Pariprashnena — Q&A Archive

Srila Prabhupada wrote:

A pure Vaisnava should be very careful to engage in his specific duty
without criticizing others. This is the safest position. Otherwise, if one
tends to criticize others, he may commit the great offense of criticizing a
Vaisnava.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 6.17.15

Srila Prabhupada also wrote:

a Vaisnava preacher may sometimes criticize others

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Antya 13.133

The harmonization of these two conflicting statements is that a devotee
should not have a critical attitude, but may and indeed must criticize when
required.

Here is a sample criticism by Srila Prabhupada of a false paramahamsa:

Prabhupada said. "Krsna is the Supreme Lord, and all others are demigods."
The man became a little nervous and quoted a popular Bengali impersonalist
who taught that all gods and all methods of worship are the same.
"Hes an upstart," Prabhupada said. "That is not the teaching of the Gita.
What is this other teaching? It is all utter confusion."
"If you go on speaking like this," the man said angrily, "Ill have to leave
this place. Please dont criticize this paramahamsa."
"Why not?" Prabhupada said. "He is a concocter." The man got up and left,
calling out, "You dont know Krsna!" as he left the room.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => SPL 28: India Revisited: Part 2

Again:

Guest (3): By preaching Krsna consciousness would you condemn other peoples
beliefs?
Prabhupada: We must condemn anyone who is not Krsna conscious. I dont
condemn; Krsna condemns: na mam duskrtino m'fcdhah...

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Press Conference -- October 2, 1975, Mauritius.

Non-judgmentalism is sometimes touted on the strength of SB'a011.28.1-2:

sri-bhagavan uvaca
para-svabhava-karmani
na prasamsen na garhayet
visvam ekamakam pasyan
prakrtya purusena ca

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: One should neither praise nor
criticize the conditioned nature and activities of other persons. Rather,
one should see this world as simply the combination of material nature and
the enjoying souls, all based on the one Absolute Truth.

para-svabhava-karmani
yah prasamsati nindati
sa asu bhrasyate svarthad
asaty abhinivesatah

Whoever indulges in praising or criticizing the qualities and behavior of
others will quickly become deviated from his own best interest by his
entanglement in illusory dualities.

As indicated in Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvatis commentary, these verses
advise the transcendentalist to remain on the transcendental platform by not
making distinctions of better or worse on the mundane platform. Blanket
application of these instructions would be not only impractical, but
dangerous. It would obliterate distinctions between good and bad, and render
a preaching mission impossible. Without criticism there cannot be preaching,
which entails pointing out what is wrong and what should be given up, and
exposing cheaters and their cheating. Suspension of discrimination would
leave no means to judge who is fit or unfit for initiation, nor for living
in an ashram.

This topic is far deeper than persons raised on cartoons and popcorn can
begin to imagine. It is unwise and incorrect to represent the mood of an
acarya based on a single quote or anecdote (incidentally, the anecdote
concerning Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati has been misquoted). It is
particularly an insult to the profundity of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
to attempt to gauge his understanding without oneself having seriously
performed sravana-manana-nidhidhyasana of his teachings.

- BVS.

Recommended reading:
Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Vaibhava
On Speaking Strongly in Srila Prabhupadas Service

> Intention of purpose?

Bhaktivinode Thakurs article seems to indicate so.

[Exerpt from Vaisnava-ninda by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur]

"We should consider that, without the right motive, it is inappropriate to reflect, even impartially, upon the faults of any living being, what to speak of Vaisnavas. To blaspheme Vaisnavas is an offence, but even blaspheming other jivas is a sin. Vaisnavas have no interest in performing such a sinful act. However, provided one has the right motive, the scriptures have not condemned a careful critique of someone'92s faults. There are three types of proper motive:

(1) If the intention in analyzing someone'92s sins is to ensure that he attains his ultimate welfare, then such reflection is auspicious.
(2) If the motive behind reflecting on someone'92s sins is to benefit the whole world, then this is to be counted as an auspicious act.
(3) If such reflection is undertaken for one'92s own spiritual welfare, then it too, is auspicious. There is no fault in such reflection.

When one reflects upon the historical accounts of personalities like Valmiki or Jagai and Madhai in light of one or more of these three virtuous motives, then such reflection is never the cause of incurring sin. When a disciple humbly asks his spiritual master to instruct him on how to identify a Vaisnava, the spiritual master, desiring the welfare of his disciple and of the whole world, explains that those who exhibit unholy behaviour are non-Vaisnavas. He thus points out how to identify true Vaisnavas through antithesis.

With the motive of encouraging one to accept the shelter of the lotus feet of a true Vaisnava by abandoning false, so-called preachers of religion, one neither risks committing blasphemy of saints (sadhu-ninda) nor vaisnava-aparadha (offence to Vaisnavas). In such cases, even criticism directed at a specific person is free from fault. These are all examples of criticizing with the proper motive."

(end exerpt)

Amazing Deena! Thank u very much. Not to be taken lightly,Im sure. Great quote,so informative. This is siksa.

I found the article at:

http://www.purebhakti.com/teachers/bhakti-discourses-mainmenu-61/52-2009/1110-vaisnava-ninda-criticizing-a-vaisnava.html

Thank u. Looks like great arrticle. Look forward to Reading it all.
Ysvt.

At BBT.info, there is an essay on Srila Prabhupadas use of the words rascal, fool and such -
http://www.bbt.info/usingwordsrascalsfools

From there:

"...
The sastra'92s stand and Prabhupada'92s purport here sound pretty conclusive: '93One cannot avoid serving the Supreme Lord without being thoroughly condemned.'94 This is the unfailing universal low of dharma. In this light, Prabhupada'92s condemnation of rascals should not be a surprise after all. Over and above all dharma, though, we always have to take into consideration Prabhupada'92s intention when condemning people. We should trust that Prabhupada is speaking from compassion because the scriptures tell us that great souls sometimes speak strongly and sometimes more gently to bring about the deliverance of conditioned souls, but they are never motivated by envy.

Prabhupada is never compelled by envy. Rather, due to compassion for the fallen souls he accepts the thankless job of guru, the one who in parampara and with genuine realization, points out the Absolute Truth to broaden the worldview of the fallen souls '96 sometimes at the risk of appearing discourteous. I can clearly see now how Prabhupada'92s use of words like '93rascals'94 and '93fools'94 is just an expression of his real love and compassion for the ultimate well being of fortunate souls."

It is a nice citation Baker. Thank you!