A pure devotee’s words and instructions are autocratic and transparent, with no room for interpretation, for the sincere

disciples and followers.

Preserving and Protecting the Legacy Preserving and Protecting the Legacy

of Srila Prabhupada’s Instructions onof Srila Prabhupada’s Instructions on

Bhaktivedanta Institute Bhaktivedanta Institute

&&

Scientific Presentations of Scientific Presentations of

Krishna Consciousness Krishna Consciousness

The contradictionsThe contradictions

betweenbetween

Rasaraja’sRasaraja’s Personal View Personal View

andand

Srila Prabhupada’s Established VisionSrila Prabhupada’s Established Vision

1.

Is the subject matter of ISKCON and the Bhaktivedanta Institute different or

the same?

Rasaraja’s Personal View

“You (Srila Prabhupada) have set up ISKCON to help you extensively propagate authoritative knowledge about souls and their eternal relationship with Sri Krishna, while you have established the Bhaktivedanta Institute to disseminate the Bhagavatam’s knowledge of matter, according to the modern scientific way.”

(Rasaraja’s Vyasapuja offering to Srila Prabhupada; GBC and RGB presentation, 2005)

Srila Prabhupada’s Vision

“The Institute will be primarily for those who have not entered our temples. The subject matter will not be different from what is taught in our temples. There will be no difference between the Institute and the temples…”

(Letter to Svarupa Damodara - September 30th, 1975 - Bombay)

According to Rasaraja the subject matter of ISKCON and Bhaktivedanta Institute

is completely different.

According to Srila Prabhupada, the subject matter of ISKCON and Bhaktivedanta Institute is exactly

the same.

2.

Did Srila Prabhupada establish the Bhaktivedanta Institute for performing

mundane scientific research or for preaching Krishna Consciousness?

Rasaraja’s Personal View

“As a scientific institute, Bhaktivedanta Institute cannot directly preach. It can only do scientific research…”

“Thus, we see B.I. as a pure scientific institute…”

(Rasaraja’s presentation to the GBC, 2005)

Srila Prabhupada’s Vision

“…we have formed the Bhaktivedanta Institute for organizing scientific presentations of Krishna Consciousness. This party is our most important preaching arm...”

(Letter to: Dravida – April 2, 1977 – Bombay)

According to Rasaraja, Bhaktivedanta Institute

cannot directly preach.

According to Srila Prabhupada, Bhaktivedanta

Institute is the most important preaching arm of ISKCON.

3.

Did Srila Prabhupada want to offer degrees in chemistry and computer

science or in Krishna Consciousness?

Rasaraja’s Personal View

“…students will receive college-level instruction in math, physics, chemistry, biology, basic engineering, computer science…”

“Attract the children of congregation members who look for a degree with ‘job potential’…”

(Rasaraja’s presentation to the GBC/RGB 2005)

Srila Prabhupada’s Vision

“Bhaktishastri, Bhaktibhaibhava, Bhaktivedanta, Bhaktisarvabhouma

These titles can correspond to entrance, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. So just consider how to organize this Institute.”

(Letter to: Svarupa Damodara - January 10, 1976)

“we can find that instead of becoming a great preacher of Krishna Consciousness, this gentleman [Bon Maharaja] has become artificially a head of a mundane institution. To become a very important man in the mundane estimation is not success in Krishna Consciousness”.

(Letter to: Janardana -- April 26th, 1968 – New York)

According to Rasaraja the Bhaktivedanta Institute should offer degrees in

mundane subjects.

According to Srila Prabhupada, the Bhaktivedanta Institute should offer degrees in Vaishnava

Siddhanta.

4.

Did Srila Prabhupada want the members of Bhaktivedanta Institute to engage in

speculative scientific research?

Rasaraja’s Personal View

“Scientific Research As The Basis Of B.I. Work”

“We therefore regard continued development of our scientific research agenda as the real development of Bhaktivedanta Institute…”

(Rasaraja’s presentation to the GBC/RGB 2005)

Srila Prabhupada’s Vision

“So our Vedic process is like that. We do not make any research. It is not possible to come to the right knowledge by so-called research, because our senses are imperfect.”

(Lecture, Bg. 3.27, June 27th, 1974 - Melbourne)

“These so-called scientists, they are simply wasting their

time by so-called research work. There is nothing to be

researched!”

“It is not by so-called rascal's research. Research means they are

rascal.”

(Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.10 -- September 16 th, 1972 – Los Angeles)

(Conversation February 28th, 1975 – Atlanta)

“So we are not so fool that… Why we shall make research?

Everything is there. So we are confident. We know what is going to

happen next, what is going to happen. It is not astrology! Everything is

there in the Vedic knowledge. Veda means knowledge, full knowledge.

You take advantage of it and become learned.”

Srila Prabhupada on Research

“So if we take the Vedic statement, Vedic literature statement, as fact,

then our knowledge is perfect. You don’t require to research. There

is no need. It is perfect knowledge.”

(Lecture SB1.3.27, October 2nd, 1972 – Los Angeles)

“They will try to make a research and waste time and waste money,

public money, and pass on as great scientist, philosopher…” (Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.10 -- September 16th, 1972 – Los Angeles)

Srila Prabhupada on Research

“You don’t find in the Vedic history that people are

making scientific research.”

(Conversation September 18th, 1972 – Los Angeles)

According to Rasaraja, Bhaktivedanta Institute should engage in speculative scientific research

on matter.

According to Srila Prabhupada, Bhaktivedanta Institute should present Krishna Consciousness using modern scientific terminologies.

5.

When Srila Prabhupada said we could convince the scientists ‘according to their

way’, did he mean we should compete with them in speculative research or that we should adopt the policy of using their own words, terminologies and findings to

convince them?

Rasaraja’s Personal View

““According to their way” means we have to extract and develop scientific content in Srimad Bhagavatam that pertains to matter…”

“…and first solve some outstanding problems concerning matter within science itself.”

(Rasaraja’s presentation to the GBC/RGB and Vyasa Puja offering 2005)

Srila Prabhupada’s Vision

“And noòa means mortar and what is called, pestle? So it is your çila noòa . I take it and break your teeth. (laughter) So take their, this jugglery of words and break their teeth. That should be the policy. “These molecules and this and that,” so many words. You have to simply catch their words, and with their words kill them. That is intelligence. We are saying plainly. You say with these words which is their çola, mortar and pestle, and break their teeth. That’s all. Tor çila tor noòa tor bhängi dänter goòa. This policy should be adopted.”

(Morning Walk, May 12, 1973, Los Angeles)

According to Rasaraja Bhaktivedanta Institute should compete with the scientists in mundane

speculative research.

According to Srila Prabhupada Bhaktivedanta Institute should convince the scientists using their own words, terminologies and findings.

6.

Would Srila Prabhupada change his expressed vision for the Bhaktivedanta Institute in order to increase tax exempt

status and gain government recognition?

Rasaraja’s Personal View

“It is true that in the revised MoA I have removed articles that mention Ayurveda, Sanskrit and Scriptures…”

(Rasaraja’s letter to BSDS,2005)

“The revised form of the MoA is totally a practical move to maximize the chances for getting the prestigious DST recognition…”

(Rasaraja’s letter to RGB and BSDS, 2005)

Srila Prabhupada’s Vision

“Regarding the tax exemption for research, we are doing actual research of the Vedic literatures… Our ideas are not man-made imperfect ideas, but perfect scientific conclusion. In addition I have a number of Doctorate students in various fields of science, Dr. Svarupa Damodara, Dr. Wolf-Rottkay, Dr. Rao, and others. They can act as the heads of the research. We are presenting ideal living on Vedic principles of purified life…”

(Letter to: Giriraja – October 1, 1974 - Mayapur)

Indian Man: Is this a government recognized college now?Prabhupada: No. Government recognition means we have to abide by the orders of government. We cannot teach Bhagavad-gita only or Bhagavata.

(Interviews with Macmillan and various English Reporters -- September 12, 1973, London)

“Of course we have to have independent private university because the government is not interested according to Vedic ideology.”

(Letter to: Dr. Chatterjee – September 27, 1976 – Vrindavan)

According to Rasaraja the Bhaktivedanta Institute should become a mundane scientific institute in order to receive increased tax exemption status and

government recognition.

According to Srila Prabhupada, the Bhaktivedanta Institute should not compromise the Vedic ideology for money and mundane recognition.

7.

How did Srila Prabhupada view theories and claims of solving problems

in the future?

Rasaraja’s Personal View

“We see our work within quantum theory…”

“Our relational-property viewpoint within quantum theory…”

“…the theoretical advances we have made so far in quantum physics.”

“Bhaktivedanta Institute is close to bringing a solution to this problem…”

“…B.I. Mumbai/Berkeley poised to solve?”

(Rasaraja’s RGB/GBC presentation and Vyasa Puja offering 2005)

Srila Prabhupada’s Vision

“Theory is not science. I can propose some theory, “It is like that.” But that is not science. … If you simply theorize, that is not science. Mental speculation. It has no benefit. You can speculate, constructing a castle in the air. That is not a very good thing.”

(Room conversation - May 9, 1975 – Perth)

“"In future we shall be able to do it." And that future will never come. …This is the explanation of mudha. It is just like somebody offered you a post-dated check…”

(Room conversation – June 28, 1974 – Melbourne)

“Will you accept any check, "It will be paid in future?" Will you accept? So why shall I accept this rascal’s theory? If somebody gives me check, one million dollar, payable three hundred years after, shall I be inclined to accept such check? So why these fools accepting this post-dated check?”

(Morning Walk, March 4th, 1974 – Mayapur)

According to Rasaraja his theory is poised to solve one of the greatest problems in modern science

sometime in the future.

According to Srila Prabhupada, theories are not science and only a fool would accept a post-dated check.

ConclusionRasaraja’s Personal View?

OR

Srila Prabhupada’s Expressed Autocratic Vision?

7. My theory and promises for the future 7. Theories are not science – No post-dated checks

1. The subject matter of ISKCON and B.I. is different 1. The subject matter of ISKCON and B.I. is the same

2. B.I. cannot directly preach

3. Degrees in mundane subjects

4. Speculative scientific research on matter

6. Convert B.I. into a mundane scientific institute for monetary gain and government recognition

2. B.I. is the most important preaching arm

3. Degrees in Vaishnava Siddhanta

4. Scientific presentations of Krishna Consciousness

6. No compromise of Vedic Ideology for monetary gain or government recognition

5. Compete with speculative scientists 5. Use scientists’ terminologies to convince them of KC

ConclusionRasaraja’s Personal View?

OR

Srila Prabhupada’s Expressed Autocratic Vision?

Honorable members of the GBC,

please decide.