| Weekly | Gaudya Vaishnavism | Authentic Meditation | Sacred Initiation | Guru | Life-Style | Purification | Dharma | Karma | Bhakti |
| Home | Philosophy | Vegetarianism | Reincarnation | Secrets | Vedic Literature | Ekadasi | Links | Contact Us | Donations |
| United Vaisnavas |
By Swami B.A. Paramadvaiti
Vaisnavism is a world religion which has something of utmost priority to give to the whole world. That is the pure
Holy Name of our beloved Nitai Gauranga and Sri Sri Radhe Govinda. If these names are dispatched to a
fortunate soul with the contagious Vaisnava love for the Holy Names, even only five minutes before his death, he
may well be saved from the dangerous reactions of all his sinful acts committed in his life and receive shelter in a
spiritual future.
We could try to show that Vaisnavas have been so fortunate by the contact with Guru and Hari Naam Prabhu,
that they have broadmindedness, nonsectarian love for all living entities, true humility, appreciation for attempt
of others to serve Krishna, and search the truth. In this way people all over could may be get the message that
there is a lot to be gained by associating with Mahaprabhu's message and His devotees. Otherwise they will only
conclude that Mother Theresa, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Gorbachov are the real heroes of the days
of Kali Yuga in the present century.
When he argued that India was a dependent nation to whom no one would listen, Srila Prabhupada was
defeated by his Guru Maharaj Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada who instructed him to make the Guru
and Mahaprabhu's order one's life and soul, regardless what the external conditions. Yes, in a moment of despair
for a burning house even the antagonists are appreciated if they help carrying a water bucket. Get ready friends.
Get ready for what? Get ready to give up these bodies at any moment and humbly think of the mercy from
above. Do not think otherwise. Yes, we should definitely try to live a healthy, organic lifestyle. We should also try
to work our gardens and sing with our kids the Holy Name after dawn. We should kindly associate with
softhearted, kind devotees to study with them the Vaisnava literature. But we should not train on the shooting
range.
We should not look this horrible Kali Yuga agent trying to fill our heads with filth and poison from the moment we
switch on a TV. Even Sannyasis fell down just from watching TV. We should not concern ourselves about the big
dangers Nostradamos predicted or some other "future teller". It has been one of the causes of the downfall of
later so- called Vaisnava leaders to predict Bananas for Switzerland and keep arms stockpiled under temples.
This is just another type of madness designed to just make yourself the most important.
Computers may break down. That would just be some fun. Still the printing press is the Brhat Mridunga and the
Internet has also great facilities too, but transcendental literature into the hands of those who need them; the
whole world. If all that would break down? Well we will just go back to scratching this message on palm leaves
so we may continue to follow our tradition and Gurus order. What would be the problem? Or we make recycled
paper from all the garbage in our ashrams to hand print the Gita with vegetable dye.
And if we are meant to starve? Well, it would be the first time in my life that I saw a Vaisnava starve, even
though I have worked in some of the poorest countries of the world for the last 25 years. Even today a computer
or a car around here is something which can bring a crowd to appear just to look. And if we are going to be
molested and attacked by the desperate public? Well that is already a danger in every big city of the world and
many rural areas as well.
So let us create loving unity with those who surround us by preaching to them and by showing them how
valuable all this is. This is what we like them to get, for free, with love from our hearts. That will be the only real
protection against the masses, and now is a perfect time to cultivate this unity.
Seeing others as potential enemies is a very non-Vaisnava way of viewing other jivas. Surely not those in the
line of Prahlad Maharaj. Therefore I request you my dear friends, do not be swayed by any fear mongering. Just
be afraid of Maya. That is best. Then you will always be on the watch.
This preaching is not to show my own superiority, as some people misconceive it. Others even reached the
opinion the proselytizing is some kind of a nasty puffed up mentality. This is the natural, 100% endorsed by
Krishna, way of human communication. We always have to search the truth and share it with those who we get
to talk too. Only impersonal consumer society may want you to think otherwise, fearful to lose a faithful
consumer. In other words they are preaching against all other messages. Only Krishna Katha will bring all
auspiciousness to the world.
If people think that others will be more Krishna conscious if we create a fearful atmosphere, I just do not agree.
The world as it is, is already fearful enough. Whoever cannot get that message will only increase his egotism
when he is getting scared. If we die preaching with love, that will be our greatest fortune. If we preach and no
disaster comes to kill us, that will still be our highest fortune. And if we preach and all kind of difficulties appear?
Well then it is really a great chance to preach. Then we can prove that we have learned something and that we
have developed maturity and spiritual advancement and thus show to the world that Vaisnavas do have a great
treasure to give. The blessing in disguise, that is the way I perceive anything and everything and meditating
more purely is the immediate blessing factor for the fortunate.
