Friday 28 September 2012

Why the ISKCON gurus are bogus

By: Yashodanandana Dasa, Los Angeles, California

Srila Prabhupada explained that His Guru Maharaja never appointed anybody as acharya.
“…They wanted to create artificially somebody acharya",
Note:  The ISKCON GBC artificially created 11 acharyas in March of 1978.
If Srila Prabhupada wanted to appoint 11 acharyas [diksha-gurus] for ISKCON, why did he not directly say?
 
"He said so many things, and this point He missed? The real point?"
 
Note: Similarly Srila Prabhupada said so many things in the last few months of 1977, and the real point He missed?
 
…"and they insist upon it. They declared some unfit person to become"...
(Srila Prabhupada conversation, August 16, 1976, Bombay) 
 
Note:  And the GBC misheard, misunderstood, and misrepresented to the body of ISKCON devotees that 11 had been “appointed” as acharyas.  And they insisted upon it.  And they declared some unfit persons to become acharyas.
 
Note:  If His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada did not appoint anyone as acharya [or diksha guru] for His mission, what makes the leading secretaries of His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada think that He would appoint one acharya or a group of acharyas for His Mission, in direct contradiction of His criticism of this whole concept in August of 1976. 
 
Srila Prabhupada conversation, August 16, 1976, Bombay, India 
 
Srila Prabhupada explains that there is no record that HDGBSTP nominated “any acharya” after him 
 
“… I have also read specifically your articles on the matter of acharyas, wherein on the 14th paragraph I see the acharya shall be entitled to nominate in writing his successive acharya. But we do not find any record where our Srila Prabhupada nominated any acharya after Him. Different persons have interpreted on this point, and everyone of our God brothers are acting as acharya, so this is a controversial point which I do not wish to enter into while we are proposing for co-operation…” 
 
(Srila Prabhupada letter 1969 (SPL (VI 1987) August 21, 1969) 
 
Note:  Where is the actual verifiable record that Srila Prabhupada [HDG ACBSP]  “nominated any acharya after Him”? 
 
Srila Prabhupada defines obedience
Srila Prabhupada - "I may say many things to you, but when I say something directly to you, you do it. Your first duty is to do that, you cannot argue – ‘Sir, you said to me do like this before', no that is not your duty, what I say to you now you do it, that is obedience you cannot argue.
(Srila Prabhupada, S.B. Lecture, April 14, 1975, Hyderabad) 
 
Guru cannot be self-made 
Guru must be authorized 
"Guru cannot be self-made. No. There is no such single instance throughout the whole Vedic literature. And nowadays, so many rascals, they are becoming guru without any authority. That is not guru. You must be authorised. Evam parampara-praptam imam ra.. As soon as the parampara is....kalena yogo nasta parantapa, immediately finished. The spiritual potency finished. You can dress like a guru, you can talk big, big words, but it will never be effective.
(Srila Prabhupada's Lecture, February 27th 1977, Mayapur, India)  
 
Guru must be authorized by the bona fide Guru
"Self-made guru cannot be guru. He must be authorized by the bona fide guru. Then he's guru. This is the fact...Similarly, bona fide guru means he must be authorized by the superior guru." (Srila Prabhupada, NOD Lecture, October 31, 1972) 
 
Guru must be authorized by his predecessor spiritual master
"One should take initiation from a bona fide spiritual master coming in the disciplic succession, who is authorised by his predecessor spiritual master. This is called diksha-vidhana." (S.B. 4.8.54, purport)  
 
Guru must be ordered by his guru
Prabhupada: Try to understand. Don't go very speedily. A guru can become guru when he's ordered by his guru. That's all. Otherwise nobody… 
 
Result of Gaudiya Matha's attempt to become more than guru. 
"Why this Gaudiya Matha failed? Because they tried to become more than guru. [.] They declared some unfit person to become acharya. Then another man came, then another, acharya, another acharya.
(Srila Prabhupada, Room Conversation, August 16, 1976)
 
Position of the actual guru
"An actual guru always remains the servant of his own guru and the predecessor acharyas. Attempting to become a guru without one's own guru's order is a materialistic ambition. Accepting followers and circumventing one's own guru is offensive." (Ref. VedaBase => MGM 22-11: A Lost Son Visits Home)
 
Srila Prabhupada explains how he became the leader of the KC movement. 
Guru must be ordered by His guru
 
"Indian man: When did you become spiritual the leader of Krishna Consciousness? 
Srila Prabhupada: What is that? 
Brahmananda: He is asking when did you become the spiritual leader of Krishna Consciousness? 
Srila Prabhupada: When my Guru Maharaja ordered me. This is the guru parampara. 
Indian man: Did it... 
Srila Prabhupada: Try to understand. Don't go very speedily. A guru can become guru when he is ordered by his guru. That's all. Otherwise nobody can become guru. "     
(Srila Prabhupada, Bg. Lecture, October 28, 1975)
 
Guru must be authorized person
"Therefore guru must be authorized person, not that bhumi-phala-guru. No. I am guru," no. You cannot become guru unless you are agent to draw out the mercy water from the ocean of mercy of Krishna. That is guru. And therefore a guru is not an ordinary person. He is the representative, bona fide representative of Krishna." 
(SB Lecture, November 30, 1976)  
 
Guru cannot impart instructions without being authorized 
"The schoolmasters in the modern days are paid agents for giving some information, but the spiritual master is not a paid agent. Nor can he impart instruction without being authorized." (SB:2.9.43, purport) 
 
"A Guru can be Guru when he is ordered by his Guru. That's all. Otherwise nobody can become Guru." (Srila Prabhupada,  Bg. Lecture, 28th October 1975) 
 
Srila Prabhupada predicts what happens when the acharya disappears? 
Unfortunately, when the acharya disappears, rogues and nondevotees take advantage and immediately begin to introduce unauthorized principles in the name of so-called swamis, yogis, philanthropists, welfare workers and so on.   (SB 4.28.48) 
 
Do not make addition, alteration. 
Results of making additions and alterations. 
 
Many times they give me very great credit that I have done wonderful. Yes, I have done wonderful. But what is the reason? Because I am not a rascal. I speak what Krishna has spoken. That's all. Very easy. Everyone can do that. Not only I. Any of you, you can do this. Simply speak what Krishna has said. That's all. Don't make addition, alteration. Then you become rascal. Immediately you become rascal. 
(Srimad-Bhagavatam Lecture 1.5.29 Vrindavana, August 10, 1974)
  
Danger of concocting 
 
Prabhupada: Ara na koriha mane asa. Don't concoct. Don't you sing daily? Ara na koriha mane asa. Don't manufacture ideas. That is dangerous. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu teaches by His example. Guru more murkha dekhi' karila sasana. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said to Prakashananda Sarasvati that "My spiritual master saw Me fool number one, so he has chastised Me, that 'Don't try to read Vedanta; chant Hare Krishna. (Conversation, June 23, 1976, New Vrindavana)
 
Go to right person who has seen. 
Do not make your own interpretation.
 
Prabhupada: Therefore Krishna says, tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya: "One who knows, go and understand from them, from the guru." Don't make your interpretation, rascal. You shall remain always a rascal. Then what is the use of all these verses? If it is so easy to understand Krishna then why Krishna says, tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya: "Then you will understand. Go to the right person
who has seen."   
(Conversations, December 10, 1975, Vrindavan)

Thursday 27 September 2012

Jai Srila Prabhupada!

  By:  Iskcon Times
 
Hari-sauri: That man from Delhi said that he thought you were an incarnation of Vyasadeva.
 
Prabhupada: Yes. Any devotee in literary career, he is to be understood... Just like our Vrndavana dasa Thakura. He is described as incarnation of Vyasadeva because Vyasadeva wrote Bhagavatam and he wrote Chaitanya Bhagavata.
 
 
Prabhupada: Vyasa-puja. Vyasa-prasadam. Unless one is blessed by Vyasadeva, he cannot write transcendental literature

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Room Conversation -- February 16, 1977, Mayapura 

Saturday 22 September 2012

Srimati Radharani's Appearance Day


A Radhastami day lecture by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prahbupada, September 18, 1969, London. Radhastami is observed this year on September 22nd.
Srila Prabhupada: (chants mangalacarana prayers) Today is birth, appearance day of Srimati Radharani, Radhastami. Fifteen days after Krsna's birth, Radharani appeared. (pause) Radharani is Krsna's pleasure potency. Radha-krsna-pranaya-vikrtir hladini-saktih. The Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, has got varieties of energies, as it is confirmed in the Vedic literature. Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate. Na tasya karyam karanam ca vidyate. The Supreme Lord has nothing to do personally. Na tasya karyam. He has nothing to do. Just like here in this material world we find some very big man, political head or business head; personally, he has nothing to do. Because he has got so many assistants, secretaries, that personally he hasn't got to do anything. Similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, full with six opulences, why He will have to do something? No. He has got many assistants. Sarvatah pani-padas tat. In the Bhagavad-gita: "He has got everywhere His hands and legs.
You'll find Krsna, He has nothing to do. He's simply engaged in enjoyment with gopis and Radharani. He's not engaged in killing the demons. When Krsna kills the demons He's Vasudeva Krsna; He's not original Krsna. Krsna expands Himself. First expansion is Baladeva. From Baladeva -- Sankarsana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, Vasudeva. So by the Vasudeva feature He acts in Mathura and Dvaraka. But Krsna in His original feature, He remains in Vrndavana. One of the greatest fiction writers in Bengal, Bankimchandra Chatterjee, he misunderstood Krsna that Krsna of Vrndavana, Krsna of Dvaraka, and Krsna of Mathura, They're different persons. Krsna (is) the same, one, but He can expand Himself in millions and trillions of forms. Advaitam acyutam anadim ananta-rupam adyam purana-purusam [Bs 5.33]. Advaita. Although ananta-rupam, still, He's adyam purana-purusam, Advaita. There is no such distinction.
So this Krsna, when He wants to enjoy, what kind of enjoyment He will have? That has been discussed by Srila Jiva Gosvami. Krsna is Param Brahman. Brahman, Paramatma, then Param Brahman. Absolute Truth, three different features. Someone is realizing the Absolute Truth as impersonal Brahman. Jnanis, those who are trying to understand the Absolute Truth by mental speculation, by dint of his own knowledge, he's realizing the Absolute Truth as impersonal Brahman. And those who are trying to understand the Absolute Truth by meditation, yogis, they realize the Absolute Truth as Paramatma. Paramatma is situated in everyone's heart. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61]. That feature, Paramatma feature. Andantara-stham paramanu-cayantara-stham govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami. That Paramatma feature is one expansion of Krsna. It is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, athava bahunaitena kim jnatena tavarjuna ekamsena vistabhyaham. Ekamsena. When Krsna and Arjuna was trying to understand about different potential existence of Krsna, so He explained in the Twelfth Chapter, "I am this. Amongst them, I am this. Amongst them..." Like that.
And He concluded that "How far I shall go on? Better try to understand that only one plenary portion of Me, by entering this universe, the whole cosmic manifestation is existing." Ekamsena sthito jagat. Jagat. This material world is existing on one plenary portion of Krsna. And Krsna enters, andantara-stham paramanu-cayantara-stham, He enters within this universe. Without His entering, this universe cannot exist. Just like without the spirit soul's entering within this body, this body cannot exist. As soon as the spirit soul goes out, immediately the body's useless. However the body may be prime minister or anything else, as soon as the soul is out of this body, it is not worth even a farthing. Similarly, because Krsna enters within this universe, therefore the universe has value. Otherwise it is simply a lump of matter; it has no value. Ekamsena sthito jagat.
So try to understand Krsna. And when Krsna want to enjoy, what kind of enjoyment that shall be? Try to understand this point. Krsna is so great; God is great, everyone knows. So when the great wants to enjoy, then what quality of enjoyment that should be? That is to be understood. Radha-krsna... Therefore Svarupa Damodara Gosvami has written a verse, radha-krsna-pranaya-vikrtih.
The loving affairs of Radha and Krsna is not ordinary, these material loving affairs, although it appears like that. But one who cannot understand Krsna, avajananti mam mudhah. Mudha, rascals, fools, they understand Krsna as ordinary man. As soon as we take Krsna as one of us... Manusim tanum asritam, param bhavam ajanantah. These rascals, they do not know param bhavam. They try to imitate Krsna's lila, rasa-lila. There are many rascals. So these things are going on. There is no understanding of Krsna. To understand Krsna is very difficult.
    manusyanam sahasresu
    kascid yatati siddhaye
    yatatam api siddhanam
    kascin mam vetti tattvatah
    [Bg. 7.3]
Out of millions of persons, one may try to make his life perfect. Everyone is working like animal. There's no question of perfection of life. The animal propensities: eating, sleeping, mating and defending... So everyone is engaged like animals. They have no other business, just like animal, hogs, dogs, whole day and night working: "Where is stool? Where is stool?" And as soon as he gets some stool, gets some fat, "Where is sex? Where is sex?" No consideration of mother or sister. This is hog's life.
So human life is not meant for hog civilization. So modern civilization is hog civilization, although it is polished with shirt and coat. So, we shall try to understand. This Krsna consciousness movement is for understanding Krsna. For understanding Krsna, it requires little labor, austerity, penance. Tapasya brahmacaryena samena damena ca. Tapasya. One has to undergo tapasya; brahmacarya, celibacy. Tapasya. Brahmacarya means stopping sex life or controlling sex life. Brahmacarya. Therefore Vedic civilization is, from the very beginning, to train the boys to become brahmacari, celibacy. Not that modern days, the schools, boys and girls, ten years, twelve years, they're enjoying. The brain is spoiled. They cannot understand higher things. The brain tissues are lost. So without becoming brahmacari, nobody can understand spiritual life. Tapasya brahmacaryena samena damena ca. Sama means controlling the senses, controlling the mind; damena, controlling the senses; tyagena; saucena, cleanliness; tyaga, tyaga means charity. These are the processes for understanding oneself, self-realization. But in this age it is very difficult to undergo all these processes. Practically it is impossible. Therefore Lord Caitanya, Krsna Himself, has made Himself easily available by one process:
    harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam
    kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha
    [Adi 17.21]
In this age, Kali-yuga... Kali-yuga is considered to be the most fallen age. We are thinking that we are making very much advance, but it is the most fallen age. Because people are becoming like animals. As the animals have no other interest than four principles of bodily necessities -- eating, sleeping, mating and defending -- so in this age people are interested with four principles of bodily want. They have no information of the soul, neither they are prepared to realize what is soul. That is the defect of this age. But human form of life is especially meant for realizing himself, "What I am?" That is the mission of human life. Athato brahma jijnasa. This life is meant for inquiring about Brahman. Brahman, Paramatma, Bhagavan. These inquiries should be there. Jijnasu. They are called jijnasu, brahma-jijnasa, jijnasu inquiry. As we inquire every morning, "What is the news today?" Immediately we pick newspaper. That inquisitiveness is there. But we are inquiring very base things only. There is no desire to inquire about the highest possibility, brahma-jnana.
That is the lack of this modern civilization. Inquiring how to earn money: diva carthehaya rajan kutumba-bharanena va [SB 2.1.3]. Not only in this age... In this age it has become the principal factor, but in this material world everyone is engaged simply for these bodily necessities of life. Nidraya hriyate naktam: at night they sleep very sound sleep, snoring. Or sex life. Nidraya hriyate naktam vyavayena ca va vayah [SB 2.1.3]. In this way they're wasting time. And at daytime, diva carthehaya rajan... And during daytime, "Where is money? Where is money? Where is money?" Artha ihaya. Kutumba-bharanena va. And as soon as one gets money, then how to purchase things for family, that's all. Shopping, storing. This is the engagement of materialistic life. Out of that, one who is actually intelligent... Manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye [Bg. 7.3]. Out of many such foolish persons engaged in sleeping, mating, earning money, and providing family with nice apartment and food... This is the general occupation. So out of many thousands of men like that, one is inquisitive how to make perfect this human form of life. Manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye.
Siddhaye. Siddhi means perfection. So this life is meant for perfection. What is perfection? Perfection means that we do not want miserable condition of life, and we have to get out of it. That is perfection. Everyone is trying to get out of miserable condition of life. But they do not know what is the actual position of miserable life. Miserable condition of life: tri-tapa-yantanah. So this is called mukti, or liberation, from the misera... Atyantika-duhkha-nivrttih. Duhkha, duhkha means distress. So everybody is trying to get out of distress. But he does not know what is the ultimate goal of getting out of distress. Na te viduh. They do not know. Na te viduh svartha- gatim hi visnum [SB 7.5.31].
One can be out of distress when he approaches Visnu. Tad visnum paramam padam sada pasyanti surayah. Tad visnoh paramam padam. The Visnu planet... Just like here in the material world they're trying to go to the moon planet, but these foolish people do not know what they'll gain even they go to the moon planet. It is one of the material planets. Krsna has already said in the Bhagavad-gita, abrahma-bhuvanal lokan. What to speak of this moon planet -- it is very near -- even if you go to the topmost planet, which is known as Brahmaloka... That is in your front, you can see every day, every night, how many lokas and planets are there. But you cannot go there. You are simply trying to go to the nearest planet. That is also failure. So what is your scientific improvement? But there is possibility. A-brahma-bhuvanal lokan. You can go. The material scientists' calculation is that if one goes forward for forty thousands of years in the light speed, light-year speed, then one can approach the topmost planet of this material world. So at least in the modern scientific calculation, it is impossible. But one can go; there is process. That we have tried to explain in our small booklet Easy Journey to Other Planets. By yogic process one can go any planet he likes. That is the yogic perfection. When a yogi becomes perfect, he can go to any planet he likes, and the yoga practice goes on, unless the yogi thinks himself that he has made himself perfect to travel to any planet he likes. That is perfection of yoga practice.
So, these are the perfection of life, not that teeny, floating sputnik. (laughter) They do not know what is perfection of life. You can go anywhere. A living entity's name is sarva-gah. Sarva-gah means "one who can go anywhere he likes." Just Narada Muni. Narada Muni can travel anywhere he likes, either in the spiritual world or in the material world. So you can also do that. There is possibility. There was a Durvasa Muni, great yogi. Within one year he traveled all over the universe and went to Visnuloka and again came back. That is recorded in the history. So these are the perfections of life. And how these perfection can be attained? By understanding Krsna. Yasmin vijnate sarvam eva vijnatam bhavanti. The Upanisad says, if you simply understand Krsna, then all these things can be understood very easily. Krsna consciousness is such a nice thing.
So today, this evening, we are talking about Radhastami. We are trying to understand the chief potency of Krsna. Radharani is the pleasure potency of Krsna. As we understand from Vedic literature, Krsna has many varieties of potencies. Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate. Just like the same example, as a big man has got many assistants and secretaries so that he hasn't got to do anything personally, simply by his will everything is done, similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead has got varieties of energies, and everything is being done so nicely. Just like this material energy. This material world, where we are now living... This is called material energy. Bahir-anga-sakti. The Sanskrit name is bahir-anga, external energy of Krsna. So how nicely it is being done, everything in the material energy. That is also explained in the Bhagavad-gita, mayadhyaksena prakrtih suyate sa-caracaram: [Bg. 9.10] "Under My superintendence the material energy is working." The material energy is not blind. It is... On the background there is Krsna. Mayadhyaksena prakrtih [Bg. 9.10]. Prakrti means this material energy. Similarly... This is external energy. Similarly, there is another energy, which is internal energy. By the internal energy the spiritual world is being manifested. Paras tasmat tu bhavah anyah [Bg. 8.20]. Another energy, para, superior, transcendental, the spiritual world. As this material world is being manipulated under the external energy, similarly, the spiritual world is also conducted by the internal potency. That internal potency is Radharani.
Radharani..., today is Radharani's appearance day. So we should try to understand Radharani's feature. Radharani is the pleasure potency, hladini-sakti. Anandamayo 'bhyasat. In the Vedanta-sutra the Absolute Truth is described as anandamaya, always in pleasure potency. That anandamaya potency... Just like ananda. When you want ananda, pleasure, you cannot have it alone. Alone, you cannot enjoy. When you are in the circles of friend or family or other associates, you feel pleasure. Just like I am speaking. The speaking is very pleasing when there are many persons here. I cannot speak alone here. That is not ananda. I can speak here at night, dead of night, nobody here. That is not ananda. Ananda means there must be others. So because Krsna, the Absolute Truth, is anandamaya, therefore eko bahu syam, He has become many. We are also Krsna's part and parcel, to give pleasure to Krsna. And the chief pleasure potency is Radharani.
    radha-krsna-pranaya-vikrtir hladini-saktir asmad
    ekatmanav api bhuvo (pura) deha-bhedo-gatau tau
    caitanyakhyam prakatam adhuna tad-dvayam caikyam aptam
    radha-bhava-(dyuti)-suvalitam naumi krsna-svarupam
    [Cc. Adi 1.5]
So Krsna is Param Brahman, as you know from the Bhagavad-gita. When Arjuna understood Bhagavad-gita, he affirmed Krsna, param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan [Bg. 10.12]. So Krsna is Param Brahman. So in this material world we see that a great, saintly person, simply to enjoy brahmananda, he gives up everything of material enjoyment. He becomes sannyasi. Aham brahmasmi. Just to understand that he is in Brahman realization. So if one has to give up everything material for Brahman realization, do you think that Param Brahman, the Supreme Brahman, can enjoy anything material? No. Krsna's enjoyment is nothing material. This point should be understood. For Brahman realization we are giving up everything material. And how Param Brahman can enjoy anything material? This question has been very much nicely discussed by Jiva Gosvami.
