What is Your Credit?

Founder-Acharya of the world-wide Hare Krishna Movement, Brahma Sampradaya Acharya

Prabhupada: So people do not know what is the aim of life. Therefore they have got different views. Actually they are missing what is the aim of life. There is a English proverb, "A man without aim and a ship without rudder," or something like that. So similarly, ask anybody what is the aim of life. He doesn't know, no clear idea.

Guest: Our aim of life should be the realization of God?

Prabhupada: Yes. Because at the present moment we are part and parcel. Just like a son, he has got the symptoms of his father, but he does not know who is his father. He does not know who is his father. There is a Hindi proverb, bap ka beta sipaika gora kusnaita tora tola: "The son inherits the quality of the father, but if he does not know who is his father, then what is his position?" That is going on. The scientist, he is trying to create something, but he does not know the supreme creator. Do you follow? Now the scientists are trying to create living being in the laboratory. But he does not enquire that who has already created so many millions of living entities? He is trying to create a living entity in laboratory. Suppose he creates one living entity. Then what credit is there for him? But he is spending lakhs and crores of rupees.

Guest: Then what should the scientists' role?

Prabhupada: Scientists' role... not only scientists; scientists, philosopher, politician—everyone should endeavor that "Wherefrom we got these propensities? Where is the origin?" That is described in the Vedanta-sutra: athato brahma jijnasa. I am a scientist. I am thinking of myself very great man, but I do not think that "Who is that great scientist under whose order the sun, moon, the sea, ocean, everything is working very properly?" I am thinking of that water is created by hydrogen, oxygen, but I do not inquire, "Wherefrom such huge quantity of hydrogen, oxygen came, so that there is big oceans and seas, water?" That I don't enquire. So I am so foolish scientist. I am theorizing. I am theorizing that life has come from matter, chemical composition, but as soon as I ask that "I give you the chemical. You create," he says, "That I cannot do." This is going on. But our business is, we Krishna conscious, that we see that you scientists, you are trying to create a living being, but I glorify the Supreme who has already created millions and millions of living beings. I give you credit that... I cannot give you credit unless you create. But still, as you are thinking that you will be able in future, that's good... But what credit you will have? If I have got millions of rupees, and if you create ten rupees, then what is your credit? Even if you create? You cannot do it. You will never be able to create life. That's a fact. That we know. But even if you are able to create, then what credit you, do you get? This is... Already there are millions and trillions of life. Why you are so proud that "We are going to create in the laboratory, life." Why this false prestige?

Guest: So what is the idea behind the movement?

Prabhupada: Behind the movement, that... This is the idea, that you try to understand the Supreme Being behind all, everything. That is perfection.

idam hi pumsas tapasah shrutasya va
svishtasya suktasya cha buddhi-dattayoh
avichyuto 'rthah kavibhir nirupito
yad-uttamashloka-gunanuvarnanam [Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.22]

Idam hi pumsas tapasah shrutasya va. Everyone, big, big philosophers, scientists, they are engaged in tapasya [penance and austerity] and education, but they do not know what is the ultimate goal of this tapasya. The scientist is working very hard, and he has discovered a nuclear bomb to kill.

Guest: And what is the ultimate goal of tapasya?

Prabhupada: Tapasya means that by his knowledge... Suppose you are scientist. You prove by scientific way that here is the supreme scientist who has given us all these laws.

Guest: Is it possible to see the Supreme?

Prabhupada: Yes.

Guest: With our own eyes?

Prabhupada: Oh, yes.

Guest: It is possible?

Prabhupada: Oh, yes. Even if it is not possible, but you have to accept there is a supreme scientist. If you cannot see Him, that is your disqualification. That is your disqualification. But you have to admit that there is a supreme scientist. If you say that hydrogen and oxygen mixed together makes water, that's all right. But who has created this big sea and ocean? Wherefrom the hydrogen, oxygen came? Who supplied? That is intelligence. Simply theoretical I know, but I cannot say who has created this big, vast mass of water by mixing hydrogen, oxygen. Wherefrom such huge quantity of hydrogen, oxygen came? Our point of view, that you scientists, you say that hydrogen, oxygen creates water, and here we see that somebody has created, but not somebody will know who is that body, how great He is. And that is our credit. If you want little credit by experimenting, hydrogen, oxygen mixed together, then how much credit should be given who has created the vast Atlantic Ocean, not only one, millions! Why don't you give credit?

Guest: You should give.

Prabhupada: Yes. That is our point.

Guest: But are you not giving credit?

Prabhupada: No, nobody is giving. They are denying. Especially these so-called scientists, they are denying the existence of God.

Devotee: "God is dead."

Prabhupada: "God is dead" or "There is no God." "By science, we shall do everything," and this and... all nonsense theories. Our proposition is that glorify that supreme scientist. Yad-uttamashloka- gunanuvarnanam.

Guest: And the supreme scientist is God.

Devotee: Yes.

Prabhupada: He's God. Yes.

Guest: God, or you can give another name as you like, any way.

Prabhupada: No, God or the Supreme Being. God means the Supreme Being in the dictionary. He is not like you, not like me.

Guest: What about...

Prabhupada: Anyway, He is supreme. We are not supreme. But this subordinate person, he wants to take the position of the supreme by manufacturing a drop of water in the laboratory.

Guest: So what is the easiest way to see the Supreme Being with our own eyes?

Prabhupada: That you have to take advice from the Supreme. The Supreme says, "If you want to know Me..." Bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yash chasmi tattvatah [Bhagavad-gita 18.55]. You have to take the way of the Supreme. "Simply by devotional service one can understand Me, what I am actually, is." You have to take this way. That is Krishna consciousness movement. We are teaching everyone this bhakti-yoga so that one can understand the Supreme and submit to Him, yes. Vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma su-durlabhah [Bg. 7.19]. When one understands by acquiring knowledge after many, many births, then he surrenders to Krishna. Vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma su-durlabhah [Bg. 7.19]. This is the first-class mahatma [great soul]. That we are teaching. It is not a sentiment. Most scientific.