Bali-mardana: Prabhupāda, you were speaking of the quality dayā, mercifulness, and you were saying that actually we could not apply this to the Supreme Lord. But I'm thinking perhaps that the cowherd boys, sometimes were they merciful to Kṛṣṇa by not being too rough with Him?
Prabhupāda: They were equal with Kṛṣṇa, therefore they could show mercy. You are not equal with . . .
Bali-mardana: Yes.
Prabhupāda: Cowherds boy, they were equally on the same level. Although not same level, but they were given the opportunity to speak, to stand, to talk, to eat on the same level with Kṛṣṇa. Now our position is different. Any other question?
Young devotee: Prabhupāda? I was wondering about . . . you were saying before, I heard, that before you start to learn, you must realize that you're not this body and you're spirit soul. Is realization different from knowing that you're spirit soul?
Prabhupāda: Eh?
Bali-mardana: He said what is realization of the spirit soul?
Prabhupāda: The spirit soul?
Bali-mardana: How does one realize? How does one know that . . .
Young devotee: That, that you are . . .
Satsvarūpa: Between theoretically knowing that you are not this body, and realizing.
Prabhupāda: Aḥ. Realizing means you can . . . it is very simple thing, that a living man and a dead man. So you can realize. There was soul, so he was living.