June 28th 1974 Melbourne
There is no doubt about it. My Guru Maharaja had very great respect for Muhammad, Jesus Christ...
Prabhupada: I say it is very nice, immediately. Because he was embracing tree also. So that is God consciousness, advanced God consciousness. Because everywhere there is part and parcel of God. Any way, either materially or spiritually. In our childhood, actually what I am doing, it was all taught in our childhood by our parents, my family. We were taught, "There is a grain of rice on the ground, and if it is touched by your feet, you should pick up the grain and touch on your head." This was our training. The idea behind--that the grain of rice is not man-made. It is sent by God. "O God, give us our daily bread." So here is the bread. It is God's mercy. Just see how idea, great idea. What is given by God, that is also God. This is God consciousness. You are asking God's mercy. So God's mercy is also God, the Absolute. So how can you disrespect a thing which is given by God? You cannot produce rice. You cannot produce bread. It is given by God. Everything... Therefore Krsna said, raso 'ham apsu kaunteya. Just try to understand Krsna from the beginning of drinking water. Therefore Krsna said that "The taste of the water, I am." So water, or any liquid thing you are drinking, if you are feeling some pleasure, ananda... Anandamaya. That God is ananda. So there is the sample of ananda. So if we simply practice this, that wherever I derive some pleasure, that is God, then you become God conscious. To become God conscious is not difficult. Simply one has to learn how to practice it. That's all. Everything stated. Find out that verse. Raso 'ham apsu kaunteya prabhasmi sasi-suryayoh. (pause) Who will not respect Jesus Christ? He sacrificed everything for God, even his life. So who is that rascal that he'll not respect to Jesus Christ. What did he do wrong to the human society? He did everything for the good of the human society. Oh, I have got very, very, great respect for Lord Jesus Christ. Not only... Every, I mean to say, God conscious man, he must have respect for Jesus Christ. There is no doubt about it. My Guru Maharaja had very great respect for Muhammad, Jesus Christ... We pray Lord Buddha. Although he preached atheistic philosophy, but we know that he's incarnation of God. Kesava dhrta-buddha-sarira jaya jagadisa hare. So a Vaisnava is godly. He is qualified with all good qualities. That is Vaisnava. That is Vaisnava. He knows the value of each and everything. Therefore he's godly. And therefore to offer respect to Vaisnava is also a great qualification. Even to offer respect to the Vaisnavas is greater qualification than one who simply offers respect to God. That is stated in Devi Purana: