Pariprashnena — Q&A Archive

No. What is the full context of this quotation? Im pretty sure Srila Prabhupada was indicating that the World Trade Towers were the tallest buildings in the world but with the modern day thinking of "bigger is better"- there will be taller skyscrapers and the two towers will seem like nothing in comparison.

Thanks Praveen. I didnt see it this way at first; but after reading your perspective I think youre right. Ill post some more of the conversation below.

Prabhupuc0u257 da: Bad condition, good condition, that is another thing. But you get it. You get it. Bad condition, good condition, that is my consideration, but things are available. Even the best apartment in India, that is not a good apartment for America. This is simply my mental concoction: "This is good; that is bad." I am thinking, "It is the best;" another may think, "Oh, it is lowest." The hog is thinking stool is very nice food, and I am thinking, "What is this nonsense thing?" So "best" and "good", it is simply mental concoction, it has no value. Just like these western people, what is their ultimate standard of best, nobody knows. Nobody knows. Just like hundred years before, there was no skyscraper building, but now even best skyscraper building is not best. So where is the standard of best and... It is all mental concoction.

Sudu257 mu257 : Just like in New York, at one time the Empire State Building was the biggest; now they have built two buildings that are the biggest in the world now.

Prabhupu257 da: Yes. Now someday it will be lowest.

Satsvaru363 pa: Yes, already in Chicago theyre building one, a Sears building.

Bali Mardana: Bigger.

Prabhupu257 da: So what is the standard of best and lowest. There is no standard. This is called mu257 yu257 .

Bali Mardana: Many philosophers have tried to define what is the best.

Prabhupu257 da: Eh?

Bali Mardana: Many philosophers have tried to define what is the best.

Prabhupu257 da: They cannot.

Bali Mardana: Its not possible.

Prabhupu257 da: They cannot. It is not possible.

Bali Mardana: They have no Absolute.

Prabhupu257 da: No. They have no idea. Mental speculators, they are no good. (wind noise) Mental speculator means haru257 v abhaktasya kuto mahad-guu7751 u257 manorathena [SB 5.18.12], manorathena by the mental plane, airship, hes simply hovering. They have no standard.

Bali Mardana: So a devotee does not have to cogitate too much. Whatever satisfies Ku7771 u7779 u7751 a, that is best.

Prabhupu257 da: Thats all. Ku7771 u7779 u7751 a is best. Thats all. And whatever is done for Ku7771 u7779 u7751 a, that is best. Thats all. We have got a standard; therefore we are satisfied. "Even in distressed condition, because Ku7771 u7779 u7751 a has given me distress, so-called distress, it is not distress. So this is all right." Because here, distress or happiness, they are simply mental concoction. Dvaite bhadra... I am in the material existence'97that is my distress. That distress has to be removed, not this temporary distress or happiness. (japa)