Srila Gurudeva (The Supreme Treasure)
by Swami Bhaktivedanta Madhava Maharaja | 2010 | 179,005 words
This page relates ‘Don't Think You are the Supreme Controller’ of the book dealing with life and teachings of Srila Gurudeva, otherwise known as Shri Shrimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja. Srila Gurudeva is a learned and scholar whose teachings primarily concern the spiritual beauties of Bhakti—devotional service and the qualities and pastimes of Shri Krishna.
Don't Think You are the Supreme Controller
Śrīla Gurudeva is an eternal associate of the Lord. Such a mahā-bhāgavata is more than qualified to accept unlimited disciples. At that time when the court case was still going on, Śrīla Gurudeva was in Juhu, Bombay. Even though he was not giving initiation or accepting disciples, he was mercifully giving his association and guidance to whoever came to him. Śrīla Gurudeva was in his room when one ISKCON Indian bodied sannyāsī[1] came to him looking very depressed and morose. He stood in front of Śrīla Gurudeva with his head lowered and it looked as if he was weeping.
Seeing his morose condition, Śrīla Gurudeva’s heart melted because the heart of a pure saintly person is much softer than butter. Butter melts when it’s heated, whereas a saintly person’s heart melts when they see people in distress. With the greatest sensitivity, in Hindi, Śrīla Gurudeva asked the Indian sannyāsī, “Do you (tum) want to speak something?” Gurujī understood that something happened to this sannyāsī devotee which must be very very unfavourable for him.
‘Yes,’ he answered.
“Tell me frankly, don’t hesitate”, Gurudeva assured him. I will try to help you at my level best. After getting consolation from Śrīla Gurudeva, that sannyāsī continued weeping and looking towards me (at that time I was Navīna Kṛṣṇa Brahmacārī). Śrīla Gurudeva told him, “Why you are looking towards Navīna? There is nothing to worry or fear from him. He is like my second body. What you can speak in my presence—same you can speak in presence of him without any hesitation.”
The Indian sannyāsī replied, “I am banned by the ISKCON GBC (Governing Body Comission) from giving initiation to any devotee.” “Why? Have you done something wrong?” Gurudeva enquired.
“I asked one devotee to come and take harināma dikṣā (initiation) from me”, he replied.
“What happened after you made this request?” Gurudeva asked.
He replied, “I thought that the devotee to whom I requested was loyal to me, but it turned out just the opposite. Somehow the devotee got influenced by others and complained to the GBC against me. In the GBC meeting, they decided in some way or other they want to punish me. So the members of the GBC have restricted me for 2 years from giving harināma or dikṣā.
Especially Tamāla Kṛṣṇa Mahārāja is very rigid towards me.” “How long ago was this?” Gurudeva asked.
“Almost one year is going to be completed.”
“Oh, almost one year is going to be passed. Then why didn’t you tell me this before? I have been coming here for three, four month’s now. Ok, tell me to whom I have to talk—you inform me. I can tell Tamāla Kṛṣṇa Mahārāja, Girirāja Mahārāja, Śrīdhara Swāmī…”
“Oh, Gurudeva, only Tamāla Kṛṣṇa Mahārāja will be enough for this. There is no need to involve others on this matter. Easily he can lift the ban without consulting with others.”
Śrīla Gurudeva then ordered me, “Navīna, go to Tamāla Kṛṣṇa Mahārāja’s room. Tell him that I am urgently calling him.” After ordering me Śrīla Gurudeva told the Indian sannyāsī, “You may happily go in your own room. I will tackle this matter. You don’t need to be present here any longer.
I went to Tamāla Kṛṣṇa Maharja’s room, paid obeisances and told him, “Gurudeva is calling you very urgently”.
As soon as Tamla Kṛṣṇa Mahārāja entered into Gurudeva’s quarters, Gurudeva asked him resolutely in a very grave voice, “You have banned this sannyāsī from giving harināma for two years!” The impact was as if he roared.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa Mahārāja was startled and told, “He wanted to give Harināma to a devotee without taking permission from the GBC. Therefore, he was put on probation by them for 2 years.
“Ok, I am commanding that you lift this injunction from this devotee.” Gurudeva instructed him, “If you want to direct and manage a big institution, then do not interfere in this type of small trivial matters. You should try to avoid these things.”
“If you get involved in such insignificant matters, how you can run such a big society, especially how can you perform your sādhana-bhajana? All these matters will come to your mind during chanting harināmā and especially when you will chant your gāyatri mantras. Moreover, a big society like ISKCON may fall apart, so be very careful.”
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa Mahārāja nodded his head, “Ok, Gurudeva, whatever you order we will follow wholeheartedly.” After paying obeisances to Śrīla Gurudeva he went back to his own room and lifted the ban against the Indian sannyāsī the very same day.
The next day, that very Indian sannyāsī came to Śrīla Gurudeva with a big smiling face, fully prostrated himself at the lotus feet of Śrīla Gurudeva and said, “Oh, Gurudeva! What you did for me, even an affectionate father will not do for his son. I am eternally indebted to you.”