Mahasrnga – Jaipura: Although the Bible is written in simple language we can find similarities in consciousness in what’s happening in our ISKCON society and what Paul had to deal with 2,000 years ago.

An Appeal for Christian Unity

1st letter (Epistle) from Paul to the Corinthian.

10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Isn’t this what we want in ISKCON today? To be loyal to Srila Prabhupada and all agree on pushing forward his great society he created. Unfortunately we are splintered on the guru issue with concoctions of what Prabhupada wanted starting back in 1978 to the voted in guru speculation going on in 2012.

11 For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. 12 Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one would say you were baptized in my name. 16 Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.

These verses are from Paul to the Corinthians and they have an amazing similarity happening today in ISKCON. The ‘gurus’ are saying their disciples are ‘theirs’ and insinuating that they will take them back to godhead. Their initiations (baptism) are not in Prabhupada’s name but in their own. Paul seems to understand that his business is not to baptize or (initiate) but preach so that Christ would not be diminished which is happening today as Prabhupada’s position is minimized.

Chapter 3 – The Wisdom of the Cross

18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.19 “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.” 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

We can see supersoul here as although the original 11 seemed wise and cleaver but were covered over and made fools of themselves. They pointed to signs of book distribution and increased devotees but their arrogance and pride were their stumbling blocks because they didn’t give full credit to Srila Prabhupada saying it was their potency and foolishly called themselves “Divine Graces” Because they didn’t recognize the power of Prabhupada and give credit to him their weakness surfaced and once again became the mice they were before meeting Srila Prabhupada.

26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God.

History has shown that there have not been many wise or noble men on the GBC and most were and are still functioning according to the ‘flesh’ idea of profit, adoration and distinction. Krsna have given them foolish things like sexual attraction and material ambition to shame them and their weakness was exposed and they were humiliated by the ‘weak things of the world’. Srila Prabhupada was chosen and proven to be the maha bhagvat not their boastful illusions of grandeur.

CHAPTER 3

1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men?

When Prabhupada left we were all neophytes or infants of spiritual understanding and even today there are few examples of realized souls ready to follow and back up what Srila Prabhupada instructed and directed. The jealousness and pettiness of the leaders is obvious even today if you ever have had the unfortunate experience of sitting in on one of the GBC meetings. The leaders are indeed mere men and not some empowered persona having advanced realizations higher than their Godbrothers.

The Role of God’s Ministers

5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one;
but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

Prabhupada started ISKCON and it grew because of him. Now his disciples are trying to expand his movement by making devotees while others instruct them. Most are caught up in the words diksa and siksa but they will be rewarded or demoted by His Divine Grace.

9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

We are all devotees of Srila Prabhupada, working within his ‘building’ ISKCON according to the foundation of instructions he’s given us. We are individuals with certain skills but changing the foundation established by Srila Pabhupada has proven disastrous, especially for the 11 (acarayas). Obey His Divine Grace and you go to the spiritual world, twist change and concoct and you will burn in rebirth.

16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are. 18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness” 20 and again, “the LORD knows the reasoning of the wise, that they are useless.” 21 So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, 23 and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.

Could anyone describe Supersoul in a more clear and simple way? The destruction caused by mis management of the GBC, fallen gurus or intimidation for not following their system has destroyed thousands of spiritual lives and their wisdom has been revealed as foolishness. The Lord has revealed their uselessness and made them the fool but still they want that pratishta. Death will soon show these leaders how all their opulence, craftiness and cheating propensities were only illusions causing them to yet suffer another birth in the material world.