Reporter: One often hears about the difference between Western and Eastern philosophy and religion. Why do you think that Hare Kṛṣṇa movement attracted so many followers in the West?
Prabhupāda: The Hare Kṛṣṇa is neither Western or Eastern. It is meant for human being. You see? This "Western," "Eastern," they are our own creation. God is neither Western or Eastern. God is God. So anyone who will chant God's name will benefit. That's all. There is no question of Western and Eastern.
Reporter: How can Hare Kṛṣṇa help us solve our very difficult . . .
Prabhupāda: Because if you are purified . . . the whole difficulty is that we are not purified. We are impure. Impure means we are thinking in bodily concept of life. "I am Indian," "I am American," "I am Hindu," "I am Muslim," "I am Christian," "I am white," "I am black," these are all designation of the body. We have to transcend the position of the body:
- sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁ
- tat-paratvena nirmalam
- (CC Madhya 19.170)
We have to become nirmalam, purified pure soul. Ahaṁ brahmāsmi. This understanding, when I shall come to the stage, "I am pure soul, Brahman."
- brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā
- na śocati na kāṅkṣati
- samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu
- mad-bhaktiṁ labhate parām
- (BG 18.54)
So this is a great science, but the summary, I can inform you, that by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa you become purified. And as soon as you become purified, you become happy. That is it. You have to become purified. At the present moment we are not purified, we are all impure. But this process will help you to become purified.
So if you become purified, you understand everything. Just like if you are in delirium out of strong fever, you cannot see things what they are, talk so many nonsense things. So similarly, we being enchanted by this material energy or this material body, we are identifying with this body and we are unhappy. As soon as we are purified—we understand that, "I am not this body; I am pure soul"—then my happiness is guaranteed.