverend Powell: Hmm. Yeah.
Prabhupäda: You can
see God in everywhere. But one must be Kåñëa conscious,
God conscious. Then he’ll see every moment, everywhere God, nothing but
God.
Reverend Powell: Is this
part of the God consciousness, that in everything is the God?
Prabhupäda: Yes. Everything
is made out of energy of God.
Satsvarüpa: Here are
some sweetballs made out of milk and butter.
Prabhupäda: You can,
you can pick up.
Reverend Powell: Made out
of what?
Satsvarüpa: Mostly out
of milk and butter.
Prabhupäda: Milk preparation.
Reverend Powell: Thank you.
And, um,...
Prabhupäda: Yes,
you can eat.
Reverend Powell: Now?
Prabhupäda: Yes.
Reverend Powell: Thank you.
(eats)
Satsvarüpa: Very juicy.
Reverend Powell: Hm. Very
juicy. Hm.(laughs)
Prabhupäda: All of them,
give, each, one. We can prepare hundreds of nice preparations from milk.
Therefore cow protection is required. Do you like?
Guest: Very sweet, Prabhupäda.
(laughter)
Reverend Powell: Something
quite different. Hmm.
Devotee: Here, perhaps you
can use this.
Reverend Powell: Thank you.
Yes, I think I need it. You, you, you’re completely vegetarian, and not
have meat of any kind and not eggs at all?
Prabhupäda: No.
Reverend Powell: Why not
eggs? Because...
Prabhupäda: We are not
even vegetarian.
Reverend Powell: You’re not.
Prabhupäda: No. We are
negative of vegetarian and non-vegetarian. We are not vegetarian, neither
non-vegetarian. We eat Kåñëa prasäda. Rather, “prasädarian.”
We are neither vegetarian, nor non-vegetarian. Because we don’t eat which
is not offered to Kåñëa. Things are prepared according
to the order of Kåñëa, and when Kåñëa
eats, we take the remnants of foodstuff. Therefore we do not fall in the
group of vegetarian or non-vegetarian. We are transcendental.
Reverend Powell: Yes.
Prabhupäda: Yes.
Reverend Powell: Well, thank
you, Your Grace. If you’ll excuse me, I have another appointment.
Prabhupäda: Thank you.
That’s... Hare Kåñëa. (end)
Footnote: Eggs are generally of two natures Fertilised and Freerange
- unfertilised. The latter are the unfertilised discharge of the chicken,
much like the resultant by-product of its menstrual cycle. The Fertilised
egg is meant to be a chicken, but is taken prior to maturation and "terminated".
Thus Fertilised eggs nor "Freerange eggs" are neither vegetarian nor offerable
to the Lord.
