Learning the Science of the Soul
27
Mike Robinson:  Your Grace, could you go back over that just for a minute? You said that nobody is free. Are you saying that if we live a good life, we in some way determine a good future for ourselves?
Śrila Prabhupāda:  Yes.
Mike Robinson:  So we are free to choose what we believe to be important? Religion is important, because if we believe in God and lead a good life . . .
Śrila Prabhupāda:  It is not a question of belief. Do not bring in this question of belief. It is law. For instance, there is a government. You may believe or not believe, but if you break the law, you'll be punished by the government. Similarly, whether you believe or don't believe, there is a God. If you don't believe in God and you independently do whatever you like, then you'll be punished by the laws of nature.
Mike Robinson:  I see. Does it matter what religion you believe? Would it matter if one was a devotee of Kṛṣṇa?
Śrila Prabhupāda:  It is not a question of religion. It is a question of science. You are a spiritual being, but because you are materially conditioned, you are under the laws of material nature. So you may believe in the Christian religion, and I may believe in the Hindu religion, but that does not mean that you are going to become an old man and I am not. We're talking of the science of growing old. This is natural law. It is not that because you are Christian you are becoming old or because I am Hindu I am not becoming old. Everyone is becoming old. So, similarly, all the laws of nature are applicable to everyone. Whether you believe this religion or that religion, it doesn't matter.
Mike Robinson:  So, you're saying that there's only one God controlling all of us?
Śrila Prabhupāda:  There's one God, and one nature's law, and we are all under that nature's law. We are controlled by the Supreme. So if we think that we are free or that we can do anything we like, that is our foolishness.
Mike Robinson:  I see. Can you explain to me what difference it makes, being a member of the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement?
Śrila Prabhupāda:  The Hare Kṛṣṇa movement is meant for those who are serious about understanding this science. There's no question of our being some sectarian group. No. Anyone can join. Students in college can be admitted. You may be a Christian, you may be a Hindu, you may be a Muhammadan—it doesn't matter. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement admits anyone who wants to understand the science of God.