Srila Prabhupada: “Somebody was criticizing me that “Swamiji, you are introducing this Hare Kṛṣṇa movement. People are becoming coward. They simply chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.” So I replied that “You will see the power of Hare Kṛṣṇa movement in due course of time.” He required… Because there were two battles in India: the battle between Rāvaṇa and Rāma, Rāma-Rāvaṇa, the battle of Rāmāyaṇa; and another battle was Battle of Kurukṣetra. And in these two battles the hero was Vaiṣṇava and Viṣṇu. In the Rāma-Rāvaṇa battle Lord Rāmacandra was there and His devotee Hanumān, Vajrāṅgajī. Similarly, in the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra, Kṛṣṇa was there and His devotee Arjuna was there. So Vaiṣṇavas, they do not simply chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. If there is need, they can fight under the guidance of Viṣṇu and become victorious. A Vaiṣṇava’s one qualification is… Out of the twenty-six qualifications, one qualification is dakṣa,expert. If there is need of fighting, they can fight like very expert. That is also needed. Kṛṣṇa consciousness does not mean one-sided. Kṛṣṇa as all-pervading, the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement also should be all-pervading. It should touch everything, even politics, sociology, everything, if required. That is the aim. Because Kṛṣṇa’s mission is: yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata [Bg. 4.7], paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām [Bg. 4.8].
Srila Prabhupada has told us:
"Machines mean unemployment for the many. The tractor they're using means unemployment for bulls and plowmen. Then the bulls must be killed. This is going on. Unemployment, then kill them. Send all the men to fight in Vietnam and kill them. As soon as there is overpopulation of unemployed, they declare war so that people may be killed."
(Morning Walk, Mayapur, February 12, 1976)
So these wars are not right wars, righteous wars. No. They are play of the diplomats, politicians--they engage. When they cannot manage things very nicely, they engage people into war. That's all. Divert the attention. But war is not meant for that.
[Bhagavad-gita Lecture 2.32 London, September 2, 1973]
"The Krishna Consciousness movement can solve all the problems of life, all the problems in the world. Social, political, philosophical, religious, economic—everything can be solved by Krishna consciousness. It is very scientific and authorized. It is not a mental concoction or a sentimental movement. It is a most scientific movement. If you are sober, if you are actually reasonable, you'll understand that this Krishna consciousness movement is the most sublime movement for the welfare of the whole human society. If we are actually anxious for peace and tranquility in society, then we must be very serious about understanding Krishna consciousness."
Excerpt from a lecture by Srila Prabhupada (Founder - Acharya, ISKCON)
Comments
It is not Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is for the lazy fellow. No. It is meant for the strong man. Strong in body, strong in mind, strong in determination - everything strong, strong in brain. It is meant for them.
Sʀɪᴍᴀᴅ Bʜᴀɢᴀᴠᴀᴛᴀᴍ 7.6.5 Lᴇᴄᴛᴜʀᴇ
Tᴏʀᴏɴᴛᴏ,
Jᴜɴᴇ 21, 1976