Conversation with Srila Prabhupada Introduction

After the publication of the second volume of the "Forgotten Voices, Travel Diary of a Spiritual Soul emigrated on Earth", some will certainly say that all of this is completely absurd, a mere concoction of the mind born from an untamed imagination.

Talking with Srila Prabhupada... a possible reality or dangerous heresy?

It is nothing new that any eruption of an inexplicable reality brings with it not only a sense of wonder and spiritual fervor but also, like any light encountering an obstacle, it casts a shadow: a halo of contestation and virulent rejection, even violence — the wall of denial...

What exceeds human understanding disturbs. The approach to an unknown dimension creates fear, and the first archaic reflex, embedded deep in the human nature still dominated by animal instinct, is doubt, followed by rejection, aggression, self-defense, combat, sharp criticism, and at its extreme, hatred and the desire to kill, to annihilate what is considered the enemy to be defeated.

There are two fields in human history where these reactions have been particularly evident: science and religion.

When Galileo dared to assert, against the Church's belief, that the Earth was round, they figuratively took his head, and nearly literally, as he almost lost it. So much so that, for a time, he had to abandon convincing his peers of the accuracy of his ideas and calculations. Science doesn't joke around when it comes to challenging theorems, nor do doctors of the Church with beliefs: When the children of Fatima or Bernadette Soubirous declared they had seen the Holy Virgin, a series of interrogations, secrecy, doubts, and harassment worse than for criminals followed. Lord Jesus Christ was crucified because he spoke of the Kingdom of Heaven and taught the love of God. One does not joke with earthly power and interests! Nowadays, anyone who stands against the madness of the system is labeled a conspiracy theorist, and anyone who digs up smoking, rotten dossiers is either physically or media-wise eliminated, depending on the level of perceived danger.

Truth disturbs. Light also, so it must be hidden and overshadowed. But this never lasts long, because, as in good movies where the hero always wins, truth always bursts forth, sacrificing the most heroic who dedicated themselves to it.

One of the shadow's techniques is to isolate each person so they convince themselves that they are the only fool in the village to live and think differently. Hence the repression of liberties and the corruption of all media that do not sing in unison and are outside the control of dominant entities. Thus, talking internally with His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, a natural thing for anyone who has given their heart to him, becomes strange, bizarre, or even downright suspicious.

If you speak out loud what you experience inwardly, there is a strong chance that you'll be told:

- Impossible. Only pure devotees talk with Krishna. 

Followed by:

- Srila Prabhupada said so!

Then after a silence, if you dare to say that it is actually with him you speak, you'll be asked sarcastically:

- Oh really? And what did he tell you?

- Chant your rounds!

At that point, the person will probably have nothing to say, but it will end there, and you'll understand then that it's better to keep your invisible wanderings silent, continuing your journey underwater and in secret.

As for me, thirty years and two books later, I still face this wall of denial and incomprehension. A bit perplexed, doubt still at the heart, like a buoy anchored in the soul, plunged into deep introspection after publication, wondering sincerely whether I should, after all, forget everything and erase it, start over, and live quietly.

It would be easier, and I would stop asking myself a thousand questions every day. "You think too much," my father used to say. I was overwhelmed by these questions when, a few days ago, out of nowhere, I received a mysterious email containing only a link with the subject: "special... might be wise to read it..." A friend sent this to me, without a word more.

Boom! ... Strange.

It was only when I opened and discovered its contents that I understood:

Srila Prabhupada, for sure, had inspired this friend to send me this information so that I would know and understand that I wasn't the only one, and that no matter what happened, no matter what others thought, whether they agreed or disagreed, the important thing was to keep going because all of this was true, right, and wise.

I also found in it the same instruction given to this devotee, which had also been given to me several times: to remain humble and not consider oneself above or superior to others because one receives direct information. Special does not mean superior. Yes, it is special to communicate with the Lord and His authentic representative in the heart, but special does not mean unique, because everyone, if they wish, can also connect from their heart. And above all, it is the message that is important, not the messenger.

What follows is the information as I found it:

It's about the "Conversations with Srila Prabhupada," received by Amogha Lila das Prabhu, a direct disciple of Srila Prabhupada since 1971, and published in the form of a letter addressed to his God brothers in 1979, to convey the instructions received in dreams and intuitive dictation from Srila Prabhupada.

To briefly summarize the facts and context, after Srila Prabhupada's disappearance (poisoning) on November 14, 1977, some of his direct disciples organized themselves into a group of eleven chosen ones who divided the world and the institution among themselves, self-proclaiming as diksa gurus (initiating gurus) and the only direct successors of Srila Prabhupada.

It's essentially the story of mice who take themselves for caliphs and then place themselves in the Caliph's seat. A kind of "Animal Farm" versus spiritual. This usurpation syndrome is at the root of the dysfunction and corruption that still persists within the authentic institution Srila Prabhupada founded on July 13, 1966, in New York. History shows and will show in the future that this deviation has generated such perverse and deep reactions in the application of the path of bhakti that anyone who has attempted or will attempt to follow it will face it and will have to trace back the source in their own way to understand its workings and untangle the painful implications in their own life.

Indeed, the transmission and connection to the disciplic succession is at the very heart of the bhakti yoga process, so it's normal for the subject to be confronted with it. Surrender to the service of the spiritual master is the royal and fundamental entryway to this path.

But what to do and how to do it after Srila Prabhupada's physical disappearance?

The following series of articles will attempt to provide some answers directly from Srila Prabhupada's mouth through the medium of this devotee.

Since the texts are quite long, they have been translated and presented as it is, simply divided into several articles in series format.

The purpose of this series is to make each person reflect and inspire them to reconnect with the Lord, whether you call Him Christ or Krishna. Whether you know Srila Prabhupada or not. Whether you are a passing stranger on this site, a friend of the devotees, or a follower of another path, a disciple actively involved in one institution or another, this subject cannot leave any sincere soul indifferent who is truly seeking to find the path to their spiritual home.

The events mentioned are more than twenty years old... the dialogues and arguments have been reported to show the development of the arguments, doubts, and questions posed, rich with lessons to build critical thinking, and it asks each one this question about it:

• And you, what do you think?
• Where are you today in your relationship with the Lord?
• Who inspires you to move forward better every day?
• How do you stay connected with Him?

I wish you a good read. May you be as inspired as I was and motivated to continue advancing and progressing in consciousness.

March 9, 2025, on this holy and auspicious day of Amalaki Ekadasi