The Krishna consciousness
movement is a global congregation based on the instructions of the Vedic scriptures,
the world's most ancient and complete books on spiritual science. Specifically,
we follow the teachings of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,
whose activities and symptoms prove that he is the predicted great personality
(shakti-avesa-avatar) who establishes the mission of God, or Krishna, worldwide.
We recognize and accept that Srila Prabhupada is a pure representative of Lord
Krishna and the current link in the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya. Everyone
can attain full perfection by following Srila Prabhupada.
In numerous letters and instructions
to his disciples and others, Srila Prabhupada urged, "Please study all of my books
very thoroughly." (Letter, December 1974) He often warned his disciples, "When
the waves of maya attack, your little sentiment for Krishna may not save
you. All my disciples must be thoroughly trained in the philosophy of Krishna
consciousness." (Letter, May 1972) Thus, Srila Prabhupada worked tirelessly, night
and day, to carefully translate, explain and publish the most important Vaisnava
scriptures, such as Srimad-Bhagavatam, Srimad Bhagavad-gita, and Sri
Bhakti-rasamrita Sindhu (Nectar of Devotion).
Several of Srila Prabhupada's
sincere disciples have worked together to create this document, a collection of
essential truths, or tattvas, which are like effulgent jewels gathered
from Srila Prabhupada's books, conversations and lectures. By his preaching, Srila
Prabhupada churned the ocean of transcendental nectar for the benefit of every
living being in the universe, particularly his sincere discples. Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu, the most munificent avatar of Lord Krishna, insisted that His devotees
chant the glories of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna constantly and live purely, without
material attachments. Without carefully understanding and appreciating the importance
of the nitya-siddha devotees of Lord Caitanya, no one can successfully
follow the transcendental sadhana and mood of service that leads irrevocably
to Lord Caitanya's fabulous benediction of pure Krishna consciousness, prema-bhakti.
Without the blessings of a great Vaisnava like Srila Prabhupada, no one can advance
to the higher stages of Krishna consciousness. All sastras and all great
authorities confirm this principle as fundamental and everlasting.
To glorify Srila Prabhupada
and the great teachers of Krishna consciousness and to defend their mission, we,
the disciples of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, offer this
collection of essential truths for Their pleasure. Without understanding all these
spiritual facts very carefully, according to guru, sastra and sadhu,
the infallible Vedic authority, no one can preach or practice pure Krishna consciousness.
This collection of gems should be kept intact as a complete work and serious disciples
will rejoice in understanding this document in its entirety. This transcendental
document regarding the Supreme Lord, His empowered devotees, and devotional service
will benefit every living being in the universe, even without their immediate
knowledge. By Lord Nityananda's divine grace, this brief but concise treatise
of Krishna consciousness may help many generations of Srila Prabhupada's disciples
remain pure devotees of the Supreme Lords, Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu and
Sri Nityananda Prabhu.
Note: All book references contained in this
document are derived from Srila Prabhupada's authorized and approved, pre-1977
editions.]
a) To systematically propagate
spiritual knowledge to society at large and to educate the people in the techniques
of spiritual life, in order to check the imbalance of values in life and to achieve
real unity and peace in the world.
b) To propagate a consciousness
of Krishna, as it is revealed in the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.
c) To bring the members of the
Society together with one another and nearer to Krishna, the prime entity, and
thus to develop the idea, within the members, and humanity at large, that each
soul is part and parcel of the quality of Godhead (Krishna).
d) To teach and encourage sankirtana,
congregational chanting of the holy name of God, as revealed in the teachings
of Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
e) To erect for the members and
for society at large a holy place of transcendental pastimes, dedicated to the
Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna.
f) To bring the members closer
together for the purpose of teaching a simpler and more natural way of life.
g) With a view towards achieving
the aforementioned purposes, to publish and distribute periodicals, magazines,
books, and other writings.
Srila Prahupada listed the following as basic
convictions of the Krishna Consciousness Movement:
1. The Absolute Truth is contained in all the great scriptures of the world. However,
the oldest known revealed scriptures in existence are the Vedic literatures, most
notably Bhagavad-gita, which is the literal record of God's words.
2. God, or Krishna, is eternal,
all-knowing, omnipresent, all-powerful, and all-attractive, the seed-giving father
of man and all living entities. He is the sustaining energy of all life, nature,
and the cosmic situation.
3. Man is actually not his body but spirit soul, part and parcel of God, and therefore
eternal.
4. That all men are brothers can be practiced only when we realize God as our
common father.
5. All our actions should
be performed as a sacrifice to the Supreme Lord: "All that you do, all that you
eat, all that you offer and give away, as well as all austerities that you may
perform, should be done as an offering unto Me." (Bhagavad-gita As It
Is 9.27)
6. The food that sustains
us should always be offered to the Lord before eating. In this way He becomes
the offering, and such eating purifies us.
7. We can, by sincere cultivation
of bona fide spiritual science, attain to the stage of pure, unendingly blissful
consciousness, free from anxiety, in this very lifetime.
8. The recommended means to
attain the mature stage of love of God in the present age of Kali, or quarrel,
is to chant the holy name of the Lord. The easiest method for most people is to
chant the Hare Krishna mantra:
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna
Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama,
Hare Hare
To help fulfill the aims of
Lord Caitanya's mission and preserve the spiritual science taught by the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya
Sampradaya, we here reaffirm the worldwide association (sanga) of Srila
Prabhupada's bona fide disciples, based on our clear understanding of the
following conclusions:
Great authorities (mahajanas)
like Sukadeva Gosvami, Narada Muni, Srila Vyasadeva, and Lord Brahma, all
great teachers in the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya, and all essential Vedic
scriptures confirm that Sri Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and
the original source and maintainer of everyone, including all avatars of God.
These facts are realized and taught by pure devotees of the Supreme Lord.
ete camsa-kalah pumsah
krsnas tu bhagavan svayam
"All of the above-mentioned
incarnations are either plenary portions or portions of the plenary portions of
the Lord, but Lord Sri Krishna, as above mentioned, is the original Personality
of Godhead. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.3.28)
ekale isvara krsna, ara
sabha bhrtya
"Lord
Krishna alone is the supreme controller, and all others are His servants."
(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila
5.142)
aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate
"I [Lord Krishna] am the source
of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me."
(Bhagavad-gita As It Is 10.8)
isvarah paramah krsnah sac-cid-ananda
vigrahah
anadir adir govindah sarva-karana-karanam
"Krishna is the cause
of all causes. He is the primal cause, and He is the very form of eternal being,
knowledge, and bliss." (Brahma-samhita 5.1)
Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-1534)
is the avatar of Godhead for the Age of Kali, and He is recognized by great devotees
of the Supreme Lord as the most munificent incarnation of God (namo maha-vadanyaya).
Sri Krishna Caitanya is identical to Lord Krishna. He descends to liberally
grant to the fallen conditioned souls of this age pure love of Godhead (prema-bhakti)
by propagating sankirtana, especially through public chanting of the Hare
Krishna maha-mantra.
"Lord Caitanya is the original
teacher of life's prime necessities. He is the most munificent bestower
of love of Krishna. He is the complete reservoir of all mercies and good
fortune. As confirmed in Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita, Mahabharata,
and the Upanisads, He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna Himself,
and He is worshipable by everyone in this age of disagreement. Everyone
can join in His sankirtana movement."
