Let us now read what Srila Prabhupada wrote, in regards to the consequences, if one does “not follow the orders of one’s Spiritual Master”.
Caitanya-caritamrita-Madya, 19.156 Purport.
“This is called guru-avajna. The devotee must therefore be very careful not to commit offenses against the spiritual master by disobeying his instructions. As soon as one is deviated from the instructions of the spiritual master, the uprooting of the bhakti-lata begins, and gradually all the leaves dry up. Such an offense is especially created when one disobeys the instructions of the spiritual master”.
Letter to: Bali-mardana, Pusta Krishna, Los Angeles, 18 September, 1972, New York.
“This fighting spirit will destroy everything, but what can I do, you American and European boys are trained up in this fighting attitude. Now put it aside and simply work cooperatively for spreading this movement all over the world. The standards I have already given you, now try to maintain them at all times under standard procedure. Do not try to innovate or create anything or manufacture anything, that will Ruin everything. Simply do as I am doing and be always serious and sincere to serve Krishna, and He will give you intelligence how to do everything.”
Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi Lila, 12.10.
“The order of the spiritual master is the active principle in spiritual life. Anyone who disobeys the order of the spiritual master immediately becomes USELESS.”
PURPORT:
Here is the opinion of Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami. Persons who strictly follow the orders of the spiritual master are useful in executing the will of the Supreme, whereas persons who deviate from the strict order of the spiritual master are USELSS.
Letter to: Sudama, Vrindavana , 5 November, 1972, New York.
So far, the Road Show and this Yoga Village are concerned, these things should be stopped. Simply perform our kirtana. If we divert our attention in this way, the whole thing will gradually deteriorate. He is going far away. All these things are nonsense inventions. Such inventing spirit will RUIN our movement. People may come to see, some will become devotees, but such devotees will not stay because they are attracted by some show and not by the real thing or spiritual life according to the standard of Lord Caitanya. Our standard is to have kirtana, start temples. What is this “Road Show” and “Yoga Village?” It will be another hippie edition. Gradually the Krishna Consciousness idea will evaporate: another change, another change, every day another change. Stop all this. Simply have kirtana.”
Letter to: Ramesvara, India, 10 April, 1974.
Let us try to work cooperatively, otherwise the fighting spirit will RUIN our great movement.
Letter to:Tamala Krishna, Los Angeles, 11 January, 1974, Bombay.
The only fear I have is that you may fight. Please do not. That will RUIN everything we have done. If there is any misunderstandings which arise, as they will, settle them up. You are all qualified American boys, now push on this glorious mission without letting it be hampered by personal differences. nothing else. Do not manufacture ideas.
Letter to: Bali-mardana, Tokyo, 25 August, 1970, New Vrindavana.
There are two verses in the Chanakya[1] Shloka, on how a family or an institution can be glorified or burned into ashes by one person. The Chanakya Pandit says,
“If there is one tree, [Srila Prabhupada], in the forest producing nice aromatic flowers, that one tree can glorify the whole forest by the flavor of its flowers.”
Similarly, if there is one tree in whose cavity there is a little fire, that one tree can burn into ashes the whole forest. So, this simile is applicable anywhere. In a family if there is one good boy, he can glorify the whole family and similarly if there is a bad boy, he can turn the whole family into ashes. …
Similarly in this institution, ISKCON, if there is a bad disciple he can burn the whole institution into ashes.”
Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila 12.8,
“At first all the followers of Advaita acharya shared a single opinion. But later they followed two different opinions, as ordained by providence.”
PURPORT:
The words daivera karana indicate that by dint of providence, or by God’s will, the followers of Advaita Acarya divided into two parties. Such disagreement among the disciples of one acarya is also found among the members of the Gaudiya Matha[2]. In the beginning, during the presence of Om Visnupada Paramahamsa Parivrajakacarya Astottara-Sata Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada, all the disciples worked in agreement; but just after his disappearance, they disagreed. One Party strictly followed the instructions of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, but another group created their own concoction about executing his desires. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, at the time of his departure, requested all his disciples to form a governing body and conduct missionary activities cooperatively. He did not instruct a particular man to become the next acarya. But just after his passing away, his leading secretaries made plans, without authority, to occupy the post of acarya, and they split into two factions over who the next acarya would be. Consequently, both factions were asara, or USELESS, because they had no authority, having disobeyed the order of the spiritual master. Despite the spiritual master’s order to form a governing body and execute the missionary activities of the Gaudiya Matha, the two unauthorized factions began litigation that is still going on after forty years with no decision.
Therefore, we do not belong to any faction. But because the two parties, busy dividing the material assets of the Gaudiya Matha institution, stopped the preaching work, we took up the mission of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura and Bhaktivinoda Thakura to preach the cult of Caitanya Mahaprabhu all over the world, under the protection of all the predecessor acaryas, and we find that our humble attempt has been successful. We followed the principles especially explained by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura in his commentary on the Bhagavad-gita verse beginning vyavasayatmika buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana [Bhagavad-gita2.41].
According to this instruction of Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, it is the duty of a disciple to follow strictly the orders of his spiritual master. The secret of success in advancement in spiritual life is the firm faith of the disciple in the orders of his spiritual master.
The Vedas confirm this, [SU 6.23],
“To one who has staunch faith in the words of the spiritual master and the words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the secret of success in Vedic knowledge is revealed.”
The Krishna consciousness movement is being propagated according to this principle, and therefore our preaching work is going on successfully, in spite of the many impediments offered by antagonistic demons, because we are getting positive help from our previous acaryas. One must judge every action by its result. The members of the self-appointed acarya’s Party who occupied the property of the Gaudiya Matha are satisfied, but they could make no progress in preaching.
Therefore, by the result of their actions one should know that they are ASARA, or USELESS. whereas the success of the ISKCON Party, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, which strictly follows guru and Gauranga, is increasing daily all over the world. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura wanted to print as many books as possible and distribute them all over the world. We have tried our best in this connection, and we are getting results beyond our expectations.”
FOOT NOTES:
[1] Canakya: Was an ancient Indian teacher, philosopher, economist, jurist and royal advisor. He is traditionally identified as Kauṭilya or Vishnugupta, who authored the ancient Indian political treatise, the Arthashastra, a text dated to roughly between the 3rd century BCE and the 3rd century CE. As such, he is considered the pioneer of the field of political science and economics in India, and his work is thought of as an important precursor to classical economics. His works were lost near the end of the Gupta Empire in the 6th century CE and not rediscovered until the early 20th century. Chanakya assisted the first Mauryan emperor Chandragupta in his rise to power. He is widely credited for having played an important role in the establishment of the Maurya Empire. Chanakya served as the chief advisor to both emperors Chandragupta and his son Bindusara.
[2] Gaudiya Maöha—a Vaisnava institution, originally with 64 temples in India and elsewhere, founded by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura for propagating the sacred teachings of Lord Caitanya throughout India and the world. It was first established in 1918 as the Sri Bhaktivinoda Asana. In 1919 he re-established it as the Visva-vaisnava-raja-sabha, an institution originally established by Srila Jiva Gosvami and re-instituted by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. The organization ultimately came to be known as the Gaudiya Maöha. Its influenced waned after the passing of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.