By Kesava Krsna Dasa
Just imagine the confusion, especially for our newcomers, well-wishers, younger devotees, and even for some senior devotees. Everybody who “loves” Srila Prabhupada, and is “loyal” to him, must be a bona-fide follower of his, or so it seems.
Out of the many thousands and millions of souls around the world who have been touched by Srila Prabhupada, either through his writings, recordings, inspirations, dreams and so on, can any of us define who are genuine followers or sympathisers, as opposed to those who claim to be? If so, is there a simple criterion for this, or does it stretch broadly to evade standard membership of Iskcon?
Being “loyal” to Srila Prabhupada can assume the guise of many shapes and forms. It can formulate procedures based upon slight pretexts, or continue decade’s long schemes that function against the wishes of our disclipic succession. There are some deviant groupings who vehemently claim that everybody else is also deviating from Srila Prabhupada’s express wishes. With everyone claiming to be right, and everybody else wrong, who is right?
For those whose faith in Srila Prabhupada is not yet fully established, these claims and counter claims of loyalty to him, can be bewildering, especially after being met by representatives of these groupings, or reading their productions. Their literature, web sites, preaching attempts (Yes, they want our membership) contain lots of photographs of him and words of praise. This all seems very nice.
But this is where the real test of authenticity should be applied. We should ask, “So, you are loyal to Srila Prabhupada…do you value his teachings, his aggregate teachings?” The obvious answer will be yes. Then probe further. “Do you value his followers who are members of ISKCON, who are cooperating together in spite of many challenges and difficulties?” At this point, though the representative appears to be meek and humble, he or she will probably engage in anti ISKCON rhetoric and aim personalised jibes at sincere devotees. It appears that Srila Prabhupada is used as a selling point after all.
One should try not to get lulled into something that uses our love and respect for Srila Prabhupada to possibly deviate us from his aggregate teachings. One certain way of attempting this is to speak ill of those we trust within Iskcon, make us lose our faith in them, then repose it into some system devised out of an inability to cooperate together, as Srila Prabhupada desired. This means getting lost somewhere.
There is a human behavioural phenomenon called – atmavan manyate jagat – “Everyone thinks of others according to his own position.” (Prabhupada quote) Because members of certain groupings accuse everybody else of being wrong and unfaithful to Srila Prabhupada, it can be a reflection of one’s own unfaithfulness. It is strange how loyalty to Srila Prabhupada can produce splinters of separated loyalty.
We should be mindful that there is a large swathe of devotees and well-wishers, sometimes called the “Silent Majority.” These are members or former members of Iskcon who at present have no active involvement in service. Some of them left for personal reasons, and others are waiting perhaps, for change, or favourable situations before getting involved again. Many of them feel they have outlived their usefulness for Iskcon which can be very disempowering. With proper affection they should be encouraged to come back with vigour and experience. This majority generally wants Iskcon to reach its full potential. Most of these do not fall into the deviancy bracket.
For those who are uncertain, or who are wondering who is truly loyal, some information is required. This information should help discern matters more clearly simply by covering one aspect of our preeminent siksa guru’s aggregate teachings – our parampara. It is known that all of our good fortune in receiving mercy needed for advancement in Krishna consciousness comes through our disclipic succession. Srila Prabhupada in his last days called this disclipic succession a law, or “…the law of disclipic succession.” Why is it a law? Because it is not a man-made succession.
“Lord Krishna said: I instructed this imperishable science of yoga to the sun-god…” (BG 4.1) This science is – avyayam – or imperishable. Lord Krishna was genuinely concerned about keeping this law intact, otherwise how else will the mercy flow? “One who follows the disclipic succession of acaryas knows things as they are.” (Chandogya Upanisad 6.14.2)
There is a common argument given by certain deviant groups, who claim that because Srila Prabhupada is a Maha-Bhagavat pure devotee, he is able to do any unprecedented thing, which includes ending our disclipic succession with him, because there are supposedly no qualified souls to continue the succession. Those who are familiar with his way of debating with scientific arguments will know that he usually referred to “natural laws” that cannot be reversed, because they originate from Krishna Himself. This law of disclipic succession is not an exception to the rule. Yet the claim is made that Srila Prabhupada did this, as an exception to the rule.
If Lord Krishna was concerned enough to say, “But in course of time the succession was broken…and therefore the science as it is appears to be lost,” so why would Srila Prabhupada oppose this sacred law? If we refer again to the, “Everyone thinks of others according to his own position,” we can suspect that someone who cannot cooperate as desired by our founder acarya, and who generally criticises with outbreaks of bitterness and scorn, are thinking that Srila Prabhupada thinks like themselves.
