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After another ecstatic evening kirtana in the temple, Srila Prabhupada continued speaking on Chapter 9 of Bhagavad-gita, verse 3

Those who are not faithful in this devotional service cannot attain Me, O conqueror of enemies. Therefore they return to the path of birth and death in this material world.

Faith, Prabhupada pointed out, was a necessary prerequisite for learning. By nature, one had to believe his parents, his superiors and his teachers. If one did not believe in the words of his superiors, he said, then there was no possibility of education.

Prabhupada gave an example: "If you go to a teacher to learn ABCD the teacher says, 'My dear child, you begin from the left side, in this way'. Then, if the student says, 'Why shall I begin in this way? I shall begin this way,' then he's faithless. He cannot make any progress. It is not possible. The first qualification is sraddadhanah, faithful. If you go to a teacher you must be faithful; otherwise there is no need of going to a teacher." Approaching a teacher in such a doubting, faithless manner, Prabhupada concluded, would be a waste of time for both the student and the teacher.

Prabhupada also spoke, as he had done at his arrival press conference, of the "doggish" mentality of so-called modern civilisation and its United Nations. Krsna consciousness, he said, was the real platform of "united nations".

"Just like in our society you will find people from all parts of the world. There are Americans and Indians and Africans, Canadians, Japanese. But we don't feel that 'I am Japanese', 'I am Indian', 'I am American'. We all feel 'servant of Krsna'. This is united nations, not going to the United Nations and barking like the dog. What is the benefit? They are barking for the last twenty, thirty years. What benefit has come? You bring some dogs from America and Australia and from India and put them together and ask them, 'Please live very peacefully'. (Laughter) If you keep them as dogs they will simply bark. There will be no more peace. Just try to understand practically. You have to make them human beings. If you keep them as dogs and cats, there cannot be any peace."

As Prabhupada slowly made his way out of the crowded temple room, he espied Tania. He called her forward to inform her what he had done with the gold chain she had given him the previous night. Prabhupada gave a loving, sidelong glance at Radharani. Then, with wide-open eyes, he smiled charmingly at Tania. "I gave it to Radha," he said.


- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu