Srila Giri Maharaja – “Driving Srila Gurudeva”

On Dec 2, 2011, Sriman Uddharan dasa wrote:

Dear Sripada Bhakti Kanan Giri Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances.

I am reading everything you send me although not immediately as I am now spending many hours driving the motorways of GB.

Your emails are like rays of light from Vaikuntha & I am beginning to understand why Srila Gurudeva was very happy with your preaching style.
I am fortunate indeed that you care to give me your devotional association.

Today I have been thinking of your “mood” that you never take offence at anything and show so much tolerance to the fallen souls like me. In fact I often think of it and remembering that always puts me in mind of Srila Gurudeva because that was exactly his mood.

What can I say? I am eternally indebted to your Grace.

Uddharan dasa

On December 2, 2011, Srila Giri Maharaja replied:

Dear Sriman Uddharan Prabhu,

Please accept my humble dandavat pranams.

Prabhu it is always very good to hear from you, even if just your short notes such as this one.

We know our journey will have many difficult passages to cross and there will be many stumbling blocks along the way. With your association and good wishes I know I will have help, and I will also do my best to help my comrades in arms such as your good self. Comrades in arms trying to hold the ground taken by our Gurudeva and capture as much new land as possible. That is our mission.

It may appear that you are driving the highways and byways of your Great Britain but I know you are always driving Srila Gurudeva who is always with you.

I just transcribed this short piece:

82.03.05.D
@5:50
Srila Sridhara Maharaja – They are driving me out of ISKCON. Let us see who is driven out, from ISKCON. Wait and see.

Akshayananda Swami – They don’t know that you are also Prabhupada.

Srila Sridhara Maharaja – Hare Krishna

Akshayananda Swami – They don’t know that.

Srila Sridhara Maharaja – Gaura Hari Bol, Gaura Hari Bol

Akshayananda Swami – One Prabhupada present in the world today, they don’t know that.

Srila Sridhara Maharaja – Anyhow, there may be much test. Every test to give us chance of going further. To rise, to get up to another step.

As Srila Sridhara Maharaja was never driven out of ISKCON, away from his intimate friend, Srila Swami Maharaja, I know you will never leave Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, the holy place of shelter constructed by Srila Sridhara Maharaja and maintained by his very dear Srila Govinda Maharaja.

Wherever the flag of Srila Sridhara Maharaja is standing, whether it be a thatched cottage, a marble temple, a pole held in the hand of Srila Govinda Maharaja, or the beautiful pristine conception of Sri Chaitanya Saraswati, held in the hearts of them both, I am sure you will always have a place there.

I pray this finds you well in all respects.

Affectionately yours,

Giri Maharaja

“There are many jealous people in the dress of Vaisnavas in this Krsna consciousness movement, and they should be completely neglected. There is no need to serve a jealous person who is in the dress of a Vaisnava. When Narottama dasa Thakura says chadiya vaisnava seva, nistara peyeche keba, he is indicating an actual Vaisnava, not an envious or jealous person in the dress of a Vaisnava.” –Sri Bhakti Vedanta Swami, CC, Madhya 1.218

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