Devotee Writings etc.

ISKCON, ISKCON 2.0 and Beyond, Eunuch “Gurus” and What Comes After. Part 5 of 5

By Nitya Krishna dasa

Spiritual Walmart & What Comes After

Another current institutional catch-all, save-all device is that no one is forced to follow any particular so-called guru, but can simply engage is services directed by Srila Prabhupada, seeing him as their pre-eminent siksa guru. ISKCON institution law says as much:

“ISKCON devotees shall instruct new members to take shelter of Srila Prabhupada and to receive guidance, training and assistance from those who are practically and directly instructing them in Krishna consciousness. ISKCON members shall not compel or coerce new members to accept any particular siksa or diksa guru or to take diksa initiation at any particular point in time. New members shall choose when and from whom they wish to request initiation, however for a minimum of six months of strict sadhana, they must focus their attention on Srila Prabhupada as the Founder-Acarya and their siksa guru. After having established a solid relationship with His Divine Grace’s vani, they may accept an ISKCON guru and after a subsequent minimum of six months accept vaisnava diksa.” Law 405 A, STANDARDS OF GURU WORSHIP IN ISKCON, GBC Resolutions, 1999

Of course it is nice that, after all these years, new or old people can point to this law when being told that they need to submit to so-and-so. But they do have to know about it, which many brand new people do not. Nevertheless this at least seems to make an apparently bona fide option available to those inclined to ignore the institution’s so-called initiations.

A devotee I know compared this to getting devotional life from a “spiritual” Wal-Mart, for among all the cheap imitation products, “Hey, here is something (that looks) genuine.” One problem for anyone choosing this option, however, is that virtually all of ones association is going to be with people who have bought into the other cheap imitations, people who are being misled in the ways we are describing. They aren’t exactly what one would call good association.

Organized Religion in the GBC’s Small Town

One also has to kowtow and bow to the GBC leaders and so-called gurus who have cheated and misled thousands for decades. And one is largely prohibited from speaking the truth about them. Therefore one still can’t even aspire to act as a genuine brahmana because they are forced to submit to GBC edicts like all the other sudra leaders and followers. That means they will also always remain a sudra – some process of spiritual advancement! So even though loyalists can tout this “don’t have to submit to any ‘guru’” option as apparently bona fide, even this is soaked through with the mode of ignorance of other’s association and whatever loyalty agreements that one accepts to the GBC, whether signed or not. All the emphasis on ISKCON law and loyalty oaths speak of the transformation of Srila Prabhupada’s once vibrant, love and trust centered movement into a cumbersome and oppressive legalistic bureaucracy, something he opposed:

“Krishna Consciousness Movement is for training men to be independently thoughtful and competent in all types of departments of knowledge and action, not for making bureaucracy. Once there is bureaucracy the whole thing will be spoiled. There must be always individual striving and work and responsibility, competitive spirit, not that one shall dominate and distribute benefits to the others and they do nothing but beg from you and you provide. No.” Letter to Karandhara, 12/22/72

Srila Prabhupada thus saw inspiration and preaching as the main service of the GBCs, of whom Karandara dasa was one, not forming a pyramid with them at the top.  And the bottom line of this apparently bona fide service option is, “How does one know that the services given are in line with Srila Prabhupada’s desires?” The temple authorities are almost certainly going to be the bad, sudra-like association described above, all serving a GBC soaked through with a panoply of offences from disregard of guru, sadhu and sastra. This means the degree of transparency is pretty dim. Thus even this option is little more than another lure to catch the less-witting. Even this turns out to be like the jewel on the head of a poisonous snake – the association and institutional hypocrisy will eventually kill ones sincerity. Something cannot be called worship of the acarya if he is being systematically ignored.

“So we have to follow. Mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ (CC Madhya 17.186). Don’t follow rascals and fools. Then it will be useless waste of time. Follow the great ācāryas. Ācāryavān puruṣo veda. One who is ācāryavān, who has accepted ācārya, he knows. Others, all are fools, rascals. Ācāryavān. Ācāryopāsanam. In the Bhagavad-gītā it is said, amānitvam adambhitvam ahiṁsā kṣāntir ārjavam, ācāryopāsanam (Bg 13.8). You have to first of all worship the ācārya. Tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet (MU 1.2.12). Guru and ācārya, the same thing. So these are the process. Mahājano yena gataḥ. You cannot manufacture your ways of thinking. What you are? You are most insignificant living entity. And without following the ācāryas, without following the mahājanas, without following the śāstras, how you can teach?” Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.19, Calcutta, September 27, 1974

The ISKCON institution thus remains a much compromised devotional environment, hardly one where devotees can hear from those with brahminical Vaishnava qualities. It may serve to keep some devotees from falling off the human platform to sinful activities, but not much more. Despite the leader’s hollow glorification, Srila Prabhupada, whose very words are sometimes viewed as threats to recruiting insincere young moderns, has been relegated to the figurehead facilitator of their “spiritual” brand.

Without strictly following the previous acaryas, their apparently Vaishnava facade obscures the same kind of arbitrary control that one finds in most small towns – one of having to abide by the whims of a handful of the most powerful (so-called spiritual) businessmen.  It’s not based on law, either mundane or spiritual. It’s largely a Machiavellian arrangement beneath the surface of the rules of order bureaucracy.

To get adopted, Ravindra Svarupa, Bhanu Swami and other’s adjustments all have to ultimately satisfy the most powerful so-called gurus and GBCs, all while simultaneously facilitating recruitment and donations, as well as wrangling conformity to guru, sadhu and sastra. It’s a very tangled web. But we should not forget that their responses to the on-going problems caused by their previous “solutions” will all be lauded as (unsurprisingly) “service to Srila Prabhupada.”

No one can advance beyond the extreme neophyte level due to the dictate that everyone must ignore the contradictions of GBC policy with guru, sadhu and sastra. This means no one can act as a genuine brahmana, someone dedicated to the truth and its telling. Srila Prabhupada said training ideal men, brahmanas, was one of the purposes of his movement:

“Formerly, though, society was divided into four classes—brahmanas, kshatriyas, vaishyas, shudras: advisors, administrators, merchants, and workers. The brahmanas were first-class men—ideal. But in today’s society there is no ideal man. Society should have some living example, so that people can see, ‘Oh, here is an ideal man.’ And the ideal man is described here in our Bhagavad-gita. Any man can be trained. And if even just one percent of the people become ideal, the remaining ninety-nine percent will see and follow. But now there are no ideal men. That is the defect. So we are training people to become ideal men. That is the purpose of this movement.” Conversation, Melbourne, May 21, 1975

“So far we are concerned, we shall live very simple life, simply in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is brāhmaṇa. Brāhmaṇa does not go to construct big, big house. He simply constructs his character, and the other kṣatriyas and vaiśyas, they offer him, ‘Please come here and sit down.’ Therefore the division is… One who is unable to become a brāhmaṇa, let him become kṣatriya. If he cannot become kṣatriya, let him become a vaiśya. Otherwise let him remain a śūdra. But there should be ideal class. So we are trying to create an ideal society of brāhmaṇas. Then people will be benefited. And if everyone is śūdra, rascal, then what people will be benefited? They do not know how to live. The brāhmaṇas will give idea, ‘Live like this. You will be happy.’” Room Conversation, Mauritius, October 5, 1975

These quotes clearly demonstrate that the ISKCON institution is no longer Srila Prabhupada’s movement. He wanted his disciples to become independent, realized men of character – future acaryas capable of defeating mayavada and all other illusory conceptions – not the docile pets of the best ladder climbers of a bureaucracy. Making even the so-called gurus compliant to the whims of a board of directors will hardly build ideal anything in anyone. This arbitrary, power-soaked standard of “truth” is what sincere people take to real spiritual life to avoid. Hence Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada’s describing such leaders as “Putanas” in what follows. This kills people’s sincerity. Rather than training people to live ideally, the ISKCON institution is giving members a sudra-ized lobotomy of (un)consciousness. It’s a form of man (or men) worship. The lack of even one prominent advanced devotee and the extreme emphasis on the GBC directorship places it squarely in the category of an institutional, organized religion, regardless of any and all of its get-out-of-jail-free cards. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada wrote on this thusly:

“The church that has the best chance of survival in this damned world is that of atheism under the convenient guise of theism. The churches have always proved the staunchest upholders of the grossest form of worldliness, from which even the worst of non-ecclesiastical criminals are found to recoil. . . . The idea of an organized church, in an intelligible form, indeed marks the close of the living spiritual movement. The great ecclesiastical establishments are the dikes and the dams to retain the current that cannot be held by any such contrivances. They, indeed, indicate a desire on the part of the masses to exploit a spiritual movement for their own purpose. They also unmistakably indicate the end of the absolute and unconventional guidance of the bona fide spiritual teacher. . . . Those are, therefore, greatly mistaken who are disposed to look forward to the amelioration of the worldly state – in any worldly sense – from the worldly success of any really spiritual movement. It is these worldly expectants who become the patrons of the mischievous race of the pseudo-teachers of religion, the Putanas, whose congenial function is to stifle the theistic disposition at the very moment of its suspected appearance. But the real theistic disposition can never be stifled by the efforts of those Putanas. The Putanas have power only over the atheist. It is a thankless, but salutary, task which they perform for the benefit of their unwilling victims.” Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada, Putana (Organized Religion), The Harmonist, January 1932 edition, emphasis added

Unrectified Crises

It should go without saying that the consciousness and association of the leaders of such an organization should be avoided, despite the availability of any apparently bona fide options. Yet thousands of dull-witted (inwardly atheistic) people still openly praise and follow them. This avoiding should include even the best, apparently strictest so-called gurus. They are all ethically and philosophically compromised by their abject, impotent, mode-of-ignorance submission to a mundane corporate board of directors. And they all base their so-called authority on the apa-siddhanta, ecclesiastical selection of this hypocritical board. Collectively these worldly-minded people constitute the world’s biggest impediment to real Krishna consciousness and going back to Godhead. Any rare individual who achieves success in these regards will have done so in spite of them.

“While distorting the meaning of the Bhagavad-gita (Bg 4.11) verse: ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham, persons who do not follow Vedic principles, who commit mistakes, who are duplicitous, intoxicated, short-sighted, habituated to cheating others, and expert in material knowledge exhibit a type of foolishness that simply results in distortion and change of the actual meaning. They are indifferent to understanding the meaning of the word prapanna, or surrender, and consider proud non-Vaisnava living entities who are devoid of surrender on the same platform as surrendered Vaisnavas. They are fully engaged in activities that are detrimental to the neophytes of this world who are ignorant of scriptural conclusions; in other words, they ruin them. Only those devotees who are nonduplicitous, surrendered worshipers of the Lord are qualified to serve the Lord, and the Lord also reciprocates by awarding His own rare, loving devotional service to such liberated souls.” Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada, Commentary, Sri Chaitanya Bhagavata Adi 17.25, English translation by Bhumipati dasa

Old devotees sometimes speak in terms of the crises that came up as the movement grew. At the start in Srila Prabhupada’s absence, the first sannyasi, Kirtanananda, tried to Westernize the New York temple by telling the devotees that Krishna consciousness wouldn’t spread in America if they shaved their heads and wore sikhas, tilak or dhotis. Then there were the four sannyasis that started preaching that Srila Prabhupada was God, then the threat to his disciples from his envious godbrothers, then the GBC initiated centralization scheme that endowed Atreya Rsi dasa with too much power. There may have been others, but the distinguishing feature of Srila Prabhupada’s physical presence rectified all of them. One should see the zonal acarya imposition and the GBC’s accension to ultimate authority and successor-ship in this same light. The difference, and the reason the ISKCON institution won’t return to following guru, sadhu and sastra, is that Srila Prabhupada isn’t physically present to make things right again. Instead we are left with a kingdom of Oz facade of material solutions where sincere devotees are completely ignored if they conflict with those with the most vested interests.

