Hridayananda's Commentary

[Guest guest]

Hari Bolo Mahesh Raja Prabhu!

 

Please accept my fallen obeisances. All glories to His Divine Grace

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada!

 

It's not real clear what point you are trying to make in regards to

your numerous remarks about Hridayananda's Srimad Bhagavatam commentary.

You seem to be implying that his efforts to help complete the Srimad

Bhagavatam were motivated by some mundane personal agenda and that he is

just another "conditioned soul" like the rest of us and therefore

unqualified to write.

 

Hridayananda Goswami has NEVER presented himself as anything more

then the servant to his spiritual master nor has he ever implied or claimed

to be beyond all flaws or conditioning. He has made a tremendous

contribution to the cause of Krishna Consciousness, and continues to do so

to this day in ways that others only dream about. You may decry his

contribution, but I for one would feel terribly deprived if the efforts and

contributions of such a brilliant Vaishnava were to be suspended because

individuals like yourself fail to comprehend the larger body of his work and

prefer to focus on minutia aspects of his commentary. Are you suggesting

that he should put down his pen and abandon his service to Srila Prabhupada

because YOU are under the impression that he has made some mundane mistake

in one purport?

 

I do not know you and don't mean to offend you or make a big issue

about this. But it is my understanding that when an aspiring devotee begins

to aggressively criticize the service of another Vaishnava they venture into

the dangerous land of Vaishnava Aparada. If you consider all the

scriptural references related to that injunction, as thoroughly as you have

done in rebuking Hridayananda Goswami, then you may be less inclined to

blast a confusing email message across a wide audience of devotees like the

ones who to the vediculture newsletter. It is appropriate to

apply a rigorous interpretation of the law to all those who demand it of

others.

 

Hoping this finds you earnestly engaged in the service of Lord

Krishna.

 

Your servant,

 

mayesvara dasa

(805) 640-0405 Home

(805) 228-0736 Work

robertswg (M-F 7AM - 3PM)

mayesvara (About once a week on weekends.)

 

 

 

 

 

Mahesh Raja [mahesh.r]

Monday, February 05, 2001 11:30 AM

vediculture

[world-vedic] --in fact, such reading may be detrimental to

their advancement in Krishna Consciousness.(Srila Prabhupada)

 

 

--in fact, such reading may be detrimental to their advancement in Krishna

Consciousness.(Srila Prabhupada)

 

72-01-20. Letter: Sri Govinda

There is no need by any of my disciples to read any books besides my

books--in fact, such reading may be detrimental to their advancement in

Krishna Consciousness.

 

The following is a practical analysis of Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.45)

purport composed by a conditioned soul Hridayananda das "goswami".

 

"Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura also points out in his commentary,

atra pasyed iti darsana-yogyataiva vivaksita, na tu tatha darsanasya

sarva-kalikata. "in this verse the word pasyet, or " one must see," does not

mean that at every moment one is visualizing the form of Krsna; rather, it

means that one has reached the exalted platform of devotional service on

which he is fit to see or is capable of seeing Krsna's form." If only those

who constantly see the form of Krsna are to be considered uttama-adhikaris,

then Narada, Vyasa and Sukadeva cannot be considered topmost devotees, since

they do not always see the Lord everywhere. Of course, Narada, Vyasa and

Sukadeva are considered to be on the highest standard of pure devotional

service, and therefore the real qualification is tad-didrksadhikya, or

having overwhelming desire to to see the Lord."

 

POINT 1

Uttama-adhikaris who are topmost devotees are the only ones who can

constantly see the form of the Lord.

 

POINT 2

Mental Speculation from Hridayananda das "goswami":

"If only those who constantly see the form of Krsna are to be considered

uttama-adhikaris, then Narada, Vyasa and Sukadeva cannot be considered

topmost devotees, since they do not always see the Lord everywhere."

 

POINT 1-we ALL agree.

4.12.11 P Dhruva Maharaja Goes Back to Godhead

Not only did Dhruva Maharaja perform many sacrifices, but he carried on

his transcendental occupation of engagement in the devotional service of the

Lord. The ordinary karmis, who want to enjoy the results of fruitive

activities, are concerned only with sacrifices and ritualistic ceremonies as

enjoined in the Vedic sastras. Although Dhruva Maharaja performed many

sacrifices in order to be an exemplary king, he was constantly engaged in

devotional service. The Lord always protects His surrendered devotee. A

devotee can see that the Lord is situated in everyone's heart, as stated in

the Bhagavad-gita (isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati).

