Reply: Titles in ISKCON
Hare Krishna! guru maharaja, PAMHO AGTSP!
Thank you so much for giving this to me to chew on.
One thing I appreciate so much about your association is I have felt such a healthy understanding of who Srila Prabhupada is to us, who you are to us and who the categories of other devotees are to us (obviously that clarity does grow and grow as we make some advancement, thankfully)
I feel very clear that Srila Prabhupada is our predominant Guru, we are going home because of his authority, however, I do believe that you have given me Srila Prabhupada by accepting me as a disciple and therefore without your mercy going back home isn't available for me.
HpS/ASA - Hare Krsna... One very relevant experience comes to mind: We were Treasurer etc in Berkeley and Jaya tirtha Das came to act as Temple President for some time because we had none.
We had been initiate for maybe one year.
Then he went back to L. A. and we had some other arrangement for Temple President.
Then... a letter came addressed from him from India with return address from Srila Prabhupad in India.
I called him right away and asked if I should forward it to him.
He responded [are you crazy!] open it immediately and read it to me!
I learned a lot about relations with Srila Prabhupada from his urgent emotions and response.
It was a very interesting letter but Srila Prabhupada finished it with a line that hit my heart and has remained there.
"You cannot exist without my mercy".
I reacted that it was very strong [even a little bit over bearing] but swallowed and in my own mind said, Yes, Srila Prabhupada.
Then I read the next lines and got even more floored:
"... and I cannot exist without your mercy. That mutual respect, mutual love, is Krsna Consciousness".
...and therefore without your mercy going back home isn't available for me.
I believe these both can be simultaneously true and are. With this in mind I believe I am trying to be personal and so my personal relationship with you has shown me that we promote Srila Prabhupada, I believe in this and so therefor I do, even though sometimes I am given an evil eye from others that I seem "ritviky".
To be honest guru maharaja I do sometimes wonder because I am a uncultured monkey that I don't have the respect for you that I should, and lets be honest that certainly is true because, well, I am a uncultured monkey. I would like to say my intent in this respect is that I believe you want me to behave in away that is focused on Srila Prabhupada, promoting Srila Prabhupada. Even though to some mistake on my part currently. Sometimes I am concerned about my behavior. For instance, Gaura Kishor das babaji treated Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Maharaj in so many ways but BSTM knew not to be fooled. The truth is I am just to dull to even be able to play at that level of game, to know how truly a disciple should act. In this case all I can do is tell you my honest from the heart intention and please forgive me for offenses.
So although I see others, say Guru Maharaja, I promise to address you as guru maharaja because you ask me to. I do see your intention in this differentiation and I believe I understand it. I will not offer you a dish at your Vyasa Puja that you do not want to eat.
HpS/ASA - Very interesting. .. or we could use "guru Maharaja". 😆 😆 😆
Basically I think you, me, Bhakta Tom, Bhakta Buck and even the Robot are headed for Nabadvipa with Srila Prabhupada and Nimai in our next life, what to speak of the so many wonderful devotees who participate in this Blog.
Your disciple,
Nanda-braja das
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.PREVIOUS POST.
Nanda braja Das from New Kalachandji Dhama asks:
Hare Krishna! Pamho AGTSP! Guru Maharaja, I see that you are going to go for Ratha Yatra in Boise. Any updates thoughts about me joining you in Houston and traveling to Boise?
HpS/ASA - Thank you for the question.
We are old and our donkey is lame, so we only exist in practice by the impetus of others.
First, let us please comment on titles in ISKCON.
We feel that it may be impertinent for us to be addressed as "Guru Maharaja" in ISKCON. It maybe insulting to Srila Prabhupada's position, and then how to deal with this academic "Bhaktivedanta" title.
Ooof! Too much for one small monkey to handle. 🐵
First, we remember a letter from Srila Prabhupada where one disciple asked if he could address someone such as his authority Bhagavan Das or Hansadutta Das as 'Guru', and Srila Prabhupada answered, "Yes", but that we should not forget himself as his real Guru.
Hmmm. Interesting.
We feel that maybe we can be addressed as guru maharaja very much in the perspective of ISKCON Diksa guru, and sannyasi and Shiksa, Sankirtan leader, guru in the perspective that we are 🐖
🐖 🐖 pigs become people, PRABHUS [???], by the great personal sacrifice of His Divine Grace, Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder/Acharya of ISKCON and author of book KRSNA - SPOG.
Is O.K., no?
We can't even begin to to take a so called Ritvik Guru philosophy seriously because we do not find it discussed in even one Bhaktivedanta Purport, what to speak of detailed and repeated discussion in several Purports.
Wow! 🚓
O.K. Next - 💪
💪
🐵
Prabhupada directly instructed in a letter that he wanted his disciples to become ISKCON, Vedic, scholars and earn this title Bhaktivedanta as a hereditary title.
Also, Lord Caitanya says: amar anjay guru haya, on my order, you become guru.
Vaisesika Das, ISKCON Minister of Sankirtan, said we should earn these titles and use them. Show the world our quality of education.
We feel His Holiness H. P. Bhaktivedanta Swami is quite pretentious, for us. Maybe some other devotees in ISKCON merit it?
We feel like we can survive, do practical service, with H. H. Hanumat presaka Swami [Bh. Ved].
What do you think?