So when the Param Brahman... First of all, the Param Brahman information is not there in this material world. Little Brahman information is there. Or little Paramatma information is there. But not Param Brahman, or Bhagavan, information. Therefore it is said, manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye [Bg. 7.3]. Siddhaye means to understand Brahman or Paramatma. But out of many such persons who have realized Brahman and Paramatma, hardly a person can know Krsna. And that... First of all... [break] ...what we can understand about Krsna's pleasure potency? If I want to know some big man. That is one process. And without knowing that big man, how I can understand about his internal affairs? Similarly, if we do not understand Krsna, how we can understand how Krsna is enjoying? That is not possible. But the Gosvamis, they're giving us information what is the pleasure potency of Krsna. That is Srimati Radharani.
So we have described about the Radha-Krsna loving affairs in our Teachings of Lord Caitanya in page 264. If you have got this book, you can read it, how the reciprocation of loving affairs of Radha-Krsna is there, transcendental. So our today prayer to Radharani... We pray to Radharani because She is the pleasure potency of Krsna. Krsna means "all-attractive." But Radharani is so great that She attracts Krsna. Krsna is all-attractive, and She is attractive (attractor) of Krsna.
So what is the position of Srimati Radharani? We should try to understand this day and offer our obeisances to Radharani. Radhe vrndavanesvari.
    tapta-kancana-gaurangi radhe vrndavanesvari
    vrsabhanu-sute devi pranamami hari-priye
Our business is "Radharani, You are so dear to Krsna. So we offer our respectful obeisances unto You."
    tapta-kancana-gaurangi radhe vrndavanesvari
    vrsabhanu-sute devi pranamami hari-priye
Radharani is hari-priya, very dear to Krsna. So if we approach Krsna through Radharani, through the mercy of Radharani, then it becomes very easy. If Radharani recommends that "This devotee is very nice," then Krsna immediately accepts, however fool I may be. Because it is recommended by Radharani, Krsna accepts. Therefore in Vrndavana you'll find all the devotees, they're chanting more Radharani's name than Krsna's. Wherever you'll go, you'll find the devotees are addressing, "Jaya Radhe." You'll find still in Vrndavana. They are glorifying Radharani. They're more interested, worshiping Radharani. Because however fallen I may be, if some way or other I can please Radharani, then it is very easy for me to understand Krsna. Otherwise,
    manusyanam sahasresu
    kascid yatati siddhaye
    yatatam api siddhanam
    kascid vetti mam tattvatah
    [Bg. 7.3]
If you go by the speculative process to understand Krsna, it will take many, many lives. But if you take devotional service, just try to please Radharani, and Krsna will be gotten very easily. Because Radharani can deliver Krsna. She is so great devotee, the emblem of maha-bhagavata. Even Krsna cannot understand what is Radharani's quality. Even Krsna, although He says vedaham samatitani, "I know everything," still, He fails to understand Radharani. Radharani is so great. He says that... Actually, Krsna knows everything. In order to understand Radharani, Krsna accepted the position of Radharani. Krsna wanted to understand the potency of Radharani. Krsna thought that "I am full. I am complete in every respect, but still, I want to understand Radharani. Why?" This propensity made Krsna obliged to accept the propensities of Radharani, to understand Krsna, Himself.
These are, of course, very transcendental, great science. One who is advanced in Krsna consciousness and well conversant with the sastras, they can understand. But still, we can discuss from the sastra. When Krsna wanted to understand Himself, He took the tendency of Srimati Radharani. And that is Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Radha-bhava-dyuti-suvalitam. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna, but He has accepted the propensities of Radharani. As Radharani is always in feelings of separation of Krsna, similarly, in the position of Radharani, Lord Caitanya was feeling separation of Krsna. That is the teachings of Lord Caitanya, feelings of separation, not meeting. The process of devotional service taught by Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His disciplic succession is how to feel separation from Krsna. That is Radharani's position, always feeling the separation.
The Gosvamis, they also, when they were in Vrndavana, they never said that "I have seen Krsna." Although they were the most perfect, they never said that "I have seen Krsna." Their prayers were like this: he radhe! vraja-devike! he nanda-suno! kutah. He radhe, Radharani, he radhe! vraja-devike! ca. Radharani does not remain alone. He (She) remains always with His (Her) friends, vraja-devi, Lalita or Visakha and other damsels of Vrndavana. So the Gosvamins are praying, in their mature stage, when they were living at Vrndavana, they were praying in this way, he radhe! vraja-devike! ca lalite! he nanda- suno! kutah: "Where, Radharani, where You are? Where are Your associates? Where You are, Nanda-suno, the son of Nanda Maharaja, Krsna? Where you are, all?" They were searching after. They never said, "I have seen Krsna dancing with the gopis. Last night I saw." (laughter) This is sahajiya. This is not mature devotee. This is called... They are called sahajiya. They take everything very cheap -- Krsna very cheap, Radharani very cheap -- as if they can see every night. No. The Gosvamis do not teach us like that. They're searching after. He radhe! vraja-devike! ca lalite! he nanda-suno! kutah, sri-govardhana-padapa-tale kalindi-vanye kutah: "Are you there under the Govardhana Hill or on the banks of the Yamuna?" Kalindi-vanye kutah. Ghosantav iti sarvato vraja-pure khedair maha-vihvalau. Their business was crying like this, "Where You are? Where You are, Radharani? Where you are, Lalita, Visakha, the associates of Radharani? Where You are, Krsna? Are You near Govardhana Hill or on the bank of the Yamuna?" Ghosantav iti sarvato vraja-pure. So throughout the whole tract of Vrndavana they were crying and searching after Them, khedair maha-vihvalau, as if madman. Khedair maha-vihvalau. Vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau.
So we have to follow the footprints of the Gosvamis, how to search out Krsna and Radharani, Vrndavana, or within your heart. That is the process of Caitanya Mahaprabhu's bhajana: feeling of separation, vipralambha, vipralambha-seva. Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu, feeling the separation of Krsna, He was falling down on the sea. He was coming out of His rest room or His bedroom and going out at dead of night. Nobody knew where He has gone. So that was His searching. This process of devotional service is taught by Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Not that very easily, "We have seen Krsna or seen Radharani in rasa-lila." No, not like that. Feel the separation. The more you feel separation from Krsna, you should understand that you are advancing. Don't try to see Krsna artificially. Be advanced in separation feeling, and then it will be perfect. That is the teachings of Lord Caitanya. Because with our material eyes we cannot see Krsna. Atah sri-krsna- namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaih
    [atah sri-krsna-namadi
    na bhaved grahyam indriyaih
    sevonmukhe hi jihvadau
    svayam eva sphuraty adah
"No one can understand the transcendental nature of the name, form, quality and pastimes of Sri Krsna through his materially contaminated senses. Only when one becomes spiritually saturated by transcendental service to the Lord are the transcendental name, form, quality and pastimes of the Lord revealed to him." (Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.234)].
With our material senses we cannot see Krsna, we cannot hear about Krsna's name. But sevonmukhe hi jihvadau. When you engage yourself in the service of the Lord... Where the service begins? Jihvadau. The service begins from the tongue. Not from the legs, eyes, or ears. It begins from the tongue. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau. If you begin service through your tongue... How? Chant Hare Krsna. Use your tongue. Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. And take Krsna prasadam. The tongue has got two business: to articulate sound, Hare Krsna; and take prasadam. By this process you'll realize Krsna.
Devotee: Haribol!
Srila Prabhupada: Don't try to see Krsna. You cannot see Krsna with your material eyes. Neither you can hear about Him with your material ears. Neither you can touch. But if you engage your tongue in the service of the Lord, then He'll reveal Himself to you: "Here I am." That is wanted. So feel separation of Krsna just like Radharani, as Lord Caitanya teaches us, and engage your tongue in the service of the Lord; then, one day, when you are mature, you'll see Krsna eye to eye.
Thank you very much.

Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupadanugas Group Colombia

Friday 14 September 2012

Srila Prabhupada is Shastra

By: Praghosa dasa

Srila Prabhupada condemned any so-called painting of Lord Krishna - where He was portrayed as "alone" with no devotee present. One of Krishna's features (expressed in the Nectar of Devotion) is that He is PERPETUALLY ACCOMPANIED by at least one devotee at all times. The Devotee is the Boss - not even Krishna is the Boss. The Love of His pure devotee - perfectly personified in Sri Radha and HER servants - IS THE BOSS OF KRISHNA. THIS IS THE VERDICT OF BONAFIDE SHASTRA.
The "shastra" is not the Lord of the above-mentioned 3 features of the Lord's Reality. The "shastra" is NOT DICTATOR.
 
Just like one can read all about the step-by-step biological "occurrences" - incorporating principles of attraction, then selection by the female and then coupling by the parties - then insemination - then growth and finally the birth of a child - in one of many many books that are available that detail down to the minutest discussion of chromosomes etc etc etc - BUT - none of this "INFORMATION" ON ITS OWN HAS ONE THING TO DO WITH THE ACTUAL PROCREATION OF A LIVING HUMAN BEING. The child is a result NOT of the information on the process - but of the process and its actuators themselves.
 
The shastra merely illustrates the reality of Lord Krishna and His devotees and THEIR LOVING EXCHANGES. Within all of that - the Spiritual World and the Material World - are given full and elaborate exposure.
 
But the exposure of this temporary world - or the spiritual world - DOES NOT DICTATE FOR A SECOND WHAT THE ETERNAL DEVOTEE OF LORD KRISHNA CAN OR CANNOT DO IN HIS LOVING RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS ETERNAL LORD KRISHNA!!
 
NOT FOR A SECOND. AND - WHAT IS MORE - THE SHASTRA - TO BE PRECISE - CAN AND DOES ONLY SUPPORT THIS PREMISE.
 
KRISHNA IS NOT BOUND BY THE SHASTRA. NOT FOR A SECOND. THE SHASTRA IS SHASTRA - IF AND ONLY IF - IT ASSERTS THIS INDEPENDENCE OF LORD KRISHNA AND HIS ETERNAL PURE SERVANTS.
 
The shastra thus elaborates and describes the fully free and liberated devotee. This is in fact the meaning of liberated devotee. He is NOT BOUND BY THE LIMITED CAPACITY OF THE MUNDANE MIND in its understanding of his "freedom". Just as Sri Prahlada was incapable of being "poisoned" by his father or killed by anyone - despite the fact that all known science(shastra) would DICTATE that the known body of information on poison and its EFFECTS cannot be avoided by anyone.
 
These men - who faithlessly rail AGAINST the power and authority of Srila Prabhupada - employing THEIR SO-CALLED faith or trust IN "SHASTRA" - literally cannot see the forest through the trees!
 
Srila Prabhupada - THE ETERNAL ASSOCIATE OF LORD KRISHNA - A DIVINE RESIDENT OF KRISHNA LOKA - IS THE QUINTESSENCE OF ALL THAT IS TO BE FOUND - EXPRESSED, REVEALED OR PROMOTED - IN ANY SO-CALLED SHASTRA!
 
HE IS THE SHASTRA. THE SHASTRA IS ONLY RELEVANT IF IT AUTHENTICATES THE REALITY OF THE FULL INDEPENDENCE OF THE LORD AND HIS PURE LOVING DEVOTEES!!
 
IF THE SHASTRA IS PRESENTED AS BEING SUPERIOR OR DIFFERENT FROM THE PURE ASSOCIATE OF THE DIVINE COUPLE - IT IS TO BE REJECTED FASTER THAN AN UNCHASTE WOMAN! FASTER THAN A SPEEDING BULLET! FASTER THAN A CUP OF TURNED DHAL!!
 
THESE MEN - LIKE THE JEWS OF THE ANCIENT ISRAEL - REJECTED CHRIST - BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT ACCEPT THAT HE WAS PREACHING THE VERY PURPOSE OF THEIR "SCRIPTURES" - LOVE - PURE LOVE FOR GOD! HE PREACHED THAT ALLLLL SHOULD JUST IMMEDIATELY SURRENDER THEIR WHOLE LIFE TO LEARNING TO LOVE GOD - AND LOVE AND SERVE HIS DEVOTEES! THE JEWS SAID "WHAT ABOUT THE SCRIPTURE? HE IS NOT AUTHORIZED BY OUR SCRIPTURE!'
 
FOR DARING TO THREATEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF AND '"FAITH" IN THEIR SCRIPTURES - THEY FIRST BEAT HIM TO WITHIN AN INCH OF HIS LIFE - MOCKINGLY CROWNED HIM WITH THORNS - OBLIGED HIM TO CARRY HIS OWN CROSS - THEN THREW HIM TO THE GROUND - AND POUNDED NAILS INTO HIS HANDS AND FEET AND THEN SUSPENDED THIS "OFFENDER" IN THE AIR - BETWEEN TWO CRIMINALS - FOR THE GRAVE SIN OF CHALLENGING THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF "SHASTRA"!!!
 
Reliance upon the "shastra" to deny the loving relationship between the Pure Spiritual Master and Lord Krishna - and the actual submission of the Divine Couple to the  "dictation" of this PERFECTLY PURE AND COMPLETE love that comprises the heart of  the Pure Devotee for the Divine Couple - and the "effect" this dictation has upon the conduct of the Lord Himself - belies a complete ignorance of what is DEVOTEE, WHAT IS GURU, WHAT IS SADHU AND MOST IMPORTANTLY - WHAT IS SHASTRA.
 
These men prove first off that they do not know what they were given. Subsequently, they lack the natural gratitude that would result in such recognition.
 
Srila Prabhupada did not claim to be authority. He just delivered the Holy Name - purely - and those who "got it" - knew - without any "PROOF" from shastra or anyone else - that this Chanting of the Holy Name, dancing and feasting on prasadam was simply better than anything they had ever had in their short and insiginficant lives!! Just as Mahaprabhu feigned simplicity and ignorance - "My spiritual master considered Me as a fool...." We were all IN FACT FOOLS. Yet like Mahaprabhu - "I don't understand this mantra my guru has given me. I laugh... I cry.... I dance.... there is no apparent cause but still I do this.... Most amaziing!!!!" - we also took to Srila Prabhupada's service with no other "ASSURANCE" OF HIS SO -CALLED "SHASTRIC BONAFIDES" THAN OUR OWN PROFOUND EXPERIENCE!
 
THAT was our actual confirmation!
 
As Srila Prabhupada used to say when preaching to crowds - "So kindly chant and dance and take prasadam with us, and you will become fully Krishna Conscious. And for anyone a little philosophically inclined ...we also have over 40 books - 400 pages - to satisfy your philosophical inquiries!"
 
