From Tirtharaj Das (Pretoria SA)

[Guest guest]

Worshipful Sannyasi superiors and other devotees, I solicit your imput here.

 

In GM days Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati protected the Brahmacaries and

sannyasi's by engagements in Deity worship and preaching in colleges, but

they were not co-ed like today In Kali yuga.

 

SBBSST had only householders doing Nama hatta and grihastha counseling, but

today Iskcon has compromising situations where Brahmacaries have to preach

reluctantly to women, this is a horrible situation for many men, but it

really tests them to the maximum their determination.

 

we have so less Brahmacaries in this movement. We really should work to get

them out of such difficult situations and more into protective service

situations.

 

I've forwarded you this letter. Keep and comment what you want, delete the

rest. Please bless this sincere boy with your coments if you have them.

 

pranamas at your lotus feet. I hope your life is not disturbed by my sending

this to you. If so, kindly forgive, instruct and bless me.

 

ys MMDABSR

 

---------- Forwarded Message ----------

 

Answer 4704 (256 lines) [W1]

Mahamantra (das) ACBSP (Vrindavan - IN)

17-Jul-01 03:53 +0530

(ISKCON) Pretoria (South Africa)

Reference: Text com:4482872 by (ISKCON) Pretoria (South Africa)

From Tirtharaj Das

---------------------------

Camp: Minsk ekadasi gita patha.

 

Dear Tirtharaja dasa. Jaya Prabhupada

 

Don't hesitate to write me, but don't forget I don't give devotees

instructions independent of their gurus. The guru gets a prompt copy of the

letter I write back to them. remember that in the future.

 

Even If I ever get disciples of my own in any remote future, I'd prefer the

same from My guru god-brothers in turn. THis is vaisnava ettiquette as it

should be, everything straightforward nothing kept behind the back at all.

 

Your guru is returning shortly to South Africa. I suggest you fall at His

compassionate lotus feet and get further practical instructions from him

this letter does not circumvent those superior instructions.

 

> I have not written in a long time. Please do not be suprised by this

> message. I wish to receive your mercifull glance and instructions during

> these difficult times. Things are seem to OK! But they're not.

 

slokas follow...

 

Vrndavana Mahimamrita (Srila Prabhodananda Sarasvati's) sakata 8 Verses

49-52

 

str…-rakasy€ƒ su-viama-kte rakataˆ rakataˆ ca

krodh€s™y€-mada-piunat€-dambha-lobh€nt€deƒ

vnd€˜avy€ viraha-bhayato rakataˆ ny™na-bh€v€d

r€dh€-kŠau nija-karuŠay€ sarvato rakataˆ m€m

 

str…-of woman; rakasy€ƒ-from the demoness; su-very; viama-cruel;

kte-whose actions; rakatam-please protect; rakatam-please protect;

ca-also; krodha-anger; as™y€-envy; mada-madness; piunat€-cruelty;

dambha-pride; lobha-greed; anta-falsehood; adeƒ-beginning with;

vnd€tavy€ƒ-from Vnd€vana; viraha-of separation; bhayataƒ-from fear;

rakatam-please protect; ny™na-fallen; bh€v€t-from the condition;

r€dh€-kŠau-O ®r… ®r… R€dh€-KŠa, nija-won; karuŠay€-by the mercy;

sarvataƒ-in all respects; rakatam-please protect; m€m-me.

 

Please protect me form the cruel witch of woman's company. Please

protect me from anger, envy, madness, cruelty, pride, greed, falsehood, and

all other vices. Please protect me from the fear of becoming separated from

®r… Vnd€vana. O R€dh€-KŠa, because I am very fallen and weak, please

kindly protect me from all dangers.

