Duty versus etiquette?

[Guest guest]

Dear Jayadvaita Maharaja,

 

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

Your points are well taken, as always. However there's always two seemingly

opposing sides to everything, isn't there? For example, we might recall the

discussion on the battlefield of Kuruksetra, when Arjuna felt overpowered by

what apparently seemed a huge breach of etiquette which was forcing him not

just to argue or speak strongly to his superiors, but actually to kill them.

A rather more alarming scenario than the one we're faced with here, no?

 

Srila Prabhupada says in his purport:

 

"Similarly, to fight is the religious principle of the katriyas, and

although one has to fight with some friend or relative, one should not

deviate from his prescribed duty. One has to follow the prescribed rules and

regulations of religious principles in order to rise up to the platform of

knowledge, because by knowledge and devotion only can one liberate himself

from the clutches of m€y€ (illusion)."

 

Srila Prabhupada also writes in Nectar of Devotion:

 

"In one of Lord Caitanya's Siksastaka verses it is stated, "The devotee

should be more tolerant than the tree and more submissive than the grass. He

should offer all honor to others, but may not accept any honor for himself."

In spite of Lord Caitanya's being so humble and meek as a devotee, when He

was informed about injuries inflicted on the body of Sri Nityänanda, He

immediately ran to the spot and wanted to kill the offenders, Jagäi and

Mädhäi. This behavior of Lord Caitanya's is very significant. It shows that

a Vaisnava may be very tolerant and meek, foregoing everything for his

personal honor, but when it is a question of the honor of Krsna or His

devotee, he will not tolerate any insult.

There are three ways of dealing with such insults. If someone is heard

blaspheming by words, one should be so expert that he can defeat the

opposing party by argument. If he is unable to defeat the opposing party,

then the next step is that he should not just stand there meekly, but should

give up his life. The third process is followed if he is unable to execute

the above-mentioned two processes, and this is that one must leave the place

and go away. If a devotee does not follow any of the above-mentioned three

processes, he falls down from his position of devotion."

 

You speak of honoring the etiquette of respectful dealings towards seniors

over and above everything else. I would say that this is secondary to the

higher devotional principle of defense of the guru and his institution, and

those devotees who have served it unflinchingly for many years. When someone

comes along and criticizes that institution and its faithful servants, he

deserves every harsh word he receives, and more. But as I said, there are

always two understandings, seemingly. In that respect you and I may both be

right, if indeed it is even a matter of "right and wrong" that we are trying

to settle. For me, it's something greater than that: it's the right to

defend Srila Prabhupada and his institution against anyone, no matter how

great they think themselves to be by dint of their date of initiation. What

they've done between that date and this date is what impresses me most, and

there are plenty of those in ISKCON to be impressed by without having to

tolerate the insults of one who sits outside and harps on endlessly about

the faults of an institution he doesn't even serve. In that respect, I would

humbly request to be spared the lectures on how to treat that kind of

person.

 

Finally, the first principle of devotional life is faith to the spiritual

master. Does this not also include his mission, his institution? One who has

no faith in ISKCON has no faith in Srila Prabhupada. If someone thinks that

they can find a way to separate Srila Prabhupada from ISKCON, then they are

fools. As Srila Prabhupada writes in S.B 4.9.11. purport: "Anyone who is

trying to be aloof from this Krishna Consciousness Society and yet engage in

Krsna consciousness is living in a great hallucination, for this is not

possible."

 

Your servant

Braja Sevaki dd ¾