Criticism and the Gift of Prasada

May 30, 2001, Vol. III, No. 29

Q & A with Swami B. V. Tripurari

“Then suddenly a great sense of the universality of Mahaprabhu's teaching descended within him and Puri Maharaja understood what was Prabhupada's gift. The gift was prasada and the realization of how Mahaprabhu was accepting disciples from all over the world.”

Q. I was hoping you could help me understand an apparently critical letter Srila Prabhupada wrote to his revered Godbrother, Bhakti Pramode Puri Maharaja (Vrindavan, 07-09-75). “Therefore I am afraid to contribute to you as you request. How shall I give to you and pollute you? They (my devotees) are all mlecchas, and you are a rigid brahmana, pukkha. So how will you accept? If you like, you can hand over the charge of your temple and my devotees will manage.”

A. This letter has an interesting history, one that explains much of why Prabhupada distanced himself from his Godbrothers and even criticized them at times.

When Srila Prabhupada first brought his Western disciples to India, he invited some of his Godbrothers, including Srila B.P. Puri Goswami, to meet them and hear of his preaching success. At one of these meetings the guests refused to honor the prasada cooked by Prabhupada's devotees. This implied that his Godbrothers did not fully accept Prabhupada's Western disciples. As it turned out, this was not an isolated incident, and time and again Prabhupada encountered the same attitude.

While he initially wanted to share the success of his preaching as part of the combined glory of all the followers of Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, over time Prabhupada found the bitter taste of a less-than-enthusiastic response to his sincere efforts very unpalatable. Some of his Godbrothers even opposed his desire to purchase land in Mayapur. Had it not been for Srila Sridhara Maharaja's help, Prabhupada might not have been successful in securing the Mayapur land. So in order to understand Prabhupada's criticisms of his Godbrothers, the entire historical record must be reviewed. This includes not only the early days of his correspondence, but the final days of his campaign as well.

In his final days, Prabhupada made a point of apologizing to his Godbrothers for any offenses he may have made. Those to whom he made this appeal invariably replied that he had not make any offense because he had done everything without personal interest for spreading the mission of Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati. Puri Maharaja was present at this time, and Prabhupada asked him if he would accept a gift, to which Puri Maharaja humbly replied that he would.

Prabhupada then asked Puri Maharaja if he remembered how, just prior to the passing of Bhaktisidhanta Saraswati Thakura from this world, the Thakura asked Sridhara Maharaja to sing “Sri Rupa Manjari Pada” and how Kunja Baba stopped Sridhara Maharaja and asked Puri Maharaja, whose voice was sweeter, to sing instead. At that time, Saraswati Thakura said no, he wanted to hear the voice of Sridhara Maharaja, indicating that behind Sridhara Maharaja's voice there was considerable realization.

Puri Maharaja affirmed that he remembered it well. Prabhupada then asked him as a special favor, if he would sing Sri Rupa Manjari Pada as he was passing from the world. Puri Maharaja of course agreed.

After this discussion, prasada was distributed and all of the guests honored it. After leaving, Puri Goswami remembered that Prabhupada mentioned giving him a gift but apparently had forgotten. Then suddenly a great sense of the universality of Mahaprabhu's teaching descended within him and Puri Maharaja understood what Prabhupada's gift was. He realized the gift was the prasadam, and the realization of how Mahaprabhu was accepting disciples from all over the world.

After Prabhupada passed from the world, a number of Western-born devotees came under the shelter of Puri Goswami. He considered that Prabhupada had sent them to him to help him. With their help, Puri Maharaja's concern for the upkeep of his temple, which he initially sought Prabhupada's help with, was fulfilled in no small measure, as not only one temple was maintained, but new ones were opened and many books were printed and distributed as well.

Q. In the Bhagavatam, 11.20.30, it says, “...being disgusted with all material activities ... but still being unable to renounce all sense enjoyment, my devotee should remain happy and worship me with great faith and conviction.” In what mood should we balance this statement with the seventh offense, which is to continue sinful activities while thinking the holy name will neutralize them?

