Madhudviṣa: One of the . . . just from understanding, speaking to Amogha, is one of the doctor's dilemmas is that he is reading your Bhagavad-gītā, but his colleagues do not appreciate your Bhagavad-gītā so much. He . . . sometimes he is confronted with the people who are tending more towards the impersonal school of thought, I think, and they have little . . . they have criticisms of your Bhagavad-gītā As It Is. So he . . .
Dr. Copeland: That's why I was asking. To see how you would reply to that.
Prabhupāda: First of all, you think that Kṛṣṇa is speaking as person. What right you have got to say that He is imperson?
Dr. Copeland: I don't say.
Prabhupāda: No, anyone, anyone. What Kṛṣṇa is saying, He is saying as a person. Aham. You know the Sanskrit word aham, "I," first person? So why these foolish interpreters, they interpret "imperson"? What right they have got? They have no right. Suppose you are teaching something from your own point of view. What right I have got to say that, "This is not Mr. Such-and-such opinion. What I say, that is opinion"? Is that very good judgment? You are saying something from your point of view, and I poke my nose that, "This should be spoken like this." Is this honesty?
Dr. Copeland: It's a difference of opinion.
Prabhupāda: No, why should you . . . I showed opinion on your book? If I have got opinion, I publish another book. Why should I interpret? Why shall I poke my nose in your business?
Dr. Copeland: Yeah, but the dialogue is how you learn. Oh, yes.
Prabhupāda: No, that is most dishonest. Oh, yes. You cannot interpret my book in your own way. That is not allowed. No gentleman will do that. You, if you have got a different view, you put your views in your own book. Don't drag my book. That is honesty. And because my book is popular, you take advantage of my book, and you interpret in your own way, this is most dishonest. You cannot do that.
Dr. Copeland: No, but when you have different types of things . . .
Prabhupāda: Different types we may have, but Kṛṣṇa's book, what Kṛṣṇa is saying, it should be presented as Kṛṣṇa says.
Dr. Copeland: Yeah, but then you think that you know what Kṛṣṇa says.
Prabhupāda: No, I say, "Bhagavad-gītā As It Is."
Dr. Copeland: Yeah, and other people think they know, too.
Prabhupāda: No, how they know? Kṛṣṇa says, man-manā bhava mad-bhaktaḥ, simple thing. (aside:) Find out this verse. What is the translation?
Amogha: "Always think of Me and become My . . ."
Prabhupāda: Now, Kṛṣṇa says: "Always think of Me." How you can say that "Don't think of Kṛṣṇa"? Is that very honesty? No, no, if Kṛṣṇa may be wrong, that is another thing.
Dr. Copeland: Ah, okay. I'll buy that. (laughs)
Prabhupāda: But you cannot say that, "Kṛṣṇa says something else." Kṛṣṇa says: "Always think of Me." So we have to present that, "Kṛṣṇa says you always think of Kṛṣṇa." That is honesty. And if I say: "No, no, you don't think of Kṛṣṇa," that is dishonesty. That is dishonesty. We are fighting against that. Why should you poke your nose in the statement of Kṛṣṇa? If you have got different views, you put your own book.
Dr. Copeland: Mmm, we're not really arguing about the same thing. I'm saying that if, say, somebody says Christ in the Bible says something . . .
Prabhupāda: You must say that, "Christ says like this." That is honesty.