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EDITORIAL August 10, 1999 VNN4470 Comment on this story An Open Letter From Swami BG Narasingha BY SWAMI B.G. NARASINGHA  EDITORIAL, Aug 10 (VNN) — (see also VNN story # 4305)Dear Tarun Krsna Prabhu, Please accept my humble dandavats. All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga. Sometime back you wrote to me your concerns about the book "Sri Gayatri Mantrartha Dipaka" in that you thought it was an offense to publish this book and that I might become the 'guru' of anyone who read it. Although your letter was quite rude, your language harsh, and your concerns quite eliminatory, I nonetheless took the time to assure you that the materials in the gayatri book have indeed been printed in many places by our Acharyas over the centuries and that there was no need to worry because the mantras of the gayatri and even their purport are self-protected in that unless the mantras are received from a bona fide guru, one is not actually initiated. One does not become initiated by reading mantras in books. Please forgive me if you were offended when I suggested that my Godbrothers, who at an advanced age are still running here and there chasing after the flickering pleasure of sex life, would do well to control their senses before they venture to criticize the preaching work of dedicated sannyasis. I apologize if this statement has been the cause of your recent campaign against myself and the gayatri book. Although I apologize, I am of the firm belief that, "If the shoe fits, wear it!" "Sri Gayatri Mantrartha Dipika (Illuminations on the Essential Meaning of Gayatri)" has been compiled for the pleasure of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the followers of His disciplic succession known as the Gaudiya Vaishnava-sampradaya. This publication presents the remarkable madhurya (conjugal) conception of gayatri as revealed by sastra (scripture), sadhus (pure devotees), and acaryas (bona fide spiritual masters). When the contents of this book are examined by the serious readers, surely all will agree that the Gaudiya Vaishnava conception of gayatri is the summit of theistic thought. (This is a quote from the introduction of the book we are discussing) Explaining the purpose and the validity of the gayatri book to you is like a man pleading his case before a 'kangaroo court' - regardless of what I say I will be condemned by you. What surprises me the most is that when differences between devotees arise these days they immediately go for the throat, so to speak. They hurl a barrage of harsh words and offensive comments upon each other like children in a mud fight. This even takes place between Godbrothers/Godsisters who have been lifetime friends. It is indeed a wonder? If you earnestly think that the production of the gayatri book was improper can't you just say so without tagging on a volume of humiliating words in an attempt to demoralize the publisher? Even if you think that I was wrong to bring out the gayatri publication can't you remember anything that I have ever done that was good? To convince others that the book is bad is it really necessary for you to remind others of my many faults? In which way do you want to build you case against me? You have failed to quote even one word of sastra to support your opinion that the gayatri mantras can never be printed in books. You have ignored all the sastric evidences presented to you by Professor Brzezinski in the VNN forums and begging the question from a few Gaudiya Matha sannyasis/acharyas you have squeezed out a few words of dissatisfaction from them. In my opinion you could turn a rose into a cactus. Why after coming in contact with Srila Prabhupada, Srila Sridhar Maharaja, and Srila Puri Maharaja do you remain so hard, harsh, and crude in your dealings with friends and Godbrothers? Even if the gayatri book was not bona fide, do you think that your gurus would appreciate your manner of dealings and manner of speech? Have I become your enemy or the enemy of our sampradaya? Have you forgotten the time you came to my ashram in Kerala and you were literally on the verge of death due to your extreme illness? Have you forgotten that I took you into my room, gave you a bed, called a doctor, attended your bedpan, helped you walk to the toilet, held you when you passed stool, and gave you a bath every day for a month because you were so sickly that you could do none of this yourself? Have you forgotten all this affectionate love which we showed you at that time and now when you think that I have done a wrong, there is no mercy in your dealings with me? Is it like that? Are you of that type? If not - then kindly contain your opposing opinion about the gayatri book to scriptural references and leave the mud slinging and saber rattling aside. I must comment before closing that in Krishna consciousness there is no bad propaganda - all is for the good. For every devotee you have convinced not to read the gayatri book at least ten have taken an interest in it - otherwise they might never have known the book exists. [available from http://www.mandala.org/] Controversy, after all is a powerful attraction, even in Goloka. All for the good, all for the good. In this way even the statements of the Demons in the Bhagavatam have been taken as a glorification of Krsna. When I read your comments against the publishing of the gayatri book I can also not help but to remember the incident wherein Ramanuja Acharya, after receiving mantra from his guru and being told not to disclose the mantra to anyone least the mantra loose its potency, immediately went to the village center and calling everyone he loudly pronounced the mantra for everyone to hear. Ramanuja wanted to do good to the devotees. Ramanuja did not disclose the gayatri to everyone because everyone in South India already knows gayatri (and knows the conception of gayatri according to their sampradaya). Ramanuja disclosed a mantra that was completely secret - its power unknown to the masses - he wanted to liberate everyone from material bondage and his guru became so pleased. The difficulty in western countries is that the vast majority of devotees, even those who have chanted gayatri for several decades know little of its ontological meaning. In the best case scenario one should learn of the meaning of the mantras from one's guru. But in the event that the guru is not present or unable to pass this knowledge onto the disciple then the Vedic literature and literature written in pursuance of the Vedic literature is there to help the sincere seeker. "Sri Gayatri Mantrartha Dipika" is published in this spirit and it will thus be of great value for devotees in western countries. (It should be obvious that persons not deeply interested in the ontology and esoteric concepts of Gaudiya Vaishnavism will not find the ability to read or even take interest in the book we are discussing.) I hope this meets you well. Pranams, Swami BG Narasingha About the Author  Other Stories by this AuthorComment on this story Contact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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