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| On Resolving the Apparent
Contradictions |
|
“One who is satisfied by that which is provided
by Destiny Although it was not
considered so back in the day of Srila Prabhupada’s manifest preaching mission,
an understanding of one tattva in particular—which
all of his devotees back then were completely satisfied by--is now
considered “controversial.” Apparent contradictions have surfaced in what Srila
Prabhupada said and wrote about this ontological truth. The reason for this disappointing
development has been, and continues to be, the infiltration of
unauthorized opinion into Srila Prabhupada teachings. “The genuine guru has only
one opinion, and that is the opinion expressed by “Real guru will not talk
differently. Some guru says that, "In my opinion, you should like this."
And some guru will say, "In my opinion, you'll do
this." They are not guru; they are all rascals. Guru has no
"own" opinion. Guru has got only
one opinion, the same opinion which was expressed by “But later they followed two
different opinions, as ordained by What was his opinion? We all knew very well what he told us (and he
still tells us) throughout his purports, letters, lectures, room conversations,
and morning walks. He told us that we
were all once with Lord Krishna in a loving, direct relationship. He told us that this Truth is now
covered. He told us that, if we did not
deviate from him, we could one day surpass the flawed perceptions of our
senses, the limited reasoning of material cause, effect, and occult knowledge,
the realization of brahma-jnana, and even the initial
joy of perfect samadhi to gain the ultimate
benediction of aprakrta revelation. That benediction would directly reveal and
revive our original position as an eternal loving associate of We must not allow any apa-siddhanta against his conception to cover over that
which we believed before its introduction. In order to reject all such apa-siddhantas, we must see and accept only his
opinion. Then, eventually, we
can realize why his opinion on everything—and especially on this particular tattva--is the Absolute Truth. Being able to accept his opinion, however, is
dependent upon individual adhikara or eligibility. If we investigate the source
of the conflict relating to this tattva, we shall invariably
find personal interest (“the poison is personal ambition).” Fixed as they are in substantive differences,
from where do the conflicting opinions spring? To realize this we must first attain
the right attitude. That right attitude
is, and must always be, rooted in sattva. The sattvic
attitude entails being able to recognize that which is truly progressive from
the spiritual perspective. This right attitude entails also having a negative
attitude toward that which disguises itself as Krishna Consciousness--when, in
fact, it is biased “preaching,” serving only to cover consciousness. Conditioned souls do not know
the Absolute Truth. They have not yet realized
brahman.
Certainly they are not self-realized in the true sense of the term,
i.e., they have not realized Paramatma, what to speak
of the source of the Supersoul, the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, Bhagavan. As
such, the conditioned sadhakas must try to know the gradations
or levels of their given sources of authority when resolving all the apparent
contradictions they must invariably confront.
The Six Enemies of the Mind “The mind is always
accompanied by six enemies—namely, kama, krodha, mada, moha,
matsarya and bhaya—that is,
lust, anger, intoxication, illusion, envy and fear.” Cc.
Madhya 11.10, purport Spiritual life is undoubtedly
difficult. The difficulties come in many
forms. One of the biggest difficulties
comes in the form of what Western psychologists call cognitive dissonance, which
is nothing but the interaction, invariably working at cross-purposes, of the six
enemies of the mind. Moha is illusion or delusion,
and sammoha means an intensification of that
bewilderment. Asammohah, as per Bhagavad-gita
10.4, is freedom from doubt and delusion.
As such, there is an intrinsic relationship between doubt and one of the
six enemies of the mind, viz., moha. Profound doubt, in particular, inflames
another of those enemies, namely bhaya or fear. These inimical elements are
often a response to apparent contradictions within the statements of the
self-realized spiritual master. Cognitive dissonance inflames doubt, which inflames
fear--and sometimes guilt. In order to
secure freedom from this, a devotee may resort to compulsive behavior. This is just what the cult pushing the apa-siddhanta (via apparent contradictions) is looking for
from its potential victims. One source of doubt is
intelligence. Intelligence used in the
service of the Lord is buddhi-yoga, and this is our
process. When integrated into buddhi-yoga, doubt not only does not harm us, but, on the
contrary, it helps us. Still, that doubt
must be resolved. However, the other
variety of doubt is a product of sin.
Sin is rooted in nescience, avidya. In other
words, due to papa-bijas or karma-vasanas,
the devotee is ineligible--does not have the necessary adhikara--to
pierce through the cognitive dissonance created by apparent contradictions. Compulsive behavior often triggers
entanglement in vikarmic sequences, which are very
dangerous for anyone on the path of liberation. The bewildered conditioned soul,
engaged in compulsive behavior, makes mistakes and conceives various illusions
about what is the Absolute Truth. When these illusions are then pushed, that is
cheating. Such cheating becomes the new
standard, creating an unauthorized personal interest. Vikarmic sequences often
implicate him in intrigue, treachery, and betrayal, usually expressed in the
form of vaishnavaparadha. When it devolves to this
point, there is almost no way out. As such, from the very
beginning, buddi-yoga helps us not to fall victim to apparent
contradictions. There are not
contradictions in the statements of the Spiritual Master. The issue is adhikara:
Qualification or eligibility for realization of the Truth regarding the so-called
contradictory topic. The bhakti process is not a conflicted science, and there
is no need for frustration or hysterical responses, which are always counterproductive. If we experience cognitive
dissonance, this is because we have not yet developed the required spiritual
power or adhikara, in spite of the seva we have previously rendered. We need to render more seva. We need to decrease our aparadhas. We must resurrect the attitude that we had from
the very first: To cultivate sattva, which will help
to make the illusions of the apparent contradictions fall away. Now, in order to transcend
the influence of apparent contradictions—and integral to the process of doing
so—we must secure a better understanding of the levels of authority in the
statements of the Spiritual Master. U.M.A. Gooma Let us take
a look at one such self-described guideline: “In summary, a quick chart of the levels of authority
we might accord to the materials in this VedaBase,
starting with the highest, could look something like this: Books; Legal documents and similar
papers Again, this is merely a guideline, not a cast-iron
standard. Letters and conversations may often give significant, even
invaluable, knowledge and guidance not to be found
anywhere else. And for the person to whom Srila Prabhupada originally directed
his words, they might be the most important words in the world.” Bhaktivedanta
Swami VedaBase Front Matter Notice, “Legal documents and
similar papers” are in the highest position, tied with the books for the topmost
rung. The legal docs are equal to Srila Prabhupada’s translations and
purports. This assertion is dubious. The inherent bias in it is ultimately not
difficult to figure out. The inherent
bias is contained in the acronym: U.M.A.,
or, to be more explicit, “ultimate
managerial authority.” Blowback Before proceeding further, let
us consider blowback. Usually, it comes
in the form of psychic backlash that pushes a devotee into the devolutionary
cycle (initiated by apparent contradictions) as detailed above. We had every reason to expect
that our recent article on the origination of the jiva would initiate a
backlash, and we have not at all been disappointed. After producing A
Closer Look at Siksa-Guru, we also
expected a crack-back. As far as we are
concerned, all of the backlashes to these articles have had one thing in
common: They were more intense, personal, inflammatory, and severe than
expected. Here, let us concentrate on
the responses by the neo-Gaudiya cult to our article about origination. We will
not allow their animosity to intimidate us, because it is rooted in an
imaginary attitude of service to Chaitanya Vaishnavism. Although
originally initiated by Srila Prabhupada, the neo-Gaudiya devotees have
responded to the guru-bhoga of the commissioners in the
wrong way. The neo-Gaudiya cult fell
into guru-tyaga; they have left His Divine
Grace. Open your eyes, prabhus, and see that they are pushing an apa-siddhanta opposed to Prabhupada’s teachings on the
origination of the jiva. Krishna Consciousness ultimately means to see as the Supersoul sees. If the way we see their antagonism matches
(or approaches) the way He sees it, then it demonstrates that the neo-Gaudiyas may
have a great deal to lose when their apa-siddhanta fails.
They are pushing an imaginary
interpretation of jiva tattva, free will, misuse of
free will, and the inherent desire of the spirit soul to revive his original
rasa or relationship with the Lord in the spiritual sky. Their cult accepts this new view. Everything
they are doing, and everything they stand for, will be futile if and/or when this
imagination is defeated. They have a deep-rooted, personal
ambition to counterattack anyone who dares to present the siddhanta as Srila
Prabhupada presented it. Still, we must remain unswerving in our commitment to
the genuine siddhanta—and we are doing this by continuing to preach the Truth. Unswerving does not necessarily mean
free from cognitive dissonance.
That is very difficult for an uninitiated devotee; it is tough to attain
even by an initiated disciple in the parampara,
especially a devotee of Western birth. Cognitive
dissonance will decrease as progress is made up the ladder toward brahman realization. At brahma-nirvana, all of it is gone. Cognitive dissonance and doubt
are not eliminated by reactive behaviors, i.e., trying to forcibly obtain
freedom from them by exploiting manipulative angles for the purpose of
capitulation and the pyrrhic victory such temporary
satisfaction yields. Such an aggression is conjured up by the mind under the influence of ahankara, and it exponentially inflames entanglement. Beyond the Hood The current Western world of
devotees contains many imaginary siddhantas and personal
ambition (within various cults of choice).
They all practice a zero-sum game.
This jabber about “cooperation” rings hollow; all too many of these occultists
are trying to chop the opposition off at their knees. This disintegrative brotherhood
of unauthorized cults and sects is shot through with mendacity, deception,
obfuscation, insidiousness, cunning, aparadha, audacity, triumphalism,
intimidation, word-jugglery, contempt, bias, sectarianism, cynicism, and unrelenting
competition. In the guise of a brahminical
brotherhood, actually there is no honesty or forgiveness whatsoever integrated
into it. There cannot be. These fanatics are not themselves satisfied,
so how can they be satisfied when they bewilder someone by seducing him or her to
join them? They engage in word jugglery
simply to create doubt. The Machiavellian dictum of whatever-works-to-get-the-result
and hiding their actual goals are intrinsic to the “preaching” process. Satan is the dissembler, the initiator of
obstacles. Satan means nescience. Satan
influences followers to preach the cause of his many brotherhoods in a way that
such proselytizing appears to be godly or sincere. Since there is no Real Truth underlying all such
“devotional service,” there will certainly be no real forgiveness afforded to
anyone cracking under its weight. To put
it another way, anyone who joins one of these groups is not going to attain
forgiveness when he finally gets jolted and wants to escape the fearful
influence. Appearance of Forgiveness Only a genuine brahmin, under the influence of a practical
brahminical or sattvic
process, can actually forgive, uplift, and enlighten a bewildered devotee. This is because the genuine brahmin is actually on the godly
path, even if superficially he may said to be not completely “pukka.” There will be the appearance
of forgiveness to someone who betrays one unauthorized cult and compulsively hooks
up with a competitor, but no actual freedom from reaction. Doubt will appear eliminated for a short time,
but then much worse doubt--bewilderment of an almost intractable variety--will
surface soon after. As such, from the very beginning, best not to engage in
compulsive behavior, so there will be no need to seek forgiveness for it. If some powerful “godbrother” whacks and cracks a weaker devotee, that chela is kept in submissive bewilderment—but encouraged to
think that he is no longer bewildered.
This deception affords continual control. The masters of pseudo-spiritual war, expert
in the arts of deception and distraction, are not weak. Having yoked themselves
to the seductive energy of the rittviks, or the
neo-Gaudiya camp, or the fabricated, so-called “ISKCON,” they will not change: “We know that all this word jugglery springs from the
imagination of Sankaracarya, and yet, because we
belong to his sect, we accept it, although
it does not satisfy us.” Cc. Adi 7.136 On Resolving the Apparent Contradictions After much research and
applied intelligence into this important area, here is a suggestion for a superior
understanding of these levels. The
lowest level of this ladder appears to be contained in letters or legal
documents that the guru has neither dictated nor personally penned. If a legal document or letter is written by
one (or some) of his disciples, and the Spiritual Master simply signs it
(“approved”), the authority contained therein is automatically trumped by any
other documentation or spoken word directly from him, in terms of obvious
contradiction. Without such an obvious
contradiction to the “approved by” document, its authority stands as is. This can be considered Level Five Authority. Next, or the second lowest
level of authority, would appear to come in the form of words (either spoken or
written) to a specific disciple relating to his or her specific situation. This is especially the case when that
disciple is in danger of leaving Krishna Consciousness altogether, i.e., losing
his or her link to the guru-parampara. Call this Level Four Authority. Creating artificial levels of
the Spiritual Master’s authority--between platform lectures and room
conversations, or between letters and morning walks, or between or amongst any
of these with the translations and purports in his books—can only be Maya. What the Spiritual Master directly says or
writes in connection with the tattvas—in all
formats—is essential, potent, and absolute. There can
never be any actual contradiction in any of those explanations—in any
format--at any time. The management form of the
mission only assists this abovementioned essence of the Krishna
Consciousness movement. Management is always subordinate to the essence of
Krishna Consciousness advancement by the devotees of the Hare Krishna movement.
From this perspective, the next level of authority is legal documentation
directly ordered and/or penned by the Spiritual Master. It can be considered Level Three Authority. As already explained, a
higher level of authority is the essence of the mission itself, realization of
the transcendental tattvas of Krishna Consciousness
and attainment of pure, realized Krishna Consciousness by the devotees. We
propose that the guru’s writings, speeches and general talks, the generic
explanation of the Absolute Truth, constitute this higher level. We can thus call this Level Two Authority. However, the highest
transcendental level of authority is revealed when the Spiritual Master
explicitly, specifically, and usually in a concise but detailed manner,
explains the meaning of any particular tattva or
topic or controversial issue. In the process, he directly removes the
apparent contradictions. Here
is when he most effectively resolves threadbare the difficult passages.
His purports sometimes contain these explicit explanations. His Q&A after a lecture, the lecture
itself, a room or personal conversation, a letter, or a morning walk also often
contains such explicit explanations. We
can thus accord this the highest Level One Authority. Analogies can be helpful to
focus on the Reality, just as focusing on nearby branches helps us to see the
hidden lunar globe. Contradiction means
rascal. In order to overcome and resolve
contradictions, let us apply the analogy of attorneys and jurisprudence in
court. All the laws of In the same way, the shastra itself can be compared to the Constitution, ancient
commentaries (generally in Sanskrit) on the shastra
can be compared to the Bill of Rights, relatively recent generic commentaries (including
even Srila Prabhupada’s purports) can be compared to modern decisions by the
court. However, Srila Prabhupada’s explicit and detailed explanations (in all
formats) on the subject of choice are comparable to the arguments that the
attorneys actually rely upon and present in order to convince the judge to rule
conclusively in their favor. So, with a straw between our
teeth, kindly consider this summary of levels of authority,
from highest to lowest: 1)
Explicit,
specific, and often detailed explanations on particular tattvas; 2)
General explanations
of the tattvas; 3)
Presentations
connected to management, including legal documents; 4)
Personal
instructions for disciples in particular circumstances; 5)
Documents created
by disciples, with only tacit approval from guru The highest levels,
especially Levels One and Two, are actuated by the
guru through all the media of translations, purports, platform lectures, room
conversations, letters, and morning walks.
Level Three is never actuated in the form of
translations and usually not in the form of purports; it is often found in the
form of documents and letters. Level Four is usually in the form of letters, room conversations, or
private conversations, including telephonic conversations; Srila Prabhupada
used this last-mentioned medium sparingly, however. Level Five is
self-explanatory. This brings us to other factors
connected to these five levels. These
factors are: 1) Context, 2) Coherency,
and 3) Chronology. What is the general context
of any verse, purport, letter, or conversation?
What is the Spiritual Master, in context, trying to emphasize? In relation to the context, the apparent
contradiction should be resolved. Everything that the guru says
is coherent; there is not only coherency in his presentation of the overall
philosophy and teaching, it is in everything he has written and spoken. When something appears to contradict that consistency,
then the apparent contradiction should be resolved in terms of the coherency of
the teachings as a whole. When there is a blatant
contradiction in an order, then the order given most recently by the guru
trumps the previous order. Contradictory
orders are resolved in consideration of context and chronological sequence in
terms of the backdrop of all of his teachings.
Orders are in terms of judging by the results, i.e., genuine judgment. The Guru’s Explanation is Wanted The guru-parampara
is required in order to understand the shastra. For example, the shastra,
although perfect, can be cryptic and concise; the best example of this principle
is the Vedanta-sutra. A bona fide
spiritual master is required in order to explain each terse verse of the Vedanta-sutra,
as well as the Upanisads, the Puranas,
the Itihasas, etc. On this basis, his explanations
and purports are often more valuable and, therefore, higher than the original shastra itself--although all of these are absolute. We should repent when we
deviate from his message, from his teaching, and from his orders. We should repent and seek his
forgiveness. We should only associate
with devotees who have this demeanor. We
should not affiliate ourselves with any of the unauthorized brotherhoods, all
of which are in the process of subverting either his philosophy or his
orders. We should clearly see how they
operate. We can come to this realization
by overcoming apparent contradictions and cognitive dissonance. The most recent Sampradaya Acharya in our line remains Om Visnupada
Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharya
108 Sri Sriman His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. May that supreme teacher instill satisfaction
in your heart of hearts. 
Quotes from the books of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada are copyright by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust |