Satsvarūpa: Translation: "Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, calmness, honesty, wisdom, knowledge and religiousness, these are the qualities by which the brāhmaṇas work."
Prabhupāda: That is the qualities of the highest intelligent class of men. So if you do not find such qualities, how his knowledge should be perfect? These are the qualities.
Dr. P. J. Saher: (German)
Vedavyāsa: He doubts that everyone is convinced about that.
Prabhupāda: Eh? Eh?
Vedavyāsa: He's doubting if we should convince them of that.
Prabhupāda: Well, who is not self-controlled, he'll not be convinced, because he'll think that he's rebellious, "I can do anything what I like. I can eat whatever I like." Now how he will like this idea of self-control?
Professor Durckheim: But one question, you see. These virtues have been always asked for by Christian churches also, exactly the same.
Prabhupāda: Everywhere it is.
Professor Durckheim: But then today we realize that the virtues are on one level with the vices. But there's something different. If you pass through the ascetic step you get somewhere, you see, where we can understand, for instance, if Christ says: "Let the dead bury their dead." A phrase like this appeals to a different level. So I think as long as you . . .
Prabhupāda: No. It is not different level. The advice is given according to the time, person. So if people follow Lord Christ and, I mean to say, instruction, that is also perfect. But they do not follow.
Professor Durckheim: They do not . . .?
Prabhupāda: They do not follow.
Professor Durckheim: Sure.
Prabhupāda: That's it. Otherwise, either you follow Bhagavad-gītā or Bible as they are, then you become gradually perfect. The difficulty is they do not follow. And still they're claiming, "I am Christian," "I am Hindu," "I am this," "I am that." Rubber stamp. No qualification, but rubber stamp. This is the defect.
Professor Durckheim: (German) (break)
Vedavyāsa: . . . qualifications on the material platform.
Prabhupāda: First of all acquire this material qualification. Then talk of spiritual. Just like I think in the university, if one wants to learn about law, he must be graduate first of all.
Professor Porsch: In India. Yes.
Prabhupāda: So you, first of all become graduate, then talk of law books. Similarly, you first of all become a brāhmaṇa, then you understand about Brahman, Absolute Truth. Without becoming brāhmaṇa, how you can understand?