Our Affectionate Guardian Unabridged Version Conclusion-end

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Our Affectionate Guardian: Unabridged Version: Conclusion https://gosai.com/chaitanya/saranagati/html/vishnu_mjs/affection_unabr...

Our Affectionate Guardians: Conclusion


Our intention has not been to cause our godbrothers unnecessary embarassment, but for the sake of clarifying certain vital points it
has been necessary in certain instances to give as complete an explanation as possible. It is self-evident that this has been done in
good taste. We are painfully aware of unlimited embarassing facts and downright nasty activities in great detail-given only cursory
mention within this book [names, dates, etc.], but find no purpose in stating them herein, other than sensationalism and causing
unnecessary pain to the disciples of the parties involved. We hope that our presentation is accurate, such that we cannot be accused
of being a "gober Ganesh" [a false scribe made of cow dung].

Those who are not aware of the sequence of events which are clarified within this presentation may question the necessity of this
book -- that ISKCON management has changed-things are better now. While we agree that some changes have been made, both
individually and collectively, the present situation of degeneration in ISKCON indicates that more substantial reform is necessary. We
feel strongly that the institutional aparadha must be given serious consideration, otherwise internal substantial change for the better
cannot occur nor can devotees individually make proper advancement being burdoned by the effects of this aparadha. We also hope
that this presentation will encourage devotees in their Krsna consciousness. Unfortunately, Vaishnava-aparadha, when perpetrated,
must act, and it must act with serious consequences. No sincere devotee dares to ignore this. We refer the readers to the previous
chapter entitled, Aparadha, The Vaisnava's Greatest Enemy.

Our Confession

One of our objectives in compiling this book is to hopelessly entangle our 'godbrothers' in the higher philosophical conclusions of
Krsna consciousness. Krsna, after all is the greatest thief, makhan-cora, and He will steal His way into our hearts, even unwillingly.

siddhanta baliya citte na kara alasa


iha ha-ite krsna lage sudrdha manasa

"A sincere student should not neglect the discussion of such conclusions, considering them controversial, for such
discussions strengthen the mind. Thus one's mind becomes attached to Krsna." ( Cc. Adi-lila 2.117 )

In this way the true glory of our Srila Prabhupada -- all that he stands for -- and similarly the glory of his dearmost intimate friend
Srila Sridhara Maharaja will become more fully manifest in the hearts of the Vaisnavas and non-Vaisnavas alike. This can only result
in an increase of Krsna consciousness and a decrease of activities and behavior detrimental to the same. Those with a lower
standard of faith perhaps will be disturbed by the many previously undisclosed siddhantic points and historical facts, yet if we are to
progress in Krsna consciousness we cannot neglect nor avoid these things, as the above verse testifies. Srila Prabhupada stressed
that the more we understand the siddhanta, the more faithful we will be to Krsna.

So, you have to study God. Not that we accept anybody and anything, no. Siddhanta baliya citte na kara alasa. Don't be
lazy to understand God. The more you understand, the more you become a devotee. [760808R2.TEH]

It is not blind following. Krsna consciousness is not a sentiment. It is backed by knowledge and practical [realized]
knowledge (Bg 9.1): jnanam vijnanam sahitam. [680911BG.SF]

And in Srila Prabhupada's purport to Bg 4.34, the well known tad viddhi-pranipatena verse about the process of surrender to the
spiritual master, we find,

In this verse both blind following and absurd inquiries are condemned.

We are not asking, nor do we expect our godbrothers to accept Srila Sridhara Maharaja as their siksa guru, we only humbly request
that they maintain a positive non-offensive understanding, and thereby allow us and interested devotees to do so and thereby
increase the quality of our service to Srila Prabhupada. We hope that, recognizing the purity of Srila Sridhara Maharaja's siksa and
the misapplication of the same by motivated persons, many of the ongoing problems will be alleviated. We pray that all may have
learned valuable lessons from the many mistakes made by each and every one of us. This is a basic principle of the dynamics of
Krsna consciousness -we always do ourselves a great disservice by trying to mandate affairs of the heart. We also admit that just as
Visnupriya devi charmed even the hearts of the most envious by her extreme rununciation after Sri Chaitanya's sannyasa, that in
presenting so many charming excerpts of Srila Sridhara Maharaja herein we hope to charm the hearts of even those who hitherto
have not recognized his glorious and invaluable contribution.

