Hare Krsna, Guruji Maharaja, Dandavat Pranam!
All Glories to Sri Krsna, Sri Gouranga Mahaprabhu, and Goura Bhakta Brinda.
Please accept my humble obeisances unto the padmacharan of Guruji Maharajah that I am so so sorry that I could not communicate You the opinion of H.H. Bhakti Ananda Haridasa Goswami Maharaja in relation to my previous letter. He came from Gauhati yesterday only, He advise me to talk directly when He is in Manipur, Imphal so I wait and took a long time. As Guruji’s desire, I am enclosing herewith His writings as under : “ Regarding my experience about PARNALIKA SYSTEM of devotional service or Gopi Bhava seva ……… I was being an initiated devotee of the said path would like to inform you that it is not at all authentic as well as it is a disciplic succession. To serve Krsna as in the form of one of the gopis plus manjuris as entitled or selected according to one’s initial local pseudo spiritual master ……. what is not at all practical today. But a few of our fanatic Manipuri Vaisnavas appreciate this culture as sublime ……. that is all.”
In the discussion, it is also mentioned that “at the time of Sannyasa only, this matter is discussed”. It means that, Gurujis (Sanyasis) got the names of Sakhi-Manjari). If it is true, then we are unqualified, OK. No need to think about it on our stage.
Really speaking, I was influenced by Partha Sarathi Das & Nanda Gopa (Nandakishore Sharma) and came to ISKCON. They are my Shiksha Gurus. The ideas of Shakhi-Manjari are the opinion/guideline of them. They have experience with both systems and continue as ISKCON bhaktas. Now, my simple question is what is harmful to following the path observing the ISKCON rules? As I had mentioned earlier in my previous letter that I want to take the Sakhi-Manjari name as ISKCON bhakta. Guruji! Save me from the Nama Aparadhas no. 3 of the 10 (to disobey the instructions of Spiritual Master). Yes, it is fact that the Manipuri Vaisnavas are not observing the four principles.
Guruji! I am so so sorry, excuse me thousands of times because I had wasted Guruji’s valuable time, energy, and mind unnecessarily for an unqualified (kaniska) bhakta.
Yours fallen servant,
Yamunesvara Das
HpS - No, not waste of time. These are important topics to discuss. First thing is I don't know the details of the Manjari yoga system that exists in Manipur. That is why I suggested you talk with Haridasa Maharaja.
In general, we are following Rupa Goswami as authorized representative of Lordby Caitanya. We have Bhakti rasamrta sindhu which is complete science of Bhakti yoga Srila Prabhupada's summary study, Nectar of Devotion, and then other books by him and Sanatana Goswami etc. Our Sampradaya is well versed in the teachings and practice of Lord Caitanya's path.
This is summarized in Nectar of INstruction in the last paragraph of Text Eight. Also, in the verse adau sraddha... We do not have to take Sannyasa formally to realize our intimate relationship with Krsna. Even in Grhasta ashrama like Bhakti vinode Thakura we can go through:
- sraddha
- sadhu sanga
- bhajana kriya
- anartha nivrtti
- nistha
- ruci
- asaktis
- bhava prema.
At the level of ruci, after becoming fixed like a Swami in following four principles, Mangala arati, all the practices, we can begin to experience our Svarupa and stimulate that realization. It may be Manjari bhava or it may be as one of Krsna's flutes or garlands, or as one of his parents, uncles etc.
At that point we realize our name and service in the spiritual world, by waking up!
O.K.
Read 7 and 8 in NOI and see if it becomes clear.
