Let 1001 Lotuses Bloom
Thoughts after talking with a friend about uniting all the different camps within the society of Krishna Consciousness
Yesterday, we attended the ISKM Sunday feast, where I conversed with a devotee about their mentor's mission. He said he is trying to unite all ritviks (devotees who identify as direct disciples of Srila Prabhupada). I said, “I don’t think that will happen. If I were a chief of a Sanga, I would think I have the right understanding and wouldn’t just give that up and follow someone else because they think they have the right understanding. Why not let 1001 lotuses bloom?”.
Better than trying to bring about a revolution where everyone is expected to do the same thing is to bring about a revolution where everyone is allowed to do what they do.
If the point is unity and harmony, that will be achieved through love rather than trying to change others. The division is there because we think we are right and others are wrong, not because we are actually right and others are actually wrong. Bringing people to the point of not quarreling therefore rests in the hands of the one who judges and thinks in terms of us and them.
Actions and individuals aren’t divisive - language is.
Changing people and their actions doesn’t bring harmony - love does.
If there’s conflict in a community then going around saying to people “brother, stop doing x so we can live in peace” or “we should” will only perpetuate the conflict because it assumes you are right and they are wrong. Imagine what would happen if I went around saying “brother, keep doing what you’re doing. I love you”
Conflict as a Perception
I believe conflict is a perception. If you see conflict, you’re contributing to it. If you don’t see it, it ceases. It’s those who don’t see in terms of right and wrong who can really bring about peace among people. Prabhupada is quoted as saying “The best marketing is to be a happy devotee”. My advice for ISKM or anyone wanting to unite all the Bhakti camps is to focus on their own program and get the results all devotees want - to be happy devotees like Srila Prabhupada was and who he wanted us to be.
What “Should” We All Do?
Another point we discussed was what specific things all sangas could unite around. My angle was unity can be achieved through uniting around a core set of principles like chanting 16 rounds and following the four regulative principles and my friend agreed with this, suggesting Vaisnava attire and attendance of Mangala Arati should be included. I said, “What if a devotee works and has a uniform or works a night shift and can't attend Mangala Arati?”
I think there will always be a variety of devotees who practice with varied levels of interest in certain details like what to wear and when to get up. The main thing is to chant Hare Krsna and follow the four rules, and everyone agrees with that already. We seem to be fighting over details, and I don’t see harmony coming from insisting that there’s only one way to chant, dress, etc. That’s the very root of conflict - to collapse principles and details.
Let Bhakti be individual, spontaneous, and voluntary because it already is anyway.
Cookie Cutter Societies Suck
Trying to make a cookie-cutter society won’t work. Especially for leader types. Even Prabhupada couldn't and didn't try to stop devotees from making their own Sangas. Look at the Haribols. Maybe he internally didn't want separation, but knowing it would happen anyway, he basically gave his blessings.
So How do we Create Harmony?
So what is the most powerful way to create harmony across different Sangas?
Is it uniting around a core set of external practices like getting up before 4 am and wearing white dhotis? This in my opinion would likely manifest a Sanga of devotees who like that but repulse a lot of other devotees who value other things, thus perpetuating the creation of different camps.
The real quality that I must have if I want to create harmony among others is harmony in myself.
In other words, I have to see through the vision of a madhyama adhikari who sees differences but respects all devotees as devotees.
Lord Chaitanya has already given the formula - give all respect to others without expecting it back - think oneself fallen and tolerate everything.
Imagine how people would show up around you if all you did was respect people as devotees and chant Hare Krishna. How could there be anything other than harmony around you if that's what you did?
I therefore declare that anyone who wants harmony to show up around them should look within themselves and attend to their own fault-finding propensity and their conceptions of right and wrong. They should give up the idea that they have “the right way” and that they know “the real Prabhupada” and just love and respect others like Prabhupada did.
Live and Let Live?
But Prabhu, isn’t this just a philosophy of “live and let live”?
Yes. What is the alternative? Live but don’t let others live?
Prabhupada let others live. He treated devotees as adults. If they were living in the temple, he gave them the sauce if they didn't follow certain rules. The things my brother said all Sangas should unite around are basically Prabhupada's rules for devotees living in the temple.
The Main Thing
Prabhupada wanted his disciples to follow their initiation vows first and foremost
Here are some excerpts from letters from Srila Prabhupada that back up my idea that the main things to focus on as a worldwide community are our initiation vows.
If you want to stay in Krsna Consciousness you will have to develop firm faith in Guru and Sastra. Therefore, you must study my books very scrutinizingly, follow the four regulative principles very strictly and chant 16 rounds daily avoiding the ten offenses. Don't take this movement as something cheap.
Letter to Srutadeva
Vrindaban
30 October, 1976
The devotees must all bear in mind that they are promising to follow the four regulative principles, i.e., no illicit sex-life, no intoxication, no gambling, and no meat-eating, and also chanting a minimum of 16 rounds of japa daily. This promise is made before the spiritual master, before the Deity, the devotees, Vaisnavas, the Supersoul, and the fire. Everyone should take very seriously this vow and make steady and sure progress in Krishna Consciousness and go back to home, back to Godhead in this lifetime.
Letter to Lokanath
Detroit
12 June, 1976
There are many letters where Prabhupada simply asks his disciples to follow these basic instructions. He doesn’t say everyone should get up early and wear a dhoti.
What’s My Point Though?
What is the point of writing a whole thing about how we shouldn’t say “we should all do x”? I truly believe the only thing “we should” do is love each other and follow the basic vows we gave. Everything else is personal.
This thinking allows me to be awed by devotees who do wake up early with consistency and encourage those who practice at a level not as strict as I do. I don’t have to make myself wrong for not getting up at 3, and I don’t have to make others wrong for eating chocolate. I can even accept devotees who have beards and, God forbid, I can even take association from a devotee who never wears a dhoti.
I’m open to the idea that we “should all get with the program” of rising at 4am, shaving our heads and not work regular jobs but I just don’t think thats going to happen. I’m personally inspired by devotees who be their authentic selves and add the chanting of 16 rounds and the four regulative principles to their lives.