There is no actual contradiction.
"So Caitanya Mahāprabhu says the medium is śāstra, and direction is
the guru. Śāstra also we cannot understand any book, what to speak of
the scripture. Sometimes we find contradiction in the scripture. That
is not contradiction; that is my poor fund of knowledge. I cannot
understand; therefore assistance of guru, a spiritual master, is
required."
(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 20.353-354)
In general, most souls coming to the Krsna Consciousness movement,
especially outside of India, are deeply conditioned to the lower
modes. So they will not begin chanting the maha mantra without
offense and continue will continue offensively. Therefore, they will
need to accept the 2 paths or processes of sadhana,
1. the bhagavata viddhi including as many of the forms as possible
such as hearing and chanting and the other 7 processes,
2. the pancaratrika viddhi including all the forms of arcana and yajna
other than Sankirtana yajna (including all applicable samskaras like
upayana or mantra diksa initiation), in addition to following the
rules and regs of one's varna and asrama.
That is why there are so many injunctions in that purport to Madhya
15.108 and others, which amend and qualify the singular and
exceptional statement that the chanting the holy name without offense
is not dependent on anything else.
That is a singular statement, and there are dozens of statements which
qualify it, which may seem to "contradict" it. These other statements
may appear to be contradictions unless you have been educated as to
how they are in harmony, as Srila Prabhupada did, and I am trying to
do now by summarizing what he said.
That singular statement regarding "immediate offenseless chanting"
ONLY applies in the exceptional cases referring to a devotee who has
perfected or nearly perfected sadhana in their past life, and comes
into contact with a pure devotee and picks up where they left off the
first time they hear and chant the mantra.
For EVERYONE ELSE, chanting is offensive in the beginning. And will
remain so unless there is strict sadhana under the vidhi marg
(pancaratrika vidhi) which includes mantra diksa. The only exception
to that last statement regarding strict sadhana is called KRPA SIDDHA,
and EVEN THAT REQUIRES FULL SURRENDER TO A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER
WHO IS A MAHA BHAGAVATA, because only such an uttama adhikari can give
such mercy to perfect someone without them having to follow rules and
regulations for any significant period of time.
And even such siddhas will still follow all the formal rules and regs
anyway to set an example.
Sri Rupa Gosvami says that learned acaryas recommend that we follow
the regulative principles even after the development of spontaneous
love for Krsna. NOI 16
There are two classes of men. Some of them are full of polluted
material things within their hearts, and some of them are materially
free. Krsna consciousness is equally beneficial for both of these
persons. Those who are full of dirty things can take to the line of
Krsna consciousness for a gradual cleansing process, following the
regulative principles of devotional service. Those who are already
cleansed of the impurities may continue to act in the same Krsna
consciousness so that others may follow their exemplary activities and
thereby be benefitted.
Bg 4.15 : PURPORT
So long we do not develop our pure love, we have to worship on the
regulative principles. One has to become a brahmacari, one has to
become a sannyasi, one has to perform the worship in this way, in the
morning he has to rise, he has to offer. So many rules and
regulations. There are at least sixty-four rules and regulations. So
we shall introduce them gradually as you develop. So in the viddhi-
marga, when you have no love for God or Krsna, we have to follow the
regulative principles and automatically..., there is practice. When
practicing. Just like you practice this mrdanga playing. In the
beginning it is not in order, but when you become well versed in the
practice, the sound will come so nice. Similarly, when we are engaged
by regulative principles in the worship of Radha-Krsna, that is called
viddhi-marga. And actually when you are on the love platform, then
that is called raga-marga. So without viddhi-marga, if anyone wants to
learn the raga-marga immediately, that is foolishness. That is
foolishness.
(Radhastami, Srimati Radharani's Appearance Day -- Montreal, August
30, 1968)
Prabhupada: Yes. Regulative principles are meant for everyone, all
varnas and asramas. Not that "I am now sannyasi. I have got the
highest platform. Therefore regulative principles is not meant for me.
It is for the kanistha..." This is rascaldom. Yajña-dana-tapah-kriya
na tyajyam. Yajña-dana-tapah. Tapasya. Following the regulative
principles means tapasya. So "I have renounced the world. Renounced. I
have become a sannyasi, renounced the world..." That doesn't mean I
have renounced all these things, yajña-dana-tapah-kriya. No. These
things are not to be renounced. Yajña-dana-tapah-kriya na tyajyam.
They are not to be renounced. Yajña-dana-tapah-kriya pavanani
manisinam. Even if you are, have become a great saintly person, still
you should consider, continue yajña-dana-tapah-kriya. This is the
injunction of the sastra. It should not be given up at any stage.
Pavanani manisinam.
All right. Chant Hare . (end)
(The Nectar of Devotion -- Calcutta, January 25, 1973)
Hope this helps.
Hare Krsna
On Mar 16, 2:55 pm, Prayag das <
digger5...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Padmagarbha prabhu:
>
> Yes I also lived in the Henry Street and Washington DC ashrams in the early
> 1970's (1973-1974) and am of American birth. I took initiation many years
> after Prabhupada's disappearance.
>
> I do not understand your claim that I quoted Lord Caitanya out of context.
> What context? I suggest you read CC Madha Lila 15.108 and it's purport.
> The purport does unequivocally show contradictions between some of
> Prabhupada's other statements and writings concerning initiation. For
> example in CC Madha Lila 15.108 purport:
>
> "In other words, the chanting of the Hare Krsna mahä-mantra is so powerful
> that it does not depend on official initiation, but if one is initiated and
> engages in païcarätra-vidhi (Deity worship), his Krsna consciousness will
> awaken very soon, and his identification with the material world will be
> vanquished.
>
> Apparently Prabhupada says initiation is not required, but it helps if one
> is initiated.
>
> And:
>
> The offenseless chanting of the holy name does not depend on the initiation
> process. Although initiation may depend on puraçcaryä or puraçcaraëa, the
> actual chanting of the holy name does not depend on puraçcaryä-vidhi, or
> the regulative principles.
>
> Let me repeat..."*The offenseless chanting of the holy name does not depend
> on the initiation process*." What could be clearer?