Buddhist Monk (1): They interpret that they have, the God has created the cattle also for their food.
Prabhupāda: Yes. But that is... The cattle food is food for the non-civilized man. If you claim to be civilized, you cannot eat.
Buddhist Monk (1): (laughs) Live and let live. That's what I have been asking people wherever I go. They talk of culture, civilization, progress, development, living standards, education, equality, freedom, lots of things. I asked them to define this, and I asked them, "The animals are of two types: the carnivorous and the vegetarian. Of course, the carnivorous looks even fiercer. But where has one found in the forest so many thousands of animals slaughtered and lying at random? But man today, in the name of progress and civilization..."
Prabhupāda: Very, very good. Yes.
Buddhist Monk (1): Yeah. So they have gone, according to me, lower than our animal brothers.
Prabhupāda: Certainly, certainly. Your argument is very good.
Buddhist Monk (1): Of course, it's very very...
Prabhupāda: In the forest, there is no slaughterhouse, although they are carnivorous animals.
Buddhist Monk (1): Is the only way.
Prabhupāda: So actually in India the meat-eaters were always, but there was no slaughterhouse. The meat-eaters, they were allowed that "You can sacrifice one goat before the goddess Kālī and eat it." That means once in a month, restriction. And individual person... But no slaughterhouse. What is this nonsense, slaughterhouse? Big, big slaughterhouse. Trade with slaughterhouse. This is the... Even, even in India during Mohammedan period, there was no slaughterhouse. Individual, if he liked, he can kill one animal and eat. No slaughterhouse.
Buddhist Monk (1): No mass slaughters, no mass slaughters.
Prabhupāda: No. This is from the western world. This is very nice argument, that in the jungle there are carnivorous animals, but they don't maintain slaughterhouse. Neither they attack unless they are hungry. Otherwise, in Africa, there is national...
Haṁsadūta: Park.
Prabhupāda: All the animals are freely rotating.
Buddhist Monk (1): Or they think their life is in danger.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Buddhist Monk (1): If one radiates love and kindness...
Prabhupāda: That is another thing. Defense is allowed to everyone. You must defend. That is another thing. But ordinarily, not that because a lion has got jaws and teeth, therefore he's simply jumping over. Not like that. Even people have experienced that when the, these ferocious animals, they are not hungry, they don't attack. They don't attack.
Haṁsadūta: They don't bother.
Prabhupāda: No. Or if you keep a pet lion, give him sumptuously to eat, he'll not... That is experienced. I have seen in the World Fair in, in... One man was keeping a lion and a tiger, and playing just like with dog. Just like sometimes dogs, they pounce over the master. Same thing. They were doing like that. I have seen it. They have tamed the lion and tiger like that.
Buddhist Monk (1): Even the carnivores could be trained to be vegetarians.
Prabhupāda: Oh yes.
Buddhist Monk (1): They could easily be. It is only habit and custom.
Prabhupāda: But their nature is to eat meat. You have to give him. That is different thing. But they can be tamed. But not very trustworthy. (laughter)
Buddhist Monk (1): If they get a little irritated and hungry, they may go to gather.
Prabhupāda: No, if you give them nice food, they'll never attack you.