By, Madhudvisa Dasa EDITORIAL, Jan 23, 1999 (VNN) — "Here is the remedy for eliminating all inauspicious things within the heart which are considered to be obstacles in the path of self-realization.
The remedy is the association of the Bhagavatas. There are two types of Bhagavatas, namely the book Bhagavata and the devotee Bhagavata. Both the Bhagavatas are competent remedies, and both of them or either of them can be good enough to eliminate the obstacles. A devotee Bhagavata is as good as the book Bhagavata because the devotee Bhagavata leads his life in terms of the book Bhagavata and the book Bhagavata is full of information about the Personality of Godhead and His pure devotees, who are also Bhagavatas. Bhagavata book and person are identical." (SB 1.2.18 P)
Note: The "Ministry for the Protection of ISKCON" have presented a paper to counteract Krishna Kanta's "Final Order" called "Prabhupada's Order". They have given many quotes from Srila Prabhupada to show he wants his disciples to become qualified gurus, however, in the process of doing this they also attempt to establish Srila Prabhupada is no longer available, he is not a living guru and ISKCON devotees must not try to understand Srila Prabhupada or his books directly. They must see everything through their GBC approved "living guru." Unfortunately ISKCON have not given us a very representative selection of quotes from Srila Prabhupada on the guru issue and in many cases they have trimmed the quotes to remove sections which don't agree with their philosophy. It's not a very honest presentation at all. The most shocking aspect of the paper is this statement: "Here Srila Prabhupada specifically mentions the issue of surrendering to the current link in the chain of disciplic succession. He instructs his disciples that, 'even if you read some books, you cannot understand unless you understand it from me. This is called parampara'. He clearly explains the principal of parampara, and even explicitly states that simply to read books is not
enough (a corner stone of ritvik-theory), but rather THE DISCIPLE MUST UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THROUGH HIS OWN SPIRITUAL MASTER, AND NOT ATTEMPT TO INDEPENDENTLY UNDERSTAND THE PREVIOUS ACHARYAS."
Note: It's important to note the author considers Srila Prabhupada a "previous acharya" and the "bona fide" ISKCON gurus the "current acharyas". So it's a very heavy statement indeed–An ISKCON devotee must not attempt to independently understand Srila Prabhupada or his books!
It's already general ISKCON policy to preach that hearing Srila Prabhupada's classes is not very useful, they say it's far better to hear classes from a "living guru." ISKCON don't consider Srila Prabhupada is a "living guru," however, Srila Prabhupada had no intention of dying.
Reporter (2): What will happen to the movement in the United States when you die?
Srila Prabhupada: I will never die.
Devotees: Jaya! Hari bol! (laughter) Srila Prabhupada: I shall live for my books, and you will utilize.
Srila Prabhupada Interview, Berkeley, California July 16, 1975
Note: Of course reading books is not enough, one has to surrender to a pure devotee spiritual master and follow his orders. Otherwise it's simply scholarly study and one can never understand Krishna consciousness in this way. [However even if someone touches one of Srila Prabhupada’s books there’s great benefit, so a scholar will be greatly benefit by studying Srila Prabhupada’s books. They are not at all ordinary books.]
Note: The Prabhupadanugas know, and ISKCON devotees used to know, that Srila Prabhupada is living in his books. Srila Prabhupada's books are absolutely non-different from Srila Prabhupada and they contain all the potencies of Srila Prabhupada in full. Reading Srila Prabhupada's books is DIRECT personal association with Srila Prabhupada and Krishna.
Therefore, if one reads Srila Prabhupada's books and actually follows the instructions [vani] contained in those books, he will become a completely Krishna conscious person.
"I am glad to note the publishing work you are doing, and I look forward to receiving the books printed. I am pleased that you are personally seeing to the translation how it is done. Actually these books are the foundation stone of our movement. Whatever we are is resting on these books, so far reading them and distributing them. This should be our only motto." Srila Prabhupada letter October,31, 1974 Srila Prabhupada, a real living bona fide guru is right there in his books.
Note: They are not ordinary books. Anyone can take the advantage of personal association with Srila Prabhupada by reading his books and that is in no way inferior to physical association with Srila Prabhupada.
"The eternal bond between disciple and spiritual master begins from the first day he hears. Just like my spiritual master. In 1922 he said in our first meeting, you are educated boys, why don't you preach this cult. That was the beginning, now it is coming to fact. Therefore, the relationship began from that day” Srila Prabhupada letter September 4, 1972
Note: Srila Prabhupada said his books are also kirtan, recorded kirtan, so when one reads Srila Prabhupada's books he hears that recorded kirtan and if he is a little fortunate and sincere his relationship with Srila Prabhupada begins from that day.
"Regarding Sankirtana and book distribution, book distribution is also chanting. Anyone who reads the books that is also chanting and hearing. Why distinguish between chanting and book distribution? THESE BOOKS I HAVE RECORDED AND CHANTED, AND THEY ARE TRANSCRIBED. IT IS SPOKEN KIRTANAS. SO BOOK DISTRIBUTION IS ALSO CHANTING.
THESE ARE NOT ORDINARY BOOKS. IT IS RECORDED CHANTING. ANYONE WHO READS, HE IS HEARING. Book distribution must not be neglected. If things deteriorate that is another thing, but it is not the fault of book distribution." Srila Prabhupada letter October 19, 1974 "Anyhow, print books, distribute profusely, and that will be the best preaching work. What will your three minutes preaching do? But if they buy one book it may turn their life." Srila Prabhupada letter November 5, 1972)
Note: We all know how anxious Srila Prabhupada is to see his books printed and distributed in huge quantities and to see the devotees and the general public reading the books… "After 80 years, no one can expect to live long. My life is almost ended. So you have to carry on, and THESE BOOKS WILL DO EVERYTHING." Room Conversation February 18, 1976
Note: We have seen the distribution of Srila Prabhupada's books by ISKCON drop to almost nothing compared to the 1977 book distribution figures, and at the same time we have seen the BBT editors make thousands and thousands of unauthorized changes to Srila Prabhupada's books thus destroying the authority of the books.
