Identity in difference

[Guest guest]

On Sat, 13 Oct 2001, Sanjay Dadlani wrote:

> So please clarify my question as to how Gaudiya

> Vaishnavism is broad enough to accomodate other rasas?

Srila Prabhupada's preaching practice usually avoided any detailed

discussion of rasika topics, and not for no reason. At the same time, his

focus was on generic bhakti, and the dasya-bhava that permeates a serious

disciple's endeavors. His books regularly encourage devotion to Sri Sri

Sita-Rama, Laksmi-Narayana, or any other bonafide forms of the Lord (eg.

Bhagavatam 2.3.22, 3.20.25, etc.); in this, my impression is that he stressed

their oneness rather than their transcendental distinctions (please see

Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 9.155). This may be because basic brahman

realization is the substrate of pure devotion--and is thus more relevent

for those of us still conditioned by Maya (cf. Gita 18.54). Or it may be

to accomodate and encourage devotees of all varieties, as evinced by Srila

Prabhupada's regularly citing even acaryas from other sampradayas throughout

his books (eg., Viraraghava, Bilvamangala, Sridharasvamin, etc.). I don't

really know, but both of these would seem important for a preaching mission

of the magnitude Srila Prabhupada intended ISKCON to be.

It is significant that Srila Prabhupada made this accomodation

as clear as he did, unlike others who received the same orders from

Bhaktisddhanta Sarasvati Thakura to preach Gaudiya vaishnavism in the

West. Unlike small minded sectarians, a genuine pure devotee is able to

appreciate--and enhance--whatever mode of devotion anyone else already

has, just as he is able to plant that seed in the hearts of those who don't

have any devotion at all. I think this is one of the qualities which makes

his Divine grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada unique in the modern

world. However, such Krsna conscious "catholicity" was a hallmark of

Srila Bhakrtivinoda Thakura too, as well as his son Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati

Thakura Prabhupada, who built a temple honoring the four vaisnava sampradayas

at Lord Caitanya's Yoga-pitha in Mayapura.

 

MDd