Madhya 25.118–‘When one is transcendentally situated, he can perceive Me. This perception is the basis of one’s relationship with the Supreme Lord. Now let Me further explain this subject matter.PURPORT-Real spiritual knowledge has to be received from revealed scriptures. After this knowledge is attained, one can begin to perceive his actual spiritual life. Any knowledge achieved by speculation is imperfect. One must receive knowledge from the paramparā system and from the guru, otherwise one will be bewildered, and will ultimately become an impersonalist. When one very scrutinizingly deliberates, he can realize the personal feature of the Absolute Truth. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is always transcendental to this material creation. Nārāyaṇaḥ paro ‘vyaktāt:Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is always transcendental. He is not a creation of this material world. Without realizing spiritual knowledge, one cannot understand that the transcendental form of the Lord is always beyond the creative energy. The example of the sun and sunshine is given. The sunshine is not the sun, but still the sunshine is not separate from the sun. The philosophy of acintya-bhedābheda-tattva (simultaneously one and different) cannot be understood by one who is fully under the influence of the external energy. Consequently a person under the influence of the material energy cannot understand the nature and form of the Personality of the Absolute Truth.Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/cc/madhya/25/118
Madhya 25.120–” ‘Now please hear from Me about the process of devotional service, which is applicable in any country, for any person, at all times and in all circumstances.PURPORT-The cult of bhāgavata–dharma can be spread in all circumstances, among all people and in all countries. Many envious people accuse this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement of spoiling the rigidity of so-called Hinduism. That is not actually the fact. Śrī CaitanyaMahāprabhu confirms that devotional service to the Lord-the cult of bhāgavata–dharma, which is now being spread as the HareKṛṣṇa movement-can be spread in every country, for every person, in any condition of life, and in all circumstances. Bhāgavata–dharma does not restrict pure devotees to the Hindu community. A pure devotee is above a brāhmaṇa; therefore it is not incompatible to offer the sacred thread to devotees in Europe, America, Australia, Japan, Canada, and so on. Sometimes these pure devotees, who have been accepted by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, are not allowed to enter certain temples in India. Some high-castebrāhmaṇas and gosvāmīs refuse to take prasāda in the temples of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Actually this is against the instruction of Śrī CaitanyaMahāprabhu. Devotees can come from any country, and they can belong to any creed or race. On the strength of this verse, those who are actually devotees and followers of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu must accept devotees from all parts of the world as pure Vaiṣṇavas. They should be accepted not artificially but factually. One should see how they are advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and how they are conducting Deity worship, saṅkīrtana and Ratha–yātrā. Considering all these points, an envious person should refrain from malicious atrocities.Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/cc/madhya/25/120
Madhya 25.121–” ‘As far as religious principles are concerned, there is a consideration of the person, the country, the time and the circumstance. In devotional service, however, there are no such considerations. Devotional service is transcendental to all considerations.PURPORT-When we are on the material platform, there are different types of religions-Hinduism, Christianity, Mohammedanism, Buddhism, and so on. These are instituted for a particular time, a particular country or a particular person. Consequently there are differences. Christian principles are different from Hindu principles, and Hindu principles are different from Mohammedan and Buddhist principles. These may be considered on the material platform, but when we come to the platform of transcendental devotional service, there are no such considerations. The transcendental service of the Lord (sādhana–bhakti) is above these principles. The world is anxious for religious unity, and that common platform can be achieved in transcendental devotional service. This is the verdict of Śrī CaitanyaMahāprabhu. When one becomes a Vaiṣṇava, he becomes transcendental to all these limited considerations. This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (14.26): māṁ ca yo ‘vyabhicāreṇa bhakti-yogena sevate sa guṇān samatītyaitān brahma-bhūyāya kalpate“One who engages in full devotional service, who does not fall down in any circumstance, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman.”The devotional activities of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement are completely transcendental to material considerations. As far as different faiths are concerned, religions may be of different types, but on the spiritual platform, everyone has an equal right to execute devotional service. That is the platform of oneness and the basis for a classless society. In his Amṛta–pravāha–bhāṣya, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura confirms that one has to learn from a bona fide spiritual master about religious principles, economic development, sense gratification and ultimately liberation. These are the four divisions of regulated life, but they are subjected to the material platform. On the spiritual platform, the four principles are jñāna, vijñāna, tad–aṅga and tad–rahasya. Rules, regulations and restrictions are on the material platform, but on the spiritual platform one has to be equipped with transcendental knowledge, which is above the principles of religious rituals. Mundane religious activity is known as smārta–viddhi, but transcendental devotional service is called Gosvāmī-viddhi. Unfortunately many so-called gosvāmīs are on the platform of smārta–viddhi, yet they try to pass as Gosvāmī-viddhi, and thus the people are cheated. Gosvāmī-viddhi is strictly explained in Sanātana Gosvāmī’s Hari–bhakti–vilāsa, wherein it is stated: yathā kāñcanatāṁ yāti kāṁsyaṁ rasa-vidhānataḥ tathā dīṣkā-vidhānena dvijatvaṁ jāyate nṛṇāmThe conclusion is that devotional service is open for everyone, regardless of caste, creed, time and country. This Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is functioning according to this principle.Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/cc/madhya/25/121
Some Conclusions— Srila Prabhupada writes above….A pure devotee is above a brāhmaṇa; therefore it is not incompatible to offer the sacred thread to devotees in Europe, America, Australia, Japan, Canada, and so on. Sometimes these pure devotees, who have been accepted by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, are not allowed to enter certain temples in India.I find this point he makes about his disciples being pure devotees interesting. For one who has studied his teachings in his books, we will find many points about classes of devotees, the neophytes being the lowest, then Madhyama being second class and Uttama adhikari being the top most. And this is not the only place he mentions (twice in this purport) that his disciples being pure devotees. Of course that recognition of purity comes with the total acceptance and obedience to Srila Prabhupada that distinguishes those pure devotees from those devotees who are still so called religionists, (smarta brahmanas) or those who do not follow 100% of his instructions.He writes…Unfortunately many so-called gosvāmīs are on the platform of smārta–viddhi, yet they try to pass as Gosvāmī-viddhi, and thus the people are cheated.
So what is just one distinguishing characteristic of a smarta brahmana from a goswami brahmana? He writes….When we are on the material platform, there are different types of religions-Hinduism, Christianity, Mohammedanism, Buddhism, and so on. These are instituted for a particular time, a particular country or a particular person.
Now we will explain how iskcon has changed things according to their time and circumstances
Most devotees today know of the massive changes in Prabhupadas books. One example that comes to mind is in an exchange between Dhira Govinda das and Dravida one of the BBT editors who wrote that just one of the changes he made in the books regarding the process of initiation was because the current mentality or way of doing things in present day iskcon was different than the way Srila Prabhupada described the process of initiation-and that is why he changed Prabhupadas own words-just to fit in with the current state of affairs in iskcon. First of all he should never change the Acaryas words, and then his reasons for this change is to fit in with the current way of thinking in iskcon. Here is his excuse or reasons below…..
Taken From the original CC (below)…“Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura accepted Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji, who *initiated* Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, who in turn initiated Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji”(C:C, Chapter 1)In the new BBT doctored 9-volume edition, the same passage reads:“Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura accepted Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji, the spiritual master of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, who in turn accepted Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji”Dravida das, the BBTeditor writes….“On the side of not changing the “initiated” phrases we have the strong bias against changing the books unless absolutely necessary and the fact that Srila Prabhupada did indeed say that Jagannatha das Babaji initiated Bhaktivinode.”Please note that Dravida clearly ADMITS that Srila Prabhupada “DID indeed say that Jagannatha das Babaji initiated Bhaktivinode”.
To any sane person, this would be the ONLY reason required to NOT tamper with Srila Prabhupada’s teachings in any manner whatsoever. But hold on.Dravida Das has a reason that far outweighs a mere detail such as what Srila Prabhupada himself actually taught. Rather he states we must change Srila Prabhupada’s teachings to ensure they conform with what is currently understood within ISKCON in regards to initiation:“Leaving one or both “initiated”s will strongly imply that the use of the phrases “direct disciple” and even “accepted [as his disciple]” indicate formal initiation as we know it in ISKCON, which is far from the truth.” (BBT Editor, Dravida Das)If Dravida leaves in the words “initiated” in the CC purport, this means that the ritvik system can continue to initiate new devotees with Srila Prabhupada as their “living guru”. But iskcon does not want that system because they want to replace Prabhupada as the current and living guru of iskcon.So for this reason and a hundred more, present day iskcon has devolved itself into a smarta so called brahmana organization of materialistic religion having disobeyed the orders of its Acarya Srila Prabhupada . The Christians did the same thing with King Justinian hundreds of years ago when he ordered that passages about reincarnation be taken out of the Bible. Why do that? He wanted to control the masses of blind followers into thinking that you only live one life and since you only had one lifetime you better do it according to his way, or else !Hare Krsnadamaghosa das
