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My standing instructions and humble request to all my disciples and devotees is to never criticize or belittle or
minimize in any way whatsoever any Vaishnava organization or devotees in any way in public forums or even
privately. Try to discuss about these sectarian society issues the minimum, tending towards zero. Please
always see the good qualities in other Vaishnava institutions, devotees etc. and glorify their good qualities.
Please never consider your own guru as better than any contemporary guru or acharyas. Please never think
there are no advanced and bonafide Vaishnavas outside your group. All these are vicious obstacles to Bhakti
and will destroy the tender bhakti-lata-bija. If you see something wrong in other devotees, do not criticize
behind the back of that devotee or group because such criticism is useless and harmful. You can approach such
a devotee or group and humbly point out the mistake if that is possible otherwise leave it up to to Gurudeva
and Lords Nityananda and Gauranga to correct and rectify that wrong doing. Please continue with your own
devotional service. Criticizing those whom we cannot help is like spitting in the air. The result is that it all comes
down and falls on us and makes us contaminated. So please avoid this at all costs.
Before beginning this discussion on sectarianism in spiritual life, we would like to state that we fully respect and
whole-heartedly appreciate the great preaching work which different Gaudiya Vaishnava organizations like
ISKCON, the different Gaudiya Maths etc. are performing in this world. This preaching is surely creating
auspiciousness in this world. This article is a philosophical perspective of sectarianism and not directed towards
any institution or devotees.
Also I would like to make clear that I personally do not manage any institution or institutionalized properties,
funds etc. nor am even remotely interested in doing so. I am also not a founder or an official member of any
institution or organization. I have my own personal bhajana ashram in Shri Puri Dhama and personal writing,
chanting, publishing and preaching services. Gauranga Dharma or Gauranga Krishna consciousness is the
eternal nature and characteristic of the soul and not an institution. Disciples and devotees can start charitable
non-profit institutions etc. and have properties, funds etc. but I will have no connection with the direct
management, properties and funds of such institutions. I will give my full spiritual support to such institutions,
organizations etc. from outside if they are for the purpose of spreading the pure Holy Names and Pastimes of
Nityananda, Gauranga and Hare Krishna but my primary service will remain to contribute spiritual literature and
audio katha for the preaching of the Holy Names.
Shrila Prabhupada writes:
"There are many societies and associations of pure devotees, and if someone with just a little faith begins to
associate with such societies, his advancement to pure devotional service is rapid."
(Nectar of Devotion: Chapter Nineteen p.41)
Comment by Swami Gaurangapada:
When Shrila Prabhupada himself states that there are many societies and associations of pure devotees not
just one and he himself recommends sanga with them for rapid spiritual advancement, then it is expected of his
followers also to respect these societies or devotees outside the group and thus respect these words of Shrila
Prabhupada.
Srila Prabhupada writes:
"Krishnadas Kaviraja Goswami gives equal respect to all the preachers of the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu,
who are compared to the branches of the tree. Iskcon is one of these branches."
(Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila 10.7, purport)
Comment by Swami Gaurangapada:
When Shrila Prabhupada states that Iskcon is one of the branches of the Gauranga tree, it means that there
are many other branches also. And each branch has to respect the other branch since each of them is a part of
the body of Lord Gauranga.
Thakura Bhaktivinoda in Krsna Samhita 8.22: :
sampradaya-virodho 'yam davanalo vicintyate
“The eleventh obstacle for the Vaisnavas is sectarianism, which takes the shape of the forest fire. Due to
sectarianism a person cannot accept anyone outside of his own group as a Vaisnava, and as a result he faces
many obstacles in finding a guru and associating with sincere devotees. Therefore extinguishing the forest fire
is most important by giving up this mentality.”
"Party spirit - that great enemy of the truth - will always baffle the attempt of the inquirer who tries to gather
truth from the religious works of his nation and will make him believe that the Absolute Truth is nowhere except
in his old religious book."
Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakur
"A sannyasi should have an institution meant to preach Krsna consciousness"
SB 7.13.34 Shrila Prabhupada
"Therefore, in the line of Lord Caitanya even the sannyasis can speak about Krsna consciousness everywhere,
and if someone is seriously inclined to become a disciple, the sannyasi always accepts him. The one point is that
without increasing the number of disciples, there is no propagation of the cult of Krsna consciousness."
(SP in NOD 7)
"The idea of an organized church in an intelligible form, indeed, marks the close of the living spiritual movement.
