Rejection of diksha guru with lesser adhikara not allowed by Narahari

[Guest guest]

> But remember that the whole reason

> this subject came up in the first place is that one prabhu suggested that

> based upon the example of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur we could draw the

> conclusion that it is acceptable in current practice to reject or distance

> oneself from one's diksa guru if we find him to be of a lesser adhikara.

 

> Actually, if the Thakur had done so it would be difficult to reconcile

> such an action with the injunctions of sastra, which only approve of the

> rejection of a guru who is a non-vaishnava.

 

I agree that one should not cite BBG's example because there is no

conclusive evidence for or against his rejection.

 

But I don't agree that if the Thakura had done do so it would be difficult

to reconcile such an action with the injunctions of sastra. Because if he

had rejected Bipin Bihari Goswami (just assume) that it would have been

obviously due to some serious deviation or Vaisnava aparadha like calling

Raghunath Dasa Goswami, a kayastha or something else. The sastra not only

approves rejection of an avaisnava as your guru but also maybe a vaisnava

guru if he becomes envious of other Vaisnavas. Infact if we say that

Bhaktivinode Thakura did not reject BBG even when BBG criticized Srila

Raghunatha Dasa Goswami then this will be difficult to reconcile with the

scriptures. This is confirmed by Narahari Sarkara Thakura in Krsna

Bhajanamrta:

 

Verse 64

However, if the spiritual master:

 

*acts envious towards 'isvarebrantah', that which is

connected with the Supreme;

*is bewildered regarding the Supreme Personality of

Godhead;

*is averse to expanding the fame of Lord Krsna;

*personally refuses to accept hearing or chanting about

the glorious pastimes of Lord Sri Krsna;

*has become totally bewildered, listening to the false

praise of ignorant persons and day by day is more

materially contaminated and fallen

 

then the spiritual master must be renounced.

 

Such a spiritual master fit for rejection may be either a vaisnava or a

non-vaisnava previously.

 

> But remember that the whole reason

> this subject came up in the first place is that one prabhu suggested that

> based upon the example of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur we could draw the

> conclusion that it is acceptable in current practice to reject or distance

> oneself from one's diksa guru if we find him to be of a lesser adhikara.

 

The prabhu who quoted Bhaktivinode Thakura's example for rejecting or

distancing oneself from one's dikha guru of a lesser adhikara has done it

inappropriately even if we suppose that the Thakura had actually rejected

Bipin Bihari Goswami. It has to be understood that even if Bhaktivinode

Thakura had rejected BBG (which may not be a fact as Bhaktarupa Prabhu

points out), it would be not because he was of a lesser adhikara but because

he was repeatedly offensive to the Vaisanvas.

 

> It is a well-known fact that many Gaudiya Math sadhus are presently

> reinitiating ISKCON devotees in large numbers. Although they put forward

> so many reasons to justify doing this which somehow satisfies the minds of

> the disaffected devotees, it is beyond my comprehension how such behavior

> is based upon guru, sadhu, and sastra. It appears by-and-large to simply

> be a tactic designed to increase the followings of their maths. That our

> ISKCON gurus are categorically not engaging in such practices is indeed

> commendable.

>

> This example of Bhaktivinode Thakur rejecting Bipin Bihari Goswami is

> being promoted by the same sources who are doing the reinitiating, and if

> we put the two together it is not difficult to see the politics involved,

> a politics which goes back for decades.

>

> So this issue is not some nice little historical curiousity, but it has

> broad implications for our ISKCON preaching.

 

This reinitiating which may be going on is directly against the instructions

of Narahari Sarkara Thakura in Krsna Bhajanamrta:

 

Verse 54

If a father or spiritual master or husband are not possessed of

outstanding qualities even then they are always worshipable.

 

Verse 55

Taking shelter of the above-mentioned persons one may even disagree

with those senior to oneself.

 

It is clear from verse 54 that even if the spiritual master is not possessed

of outstanding qualities i.e he may be having a lesser adhikara still he

should be worshipped and taken shelter of. It is also said in the previous

verses that even if the disciple takes instructions from a more advanced

siksha guru then he should get it confirmed from his diksha guru whether he

can implement them or not. This proves that one cannot reject his diksha

guru under any circumstances except the points listed by Narahari Sarkara

Thakura in verse 64 quoted above.

 

Your servant,

Nayana-ranjana dasa