Srila Prabhupada Speaks Out:   The pure devotee is always transcendental,

is not an ordinary man, and does not suffer, and is not contaminated

Srila Prabhupada Speak Out: The potency of Macmillan edition“We present it exactly as it is; without any additions or subtractions. That is perfect in every way and
therefore it is actually having a tremendous effect all over the world. “

“You mentioned in your letter that you had read many other Bhagavad-gitas before you read mine and that none of them revealed as much to you as Bhagavad Gita As It is. The reason is because we do no change the actual meaning of the Gita at all.

Many other commentators due to poor fund of knowledge tamper with the lines of Bhagavad gita and twist the meaning for their personal motives, but we do not do like that. We present it exactly as it is; without any additions or subtractions. That is perfect in every way and therefore it is actually having a tremendous effect all over the world. The original words of Lord Krishna have unrivalled potency and anyone who is fortunate enough to hear those words and tries to apply them to his life becomes perfect.” Srila Prabhupada Letter to Mr. Dennany. March 14, 1975

SPIRITUAL MASTER AS REPRESENTATIVE OF NITYANANDA PRABHU
compiled by Isana dasa

Nityānanda Prabhu is the immediate expansion of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Baladeva–tattva. Baladeva means who gives strength for spiritual advancement……….. So without Baladeva’s or Nityānanda’s grace, one cannot make advancement.

āra kabe nitāi–cānda karuṇā karibe
saṁsāra vāsanā mora kabe tuccha ha’be

This is the grace of Nityānanda Prabhu. Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura explains, āra kabe nitāi–cānda, karuṇā karibe. Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura is aspiring for the day when NityānandaPrabhu will be pleased upon him. Just like Jagāi–Mādhāi was delivered by the mercy of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, so we have to pray Nityānanda Prabhu. He’s very merciful. He’s so kind, Baladeva, He gives spiritual strength. Then we can approach the Supreme Lord. ………This is the process……….The spiritual master… Nityānanda Prabhu is the spiritual master. Or spiritual master is the replica, representation, of Nityānanda Prabhu. So when Nityānanda Prabhu is pleased, then we become detached from this material attraction. Lecture CC Adi-lila 7..4 March 4, 1974

SPIRITUAL MASTER AS EXTERNAL MANIFESTATION

OF THE LORD IN THE HEART

  Tene brahma hṛdā. Brahmā was alone. He could not see Kṛṣṇa eye to eye, but īśvaraḥ sarva–bhūtānāṁ hṛd–deśe arjuna tiṣṭhati [Bg. 18.61]. Kṛṣṇa is everyone’s heart, so He taught him from within. Kṛṣṇa’s name is Caitya–guru, “guru, spiritual master from within.” So Kṛṣṇa is trying to help us from within, and He manifests again externally also as spiritual master, directly teaching. So, from within, from without, He is trying to help us. Kṛṣṇa is so kind. From within and without. Sb 1.1.1; 8.6.71 LONDON 

Sage Prabuddha continued to speak to the King as follows: “My dear King, a disciple has to accept the spiritual master not only as spiritual master, but also as the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the supersoul. In other words, the disciple should accept the spiritual master as God because he is the external manifestation of Kṛṣṇa.” NOD chapter 7

Regarding accepting initiation from the spiritual master, in the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, 17th Chapter, 22nd verse, it is stated by Lord Kṛṣṇa: “My dear Uddhava, the spiritual master must be accepted not only as My representative but as My very self. He must never be considered on the same level with an ordinary human being. One should never be envious of the spiritual master, as one may be envious of an ordinary man. The spiritual master should always be seen as the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and by serving the spiritual master, one is able to serve all the demigods.” NOD chapter 7

………

Like the sun, Your Goodness can travel everywhere in the three worlds, and like the air you can penetrate the internal region of everyone. As such, you are as good as the all-pervasive Supersoul. Please, therefore, find out the deficiency in me, despite my being absorbed in transcendence under disciplinary regulations and vows. SB 1.5.7

yadyapi āmāra guru—caitanyera dāsa

tathāpi jāniye āmi tāṅhāra prakāśa

yadyapi—even though; āmāra—my; guru—spiritual master; caitanyera—of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; dāsa—the servitor; tathāpi—still; jāniye—know; āmi—I; tāṅhāra—of the Lord; prakāśa—direct manifestation.