 

Text 50

 

kudh€ deha-ty€go varam iha ghasthair na hi mil€my

api reyaƒ-pr€ptau na yuvati-sam…paˆ kaŠam aye

na jahyaˆ r…-vnd€vanam akhila-n€e 'pi manas€py

aho kudrasy€pi vyavasitim im€ˆ kaƒ saphalayet

 

kudh€-by hunger; deha-of the body; ty€gaƒ-abandonment; varam-better;

iha-here; ghasthaiƒ-with householders; na-not; hi-certainly; mil€mi-I shall

meet; api-even; reyaƒ-of the ultimate good; pr€ptau-in attainment; na-not;

yuvati-girls; sam…pam-near; kaŠam-for a moment; aye-Oh; kudrasya-of an

insignificant person; api-even; vyavasitim-endeavor; im€m-this; kaƒ-what?

saphalayet-may become fruitful.

 

I would rather die of starvation than associate with materialistic

householders. Even to get the best thing I shall not for a moment approach

young women. Even if everything collapses I shall not, even within my mind,

leave ®r… Vnd€vana. Oh, what fruit will the endeavor of this weak and

fallen person bear?

 

Text 51

 

na €stra-guru-ko˜ibhir na khalu loka-ninda-atair

mah€-naraka-d˜ibhir na hi vipatti-saukhyair na hi

man€g api ca notsahe hata-mano yuvaty€htaˆ

niroddhum ata …daˆ kim avit€si vnd€˜avi

 

na-not; €stra-of scriptures; guru-of spiritual masters; ko˜ibhiƒ-by

millions; na-not; khalu-indeed; loka-of the world; ninda-of rebukes;

ataiƒ-by hundreds; mah€-great; naraka-of hell; d˜ibhiƒ-by the sight;

na-not; hi-indeed; vipatti-by suffering; saukhyaiƒ-or happiness; na-not;

man€k-slightly; api-even; ca-also; na-not; utsahe-I shall endeavoor;

hata-wretched; manaƒ-mind; yuvatya-by a young woman;

ahtam-taken;niroddhum-to check; ataƒ-then; …dam-like this; kim-whether?

avita-the protector; asi-you will be; vnd€˜avi-O Vnd€vana.

 

Not with millions of scriptures and gurus, not with hundreds of rebukes

from the world, not with the repeated vision of hellish life, and not even

with a host of calamities am I able to restrain, for even a moment, this

mind infatuated by young women. O Vnd€vana, will you protect me?

 

Text 52

 

jar…harti sv€ntaˆ hari hari yuvaty-€di-viayo

nar…narty €kramya tv ati-irasi m€y€ bhagavataƒ

var…vartity €€ ciram iha tu vnd€vana-vane

na j€ne r€dh€y€ƒ katham iva car…karti karuŠ€

 

jar…harti-repeatedly takes away; sva-antam-my heart; hari-alas!;

hari-alas!; yuvati-with young women; €di-beginning; viayaƒ-the objects of

the senses; nar…narti-repeatedly dances; €kramya-attacking; tu-indeed;

ati-irasi-on my head; m€y€-the illusory potency; bhagavataƒ-of the Supreme

Personality of Godhead; var…varti-chooses; iti-thus; €€-hope; ciram-always;

iha-here; tu-indeed; vnd€vana-of Vnd€vana; vane-in the forest; na-not;

j€ne-I know; r€dh€y€ƒ-of ®r…mat… R€dh€r€Š…; katham-whether? iva-like this;

car…darti-will always do; daruŠ€-the mercy.

 

Alas! Alas! The forms of young women and other objects of sense

gratification repeatedly steal away my heart. The illusory potency of the

Supreme Personality of Godhead attacks me and repeatedly dances on my head.

I continually aspire to remain always here in Vnd€vana forest. Will ®r…mat…

R€dh€r€Š… be always merciful to me? I do not know.

 

Srila Rupa Gosvami's Padyavali verse 11

 

k€€yan na ca bhojan€di-niyam€n no v€ vane v€sato

vy€khy€n€d athav€ muni-vrata-bhar€c cittodbhavaƒ k…yate

kintu sph…ta-kalinda-aila-tanay€-t…reu vikr…ato

govindasya pad€ravinda-bhajan€rambhasya le€d api

 

k€€y€t-from the saffron color; na-not; ca-and; bhojana-of eating; €di-etc.;

niyam€t-from restraint; na-not; v€-or; vane-in the forest; v€sataƒ-from the

residence; vy€khy€n€t-from explanation of the scriptures; athav€-or;

muni-vrata-from the vow of silence; bhar€t-great; citta-udbhavaƒ-cupid;

k…yate-becomes weakened; kintu-but; sph…ta-broad; kalinda-of Mount Kalinda;

aila-mountain; tanay€-of the daughter (the Yamun€ River); t…reu-on the

ba‰ks; vikr…ataƒ-playing; govindasya-of Lord Govinda; pada-feet;

aravinda-lotus flowers; bhajana-of the devotional service; €rambhasya-of the

beginning; le€t-from a little particle; api-even.

