ISKCON Gurus' Websites — Podium for Preaching or Pedestal for Praise?
BY: SAMPRASNA DASA
Apr 17, 2012 — USA (SUN) — "It is not possible to describe the entire range of his activities in devotional service even in the course of one day, what to speak of one decade, or the course of his entire lifetime thus far. One thing that can be said for certain, however, is that each and every moment of his life Srila Romapada Swami is cent-per-cent absorbed in serving the instructions and the mission of his beloved spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada."
The above excerpt in praise of H.H. Romapada Swami is from his biography page on his website.
One might wonder, what is it that his holiness does in just one day that can't possibly be described? Unless there is something abominable about the activities of his holiness that can't be shared with the masses, there is no reason why activities of his holiness can't be described.
In regard to his holiness' dedication to Srila Prabhupada, does he really think "for certain" that he is "cent-per-cent" dedicated to Srila Prabhupada, "each and every moment of his life"? He is simply allowing his disciples to insult him by offering him praise he doesn't deserve.
King Prthu instructs in this regard:
Srimad Bhagavatam 4.15.22:
"King Pṛthu said: O gentle sūta, māgadha and other devotee offering prayers, the qualities of which you have spoken are not distinct in me. Why then should you praise me for all these qualities when I do not shelter these features? I do not wish for these words meant for me to go in vain, but it is better that they be offered to someone else."
Srimad Bhagavatam 4.15.23:
"O gentle reciters, offer such prayers in due course of time, when the qualities of which you have spoken actually manifest themselves in me. The gentle who offer prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead do not attribute such qualities to a human being, who does not actually have them."
Srimad Bhagavatam 4.15.24:
"How could an intelligent man competent enough to possess such exalted qualities allow his followers to praise him if he did not actually have them? Praising a man by saying that if he were educated he might have become a great scholar or great personality is nothing but a process of cheating. A foolish person who agrees to accept such praise does not know that such words simply insult him."
Srimad Bhagavatam 4.15.25:
"As a person with a sense of honor and magnanimity does not like to hear about his abominable actions, a person who is very famous and powerful does not like to hear himself praised."
Srimad Bhagavatam 4.15.26:
"King Pṛthu continued: My dear devotees, headed by the sūta, just now I am not very famous for my personal activities because I have not done anything praiseworthy you could glorify. Therefore how could I engage you in praising my activities exactly like children?"
