Enough is enough? - All the emotionally involved GM threads.

I think it's about the time to close down all those emotionally involved Gaudiya Math / ISKCON topics. I'd much rather see any other topics in the forums.

If anyone desires to examine Gaudiya Math and related topics, it'd better not be emotionally loaded, but just a plain, fair logical analysis of historical or theological issues.

I am now closing all the topics inciting largely emotional responses. If anyone has a good reason to open one of them, please get in touch with me.

Oh yes, and please don't start any new threads with the same theme and pattern of discussion. As we have seen, they lead absolutely nowhere and benefit no-one.

Heck, if you don't have time to answer emails, I'll just keep asking here! It is much faster service.

Could you comment, at your convenience, on the statement you made that Baba does not care to be another International Super-Star Preacher but wishes his books published? It seems to me publishing books for the world to read would hardly keep one unnoticed. Also, if his teachings will be enphasised in book form over lectures to the public then that would be a very popular idea with "ritvik" and other proponents of the sort. "It-is-all-in-his-books" cult all over again...

I could help you with that one. Baba is really not interested. Several disciples have asked him if he can come to the west to preach. He prefers to preach by example, remaining absorbed in bhajan near Sri Radha's Lake.

He writes books on the direct order of his guru.

As for "his books", I once complimented him for his books, and he objected, insisting that they are the books of the Gosvamis instead. I seriously doubt that the scenario you suggest could ever take place.

I can't see why lectures should be emphasized over books; after all, it is the books to which he gives the most thought.

Ok Madhava, here we go again...

He may emphasize the books over lectures, but his physical presence must be of equal if not supperior value to those who will read the books. In other words, people want the person Bhagavat as well - and that is present in the physical body, isn't it? If he does not come but sends the bait, than it is just a matter of time that hundreds will flock to him at Radhakunda, either to offer worship to him or follow his example and remain at Radhakunda doing... what he does.


Ananda

From what you write, I get the feeling you misunderstand the purpose of this website. This is not an Ananta Das Pandit Baba website. There are many other mahajans who represent the Gaudiya Vaisnava religion of the Goswamis, both from the past and present. There are many devotees from these forums who are disciples of other great bhajananandis. This is a website to propagate the teachings of Sri Caitanya. Those teachings are imbibed in the lives of Vaisnava saints. My recommendation is that you read some biographies of great Vaisnava saints. That will give you an idea of what this is all about. Are you familiar with any?

It is not such an easy task to go to Radha Kunda. It is Sri Radha-Krsna's eternal playground with an external covering. Without prema one would think its just another place on earth. It cost money, time, a lot faith, courage and deep sincerity to make such a journey there and achieve their goals of receiving sadhu sanga, initiation, bhajan, ect. It is not a cheap thing.

The literature of the Goswamis of which Baba and others who have contributed to the commentaries show the process for attaining the Youthful Couple. Yes, it's a bait, to hook you into loving service to Radha's lotus feet. And you are correct, people do need to see examples of what the bhakti sastras describes in Vaisnavas. Check it out yourself.

Oh, so that's why he is not answering my PMs also. Bless Madhavaji, he is doing very good work and very busy in it.

I've been waiting for an opportunity to answer something more interesting instead of "How are you doing?", "God damn busy."

Erm,.. as well as asking for your welfare, I asked if you could help in finding a good English translation of Jayadeva's Gita-govinda, since I've been unable to find one on the Net. Then I asked you the meaning (in context) about a Sanskrit or Bengali word. Then today I wrote to you offering voluntary services on GGM work.

Still, if you don't need any help then that's fine with me I guess.

Don't get it wrong, I mean that I just don't have much chit chat of interest to share at the moment. Of course I will reply to all mails and they are all important. Besides I replied to your Gita Govinda message already. I've been stretching myself beyond comfort level for quite a few years now, and I am beginning to observe that I can't go on indefinitely like that. I will try to take care of everything that's piled up, but I am not quite prepared to burn myself out. Yes, I have in fact some work for you with GGM if you are interested, and I'd be more than glad to share it.

Dear Ananda,

Did you ever stay and live for some time at Sri Radhakunda?

As a personal friend and wellwisher I would advise: Why don't you cool it with this GGM, there is plenty of time for that. I personally think answering e-mails from Vaishnavas with urgent questions would be a more important and beneficial Vaishnava-seva. I would consider this a priority.

