Smarta Vaisnavism (sectarianism)

[valaya]

The heritage of the smarta vaisnavism:

 

  

Dear Vaisnavas,

 

Today we were meditating on the generosity of Srila Bhaktivinod

Thakur and his appreciation of other devotees, including those who

search for the truth in other traditions.  This sentiment of his is so outstanding and enchanting.  Yet, it is surprising that even among

those who claim to follow in his disciplic succession, an incredible

amount of sectarianism and  narrow mindedness still prevails.

    

Some people teach their disciples that they are the only way to the

highest truth. They utilize the high esoteric teachings of our

acharyas in this connection. In other words they differentiate the

surrender to one¹s spiritual master with the process of achieving

highest bhakti. They go so far as to say that even initiated Gaudiya

Vaisnavas Acharyas in our line are only vartmana-pradarsaka-

gurus, and that neither they nor their disciples will be benefited with the highest truth save and except if they come to this particular person or his mission.

 

That means that whoever preaches in this sectarian way denies the power of the maha-mantra, the mercy of the caitya-guru and the validity of our living tradition.In contrast to that, hear what Bhaktivinode said: "Those who are anxious for the blessings of God are our brothers in faith, whatever error there may be in their ideas and form of worship." Or what about his other quote: "Sectarianism is the worst enemy of truth."

 

But it is not surprising that such distorted claims of uniqueness are coming even from people born in India, last not least India is the land where smart-Brahminism was born. To clarify, smart-brahmanism is the sense that people claim superiority over others on the basis of their birth or their knowledge disregarding the qualities or devotion which may be in others. Nobody denies the validity of association with a real loving saint, but loving saints do not destroy the Guru-disciple relationships or disregard the efforts others make to find the truth and to please Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

    

We are happy to say in contrast that there were others Vaisnavas

Acaryas who thought and acted perfectly. The most outstanding

example here is my own spiritual master Srila Prabhupad who even

risked to give sannyas to his western born disciples, and who

requested all of his disciples to become genuine spiritual masters

in the Gaudy Vaisnava tradition. He never said that you should not

start preaching until you have realized your spiritual form in the

spiritual world. As a matter of fact he never told anybody of his own

spiritual body in the spiritual world. But he realized the great need

of real local Vaisnava saints if the movement of Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu was going to be successful all over the world because

personal trust and personal relationship is a fundamental principal

of surrender.

    

A number of saints have carried this message forward. Srila

Bhaktiraksak Sridhar Maharaj accepted and expanded on the work

of Srila Prabhupad. He told us: "Everybody must be happily

accommodated in the family of Krsna consciousness." He

encouraged the disciples of Srila Prabhupad to initiate others in the

spiritual life and he embraced all spiritual masters and his disciples in his loving mood. Srila Bhaktipramode Puri Maharaj agreed that western and Eastern followers of Lord Caitanya should work

together as equals to defend the dignity of Lord Caitanya in the

world. As president of the World V.A. he realized that to

accommodate the feelings of other Acharyas, their disciples and

their feelings for their gurus is not an easy thing.

  

It is not synonymous with memorizing many slokas from rasik

literature. It is not synonymous with personal name, fame and

influence in the Vaisnava world. Neither is it synonymous with

having a big mission or having the most exalted Guru himself; such

mature realization which qualifies a person to become even the

Guru of other Gurus, depends on the love and generous mercy

which emanates from such a person, which attracts other

Vaisnavas to them and which enables them to harmonize all the

feelings in one great love and ecstasy. Such a soul is rarely found.

 

I pray that these few lines may clarify some of the doubts which

have arisen in the mind of many of my god brothers and other

Vaisnavas as well in recent years. I offer my obeisances to all

those readers of this article, and especially pray for the mercy of all those who sincerely try to please their spiritual masters, so one

day I may become a sincere servant of my spiritual masters.

    

Your aspiring servant,

Swami B.A. Paramadvaiti 

 

 

 

[This message has been edited by valaya (edited 09-19-2001).]