Less intelligent men also take shelter of demigods and only derive benefits which endure for a limited period. Thus their religious principles and the benefits derived therefrom are only temporary. The intelligent man, however, abandons all engagements in the name of religion and takes shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and thus receives absolute protection from the Almighty Father. Sanātana-dharma is therefore the process of bhakti-yoga, by which one can come to know the sanātana Lord and His sanātana abode. By this process only can one return to the spiritual universe, the sanātana-dhāma, to take part in the sanātana enjoyment prevailing there.
In the name of religion: Difference between revisions
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<div id="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is" class="section" sec_index="0" parent="compilation" text="Bhagavad-gita As It Is"><h2>Bhagavad-gita As It Is</h2> | <div id="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is" class="section" sec_index="0" parent="compilation" text="Bhagavad-gita As It Is"><h2>Bhagavad-gita As It Is</h2> | ||
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<div class="heading">Those who want followers in the name of religion, just to have a show only, don't restrict the lives of their students, nor their own lives. | <div class="heading">Those who want followers in the name of religion, just to have a show only, don't restrict the lives of their students, nor their own lives. | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:BG 16.1-3|BG 16.1-3, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Tapas, or austerity, is especially meant for the retired life. One should not remain a householder throughout his whole life; he must always remember that there are four divisions of life—brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa. So after gṛhastha, householder life, one should retire. If one lives for a hundred years, he should spend twenty—five years in student life, twenty-five in householder life, twenty-five in retired life and twenty-five in the renounced order of life. These are the regulations of the Vedic religious discipline. A man retired from household life must practice austerities of the body, mind and tongue. That is tapasya. The entire varṇāśrama-dharma society is meant for tapasya. Without tapasya, or austerity, no human being can get liberation. The theory that there is no need of austerity in life, that one can go on speculating and everything will be nice, is recommended neither in the Vedic literature nor in Bhagavad-gītā. Such theories are manufactured by show-bottle spiritualists who are trying to gather more followers. If there are restrictions, rules and regulations, people will not become attracted. Therefore those who want followers in the name of religion, just to have a show only, don't restrict the lives of their students, nor their own lives. But that method is not approved by the Vedas.</p> | <span class="link">[[Vanisource:BG 16.1-3 (1972)|BG 16.1-3, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Tapas, or austerity, is especially meant for the retired life. One should not remain a householder throughout his whole life; he must always remember that there are four divisions of life—brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa. So after gṛhastha, householder life, one should retire. If one lives for a hundred years, he should spend twenty—five years in student life, twenty-five in householder life, twenty-five in retired life and twenty-five in the renounced order of life. These are the regulations of the Vedic religious discipline. A man retired from household life must practice austerities of the body, mind and tongue. That is tapasya. The entire varṇāśrama-dharma society is meant for tapasya. Without tapasya, or austerity, no human being can get liberation. The theory that there is no need of austerity in life, that one can go on speculating and everything will be nice, is recommended neither in the Vedic literature nor in Bhagavad-gītā. Such theories are manufactured by show-bottle spiritualists who are trying to gather more followers. If there are restrictions, rules and regulations, people will not become attracted. Therefore those who want followers in the name of religion, just to have a show only, don't restrict the lives of their students, nor their own lives. But that method is not approved by the Vedas.</p> | ||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam" class="section" sec_index="1" parent="compilation" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam"><h2>Srimad-Bhagavatam</h2> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="SB_Canto_1" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 1"><h3>SB Canto 1</h3> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="SB1110_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_1" book="SB" index="10" link="SB 1.1.10" link_text="SB 1.1.10"> | |||
<div class="heading">In the name of religion so many sinful acts are being carried on that the people in general have neither peace of mind nor health of body. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 1.1.10|SB 1.1.10, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">In this age, many unscrupulous men manufacture their own religious faiths which are not based on any revealed scriptures, and very often people who are addicted to sense gratification are attracted by such institutions. Consequently, in the name of religion so many sinful acts are being carried on that the people in general have neither peace of mind nor health of body. The student (brahmacārī) communities are no longer being maintained, and householders do not observe the rules and regulations of the gṛhastha-āśrama. Consequently, the so-called vānaprasthas and sannyāsīs who come out of such gṛhastha-āśramas are easily deviated from the rigid path.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="SB1515_1" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_1" book="SB" index="146" link="SB 1.5.15" link_text="SB 1.5.15"> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 1.5.15|SB 1.5.15, Translation]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">The people in general are naturally inclined to enjoy, and you have encouraged them in that way in the name of religion. This is verily condemned and is quite unreasonable. Because they are guided under your instructions, they will accept such activities in the name of religion and will hardly care for prohibitions.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="SB1515_2" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_1" book="SB" index="146" link="SB 1.5.15" link_text="SB 1.5.15"> | |||
<div class="heading">The Lord incarnated Himself as Buddha and decried the authority of the Vedas in order to stop animal sacrifice in the name of religion. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 1.5.15|SB 1.5.15, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Śrīla Vyāsadeva is the authority in Vedic explanations in the Mahābhārata, etc., and his encouragement in sense enjoyment in some form or other is a great barrier for spiritual advancement because the people in general will not agree to renounce material activities which hold them in material bondage. At a certain stage of human civilization when such material activities in the name of religion (as sacrificing animals in the name of yajña) were too much rampant, the Lord incarnated Himself as Buddha and decried the authority of the Vedas in order to stop animal sacrifice in the name of religion. This was foreseen by Nārada, and therefore he condemned such literatures. The flesh-eaters still continue to perform animal sacrifice before some demigod or goddess in the name of religion because in some of the Vedic literatures such regulated sacrifices are recommended. They are so recommended to discourage flesh-eating, but gradually the purpose of such religious activities is forgotten, and the slaughterhouse becomes prominent.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="SB_Canto_3" class="sub_section" sec_index="3" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 3"><h3>SB Canto 3</h3> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="SB3910_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_3" book="SB" index="319" link="SB 3.9.10" link_text="SB 3.9.10"> | |||
<div class="heading">In the matter of religion is far better than a person who misguides others in the name of religion. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 3.9.10|SB 3.9.10, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">A person in ignorance of the principles of religion who therefore does nothing in the matter of religion is far better than a person who misguides others in the name of religion without reference to the factual religious principles of devotional service. Such so-called leaders of religion are sure to be condemned by Brahmā and other great authorities.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="SB31225_1" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_3" book="SB" index="448" link="SB 3.12.25" link_text="SB 3.12.25"> | |||
<div class="heading">In Bhagavad-gītā the last instruction is to give up all other engagements in the name of religion and take shelter of the Personality of Godhead. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 3.12.25|SB 3.12.25, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">In Bhagavad-gītā the last instruction is to give up all other engagements in the name of religion and take shelter of the Personality of Godhead. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam also confirms that the highest perfection of religion is that which leads to the devotional service of the Lord, unmotivated and unhampered by material impediments. Religion in its perfect form is the devotional service of the Lord, and irreligion is just the opposite.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="SB_Canto_4" class="sub_section" sec_index="4" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 4"><h3>SB Canto 4</h3> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="SB42033_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="826" link="SB 4.20.33" link_text="SB 4.20.33"> | |||
<div class="heading">There are many activities going on throughout the world in the name of religion which are not actually religious. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.20.33|SB 4.20.33, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Furthermore, the Lord says, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja: "Give up all kinds of material engagement and simply surrender unto Me." ([[Vanisource:BG 18.66 (1972)|BG 18.66]]) This is the primary principle of religion. Anyone who directly executes such an order from the Personality of Godhead is actually a religious person. Others are described as pretenders, for there are many activities going on throughout the world in the name of religion which are not actually religious. For one who executes the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, however, there is only good fortune throughout the world.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="SB42613_1" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="1116" link="SB 4.26.1-3" link_text="SB 4.26.1-3"> | |||
<div class="heading">Animal sacrifices are recommended in the name of religion, but actually animal sacrifice is meant for persons in the mode of ignorance. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.26.1-3|SB 4.26.1-3, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Animal-killing is certainly conducted under the influence of the mode of ignorance. Even though one may be religiously inclined, animal sacrifice is recommended in the śāstras, not only in the Vedas but even in the modern scriptures of other sects. These animal sacrifices are recommended in the name of religion, but actually animal sacrifice is meant for persons in the mode of ignorance. When such people kill animals, they can at least do so in the name of religion. However, when the religious system is transcendental, like the Vaiṣṇava religion, there is no place for animal sacrifice.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="SB42711_2" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="1150" link="SB 4.27.11" link_text="SB 4.27.11"> | |||
<div class="heading">Nārada Muni knows very well that persons engaged in such animal-killing in the name of religion are certainly becoming involved in the cycle of birth and death, forgetting the real aim of life. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.27.11|SB 4.27.11, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">According to Vedic civilization, the animal-eaters are recommended to sacrifice a goat in the temple of Kālī under certain restrictive rules and regulations and eat the flesh. Similarly, they are recommended to drink wine by worshiping the goddess Caṇḍikā. The purpose is restriction. People have given up all this restriction. Now they are regularly opening wine distilleries and slaughterhouses and indulging in drinking alcohol and eating flesh. A Vaiṣṇava ācārya like Nārada Muni knows very well that persons engaged in such animal-killing in the name of religion are certainly becoming involved in the cycle of birth and death, forgetting the real aim of life: to go home, back to Godhead.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="SB42711_3" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="1150" link="SB 4.27.11" link_text="SB 4.27.11"> | |||
<div class="heading">Neither the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, nor His devotee ever sanctions animal-killing in the name of religion. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.27.11|SB 4.27.11, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Under Nārada's instructions, direct worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as described in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, was set forth by Vyāsadeva. The conclusion is that neither the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, nor His devotee ever sanctions animal-killing in the name of religion. Indeed, Kṛṣṇa incarnated Himself as Lord Buddha to put an end to animal-killing in the name of religion.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="SB42711_4" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="1150" link="SB 4.27.11" link_text="SB 4.27.11"> | |||
<div class="heading">At the present moment it is the greatest misfortune that in India many so-called missionary workers are spreading irreligion in the name of religion. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.27.11|SB 4.27.11, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Those who are involved in the mode of ignorance manufacture religious systems for killing animals. Actually dharma is transcendental. As Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa teaches, we must give up all other systems of religion and simply surrender unto Him (sarva-dharmān parityajya ([[Vanisource:BG 18.66 (1972)|BG 18.66]])). Thus the Lord and His devotees and representatives teach the transcendental dharma, which does not allow animal-killing at all. At the present moment it is the greatest misfortune that in India many so-called missionary workers are spreading irreligion in the name of religion. They claim an ordinary human being to be God and recommend meat-eating for everyone, including so-called sannyāsīs.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="SB42826_5" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="1195" link="SB 4.28.26" link_text="SB 4.28.26"> | |||
<div class="heading">Those who are very enthusiastic about killing animals in the name of religion or for food must await similar punishment after death. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.28.26|SB 4.28.26, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Those who are very enthusiastic about killing animals in the name of religion or for food must await similar punishment after death. The word māṁsa ("meat") indicates that those animals whom we kill will be given an opportunity to kill us. Although in actuality no living entity is killed, the pains of being pierced by the horns of animals will be experienced after death.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="SB42826_6" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="1195" link="SB 4.28.26" link_text="SB 4.28.26"> | |||
<div class="heading">So-called human civilization has opened many slaughterhouses for animals in the name of religion or food. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.28.26|SB 4.28.26, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">So-called human civilization has opened many slaughterhouses for animals in the name of religion or food. Those who are a little religious kill animals in temples, mosques or synagogues, and those who are more fallen maintain various slaughterhouses. Just as in civilized human society the law is a life for a life, no living entity can encroach upon another living entity as far as the Supreme Lord is concerned.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="SB_Canto_5" class="sub_section" sec_index="5" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 5"><h3>SB Canto 5</h3> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="SB576_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_5" book="SB" index="164" link="SB 5.7.6" link_text="SB 5.7.6"> | |||
<div class="heading">After performing the preliminaries of various sacrifices, Mahārāja Bharata offered the results in the name of religion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 5.7.6|SB 5.7.6, Translation]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">After performing the preliminaries of various sacrifices, Mahārāja Bharata offered the results in the name of religion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva. In other words, he performed all the yajñas for the satisfaction of Lord Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa. Mahārāja Bharata thought that since the demigods were different parts of Vāsudeva's body, He controls those who are explained in the Vedic mantras. By thinking in this way, Mahārāja Bharata was freed from all material contamination, such as attachment, lust and greed. When the priests were about to offer the sacrificial ingredients into the fire, Mahārāja Bharata expertly understood how the offering made to different demigods was simply an offering to the different limbs of the Lord. For instance, Indra is the arm of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Sūrya (the sun) is His eye. Thus Mahārāja Bharata considered that the oblations offered to different demigods were actually offered unto the different limbs of Lord Vāsudeva.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="SB_Canto_7" class="sub_section" sec_index="7" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 7"><h3>SB Canto 7</h3> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="SB7518_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_7" book="SB" index="195" link="SB 7.5.18" link_text="SB 7.5.18"> | |||
<div class="heading">In the name of religion, the so-called sādhus try to satisfy the senses of the materialists by showing them shortcuts to material opulence. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 7.5.18|SB 7.5.18, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Materialistic persons think that the path of religion is meant for improving their material conditions. The materialist goes to a temple to worship many varieties of demigods just to receive some benediction to improve his material life. He goes to a sādhu or so-called svāmī to take advantage of an easy method for achieving material opulence. In the name of religion, the so-called sādhus try to satisfy the senses of the materialists by showing them shortcuts to material opulence. Sometimes they give some talisman or blessing. Sometimes they attract materialistic persons by producing gold. Then they declare themselves God, and foolish materialists are attracted to them for economic development.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="SB71510_1" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_7" book="SB" index="626" link="SB 7.15.10" link_text="SB 7.15.10"> | |||
<div class="heading">Animal sacrifice in the name of religion is current practically all over the world in every established religion. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 7.15.10|SB 7.15.10, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Animal sacrifice in the name of religion is current practically all over the world in every established religion. It is said that Lord Jesus Christ, when twelve years old, was shocked to see the Jews sacrificing birds and animals in the synagogues and that he therefore rejected the Jewish system of religion and started the religious system of Christianity, adhering to the Old Testament commandment "Thou shalt not kill." At the present day, however, not only are animals killed in the name of sacrifice, but the killing of animals has increased enormously because of the increasing number of slaughterhouses. Slaughtering animals, either for religion or for food, is most abominable and is condemned herein. Unless one is merciless, one cannot sacrifice animals, either in the name of religion or for food.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="SB_Canto_8" class="sub_section" sec_index="8" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 8"><h3>SB Canto 8</h3> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="SB8821_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_8" book="SB" index="255" link="SB 8.8.21" link_text="SB 8.8.21"> | |||
