The
VAISHNAVA FOUNDATION was founded in order to provide a forum for honest seekers
of the Absolute Truth. Inherent in the purposes of the Foundation is the need
to discriminate between sentimentally-driven Kåñëa consciousness and Kåñëa
consciousness which is actually based on the instructions of the previous
spiritual masters. As such, the Foundation keeps the emphasis on knowledge and
realization, as opposed to absorption in congregationalism.
The Vaishnava Foundation spares no effort in presenting the philosophy of Kåñëa
consciousness as it was presented most recently by our spiritual master, His
Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedänta Swämi Prabhupäda. In this way, the Vaishnava
Foundation does not sacrifice the Absolute Truth for the sake of some ephemeral
unity or so-called cooperation.
In
addition to offering a firm philosophical foundation, the Foundation sheds
special light on the plight of the Kåñëa consciousness movement since the
departure of His Divine Grace in November of 1977.
The
Vaishnava Foundation was founded in 1986 by Kailäsa Candra däsa, an initiated
disciple of Swämi Prabhupäda. The Foundation presents the same message and
spirit that was available during the manifest physical presence of His Divine
Grace, repeating his message as it is according to experience, logic, and
personal realization. This is possible due to the leadership of Çréman Kailäsa Candra däsa, who represents Çréla Prabhupäda and directs service activities for
the members of the foundation. Kailäsa prabhu’s teachings preserve the
philosophy of Çréla Prabhupäda, because he has never allowed himself to come
under the influence of party-spirit factions, such as the zonal äcäryas or
those that have come after.
Çréla
Prabhupäda was extremely pleased by devotees who were familiar enough with his
books to resist misleading presentations by deluded leaders of his movement,
such as the four sannyäsés of 1970. Strictly adhering to Çréla Prabhupäda’s
instructions, Kailäsa prabhu has provided such an alternative since at least
1979. (see biography)
Those
who affiliate with the Foundation obtain the opportunity to help him in this
effort and thus obtain the mercy of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedänta Swämi
Prabhupäda.
Svarüpa-jïäna--or
intrinsic knowledge concerning the sädhaka, the sädhana, and sädhya--is non
different from the svarüpa of çuddha bhakti. When such svarüpa-jïäna has not
yet arisen in a sädhaka--but the desire to cross over the ocean of material
existence has arisen within him--then the symptoms of bhakti visible in him at
that time are merely bhaktyäbhäsa. This bhaktyäbhäsa transforms into
çuddha-bhakti when one obtains svarüpa-jïäna. Even for Vaiñëavas duly initiated
into a genuine sampradäya, the vastu-prabha--the illumination of one's identity
arising from the mantra received upon initiation by his dékñä-guru--does not
appear until he receives the enlightenment of his svarüpa-jïäna by the mercy of
çikñä-guru. Due to ignorance of svarüpa-jïäna, svarüpa-çuddha-bhakti remains
covered. Hence, only bhaktyäbhäsa is visible.
Unfortunately,
in present day society, in the name of çuddha-bhakti, various types of mixed
devotion--such as karma-miçra, jïäna-miçra, and yoga-miçra, as well as various
polluted and imaginary conceptions, are spreading like germs of plague. People
in general consider these polluted and mixed conceptions to be bhakti. They
respect them as such and thus are deprived of çuddha-bhakti.
These polluted and mixed conceptions are our greatest enemies.
Some
people say that there is no value in bhakti, that God is only imaginary
sentiment, that man has merely created the image of God through imagination,
and that bhakti is a diseased state, unable to benefit us in any way. These
types of opponents cannot harm us much, because we easily recognize them and
avoid them. However, those who propagate bhagavad-bhakti as the highest
dharma--yet behave against the principles of çuddha-bhakti--can be especially
harmful to us. In the name of bhakti, they instruct us against the actual
principles of bhakti. This ultimately leads us to a path that is diametrically
opposed to bhagavad-bhakti. Therefore, with great endeavor, our previous
äcäryas have defined the svarüpa or intrinsic nature of bhakti, repeatedly
cautioning us to keep away from polluted and mixed concepts.
Bhakti Viveka Tattva By His Divine Grace Çréla Bhaktivinode Öhäkur Prabhupäda
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PURCHASE OR READ THE BOOKS OF HIS DIVINE GRACE A.C. BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI PRABHUPADA! We have Bhagavad Gita As It Is (original pre-1978 version) in stock and can supply Srila Prabhupada’s other books also. Quotes from the books of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada are copyright Bhaktivedanta Book Trust |
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ARTICLES
The following five articles constitute the core of the Vaishnava Foundation presentation. They are essential for anyone desiring to make tangible progress in spiritual life at the present time.