A pure devotee’s words and

instructions are autocratic and

transparent, with no room for
interpretation, for the sincere
disciples and followers.
Preserving and Protecting the Legacy
of Srila Prabhupada’s Instructions on

Bhaktivedanta Institute
&
Scientific Presentations of
Krishna Consciousness
 The contradictions
between
Rasaraja’s Personal View
and
Srila Prabhupada’s Established Vision
 1.
Is the subject matter of ISKCON and
the Bhaktivedanta Institute different or
the same?
 Rasaraja’s Personal View Srila Prabhupada’s Vision

“You (Srila Prabhupada) have set “The Institute will be primarily for
up ISKCON to help you those who have not entered our
extensively propagate temples. The subject matter
authoritative knowledge about will not be different from what
souls and their eternal is taught in our temples. There
relationship with Sri Krishna, will be no difference between
while you have established the the Institute and the
Bhaktivedanta Institute to temples…”
disseminate the Bhagavatam’s
(Letter to Svarupa Damodara - September
knowledge of matter, according 30th, 1975 - Bombay)
to the modern scientific way.”

(Rasaraja’s Vyasapuja offering to Srila

Prabhupada; GBC and RGB presentation, 2005)
According to Rasaraja the According to Srila Prabhupada, the
subject matter of ISKCON subject matter of ISKCON and
and Bhaktivedanta Institute Bhaktivedanta Institute is exactly
is completely different. the same.
 2.
Did Srila Prabhupada establish the
Bhaktivedanta Institute for performing
mundane scientific research or for
preaching Krishna Consciousness?
 Rasaraja’s Personal View Srila Prabhupada’s Vision

“As a scientific institute, “…we have formed the

Bhaktivedanta Institute Bhaktivedanta Institute for
cannot directly preach. It can organizing scientific presentations
only do scientific research…” of Krishna Consciousness. This
party is our most important
“Thus, we see B.I. as a pure preaching arm...”
scientific institute…”
(Letter to: Dravida – April 2, 1977 – Bombay)
(Rasaraja’s presentation to the GBC, 2005)
According to Rasaraja, According to Srila
Bhaktivedanta Institute Prabhupada, Bhaktivedanta
cannot directly Institute is most
the
preach. important preaching
arm of ISKCON.
 3.
Did Srila Prabhupada want to offer
degrees in chemistry and computer
science or in Krishna Consciousness?
 Rasaraja’s Personal View Srila Prabhupada’s Vision

“…students will receive college- “Bhaktishastri,

level instruction in math, Bhaktibhaibhava,
physics, chemistry, biology, Bhaktivedanta,
basic engineering, computer Bhaktisarvabhouma
science…”
These titles can correspond to
“Attract the children of entrance, B.A., M.A., Ph.D.
congregation members who look So just consider how to
for a degree with ‘job organize this Institute.”
potential’…”
(Letter to: Svarupa Damodara - January 10,
(Rasaraja’s presentation to the GBC/RGB 1976)
2005)
“we can find that instead of becoming a great preacher of Krishna
Consciousness, this gentleman [Bon Maharaja] has become artificially
a head of a mundane institution. To become a very important man in
the mundane estimation is not success in Krishna Consciousness”.
(Letter to: Janardana -- April 26 th, 1968 – New York)
According to Rasaraja the According to Srila Prabhupada, the
Bhaktivedanta Institute Bhaktivedanta Institute should
should offer degrees in offer degrees in Vaishnava
mundane subjects. Siddhanta.
 4.
Did Srila Prabhupada want the members
of Bhaktivedanta Institute to engage in
speculative scientific research?
 Rasaraja’s Personal View Srila Prabhupada’s Vision

“Scientific Research As The “So our Vedic process is like

Basis Of B.I. Work” that. We do not make any
research. It is not possible to
“We therefore regard continued come to the right knowledge by
development of our scientific so-called research, because our
research agenda as the real senses are imperfect.”
development of Bhaktivedanta
(Lecture, Bg. 3.27, June 27th, 1974 -
Institute…” Melbourne)

(Rasaraja’s presentation to the GBC/RGB

2005)
 Srila Prabhupada on Research

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

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

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

Everything is there. So we are confident. We know what is going to
happen next, what is going to happen. It is not astrology! Everything is
there in the Vedic knowledge. Veda means knowledge, full knowledge.
You take advantage of it and become learned.”
(Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.10 -- September 16 th, 1972 – Los Angeles)

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

rascal.”
(Conversation February 28th, 1975 – Atlanta)
 Srila Prabhupada on Research

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

making scientific research.”
(Conversation September 18th, 1972 – Los Angeles)

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

then our knowledge is perfect. You don’t require to research. There
is no need. It is perfect knowledge.”
(Lecture SB1.3.27, October 2nd, 1972 – Los Angeles)

“They will try to make a research and waste time and waste money,
public money, and pass on as great scientist, philosopher…”
(Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.10 -- September 16th, 1972 – Los Angeles)
According to Rasaraja, According to Srila
Bhaktivedanta Institute Prabhupada, Bhaktivedanta
should engage in Institute should present
speculative Krishna Consciousness
scientific research using modern scientific
on matter. terminologies.
 5.
When Srila Prabhupada said we could
convince the scientists ‘according to their
way’, did he mean we should compete
with them in speculative research or that
we should adopt the policy of using their
own words, terminologies and findings to
convince them?
 Rasaraja’s Personal View Srila Prabhupada’s Vision

