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| EDITORIAL December 2, 1998 VNN2602 See Related VNN Stories The ISKCON Guru-Tattva Mystery BY MADHUDVISA DASA EDITORIAL, Dec 2 (VNN) — I have been requested to write some news articles for one of the many Hare Krishna Web-sites. So this request brings up so many issues and please forgive my for trying to reveal my mind. After all that's one of the six loving reciprocations between devotees mentioned by Srila Rupa Goswami in his "Nectar of Instruction." Please do not take offense and please give me your blessings so I can somehow become a sincere servant of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami and his disciples. "The so-called scholars and politicians, they misinterpret in a different way and mislead the people. That is going on. Therefore, in spite of Bhagavad-gita being read all over the world for the last two hundred years, not a single person became a devotee of Krsna. This is the defect. So let us try to understand Krsna through Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and as we have repeatedly said, that 'Through Caitanya Mahaprabhu you understand Krsna and spread this cult all over the world.' People are suffering for want of knowledge of Krsna. So this movement especially meant to establish the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is that you become, every one of you, you become a guru. How to become guru? Now, yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa. Simply that qualification is sufficient. Don't adulterate the 'krsna'-upadesa. You simply present what Krsna says as it is. Then every one of you will become a guru. Don't adulterate--'I think,' 'In my opinion.' These nonsense things should be given up. We should always be aware that we are insignificant creature. Our opinion and thinking has no value. This should be the first principle. Why should you give opinion on the words of Krsna? Are you more authoritative person than Krsna? This is foolishness, to try to become more than Krsna. There are so many rascals. They present that 'Now we have advanced. We know more than Krsna.' So be saved from these rascals. Then you will understand Krsna, and through Caitanya Mahaprabhu you will understand what is the position of Krsna, what is your relationship with Krsna, what is the ultimate goal of life. These things will be clearly exhibited." (750328CC.MAY) ISKCON's "Chakra" website for example proudly announces that they "only present their OWN opinions [not the GBC's!]" But the problem is we're not supposed to present our "OWN OPINIONS..." What's the value of our "OWN OPINIONS?" This is a very, very basic point, but no one seems to know it anymore. We have to give up our "own opinion" and accept Krishna's opinion from the Sastras and the real bona fide pure devotee Spiritual Master. "The writing of Vaisnava literatures is not a function for ordinary men. Vaisnava literatures are not mental concoctions. They are all authorized literature meant to guide those who are going to be Vaisnavas. Under these circumstances, an ordinary man cannot give his own opinion. His opinion must always correspond with the conclusion of the Vedas. Unless one is fully qualified in Vaisnava behavior and authorized by superior authority (the Supreme Personality of Godhead), one cannot write Vaisnava literatures or purports and commentaries on Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita." (Madhya 24.326) Our business is simply to hear from the pure devotee, the bona-fide spiritual master and Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita and Krishna's pure devotees in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, put the teachings into practice in our own lives and when we are actually following simply repeat KRISHNA'S OPINION for the benefit of others. That is our business, our only business. And that is the simple qualification of a bona fide guru. HE DOES NOT HAVE HIS OWN OPINION. He simply repeats Krishna's words. Krishna says: "Surrender to Me," and a real guru, a pure devotee says "Surrender to Krishna." Krishna says: "Whatever you eat, whatever charity you give, whatever you do, do it for Me," so the devotee says: "Whatever you do..., do it for Krishna..." So it is a very basic point really. "It is Vedic injunction. Somebody was asking whether guru is absolutely necessary. Yes, absolutely necessary. That is the Vedic injunction. The Vedas say, tad-vijnanartham. Tad-vijnana means spiritual knowledge. Spiritual knowledge; for acquiring spiritual knowledge. Tad-vijnanartham. Sa--one; gurum eva--eva means must; gurum--to a guru. Must go to guru. Not "a" guru; "the" guru. Guru is one. Because as it is explained by our Revatinandana Maharaja, guru is coming from the disciplic succession. What five thousand years ago Vyasadeva instructed or Krsna instructed, the same thing we are also instructing. Therefore there is no difference between instruction. Therefore guru is one. Although hundreds and thousands of acaryas have come and gone, but the message is one. Therefore guru cannot be two. Real guru will not talk differently. Some guru says that "In my opinion, you should like this," and some guru will say, "In my opinion you'll do this"--they are not guru; they are all rascals. Guru has no "own" opinion. Guru has got only one opinion, the same opinion which was expressed by Krsna, Vyasadeva or Narada or Arjuna or Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu or the Gosvamis. You'll find the same thing. Five thousand years ago, Lord Sri Krsna spoke Bhagavad-gita and Vyasadeva wrote it, recorded it. Vyasadeva does not say that "It is my opinion." Vyasadeva writes, sri bhagavan uvaca: "Whatever writing, it is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead." He's not giving his own opinion. Sri bhagavan uvaca. Therefore he is guru. He is not misinterpreting the words of Krsna. He's giving as it is. Just like a bearer, peon. Somebody has written you letter, the peon has got the letter. It does not mean he has to correct it or edit it or addition or... No. He'll present it. That is his duty. Then he is guru. He's honest. Similarly, guru cannot be two. Mind that. The person may be different, but the message is the same. Therefore guru is one." (730822LE.LON) When devotees