The shastra is to be studied then - in the spirit of a submissive and grateful individual - who has been duly rescued from the pit of ignorance and hell - realizes it fully - and seeks to be able to more fully explain to all others THE AUTHORITY OF THE PURE DEVOTEE to meet the simple regulations of the shastra IN EXACTLY AND PRECISELY AS HE HAS BEEN TOLD TO DO BY LORD KRISHNA AND HIS ETERNAL CONSORT SRIMATI RADHARANI.
 
THIS IS THE CORRECT UNDERSTANDING OF SHASTRA.
 
ANTHING LESS THAN THIS - IS "LESS THAN ADORABLE" AT BEST AND ATHEISTIC AND DEMONIC AT THE VERY WORST.
 
WE DON'T ESTIMATE THE AUTHORITY OF SRILA PRABHUPADA - IN ANY WAY - AGAINST WHAT WE THINK WE FIND IN THE SHASTRA.
 
MEN LIKE Krishna Kirti HAVE BEEN SPOON-FED ATHEISM IN THE GUISE OF DEVOTION - BY A VERY CONFUSED GROUP OF MUNDANE WRANGLERS AND ATHEISTS.
 
THEY WANT KRISHNA - WITHOUT HIS PURE DEVOTEE.
 
LIKE THE PAINTINGS THAT WERE REJECTED BY HIS DIVINE GRACE,  FOR THEIR DEPICTING KRISHNA WITHOUT HIS PURE DEVOTEE AND ITS REVELATION OF PURE DEVOTION - THIS MISPREPRESENTATION OF LORD KRISHNA AND HIS "SHASTRA" (HIS REVELATION OF DEVOTEES AND THEIR DEVOTION) HAS NO PLACE IN KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS.

Prabhupadanuga Holland ..

Prabhupadanuga Holland is a fb group for devotees who accept Srila Prabhupada as their real true Guru both diksha and siksha---Newien Jagroep
 http://www.facebook.com/groups/522459814435521/

Sunday 9 September 2012

Who Should Live in the Math/Temple?

Written by HDG Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur (emphasis mine).

"If we can one by one GET RID OF ALL THOSE PEOPLE who have taken residence in the math, but are still attached to the belly and the genitals, the debauches and gluttons, then not only will our costs go down, but THE WHOLE WORLD WILL BE BETTER OFF.

Those who live in the math but do not accept the philosophical principles or follow the monastic rule are neither submissive to the spiritual master nor do they possess humility. We should SEND ALL SUCH INDEPENDENT and ARROGANT PEOPLE HOME. If this means our numbers will decrease, so be it. If someone has not come here to honestly serve the Supreme Lord, but harbors desires for profit, adoration and prestige, or secretly hopes to win female admirers or make a living for himself, they SHOULD NOT BE KEPT in the math. This is because ultimately THEY ARE THE ENEMIES OF THE MATH.

If someone thinks, "I have lived in the math for a long time and performed so much service, so I deserve to eat nicely and dress in good clothes. I should get to play the boss. I want respect and I want to be given an important position in the temple management," These are all attitudes that are INIMICAL TO DEVOTION and SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED. These attitudes arise out of spiritual doubt, criticism of others and gossip."

Saturday 8 September 2012

SRILA PRABHUPADA SIDDHANTA III

by Dubak Haris Son
SECTION THREE

Sadhana -- Authorized Principles of Spiritual Practice

sruti-smrti-puranadi-pancaratra-vidhim vina,
aikantiki harer bhaktir utpatayaiva kalpate
"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, 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.

1) Offering Obeisances to Srila Prabhupada:

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)

2) Offering Standard Mantras for Puja and Kirtanas:

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.

3) Performing Deity Worship:

Deity worship in Hare Krishna temples must be performed exclusively by devotees 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 malm-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.

4) Worshiping the Authorized Disciplic Succession:

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 Deities and 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)

5) Worship Only Authorized Paintings and Photographs.

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, as are the disappearance days of other recognized Vaisnava saints. (Srila Prabhupada never authorized demigod worship for his disciples or temples.)

6) Establish Only Srila Prabhupada's Vyasasana in Temples and Centers.

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 floor seat (asana) shall be provided for speakers or those giving class on the sastras, Srila Prabhupada's authorized and approved pre-1978 book editions. This practice was personally approved by Srila Prabhupada. He never suggested that other arrangements should be made in the future.

7) Conduct Temple Programs Approved by Srila Prabhupada.

Only Srila Prabhupada's guru-puja and the worship of authorized Deities and predecessor Vaisnava acaryas, as mentioned above, can take place in the temple or any other place of Krishna conscious worship. Srila Prabhupada never authorized the worship of imperfect preachers, prophets, leaders, or demigods.

8) Celebrate Authorized Festivals.

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.

9) Method for Offering Food:

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 19.53)

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 13.77)

"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)

10) Carefully Study Books Authorized by Srila Prabhupada.

For personal study, readings, classes, and public distribution, accept only the authorized and approved pre-1978 editions of Srila Prabhupada's books. Serious students of Krishna consciousness should never accept 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)

11) Reject Unauthorized Successor "Acaryas" or "Diksa-Gurus".

Srila Prabhupada did not practice a system of nominating or approving successor acaryas or diksa-gurus. Nor did Srila Prabhupada authorize any person, group, or organization to nominate or approve 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?--'l 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)

12) Avoid Disobedient, Unauthorized Ideas about Spiritual Initiation.

Srila Prabhupada never suggested that immature preachers should pose as diksa-gurus and initiate their own disciples in the Krishna consciousness movement. Similarly, the practice of "reinitiating" devotees who have already earnestly begun serving Srila Prabhupada, having received the bhakti-lata-bija or seed of devotion by His Divine Grace (guru-krsna prasada), is against Vaisnava principles. Sincere students reject all these unauthorized practices and never accept imitators as substitutes for the genuine Vaisnava acarya. [Persons posing as sadhus or gurus often propagate the following deviations:

    a) Vaisnava gurus or acaryas are 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 or 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) A disciple may need to neglect his Vaisnava guru sometimes, or interpret and edit his instructions, or even reject him completely.
    f) Sadhana-bhaktas, neophyte Vaisnavas, may accept special instructions and special siddha-pranali "initiation" from an unauthorized, self-styled preacher if he claims to be augmenting the teachings of the bona fide Vaisnava acarya.
    g) Vaisnavas, although sincerely engaged in the service of the bona fide acarya, require initiation by an ecclesiastical "guru" and "reinitiation" 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.

"He reasons ill who tells that Vaisnavas die, when thou art living still in sound." (From a poem by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.)

"There is no possibility that a first-class devotee will fall down...." (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya 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 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 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)

13) Follow Srila Prabhupada's Authorized System for Initiations.

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 in the Krishna consciousness movement since 1970, or slightly prior. Srila Prabhupada never suggested it should be discontinued for any reason. To the contrary, via numerous spoken and written directives, Srila Prabhupada has clearly delineated his intention to continue initiating disciples in the Krishna consciousness movement by this system perpetually. Srila Prabhupada's sincere followers accept his system without speculation, following the infallible authority of sadhu-sastra-guru. (See Appendix: Conversations, May 28th and July 7th, 1977, Vrndavana; Srila Prabhupada's last directive on initiations, July 9,1977.)

"My dear R-, 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 K- is doing that. So now if there are two of you, that will give me great relief. K- 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 are 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) [See also: Conversation, July 7, 1977, Vrndavana; Srila Prabhupada's last directive on initiations, July 9,1977.]

