Hridayananda dasa Goswami is one of the greatest spiritual
authorities in today’s ISKCON. He took the post of author of the
“Bhaktivedanta Purports” for the completion of Srimad-Bhagagavatam after
Srila Prabhupada left our material vision in 1977. For such a post one
must be a pure devotee of Krishna on the topmost platform, a person
Bhagavata, otherwise it is not possible to write commentary on the book
Bhagavata. If he is not a person Bhagavata then his commentry on the
book Bhagavata is useless and worse than that misleading.
Although as devotees we may have many anarthas [unwanted desires]
and we may sometimes fall from the proper standard, we have to know what
the proper standard is and we have to know if we are not following that
standard we are fallen and in such a fallen condition we can not make
spiritual advancement nor can we help others make spiritual advancement.
We need that much honesty at least. If we are not even chanting our
rounds and following the principles we are fallen and we have to
recognize it and do everything in our power to recover from our fallen
condition.
“For everything you want to learn, you have to take some penance
voluntarily, so we have to give up something in the beginning. Just like
we advise, “no illicit sex, no intoxication, even up to smoking
cigerattes and taking tea.” So for one who is accustomed to these
habits, for him to give up immediately these things, it becomes a little
painful. Therefore one has to become tolerant, “Never mind, I will have
to become free.” Just like to become cured from some disease, we agree
to undergo sergical operation although it is very painful, tolerate.
Similarly, we have to learn toleration although there will be some pain.
That is called titiksavah.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam lecture Nov. 24, 1974)
The way to recover from our fallen condition is to accept the
process of saddhana-bhakti, Krishna consciousness, as it has been taught
to us by Srila Prabhupada. To begin this process following certain
basic regulative principles is necessary. These principles are not
optional. If we refuse to follow these principles there is no question
of advancing in spiritual life. The four regulative principles are: no
illicit sex life [this means sex only in marriage and then only for the
purpose of having a Krishna conscious child], no meat eating, no
gambling and no intoxication. In addition we must agree to chant at
least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra daily. Accepting these
basic principles is the beginning, they pave the way for our advancement
in Krishna consciousness.
“We have to be very cautious in executing our spiritual duties by
observing the rules and regulations and regularly chanting the Hare
Krishna maha-mantra. If we neglect doing this, we will eventually fall
down. We must rise early in the morning, bathe, attend mangal-arati,
worship the Deities, chant the Hare Krishna mantra, study the Vedic
literatures and follow all the rules prescribed by the acaryas and the
spiritual master. If we deviate from this process, we may fall down,
even though we may be very highly advanced.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.8
Purport.)
Hridayananda Maharaja’s conclusion is:
“Given the need to balance strict varnashrama with liberal
spirituality, I believe that ISKCON should recognize and encourage
monogamy among all its members of whatever orientation, and that such
recognition and encouragement should take appropriate forms that achieve
both purposes: the maintenance of varnashrama and the encouraging of
spiritual sincerity.”
He is recommending formal recognition of homosexual relationships
and it seems he believes introducing “liberal spirituality” (whatever
that means) into ISKCON is important.
“Simply if the standard of our routine work is maintained very
nicely, that is if we steadfastly perform our daily program of rising
early, cleansing, chanting 16 rounds, holding kirtan wherever we are at
least twice daily, reading, worshipping the Deity, going on Sankirtana,
like that–if this routine work is always done nicely and never
neglected, then our all success is guaranteed in whatever we do. But if
this, our regular Krishna consciousness program is allowed to slacken,
then everything else we try will fail. That is the simple formula for
success.” (Srila Prabhupada letter to Kisora Feb 5, 1972)
Krishna recommends:
“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master.
Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The
self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the
truth.” (BG 4.34)
To understand these perplexing issues we have to find a pure devotee
of Krishna, a self-realized soul, surrender to him and render service
to him, then if we inquire from him submissively he can give us real
knowledge, because he has seen the truth.
We have Srila Prabhupada, he is certainly a self-realized soul and
he has seen the truth, and he has given us perfect guidance on all
issues including this one. If we hear from him submissively, surrender
to him and render service unto him he will give us real knowledge.
The exact same position Hridayananda has recommended for ISKCON was
taken by some Christian churches in the seventies, they were marrying
same-sex couples.
“Even the priests have become licentious, and thousands of priests
are going to the hospital to cure their drinking habit. They are
sanctioning homosexuality. In a Christian newspaper I read about a
priest even performing marriage between two men. So outside of this
Krishna consciousness movement, I don’t find any group of ideal men.
Therefore, if you want to help society, you must learn from us how to
train men of ideal character.”
So the business of ISKCON is to train men of ideal character. Not to
accept members who are engaging in illicit sex and are not prepared to
even try to give it up…
“It is not my opinion–it is the verdict of the sastra[scripture].
Opinion–what is the value of opinion when the people are like dogs and
asses? What is the use of taking the opinion of an ass? This vox
populi–taking the opinion of the public–is degrading modern society. If
the public is composed of drunkards, smokers, meat eaters, gamblers, and
woman hunters, then what is the value of their opinion? Why take the
opinion of fourth-class men? What Krishna says–that is the standard.
Krishna is the supreme, and His version is final. No other opinion is
allowed. When I introduced the principle “No illicit sex life,” I didn’t
ask for opinions–”It must be done.”
“You are working with the public, and we are also working with the
same people. We take the same people–those addicted to drinking,
addicted to prostitution, addicted to meat eating—and we make them into
saintly persons. So our method is practical. You can see what their
previous history was, and what they are now. You must train up one class
of men like them—men of ideal character.
“Our program is not vox populi. We are saying only what the
authoritative scriptures say. If you actually want to do social welfare,
then you must take to the standard formula as given in the scriptures.
In the Bhagavad-gita Krishna explains how one can become peaceful–a
first-class man. But if you don’t accept His authority–if you’d rather
follow public opinion–you will never be successful. You want to make a
peaceful society, but you do not know how. Therefore you must adopt this
process of Krishna consciousness. If anyone–even a madman–agrees to
follow our principles, then he can become peaceful. He can become a
first-class man.
“In the sky there are so many stars, but there is only one moon. In
terms of percentage, the moon is nothing. But in terms of its value, the
moon is far more important than all the stars combined. So in our
Krishna consciousness movement, our aim is to educate a few men of ideal
character. If you and other leaders of society support this movement,
you will be performing the highest social welfare. (Srila Prabhupada
conversation with social worker, May 1975)
The purpose of Krishna conscious marriage is NOT to satisfy lust. If
a man and a woman marry in Krishna consciousness that does not give
them any facility for illicit sex. Sex is only for the purpose of
bringing nice Krishna conscious children into the world. So a grhastha
couple is permitted to have sex only for this purpose. So marriage in
Krishna consciousness is NOT a facility for engaging in illicit sex in
any way, shape or form.
“Generally the girls desire a good husband and a good home,
children, that is their natural propensity, so we want to show some
ideal householders also. But the proposal that marriage will solve the
question of lust, is not practical. Neither wife should be accepted as a
machine for satisfying our lust. The marriage tie should be taken as
very sacred. One who marries for subduing lust is mistaken. Because lust
cannot be satisfied simply by indulging in sense gratification. It is
compared to trying to extinguish a fire with a large amount of petrol.
For the time being the fire may appear to be extinguished by pouring a
large quantity of petrol, but petrol is so dangerous that at any time,
it can be in flame. So to subdue lust is a different process. Then you
will have to take to Deity worship. I am sending herewith one copy of
the process of Deity worship. Krishna is Madan Mohan. You have already
stated in your letter, it is very nice, that you would much prefer to
channel all your desires to Krishna, and you ask me how it is possible
when enveloped in maya, seeing only material forms. You have also
written to say that if you can see the Absolute Beauty which is
all-attractive, then you could not help but be attracted and would scorn
mundane beauty. This is the actual remedy. So you may take immediately
to the Arcana, the Deity worship. Kirtanananda Maharaja has also begun
Deity worship in New Vrindavan and Pradyumna knows how he is doing and
similarly, in New York, Brahmananda is now engaged in Deity worship. The
process is a little difficult in the beginning, but once habituated, it
is not at all difficult. So apart from the marriage proposal, you may
immediately take to Deity worship. I am sending herewith one copy of the
process of Deity worship, compiled by Brahmananda, that will help you
and Pradyumna also knows, so combined together you immediately begin
Deity worship as Kirtananda and Brahmananda are doing, and I am sure
this process, helped by your regular chanting, will kill Mr. Lust, rest
assured. Of course, when you begin, I am at your service always, and
give you suggestions and ways and means to make progress in the Deity
worship, but you can immediately adopt this principle.” (Srila
Prabhupada letter to Hayagriva October 7, 1968)
So we find Srila Prabhupada’s advice and Hridayananda’s advice
apprear to be radically different. Maharaja seems to be suggesting that
“devotees” may continue to engage in illicit sexual activities, but with
only one person, and in this way they will gradually advance in Krishna
consciousness. His advice is to continue to feed the lust with a
limited amount of illicit sex and hope it will gradually go away. In
reality lust will not go away by this process at all. As Srila
Prabhupada has so graphically described this is like pouring a large
amount of gasoline on to a fire to try and extinguish it.
Maharaja’s advice may appear very nice to many “devotees” who don’t
want to follow the regulative principles and still want some standing as
devotees in Krishna consciousness. The apparent purport of his
statement is everyone, heterosexual and homosexual, may continue with
illicit sex but with only one person and in this way they will make
gradual advancement in Krishna consciousness. This is very dangerous
advice indeed. Those who follow his advice will not make advancement in
Krishna consciousness at all. The effect of accepting his advice will be
devastating on their spiritual lives.
“We don’t want disciples. I never collected disciples. I never
compromised that ‘You can do whatever you like, and you become my
diciple.’ No. ‘You have to follow the regulative principles.’ This
morning I accepted so many… ‘First promise whether you are going to do
this. Then I initiate.’ This is my policy. If I would have said, ‘No,
you can do whatever you like and give me some money, I shall give you
mantra,’ then you would have seen millions. But I accept very selected
disciple, not that anyone, everyone comes, and I accept disciple. No. He
is first of all trained up for six months. Then, when he is able to
promise to follow the regulative principles then I accept. This is
stricture. It is not that everyone comes, ‘Give me thirty-five dollars. I
give you mantra, and within six months you become God.’ I do not do
like that. (Srila Prabhupada conversation May 20, 1975)
The whole basis of the argument of recognizing homosexual marriages
is that hetrosexuals have the facility for illicit sex in marriage so
why should homosexuals miss out. This is a completely baseless argument.
There is no facility for sex life in Krishna consciousness whatsoever
except for the purpose of having God-conscious children. So there is no
basis for this arguement whatsoever. Krishna conscious marriage is not
for sex.
“A Krishna conscious marriage is not based on sense gratification
but rather mutual cooperation between husband and wife for making
advancement in spiritual life and also for raising Krishna conscious
children. It is said in the Vedas that one should not take on the
responsibility of parenthood unless he can deliver the child from the
repeated cycle of birth, death, disease and old age. So in this way
mould your life in the service of the Lord and be happy.” (Srila
Prabhupada letter to Babrubahan March 4, 1971)
“Regarding your wish to be married with a Krishna conscious family,
that is nice. You will have a nice, fixed-up wife, and you will be happy
working hard for Krishna together. I never discourage marriage,
providing it is for Krishna’s service and not for simply sex life. It is
always meant for a higher purpose. In God’s creation there is male and
female even in the spiritual world, and there is purpose for such
creation. The purpose is so that male and female may join together, not
for sex-life, but to glorify the Lord. From Srimad-Bhagavatam we learn
that in Vaikuntha the women are much more beautiful in their figure,
smiling, dressing, etc., but the men and women there are so much
attracted by the chanting of Hare Krishna that they do not get any sex
impulse even by intimate mingling. Here also we sometimes get very good
example, because when our nice boys and girls are dancing together in
chanting Hare Krishna at least for the time they forget about the sex
impulse. This is perfection of life, to be so much attached to Krishna
that all insignificant pleasures are utterly forgotten. (Srila
Prabhupada letter to Uddhava Feb 18, 1969)
“A devotee, therefore, should execute his devotional services with
full energy, endurance, and confidence. He should perform his scheduled
duties, he should be pure in heart, and he should serve in association
with devotees. All six of these items will lead the devotee to the path
of success. One should not be discouraged in the discharge of devotional
service. Failures may not be detrimental; they may be the pillars of
success. One must have good faith in the regulative principles followed
by the self-realized souls, and one should not be doubtful about the
ultimate result of such devotional service. Rather one must go on
executing his prescribed duties without hesitation, and one should never
be influenced by unwanted association.” (Light of the Bhagavata 43)
