His Grave Warnings Regarding Vaishnav Aparadh

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I remember in my initial discussions with Srila Gurudev the question came up regarding how I came to Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math. I said earlier I joined an ISKCON temple in South India and started speaking that I was not inspired there; I was thinking something negative to justify why I came to our math. Gurudev very clearly objected saying that it is very harmful to criticize, you have to restrain yourself from criticizing others, especially Vaishnavas. Don’t blame and criticize Vaishnavas and also don’t criticize the organization. 

We take it so lightly, but Gurudev never saw ISKCON as a group of devotees. His vision of ISKCON is nondifferent from the personality of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj. He was seeing the name of the organization as nondifferent from the founder of the organization. Math does not only mean some building by an organization, but the banner presented and installed by the acharya to preach the ideals and standards of the mission; in this, the acharya is always present. Srila Gurudev insisted that we give up this tendency to commit offenses to blame Vaishnavas. He said it is not good, and if we cannot control it, we will not survive in the path of spiritual life.

The same thing was related again when I approached Srila Gurudev and told him I’m not feeling motivated to chant the holy name. Today many people say, Maharaj, we don’t feel motivated to chant and serve or going for the association of sadhus. What is the reason? The only reason behind this is our nature of committing offenses. I approached Gurudev by saying I am not motivated to chant the holy name. Gurudev gave a very sharp message that this is because you are committing Vaishnava aparadh—don’t do it. If you ever make offenses against Vaishnavas, your desire to chant the holy name and survive in the path of loving devotional service will disappear. That is what Srila Gurudev mentioned.

—Srila Bhakti Kinkar Damodar Maharaj

Excerpted and transcribed with slight edits from Zoom meeting in glorification of Srila Gurudev on His 96th Appearance Festival (Zoom), 02 Apr 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z5KBMpXk8w&list=PLBTNkT9FXrAnDuIS4z5KbAR7yN_oErPEa&index=2


Please send an email to scgm.tirtha.guru@gmail.com with any corrections.





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