Over-attachment to a sampradaya blocks bhakti

[BVKS Sanga]

From: "Acyuta Dasa" 

Sent: 17-03-2021 7.32.08 AM

Subject: Over-attachment to a sampradaya blocks bhakti

Respected members of the sanga,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Certain preachers of our movement in North India prefer to sing songs composed by devotees such as Suradas, Mirabai, Narsingh Mehta, and others in their regular preaching programs. They claim that songs by the gaudiya acaryas, rendered in Bengali, are not easily understood by the audience, and hence the audience cannot relate to them.

Many also prefer to recite chaupayis from Ramacaritamanasa as they are easily understood by people in North India. 

When confronted with the question that we as discipular descendents of the gaudiya parampara should (like chaste wives) stick to the songs and teachings given to us by acaryas in our sampradaya, especially in preaching programs to the public and congregation, a scathing response is often received: "Over-attachment to a Sampradaya blocks bhakti."

This statement accuses sampradaya loyalists to be fanatic niyamAgrahis whose narrow-mindedness doesn't allow them to appreciate bhakti beyond their sampradaya. 

My questions to the learned members of the sanga are:

1. Does over-attachment to a sampradaya block bhakti?

2. By not singing songs other than those approved by gaudiya acaryas, are we offending great devotees in other sampradayas?

3. We see that certain devotees of the gaudiya sampradaya delve into the teachings of the Sri Sampradaya (for instance, by providing a gaudiya commentary to the divya prabandhams). Does this not justify the singing and elaboration of songs of Suradas in North India?

4. Does over-attachment to the instructions of Srila Prabhupada lead to a myopic view of other devotees in our own sampradaya, who may be, in their own definition, "broad-minded" than others?

Kindly enlighten me on the questions asked above. 

Your servant,

Acyuta Das

[BVKS Sanga]

From: "Jay Nityananda Das"

Sent: 19-03-2021 3.23.37 PM

Subject: Re: Over-attachment to a sampradaya blocks bhakti

Dear Achyuta Prabhuji and others,

Namo Namah.

>>They claim that songs by the gaudiya acaryas, rendered in Bengali, are not easily understood by the audience, and hence the audience cannot relate to them.

When Srila Prabhupada preached to the hippies, in the beginning, none could relate to his Sanskrit verses or Bengali bhajans, however, over a period, devotees picked up those things. So, patience is also required to be able to appreciate Bengali bhajans or Sanskrit verses.

     

>>1. Does over-attachment to a sampradaya block bhakti?

To not be able to appreciate "bhakti" of genuine devotees of the Lord, outside one's own sampradaya is certainly not befitting any Vaishnava. And, such ignorance on the part of any devotee is not conducive for developing attachment for the Lord. However, "over-attachment" to one's sampradaya is natural for any Vaishnava as a chaste wife is naturally attached to her husband though she may have appreciation for other noble men.          

>>2. By not singing songs other than those approved by gaudiya acaryas, are we offending great devotees in other sampradayas?

We may not prefer to sing those authorized songs (say divya-prabandhas) of great devotees of other sampradaya as we have plenty of our own, however, to not appreciate those songs does reflect disrespect to those great devotees who had composed those songs. 

>>3. We see that certain devotees of the gaudiya sampradaya delve into the teachings of the Sri Sampradaya (for instance, by providing a gaudiya commentary to the divyaprabandham). Does this not justify the singing and elaboration of songs of Suradas in North India? 

It doesn't seem to be objectionable to give complimentary remarks on the authorized works of devotees mentioned or cite passages from such compositions (as Srila Prabhupada did ) provided it should be done as supplementary to Gaudiya Vaishnava literature i.e. it should not overshadow Gaudiya Vaishnava literature.

Also, authenticity of such songs needs to be considered. If in doubt, better to stick to what Srila Prabhupada has already given to us.

>>4. Does over-attachment to the instructions of Srila Prabhupada lead to a myopic view of other devotees in our own sampradaya, who may be, in their own definition, "broad-minded" than others?

Over-attachment to the instructions of Srila Prabhupada leads to liberation [ moksa-dvaram apavrtam (SB 3.25.20)]. Let us first delve deep into Srila Prabhupada's books to get farsighted vision in our preaching. 

das,

Jaya Nityananda Dasa

("Nandagrama" Varnasrama Community Project)

[BVKS Sanga]

From: "Alamelu mangai" 

Sent: 22-03-2021 9.41.10 PM

Subject: Re: Over-attachment to a sampradaya blocks bhakti

Respected prabhu,

Please accept my humble obesiances

All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Guru Maharaja

śrīmad-bhāgavatārthānām āsvādo rasikaiḥ saha |
sajātīyāśaye snigdhe sādhau saṅgaḥ svato vare ||1.2.91||

Relishing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in association of devotees

Associating with like-minded, affectionate superior devotees

This verse from Bhakti Rasamrta sindhu answers all your questions. 

