That is the misfortune of modern India. Yes. The standard instruction is there in the Bhagavad-gita. They do not care to know it. They want to know about the greatness of Bala Yogi, Sai Baba, this baba, that baba. That is their misfortune. They give up the real instruction, Bhagavad-gita, which is accepted by the great acharyas—Ramanujacharya, Madhvacharya, Shankaracharya, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

"God" is dead

Cheap tricks

PRAJAPATI: No. There is one rascal, Prabhupada, who can do tricks. His name is Sai Baba. He can make jewels appear, give people photographs of himself, give them to people like tricks.
PRABHUPADA: But another rascal will be victim of that tricks. Why shall I accept him as God?
KARANDHAR: Besides, they're insignificant tricks.
PRABHUPADA: Insignificant tricks. So if gold is the standard of becoming God, then there is gold mine. So who has created the gold mine, I shall accept Him God. Why shall I [accept] you? If gold is the standard, why a little chataka(?) of...? We are not so fools. You can make this trick for other fools, not to us.
YASHOMATINANDANA: I told his mahatma, his main disciple... He says that "Actually, book is not important," he says, "but experience is important." And I said, "Yes, there is experience. This is Krishna consciousness experience by which you feel..."
PRABHUPADA: No, no. Book means experience. Book means experience, not rascaldom. What is book? A scientific book means one scientist who has experienced, he is writing book. So book means experience. Without book, where is experience?
YASHOMATINANDANA: So he says that "You take the knowledge. You see the light, and you take the knowledge from Guru Maharaji."
PRABHUPADA: But you have taken the knowledge, why cannot you describe it. That means although you have got your Guru Maharaja, still you are in darkness. So what is the use of this Guru Maharaja? You are in darkness because you cannot explain. You're asking me to go to Guru Maharaja. But if you are enlightened, why you cannot explain? Therefore you are in darkness. They are useless as guru. You have not... He's a garu. He's garu.
YASHOMATINANDANA: Garu is mad, crazy.

Understanding Krishna through His bonafide representative

PRIEST: The trouble, you know, is that so many people are coming either in India or the West...
PRABHUPADA: No, no, I mean to say...
PRIEST: ...saying that "I am an avatar" or "I am Guru Maharaj-ji" or "I am," so to say, "Meher Baba or Satya Sai Baba." So many babas exist — you know as well as I do. Now, who has to say this one is really baba. They are all abusing us. Now, if so many people today pretends to be avatar and they have many disciples—
PRABHUPADA: But we don't believe them.
PRIEST: No, but they have many disciples.
PRABHUPADA: Many disciples, that is another thing.
PRIEST: Millions.
PRABHUPADA: Millions, trillions, that is another thing. But we have to see what is the disciple. That we have to see. Simply if somebody... So many disciples by number, we have to see the quality. What is the quality, not the number, not the quantity.
PRIEST: And if I had said that...
PRABHUPADA: It is stated in the Bhagavad-gita [Bg. 7.3],

manushyanam sahasreshu
kashchid yatati siddhaye
yatatam api siddhanam
kashchin vetti mam tattvatah

Krishna does not say that "millions and millions of people know Me." No. Out of millions and millions of people, one is perfect. And out of millions of perfect person, one may know Him. That He says. So we cannot accept because one is accepted by millions, therefore he is God. We don't accept it.
PRIEST: That's right.
PRABHUPADA: We want to see the quality, not the quantity. So our process is parampara. Just like in India—you have been in India—there are acharyas: Ramanujacharya, Madhvacharya, Nimbarka, Vishnu Svami, Chaitanya. If the acharya accepts, then we accept. This is our process. We don't go the millions; we see the quality. Ramanujacharya, high quality devotee; Madhvacharya, high quality devotee; Chaitanya, high quality devotee. If they say "he is God," then we accept. This is our process. We don't see how many millions of followers. No. We want to see the quality man. He says yes. So Shankaracharya says "Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead," Ramanujacharya says "the Supreme Personality of Godhead," Madhvacharya says "Supreme," Chaitanya says "Supreme," then we accept. That's all. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Chaitanya-charitamrita Madhya-lila 17.186]. Tarko apratishthah. Simply by argument we cannot understand the truth. Tarko apratishthah shrutayo vibhinna. And if you simply consult Vedic literature, that is also not possible. There are different statements. Tarko apratishthah shrutayo vibhinna, nasav munir yasya matam na bhinnam. A muni, a saintly person, a philosopher is not a philosopher or muni if he does not agree with others. [Nowadays people think] He must disagree, then he becomes. So that is also not the way. Dharmasya tattvam nihitam guhayam: it is very confidential. Then how to know? Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. Big personalities, acharyas—that is the process. Acharyopasanam. What is that, in the Thirteenth Chapter? Acharyopasanam, we have to understand through the acharyas. That is our process. That is recommended in the Bhagavad-gita: evam parampara-praptam imam rajarshayo viduh [Bg. 4.2]. We accept Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead not by our experience but by the experience of the acharyas who are recognized, and then we follow. Just like Arjuna accepts Krishna in the Tenth Chapter. [To disciple:] Find out, param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan [Bg. 10.12]. Read it.
PRADYUMNA:

param brahma param dhama
pavitram paramam bhavan
purusham shashvatam divyam
adi-devam ajam vibhum

PRABHUPADA: What is that translation?
PRADYUMNA:

"Arjuna said: You are the Supreme Brahman, the ultimate, the supreme abode and purifier, the Absolute Truth and the eternal divine person. You are the primal God, transcendental and original, and You are unborn and the all-pervading beauty. All the great sages such as Narada, Asita, Devala, and Vyasa proclaim this of You, and now You Yourself are declaring it to me."

