{"id":10038,"date":"2011-11-03T11:40:28","date_gmt":"2011-11-03T10:40:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/?p=10038"},"modified":"2011-11-03T11:40:28","modified_gmt":"2011-11-03T10:40:28","slug":"who-says-srila-prabhupada-only-gave-us-the-abc%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%93-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/?p=10038","title":{"rendered":"Who Says Srila Prabhupada Only Gave Us The ABC\u2019s \u2013 part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Kesava Krsna Dasa<\/strong><\/p>\n

On the day of Govardhana-puja, one individual approached me. I knew he had shared loyalties. He asked me, \u201cHow is your bhajana?\u201d I replied by saying that generally, devotees pursue sadhana Bhakti until, with mercy, they qualify themselves\u2026 \u201cThat is why you need a \u2018rasika\u2019 guru who can help you,\u201d he replied confidently. <\/p>\n

He was obviously thinking that Iskcon devotees in general are stuck on a lower level of devotional commitment. I didn\u2019t want to tell him this – because it would have embarrassed him \u2013 but it appeared that he was going around telling innocent devotees about \u2018higher things,\u2019 while supposedly chanting japa. That didn\u2019t seem to me to be a very high form of bhajana \u2013 chanting and socialising means offensive, inattentive japa.<\/p>\n

Didn\u2019t Srila Prabhupada also sometimes talk or preach while chanting japa? The short answer to this question is; Srila Prabhupada had already attained perfection in his chanting \u2013 who are we to imitate?<\/p>\n

If one is serious about chanting one\u2019s rounds, he or she will withdraw from all potential distractions, including socialising with devotees, until the required number is finished. Then we could say there is at least some serious bhajana going on. But how will innocent devotees respond to the proposition of \u2018needing\u2019 a \u2018rasika\u2019 guru?<\/p>\n

The sort of information that accompanies this proposition can sound different, and somewhat startling for the uninformed. \u201cWow! I don\u2019t normally here that kind of \u2018rasa\u2019 philosophy\u2026\u201d Imagine how the curiosity can pique. Being unprepared to respond in kind, there is a possibility of doubts being created \u2013 and from doubt\u2026? <\/p>\n

How often are we told that our strict attendance of Mangala-arati, chanting of japa and other daily spiritual functions, are to help us become regulated and \u2018fixed-up?\u2019 But \u2018fixed-up\u2019 for what? More service and more chanting? If \u2018fixed-up\u2019 essentially means to be nishta or steady, then it must form the basis of spring boarding further. What this \u2018further\u2019 entails usually remains theoretical. Very cautious are we about running before walking.<\/p>\n

That caution can also stifle, and limit our ability to even think of things beyond what we are doing. If we are internally afraid to think ahead, then we shall not know what our Bhakti goal in life is? Without knowing our goal and not pursuing it, we can remain forever on a \u201ctrying to be fixed-up\u201d level. Of course, this is our external position.<\/p>\n

This is the external position that the devotee in question misunderstood. He thinks we are lacking something, and spurred by his being a disciple of a \u2018higher\u2019 guru, sought to share with me some wisdom. This motivation can appear as an assured confidence. Now I have to speak on his level. <\/p>\n

\u201cIsn\u2019t Srila Prabhupada a rasika spiritual master?\u201d I asked. <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, yes. Srila Prabhupada is a rasika guru\u2026\u201d he answered. \u201cBut he did not teach you all the intimate rasa details\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about Chaitanya Charitamrta and Srimad Bhagavatam\u2026 are these just basic scriptures?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, they are high scriptures, but Srila Prabhupada didn\u2019t teach or talk very much about these things\u2026\u201d he retorted.<\/p>\n

\u201cWasn\u2019t Srila Prabhupada being very careful about this, so as to prevent the premature enjoying of these higher matters?\u201d I asked again.<\/p>\n

The conversation went on, and I really wanted to finish off with predictable outcomes. I then tried to say something to illustrate how our Srila Prabhupada is an acarya rasika spiritual master. This information is rarely spoken of, and I have not heard it said before. But speaking in his language \u2013 and he was well informed – I told him of a conviction that I had had for some time. This might be useful additional information on how our Srila Prabhupada gave us everything.<\/p>\n

It relates to our everyday activities in Krishna consciousness and the timing of those events. In the Nectar Of Instruction verse 10, there is mention of how Sri Sri Radha and Krishna conduct Their pastimes eternally, or on a daily eightfold continuation called asta-kaliya-lila. Not much is said about this, but we do hear reference of it now and again. But they are fully described in literature that Srila Prabhupada recommended for reading – and those with shared loyalties discuss them all the time.<\/p>\n

On average, our days begin with Mangala-arati. Depending on our level of perception, we shall either heed the greeting of Their Lordships as a sadhana wake-up call to be \u2018fixed-up,\u2019 or we can actually realise \u2013 even with awareness \u2013 that we are witnessing, and hopefully, assisting the spiritual master, who is assisting the gopis and other messengers in the waking up of the Divine Couple from Their late night pastimes (nisanta-lila) – when it is time for Them to return home \u2013 only to meet again, later. <\/p>\n

