The Ultimate Nectar

There is no doubt about it. Not only is pure devotional service the ultimate nectar. It is also the only nectar. These word may seem exaggerated or fanatical. But for someone who has actually fully tasted the ultimate nectar of pure devotional service they are a scientific reality. If you want to verify the truth or untruth of what I am saying, there is only way to do that. You have to experience first hand what is pure devotional service. And then you will know for sure. I am teaching a two day mini-course on pure devotional service here in Radhadesh. You are welcome to tune into our live stream at the above link.

Answers According to the Vedic Version

Question: Confused by Two Views

Dear Maharaja,

Hare Krishna.

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I refer to yesterday's question in "Thought for the Day" in which you answered by giving a list of our disciplic succession beginning with Krishna rightdown to the disciples of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Recently I visited a big temple on a hill here in Bangalore, India which claims to be part of your ISKCON movement. The brahmacaris there were giving me a totally different view on the Guru Parampara system. They were saying the GuruParampara, the line of disciplic succession, has stopped with Srila Prabhupada. I, beinga neophyte, have gotten totally confused with two conflicting views within ISKCON. Can you please clear my doubts?

Your servant,

Sridhar

Answer: No Confusion with Srila Prabhupada

Regarding this most important point of disciplic succession, there are not two differing views within ISKCON because Srila Prabhupada has clearly given us the proper understanding. The temple you visited is not a part of ISKCON, although they falsely claim themselves to be. What they told you, that Srila Prabhupada does not want his disciples to carry on the disciplic succession after his disappearance, is not true. Srila Prabhupada repeatedly instructed his disciples regarding their duty to carry on the disciplic succession. For example in Los Angeles on 18 May 1972 in an arrival lecture Srila Prabhupada stated:

"So we have got this message from Krishna, from Caitanya Mahaprabhu, from the six Goswamis, later on, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Bhaktisiddhanta Thakura. And we are trying our bit also to distribute this knowledge. Now, tenth, eleventh, twelfth. My Guru Maharaja is tenth from Caitanya Mahaprabhu, I am eleventh, you are the twelfth. So distribute this knowledge."

Srila Prabhupada never states anywhere in his writings that he will be the last spiritual master in the line of disciplic succession. Indeed he clearly states in his purport to the Srimad Bhagavatam 2.9.43 as follows:

"One who is now the disciple is the next spiritual master."

If something is clearly and repeatedly stated by Srila Prabhupada there should be no confusion. But due to the influence of the age of Kali when great acharyas depart from this world we see that often times confusion arises because of peoples' material motives. Therefore Srila Prabhupada has cautioned us as follows in his purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 4.28.48:

"The main business of human society is to think of the Supreme Personality of Godhead at all times, to become His devotees, to worship the Supreme Lord and to bow down before Him. The acharya, the authorized representative of the Supreme Lord, establishes these principles, but when he disappears, things once again become disordered. The perfect disciples of the acharya try to relieve the situation by sincerely following the instructions of the spiritual master."

So kindly do not be confused by those who are confused. If you will directly read and carefully follow the instructions of Srila Prabhupada, you will be completely free of confusion and you will become qualified to see God face to face, eye to eye.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari