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EDITORIAL July 12, 1999 VNN4283 Related VNN Stories Honoring Srila BV Narayan Maharaja BY ANANDINI DEVI DASI EDITORIAL, Jul 12 (VNN) — Dear Prabhus, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga. This letter is an attempt to communicate with senior devotees within the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in the UK. I want to describe something of what I understand of Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja's role as diksa and siksa guru amongst those who, previous to meeting him, had already surrendered their lives to Srila Prabhupada within the ISKCON society. I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to travel with Srila Narayana Maharaja on 3 world tours since he first began preaching in western countries. During this time, I've seen hundreds of senior devotees round the world become inspired by his discourses on the nature of suddha bhakti. By the term "senior" I refer to those devotees who have been practicing Krishna Consciousness for at least 15 years. Many of these devotees who came to hear Srila Narayana Maharaja, many of whom became siksa disciples, didn't have to worry about uncomfortable reprisals coming back at them from temple authorities for their decision to hear from Srila Narayana Maharaja. Without these constraints, these devotees were able to think for themselves what they needed for their own spiritual development. However, many other senior devotees who took shelter of Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja did so at the expense of their being banned from their temple communities. At the very best, some of the siksa/diksa disciples continue to take part in ISKCON functions but with constant censorship. Not only are they not free to glorify their guru, but they aren't even allowed to defend Srila Narayana Maharaja when others critisize him. Out of the senior devotees who have never chosen to meet Srila Narayana Maharaja, it seems that many feel they have no need or even desire to take shelter of this Vaisnava, or anyone other than Srila Prabhupada and perhaps current initiating gurus within ISKCON. Because they simply didn't want their loyalty to ISKCON or Srila Prabhupada to be in question, they didn't even try to go see Srila Narayana Maharaja while he was visiting their area. Especially those in management positions, temple presidents and ISKCON gurus and GBCs, who because of personal dependency upon the institution, have chosen to maintain a certain political stance. It has become a societal rule that in order to be loyal to Srila Prabhupada one must be convinced of the supposed impropriety of hearing from someone outside of ISKCON. What to speak of going to see Srila Narayana Maharaja, who they say is harming ISKCON because he is supposedly not in Prabhupada's line.. For whatever reason they give for not wanting to hear from Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja, they have willingly ignored basic vaisnava etiquette which is that we must honor all Vaisnavas, what to speak of honoring a distinguished devotee of such senior status. There are many sincere devotees within ISKCON who don't want to get dragged into politics and who try to avoid making offences, yet are still found to make statements that call to question Srila Narayana Maharaja's purpose for preaching. "Narayana Maharaja can preach wherever he likes but he should follow the etiquette of not targeting his preaching on ISKCON devotees." Imagine for a moment that you were a self-realised soul in pure love of Krsna who had great reverence and respect for Srila Prabhupada. Where would you be needed? Where would you choose to preach? Being that saintly person, wouldn't it influence your compassionate heart to see how many senior disciples of Srila Prabhupada were either spiritually floundering or drying up? Remember, even if we feel we are doing alright, a self-realized soul would still feel we needed help until we attain love of God. If, on Srila Prabhupada's last day in physical existence, he told you to help his disciples, and later on you see a sad state of affairs amongst them, you would probably feel compelled to help them in every way. This is Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja's position. From his perspective, Srila Narayana Maharaja is helping devotees as a personal service to Srila Prabhupada. This was in fact his reason for going to western countries. And as a faithful servant of Srila Prabhupada, he continues to show his honour to Srila Prabhupada's desire by continually going to places where he isn't particularly welcome, like the Bhaktivedanta Manor area just to help Srila Prabhupada's disciples. Because that is his service to Srila Prabhupada! And just like Srila Prabhupada, he is bold and completely fearless in his preaching to give what the devotees most need to hear; how to develop our love for Krsna. And because Srila Narayana Maharaja is self-realized, these classes have a very powerful effect on listeners. A few persons have written essays on the "dangers of hearing from Narayana Maharaja". Many devotees have read these papers, which attack Srila Narayana