Translation

Although I know that my spiritual master is a servitor of Śrī Caitanya, I know Him also as a plenary manifestation of the Lord.

Purport

Every living entity is essentially a servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the spiritual master is also His servant. Still, the spiritual master is a direct manifestation of the Lord. With this conviction, a disciple can advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The spiritual master is nondifferent from Kṛṣṇa because he is a manifestation of Kṛṣṇa.

Lord Nityānanda, who is Balarāma Himself, the first direct manifestation or expansion of Kṛṣṇa, is the original spiritual master. He helps Lord Kṛṣṇa in His pastimes, and He is a servant of the Lord.

Every living entity is eternally a servant of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya; therefore, the spiritual master cannot be other than a servant of Lord Caitanya. The spiritual master’s eternal occupation is to expand the service of the Lord by training disciples in a service attitude. A spiritual master never poses as the Supreme Lord Himself; he is considered a representative of the Lord. The revealed scriptures prohibit one’s pretending to be God, but a bona fide spiritual master is a most faithful and confidential servant of the Lord and therefore deserves as much respect as Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritamrta (1975 edition) Ādi 1.44:

july 5 1975 Chicago
Devotee (2): We are giving these books to so many common men. Then the books will attract them to perhaps chanting and following the regulative principles.
Prabhupāda: Yes, if they read. Even if they touch. That is the difference between this book and ordinary book. Even they touch and they read one line and says, “Oh, it is very nice,” he makes a step forward. If he simply says this word, “Oh, it is very nice,” that is sufficient to bring him. Therefore I am trying to push. He has paid some money. He will then say, “What these nonsense have written. Let me see.” (laughter) And if he sees and says, “Oh, it is very nice,” then the beginning is immediately. Therefore we are trying to push. At least let him say, “It is very nice.” The Kartikeya’s mother, the practical experience… The Kartikeya, when he used to go to see his mother, the mother was going to dance, ball dance, and she would not speak: “All right, sit down. I am coming.” She used to go out. The same mother gradually, in the association of her son, became Kṛṣṇa conscious. So at the time of death she asked Kartikeya, “Is your Kṛṣṇa here?” and she died immediately. This is the effect. So anta-kāle, she remembered Kṛṣṇa, so her life was successful. She inquired like this, “Is your Kṛṣṇa here?” And immediately died. So she got the benefit of her son’s Kṛṣṇa consciousness. You can ask Kartikeya also. She said that.

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June 18-19 1975 Honolulu

Harikeśa: Morning walk, June 18th.

Prabhupāda: ...their own food, it takes working eight hours for three months. So three months, if they work hard-hard means eight hours, not more than—then the whole year’s provision is there.

Siddha-svarūpa: Yes. Simply they have to harvest, time, maybe two hours a day. Farming or being in the countryside also seems to be, in itself working in the countryside rather than in a factory, seems to be more conducive for thinking, even while they’re working.

Prabhupāda: No, it is a fact. This factory working is most demonic. It is not required at all. For the interest of a few persons this device has been invented. Therefore the Communist movement is there. And the China has found the Communistic movement in Russia is defective because although it is Communistic, the whole idea of exploitation by the powerful is there.

Siddha-svarūpa: Yes, that is their argument actually.

Prabhupāda: Yes. And that is the fact. And Chinese Communism will be perfect if they take little instruction from us. We are also Communist, Kṛṣṇa Communist. We want that everyone should be happy. The Communistic philosophy is also like that. They want to see everyone happy. But they have made a materialistic center. That will not help. People are attracted to these bad habits of materialistic civilization. The most important is that sex and intoxication and meat-eating and gambling. So their attraction has to be changed. Otherwise, although these Chinese, they are pushing in the village, that village also will be a brothel. They must have some attraction. So where is that attraction?Just like the hippies. They do not like this civilization, but the attraction for the sex and intoxication they could not give up. So they remain the nasty again in a different way. The process should be mayy āsakta-manaḥ pārtha yogaṁ yuñjan mad-āśrayaḥ. That attraction. Mayy āsakta. “The attraction which you…, should be changed to Me.” This yoga should be practiced. Then it will be all right. The same example: if you keep the dogs as dog, there is no possibility of making a peaceful dog society. That is not possible. You have to change their doggish quality. Then there will be peace. How you can expect peaceful society amongst the dogs?Some Conclusions– Personally, we have done this  here and are still doing it. We grow as much food out in the gardens as possible, harvest it in the fall, store it inside, and then reap the benefits  for a year for only 3 months work outside-which by the way he mentions  is not the demonic work of the karmis who work in factories, or working for somebody else.Where else can you get this ratio of work to food? 3 months work for 12 months food? And its nice work out in the fresh air, sunshine, working your body as God intended us to do instead of pushing buttons and  doing everything  or as much as possible , electronically ???Some will get it but unfortunately, most will not.

Hare Krsna

damaghosa das

The following is a very instructive conversation between Lord Caitanya and Sarva Bhauma Battacarya, whom He, Lord Gauranga, was trying to convince of the errors of his mental speculative ways.

Madhya 6.109–” ‘In almost all cases, whatever learned brāhmaṇas speak becomes accepted; nothing is impossible for one who takes shelter of My illusory energy and speaks under her influence.’ “

PURPORT-In this verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.22.4), the Supreme Personality of Godhead explains that His illusory energy can perform the impossible; such is the power of the illusory energy. In many cases philosophical speculators have covered the real truth and have boldly set forth false theories. In ancient times philosophers like Kapila, Gautama, Jaimini, Kaṇāda and similar brāhmaṇas propounded useless philosophical theories, and in modern days so-called scientists are setting forth many false theories about the creation, backed up by seemingly logical arguments. This is all due to the influence of the Supreme Lord’s illusory energy. The illusory energy, therefore, sometimes appears correct because it is emanating from the Supreme Correct. To avoid the very bewildering illusory influence, one must accept the words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as they are. Only then can one escape the influence of the illusory energy.

Madhya 6.132–“You do not explain the direct meaning of the Brahma-sūtras. Indeed, it appears that your business is to cover their real meaning.”

PURPORT-This is typical of all Māyāvādīs or atheists who interpret the meaning of Vedic literature in their own imaginative way. The real purpose of such foolish people is to impose the impersonalist conclusion on all Vedic literature. The Māyāvādī atheists also interpret the Bhagavad-gītā. In every verse of Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā it is clearly stated that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In every verse Vyāsadeva says, śrī-bhagavān uvāca, “the Supreme Personality of Godhead said,” or “the Blessed Lord said.” It is clearly stated that the Blessed Lord is the Supreme Person, but Māyāvādī atheists still try to prove that the Absolute Truth is impersonal. In order to present their false, imaginary meanings, they must adopt so much word jugglery and grammatical interpretation that they finally become ludicrous. Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu remarked that no one should hear the Māyāvādī commentaries or purports to any Vedic literature.

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Srila Prabhupada Speaks Out – “IF ONE GETS A BONAFIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER AND ACTSACCORDING TO HIS DIRECTION, THEN HIS PERFECTION OF LIFE IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS IS GUARANTEED. “

चेतसा सर्वकर्माणि मयि संन्यस्य मत्परः ।बुद्धियोगमुपाश्रित्य मच्चित्तः सततं भव ॥५७॥
cetasā sarva-karmāṇimayi sannyasya mat-paraḥbuddhi-yogam upāśrityamac-cittaḥ satataṁ bhava
cetasā—by intelligence; sarva-karmāni—all kinds of activities; mayi—unto Me; sannyasya—giving up; mat-paraḥ—My protection; buddhi-yogam—devotional activities; upāśritya—taking shelter of; mat-cittaḥ—consciousness; satatam—twenty-four hours a day; bhava—just become.
Translation
In all activities just depend upon Me and work always under My protection. In such devotional service, be fully conscious of Me.
Purport
When one acts in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he does not act as the master of the world. Just like a servant, one should act fully under the direction of the Supreme Lord. A servant has no individual independence. He acts only on the order of the master. A servant acting on behalf of the supreme master has no affection for profit and loss. He simply discharges his duty faithfully in terms of the order of the Lord. Now, one may argue that Arjuna was acting under the personal direction of Kṛṣṇa, but, when Kṛṣṇa is not present, how should one act? If one acts according to the direction of Kṛṣṇa in this book, as well as under the guidance of the representative of Kṛṣṇa, then the result will be the same. The Sanskrit word mat-paraḥ is very important in this verse. It indicates that one has no goal in life save and except acting in Kṛṣṇa consciousness just to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. And, while working in that way, one should think of Kṛṣṇa only: “I have been appointed to discharge this particular duty by Kṛṣṇa.” While acting in such a way, one naturally has to think of Kṛṣṇa. This is perfect Kṛṣṇa consciousness. One should, however, note that, after doing something whimsically, he should not offer the result to the Supreme Lord. That sort of duty is not in the devotional service of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. One should act according to the order of Krṣna. This is a very important point. That order of Kṛṣṇa comes through disciplic succession from the bona fide spiritual master. Therefore the spiritual master’s order should be taken as the prime duty of life. If one gets a bona fide spiritual master and acts according to his direction, then his perfection of life in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is guaranteed.Bhagavad gita as it is (1972 edition) 18.57:

Srila Prabhupada Speaks Out:

 “So do not become a madman in false conviction.

Do not remain in ignorance for your problems. “

Letter to: Brother- Jhansi
November 1958
58-11-00
My dear Brother,

Please excuse me if I have offended you by calling you my dear Brother. Actually, you are my dear brother and when you know me you shall be pleased that I have called you as such.

You are my brother in relation to our common and Eternal Father the Almighty Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna the revealing Author of the great book of Philosophy “Bhagavad-gita.” And from this book of transcendental knowledge, I have known that you and all other living entities, in whatever form they may be, are all my brothers.

But I know some other less intelligent brothers, who are now in the animal kingdom, will not be able to recognize me even if I address them as my dear brothers, for the reason of their being grossly enwrapped in material consciousness. But as you are a human being and as you have developed the consciousness of a human being, I have ventured to approach you and address you directly “My dear brother.” Please therefore do not mistake my endeavor.

You may be, although I do not believe it, one of those other brothers who do not believe in the existence of any Person like Godhead our eternal Father. But if you so believe, I shall tell you that you are mistaken. Your conviction as such is due to your either being misled by another waylaid brother or due to your failure to make communion with our Eternal Father. You are not therefore in the right consciousness if you do not believe in Him.

I am prepared to convince you in every respect that there is our Eternal Father and He wants you and all of us to go back to our permanent home. If you argue that there is no such Father God at all, then I am still more prepared to argue with you in all seriousness. In that case you may kindly let me know your definite viewpoints relevantly so that I may try to reply these points one by one. And should you desire to argue with me, then my only request to you will be that for all such arguments we must be always very sincere and serious. Once we are convinced in that way, we must be prepared to act accordingly.

You may also argue that if there is any God at all, let Him be peacefully at His pleasure at any place He likes and we have no business with Him whatsoever. In that case I shall again say that you have every business with Him by re-establishing your forgotten eternal relation with Him.

