Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
in Melbourne, Australia, 1974
Interviewer: Your Divine Grace, is the purpose of human life to realize God?
Srila Prabhupada: Yes – that is the only purpose.
Interviewer: Srila Prabhupada, have you realized God?
Srila Prabhupada: What do you think? What is your opinion?
Interviewer: I can't say.
Srila Prabhupada: Then if I say yes, what will you have understood? If you are not expert, then even if I say, “Yes, I am God-realized,” how will you take it? If you do not know what God-realization is, then how can you ask this question, and how will you be satisfied by the answer? Therefore, you should not ask this question. It has no value – unless, of course, you are prepared to accept whatever answer I give. Are you prepared?