I'll sanctify tomorrow for clearing out the entire backlog. I have some spare time at my hands. Whoever is missing a letter will get one tomorrow. If someone doesn't, resend your message next week.

Although I have not been in any way involved with ISKCON for the past twenty four years, I still maintain some curiosity about them. Perhaps it is just because I spent a few years there and made many life long friends in the process. Most of those friends left either before or after me, however. I doubt that there are many still left at that institution. So there is certainly some emotional baggage when it comes to any particular individual that I know, but I believe I am in a position to look at that organization as a whole from an entirely detached and logical perspective, having had plenty of time to distance myself. The more important question is this: Although people always want to drag me into discussions about ISKCON and my past experiences with them, how much benefit are they going to derive from what I might have to say about it? I often find myself at a loss for words, especially with people that never were involved with them. It seems that no matter what I say, they get the wrong impression. Just about all of them are completely baffled as to why I would want to join such an organization in the first place. The questions are never about Prabhupada, just about a religious group that they see as some very weird cult. Should I attempt to convince them that it is not all that weird and only somewhat cult-like? Many years ago I just threw up my hands in frustration, and I have avoided as far as possible getting involved in such discussions ever since.

Now I just see that we have this problem in presenting Caitanyaism whenever the topic of ISKCON and its parent organization, GM, comes up. Some persons handle it more smoothly than others, I suppose.

Perhaps it should be a point to focus Ananga, to spread traditional Caitanya Vaisnavism to those who are brand new to the whole concept of bhakti than to those who have been involved previously with the religious movements of ISKCON and Gaudiya Math. I think you had some plan of establishing a temple or center in the states? You and Nitai would be great giving lectures.

We absolutely can't be another bunch of people following in the wake of ISKCON and cultivating their congregation as our main activity. That is, unless specifically requested to do so, of course! You never know how the future unfolds... You get the point.

We need to work on efficient strategies in this regard. I plan to do some research on sociology in the context of religion. That should prove interesting.

Dear Tamal Baran Das,

No, I never lived at Radha Kunda, I only visited there. I am hoping though, to go and find Ananta das Babaji (and othesr?) so to find out what these things you talk about in this forum are really about. Well, at least some of it... Since looking up this site a week or so ago I have been pondering and wondering about all I have read here. Many questions have sprung up from these readings. Anyway, I don't know if all the additional information matters to your question, but I am definitely not anyone who has had the fortune of living at Radha Kunda.

Someone once told me that on going to Radhakunda, if one can actually see a bridge made out of transcendental diamonds and which leads to a Kunja for Radha and Krsna's meeting, then one has the right ro remain there, ortherwise no. I wonder about that one too...

Ananda

"We absolutely can't be another bunch..."

Mind if I ask, who are "we"?

Well, we are trying as best we can to launch something in our spare time. Right now I am busy with running my own small IT consulting business while at the same time working with one of Madhavananda's gurubhais in India to establish some offshore operations for the consulting practice. Nitai is busy with the translation work and the grantha mandir project, plus raising a daughter in middle school. I am lucky to have any time at all to participate in this forum.

As far as outplacement of GM/ISKCON refugees, that is pretty much a given. A certain percentage of them are showing up on our doorsteps (as we have seen on this website already) and turning to us for some answers. We need to respond, because it is our duty. Also, it would not be very compassionate to simply ignore them. If, on the other hand, they are not all that receptive to what we have to say, then what else can we do? Fortunately, a number of them are very receptive, and in fact they have literally found a new lease on their devotional life.

When my economic situation stablizes I would like to have some sort of center. Here in Gainesville there are so many yoga and esoterik groups. I get the impression that because there are so many of them that there must be in demand. Eventually I would like to do some kirtan performances with high quality musicians to introduce the teachings. If I could raise the funds I would sponser you, Ananga, and Nitai to come down and lecture and give seminars. We can present it such a way that funds can be generated from it to cover the expenses.

We, who discuss on this website, and who all try to share the gift of Mahaprabhu with others on our respective fronts.

Nitai is the one with the experience as a lecturer, having done a considerable amount of it in his former career as a college professor. I do not have any such experience. You should send Nitai an email letting him know, since he does not generally read these topics here.

I am down to 40 letters now. I will take care of them this evening. Thank you for your patience.