|
"You say that you would read only
one book if that was all that I had written" |
|
This article is basically in draft form and by Prabhupada's blessing will be finished soon. I have decided to release it now as it still has many many valuable quotes and notes. I am compiling this article to encourage those new souls who will be taking direct shelter of Srila Prabhupada as their initiating guru to develop the correct mood of total loyalty and chastity to His Divine Grace by reading his books and his books only! [original books] This is most pleasing to Srila Prabhupada and will lead to rapid advancement in Krishna Consciousness. I also want to clear up this false notion presented by the sahajiya class [those who take devotion to Krishna as something very cheap] that Srila Prabhupada has authorized them to jump over him and thus attempt to directly read the books of the previous acaryas. [spiritual masters] Their self interested and offensive interpretations of Srila Prabhupada's words cause general confusion and make his teachings appear contradictory. This should not be tolerated! Of course this offensive cheating mentality of jumping over the guru and prostituting oneself around by hearing from different unauthorized sources and then trying to justify such material inclinations as spiritual and sanctioned by Prabhupada is totally abhorrent to the faithful chaste followers of Srila Prabhupada.
You say that you would read only
one book if that was all Regarding the Gaudiya Math books being circulated there, who is distributing? Who is sending these books? The Gaudiya Math does not sell our books, why we should sell their books. Who has introduced these books? Let me know. These books should not at all be circulated in our Society. Bhakti Vilas Tirtha is very much antagonistic to our society and he has no clear conception of devotional service. He is contaminated. Anyway, who has introduced these books? You say that you would read only one book if that was all that I had written, so you teach others to do like that. You have very good determination. [Srila Prabhupada Letter to Sukadeva, 14 November, 1973)Note: This quote can be divided into two sections. The first section consists of many strong questions which reveal Srila Prabhupada's total displeasure at unauthorized and contaminating "spiritual books" being circulated in his movement. In the second section Srila Prabhupada clearly reveals his pleasure at the correct chaste mood of his disciple Sukadeva dasa. Prabhupada tells him he has good determination to read only one book if that was the only book that Prabhupada had written. He tells him to teach this to the others. So this instruction is an OPEN INSTRUCTION TO ALL PRABHUPADA'S FOLLOWERS! The prostitute class will try to write this off as a time and place instruction that doesn't apply to them, this is nonsense. This letter with its clear message reveals the danger of the unauthorized hearing process and also the correct mood of chastity to the spiritual master by the bona-fide follower and hearer.
If this was a time, place and
circumstance
instruction, [which it
clearly is not] then the circumstances are far more serious
now! The market place is now completely flooded with these contaminated
books and chastity and loyalty to Prabhupada is rare to find. At
this time the prostitution and philosophical deviations away from the paramapara
message of Prabhupada are massive in comparison to 1973!!!
There
is no need by any of my disciples to read any books There is no need by any of my disciples to read any books besides my books--in fact, such reading may be detrimental to their advancement in Krishna Consciousness. All reading of outside books, except in certain authorized cases such as for example to read some philosopher like Plato to make an essay comparing his philosophy with Krishna's philosophy--but otherwise all such outside reading should be stopped immediately. It is simply another botheration. If my students cannot even read my own books thoroughly, why they should read others? I have given you TLC, what need is there to read Caitanya Caritamrta translated by someone else. You are right to stop such reading. [Srila Prabhupada Letter to Sri Govinda, 20 January, 1972] Note: There is no need by any of Prabhupada's disciples to read any books besides Prabhupada's books--in fact, such reading may be detrimental to their advancement in Krishna Consciousness... all such outside reading should be stopped immediately. What is the difficultly to understand this clear instruction? For the loyal and chaste follower of Prabhupada there is none. For the sahajiya class they will hear what they want to hear and disregard the rest. In these times of disorder when the standard is to hear from anywhere and everywhere like a prostitute, presenting these simple truths of loyalty and devotion to Prabhupada is considered almost blasphemy.
There is no need whatsoever for any outside instruction Whatever is to be learned of the teachings of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura can be learned from our books. There is no need whatsoever for any outside instruction. [ Srila Prabhupada Letter to Gurukrpa and Yasodanandana, 25/12/73]Note: Whatsoever is an intensive form of whatever. Whatever means no matter what: Do it, whatever happens. So no matter what, whatever happens we don't allow any outside instruction in Srila Prabhupada's movement or in our ears and hearts. Whatever [meaning absolutely anything] that is to be learned of the teachings of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura can be learned from Srila Prabhupada's books.
