Re-focusing on Krishna

[Guest guest]

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

 

Dear Prabhus

 

I have two points that I should like to place before you for consideration.

 

1. Prabhupada's published words

 

On 4 Oct 1999, Nayana-ranjana das wrote that there seemed to be an

inconsistency between Srila Prabhupada's purport to BG 1.28 where he explains

that Arjuna's fearful symptoms "were not due to weakness, but due to his

softheartedness, a characteristic of a pure devotee of the Lord", and the

purport to the very next verse where he says: "There is no fear in

transcendental realization. Arjuna's symptoms in this situation are out of

material fear - ... material conception of life."

 

Mahananda dasa wisely replied: " From our defective perspective we will find

many seeming contradictions. But because on the platform of logic or reason

what we read seems to contradict itself, that does not ever minimize our guru's

transcendental position. he is always speaking the transcendental truth, as

dictated by Krsna, so any discrepancy does not ever suggest his defect. That

faith is what enables a faithful disciple not to require that all seeming

contradictions be immediately explained before we can justify our continuing

in devotional service. As WE develop, these contradictions diminish. Of course

I have made no attept to answer your question. So please excuse me for

feeling to speak at all. I remain your servant."

 

He is, of course, starting from the crucial point that one should never doubt

the words of the guru.

 

(In passing, we should recognise that we do not have a record of everything

that Prabhupada said.)

 

I should like to add a further point. Srila Prabhupada said different things to

different people. These should be understood in terms of the individual, the

time, the place and circumstance. For example, in many places Prabhupada said

that we should not avoid his Godbrothers, but in other places he said that we

must respect them as vaishnavas (and it would be an offence to do otherwise).

He even asked Narayan Maharaja to help the devotees in ISKCON.

 

However, I feel that it is a cop-out to say that it is solely up to the

individual to improve his understanding. In my own case, I know that I do not

have the spiritual intelligence to work it out for myself and I feel that there

are some matters -- certainly those that are controversial -- on which the GBC,

as the spiritual leader of ISKCON, would be helping all of us by laying down

guidance. Sivarama Maharaja said to me recently that if we say something that

deflects someone on the path of returning to Krishna then we bear the blame. Of

course, the converse of this is that if we are aware of a major problem with

philosophy or practice, then it is incumbent upon us to help others, especially

neophyte devotees or the outside world, to provide guidance so that they do not

fall into error. Surely wilful silence is also blameworthy?

 

At the end, the point is that, with Prabhupada's guidance, we must get closer

to Krishna, using every opportunity to do so. The GBC, as the torchbearers of

Srila Prabhupada, should use its position to further his divine mission.

 

2. Does Krishna know when we will return to Him?

 

Krishna has promised that every jiva soul will return to Him and has given the

jiva the independence to turn towards Him or to ignore Him. Does Krishna know

the exact time of our return? In which case, do we really have the freedom?

 

Of course, this is the perennial debate of freewill versus predestination.

 

One senior devotee said in response to my question: "People sometimes ask if

there is anything that Krishna cannot do. The answer is yes -- but then Krishna

goes and does it."

 

Krishna does care for every jiva soul but is prepared to let him plough his own

furrows, reap the harvests, and, eventually, let him come home like the

prodigal son that he is.

 

I should like to know what Prabhupada has said on this matter and would be

grateful to hear from devotees who have anything further to add.

 

Your servant

 

Michael

 

Hare Krishna