74 Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers
suhrdam sarva-bhitanam
fiatvd mar santim rechati

[The sages, knowing Me as the ultimate purpose of all
sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets
and demigods and the benefactor and well-wisher of all liv-
ing entities, attain peace from the pangs of material mis-
eries.”] But we won’t take this. We shall put forward so
many false proprietors, false friends, false enjoyers, and
they will fight one another. This is the situation of the
world. If education is given and people take this knowl-
edge, there is immediately peace (Sdntim rechati). This is
knowledge, and if anyone follows this principle, he is
honest. He does not claim, “It is mine?’ He knows every-
thing: “Oh, it is Krsna’s, so therefore everything should be
utilized for Krsna’s service.” That is honesty. If this pencil
belongs to me, the etiquette is—My students sometimes
ask, “Can I use this pencil?” ‘Yes, you can.” Similarly, if I
know that everything belongs to Krsna, I will not use any-
thing without His permission. That is honesty. And that is
knowledge. One who does not know is ignorant; he is
foolish. And a foolish man commits criminality. All
criminals are foolish men. Out of ignorance one commits
lawbreaking. So ignorance is not bliss, but it is folly to be
wise where ignorance is bliss. That is the difficulty. The
whole world is enjoying ignorance. And when you talk
about Krsna consciousness, they do not very much appreci-
ate it. If I say, “Krsna is the proprietor; you are not the
proprietor,” you will not be very much satisfied. [They
laugh.] Just see—ignorance is bliss. So it is my foolishness to
say the real truth. Therefore it is folly to be wise where ig-
norance is bliss. So we are taking the risk of offending
