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There is often a question amongst the students of Shrila Prabhupada's books regarding the pastime of the incarnation of Lord Sri Krishna named Parashurama—the son of Maharsi Jamadagni and Srimati Renuka; the sixth incarnation of Lord Krishna, who appeared in ancient times to overthrow the warrior class when they had become degraded— How is it possible that Parashurama killed the Kshatriyas (warrior class) 21 times? Can't a person be killed only once? Shrila Prabhupada answers this in the following conversation. Prabhupada: North, north of Russia, still they’re Huns. Kirata-hunandhr. Kirata means the Africans. So the Europeans, originally Indian ksatriyas, some of them came to this side, being afraid of being killed by Parasurama. Ksatriya-rudhira-maye jagad-apagata-papam (Sri Dasavatara-stotra 6). He was, twenty-one times killed all the ksatriyas. Hamsaduta: What does that mean, twenty-one times? You mean they took birth again, and then He . . . Prabhupada: No, no. Twenty-one times there's seven years war. Hamsaduta: Seven . . . twenty-one wars. Campaigns. Prabhupada: Yes. So at that time some of them fled from, and settled up here.

The classic question; if God exists, why is there so much suffering? The answer to this problem is ultimately free will, but it also is complex than the version of Abrahmic religions. Such religions give simple answers because the intricacies of karma and the nature of the spirit soul were far beyond the comprehension of the intended audiences that the great preachers, viz. Jesus Christ and prophet Muhammad delivered their respective messages to. Instead, for such simple people as shepherds and the like, a simple free will to decide between heaven and hell would do. However, from the point of view of the Vedic scriptures and the explanations of the acaryas, the aspect of the free will of the Jiva, or minute soul, is a key point in understanding the very nature of our present material existence. First and foremost, according to the Bhagavad-gita, the spirit soul is eternal. And we are not talking about eternity in the ananta sense, which translates from the sankskrit language as that which has a beginning, but no end. If you ask most practitioners of the various other religions, specifically the Abhramic ones, you’ll find that most if not all of them agree on the point that the soul is created with the body and only remains eternal in heaven or hell. This is descibed in such scriptures for the same aformentioned purpose of keeping things straightforward for time, place and circumstance. However, the people of the modern age are more advanced in technology and science and are ready for the most mature and full explanation; therefore a more advanced and reasonable description can be found in the 2nd chapter, 13th verse of the Gita, wherein Lord Sri Krishna says: dehino ‘smin yatha dehe. This is a proof for the existence of the soul that goes beyond the jurisdiction of any sectarian religion or group or even philosophy. This is a science; it applies to everybody. The body is changing, But we don’t change. That means we are not the body, but rather an eternal principle, referred to in most religions as a soul. Krishna also elaborates that the soul is hanyamane sirire; it is eternal, not just separate from the body. The full description of the soul thus described is one of the features of knowledge that distinguishes Bhagavad-gita from other scriptures of the world. This simple understanding of ones own position as an eternal entity solves practically all existential problems posed by philosophers for so many years. The soul being eternal, and almost eternally liv ing within the material world, there is a system of law governing how the living entity takes varieties of forms within the material world. This is referred to as karma in the Vedic literature. One does something, and one gets an equal and appropriate result for that said action, whether he feels the affect in the present life or the next. Therefore, whatever we see happening around us is simply the result of the cumulative reactions to everyone's past deeds an misdeeds. A creature is eaten from the bottom up by a komodo dragon because he himself ate some poor komodo dragon is the previous life. This is actual justice and absolute goodness. A living entity has the free will to desire in multifarious ways, and Krishna will fulfill any one of his desires; the living entity simply has to pay the consequence, whether in this life or the next.

