Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah
BY: MAHESH RAJA
Mar 16, UK (SUN) — Mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ
We have to FOLLOW Srila Prabhupada the mahājana - the great authority.
SB 3.16.23 Purport - The Two Doorkeepers of Vaikuntha, Jaya and Vijaya, Cursed by the Sages
"In Bhagavad-gita it is stated by the Lord Himself that the acts and character of great authorities are followed by people in general. Leaders of ideal character are therefore needed in society. Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, appeared in this material world just to show the example of perfect authority, and people have to follow His path. The Vedic injunction is that one cannot understand the Absolute Truth simply by mental speculation or logical argument. One has to follow the authorities. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah. Great authorities should be followed; otherwise, if we simply depend on the scriptures, we are sometimes misled by rascals, or else we cannot understand or follow the different spiritual injunctions. The best path is to follow the authorities."
Many thanks to Harakumara das Prabhu for a very appropriate article response o Balavidya prabhu.
http://harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/03-08/editorials2631.htm
I would like to address the two points Balavidya prabhu has made:
a) Rtvik -- sastric references
b) Souls falldown from Vaikuntha/Goloka -- which he denies
a) Rtvik -- Sastric References
Balavidya Prabhu says there is no sastric reference so it can not be accepted. But WHERE is Balavidya prabhu's sastric reference in what Srila Prabhupada did AND was accepted FULLY without his so-called sastric references?
Here are just a few examples;
1) He got his disciples married -- Sannyasis do not do this.
2) He gave Gayatri mantra in tape -- it was never done before
3) He asked a devotees wife to chant Gayatri mantra and asked the devotee to hear from his wife -- this was never done before.
Here Srila Prabhupada is showing us he as the EMPOWERED ACARYA the mahajana sets the precedents this is unique because there is NO TRADITION in the vedic culture where a wife chants the Gayatri mantra and the husband hears. Also hearing the Gayatri mantra from Srila Prabhupada's tape this is also unique traditionally it is given by the acarya BUT Srila Prabhupada asked they simply hear HIM chant FROM a TAPE. So those who say Ritvik---there is no precedent in our Vedic culture should understand SRILA PRABHUPADA IS THE ACARYA----HE SETS THE PRECEDENTS! We are not following some blind traditions we follow Srila Prabhupada THE MAHAJANA - GREAT AUTHORITY who set so many examples so that according to the time place and circumstances we can function as a varnasrama institution.
71-04-04. Letter: Vaikunthanatha, Saradia
EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE HAD NO GAYATRI MANTRA, STILL YOU ARE MORE THAN BRAHMANA. I am enclosing herewith your sacred thread, duly chanted on by me. Gayatri mantra is as follows:
[TAKEN OUT]
ASK YOUR WIFE TO CHANT THIS MANTRA AND YOU HEAR IT and if possible hold a fire ceremony as you have seen during your marriage and get this sacred thread on your body. SARADIA, OR ANY TWICE-INITIATED DEVOTEE, MAY PERFORM THE CEREMONY.
All the change was in terms of FORMALITY (THE CEREMONY) of initiations described as "That is not very important thing". Srila prabhupada says, "the FORMALITIES may be slightly changed here and there to make them Vaisnavas".
That's all. And that formalities was as per Pancaratriki Viddhi. Refer to my article:
http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/11-07/editorials2223.htm
SB 4.8.54 P Dhruva Maharaja Leaves Home for the Forest
Those who are not actually in the line of acaryas, or who personally have no knowledge of how to act in the role of acarya, unnecessarily criticize the activities of the ISKCON movement in countries outside of India. The fact is that such critics cannot do anything personally to spread Krsna consciousness. If someone does go and preach, taking all risks and allowing all considerations for time and place, it might be that there are changes in the manner of worship, but that is not at all faulty according to sastra. Srimad Viraraghava Acarya, an acarya in the disciplic succession of the Ramanuja-sampradaya, has remarked in his commentary that candalas, or conditioned souls who are born in lower than sudra families, can also be INITIATED according to circumstances. The FORMALITIES may be slightly changed here and there to make them Vaisnavas.
761016iv.cha - Conversations
Interviewer: What is the procedure of the movement? Do you initiate yourself all the disciples or do your other disciples also do that?
Prabhupada: Well, initiation or no initiation, first thing is knowledge. (break) ...knowledge. Initiation is formality. Just like you go to a school for knowledge, and admission is formality. That is not very important thing.
Whereas Srila Prabhupada (Uttama adhikari) DELIVERS by giving DIKSA knowledge the FORMALITY is conducted by the Rtviks (Representatives). Refer to my article:
http://harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/12-07/editorials2330.htm
Madhya 22.65 - The Process of Devotional Service
uttama-adhikari--the topmost devotee; sei--he; taraye samsara--can deliver the whole world.
Karma is taken by UTTAMA-ADHAKARI Srila Prabhupada. Only he can DELIVER by definition. uttama-adhikari Sei taraye samsara.
The Rtvik is a PRIEST and this is evidenced in Srimad Bhagavatam see references below. Since there were Rtviks in the past WHAT is unsastric about their use NOW in the present or future? How can you say the RTVIKS can not be part of Vedic culture? Priest is not part of Vedic culture?
We can see Srila Prabhupada was USING Rtviks for FORMALITY of 1st and 2nd initiations as per July 9th 1977 letter and the disciples were to be Srila Prabhupada's NOT the Rtviks.
How can you deny Rtviks being part of Vedic culture?
Even sub-Vedic cultures use PRIESTS so why deny Rtviks?
Srimad-Bhagavatam:
Ritvik : 4.6.1 / 4.7.16 / 5.3.2 / 5.3.3 / 5.4.17 / 7.3.20 / 8.20.22 / 9.1.15
Rtvijah : 4.5.7 / 4.5.18 / 4.7.27 / 4.7.45 / 4.13.26 / 4.19.27 / 4.19.29 / 5.3.4 / 5.3.15 / 5.3.18 / 5.7.5 8.16.53 / 8.18.21 /8.18.22 / 9.4.23 / 9.6.3
Rtvijam : 4.6.52 / 4.21.5 / 8.23.13 / 9.13.1
Rtvigbhyah : 8.16.55
Rtvigbhih : 4.7.56 / 9.13.3
http://harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/12-07/editorials2265.htm
In my article I mentioned that one accepting Srila Prabhupada's DISCIPLINE is FACTUALLY Srila Prabhupada's disciple
What EXTRA discipline can ANY of these bogus GBC Voted-In conditioned soul opportunist "gurus" give that is NOT in Srila Prabhupada's books, Tapes, CDs?
ALL the DISCIPLINE is FACTUALLY coming FROM Srila Prabhupada starting with 4 regulative principles and chanting 16 rounds Hare Krsna Maha mantra. Srila Prabhupada's books/tapes/cds are FULL with DISCIPLINE and it is THIS DISCIPLINE that makes DISCIPLE.
The MEANING of the word "disciple"
Srila Prabhupada's Morning Walk, March 8, 1976 in Mayapur:
Prabhupada: "Discipline... Disciple means discipline. The word discipline comes from disciple, or disciple comes from discipline. So unless there is discipline, there is no question of disciple. This discipline must... That should be uniform. Otherwise, sisya... sisya, the word sisya, it comes from the root, verb, sas-dhatu. sas. sas means ruling. From this word, sasana. Sasana means government. sastra. sashtra means weapon, and sastra, scripture, and sisya... These things have come from the one root sas-dhatu. So sas-dhatu means ruling under discipline. There is another English word, that "Obedience is the first law of discipline," or something. They say, "Obedience is the first law of discipline"? So I am right? "Obedience is..."? That is the...
Tamala Krsna: Yes, that's more or less what it is.
