Guest (2): He doesn't mean that he's a layman, but suppose he is a layman...
Prabhupāda: Layman, he must go to a person who is experienced.
- tad viddhi praṇipātena
- paripraśnena sevayā
- upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ
- jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ
- (BG 4.34)
This is the instruction of Bhagavad-gītā. If you are layman you must go to a person who has seen the truth. If you remain at home, then how you can see?
Guest (2): But I am so preoccupied with my...
Prabhupāda: You are taking so many education...
Guest (2): ...that I don't have to time to contemplate or study such things. Don't you think it's the responsibility of people like you to...
Prabhupāda: That means you are not properly trained up. The thing is, the first business of human being is to inquire about the spiritual subject matter. Athāto brahma jijñāsā. This is the Vedānta philosophy. Now we have got this human form of body, it is your duty to inquire about the spiritual subject matter. But if your guardians, if your parents, if your government does not teach you, then it is our misfortune.
Interviewer (3): Do you want this to become a part of the educational system here?
Prabhupāda: This is the first education. Otherwise it is animal. Animal does not require absolute education. Animal is not able to understand what is self, what is God. But a man can. Therefore the man's first business is to understand this self-realization.
Interviewer (3): Do you think it will come to India via the West now?
Prabhupāda: I don't follow.
Interviewer (3): Will it come to India via the West?
Prabhupāda: India is already there. You are neglecting. Why don't you admit that you are neglecting?
Interviewer (3): Will that neglect go, disappear, through the West?
Prabhupāda: How will that? If you don't like it, how it will go?
Interviewer (4): No, no, my colleague's point is, we have not been accepting, we are not able to understand Bhagavad-gītā on our own. Just because first Western people understand, and because of their...