Spinning the Web

Founder-Acharya of the world-wide Hare Krishna Movement, Brahma Sampradaya Acharya

Sunday Herald - April 1, 2006 - NEIL MACKAY - America's War on the Web
IMAGINE a world where wars are fought over the internet; where TV broadcasts and newspaper reports are designed by the military to confuse the population; and where a foreign armed power can shut down your computer, phone, radio or TV at will.

In 2006, we are just about to enter such a world. This is the age of information warfare, and details of how this new military doctrine will affect everyone on the planet are contained in a report, entitled The Information Operations Roadmap, commissioned and approved by US secretary of defence Donald Rumsfeld and seen by the Sunday Herald.

Prabhupada: Your philosophy is unless you see, you don't believe. That is your philosophy. But you do not consider what you can see. That is the defect of this imperfect world, that people do not think that they are imperfect. With all imperfectness, they think they are perfect. That is the defect. Therefore it is said, andha. One is blind, and he is becoming the leader of other blind men. Andha yathandhair upaniyamanas te 'pisha-tantryam uru-damni baddhah [Srimad Bhagavatam 7.5.31]. Isha-tantrya, by the laws of nature he is bound up very tight, hands and legs, and he is thinking he is free to think, free to see, free to... That is the defect. He is not at all free, completely under the clutches of material laws, and he is thinking that he is free. That is the defect. And when this sense comes, that "I am not free; everything is forced upon me," then he becomes human being. Otherwise he's a dog. Just like, you see, if a dog thinks he is free. He is jumping here, there. He is thinking, "I am independent," barking, attacking somebody. Oh, he is thinking he is free to do everything. When one comes to this sense, that he is not free, that is beginning of human life. Athato brahma jijnasa. Then the question will be that "Why I am not free? What is the reason?" Then that is... Real human life begins. Otherwise he's a dog. Is it correct or not? What do you think? If one is not free and wrongly thinks that he is free, then what is that mentality? A doggish mentality. And if I say, "Yes, you are free. You can think in any way you like. That is correct," then you become more encouraged to become, to remain a fool, to continue. That's all. So we shall go now? That is the defective part of modern civilization. Everyone is thinking, "I am free." Is it not? Everyone.

Indian man (5): Yes. "I am perfect. I am like this."

Prabhupada: Yes.

Indian man (5): He thinks who is living under the delusion.

Prabhupada: That is explained in the Bhagavad-gita, Sixteenth Chapter. "I am..." Adhyo 'smi dhanavan asmi ko'sti mama samah: "Who is there like me, intelligent? I will do this. I will do that." These are all...

Indian man (5): Continues delusion.

Prabhupada: Yes. Therefore Krishna has imposed death, that "You may make your plan as free man, but you'll not be allowed to stay. I'll kick you out." These poor men, they did not think of it, that "I am making so nice plan, but at any moment I'll be kicked out. So where is my freedom?" Dull brain does not think of it. A prisoner, if he thinks that he is free to act, is it not foolishness? A prisoner, in prison, and if he thinks that he is free to act, is it not foolishness? So that they do not think. Therefore Krishna has grouped them: mudha, these rascals, mudha. They conduct freedom movement. Just like in our country also, before this British Empire or this Mohammedan Empire there was no knowledge about this freedom. Indian people never thought of freedom. They know that "We are not free. Where is the question of freedom?" These things have come from the foreign countries, freedom movement. What is freedom? Where are you free? You are completely under the laws of nature. Where is your freedom? So they were thinking of greater freedom, to get out of the clutches of the laws of nature. That is real freedom. What is this freedom? From frying pan to the fire? [chuckles] Now we have freedom means from frying pan to the fire. Formerly there was one viceroy. Now in each state three dozen viceroys, and you have to maintain that. So many legislators, so many secretaries, so many ministers. All, they are sucking our poor blood. That's all. Hare Krishna. And as soon as you approach them for some grievances, "All right, give me application," and, after six months, "No." So we are maintaining for this purpose? Yes. "I say no." That's all. Hare Krishna. [They are talk]...ing of freedom, but we have no freedom even to stay in this body.

Indian man (6): Yes. That is not our plan.

Indian man (5): Somebody else is controlling that.

Prabhupada: Yes. We learn that na hanyate hanyamane sharire [Bhagavad-gita 2.20]. "This is my position. I am eternal. So why I am obliged to accept body which is hanyamana?" These questions do not bother them. And where is my freedom? "I am eternal. Na hanyate hanyamane sharire [Bhagavad-gita 2.20]. I do not die after the destruction of my body. Then why I am put into this body which will be destroyed, which will become old, useless? And where is my freedom?" These things do not bother them, and they are reader of Bhagavad-gita.

Indian man (6): Somebody told that they are made to come here...

Prabhupada: Eh?

Indian man (6): Is it the sin of some of the...?

Prabhupada: No, that we shall consider. First of all we have to see that I learn that my position is na hanyate hanyamane sharire [Bhagavda-gita 2.20]. So why I am put into this body which is hanyamana? ... They want to remain in darkness, and any leader who will keep him in the darkness in flowery language, he will be welcomed: "Oh, he is very good leader." "And this man is very conservative: 'Don't do this, don't do this, don't do this.' " So here is freedom. "Whatever you like, you do"—here is freedom. If this rascal does not do what you do and you go to hell, that is their business. Krishna therefore says, "You rascal, where is your freedom?" Janma-mrityu-jara-vyadhi-duhkha -doshanudarshanam [Bhagavad-gita 13.9]. First of all you see. Janma-mrityu-jara-vyadhi. So where is your freedom? First of all get out of these things; then question of freedom. Janma-mrityu-jara-vyadhi-duhkha -doshanudarshanam. This is your knowledge, that "Where is my freedom? If I am under the rules and regulation of janma-mrityu-jara-vyadhi, then where is my freedom?" ...Simply rubber-stamped freedom will help me? Suppose I was dependent on British rule, and now I have become free. So will this help me to get freedom from janma-mrityu-jara- vyadhi? Then where is my freedom? What are major questions, they have set aside. "Don't discuss all these things, and bother your head with trifle things." And our philosophy is that "Don't bother with these trifle things. Just seriously think of the major problems." This is our philosophy. Hare Krishna. [break] Tesham aham samuddharta mrityu-samsara- sagarat [Bhagavad-gita 12.7]. Samuddaharta, just to deliver them from this ocean of mrityu- samsara. That is not care. Real freedom is given by him—that you don't care. [break] ...will be given by Krishna. This is no freedom. Here the so-called freedom-giver, he has no freedom. And what he will give, freedom? Gandhiji preached so much about nonviolence, and nonviolence said, "All right, you have no freedom from nonviolence. You die." [break] ...is there, there is no question of freedom.