# Parampara System *On receiving knowledge through disciplic succession* --- ### Cannot Be Changed Even Millions of Years After > This is called disciplic succession. Many millions of years, the Prahlāda Mahārāja said that *abhijana:* "By these things you cannot achieve the platform of devotional service." And many, many millions of years after, so Rūpa Gosvāmī, Sanātana Gosvāmī also showed the same example, *tyaktvā tūrṇam aśeṣa-maṇḍala-pati-sreṇīṁ sadā tucchavat.* This is called *paramparā* system. Not that millions of years ago Prahlāda Mahārāja, what he did, that is now gone; now something new should be introduced. No, it cannot be changed even millions of years after. — [[spoken/1976/760216sb.may|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.9, Māyāpur, February 16, 1976]] --- ### Speak the Same Old Purātanaḥ Thing > So our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is very simple. We haven't got to manufacture anything, any philosophy, by research work. Kṛṣṇa says, *yogaḥ proktaḥ purātanaḥ*. We have to speak the same thing. The most..., very, very old: *purātanaḥ.* We haven't got to manufacture it. Nowadays we have advanced in education and civilization; therefore we have to concoct some idea. It is not our business. We have to speak the same old *purātanaḥ* thing. What is that *purātanaḥ* thing? Five thousand years ago, Kṛṣṇa says, "Surrender unto Me." So we have to preach this old gospel, "Surrender unto Kṛṣṇa. Finish your business." — [[spoken/1974/740210bg.vrn|Bhagavad-gītā 4.3, Vrindavan, February 10, 1974]] --- ### Only a Devotee Can Speak > Kṛṣṇa says, "I am speaking that old thing which millions of years ago I spoke to sun-god." Similarly, we have to refer to Kṛṣṇa: "Five thousand years ago, Kṛṣṇa said this; let us repeat that."*Yogaḥ proktaḥ purātanaḥ.* And who can speak this? *Bhakto 'si*—one who is actually devotee. Others, rascals, they interpret *Bhagavad-gītā* in different ways. They are not speaking the *purātanaḥ;* therefore they are null and void, they are rejected. *Sa kāleneha yogo naṣṭaḥ*. One who does not speak the whole thing by the *paramparā* system is speaking nonsense. — [[spoken/1974/740210bg.vrn|Bhagavad-gītā 4.3, Vrindavan, February 10, 1974]] --- ### We Are Following the Brahma-sampradāya > *Dvādaśaite vijānīmaḥ. Vijānīmaḥ* means "we know." *Dharmaṁ bhāgavataṁ bhaṭāḥ, guhyaṁ viśuddhaṁ durbodhaṁ yaṁ jñātvāmṛtam aśnute.* "We know." Therefore it is advised, *mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ.* These *mahājanas,* as they have prescribed, that is the real way for understanding Kṛṣṇa, or spiritual service[?]. So we are following the Brahma-sampradāya, the first, Svayambhū. Brahmā. Brahmā, then Nārada; from Nārada, Vyāsadeva. In this way, Madhvācārya, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, in this way. — [[spoken/1971/710215b1.gor|Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Appearance Day, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.3.24, Gorakhpur, February 15, 1971]] --- ### Don't Imitate > The *sahajiyās,* they do not know it. They think that "We shall sit in a secluded place and chant, imitating Haridāsa." We have seen it. Their imitation is useless. They fall down. Therefore they must be always engaged in some activities. Otherwise, he'll be attracted by the modes of ignorance and passion. *Etāvatālam agha-nirharaṇāya.* — [[spoken/1971/710214sb.gor|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.3.20–23, Gorakhpur, February 14, 1971]] --- ### Follow the Footsteps of Great Personalities > So everything is there for our knowledge, provided we follow. So there is no difficulty. Therefore our process is *mahājana yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ. Dharmasya tattvaṁ nihitaṁ guhāyām.* We cannot manufacture our ways. We must follow the footsteps of predecessors. That is our business. *Mahājana yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ. Dharmasya tattvaṁ nihitaṁ guhāyām.* By argument, by scholarship or by becoming philosopher, one cannot make any progress, unless he follows the great *ācāryas,* predecessors, strictly. Otherwise it is not possible. — [[spoken/1973/730128nd.cal|The Nectar of Devotion, Calcutta, January 28, 1973]] --- ### Follow the Great Personality > Therefore to understand the Absolute Truth, it is very difficult to find out how to have it. But the only one way recommended in the Vedic scripture, that *mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ. Mahājana. Mahājana* means great personality. *Mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ.* That is the real path, if you follow the great personality. Now, there is a difference of great personalities also. You think that he is great personality; he thinks another great personality. But there is a definition of great personality. That definition is given in the *Bhagavad-gītā*. — [[spoken/1969/690425le.bos|Lecture, Boston, April 25, 1969]] --- ### Kṛṣṇa Selected Arjuna > Similarly, Kṛṣṇa says, *evaṁ paramparā-prāptam imaṁ rājarṣayo.* This prescription is already there. And Kṛṣṇa selected Arjuna: "My dear Arjuna, I shall speak to you the whole philosophy which I instructed to sun-god." "Why You are prepared to instruct me?" Kṛṣṇa says, *bhakto 'si,* "Because you are My devotee; therefore I shall explain to you." Kṛṣṇa..., Arjuna was a family man, *gṛhastha,* a politician. He was not a Vedāntī. He was not a big scholar in *Vedānta. Kṣatriya.* He knew how to fight, how to fight with enemies. This much qualification he had. Although he was born in royal family, but he was not a Vedāntī or vast scholar in Vedic literature. No. But he was *bhakta.* That is the qualification. He was a devotee. — [[spoken/1975/750603in.hon|Initiation of Ambarīṣa dāsa, Honolulu, June 3, 1975]] --- ### Guru Repeats the Words of Kṛṣṇa > *Guru* means he speaks the same thing as the original master says. The original master is Kṛṣṇa. And *guru* means he has to repeat the words of Kṛṣṇa, that's all. To become *guru* is not very difficult. — [[spoken/1973/730901r2.lon|Room Conversation, London, September 1, 1973]] --- *9 verified verbatim quotes from Śrīla Prabhupāda on the paramparā system*