Prabhupada:
“Therefore, they are against religion. But actually, if we show that we are producing, we are managing, we are educating, then we can counteract the communist tendency. But they are seeing that, that escaping. They say,
‘They escape responsibility of worldly life and they’re indulging in some religious..’
That is the tendency. All… Everywhere the government is complaining like that. Therefore, they do not want to increase the number of temples, increase the number of devotees. They do not want. Because they say,
‘These are a class of idle men. They cannot do anything, and they take to this religious life.’
That is the tendency. They are feeling like that. But if you show that you are actually doing something ideal, then they will appreciate. Make a small unit of community and show ideal life, not idle life. Ideal life. Then this mis… That… Now in Bombay, they have refused. Because they are under the impression that,
‘They, these Europeans have come here under some sentiment, and what is the use?’
They have taken some plea and rejected our… [break] …is there. As we are making counterpropaganda against maya, the maya is also very strong. She will also make propaganda against you, very strong. So, unless you become very sincere devotee, daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya [Bhagavad-gita7.14], then it will not be possible to conquer over maya. You’ll be succumbed.
Bhagavad-gita 7.14,
‘This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it’
Hari Krishna. [break] …taranti te, mam eva ye prapadyante mayam edam taranti te. In India the, the brahmana class, they say,
‘Oh, I am born in brahmana family. Why shall I do this work?’
You see. Therefore, the whole society has gone to hell. In your country still, they accept any kind of work. It does not matter. And here, in India, if he happens to be a brahmana, he’ll not take any kind of work. Means… Just like plowing. He’ll not agree. Therefore, so much land. The ksatriya is thinking,
‘I am ksatriya.’
The brahmana is thinking,
‘I am brahmana.’
And the land is lying fallow. There is no production. He will go to the office and fight with the pen as a ksatriya. And instead of studying Vedas, he’ll study the rules and regulations given by the office. But he’ll not come to plow. Therefore, this scarcity of food. He’ll go to a mill to work as ordinary laborer. He’ll not come. So much land we see lying unutilized. And they’re crying for grain. Why? The same example. I was writing that in New York City, the whole city is full of dirty things, garbage, for want of cleaners, and you go to the Central Park, you’ll find so many hippies are lying down idle.”
(Conversation Continues in Next Segment)