Denver: June 28–July 5

After His Four-Day Visit To Los Angeles, Srila Prabhupada traveled to Denver, where a family of devotees was pleased to give their house, right across the street from the temple, for their spiritual master to live in during his visit. There Prabhupada would have mock debates with his sannyasi (renounced) disciples, showing them how to defeat other philosophies.

Prabhupada: What is the meaning of the Absolute Truth?

Devotee: That from which everything emanates.

Prabhupada: So everything must have come from something. No one can deny that. Now if you know what the Absolute Truth is we challenge you to present it.

Devotee: We agree that there is an Absolute Truth, but we cannot at this time say exactly what it is.

Prabhupada: Then you cannot say that the Vedic explanation is wrong. If you don't know what gold is and a friend gives it to you, saying, "Here is gold" how can you deny it? You have no knowledge, therefore you cannot claim it is not gold. Similarly, if you don't know what the Absolute Truth is, what grounds do you have for denying that Krsna is the Absolute Truth? If you don't accept our philosophy, then you must present your philosophy. But if you don't have a philosophy you must agree to hear from an authority who does.

Devotee: Yes, that argument is logical; we should at least listen to you. But we have heard so many versions of the "truth." Why should we accept your version?

Prabhupada: That is like saying, "I have come across so many counterfeit coins, why should I think there is a real coin?" No. Because there are counterfeit coins, therefore there must also be genuine coins. It is our misfortune that we are unable to distinguish the real coins from the counterfeit ones.

Devotee: You say that you are presenting the Absolute Truth and that the Absolute Truth is God, Krsna. But I think your position is dogmatic. There are many truths, many gods.

Prabhupada: The Absolute Truth is one; God is one. God cannot be many. If God has competition He cannot be God. If you don't admit Krsna is God then you present who God is. But if you don't know who God is or what God is then you cannot say that Krsna is not God. If you speak that way then you are being dogmatic. You do not know what God is, yet dogmatically you are saying that Krsna is not God. Therefore, we say that those who deny the supremacy of Lord Krsna are members of the owl civilization. The owls never open their eyes to see the sun. This is the unfortunate defect of conditioned souls; they demand to see God, but when God comes before them personally, or when He sends His pure representative, they cannot see.