Homages from ISKCON Centers

Çré Vyäsa-püjä 2012
One must practice tolerance and compassion and avoid cruelty and intolerance. Without compassion
for others, one’s spiritual attachments will gradually diminish. Compassion and spiritual attachment are
inseparable. The basis of compassion for others and for devotion to Kåñëa is the same.
Illusion based on the flowery words of the Vedas (which support mundane activities and speculative
scholarship) creates intense absorption in various material arguments and opinions, ruining one’s
realizations attained through devotional service. As a result of such illusion, even the mighty Brahmä
doubted the supremacy of Kåñëa.
Spiritual, or subtle, discrimination is extremely important. Those who invent bodily and social
distinctions and preach principles of bhakti, while breaking spiritual principles to suit their needs, possess
material or gross discrimination. Those with subtle discrimination will avoid the association of those
with gross discrimination. Our äcäryas have written many spiritual literatures, which people with gross
discrimination cannot understand and sometimes even deride. Vaiñëava principles are so unlimitedly
exalted that those who simply remain entangled in the regulative process without trying to understand
the science of bhakti are compared to ordinary fruitive workers.
Many weak-hearted persons give up the path of regulated principles in devotional service, but
when they are unable to understand the soul’s spiritual attachments, they cultivate perverted material
attachments. Such persons are show-bottle devotees.
Then there are those who create trouble among sincere devotees by infecting their nature with their
own material dispositions, sometimes initially meeting with a certain degree of success in their nefarious
endeavors. Such brutal and treacherous persons become emboldened to make a direct attack on ISKCON.
We must avoid sectarianism. Sectarianism creates the forest fire of misery in the world: saàsäradävänala-léòha-loka.
Due to sectarianism, one cannot accept anyone outside of one’s group as a devotee.
This causes many obstacles in finding a guru and associating with devotees. Intercommunal discord
among Vaiñëavas is disgraceful. Extinguishing this forest fire is most important for spiritual advancement.
Impersonalists desire to merge the soul with Kåñëa. This is like stealing the self, and there is no
happiness in this state: no one gains. Whenever impersonal philosophy enters among devotees, it can
steal their devotion. One must beware of impersonalist association and propaganda. Then one can rescue
the truth of Kåñëa consciousness from being swallowed by the impersonalists. Likewise, one must avoid
the association of persons who are inclined toward lusty behavior and are after personal gain and honor.
You asked that we neither worship demigods nor develop false pride and the tendency to think “I
am supreme,” since these activities and attitudes hinder the process of devotional service. We should
always avoid associating with thieves and rascals, such as people who present themselves as avatäras.
Our transcendental happiness is sidetracked when we consume intoxicants and thereby forget our true
identity.
The desire for name and fame and for sensuous enjoyment through the practice of bhakti is a great
obstacle to our spiritual progress. When our actions become motivated by such desires, we become
proud. Devotees must always be careful of persons who possess false pride.
As our happiness due to devotional service increases, we might lose proper vision, or perspective. At
that time, the feeling of a desire to merge into the existence of Kåñëa can overcome us. If we can remain
free from this tendency, we might be allowed to become qualified Vaiñëavas.
When we think that we are more expert than others in devotional service, or that “I am a great devotee
or spiritual master,” we create a great disturbance. As we gradually begin proclaiming our superiority,
the mentality of disrespect for the Lord and other devotees arises and we fall down. Therefore, it is most
important to prevent this evil mentality from entering our heart. Even if we become expert in devotional
service, we must never give up the quality of humility. Otherwise, we risk the drying up of our bhakti-latä.
We must give up arrogant pride caused by false prestige rooted in the madness for wealth. Similarly,
we must totally abandon indifference toward Kåñëa and his devotees, an indifference due to pride resulting
from one’s status in varëäçrama.
Çréla Prabhupäda, we pray to you with all of the humility our hearts can muster to please bless us
that we may always do what pleases you the most, and that we may avoid ever displeasing you.
Thank you for giving us the most valuable treasure of your association and the service of the most
merciful Deities and devotees who comprise the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
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