“So we request simply people that you accept this authoritative knowledge and try to assimilate it by your intelligence. It is not that you stop your argument and intelligence, simply blindly accept something. No. We are human beings, we have got intelligence. We are not animals that we shall be forced to accept something. No. Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya (Bg. 4.34). In this Bhagavad-gita you’ll find. You try to understand, tad viddhi. Viddhi means to try to understand. Pranipata. Pranipatena means surrendering, not by challenge.” (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 2.13 — Pittsburgh, September 8, 1972)

“Now, we have received this news, very pleasing. Now next duty? Taj-joṣaṇāt. Now, if you little try to assimilate it. And what is that assimilation? Smaraṇam. Simply by thinking, 'Oh, this has been spoken.' Try to argue whether it is true or not. So you have to think over. Satāṁ prasaṅgān, taj-joṣaṇād āśv apavarga-vartmani. And if you do that... Suppose you hear something of the Bhagavad-gītā, and it appeals to you, or even does not appeal to you. Just try to think over: 'What Bhagavad-gītā says? How has Swāmījī discussed this matter?' Apply your arguments. Apply your logic. Don't take it as a sentiment or as in a blind faith. You have got reason; you have got argument; you have got sense. Apply it and try to understand it. Neither it is bogus. It is scientific. Then you will feel... Taj-joṣaṇād āśv apavarga-vartmani śraddhā bhaktir ratir anukramiṣyati. You will gradually develop your attachment for hearing it, and devotional service will be invoked in your heart, and then, gradually, you will make progress.” (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 4.11-12 — New York, July 25, 1966)

“Without questions, you cannot make progress. So blind faith is never required, neither questions should be in a mood of challenge. That should not. Questions or answers should be just to understand. And that should be accompanied with service.” (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 4.39-5.3 — New York, August 24, 1966)

“No, inquiring submissively. Not that challenging. If one challenges to inquire, he’ll never be benefited.” (Morning Walk — March 23, 1974, Bombay)

“You have to receive this word little submissively. Namanta eva. Don’t think yourself, that you are very man of knowledge. Because our knowledge is very limited, so we should not be puffed up with false thinking that I am very learned man. No. Just become a little gentle and submissive, and hear these messages from Krsna. Sthane sthitah sruti-gatam tanu-van-manobhih. Tanu. Tanu means your body, and vak means your words, and mana means mind. Just try to adjust your mind, your body, your words, and hear the Srimad-Bhagavad-gita which is spoken by the Supreme Lord, and put your arguments, put your reason, whatever you have got. Don’t accept it blindly. And think over it, and then you’ll see what is the result.” (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 9.11-14 — New York, November 27, 1966)

“This is called firm, unflinching faith. Faith, I do not mean faith by blind faith. This Bhagavad-gita is not blind faith. Everything is being explained step by step, scientifically, authoritatively. So try to understand.” (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 4.39-42 — Los Angeles, January 14, 1969)

“Don't go to outside today's lecture. You try to... Question means the lecture on which I was speaking. If there is any difficulty, that should be questioned. Otherwise, if you go outside, that present atmosphere created for this purpose, that will be lost. So question means on the subject matter which is already discussed. If there is any doubt or if there is any difficulty for understanding the subject matter which we have already discussed, that is the subject matter of question.” (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 3.6-10 — December 23 ’68; Los Angeles)

“No, you don't bring any other question. You talk about this, which we have lectured. In this way, if you bring other question, that is not... We are discussing one verse. You can put question on this, not irrelevant question. Of course, that is not irrelevant, but not in connection with this verse. So question means in connection with this verse.” (Lecture on Bg 2.11 — November 2, ’75 - Mexico City)

“Try to understand, question. It is not a thing that we are forcibly pushing. You have got intelligence. Krishna has given you intelligence. Try to understand with your intelligence but do not try to avoid. Make your question to understand it, not making question to avoid it. There are two kinds of question. That question will not help you. If you try to avoid, then Krishna will help you to avoid, and if you want to capture Krishna, then Krishna will help you how you can capture.” (Lecture October 4, ’68 - Seattle)

“Yes, I have met Indra or I have not met Indra. So if I met Indra, what benefit you get? And if I did not meet Indra, what is your loss? That is my question. Then why do you ask this question? You have no profit, no loss. Any other question? Put some intelligent questions. Then we can understand that you are studying really.” (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 16.8 — Tokyo, January 28, 1975)

“That’s all. This is not question. If you have no clear idea, where the question? Where it is stated?” (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 16.5 — Calcutta, February 23, 1972)

“Many. But not many, but there are many also. But there is no statistics in my possession. But... The formula is that what is the use of taking statistics how many there are? Why don't you become one of them? Why you are wasting time in that way? These are not very intellectual questions. You just try to become enlightened. What is use of who is enlightened or not? You try to be enlightened. That's all.” (Lecture 1968)