Category:Blind Followers
Theme Analysis
The analogy of "the blind leading the blind" is one of Śrīla Prabhupāda's most frequent and powerful critiques of modern civilization. Citing the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.5.31), he explains that if a leader is blind—meaning spiritually ignorant of the ultimate goal of life, which is Viṣṇu—and his followers are equally blind, they are both bound for destruction. This dynamic is compared to men tied together by ropes; if the leader falls into a ditch, the followers inevitably follow. Śrīla Prabhupāda distinguishes Kṛṣṇa consciousness from this blind following. A devotee is not a "blind follower" but someone who accepts the authority of the scriptures and the spiritual master with full conviction and intelligence. Blind following is dogmatic and dangerous, whereas authorized following leads to the perfection of life.
- The Blind Leader (Andhā): Modern politicians, scientists, and philosophers are often described as blind because they do not know that the goal of human life is God realization. They mislead the population with theories that only focus on the temporary material body.
- The Result: When blind followers accept a blind leader, the result is catastrophe. Śrīla Prabhupāda uses the example of crossing a busy street (like Mulberry Street); if the guide is blind, everyone will be hit by a car and die.
- Ritualistic Blindness: Even within the Vedas, one can be a blind follower (veda-vādī) if one performs rituals without understanding their purpose, which is to please Kṛṣṇa.
- True Following: Kṛṣṇa consciousness is not blind faith. It is based on the strong conviction that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, supported by the evidence of śāstra and the ācāryas.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Blind Leaders and Blind Followers - A Civilization of Ignorance.
Pages in category "Blind Followers"
The following 19 pages are in this category, out of 19 total.
A
- Andha means blind man. If one blind man is trying to lead other blind men, then what is the benefit? The leader is blind and the follower is blind. Then there will be no result
- Andha yathandhair upaniyamanas te 'pisa-tantryam uru-damni baddhah (SB 7.5.31). This is called blind leader leading blind followers. They do not know that both of them are bound up by the strict, stringent laws of nature
I
- If somebody is dogmatic and blind follower, then avoid to discuss with him. Better spend that time for enlightening a person who is innocent
- If the leader is also blind and the followers are blind, then what is the result? That is happening. They are thinking that, "By bodily comfort, by sense gratification, we shall be happy." But that is not possible
T
- The Godless leaders of the society are blind themselves and their followers are also blind. So blind men leading blind men has no meaning
- The leader, blind leader, and the blind follower, they're all going to hell. This is the position of the world
- The rascal leader is also blind and the followers are blind, so both of them are doomed. Therefore the conclusion is, the modern civilization is misguided
- They do not know that their real problem is how to approach the Supreme Lord, Visnu. And the leaders, so-called leaders, who have created so many problems, they also do not know; therefore the leaders are blind and the followers are blind
- They remain blind, yes. They like to remain blind. Their leaders are blind, and the followers want to remain blind. This is maya. Unless there is training . . . This is instruction, adau gurvasrayam
- Those who are engaged in fruitive activities are described by the Vedas personified as andha-parampara, or blind followers of the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies
W
- We become Krsna's devotee. It is not blind. It is not blind. We are strongly convinced that that one person is the Supreme Person. Therefore we surrender. We are not blind followers
- What are those leaders? Andha. They do not know what is the ultimate goal of life. They are themselves blind, and they are leading other blind followers. This is going on
- When one comes to the platform of visnor aradhanam, or bhakti-yoga, one has attained the perfection of life. Otherwise, as indicated in Bhagavad-gita, one is not a tattva-vadi but a veda-vadi, a blind follower of the Vedic injunctions