We have got about dozens of books on this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. So we invite educated class men—philosophers, scientists, politicians—to study this movement. Why they should remain apart from this movement? It is a nice movement, it is meant for correcting the mistake of the human society. They should be interested. They should read our books and understand.
Interviewer: By and large, we understand that the movement of Kṛṣṇa is a passive form of religion, and that it is one that is from within. Would you say that you are non-political and non-violent?
Prabhupāda: Yes, certainly. We are non-political. We are not, I mean to say, stagnant; we are progressive, and it is exactly what you mean by religion. It is not exactly religion; it is a culture. It is a culture, divine culture: how to make every human being a divine man. There are two classes of men, one is called—according to Vedic literature—one is called a demon, and the other is called demigod. So anyone who is not perfectly cultured, he is called demon. And one who is perfectly cultured, he is called a Kṛṣṇa conscious person, or a demigod. And human life is meant for understanding what he is, what is to know, what is God, what is his relationship with God, what is this material world, why one has come here, where he will go. These things are actually enquiries of the human life, and they should be satisfied. Our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is meant for this purpose. We are not exactly interested with the animal way of life. Animal way of life means the animal is interested only in four things: eating, sleeping, mating and defending. If human civilization is based on these four principles only, then it is another name of animal life. So we should go beyond animal life, try to understand the value of life. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.
Interviewer: Then your belief centers around the fact that a human being on earth has more than the so-called creature comforts of life—the mating, the sleeping, the eating.
Prabhupāda: Yes, comfortable sleeping, that is a mental concoction, because, perhaps when one sleeps he may dream so many horrible things, or he may not have very nice sleep. But a dog sleeping on the street, he may have very sound sleep. So by improving the condition of sleep does not mean advancement of civilization.
Interviewer: We are having an in-depth chat with the man that is the head of the Kṛṣṇa movement, originating originally of course in India, now with its world headquarters in Los Angeles, California, growing by leaps and bounds at least throughout the USA—the movement that many of our listeners will soon identify at the close of our broadcast when we will have the vibrations cast off by some of the disciples that are here with us at this interview time. Many people involved with the Kṛṣṇa movement . . . that are not involved with the Kṛṣṇa movement have no idea, perhaps, what this organization, this religion, this philosophy, stands for, and so we have come here to speak with His Divine Grace on the feeling and his thoughts about the Kṛṣṇa movement. Now when you make the chant on the streets, they say "Hare" Kṛṣṇa, and we understand that that means "Hail to God."
Prabhupāda: Yes, we address. "Hare" means the energy of Kṛṣṇa, God. Two things are working: Kṛṣṇa is working through His energies. Just like the sun planet, it is working through its energy, the sunshine. Similarly, God is also working through His different energies. So this material manifestation is also creation of His energy. So we are addressing the energy of Lord, that is "Hare," and we are addressing Kṛṣṇa, the Lord, or Rāma, the Lord. Addressing means offering something or enquiring something or asking something—addressing. If I say "Jim," that means I am addressing for some purpose. So this is address, Hare Kṛṣṇa, "Oh, the energy of Lord. Oh, the Lord. Please again take me in Your association from this material condition of life." This is the purpose of Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra.