The Question of Surrender

Srila Prabhupada taught of the importance of the spiritual master.  No one can understand Krishna except through the spiritual master.  However, he never said, “I am that pure devotee.  I am the spiritual master.”  If somebody asked him bluntly, he replied, “That you can judge for yourself.”  Yet he preached that we must surrender to the spiritual master.  When some met Prabhupada, they resisted, suspecting that he was just an exchange of material false egos.  They thought, “Oh, he’s trying to sell himself as the guru.  He wants me to submit to him,” so they resisted.  However, some who wanted a guru did not resist and accepted him.  We wanted a loving exchange with Krishna.  “Why are they after me?”  Prabhupada asked later, “I am just an Indian, I have no money.  I never bribed them.” 

“What is this chanting?  Is it some mumbo-jumbo?  Is it hypnotism?”  Prabhupada accepted a question like that because at least it was moving in the direction of an enquiry about God.  “As far as I am concerned, there is no next life.  The scientists have proven it.”  That would be acceptable for Swamiji because it led to important subjects.  As long as they were willing to hear, he would talk.