PRABHUPADA: So Krishna says, and He is confirmed by Vyasadeva, Asita, Narada. This is the process. We do not accept everyone says "I am avatar, I am God." We don't accept. But because it is accepted by the acharyas, therefore we accept. Just like the same example I can give: I do not know who is my father, and many people will come, "I am your father." So we do not accept them. When mother says, "He is your father," then accept. That is final. I have no experience. It is beyond my experience, because father existed before my birth. So beyond my experience. So I am finding out who is my father, and so many people are coming, "I am your father." No. But as soon as the mother says, "No, no, this man is your father," then we accept. Then our business finished. Then we get experience. Father is beyond my experience, but when we receive the knowledge through the mother, then we get experience. Arjuna says that: param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan [Bg. 10.12], "You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Not only You are saying, but You are accepted by these authorities." That is all. I cannot get my experience of God; that is not possible. God comes, He says, and Krishna comes and He is accepted by all the great acharyas, then our business is perfect.

Imitation Gold vs Real Gold

REPORTER (2): Your Divine Grace, this is actually not very relevant to the press conference, but have you ever met people like the Sai Baba or Bala Yogeshwara or...
PRABHUPADA: Why shall I meet these nonsense? Why shall I meet? What is the business? Fools and rascals may meet them. Why shall I meet? What can I get from them? What is their special value? Tell me, why shall I meet? What is the business I have got to meet him? You are suggesting?
REPORTER (2): No, I mean...
PRABHUPADA: No, no, why shall I meet? Why you expect like that, I shall meet?
REPORTER (3): He just wanted to know if you have ever met them. They are also...
PRABHUPADA: No, no. Why he is...? Why he is asking this? What business I have got to meet with them? What shall I get from them?
REPORTER (2): Just to discuss metaphysics.
PRABHUPADA: Yes. If I am taking lesson from Krishna, why shall I take lesson from such bogus things?
REPORTER (3): No, they have also been recognized...
PRABHUPADA: Who recognized? Who recognized?
REPORTER (3): As exponent of Hindu thought and...
PRABHUPADA: :No, no, who recognized? First of all, who recognized?
REPORTER (3): No, they too have a following in the West.
PRABHUPADA: That is the defect. That is the defect of the modern civilization. They vote. Just like in big democratic country like America they voted Nixon to become president, and when they found that "This man is a bogus," they again dragged him down. So this is going on. We vote somebody to the topmost position, and we see that he's a rascal. So therefore we do not advise. We say just take lesson from Krishna, who is recognized by everyone. That is our Krishna consciousness movement. We don't say, "Go to a bogus man and take instruction." We don't say.
INDIAN DEVOTEE: May I interrupt? What Swami has described in all the books—as it exists, no further contribution, no amendment, no interpretation. He has described all what has been written in Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita, in its truest form. So no imitation, no representation, no interpretation. Swamiji has described exactly as it happened.
PRABHUPADA: And that is being appreciated all over the world.
DEVOTEE: All over the world that is being appreciated.
REPORTER (1): Swamiji, could you please throw light on your four-point regulation which you suggest to your disciples?
PRABHUPADA: Yes. That is pious life. No illicit sex, no meat-eating, no intoxication, and no gambling.
REPORTER (1): No?
PRABHUPADA: Gambling. These are the four pillars of sinful life. So if we want to know God, we must be free from sinful life. This is stated in the Bhagavad-gita [Bg. 7.28].

yesham tv anta-gatam papam
jananam punya-karmanam
te dvanda-moha-nirmukta
bhajante mam dridha-vratah

