{"id":5934,"date":"2022-08-19T18:38:12","date_gmt":"2022-08-19T13:08:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/?p=5934"},"modified":"2023-04-13T08:06:48","modified_gmt":"2023-04-13T02:36:48","slug":"the-golden-age-of-the-sankirtana-movement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/writings\/krishna-talk-articles\/srila-bhakti-gaurava-narasingha-maharaja\/the-golden-age-of-the-sankirtana-movement\/","title":{"rendered":"The Golden Age of the Sa\u1e45k\u012brtana Movement"},"content":{"rendered":"

Question: <\/strong>In a pamphlet entitled, \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da: The Founder-\u0101c\u0101rya of the Golden Age<\/em>, it is constantly emphasised that the formation of \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da\u2019s institution is the beginning of the Golden Age of Kali-yuga, and that \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da is the \u0101c\u0101rya <\/em>for the Golden Age. Furthermore, the phrase, \u201cFor ten-thousand years my books will guide the world\u201d is attributed to Prabhup\u0101da and often repeated. Are we to regard such state\u00adments as authoritative for all Vai\u1e63\u1e47avas, or could the author have been carried away by his own sentiments? Is \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da the \u0101c\u0101rya <\/em>for the Golden Age?<\/p>\n

Narasi\u1e45gha Mah\u0101r\u0101ja: <\/strong>I think that the author has been carried away by his own sentiments. In the pamphlet you are referring to, many statements are out of context or written with the mood of \u0101m\u0101ra guru jagat-guru <\/em>(my guru is the guru for the entire world). Such statements have no universal application, however well-in\u00adtended their author may be.<\/p>\n

In any event, the phrase attributed to \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da, \u201cFor ten-thousand years my books will guide the world,\u201d is actually not verifiable. He may or may not have said it. Obviously, some devotees think that he did, otherwise they would not quote it. But it is not mentioned in any of the main books, articles, lectures, let\u00adters, room conversations, morning walks and so forth which have been recorded and preserved in the archives of our Guru Mah\u0101r\u0101ja. Therefore, we do not accept such hearsay as an absolute or author\u00aditative statement. There are 484 references by \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da in the Bhaktived\u0101nta VedaBase to \u201cmy books\u201d \u2013 none of which even remotely alludes to the famous quote about the \u2018Golden Age of ten-thousand years\u2019. Only in the \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da-l\u012bl\u0101m\u1e5bta <\/em>do we find the quote. Satsvar\u016bpa D\u0101sa Gosv\u0101m\u012b writes:<\/p>\n

\u201cOne day in the car he had said, \u2018My books will be the law-books for human society for the next ten-thousand years.\u2019\u201d <\/em>(\u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da-l\u012bl\u0101m\u1e5bta, <\/em>Vol.6, Chapter 50)<\/p>\n

It is not mentioned where \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da said this, or when, or who was present. Nevertheless, let us consider the possible truth of the statement, for surely it has its validity in transcenden\u00adtal arrangements. What were \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da\u2019s books in the first place? Were his books his own creation or were they something else? \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da\u2019s books were, for the most part, transla\u00adtions of, and commentaries on the already existing books written by such empowered personalities as \u015ar\u012bla Vy\u0101sadeva, \u015ar\u012bla K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a D\u0101sa Kavir\u0101ja Gosv\u0101m\u012b, and \u015ar\u012bla R\u016bpa Gosv\u0101m\u012b.<\/p>\n

\u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da did not take credit for his own writing, but rather repeatedly took pains to proclaim that he was following in the footsteps of the previous \u0101c\u0101ryas<\/em>. In fact, the Bhaktived\u0101nta Purports are so much in line with the purports of previous \u0101c\u0101ryas <\/em>that, in many cases, one could say they are direct translations of the previous \u0101c\u0101rya\u2019s <\/em>purports. Indeed, they are, but one would never know it unless one took the trouble to examine the writ\u00adings of the previous \u0101c\u0101ryas<\/em>. In a room conversation on February 26th, 1973, \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da said, \u201cThey are not my books. I am simply translating.\u201d<\/p>\n

