The mysterious goings on in Gaudia Vaisnavism

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur was a magistrate who worked for the British Raja for some time in his earlier life during the later part of the 19th century. He was also a prolific writer and philosopher in his youthful days . As he grew older, he became more and more drawn toward the teachings of Gaudia Vaisnavism and particularly the conclusions that were  presented by Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Mahaprabhu brought new insights into the mysterious and wonderful lives of the Gopies of Vrndavana and revealed to the world the supreme position of the Supreme Goddess of Fortune Srimati Radharani.

At first, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur was puzzled about the extraordinary wonders of Caitanya Mahāprabhu , who was known to be a great scholar and Pandit . Mahaprabhu was most definitely a first-class scholar who could, for instance, explain the Srimad Bhagavatam Atmarama verse in 108 ways, which astounded all the Vedic intelligentsia. However Srila Bhaktivinod thought it , at least initially strange , that later in Mahāprabhu’s life , He had  became so absorbed in the  meditations and pastimes of Lord Krishna in Vrndavana, those of Sri Sri  Radha Krishna which appeared , at least  externally ,  as being quite  immoral , Srila BR Sridhar Swami tells us .

Srila Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja , the son of Srila Bhaktivinod , himself was once questioned  by Lord Suthers  , who was a British government minister  in the early part of the 20th century . Lord Suthers made the point in a question, ” That your Lord Krishna appears to be quite immoral. How is it that He is worshipped as God ? ”  Srila Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja gave the perfect answer ……that Lord Krishna’s activities in Vrndavana were a display of the highest morality.

There are two verses in the Srimad Bhagavatam scriptures that need understanding in depth along with their  purpose . When one is able , after much  practice of devotional life and by the causeless mercy of a devotee of Sri Caitanya , understand these two verses  the mysterious nature of Gaudia Vaisnavism may  open up .

First verse is …

CC Madhyama 11.8

niṣkiñcanasya bhagavad-bhajanonmukhasya
pāraṁ paraṁ jigamiṣor bhava-sāgarasya
sandarśanaṁ viṣayiṇām atha yoṣitāṁ ca
hā hanta hanta viṣa-bhakṣaṇato ’py asādhu

Translation

Greatly lamenting, the Lord then informed Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, “ ‘Alas, for a person who is seriously desiring to cross the material ocean and engage in the transcendental loving service of the Lord without material motives, seeing a materialist engaged in sense gratification or seeing a woman who is similarly interested is more abominable than drinking poison willingly.’ ”

Then .

ŚB 10.33.39

vikrīḍitaṁ vraja-vadhūbhir idaṁ ca viṣṇoḥ
śraddhānvito ’nuśṛṇuyād atha varṇayed yaḥ
bhaktiṁ parāṁ bhagavati pratilabhya kāmaṁ
hṛd-rogam āśv apahinoty acireṇa dhīraḥ

Translation

Anyone who faithfully hears or describes the Lord’s playful affairs with the young gopīs of Vṛndāvana will attain the Lord’s pure devotional service. Thus, he will quickly become sober and conquer lust, the disease of the heart.

One should consult the mature Gaudia Vaisnava about these two verses and their trancendental mysteries and how the two verses can be reconciled.

It is a fact in current times liberalism has run wild , so practically speaking, how can one properly practice spiritual life in the Western world.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Goswami Maharaja gave several instructions. He would say all the beautiful ladies who are most definitely very attractive in this world have temporary borrowed plumes from a higher realm that in  the passing of time are all eradicated . Such a reflection is a temporary show , borrowed plumes from an eternal reality , where diamonds are on show and not broken glass . Thd trancendental playground can be understood with purified trancendental senses , senses that are engaged in eternal sacrifice  , no seperate interest other than serving the emaculate senses of Krishna,  z competition of Love between Radha Krishna is on full display. A perfection exhibition in a spiritual plane where selfish lust has no place .

Ultimately, the Srimad Bhagavatam teaches us that in spiritual life, there are no voids or impersonal energies but rather everything there is full of beauty and spiritual varigatedness ,  Krishna is the Supreme Autocrat and He  unlimitedly shares and exchanges trancendental bliss and beauty unlimitedly in ever new ,  known as anuraga , and in innumerable ways the trancendental blissful exchanges increase and increase.

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