Re: My Video Reply to the Puri Incident Regarding Shrila Prabhupada

Dear lowerthanarat,

           Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krishna! Please accept my respectful obeisances!

           What is exactly meant by saying, "This is not a Vaisnava aparadha" or "not disturbing other people"? The offense that has been committed to Srila Prabhupada isnot justifiable by any means. Today it is for Jagannatha's yatra, tomorrow will it be for the sankirtana? What if tomorrow a group of blasphemers get angry with us for chanting Nityananda Gauranga and not eating meat, avoiding illicit sex, etc., and put a case in court and publish it in the newspapers or do something blasphemous like what has been done to Srila Prabhupada? Will we stick to the principles or will we give up our devotional principles because it is disturbing the non-devotees? People and the media may take their own opinions and say what they like. But why should we take their opinion? Are they great devotees?

           The verse from Sikshastaka may be out of context here. Humility is different from toeing the line of modern society. No devotee preaches to gain public following and respect or quits their principles if they don't get that.

           While we can make some adjustments to avoid trouble, that is only so far as the bhakti principles remain unaffected. We cannot adjust so much that the devotion gets compromised. I agree with Swamiji's suggestion to call it Shoba Yatra. Anyhow non-devotees are never going to be satisfied by any adjustment. They just want the devotees out. Either we live for the Lord's opinion and the Vaisnava's opinion or we may go after public opinion. But just remember that we are responsible for whatever consequences come by going after the public.

            Or for that matter, what about the rest of us? We should have the courage to continue what we know is right despite whatever some people faithless about our Guru Parampara may howl and shout. Not doing so may be a sign that our faith is weakening. We are in Kali Yuga and we have to expect that even 99.9% of the population may object to the real principles. That is a problem which has been rearing its ugly head since the sankirtana movement was launched. If you are in India and are familiar with the history of the sankirtana movement, I can guarantee you that Gaudiya Vaisnava dharma has been the most criticised and most challenged by the public. It is looked at with skepticism even by some people from other Vaisnava sampradayas.

            Very importantly, even Lord Gauranga's sankirtana was criticised by many fools and they put a case before the authorities, what did the devotees do then? Read the Chaitanya Bhagavata. Which human can stop the Lord? Srila Prabhupada and the acaryas have faced such serious challenges which no one but the Lord knows in full. If they had stopped their preaching because it was 'disturbing the public', where would all of us be? Where would you or I be today? I think it's not fair to argue like this. No devotee goes out of their way to trouble others. If some minds are envious of devotees that is their fault, not the fault of the devotees or the devotional principles.

             Your quote from Upadesamrta that non-believers will remain non-believers. Quite right, but devotees must remain devotees too. Anyhow whatever the issues that may exist between ISKCON and the Jagannatha temple group, the main thing was the offense committed to the spiritual master. That is inexcusable no matter what the circumstances. Whatever be anyone's misgivings, no one has the right to offend the acaryas and dear devotees of the Lord and those who do so will certainly have to face the consequences.

             I will share with you some of and my friends' and my own realizations. To highlight another issue that is internal to many practitioners, why should we feel ashamed or fearful about public opinion to what we are following? These days even those who act like beasts and patronize all the most shameful evils in Kali are glorified in the papers or other media and even they're not ashamed. Why should we be?  If we are, then that means we don't like what we are doing, we don't like being a devotee and we internally consider it to be wrong. What are we doing wrong? This may actually not be favorable to the Supreme Lord and his devotees. They show so much mercy and we are feeling ashamed of it. I should thank my friend Vignesh for having pointed it out. His instruction I keep it on my head. It is by his mercy that we saw our mistake in time. It is the most subtle and major cause of falldown. First it was like, "My friends are teasing and bullying me for being very principled.", then it will be like, "Won't I look stupid before my friends if I say that I chant and refuse movies and trash food?" and one fine day it may become, "I don't think there is anything wrong in eating meat and in illicit sex for my friends' sake as long as I chant my rounds."

             So in the interests of everyone's devotion, we should compromise our standards. It is my humble request. In the name of bravery I don't mean go out and cause a riot or do something reckless or stoop to the level of the non-believers in our Guru Parampara. We may not be able to stop those who offend our Acharyas from where we are, but atleast we must not write things that will encourage further offenses in them. We must never consider a Vaisnava aparadha to be something mild, excusable or justifiable. We must know the difference between faith and sentiment. It is out of geniune concern that I have written strong language and not with any intention to criticize or hurt anyone's heart. If I have I fall at your feet a hundred times, but I beg all, let us follow the pure path. Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!

Your unworthy servant,

Srinath

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