Learning Leadership from Krishna

Shortcomings of modern political leadership

0:00Mr. Tombe: After all, even if it is thrown out...

0:00Prabhupāda: That is also answered in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam by very strong word. Bhāgavata says, śva-viḍ-varāhoṣṭra-kharaiḥ saṁstutaḥ puruṣaḥ paśuḥ SB 2.3.19

0:17If the public is like dogs, camel, hogs and asses, so what is the value of their election? He'll elect another big dog or camel. So there is chaos.

0:41Mr. Tombe: Then how to throw out good leadership?

0:44Prabhupāda: Yes. Good leadership means you must learn how to lead people. Yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ BG 3.21If the śreṣṭha, the leader, is ideal, then others will follow.

1:06But if the leader is not ideal, if he is not in the awareness of things, then people will be misguided.

1:18Mr. Tombe: So how can we chalk out a program of, say, training of leaders from villages...

1:24Prabhupāda: Yes.

Divine guidance for social success

1:25You have to take lessons from the biggest leader, Kṛṣṇa. Aham ādir hi devānām BG 10.2He's the leader of the demigods also. We have to take lesson from. That lesson is there, Bhagavad-gītā. But we do not take it.

1:44We manufacture our leadership. That is the defect. What Kṛṣṇa says... Everyone is proud of reading Bhagavad-gītā, but the purpose of Bhagavad-gītā is how to kill Kṛṣṇa, that's all. That is their... All these.

2:07What can I say? These misleaders, they are doing that. Leadership is already there—Kṛṣṇa. Just like Arjuna is learning from Kṛṣṇa. So if you learn from Kṛṣṇa you become perfect leader. But we do not take Kṛṣṇa's instruction.

2:26We manufacture our own ideas. That is failure. Otherwise in our country so many learned sages, especially Kṛṣṇa is there, and their books are there, their instructions are there. We do not take them. Still we become leader.

2:51So what kind of leading? He's imperfect, so he cannot lead. Then there will be some mistake and chaos.

Spiritual mission and global responsibility

3:05Just like Caitanya Mahāprabhu said... He said, bhārata-bhūmite manuṣya-janma haila yāra CC Adi 9.41You understand little Bengali? CC Adi 9.41ভারত–ভূমিতে হৈল মনুষ্য–জন্ম যার ।জন্ম সার্থক করি’ কর পর–উপকার ॥ ৪১ ॥bhārata-bhūmite haila manuṣya janma yārajanma sārthaka kari' kara para-upakāra“One who has taken his birth as a human being in the land of India [Bhārata-varṣa] should make his life successful and work for the benefit of all other people.

3:25So Indians, they can make their life perfect by following this Vedic literature, and they can lead the whole world. This is Caitanya Mahāprabhu's.

3:43First of all you become perfect by taking lessons from the Vedic literature. And then you do good to others. But without making yourself perfect, if you try to do good to others, that is chaos.

4:02Then again comes, andhā yathāndhair upanīyamānāḥ SB 7.5.31

Dangers of following blind leaders

4:07Some blind men following another blind man, what will be the result? The present Indians, we have lost our own culture. We have rejected our own culture. Still we are leading people. There is chaotic condition.

4:25So this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is to correct this mistake. So leaders like you should cooperate. [indistinct] Yes. Then things will be perfect. India... If the whole world can be saved from this chaotic position, India can do.

4:50That is Caitanya Mahāprabhu's mission. But that India leaders first of all make his life perfect. Then it will be all right.

Preserving knowledge through disciplic succession

5:02Just like our... Of course, I'm not proud, but I am alone. I started this movement alone, without any help. But because I am giving them the perfect information, whole world is taking it.

5:20Otherwise, from practical point of view, one man without any help, within ten years he cannot do like this. That's a fact. But I have no difficulty because I am following the supreme leader, Kṛṣṇa.

5:40People may say that I've done wonderful, but there is nothing magic. Because I am following Kṛṣṇa, the supreme leader, so far it has become successful. So everyone can do that. Where is the difficulty?

5:59Evaṁ paramparā-prāptam BG 4.2If we follow the paramparā system it is not difficult.

6:09Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: These all are Prabhupāda's books. Eighty books.

6:15Prabhupāda: Eighty-four books we have..., I have written within ten years. And our publication house, Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the first in the world for publishing religious and philosophical books.

6:34We are selling not less than six lakhs' worth books daily.

6:43Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: This is Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, publishing division. [indistinct comments to another devotee]

6:59Mr. Tombe: I have got only a few of them now. I would like to pick up...

7:06Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Here, these are... We only have sample copies in India. So I'll tell Girirāja to bring you some. These are only sample copies for Prabhupāda's display. [end]