In Defense of Danavir Maharaja
By Pancha Tattva das

I read with interest the article on frivolous sports written by His Holiness Danavir Maharaja. Afterward I thought, "This is going to catch some fire!" Sure enough, Mother Manjari has written a critical response. I would like to address her main points.

First, she says that sports are a form of exercise, and that there is nothing wrong with exercise. When taken at first glance, there seems to be nothing wrong with this proposition. However, in light of Srila Prabhupada's instructions, which Maharaja has quoted very nicely, her statement has no merit for devotees. Pure devotees are interested only in devotional service, as described by Sri Prahlada Maharaja: shravanam kirtanam vishnoh smaranam pada-sevanam archanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam atma nivedanam. Frivolous sports are not included in these nine processes.

Mother Manjari gets off a personal shot at Maharaja right away, suggesting that he might consider himself "so elevated that he doesn't need to exercise." But Maharaja had already written about the forms of exercise present in devotional service: dancing in kirtana, cleaning, offering obeisances, etc. So, I have to question whether Mataji actually read Maharaja's article, or whether she stopped when she couldn't take it any more and rushed off to write a fiery response.

Mataji says that many sannyasis with health problems have been advised to get exercise. That's alright, but I submit that it is not good for a sannyasi to seek exercise in frivolous sports. There are other forms of exercise not based on such sporting propensities. Srila Prabhupada would regularly take a vigorous morning walk. Stretching and basic hatha yoga asanas, if applied only for the purpose of keeping the body fit enough for preaching, do not strike me as frivolous sports. Perhaps Danavir Maharaja could comment on this. All of the devotees, but in particular our sannyasis, should provide a good example for others and not engage in activities which are rejected by our Founder Acharya, Srila Prabhupada.

Mataji addresses Maharaja directly, saying, "If you want to talk about gambling why not talk to all those devotees with their pyramid schemes to work with integrity and pay their taxes properly." I'm sure Danavir Maharaja would disapprove of such illegal activities. Is Mataji in doubt about it?

Mother Manjari again returns to glorifying sports: "People who play on a sports team and learn teamwork learn to get along with other people. It's very healthy." There are plenty of lessons on teamwork to be had in coming together to go out on Harinama, distribute books, run preaching center or temple, etc. And they are spiritually healthy. Why fritter valuable time and energy away in activities that give no spiritual benefit to others and ourselves?

We are not followers of "Sports Authority;" we are followers of Srila Prabhupada's Authority. Maharaja has indicated that devotees who participate in frivolous sports are acting on the platform of mixed, sakama, devotional service. I agree. It is also a clear reflection of our lack of spiritual advancement when we lash out at someone who is preaching the proper standard of Krishna consciousness.

It is far better, when situated in mixed devotional service, to acknowledge, "Yes, Maharaja has given good instruction. Even if I cannot follow perfectly, I must accept." Then there is chance of making progress in the future.

Mataji ends her letter with particular bitterness: "Tell Danavir Goswami to focus on the unhealthy deceit of ISKCON like child molestation, pyramid schemes and corrupt sannyasis. They are a bigger threat than sports. Leave the healthy aspects of sports alone!" Here I'm sure that Maharaja would agree that these things are not good for our movement. However, I have to question why she would lay such matters out in such a mean way. For example, it's well known that our society is under fire for incidents of child abuse in boarding schools in decades past. Does that mean we abandon preaching about the proper standards of devotional service? Doesn't she understand that persons who did these horrible things to our children, persons who engage in illegal pyramid schemes, and persons who - unnamed by her - make a pretense and farce of the sannyasa ashrama, are not practicing pure devotional service? Maharaja is preaching against lowering the standards of bhakti yoga in ISKCON. Mother Manjari should be grateful for that. Instead, she seems to have another agenda - her own - to which Maharaja should adhere at all times and under all circumstances. In this, she is quite unreasonable and has misunderstood Maharaja entirely.

The exercise regimen I prescribe for her is to read Srila Prabhupada's books carefully and take guidance from advanced devotees like His Holiness Danavir Goswami. Then she will not react in such a way to good preaching. Mother Manjari shouldn't be a bad sport.

Your servant,
Pancha Tattva Dasa

© CHAKRA 16-December-2000

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