Fools Do Not Know How to Honour Vaiṣṇavas

Although all the prominent leaders of ISKCON were well aware of the close relationship between Śrīla Gurudeva and Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Swāmī Mahārāja, still, when Śrīla Gurudevaa visited certain temples, many leaders did not give him proper respect and some even blasphemed him. According to Vaiṣṇava etiquette, when an elevated Vaiṣṇava comes, at least he is to be offered a seat, a drink of water and a flower garland to honour him.

The intimate connection and shared purpose of the two masters was evident; however, during his visit to the ISKCON temple in Los Angeles, despite the fact that disciples of Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Swāmī Mahārāja were present, Śrīla Gurudeva was not at all welcomed properly—not even offered a seat. Elsewhere Śrīla Gurudeva was treated honorably and with dignity but the lack of respect he received there was very blatant.

Returning immediately from LA ISKCON temple Śrīla Gurudeva told, “If my śikṣā guru (Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Swāmī Mahārāja) was physically present today, he would have most probably commented: fools do not know how to honour Vaiṣṇavas.”

Śrīla Gurudeva was subjected to such mistreatment from certain disciples of Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Swāmī Mahārāja but he always remained humble and tolerant.

Even thirty years before on December 15, 1966, Śrīla A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swāmī had written to him,

“I came to know that my disciple Chandrasekhara from Delhi wrote you a letter. Chandrasekhara sent me a copy of your reply to him. In that letter I came to know that foolish Chandrasekhara had blasphemed you. Fools do not know how to honour Vaiṣṇavas. By your greatness, please excuse him. I haven’t instructed him to do such a thing. I only told him to visit you. Anyway, excuse his aparādha. Chandrasekhara is a good man, but out of foolishness he used bad words to you. You please forgive him and me by your good qualities.”