People Are Being Misled Regarding the Science of Kṛṣṇa
Śrīla Prabhupāda consistently warns that the masses are being deliberately misled by unauthorized commentators, blind leaders, and atheistic educators who do not understand the science of Kṛṣṇa. Instead of receiving pure spiritual guidance, human society is directed toward material destruction and sense gratification. True knowledge can only be accessed by rejecting these false authorities and hearing directly from the genuine disciplic succession.
Misinterpreting the Scriptures
Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that mundane wranglers and foolish scholars constantly manufacture their own interpretations of sacred texts like the Bhagavad-gītā. By trying to read symbolic meanings into clear historical facts—such as claiming Kurukṣetra refers only to the material body—they completely distort the message of the śāstra and deliberately mislead the innocent public.
- Foolish commentators say that kuruksetra means the body and that panca-pandava refers to the five senses. In this way they distort the meaning, and people are misled.
- Why should we interpret it that "This Kuruksetra means this body, dharmaksetra, this body"? Why? Why mislead people? Stop this misleading. And Kuruksetra is still there. Kuruksetra station, railway station, is there.
- People have been misled by these so-called commentaries. There is no need of unnecessarily commenting on certain things. Commentary or interpretation required when things are not very clear. Then you can suggest - "The meaning may be like this."
- Unfortunately, mundane wranglers have taken advantage of Bhagavad-gita to push forward their demonic propensities and mislead people regarding right understanding of the simple principles of life.
Hiding the Supreme Personality of Godhead
Because impersonalists and so-called scholars lack access to the genuine paramparā system, they fail to understand the absolute, transcendental nature of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that by attempting to separate Kṛṣṇa from His body, or by claiming that all demigods are equal to the Supreme Lord, these individuals spread māyāvāda philosophy, which ultimately misleads people into atheism.
- Because the commentators do not know this science of Krsna, they hide Krsna and divide His personality from His mind or from His body. Although this is sheer ignorance of the science of Krsna, some men make profit out of misleading people.
- Sometimes so-called scholars, not knowing the constitutional position of Krsna, mislead people by saying that the Krsna within is different from the Krsna without.
- Due to misunderstanding Srimad-Bhagavatam, people are misled regarding the science of Krsna. However, by reading Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura's book (Caitanya-bhagavata) one can very easily understand this science.
- Foolish Mayavadis say that worshiping demigods is as good as worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but that is not a fact. This philosophy misleads people to atheism.
The Illusions of Modern Society and Scientists
In the degraded age of Kali-yuga, the entire direction of human civilization is flawed. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights that modern education and scientific speculation actively mislead people into believing there is no God, convincing them that the ultimate goal of life is simply economic development and unrestricted sense gratification.
- In this age of Kali, human civilization is so misled that people are unnecessarily increasing in economic development, and as a result they are opening more slaughterhouses, liquor shops and brothels. In this way, the whole civilization is being spoiled.
- God has given him (a human being) extra intelligence for understanding God, but they (the modern society) are being misled: "There is no God. You utilize it for your sense gratification." This is education.
- From the Bhagavatam we understand that the entire universe is full of living entities everywhere. Thus it is the folly of the scientists that although they do not know anything, they mislead people by presenting themselves as scientists, philosophers.
- This scientific book should be done very carefully, so that people in general may not be misled by the over-intelligent scientists.
The Danger of Following Blind Leaders
Following unauthorized politicians, pseudo-incarnations, and cheating yogīs is a guaranteed path to spiritual ruin. Śrīla Prabhupāda uses the vivid analogy of a stone boat to describe these blind leaders; because they are heavy with ignorance, they cannot cross the ocean of māyā, and they ultimately drag all their followers down into hellish conditions.
- A stone boat would be unable to float and would sink in the water with its passengers. Similarly, those who mislead people go to hell, and their followers go with them.
- Leaders who have fallen into ignorance and who mislead people by directing them to the path of destruction (as described in the previous verse - SB 6.7.13) are, in effect, boarding a stone boat, and so too are those who blindly follow them.
- So Krsna says everything in the Bhagavad-gita. People are simply misled by so-called rascals, yogis, swamis, incarnation, magician, juggler, bluffer, but they come and go. They cannot do anything because they are themself cheated.
- Those who mislead people go to hell and their followers go with them.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda masterfully exposes the various agents of illusion who are actively misleading human society away from its true spiritual purpose. Whether through the mental speculation of unauthorized commentators, the atheistic doctrines of Māyāvādī philosophers, or the arrogant bluffs of modern scientists, the public is continuously cheated out of understanding the science of Kṛṣṇa. By placing their faith in these blind leaders, people are steered toward a degraded life of animalistic sense gratification, ultimately resulting in their own destruction. To avoid sinking in this stone boat of ignorance, one must reject all false prophets and receive the absolute truth directly from the pure disciplic succession, thereby saving oneself from the disastrous consequences of being misled.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category People Are Being Mislead. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.