by Sankirtana Das (ACBSP)<\/p>\n
Herein is a compilation of Srila Prabhupada quotes according to various topics. I am sure there are many other relevant quotes. The reader will see patterns emerge throughout these topics which unequivocally establish Prabhupada\u2019s multifaceted vision for his Movement. Thus, there is no need for devotees to argue or declare that one statement is right and another is wrong. To do so will only deflate Prabhupada\u2019s vision.<\/p>\n
***Definition of a Guru<\/p>\n
Here Srila Prabhupada offers a clear and simple understanding. All quotes are from an interview with Prabhupada in London, May 1, 1973. The interview appeared in BTG Vol 55, 1973 as \u201cTest of a Genuine Guru.\u201d<\/p>\n
– \u201cA guru’s business is to canvass everyone to become devotees of God. That is the sum and substance of a real guru’s business. Indeed, he has no other business.\u201d<\/p>\n
– \u201cAnyone, it doesn’t matter who he be Hindu, Muslim or Christian, is a guru if he convinces people to become lovers of God. That is the test.\u201d<\/p>\n
– \u201cIt doesn’t matter how one is dressed.\u201d<\/p>\n
– \u201cAs Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, \u2018Whoever can impart knowledge about Krsna is a spiritual master.\u2019”<\/p>\n
– \u201cIn the Mundakopanisad it is stated, srotriyam brahma-nistham. \u2018The genuine guru is well versed in the scriptures and Vedic knowledge, and he is completely dependent on Brahman.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
– \u201cThe genuine guru is not interested in collecting money but in getting people to become devotees of Krsna, or God. He has no other business.\u201d<\/p>\n
– \u201cAll we have to know is that the genuine guru is simply talking about God and trying to get people to become God’s devotees.\u201d <\/p>\n
***What Prabhupada Wanted of His Disciples<\/p>\n
Some may say that this idea of female gurus is \u201crevisionist,\u201d a \u201cnew\u201d idea, the result of “modernity” and “westernization.” To make these accusations one must ignore the words of Srila Prabhupada himself. Prabhupada\u2019s statements, however, reveal that he did not consider male vs female. Instead, he expected all of his disciples to become initiating gurus after he disappeared from the world.<\/p>\n
“Anyone following the order of Lord Caitanya under the guidance of His bonafide representative, can become a spiritual master and I wish that in my absence all my disciples become the bonafide spiritual master to spread Krishna Consciousness throughout the whole world. I want it . . .” Letter to Madhusudana, Nov. 2, 1967<\/p>\n
\u201cCaitanya Mahaprabhu has said that anyone who knows the science of Krishna, that person should be accepted as Spiritual Master, regardless of any material so-called qualifications; such as rich or poor, man or woman, or brahmana or sudra.\u201d
\nLetter, New Vrindavan, 14 June 14, 1969<\/p>\n
Mohsin Hassan: \u201cAfter you, is it any decision has been made who will take over?\u201d
\nPrabhupada: \u201cYes. All of them will take over. These students, who are initiated from me, all of them will act as I am doing. Just like I have got many Godbrothers, they are all acting. Similarly, all these disciples which I am making, initiating, they are being trained to become future spiritual masters.\u201d Conversation in Detroit, July 18, 1971 <\/p>\n
\u201cBut these women are not ordinary women. They are preachers. They are preachers. They are Vaisnava. By their association, one becomes a Vaisnava.\u201d Morning Walk, March 27, 1974, Bombay<\/p>\n
***Receiving the Guru\u2019s Order<\/p>\n
Today, there are many of Prabhupada\u2019s initiated disciples who have been steadily serving his mission over the years. It is now time to invigorate and expand Prabhupada\u2019s movement by encouraging any of his disciples (now in their 60s, 70s and 80s), both men and women, to become initiating gurus. Many may have already heard Caitanya\u2019s and Prabhupada\u2019s order to accept disciples of their own. Sometimes people ask, have these disciples been authorized by Prabhupada? Such questions often stem from an envious nature. <\/p>\n
Many of Prabhupada\u2019s god-brothers took on disciples. Prabhupada never questioned them if they were authorized to do so. This \u201corder from the guru\u201d is an intimate affair. Do those who accept the position of Gaudiya Vaisnava guru need to provide a letter of authorization? And as far as being a shiksha or diksa guru, Prabhupada explains that the shiksha guru usually becomes the diksa guru. This is a natural progression.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u0101m\u0101ra \u0101j\u00f1\u0101ya guru ha\u00f1\u0101 t\u0101ra\u2019 ei de\u015ba
\ny\u0101re dekha, t\u0101re kaha \u2018k\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019-upade\u015ba (CC Madhya 7.128)
\nLord Caitanya says that, \u201cEvery one of you become the spiritual master. Every one of you. Why one, two? Every one of you.\u201d \u201cOh, spiritual master is very difficult job.\u201d No. No difficult job. Caitanya Mah\u0101 . . . \u0100m\u0101ra \u0101j\u00f1\u0101ya: \u201cJust try to carry out My order. That\u2019s all. Then you become spiritual master.\u201d And if you interpolate, if you put something nonsense, rubbish, to show your so-called rascal\u2019s education, then it is spoiled. Immediately spoiled. And if you present as it is, then it is pure.\u201d
\nLecture, May 9, 1969 <\/p>\n
\u201cYou become a guru. Everyone. \u2018How shall I become guru? I have no qualification.\u2019 Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, \u201cYou don\u2019t require any qualification. You simply require one qualification, that you repeat the instruction of Bhagavad-gita. That\u2019s all.\u201d Lecture in India, March 16, 1976 <\/p>\n
***Guru vs Scripture <\/p>\n
Are all of Prabhupada\u2019s statements valid or are some just strange contradictions?
