Distorted Bhakti – Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada
Those who ruin the Transcendental books of the Acaryas—
by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Maharaja
Many of our friends have forgotten the subjects pertaining to the Supreme Lord. They imagine Krishna to be an angel or a historical personality and thus they speak in a way that is not fit for hearing and they paint pictures that are not fit for seeing. In this way they are ruining themselves and others as well. These people have distorted Jayadev’s and Chandidas’ writings, which Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu relished in the company of his most intimate associates. They have thus transformed these transcendental books into objects of their sense gratification.
It is very unfortunate and unjust that subject matters meant for discussion by high class personalities are now talked about among ordinary people that lack the necessary qualifications. By proudly attempting to discuss these topics, such people have brought about their own ruination and also that of others. Nowadays, people are only interested in hearing things that appear pleasing to them. For this reason they like to hear the teachings of impersonalists. It is very difficult to find people who are truly interested in hearing hari-kathā. People who are averse to devotional service and yet advertise themselves as devotees, as learned scholars, as great renunciates, as qualified brāhmaṇas, or as māyāvādīs, simply deceive people. By claiming to be devotees or learned scholars, they bring inauspiciousness upon the ordinary people. Unfortunate people fall into their snare.
— Excerpt from Lecture 7. Śrīmad-bhāgavata-tātparya. Translated by Bhumipati Das. Edited by Purnaprajna Das. Rasbihari Lal and Sons. Vrindavan. 2005
Or, as our Srila Prabhupada used to say-spiritual life is like a razors edge !!! In other words, if we are not serious, then Krsna will send us cheaters, or even nobody to help us at all. Better to have no guru than a bogus guru who can do more damage than anybody else. Once you learn how to play the piano wrongly, it takes much more effort to correct the bad habits from the correct teacher. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Maharaja also once said that to establish correct Dharma in this age, all the charlatans have to be put down in order for pure bhakti to flourish. And sometimes these cheaters are right in our own camp !
Hare Krsna
Damaghosa das
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