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300 Glimpses of Traditional Indian Life

man attempting to kill a cow. The king at once arrested
the butcher and chastised him sufficiently. Should not
a king or executive head protect the lives of the poor
animals who are unable to defend themselves? Is this
humanity? Are not the animals of a country citizens also?
Then why are they allowed to be butchered in organized
slaughterhouses? Are these the signs of equality, fraternity,
and nonviolence? (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.10.4 Purport)

There is no need of machines and tools or huge steel
plants for artificially creating comforts of life. Life is never
made comfortable by artificial needs, but by plain living
and high thinking. The highest perfectional thinking for
human society is suggested here by Śukadeva Gosvāmī,
namely, sufficiently hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. (Śrīmad-
Bhāgavatam 2.2.37 Purport)

India is not meant for machines. These rascals, they do
not know. India’s culture is plain living, high thinking. You
require some food. Produce food, and take it, and chant
Hare Kṛṣṇa. But they’ll not accept: “Oh, this is primitive.
We must have the motor car, motor tire.” (Conversation,
6 March 1974)

India is originally village life — city life, very limited.
Perhaps there was only one big city, New Delhi now — in
those days, Hastināpur — and next to that was Dvārakā.
So very big cities, they were only, two, or three. Mostly
people used to live in villages. Still ninety percent of the
population of India is in the villages. (Lecture, 6 December
1968)