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Imported quote 15302 It is Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's wish that everyone should become a Vaisnava and guru. Following the instructions of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His disciplic succession, one can become a spiritual master, for the process is very easy. One can go everywhere and anywhere to preach the instructions of Krsna. Bhagavad-gita is Krsna's instructions; therefore the duty of every Vaisnava is to travel and preach Bhagavad-gita, either in his country or a foreign country. This is the test of sparsa-mani, following in the footsteps of Narada Muni.
(More...) Imported quote 15918 "There is no more superior authority than Me." And if you take it as it is, and if you speak to the people that "There is no more superior authority than Krsna," then you become guru. You become guru. You don't change, then you become guru. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has instructed this. Amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa [Cc Madhya 7.128]. His..., He was preaching. So He was preaching everyone, from country to country. Of course, He did not go outside India. Within India. And He was instructing that "You learn from Me and teach your people within this village, within this country." Amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa. Ei desa means "this country, or this place where you are living." Then? Amara ajnaya guru hana. You become guru. So one may think that "I am illiterate. I have no education. I am not born in very high family. How I can become guru?" So Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that "It is not very difficult." Yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa [Cc Madhya 7.128]. Bas. You become guru. You simply speak whatever Krsna speaks. Then you become guru. So anyone who does not speak what Krsna has spoken, he's not guru; he's a rascal. He cannot be guru. He is guru who speaks only what Krsna has spoken. This is the sastric injunction.
(More...) Imported quote 16763 Lord Caitanya says that "Every one of you become the spiritual master. Every one of you. Why one, two? Every one of you." "Oh, spiritual master is very difficult job." No. No difficult job. Caitanya Maha... Amara ajnaya: "Just try to carry out My order. That's all. Then you become spiritual master." And if you interpolate, if you put something nonsense, rubbish, to show your so-called rascal's education, then it is spoiled. Immediately spoiled. And if you present as it is, then it is pure.
(More...) Imported quote 16879 So this Krsna consciousness movement is giving chance to everyone to hear from the authoritative sources, from the sastra. Sadhu sastra guru. These are authorities. So instead of hearing from the unauthorized persons, means... Sadhu means who speaks on the basis of sastra. Guru means who speaks on the basis of sastra. They're sadhu guru sastra. And sastra means the statement of authorities. That is sastra. Just like Bhagavad-gita: it is sastra because it is spoken by the supreme guru, Krsna. So who is guru? At the present moment so many unauthorized persons are presenting themselves as guru. But you should be very careful. Guru, Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said, amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa [Cc Madhya 7.128].
(More...) Imported quote 16964 Krsna wants everyone, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg 18.66]. A guru's business is that. Guru does not mean that he takes the position of Krsna. He simply teaches people that "You accept Krsna the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You surrender unto Him. You always think of Him. You always offer your obeisances. You become a pure devotee of Krsna." This is guru's business. It is not very difficult. Anyone who is sincerely following Krsna's instruction and instructing others also to do that, that is acarya. Apani acari prabhu jivere sikhaya. This is acarya. You behave yourself exactly as it is stated in the sastra, as it is ordered by Caitanya Mahaprabhu, as it is ordered by Krsna... Apani acari jivere sikhaya. And you teach all your disciples, who comes to you as your disciples, teach them. This is acarya.
(More...) Imported quote 16969 So our this Krsna consciousness movement is trying to enlighten people so that they can accept these principles of Bhagavad-gita. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission is para-upakara. And He advises everyone, especially Indian, to become guru. He said, amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa [Cc Madhya 7.128]: "Every one of you, you become a guru and try to deliver the persons where you are living." "So how can I become guru?" "Yes, it is very easy." "What is that?" Yare dekha tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa [Cc Madhya 7.128], then you become guru. You simply repeat what Krsna has said in the Bhagavad-gita, you become guru. To become guru is not... But if you want to be a bluffer, cheater, then you can talk all nonsense. But if you actually talk only Krsna's words, then you become a guru. It is not very difficult.
