Bhava-bhūti: Oh yes, Śrīla Prabhupāda, it's a fact.
Prabhupāda: The consciousness of feeling pains and pleasure, can it be American or Indian?
Bhava-bhūti: No.
Prabhupāda: It is the same. Artificially we are thinking it is American pain or it is Indian pain. That is artificial. This artificial covering has to be removed. Then we come to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Feelings, consciousness is not American, African or Indian. Consciousness is the same. When you feel hungry, is that Americans feel a different way hungry and the African feels in a different way? So hungry, appetite is the same. Now, if you say there is American appetite and this is Indian appetite, that is artificial. So when you do not go to the artificial platform, that is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is explained in Narada Pancaratra,
- sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁ
- tat-paratvena nirmalam
- hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-
- sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate
- (CC Madhya 19.170)
When we become free from these artificial designations, American consciousness, Indian consciousness, African consciousness, there is no such thing, this is artificial. Even bird and beast, they also feel consciousness, pains and pleasure. Just like when there is scorching heat, you feel some pain. Is that American, Indian or African? Scorching heat is (laughing) every, feeling...if you say that I am feeling scorching heat American way (Hindi exchange), what do you say? Is this possible?
Indian lady: No.
Prabhupāda: Simply these are artificial. And everything is depending on consciousness. Everything is depending on consciousness. Therefore, Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the original standard consciousness.