Devotee (2): Śrīla Prabhupāda, when someone is sick, he willingly goes to the doctor.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Devotee (2): So...
Prabhupāda: That is the injunction of the Vedas. Tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum eva... (MU 1.2.12). Therefore these rascals should go to a bona fide guru.
Devotee (2): So how we can get them to willingly come...
Prabhupāda: Ah?
Devotee (2): ...to the guru?
Prabhupāda: Just like if you are diseased, you are suffering the pains, so naturally you shall be inclined how to reduce the pain, how to get out of...
Devotee (2): But the scientists...
Prabhupāda: But these rascals, even though are suffering three kinds of pains, tri-tāpa-yatna. Just like why you are covered? Because there is pain. Severe cold, similarly severe heat. So we are suffering, either summer season or winter season. We are suffering, tri-tāpa-yatna. There is suffering from our mind, from our body—this is natural suffering. There is bodily suffering, mental suffering, then suffering caused by other living entities. So we are always suffering. But still they're thinking that "We are happy." The disease is already there. Ah? Just like the Arabian do not want to give you petrol. That means there's suffering caused by other nations. So this is going on. They're simply trying to settle up. But the suffering is there. But they're not in their knowledge, that in spite of all their endeavors, the sufferings are there. What is the cause? Then whom shall I go to ask why the suffering is there? Tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum (MU 1.2.12). Therefore you must approach a person who knows how the suffering should be mitigated.
Yaśomatīnandana: But there's so many so-called gurus, Prabhupāda, how...
Prabhupāda: Then you cannot go to the so-called.
Yaśomatīnandana: How can you convince that we are the real genuine people?
Prabhupāda: That you will have to learn, just like you have to go to school, there is injunction. But if you do not know what is school, go to a cow farmer(?), then that is your fault. If I say, "You go and purchase this from the market," suppose you have to purchase gold, but you go to a storefront, milk seller, how you will get the gold? That intelligence you must have, that where gold can be had. You must go to the person who is dealing really with gold. But if you do not know, then you will be cheated. That much knowledge you must have.
Hṛdayānanda: That is book distribution.
Devotee (2): Just like there are some good schools and some bad schools.
Prabhupāda: And because now they're so fallen, they do not go, neither they know; therefore we are canvassing, "Here is a school."
Devotee (2): Yes.
Prabhupāda: That is our business. "Here is knowledge, come on."
Yaśomatīnandana: Still they won't go.
Prabhupāda: That is their misfortune.
Yaśomatīnandana: This is the only knowledge. Everybody else is distributing ignorance.
Prabhupāda: Yes.