Second Conversation With Srila Sridhara Maharaja, Part 3

BY: SUN EDITORS - 2.8 2023

SBD: Bengali:
Maharaja, until and unless we realize that we need suggestions, how can we approach somebody for suggestions? They are thinking that they are not lacking in anything. Maharaja, one of the most important instructions that we received from Srila Prabhupada was to distribute these books. But at the present moment in America not a single book practically is being distributed. But instead they are distributing thousands of records and these records are not spiritual songs but simply songs so that they can earn some money to maintain the temples. Not only the books are not being distributed, even printing has come practically to a standstill. Prabhupada has done so many things. So many buildings and things he has established. If we could see that our present leaders were even trying to simply maintain what Srila Prabhupada has done then also we could understand.

SM: Bengali:
They are trying to collect more men through an easy method by giving them an opportunity to gratify their senses.

SBD: Bengali:
But, Maharaja, those men who are coming, they are coming for a few days only and then leaving again. And even the disciples of Srila Prabhupada are also leaving. Many of Srila Prabhupada's disciples are leaving the movement and staying in their own houses and following their principles of bhakti. They are not wanting to stay with the present leaders.

BCS: Bengali:
Maharaja just a few minutes back you were giving the example of the king in relation to trying to bring out the point of jealousy. When the king dies then the eldest son sits on the throne and his brothers and other relatives are then envious of his position, that the son is sitting in the same throne as the father did. This envious attitude might be seen in five or ten, but that everybody is envious of his position is not possible. In the beginning more or less all of Prabhupada's disciples were very tolerant towards them.

SM: Bengali: Yes, this envious attitude could affect practically everybody around. But then once the new king comes, and slowly through his activities proves his worth, the minds of his relatives. English: If they were loyal to their king, then everyone should adapt.

BCS: Vaisnava behavior, it is so nice, so beautiful, that everybody is attracted by this Vaisnava behavior. But if there is a lack of Vaisnava behavior, then automatically others will become disappointed and mostly that is what is happening. Like, instead of Vaisnava behavior, the behavior of most people is becoming very…

SM: If it is so, you all feel, then can't help, what to do?

SBD: Maharaja, another point is, see Prabhupada said that we should come to you for consultation and advice. Even if we do not have anything to consult or any advice to take, still, seeing your position as a very senior Vaisnava…

SM: The other party is not here, so I am trying my utmost to plead for them, supposition, with some supposition I am mostly trying to plead their case…

DKS: You are very generous.

SM: They may think that guru maharaja has some practical experience in that country but I have nothing of the line. I am here, I have no practical experience about the manners and the customs of those countries. So I may not help them properly. Only the theological part, the sastric part I may help with.

DKS: But with sastra caksus, with the eyes of sastra, you can know even how to act there.

SM: (laughing)

SBD: But my point, Maharaja, if I may humbly state the case…

SM: veda pasyanti pandita

DKS: When Prabhupada was on the Jaladuta, the ship on his journey to America, he wrote two poems and in one of the poems…

SM: Krsna delegated some special power in him, giving him the capacity to deal with…

DKS: One of the poems is called "Markine Bhagavata Dharma".

SBD: Markine Bhagavata Dharma pracara (Bengali)

DKS: And in that poem he is on the boat, he has never been to America, but he gives the perfect description of American people in terms of Bhagavat philosophy. Raja, tamas he says the population is overwhelmed by passion and ignorance, quoting the First Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam. So once he was speaking this in Los Angeles, he started laughing and said, "How could I know what was the condition of the people in your country? I had never been there." But he gave a perfect description on the basis of Srimad-Bhagavatam. So I can understand that Sridhar Maharaja can understand perfectly the situation on the basis of sadhu, sastra and guru.

SBD: And another thing, Maharaja, is this same point I want to make in a different way, is that, even if we don't have any advice to take as concerns the running of the society, but just that Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that one of the main angles of devotional life is to have sadhu sangha, and recognizing you to be sadhu sangha… We all know that Srila Prabhupada himself, whenever he came here, he himself would come down to see yourself or he would request you to come there. So that very fact should also inspire every disciple of Srila Prabhupada to come and at least have darsan of your lotus feet. But they never do that.

