Conversation with Srila Prabhupada Part 1: 1979 letter
THE 1979 "CONVERSATIONS WITH SRILA PRABHUPADA"
Amoghalila's original "Conversations with Srila Prabhupada", with minor editing for clarity:
Mid-August, 1979 [this is when the letter was sent out, not when this "conversation" occurred]
I. The relationship of godbrothers and gurus.
As bhakta leader, I was working closely with disciples of new gurus, and naturally was encouraging them to surrender totally to their spiritual master. But at the same time I was hearing about mistakes made by the gurus. I began to feel great anxiety, as if I was part of a con game, fooling the new disciples into thinking that the gurus were perfect, when actually they were not. I was praying very intensely to Srila Prabhupada, and I felt I could hear him answer.
"My dear Srila Prabhupada, Please save me, please save me, please save me. I have had enough of this, I don't care what happens to myself, I don't care if I go to hell. But if I am to serve your cause I must be a little aware of what is going on in this con game."
Srila Prabhupada: What do you want?
Amogha Lila das: I want to understand how I should interact with the new gurus.
Srila Prabhupada: You also be guru. (I might comment that this completely shocked me. Later I understood that Srila Prabhupada was presenting it in this way to make his point.)
Amogha Lila das: What?
Srila Prabhupada: Read my books!
Amogha Lila das: Yes.
I opened a Krsna book that was lying nearby and began reading:
"Both of us can realize that without the blessings of the spiritual master no one can be happy. By the mercy of the spiritual master and by his blessings one can achieve peace and prosperity and be able to fulfill the mission of human life."
Amogha Lila das: Yes, this is the way Krsna has arranged things, I ventured.
Srila Prabhupada: So you be guru. And if you are pleased by others' service to Krsna, they will make spiritual advancement. Is that alright?
Amogha Lila das: My dear spiritual master, you are perfect, I replied, amazed at how wonderfully Srila Prabhupada was answering my question.
Srila Prabhupada: No, I am not perfect. But if you try to please me, if you sincerely try to please me, then you are perfect. So, read more.
Again I randomly chose a passage:
"Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Supersoul of all living entities, knows very well everyone's heart…. Krsna is especially concerned with vanquishing the distress of His devotees, and He is the only shelter of pure devotees."
We discussed some other matters, and from time to time Srila Prabhupada would answer by referring me to a book, which I would open at random and read. I was very encouraged at how the passages always answered my questions perfectly, and also by how it seemed Srila Prabhupada was affirming that he was actually directing me from in my heart.
I asked Srila Prabhupada, "This bhakta program, can I not run it properly?"
Srila Prabhupada referred me to a book:
"A person who is engaged in devotional service with love and faith is guided from within by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Lord Himself as Paramatma, or the spiritual master sitting within one's heart, gives the devotee exact direction by which he can gradually go back to Godhead."
Then Srila Prabhupada directly answered my questions about the "con game":
Srila Prabhupada: So, the con game is only that they are claiming to be the only gurus, and that in the association of godbrothers they are to be taken as gurus. Actually, all the godbrothers should be worshipped equally and together, but for practicality this is not being done. So you may also be guru, but be careful how you speak, or you will cause disturbance. Yes, you are correct that you may help them…. What is wrong in you feeling like that? But the GBC is always the authority. Even the godbrother guru is subordinate to the GBC.
Amogha Lila das: But for the disciple he is absolute?
Srila Prabhupada: Yes, but to consider Krsna as the absolute and the guru as relative, this absolute consideration is supreme. The disciple ultimately must judge the guru according to Krsna, not that the godbrothers must judge Krsna according to the guru. This is foolishness.
Amogha Lila das: I see.
Srila Prabhupada: Yes, but remember one more thing. When the guru is accepted by the disciple, as long as the guru is acting as the representative of God, he must be followed. The disciple cannot judge the spiritual master, except in the extreme instance. Even Krsna can be judged, on the basis of love. But the disciple cannot do this, nor can he understand this.
Amogha Lila das: This is the crux of the issue, Srila Prabhupada. How can the disciple be required to follow the guru blindly while the godbrother is criticizing him?
Srila Prabhupada: The disciple accepts the guru as God. There is no harm in this. It is necessary for him to develop the proper attitude. But the godbrother develops this attitude by accepting the superior guru (the guru of the two godbrothers), so he does not need to be restricted like the disciple. He can help the guru.
Amogha Lila das: But this seems like the disciple is being fooled into thinking that the guru is perfect, even when he is not. (This is the real thing that was troubling me. But Srila Prabhupada answered it so clearly and directly.)
Srila Prabhupada: So the disciple should not be 'conned' into this. They should see it as factual. Otherwise everything is ruined. In other words, the guru must factually be non-different from Krsna. Otherwise the disciples will be cheated. So that is up to the gurus, and the godbrothers may help them. The gurus should not be reluctant to take help of the godbrothers nor should they feel their position is threatened if the godbrothers help them. Also, the godbrothers must be convinced by the example and character of the gurus that they are non-different from Krsna, otherwise they will feel they are being required to go along in the con game. In conclusion, everything depends on the gurus (initiating or otherwise) being factually gurus, bona fide gurus. And the godbrothers all help each other come to and maintain this position. In this way everything is adjusted. Is it clear?"
Amogha Lila das: Yes, Srila Prabhupada.
Srila Prabhupada: You understand everything correctly, so if the 'conning' is there you try to relieve the problems by becoming more Krsna conscious yourself, and intelligently helping others of all ranks to advance in Krsna consciousness. And do not worry. I will not let ISKCON go off course, even if gurus have to leave to maintain the purity. So work enthusiastically for ISKCON, and set aside all your doubts.
II. The guru should not pretend he does not make mistakes.
A few weeks later I made a mistake and one of the new bhaktas detected it and criticized me. I tried to convince him that I had not made a mistake, but could not do so and fell into anxiety. I thought that the new gurus might really be in anxiety over such a situation. I also had been thinking that the gurus' mistakes should be concealed, but I again thought that if a guru's mistake is concealed then it would look really bad if it was discovered later that this effort to hide the mistake was made. I had no solution to this problem. Then once when I awoke from a dream of Srila Prabhupada, I felt he was still speaking.
Srila Prabhupada: Distribute books. Guru means acarya, to teach by example. So, distribute books, not sit on a big chair. See the anxiety! 'What will they think? I have made some mistake! Their faith may be destroyed!'
Amogha LIla das: Prabhupada, please help me! Please help me be sympathetic! Yes, you have revealed the difficulties clearly. Now, I must be Krsna conscious, that is all. I must be non-different from Krsna, that is all. I must be very serious. I also must be very humble.
Srila Prabhupada: So, analyze this. Understand their anxiety. Sympathize. Then you can actually help. Not to artificially present some image, not to maintain some external show. The position is natural. You are surrendered to Krsna, that is all. So, you must be surrendered to Krsna.
"Guru does not mean perfect. Guru means that one gives perfect instructions."
Srila Prabhupada: Distribute books. Be humble. Not that, 'Now I have a big position, so I must make some impression other than the truth.' Why hide the truth? What good that will do? You must be Krsna conscious, that is all. And, if you are not, if you make a mistake, what of it? It is not that you have lost your position. Guru does not mean perfect. Guru means that one gives perfect instructions. That is, one is a peon. That is all. Guru means peon. Not that guru means big devotee. Guru means peon. But the letter he is carrying, that is heavy.
Amogha Lila das: But what about the disciples' faith?
Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Therefore these eleven.
Amogha Lila das: Can you explain this?
Srila Prabhupada: The guru must be concerned for his relationship with his disciples. That consideration is there.
At this point, I felt Srila Prabhupada was being clouded and I could not hear him properly. So, I said:
Amogha Lila das: Prabhupada, please help me to hear you clearly and properly. I am afraid my imagination may intervene.
Srila Prabhupada appreciated my effort.
Srila Prabhupada: Thank you. Yes, they must have a certain quality to maintain the relationship with the disciples. But it is not artificial. There are many reasons why one may be chosen. But the first is Krsna consciousness, and that means surrender to the spiritual master and carrying out his instructions. But of course the guru may make mistakes. Why is this being hidden? Do you think the disciples' faith will be destroyed? That sort of faith should not be artificially cultivated, that the guru cannot make mistakes. But, that if you follow his instructions, Krsna will be pleased, and you will go back to Godhead. If the guru is pleased, Krsna is pleased. Not that the guru cannot make mistakes. Why this idea? I never said it. Surrender to the guru, right or wrong. I never said that guru is always right. Otherwise, what is the reason I often said I am not perfect? That is not only humility. That is the guru's position. He is not perfect. But he does not cheat! (Srila Prabhupada screamed this.) That is his qualification.
