Violence – A Less Intelligent Solution to the Problem (07/20/01)

Violence – A Less Intelligent Solution to the Problem. (07/20/01)

Dear Śrīpāda ____ Mahārāja,

My humble daṇḍavats. All glories to Śrī Guru and Śrī Gaurāṅga.

I have been meaning for some time to write to Your Holiness, but I have been unable to do so for a number of reasons.

However, today I have received the following warning (see email message below) and because this reflects very poorly upon your good self, my old and dear friend, I have decided to send you a copy of the message.

Despite my not being on the most favourable terms with your mission, or seeing eye to eye with you on various philosophical issues, I nonetheless feel that threatening my life is indeed a rather extreme and certainly a less intelligent solution to the problem.

Message received today is as follows:

Dear Narasiṅgha Mahārāja,

Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda.

I just received news from some of my contacts that some of the X_Mahārāja devotees have threatened your life in S___. There is a devotee there (name withheld) who knows the details. Please be careful.

As stupid as it is to threaten another person’s life, still you should be aware that in the western countries the so-called Vaiṣṇavas have, on several occasions, taken the life of another devotee or so-called devotee over such conflicts of interest.

So, in the event that something was to happen to me as a result of the stupidity of some of your followers, or your disciples, I think that it would indeed reflect quite poorly upon the name of your good self.

I am writing you this email to save you from any unnecessary embarrassment. It might be advisable for you to request your followers in S____ and in other places in the world to refrain from threats of physical violence towards me, or for that matter towards anyone and everyone. I have never known violence to be the characteristic of a pure devotee of Kṛṣṇa, or the characteristic of a genuine follower of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Anyway, as for my situation, I have no fear or worry for my personal safety. If Kṛṣṇa wants to protect me then nothing can harm me, and if Kṛṣṇa wants to vanquish me then who can protect me?

If you wish to offer any words of assurance to me about the above issue, then I happily await your next email.

I hope this message meets you in good health.

Praṇāms,

Swami B.G. Narasiṅgha