How NOT to question Srila Prabhupada-
Below is one conversation some “disciples” had once with Srila Prabhupada-and the jist of this was that they just couldnt wrap their limited minds around inconceivable things in spiritual life. They had what is called, the basic fault finding mentality.
The entire attempt to “quantify” the Unlimited is in itself absurd, yet some will do this and for them access to that realm is never available. A better way to approach that unlimited realm of transcendence is to just put things on the mental “back burner”, wait for further purification, and go on chanting and serving guru.But in all cases, never think that the bona fide guru is wrong and I am right !! This is a sure way to eventually destroy your spiritual life.
Hare Krsna
Damaghosa das
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Prabhupāda: If a king has four billion servants, so it is not very astonishing. Why do you think that a king shall have only four servants?
Devotee (2): Well, there’s only two billion people on the planet right now.
Prabhupāda: That’s all right.
Devotee (2): So where did they all go?
Prabhupāda: I say you don’t believe, you don’t take it. Why you are insisting on that point? If you don’t believe, you don’t take it. If you don’t believe the whole book or the whole society, then who forbids you?
Devotee (2): We were hoping that there are some things which can be improved, because they have not been set up by you.
Prabhupāda: No. You cannot improve. Whatever we are, we are.
Devotee (2): Why can we not improve it?
Prabhupāda: No. There is no possibility.
Devotee (2): Then what is the use of action?
Prabhupāda: Action, whatever action we can do by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, that’s all.
Devotee (2): But we also have to make varṇāśrama society or farms or businesses.
Prabhupāda: That, when we shall do, we shall see to it.
Devotee (2): But we are doing it. We are.
Devotee (1): We are doing it now, and that’s the question…
Prabhupāda:: So do it in your own way.
Devotee (2): We don’t want to. We want to do everything Kṛṣṇa’s way.
Prabhupāda: Stop it. Stop it. I say stop it. You have come to me for my advice. I say you stop it.
Devotee (2): Then, we say, what should we do?
Prabhupāda: You should do your business. That’s all. Earn money and enjoy.
Devotee (2): No, I mean what should we do Kṛṣṇa consciously?
Prabhupāda: You give up Kṛṣṇa consciousness, I say. That is my advice.
Devotee (2): Why should we do that?
Prabhupāda: Then that I cannot say.
Devotee (1): Isn’t there a middle of the road?
Prabhupāda: If you are finding so many faults, you give it up.
Devotee (1): No. We’re not finding fault.
Prabhupāda: Then there is no other advance, alternative. No alternative. Either you accept or reject it.
Devotee (1): We accept, but we would like some instruction on…
Prabhupāda: No. I have no such knowledge to convince you.
Devotee (1): No, we accept Kṛṣṇa consciousness philosophy…
Prabhupāda: That’s all right. Accept, or if you reject, reject.
Devotee (1): We accept.
Devotee (2): We want to apply it.
Devotee (1): We want to apply it to the world as it is now.
Prabhupāda: No no. You cannot. You are not authorized.
Devotee (1): Well, who is authorized?
Prabhupāda: The authorized… You are not authorized. Who is authorized, that is not your business.
Devotee (2): Then what does it mean to become disciple?
Prabhupāda:: Disciple, if you don’t like, give it up.
Devotee (2): We do like it.
Prabhupāda: You have already given up.
Devotee (2): If we didn’t like it, we would not come here.
Prabhupāda: No, no. You have already given up. My disciples do not keep so many hair.
Devotee (2): Many of your disciples do.
Prabhupāda: No. I don’t accept that. You just this one circle, little. But those who are keeping big hairs, they are rejected from my disciples.
Devotee (2): All right. That is clearing some things up.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Devotee (2): This is what we want to know.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Devotee (2): Because then that is an unequivocal statement.
Prabhupāda: No. This is, that you can, that anyone who is keeping hairs and not following the rules and regulations, they are rejected from second initiation.
Devotee (2): What if they are keeping hair but they are following the rules and regulations.
Prabhupāda: Then let them follow. That’s a good life. But from external features he must be a Vaiṣṇava.
Devotee (2): To get second initiation.
Devotee (1): Does that mean shaved head?
Prabhupāda: Caitanya Mahāprabhu, when His students used to come without tilaka, so He refused to see his face. He refused to see his face. He said it is a crematory ground.
Devotee (2): Why is that?
Prabhupāda: There is no “why.” If you accept it, accept. If you don’t accept, leave us, leave us. There is no “why.”
Devotee (2): Then that is…
Prabhupāda: You are not following strictly. You cannot ask why.