I myself had the same a doubt when I was beginning krishna consciousness. However, the answer is rather simple; the spiritual world is not about our pleasure. In the material conception of life we are concerned whether or not something will be exciting or pleasurable for ourselves, and therefore we judge the value of any given thing based on it’s output of “pleasure.” So in the spiritual world, it may seem that there are not a huge amount of things to do or that it is repetitive or “eternally the same,” but because in the spiritual world everything is for krishna’s pleasure, the devotee feels always satisfied. Krishna is ananda-mayo-’bhyasat; always happy, and he is the purusa, the supreme enjoyer. So when the devotee renders some seva, doesn’t matter what it is, Krishna feels ecstatic from that service, and because we are part and parcel of krishna, we also feel ecstatic. This is the nature of pure love, the lovers can be doing anything together, but they are always enjoying, because they are simply concerned with each others pleasure with no consideration of their own. The devotee can be completely satisfied just by very simple service, because by that service Krishna is happy. Another thing is that it is difficult for us to conceive of an existence without the influence of the material, distracted mind or the material body; in other words we have no idea what happiness means. A self-realized soul is atmarama, self-satisfied. For him, there is no question of boredom and misery or distraction or feeling a lack of something. These are all products of the material body. In the spiritual world, there is no material body, no anxiety, no conception of time passing, no waiting for the future for something better to happen, or speculating on how good something was in the past, because the ecstatic love and service for Krishna always keeps the devotee in the present moment. In the beginning stage of devotional service we are in the diseased stage and therefore have no taste for chanting or hearing. But it’s not that chanting or hearing on our platform is the same as on the pure devotional platform. Those activities become unlimited sources of pleasure. Otherwise, how would it be possible for great souls like Srila Haridasa Thakura to chant the holy names constantly without even considering eating or sleeping for days on end? (even that they only do so that neophytes don’t become completely bewildered.) So don’t be discouraged, we are curing our disease. A diseased person is sleeping, passing stool, interacting with others, and eating, but in the diseased stage all these activities seem like a source of trouble. If a healthy person comes and says “here is the treatment. Take it,” the diseased man is bewildered to think that “if I become cured, will there still be sleeping, passing stool, interacting with others and eating? Ah, to hell with it! I have experience with those things now, so what is the use of getting cured?” He does not understand that in the healthy state those same activities are a source of pleasure. So let us continue to practice Krishna consciousness and we will realize the actual nature of devotional service. And what else is there anyway? Material pleasure is completely static and repetitive. And eventually you have to become old and entangled in the material world and cannot even enjoy material pleasure. It is simply suffering at every step. That’s why people become Buddhists and Mayavadis; so that they can simply end the constant suffering. But we have something so much greater, unlimited loving relationships with Krishna.

Purujit Dasa, the founder of BLISS gives us a daily Bhagavad-gita class every day 7.00pm London time, please join us on our FB page.

His Holiness Vishnujana Swami, the blissful kirtan singer, beloved preacher, and renowned servant of Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha-Damodara, first joined the Krishna Consciousness movement in 1967 in San Francisco. He was initiated by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in 1968, and the renounced order of sannyasa was conferred on him in 1970. Vishnujana Swami came from a musical background, and was gifted with a rare talent for leading sweet kirtans and bhajans. Srila Prabhupada loved these very much, and once commented that he sang like a Gandharva (a celestial musician).