Simple answer is no, it is not over attachment rather legitimate attachment, just as there are many sannyasis in our Iskcon acting as Spiritual masters, we respect them equally, however it is natural that one will be inclined towards one's own spiritual master (and like minded devotees). India is versatile for its spirituality. We aren't disrespectful towards others, at the same time we don't associate with them or limit our association. (Offer respect from distance and restrict our association, it means as Srila Rupa Goswami instructs us don't discuss/hear Srimad Bhagavatam or sastra from others) 

A neophyte devotee has very little taste for hearing from the authorities. (srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.7) 

 In our Krsna consciousness society, there will be different categories of devotees and our society facilitates all people take to the process of bhakti and benefitted.

It is sublime for the pure devotees who are serious about getting in contact with the Supreme Lord, and it is easy for the neophytes who are just on the threshold of the house of bhakti. (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.6) 

 I came from south Indian tamil family, after association with like minded devotees I have developed taste for hearing and singing, even relishing Bengali bhajans or Sanskrit texts(I admit I haven't studied prabhandhas, I learned Thirupavai with the meaning, I am able to understand it because of  being familiar with Srila Prabhupada's teachings) and understand them easily. It is matter of interest/ taste. These bhajans sung by acaryas are potent and transcendental. 

Hope this helps

Hare Krsna

Your servant 

Anupama Devi dasi

[BVKS Sanga]

From: "Vrajanagara das" 

Sent: 24-03-2021 2.00.11 AM

Subject: Re: Over-attachment to a sampradaya blocks bhakti

Hare Krishna Prabhu.

In Bhagavad-gita the situation is described completely vice versa. Please, read Bg 7:15 purport.

All the unauthorized interpretations of Gita by the class mayayapahrita-jnanah, outside the purview of the parampara system, are so many stumbling blocks on the path of spiritual understanding.

Their behavior blocks Bhakti because they are beyond the sampradaya

[BVKS Sanga]

From: "Helen Thomas"

Sent: 24-03-2021 3.54.25 PM

Subject: Re: Over-attachment to a sampradaya blocks bhakti

Hare Krsna

I am a mere neophyte and know very little, so in all questions I would look to my spiritual master, and the instructions of Srila Prabhupada. 

In a letter to Shyamasundar 25th February 1970, His Divine Grace elaborates on what are authorized songs so he can in turn advise George Harrison. It is worth reading in Vedabase. 

He gives specific examples that were sung by Lord Chaitanya himself which are the most authorised, but gives many examples for writing songs to appeal to an audience to propogate Krsna Consciousness. I would read from this that songs in people's own language written by devotees for that purpose are bona fide. The only thing that he says not to sing is Hari Om, which I hear all the time, and is ringing in my ears as I write, which is something I have learned today.

I would personally think that we stick to the songs of acaryas in our own Sri sampradaya, as devotees all over the world are learning these songs and texts not knowing what they mean without referring to a translation. Being able to understand the words straight off, in my humble opinion, don't make it more relevant. There are many many hundreds of songs written by our acaryas and can't see the need to look outside. Srila Prabhupada was a pure devotee and more perfect than anyone we would ever hope to meet, so if we try to follow his lead and instructions we surely can't go far wrong.

These are my humble thoughts on the subject and have only deemed it appropriate to comment to pass on Srila Prabhupada's instructions as I have seen.

Your humble servant

Bhaktin Helen

[BVKS Sanga]

From: "Venkat Krithika"

Sent: 27-03-2021 1.20.47 PM

Subject: Re: Over-attachment to a sampradaya blocks bhakti

Hare Krsna Acyuta Das Prabhuji, 

All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Please accept my humble obeisance.

I want to address the Ramcharitmanas statement. This is Srila Prabhupada's comments regarding Ramcaritmanas:

Quote...

Source: Letter to Professor Kotovsky -- Moscow 24 June, 1971

Statement: From your book Soviet Studies of India I understand that academician Mr. A. P. Baranrikov completed a great translation, working the matter of Tulsidas's Ramayana into Russian. Srimad-Bhagavatam is the ripe, mature fruit of the Vedic knowledge, and Tulsidas's Ramayana (Ramacharitmanasa) is but a partial representative of Srimad-Bhagavatam. The real Ramayana is Valmiki's Ramayana. Tulsidas was a devotee of Lord Rama and he has given his thoughts in his book Ramayana. But the real original thoughts and ideas are in Srimad-Bhagavatam

unquote...

It is clear from Srila Prabhupada's words that .Ramcaritmanas is not bona fide. So if there are temples that recite chaupais from this book, then it is not correct.

As a lifelong student of Valmiki Ramayana (VR), I can state that no regional version of Ramayana, including Ramcharitmanas, can come close to the Bhakti that pours out of every word of VR. Ramcaritmanas  also has many deviations from VR. So the listeners do not get an accurate account of the Lord's pastimes. Therefore it is best to stick to VR or the Ramayana mentioned in the Puranas, specifically SB.

Thanks, 

Your humble servant

Krithika Ramaswami (nee Venkat)