(Introduction to Sri Caitanya-caritamrta)
yada pasyah pasyate rukma-varnam,
kartaram isam purusam brahma yonim
"One who sees that golden-colored
Personality of Godhead, the Supreme Lord, the supreme actor, who is the source
of the Supreme Brahman, is liberated." (Mundaka Upanisad 3.1.3) [See
Caitanya Caritamrita, Adi-lila 2.22 Purport]
atha vaham dharadhame, bhutva mad-bhakta-rupa-dhrk
mayayam ca bhavisyami, kalau sankirtanagame
"Sometimes I personally appear on the surface
of the world in the garb of a devotee. Specifically, I appear as the son of Saci
in Kali-yuga to start the sankirtana
movement." (Brahma-yamala-tantra) [See Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila
2.22, Purport]
ya eva bhagavan krsno, radhika-prana-vallabhah
srsty adau sa jagam-natho, gaura asin mahesvari
"The Supreme Person, Sri Krishna
Himself, who is the life of Sri Radharani and is the Lord of the universe in creation,
maintenance, and annihilation, appears as Gaura, O Mahesvari." (Ananta-samhita)
[See Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila
2.22 Purport]
"When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared, He
ushered in the era for the sankirtana movement. It is also said that for
ten thousand years this era will continue. This means that simply by accepting
the sankirtana movement and chanting the maha-mantra, the fallen
souls of this Kali-yuga will be delivered. After the battle of Kuruksetra, at
which Bhagavad-gita was spoken, Kali-yuga continues for 432,000 years,
of which only 5,000 years have passed. Thus, there is still a balance of 427,000
years to come. Of these 427,000 years, the 10,000 years of the sankirtana
movement inaugurated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu 500 years ago provide the opportunity
for the fallen souls of Kali-yuga to take to the Krishna consciousness movement,
chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, and thus be delivered from the clutches
of material existence and return home, back to Godhead." (Srimad-Bhagavatam
8.5.23, Purport)
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta
Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977) is a nitya-siddha Vaisnava (eternally liberated
devotee of Krishna) sent by Lord Caitanya and Krishna to revive the mission of
nama-sankirtana and save the world from the dangerous atheistic doctrines
of impersonalism (nirvisesa) and voidism (sunyavada). All his activities
are eternal and purely transcendental. In fact, the Vedic literature, Lord Caitanya,
and predecessor acaryas have predicted this great personality, Srila Prabhupada,
who preaches Krishna consciousness all over the world. Having fulfilled these
predictions by founding the global Krishna conscious-ness movement and Hare Krishna
Society single-handedly, he is worshiped by all bona fide Gaudiya Vaisnavas with
the name "Srila Prabhupada" (the master at whose feet all others bow). Srila Prabhupada's
form (vapu) and instructions (vani) offer the full mercy of Lord
Caitanya to all conditioned souls for the duration of Lord Caitanya's ten-thousand
year Golden Age.
"In the Vedic literatures it is recommended that in Kali-yuga people engage in
glorifying the Lord by chanting the holy name of Krishna (kirtanad eva krsnasya
mukta-sangah param vrajet)…" (Srimad-Bhagavatam
1.12.34, Purport)
"Kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta-sangah param vrajet:
simply by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, one can be freed from the contamination
of Kali-yuga and, in his original spiritual body, can return home, back to Godhead…
When Krishna appeared, He gave His orders, and when Krishna Himself appeared as
a devotee, as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He showed us the path by which to cross
the ocean of Kali-yuga. That is the path of the Hare Krishna movement."
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.5.23, Purport)
"The Kali-santarana Upanisad states, ‘Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna
Krishna, Hare Hare/Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare--these sixteen names
composed of thirty-two syllables are the only means to counteract the evil effects
of Kali-yuga. In all the Vedas it is seen that to cross the ocean of nescience,
there is no alternative to the chanting of the holy name." (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta,
Adi-lila 7.76, Purport)
"So, my dear boys and girls, about six years
ago I came to your country single-handed, with this pair of cymbals. Now you are
so many chanting Hare Krishna. That is my success. It was the prediction of Lord
Caitanya Mahaprabhu: prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama, sarvatra pracara hoibe
mora nama. Lord Caitanya desired that ‘In all the towns--in as many towns
and villages as there are on the surface of the globe--My name will be broadcast.'
He is Krishna Himself—svayam krsna, krsna caitanya-namine—simply changing
His name as Krishna Caitanya. So His prediction will never go in vain. That's
a fact. So my plan was that ‘I shall go to America... If I can convince the younger
generation of America, they
will take it up.' If you kindly take this Krishna consciousness movement seriously,
your country will be saved, and the whole world will be saved." (Lecture, May
18, 1972, Los Angeles)
"He [Bhaktivinoda Thakura] sent his first book in 1896. Bhaktivinoda Thakura was
the origin of this movement. But he simply thought of it. And he was expecting
some others willing to take up the work. Well, somebody says that I am the same
man. And I was born in 1896." (Conversation, March 13, 1975, Tehran)
"Thakura Bhaktivinoda...
in 1896 he sent Caitanya Mahaprabhu's message to McGill University. That book
you have seen. The letter was there… Now, after so many years, a servant of that
disciplic succession has come here again to preach. So these things are significant."
(Lecture, March 18, 1967, San Francisco)
"Soon there will appear a
personality who will preach the holy name all over the world."
(Prediction of Bhaktivinoda Thakura in the nineteenth
century, as cited in Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas, Introduction, Prabhupada-approved
1974 edition)
"Without being empowered by
the direct potency of Lord Krishna to fulfill His desire and without being specifically
favored by the Lord, no human being can become the spiritual master of the whole
world... Only an empowered personality can distribute the holy name of the Lord
and enjoin all fallen souls to worship Krishna. By distributing the holy name
of the Lord, he cleanses the hearts of the most fallen people; therefore he extinguishes
the blazing fire of the material world. Not only that, he broadcasts the shining
brightness of Krishna's effulgence throughout the world. Such an acarya
or spiritual master should be considered non-different from Krishna--that is,
he should be considered the incarnation of Lord Krishna's potency. Such a personality
is krsna-lingita-vigraha--that is, he is always embraced by the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, Krishna. Such a person is… the guru or spiritual master
for the entire world, a devotee on the topmost platform, the maha-bhagavata
stage." (Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, Anubhasya, cited
in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 25.9, Purport)
"By the grace of Lord Sri
Krishna, we had the chance of being born in a Vaisnava family, and in our childhood
we imitated the worship of Lord Krishna by imitating our father... Our spiritual
master, who also took his birth in a Vaisnava family, got all inspirations from
his great Vaisnava father, Thakura Bhaktivinoda… There is always symmetry between
the early lives of all great devotees of the Lord... Such maha-bhagavatas
are called nitya-siddhas, souls liberated from birth." (Srimad-Bhagavatam
2.3.15, Purport)
"The Krishna consciousness
movement is spreading to enlighten people about their real position, their original
relationship with Krishna. One requires Krishna's special power in order to be
able to do this... The Lord empowers a special devotee to teach people their constitutional
position." (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 19.114, Purport)
Everyone can be promoted to
the transcendental abode of Lord Krishna, Sri Goloka, by understanding that Lord
Caitanya is non-different than Sri-Sri Radha-Krishna and His confidential associates
are nitya-siddhas, or eternally perfect persons whose births and pastimes
in this world are completely transcendental and meant for the benefit of all conditioned
souls in the universe.
sri caitanya-krpa-bharau
bhuvi bhuvo bharavahantakarau
vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau
"Thus they are engaged in
missionary activities meant to deliver all the conditioned souls in the material
universe..."
(Sri Sri Sad-gosvamy-astaka, Prayers to the Six Gosvamis, by Srinivasa
Acarya)
"The nitya-siddha never
forgets his relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead... By the order
of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the nitya-siddha remains within
this material world like an ordinary man, but the only business of the nitya-siddha
is to broadcast the glories of the Lord. All nitya-siddhas within this
material world may appear to toil like ordinary men, but they never forget their
position as servants of the Lord." (Sri
Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 5.113, Purport)
"…the conditioned soul is
tightly tied by the ropes of illusion. A man bound by the hands and feet cannot
free himself—he must be helped by a person who is unbound. Because the bound cannot
help the bound, the rescuer must be liberated. Therefore, only Lord Krishna, or
His bona fide representative the spiritual master, can release the conditioned
soul. Without such superior help, one cannot be freed from the bondage of material
nature." (Bhagavad-gita As
It Is 7.14, Purport)
"A nitya-siddha is
one who was never contaminated by the material nature... Nitya-siddhas never
came into contact with the material nature. All the associates of Lord Caitanya
are nitya-siddhas, or eternally perfect... We should understand that
as Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Krishna Himself, is transcendental, similarly His
personal associates are also nitya-siddha, or eternally transcendental...
Simply by accepting that the associates of Lord Caitanya are eternally free, one
is immediately promoted to the transcendental abode of Lord Krishna."
(Narottama dasa Thakura's Savarana-sri-gaura-mahima,
Purport)
"By the grace of Lord Sri
Krishna, we had the chance of being born in a Vaisnava family, and in our childhood
we imitated the worship of Lord Krishna by imitating our father… Our spiritual
master, who also took his birth in a Vaisnava family, got all inspirations from
his great Vaisnava father, Thakura Bhaktivinoda… There is always symmetry between
the early lives of all great devotees of the Lord… Such maha-bhagavatas
are called nitya-siddhas, souls liberated from birth." (Srimad-Bhagavatam
2.3.15, Purport)
E)Everyone
Should Accept Srila Prabhupada As Spiritual Master
As the Vedas underscore,
acaryavan puruso veda: to get a bona fide understanding of Lord and His
instructions in the scriptures, spiritual seekers must follow a bona fide acarya
or spiritual master. Srila Prabhupada affirms this foundational spiritual principle
and casts aside the notion that material space and time can somehow prevent followers
of the spiritual master from associating with him in the here and now.
"Sri Jiva Gosvami advises
that one not accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social
and ecclesiastical conventions. One should simply try to find a genuinely qualified
spiritual master for actual advancement in spiritual understanding." (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta,
Adi-lila 1.35, Purport)
"One should take initiation
from a bona fide spiritual master coming in the disciplic succession, who is authorized
by his predecessor spiritual master. This is called diksa-vidhana. Lord
Krishna states in Bhagavad-gita, vyapasrita: one should accept a
spiritual master. By this process the entire world can be converted to Krishna
consciousness." (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.54, Purport)
"…acaryavan puruso veda
one who follows the disciplic
succession of acaryas knows things as they are." (Srimad-Bhagavatam
4.22.24, Purport, citing Chandogya Upanisad 6.14.2)
"...the Christians are following
Christ, a great personality. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah. You follow
some mahajana, a great personality... You follow an acarya. Like
the Christians--they follow Christ, an acarya. The Muhammadans--they follow
an acarya, Muhammad. That is good. You must follow some acarya...
Evam parampara-praptam." (Conversation,
May 20, 1975, Melbourne)
"Regarding the parampara
system: there is nothing to wonder for big gaps. We have to pick up the prominent
acarya and follow from him." (Letter,
April 12, 196)
"This is called guru-parampara, disciplic succession... This is the perfect
process of knowledge. You approach the perfect person and get knowledge, and that
is your perfect experience… We are getting knowledge from Krishna, the most perfect.
Or you get knowledge from Jesus Christ. That is also perfect, because the source
is perfect." (Conversation, June 19,
1974, Germany)
"Actually, one who is guided
by Jesus Christ will certainly get liberation." (Perfect Questions, Perfect
Answers, Chapter 9)
"...one has to associate with
liberated persons not directly, physically, but by understanding, through philosophy
and logic…" (Srimad-Bhagavatam
3.31.48, Purport)
"These are not ordinary books.
It is recorded chanting. Anyone who reads--he is hearing."
(Letter, October 19, 1974)
Disciple: "I feel so far away from you, you know, when you're not here."
Srila Prabhupada: "Oh--that
you should not think. There are two conceptions: the physical conception and the
vibration conception. So the physical conception is temporary. The vibration conception
is eternal. Just like we are enjoying or we are relishing the vibration of Krishna's
teachings. So by vibration He is present. As soon as we chant Hare Krishna or
chant Bhagavad-gita or Bhagavata, He is present immediately by His
vibration. He's absolute. Therefore, try to remember His words of instruction--you'll
not feel separation. You'll feel that He is with you. So we should associate by
the vibration, and not by the physical presence. That is real association."
(Questions and answers following a lecture, August
18, 1968, Montreal)
Disciple: Is there any way for a Christian to--without the help of a spiritual
master--to reach the spiritual sky through believing in the words of Jesus Christ
and trying to follow his teachings?
Srila Prabhupada: When
you read the Bible, you follow the spiritual master. How can you say "without?"
As soon as you read the Bible, that means you are following the instruction of
Lord Jesus Christ--that means you are following the spiritual master. So where
is the opportunity of being "without a spiritual master?"
Disciple: I was referring
to a living spiritual master.
Srila Prabhupada: The
spiritual master is not the question of ["living"]... The spiritual master is
eternal--the spiritual master is eternal. So your question is "without a spiritual
master." Without a spiritual master you cannot be--at any stage of your life.
You may accept this spiritual master or that spiritual master. That is a different
thing. But you have to accept. You say "by reading the Bible." When you read the
Bible, that means you are following the spiritual master, represented by some
priest or some clergyman in the line of Lord Jesus Christ. So in any case, you
have to follow a spiritual master. There cannot be the question "without a spiritual
master." Is that clear? (Questions
and answers following a lecture, October 2, 1968, Seattle)
"The guru must be situated
on the topmost platform of devotional service. There are three classes of devotees,
and the guru must be accepted from the topmost class... When one has attained
the topmost position of maha-bhagavata, he is to be accepted as guru and
worshiped exactly like Hari, the Personality of Godhead. Only such a person is
eligible to occupy the post of a guru." (Sri
Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 24.330, Purport, citing Padma Purana)
F) The
Bona Fide Spiritual Master Is Never Limited By Material
Conditions
Wherever Lord Krishna's devotees
worship Him, Krishna is present. In the same way, wherever sincere followers
worship Krishna's great devotees, these Vaisnavas are present. Krishna's great
devotees live forever in their instructions (vani), in their form (vapu),
and in the hearts of their sincere followers. Srila Prabhupada remains present
in innumerable places simultaneously and accepts the worship of innumerable followers
now and at all times, wherever his instructions are sincerely followed.
