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As was usual with most teachers of his discipline, Professor Ferrel, although respectful and friendly, thought that one should have a liberal and "well-rounded" point of view, when it came to understanding "Indian philosophy". He wondered why the devotees only accepted the conclusion of Lord Caitanya, and didn't study other books. "My point is," he said, "that there are other texts, other Gitas."

Prabhupada was frank. "No, that is not authorised. Therefore we say specifically, 'Bhagavad-gita As It Is'. No interpretation. Here Krsna says that man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru. So we preach that thing. We preach that 'You be Krsna conscious'. Man-mana: 'Always think of Me', Krsna says. And we are teaching these disciples: 'Always think of Krsna'. There's no difference. We don't create. Therefore it is successful. Others, they created their own concoction; it was never successful. Before me, for the last two hundred years so many swamis came to the Western countries. They were not successful.

"They also spoke on Bhagavad-gita, but not a single person was Krsna conscious. And since we have presented Bhagavad-gita As It Is, hundreds and thousands [have become Krsna conscious]. This is the proof, that they presented some concoction. It was, what is called, impotent. An impotent man having sex, he cannot beget children. He can enjoy that sex, but he cannot beget child. Similarly, these so-called swamis, they are impotent. They could not produce any child of Krsna consciousness. That is the proof."

Professor Ferrel stuck to his point. "I don't disagree that when you say the texts that you follow are the texts that you believe in. All I'm saying is that there are other texts, and surely there would be some value in studying the other texts."

Prabhupada didn't agree. "No, there is the statement in the Bhagavad-gita: Evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh. We have to receive the knowledge through parampara, disciplic succession." As soon as one gave up this system of acarya-parampara, Prabhupada explained, "then it is lost".

Prabhupada gave a couple of contemporary examples of non-adherence to disciplic succession. "Krsna says man-mana bhava mad-bhakta -- 'Always think of Me'. And Dr. Radhakrishnan says 'No, it is not to Krsna'. Just see the fun! He has become more than the acaryas. So we reject immediately. He thinks himself too proud and he defies the acaryas. You see? This is the defect. The whole Bhagavad-gita is spoken on a battlefield. Gandhi says, 'It is non-violence'. Just see!"

Professor Ferrel laughed along with Srila Prabhupada, but wasn't entirely convinced. After accepting prasadam, he again voiced his doubt. "But everyone should have an opinion."

"Everyone has got his opinion, that is a different thing", Prabhupada explained. "But not everyone has got the knowledge."

"Well, that's why I come to you, for knowledge," said the Professor. "But I come to you for knowledge, and then I go to other people for knowledge too."

Prabhupada was forthright. "That you go, but if you want real, right knowledge, then you must approach the man who knows rightly, not that you find out anyone and everyone, and then learn."

The Professor finally admitted, "I'm done." He thanked Srila Prabhupada for spending time with him and suggested that he could meet Srila Prabhupada next time he visited Melbourne, if Prabhupada agreed.

"Oh, yes,"Prabhupada said. "you are always welcome. Educated man like you is welcome." The professor laughed, offered his namaskara, and took his leave.


- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu