Srila Prabhupada - Vedic Teachings

  For someone who looks beyond the surface, it is clear that the ISKCON movement has failed (false guru system, gurukula abuses, exploitation, etc.), but the movement fulfilled its mission during Srila Prabhupada's physical presence because complete knowledge was transmitted to the world through Srila Prabhupada's books. However, in a changing world, there are things that need to be adapted to change and things that do not. Among these, we can highlight, for example, that the woman – man or wife - husband (guru) relationships and roles that existed in the old days have changed, but also that today, everyone in society is considered a sudra. To what extent does the Ritvik movement take into account the changes taking place in the world and in society? Is it permissible to ask the question: if Srila Prabhupada were here today in his physical body, would he change anything? Would the correct answer be to change nothing? Even if we don't know the perfect answer, we do know that...

  "It was at the age of 16 or 17 that he traveled to Gayā with a host to sing the holy name of Hari in the streets and bazaars. This created a sensation and roused different feelings in different quarters. The bhaktas were highly pleased.  The smārta brāhmaṇas became jealous of Nimāi Paṇḍita's success and complained to Chand Kazi against the character of Caitanya as un-Hindu. The Kazi came to Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita's house and broke a mṛdaṅga (khola drum) there and declared that unless Nimāi Paṇḍita ceased to make noise about his queer religion he would be obliged to enforce Mohammedanism on him and his followers. This was brought to Mahāprabhu's notice. He ordered the townspeople to appear in the evening, each with a torch in his hand.  This groups, and on his arrival in the Kazi's house, he held a long conversation with the Kazi and in the end communicated into his heart his Vaiṣṇava influence by touching his body. The Kazi then wept and admitted that he had felt a keen...

  "Although Jaḍa Bharata was forced to carry the palanquin, he did not give up his sympathetic feelings toward the poor ants passing on the road. A devotee of the Lord does not forget his devotional service and other favorable activities, even when he is in a most distressful condition. Jaḍa Bharata was a qualified brāhmaṇa, highly elevated in spiritual knowledge, yet he was forced to carry the palanquin. He did not mind this, but while walking on the road, he could not forget his duty to avoid killing even an ant. A Vaiṣṇava is never envious or unnecessarily violent. There were many ants on the path, but Jaḍa Bharata took care by looking ahead three feet. When the ants were no longer in his way, he would place his foot on the ground. A Vaiṣṇava is always very kind at heart to all living entities. In His sāṅkhya-yoga, Lord Kapiladeva explains: suhṛdaḥ sarva-dehinām. Living entities assume different bodily forms. Those who are not Vaiṣṇavas consider only human society worthy of the...

"Raghunātha dāsa Bābājī, “Śrī Kṛṣṇa is quickly pleased with persons who desist from causing pain and anxiety to other living entities out of compassion for them. Dayā, compassion, is the foremost Vaiṣṇava quality.” (Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur: Jaiva Dharma, 20. fejezet)