The great ecclesiastical establishments are the dikes and dams to retain the current that cannot be held by any
such contrivances. They, indeed, indicate a desire on the part of the masses to exploit a spiritual movement for
their own purpose. They also unmistakably indicate the end of the absolute and unconventional guidance of the
bonafide spiritual teacher. The people of this world understand preventive systems, they can have no idea of
the unprevented positive eternal life. Neither can there be any earthly contrivance for the permanent
preservation of the life eternal on this mundane plane on the popular scale."
(Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur, Harmonist 29.7)
As per Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada above no external arrangements, societies, and
institutions in this world will remain forever, in fact mostly they may remain for the number of years the Founder
is personally present on this planet or for a few years or decades more. But Gauranga Krishna consciousness is
not like that because it is the eternal religion and function of the soul in relation to Lord Gauranga-Krishna so
the various societies under Gauranga Krishna consciousness may come and go but it will remain forever and will
triumph for the next 10,000 years
ISKCON was formed by Shrila Prabhupada also as a part of the real Gaudiya Math because Shrila Prabhupada
actually tried to fulfill the orders of his Guru Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada by leaving
Gaudiya Math and forming ISKCON. Can you say that since the name of ISKCON is different from Gaudiya Math
which his Guru Maharaj has originally founded, Shrila Prabhupada left his spiritual master? No, that would be
the greatest offense because all of Shrila Prabhupada's endeavors were simply to please his Guru Maharaj
Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada.
We have instructed all our disciples and devotees to try to cooperate with any Gaudiya Vaishnava institution as
much as possible if they accept the process of regular chanting of the Nityananda and Gauranga Mantrarajas
along with the Hare Krishna Mahamantra and have asked all our devotees to never ever minimize in public or
private the preaching efforts of any Gaudiya Vaishnava institution or devotees. We are not interested simply in
increasing the number of followers and all our followers are free to visit any temples and associate with all
devotees and Gurus of all Gaudiya Vaishnava institutions if there is no minimization of the sublime process of
chanting of the Nityananda and Gauranga Mantrarajas along with the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. Even if some
uninitiated devotee guided by us desires to accept initiation from another bonafide Gaudiya Vaishnava Guru
from any other institution, he or she is welcome to do so.
An Acharya like Shrila Prabhupada is a Jagadguru, just like a sun. A sun is never Indian, American, Chinese etc.
Anyone can bask in the sunlight in any country. Similarly anyone can take up the practice and preaching of the
Acharya's instructions and please him and Their Lordships Shri Shri Nityananda-Gauranga anywhere in the
world whether officially inside the society founded by the acharya or outside the four walls of the society or in
some other organizational setup. One's external standing in any particular organization has nothing to do
whatsoever with the implementation of the practice of the teachings and instructions of the illustrious Acharya.
How can one ever try to limit the teachings of the Acharyas to simply one institution for the next 10,000 years?
How can the teachings of Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada and Seventh Goswami Shrila
Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura be limited to only Gaudiya Math? No, all devotees in the whole world can
hear, preach, and practice them in their lives. The same is with Shrila Prabhupada's teachings.
Some say that one cannot please Shrila Prabhupada outside the ISKCON institution. It is like saying that one
cannot get sunlight if one leaves a particular country. It is also like saying that no devotee in ISKCON can
please Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada because they are situated in a different institution
than Gaudiya Math, the institution which he actually founded and which he also told that no one should leave.
We know that is not true. All the devotees can please the previous Acharyas by sincere following their Vani
even if they are situated in some other institution or no institution at all.
In fact the true spirit of the Acharya is there where a devotee is sincerely trying to follow and practice the
teachings of the Acharya whether inside or outside the four walls of an institution. Sometimes a person may
externally be within the four walls of a society founded by the Acharya but if one is deviating from the
instructions of the Acharya, Gurus, Sadhus and Shastra, one cannot actually be in the pure Vaishnava society
as envisioned by the Acharya. That is what is meant by Krishna or Gauranga consciousness. Walls cannot have
consciousness, it is in the devotees' hearts. The allegiance to an Acharya's teachings is not a sectarian or
institutional phenomenon.
As Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta points out in his extraordinary quote above, that an organizational arrangement
created by the unconventional Acharya who descended from the spiritual world may or may not last after his
physical departure but his eternal teachings are actually the life and soul of his followers who may be born even
after 1000 years from now. As per the Gita, even the parampara started by Krishna Himself got lost due to the
degrading effect of time. Then what to speak of institutions. So it doesn’t make sense to simply be stuck up in
the shadow or the externals of the four walls of an organization which is anyway going to wither away by time
and thus look down on those who are not part of one's institution. The real thing to consider is the vani of the
Acharyas. Because through this medium they eternally remain in this realm guiding their followers who may be
externally situated in some other organization or in no external organization at all.
