When visiting Vrindaban last February I was approached by a young man, about 20 yrs old or so, who then asked what my position was. I was dumb founded for a moment thinking that I really don't have a position because I am a very tiny spirit soul in the holiest of all holy lands, just looking for the nectar of Krishna Katha. As a few moments passed, I out of curiosity decided to ask as to what "position" was he referring.
The moment my question ended I was hit with a barrage of questions one after another and statements that seemed to be premeditated and rehearsed. The stature of the young man suggested he was preparing for a debate. I can only summarize this conversation but have honestly been asked these questions more than once so I suppose its an important issue for some.
The Soul I was chatting with was very enthusiastic, full of energy, and committed to his point of view, to say the least. Overall it was a nice but unexpected opportunity to reveal my " position".
The first question was " I see you have Gaudiya tilak, who is your Spiritual Master?
A. As he asked me this question I felt very humbled yet honored and proud to claim a link with the brilliant sun of the Gaudiyas who has illumined the entire world with the light of the Bhagavata, His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj.
Q. Why do you call him Swami Maharaj? (Asked in a somewhat challenging spirit)
A. Because he was honored with that name by his Sanyas Guru, Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Goswami. Of course we, his immediate students, addressed him as Prabhupad.
Q. Narayan Maharaj is Kesava's disciple right?
A. Yes
Q. What do you think of him?
A. All I know is that my Guru Maharaj often spoke of him in a very favorable way and Narayan Maharaj even in Prabhupads last moments was there to comfort my Gurudev. If I become disrespectful Prabhupad would be very angry with me because Narayan Maharaja and others are senior to me in many ways . Narayan Maharaj was a life long friend to Prabhupad and was also very instrumental in seeing to the details of Prabhupad's Samadhi.
Q. What about Sridhar Maharaja?
A. Again, Prabhupada saw Sridhar Maharaj as his Siksha Guru. He had great respect for him. If he did then certainly I should.
Q. Govinda Maharaj?
A. Same answer, Prabhupada had great affection for him so why shouldn't I?
Q. I heard Narayan Maharaj and Govinda Maharaj don't see eye to eye on many things and their followers clash all the time.
A. If the question is how do I see these things, here is my answer "Radha's group and Candravali's group clash all the time so what's new? They both have great responsibilities and spiritual ambitions yet they both are pleasing to Sri Krishna. In the spiritual world you won't see clones. Every tree has a different fruit and Sri Krishna tastes each and every one of them".
Q. It seems that they are trying to take devotees away from Iskcon !
A. I don't think Govinda Maharaja or Narayan Maharaja are doing that. The neophyte devotee followers out of affection for whatever camp might knowingly or unknowing be doing so and that creates a backlash of controversy for their guru, unfortunately. Then he has to harmonize all the chaos created by the sectarian views of the neophytes.
Q. Well what about Prabhupads mission?
A. What do you mean?
Q. Didn't Prabhupad tell his student not to mingle with other Gaudiyas?
A. Yes he did. When Prabhupad was on the planet some of his students would go visit other Gaudiya temples learn slokas, mannerisams, drum beats, dialects etc then return to Iskcon and would create havoc by posing as advanced devotees even more advanced then Prabhupad himself.
Prabhupad was always very affectionate toward his disciples and knew that some Gaudiyas did not share Srila Bhaktisiddhantas vision and they would try to inject some negative ideas in the minds of his young and impressionable students. Soon after some of the students left Iskcon and abandoned their Acarya; of course a few stayed.
In my opinion the Mission of His Divine Grace was to fulfill the desire of his Gurudev by living as an example of pure devotion in the western world and making the Holy Name available to all Jeeva souls.
We need to see and hear a living pure devotee so we can transcend all our experimental endeavors to know God.
Q. Well, what about the Ritvik system?
A. When Prabhupad was here with us he had some students act as his representatives to carry out certain activities , all under his immediate direction. After his entering Nitya Leela those circumstances ended. We all agree that His Divine Grace was Shakti AvesA but none the less living examples of Pure Devotion are required and their effulgence should and will be self evident. They cannot be appointed or voted in unless those who elect and appoint are liberated souls themselves; then by all means their instruction should be honored.
Q. Why didn't Prabhupad give Siddha Pranali ?
A. I believe Prabhupad revealed his Spiritual body to a few select devotees who now have a particular type of meditation. Generally speaking though when we are pure of heart and attract Sri Radha and Krishna to ourselves by serving their pure devotees we will be given all these things but we should not be intrusive.
Q. What about Kirtanananda ?
A. His Sukriti was that Prabhupad was concerned about him. Karma-dosaih made him infamous.
Q. What about Prabhupads books ?
A. Everyone can benifit by reading them unless their motive for doing so is to exploit others. In that case they will become more and more entangled in the web of Maya and create a disturbance to the Vaisnava community. Bhaktivinode Thakur has said that even in the midst of such a distrubance : "The Divine Current will never be Obstructed".
Q. So what is your position?
A. All I want to do is continue in this life searching for Sri Krishna and serve the Vaishnavas as best I can. We all are in different situations due to karmic activities so I am just trying to make the best use of a bad bargain.
Q. Well who do you support, Iskcon , Narayana Maharaj, Govinda Maharaj , or ?
A. I am not driven by large buildings, big numbers of people, politics what to speak of an endless system of administration marked by officialism, red tape, and proliferation. Where ever Krishna reveals himself its up to me to be prepared to receive his Darshan. He is not bound by walls, declarations, lofty speeches or mountains of cash. He is bound only by pure devotion. He wiggles here and there like a snake and it's my responsibility to capture him.