<div class="heading">A devotee will never allow a poor animal to be killed in the name of religion. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 8.8.21|SB 8.8.21, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">One must develop a sense of loving Vāsudeva (vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti sa mahātmā sudurlabhaḥ ([[Vanisource:BG 7.19 (1972)|BG 7.19]])). The sign of a devotee is that he is a friend to everyone (suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānām ([[Vanisource:BG 5.29 (1972)|BG 5.29]])). A devotee will never allow a poor animal to be killed in the name of religion. This is the difference between a superficially religious person and a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="SB_Cantos_1014_to_12_Translations_Only" class="sub_section" sec_index="11" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Cantos 10.14 to 12 (Translations Only)"><h3>SB Cantos 10.14 to 12 (Translations Only)</h3> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="SB111331_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Cantos_10.14_to_12_(Translations_Only)" book="SB" index="3611" link="SB 11.13.31" link_text="SB 11.13.31"> | |||
<div class="heading">Lord Kṛṣṇa advised Arjuna in Bhagavad-gītā to remain fixed in self-realization, without being deviated by fruitive rituals performed in the name of religion. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 11.13.31|SB 11.13.31, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura remarks in this regard that just as one soon forgets the experience of a dream after awakening, similarly, a liberated soul in Kṛṣṇa consciousness does not see anything substantial in even the most exalted rewards offered by the Vedas, such as promotion to the heavenly planets. Therefore Lord Kṛṣṇa advised Arjuna in Bhagavad-gītā to remain fixed in self-realization, without being deviated by fruitive rituals performed in the name of religion.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="Other_Books_by_Srila_Prabhupada" class="section" sec_index="3" parent="compilation" text="Other Books by Srila Prabhupada"><h2>Other Books by Srila Prabhupada</h2> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="Easy_Journey_to_Other_Planets" class="sub_section" sec_index="3" parent="Other_Books_by_Srila_Prabhupada" text="Easy Journey to Other Planets"><h3>Easy Journey to Other Planets</h3> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="EJ1_0" class="quote" parent="Easy_Journey_to_Other_Planets" book="OB" index="2" link="EJ 1" link_text="Easy Journey to Other Planets 1"> | |||
<div class="heading">The intelligent man, however, abandons all engagements in the name of religion and takes shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:EJ 1|Easy Journey to Other Planets 1]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Less intelligent men also take shelter of demigods and only derive benefits which endure for a limited period. Thus their religious principles and the benefits derived therefrom are only temporary. The intelligent man, however, abandons all engagements in the name of religion and takes shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and thus receives absolute protection from the Almighty Father. Sanātana-dharma is therefore the process of bhakti-yoga, by which one can come to know the sanātana Lord and His sanātana abode. By this process only can one return to the spiritual universe, the sanātana-dhāma, to take part in the sanātana enjoyment prevailing there.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="Lectures" class="section" sec_index="4" parent="compilation" text="Lectures"><h2>Lectures</h2> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="0" parent="Lectures" text="Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures"><h3>Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures</h3> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="LectureonBG136LondonJuly261973_0" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="22" link="Lecture on BG 1.36 -- London, July 26, 1973" link_text="Lecture on BG 1.36 -- London, July 26, 1973"> | |||
<div class="heading">Killing is impious, sinful activity, but in the name of religion, killing is also going on. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 1.36 -- London, July 26, 1973|Lecture on BG 1.36 -- London, July 26, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">If we become addicted to sinful activities, the result will be we shall be degraded. But they do not know. Even so-called religious priests, they support killing, condone it. Killing is impious, sinful activity, but in the name of religion, killing is also going on. If someone says, "It is my religion to cut throat," will it be accepted very nice thing? Sometimes... Just like here is the war. This is also religious war. But still, discrimination.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="LectureonBG144LondonJuly311973_1" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="27" link="Lecture on BG 1.44 -- London, July 31, 1973" link_text="Lecture on BG 1.44 -- London, July 31, 1973"> | |||
<div class="heading">Unfortunately, everyone is killing for his sense gratification in the name of religion. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 1.44 -- London, July 31, 1973|Lecture on BG 1.44 -- London, July 31, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">But if one is actually in knowledge, brahma-jñāna, he thinks in the same way that "The lower animals, they are also our family members. And if I kill him for my satisfaction, my sense satisfaction, it is great sinful act." Unfortunately, everyone is killing for his sense gratification in the name of religion. In the name of religion, although it is prohibited, still they are killing. Just imagine how much sinful activities they are doing. And how they can be happy? Happiness, of course, a hog also thinks that he is very happy that he is eating stool, living in filthy place, and because he has got the facility of sex life without any discrimination he may think happy life, but that is not happiness.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="LectureonBG29LondonAugust151973_2" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="44" link="Lecture on BG 2.9 -- London, August 15, 1973" link_text="Lecture on BG 2.9 -- London, August 15, 1973"> | |||
<div class="heading">If we do not know what is the order of the Supreme Lord, then where is religion? That is not religion. That may go on in the name of religion, but that is cheating. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 2.9 -- London, August 15, 1973|Lecture on BG 2.9 -- London, August 15, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Religion means dharmāṁ tu sākṣat bhagavat-praṇītam, the order of the Supreme Lord. If we do not know who is the Supreme Lord, if we do not know what is the order of the Supreme Lord, then where is religion? That is not religion. That may go on in the name of religion, but that is cheating. So the Bhagavad-gītā ends: sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja ([[Vanisource:BG 18.66 (1972)|BG 18.66]]). And Bhāgavata begins from that point.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="LectureonBG468NewYorkJuly201966_3" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="143" link="Lecture on BG 4.6-8 -- New York, July 20, 1966" link_text="Lecture on BG 4.6-8 -- New York, July 20, 1966"> | |||
<div class="heading">N the name of religion, so many things are going on, but the real religion is that we must know that our natural function is to render service to the Lord. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 4.6-8 -- New York, July 20, 1966|Lecture on BG 4.6-8 -- New York, July 20, 1966]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">And another mission is to establish what is real religion, what is religion. In the name of religion, so many things are going on, but the real religion is that we must know that our natural function is to render service to the Lord. That's all. That is real religion. And forgetting this, forgetting this principle of life, under designation of this matter, I am serving, giving my service to so many things.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="LectureonBG422BombayApril111974_4" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="186" link="Lecture on BG 4.22 -- Bombay, April 11, 1974" link_text="Lecture on BG 4.22 -- Bombay, April 11, 1974"> | |||
<div class="heading">The so-called religious system which is full of jealousy, that is called kaitava-dharma, cheating in the name of religion. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 4.22 -- Bombay, April 11, 1974|Lecture on BG 4.22 -- Bombay, April 11, 1974]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">If you are so broadminded that if you see everywhere Nārāyaṇa, why you are cutting the throat of the goats or the cows or other animals? You should be merciful to them also. But that mercifulness cannot be exhibited without being a devotee, vimatsaraḥ. Nirmatsaraḥ. Therefore the so-called religious system which is full of matsaratā, jealousy, that is called kaitava-dharma, cheating in the name of religion. So this God consciousness is not a cheating religion. It is very broad-minded. Titikṣavaḥ kāruṇikāḥ suhṛdaḥ sarva-bhūtānām ([[Vanisource:SB 3.25.21|SB 3.25.21]]). This Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement means everyone wants to become friend of everyone.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="LectureonBG424BombayApril131974_5" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="188" link="Lecture on BG 4.24 -- Bombay, April 13, 1974" link_text="Lecture on BG 4.24 -- Bombay, April 13, 1974"> | |||
<div class="heading">Anything going in the name of religion, but it is cheating, that is rejected here. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 4.24 -- Bombay, April 13, 1974|Lecture on BG 4.24 -- Bombay, April 13, 1974]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Which teaches one how to become unalloyed, unflinching devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is first-class. All others, they are defective. Sometimes they are described as cheating. Like in the beginning of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it is said dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo 'tra ([[Vanisource:SB 1.1.2|SB 1.1.2]]). Kaitava means cheating. So anything going in the name of religion, but it is cheating, that is rejected here.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="LectureonBG186769AhmedabadDecember91972_6" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="406" link="Lecture on BG 18.67-69 -- Ahmedabad, December 9, 1972" link_text="Lecture on BG 18.67-69 -- Ahmedabad, December 9, 1972"> | |||
