Reflections on Sacred Teachings: Radha-Sunya: Missing Mercy (Volume- VI)

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Trimati Radharani is the hladini-sakti, the internal Spotency of Krishna. She is the mother of devotion, the topmost devotee, and therefore the overseer of the entire province of bhakti. Thus, aparadha means becoming devoid of Radharani by creating a situation by which the mercy, the protection, and the benediction of the divine caretaker of bhakti is absent.

This sixth volume of commentary shines a spotlight on the central tenet of Vaisnava character-service to others-as described in Indic texts such as the Padma Purana and Narada-pancaratra and in medieval works such as Caitanya-caritamrta and writings of the Gosvamis of Vindavana. These texts differentiate Salvationists, whose primary interest is their own safety, from Vaisnavas who place higher value on the well-being of others. Effective spiritualists honor God within their one hearts and the hearts of others-a gesture that energizes rather than dampens enthusiasm and initiative.

In his calm yet unambiguous style, Bhakti Tirtha Swami sends his message out to devotees young and old. The spiritual world, he reminds us, is a place governed by respect, compassion, forgiveness, and love. It was a message he embodied in his too brief career and one that, if taken to heart, can transform a world at war to a world at peace.

Bhakti Tirtha Swami was born John E. Favors in a pious, God- fearing family. As a child evangelist, he appeared regularly on television, and as a young man, he was a leader in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s civil rights movement. At Princeton University, he became president of the student council and also served as chairman of the Third World Coalition. Although his main degree is in psychology, he has received accolades in many other fields, including politics, African studies, and international law.

Bhakti Tirtha Swami's books are used as reference texts in universities and leadership organizations throughout the world. Many of his books have been printed in English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Macedonian, Croatian, Russian, Hebrew, Slovenian, Balinese, and Italian.

His Holiness has served as assistant coordinator for penal reform programs in the State of New Jersey, Office of the Public Defender, and as a director of several drug abuse clinics in the United States. In addition, he has been a special consultant for Educational Testing Services in the U.S.A. and has managed campaigns for politicians. Bhakti Tirtha Swami gained international recognition as a representative of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, particularly for his outstanding work with scholars in the former communist countries of Eastern Europe.

Bhakti Tirtha Swami directly oversaw projects in the United States (particularly Washington DC. Potomac. Maryland. Detroit, Pennsylvania, West Virginia), West Africa, South Africa. Switzerland, France, Croatia, and Bosnia. He also served as the director of the American Federation of Vaisnava Colleges and Schools.

In the United States, Bhakti Tirtha Swami was the founder and director of the Institute for Applied Spiritual Technology, director of the International Committee for Urban Spiritual Development, and one of the international coordinators of the Seventh Pan African Congress. Reflecting his wide range of interests, he was also a member of the Institute for Noetic Sciences, the Center for Defense Information, the United Nations Association for America. the National Peace Institute Foundation, the World Future Society. and the Global Forum of Spiritual and Parliamentary Leaders.

A specialist in international relations and conflict resolution. Bhakti Tirtha Swami constantly traveled around the world and had become a spiritual consultant to many high-ranking members of the United Nations, to various celebrities, and to several chiefs, kings, and high court justices. In 1990. His Holiness was coronated as a high chief in Warri, Nigeria in recognition for his outstanding work in Africa and the world. In recent years, he met several times with then-President Nelson Mandela of South Africa to share visions and strategies for world peace.

In addition to encouraging self-sufficiency through the development of schools, clinics, farm projects, and cottage industries, Bhakti Tirtha Swami conducted seminars and workshops on principle-centered leadership. spiritual development. interpersonal relationships, stress and time management, and other pertinent topics. He was also widely acknowledged as a viable participant in the resolution of global conflict.

Spiritual seekers take the availability of sacred texts for granted. Digital scanning and other efforts to preserve the past have rendered rare manuscripts easily accessible. Add tools such as Google, Amazon.com, and online electronic archives, and the exegetic treasures of faith traditions lie virtually at our fingertips. Gaps of course exist. Inventor Louis Daguerre created the first chemical plates in 1829. Prior to that time, preservation of sacred teachings was the domain of oral and written transmission, both subject to faulty reporting and prejudiced interpretation. As technology progressed, so did the accessibility of source materials. Today, anyone can conduct an online search for chapters of the Zohar or words to the Sanskrit Gayatri mantra and obtain documents previously restricted to the most advanced practitioners.

