Pariprashnena — Q&A Archive

There are irreconcilable differences sometimes, irreconcilable disagreements. Forgetting about them or ignoring them doesnt help.

And secondly, what exactly is "criticism"? In my experience, almost every person has a different idea of what constitutes "criticism".
Similarly, almost every person has a different idea of what constitutes "good example".
There is so much variation, and it seems to me it is impossible to please everyone. Someone is always going to take offense, no matter what one says or does.

For some reason irreconcilable differences exist only if views are very very close, if you take Interfaith - often it is easier to talk to Christians or Jews then to Sri Samparaday (let alone other Gaudiya groups and certainly let alone devotees who do not agree with you in the temple:).

I find the quote from the letter to Vrinda devi - 1971 very useful. We all hope to live up to this, in any case we should to survive in the spiritual life. It actually gets even more difficult the more one progresses, hmm...

There is a joke about Baptists, about how differences become more and more difficult to reconcile the closer the religious denominations of the parties involved. It goes like this:

A man is standing on the guardrail of a bridge, high above the freezing water, about to jump in. Another man comes by, and begins talking to him. They have this exchange:
Second man: "Dont jump. There is so much to live for in this lifetime, so much happiness to experience."
First man: "There is no reason for me to live."
Second man: "Suicide is a sin. You will burn in hell for all eternity if you kill yourself."
First man: "Oh, I see you believe in God. You are a Christian?"
Second man: "Yes, I am, and I believe in God. Dont you believe in God?"
First man: "Well, actually, I do ..."
Second man: "Oh, this is great. That said, dont jump."
First man: "But I really dont see any point to my life."
Second man: "What church are you?"
First man: "I am a Baptist."
Second man: "I am a Baptist too. What a coincidence! From which convention?"
First man: "The Southern Baptist Convention."
Second man: "Excellent, me too! From which seminary are you?"
First man: "The Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary."
Second man: "Bah! off with you!" [pushes the first man over into the deep freezing water ...]

* * * * *

I do agree with the quote in the OP. As far as I understood, it is not the philosophy of Gaudiya Vaishnavism that relationships with people would be our eternal and final destination, but that the relationship with God is. And that therefore, the differences we have with people are not (necessarily) of utmost importance.

Hare Krishna Rasa108,

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

We should mostly try to purify our own selves and focus on following the instructions of our Divine Master and serving Him with as much devotion as we can muster. If our criticism leads us to think we are better than others, that will be unwanted effect as Lord Caitanya says to chant thinking we are low and tolerant. At the time we are pure, our purity will have wonderful effect very easily and we wont be considering ourselves the doer. However we are parents and teachers and we live in society.

The act of preaching involves criticising. That is Sri Gurus job and we are His lowly servants. We want to develop to where our objections to behavior and beliefs are offered not because they disturb our bodies and mind but because we sense the Lord is not pleased. Action and inaction are both essential, when and how to use them rests with the inspiration of the Master. Then, after involving ourselves, we must be detached from the outcome, and leave the results to the Lord.

2.47 Srimad Bhagavad Gita As It Is Original Edition
" You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty."

Sanatana Gosvami praises Haridasa Thakura because he is exemplary both in his behaviour (sadhana) and his preaching:

My dear sir, you are chanting the holy name three hundred thousand times daily and informing everyone of the importance of such chanting. Some behave very well but do not preach Krsna consciousness, whereas others preach but do not behave properly. You simultaneously perform both duties in relation to the holy name, by your personal behaviour and by your preaching. Therefore, you are the spiritual master of the entire world for you are the most advanced devotee in the world. And Srila Prabhupada comments: Similarly, members of the Krsna consciousness movement chant a minimum of sixteen rounds a day, at the same time they must preach the cult of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. One who does so is quite fit to become a spiritual master for the entire world. (CC Antya 4.101-3).