Prabhupāda: Vedic conclusion: the varieties, there is—eternity variety—and this is only shadow of that variety. It is not eternal, because it is shadow. But the real variety, spiritual world, is there.
Svarūpa Dāmodara: So the material planet, material universe, is a real image.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Image. Yes. Mirage.
Svarūpa Dāmodara: Mirage.
Prabhupāda: Yes, mirage.
Svarūpa Dāmodara: No, mirage is . . . mirage is not the real image . . .
Prabhupāda: No, it is illusory. Just like I see there is water in the desert. There is no water; this is illusion. But actually there is water. Therefore I get the conception that there is water. Water is there, but it is not there. Similarly these varieties is here, what we see, the varieties, enjoyment, that is only like that mirage. We have got the experience of water. But we are illusioned. We are seeing in a false place there is water. Similarly, we living entities, we are meant for enjoyment, but we are seeking enjoyment in a false place, or illusion. Just like animal runs after that desert water. But the intelligent man knows, "Oh, that, there is no water. It looks like water."
Svarūpa Dāmodara: It is a reflection from the sand.
Prabhupāda: Whatever it may be, there is no . . . actually there is no water. But the animal runs after that water and dies out of thirst. Because they . . . he cannot satiate his thirst by such illusory water. Similarly we, ignorant, avidyā kāma-karmabhiḥ, we are trying to manufacture so many things to satisfy our thirst of joyfulness, but we are being baffled, because it is illusion.
Therefore real intelligence is, "Then where is the reality? Where is real water?" That is intelligence. Bhāgavata gives: vāstava-vastu vedyam atra (SB 1.1.2). Vāstava vastu. "Real reality, you'll find here."