I Have Got This Stone from Mars
(Click to enlarge artist's conception of the Mars Rover)

"So the modern world means how to befool persons, that's all. Not to enlighten them, but to keep them in ignorance and befool them more and more. And they like it. Under the influence of māyā they like to be cheated. (sounds of fire engines) Now just see, the whole night there is blazing fire, and they are thinking they are happy. And if we sing saṁsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-loka, 'the material world is blazing fire,' that is sentiment. And this is not practical. Whole day and night, simply fire, disturbing. Such a big, important city, and they are disturbing always twenty-four hours, gon-gon-gon-gon-gon-gon-gon. They are so expert that this ordinary fire they can control. Another side is that nobody wants this fire, and why it is coming? Yathā duḥkha... Prahlāda Mahārāja, long, long years ago: yathā duḥkham ayatnataḥ (SB 7.6.3). As this fire business is coming without my endeavor, similarly, the other part—distress; this is distress—other part, happiness, also will come. Why shall I endeavor for it?

So my energies should be utilized only for Kṛṣṇa consciousness. This is civilization. And whole life, day and night, they are trying for material happiness, and that is not happening. The problems are increasing. No intelligence. Mūḍha. Mūḍho nābhijānāti mām ebhyaḥ param avyayam (BG 7.13). They admit, the scientists, they admit that they are in ignorance. Simply bluff. Again one bluff, that Mars-going expedition. The business is going on in the Arizona, that's all. And after few years they will present some stone, 'Now we went to Mars. There is no possibility of living there. Take this stone and sand and be satisfied for your millions of dollars that you have spent...' And they will say, 'Oh, we have made scientific progress. I have got this stone from Mars.' Yo ko thako bhayargolihiya uska tek lilaya... There is a song in Bengal that formerly anything European, sāheb, that is good. So one person is selling meat, flesh of dog. Flesh of dog nobody takes, at least in India. So he said that 'This is not ordinary dog. This is the dog which was killed by Viceroy, that dog. And because Viceroy killed it, therefore it has become nice dog. You can eat it.' So anything these so-called scientists said, that is to be accepted. Without any common sense. This is your intelligence. But I am fool Indian, I don't believe it."  (laughter)

(Srila Prabhupada Morning Walk, New York, July 12, 1976)

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