I was a little concerned.
Amogha Lila das: But isn't the disciple's faith disturbed?
Srila Prabhupada immediately answered:
Srila Prabhupada: You rascal, why don't you listen? My guru is always right—right or wrong. Just like, my country—right or wrong. Or like, the wife must always follow the husband—right or wrong. That is her position. She tried to be a good child to her parents, she prays to Lord Shiva, so that they will be pleased and make arrangements carefully so that she will get a good husband. But, if she gets a bad husband, she does not leave. She follows him still—right or wrong. That is her position. So, the only way you can get knowledge is by surrendering to the guru. That is the fact. So you have to do your best to get the best guru. And then, when you are ready to accept that I will follow this guru, right or wrong, then I accept initiation. Then, once the decision is made (and especially, once the ceremony is performed) one cannot go back on it. Just like marriage, it is eternal. (Only if the guru does not take one to Krsna, then he may be rejected. But that is very extreme.) So, the guru should not try to present the picture that he is perfect. He should try to be perfect. He should not spend his energy in maintaining the show, he should expend his energy in qualifying himself for the position. Otherwise, it will become another Catholic Church. Do not allow this to happen! Do you understand?
Amogha Lila das: Srila Prabhupada, the essence seems to be this last statement you made, that the guru should expend his energy to become perfect, not to present the image that he is perfect.
Srila Prabhupada: Yes, that is their mistake.
I still thought, however, that it was required that the gurus present themselves as perfect before their disciples.
Amogha Lila das: But still, please forgive me, Srila Prabhupada, it still seems to me the disciples' faith may be affected if the guru is not perfect.
Srila Prabhupada shouted:
Srila Prabhupada: You rascal, you rascal! You complete rascal! Why can you not understand? Of course the disciples' faith will be affected. So, if the guru is not perfect, then you should test the disciples by pretending that he is perfect? What rascaldom is this? No, if the disciples' faith will be affected, then the guru must be perfect. Can you not understand this point? Is it so difficult?
Amogha Lila das: Oh, I understand.
I suddenly realized what Srila Prabhupada's point was. However, I suppose due to my condition I could not really accept it, and so I asked:
Amogha Lila das: But still, if the guru makes a mistake, shouldn't we try to conceal this from the disciples?
Srila Prabhupada: How long you can conceal? And then, when they find out you have been concealing.…
Srila Prabhupada paused.
Srila Prabhupada: So in this way, everything will be ruined. Therefore, the guru's life must be an open book. There is no difference between his private life and his public life. You don't remember that I have told you this? So why they are making difference between private life and public life? Did I ever make difference between my private life and public life?
I still was not sure I understood correctly, so I asked:
Amogha Lila das: So, Srila Prabhupada, please forgive me for repeating, but I want to understand clearly. If a guru makes a mistake, he should not try to conceal it?
Srila Prabhupada: He should not expend energy to conceal it. Otherwise, when they find out he is trying to conceal it, what will happen? Everything will be finished. Of course, they should not broadcast it. But they should not expend energy to conceal it. Otherwise, the real position will be hidden for some time only to be revealed later. This is their anxiety. So, this should be clear, the sadhu's life is open. He does not try to conceal anything. If he cannot pass stool when rising in the morning, he does not try to conceal that. He may even explain the situation. The disciples' love or faith will not be threatened, it will increase. Otherwise, they are nonsense disicples. Just like the boy who would not accept the guru because he wore glasses. 'I thought the guru was perfect.' What nonsense! So why they are pretending they don't have to wear glasses, and then when they have to read, they secretly have to put on the glasses? Where has this idea come from? Did I teach this? Did I set this example?
Amogha Lila das: No, Srila Prabhupada, you were perfect in all your activities. Everyone knew you were perfect.
Srila Prabhupada: If everyone thought I was perfect, it was not because I tried to fool them, to make them think I was perfect. No, I made so many mistakes. I also fell asleep during classes, I also forgot slokas or pronounced them wrongly. I also accepted disciples whom I shouldn't have accepted. I also spoke too strongly sometimes and offended my godbrothers. But I did not try to hide these mistakes. I asked my godbrothers to forgive me. I never tried to hide my mistakes, did I? Of course, sometimes things have to be hidden, that is a fact, but the basic attitude is not like this.
Amogha Lila das: Sometimes things have to hid…?
Srila Prabupada: You rascal! You fool! Why you try to twist everything I say? Why you try to take everything out of context for your own sense gratification? Why do you do this?