It strengthens the mission of Shrila Prabhupada and Lord Gauranga to have many missions and societies
preaching his message. Because if something happens to one society the others can at least carry on. That is
why Shrila Prabhupada himself made ISKCON and BBT separate. The real ISKCON is not simply an earthly legal
society of bricks and walls but the society where the vani of Shrila Prabhupada, the Acharyas and Their
Lordships Shri Shri Nityananda-Gauranga is practiced and preached. Shrila Narada Muni, Shrila Shukadeva
Goswami, Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura etc. are in the real ISKCON because they are in 100% Gauranga-Krishna
consciousness. Unless we are 100% Gauranga-Krishna Conscious, we can never be 100% part of the real
ISKCON. The real ISKCON is krishna rasa bhavita matih as stated by Shrila Rupa Goswami and is so glorious.
A Vaishnava organization meant for preaching should understand that it is one of the branches of the Gaudiya
Parampara. But if it claims that it is the only branch and rejects the devotees in other organizations outright, it
commits an offense of indulging in partisan, bigoted and dogmatic sectarian considerations which lead to mass-
scale Vaishnava aparadha. This has repeatedly happened in the past and everyone knows the consequences
also. So one should fear to criticize others at the drop of the hat just based on a narrow-minded, bigoted and
sectarian institutional understanding. It should not become a habit or an intoxication to indulge in minimizing
devotees outside one's devotee group. One should think of the dire consequences for themselves if it just
happens that the person being minimized has genuine desires to please Guru and Gauranga even though he
may be apparently acting or preaching in an externally separate group than us. If one gets into the habit of
criticizing other devotees inside one's own group, it is so easy to end up criticizing other devotees who are
outside of one's group without caring the least to try to find out about the genuinity of intentions. Both internal
and external mud-slinging should not become a part of our spiritual life or a strong irrevocable habit otherwise
we become close-minded and sectarian in spiritual life.
CONCLUSION: One should thus associate and hear from Nityananda Gauranga Bhaktas not on the basis of such
a narrow-minded secular organizational understanding rather one should consider how nicely they have
imbibed and preaching the instructions of Guru and Gauranga and how much faith they have in the process of
chanting the Holy Names of Nityananda, Gauranga and Hare Krishna.
TOP
minimize in any way whatsoever any Vaishnava organization or devotees in any way in public forums or even
privately. Try to discuss about these sectarian society issues the minimum, tending towards zero. Please
always see the good qualities in other Vaishnava institutions, devotees etc. and glorify their good qualities.
Please never consider your own guru as better than any contemporary guru or acharyas. Please never think
there are no advanced and bonafide Vaishnavas outside your group. All these are vicious obstacles to Bhakti
and will destroy the tender bhakti-lata-bija. If you see something wrong in other devotees, do not criticize
behind the back of that devotee or group because such criticism is useless and harmful. You can approach such
a devotee or group and humbly point out the mistake if that is possible otherwise leave it up to to Gurudeva
and Lords Nityananda and Gauranga to correct and rectify that wrong doing. Please continue with your own
devotional service. Criticizing those whom we cannot help is like spitting in the air. The result is that it all comes
down and falls on us and makes us contaminated. So please avoid this at all costs.
Before beginning this discussion on sectarianism in spiritual life, we would like to state that we fully respect and
whole-heartedly appreciate the great preaching work which different Gaudiya Vaishnava organizations like
ISKCON, the different Gaudiya Maths etc. are performing in this world. This preaching is surely creating
auspiciousness in this world. This article is a philosophical perspective of sectarianism and not directed towards
any institution or devotees.
Also I would like to make clear that I personally do not manage any institution or institutionalized properties,
funds etc. nor am even remotely interested in doing so. I am also not a founder or an official member of any
institution or organization. I have my own personal bhajana ashram in Shri Puri Dhama and personal writing,
chanting, publishing and preaching services. Gauranga Dharma or Gauranga Krishna consciousness is the
eternal nature and characteristic of the soul and not an institution. Disciples and devotees can start charitable
non-profit institutions etc. and have properties, funds etc. but I will have no connection with the direct
management, properties and funds of such institutions. I will give my full spiritual support to such institutions,
organizations etc. from outside if they are for the purpose of spreading the pure Holy Names and Pastimes of
Nityananda, Gauranga and Hare Krishna but my primary service will remain to contribute spiritual literature and
audio katha for the preaching of the Holy Names.
Shrila Prabhupada writes:
"There are many societies and associations of pure devotees, and if someone with just a little faith begins to
associate with such societies, his advancement to pure devotional service is rapid."