meet and associate they don't like to talk prajalpa and politics. It's a waste of time and energy. A devotee has unlimited subject matter to talk about and discuss with the other devotees about Krishna and Lord Caitanya and Srila Prabhupada and realizations from book distribution and preaching. Devotees are always reading and distributing Srila Prabhupada's books and repeating the contents to whoever they meet. yare deka tare kaha krsna upadesa amarajna guru hana tara ei desh. "Just talk about Krishna, narrate the pastimes of Krishna, and you will become a guru..." "You are right that politics should be avoided. In my personal life I did not participate in the political diplomacy of my god-brothers. I was simply thinking how to fulfill the order of my guru maharaj. He gave me his blessings, and I was saved from any implication. Now I am trying to carry out his instructions strictly, and it has come out successful." (74-10-18 Letter: Gangamayi) Nowadays many devotees are twisting the philosophy, one way or another, to suit their own personal opinion. Krishna consciousness may sometimes be difficult to understand, it may sometimes seem contradictory, it may not agree with our opinion, but that's our imperfection... It's our business to present it "As It Is" without adulteration or change... Even if it doesn't agree with what we think. We have to change our thinking, not twist the philosophy to suit... "The simplest thing for human beings is to follow their predecessors. Judgment according to mundane senses is not a very easy process. Whatever is awakened by attachment to one's predecessor is the way of devotional service as indicated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The author says, however, that he cannot consider the opinions of those who become attracted or repelled by such things, because one cannot write impartially in that way. In other words, the author is stating that he did not inject personal opinion in the Caitanya-caritamrta. He has simply described his spontaneous understanding from superiors. If he had been carried away by someone's likes and dislikes, he could not have written of such a sublime subject matter in such an easy way. The actual facts are understandable to real devotees. When these facts are recorded, they are very congenial to the devotees, but one who is not a devotee cannot understand. Such is the subject matter for realization. Mundane scholarship and its concomitant attachments and detachments cannot arouse spontaneous love of Godhead. Such love cannot be described by a mundane scholar." (Madhya 2.86) ISKCON appoint so many gurus who generally don't even have the simple, basic qualification of only speaking what Krishna and Srila Prabhupada said and strictly following the principles of Krishna consciousness in their own lives. In this way ISKCON are cheating the whole world out of Krishna consciousness and sending whatever fools agree to take initiation from gurus who can't deliver them back to Godhead to Hell with their "guru"... [Of course almost everyone is a fool in Kali-yuga, however, ISKCON should save the fools by allowing them to take shelter of a real, bona fide, pure devotee, uttama-adikari spiritual master... Instead they send them to Hell with often well-meaning but unqualified gurus...] "So Bhagavad-gita is krsna-upadesa. Directly Krsna giving the instruction. And Srimad-Bhagavatam is the instruction about Krsna. So this is our business. We have become guru, spiritual master, not with a false position, that 'I have become God.' No. We are servant, simply servant, ordinary servant. Just like post peon. Not very high salaried servant. Ordinary, third-class servant. What is our business? To deliver the letter. That's all. 'Here is your letter, sir.' So to become spiritual master is not very difficult. Any ordinary man can become, provided he becomes a pure servant, delivering the letter. 'Here is Krsna's message, sir. You surrender to Krsna.' Krsna says, 'Surrender unto Me.' We, spiritual master, we say, 'Surrender to Krsna.' Where is my difficulty? I haven't got to manufacture things by high meditation and tapasya. This is tapasya, simply to become a faithful servant of Krsna. That's all. So where is the difficulty? This is tapasya, that 'I shall not speak anything beyond what Krsna has spoken.' This is tapasya. But if I want to adulterate, 'Oh, I am bigger than Krsna. I am greater than Krsna. I am Krsna,' then you spoil the whole thing. That's all. Therefore it is warned: idam te na atapaskaya nabhaktaya kadacana. 'Never speak to rascals.' Na ca asusrusave. One who's not... Here is another opportunity, one is eager to hear." (721209BG.AHM) Of course the "other side," the "ISKCON Reform Group" are twisting the philosophy another way to suit their opinion... Although Srila Prabhupada clearly describes hundreds of times the process of becoming guru, they twist it in such a way that they argue Prabhupada never meant any of his disciples to actually become "regular" gurus ever! In this way they have made their whole ritvik presentation impossible for any serious devotee who has read Srila Prabhupada's books to accept. How can they ever expect ISKCON to accept such nonsense? If one takes the time to actually read all Srila Prabhupada's books, listen to all his classes and read all his letters one will find the repeated message that Prabhupada's mission is to create at least one pure devotee. "What is the use of many stars, what will many stars do? If we can just get one moon..." "We want one sincere person who has learned to love God, Krsna. That's all. I have come to your country with this mission, and if I find one or two boys or girls sincerely have learned how to love God, Krsna, then my mission is successful. I'm not after any number of... Because if I can turn one soul to this Krsna consciousness, he'll do tremendous work, because he'll be fire. You see? He can do tremendous work. Ekas candras tamo hanti na ca tarah sahasrasah. One moon is complete to drive away the darkness of night, not millions of stars required. What these millions of stars can do? One moon is sufficient. So our propaganda is to create one moon. You see? But fortunately, by Krsna's grace, many moonlike boys and girls have come to me. You see? Many moons. (chuckles) I