DEMONIC PROGRESS

Svarupa Damodara: It is better than doing something than doing nothing.

Prabhupada: Yes. That dog also doing, jumping, always. "Yes, we get... Bow! Bow! Bow! Ra, ra, ra, ra!" That kind of... Active business. What is called? Active foolishness. They remain foolish, but still, they are active. That means they are simply creating dangerous position. That's all. Jagatah ahitah. It is said in the Bhagavad-gita. These demons, their progress means only for the mischief of the world. That's all. That is demonic progress. Ksayaya jagato... For the destruction of the world and for mischievous condition of the world, their progress. Is it not? Ksayaya jagatah ahitah. Ksayaya means "for destruction and for mischievous condition." Therefore, despite all advancement of so-called scientific knowledge, the world becoming more and more in dangerous and destructive condition. [break]

Svarupa Damodara: ...gives the medicine. [break]

Prajapati: Today the only time they use the word God is when they are swearing and they are calling on God to damn someone else. Why is such language there? Why are they doing like that?

Prabhupada: No. Why ordinary men? Even those who are going to church, they are also praying God, "God, give us our daily bread." These rascals, they have made God as agent for their sense gratification. This is their philosophy. Even from the priest down to the rogues, they have made God as the agent of their sense gratification. That is materialism." God must supply whatever I want. That is God. Otherwise I don't care for God." This is their philosophy.

Prajapati: But sometimes they might hit their thumb with a hammer or something and they will start swearing, calling on God's name, but in a very bad way.

Prabhupada: That's all right. God's name. God's... In every respect, these materialists, they want to use God for their sense gratification. That is the prime fact. Our philosophy is that "God is not agent for your sense gratification, but you are agent for God's satisfaction." That is our philosophy, just the opposite. Even so-called religionists, they also take God as the agent of their sense gratification. They go to church to order God, "Supply our bread." Actually, He is doing. God is supplying bread. But they go for ordering, that "Give us our..." The rascal does not know, God is already supplying. Why should we go to church for ordering Him to supply bread? He is already supplying, even to the cats and dogs. They do not now what is the purpose of going to the church. That is going on. That is the disease, material disease. "I want to satisfy my senses, and anyone who will help me in my sense gratification, I shall worship him. If he does not, then I shall not." Everywhere. This Nixon became president because he promised that "I shall satisfy your senses." Now he is not doing so, so "Get out." This is the whole formula, material world." You satisfy my senses, you are my friend. And as soon as stop, then you are not my friend." That's it. [break] ...are considered the most authoritative because they give sense gratification. "You are sick. Now you are unable to gratify your senses. I give you some medicine so you become strong and go on your sense gratification." Therefore doctor is very good man.

Svarupa Damodara: Even I wanted to become a doctor. When I started...

Prabhupada: Oh, whatever you want to become, the basic principle is sense gratification. Either you become scientist or doctor or engineer, the main thing is "Bring money." That's all.

Svarupa Damodara: Some doctors think that they are doing humanitarian work.

Prabhupada: Yes, so long he will pay. That's all. "Hospital." In your country especially. "Hospital" means "to receive."
But there also you pay, then it is hospital. Otherwise "Get out." It is no longer hospital.

Svarupa Damodara: I find doctors are most rascals here. They are greatest demons.

Prabhupada: Why not the scientists?

Svarupa Damodara: I think scientists are better than doctors.

Prabhupada: Better rascals. (laughter) Scientists are better rascals. (laughing)

Karandhara: Well, doctors are simply out for money.

Svarupa Damodara: Oh, it is terrible. They don't think about anything else. They just think about money.

Prabhupada: They have been taught like that.

Svarupa Damodara: If the patient doesn't bring money, he won't give injection.

Prabhupada: So the lawyers and everyone. Especially in your country, this country, because they require money, so they must have money some way or other. That is the prime principle. They require money. That's all.

Karandhara: They charge outrageous fees, $60 an hour, $70 an hour, $5,000 for a little operation. Some doctors, they simply try to make operations so they can get rich. Whenever you come to see them, they say, "You need an operation."

Prabhupada: Yes.

Locana: And they keep their telephone numbers secret so that on Sunday their patients may not disturb their sense
gratification with their medical difficulties.

Svarupa Damodara: It is a very big business here, Srila Prabhupada, medical profession. They have this American Medical Association. They control the whole business. Even government cannot interfere. So they choose students, and they keep the supply so low that the demand is always high. That is why the price always increases. It's terrible.

Karandhara: To stay in a hospital now costs about $150 a day.

Prabhupada: That is a sort of punishment of sinful activities. When you fall sick, it is due to sinful activity. So you are punished.

Karandhara: It's a very high price.

Rupanuga: Pay fine.

Prabhupada: Yes. The more dangerous is the disease, you have to pay more. [break]

Karandhara:  ...very mercenary, hospitals...

Prabhupada: Everywhere mercenary. Lawyers...

Karandhara: The hospital across the street from our temple, if you go there with an emergency, they say, "First give us money. No money, go away." No matter how serious the injury. "First give us money."

Svarupa Damodara: They have no human quality, these doctors.

Karandhara: We have brought devotees there sometimes with serious wounds or injuries, and they just say, "First you give us money or else go away. We don't care."

Prabhupada: Everywhere. [break]

Morning Walk -- December 17, 1973, Los Angeles