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Truth is always painful at first. The truth to see yourself. To see how fallen you are. To see how far away from Krishna you have gone. To see how helpless you are. To see the naked truth of the material world.
But truth also sets you free. Free to be yourself, not to play a role. Free to stop trying to control others or be controlled by them. Free to be independent of family and society. Free to be a sadhu.
Freedom leads us to Krishna. Krishna gives us bliss when we meet him and even when we feel separation from him. Bliss is not cheap. Bliss is the one thing Krishna gives only to his devotees. His pure devotees.
Money, power, fame, heaven, even liberation from the material world is easy to get compared to bliss.
And devotees of Krishna do not easily accept bliss, vowing to serve him instead. Do you think that Srila Prabhupada, who agreed to receive so many headaches from his disciples and from his preaching, was always in bliss? He was in anxiety for his service. In anxiety to deliver the truth to unqualified souls. Anxiety to do everything he could to create a spiritual revolution in a short time without qualified helpers.
What about the less advanced "simulated" gurus (no names necessary)? Their bliss appears to be a show, an impression, a caricature of devotional ecstasy. They are devotees no doubt, and many of them have sacrificed much on behalf of their service. But unfortunately, most are far better actors than devotees.
Actors are looking for applause. Devotees are searching after Krishna.
What are you looking for?
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2 comments:
Exactly. Devotee means accepting a headache on behalf of Krsna. Like the Gopis were ready to go to hell but let Krsna's headache be cured.
One ongoing migraine for the leaders in Iskcon is making room for dissent and free speech. To be willing, when necessary, to be corrected by one's godbrothers. To accept meaningful responsibility for past deviations. To give up simpering syrupy approval by neophyte disciples. To foster inclusion rather than exclusion. In other words, to accept headaches on behalf of Srila Prabhupada. As he wrote in 1961:
"Now even, my godbrothers, you return here to the order of our master, and together we engage in his puja.
But simply a festival of flowers and fruits does not constitute worship. The one who serves the message of the guru really worships him.
O shame! My dear brothers, aren’t you embarrassed? In the manner of businessmen you increase your disciples.
From the seas, across the earth, penetrate the universal shell, come together and preach this Krishna consciousness.
Then our master’s service will be in proper order. Make your promise today. Give up all your politics and diplomacy.
The one who renounces the guru’s order (guru tyagi) and the one who tries to enjoy the assets of his spiritual master (guru-bhogi) are two kinds of useless persons. First become a servant of your spiritual master (guru-sevi) and then you will understand things clearly.
Your gold, brother, is the father of sense gratification. Give up your wealth for preaching. Sit down together and make some special judgement.
So what is the difficulty for all of us to come together in this way and why do all these things even have to be said to you?
Today my brothers, get to this task. Save the battered souls by your preaching."
That is the difference between devotees. The other devotees that Narada approached were afraid of giving the dust of their feet (Krishna's asprin) to cure Krishna's headache for fear of going to hell.
The current leaders of Iskcon are afraid of giving up their control for fear of being exposed as actors and voted out of power.
But let us be concerned not with them, but with ourselves. We should not be afraid to give up whatever anarthas are holding us back.
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