Appearance

Only a very small minority of the population took an interest in his teachings. And we can see, as a result, what they did to him.

But the Vedic literature, such as the Bhagavad-gita, was written down around the time of the appearance of the Lord Himself when there were many devotees. This enabled Him to give the teachings in all their completeness for the benefit of all human beings in this age.

Q. You say that the Vedic literature written some 5,000 years ago offers a complete guide to spiritual perfection. And you say that Lord Jesus Christ, who came roughly three thousand years later, was a perfect teacher. Yet Jesus never referred to the Vedic teachings. One wonders why.

A. Lord Jesus Christ taught exactly the same things contained in the Vedic literature-that is, performing activities that would help one develop a love for God.

It was not necessary for him to refer by name in order to identify any particular teaching. Lord Jesus Christ appeared quite obviously at a time when the world was lacking in spiritual guidance.

The people of those times studied the Old Testament and the Torah. The intelligent devotee who wants to make knowledge palatable to the people must speak in a language they will understand. The time has come about when there are many people all over the world, particularly young people, who are seriously endeavouring to search out the truth.

My guru, my spiritual teacher, by the mercy of the Lord, has made the original teachings available to everyone.

Q. Isn't the Bible available to everyone, and does it not also offer a complete guidance to salvation?

A. If someone seriously follows the teachings of Lord Jesus as contained in the Bible, he will certainly advance spiritually.

The main difficulty is in translation and change. By nature everyone has a tendency to interpret what they see and hear and read. In order for spiritual knowledge not to be interpreted, it must pass down in a line of teachers without change, without addition, without subtraction.

Q. How do you know that the Vedic literature has not changed over 5,000 years?

A. The idea is that my guru is in a line of disciples coming directly from the appearance of Lord Krsna. His teachings have not changed one iota from when Lord Krsna spoke the knowledge 5,000 years ago. Therefore the potency remains.

Q. How well documented is this line of succession? Are the disciples of Krsna recorded in history?

A. We have a list of names. They are in Vedic history. But the greatest evidence of the potency of the spiritual path is the results of the activity. Are the disciples becoming purified? Are they stopping their nonsense activity? Are they developing a love of God?