This is illusion (Conv and Letters)

Expressions researched:
"That is Maya's illusion" |"That is another illusion" |"This is Maya's illusion" |"This is actually illusion" |"This is all illusion" |"This is also illusion" |"This is another illusion" |"This is moha, illusion" |"This is our illusion" |"This is the illusion" |"This is the illusion" |"This is their illusion" |"that is also illusion" |"that is an illusion" |"that is an illusion" |"that is illusion" |"that is our illusion" |"that is the illusion" |"that is the illusion" |"that is the illusion" |"that is their illusion" |"this is an illusion" |"this is an illusion" |"this is illusion" |"this is the illusion"

1969 Conversations and Morning Walks

What proof is that is illusion?

Discussion with Guests -- December 23, 1969, Boston:

Prabhupāda: What do you mean by illusion? Don't talk nonsense. (laughter) If I gave you lump of cotton instead of this shirt, will you accept it?

Guest (3): I'm sorry. I don't mean to argue. I am sorry.

Prabhupāda: You are arguing?

Guest (3): I don't mean to argue with you.

Prabhupāda: No. If I say...

Guest (3): I'm trying to understand something, but you...

Prabhupāda: This is cotton. This is cotton. Everyone knows. But if I give you a lump...

Guest (3): Do you know that? Do you know that for a fact? How do you know this is not illusion? How do you know that? Do we know anything for sure?

Prabhupāda: What proof is that is illusion?

This is illusion, that "I am this body and anything in relation of this body..."

Discussion with BTG Staff -- December 24, 1969, Boston:

Prabhupāda: So the first business is to awake the conditioned souls from their illusory position, that he is thinking, "I am this body and anything in relationship with this body is very important." Janasya moho 'yam ahaṁ mameti (SB 5.5.8). This is illusion. We speak of illusion, māyā. This is illusion, that "I am this body and anything in relation of this body..." I have got special relationship with certain woman, so I think, "She is my wife. I cannot do without her." Or another woman from whom I have taken birth, "She is my mother." Similarly father, similarly sons. In this way, country, society, at the most, humanity. That's all. But all these things are illusion because they are in bodily relationship. Yasyātmā-buddhiḥ kunape tri-dhātuke sa eva go-kharaḥ (SB 10.84.13). Those who are passing on on this illusory condition of life, they are compared with the cows and the asses. So our first business is to wake up the general mass of people from this illusory condition of life.