"So, when you change, then the authority is lost. Just like in our society, sometimes they do something nonsense and they say, 'Prabhupada said.' (laughter) They are doing that. We know that. It is deteriorated like that.
Therefore Krsna said, sa kaleneha mahata yogo nastah kaunteya: 'And in due course of time, this yoga was lost. Therefore, I am repeating the same thing, old philosophy to you.' So it requires like that." Srila Prabhupada conversation May 9, 1975
Note: Now we see ISKCON saying EVEN IF YOU READ SRILA PRABHUPADA'S BOOKS YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND. THE DISCIPLE MUST UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THROUGH HIS OWN SPIRITUAL MASTER, AND NOT ATTEMPT TO INDEPENDENTLY UNDERSTAND SRILA PRABHUPADA!!!
"Thank you again and again for distributing my books with great enthusiasm. Now, try to double this enthusiasm. Anyone who even touches one of our books gets such great benefit. Give them to everyone. Because you are all very sincere and working very hard, Krishna is giving you all facilities." Srila Prabhupada letter February 16, 1975
Note: It is gradually becoming clear why the BBT are making so many unauthorized changes to Srila Prabhupada's books, why the temples are neglecting to distribute Srila Prabhupada's books, why the ISKCON devotees are not reading Srila Prabhupada's books very seriously and why so many devotees in ISKCON are writing their own books and trying to get the devotees to read them instead of Srila Prabhupada's… It would appear they don't want to distribute Srila Prabhupada's books nor do they want the ISKCON devotees to read them!
"We are not going to be able to print the books you have suggested. There is no need for such books. Instead of writing simply read my books. That will be better for you. Whatever free time you have engage in reading my books. Otherwise, an idle mind is a devil's workshop." Srila
Prabhupada letter April 13, 1974 "You have mentioned that you want to write a book, but instead of writing books, you should read and explain my books to others. Reading and writing are the same, sravanam kirtanam vishnoh ." Srila Prabhupada letter August 9, 1974 " Regarding your writing, this is very much wanted, but I think that it is better if you write articles, not books. Write articles that can be printed in our Back to Godhead magazine. That will be very nice. Also, be very sure that you always maintain a high spiritual standard by following all of the rules and regulations very carefully. Chant 16 rounds minimum daily and study my books deeply." Srila Prabhupada letter May 26, 1975
Note: ISKCON have [has] classified Srila Prabhupada as a "previous acarya" and preach it is offensive to "jump over" the current "acaryas" and try to understand Srila Prabhupada. They have even suggested in this paper that one cannot understand Srila Prabhupada's books except via a GBC appointed "bona fide" guru!!
"I am very glad to hear how the book distribution is increasing more and more. This is our greatest weapon. The more the books are distributed, the more the ignorance of the Age of Kali will be smashed. The world is feeling the weight of this Hare Krishna Movement, especially in your country. We have to increase this book distribution work more and more to firmly establish this Movement, which is the only hope for the suffering living entities." Srila Prabhupada letter November 23, 1976
Note: Srila Prabhupada's introduction to the main quote ISKCON use to support their philosophy is given below: "Now Arjuna said that science was spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If we read Bhagavad-gita, then we must follow the person of Arjuna, because Arjuna directly heard Bhagavad-gita from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And he says that this science, gitam bhagavata. So why there should be interpretation? Because the person who heard directly from Bhagavan, the Supreme Per…, he said that this is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So one who is hearing directly, he's saying something, but you are saying something.
You have no right. This is called parampara system. The person who heard Bhagavad-gita directly from Krsna, whatever he says, that is to be accepted. You cannot interpret. This is the parampara system."
Note: This is Srila Prabhupada's introduction to the quote and it is necessary to read this to understand the rest of the quote, however ISKCON have not included this section in their paper.
The whole thing is about directly hearing–"the person who has heard Bhagavad-gita directly from Krsna, whatever he says, that is to be accepted." Srila Prabhupada says we must follow Arjuna's understanding of the Bhagavad-gita from Krishna because Arjuna has directly heard it from Krishna. So if we can follow Arjuna why can't we follow Srila Prabhupada? In any case we can ALL directly hear from Srila Prabhupada!
It's not that only a few authorized ISKCON gurus can hear Srila Prabhupada and we can't! We can all hear Srila Prabhupada's recorded classes and that hearing is identical to sitting in the original class. There's no difference at all. Otherwise why was Srila Prabhupada so anxious that all his classes be recorded?
Through modern technology the pure transcendental sound vibrations emanating from the lips
of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada are available for us to hear even now. This has NEVER been possible for any previous acarya so Srila Prabhupada is unique and so vividly present with us now, we just have to take advantage of Srila Prabhupada's personal association.
"Just like this tape recorder is working. How it is working? The electric energy is there. By the electric energy the machine is so nicely working that when it is replayed exactly I am speaking.
So energy is working. I am speaking, my speaking energy is acting, electric energy is helping.
This machine energy is accepting and a nice thing is coming." Srila Prabhupada lecture October 20, 1968 Seattle, Washington Go To ISKCON Devotees Forbidden To Understand Srila Prabhupada (Part-2)