Simply to become vegetarian is not the last word. There are many vegetarians. The monkey is vegetarian. [chuckles] He’s naked and lives in a jungle. Just like there are so many so-called sages, that “I live naked. I live in the jungle. I have given up the society.” So monkey is doing that. Huh? [laughter] Naked, vegetarian, no home. But the rascal has got at least two dozen wives. That is monkey.

So it is called markata-vairagya. He has become a sannyasi, vairagi, and, but, so much thing, but privately he has got so many connections. Yes. That is called markata-vairagya, monkey’s renunciation. Monkey has renounced, naked, but at heart there is sense gratification. So markata-vairagya is no good. So simply to become vegetarian is no good. You must develop love of Godhead. That is real thing.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Sri Isopanisad, Mantra 1 – May 3, 1970,
Los Angeles