Śyāmasundara: So Heidegger says that this (German-indistinct) or this being there, has two characteristics. First is priority of existence over essence. In other words, first I exist, and inside of this existence I can find my essence. During this existence, I can find my essence. And the second characteristic...
Prabhupāda: What is that essence?
Śyāmasundara: Well then he..., his philosophy comes to that point, what is man's essence.
Prabhupāda: What is that?
Śyāmasundara: First of all he says that my existence is prior. First of all I have to exist and live, and then inside of this existence I may come to the point of discovering my essence.
Prabhupāda: But he has not discovered the essence.
Śyāmasundara: But he comes to that point.
Prabhupāda: What is that point?
Śyāmasundara: (laughs) Well, that's at the end.
Prabhupāda: End? You know. You have read it?
Śyāmasundara: Yes.
Prabhupāda: What is that essence?
Śyāmasundara: He calls it authenticity. Authenticity means when I am something of my own. Authentic means when I am authentically me, he calls it.
Prabhupāda: What is that, "authentic"? He does not explain?
Śyāmasundara: It's not explained very clearly.
Prabhupāda: But what do you understand by this authenticity?
Śyāmasundara: Well... (pause) The thing is that in the same sense that Kierkegaard is saying that man has to create... (break)
Prabhupāda: Authentic means reality. What is that? Authenticity means reality?
Śyāmasundara: It means being free from guilt, being free from anxiety, being always resolute in purpose.
Prabhupāda: So reality... I see this is reality, that I don't wish to die but there is death. Authenticity means how to live without death. That is all. Is it not?
Śyāmasundara: Yes. (pause) (indistinct) that the conclusions of the philosophy, by going through the different steps (indistinct). First of all, these two characteristics of existence, or (German-indistinct). One is that existence is prior to essence. The second is that (indistinct), or existence, is mine, that it is a personal. Everyone has the feeling that I...
Prabhupāda: I can exist. Others may not exist. Is that philosophy?
Śyāmasundara: No. That is also a person(?) outside of you, but that my existence is personal.
Prabhupāda: Does my existence, it is first; other existence is secondary? Just like (if) I eat meat. I must eat, because I must have meat, so poor animals must be killed. So his existence is this, neglected. Is that their philosophy?
Śyāmasundara: Well he doesn't say that. He just says that "I have the feeling, the unique feeling that I exist individually as a person."
Prabhupāda: That's all right. I exist individually and others may not exist. Is not that philosophy? So I must exist, others may not exist. So others also must think like that. That is animal. I am thinking that "I must exist. I don't care for you." You are thinking that you must exist, you don't care for me, so therefore there is struggle between you and me-struggle for existence. We are fighting. I am thinking I must exist, you are saying you must exist. Is it not? (pause)
Śyāmasundara: He says that man's actions or reality is the existence or his (indistinct). In other words, from the fact that I exist, I can find my..., that is my essence, that is my reality.
Prabhupāda: Yes. This should be done individually, collectively. Therefore there is group of nationality, therefore combined together should exist. The other group also, they are also thinking. So there are different parties. (indistinct) struggle, struggle for existence, survival of the fittest. If you exist killing me, then you are fit. And if I'll exist killing you, because you want to exist at my cost, I want to exist at your cost, so there is struggle. So if you can kill me, then you are fit, and if I kill you, then I am fit. Survival of the fittest.