The Living Twig
by Bhakta Alexandar
Bhagavad-gita as it is presented by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada is the topmost book on spirituality, since it contains the highest open , yet secret and hidden knowledge meant for the highest welfare of mankind. This knowledge can be properly understood only under the guidance of saintly persons who are coming in an unbroken chain of disciplic succession - sri guru-parampara. This chain is called sampradaya in Sanskrit.
In a standard Sanskrit dictionary, the word sampradaya is defined as "genuine instruction that has been received through guru-parampara or disciplic succession" (guru paramparagatu sad upadesasya). The prefix sam indicates connection, while the stem is a cognate of pradhana, "source". In the fourth chapter of Bhagavad-gita, Lord Krishna declares Himself to be the original source of the transcendental science of bhakti-yoga, and He confirms that one is connected to this knowledge only through guru-parampara. Admission into a sampradaya does not only depend upon a theoretically correct grasp of Krishna's teachings. The candidate must practically demonstrate his learning through strict adherence to the purified lifestyle (acara) set down by great saintly teachers (acaryas). Source of this knowledge is Supreme Lord Himself, Sri Krishna.He stated in 4.Chapter of Bhagavad Gita - The Blessed Lord said: I instructed this imperishable science of yoga to the sun-god, Vivasvan, and Vivasvan instructed it to Manu, the father of mankind, and Manu in turn instructed it to lksvaku. This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way. But in course of time the succession was broken, and therefore the science as it is appears to be lost.
The author of this edition of Bhagavad-gita is an Acarya, a fully realized Spiritual Master who came to this world with the sole purpose to deliver this highest knowledge to humanity engrossed and submerged in darkness of ignorance. He did an unparalleled feat to spread this transcendental knowledge all around the world, especially in the Western countries. He made a new and great branch of sampradaya that extended all around the globe. However, after his departure from this world in November 1977, gradually under the bad influence of this age and due to serious deviations from his instructions from the side of his leading managers of the institution and probably due to serious infiltration and influence of the agents of Kali, his branch basically became dry and the spiritual movement slided down, more or less, to the level of a new religious institution or a church, which was for sure against the aim of Srila Prabhupada. He started the Movement with the sole purpose to expand the cultivation of pure devotional service to Lord Sri Krishna, according to the teachings given by the disciplic succession, especially by Srila Rupa Goswami, a disciple of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a leader of the Gaudiya Vaishnava part of the Brahma Madhva sampradaya.
However, a living twig of Srila Prabhupada’s branch still exists in the form of The Vaishnava Foundation, a spiritual organisation lead by Srila Prabhupada’s brahmana initiated disciple, Kailasa Chandra Prabhu. The Vaishnava Foundation is following in the footsteps of Srila Prabhupada and the sampradaya represented by him. Secrets and philosophical conclusions of Bhagavad Gita As It Is, Srimad Bhagavatam and other important Vedic literatures can be explored and understood correctly under the guidance of The Vaishnava Foundation and Kailasa Chandra Prabhu. The Vaishnava Foundation follows Srila Prabhupada’s guidance in the process of the cultivation of pure devotional service to Lord Sri Krishna, which is a great science that needs to be understood properly, under the guidence of Sampradaya Acaryas, realized Spiritual Masters.
Admission into a sampradaya ultimately depends upon the aspirant's submission to the mood of the acarya through strict adherence to the acara he teaches. When asked what constitutes the personal relationship of a disciple to his spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada answered, "To obey your spiritual master. Whatever he has said, you follow strictly. Follow the regulative principles. Chant sixteen rounds. That's all." (SP conversation, April 8, 1975)
Basically these principles are clear lines which Kailasa Chandra Prabhu and The Vaishnava Foundation are stand for, without compromise. Therefore, spiritual instructions and guidelines, given by the last sampradaya acarya, Srila Prabhupada, cannot be changed or neglected according to personal ambitions or vox populi. The Vaishnava Foundation advocates the back-to-square-one principle, which means if you took a wrong turn on the first square and ended up in a wrong or dead-end road, go back now to the same square and take the correct road, the road indicated by the Founder Acarya, Srila Prabhupada. There is no way around it for any sincere and serious seeker of the Absolute Truth.Therefore, serious readers who want to understand the conclusions and hidden meanings of Bhagavad Gita As It Is and other Vedic literatures presented by Srila Prabhupada are recommended to approach The Vaishnava Foundation and Kailasa Chandra Prabhu for assistance and real explanations.