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Srila Ananta das Babaji on sadhu-sanga - Outside of his traditional lineage



TarunGovindadas - Sat, 04 Jun 2005 15:25:03 +0530
Dear Vaishnavas,

although this is something very personal I would like to share the advices my Srila Gurudeva gave me regarding the sadhu-sanga outside his traditional lineage, which I found very uplifting and wonderful.

Please note his post scriptum (*) where he refers to the problem mentioned in the fourth paragraph where I wrote about "speaking bad about someone".

I took this into my heart and I will try to control my tonque much more.
smile.gif

First my letter (the first two paragraphs I erased because of being too personal).
Then Baba´s letter.

[attachmentid=1584]

[attachmentid=1585]
Attachment: Image
Attachment: Image
TarunGovindadas - Sat, 04 Jun 2005 15:25:03 +0530
Dear Vaishnavas,

although this is something very personal I would like to share the advices my Srila Gurudeva gave me regarding the sadhu-sanga outside his traditional lineage, which I found very uplifting and wonderful.

Please note his post scriptum (*) where he refers to the problem mentioned in the fourth paragraph where I wrote about "speaking bad about someone".

I took this into my heart and I will try to control my tonque much more.
smile.gif

First my letter (the first two paragraphs I erased because of being too personal).
Then Baba´s letter.

[attachmentid=1584]

[attachmentid=1585]
Attachment: Image
Attachment: Image
Tamal Baran das - Sat, 04 Jun 2005 22:26:28 +0530
This letters shows how deeply Baba trusts his disciples, and their mature reasoning.
Awesome, simple and straight to the point.

Jay Sri Gurudeva.
jijaji - Sat, 04 Jun 2005 23:35:22 +0530
I humbly acknowledge this advice from Anantadasji..

I guess the europeans are a bit cooler than americans, being accepting of you like you say Tarunji.

Rasaraja dasa - Sat, 04 Jun 2005 23:59:55 +0530
QUOTE(jijaji @ Jun 4 2005, 10:05 AM)
I humbly acknowledge this advice from Anantadasji..

I guess the europeans are a bit cooler than americans, being accepting of you Tarunji.
I just remember things like Jaya getting death threats from Iskcon intolerants when he came back to L.A. after taking diksa and myself getting kicked off Iskcon property by their 'Goondas' after I started talking about lack of diksha etc. threatening to kick my ass and worse.

Many years ago of course...but I have gotten similiar attitude in recent years (thus I stay away)
Perhaps one day things could be different there but I have always gotten a sturn hard attitude from IGM devotees who know how I think when I have shown up for a feast.

Frankly at times I have feared for my life.

namaskar,

jijaji

Radhe Radhe!

I have not experienced any issues. In fact the first ISKCON Temple I attended after receiving diksa gave me a hero's reception when I returned for the first time which was so over the top I almost ran away because it was scary! My receiving diksa was not a secreat and several devotees congratulated me on it, wished me well and asked for details.

I think both the climate has changed dramatically, at least in most places, and it also has a lot to do with how one leaves ISKCON and what type of attitude they approach ISKCON with.

Rasaraja dasa
jijaji - Sun, 05 Jun 2005 00:08:48 +0530
QUOTE
I have not experienced any issues. In fact the first ISKCON Temple I attended after receiving diksa gave me a hero's reception when I returned for the first time which was so over the top I almost ran away because it was scary! My receiving diksa was not a secreat and several devotees congratulated me on it, wished me well and asked for details.
Sounds like a different planet than the one I landed on years ago...

Madhava - Sun, 05 Jun 2005 00:10:26 +0530
I have an entrance prohibition to the local ISKCON temple since my leaving for Narayan Maharaja, and apparently leaving him didn't remedy the issue either. Not that I would be looking forward to attending kirtan with march melodies and "because book distribution and brahmacharis ki jay" lectures though. The excommunication doesn't seem to affect the relationships we have with those ISKCON members not living in the confinement of the official structure, though.
Rasaraja dasa - Sun, 05 Jun 2005 00:13:46 +0530
QUOTE(jijaji @ Jun 4 2005, 10:38 AM)
QUOTE
I have not experienced any issues. In fact the first ISKCON Temple I attended after receiving diksa gave me a hero's reception when I returned for the first time which was so over the top I almost ran away because it was scary! My receiving diksa was not a secreat and several devotees congratulated me on it, wished me well and asked for details.
Sounds like a different planet than the one I landed on years ago...

tongue.gif

Radhe Radhe!

I am sure it is. It is a different universe then when I first joined the asrama 15 years ago what to speak of in the late 70's and early 80's. After all that is happened in ISKCON I think many realize that throwing stones and/or making brash statements about others isn't in their best interests. Regardless it is a positive development for all involved.

Rasaraja dasa
Advaitadas - Sun, 05 Jun 2005 00:42:50 +0530
Since one year I am again regularly attending Iskcon Rath Yatras, Harinam Processions and Sunday Feasts, and I am getting cordial receptions everywhere. I havent been there for so many years though, that the current generation of inmates do not know me, so they dont bar my entry, and the occasional contemporary treats me cordially like good-old-boys. I do not always have a purifying effect from eating their prasad, though the kirtans are still great.
TarunGovindadas - Sun, 05 Jun 2005 00:48:28 +0530
QUOTE
Not that I would be looking forward to attending kirtan with march melodies and "because book distribution and brahmacharis ki jay" lectures though.

laugh.gif

Well, here we have some good bhajan-singers, fortunately.
Well, Gaura-arati at 1900h is sometimes getting a bit stormtrooperish.

