Uttama-adhikaris or Uttama-aparadhis?

Uttama-adhikaris or Uttama-aparadhis? – Part 4 -of- 4
By Yasoda nandana dasa and the Prabhupada anugas

WAS SRILA PRABHUPADA JUST AN EMPLOYEE OF ISKCON?

1998 Litigation between the BBT and Hans Kary. (Hansadutta dasa)

Continuing with the same impudent and offensive mentality, the leading secretaries, editors, and the lawyer representatives of the BBT and BBTI impudently stated that Srila Prabhupada was just a worker for hire and that he was only an employee of ISKCON.

State all FACTS on which you base the contention contained in paragraph 41 of the complaint that ISKCON, Inc. either owned outright or owned beneficial title to various copyrights registered in the name of Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

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INTERROGATORY NO. 51:

List the titles of all books not authored by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada which the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust — International, Inc. holds a copyright.

RESPONSE TO INTERROGATORY NO. 51:

Plaintiff BBTI objects to this interrogatory on the ground that the phrase “not authored by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada” is vague and ambiguous, in that the books of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada were in fact “works for hire” reflecting the contributions of many artists, editors, photographers and others, and that the “author” of such books for copyright purposes was generally either ISKCON, Inc. or ISKCON of California, Inc. or BBTI. 

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Srila Prabhupada warned:

“…Queen Draupadī had a beautiful bunch of hair which was sanctified in the ceremonial function of Rājasūya-yajña. But when she was lost in a bet, Duḥśāsana touched her glorified hair to insult her. Draupadī then fell down at the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, and Lord Kṛṣṇa decided that all the wives of Duḥśāsana and company should have their hair loosened as a result of the Battle of Kurukṣetra. Thus after the Battle of Kurukṣetra, after all the sons and grandsons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra died in battle, all the wives of the family were obliged to loosen their hair as widows. In other words, all the wives of the Kuru family became widows because of Duḥśāsana’s insulting a great devotee of the Lord. The Lord can tolerate insults upon Himself by any miscreant because the father tolerates even insults from the son. But He never tolerates insults upon His devotees. By insulting a great soul, one has to forego all the results of pious acts and benedictions also…” Srimad-Bhagavatam – The Pandavas Retire Timely  SB 1.15.10

“…A Vaiṣṇava strictly follows this principle of being humbler than the grass and more tolerant than a tree, expecting no honor from others but offering honor to everyone. In this way, a Vaiṣṇava is simply interested in chanting about the Supreme personality of Godhead and glorifying Him. Haridāsa Ṭhākura epitomized this foremost order of Vaiṣṇavism. Kṛṣṇa cannot tolerate any insults or blasphemy against a Vaiṣṇava. For example, Prahlāda Mahārāja was chastised by his father, Hiraṇyakaśipu, in so many ways, but although Prahlāda tolerated this, Kṛṣṇa did not. The Lord therefore came in the form of Nṛsiṁhadeva to kill Hiraṇyakaśipu. Similarly, although Śrīla Haridāsa Ṭhākura tolerated the insult by Gopāla Cakravartī, Kṛṣna could not. The Lord immediately punished Gopāla Cakravartī by making him suffer from leprosy. While instructing Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī about the many restrictive rules and regulations for Vaiṣṇavas, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has very vividly described the effects of offenses at the lotus feet of a Vaisnava. Yadi vaisnava-aparādha uthe hātī mātā (Madhya 19.156). Offending or blaspheming a Vaiṣṇava has been described as the greatest offense, and it has been compared to a mad elephant. When a mad elephant enters a garden, it ruins all the creepers, flowers and trees. Similarly, if a devotee properly executing his devotional service becomes an offender at the lotus feet of his spiritual master or a Vaisnava, his devotional service is spoiled…” Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition – The Glories of Srila Haridasa Thakura  Antya 3.213:

“… But Krsna does not want. If you insult His devotee, the devotee may excuse, but Krsna will not excuse. This is Krsna’s position. Therefore be careful to insult a devotee. A devotee may excuse you. But Krsna will not excuse you. Krsna is so strict. He cannot tolerate any insult to His devotee…” Bhagavad-gita Lectures 1.26-27 — London, July 21, 1973

“Lord cannot tolerate any insult, or any, I mean to say, misbehave to a sādhu. Although sādhu, they do not, I mean to say, mind if they are insulted, they do not mind, but the Lord will never tolerate if a sādhu is… Just like a small boy, your child, if somebody slaps him in the street… That boy may excuse, “Oh, all right,” but his father and mother will never tolerate. “Why you have slapped my son?” That is the nature. Similarly, the sādhu, who is a great devotee of the Lord, they might be tolerant. You can crucify him, can do any misbehavior to him. He’s never angry. But God will never tolerate. We must always remember that. He has got special protection, special vision, on the sādhu…”  (Lectures Bhagavad-gita 4.6-8 — New York, July 20, 1966)