"Just like Krishna can be present simultaneously in millions of places, similarly
the spiritual master also can be present wherever the disciple wants. A spiritual
master is the principle, not the body. Just like a television can be seen in thousands
of places by the principle of relay monitoring." (Letter, May 28, 1968)
Disciple: "In some of our temples, such as Vrndavana, the murti
[statue] of Your Divine Grace has been
installed, and they [your disciples] are offering prasadam [foodstuffs]...
So is it the same [Lord Krishna accepts offerings through His statue or picture]
that the prasadam is accepted by the guru?"
Srila Prabhupada: "Yes. Saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair, ‘The guru
is non-different than Krishna.' That is accepted by all the sastras…
Kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya, ‘But the guru's position is the most
confidential servant.' So the guru is the servant God, and Krishna is the master
God. Both of them are God-- servant God and master God." (Conversation,
October 27, 1975, Nairobi)
Reporter: "What will
happen to the movement in the United States when you die?"
Srila Prabhupada: "I will never die. I shall live from my books, and you
will utilize." (Interview, July 16, 1975, Berkeley, California)
"He reasons ill who tells
that Vaisnavas die, when thou art living still in sound." (From a poem by Srila
Bhaktivinoda Thakura)
"About one hundred years ago,
Thakura Bhaktivinoda also wanted to beget a child who could preach the philosophy
and teachings of Lord Caitanya to the fullest extent. By his prayers to the Lord,
he had as his child Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja, who at the present
moment is preaching the philosophy of Lord Caitanya throughout the entire world
through his bona fide disciples." (Srimad-Bhagavatam
3.22.19, Purport)
"Although a physical body
is not present, the vibration should be accepted as the presence of the spiritual
master. Vibration--what we have heard from the spiritual master--that is living."
(Lecture, January 13, 1969, Los Angeles)
"…the disciple and spiritual
master are never separated, because the spiritual master always keeps company
with the disciple, as long as the disciple follows strictly the instructions of
the spiritual master. This is called the association of vani (words)."
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.28.47, Purport)
Disciple: "Srila Prabhupada,
when you are not present with us, how is it possible to receive instructions--for
example, on questions that may arise?"
Srila Prabhupada: "Well, the answers are there in my books."
Disciple: "Other than that--for example, [questions] that we would ask you
in [specific daily matters]. Do you direct us, also, through the heart? Besides
the Paramatma?"
Srila Prabhupada: "If your heart is pure. Everything depends on
purity." (Conversation, May 13, 1973, Los Angeles)
G)Srila
Prabhupada's Words Are Above Defects
All rituals, procedures and
names established by Srila Prabhupada are transcendentally pure and perfect.
(See "Sadhana," next section) Srila Prabhupada never made mistakes as do
all ordinary men. Everything Srila Prabhupada has said and done is pure
and perfect, totally devoid of the four defects of conditional life--namely illusion,
cheating, imperfect senses and the tendency to commit mistakes.
"It is recommended that one
honor the spiritual master as being on an equal status with the Supreme Personality
of Godhead. Saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair. This is enjoined in every
scripture. Acaryam mam vijaniyat. One should consider the acarya
to be as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In spite of all these instructions,
if one considers the spiritual master an ordinary human being, one is doomed.
His study of the Vedas and his austerities and penances for enlightenment
are all useless, like the bathing of an elephant. An elephant bathes in a lake
quite thoroughly, but as soon as it comes on the shore it takes some dust from
the ground and strews it over its body. Thus there is no meaning to the elephant's
bath." (Srimad-Bhagavatam
7.15.26, Purport)
bhrama pramada vipralipsa
karanapatava
arsa-vijna-vakye nahi dosa ei saba
"Mistakes, illusions, cheating,
and defective perception do not occur in the sayings of the authoritative sages."
(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila
2.86)
Srila Prabhupada's activities
perfectly convey the complete siddhanta (scripturally authorized conclusions)
of the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya originating from Lord Krishna Himself.
Srila Prabhupada is the acarya-vigraha, the best example of the perfect
teacher. His preaching exhibits the full manifestation of guru-tattva and
guru-puja, the essence of the bona fide guru and worship of the bona fide
guru. By studying and following Srila Prabhupada's instructions, everyone can
achieve the highest stages of Krishna consciousness. Srila Prabhupada's books
are perfect and complete and require no editing or change.
"Whatever is to be learned
of the teachings of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura can be learned from our books.
There is no need whatsoever for any outside instruction." (Letter, December 25,
1973)
"Everyone can become a first-class
preacher. Simply cram the purports of my books. The references are there. The
philosophy is there. Everything is there." (Letter, September 19, 1974)
"Simply read my books and
repeat what I have written. Then our preaching will be perfect." (Letter, April
4, 1975)
"One should not partially
study a book just to pose oneself as a great scholar by being able to refer to
scriptures. In our Krishna consciousness movement we have therefore limited
our study of Vedic literatures to Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Caitanya-caritamrta,
and Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu. These four works are sufficient for preaching
purposes. They are adequate for the understanding of the philosophy and the spreading
of missionary activities all over the world. If one studies a particular book,
he must do so thoroughly. That is the principle. By thoroughly studying a limited
number of books, one can understand the philosophy." (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta,
Madhya-lila 22.118, Purport)
To obtain the full blessings
of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and all previous acaryas, we must accept Srila
Prabhupada as acarya-vigraha or sad-guru, the eternal spiritual
master and follow his instructions. Srila Prabhupada is the current, living link
of the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya. Therefore, his worship is established
as fundamental sadhana for all Hare Krishna Vaisnavas in this age. (See
"Sadhana," the following section)
Reporter: "What will
happen to the movement in the United States when you die?"
Srila Prabhupada: "I will never die. I shall live from my books, and you
will utilize."
Reporter: "Are you training a successor?"
Srila Prabhupada: "Yes, my Guru Maharaja is there."
(Interview, July 16, 1975, Berkeley)
Guest: "Are you planning
to choose a successor?"
Srila Prabhupada: "It is already successful. A genuine thing is always
a success."
Disciple: "One thing he's saying, this gentleman--and I would like to know:
Is your successor named?"
Srila Prabhupada: "My success is always there. Yes. Just like the sun is
there always. It may come before your vision or not--the sun is there. But if
you are fortunate, you come before the sun. Otherwise, you remain in darkness.
The sun is open to everyone. Our Krishna consciousness movement--Krishna is
open to everyone. But if you are fortunate, you come to the light. If you are
unfortunate, you do not. That is your choice." (Conversation, February 12, 1975,
Mexico City)
Srila Prabhupada: "Only
Lord Caitanya can take my place. He will take care of the movement." (Conversation,
November 2, 1977, Vrndavana)
Disciple: "You are
the real acarya for this age, Srila Prabhupada." (October 3, 1977,
Vrndavana)
Please Note:
Srila Prabhupada's response to this comment is silence. He would have objected
had the comment been bogus or improper. Please note: "It is characteristic of
advanced Vaisnavas... that they think themselves ordinary human beings.
This is not an artificial exhibition of humility; a Vaisnava sincerely thinks
this way and therefore never admits his exalted position."
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.24.26, Purport)
The disciplic
succession or guru-parampara is continued by the spiritual master's genuine
disciples. In other words, the disciplic succession relies on disciples who follow
the orders, the conclusions, the siddhanta of the sampradaya-acarya.
The disciplic succession never relies on ecclesiastical arrangements for authorizing
"gurus" or for initiating new generations of disciples. Srila Prabhupada never
told his disciples to initiate their own disciples in his mission, and thus he
never offered any instructions in this regard. Rather, he carefully trained genuine
disciples, like Sriman Jayananda Prabhu, to preach the pure siddhanta of
Krishna consciousness, as humble messengers of Lord Caitanya's mission and humble
servants of the Spiritual Master.