A joke in South America often told conveys this message: Lining up before Saint Peter on the door of heaven a
few fellows waited for their interviews. First a bus driver was reviewed and granted entrance to heaven. Next a
priest was reviewed and rejected. The priest protested: "Why is a simple bus driver granted entrance, while I
who served the church my whole life am rejected?" Saint Peter answered:" While he was driving everyone was
praying, but when you were lecturing everyone was sleeping."
Also we have another popular saying: Nothing bad comes without a good reason. Or nothing bad will happen
which will not bring a good lesson or blessing. This is the way of God's creation and Srila Prabhupada made good
use of it all the times. Let us watch that our own bad character and grouchy moods do not make others unhappy
in our surroundings. Whether you are a devotee living in a temple, alone, or with your family, life will always be
some kind of a challenge. Economically, ecologically and psychologically. Well that is why we received the Holy
Name; to be able to face all the difficulties as real gentlemen.
Simple living and high thinking. That is not a slogan, it is an instruction which you have to apply according to time,
place and circumstance. I am sure we will see many surprises still in the near future which will reveal even
further the kind mercy of the Lord looking after humanity by further exposure to the mercy of the pure Vaisnavas.
Do not forget the 1965 scenery. Nobody in the world even knew that Krishna exists. All that was changed by one
person. Now his brothers are also preaching in many places and the sons and daughters of Srila Prabhupada are
trying to fully grasp what they have received. That in itself seems to be an entire world of philosophical labyrinths.
Immature devotees are throwing arguments and counterarguments at each other, either glorifying some
devotee in an exaggerated way or minimizing others totally thus distorting the tradition or siddhanta, or trying to
put it straight again for others. As the Internet become the playground for heated condemnation as well as
loving ovations, we can see how deeply Srila Prabhupada has effected many of us.
And it is no doubt the breeding ground for many more wonderful gifts coming towards the world from the
Vaisnavas. This exchange will show both the drying up of the offensive mentalities and the blossoming of the
truth spirit . We will see as time goes by. But the real issue is to be prepared right now. Be prepared to
remember the pure devotee and his loving message. Live it, give it, that you may not lose it all together.
Our real duty today is to help people into the world to become Krishna Consciousness, not just to focus in on
other Vaisnavas from another missions over and over. If somebody is chanting the Holy Name of Krishna it can
already be easily understood that Krishna will make any necessary adjustments Himself to help the faulting
devotee in some way.
Considering myself the smallest unworthy beginner in the science of Bhakti I have simply written down what has
come to my heart.
TOP
Vaisnavism is a world religion which has something of utmost priority to give to the whole world. That is the pure
Holy Name of our beloved Nitai Gauranga and Sri Sri Radhe Govinda. If these names are dispatched to a
fortunate soul with the contagious Vaisnava love for the Holy Names, even only five minutes before his death, he
may well be saved from the dangerous reactions of all his sinful acts committed in his life and receive shelter in a
spiritual future.
We could try to show that Vaisnavas have been so fortunate by the contact with Guru and Hari Naam Prabhu,
that they have broadmindedness, nonsectarian love for all living entities, true humility, appreciation for attempt
of others to serve Krishna, and search the truth. In this way people all over could may be get the message that
there is a lot to be gained by associating with Mahaprabhu's message and His devotees. Otherwise they will only
conclude that Mother Theresa, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Gorbachov are the real heroes of the days
of Kali Yuga in the present century.
When he argued that India was a dependent nation to whom no one would listen, Srila Prabhupada was
defeated by his Guru Maharaj Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada who instructed him to make the Guru
and Mahaprabhu's order one's life and soul, regardless what the external conditions. Yes, in a moment of despair
for a burning house even the antagonists are appreciated if they help carrying a water bucket. Get ready friends.
Get ready for what? Get ready to give up these bodies at any moment and humbly think of the mercy from
above. Do not think otherwise. Yes, we should definitely try to live a healthy, organic lifestyle. We should also try
to work our gardens and sing with our kids the Holy Name after dawn. We should kindly associate with
softhearted, kind devotees to study with them the Vaisnava literature. But we should not train on the shooting
range.
We should not look this horrible Kali Yuga agent trying to fill our heads with filth and poison from the moment we
switch on a TV. Even Sannyasis fell down just from watching TV. We should not concern ourselves about the big
dangers Nostradamos predicted or some other "future teller". It has been one of the causes of the downfall of
later so- called Vaisnava leaders to predict Bananas for Switzerland and keep arms stockpiled under temples.
This is just another type of madness designed to just make yourself the most important.
Computers may break down. That would just be some fun. Still the printing press is the Brhat Mridunga and the
Internet has also great facilities too, but transcendental literature into the hands of those who need them; the
whole world. If all that would break down? Well we will just go back to scratching this message on palm leaves
so we may continue to follow our tradition and Gurus order. What would be the problem? Or we make recycled
paper from all the garbage in our ashrams to hand print the Gita with vegetable dye.
And if we are meant to starve? Well, it would be the first time in my life that I saw a Vaisnava starve, even
though I have worked in some of the poorest countries of the world for the last 25 years. Even today a computer
or a car around here is something which can bring a crowd to appear just to look. And if we are going to be
molested and attacked by the desperate public? Well that is already a danger in every big city of the world and
many rural areas as well.
So let us create loving unity with those who surround us by preaching to them and by showing them how
valuable all this is. This is what we like them to get, for free, with love from our hearts. That will be the only real
protection against the masses, and now is a perfect time to cultivate this unity.
Seeing others as potential enemies is a very non-Vaisnava way of viewing other jivas. Surely not those in the
line of Prahlad Maharaj. Therefore I request you my dear friends, do not be swayed by any fear mongering. Just
be afraid of Maya. That is best. Then you will always be on the watch.
This preaching is not to show my own superiority, as some people misconceive it. Others even reached the
opinion the proselytizing is some kind of a nasty puffed up mentality. This is the natural, 100% endorsed by
Krishna, way of human communication. We always have to search the truth and share it with those who we get
to talk too. Only impersonal consumer society may want you to think otherwise, fearful to lose a faithful
consumer. In other words they are preaching against all other messages. Only Krishna Katha will bring all
auspiciousness to the world.
If people think that others will be more Krishna conscious if we create a fearful atmosphere, I just do not agree.
The world as it is, is already fearful enough. Whoever cannot get that message will only increase his egotism
when he is getting scared. If we die preaching with love, that will be our greatest fortune. If we preach and no
disaster comes to kill us, that will still be our highest fortune. And if we preach and all kind of difficulties appear?
Well then it is really a great chance to preach. Then we can prove that we have learned something and that we
have developed maturity and spiritual advancement and thus show to the world that Vaisnavas do have a great
treasure to give. The blessing in disguise, that is the way I perceive anything and everything and meditating
more purely is the immediate blessing factor for the fortunate.
A joke in South America often told conveys this message: Lining up before Saint Peter on the door of heaven a
few fellows waited for their interviews. First a bus driver was reviewed and granted entrance to heaven. Next a
priest was reviewed and rejected. The priest protested: "Why is a simple bus driver granted entrance, while I
who served the church my whole life am rejected?" Saint Peter answered:" While he was driving everyone was
praying, but when you were lecturing everyone was sleeping."
Also we have another popular saying: Nothing bad comes without a good reason. Or nothing bad will happen
which will not bring a good lesson or blessing. This is the way of God's creation and Srila Prabhupada made good
use of it all the times. Let us watch that our own bad character and grouchy moods do not make others unhappy
in our surroundings. Whether you are a devotee living in a temple, alone, or with your family, life will always be
some kind of a challenge. Economically, ecologically and psychologically. Well that is why we received the Holy
Name; to be able to face all the difficulties as real gentlemen.
Simple living and high thinking. That is not a slogan, it is an instruction which you have to apply according to time,
place and circumstance. I am sure we will see many surprises still in the near future which will reveal even
further the kind mercy of the Lord looking after humanity by further exposure to the mercy of the pure Vaisnavas.
Do not forget the 1965 scenery. Nobody in the world even knew that Krishna exists. All that was changed by one
person. Now his brothers are also preaching in many places and the sons and daughters of Srila Prabhupada are
trying to fully grasp what they have received. That in itself seems to be an entire world of philosophical labyrinths.
Immature devotees are throwing arguments and counterarguments at each other, either glorifying some
devotee in an exaggerated way or minimizing others totally thus distorting the tradition or siddhanta, or trying to
put it straight again for others. As the Internet become the playground for heated condemnation as well as
loving ovations, we can see how deeply Srila Prabhupada has effected many of us.
And it is no doubt the breeding ground for many more wonderful gifts coming towards the world from the
Vaisnavas. This exchange will show both the drying up of the offensive mentalities and the blossoming of the
truth spirit . We will see as time goes by. But the real issue is to be prepared right now. Be prepared to
remember the pure devotee and his loving message. Live it, give it, that you may not lose it all together.
Our real duty today is to help people into the world to become Krishna Consciousness, not just to focus in on
other Vaisnavas from another missions over and over. If somebody is chanting the Holy Name of Krishna it can
already be easily understood that Krishna will make any necessary adjustments Himself to help the faulting
devotee in some way.
Considering myself the smallest unworthy beginner in the science of Bhakti I have simply written down what has
come to my heart.
TOP