It is another myth that all these leaders will be delivered by the mercy of Mahaprabhu. There was a caveat when the Lord agreed to deliver the most fallen:

“vidya-dhana-kula-adi tapasyara made
tora bhakta, tora bhakti ye-ye-jana vadhe

se papistha-saba dekhi’ maruka pudiya
acandala nacuka tora nama-guna gana”

advaitera vakya suni’ karila hunkara
prabhu bale,—“satya ye tomara angikara”
“’Let all the sinful people who are proud of their education, wealth, high birth, and austerities and those who place obstacles in the path of Your devotees and Your devotional service burn to death, and let all others, including the dog-eaters, dance while singing Your holy names and qualities.’ Hearing Advaita’s statement, the Lord roared loudly and said, ‘Whatever You say will be fulfilled.’” Sri Chaitanya Bhagavata Madhya 6.168-170, English translation by Bhumipati dasa

The zonal acarya’s ambitious pride imposed obstacles to the prosecution of Srila Prabhupada’s real movement and the devotional service of his thousands of servant-preachers that they drove away. The GBC has never wavered from upholding the version of the zonals and the obstacles they created, as opposed to the plight of those driven out. It is truly a union made in hell:

“Sri Vrndavana dasa Thakura Mahasaya is falling at the feet of all Vaisnavas and begging to be relieved of offenses to them. Those whose devotional service to Visnu has actually been awakened are constantly engaged in the service of the Lord and His devotees. No one should gather offenses by putting obstacles on the path of their execution of devotional service. This has clearly been reflected in the ideal life of the author. But if atheistic persons who are devoid of and averse to the devotional service of Lord Visnu try to unlawfully and proudly establish themselves as Vaisnavas or spiritual masters and ambitiously try to obtain respect from the devotees headed by Thakura Vrndavana dasa, then they become envious of the devotees and go to hell forever.” Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada, Commentary, Sri Chaitanya Bhagavata Madhya 6.177, English translation by Bhumipati dasa

“The devotee should give up the association of the devotee-pretender, understanding him to be a materialist. Towards those who are sincere, the devotee should offer service and respect. Meeting a true vaiṣṇava, the devotee should associate with him and serve him with his heart; to the ordinary vaiṣṇava-inclined people he should show respect. This respect is an external service. These vaiṣṇava-like people are of three types: those who fully accept the vaiṣṇava conclusions but are not practicing themselves; those who take up the vaiṣṇava signs and appearance, but are not real vaiṣṇavas, though they have respect for the vaiṣṇavas; those who are born in the families of great vaiṣṇavas, and wear the signs of a vaiṣṇava but are not real vaiṣṇavas. A true vaiṣṇava is measured by the degree of purity and depth of devotion, and his capacity to inspire others. A person attains the status of a real vaiṣṇava as soon as a little pure devotion appears in his heart. If a person respects and takes association of the non-vaiṣṇava in the same way that he respects the true vaiṣṇava or the ordinary vaiṣṇava, then his devotion will decrease. Thus, amongst those who wear the vaiṣṇava marks and appear to be vaiṣṇavas, certain ones should be avoided. These people should be satisfied with the respect due to all human beings, which is part of the secondary rules, but they should not be accepted or respected as real vaiṣṇavas. If they happen to become pure devotees, then they are also qualified for association with other pure devotees. False vaiṣṇavas are those who wear the vaiṣṇava marks for the purpose of cheating, those who identify themselves as followers of the vaiṣṇava ācāryas for the purpose of introducing advaita philosophy to the vaiṣṇavas, and those who advertise themselves as vaiṣṇavas to gain money, position or some other material enjoyment.” Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura, Śrī Caitanya-śīkṣāmṛta 3.2

