mundane view of Vaishnava otherworldliness

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The claim that Vaishnavism embodies the eternal and only function of the

jiva soul in his eternal state of perfect rational existence may appear at

first sight to be opposed to the experience of this world. Vaishnavism is no

doubt represented by a vast and varied literature in almost all the

languages of India and all persons are in a position to appreciate more or

less the devotional fervor and aesthetic quality that are the special

characteristics of this literature. But in spite of the admitted sweetness,

gentleness, beauty and fervor that permeate every part of Vaishnava

literature and make it, in the opinion of many competent persons, perhaps

the most glorious heritage of India, there seems to be lacking any

historical evidence to prove that the community professing Vaishnava faith

has been able to attain any signal, social, political or economic success.

On the contrary there are not wanting hostile critics who do not hesitate to

regard Vaishnavism in some of its forms as a main cause of the backwardness

of India which they attribute to the influence of Vaishnava teachings and

practices involving, in their opinion, the virtual denial of the ordinary

principles of moral life as well as the most elementary needs of advanced

material civilization. The apostles of Puritanism and Activism are not

likely to accept a creed which may be suspected of a partiality for

sexuality, passivism, childish ceremonial and credulity and which declares

all secular effort whether moral, social, political or philanthropic as

utterly powerless for the amelioration of the lot of man nay which regards

them as the root cause of all the troubles that afflict this miserable

world.

 

>From the writings of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasavati