Srila Gour Govinda Prabhupada disciples who went to SNM; I asked Gour Govinda Swami about Gaudiya maths and SNM in 1979. He made a good-natured slightly smirking kind of smile, shook his head, laughed lightly, and said that we don't do like they do, no need for all of that, all day chanting, endless mantras. He indicated that in Iskcon we preach more, this was our mission. He also said that SNM wrote very nice books, but that we should read Srila Prabhupada's books, everything was there. He was not overly favorable towards NM, but not disrespectful. He seemed to feel towards them as we in Iskcon did in general towards Gaudiya missions etc. Maharajah did not speak much, his simple statements gave one the answer.
It is hard to describe to someone who was never living in Iskcon in those days, but there was a mood, a way of doing things, a sadhana and a artik, a jolly mood andstyle. SGGS was so Iskcon, he out-iskconed all us iskcon ites ! He did exactly the things Srila Prabhupada taught us in our temples, Orissan traditional Vaisnava, followers of Mahaprabhu for generations. It was like he personified the Iskcon devotee; happy, preaching, totally devoted to Srila Prabhupada, chanting his 16 rounds, everything clean austere and moderate.
Those who went to join SNM made a big mistake. SGGS was asked never to leave Iskcon by Srila Prabhupada, so he made that sacrifice and was abused for it by the kanistha phoney gooroos, but he upheld a highest standard himself. To my best knowledge SGGS respected SNM but did not approve of him or his mission much.
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