Amogha Lila das: But, Srila Prabhupada, I…
Srila Prabhupada: NO! You are rascal! No 'but Srila Prabhupada'. Don't change everything.
Srila Prabhupada stopped speaking. After a long pause, he said:
Srila Prabhupada: So, do you understand everything clearly? Now, write this to Satsvarupa Maharaja. Ask him if he thinks this is your imagination or if it is correct. Is that alright?
Amogha Lila das: Yes, Srila Prabhupada. Thank you. Please forgive me for my nonsense offenses.
We discussed some specifics. Then Srila Prabhupada ended:
Srila Prabupada: So you warn the gurus and the GBC if they do not deal with this matter in a Krsna conscious way, as I have outlined here, they will be sorry, and everything will happen like I have said. So, do not hesitate. Send this to Satsvarupa immediately.
I sent this to Satsvarupa Maharaja and he replied that, while he felt the ideas were correct and very profound, he did not feel that I should present these as Srila Prabhupada's objective appearance, but as my own subjective realization. He felt there was no need to mass distribute this, but said he would discuss it with others confidentially.
III. The simultaneous guru-pujas are very offensive and harmful.
Last week I had another significant realization, and I felt Srila Prabhupada wanted me to share these ideas with the leading devotees.
Srila Prabhupada: Now you must push for what you think is right.
Amogha Lila das: The simultaneous guru-puja?
Srila Prabhupada: Yes. This is based on false ego. It is not for practicality. This is rascaldom. Why, for practicality, does there have to be this simultaneous worship?
Amogha Lila das: They say, Srila Prabhupada, that soon your guru-puja would be very small because most of the devotees will soon be disciples of the new gurus.
Srila Prabhupada: Well I say soon their guru-pujas will be very small because everyone will attend my guru-puja and will relish my presence more than theirs and their nonsense will be exposed.
Amogha Lila das: But why is this simultaneous worship wrong?
Srila Prabhupada: What? You do not know? Who do you think I am? Who do you think they are? This is not a question of persons, this is a question of position. What is my position and what is their position? Is it the same? Does anyone, including intelligent disciples of the new gurus, really think we are on the same platform?
Amogha Lila das: What do you mean, 'It is not a question of persons'?
Srila Prabhupada: I mean this is not a personal matter. It is not that they are my disicples. On the personal platform, there would be no question of accepting worship in my presence. But I am saying that my position is different from theirs as well. Why cannot you see this? Why do you all have to embarrass me by making me point it out? Cannot you see this? Is anyone between Madhvacarya and Madhavendra Puri worshipped like Madhvacarya, what to speak of Vedavyasa, Narada, Brahma or Krsna? Now be objective. Do not see with the vision of a loving disciple, but see objectively. Where would I be placed and where would they be placed?
Amogha Lila das: You would be above Madhvacarya, at least on the level of Vyasadeva or Narada, Srila Prabhupada.
Srila Prabhupada: And they?
Amogha Lila das: They may reach the level of Madhvacarya at the best, perhaps that is very generous.
Srila Prabhupada: Yes, that is generous. So, is it correct, even from this perspective, to reduce me to their level by this simultaneous and therefore equal guru-puja?
Amogha Lila das: No, Srila Prabhupada, it is wrong.
Srila Prabhupada: Then why cannot you stop this?
Amogha LIla das: What can I do, Srila Prabhupada?
Srila Prabhupada: You nonsense, you can preach!
Amogha das: But who will listen to me?
Srila Prabhupada: What do you care who will listen? You just broadcast the transcendental sound. Let them attack you, let them do what they want. But this information must be aired about!
Amogha Lila das: But how can I criticize gurus like Satsvarupa and Kirtanananda? They are so much more Krsna conscious than myself.
Srila Prabupada: Then why they are allowing this? No, I do not approve of your idea. They should not have gone along with those who pushed this. Satsvarupa is too humble. Kirtanananda enjoys this. Otherwise, they would have stopped it.
Amogha Lila das: So what arguments are there?
Srila Prabhupada: First, this one. What is my position and what is their position? This is not a personal matter but a question of what I have accomplished and therefore what is my position. They are weakening ISKCON and they are discouraging my disciples by this move.
Amogha Lila das: Prabhupada, this is too much for me.