Suppose you are a rich man’s son and you have left your home, forgetting your father’s property, home and happiness. And if somebody gives you information about your paternal property of immense value which you can inherit by your birthright claim, will you neglect that friend? I am sure you will not. I am able to give you such important information.
I can challenge you that you are not happy in the present set up of your affairs. You may have in your possession your so-called accumulated material wealth, health or happiness but still you are always feeling some insufficiency and frustration and thus you are not happy as you ought to have been. If you do not feel like this, then you must be either an abnormal man or a liberated saint or in gross ignorance of lower consciousness. Should you feel yourself abnormally happy, I shall ask you the following plain questions. They are as follows:—

1) Do you like to die?
2) Do you like to take your birth again?
3) Do you like to be an old man?
4) Do you like to be a diseased man?

I am sure you shall reply to all these questions by saying the only word “No.” If you think yourself happy then have you solved all the above problems in any way? Have your vast resources of material knowledge helped you in solving these seemingly common but very big problems? Do you think that you shall ever be able to solve the above problems at any length of time? If you say so, I shall again call you in abnormal condition

So, do not become a madman in false conviction. Do not remain in ignorance for your problems. Be just like a fully developed conscious man and acknowledge that you have never been happy in the true sense of the term neither your ideal of happiness has ever been fulfilled.

The way in which you are seeking to be happy or trying to make others happy in your manufactured ideology—is called “Maya” or illusion. By such illusory way of making yourself and others happy, you have simply been credited with creation of much disturbances and entanglement for all concerned. That is the record of history of the material world. Empire may come and empire may go, the problems of life remains the same. Please therefore be cool headed and patiently ask within yourself if you are really happy.

The happiness which you are hankering after is possible to be attained as soon as you learn to introspect yourself within yourself. You are yourself your friend and you are yourself your enemy. You can raise yourself by your self-effort and you can down yourself by the same effort. It is simply to know the direction and the way. In the right direction you can make yourself happy in the right way. Please therefore contact us and we shall help you to raise yourself to your normal happiness. It is no dream neither any bluff. You shall know yourself how far you have made progress in that path and our duty will be to help you only. Thinking that you shall be a prospective member of our League of Devotees, I am sending you herewith a copy of the Prospectus and I wish most sincerely that you should become an active member of this great institution. Pay or pay not you can become a member without obligation and the League welcomes you always accepting you as the Divine child.

Yours Sincerely,
For the League of Devotees,
Abhay Charanarvinda Bhaktivedanta
Secretary.  

Srila Prabhupada Speaks Out – “You cannot take protection of another rascal

who interprets Bhagavad-gītā in a different way. You have to take shelter directly. “

The authorized edition of Bhagavad-gita will help to stop the terrible cheating of ‘gurus’ and ‘yogis’ who are false and unauthorized

“The reviews have very much encouraged me. Especially those of Prof. Bhatt and Prof. Vajpeye. I have personally written a letter of thanks to Dr. Bhatt, that he has so much encouraged me. Dr. Vajpeye’s review we are going to print and widely distribute, especially in Bombay and Madras, where there is so much propaganda from these bogus gurus and yogis. He has got practical experience of how they are cheating the innocent people in foreign countries and he has written; “The authorized edition of Bhagavad-gita will help to stop the terrible cheating of ‘gurus’ and ‘yogis’ who are false and unauthorized. [Letter to: Svarupa, Ranadhira, Mayapur-3 February, 1976 Los Angeles]”

Srila Prabhupada: “…You cannot take protection of another rascal who interprets Bhagavad-gītā in a different way. You have to take shelter directly. Of course, Bhagavad-gītā instruction is there. Everyone can take shelter of Kṛṣṇa directly. Where is the difficulty? Just like here is is said, mayy āsakta. You have to develop your attachment for Kṛṣṇa. You can do that. How these Americans and European boys, they have developed their attraction for Kṛṣṇa? There is a process. If you adopt…”  (Lecture BG 7.1, Hyderabad, April 27,1974)