Ordinary persons cannot understand how the Supreme Lord is situated in

everyone's heart, but a devotee can actually see Him. Not only can the

devotee see Him outwardly, but he can see, with spiritual vision, that

everything is resting in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as described in

Bhagavad-gita (mat-sthani sarva-bhutani). THAT IS THE VISION OF A

MAHA-BHAGAVATA. HE SEES EVERYTHING OTHERS SEE, BUT INSTEAD OF SEEING MERELY

THE TREES, THE MOUNTAINS, THE CITIES OR THE SKY, HE SEES ONLY HIS

WORSHIPABLE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD IN EVERYTHING BECAUSE EVERYTHING

IS RESTING IN HIM ONLY. THIS IS THE VISION OF THE MAHA-BHAGAVATA. IN

SUMMARY, A MAHA-BHAGAVATA, A HIGHLY ELEVATED PURE DEVOTEE, SEES THE LORD

EVERYWHERE, AS WELL AS WITHIN THE HEART OF EVERYONE. THIS IS POSSIBLE FOR

DEVOTEES WHO HAVE DEVELOPED ELEVATED DEVOTIONAL SERVICE TO THE LORD. AS

STATED IN THE BRAHMA-SAMHITA (5.38), PREMANJANA-CCHURITA-BHAKTI-VILOCANENA:

ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE SMEARED THEIR EYES WITH THE OINTMENT OF LOVE OF GODHEAD

CAN SEE EVERYWHERE THE SUPREME LORD FACE TO FACE; IT IS NOT POSSIBLE BY

IMAGINATION OR SO-CALLED MEDITATION.

 

SB 9.9.44 P The Dynasty of Amsuman

"The maha-bhagavata, the advanced devotee, certainly sees everything

mobile and immobile, but he does not exactly see their forms. RATHER,

EVERYWHERE HE IMMEDIATELY SEES MANIFEST THE FORM OF THE SUPREME LORD.

 

SB 3.14.48 S Pregnancy of Diti in the Evening

sah--he; vai--certainly; maha-bhagavatah--the topmost devotee;

 

POINT 2 We TOTALLY disagree.

 

..SB 7.1.27 P The Supreme Lord Is Equal to Everyone

Sriman Narada Muni, the TOPMOST PURE DEVOTEE, praises Krsna's enemies

like Sisupala because their minds are always completely absorbed in Krsna

..

SB 1.18.16 P Maharaja Pariksit Cursed by a Brahmana Boy

There is some controversy amongst the students on the path of liberation.

Such transcendental students are known as impersonalists and devotees of the

Lord. The devotee of the Lord worships the transcendental form of the Lord,

whereas the impersonalist meditates upon the glaring effulgence, or the

bodily rays of the Lord, known as the brahmajyoti. Here in this verse it is

said that Maharaja Pariksit attained the lotus feet of the Lord by

instructions in knowledge delivered by the son of Vyasadeva, Srila Sukadeva

Gosvami. SUKADEVA GOSVAMI WAS ALSO AN IMPERSONALIST IN THE BEGINNING, AS HE

HIMSELF HAS ADMITTED IN THE BHAGAVATAM (2.1.9), BUT LATER ON HE WAS

ATTRACTED BY THE TRANSCENDENTAL PASTIMES OF THE LORD AND THUS BECAME A

DEVOTEE. SUCH DEVOTEES WITH PERFECT KNOWLEDGE ARE CALLED MAHA-BHAGAVATAS, OR

FIRST-CLASS DEVOTEES. There are three classes of devotees, namely the

prakrta, madhyama, and maha-bhagavata. The prakrta, or third-class devotees,

are temple worshipers without specific knowledge of the Lord and the Lord's

devotees. The madhyama, or the second-class devotee, knows well the Lord,

the Lord's devotees, the neophytes, and the nondevotees also. But the

maha-bhagavata, or the first-class devotee, sees everything in relation with

the Lord and the Lord present in everyone's relation. The maha-bhagavata,

therefore, does not make any distinction, particularly between a devotee and

nondevotee. MAHARAJA PARIKSIT WAS SUCH A MAHA-BHAGAVATA DEVOTEE BECAUSE HE

WAS INITIATED BY A MAHA-BHAGAVATA DEVOTEE, SUKADEVA GOSVAMI.

 

 

SB 1.3.40 Krsna Is the Source of All Incarnations

This Srimad-Bhagavatam is the literary incarnation of God, and IT IS

COMPILED BY SRILA VYASADEVA, THE INCARNATION OF GOD. It is meant for the

ultimate good of all people, and it is all-successful, all-blissful and

all-perfect.

 

Hirdayananda das "Goswami" states Vyasadeva ---who is INCARNATION OF GOD is

not Uttama adhikari.

Just see this nonsense word jugglery written by him.