If Srila Prabhupada thinks like them then one can make it appear that Srila Prabhupada can do anything, and violate the sacred law of our disclipic succession. One can also presume to justify any deviation and say, “It is Prabhupada’s desire.” By the way, if anyone has the power to revoke this sacred law, it has to be God Himself, but He would never do this, as Krishna already explained. Given a short amount of time, Srila Prabhupada could be raised to the status of God by such “loyal” followers.
This information is the necessary knowledge and forewarning needed to receive mercy, otherwise, “If one is not is not actually connected with a bona-fide disclipic succession, whatever mantras he chants will not bring the desired result.” (Padma Purana)
To cooperate together as devotees can be difficult at times. But this desire of Srila Prabhupada to work together contains the power of mercy. This desire or plea has inherent within it the command to enable us to tell right from wrong, even if our paths are strewn with thorns. Who ever said our paths in Krishna consciousness would be easy? To try to become part of the solution with true loyalty is better than getting lost in comfort.
Your servant, Kesava Krsna Dasa – GRS.
Krishna Kesava das has written another essay that will surely elicit many comments. In my current page 1 essay “what is Srila Prabhupad really like?”, I tried to emphasize the compassionate side of Srila Prabhupad, how he overlooked our karma in order to engage us in devotional service. Here, in this essay, I am reminded of what expression Srila Prabhupad often said: “Love me, love my dog”. This expression is appropriate here to consider. We can understand that it is important to interact with other devotees in order to make it possible to engage in sravanam-kirtanam…hearing and chanting. With all its defects on the surface, most of the time we can find a group of similar minded devotees with whom we can interact. Furthermore, in the Bhagavad gita Krishna says that when the bhaktas get together to discuss Krishna topics, then…tushyanti ca ramanti ca. The devotees take pleasure and Krishna takes pleasure also. This is the ideal.
Hopefully, we can all find some healthy association, become free from fault-finding, and proceed back to Home, Back to Godhead.
Sincerely,
Pusta Krishna das
I left one comment to this essay previously, not yet published. I re-read the essay and noted very important points made regarding the dogma of the ritvik school of thought. I agree with Kesava Krsna’s opinion that Srila Prabhupad would not “end” the disciplic succession. Why would he do so? Did he believe his disciples were so incompetent that they could not carry on the parampara? Certainly, Srila Prabhupad trusted us fully to spread Krishna consciousness throughout the world, empowering us in serving Lord Chaitanya. Although it is true that there were a number of individuals who deviated from the principles of parampara when they became diksha gurus, it was much more likely that this was due to their personal character flaws rather than a global inability for his disciples to carry on the parampara. Srila Prabhupad will always remain one of the greatest, if not the greatest,siksha guru of the modern times. Still, we need to have initiating teachers to introduce new comers to the importance of offense-less chanting of the Holy Names.
I do think that there will come a time when the ritvik issue will become history. It may not happen in our lifetimes. We look upon Srila Rupa Goswami as a siksha guru, and we are part of the rupanuga guru varga. We would not consider that we are receiving diksha from Srila Rupa Goswami! So with the passage of time, things will fall into place. I do trust the judgement of Srila Prabhupad that his GBC will manage the ISKCON mission on into the future.
Who is the true follower of Srila Prabhupad? We are aspiring servants. Clearly it is not so easy to be a disciple. Srila Prabhupad said that he spent over 40 years preparing for his service to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad. We cannot and should not imitate him. Rather, we must aspire to be the best we can be as an offering to Srila Prabhupad and to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Finally, regarding the bhaktas who are former fulltime servants of the mission…it is wonderful that the opportunity came to serve Krishna and a pure devotee in this lifetime. Perhaps more full service will be possible in this lifetime, or perhaps it will occur in future lifetimes. It is “all good”. Remember that Srila Prabhupad is our “Ever Well-wisher”. We are not being dis-invited. Things, people, situations have changed. See if you can find a nice group of bhaktas with whom to associate. We have our japa-mala and books. Pusta Krishna das
Jesus said « many will speak in my name, but I won’t be with them! » and then added “You will recognize my true followers, by the love they share with each other…”
Maybe, we could reflect on how much we are engaged in the process of developing genuine love of God, by the way we may develop brotherly love and mercy for other members of our spiritual family, as well as compassion for mankind in general…
Coming back to another topic raised by Krishna Kesava Prabhu, of our Parampara ending with Srila Prabhupada, I agree that it is of course not only absurd, but offensive…
Why would Srila Prabhupada be assimilated to a sterile spiritual father who could not have at least one spiritually worthy son or daughter and be able to claim, alike his Gurudeva, that his guruship was successful !?
Nevertheless, to avoid entertaining confusion in the mind of devotees, shouldn’t we have the frankness and humility to recognize that there may be different levels of Gurus…?