(More...) Imported quote 17290 First of all make yourself perfect. You can make yourself perfect because in the Bharata-varsa there are this Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Vedic literature. Just study them. And therefore we are publishing so many books on the basis of Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, and people are appreciating very much all over the world. So it is the duty of every Indian to make his life perfect by understanding Bhagavad-gita at least, and spread the message. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission. Yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa [Cc Madhya 7.128]. Every one of you can become a guru. He says that. Amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa. Wherever you are, you can deliver the persons, surrounding person in your neighborhood. "How can I become guru? I have no qualification." No. There is no need of qualification. Simply repeat. Yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa [Cc Madhya 7.128]. Very simple thing. Anyone you meet: "My dear friend, just hear little." "What is that?" "Now, Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You kindly think of Krsna. Just offer your obeisances to Krsna, just become a bhakta and chant His holy name." Bas. Your gurugiri is finished. So it is not very difficult task. Anyone can do this. And then everyone will be benefited. And that is Krsna consciousness movement.
(More...) Imported quote 17395 And how one becomes guru? That is also very easy. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, yare dekha tare kaha krsna upadesa [Cc Madhya 7.128]. You haven't got to manufacture anything. Simply you try to repeat the instruction of Bhagavad-gita, krsna upadesa. Not only Bhagavad-gita; there are many other instructions. Especially Bhagavad-gita. So if you simply carry the message of Bhagavad-gita, then you become guru. Don't manufacture anything. Then it will be spoiled. Simply stick primarily... Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg 18.65]. You can..., everyone can say this. Krsna says that "You always think of Me." So you can repeat only. You can say to others, "My dear sir, please think of Krsna." It doesn't require very much education. Simply just like a peon carry the message: "Sir, you always think of Krsna." Man-mana. Then you become guru.
(More...) Imported quote 17909 Krsna-upadesa. "You become a spiritual master under My order." Under His order. Don't manufacture yourself. Under the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. That is called parampara system: one who is following in disciplic succession the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. And what is the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu? Yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa. Don't advising your rascaldom. Krsna-upadesa, what Krsna has said, you just tell him; you become spiritual master. That's all. It does not become..., very difficult to become spiritual master. The rascals, they fail, because they do not say anything which Krsna says. He manufactures something. He wants to take the place of Krsna. This rascaldom will never make you happy. You have to follow as Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa [Cc Madhya 7.128]. Then you become guru. To become guru is not at all difficult, provided you follow the right instruction of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Then everyone can become-expand, expand. You have learned something about Krsna consciousness, now you rightly distribute them, then you will increase your group. But if you want to manufacture something of your own concoction, that will not act. That will not... That will be gramophone. No. [break]
(More...) Imported quote 17930 The special feature of the pure devotee is that his work is entirely selfless, because he works entirely for the pleasure of God. Everyone else acts in this world to maintain family or paraphernalia with some self-interest and personal gratification. The gratification may be concentrated, or it may be extended. One may be out to become famous himself or to become a great enjoyer, or he may wish to extend material benefits to his family or to humanity at large. But all these are still on the platform of selfish bodily interest. The criterion of perfection is to act in God consciousness and not with a view to enjoying the fruits of work, either locally, nationally or internationally. To act in God consciousness is the duty of every living entity, because we are all constitutionally parts and parcels of the Supreme. It is only the atheistic propaganda which has turned men to think that they are dead-end material entities unto themselves, and that there is no good except working futilely at objectives within this material life. The greatest disservice has been rendered by those who have turned men away from their natural connection with God, who is readily seen as the proprietor of everything in the universe. As the limbs of the body constitutionally work for the satisfaction of the whole body, so the living entity who acts for the satisfaction of the Supreme Whole is the perfect, selfless worker. Even among religionists, the yogis and impersonal philosophers, although acting on a level more elevated than the ordinary worker, are still not without self-interest. Either they desire to become liberated in the impersonal spiritual existence, or they desire to cease material activities in order to gain mystic perfections for the satisfaction of the personal self. But a pure devotee (the skeptic asks, "Where does such purity exist?"), acting in God consciousness, works for the satisfaction of the whole without self-interest. He has no desire for self-satisfaction. His criterion of success is the satisfaction of Krsna. Thus Lord Caitanya prays, "O almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor to enjoy beautiful women, nor do I want any number of followers, but what I want only is the causeless mercy of Your devotional service in my life, birth after birth." [Cc Antya 20.29] Working in this pure consciousness and with the potent possession of love of God, such a worker can actually deliver anyone to the highest happiness. It is therefore stated in the Vedic scriptures that even a moment's association with a pure devotee can grant one all success. An unfortunate person will doubt that such purity exists or whether a devotee has the ability to give God consciousness to the masses. But one who actually meets a pure devotee can be given these highest gifts from him and will realize it without a doubt. Although they are very rare, such great souls have walked the earth throughout history. To hear of their activities is very beneficial, but it must be done with true understanding and not in the mood of psychological analysis or faultfinding, which we may apply to an ordinary person.
