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The idea is that any religious movement without philosophical basis, it is simply sentiment or fanaticism. And philosophy without idea of God is simply mental speculation

Expressions researched:
"The idea is that any religious movement without philosophical basis, it is simply sentiment or fanaticism" |"And philosophy without idea of God is simply mental speculation"

Conversations and Morning Walks

1968 Conversations and Morning Walks

So it is a very scientific movement. It is not a sentiment, bogus hoax. It is . . . anyone who wants to understand this movement philosophically, scientifically, they will be very much satisfied in this. The idea is that any religious movement without philosophical basis, it is simply sentiment or fanaticism. And philosophy without idea of God is simply mental speculation. Therefore religious principles combined with philosophy, that is perfect. So the younger section become attracted to this movement because we are giving some religious principle based on philosophy.

Prabhupāda: Sannyā . . . yes, brahmacārī: b-r-a-h-m-a-c-h-a-r-y, this is brahmacārī. Then gṛhastha: g-r-i-h-a-s-t-h-a, gṛhastha. H-a-s-t-h-a, gṛhastha. G-r-i-h-a-s-t-h-a. Is that clear? Gṛhastha. Then vānaprastha: v-a-n-a-p-r-a-s-t-h-a, vānaprastha. Then sannyāsī: s-(a)-n-n-y-a-s-i, sannyāsī. Four divisions. These four divisions. And there are other four orders of social system. That is according to work, division according to work and quality.

Just like the brāhmaṇas, b-r-a-h-m-a-i-n-s, brāhmaṇas. Brāhmaṇas means the most intelligent class of the society. The kṣatriyas, k-s-h-a-t-r-y-a-s, kṣatriyas. Kṣatriyas means persons who are interested in politics, in the management of the country, political affairs. They are called kṣatriyas. Similarly, there is the vaiśyas, v-a-i-s-y-a-s. Vaiśyas means the mercantile, productive class: those who are engaged in producing grains or trade, milk, and in industry. Of course, industry, artisans, they are called, artists, śūdras.

Anyway, any person engaged in producing for the needs of the society, they are called vaiśyas. And the worker class is called śūdra. So according to Vedic system, these are eight divisions. Unless the human society is divided into these eight divisions in terms of material and spiritual progress of life, that is not accepted as human society.

Reporter: Have they encountered any problems in . . . like out on the Hollywood Boulevard? Police action, or telling them to move or . . .?

Prabhupāda: Yes. Only that depends on the whims of the police. Sometimes they say: "You are blocking our roads." Sometimes, "Oh, you are doing nice." So that depends on their temperament.

Reporter: How about from the crowds?

Prabhupāda: Crowd, of course, whenever there is crowd, it is natural—police do not like it. So we don't create crowd. But generally, people, out of inquisitiveness they gather together and see how they are chanting. They are sympathetic. They contribute. They purchase our books and literature. The people, public is sympathetic. The police are also sympathetic.

They don't object when we go at night, but during busy hours, they object. So one of our student was arrested by the police. So he was taken to the court, and I gave them $315 for . . . what is called? Bail. But he was not convicted. He was immediately liberated, and now our money was returned. So it is not a problem.

Reporter: Were there any followers before you came to this country?

Prabhupāda: No. In this country, of this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement there was none. It is the first time. I have introduced. But in India it is very, very old—since the advent of Kṛṣṇa, and at least since last five thousand years. So Kṛṣṇa is very popular in India. In every home, Kṛṣṇa is worshiped, and there are many millions of temples of Kṛṣṇa in India and followers also. Followers means almost all Hindus are followers of Kṛṣṇa. They read this Bhagavad-gītā.

So I have recently published Bhagavad-gītā As It Is. It is published by Macmillan Company, and this book is very nicely being received. It is being reviewed by several papers. I have got many others books. They are being gradually introduced. Perhaps you have seen in our counter. We have got books, magazines, calendar and other literatures.

So it is a very scientific movement. It is not a sentiment, bogus hoax. It is . . . anyone who wants to understand this movement philosophically, scientifically, they will be very much satisfied in this. The idea is that any religious movement without philosophical basis, it is simply sentiment or fanaticism.

And philosophy without idea of God is simply mental speculation. Therefore religious principles combined with philosophy, that is perfect. So the younger section become attracted to this movement because we are giving some religious principle based on philosophy.

Reporter: About how many followers would you say there are in the United States?

Prabhupāda: Initiated members, there are about one hundred, or little more, but sympathizers, admirers, there are many. Those who come, those who contribute, take sympathy, they help, and in that way there are many followers. But actually initiated members, there are about a little more than one hundred.

Page Title:The idea is that any religious movement without philosophical basis, it is simply sentiment or fanaticism. And philosophy without idea of God is simply mental speculation
Compiler:Nabakumar
Created:2022-10-25, 05:01:39
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=1, Let=0
No. of Quotes:1