The intimate relation between the Bhaktived\u0101nta Purports and those of the previous \u0101c\u0101ryas <\/em>is the true glory of \u015ar\u012bla Prabhu\u00adp\u0101da. He did not add anything or take anything away; he simply repeated the words of previous \u0101c\u0101ryas<\/em>. Therefore, how could the previous \u0101c\u0101ryas <\/em>be any less important? We should remember that \u015ar\u012b Caitanya Mah\u0101prabhu said that anyone who does not recog\u00adnise his \u2018Swami<\/em>\u2019 is a prostitute. Mah\u0101prabhu made this statement as an admonishment to Vallabh\u0101c\u0101rya, who failed to recognise the importance of \u015ar\u012bdhara Sv\u0101m\u012b, the original commentator on \u015ar\u012bmad Bh\u0101gavatam. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u015ar\u012bla Vy\u0101sadeva was directly empowered by the Supreme Per\u00adsonality of Godhead, and the mature product of the sam\u0101dhi <\/em>(meditation) of Vy\u0101sadeva was \u015ar\u012bmad Bh\u0101gavatam. <\/em>We find also that \u015ar\u012bla R\u016bpa Gosv\u0101m\u012b was directly empowered by \u015ar\u012b Caitanya Mah\u0101prabhu to distribute bhakti-rasa <\/em>throughout the world, and he was specifically instructed to write books on the science of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a consciousness. Actually, it is \u015ar\u012bla R\u016bpa Gosv\u0101m\u012b who is the head of our samprad\u0101ya<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u015br\u012b-caitanya-manobhi\u1e63\u1e6da\u1e41 sth\u0101pita\u1e41 yena bh\u016b-tale<\/em>
\nsvaya\u1e41 r\u016bpa\u1e25 kad\u0101 m\u0101hya\u1e41 dad\u0101ti sva-pad\u0101ntikam <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen will \u015ar\u012b R\u016bpa, who has established the cherished desire of \u015ar\u012b Caitanya within this world, give me shelter at his lotus feet.\u201d (Prema-bhakti-candrik\u0101<\/em>)<\/p>\n

\u015ar\u012bla R\u016bpa Gosv\u0101m\u012b established the mission of \u015ar\u012b Caitanya Mah\u0101prabhu in this world, and thus it is he (\u015ar\u012b R\u016bpa) who is the actual \u0101c\u0101rya <\/em>for the period of the Golden Age. Hence, all members of \u015ar\u012b Caitanya Mah\u0101prabhu\u2019s sa\u1e45k\u012brtana <\/em>movement are called \u2018r\u016bp\u0101nugas<\/em>,\u2019 the followers of \u015ar\u012bla R\u016bpa Gosv\u0101m\u012b.<\/p>\n

mah\u0101prabhu \u015br\u012b-caitanya, r\u0101dh\u0101-k\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a nahe anya<\/em>
\nr\u016bp\u0101nuga-janera-j\u012bvana <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201c\u015ar\u012b Caitanya Mah\u0101prabhu, who is non-different from \u015ar\u012b \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dh\u0101-K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, is very dear to the followers of \u015ar\u012bla R\u016bpa Gosv\u0101m\u012b.\u201d (\u015ar\u012bla Sarasvat\u012b \u1e6ch\u0101kura)<\/p>\n

