Amar guru jagat guru

[Guest guest]

This statement (which means, "my guru is the guru of the universe," and

which implies that he is a greater authority than other gurus) is true in

the case of Srila Prabhupada, if we are to accept Srila Prabhupada's

statements in this regard (see below). This does not mean that followers of

Srila Prabhupada should be unnecessarily arrogant or disrespectful to

others, but at least we should understand that Srila Prabhupada was and is

not "just another guru."

 

I am not proud, but I am the authority at the present moment. It is not

pride. It is the fact (Conv, Jan 7, 1977).

 

Regarding Bon Maharaja, I am actually authority accepted by authority. In

the Caitanya Caritamrta it is said, krsna sakti vina nahe nama pracar. So,

now the Hare Krishna movement is world known, and learned scholars, etc.

give plaudits to me as Professor Judah has. So, then why I am not authority?

Nobody says Bon Swami has done it, or Vivekananda, or any other swami. There

are so many yogis and swamis coming, but nobody is giving credit to them,

they are giving the credit to me. So, why I am not an authority? If Krishna

accepts me as authority, then who can deny it? Besides that, in 1933, Bon

was given the first chance to preach Lord Caitanya's movement in London. He

remained there about four years and not a single person could be converted

to become a Vaisnava and he was receiving regularly 700rs. per month for his

expenditure, being supported by the whole Gaudiya Math institution, and

still, as he could not do anything appreciable, he was called back by Guru

Maharaja. Then where is his authority? Our authority comes from Parampara

system. If the Guru was not satisfied with him and called him back, and

since then, he gave up connection with Gaudiya Math and started his own

institution, then how he becomes authority? And in spite of all these

things, if he is still authority by his own imagination, then people should

ask him what he has been doing for the last 40 years, about the objective of

Gaudiya Vaisnavism. Even if he thinks that he has done, certainly he has not

done better than me. Under the circumstances, accepting him as an authority,

I am greater and better authority than him. So, all Vaisnavas are

authorities to preach Krishna Consciousness, but still, there are degrees of

authorities. (Letter, 4th June, 1975)