(Nectar of Devotion: Chapter Nineteen p.41)
Comment by Swami Gaurangapada:
When Shrila Prabhupada himself states that there are many societies and associations of pure devotees not
just one and he himself recommends sanga with them for rapid spiritual advancement, then it is expected of his
followers also to respect these societies or devotees outside the group and thus respect these words of Shrila
Prabhupada.
Srila Prabhupada writes:
"Krishnadas Kaviraja Goswami gives equal respect to all the preachers of the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu,
who are compared to the branches of the tree. Iskcon is one of these branches."
(Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila 10.7, purport)
Comment by Swami Gaurangapada:
When Shrila Prabhupada states that Iskcon is one of the branches of the Gauranga tree, it means that there
are many other branches also. And each branch has to respect the other branch since each of them is a part of
the body of Lord Gauranga.
Thakura Bhaktivinoda in Krsna Samhita 8.22: :
sampradaya-virodho 'yam davanalo vicintyate
“The eleventh obstacle for the Vaisnavas is sectarianism, which takes the shape of the forest fire. Due to
sectarianism a person cannot accept anyone outside of his own group as a Vaisnava, and as a result he faces
many obstacles in finding a guru and associating with sincere devotees. Therefore extinguishing the forest fire
is most important by giving up this mentality.”
"Party spirit - that great enemy of the truth - will always baffle the attempt of the inquirer who tries to gather
truth from the religious works of his nation and will make him believe that the Absolute Truth is nowhere except
in his old religious book."
Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakur
"A sannyasi should have an institution meant to preach Krsna consciousness"
SB 7.13.34 Shrila Prabhupada
"Therefore, in the line of Lord Caitanya even the sannyasis can speak about Krsna consciousness everywhere,
and if someone is seriously inclined to become a disciple, the sannyasi always accepts him. The one point is that
without increasing the number of disciples, there is no propagation of the cult of Krsna consciousness."
(SP in NOD 7)
"The idea of an organized church in an intelligible form, indeed, marks the close of the living spiritual movement.
The great ecclesiastical establishments are the dikes and dams to retain the current that cannot be held by any
such contrivances. They, indeed, indicate a desire on the part of the masses to exploit a spiritual movement for
their own purpose. They also unmistakably indicate the end of the absolute and unconventional guidance of the
bonafide spiritual teacher. The people of this world understand preventive systems, they can have no idea of
the unprevented positive eternal life. Neither can there be any earthly contrivance for the permanent
preservation of the life eternal on this mundane plane on the popular scale."
(Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur, Harmonist 29.7)
As per Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada above no external arrangements, societies, and
institutions in this world will remain forever, in fact mostly they may remain for the number of years the Founder
is personally present on this planet or for a few years or decades more. But Gauranga Krishna consciousness is
not like that because it is the eternal religion and function of the soul in relation to Lord Gauranga-Krishna so
the various societies under Gauranga Krishna consciousness may come and go but it will remain forever and will
triumph for the next 10,000 years
ISKCON was formed by Shrila Prabhupada also as a part of the real Gaudiya Math because Shrila Prabhupada
actually tried to fulfill the orders of his Guru Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada by leaving
Gaudiya Math and forming ISKCON. Can you say that since the name of ISKCON is different from Gaudiya Math
which his Guru Maharaj has originally founded, Shrila Prabhupada left his spiritual master? No, that would be
the greatest offense because all of Shrila Prabhupada's endeavors were simply to please his Guru Maharaj
Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada.
We have instructed all our disciples and devotees to try to cooperate with any Gaudiya Vaishnava institution as
much as possible if they accept the process of regular chanting of the Nityananda and Gauranga Mantrarajas
along with the Hare Krishna Mahamantra and have asked all our devotees to never ever minimize in public or
private the preaching efforts of any Gaudiya Vaishnava institution or devotees. We are not interested simply in
increasing the number of followers and all our followers are free to visit any temples and associate with all
devotees and Gurus of all Gaudiya Vaishnava institutions if there is no minimization of the sublime process of
chanting of the Nityananda and Gauranga Mantrarajas along with the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. Even if some
uninitiated devotee guided by us desires to accept initiation from another bonafide Gaudiya Vaishnava Guru
from any other institution, he or she is welcome to do so.
An Acharya like Shrila Prabhupada is a Jagadguru, just like a sun. A sun is never Indian, American, Chinese etc.