"I am
the initiator guru, and you should be the instructor guru by teaching what I am
teaching and doing what I am doing. This is not a title, but you must actually
come to this platform. This I want."
(Letter, August 4, 1975)
Srila
Prabhupada: "Only Lord Caitanya can take my place. He will take care of the
movement."
(Conversation, November 2, 1977, Vrndavana)
Reporter:
"Have you chosen a successor?"
Srila Prabhupada: "My success is always there. Yes. Just like the sun is
always there."
(Conversation, February 12, 1975, Mexico City)
"One should
not try to be an artificially advanced devotee, thinking, ‘I am a first-class
devotee.' Such thinking should be avoided. It is best not to accept any disciples."
(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 7.130, Purport)
"One who
thinks he is guru becomes goru [cow]."
(Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, essay)
"If everyone
just initiates, then there will only be a contradictory result. As long as it
goes on, there will be only failure."
(From Phalguna Krishna Pancami, Srila Prabhupada's 1961 poem honoring the
appearance day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura)
At least as early as 1970,
Srila Prabhupada personally established in his mission a system whereby he has
continued formally initiating new disciples (many of whom he had never physically
met) throughritvija, deputed priests. This system should always be followed
in institutions established by Srila Prabhupada and in institutions representing
the mission of Srila Prabhupada and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
(See Appendix: Conversations, May 28, July 7, 1977, Letter, July 9, 1977.)
"My Dear [Disciple 1], Please
accept my blessings. Just now I have received some more requests for giving first
initiation… and now I am receiving weekly not less than ten to fifteen such requests
from new students. So it is becoming very expensive to send so many sets of beads
such a long distance, and it has become a little bothersome for me also, so I
think now you may be appointed by me to give first initiations to new disciples
by chanting on their beads on my behalf. In America [Disciple 2] is doing that.
So now if there are two of you, that will give me great relief. [Disciple 2] will
chant on the beads for new devotees in America, Canada, like that; you can chant
on the beads for the European continent, new disciples. They shall, of course,
still be considered as my disciples, not that they shall become your disciples,
but you will be empowered by me to chant their beads and that is the same effect
of binding master and disciple as if I were personally chanting."
(Letter, January 4, 1973)
Disciple 1: "Then our
next question concerns initiations in the future, particularly at that time when
you're no longer with us. We want to know how first and second initiation would
be conducted."
Srila Prabhupada: "Yes. I shall recommend some of you… I shall recommend
some of you to act as officiating acaryas."
Disciple 2: "Is that called ritvik-acarya?"
Srila Prabhupada: "Ritvik. Yes."
(Conversation, May 28, 1977, Vrndavana)
Srila Prabhupada: "Hare
Krishna. One Bengali gentleman has come from New York?… So I have deputed some
of you to initiate... I have already deputed… So. Deputies… [Disciple 1]'s name
was there?"
Disciple 2: "It is already there, Srila Prabhupada. His name was already
on that list [of deputies in the July 9 directive, stating Srila Prabhupada's
authorized system for initiations ‘henceforward']."
Srila Prabhupada: "So I depute him to do this... This initiation. I have
deputed my disciples. Is it clear or not?"
Disciple 3: "It's clear… We will explain to the Bengali gentleman, just
as you have described to us, so that he'll be satisfied with this arrangement."
(Conversation, October 18, 1977, Vrndavana)
Persons initiated according
to the sadhana established by Srila Prabhupada and fixed in following his
instructions are bona fide students or disciples of Srila Prabhupada. (See "Sadhana,"
next section.)
"Sisya means [one]
who accepts the ruling of his spiritual master, and disciple means also the same
thing--[one] who becomes disciplined by the spiritual master." (Lecture,
September 12, 1969, London)
Srila Prabhupada: "Who
is my disciple? First of all, let him follow strictly the disciplined rules."
Disciple: "As long as one is following, then he is…"
Srila Prabhupada: "Then he is all right."
(Conversation, June 13, 1976, Detroit)
"He lives forever by his divine
instructions, and the follower lives with him." (Srimad-Bhagavatam, Dedication,
1962)
The primary aim of missionary
work done by Srila Prabhupada's bona fide disciples is to help everyone hear from,
worship and serve Srila Prabhupada and in this way learn the complete science
of Krishna consciousness. This is the only sure way for everyone to participate
in the sankirtana mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and attain perfection
in this life.
"…devotional service to the
Lord is so powerful that it can cleanse the hearts of the people in general, by
the devotional service of the pure, empowered devotee. A true representative of
the Lord like Narada, Sukadeva Gosvami,
Lord Caitanya, the six Gosvamis, and later Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srimad
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, etc., can deliver all people by their empowered
devotional service."
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.8.5, Purport)
"Knowledge should be taken
from the perfect person--because if you take knowledge from a person who is defective,
your knowledge has no value. You must take knowledge from the perfect."
(Lecture, April 12, 1974, Bombay)
"Just try to learn the truth
by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service
unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you, because he has
seen the truth."
(Bhagavad-gita As It Is 4.34)
"By
the mercy of the spiritual master, one receives the mercy of Krishna. Without
the grace of the spiritual master, no one can make any advancement."
(Sri Sri Gurv-astaka, Verse 8, by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
"The path of spiritual realization
is undoubtedly difficult. The Lord therefore advises us to approach a bona fide
spiritual master in the line of disciplic succession from the Lord Himself."
(Bhagavad-gita As It Is 4.34, Purport)
"The spiritual master is the
mercy representative of the Lord. Therefore, a person burning in the flames of
material existence may receive the rains of mercy of the Lord through the transparent
medium of the self-realized spiritual master. The spiritual master, by his words,
can penetrate into the heart of the suffering person and inject knowledge transcendental,
which alone can extinguish the fire of material existence."
(Srimad-Bhagavatam, 1.7.22, Purport)
Because Srila Prabhupada is the
most confidential and empowered servitor of the Lord, all learned devotees or
Gaudiya Vaisnavas in this age worship Srila Prabhupada on the same level as Krishna
Himself. All Hare Krishna temples conduct daily worship of Srila Prabhupada,
both at mangala-arati while worshipping the Deity and again separately
during the daily guru-puja program, as per the principles of sadhana
ordained by Srila Prabhupada.
(See "Sadhana.")
saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair,
uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhih:
"The spiritual master is to be
honored as much as the Supreme Lord, because he is the most confidential servant
of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and followed
by all authorities."
(Sri Sri Gurv-astaka, Verse 7).
"Just like Krishna can be present
simultaneously in millions of places, similarly the spiritual master also can
be present wherever the disciple wants. A spiritual master is the principle,
not the body. Just like a television can be seen in thousands of places
by the principle of relay monitoring."
(Letter, May 28, 1968)
Srila Prabhupada and our predecessor
acaryas--particularly Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati--have encouraged and blessed the Krishna consciousness movement, the
worldwide sanga of Lord Caitanya's devotees which now gathers under the
banner of the Hare Krishna Society.
