A Reply to "Bhav Is Black"
BY: PRAGHOSA DAS (ACBSP) (NYC)
Aug 10, NEW YORK (SUN) — I want to offer some comments upon the recent article posted by Rocana das entitled: "Bhav is Black".
The history of Srila Prabhupada and his successful introduction of Krsna Consciousness all over the world is characterized by his incredible determination and patience while making the endeavor to redirect our misguided lives from that of materialists of all stripe to enthusiastic devotees of Lord Krsna. Like any father, he was quick to overlook our defects and failings and even more quickly disposed to exaggerate our positive efforts in his service. This quality of Srila Prabhupada is well known to everyone and there are literally hundreds of examples of his offering his disciples chance upon chance upon chance to move forward in their devotional service - no matter what kind of accidental or even deliberate interruption or deviation would raise its head.
Rocana Prabhu has made a number of claims in this and his previous article about Bhavananda Prabhu. I will not list them all but suffice it to say - he openly declares that he is not at all happy that Bhavananda Prabhu has dared to make this most recent attempt to renew his commitment to our Srila Prabhupada's service by returning to Sri Dhama Mayapur and taking up any service that would entail him doing anything but perhaps walking around with the proverbial tail between his legs - straw between his teeth and perhaps even an hour or two of self flagellation.
As Rocana prabhu has said, "Not surprisingly, we also haven't heard a word from anyone in ISKCON trying to explain or justify the 'Bhav is Back' movement." I thought I would offer a simple comment to help him understand the situation.
There is no "movement". This is Bhavananda prabhu's personal effort to serve Srila Prabhupada and his spiritual interests as well. That is all
Bhavananda prabhu - an initiated disciple of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada is doing exactly what His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada had consistently requested him to do; help him to build and secure our most important center in Sri Dhama Mayapur and also to do whatever it takes to invite and inspire the balance of the world to come there and take full advantage of its full spiritual potency, in order that their own Krsna Consciousness might attain complete success and they might also be made even more capable of planting Krsna Consciousness in their respective "prabhu-datta-desa" after visiting or residing there.
In case devotees do not understand this - Krsna Consciousness is actually described as our "duty." I was once fortunate enough to hear from Srila Prabhupada personally that the real definition of "humility" is "to execute one's duty".
As I stated recently in regards to HH Dhanurdara Swami - he is not "our" servant; he is Srila Prabhupada's servant. Likewise with Bhavananda prabhu. He is Srila Prabhupada's servant. And not only is he Srila Prabhupada's servant...he is and will always be a very dear servant to Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada acknowledged this especially after Bhavananda prabhu was dragged in chains through the streets of Navadwip on behalf of His Divine Grace. Srila Prabhupada was in tears when told of this and stated "They came with intention to do this to me". Rocana Prabhu may imagine that Bhavananda prabhu is this or that - but the truth is every single man and woman who ever lifted a finger to serve His Divine Grace is forever dear to Srila Prabhupada - no matter what - and this is only magnified many times over by those who endured such things for Srila Prabhupada!
I had the great fortune to be standing two feet from His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada in 1974 in Hawaii while he was seated in the front seat of a car waiting to take him back to his residence. He suddenly spied one of his dear disciples - a mataji who had served him very menially in the early years. She was dressed in karmi clothes but looking upon His Divine Grace with tearful affection. He called her while also signaling her to approach the window of the car. She did so and he smiled with such affection! It was a most telling and wonderful example of Srila Prabhupada's unceasing love and gratitude for his devotees, who had stepped forward to eagerly embrace what he had so carefully sought to offer. He immediately asked "Why have you left the Panca Tattwa? They are YOUR dieties. I gave them to YOU!" This mataji had left her service and the company of the devotees for some time but Srila Prabhupada did not ask her what she had been doing; whether or not she had maintained her vows; was she still chanting etc., etc. He demonstrated only complete joy, almost childlike glee when he spied her standing off to the side and all he appeared to convey was a loving sense of urgency that she might understand how much he wished for her to simply forget whatever she was doing that might prevent her from coming back and taking up where she left off in her progress back to home, Back to Godhead! She bowed her head to him and he seemed to reach up and gently touch her head and say "That's all right. Now just come back and never leave them again!" (I may not have his exact words - it has been more than 30 years but these are the basic facts)
I was personally asked once by Srila Prabhupada "If our Bali Mardan was back in New York?" When I answered that "He was Srila Prabhupada" he then stated that "The devotees should sell Kachoris on the streets of New York and "OUR" Bali Mardan should prepare them!" In fact he further added "Our Bali Mardan makes the best Kachoris in our ISKCON!" Srila Prabhupada asked another young man at that time what he was doing in Washington and he commented that he had arrived there only recently; that he was formerly working with Gargamuni Prabhu in the library party in India. Srila Prabhupada inquired "Oh how was that?" and the young devotee proceeded to criticize Gargamuni prabhu for this and that. I was a little stunned that he would do that in Srila Prabhupada's presence but the moment he commenced, Srila Prabhupada cut him off sharply, saying "Anyway! They are working very hard!"
The history of our Srila Prabhupada is one of immense patience and compassion. Bhavananda Prabhu is back because like all of us - he knows that the perfection of his life is in doing whatever he can, to advance the mission of Srila Prabhupada. Whatever personal errors he has made - and I do mean "WHATEVER" are important only insofar as they may assist him in knowing more fully what it is he must guard against now so as to be more available and more capable in the service of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Chaitanya.
Most of us have failed Srila Prabhupada in one way or another. But if we allow our failings to serve as an excuse that we might utilize to condone NOT serving the interests of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Chaitanya, then we are simply not sincere or we are completely captured by Maya.
The essence of the damsel's of Vraja intense service to Lord Krsna is in their being incapable of doing "other than" that which would please Lord Krsna! Narada Muni, begged them for the dust of their feet to cure Krsna's headache...and they eagerly complied. He was amazed! He said "But don't you know that many have refused to offer the dust of their feet claiming that "Are you kidding? If Krsna puts the dust of my feet on His head… I could be sent to the darkest region of hell for this offense!"
"Are you not worried that his might be your fate?" Narada asked.
The gopis replied "We don't care for that! Our only concern is that our dear Krsna not endure any such thing as a headache!"
So our business is to serve the interests of Srila Prabhupada. Like the damsels of Vraja we "cannot do otherwise" - no matter the cost! Rocana Prabhu and perhaps others seem to imagine that Bhavananda prabhu is obliged to please him or them by remaining ever more at a distance from the most practical service of Srila Prabhupada. That is clearly not correct. In case there is some doubt - all of us - Rocana Prabhu included, are duty bound to make all efforts to "practically" serve the interests of Srila Prabhupada. If we have slipped in anyway - as we say in New York "Forgeddabout it", pick ourselves up off the canvas.... and get back in the fight!
Isn't that what Sri Arjuna was forced to do? Krsna did not say "Well you blew it! Scram!" No! He said "Hey Arjuna...my dear friend and devotee! How in the heck did these impurities come upon you? They don't fit you! Shake em off and get back in the fight! There are a hell of a lot of men who need killing out there and either you are gonna do it for me..or I am gonna have to find somebody who will! Now you can be famous for doing it - or "infamous" for not! It's up to you. What's it gonna be?"
I know Rocana prabhu and others will argue that his particular offenses bar him from "picking up from where he left off" but that is not correct. In fact he is not really at liberty to think like that. In consultation with Godbrothers who know what he is capable of and also what is most needed - he is now trying to see where his talents and energy can best serve the interests of Srila Prabhupada.
Rocana prabhu has misrepresented Srila Prabhupada in this affair.
Srila Prabhupad would most definitely wish for Bhavananda prabhu to revive his famously intense mood of service to Srila Prabhupada and offer himself to once again serve "at Srila Prabhupada's beck and call" as he was known to do in the past. He would in fact want all of his disciples, whose practical service had waned or suffered interruption, to find the means and determination, to hurl ourselves back into the fight and preach and serve with the determination of our former selves supported by the encouragement of our Godbrothers and Godsisters.
Rocana Prabhu has also misrepresented Bhavananda prabhu.
He is not sitting on a Vyasasana seeking glory and honor. That he holds class - seated on the same asana as every other speaker in Sridhama Mayapur - does not mean anything other than that he is conducting himself correctly in the normal routine of the temple. He has many talents and to not employ them - practically - in the service of Srila Prabhupada - is in fact and act of embezzlement - as whatever talents we possess actually belong to Lord Krsna and should be employed in the service of His pure devotee. In this case - that pure devotee is of course our dearmost Srila Prabhupada. I am not fully aware of all that he is now doing in the dhama to serve His Divine Grace - but I am more than 1000% certain that our Srila Prabhupada is every bit as happy that he is once again trying to serve him - directly and practically - as he was when he spied our Godsister from his car in Hawaii! And just as he said to her - I know Srila Prabhupada was always eager to say to Bhavananda prabhu (or any of us) "Why did you leave my service? The Panca Tattwa and Sri Radha Madhava - are YOUR DIETIES! I gave them to you! Now just come back and never leave them again!"
I would hope and pray, that each and every devotee - who has ever had the pure ecstasy of serving Srila Prabhupada - in any capacity whatsoever and has sense that time slipped - to whatever degree - will not hesitate to pick themselves off the canvas and immediately rush back in to the fight! I personally take Bhavandanda Prabhu's efforts to renew his commitment to our Srila Prabhupada as most inspiring. I want to personally thank him for his efforts. I encourage everyone to look upon his efforts in the same favorable way that I know Srila Prabhupada is doing.
His coming back to the shelter of Srila Prabhupada and his desire to advance the cause of this Krsna Consciousness, both for himself and for others - is to be looked upon favorably by all of us as it is most definitely by our Spiritual Master; His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada.
With Respect and admiration for all my Godbrothers and Godsisters!
Praghosa Das (ACBSP) (NYC)
