He's saying why are we dressing like that, like Indians?

Expressions researched:
"He's saying why are we dressing like that, like Indians"

Conversations and Morning Walks

1974 Conversations and Morning Walks

I have not said that you dress like that. You like, you dress. Did I say that you do it?

740610 - Conversation - Paris:

Mr. Chenique: Why do you dress in that way, which is an Indian way and not the European way?

Prabhupāda: Then why Christian go there?

Mr. Chenique: They should not.

Prabhupāda: Then we should not.

Mr. Chenique: Not because they do something wrong that somebody else has to do something wrong.

Prabhupāda: No, no. Thing is that just like there are scholars, the scholars also go. Just like you are doing in India. Why did you go to India? Why did you go to India and live there and . . . (indistinct) . . .? Therefore anyone can come to study, to learn how to teach. That is human society. You cannot say that "You don't come here." You cannot say.

Mr. Chenique: I know, but for a European to dress as an Indian.

Prabhupāda: No, no. Europeans go to India, and why the Indians should not come to Europe?

Mr. Chenique: True.

Prabhupāda: Then you cannot say that, "Why you have come here?" You cannot say.

Jyotirmayī: No, no. He's saying why are we dressing like that, like Indians?

Prabhupāda: I have not said that you dress like that. You like, you dress. Did I say that you do it?

Priest: It's like the Indian Catholic priest dressing like a . . . (indistinct) . . . priest or like a European priest. I mean, they look as if they had a disguise with them. I don't know if you have been to . . .

Prabhupāda: No, no. Just like when the English were ruling, English national. So the Englishmen never said that, "You dress like Englishmen," but they automatically dressed. You know very well. It is like that. The Englishmen, they went there to get some money by trade, by politics. But they never went there to change their dress. But they thought that, "If I dress myself like Englishman, I will be more honored." That is their point. Similarly, we never preach that "You dress like this." But the student, they like this dress. That's all right. What is the wrong there?

Priest: It's not wrong; it's funny.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Rather, these girls, when they dress in Indian way, they look more beautiful. That you will have to admit. Yes. The same girl will dress in your coun . . . way.

Priest: That I am . . . (indistinct) . . . for it. (laughs)

Prabhupāda: So the girls, the women, they like to be more beautiful. So if by dressing in other way they look beautiful, why should you ask them not to do it?

Priest: Maybe for ladies and girls certainly, but for the dhotī and . . .

Prabhupāda: But we are not concerned with the dress; we are concerned with the advancement of spiritual understanding. That's all.