Below is a very short part of a week long series of talks between Srila Prabhupada
and Bob Cohen (later to become Brahma tirtha das) a peace corp worker then living in India.
This is a very concise and potent explanation of why every living entity must serve the Supreme Entity-Krsna.
Prabhupada: Then the wings fly there, and the jaws catch the food, and
after all he puts into the mouth. Similarly, as in this body, this
particular example, the stomach is the enjoyer, similarly, the central
figure of whole cosmic manifestation, material or spiritual, the
central figure is Krsna, God. He’s the enjoyer. We can understand. As
in my this particular body, the body is also a creation. The body has
got the same mechanism as you will find out in the whole universe. The
same mechanical, anywhere you go, you find even in animals or human
body or in the cosmic manifestation. Almost the same mechanism. So as
you understand very easily that in this body, my body, your body, the
stomach is the enjoyer. Or there is a central enjoyer. And the stomach
is friend also of everyone. Because if we cannot digest food, you see,
then all other limbs of the body they become weak. Therefore stomach
is the friend. It is digesting and distribute the energy to all the
limbs of the body. Is it not?
Bob: It is so.
Prabhupada: Similarly, the central stomach of the whole creation is
God, or Krsna. He’s the enjoyer and He’s the friend. He’s maintaining
everyone. Eko bahunam vidadhati kaman. Therefore He’s friend of
everyone. And everywhere… He is maintaining means everywhere He’s
the proprietor. Just like a king can maintain the whole country,
citizens, because he’s the proprietor. Without being proprietor, how
he can become everyone’s friend? So these things have to be
understood, that Krsna is the enjoyer, Krsna is the proprietor, and
Krsna is friend. If you know these three things, then your knowledge
is full. You do not require to understand anything more. Yasmin
vijnate sarvam evam vijnatam bhavati. If you simply understand Krsna
by these three formulas, then your knowledge is complete. You don’t
require any more knowledge. But people will not agree. “Why Krsna
shall be proprietor? Hitler shall be proprietor. Yayha Khan should be
proprietor. (laughter) Nixon shall be proprietor.” That is going on.
Therefore you are in trouble. But if you understand these three things
only, then your knowledge is finished. But he’ll not accept, he’ll put
forward so many impediments for understanding these three things. And
that is the cause of our trouble. But Bhagavad-gita, in the
Bhagavad-gita it is plainly said,
bhoktaram yajna-tapasam
sarva-loka-mahesvaram
suhrdam sarva-bhutanam
jnatva mam santim rcchati
But we won’t take this. We shall put forward so many false
proprietor, false friends, false enjoyer, and they will fight one
another. This is the situation of the world. If this education is
given and people takes this knowledge, there is peace, santim rcchati.
Immediately there is peace. This is knowledge. And if anyone follows
this principle, he’s honest. He does not claim “It is mine.” He
everything knows 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… Just like my students sometimes do: “Can I
use this pencil?” “Yes.” This is etiquette, I say, “Yes, you can.”
Similarly, if I know that everything belongs to Krsna, without His
permission I’ll not use. That is honesty. And that is knowledge. And
one does not know, he’s ignorant, he’s foolish, and foolish man
commits all criminality. All criminals, they’re 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,
our. The whole world is enjoying ignorance, and when we say about
Krsna consciousness, they do not very much appreciate. If I say,
“Krsna is the proprietor, you are not proprietor,” he’ll not be very
much satisfied. (laughs) Just see, ignorance is bliss. So it is my
foolishness to say the real truth. Therefore this is, it is folly to
be wise where ignorance is bliss. So we are taking the risk to offend
people because they’ll think we are fools. If I say, “Birla, Mr.
Birla, you are not proprietor, Krsna is proprietor. So whatever money
you have got spend for Krsna,” he’ll be angry. Murkha upadeso hi
prakopaya na santaye. If you instruct a rascal, he’ll be angry.
Therefore we go as beggar. “My dear Mr. Birla, you are very rich man.
I am sannyasi beggar. So I want to construct a temple if you spare
some money.” So he’ll be, “Oh, here is a beggar, give him some money.”
(laughter) But if I say “Mr. Birla, you have got millions of dollars
at your disposal. That is Krsna’s money. Give it to me. I am Krsna’s
servant.” Oh, he will… (laughter) He’ll not be very satisfied.
