770428 - Conversation B - Bombay

Conversations by Date, 1977

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

770428R2-BOMBAY - April 28, 1977 - 11:45 Minutes

(Animals' Expertise)

Prabhupāda: (referring to ants) Just see. One second, thousands came.

Bhakti-caru: Ei gulo sariye nicchi. (I am taking all of them away.)

Prabhupāda: How quickly they come! Just see. And wherefrom they get out of?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yeah, how do they find out about it? That's what I don't understand.

Prabhupāda: That they know.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: They were all over, and the medicine was up here.

Prabhupāda: Come just like magic, they come.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yeah, how is it? I can't understand it. I really don't understand it.

Girirāja: Acintya-śakti.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: It must be Supersoul telling them . . .

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: . . . that there's something here. Do they smell it? No.

Prabhupāda: Anyway, they are also living entities like us. Whenever there is some sense of enjoyment, they flock together.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: (laughs) That's the conclusion.

Prabhupāda: They are expert more than us. You cannot go. Suppose there is one lakh of rupees downstairs. You can get it. You cannot go in one minute. They can do.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So they're better than us?

Prabhupāda: They're expert. Suppose if I . . . if somebody informs that, "In the corner of the temple there is one lakh of rupees. Somebody has left," you cannot go in one minute. It will take at least ten minutes. But here it is kept—immediately. So how much expert they are, just imagine. So why you are so proud that you are scientist, you are expert? You are nothing.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Here they come again.

Prabhupāda: Everyone is working under nature's law. They are working under nature's law in such a way. You cannot do that.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Just see. They are already in it again.

Prabhupāda: There are many, many experts from the lower-grade creatures. Anthill. You are spending so much money for skyscraper building. The ant, they construct big hill as their residential quarters. Where they get their food? Where they get their . . .? But they are living. This is nature's study. Now you can . . . so what is this? Āhāra-nidrā. For eating. So for these four principles—eating, sleeping, sex and defense—everyone knows. But the human society, they have made it a problem. These small ants, they also require those things, but they have no problem. For defense they don't require atomic weapon. They know in their own way how to defend. Cats, dogs, animals—everyone knows. Struggling. Our human society, advanced means they are perplexed with these problems. The human life was meant for self-realization. That problem left; they have created some problems which the animals can solve in their own way. This is the present society. This political struggle and . . . what is their aim, objective? To solve these problems. Nothing more. Nūnaṁ pramattaḥ kurute vikarma (SB 5.5.4), indriya-prītaye, these four principles, sense gratification. The ant is also struggling. They wanted to enjoy the little sugar in the here. We have driven him. That's a problem. They have to find out somewhere else.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Still they're . . .

Prabhupāda: Expecting. Hope against hope. This is struggle. That they do not see. They do . . . we have got this valuable life. What we are doing? We are doing the same thing as the small ants do. So what is the difference between that life and this life? Therefore Kṛṣṇa comes that, "This is not your business. Your business is to surrender unto Me." Sarva-dharmān parityajya (BG 18.66). That will be solved automatically. But they don't. They take advantage of Bhagavad-gītā and apply it for solving these problems. Gandhi and Bhagavad-gītā—what is that? Political struggle. Such a rascal. And he's leader? He does not know what is the purpose of Bhagavad-gītā. Has Kṛṣṇa come down to speak how to defend, how to eat, how to sleep? Is there any statement there? Tathā dehāntara-prāptiḥ (BG 2.13). Solve this problem. This is the beginning of Bhagavad-gītā. And who, nonsense, understands this? Tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti (BG 4.9). This teaching . . . this is a teaching of Bhagavad-gītā. And they are taking Bhagavad-gītā for solving these problems. That's all. Ants' struggle. Violence, nonviolence and . . . so such big, big rascals are guiding us. What benefit they have given? And they are praised. Śva-viḍ-varāhoṣṭra-kharaiḥ saṁstutaḥ . . . (SB 2.3.19). He's an animal, and he's praised by some small animals. That's all. This is their position. They are not actual leader. They are animal, but because we are small animal, we are praising. So it is very difficult to understand our philosophy, but still, we have to preach. That is our mission. A little drop, maybe like a film or less than that . . . still, they are . . . and again, when you cleanse this, you kill them—you become implicated. You have killed. You have to suffer. They are disturbing; still, you cannot kill them. This is your position. But people are with Flit (a bug killer) killing thousands of mosquitoes and flies, becoming implicated.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: We shouldn't kill them. What about if they're biting you, right in the process of biting you?

Prabhupāda: Hmm?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Supposing a mosquito is biting you and sucking the blood.

Prabhupāda: Yes, when they bite, you can kill, according to laws of nature. But on the whole, you cannot kill.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: You cannot invent means . . .

Prabhupāda: Therefore mosquito curtain.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Prevention.

Prabhupāda: Prevention is better than cure. They are meant for that purpose. God has made. So instead of killing them, you protect your . . . but if you are in the service of the Lord, you are not responsible.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: One great Vaiṣṇava was putting the . . . there were maggots eating in . . .

Prabhupāda: And that is also story given. Do not believe it.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: But in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta there's mention of one great . . .

Girirāja: Vāsudeva. Vāsudeva.

Prabhupāda: Hmm? Oh, yes.

Girirāja: There was a leper, and out of compassion for them . . .

Prabhupāda: Yes. He thought that, "I am meant for suffering. Why shall I stop it?" That is exceptional case.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: You cannot imitate that, that position. (end)