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... J's name was there?"
Disciple: "It is already there, Srila Prabhupada. His name was already on that list [of deputies in the July 9th 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: "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)

14) "Knowledge Should Be Taken from the Perfect Person."

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, all sastras and acaryas recommend that serious students of Krishna consciousness accept only an uttama-adhikari as diksa-guru. Students should not accept as guru an imperfect person who is subject to fall-down. Sincere devotees should not accept initiation 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 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 As It Is 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 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)

15) Practice and Preach Srila Prabhupada's Empowered Instructions.

 Srila Prabhupada's bountiful vani (instructions) found in his authorized publications and in his recordings are fully potent for the practice and propagation of Krishna consciousness. Sincere students of Krishna consciousness regularly study Srila Prabhupada's books and recordings and 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)

16) Associate With and Serve Srila Prabhupada's Sincere Disciples.

In sum, genuine preachers of Krishna consciousness always encourage and promote the association of Vaisnavas based upon recognition and relish of Srila Prabhupada's unique position as a nitya-siddha Vaisnava, sakty-avesa avatara, 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."

"I wish that each and every branch shall keep their independent identity and cooperate, keeping the Acarya in the centre. On this principle we can open any number of branches all over the world." (Letter, February 11,1967)

17) Follow Srila Prabhupada's Format for Various Functions.

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 the authorized and approved pre-1978 editions of Srila Prabhupada's books, discussions based on his Bhaktivedanta Purports, and prasada offered and distributed in the way Srila Prabhupada has shown us.

18) Encourage Open Discussions Among Sincere Devotees.

Srila Prabhupada always 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 2.117)

19) Serve Srila Prabhupada, Cooperatively.

In conclusion, members of the Hare Krishna movement 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 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)

Param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam! All Glories to Sri Krishna Sankirtana!

Om Tat Sat.



APPENDIX

This appendix is comprised of quotes and partial transcripts from Srila Prabhupada's letters and recordings, including his important final order regarding the system for initiations in his global mission [known at that time as the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)]. ISKCON was perfectly organized by Srila Prabhupada for establishing the mission of Krishna consciousness worldwide by the same formula perpetually. Original audio of Srila Prabhupada's conversations and copies of His letters, final will, and directives can be obtained by contacting the Hare Krishna Society "Prabhupada Center" in Los Angeles, California. [Note: Srila Prabhupada's final will, July, 1977, states that current and future trustees of ISKCON properties must be "my initiated disciple." ]

A partial list of temples, centers and friends of the Hare Krishna Society is at the end of this section.

Letter, January 4th, 1973

My dear R-, Please accept my blessings.

Just now I have received some more request 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 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 K- is doing that. So now if there are two of you, that will give me great relief. K-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 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. They may continue to send to me their letters of request, along with the President's recommendation, and I shall give them name and it will be entered by my Secretary in our record, only I will send my letter of reply to you and you will purchase beads there and chant them and send, along with my letter to the new initiates. Is that all right?

I shall continue to deal with the matter of second initiations. The sacred threads do not require so much postage to send airmail.

Conversation, Vrindavana, May 28th, 1977:

Devotee 1: "Then our next questions concerns initiations in the future, particularly at a time when you are 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. After this is settled up, I shall recommend some of you to act as officiating acaryas."

Devotee 2: "Is that called ritvik-acarya?"
Srila Prabhupada: "Ritvik, yes."

Conversation, Vrindavana, July 7th, 1977:

Prabhupada's Secretary: "Srila Prabhupada, we are receiving a number of letters now, and these are people who want to get initiated. So up to now, since you're becoming ill, we asked them to wait."
Srila Prabhupada: "The local men, the senior sannyasis can do that."

Secretary: "That's what we were doing. Formally, the local GBC (or) sannyasis were chanting on their beads, and they were writing to Your Divine Grace; and you were giving a spiritual name. So should that process be resumed, or should we... I mean, one thing is that it is said that the spiritual master takes on the... you know, he takes on the... he has to cleanse the disciple by... (taking the weight of the initiates' sinful reactions). So we don't want that you should have to uh...your health is not so good, so that's why we have been asking everybody to wait some more time."

Srila Prabhupada: "No. The senior sannyasis... You can give a list of names. I will mark who will... You can do. K- can do. And our S- can do. So these three, you can give, begin."

Secretary: "So supposing someone is in America, should they simply write directly to K- or S-?"
Srila Prabhupada: "Nearby. J- can give. B-. He can also do. H-. Five or six men, you decide, who is nearest."
Secretary: "Who is nearest. So persons wouldn't have to write to Your Divine Grace. They could write directly to that person?"
Srila Prabhupada: "Hm (Yes)."
Secretary: "Actually they are initiating that person on Your Divine Grace's behalf. They who are initiated are still your (disciples)...
Srila Prabhupada: "Hm (Yes). Second initiation. We shall think over second initiation."
Secretary: "Some devotees are writing you now for second initiation... they should..."
Srila Prabhupada: "They can be second initiated."
Secretary: "By writing you?
Srila Prabhupada: "No. These men." [He refers to the men he has designated for acting as His deputies (ritviks) in the matter of initiating new disciples.]

Srila Prabhupada's Final Order on Initiations, July 9th, 1977:

(By Srila Prabhupada's order. His secretary sent this directive to all ISKCON temples. The original letter was dictated, reviewed and signed by Srila Prabhupada.)

To All GBC and Temple Presidents
Dear Maharajas and Prabhus,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your feet. Recently when all of the GBC members were with His Divine Grace in Vrinda-vana, Srila Prabhupada indicated that soon He would appoint some of His senior disciples to act as "ritvik"- representative of the acarya, for the purpose of performing initiations, both first initiation and second initiation. His Divine Grace has so far given a list of eleven disciples who will act in that capacity:

(List of eleven names.)

In the past Temple Presidents have written to Srila Prabhupada, recommending a particular devotee's initiation. Now that Srila Prabhupada has named these representatives, Temple Presidents may henceforward send recommendations for first and second initiation to whichever of these representatives are nearest their Temple. After considering the recommendations, these representatives may accept the devotees as an initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada by giving a spiritual name, or in the case of second initiation, by chanting on the Gayatri thread, just as Srila Prabhupada has done. The newly initiated devotees are disciples of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada; the above eleven senior devotees acting as His representative. After the Temple Presidents receive a letter from these representatives, giving a spiritual name or the thread, he can perform the fire yajna in the temple as was being done before. The name of the newly initiated disciple should be sent by the representative who has accepted him or her to Srila Prabhupada, to be included in His Divine Grace's "Initiated Disciples" book.

Hoping this finds you all well.

Letter, July 11th, 1977
(From a letter sent on behalf of Srila Prabhupada, by His secretary.)

"A letter has been sent to all the Temple Presidents and GBC [the July 9th directive on initiations], which you should be receiving soon, describing the process of initiation to be followed in the FUTURE. Srila Prabhupada has appointed thus far eleven representatives who will initiate new devotees on HIS BEHALF. You can wait for this letter to arrive (the original has been sent to R- for duplicating) and then all the persons whom you recommended in your previous letters can be initiated."

Letter (Dictation), July 31st, 1977
(A quote from Srila Prabhupada, from a letter sent on His behalf.)

Srila Prabhupada: "Now you have a very good field. Now organize it and it will be a great credit. No one will disturb you there. Make your own field and continue to be ritvik and act on my behalf."

