Peace: The Enemy of Devotion
by
Swami B.K. Giri
Exclusive dedication to Radha-dasyam in the line of Sri Rupa Goswami is the
quintessential feature of Gaudiya Vaisnavism that distinguishes it from all
other theistic conceptions. Due to this feature there exists a natural
antagonistic relationship with other forms of theism. Atheists and
neophytes find it abhorrent that there is fighting between different
religions. They consider religion a means of alleviating suffering or
controlling the base desires with the threat of future punishment from the
all-seeing and all-knowing God.
The atheist will tend towards impersonalism which seeks to erase the pain
of material life through a deep spiritual sleep. The neophyte, although
accepting a personal God, will see Him as the embodiment of his own
estimation of morality proceeding from his mundane frame of reference. His
spiritual progress will be seen either as a reward for adherence to this
morality or as a result of the unbounded grace of the "all-good God". In
either case God's grace is measured by the degree of tranquility one
achieves through material advancement or anaesthetisation of material
suffering.
Both of these concepts are flawed as they are based on the imperfect
reasoning power of those that are the cause of their own suffering. Another
common trait of these two groups is the desire to alleviate suffering by
retirement from activity. The neophyte's retirement is accomplished by
giving one's duties over to God for His management. The impersonalist
simply removes himself from the plane of responsibility.
One who is more advanced in spiritual knowledge knows that God can only be
approached on His own terms. Although he accepts the concept of unbounded
grace from an "all-good God" he knows the secret for inviting that grace.
This secret is revealed through the gurus, shastra and sadhus of the
Gaudiya Vaisnavas. It is known as Radha-dasyam, service to Srimati
Radharani, and it is both the means and the end of spiritual fulfillment.
For those seeking tranquility there are two elements present in
Radha-dasyam that appear troublesome. The first is service. Service implies
activity and sacrifice which in themselves may not be particularly
disturbing, but when the second element, Radha, is introduced, the conflict
begins. The activity and sacrifice must be carried out for someone outside
one's own self, for Sri Radha, and it must be done with no personal
consideration. Furthermore, Sriman Mahaprabhu has stated clearly,
"gopibhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-anudasa". Don't try to serve Krsna
directly. Don't even try to serve Srimati Radharani directly. The most
fortunate position you can attain is to engage in the service of the
servant of the servant of the servant of the Gopis, the assistants of Sri
Radha.
The intelligence of the shallow transcendentalists previously mentioned is
bewildered by the false ego. This causes the atheist to believe himself to
be as good as God, and the neophyte devotee to think he is the direct
servant of Krsna. This false ego keeps them at such a distance from God
that they are unable to see the pre-eminently beautiful qualities of His
servitors which are known as nitya-siddhas (eternally liberated devotees),
parshadas, or uttama-adhikaris (the highest standard of devotee). The
Vaisnavas, who are very close to God, become so overwhelmed with the
charming features of the nitya-siddhas that they cannot but indulge
themselves in tasting the sweetness of service to such devotees. Caught up
in this mood there is no consideration of personal comfort or convenience.
The pursuit of peace and tranquility are entirely displaced by the the
pursuit of service to the Vaisnavas. The necessity of this service is so
strong that even the threat to life and limb seem trivial by comparison.
In Vaisnava-seva, the pursuit of peace and tranquility are abandoned in
favour of an aggressive spirit of service. Acharyadev, Om Vishnupad
Paribrajakacharya Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur declared
"totalitarian war on maya and all other religious conceptions". His
preaching aroused so much hostility from those opposing him that there were
threats against his life. Still, he could not resist the urge to serve Sri
Rupa and Sri Raghunath. He continued to preach the principle of
Radha-dasyam until his last days.
In the approach of Radha-dasyam we must follow the line of such advanced
devotees and not allow our tendency for comfort to tinge our view in
estimating the hierarchical position of Gaudiya theism as compared to other
theistic conceptions. The analysis of position should be based on the
purity of the ideal rather than the difficulty in achieving it. The
character of those who accept the highest ideal will be measured not by
their ability to embrace lower conceptions, but rather their ability to
establish the highest ideal in the face of all opposition.
* * * *
Any comments welcome. For more information,
please contact Madan Mohan Das on
[email protected]
KEYBOARD KSATRIYA
Madan Mohan dasa's story
Dear Vaishnavas,
Please accept my dandavat pranams. All Glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga!
...I want to act not as teacher, but rather a signpost to the lotus feet of
a pure Gaudiya Vaisnava acarya, Om Visnupada Paramahamsa Parivrajakacarya
Astottara-sata Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayan Goswami Maharaja.
The opportunity of association with such a maha-bhagavat is exceedingly
rare in this world, and he is travelling the globe to freely give it;
England, Holland, U.S.A., Australia, Malaysia, Bali, Singapore etc.
