Prabhupāda: Yes. No. These rascals, they do not know that our process is most difficult. Because as soon as ask them that, "Give up meat-eating," it is very difficult task for them. And actually, it is very difficult for them. You see? That gentleman in Geneva, as long as I was talking about meat-eating, he became little disgusted.
Satsvarūpa: He said: "Why don't we speak of higher principles?"
Prabhupāda: Yes. Because this is the beginning of higher principles. "No, no, this may let . . . let it remain. Let us go to the higher principles." The rascal does not know that you cannot go without learning A-B-C-D, how you can ask for passing M.A. examination? But, "No, I do not know A-B-C-D, but let me go for passing M.A. examination." You see? This is A-B-C-D, that yeṣām anta gatam . . . (BG 7.28) Any sinful man, he cannot understand about God. It is not possible. Paraṁ dhāma pavitraṁ paramaṁ bhavān (BG 10.12). But without being pavitra, they want to go to the platform of understanding God.
Yogeśvara: Just like that Gene Herbert.
Prabhupāda: Huh?
Yogeśvara: Just like that Sanskritist in Geneva.
Prabhupāda: Yes. "I . . . I am smoking. I do not like to give it up." (laughter) You see?
Bhagavān: I think from here we have to walk on the sidewalk. There may be cars coming.
Prabhupāda: Hare Kṛṣṇa.
Bhagavān: Let Śrīla Prabhupāda . . .
Prabhupāda: It is very, very difficult for them. To give up intoxication, especially in the Western countries . . . that Lord Zetland, Marquis of Zetland, when one of my Godbrother went to London for preaching, so Lord Zetland said, "Can you make me a brāhmin?" And then he said: "Yes, why not? You have to give up these things: no illicit sex, no intoxication." He said: "Oh, it is impossible. For us, it is impossible." So actually, these four prohibitory rules is impossible for these rascals.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: They would rather die than give them up, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Prabhupāda: Yes. That is the . . . even our men, after so much training, they're also falling down. It is so difficult thing. Actually, it is the most difficult thing.
Bhagavān: The path down at the lake very big?
Prabhupāda: (japa)
Bhagavān: Would you like to walk down by the lake, or is this . . .?
Prabhupāda: No, no. It is all right. In India, also, although they are vegetarian, they cannot give up smoking even bīḍī. They cannot give up chewing pān. You see? This is very difficult task. I was thinking when I first came that as soon as I propose these things, because I have got experience that Lord Zetland said: "It is impossible," what they . . . they'll accept? And I'll have to go back again. But I did not make any compromise. Just like other rascal yogīs and svāmīs, they say: "Yes, yes. You can eat whatever you like. You can do whatever . . . you practice nose-pressing, that's all. And give me my fees. Then you'll learn . . . (indistinct) . . ." This is not possible.
Bhagavān: When you had your talk several years ago with the professor in Russia, he made the point, when you were discussing about the regulative principles, that if you follow these principles, then your life becomes very simple, and if you don't follow these principles, life becomes very complicated. He appreciated that one point.