***I am convinced that to understand what is the difference between a Brahmana (varnashrama) and a Vaishnava (no material considerations) and "to work together" to spread Krishna consciousness is the challenge before us.***
This is a message to an advanced Vaishnavi godsister:
Dear __________,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
It seems my service now and for the last little while is to simply hear and chant, read and record. I find reading out loud and recording and then listening, 24/7 is very helpful. The reading is not exactly "studying" it is more like chanting. So I am able to stay connected through the pure sounds of devotion.
I was initiated in Boston 1971.
I am not high profile. I was engaged in service for many years in the temples and for many years after Srila Prabhupada's disappearance still within the temples but then eventually outside. All purification.
From my lack of position now I am able to observe impartially. No position anywhere really. Not in the "world" or within ISKCON society. Srila Prabhupada is my spiritual master.
I wanted to share with you some of what I am understanding. I am slow, dull, and pretty much useless. My "realizations" may appear like kindergarten stuff but.. well.. they are my realizations.
The struggles that are going within the institution and the society are not something new. I have just finished reading and recording Srila Bhaktisiddhanta's "Brahmana and Vaishnava" and also a shorter paper by his father Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur of the same title. It is the same struggle Ajamila witnessed when approached by the Yamadhutas when their jurisdiction was superseded by the Vishnudhutas.
The Vaishanvas/Vaishnavis are not under the jurisdiction of the varnashrama. The recent push by some devotees to dictate the woman's role in varnashrama does not apply to Vaishnavis.
Many devotees are not able to distinguish what is a Vaishnava/Vaishnavi. Those of us who were active within the movement when Srila Prabhupada was physically present "know" what a Vaishnava is! So these later generations do not have that benefit of the association of an empowered pure devotee Vaishnava. They are more inclined to gradually make progress by holding on to fruitive desires and arranging things accordingly under the varnashrama system.
Nothing wrong with that. It is very helpful. The problem is they are not able to distinguish what is a Vaishnava/Vaishnavi. How Vaishnavism is beyond the varnashrama and is actually the goal.
It is not a new problem. It has been going on for a very long time. It appears to be the challenge of each generation to deal with as it rears its ugly head according to the time place and circumstance. For Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati it was in the form of smarta brahmanism, qualification by birth, and endless rules and regulations.
I think it is popping up in our time in form of "women's position" and in general pervading the institution on almost all issues. Even the editing... I think..is tinged with avaishnavism in favor of correctness. In other words, as soon as the attention is shifted from directly pleasing Krishna Chaitanya and turns towards benefiting society the danger is there of falling into material consciousness.
That is the case with everything... vegetarianism... versus... prasadamsim, women's "position"... versus... preaching, the book distribution program was severely damaged by it... book selling as source of revenue.... versus... giving people Krishna...
Without the mercy of the Pure Vaishnavas things quickly degrade into simply a religion. Dharma.. But that is not the sacrifice for the age. Sankirtana yajna and the mercy of Lord Chaitanya mahaprabhu is the real benediction. The chance of a zillion lifetimes.
Just sharing some thoughts with you. But I think this is what is happening.
Religion, dharma, is there to prepare for Vaishnavism.
Srila Prabhupada is a Vaishnava.
Hare Krishna..
Your fallen servant... in the service of Srila Prabhupada.
Meena dd
No comments:
Post a Comment