Om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya Caksur-unmilitam yena tasmai sri-guruve namah

nama om visnu-padaya radhikayah priyatmane sri-srimad-bhaktivedanta narayana iti namine

Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja, cuja missão foi dada por seu Siksa Guru Nitya-Lila Pravistta Om Visnupada Paramahansa Parivrajakacarya Astottara Sata Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Rupanuga Acarya Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja.

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quarta-feira, 29 de julho de 2009

Srila BV Narayana Maharaja Position on Gay Marriage

Srila BV Narayana Maharaja Position on Gay Marriage

Swami BV Vaisnava Maharaja writes in the GALVA group:

Dandavats Dear Prabhus and Didis,

Sorry to be so long in writing on this issue but I've been busy the last few days.

I'm forwarding below the actual letter from my Gurudeva, Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Goswami on same sex marriage. I wrote asking for an official statement because I will be attending gay pride parades this summer in San Francisco, London and Amsterdam as part of a delegation of devotees from all sangas and thought the question might be presented then by devotees and new people we meet, including the media. I knew his response would not be unsupported by scripture and most likely conservative, but wanted to know his position exactly so I didn't misrepresent him or "put words into his mouth."

Nothing really is changed in our preaching to gay people however. We will continue to encourage everyone to do what is necessary for them individually to take up the chanting of the holy names and gradually become qualified to follow the rules and regulations, under the guidance of a bona-fide spiritual master. However, their marriages will not be blessed by him at this time. This does not mean they cannot legally marry or remain his disciples or that their service or sadhana is compromised or devalued.

The conclusion or pinnacle of sastra on achieving perfection is to be 100% free from material desires and attachments. Sex life is the most prominent of these and gets most of the attention. As we know Lord Krishna states in the Bhagavad Gita that the only sex life he condones is that for reproduction. Well, that's not much fun for straight couples is it? Basically it means that every time they have sex there should be a child 9 months later or it's illicit! I remember Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja said that when he was married he had sex 6 times and had 6 children, and that was the extent of his sex life. Guess that's one reason Kali Yuga is the age of quarrel and hypocrisy - the standard is so high, beyond 99.9% of us, that hypocrisy is the result. That is why nama sankirtan is the only way, the only dharma for this age. What else can we do really, honestly?

Srila BV Narayana Maharaja has openly accepted everyone who comes to him, be they gay or straight. I have been honest with him about myself since I first came to know of him in 1997. He gave me responsible services and 2 years ago sannyas. He would send us other gay men from here and there in the world, to his math in Birmingham, England, for training and association in an environment where no one would be turned away who could follow the rules of the ashram. Many gay men have stayed and visited us while I was in charge there for 6 years. I say this to make it clear he is not opposed to gay people or homophobic. I would be hard pressed to stay for so long if I saw that he was.

I repeat my call to all gay devotees to think about opening our own centres or having home programmes where it is practicle for you. We will not be rejecting anyone in doing this but simply expanding the preaching movement of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. One of the main tennets of our faith is that we must have the association of like minded devotees who are more advanced than ourselves and affectionate to us. Like minded and affectionate - must!!! I'm very ready and willing to to do this right now. Anyone?

We have come to this movement for God consciousness and not for society consciousness - as Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhara Goswami stated so eloquently to ISKCON GBC who came to him for advice shortly after the departure of Srila Prabhupada. You can read this conversation which is the 5th chapter of "Sri Guru and His Grace" here:

http://www.gosai.com/chaitanya/srila_sridhara_mj/sri_guru/sri_guru_5.html

I'll be happy to speak more on this and opening centres/ nama hatta programmes.

Next Monday I'll embark on a preaching tour which might not give me internet access for 1 month so please forgive me if I do not reply timely to messages here on personally.

Vaisnava dasanudas,
BV Vaisnava

The Letter from Srila BV Narayana Maharaja

All Glories to Sri Sri Guru & Gauranga!

Swami B.V. Narayan

Founder Acharya of Bhaktivedanta Trust International [BHAKTI] and International Gaudiya Vedanta Trust

Sri Kesavji Gaudiya Math - Mathura [UP] 281001 India - Ph.: + 91 565.2502334

President of Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti Trust and Vice President of Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti

________________________________________

My dear Sriman Bhaktivedanta Vaisnava Maharaja,

my heartly blessings are for you. All glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga, all glories to Sri Sri Radha Vinode Bihariji.

I received your letter and became very happy to hear from you. I was remembering you during my visit to Guangzhou which was extremely successful. So many wonderful devotees assembled and heard Harikatha & received initiation. I am very pleased with your services.

In regard to the contents of your message, it is not described anywhere in our Vaisnava Sastra that men and ladies can live together and practice proper Vaisnava dharma. Only in the grhasta ashram husband and wife can live together and follow ideal grhasta life.

If it is bone fide and authorized for two men to live together or for 2 ladies to live together then it must be mentioned in Hari Bhakti Vilasa.

Our Acaryas have also never accepted this concept as authentic. Rather, this is the product of Kali Yuga only. In sastras it is mentioned that in Kali Yuga practically all are living a sinful life. The only hope and grace for the living entities is that they accept the process of Sankirtan as propagated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His bone fide followers. For this we have to give up sinful life and follow the ideal character of a devotee. For practicing and making progress in spiritual life, to encourage a life that is sinful is out of the question.

Your ever well-wisher,
Swami B.V. Narayan

On Mon, Apr 13, 2009 at 2:16 AM, BV Vaisnava Maharaja wrote:

Dear Srila Gurudeva,

Please accept my most humble dandavat pranams in the dust of your lotus feet.

Sri Sri Guru-Gauranga Jayatah!
All glories to Sri Sri Gaura Nitai!
All glories to Sri Sri Radhavinodabiharji!

I’m writing to ask for advice about a very important social issue in the world today. I am being asked for an official statement from many devotees around the world from our own and other sangas as well as from people in general. The question is what is our faith’s policy regarding same sex marriage and/or unions? May we perform such marriages or bless them? Such blessings are already being given by certain ISKCON leaders and in other Gaudiya Vaisnava and “Hindu” organisations.

Amara Prabhu, whom you know from Hawaii, has compiled a book of references from many Vedic texts mentioning such unions which seem to indicate that such unions have always existed and were accepted in Vedic society. I am asking if we might bless such marriages (where they are legal secularly) or civil unions with the idea that promoting a monogamous relationship helps to curb sense gratification and that such unions/marriages will be made for the purpose of helping each other to perform devotional activities as in opposite sex marriages/unions?

The whole topic has become political in the world today because marriage is no longer only a religious function but a civil right due to benefits granted those whom “marry” not granted to those who declare civil partnerships. I realise this is potentially a very controversial request, with many ramifications, but it could be a powerful preaching tool in the sense that it would definitely be a non-sectarian acknowledgement of the jiva as spirit soul and not this material body.

Your unworthy disciple,
BV Vaisnava

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