If you want to be God conscious, then you must be free from all sinful activities. God is pure. If you want to approach God, then you must be pure. If you remain impure, you cannot understand.
REPORTER (2): Swamiji, do you think that there are some people in this country in thousands or maybe tens of thousands who are getting spiritual solace from, say, people like Sai Baba or any of these other people who have interpreted the Vedas or who have followers all over the country? Do you think these followers are getting some amount of spiritual solace?
PRABHUPADA: No, no. First of all, do you know what Sai Baba is preaching? Do you know?
REPORTER (2): No.
PRABHUPADA: Then how you are asking on behalf of Sai Baba?
REPORTER (2): No, just like that. Just like.... I am just going.... I am very far removed from these...
PRABHUPADA: No, no, why you are interested.... Twice, thrice you have said Sai Baba.
REPORTER (2): No, anybody. Because he is among the better-known people. I, I am, I have nothing to do with.
PRABHUPADA: So, but better known...
REPORTER (2): It could be someone like, say, the Bala Yogeshwara, who also got some kind of following there.
PRABHUPADA: That is.... That has spoiled our India's Vedic culture. Everyone has invented some ways, and they have misled the general people, people, followers. That is the misfortune of modern India. Yes. The standard instruction is there in the Bhagavad-gita. They do not care to know it. They want to know about the greatness of Bala Yogi, Sai Baba, this baba, that baba. That is their misfortune. They give up the real instruction, Bhagavad-gita, which is accepted by the great acharyas—Ramanujacharya, Madhvacharya, Shankaracharya, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu—and all over the world, they are not interested to know Bhagavad-gita; they are interested to know about Sai Baba. Just see misfortune.
REPORTER (5): But what would you attribute this to?
PUSTA KRSNA: What would you attribute this to? What is the cause of this?
PRABHUPADA: Cause of this? One simple cause is they have become unfortunate. They give up the real thing, and they accept the imitation. So that is their misfortune. If there are two shops, everyone knows "Here is real gold, and here is imitation gold." If you go to purchase imitation gold, that is his misfortune.
REPORTER (5): What is it in your movement which has appealed to the Western world? I believe you have a sizable following in...
PRABHUPADA: Yes, because we are supplying real gold. We are giving real gold. We are not supplying imitation gold. That is the credit. If you supply imitation thing, it may go for some time, but it will not endure. So many swamis and yogis go there, but just these.... Ask these American boys. They don't care for them.
REPORTER (5): But even Mahesh Yogi has a considerable following in America and a lot of Western countries.
PRABHUPADA: No solidified.
PUSTA KRSNA: Amongst housewives.
HRIDAYANANDA: No. Now it is going down, and the followers, they have..., they will not follow any regulative principles. They will not surrender. Simply.... They have no actual disciples who are following principles.
DEVOTEE: Are we going to compare because of the larger following? Do you compare the relative and the unrelative? This is the...
REPORTER (5): I didn't meant to compare Swamiji's teachings with that of Mahesh Yogi's, but I...
PRABHUPADA: No, how many Mahesh Yogi has brought, disciples like this? Practical, come, come, practical point. Have you seen in India Mahesh Yogi's disciples like...?
REPORTER (5): Well, whenever he comes to Delhi he brings two, three jumbo jets full of disciples.
PRABHUPADA: This is my answer. Thousands of them are working here on my behalf. Just see their character and behavior.
REPORTER (4): Swamiji, may I say something? A magician can create many charismas. But God also create charismas. Who will you compare? The magician charismas or the God's charisma? This is the difference. A magician can also sometimes impress upon people that he has godly powers, but are they the real godly powers as against real godly powers? This is the difference. I have been at least thirty times to America, talked to lot of people. They say if you want to go really for attainment of your soul, you go to ISKCON.
PRABHUPADA: Even Mahesh Yogi says. Yes.
REPORTER (4): And if you want to attain your bodily strength...
PRABHUPADA: Yes, actually. One of his secretaries came to us. One of his secretaries, he asked that "I want real knowledge of God." He said, "Then you go to ISKCON."
PUSTA KRSNA: That's true.
REPORTER (4): And if you want blissful, pleasureful things, go to other, either Mahesh or to Bala Hathayogi. This is what has been.... This is what has been impressed upon by knowledgeable people in America. And at least I can say with authority that I have talked with lot of people in America.
PUSTA KRSNA: They say that you can chant some mantra and go on with your sinful life. But the practical result is that people's lives remain the same. They may simply divert themselves from their suffering temporarily. But in reality their condition of life is the same. They're still in a miserable condition of life, whereas Prabhupada is actually lifting us out of the well of misery to the atmosphere of blissfulness.
PRABHUPADA: That Mahesh Yogi advertises in the paper, "TM: You don't require any religion, don't require to follow any principles," and so on, so on. But I have got so many strictures; still, they do not go to him. They come to me. He has no stricture, but I have got so many stricture. And it is the report of the draft department that "Why the young men come to Krishna consciousness movement? What is the facility?" So they studied. So they reported, "There is no facility, simply rigidity. Still they go there."
REPORTER (5): Do you have any plans of propagating your movement in India? Because you have been for too long working in the West, and I believe India is not getting the benefit of your teaching and your guidance.
PRABHUPADA: India is so misguided that it will take some time to come. Because what I.... Even if you speak to India, what I shall speak? I'll speak Bhagavad-gita. The Bhagavad-gita was already there, still already there. But India's misfortune is they are so neglectful, they don't take care of Bhagavad-gita. They'll bring, "Why not Sai Baba? Why not this baba? Why not that baba?" That is the difficulty.
REPORTER (5): No, I wanted to ask...
PRABHUPADA: They have become overintelligent. Not simple intelligent but overintelligent. That is.... They are not overintelligent. That is the facility for them. We are preaching Krishna is the Supreme Lord. That is in the shastra and the Vedas, in everywhere. But you won't believe it. You'll say, "Why Krishna Supreme God? Another.... Here is God. Here is God." Hundreds and thousands of Gods you'll bring. That is the difficulty.