““According to their way” means we “And noòa means mortar and what
have to extract and develop is called, pestle? So it is your çila
scientific content in Srimad noòa . I take it and break your teeth.
Bhagavatam that pertains to (laughter) So take their, this jugglery
matter…” of words and break their teeth. That
should be the policy. “These
“…and first solve some molecules and this and that,” so
outstanding problems concerning many words. You have to simply
matter within science itself.” catch their words, and with their
words kill them. That is
(Rasaraja’s presentation to the GBC/RGB and intelligence. We are saying plainly.
Vyasa Puja offering 2005)
You say with these words which is
their çola, mortar and pestle, and
break their teeth. That’s all. Tor çila
tor noòa tor bhängi dänter goòa. This
policy should be adopted.”

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

According to Rasaraja According to Srila Prabhupada
Bhaktivedanta Institute Bhaktivedanta Institute should
should compete with the convince the scientists using
scientists in mundane their own words, terminologies
speculative research. and findings.
 6.
Would Srila Prabhupada change his
expressed vision for the Bhaktivedanta
Institute in order to increase tax exempt
status and gain government
recognition?
 Rasaraja’s Personal View
“It is true that in the revised MoA
I have removed articles that
mention Ayurveda, Sanskrit
and Scriptures…”
(Rasaraja’s letter to BSDS,2005)
“The revised form of the MoA is
totally a practical move to
maximize the chances for
getting the prestigious DST
recognition…”
(Rasaraja’s letter to RGB and BSDS, 2005)
Srila Prabhupada’s Vision
“Regarding the tax exemption for
research, we are doing actual
research of the Vedic literatures…
Our ideas are not man-made
imperfect ideas, but perfect
scientific conclusion. In addition I
have a number of Doctorate
students in various fields of
science, Dr. Svarupa Damodara,
Dr. Wolf-Rottkay, Dr. Rao, and
others. They can act as the heads
of the research. We are presenting
ideal living on Vedic principles of
purified life…”
(Letter to: Giriraja – October 1, 1974 - Mayapur)
Indian Man: Is this a government recognized college now?
Prabhupada: No. Government recognition means we have to abide by
the orders of government. We cannot teach Bhagavad-gita only or
Bhagavata.

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

“Of course we have to have independent private university because the

government is not interested according to Vedic ideology.”

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

According to Rasaraja the According to Srila Prabhupada,
Bhaktivedanta Institute the Bhaktivedanta Institute
should become a should not compromise the
mundane scientific Vedic ideology for money and
institute in order to mundane recognition.
receive increased tax
exemption status and
government recognition.
 7.
How did Srila Prabhupada view
theories and claims of solving problems
in the future?
 Rasaraja’s Personal View
“We see our work within
quantum theory…”
“Our relational-property
viewpoint within quantum
theory…”
“…the theoretical advances we
have made so far in quantum
physics.”
“Bhaktivedanta Institute is close
to bringing a solution to this
problem…”
“…B.I. Mumbai/Berkeley poised
to solve?”
(Rasaraja’s RGB/GBC presentation and Vyasa
Puja offering 2005)
Srila Prabhupada’s Vision
“Theory is not science. I can
propose some theory, “It is like
that.” But that is not science. … If
you simply theorize, that is not
science. Mental speculation. It has
no benefit. You can speculate,
constructing a castle in the air.
That is not a very good thing.”
(Room conversation - May 9, 1975 – Perth)
“"In future we shall be able to do
it." And that future will never come.
…This is the explanation of mudha.
It is just like somebody offered you
a post-dated check…”
(Room conversation – June 28, 1974 – Melbourne)
“Will you accept any check, "It will be paid in future?" Will you accept?
So why shall I accept this rascal’s theory? If somebody gives me check,
one million dollar, payable three hundred years after, shall I be inclined
to accept such check? So why these fools accepting this post-dated
check?”
(Morning Walk, March 4th, 1974 – Mayapur)
According to Rasaraja his According to Srila Prabhupada,
theory is poised to solve theories are not science and
one of the greatest only a fool would accept a post-
problems in modern science dated check.
sometime in the future.
 Conclusion
Rasaraja’s Personal View?
OR
1. The subject matter of ISKCON and B.I. is different
2. B.I. cannot directly preach
3. Degrees in mundane subjects
4. Speculative scientific research on matter
5. Compete with speculative scientists
6. Convert B.I. into a mundane scientific institute
for monetary gain and government recognition
7. My theory and promises for the future
Srila Prabhupada’s Expressed
Autocratic Vision?
1. The subject matter of ISKCON and B.I. is the
same
2. B.I. is the most important preaching arm
3. Degrees in Vaishnava Siddhanta
4. Scientific presentations of Krishna Consciousness
5. Use scientists’ terminologies to convince them of KC
6. No compromise of Vedic Ideology for monetary
gain or government recognition
7. Theories are not science – No post-dated checks
 Conclusion
Rasaraja’s Personal View? Srila Prabhupada’s Expressed
Autocratic Vision?

OR

Honorable members of the GBC,

please decide.