Sunday 5th February 2006 - 01:36The Uncommon PreacherBy Tirtha Dasa
I sadly and sincerely regret that I am neither spiritually qualified nor otherwise capable in any sense to properly describe the exalted character and innumerable good qualities of such a great Vaisnava saint as His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami. Any attempt on my part to do so would be akin to the mud trying to describe the glories and splendor of the moon. Still, even in my awkward state, I am feeling great joy in remembering his many wonderful transcendental accomplishments and unlimited good qualities.
In thus feeling the joy of remembering such a great exalted person, a dilemma quite naturally arises, for how far can one insignificant soul ever hope to enumerate the unlimited glories of one of Srila Prabhupada's most intimate associates? In truth, we can only hope to scratch the surface, since his wonderful, spiritual qualities and rare character were of limitless dimension. His meekness, humility and other good qualities were always plainly visible. Thus, to even hope to count or enumerate the unlimited good qualities of such a saint is akin to trying to count the rain drops held within a sudden cloud burst. How can anyone fully know, much less describe, all the details of the unlimited good qualities that His Holiness possessed? Therefore, whatever I may attempt to cite in this regard is but one drop from the ocean of his great, exalted character. Because of my own limited abilities I will try to illuminate but one portion of one small section of his great transcendental accomplishments.
As I recall, it was in the mid-1970s that I briefly met Bhakti Tirtha Swami for the first time, known then to the devotees by his initiated name, Ghanasyama dasa, given him by Srila Prabhupada. Even in my covered, neophyte state, he struck me as being a kind but fearless, fired-up, intellectual preacher. While in the midst of my meeting so many other outstanding Vaisnava personalities during that same period, our brief encounter left me with a deep and lasting impression. I held an almost instant admiration for him, as he seemed far and away much more advanced than I could ever hope to be. I recognized and admired him as someone I might emulate, as a sincere devotee who was thoroughly dedicated to serving Srila Prabhupada's preaching mission, though always remaining humble and a bit self-depreciating in his manner. The truth was, he seemed pretty much everything that I wasn't. Even in my rather shallow neophyte state, just being in his proximity gave me an appreciation of how Krsna was providing a glimpse of what a real devotee was all about. Here was someone who possessed all the good qualities of a devotee, and whose association was always uplifting.
Until we are able to honestly and fully appreciate the association of other, more advanced devotees, those who remain unfortunate, due to lingering material conditioning, may react with mistrust or envy upon encounteriilg such great souls. Yet, for those fortunate, unduplicitous devotees who always seek and cherish the company of other Vaisnavas, they naturally feel inclined toward humility, understanding their own insignificance, even feeling somewhat inadequate and lowly in the presence of exalted personalities.
I can't remember what we might have discussed, but I can remember having a great sense of respect and admiration for him, especially as the warmth of his gentleness and purity overtook me, allowing me to enjoy and benefit from his company, brief though it was. It suddenly became obvious how we weren't all starting off in Srila Prabhupada's Hare Krsna movement on the same level or footing.
If we truly wish to know who Bhakti Tirtha Swami is, we have to read his books. It is in his books that he is perhaps most readily accessible to us today. It happened that I was in possession of several of his Spiritual Warrior series books, though regrettably, I still hadn't taken the time to actually read them. I suppose in my arrogant mindset I thought, "Yes, I really do like and appreciate Maharaja, and I'm sure these books of his are all very nice. But these books look like they are for less advanced devotees, or for people who are not quite ready to fully embrace Krsna consciousness." I didn't want to reread beginner's stuff. I superficially respected their themes, at least what I could gather from reading the book jackets, but held myself back from investigating them further.
It was sometime later when my irrepressible mentor and advisor, Mother Malati, who mercifully is ever looking with an eye toward my rehabilitation, and was seeking to encourage my then vein of spiritual investigations into Srila Visvanatha Volume Two, Madhurya-Kadambini." Somewhat skeptical, I opened the book and read the introduction. To my pleasant surprise, I was immediately impressed and captivated. After three chapters I felt like a fool. Upon finishing the book I felt like weeping. Suddenly realizing my great misfortune in neglecting the treasure of his darshan, I immediately wrote Maharaja a heartfelt letter of appreciation. I likewise thanked Malati and asked her to please send me the remaining books in the "Reflections" set. It then occurred to me to read Maharaja's other books already in my possession. As I began to carefully read them I could feel in my heart that I had made the all important connection. In all humility I accepted Maharaja as among the foremost of siksa gurus in my life. By his mercy I could clearly see numerous areas of my spiritual life that needed rescue, rehabilitation, and careful attention. Because of his great kindness and compassion, his causeless mercy upon me, I can never possibly repay him. Still, I must try, if only to assist others as he certainly would wish for me to do.
The first thing I noticed when reading Maharaja's "Reflections on Sacred Teachings" series, was how he was only repeating what Srila Prabhupada had already said in his own books. I had to admit, reading the same precepts and concepts was not new, for Srila Prabhupada certainly has left nothing out. Still, in the repetition by another capable Vaisnava, certain aspects of Srila Prabhupada's presentation were enhanced. With his simplified explanations and pointed discussions, I was better able to appreciate what Srila Prabhupada and the other Vaisnava acaryas had spoken.
Of particular interest to me was how Maharaja continuously challenged the reader to examine his/her self, to break out of stagnation and advance more rapidly in Krsna consciousness. He provided a practical road map, wherein one could gauge his or her progress. He didn't sugar coat anything, nor did he alienate others by "heavy" preaching. He served as a loving transcendental counselor, speaking plainly and frankly, gently suggesting where some of our problems and anarthas might be found and how to best address them. He spoke of our need to give and receive true love and emphasized the necessity and value of community building, while always encouraging devotees to see themselves as people of great worth within such Krsna conscious communities.
His books, if we really care to read them, delve deeply into the hidden recesses of our hearts and minds. Still, he didn't stop there. He was and remains available to assist us in overcoming the obstacles to our devotional service.He was our dear friend and ever well wisher, who never deviated from the order of his spiritual master.
Srila Prabhupada gives an illuminating comment (SB-2.9.44) that takes us to the heart of Bhakti Tirtha Swami's writing, "Although the Srimad-Bhagavatam was spoken in four verses, it had ten characteristics, which will be explained in the next chapter. In the four verses it is first said that the Lord existed before the creation, and thus the beginning of Srimad-Bhagavatam includes the Vedanta aphorism janmady asya. Janmaday asya is the beginning, yet the four verses in which it is said that the Lord is the root of everything that be, beginning from the creation up to the supreme abode of the Lord, naturally exp_ain the ten characteristics. One should not misunderstand by wrong interpretations that the Lord spoke only four verses and that therefore all the rest of the 17,994 verses are useless. The ten characteristics, as will be explained in the next chapter, require so many verses just to explain them properly. Brahmaji had also advised Narada previously that he should expand the idea that he had heard from Brahmaji. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed this to Srila Rupa Goswami in a nutshell, but the disciple Rupa Goswami expanded this very elaborately, and the same subject was further expanded by Jiva Goswami and even further by Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura. We are just trying to follow in the footsteps of all these authorities.
So Srimad-Bhagavatam is not like ordinary fiction or mundane literature. It is unlimited in strength, and however one may expand it according to one 's own ability, Bhagavatam still cannot be finished by such expansion. Srimad-Bhagavatam, being the sound representation of the Lord, is simultaneously explained in four verses and in four billion verses all the same, inasmuch as the Lord is smaller than the atom and bigger than the unlimited sky. Such is the potency of Srimad-Bhagavatam."
Lord Caitanya's Samkirtana movement is a wholly transcendental affair, it is not limited by caste, creed, race, gender or any other material consideration or designation. Indeed, Srila Haridasa Thakura, although born in a Muslim family in what is now Bangladesh, was empowered by the Lord to become namacarya, the topmost authority on chanting Krsna's holy names. Likewise, Sri Rupa and Sanatana Goswamis were rejected by the stilted smarta-brahmana caste system because of their intimate association, with Muslims. Nevertheless, Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted and fully empowered them to disseminate the precepts of Krsna consciousness throughout the entire world. Therefore it should not come as any surprise to see how Krsna similarly placed His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami into the external circumstance of a minority race just to confer upon our consciousness the need to wholeheartedly accept all Vaisnavas, regardless of what family he or she might appear in. However, more than just being accepted, Bhakti Tirtha Swami became a great Vaisnava leader and innovator in defining new spiritual formulas for spreading Krsna consciousness. Like Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, he was a pioneer in disseminating Krsna consciousness according to time, place and circumstance. His Holiness appeared as soft as a rose to those who were sincere devotees, and as hard as a thunderbolt for persons who held sahajiya tendencies. He was the master of patient listening, sincerely hearing and responding to everything people poured out from their hearts to him. He remained undeviating in upholding the principles of sanatana-dharma. He likewise was outspoken and somewhat controversial, just as Srila Prabhupada was deemed by other,less inspired persons who were content to put their own salvation before the needs of others. He was among the great souls who have had a profound and glorious impact upon my own insignificant life, and the lives of untold others.
Even now, in thinking of Maharaja, his memory and presence brings a glow and warmth to my heart. Here was someone you could trust implicitly, without reservation.
When New Vrindaban was reeling in uncertainty, the devotees there filled with pain and confusion, Maharaja was among the first Vaisnavas to console and reassure the devotees that their ause was not lost. He was father and mentor to all people, regardless of their status in life.
Maharaja understood what it means to become empowered by the disciplic succession. He spoke of it often, explaining that if we truly wanted to serve guru, Krsna and the Vaisnavas, we should ask for such empowerment. Not for our own aggrandizement or promotion, but in purity, only ever desiring to serve to our fullest possible capacity. He encouraged us to pray, "Thy Will Be Done," asking Krsna to use us as He sees fit, in a way just suitable to fulfill His greatest desire.
Now that we have all spoken and moved on in our lives, we should reflect on how we can continue to serve such an exalted soul as he. While he saw himself as insignificant, referring to himself as a mere beggar, our hearts certainly know differently. Therefore, through our sincere service to our beloved Maharaja, we are assured of remaining ever connected to our glorious Gaudiya Vaisnava sampradaya. The glorious mystery of service to the servant of the servant of the gopis resonates clearly though his books and instructions to us all. May this fallen soul attain one drop of his mercy in the service of his dedicated servants.
This the sixteenth day of October, 2005, on the disappearance day of Sri Murari Gupta.
Your servant,
Tirtha Dasa
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