“You Are An Offender and a Mahā-Aparādhi!” (08/15/10)
Daṇḍavats R______ Prabhu,
I read your comment below with interest. I can’t say that I disagree with you, or that I fully agree either. There are definitely two opposing sides of the ‘Ratha-yātrā in Navadvīpa’ issue and I have heard the worst of it from Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja himself. I objectively regard Śrīdhara Mahārāja as senior to anyone you have mentioned below, and in a disagreement I would prefer to side with Śrīdhara Mahārāja. I have not found that he was wrong yet. The details of the controversy/misunderstanding were indeed…well… nasty. However, I do not think it necessary to pass around death-threats or just end every argument by shouting, “You’re an offender, your just a mahā-aparādhi!” I have never done that to anyone, even in my worst moments, but it seems to be the only argument that some devotees have when they are faced with the fact that their ‘guru’ might have been, or is, wrong.
‘Jihad’ is S___’s middle name. He has always been that way and I have tasted his whip-like tongue before! Not very pleasant.
I wouldn’t say that I have been completely flawless in my attempts to preach and uphold what I understand to be the desires of my Guardians, nor do I think that I am the topmost devotee on this planet, but as Śrīdhara Mahārāja used to say, “I think I am on the right path!” — at least I am not following any particular conception that is an aṅga of the wrong path — unless that is, one perceives my disagreements on certain issues with Śrīpāda ____ Mahārāja as offensive, as I know many do. And then of course in their opinion my path is doomed to Hell.
In any case, I appreciate your thoughtful and gentlemanly-made comments.
Gaura Haribol,
Swami