Conversation, Vrindavana, October 18th, 1977

Srila Prabhupada: "Hare Krishna. One Bengali gentlemen has come from New York?"
Secretary: "Yes. Mr. Sukamal Roy Chowdury."
Srila Prabhupada: "So I have deputed some of you to initiate. Hm?"
Secretary: "Yes. Actually... Yes, Srila Prabhupada."
Srila Prabhupada: "So, I think J- can do if he likes. I have already deputed. Tell him."
Secretary: "Yes."
Srila Prabhupada: "So some deputies, J-'s name was there?"
Secretary: "It is already on there, Srila Prabhupada. His name is on that list."
Srila Prabhupada: "So I depute him to do this at Mayapur. And you may go with him. I stop for the time being. Is that all right?"
Secretary: "It is clear."
Srila Prabhupada: "You have got the list of names?"
Secretary: "Yes."
Srila Prabhupada: "And if by Krishna's grace I recover from this condition, then I shall begin again, or I may not. Pressed in this condition, to initiate is not good."


A Message from the Hare Krishna Society:

The devotees of the Hare Krishna Society invite you to participate in reviving widespread interest in and obedience to Srila Prabhupada's transcendental mission. The sanga of Srila Prabhupada's disciples has been weakened and fragmented due, largely, to institutional corruption and misguided leadership. While some endeavor to reform institutions and their leaders. Hare Krishna Society devotees, following Srila Prabhupada's example, understand the wisdom of avoiding politics and endeavor instead to establish new positive programs for preaching Krishna consciousness worldwide. We hope this book will serve Srila Prabhupada's dedicated followers as a guiding document for preaching Krishna consciousness and establishing temples and communities of devotees all over the world.

The Hare Krishna Society aims to foster an alliance of like-minded devotees engaged in service to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder and beloved Acarya of the entire Krishna consciousness movement. The Hare Krishna Society is spiritually identical to the original International Society for Krishna Consciousness, which Srila Prabhupada painstakingly organized for the benefit of everyone in the world. The Hare Krishna Society aims to promote an atmosphere of love and trust, wherein devotees may cooperate to serve Lord Caitanya's glorious mission under the auspices of Srila Prabhupada's perfect guidance. We invite each of Srila Prabhupada's followers to use this book as a guide for teaching the principles of Krishna consciousness to devotees of Krishna all over the world. (Srila Prabhupada Siddhanta will soon be available in French and Spanish.)

Participation in the Hare Krishna Society may be performed in various ways:

1.) Association: Take part in local programs and associate with local members.

2.) Affiliation: Become an affiliated center or household by understanding and accepting the principles described in Srila Prabhupada Siddhanta and by associating with other members of the Hare Krishna Society.

3.) Chapter: Become a Hare Krishna Temple by agreeing to accept the principles and practices outlined in Srila Prabhupada Siddhanta and to associate and consult withdevotees of the Hare Krishna Society for the sake of cooperation through sincere practical efforts for organized public preaching.

Thank you for your association. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!


Hare Krishna Society centers and contacts:

Ashland, Oregon: 84 Pine St. 97520, (541) 482-8387 / Butte Falls, Oregon: 4510 Fish Lake Rd. 97522, (541) 865-7977 / Los Angeles, California: 3722 Delmas Terrace # 5, 90034, (310) 858-0572 (and) 3162 Hutchinson Ave., 90034 (310) 202-1814 (and) 3731 Watseka Ave. No. 1, 90034, (310) 559-4436 / Ludlow, Kentucky: 330 Elm St.. 41016 / Hilo, Hawaii: P.O. Box 11429, 96721, (808) 937-5486 / Montreal, Canada: Govinda Jaya Jaya Restaurant 263 Ave Duluth E, (514) 994-9647 / Negeri Sembilan, Malayasia: 02-03, Kompleks Kediaman Pendidikan 71010 Lukut, Port Dickson / New York, New York: Prabhupada Sankirtana Society (a.k.a. "the original ISKCON"), Contact His Holiness Kapindra Swami, 599 6th Ave, 10011. (212) GOD-8323 / Portland, Oregon: 18283 N.W. Chemeketa Lane, Unit B, 97229. (503) 702-8085 / Sedro Woolley, Washington (Seattle area): 8805 Harrison Road 98284, (360) 856-5411.
Europe: http://prabhupadanugas.eu/


Additional references regarding great Vaisnavas:

"Sometimes the ever-liberated personal associate of the Supreme Personality of Godhead descends into this universe just as the Lord descends. Although working for the liberation of conditioned souls, the messenger of the Supreme Lord remains untouched by the external energy. Generally ever-liberated personalities live in the spiritual world as associates of Lord Krishna, and they are known as krsna-parisada, associates of the Lord. Their only business is enjoying Lord Krishna's company, and even though such eternally liberated persons come within this material world to serve the Lord's purpose, they enjoy Lord Krishna's company without stoppage." {Caitanya-caritamrta. Madhya 22.14-15. Purport)

"Srila Vasudeva Datta wanted to completely relieve the conditioned souls from material existence so they would no longer have an opportunity to commit sinful acts. This is the significant difference between Vasudeva Datta and Lord Jesus Christ. It is a great offense to receive pardon for sins and then commit the same sinful activity again. Such an offense is more dangerous than the sinful activity itself. Vasudeva Datta was so liberal that he requested Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to transfer all offensive activity upon him so the conditioned souls would be purified and go back home, back to Godhead...

"Vasudeva Datta's example is unique not only within this world but within the universe. It is beyond the conception of fruitive actors or the speculation of mundane philosophers... The mayavadis and karmis should therefore turn their attention to the magnanimous Vasudeva Datta. who wanted to suffer for others in a hellish condition... He was the most exalted personality to ever show mercy to the conditioned souls. This in not an exaggeration of his transcendental qualities. It is perfectly true. Actually, there cannot be any comparison to Vasudeva Datta... The entire world is purified simply by the appearance of such a great devotee. Indeed, by his transcendental presence the whole world is glorified and all conditioned souls are also glorified...

"Such a devotee, engaging in the deliverance of the total population, is as magnanimous as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself, (namo maha-vandanyaya krsna-prema-pradayate, krsnaya krsna-caitanya-namne gaura-tvise namah). Such a personality factually represents Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu because his heart is always filled with compassion for all conditioned souls." (Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya 15.163, Purport).

"A nitya-siddha devotee comes from Vaikuntha upon the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and shows by his example how to become a pure devotee (anyabhilasita-sunyam)... A pure devotee, therefore, is a practical example for all living entities, including Lord Brahma." (Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.10.3, Purport)

"I offer my respectful obeisances unto you, the personified energy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mercy, who deliver devotional service enriched with conjugal love of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna, coming exactly in the line of revelation of Srila Rupa Gosvami." (Srila Bhakisiddhanta Sarasvati Pranati, Verse 3)

"I offer my respectful obeisances unto Srila Gaurakisora das Babaji Maharaja, who is renunciation personified. He is always merged in a feeling of separation and intense love of Krishna." (Srila Gaurakisora Pranati, Verse 1)

"I offer my respectful obeisances unto Srila Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda, who is the transcendental energy ofi Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He is a strict follower of the Gosvamis, headed by Srila Rupa Gosvami." (Srila Bhaktivinoda Pranati, Verse 1)

"I offer my obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, Krishna, who is nondifferent from His features as a devotee, devotional manifestation, devotional incarnation, pure devotee, and devotional energy." (Sri Panca-tattva Pranama)