(More...) Imported quote 18086 There is a parampara system, as it is described in the Bhagavad-gita, Fourth Chapter: evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduḥ [Bg 4.2]. So our business, Krsna conscious people, our business is very easy, because we don't manufacture ideas. We take the idea and the words delivered by the Supreme Person, Krsna, or His incarnation or His representative. His representative does not say anything which the master does not say. Representative is very easy. You can become representative of Krsna if you do not interpret Krsna's words in your whimsical way. Krsna says, mattaḥ parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya [Bg 7.7]:
(More...) Imported quote 18373 So that is our mission. This Krsna consciousness movement is that we are simply trying to convince people what Krsna has said, that's all. We are not manufacturing anything. So that is our business. Krsna says, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg 18.65]. We are training our disciples, "Just always think of Krsna, chant Hare Krsna and become Krsna's devotee, offer Him prasadam, dress Him nicely." Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji: "Worship Me." Worship Krsna, the same thing. Krsna says, "Worship Me"; we are saying, "Worship Krsna." Krsna says, "Surrender unto Me"; we are saying, "Surrender to Krsna." So we have no difficulty. To become a guru there is no difficulty, provided we repeat the same thing as Krsna says. And if you say something more or less, then you are not a guru. Very simple thing. Very simple thing.
(More...) Imported quote 18499 This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's advice. Yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa. It is not very difficult. You haven't got to become very learned scholar to become guru. Guru's business is to give the right information. That is guru. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, amara ajnaya guru hana: "Every one of you become guru." "Oh, I am not a learned man," or "I am this, I am that. How can I become guru?" Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "No, it is very easy thing." Yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa.
(More...) And what is the real thing? That is explained by Krsna: sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg 18.66]. You take this mission, "My dear sir, you give up everything nonsense. You simply surrender to Krsna." Then you become guru. Is it very difficult to become guru? No. But we shall not take this business. We shall talk all nonsense and become guru and incarnation and God and so on, so on, and cheat others and cheat oneself. This is going on. Otherwise, to become guru is not at all difficult. Simply you surrender yourself to Krsna. You become abhayam sattva-suddhiḥ. You become fearless: "Yes, I am now under the protection of Krsna. I have no more fear. I don't care for anyone. I simply take to Krsna." Akuto-bhayam. Akuto-bhayam. This is said by Kapiladeva also. All sastra says like that, and Krsna also says the same thing in the Bhagavad-gita, bhaktya mam abhijanati [Bg 18.55]: "If you want to know Me, then it is through bhakti, not your so-called jnana and karma and yoga." You will never be able to understand. You will never be able to understand. Naham prakasaḥ sarvasya yoga-maya [Bg 7.25]. You will be simply covered by yoga-maya. This is not possible. Bhakti means surrender.
