“this has caused me much pain”—SP
April 23, 2014 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa
Hare Krsna to all
Pranams
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Below are a few points about the basics of Krsna Consciousness.This means
we are originally servants, and to regain this mentality one must chant
Hare Krsna mantra. The problem arises when we add our “own” twist
to the tune….
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67-10-14.Bra Letter: Brahmananda
“Swami Kirtanananda has returned to the United States and is
causing quite a stir among the devotees. Following his suggestions, we
have stopped wearing robes and have cut off our flags. He said these
appurtanences are too strange-looking to outsiders and only make it
more difficult for them to consider chanting Hare Krishna. Swami
Kirtanananda has said we must avoid appearing to be Orientalists if we
are to have 108 centers in the US.”
This is very much disturbing to me & has caused me much pain.
Please therefore stop Kirtanananda from making his mental concoctions.
Do not be misled by him. I have never advised him to act like that. If
he is causing such disturbances he should not be allowed to indulge in
such nonsensical activities. I have already written you to inform you
that somehow or other he has become crazy; otherwise he would not have
disobeyed me to go directly to N.Y. For the time being he has cut all
link with me, therefore any instruction given by him is unauthorized &
should at once be rejected. He has no right to dictate as he has
without my sanction. Whatever is to be done will be executed when I
return. He is too much puffed-up nonsensically…
“Swami Kirtanananda has returned to the United States and is
causing quite a stir among the devotees. Following his suggestions, we
have stopped wearing robes and have cut off our flags. He said these
appurtanences are too strange-looking to outsiders and only make it
more difficult for them to consider chanting Hare Krishna. Swami
Kirtanananda has said we must avoid appearing to be Orientalists if we
are to have 108 centers in the US.”
This is very much disturbing to me & has caused me much pain.
Please therefore stop Kirtanananda from making his mental concoctions.
Do not be misled by him. I have never advised him to act like that. If
he is causing such disturbances he should not be allowed to indulge in
such nonsensical activities. I have already written you to inform you
that somehow or other he has become crazy; otherwise he would not have
disobeyed me to go directly to N.Y. For the time being he has cut all
link with me, therefore any instruction given by him is unauthorized &
should at once be rejected. He has no right to dictate as he has
without my sanction. Whatever is to be done will be executed when I
return. He is too much puffed-up nonsensically…
67-09-23.Gar Letter: Gargamuni
. I entrusted this matter to Kirtanananda but
he has disobeyed which has given me a shock. Once he disobeyed my
order and we lost $1200.00 in connection with Mr. Payne. This time he
has again disobeyed me. If he sets such example in the Society it will
be a great impediment. Obedience is the first law of discipline. We
are thinking of a great world wide organization which is not possible
to be executed if there is disobedience.
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
. I entrusted this matter to Kirtanananda but
he has disobeyed which has given me a shock. Once he disobeyed my
order and we lost $1200.00 in connection with Mr. Payne. This time he
has again disobeyed me. If he sets such example in the Society it will
be a great impediment. Obedience is the first law of discipline. We
are thinking of a great world wide organization which is not possible
to be executed if there is disobedience.
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
710215SB.GOR Lectures
There is a Bengali proverb that how God works, that one
man, a householder is praying to God, “My dear Lord, there may not be
any theft case, burglary, in my home this night. Please save me.” So
one man is praying prayer, praying like that. Another man is praying,
the thief, “My dear Lord, this night I shall commit burglary in that
house. Please help me to get something.” Now, what is Krsna’s
position? (laughter) Krsna is everyone’s heart. So Krsna has to
satisfy so many prayers. The burglar and the thief and the
householder, so many prayers. So Krsna’s adjustment… But He’s
still… That is Krsna’s intelligence, how He adjusts. He gives
everyone freedom. And everyone is given facilities, but still He’s in
botheration. Therefore Krsna advises to his devotees that “Don’t plan
anything. You rascal, you nonsense, you don’t give Me trouble.
