Devotee: Acyutānanda said he was making capatis one day, and there was a little, a nail this thin especially to keep the monkeys out, holding the door closed. So he heard a sound outside and thought somebody was coming, and, sure enough, the nail was lifted to see, and a monkey popped in, got his capatis and ran.
Prabhupāda: Yes, they are very clever.
Himāvatī: But after all, they're human beings also.
Prabhupāda: Monkey is the last species of life before being promoted to the human being. There are three animals: monkey and cow, and tiger. Lion... Yes.
Haṁsadūta: When that promotion comes, Śrīla Prabhupāda, they are not immediately born into a society like American or...?
Prabhupāda: No, no. Uncivilized, just like aborigine.
Haṁsadūta: Aborigines, negroes...
Prabhupāda: Human species. Then gradually they become born in civilized...
Haṁsadūta: It must be very difficult to get a birth in a civilized society.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Certainly. Therefore it is said, labdhvā sudurlabham. (SB 11.9.29) It is very rare, now, especially to take birth in India in the Vedic society. India means within this planet, the civilized Aryan family. Now Aryan families have degraded. Otherwise Aryan means progressive. So all over the world the Aryan families they have degraded. Otherwise the Vedic civilization was Aryan civilization.