Back To Prabhupada, Issue 51, Spring 2016
elcome to Issue 51 of Back To Prabhupada (BTP).
1) One may argue that those who have come to ISKCON have undergone a great journey and made a momentous choice. With so many philosophies available in Kali-yuga (the current ‘Age of Quarrel') to mislead people, it would appear that such persons have done very well to choose Srila Prabhupada's teachings over every other path as the path to surrender to. And this should be all that matters.
2) However, as Srila Prabhupada explains, everything depends on why the choice to take to Krishna consciousness is made:
"Generally, materialistic persons are after some name, fame and material gain, so if someone takes to Krsna consciousness for these reasons, he will never be able to understand this philosophy. Such persons take to religious principles as a social decoration. They admit themselves into some cultural institution for the sake of name only, especially in this age. Such persons also cannot understand the philosophy of Krsna consciousness."
(SB., 3.32.40, emphasis added)
Srila Prabhupada explains:
a) People may take to Krishna consciousness for the sake of name only;
b) That "especially in this age", such a thing happens;
c) And if this is done, such persons will not understand the philosophy of Krishna consciousness.
Thus, for example, one could take to Krishna consciousness to get some name or gain for oneself by desiring to become some type of leader or guru. Or desiring to become a famous kirtana singer or preacher. Or desiring to become a philanthropist who gains even greater name and fame, as then one is also recognised outside of ISKCON as well. And so on.
3) Srila Prabhupada states:
"Also, there are so-called disciples who become submissive to a spiritual master most artificially, with an ulterior motive. They also cannot understand what Krsna consciousness or devotional service is."
(SB., 3.32.40)
Thus, even those who appear to be "followers" or "humble" devotees can be just as susceptible to taking to Krishna consciousness for the wrong reasons, and consequently they also will be unable to understand the philosophy of Krishna consciousness. Hence, Srila Prabhupada states:
"At the present moment in this age of Kali-yuga, the entire human society has become an assembly of cheaters and cheated."
(SB., 4.26.6)
And on page 13 of this issue, we give a case study of how the cheaters and cheated arise in ISKCON today, due to not reading Srila Prabhupada's words.
4) Thus, the conclusion is that if people have taken to Krishna consciousness only for name and gain, then they "cannot understand the philosophy of Krishna consciousness". Hence, if we find that those who are purporting to practise Krishna consciousness do not actually understand the philosophy, this is a sign that they may have taken to Krishna consciousness for such reasons of name and gain. And, unfortunately, every issue of BTP provides ample evidence that this is the case. Not only on the matter of "guru-tattva", but on many matters, we document how there is no understanding of the philosophy by the "devotees" featured in BTP.
For example, we have presented the "ABCs" series showing how there is no understanding of even the basics of Krishna consciousness. We have also presented the articles "ISKCON's New Mission" in BTP 30, and "ISKCON at 50: A Review" in the last issue, which show that in virtually all areas, devotees are engaged in deviation — with the deviations of commercialisation, secularisation and Hinduisation predominating. Thus, such deviations, even if one has rejected the guru hoax, are also evidence of not understanding the philosophy of Krishna consciousness. And hence, those engaging in them may have taken to Krishna consciousness only for name and gain.
Thank you and Hare Krishna.
In Srila Prabhupada's service,
Krishnakant
Return to IRM Homepage