(laughter) Please surrender unto Me. Just go under My plan; you’ll be
happy. You are making plan, you are unhappy; I am also unhappy. I am
also unhappy. (laughter) So many plans are coming daily, and I’ll have
to fulfill.” But He’s merciful. If a… Ye yatha mam prapadyante
tams…
So except the [pure] devotee of Krsna, everyone is simply giving Krsna
trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble. Therefore, they are called
There is a Bengali proverb that how God works, that one
man, a householder is praying to God, “My dear Lord, there may not be
any theft case, burglary, in my home this night. Please save me.” So
one man is praying prayer, praying like that. Another man is praying,
the thief, “My dear Lord, this night I shall commit burglary in that
house. Please help me to get something.” Now, what is Krsna’s
position? (laughter) Krsna is everyone’s heart. So Krsna has to
satisfy so many prayers. The burglar and the thief and the
householder, so many prayers. So Krsna’s adjustment… But He’s
still… That is Krsna’s intelligence, how He adjusts. He gives
everyone freedom. And everyone is given facilities, but still He’s in
botheration. Therefore Krsna advises to his devotees that “Don’t plan
anything. You rascal, you nonsense, you don’t give Me trouble.
(laughter) Please surrender unto Me. Just go under My plan; you’ll be
happy. You are making plan, you are unhappy; I am also unhappy. I am
also unhappy. (laughter) So many plans are coming daily, and I’ll have
to fulfill.” But He’s merciful. If a… Ye yatha mam prapadyante
tams…
So except the [pure] devotee of Krsna, everyone is simply giving Krsna
trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble. Therefore, they are called
duskrtina. Duskrtina, most miscreant, the miscreants. Don’t make any
plan. Accept Krsna’s plan. That will be simply giving trouble to
Krsna. Therefore, a devotee does not pray even for his maintenance.
That is pure devotee. He doesn’t give trouble to Krsna even for his
bare maintenance. If he has no maintenance, he’ll suffer, fasting;
still, he’ll not ask Krsna, “Krsna, I am very hungry. Give me some
food.” Of course, Krsna is alert for His devotee, but a devotee’s
principle is not to place any plan to Krsna. Let Krsna do. Simply we
have to do according to the plan of Krsna.
plan. Accept Krsna’s plan. That will be simply giving trouble to
Krsna. Therefore, a devotee does not pray even for his maintenance.
That is pure devotee. He doesn’t give trouble to Krsna even for his
bare maintenance. If he has no maintenance, he’ll suffer, fasting;
still, he’ll not ask Krsna, “Krsna, I am very hungry. Give me some
food.” Of course, Krsna is alert for His devotee, but a devotee’s
principle is not to place any plan to Krsna. Let Krsna do. Simply we
have to do according to the plan of Krsna.
690221BG.LA Lectures
Devotee: Prabhupada, I heard it said that the spiritual master will
always come back until his devotees, his disciples, have achieved God
realization. Can you explain that?
Prabhupada: Yes. But don’t try to take advantage of it. (laughter)
Don’t try to give trouble to your spiritual master like that. Finish
your business in this life. That is especially meant for those who are
slack. His devotee, his disciple should be serious in serving
spiritual master. If he is intelligent he should know that “Why should
I act in such a way that my spiritual master has to take the trouble
to reclaim me again? Let my business be finished in this life.” That
should be the right way of thinking. Not that, “Oh I am sure my
spiritual master will come, let me do all nonsense.” No. So if you
have got any, I mean to say, affection for the spiritual master, then
you should finish your business in this life so that he may not come
again to reclaim you. Is that all right? Don’t take advantage of this
business. Rather, be serious to finish your business. That is a fact.
Devotee: Prabhupada, I heard it said that the spiritual master will
always come back until his devotees, his disciples, have achieved God
realization. Can you explain that?
Prabhupada: Yes. But don’t try to take advantage of it. (laughter)
Don’t try to give trouble to your spiritual master like that. Finish
your business in this life. That is especially meant for those who are
slack. His devotee, his disciple should be serious in serving
spiritual master. If he is intelligent he should know that “Why should
I act in such a way that my spiritual master has to take the trouble
to reclaim me again? Let my business be finished in this life.” That
should be the right way of thinking. Not that, “Oh I am sure my
spiritual master will come, let me do all nonsense.” No. So if you
have got any, I mean to say, affection for the spiritual master, then
you should finish your business in this life so that he may not come
again to reclaim you. Is that all right? Don’t take advantage of this
business. Rather, be serious to finish your business. That is a fact.
