KK Bindu #383: With first time translations of acaryas comments on Vaishnava poetic ornamentation.
Distorted Bhakti by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur. Excerpt: Many of our friends have forgotten the subjects pertaining to the Supreme Lord. They imagine Krishna to be an angel or a historical personality and thus they speak in a way that is not fit for hearing and they paint pictures that are not fit for seeing. In this way they are ruining themselves and others as well. These people have distorted Jayadev’s and Chandidas’ writings, which Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu relished in the company of his most intimate associates. They have thus transformed these transcendental books into objects of their sense gratification. It is very unfortunate and unjust that subject matters meant for discussion by high class personalities are now talked about among ordinary people that lack the necessary qualifications. By proudly attempting to discuss these topics, such people have brought about their own ruination and also that of others. Nowadays, people are only interested in hearing things that appear pleasing to them. For this reason they like to hear the teachings of impersonalists. It is very difficult to find people who are truly interested in hearing hari-katha. People who are averse to devotional service and yet advertise themselves as devotees, as learned scholars, as great renunciates, as qualified brahmanas, or as mayavadls , simply deceive people. By claiming to be devotees or learned scholars, they bring inauspiciousness upon the ordinary people. Unfortunate people fall into their snare.
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CONTENTS INCLUDE: * RECIPROCATION OF LOVE AND DUTY – His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada speaks about the exchange between guru and disciple.
* DISTORTED BHAKTI – Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada explains the detrimental effects when persons try to pretend to be on a spiritual platform that they are not.
* RECOLLECTION, CONFUSION AND AMBIGUITY – A first time translation done especially for this issue of Bindu of comments from various acaryas about Vaishnava poetic ornamentation.
* MY GREAT LAMENTATION – Another fresh translation from Srila Prabodhananda Saraswati’s Vrindavan-mahimamrtam. It can be downloaded here: https://archive.org/details/bindu383