<div class="heading">You have manufactured so many rascaldom in the name of religion. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 18.67-69 -- Ahmedabad, December 9, 1972|Lecture on BG 18.67-69 -- Ahmedabad, December 9, 1972]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So mukti means to give up anyathā-rūpam. And that is the demand of Kṛṣṇa. Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja: ([[Vanisource:BG 18.66 (1972)|BG 18.66]]) "You have manufactured so many rascaldom in the name of religion. Give up all this nonsense. Simply surrender unto Me." This is wanted. But Kṛṣṇa knows that "If I say to the rascals, 'Surrender unto Me,' he'll take otherwise."</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Lectures" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures"><h3>Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures</h3> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="LectureonSB112LondonAugust171971_0" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="8" link="Lecture on SB 1.1.2 -- London, August 17, 1971" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.1.2 -- London, August 17, 1971"> | |||
<div class="heading">In the name of religion, so many things are going on. That is called kaitava, cheating. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.1.2 -- London, August 17, 1971|Lecture on SB 1.1.2 -- London, August 17, 1971]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">There are Hindus, there are Muslims, there are Christians, there are Buddhists and so many others also. Because it is in human society, there must be some idea or some principle of understanding God. That is called religion. But in the name of religion, there are..., so many things are going on. That is called kaitava, cheating. We don't want to discuss, but more or less, at the present moment in whichever category of religion one may belong to, nobody is following strictly the religious principles. That's a fact. That is called kaitava.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="LectureonSB125AligarhOctober91976_1" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="30" link="Lecture on SB 1.2.5 -- Aligarh, October 9, 1976" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.2.5 -- Aligarh, October 9, 1976"> | |||
<div class="heading">Cale means it is passing on in the name of religion but it is not religion. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.2.5 -- Aligarh, October 9, 1976|Lecture on SB 1.2.5 -- Aligarh, October 9, 1976]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">If there is no conception of God, if one does not know what is God and what is the order of God, then that type of religion is cheating religion and that kind of religion is completely thrown out from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Therefore Vṛndāvana Dāsa Ṭhākura said, pṛthivīte āche yata..., pṛthivīte yahā kichu dharma nāme cale. Cale means it is passing on in the name of religion but it is not religion. Because religion without conception of God, what is the meaning of that religion? If that is religion, that is not parā dharma. That is aparā dharma.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="LectureonSB1104LondonNovember251973_2" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="273" link="Lecture on SB 1.10.4 -- London, November 25, 1973" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.10.4 -- London, November 25, 1973"> | |||
<div class="heading">We have created a society for killing cows and eating the meat and maintaining slaughterhouse in the name of religion. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.10.4 -- London, November 25, 1973|Lecture on SB 1.10.4 -- London, November 25, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So we have created a society for killing cows and eating the meat and maintaining slaughterhouse in the name of religion. This is going on. So how we can be happy? There cannot be happiness. It is not a sentiment. Therefore this is most sinful activity, meat-eating, cow killing. Most sinful activity. And you have to suffer for that. Unfortunately, these rascals, they do not know that what is the result of this sinful activity. They think the life will go on, and there is no more life. "After finishing of this body, everything will be finished." Atheistic theory.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="LectureonSB11527NewYorkMarch61975_3" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="294" link="Lecture on SB 1.15.27 -- New York, March 6, 1975" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.15.27 -- New York, March 6, 1975"> | |||
<div class="heading">This is going on in the name of religion. "God, give us our daily bread. If you don't supply, I don't want You." | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.15.27 -- New York, March 6, 1975|Lecture on SB 1.15.27 -- New York, March 6, 1975]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">In the Bhagavad-gītā Arjuna was taught by Kṛṣṇa, yudhyasva: "Fight!" He never said, "Sit down, my dear Arjuna. You are My friend. Please sit down and sleep on this chariot, (laughter) and I will do everything. I am God." This is going on. "God will do everything for me, and I will sleep. That's all." This is going on. "If God does not do anything for me, then I don't want God. He must be my order-supplier." This is going on. This is going on in the name of religion. "God, give us our daily bread. If you don't supply, I don't want You." That's all. Everyone. So something is better than nothing. If one goes to God for asking bread, at least he is better than the rascals who at all do not go to God, atheist class.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="LectureonSB11535LosAngelesDecember131973_4" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="303" link="Lecture on SB 1.15.35 -- Los Angeles, December 13, 1973" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.15.35 -- Los Angeles, December 13, 1973"> | |||
<div class="heading">We cannot create religion, "This is my religion." Then everyone will escape in the name of religion. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.15.35 -- Los Angeles, December 13, 1973|Lecture on SB 1.15.35 -- Los Angeles, December 13, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">We cannot create religion, "This is my religion." Then everyone will escape(?) in the name of religion. Because you have created so many rascaldom as religion, therefore Kṛṣṇa says, sarva-dharmān parityajya: ([[Vanisource:BG 18.66 (1972)|BG 18.66]]) "You rascal, you give up all these religion. Real religion is surrender to Me." This is religion.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="LectureonSB11535LosAngelesDecember131973_5" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="303" link="Lecture on SB 1.15.35 -- Los Angeles, December 13, 1973" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.15.35 -- Los Angeles, December 13, 1973"> | |||
<div class="heading">In the name of religion, every rascal is creating his own religion and he is satisfied. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.15.35 -- Los Angeles, December 13, 1973|Lecture on SB 1.15.35 -- Los Angeles, December 13, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">"I come, I descend just to reestablish the principle of religion." Does it mean that He came to support Hindu religion, Muslim religion, Christian religion? No. He came to reestablish religion. People do not know what is that religion. They have created their own religion. And some rascal swami is supporting, yata mata tata patha. How you can create? Religion is personal? "You can create your own religion and be satisfied"? This is going on. In the name of religion, every rascal is creating his own religion and he is satisfied. He is satisfied, "I have got my own religion." But they do not know. These rascals, they do not know what is the meaning of religion. Religion means to abide by the laws of God, simple definition. Religion. That is religion, to abide by the laws.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="LectureonSB212VrndavanaMarch171974_6" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="358" link="Lecture on SB 2.1.2 -- Vrndavana, March 17, 1974" link_text="Lecture on SB 2.1.2 -- Vrndavana, March 17, 1974"> | |||
<div class="heading">In the name of religion, they are maintaining thousands of slaughterhouse. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 2.1.2 -- Vrndavana, March 17, 1974|Lecture on SB 2.1.2 -- Vrndavana, March 17, 1974]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Religion means by following the system one will become a great lover of God, or Kṛṣṇa. That is religion. Then why this system of religion is going on, maintaining slaughterhouse? That means the..., there was no attempt to preach sad-dharma, real dharma. Therefore, in the name of religion, they are maintaining thousands of slaughterhouse. You see? It is asad-dharma.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="LectureonSB215DelhiNovember81973_7" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="367" link="Lecture on SB 2.1.5 -- Delhi, November 8, 1973" link_text="Lecture on SB 2.1.5 -- Delhi, November 8, 1973"> | |||
<div class="heading">In the name of religion, but there is no conception of God. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 2.1.5 -- Delhi, November 8, 1973|Lecture on SB 2.1.5 -- Delhi, November 8, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">After all, we get this human form of life, especially civilized form of life, with some idea of religion. If we do not utilize it... Religion means to understand God. That is religion. In religion, a godless religion, where there is no conception of God, that is not religion. That is called cheating religion. In the name of religion, but there is no conception of God. That is not religion.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="LectureonSB6140SuratDecember221970_8" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="665" link="Lecture on SB 6.1.40 -- Surat, December 22, 1970" link_text="Lecture on SB 6.1.40 -- Surat, December 22, 1970"> | |||
<div class="heading">In the name of religion, they were killing so many animals. Therefore to stop this nonsense, he appeared. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 6.1.40 -- Surat, December 22, 1970|Lecture on SB 6.1.40 -- Surat, December 22, 1970]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">God became very much compassionate. When people were too much addicted in killing animals unnecessarily, He appeared as Lord Buddha. Sadaya-hṛdaya darśita-paśu-ghātam. Paśu-ghātam. The paśu-ghātam means they were being implicated in innumerable sinful activities by this process. Therefore God wanted to... Yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati ([[Vanisource:BG 4.7 (1972)|BG 4.7]]). In the name of religion, they were killing so many animals. Therefore to stop this nonsense, he appeared. And he declined to accept the Vedic principles because there was no other way to stop. If he would have accepted Vedic principles, then these animal-killers would have shown him evidences that in the Vedas there is mention of animal-killing in the sacrifice.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="section" sec_index="5" parent="compilation" text="Conversations and Morning Walks"><h2>Conversations and Morning Walks</h2> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="1973_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="6" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1973 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1973 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="MorningWalkDecember121973LosAngeles_0" class="quote" parent="1973_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="99" link="Morning Walk -- December 12, 1973, Los Angeles" link_text="Morning Walk -- December 12, 1973, Los Angeles"> | |||