The world is fighting the virus with vaccines today and struggling immensely to defeat the material nature. Srila Prabhupada explains what the real problems of material life are and why the scientists cannot stop disease by the advancement of material science. So you study the life. From the beginning of this body within the womb of the mother, it is simply troublesome. Against my will so many distresses are there, so many distresses there. Then as you grow, the distress grow, grow. Distress is not diminished. Then janma, then old age, then disease. So long you have got this body... The so-called scientists, they are manufacturing very effective medicine, discovery, new discovery. Just..., what is called? Streptomycin? So many things. But they cannot stop disease. That is not possible, sir. You can manufacture so many high-class medicines to cure disease. That will not cure. Temporary relief. But no scientist has discovered any medicine that "You take this medicine and no more disease." That is not possible. "You take this medicine, no more death." That is not possible. Therefore those who are intelligent, they know it very well that this place is duhkhalayam asasvatam [Bg. 8.15]. That is described in the Bhagavad-gita. It is a place for distress. So long you remain here... But we are so fools, we cannot realize. We accept, "This life is very pleasant. Let me enjoy it." It is not pleasant at all, seasonal changes, always. This distress or that distress, this disease or that disease. This uncomfortable, this anxiety. There are three kinds of distresses: adhyatmika, adhibhautika, adhidaivika. Adhyatmika means distresses pertaining to this body and the mind. And adhidaivika means distresses offered by material nature. Nature. All of a sudden there is earthquake. All of a sudden there is famine, there is scarcity of food, there is over rain, no rain, extreme heat, extreme winter, extreme cold. We have to go under these distresses, threefold. At least one, two, must be there. Still, we do not realize that "This place is full of distress because I have got this material body." Therefore a sane man's duty is how to stop the process of accepting this material body. This is intelligence. He should realize that "I am always in distresses, and I am not this body, but I am put into this body. Therefore right conclusion is that I am not this body. If, somehow or other, I can live without this body, then my distresses are over. This is common sense. That is possible. Therefore Krsna comes. Therefore God comes, to give you the information that "You are not this body. You are the soul, spirit soul. And because you are within this body, you are suffering so many distresses." Therefore Krsna advises that "These distresses are due to this body." Try to understand. Why you are feeling pains and pleasure? It is due to the body. Bhagavad-gita 2.14 -- Germany, June 21, 1974

We have been joined last month by Nejc and Davor Prabhus from Slovenia. They have been following our FB classes with Purujit Prabhu for several months and finally they decided to test full time monk life with us in London. Here's a few photos from our association with the new devotees.

AUGUST 2021 18. (Wed) Gaura Ekadashi. Fast. 19. (Thu) Disappearance of Srila Rupa Goswami 22. (Sun) Appearance of Lord Balarama. Fast until noon. 30. (Mon) Janmashtami. Appearance of Lord Krishna. Complete fast until midnight, then no grains. 31. (Tue) Appearance of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the spiritual master of the whole world and the greatest exponent of Krishna consciousness in the history. SEPTEMBER 2021 3. (Fri) Annada Ekadashi. Fast. 14. (Tue) Sri Radhashtami. Srimati Radharani's appearance. Fast until noon. 17. (Fri) Parshva Ekadashi. Fasting disregarded. 18. (Sat) Appearance of Sri Vamanadev.  Appearance of Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu. (Fasting as though it was a usual Ekadashi day. Nothing else) 19. (Sun) Appearance of Srila Sachchidananda Bhakti Vinod Thakur. (Break fast as you would on usual Dvadasi. Nothing else.) 20. (Mon) Disappearance of Srila Haridas Thakur (Fasting the whole day until 5pm) OCTOBER 2021 2. (Sat) Indira Ekadashi. Fast. 16. (Sat) Papankusha Ekadashi. Fast. 17. (Sun) Disappearance of Srila Raghunath Das Goswami, Srila Raghunath Bhatta Goswami, and Srila Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami. 20. (Wed) Beginning of the month of Kartika. 25. (Mon) Disappearance of Srila Narottam Das Thakur. 29. (Fri) Bahulashtami. Manifestation day of Sri Radha Kunda. NOVEMBER 2021 1. (Mon) Rama Ekadashi. Fast. 5. (Fri) Sri Govardhan Puja. 8. (Mon) Disappearance day of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the spiritual master of the whole world and the greatest exponent of Krishna consciousness in the history (Fast until noon) 15. (Mon) Sri Utthan Ekadashi. Fast. Disappearance of Srila Gaura Kishora Das Babaji Maharaja. 