DKS: Once in Los Angeles some devotees were asking, Prabhupada was speaking about translation and he said, "many can translate, but only I can comment, and Sridhar Maharaja." So some devotees are asking if you would finish the translation… commentaries on the Srimad-Bhagavatam, the remaining two and a half cantos.

BCS: translates what Dhira Krsna Maharaja said into Bengali

SM: Bengali:
Yes, it is possible that he might have said it. We would often have discussions with each other. And so he realized that we were on the same platform. English: We are on the same level, he felt, so he might have told like that. Hare Krsna.

BCS: In Bengali asks Sridhar Maharaja if he is feeling a little tired

SM: Bengali:
The memories of Swami Maharaja are affecting us very much. (tears were in his eyes) English: Sympathy, his sympathy towards me, he sympathetically remarked, and his kind treatment with me, that is moving me… such a great man disappeared so soon _______ of the whole world his _____ finish. Krsna has taken him up. Nothing, we have nothing to demand on this ____ Hare Krsna. Hare Krsna. _________ My guru maharaja also remarked my favor, sometimes that when Bhaktivinoda Thakur, about Bhaktivinoda Thakur, that, first Sanskrit poem that was read by Prabhupada and accepted. Very happily. hmm.

BCS: You wrote that poem.

SM: Yes, and remarked to Goswami Maharaja that, "At least one man is left behind who will be able to represent my decision, my conception."
Bengali:
My guru maharaja commented that at least one person would be left behind to distribute the instructions of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, and then when he was preparing to leave the planet, my guru maharaja called me and gave last instructions stating that everything should lead up to come and corroborate with the conclusion of Srila Rupa Goswami. Everything would finally meet and explain the efficacy of Srila Rupa Goswami's siddhanta that all the different siddhantas would be taken step by step and ultimately find it's beautiful conclusion in rupanuga bhakti. All the conclusions of Srimad-Bhagavatam would lead step by step to the rupanuga vicara as it is found in the conversations with Srila Ramananda Raya where Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, "___iho bahya age kaho haya___" that he should go ahead further and state what is the actual conclusion of bhakti.

English: In this process the tattvaja, the meaning will be carried to rupanuga. Conception of the loving service to Krsna. That is the criterion of Gaudiya-Vaisnava guru. Whatever will come to him, he will adjust them in such a way that it will gradually lead to the acme, there is rupanuga Vaisnavism. raga mar … Krsna, all taking wards that. This sort of direction he will read from everything. In all the advices and the scriptural representation, he will draw the meaning and aham eva vedya, and that aham is Brajendranandana Krsna. Vrindaban, vede samastrair aham eva mrta (?) sruti _______ jnana. All the sruti scripture, revealed scripture, reading towards Krsna. This sort of capacity is the real capacity of an acarya. [-->]

To draw from everything the gist is the tattvaja, the meaning, reading towards Krsnapada padma renu, raja bhajan, the loving service of Krsna as depicted by Sri Rupa. Mahaprabhu, according to the inspiration of Mahaprabhu, the raga bhakti acarya was the post given to Rupa, Sri Rupa, Rupanuga bhajan. So Prabhupada, just before his departure, 24 hours before his departure, he called for me and asked me to sing that song, "sri rupa manjari pada sei mora sampada," and I did. I hesitatingly did. My nature if always hesitating, pushing back. Then Kunja babu asked; I am not… as soon as he suggested, I was not a good singer so I stopped. Then Kunja babu asked Puri Maharaja (Kerala), "You sing." He began. Then Prabhupada was a little disturbed. "I don't like to sing, the sweet tune of the song." Then they stopped and I had to begin, "sri rupa manjari pada sei mora sampada." He wanted me to sing that song. That this is the fulfillment of life of every one of us, rupanuga. The conclusion is here, Bhagavat conclusion. Teachings of Bhagavat conclusion is to take everyone to the conception of the loving service to Krsna, as depicted by Sri Rupa in his scriptures under the direction of Sriman Mahaprabhu, who has come to distribute Himself. Krsna has come to distribute Himself, in the garb of Mahaprabhu, under His direction.

DKS: rupanuga viruddhapa-siddhanta dhvanta harine

SM: dhvanta harine, rupanuga viruudhapa

DKS: So he would not tolerate apasiddhanta.

SM: All should be eliminated. Every other alternative thing, should be eliminated and the way must go to the feet of rupanuga.