Jun 05 Prabhus, there have been those who say that Srila Gour Govinda Swami's and Srila Prabhupada's teachings differ. Little difference in emphasis there may be, but let us examine the case more closely. Let us compare a little about Srila Prabhupada and Gour Govinda Swami:
Gour Govinda Swami came from an Oriya Vaisnava family of famous kirtaniyas and devotees of Gopala. He grew up in a simple rural village. Although a schoolteacher, his exposure to the world was via a smaller community. Gour Govinda Maharajah was a very intelligent but simple and traditional village saint. Srila Prabhupada was also born into a pure Vaisnava family, Bengali, but in the big metropolis of Calcutta. He schooled in the colleges in the capital city. A Gandhi-ite in his youth, he was accustomed to broad and even revolutionary ideas, and impressed by the expanded liberal mercies of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami.
Does anyone expect all devotees to be identical? That is not realistic; they will have their own personalities and abilities. That they differ is glorious! Who would criticise Srila Gaura Kishore das Babaji for his severe renunciation, in favor of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur, who traveled widely and personally preached to sophisticated educated persons all over India? Were they different? Yes, of course. But they were also identical, in being the most exalted pure devotees of Mahaprabhu.
When Gour Govinda Swami speaks of the need for a so-called physically present guru, and the need for "live" sabda brahmana, he is simply voicing traditional sastric instructions. It is indicated in sastra. Srila Prabhupada, on the other hand, is more merciful, as he has adapted the particulars in order to expand the Mercy to its greatest position. Now, by his grace, books and tapes, arranged by Krsna, ordered on the broadest scale possible by Srila Prabhupada. These two pure devotees only speak the truth, and do not contradict each other at all. It is just that Srila Prabhupada's mercy is greater, he is empowered to do things not done before. They are both the same, in being pure preachers of siddhanta, but Srila Prabhupada is empowered beyond even what other pure devotees may be; he was sent to deliver the whole world, and to create worldwide standards.
If we put sastra over sadhu/guru as our guide, we are making a very big mistake. Srila Prabhupada kicked out the laws of Manu for this time, for example. He has given something special to deliver the universe, and we should not be over-intelligent and think we can change what he left for us.
Those who see an unbreachable contradiction between these great sadhus have material vision, I suggest. Why Gour Govinda Swami preached a more traditional approach is perhaps beyond anyone's reach of speculation. But considering the history of the times, he may have found it especially necessary to counteract the unqualified gurus, who were riding on the tails of Srila Prabhupada's fame and influence, not themselves necessarily advanced pure devotees, but usurping Prabhupada's authority and doing nonsense. Gour Govinda Thakura was no apologist for abusers in ISKCON, never. Rather he staunchly refused to leave and let ISKCON slide ever deeper into speculation and deviation. He wanted Srila Prabhupada's mission as it was meant to be, and tried to change things from within. He tried to work with the yavana Westerners, somehow or other. He told the conditioned souls to come to him for instruction, not to accept unqualified persons, or to read Prabhupada's books only and possibly be mislead by the plethora of cheaters providing inadequate siksa. But Krsna eventually saw fit to take Gour Govinda away from the abusers of the corrupt GBC of that time, before they created so much offense that everything would be finished.
I request those who take Gour Govinda's words and try to find a contradiction between them and the arrangements of Srila Prabhupada to be a little wise, and see that actually there is no difference. If there is any difference, it is that Srila Prabhupada's authority to expand the mercy of Radharani was of incalculable degree.
We would be best situated world-wide to follow Srila Prabhupada's particular arrangements for the whole world to have an easy journey to Sri CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU'S lotus feet.
You need to be a member of puredevoteeseva to add comments!
Comments