“There are many renegades from the Brahma-sampradaya whose only business is to make men more forgetful of the Lord and thus entangle them more and more in material existence. Such persons are never dear to the Lord, and the Lord sends them deeper into the darkest region of matter so that such envious demons may not be able to know the Supreme Lord.” Purport, Srimad Bhagavatam 2.9.19

What Comes After

Many now accept that Srila Prabhupada and his preaching mission were predicted by even Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and that he is the Lord’s senapati bhakta (great devotee commander). In 1537, shortly after the His disappearance, the Lord was quoted by Srila Locana Dasa Thakura in Sri Caitanya Mangala:

ebe nama sankirtana tikshna khadaga laiya
antara asura jivera phelibe katiya
“Taking the sharp sword of the congregational chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra, (nama-sankirtana) I will root out & destroy the demoniac mentality in the hearts of all the conditioned souls.”

yadi papi chadi dharma dure dese yaya
mora senapati-bhakta yaibe tathaya
“If some sinful people escape and giving up religious principles go to far off countries, then my Senapati Bhakta will come at that time to give them Krsna consciousness.” Srila Locana Dasa Thakura, Sri Caitanya Mangala, Sutra-khanda, song 12, texts 564-565

In 1875, 21 years before Srila Prabhupada’s appearance, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura wrote in his magazine:

“A personality will soon appear to preach the teachings of Lord Caitanya and move unrestrictedly over the whole world with His message.” Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Sajjana Tosani, Nityananda Suryodoy

Another account concerning Srila Prabhupada’s guru, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada, which occurred a number of decades before Srila Prabhupada came to the West:

“Bhaktisiddhanta lectured to a crowd that had assembled for a parikrama or walking tour of Mayapur, the birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. ‘Guru Maharaj was looking out at the large crowd of devotees,’ Nayanananda Das Babaji recalled. ‘Then he turned his head toward the left side where I was standing. He was looking intently at someone behind me and became silent for a long moment. I turned and saw that the person with whom he was making eye contact was Abhay Charanaravinda Prabhu.’ ‘I have a prediction,’ Bhaktisiddhanta announced. ‘However long in the future it may be, one of my disciples will cross the ocean. That devotee will bring back the whole world.’” Our Srila Prabhupada a Friend to All 

A subway conductor, Mr. Ruben, who met Srila Prabhupada in 1965 when he first came to New York, described their conversation:

“He seemed to know that he would have temples filled up with devotees. He would look out and say, ‘I am not a poor man, I am rich. There are temples and books, they are existing, they are there, but the time is separating us from them.’” Mr. Ruben 

Also in Srila Prabhupada’s own words, referencing Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada’s order to him to preach in English at their initial meeting in 1922:

“And in my horoscope there was written there, ‘After seventieth year this man will go outside India and establish so many temples.’ I could not understand. ‘What is this, that I have to go outside India? That is not…’ And Guru Maharaja foretold. He told my Godbrothers, Sridhara Maharaja and others, that ‘He’ll do the needful when time comes. Nobody requires to help him.’ He told in 1935. And after all, this was true. Guru Maharaja told. And in the beginning, first sight, he told, ‘You have to do this.’”
Room Conversation, Vrndavana, June 17, 1977

There is no doubt that when Srila Prabhupada’s instructions are being followed transparently the full blessings and empowerment of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu are present. This was true of the ISKCON movement during Srila Prabhupada’s manifest presence and until the zonal acaryas displaced him in the spring of 1978. Since then guru, sadhu and sastra have been largely subverted by them or the rogue GBC. Srila Prabhupada described the watered-down effect of such devotee’s chanting:

“So don’t spoil the movement by manufacturing ideas. Don’t do that. Go on in the standard way, keep yourself pure; then movement is sure to be successful. But if you want to spoil it by whimsical, then what can be done? It will be spoiled. If you manufacture whims and disagree and fight amongst yourself, then it will be another edition of these so-called movements. It will lose the spiritual strength. Always remember it. You cannot…. Now, actually, people are surprised: ‘What this Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra has got power that it is changing so quickly?’ And on the other hand, it is to be admitted, unless it has got power, how it is changing? So we have to keep that power. Don’t make it an ordinary musical vibration. It is a different thing, spiritual. Although it seems like musical vibration, but it is spiritual, completely. Mantrauśadhi-vaśa. Even, by mantra, the snakes can be charmed. So mantra is not ordinary sound vibration. So we have to keep the mantra in potency, potent, by offenseless chanting, by remaining pure. If you pollute the mantra, then it will lose its effect.” Room Conversation, April 27, 1976, Auckland, New Zealand

Nothing, however, both within and without the ISKCON institution, is going stop the pure holy name from spreading all over the world. Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Himself has declared as such:

prthivi-paryanta yata ache desa-grama
sarvatra sancara haibeka mora nama
“In every town and village of the world, the chanting of My name will be heard.” Sri Chaitanya Bhagavat, Antya Kanda 4.126

To reach every town and village with the same pure bhakti that Srila Prabhupada propagated perhaps a number of pure uttama adhikari preachers will have to appear, and it will be those under their direction who will again dance like peacocks everywhere. Spiritual general Srila Prabhupada’s mission was just one of the initial stages, a kind of beachhead outside of India. We have yet to see what the main occupying force will look like when it reaches every global corner. The next pure devotee(s) who take this further could appear within the auspices of the ISKCON institution, but unless the GBC returns to following guru, sadhu and sastra, they will conduct their mission apart from it. Om, Tat, Sat. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

 

 

“Now we have to accept knowledge from Vedas, Vedic knowledge, not this rascal’s knowledge. Rascal knowledge is that ‘Yes,’ as soon as he comes to the imperfect point, ‘yes, we are trying.’ You are trying. What is this trying? Trying means that your knowledge is imperfect. And another rascal will come, he will say, ‘Now here is the perfect.’ And ten years after, another rascal will come, ‘No, this is not perfect. This is perfect.’ This is going on. This is called scientific advancement. This is… Advancement means… But we don’t change our Vedic knowledge. We do not say, ‘Now, Kṛṣṇa, five thousand years ago, said like this. Now we are advanced. We change this line.’ Of course, others are doing. In the scriptures… Just like the Christians, they are changing the words. But you cannot do that. Then where is the authority? If you change the word of the scripture, then where is the authority of the scripture? Just like in lawbooks, there is some law made already. Whimsically you cannot, I mean to say, erase the words and put something that ‘It should be changed like this.’ That will not be accepted. Law, if there is change… Actually, there is no change. There cannot be change. Real law means there is no change. Just like day and night, it is coming. The fortnight, the dark period and the light period, it is coming for millions and millions and time immemorial. The same law is going, going on. You cannot change. So as soon as you change, that means it is imperfect. You change.
“So Vedic laws are not like that. You cannot change. Five thousand years ago Kṛṣṇa said, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja: [Bg. 18.66] ‘You give up all other religious principles. Simply surrender unto Me.’ We are preaching the same thing. No change. No change. There is no possibility of change. Then how Kṛṣṇa is authority? So change means imperfect knowledge. This very change. And perfect knowledge… You will find that one who is very experienced medical practitioner, he gives you a prescription, and you visit him again and again, he gives you the same prescription unless you are cured. His prescription is so nice that he doesn’t change. But a nonexperienced physician, every time you go, he will change the prescription. But actually, those who are experienced, he knows ‘This is the disease, and ultimately this medicine will cure. So let him repeat that medicine.’ So our is that platform. Harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam [Cc. Ādi 17.21]. We repeat only. We don’t change: ‘Now hari-nāma is not curing so let me add, instead of Hare Kṛṣṇa, “John Kṛṣṇa,” if I may.’ No. No ‘John Kṛṣṇa.’ (laughter) That same Hare Kṛṣṇa must be repeated. And you will be cured. So change means imperfect knowledge. No change means that is perfect knowledge. So we follow that no change policy. No, not that because I think I have become now advanced, I change this to that. That mean I am not advanced. My knowledge is imperfect. Therefore I am changing.” Lecture on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.3.15, Los Angeles, September 20, 1972

