Jyotirmāyī: I was thinking about that, that because the girls are trained like brahmacārīnis also in the gurukula, they should be also kept very, very simple, just like the little boys, brahmacārīs.
Prabhupāda: No, our life is simple. We don't want luxury. We don't want luxury, but as we are accustomed in so many ways, as far as possible. But life should be very simple. To increase unnecessary things unnecessarily, that is material life.
Jyotirmāyī: I was thinking in that way—simple clothes, no jewels, just like the boys, simple . . .
Prabhupāda: Don't say "no." But give a taste for the good, then it will be automatically "no." And if you say "no," then he'll . . . they will rebel. The four "no's," that is very difficult. Still they are breaking. No illicit sex, they are breaking. But if they develop Kṛṣṇa consciousness, this will be automatically "no." So don't bring many "no's," but give them positive life. Then it will be automatically "no." And if you say "no," that will be a struggle. This is the psychology. (coughing) Positive engagement is devotional service. So if they are attracted by devotional service, other things will be automatically "no." Paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate (BG 2.59). Just like Ekādaśī day. Ekādaśī day, we observe fasting. And there are many patients in the hospital, they are also fasting, but there is no "No." They'll, within heart, "If I get, I shall eat, I shall eat." But those who are devotee, they are voluntarily "no." The same fasting is going on for the devotees and the hospital patient. And that "no" and this "no," there is difference. Paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate. It is not meant for the mass of people, but at least if we keep a section of people ideal to the human society, they will be guided. At the present moment, there is no ideal section. Everyone is rascal, demons, rogue, everything. There is no ideal character. All politician, scientist, leader they are all drunkards and woman-hunters. So what they can lead? There is no ideal man in the society. The politicians are giving big, big speech in the United Nation. They'll go to the same hotel where another debauchee is dancing and drinking. That's all. That is his character. Is it not? So what he will do? He can give very big speech, that's all. What is his character? There is no ideal character in the present human society. Do they appreciate our these restriction?
Bhagavān: Our restrictions? Yes, they are impressed. They sometimes write about the gurukula that we are treating roughly the children by making them so austere. But every time they show the picture, the children are always happy.
Prabhupāda: (coughing) They have standardized their happiness on this principle—illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling. That is the standard. And if you deny that, they say: "Oh, it is impossible. This is the primary principles of life." Yes. Such a big man like Ronaldsay, he said: "Oh, it is impossible." He was a big man, philosopher, very nice gentleman—still he said: "Oh, it is impossible."