Amogha: Actually, they have arranged, by giving a letter, that we can stay in the country. They simply say: "We do not object," and then the immigration gives us a good visa. They especially like your books.
Prabhupāda: Oh, thank you. You have read some of my books?
Mr. G. Puja: Yes.
Prabhupāda: They are not my books; I am simply translating. They are written by Vyāsadeva, the original Vedic scholar. So there are now many secular states. Our Vedic idea of secular state is that government must be responsible for proper execution of religious system. It doesn't matter whether one is Hindu or one is Christian, one is Muhammadan or Buddhist—it doesn't matter—but it is the government duty to see that one who is professing as Hindu, whether he's executing the Hindu principles of religion properly. That is government duty.
Just like government gives license to so many businesses. One man is selling liquor, wine, government issues license. So the government inspector, excise inspector, goes and sees that the man is doing business according to the license. Government should not be callous that, "You may go on with your so-called religion; we don't care for it." No. That is not government. Government's duty is to see.
Just like, for example, Christians, their commandment, first commandment is, "Thou shall not kill." It is the government's duty to see that anyone who is professing Christian, "Why he's killing?" Immediately he should be punished, that "You are professing a Christian and you are killing." This is government. Similarly, Buddhist religion also, ahiṁsā. Ahiṁsā paramaṁ buddhiḥ. The government duty should see.
And the ultimate test of first-class religion is: the follower has developed love of God. If he does not know anything about God, or if he has not developed love of God, then he has simply wasted time. It may be any religion. That is ultimate test. Because religion means it has got relationship with God. Otherwise what is the meaning of religion? Any religion, it doesn't matter. The process is quest of God: What is God? What is Absolute Truth? Wherefrom everything has come? What is we . . . what we are?
What is our relationship with God? This science. Religion means this science. In the Vedānta-sūtra, it is said, athāto brahma jijñāsā. This human life is meant for understanding the Absolute Truth. Otherwise, what is the difference between cats and dogs and human being? If simply eating, sleeping and sex life and defend is the business of human life, then these things are there in the animal life also. They also eat, they also sleep, they have also sex life, and they also defend according to their capacity. We defend with atomic bomb and they defend their nails and claws. The different spirit is there.
So that is not the aim of human life. The aim of human life—this opportunity's given by nature to have a human form of life—is to understand God. Nobody can deny, unless he is a crazy fellow, the existence of God. That is not possible. There must be. I may know it or not know it, it doesn't matter. Therefore religion means to understand God and to awaken your dormant love for God. This is religion. Now there may be difference of processes, according to country, time, people. Therefore, it is the duty of the government, it is the duty of the government . . .
(someone enters) Hare Kṛṣṇa.
(pause) Hare Kṛṣṇa. Jaya
But formerly the kings, they were regularly supervising whether citizens are properly executing religious culture. That was government's duty. Cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ (BG 4.13). So now government is callous about religion. I'm very glad to know that your government has left some department to supervise. What is your function in this department?
Mr. Mastra: Excuse me, my English is very poor. I would like Mr. Kunti(?) to translate, Indonesian. (Indonesian)
Prabhupāda: (indistinct) . . . (Hindi: Are you leaving? Take a little prasadam.)
Amogha: He would like to have him translate English to Indonesian.