Vaisnava appearance

[Guest guest]

Here is my edited article:

 

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Srila Prabhupada on Devotee Appearance

 

 

Sometimes we hear that in order to have more impact on modern society

devotees should adjust to its ways - for example, by wearing Western

clothes. If we look at Srila Prabhupada's example, however, we see opposite

attitude.

 

In Srila Prabhupada Lilamrita there is an occasion when Srila Prabhupada met

Swami Nikhilananda who urged him to adopt Western clothes and habits. But

Srila Prabhupada said he will teach Westerners Vedic ways instead:

 

"Srila Prabhupada wore a coat Dr. Mishra had given him, but he never gave up

wearing his dhoti, despite the cold, windy walks. Swami Nikhilananda of the

Ramakrishna Mission had advised Prabhupada that if he wanted to stay in the

West he should abandon his traditional Indian dress and strict

vegetarianism. Meat-eating and liquor, as well as pants and coat, were

almost a necessity in this climate, he had said. Before Prabhupada had left

India, one of his Godbrothers had demonstrated to him how he should eat in

the West with a knife and fork. But Prabhupada never considered taking on

Western ways. His advisors cautioned him not to remain an alien but to get

into the spirit of American life, even if it meant breaking vows he had held

in India; almost all Indian immigrants compromised their old ways. But

Prabhupada's idea was different, and he could not be budged. The others may

have had to compromise, he thought, but they had come to beg technological

knowledge from the West. 'I have not come to beg something,' he said, 'but

to give something.'" (SPL 15: "It Will Not Be Possible to Assist You")

 

Prabhupada: The Ramakrishna Mission man came to see me. He said that “You

dress like American. Otherwise, nobody will take you as important.”

Acyutananda: Nikhilananda... (Morning Walk -- February 20, 1976, Mayapura)

 

Prabhupada: Ramakrishna Mission, in the beginning they asked me, "You be in

coat and pant." Otherwise nobody will hear me.

Gargamuni: Ramakrishna suggested Prabhupada use coats and pants.

Prabhupada: Their sannyasis, they dress in coat-tie.

Brahmananda: Swami Nikhilananda. (Arrival of Devotees -- February 24, 1977,

Mayapura)

 

This is in complete accord with previous acaryas:

 

"The next important items are as follows: (1) One should decorate the body

with tilaka, which is the sign of the Vaisnavas. (The idea is that as soon

as a person sees these marks on the body of the Vaisnava, he will

immediately remember Krsna. Lord Caitanya said that a Vaisnava is he who,

when seen, reminds one of Krsna. Therefore, it is essential that a Vaisnava

mark his body with tilaka to remind others of Krsna.) (Nectar of Devotion 6:

How to Discharge Devotional Service)

 

One who suggests "to conform to western mores of living" shows a complete

lack of understanding of both material and spiritual reality. Even

theologians often don't understand the purpose of this world. This I heard

recently from a "Christian" theologian. He was actually a deist and like

many others seemed to be quite secularized and materialistic, thinking

religion to be a product of social development.

 

Instead of emulating the liberated state such persons actually encourage to

adhere to the life in prison of this world. So should a free person while

visiting a prison start to behave like a prisoner? No, the common sense

suggests that prisoners should learn how to adjust to outside life. Yet at

the beginning the difference is very big so there can be some adjustments to

bridge the gap and they should be decided on by an acarya. This was done by

Bhaktivinode Thakur, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati and Srila Prabhupada.

 

Srila Prabhupada made many adjustments for the West - simpler Ekadasi

standard (in comparison with Hari Bhakti Vilasa), less rounds of japa (from

64 to 16), men and women under one roof though in separated quarters, etc. -

and was sometimes criticized for this by smartas and even some of his

Godbrothers.

 

As for adjustments one has to distinguish between things of nitya and anitya

nature. Nitya is for example the language - we can't drop Sanskrit and use

only English or other local languages. There is an evidence that Sanskrit

entails more then meets an ear, so to say. Chanting should be done primarily

with traditional instruments, although others are not forbidden. Tilak is an

important Vaishnava sign which has to be kept. Dhoti and sari also belong to

the eternal world although Srila Prabhupada allowed to distribute in karmi

clothes in the West. For eating we can use local foods but in sync with our

rules. These are just a few examples. Let these words be our example to

follow:

 

"The simple definition of Vaisnava is given by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu: a

person who immediately reminds one of the Supreme Personality of Godhead,

Krsna, is a Vaisnava." (SB 4.21.37 purport)