A. There is a type of devotee mentioned in Govinda Bhasya, 3.4 called 'sanistha.' It refers to those who are desirous of seeing heaven as one of the wonders of God. They still find facination with the Lord's creation, although their aim is transcendental. A sanistha bhakta is one who has material desires as the taste for sense gratification has not yet been transcended by a taste for Krsna nama.

Sanistha bhaktas should live a simple, sincere life engaged in right livelihood and pursue their spiritual practice, offering their disposable resources according to their dharma and in a way that strengthens their spiritual affiliations. In this way they will gradually acquire mystic insight into the reality of inner life and in time enter a life of Krsna seva.

Sense gratification does not necessarily include sinful life. The verse you cited would be better balanced with the tenth offense, which involves maintaining material attachment while chanting. In what mood should one proceed in light of this inevitable offense in the early stages of chanting? Remorsefully, but not to the point of becoming psychologically dysfunctional. Those troubled by this offense should strive daily to improve the quality of their chanting.

Q. If siddha pranali is an integral part of the Gaudiya spiritual practice, and if Mahaprabhu himself instructed Gopala Guru Goswami to write about it in Arcana Paddhati, don't you think the absence of this process within the parampara of Bhaktisiddhanta is a problem?

A. No I don't. I have explained this in detail in my booklet "Sri Guru Paramapara." The Bhaktivinoda parivara in the line of Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura has stressed realization of one's svarupa through offenseless chanting of the holy name of Krsna and meditation on one's diksa mantra. This emphasis was a response to less-than-realized persons giving so-called siddha pranali to unqualified persons.

Knowledge of one's svarupa is integral to raganuga bhajana. However, in his book Bhajana Rahasya, Bhaktivinoda Thakura teaches that it is revealed by the grace of the holy name of Krsna at the stage of asakti, the last stage of sadhana bhakti. This is not to say that a qualified guru cannot reveal one's svarupa at an earlier stage of practice through the system established by Gopala Guru Goswami.

Thakura Bhaktivinoda sings, “When the name is even slightly revealed it shows me my own spiritual form and characteristics. It steals my mind and takes it to Krsna's side. When the name is fully revealed, it takes me directly to Vraja, where it shows me my personal role in the eternal pastimes.”


	ask a question current Sanga Sanga archives subscribe	May 30, 2001, Vol. III, No. 29 Criticism and the Gift of Prasada Q & A with Swami B. V. Tripurari “Then suddenly a great sense of the universality of Mahaprabhu's teaching descended within him and Puri Maharaja understood what was Prabhupada's gift. The gift was prasada and the realization of how Mahaprabhu was accepting disciples from all over the world.” Q. I was hoping you could help me understand an apparently critical letter Srila Prabhupada wrote to his revered Godbrother, Bhakti Pramode Puri Maharaja (Vrindavan, 07-09-75). “Therefore I am afraid to contribute to you as you request. How shall I give to you and pollute you? They (my devotees) are all mlecchas, and you are a rigid brahmana, pukkha. So how will you accept? If you like, you can hand over the charge of your temple and my devotees will manage.” A. This letter has an interesting history, one that explains much of why Prabhupada distanced himself from his Godbrothers and even criticized them at times. When Srila Prabhupada first brought his Western disciples to India, he invited some of his Godbrothers, including Srila B.P. Puri Goswami, to meet them and hear of his preaching success. At one of these meetings the guests refused to honor the prasada cooked by Prabhupada's devotees. This implied that his Godbrothers did not fully accept Prabhupada's Western disciples. As it turned out, this was not an isolated incident, and time and again Prabhupada encountered the same attitude. While he initially wanted to share the success of his preaching as part of the combined glory of all the followers of Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, over time Prabhupada found the bitter taste of a less-than-enthusiastic response to his sincere efforts very unpalatable. Some of his Godbrothers even opposed his desire to purchase land in Mayapur. Had it not been for Srila Sridhara Maharaja's help, Prabhupada might not have been successful in securing the Mayapur land. So in order to understand Prabhupada's criticisms of his Godbrothers, the entire historical record must be reviewed. This includes not only the early days of his correspondence, but the final days of his campaign as well. In his final days, Prabhupada made a point of apologizing to his Godbrothers for any offenses he may have made. Those to whom he made this appeal invariably replied that he had not make any offense because he had done everything without personal interest for spreading the mission of Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati. Puri Maharaja was present at this time, and Prabhupada asked him if he would accept a gift, to which Puri Maharaja humbly replied that he would. Prabhupada then asked Puri Maharaja if he remembered how, just prior to the passing of Bhaktisidhanta Saraswati Thakura from this world, the Thakura asked Sridhara Maharaja to sing “Sri Rupa Manjari Pada” and how Kunja Baba stopped Sridhara Maharaja and asked Puri Maharaja, whose voice was sweeter, to sing instead. At that time, Saraswati Thakura said no, he wanted to hear the voice of Sridhara Maharaja, indicating that behind Sridhara Maharaja's voice there was considerable realization. Puri Maharaja affirmed that he remembered it well. Prabhupada then asked him as a special favor, if he would sing Sri Rupa Manjari Pada as he was passing from the world. Puri Maharaja of course agreed. After this discussion, prasada was distributed and all of the guests honored it. After leaving, Puri Goswami remembered that Prabhupada mentioned giving him a gift but apparently had forgotten. Then suddenly a great sense of the universality of Mahaprabhu's teaching descended within him and Puri Maharaja understood what Prabhupada's gift was. He realized the gift was the prasadam, and the realization of how Mahaprabhu was accepting disciples from all over the world. After Prabhupada passed from the world, a number of Western-born devotees came under the shelter of Puri Goswami. He considered that Prabhupada had sent them to him to help him. With their help, Puri Maharaja's concern for the upkeep of his temple, which he initially sought Prabhupada's help with, was fulfilled in no small measure, as not only one temple was maintained, but new ones were opened and many books were printed and distributed as well. Q. In the Bhagavatam, 11.20.30, it says, “...being disgusted with all material activities ... but still being unable to renounce all sense enjoyment, my devotee should remain happy and worship me with great faith and conviction.” In what mood should we balance this statement with the seventh offense, which is to continue sinful activities while thinking the holy name will neutralize them? A. There is a type of devotee mentioned in Govinda Bhasya, 3.4 called 'sanistha.' It refers to those who are desirous of seeing heaven as one of the wonders of God. They still find facination with the Lord's creation, although their aim is transcendental. A sanistha bhakta is one who has material desires as the taste for sense gratification has not yet been transcended by a taste for Krsna nama. Sanistha bhaktas should live a simple, sincere life engaged in right livelihood and pursue their spiritual practice, offering their disposable resources according to their dharma and in a way that strengthens their spiritual affiliations. In this way they will gradually acquire mystic insight into the reality of inner life and in time enter a life of Krsna seva. Sense gratification does not necessarily include sinful life. The verse you cited would be better balanced with the tenth offense, which involves maintaining material attachment while chanting. In what mood should one proceed in light of this inevitable offense in the early stages of chanting? Remorsefully, but not to the point of becoming psychologically dysfunctional. Those troubled by this offense should strive daily to improve the quality of their chanting. Q. If siddha pranali is an integral part of the Gaudiya spiritual practice, and if Mahaprabhu himself instructed Gopala Guru Goswami to write about it in Arcana Paddhati, don't you think the absence of this process within the parampara of Bhaktisiddhanta is a problem? A. No I don't. I have explained this in detail in my booklet "Sri Guru Paramapara." The Bhaktivinoda parivara in the line of Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura has stressed realization of one's svarupa through offenseless chanting of the holy name of Krsna and meditation on one's diksa mantra. This emphasis was a response to less-than-realized persons giving so-called siddha pranali to unqualified persons. Knowledge of one's svarupa is integral to raganuga bhajana. However, in his book Bhajana Rahasya, Bhaktivinoda Thakura teaches that it is revealed by the grace of the holy name of Krsna at the stage of asakti, the last stage of sadhana bhakti. This is not to say that a qualified guru cannot reveal one's svarupa at an earlier stage of practice through the system established by Gopala Guru Goswami. Thakura Bhaktivinoda sings, “When the name is even slightly revealed it shows me my own spiritual form and characteristics. It steals my mind and takes it to Krsna's side. When the name is fully revealed, it takes me directly to Vraja, where it shows me my personal role in the eternal pastimes.” Previous Issue \| Next Issue