<div class="heading">If the constitution is that, that in the name of religion somebody cheats, the government should take action. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- December 12, 1973, Los Angeles|Morning Walk -- December 12, 1973, Los Angeles]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Svarūpa: We have to make definition of religion.</p> | |||
<p>Prabhupāda: That we shall give in the court. "First of all this man is declaring himself as God, cheating. Why he should not be stopped?" Let there be case. This should be done.</p> | |||
<p>Yaśomatīnandana: Just like Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura.</p> | |||
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes. No. If the constitution is that, that in the name of religion somebody cheats, the government should take action, so here it is being done. So we have to maintain so many departments to fight with these wrongdoers. Why not make a test case that "This man is declaring himself God. How he is God? Let him prove in the court." Why not institute a case?</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="1974_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="7" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1974 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1974 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="MorningWalkApril241974Hyderabad_0" class="quote" parent="1974_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="72" link="Morning Walk -- April 24, 1974, Hyderabad" link_text="Morning Walk -- April 24, 1974, Hyderabad"> | |||
<div class="heading">In the name of religion you do all nonsense rascaldom, and the leader approves. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- April 24, 1974, Hyderabad|Morning Walk -- April 24, 1974, Hyderabad]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: Then they will be very much pleased. And as soon as you criticize, that "You are doing this wrong, you will suffer." "Oh, yes, this Swamiji is not (indistinct)." That is going on everywhere. In the name of religion you do all nonsense rascaldom, and the leader approves, "Yes, you can do." Vivekananda did it. "Yes, there is no difference between eating meat and not eating eat in terms of religion system." He preached this, and all the sannyāsīs of the Ramakrishna Mission they eat meat, they drink, they have woman secretary, everything.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="MorningWalkJuly91974LosAngeles_1" class="quote" parent="1974_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="138" link="Morning Walk -- July 9, 1974, Los Angeles" link_text="Morning Walk -- July 9, 1974, Los Angeles"> | |||
<div class="heading">Whatever is going on throughout the whole world in the name of religion, Bhāgavata, according to Bhāgavata, they're all cheating. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- July 9, 1974, Los Angeles|Morning Walk -- July 9, 1974, Los Angeles]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">If you remain in any other consciousness except Kṛṣṇa consciousness, that means you are in illusion. You are misguided. That is explained in the second verse of the First Canto. Dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo 'tra paramo nirmatsarāṇāṁ satāṁ vāstava vastu vedyam atra: ([[Vanisource:SB 1.1.2|SB 1.1.2]]) All kinds of cheating religious system is kicked out." That is the second verse. Projjhita, completely cleansed of all cheating type of religion. This, this has been translated into Bengali by these words,</p> | |||
:pṛthivīte yāha kichu dharma nāme cale | |||
:bhāgavata kāhe taha paripūrṇa chale | |||
<p>Whatever is going on throughout the whole world in the name of religion, Bhāgavata, according to Bhāgavata, they're all cheating. They're all cheating. Bhāgavata kāhe taha paripūrṇa chale. Chale means cheating.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="8" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1975 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1975 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="MorningWalkMarch41975Dallas_0" class="quote" parent="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="21" link="Morning Walk -- March 4, 1975, Dallas" link_text="Morning Walk -- March 4, 1975, Dallas"> | |||
<div class="heading">A set of rascals, going on in the name of religion misinterpreting the scripture. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- March 4, 1975, Dallas|Morning Walk -- March 4, 1975, Dallas]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Viṣṇujana: They want to gratify their senses, and they'll do anything and even misinterpret the scripture to gratify their senses.</p> | |||
<p>Prabhupāda: That means a set of rascals, going on in the name of religion. So how long they can cheat others? So you can cheat all for some time, and you can cheat some for all time, but not all for all time.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="MorningWalkMay111975Perth_1" class="quote" parent="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="66" link="Morning Walk -- May 11, 1975, Perth" link_text="Morning Walk -- May 11, 1975, Perth"> | |||
<div class="heading">Everything which is going on in the name of religion. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- May 11, 1975, Perth|Morning Walk -- May 11, 1975, Perth]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: The other day I was there in Kurukṣetra. They have got their own plan-mānava-dharma, this dharma, that dharma. Kṛṣṇa says, sarva-dharmān parityajya: ([[Vanisource:BG 18.66 (1972)|BG 18.66]]) "You give up all these. Kick out all this so-called rascaldom. You just surrender unto Me." That they will not do. Except this, everything which is going on in the name of religion, that is cheating. Everyone is misinterpret... Just like Christians, they have misinterpreted: "Kill means murder. It is meant for man." That means they are making their own lusty desires fulfilled in the name of Bible, that's all. Everyone is doing like that.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="MorningWalkMay111975Perth_2" class="quote" parent="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="66" link="Morning Walk -- May 11, 1975, Perth" link_text="Morning Walk -- May 11, 1975, Perth"> | |||
<div class="heading">They are bringing the authority of Bible, Bhagavad-gītā. This is going on in the name of religion. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- May 11, 1975, Perth|Morning Walk -- May 11, 1975, Perth]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: Mass opinion is now homosex. They are passing abortion. They are passing... What is this? This is their business. For fulfillment of their lusty desires and greediness, they are bringing the authority of Bible, Bhagavad-gītā. This is going on in the name of religion.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="RoomConversationwithwriterSandyNixonJuly131975Philadelphia_3" class="quote" parent="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="141" link="Room Conversation with writer, Sandy Nixon -- July 13, 1975, Philadelphia" link_text="Room Conversation with writer, Sandy Nixon -- July 13, 1975, Philadelphia"> | |||
<div class="heading">If you do not know what is God, where is the question of loving Him? So that is not religion. It is going on in the name of religion. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation with writer, Sandy Nixon -- July 13, 1975, Philadelphia|Room Conversation with writer, Sandy Nixon -- July 13, 1975, Philadelphia]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Father: What is it that Kṛṣṇa consciousness has that offers people so much more than other religions do?</p> | |||
<p>Prabhupāda: This is religion. I have already explained that religion means to become lover of God. That is religion. When there is no love of God, that is not religion. Religion means—I have already explained—to know God and to love Him. So if you do not know what is God, where is the question of loving Him? So that is not religion. It is going on in the name of religion. But religion means to know God and to love Him. Dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇitām ([[Vanisource:SB 6.3.19|SB 6.3.19]]).</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="9" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1976 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1976 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="MorningWalkMarch191976Mayapura_0" class="quote" parent="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="58" link="Morning Walk -- March 19, 1976, Mayapura" link_text="Morning Walk -- March 19, 1976, Mayapura"> | |||
<div class="heading">Things are going on in the name of religion, in the name of education. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- March 19, 1976, Mayapura|Morning Walk -- March 19, 1976, Mayapura]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Trivikrama: Even abortion they are defending.</p> | |||
<p>Prabhupāda: Eh?</p> | |||
<p>Trivikrama: Even abortion.</p> | |||
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes. And this is going on as education, as saintly person, priest. These things are going on in the name of religion, in the name of education. How much fallen this world is, just try to understand. As soon as they are caught up, they'll defend only by arguments, counter-arguments.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="EveningDarsanaAugust91976Tehran_1" class="quote" parent="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="251" link="Evening Darsana -- August 9, 1976, Tehran" link_text="Evening Darsana -- August 9, 1976, Tehran"> | |||
<div class="heading">In church, they'll talk of God, but practically they love the dog. This is going on, in the name of religion. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Evening Darsana -- August 9, 1976, Tehran|Evening Darsana -- August 9, 1976, Tehran]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: Somebody's Hindu, somebody's Christian, somebody's Muhammadan, they are going to the church, they are going to the mosque, they are going to the temple, everything is going on, but when you ask whether you love God or dog, he'll say, "I love dog." Practically we see. Everyone is keeping a dog, very favorite pet. And in church, they'll talk of God, but practically they love the dog. Is it not? This is going on, in the name of religion, that's all. Therefore Bhāgavata says it is simply waste of time. What is the use of talking God? If by talking of God perpetually you are developing your love for dog, then what is the use?</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="EveningDarsanaAugust141976Bombay_2" class="quote" parent="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="263" link="Evening Darsana -- August 14, 1976, Bombay" link_text="Evening Darsana -- August 14, 1976, Bombay"> | |||
<div class="heading">Whatever is going on in the name of religion, simply cheating. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Evening Darsana -- August 14, 1976, Bombay|Evening Darsana -- August 14, 1976, Bombay]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: Chakapat. So whatever is going on in the name of religion, simply cheating. Because religion means dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam ([[Vanisource:SB 6.3.19|SB 6.3.19]]). Religion means the laws given by God. That is religion. But they do not know who is God and what is the law. And God is coming personally, giving the laws. Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja ([[Vanisource:BG 18.66 (1972)|BG 18.66]]). They'll not take it. In the absence they'll say, "We have not seen God. We do not know who is God." And when He comes, they don't take.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="1977_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="10" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1977 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1977 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="RoomConversationFebruary41977Calcutta_0" class="quote" parent="1977_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="79" link="Room Conversation -- February 4, 1977, Calcutta" link_text="Room Conversation -- February 4, 1977, Calcutta"> | |||
<div class="heading">This is your culture hippies and murderer in the name of religion. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation -- February 4, 1977, Calcutta|Room Conversation -- February 4, 1977, Calcutta]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Satsvarūpa: But what if it's done in a culture where this is entirely different?</p> | |||
<p>Prabhupāda: Therefore there are hippies. This is your culture hippies and murderer in the name of religion. This is their culture. And abortion. Because there is no such culture, therefore the result is the abortion and killing and bombing, making the whole atmosphere abominable. This is your culture. Fighting between Protestant and Catholics, and bombing... People are terrified. They cannot go out in the street. This is your culture. And begging is bad. To keep the people, whole population, in terrified condition, that is very good, and if anyone in a humble way begs, that is bad. This is your culture.</p> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="Correspondence" class="section" sec_index="6" parent="compilation" text="Correspondence"><h2>Correspondence</h2> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="1947_to_1965_Correspondence" class="sub_section" sec_index="0" parent="Correspondence" text="1947 to 1965 Correspondence"><h3>1947 to 1965 Correspondence</h3> | |||
</div> | |||
<div id="LettertoRatanshiMorarjiKhatauBombay5August1958_1" class="quote" parent="1947_to_1965_Correspondence" book="Let" index="39" link="Letter to Ratanshi Morarji Khatau -- Bombay 5 August, 1958" link_text="Letter to Ratanshi Morarji Khatau -- Bombay 5 August, 1958"> | |||
<div class="heading">This society stands to rectify all these anomalies in the name of religion. | |||
</div> | |||
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Ratanshi Morarji Khatau -- Bombay 5 August, 1958|Letter to Ratanshi Morarji Khatau -- Bombay 5 August, 1958]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">I shall request you therefore not to mislead the people in general under the garb of religiosity and indulge in the transcendental pastimes of the Lord known by the name Rasa Panca Adhya. This society stands to rectify all these anomalies in the name of religion and I shall ask your good sense to join hands with us to stop all these nonsense. India's culture of spiritual value has an unique position and it has to be learnt by the human society in right earnest from the right sources.</p> | |||
</div> | </div> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
</div> | </div> |
Latest revision as of 11:02, 3 March 2022
Bhagavad-gita As It Is
BG Chapters 13 - 18
Tapas, or austerity, is especially meant for the retired life. One should not remain a householder throughout his whole life; he must always remember that there are four divisions of life—brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa. So after gṛhastha, householder life, one should retire. If one lives for a hundred years, he should spend twenty—five years in student life, twenty-five in householder life, twenty-five in retired life and twenty-five in the renounced order of life. These are the regulations of the Vedic religious discipline. A man retired from household life must practice austerities of the body, mind and tongue. That is tapasya. The entire varṇāśrama-dharma society is meant for tapasya. Without tapasya, or austerity, no human being can get liberation. The theory that there is no need of austerity in life, that one can go on speculating and everything will be nice, is recommended neither in the Vedic literature nor in Bhagavad-gītā. Such theories are manufactured by show-bottle spiritualists who are trying to gather more followers. If there are restrictions, rules and regulations, people will not become attracted. Therefore those who want followers in the name of religion, just to have a show only, don't restrict the lives of their students, nor their own lives. But that method is not approved by the Vedas.
Srimad-Bhagavatam
SB Canto 1
In this age, many unscrupulous men manufacture their own religious faiths which are not based on any revealed scriptures, and very often people who are addicted to sense gratification are attracted by such institutions. Consequently, in the name of religion so many sinful acts are being carried on that the people in general have neither peace of mind nor health of body. The student (brahmacārī) communities are no longer being maintained, and householders do not observe the rules and regulations of the gṛhastha-āśrama. Consequently, the so-called vānaprasthas and sannyāsīs who come out of such gṛhastha-āśramas are easily deviated from the rigid path.
The people in general are naturally inclined to enjoy, and you have encouraged them in that way in the name of religion. This is verily condemned and is quite unreasonable. Because they are guided under your instructions, they will accept such activities in the name of religion and will hardly care for prohibitions.
Śrīla Vyāsadeva is the authority in Vedic explanations in the Mahābhārata, etc., and his encouragement in sense enjoyment in some form or other is a great barrier for spiritual advancement because the people in general will not agree to renounce material activities which hold them in material bondage. At a certain stage of human civilization when such material activities in the name of religion (as sacrificing animals in the name of yajña) were too much rampant, the Lord incarnated Himself as Buddha and decried the authority of the Vedas in order to stop animal sacrifice in the name of religion. This was foreseen by Nārada, and therefore he condemned such literatures. The flesh-eaters still continue to perform animal sacrifice before some demigod or goddess in the name of religion because in some of the Vedic literatures such regulated sacrifices are recommended. They are so recommended to discourage flesh-eating, but gradually the purpose of such religious activities is forgotten, and the slaughterhouse becomes prominent.
SB Canto 3
A person in ignorance of the principles of religion who therefore does nothing in the matter of religion is far better than a person who misguides others in the name of religion without reference to the factual religious principles of devotional service. Such so-called leaders of religion are sure to be condemned by Brahmā and other great authorities.
In Bhagavad-gītā the last instruction is to give up all other engagements in the name of religion and take shelter of the Personality of Godhead. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam also confirms that the highest perfection of religion is that which leads to the devotional service of the Lord, unmotivated and unhampered by material impediments. Religion in its perfect form is the devotional service of the Lord, and irreligion is just the opposite.
SB Canto 4
Furthermore, the Lord says, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja: "Give up all kinds of material engagement and simply surrender unto Me." (BG 18.66) This is the primary principle of religion. Anyone who directly executes such an order from the Personality of Godhead is actually a religious person. Others are described as pretenders, for there are many activities going on throughout the world in the name of religion which are not actually religious. For one who executes the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, however, there is only good fortune throughout the world.
Animal-killing is certainly conducted under the influence of the mode of ignorance. Even though one may be religiously inclined, animal sacrifice is recommended in the śāstras, not only in the Vedas but even in the modern scriptures of other sects. These animal sacrifices are recommended in the name of religion, but actually animal sacrifice is meant for persons in the mode of ignorance. When such people kill animals, they can at least do so in the name of religion. However, when the religious system is transcendental, like the Vaiṣṇava religion, there is no place for animal sacrifice.
According to Vedic civilization, the animal-eaters are recommended to sacrifice a goat in the temple of Kālī under certain restrictive rules and regulations and eat the flesh. Similarly, they are recommended to drink wine by worshiping the goddess Caṇḍikā. The purpose is restriction. People have given up all this restriction. Now they are regularly opening wine distilleries and slaughterhouses and indulging in drinking alcohol and eating flesh. A Vaiṣṇava ācārya like Nārada Muni knows very well that persons engaged in such animal-killing in the name of religion are certainly becoming involved in the cycle of birth and death, forgetting the real aim of life: to go home, back to Godhead.
Under Nārada's instructions, direct worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as described in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, was set forth by Vyāsadeva. The conclusion is that neither the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, nor His devotee ever sanctions animal-killing in the name of religion. Indeed, Kṛṣṇa incarnated Himself as Lord Buddha to put an end to animal-killing in the name of religion.
