So our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is trying to save people from the hog civilization or dog civilization to human civilization. That is. . . Human civilization means plain living and advancing in spiritual consciousness, not to increase unnecessarily artificial way of life. But we should know what is the aim of life and try to achieve success in the aim of life in any condition. That is Vedic civilization. Any condition. "Any condition" means in the material world we find that somebody is well situated and somebody. . . We think like that. Nobody is well situated. But we think like that. So if we want to cultivate Kṛṣṇa consciousness, in any material condition we can do that. Ahaituky apratihatā (SB 1.2.6). Any material condition cannot check our advancement in spiritual life. Just like these European, American boys and girls, they're not accustomed to sit down on the ground. In their country that is not their civilization. They sit down very nicely on chairs and very nice apartment. But because they have taken to this Kṛṣṇa consciousness, they do not hesitate to sit down in any condition of life. This is advancement. They do not grudge that "We are not accustomed to sit in this way." No. That is any condition, any condition of life. Kṛṣṇa also says,
- māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya
- ye 'pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ
- striyo vaiśyās tathā śūdrās
- te 'pi yānti parāṁ gatim
- (BG 9.32)
So we can accept Kṛṣṇa consciousness in any condition life. There is no impediment. That is spiritual. That is spiritual. Not that "Unless such and such conditions are fulfilled, I cannot take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness." No. As I told in the beginning, that you can accept Kṛṣṇa consciousness within a second. As Kṛṣṇa says, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja (BG 18.66). So if you immediately take Kṛṣṇa, "Yes, Kṛṣṇa. . ." If we have thoroughly read Bhagavad-gītā, then we understand that "We are part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa, and Kṛṣṇa is asking to surrender. Why not surrender?" That is intelligence. Kṛṣṇa says that is the way of life. Ultimately one has to surrender to Kṛṣṇa. That is the success, ultimate success. Bahūnāṁ janmanām ante (BG 7.19). One is accepting immediately and one is experimenting with truth, and it will take many, many births. Kleśa adhikataras teṣām avyaktāsakta cetasām (BG 12.5). Kṛṣṇa is presently instructing in person, and foolish people are thinking that He's imperson.
Why imperson? Kṛṣṇa is always speaking: mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te. Aham ādir hi devānām (BG 10.2). The first person is used everywhere. Ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavaḥ mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate (BG 10.8). Aham. Kṛṣṇa says aham, person. So why we should think of Kṛṣṇa being imperson? This is our misfortune. Therefore it takes many, many births. Even one he is jñānavān, it takes many, many births to surrender to Kṛṣṇa. Bahūnāṁ janmanām ante jñānavān (BG 7.19). Although he's jñānavān, superficially, still his jñāna has been taken away. Māyayā apahṛta-jñānā (BG 7.15). Although he's proud of his knowledge, the māyā says, "No, no, no. Why you are accepting Kṛṣṇa as person? He's imperson." So māyā is dictating and taking away his knowledge. Māyayā apahṛta-jñānā. Kṛṣṇa says aham, "I, Me." These are all first person, person, first person. And still these people are thinking of Kṛṣṇa as imperson. Why? This is called māyayā apahṛta-jñānā. They have studied the Vedic literature but could not understand what is Kṛṣṇa.