Jai Sri Hari! This incident I am going to describe happened nearly three weeks back, and I learnt quite a lesson!
Background:
There is a newly built Hare Krishna temple near my residence which I used to visit often and befriended a Prabhu-ji there. Let me name him as C-Prabhu. He is aware of Swamiji and watched a couple of YouTube videos by Swamiji. In fact, at his request, in my recent trip to Sri Badrika Ashram last December, I carried two books given by Prabhu-ji to Swamiji. I wrote about it here.
The Conversation (?):
The conversation happened in the form of a series of WhatsApp chats. Actually, I posted a quote by Swamiji in a particular WhatsApp group, created by C-Prabhu ji. The quote was about not getting hard on oneself. The conversation between me and C-Prabhu-ji happened the following way. I am not editing anything, copied it verbatim.
C-Prabhu: There are people searching for GOD…Prabhupad and Sankardeva says WHO IS THAT GODš
Now we hv to follow their footsteps to realise šthat’s all
Hope you hv read once fully BHAGAVAT GITA As It Is…isn’t?
Me: Well, I am walking on the path slowly. I will be careful. š
For me my Gurudev is supreme. š
C-Prabhu: Gita 4.34
Krishna Himself says so
Tell something more Which is not in Gita
Me: šPrabhu ji, Lord Krishna says one should follow a spiritual path as per his temperament. This is why there are so many lineages in Sanatana Dharma. His holiness Srila Prabhupadaās lineage is one of the many paths. But whatever be the lineage, without Bhakti nothing can be achieved. This is what my Gurudev says. I am following the lineage of Om Swamiji Maharaj. šI will no longer post anything on any groups related to lineage of Srila Prabhupada now onwards. Please forgive me if I hurt any sentiments.
C-Prabhu: Not only lineage
The CONCLUSION of What & Who is God also very important.
What Arjun concluded is what we expected to arrive at.
Krishna is the ONLY Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Not any devatas.
Am i clear?C-Prabhu: Krishna never told any devata or any mantra
Only onto Him we should surrender
If guru or devatas not taking you to that conclusion…Srimad Bhagavatam says…. SRAMA EVA HI KEVALAM
Me: Prabhu ji, my sincere request to you. Please donāt make any judgment about Om Swamiji Maharaj based on comments or forwards made by a beginner, a very ignorant person like me. Kindly please read His memoir, āIf truth be toldā, which I brought for you. It would be a great injustice to our sages if we make judgments without knowing them. Please do read His memoir along with the other book. I pray to Lord Krishna, that someday you get an opportunity to meet Swamiji. Thank you so much for your kindness! Jai Sri Hari! Hare Krishna! š
C-Prabhu:Ā I am waiting for your reply still
Me:Ā I am ignorant. I am not capable enough to understand deep meanings. Only thing I know is that I love my Gurudev and Sri Hari! š
C-Prabhu:Ā I am just asking simple query that Hv u read Bhagavat gita??
Its for allĀ human being given by Sri Hari Himself
Why dont you make one attempt
How long u claim yourself beginner
Me:Ā Ā Ā I have gone through all the discourses by Swamiji on Bhagavad Gita.
C-Prabhu:Ā Good…tell me where Krishna tell according to temperament one can choose god and worship? Where its mentioned about multiple God?
Where its mentioned Othar than KRISHNA someone else as God?sarva-dharman parityajya
mam ekam Saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
moksayisyami mƤ sucahAbandon all varieties of religion and
just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver
you from all sinful reactions. Do not
fear.C-Prabhu:Ā Isn’t clear in this šsloka crystal clearly telling whom to surrender?? [18.66]
Me: Sri Hari and Lord Krishna is the same!
C-Prabhu: Ā Of course
This is the conclusion…u accept this?
Then y Om swami ji is promoting SHIV JI, DURGA MA, GANESH PUJA all? isn’t dilution???And Sri hari himself saying NOT to worship any demigods…can you tell me the exact gita sloka?
Sorry for asking QuizBut i feel necessary…
Me: There is something called Ishta Devata. Each person has a Ista Devata. Your Ista can lead you to supreme Lord. This is my understanding. And Sri Hari never says not to worship others, as He resides everywhere. This is where issues of temperament come as per Sanatana Dharma.
