Nama om Vishnu Padaya Krsna presthaya bhutale
Srimate Bhaktivedanta Swamin iti namine
Namaste sarasvate deve Gauravani pracarine
Nirvisesa sunyavadi pascatya Desa tarine
Bhakti siddhanta sishyaya Bhativedanta namine
Prasannaya prasantaya tasmai Sri gurave namah
Dear Srila Prabhupada,
I offer my prostrated humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
Sri Raghunatha dasa Goswami has glorified Srila Rupa Goswami in his Shri Mukta Carita
adadanas trinam dantair
idam yace punah punah
shrimad-rupa-padambhoja
dhulih syam janma-janmani (2)
Clasping a straw between my teeth, I repeatedly beg to attain the dust of the lotus feet of Shrimad Rupa Gosvami birth after birth.
On this most auspicious day, I offer my respectful obeisances to you in this way:
adadanas trinam dantair
idam yace punah punah
Prabhupada-padambhoja
dhulih syam janma-janmani (2)
Clasping a straw between my teeth, I repeatedly beg to attain the dust of the lotus feet of Shrimad Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, birth after birth.
Srils Prabhupada, you have given all warnings in your letters, conversations, books and instructions regarding what to do and what not to do. You have warned about what happens after the departure of the acarya.
Whenever an ācārya comes, following the superior orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead or His representative, he establishes the principles of religion, as enunciated in Bhagavad-gītā. Religion means abiding by the orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Religious principles begin from the time one surrenders to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is the ācārya’s duty to spread a bona fide religious system and induce everyone to bow down before the Supreme Lord. One executes the religious principles by rendering devotional service, specifically the nine items like hearing, chanting and remembering. Unfortunately, when the ācārya disappears, rogues and nondevotees take advantage and immediately begin to introduce unauthorized principles in the name of so-called svāmīs, yogīs, philanthropists, welfare workers and so on…”
“… The main business of human society is to think of the Supreme Personality of Godhead at all times, to become His devotees, to worship the Supreme Lord and to bow down before Him. The ācārya, the authorized representative of the Supreme Lord, establishes these principles, but when he disappears, things once again become disordered. The perfect disciples of the ācārya try to relieve the situation by sincerely following the instructions of the spiritual master. At the present moment, practically the entire world is afraid of rogues and nondevotees; therefore, this Krsna consciousness movement is started to save the world from irreligious principles. Everyone should cooperate with this movement in order to bring about actual peace and happiness in the world…” Srimad-Bhagavatam “The Creation of the Fourth Order” “Sb 4.28.48
You have also cautioned what to do if one thinks that there are many pseudo devotees or nondevotees in the Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Society,
“…If one thinks that there are many pseudo devotees or nondevotees in the Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Society, one can keep direct company with the spiritual master, and if there is any doubt, one should consult the spiritual master. However, unless one follows the spiritual master’s instructions and the regulative principles governing chanting and hearing the holy name of the Lord, one cannot become a pure devotee. By one’s mental concoctions, one falls down…” Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – (1975) Original unrevised edition “Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Instructs Srila Rupa Goswami“- Madhya-Lila 19.157
Srila Prabhupada, your brilliant explanation of what happened to the “high court acarya” of the Gaudiya Matha and his mindset is very clear.
“….We have actually seen that one of the disciples of Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura wanted to enjoy the property of his spiritual master, and the spiritual master, being merciful toward him, gave him the temporary property, but not the power to preach the cult of Caitanya Mahāprabhu all over the world. That special mercy of the power to preach is given to a devotee who does not want anything material from his spiritual master but wants only to serve him. The story of the demon Rāvaṇa illustrates this point. Although Rāvaṇa tried to abduct the goddess of fortune Sītādevī from the custody of Lord Rāmacandra, he could not possibly do so. The Sītādevī he forcibly took with him was not the original Sītādevī, but an expansion of māyā, or Durgādevī. As a result, instead of winning the favor of the real goddess of fortune, Rāvaṇa and his whole family were vanquished by the power of Durgādevī (sṛṣṭi–sthiti–pralaya–sādhana-śaktir ekā [Bs. 5.44]) …” Srimad Bhagavatam 5.18.22
Was your Iskcon, Srila Prabhupada, like the abducted Sita in the Ramayana?You have further elaborated on the meaning of the “Ravana policy”
Srila Prabhupāda: They are doing that. You can see from this big, big person. Gandhi used to say that he believes in Gītā and Gītā gives him solace in difficult times and so on, so on. But has he ever preached about Krsna? Tilok has ever preached about Krsna? Radhakrishnan has ever preached Krsna? Nobody. Their policy is take Sītā and kill Rāma. Rāvana’s policy. Take away Sītā. Take away Gītā and kill Kṛṣṇa. So Rāvaṇa’s policy will never be successful. Rāvaṇa’s policy means he will be destroyed. You cannot do any harm to Rāma, but he will be destroyed. This policy, that take Sītā and kill Rāma, means he will destroy himself. So, this is going on. Take Gītā and kill Kṛṣṇa. This will destroy the whole thing. This Rāvaṇa’s policy. And Hanumān’s policy is somehow or other rescue Sītā and get her seated by the side of Rāma. Therefore, he’s worshiped, Vajrāṅgajī. That is the difference between Rāvaṇa’s policy. Sītā is the via media. But one is trying to bring back Sītā and seat her by the side of Rāma, and another is trying to take away Sītā and kill Rāma. This wrong policy will not take. We have to accept the instruction of Gītā and accept Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Lord. Then everything will be all right. Prasāda? So, thank you very much for your coming. So, kindly if you will agree to take the instruction of Gītā, I am always at your service. I’ll give you such guidance, our men, our everything. But you have to decide this. You cannot take up this policy, take Gītā and banish Krsna. That is wanted. Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation with Endowments Commissioner of Andhra Pradesh – Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India — August 22, 1976
And you warned in 1977:
Srila Prabhupāda: That is my concern, that such huge, huge establishment, if properly, regularly not managed, then again everything will be finished.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I don’t think that that’s going to happen, Śrīla Prabhupāda. We’re too much indebted to you to allow what you have established to become spoiled.
Srila Prabhupāda: Please see to that.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Srila Prabhupāda: In this condition it is impossible for me.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: All you should have to do is just think about Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma.
Srila Prabhupāda: Yes. Kindly give me that chance.
Brahmānanda: (to a devotee:) “Kindly give me that chance.”
Srila Prabhupāda: In this condition, even I cannot move my body on the bed. Only chance you should give me—let me die little peacefully, without any anxiety. I have given in writing everything, whatever you wanted—my will, my executive(?) power, everything. Disaster will happen if you cannot manage it. Hm? Srila Prabhupada room conversation, Vrindavan, Uttara Pradesh, India, October 2, 1977
Your prophetic tri-kala-jna vision is exemplified in this exchange, Srils Prabhupāda:
That I am thinking, that such a big society, the aims and object may be dismantled. I am thinking from that vision. Srila Prabhupada room conversation, Vrindavan, Uttara Pradesh, India, October 26, 1977
Srila Prabhupada: The Ravana will kill and Rama will kill. Better to be killed by Rama, Ehh? That Marica–if he does not go to mislead Sita, he’ll be killed by Ravana; and if he goes to be killed by Rama, then it is better.
Tamala Krsna: Who is this Prabhupada’s talking about?
Srila Prabhupada room conversation, November 11, 1977 Vrindavan, Uttara Pradesh, India.
Srila Prabhupāda: People are so intelligent that when the representative of Kṛṣṇa speaks, they (indistinct) enemies, and sometimes they crucify, kill. So, people are so kind that they are not killing. Otherwise, why Christ, (indistinct) was killed? What fault? What is his fault? Just see. Was there any fault in his words? He advised, “Don’t kill,” and he was crucified. We have to deal with such rascals. I may be representative, but he is directly son of God. People are so rascal that they did not believe even the son of God, what to speak of His representative. What is that? Why Jesus Christ was killed? What was his fault? People are (indistinct). What the Christians will ask? Therefore, we are (indistinct) and not only that, they have been giving this idea that “For our sinful reaction Christ has taken contract, so let him suffer being killed(?).” Cow-killing is very, very sin, “That’s all right; don’t mind. Christ will suffer.” How easy understanding they have. Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation — Honolulu, Hawaii, USA – May 20, 1976
You have also warned about the kalichela mentality, acarya voting and high court acarya
sabāra caraṇe dhari, paḍe dui bhāi
sabe bale, –dhanya tumi, pāile gosāñi
SYNONYMS
sabāra—of all of them; caraṇe—the lotus feet; dhari—touching; paḍe—fall down; duibhāi—the two brothers; sabe bale—all the Vaiṣṇavas say; dhanya tumi—you are so fortunate; pāile gosāñi—you have gotten the shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
TRANSLATION
In accordance with the instructions of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the two brothers, Rūpa and Sanātana, immediately touched the lotus feet of these Vaiṣṇavas, who all became very happy and congratulated the two brothers for having received the mercy of the Lord.
PURPORT
This behavior is indicative of real Vaiṣṇavas. When they saw that Rūpa and Sanātana were fortunate enough to receive the mercy of the Lord, they were so pleased that they all congratulated the two brothers. A jealous person in the dress of a Vaiṣṇava is not at all happy to see the success of another Vaiṣṇava in receiving the Lord’s mercy. Unfortunately, in this Age of Kali there are many mundane persons in the dress of Vaiṣṇavas, and Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura has described them as disciples of Kali. He says, kali-celā. He indicates that there is another Vaiṣṇava, a pseudoVaiṣṇava with tilaka on his nose and kaṇṭhī beads around his neck. Such a pseudoVaiṣṇava associates with money and women and is jealous of successful Vaiṣṇavas. Although passing for a Vaiṣṇava, his only business is earning money in the dress of a Vaiṣṇava. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura therefore says that such a pseudoVaiṣṇava is not a Vaiṣṇava at all but a disciple of Kali–yuga. A disciple of Kali cannot become an ācārya by the decision of some high court. Mundane votes have no jurisdiction to elect a Vaiṣṇava ācārya. A Vaiṣṇava ācārya is self-effulgent, and there is no need for any court judgment. A false ācārya may try to override a Vaiṣṇava by a high-court decision, but Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura says that he is nothing but a disciple of Kali–yuga. Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta,( 1975) Original unrevised edition – Madhya-Lila 1.220
Srila Prabhupāda: You don’t become envious to your spiritual master. Then you will become free from envy. As soon as you become envious to your spiritual master, then you will…, then begins envious. Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. Srila Prabhupada Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures – “Last portion of Questions & Answers” — Chicago, Illinois, USA – July 4, 1974
Let us remain your faithful obedient servants in all circumstances, life after life.
Acarya Srimad acarya santu me janma janmani
Your eternal servant
Yasoda nandana dasa