19. (Fri) Rasa Yatra of Sri Krishna. End of Kartika. 30. (Tue) Utpanna Ekadashi. Fast. DECEMBER 2021 14. (Tue) Moksada Ekadashi. Fast. 23. (Thu) Disappearance day of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada, the spiritual master of Srila Prabhupada. 30. (Thu) Saphala Ekadashi. Fast. JANUARY 2022 5. (Wed) Disappearance of Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu. 13. (Thu) Gaura Ekadashi. No fast today (because of Mahadvadasi tomorrow). 14. (Fri)  Jayanti Mahadvadashi. Fast. 21. (Fri) Appearance of Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami Prabhu. 28. (Fri) Shat-tila Ekadashi. Fast. FEBRUARY 2022 6. (Sun) Disappearance of Srila Visvanath Chakravarti Thakur. 8. (Tue) Appearance of Sri Advaita Acharya. (Fast until noon) 12. (Sat) Bhaimi Ekadashi. Fast. 13. (Sun) Varaha Dvadashi. Appearance of Lord Varaha. (Break fast as on usual Dvadasi after the class on Lord Varaha's pastimes) 14. (Mon) Appearance of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. (Fast until noon) 16. (Wed) Appearance of Srila Narottam Das Thakur. 21. (Mon) Appearance of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada, the spiritual master of Srila Prabhupada. 27. (Sun) Trisprisha Mahdvadashi. Fast. MARCH 2022 3. (Thu) Disappearance of Srila Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaja 14. (Mon) Gaura Ekadashi. 18. (Fri) Sri Gaura Purnima. Divine appearance of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.Total fast until moonrise, then no grains. End of year 536 Gaurabda. 25. (Fri) Appearance of Srila Srivas Pandit. 28. (Mon) Papa Vimochani Ekadashi. Fast. APRIL 2022 10. (Sun) Sri Rama Navami. Fast until noon. Appearance at noon of Sri Ramachandra. 12. (Tue) Kamada Ekadashi. Fast.

After so many months of lockdowns with so many restrictions, we are here to facilitate a full fledged Love Feast starting this Sunday at 5 pm in our London Center in East Ham, Sherrard Road. We chant, dance, discuss Vaishnava philosophy from Srila Prabhupada's books and serve a delicious vegetarian feast for everyone who comes. The session is free with donations welcome. Please contact BLISS London if you would like to participate.

Interesting and captivating article by Narashimha Prabhu, a senior and a faithful disciple of Srila Prabhupada on the origins of modern science. History retold from a Krsna conscious point of view. The ancient Greeks, specifically the renowned philosopher Aristotle (384 B.C – 322 B.C.), believed that living things were spontaneously generated from non-living matter. Aristotle was a naturalist who loved to observe animals and nature while taking long walks through the country. He noticed that ponds were full of various species, such as fish, frogs and tiny swimming insects. Later, in the summer months, many of these ponds would dry up and appear to become lifeless mud sinks or totally dry beds. But when the rains came, the same dry beds would fill up again with aquatic life. He wondered how all this life became regenerated. After pondering this puzzle for a long while, he finally concluded that earth itself had the power to generate life spontaneously under certain conditions. Observing the life cycles of insects on land, he came to similar conclusions: that rotting meat, animal fur and other nonliving matter had the potency to generate various forms life under specific conditions. Aristotle was considered one the greatest thinkers of his era, so naturally his published findings circulated to nearby Arab countries, and gradually such misleading ideas spread west to European nations. Such misinformation gradually evolved into a system of superstitions and beliefs that were taught in school texts on biology and medicine. Due, perhaps, to the liberating influence of the advent of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu on Earth (1484-1534), Europe started to slowly emerge from the Dark Ages. During the Dark Ages people had no idea how or why deadly diseases like the black plague were spread. City people would pass stool and urine in buckets and then throw it out their townhouse windows, yelling a warning to pedestrians, “Loo!” (This is how the term “loo” came to mean toilet or latrine.) Some streets were, at times, ankle deep in human excrement. Surgeons had no idea of any need for cleanliness. In fact, doctors would often wear their most filthy clothes to perform surgeries with unwashed scalpels, just as field workers and street cleaners would wear filthy clothes for their work, saving their clean clothing for social affairs. Thus, many patients would “mysteriously” die shortly after even routine surgeries. William Harvey (1578-1657) became famous for his discovery that blood circulates through the body in veins and blood vessels. In one of his writings, he