Srila Prabhupāda: Go on. Yes, arcye viṣṇau śilā-dhīr guruṣu nara-matiḥ. Narakī, if anyone thinks arca-vigraha, the Deities as made of stone, made of earth, or made of something material, and guru, the spiritual master, “He is an ordinary man”—these are forbidden. So why guru is to be considered sākṣād dharitvena samasta-śāstrair **, exactly (like) the Supreme Personality of Godhead? That reason is given there. That reason is that he is giving the Kṛṣṇa knowledge; therefore he is as good as Kṛṣṇa. Even though his family members or his friend thinking, “Oh, he has now become guru,” still he should be considered the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That reason also given there, that even Kṛṣṇa was taken as ordinary man, but does it mean that He has become ordinary? Similarly any…, our movement, it may appear just like other movement, but because the movement is giving Kṛṣṇa, that means it is as good as Kṛṣṇa. This is the example. Ajñāya haña (follow the order). It may appear to others… And there are so many movements, and the hippies have taken another say(?), but it is not that. It is actually Kṛṣṇa. So long it adheres to the principle, “I’ll enjoy, I’ll be unaccepted(?).” Otherwise it is ordinary movement. This same man, he’s guru, so long he gives the real knowledge of Kṛṣṇa. And the same man, he’s ordinary man, as soon as he cannot give. Same thing, just like a stone doll, when it is worshiped according to the regulative principles—Kṛṣṇa. And the same doll, kept in the sculptor’s showroom, it is stone. So if we keep our movement pure, then you are as strong as Kṛṣṇa. And as soon as you deviate from it, immediately, ordinary. This is the secret. Now it is up to us, how to keep it pure. Then no enemy can kill us. Nobody can kill you. That purity is wanted, then it will… So what is there difficulty? Their purity to kill him(?). Follow the rules and regulations, worship the Deity, and chant Hare Kṛṣṇamantra, as you have given, then you will remain as strong as Kṛṣṇa. And if we manufacture some idea also, that is no good. Kṛṣṇa cannot be manufactured; Kṛṣṇa is Kṛṣṇa. You cannot manufacture another form competitor of Kṛṣṇa. That is no good. Then failure. Just like the, your one competitor came to, even in the lifetime of Kṛṣṇa, Pauṇḍraka.
Room Conversation with Siddha-svarupa — May 3, 1976, Honolulu
Hare Krishna. Yes. We must follow all of Srila Prabhupada’s orders, including those for Istagosthi. unity, cooperation, trust and love. He founded ISKCON for these reasons only. However, for 50 years, these orders and reasons for ISKCON have been neglected, due to competitive practice with no Istagosthi. Srila Prabhupada liked competition, but said that better than competition, is Istagosthi. Competition is to be fun, but with no Istagosthi, the Prabhupadanugas turn calculating, unfriendly, proud and some vain leaders try to build a sanga meant for careless domination of all others. This site should publish all Pranava Das prabhu compiled from Srila Prabhupada on unity, cooperation, personal ambition and good management. As of now, we are risking to leave a legacy of and for authoritarians. We must change that ASAP, to one of unity, cooperation, trust and love or we will continue to commit guru aparadha.