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on speaking strongly in Çréla prabhupäda’s service 6
complained that this preaching was chopping technique and it would
not be successful. But we have seen that those who criticized fell
down. For my part, I have taken up the policy of my guru-mahäräja—
no compromise. All these so-called scholars, scientists, philosophers
who do not accept Kåñëa are nothing more than rascals, fools, lowest
of mankind, etc. 1
Once a senior disciple of Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté
complained that a young brahmacäré had spoiled a preaching
engagement by openly vilifying a popular charlatan. The meeting
had dissolved into chaos. It was terrible publicity. But instead
of rebuking that brahmacäré, Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté
commented, “He has done well.” Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté
appreciated the combative spirit. 2
Some präkåta-sahajiyäs fault Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté,
claiming that Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu was not so confrontational.
Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté explained that although
Mahäprabhu by no means entered into barren dogmatic debates,
He established His position by meaningful scriptural grapples
with the most erudite philosophers of the day. During the time
3
of Mahäprabhu, within learned circles arguments were conducted
according to exacting Vedic rules of logic and hermeneutics,
and participants both understood and accepted when they had
been defeated. But nowadays such principled debate is largely
unknown. Almost everyone thinks himself qualified to express
opinions on various issues, even without having thoroughly
studied them, and does not even understand when he has been
defeated. Therefore in the present era, in serving the mission of
Mahäprabhu by awaking people to His message, our recent äcäryas
have prescribed a more forceful and shocking approach than that
personally adopted by Mahäprabhu. As Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta
1 Letter, 27 Jul 1973. 3 SBV, vol. 2, p. 15.
2 SPl ch. 4, “How Shall I Serve You?”