There is no need of money

Prabhupada, October 16, 1975, Johannesburg: First of all you see the government, what is government? Government means a pack of rascals and fools. That’s all. This is modern government. All these thieves and rogues are voted to be government men. So how you expect good government? It is not possible. “People’s government.” All people are rascals. That means government rascal. People’s government.

Harikesa: How would the other necessities of life be taken care of, like medical things? If actually they have no knowledge, and they have to require to build these gigantic hospitals…

Prabhupada: The brahmanas, the brahmanas will give you medical help. Ayur-Veda. They will read Ayur-Veda. They will give help.

Harikesa: So the Ayur-Veda possibly can work nowadays.

Prabhupada: Why not?

Harikesa: Some people were telling me that the herbs had lost all their effectiveness in the Kali-yuga.

Prabhupada: Then die. (laughter) Do you mean to say this modern medical treatment is guarantee for your living?

Harikesa: No.

Prabhupada: Then? That is also not guarantee. If you see the herbs and plants are no more effective, then if there is no guarantee in your modern medical, there is no guarantee. So why should you spend so much money? As soon as I go to a doctor, immediately twenty dollars. As soon as go to purchase some drugs, immediately twenty. If I have no money… And still that is not guarantee, so why shall I spend so much money?

Harikesa: So actually this money doesn’t even exist in Vedic society—money.

Prabhupada: Money is not required. You require things. Just like instead of money, you are getting papers. Money means gold. Where is gold? You are cheated. Money means gold. So instead of possessing gold, you are possessing some paper, written there, “hundred dollars.” And you are such a fool, you are satisfied. You are being cheated. Bank’s check and currency notes, you keep it in your…, “Oh, here is my money.” Is that money? Just see.

Devotee (3): They only do that to make it easier for them, because they’ve got so much money that they can’t carry it…

Prabhupada: That’s all right, but actually it is not money. You are befooled. You are such a fool that you accept a piece of paper as money. Therefore I say you are rascal. That is my business. If I say “Government, give me gold,” and government has passed law, “No, you cannot possess gold,” that means cheating. How I shall keep gold, that is my business. First of all you give me gold. It is due to me. But you are giving me paper. That means cheating is begun from you.

Harikesa: How will the government decide what my gold is and what his gold is? How does the gold get distributed?

Prabhupada: Gold coins. Formerly there was gold coins. We have seen in our childhood gold coins, silver coins. There was no paper.

Harikesa: But you have to do something to get it.

Prabhupada: Yes. I will have to do something. That is another thing. But why you are cheating me? Instead of gold, you are giving me paper. Formerly… You have seen in Krsna book that one fruit man came, and Krsna was taking some grain. It was falling down. So that was the… A fruit man come, and you give him a packet of grain. Then whatever exchange is possible, the fruit man gives you fruit. That’s all.

Pusta Krsna: That is called bartering.

Prabhupada: Bartering. So there is no need of money. Similarly, you go to another shop. You get. So you produce your food, and in exchange, in barter, you get all things, other things. Somebody is producing something, somebody is producing something. But it can be done. Suppose I am a blacksmith. You want some work from me. So you say that “I’ll make this instrument for you.” So I say, “You give me one kg paddy.” So you give me one kg, I prepare you, so your necessity is fulfilled. Now I have got so much paddy. Now, I may go to purchase something else because I am blacksmith, so grains will be used for my eating, and for, say for ghee, I take the same grain somewhere. So where is the money need of?

Harikesa: It’s very difficult to cheat in that system. It’s very difficult to cheat.

Prabhupada: Yes. There is no cheating. Everyone is simply simple, honest. And here the government begins cheating. He is engaging you to hard work day and night and paying you a piece of paper, where it is written “one hundred dollars.” That’s all. This is your society, cheating and cheater. That’s all.

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