Anyone can bask in the sunlight in any country. Similarly anyone can take up the practice and preaching of the
Acharya's instructions and please him and Their Lordships Shri Shri Nityananda-Gauranga anywhere in the
world whether officially inside the society founded by the acharya or outside the four walls of the society or in
some other organizational setup. One's external standing in any particular organization has nothing to do
whatsoever with the implementation of the practice of the teachings and instructions of the illustrious Acharya.
How can one ever try to limit the teachings of the Acharyas to simply one institution for the next 10,000 years?
How can the teachings of Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada and Seventh Goswami Shrila
Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura be limited to only Gaudiya Math? No, all devotees in the whole world can
hear, preach, and practice them in their lives. The same is with Shrila Prabhupada's teachings.
Some say that one cannot please Shrila Prabhupada outside the ISKCON institution. It is like saying that one
cannot get sunlight if one leaves a particular country. It is also like saying that no devotee in ISKCON can
please Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada because they are situated in a different institution
than Gaudiya Math, the institution which he actually founded and which he also told that no one should leave.
We know that is not true. All the devotees can please the previous Acharyas by sincere following their Vani
even if they are situated in some other institution or no institution at all.
In fact the true spirit of the Acharya is there where a devotee is sincerely trying to follow and practice the
teachings of the Acharya whether inside or outside the four walls of an institution. Sometimes a person may
externally be within the four walls of a society founded by the Acharya but if one is deviating from the
instructions of the Acharya, Gurus, Sadhus and Shastra, one cannot actually be in the pure Vaishnava society
as envisioned by the Acharya. That is what is meant by Krishna or Gauranga consciousness. Walls cannot have
consciousness, it is in the devotees' hearts. The allegiance to an Acharya's teachings is not a sectarian or
institutional phenomenon.
As Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta points out in his extraordinary quote above, that an organizational arrangement
created by the unconventional Acharya who descended from the spiritual world may or may not last after his
physical departure but his eternal teachings are actually the life and soul of his followers who may be born even
after 1000 years from now. As per the Gita, even the parampara started by Krishna Himself got lost due to the
degrading effect of time. Then what to speak of institutions. So it doesn’t make sense to simply be stuck up in
the shadow or the externals of the four walls of an organization which is anyway going to wither away by time
and thus look down on those who are not part of one's institution. The real thing to consider is the vani of the
Acharyas. Because through this medium they eternally remain in this realm guiding their followers who may be
externally situated in some other organization or in no external organization at all.
It strengthens the mission of Shrila Prabhupada and Lord Gauranga to have many missions and societies
preaching his message. Because if something happens to one society the others can at least carry on. That is
why Shrila Prabhupada himself made ISKCON and BBT separate. The real ISKCON is not simply an earthly legal
society of bricks and walls but the society where the vani of Shrila Prabhupada, the Acharyas and Their
Lordships Shri Shri Nityananda-Gauranga is practiced and preached. Shrila Narada Muni, Shrila Shukadeva
Goswami, Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura etc. are in the real ISKCON because they are in 100% Gauranga-Krishna
consciousness. Unless we are 100% Gauranga-Krishna Conscious, we can never be 100% part of the real
ISKCON. The real ISKCON is krishna rasa bhavita matih as stated by Shrila Rupa Goswami and is so glorious.
A Vaishnava organization meant for preaching should understand that it is one of the branches of the Gaudiya
Parampara. But if it claims that it is the only branch and rejects the devotees in other organizations outright, it
commits an offense of indulging in partisan, bigoted and dogmatic sectarian considerations which lead to mass-
scale Vaishnava aparadha. This has repeatedly happened in the past and everyone knows the consequences
also. So one should fear to criticize others at the drop of the hat just based on a narrow-minded, bigoted and
sectarian institutional understanding. It should not become a habit or an intoxication to indulge in minimizing
devotees outside one's devotee group. One should think of the dire consequences for themselves if it just
happens that the person being minimized has genuine desires to please Guru and Gauranga even though he
may be apparently acting or preaching in an externally separate group than us. If one gets into the habit of
criticizing other devotees inside one's own group, it is so easy to end up criticizing other devotees who are
outside of one's group without caring the least to try to find out about the genuinity of intentions. Both internal
and external mud-slinging should not become a part of our spiritual life or a strong irrevocable habit otherwise
we become close-minded and sectarian in spiritual life.
CONCLUSION: One should thus associate and hear from Nityananda Gauranga Bhaktas not on the basis of such
a narrow-minded secular organizational understanding rather one should consider how nicely they have
imbibed and preaching the instructions of Guru and Gauranga and how much faith they have in the process of
chanting the Holy Names of Nityananda, Gauranga and Hare Krishna.
TOP
By Swami Gaurangapada
| About Institutionalization |
