Accepting Knowledge from the Infallible Vedic Authority

In the pursuit of Absolute Truth, Śrīla Prabhupāda consistently teaches that reliance on imperfect human faculties leads only to bewilderment. Because every conditioned soul is subject to the defects of illusion, cheating, mistakes, and imperfect senses, independent research and mental speculation are insufficient tools for understanding spiritual reality. Instead, true enlightenment is achieved by submissively accepting knowledge from the infallible Vedic authority, which descends directly from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Limitations of Empirical Speculation

Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the ascending process of acquiring knowledge, based on experimental logic and sense perception, is inherently flawed due to the four defects of conditioned life. A person who is subject to illusion and mistakes cannot possibly deliver perfect knowledge, and therefore, relying on such sources is futile.

• Any attempt to arrive at this (inconceivable) information through experimental knowledge will fail. The knowledge simply has to be accepted - CC Intro.
• Your senses are imperfect, you are cheating, you are illusioned and you commit mistake. How you can give perfect knowledge? Therefore we don't accept any knowledge from an imperfect personality.
• There is difference between false knowledge and authoritative knowledge. So far we are concerned at the present moment, whatever knowledge we are giving or accepting, they are more or less false knowledge. Not authoritative.
• Our process of knowledge is not any speculation: "It may be," "Perhaps." No. We don't accept this knowledge. "It may be," "Perhaps" - these are all foolishness.

Deductive Process of Vedic Authority

To save time and ensure accuracy, one must adopt the avaroha-panthā, or the deductive process, where knowledge is received from a superior source rather than manufactured by the mind. Śrīla Prabhupāda asserts that because Vedic knowledge is apauruṣeya—not created by man—it is free from defects and should be accepted as the final authority.

• If we accept Vedic knowledge, we save so much time. We may go on experimenting with our limited power of senses, but that will always remain doubtful. But if we accept Vedic knowledge, apaurusa knowledge, then it is perfect.
• If you actually require perfect knowledge, then we have to accept knowledge this, like this way. It is called avaroha-pantha. Avaroha-pantha means a descendence, or deductive process.
• We don't try to speculate. That may or may not be successful, but if you accept knowledge from the perfect authority, that knowledge is perfect.

Necessity of Disciplic Succession

The method for receiving this perfect knowledge is strictly defined as the guru-paramparā system, where the teaching is handed down from master to disciple without change. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that we cannot simply interpret the Vedas with our fertile brains; we must hear from the bona fide representative of Kṛṣṇa to understand the truth.

• Because this knowledge is accepted through the disciplic succession, it is perfect.
• So our, this parampara system from Lord Caitanya, as we have given account just now, we do not manufacture any knowledge by our fertile brain. We accept knowledge as it is coming down from the supreme authority.
• The process is that we must approach to a perfect person and take his instruction as it is. Then our knowledge is perfect. Without any argument. We accept Vedic knowledge like that.
• He (Vivasvan) spoke to his son, Manu. Manu spoke to his son, Iksvaku. In this way the parampara system is coming. And that is bona fide. This is our philosophy, to accept knowledge from the perfect person or his bona fide representative.

Perfection of Taking Shelter in Kṛṣṇa

Ultimately, the source of all infallible knowledge is Kṛṣṇa, and by surrendering to Him and His instructions in the Bhagavad-gītā, one transcends the material modes of nature. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that even if one feels personally unqualified, simply by accepting the words of the Supreme Perfection, one becomes situated in perfect knowledge.

• As soon as one surrenders to Krsna and accepts the perfect standard of knowledge, which is Bhagavad-gita as it is, he then comes out of the material modes of nature and does not fall down and lose his knowledge.
• We don't take, don't accept knowledge from any rascal. We accept knowledge from Krsna, the Supreme. I may be rascal, but because I am receiving knowledge from the perfect, whatever we speak, that is perfect.
• One should accept the sword of knowledge from Krsna and be strong with the mercy of Balarama. We are therefore worshiping Krsna-Balarama in Vrndavana.

Conclusion

The foundation of spiritual life lies in the humility to admit that our own intellectual capacities are limited and prone to error. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that by rejecting the speculative path and accepting knowledge from the infallible Vedic authority through the bona fide disciplic succession, one can attain the perfection of life. When one receives the message of Kṛṣṇa as it is, without interpretation or modification, they become free from the confusion of material existence and are situated in absolute truth.

Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani

Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Accepting Knowledge. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

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