Devotee: If meditation without chanting was at one time successful, why is it now deficient?
Prabhupāda: Because the time has changed. You have to take, consider according to the time, circumstances, atmosphere. Here, at the present moment, our mind is so disturbed that concentration of meditation is not possible. But this chanting, as soon as we chant, by force our mind is engaged in chanting and hearing, by force: "Hare Kṛṣṇa." So even my mind is disturbed, by the vibration I am attracted. So that is, this meditation is recommended. Other meditation, if I sit down and think, I am thinking of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, which is red. At once a red bird comes in my vision and the bird begins to fly and it goes away. You see? So that kind of artificial meditation will not succeed. Meditation is not actually possible in this age. Yes?
Guest (1): Apparently, I have trouble with the definition of meditation. You say that chanting is the way to attain...
Prabhupāda: Yes. I don't say, it is there...
Guest (1): Yeah, okay, right. Transcendental meditation by the Maharishi is not a form of meditation under concentrating powers. I was wondering...
Prabhupāda: What is that transcendental meditation? Can you explain?
Guest (1): If I could I would do.
Prabhupāda: You cannot. You cannot explain?
Guest (2): I think he had an explanation.
Guest (3): We're talking of the teaching of the Maharishi.
Prabhupāda: So what is that teaching? You don't know. Then don't talk. (everyone laughs)
Guest (1): Okay, well, I'll try. May I try for a minute...?
Prabhupāda: Don't try artificially. If you don't know, why should you artificially try?
Guest (1): Well, that's why I'm here, because I don't know everything.
Prabhupāda: That's all right, don't talk back. Which is the subject matters which you do not know, don't talk.
Guest (1): Okay.
Prabhupāda: Now, so far I know, that Maharishi says that you meditate for fifteen minutes daily. Is it correct?
Guest (1): Twice a day.
Prabhupāda: Twice a day, for thirty minutes.
Guest (1): Anywhere from fifteen minutes to an hour.
Prabhupāda: All right, two hour. (laughter) That's all right?
Guest (1): Pardon me?
Prabhupāda: For two hours daily, one hour morning, one afternoon.
Guest (1): All right.
Prabhupāda: So if one is engaged in meditation for two hours and if other is engaged for twenty-four hours, whose meditation is perfect?
Guest (1): Uh, I don't know.
Prabhupāda: You don't know?
Guest (1): The Maharishi hasn't...
Prabhupāda: No, don't take the Maharishi. I mean to say, if somebody is engaged in meditation for two hours and other is engaged for twenty-four hours, then whose meditation value will be greater?
Guest (1): Then there are two types of meditation, there's a two-hour meditation...
Prabhupāda: First of all you answer this.
Guest (1): Pardon me? I missed it.
Prabhupāda: I am just telling that a person is engaged in meditation for two hours, and another person is engaged in meditation for twenty-four hours. Whose meditation is valuable?
Guest (1): The twenty-four hours.
Prabhupāda: Is it not?
Guest (1): Are you asking me to go out and chant all day long?
Prabhupāda: Huh?
Guest (1): Are we supposed to chant twenty-four hours?
Prabhupāda: Not only chanting. There are other engagements.