Prabhupāda: It is a fact. Just like this child is transmigrating from one body, one kind of body to another body. So in the same way, when I give up this body I transmigrate to another body. This is the science. Unfortunately, there is no university, no education, no culture of this great science. Therefore according to Bhāgavatam, the knowledge is imperfect.
The knowledge which are imparting from universities, they are not perfect knowledge. And this human form of body is the opportunity to understand the position of the soul and how he is transmigrating from one body to another, what is happening next. In this way, in this human form of body, we can understand this science, science of soul.
Unfortunately, no education is there to understand this science. So in other words, it may be taken that the modern civilization is killing the prerogative of the human being. He has got a chance to understand himself and to stop. He can stop this repetition of birth and death.
He can remain in a spiritual form in the spiritual kingdom, or with God, but these things are unknown to him, because there is no discussion in any university or any institution of knowledge. Although the Vedic literature gives us ample information of this—in the Bhagavad-gītā, that is the preliminary study of all Vedic literature—but there is no chance for the people to understand.
This is the defect of the modern civilization. Therefore it is necessary. And actually, because there is no sufficient knowledge of the position, I see the American boys and girls, although they are coming out very rich and respectable family, they are turning to hippies. In spite of your arrangement for very big, big university, they are becoming frustrated. They are no longer satisfied to live materially opulent like their fathers and grandfathers.
In other countries also, the same symptoms are there. Just like in India, the Naxalites. So that is another form of confusion. In your country the confusion state is a different kind. Another type is another confusion. In China also there is another type of confusion. In Russia also there is another type of confusion. So the present position of the human society is very dangerous, because everyone is feeling dissatisfaction, and confusion.
Ambassador: Are you able to make any progress, or have you any representation, for instance, in Russia?
Prabhupāda: Russia . . . last time when I went to Europe I visited Russia. I was invited by one Professor Kotovsky. Perhaps you know him.
Ambassador: No, I don't.
Prabhupāda: Ah. A very nice gentleman. Indology. He is in charge of the Indological department. Russia has got very good respect for Indian culture.
Ambassador: Yes. That's right.
Prabhupāda: They have very good . . . (indistinct) . . . so that . . . (break)
Ambassador: . . . have much . . . they don't believe in God.
Prabhupāda: They do not know much of it.
Mrs. Keating: Do you have many Indian followers? Many Indian followers as well as foreign?
Prabhupāda: Yes. This Kṛṣṇa consciousness, so far Indians are concerned, everyone accepts Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Mrs. Keating: May I ask the significance of the markings?
Prabhupāda: Yes. This is a sign that we are Vaiṣṇava, devotee of Kṛṣṇa.
Ambassador: You all have that.
Mrs. Keating: Yes. And the bag, is that, is that . . .
Prabhupāda: That is our chanting.
Mrs. Keating: Oh.
Prabhupāda: We are chanting always the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. This has got special significance, because Kṛṣṇa is absolute. There is no difference between Him and His name. Here, just like this milk substance and the milk name is different. If I want to take milk, simply if I go on chanting "milk" and "milk," that will not satisfy me. I must have the substance milk.
But in the spiritual world the Absolute has no differentiation between His name . . . between His name, between His quality, form, entourage. They are the same. So this chanting of holy name means that directly associating with Kṛṣṇa. Directly associating with Kṛṣṇa.
Ambassador: It's a constant reminder to yourselves of the . . .
Prabhupāda: . . . of my relationship with Kṛṣṇa.
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupāda: That is it.
Ambassador: Well, that's very . . . I'm very much impressed with the sincerity of these American . . .
Prabhupāda: As soon as one understands this science, he will accept immediately.