Srila Prabhupada did not want his followers to go outside of ISKCON

[Guest guest]

Here is some food for thought for all of us produced by one of our senior

God brothers who used to be close to HH Narayana Maharaja

(before the GBC body decided to issue clear guidelines three years ago to

the devotees in ISKCON in these regards).

 

It is important that we all hear these arguments and share them widely,

particularly with those devotees who may already have become unfortunately

affected by those outsiders who now, that Srila Prabhupada is gone are

targeting ISKCON for its resources in terms of members, initiated,

uninitiated, living inside our temples or congregational.

 

 

--------------------------

 

ON FOLLOWING SRILA PRABHUPADA

 

"The acarya who comes for the service of the Lord must find the ways and

means

by which Krsna consciousness may be spread.... Therefore, what we are doing

is perfect by the grace of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who proposed to invent

a

way to capture those who strayed from Krsna consciousness."

-- Srila Prabhupada (Cc Adi 7.31-32p)

 

Srila Prabhupada, as the most confidential servant of Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu, came to fulfill the Lord's purpose.

 

kali-yuge yuga dharma -- namera pracara

tathi lagi' pita-varna caitanyavatara

 

"The religious practice for the age of Kali is to broadcast the glories of

the holy name. Only for this purpose has the Lord, in a yellow color,

descended as Lord Caitanya" (Cc Adi 3.40).

 

In many places Srila Prabhupada has confirmed that the Krsna consciousness

movement is meant to fulfill the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura: "Our Society, the International Society

for Krsna consciousness, has been formed to execute the order of Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati

Thakura" (Cc Concluding Words). The order is to preach Krsna consciousness

in every town and village of the world. Srila Prabhupada understood the

inner desires of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati

Thakura and executed their orders fully.

 

Srila Prabhupada describes Lord Caitanya's inner feelings: "Devotees

acknowledge Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's special mercy upon Srila Rupa Gosvami

in the following words:

 

sri-caitanya-mano'bhistam-

sthapitam yena bhu-tale

svayam rupah kada mahyam

dadati sva-padantikam

 

"'When will Srila Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada, who has established within this

material world the mission to fulfill the desire of Lord Caitanya, give me

shelter under his lotus feet?'

 

"The special function of Srila Rupa Gosvami is to establish the feelings of

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. These feelings are His desires that His special

mercy be spread throughout the world in this Kali-yuga.

 

prthivite ache yata nagaradi-grama

sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama

 

"His desire is that all over the world everyone, in every village and every

town, know of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His sankirtana movement. These are

the inner feelings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Sri Rupa Gosvami committed to

writing all these feelings of the Lord. Now again, by the mercy of Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the same feelings are being spread all over the world

by the servants of the Gosvamis, and devotees who are pure and simple will

appreciate this attempt. As concluded by Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami,

however, those who are on the level of hogs and dogs will never appreciate

such a great attempt. Yet this does not matter to the preachers of Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu's cult, for all over the world they will continue to

perform this responsible work, even though persons who are like cats and

dogs do not appreciate them" (Cc Antya 1.117p).

 

ISKCON is a distinct branch of the Caitanya tree, a vital branch founded by

Srila Prabhupada and dedicated to preaching the message of guru and Gauranga

throughout the world. "The ISKCON branch, being directly watered by Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu, is becoming undoubtedly successful, whereas the

disconnected branches of the so-called Hindu religion that are envious of

ISKCON are drying up and dying" (Cc Adi 12.73p).

 

"We took up the mission of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura and

Bhaktivinoda Thakura to preach the cult of Caitanya Mahaprabhu all over the

world, under the protection of all the predecessor acaryas, and we find that

our humble attempt has been successful....

'To one who has staunch faith in the words of the spiritual master and the

words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead the secret of success in Vedic

knowledge is revealed.'

The Krsna consciousness movement is being propagated according to this

principle, and therefore our preaching work is going on successfully, in

spite of the many impediments offered by antagonistic demons, because we are

getting positive help from our previous acaryas.... The success of the

ISKCON party, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, which

strictly follows guru and Gauranga, is increasing daily all over the world.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura wanted to print as many books as

possible and distribute them all over the world. We have tried our best in

this connection, and we are getting results beyond our expectations" (Cc Adi

12.8p).

 

Because Srila Prabhupada was uniquely empowered by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

and the previous acaryas to spread Krsna consciousness throughout the world,

his approach is especially merciful and appropriate for the present age:

 

Satsvarupa: Lord Caitanya, when Ramananda Raya brought this [varnasrama

dharma] up, He said it was not possible in this age to introduce this.

Prabhupada: Yes, not... He did not say [im]possible. Iha bahya. Caitanya

Mahaprabhu is interested only on the spiritual platform. He had no idea of

material side. He rejected material side.

Satsvarupa: But don't we do that also?

Prabhupada: No. Our position is different. We are trying to implement

Krsna consciousness in everything. Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally took

sannyasa.

He completely rejected material. Niskincana. But we are not going to be...

That is also the prescription of Bhagavad-gita. We are not rejecting the

whole society. Caitanya Mahaprabhu rejected everything, iha bahya.

Rejected meaning, "I do not take much interest in this." Bahya. "It is

external." He is simply interested in the internal, the spiritual. But our

duty is that we shall arrange the external affairs so nicely that one day

they will come to the spiritual platform very easily -- paving the way. And

Caitanya Mahaprabhu, personalities like that, they have nothing to do with

this material world. But we are preaching. We are preaching. Therefore we

must pave the situation in such a way that gradually they will be promoted

to the spiritual plane, which is not required.

Satsvarupa: Varnasrama is not required.

Prabhupada: Not required. Caitanya Mahaprabhu denied, "I am not brahmana,

I am not ksatriya, I am not this, I am not that." He rejected. In the

Bhagavad-gita, catur varnyam maya srstam. So we are preaching Krsna

consciousness. It must be done.

Hari Sauri: But in Caitanya Mahaprabhu's practical preaching He only induced

them to chant.

Prabhupada: That is not possible for ordinary men.

Hari Sauri: What, to simply induce people to chant?

Prabhupada: But who will chant? Who'll chant?

Satsvarupa: But if they don't chant, neither will they train up in the

varnasrama. That's the easiest.

Prabhupada: The chanting will be there, but you cannot expect that people

will chant like Caitanya Mahaprabhu. They cannot even chant sixteen

rounds. And these rascals are going to be Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Satsvarupa: No. But if they at least will chant and take some prasada...

Prabhupada: Chanting will go on. That is not stopped. But at the same

time the varnasrama dharma must be established to make the way easy (SP

Conversation 14.2.1977).

 

As Caitanya Mahaprabhu's servant, Srila Prabhupada certainly wanted to

bestow krsna-prema through the holy names; but seeing the people's actual

position, Prabhupada knew the process would have to be gradual.

 

Previous acaryas explicitly mention the practices of raganuga-sadhana. Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu imparted teachings about this to Srila Rupa Gosvami and

others. However, seeing the fallen condition of human society in Kali-yuga

and understanding how raganuga-bhakti could be misunderstood and misapplied,

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura and Srila Prabhupada very strongly

warned persons against premature attempts at raganuga-sadhana and hearing

confidential topics of Radha and Krsna.

 

In The Nectar of Devotion, Srila Prabhupada advises: "Persons desiring to

follow in the footsteps of such eternal devotees of the Lord as the Vrsnis

and Vrndavana denizens are called raganuga devotees, which means they are

trying to attain the perfection of those devotees. These raganuga devotees

do not follow the regulative principles of devotional service very strictly,

but by spontaneous nature they become attracted to some of the eternal

devotees such as Nanda or Yasoda and they try to follow in their footsteps

spontaneously.

There is a gradual development of the ambition to become like a particular

devotee, and this activity is called raganuga.

 

"We must always remember, however, that such eagerness to follow in the

footsteps of the denizens of Vraja (Vrndavana) is not possible unless one is

freed from material contamination. In following the regulative principles

of devotional service, there is a stage called anartha-nivrtti, which means

the disappearance of all material contamination. Sometimes someone is found

imitating such devotional love, but factually he is not freed from anarthas,

or unwanted habits. It has been seen that a so-called devotee proclaims

himself a follower of Nanda, Yasoda or the gopis, while at the same time his

abominable attraction for mundane sex life is visible. Such a manifestation

of divine love is mere imitation and has no value. When one is actually

spontaneously attracted to the loving principles of the gopis, there will be

found no trace of any mundane contamination in his character.

 

"Therefore, in the beginning, everyone should strictly follow the regulative

principles of devotional service, according to the intentions of the

scriptures and the spiritual master. Only after the stage of liberation

from material contamination can one actually aspire to follow in the

footsteps of the devotees in Vrndavana" (NOD, Ch 16 p.125-126).

 

We see how Srila Prabhupada responded in Los Angeles in 1976 when some

ISKCON devotees took premature interest in topics of Krsna and the gopis.

As recorded in Hari Sauri's Transcendental Diary (Volume 2, p. 268), Srila

Prabhupada told them, "'You want to scrutinizingly study Caitanya

Mahaprabhu's instructions, but why just the parts about the gopis? Why

don't you scrutinizingly study where Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, guru more

murkha dekhi' karila sasana, His guru found Him to be a fool and told Him

He was not fit for anything but chanting Hare Krsna? Why don't you

scrutinize that part?

First become a fool like Caitanya Mahaprabhu before jumping over like

monkey!'

 

"Puranjana tried to reassure him that they were not attempting to imitate

the gopis' love for Krsna; they were simply studying the descriptions so

they could develop such desires.

 

"Prabhupada flushed, his top lip quivering. 'First deserve, then desire!

There is no question of desire unless one is actually liberated. Until that

point you simply do whatever service you are given. So long as there is any

pinch of material desire there is no question of desiring on the spiritual

platform!'

 

"He said the intimate gopi lilas were discussed by Lord Caitanya only among

His three most confidential associates -- Svarupa Damodara, Ramananda Raya,

Sikhi Mahiti. Siddha deha is for liberated souls -- no one else.

 

"Sulocana said that they had thought it was all right because it was in

Prabhupada's books and they were only reading his books. Prabhupada told

them that just because the drugstore has every type of drug it does not mean

that one can get them without prescription. The doctor prescribes according

to the disease. He said that from the beginning stages of devotional

service up to the highest rasa, everything is there in his books, but they

are not all to be immediately studied."

 

If devotees prematurely take interest in topics of Krsna and the gopis, what

harm could come? As Krsna's loving affairs with the gopis resemble material

exchanges between boys and girls, by concentrating on such topics one's lust

may increase, and one's spiritual advancement may be checked.

 

"When one is liberated and hears of Lord Krsna's and Radha's loving affairs,

he is not inclined to have lusty desires. One mundane rogue once said that

when the Vaisnavas chant the name 'Radha, Radha,' he simply remembers a

barber's wife named Radha. This is a practical example. Unless one is

liberated, he should not try to hear about the loving affairs between Radha

and Krsna. If one is not liberated and listens to a relation of the rasa

dance, he may remember his mundane activities and illicit connections with

some woman whose name may also be Radha. In the conditioned stage one should

not even try to remember such things. By practicing the regulative

principles, one should rise to the platform of spontaneous attraction for

Krsna. Then and only then should one hear about the radha-krsna-lila.

Although these affairs may be very pleasing both to conditioned and to

liberated souls, the conditioned soul should not try to hear them" (Cc M 8.

255p).

 

In the same reserved mood, Srila Prabhupada simply presented himself as the

humble servant of his spiritual master and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, although

in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Adi 1.46p) he instructs, "The spiritual master

is always considered either one of the confidential associates of Srimati

Radharani or a manifested representation of Srila Nityananda Prabhu." While

on Appearance Days and at other functions, some Gaudiya Vaisnavas may refer

to their spiritual master or previous acaryas in terms of their eternal

relationship with Krsna, Srila Prabhupada rarely did. In fact, when one

disciple asked Srila Prabhupada what his eternal relationship with Krsna

was, Srila Prabhupada replied that it is not proper for a disciple to ask

such questions. So in general we should be reserved in discussing such

matters, as Srila Prabhupada was.

 

Still, knowing that ultimately Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the Krsna

consciousness movement are meant to give the highest love for Radha and

Krsna, is there nothing ISKCON devotees can do now, before liberation, to

become qualified?

 

Here Srila Prabhupada always emphasized the basic program of Krsna

consciousness, chanting the holy names and preaching. By preaching and

chanting the holy names one gets the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and the

previous acaryas to achieve the highest perfection. As Srila Prabhupada

said, "The way to develop the gopis' love for Krsna is to spread Krsna

consciousness all over the world."

 

What is the mood of the gopis? They were prepared to do anything to satisfy

Krsna. And as Krsna is most pleased when His devotee is pleased, we should

work selflessly to please Krsna's dearmost devotee and representative --

Srila Prabhupada. As Krsna and Srila Prabhupada are especially satisfied by

preaching, we should preach selflessly -- like Srila Prabhupada.

 

In the ecstasy of Srimati Radharani, Lord Caitanya prays, "I do not mind My

personal distress. I only wish for the happiness of Krsna, for His

happiness is the goal of My life" (Cc Antya 20.52). In the purport, Srila

Prabhupada remarks: "Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says that the

devotee does not care about his own happiness and distress; he is simply

interested in seeing that Krsna is happy, and for that purpose he engages in

various activities.... Others who are materialistic, however, who are very

proud of material wealth and have no spiritual knowledge, like the

prakrta-sayajiyas, regard their own happiness as the aim of life."

 

"Sometimes the representatives of the Lord engaged in preaching work meet

various so-called difficulties. This was exhibited by Lord Nityananda when

He delivered the two fallen souls Jagai and Madhai, and similarly Lord Jesus

Christ was crucified by the non-believers. But such difficulties are very

gladly suffered by the devotees in preaching because in such activities,

although apparently very severe, the devotees of the Lord feel

transcendental pleasure because the Lord is satisfied.... There is no

self-interest in such

service.... Pure devotees like Narada and Nityananda Prabhu take up the

order of the spiritual master as the sustenance of life. They do not mind

what becomes of the future of their lives" (SB 2.8.6p).

 

"There are many examples in history of devotees of the Lord who risked their

lives for the spreading of God consciousness.... Now we can imagine how

merciful Krsna is to those engaged in His service, risking everything for

Him.

Therefore it is certain that such persons must reach the supreme planet

after leaving the body" (Bg 11.55p).

 

While Srila Prabhupada always spoke of preaching in the highest terms, he

condemned the sahajiya babajis and others who denigrate preaching.

 

Prabhupada: Vrndavana, there are so many dangers. All these babajis they

are... "Oh, I am not going out of Vrndavana." But he has got connection

with so many women. So what is the use? Have you experience of this? He

is attached to women and doing all sinful activities in Vrndavana. This is

going on, manufacturing bidi, smoking bidi, in the dress of Rupa Gosvami,

loincloth, big tilak, kanthi, and what he is doing? Bidi-making. Have you

seen?

Prithu-putra: I have seen some of them doing this, ....

Prabhupada: Not all of them. But they are also claiming they are on the

stage of Rupa Gosvami. We are preaching -- we are lower stage. That is

their opinion. We are preaching all over the world; we are in the lower

stage. And because he has imitated the dress of Rupa Gosvami -- he is

higher. This is going on (SP Conversation 28.1.1977).

 

Actually, Srila Prabhupada embodies the real spirit of Rupa Gosvami, Srila

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu -- preaching.

 

Guru Krpa: Srila Prabhupada, what about, say, many of your Godbrothers?

They also have disciples, and they are also properly initiated by a proper

spiritual master, and they give the Hare Krsna mantra.

Srila Prabhupada: The thing is the spirit, real service of preaching.

Formality is going, but the real business... Caitanya Mahaprabhu's movement

means amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa. That is stopped. Do you follow?

The formalities are there, but the real life of Caitanya Mahaprabhu's

movement is preaching (SP Conversation 2.5.1976).

 

In his books sometimes Srila Prabhupada regretted, "Unfortunately we are

surrounded by neophyte Godbrothers who do not appreciate the extraordinary

activities of spreading Krsna consciousness all over the world" (NOI 6p).

 

Srila Prabhupada often cited Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura that, "An

uttama-adhikari Vaisnava can be recognized by his ability to convert many

fallen souls to Vaisnavism" (NOI 5p). "Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura said

that the position of a Vaisnava can be tested by how good a touchstone he is

-- that is, by how many Vaisnavas he has made during his life. A Vaisnava

should be a touchstone so that he can convert others to Vaisnavism by his

preaching, even though people may be fallen like the hunter. There are many

so-called advanced devotees who sit in a secluded place for their personal

benefit.

They do not go out to preach and convert others into Vaisnavas, and

therefore they certainly cannot be called sparsa-mani, advanced devotees"

(Cc M 24.277p).

 

Srila Prabhupada said, "Like father, like son." He preached extensively all

over the world with unprecedented success, and he also ordered us to preach.

And to the extent that we follow Srila Prabhupada's instructions and preach,

he will be pleased, he will bless us with the mercy of the disciplic

succession, and we will be successful.

 

Srila Prabhupada has explained how we are instructed and qualified to

preach:

"Kanistha-adhikari devotees cannot turn others into Vaisnavas, but a

madhyama-adhikari Vaisnava can do so by preaching. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

advised His followers to increase the number of Vaisnavas:

 

yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa

amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa

(Cc Madhya 7.128)

 

It is Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's wish that everyone should become a Vaisnava

and guru. Following the instructions of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His

disciplic succession, one can become a spiritual master, for the process is

very easy. One can go everywhere and anywhere to preach the instructions of

Krsna. Bhagavad-gita is Krsna's instructions; therefore the duty of every

Vaisnava is to travel and preach Bhagavad-gita, either in his country or a

foreign country. This is the test of the sparsa-mani, following in the

footsteps of Narada Muni" (Cc M 24.227p).