710211SB.GOR Lectures
In this life we want to finish this
material existence for good. That should be the responsibility, that
“We are going to finish this material existence for good. No more
coming.” Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti. If you take responsibility
in that way, then everything will be adjusted. Serious. My Guru
Maharaja used to say like that, that “Finish this business in this
life. Don’t delay for the next life.” He was telling also that “Don’t
give me trouble again to come here to deliver you.” That is the
responsibility of spiritual master. Spiritual master responsibility is
to take the disciple to Krsna, until he is able to do, to help him, to
help him, to help him. That is the verdict of the sastras.
In this life we want to finish this
material existence for good. That should be the responsibility, that
“We are going to finish this material existence for good. No more
coming.” Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti. If you take responsibility
in that way, then everything will be adjusted. Serious. My Guru
Maharaja used to say like that, that “Finish this business in this
life. Don’t delay for the next life.” He was telling also that “Don’t
give me trouble again to come here to deliver you.” That is the
responsibility of spiritual master. Spiritual master responsibility is
to take the disciple to Krsna, until he is able to do, to help him, to
help him, to help him. That is the verdict of the sastras.
SB 4.18.5 A foolish person who manufactures his own ways and means through
mental speculation and does not recognize the authority of the sages
who lay down unimpeachable directions is simply unsuccessful again and
again in his attempts.
mental speculation and does not recognize the authority of the sages
who lay down unimpeachable directions is simply unsuccessful again and
again in his attempts.
PURPORT
At the present moment it has become fashionable to disobey the
unimpeachable directions given by the acaryas and liberated souls of
the past. Presently people are so fallen that they cannot distinguish
between a liberated soul and a conditioned soul. A conditioned soul is
hampered by four defects: he is sure to commit mistakes, he is sure to
become illusioned, he has a tendency to cheat others, and his senses
are imperfect. Consequently we have to take direction from liberated
persons.
unimpeachable directions given by the acaryas and liberated souls of
the past. Presently people are so fallen that they cannot distinguish
between a liberated soul and a conditioned soul. A conditioned soul is
hampered by four defects: he is sure to commit mistakes, he is sure to
become illusioned, he has a tendency to cheat others, and his senses
are imperfect. Consequently we have to take direction from liberated
persons.
Conclusions:
When one gives us the mentality of wanting to serve his spiritual master and the Vaisnavas,
he becomes asara, or useless. Prabhupada tells us there are three kinds of “disciples”.
Guru bhogi, gutru tyagi and guru sevi. The disciple who wants to enjoy the assets of his guru maharaj is
useless as he only wants to imitate Krsna as enjoyer, completely forgetting his actual position as servant.
For example, -the “devotee” who comes to regular programs,likes prasadam and kirtan, but refuses to do things when asked,or finally does something after being badgered a hundred times. This person has not understood the servant mentality, even though he or she may have a dasa or dasi after their name.
The guru tyagi renounces the orders of his guru because he thinks there is something “else” better, or that
what his own guru has given him is no longer relevant in so called modern times. For example, all the Prabhupada book changes currently going on is an example of one who has renounced the order of his guru because he thinks he knows better than his own guru.
And the guru sevi disciple the one who actually tries to understand and serve his gurus orders, without concoction,he is disciple, and no others.
Srila Prabhupada gives a nice example above about the position of the Supersoul who has to “adjust” the position of those who pray to Him for all kinds of material things. The thief and the householder, both want something and Krsna is being troubled by this constant wanting wanting wanting of Himself by these people.
The same principle can be applied to aspiring devotees, if we have not learnt or have forgotten, that when we chant Hare Krsna maha mantra,we are supposed to be praying for selfless service—not this— Dear Lord Krsna, Hare Krsna Hare Krsna, please give me this or that, or remove this or that.
The more we understand our actual position as servant, the less pain or bother we will be giving to Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krsna.
After all, pure devotional service is supposed to be without mental speculation or fruitive desire and that which is favorably rendered to please Sri Guru and Sri Krsna.
Hare Krsna
Damaghosa das
