Finding the Cure for Today’s Social Ills 179

[householders], vdnaprasthas [retired married people], and sannydsis
[renounced monks].

The ultimate goal is that Krsna, the Supreme Lord, should be
worshiped. So if you worship Krsna, then you fulfill all your occupational
duties, either as a brdhmana, ksatriya, vaisya, stidra, brahmacari, any-
thing. Take to it immediately—take to Krsna consciousness. This is so
important.

Interviewer: If people really knew about a life-style that was more
natural, more fulfilling, what would be the problem? They actually
would, as you say, take to it.

Srila Prabhupada: But they do not know, and therefore there is no
religion, simply a dog’s race. The dog is running on four legs, and you are
running on four wheels—that’s all. And you think that the four-wheel
race is the advancement of civilization.

Therefore, modern civilization is practically said to do nothing. What-

ever is obtainable by destiny you will get, wherever you are. Rather, take
to Krsna consciousness. The example is given by Prahlada Maharaja that
you do not want anything distasteful and yet it comes upon you.
Similarly, even if you do not want happiness which you are destined, it
will come upon you. You should not waste your energy for material hap-
piness. You cannot get more material happiness than you are destined.
Interviewer: How can you be so sure of that?
Srila Prabhupada: How shall I believe it? Because you get some dis-
tressful condition although you do not want it. For instance, President
Kennedy died by the hand of his own countryman. Who wanted it, and
why did it come? He was a great man, he was protected by so many, and
still he was destined to be killed. Who can protect you?

So if the distressful condition comes upon me by destiny, then the op-
posite position—happiness—will also come. Why shall I waste my time
for this rectification? Let me use my energy for Krsna consciousness.
That is intelligent. You cannot check your destiny. Everyone will ex-
perience a certain amount of happiness and a certain amount of distress.
No one is enjoying uninterrupted happiness. That is not possible.

Just as you cannot check your distress, so you cannot check your hap-
piness. It will come automatically. So don’t waste your time for these
things. Rather, you should utilize your time for advancing in Krsna
consciousness.

Interviewer: Would a Krsna conscious person not try for progress?
Srila Prabhupada: The thing is that if you try for progress vainly, then
what is the use of that? If it is a fact that you cannot change your destiny,
