“You Get What You Pray For”

This conversation between His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and some of his disciples took place in New Vrindaban, West Virginia, on June 26, 1976.
Godly Qualities, Ungodly Qualities
Disciple [reading from Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 16.1]: “The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Fearlessness; purification of one’s existence: cultivation of spiritual knowledge; charity; self-control; performance of sacrifice; study of the Vedas; austerity; simplicity; nonviolence; truthfulness; freedom from anger; renunciation; tranquility; aversion to faultfinding; compassion for all living entities; freedom from covetousness; gentleness; modesty; steady determination; vigor; forgiveness; fortitude; cleanliness; and freedom from envy and from the passion for honor — these transcendental qualities. O son of Bharata, belong to godly men endowed with divine nature.’ ”

Purport, by HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: “In the beginning of the Fifteenth Chapter, the banyan tree of this material world was explained. The extra roots coming out of it were compared to the activities of the living entities, some auspicious, some inauspicious. In the Ninth Chapter, also, the devas. or godly, and the asuras. the ungodly, or demons, were explained. Now, according to the Vedic rites, activities in the mode of goodness are considered auspicious for progress on the path of liberation. …”
HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: The defect of modern civilization is that people have no idea about liberation. Nor have they any idea about the transmigration of the soul. At its very root, this civilization is defective.
People are thinking just like animals. The dog is thinking. “I am this dog body. I am born a dog and I’ll die — everything finished.” He cannot realize that “I can also take on a human body.” He cannot realize that.
So in this modern civilization, people cannot even realize that there is a next life and we can go to other planets, such as the moon. Sarva-ga: the living entity has the tendency to travel widely, to many situations. Artificially people are trying, but they do not know the proper method. As Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita.
yanti deva-vrata devan pitrn yanti pitr-vratah
bhutani yanti bhutejya yanti mad-yajino ‘pi mam
“Those who worship the demigods will take birth among the demigods; those who worship the ancestors go to the ancestors; those who worship ghosts and spirits will take birth among such beings; and those who worship Me will live with Me.” – Bhagavad Gita As It Is, Chapter 9 “The Most Confidential Knowledge”, Text 25.
People do not know this. Although they have got the tendency to go to higher planets, they do not know how to go. They do not know positively w hat are the positions of the various material planets or Vaikunthaloka, the spiritual planets. They do not know about liberation, the next life or transmigration — nothing of the sort. Simply like dogs.
Now, consider this point — whether I’m speaking rightly or wrongly. I know I am speaking the right thing, but if you disagree, then you can discuss it amongst yourselves.
Disciple: Srila Prabhupada, many people think that “liberation” has nothing to do with spiritual realization. It just means you can do anything you like — free from any consequences.
HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: That is rascaldom. That is rascaldom. For instance, in a prison, if a prisoner thinks that he can do whatever he likes, that is rascaldom. That is going on. This modern civilization is rascaldom. Everyone is seeing daily that he’s under the control of material nature and still he thinks that “I can do whatever I like.” That is rascaldom.
Disciple: The so-called Christian conception of salvation is based not so much on attraction for the transcendental reality as on fear of hell.
HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: This may be the official Christian conception, but the mass of people are not even afraid of hell. They do not even know what hell is. Because they are living in hell already.
You remember the humorous story. When a miner in Sheffield, England, heard some preacher’s description of hell, he remained undisturbed.
“So hell is damp and dark? Oh, well, it is damp and dark here in our mine. What is the difference between hell and our mine?”
When the miner was informed that in hell there is no newspaper, only then did he become disturbed.
“Horrible! How can anyone live without a newspaper?”
So people’s hellish condition is here now. Earlier, some of you were describing about the hellish conditions in factories. So people are working in factories — what do they care about hell?
“Even if I go to hell. I will get a good salary, that’s all. Money is required. Then I can drink nicely.”
But the transcendental reality is here also. Krsna’s standard is here. But this transcendental qualification,
sri-bhagavan uvaca
abhayam sattva-samsuddhir jnana-yoga-vyavasthitih
danam damas ca yajnas ca svadhyayas tapa arjavam
ahimsa satyam akrodhas tyagah santir apaisunam
daya bhutesv aloluptvam mardavam hrir acapalam
tejah ksama dhrtih saucam adroho nati-manita
bhavanti sampadam daivim abhijatasya bharata
“The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Fearlessness; purification of one’s existence; cultivation of spiritual knowledge; charity; self-control; performance of sacrifice; study of the Vedas; austerity; simplicity; nonviolence; truthfulness; freedom from anger; renunciation; tranquillity; aversion to faultfinding; compassion for all living entities; freedom from covetousness; gentleness; modesty; steady determination; vigor; forgiveness; fortitude; cleanliness; and freedom from envy and from the passion for honor — these transcendental qualities, O son of Bharata, belong to godly men endowed with divine nature.” – Bhagavad Gita As It Is, Chapter 16 “The Most Confidential Knowledge”, Text 1-3.
“abhayam sattva-samsuddhih” – fearlessness and purification of one’s existence – “What is that?” It does not appeal to people. It does not strike them at all. And yet in the Lord’s estimation, these qualities are the high qualities. Is it not?
“Fearlessness and purification of one’s existence.” the Lord requires of us. But who is fearless? Everyone is fearful. Fearlessness is a godly quality, but today who understands it?
ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithunam ca samanyam etat pasubhih naranam
dharmo hi tesam adhiko viseso dharmena hina pasubhih samanah
“Human beings and animals have the same urges. They eat and sleep and copulate and the feelings of fear are common to both. What, then, is the difference between the two? It is adherence to dharma that distinguishes human beings from animals. Without dharma to guide him man would be o better than an animal.” – Hitopadesha c/o VedaBase Bg. Lecture 4.7-9 – New York, July 22, 1966
All that people understand is eating, sleeping, mating, and defending, or fearing. This is animal life. To eat, to sleep, to have sex, and to become fearful — this is animal life. And so Krsna says one has to become fearless. But who cares about it? People are thinking that to become fearless means to keep a gun. Of course, that is also one way. [Laughter.]
And as for purification of one’s existence, here also people do not know anything. When someone falls sick he wants to go to a doctor and become purified. But his whole life is impure — that he doesn’t know. You see, Because people’s very existence is impure, they are subjected to birth, death, old age, and disease. That they do not know.
“Godly Qualities, UnGodly Qualities”