Those who are involved in the mode of ignorance manufacture religious systems for killing animals. Actually dharma is transcendental. As Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa teaches, we must give up all other systems of religion and simply surrender unto Him (sarva-dharmān parityajya (BG 18.66)). Thus the Lord and His devotees and representatives teach the transcendental dharma, which does not allow animal-killing at all. At the present moment it is the greatest misfortune that in India many so-called missionary workers are spreading irreligion in the name of religion. They claim an ordinary human being to be God and recommend meat-eating for everyone, including so-called sannyāsīs.
Those who are very enthusiastic about killing animals in the name of religion or for food must await similar punishment after death. The word māṁsa ("meat") indicates that those animals whom we kill will be given an opportunity to kill us. Although in actuality no living entity is killed, the pains of being pierced by the horns of animals will be experienced after death.
So-called human civilization has opened many slaughterhouses for animals in the name of religion or food. Those who are a little religious kill animals in temples, mosques or synagogues, and those who are more fallen maintain various slaughterhouses. Just as in civilized human society the law is a life for a life, no living entity can encroach upon another living entity as far as the Supreme Lord is concerned.
SB Canto 5
After performing the preliminaries of various sacrifices, Mahārāja Bharata offered the results in the name of religion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva. In other words, he performed all the yajñas for the satisfaction of Lord Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa. Mahārāja Bharata thought that since the demigods were different parts of Vāsudeva's body, He controls those who are explained in the Vedic mantras. By thinking in this way, Mahārāja Bharata was freed from all material contamination, such as attachment, lust and greed. When the priests were about to offer the sacrificial ingredients into the fire, Mahārāja Bharata expertly understood how the offering made to different demigods was simply an offering to the different limbs of the Lord. For instance, Indra is the arm of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Sūrya (the sun) is His eye. Thus Mahārāja Bharata considered that the oblations offered to different demigods were actually offered unto the different limbs of Lord Vāsudeva.
SB Canto 7
Materialistic persons think that the path of religion is meant for improving their material conditions. The materialist goes to a temple to worship many varieties of demigods just to receive some benediction to improve his material life. He goes to a sādhu or so-called svāmī to take advantage of an easy method for achieving material opulence. In the name of religion, the so-called sādhus try to satisfy the senses of the materialists by showing them shortcuts to material opulence. Sometimes they give some talisman or blessing. Sometimes they attract materialistic persons by producing gold. Then they declare themselves God, and foolish materialists are attracted to them for economic development.
Animal sacrifice in the name of religion is current practically all over the world in every established religion. It is said that Lord Jesus Christ, when twelve years old, was shocked to see the Jews sacrificing birds and animals in the synagogues and that he therefore rejected the Jewish system of religion and started the religious system of Christianity, adhering to the Old Testament commandment "Thou shalt not kill." At the present day, however, not only are animals killed in the name of sacrifice, but the killing of animals has increased enormously because of the increasing number of slaughterhouses. Slaughtering animals, either for religion or for food, is most abominable and is condemned herein. Unless one is merciless, one cannot sacrifice animals, either in the name of religion or for food.
SB Canto 8
One must develop a sense of loving Vāsudeva (vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti sa mahātmā sudurlabhaḥ (BG 7.19)). The sign of a devotee is that he is a friend to everyone (suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānām (BG 5.29)). A devotee will never allow a poor animal to be killed in the name of religion. This is the difference between a superficially religious person and a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
SB Cantos 10.14 to 12 (Translations Only)
Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura remarks in this regard that just as one soon forgets the experience of a dream after awakening, similarly, a liberated soul in Kṛṣṇa consciousness does not see anything substantial in even the most exalted rewards offered by the Vedas, such as promotion to the heavenly planets. Therefore Lord Kṛṣṇa advised Arjuna in Bhagavad-gītā to remain fixed in self-realization, without being deviated by fruitive rituals performed in the name of religion.
Other Books by Srila Prabhupada
Easy Journey to Other Planets
Lectures
Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures
If we become addicted to sinful activities, the result will be we shall be degraded. But they do not know. Even so-called religious priests, they support killing, condone it. Killing is impious, sinful activity, but in the name of religion, killing is also going on. If someone says, "It is my religion to cut throat," will it be accepted very nice thing? Sometimes... Just like here is the war. This is also religious war. But still, discrimination.
But if one is actually in knowledge, brahma-jñāna, he thinks in the same way that "The lower animals, they are also our family members. And if I kill him for my satisfaction, my sense satisfaction, it is great sinful act." Unfortunately, everyone is killing for his sense gratification in the name of religion. In the name of religion, although it is prohibited, still they are killing. Just imagine how much sinful activities they are doing. And how they can be happy? Happiness, of course, a hog also thinks that he is very happy that he is eating stool, living in filthy place, and because he has got the facility of sex life without any discrimination he may think happy life, but that is not happiness.
Religion means dharmāṁ tu sākṣat bhagavat-praṇītam, the order of the Supreme Lord. If we do not know who is the Supreme Lord, if we do not know what is the order of the Supreme Lord, then where is religion? That is not religion. That may go on in the name of religion, but that is cheating. So the Bhagavad-gītā ends: sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja (BG 18.66). And Bhāgavata begins from that point.
And another mission is to establish what is real religion, what is religion. In the name of religion, so many things are going on, but the real religion is that we must know that our natural function is to render service to the Lord. That's all. That is real religion. And forgetting this, forgetting this principle of life, under designation of this matter, I am serving, giving my service to so many things.
If you are so broadminded that if you see everywhere Nārāyaṇa, why you are cutting the throat of the goats or the cows or other animals? You should be merciful to them also. But that mercifulness cannot be exhibited without being a devotee, vimatsaraḥ. Nirmatsaraḥ. Therefore the so-called religious system which is full of matsaratā, jealousy, that is called kaitava-dharma, cheating in the name of religion. So this God consciousness is not a cheating religion. It is very broad-minded. Titikṣavaḥ kāruṇikāḥ suhṛdaḥ sarva-bhūtānām (SB 3.25.21). This Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement means everyone wants to become friend of everyone.
Which teaches one how to become unalloyed, unflinching devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is first-class. All others, they are defective. Sometimes they are described as cheating. Like in the beginning of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it is said dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo 'tra (SB 1.1.2). Kaitava means cheating. So anything going in the name of religion, but it is cheating, that is rejected here.
So mukti means to give up anyathā-rūpam. And that is the demand of Kṛṣṇa. Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja: (BG 18.66) "You have manufactured so many rascaldom in the name of religion. Give up all this nonsense. Simply surrender unto Me." This is wanted. But Kṛṣṇa knows that "If I say to the rascals, 'Surrender unto Me,' he'll take otherwise."
Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures
There are Hindus, there are Muslims, there are Christians, there are Buddhists and so many others also. Because it is in human society, there must be some idea or some principle of understanding God. That is called religion. But in the name of religion, there are..., so many things are going on. That is called kaitava, cheating. We don't want to discuss, but more or less, at the present moment in whichever category of religion one may belong to, nobody is following strictly the religious principles. That's a fact. That is called kaitava.
If there is no conception of God, if one does not know what is God and what is the order of God, then that type of religion is cheating religion and that kind of religion is completely thrown out from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Therefore Vṛndāvana Dāsa Ṭhākura said, pṛthivīte āche yata..., pṛthivīte yahā kichu dharma nāme cale. Cale means it is passing on in the name of religion but it is not religion. Because religion without conception of God, what is the meaning of that religion? If that is religion, that is not parā dharma. That is aparā dharma.
So we have created a society for killing cows and eating the meat and maintaining slaughterhouse in the name of religion. This is going on. So how we can be happy? There cannot be happiness. It is not a sentiment. Therefore this is most sinful activity, meat-eating, cow killing. Most sinful activity. And you have to suffer for that. Unfortunately, these rascals, they do not know that what is the result of this sinful activity. They think the life will go on, and there is no more life. "After finishing of this body, everything will be finished." Atheistic theory.