Maharaja with lies. All the negativity about Srila Narayana Maharaja that is going around is based on fear and ignorance all created by people who either don't know him at all and have not followed his movements, or who have an ISKCON-dependent position to maintain. People who promote such ideas about Srila Narayana Maharaja are risking their own spiritual life. They feel free to say what they want because they assume that their own assessment of Srila Narayana Maharaja's position is correct. However, from the perspective of a very large number of senior devotees worldwide, including hundreds of disciples of Srila Prabhupada, Srila Narayana Maharaja is widely accepted as a pure maha-bhagavata of very high qualification. Anyone doubting Srila Narayana Maharaja's qualification, should at least recognize that there is a great and ever-growing number of Srila Prabhupada's disciples who do accept Srila Narayana Maharaja as a pure devotee who is preaching exactly according to Srila Prabhupada's desire. Devotees must carefully consider this point before dismissing them all as being misdirected. These devotees have unflinching faith and realization that Srila Prabhupada is pleased with their accepting siksa from Srila Narayana Maharaja. There is no question of them being disloyal to Srila Prabhupada. And anyway, even a little study on the subject of guru-tattva destroys any confusion about the relationship between siksa and diksa gurus. And we should also dismiss the idea that these devotees were spiritually weak before meeting Srila Narayana Maharaja, and on account of their weakness felt a need to take shelter of someone "outside" of ISKCON. Actually, the older devotees who are attracted to Srila Narayana Maharaja already had reputations for being spiritually steady. People passing around negative information about Srila Narayana Maharaja or about any true Vaisnava, are committing serious vaisnava aparadha. And connected with this, if anyone purposefully discourages another devotee from accepting the association of a pure Vaisnava, then this is also aparadha. Doesn't it follow that someone doing this will receive a severe reaction for blocking another's spiritual advancement? In the Sri Caitanya Caritamrta, it is said, "Association with a pure devotee for even half a moment in this material world is the greatest treasure for human society." (CC Madhya 22.86). Wouldn't you think that it would be the greatest tragedy to be blocked from the association of Srila Prabhupada? There are many devotees who still lament that, although Srila Prabhupada wanted all his disciples to be in Vrindavana during the time of his passing, they were prevented from going by temple authorities. Isn't it reasonable to assume that if someone purposefully discourages a devotee from taking the association of a high-class Vaisnava, then their own access to the sanga of a great soul will be blocked? Of course, writing this, I am aware that devotees will critisize me for assuming to place Srila Prabhupada and Srila Narayana Maharaja on the same level of respect. But the fact is that a very great number of disciples of Srila Prabhupada do feel this way! It is my belief that the GBC/gurus who used to hear from Maharaja before their ban never openly admitted Srila Narayana Maharaja's exalted spiritual position because that would have compromised their position as initiating gurus and GBCs. And anyway, outside their own association it seems that they certainly wouldn't discuss how spiritually evolved this personality actually was. However, the devotees who are following him now are actually free to recognize the value of associating with this great personality. A devotee may respond to all this by saying, "But I don't need Narayana Maharaja. Srila Prabhupada is enough for me". Even if someone feels this way, still we are obligated at the very least show some honour for this exalted Vaisnava when he comes to our area. But the saddest thing is that devotees who aren't receptive to even seeing this person for themselves miss out on all the benefits of associating with a sadhu of such an exalted position, a true maha-bhagavata. Actually, for myself, it had been so long since I had been in Srila Prabhupada's divine presence that I had almost forgotten what kind of huge boost it was inspirationally to be in his physical association. Being in Srila Narayana Maharaja's personal association has reminded me of the value of that moment's association with the pure devotee that can change a person's life forever. Yes, it is true that a devotee can continuously associate with Srila Prabhupada through reading his books and through hearing his inner prompting within, but one cannot have this type of inspirational experience with guru that I've described simply by reading a book. Vani and vaphu always remain two distinct ways to associate with Guru. Yes, Srila Prabhupada has said that vani is more important. Yet that doesn't mean that the physical association of the pure devotee spiritual master isn't important! If it wasn't important, then why do we always recollect pastimes of Srila Prabhupada? Please try to let us all understand that our concept of what is actually Srila Prabhupada's mood has been influenced by our own material conditioning. If we really understood Srila Prabhupada's mood, then we would be far more loving and broad-minded. From the perspective of the pure devotee, all persons who desire to serve Krishna within our guru-parampara and especially in the line of Rupa Goswami are family members. Since that is the case, all the devotees who wish to serve Srila Prabhupada are all intimate relations. The disciples of Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja are members of ISKCON. The "ritviks" are also members of ISKCON. Any devotee who is sincere and wants to serve Srila Prabhupada is a member of ISKCON. Just see how sectarian our society has become. This sectarianism has torn us away from each other. Do we really believe that we have Srila Prabhupada's vision? How many times in our own personal lives we've seen examples of how little love and affection we actually have for each other? How many times have we lost all our support and each other's affection when we make a stand that goes against the current temple ruling. If we've been around awhile, we know that we all have been through it. Sometimes we are "on the outs" and at other times, we end up putting others in the same position. This cycle keeps going on and on because we have no love and affection for each other. We just continue to commit offences against each other-against Vaisnavas! Is it any wonder why so many devotees just don't have a taste for the Holy Name, or for their Guru-given mantras that are meant to attract our hearts to Krsna! Srila Narayana Maharaja is coming to teach us how to truly express love and affection for Sri-Sri Radha and Krishna. By trying to express love for Radha and Krishna, we are forced to realize that we must have loving respect for all others who also have a relationship with Krishna. Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja shows by his personal example how to express this love and affection in an exemplary way. Many devotees who have had connection with Srila Narayana Maharaja for even the shortest time feel that he truly loves them. Time and time again I have personally seen how he reciprocates with everyone he meets with perfect consideration of their level of realization. Many devotees told me that they felt that Srila Narayana Maharaja knew their hearts instantly when they met him. And many have felt so much inspiration knowing that despite their covered consciousness, they still feel Maharaja's unconditional acceptance and because of this, they become more confident that Srila Prabhupada also accepts them. One time I heard Srila Narayana Maharaja say that a true guru makes each of his disciples feel, "My Gurudeva loves me more than anyone else." Do we actually think we can afford to choose not to associate with this Vaisnava who has deep love in his heart and who, by his personal example can teach us also how to be genuinely affectionate towards others? Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja has lived an exemplary life in the Gaudiya Matha for the last 50 years. He is famous for his strict standards, strong spiritual practices and exemplary ethical behaviour. Children and adolescents around the world are becoming very spiritually strong due to their relationship with Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja. Don't we want our children to meet such a person who inspires them to develop a strong moral character based on pure spiritual realization? Don't we want the best for our children? Don't we want them to have a perfected spiritual master? Srila Narayana Maharaja is deeply inspiring devotees all over the world, most of whom came not expecting such a transforming experience. I was present the first time Srila Narayana Maharaja went to Badger, California. Before his arrival it is no exaggeration to say that no one in that community, other than one disciple who lived there, had any intentions of becoming his followers. Many were worried about even hosting him because of all the controversy. As it turned out, the Badger devotees ended up not just honoring him as a guest, but truly loving him-immediately! Many couldn't bare it when Srila Narayana Maharaja was leaving Badger to go to the next place. Some families (disciples of Srila Prabhupada) suddenly dropped everything just to travel with him. In fact, while touring with Srila Narayana Maharaja, it is quite common for devotees who meet him for the first time, due to their enthusiasm and excitement of meeting such an exalted pure devotee, to just drop everything and start travelling with him as well. Many devotees have described their meeting with him to be like suddenly coming alive, just like plants in a desert after a torrential downpour. Of course, the experience of meeting Srila Narayana Maharaja is different for every individual. If you ask any devotee who regularly hears from him, they will surely tell you that he has given them a tremendous boost in their determination for hearing Krsna katha, kirtan, japa, and other bhakti practices. Younger devotees are trained in the basics of Krishna consciousness. More mature devotees are being carefully guided into very deep realms of bhajan. Whatever the level of the devotee, each person experiences Srila Narayana Maharaja's continuous but gentle prodding to move on to the next level of practice. Such expert guidance can only come from a self-realized soul. Are we so much inspired in our personal practice of Krishna consciousness that we can afford to say, "Everything I need is in Srila Prabhupada's books?" Yes, everything is there in Srila Prabhupada's books, but it takes expert guidance to help us gain access to a very deep understanding of his books. Actually, we already acknowledge this point, otherwise there would be no need for classes in scripture to be part of the daily temple schedule. I believe that if we see Srila Prabhupada clearly, we would see him as a very loving father who wants to see all his children happy by making steady progress in their Krsna consciousness. Srila Prabhupada becomes pleased to see us develop qualities of a devotee like kindness, tolerance and humility. Srila Narayana Maharaja is demonstrating these qualities by his own personal example. He has been treated so unjustly by ISKCON management, yet he holds no bad feelings towards anyone. These qualities naturally start to develop in anyone who associates with someone like Srila Narayana Maharaja, who possesses those qualities. Many devotees are currently concerned with the inevitable changes that are predicted to happen within a very short time on this planet. Srila Narayana Maharaja knows many devotees are making plans to help assure their families' survival. He has given many instructions on how to go internally so that the outer world becomes insignificant and Krsna becomes our whole world. By turning our consciousness inward, we can become completely fearless. Are we so securely prepared in our consciousness to meet the challenge of these upcoming changes that we don't need the practical help of a person who has transcended the mundane world? These are a few ideas that have come to mind that I felt compelled to say before Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja comes to England on 5th July. It is really sad that such a massive misunderstanding is going on amongst devotees who are all members of the same family. Srila Narayana Maharaja's upcoming visit is a good opportunity for devotees from all camps to come together in a mood of loving respect. And if because of misunderstanding anyone has committed any offense to Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja or any of us to each other, this would be an excellent opportunity to submit our humble apologies. At the very least, we should have no hesitation in honoring to this exalted Vaisnava. Thank you for taking time to read this and for considering these things. Please post me a reply if you wish to begin some discussion. Best wishes and lots of happiness in your service to Sri Guru and Krishna. In the service of the vaisnavas, Anandini Devi Dasi PS: Here's a relevant quote from Srila Prabhupada's Nectar of Instruction, text 7, p64-5: "Those who think that Krsna consciousness is limited to a certain section of people, a certain section of devotees, or a certain tract of land, are generally prone to see the external features of the devotee. Such neophytes, unable to appreciate the exalted service of the advanced devotee try to bring the maha-bhagavata to their platform. We experience such difficulty in propagating this Krsna consciousness all over the world. Unfortunately we are surrounded by neophyte Godbrothers who do not appreciate the extraordinary activities of spreading Krsna consciousness all over the world. They simply try to bring us to their platform, and they try to critisize us in every respect. We very much regret their naive activities and poor fund of knowledge. An empowered person who is actually engaged in the confidential service of the Lord should not be treated as an ordinary human being, for it is stated that unless one is empowered by Krsna, one cannot spread the Krsna consciousness movement all over the world. "When one thus criticizes a pure devotee, he commits an offence (vaisnava-aparadha) that is very obstructive and dangerous for those who desire to advance in Krsna consciousness. A person cannot derive any spiritual benefit when he offends the lotus feet of a Vaisnava.. Everyone should therefore be very careful not to be jealous of an empowered Vaisnava, or a suddha-vaisnava. It is also an offence to consider an empowered Vaisnava an object of disciplinary action. It is offensive to try to give him advice or to correct him. One can distinguish between a neophyte Vaisnava and an advanced Vaisnava by their activities. The advanced Vaisnava is always situated as the spiritual master, and the neophyte is always considered his disciple. The spiritual master must not be subjected to the advice of a disciple, nor should a spiritual master be obliged to take instructions from those who are not disciples. This is the sum and substance of Srila Rupa Goswami's advice in the 6th verse." Related VNN Stories  Comment on this storyContact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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