Room Conversation
with
Reverend Gordon Powell,
Head of Scots Church
&

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada


June 28, 1974, Melbourne, Australia.

Reverend Powell: Thank you. Your Grace, I was in Moscow, many years ago now. And everywhere I went in Russia, well right down to Stalingrad, as it was called then. They said, “This society is based on the principle, ‘From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.’ ” Now, I felt that in principle that was a very fine thing because it’s based on the parable of the talents and the parable of what we call the penny wage, the same wage is paid to all however long they work because they all have the same need, really. That principle, I think, is a Christian principle, I mean from that point of view it is. But I see what you were saying earlier...
Prabhupäda: The principles, as they are stated in the Bhagavad-gétä, it is not limited within Christian or communist or capitalist.
Reverend Powell: No.
Prabhupäda: No. The principle... Wherever there are these talented persons, he is to be considered as first class man. He does not say that “If it is found among the Hindus or amongst the Christians...” No. Anywhere. Cätur-varëyaà mayä såñöaà guëa-karma-vibhägaçaù. These guëa, these modes of material nature, is all-pervasive. So even in India they protest. Because I am making them brähmaëa. My disciples, they’re offered sacred thread. They’re regularly made into brähmaëa. So the Indians, in India, they’re very conservative, perverted. So they accuse that “Swami Mahäräja is spoiling the Hindu system of religion, because he’s accepting brähmaëa from outside.” So actually they’re also not aware... Creation of God... Here God says that “I have created.” So God’s creation is not limited. Suppose the sun is creation of God. It is not for India or for Australia. It is for everyone. So whatever created by God, that is not monopoly of a certain class of men. Yes. This is the idea. So these people, they do not know what is the meaning of a Vaiñëava or brähmaëa. That is not limited with a certain circle or certain country or certain society. Just like Christ says, “Thou shalt not kill.” This is applicable to every man. Not only that the Christians should follow. Unfortunately, Christians, they do not follow. They are killing. So how there can be religious life? Unless you follow the rules and regulations given by the authority, then where is the meaning of becoming within that community?
Reverend Powell: Yes.
Prabhupäda: And God or God’s representative, whatever they say, that is not meant for a limited area.
Reverend Powell: Right.
Prabhupäda: That is not. Either you take Christian principle or Hindu principle, what is real principle, really principle, that is applicable everywhere.
Reverend Powell: Yes.
Prabhupäda: Yes. Just like Christ said that “Thou should be, one should be meek and humble to go to, back to home, back to...” Eh? It is not?
Satsvarüpa: Yes.
Prabhupäda: So this is for everyone.
Reverend Powell: Yeah. (indistinct)
Prabhupäda: Yes. It is not limited within the Christian community. Everyone.
Reverend Powell: Well, it’s a great privilege to talk with you, Your Grace. And, uh, you must be tired, you’ve got a big day tomorrow. I’m mustn’t keep you. If I may.
Prabhupäda: Just here, please wait. Little, take little. Bring that sweetball. Sit down please, one minute. You have been today there today in meeting?
Guest: Yes. I appreciated it very much. It was very nice...
Prabhupäda: You were all present?
Guest: Yes.
Reverend Powell: You’ll be pulling the chariot tomorrow, will you?
Devotee: Yes.
Reverend Powell: You’ve got a job on that. In the afternoon, isn’t it? Tomorrow. I’ll see something of it.
Prabhupäda: These flowers are very nice. They are called?
Devotee: Daffodil?
Prabhupäda: Daffodils. Oh.
Reverend Powell: No, jonquils, aren’t they?
Devotee: Jonquils.
Prabhupäda: Very... Just see how God’s artistic brain.
Reverend Powell: Hmm. Yeah.
Prabhupäda: You can see God in everywhere. But one must be Kåñëa conscious, God conscious. Then he’ll see every moment, everywhere God, nothing but God.
Reverend Powell: Is this part of the God consciousness, that in everything is the God?
Prabhupäda: Yes. Everything is made out of energy of God.
Satsvarüpa: Here are some sweetballs made out of milk and butter.
Prabhupäda: You can, you can pick up.
Reverend Powell: Made out of what?
Satsvarüpa: Mostly out of milk and butter.
Prabhupäda: Milk preparation.
Reverend Powell: Thank you. And, um,...
Prabhupäda: Yes, you can eat.
Reverend Powell: Now?
Prabhupäda: Yes.
Reverend Powell: Thank you. (eats)
Satsvarüpa: Very juicy.
Reverend Powell: Hm. Very juicy. Hm.(laughs)
Prabhupäda: All of them, give, each, one. We can prepare hundreds of nice preparations from milk. Therefore cow protection is required. Do you like?
Guest: Very sweet, Prabhupäda. (laughter)
Reverend Powell: Something quite different. Hmm.
Devotee: Here, perhaps you can use this.
Reverend Powell: Thank you. Yes, I think I need it. You, you, you’re completely vegetarian, and not have meat of any kind and not eggs at all?
Prabhupäda: No.
Reverend Powell: Why not eggs? Because...
Prabhupäda: We are not even vegetarian.
Reverend Powell: You’re not.
Prabhupäda: No. We are negative of vegetarian and non-vegetarian. We are not vegetarian, neither non-vegetarian. We eat Kåñëa prasäda. Rather, “prasädarian.” We are neither vegetarian, nor non-vegetarian. Because we don’t eat which is not offered to Kåñëa. Things are prepared according to the order of Kåñëa, and when Kåñëa eats, we take the remnants of foodstuff. Therefore we do not fall in the group of vegetarian or non-vegetarian. We are transcendental.
Reverend Powell: Yes.
Prabhupäda: Yes.
Reverend Powell: Well, thank you, Your Grace. If you’ll excuse me, I have another appointment.
Prabhupäda: Thank you. That’s... Hare Kåñëa. (end)
 

Footnote: Eggs are generally of two natures Fertilised and Freerange - unfertilised. The latter are the unfertilised discharge of the chicken, much like the resultant by-product of its menstrual cycle. The Fertilised egg is meant to be a chicken, but is taken prior to maturation and "terminated". Thus Fertilised eggs nor "Freerange eggs" are neither vegetarian nor offerable to the Lord.



Go to Vegetarianism & Beyond, Chanting Hare Krishna, Main Index, Srila Prabhupada, Books are the Basis, Reincarnation, Becoming Pure.

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