Reporter (3): Śrīla Prabhupāda, what about other religions such as Christianity and . . .
Prabhupāda: There is no second religion. There is only one religion. That is God consciousness. Now, as soon as you designate, "Christian," "Hindu," "Muslim," that is upādhi, designated religion. Just like you are here and you are in black coat. So if I say: "Black Mr. Such-and-such," so to say, "Black Mr. Such-and-such," there is no need. "Mr. Such-and-such" is sufficient. But we have been accustomed to say like that, "Black Mr. Such-and-such," "White Mr. Such-and-such." Similarly, religion is one, but due to our sophisticated mind, we call it "Christian religion," "Hindu religion," "Muslim religion." (aside) Why don't you come in? Why are you outside?
Devotee: I have my working clothes on, Śrīla Prabhupāda. I'm rather dirty.
Prabhupāda: All right. So there cannot be . . . but for particular reason or circumstances we call it, but religion is one. That means to abide by the laws of God. That is religion. If you do not know what is God, what is His law, that is another thing. But the religion means to abide by the laws of God, that's all. It cannot be Hindu, Muslim, Christian. Just like the state law. So there are many persons, citizens, of the state. The law is not that, "It is for the Christians," "It is for the Jews," "It is for the Negroes," "It is for the white man." It is not like that. Law is the same for everyone. You can call it, "This is Negro law," "This is white law," "This is black law . . ." No. That is not very scientific. Scientific is that God is there, and we are all . . . God is great, we are all subordinates, and we have to obey the orders of God. That is religion. Am I right or wrong?
Reporter (3): You're right.
Prabhupāda: Therefore you cannot say, "Christian religion," "Hindu religion," "Muslim religion." Religion is religion. That's . . . God is neither Hindu, Muslim, Christian. God is God. God is one. We . . . it may be that God is one, but we understand Him from different angles of vision, and that different angles of vision may be called as Christian angle vision, the Hindu angle vision, this Jew's angle vision. But that is angle of vision. Just like the sun is there. Here we see it is not so bright, but you ask some Arabian friend, "What is . . ." he will say: "It is very bright." So his appreciation of the sun is different from your appreciation here—it is cloudy; it is misty. But the sun is the same. There is no such thing as "Hindu religion," "Muslim religion," "Christian religion." It is all sophisticated. Religion is one. You must know what is God, and you must know what is His order and abide by it; you are religious. That's all. We are preaching that.
Reporter (2): Your Divine Grace, since religion is one, do you think man will enter into a golden age in which he will accept one God?
Prabhupāda: If they do not accept, they are foolish, if God is one. God cannot be two.
Reporter (3): So, Śrīla Prabhupāda, is the purpose of human life to realize God?
Prabhupāda: Yes, that is the only purpose. Except this purpose, fulfilling, anything we are doing, that is animalism. As the dog is jumping, we are also jumping like that. It is dog's dancing, that's all. What is the difference? A dog is thinking, "I am very strong dog. I am this." And another man—"I am Englishman. I am . . ." So what is the difference? Mentality is the same. To think of this body that "I am this body," that is required to the dog, to the man. When one understands that "I am not this body; I am spirit soul," that is humanity.
Reporter (3): So Śrīla Prabhupāda, have you realized God?
Prabhupāda: What do you think? What is your opinion?
Reporter (3): (laughs) I can't say.
Prabhupāda: Then if I say: "Yes," then what you will understand? If you are not yourself expert, then even if I say: "Yes, I am God-realized," how you will take it as truth? If you do not know what is God realization, then how you can ask this question, and how you will be satisfied by the answer? You do not know.