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[Guest guest]

> And many in the "next generation" prefer to ignore it altogether, or think

> that it's somehow negotiable, assuming they're on the same level as the

> older devotees.

 

Sure. Yet in terms of etiquette, what "level" you're on doesn't matter --

even if some of the next generation are more advanced and knowledgable than

the first (and that is definitely the case; it would be foolish to ignore it

or dismiss it as 'impossible') still the etiquette remains intact, for sure.

 

> So why not simply neglect those with whom we disagree,

> rather than ciriticize? Mahaprabhu sometimes neglected Ramachandra Puri,

> but He never spoke a word of criticism or tolerated anyone else doing so.

 

The problem I see is what constitutes "criticism." It's not "criticism" to

point out to someone that they're following apsiddhantic philosophy; it's

not "criticism" to tell someone that what they're doing is against the

teachings of Srila Prabhupada; nor is it "criticism" to tell someone they're

wrong philosophically. But there seems to be some misunderstandings with

some, and a sentimental conclusion on what is "criticism." Sometimes it

seems as if we're all meant to just smile and carry on and "let everyone do

what they want." Well, there's different types in this world, and as much as

one type disturbs another, then vice versa. Each to their own way of

expression and contribution...not all choose to neglect impersonalism,

atheism, or other isms What a boring world it would be if we were all the

same....

 

> Wrong! We have to deal with this, too, and we often fail rather miserably.

 

No, it's not wrong (and that's not a criticism . I said in a social

environment, in a social capacity -- yes, you have Srila Prabhupada's

godbrothers to deal with, but not face to face, in your temple, in your

lives constantly. You don't have the same etiquette considerations a second

generation person has. I understand your other points, but they were not

what I was addressing. Srila Prabhupada's godbrothers are very far removed

from our social environment within ISKCON.

 

Your servant

Braja Sevaki dd ¾

[Guest guest]

On Tue, 10 Jan 2006 21:59 -0500, Braja Sevaki TKG <

Braja.Sevaki.TKG (AT) pamho (DOT) net> wrote:

>

> The problem I see is what constitutes "criticism." It's not "criticism" to

> point out to someone that they're following apsiddhantic philosophy; it's

> not "criticism" to tell someone that what they're doing is against the

> teachings of Srila Prabhupada; nor is it "criticism" to tell someone

> they're

> wrong philosophically. But there seems to be some misunderstandings with

> some, and a sentimental conclusion on what is "criticism." Sometimes it

> seems as if we're all meant to just smile and carry on and "let everyone

> do

> what they want."

 

 

What I don't see here is the understanding that there's an art to dealing

with such situations. There are certainly ways to question others about

perceived errors that don't come off as an in-your-face challenge. And there

are also others of that "generation" through whom you may deal with these

disagreements. If we learn how to do this, we may find that we're even more

effective in dealing with the problems that come up. And I'm not talking

about diplomacy; we should be able to maintain vaishnava simplicity even in

such sticky situations, and I think it would be much more satisfying for all

involved.

 

yes, you have Srila Prabhupada's

> godbrothers to deal with, but not face to face, in your temple, in your

> lives constantly. You don't have the same etiquette considerations a

> second

> generation person has. I understand your other points, but they were not

> what I was addressing. Srila Prabhupada's godbrothers are very far removed

> from our social environment within ISKCON.

 

 

I understand your point better now. That's true, and I believe the extra

challenge will end up serving "both generations" (and I do object to the

implication here that the Krishna consciousness movement started in 1966)

well if they rise to it in a way that actually glorifies Srila Prabhupada

and Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The secret ingredient is genuine humility.

That would dissipate the haughtiness to which some of Srila Prabhupada's

disciples may be inclined to display when dealing with those who are

initiated by his disciples, and, in some cases, with Godbrothers and

-sisters who don't have their institutional or social status. This recalls

the old story about Dr. Kapoor's suggesting to Srila Prabhupada that he

should come up with a medicine for becoming Krishna conscious, to which

Srila Prabhupada replied that he knew the formula but wasn't yet able to

compund the medicine itself. When Dr. Kapoor asked what the secret formula

was, Srila Prabhupada said, "trinad api sunicena. . . ." If we all really

wore that around our necks, strung on the holy name of Krishna, rather than

just posturing, dealing with us would be so sweet that almost nmo one could

resist the charm of the Krishna consciousness movement. And that's what it's

really all about, isn't it?

 

Yours in service,

Babhru