Only the kings, the kshatriya, because they had to rule over, they used to construct big, big palaces. No one else. They lived very simple life, very simple life. Not waste time for so called economic development
During his class Srila Prabhupada found the opportunity to refute the accusations that we are brainwashed. In Srimad Bhagavatam 5.5.15 Lord Rishabhadeva advises His sons that the leaders of society should instruct their dependents only to one end: how to go back home, back to Godhead. Srila Prabhupada explained that the positions of the king and the guru are the same. The positions of a citizen and a disciple are comparable. "Putrams ca sishyams ca . . . The citizens, they are also sishya. Sishya means one who is controlled. The same meaning. Disciple means one who is controlled, one who is disciplined."
Therefore, he said, because the only business of life is how to get out of suffering, the guru or the government should rule over their dependents with this aim in view. "Mal loka kamo mad anugraharthah. These two things required: how to get the pleasure or the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and how to go back home, back to Godhead. This is the aim, not that we are making plan to be happy. Unless we go back home, back to Godhead, there is no question of peace or happiness. We are trying to be happy within this material world by material adjustment. That is not possible. Duhkhalayam asasvatam; Abrahma bhuvanal lokan punar avartino 'rjuna [Bg. 8.15-16].
"They say it is brainwash. We are enforcing something by controlling the mind, some ideas, 'There is God, and we have to go to back home, back to Godhead.' They are accusing us of brainwash, 'mental control.' But this is the fact. We are not brainwashing; we are clearing the brain. The rascal brain is full with cow dung. We are clearing. You see? That is our movement. But these rascals are understanding that we are enforcing some idea."
He wasn't criticizing just the Westerners either. Atheism is on the increase even here in India. "What to speak of others, even in our country-they do not believe that there is God. Nowadays, not formerly. We have become so rascal: 'There is no God,' 'These are all,' what is called 'mythology.' 'These are mythology ideas-there is God and there is sin; there are pious activities.' Big, big sannyasis, they are asking that 'Don't care for all this "There is God, there is sinful, there is pious." You can do whatever you like, because you are yourself God. There is no papa punya. You are immune from papa punya because you are God.' "
Despite this propaganda, people are nevertheless suffering, and thus Prabhupada said that the guru's business is to stop his disciples from "making plans to be happy"-happy in the material world that is. Plan-making for material advancement is simply dreaming; he told a funny story to illustrate his point. "Energy should be utilized how to please Krishna. That should be done. Energy should be utilized for that purpose, not waste energy simply for a false hope that 'I shall become happy. I shall do this. I shall do that. I shall make money like this.' The story of the potter. The potter is planning. He has got few pots and he is planning, 'Now I have got these four pots and I will sell. I will make some profit. Then there will be ten pots. Then I'll sell ten pots, I'll make some profit. I'll get twenty pots and then thirty pots, forty pots. In this way I shall become millionaire. And at that time I shall marry, and I shall control my wife in this way and that way. And if she is disobedient, then I shall kick her like this!' So when he kicked, he kicked the pots and all the pots broke."
Prabhupada's expressive account brought peals of laughter from his audience, and he shook with amusement as he looked out earnestly over his followers. "So then his dream is gone. You see? Similarly, we are simply dreaming. With few pots we are simply dreaming that 'These pots will be increased into so many pots, so many pots, so many pots,'-then finished. Don't make imagination; make plan. The guru, the spiritual master, and the government should be careful that 'These rascals may not make plan. This rascal may not make plan to be happy.' "
Rather than a life wasted pursuing false dreams, he told us that the Vedic idea was quite different. "The great sages, rishis, they wrote so many books, but they used to live in a cottage. Only the kings, the kshatriya, because they had to rule over, they used to construct big, big palaces. No one else. They lived very simple life, very simple life. Not waste time for so called economic development, skyscraper building, subways, and so on, so on. This was not Vedic civilization. This is asuric civilization."
Conceding that it is very hard to drag people away from their material pursuits, Srila Prabhupada nevertheless reiterated that human life is actually meant for tapasya, austerities, by which we can gain the recognition of the Supreme Lord. "So Krishna will be very much pleased. Here it is said that mal loka kamah. How one can go to Krishnaloka or Vaikunthaloka? Very easy. Very easy. Krishna personally says. It is not our manufactured word. Krishna said, man mana bhava mad bhakto mad yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65]. Do these four things: 'Always think of Me.' That is Krishna conscious. 'Become My devotee. Worship Me and offer obeisances to Me,' and asamsaya, 'you'll come.' Mal loka. Very good. Very easy thing. Asamsaya. 'Without any doubt you'll come to Me.' Why do they not accept this proposal of Krishna? It is not our manufacture. We are not washing brain. It is Krishna's word, that simply by doing four things, manmana bhava mad bhakto mad yaji mam namaskuru mam evaishyasi asamsayah [Bg. 18.68], without any doubt. That is required. Krishna will be pleased."
Reference: Transcendental Diary Volume 5 by Hari Sauri Dasa
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