Prabhupāda: Yes. If I am taking lesson from Kṛṣṇa, why shall I take lesson from such bogus things?
Reporter (3): No, they have also been recognized as . . .
Prabhupāda: Who recognized? Who recognized?
Reporter (3): . . . as exponent of Hindu thought and . . .
Prabhupāda: No, no, who recognized? First of all, who recognized?
Reporter (3): No, they too have a following in the West.
Prabhupāda: That is the defect. That is the defect of the modern civilization. They vote. Just like in big democratic country like America they voted Nixon to become president, and when they found that, "This man is a bogus," they again dragged him down. So this is going on. We vote somebody to the topmost position, and we see that he's a rascal. So therefore we do not advise. We say: "Just take lesson from Kṛṣṇa, who is recognized by everyone." That is our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. We don't say: "Go to a bogus man and take instruction." We don't say.
Indian devotee: May I interrupt? What Swāmīji has described in all the books—as it exists, no further contribution, no amendment, no interpretation. He has described all what has been written in Bhāgavatam, Bhagavad-gītā, in its truest form. So no imitation, no representation, no interpretation. Swāmījī has described exactly as it happened.
Prabhupāda: And that is being appreciated all over the world.
Indian devotee: All over the world that is being appreciated.
Reporter (1): Swāmījī, could you please throw light on your four-point regulation which you suggest to your disciples?
Prabhupāda: Yes. That is pious life. No illicit sex, no meat-eating, no intoxication and no gambling.
Reporter (1): No . . .?
Prabhupāda: Gambling. These are the four pillars of sinful life. So if we want to know God, we must be free from sinful life. This is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā.
- yeṣāṁ tv anta-gataṁ pāpaṁ
- janānāṁ puṇya-karmaṇām
- te dvanda-moha-nirmuktā
- bhajante māṁ dṛḍha-vratāḥ
- (BG 7.28)
If you want to be God conscious, then you must be free from all sinful activities. God is pure. If you want to approach God, then you must be pure. If you remain impure, you cannot understand.
Reporter (2): Swāmījī, do you think that there are some people in this country in thousands or maybe tens of thousands who are getting spiritual solace from, say, people like Sai Baba or any of these other people who have interpreted the Vedas or who have followers all over the country? Do you think these followers are getting some amount of spiritual solace?
Prabhupāda: No, no. First of all, do you know what Sai Baba is preaching? Hmm? Do you know?
Reporter (2): No.
Prabhupāda: Then how you are asking on behalf of Sai Baba?
Reporter (2): No, just like that. Just like . . . I am just going . . . I mean, I am very far removed from these . . .
Prabhupāda: No, no, why you are interested? Twice, thrice you have said Sai Baba.