So therefore, Bhagavān uvāca. We have to hear from Bhagavān, not from rascals. Then your knowledge is perfect. If you hear from rascals, then you become rascal. Don’t hear from any rascal. Hear from Bhagavān and take it and accept it. Then, gradually, your existence will be purified. Just like if somebody comes… Recently it so happened. There is a big Māyāvādī sannyāsī in India. His name is Akshananda Swami. Perhaps you know. Did you know? No. Anyone? Anyway, he is a Māyāvādī sannyāsī. So Acyutānanda Swami went to sell some books in their camp. So, his disciple requested him, “Why don’t you ask some question from Swamiji?” So, he said, “What I have to ask from him?” He was so convinced that “What this rascal can say to me? I know. I have heard from Kṛṣṇa.” This is knowledge. So, if you stick to Kṛṣṇa and hear from Him, you haven’t got to hear from any rascal, any rascal. Then you will waste time. Don’t hear from any rascal.

Therefore, we are presenting Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, as it is, without any change. Kṛṣṇa says, man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru: [Bg. 18.65] “Just become My devotee. Always think of Me.” We are teaching the same thing. We have no difficulty. What we are requesting you? “You think of Kṛṣṇa. Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.” That’s all. Where is the difficulty? We don’t say, “You think of that, this of that, to this demigod, that demigod.” No. We don’t say. What is the use of other demigod? We show all respect to everyone, even to the ant, but that does mean that any demigod, any damn, any rascal, should be worshiped as God? No. That is not possible. We can show respect even to the insignificant ant. Tṛṇād api sunīcena taror api sahiṣṇunā. That may be another thing. But we cannot accept anyone as God. That is not possible. That is knowledge. That is knowledge. Be convinced firmly, kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam: [SB 1.3.28] “Bhagavān means Kṛṣṇa, nobody else.” Kāmais tais tair hṛta-jñānāḥ yajante anya-devatāḥ [Bg. 7.20]. Anya-devatāḥ, accept as God, they are accepted by the rascals, hṛta-jñānāḥ, those who have lost their knowledge. They have lost their… Hṛta-jñānāḥ and naṣṭa-buddhayaḥ, those who have lost their knowledge. So, don’t be lost of your knowledge. Stick to Kṛṣṇa and accept His words as it is. Then you will be one day fearless, abhayaṁ sattva-saṁśuddhiḥ. Your existence will be purified, spiritual existence. Purified existence means spiritual existence. We are spiritual; we are not this material just like I am not this shirt, you are not this shirt. You are within the shirt. Similarly, asmin dehe. Dehino ‘smin yathā dehe. Dehino ‘smin yathā dehe [Bg. 2.13]. We are within the shirt. This is the first knowledge, that “I am not this body.” Why I shall be puffed up with this body? This is superfluous. I am spirit soul. I am part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa; therefore, my only business is with Kṛṣṇa.   (Lecture BG 16.1-3, Hawaii, January 27,1975)

Srila Prabhupāda: And that will give you guidance. Read Bhagavad-gītā as it is, word for word. But don’t misinterpret and spoil. The rascals misinterpret and spoil the whole Bhagavad-gītā. That is the difficulty(?). You cannot misinterpret Bhagavad-gītā. Then it will be spoiled. If you get Bhagavad-gītā as it is, you are benefited. And if you misinterpret, then you spoil. So generally, they misinterpret. Everyone speaks on Bhagavad-gītā, but he misinterprets.

Guest (1): You’ve made it very clear,

Srila Prabhupāda. I want to thank you for that. I like your purports as much as Kṛṣṇa’s actual words, because now I can understand it.

Srila Prabhupāda: Therefore, we are presenting Bhagavad-gītā As It Is. Otherwise, for the last so many years—I am speaking in Western countries—so many swamis, so many yogis come, they speak on Bhagavad-gītā but misinterpret. So not a single devotee was there. And now Bhagavad-gītā is presented as it is, and so many devotees are coming.   (Evening Darsana — July 11, 1976, New York)