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: 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: Yeah, okay, right. Transcendental Meditation by the Maharishi is not a form of meditation under concentrating powers. And I was wondering . . .
Prabhupāda: What is that Transcendental Meditation? Can you explain?
Guest: If I could, I would do.
Prabhupāda: You cannot. You cannot explain?
Guest: I think he had an explanation.
Guest: 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: 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 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.