June 6 1976 LA
Mahendra: Eating mahā-prasādam is also fasting.
Prabhupāda: Who says?
Mahendra: You said that to Paramahaṁsa Swami once.
Prabhupāda: And you heard from Paramahaṁsa.
Mahendra: No, I was in the room. It was when he was trying to observe Caturmāsya.
Prabhupāda: I never said that.
Mahendra: Oh, okay, I must have heard wrong.
Prabhupāda: If there is service and, on my fasting, service will be stopped, then I can take. First consideration, service. Now if somebody feels weak, he can take mahā-prasāda, render service.
(Note–so in the above short conversation we see and hear how our hearing is not so accurate even when we think we are “hearing” it correctly. )
BG 14.11-The manifestations of the mode of goodness can be experienced when all the gates of the body are illuminated by knowledge.
PURPORT-There are nine gates in the body: two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, the mouth, the genital and the anus. In every gate, when the symptom of goodness is illuminated, it should be understood that one has developed the mode of goodness. In the mode of goodness, one can see things in the right position, one can hear things in the right position, and one can taste things in the right position. One becomes cleansed inside and outside. In every gate there is development of the symptoms of happiness, and that is the position of goodness.