Brahmananda Swami has read me your letter regarding the students there reading other books. I request you to stop this practice. Our students have no time to read our own books, but they have time to read other's books, and the money to purchase them? Why this mentality is there? You are a serious student, therefore you have correctly found out the defect in these books. We don't want babaji class. We want active preachers. [Srila Prabhupada Letter to: Cyavana: Bombay 13 October, 1973] Note: Prabhupada again requests us to stop the prostitution and be loyal to him. He doesn't wants babaji class, he wants active preachers. In the next quote he GIVES THE CLEAR INSTRUCTION on what his followers are allowed to read to become those preachers.
In our
Krsna consciousness movement we have therefore
TRANSLATION: "The twelfth item is to give up the company of
nondevotees. (13) One should not accept an unlimited number of
disciples. (14) One should not partially study many scriptures
just to be able to give references and expand explanations.
[Srila
Prabhupada from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 22.118] THE
SAHAJIYA MISREPRESENTATION
Sri Sanatana Gosvami Prabhu, the
teacher of the science of devotional service, wrote several books, of which the Brhad-bhagavatamrta is very famous; anyone who wants to
know about the subject matter of devotees, devotional service and
Krsna must read this book." Note: So it is clear, we should read Brhad-bhagavatamrta, the real question is HOW? In the Bhagavad-gita Krishna says "If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it." The instruction appears simple but it requires more elaboration from Srila Prabhupada on how we offer these things to Krishna. Prabhupada: Yes, I'll chant. Hare Krsna. Oh, thank you very much. All should be offered there, Jagannatha. The etiquette is nice. Everything should be offered to the, through the spiritual master. That is the etiquette. No direct. [Srila Prabhupada Conversation, April 1, 1969, San Francisco] Note: So we shall use this example and apply the sahajiya philosophy to it. They would say that Krishna says we can offer him directly a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, and he will accept it. This of course is not the correct philosophy, we have to offer through the spiritual master this is the etiquette.
So let's read Brhad-bhagavatamrta by Sri Sanatana Gosvami Prabhu, this is what
Srila
Prabhupada has instructed. But
we have to read it in the way he directs us.
Or even
if you read some books, you cannot
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. [Srila Prabhupada from Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.30 Los Angeles, December 8, 1973]
I will elaborate for you dear sahajiyas; the purport of all the previous Acaryas wrtings etc can be found in Srila Prabhupada's books. So if you read Srila Prabhupada's books you are reading Brhad-bhagavatamrta by Sri Sanatana Gosvami Prabhu. EVAM PARAMPARA, ARE WE CLEAR YET??? Whatever is to be learned of the teachings of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura can be learned from our books. There is no need whatsoever for any outside instruction. (S.P.Letter to Gurukrpa and Yasodanandana, 25/12/73) Whatever is to be learned of the teachings of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura or Sri Sanatana Gosvami Prabhu can be learned from Srila Prabhupada's books. Any "follower" of Srila Prabhupada who is receiving and giving instruction of the teachings of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur or the other previous Acaryas outside of Srila Prabhupada's books is disobeying Srila Prabhupada's order. Such offensive personalities cannot make any advancement in chanting Hare Krishna, everything is finished for them in the beginning. Such rascals cannot be siksa-guru or anything else. First offense is guror avajna, defying the authority of guru. This is the first offense. So one who is offensive, how he can make advance in chanting? He cannot make. Then everything is finished in the beginning. Guror avajna. Everything is there. If one is disobeying the spiritual master, he cannot remain in the pure status of life. He cannot be siksa-guru or anything else.
(Bhagavad-gita,
lecture 17.1-3 Honolulu, July 4, 1974)
You
are giving us the essence of all the
Paramahamsa: Srila Prabhupada, I remember once I heard a
tape where you told us that we should not try to read the
books of previous acaryas. [Srila Prabhupada Morning Walk, May 13, 1975, Perth] Note: THAT IS ALREADY THERE. This is the clear instruction. The essence of all the previous acaryas books are already there in Srila Prabhupada's books. "YES YES" His Divine Grace says. So when Srila Prabhupada says "No, you should read. [the previous acaryas books] It is misunderstanding." There is no contradiction. The misunderstanding is only that people think they can read the previous acaryas books translated by completely unauthorized persons from the Iskcon or Gaudiya matha cults rather than reading them in disciplic succession from the liberated soul Srila Prabhupada [his books] Reading Srila
Prabhupada's books only is the correct mood to
approach the previous acaryas. WE CANNOT JUMP OVER. We have to
go through Srila Prabhupada who is the servant, servant,
servant, then we can become advanced, this is the process, the
law of parampara. And if we think that we have now become
master, and can jump over to the previous acaryas we are going
to hell.
You cannot jump over. You must go
through the You cannot jump over Krsna consciousness without going through the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. And to go through Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu means to go through the six Gosvamis. This is parampara system. Therefore Narottama dasa Thakura says,
ei chay gosai jar--tar mui das This is
parampara system. You cannot jump over. You must go
through the parampara system. You have to approach through your
spiritual master to the Gosvamis, and through the Gosvamis you
will have to approach Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and through Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu you have to approach Krsna. This is the way.