Still, physical possession of texts does not equate to understanding them. Here are the writings, but what do they mean? How do these precepts translate into practice? Do realizations posited hundreds or perhaps thousands of years ago apply to a post-modern world? What relevance do they have in the current environment of globalization, secularism, genetic engineering, and conventions on universal human rights?

One consequence of having access to sacred texts is the increased importance of mature commentary. Without the insights of seasoned practitioners, wise words dissolve into anachronisms, artifacts of a remote time, pages gathering dust. We can, then. be thankful that disciples of His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami had the foresight to record their guru's many lectures on Vaisnava (Hindu devotional) precepts, given roughly between 1990 and August 2005 when he succumbed to cancer. The result is a series of books titled Reflections on Sacred Teachings, in which this is the sixth volume.

Tirtha Swami was a sannyasi (renunciant) in the Vaisnava tradition. Many Vaisnava teachers have provided commentaries on the extensive library of Sanskrit devotional texts. Bhakti Tirtha Maharaja's own guru, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, produced more than 100 volumes of commentary that now form the doctrinal foundation of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, a worldwide confederation of temples, farms, schools, and community service centers. Inspired by that example, Maharaja left an impressive literary legacy of his own.

The unique appeal of Bhakti Tirtha Swami's commentaries is their relevance to twenty-first century Western seekers. Born John Favors in 1950, Bhakti Tirtha Swami was an African American who served on front lines during the civil rights marches of the sixties. He was a participant in human rights initiatives of the 1970s, '80s, and '90s and in his later years became a sought- after counselor who offered practical advice to decision-makers in business and government. This was at a time when corporate scandals and the catastrophe of 9/11 had stripped the cloak of immunity from capitalist culture. Assumptions about America's physical and financial invincibility had proven wrong. In an instant, the tallest buildings and most profitable businesses could be reduced to ashes. Hardened executives and seasoned politicians contemplated their mortality and struggled to revise fundamental tenets of their trade. For capitalism to survive a different paradigm was called for, one that would give new meaning to terms such as profit, fulfillment, success, and growth.

Bhakti Tirtha Maharaja has asked me to write this introduction, Because he is merciful. He was merciful enough to allow me to edit this book. A question may be asked-why? Why should someone as insignificant, offensive and generally useless as me edit the teachings of a great soul and, what's more, write an introduction to a wonderful book about overcoming offenses, the greatest obstacles to devotion. The answer is again-Mercy.

In February of this year (2005), I traveled with my wife, Sharad-bihari, my family, and Atma devi dasi, a disciple of Bhakti Tirtha Maharaja, to his Vyasa-puja Festival in Gita-nagari (a farm community in Pennsylvania). I had met with Bhakti Tirtha Maharaja (after many years of separation) in 2004 at the Festival of Inspiration in New Vrndavana. It had been almost 30 years from our earlier association as fledgling devotees in Dallas in the early 1970's. I was the fledgling; he was the devotee! I spent an hour or so in deep conversation with that great soul and felt myself filled with new hope and enthusiasm for Krishna consciousness. Therefore, I contemplated the chance to see him again in Gita- nagari with great anticipation. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I knew it could only be wonderful.

How can I describe that festival and his association? We arrived in a snowstorm and were soon snowbound but sheltered by his love. He showered mercy on us all-there was intense chanting, tears, amazing talks, ecstatic kirtanas-at one point Maharaja became so overcome with spiritual emotion he actually began to dance on his one remaining leg! He spent hours giving us his insights, his humor, his benedictions. He invited us to intimately associate with him, and I feel that my life was transformed. Not only my life, but my whole family's. Our sraddha deepened immeasurably. Much that appeared to be lost was restored to us all. My teenaged daughter actually began to chant sixteen rounds a day and has continued to the present. She had never experienced anyone like Bhakti Tirtha Maharaja before. Even for those of us who have experienced Srila Prabhupada's association, the encounter with his superexcellent disciple, Bhakti Tirtha Maharaja, was amazing and profound.

Finally, on the day of our departure from Gita-nagari, I begged Maharaja to give me some service. Since I earn a living as an editor and writer, I thought perhaps I could serve him somehow in that capacity. He agreed, and he gave me the perfect subject matter: aparadha! This book not only details the various kinds of offenses, but it also shows the attentive reader how to remove the obstacles to devotion and experience the deep and unlimited happiness of Krishna consciousness. What could have been more appropriate? The experience of editing this book was non-different than association with Maharaja-encouragement and enlightenment all the way.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages