before he came to west, not a single devotee
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Hearing discussions among the devotees is the only means to receive the powerful message of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. For instance, Bhagavad-gita has been well known all over the world for a very long time, especially in the Western world, but because the subject matter was not discussed by devotees, there was no effect. Not a single person in the West became Krsna conscious before the Krsna consciousness movement was founded. When the same Bhagavad-gita was presented as it is through the disciplic succession, there was immediately spiritual realization.
(More...) This is a verse, it is said, "My dear Lord, Your lotus feet," padambuja-dvaya, "can be understood by a person who has received a little favor of You." Athapi te deva padambuja-dvaya-prasada-lesanugrhita eva hi: "One who has received little favor, he can understand You." And what for others? "For others," na ca anya eko 'pi ciram vicinvan, "if they speculate for millions of years, still, they will not be able to understand." Just like in your country Bhagavad-gita was being read for the last two hundred, three hundred years. So many scholars, so many Indian scholar or American, they have written Bhagavad-gita. But not a single person understood Krsna. Not a single person. But now, when they are reading Bhagavad-gita As It Is, they are understanding by the mercy of God. The mercy is shown if you follow the process, authoritative process. Prasada-lesanugrhita eva hi. One who has received a little, minute quantity of the favor of Krsna, he can understand Krsna. And others, if they go on speculating for millions of years, they will not be able to. This is a fact. Therefore He is called Adhoksaja. So our Krsna consciousness movement is the authorized process by which you can understand Krsna, the Supreme Lord. By other methods it is not possible. Krsna personally says,
(More...) So it is the business of the guru to clear up these designations, dirty things. Therefore, vande gurun isam. Guru, first offering, because he is the agent of Krsna. Krsna said that "You give up all these designative dharma; take to real dharma." Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam [Bg 18.66]. "That is your real business." But even Krsna... Krsna does not fail, but Krsna does not force. So even upon the request of Krsna we do not give up our designation. This is the difficulty. Krsna said, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja, and nobody, practically, except the Pandavas and few other devotees, nobody took it seriously. And what to speak of now. They are talking of Bhagavad-gita, scholars of Bhagavad-gita, but without Krsna. That is their business. These demons, they are preaching Bhagavad-gita without Krsna. Nobody preaches about Krsna. Nobody says what Krsna wants. Sarva-dharman parityajya. Krsna wants this, but they are misinterpreting in different way and diverting the attention of the people most foolishly, that... In the Bhagavad-gita Krsna is the center. So this is going on. You know; you are coming all from foreign countries. Bhagavad-gita is popular in your country, at least amongst the scholars and theosophists and theologists, going on, for the last two hundred years at least. But nobody understood Krsna. That is the difference. Now for the last, say, five or ten years, because we are presenting Krsna as it is, it has become very easy for you to accept it. Unadulterated Krsna.
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