The test of a genuine disciple lies in how well he has under\u00adstood the purpose of the spiritual master. It is surprising, even alarming, that some devotees ignore the fact that the goal of being a disciple of \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da is to become a r\u016bp\u0101nuga<\/em>. This is confirmed in the Bhaktived\u0101nta Purport to Caitanya-carit\u0101m\u1e5bta, Madhya-l\u012bl\u0101<\/em> 19.132 as follows:<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was \u015ar\u012bla Bhaktisiddh\u0101nta Sarasvat\u012b\u2019s opinion, and he specifically told his disciples to write books. He actually preferred to publish books rather than establish temples. Temple construction is meant for the general populace and neophyte devotees, but the business of advanced and empowered devo\u00adtees is to write books, publish them and distribute them widely. According to Bhaktisiddh\u0101nta Sarasvat\u012b<\/em> \u1e6ch\u0101kura, distributing literature is like playing on a great m\u1e5bda\u1e45ga. Consequently, we always request members of the International Society for K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a Consciousness to publish as many books as possible and distribute them widely throughout the world. By thus follow\u00ading in the footsteps of \u015ar\u012bla R\u016bpa Gosv\u0101m\u012b, one can become a \u2018r\u016bp\u0101nuga\u2019 devotee.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n

Ironically, some pretenders who claim to be great \u0101c\u0101ryas <\/em>decry the sa\u1e45k\u012brtana <\/em>movement by saying that the distribution of transcendental literature is only karma-yoga<\/em>. Such persons are kani\u1e63\u1e6dha-adhik\u0101r\u012bs <\/em>(the lowest type of devotees) who have no real knowledge of what it means to be a r\u016bp\u0101nuga<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The Six Gosv\u0101m\u012bs, headed by \u015ar\u012b R\u016bpa, carefully studied all the revealed scriptures with the aim of establishing eternal reli\u00adgious principles for the benefit of all human beings. \u015ar\u012bniv\u0101sa \u0100c\u0101rya establishes this conclusion:<\/p>\n

n\u0101n\u0101-\u015b\u0101stra-vic\u0101ra\u1e47aika-nipu\u1e47au sad-dharma-sa\u1e41sth\u0101pakau<\/em>
\nlok\u0101n\u0101\u1e41 hita-k\u0101ri\u1e47au tri-bhuvane m\u0101nyau \u015bara\u1e47y\u0101karau
\nr\u0101dh\u0101-k\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a-pad\u0101ravinda-bhajanan\u0101ndena matt\u0101likau
\nvande r\u016bpa-san\u0101tanau raghu-yugau \u015br\u012b-j\u012bva-gop\u0101lakau <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI offer my obeisances unto \u015ar\u012b R\u016bpa, San\u0101tana, Raghun\u0101tha D\u0101sa, Raghun\u0101tha Bha\u1e6d\u1e6da. \u015ar\u012b J\u012bva and Gop\u0101la Bha\u1e6d\u1e6da, who are expert in deliberating upon the \u015b\u0101stras <\/em>in order to estab\u00adlish true dharma<\/em>. Because they perform the highest welfare activities for humanity at large, they are honoured through\u00adout the three worlds and are worthy of full surrender. They are absorbed in bhajana <\/em>to the lotus feet of R\u0101dh\u0101-K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a and are intoxicated with transcendental bliss.\u201d (\u1e62a\u1e0d Gosv\u0101mya\u1e63\u1e6dakam <\/em>2)<\/p>\n

Therefore, it must be concluded that the books of the Six Gosv\u0101m\u012bs are indeed intended to guide the world and \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da\u2019s translations and commentary on them must also be of the same quality. A similar position is held by \u015ar\u012bla K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a D\u0101sa Kavir\u0101ja Gosv\u0101m\u012b, in that he was empowered to write the Caitanya-carit\u0101m\u1e5bta.<\/em><\/p>\n

more \u0101j\u00f1a karil\u0101 sabe karu\u1e47\u0101 kariy\u0101<\/em>
\nt\u0101\u1e45-sab\u0101ra bole likhi nirlajja haiy\u0101<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAll the devotees have mercifully instructed me. Although I am shameless, due to their order, I have attempted to write.\u201d (Cc. \u0100di-l\u012bl\u0101<\/em> 8.72)<\/p>\n

