Gaṇeśa: According to time, place and circumstance we must discriminate whether to eat meat, whether to eat the vegetables?
Prabhupāda: Yes, you must eat. But when good things are available, why should you eat bad things? You must be classified(?).
Paramahaṁsa: Was there a story? The Hindus always tell this story about, I think, Viśvāmitra Ṛṣi eating a dog or something?
Prabhupāda: Sometimes. There was no food.
Paramahaṁsa: Yes. They like that story. What about in the Buddhist philosophy? We understand that. . .
Prabhupāda: No killing.
Paramahaṁsa: . . .in the higher stage. . .
Prabhupāda: No killing.
Paramahaṁsa: Yes, but the Buddhist monks, when they beg, they simply accept whatever alms they receive, and if they receive meat then they'll eat that, and if they receive some raw grains then they'll eat that. Actually that is a higher state of renunciation.
Amogha: And if they receive some cigarettes they'll smoke that.
Paramahaṁsa: Yes, and if they receive. . . They'll take anything, they are so renounced. So isn't that more. . . more spiritual?
Prabhupāda: They have no idea what is spiritual. Buddha's religion is not a spiritual. It is material. If I. . . "If you kill me, I feel pain; therefore I shall not kill you." This is.
Amogha: Recently we received a letter from a Chinese man in Singapore. He wants all of your books. He wants to know how much.
Prabhupāda: Oh? You have supplied?
Amogha: Well, I just received it. I will answer him and tell him the cost. I will supply him, yes.
Prabhupāda: Chinese man from. . .?
Amogha: Singapore.
Prabhupāda: Singapore.
Amogha: That is the country that doesn't like us to come in. Just below Malaysia.
Prabhupāda: In the beginning don't talk of these details. Just try to convince about the philosophy. "What is the nature of God? What is your nature? How we are related," like that.
Paramahaṁsa: By details, do you mean the rules and regulations?
Prabhupāda: No, that is not in the beginning.