Prabhupada's

Mission
Excerpted from chapters 12 and 13 of
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja’s
book, My Revered Spiritual Master

Prabhupada Laid the Foundation

Devotee: You were explaining how “räma”
in the mahä-mantra refers to Krishna. But Srila
Prabhupada sometimes explained that “räma” in
the mahä-mantra refers to Balaram.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes, Prabhupada said
that. Balaram is dvitéya-deha, the second body of
Krishna. They have the same two-handed form.
varëa-mätra-bheda — Only there is a difference in
their complexion. Krishna is black and Balaram is
white. Everything else is the same. And Balaram is
always with Krishna. So Prabhupada said it in simple
way. It is not easy for everyone to understand why
Krishna is referred to as Rama. When Prabhupada
was asked by a particular devotee, he knew that
the devotee could not understand. Therefore
Prabhupada didn’t say so at the time. But Jiva
Goswami has said it; Bhaktivinode Thakur has said
it. All of our äcäryas have described why Krishna
is known as Rama.
Time Place and Circumstance
An äcärya like Srila Prabhupada teaches
according to time, place and circumstances.
People can understand only according to their
consciousness. Neophytes cannot comprehend
higher things, subtle philosophy. Just speak to
them according to their capacity and let them
make advancement. When the time comes, then
all the subtle points will come out. Äcärya teaches
like that. You should not think that there is some
hard and fast rule as to what they must explain
in the beginning. You should try to understand
Srila Prabhupada’s purpose. Following the orders
of his revered spiritual master, Bhaktisiddhanta
Saraswati, our Prabhupada went to the Western
world, the country of mlecchas and yavanas.
The people there have very low consciousness.
Vaishnava philosophy, Mahaprabhu’s philosophy,
is the highest, most sublime philosophy. Caitanya-
caritämåta is post-graduate study. It is difficult
for Western people to understand. Therefore,
Prabhupada stressed, “You first chant ‘hare kåñëa’.
Let your consciousness be purified. Hear the
transcendental sound vibration.”
Buddhadeva is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu,
but he blasphemed the Vedas. He is the origin of
the Vedas, why will he speak like that? Because
at the time it was needed. The people were
indiscriminately killing animals for sacrifice. If you
would ask them, “Why are you killing?” tthey would
say, “The Vedas say we should.” But they could
not understand the purport of the Vedas. They
were in the mode of ignorance. How could they
understand? Unless one comes to the level of sattva-
guëa, mode of goodness, one cannot understand
what the Vedas say. At that time it was needed for
Buddhadeva to teach people to stop following
the Vedas. He told them to give up indiscriminate
2 Prabhupada's Mission
killing of animals. In that way they could elevate
themselves to the mode of goodness. Then they
would be able to understand. At that time it was
needed. But Buddha’s followers cannot understand
the real reason why he did so.
Work of an Acharya
Similarly, you cannot understand why
Prabhupada said what he did. Tat-kälika, at that
time it was needed. But not for all time. He was
laying the foundation. Before building a mansion
you should lay the foundation, and the foundation
should be very strong. Then you will be able to
build a big mansion, skyscraper. If the foundation is
not strong the skyscraper will collapse. Prabhupada
laid the foundation. Then he left it for you: “Now
you build a mansion.” That time has now come.
Don’t stay in the foundation only. Now a mansion
should be built. This is gradual development.
Buddhadeva came and did this thing. He
criticized the Vedas and the people became atheists.
Then when the Vedas were about to be lost, Lord
Narayan ordered Shivaji, who is mahä-bäla, very
powerful: “Shiva, you go and establish the Vedas.”
Then Shivaji came in the form of Shankaracharya.
It is all mentioned in Caitanya-caritämåta.
Shankara was not at fault. His master ordered him,
so he preached this mäyäväda philosophy. It was
needed at the time. When you establish something,
you first start from the lower and then go to the
higher part. You cannot all of a sudden establish
the higher part. Shankara established the lower
part of the Vedas, karma-käëòa, jïäna-käëòa
section, which is gauëa, secondary. Shankara
laid the foundation. Therefore Mahaprabhu has
accepted Shankara as äcärya because he did the
work of an äcärya. Mahaprabhu said, “Shankara
has helped us. He has laid the foundation. Now I
have to build the mansion.” This was the need at
that particular time.
Fools Criticize
That is what an äcärya does, and in the
same way Srila Prabhupada did the work of an
äcärya. Fools and rascals criticize him. I say they
cannot understand Srila Prabhupada. They can’t
understand what he has done. He has done what
was needed at that particular time. He has laid the
foundation. Now the time has come, we have to
build the mansion. These fools cannot understand
’’Krishna’. They are committing a great offense
at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada — leaving
ISKCON, joining another camp and criticizing
ISKCON’s teachings, Srila Prabhupada’s teachings.
Nonsense! I get so much pain in my heart from this.
Such rascals will definitely go to hell. So I have
taken up this task: now the time has come we’ll
teach all this higher philosophy. Prabhupada left it
in a seed form. Now that seed should be fructified,
and a big tree will come out. That is our duty.
Prabhupada was teaching Westerners, mlecchas
and yavanas, eating beef, and drinking liquor. They
were hippies — mad fellows taking strong drugs,