In the Caitanya-carit\u0101m\u1e5bta <\/em>we also find mention that V\u1e5bnd\u0101\u00advana D\u0101sa \u1e6ch\u0101kura was the Vy\u0101sadeva of gaura-l\u012bl\u0101<\/em>, and therefore no intelligent devotee could possibly dismiss his writings as unessential. Actually, without being empowered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, no one can write transcendental litera\u00adture. The fact is that the Gau\u1e0d\u012bya samprad\u0101ya <\/em>has a great number of such literatures written by empowered personalities. It is the super-excellent characteristic of the Gau\u1e0d\u012bya samprad\u0101ya <\/em>that it has the greatest collection of transcendental literature the world has ever known. All such literature is meant to guide the world.<\/p>\n

kali-k\u0101lera dharma k\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a-n\u0101ma-sa\u1e45k\u012brtana<\/em>
\nk\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a-\u015bakti vin\u0101 nahe t\u0101ra pravartana <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe dharma <\/em>of the Age of Kali is the chanting of the Name of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. Without being empowered by K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, one cannot spread the sa\u1e45k\u012brtana <\/em>movement.\u201d (Cc. Antya-l\u012bl\u0101<\/em> 7.11)<\/p>\n

It is a most glaring defect in certain sections of contemporary Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava society that some devotees want to replace \u015ar\u012bla R\u016bpa Gosv\u0101m\u012b, who was appointed as the \u0101c\u0101rya <\/em>of our samprad\u0101ya <\/em>by \u015ar\u012b Caitanya Mah\u0101prabhu, with \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da. Discounting the contribution of all \u0101c\u0101ryas <\/em>and missions since the time of \u015ar\u012b Caitanya, some persons declare that \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da\u2019s arrival in the West marks the beginning of the Golden Age. It is a foolish proposal and \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da would certainly not sanction such inappropriate conclusions.<\/p>\n

It is a fact that during \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da\u2019s lifetime, his soci\u00adety did perform wonderful service to \u015ar\u012b Caitanya Mah\u0101prabhu\u2019s sa\u1e45k\u012brtana <\/em>movement. This is to the eternal credit of all those souls who participated. Yet pride seems to be the greatest enemy of many of those souls who once served the lotus feet of \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da, and consequently received the blessings of Mah\u0101\u00adprabhu on their humble heads. It is truly unfortunate that in the two and a half decades since the disappearance of \u015ar\u012bla Prabhu\u00adp\u0101da, some proud and arrogant disciples have brought more disgrace to His Divine Grace, his movement, and the Gau\u1e0d\u012bya samprad\u0101ya <\/em>than has befallen the whole of Vai\u1e63\u1e47avism in the past 5000 years. It is sad, it is unfortunate, but it is true \u2013 and all in the name of society consciousness!<\/p>\n

There is indeed a Golden Age within the age of Kali-yuga, but that age began with \u015ar\u012b Caitanya Mah\u0101prabhu and the advent of His sa\u1e45k\u012brtana <\/em>movement, and not with the forming of any institution in modern times. There is no monopoly on the sa\u1e45\u00adk\u012brtana <\/em>movement by any institution; the parampar\u0101<\/em> itself retains all rights. Whosoever takes up the sa\u1e45k\u012brtana <\/em>movement will prosper spiritually, and whosoever deviates from the principles of pure devotion will reap a harvest of mixed results. \u015ar\u012bla Prabhu\u00adp\u0101da mentioned a ten-thousand year period in his Bh\u0101gavatam <\/em>commentary as follows:<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen \u015ar\u012b Caitanya Mah\u0101prabhu appeared, He ushered in the era for this sa\u1e45k\u012brtana movement. It is also said that for ten-thousand years this era will continue. This means that simply by accepting the sa\u1e45k\u012brtana movement and chanting the Hare K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a mah\u0101-mantra, the fallen souls of Kali-yuga will be delivered. The ten-thousand years of the sa\u1e45k\u012brtana move\u00adment inaugurated by \u015ar\u012b Caitanya Mah\u0101prabhu five-hundred years ago provide the opportunity for the fallen souls of Kali-yuga to take to the K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a consciousness movement.\u201d <\/em>(Bh\u0101g. <\/em>8.5.23 purport)<\/p>\n