(More...) Prabhupada: [Transl. There must be. Nature will not spare you, no matter how big wrestler you are.] prakrteḥ kriyamanani gunaiḥ karmani sarvasaḥ [Bg 3.27]. That is nature's arrangement. ahahkara-vimūḍhatma kartaham iti manyate. He is a rascal who is thinking, "I am independent." Rascal number one. Everyone is thinking, "Ah! I am independent." What is their independence? Hmm? [Transl. This is the foolishness. They will not hear. If we give good advice…. upadeso hi mūrkhanam prakopaya na santaye. [Canakya Panḍit] By giving instructions to foolish men, they simply become angry. What to do? Now we have started this mission. It is here. Hear with attention what the Supreme Lord is saying. And tell others about it. This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission that all of you become guru. This is the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. You are a Bihari, a neighbor of West Bengal. Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission is, He is saying; amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa [Cc. Madhya 7.128]. ...In whichever country, whichever village, whichever family, whichever community people have taken birth, deliver them and thus become a guru. This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu. amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa... You don't have to travel all over the world. Those who have capacity they…..wherever you live, preach there only and deliver them. You become a guru. This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission. That you become a guru and wherever you live, you deliver them. So one may argue "how can I become a guru? I don't know anything. I don't know what do I have to do? How can I become a guru?" He says "no, no. Don't be afraid. To become a guru is very simple." "How?" He says "yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa" ….. Whatever instructions Krsna has given, you preach that to others. That's all. Then you will be a Guru." Not that you produce gold, show magic, swindle or cheat people. That is not a guru. Those fellows are all cheaters. yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa... What Krsna said, you tell to others. You are a guru. Is it very difficult for us to repeat what Krsna has spoken? It's all written in Bhagavad-gita. We just have to repeat it. Then we become guru. What do I speak? All these foreigners have come here, did I bribe them, or produced gold or showed some magic? I simply told them, "look, krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28] or Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead", and they have accepted it. "Worship Him. Build His temple." And they worship Him in the temple. Krsna says; manmana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65] ["Always think of Me and become My devotee. Worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend."]... Someone may argue "these people are Mlecchas and Yavanas. How they can serve the Supreme Lord?" The Lord says, "mam hi partha vyapasritya ye 'pi syuḥ papa-yonayaḥ [Bg 9.32]
(More...) Imported quote 19216 Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated June 9, 1972, from Melbourne, and I don't think you have yet got my last letter to you at Sydney. I am very pleased to hear that you are utilizing your good experience for introducing the Ratha Yatra Festival in Australia, I shall be very pleased to see the photos how it is going. I fully approve of your program for traveling, now you combine the sannyasi requirement for traveling extensively, and at the same time as GBC man you shall be my personal secretary for maintaining the highest level of Krishna Consciousness amongst the devotees in your zone. I am very much concerned that the devotees should be given all good instruction and knowledge of Krishna Consciousness, that is the duty of the GBC man. (?) better to utilize time and train the devotees, especially the responsible officers, and they can go out for preaching to non-devotees and making new devotees. But if they do not have any knowledge, how can they go out and preach? So you GBC men are my selected few for insuring that what I am doing will be carried on very nicely for the pleasure of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. So now you must all my senior disciples and leaders become very, very much aware of your grave responsibility to the human society for delivering them from the clutches of catastrophe, and be always cool-headed and utilize every moment in the best manner possible. I am successful only because I am following strictly the orders of my Guru Maharaja, and I do not deviate. Therefore people respect what I am saying and they listen because I do not say one thing and do another. So now you are doing my work and you shall be like me and be yourselves the worthy representatives of our disciplic succession. I am very much stressing at this point that all of my students shall be very much conversant with the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness, and that they should read our books very diligently at least one or two hours daily and try to understand the subject matter from varieties of angles. We are holding our morning class here in Los Angeles in the temple and I am speaking from 7 to 8 am, and the process is that we are going through some chapters of Srimad-Bhagavatam by taking one sloka each day, and reading the Sanskrit aloud, each word is pronounced by me and repeated by the students and then altogether we chant the sloka several times until we have learned it. And then we discuss the subject matter very minutely and inspect it from all angles of approach and savor the new understandings. So you introduce this system in all of the centers in your zone, and you will discover that everyone becomes very much enlivened by these daily classes. Read one sloka and discuss and then go on to the next sloka on the next day, and so on, and even you discuss one verse each day it will take you 50 years to finish Srimad-Bhagavatam in this way. So we have got ample stock for acquiring knowledge. And if the students get knowledge more and more, they will automatically become convinced and very easily perform their duties for tapasya or renunciation of the material bondage, and that will be their successful advancement in Krishna Consciousness. So I want that advancement amongst all of my students, so your are responsible that the standard will be maintained. If Tusta Krsna is so much anxious to acquire a press for New Zealand, there is no harm. I have written to him to use his better judgement in the matter. If you wish to take the small 12-inch Radha Krsna Deities in the parade, that is all right. Hoping this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher,
(More...)A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Imported quote 19508 Everything is there. Satam prasahgan. From a bona fide spiritual master you receive knowledge, because he will present as he has received from his spiritual master. He'll not adulterate or manufacture something. That is the bona fide spiritual master. And that is very easy. To become spiritual master is not very difficult thing. You'll have to become spiritual master. You, all my disciples, everyone should become spiritual master. It is not difficult. It is difficult when you manufacture something.
(More...) So it is not very difficult. One may not think that "I am not qualified to become guru." No, you are qualified if you follow strictly the parampara system. Then you are qualified. That's all. Amara ajnaya guru... And where is the difficulty? Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, "Don't feel any difficulty." Because as spiritual master, what you have to do? Yare dekha, tare kaha, 'krsna'-upadesa [Cc Madhya 7.128]. Whomever you meet, you simply speak to him the instruction which Krsna gives. What Krsna instruction gives? That is also very easy. What is that? Krsna says, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg 18.65]. Krsna says, "Just become My devotee, always think of Me, offer Me obeisances and worship Me."
(More...) Imported quote 19755 To become guru, or spiritual master, is not very difficult task. Simply you have to follow the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, as He said. He accepted Krsna: the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Aradhyo bhagavan vrajesa tanayoḥ. We have to simply preach that "You are searching after God, you great scientist, theologist, theosophist, mental speculators. You are searching after God, the Absolute Truth. Here is God: Krsna." Krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28].
(More...) Imported quote 19838 You become guru. It is not very difficult. How? Now, because you have to simply repeat what Krsna has said. That's all. So Krsna says everything in the Bhagavad-gita. Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg 18.65]. These four things if you accept-to think of Krsna always, to become devotee of Krsna, to offer obeisances to Krsna and to worship Krsna-these four things if you do, you become Krsna conscious, a devotee of Krsna, and you can preach all over the world. It is not at all difficult. So if you become sincere, seriously Krsna conscious, then there will be no difficulty because Krsna says,
(More...) Imported quote 23476 Prabhupada: There is no question of disease. But for our tongue taste we eat so many cooked food. But if we eat vegetables, boiled vegetables and fruits and milk, ah, it is sufficient. Ekadasi. [laughter] Daily ekadasi. And these peanuts-a few grains, not much-that is also nice. Cashew, peanut. Yes. So thank you very much. You are working so much for Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission. Yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa [Cc Madhya 7.128]. Bas. You become a guru. Actually you are doing the guru's work. "Here is a message from Krsna. Please take it." Bas. Simple. Yare dekha. And whomever you meet, tare kaha krsna-upadesa, either you speak personally or give him a book.
(More...) Imported quote 23641 So chant as much possible and eat prasadam. No education required, no philosophy required. But follow the Caitanya Mahaprabhu's instruction and become guru.
(More...) Imported quote 23707 India has always been known as a holy land long before the advent of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who originated the Hare Krsna movement 500 years ago. Lord Ramacandra, who was the incarnation of the Supreme Lord in the role of the perfect king, actually walked on this land millions of years ago when it extended as the kingdom of the whole world. His activities are recounted in the Ramayana, which is accepted by all transcendental authorities as authentic scripture. The most pious and learned devotees of the Lord have resided in India and taught there. The appearance of the incarnation of Lord Buddha was foretold in the First Canto of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Chapter Three, verse 24, written 2,000 years before Buddha's birth: "In the beginning of the Kali-yuga, the Lord will appear as Lord Buddha, the son of Anjana, in the province of Gaya, for the purpose of deluding persons envious of the faithful theist." India is therefore the land where the religion of Buddhism sprang forth. For his special mission, Lord Buddha rejected the Vedas, and therefore the authority of the scriptures had to be reaffirmed. This was done by the great spiritual master Sahkaracarya, who drove Buddhism from the land of India by his brilliant explanations based on the Vedic literature. According to Srimad-Bhagavatam Lord Krsna is Himself the source of all the incarnations. The self-same Lord Krsna appeared in His original form, also on Indian soil, 5,000 years ago when He exhibited full-fledged activities as the Personality of Godhead in the provinces of Vrndavana and Mathura. As it is said, God is great. The true vision of His pastimes and His greatness was then displayed to all living entities on this planet, and it is all recorded in the book Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. It is even stated in a recent book called the Aquarian Gospel that Lord Jesus Christ declared by the New Testament of the Holy Bible to be the son of God, also spent some time in India and worshiped in Jagannatha Puri. India is naturally pious, and throughout the villages of India the people still remain God conscious. But this present age is an impious age. It can be checked only by dependence on the Lord and His devotees and by following the