To continue the pure transcendental
tradition of this movement which Srila Prabhupada incorporated in 1966 but which
various corporate leaders have misrepresented since 1977, the newly incorporated
Hare Krishna Society preaches Lord Caitanya's mission around the globe, following
the explicit instructions and personal example of the self-effulgent acarya,
our Founder-Acarya, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who is sad-guru
and jagat-guru, the eternal guru for all his bona fide followers and the
guru for all the world.
mahat-sevam dvaram ahur vimuktes:
"One can attain the path of liberation
from material bondage only by rendering service to highly advanced spiritual personalities."
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.2)
naisam matis tavad urukramanghrim,
sprsaty anarthapagamo yad-arthah
mahiyasam pada-rajo-'bhisekam,
niskincananam na vrnita yavat:
"Unless they smear on their bodies
the dust of the lotus feet of a Vaisnava completely freed from material contamination,
persons very much inclined toward materialistic life cannot be attached to the
lotus feet of the Lord, who is glorified for His uncommon activities. Only
by becoming Krishna conscious and taking shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord
in this way can one be freed from material contamination."
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.5.32)
"A person who cannot keep his
faith in the words of his spiritual master but acts independently never receives
the authority to chant the holy name of the Lord.
It is said in the Vedas (Svetasvatara
Upanisad 6.23):
yasya deve para bhaktir
yatha-deve tatha gurau
tasyaite kathita hy arthah
prakasante mahatmanah
‘Only unto those great souls
who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the
imports of Vedic knowledge automatically revealed.' This Vedic injunction
is very important, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu supported it by His personal behavior.
Believing in the words of His spiritual master, He introduced the sankirtana
movement, just as the present Krishna consciousness movement was started with
belief in the words of our spiritual master. He wanted to preach, we believed
in his words and tried somehow or other to fulfill them, and now this movement
has become successful all over the world. Therefore faith in the words of
the spiritual master and in the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the secret of
success.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu never
disobeyed the orders of His spiritual master and stopped propagating the sankirtana
movement. Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami, at the time of his passing away,
ordered all his disciples to work conjointly to preach the mission of Caitanya
Mahaprabhu all over the world. Later, however, some self-interested, foolish
disciples disobeyed his orders. Each one of them wanted to become head of
the mission, and they fought in the courts, neglecting the order of the spiritual
master, and the entire mission was defeated. We are not proud of this; however,
the truth must be explained. We believed in the words of our spiritual master
and started in a humble way--in a helpless way--but due to the spiritual force
of the order of the supreme authority, this movement has become successful."
(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi 7.95-96, Purport)
"No one should think that this
Krishna consciousness movement is a new movement. As confirmed by Bhagavad-gita
and Srimad-Bhagavatam, it is a very, very old movement, for it has been
passing down from one Manu to another... Krishna consciousness, based on
the nine principles of devotional service (sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam
pada-sevanam, arcanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam atma-nivedanam), will never
be stopped. It will go on without distinction of caste, creed, color, or
country. No one can check it."
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.28.31)
"Sruti-smrti-puranadi-pancaratra-vidhim
vina
aikantiki harer bhaktir utpatayaiva kal-pate:
Devotional service of the Lord
that ignores the authorized Vedic literatures like the Upanisads, Puranas,
and Narada-pancaratra is simply an unnecessary disturbance in society."
(A verse from Skanda Purana, cited by Srila Rupa Gosvami in Part 1, Chapter
2, Text 101 of his Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, 1.2.101, presented by which
Srila Prabhupada presents as the summary study Nectar of Devotion)
The following principles of
spiritual practice have been established by Srila Prabhupada and are recognized,
accepted, and followed by the bona fide disciples of Srila Prabhupada. Disciples
fixed in following this sadhana are true representatives of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu. Deviation from these principles causes schisms, fall-down from
the path of pure Krishna consciousness, and disturbance in human society.
When devotees offer pranamas
(obeisances) to Srila Prabhupada, they should do this clearly and audibly, with
the following two prayers, or pranama mantras:
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya
bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesa-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine
"One should not offer obeisances
silently to the spiritual master; or in other words, one should recite aloud the
prayers to the spiritual master while offering obeisances."
(Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 8)
All kirtanas should begin with
the above-mentioned pranama mantras to Srila Prabhupada, which may be followed
by chanting "Jaya Prabhupada."
The prema-dhvani (respectful
obeisances at the end of kirtana) should be recited starting with pranamas
to Srila Prabhupada and the predecessor acaryas, and continuing with the
other standard, authorized pranamas taught by Srila Prabhupada.
Deity worship in temples of the
Hare Krishna Society must be performed exclusively by pujaris who are Srila
Prabhupada's initiated disciples.
By his order, Srila Prabhupada's
disciples and students must chant at least sixteen rounds of the Hare Krishna
maha-mantra on beads daily and must follow the four regulative principles
of Vaisnava life--that is, no illicit sex, no meat-eating, no gambling, and no
intoxication. The highest standard recommended by Srila Prabhupada is for
disciples to rise by 4 a.m. The principle is to rise early for mangala-arati.
Guru-parampara-puja
(worship of the authorized disciplic succession)
is essential in Krishna conscious sadhana. Offerings should be directed
first toward the picture of Srila Prabhupada and should proceed (moving rightward
from the picture of Srila Prabhupada) to pictures of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
Thakura, Srila Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Srila Jagannatha
dasa Babaji, the six Gosvamis, and the Panca-tattva--that is, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu,
Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Advaita, Sri Gadadhara, and Sri Srivasa Thakura. In
other words, on the altar with Srila Prabhupada's picture may be only pictures
of bona fide predecessor Vaisnava acaryas of the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya.
maha-bhagavata-srestho brahmano
vai guru nrnam
sarvesam eva lokanam asau pujyo yatha harih:
"The guru must be situated on
the topmost platform of devotional service. There are three classes of devotees,
and the guru must be accepted from the topmost class... When one has attained
the topmost position of maha-bhagavata, he is to be accepted as guru and
worshiped exactly like Hari, the Personality of Godhead. Only such a person is
eligible to occupy the post of a guru."
(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya 24.330, Purport, citing Padma Purana)
Only authorized
paintings and photographs--that is, pictures of bona fide acaryas and also
of Deities and Their pastimes--shall be placed on the temple altar or walls. Srila
Prabhupada instructs that the disappearance day of Sriman Jayananda Prabhu may
be honored with ceremonies (puspa-abhiseka) and feasting, feasting, as
are the disappearance days of other bona fide, recognized Vaisnava saints.
As with Srila
Prabhupada's daily guru-puja, Srila Prabhupada's vyasa-asana is
a permanent feature in all Hare Krishna temples and centers. A modest floor
seat (asana) shall be provided for speakers or those giving class on the
authorized sastra, the authorized and approved pre-1978 editions of Srila
Prabhupada's un-revised, original books.
Only Srila
Prabhupada's guru-puja and the worship of authorized Deities and predecessor
Vaisnava acaryas, as mentioned above, will take place in the temple or
any other place of Krishna conscious worship.
All Hare
Krishna temples must conduct ceremonies for proper observance of Srila Prabhupada's
avirbhava-mahotsava (appearance festival) and tirobhava-mahotsava
(disappearance festival). These auspicious days should be celebrated in
a grand way, as far as possible. Similarly, the appearance and disappearance
observances of the authorized predecessor Vaisnava acaryas, Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu, Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Advaita Prabhu, other members of the Sri
Panca-tattva and parsadas (associates of Sriman Mahaprabhu), Lord Sri Krishna,
Srimati Radharani, Sri Ramacandra, Sri Varaha, Sri Narasimha, Sri Vamana, and
other avatars and bona fide, recognized Vaisnava saints should be celebrated with
devotion and enthusiasm.