In the Bhagavad-gītā Arjuna was taught by Kṛṣṇa, yudhyasva: "Fight!" He never said, "Sit down, my dear Arjuna. You are My friend. Please sit down and sleep on this chariot, (laughter) and I will do everything. I am God." This is going on. "God will do everything for me, and I will sleep. That's all." This is going on. "If God does not do anything for me, then I don't want God. He must be my order-supplier." This is going on. This is going on in the name of religion. "God, give us our daily bread. If you don't supply, I don't want You." That's all. Everyone. So something is better than nothing. If one goes to God for asking bread, at least he is better than the rascals who at all do not go to God, atheist class.
We cannot create religion, "This is my religion." Then everyone will escape(?) in the name of religion. Because you have created so many rascaldom as religion, therefore Kṛṣṇa says, sarva-dharmān parityajya: (BG 18.66) "You rascal, you give up all these religion. Real religion is surrender to Me." This is religion.
"I come, I descend just to reestablish the principle of religion." Does it mean that He came to support Hindu religion, Muslim religion, Christian religion? No. He came to reestablish religion. People do not know what is that religion. They have created their own religion. And some rascal swami is supporting, yata mata tata patha. How you can create? Religion is personal? "You can create your own religion and be satisfied"? This is going on. In the name of religion, every rascal is creating his own religion and he is satisfied. He is satisfied, "I have got my own religion." But they do not know. These rascals, they do not know what is the meaning of religion. Religion means to abide by the laws of God, simple definition. Religion. That is religion, to abide by the laws.
Religion means by following the system one will become a great lover of God, or Kṛṣṇa. That is religion. Then why this system of religion is going on, maintaining slaughterhouse? That means the..., there was no attempt to preach sad-dharma, real dharma. Therefore, in the name of religion, they are maintaining thousands of slaughterhouse. You see? It is asad-dharma.
After all, we get this human form of life, especially civilized form of life, with some idea of religion. If we do not utilize it... Religion means to understand God. That is religion. In religion, a godless religion, where there is no conception of God, that is not religion. That is called cheating religion. In the name of religion, but there is no conception of God. That is not religion.
God became very much compassionate. When people were too much addicted in killing animals unnecessarily, He appeared as Lord Buddha. Sadaya-hṛdaya darśita-paśu-ghātam. Paśu-ghātam. The paśu-ghātam means they were being implicated in innumerable sinful activities by this process. Therefore God wanted to... Yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati (BG 4.7). In the name of religion, they were killing so many animals. Therefore to stop this nonsense, he appeared. And he declined to accept the Vedic principles because there was no other way to stop. If he would have accepted Vedic principles, then these animal-killers would have shown him evidences that in the Vedas there is mention of animal-killing in the sacrifice.
Conversations and Morning Walks
1973 Conversations and Morning Walks
Svarūpa: We have to make definition of religion.
Prabhupāda: That we shall give in the court. "First of all this man is declaring himself as God, cheating. Why he should not be stopped?" Let there be case. This should be done.
Yaśomatīnandana: Just like Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura.
Prabhupāda: Yes. No. If the constitution is that, that in the name of religion somebody cheats, the government should take action, so here it is being done. So we have to maintain so many departments to fight with these wrongdoers. Why not make a test case that "This man is declaring himself God. How he is God? Let him prove in the court." Why not institute a case?
1974 Conversations and Morning Walks
Prabhupāda: Then they will be very much pleased. And as soon as you criticize, that "You are doing this wrong, you will suffer." "Oh, yes, this Swamiji is not (indistinct)." That is going on everywhere. In the name of religion you do all nonsense rascaldom, and the leader approves, "Yes, you can do." Vivekananda did it. "Yes, there is no difference between eating meat and not eating eat in terms of religion system." He preached this, and all the sannyāsīs of the Ramakrishna Mission they eat meat, they drink, they have woman secretary, everything.
If you remain in any other consciousness except Kṛṣṇa consciousness, that means you are in illusion. You are misguided. That is explained in the second verse of the First Canto. Dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo 'tra paramo nirmatsarāṇāṁ satāṁ vāstava vastu vedyam atra: (SB 1.1.2) All kinds of cheating religious system is kicked out." That is the second verse. Projjhita, completely cleansed of all cheating type of religion. This, this has been translated into Bengali by these words,
- pṛthivīte yāha kichu dharma nāme cale
- bhāgavata kāhe taha paripūrṇa chale
Whatever is going on throughout the whole world in the name of religion, Bhāgavata, according to Bhāgavata, they're all cheating. They're all cheating. Bhāgavata kāhe taha paripūrṇa chale. Chale means cheating.
1975 Conversations and Morning Walks
Viṣṇujana: They want to gratify their senses, and they'll do anything and even misinterpret the scripture to gratify their senses.
Prabhupāda: That means a set of rascals, going on in the name of religion. So how long they can cheat others? So you can cheat all for some time, and you can cheat some for all time, but not all for all time.
Prabhupāda: The other day I was there in Kurukṣetra. They have got their own plan-mānava-dharma, this dharma, that dharma. Kṛṣṇa says, sarva-dharmān parityajya: (BG 18.66) "You give up all these. Kick out all this so-called rascaldom. You just surrender unto Me." That they will not do. Except this, everything which is going on in the name of religion, that is cheating. Everyone is misinterpret... Just like Christians, they have misinterpreted: "Kill means murder. It is meant for man." That means they are making their own lusty desires fulfilled in the name of Bible, that's all. Everyone is doing like that.
Prabhupāda: Mass opinion is now homosex. They are passing abortion. They are passing... What is this? This is their business. For fulfillment of their lusty desires and greediness, they are bringing the authority of Bible, Bhagavad-gītā. This is going on in the name of religion.
Father: What is it that Kṛṣṇa consciousness has that offers people so much more than other religions do?
Prabhupāda: This is religion. I have already explained that religion means to become lover of God. That is religion. When there is no love of God, that is not religion. Religion means—I have already explained—to know God and to love Him. So if you do not know what is God, where is the question of loving Him? So that is not religion. It is going on in the name of religion. But religion means to know God and to love Him. Dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇitām (SB 6.3.19).
1976 Conversations and Morning Walks
Trivikrama: Even abortion they are defending.
Prabhupāda: Eh?
Trivikrama: Even abortion.
Prabhupāda: Yes. And this is going on as education, as saintly person, priest. These things are going on in the name of religion, in the name of education. How much fallen this world is, just try to understand. As soon as they are caught up, they'll defend only by arguments, counter-arguments.
Prabhupāda: Somebody's Hindu, somebody's Christian, somebody's Muhammadan, they are going to the church, they are going to the mosque, they are going to the temple, everything is going on, but when you ask whether you love God or dog, he'll say, "I love dog." Practically we see. Everyone is keeping a dog, very favorite pet. And in church, they'll talk of God, but practically they love the dog. Is it not? This is going on, in the name of religion, that's all. Therefore Bhāgavata says it is simply waste of time. What is the use of talking God? If by talking of God perpetually you are developing your love for dog, then what is the use?
Prabhupāda: Chakapat. So whatever is going on in the name of religion, simply cheating. Because religion means dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam (SB 6.3.19). Religion means the laws given by God. That is religion. But they do not know who is God and what is the law. And God is coming personally, giving the laws. Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja (BG 18.66). They'll not take it. In the absence they'll say, "We have not seen God. We do not know who is God." And when He comes, they don't take.
1977 Conversations and Morning Walks
Satsvarūpa: But what if it's done in a culture where this is entirely different?
Prabhupāda: Therefore there are hippies. This is your culture hippies and murderer in the name of religion. This is their culture. And abortion. Because there is no such culture, therefore the result is the abortion and killing and bombing, making the whole atmosphere abominable. This is your culture. Fighting between Protestant and Catholics, and bombing... People are terrified. They cannot go out in the street. This is your culture. And begging is bad. To keep the people, whole population, in terrified condition, that is very good, and if anyone in a humble way begs, that is bad. This is your culture.
Correspondence
1947 to 1965 Correspondence
I shall request you therefore not to mislead the people in general under the garb of religiosity and indulge in the transcendental pastimes of the Lord known by the name Rasa Panca Adhya. This society stands to rectify all these anomalies in the name of religion and I shall ask your good sense to join hands with us to stop all these nonsense. India's culture of spiritual value has an unique position and it has to be learnt by the human society in right earnest from the right sources.