was thinking of having only one moon, but Krsna... I am hopeful that there are many moons, and in future they'll be doing very nice." (690412LE.NY) So while Prabhupada wants at least one moon [and hopefully many] so the pure moonshine of Krishna consciousness will shine through them and the whole world will be purified by their empowered preaching... they say: "No more moons... We've had enough bogus moons from ISKCON thank you very much..." But Prabhupada wants to create at least one REAL moon and he says this many times therefore this "no more gurus ever" philosophy is a most misleading presentation indeed. Of course Prabhupada established the ritvik initiation system as there was no qualified acarya visible at the time of his departure. He did not appoint "Zonal Acaryas" as ISKCON would still have us believe... "Still he [Srila Bhaktsiddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada] requested his disciples to form a strong Governing body for preaching the cult of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He never recommended anyone to be acarya of the Gaudiya Math. But Sridhara Maharaja is responsible for disobeying this order of Guru Maharaja, and he and others who are already dead unnecessarily thought that there must be one acarya. "If Guru Maharaja could have seen someone who was qualified at that time to be acarya he would have mentioned. Because on the night before he passed away he talked of so many things, but never mentioned an acarya. His idea was acarya was not to be nominated amongst the governing body. He said openly you make a GBC and conduct the mission. "So his idea was amongst the members of GBC who would come out successful and self effulgent acarya would be automatically selected. "So Sridhara Maharaja and his two associate gentlemen unauthorizedly selected one acarya and later it proved a failure. The result is now everyone is claiming to be acarya even though they may be kanistha adhikari with no ability to preach. In some of the camps the acarya is being changed three times a year. "Therefore we may not commit the same mistake in our ISKCON camp." ISKCON try to twist everything to say Srila Prabhupada "could not have established a ritvik system..." and that he appointed "Zonal Acaryas." But Prabhupada did establish a ritvik system to continue initiations in ISKCON after his physical departure and he DID NOT appoint "Zonal Acaryas." However, Prabhupada's mission is to create at least one self-effulgent moon... As Srila Prabhupada's disciples we are bound to accept BOTH things even if we can't understand it or don't agree with it. We can not try to adjust everything Prabhupada said to suit "our opinion." We have to simply hear Srila Prabhupada, follow his direct orders, including the July 9th letter, and preach the pure philosophy of Krishna consciousness and Krishna will reveal everything to us in due course of time... "...Recently when all of the GBC members were with His Divine Grace in Vrndavana ['There is no hope of life. Therefore we have called you. This condition is hopeless. We have given our will. Now we can... If I die in Vrndavana, there is no harm.'(May 29 conversation)] Srila Prabhupada indicated that soon He would appoint some of His senior disciples to act as 'ritvik--representative of the acarya,' for the purpose of performing initiations, both first initiation and second initiation. His Divine Grace has so far given a list of eleven disciples who will act in that capacity..." [from July 9th letter] "I am very pleased that you have taken up this mission of spreading the Krsna consciousness movement all over the world. This is the wish of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu that, yare dakho tare kaho krsna upadesa, everyone you see or meet, tell him about krsna; amara ajnaya guru haya tara ei desa, and by My command you become a guru and save this land. This was also the mission of my guru maharaj and it is my mission. You will perfect your life if you make it also your mission." (76-09-01 Letter: Jagajivana) We have to accept both things... On a full-moon night, it's very difficult to miss the moon. Of course one can close his eyes if he wants to, that's another thing. The moon is self-effulgent. Everyone can see the bright, illuminating, soothing rays of the moon. [it doesn't need GBC approval!] "A jealous person in the dress of a Vaisnava is not at all happy to see the success of another Vaisnava in receiving the Lord's mercy. Unfortunately in this Age of Kali there are many mundane persons in the dress of Vaisnavas, and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has described them as disciples of Kali. He says, kali-cela. He indicates that there is another Vaisnava, a pseudoVaisnava with tilaka on his nose and kanthi beads around his neck. Such a pseudoVaisnava associates with money and women and is jealous of successful Vaisnavas. Although passing for a Vaisnava, his only business is earning money in the dress of a Vaisnava. Bhaktivinoda Thakura therefore says that such a pseudoVaisnava is not a Vaisnava at all but a disciple of Kali-yuga. A disciple of Kali cannot become an acarya by the decision of some high court. Mundane votes have no jurisdiction to elect a Vaisnava acarya. A Vaisnava acarya is self-effulgent, and there is no need for any court judgment. A false acarya may try to override a Vaisnava by a high-court decision, but Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that he is nothing but a disciple of Kali-yuga." (Madhya 1.220) When Srila Prabhupada, blindly following the orders of His spiritual master, His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktsiddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada, went to the USA with only some books and determination to follow his Spiritual Master's orders [which seemed impossible to his godbrothers at that time], "Make the western melechas and yavanas into pure Vaisnavas? Impossible! It has never been done before..." Who could have imagined that only 12 years later there would be a huge world-wide society of devotees of Krishna blissfully chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, and blissfully distributing millions of Srila Prabhupada's books and BTG's every month and blissfully preaching on every