Prabhupāda: So from there we shall begin again. (japa)
(long pause)
If the people refuse to take Kṛṣṇa consciousness, they'll never be happy. This is a fact. (pause) But if you present properly, they will take. That is a fact. The other day in San Francisco, there were about twelve to fifteen thousand men. They were hearing so patiently. They also applauded. And many came to my car, "Thank you, Prabhupāda. Thank you, Prabhupāda. Thank you, Prabhupāda." Said like that.
Bali-mardana: I've never seen so many young Americans sit for . . . listen to the lecture so attentively.
Prabhupāda: And religious, most dry subject. Not cinema.
Bali-mardana: The newspaper said that it was the most favorite festival of all San Francisco, of all the festivals.
Prabhupāda: So they have mentioned, "American Hindus." (chuckles) (pause) It is a dead blow to the material civilization, "No drinking and no intoxication, no meat-eating, no gambling, no illicit sex." Their whole civilization is finished. Because they stand on these things, four pillars.
Jayatīrtha: Yes.
Prabhupāda: They have no other . . .
Kṛṣṇa-kānti: Therefore we must present a better civilization.
Prabhupāda: Eh?
Kṛṣṇa-kānti: We must present a better civilization.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Not better or best. The civilization. Everything is all false, cheating. Everything, everything is cheating. Without this Kṛṣṇa consciousness, all other consciousness, they're simply cheating. That is called māyā, illusion. If you remain in any other consciousness except Kṛṣṇa consciousness, that means you are illusion. You are misguided. That is explained in this second verse of the First Canto. Dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo 'tra paramo nirmatsarāṇāṁ satāṁ vāstava vastu vedyam atra (SB 1.1.2): "All kinds of cheating religious system is kicked out." That is the second verse. Projjhita, completely cleansed of all cheating type of religion. This, this has been translated into Bengali by these words:
- pṛthivīte yāha kichu dharma nāme cale
- bhāgavata kāhe taha paripūrṇa chale
- (Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura)
Whatever is going on throughout the whole world in the name of religion, Bhāg . . . according to Bhāgavata, they're all cheating. They're all cheating. Bhāgavata kāhe taha paripūrṇa chale. Chale means cheating.
Jayatīrtha: What exactly is the definition of a cheat?
Prabhupāda: Eh?
Jayatīrtha: What is the definition of a cheat?
Prabhupāda: Cheat means that I am exploiting you. I am saying that I am creating you a religious, but you are most sinful—I am creating a most sinful. That is cheating.
Gurukṛpa: Giving something under false pretensions.
Prabhupāda: That's all. You are taking something else while thinking something else. That is cheating. Actually, we see the so-called religious system . . . religion means to become lover of God. But who is lover of God? Do not know what is God, and what to speak of love Him. They do not know, have no clear conception of God even.