Rasaraja made a good point: I always kept the contact in a nice manner and I never went there and started die-hard-discussions on the deadbringing issues. smile.gif

Still, sometimes things get heated up when a lecturer leans too much out of the window, like "No one has the right to do raganuga-bhajan, it is for the pure devotees". Then I remember Madhavaji´s excellent "Brief essence of raganuga-bhakti", then I qoute something from the acaryas (Goswamis mainly) and suddenly the room gets very very quiet.

A mixture of eyes staring at me with honest interest and eyes blinking with disgust...
laugh.gif

Yep, times are changing, really.

jijaji - Sun, 05 Jun 2005 07:29:27 +0530
QUOTE
"Brief essence of raganuga-bhakti"
TarunGovindadasji,

Where is this located? Is there a thread you can give..?

namaskar,

jijaji
lbcVisnudas - Sun, 05 Jun 2005 08:36:56 +0530
Jai Radhe!
Regarding changing times, people do change and Krsna is so mercifull.
Just this past Ekadasi, the local temple president of Iskcon temple called me at my home, completely unnerving me. He wanted to apologize for having been so aggressive and rude to my wife and myself. We had gone for Darshan and he was vigorously trying to engage me in a debate and we were trying to see Nitai-Gaur. We had not been back since that day. He unreservedly apologized and asked me to come and visit the Deities and sing bhajan. He then asked me what I was reading at the time. I told him Pandit Ananta Das Babaji's RVC and he again shocked me by glorifying Panditji to the sky! ohmy.gif
He raved about how Panditji's translations are the most clear and precise and his purports are always "dead-on". blink.gif
I am still shocked and a little wary, but will go tomorrow to the temple where so many years ago I saw the first image of PancaTattva had ever seen and the first Hari Kirtan I had ever heard.
We shall see how it goes.
Jai Radhe Radhe!
dasanudas - Sun, 05 Jun 2005 10:14:06 +0530
It is really nice to hear all these positive comments. I think new generations of both tradition will come to realize pretty soon they will not head towards anywhere if they want to ignore each other. Certainly they need to acknoledge positive sides of each other and contribute to the tradition more effective by sharing their treasure.

I think in future ISCKON's preching mission will be blended by the thought and practice of traditional communities to help them preach more efficiently and more effectively to reach entire masses. Because Bhajan and Preaching both are required inorder to carry Mahaprabhu's leagacy for future world.
Kamala - Sun, 05 Jun 2005 12:37:50 +0530
QUOTE(jijaji @ Jun 5 2005, 02:59 AM)
QUOTE
"Brief essence of raganuga-bhakti"
TarunGovindadasji,

Where is this located? Is there a thread you can give..?


"The Brief Essence of Raganuga Bhakti" is online as a pdf document (40 pages) at http://www.raganuga.org/raganuga-bhakti-sara.pdf


Madhava - Sun, 05 Jun 2005 15:51:56 +0530
QUOTE
"The Brief Essence of Raganuga Bhakti" is online as a pdf document (40 pages)

A document I need to update one of these days... There's plenty more it should contain.
brajamani - Wed, 08 Jun 2005 21:41:42 +0530
Wait a minute, AnantaDas BabaJi said dont eat the food at ISKCON but its ok to associate with them?
jijaji - Wed, 08 Jun 2005 22:29:48 +0530
QUOTE(Kamala @ Jun 5 2005, 10:07 AM)
"The Brief Essence of Raganuga Bhakti" is online as a pdf document (40 pages) at http://www.raganuga.org/raganuga-bhakti-sara.pdf


(40 pages is brief..? huh.gif )

jijaji
Madhava - Wed, 08 Jun 2005 22:53:10 +0530
QUOTE(brajamani @ Jun 8 2005, 05:11 PM)
Wait a minute, AnantaDas BabaJi said dont eat the food at ISKCON but its ok to associate with them?

Yes, that's what he said. You can read some further discussions about this in this thread.
TarunGovindadas - Thu, 09 Jun 2005 11:01:34 +0530
QUOTE(Madhava @ Jun 8 2005, 06:23 PM)
QUOTE(brajamani @ Jun 8 2005, 05:11 PM)
Wait a minute, AnantaDas BabaJi said dont eat the food at ISKCON but its ok to associate with them?

Yes, that's what he said. You can read some further discussions about this in this thread.



I thought he was refering with "the same (problem)" to talking bad about someone, but I just realized the "as far as possible"... smile.gif

He would never encourage "talking bad about someone", so "as far as possible" must indeed refer to the prasadam-issue, right?
DharmaChakra - Thu, 09 Jun 2005 16:32:08 +0530
QUOTE(TarunGovindadas @ Jun 9 2005, 01:31 AM)
I thought he was refering with "the same (problem)"  to talking bad about someone, but I just realized the "as far as possible"... smile.gif

He would never encourage "talking bad about someone", so "as far as possible" must indeed refer to the prasadam-issue, right?


Thats how I read it. Tactfully here means to skillfully avoid the issue. Its better to plan ahead and not be put in a position where you have to take the prasadam, than to be rude and push the plate away, etc. I took 'as far as possible' to acknowledge that there may in fact be times that you are offered prasadam and can not get out of eating it without being disrespectful.