Narayana Maharaja passes away, split from: In the Moment! Options

[Gerard]

Srila Narayana Maharaja passed away this morning. Several of his disciples are friends of mine, and I was just talking yesterday with one of them. I met him three times and was not really a fan of his, but still...

[Dhyana]

Srila Narayana Maharaja passed away this morning. Several of his disciples are friends of mine, and I was just talking yesterday with one of them. I met him three times and was not really a fan of his, but still...

Death... Never easy.

I ran a Google search and learned that he had been diagnosed with inoperable cancer in September this year.

http://backtobhakti.com/2010/09/srila-guru...h-is-improving/

What follows the September news is such an outpouring of love, hope, and optimism that he can be cured and get better. Because, as his disciples express, he is their life and soul, without him they are nothing, he has to stay.

I read and am reminded of the disciples' exchanges with ACBS during his final months, as they recounted them.

I read and wonder, didn't Narayana Maharaja's very advanced age not prepare them for his passing? Would they ever let go voluntarily?

And I wonder, is it even meaningful for me to wonder and find it strange? They love him, I guess. Unless it is all a guru-disciple role play, a humility game, which I don't think it is.

Hope he had an easy passing.

[Sita]

Srila Narayana Maharaja passed away this morning. Several of his disciples are friends of mine, and I was just talking yesterday with one of them. I met him three times and was not really a fan of his, but still...

Death... Never easy.

I ran a Google search and learned that he had been diagnosed with inoperable cancer in September this year.

http://backtobhakti.com/2010/09/srila-guru...h-is-improving/

What follows the September news is such an outpouring of love, hope, and optimism that he can be cured and get better. Because, as his disciples express, he is their life and soul, without him they are nothing, he has to stay.

I read and am reminded of the disciples' exchanges with ACBS during his final months, as they recounted them.

I read and wonder, didn't Narayana Maharaja's very advanced age not prepare them for his passing? Would they ever let go voluntarily?

And I wonder, is it even meaningful for me to wonder and find it strange? They love him, I guess. Unless it is all a guru-disciple role play, a humility game, which I don't think it is.

Hope he had an easy passing.

I did associate with Narayana Maharaja for a couple of years, but saw his disciples recreating the mess that ISKCON had become and so drifted away. And so I also hope he had an easy death (are any easy? Simone Beauviour wrote about her mother's death, calling that part of her memoir "A Very Easy Death".) But I also have to wonder about devotees who are so focused on the next life not being prepared when old age brings us to its brink. Is it that somehow devotees feel they can escape death? Surely they should be welcoming the future they perceive with Radha & Krishna. But then, we are people, and no one wants to lose anyone, especially not someone they love.

[Brainiac]

I feel a bit ambivalent about NM's death given that I didn't have much close connection with him, his books or his disciples. I never paid much attention to all the controversies about him that were raging in ISKCON. However I'd been following Bhagavat Maharaj's reports about his condition, and have just read up the latest note which detailed the samadhi ceremony. The comments are mostly mournful, but it's interesting that at least a couple of them are openly asking about where the congregation goes now. One person asked who was it who put NM in samadhi, as that person is supposed to carry on the preaching right? Another person asked if NM had appointed a successor. History repeats, all over again, all over again, all over....

[metamorphosis]

Yes, and this goes across the various institutions too, charismatic acharya syndrome™

[Sita]

I feel a bit ambivalent about NM's death given that I didn't have much close connection with him, his books or his disciples. I never paid much attention to all the controversies about him that were raging in ISKCON. However I'd been following Bhagavat Maharaj's reports about his condition, and have just read up the latest note which detailed the samadhi ceremony. The comments are mostly mournful, but it's interesting that at least a couple of them are openly asking about where the congregation goes now. One person asked who was it who put NM in samadhi, as that person is supposed to carry on the preaching right? Another person asked if NM had appointed a successor. History repeats, all over again, all over again, all over....

Brainiac, can you give me a URL for the site you've been following this on? I couldn't locate it doing a search. I'd be interested to follow this dejavu post-departure discussion they're having.

On another note, I did turn up my old friend Bhudhara, who now, apparently, has a PhD from somewhere in something!

[Brainiac]

Brainiac, can you give me a URL for the site you've been following this on? I couldn't locate it doing a search. I'd be interested to follow this dejavu post-departure discussion they're having.

It is taking place on Facebook on Bhagavat Maharaj's account, in his latest note on the samadhi details. It's mostly condolences and outpourings of grief, but in a month or two they'll probably be discussing it everywhere.

[Brainiac]

Ah I spoke too soon. Here is an update from Bhagavat Maharaj:

Dandavats and Pranams to one and all,

It is an honor and a priviledge for me to hear your many outpourings of love and affection for Srila Gurudeva and the love you feel from him. Thank you all so much for your appreciation of my attempt to ...serve the devotee world wide by offering flowers on their behalf. I did this because I felt deeply in my heart that this is what Srila Gurudeva would have wanted me to do, include all of the devotees in the ceremony through this pushpanjali offering. I will try to answer a few questions now.

The person who puts the Guru in the samadhi is the one who writes the mantra on his chest. Although there were many devotees in the pit including western sannyasis and Srila Gurudevas Godbrothers the persons who wrote the mantras on the chest were Madava Maharaja and Tirtha Maharaja. So they are the ones who placed him in samadhi no matter how many people were there in the pit.

Srila Gurudeva has asked that the sannyasis form a committee and appoint a chairman. That is what he has asked for. He has not asked for anyone or two or three to be Acharya. Just a board and a chairman. He has told us that any of the sannyasis can initiate but the details of how that will play out in our world wide sangha is not really clear to us yet so we are discussing how to manage this in a co-operative manner. We will finalize everything at Goura Purnima time. Until then I do not think there will be any initiations.

I was under pressure at the samadhi ceremony and I was almost pushed into the pit on top of several sannyasis which would have led to a mass samadhi ceremony. I know that sounds funny now but I assure you it was not at the time. I certainly wanted to offer flowers on behalf of Australia and New Zealand and Hawaii and many other places but I made a very heartfelt prayer at the end saying that if I had forgotten anyone to please include them and I then offered a bunch of flowers at that point. I apologize for not remembering so many of you all by name but I mainly was remembering the persons I had relationships with all over the world from my travels. I tried my best please forgive me for my faults.

The Viraha Utsava is tomorrow January first in Navadwipa India. You can hold it in your home town on that day as well. The men can shave their heads in honor of losing their real father. Some have done so here.

There was a film and there are many pictures. I myself have photos on my camera but I cannot download them on the internet cafe computer and I cannot get a signal for my stick. However I heard from Damodara Maharaja that Srila Gurudeva was not happy when presented with pictures of Srila Gaura Govinda Maharajas form after departure. He refused to look at them. So I am reluctant to post them.
I will discuss this with Brajanath and Madahava Maharjaa and see what they feel about the posting of such pictures on the internet.

If I failed to answer any of your questions please forgive me and ask me again and I will try to do so.

Your Uncle
Bhagavat Swami

[Sita]

Do you know who Bhagavat Swami is? I mean, I can't place him. Was he Prabhupada's disciple or is he one of the Indian devotees from GM? I remember Brajanath and Naveen Krishna (I think he took sannyas too, but don't know his sannyas name). Bhudhara was also a bit of a leader when I was around, but is he still?

[Dhyana]

It would seem to be this one:

http://www.purebhakti.com/teachers/bhakti-...t-maharaja.html

I connect his ISKCON name, Bhagavat Das, to a person who was known for being a great storyteller. I once heard (from Indradyumna Swami I believe) a moving story of how Bhagavat was in Calcutta as part of an early ISKCON preaching effort there. He was running across a street with a stack of BTGs, when he was stopped by an elderly Indian man who seemed interested in the magazine. Bhagavata started preaching but was quickly interrupted, the elderly man said, I know, I know, but who taught you that? The answer "Srila Prabhupada" was apparently not good enough, so Bhagavata pointed to Srila Prabhupada's picture on the BTG cover. Here the old man became shocked and delighted, and exclaimed: "Abhay Babu! You did it!"

A lovely story.

Later I heard some other ISKCON guru remark that Bhagavat's flair for story-telling warranted some caution, not everything could be taken at face value. But I like to think this particular story was true.

He was physically large, I remember hearing.

[Sita]

It would seem to be this one:

http://www.purebhakti.com/teachers/bhakti-...t-maharaja.html

Thanks for this Dhyana. I should have looked on that site. I remember his face, but for the life of me can't place his "Prabhupada" name. But no matter. I was just curious who was still attached to NM and who I might remember. Why I want to know this, beats me.

[Dhyana]

Maybe a variant of:

The older we get, the more important it becomes to have friends who remember us from our youth.

I sometimes look for such info, too. I google names of people I knew, and if I find them, I am touched. Even though in most cases we will never meet again. Shared history. Mirroring myself against people I once shared a path with. It seems to add someting to my own feeling of continuity. Maybe without traces of people I knew, my past would be only in my head and would become less real.

[Brainiac]

Do you know who Bhagavat Swami is? I mean, I can't place him. Was he Prabhupada's disciple or is he one of the Indian devotees from GM? I remember Brajanath and Naveen Krishna (I think he took sannyas too, but don't know his sannyas name). Bhudhara was also a bit of a leader when I was around, but is he still?

Sorry I don't know about Bhudhara or much about the NM leaders, but yes he is an SP disciple (Bhagavat das) who was also close to Gour Govinda Swami. He is a siksa-disciple of NM and received sannyasa from him. He used to be a member of this forum too, and wrote here as DASA. Yeah he is physically large I guess, and I find it charming how he has good relationships with many devotees, who refer to him as "Uncle Bhagavat".

[Dhyana]

Ha ha, your link leads to a nice old thread.

http://www.gaudiya-repercussions.com/index...pic=850&hl=

Mr DASA was cool. He was trying to poke us a little preaching-wise, but didn't get far. Anyway, the manner this was done was cool too, in a take it or leave it spirit.

But his bio indeed fit right in with the comments about him as a story teller.

I want to say that I liked the mood and tone of his text about Narayana Maharaja's samadhi. I didn't realize while reading who he was. I just thought he seemed centered, earnest without being overstated, and trying very hard to be fair in the face of difficult emotions.

If he was by ACBS' side when ACBS left, then he must now be having a deja-vu of enormous proportions! Wonder how one deals with something like that. Must be maddening.

[Brainiac]

In case anyone is interested in viewing videos of the entire samadhi ceremony. You can view them on YouTube:

Samadhi Ceremony 1
Samadhi Ceremony 2

These are privately accessible videos, you can view them because you have the link. They are not available to the entire Youtube community. You will have to view them quickly before they are taken down, because there is already considerable agitation among some of the NM followers who insist that it is inauspicious to see the body of the spiritual master post-entrance into nitya-lila, etc.

[darwin]

These videos are really bad. I wrote on the Chakra page that they should not be showing this. Has anyone here read Susan Sontag from when she was young? I want to do a review of these videos the way she does.

[Brainiac]

The Future of Srila Gurudeva’s Mission by Brajanath das
Posted on 06 January 2011.

Dear Devotees and dear Friends,

please accept my dandavats pranams. I am praying to Srila Gurudeva to always shower his heartly blessings upon all of us. All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga and all glories to Sri Sri Radha Vinode Bihariji.

Many devotees from around the world have approached us with the request to help them understand how Srila Gurudeva’s mission will continue. I want to provide and share with you whatever my understanding is and what I have heard from Srila Gurudeva directly:

First and foremost Srila Gurudeva has emphasized again and again that all should respect one another, be very humble and always have loving, affectionate relationships. In this way all will be happy and nourished. Moreover, Srila Gurudeva is always with us, through his instructions, his devotees, and within our heart. We should overlook each other’s shortcomings and serve combined to spread the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

He has approved and clearly indicated that we are an International Society and the name is International Pure Bhakti Yoga Society. Srila Gurudeva is the Founder and Acharya of our International Pure Bhakti Yoga Society. Srila Gurudeva did not want an Acharya to be appointed after him. Just as it was the desire of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada, and Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja, Srila Gurudeva’s desire is that we serve combined under the shelter of Sri Guru and Vaisnavas.

He has expressed that there will be meetings twice a year, at the time of Sri Gaura Purnima and Kartik festivals. All the senior Vaisnavas and Vaisnavis are invited to participate in these meetings; especially the Sannyasis are requested to be present. Our first meeting will take place just after Sri Gaura Purnima 2011. More details will follow soon.

Srila Gurudeva wants that there will be a Seva Team that offers assistance with activities such as preaching, book publishing, book distribution, and organization of Kartik and Gaura Mandala parikrams.

This Seva Team will consist of a Chairman and assistants. It is the desire of Srila Gurudeva that Sripad Bhaktivedanta Madhava Maharaja will be the first Chairman. In our meeting we will suggest for what period of time a devotee will be functioning as Chairman. For the time being Sripad Madhava Maharaja will be acting Chairman. This will be approved or improved upon when our meeting will be held at Sri Gaura Purnima, in our Sri Kesavjia Gaudiya Math, Haritala, Sri Navadvip Dham.

Next is initiations. Srila Gurudeva desires that all our Sannyasis will be giving Harinama and Diksa. This has been his order since Kartik 2008. Out of respect for Srila Gurudeva and with deference to his incalculable superior advancement, up till now none of our Sannyasis has performed initiations. Now that Srila Gurudeva has left our vision, our Sannyasis will take up this responsibility. How they will approach this will be discussed and approved in our upcoming meetings.

For preaching, it is Srila Gurudeva’s desire that each preacher dedicates him or her self to one area as a base, develops this, and from there preaches in other parts of the world. All this is to be discussed at our upcoming meetings.

I want to clarify that all the Maths and other properties that are facilitating preaching activities in our worldwide Society are registered and safeguarded in local legal entities. There is not one property or Math in India or abroad which is owned by, or registered in the name of one person. The same is true for bank accounts that are used for Srila Gurudeva’s mission. Not one account is in the name of one single person. It is Srila Gurudeva’s desire that there will be proper and open accounts presented once in a calendar year; this pertains to the legal entities as well as to the sannyasis and other preachers.