V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana D\u0101sa \u1e6ch\u0101kura predicted in his \u015ar\u012b Caitanya-bh\u0101gavata:<\/em><\/p>\n

p\u1e5bthiv\u012bte \u0101che yata nagar\u0101di-gr\u0101ma<\/em>
\nsarvatra prac\u0101ra haibe mora n\u0101ma <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIn as many towns and villages as there are on the surface of the earth, My Holy Name will be preached everywhere.\u201d (Caitanya-bh\u0101gavata, Antya-kha\u1e47\u1e0da <\/em>4.126)<\/p>\n

It is a fact that \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da was the one who conducted a preaching mission beyond the borders of India that astonished the Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava world. Many of \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da\u2019s god-brothers remarked, \u2018We could not imagine how the prophecy of Mah\u0101\u00adprabhu was to be fulfilled.\u2019 The god-brothers were wonder-struck that \u2018Swami Mah\u0101r\u0101ja\u2019 (\u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da) had done it! \u015ar\u012bla \u015ar\u012bdhara Mah\u0101r\u0101ja commented, \u201cIt is wonderful that K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a always acts through someone. Swami Mah\u0101r\u0101ja has done a mir\u00adacle! We are happy, we are glad and we are proud.\u201d \u015ar\u012bla Locana D\u0101sa \u1e6ch\u0101kura mentions in his book, \u015ar\u012b Caitanya-ma\u1e45gala<\/em>:<\/p>\n

ebe n\u0101ma-sa\u1e45k\u012brtana tik\u1e63\u1e47a kha\u1e0daga laiy\u0101<\/em>
\nantara asura j\u012bvera phelibe katiy\u0101
\nyadi p\u0101pi ch\u0101\u1e0di dharma d\u016bre de\u015be y\u0101ya
\nmora sen\u0101-pati-bhakta yaibe tath\u0101ya <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201c(Mah\u0101prabhu said:) Taking the sharp sword of the con\u00adgregational chanting of the Holy Name, I will destroy the demoniac mentality within the j\u012bvas<\/em>. If some sinful people give up dharma <\/em>and go to far off countries, then My general (sen\u0101pati-bhakta<\/em>) will go there.\u201d (Caitanya-ma\u1e45gala, S\u016btra-kha\u1e47\u1e0da <\/em>12. 564-565)<\/p>\n

Thus, Locana D\u0101sa \u1e6ch\u0101kura predicted that in the future there would appear a sen\u0101pati <\/em>(a great general), who would cause an inundation of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a consciousness throughout the world. In the opinion of many devotees, that personality was \u015ar\u012bla A. C. Bhaktived\u0101nta Swami Prabhup\u0101da. Yet it is doubtful that \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da would agree with them, as he always considered himself a humble servant of his Guru Mah\u0101r\u0101ja, \u015ar\u012bla Sarasvat\u012b \u1e6ch\u0101kura. This is the reason he was chosen and empowered by guru and K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a to accomplish this service to the sa\u1e45k\u012brtana <\/em>movement.<\/p>\n

However, greatly learned scholars and pure devotees who know the purport of the scriptures, have understood the sen\u0101pati <\/em>men\u00adtioned in Caitanya-ma\u1e45gala <\/em>to refer to \u015ar\u012bla Bhaktisiddh\u0101nta Sarasvat\u012b \u1e6ch\u0101kura. Between 1918 and 1936, Sarasvat\u012b \u1e6ch\u0101kura caused a wave of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a consciousness in Bengal that would indeed inundate the whole world. The sound of the k\u012brtana <\/em>raised by Sarasvat\u012b \u1e6ch\u0101kura conquered the ten directions, silencing the atheists, the impersonalist speculators, and the imitationist saha\u00adjiy\u0101<\/em> section of pseudo-Vai\u1e63\u1e47avism.<\/p>\n

