Prabhupada's instructions on godbrothers "misunderstood"

[Guest guest]

But both Prabhupadas- Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada and Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada started large missions and asked their followers to maintain them purely. So what type of church is Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada talking about?

[muralidhar_das]

The religions that are bad religions are those religions where the gurus are not spiritual leaders, but religious leaders. Leaders who are "Ecclesiastical Gurus" and who follow "religious traditions" and rituals but who don't have a substantial or deep personal realization of the TRANSCENDENTAL REALITY OF GOD.

 

This topic is dealt with in great detail in the writings of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura. See "Sri Krishna Samhita", for example. Then again, some people say that "everything is in Prabhupada's books and we don't need to read the books of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura". But then, I hope that God will some day grant these people some deeper understanding, if not in this lifetime then hopefully in the next.

[Guest guest]

Some follow the form without substance while others embrace substance without any form. Personally I see it is nessacary to have a marriage of both the external and the deep internal Truth to avoid confusion in those new to spirtual life.

[krsna]

 

SHARAGRAHI VAISHNAVA

 

 

Alas for those who spend their days

In festive mirth and joy.

The dazzling, deadly, liquid forms

Their hearts fore'er employ.

 

The shining bottles charm their eyes

And draw their heart's embrace;

The slaves of wine can never rise

From what we call disgrace.

 

Was man intended to be

A brute in work and heart?

Should man, the Lord of all around,

From common sense depart?

 

Man's glory is in common sense

Dictating us the grace,

That man is made to live and love

The beauteous Heaven's embrace.

 

The flesh is not our own alas;

The mortal frame a chain;

The soul confined for former wrongs

Should try to rise again.

 

Why then this childish play in that

Which cannot be our own;

Which falls within a hundred years

As if a rose ablown.

 

Our life is but a rosy hue

To go ere long for naught;

The soul alone would last fore'er

With good or evil fraught.

 

How deep the thought of times to be!

How grave the aspect looks!

And wrapt in awe become, O, we,

When reading Nature's books.

 

Man's life to him a problem dark -

A screen both left and right;

No soul hath come to tell us what

Exists beyond our sight.

 

But then a voice, how deep and soft;

Within ourselves is left;

Man! Man! Thou art immortal soul!

Thee Death can never melt.

 

For Thee Thy Sire on High has kept

A store of bliss above,

To end of time, thou art Oh! His -

Who wants but purest love.

 

O Love! Thy power and spell benign

Now melt my soul to God;

How can my earthly words describe

That feeling soft and broad.

 

Enjoyment, sorrow - what but lots

To which the flesh is heir?

The soul that sleeps alone concludes

In them it hath a share.

 

And then, my friends, no more enjoy

Nor weep for all below;

The women, wine, and flesh of beasts

No love on thee bestow.

 

But thine to love thy brother man

And give thyself to God,

And God doth know your wages fair -

This fact is true and broad.

 

Forget the past that sleeps and ne'er

The future dream at all

But act in times that are with thee

And progress thee shall call.

 

But tell me not in reasoning cold,

The soul is made alone

By earth's mechanic lifeless rules

And to destruction prone.

 

My God who gave us life and all

Alone the soul can kill

Or give it all the joys above

His promise to fulfill.

 

So push thy onward march, O soul,

Against an evil deed

That stands with soldiers Hate and Lust -

A hero be indeed.

 

Maintain thy post in spirit world

As firmly as you can

Let never matter push thee down -

O stand heroic man.

 

O Sharagrahi Vaishnava soul

Thou art an angel fair;

Lead, lead me on to Vrindaban

And spirit's power declare.

 

There rests my soul from matter free

Upon my Lover's arms

Eternal peace and spirits love

Are all my chanting charms.

 

 

 

(A poem originally written by the Thakura in the early 1870's.)