Therefore Narottama dasa Thakura said, ei chay gosai jar--tar
mui das. We are servant of servant. That is Caitanya
Mahaprabhu's instruction, gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor
dasa-dasanudasah. The more you become servant of the
servant, the more you are perfect. And if you all of a sudden
want to become master, then you go to hell. That's all. Don't do
that. This is the teaching of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. If you go
through the servant, servant, servant, then you are advanced.
And if you think that you have now become master, then you are
going to hell. This is the process. Dasa-dasanudasah.
Caitanya Mahaprabhu said. So servant, servant, servant, a
hundred times servant now, that means he is advanced. He is
advanced. And one who is becoming directly master, then he is in
the hell.
sruti-smrti-puranadi- (Srila Prabhupada from a Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Lecture, Adi-lila 1.4 Mayapur, March 28, 1975)
One has to
understand the writings of the previous acaryas
TRANSLATION: By the mercy of Vyasa, I have heard these most
confidential talks directly from the master of all mysticism,
Krsna, who was speaking personally to Arjuna.
PURPORT:
Vyasa was the spiritual master of Sanjaya, and Sanjaya admits
that it was by his mercy that he could understand the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. This means that one has to
understand Krsna not directly but through the medium of the
spiritual master. The spiritual master is the transparent
medium, although it is true that the experience is direct.
This is the mystery of the disciplic succession. When the
spiritual master is bona fide, then one can hear Bhagavad-gita
directly, as Arjuna heard it.
(Note: This means that one has
to understand the writings of the previous acaryas not
directly but through the medium of the current link in
disciplic succession Srila Prabhupada. His Divine Grace is the
transparent medium, although it is true that the experience is
direct. Because Srila Prabhupada is bona-fide then we can
hear the previous acaryas directly) There are
many mystics and yogis all over the world, but Krsna is the
master of all yoga systems. Krsna's instruction is explicitly
stated in Bhagavad-gita--surrender unto Krsna. One who does so
is the topmost yogi. This is confirmed in the last verse of
the Sixth Chapter. Yoginam api sarvesam. [B.G. 18 Chapter TEXT 75] (authorized version 1972 by Srila Prabhupada) T hese two, three books, that's all.... You haven'tgot to learn so many huge volumes of books
Journalist: You go for a prescribed course of study? [Press
Interview, December 30, 1968, Los Angeles] Yes you
can print one copy... Not for distribution.... Prabhupada:
My Guru Maharaja wanted to publish Govinda-lilamrta. He
asked permission of Bhaktivinoda Thakura. So first of all
Bhaktivinoda Thakura, "I'll tell you some day." And when he
reminded, he said, "Yes you can print one copy. If you are
so much anxious to print it, print one copy. You'll read and
you will see that you have printed. Not for distribution."
So we are printing all these books for understanding
properly. Not that "Here is Radha-kunda. Let us go."
Jump over like monkey. "Here is rasa-lila. Immediately..." [Srila
Prabhupada Room Conversation, August 16, 1976, Bombay] There is no
need to read such a high Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura comments in this connection that such feelings of separation as Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu enjoyed from the books of Vidyapati, Candidasa and Jayadeva are especially reserved for persons like Sri Ramananda Raya and Svarupa Damodara, who were paramahamsas, men of the topmost perfection, because of their advanced spiritual consciousness. Such topics are not to be discussed by ordinary persons imitating the activities of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. For critical students of mundane poetry and literary men without God consciousness who are after bodily sense gratification, there is no need to read such a high standard of transcendental literature. Persons who are after sense gratification should not try to imitate raganuga devotional service. In their songs, Candidasa, Vidyapati and Jayadeva have described the transcendental activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Mundane reviewers of the songs of Vidyapati, Jayadeva and Candidasa simply help people in general become debauchees, and this leads only to social scandals and atheism in the world. One should not misunderstand the pastimes of Radha and Krsna to be the activities of a mundane young boy and girl. The mundane sexual activities of young boys and girls are most abominable. Therefore, those who are in bodily consciousness and who desire sense gratification are forbidden to indulge in discussions of the transcendental pastimes of Sri Radha and Krsna. [Srila Prabhupada from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 13.42]
WHO ARE THE PEOPLE JUMPING OVER AND DIRECTLY TRANSLATING THE "PREVIOUS ACARYAS BOOKS"?
