1. Siva and Visnu, same and different

    Indian man (7): Swamiji, Siva is not another name of God?

    Prabhupada: Yes. Siva is next to God. Just like yogurt, dahi. What is this dahi?

    Indian man (7): Curd milk.

    Prabhupada: Milk, but it is not milk. Dahi is not anything but milk, but it is not milk. Similarly, Lord Siva is nothing but Visnu, but it is not Visnu. Is it clear now?

    Indian man (7): Yes.

    Prabhupada: You can say, “Well, dahi is nothing but milk.” Yes. But it is not milk. If instead of milk you take dahi, the result will be different. And if you take milk instead of dahi, the result will be different, although the milk and dahi is the same thing, same ingredients. So you have to understand in that way. Lord Siva is nondifferent from the Supreme Lord. Everyone is nondifferent from Supreme Lord, but he’s still different. This is the perfect philosophy, acintya-bhedabheda, simultaneously one and different.

    Morning Walk — October 5, 1975, Mauritius