Srila Prabhupada: Don't be a sentimental fool! It will not harm them if you preach this. Don't worry. You are like Arjuna not wanting to fight with Bhisma and Drona. That is weakness of heart, that is all. No, when this is straightened out they will be happier and their guru-pujas will be better, too.
Amogha Lila das: But they would say now it is too late.
Srila Prabhupada: This is rascaldom. No, it is not too late. Yes, it is too late, but better late than never. The intelligent persons will never accept this simultaneous guru-puja.
Amogha Lila das: But didn't you accept simultaneous g…"
Prabhupada looked at me with such rage and such a hurt expression that I felt crumpled. (I was thinking I remembered once we had had a guru-puja for Srila Bhaktisiddhanta and Prabhupada at the same time. Then I remembered, no, Srila Prabhupada himself performed the guru-puja for his spiritual master. This was Atlanta in February, 1975, or March, '75).
But Srila Prabhupada was so hurt and furious when I started to say this that everything ended. He then disappeared. I suppose I had become so accustomed to these simultaneous guru-pujas that I had projected back to that time the same thing. But, this has nothing to do with Srila Prabhupada's first argument anyway.
I have really offended Srila Prabhupada. My stomach is still feeling uneasy and I cannot find Srila Prabhupada. I look at his picture but it only makes me feel worse. Is this so horrible, this simultaneous guru-puja? I cannot face Srila Prabhupada now. He was so hurt! I could hardly believe it. And he was so angry! It was almost like I was burned to ashes or smashed to pieces by his anger. I don't know if he will return now. Perhaps if I determine to carry out his instructions, whatever it may be, and beg his forgiveness, offering obeisances, he will return.
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhutale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
namaste sarasvati-deve gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesa-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine
All I can do is meditate on Srila Prabhupada's lotus feet…
Srila Prabhupada: Hmmph. Just see your position! See how offensive you have become by association. Now as for the other arguments. These are the personal ones. It is not that when the spiritual master leaves his body that the relationship with his disciples changes. No, it is eternal. Do they think that in the spiritual world their disciples will offer them guru-puja in front of me? No, of course not. So why do they think that I am not present in my picture or my murti? This is the second argument. Do you understand?
Amogha Lila das: I think so, Srila Prabhupada.
Srila Prabhupada: Why do you say, 'I think so'? What do you not understand?
Amogha Lila das: Well, when they are gurus, they can also be worshipped….
Srila Prabhupada: But not along with me!
Amogha Lila das: I don't see why not.
Srila Prabhupada: Because when I am being worshipped like that I am fully there.
The idea entered my mind that we worship Srila Prabhupada on the altar along with Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, but I am afraid to say anything. But Prabhupada understood my mind.
Srila Prabhupada: When you worship me first, and then my spiritual master, that is different. That is not the same as the simultaneous guru-puja.
Amogha Lila das: Please forgive me, Srila Prabhupada. I do not understand exactly.
Srila Prabhupada is a little annoyed. But he does not blast me.
Srila Prabhupada: In the one case the superiority of the superior guru is acknowledged, because the idea is that the worship is going to Krsna through me, to my guru, and then up the parampara to Krsna. But this simultaneous guru-puja, why is that being done?
Amogha Lila das: But, Srila Prabhupada, on the altar, one disciple of a new guru might first offer to his guru while one of your disciples offers to you. Is that not the same?
Srila Prabhupada: No, it is not the same. That is offering to Krsna, that is not guru-puja. Offering to Krsna through the guru. That is different than guru-puja. Guru-puja is a very special affair. It is for the disciples. Not for others. Were you not given the example of the man when he marries, he needs a separate place? So, what happened to that?"
Amogha LIla das: But then your guru-puja will soon become very small.
Srila Prabhupada: No, I told you it will become very big. Why don't you accept?
Amogha Lila das: But I don't understand.
Srila Prabhupada: Alright. You are all my disciples. Anyone who takes my books as his guidance, he is my disciple. He will want to offer me guru-puja. And, likewise, anyone who wants to offer guru-puja to any of the new gurus will be able to do so. But why force them by making it simultaneous? This is not correct. This is another argument.
Amogha Lila das: Yes?
Srila Prabhupada: Yes, the new gurus are discouraging my disciples by this practice. They have destroyed my guru-pujas. They are trying to take advantage of me, that is all. They say that my guru-puja will become small, but actually they are afraid that their guru-pujas will become small. Let me take care of myself. I will take care of my guru-pujas and let them take care of their guru-pujas.
