So-called Proof of Bipin Bihari Goswami's position

[Guest guest]

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

 

Hari Sauri Prabhu wrote:

 

> > Interestinger and interestinger. Thanks for your comments Bhakta Rupa

> > prabhu. This discussion is indeed taking some twists and turns. On the

> > whole I still go with the contention that Bipin Bihari Goswami fell out

> > of favor with Bhaktivinoda Thakur because that is the indication from

> > Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur himself, and his followers. But

> > its nice to hear all the nuances.

 

Govinda Nandini Mataji asked:

 

> Is there any written indication from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati or it

> comes in oral tradition?

 

There doesn't appear to be anything in writing.

 

We can "go with the contention" as Hari Sauri Prabhu has decided to do. We

are certainly free to have our opinions. But remember that the whole reason

this subject came up in the first place is that one prabhu suggested that

based upon the example of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur we could draw the

conclusion that it is acceptable in current practice to reject or distance

oneself from one's diksa guru if we find him to be of a lesser adhikara.

Since it cannot be "proven" that Bhaktivinode Thakur rejected Bipin Bihari

Goswami, I suggest that we no longer site his example for this purpose.

Actually, if the Thakur had done so it would be difficult to reconcile such

an action with the injunctions of sastra, which only approve of the

rejection of a guru who is a non-vaishnava.

 

It is a well-known fact that many Gaudiya Math sadhus are presently

reinitiating ISKCON devotees in large numbers. Although they put forward so

many reasons to justify doing this which somehow satisfies the minds of the

disaffected devotees, it is beyond my comprehension how such behavior is

based upon guru, sadhu, and sastra. It appears by-and-large to simply be a

tactic designed to increase the followings of their maths. That our ISKCON

gurus are categorically not engaging in such practices is indeed

commendable.

 

This example of Bhaktivinode Thakur rejecting Bipin Bihari Goswami is being

promoted by the same sources who are doing the reinitiating, and if we put

the two together it is not difficult to see the politics involved, a

politics which goes back for decades.

 

So this issue is not some nice little historical curiousity, but it has

broad implications for our ISKCON preaching.

 

Your servant, Bhaktarupa Das