Prabhupada: There are many animals, vegetarian. So there is no perfection of life unless we come to the point of Krsna consciousness. Simply by becoming vegetarian, simply by becoming nonviolent, simply by… These are all theories only. It has no value.
Pusta Krsna: The argument is sometimes put forward that not everyone will be able to embrace Krsna consciousness fully. Therefore it may be better for them to accept some portion, like, for example, taking up vegetarianism or even doing hatha-yoga, or something like this is better than nothing.
Prabhupada: No, that is not very essential. Essential is how to think of Krsna. Krsna says, man-mana bhava mad-bhaktah. He doesn't say that you become vegetarian.
Dr. Patel: That said, tad-artham karma kaunteya mukta-sangah samacara: "You must do everything for Him, even eating."
Prabhupada: Yes.
Dr. Patel: That is vegetarianism.
Prabhupada: Then, then you are… Then automatically he'll become vegetarian. Automatically he'll become vegetarian. If he takes Krsna prasadam, then he is vegetarian automatically.
Pusta Krsna: So it may seem like these other things are stepping-stones to Krsna, but is it necessarily so?
Prabhupada: No stepping-stone. This is the ultimate, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65], these four things. Unless you come to this point, there is no question of perfection.

Ref. VedaBase => Morning Walk — Bombay, April 15, 1976