Conversation with Srila Prabhupada
Jan 21 1977
Hari-sauri: So those persons who can’t come up to the standard of the temple life…
Prabhupada: Yes.
Hari-Sauri: …they should remain outside.
Prabhupada: That is above all the guṇas.
Ramesvara: That’s very rare. That is the most rare.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Ramesvara: Not every man. You always say it’s not possible for every man.
Prabhupada: No, that you cannot do. Because you are in the material world, how you can avoid the influence of material qualities? But our process is so nice that anyone can avoid if he follows. There is no difficulty.
Hari-sauri: But just like in our society we already have so many people who are initiated, but they can’t follow the principles very strictly.
Prabhupada: That’s all right. It will take some time. They’ll do it.
Hari-suari: They just have to be encouraged to keep that association.
Prabhupada: Therefore I stress in every letter, “Chant Hare Krishna at least sixteen times. Follow the principles.” That can be done.(?) This simple method will help. Even if he cannot strictly follow, still, whatever he has done, that is his asset. And it will give me more and more chance. So it is not actually lost. tyaktva sva-dharmam caranambujam harer (SB.1.5.17)
Hari-sauri: So we have to give allowances to such people. We have to give allowance?
Prabhupada: Allowance? It is not allowance, but give him instruction. It is up to him to follow or not to follow.
Hari-sauri: But we cannot give any compromise.
Prabhupada: No. This is the way. “But you are not able? All right, take little more time.“