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If we indulge in these things - illicit sex life, meat-eating and intoxication and gambling - then they become the four pillars of sinful life. And if we take them away, then they become . . . the prohibited portion becomes the pillars of perfect life

Expressions researched:
"if we indulge in these things—illicit sex life, meat-eating and intoxication and gambling—then they become the four pillars of sinful life. And if we take them away, then they become . . . the prohibited portion becomes the pillars of perfect life"

Conversations and Morning Walks

1971 Conversations and Morning Walks

Interviewer: There is place for women in the religion too, isn't . . .?

Prabhupāda: Man and woman have got the same right. Just like we are getting married boys and girls. They're following the same principles. The same principles. So these are the four pillars of perfect life. And if we indulge in these things—illicit sex life, meat-eating and intoxication and gambling—then they become the four pillars of sinful life. And if we take them away, then they become . . . the prohibited portion becomes the pillars of perfect life.

Interviewer: You know the Ten Commandments, for example, there is a heavy emphasis in the Ten Commandments on the relationships between one human being and another, you know, "Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not steal." That sort of thing.

Prabhupāda: But I say that Jesus Christ never said . . . he never meant, "Thou shall not kill" means only human being. Where is that evidence? Jesus Christ never said, "Thou shall not kill means it means only human being." Thou shall not kill any animal.

Interviewer: Any life.

Prabhupāda: Any life. That is religion.

Interviewer: It has never been interpreted that way.

Prabhupāda: But you have interpreted different way, but he said, "Thou shall not kill." He never said: "Thou shall not kill amongst human being." Why do you interpret in that way?

Interviewer: How would I recognize a true follower of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement by his behavior? What would his traits be? What would his outward expressions be?

Prabhupāda: Yes. His behavior, he's a perfect gentleman. That's all. You cannot find any fault in him. That is perfect Kṛṣṇa consciousness. They are prohibited not to eat meat . . .

Interviewer: Not to eat meat?

Prabhupāda: No. They are prohibited from illicit sex life. They are prohibited to intoxication. They do not smoke even, what to speak of other intoxication. And they are prohibited not to indulge in gambling. So if they can observe these four rules and regulation, they become perfect men. Simply.

Interviewer: Or women, I presume.

Prabhupāda: Woman or man.

Interviewer: Men or women.

Prabhupāda: Anyone.

Interviewer: There is place for women in the religion too, isn't . . .?

Prabhupāda: Man and woman have got the same right. Just like we are getting married boys and girls. They're following the same principles. The same principles. So these are the four pillars of perfect life. And if we indulge in these things—illicit sex life, meat-eating and intoxication and gambling—then they become the four pillars of sinful life. And if we take them away, then they become . . . the prohibited portion becomes the pillars of perfect life.

Interviewer: Now I would like to ask you one more question, and I would like to ask you to end the program by chanting your mantra of Hare Kṛṣṇa. One more question, though. In the six years that you have been in this country, in the United States, have you been encouraged or discouraged?

Prabhupāda: I am encouraged.

Interviewer: Encouraged? Why?

Prabhupāda: Because so many devotees are coming daily.

Interviewer: So many . . . you say: "So many" you know, we have maybe, what, two dozen people sitting here, but of course there are two hundred and five or two hundred and ten million Americans.

Prabhupāda: But you cannot . . . when you sell diamonds, you cannot expect everyone will purchase. There must be bona fide customer for diamond. You cannot expect diamond is sold among mass of people. You cannot expect it.

Interviewer: Do you in general approve of this society, or do you have major complaints about it, the American society that you now live among?

Prabhupāda: I have no complaint. These boys and girls, they are very nice. I am rather encouraged that these boys and girls, they are so much inquisitive about Kṛṣṇa. So it is a best field for; best field everywhere. But these boys and girls, I can understand they're hankering after something nice. They're frustrated. So they have got now the things, so they're coming.

Page Title:If we indulge in these things - illicit sex life, meat-eating and intoxication and gambling - then they become the four pillars of sinful life. And if we take them away, then they become . . . the prohibited portion becomes the pillars of perfect life
Compiler:Nabakumar
Created:2022-10-15, 01:38:51
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=1, Let=0
No. of Quotes:1