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EDITORIAL  The Dangers Of Associating With Narayana Maharaja BY BRAJENDRANANDANA DASA EDITORIAL, Apr 13 (VNN) — Dear devotees, Please accept my obeisances. All glories to our beloved Srila Prabhupada, our savior and ever well-wisher. Recently I was informed that several of my godbrothers have been collaborating to warn the followers of our Srila Prabhupada about the dangers of associating with Srila Narayana Maharaja. Since Maharaja's American and European tour is about to begin - and since I was involved in that association for almost six years - I thought I could contribute to the warning by pointing out certain specific dangers to keep in mind before risking such association. In anticipation of his visit to Badger, California - which seems to attract about 400 people each year - I've written the following letter as a warning to all concerned. To whom it may concern: If you hope to maintain your attachment to mundane society, friendship and love - don't go to the banks of Badger's Dry Creek in the first week of June. There you will find a very tricky person capturing hearts on behalf of Srila Prabhupada and directing them toward the service of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna and Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Especially don't hear his Hari Katha. It may help you to dive more deeply into your understanding of Srila Prabhupada's teachings and inspire you to read more carefully the books you've been so nicely distributing for the past twenty-five years. Avoid his loving glance at all costs. It may penetrate to the core of your heart and expose you to your own pretension and vanity and desire for honor in this world. It may also wreak with attachment for dharma, artha, kama and moksa, which you've so carefully maintained in the name of Krsna consciousness. Don't hear his glorification of our Srila Prabhupada. It may cause you to realize how limited is your capacity to appreciate and glorify Srila Prabhupada and open up a whole new dimension of appreciation beyond your neophyte conception. At all costs avoid his loving touch. You may find yourself weeping uncontrollably for no apparent reason. And who wants to lose control? You may be called a sahajiya. Don't, I repeat, don't take his food remnants. This may instill in your heart a desire for divine slavery -- and no one wants to be a slave. Whatever you do - don't take any instruction from him, because you may be inspired to give up your independence and separate interest, which you've held onto for so long, often in the name of Srila Prabhupada. And, oh yes, don't give your heart to him, because he may instill, on behalf of Srila Prabhupada, a desire in your heart for the selfless love that the Vrajavasis have for Krsna. Definitely do not hear his explanations of Siddhanta. It may establish you in the line of the proper understanding of Srila Prabhupada's teachings and our Bhagavata Parampara. This would deviate you from following bogus philosophies propagated by neophyte devotees posing as spiritual authorities. It could even make you realize why Prabhupada in his departure Lila reached out to Srila Narayana Maharaja and asked him to help his neophyte disciples become suddha bhaktas. This would be a tragedy. Also, don't come and hear from him yourself. It doesn't matter that so many devotees are being inspired in their Krsna consciousness and service to Srila Prabhupada. You may risk your standing in the institution. Better to follow the GBC, which many consider to be flawless. And even if they make mistakes, they can always issue a letter of apology twenty-five years later, as they did with Srila Sridhara Maharaja. There's also the option of spending your time criticizing the GBC and Iskcon gurus as an alternative to taking up the positive process of Krsna consciousness. Or you can even take shelter of economic development, resting on your laurels of having done so much service for Srila Prabhupada in the past. In any case, don't risk taking responsibility for your own Krsna consciousness by experiencing for yourself the result of associating with Srila Na! rayana Maharaja. And, lastly, discourage others from associating with Srila Narayana Maharaja. Make it a campaign. By this mentality you can earn yourself the opportunity to be recycled in the material world and experience various species of life - some of which you may have forgotten. This will also allow you the chance to forget for a long time the fact that we are nothing but tiny, insignificant servants of Radha and Krsna and their associates. So forewarned is forearmed. I hope you'll take this warning seriously. Out of affection for my godbrothers - many of whom I served with, shoulder to shoulder, for many years - and out concern for new people coming to the threshold of devotional service, I have written these warnings so they may not be cheated. Since I've had personal experience of the dangers, I thought I would join those godbrothers, who have not had close association, in warning others about associating with Srila Narayana Maharaja. Most of those carrying the banner of warning have not personally experienced these dangers. Of those few who had his extended association, they became very attached to it. However, they were saved when the GBC threatened to strip them of their power and position in Iskcon. Subsequently, they realized the error of their ways. I hope this may help some devotees before they do serious damage to their devotional creeper. Becareful who you associate with. I offer this in the service of the lotus feet of my beloved Srila Prabhupada. Brajendranandana dasa Contact VNN about this story  Send this story to a friend
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