Christ & Krishna [Part II]

This second page discusses "The Aquarian Gospel ~ Excerpts." Since many read this for upliftment, I would like to try to explain it according to a Krishna conscious perspective.

Some have claimed this is a channeled document. Therefore, I looked into this and initially, it appeared to be agreed upon by both sides that the Aquarian Gospel was channeled from the Akashic Records, then published by Levi. Add to the confusion, Elizabeth Clare Prophet published both the "Aquarian Gospel" and the "Unknown Life of Jesus Christ" (formerly published by Notovitch) in one book called the "Lost Years of Jesus."

Notovitch's publication, the Unknown Years, is an actual physical document which was not channeled, did not come from psychics, is too old and traditional to be new agey, or anything else people come up with. It's an ancient documents which was brought from India to Nepal. From Nepal they were taken to Tibet and in Lassa. Here, they remained respected and honored as a sacred, Holy document in their library.

While the pastimes of Jesus, as recorded by Notovitch, appears to be those of eye-witnesses (at the time of Christ), we need to consider: Are these eye-witness accounts so different from the Bible, where there are nowhere near as many words spoken directly by Christ himself? Most of them are from the eye-witness from his disciples.

Although admittedly, one difficulty with this scripture (Unknown Life) is that it may have been stolen during the 1947 Chinese Communist invasion of Tibet; and/or by a Catholic Priest who, under the pretense to borrow them, never returning them. (Suspicions run high he took them for the Church and they are currently in the Vatican). Whether all or some of this document has remained in Tibet or was removed, no one knows.

Be they politician's or religionists (sometimes one and the same), such person's may be disappointed to discover this was not the only evidence. In addition to Notovitch, this document had also been viewed by others (plural). An example, though not the only example, is Swami Abhedananda. His intent was to prove Notovitch wrong. With skepticism about him, Swami Abhedananda traveled to the same temple Notovtich had visited. There he did indeed find these documents, then had them translated into Bengali (his natural language). They turned out to be unusually close to the translations in Notovitch's possession. Needless to say, Swami Abhedananda changed his mind and was no longer a skeptic.

Next and in regards to the Aquarian Gospel, at first I could not claim or disclaim it as a real scripture. Though a little different, there appeared to me to be such a commonality between Levi's 'Aquarian Gospel' and Notovitch's 'Unknown Life' that I could barely discern the one from the other, easily getting the two confused, thus wondered about some type of connection.

But I didn't have any proof, and I am not one to accept without some evidence.

However in time I discovered, thanks to a godsister, that I was not the only one who noticed the great similarity between the two. Matter of fact, after Levi published 'The Aquarian Gospel,' the Academic world of his time became skeptical. They claimed his book to be plagiarism from Notovitches original publication. Levi merely made a few embellishments mixed with his personal beliefs, and essentially tells the same story that Notovitch told, and found, in a Buddhist monastery.

Of course, those who look toward Levi almost as their guru, or those who just look up to him for spiritual inspiration, will not agree. However, I am more inclined to believe unbiased academia who examined his book, thus found it to be plagiarism. Besides, we do not have to disrespect Levi to accept this. He may have had his reasons.

Also, the Aquarian Gospel has so much in common with Jesus to be mere coincidence. For that reason too, I could not just write it off.

Personally I am not attached. For those who have no belief or else no interest in the Aquarian Gospel, just scroll down to the "Quotes From Srila Prabhupada" section below to read a different topic about Jesus. Or you can take this document with a grain of salt. While it may not be cent-per-cent perfect, many accept inspiration from the Aquarian Gospel anyway. Therefore one idea is to present it as closely related to the highest truth as devotes of Krishna understand it to be. Incidentally, this would not be a concoction but an endeavor to present it more along the lines of what Jesus was actually conveying or leading up to.

With that said, I hope you find it helpful and enlivening! :-) ~ Your Servant, Prtha (Priitaa) devi dasi

THE AQUARIAN GOSPEL OF JESUS THE CHRIST ~ EXCERPTS

When I was about 19 or so, I lived in a college town. Across from my apartment was a unique, quaint bookstore. These are the days long before there were any new age bookstores or much of anything along those lines. Matter of fact, most bookstores were pretty boring. So this was a rarity! Inside I found the book, “The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ.” I started to read it, and I liked it but for the life of me, I really could not understand it. Now, 30 years later and after studying Prabhupada’s books and lectures, not only can I understand the writings of the Aquarian Gospel of Jesus, but there are points that I otherwise would not have been able to notice! I thank Srila Prabhupada for opening my eyes.

What I present here as my "NOTES," I do not claim at all to be absolute truths. They are "my" understandings and that's it. I am not a pure devotee. I am only human being, and human beings are prone to make mistakes. I have done the best I know how according to my understanding thus far in my spiritual life. Do with them as you wish. I pray to Lord Jesus, Srila Prabhupada and Krishna that I have done this correctly, accurately, and with their blessings. Also praying for their, and your, forgiveness should any mistakes, etc., have slipped through.

With that said, I hope to share with you some of this with you.

THE AQUARIAN GOSPEL OF JESUS THE CHRIST

CHAPTER 11

Elihu's lessons. Buddhism and the precepts of Buddha. The mysteries of Egypt.

AGAIN Elihu taught; he said, The Indian priests became corrupt; Brahm was forgotten in the streets; the rights of men were trampled in the dust.

[NOTE: Srila Prabhupada has also commented about priests who have become corrupt.]

2 And the a mighty master came, a Buddha of enlightenment, who turned away from wealth and all the honours of the world, and found the Silence in the quiet groves and caves; and he was blest.

3 He preached a gospel of the higher life, and taught man how to honour man.

4 He had no doctrine of the gods to teach; he just knew man, and so his creed was justice, love and righteousness.

[NOTE: Just for clarification, it is Jesus they are calling a mighty master and a Buddha of enlightenment. Then, reference to "gods" shows the worship of demigods and not of the One Supreme God. Certainly Jesus Christ had no doctrine about worship of anyone who is not the Supreme Being or God. Additionally, in order to take the attention of the people away from demigod worship, Jesus preached step number one: love and laws of man.]

5 I quote for you a few of many of the helpful words which Buddha spoke:

6 Hate is a cruel word. If men hate you regard it not; and you can turn the hate of men to love and mercy and goodwill, and mercy is as large as all the heavens.

7 And there is good enough for all. With good destroy the bad; with generous deeds make avarice ashamed; with truth make straight the crooked lines that error draws, for error is but truth distorted, gone astray.

8 And pain will follow him who speaks or acts with evil thoughts, as does the wheel the foot of him who draws the cart.

9 He is a greater man who conquers self than he who kills a thousand men in war.

10 He is the noble man who is himself what he believes what other men should be.

11 Return to him who does you wrong your purest love, and he will cease from doing wrong; for love will purify the heart of him who is beloved as truly as it purifies the heart of him who loves.

12 The words of Buddha are recorded in the Indian sacred books; attend to them, for they are part of the instructions of the Holy Breath.

13 The land of Egypt is the land of secret things.

14 The mysteries of the ages lie lock-bound in our temples and our shines.

15 The masters of all times and climes come here to learn; and when your sons have grown to manhood they will finish all their studies in Egyptian schools.

16 But I have said enough. To-morrow at the rising of the sun we meet again.

[NOTE: Srila Prabhupada’s has explained the incarnation of Krishna as Buddha. It is too lengthy to put all of it here, but this is the essence: "Lord Buddha had to introduce the religion of nonviolence by contradicting the Vedic sacrificial instructions. Actually, in the sacrifices the slaughtered animals were given a new life, but people without such powers were taking advantage of such Vedic rituals and unnecessarily killing poor animals. Therefore Lord Buddha had to deny the authority of the Vedas for the time being. " ~ S.B. 4. 19 36 Purport]

SECTION VI

VAU

Life and Works of Jesus in India

CHAPTER 21

Ravanna sees Jesus in the temple and is captivated. Hillel tells him about the boy. Ravanna finds Jesus in Nazareth and gives a feast in his honour. Ravanna becomes patron of Jesus, and takes him to India to study the Brahmic religion.

A ROYAL prince of India, Ravanna of Orissa in the south, was at the Jewish feast.

[NOTE: This is not the same, cruel, Ravana who was part of the Ramayana. This is a different person. The occurrences of the Ramayana were one million years ago, in contrast to the occurrences of Jesus and his associates that went on approximately two thousand years ago.]

2 Ravanna was a man of wealth; and he was just, and with a band of Brahmic priests sought wisdom in the West.

3 When Jesus stood among the Jewish priests and read and spoke, Ravanna heard and was amazed.

4 And when he asked who Jesus was, from whence he came and what he was, chief Hillel said,

5 We call this child the Day Star from on high, for he has come to bring to men a light, the light of life; to lighten up the way of men and to redeem his people, Israel.

6 And Hillel told Ravanna all about the child; about the prophecies concerning him; about the wonders of the night when he was born; about the visit of the magian priests;

7 About the way in which he was protected from the wrath of evil men; about his flight to Egypt-land, and how he then was serving with his father as a carpenter in Nazareth.

8 Ravanna was entranced, and asked to know the way to Nazareth, that he might go and honour such a one as son of God.

9 And with his gorgeous train he journeyed on the way and came to Nazareth of Galilee.

10 He found the object of his search engaged in building dwellings for the sons of men.

11 And when he first saw Jesus he was climbing up a twelve step ladder, and he carried in his hands a compass, square and axe.

12 Ravanna said, All hail, most favoured son of heaven!

13 And at the inn Ravanna made a feast for all the people of the town; and Jesus and his parents were honoured guests.

14 For certain days Ravanna was a guest in Joseph's home on Marmion Way; he sought to learn the secret of the wisdom of the son; but it was all to great for him.

15 And then he asked that he might be the patron of the child; might take him to the East where he could learn the wisdom of the Brahms.

16 And Jesus longed to go that he might learn; and after many days his parents gave consent.

17 Then, with proud heart, Ravanna with his train, began the journey towards the rising sun; and after many days they crossed the Sind, and reached the province of Orissa, and the palace of the prince.

18 The Brahmic priests were glad to welcome home the prince; with favour they received the Jewish boy.

19 And Jesus was accepted as a pupil in the temple Jagannath; and here learned the Vedas and the Manic laws.

20 The Brahmic masters wondered at the clear conceptions of the child, and often were amazed when he explained to them the meaning of the laws.

[NOTE: Lord Jagannath is another name for Krishna, and a very unique Deity. Here we see Lord Jesus Christ became a student in His temple, therefore he worshipped Lord Jagannath! He also studied the Vedic literatures there.]

CHAPTER 22

The friendship of Jesus and Lamaas. Jesus explains to Lamaas the meaning of truth, man, power, understanding, wisdom, salvation and faith.

AMONG the priests of Jagannath was one who loved the Jewish boy. Lamaas Bramas was the name by which the priest was known.

2 One day as Jesus and Lamaas walked alone in plaza Jagannath, Lamaas said, My Jewish master, what is truth?

3 And Jesus said, Truth is the only thing that changes not.

4 In all the world there are two things; the one is truth; the other falsehood is; and truth is that which is, and falsehood that which seems to be.

5 Now truth is aught, and has no cause, and yet it is the cause of everything.

6 Falsehood is naught, and yet it is the manifest of aught.

7 Whatever has been made will be unmade; that which begins must end.

8 All things that can be seen by human eyes are manifests of aught, are naught, and so must pass away.

9 The things we see are but reflexes just appearing, while the ethers vibrate so and so, and when conditions change they disappear.

10 The Holy Breath is truth; is that which was, and is, and evermore shall be; it cannot change nor pass away.

11 Lamaas said, You answer well; now, what is man?

12 And Jesus said, Man is the truth and falsehood strangely mixed.

13 Man is the Breath made flesh; so truth and falsehood are conjoined in him; and they strive, and naught goes down and man as truth abides.

14 Again Lamaas asked, What do you say of power?

15 And Jesus said, It is a manifest; is the result of force; it is but naught; it is illusion, nothing more. Force changes not, but power changes as the ethers change.

16 Force is the will of God and is omnipotent, and power is that will in manifest, directed by the Breath.

17 There is power in the winds, a power in the waves, a power in the lightning's stroke, a power in the human arm, a power in the eye.

18 The ethers cause there powers to be, and thought of Elohim, of angel, man, or other thinking thing, directs the force; when it has done its work the power is no more.

19 Again Lamaas asked, Of understanding what have you to say?

20 And Jesus said, It is the rock on which man builds himself; it is the gnosis of the aught and of the naught, of falsehood and of truth.

21 It is the knowledge of the lower self; the sensing of the powers of man himself.

22 Again Lamaas asked, Of wisdom what have you to say?

23 And Jesus said, It is the consciousness that man is aught; that God and man are one;

[NOTE: 'acintya bhetabheta tatva.' This means to be 'one with, yet simultaneously different from. (God).' So we can say we are one with God as long as we understand we are not God, that God has full qualities whereas we have lesser degrees of them. We are qualitatively one with God, not quantitatively. Christ was pointing out we are not separate from God but rather, we are 'connected' to God as one or in unity, through consciousness.]

24 That naught is naught; that power is but illusion; that heaven and earth and hell are not above, around, below, but in; which in the light of aught becomes the naught, and God is all.

[NOTE: Eternal Hell fire and damnation do not exist, though temporary karmic reaction for sinful activities, for example, murder, are there. Especially when there is no punishment on earth, there are special planets or situations (including rebirths) for that. However, it appears that Jesus was teaching people to stop placing too much focus on the externals and instead realize they had the ability to elevate themselves beyond such things through consciousness and control over the lower self or senses. He speaks of material pleasures as in truth to make one powerless and therefore illusions, and he speaks of connecting to God as freeing. So here he begins to teach the basics of yoga - sense control and elevating one's consciousness.]

25 Lamaas asked, Pray, what is faith?

26 And Jesus said, Faith is the surety of the omnipotence of God and man; the certainty that man will reach the deific life.

27 Salvation is a ladder reaching from the heart of man to heart of God.

28 It has three steps; Belief is first, and this is what man thinks, perhaps, is truth.

29 And faith is next, and this is what man knows is truth.

30 Fruition is the last, and this is man himself, the truth.

31 Belief is lost in faith; and in fruition is lost; and man is saved when he has reached deific life; when he and God are one.

[NOTE: United, connected, one in purpose. acintya bheda-bheda tattva]

CHAPTER 23

Jesus and Lamaas among the sudras and visyas. In Benares. Jesus becomes a pupil of Udraka. The lessons of Udraka.

NOW, Jesus with his friend Lamaas went through all the regions of Orissa, and the valley of the Ganges, seeking wisdom from the sudras and the visyas and the masters.

2 Benares of the Ganges was a city rich in culture and in learning; here the two rabbonis tarried many days.

3 And Jesus sought to learn the Hindu art of healing, and became the pupil of Udraka, greatest of the Hindu healers.

[NOTE: It appears here that Jesus studied the AyurVeda, as well as mystic yoga.]

4 Udraka taught the uses of the waters, plants and earths; of heat and cold; sunshine and shade; of light and dark.

5 He said, The laws of nature are the laws of health, and he who lives according to these laws is never sick.

6 Transgression of these laws is sin, and he who sins is sick.

7 He who obeys the laws, maintains an equilibrium in all his parts, and thus insures true harmony; and harmony is health, while discord is disease.

8 That which produces harmony in all the parts of man is medicine, insuring health.

9 The body is a harpsichord, and when its strings are too relaxed, or are too tense, the instrument is out of tune, the man is sick.

10 Now, everything in nature has been made to meet the wants of man; so everything is found in medical arcanes.

11 And when the harpsichord of man is out of tune the vast expanse of nature may be searched for remedy; there is a cure for every ailment of the flesh.

12 Of course the will of man is remedy supreme; and by the vigorous exercise of will, man way make tense a chord that is relaxed, or may relax one that is too tense, and thus may heal himself.

13 When man has reached the place where he has faith in God, in nature and himself, he knows the Word of power; his word is balm for every wound, is cure for all the ills of life.

[NOTE: Not to be confused with the new agey belief that illness is your fault for being out of tune with your mind/body or soul. While new age has something to offer, this guilt aspect is not one of them. No offense intended. Simply, no matter how pure, we all must leave these bodies one day, as they are material. They are a machine like a car, and 'meant' to break down eventually. We are not our bodies, our cars. So, to go into illness thinking, "if only I had been spiritual enough, I could have healed my cancer, etc.," is not usually the case, especially with all the pollutants and toxins overwhelming us currently. In addition to causing shame and guilt, it can create the illusion that we are meant to live forever in these material bodies if only we knew how. We are not. We are only here temporarily and what we are are meant to learn here is how to get out of the material world and return to our real Home. Of course, we can still fine tune our mind/body/soul to a degree, but with balance and sensibility.]

14 The healer is the man who can inspire faith. The tongue may speak to human ears, but souls are reached by souls that speak to souls.

[NOTE: Jesus was more interested in spreading God consciousness than spreading healing of the material body. However, due to the people he was preaching to, it was to his advantage to learn how to combine healing with inspiration of faith. "Lest you see miracles, you will not believe."]

15 He is the forceful man whose soul is large, and who can enter into souls, inspiring hope in those who have no hope, and faith in those who have no faith in God, in nature, nor in man.

16 There is no universal balm for those who tread the common walks of life.

17 A thousand things produce in harmony and make men sick; a thousand things may tune the harpsichord, and make men well.

18 That which is medicine for one is poison for another one; so one is healed by what would kill another one.

19 An herb may heal the one; a drink of water may restore another one; a mountain breeze may bring to life one seeming past all help;

20 A coal of fire, or bit of earth, may cure another one; and one may wash in certain streams, or pools, and be made whole.

21 The virtue from the hand or breath may heal a thousand more; but love is queen.

Thought, reinforced by love, is God's great sovereign balm.

22 But many of the broken chords in life, and discords that so vex the soul, are caused by evil spirits of the air that men see not; that lead men on through ignorance to break the laws of nature and of God.

23 These powers act like demons, and they speak; they rend the man; they drive him to despair.

24 But he who is a healer, true, is master of the soul, and can, by force of will, control these evil ones.

25 Some spirits of the air are master spirits and are strong, too strong for human power alone; but man has helpers in the higher realms that may be importuned, and they will help to drive the demons out.

[NOTE: Jesus may be referring to help form 'angels' or 'gandharvas' (a type of angel) or 'demigods.' Just for the record, demigods are not God.]

26 Of what this great physician said, this is the sum. And Jesus bowed his head in recognition of the wisdom of this master soul, and went his way.

CHAPTER 24

The Brahmic doctrine of castes. Jesus repudiates it and teaches human equality. The priests are offended and drive him from the temple. He abides with the sudras and teaches them.

FOUR years the Jewish boy abode in temple Jagannath.

2 One day he sat among the priests and said to them, Pray, tell me all about your views of castes; why do you say that all men are not equal in the sight of God?

[NOTE: Jesus saw with equal vision and therefore was extremely more exalted than many realized. Bhagavad-gita states: "The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision, a learned gentle brahmana, a cow, and elephant, a dog and a dog-eater (outcaste)" BG5.18 ]

3 A master of their laws stood forth and said, The Holy One whom we call Brahm, made men to suit himself, and men should not complain.

4 In the beginning days of human life Brahm spoke, and four men stood before his face.

5 Now, from the mouth of Parabrahm the first man came; and he was white, was like the Brahm himself; a brahman he was called.

6 And he was high and lifted up; above all want he stood; he had no need of toil.

7 And he was called the priest of Brahm, the holy one to act for Brahm in all affairs of earth.

8 The second man was red, and from the hand of Parabrahm he came; and he was called shatriya.

9 And he was made to be the king, the ruler and the warrior, whose highest ordained duty was protection of the priest.

10 And from the inner parts of Parabrahm the third man came; and he was called a visya.

11 He was a yellow man, and his it was to till the soil, and keep the flocks and herds.

12 And from the feet of Parabrahm the fourth man came; and he was black; and he was called the sudras, one of low estate.

13 The sudras is the servant of the race of men; he has no rights that others need respect; he may not hear the Vedas read, and it means death to him to look into the face of priest, or king, and naught but death can free him from his state of servitude.

14 And Jesus said, Then Parabrahm is not a God of justice and of right; for with his own strong hand he has exulted one and brought another low.

[NOTE: First, and to clarify one point for those who do not know, Parabrahma and Brahma are not the same being. Brahma allows himself to be an instrument of God, and Parabrahma is a name for God. With that said ....

Later, as you will see below, Jesus did indeed speak of Parabrahm (or Parabrahma) as the One Supreme God. So what's going on here?

A pure devotee (Jesus) preaches according to time, place and circumstances. Christ's response was in relationship to the accepted belief and understanding of Parambrahm by those people, and at that time. Please notice this particular exchange all began due to Christ's original inquiry above, which was about caste and why everyone is not viewed as equal in the eyes of the Lord as these priests understood the point. Therefore, his reply was specific to THEIR definition, and not necessarily the highest definition, nor proper one for that matter. Their knowledge was incomplete, and being misused to keep others down. A Vaisnava knows this is not the correct understanding.

Since Jesus later reveals his acceptance of Parambrahma as a name for God, one may consider Jesus could have increased his Sanskrit studies over time and found out the true definition for himself. However, I am inclined to suspect his preaching above was according to time, place and circumstance. As saktyavesha avatara, or empowered son of God, he was always in touch with knowledge. That does not mean he can not learn, or play the role of student, and in that we too may see how to learn, how to inquire, which philosophies to accept - which philosophies to reject.

Initially it appears Jesus was accepting their translations, but not their philosophy. And they were making mistakes with these translations too, which he most likely noticed -- otherwise why the inquiry?! It is possible that the priests themselves did not know how to accurately translate, as that is still somewhat of a problem in India to this day, resulting in Impersonalism, Mayavad, and yes, misunderstanding of the caste system. In fact, those who answered Jesus did not even have the teachings of Brahma right. I find it hard to believe Jesus lived in the temple ashram worshiping Lord Jagannatha, and was rejecting the (real) teachings, or even only just then figuring out that which he questioned above, after living Vedic life for years. If anything I am more inclined to believe his years of Vedic studies only further proved they were not being properly followed at least not comprehended by the caste brahmana's/priests. Therefore he submissively inquired as any student should. Though as a pure son of Krishna after hearing such answers he was displeased that not a single one of them properly understood their own studies. This is why, even now, we need the pure devotee to properly translate and explain ancient scripture. Srila Prabhupada correctly explains the caste system from the spiritual perspective:

"In terms of the four orders, therefore, no caste is to be considered degraded because of being situated on a particular part of the body. In our own bodies we do not show any actual difference in our treatment towards the hands or legs. Each and every part of the body is important, although the mouth is the most important of the bodily parts. If other parts are cut off from the body, a man can continue his life, but if the mouth is cut off, one cannot live. Therefore, this most important part of the body of the Lord is called the sitting place of the brahmanas, who are inclined to the Vedic wisdom. One who is not inclined to the Vedic wisdom but to mundane affairs cannot be called a brahmana, even if he is born of a brahmana family or father. To have a brahmana father does not qualify one as a brahmana. The main qualification of a brahmana is to be inclined to the Vedic wisdom. The Vedas are situated on the mouth of the Lord, and therefore anyone who is inclined to the Vedic wisdom is certainly situated on the mouth of the Lord, and he is a brahmana. This inclination towards Vedic wisdom is also not restricted to any particular caste or community. Anyone from any family and from any part of the world may become inclined to the Vedic wisdom, and that will qualify him as a real brahmana." ~ S.B. 3.6.30 Purport

Prabhupada has often spoken out against the twisting of the caste system. "...in this age there are many so-called caste brahmanas and caste Gosvamis who, taking advantage of the sastra and of the innocence of people in general, claim to be brahmanas and Vaisnavas by hereditary right. One will not derive any benefit by rendering service to such false brahmana-kulas." ~ SB 4.21.40 Purport In addition, Srila Prabhupada has always expressed it is more important to be a devotee of the Lord.]

15 And Jesus said no more to them, but looking up to heaven he said,

16 My Father-God, who was, and is, and evermore shall be; who holds within thy hands the scales of justice and of right;

17 Who in the boundlessness of love has made all men to equal be. The white, the black, the yellow, and the red can look up in thy face and say, Our Father-God.

NOTE: Commenting on B.Gita 5:18, Prabhupada elaborates: "When one has got that vision, that transcendental vision, samah sarvesu bhutesu mad-bhakti, then the devotional service begins." SP lecture, N.O.D., Vrndavana India, Oct. 26, 72]

18 Thou Father of the human race, I praise thy name.

19 And all the priests were angered by the words which Jesus spoke; they rushed upon him, seized him, and would have done him harm.

20 But then Lamaas raised his hand and said, You priests of Brahm, beware! you know not what you do; wait till you know the God this youth adores.

[NOTE: Which, as will be revealed later, is Krishna.]

21 I have beheld this boy at prayer when light above the light of the sun surrounded him. Beware! his God may be more powerful than Brahm.

[NOTE: Brahma is not God. The highest Vedic teachings reveal this point. Brahma is sometimes called the creator in the sense that, for example, as we human beings can create a toy out of the material element wood, to later be distributed to many children of this world. Similarly, Brahma can put together different material elements to make material bodies of humans, because God has higher things to be doing, therefore God can employ someone else for such a job. However, Brahma himself prays to Someone, thus there is Someone higher than Brahma. That Someone is God or Krishna. Read the 'Brahma-Samhita' for proof.]

22 If Jesus speaks the truth, if he is right, you cannot force him to desist; if he is wrong and you are right, his words come to naught, for right is might, and in the end it will prevail.

23 And then the priests refrained from doing Jesus harm; but one spoke out and said,

24 Within this holy place has not this reckless youth done violence to Parabrahm?

The law is plain; it says, He who reviles the name of Brahm shall die.

25 Lamaas pled for Jesus' life; and then the priests just seized a scourge of cords and drove him from the place.

[NOTE: In accordance to this story, it appears that in part, the priests may have felt they were following scripture, but in part they were also attached to their material positions and did not want Jesus to mess that up. As explained above, Lord Buddha, an incarnation of Krishna, advented because the priests/brahmana’s had become corrupt.]

26 And Jesus went his way and found shelter with the black and yellow men, the servants and the tiller of the soil.

[NOTE: And this was Christ's specific mission from God.]

27 To them he first made known the gospel of equality; he told them of the Brotherhood of Man, the Fatherhood of God.

[NOTE: Prabhupada tells us: "One who is a pandita, one who is learned, sees all living entities to be on an equal level. Therefore because a Vaisnava, or devotee, is learned, he is compassionate (lokanam hita-karinau), and he can work in such a way to actually benefit humanity." TQK9]

28 The common people heard him with delight, and learned to pray, Our Father-God who art in heaven.

CHAPTER 25

Jesus teaches the sudras and farmers. Relates a parable of a nobleman and his unjust sons. Makes known the possibilities of all men.

WHEN Jesus saw the sudras and the farmers in such multitudes draw near to hear his words, he spoke a parable to them; he said:

2 A nobleman possessed a great estate; he had four sons, and he would have them all grow strong by standing forth and making use of all the talents they possessed.

3 And so he gave to each a share of his great wealth, and bade them go their way.

4 The eldest son was full of self; he was ambitious, shrewd and quick of thought.

5 He said within himself, I am the oldest son, and these, my brothers, must be servants at my feet.

6 And then he called his brothers forth; and one he made a puppet king; gave him a sword and charged him to defend the whole estate.

7 To one he gave the use of lands and flowing wells, and flocks and herds, and bade him till the soil, and tend the flocks and herds and bring to him the choicest of his gains.

8 And to the other one he said, You are the youngest son; the broad estate has been assigned; you have no part nor lot in anything that is.

9 And he took a chain and bound his brother to a naked rock upon a desert plain, and said to him,

10 You have been born a slave; you have no rights, and you must be contented with your lot, for there is no release for you until you die and go from hence.

11 Now, after certain years the day of reckoning came; the nobleman called up his sons to render their accounts.

12 And when he knew that one, his eldest son, had seized the whole estate and made his brothers slaves,

13 He seized him, tore his priestly robes away and put him in a prison cell, where he was forced to stay until he had atoned for all the wrongs that he had done.

14 And then, as though they were but toys, he threw in air the throne and armour of the puppet king; he broke his sword, and put him in a prison cell.

15 And then he called his farmer son and asked him why he had not rescued from his galling chains his brother on the desert plains.

16 And when the son made answer not, the father took unto himself the flocks and herds, the fields and flowing wells,

17 And sent his farmer son to live out on the desert sands, until he had atoned for all the wrongs that he had done.

18 And then the father went and found his youngest son in cruel chains; with his own hands he broke the chains and bade his son to go in peace.

19 Now, when the sons had all paid up their debts they came again and stood before the bar of right.

20 They all had learned their lessons, learned them well; and then the father once again divided the estate.

21 He gave to each a share, and bade them recognise the law of equity and right, and live in peace.

22 And one, a sudras, spoke and said, May we who are but slaves, who are cut down like beasts to satisfy the whims of priests--may we have hope that one will come to break our chains and set us free?

23 And Jesus said, The Holy One has said, that all his children shall be free; and every soul is child of God.

24 The sudras shall be free as priest; the farmer shall walk hand in hand with king; for all the world will own the brotherhood of man.

[NOTE: "Real equality and brotherhood come when we see all living entities as equal, as children of the Lord." ~ Srila Prabhupada, TQE, 7]

25 O men, arise! be conscious of your powers, for he who wills need not remain a slave.

26 Just live as you would have your brother live; unfold each day as does the flower; for earth is yours, and heaven is yours, and God will bring you to your own.

27 And all the people cried, Show us the way that like the flower we may unfold and come unto our own.

CHAPTER 26

Jesus at Katak. The car of Jagannath Jesus reveals to the people the emptiness of Brahmic rites, and how to see God in man. Teaches them the divine law of sacrifice.

[NOTE: The car of Jagannath is in reference to a yearly festival where the brahman priests take the Jagannath Deity out on a ride for all the people to see and benefit from.]

IN all the cities of Orissa Jesus taught. At Katak, by the river side, he taught, and thousands of the people followed him.

2 One day a car of Jagannath was hauled along by scores of frenzied men, and Jesus said,

3 Behold, a form without a spirit passes by; a body with no soul; a temple with no altar fires.

[NOTE: Many devotees have misunderstood this. It, and the next few verses, are important to clear up. I have also consulted with other senior devotes who have come to the same conclusions I have. Now, Srila Prabhupada tells us that Christ was God conscious and a satktyavesavara. Therefore, how could Jesus say there was no soul within the Deity? So, we are misunderstanding. Jesus was "not" against Deity worship. What he was against were the corrupt brahmana priests. After all, he spent years living in the Jagannatha temple. Who do we think he was worshipping all that time? The Deity of Lord Jagannatha of course. But as son of God, he had transcendental vision and could see that Krishna/Jagannatha, had "not" entered the Deity form. --It is only due to Prabhupada's books was I able to understand this, as were my godsiblings.]

4 This car of Krishna is an empty thing, for Krishna is not there.

[NOTE: Jesus has not spoken one word against Krishna here, not anywhere, ever. He lived in India all those years and never said one such word. To clarify, all he is saying here is whether Krishna is present or not present. As just touched on, if the priests are corrupt, God does not have to stay, can leave at any moment, or does not even arrive. Thus Jesus saw that Krishna was not present. One last point is that specifically in Puri, there is a ceremony we don't do in the West which invites the Lord to enter the Deity. Some claim this ceremony had not yet been preformed.]

5 This car is but an idol of a people drunk on wine of carnal things.

[NOTE: Now Jesus is explaining the details. He points to the use of intoxication and indulgence in carnal/illicit sex, possibly meat eating. This is not acceptable to Lord Jagannath. Thus, Lord Jagannath was not in the car. When God is not present, it is no longer Deity worship, but turns into idol worship! Jesus had Divine vision, therefore he could see: Lord Jagannatha refused to enter under such circumstances.]

6 God lives not in the noise of tongues; there is no way to him from any idol shrine.

[NOTE: "Shrine" again means, the Lord had not entered the Deity. To continue, why would Christ complain about "the noise of tongues?" He was not against chanting at all; even recommended it. Jesus was against hypocrisy. It appears there was chanting yet the maintaining of carnal affairs and/or intoxication. Under such circumstances, better to worship God elsewhere.

Also, Prabhupada boycotted the Jagannatha temple because his disciples had been refused entrance:

"Dear Syamasundara Brahmacari,

Please accept my greetings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 3/4/74.
I have not visited Jagannatha Puri because my men are not allowed to see the deity. When you arrange that we can visit the temple with my disciples then I can come immediately. Now I am in India up until May 15 then I am going to Europe to visit in France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany etc., and then I will come back and remain until the end of August, and then go again to England, and the U.S. This is my program. I am still here until the 15th of May. I am going to Hyderabad on the 18th of April and then going to Tirupati. So from there I can go to Jagannatha Puri if arrangements can be made.

It is very regrettable that these European and American boys who are purely Vaisnava and who follow all principles are not allowed by the rascals to enter the temple. As stated in the Padma Puräëa: arcye visnau siladhir gurusu naramatir Vaisnave jati buddhir.

I do not know what makes the management take this attitude. If you can remove this restriction you will do a great service to the Gaudiya Vaisnava community. According to sastra anyone who wears tilaka and sikha and kunti over and above the Vaisnava dress or Vaisnava sannyasi must be accepted especially while chanting Hare Krishna mantra with bead bags. Kindly convince them and induce them to allow these Vaisnavas to enter Jagannatha Temple.

One friend in Orissa has offered to give us land in Bhubaneswar and I have a desire to construct a big Jagannatha temple there for our men if we are not allowed to enter Jagannatha temple in Puri. In Jagannatha temple people come from all the Indian states. Now when Jagannatha has expanded His jurisdiction over the whole world why the so called servants of Jagannatha should not allow them to see the Lord of the Universe? I don't know their philosophy.

We shall see that your copies of Back to Godhead are dispatched to you.

In conclusion, I shall come to Jagannatha Puri as you have kindly insisted, but only when they allow entry to all my disciples.

Your ever well-wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
ACBS/sdg - Bombay, 8 April, 1974, Puri, India"]

7 God's meeting place with man is in the heart, and in a still small voice he speaks; and he who hears is still.

[NOTE: There are three levels of God realization: 1-Impersonalism with God as light, brahmajyoti. 2-Paramatma or God in the heart. 3-Bhagavan realization or to realize Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The last two are acceptable for the devotees of Lord Sri Krishna/God. The first, light, is impersonal and unacceptable. Here we can see Jesus was speaking of Paramatma or the second level.]

8 And all the people said, Teach us to know the Holy One who speaks within the heart, God of the still small voice.

[NOTE: I can't help but notice how dependent these people seemed to have been made upon the cast priests, that they didn't have a clue how to progress without them. Thus, Jesus was freeing them, and willing to elevate anyone who wanted to make that much spiritual advancement. Though, always need to start from the beginning.]

9 And Jesus said, The Holy Breath cannot be seen with mortal eyes; nor can men see the Spirits of the Holy;

10 But in their image man was made, and he who looks into the face of man, looks at the image of the God who speaks within.

[NOTE: Here two points are made. One is that human beings are made in the image of God so therefore we must understand that God is a transcendental person. This is a hard one for many to get because our experience with persons are material. It is hard for many to grasp that God can be a person and yet be totally free of such things. For example, God can have a body but that body is not material, as has been our limited experience. No. God has a transcendental body which is beyond our conception. He can eat with His ears if He wants, and often does when food is offered to him through prayer/mantra! Too many want to make God formless and impersonal because they can’t understand God in this personal way. Jesus understood Him in that way and worshipped Lord Jagannatha himself while a student of that temple. While he left due to the unqualified brahmana’s and his dissatisfaction that the people were being cheated out of spiritual life, this should not be confused with him leaving Lord Jagannath. He never left Krishna/Jagannatha. He could see Him within His heart whenever he wanted to. And that brings us to the second point Christ is making. God is within everyone’s heart and often speaks to them. With practice, calming and purification, all can contact Him. Paramatma, the Lord in the heart of each spirit soul.]

11 And when man honours man he honours God, and what man does for man, he does for God.

[NOTE: Jesus had to first teach human kindness, which could be elevated to equal vision that everyone is spirit soul, and then on to a form of Vaisnava etiquette. Such etiquette is to serve and respect the devotees of the Lord. Devotees offer obeisances to one another. The word “namaste” means “I offer my obeisances.”]

12 And you must bear in mind that when man harms in thought, or word or deed another man, he does a wrong to God.

[NOTE: More on humanitarianism, step #1. We also see here that consciousness is important, and we should try to control our mind. To those who say they can do anything in Christ's name, well, not only must we control the body, but also the mind, and this is a form of yoga.]

13 If you would serve the God who speaks within the heart, just serve your near of kin, and those that are no kin, the stranger at your gates, the foe who seeks to do you harm;

14 Assist the poor, and help the weak; do harm to none, and covet not what is not yours;

[NOTE: Christ could not tell them to go serve the Deity within the temple, the priests would never allow that. Nor did the people he was preaching to know how. But he gave them a way to serve God they could handle, along with instructions to elevate them from acting in barbaric ways to those of the human-being platform. We need to remember, some of these people were having sex with their mother or physically fighting with others at the drop of a hat, so he gave them hope and a higher instruction. When one is acting on the human being platform, they are next ready for God consciousness. Prabhupada gave us 4 regulative principles we are to follow. Some tend to put them in the same category of chanting the holy Name, but actually this is not so. They are simply to elevate us from lower animal levels to higher ones so we can next chant the holy Name and with more potency.]

15 Then, with your tongue the Holy One will speak; and he will smile behind your tears, will light your countenance with joy, and fill your hearts with peace.

16 And then the people asked. To whom shall we bring gifts? Where shall we offer sacrifice?

17 And Jesus said, Our Father-God asks not for needless waste of plant, of grain, of dove, of lamb.

18 That which you burn on any shrine you throw away. No blessings can attend the one who takes the food from hungry mouths to be destroyed by fire.

19 When you would offer sacrifice unto our God, just take your gift of grain, or meat and lay it on the table of the poor.

[NOTE: First, I am not so quick to believe Jesus ate meat and would like to see the original word that has been translated from Aramic into ‘meat.’ After all, it has been proven that in the Bible, for example, many such words were mistranslated to indicate "meat," when they did not. However, for sake of argument, let's say he was talking about meat. It is allowed under desperate circumstances, one can eat meat, like in the desert where he was! Though looking closely he is not saying that ‘he’ is eating this meat, but that this is 'their' habit. In which case he may be gradually helping them to ‘dovetail’ their attachment to meat by giving it away, and later he will teach how to eat a nonviolent diet.]

20 From it an incense will arise to heaven, which will return to you with blessedness.

21 Tear down your idols; they can hear you not; turn all your sacrificial altars into fuel for the flames.

[NOTE: These are not Vaishnava/Krishna Deities or altars he is referring to in the least. The people of the times were superstitious. Coupled with the tendency to worship demi-gods or even trees. (Where do ya think that Christmas tree originated from? :-) ]

22 Make human hearts your altars, and burn your sacrifices with the fire of love.

23 And all the people were entranced, and would have worshiped Jesus as a God; but Jesus said,

24 I am your brother man just come to show to way to God; you shall not worship man; praise God, the Holy One.

[First we need to remember, Jesus was on a specified mission, and it was not direct Krishna consciousness for most, though maybe some eventually qualified themselves. But do not doubt, Jesus knew Jagannath is God. However, Christ, the Messiah, was assigned specific people to save who would first require gradual elevation. With that said, next take notice that Christ made sure to point out that he himself is not God, not to worship him as such. But he is guru / spiritual teacher! :-) ]

CHAPTER 27

Jesus attends a feast in Behar. Preaches a revolutionary sermon on human equality. Relates the parable of the broken blades.

THE fame of Jesus as a teacher spread through all the land, and people came from near and far to hear his words of truth.

2 At Behar, on the sacred river of the Brahms, he taught for many days.

3 And Ach, a wealthy man of Behar, made a feast in honour of his guest, and he invited every one to come.

4 And many came; among them thieves, extortioners, and courtesans. And Jesus sat with them and taught; but they who followed him were much aggrieved because he sat with thieves and courtesans.

5 And they upbraided him; they said, Rabboni, master of the wise, this day will be an evil day for you.

6 The news will spread that you consort with courtesans and thieves, and men will shun you as they shun an asp.

7 And Jesus answered them and said, A master never screens himself for sake of reputation or of fame.

8 These are but worthless baubles of the day; they rise and sink, like empty bottles on a stream; they are illusions and will pass away;

9 They are the indices to what the thoughtless think; they are the noise that people make; and shallow men judge merit by noise.

10 God and all master men judge men by what they are and not by what they seem to be; not by their reputation and their fame.

11 These courtesans and thieves are children of my Father-God; their soul are just as precious in his sight as yours, or of the Brahmic priests.

[NOTE: Jesus really tells it to them like it is. :-) And we see also Prabhupada has said such things. Jesus continues to tell them the truth about themselves. Wonderful! … ]

12 And they are working out the same life sums that you, who pride yourselves on your respectability and moral worth, are working out.

13 And some of them have solved much harder sums than you have solved, you men who look at them with scorn.

14 Yes, they are sinners, and confess their guilt, while you are guilty, but are shrewd enough to have polished coat to cover up your guilt.

15 Suppose you men who scorn these courtesans, these drunkards and these thieves, who know that you are pure in heart and life, that you are better far than they, stand forth that men may know just who you are.

16 The sin lies in the wish, in the desire, not in the act.

17 You covet other people's wealth; you look at charming forms, and deep within your hearts you lust for them.

18 Deceit you practice every day, and wish for gold, for honour and for fame, just for your selfish selves.

19 The man who covets is a thief, and she who lusts is courtesan. You who are none of these speak out.

20 Nobody spoke; the accusers held their peace.

21 And Jesus said, The proof this day is all against those who have accused.

22 The pure in heart do not accuse. The vile in heart who want to cover up their guilt with holy smoke of piety are ever loathing drunkard, thief and courtesan.

23 This loathing and this scorn is mockery, for if the tinselled coat of reputation could be torn away, the loud professor would be found to revel in his lust, deceit and many forms of secret sin.

24 The man who spends his time in pulling other people's weeds can have no time to pull his own, and all the choicest flowers of life will soon be choked and die, and nothing will remain but darnel, thistles, burs.

25 And Jesus spoke a parable: he said, Behold, a farmer had great fields of ripened grain, and when he looked he saw that blades of many stalks of wheat were bent and broken down.

26 And when he sent his reapers forth he said, We will not save the stalks of wheat that have the broken blades.

27 Go forth and cut and burn the stalks with broken blades.

28 And after many days he went to measure up his grain, but not a kernel could be find.

29 And then he called the harvesters and said to them, Where is my grain?

30 They answered him and said, We did according to your word; we gathered up and burned the stalks with broken blades, and not a stalk was left to carry to the barn.

31 And Jesus said, If God saves only those who have no broken blades, who have been perfect in his sight, who will be saved?

32 And the accusers hung their heads in shame; and Jesus went his way.

CHAPTER 28

Udraka gives a feast in Jesus' honour. Jesus speaks on the unity of God and the brotherhood of life. Criticizes the priesthood. Becomes the guest of a farmer.

BENARES is the sacred city of the Brahms, and in Benares Jesus taught; Udraka was his host.

2 Udraka made a feast in honour of his guest, and many high born Hindu priests and scribes were there.

3 And Jesus said to them, With much delight I speak to you concerning life--the brotherhood of life.

4 The universal God is one, yet he is more than one; all things are God; all things are one.

[NOTE: Since Jesus put so much emphasis on a Personal God, coupled with much other evidence that He knew who God is, therefore this is acintya bhedabheda tattva. It appears this overall connectedness with God was a new concept to the people, thus needed to be preached they should not view themselves, etc., as separate from the Lord.]

5 By the sweet breaths of God all life is bound in one; so if you touch a fiber of a living thing you send a thrill from the center to the outer bounds of life.

6 And when you crush beneath your foot the meanest worm, you shake the throne of God, and cause the sword of right to tremble in its sheath.

7 The bird sings out its song for men, and men vibrate in unison to help it sing.

8 The ant constructs her home, the bee its sheltering comb, the spider weaves her web, and flowers breath to them a spirit in their sweet perfumes that gives them strength to toil.

9 Now, men and birds and beasts and creeping things are deities, made flesh; and how dare men kill anything?

10 'Tis cruelty that makes the world awry. When men have learned that when they harm a living thing they harm themselves, they surely will not kill, nor cause a thing that God has made to suffer pain.

11 A lawyer said, I pray you, Jesus, tell who is this God you speak about; where are his priests, his temples and his shrines?

12 And Jesus said, The God I speak about is everywhere; he cannot be compassed with walls, nor hedged about with bounds of any kind.

[NOTE: A temple run by the qualified becomes a place of no anxiety, Vaikuntha. A temple run by the unqualified can become a place of anxiety or at least a place viewed with walls and bounded. An attempt to control and bound, from God to the masses. But Krishna is omniscient - everywhere - a new concept to the people at that time. Therefore Jesus was educating.]

13 All people worship God, the One; but all the people see him not alike.

14 This universal God is wisdom, will and love.

[NOTE: Interestingly, “Jagannath” translates as “Lord of the Universe.”]

15 All men see not the Triune God. One sees him as the God of might; another as the God of thought; another as the God of love.

16 A man's ideal is his God, and so, as man unfolds. Man's God to-day, to-morrow is not God.

17 The nations of the earth see God from different points of view, and so he does not seem the same to every one.

18 Man names the part of God he sees, and this to him is all of God; and every nation sees a part of God, and every nation has a name for God.

19 You Brahmans call him Parabrahm; in Egypt he is Thoth; and Zeus is his name in Greece; Jehovah is his Hebrew name; but everywhere he is the causeless Cause, the rootless Root from which all things have grown.

[NOTE: We see here that Jesus is now accepting one name of the Supreme One God as Parambrahma. Maybe by now he has heard from a bona fide devotee of Krishna, or the Lord in the heart known as Paramatma has directed him in this way, or Jesus could be stating something he really knew all along but could not reveal for various reasons. In any case, he is pointing toward the universality of God. Similarly, Srila Prabhupada explains that it does not matter which name of God you chant/pray, just so long as you do so. He further explains that God is not limited to one name and has many, with Krishna meaning “all attractive.” Who would not want to worship the most attractive?! :-) ]

20 When men become afraid of God, and take him for a foe, they dress up other men in fancy garbs and call them priests.

21 And charge them to restrain the wrath of God by prayers; and when they fail to win his favour by their prayers, to buy him off with sacrifice of animal, or bird.

22 When man sees God as one with him, as Father-God, he needs no middle man, no priest to intercede;

[NOTE: Jesus needed to disempower any bogus priests since many of the people apparently were convinced they could not go to God but through them. However, to follow Christ's words means he has been accepted as guru or spiritual teacher, and one goes to God through him. This acceptance as him of authority is not a contradiction. Jesus is not looking for any post. That is an important sign of a qualified guru. One who desires to be guru is often unqualified.]

23 He goes straight up to him and says, My Father- God! and then he lays his hand in God's own hand, and all is well.

24 And this is God. You are, each one, a priest, just for yourself; and sacrifice of blood God does not want.

25 Just give your life in sacrificial service to all of life, and God is pleased.

26 When Jesus had thus said he stood aside; the people were amazed, but strove among themselves.

[NOTE: We can see that the common people were very surprised by these new teachings presented by Christ. Thus, they were trying to process them.]

27 Some said, He is inspired by Holy Brahm; and others said, He is insane; and others said, He is obsessed; he speaks as devils speak.

28 But Jesus tarried not. Among the guests was one, a tiller of the soil, a generous soul, a seeker after truth, who loved the words that Jesus spoke, and Jesus went with him, and in his home abode.

CHAPTER 29

Ajainin, a priest from Lahore, comes to Benares to see Jesus, and abides in the temple. Jesus refuses an invitation to visit the temple. Ajainin visits him at night in the farmer's home, and accepts his philosophy.

AMONG Benares' temple priests was one, a guest, Ajainan, from Lahore.

2 By merchantmen Ajainin heard about the Jewish boy, about his words of wisdom, and he girt himself and journeyed from Lahore that he might see the boy, and hear him speak.

3 The Brahmic priests did not accept the truth that Jesus brought, and they were angered much by what he said at the Udraka feast.

4 But they had never seen the boy, and they desired much to hear him speak, and they invited him to be a temple guest.

5 But Jesus said to them, The light is most abundant, and it shines for all; if you would see the light come to the light.

6 If you would hear the message that the Holy One has given me to give to men, come unto me.

7 Now, when the priests were told what Jesus said they were enraged.

8 Ajainin did not share their wrath, and he sent forth another messenger with costly gifts to Jesus at the farmer's home; he sent this message with the gifts:

9 I pray you master, listen to my words; The Brahmic law forbids that any priest shall go into the home of any one of low estate; but you can come to us;

10 And I am sure these priests will gladly hear you speak. I pray that you will come and dine with us this day.

11 And Jesus said, The Holy One regards all men alike; the dwelling of my host is good enough for any council of the sons of men.

[NOTE: "Those who are actually pandita, learned, knowledge, they see everyone on the equal level." ~ SP lecture, NOD, Vrndavana India, Oct. 18, 72]

12 If pride of cast keeps you away, you are not worthy of the light. My Father-God does not regard the laws of man.

[NOTE: I know this has been mentioned, but I too have little patience for the kali yuga form of the caste system which is no longer the same one of Divinity. "But in this age the sastra says that kalau sudra sambhava. In this age of Kali practically there is no more any brahmana, ksatriya, or vaisya. Maybe by name, but in qualification they are not existing." ~ Srila Prabhupada lecture, Montreal Canada, July 24, 1968]

13 Your presents I return; you cannot buy the knowledge of the Lord with gold, or precious gifts.

14 These words of Jesus angered more and more the priests, and they began to plot and plan how they might drive him from the land.

15 Ajainin did not join with them in plot and plan; he left the temple in the night, and sought the home where Jesus dwelt.

16 And Jesus said, There is no night where shines the sun; I have no secret messages to give; in light all secrets are revealed.

[NOTE: Jesus is pointing out he does not have the only method to reach God, and that there can be others of light, pure devotees, who can lead one to God. It is not about going through him only, as some like to claim, but instead it is about following a method similar to his. Therefore he is not claiming any man-made method is ok, but that of any pure devotee is ok. Even in the Bible, 1 Timothy 3:16-17, Christ is still saying this! :-) ]

17 Ajainin said, I came from far-away Lahore, that I might learn about this ancient wisdom, and this kingdom of the Holy One of which you speak.

18 Where is the kingdom? where the king? Who are the subjects? what its laws?

19 And Jesus said, This kingdom is not far away, but man with mortal eyes can see it not; it is within the heart.

[NOTE: Krishna lives in the heart of every living entity. This is stated in the Gita. Once we fall from the spiritual kingdom of God, He does not abandon us but stays with us. You know those times, maybe even as a child, when you were tempted to do something like steal a cookie :-) or so on, but that 'feeling' came over you it was not a good idea? While sometimes it can be our own intelligence, do not write off God, as it is 'also' and often the Lord trying to protect us and sending messages from within our heart. So Jesus is speaking about fine-tuning this thorough turning inward in meditation.]

20 You need not seek the king in earth, or sea, or sky; he is not there, and yet is everywhere. He is the Christ of God; is universal love.

21 The gate of this dominion is not high, and he who enters it must fall down on his knees. It is not wide, and none can carry carnal bundles through.

[NOTE: This is nondifferent from instructions on Bhakti yoga or love of God coupled with purification of the senses through the yoga of sense control.]

22 The lower self must be transmuted into spirit-self; the body must be washed in living streams of purity.

23 Ajainin asked, Can I become a subject of this king?

24 And Jesus said, You are yourself a king, and you may enter through the gate and be a subject of the King of kings.

25 But you must lay aside your priestly robes; must cease to serve the Holy One for gold; must give your life, and all you have, in willing service to the sons of men.

26 And Jesus said no more; Ajainin went his way; and while he could not comprehend the truth that Jesus spoke, he saw what he had never seen before.

27 The realm of faith he never had explored; but in his heart the seeds of faith and universal brotherhood had found good soil.

28 And as he journeyed to his home he seemed to sleep, to pass through darkest night, and when he woke the Sun of Righteousness had arisen; he had found the king.

29 Now, in Benares Jesus tarried many days and taught.

CHAPTER 30

Jesus receives news of the death of his father. He writes a letter to his mother. The letter. He sends it on its way by a merchant.

ONE day as Jesus stood beside the Ganges busy with his work, a caravan, returning from the West, drew near.

2 And one, approaching Jesus, said, We come to you from your native land and bring unwelcome news.

3 Your father is no more on earth; your mother grieves; and none can comfort her.

She wonders whether you are still alive or not; she longs to see you once again.

4 And Jesus bowed his head in silent thought; and then he wrote.

Of what he wrote this is the sum:

5 My mother, noblest of the womankind; A man just from my native land has brought me word that father is no more in flesh, and that you grieve, and are disconsolate.

6 My mother, all is well; is well for father and is well for you.

7 His work in this earth-round is done, and it is nobly done.

8 In all the walks of life men cannot charge him with deceit, dishonesty, nor wrong intent.

9 Here in this round he finished many heavy tasks, and he has gone from hence prepared to solve the problems of the round of soul.

10 Our Father-God is with him there, as he was with him here; and there his angel guards his footssteps lest he goes astray.

11 Why should you weep? Tears cannot conquer grief. There is no power in grief to mend a broken heart.

12 The plane of grief is idleness; the busy soul can never grieve; it has no time for grief.

13 When grief come trooping through the heart, just lose yourself; plunge deep into the ministry of love, and grief is not.

[NOTE: This is a lovely story which is moving. Jesus first gives compassion and understanding to his mother. He next follows it with higher, spiritual knowledge. It is love of God/Krishna that frees everyone from pain.]

14 Yours is a ministry of love, and all the world is calling out for love.

15 Then let the past go with the past; rise from the cares for carnal things and give your life for those who live.

[NOTE: Jesus continues to give his mother good instruction, as was common practice in the Vedic system at that time, but especially since he was a pure devotee or son of God, he had particularly wise spiritual advice for her. To renounce the past and attach ourselves to God is the way out of suffering as well as the way out of the material world, as it is material attachments that cause pain and spiritual attachment that bring freedom.]

16 And if you lose your life in serving life you will sure to find in it the morning sun, the evening dews, in song of bird, in flowers, and in the stars of night.

17 In just a little while your problems of this earth-round will be solved; and when your sums are all worked out it will be pleasure unalloyed for you to enter wider fields of usefulness, to solve the greater problems of the soul.

18 Strive, then, to be content, and I will come to you some day and bring you richer gifts than gold or precious stones.

19 I'm sure that John will care for you, supplying all your needs; and I am with you all the way, Jehoshua.

20 And by the hand of one, a merchant, going to Jerusalem, he sent this letter on its way.

CHAPTER 31

Brahmic priests are enraged because of Jesus' teaching and resolve to drive him from India. Lamaas pleads for him. Priests employ a murderer to kill him. Lamaas warns him and he flees to Nepel.

THE words and works of Jesus caused unrest through all the land.

2 The common people were his friends, believed in him and followed him in thongs.

3 The priests and rulers were afraid of him, his very name sent terror to their hearts.

4 He preached the brotherhood of life, the righteousness of equal rights, and taught the uselessness of priests, and sacrificial rites.

5 He shook the very sand on which the Brahmic system stood; he made the Brahmic idols seem so small, and sacrifice so fraught with sin, that shrines and wheels of prayer were all forgot.

6 The priests declared that if this Jewish boy should tarry longer in the land a revolution would occur; the common people would arise and kill the priests, and tear the temples down.

7 And so they sent a call abroad, and priests from every province came. Benares was on fire with Brahmic zeal.

8 Lamaas from the temple Jagannath, who knew the inner life of Jesus well, was in their midst, and heard the rantings of the priests,

[NOTE: Srila Prabhupada also left his original temple or the Gaudiya Math, to create ISKCON, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. It is too much to put here. See my web site: Gaudiya Math.]

9 And he stood forth and said, My brother priests, take heed, be careful what you do; this is a record-making day.

10 The world is looking on; the very life of Brahmic thought is now on trial.

11 If we are reason-blind; if prejudice be king to-day; if we resort to beastly force, and dye our hands in blood that may, in sight of Brahm, be innocent and pure,

12 His vengeance may fall down on us; the very rock on which we stand may burst beneath our feet; and our beloved priesthood, and our laws and shrines will go into decay.

13 But they would let him speak no more. The wrathful priests rushed up and beat him, spit upon him, called him traitor, threw him, bleeding, to the street.

14 And then confusion reigned; the priests became a mob; the sight of human blood led on to fiendish acts and called for more.

15 The rulers, fearing war, sought Jesus, and they found him calmly teaching in the market place.

16 They urged him to depart, that he might save his life; but he refused to go.

[NOTE: Sounds familiar, doesn't it? Seems he has a habit of doing this. His power was so often underestimated! The potency of any pure devotee is more than often meets the eye, but one should never let themselves fall under such illusions. ]

17 And then the priests sought cause for his arrest; but he had done no crime.

18 And then false charges were preferred; but when the soldiers went to bring him to the judgment hall they were afraid, because the people stood in his defense.

19 The priests were baffled, and they resolved to take his life by stealth.

20 They found a man who was a murderer by trade, and sent him out by night to slay the object of their wrath.

21 Lamaas heard about their plotting and their plans, and sent a messenger to warn his friend; and Jesus hastened to depart.

22 By night he left Benares, and with haste he journeyed to the north; and everywhere, the farmers, merchants and sudras helped him on his way.

23 And after many days he reached the mighty Himalayas, and in the city of Kapivastu he abode.

24 The priests of Buddha opened wide their temple doors for him.

CHAPTER 32

Jesus and Barata. Together they read the sacred books. Jesus takes exception to the Buddhist doctrine of evolution and reveals the true origin of man. Meets Vidyapati, who becomes his co-labourer.

AMONG the Buddhist priests was one who saw a lofty wisdom in the words that Jesus spoke. It was Barata Arabo.

[NOTE: This is a different King Barata, also spelled Bharata. The one mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam appeared 5,000 years ago.]

2 Together Jesus and Barata read the Jewish Psalms and Prophets; read the Vedas, the Avesta and the wisdom of Gautama.

3 And as they read and talked about the possibilities of man, Barata said,

4 Man is the marvel of the universe. He is part of everything for he has been a living thing on every plane of life.

5 Time was when man was not; and he was bit of formless substance in the moulds of time; and then a protoplast.

6 By universal law all things tend upward to a state of perfectness. The protoplast evolved, becoming worm, then reptile, bird and beast, and then at last it reached the form of man.

7 Now, man himself is mind, and mind is here to gain perfection by experience; and mind is often manifest in fleshy form, and in the form best suited to its growth. So mind may manifest as worm, or bird, or beast, or man.

8 The time will come when everything of life will be evolved unto the state of perfect man.

9 And after man is man in perfectness, he will evolve to higher forms of life.

10 And Jesus said, Barata Arabo, who taught you this, that mind, which is the man, may manifest in flesh of beast, or bird, or creeping thing?

11 Barata said, From times which man remembers not our priests have told us so, and so we know.

12 And Jesus said, Enlightened Arabo, are you a master mind and do not know that man knows naught by being told?

13 Man may believe what others say; but thus he never knows. If man would know, he must himself be what he knows.

14 Do you remember, Arabo, when you were ape, or bird, or worm?

15 Now, if you have no better proving of your plea than that the priests have told you so, you do not know; you simply guess.

[NOTE: It may appear that Jesus did not believe in reincarnation, but we can see more clearly from other places that he does. So what was he speaking about here? First, he was debunking "evolution" passed off as "spiritual" by the priests, and pointing out real knowledge should be obtained from a bona fide guru, not just 'man' who is not showing evidence of "being" what he knows. They must be realized and that must be obvious in their life and behavior. Secondly, evidence of Christ's belief in reincarnation is found in upcoming verses, as he explains that plants and beasts, etc., are of lower ethereal vibration which, as the ethers become more dense, became men. Thirdly, it appears he was he was trying to spiritually empower these followers so that they will stop blaming everything on the karma of their last life, as the (corrupted) caste system taught by the unqualified had caused them to blindly accept, but instead begin using spiritual life in order to transcend karma. I think of Buddha here, who preached against the Vedas even though he believed in them. However, if more closely examined, you will discover within some lesser known quotes that Buddha was in favor of the Vedas. He simply did not want them abused. Anyway, Prabhupada has repeatedly told us, "Don't come back" ]

16 Regard not, then, what any man has said; let us forget the flesh, and go with mind into the land of fleshless things; mind never does forget.

17 And backward through the ages master minds can trace themselves; and thus they know.

[NOTE: Regarding the mind as all-knowing, there is the story of a deer who remembered his life as King Bharata (different Bharata) in the Srimad Bhagavatam, as well as others who remembered their past life such as Rashabadeva. The mind, or more accurately, consciousness, does indeed record everything. Though a person first must come up to the level of a very great soul or yogi at the least, and preferably a pure devotee of the Lord. We see Christ uses the word "master minds," so he is not speaking of ordinary persons. Possibly Jesus had hopes he could, with time and lessons, elevate his followers in such ways. Or at least he was giving them information to free them, as we all like to hear such stories. It opens us up, as it would them.]

18 Time never was when man was not.

[NOTE: Krishna says in the Gita, "Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be." BG 2.12 ]

19 That which begins will have an end. If man was not, the time will come when he will not exist.

[NOTE: Therefore the Buddhist doctrine of evolution Barata was reading, describing a soul to have a beginning, was not being accepted by Jesus, as he points out that if indeed we did have a beginning, we would also have an ending. That is not a spiritual understanding in the least.]

20 From God's own Record Book we read: The Triune God breathed forth, and seven Spirits stood before his face. (The Hebrews call these seven Spirits, Elohim.)

21 And these are they who, in their boundless power, created everything that is, or was.

22 These Spirits of the Triune God moved on the face of boundless space and seven ethers were, and every ether had its form of life.

[NOTE: Prabhupada points out: "... the material energy is manifested first in the form of the mahat-tattva, then egotism, then ether, then air, fire, water and earth. After the creation, the living entities are impregnated in the cosmic manifestation, and they emerge as Lord Brahma and the seven great rsis, then as different demigods. From the demigods come human beings, animals, trees, birds, beasts and everything else. The original cause, however, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead " ~ SB 4.24. 63 Purport

23 These forms of life were but the thoughts of God, clothed in the substance of their ether planes.

24 (Men call these ether planes the planes of protoplast, of earth, of plant, of beast, of man, of angel and of cherubim.)

25 These planes with all their teeming thoughts of God, are never seen by eyes of man in flesh; they are composed of substance far too fine for fleshy eyes to see, and still they constitute the soul of things;

26 And with the eyes of soul all creatures see these ether planes, and all forms of life.

27 Because all forms of life on every plane are thoughts of God, all creatures think, and every creature is possessed of will, and, in its measure, has the power to choose,

[NOTE: Here Jesus is teaching them that Krishna has thought all into creation; that each and every living entity has an eternal soul, to take responsibility for what they think; and that all can make choices choose according to the mind/body they have been given.]

28 And in their native planes all creatures are supplied with nourishment from the ethers of their planes.

29 And so it was with every living thing until the will became a sluggish will, and then the ethers of the protoplast, the earth, the plant, the beast, the man, began to vibrate very slow.

[NOTE: When the "will" becomes covered-over by maya, it becomes sluggish, which in turn leads to more materialistic or poor choices of humans, thus, creating bad karma for themselves. It is through this lowering of consciousness and forgetfulness of our spiritual identity with the Lord that people are at risk of taking inferior births. Anyone can go from a birth as high of that of human being to one of a plant. The Bhagavatam states that even a demigod can become a frog. Thus, we should always remain humble and chant Gods Names.]

30 The ethers all became more dense, and all the creatures of these planes were clothed with coarser garbs, the garbs of flesh, which men can see; and thus this coarser manifest, which men call physical, appeared.

31 And this is what is called the fall of man; but man fell not alone for protoplast, and earth, and plant and beast were all included in the fall.

[NOTE: Jesus points out his acceptance of reincarnation, but the way he believes in it: not originating from the point of the material evolution but from the consciousness of the soul. He also explains reincarnation is considered a fall. Again, "don't come back. :-) ]

32 The angels and the cherubim fell not; their wills were ever strong, and so they held the ethers of their planes in harmony with God.

33 Now, when the ethers reached the rate of atmosphere, and all the creatures of these planes must get their food from atmosphere, the conflict came; and that which the finite man has called, survival of the best, became the law,

34 The stronger ate the bodies of the weaker manifests; and here is where the carnal law of evolution had its rise.

[NOTE: Jesus is not giving permission to slaughter and eat animals simply because we can, but pointing out where "carnal" law got it's start, and that to truly be spiritual, the strong should protect the weak, as will be further elaborated on by him.]

35 And now man, in his utter shamelessness, strikes down and eats the beasts, the beast consumes the plant, the plant thrives on the earth, the earth absorbs the protoplast.

36 In yonder kingdom of the soul this carnal evolution is not known, and the great work of master minds is to restore the heritage of man, to bring him back to his estate that he has lost, when he again will live upon the ethers of his native plane.

37 The thoughts of God change not; the manifests of life on every plane unfold into perfection of their kind; and as the thoughts of God can never die, there is no death to any being of the seven ethers of the seven Spirits of the Triune God.

38 And so an earth is never plant; a beast, or bird, or creeping thing is never man, and man is not, and cannot be, a beast, or bird, or creeping thing.

[NOTE: While Christ is pointing out "no one really dies," he is not giving consent for killing or eating animals. Rather, when the people were able to understand that even a bird or bug has a spirit soul equal to that of a man, that these creatures reincarnated and use to be a man (or woman - but gender was not the issue here), and may become one again if they are fortunate, how can the people continue to murder, eat, and abuse God's creatures? So he was sensitizing them and teaching compassion.]

39 The time will come when all these seven manifests will be absorbed, and man, and beast, and plant, and earth and protoplast will be redeemed.

[NOTE: Exactly. MahaVishnu does that. :-) ]

40 Barata was amazed; the wisdom of the Jewish sage was a revelation unto him.

41 Now, Vidyapati, wisest of the Indian sages, chief of temple Kapavistu, heard Barata speak to Jesus of the origin of man, and heard the answer of the Hebrew prophet, and he said,

42 You priests of Kapavistu, hear me speak: We stand to-day upon a crest of time. Six times ago a master soul was born who gave a glory light to man, and now a master sage stands here in temple Kapavistu.

43 This Hebrew prophet is the rising star of wisdom, diefied. He brings to us a knowledge of the secrets things of God; and all the world will hear his words, will heed his words, and glorify his name.

44 You priests of temple Kapavistu, stay! be still and listen when he speaks; he is the Living Oracle of God.

45 And all the priests gave thanks, and praised the Buddha of enlightenment.

[NOTE: IMHO, they were referring to Jesus as the Buddha of enlightenment here.]

CHAPTER 33

Jesus teaches the common people at a spring. Tells them how to attain unto happiness. Relates the parable of the rocky field and the hidden treasure.

IN silent meditation Jesus sat beside a flowing spring. It was a holy day, and many people of the servant caste were near the place.

2 And Jesus saw the hard drawn lines of toil on every brow, in every hand. There was no look of joy in any face. Not one of all the group could think of anything but toil.

3 And Jesus spoke to one and said, Why are you all so sad? Have you no happiness in life?

4 The man replied, We scarcely know the meaning of that word. We toil to live, and hope for nothing else but toil, and bless the day when we can cease our toil and lay us down to rest in Buddha's city of the dead.

5 And Jesus' heart was stirred with pity and with love for these poor toilers, and he said,

6 Toil should not make a person sad; men should be happiest when they toil. When hope and love are back of toil, then all of life is filled with joy and peace, and this is heaven. Do you not know that such a heaven is for you?

7 The man replied, Of heaven we have heard; but then it is so far away, and we must live so many lives before we can reach that place!

8 And Jesus said, My brother, man, your thoughts are wrong; your heaven is not far away; and it is not a place of metes and bounds, is not a country to be reached; it is a state of mind.

[NOTE: "Ignorance is the cause of our bondage, and knowledge is the cause of our liberation. This knowledge is the mature fruit of devotional service, and when one is situated in transcendental knowledge, he need not search for peace elsewhere, for he enjoys peace within himself. In other words, this knowledge and peace are culminated in Krsna consciousness. That is the last word in the Bhagavad-gita." ~ B. Gita As It Is, 4.38]

9 God never made a heaven for man; he never made a hell; we are creators and we make our own.

[NOTE: Jesus himself descended from the higher (heavenly) planetary system Satyaloka, as well as often spoke of heaven, even in the Aquarian Gospel, so this verse may initially be a little confusing. IMHO, it appears the people he was addressing heard so much guilt, shame and hopelessness about heaven and hell or that 'they' could never succeed spiritually -- they gave up. A preacher must teach according to time, place and circumstance. To give encouragement, Christ has let them know that we can make our own heaven or hell right here on earth. It also appears he is teaching that through our karma we have created our own heavens and our own hells, don't blame that on God.]

10 Now, cease to seek for heaven in the sky; just open up the windows of the hearts, and, like a flood of light, a heaven will come and bring a boundless joy; then toil will be no cruel task.

[NOTE: And there it is. He is not saying there is no heaven, but the door, or window, to heaven is in the heart! Yes, we 'can' experience God/Krishna here and now. Many devotees have.]

11 The people were amazed, and gathered close to hear this strange young master speak,

12 Imploring him to tell them more about the Father-God; about the heaven that men can make on earth; about the boundless joy.

13 And Jesus spoke a parable; he said, A certain man possessed a field; the soil was hard and poor.

14 By constant toil he scarcely could provide enough of food to keep his family from want.

15 One day a miner who could see beneath the soil, in passing on his way, saw this poor man and his unfruitful field.

16 He called the weary toiler and he said, My brother, know you not that just below the surface of your barren field rich treasures lie concealed?

17 You plough and sow and reap in scanty way, and day by day you tread upon a mine of gold and precious stones.

18 This wealth lies not upon the surface of the ground; but if you will dig away the rocky soil, and delve down deep into the earth, you need no longer till the soil for naught.

19 The man believed. The miner surely knows; he said, and I will find the treasures hidden in my field.

20 And then he dug away the rocky soil, and deep down in the earth he found a mine of gold.

21 And Jesus said, The sons of men are toiling hard on desert plains, and burning sands and rocky soils; are doing what there fathers did, not dreaming they can do aught else.

22 Behold, a master comes, and tells them of a hidden wealth; that underneath the rocky soil of carnal things are treasures that no man can count;

23 That in the heart the richest gems abound; that he who wills may open the door and find them all.

24 And then the people said, Make known to us the way that we may find the wealth that lies within the heart.

25 And Jesus opened up the way; the toilers saw another side of life, and toil became a joy.

[NOTE: "One should therefore understand that buddhi-yoga means to work in Krsna consciousness, in the full bliss and knowledge of devotional service. One who works for the satisfaction of the Lord only, however difficult such work may be, is working under the principles of buddhi-yoga and finds himself always in transcendental bliss. By such transcendental engagement, one achieves all transcendental qualities automatically, by the grace of the Lord, and thus his liberation is complete in itself, without his making extraneous endeavors to acquire knowledge. There is much difference between work in Krsna consciousness and work for fruitive results, especially in the matter of sense gratification for achieving results in terms of family or material happiness. Buddhi-yoga is therefore the transcendental quality of the work that we perform." ~ Bhagavad-Gita 2.39. Purport]

CHAPTER 34

The Jubilee in Kapavistu. Jesus teaches in the plaza and the people are astonished. He relates the parable of the unkept vineyard and the vine dresser. The priests are angered by his words.

IT was a gala day in sacred Kapavista; a throng of Buddhist worshippers had met to celebrate a Jubilee.

2 And priests and masters from all parts of India were there; they taught; but they embellished little truth with many words.

3 And Jesus went into an ancient plaza and taught; he spoke of Father-Mother-God; he told about the brotherhood of life.

4 The priests and all the people were astounded at his words and said, Is this not Buddha come again in flesh? No other one could speak with such simplicity and power.

5 And Jesus spoke a parable; he said, There was a vineyard all unkept; the vines were high, the growth of leaves and branches great.

6 The leaves were broad and shut the sunlight from the vines; the grapes were sour, and few, and small.

7 The pruner came; with his sharp knife he cut off every branch, and not a leaf remained; just root and stalk, and nothing more.

8 The busy neighbours came with one accord and were amazed, and said to him who pruned, You foolish man! the vineyard is despoiled.

9 Such desolation! There is no beauty left, and when the harvest time shall come the gathers will find no fruit.

10 The pruner said, Content yourselves with what you think, and come again at harvest time and see.

11 And when the harvest time came on the busy neighbours came again; they were surprised.

12 The naked stalks had put forth branch and leaf, and heavy clusters of delicious grapes weighed every branch to earth.

13 The gatherers rejoiced as, day by day, they carried the rich fruitage to the press.

14 Behold the vineyard of the Lord! the earth is spread with human vines.

15 The gorgeous forms and rites of men are branches, and their words are leaves; and these have grown so great that sunlight can no longer reach the heart; there is no fruit.

16 Behold, the pruner comes, and with a two-edged knife he cuts away the branches and the leaves of words,

17 And naught is left but unclothed stalks of human life.

18 The priests and they of pompous show, rebuke the pruner, and would stay him in his work.

19 They see no beauty in the stalks of human life; no promises of fruit.

20 The harvest time will come and they who scorned the pruner will look on again and be amazed, for they will see the human stalks that seemed so lifeless, bending low with precious fruit.

21 And they will hear the harvesters rejoice, because the harvest is so great.

22 The priests were not well pleased with Jesus' words; but they rebuked him not; they feared the multitude.

CHAPTER 35

Jesus and Vidyapati consider the needs of the incoming age of the world.

THE Indian sage and Jesus often met and talked about the needs of nations and of men; about the sacred doctrines, forms and rites best suited to the coming age.

2 One day they sat together in a mountain pass, and Jesus said, The coming age will surely not require priests, and shrines, and sacrifice of life.

[NOTE: Christ, who knew Sanskrit, is giving recognition to the onset of the fallen age spoken of in Vedic literature known as “kali-yuga.”]

3 There is no power in sacrifice of beast, or bird, to help a man to holy life.

[NOTE: This sounds like the people, and priests, were involved in demi-god worship at best, or concoctions, as altars of meat are not those of a Vaisnava! For example, worshipers of Durga offer meat and wine. Though it also reminds me of the story "Krishna Lifts Goverdhana Hill," where Nanda Maharaja tries to explain one must worship of Lord Indra, the demi-god of heaven (though meat is not accepted by him, he is still not God). He said this was necessary in order for people to be taken care of. However, Krishna defeats him. :- ) ]

4 And Vidyapati said, All forms and rites are symbols of the things that men must do within the temple of the soul.

5 The Holy One requires man to give his life in willing sacrifice for men, and all the so-called offerings on altars and on shrines that have been made since time began, were made to teach man how to give himself to save his brother man; for man can never save himself except he lose his life in saving other men.

[NOTE: Actually, if using lesser scripture for animal sacrifice, even there, the proper way to do so included a mantra whispered into the ear of the animal which stated that in this life I am killing you, but in your next life, you shall kill me. -- Clearly animal sacrifice is not being promoted here!]

6 The perfect age will not require forms and rites and carnal sacrifice. The coming age is not the perfect age, and men will call for object lessons and symbolic rites.

[NOTE: First, it appears Vidyapati was often in agreement with Christ. He may be explaining 'why' these things manifest, but not that he believes animal sacrifice, etc., is right. With that said, the Vedic literature also explains that in this age of Kali, ritualistic sacrifices are not needed and are not the way back to God. The way back to God is chanting the Lords Holy Name. While in kali-yuga Deity worship is included, it is not the prescribed method for getting out of the material world in this age. In this age, the prescribed method is Hare Nama or the Holy Names. In Dwarpa-yuga it was Deity worship.]

7 And in the great religion you shall introduce to men, some simple rites of washings and remembrances will be required; but cruel sacrifice of animals, and birds the gods require not.

[NOTE: Since the words “the gods” (plural) is used, thus - demi-god worship was going on. Incidentally, it appears Vidyapati recognized Christ as being given a a specified mission from God. "YOU' shall introduce men..."]

8 And Jesus said, Our God must loathe the tinseled show of priests and priestly things.

9 When men array themselves in showy garbs to indicate that they are servants of the gods, and strut about like gaudy birds to be admired by men, because of piety or any other thing, the Holy One must surely turn away in sheer disgust.

[NOTE: Christ was trying to free the people of attachments to 'so-called' or false priestly things, arrogance, false ego, meat eating, and worshiping demi-gods or concoctions. He also points out that piety is not enough, suggestive of going beyond it to something transcendental. Anyhow, Prabhupada explains that demigod worship is less intelligent and we should not do like this.]

10 All people are alike the servants of our Father-God, are kings and priests.

[NOTE: ""One who has actually realized that the Suerpeme Personality of Godhead is situated in everyone's heart and that every living being is part of the Lord does not make any distinction between the brahmana and the sudra, the poor (daridra) and the rich (dhani). Such a person sees all living beings and treats them equally, without discrimination." SP, SB 9.21.7 P]

11 Will not the coming age demand complete destruction of the priestly caste, as well as every other caste, and inequality among the sons of men?

[NOTE: Christ, who knew Sanskrit, is giving recognition to the onset of the age spoken of in Vedic literature known as “kali-yuga.” Just as we may be concerned of it's increase now, they were concerned about it than. In this age of Kali, the caste system became contaminated and abused. Even the Jews had a caste system. It was the Jewish priests who had Jesus crucified! ]

12 And Vidyapati said, The coming age is not the age of spirit life and men will pride themselves in wearing priestly robes, and chanting pious chants to advertise themselves as saints.

13 The simple rites that you will introduce will be extolled by those who follow you, until the sacred service of the age will far outshine in gorgeousness the priestly service of the Brahmic age.

14 This is a problem men must solve.

15 The perfect age will come when every man will be a priest and men will not array themselves in special garb to advertise their piety.

[NOTE: Christ and Vidyapati agree on various points. Though Christ was not against wearing priestly garb, as he himself wore spiritual clothing, he was against show-offs and hypocrites wearing it . Additionally, he belonged to, or was seriously affiliated with, an Essene group which required a specific dress code for recognition as a monk. So this was not about the clothing, it was about the consciousness behind it. In this age of Kali many have falsely advertised themselves to be holy teachers when they were not. Prabhupada has also warned that many may wear tilaka and a dhoti but are not necessarily a devotee. He didn’t tell us all to stop wearing religious clothing, as it does help to raise the consciousness of the wearer, and Jesus did not tell the monks to discontinue it either. Only that it should not be worn for the ‘purpose’ of advertising false piety.

Next, facility needed to come about where anyone can elevate themselves to become a priest. Srila Prabhupada has offered such facility. He opened countless temples and ashrams for anyone to move in who sincerely desires to learn. He also gives such information through his books and through association of the devotees, as it it not limited to the temples. Not everyone can move into a temple, but anyone who is sincere can learn at home. Nevertheless, he received harsh criticism from some Hindus that he has made white men, and even women, brahmanas! For that matter, he has made black men and women brahmanas. Prabhupada has repeatedly pointed out that one is not “born” brahmana, as is a popular misconception amongst some Hindus (not all). Rather, anyone can elevate themselves and become qualified. More importantly, he preached that it does not matter if one is brahmana, vaisya, ksatriya or sudra since we are not our bodies - we are spirit soul. Further, he has elevated those who correctly follow him to be higher than brahmana, off the bodily concept, and on to Vaishanava! Srila Prabhupada taught what is most important of everything is to chant the Holy Name of Krishna and go back to Home, back to Godhead!

Thank you Srila Prabhupada. Without your books, I would have never been able to 'correctly' understand Christ's true teachings here.]

"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Acts 2:21 ..... "Simply by chanting one holy name of Hari, a sinful man can counteract the reactions to more sins than he is able to commit." ~ S.B. 6.2.7 P

Let's start with the story of the man who was blind from birth (John 9:2-3). The disciples of Jesus asked him, "Who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?" `Neither,' Jesus answered: `It was no sin, either of this man or of his parents....'" Now, how can a man perform a sin before he is born if there is no such a thing as reincarnation? That his disciples would even ask such a question is evidence they had knowledge of reincarnation and karma, as their question to Jesus was in relationship to which "sin" (bad karma) this blind man or his parents committed in a previous life. This point Jesus does not debate. When Christ answered them, he did not argue the concept of reincarnation which they presented. Therefore they had to have heard of it somewhere. Surprisingly to our modern day Christians, reincarnation was a common topic amongst the original Christians of Original Christianity.

In the Old Testament an angel appears to the (future) father of John the Baptist, and states: "Behold! I will send you Elijah the Prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord." (Malachi 4:5) Reincarnation of a prophet; of Elijah to return as John the Baptist. The Old Testament comes to an end speaking that prophecy.

Later or in the New Testament we read something quite similar: "...and he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, and shall turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just: and make ready a people prepared for the Lord." (Luke 1:17) The angle spoke of both John's service to prepare/elevate people for the coming of Christ, and of the reincarnation of Elijah (as John).

Luke 7:27 corroborates that John was formerly Elijah, with words so close they are almost to identical to Malachi 4:5. Compare them. " This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee." And it is clear even in the verses following this one in the Bible that it is John the Baptist God is referring to here.

Want stronger evidence? Read on! :)

Once, Jesus was glorifying John to his disciples, ending with: "And if you will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come." "He who hath an ear, let him hear." (Matthew 11:14). (Implying John the Baptist was the reincarnation of the prophet Elias)

Later his disciples asked him, "Then why do the Scribes say that Elijah must first come?" Jesus replied: "Elijah is to come, and he is to restore all things: But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not know him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist. (Matthew 17:10-13). Simply put, Jesus declared that John the Baptist, who was beheaded by Herod, was a reincarnation of the prophet Elias.

Even Christ's disciples questioned him about Elijah reincarnating as John. Jesus replied (above), winding it all up with: "And if you will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come." "He who hath an ear, let him hear. Matthew (11:12-14) As if he were saying, "Try to understand instead of trying NOT to understand/hear."

Christ's statement about Elijah & John were not meant metaphorically, symbolically or as a riddle. He did not say the one person was "similar" to the other, but clearly and specifically stated that Elijah and John *are* the same person. ("But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not know him..." --- "And if you will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.") Whatever other arguments may be pursued, it should be recognized that Jesus was speaking directly about the rebirth of this soul and not in parables. When we begin to understand we are not our body, this is not who we are, from dust to dust and the body is just a machine - then we are more able to realize a soul can change bodies and still be the same person.

Matter of fact, this same explanation is also given in Mark 9:11-13: " And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come? And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of God, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought. But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him." I found it rather impressive this was recorded twice in the Bible, as well as both verses nearly exactly as the other! Therefore, important.

It's pretty clear, but if we are looking for unquestionable evidence, there will always be an element of doubt because organized religion, the Church, has worked diligently for centuries to destroy or hide any of Christ's original teachings which have the slightest Eastern theme or connection, even if there is evidence that they were indeed his actual words. They have put in overwhelming effort to weed out any religious beliefs different from their own. Therefore to locate unquestionable evidence is difficult at best. The way I look at it, if something "leans" one direction AND if it can be found elsewhere, usually a few other places really, it is more likely fact than fiction. :-)

In the book of Mark Jesus asked his disciples: "Who do you say I am?" (Mark 8:27) Some answered "John the Baptist," others said "Elijah," and yet others replied "perhaps one of the Prophets." However, why even ask such a question? What was the deeper lesson he was conveying? Jesus was asking his disciples to think about who he had been known as in a past life. Also note he was asking this in a very matter-of-fact way, free from argumentation, thus there was to be no debate over reincarnation. If anything, Jesus was trying to get them to think about it. Otherwise there is no spiritually significant point to the question. As their teacher, he was trying to direct their minds to go in that direction.

Now, some may be of the opinion that it is acceptable to believe in reincarnation of a great saintly personality or son of God or pure devotee, since this is a unique position in the first place -- and because such a repeated birth is for the purpose of saving the fallen souls. While there is something to be said for the validity of this, it is a mistake to think ordinary people don't reincarnate also. Merely, it is for a different purpose. Ordinary persons have accumulations of karma to experience and must return for that reason, whereas the pure devotee or son of God returns to this world not due to karma but due to mercy. He returns to inform us this material world is not the only world, that there is a higher realm, there is God, and how to obtain God.

An example that even the ordinary reincarnate would be the above mentioned inquiry over the blind man - Who did the sin? (John 9:2-3). Jesus could have used it as an opportunity to put an end to all this talk of rebirth for the average person, but he did not! We know that many fundamental Christian churches or preachers are vehemently opposed to such teachings, yet Jesus was not the least bit disturbed by them. If anything, it was normal, it was part of the original Christian doctrine, it was a part of HIS teachings. This example of the blind man shows us Jesus pointing out that ordinary persons reincarnate.

Here's an interesting point - Paul comments on Jacob and Esau, saying that "the Lord loved one and hated the other before they were born." Romans 9:10-13, Malachi 1:2-3. Now, how could there be love OR hate for a nonentity? If this love or hate could exist and be upon them "before" they were born, this too is strongly suggestive of reincarnation.

The Bible has been so severely altered that we no longer have the original words of Jesus. At best we have Greek or Latin, but Jesus spoke Aramic! At the Second Council of Constantinople (way back in 553 AD) made sure to remove as much of Christ's teachings on reincarnation that they could get away with, and they got away with a lot! However, anyone can go to their public library and do some research, because libraries contain numerous historically authoritative sources revealing what transpired at that council. With a little digging it will be discovered that original Christianity included reincarnation.

Christ's doctrine of reincarnation was decreed heretical and unacceptable during that Second Council of Constantinople for the very reason that it denied the church's figureheads power over the masses. After all, if a soul had more than one chance at spiritual life, the church feared there would not be sufficient motivation for the masses of the era to regularly attend church and give their donations. (I'm not asking anyone to agree, only that it's what 'they' feared at the time.) Therefore it is not easy to find much Biblical reference on reincarnation because it was removed from the Christian Bible in 553 AD at the Second Council of Constantinople.

"If anyone assert the fabulous pre-existence of souls and the monstrous restoration which follows from it, let him be anathema (cursed)."

The mere fact that they had to make such a decree is also evidence that reincarnation was a common part of Christian and Jewish teachings two thousand years ago. Otherwise there would have been no need to bring this up as a concern during the council in the first place.

Prabhupada: He (Jesus) was educated of his spiritual life in India. Twelve years here. Twelve years he was. And he lived in Jagannatha temple." Srila Prabhupada Morning Walk, Feb 17, 74, Bombay India

So far your questions about Lord Jagannatha and Ratha-yatra Festival, the first Ratha-yatra Festival was 5,000 years before, when Krsna and Balarama and Subhadra came from Dvaraka to Kuruksetra. So far the festival at Puri, there is *no such history, but it must be more than 3,000 years. At least there is recorded history 2,000 years old, because we see in the Aquarian Gospel that Lord Jesus Christ was attending the Ratha-yatra Festival at Puri." Srila Prabhupada Letter to Jadaurani, Bombay India, Jan 4, 73

[NOTE: * "Materially" we have no such history, but spiritually the Vedic literatures are so ancient, actually reaching back to the beginning of time. In there we can read how Ratha-Yatra festivals have gone on for eons.]

"When our constitutional position or dharma is deteriorated due to the contaminations of matter, the Lord Himself comes as an incarnation or sends some of His confidential servitors. Lord Jesus Christ called himself the "son of God," and so is a representative of the Supreme. ~ Srila Prabhupada, On The Way To Krishna, Chapter 2

"So to make many disciple is a risky job unless he's able to assimilate all the sins. (pause) [break]... patitanam pavanebhyo. He takes responsibility for all the fallen souls. That is... That idea is in Bible. Just like Jesus Christ take all the sinful reaction of all people and sacrificed his life. That is the responsibility of spiritual master. Because he's Krsna's representative. So Krsna takes all responsibility. Krsna is Krsna, apapa-viddham. He cannot be attacked by any sinful reaction. But a living entity may be subjected sometimes, because he's small. Big fire, small fire. On a small fire if you put some big things, (chuckling) then the fire itself may be extinguished. In the big fire, whatever you put, that's all right. Finished. The big fire can consume anything." ~ SP, Talks with Bob Cohen , Feb. 27, 72 (cont'd. Feb. 28 & 29, 1972), Mayapura

"Prabhupada: Yes. Lord Jesus Christ, he was Vaisnava. He directly gave you the idea of personal God. The personal God is the origin." ~ Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation with Prof. Regamay, Prof of Sanskrit of University of Lausanne, June 4, 1974, Geneva

Reverend Powell: What is your attitude to Jesus?
Prabhupada: I have already explained in the meeting.
Satsvarupa: Yes.
Prabhupada: We, we respect him as transcendental representative of God, son of God. Yes. He's...
Reverend Powell: Is there some sort of relationship with Lord Krsna? I mean...
Prabhupada: Yes, there is relationship. He's coming from Krsna. He... Jesus the Christ. Christ means Christo or Kristo or Krsna."
---- SP Room Conv w/Gordon Powell, Head of Scotts Church, June 28, 74, Melbourne

Prabhupada: When you read Bible, you follow spiritual master. How can you say without? As soon as you read Bible, that means you are following the instruction of Lord Jesus Christ, that means you are following spiritual master. So where is the opportunity of being without spiritual master?
Madhudvisa: I was referring to a living spiritual master.
Prabhupada: Spiritual master is not the question of... Spiritual master is eternal. Spiritual master is eternal. So your question is without spiritual master. Without spiritual master you cannot be, at any stage of your life. You may accept this spiritual master or that spiritual master. That is a different thing. But you have to accept. As you say that "by reading Bible," when you read Bible that means you are following the spiritual master represented by some priest or some clergyman in the line of Lord Jesus Christ. So any case, you have to follow a spiritual master. There cannot be the question without spiritual master. Is that clear?"
~ Srila Prabhupada Lecture, Seattle, October 2, 1968

"All the great saintly persons of India have cultivated this spiritual knowledge so nicely and fully. Formerly, people used to go to India to find out about spiritual life. Even Jesus Christ went there. And yet we are not taking advantage of it. It is not that these literatures and directions are meant only for the Indians or for the Hindus or for the brahmanas. No. They are meant for everyone, because Krsna claims, aham bija-pradah pita: "I am everyone's father." Therefore, He is very anxious to make us peaceful and happy. Just as an ordinary father wants to see that his son is well situated and happy, similarly Krsna wants to see every one of us well situated and happy. Therefore He comes sometimes. This is the purpose of Krsna's advent. Thank you very much." ~ Srila Prabhupada, Journey of Self Discovery - Chapter Who Is Krishna? 2.4

"There are many snake charmers in India, by mantra they can charm the snakes. But a person who is envious, you cannot pacify him in any way. Therefore sarpah kruratarah khalah. Just like Jesus Christ was crucified by some envious persons. Even the Roman judge denied that "This man should not be... There is no such fault." But because they were envious, they were persistent, "Yes, he should be crucified." So this is the nature of envious person." ~ SP lecture, Srimad Bhagavatam 7.9 13-14, Montreal Canada, Aug 22, 68

"Yes. Teachings of Christ, teaching of Buddha, they are meant for a particular type of men. Generally it is meant for everyone, but specifically for a particular type of men. Just like Lord Buddha, he preached ahimsa. They were a particular type of men. Lord Jesus Christ also preached to a particular type of men. "Thou shall not kill." That means they were killing. Is it not? If I say, "Thou shall not steal," that means you are thief, you are stealing. So a kind of preaching among the thieves and a kind of teaching among the philosophers must be different. That is the difference." Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation, Mexico, May 4, 72

"Just like the sun is great; therefore even the sun is seen in India or in America or China, anywhere, any part of the world, any part of the universe, the sun is one. Nobody can say, "Oh, it is American sun" or "It is Indian sun." So either Jesus Christ or Rama or Krsna, whoever comes from the kingdom of God, they are the same. There is no difference. But the difference is... Just like in your country temperature of sun is less, and in a tropical country the temperature of the sun is very great. Does it mean the sun's temperature is changed? It is according to the reception. The atmosphere of this country is so surcharged that you cannot receive the sunshine properly, but the sunshine distributes its shining everywhere the same. Similarly, according to the country, according to the circumstances, according to the planet, God is manifested differently, but He is not different. You are wrapping your body with some winter clothes. Same time, telegraph in India, oh, they are running fan. Why the temperature is different? Therefore whatever Lord Jesus Christ says or whatever Krsna says or what Rama says, that is in terms of the place, in terms of the circumstances, atmosphere, persons, hearer." ~ Srila Prabhupada, Seattle, Sept 30, 68

"(Devotee reads) .......Although both lamps are of equal candle power, still, one is accepted as the original and the other is said to be kindled by the original lamp."
Prabhupada: This is very good example. There are many candles. Just like you ignite one candle. Then from this candle, another candle, another candle. Then many thousands of candles. So each candle is of the same power, lighting power. But still the first one is called original. So far the candle power is concerned, they are of equal flame, but still, the first candle, the second candle, the third candle. like that.
Prof. Regamay: Yes, I understand.
Prabhupada: Diparcir eva hi dasantaram abhyupetya dipayate vivrta-hetuh. They are not derived from any other power. They are all Visnu-tattva. Diparcir eva hi dasantaram abhyupetya dipayate, yas tadrg eva ca visnu-taya vibhati. This is the expansion of Visnu, Visnu-taya. Govindam adi-purusam. He is always referring, Govinda, Krsna. Govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami.
Prof. Regamay: Yet I still think of this problem why Lord Krsna had to have an incarnation like Buddha who was teaching atheist doctrine and no...
Prabhupada: That is described. I have described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Find out, Srimad-Bhagavatam, First Canto, first part.
Prof. Regamay: I read it in your commentary to Srimad-Bhagavatam that he was, he didn't need to preach the worship of God because He was Himself God.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Prof. Regamay: But He doesn't say it in the text.
Prabhupada: That is described in the Bhag..., sammohaya sura-dvisam. Sammohaya, just to bewilder the atheist class of men. The atheist class of men, we're advocating "There is no God." So He appeared before them... And they were killing animals like anything. So Buddhadeva inaugurated the non-violence. So therefore He is God Himself, and He is teaching, "There is no God." This is rather cheating.
Prof. Regamay: Yes. Not teaching, but cheating.
Prabhupada: Yes. (laughing) So sometimes... Just like a child does not want to go to school. So the teacher says, "No, no, you don't require to go to... There is no need. But what do you see in your front?" "That's a cow." "Now, what is this?" "A leg." "Then what is next?" "Second leg." "What is this?" "Third leg." So he is teaching mathematics, but practically, he says, "You don't require go to school. You just count the legs of the cow, that's all." It is like that."
~ Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation with Prof. Regamay, Prof of Sanskrit of University of Lausanne, June 4, 1974, Geneva

"So Lord Buddha appeared at a time where people were too much addicted to animal killing. Still it is going on. Kesava dhrta-buddha-sarira, jaya jagadisa hare. Sadaya-hrdaya darsita-pasu-ghatam. Pasu-ghatam. Any religion where pasu-ghatam is there, that is not religion. That is not religion. That is simply barbarianism, under the name of religion. So God Himself becomes so much disturbed that these rascals are simply killing. At that time, of course, the Buddha religion was not there. The so-called followers of the Vedic religion. In the Vedas there are sanction for killing animal in a special sacrifice, but people took it as general, and they began to kill animals like anything, under the protection of Veda. Therefore when Lord Buddha began to preach his philosophy, ahimsa, nonviolence, he did not accept the authority of Vedas. Because people will misuse it. Therefore he said that "I don't care for your Vedas." Just like Lord Jesus Christ rebelled against the whole Testament. He formulated his own testament, New Testament. Similarly, Lord Buddha also, he rejected Vedas and He presented his own philosophy: ahimsa, nonviolence. Ahimsa paramo dharmah. Because he was very kind upon on the poor animals. Sadaya-hrdaya darsita-pasu-ghatam. Pasu-ghatam means animal killing. Nindasi yajna-vidher ahaha sruti-jatam. Sruti-jatam. Sruti means Veda. So in the Vedas, although there are, in particular cases, there are animal sacrifice... That is also very restricted. But we cannot say that there is no animal sacrifice. There is in some cases. So Lord Buddha, nindasi, He decried, "No, I don't accept your Vedas." Therefore Buddha religion is different from Vedic religion, because he rejected Vedas. And the Vedic followers, because he rejected Vedic principles, Vedic followers said that he, "You are nastika." Nastika means unbeliever.

So Caitanya Mahaprabhu has explained this Buddha religion. Veda na maniya bauddha haya ta' nastika. Because nastika means, atheist means one who does not follow the principles of Veda. That is the, in every religion there is such restriction. Just like Christian religion. One who does not believe in Christianity, they are called heathens. Similarly, in Muhammadan religion also, one who does not believe in the Muhammadan religion, they are called kafirs. So everyone has got manufactured some word. But so far our religion is concerned, we accept anyone, either he is a kafir or he is a heathen or he is a Hindu or Muslim or..., because Krsna is for everyone. But here, Lord Buddha also, he is also for everyone. But he wanted to cheat, sura-dvisam, sammohaya. Sammohaya, the sura-dvisam, means those who are envious of the devotees, atheist class of men, just to cheat them. But when Krsna or God cheats, that is also for the welfare of the people. So he wanted to stop animal-killing. ....... (end)"
~ Srila Prabhupada lecture, LA, Ca., S.B. 1.3.24, Sept 29, 1972

"We may not expect good behavior from people where we go to preach, still we have to do that. The best example is Lord Jesus Christ, he was crucified by the people who were not very much advanced. From their behavior it may be known that the people at that time or at least the place where Lord Jesus Christ preached, they are not very much advanced, otherwise they would not have dared to crucify such a nice saintly person. So preaching work is always like that. But one who is real preacher, he shall be undeterred, and go on keeping his objective to the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord." Srila Prabhupada letter to Nandarani, Seattle, Oct 15, 68

Man: (Spanish)
Hrdayananda: He wants to ask something which is not about you. (?)
Prabhupada: What is that?
Girl Devotee: (translating) At the present, I can't live in the temple, can't live in the asrama, but I can still see the devotees. What else can I do?
Prabhupada: You follow the temple procedure. You can remain anywhere. It doesn't matter. What is temple?
They are following some rules and regulation. (break) If you are eating something and if you get a better thing, you'll give it up. So when one takes to bhakti means he understands the inferior quality of karma. So you take the superior quality activities and you forget inferior quality. Param drstva nivartate. This is the Vedic version. When one finds out superior engagement, he gives up inferior engagement."
SP, Mexico, Feb 14, 75, 15 BG 2.14

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