HE WAS A MAHABHAGAVAT, THEREFORE HE CANNOT MAKE ANY MISTAKE (?)
Part 3 – Discrimination and Divisive Attitude
Now, we like to highlight to you some additional comments of Swami Mahārāj:
“Devotee (1): Adolf Hitler was vegetarian.
Prabhupāda [Swami Maharaj]: Who?
Devotee (1): Adolf Hitler.
Svarūpa Dāmodara: Hitler.
Prabhupāda [Swami Maharaj]: Ah. He is a good man.”
(Morning walk – Berkeley, Oct 1972)
“Ah, yes. So these English people, they were very expert in making propaganda. They killed Hitler by propaganda. I don't think Hitler was so bad man. What do you think? (laughs) You are Englishman. (laughter)”
(Room Conversation — June 17, 1976, Toronto)
“Śūdra is to be controlled only. They are never given to be freedom. Just like in America: the blacks were slaves; they were under control. And since we have given them equal rights, they are disturbing, most disturbing, always creating a fearful situation, uncultured and drunkards. What training they have got? They have got equal right? That is best, to keep them under control as slaves but give them sufficient food, sufficient cloth, not more than that. Then they will be satisfied.
(Conversation – Mayapur, Feb 1977)
“This is Vedic civilization: plain living, high thinking. And poor thinking, poor in thought, poor in behavior, and living with motorcar and this, that, that, nonsense—it is all nonsense civilization. In a first-class Rolls-Royce car, and who is sitting there? A third-class Negro. This is going on. You'll find these things in Europe and America. This is going on. A first-class car and a third-class Negro. That's all. Is it not?” (Conversation – Mauritius, 1975)
“Yes, that is law always. Rape means without consent, sex. Otherwise there is no rape. There was a rape case in Calcutta, and the lawyer was very intelligent. He some way or other made the woman admit, "Yes, I felt happiness." So he was released. "Here is consent." And that's a fact. Because after all, sex, rape or no rape, they will feel some pleasure. So the lawyer, by hook and crook, made the woman agree, "Yes, I felt some pleasure." "Now, there is consent." So he was released. After all, it is an itching sensation. So either by force or by willingly, if there is itching, everyone feels relieved itching it. That's a psychology. It is not that the women do not like rape. They like sometimes. They willingly. That is the psychology. Outwardly they show some displeasure, but inwardly they do not. This is the psychology.”
(Morning walk – Perth, 1975)
"A man is always famous for his aggression toward a beautiful woman, and such aggression is sometimes considered rape. Although rape is not legally allowed, it is a fact that a woman likes a man who is very expert at rape.”
(Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.25.41, Purport)
“And it has been found that a woman does not have more than thirty-six ounce of brain substance, whereas in man it has been found that he has got up to sixty-four ounce. Now, this is modern science.
Therefore generally, generally, woman, less intelligent than man. You cannot find any big scientist, any big mathematician, any big philosopher amongst woman. That is not possible. Although in your country, you want equal status with man, freedom, but by nature you are less intelligent. What can be done? (laughter)”
(Lecture – Los Angeles, 1972)
From Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta we can find the absolute humble attitude of Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmīpad—
jagāi mādhāi haite muñi se pāpiṣṭha
purīṣera kīṭa haite muñi se laghiṣṭha (Cc Ādi 5.205)
"I am more sinful than Jagāi and Mādhāi and even lower than the worms in the stool."
mora nāma śune yei tāra puṇya kṣaya
mora nāma laya yei tāra pāpa haya (Cc Ādi 5.206)
"Anyone who hears my name loses the results of his pious activities. Anyone who utters my name becomes sinful."
emana nirghṛṇa more kebā kṛpā kare
eka nityānanda vinu jagat bhitare (Cc Ādi 5.207)
"Who in this world but Nityānanda could show His mercy to such an abominable person as me?"
From Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam we know the following śloka—
ete na hy adbhutā vyādha
tavāhiṁsādayo guṇāḥ
hari-bhaktau pravṛttā ye
na te syuḥ para-tāpinaḥ (Cc Madhya 22.147)
“O hunter, good qualities like nonviolence, which you have developed, are not at all very astonishing, because those who are engaged in the Lord’s devotional service are never inclined to give pain to others out of envious attitude."
Śrīman Mahāprabhu Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Deva in course of His giving śikṣā to Sanatan Gosvāmīpad has given the following example of a cruel hunter, about how he was converted into a great Vaiṣṇava by the association (causeless mercy) of Śrī Narad Muni.
Gauḍīya Goṣṭhī Pati Śrī Śrīla Bhakti Siddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda Paramahaṁsa Jagad Guru said that— “From the feeling of superiority complex the question of insulting others can arise.” So then as a Gauḍīya sādhu how I can feel myself superior to others or how I can develop divisive attitude.
Birds of same feather flock together. Śrīla Saccidānanda Bhaktivinod Ṭhākura said that— “People approve people of their own stamp; they cannot approve you and me.” So, if somebody appreciates Hitler than it is understood that he is also of the same stamp like Hitler. If somebody like to become Hitler in Gauḍīya bhajana field then he must appreciate Hitler as a good man, who has done a great massacre in the black history of human beings. A man is known by the association he keeps or by watching his likes and dislikes.
According to karma-phal jīvas can take birth as brāhmaṇa or as kṣatriya or vaiśyāḥ or śūdra or antarja (like khol, vhil, sautal etc. tribals) or as yavanāś, mlecchāś etc. or as man or women or can take birth with a white or black body etc. all are the results of the previous karma-phal of jīvas. From Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam we know that Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa in his boyhood līlā speaking to His father Nanda Mahārāja that—
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
karmaṇā jāyate jantuḥ
karmaṇaiva pralīyate
sukhaṁ duḥkhaṁ bhayaṁ kṣemaṁ
karmaṇaivābhipadyate (ŚB 10.24.13)
"Lord Kṛṣṇa said: It is by the force of karma that a living entity takes birth, and it is by karma alone that he meets his destruction. His happiness, distress, fear and sense of security all arise as the effects of karma."
How it was possible for Śabarī Ma (vhilni bai) to get the kṛpā of Śrī Rāmacandra, or how it was possible for Guhak Chandal to grow deep friendship with Śrī Rāmacandra or even those beasts and birds—how they were successful to get the kṛpā of Śrī Rāmacandra—this is the most vital question.
From Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam we know the following śloka—
janmaiśvarya-śruta-śrībhir
edhamāna-madaḥ pumān
naivārhaty abhidhātuṁ vai
tvām akiñcana-gocaram (ŚB 1.8.26)
"My Lord, Your Lordship can easily be approached, but only by those who are materially exhausted. One who is on the path of [material] progress, trying to improve himself with respectable parentage, great opulence, high education and bodily beauty, cannot approach You with sincere feeling."
To organise the whole social system in a very scientific way He was bound to implement the system of varṇāśrama dharma. This is not at all discrimination. According to karma phal jīvas are bound to follow the reaction out of that. Just like the third law of the scientist Newton—every action has its equal and opposite reaction. We know from śāstra that—
avasyam eva bhoktabya krita karmam subashubam (From Niti Śāstra)
One has to suffer the reaction of personal karma phal good or bad, it is a must, no other way open. We know from Śrīmad Bhagavad-Gītā the following ślokas—
vidyā-vinaya-sampanne
brāhmaṇe gavi hastini
śuni caiva śva-pāke ca
paṇḍitāḥ sama-darśinaḥ (Bg. 5.18)
"The humble sages, by virtue of true knowledge, see with equal vision a learned and gentle brāhmaṇa, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [outcaste]."
ihaiva tair jitaḥ sargo
yeṣāṁ sāmye sthitaṁ manaḥ
nirdoṣaṁ hi samaṁ brahma
tasmād brahmaṇi te sthitāḥ (Bg. 5.19)
"Those whose minds are established in sameness and equanimity have already conquered the conditions of birth and death. They are flawless like brāhmaṇa, and thus they are already situated in brāhmaṇa."
Actually, sama darśana (equal vision) does not mean that we can break all those rules and restrictions regarding varṇāśrama dharma etc. to come down to a flat level of external equality (?) as is usually shown by any clever political leader to get voting support. Not that the question of all saṁskāra or purities should be thrown away.
One of the most active public defenders of all those offensive and random comments passed by Swami Mahārāj has written the following comment in one of his posts on a social media, in reply to a devotee: “Personally, I see it as necessary to identify, expose and challenge such things. Just as I know some other devotees are addressing some of the more controversial topics and statements Srila Prabhupada [Swami Maharaj] spoke about, and which some devotees ignore, perhaps hoping that nobody else notices he said such things - not to make any lame 'excuses,' but to make powerful thoughtful analyses as to how such positions, albeit being 'politically incorrect' and unpopular, are actually profoundly aligned with Truth”.
This statement leaves us astonished: imagine having to dedicate a team of people to find ways to explain every nonsense someone has said, in an effort to prove his authenticity and therefore protect his—and also, obviously, their own—position. In reply to this comment highlighted above, we like to remind you all of the fact that there is no such engagement to prove the authenticity of Śrīla Bhakti Rakshak Śrīdhar-Dev Gosvāmī Mahārāj, or Śrīla Bhakti Prajñana Keshava Gosvāmī Mahārāj, or Śrīla Bhakti Pramode Puri Gosvāmī Mahārāj, or Śrīla Bhakti Hrdaya Vana Gosvāmī Mahārāj, etc, because quotes-comments-speeches-writings of a self-realised sādhu are always flawless. But foolish people of this world even they have no conception on this simple issue, that’s why they are always cheated, but when a bonded soul wants to occupy the Vyāsāsana which is strictly reserved for a genuine or authentic śuddha guru-Vaiṣṇava who is strictly in the line of our śrauta guru-paramparā then what we can expect from him except some random talkings and writings!
Those who have not achieved even attmo-anattmo jñāna (what to speak of paramahamsa stage) they are bound to differentiate between black and white or poor and rich etc. I mean they are bound to subscribe in favour of discrimination. How they can harmonize themselves with the whole creation to become a real sādhu, that is the main question in front of us. From Upaniṣad we know the following śloka—
yasmin sarvāṇi bhūtāni ātmaivābhūd vijānataḥ
tatra ko mohaḥ kaḥ śoka ekatvamanupaśyataḥ
(Īśopaniṣad 7)
"He in whom the whole creation is felt like existing in himself, in that case where from the question of infatuation and discrimination can arise, because he can feel the oneness in diversity."
Actually, as per śāstra one can get dignity according to his or her consciousness level (not on external factors such as skin color, gender, or age)—
acaitanyamidaṁ viśvaṁ yadi caitanyamiśvaram
na viduḥ śarvvaśāstrañāā hyapi bhrāmyanti te janāḥ
(Śrī Caitanya candrāmṛtam 37)
"The greatest amongst scholars, though they be adept in numerous scriptures, if unaware of Śrī Caitanya’s position as the Supreme Controller of all universes (material and spiritual), must continue to wander throughout this lifeless, inert world, devoid of consciousness (caitanya)."
So surely Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī who is only sixteen years old can get more and more honour and respect then all those ages old ṛṣiś like Doumya Muñi, Parasa Muñi, Bharatraj Muñi etc. Because we know that ‘majority must be granted’ or ‘seniority must be given priority’—all those formulas are only applicable in this blind material world, not there in the devotional field at all.
So as per Śrīmad Bhagavad-Gītā or Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam we know it very well that to honour all jīvas by realising that Bhagavān is there inside of everybody as Supersoul should be the real darśana of equality.