270 - Peace & Real Life Properly Introduced (Civilization and Transcendence, Chapter 13-14)

Everything is there in the Vedic culture, but this culture of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which is summarized in Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, had not been preached properly. Everyone had interpreted Bhagavad-gītā in his own way, to satisfy his own whims. We are just trying for the first time to present Bhagavad-gītā as it is, and it is becoming effective. So this is not a “different role” for the Vedic culture. It is the actual role. Nobody had tried for it; therefore Kṛṣṇa had been unknown in the Western countries. But even though we have been attempting to introduce Him for only a few years, still, because it is reality, Kṛṣṇa consciousness is being accepted. So it is not a new role for the Vedic culture. The role is already there – to preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness. [..] This movement is not some kind of rubber-stamp proselytizing – “You were Christian; now you are Hindu.” After all, if one does not know what his position is, what benefit will he derive by simply being stamped “Hindu”? Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: No benefit. He’ll still be in ignorance of his real, spiritual identity. Śrīla Prabhupāda: If you keep someone on the ignorant platform, then what is the benefit of making a Christian or a Muslim into a Hindu? No, artificially changing someone into a Hindu will not help. One must know the philosophy of life. One must know what God is. One must learn how to love God. That is real life. ••• if you’d like to find links to read for free or purchase: sravanamdiaries.com/civilization-and-transcendence