There were many instances, the Vedic civilization, how the kings were perfect. You'll find from Dhruva Mahārāja's instances that Dhruva Mahārāja went to the forest to search out God, and he found out. By severe type of penances and austerities, he found out God within six months. How? He was a five-years-old boy, child. According to the direction of his spiritual master, Nārada, he went alone in the forest, although a king's son, very delicate body.
So in the first month he simply used to eat some vegetables after three days, each three days. One, two, three—then he eats something, some fruits, some vegetables. Then next three months, each six days he used to little . . . drink little water. And next month, in each twelve days he used to inhale some air. In this way, for six months he stood in one leg and executed these austerities, and at the end of six months, God became manifest before him eye to eye. So if we follow austerities, then it will be possible to see God eye to eye and perfection of life.
So this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, there is austerity, but it is not very difficult. We recommend our students not to have illicit sex. We don't stop sex, but regulate. We don't stop eating, but regulated, kṛṣṇa-prasādam, no meat-eating. No . . . we don't say: "No eating," but "No meat-eating." So what is the difficulty? Now see. In our kṛṣṇa-prasādam, we have got so many varieties of fruits, vegetables, nicely cooked. What is the difficulty? "No illicit sex" means don't be cats and dogs. Be married man and have one wife, one husband, and be satisfied.
So unless we regulate, unless we undergo austerity . . . we cannot undergo such severe type of austerity as Dhruva Mahārāja went, that every three days a little fruit or vegetable, then every six days little water. That is not possible in these days. If you want to imitate Dhruva Mahārāja, it will be impossible. So we don't prescribe any impossible method, but possible method.