Back To Prabhupada, Issue 53, Autumn 2016
he three articles on pages 4-6 have established that the ISKCON guru hoax is not perpetrated due to an innocent misunderstanding of the philosophy, but rather is a deliberate attempt to usurp Srila Prabhupada's position. One is therefore becoming a spiritual master due to design and desire, rather than a sincere but misguided attempt to obey Srila Prabhupada. Consequently, one is conducting one's spiritual master program simply to satisfy one's own desires, rather than those of Srila Prabhupada. We can note, therefore, that the following terrifying description – of persons who conduct a false spiritual master program for their own gratification – becomes applicable in such cases:
"Sri Isopanisad confirms that these pseudo religionists are heading toward the most obnoxious place in the universe after the completion of their spiritual master business, which they conduct simply for sense gratification."
(Sri Isopanisad, Mantra 12)
1) Continuing with the theme of promoting that which one knows to be false rather than just being mistaken – i.e. cheating – please consider the following. In 1996, following the death of GBC-elected guru HH Gour Govinda Swami ("GGS"), the GBC declared the following:
"His Divine Grace Om Visnupada Sri Srimad Gaura Govinda Goswami Maharaja [...] was not only a topmost devotee but he was also a great and learned scholar."
(GBC Resolution 13, 1996)
Thus, GGS is declared as being a "topmost devotee", which means a "maha-bhagavata" (see synonyms for Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 8.130-131). And, due to declaring GGS to be so elevated, the GBC also assigned to him the honorific title "His Divine Grace" – which had been reserved for Srila
Prabhupada.
2) ISKCON UK headquarters recently published a booklet titled "The Mantra Box: Always Remember Krishna Never Forget Him". In it they state (emphasis added):
"When Srila Prabhupada spoke into the Dictaphone and translated the timeless wisdom of the Vedas, Lord Krishna and the great teachers spoke through him. That spiritual sound was then transformed into the printed word and made available to all."
Srila Prabhupada's words on tape are referred to as being "spiritual sound". The technical term for this is "sabda-brahma":
"All these sound vibrations are originally called sabda-brahma, or spiritual sound."
(SB, 3.12.47)
Therefore, this statement from ISKCON states that "sabda-brahma" descends through a tape. This statement is correct, as it is in line with Srila Prabhupada's teachings and practice – for example, Srila Prabhupada gave second initiation by allowing his chanting of the Gayatri mantra to be conveyed via a tape recording:
"I have also accepted, upon your recommendation, the five men for 2nd initiation. Let them hear the gayatri mantra through the right ear from the tape of myself chanting it."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, 6/2/75, emphasis added)
3) ISKCON's statement above, however, destroys the credibility of GGS, who stated that spiritual sound ("sabda-brahma") could never be transmitted through a tape recording:
"One has to hear. It is not that, "All right, tapes are there, I'll hear the recorded tapes." Sabda-brahma will never descend. [...] You should be greedy. Physical contact is required. You must hear directly, not just by listening to tapes. Sabda-brahma will never descend through a tape. One must hear from a physically present Sri Guru."
(GGS, ‘Q&A', The Worship of Sri Guru, Chapter 3, emphases added)
Thus, we have an example where ISKCON does know the correct philosophy, but at the same time will promote someone as being the "topmost devotee", even though he preached what they know is the completely wrong philosophy. And again, this is motivated by the desire to promote the guru hoax, since GGS was a GBC-elected diksa guru.
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