\nPrabhupada often stated “Don’t change anything” and just as often said “Present according to time, place and circumstance.\u201d What does he mean? And if there is contradiction, does scripture or guru take precedent? Let\u2019s see what Srila Prabhupada has to say, but first a word from sastra.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u015ar\u012b Caitanya Mah\u0101prabhu continued, ‘Dry arguments are inconclusive. A great personality whose opinion does not differ from others is not considered a great sage. Simply by studying the Vedas, which are variegated, one cannot come to the right path by which religious principles are understood. The solid truth of religious principles is hidden in the heart of an unadulterated self-realized person. Consequently, as the \u015b\u0101stra as confirm, one should accept whatever progressive path the mah\u0101janas advocate.’ ” CC Madhya, Verse 17.186 — This verse is originally spoken by Yudhi\u1e63\u1e6dhira Mah\u0101r\u0101ja in the Mah\u0101bh\u0101rata, Vana-parva (313.117).<\/p>\n
“We do not want all these rituals. Chanting Hare Krsna is our only business. According to the Manu-samhita you are all mlecchas and yavanas. You cannot touch the Manu-samhita, what to speak of translating it. So if you try to follow the Manu-samhita then you will become a mleccha and yavana and your career is finished.\u2019 Letter, May 19, 1977<\/p>\n
“A pure devotee of the Lord, being cognizant of the facts of the particular time, object and circumstances, always desires to expand the number of devotees of the Lord in various ways. Such expansions of transcendental service may appear to be material to the materialist, but factually they are expansions of the causeless mercy of the Lord towards the devotee.” SB 3.9.34, Purport<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes our Indian friends, puffed up with concocted notions, criticize, \u2018This has not been done. That has not been done.\u2019 . . . . Those who are not actually in the line of \u0101c\u0101ryas, or who personally have no knowledge of how to act in the role of \u0101c\u0101rya, unnecessarily criticize the activities of the ISKCON movement in countries outside of India. The fact is that such critics cannot do anything personally to spread K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a consciousness. If someone does go and preach, taking all risks and allowing all considerations for time and place, it might be that there are changes in the manner of worship, but that is not at all faulty according to \u015b\u0101stra.\u201d SB 4.8.54 Purport<\/p>\n
“Expert religionists know perfectly well how to adjust religious principles in terms of time and place. All the great \u0101c\u0101ryas or religious preachers or reformers of the world executed their mission by adjustment of religious principles in terms of time and place. There are different climates and situations in different parts of the world, and if one has to discharge his duties to preach the message of the Lord, he must be expert in adjusting things in terms of the time and place.” SB 1.9.9 Purport<\/p>\n
“An \u0101c\u0101rya who comes for the service of the Lord cannot be expected to conform to a stereotype, for he must find the ways and means by which K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a consciousness may be spread. Sometimes jealous persons criticize the K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a consciousness movement because it engages equally both boys and girls in distributing love of Godhead. . . . Therefore, what we are doing is perfect by the grace of Lord Caitanya Mah\u0101prabhu, for it is He who proposed to invent a way to capture those who strayed from K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a consciousness.” Caitanya-carit\u0101m\u1e5bta \u0100di 7.31-32 Purport<\/p>\n
***Unity in Diversity <\/p>\n
\u201cIn the material world there are varieties, but there is no agreement. In the spiritual world there are varieties, but there is agreement. That is the difference. The materialist without being able to adjust the varieties and the disagreements makes everything zero. They cannot come into agreement with varieties, but if we keep Krishna in the center, then there will be agreement in varieties. This is called unity in diversity. I am therefore suggesting that all our men meet in Mayapur every year during the birth anniversary of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. With all GBC and senior men present we should discuss how to make unity in diversity. But, if we fight on account of diversity, then it is simply the material platform. Please try to maintain the philosophy of unity in diversity. That will make our movement successful.\u201d Letter, Oct. 18, 1973<\/p>\n
In February of 2017 the GBC formalized Prabhupada\u2019s mandate with this statement: \u201cImplementing unity in diversity requires maintaining the delicate balance between the need of the Society to conserve its fundamental principles and practices, and the need to encourage creativity, individuality, and innovation. Another application of unity in diversity manifests in the variety of approaches in preaching in which the message remains authentic and undiluted but the form may be inspired by local situations, environments, and the individuality of the preachers.\u201d<\/p>\n
