So American people, I very much appreciate them. They are religious . . . they have got very good potency for understanding God consciousness. That is my opinion. And I do not know why I was inclined to go to America. It was also Kṛṣṇa's desire. Because I thought that, "If this movement, Caitanya Mahāprabhu's movement . . . " Caitanya Mahāprabhu said that:
- pṛthivīte āche yata nagarādi-grāma
- sarvatra pracāra haibe mora nāma
- (CB Antya-khaṇḍa 4.126)
That is His prediction that, "As many towns and villages are there on the surface of the globe, everywhere, this message of Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and Caitanya . . . Lord Caitanya's name will be there." So I thought that, "I should go to America. If the American people take it seriously, then other people will take it."
So actually, that is happening. These boys are so enthusiastic in preaching that on my word, they are going any part of the world. Any part of the world. They are prepared to go any part of the world. And just now I received one letter from my disciple Śrīmān Upendra dāsa. He does not know Hindi, and in the Fiji Island there are many Indians, but still, he is making propaganda. He's simply chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra door to door—they are also husband and wife—and people are very much appreciating.
So my Guru Mahārāja's desire and Caitanya Mahāprabhu's prediction is now being fulfilled. At least, it has begun to be fulfilled. So it is a genuine movement, authorized movement, and India's original culture. So our appeal to the Indian people, that "You should take seriously about this movement and try to cooperate with us." That will be glorification for Indian culture.
At the present moment, India is known as very poor, poverty-stricken country. People are under impression that, "They are beggars. They have got nothing to give. They simply come here to beg." Actually, our ministers go there and, for some begging purpose, "Give us rice," "Give us wheat," "Give us money," "Give us soldiers." That is their business. But this movement, for the first time, India is giving something to them. It is not a begging propaganda; it is giving propaganda. Because they are hankering after this substance, Kṛṣṇa consciousness. They have enjoyed enough of this material consciousness.
The material consciousness means to enjoy sex life and drink and have sufficient money. These three items, they have got sufficient, immense. There are . . . so far material comforts, oh, there is no conception in India how they are materially comfortable. Their roads, their cars, their machines . . . you cannot imagine how American roads are there. There are freeways. In America, there are freeways: without any stoppage you can run your car in seventy mile speed, and four cars going up and four cars going down. And road just like velvet. You see? (laughter) (laughs) Our roads . . . so there is no comparison of their materially advancement.
So I always . . . when I run in some freeways . . . these boys run our cars. And you'll be very pleased that in each and every temple we have got at least four cars, nice. Especially one car for me and two cars for carrying them for saṅkīrtana movement. Very good arrangement. That better than any temple in India. If you go sometimes . . . I request you to go. But one condition: that you have to become Life Member. (laughter)
But if you go, will be very much pleased in our temples. And this Dr. Rao . . . perhaps you know, he is a professor in your Gorakhpur University. He was a research scholar, atomic research scholar. His wife is sitting here. So he's still . . . (indistinct) . . . So he was very much captivated with the temple worship, and there he became my disciple.