Treading on Thin Ice (05/17/07)
Dear J_____,
We talked about that also when you were here, or I think we did. Anyway, the differences are on small issues, but in too close a proximity the small issues could become bigger and that is why a safe distance allows Mahārāja and I to remain friends and respectful of each other. The differences that I speak of are concerning ‘anādi-karma’ and the ‘origin of the jīva in the material world’. Both are more or less the same issue.
Mahārāja maintains that Bhaktivinoda’s telling of how the jīva came from the marginal plane to the material world due to free choice is not actually correct. Mahārāja says that Bhaktivinoda told like that because people would not accept the truth that God put us here from the beginning and we are suffering from the beginning, not because of misuse of our minute independence, but because God (Kṛṣṇa) simply arranged it that way. This is the philosophy of S_____ and H_____. Obviously ____ Mahārāja and I are at serious odds on this point. If Mahārāja is wrong and I am right, then it could be considered a serious defect in his thinking. We have argued on this and I maintained that he was astray from our Guardians line of thinking and I supported my conclusions by quoting Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja. ____ Mahārāja supported his opinion with the opinions of S_____ and H____ (both acknowledged opponents of our paramparā). The conversation ended at that point and for the past 10 years we have grown distant (although friendly and respectful to some extent).
If you are going to discuss the points with _____ Mahārāja then do it from the side of asking him what he thinks about anādi-karma (karma that has no beginning) and what he thinks about Bhaktivinoda’s explanation about the jīva’s choice to come to the material world from the taṭastha. But PLEASE leave my name out of the conversation, or you will run the risk of opening the way to some unpleasant exchanges.
____ Mahārāja has his strong opinions on these matters and my opinion is that due to reading too many books and listening to apa-samprādaya spokesmen, he has been influenced by apa-siddhānta (false conclusions). Both S_____ and H_____are outspoken that Bhaktivinodā was a conditioned soul who did not understand the śāstra.
So be careful if you decide to talk with ____ Mahārāja about these topics because you will be treading on thin, thin ice!
Talk to you later.
Gosai
