The girl and the rickshaw wallah 

Response to a letter from a Gaudhya vaishnava devotee▪︎  Imitation is not the goal▪︎  Srimati Radharani's pure love▪︎ Sahajya▪︎

“𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐡𝐚 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐢 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐨 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮l𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐊𝐫𝐬𝐧𝐚. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫.”

Of course, this sentence is an example to illustrate the "pure and unconditional" love for Krishna, an ideal relationship in a realm beyond the material world.* We are certainly not asking for the society to imitate Krishna in his loving affairs, nor the followers of bhakti in madhurya, the rasa of conjugal love. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta does not ask his disciples to act like this girl he gives in example, who abandoned the love of her family members to go join a rickshaw wallah. (This kind of experience is more acceptable for men than for women.) This teaching is directed towards his sannyasis, who are detached from mundane love by vow and principle, not to regular members or potential ones. I think so. Bhaktisiddhanta says: "The unique love affair of Srimati Radha Rani". It is unique. In this material world, only rare individuals can experience such detachment successfully. Most bhaktas who indulge themselves in this kind of yoga do it in the manner of sahajyas, a practice denounced as illicit or abject, to it bluntly. 

The best situation in loving affairs is discribed in Bhagavad-gita: a soul takes birth in a family according to his karma. Everything follow an order, preferably. There is a harmonious relationship between the father, the daughter, the bride and his family. Frankly, devotees cannot afford to be radical in these affairs after all we've been through. We've learned our lesson.

* The sentence comes from this letter by Shri Shyam Das Baba, a Gaudhya Vaishnava devotee. Everything is nice, apart from the girl's example, which is an exception. To make it a possible generalization on the pretext of love (that is what we are doing as a mission) will encourage and take side with the modern trend regarding sex and love. Unfortunately, sahajism will be next, all over.

On the topic of shuddha bhakti dhara, Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada never approved of a reconciliatory mood. My Gurudeva, Srila Bhakti Pramod Puri Gosvami Maharaja, used to say you have to scrutinize the whole Lila of Srila Prabhupada very carefully. From each different angle we will have to realize all aprakrita lilas of Srila Prabhupada. And by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada we can realize everything provided our dedication unto the Lotus Feet of Srila Prabhupada is genuine. We cannot make any compromise with anybody regarding Gaudiya Siddhanta vichar and seva. Srila Prabhupada always used to say, “We Gaudiyas must maintain some specialty.” Srila Prabhupada meant to clarify the specialties regarding seva and siddhanta. If at all we are going to make any compromise with sahajiya, then surely we will have to lose some good and accept some bad. This is quite impossible in regards to suddha bhakti dhara, as shown by Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur and Srila Prabhupada. If we follow strict rules and regulations in the beginning and get habituated, then in future it will be very easy. Don’t lose your level; try to maintain the standard. If we love Prabhupada, we cannot say Prabhupada is too tough. Love means all in all. If I love Prabhupada then there cannot be any compromise. Even in the material world, I can give one example, there was one girl and she was coming from a very rich family, but she fell in love with one poor motor mechanic. Then the father of the girl was bound to say, “I cannot accept you as my daughter if you marry that guy.” Then that girl said, “Love is love. I cannot throw him away simply because he is poor. I can leave you and go away if the situation demands so.” Then she went away even leaving her father. She was never habituated to live life in poverty but still it was possible for her to make a total adjustment for her husband. Why? Simply because she was in love with her husband. Also, our Guruvarga came from high families but when they found the nectar of Srila Prabhupada, they were ready to give up their whole life and belongings. The unique love affair of Srimati Radha Rani was so strong that no impediment could stand in the way of Her love for Krsna. That is the mystery of a great love affair. ■