In regard to Srila Gurudeva’s Samadhi Mandir, this will be dedicated to Srila Gurudeva only. We will make separate arrangements in our Natha Mandir for proper glorification of Param Pujyapada Srila Bhaktivedanta Vaman Gosvami Maharaja and Param Pujyapada Srila Bhaktivedanta Trivikram Gosvami Maharaja. Srila Gurudeva’s Samadhi Mandir will be 40 feet wide and 65 feet long. There will be one section on the ground floor where the actual Samadhi is situated, and the first floor will consist of the Samadhi Mandir with Srila Gurudeva’s murti form. Devotees are herewith invited to offer designs – kindly forward to [REDACTED]. At the time of Sri Gaura Mahotsava the best design will be selected.

In our upcoming meeting all the above matters will be discussed and favorable proposals will be voted upon. All proposals will be collected and circulated 2 weeks before we have our meeting so as to have an agenda in place which will facilitate a smooth system of decision making.
Thank you for your kind attention.

More news will follow.

aspirant for the service of Sri Guru and Vaisnavas

Brajanath das

A similar post was written the previous day by BV Vaikhanas, where some details differ.

On a side note, I understand that Brajanath is a grihasta devotee? Isn't it strange that his level of closeness to NM was so much so that NM's sannyasi disciples (some of whom have known NM since age 10) defer to his opinion on matters such as this?

[Dhyana]

I don't find it strange. And I don't think it was necessarily so that people were writing just to him with questions. Or that he himself had put together the plan he is detailing.

When my guru was traveling, there would usually be a small team of disciples in every location. Some of those were known as good organizers and communicators. Some had some money, or a house where he would stay. They were keeping us informed. We respected them, but that did not make them executors of guru's will, or necessarily most advanced.

It might even be so that this grihastha is writing precisely because he is less likely to be suspected of trying to "take over".

[Brainiac]

When Bhagavat Maharaj published ISKCON GBC Condolence statement as a note on his Facebook, there was an explosive outpouring of anger among NM disciples regarding the 'aparadhas' of ISKCON against NM. This is natural since the disciples are grieving and they can only remember the offenses, but there were some cool voices in there asking everyone to calm down and not commit further offenses that might disrupt the possibility of "future harmonious relations".

I think some of their grievances/comments were childish actually, for example: "They call him Sripada, not Srila". So what? They refer to their own ISKCON godbrother-sannyasis as 'Sripada' when they pass away. The NM devotees definitely have (and have always had) this complex that NM is a SuperPure Devotee™ and everyone should recognise this fact, and non-recognisers are aparadhis and doomed to hell.

I myself will be interested to see how the future plays out for the NM sanga. Apparently some ISKCON sannyasis (in the past) have voiced their thoughts that when NM dies, the disciples will come back to ISKCON, a reversal of the exodus. But from the NM-side, I want to see how smart they are and if they will carry on the grudge by always keeping in mind ISKCON's offences against their guru. I'd like to think the best of people and hope that they do find some way to work together, but I can't see how this'll happen since the theology doesn't allow for it (VAISHNAVA APARADHA!!!!!!!!) and also that it is basic sectarian thinking. The fact that religious concepts such as vaishnava aparadha were invented in order to solidify and institute such sectarian prejudices, I'm not gonna touch that. I want to see just how 'liberated' and advanced they are, always relishing Radha and Krishna's sweet pastimes in Vrindavan, or if they're going to always hold grudges and make mention of the offences every chance they get in every paper they write.

Apparently, from one of the comments to Bhagavat Maharaj's note, mention was made that BV Vamana Maharaj (disciple of BP Kesava Maharaj and NM-godbrother, died 2004) had said that if one attends an ISKCON sankirtan, they shouldn't bother returning to the sanga. So it looks like that will be the protocol.

[Sita]

On a side note, I understand that Brajanath is a grihasta devotee? Isn't it strange that his level of closeness to NM was so much so that NM's sannyasi disciples (some of whom have known NM since age 10) defer to his opinion on matters such as this?

Brajanath has been organising things for NM long before he became interesting to Prabhupada disciples, and so it's not unusual for him to assume this role now. And while he is nominally a grihastha, both he and his wife live like sannyasis. they have no children and are totally focused on NM's service. One thing that was evident to me while I was associating with NM was that there wasn't such a clear hierarchy. It seemed (at least at that time) more based on service and knowledge than power as a result of ashram. Naveen Krishna (he's now a sannyasi) was a brahmacarhi servant of NM and had status despite holding rank. Women also seemed to be given opportunities they weren't given in ISKCON.