Prabhupāda: Everything is known, can be known, from authorized source of knowledge. A child does not know what is this. He asks father, "Father, what is this?" The father explains, "My dear boy, this is dictaphone. When I speak, it records." Childlike, you see? That is the way of knowledge. If you do not know God, you must approach a person who knows God. There is knowledge. There is no difficulty.
John Fahey: But I went to church, and I still don't know.
Prabhupāda: Hm?
Ātreya Ṛṣi: He went to church and he could not find out.
Prabhupāda: That may be.
John Fahey: I couldn't feel it.
Prabhupāda: That may be, but you may be cheated, that is another thing. Suppose you ask something from somebody. If he cheats you, that may be your mistake or his, but the process is the same; you cannot avoid it. If you want to know God, then you have to go to a person who knows God. You might have gone to a person who does not know. That is another thing. You went to a wrong person. But actually if you want to know God, you must have to go to a person who knows God. That you have to search out. That requires intelligence. But you cannot give up the idea. Because you have been cheated, "I could not get information"; therefore, you cannot give up that business. You have to find out somebody else. But because you say "I have been cheated. I could not get the right information. I stop this business," that is not allowed. You must. Therefore, according to Vedic order it is said, tad vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet (MU 1.2.12). Abhigacchet means you must to a person to understand that science of God. You must go to a guru or a man who knows. Guru means who is more intelligent. Guru means weight, heavy, heavier, heavier in knowledge. So you have to find out a person who is heavier than you, not ordinary. Must go. Not that may go or may not go. No. Must go. Tad vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum eva abhigacchet (MU 1.2.12). And what is the symptom of guru? Śrotriyaṁ. Means he has heard about God from his superior, his guru. Śrotriyaṁ. And how can I know that he has heard from his superior about God? He might say that "Yes, I have heard," but what symptoms? Brahma-niṣṭham. Brahma-niṣṭham means that he has become a complete devotee of God, result. Just like a man, physician. A physician means he has attended the medical college, passed the examination, and the result is that he's practicing as a physician. Not only passing will do, but he's actually passing and he's actually practicing and he's curing patients. Therefore, you find out a physician, here is a physician. It is not difficult. So guru means one who knows God. How can I know that he knows God? Because he's making others to know God. Where is the difficulty? But if you go to a person who does not know God, that is your fault. If you go to a physician who is not actually physician, a storekeeper, then that is your fault. You must have the intelligence who is a physician. That much intelligence you have got. You see a signboard, Dr. such and such M.D., medical practicer. Now you go there and you see there are patients waiting for him, for his treatment, he's giving medicine and they are being cured. Then what is the difficulty to find out a physician? There is no difficulty. So if one is serious to be cured of the disease he must go to a physician. If he does not go to the physician, how he can be cured? Just like you have learned this guitar playing. Do you learn it alone or learn it from somebody?
John Fahey: Mainly by myself.
Prabhupāda: Huh?
John Fahey: Mainly alone.
Prabhupāda: Anyway, you have followed somebody at least, standard.
John Fahey: Oh, yeah, people I heard.
Prabhupāda: Yes. So that is the way of learning what is God. The main business is that one must know God. It is not that because I approach some person and he did not know, he could give me the right knowledge of God, then I give up this idea of knowing God. No. That will not..., that is not good for human life. Then you remain animal. I might have been cheated or I might not have approached the proper person, but that does not mean that I can stop that idea. That is not... In another place it is said, tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam (SB 11.3.21). One who is actually inquisitive to understand the highest benefit of life, he must approach a guru. Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥ. Jijñāsu means inquisitive. Śreya—the highest benefit of life. Uttamam-highest. Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam. Ṣābde pare ca niṣṇātaṁ. What is the qualification of such a person? Ṣābde pare ca niṣṇātaṁ. He is completely well versed in the transcendental science. And what is the symptom that he is well versed? Brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam. He has taken shelter of Brahma or Kṛṣṇa or God. Upāsanā-finishing all desires. These two things: he is a devotee and he has no more material desires. He must be well versed in the science, he must be a devotee, and he has no attraction for material things. These three things, if you can find, then he's perfect guru. Everything is there in the śāstra; therefore books should be consulted. If you have no books, those who are discussing books, you should approach them, you should hear them. Just like we are holding class, morning, evening. People can come here, take advantage what we are speaking, then gradually they can understand. But we cannot avoid that. That is not good idea. If I say that "I went to church. I'm not very much enlightened; therefore I give up this attempt," oh, that is not good.
John Fahey: Oh, I didn't give it up. I'm still looking.
Devotee: He comes to aratik.
Prabhupāda: That's nice.
Devotee: He takes prasādam.
Prabhupāda: That's nice, very good. You also come?
Marilyn: I just got here a little while ago.
Prabhupāda: Huh?
Marilyn: I just got here a few days ago, but I've been twice. We'll be here Friday or Saturday or so. I chanted on the street.
Prabhupāda: You chanted?
Marilyn: Hare Kṛṣṇa.
Devotee: Saṅkīrtana party.
Prabhupāda: Very good.
John Fahey: We want get some cymbals, cymbals.
Marilyn: Cymbals. We sang Hare Kṛṣṇa on the airplane.
Prabhupāda: You're chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa on the airplane?
John Fahey: Yeah, it was fun.
Prabhupāda: You can chant anywhere. There is no restriction. There is no special rules and regulations. You can chant anywhere. Whenever you find it convenient, you can chant.
John Fahey: We were singing Hare Kṛṣṇa, so...
Prabhupāda: That's nice. Go on singing. (laughter) Yes. Go on singing and everything will be revealed within yourself, it's so nice.
Marilyn: It's a comforting feeling.
Prabhupāda: Huh?
Marilyn: It's a comforting feeling just from the whole repetition.
Prabhupāda: Yes. So go on chanting, then everything will be all right.
John Fahey: Can we get some cymbals?
Prabhupāda: Whenever you find opportunity, you come and join with us.
John Fahey: Can we get some cymbals?
Prabhupāda: Oh, yes.
John Fahey: I don't know where to get them.
Prabhupāda: (aside:) You don't have any cymbals for selling?
Devotee: Not tonight.
Prabhupāda: So, you can keep some stored.
Devotee: Yes. We've been waiting for shipment. They haven't arrived.
Prabhupāda: You can give him loan, he's anxious. You can give him these small ones. You take this.
John Fahey: Thank you. (sound of karatālas) (laughter)
Prabhupāda: I'll show you how to do it. Like this. (loud playing of karatālas) One, two, three-one, two, three. (showing how to play karatālas) It is not difficult. You are musician. Just play on meter: one, two, three-one, two, three.
John Fahey: Thank you.
Prabhupāda: For everything you have to learn from a guru. (laughter) Even for how to play. (more laughing) Yes: one, two, three. (more playing of karatālas)
John Fahey: Hey, those are nice bells, I mean cymbals. Oh, boy.
Prabhupāda: So sit down together whenever you find time, one, two, three play, and Hare Kṛṣṇa chant.
John Fahey: Okay. (plays more)
Ātreya Ṛṣi: Jaya Prabhupāda!
John Fahey: Thank you.
Ātreya Ṛṣi: Thank you. (offers obeisances)
Prabhupāda: What is your name?
John Fahey: John Fahey.
Prabhupāda: John.
Devotee: John.
Prabhupāda: Your name?
Marilyn: Marilyn.
Prabhupāda: What is?
Marilyn: Marilyn. (end)