Page 25 - SBV (English)

Preface xxiii

Readers eager for what they consider nectar, and thus inclined to hear
only stories and not philosophy, are urged not to skim through the specifically
philosophical sections of this book, for without bhakti-siddhänta it is impossible
even to begin to appreciate the qualities and activities of Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta
Sarasvaté. As he himself taught, although väëé and vapu are inseparable, väëé
is more important than vision through materially formed eyes; vapu can be
understood through väëé, but not vice versa. His very name being expressive of
1
philosophical instruction, to neglect or pooh-pooh the väëé that is the essence of
his being is necessarily a disservice and offense to him. Actual benefit will accrue
to those who peruse the entire contents thoughtfully and prayerfully, with faith
that imbibing his message will lead to the summit of spiritual perfection.
Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté’s numerous unique, divinely inspired,
and amazingly perspicacious philosophical insights were typically presented in
a Bengali so turgid and difficult to satisfactorily translate, that in their pristine
form they are accessible only to those few adepts possessing sufficient linguistic,
cerebral, and devotional qualifications. Therefore nearly all seekers in subsequent
generations will better approach the legacy of Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté
Öhäkura via the simplified yet no less spiritually potent expositions of His Divine
Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda. Indeed, for persons with little
grounding in those teachings, many of the topics in Çré Bhaktisiddhänta Vaibhava
will likely be incomprehensible. This book is not for beginners.
Inevitably, not all readers will accept Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté as
he is. Even a number of his professed discipular descendants will approach his
väëé with “half-hen” logic, to ignore, minimize, or redefine whatever does not
appeal to their own sense gratificatory notions of bhakti. Yet Çré Bhaktisiddhänta
*
Vaibhava was written principally for the elucidation of purified men who are
thoroughly honest, in other words, devotees sincerely aspiring to follow in toto
the sacred path shown by Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté. Loving devotees
2
who hold bhakti-siddhänta in their hearts will comprehend these topics, which
are always pleasing to Vaiñëavas. Genuine bhaktas become blissful by hearing
them, whereas camel-like nondevotees and pseudo-devotees cannot enter into
these matters. And if such persons do not understand, then what in all the three
worlds could be more satisfying? 3

* Half-hen logic (ardha-kukkuöé-nyäya)—desiring to save money by not having to feed
his hen, a foolish man cut off its head, vainly expecting the bird to still yield eggs from
its rear. This maxim is often cited to portray the futility in accepting some scriptural
teachings while whimsically rejecting others.