Śrī Govinda: Possibly we could invite the city manager also to come to discuss with Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Prabhupāda: No . . . so if we get a good place with the cooperation of the authorities, then our simple program is that, as Professor Judah has remarked, drug-addicted hippies, they have been turned into devotees. We shall invite anyone to come and chant this Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and take prasādam, and we are . . . I began this movement in New York alone, and these boys gradually came to me. But my process was this: chanting and giving them prasādam. (referring to Brahmanānda) He is one of the original student. He was. So this process, very simple process, everyone will be able to accept it: chant, dance, and take prasādam. Within that process, everything is there. Then he will understand. They will read these books . . . they are practical examples. I am poor Indian. I did not bribe them, neither I have money. (laughter) So now they have dedicated their life for this purpose. So I want to do it in a larger scale.
Mayor: Yes.
Prabhupāda: But I have no money. So if the authorities give me a place, and for feeding them necessary foodstuff, then I am sure it will be successful. These two things I want. I don't want any charges for my mantra. No. My mantra is open, Hare Kṛṣṇa, and there is no charge for it. And I have no necessity. I require a little clothing and two cāpāṭis, that's all. Anyone can bring. I thought Chicago is one of the important cities of your country. And when I first came, I saw this, it is vacant. So I thought if this house can be utilized in the beginning and we invite anyone, especially young men, come here, live with us at least for one week and associate with this chanting, dancing, and we give nice prasādam . . . there is no difficulty. We can attempt. And if the authorities give us this facility, at least for one year, then we shall talk of permanent. They can see the result.
Mayor: Would you use the facility, then, as sort of a center for all over the United States?
Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. We invite. As soon as they have got a leisure hour, let them come and live with us for one week and see the result. They can remain forever. It doesn't matter. But for experimental sake they can come, live with us and associate with us. It is not difficult. And we invite everyone. We have no such discrimination that black, white, Hindu, Muslim, Christian. No. Anyone. It is universal. Because we consider every living entity is part and parcel of God. That is a fact. We are teeny gods, part and parcel. The same quality we have got—in minute quantity. Quality is the same; quantity is less. So God is good, so we are also good. But we have become bad under circumstances. Just like under infection one becomes diseased.