We are hoping that the illumination provided herein as to the supramundane position of the Guardian of Devotion of the Rupanuga
sampradaya, Srila Sridhara Maharaja, will clear the many misunderstandings surrounding him and individually and collectively we
may realize our grievous offenses to such a very dear devotee of Srimati Radharani and Lord Krsna. In this regard, we are reminded
of a wonderful sloka composed by Srila Sridhara Maharaja:

nilambhodhi-tate sada sva-viraha-ksepanvitam bandhavam


srimad-bhagavati katha madiraya sanjivayan bhati yah
srimad-bhagavatam sada sva-nayanasru-payanaih pujayan
gosvami-prabaro gadadhara-vibhur-bhuyat mad-eka-gatih

"On the shore of the broad blue ocean, Gadadhara Pandita used to read Srimad-Bhagavatam to Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu, who was suffering from the great internal pain of separation from Himself (Krsna). Gadadhara Pandita
supplied the wine of krsna-lila to intoxicate his afflicted friend and give him relief. As he read, tears would fall from his
eyes like flower offerings onto the pages of Srimad-Bhagavatam. May the pleasure of that brilliant personality,
Gadadhara Pandita, the best of the Goswamis, be my only object in writing this book."

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Our Affectionate Guardian: Unabridged Version: Conclusion https://gosai.com/chaitanya/saranagati/html/vishnu_mjs/affection_unabr...

We also feel a deep pain in our hearts, but it is the pressing pain of sorrow that such a noble and grand personality -- who tirelessly
and patiently helped us with invaluable guidance in so many's hour of need, though he was rudely treated at every step -- has been
caused so much unnecessary pain. In the writing of this book we are also offering our tears thousands of times at the feet of the
divine personages glorified herein, hoping that some relief will be afforded for the devotees who are (in many cases unknowingly)
suffering the reactions for the many unfortunate offenses committed.

We are humbly hoping that this small offering unto the lotus feet of the Vaisnavas will help extinguish the smouldering anarthas of
aparadha, so that we can all concentrate on the preaching of Krsna consciousness proper. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
has said: jagate eka matra hari-katha-durviksa chad'a ara kona durviksa nai--that in this world there is no shortage of anything
except Krsna consciousness. Srila Prabhupada has also said that the only thing which can stop his grand preaching movement is
fighting amongst ourselves, which was unfortunately witnessed by His Divine Grace personally,

Now this displeasing of godbrothers has already begun and gives me too much agitation in my mind. Our Gaudiya Math
people fought with one another after the demise of Guru Maharaja but my disciples have already begun fighting even in
my presence. So I am greatly concerned about it. (Srila Prabhupada Letter to Kirtanananda, 18 Oct. 1973)

To the GBC we humbly request, please do not misunderstand this presentation as a challenge to ISKCON's authority, requiring yet
another offense in retaliation, generating further offenses. That is not our intention, nor certainly is it in your best interests. Our
presentation is strong in many ways for the express purpose of righting the wrong -- which is always more difficult. This is a difficult
task but if the devotees in general are aware of many essential truths regarding Srila Sridhara Maharaja's actual glorious position,
we feel strongly that they will not be able to ignore it nor wish to continue attacking it, and will be the better for it. We hope that
many devotees upon understanding their offenses can then follow the proper course of action and free themselves from a hellish
fate.

History has shown that most of the leaders of ISKCON are not at all interested in the topics contained herein and would much rather
ignore the entire subject, or worse, attack a presentation such as this and in the process commit many more offenses. We would like
to humbly point out that due to the many lingering and self perpetuating institutionalized offenses to Srila Sridhara Maharaja it is not
in the best interest of ISKCON to do so, for one who has not fully amended his vaisnava-aparadha can never achieve Krsna. This is
confirmed by Vrndavana dasa Thakura in Chaitanya-Bhagavat, Madhya 22.8,

vaisnavera thani ya're haya aparadha krsna-krpa hoileo tare prema-badha,

"If a person commits an offense at the lotus feet of a Vaisnava, even though he may have received Krsna's mercy, he
will never attain divine love, prema."

We place this offering before the Vaisnavas, scholars, aspirants--whomever is a seeker.

Contents

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