Guest (1): Sir, taking care of the society, of the countries, there is no difference?(?)
Prabhupāda: Society means... Suppose you are taking care of your own dress and if you take care, all the men, sitting here, their dress, you become washerman. That's all. (laughter) This is your improvement. Now you are soaping your own dress, personal, and if you soap the dresses of all these people, then you are elevated to the position of a washerman. If you are satisfied to become a washerman, that is very good. But that is not very important thing. Real important thing is whether you should take care of the dress or the owner of the dress. That is to be... So people are interested to become washerman, but they are not interested that we have to take care of the owner of the dress. That is the... So therefore spiritual knowledge begins when you understand that this body is not important. The owner of the body is important. Then spiritual knowledge begins. Otherwise, simply to take care of one's own dress and to take care of many others' dress, that is not improvement.
Guest (2) (Indian man): But who was responsible for bringing this body into existence?
Prabhupāda: You are. You are. You have selected your own dress.
Guest (2): The owner?
Prabhupāda: Just like you are in white dress and he is in brown dress. That is your selection. You like this white dress; he likes that brown dress. So for the dress, you are responsible. That is you.
Guest (2): Who is "you"?
Prabhupāda: You are... Therefore you do not know who you are.
Guest (2): That is what I am asking.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Guest (2): And the owner of the body, is He responsible for this body also?
Prabhupāda: Oh, yes.
Guest (2): If that be so, then why should there be a conflict?
Prabhupāda: What is that?
Guest (2): Why should there be a conflict between the two?
Prabhupāda: Conflict?
Devotee: Conflict between the soul and the material body.
Prabhupāda: There is no conflict. I am saying, talking, that you are, you are taking care of this dress. That's good. But simply for taking care of the dress if you forget yourself, then you are a foolish. That is my point.
Guest (2): But there is no conflict.
Prabhupāda: There is no conflict.