Guru-tattwa by Mahaksa dasa :'Prabhupada is not visnu-tattva'

[krsna]

Found this nice article by Sri Mahaksa Prabhu at Comfy.

He makes many pertinent points about the Founder-Acarya Srila Prabhupada:

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guru-tattwa

 

 

 

Haribol, folks.

the divine grace of Srila Prabhupada.

 

Srila Prabhupada is doing everything on behalf of Srila

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur. He is never independant of his Guru

Maharaja's desire. We may say, "I am a servant of Sri Krsna", but is

this our line, is this our parampara? It may well be adhira, if not

pretense. Parampara is dasa dasa anudasa, service to the parampara

itself, there is no independance. Mistaken ideas in this regard

causes one who fails to understand "on behalf of", prone to think

that he is direct link to the Supreme Lord for everyone, thus such

capricious and arbitrary action occurs, such as the sad chain of

events we see in our history, especially mine. Abuse of authority

comes when one falsely claims to be guru without ever being disciple.

A true disciple NEVER is independant from Gurudeva, no matter how

advanced he may be. To directly witness Srila Prabhupada's attitude

in this regard, I recommend that all try to hear his classes

delivered in 1969 and 1973 on the occasion of the departure of his

guru-maharaja.

 

I have always approached "Sri Rasa-Lila" chapter of the Krsna Book

with caution. I never thought I was qualified to hear, lest I

misunderstand. So I fall on my face with tears in my eyes that I am

included in this pastime by appreciation of talks between Sri

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Ramananda Raya. I am overwhelmed by

the description of the relationship between Sri Madhavendra Puri and

Sri Isvara Puri. I am never left out in the cold. I approach Gauranga-

lila through the mercy of the Six Goswamis, who can be seen through

the poetry of Krsnadasa and Srila Narottamadasa Thakur, whose

sentiments are sung without omission by Srila Bhaktivinode. Srila

Prabhupada gives us the whole plate of never-ending Prasadam, the

best halavah and sweet rice, the subjhi cooked to perfection by the

most qualified brahmana. Parampara is intact due to each Sriman

Gurudeva giving more and more.

 

I have read some who say Srila Prabhupada is saktivesa avatar. I say

absolutely, but if someone says he is visnu-tattwa, I take offense.

The reason being is that he always wants, as does Lord Jesus Christ

always want, us to become like them. If Lord Jesus or Srila

Prabhupada are Visnu-tattwa, such instruction becomes meaningless and

smacks of mayavada philosophy. All rasa is destroyed by such

artificial deification, for if the Son and the Father are the same,

there is no relationship, there is neither son nor father. Without

acintya-bheda-bheda-tattwa, there can be no discussion of visnu-

tattwa nor can guru-tattwa be well understood. Only adhira is evident.

 

Understand what is meant by diksa, a personal COMMITMENT to disciple,

know how deep his LOVE for us is. The quest for initiation, while not

disrespected by this writer, must not get in the way of what is meant

by real initiation. Initiation is not membership, it is promise to

reciprocate commitment. All I did was cause disturbance, because

those who expected me to be preceptor soon understood that I was

unwilling to COMMIT myself to them despite their lack of progress.

 

This is the difference between a bonafide spiritual master,

mahabhagavata, uttama-adhikari, and one who wants to be, yet falls

short. We should all be aspiring to be just like Srila Prabhupada,

and success will be when we can even forego our own spiritual life,

such as He did by leaving Vrndavandhama to come to us, and COMMIT, in

service to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga, to the suffering masses, to

engage them in this wonderful Samkirtana, to become a selfless diksa

guru and take RESPONSIBILITY for their Krsna Consciousness. In short,

we must COMMIT ourselves, in the service to Srila Prabhupada, to the

poor souls in every town and village, to give them Harinama.

 

The fact of the matter is this. Every one of Srila Prabhupada's

disciples, no matter what condition of life they were in, are in, or

will be in, have the eternal opportunity to follow in the footsteps

of Srila Prabhupada at any time. This does not mean imitate, but can

mean they may accept disciples and act as diksa in their own right.

At any time, we may freely choose to FOLLOW, and at that time may be

immediately cleansed of all their unwanted burdens of impious

mistakes. We MUST understand the potency of the HOLY NAMES of the

Supreme Lord.

 

To accept the devotional service to act as diksa is not an ego trip,

nor is it a cool thing to do. It is actually the most difficult

service one may perform, and is done in extreme humility, and ALL who

accept this service in such a state of mind deserve all respect from

the assembled devotees. Such a person promises Sri Krsna to forego

his rewards for his Krsna Consciousness until all his disciples

become pure Vaisnavas, thus the warning against accepting disciples

is contained in Shastra. Srila Prabhupada is very clear in this

matter, he is very clear expressing his desire to reclaim his fallen

disciples, he is very clear in fulfilling his promise to appear to us

eternally in his instructions, coming to us often in dreams even

while we are acting so demoniac. I myself am living proof of this

potency of my Guru Maharaja, because I always drift away, but he

never lets me go.

 

His disciples, who, on the strength of the teachings of Sri Chaitanya

Mahaprabhu contained in His Sri Siksastakam, decide to take on

this "HEAVY" bhakti yoga practice of becoming Diksa and continuing

the pure line of Parampara, deserve nothing but my heartfelt

obiesancies. I will not accept this service at this time, I have too

many flaws, and even though approached, I must defer. I can and do

accept the position of siksa because that is MY PROMISE to my Diksa,

as well as an act of respect to all my siksas.

 

There is nothing we have done to warrant our acceptance by Sri

Gurudeva, thus the words "causeless mercy" are used to describe

initial linkage. We walk on the streets of Armageddion and we see one

who may be a friend. He exhibits symptoms of Vaisnava, and we are

attracted. He gives, on behalf of his Gurudeva, raja-vidya. We take a

little, our taste increases, GRADUAL PROCESS, (How many times does

this phrase appear in Srila Prabhupada's books?), Who is this person?

He loves Sri Krsna. He gives Sri Krsna. He is Sri Gurudeva. Siksa.

His teachings ultimately lead us to the feet of his Gurudeva, who

leads us to the feet of his Gurudeva, and so on. In the event that

Siksaguru's Gurudeva is still serving on this plane, Siksa will

arrange for one to accept initiation from His Gurudeva. If siksa guru

is in separation from his diksaguru due to maha-samadhi, in service

to Parampara, will become Diksa himself, or may not choose to

formalize relationship via initiation. This is service, perfromed

without false prestiege or desire for adulation. To accept the order

to be Guru means to give the order, and one should not think that

Diksa and Siksa are different, in purpose. Both are directly engaged

by Sesa Balarama, Sri Chaitagurudeva. Never has a bonafide guru

existed without direct empowerment by this process. As he tastes, he

distributes.

 

"You are the seasoning of the world, the residents can only benefit

from your presense. If you lose your flavor, you are rejected, thrown

away and trampled underfoot, and considered worthless." Lord Jesus

Christ is here describing the qualities of one who has accepted the

order. Those who cannot forget Gurudeva, even though they have often

tried, are the world's seasoning, and have every ability to expand

this great movement that can save the poor sleepers. What more

guruship could any of us desire.

 

 

haribol, ys, mahaksadasa