Response to Jayadvaita Maharaj's recommended article

[Guest guest]

Jayadvaita Mahaharaja wrote:

 

> I am not comparing Gaura Kesava Prabhu, or anyone else, to Ramacandra

> Puri. My point is that *even* with such a person as Ramacandra Puri,

> Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu set the example of offering respect.

 

> Both Jahnu and Braja Sevaki and the other parties to this discussion

> all have worthwhile points to make. But I haven't seen any points that

> justify transgressing the good behavior of Vaisnava etiquette.

>

> Please, let us try to stick to high standards of mutual respect

> (amanina manadena). That will help us in our most important

> engagement: kirtaniyah sada harih.

>

> Thank you.

 

Maharaja, there's something not quite right here. I can't seem to get my

head around the concept that I, as the junior devotee, am meant to act with

all the forbearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Personality of

Godhead, while Gaur Kesava, the senior, without reproach can say and do

whatever he likes. Here we have a person who has spent a major portion of

his devotional life criticizing ISKCON and its devotees, but where is the

etiquette lecture to him? Last time we met he was trying to ram his personal

take on the jiva issue down my throat completely independent of the

conclusions of his senior godbrothers. Is that the example he should be

setting to us younger devotees?

 

I guess the conclusion I have to draw is the same as in the example Srila

Prabhupada gives of a woman correcting her daughter for the faults of her

daughter in law; or that of a parent's dealings with his child: a parent

will only scold the child out of love or affection. Perhaps that's what

Gaura Kesava is missing from his peers. If that is the case, Maharaja, then

thank you for displaying such dealings out of your affection for me, praying

always that you have some.

 

Just as a matter of interest, I'm adding the verses that follow the ones you

quoted. The last is of special interest:

 

"Because of His full independence, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu sometimes behaved

like a common man and sometimes manifested His godly opulence.

 

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu sometimes accepted Ramacandra Puri as His master and

considered Himself a servant, and sometimes the Lord, not caring for him,

would see him as being just like a straw.

 

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu behaved exactly like the Supreme Personality of

Godhead, beyond the restriction of anyone's intelligence. He did whatever He

liked, but all His activities were very beautiful.

 

Thus Ramacandra Puri stayed for some days at Nilacala [Jagannatha Puri].

Then he left to visit various holy places of pilgrimage.

 

The devotees considered Ramacandra Puri to be like a great burden on their

heads. When he left Jagannatha Puri, everyone felt extremely happy, as if a

great stone burden had suddenly fallen from their heads to the ground."

 

(CC Antya 8.93-98)