mentioned that it was possible that insects may lay eggs that were too small to be seen with the naked eye. The glimmer of light from this suggestion inspired and motivated another early scientist, Francisco Redi (1626-1697), to investigate further. Soon he became convinced that the prevailing theories of his day were ill-conceived. He demonstrated through experiments that life was not be generated spontaneously from non-living matter and that such conjectures had no basis. His controlled experiments involved sterilization through heating and various means of sealing containers and then comparing these with non-sterilized open containers of the same organic substances. He boldly propounded his views that life was generated not spontaneously from dead matter but from living organisms, some that were too small to be seen with the naked eye or laid eggs too small to be seen. People of his day were stunned by this fantastic new theory. Aristotle had been highly regarded in the West for many centuries as one of the greatest thinkers and naturalists of all time. People wondered, “How could Aristotle have been so wrong?” To prove his theory, Redi devised several interesting experiments to demonstrate that life comes from life. These experiments were literally the birth of modern sciences, specifically biology and medicine, which relies on controlled observations and experiments to demonstrate the truth or fallacy of theories like Redi’s and Aristotle’s. Redi’s experiments gave rise to modern-day knowledge regarding food preservation through sterilization, and sanitation through disinfecting. He had demonstrated in many of ways that life is generated only from other living things and that non-living matter had no power to generate life on its own. Scientists then began forming groups for the sake of exchanging their findings derived through various means of experimentation and observation. Redi and his followers strongly propounded their new understanding known as biogenesis, which establishes that life arises only from previously existing life and not from non-living matter. A breakthrough came when a humble lens grinder, Antonio Van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723), refined his art with the help of a renowned spectacle maker. He learned how to grind a precision magnifying lens and how to achieve further magnification by stacking lens in a tube. In this way he created the first known microscope. With his microscope he was able to observe microbes for the first time, and this led to many new discoveries. At first other scientists were doubtful about the existence of microbes because they were unable to match the precision and power of Leeuwenhoek’s microscopes. Soon Leeuwenhoek’s discoveries of microbes were verified by other scientists, yet many scientists clung to their belief that microbes themselves were spontaneously generated from non-living substances. Aristotle had taught that non-living substances can create life under certain conditions, and this widely accepted belief had been around for centuries. Long held beliefs die hard. Despite clear evidence supporting biogenesis, many scientists challenged the idea for another 150 years. In the latter part of the nineteenth century, a member of the French Academy of Sciences, Dr. Pouchet, published a compelling book that attempted to reaffirm the idea that micro-organisms were spontaneously generated from non-living matter. His book was highly lauded by scientists worldwide. Dr. Pouchet’s findings did not go unchallenged for long. Louis Pasteur read Pouchet’s book and wrote to him explaining several discrepancies in his methods, findings and conclusions. Pasteur was considered one of the top scientists of his times, especially in France, and he is still considered one the most important scientists of the modern age. Pasteur strongly refuted Pouchet’s ideas through a series of experiments and debates. The scientific community and general public were divided in their opinion on this issue. Many challenges and counter-challenges went back and forth and gave rise to varieties of experiments under careful controls. Both Pouchet and Pasteur were experts in conducting experiments, and their efforts created the modern era of controlled experimentation and observation. They both refined and adjusted their experiments to demonstrate their theories, and this went on for several months or even years under the scrutiny of a special commission appointed by the French Academy of Sciences. At first the Commission was divided in its opinion, but finally they accepted Pasteur’s conclusions and bestowed upon him the Academy Award for science (circa 1865). This was a high honor like the Nobel Prize, and people worldwide recognized Pasteur as the one of greatest scientists in the world. Louis Pasteur became widely popular, and Pouchet faded from the limelight. Pasteur’s controlled experiments and observations proving biogenesis and disproving spontaneous generation led to many new breakthroughs in medicine (such as surgeon using sterilized tools and masks), food preservation, disease control, general sanitation, and other fields. He had proven that life comes from life and not from non-living matter. Without his discoveries through controlled experiments, Europe especially might have remained much longer in the dark ages of superstition, myth, and foolish conjectures. But the new age of enlightened science in the realm of biology did not last long. Biological sciences suddenly embraced the darkness of superstition yet again after the publication of The Origin of Species by the infamous Charles Darwin (1809-1882), a clever pseudo naturalist propped up by atheists and agnostics to challenge the idea of God and religion through the use of wild speculation under the guise of scientific observation. Darwin himself doubted his own hypothesis, which was more outlandish than many prior superstitions. Darwin’s ideas have led to the now popular belief among scientists and academia that microbes were originally generated from non-living matter and gradually evolved to higher life forms spontaneously due to accidental genetic mutations and the process of “natural selection”. Thus, modern biology embraced a dark superstition that is as foolish as any myth that came before. Although biological sciences have continued to improve in research methods and technology, with applied knowledge leading to advancements in medicine, ecology, and genetic research, including the creation GMOs, thus far no one has been able to create even one living microbe from non-living matter. In fact, no great scientist or laboratory can even repair and make grow one broken grain of rice. Discoveries regarding the mind-boggling designs and complexities of living organisms and their interrelationships with other super-complex living organisms should have caused unbiased scientists and thinkers to reject Darwin’s ideas as preposterous. Instead, these foolish ideas are still being vigorously defended and promoted by cultish academia and atheistic social and political activists. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada has often pointed out, in his many books on Vedic scriptures, that Darwin’s flimsy hypothesis regarding the origin of species and evolution has no basis in scientific theory and cannot be demonstrated by experimentation or observation. It is unfounded and flies in the face of common sense. Yet due to a deviously calculated system of indoctrination in academia and media, school kids, like those from the dark ages, are taught this foolish conjecture in the name of science. The Vedas, a vast compendium of scriptures from ancient India, offer a more reasonable and consistent explanation regarding the origin of species. According to Vedic scriptures, such as Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita, God, the supreme living being, creates superior living beings, known as prajapatis, and empowers them to populate various planets with various grades of species. It is logical to accept that superior beings can create progeny of equal or inferior nature through sex or other powers. It is a scientific fact that living things create other living things. Srimad-Bhagavatam and other Vedic scriptures teach that God, the original and supreme person, has endowed each species with amazing abilities to survive and adapt in varieties of changing conditions on Earth. Vedic evidence never suggests, however, that species evolve from chemicals and morph into new and better species through a series of magical comic-book mutations. Great sages from every culture and every age have concluded that God is the designer and creator of all that exists. He is known as the cause of all causes and the basis of all reality. It is reasonable to accept the consensus of scriptural conclusions that the wonders of life and the cosmos were created by the omnipotent, omniscient and wonderful Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is reasonable to accept that a living organism, composed of gross and subtle matter, is animated by the consciousness of a spiritual soul, the living force. It is quite illogical, however, to believe that chemicals and chemical reactions produce life and consciousness when all practical evidence points to the opposite: chemicals and complex chemical reactions and all forms of life are created by living beings. In the Kali Yuga, there is no science for the liberation of consciousness as effective as Krishna consciousness and careful chanting of the Holy Names of God. Modern science, by its very nature, is full of ignorance, illusion and doubt. Lord Krishna’s material energy is very difficult to understand and