Offering of food,
or bhoga, to the Deity shall be done by using the following mantras:
nama om visnu-padaya
krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine:
"I offer my respectful
obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who is very
dear to Lord Krishna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet."
namas te sarasvate
deve gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesa-sunyavadi-pascatya-desatarine:
"Our respectful
obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvati Gosvami.
You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanyadeva and delivering the Western
countries, which are filled with voidism and impersonalism."
namo maha-vadanyaya
krsna-prema-pradaya te
krsnaya krsna-caitanya-namne gaura-tvise namah:
"O most munificent
incarnation! You are Krishna Himself appearing as Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
You have assumed the golden color of Srimati Radharani, and You are widely distributing
pure love of Krishna. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You."
(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila19.53)
namo brahmanya-devaya
go-brahmana-hitaya ca
jagad-dhitaya krsnaya govindaya namo namah:
"I offer my respectful
obeisances to the Supreme Absolute Truth, Krishna, who is the well-wisher of the
cows and the brahmanas as well as the living entities in general.
I offer my repeated obeisances to Govinda, who is the pleasure reservoir for all
the senses."
(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 13.77, citing Visnu Purana
1.19.65)
"You may say the
prayer to the spiritual master three times, and also the namo brahmanya
prayer three times, when offering prasadam. That is very nice, to
say the mantra three times. Also, you may, after offering to the spiritual
master, offer to Lord Caitanya by saying the prayer namo maha-vadanyaya
three times, and then offer to Krishna thrice."
(Letter, March 26, 1968)
For personal study, readings,
classes, and public distribution, we accept only the authorized and approved pre-1978
editions of Srila Prabhupada's books. We do not accept the unauthorized
changes made to Srila Prabhupada's books by various editors.
"I have given you the process
of disciplic succession... So in the parampara system, in that disciplic
succession, you will find no change. The original word is there. That is
the thing... If you want the real thing, then you have to take the old, the oldest.
You cannot change anything."
(Lecture, December 1, 1966, New York)
"In my books the philosophy of
Krishna consciousness is explained fully, so if there is anything which you do
not understand, then you simply have to read again and again. By reading
daily, the knowledge will be revealed to you, and by this process, your spiritual
life will develop."
(Letter, November 22, 1974)
Srila Prabhupada did not practice
a system of nominating or appointing successor acaryas or diksa-gurus.
Nor did Srila Prabhupada authorize any person, any group, or any organization
to nominate or appoint successor acaryas or diksa-gurus. Nor did
Srila Prabhupada indicate that one may appoint himself as diksa-guru or
acarya simply by adopting the role or status. Such ideas are insidious
concoctions, unsubstantiated anywhere in Srila Prabhupada's teachings or directives
for sadhana.
"Caitanya Mahaprabhu--He is God.
Guru more murkha dekhi' karila sasan:
‘My Guru Maharaja saw Me as fool number one, and he has chastised Me.' He's
God. This is the example. If one remains a servant everlastingly of
the guru, then he is liberated. And as soon as he thinks that he is liberated,
he's a rascal. That is the teaching of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Guru
more murkha dekhi'. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is murkha? Why is it
He's posing Himself as that murkha?--‘I am fool number one.' That
means that is liberation. You must be ready always to be chastised by the
guru. Then one is liberated. And as soon as he thinks that ‘I am beyond
this chastisement--I am liberated,' he's a rascal. Why does Caitanya Mahaprabhu
say guru more murkha dekhi' karila sasan? This is sahajiya-vada--
thinking, ‘Oh, I have become liberated. I don't require any direction of
my guru. I'm liberated.' Then he's a rascal. Why did this Gaudiya
Matha fail? Because they tried to become more than the guru. He--before
passing away--he gave all direction and never said that ‘This man should be the
next acarya.' But these people--just after his passing away, they began
to fight: ‘Who shall be acarya?' That is the failure. They
never thought, ‘Why--Guru Maharaja gave us instruction on so many things--why
did he not say that this man should be acarya?' They wanted to create
artificially somebody as acarya, and everything failed. They did
not consider even with common sense--that ‘If Guru Maharaja wanted to appoint
somebody as acarya, why did he not say? He said so many things, and
this point he missed? The real point?' And they insisted upon it.
They declared some unfit person to become acarya. Then another man
came. And then another—‘Acarya!' Another—‘Acarya!' So better
remain a foolish person perpetually to be directed by Guru Maharaja. That
is perfection. And as soon as he learns that Guru Maharaja is dead, ‘Now
I am so advanced that I can kill my guru and I become guru.' Then he's finished."
(Conversation, August 16, 1976, Bombay)
Srila Prabhupada:
"Only Lord Caitanya can take my place. He will take care of the movement."
(Conversation, November 2, 1977, Vrndavana)
Guest:
"When did you become the spiritual leader of Krishna consciousness?"
Srila Prabhupada:
"When my Guru Maharaja ordered me. This is the guru-parampara.
Try to understand. Don't go very speedily. A guru can become a guru
when he's ordered by his guru. That's all. Otherwise, nobody can become
guru."
(Conversation, October 28, 1975, Nairobi)
Persons posing as gurus often
propagate the following deviations:
a) Vaisnava gurus or acaryas
may be authorized by ecclesiastical arrangements (acarya boards, two-thirds-majority
votes, and so forth) or appointed from among immature devotees.
b) Vaisnava gurus are self-made or nominated by their friends and followers.
c) Vaisnava gurus are ordinary men who sometimes make common mistakes, and even
great devotees (mahajanas) sometimes become degraded under the Lord's external
maya-sakti.
d) The bona fide spiritual master may sometimes become a demon.
e) Sadhana-bhaktas, neophyte Vaisnavas, may accept special instructions
and special siddha-pranali "initiation" from an unauthorized, self-styled
guru if he claims to be augmenting the teachings of the bona fide Vaisnava acarya.
f) Neophyte Vaisnavas, although sincerely engaged in the service of the bona fide
acarya, require "re-initiation" by an ecclesiastical "guru" when their
former ecclesiastical "guru" deviates.
h) A student of Krishna consciousness may accept initiation, diksa, from
more than one guru.
i) Vaisnava acaryas die or become "posthumous,"
like all mortal men, and
thus become inaccessible or ineffective in the matter of initiating and guiding
new disciples.
j) Some of the instructions of the Vaisnava acarya
automatically become
irrelevant after his disappearance.
The idea of "reinitiating" devotees who have already
earnestly begun serving Srila Prabhupada, having received the bhakti-lata-bija
or seed of devotion, is against Vaisnava principles. Sincere
students reject all these unauthorized ideas and never accept imitators as substitutes
for the genuine Vaisnava acarya.
"There is no possiblity that
a first-class devotee will fall down..."
(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 22.71, Purport)
"A devotee must have only one
initiating spiritual master, because in the scriptures acceptance of more than
one is always forbidden."
(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 1.35, Purport)
"Sri Jiva Gosvami advises that
one not accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and
ecclesiastical conventions. One should simply try to find a genuinely qualified
spiritual master for actual advancement in spiritual understanding."
(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 1.35, Purport)
"One should take initiation from
a bona fide spiritual master coming in the disciplic succession, who is authorized
by his predecessor spiritual master. This is called diksa-vidhana.
