Do you still think Srila Prabhupada's words are shastra?

[Guest guest]

Dear Maharaja

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

Maharaja, surely you jest! Or are you playing the devils advocate?

 

Surely all of Srila Prabhupadas books are shastra? Did not Prabhupada even

tell us that his books are worshipable? That we can put them on the altar

and worship them? (I dont have a quote for that, but I certainly remember

hearing it).

 

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja is simply pointing out that we have

to hear the writings of Bhaktivinoda Thakur from the lips of a pure devotee.

Surely all pure devotees, speak the same message? Srila Prabhupada has

spoken along the same lines.

 

Morning walk conversation May 21 1975 Australia

"Madhudvisa:...in the case of your books, is it possible to become a devotee

without actually having personal association with you? Just by reading your

books?"

Srila Prabhupada: "No, it is not that you have to associate with the author.

But one who knows, if you cannot understand, you have to take lesson from

him. Not necesarily that you have to contact with the author always,... One

who knows the subject matter, he can explain".

Madhidvisa: "But can your, would your purports, would that serve as

explanation besides..."

Srila Prabhupada: No, no, anyone who knows the subject matter, he will be

able to explain."

 

In Nectar of Devotion also Prabhupada explains:

NOD P105 'Recitation of Srimad Bhagavatam Among Devotees'

"Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu reccomended that one learn Srimad Bhagavatam from

the mouth of the self realised person called bhagavatam. Bhagavata means 'in

relationship with the Personality of Godhead [bhagavan].' So the devotee is

sometimes called bhagavatam, and the book which is in relationship with

devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead is also called

Bhagavatam. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu reccomended that, in order to relish the

real taste of Srimad Bhagavatam, one should take instruction from the person

bhagavatam.

In Srimad Bhagavatam, Second Canto, First Chapter, verse 9, Sukadeva Goswami

admits that although he was very much attracted by the impersonal Brahman,

when he heard the transcendental pastimes of the Supreme personailty of

Godhead from the mouth of his father, Vyasadeva, he became more attracted to

Srimad Bhagavatam. The idea is that Vyasadeva was also a self-realised soul,

and his mature contribution of transcendental knowledge was delivered

dorectly to Sukadeva Gosvami in the manner indicated".

 

Then of course there is this class:

Rome, May 27th 1974:

"Unless one is svanubhavam, self realised [unless his] life is Bhagavat, he

cannot preach Bhagavat. That will not be effective. A gramaphone will not

help. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu's secretary, Svarupa Damodara,

reccomended, bhagavata pora giya bhagavata sthane, that "if you want to read

Srimad Bhagavatam, you must approach a person who is life giving Bhagavata"

Bhagavata pora giya bhagavata sthana. Otherwise there is no question of

BHagavata realisation.........

There are many scriptures, many religious scriptures, especialy the Vedas.

Sruti means Veda. Sruti is learned by hearing, not by reading. You can

understand Vedic principle even though you are illiterate, provided you hear

them, aural reception. God has given you the ear. And if you try to hear

submissively, to hear something, then it will be fruitful."

 

> Some of you may have been following the exchange between Krsna Kirti

> Prabhu and myself on this important subject which is tearing at the very

> fabric of our Iskcon society. Please do read what follows, I am sure you

> will find it valuable.

 

Why should such simple truths tear at the fabric of our society? In Nectar

of Devotion, which Prabhupada wrote specificaly "...for persons who are now

engaged in the Krsna Consciousness movement." it is very clear in the first

hundred or so pages, that we need to hear Srimad Bhagavatam from pure

devotees. Maybe our devotees are not taking enough advantage of this book?

 

But I guess this explains why Lord Krsna describes this as the 'most

confidential knowledge'.

 

Srila Prabhupadas translation of the Subramanian edition of Mahabharata,

says:

 

"... The solid truth of religious principles

is hidden in the heart of an unadulterated self-realized person.

Consequently, as the shastras confirm, one should accept whatever

progressive path the mahajanas advocate."

 

So even though anyone can purchase Srimad Bhagavatam, he cannot gain access

to the divine knowledge found therein unless he follows the instructions of

the pure devotees, to hear from pure devotees, as the knowledge is hidden in

their hearts.

 

But of course anyone can get this knowledge, anyone. We need not get all

worked up about it, but there is a simple technique we have to learn.

 

NOD P 83

" In other words, one should learn how to cry for the Lord. One should learn

this small technique, and he should be very eager and actualy cry to become

engaged in some particular type of service. This is called laulyam, and such

tears are the price for the highest perfection. If one develops this

laulyam, or excessive eagerness for meeting and serving the Lord in a

particular way, that is the price to enter into the kingdom of God."

 

And if we cry?

 

Srimad Bhagavatam 4.8.25 Purport

 

"... It may be explained in this way: The Supreme personality of Godhead is

present in everyones heart, and as soon as He understands that a living

entity is serious about entering devotional service, he sends His

representative. In this way Narada was sent to Dhruva Maharaja. This is

explained in the Caitanya-caritamrita. Guru-Krsna prasade paya bhakti

lata-bija: by the grace of the spiritual master and Krsna, one can enter

into devotional service. Because of Dhruva Maharaja's determination, Krsna,

the Supersoul, immediately sent his representative, Narada to initiate him."

 

So why does anyone have to panic, and scramble for the exit?

 

Ok we do not have a good track record with some ISKCON gurus, but if we

understand that if we actualy cry for Krsna, like a child crying for his

mother, the Lord will not forsake us. If we thought we had a self realised

guru, but then he fell away, it does not mean that Krsna has forsaken us.

Maybe we werent really crying?

 

Anyway, thank you Maharaja for giving me the opportunity to dig out all

these wonderful quotes.

 

Your servant

Samba das