Sectarianism in Spiritual Life

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Sectarianism in Spiritual Life

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Thakura Bhaktivinoda in Krsna Samhita 8.22: Sloka and Purport are by him:

 

sampradaya-virodho 'yam davanalo vicintyate

 

The eleventh obstacle for the Vaisnavas is sectarianism, which takes the

shape of the forest fire. Due to sectarianism a person cannot accept anyone

outside of his own group as a Vaisnava, and as a result he faces many

obstacles in finding a guru and associating with sincere devotees. Therefore

extinguishing the forest fire is most important by giving up this mentality.

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" Party spirit - that great enemy of the truth - will always baffle the

attempt of the inquirer who tries to gather truth from the religious works

of his nation and will make him believe that the Absolute Truth is nowhere

except in his old religious book."

Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakur

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"There are many societies and associations of pure devotees, and if someone

with just a little faith begins to associate with such societies, his

advancement to pure devotional service is rapid."

Srila Prabhupada - NOD, Ch 19 p.14

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"Regarding the disciplic succession coming from Arjuna, disciplic

succession does not always mean that one has to be initiated officially.

Disciplic succession means to accept the disciplic conclusion."

(Shrila Prabhupada Letter to: Dinesh, Tittenhurst, 31 October, 1969)

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He (Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada) explained

that there are two kinds of parampara: Bhagavata and Pancaratriki.

Pancaratriki means the line from guru to disciple, or father to son, but the

essence may get lost. However, in the Bhagavata parampara, someone may be

living at a far place, he may not be formally initiated by a guru, but he

may grasp the spirit of Lord Caitanya. The Pancaratriki parampara will

inevitably break down in course of time. (From Bhakti Vikasa Maharaja's

upcoming book on SBSST)

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"The idea of an organized church in an intelligible form, indeed, marks the

close of the living spiritual movement. the great ecclesiastical

establishments are the dikes and dams to retain the current that cannot be

held by any such contrivances. They, indeed, indicate a desire on the part

of the masses to exploit a spiritual movement for their own purpose. They

also unmistakably indicate the end of the absolute and unconventional

guidance of the bonafide spiritual teacher. The people of this world

understand preventive systems, they can have no idea of the unprevented

positive eternal life. Neither can there be any earthly contrivance for the

permanent preservation of the life eternal on this mundane plane on the

popular scale." (Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur, Harmonist 29.7)

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