(Srila Prabhupada and disciples, Toronto, 1976)
Indian man: Śrīla Prabhupāda, you wrote a lot of books, and I'm very concerned about the books. A lot of devotees, they never read the books, but they're doing the chanting. It will progress them without reading the books? Because they're the most important...
Prabhupāda: But suppose one is illiterate, how he'll read? How he'll read if one is illiterate? That means he has no chance, because he's illiterate? Chanting is sufficient.
Devotee: Śrīla Prabhupāda? Is it possible for people in the most animalistic conditions of life such as the Eskimos, who need meat to survive—is it possible for these people to become purified?
Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. Kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ, śudhyanti (SB 2.4.18). They can be purified, by the guidance of the spiritual master.
Devotee (2): You've already proved that, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Prabhupāda: Hare Kṛṣṇa. (laughter)
(Srila Prabhupada Morning Walk, Toronto, June 21, 1976)
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