Guest guest Posted October 26, 2005 Report Share Posted October 26, 2005 "ADBHUTA" OR NOT? Bhaktin Sarah challenges that "a quote" is required to answer the question of whether or not ISKCON is building the adbhuta mandir (or indeed, if they already have). As with most matters of this nature, a flip one-liner is hardly sufficient to embody a complete understanding of the mission of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. What was his emphasis? What was his vision? To know that, we simply have to listen to Srila Prabhupada's lectures and read his books: repeatedly he states that Bhaktivinoda Thakura's mission was to see Europeans, Americans, Indians, and all the races of the world dancing and chanting in Navadvip, singing, "Jaya Sacinandana Gaura Hari!" Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura went even further and sent his disciples to the west in the hopes that they would do something that would fulfil his father's prophesy and see his mission continued. They failed at their attempts. It was Srila Prabhupada who took this mission to the west and who brought the Europeans, Americans, and other races of the world to chant and dance in the streets, and to build a temple where all these Vaisnavas from the world over could chant the holy names of the Lord, as was the desire of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. While others before had built temples that might be considered "wonderful," none had fulfilled the mission of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. So is the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium the adbhuta mandir? If it's continuing the tradition of what Srila Prabhupada started, which was the accomplishment of Bhaktivinoda Thakura's mission and the real purpose behind an adbhuta mandir, then yes, it's the adbhuta mandir. Srila Prabhupada told Bhavananda Maharaja that between birth (janma) and activities (karma), that the activities were more important. Certainly Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's birthplace is a most holy sacred place in all the universe. Yet even He would agree that even more sacred - more wonderful - than that, is that place where the mission of His loyal representatives is being executed. This was also the mood of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, who told Srila Prabhupada that printing books and preaching were more important than buildings where people simply sit and take donations. He said to tear up the floor of the temple and sell the marble if it would help to print books. So do ISKCON devotees think they are the "only Vaisnavas on the planet," as Bhaktin Sarah accuses? Definitely not. It's a laughable thought. But they do know that they are serving the mission of Srila Prabhupada, who was the only one able to fulfil the desires and mission of the previous acaryas and take the holy name to every town and village, and in turn to bring them here and fulfil Bhaktivinoda Thakura's vision. I would think that to the community of Vaisnavas worldwide, the realization that this prophesy had been fulfilled would be a wonderful thing that would see them all rejoicing together, blissfully celebrating the fulfillment of their lord and masters mission! Braja Sevaki Dasi Mayapur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 26, 2005 Report Share Posted October 26, 2005 It is a question of logic, answering it philosophically is evasive. This issue cropped up because of ISKCON's commercially motivated claims in this regard. Pllease go through these Interesting articles on Arbhuta Mandir http://www.gosai.com/chaitanya/pilgrimages/mayapura-fs.html If these articles are true, ISKCON is untruthful in its claims. No doubt, Sri La prabhupada has full filled his Guru's instructions and previous acharya's vision on publishing and book distribution which attracted the world community towards Lord Chaitanya's mission. The two issues namely Arbhuda Mandir and SP's mission are different, the point is Vedic Planetarium is different from the Arbhuta Mandir as visualized by Sri La Bhakti Vinoda Thakura. Let SMPDC sincerely follow the advice as quoted by Braja Sevaki Mataji "This was also the mood of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, who told Srila Prabhupada that printing books and preaching were more important than buildings where people simply sit and take donations. He said to tear up the floor of the temple and sell the marble if it would help to print books." By executing the SMPDC's road map for the vedic planetarium, We will be plundering the Ecological Capital of Sri Dham Mayapur. The new economics of ecological capital "The Hindu" dated 13th October, 2005. Interesting article on the hidden wealth of ecological systems http://www.hindu.com/2005/10/13/stories/2005101306161100.htm solai - "Braja Sevaki TKG" <Braja.Sevaki.TKG (AT) pamho (DOT) net> "India (Continental Committee) Open (Forum)" <India.Open (AT) pamho (DOT) net>; "Basu Ghosh (das) ACBSP (Baroda - IN)" <Basu.Ghosh.ACBSP (AT) pamho (DOT) net>; "Bhavananda (das) ACBSP" <Bhavananda.ACBSP (AT) pamho (DOT) net>; "Balarama LOK" <Balarama.LOK (AT) pamho (DOT) net> Wednesday, October 26, 2005 9:09 AM Adbhuta Or Not? > "ADBHUTA" OR NOT? > > Bhaktin Sarah challenges that "a quote" is required to answer the question > of whether or not ISKCON is building the adbhuta mandir (or indeed, if > they > already have). As with most matters of this nature, a flip one-liner is > hardly sufficient to embody a complete understanding of the mission of > Srila > Bhaktivinoda Thakura. What was his emphasis? What was his vision? To know > that, we simply have to listen to Srila Prabhupada's lectures and read his > books: repeatedly he states that Bhaktivinoda Thakura's mission was to see > Europeans, Americans, Indians, and all the races of the world dancing and > chanting in Navadvip, singing, "Jaya Sacinandana Gaura Hari!" > Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura went even further and sent his disciples > to the west in the hopes that they would do something that would fulfil > his > father's prophesy and see his mission continued. They failed at their > attempts. It was Srila Prabhupada who took this mission to the west and > who > brought the Europeans, Americans, and other races of the world to chant > and > dance in the streets, and to build a temple where all these Vaisnavas from > the world over could chant the holy names of the Lord, as was the desire > of > Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. > While others before had built temples that might be considered > "wonderful," > none had fulfilled the mission of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. > > So is the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium the adbhuta mandir? If it's > continuing the tradition of what Srila Prabhupada started, which was the > accomplishment of Bhaktivinoda Thakura's mission and the real purpose > behind > an adbhuta mandir, then yes, it's the adbhuta mandir. > > Srila Prabhupada told Bhavananda Maharaja that between birth (janma) and > activities (karma), that the activities were more important. Certainly Sri > Caitanya Mahaprabhu's birthplace is a most holy sacred place in all the > universe. Yet even He would agree that even more sacred - more wonderful - > than that, is that place where the mission of His loyal representatives is > being executed. This was also the mood of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati > Thakura, who told Srila Prabhupada that printing books and preaching were > more important than buildings where people simply sit and take donations. > He > said to tear up the floor of the temple and sell the marble if it would > help > to print books. > > So do ISKCON devotees think they are the "only Vaisnavas on the planet," > as > Bhaktin Sarah accuses? Definitely not. It's a laughable thought. But they > do > know that they are serving the mission of Srila Prabhupada, who was the > only > one able to fulfil the desires and mission of the previous acaryas and > take > the holy name to every town and village, and in turn to bring them here > and > fulfil Bhaktivinoda Thakura's vision. I would think that to the community > of > Vaisnavas worldwide, the realization that this prophesy had been fulfilled > would be a wonderful thing that would see them all rejoicing together, > blissfully celebrating the fulfillment of their lord and masters mission! > > Braja Sevaki Dasi > Mayapur > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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