Mahamsa assured him that the life members were being given his books.
Prabhupada said, "Preach this, and save this human society. That is the duty. Human life is meant for paropakara. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission."
One of the men observed that the cycle of birth and death had been going on for millions of years, and it seemed likely to continue.
"No, you can stop it," Prabhupada told him. "You are missing the chance because you are not serious about the end of life; you are not disgusted with this repetition of birth and death. That is foolishness. Just like a thief, a criminal, he is constantly put into the jail but he's not disgusted. He's committing again and again and again. Punah punas carvita-carvananam. This is going on. This is foolishness. He does not make any provision how to stop it. That is for want of knowledge."
The man suggested that a historical lack of interest in developing material amenities was a problem for India.
Prabhupada answered dramatically. "What is the meaning of this amenities? After all you are going to die. Your all amenities will remain background. That's all. Death will come and will take everything. Finished. And he will make you a dog -- now bark! How can you stop it? Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani. You have practiced how to bark in the legislative assembly, now go and become a dog and go on barking, yow, yow, yow!
"Bhagavad-gita proposes that first of all try to understand what is your misery of life. Do you know what is the misery of life? Huh?"
The member's reply was thoughtful. "Misery of life is to be like this only. To live like this without the divine knowledge or without..."
"Yes," Prabhupada said. "Real miseries of life, that you are soul, eternal, na jayate na mriyate va, there is no birth, there is no death, so therefore the birth and death is real misery. This is knowledge. But they have no brain. It is clearly said that na jayate na mriyate va. They have no knowledge what is the actual misery. And therefore Krsna pointing out, janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-duhkha-dosanudarsanam. This is knowledge."
- From "A Transcendental Diary Vol 4" by HG Hari Sauri Prabhu
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