continent of the earth... "We can say all these big so-called philosophers are all simply mudhas. Perhaps I am the first to do it. Our philosophy is perfect, and we cannot be defeated by anyone. So it is up to you to learn it and be able to present it nicely. Now you have everything, respect, philosophy, money, temples, books, all these things I have given, but I am an old man and my notice is already there. Now it is up to you all how to manage it. If you cannot increase it, you should at least maintain what I have given you. You cannot accuse me that I have not given you anything. So it is a great responsibility you now have." (75-08-26 Letter: Jagannatha-suta) There's practically no one on this planet, at least in the Western countries, who didn't experience some of the moonshine of Srila Prabhupada's pure Krishna consciousness movement in his physical presence. Who could miss the street Sankirtana [chanting Hare Krishna] on the streets of the all the worlds' great cities by dozens [sometimes hundreds] of ecstatic, bright-faced Hare Krishna devotees, who could miss the book distributors? No one... "...At the present moment there is a similar need to perform sankirtana-yajna all over the world. The Krsna consciousness movement has started performing sankirtana-yajna in different places, and it has been experienced that wherever sankirtana-yajna is performed, many thousands of people gather and take part in it. Imperceptible auspiciousness achieved in this connection should be continued all over the world. The members of the Krsna consciousness movement should perform sankirtana-yajnas one after another, so much that all the people of the world will either jokingly or seriously chant Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, and thus they will derive the benefit of cleansing the heart. The holy name of the Lord (harer nama) is so powerful that whether it is chanted jokingly or seriously the effect of vibrating this transcendental sound will be equally distributed... It is within our means to perform sankirtana-yajna, which does not cost anything. One can sit down anywhere and chant Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. If the surface of the globe is overflooded with the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra, the people of the world will be very, very happy." (SB 4.24.10) Who could imagine that just 12 years later the GBC Srila Prabhupada appointed to protect and direct his movement could have destroyed practically everything Srila Prabhupada worked so hard to create by promoting so many unqualified gurus without the moon-like self-effulgent preaching potency of Srila Prabhupada, unable to even take themselves back home, Back to Godhead, what to speak of their disciples, as "non-different from Srila Prabhupada"... Prabhupada: Now you try to manage the whole world organization and all GBC men. Suppose I am not there. Manage very nicely. Independently. Not to create havoc. But really to manage. I am still present; I will give you direction. Don't spoil it. We are in very good, prestigious position. That is sure. Don't spoil it. So much hard labor. I started with very humble condition. Now it has come to this, such exalted position. You don't spoil it. That is my request. Increase. That will depend on your character, behavior, preaching. Everyone knows. Everyone is astonished. Without any help, I started. Only asset was sincere... Everyone knows it. Otherwise how it is possible? (770410rc.bom) Prabhupada: Hm? Stryadhisa. So after getting that shelter, I began to grow. Everything was very precarious condition--vagabond. I was selling some books. I thought that "This boy will be trained up" when I got that place. He invited me to "Come to my loft." It was very big loft. I was holding class, collecting ten dollars. Then he was not paying rent. He gave me the charge of paying rent. So Krsna was giving by collecting. It was on the top. Still, people were coming. Great story. Never mind. Now we... From my part, whatever is possible. Now you take care. That is my request. Don't spoil it. Now it is up to you. My, this ailment... I can pass away at any moment. My health is not good. I am old man. It is not surprising. Now you GBC, young boys, all, American, expert, you have got all intelligence, resources, so don't spoil. Let the movements go forward more and more. Now you have got nice places, filled with devotees. Don't be anxious for me. That, Krsna will take. And even if I go, where is the harm? Old man. I have given my ideas and direction in my books. People appreciate. I think from my side I have done everything. Is it not? Do you think or not? (770429rc.bom) Prabhupada: So far money is here, scattered, you can take charge and do the needful. I kept some money here, there, just to... But now you can take charge of the all money, one or two or three of you, and let me remain free from all management. And only request is, don't spoil it. I sometimes chastise everyone that may not be spoiled. You are taking care of everything, but still more careful. I can live without any food, simply taking these fruits. There is no difficulty. (770429rc.bom) Bhavananda: I noticed, Srila Prabhupada, your complexion is yellowish. Liver is... Prabhupada: There is no hope of life. Therefore we have called you. This condition is hopeless. We have given our will. Now we can... If I die in Vrndavana, there is no harm. But Krsna can play anything wonderful. But from physical condition there is no hope. Bhavananda: But Krsna is Paramesvara. Prabhupada: (laughs) Yes. That is another thing. Bhavananda: That is all of our prayer. Prabhupada: We have become very, very weak. No appetite. The brain is not working. Brain is working, but body is not allowing... Don't worry. Everyone will die, today or tomorrow. I am also old man. There is nothing to be regrettable. So as far as possible in my body, I am complete... Now it is up to Krsna to judge... I have no objection. Bhavananda: What can we do, Srila Prabhupada? Prabhupada: You can pray Krsna. That's all. Krsna is all-powerful. I am only requesting that whatever I have done, you don't spoil it. That's all. Think this. I am getting report, very hopeful, as you gave report from Mayapura, very good. (770524dc.vrn) ISKCON no longer provides the opportunity to take shelter of Srila Prabhupada... "Sorry Prabhu, Prabhupada's dead, you need a living guru..." Even if you dream such a thought of taking shelter of Srila Prabhupada they will bash you, call you a "heretic", a "dirty, stinking ritvik," throw you out of the temple, ban you from all the temples in the world, etc. The result, no more bright shining faces, no more bliss, practically no more distribution and printing of Srila Prabhupada's books. Even if they print any of Prabhupada's books at all they take the opportunity to "Revise and Enlarge" them to incorporate the realizations and "corrections" of the BBT editors and change the style to something "more modern, more acceptable to the scholars..." than Srila Prabhupada's style... [Somebody has written you letter, the peon has got the letter. It does not mean he has to correct it or edit it or addition or... No. He'll present it. That is his duty. Then he is guru. He's honest.] And of course there's that little bit at the end of the new books inserted "Krishna Consciousness at Home" containing the latest version of the ISKCON "guru-tattva." ISKCON have also introduced hundreds of other so-called "bona fide" books written by devotees who are admittedly not pure devotees, but approved by the GBC and published by the BBT and so many others. These books are being presented and sold by ISKCON as being "non-different" to Prabhupada's books... In fact it's sometimes difficult to find ANY of Srila Prabhupda's books on an ISKCON book table today... "Transcendental literature that strictly follows the Vedic principles and the conclusion of the Puranas and pancaratrika-vidhi can be written only by a pure devotee." (Adi 8.39) "A Vaisnava always follows the order of guru and Krsna. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta was written by Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami by their mercy. Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami considered all the devotees that have been mentioned to be his preceptor gurus, or spiritual masters, and Madana-gopala (Sri Madana-mohana vigraha) is Krsna Himself. Thus he took permission from both of them, and when he received the mercy of both guru and Krsna, he was able to write this great literature, Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. This example should be followed. Anyone who attempts to write about Krsna must first take permission from the spiritual master and Krsna. Krsna is situated in everyone's heart, and the spiritual master is His direct external representative. Thus Krsna is situated antar-bahih, within and without. One must first become a pure devotee by following the strict regulative principles and chanting sixteen rounds daily, and when one thinks that he is actually on the Vaisnava platform, he must then take permission from the spiritual master, and that permission must also be confirmed by Krsna from within his heart. Then, if one is very sincere and pure, he can write transcendental literature, either prose or poetry." (Adi 8.73) "So Krsna is para-tattva, accepted by all acaryas. We are not talking of the fools and rascals who are theorizing without any knowledge. We are concerned with the authorities. So authorities... Especially in India, the whole Vedic system is being followed by the people under the authorities of the acarya. Acaryavan puruso veda. One who is following the path of the acaryas, he knows. Acaryavan puruso veda. We cannot accept anyone as authority if he does not follow the parampara, disciplic succession of acarya. That is the Vedic system. Evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh. So Krsna is para-tattva. Na caitanyat krsnat jagati para-tattvam param iha. He is very emphatically asserting that 'There is no more greater truth than Krsna and Krsna Caitanya.' So according to the Vedic system, if you say something very emphatically, you must prove by Vedic evidences. Otherwise you can go on talking; nobody will hear. Sometimes people ask us about Krsna and Caitanya Mahaprabhu, that 'What is the Vedic evidences?' So that Vedic evidences will be given, later chapters of Caitanya-caritamrta. He is not falsely asserting. Kaviraja Gosvami is very, very advanced devotee and scholar. He is not ordinary human being. He was empowered by Madana-mohana. "So nobody should try to write any Vedic literature. Vedic literature means the sruti, smrti, Purana. They are Vedic literature. Therefore Srila Rupa Gosvami has also confirmed, sruti-smrti-puranadi- pancaratriki-vidhim vina aikantiki harer bhaktih utpatayaiva kalpate "Utpata, simply disturbance. Yata mat tata patha: 'I can manufacture my own way.' This rascaldom has been condemned by Srila Rupa Gosvami. He says that harer bhaktih... You will find many so-called bhaktas crying, falling down on the ground. But immediately after, he is smoking bidi. So why this is going on? Because they do not follow the injunction of Srila Rupa Gosvami. Chanting, dancing very loudly, and after the performance is finished--I have seen it--'Can you give me a bidi?' You see? 'My throat is now dried up.' So this is utpata. Srila Rupa Gosvami has described this kind of so-called devotional attitude is simply disturbance. They imitate. Imitate. Therefore Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has condemned. There are so many apa-sampradaya going on in the name of Caitanya Mahaprabhu's devotee. Who are they? Aula, baula, karttabhaja, neda, daravesa, sani, sahajiya, sakhibheki, smarta, jata-gosani. Then ativadi, cudadhari, gauranga-nagari, tota kahe ei tara sanga nahi kori: Tota Babaji, he says, 'I do not associate with these classes of men.' So after disappearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, so many apa-sampradaya sprang up. So we should be very much careful that... Sampradaya means who are carefully following the Vedic principle. Therefore Kaviraja Gosvami, although asserting the truth, he is prepared to give Vedic evidences." (750327CC.MAY) Now, a bhakta in ISKCON doesn't have the option of selecting a pure devotee, uttama-adakiri as his spiritual master. If he does his days in ISKCON are very limited... He doesn't get the opportunity to hear the pure philosophy in the Bhagavatam Class as these days we are "proud" of having our "OWN OPINION," so