Innovations by a Dynamic Ācārya

Not only do Srila Prabhupada's Godbrothers refuse to help Srila Prabhupada spread the teachings of Lord Caitanya, but they unfortunately criticize his accomplishments. In the very beginning they wrote from India that it simply wasn't possible to make devotees out of mlecchas (heathens who do not follow the four Vedic prohibitions against meat-eating, illicit sex, gambling and intoxication). Their conclusion was exactly opposite to the teachings of Lord Caitanya and the historic mission of Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. Thus Srila Prabhupada found himself having to preach the teachings of Lord Caitanya to his own Godbrothers, as if they were the same caste conscious brahmanas who have continuously opposed Lord Caitanya's mission.

They criticized Srila Prabhupada's being addressed as "Prabhupada." They maintained that only Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati deserved to have that title and that His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was being disrespectful by proclaiming himself Prabhupada. Actually, however, the term "Prabhupada" came to be used because some of Prabhupada's disciples wanted to address their beloved spiritual master with a term more respectful than "Swamiji" or "Guruji," which are used to address an ordinary sannyasi. Then an article appeared in an early Back to Godhead to settle the matter: "PRABHUPADA. The word Prabhupada is a term of the utmost reverence in Vedic religious circles, and it signifies a great saint even among saints. The word actually has two meanings: first, one at whose feet (pada) there are many prabhus (a term meaning 'master,' which the disciples of a guru use in addressing each other). The second meaning is one who is always found at the lotus feet of Krsna (the supreme master).

"In the line of disciplic succession through which Krsna consciousness is conveyed to mankind, there have been a number of figures of such spiritual importance as to be called Prabhupada. Srila Rūpa Gosvami Prabhupada executed the will of his master, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and therefore he and his associate Gosvamis are called Prabhupada. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Thakura executed the will of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, and therefore he is also addressed as Prabhupada. Our Spiritual Master, Om Visnupada 108 Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja, has, in the same way, executed the will of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada in carrying the message of love of Krsna to the Western world, and therefore we American and European humble servants of His Divine Grace, from all the different centers of the sahkirtana movement, have followed in the footsteps of Srila Rūpa Gosvami Prabhupada, and prefer to address His Grace our Spiritual Master as Prabhupada, and he has kindly said 'Yes.' "

Next, the Godbrothers audaciously claimed that Srila Prabhupada was mixing boys and girls together, especially on the chanting and preaching parties. Vedic culture rigidly controls the relations between men and women. If a girl even goes out of home alone at night, she is immediately rejected by her family members. A sannyasi cannot even speak to a woman in a secluded place nor be alone with even his mother or sister. Lord Caitanya would not allow a woman to come near Him, even to offer obeisances, nor would He allow Himself to hear the female temple attendants (dasis) singing religious songs. However, what Srila Prabhupada found when he came to the U.S.A. was quite a different style of life. Co-ed dormitories, legalized abortions and free distribution of contraceptives are all part of the modern permissiveness of Western materialistic civilization. Understandably, Srila Prabhupada thought that as soon as he would introduce the four prohibitions, all the early students would go away. Americans were too accustomed to unrestricted mixing of the sexes for them all to become sannyasis (lifelong celibates) and to follow all strictures. Srila Prabhupada thought it better for their spiritual life for them to marry and restrict themselves to one husband or wife. But who would arrange for them to marry? Being a sannyasi himself, Srila Prabhupada was forbidden to have anything to do with household life. But he was alone in America, so he overstepped the rule and personally performed the marriage ceremonies for his students according to Vedic rites. (Now that disciples are qualified, all marriages are performed by ISKCON's temple presidents.)

Srila Prabhupada modified other devotional practices to introduce the teachings of Lord Caitanya abroad. For instance, he has set the minimum number of "rounds" to be chanted on the meditation beads at sixteen (approximately two hours of time) rather than the sixty-four rounds Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati had set for his disciples. This is because Americans are generally not inclined to lengthy periods of meditation. This genius for adopting new ways to extend the teachings of Lord Caitanya is the very qualification of a real acarya. Caitanya-caritamrta describes how Lord Caitanya devised many methods and even tricks, in particular His sannyasa, just to get all opposition to become Krsna conscious. An acarya does not follow hackneyed methods; he introduces dynamic ways to preach Krsna consciousness. Unfortunately, however, those who do not have the conviction or spiritual potency to spread the teachings of Lord Caitanya beyond their dutiful circle of pious widows just plod along in the same stereotyped way and jealously criticize the real achievement.