***ISKCON\u2019s Mission: <\/p>\n
“So, so we want to spread Krishna consciousness. Simply prepare yourself how to repeat Krishna’s instructions very nicely, without any malinterpretation. Then, in future… Suppose you have got now ten thousand. We shall expand to hundred thousand. That is required. Then hundred thousand to million, and million to ten million. (The devotee loudly cheer “Jaya!”) So there will be no scarcity of acharya, and people will understand Krishna consciousness very easily.” Mayapur lecture, April 6, 1975<\/p>\n
Caitanya Himself mandated that His Movement spread to every town and village. “Don’t consider who is fit or who is unfit.” Srila Prabhupada wanted devotees to dedicate their lives in loving service to Lord Krishna, and spread the yuga-dharma. To adhere to smarta brahmin philosophy and promote Vedic rituals and injunctions, would be counter-productive to his mission.<\/p>\n
We must study the trajectory of the last 150 years. No one before Bhaktivinoda wrote as he did, “When in England, France, Russia, Prussia, and America all fortunate persons by taking up kholas and karatalas will take the name of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu again and again in their own countries, and raise the waves of sankirtana, when will that day come!” In the next generation, Bhaktisiddanta disrupted the traditional process by giving brahmana initiation to those in the lower castes. This certainly enraged the smartas. Prabhupada, in turn, was also criticized when he gave such initiation to women, engaged them as pujaris serving on the altar, and sent women out to distribute books. Prabhupada engaged men and women equally in serving Caitanya\u2019s mission. He subsequently saw all of his qualified disciples becoming spiritual masters and expanding the mission.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am very much stressing nowadays that my students shall increase their reading of my books and try to understand them from different angles of vision. Each sloka can be seen from many, many angles of vision, so become practiced in seeing things like this.\u201d Letter, LA, 16 June 16, 1972<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I am especially proud how my householder disciples are preaching Lord Caitanya\u2019s Mission. This is a new thing in the history of the Sankirtana Movement. In India all the acaryas and their descendants later on acted only from the man\u2019s side. Their wives were at home because that is the system from old times that women are not required to go out. But in Bhagavad-gita we find that women are also equally competent like the men in the matter of Krsna Consciousness Movement. Please therefore carry on these missionary activities, and prove it by practical example that there is no bar for anyone in the matter of preaching work for Krsna Consciousness.\u201d Letter, Dec. 20, 1969 <\/p>\n
\u201c. . . the members of ISKCON must increase this movement more and more, according to the principles that we are presently trying to execute. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, thus being pleased, will smilingly glance upon them, bestowing His favor, and the movement will be successful.\u201d CC Adi 9:50, purport<\/p>\n
\u201cI wish that it will be noted down in history that this Krishna Consciousness Movement is responsible for saving the world.\u201d Letter, Bombay, January 1, 1972<\/p>\n
***In Conclusion <\/p>\n
No one should be confused by Prabhupada’s seemingly contradictory statements. These instructions are not contradictory because they are all centered around serving Krishna and disseminating Krishna Consciousness. Prabhupada\u2019s statements are vital to the health and growth of the Movement. These preaching instructions are meant to be adjusted according to place, time and circumstance. This is one use of intelligence in Krishna\u2019s service. In the Light of the Bhagavat, Prabhupada writes that the devotees \u201care always anxious for the welfare of the fallen souls.\u201d For this reason, devotees are moving forward in many arenas simultaneously and respect one another\u2019s efforts in the context of \u201cunity in diversity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prabhupada\u2019s instructions are emphatic. Like this statement: \u201cI want to see my disciples become bona fide Spiritual Master and spread Krishna consciousness very widely, that will make me and Krishna very happy.\u201d Letter, December 2, 1975. This is not a male vs female issue. No one should hinder the growth of the Movement by discrediting Prabhupada\u2019s instructions. At this time, these various instructions can be applied accordingly by the senior devotees, Prabhupada\u2019s direct disciples, to fulfill Prabhupada\u2019s vision for ISKCON. <\/p>\n
harer n\u0101ma harer n\u0101ma
\nharer n\u0101maiva kevalam
\nkalau n\u0101sty eva n\u0101sty eva
\nn\u0101sty eva gatir anyath\u0101<\/p>\n
Sankirtana Das, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada, is a longtime resident of New Vrindaban Community and an award-winning author and storyteller. His most recent book, Hanuman\u2019s Quest, has received a Storytelling World Resource Award. For more info about his work visit www.Mahabharata-Project.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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