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?
Srila Prabhupada: Yes.
Mike Robinson: So we are free to choose what we believe to be impor-
tant? Religion is important, because if we believe in God and lead a good
life...
Srila Prabhupada: 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 Krsna?
Srila Prabhupada: It is not a question of religion. It is a question of
science. You are a spiritual being, but because you are materially condi-
tioned, 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?
Srila Prabhupada: 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 Krsna movement?
Srila Prabhupada: The Hare Krsna movement is meant for those who
E | are serious about understanding this science. There’s no question of our
| i being some sectarian group. No. Anyone can join. Students in college can
ii be admitted. You may be a Christian, you may be a Hindu, you may be a
Hi Muhammadan—it doesn’t matter. The Krsna consciousness movement
L admits anyone who wants to understand the science of God.
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