I am surprised by how strongly Srila Prabhupada is speaking, but say nothing.
Srila Prabhupada: So, is it clear?
Amogha LIla das: The third argument is that they are discouraging your disciples.
Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Not only my initiated disciples. But anyone who reads my books. They will all be discouraged. Even their own disciples will, in their hearts, feel uneasy. So, then they have to hide this. It is all wrong. The third argument is that no one should be forced to attend their guru-pujas when then want to attend my guru-pujas.
Amogha LIla das: I understand.
Srila Prabhupada: Now there is another argument that is very difficult to understand. I think you will not understand it now either. But it is most powerful and conclusive. It is this. I am their guru. Therefore they have to surrender to me. But how can they surrender to me if they are being worshipped at the same time as me and in exactly the same way and in the same place? How can they actually think I must be surrendered to my spiritual master? Therefore they are now becoming rascals. They are thinking that simply because they are spiritual masters therefore whatever they do is correct. But actually it is the other way. Because whatever he does is correct, therefore one is a spiritual master. This is the unfortunate result of this appointing of these gurus. They are not gurus by appointment. They have been given the chance to become gurus, that is all. But you all have that chance. I never wanted this big fanfare for these eleven disciples. Now you stop treating them as special. This is their own concoction. You are all gurus, as much as you repeat my instructions and follow them. And this 'zones', this is another concoction. So much in the name of practicality. You invite Tamal Krishna to Bombay to initiate whoever wants to be initiated by him. And Satsvarupa can initiate anyone in Bombay, too: if this is done all this zone consciousness will disappear. It is all artificial. This is ruining ISKCON.
Amogha Lila das: But they said that the simultaneous guru-puja will keep you in the center of ISKCON and thus keep the Society united.
Srila Prabhupada: I don't need this simultaneous guru-puja! This is their politics. Don't you believe this nonsense. They are making these zones because they are afraid of competition. Where has this idea come from?
Amogha Lila das: I think your godbrother Sridhar Swami suggested it.
Srila Prabhupada: No, I don't think he meant this. But if he did, why don't they take his other suggestions? Actually they have their own ideas, and they will take support from whoever supports them. This is politics. It will ruin ISKCON.
Amogha Lila das: So what is the solution?
Srila Prabhupada: They have to become Krsna conscious. This zone consciousness might be good for increasing competition in book distribution, but it is not good for the gurus' consciousness. The guru should not be so attached to 'his' zone and 'his' disciples that he offends other Vaisnavas who may be serving Krsna in 'his' zone. This is very dangerous. The main point of this argument is that the guru should not generally consider himself as guru. This is improper. Only in the presence of his disciples does the guru act as guru. But if he thinks of himself as guru in the presence of godbrothers or even in the presence of his spiritual master's godbrothers (Prabhupada paused as if amazed), then what is the 'guru' thinking? This is not guru. No, this is the result of this simultaneous guru-puja.
Amogha Lila das: The guru should not usually think of himself as guru?
Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Guru is a position. It is not really his identity. Just as a policeman cannot think of himself as a policeman all the time. Or, the high court judge whose father is a lawyer. They have a completely different role in and out of court. So, if the high court judge started treating his father as his inferior out of court it would be offensive. These new gurus have not learned when the court is in session. (Prabhupada laughs.) This is the result of this simultaneous guru-puja—and it is also the cause of it. Anyway, they should not be embarrassed that they have made this mistake. It is only natural. Being a guru is not easy. How does one exercise his authority to best advantage, one must learn this. And he is bound to make mistakes. But when the mistakes have been pointed out, they should be corrected.
Amogha Lila das: So, how should I proceed?
Srila Prabhupada: This is difficult. Satsvarupa is always very humble. But you may send copies to different devotees—Bhagavat for one, along with the other 'dreams'.
Amogha Lila das: How to present these?
Srila Prabhupada: As your own subjective realizations. That is correct. Not to force anyone. But the ideas should be discussed. In fact, you can send to whomever you want. Just try to understand what will be the most effective approach. The gurus will certainly all object. But these should circulate and by Mayapur the ideas may be fully discussed. You don't worry about the personal consequences to yourself. Just try to carry out my desires as you have realized them here. Is everything alright?
Amogha Lila das: I am feeling a little helpless.
Srila Prabhupada: Do not think like that. This is because they are sitting on these big seats. Where did I say this? Can anyone say where I said this? You challenge them like this. Then I will show you how I said they should be.