 

Not by wearing saffron cloth, not by restricting food and other

sense-activities, not by living in the forest, not by discussing philosophy,

and not by observing a vow of silence, but only by even the slightest

beginning of devotional service to the lotus feet of Lord Govinda, who

enjoys pastimes on the Yamun€'s wide banks, is K€madeva stopped.

 

k€laƒ kalir balina indriya-vairi-varg€ƒ

r…-bhakti-m€rga iha kaŠ˜haka-ko˜i-ruddhaƒ

h€ h€ kva y€mi vikalaƒ kim ahaˆ karomi

caitanya-p…˜ha yadi n€dya kp€ˆ karoi

 

k€laƒ-the time; kalir-is the age of Kali; balinaƒ-strong;

indriya-vairi-varg€ƒ-the enimical senses; r…-bhakti-m€rgaƒ-the path of

devotional service; iha-here; kaŠ˜haka-ko˜i-ruddhaƒ-filled with millions of

thorns; h€ h€-Oh! Oh!; kva-where?; y€mi-will I go; vikalaƒ-agitated;

kim-what?; ahaˆ-I; karomi-will do; caitanya-p…˜ha-O abode of Lord Caitanya;

yadi-if; na-not; adya-now; kp€ˆ-mercy; karoi-you do.

 

============ REF. Navadvipa Sataka Text 93

 

Srila Prabhodananda Sarasvati's Chaitanya Candramrta verse 49 is similar but

the last line is:

 

caitanya-candra yadi n€dya kp€ˆ karoi

 

Text 96

 

saˆs€ra-duƒkha-jaladhau patitasya k€ma-

krodh€di-nakra-makaraiƒ kaval…-ktasya

durv€san€-nigaitasya nir€rayasya

gaur€‰ga-p…˜ha mama dehi kp€valambam

 

saˆs€ra-of repeated birth and death; duƒkha-of the sufferings;

jaladhau-in the ocean; patitasya-fallen; k€ma-lust; krodha-and anger;

€di-beginning; nakra-crocodiles; makaraiƒ-and sharks; kaval…-a mouthful;

ktasya-being made; durv€san€-by wicked desires; nigaitasya-chained;

nir€rayasya-without any shelter; gaur€‰ga-of Lord Caitanya; p…˜ha-O sacred

abode; mama-to me; dehi-please give; kp€-of mercy; avalambam-the gift.

 

 

I am chained by sinful desires. I have fallen into the painful ocean of

repeated birth and death. The sharks and crocodiles of lust and anger are

devouring me alive. I have no shelter. O holy abode of Lord Gaur€‰ga, please

be merciful to me!

 

============ REF. Text 96

 

Again somewhere near about verse 55 Caitanya Candramrta has similar but the

last line is:

 

caitanya chandra mama dehi pad€ravindam

(Text 4704) ---------------

 

(1) PRAY TO Guru(s) - Krsna-gAURANGA-Baladeva, sanat kumara, etc.

 

(2) memorize more nectar instructions pertainant in this situation. read

chapers of SB, Aila gita 11th canto, 12 canto where Markandeya rsi defeats

cupid, etc. this will give strength in Kali yuga. (some slokas above) check

bhakti Vikash swami's BIKC book for other references, don't be a lazy bum!

Kick yourself in the pants and memorise, take shelter of them, and firmly

apply them!

 

(3) see the objects of the senses as Krsna's property and you'll be ok.

 

(4) Have arjuna and Vrndavana dasa give you a brahmacari partner, you should

not preach to ladies alone.

