Way back in Oct. 1968 Srila Prabhupada was explaining the ritvik system
Madhudviṣa: Is there any way for a Christian (devotee) to, without the help of a spiritual master, (Srila Prabhupada) to reach the spiritual sky through believing in the words of Jesus Christ (Srila…
Oct 2 1968 Seattle Madhudviṣa: Is there any way for a Christian (devotee) to, without the help of a spiritual master, (Srila Prabhupada) to reach the spiritual sky through believing in the words of Jesus Christ (Srila Prabhupada) and trying to follow his teachings?
Prabhupāda: I don't follow.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Can a Christian (devotee) in this age, without a spiritual master,(Srila Prabhupada) but by reading the Bible (vedas) and following Jesus's words,(Srila Prabhupadas) reach the… Prabhupāda: When you read Bible,(vedas) you follow spiritual master. (Srila Prabhupada) How can you say without? As soon as you read Bible,(vedas) that means you are following the instruction of Lord Jesus Christ, (Srila Prabhupada) that means you are following spiritual master. So where is the opportunity of being without spiritual master?
Madhudviṣa: I was referring to a living spiritual master.
Prabhupāda: Spiritual master is not the question of…Spiritual master is eternal. Spiritual master is eternal. So your question is without spiritual master. Without spiritual master you cannot be, at any stage of your life. You may accept this spiritual master or that spiritual master. That is a different thing. But you have to accept. As you say that "by reading Bible," when you read Bible (vedas) that means you are following the spiritual master represented by some priest (ritvik) or some clergyman(ritvik) in the line of Lord Jesus Christ. (Srila Prabhupada) So any case, you have to follow a spiritual master. There cannot be the question without spiritual master. Is that clear?
Madhudviṣa: I mean like we couldn't understand the teachings of the Bhagavad-gītā without your help, without your presentation.
Prabhupāda: Similarly, you have to understand Bible (vedas) with the help of the priest (ritvik) in
the church. (temple) Madhudviṣa: Yes. But is he receiving a good interpretation from his disciplic succession or his bishop? Because there seems to be some kind of a discrepancy in the interpretation of the Bible. There's many different sects of Christianity (Krsna Consciousness) that interpret the Bible(vedas) in different ways. ( and Dravida).
Prabhupāda: Of course, there cannot be any interpretation in the Bible.(vedas) Then there is no authority of Bible.(vedas) If you interpret something… Just like "Call a spade a spade." So if you call something else, that is a different thing. He's not spiritual master. Just like this is watch.
Everybody has called it watch, and if I call it spectacle, then what is the value of my being spiritual master? I'm misleading. (laughter) It is watch, that I must say. So when there is misinterpretation, he's not a bona fide spiritual master. He's not spiritual master, what is called a bona fide. If I want to teach you how to see this watch, I can say that "This is called watch and this is called hand and this is called time indication; this is, this called…," so that is nice. And if I say that "Everybody says it is watch. I say it is spectacle," then what kind of a spiritual master I am? Reject him immediately. That intelligence you must have, who is a pseudo spiritual master or real spiritual master.
Otherwise you'll be cheated. And that is being done. Everyone is interpreting in his own way.
The Bhagavad-gītā, there are thousands of editions, and they have tried to interpret in their own way, all nonsense. They should be all thrown away. Simply you have to read Bhagavad-gītā as it is. Then you'll understand. There is no question of interpretation. Then the authority is gone.
As soon as you interpret, then there is no authority. Lawbook. Do you mean to say in the court if you say before the judge, "My dear lord, I interpret this passage in this way," will it be accepted?
The judge will at once say, "Who are you to interpret? You have no right." Then what is the authority of this lawbook if everyone comes, "I interpret in this way"? And interpretation when required? When a thing is not understood.
If I say, "It is watch," and everyone understands that "This is watch, yes," then where is the opportunity of interpreting that this is spectacle? If anyone can understand the clear passage… Just like in the Bible, "God said, 'Let there be creation,' and there was creation." Where is the question of interpretation? Yes, God created. You cannot create. Where is the opportunity of interpretation? So unnecessary interpretation is not required and that is not bona fide, and those who are interpreting unnecessarily, they should be rejected immediately. Immediately, without any consideration. …. ————————————— Some Conclusions – TKG asks Prabhupada…”Can a Christian (devotee) in this age, without a spiritual master,(Srila Prabhupada) but by reading the Bible (vedas) and following Jesus's words,(Srila Prabhupadas) reach the…”………… and Srila Prabhupada replies… When you read Bible,(vedas) you follow spiritual master. (Srila Prabhupada) How can you say without? As soon as you read Bible,(vedas) that means you are following the instruction of Lord Jesus Christ, (Srila Prabhupada) that means you are following spiritual master. So where is the opportunity of being without spiritual master?
Madhudviṣa: I was referring to a living spiritual master.
Prabhupāda: Spiritual master is not the question of…Spiritual master is eternal. Spiritual master is eternal. So your question is without spiritual master. Without spiritual master you cannot be,
at any stage of your life.
This should be clear to any sane person. That any person today, according to Srila Prabhupada can become a Christian – if he follows Jesus's teachings. There is not a question of also called “living guru” since the real guru is eternal, his teachings are eternal, and those people who want to become Christians today can do so, if they follow Christs teachings.
So if Christians can do it, why cant Hare Krsna devotees do the same thing? They become Christians by the priests (ritviks) daily instructions in their chruches. The ritvik priests are not Jesus, and no sane Christains would ever say such a foolish thing, but the priests point to their spiritual master Jesus, and by following these instructions, one becomes a follower of Jesus, or a Christian.
In this conversation way back in1968 Srila Prabhupada was trying to teach the principles of spiritual life through vani and not vapuh, physical form which is temporary. Some get it some don't. Srila Prabhupada put it all in writing as well just before he left. And this order to initiate on his behalf of him was never changed or rescinded.