Tamala
Krsna.: Pradyumna. Pradyumna is carrying out a single-handed
investigation. Pradyumna has become an investigator. He goes
around everywhere (laughs) investigating the sahajiyas. I hope
he doesn't become won over. [Srila Prabhupada from a Morning Walk, June 7, 1976, Los Angeles] Note: They are in one group that is called apa-sampradaya [outside the parampara] Yet the prostitute class like to hear from them. These sahijiyas who “translate” have no access to the books of the previous acaryas. They are offensively licking the bottle only, not tasting the sweet juice in the bottle. Most of the translators of these books don’t even understand the basic philosophy that Prabhupada gives about the diksa process and how his Divine Grace is still present in sound giving the process. There are so many basic things they don't understand like origin of the soul etc. etc. Prabhupada instructs us to avoid their association not hear from them and thus support their offensive jumping over.
One
should not associate with these In the parampara system, the instructions taken from the bona fide spiritual master must also be based on revealed Vedic scriptures. One who is in the line of disciplic succession cannot manufacture his own way of behavior. There are many so-called followers of the Vaisnava cult in the line of Caitanya Mahaprabhu who do not scrupulously follow the conclusions of the sastras, and therefore they are considered to be apa-sampradaya, which means "outside of the sampradaya." Some of these groups are known as aula, baula, kartabhaja, neda, daravesa, sani sahajiya, sakhibheki, smarta, jata-gosani, ativadi, cudadhari and gauranga-nagari. In order to follow strictly the disciplic succession of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, one should not associate with these apa-sampradaya communities. [Srila Prabhupada from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 7.48] Note: By avoiding these apa-sampradaya communities who are flooding the market place with their offensive translations of the "previous acaryas books" and thus titillating the mind and senses of the prostitute class, we can then be engaged in various important preaching projects for Prabhupada. Sulocana prabhu made it clear we need to categorize Srila Prabhupada's complete works and then print them in smaller books so the general public who may not have time to read the complete works can get quick and direct access to the particular subjects they are interested in. The 7,000 personal letters that Prabhupada wrote also need to be indexed and printed. Why not work to support these projects and thus flood the world with the bone-fide parampara books of the messiah Srila Prabhupada? Why be a prostitute and thus support the proliferation of these offensive apa-siddhantic books in human society?
TRANSLATION: On hearing Suta Gosvami speak thus, Saunaka Muni, who was the elderly, learned leader of all the rsis engaged in that prolonged sacrificial ceremony, congratulated Suta Gosvami by addressing him as follows. PURPORT: In a meeting of learned men, when there are congratulations or addresses for the speaker, the qualifications of the congratulator should be as follows. He must be the leader of the house and an elderly man. He must be vastly learned also. Sri Saunaka Rsi had all these qualifications, and thus he stood up to congratulate Sri Suta Gosvami when he expressed his desire to present Srimad-Bhagavatam exactly as he heard it from Sukadeva Gosvami and also realized it personally. Personal realization does not mean that one should, out of vanity, attempt to show one's own learning by trying to surpass the previous acarya. He must have full confidence in the previous acarya, and at the same time he must realize the subject matter so nicely that he can present the matter for the particular circumstances in a suitable manner. The original purpose of the text must be maintained. No obscure meaning should be screwed out of it, yet it should be presented in an interesting manner for the understanding of the audience. This is called realization. The leader of the assembly, Saunaka, could estimate the value of the speaker, Sri Suta Gosvami, simply by his uttering yathadhitam and yatha-mati, and therefore he was very glad to congratulate him in ecstasy. No learned man should be willing to hear a person who does not represent the original acarya. So the speaker and the audience were bona fide in this meeting where Bhagavatam was being recited for the second time. That should be the standard of recitation of Bhagavatam, so that the real purpose can be served without difficulty. Unless this situation is created, Bhagavatam recitation for extraneous purposes is useless labor both for the speaker and for the audience. [Srila Prabhupada from Srimad Bhagavatam 1.4.1] Note: We hear
from Srila Prabhupada because he represents the original acarya
but how can these sahajiya babajis be considered to be
representatives of Prabhupada? They are rather in the camp of
the enemies of Prabhupada. No learned man will hear their
offensive translations of the "previous acaryas books", only
foolish prostitutes! OTHER COMMENTS
Sanat dasa prabhu:
So, yes, also Srila Prabhupada has
stated that "everything is there in My Books" And "I have
already answered all your questions in My Books," like that. Locanananda
dasa prabhu:
His Divine Grace said that he included all we needed to know to
go
back to Godhead in the three volumes of the First Canto. He also
said
that we could become fully Krishna conscious by reading the
Bhagavad-gita, the Srimad Bhagavatam, the Nectar of Devotion and the
Teachings
of Lord Caitanya. In his books, there are hundreds upon hundreds
of
references to the writings of the previous acaryas, and by extracting the essence of their teachings, Srila Prabhupada has
given
the most confidential knowledge to the entire world.
|
