Pṛthu-putra: (translating) Is it possible for the soul to enjoy the material nature?
Prabhupāda: It is not possible, but he's trying to do that. That is the disease. Just like in your country, Napoleon, he tried his best to use whole Europe to be controlled by him. So he made some attempt, but he is finished now. The Europe is there, but he's gone away. Similarly, it is just like... The example is: Just like a fly wants to enjoy the fire. He comes with force there, and he is finished. Similarly, in this material world, every, all living entities, they're trying to enjoy. With great force, they are coming. And different capacities, they try to enjoy, but they themselves become finished. The things remain where it was. So, so many living entities... Just like the example, the fly, is very proper. So many flies are coming, phut! phut! phut! phut! in the big fire. You have no experience here?
Jyotirmayī: Yes.
M. Lallier: Why living entities does go to material...?
Yogeśvara: Why does the living entity try to enjoy material nature in such a way?
Prabhupāda: The, the... When he forgets that he cannot enjoy—the only enjoyer is God, Kṛṣṇa—when he forgets this principle he wants to enjoy.
M. Lallier: Yes.
Prabhupāda: That is called illusion, māyā. Actually he cannot enjoy, but forgetting Kṛṣṇa, the real enjoyer, he wants to enjoy. That is his... Just like a child imitates the mother for cooking. The other day, in Geneva, the fire ceremony was going on. The mother was offering oblations, and the child also immediately took some, and he... You have seen that?
Yogeśvara: Yeah.
Prabhupāda: So he's not fit for that business, but he imitates. That is childish. Sometimes goes to the kitchen, wants to make foodstuff, preparation, and he is given some toys, "You just play with it." So every living entity is part and parcel of God. So God is enjoyer, God is controller. So he wants to imitate God. That is called māyā.
M. Lallier: (French)
Pṛthu-putra: (translating) So what should the soul do if he cannot imitate God?
Prabhupāda: Yes, the soul... Just like the same example: the child should be guided by the father and mother; similarly, we should be guided by God, Kṛṣṇa. That is our normal life. And the guidance is given personally by Kṛṣṇa in the Bhagavad-gītā. So if you follow the instruction of Bhagavad-gītā and be guided by God, then you are happy exactly like a child is happy when he's under the protection of the parents.