Prabhupada explains why we adopt the idea of using everything for Krishna

Conversations, May 26, 1974, Rome 
              
Prabhupada: ...philosophy and the so many bogus swamis' philosophies, they are different. They offer some material benefit by their philosophy. "If you take this mantra, then your material life will be easier." People are captivated for material benefit. Spiritual benefit, they do not understand, and neither our philosophy provides any facility for material benefit. Although spiritual benefit includes material benefit, but people do not understand this.

Bhagavan: It appears that by taking to Krishna consciousness, one becomes less materially benefitted.

Prabhupada: That is the benefit they do not understand. Here the philosophy is to make nil material benefit. And that is sometimes havoc for others. Niskincanasya. Kincana means something and niskincana means even no something. Kincana means something, to possess something, and niskincana means to possess nothing. Niskincanasya bhagavad-bhajanonmukhasya. Bhagavad-bhajana...So go back to home back to Godhead, is meant for such persons who has nothing to possess here. That is very difficult. Niskincanasya bhagavad-bhajanonmukhasya param param jigamisor bhava-sagarasya. The real aim, real benefit, is how to be transferred to the other nature.

Bhagavan: A little material benefit, that increase, they take to be spiritual.

Prabhupada: Yes. Gymnastic. Just like a man, by bodily exercise, he becomes a little strong. His digestive function becomes very easy, he can eat more. He can enjoy more sex life. These benefits they want. And if you promise all these benefits, they become attracted. And they cannot understand, tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti kaunteya. After giving up this body, we do not accept anymore material body, but go to back to home, back to... These things they cannot understand.

Prabhupada: (break) ...devotees, they do not want any opulence of this material world. They are, what is called, pessimistic. They do not give any value to the opulence of this material world. And it is very good philosophy. But fools and rascals, they are attracted. Now, these buildings were constructed, very highly intellectual men undoubtedly, but they enjoyed, say, for hundred years. That's all. Then their bodies changed, and nobody knows what kind of body he has got. This is materialism. Suppose if you are offered some very nice comfortable life, and if you know that "Next life I am going to become a dog," would you be happy? But they have no information that what next body... Body, he has to take another body. He cannot enjoy. Whatever he has created, he cannot enjoy for good. That is not possible. He has to leave it. Just like these Romans. They have left. They constructed so big, big building just to enjoy, but they had to leave it by nature's force and accept another body. That they do not know. They are satisfied, "Never mind, I accept the next life a dog's body. Now let me enjoy this, say, twenty-five years or fifty years, that's all." This is their philosophy. No future. "Trust no future, however pleasant."

In India, those who are interested in spiritual life, they take sannyasa. Everybody sannyasa, babaji. Rupa Gosvami gave up his service, everything, and became no possessions voluntarily. Big, big kings, Bharata Maharaja... To practice that "I have no more interest in anything material." (break) ...introduction of my Guru Maharaja that sannyasis and preachers may use big, big buildings, motorcars and..., just to give the information to the western world. Because they, if you ask them, that "You become a mendicant, possessionless," still, they are not very much interested. Because they see our dress, our living condition is not very equal to their standard, they do not like. Is it not? Yes. So just to give these Westerners facilities at least to understand this philosophy,  this method was accepted by Guru Maharaja, to live in nice building, to have cars, to use everything for Krishna consciousness. Otherwise, nobody would take.

CONCLUSION: Please think about the above next time you pull out your cell phone, ride in a car, or use any material contrivance "for Krishna". Everything has been "adjusted"  (by the acharyas) for our convenience so that we can serve Krishna -otherwise, we are so entangled in this kali yuga of machines, we would have very little attraction for Krishna at all.

 As he says - "Otherwise, nobody would take"... simple living, high thinking - this is the intended path and goal...