benediction of this age. The leaders of India have in recent history rejected the transcendental culture of the Vedas, which points out that everything is actually spiritual. This material world is simply temporary and is inherently miserable, due to birth, death, disease and old age. The human form of life is therefore meant for realizing God, even by working at one's occupation; the whole society has to aim at realization of God through its activities. Instead of following this path, called varnasrama-dharma, the Indians, influenced by the attraction of foreign city life, have rejected their original culture and tried to be happy by following the materialistic ways of the great countries of the West such as the United States. The danger in their rejecting this Krsna consciousness while in the human form of life is expressed in the Bhagavad-gita. One may slip down to the lower forms of life in the future births. We are all spiritual by nature, but we have become covered, like a mirror becomes covered by dust. Especially for this age, Lord Caitanya, the incarnation of Krsna who is appearing as a devotee in order to teach, has given a very simple method. Everyone should chant the holy name of God, and everyone can do it in any position of life. He has especially stated that anyone born in India has the responsibility to take up this chanting and spread it, and He has quoted scripture to state that there is no alternative for spiritual realization in this age than chanting the holy name of God. It is therefore concluded that spiritual life is urgently needed, and this method should be taken. It is very easy and is being taught by Krsna Himself, yet it has been rejected in India. By the line of disciplic succession, the Brahma-sampradaya has passed down this information; despite the corruption of the present age, it remains pure and intact. Since the incarnation of Lord Caitanya, the spiritual masters in this line are Rūpa Gosvami, Raghunatha, Jiva, Krsnadasa, Narottama, Visvanatha, Jagannatha, Bhaktivinode, Gaura Kisora, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati and now His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Although the teachings are intact, unfortunately the philosophers of the impersonal school have misinterpreted the Vedic philosophy to deny the existence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They have given all attention to the impersonal aspect and thus have wreaked havoc. This is not a theoretical disagreement on theology, but it concerns all humanity. If there is no understanding that God is the Supreme Person, then people in general are led to believe that there is no God, or they are told that if there is any spiritual existence at all, then this implies that every man is God, and that he can do as he likes, without worshiping the supreme authority of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In the impersonal philosophy of the Absolute Truth there is no ultimate love. There is no reason to stay on the spiritual platform; therefore intoxication and sex life enter and take over, and both the impersonalist teachers and their students glide to the hellish path. There are real spiritual individualities and spiritual activities according to the Bhagavad-gita, but if one does not take to them then one must take to material individuality, which is temporary and leads to lower births. Seeking to become one with the Supreme in nirvana is not a substitute for the permanent positive happiness which the spirit soul is seeking. One has to engage in spiritual life in service of the Supreme Lord under the direction of a spiritual master, or else he must return to the material platform. Thus it is stated that in order to wipe out impersonalism and to present an easy to perform process of devotional service to the people in this age, Lord Caitanya appeared. In Bhagavad-gita Lord Krsna states, "Just surrender to Me," but Lord Caitanya was even more merciful. His movement is simply joyful. His program is listening to Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, chanting Hare Krsna and feasting on prasadam (spiritual food). The Krsna consciousness movement is not a Hindu or national culture, but it is the worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead who is the father of all living entities. The attainment of the eternal, peaceful, happy state of loving service taught by Lord Caitanya can bring the solution to all the problems of life that has not been attained by technology, politics or modern science. Srila Prabhupada, on the order of his spiritual master, and due to the solid teachings of the order of his spiritual master, came to the United States in 1966 to teach this message. Due to Srila Prabhupada's all-attractive transcendental nature as spiritual master and due to the solid teachings of scriptures and the cleansing experience of chanting the mahamantra, and eating prasadam, spiritual foodstuffs, this message quickly gained support. Temples began opening here in the United States in 1966, and now, in 1970, with 50 temples open, when Srila Prabhupada returned to India his reception was overwhelmingly favorable.
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