sambandha vihina jana prayojana paya na
ku siddhante vyasta jana krsna seva kore na
“One who lacks knowledge of sambandha, the relationship between Krishna and the living entities, can never attain prayojana, the supreme goal of life [namely pure love of Godhead, Krishna prema.] One who is distracted by bogus philosophical conclusions about devotional service (ku-siddhanta) is not performing actual devotional service to Sri Krishna.” Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada, Prakrta-Rasa Sata-Dusini 27, emphasis added

siddhanta alasa jana anartha to chade na
jade krsna bhrama kori krsna seva kore na
“One who is lazy in properly understanding the Vaisnava philosophical conclusions can never become free from anarthas, the unwanted bad habits and philosophical misconceptions what impede devotional service. One who mistakes Krishna as belonging to the material plane can never render actual service to the Lord.” Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada, Prakrta-Rasa Sata-Dusini 28

mahajana patha chadi navya pathe dhaya na
aparadha saha nama kakhana i haya na
“The followers of Srila Rupa Goswami never leave the path of the great devotees (mahajanas) and run to pursue a “new” path. One who commits offenses can never realize the holy name of Krishna at any time.” Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada, Prakrta-Rasa Sata-Dusini 36

anartha thakara kale jada rupe maje na
anartha thakara kale jada gune mise na
“While still contaminated with anarthas, the bad habits and philosophical misconceptions that impede devotion, one should never become charmed by mundane forms. As long as these impediments remain, one should never mix [their devotional service] with the impurity of mundane qualities.” Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada, Prakrta-Rasa Sata-Dusini 47

anartha nivritte kale jada lila seve na
rupanuga guru deva sisya himsa kore na
“After the unwanted impediments are removed, one never serves mundane pastimes. The true spiritual masters in the line of Srila Rupa Goswami, who are known as rupanuga guru-deva, never abuse their own disciples in any way.” Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada, Prakrta-Rasa Sata-Dusini 52 

guru mahajana vakye bheda kabhu haya na
sadhanera pathe kanta sad guru deya na
“There can never be any difference between the explanations of the bonafide spiritual master and the teachings of the great devotees (mahajanas). The pure spiritual master never puts thorn-like deterrents on the path of one’s execution of practical devotional service (sadhana).” Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada, Prakrta-Rasa Sata-Dusini 54

bhagavata padya bole ku vyakhya to kore na
loka samgragera tare krama patha chade na
“The true devotees of the Lord never recite the verses of Srimad-Bhagavatam and offer bogus interpretations. For the sake of attracting larger numbers of followers, true devotees never abondon the correct systematic practices of devotional service. ” Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada, Prakrta-Rasa Sata-Dusini 56, emphasis added

na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇuṁ
durāśayā ye bahir-artha-māninaḥ
andhā yathāndhair upanīyamānās
te ’pīśa-tantryām uru-dāmni baddhāḥ
“Persons who are strongly entrapped by the consciousness of enjoying material life, and who have therefore accepted as their leader or guru a similar blind man attached to external sense objects, cannot understand that the goal of life is to return home, back to Godhead, and engage in the service of Lord Viṣṇu. As blind men guided by another blind man miss the right path and fall into a ditch, materially attached men led by another materially attached man are bound by the ropes of fruitive labor, which are made of very strong cords, and they continue again and again in materialistic life, suffering the threefold miseries.” Srimad Bhagavatam 7.5.31

ISKCON, ISKCON 2.0 and Beyond, Eunuch “Gurus” and What Comes After, Part 1 of 5

ISKCON, ISKCON 2.0 and Beyond, Eunuch “Gurus” and What Comes After, Part 2 of 5

ISKCON, ISKCON 2.0 and Beyond, Eunuch “Gurus” and What Comes After, Part 3 of 5

ISKCON, ISKCON 2.0 and Beyond, Eunuch “Gurus” and What Comes After, Part 4 of 5

 

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