Prabhupada: No, what is the word, exact. There is an English word. "Obedience is the first law of discipline." So unless there is obedience, there cannot be any discipline. And unless there is discipline, there is no question of disciple. DISCIPLE MEANS ONE WHO FOLLOWS DISCIPLINE."
b)Souls falldown from Vaikuntha/Goloka -- which he denies
Instead of accepting the evidence FROM Srila Prabhupada you can see Balavidya prabhu denies him. This is called living in denial. This is his sheer lack of honesty. The whole philosophy is understood in terms of SIMULTANEOUS ONENESS AND DIFFRENCE . I have already explained here:
http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/01-08/editorials2417.htm
Lets see further evidence HOW Balavidya prabhu lives in denial by NOT accepting Srila Prabhupada:
Srila Prabhupada qualifies the word USUALLY does not fall down
Letter to Jagadish, 4.25.70
"Regarding your questions concerning the spirit soul's falling into maya's influence, it is not that those who have developed a passive relationship with Krishna are more likely to fall into nescient activities. Usually, anyone who has developed his relationship with Krishna does not fall down in any circumstances, but because the independence is always there, the soul may fall down from any position or any relationship by misusing his independence. But his relationship with Krishna is never lost. Simply it is forgotten by the influence of maya, so it may be regained or revived by the process of hearing the Holy Name..."
When fall takes place, it means falling down from the non-fallen condition. Bramajoti fall down(the impersonal brahma) is non Krsna Conscious condition consequently it is FALLEN condition also. So where is NOT FALLEN condition? Vaikuntha.
70-06-13. Letter: Revatinandana
The next question, about the living entities falling down in this material world are not from the impersonal brahman. Existence in the impersonal brahma is also within the category of non-Krsna consciousness. Those who are in the brahman effulgence they are also in the fallen condition, so there is no question of falling down from a fallen condition. When fall takes place, it means falling down from the non-fallen condition.
Here Srila Prabhupada makes it very clear -- Because we have also come down from Vaikuntha some millions and millions of years ago -- What can be more clear?
730806BG.LON - Lectures
"Because we have also come down from Vaikuntha some millions and millions of years ago. Anadi karama-phale. Anadi means before the creation. We living entities, we are eternal. Even the creation is annihilated after millions and trillions of years, the living entities, they are not annihilated. Na hanyate hanyamane sarire. They remain. So when this whole cosmic manifestation will be annihilated, the living entities will remain in the body of Visnu. Then when again another creation will take place, they will come out again to fulfill their desires. The real desire is how to go to home, back to Godhead.
So this chance is given. So if this chance is misused, this life, human form of life, it is very, very risky. Again we will have to accept the cycle of birth and death. And not only that, if we do not fulfill the mission of life, then again there will be annihilation of the whole creation and we will have to stay within the body of Visnu for millions and trillions of years. Again we will have to come. So therefore it is called anadi karama-phale. Anadi means "before the creation." This is going on. And to teach the befooled living entities, Krsna personally comes. Krsna is very much anxious to take us back to home, back to Godhead. Because we are part and parcel of Krsna. Suppose if your son is loitering in the street, are you not anxious, "Oh, there may be some accident, and the poor boy will be killed." So you go, try to find out. Similarly, Krsna's position is like that. We are in this material world simply suffering life after life. Duhkhalayam asasvatam. This place is miserable. But maya's illusion, we are taking this miserable condition of life as happiness. This is called maya."
We do not even know how many creations we have been, in and out. But one important factor is that the original fall was from Vaikuntha. If we say before creation, then we have to ask which creation?
REINSTATED how can one be reinstated UNLESS he comes FROM the ORIGINAL plane of service in VAIKUNTHA?
NOD Ch 9 - Submission
This desiring some perfectional stage in spiritual life is not sense gratification. When one realizes something of his constitutional relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he understands his original position and wants to be reinstated in this position, either as friend, servant, parent or conjugal lover of Krsna. That is called lalasamayi, or very eagerly desiring to go to one's natural position. This lalasamayi stage of submission comes in the stage of perfect liberation, which is technically called svarupa-siddhi, when the living entity understands, by perfect spiritual advancement and revelation, his original relationship with the Lord."
FORMERLY WE WERE WITH KRSNA IN HIS LILA OR SPORT. This is VERY clear. HOW can ANYONE deny this?
Crow And Tal-Fruit Logic
We never had any occasion when we were separated from Krsna. Just like one man is dreaming and he forgets himself. In dream he creates himself in different forms: now I am the King discussing like that. This creation of himself is as seer and subject matter or seen, two things. But as soon as the dream is over, the "seen" disappears. But the seer remains. Now he is in his original position.
Our separation from Krsna is like that. We dream this body and so many relationships with other things. First the attachment comes to enjoy sense gratification. Even with Krsna desire for sense gratification is there. There is a dormant attitude for forgetting Krsna and creating an atmosphere for enjoying independently. Just like at the edge of the beach, sometimes the water covers, sometimes there is dry sand, coming and going. Our position is like that, sometimes covered, sometimes free, just like at the edge of the tide. As soon as we forget, immediately the illusion is there. Just like as soon as we sleep, dream is there.
We cannot say therefore that we are not with Krsna. As soon as we try to become Lord, immediately we are covered by Maya. FORMERLY WE WERE WITH KRSNA IN HIS LILA OR SPORT. But this covering of Maya may be of very, very, very, very long duration, therefore many creations are coming and going. Due to this long period of time it is sometimes said that we are ever-conditioned. But his long duration of time becomes very insignificant when one actually comes to Krsna consciousness. Just like in a dream we are thinking very long time, but as soon as we awaken we look at our watch and see it has been a moment only. Just like with Krsna's friends, they were kept asleep for one year by Brahma, but when they woke up and Krsna returned before them, they considered that only a moment had passed.
So this dreaming condition is called non-liberated life, and this is just like a dream. Although in this material calculation it is a long, long period, as soon as we come to Krsna consciousness then this period is considered as a second. For example, Jaya and Vijaya. They had their lila with Krsna, but they had to come down for their little mistake. They were given mukti, emerging into the Brahmasayujya after being killed three times as demons. This Brahmasayujya mukti is non-permanent. Every living entity wants pleasure, but Brahmasayujya is minus pleasure. There is eternal existence only. So when they do not find transcendental bliss, they fall down to make a compromise with material bliss. Just like Vivekananda founded so many schools and hospitals. So even Lord Brahma, he is still material and wants to lord it over. He may come down to become a germ, but then he may rise up to Krsna consciousness and go back to home, back to Godhead. This is the position.
So when I say Yes, there is eternal lila with Krsna, that means on the evidence of Jaya-Vijaya. Unless one develops full devotional service to Krsna, he goes up only up to Brahmasayujya but falls down. But after millions and millions of years of keeping oneself away from the lila of the Lord, when one comes to Krsna consciousness this period becomes insignificant, just like dreaming.
BECAUSE HE FALLS DOWN FROM BRAHMASAYUJYA, HE THINKS THAT MAY BE HIS ORIGIN, BUT HE DOES NOT REMEMBER THAT BEFORE THAT EVEN HE WAS WITH KRSNA. So the conclusion is that whatever may be our past, let us come to Krsna consciousness and immediately join Krsna. Just like with a diseased man, it is a waste of time to try to find out how he has become diseased, better to spend time curing the disease.
Conclusion:
Lord Sri Krsna is the benefactor of TRUTHFUL devotee NOT one who is living denial or who resorts to twisting Srila Prabhupada's words to suit his ego. These passages are transparent or self-effulgent so clear because they are surcharged by Srila Prabhupada's words . Anyone who is honest can understand and appreciate.
Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.17 T -- Divinity and Divine Service
śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ
puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ
hṛdy antaḥ-stho hy abhadrāṇi
vidhunoti suhṛt satām
TRANSLATION
Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramatma [Supersoul] in everyone's heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed the urge to hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted.
Download: PDF
Mahajano_yena_gatah_sa_panthah.pdf
