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Guru Legend Truth and Perception

Mr. Xxxxxxx:

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare!
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!

After reading "Monkey on a Stick," and comparing the differences between that publication and my own personal experiences at The Farm, I'm leery of just writing to you and having words parsed out of context even accidentally. It is for this reason I'm posting my reply publicly. This way, if a conclusion or misunderstanding is drawn from this response, I hope it may be shaped alone by the reader and not influenced by that which is included or excluded (even innocently) in the relating process. I'd like permission to use your name.*.

I believe I remember you. We never met, but there was talk about a reporter on the grounds who seemed ... "favorable." I read that as "non judgmental." Upon occasion you were pointed out to me ... "There he is ..." Maybe I have you confused with a television reporter. Maybe it doesn't matter. What are you doing now? Do you ask these questions for publication or yourself? Are you writing a book about these things?

Your questions about Srila Bhaktipada kind of bounce off here. It is hard to relate concepts like "trouble with the federal people," with a self realized position. I don't claim self realization for myself or anyone else, but I do aspire to achieve that goal someday "soon." I try not to run on the track where people talk of freedom and prison as if one definitely goes hand in hand with the other. I've talked with and visited more than a few people who've spent time in prison ... including familial brothers sisters, aunts uncles children, and, of course, several Hare Krsna Devotees.

It does not seem to me that prison automatically curtails freedom. I respectfully submit to you that the idea of Srila Bhaktipada not being in good shape is also an alien concept in "my" heart. The perceived shape of Srila Bhaktipada, or you, or me, is not something I feel confident in assessing, so giving a reaction for you is difficult. The difference between matter and spirit is an area very daunting to me.

If I'm just walking around as I do, apparently, I usually opt for the mundane. It doesn't pay to be this way, yet I keep doing "it." Intellectually, I know better ... and I try to be better ... still I pray to Lord Caitanya for just a little more "fun."

If someone with whom I don't directly recollect having any previous contact writes to this office with questions about Srila Bhaktipada, then I'm reminded of the good and higher path I was surrounded by at New Vrindabana.

The relationship I have with my Guru was never familiar. He is to me like, I guess, the Base Commander was when I was in the military. We see the institution is running fine ... morale is high ... the mission is being accomplished and we are proud to be a part. When the Colonel goes by, we salute, but we don't inquire (or ... God help me ... actually even care) as to his breakfast, (unless we are in the breakfast dept). We judge the sweetness and goodness by the fruit.

As one of the lesser troops, I saw my responsibility as simply and truly doing the best I could ... which was not very much. Srila Bhaktipada channeled my propensities in ways that were positively constructive, but in the "final" analysis He gave much more to me and mine than I could ever begin to hope to give to the New Vrindabana Community.

When I had questions, Krsna Consciousness, as presented by my Guru and His Followers, gave me complete and total answers. It isn't that I can handle The Truth, but I did see that no guess work, blind faith or"close your eyes and trust me" stuff was ever on the table.

Literally the only things Srila Bhaktipada ever told me were the things which are handed down via Disciplic Succession. Many denizens of New Vrindabana are His God Brothers, and Srila Prabhupada is their Spiritual Master. These people often advised me to "Go see Srila Bhaktipada" when I experienced some routine difficulty. I seldom followed that advice.

His God Brothers are my elder God Brothers, so when it came to personal arrangements, I was better at adhering to what I saw as the chain of command.

Once, I asked Him what I might say to those who'd accuse us of copping out. His response was "Tell them ‘of course.' Only a fool or a madman seeks to redecorate when the building is on fire." On another occasion, I had been diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease*. I asked Srila Bhaktipada what I should do:

Should I go fight it? Should I sit down and accept death?

Srila Bhaktipada said, "Are you in pain?"

"No," I replied.

"If you begin to feel pain, can you tolerate it? Would you want to see a doctor then?"

"I believe if I were in pain, I'd want to see a doctor," I answered.

"Then go see one now. Get a second opinion," Srila Bhaktipada instructed.

His counsel to me, when I have the temerity to approach Him, is always personal, practical, impeccable and complete.

So, respectfully, while it may seem like a cop out ... trying to answer your questions about the material condition of Srila Bhaktipada is like trying to redecorate in that burning building. Relating to your inquiry is harder for me than being multilingual because by dipping there, it reinforces there, and it is clear that I'm already a raging materialist.

With all this caveat forward, I try to say the last I heard, Srila Bhaktipada has not yet been "released." You want to know if He is in the local area ... talking about my Guru, I can say He is definitely right here, by "my" lights. From your angle, you'd probably be referring to the Ohio Valley, and even there, because of the existence of people like me, who love Him and are indebted to Him, your inquiry just can not compute. To me, of course He is here. Anything I can think about having to do with "my existence" has come through Him. You may draw your own conclusion if you subscribe to the observation that the last I heard, my Guru has not been "released."

Seeing how He is "for old time's sake," or "arranging a visit" are postures assessments and activities in which I am not qualified to indulge. In many instances, Srila Bhaktipada seems to be pals with certain people. You may be one of those people; don't you have His address?

Respectfully,

Srila JivaGoswami dasa

*Permission subsequently denied
*Second opinion revealed malady was chicken pox!

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