The moment my question ended I was hit with a barrage of questions one after another and statements that seemed to be premeditated and rehearsed. The stature of the young man suggested he was preparing for a debate. I can only summarize this conversation but have honestly been asked these questions more than once so I suppose its an important issue for some.
The Soul I was chatting with was very enthusiastic, full of energy, and committed to his point of view, to say the least. Overall it was a nice but unexpected opportunity to reveal my " position".
The first question was " I see you have Gaudiya tilak, who is your Spiritual Master?
A. As he asked me this question I felt very humbled yet honored and proud to claim a link with the brilliant sun of the Gaudiyas who has illumined the entire world with the light of the Bhagavata, His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj.
Q. Why do you call him Swami Maharaj? (Asked in a somewhat challenging spirit)
A. Because he was honored with that name by his Sanyas Guru, Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Goswami. Of course we, his immediate students, addressed him as Prabhupad.
Q. Narayan Maharaj is Kesava's disciple right?
A. Yes
Q. What do you think of him?
A. All I know is that my Guru Maharaj often spoke of him in a very favorable way and Narayan Maharaj even in Prabhupads last moments was there to comfort my Gurudev. If I become disrespectful Prabhupad would be very angry with me because Narayan Maharaja and others are senior to me in many ways . Narayan Maharaj was a life long friend to Prabhupad and was also very instrumental in seeing to the details of Prabhupad's Samadhi.
Q. What about Sridhar Maharaja?
A. Again, Prabhupada saw Sridhar Maharaj as his Siksha Guru. He had great respect for him. If he did then certainly I should.
Q. Govinda Maharaj?
A. Same answer, Prabhupada had great affection for him so why shouldn't I?
Q. I heard Narayan Maharaj and Govinda Maharaj don't see eye to eye on many things and their followers clash all the time.
A. If the question is how do I see these things, here is my answer "Radha's group and Candravali's group clash all the time so what's new? They both have great responsibilities and spiritual ambitions yet they both are pleasing to Sri Krishna. In the spiritual world you won't see clones. Every tree has a different fruit and Sri Krishna tastes each and every one of them".
Q. It seems that they are trying to take devotees away from Iskcon !
A. I don't think Govinda Maharaja or Narayan Maharaja are doing that. The neophyte devotee followers out of affection for whatever camp might knowingly or unknowing be doing so and that creates a backlash of controversy for their guru, unfortunately. Then he has to harmonize all the chaos created by the sectarian views of the neophytes.
Q. Well what about Prabhupads mission?
A. What do you mean?
Q. Didn't Prabhupad tell his student not to mingle with other Gaudiyas?
A. Yes he did. When Prabhupad was on the planet some of his students would go visit other Gaudiya temples learn slokas, mannerisams, drum beats, dialects etc then return to Iskcon and would create havoc by posing as advanced devotees even more advanced then Prabhupad himself.
Prabhupad was always very affectionate toward his disciples and knew that some Gaudiyas did not share Srila Bhaktisiddhantas vision and they would try to inject some negative ideas in the minds of his young and impressionable students. Soon after some of the students left Iskcon and abandoned their Acarya; of course a few stayed.
In my opinion the Mission of His Divine Grace was to fulfill the desire of his Gurudev by living as an example of pure devotion in the western world and making the Holy Name available to all Jeeva souls.
We need to see and hear a living pure devotee so we can transcend all our experimental endeavors to know God.
Q. Well, what about the Ritvik system?
A. When Prabhupad was here with us he had some students act as his representatives to carry out certain activities , all under his immediate direction. After his entering Nitya Leela those circumstances ended. We all agree that His Divine Grace was Shakti AvesA but none the less living examples of Pure Devotion are required and their effulgence should and will be self evident. They cannot be appointed or voted in unless those who elect and appoint are liberated souls themselves; then by all means their instruction should be honored.
Q. Why didn't Prabhupad give Siddha Pranali ?
A. I believe Prabhupad revealed his Spiritual body to a few select devotees who now have a particular type of meditation. Generally speaking though when we are pure of heart and attract Sri Radha and Krishna to ourselves by serving their pure devotees we will be given all these things but we should not be intrusive.
Q. What about Kirtanananda ?
A. His Sukriti was that Prabhupad was concerned about him. Karma-dosaih made him infamous.
Q. What about Prabhupads books ?
A. Everyone can benifit by reading them unless their motive for doing so is to exploit others. In that case they will become more and more entangled in the web of Maya and create a disturbance to the Vaisnava community. Bhaktivinode Thakur has said that even in the midst of such a distrubance : "The Divine Current will never be Obstructed".
Q. So what is your position?
A. All I want to do is continue in this life searching for Sri Krishna and serve the Vaishnavas as best I can. We all are in different situations due to karmic activities so I am just trying to make the best use of a bad bargain.
Q. Well who do you support, Iskcon , Narayana Maharaj, Govinda Maharaj , or ?
A. I am not driven by large buildings, big numbers of people, politics what to speak of an endless system of administration marked by officialism, red tape, and proliferation. Where ever Krishna reveals himself its up to me to be prepared to receive his Darshan. He is not bound by walls, declarations, lofty speeches or mountains of cash. He is bound only by pure devotion. He wiggles here and there like a snake and it's my responsibility to capture him.