Sarasvat\u012b \u1e6ch\u0101kura orchestrated a great preaching movement for eighteen years, awarding the triple staff of renunciation to his disciples and then sending these sanny\u0101s\u012bs <\/em>to preach throughout India, and eventually to western countries. Before his departure, Sarasvat\u012b \u1e6ch\u0101kura commented that he desired to spend at least ten years preaching K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a consciousness in the western world. Sarasvat\u012b \u1e6ch\u0101kura was unable to do this before his disappear\u00adance in 1936. However, through his intimate disciple, \u015ar\u012bla A. C. Bhaktived\u0101nta Swami Prabhup\u0101da, Sarasvat\u012b \u1e6ch\u0101kura\u2019s last desire for preaching K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a consciousness in the west was fulfilled. \u015ar\u012bla A. C. Bhaktived\u0101nta Swami Prabhup\u0101da continued the work of the sen\u0101pati <\/em>foretold by Locana D\u0101sa \u1e6ch\u0101kura, and Sarasvat\u012b \u1e6ch\u0101kura\u2019s numerous disciples and grand disciples carry on the same work up to the present day.<\/p>\n

Some persons might object that we do not concede that \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da is the sen\u0101pati <\/em>spoken of in Caitanya-ma\u1e45gala<\/em>. Such an objection shows a lack of understanding of the guru-param\u00adpar\u0101 <\/em>and the position of \u015ar\u012bla Bhaktisiddh\u0101nta Sarasvat\u012b \u1e6ch\u0101kura, both in contemporary society and in apr\u0101k\u1e5bta-l\u012bl\u0101 <\/em>(the eternal pastimes of the Supreme Lord).<\/p>\n

Sarasvat\u012b \u1e6ch\u0101kura appeared in this world by the prayer of \u015ar\u012bla Bhaktivinoda \u1e6ch\u0101kura, who implored Lord Jagann\u0101tha to send His representative to fulfil the prophecy of Mah\u0101prabhu to spread the Holy Name in every town and village. In response, Sarasvat\u012b \u1e6ch\u0101kura appeared as the fourth son of Bhaktivinoda.<\/p>\n

Devotees often overlook this ecstatic piece of transcenden\u00adtal knowledge when trying to establish the greatness of \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da. We should remember that the greatness of \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da does not reside in our concocted ideas. Certainly it does not reside in putting \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da in the position of \u015ar\u012bla R\u016bpa Gosv\u0101m\u012b (the samprad\u0101ya-\u0101c\u0101rya<\/em>), or in the position of \u015ar\u012bla Bhaktisiddh\u0101nta Sarasvat\u012b \u1e6ch\u0101kura (the sen\u0101pati <\/em>who appeared in this world as a direct response to the prayer of Bhak\u00adtivinoda \u1e6ch\u0101kura). Such concocted attempts at glorifying \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da fail miserably, due to being tainted with the kani\u1e63\u1e6dha <\/em>mentality of \u0101m\u0101ra guru jagat-guru<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The actual greatness of \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da is beyond challenge. Yet he reserves the right of proper disclosure, the right to reveal his eternal identity to those who are free from envy. What \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da did in this world is written in eternal history. Yet to separate him from the very root of his greatness in an attempt to glorify him, denotes a lack of transcendental vision. Such kani\u1e63\u1e6dha <\/em>disciples are often found to be in the category of guru-bhog\u012b<\/em> (one who enjoys the property and mission of the guru), rather than in the position of guru-sevaka <\/em>(one who serves the vision of the guru).<\/p>\n

The greatness of \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da is not understood or expressed by concoction or sentimental exaggeration. The tran\u00adscendental position of His Divine Grace can only be realised when one sees how \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da is connected to the parampar\u0101<\/em> of great masters, and what qualifications earned him that illustrious position. The bona-fide disciple earns this right of divine vision through a lifetime of service and dedication at the lotus feet of the spiritual master \u2013 not by any amount of mundane speculation. There is no other way to the truth than this.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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