Me: Even in Mahabharata Lord Krishna asked Pandavas to worship Goddess Durga. Same happened in Ramayana where Sri Ram worshipped Goddess Durga. So, I think things are pretty deep. š
C-Prabhu: Ā These all clarified by Prabhupad ji very well and defeated…problem is u are not hearing any one of his lecturešš
And Krishna Ji lifted Govardhan for this mentality and teached lesson to His own father and Indra…hope u know the lila that Nanda maharaj planning to workshop devata Indra who is incharge of Rains…
Me: Why there are so many temples in Sadhana App, Swamiji answers Himself in itās launchš:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_AjLWB48T5I
C-Prabhu: Ā
I heared that day itself fyiWHERE IS THE ANSWER WHAT I ASKED U??
He is telling that he is not going to tell which is better than others…which ever path/devata/mantra you like ..one can can choose in this app
So he himself not clear what is Supreme !!
Thats y i request you to read atleast once BHAGAVAT GITA once
Is that so difficult for u??
Now u understood what is the danger of followingĀ our MIND…It conditions u…and addicts you not open even TRUTH comes in front of you
We will discuss after you read once
C-Prabhu: Ā
Krishna in gita 7.20šC-Prabhu: Ā
kÄmaisĀ tais tair hį¹ta-jƱÄnÄįø„
prapadyante ‘nya-devatÄįø„
taį¹ taį¹ niyamam ÄsthÄya
prakį¹tyÄ niyatÄįø„ svayÄ
Those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires surrender unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their own natures.
Those who are freed from all material contaminations surrender unto the Supreme Lord and engage in His devotional service. As long as the material contamination is not completely washed off, they are by nature nondevotees. But even those who have material desires and who resort to the Supreme Lord are not so much attracted by external nature; because of approaching the right goal, they soon become free from all material lust. In the ÅrÄ«mad-BhÄgavatam it is recommended that whether one is a pure devotee and is free from all material desires, or is full of material desires, or desires liberation from material contamination, he should in all cases surrender to VÄsudeva and worship Him. As stated in the BhÄgavatam (2.3.10):
akÄmaįø„ sarva-kÄmo vÄ
mokį¹£a-kÄma udÄra-dhīḄ
tÄ«vreį¹a bhakti-yogena
yajeta puruį¹£aį¹ param
Less intelligent people who have lost their spiritual sense take shelter of demigods for immediate fulfillment of material desires. Generally, such people do not go to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, because they are in the lower modes of nature (ignorance and passion) and therefore worship various demigods. Following the rules and regulations of worship, they are satisfied. The worshipers of demigods are motivated by small desires and do not know how to reach the supreme goal, but a devotee of the Supreme Lord is not misguided. Because in Vedic literature there are recommendations for worshiping different gods for different purposes (e.g., a diseased man is recommended to worship the sun), those who are not devotees of the Lord think that for certain purposes demigods are better than the Supreme Lord. But a pure devotee knows that the Supreme Lord Kį¹į¹£į¹a is the master of all. In the Caitanya-caritÄmį¹ta (Ädi 5.142) it is said, ekale Ä«Åvara kį¹į¹£į¹a, Ära saba bhį¹tya: only the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kį¹į¹£į¹a, is master, and all others are servants. Therefore a pure devotee never goes to demigods for satisfaction of his material needs. He depends on the Supreme Lord. And the pure devotee is satisfied with whatever He gives.
Me:Ā
Please follow your path Prabhu ji! You have neither met my Gurudev nor you have read His memoir. Swamiji always says ādiscover your own pathā. One needs to do rigorous tapas, whether that is chanting or meditation, to realise the Supreme. Thinking that oneās spiritual path is superior than the others is sheer ignorance. Experiential knowledge is far superior than bookish knowledge.Ā I never want anything material from the Divine. I only pray for pure devotion and love towards my Gurudev and Sri Hari. Prabhu ji, I have already surrendered to my Gurudev, perhaps the way Srila Prabhupada ji surrendered to his Guru. Thank you so much for the engaging chats. I am very clear about my path. As I told you, I explored various paths in the last 20 years and finally I found my Guru in Swamiji. I shall try to do my best to walk the path. I am sure the siddha in my lineage will help me. Intellectual arguments no longer inspires me. I am after real experience now; bookish knowledge no longer appeals me. Please forgive me for my ignorance, I am not well read like you. I only know that Swamiji is my Guru, and itās my Dharma to follow Him. He is taking care of my spiritual progress. I wish you all the best on your path, Prabhu ji! Jai Sri Hari! Hare Krishna! š
To be continued…
Part II could be read here.
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