 

(5) hOWEVER, If they "blow your mind too much", then request Arjuna that he

change your service in order to Protect your brahmacari life.

 

(6) Just cause you ARE FORCED TO preach where ladies are doesn't mean you

have to run away though. I admit it's a touchy situation, and Vrndavana

dasa can attest to it, please take shelter of Krsna.

 

(7) You should have an extensive sravanam & kirtanam any time you feel you

are in trouble and the sense objects are dancing in your mind, that's all.

smart brahmacaries who are determined to stay life long Brahmacaries,

Memorise, contemplate, and concretely apply in their lives more verses

glorifying Krsna, Gauranga's beauty and thus their minds are not attracted

to stool packaged in a ladies body, they are innocent conditioned souls like

anyone, but you must try to avoid the enjoying tendency by all means.

 

Prabhupada hit on this vein in the following lecture on SB 3.25.26. the

exact time position on this spl cd #9 cd's lecture is given

 

26:00"Nice girl and so on and so on.. but devotee is not interested in

cinema at all, How has it become possible? bhakti puman jata

viraga,practical the more you engage yourself in devotional service, the

more you forget your sense gratification process.and as soon as you become

completely detestful for sense gratification, then you are a liberated

person, fit for going back to home back to Godhead".this is the process-

Bhakti gives you a chance to see Krsna"27:08 Bom.11/26/74 SB 3.25.26 SPL

cd# 9.

 

Bhakti VIkasa Swami, in Brahmacary in K.C. mentions the fact that when a

woman enters the room the atmosphere perceptably changes. what to speak in

University situations where the unchaste dressing and behaviour is a

disturbance to brahmacarya preaching.

 

> For example- in my birth chart it is mentioned that during a particular

> period(between now and mid next yr) I will mainly receive most assistance

> from the opposite sex. It says many other thing which are similar.

 

(8) So what Big deal! You should be grateful that your chart is warning you

that testing times are ahead! great! now you have another opportunity for

practically demontrating your determination to Love Krsna, Gauranga more

than anything in this world!

 

> Now what should I do, since I have taken this service of preaching at

> university. It is actually already happaning, that there's more ladies

> coming forward to help with the society at campus. I am forced to help

> them and in a way give them guidance.

> How can I deal with it in such a way that it does not disturb my

> brahmacarya and also not discourage potential devotees.

 

(9) Good Question! i LOVE IT SO MUCH, I'm approached my superiors including

your Guru for further advice on their opinions.

 

> While we're on personal issues, I thought I would mention that, I feel

> very strong about worshiping Goura Nitai Dieties. You said I should

> consult with my Gurumaharaj but... I am too worried about what he's going

> to think.

 

(10) Why do you ask me again? I've already given you my instructions there.

Ask PArtha Sarathi Prabhu's opinion later too.

 

First worship Pancha tattva with devotion for now. and you may request your

Guru to consider installing GN deities there or allow you to worship small

uninstalled GN personally. When your worship gets ripe, then he'll install

them for you.

 

Why are you shy to ask him about this small thing? Especially when the girls

at the university are troubling you? He may allow this worship of GN. GN

worship saved my brahmacari life, They can save yours too, the real question

is:

 

Can you serve GN the rest of your life, or will you abandon Them later, due

to chancal mind.. that your guru Maharaja and siksa gurus must decide. in

order to protect you.

 

If you prove your stability in worship (not all brahmacari's are pujaris)

then Guru will bless your desire, why fear?

 

But My strong opinion it that you should give the strongest weight to your

guru's desires here..Of course he may allow you to follow Mine, or Partha

sarathi's directions which might possibly be different from his desires.

 

You should worship Guru in Gaurava, respectful ways, but that doesn't mean

you are so afraid of GUru you can't ask him or reveal your mind to him? Why

did you accept him if you can't approach your highest well-wisher?

 

Don't be shy to approach your guru, just keep the sincere submissive service

attitude it will strengthen your guru nistha I feel.

 

regards to Arjuna, Sri Vrndavana, Syamasundara and other wonderful devotees

there in pretoria.

 

ys MMDASBR