Does it ever occur to us that the Guru-astakam prayers in which the fifth and sixth verses describe our desired vision, is dedicated in the direction of Madhurya sympathies, and that Srila Prabhupada was orientated that way too? Then comes the exalted Tulasi arati and prayers. Surely there is more to Mangala-arati than we are usually accustomed to on an external level \u2013 it is a rasika relish for the fortunate.<\/p>\n

If we think of this as being our participation, we can find purpose to our practicing of Krishna consciousness, and that there is a goal to strive for, however exalted and glorious. We can think of the other regulated times when our Lordships are offered food during various pujas and aratis throughout each day. <\/p>\n

Where are Their Lordships at these different times during asta-kaliya-lila? Do we ever think that all these offerings correspond with different pastimes of either the Divine Couple, or Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai throughout the day? If Srila Prabhupada set up our days like this, then his internal mood is of a rasika nature.<\/p>\n

If so, then Srila Prabhupada established Iskcon not just for vaisnava association \u2013 and all the managerial affairs – but in time, as we develop, will be able to appreciate the internal or esoteric purpose of Iskcon. Otherwise why did Srila Prabhupada create Iskcon with its regular fixed times for different aratis and pujas? Certainly, they are meant to help us \u2018fix-up,\u2019 but to also go further and to internalise more.<\/p>\n

Since our Iskcon days have been structured for us this way, we can actually say that Srila Prabhupada \u2013 as a rasika spiritual master acarya \u2013 had ours and Iskcon\u2019s daily activities evolve around the asta-kaliya-lila or eightfold rasika pastimes of Their Lordships. So how can Srila Prabhupada not be a rasika vaisnava? Isn\u2019t the occasion of Sri Govardhana-lila also a rasika event?<\/p>\n

He may have converted all the technical Sanskrit jargon and high-sounding rasika terms and rendered them into English for our benefit, but others often misunderstand this as being a basic and rudimentary presentation of Krishna consciousness. The claim is that Srila Prabhupada only gave us the abc\u2019s. Sometimes even we ourselves can think like this in an ordinary way.<\/p>\n

If we can appreciate how, within the structured daily timing of our spiritual practices in Iskcon, all of our vaisnava association requirements are met\u2026 our chanting, hearing, learning \u2013 everything \u2013 then we can say again, that Srila Prabhupada gave us everything.<\/p>\n

This lofty way of seeing how Mangala-arati should be observed, need not be construed as inappropriate or being way beyond us. As we carry out our services for the benefit of Iskcon we need glimpses of the internal reality, and these can help us define and refine our goals.<\/p>\n

This response was agreeable, and we parted ways on an amicable note. Though the opening question of \u201cHow is your bhajana?\u201d was suitable, the follow-up \u201cYou need a rasika guru\u201d motivation spoiled it. And saying this implied that Srila Prabhupada is less qualified and has limited capacity to lead us to rasika reality.<\/p>\n

To want to defend Srila Prabhupada or his mission is also misunderstood. Sometimes it is said by those with shared loyalties, that to simply be loyal to Srila Prabhupada or Iskcon on the basis of eternal gratitude and \u2018unpaid debt,\u2019 is not a spiritual quality. Especially when \u2018higher\u2019 things can be obtained elsewhere. Then what is that loyalty?<\/p>\n

It is true that such loyalty can be sentimental if one has no philosophical grounding. But if an eternal bond is created either on a siksa or diksa level with Srila Prabhupada, is it something less to be loyal to? How can one not be loyal to one who has given everything? Isn\u2019t there a possibility that accepting Srila Prabhupada and someone else with equal or greater loyalty, can compromise one\u2019s goals? <\/p>\n

Ultimately, everything hinges on our own guru bhakti and the conviction of his status. If we really do see Srila Prabhupada as the giver of everything required, then he will appear to us like that. If we view him as someone ordinary, or less advanced, then he will appear like that too – our sraddha determines these different perceptions, and will define our spiritual progress or stagnation.<\/p>\n

And in that stagnation one can be adept at all the rasa concepts and quote them freely, but having caused a crack in the estimation of Srila Prabhupada – thinking he cannot deliver on that score \u2013 such \u2018high\u2019 eloquence remains unrealised and un\u2019vijnana theory. Shared loyalties can produce an inequality of faith and conviction. Even the slightest minimising of the spiritual master will minimise our own outlook.<\/p>\n

Next time someone asks us, \u201cHow is your bhajana?\u201d we can say that, \u201cMy bhajana is at the shelter of the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada, which can award the highest desirable rasika benedictions in life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ys Kesava Krsna Dasa \u2013 GRS.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Kesava Krsna Dasa<\/strong><\/p>\n

On the day of Govardhana-puja, one individual approached me. I knew he had shared loyalties. He asked me, \u201cHow is your bhajana?\u201d I replied by saying that generally, devotees pursue sadhana Bhakti until, with mercy, they qualify themselves\u2026 \u201cThat is why you need a \u2018rasika\u2019 guru who can help you,\u201d he replied confidently<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10038","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles","category-kesava-krsna-dasa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10038","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10038"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10038\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10038"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10038"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10038"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}