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China's one-child policy has led to wide-spread practice of gender selection, abortion of female babies in preference of male children. Srila Prabhupada explains that generally in any society the female population exceeds the number of males, and Vedic civilization allowed polygamy to ensure that every woman was married, but social engineering by less-than-enlightened government leaders has upset the natural order of society with disastrous results, as seen in China's shortage of brides, in particular in rural parts. Here, Srila Prabhupada explains the consequences of abortion, and rejects the idea of overpopulation, which is China's justification for its one-child per family policy.

We never die
excerpt from lecture on Bhagavad-gita 2.12, London, August 18, 1973

Problem Solving

Solutions that Create Problems Hansadutta das Man's attempts to adjust to the problems that nature presents create new problems worse than the original problems. They then try to solve the new problems, thus creating more problems. In this way they become entangled, creating solutions that create problems. more

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"Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be." (Bhagavad-gita 2.12)

Prabhupada: This is a very important verse. The modern scientists, philosophers, they say that after finishing this body, we no more exist, finished, everything finished. This is not new. In olden times also there were atheists like Charvaka Muni, he also said like that: bhasmi-bhutasya dehasya kutah punar agamano bhavet. Now why you are worrying about next life? As soon as this body is burned into ashes, everything is finished. According to Vedic funeral ritualistic ceremony, the body is burned. There are three ends of the body, either to become stool, or to become ashes, or to become earth. Those who are burying the body, just like the Christian, Mohammedans do, the body becomes earth. Everything, from the earth it has come up: "Dust thou were, dust thou beist." This beautiful body, nice body, will become earth. And those who are burning, so their body becomes ashes. And those who throw the body to be eaten by jackals and crows, they become stool. This is the end of the body. We are taking so much care of this body, but the ultimate end of this body is either stool, earth or ashes. So foolish persons who are in the bodily concept of life, they are thinking: "After all, this body will be finished. So so long the body is there, senses are there, let us enjoy. Why so much restrictions, no illicit sex, no gambling? No. These are all nonsense. Let us enjoy life." This is atheistic life. Foolish life. They do not know, so the body is not all.

This is the first lesson to understand, what is spiritual life, what is spiritual knowledge. But all rascals, they do not know. Therefore Krishna first of all slapped Arjuna: ashochyan anvashochas tvam prajna-vadamsh cha bhashase [Bg. 2.11]. "You do not know what is the fact, and talking like a very learned man. Just try to understand what is truth." Na tv evaham jatu nasam. First thing is that nasam, we have no nasam. We never die, that will be explained later on more clearly, we do not die. Nasam. At any time. It is not that sometimes we die and sometimes... No. Any time, jatu. At any time. So: "Sir, You are Supreme Personality of Godhead, You may not die. But we die, we are ordinary living entities." So Krishna says, nasam, na tv evaham jatu nasam na tvam: "Neither you nor I. We never die." "So it may be I am Your friend and You are Krishna. Therefore the others will die." No. Neme janadhipah: "Neither these, all these people, all these soldiers, [nor] the kings who have assembled here, they'll also not die. There is no end. They'll never die." So, na chaiva na bhavishyamah, it is not that we did not exist in the past, and we are existing at present. That is everyone knows. So in the future, don't think that we may not exist. Na bhavishyamah. It is not that we shall not exist in the future. Na bhavishyamah, not exist, and another not. Two nots make one yes. Two negatives make one positive. So therefore, we have two negatives. Na chaiva na bhavishyamah. Na bhavishyamah means not to exist in the future; that is not. That means we shall exist. Na chaiva na bhavishyamah sarve... all of us. All of us, you, not that "Because I am God, because you are My friend, God's friend, and all others..." No, everyone. This is knowledge. In the Katha Upanishad there is the verse nityo nityanam. Nityo nityanam. Nityanam means ever existing. Nitya means ever, always. So either Krishna or we, every one of us are ever-existing, because we are part and parcel of Krishna. Therefore, if Krishna is ever-existing, so we are also ever-existing. A particle of gold is gold, qualitatively. The value of gold mine and the gold earring may be different. Gold earring may be, say, hundred dollars, but a gold mine, millions of dollars. But both of them are gold, not that it is iron. Therefore, less value, no.

Searching for bodies

Krishna is the Supreme Spirit Person. He is all-pervading. Everywhere He is present. He is so expansive. We are simply... We are also all-pervading, but within this body. That's all. Krishna is all-pervading means throughout the whole creation, Krishna all-pervading. And we are also all-pervading only in this body. You are all-pervading within your body; I know the pains and pleasures of my body; you know the pains and pleasures of your body. So all-pervading means within this body. If I pinch anywhere, I'll feel pain, you'll not feel pain. Therefore, you are not all-pervading, I am not all-pervading. But Krishna is all-pervading. When I feel pain, Krishna knows it. Vedaham samatitani [Bg. 7.26]. "I know everything." That is Krishna. Try to understand distinction between Krishna and us. He's all-pervading, but He's nitya, ever-existing. We are also ever-existing. Nityo nityanam chetanash chetananam (Katha Upanishad 2.2.13). We have got knowledge, Krishna has got knowledge. But we have got limited knowledge. Krishna has got unlimited knowledge. That is the difference. Krishna is also cognizant. He's also acknowledged. Nityo nityanam chetanash