10/03/1998 - 2308 ...(See Related VNN Stories)

WVA Madonna Statement

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

(see also VNN story #2239, 2229)

To all the readers of these reflections of mine. Please accept my mosthumble obeisances. My beloved Spiritual Master A C, Bhaktivedanta SwamiPrabhupada started a wonderful family, and by his grace I have receivedmany God Brothers and Sisters whom I love and respect deep in my heart.Through the other branches of the family tree of Srila Prabhupada, theGaudiya Math, and other Temples around the world, I have gained so manyspiritual nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles.

It is natural for a devoteeto put all his energy into the mission started by his own spiritualMaster, however one should have respect for all other Vaisnavas Missionsand the devotees. In thinking thoroughly about some difficulty whichrecently arose I decided to give the details in these reflections in orderto avoid similar issues from escalating in the future.

Upon leaving Iskcon in 1984, many circumstances convinced me that neithermyself nor the devotees I was working with could advance spiritually underthe conditions that existed. This caused myself and others to bepainfully separated from most of our Godbrothers. Some condemned me forhaving left the institution and some condemned me for continuing topreach, as well as accepting disciples. Still others condemned me for notaccepting their non sastric ritvik philosophy. While with many others itwas difficult to know how they felt.

This deplorable situation made me feel that the Mission of my SpiritualMaster and many of my God Brothers was not in a very good state, eventhough individually many are advanced devotees doing important servicesfor Srila Prabhupada and the Sampradaya. While traveling through the manyGaudiya Math Temples in India, I also noticed that very similar situationssometimes occur in other mission after the founding Acharya disappears.

I started to pray for a solution for all these difficulties.Simultaneously I started to make contacts with a few of my God Brotherswho were also trying to establish their service independent from Iskcon.There was Tripurari Maharaja, the great enthusiast for Book Distributionof my early devotional experience. Now he was struggling to establish newTemples and writing intensely to get the modern world in touch with thejewels of Bhakti. There was Narasringa Maharaja with his faithful brother,servant and friend Vishnu Maharaja. They were preaching in India and hadstarted the first Western Mission in Vrindavana. Narasringa Maharaja whoseprivate speaking of Krsna Katha touched my heart. He struggled toestablish temples and to harmonize with the different characters andnationalities. His fierce defense of our Sampradaya and beloved guardiansis of great inspiration.

Talking with many of my friends and meditating on Srila Jiva Goswami andhis Visva Vaisnava Raja Sabha I wrote a proposal on how we could start aWorld Vaisnava Association. Then the most wonderful thing happened, SrilaBhakti Promode Puri Maharaja the Senior most Vaisnava beloved by all, themost outstanding jewel of humility, accepted to be the president of theWVA. This effort to revive the concept of communication between Vaisnavasbeyond mission concerns, allowing association of Mission Acharyas,Sanyasis and all Devotees. The WVA could be a forum to meet Godbrothersagain without feeling obliged to align or worship with them.

This effort allowed me to meet with my Godbrother Tusta Krsna Das, he inthe service of Srila Prabhupada and his Siksa Guru SrilaSiddhaswarupananda had been preaching ever since Srila Prabhupada left us.Meeting him, Acharya Das and many other disciples of Jagad GuruSiddhaswarupananda was a very delightful experience. I could see thatexternally they did not use many of the traditional vestments of theIndian Gaudiya Vaishnavas, however their understanding of the philosophy,their attachment to the Holy Name and there gentle behavior immediatelyreminded me of my early days in Krsna Consciousness. These feelings wereconfirmed after meeting Jagad Guru Siddaswarupananda personally. I was sovery enthused and appreciated how they had managed to make a World WideVaisnava Mission based on the faith in Srila Prabhupada and the Chantingof the Holy Names. Jagad Gurus writings, TV shows and musicalpresentations, are all capable to transmit the divine call to those whoare sincere seekers.

I felt that the WVA was making progress, new committees were add to theagenda of the WVA in 1997 to increase the flexibility and input of allinterested members. As the secretary of the WVA I had to make manydecisions which I would have liked to have discussed with other Vaisnavas,aiding in the decision process. Unfortunately due to a lack of time orlack of interest, I had to do things on my own volition. Sripad TustaKrsna Das from the Chaitanya Mission and founding member of the WVA hadshown a keen interest in problems arising with Vaisnavas being in contactwith the secular world. Thus I had proposed to him that he become thechairman of the committee in the WVA for secular world issues. It was onlynatural for him to have called me to inform me of the MTV Television showin which pop star Madonna exhibited a mix of sensualism and spiritualismwhile wearing Tilak and other Indian dress. Of course no Vaisnava couldapprove 100 % of this kind of display. Tusta Krsna Prabhus very successfulpress release took me by total surprise as it received world widecoverage, since I usually struggle to get a little note into the localpaper. Well press loves conflicts and Madonna is a worthy subject ofcontroversy.

Since Tripurari Maharaja and Mandala Media had supplied some materials toMadonna. Tripurari Maharaja felt that he should do something to soften thecritique on Madonna and her new found attraction for Eastern Spiritualism.Unfortunately He did not contact me about his counter press release. Thecounter press release minimized the position of Tusta Krsna Das and theChaitanya Mission as acting independent of the WVA and as not being ableto understand a persons heart. This way of describing it opened the wayfor criticism toward Tusta Krsna Das and the Chaitanya Mission. I wasrequested to make an immediate release of clarification which I was notable to do instantly. This later led to very harsh and unjust offensesagainst our founding member and their Missions Acharya.

I have since sent a note to Tripurari Maharaja and Sripad Tusta Krsna inthe hope that we may turn the unfortunate occurrence into somethingpositive. I pray we can increase our responsibility to WVA issues, andalso increase the communication between leaders who are concerned withspreading Krsna Consciousness in America and the World. Sadly time seemedto be against me, as it created the impression that I was condoning unfairor negative talk about the Vaisnavas. This was for Gods Sake not myintention. Sripad Tripurari Maharaja has hardly taken any practicalparticipation in the WVA until this press release. Now it has costoffenses against empowered preachers. I had been very cautious about mywords previously because I did not want any one to feel that I am tellingthem what they should do. At this point now I simply fold my hands andpray, Let us consider the World and Srila Prabhupadas family first. LetMadonna and our internal missionary affairs come second.

If such situations arise by the test of Krsna or the test of Maya, I begall respected readers to pick up the telephone and call the affectedbrother. Let us eliminate Vaisnava Aparad immediately as it will destroyour progress. May we guard against losing our brothers again whom we havejust regained after so much struggle. What to speak of all the service welose to our Spiritual Master and to the Vaisnava community if we have nounified forum to work for our common cause. If I lose the friendship ofany of you I will consider my self to be the most unfortunate. We know allto well, misunderstanding is bound to appear in this world.

Daso SmiSwami B.A. Paramadvaiti

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