Back To Prabhupada, Issue 25, Autumn 2009
ollowing on from our expose of how even ISKCON leaders are coming to their senses regarding the “physicality doctrine” – or the false belief that the spiritual master is limited to the body he inhabits - we will now tackle the root of this false doctrine. And that is the notion that since Srila Prabhupada’s books consistently state that one must find, approach, meet with, inquire from and ultimately receive initiation from a bona fide spiritual master, this can only be fulfilled if the spiritual master is living in a physical body in full purview of one’s audio-visual senses. In this article we will show how such statements apply to Srila Prabhupada even though he has physically departed.
Since by definition an Acarya is one who “teaches by example”, if there is any dispute over what Srila Prabhupada may have meant in regard to the instructions he gave, the dispute can easily be settled simply by reference to how he practically applied these instructions. The fact is that Srila Prabhupada never conversed with most of his disciples who were initiated before November 1977. This alone makes it clear that the guru-disciple relationship does not necessitate the physical presence of the spiritual master, and the matter does not require any further discussion.
Bhagavad-gita 4.34, states:
“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.”
Krishna states that the truth must be learned by “approaching” the spiritual master and “inquiring” from him. How is this possible if the spiritual master is not present on the planet? The purport to this verse makes it clear that this instruction applies to the disciple, not just an aspiring disciple. Yet no disciple of Srila Prabhupada has been able to physically approach and inquire from Srila Prabhupada for the last 32 years (and so many never even inquired from him before November 1977). But the GBC agrees that everyone can still learn from Srila Prabhupada. In denying the fact that anyone can still inquire from Srila Prabhupada, the new edition of the BBT publication Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers has a new introduction, which states the following fabrication in regard to Bhagavad-gita 4:34:
“According to this instruction there are three qualifications for the novice:
1. visit the guru
2. inquire without challenging
3. assist the guru in some way.
The Gita suggests that the guru can “impart knowledge” when these three conditions are met.”
(Bob Cohen, Introduction, Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers, BBTI, 2005)
Nowhere in the Bhagavad-gita does it say the disciple must “visit” the guru. This has been invented by the author Bob Cohen, a.k.a. Brahmatirtha Das, to try and prop up the false physicality doctrine.
Explaining what “inquiring from the guru” actually means in practice, Srila Prabhupada writes:
“In my books the philosophy of Krsna Consciousness is explained fully so if there is anything you do not understand, then you simply have to read again and again. By reading daily the knowledge will be revealed to you and by this process your spiritual life will develop.”
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, 22/11/1974)
Srila Prabhupada states here that one can inquire and get all answers by simply consulting his books. The physical presence of the guru is not necessary. Note that Srila Prabhupada was issuing these instructions about the process of inquiring from the guru via the reading of his books even when he was physically present; how much more relevant then are they today when he is no longer physically present.
In The Nectar of Devotion, Srila Prabhupada states:
“Everyone should try to find such a bona fide spiritual master in order to fulfil his mission of life […].”
(The Nectar Of Devotion, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)
The very process of following Srila Prabhupada by reading the instructions contained in his book The Nectar of Devotion, is itself the act of finding the spiritual master, as illustrated by His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami:
“When he almost gave up his hope to find his spiritual master, he came across a book called The Nectar of Devotion by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Becoming engrossed in the depths of that literature, he realized that he had found his spiritual master”.
(Bhakti Charu Swami biography from his official website, emphasis added)
 Srila Prabhupada:
Physical absence no bar to being diksa guru
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Srila Prabhupada speaks about the need for the guru and disciple to mutually examine each other before initiation (pariksa), the guru personally training and guiding the disciple. However, in ISKCON the system was that this was delegated to representatives:
“For six months, a candidate for initiation must first attend arati and classes in the sastras, practice the regulative principles and associate with other devotees. When one is actually advanced in the purascarya-vidhi, he is recommended by the local temple president for initiation. […] In this way the disciple renders devotional service under the guidance of the spiritual master or his representative for at least six months to a year.”
(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 15:108, and 24:330, purport)
Srila Prabhupada mentions that Krishna will send an external or “physical” guru. Srila Prabhupada is such a guru who manifested externally in this world via a physical body. We have proven in this article that the subsequent demise of this physical body does not prevent the guru from continuing to act as the guru.
Both through teaching and practise, Srila Prabhupada made it clear that in ISKCON he continues to act as everyone’s diksa guru regardless of his lack of physical presence. The “physicality doctrine” itself has no “physical presence” in Srila Prabhupada’s teachings!
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