Understand the reason for scolding

Niranjana Dasa: I had a very heavy chastisement from Srila Prabhupada in '72 in Mayapur. I was asking some questions about Lord Chaitanya and Lord Krishna - how they are non-different. So Srila Prabhupada gave the example of a High Court judge. Lord Krishna is like High Court judge and He is demanding you, "Surrendered to Me. Then only I will protect you." So if the High Court judge's son goes to the court, he still has to follow the rules of the court, he has to address, 'My Lord.' But when the same person goes to his house, his son can play with him. Similarly, he said, "Lord Chaitanya is the father at home, while Krishna is like the judge in the court."

But still, I said, "If we accept that, then how we are going to be maintain our faith, that's called nistha." So he said, "It will not be hampered." Then Srila Prabhupada became a bit angry and he said, "Why do you ask nonsense questions? You just chant Hare Krishna, and your questions, the doubts will be solved. When I'm telling you that Lord Caitanya and Lord Krishna is one, then why you are insisting that their faith will be diversified." 

After that letter, I left Mayapur. Prabhupada was in Mayapur itself. I wrote a letter to Srila Prabhupada asking him to forgive me for my stupid questions at Mayapur. That he later replied from Tokyo, I think '72 April. Maybe, there, typewriter was not available, so he dictated and somebody wrote in block letters, and that was one of the best letters which I still like.

So there Srila Prabhupada mentioned that, "I'm happy that you've understood the reason for scolding or chastising at Mayapur. It is just like a father wants his sons to be strong citizen. You are all my spiritual children and I want that you should be able to preach with conviction to the spiritually starving population of the world. For that reason, there will be chastisement but that is done out of love and affection. So you should take it as an opportunity of making advancement and not otherwise." Then again he added that, "Inspite of all the stupid question that you... Please feel free to ask many questions and I will be happy to answer you."