Rascal Nationalism (SP Quote)

Rascal nationalism -

Disciple: Several times, Śrīla Prabhupāda, you have told people connected with the U.N. that theirs is simply an association of barking dogs. And they are always surprised to hear such a strong statement.

Śrīla Prabhupāda: Yes. But actually, it is a fact. People today are no different from some dogs barking. "I am a bulldog," "I am a terrier," "I am a collie," "I am a Greek," "I am a Frenchman," "I am a Swede." And with this misunderstanding of who they are, they waste so much energy and money and time, simply for barking about this or that bodily concern.

The result of all this barking is nothing. No United Nations. Rather, every other day sees the appearance of some new national flag. Bharam udvahato vimūḍhān: they have made a big bombastic arrangement for unity, but the result is nothing. Bharam udvahato vimūḍhān: these rascals they are simply making a big, big arrangement. The result is nothing.

And despite their obvious failure, they are determined to remain rascals. "Oh, the United Nations. What a gorgeous attempt we are making toward unity. Of course, we have no unity, but our building is adorned by 300 flags."

The problem is, they are offering their obeisances to their flag, not to God. Kṛṣṇa says, mam namaskuru: "All of you are in fact spiritual beings, so be happy by offering your obeisances to Me." But they are thinking, "No. 'Flag namaskuru.' We must offer our obeisances to a flag." Just see what rascals they are! What will they gain by offering obeisances to some flag?

Disciple: In their next life, instead of going back to the spiritual world, they may be born as a cockroach in that same country.

Śrīla Prabhupāda: And then their own countrymen will kill them.

"No, friends, please don't kill me. I am your countryman. I am your countryman. I belong to the same nation."

"Who cares about you flies and cockroaches? We shall kill you. 'American cockroach'? Who cares about you?"

"No, you don't understand. In my past life I was a staunch nationalist. Yes, due to this material misconception and over-attachment I have now received the body of a cockroach. But please don't kill me."

If you become a cockroach, even an American cockroach, who will care about you? Will anyone show special consideration to you? But dehāntara-prāptiḥ: after this body, you must accept another body. That you cannot avoid. 

Then what good will your nationalism do you? Now you are a great nationalist. But when you have to accept another body, how can you save yourself and not become a cockroach?

Unfortunately, your next body is not your choice. It is in another's hands. Karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa: according to your actions in this body. you'll get a suitable next body by the arrangement of nature.

But that is under nature's supervision. You cannot say, "Give me a beautiful body in a very wealthy American family."

"No, no," Mother Nature will say. "You no longer have that discretionary power. You had it; you had a human life. Now you have to accept my discretion. I will now give you your new body according to your past actions, just according to how you are infected by the material modes."

So this spiritual knowledge is the greatest science. But sadly, these great educators and leaders do not know it. No one knows it. Instead of understanding that their way of life is a fallacy, they are asking whether God and the soul and the next life are a fallacy. This is their intelligence. What rascaldom!

Hare Krishna!