LSD, and marijuana. What they can understand
of this philosophy? He did what was needed for
them at that particular time. He did a great job and
brought us to the path. Otherwise so many persons
would not have come here. But now the time has
come to understand this philosophy.
Dedication
You mention that many devotees are losing
faith in ISKCON and are leaving our society to
find shelter elsewhere. That is not good. They
should not leave ISKCON; that will never please
Srila Prabhupada. Develop patience and tolerance
and pray to Srila Prabhupada from the core of your
heart. How is it that he will not help you? (Letter,
18 December 1993)
There are three things that are very important to
me. One is that I want to preach to the preachers. It
causes me so much pain to see the devotees falling
down and going away. The second thing is that I
want to show how everything is in Prabhupada’s
books. Those persons who are saying that Srila
Prabhupada only gave ABC, it causes me so much
pain in my heart. I want to make them silent. And
the third thing is that I want to show how everything
is in ISKCON and that devotees do not have to go
elsewhere for higher teachings. (Conversation with
devotees in New York City, July 1994:)
My opinion is that Srila Prabhupada will not be
happy with these senior devotees going outside of
ISKCON. Srila Prabhupada has said that everything
is in his books. If you try to understand this, then
by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada it will all be made
clear to you. It is a fact that if an elevated vaiñëava is
there, then one should go and take his association.
There is no harm in that. But in this case, there is
Prabhupada's Mission 3
a danger that the discipline in our organization
will be affected adversely. If the leaders are going
outside of ISKCON, how will we be able to maintain
discipline? Srila Prabhupada has formed this society,
and this threat to his society will only cause him
pain. With this consideration, they should not go.
That will only lead to indiscipline in our society.
Two sides are there, philosophical and
organizational. On the organizational side, this
practice is not good. Therefore we have this GBC
body, which makes so many rules to maintain the
discipline of the members of our society. But how
will we be able to keep discipline now? No one
will listen: “If the leaders are going, why should
we listen? We will also go.” This will create only
trouble. (Letter, 3 November 1994)
Devotee: You said we should always seek the
association of advanced devotees. When Srila
Prabhupada left the planet, some of his disciples
took shelter of one of his godbrothers.
Gour Govinda Swami: Thereby they committed
a mistake. For the clarification of some philosophical
doubt or to accept çikñä, one may go to another
vaiñëava, but why leave?
Devotee: Some people took shelter of this
maharaja, and naturally, because he was giving
some instruction, they became attached to him
and accepted him as çikñä-guru. Because of this, in
some cases, it seems that our society rejected them
rather than they rejected our society.
Gour Govinda Swami: Let me be excused
at the feet of a vaiñëava. This Maharaja is a great
vaiñëava. I pay my obeisance to him. He is my guru.
He is the godbrother of my guru. But he should
have taught these ISKCON devotees, “Don’t leave
ISKCON. Take çikñä from me if you have some
doubts. I am prepared to clarify them. But don’t
leave ISKCON.” Why didn’t he teach this thing?
Devotee: So it’s all right for Srila Prabhupada’s
disciples to accept another çikñä-guru, but they
should not leave ISKCON?
Gour Govinda Maharaja: Why should they
leave ISKCON?
Devotee: I spoke to one devotee who had
taken shelter of a maharaja outside of ISKCON
and he said that his life was made very difficult
within ISKCON and he could no longer preach.
He was so restricted. Therefore, in order to
preach, he left ISKCON.
Gour Govinda Swami: What difficulty is
there in preaching the message of Gauranga
Mahaprabhu? Mahaprabhu says, “I will help you.
You’ll never be affected by mäyä.” If you have
no faith in Mahaprabhu, then you will be put into
difficulties. Don’t be afraid of problems. ’’Krishna’ is
there. His representative, the guru, is there. They are
always with you. They are always prepared to help
you. These dangers, these problems, difficulties
will help you to become fixed. They are welcome.
Therefore Kuntidevi says, vipadaù santu täù çaçvat
tatra tatra jagad-guro — “I wish that all those
calamities would happen again and again.” WWhy
did she say like that?
Devotee: Because by those troubles she was
always able to remember Krishna.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes. Difficulties,
dangers, and problems help one to be more
attached to Krishna. Unless there are difficulties,
one will not turn his face towards Krishna. Thereby
he is in a fool’s paradise, thinking, “I am OK.” But
he is in danger. He cannot understand it. So all
of these difficulties, problems, and dangers, they
are kåpä, mercy in disguise. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Saraswati Prabhupada Maharaja said, “Accept all the
sufferings in this material world as the mercy of the
Supreme Lord.” (Evening darshan, Bhubaneswar,
20 November 1989)
Devotee: You have to give us your blessings,
Maharaja.
Gour Govinda Swami: I have this blessing,
“Get the blessings of my guru-mahäräja, Srimad
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupadji Maharaja.
Be a member of ISKCON, the society he founded
worldwide. Serve him. Remain in the society. Serve
guru and Gauranga.” This is my blessing. Nothing
else. This is everything. Thank you. (Darshan, South
London, 29 September 1991)
Drawings by Anuradha Dasi
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