 

"The members of the Krsna consciousness movement chant a minimum of sixteen

rounds a day, which can be done without difficulty, but at the same time

they must preach the cult of Caitanya Mahaprabhu according to the gospel of

Bhagavad-gita As It Is. One who does so is quite fit to become a spiritual

master for the entire world" (Cc Antya 4.103p).

 

Just as Srila Prabhupada expressed regret when persons minimized his service

of preaching, he would similarly regret lack of appreciation for his

disciples' service, which indirectly shows lack of appreciation for Srila

Prabhupada.

 

Before Srila Prabhupada left us he said, "I have given you the framework,

now

you fill it in." Framework suggests that Srila Prabhupada gave everything,

top to bottom, within the structure of ISKCON, but he wanted us, his

faithful followers, to fill in the details. And practically we see that

Srila Prabhupada's followers gradually are becoming expert in various

aspects of Krsna conscious philosophy and practice, filling in the

framework.

 

We should be careful, however, that as we fill in the details we do not

alter the basic framework. If we deviate even the slightest from Srila

Prabhupada's basic instructions, we may create havoc:

 

Prabhupada: We have got everything clearly stated, that we observe these

regulative principles, chant minimum sixteen rounds, and act as far as

possible for the service of the Lord. Where is the difficulty?

Prthu-putra: Maybe the realization may not be there.

Prabhupada: What is that realization? This is the prescribed duty. So

there is no question of realization. You must do it.

Prthu Putra: Yes, they must and they also do it.

Prabhupada: Then where is the doubt? Let me go on with my duty. That's

all.

Why shall I be disturbed by so many things? Let me see whether I am

discharging my duties properly. That's all.

Prthu Putra: That is what should be told to them.

Prabhupada: Yes, he may be very fortunate that he is dreaming [of higher

things]. "All right, keep aside. Do your duty. You are very fortunate.

But don't bother now. First of all be strong and follow." Otherwise, ei

chure paka. Stunted jackfruit. Jackfruit becomes so big, but one fruit, it

is so small. Taya eka channi sa. And it has become ripened. So it has no

taste, neither it can be used for cooking -- useless. A small fruit

ripened, it is useless either for this person or that. So do your duty.

Guru mukha padma vakhya cittete koriya... ara na koriya. That is bhajan.

As soon as he deviates -- yasya prasadan na gatih kuto 'pi. He is finished.

That has happened.... It is the effect of bad association" (SP Conversation

28.1.1977)

 

Here is the danger: If we take instruction from any person whose emphasis or

mood is different from Srila Prabhupada's, we may be deviated from Srila

Prabhupada's unique approach to Krsna consciousness, suffer, and cause the

advance of Lord Caitanya's preaching mission to suffer also.

 

Srila Prabhupada: When the child decides that, "Whatever my parents say,

that's all I shall do. I shall do nothing [else]," then he is safe.... And

as soon as he manufactures -- finished. So don't do this. Yasya deve para

bhaktir yatha deve tatha gurau tasyaite kathita... This is the secret of

spiritual success (SP Conversation 28.1.1977).

 

"Don't become over-intelligent." (SP letter 23.1.1977).

 

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura instructed his disciples to preach

cooperatively under the authority of a Governing Body Commission. Thus

Srila Prabhupada established the GBC within ISKCON. And he encouraged his

Godbrothers to cooperate according to Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura's

principles, following Srila Prabhupada's lead. While the various Gaudiya

institutions remain distinct, they could still work cooperatively for the

pleasure of Guru and Gauranga. But apart from cooperation in practical

matters, Srila Prabhupada did caution us about intimate association.

 

The Governing Body Commission, as Srila Prabhupada's representative, is

duty-bound to protect Srila Prabhupada's interests and manifest Srila

Prabhupada's will. Just as when Srila Prabhupada was personally present he

used to set policies, allow exceptions, and regulate the movements of his

devotees, so in Srila Prabhupada's absence, the GBC, as required, must do

the same.

 

In every respect we should follow Srila Prabhupada. Then success is assured

-- or, that itself is success:

 

Prabhupada: Now, I'll say from my practical life... it is not pride.

Actually everyone knows that my Guru Maharaja had thousands of disciples.

So out of thousands of disciples, practically I am a little successful.

That everyone knows. Why? Because I firmly believed in the words of my

guru.

That's all. There may be many other God brothers, maybe very learned and

very advanced, favored, whatever it may be.... So I think sometimes that

"Why this wonderful thing has happened to me?" So I search out. I search

out only that I cent percent believe in the words of my spiritual master,

that's all, nothing else. Guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete koriya aikya, ara

na koriho mane asa. Don't think any nonsense. Simply execute what your

guru has said.

That is success." (SP Conversation 28.1.1977)