Siksa as most important guru

[Guest guest]

On 27 Jun 1999, Janesvara Dasa wrote:

 

> On 26 Jun 1999, Srila Dasa wrote:

> > As far as being complacent to "simply read SP's books," in those very

books Janesvara Prabhu speaks of, Prabhupada over and over again emphasizes

the importance of associating with and learning from advanced devotees --

sadhu-sanga.

 

> Hogwash. You associate by reading Srila Prabhupada's books.

 

I can surmise from such strong-winded "red-neck" genre of rhetoric ("hogwash")

that our respective opinions are irreconcilable. So be it. I do not expect to

convince you by my paltry words. Fortunately, there are others who may be

witnessing our exchange and can benefit from such "locking of horns."

 

While your quotes convincingly impress upon us the importance of Prabhupada's

books and reading them, this does not obviate the ABSOLUTE NECESSITY for

seeking high-class Vaisnava association. Don't try to create a false dichotomy

when we are obliged to reconcile and create a harmonic understanding:

 

sadhu sastra guru vakya cittete koriya aikya

 

How can you decry the importance of "advanced devotees" (sadhu) without losing

your credibility? The fanatical attempt to advocate that devotional service

can be successfully performed by avoiding or neglecting sadhu-sanga is simply

foolish. You are living an "illusion" to quote SP's purport in SB

4.9.[11-13?]

 

This is what I meant by "one-sided and small-minded" and your strong retort in

this regard should only prove to the more sane and level-headed on this

conference that your one-sided emphasis is imbalanced and misconceived.

 

Srila's Prabhupada's books fall under the category of *SASTRA*. We still

REQUIRE *GURU* (spiritual master) and *SADHU*. *Sadhu* includes all varieties

of devotee association (subordinates, equals and seniors), but it especially

means "high-class, advanced association" -- inasmuch as *guru* similarly

refers to all varieties of *guru*, but particularly to the 1st-class (uttama)

Vaisnava. Your advocacy of minimizing the GURU is already well-known and

documented on this conference. Now I wish to suggest your understanding is

equally defective in terms of *SADHU*.

 

There must always be an appropriate balance between GURU, SASTRA AND SADHU.

This is Gaudiya-VAISNAVA PHILOSOPHY. Otherwise, you run the risk of becoming

MAYAVADA with an undue emphasis simply on reading books (viz, "studying

Vedanta"). Don't try to use Prabhupada's words as a pretense for promoting

your personal agenda and frustration. (cf, "Don't use salagram as a stone for

breaking nuts.")

 

> You will never understand them unless you READ them.

 

"We read the Bible day and night. You see black while I see white."

- William Blake

 

Without proper association, guidance and confirmation from more advanced

devotees, what is to keep anyone of us from developing perverted and selfishly

motivated interpretations of SP's books? Again, to quote Blake, "even the

Devil can cite scripture [sP's books]. Who is to guide us to ensure that our

progress in KC is sure and certain and that our understanding of the

philosophy is correct? Therefore, we cannot do without bonafide SADHU and

GURU.

 

sadhu sastra guru vakya cittete koriya aikya

 

Any other one-sided preaching is bogus.

 

Touche!

 

> > Let's not make a false dogma of the statement "Everything is in Srila

> > Prabhupada's books," by a one-sided and small-minded understanding of what

is in those books.

 

Frankly,

 

Srila dasa

 

PS: Let's hear some more quotes, "Satan."