Lord Krishna states in Bhagavad-gita, vyapasrita: one should accept a spiritual
master. By this process the entire world can be converted to Krishna consciousness."
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.54, Purport)
Srila Prabhupada has ordained
and implemented a system for initiations in his mission using deputed priests
of the acarya, who offer formal initiation on behalf of Srila Prabhupada.
This system has been in place and functioning since at least 1970, seven years
before Srila Prabhupada's disappearance. Via numerous spoken and written
directives, Srila Prabhupada has clearly delineated his intention to continue
initiating disciples in his Hare Krishna Society by this system "henceforward."
Srila Prabhupada's sincere followers accept his system without speculation, following
the infallible authority of sadhu-sastra-guru. (See conversations, May
28 and July 7, 1977, Vrndavana; Srila Prabhupada's last directive on initiations,
July 9, 1977.)
"My dear [Disciple 1], Please
accept my blessings. Just now I have received some more requests for giving
first initiation …, and now I am receiving weekly not less than ten to fifteen
such requests from new students. So it is becoming very expensive to send
so many sets of beads such a long distance, and it has become a little bothersome
for me also, so I think now you may be appointed by me to give first initiations
to new disciples by chanting on their beads on my behalf. In America [Disciple
2] is doing that. So now if there are two of you, that will give me great
relief. [Disciple 2] will chant on the beads for new devotees in America,
Canada, like that; you can chant on the beads for the European continent, new
disciples. They shall, of course, still be considered as my disciples, not
that they shall become your disciples, but you will be empowered by me to chant
their beads and that is the same effect of binding master and disciple as if I
were personally chanting."
(Letter, January 4, 1973)
Srila Prabhupada:
"Hare Krishna. One Bengali gentleman has come from New York?… So I have
deputed some of you to initiate.… I have already deputed... So. Deputies... [Disciple
1]'s name was there?"
Disciple 2:
"It is already there, Srila Prabhupada. His name was already on that list
[of deputies in the July 9 directive, stating Srila Prabhupada's authorized system
for initiations ‘henceforward']."
Srila Prabhupada:
"So I depute him to do this… This initiation. I have deputed my disciples.
Is it clear or not?"
Disciple 3:
"It's clear... We will explain to the Bengali gentleman, just as you have described
to us, so that he'll be satisfied with this arrangement."
(Conversation, October 18, 1977, Vrndavana)
Only an uttama-adhikari,
a topmost, perfect devotee, is qualified to deliver the student from the miseries
of the material world and the cycle of birth and death. Therefore, the sastras
and acaryas recommend that serious students of Krishna consciousness accept only
an uttama-adhikari as diksa-guru. Students should not approach
imperfect persons who are subject to fall-down. Serious devotees should
not accept initiation or "reinitiation" according to temporal ecclesiastical arrangements
but should rather accept only the topmost devotee as diksa-guru, according
to the sadhana prescribed by Srila Prabhupada.
"The whole world is in the blaze
of material pangs, threefold miseries, and a person who is authorized to deliver
people from those material pangs—he is called a spiritual master."
(Lecture, August 17, 1968, Montreal)
"… help can only be given by
a spiritual master like Krishna. Therefore, the conclusion is that a spiritual
master who is one hundred percent Krishna conscious is the bona fide spiritual
master, for he can solve the problems of life."
(Bhagavad-gita 2.8, Purport)
"Since one cannot visually experience
the presence of the Supersoul, He appears before us as a liberated devotee.
Such a spiritual master is none other than Krishna Himself."
(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 1.58)
"A bona fide spiritual master
is in the disciplic succession from time eternal, and he does not deviate at all
from the instructions of the Supreme Lord..."
(Bhagavad-gita 4.42, Purport)
"The spiritual master is always
considered either one of the confidential associates of Radharani or a manifested
representation of Sri Nityananda."
(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 1.46, Purport)
"On the whole, the spiritual
master is an agent of Krishna. Either he is assistant to the gopis
or assistant to the cowherd boys. He is on the level of Krishna. That
is the verdict of all scriptures. Krishna is worshipable God, and the spiritual
master is worshiper God."
(Letter, September 26, 1969)
"… a disciple should be careful
to accept an uttama-adhikari as a spiritual master."
(Nectar of Instruction, Text 5, Purport)
"Knowledge should be taken from
the perfect person--because if you take knowledge from a person who is defective,
your knowledge has no value. You must take knowledge from the perfect."
(Lecture, April 12, 1974, Bombay)
Srila Prabhupada's bountiful
vani or instructions in his original, un-revised writings and in his recordings
are more than sufficient for the practice and propagation of Krishna consciousness.
Sincere students of Krishna consciousness strive to absorb their consciousness
in Srila Prabhupada's original books and recordings and to live by his eternal,
divine instructions.
"Whatever is to be learned can
be learned from our books. There is no need whatsoever for outside instruction."
(Letter, December 25, 1973)
In sum, the Hare Krishna Society,
the bona fide Krishna consciousness movement, encourages and promotes the association
of Vaisnavas, based upon recognizing and relishing Srila Prabhupada's unique position
as a nitya-siddha Vaisnava and sakty-avesa avatara and the Sampradaya
Acarya and beloved guru for all his sincere followers. As a matter of
course, Krishna conscious devotees come together and preach on this basis, following
Srila Prabhupada's instruction, "Always keep the Acarya in the center."
Members of the Hare Krishna Society
naturally cooperate to arrange Vaisnava festivals on a regular basis and try to
preach, according to individual capacity, following the format given by Srila
Prabhupada, with the chanting of the Lord's holy names, readings and classes from
Srila Prabhupada's original books, discussions based on his Bhaktivedanta Purports,
and prasada offered and distributed in the way Srila Prabhupada has shown
us.
Srila Prabhupada encourages
istha-gosthi (public discussion) among devotees. Members of the Hare
Krishna Society agree to encourage and promote istha-gosthi among ourselves
and others, to discuss the proper conclusions of Vaisnavism and their practical
application, based upon Srila Prabhupada's teachings.
siddhanta baliya citte na
kara alasa iha ha-ite krsne lage sudrdha manasa:
"A sincere student should
not neglect the discussion of such conclusions, considering them controversial,
for such discussions strengthen the mind. Thus one's mind becomes attached
to Sri Krishna."
(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 2.117)
In conclusion, members of the
Hare Krishna Society embrace the simple yet sublime Vaisnava principles of serving
Srila Prabhupada--the Acarya--and working together to help him distribute
the blessings of Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya all over the universe.
"No one can check the spread
of the Krishna consciousness movement, because upon this movement is the benediction
of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu."
(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 17.204, Purport)
satam prasangan mama
virya-samvido, bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayanah kathah
taj-josanad asv apavarga-vartmani, sraddha ratir bhaktir anukramisyati:
"The spiritually powerful message
of Godhead can be properly discussed only in a society of devotees, and it is
greatly pleasing to hear in that association. If one hears from devotees,
the way of transcendental experience quickly opens, and gradually one attains
firm faith that in due course develops into attraction and devotion."
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.25.25)
"He lives forever by his divine
instructions, and the follower lives with him."
(Srila Prabhupada's Dedication to his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura, Srimad-Bhagavatam, 1962)
Param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam.
All Glories to Sri Krishna Sankirtana!
Om Tat Sat.
Posted This 15 October 2002
on the auspicious appearance day of Sripada Madhvacarya and Sri Ramacandra Vijaya
Utsava
www.harekrishnasociety.org
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