So in bhakti-yoga it is not very strict that one has to observe celibacy strictly. He can marry. Marriage is allowed, but not for indulgence. But because a man requires a woman or a woman requires a man, there is sacred marriage. This man and woman is educated that he or she is not this body. Therefore advancement of this education will stop him for this bodily enjoyment.
Just like eating also. We are eating; we are not fasting. We are eating. But we are eating just to maintain the body and soul together, not extravagantly. Although we have very nice plates, kṛṣṇa-prasādam, but we do not make any palatable dishes for enjoyment. We make all nice things for Kṛṣṇa, and we take prasādam. Therefore the material effect of eating, it does not act upon the devotees.
So therefore Śukadeva Gosvāmī says: "By one stroke, kevalayā—without waiting for the austerity, undergoing severe penance, austerity, celibacy, controlling the mind, controlling the senses, and giving in charity, performing great sacrifices, to become . . . becoming very truthful, clean—but without waiting for all these things, simply by one stroke, accepting Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one immediately ascends the highest position."
There is ample proof in our Society. They had never any austerity, penance or celibacy or they tried to control the senses or mind or they gave any big amount of charities or they observed cleanliness. Nothing of the sort. But immediately, simply by accepting Kṛṣṇa consciousness, just see how they are nice. Practical proof. Now bring any yogī, any jñānī, any person undergoing severe penances, and compare with these boys and girls. He'll fail.
This is practical. Simply by accepting this devotional service, kevalayā-bhakti, without waiting for the other penance. They're already under penance. They're already leading the life of celibacy. They have already controlled the senses. They have already controlled the mind. They're giving in charity. Whatever they have, they're giving to Kṛṣṇa. Dānena, tyāgena, tyāga. They have given their life. What to speak of money and other things, they have given their whole life for Kṛṣṇa. Otherwise, how this movement is improving?
If I . . . I came here alone. Still, no Indians helping me. There may be one or two of my disciples. Others . . . there are so many Indians in this country; they're not helping me. But these boys, these girls, because they have come to the transcendental platform, they're helping me so nicely. Therefore the movement is going forward. This is practical. Kevalayā bhaktyā. Simply by taking to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, devotional service.
It is just like, I sometimes give example: the blacksmith's method and the goldsmith's method. The goldsmith, he has got a small hammer—tuk-tuk-tuk-tuk-tuk-tuk-tuk-tuk,-tuk-tuk. And the blacksmith has a big hammer—dumh, finish. (laughter) So our is blacksmith method. We take the big hammer of bhakti-yoga and finish all, everything. You see? We won't have to undergo so many tuk-tuk-tuk-tuk.
And there is no possibility. If I say: "Now you have to become completely a brahmacārī. You have to sit down in the forest and stay at right angle and press your nose for six months," who will follow? There is no possibility. This tuk-tuk method, there is no possibility. We have to get this hammer, blacksmith hammer of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and immediately finish everything.