An exchange between myself and Akruranath das over on Facebook. I addressed Akruranath:
I am pasting in the relevant exchange for your convenient reading. The whole exchange between leading devotees and Srila Prabhupada can be seen at the link above.
RUPANUGA: It’s a legal document. This is a legal document.
ATREYA RSI: “And chanting sixteen rounds very seriously.”
MADHUDVISA: Daily.
ATREYA RSI: “Daily.”
MADHUDVISA: At least.
BRAHMANANDA: And free from the offenses.
HANSADUTTA: We have to take some…
JAYATIRTHA: Who’s chanting free from the offenses?
PRABHUPADA: No, no, don’t…
ATREYA RSI: “Very seriously” is all I can say.
PRABHUPADA: Yes, yes, do that.
ATREYA RSI: I cannot say “free of offenses.” Because…
PRABHUPADA: “Seriously” means without offense.
ATREYA RSI: …I am degraded. “Very seriously, or may be given to me
from time to time directly, these directions, by my aforesaid Guru
Maharaja, or through his books, or…” In other words, direction
given, instruction given, directly by him or through his…
PRABHUPADA: Better directly.
ATREYA RSI: No “His books”?
PRABHUPADA: No.
ATREYA RSI: Not necessary.
PRABHUPADA: Because I may give direction according to the time.
ATREYA RSI: “Or” means both.
PRABHUPADA: Hm?
ATREYA RSI: “Or” can mean… All right. “Or through his commissioners…”
PRABHUPADA: Direct, direct instruction is important. Just like
Krishna. In the books He has given many instructions, but then He
says, sarva-dharman parityaja. If one says that “You gave me
instruction before like this. How can I give up this?” so that is not
important. The direct instruction is important.
ATREYA RSI: “To me from time to time directly by my aforesaid Guru
Maharaja, or through his commissioner…”
PRABHUPADA: Yes.
ATREYA RSI: “Or through his authorized person or persons, and I shall
obey faithfully all such instructions and directions which shall be,
which shall be binding on me, and that I will uphold the sovereignty
and integrity of my Guru Maharaja, His Divine Grace A.C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and the managing body commission and,
or, any other body appointed by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta
Swami Prabhupada working under the said International Society for
Krishna Consciousness. And I shall faithfully discharge the duty upon
which I am about to enter or I have already appointed to that
effect.” Now this is an addition. “I further pledge that His Divine
Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami is the only source of authority,
represented by his instructions and books, and I shall follow his
instructions, I shall follow the instructions of the books…”
MADHUDVISA: Only these books.
ATREYA RSI: “Only these books” Rather than “I will not follow any other book.”
PRABHUPADA: No, why you’ll put? [laughs] This is…?
ATREYA RSI: It’s not…?
PRABHUPADA: This is required?
RUPANUGA: You mean the part about the books, Srila Prabhupada?
PRABHUPADA: Hm?
RUPANUGA: You mean the part about the books?
HANSADUTTA: It’s already said that you’re his direct instructions.
ATREYA RSI: This is to protect, like, if somebody chanting sixteen rounds…
HANSADUTTA: It’s redundant.
MADHUDVISA: Well, I thought if someone was chanting sixteen rounds
and following the principles and reading someone else’s books, like
Siddha-svarupa’s people…
HANSADUTTA: Yeah, but we’ve just already read one portion where it
says that we will follow direct instructions of Prabhupada.
PRABHUPADA: That’s it.
HANSADUTTA: So again he’s repeating it.
PRABHUPADA: Instruction, follow that.
ATREYA RSI: So then it’s not necessary about this “only” sort part of…
PRABHUPADA: Yes.
MADHUDVISA: What if there is no direct instruction?
PRABHUPADA: Yes. I don’t think that part is anymore important.”
The conclusion from this important conversation is: direct, verbal or otherwise, instructions are more important, relevant and take precedence over previous instructions. Like a doctor giving the patient a prescription for some medical condition, a military commander giving a new battle strategy, or Prabhupada giving a unique order for continuing the process of initiation. Srila Bhaktisddhanta Prabhupada writes in one essay “What are the scriptures? They are nothing but the words of the pure devotees.” If the acharya sets a precedent by making an arrangement that appears to be nontraditional, then so be it. Just as sometimes the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court makes a ruling, and it becomes a precedent in law. It becomes law. Since you are a lawyer, this should make sense to you. I am interested how you will understand this point. More here… »
