Excerpt from lecture at an initiation ceremony, London, September 7, 1971

There is a list of low-born human beings. Kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasha abhira-shumbha yavanah khasadayah [Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.4.18]. So many. So even they are born in low-graded family, still, they can be elevated to the highest position by purificatory process. The example is given by Sanatana Gosvami: just like bell metal, if one can mix with it mercury, it becomes gold. Anyone can try it. Bell metal. Bell metal means mixture of copper and tin. That makes bell metal. Eighty percent copper, twenty percent tin. And along with it, if some suitable percentage of mercury is mixed, it becomes immediately gold. This chemical suggestion is there in the Vedic shastras [literature]. It is clear that they were quite aware of all these chemical methods. So the example is given, as the base metal or bell metal can be transferred into gold by mixture of mercury under certain process, similarly, any low-born, it doesn't matter what he is, if proper initiation is conducted, then tatha diksha-vidhanena dvijatvam jayate nrinam, he becomes a brahmana [first-class man, a member of the highest social order]. He becomes a brahmana. Dvijatvam. Dvija means twice-born. Any man. In India there are many rascals who think that without being born in a brahmana family nobody can become brahmana. That is not the verdict of shastra. Here is a verse in the Bhagavata, kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasha abhira-shumbha yavanah khasadayah ye 'nye ca papa [SB 2.4.18].

Kirata, Huna, Andhra, Pulinda, Pulkasha, Abhira, Shumbha, Yavana, members of the Khasa races and even others addicted to sinful acts can be purified by taking shelter of the devotees of the Lord, due to His being the supreme power. I beg to offer my respectful obeisances unto Him.

Not only all these mentioned, kirata-hunandhra... Huna. Huna class is found still on the northern side of Russia and Germany. When I went to Moscow I have seen, they're so much addicted to meat-eating. They're simply eating meat. In Russia also. They do not eat much fruits or vegetables, or not available. So these... Low class means the more they are addicted to meat-eating. Just like animals. They may be very strong. A tiger is also strong, but what is the use of it? Nobody cares for the tiger. Although tiger is very strong, one is afraid of it, but if you become a tiger what is the use of it? So this material civilization, they are trying to make this body tigerlike strong. They do not question what is the usefulness of tiger. No use for tiger except for human society they are simply meant for being killed, shooting. So this demonic civilization is simply meant for being shot down by the laws of nature. Therefore you'll find revolution, war, in the western part of the world. They are being shot down by the laws of nature. They are thinking, "If we become tigerlike, our life is successful." But they do not know that if you become tigerlike, demon, you are just become suitable for being shot down. That's all. They do not know this.

So it is not the aim of human life to become a tiger. The aim of human life is to become a devotee of Vishnu, Vaishnava. That is perfection of life. So we are, this movement, we are giving the highest benediction to the human society. They are becoming Vaishnava. There is great necessity of Vaishnava at the present moment because everyone has become shudras [the plebeians, here taken to mean the lowest rung on the social ladder]. And because it is, everywhere the shudras are there, how there can be peace? They do not know. They have no brain how to make the society peaceful and prosperous. They are shudras. They have no intelligence. There is necessity of creating brahmanas and Vaishnavas. This movement is meant for that purpose. So be careful. Don't be turned again to shudras and mlecchas [meat eaters]. Go on making progress to become pure Vaishnava. Then your life is successful and you'll give the best service to the human society.

And perhaps you know it, the tigers cannot eat daily. Tiger life means almost starvation. You'll find, if you have ever seen a real photograph in forest of a tiger, the belly is... There is no food. They cannot get food. Because they are ferocious, by nature's law, it is not allowed by the material nature that he'll take food every day. No. After fifteen days, one month, he gets a prey and eats the blood. They cannot eat every day. So tiger life is not very comfortable life. You'll have to starve. And if you become Vaishnava, three times a day you get nice prasadam [sanctified food offered to God]. This is practical. You see.