“..,.So this is the fact, that Krsnaa will never tolerate insult on a devotee. He will never tolerate. The devotee may excuse, trnad api suni aunīcena taror api sahisnunā. He may suffer. Just like Prahlāda Mahārāja, he was suffering. His father was torturing him. He was suffering, “All right.” But Krsna never tolerated. “Oh, you have done so much. Now it is the time to kill him.” This is the process. Krsna witolerate. Even you insult Krsna, He will tolerate. But if you insult His devotee, He will never tolerate. Then you are finished. Then you are finished. Just like a big man. If you insult him, he may think “All right, let him.” But if you insult or do something harm to his child, he will never tolerate. He will never tolerate. Similarly, a devotee who is dependent on Krsna in everything, and if somebody does harm to him, insults him, Krsna will never tolerate. That is explained in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta, vaisnaava-aparādha. Tāra madhye vaisnava-aparādha hāti matta. So we should be very careful not to offend Vaisnaava devotees. Not to offend. This is greatest offense. Therefore it is said vipra-śāpa-vimūdhānām. Vimūdhānām. Those who are rascal, fools, they will want to try to insult real brāhmana, Vaisnava. Then they are finished. Of course, a Vaisnaava never curses. Tolerates. Trnād api sunīcena taror… Vaisnaava tolerates, but Visnu never tolerates….” Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures 1.15.22-23 — Los Angeles, December 2, 1973 : 731202SB.LA

Srila Prabhupada clearly warns all of His students not to think of the spiritual master as an ordinary man. The strongest warning in all of Srila Prabhupada’s teachings is found in the Srimad-Bhagavatam:

“Therefore a devotee who engages in the service of the Supreme Lord and who constantly thinks of Him should never be considered to have a material body. It is therefore enjoined. gurusu nara-mati: one should stop thinking of the spiritual master as an ordinary human being with a material body. Arcye vishnau siladhih: everyone knows that the deity in the temple is made of stone, but to think that the deity is merely a stone is an offense. Similarly to think that the body of the spiritual master consists of material ingredients is offensive. Atheists think that devotees foolishly worship a stone statue as God and an ordinary man as the guru. The fact is however, that by the grace of Krsna’s omnipotence, the so-called stone statue of the deity is directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead. and the body of the spiritual master is directly spiritual.”(29) HDGACBSP Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.3.2. [Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, Los Angeles, CA, USA. 1976]

And what is the position of a so-called Vaishnava who finds fault with an empowered pure devotee like Srila Prabhupada.

“The same principles can be applied to demoniac persons, even though they may be in the Sampradaya of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Without receiving the Lord’s special power one cannot preach His Glories all over the world. Even though one may celebrate himself as a learned follower of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and even though one may attempt to preach the holy name of the Lord, if he is not favored by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu he will find fault with the pure devotee and will not be able to understand how a preacher is empowered by Lord Caitanya.” (30)… HDG ACBSP Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta Madhya-Lila 11. 103 [Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, Los Angeles, CA, USA 1976]

I want you to know that nothing new should be added. Whatever I have introduced should remain. Nothing new should be added. New things means their brain is not clear. Carefully manage things what I have established. “ Letter to: Rupanuga: — Vrindaban 4 September, 1974

YOU HAVE ALSO GIVEN THE SOLUTION ONH HOW TO DEAL WITH THOSE PERSONS WHO DO NOT REPRESENT THE ORIGINAL ACARYA.

Personal realization does not mean that one should, out of vanity, attempt to show one’s own learning by trying to surpass the previous ācārya.  He must have full confidence in the previous ācārya, and at the same time he must realize the subject matter so nicely that he can present the matter for the particular circumstances in a suitable manner.  The original purpose of the text must be maintained.  No obscure meaning should be screwed out of it, yet it should be presented in an interesting manner for the understanding of the audience.  This is called realization. The leader of the assembly, Śaunaka, could estimate the value of the speaker, Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī, simply by his uttering yathādhītam and yathā-mati, and therefore he was very glad to congratulate him in ecstasy.  No learned man should be willing to hear a person who does not represent the original ācārya   Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 1:”Creation” : The Appearance of Sri Narada : SB 1.4.1

“…Ācāryam mām vijānīyān.  Krsna says, “Ācārya means I am.” Nāvamanyeta karhicit: “Do not try to neglect.” Na martya-buddhyāsūyeta:” Do not consider ācārya, spiritual master, as ordinary human being and become envious.” These things are warned. Ācāryam mām vijānīyān nāvamanyeta karhicit, na martya-buddhyāsūyeta [SB 11.17.27]. Familiarity breeds contempt.  That is not good…”    Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures : Canto 6: Lectures : SB 6.1: Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.28-29 — Philadelphia, July 13, 1975

‘The spiritual master is as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore one who is very serious about spiritual advancement must regard the spiritual master in this way. Even a slight deviation from this understanding can create disaster in the disciple’s Vedic studies and austerities” Books : Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 7: “The Science of God” : SB 7.15: Instructions for Civilized Human Beings : SB 7.15.27

Srila Prabhupada: …throw him away, “Go away. I have now learned.” Guru-mara-vidya, to, the knowledge of how to kill guru. Guru-mara-vidya. Their, the philosophy is that you cannot rise up. You take a ladder. But as soon as you rise, throw away the ladder. No more. No more needed. That is Mayavada philosophy . Our philosophy is dhyayan stuvams tasya yasas tri-sandhyam.  (Morning Walk 1973

“The instructions given to the disciple by the Spiritual Master at the time of initiation should be strictly followed. That will make one advance to the spiritual path. But if one deliberately defies such instructions, then his advancement is hampered from the very beginning. This defying means to disconnect the relationship with the Spiritual Master. And anyone who defies and therefore disconnects the relationship with the Spiritual Master can hardly expect the assistance of the Spiritual Master life after life. I hope this will clear up this question sufficiently for you …”   (Letter to Jayapataka Los Angeles, 1969)

SRILA PRABHUPADA RE: WHATEVER THE SPIRITUAL MASTER SAYS IS PERFECT.

Jayādvaita: Just like Gaura-kiśora could not write. So it appeared that he did not, there was something that he did not know, although he knew Krsna.

Srila Prabhupāda: Yes. He knows everything. Otherwise how Bhaktisiddhānta accepted him as guru? He knows Krsna. That’s all.

Nalinī-kānta: Whatever the spiritual master says, that is also perfect?

Srila Prabhupāda: Yes. Because he says nothing concocted. Whatever he says, he says from śāstra, and guru
Conversations 1975, Morning Walk — April 8, 1975, Mayapur.

“Regarding the first question in your letter about how do we know of the spiritual abodes since once going there no one returns, you should know that the great liberated souls and incarnations who appear from time to time in this material world are not actually coming back, because they are never subject to material contamination or the laws of material nature. For the purpose of delivering the fallen living entities they come here temporarily and then go back when their business is finished, and this is all under the direct order of the Lord. So the appearance of the Lord or the great liberated souls in the material is different from the appearance of the contaminated living entity who is forced to take birth in the material world due to his desire to lord it over the world…” Letter to: Vrndavanesvari — New Vrindaban 6 June, 1969.

BUT WHY WOULD ANYONE EVEN ATTEMPT TO FIND FAULT WITH OR DEPRECATE THE POSITION OF AN EXALTED ACARYA, ESPECIALLY SOMEONE LIKE SRILA PRABHUPADA AND THE PREVIOUS ACARYAS [MAHAJANAS].

“Influenced by an envious temperament and dissatisfied because of an attitude of sense gratification, mundaners criticize a real acarya. In fact, however, a bona fide acarya is non-different from the Personality of Godhead. And therefore to envy such an acarya is to envy the Personality of Godhead Himself. This will produce an effect subversive to transcendental realization.” Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition   The Spiritual Masters : Adi 1.46

BUT WHAT TO DO? SRILA PRABHUPADA GIVES A SOLUTION.

In Bhagavad-gita there is reference to bodhayantah parasparam, “discussing among themselves.” Generally pure devotees utilize their valuable time in chanting and discussing various activities of Lord Krsna or Lord Caitanya amongst themselves. There are innumerable books, such as the Puranas, Mahabharata, Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita and Upanisads, which contain countless subjects for discussion among two devotees or more. Friendship should be cemented between persons with mutual interests and understanding. Such persons are said to be sva jati, “of the same caste.” The devotee should avoid a person whose character is not fixed in the standard understanding; even though he may be a Vaisnava, or a devotee of Krsna, if his character is not correctly representative, then he should be avoided. One should steadily control the senses and the mind and strictly follow the rules and regulations, and he should make friendship with persons of the same standard. But what to do? Srila Prabhupada gives a solution. SB 3.29.17 Explanation of Devotional Service by Lord Kapila

YOU HAVE ALSO GIVEN THE SOLUTION OF HOW TO DEAL WITH THOSE PERSONS WHO DO NOT REPRESENT THE ORIGINAL ACARYA.

Personal realization does not mean that one should, out of vanity, attempt to show one’s own learning by trying to surpass the previous ācārya.  He must have full confidence in the previous ācārya, and at the same time he must realize the subject matter so nicely that he can present the matter for the particular circumstances in a suitable manner.  The original purpose of the text must be maintained.  No obscure meaning should be screwed out of it, yet it should be presented in an interesting manner for the understanding of the audience.  This is called realization. The leader of the assembly, Śaunaka, could estimate the value of the speaker, Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī, simply by his uttering yathādhītam and yathā-mati, and therefore he was very glad to congratulate him in ecstasy.  No learned man should be willing to hear a person who does not represent the original ācārya   Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 1:”Creation” : SB 1.4: The Appearance of Sri Narada : SB 1.4.1

“HE LIVES FOREVER HIS DIVINE INSTRUCTIONS
AND THE FOLLOWER LIVES WITH HIM”

Srila Prabhupada’s dedication to the Srimad-Bhagavatam, New Delhi, India 1962

HARE KṚṢṆA HARE KṚṢṆA KṚṢṆA KṚṢṆA HARE HARE
HARE RĀMA HARE RĀMA RĀMA RĀMA HARE HARE