Please accept my humble obeisances all glories to Srila Prabhupada
The author may have been more specific but Rochon may have asked him to generalize a little...he does that. That we don't just use the word "henceforward" or the letter is true. However, the letter is our main first directive regarding the future, it is definitive. The general has trained his men and seasoned them in battles and skirmishes. Now on the eve of a great battle he gives a direct order on the next move. That does not mean that all the previous orders and experiences are to be compared to the new order just because the troops consider themselves experienced. He knows their strengths and weaknesses', he trained them and above all he depends on them to get the job done because they are good soldiers
Right up to the July 9th letter Srila Prabhupada depended on us to follow him as he trained us, referencing that previous training to justify his new and final order is not incumbent on him nor is it necessary for us to understand his direct order.
Those that would spend weeks and years arguing about it are the one's Krsna talks about in the Gita:
ChapterTwo Text 38: Krsna speaks to Arjuna
"The great generals who have highly esteemed your name and fame will think that you have left the battlefield out of fear only, and thus they will consider you a coward".
So they give no reason as to why they will not follow but they will give plenty of reasons how they will not follow. Arjuna did that as well. Those who cannot follow a direct order after so much instruction from Krsna and Srila Prabhupada are suffering from fear and doubt due to ignorance and in some cases cowardice.
Ys Hasti Gopala Dasa
In the following conversation, Srila Prabhupada gives us some clarity with regards to the importance of direct instructions.
750327rc.may Conversations 376438/530501
Atreya Rsi: ...I am degraded. "Very seriously, or may be given to me
from time to time directly, these directions, by my aforesaid Guru
Maharaja, or through his books, or..." In other words, direction
given, instruction given, directly by him or through his...
Prabhupada: Better directly.
Atreya Rsi: No "His books"?
Prabhupada: No.
Atreya Rsi: Not necessary.
Prabhupada: Because I may give direction according to the time.
Atreya Rsi: "Or" means both.
Prabhupada: Hm?
Atreya Rsi: "Or" can mean... All right. "Or through his
commissioners..."(?)
Prabhupada: Direct, direct instruction is important. Just like Krsna.
In the books He has given many instructions, but then He says,
sarva-dharman parityaja. If one says that "You gave me instruction
before like this. How can I give up this?" so that is not important.
The direct instruction is important.
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