Who Will Be the Judge?
BY: DEVA DHARMA DAS
Nov 05, 2010 — NEW ZEALAND (SUN) — Well, I'm afraid I do not "See the Difference". Maybe I'm blind, maybe I'm stupid, or maybe I just understand what the Swami is actually stating.
It is quite sad to see devotees assaulting one another over simple statements made by His Holiness Gour Govinda Maharaja. The quotes given by Aprakrita das in his article "See the Difference" are obviously made under two VERY different circumstances. This is not the way to prove anything. We could just as easily take two different statements by Srila Prabhupada, from two different situations, and say ‘LOOK' he is contradicting himself'. Would you like me to start such a dialogue???
We know that Srila Prabhupada said different things in different situations, according to time, place, and circumstance. Why did Prabhupada set-up the morning program in every temple whereby every devotee had to attend the Srimad Bhagavatam class? He could have told us to play his recorded lecture tape, either in the temple or at home. But no, we had to regularly hear the Bhagavatam in the association of devotees. This is the simple point Gour Govinda Swami is making. To use this to prove that he is contradicting Srila Prabhupada is simply a demoniac mentality.
I didn't need to look hard to find this quote from Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.6 purport… "To HEAR and EXPLAIN them is more important than reading them. One can assimilate the knowledge of the revealed scripture only by hearing and explaining…" Sravana… Kirtana.
Srila Prabhupada could not be physically present all over the world to initiate disciples, but whenever possible he would perform the diksa and chant the mantras. At least 90% of Prabhupada disciples were initiated in the personal association of Prabhupada. So on one hand, if you want to take Srila Prabhupada's statement literally, then there is no need for any live guru -- just get the tape of Srila Prabhupada and receive the Gayatri mantra and you are the bona fide disciple of H.D.G. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami. Another score for the Rtviks.
Srila Prabhupada often emphasised the importance of hearing the Srimad Bhagavatam directly from the guru (himself) and he would get very upset if devotees were falling asleep in his class, which was often the case. If you read carefully the quote of Gour Govinda Swami, he says "NOT JUST BY LISTENING TO TAPES". He doesn't say tapes are bogus, or books are bogus. His primary service for many years as an ISKCON sannyasi was dedicated to translating the books of Srila Prabhupada into Oriya. His work was approved and much appreciated by Srila Prabhupada. And, If you don't agree with HH Goura Govinda Maharaja, then again there should be no need to attend the Srimad Bhagavatam class, no need to hear directly, and just listen to the tapes of Srila Prabhupada.
Where in Bhagavad-gita does Krishna say, ‘Just listen to my tapes and receive transcendental knowledge from the non-present guru'? Krishna says "Tad viddhi pranipatena, pariprasnena sevaya" (Gita 4.34). "Just try to learn the truth by approaching a (bona fide) spiritual master, inquire from him submissively, and render service unto him." Surely, this implies a physically present guru, does it not? This is the basic point that the swami is making. And who can deny that hearing Srimad Bhagavatam from the lips of a pure devotee is no different from hearing directly from Krishna himself (sabda brahma). We all had that experience with Srila Prabhupada. We have all experienced the tremendous potency of live kirtan or harinama sankirtan. Does listening to tapes or CDs give us the same blissful experience? But, like him or not, why was it that so many ordinary young devotees could sit and listen to Gour Govinda Maharaja for 1 or 2 hours and relish hearing Srimad Bhagavatam? We could not do that with Srila Prabhupada and he knew it, therefore classes were relatively short. Yeh, I know, you'll have some argument for that too, too much service to do, bla bla bla. Hearing is service, chanting is service.
In fact, these are the two most important services to Krishna. Most of the leaders, GBC and Gurus got really worried because for once someone was enlivening the devotees in such a simple way, without all the usual hype and charisma and tall stories about what was happening in some other part of the world. So many of the usual ISKCON classes were geared towards getting devotees to go out, sell books, and collect huge amounts of Laxmi, which all seemed to evaporate into the ether, or fatten the bank accounts and egos of the CHOSEN few.
In Australia we had various Gurus, GBCs, Swamis and others preaching very strongly against Gour Govinda Maharaja, but still, many, many devotees were highly impressed with his purity, devotion, knowledge and compassion. His lectures were very well attended and appreciated in most ISKCON temples. And the big guns could not stem the flow of nectar. I am surprised that Rocana prabhu is not using Gour Govinda Swami and his book Guru Tattva as an example for what we need to follow in ISKCON. The big gurus, the Zonal Acaryas and their followers were all very worried by and threatened by this little book called Guru Tattva. In Mayapur they were banned from distributing it. WHY? He was simply preaching SASTRA, as I seem to remember. (I don't have a copy at present.) It was simply based upon the Upadeshamrta. As such, he was also the biggest threat to the established guru system of ISKCON.
