Who is actually advanced in devotional service? That’s a tricky question. The pat and often heard answer goes something like this, “I am lower than a worm in stool and if someone hears my name he will go to hell...” and so on and so forth — that is a very popular line promoted by kanisthas for kanisthas. That answer is cheap imitation of great souls like Krsnadas Kaviraj Gosvami who wrote it in Caitanya Caritamrita. So, let's consider the circumstances under which it was written. Krsnadas Kaviraj is an eternal associate of the Lord and he expressed those feelings writing under the personal auspices and request of the Gosvamis in Vrindavana having been sent there by the direct order of Lord Nityananda in a dream who told him, “O My dear Krsnadas, do not be afraid, go to Vrindavana for there you will attain all things.” And off he went the very next morning, an old man on foot all the way from Bengal to Vrindavana -- but his heart brimming over with love of Krsna. Because that love is so overwhelming, so unimaginable and utterly undeserved, and because Krsna’s extraordinary beauty moves like huge waves in an ocean knocking one repeatedly head over heels, experiencing such great fortune one perforce feels totally undeserving, humble and small. Thus, speaking of humility, that’s the real deal. It is unthinkable and offensive to pretend to be on that level. And anyone who does so is a cheater, a rascal. Avoid his association like the plague.
kanistha = a devotee on the beginning platform of devotion, overly concerned with the external rituals and accouterments of spiritual life and unable to properly evaluate real spiritual advancement.
Sri Radha Govinda, Amsterdam NL
Sri Radha Govinda, Amsterdam NL (Personal Deities)
2 comments:
Nice post. You are talking about the reality that is going on in ISKCON today - the kanishtha mentality has caught up with everyone - looks like.
I remember, there were even contests / fights for the "Who is the most fallen" position among the devotees! Some would simply grab the others' feet to make a show of humility. I am somehow not impressed by this artificial behaviour / cheap tricks. Real bhakti and humility must come from within. It is not something that is put up for cheap display.
There's too much pretense going on in the name of bhakti. Simply imitating the statements of exalted devotees does not make one a pure devotee himself - even a parrot can do that!
This tendency to pretend must be identified and curtailed by the devotees in the very beginning itself. It is nothing but Artificial Humility - many times, the devotees are expected to behave in a certain way - or are coerced to behave in a certain way -especially in a 'humble' way. Any other behaviour from them is considered unacceptable or "MAYA". I think blackmailing people into bhakti (by referring to MAYA all the time)is also not a healthy practice - for such people may not remain in the movement for long. Blackmailing merely forces many of the neophytes to behave as they do in such strange fashion.
The temple inmates must learn what is proper bhakti first, before they preach to the visitors. My first message to a new devotee is BE YOURSELF - don't artificially try to be what you are not. Follow the process laid out by Srila Prabhupada, things will fall in place. Things will happen NATURALLY. No need to pretend. Someone should come out openly that this mentality can only make matters worse and never help to advance in bhakti.
Any genuine criticism is snubbed as not conforming to Vaishnava behaviour. (This means, that you have to artificially behave in a certain way, wherever you are on the bhakti ladder - you must not point out any faults even if there are way too many - simply OBEY - that's it.) I think this is going too far - because this will only help in cultivating HERDS not intelligent, independently thoughtful DEVOTEES - and simply blind followers of whatever is told to them by the leaders - even if it be not in conformity to Sadhu, Shastra. I am sure ISKCON has had enough problems from this attitude already.
Thanks for posting such thought provoking articles.
-ram
Keep up the good work.
Post a Comment