May 21 1975 Melbourne
Madhudviṣa: ...cannot become a medical practitioner by simply reading the books. He must study under a medical practitioner. So in the case of your books, is it possible to become a devotee without actually having personal association with you? Just by reading your books?
Prabhupāda: No, it is not that you have to associate with the author. But one who knows, if you cannot understand you have to take lesson from him. Not necessarily that you have to contact with the author always.
Devotee: Just like the textbooks are not written by the teachers; they're written by other professors.
Devotee: Usually you don't even meet the author.
Prabhupāda: Simply one who knows the subject matter, he can explain.
Madhudviṣa: But can your, would your purports, would that serve as explanation besides...
Prabhupāda: No, no, anyone who knows the subject matter, he will be able to explain. Not necessarily the author is required to be present there. [break] ...to study from a medical man, I never said you have to study from the author. Or one who understood the author's purpose. Just like we are explaining Bhagavad-gītā as it is. Not that one has to learn directly from Kṛṣṇa. One who has understood Kṛṣṇa, from him. That is paramparā system.
Note---some people these days say you cannot understand the books or the Krsna philosophy unless you go thru somebody who was physically there with Srila Prabhupada. This statement proves that is false.
Devotee: In the Bhāgavatam in Canto Two, it's mentioned here that without discrimination both the demigods and the demons worship the Lord as devotees in the Lord's personal abode. I was wondering if you could explain how this is possible.
Prabhupāda: Yes. That is the explanation of the śāstra. Those who are devotees... You can see the devotees, they are gods, demigods. Viṣṇu-bhakto bhaved daivaḥ. Viṣṇu-bhakta, those who are devotees of Viṣṇu, Vaiṣṇava, they are demigods. So why do you say we do not see the demigods?
Madhudviṣa: It also says the demons.
Prabhupāda: Demons, those who are not devotees. Viṣṇu-bhakto bhaved daiva āsuras tad-viparyayaḥ. Those who are opposing these Vaiṣṇavas, they are asuras.
Madhudviṣa: But how is it that a demon is worshiping the Lord? It says in the Bhāgavatam, he just read, that the demons are also worshiping the Lord in His personal abode.
Prabhupāda: Yes. When the demon is promoted to the Vaikuṇṭha, they also become. Just like you are all now Vaiṣṇava. (laughter) Why don't you compare with yourself? The others are seeing, "What these mlecchas, yavanas, how they can become Vaiṣṇava?" They are seeing like that. Therefore they object. The Vṛndāvana, "How these Europeans can worship Deity?" They are protesting.
Devotee: We can show them this verse.
Prabhupāda: Well, there are many verses. When one is qualified, he is no longer demon. [break] ...big, big sannyāsīs. So I was a gṛhastha, they are now saying, "How this gṛhastha is doing? He was a gṛhastha. He never lived with us." They are saying in that way. [break]
Note--in the above conversation Srila Prabhupada is kindly explaining that demons can be turned into devotees as he says just look at yourselves !!
Unfortunately those with a "poor fund of knowledge" say, no, we who come from the western world countries cannot even become a "brahmana" until you take a future birth in such a family. Until that time, you westerners remain just "mlecchas". I have personal experience of just such a fellow outside the Radha Ramana temple in Vrndavana who said such a foolish thing to me. And then Prabhupada goes on to say how even he was criticized by his Godbrothers who said that he was never a sannyasi like them- but just a "grhastha" !!!
Whereas Srila Bhaktisiddhanta maharaja said to Srila Prabhupada better you remain apart from them (gaudiya matha members) and you will do what is needful in due course of time. So we take our the instructions from those who are-- actual "authorities".
Hare Krsna
Compiled by Damaghosa das