Let Us Hear from Srila Prabhupada
BY: GADADHAR DASA
Feb 17, DALLAS, TEXAS, USA (SUN) — Let us hear from Srila Prabhupada - April 22nd 1977 Conversation:
Prabhupada: What is the use of producing some rascal guru?
Tamala Krishna: Well, I have studied myself and all of your disciples, and it's clear fact that we are all conditioned souls, so we cannot be guru. Maybe one day it may be possible…
Prabhupada: Hm.
Tamala Krishna: …but not now.
Prabhupada: Yes. I shall produce some gurus. I shall say who is guru, ‘Now you become acharya. You become authorized.' I am waiting for that. You become, all, acharya. I retire completely. But the training must be complete.
Tamala Krishna: The process of purification must be there.
Prabhupada: Oh, yes, must be there. Caitanya Mahaprabhu wants that. Amara ajnaya guru hana. "You become guru." (laughs) But be qualified. Little thing, strictly follower…
Tamala Krishna: Not rubber stamp.
Prabhupada: Then you'll not be effective. You can cheat, but it will not be effective. Just see our Gaudiya Matha. Everyone wanted to become guru, and a small temple and "guru." What kind of guru?
Now let us move forward.
Margaret Connors ends her article "Penance of Speech" with following words:
"However - you did make one very positive point. You end with, "Just hear from Srila Prabhupada eternally". Now you're talking. I agree with this and advise that we approach any and all philosophical discussion with this as our humble motto."
And, in her article, "What is an Uttama Adhikari" she made her endorsement of the Guru Rubber Stamping Factory with the following words:
"It is safe to say that the leaders of ISKCON make their best efforts to ensure that such valuable devotees who meet the above mentioned qualifications are carefully selected to represent Srila Prabhupada and his mission."
Those are your words. So let us be humble and hear from Srila Prabhupada what he said on April 22nd, 1997.
On that day HDG Srila Prabhupada calls "Rubber Stamping of Gurus" by voting to be "cheating" and declares that it will not be effective. The exact words of HDG Srila Prabhupada are: "You can cheat, but it will not be effective".
Should we follow what you say, Margaret, or what ISKCON leaders say, or what Srila Prabhupada says in regard to this "Guru Rubber Stamping Factory"? Should we ignore what Srila Prabhupada said on April 22nd 1977?
I have raised this question to Margaret three times in the following articles, but have not received any reply from her so far.
(1) In my article, "You Can Cheat, But it Will Not be Effective", I went into great detail and made several points, one of which is that:
"…on April 22nd of 1977, Srila Prabhupada calls "Rubber Stamping of Gurus" by voting a "cheating" and declares that it will not be effective – exact words of HDG Srila Prabhupada are "You can cheat, but it will not be effective".
I even noted that you did not use the words "Guru" or "GBC" in your endorsement of "Guru Rubber Stamping Factory" established by Gurus and GBCs in general.
Then you wrote "Intricacies of the Codes of Religion". But I did not get any reply for this particular question/statement. Is it not time to hear from Srila Prabhupada?
(2) In my article, "Intricacies of the Codes of Religion Continues" I wrote following:
"Srila Prabhupada calls "Rubber Stamping of Gurus" cheating - "you can cheat, but it will not be effective". But Margaret has all the praise for this cheating process which disobeys clear statements of HDG Srila Prabhupada. She has no words regarding this cheating process and the destruction this process has caused and continue to cause."
Then you wrote "Sheltering Criminals and Curing their Criminality: ISKCON'S Mandate". But I did not get any reply for this particular question/statement. Is it not time to hear from Srila Prabhupada?
(3) In my article, "Foxes are in Charge of the Chicken Coups", I wrote:
"First, Margaret has avoided replying to my point that HDG Srila Prabhupada called this process of selecting Gurus by vote as "you can cheat, but it will not be effective" and results listed below prove that it is so."
Here I made the point that you have avoided replying to my point.
But I did not get any reply for this particular question/statement. Is it not time to hear from Srila Prabhupada?
You can re-read the above referenced articles, yours and mine, and answer this question. Make sure to read the results I listed in a couple of my articles. This time we are dealing with just one question, so the chance of overlooking it is nil.
Could you please explain your thoughts regarding your own words above, endorsing the "Guru Rubber Stamping Factory" vs. the Words of HDG Srila Prabhupada calling it cheating? Could you explain this contradiction considering your point that we have to hear from Srila Prabhupada, but you are advocating and endorsing exactly opposite of what he said on April 22nd, 1977?
Wishing You Well,
yhs- Gadadhar dasa
