20240224 Śrī Caitanya Śikṣāmṛta | First Stream — the beginning

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānanda-mādhavam śrī caitanya īśvaram
Harihi oṁ tat sat

Today we will continue reading from the Śrī Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta by Śrīla Saccidānanda Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura. It is translated as the Nectar of the Teachings of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Śrī Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta

The Nectar of the teachings of Śrī Caitanya:

Respectful obeisances unto Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa.

Topic: Five Types of Differences in Different Religions

Differences in body and mind between human beings

Humans have adopted different natures based on different islands in different countries. The primary (main) nature of man is the same one everywhere. Secondary nature is different. Although the main nature of man is the same, there will not be two such people in the world that all the secondary nature will be completely the same.

Note:

Śrīmad-Bhagavatam 11.14.8

evaṁ prakṛti-vaicitryād
bhidyante matayo nṛṇām
pāramparyeṇa keṣāñcit
pāṣaṇḍa-matayo 'pare

“Thus, due to the great variety of desires and natures among human beings, there are many different theistic philosophies of life, which are handed down through tradition, custom and disciplic succession.”

Even though, born in the same womb, when two brothers are different in the appearance, and nature, they are never the same in all aspects, then how can all human beings who were born in different countries be equal in nature? Different countries have different substances of water, air, mountain, forests, eatables and clothing items. By these substances, the shape, color, habits, clothing and food of the humans born in these different countries are naturally different. Even the mental attitudes differ from country to country. Even the concept of God in these countries, although same in the primary aspect, will be different in the secondary aspect. Owing to this, at the time when human being progresses above the uncivilized state and gradually gains the civilized state, scientific state, moral state and devotional state, then gradually the system of worshiping the Lord becomes different due to differences in language, differences in dress, differences in food, and differences in attitudes. If we consider impartially, there is no harm in such secondary differences. As long as there is unity in the primary bhajana, there is no fault in the result. Therefore, the specific order of Śrīman Mahāprabhu is to worship the form of the Lord who is in viśuddha-sattva (transcendental pure goodness), but not to criticize the system of worship of others with other qualifications.*

Note:

anya-deva, anya-śāstra nindā nā kariba
(Cc. Madhya 22.119)

The devotee should not worship demigods, nor should he disrespect them. Similarly, the devotee should not study or criticize other scriptures. śraddhāṁ bhāgavate śāstre ’nindām anyatra cāpi hi (ŚB 11.3.26) One should have firm faith that he will achieve all success in life by following those scriptures that describe the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavān. At the same time, one should avoid blaspheming other scriptures.

* * *

Jayapatākā Swami: His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura was describing the natural differences between people. He used the example twins were born from the same womb more or less at the same time. But there is small difference. Like we had here Jananivāsa Prabhu and Paṅkajāṅghri Prabhu, but for everyone who knows them they are different. Since even twins are slightly different, what to speak of people who are born at different times, different countries, different areas of the world. Naturally there will be difference. It is interesting that this verse is brought up when at this time Anuttama Prabhu is suggesting that we have a “Unity in Diversity” week. Because Śrīla Prabhupāda said people from all over the world should come and celebrate the appearance of Lord Gaurāṅga. And discuss and celebrate the unity in diversity. So in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta it explains we should follow our scriptures in our paramparā. We should not worship demigods, but we should not disrespect me. Actually demigods, they are also devotees. They may be sakāma devotees, but they are carrying out the Lord’s order. We are not to disrespect them. No Kṛṣṇa conscious devotee would go to a Gaṇeśa temple and criticize Gaṇeśa. There are so many nice things you could say about Gaṇeśa. Actually, he wrote the Mahābhārata, with his tusk. He is an eternal personality. But to go to the Gaṇeśa temple and criticize Gaṇeśa, we would be blacklisted in that country for some time.

Sometimes devotees they don’t know these quotes. One should have firm faith in the scripture that glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead. At the same time, one should avoid blaspheming other scriptures. So these are very important points for preachers. That we don’t have permission to blaspheme other scriptures. I was recently in the hospital, and some Christian nurses came to see me. I mention you worship the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost. But in Christianity, I was also born in Christianity too, we know a lot about Jesus, but I never knew much about God or the Holy Spirit. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, he explained who is God, how to love Him. So they had to admit, in Christianity they know nothing about God except there was one. Here we are in Navadvīpa dhāma, we know the nine processes of bhakti-yoga and we are trying to understand our relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So the first commandment of Jesus, He gave ten. The first one is Love God. But that is the one thing, they don’t know how do you do that? Rādhārāṇī, She gave us the nine processes of bhakti-yoga, and Navadvīpa dhāma the nine islands are related to the nine processes of bhakti-yoga. I gave some classes in Christian churches, and they were quite successful. I did not in any way blaspheme the scriptures, I rather showed them how Kṛṣṇa consciousness was fulfilling the commandment of Lord Jesus. So I am showing how the references of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura are very useful in practical preaching.

Five types of differences in different religions —

Because of the above reasons, the following types of differences are observed in the different religions propagated by peoples of different countries, namely; ― 1. Different teachers or prophets (Ācāryas). 2. Different mentality and the feeling of the worshiper. 3. Different ways of worship. 4. Different mood, and action in relation to the object of worship. 5. Different names and expressions according to language.

* * *

Jayapatākā Swami: So here these are the natural differences. Accordingly, different place, and different ācāryas, they have different ideas. In Caitanya-caritāmṛta, we see that Lord Caitanya, He knew the Quran by heart. They were surprised, He was quoting from the Quran that Allah is actually a person. And it said that He converted this whole group of Muslims to become Vaiṣṇavas! But He did this using their śāstras. He naturally knew because He is Allah! He is Kṛṣṇa! So He knows all. Somehow the Islam followers think that Allah is impersonal. Anyway, it is very offensive to Kṛṣṇa.

So like this he goes into each point, difference of teachers, prophets, ācāryas, it will take time. Are there any questions? I was here at the Māyāpur village. There are Muslims. One preacher came and he did something with the blackboard I don’t know exactly what it is he did something with the blackboard, some stars, Allah, something, and he turned the blackboard over and he drew a line through the different and connected some lines and said you see Allah O Akbar! So everything was like a trick. There is not much philosophy, just some like kids book drawing, this is how they were preaching. There is some Sengupta I don’t know, or some caste Hindu who converted into Islam. And they are very proud of that.

In the quotes of Lord Caitanya, He spoke to them in Arabic. But in Caitanya-caritāmṛta it is written in Bengali. I asked a PhD Muslim who had become a devotee in Russia, what are the verses in the Quran which say what Lord Caitanya is saying. He said after studying, he said that there is one verse which says Allah is a light. But there are hundreds of verses which say He is a person. They say He is compassionate, different qualities. You don’t say this light, oh, this is very merciful, very compassionate, full of bliss. He said most of the places in the Quran describe Allah in a personal way. I had a book published with these quotes of Lord Caitanya, I don’t know where it is now.