Secularism is a bogus thing. You see? That is an indulgence, "Whatever you like, you can do. Whatever religion you follow, that's all..." No. That is not good. The state should be responsible for the spiritual progress of the citizens. Now, especially in our country, we say it is Hindustan, Bharatavarsha. So we are not giving the bharatiya or Hindu spiritual cultural education. So that's a great loss of the secular state.

Secular government oversees the suppression of spiritual culture

Above: The famous Tirupati temple; Below: ISKCON Bangalore, ISKCON's largest temple. What is to keep the Indian government from seizing ISKCON temples and properties?

Neither government sees to proper observance of religious principles, nor the brahmanas act according to their dharma

Are you feeling compunction for the unhappy women and children who are left forlorn by unscrupulous persons? Or are you unhappy because the goddess of learning is being handled by brahmanas addicted to acts against the principles of religion? Or are you sorry to see that the brahmanas have taken shelter of administrative families that do not respect brahminical culture?

PURPORT
In the age of Kali, the women and the children, along with brahmanas and cows, will be grossly neglected and left unprotected. In this age illicit connection with women will render many women and children uncared for. Circumstantially, the women will try to become independent of the protection of men, and marriage will be performed as a matter of formal agreement between man and woman. In most cases, the children will not be taken care of properly. The brahmanas are traditionally intelligent men, and thus they will be able to pick up modern education to the topmost rank, but as far as moral and religious principles are concerned, they shall be the most fallen. Education and bad character go ill together, but such things will run parallel. The administrative heads as a class will condemn the tenets of Vedic wisdom and will prefer to conduct a so-called secular state, and the so-called educated brahmanas will be purchased by such unscrupulous administrators. Even a philosopher and writer of many books on religious principles may also accept an exalted post in a government which denies all the moral codes of the shastras. The brahmanas are specifically restricted from accepting such service. But in this age they will not only accept service, but they will do so even if it is of the meanest quality. These are some of the symptoms of the Kali age which are harmful to the general welfare of human society.

Spiritual science is what distinguishes India from the West, yet India is giving it up

So we Indians, we should know that we cannot imitate the Western countries. They are far advanced. So far materialistic way of life is concerned, you cannot compete with them. Just like some years before there was industrial exhibition in India in which the government was very proud to show that they are manufacturing cycle and sewing machine. When Western part of the world, they are manufacturing so many complicated machineries, we are proud of manufacturing cycle and sewing machine. Similarly, in every respect... In medicine also, there are so many laboratories in India, but still, seventy-five percent of the medicines are imported from foreign countries, because they are lagging behind. So my point is that in every country, in every human society, there is a special qualification. The day before yesterday I was seeing one picture in that church, of Hardwar. Millions of people assembled there for taking bath in the Ganges. In 1958 there was a special fair in Jagannatha Puri. It was written in the almanac that on that particular day, if somebody takes bath in the sea and has an audience of Lord Jagannatha, then he will be liberated. I was also there and with other friends. You'll be surprised to know that for a few-hour visit, about six million people assembled from all parts of India. And government had to make a special arrangement for their taking bath in the sea and visiting the temple. Similarly, there is Kumbha-mela. These assemblies are not advertised. People know it by parampara [word of mouth]—I am speaking to you; you are speaking to your friend. In this way they know it, and on that particular day they assemble at a place, just like Prayaga, on the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna. Millions of people will assemble. So still, in spite of our present leaders' policy to completely eradicate all religious ideas... They have made secular state. But people are so born that naturally they are inclined to take part in spiritual movement. That is the nature. Therefore Lord Chaitanya said that bharata-bhumite manushya-janma haila yara [Chaitanya-charitamrita Adi 9.41]. To take one's birth in the land of India, to take one's birth as human being, is great opportunity undoubtedly. But still more great opportunity is there who has taken his birth in India. We are... We must be proud, provided we do not forget our own Vedic culture. Unfortunately, the present policy is that students are being taught to forget their old Vedic culture and try to imitate the Westernized way of life, industrial life, technical life. That is being encouraged. But here [in Canada and USA] I find that the young men and young girls and boys, both, they are very much interested about Indian original culture of spiritual life. Recently, you know, some yogi came, and he simply bluffed so many people that "If you pay me thirty-five dollars, I will give you one personal mantra, and you will be in transcendental life," or so many things. So thousands and thousands of European boys and girls, as well as in America, they flocked together, but later on, they were frustrated. That means while the Indian youths are coming to the Western countries for advancement of technological knowledge, the Western boys and girls, they are hankering after spiritual life. This I have very particularly studied. I am here—not in Canada; in America. I came here in 1965, and I am studying the mind of the younger generation especially. They are hankering after something, spiritual enlightenment, not only in America, also in Europe. And they expect something from India because... It is a fact. I have read one book written by one Chinese gentleman. That book is recommended in the New York University for study. That Chinese gentleman is very learned man. He has given comparative studies of all religion and philosophies, but he recommends that "If you want to study religion as it is, then you have to go to India." So our Indian spiritual culture is still adored and worshiped by the learned section of every part of the world. And especially in America and Germany and England, they are hankering after it. We should be little careful that this knowledge, transcendental knowledge, as distributed by Lord Chaitanya, should be seriously taken up by the responsible Indians present here. Unfortunately, I see that Indians are not very much interested, but that is our misfortune. Actually, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu entrusted this mission that anyone who has taken birth as human being on the land of Bharata-varsha should learn this spiritual science very seriously, make his life successful, and distribute all over the world so that people of the world may become happy. That was His mission. Now, this Krishna consciousness movement is started on this mission, on the mission of Lord Chaitanya, that to distribute,

harer nama harer nama harer nama iva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha [Cc. Adi 17.21]

That in this age of Kali there are many differences of opinion for self-realization, or transcendental life, or religious life, but this common formula, chanting of the holy name of God, can be accepted by everyone.

Hindu spiritual cultural education lost due to secular government

REPORTER: Is secularism coming in way of spreading spiritual education?

PRABHUPADA: Secularism is a bogus thing. You see? That is an indulgence, "Whatever you like, you can do. Whatever religion you follow, that's all..." No. That is not good. The state should be responsible for the spiritual progress of the citizens. Now, especially in our country, we say it is Hindustan, Bharatavarsha. So we are not giving the bharatiya or Hindu spiritual cultural education. So that's a great loss of the secular state.

REPORTER: Do you think that the present democratic system will be able to impart a spiritual education?

PRABHUPADA: No.

REPORTER: Then what system do you advocate?

PRABHUPADA: Of course, so far Vedic culture is concerned, they advocated monarchy because the one man's training, a good king guided by the brahminical culture, although it was autocratic sometimes, but because the king was very cultured there was no possibility of doing any harm to the citizens. But democracy means simply they are given the post by votes, and they may be all rascals. Then what they can think of good to the citizens?

REPORTER: Maharaja, don't you think that monarchy [unclear]...

PRABHUPADA: No, that is also not possible. And therefore we are training people to be Krishna conscious. And when the Krishna conscious people will elect Krishna conscious leaders there will be peace and prosperity. And now, because the minority is Krishna conscious, they cannot elect Krishna conscious leaders and therefore havoc is being played.

REPORTER: Maharaja, do you think the West is being Hinduized?

PRABHUPADA: The "Hinduized" is a sectarian view. We are not...

REPORTER: I mean this, being brought up on sanatana culture.

PRABHUPADA: Vedic ways. Yes. You can... The perfect word is Vedic civilization.

REPORTER: Vedic civilization.

PRABHUPADA: Yes. That is original civilization. Out of Vedic civilization there are so many outcome now, but if you go originally to the Vedic civilization, that is Krishna consciousness. In the Bhagavad-gita you will find the word is vedaish cha sarvair aham eva vedyam [Bg. 15.15]. That means to follow the Vedic way of life means to become Krishna conscious.

GUEST: [unclear]

PRABHUPADA: Yes, Vedic way means they are following principles, regulative principles.

GUEST: So what principle?

PRABHUPADA: That I was explaining. That is a big principle. But it has been shortened, shortened in this age. Harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam, kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha [Cc. Adi 17.21]. In the Kali-yuga you cannot reform the whole population by any other means except this harer nama [chanting of the holy names of God]. Therefore we are introducing Hare Krishna movement everywhere.