What Gaudiya Math is doing? (Part 9)

Written by Śrīla Bhakti Siddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda - Paramahaṁsa Jagad-Guru

First published by VISHWA-VAISHNAVA-RAJA-SABHA in the 1930's

—It is this that is the subject of the propaganda of the Śrī Gauḍīya Maṭh. The Śrī Gauḍīya Maṭh by its practice proclaims that by the gratification of the senses of jīva, instead of the gratification of the senses of God, no good can accrue either to oneself or to others. By invocation of mukti (salvation) in deprecation of the pleasures of the senses of the jīva, God is not served. There are many hypocrite sects who counterfeit Bhakti (devotion) by assuming the paraphernalia of the false devotee but are not aware that Bhakti is an impulse of the soul. Of these, some for the purpose of filling their bellies, some for fame, some again by simulating for some other purpose, practise deception on men.

The Gauḍīya Maṭh says — in the name of dharmma it is not proper to practise trade. Not using Hari to serve our own pleasures, our duty is only to serve 'Śrī Hari'. The Gauḍīya Maṭh says that imitating the devotee of Hari or putting on the dress of Nārad as in a theatrical performance is far from walking after the devotee of Hari or following Nārad. The delightful tune, time, cadence alone do not constitute the Hari-kīrttan of the Gauḍīya Maṭh; those are found even in the performances of the gramophone or harlots. Cetanatā, 'consciousness' is necessary, the fiery life is necessary, simultaneous practice and preaching is necessary. The Gauḍīya Maṭh says that he who does not possess a pure character is not fit even to be styled man not to speak of being regarded as religious (dharmmik). The Gaudīya Math keeps at a distanse from the five Kali-sthānas (abodes of quarrel). The Kali-sthānas according to the opinion of the Bhāgavata are the following—(1) dissipating games such as cards, dice etc.; trade or the profession of a trader in the name of dharmma; (2) indulgence in luxuries such as betel, tobacco, wines etc.; (3) improper association with women or unusual addiction to one's own wife; (4) animal slaughter; not to proclaim the truth to people but to deceive them by lies; not to preach Hari-kathā 'the word of God' to jīva; in lieu of Hari-kathā to give other kinds of advice; (5) by cheating people or by accepting money that is earned by their labour from the people in general, to apply such wealth to the maintenance of wife and children, or increasing the scope of one's own enjoyments; not to employ everything—the body, mind and speech of the jīva—life, wealth and intellect—in the service of Śrī Viṣṇu Who is the proprietor of all things and the Lord of all wealth.

The Śāstra says, of all things the human body is the dearest to God; the human body is the giver of the Paramārtha (highest good) and is very difficult to obtain; and therefore, while this body lasts, without being immersed in any other thing, not being deceived by supposing that any other method except sorrow-stupor-fear-killing Bhakti is productive of good, it is our duty unceasingly to practise devotion. Other forms of devotion to God are weak, the devotion denoted by kīrttan is strong. Once the protection of the strong Bhakti is secured, it gives to jīvas the highest good with little effort on their part. Therefore, by preaching kīrttan at all times to induce, by right of the highest kinship, the whole of the jīva to turn Homeward is true universal love, true help of others, true kindness and the true duty of life. The Gauḍīya Maṭh embracing all the inhabitants of the universe without exception, in sadness calling upon all to turn their face towards God to be preachers of this Bhakti denoted by kīrttan, says,—

हे साधवः सकलमेव विहाय दूरात्

चैतन्यचन्द्रचरणे कुरुतानुरागम्॥

He sādhavaḥ sakalam eva vihāya dūrāt

Caitanya-candra-caraṇe kurutānurāgam//

—Caitanya-candrāmṛtam 90

"Ye, the righteous, bidding good-bye to everything from a distance, offer the devotion of your hearts to

the feet of Caitanyacandra."

(To be continued...)