practically all the Bhagavatam speakers do not follow the actual process for reciting the Bhagavatam, which is simply to present the Bhagavatam as it is and explain it following Srila Prabhupada's purport without injecting any personal ideas or twisting it this way or that... "...You are an elder disciple and you have heard what I am speaking, so you should just speak what you have heard and it will have potent effect. This is the power of the parampara, disciplic succession. So you must be prepared to meet all opposition because practically everyone is mayavadi. They do not have faith in Krishna's words in Bhagavad-gita. Therefore we have a great responsibility to present Krishna's words without any change. Please do the needful. Your speaking should be continued." (74-11-14 Letter: Patita Uddharana) "...The test is that so many new devotees are coming. That is a very good sign. Now you must take care to train them very nicely. They are voluntarily giving their lives to Krishna, so as president you must see that they are always happy and satisfied in Krishna Consciousness. Then they will not go away. Your proposals for teaching them our philosophy are very good. But if we try artificially to explain sastra in our own words, there is every danger of interpretation and speculation. First the student must be able to repeat exactly the words of the guru and then after some time he may be qualified to apply the principles he has learned word-for-word to personal situations. It is not that we are a dry philosophy of dogmas and slogans. No. The language of Krishna Consciousness is ever-fresh and we can explain everything by it, just like my Guru Maharaja once lectured for three months on one verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam. But every precaution must be taken to preserve our basic guiding principles as they are and not change them because we want to hear something new." (71-11-20 Letter: Bhakta dasa) Instead of being encouraged to read Srila Prabhupada's books, the new bhakta is encouraged to read so many questionable "new" books by so many ISKCON devotees... Instead of being encouraged to hear Srila Prabhupada's classes there are so many other "gurus" who have recorded their classes and their disciples will certainly provide the new bhakta with a bewildering array of slightly different versions of the philosophy to choose from... And then comes the big decision... "Which clique in the temple should I join?" Of course there's a great deal of friction between "gurus" in ISKCON, so there's also a great deal of friction between their disciples... If the "guru" doesn't like another "guru" then his disciples don't like the other gurus disciples... So it's hell really and the new bhakta has to decide first who he wants to "hang around" with in the temple then he has to "aspire" to take initiation from their "guru." And that's it. That's [generally] the end of his spiritual life. Another one bites the dust [back to maya]... He stops chanting Srila Prabhupada's pranams, he chants his "aspiring spiritual master's" instead, he stops hearing Srila Prabhupada's classes [if he ever started in the first place] and hears his "aspiring guru's" instead, mostly also his aspiring guru will have some books he can read instead of Srila Prabhupada's... He's educated to always think of his aspiring guru [not Krishna or Srila Prabhupada...] Even during Srila Prabhupada's Guru Puja he's instructed to meditate on the guru he aspires to take initiation from instead of Srila Prabhupada [as it is offensive for him to approach Srila Prabhupada directly...] "One cannot come to the precincts of Krsna consciousness unless he touches the dust of the lotus feet of a person who has become a mahatma, a great devotee. This is the beginning of the surrendering process. Lord Krsna wants everyone to surrender unto Him, and this surrendering process begins when one touches the lotus feet of a bona fide spiritual master. By sincerely rendering service to a bona fide spiritual master, one begins his spiritual life in Krsna consciousness. Touching the lotus feet of a spiritual master means giving up one's false prestige and unnecessarily puffed-up position in the material world. Those who remain in the darkness of material existence due to their falsely prestigious positions--so-called scientists and philosophers--are actually atheists. They do not know the ultimate cause of everything. Although bewildered, they are not ready to surrender themselves to the lotus feet of a person who knows things in their proper perspective. In other words, one cannot arouse Krsna consciousness simply by his own mental speculation. One must surrender to a bona fide spiritual master. Only this process will help one." (SB 4.26.20) Even if a guru is a pure devotee in ISKCON today he can't do very much to help his disciples back home, back to Godhead as he has no authority over his disciples!! "Disciple" means to accept the discipline of the guru, but gurus in ISKCON cannot give any instruction to their disciple which is not approved by the GBC and Temple President! Just see the fun! So they have made the guru something like the Queen of England... A figurehead with no practical authority at all. "So if we actually want to be happy, then we should not live like animals, without any restriction, without any... Even in your state, just to keep proper management of the state, there are so many laws. Even you... As soon as you go on the street, you see there is state law immediately, 'Keep to the right.' Discipline must be there. That is dharma, discipline, to abide by the state laws. There must be some discipline. Similarly, to make yourself advanced in spiritual life, you must have to observe the discipline. Without discipline, it is not possible. Adau gurvasrayam. Therefore Rupa Gosvami says in his Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu that discipline means, one who observes discipline, he is called disciple. Everyone knows it. Disciple means one who observes discipline. If one does not observe discipline, then he is not a disciple. And one who is not a disciple, his life is chaotic. He cannot be happy. Therefore Vedas say that 'You must accept a bona fide guru and become disciplined under his instruction.' Then you'll know the higher system of knowledge, the necessity of life, and thus you become happy. (740121SB.HAW) Often, in todays ISKCON, it's a case of the cheaters and the cheated. It has become almost like any mundane organization. ISKCON offers free accommodation, free food and an easy life, all one has to do is pretend to surrender to a "bona fide ISKCON guru...", pretend to chant 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra and pretend to follow the four regulative principles... So they have some customers... But not many moons. Actually if they get a moon he would not be very welcome or comfortable in todays ISKCON... "'One who is inquisitive to understand the highest goal and benefit of life must approach a bona fide spiritual master and surrender unto him.' A serious disciple must be alert when selecting a bona fide spiritual master. He must be sure that the spiritual master can deliver all the transcendental necessities. The spiritual master must observe how inquisitive the disciple is and how eager he is to understand the transcendental subject matter. The spiritual master should study the disciple's inquisitiveness for no less than six months or a year. A spiritual master should not be very anxious to accept a disciple because of his material opulences. Sometimes a big businessman or landlord may approach a spiritual master for initiation. Those who are materially interested are called visayis (karmis), which indicates that they are very fond of sense gratification. Such visayis sometimes approach a famous guru and ask to become a disciple just as a matter of fashion. Sometimes visayis pose as disciples of a reputed spiritual master just to cover their activities and advertise themselves as advanced in spiritual knowledge. In other words, they want to attain material success. A spiritual master must be very careful in this regard. Such business is going on all over the world. The spiritual master does not accept a materially opulent disciple just to advertise the fact that he has such a big disciple. He knows that by associating with such visayi disciples, he may fall down. One who accepts a visayi disciple is not a bona fide spiritual master. Even if he is, his position may be damaged due to association with an unscrupulous visayi. If a so-called spiritual master accepts a disciple for his personal benefit or for material gain, the relationship between the spiritual master and the disciple turns into a material affair, and the spiritual master becomes like a smarta-guru. There are many caste gosvamis who professionally create some disciples who do not care for them or their instructions. Such spiritual masters are satisfied simply to get some material benefits from their disciples. Such a relationship is condemned by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, who calls such spiritual masters and disciples a society of cheaters and cheated. They are also called baulas or prakrta-sahajiyas. Their aim is to make the connection between the spiritual master and the disciple into a very cheap thing. They are not serious in wanting to understand spiritual life." (Madhya 24.330) Your servant Madhudvisa dasa Madhudvisa@hotmail.com A few interestinq quotes from Srila Prabhupada: 690911AR.LON Lectures Prabhupada: That is God. Some of you are saying there is no God, some of you are saying God is dead, and some of you are saying God is impersonal or void. These are all nonsense. I want to teach all these nonsense that there is God. That is my mission. Any nonsense can come to me, I shall prove that there is God. That is my Krsna consciousness movement. It is a challenge to the atheistic people. There is God. As we are sitting here face to face, you can see God face to face. If you are sincere and if you are serious, that is possible. Unfortunately, we are trying to forget God; therefore we are embracing so many miseries of life. So I am simply preaching that you have Krsna consciousness and be happy. Don't be swayed away by these nonsense waves of maya, or illusion. That is my request. 69-06-12.R. Letter: R. Chalson My Spiritual Master, Om Visnupada Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja Prabhupada, sometimes used to say that if after selling all of my property I can convert one person to Krishna Consciousness factually, then I shall think my mission is successful. Similarly, I am also thinking like that after reading your letter that if I could induce even one person to Krishna Consciousness through my publication, Bhagavad-gita As It Is, then I shall think my labor is successful. So I am very much encouraged to read your letter, and I have received many such letters from others also, so I am very hopeful. 70-06-22.Ham Letter: Hamsaduta We are not separated actually. There are two--vani or vapu. So vapu is physical presence and vani is presence by the vibration, but they are all the same. So Krsna when He was physically present before Arjuna is the same when He is present before us by His vani of Bhagavad-gita. So far I am concerned, I do not factually feel any separation from my Spiritual Master because I am trying to serve Him according to His desire. That should be the motto. If you kindly try to fulfill my mission for which you have been sent there, that will be our constant association. JSD 3.3 Krsna, Enchanter of the Soul So, it is very difficult to turn people to Krsna consciousness in this age. Still, Caitanya Mahaprabhu has ordered us to distribute this knowledge all over the world. So let us try. Even if the people do not take our instruction, that is no disqualification for us. Our only qualification is simply to try our best. Maya [illusion] is very strong. Therefore to take the living entities out of the clutches of maya is not a very easy thing. 760104LE.NEL Lectures Amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa. This instruction was given in South India when Caitanya Mahaprabhu was traveling in South India. So many people... He was attractive, and... "Sir, take me with You. Sir, take me with You." He traveled in the villages, villages, very extensively. Especially He traveled in South India. So at that time this instruction was given to some South Indian brahmana: "My dear sir, better stay here. Don't come with Me. You try to preach My philosophy. You haven't got to come with Me." So He said, amara ajnaya guru hana, that "Why you want to come with Me? My mission is this. If you want to help Me, then you become a guru under My instruction. You become a guru." "Sir, I have no education. I am not a brahmana. I am this. I am that. How can I become guru?" So Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa: "Where you are living, you just try to deliver them. But you become a guru." "How I shall become?" Yare dekha tare kaha krsna upadesa: "Simply you instruct what Krsna has said, that's all. Then you become guru. You don't require any other qual..." "No, I am not a brahmana; I am sudra, I am this or..." That is also all right, because He said to Ramananda Raya when... He was sudra. He was talking with Caitanya Mahaprabhu but he was very learned devotee. So he was feeling hesitation that "Caitanya Mahaprabhu's coming from very high-grade brahmana, and He is sannyasa. His position is very exalted. I am a sudra. How I can advise Him?" He was questioning, and Ramananda Raya was answering. So the answer-giver is in superior position, so he hesitated. So while he was hesitating, Caitanya Mahaprabhu encouraged him, kiba sudra kiba vipra nyasi kene naya yei krsna-tattva-vetta sei guru haya He said, "It doesn't matter whether you are a brahmana or a sudra or... These are all bodily conception of life. You become above the bodily conception of life. You simply try to understand Krsna." Yei krsna-tattva-vetta. To understand Krsna is not so easy thing. manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye yatatam api siddhanam kascid vetti... It is not so easy, but it can be very easy, provided we take this bhakti-marga. Bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah. Very easy. And what is bhakti? Bhakti is man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru. Four things: "Always think of Me," Krsna says. Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. You can think of Krsna. Where is the difficulty? It doesn't require that you have to pass your Ph.D. examination; then you can think of Krsna. No. Anyone, even a child, can think. Man-mana. And who can concentrate on Krsna unless he is a devotee? So man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji: "You worship Me." Mam namaskuru. "By executing these four principles of life you will come back to Me"--mam evaisyasi asamsayah--"without any doubt." So it is not at all difficult. Had it been difficult... I am collecting my disciples throughout the whole world, and we condemn them according to our... "They are mlecchas, yavanas." Maybe they are mlecchas, yavanas, but Sukadeva Gosvami said that even mlecchas-yavanas, they can be purified. kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa abhira-sumbha yavanah khasadayah ye 'nye ca papa yad-apasrayasrayah sudhyanti... They can become purified by Krsna consciousness. So we are suffering in this material world on account of forgetting Krsna. This is the root cause, forgetting Krsna. Krsna says, "I am the seed-giving father of everyone," and we have forgotten Krsna. We have forgotten our father. This is the disease. So in order to cure this disease, to awaken them to Krsna consciousness is the best welfare activity in the world, para-upakara. Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission is that. Janma sarthaka kari' kara para-upakara. India's mission is not that we colonize in other country and exploit them and bring money and become a lord. No. India's mission is how to revive Krsna consciousness throughout the whole world. That is India's mission. Revive Krsna con... Revive your Krsna consciousness, be fixed up in Krsna, and then distribute this knowledge. This is Indian mission. So it was... Caitanya Mahaprabhu has entrusted this missionary work to everyone. Bharata-bhumite manusya-janma haila yara. So there is good field for Krsna consciousness. They want it. They are reading our Krsna conscious books very nicely. We are selling not less than 100,000 worth books daily. They are purchasing. So I wish that in India people should take advantage of this Krsna consciousness movement and be... Every one of you should become Krsna consciousness and go to the outside countries and preach this. Krsna consciousness means Bhagavad-gita. Krsna consciousness does... You haven't got to manufacture something by your fertile brain, speculating. That is useless, nonsense. Simply you take what Krsna has said and preach it. You become a guru and you deliver the whole world. 70-06-03.Mak Letter: Makhanlal You are all helping me in the execution of my mission so please do not try to do anything beyond the jurisdiction of my instructions. My will I have already disclosed to you all that each and every one of you should chant the Mahamantra regularly in sixteen rounds, follow the four regulative principles, chant Hare Krsna mantra on the streets, try to distribute our books and literature, and specifically in San Francisco you should observe the annual Ratha Yatra festival very gorgeously. I can assure you that if you follow my instruction as above mentioned there is no doubt about it that through me my spiritual Master Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura will be pleased, and through His mercy Lord Nityananda will be pleased. In this way Lord Caitanya and ultimately Radha Krsna will be pleased, and thus your life will be successful. 74-06-28.Bha Letter: Bhakta dasa You have said rightly when you write that the devotees are working to please me by distributing my books. My mission on behalf of my guru maharaj and Lord Caitanya, to spread Krsna Consciousness would never have been so successful if it had not been taken up by enthusiastic boys and girls such as in San Francisco, especially through distribution of books. 76-08-14.Pus Letter: Pusta Krsna Yes, this preaching work is our mission. It is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission, my Guru Maharaja's mission, and my mission. It is through the parampara. As I am trying to discharge my Guru Maharaja's mission, you also try and things will go on nicely. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada See Related VNN Stories This story URL: http://vnn.org/editorials/ET9812/ET02-2602.html NEWS DESK | EDITORIALS | TOP |
