SRILA PRABHUPADA SAYS
ABOUT HIS LECTURE TAPES
 
"THIS IS THE PURPORT OF THIS VERSE"
 
Dear prabhu's please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
As you may well be aware, some devotees from the IRG say that Srila Prabhupada can no longer give class as he did when he was physically present.
They present two quotes to support their claim that only Srila Prabhupada's written purports can be utilised during the morning and evening classes, these quotes are:
 

72-07-25 Letter to Satsvarupa

The Bhagavata class should go on, JUST AS I HAVE SHOWN YOU, with everyone attending, including the children. Read the Sanskrit sloka all together, word meanings, translation, purport and give elucidation on all points.

74-12-25 Letter to Malati

So one who gives class, he must read and study regularly and study the purport and realize it. DON'T ADD ANYTHING OR CONCOCT ANYTHING, then he can preach very nicely. The qualification for leading class is how much one understands about Krsna and SURRENDERING TO THE PROCESS.

They say their is no mention of using tapes in the first quote and they use the second to back up their claim that if anyone does he is introducing or concocting something new.

Let us consider the following quotes.

yatha hy avahito vahnir darusv ekah sva-yonisu

naneva bhati visvatma bhutesu ca tatha puman

So according to our body, we act different. The direction and sanction is there by the Supersoul. This is the purport of this verse. Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. (end)

(Srimad-Bhagavatam Lec. 1.2.32 Vrndavana, November 11, 1972)

 

If you become involved in this demonic culture, then the samsara-cakra, the wheel of repetition of birth and death, will go on. You cannot stop it. It is not possible. But if you take to Krsna consciousness, then there is possibility. This is the purport of this verse. Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. (end)

(Srimad-Bhagavatam Lec.  7.9.21 Mayapur, February 28, 1976)

 

So education, education required, but if education is wrongly diverted, it is very, very dangerous. That is the purport of this verse.

andham tamah pravisanti ye vidyam upasate

tato bhuya iva te tamo ya u vidyayam ratah

So-called education has no value. Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. (end)

(Sri Isopanisad Lec, Mantra 9 Los Angeles, May 13, 1970)

In all these quotes Srila Prabhupada says after giving his class, that what he has just spoken IS THE PURPORT OF THIS VERSE. Therefore Srila Prabhupada's lecture tapes are also purports and to utilise them during the morning and evening programmes is completely bona-fide and not going against the quote presented by some of the members of the IRG.

Another point is that Srila Prabhupada's written purports are transcribed from original dictation tapes therefore there is no difference between hearing the tapes or reading the books

These are not ordinary books. It is recorded chanting. Anyone who reads, he is hearing.

(S.P.L. to Rupanuga dasa, 19th October, 1974)

 

Reading or hearing from the realized person there is no difference, but hearing the sound vibration from the realized soul is still more effective, better.

(S.P.L. to Punjabi premanand, S.P.L. 16th October, 1976)

Although there is no difference, Srila Prabhupada says the sound vibration from the realized soul is more effective. This is confirmed by the following.

So, of course, reading or hearing. You may not have time to read, but time, you are hearing. We are publishing, we are publishing literature, books. I am trying to speak to you. That is also understanding, studying Krsna science. Rather, hearing is better reception. If you hear... That Vedas are therefore known as sruti. Sruti means it is received through hearing. Real process is hearing. And this age, Kali-yuga, people cannot study so much.

(Gen Lec 68’)

Therefore let us all gather together and take shelter of more purport from Srila Prabhupada's lotus mouth, in the form of his lecture tapes. After all thats why he was recording them, so they could be heard in a big crowd of four hundred men.

If somebody criticizes, "Oh, Caitanya Mahaprabhu walked on leg and you are travelling in the jet plane?" Shall I have to take that ideal? These are rascaldom. When you have to work, you have to work with the greatest facility. That's all. Now I have got the facility of the talking in microphone, and... So why should I not take it? It will be recorded. It will be heard by so many others. I am speaking to four, five men. It can be heard by a big crowd of four hundred men.

(S.P.C Vrindavana, 4thMarch, 1974)

 

So let us concentrate on training our devotees very thoroughly in the knowledge of Krishna Consciousness from our books, from tapes, by discussing always, and in so many ways instruct them in the right propositions.

(S.P.L to Hamsaduta, Los Angeles, 22nd June, 1972)

 

Look forward to hearing any comments the assembled Vaisnava's may have.

Your servant Mukunda dasa.

 Prabhupada Sankirtana Society (Oldham)

 

P.S. If you are interested in getting a copy of

ALL OF US SHOULD HEAR PRABHUPADA

please contact Mukunda dasa at PSSHearing@prabhupada.freeserve.co.uk