The first rank of Vaishnavas is of course he (or she) who willingly comes down from the spiritual world, from the direct entourage of Sri-Sri Radha-Krishna, to partake to the mission of Sri-Sri Gour-Nitai and spread love of God…
This first class Vaishnava is a Mahabhagavat, the person Bhagavata, a nitya siddha who has come to deliver purely the message of the book Bhagavata. He is saksad Hari and the Vedas celebrate his glories…
Then, we have the sadhakas who aspire to become kripa siddhas, who are in the best cases, on their way towards pure love of God, by the mercy of such an above described Mahabhagavat.
This second category of bhaktas, who may become gurus if they so decide and if the institution they belong to (or not) permits, are of course on a lesser level. Since they are not liberated yet, they do not have the power to liberate their disciples yet either.
Therefore, the question may be raised here of whether they should have chosen to become guru at that still conditioned stage, since sastras teach us “Gurur na sa syat…” “Do not become Guru unless you can liberate those who depend on you”…
However, if they are sincere and keep adhering faithfully to the sacred path of bhakti-yoga, under the guidance of an uttama adhikari and sat guru, they may, in due course of time, become sat sishyas themselves and then be in a capacity to liberate their sincere followers as well.
Hence, till such persons belong to this second category which could be defined as “still conditioned souls”, they are still subjected to the three modes of material nature and may fall down from the path…
Thereby, there is a certain amount of risk for one to follow such persons blindly, which is one of the reasons why, one should confirm with saddhus and sastras, whatever is being said or promoted by such person, be it through his preaching, or by his personal example, as such person still conditioned by the modes of material nature is not worthy of the tithe of “acarya” yet, i.e. “he who teaches by example”…
Many are those belonging to this second category, who are gloriously engaged on the path towards perfection and are yet worthy of respect for their sincerity and perseverance on the path, despite all odds and troubles…
Henceforth, rare is he who knows Krishna in truth, who sees Krishna, who is a sat guru…
Such soul is rare, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist…
It doesn’t mean that because most souls who became disciples and grand disciples of Prabhupada belong to the second category, coming from the position of nitya baddhas and trying to elevate themselves to the position of nitya siddhas, that there is no such soul who could descend from the spiritual world, as did all other previous members of our Parampara, incarnate on earth and become Srila Prabhupada’s disciple, to pursue his mission…
Whatever be the case, and whether one may be able to conceive of this or not, we can simply guess from the example of the attitude displayed by many of Srila Prabhupada’s Godbrothers towards him, that similarly, many would have had a hard time both recognizing him (because of their being still under some form of ignorance and illusion) and accepting him (because of envy, which is rampant in the heart of a conditioned soul) as a Mahabhagavata amongst them.
If we reflect, such a person would be worthy of the title of Prabhupada too, the same way that our Srila Prabhupada deserved this title, amongst all his Godbrothers…
Therefore, we should be compassionate towards each other, as the immense majority of us were born in illusion and have committed one form of sin or another in this lifetime…
Thereby, we have to humbly acknowledge that we belong to the second category of nitya-baddhas (eternally conditioned souls) even if we have accepted the position of guru still affected by the modes of material nature, and are only trying to become elevated, via the practice of the nine process of devotional service, to a position where we are liberated in our turn by the mercy of Sri Guru and when we may then also become empowered to liberate others as well…
During this process of purification, if one takes shelter of such a sincere soul, on his way back to Godhead, one may also become liberated in due course of time, when this senior devotee acting as diksa or siksa guru (or both), becomes liberated, provided one has also displayed enough sincerity to become eligible to receive such unalloyed mercy…
Thereby, rather than taking the risk to ruin our own spiritual lives, through the process of fault finding with others, we should mercifully pray for their elevation and liberation, for it is Mahaprabhu’s mission to liberate the conditioned souls, and we are supposed to assist him in his mission…
Thereby, we should aspire to become well-wishers to each and everyone, by not putting hindrance to anyone’s service, and rather assist everyone in their service unto the lotus feet of Sri Guru & Sri Gauranga…
Yours in service
Puskaraksa das
Alike Jesus, Srila Prabhupada left the formula to recognize his true followers:
“If you love me, cooperate with each other…”
in the service of the sacred mission of Sri Nityananda Prabhu & Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
Srila Prabhupada ki Jaya !
I may be somewhat late for this but I have found this quote you most probably know it, by His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisddhanta Sarsvati Thakura Prabhupada:
“This line of guru-paramapara is existing up to today without any break and it will continue to exist like this in the future also. To say, ‘There is no sad-guru living in the world at present and neither will there be any in the future,’ is an atheistic opinion.”
(His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisddhanta Sarsvati Thakura Prabhupada,
“The True Conception of Guru”)
I guess everyone knows the term sad-guru: top most level of guru; mahabhagavat nitya-siddha.
So according to this the parampara does not stop His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisddhanta Sarsvati Thakura Prabhupada has said it. There is always sad-guru.
Your lowly servant,
Nimai Pandit dasa.