09/22/1998 - 2262

Warning from a Pure Devotee

USA (VNN) - by Swami B.A. Paramadvaiti

Dear Vaisnavas,

Dandavat Pranams. Recently Srila Bhakti Pramod Puri Maharaj in JagannathPuri made the following commentary. In the conversation, he expressed thefollowing warning which I like to repeat to you with some thoughts ofmyself. Guru Maharaja said that many individuals have left this materiallife for devotional life and taken up following four regular principles,including giving up meat eating. However, after some time due tomisconception and offenses, they have fallen down from these principles.

Now, instead of eating animal flesh they have begun eating human fleshwhile some of them are even eating the flesh of Vaisnavas! This eating ofhuman flesh, he said, was the criticizing of others and the eating ofVaisnavas flesh was criticizing Vaisnavas. He then posed the question,"Who would be better qualified to receive Krishna's mercy - an animaleater or one who eats the flesh of a Vaisnava?" If we look upon the wayneophyte aspirants of the Vaisnava faith treat each other, we must wonderhow we ignored, tolerated, and sometimes even promoted, this "Elephant inthe Porcelain Shop Offense."

The writing is on the wall. Leading devotees are helplessly lost in thereactions of their Vaisnava Aparadhas. Their fellow institutionalistsblame all their miseries on other causes rather than Vaisnava Aparadha.They cannot understand that the build up of Vaisnava Aparadha has thepower to bring down anybody, regardless of how much service he may haveotherwise performed in present or past lives. They do not understand thatall members of the governing system where Vaisnava Aparadha is permitted,sponsored or tolerated, are also responsible for it and will share in thereactions of such offenses. Iskcon sometimes want to make a show offriendliness with other Vaisnavas such as inviting Srila B.P. Puri Maharajto open the Puspasamadhi of Srila Prabhupada in Mayapur. Nevertheless,they do not stop minimizing and offending anyone who is not in Iskcon atany given moment. The stories and examples of this situation are too longto start to enumerate. It is also a fact that this hostile relationshipwas reciprocated in some cases by those devotees under attack. Thus asituation was created that leaves all devotees unhappy and prone tofurther reactions of negative karma.

Srila B.P. Puri Maharaj tried to avoid that and asked us to print anddistribute copies of his book, "The Heart of Krishna". This book is aloving warning to all to treat each other with love and compassion. Today, top leaders with Vaisnava Aparadha mentality are leaving the pathof devotional service. Temples are being closed where this offensivementality prevailed such as Vienna, where the GBC in 1998 simply decidedto eliminate deity worship in Austria and denied any help and counselingto the local brokenhearted Vaisnava congregation. Vaisnava Aparadha willruin us. Srila Prabhupada had said, "Our movement cannot be broken fromthe outside." But we can break it from the inside.

By Krishna's grace, Srila Puri Maharaj is still with us. At 101, he isstill powerful and preaching with love. He joined his Guru Maharaja'smission in the very beginning, even three years before Srila SridharMaharaj. He is one year younger than Srila Prabhupada. He can help us ifwe wish to be helped. He is not interested in anything but the service ofSri Guru and the Vaisnavas. Your heart will melt just by seeing him. InRamananda samvad it is revealed: -No suffering is greater then theseparation from your devotees. - Please do not lament later for havingdoubted the value of his association. He will give us strength toestablish unity in diversity amongst the Vaisnavas. The transcendentalcurrent is flowing from his lips. Bathe your heart and intellect in thatcurrent and dance in ecstasy.

INVITATION

This is an invitation to meet a pure devotee of Krishna in Jagannath Puri. He lives in the Gopinath Gaudiya Math in Chakratirtha.Srila Puri Maharaj is soon celebrating his 101 birthday. The festivitiesstart from the 21 of September until the 25. He is constantly blessingthe great flow of visitors coming to him from all over the world. ManyVaisnavas have seen in him the purity and kindness which enthused themoriginally to take up spiritual life.

You are welcomed to attend this wonderful function of his Vyasapujacelebration. Since he is the President of the World Vaisnava Association- Visva Vaisnava Raj Sabha, all members will celebrate this happy day. There are plenty of good accommodations in little hotels in Chakratirthaand Jagannath Puri. Flights go to Bhuvanesvara.

I hope to see you there or at least to share with you the heart connectionof doing anything and everything in this world to stop the Vaisnavaaparadha and to serve the dignity of the divine Masters of the BhaktiTradition.

All Glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga!