BV Vaishnava Maharaja
[
BV Vaishnava Maharaja is a diksa and sannyasa disciple of Srila
Narayana Maharaja in the Gaudiya Vaishnava line.]
Sri Sri Guru-Gauranga Jayatah!
First of all I wish to offer my most humble dandavat pranams in
the dust of the lotus feet of my Holy Spiritual Master, His
Divine Grace Parivrajakacarya 108 Sri Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana
Goswami Maharaja.
The noble purpose of GALVA and any truly spiritual
society or association is to encourage its members to inquire
about higher, spiritual topics. Sectarianism is, however, a
natural byproduct of the Absolute Truth due to the different
natures and desires of humans and each society develops its
particular standards accordingly. Although, as Srila Bhaktivinoda
Thakura wrote in the introduction of his Sri Krsna Samhita: “When acaryas first
realize and propagate the Absolute Truth, it is not polluted
with sectarianism…their teachings are changed in due
course of time according to mentality and region;” the
Absolute Truth nonetheless remains pure, transcendental. Therefore
the qualified practitioner will accept whatever is helpful
for their advancement to higher levels. This is accomplished
under the guidance of the bona fide Guru who is fully self-realized,
with a mood of surrender, submissive inquiry and service (Bhagavad
Gita 4.34).
The very existence of different specialized societies
or ministries such as those in support of gays and lesbians
or for women devotees, black devotees, youth, child protection,
those speaking different languages, etc., would indicate that
the larger or original societies, intended to be a house “in
which the whole world could live,” are no longer able
to fulfill their intended original function. What function?
To provide the association of sadhus who exemplify,
at the least, the basic conceptions of “we are spirit
souls—not these bodies, eternal servants of Sri Krsna.” Hence
we find ass-like discrimination and exclusion based upon mundane
distinctions that a self-realized devotee would be beyond:
man-maya-mohita-dhiyah
purusah purusarsabha
sreyo vadanty anekantam
yatha-karma yatha-ruci
“Oh best among men, the intelligence of
human beings is bewildered by My illusory potency, and thus,
according to their own activities and whims, they speak in
innumerable ways about what is actually good for the people.” (Srimad
Bhagavatam 11.14.9)
This ass-like behavior is jivaaparadha,
what to speak of Vaishnava aparadha. No institution
can actually exemplify these higher truths as they are found
in realized persons only. Only persons are spirit souls and
eternal servants of Sri Krsna. This is why Sri Krsna spoke
the Bhagavad Gita verse, 4.34, quoted above. An institution
is helpful if it is, and only as long as it is, directly under
the guidance of such a self-realized soul. We should be so
swanlike, however, as to be able to respect and value everyone’s
spiritual practice according to their qualifications and enquire
about higher, spiritual topics. Or, as I’ve heard Srila
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada would say, “Don’t
be a nonsense.”
Every congregation and indeed many temples and
ashramas around the world have gay and lesbian members. This
is only natural. The sad fact remains, however, that many of
these good devotees—rare souls that they are—often
find they need to secret their inborn natures for fear of being
ostracized. I found this the case in many places personally.
Although I was “out” with many devotees I had to
be discreet in order to remain in the ashrama. This only put
undo emphasis on what I needed to transcend above many other
misconceptions, especially as a brahmacari and even
more now as a sannyasi—when honesty is essential. I am
of course no angel but being excluded from the open and friendly
atmosphere enjoyed by my dear heterosexual brothers and sisters,
and then being ridiculed for not fitting in, was a most cruel
experience which was difficult to reconcile. Many devotees
were banned and/or even in some places beaten and/or sexually
abused. Still, by Sri Sri Nitai-Gauranga’s grace, I managed
to use the situation to my advantage as an impetus to take
shelter of the Holy Names. I took my cue from the pastimes
of Srila Haridasa Thakura. When he was arrested and put in
prison he told the other prisoners to remain as they were,
in a favorable mood for remembering the Lord. The nescient
prison of bodily identification (“don’t ask, don’t
tell”) in which my fellow neophytes—for want of
high-class association—incarcerated me, worked to my
advantage.
Srila Haridasa Thakura later went on to tell
the Nawab, who was the ruler of the region and responsible
for the prison: “However, if one living entity feels
hatred or envy towards another, this is ultimately a reflection
of his relationship with the Supreme Lord and the Lord never
tolerates one living entity’s transgressions against
another.” (Sri Caitanya Bhagavata 1.16) Of
course I am not wishing oppression on anyone, as karmic as
it may be, but still we must be able to see the environment
as always favorable for Krsna consciousness—because it
is. We must have proper guidance always. GALVA is helping fill
this void in many ways, wherever a qualified Guru might be
absent, keeping many hundreds of good devotees informed and
enthused. I am very grateful for the help it has given me over
the years. We are not alone. Sri Krsna responds to the sincere
prayers of His devotees. Only our own weak-mindedness keeps
us imprisoned.
sadhu-sanga sadhu-sanga sarva-sastre kaya
lava-matra sadhu-sange sarva-siddhi haya
“The verdict of all revealed scriptures
is that through even a moment’s association with a sadhu,
a pure devotee, one can attain (ultimately) complete spiritual
perfection.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta 2.22.54)
krsna-bhakti-janma-mula haya sadhu-sanga
krsna-prema janme, tenho punah mukhya anga
“The root cause of krsna-bhakti is sadhu-sanga.
Even when one’s dormant krsna-prema awakens, sadhu-sanga is
still the most important principle for one’s spiritual
life.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta 2.22.83)
Vaisnava dasanudas,
Bhaktivedanta Vaisnava
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