Hare Krishna Cultural Journal Update: Karma-Misra-Bhakti: the Newest

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Hare Krishna Cultural Journal Update: Karma-Misra-Bhakti: the Newest Crack in

the Parampara

 

June 04, 2005

 

 

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http://siddhanta.com/archives/culture/000279.html

 

 

 

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The recent and odd intersection of [1]devotion and golf, aptly named

"The First Devotional Masters Golf Tournament," has occupied more air

time than it should ordinarily warrant. Golf is an [2]anartha, Srila

Prabhupada [3]said so. That it persists in spite of Srila Prabhupada's

own admonition of the sport, and of similar activities he classified

as frivolous, signals an important shift in thinking that distances

ISKCON's contemporary, popular theology from its historical theology.

The tournament results as reported on [4]Chakra can help us better

understand the nature of this divergence.

 

The 1st annual "Krishna Cup" was won by Bhutatma das of Irvine,

California, on the weekend of Gaura-Purnima in Alachua, Florida.

 

The Krishna Cup trophy goes to the devotee with the best score in a

36-hole golf tournament sponsored by Arjuna das, a PGA pro from

Canada. We had a great weekend, beginning with the excellent

devotional celebration of Sri Caitanya's Appearance Day. The

devotees participating in the tournament began with kirtan,

Bhagavatam class, and prasad. A spirited competition lasting two

days followed. The rainy weather cleared just in time for the

scheduled event.

 

Arjuna das reminded us of Arjuna himself, showing his extremely

accurate professional skills by scoring even par from the black

tees on difficult courses. Arjuna was exempted from winning the

competition, however, in all fairness. Bhutatma Prabhu, a college

professor and excellent athlete coached by Srila Prabhupada himself

in exercise, shot two rounds in the 70s to hold off a late charge

by Guru das of Denver, who turned in a great 78 on the final

Sunday. Nalinikanta das of Alachua took third, followed by Janaka

Prabhu from Denver and Mahavira das from Florida.

 

We were happy to host several other devotees, including local GBC

man Sesa Prabhu, who played impressively despite being so absorbed

in devotional services that he had little time to prepare.

 

Bhutatma will hold the trophy for a while, but many others, buoyed

by the devotional association and competition, are threatening a

challenge, either in the western swing of the "tour" in LA in late

October, or at Gaura-Purnima next year in Alachua. Devotees of all

skill levels are welcome to stay in touch and to participate. Hare

Krishna!

 

(Author Unknown. "Alachua Gaura-Purnima and Golf Tournament" 11

Apr. 2005. Chakra.org. 2 June 2005.

<[5]http://www.chakra.org/announcements/eventsApr11_05_02.html>)

 

The report is about a golf tournament, yet its saturation with

devotional symbolism suggests the tournament itself is devotional

activity. In the first sentence, mention of the "Krishna Cup" is

reminiscent of the "Krishna Bowl", an imitation of American knowledge

competition game shows. On account of it being a speculation, Srila

Prabhupada told his disciples it must be stopped. In the tournament

report, the Caitanya appearance day is mentioned, and each day of the

tournament begins with "kirtan, Bhagavatam class, and prasad." The

expertise of Arjuna das, a professional golfer, reminded the

participants "of Arjuna himself," and the devotee who won the

tournament was personally "coached by Srila Prabhupada in exercise."

The participation of a local representative of the GBC is ISKCON's

managerial imprimatur on the tournament. With all the enthusiasm,

religious symbolism, and the tacit endorsement of ISKCON leaders, how

could the tournament not be considered anything other than an act of

dharma?

 

The description of the "devotional golf tournament" in this report

nevertheless fits the definition of karma-misra-bhakti, devotional

service mixed with the desire for material enjoyment. Golf, a

frivolous activity criticized by Srila Prabhupada, is masked by a

pretense of devotion. Sadhu sanga, Bhagavatam class, and the honoring

prasadam, as called out in the report, could happen without a golf

tournament. That the tournament itself required substantial

preparation, investment, and effort means the participants were not

simply intent on devotional service but were specifically interested

in playing golf.

 

The distinction between a pure devotee and a karma-misra devotee is

this: a pure devotee does not desire anything for material

enjoyment, whereas a mixed devotee becomes a devotee to become a

first-class enjoyer of this material world.

 

(Srila Prabhupada. Srimad-Bhagavatam, 10.10.20-22 purport.)

 

In defense of karma-misra-bhakti, some devotees have resorted to

pointing out their own shortcomings as a need for engaging in

activities other than bhakti. This statement nicely sums up arguments

presented by devotees who have variously defended karma-misra-bhakti.

In summary, it is due to false ego, we want to become great

devotee. Because of our aspiration of becoming great devotees, we

want to fool ourselves thinking that we don't waste our time. We

take unnatural platform of doing bhakti all the time. Since most of

us don't get rasa in bhakti, our attempts to do bhakti all the time

make our life without rasa and dull. Then, most of these devotees

give up bhakti. One should not imitate platform of pure bhakti

unless one derives sufficient pleasure in devotional service like

chanting etc.

 

(Mittal, Gaurav. Response to "Why Make Prabhupada Cry?" 19 May

2005. Chakra.org. 4 Jun. 2005.

<[6]http://www.chakra.org/discussions/ODiscMay19_05.html>)

 

In other words, "what can repression accomplish"? ISKCON's newest

therapeutic meme is "everything in moderation," including bhakti.

 

Significant in this instance of karma-misra-bhakti is the level of

devotees who have taken it up. Although it is to be expected that in a

Krishna conscious society there are various levels of devotees,

including karma-misra-bhaktas, a certain strata of society should be

free of karma-misra-bhakti, and that strata begins with the initiated

Vaishnavas. Initiated devotees, especially the twice born, before

everyone else have the authority to sit on the vyasasana and represent

Vyasadeva to the rest of society. These are the devotees who,

according to Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita (Chapter 12, text 10),

should follow the regulative principles of sadhana-bhakti under the

guidance of a spiritual master. The next verse in the Gita describes

those "who cannot practice the regulations of bhakti-yoga" but who can

nonetheless do some service for Krishna. While things such as the

"Krishna Cup" might be suitable for devotees in this latter class,

devotees who are unable to practice sadhana-bhakti, these things are

unsuitable for initiated devotees, who by definition should know

better. Yet the golf competition has demonstrated that within ISKCON

there are growing numbers of initiated devotees who factually do not

know better.

 

This degradation of knowledge expanding among senior, initiated

devotees marks the start of a break with the disciplic succession, the

parampara. With initiation devotees become representative members of

the disciplic succession, and as bona fide members of the disciplic

succession, initiated devotees have a duty to propagate it--pass it on

to successive generations. But if by precept and by example devotees

with the authority to perpetuate the disciplic succession are no

longer able to distinguish sadhana bhakti from karma-misra-bhakti,

then yogo nastha, "the science as it is appears to be lost." Knowledge

being lost means cracks have appeared in our disciplic succession, and

failure to timely mend these cracks will eventually lead to a break.

 

References

1. http://www.chakra.org/announcements/eventsFeb10_05.html

2. http://siddhanta.com/archives/culture/000271.html

3. http://chakra.org/discussions/ODiscApr29_05.html

4. http://chakra.org/

5. http://www.chakra.org/announcements/eventsApr11_05_02.html

6. http://www.chakra.org/discussions/ODiscMay19_05.html

 

 

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