In his very long, well thought out, well worded and extensive essays, Shouldering the Burden (Part One, Part Two, and Part Three), Rocana prabhu gives much information on the corrupt guru system, but unfortunately fails to quote any sastra, except to say that the guru system "Is against the varnasrama conclusion". Where do we find this in any of Srila Prabhupada's books, or any scripture? I would like to read it. At least Gour Govinda Swami is always quoting sastra to support his teachings and lectures. Perhaps Rocana prabhu can prepare a scriptural based thesis on guru-tattva, and maybe other learned pandits can contribute as well.
If you are to replace the current system then you need a better, more foolproof system. Do we need a whole lot of second class gurus roaming around with a whole lot of second class disciples? We need uttama-adhikari gurus and first-class disciples. We need to have proper checks and balances according to scripture. Better one full moon than so many little stars that just twinkle, and soon, want to BE the FULL MOON.
For Goura Govinda to say that Srila Prabhupada only gave us some truths in seed form is not an insult. Did he ever say that the books of Srila Prabhupada were no good, or not sufficient to bring us to the platform of love of GOD? NO! Why should he be blamed for whatever Madhavananda das says or does? Srila Prabhupada had limited time, and we know that even the first verse of Srimad Bhagavatam could be lectured on for several weeks, if not months. We have had many sannyasis elaborating on various aspects of Srila Prabhupada's books for decades. What about the VIHE study courses? Mostly these are expositions on what Prabhupada has given in his books, such as Bhurijan's elaborations on Bhagavad-gita. And, what about the wonderful elaborations given by Bhakti Vidyapurna Maharaj? Why do many devotees like reading the lovely books by Kusakrata prabhu? And, the many nice books by Mahaniddhi Swami? Who did not relish reading the beautiful book called The Embankment of Separation?
We still find many devotees writing wonderful books elaborating on different subjects, all to inspire and enliven the devotees. Recently I saw a very nice book written by a Prabhupada godbrother in Vrindavan called, The Saints Of Vrindavan. And another very beautiful book was published by some Gaudiya Math describing the life and character of all the associates of Lord Chaitanya. So the flow of nectar continues, the ocean of devotion is ever expanding, all by the grace of Srila Prabhupada.
So you may be thinking, "Oh, here's another one of those fanatic supporters". But, I also do not agree with everything Gour Govinda Maharaja was preaching. We are all entitled to our opinion, just as much as he is. Should we just become mindless robots? We all dance to a different drum. Unity in diversity is what Srila Prabhupada called it. What inspires you may not inspire me, etc., etc.
Gour Govinda Swami grew up in a very beautiful village surrounded by Vaisnavas, devotees of Lord Chaitanya, and Gopal Jiu. What was their regular form of entertainment? Kirtan, bhajan, and Hari katha. So he could fully realize the importance of sadhu-sanga, the importance of hearing and chanting amongst pure devotees. He had a much different set of values than what we have. We have all the traits of growing up in the western mlecchas culture. Lord Chaitanya stressed this on many occasions, as is evident throughout Caitanya-caritamrta, "Sadhu Sanga, Sadhu Sanga, sarva siddhi hoya". ‘ALL PERFECTION IS ATTAINED'. So yes, Gour Govinda Maharaja was, TOTALLY convinced about this, to the extreme!!! Was he right, was he wrong? Who will be the judge? In many, many places Srila Prabhupada also stresses the importance of sadhu-sanga.
Mahavidya prabhu talked about the fanatical followers of Gour Govinda. Yes, it's unfortunate, but we've seen fanatic disciples of all the big gurus, and it will continue. It's just part of the spiritual process. We were all fanatics in the early days. There should be a guidebook for the fanatics -- "How to be a Successful Fanatic" or maybe "Spiritual Life for Dummies", so we know how to protect ourselves from the onslaught. To understand why younger devotees are so fanatical I would highly recommend people to read and excellent article called, "The Stages of Spiritual Growth", taken from a book The Different Drum by M. Scott Peck. If you want to understand why there are also many cheaters in the dress of Vaisnavas, then read his other book, People of the Lie.
Over the years we have also seen many different devotees become fanatical about book distribution, others with deity worship, others with cow protection, others with gurukula, others with varnasrama/self-sufficiency, others fanatical about prasad distribution, others fanatical with brahmacari/sannyasa life. So, who is right, who is wrong? In Srila Prabhupada's eyes everyone is right, because all of these things are MOST important.
In different classes Srila Prabhupada would stress that book distribution was ‘most important'. Then another place prasadam was ‘most important'. Then another place, like New Vrindavan, he would stress (after he was asked "Should our men now go out and preach") that "Some of our men can go and preach, BUT, THIS is our REAL preaching, you develop this community, and people will see by your example". How many lectures did we hear with Srila Prabhupada stressing the importance of varnasrama? London class: "So Vaisnava means regulated life, and regulated life means varnasrama".
Why did he use his final moments, barely able to move, barely able to talk, but still he was stressing the need for varnasrama as a means to raise people to the platform of goodness, without which there is no hope for spiritual advancement??? Yet we have had many sannyasis, gurus and GBCs, preaching against varnasrama for the past 33 years. Even still, it is not a priority on any leader's agenda anywhere in Australia or New Zealand. Yes, they now talk about it, BUT it is still just ‘Business as Usual'. And sadly, I must admit that this was not an important topic in the preaching of Gour Govinda Swami, simply because he was preaching more on the highest philosophy of Lord Chaitanya, prema bhakti. Was he right, was he wrong? Will you be the judge? We should all understand that Srila Prabhupada certainly is the only Jagad Guru for the whole world. To fulfil his great vision, however, so many other great devotees are needed.
But getting back to the issue, was Gour Govinda Swami a pure devotee or not? Was he representing the guru-parampara and Srila Prabhupada? I first arrived in Bhubaneswar as a penniless brahmacari in mid-1976, and finally found my way to a small mud-brick hut way out in the wilderness near the village of Nayapally. There, I was received with great warmth and respect by the only resident, Gour Govinda Swami. I remained there till just after Srila Prabhupada's visit in February 1977. After my previous bad experience with various ISKCON swamis, like Mr. Garglemoneybag, Mr. Sridartsunami, Mr. Kreepyguru (there is a long list, I could write a book), I was so relieved to be finally living with a real Vaisnava, who was truly akincana, and a truly self-controlled sadhu. I was always treated with love and trust, and respect, a rare commodity in ISKCON. I felt great joy living the simple life and reading the whole Caitanya-caritamrta in that nice environment surrounded by Tulsi devi and His Holiness.
Pundarika Vidyaniddhi das also came to join us soon after, and this was the humble beginning of the Bhubaneswar yatra. I had written a letter to Srila Prabhupada asking for some advice. He wrote back saying, "You can discuss these matters with Goura Govinda Swami, whatever he says, that is all-right with me". When Prabhupada came there in February 1977, he had only kind words and praise for Gour Govinda Swami. He even arranged that Orissa would be an independent zone, free from any GBC control or interference. Prabhupada also made arrangement, "If you have any trouble getting supplies from the GBC (or Mayapur), just contact me and I will personally arrange for it".
Srila Prabhupada also wrote various letters of encouragement and appreciation to Gour Govinda Maharaja. Bhagavat Prabhu was also deputed by Prabhupada to stay there and work to assist Gour Govinda Maharaja and to help develop the project. He will be more expert in describing the wonderful character of His Holiness. And who does not relish the lectures of H.H. Mahaniddhi Maharaja? And why does he also have the utmost love and respect for Gour Govinda Swami? Srila Prabhupada also showed great love and affection for him. We know he was given immediate sannyasa in Vrindavan, which we never saw happen before. I personally never heard him speak anything which was not from Srila Prabhupada's books or not from other bona fide Vaisnava literature.
Can any of us decide or even know when it is time for us to depart from this material world and make the necessary arrangements? We hang on for dear life and only leave when we are forced to by nature, in the form of cancer, or some other illness, or some terrible accident. Gour Govinda Swami went to his beloved village deity Gopal Jiu to ask for guidance and permission to depart before he travelled to Mayapur, where he passed away in the most auspicious circumstances, surrounded by devotees, and discussing Caitanya-lila.
So prabhus, please ask yourself, where and how will you be leaving this material world? We would all like to pray for you.
The Sampradaya Sun provides a great opportunity indeed for all to express their opinions and feelings about all the different Vaisnava concerns around the world. These are just some of my opinions. Thank you, to all the Vaisnavas.