 

Narada Muni has accepted Vyasadeva as his Guru and Srila Prabhupada states

clearly the Guru MUST BE SITUATED ON THE TOPMOST PLATFORM OF DEVOTIONAL

SERVICE. And the words used are

MAHA-BHAGAVATA-SRESTHO

 

Hridayananda das "Goswami" has stated "If only those who constantly see the

form of Krsna are to be considered uttama-adhikaris, then Narada, Vyasa and

Sukadeva cannot be considered topmost devotees, since they do not always see

the Lord everywhere."

 

Since according to scriptural authority the Guru is MAHA-BHAGAVATA-SRESTHO a

Mahabhagavat (topmost devotee) Vyasadeva has NOT made a mistake by accepting

Narada muni as his Mahabhagavata Guru. This is the correct conclusion.

Hridayananda das "goswami's" conclusion to suggest otherwise is not only

faulty but also blaspheme against these Mahabhagavata devotees of the Lord.

 

Madhya 24.330 The Sixty-One Explanations of the Atmarama Verse

MAHA-BHAGAVATA-SRESTHO

brahmano vai gurur nrnam

sarvesam eva lokanam

asau pujyo yatha harih

 

maha-kula-prasuto 'pi

sarva-yajnesu DIKSITAH

sahasra-sakhadhyayi ca

na guruh syad avaisnavah

 

Madhya 24.330 The Sixty-One Explanations of the Atmarama Verse

THE GURU MUST BE SITUATED ON THE TOPMOST PLATFORM OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE.

THERE ARE THREE CLASSES OF DEVOTEES, AND THE GURU MUST BE ACCEPTED FROM THE

TOPMOST CLASS. The first-class devotee is the spiritual master for all kinds

of people. It is said: gurur nrnam. The word nrnam means "of all human

beings.

 

"Madhya 24.330 The Sixty-One Explanations of the Atmarama Verse

The maha-bhagavata is one who decorates his body with tilaka and whose

name indicates him to be a servant of Krsna by the word dasa. He is also

initiated by a bona fide spiritual master and is expert in worshiping the

Deity, chanting mantras correctly, performing sacrifices, offering prayers

to the Lord, and performing sankirtana. He knows how to serve the Supreme

Personality of Godhead and how to respect a Vaisnava. WHEN ONE HAS ATTAINED

THE TOPMOST POSITION OF MAHA-BHAGAVATA, HE IS TO BE ACCEPTED AS A GURU AND

WORSHIPED EXACTLY LIKE HARI, THE PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD. ONLY SUCH A PERSON

IS ELIGIBLE TO OCCUPY THE POST OF A GURU.

 

Hridayananda das "goswami" has deviated from the conclusion of Srila

Prabhupada and manufactured his speculative theory in the purport of his

so-called Srimad Bhagavatam. The actual Srimad Bhagavatam is spotless purana

but his purports are gross misunderstandings of how he himself has

understood it.

 

.."Madhya 17.186 T The Lord Travels to Vrndavana

tarko 'pratisthah srutayo vibhinna

nasav rsir yasya matam na bhinnam

dharmasya tattvam nihitam guhayam

MAHAJANO YENA GATAH SA PANTHAH

 

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued," 'Dry arguments are inconclusive. A

great personality whose opinion does not differ from others is not

considered a great sage. Simply by studying the Vedas, which are variegated,

one cannot come to the right path by which religious principles are

understood. THE SOLID TRUTH OF RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLES IS HIDDEN IN THE HEART

OF AN UNADULTERATED SELF-REALIZED PERSON. CONSEQUENTLY, AS THE SASTRAS

CONFIRM, ONE SHOULD ACCEPT WHATEVER PROGRESSIVE PATH THE MAHAJANAS

ADVOCATE.'"

 

Adi 8.39 The Author Receives the Orders of Krsna and Guru

IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR A COMMON MAN TO WRITE BOOKS ON BHAKTI, FOR HIS

WRITINGS WILL NOT BE EFFECTIVE. HE MAY BE A VERY GREAT SCHOLAR AND EXPERT IN

PRESENTING LITERATURE IN FLOWERY LANGUAGE, BUT THIS IS NOT AT ALL HELPFUL IN

UNDERSTANDING TRANSCENDENTAL LITERATURE. Even if transcendental literature

is written in faulty language, it is acceptable if it is written by a

devotee, whereas so-called transcendental literature written by a mundane

scholar, even if it is a very highly polished literary presentation, cannot

be accepted. THE SECRET IN A DEVOTEE'S WRITING IS THAT WHEN HE WRITES ABOUT

THE PASTIMES OF THE LORD, THE LORD HELPS HIM; HE DOES NOT WRITE HIMSELF. As

stated in the Bhagavad-gita (10.10), dadami buddhi-yogam tam yena mam

upayanti te. SINCE A DEVOTEE WRITES IN SERVICE TO THE LORD, THE LORD FROM

WITHIN GIVES HIM SO MUCH INTELLIGENCE THAT HE SITS DOWN NEAR THE LORD AND

GOES ON WRITING BOOKS. KRSNADASA KAVIRAJA GOSVAMI CONFIRMS THAT WHAT

VRNDAVANA DASA THAKURA WROTE WAS ACTUALLY SPOKEN BY LORD CAITANYA

MAHAPRABHU, AND HE SIMPLY REPEATED IT.

