​Why should esoteric memories of spiritual experiences not be shared?

Answer Podcast

Transcript

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So why should the esoteric memories not be shared? There are, I think one main reason is that Sahajiyaism is always possible, that if the sharing of esoteric memories becomes the highlight of say, devotional Kathas, you know, say somebody comes and gives classes and they tell, you know, how I had past times with Jagannath, Jagannath came in my dream, Varanasi Simha came in my dream and all those things, if they start becoming the main content of our classes, then that will be, you know, anybody can start claiming that. How do we really know? Then we have to become judgmental.
This person is advanced, actually the Lord came in his dream, this person didn’t happen like that. So you have to be careful about that. There is, there is the, there are the scriptural past times that are described, they are given in scripture, they are repeated by the Acharyas and they are at a very exalted level.
Now there can be some special incidents that happen in devotees life also and they can also be discussed. But they are not the main content of our study, of our recollection, of our discussion. They can be very inspiring and they are important in their own way.
But it is not that we will have classes on some devotees past times. Occasionally some devotees come from a distant place, once in a while it is okay. But there is, with all due respects, there is something which is Shastra Pramana and then there is Loka Pramana.
Loka Pramana means that which is talked about by people who are holy. It also has some authority. Like we go to Vrindavan, there are so many past times of Krishna which the Brajwasis tell.
Now they are not there in Shastra, many of them are not there in Shastra. But if they are in harmony with the moon, we discuss those past times, we relish those past times. But you know, those are not the past times that are going to come in the Krishna book.
Those are the past times which are there in the 10th Canto. So there is, even within Krishna Leela, there are levels. Those which are given in Shastra directly, they are actually far more, far more important.
Others can also assist or embellish the description of their past time. But there is a difference. So this whole, one aspect could be that the esoteric memories, when they are discussed, it can encourage surges and everybody can start saying that these are my memories or these are my experiences.
And then where does it stop? It will become very difficult to decide it. You know, in the Christian tradition, on 4th or 5th century, for 3-4 centuries after Jesus came and went, there were many Christians, saints or non-saints, they were saying, Jesus spoke through me, Jesus spoke through me, Jesus spoke through me. And there was a complete doctrinal chaos.
And in the 5th century, the Catholic Church had an ecumenical council and they had a doctrine called the doctrine of cessation of revelation. They said, now revelation has stopped. Now no more revelation is happening.
Why did they try to avoid the subversion of the church authority? But the point is, every tradition has to, there is a code that is coming from the past and there is a living tradition also. But the living tradition is not meant to supersede the original tradition. It can supplement the original tradition.
You want to add something? Yes. When the Lord appeared to Mahaprabhu, He revealed that He will appear. He told her, do not reveal this statement.
So then I was thinking related to that, what other people told to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Javannath Puri. So Chaitanya Mahaprabhu explained very detailed that, since I revealed the secret realization of my mantra, I cannot focus anymore. Can you re-initiate that mantra? Then Mahaprabhu said, no.
Your guru is still alive. Kundalini did not say, he is not here. She said, he will be here soon.
So Srila Bhaktivedanta Thakur made a very heavy comment on that. He made a comment that when somebody’s guru is present, you should not take any initiative. But if somebody reveals the secret, like Bhagavad Gita, then he should be energized by another senior guru, so that he can continue.
I don’t know if it is, what kind of esoteric secret. Yeah, I don’t know. There is another pastime also that Ramamitra has given that mantra by his spiritual master, Aghastipura.
Don’t reveal it to anyone. And then he goes and reveals it to everyone. And that is seen as compassion also.
So, at least this is not talking about esoteric. I think this is a little more different. It is talking about the potency of the mantra.
Here it is more talking about the esoteric aspect. I think my main understanding is Sahajiyism, the protection against Sahajiyism. I will try to find out more.
If I get something, I will let you know. Yes, sir. Just one observation and then a question.