1. The difference between Srila Prabhupada and others

    Atreya Rsi: When you first came, Srila Prabhupada, a lot of people probably presented you arguments such as "If you call the movement 'God consciousness' you'll be more successful. If you not wear tilaka and do not shave your head and do not wear robes and do not go on sankirtana, you will be more successful."

    And people still tell us things like this, that "You tell us the philosophy. We like the philosophy. But why do you go on sankirtana?" So what were some of the arguments you presented to these type of people?

    Prabhupada: This is the same argument, ardha-kukkuti-nyaya [Cc. Adi 5.176]. You cut the mouth of the chicken because it eats, it is expensive, and keep the back side because it lays down egg. You see? Intelligent man said, "I am getting every day one egg. So that side, the back side, is very good. But this side is expensive, eats. Cut it."

    So he does not know, he is such a foolish, that if I cut the head, then the egg-giving business will also stop. Similarly, if you accept this philosophy, then you must accept this also.

    Atreya Rsi: Yes, that is difference…

    Prabhupada: If you don't accept this kirtana, then it will prove that you don't accept the philosophy.

    Atreya Rsi: Yes. That's the difference between Your Divine Grace and all these other bhogis. They make it according to the taste of the people. They change. That's why this movement is so solid: no compromise.

    Prabhupada: No. Why compromise? My Guru Maharaja never made any compromise.

    Atreya Rsi: Compromise means you have some material attachment.

    Prabhupada: Yes. Compromise means you don't want real business, but you want some money by cheating and by bluffing.

    > Room Conversation — June 29, 1972, San Diego