When Rsabhadeva came in, Prabhupada immediately challenged him, "So we are preaching no intoxication and you are selling. Why? This is the same as saying, 'We don't eat meat but we keep a big, big slaughterhouse.' "
Rsabhadeva seemed taken aback by Srila Prabhupada's stern countenance and his strong disapproval. He replied that they thought it was all right to do it if the results were given to Krsna.
Prabhupada said firmly, "You are not Krsna-ized. You are an ordinary person! All our income should be by honest means."
"Well, we used the money to set up an honest business," Rsabhadeva replied, referring to a prasadam business he and his fellow deviates have set up.
Prabhupada shook his head in disgust. "That is like a bunch of thieves who say, 'Now let us divide the money honestly.' It is a ludicrous proposal." Prabhupada told him that he must stop his illicit activity forthwith.
In the face of Srila Prabhupada's unequivocal opposition Rsabhadeva agreed that he would stop. But he asked what he should do with the $70,000 they had already accumulated. He said that they had intended to use it to start a prasadam restaurant.
Srila Prabhupada told him to go ahead and begin the restaurant, reasoning that the money was already made and must now be used for a proper purpose. But he reiterated emphatically that no further illicit activity should go on.
- From "A Transcendental Diary Vol 4" by HG Hari Sauri Prabhu
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