 

Adi 9.4 The Tree of Devotional Service

This is the process for writing transcendental literature. A

sentimentalist who has no Vaisnava qualifications cannot produce

transcendental writings. There are many fools who consider krsna-lila to be

a subject of art and write or paint pictures about the pastimes of Lord

Krsna with the gopis, sometimes depicting them in a manner practically

obscene. These fools take pleasure in material sense gratification, but one

who wants to make advancement in spiritual life must scrupulously avoid

their literature. Unless one is a servant of Krsna and the Vaisnavas, as

Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami presents himself to be in offering respects to

Lord Caitanya, His associates and His disciples, one should not attempt to

write transcendental literature.

 

Adi 9.5 The Tree of Devotional Service

THIS IS THE SUM AND SUBSTANCE OF TRANSCENDENTAL WRITING. ONE MUST BE AN

AUTHORIZED VAISNAVA, HUMBLE AND PURE. One should write transcendental

literature to purify oneself, not for credit. By writing about the pastimes

of the Lord, one associates with the Lord directly. One should not

ambitiously think, "I shall become a great author. I shall be celebrated as

a writer." These are material desires. One should attempt to write for

self-purification. It may be published or it may not be published, but that

does not matter. If one is actually sincere in writing, all his ambitions

will be fulfilled. Whether one is known as a great author is incidental. One

should not attempt to write transcendental literature for material name and

fame.

 

73-10-14.Pat Letter: Patita Uddharana:

The purport is that for TRANSCENDENTAL WRITING ONE MUST BE AN AUTHORIZED

VAISNAVA and should write to purify oneself, not for credit. It may or may

not be published, but one who is actually sincere in writing, all his

ambitions will be fulfilled.

 

N98:72-12-03 Letter to: Billy Reyburne, (new98) letters

Regarding your question about writing songs about Krishna, this is not

very important thing. You can write, but one cannot take it very seriously.

If any Vaisnava is writing song about Krishna, that should be from one who

himself has realized Krishna, just like our great saints and acaryas like

Madhvacarya, Ramanujacarya, Rupa Gosvami, six Gosvamins, Bilvamangala,

Bhaktivinode Thakur, like that. THEY ARE SELF-REALIZED SOULS, THEREFORE IF

THEY WRITE SOMETHING SONG ABOUT KRISHNA, THAT IS PERFECTLY FROM THE

TRANSCENDENTAL PLATFORM, WITHOUT ANY TINGE OF MUNDANE INFLUENCE OR NONSENSE

IMAGINATION. Unless someone comes in the category of these great leading

Vaisnava personalities, his manufacturing some songs will be misleading to

himself and to others. And unless his writing of poems and songs can be

accepted as gospel, as Vedas or the Absolute Truth, such writing is

diverting the attention from the subject matter only and should not be

regarded very seriously. Now you should become serious to pursue this

Krishna Consciousness movement with full energy of body, mind and soul. If

you are writing poems and songs, that's all right, you can do it also, but

if you can write articles for our Back to Godhead magazine, that is better,

that is solid preaching work. No one should write songs of Krishna unless

he is self-realized soul, that will spoil the value of the whole thing. But

try to use your writing and singing talent for Krishna's preaching work, by

writing articles, singing the kirtan, like that. Then you will be happy,

and I think you should without further delay try to become devotees as the

others are doing and live with us and practice the regulative principles of

brahmacari life. In this way, become determined to fix your all attention

for seeing Krishna face to face by the Krishna Consciousness process and

then you shall qualify yourself for writing songs about Krishna and you

chant always this Hare Krishna mantra you can come to the highest point of

seeing Krishna very soon, you may know it for certain.

 

In conclusion:

Adi 11.7 The Expansions of Lord Nityananda

ONE SHOULD NOT WRITE BOOKS OR ESSAYS ON TRANSCENDENTAL SUBJECT MATTER FOR

MATERIAL NAME, FAME OR PROFIT. TRANSCENDENTAL LITERATURE MUST BE WRITTEN

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF A SUPERIOR AUTHORITY BECAUSE IT IS NOT MEANT FOR

MATERIAL PURPOSES. If one tries to write under superior authority, he

becomes purified. All Krsna conscious activities should be undertaken for

personal purification (apana sodhite), not for material gain.

 

 

 

 

 

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