overcome. God’s power of illusion forever overwhelms everyone who fails hear from authority and chant the Holy Names of God. “O son of Pritha, know that I am the original seed of all existences, the intelligence of the intelligent, and the prowess of all powerful men.” (Bhagavad-gita As it Is, 7.10) “This material nature is working under My direction, O son of Kunti, and it is producing all moving and non-moving beings. By its rule this manifestation is created and annihilated again and again.” (Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 9.10) “Those who are thus bewildered are attracted by demoniac and atheistic views. In that deluded condition, their hopes for liberation, their fruitive activities, and their culture of knowledge are all defeated.” (Bhagavad-gita As it Is, 9.12) “Those miscreants who are grossly foolish, lowest of mankind, whose knowledge is stolen by illusion, and who partake of the atheistic nature of demons, do not surrender unto Me.” (Bg. 7.15) “This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.” (Bhagavad-gita As it Is, 7.14) Related article-- “Sankhya: The Yoga of Analysis”

Srila Prabhupada explains a little bit about the history of World War Two and how the British Empire has been finished. Prabhupada: Yes. And the government gives them all facilities because they are dear patriots, laying down their life. During war everything is controlled, but they are supplied with immense... One store is destroyed; another one store is ready. Those who have gone to the warfield, they are... Because they have got that store of food and everything, sufficient, whatever they like, want. Now, in one point they have to go away. So how they can take the store? So from one point to another point there is another store. This store is blown, that enemy may not take advantage of it. This is going on, hundreds and thousands of worth of goods -- blown, cut. Because they are going to another point, and the enemies will take advantage of the store, therefore they have blown it. Therefore in war there is store scarcity. And that Sadananda, you know that, my German Godbrother? So he was lean and thin, tall. So I was asking him that "I have heard that the Germans are very stout and strong, so why you are so lean and thin?" So he gave me..., gave me condition that in the first war he was a child. So there was so much control, only weekly he could get a little butter. He showed a, this spot, like that. "Because we were children, we were supplied little butter, weekly this much. There was no nourishment. And we had to eat anything nonsense." Germans, they were given much tribulation, all sides. Still, they fought the French. All sides, enemies. But still, the Germans are well-to-do. I have seen. In other countries they are well-to-do. Tamala Krsna: They are very respected. German mark is. Prabhupada: No, their position, economic position, is also better than France, England. I have seen it. Even in the villages they are well-to-do. They have recouped all they have lost. Tamala Krsna: Oh, yeah. Belgium, you go through Belgium, it's still devastated. And Germany is completely built up. Prabhupada: Oh, yes. I think in... For culture, France, and for improvement, economic development, they have done in Germany. Tamala Krsna: And Britain? Prabhupada: Britain is... They are shopkeepers. Hitler gave them this title, "Shopkeepers' Nation." That was his determination: "The shopkeepers' nation, I shall turn them again to be shopkeepers, not the empire-holder." That he did. Although he was finished -- Germany was finished on account of this -- but they executed their determination, British empire finished. That they did. After the second war, British... Tamala Krsna: Finished. Prabhupada: Now they are poverty-stricken. Tamala Krsna: Oh, yes. Prabhupada: So Hitler's grudge against the Englishmen, that is fruitful. Actually he owned the war. Tamala Krsna: He won. He won the war. Prabhupada: Because that was his determination: "I shall finish this British nation. Everywhere they have got flag, all over the world, I shall finish." That he did. And Britishers saved because the Americans joined. Otherwise... Churchill, he removed all valuables from London to Canada -- all papers, all gold stock, everything. There is a book about this. Just like when there is danger, you rush to save some valuables. Is it not? Tamala Krsna: Yeah, that's what you take first. Prabhupada: Yes. So British Empire, so many things in London, he all removed to Canada. Morning Talk – April 18, 1977, Bombay

The British occupation of India lasted 200 years and was wrought with famines, massacres and various other injustices. Most importantly, the spiritual culture of India was systematically drowned out. Maitreya rishi dasa covers all these points and more from the spiritual point of view on this weeks podcast.