All these places have been graced since 1996 with the touch of the lotus
feet of one of Srimati Radhika's nearest and dearest. And many, many
fortunate souls have had the immense good fortune to come and have darsan
of this self-effulgent paramahamsa Vaisnava, and now carry renewed
enthusiasm in their hearts.
I cannot but "shout his name from the rooftops". That is the only service
that this proud, foolish neophyte is fit for. Some have tried to shout me
down and my response has been to engage in verbal warfare and simply to
shout louder. That was, in retrospect, somewhat ill-advised. Once again I
apologise for my tone, critical statements and aggressive presentation.
The infinite good qualities of a pure Vaisnava can never be diminished in
any respect. That I have been compared to the worst kind of Christian
evangelist, that I am an unqualified fool, in no way detracts from the
suddha-sattva qualities of my Guru Maharaja.
That he has accepted such a fool for his disciple should inspire others,
who may have a spark of genuine bhakti in their hearts, that he is
infinitely merciful, and is offering pure shelter to all who come,
regardless of disqualification.
* * * *
Initiation is not, however, offered "on a plate", or given lightly. When I
first approached my beloved Gurudeva in 1991, he simply told me to go back
to ISKCON. I was flabbergasted.
After my 10 months living as a lone bhakta in ISKCON Leicester, I thought I
knew it all. I was ready to enter into the highest realm. When, after much
prayer for guidance, my opportunity to meet Srila Narayan Maharaja came
along, I knew that it was my time.
My expectation was, that like Krsna throwing his arms around Gopa Kumara on
his return, my eternal Gurudeva would immediately recognise his long-lost
son and greet me accordingly.
For three weeks in Sri Keshavji Gaudiya Math, Mathura, he ignored me. I was
destroyed and distraught. When I was in his room he would say to my
wife-to-be, Vishakha Dasi "What does he want?", not even gracing me with
his glance.
Finally I cracked. Being somewhat self-conscious and retiring, I had always
wanted a private darsan with him to discuss my immediate promotion into
Vraja-lila, but the opportunity somehow eluded me.
In public, in front of many brahmacaris, local Mathuravasis, women,
children and all, I pleaded: "Gurudeva, when will you initiate me?"
A very cool "When you are ready" was the response, and he carried on
talking to someone else. I was beginning to get annoyed with him.
"I'm ready now!", I blurted, my voice raised somewhat. That got his
attention. "I don't know you. Who will speak something for you?" said he,
somewhat disinterestedly, turning away once more.
Mercifully, Vishakha Dasi intervened. "I can say something, Gurudeva. When
he first heard your name and glories, he immediately accepted you in his
heart as his Gurudeva."
That did it. My composure crumbled. I was howling and weeping like a baby,
amidst the barely-repressed giggles of my new-found associates. Public
humiliation, big time. Gopa Kumara didn't have all these problems.
"Yes, I have been waiting for this. I see that materialistic men are crying
in this world because they are always wanting more and more facility, but
not always getting. But I see that you are crying because you want bhakti.
Come and see me next Ekadasi." That was it.
That was THE moment when, in my heart, I knew that all my wanderings in
this miserable world of birth and death would soon be coming to an end. OK,
Gopa Kumara had the edge on me, but nonetheless I had made the connection.
My pride was mercifully pulverised. That so much of my pride remains, to
the clear view of any reader, is a reflection of my lack of application of
everything that my Gurudeva has so mercifully taught me.
He has emphasised to me over and over that when anger enters the heart,
bhakti leaves immediately. That I am so dense in assimilating such simple
teachings is a further reflection of my aparadha-damaged intelligence.
When he started to tell me the ABCs of spiritual life, I was somewhat
indignant. "You are not this body. You are very tiny atma. Krsna is
Paramatma, Parabrahman, Bhagavan etc." Surely I was ready for at least the
PQRSTs? I knew all that stuff.Then it dawned on me...
How could I possibly "know" anything about spiritual life, about bhakti,
that was not planted in my heart by one who is bhakti personified? The
spiritual master is not "optional", I realised. He is the absolute and only
means by whom any understanding or success can be had on the path of
Krsna-bhakti. That realisation was in itself a manifestation of Gurudeva's
mercy.
That I even had the wherewithal to pray for and approach such a guru is due
entirely to the potency and determined efforts of my supremely worshipable
siksa-guru and all-time jagad-guru nitya-lila pravista Om Visnupada
Paramahamsa Parivrajakacarya astottara-sata Sri Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta
Swami Maharaja, our dearmost Srila Prabhupada, whose teachings are my very
lifeblood.
* * * * * *
Your servant aspiring for the service of Sri Guru & Gauranga,
Madan Mohan dasa.
"To all devotees,
I am always praying that you achieve pure bhakti."
Swami B.V.Narayan
Any comments welcome. For more information,
please contact Madan Mohan Das on
[email protected]