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EDITORIAL March 16, 2000 VNN5693 Comment on this story How To Recognize A Vaisnava BY MAHAVEGAVATI DASI EDITORIAL, Mar 16 (VNN) — Dear assembled VNN readers, Hare Krsna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. PAMFO I hope all is well. For your consideration, I would like to submit the following from the book, "Babaji Maharaj Two Beyond Duality": Once someone asked Srila Gaura-kisora Prabhu, "The actual character of topmost Vaisnavas does not always seem to correspond to the descriptions of their character which are revealed in the scriptures such as Srimad Bhagavatam. Such Vaisnavas sometimes even appear to exhibit mundane characteristics. Please be merciful and instruct us in this matter so that we can easily recognize a genuine Vaisnava."
Srila Babaji Maharaj responded, "Out of his own free will and the inspiration of Krsna, a great Vaisnava, being saddened by the misery of the fallen and conditioned sould, advents himself in a certain family, in a certain place and at a certain time. When such an exalted Vaisnava attracts people by his ecstatic love and devotion and teaches them devotion to Lord Krsna, the Lord considers with some trepidation, 'It will be difficult for Me to repay the debt to those who have surrendered hemselves to such Vaisnavas, who are as dear to Me as My life. I will become the servant of those who are affectionate to My pure devotee, and thus I will easily come under their control.' With this fear Sri Krsna occasionally conceals the spiritual qualities of great sould from the eyes of the public. By the power of Krsna's maya-sakti, the characteristics of the gennuine Vaisnavas are concealed from those who have interests contrary to devotional service. Thus genuine Vaisnavas appear to the materialistic to have materialistic characters. In this mood Krsna examines the living entity to see how much he is actually attracted to the Absolute Truth, and if he is, He reveals the spiritual characteristics of teh great souls. Hence, without the exercise of the independent will of a Visnava, no one can know him even after seeing in him all of the characteristics described by the scriptures. It is often observed that the Vaisnavas praise the materialists and thereafter keep their distance from them. sometimes, out of fear of the crowd, such Vaisnavas conceal their natural spiritual symptoms. Sometimes they make a pretense of converting materialistic persons into their disciples. They seem to want to be served by them and always take their advice. Thus, they keep their true nature obscured...When the Vaisnavas graciously reveal themselves, faithful persons who become attracted by the mercy of those Vaisnavas and completely surrender to them, can know the true identity of such Vaisnavas. Those who are very fortunate are not deprived of their service or their mercy. Otherwise, the Vaisnavas devise various deceptive means to hide themselves. To know a Vaisnava one hs to pray sincerely at the lotus feet of Gaura-Nityananda, and by Their mercy, WHEN ONE'S HEART BECOMES DEVOID OF PRIDE AND FILLED WITH HUMILITY, Nitai-Gaura then reveal the true identity of a Vaisnava in one's heart. Nitai-Gaura are revealed through the Vaisnava, and the Vaisnava is revealed by Gaura-Nitai." Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur later explained the truth of the Vaisnavas to one ignorant caste Goswami: "Having perceived the evil in our hearts, the Vaisnavas, in accordance with the verse from Bhagvad-Gita, ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham, deceive us in various ways. Having perceived the motive with which we approach them, they Vaisnavas feel there will not be much benefit in their instructing us, and accordingly they speak about various other matters to test our sincerity, keeping themselves absorbed in uninterrupted Bhagavata-bhajana in the meanwhile." Many materialistic people whimsically approached Srila Gaura-kishor and were instructed by him according to their predispositions. Being thus deceived, they returned whence they had come. Hearing ordinary talk from Babaji Maharaj about everyday articles, such as flour, rice, oil, betal, potatoes, patola, etc., they got the opportunity to become more interested in worldly affairs. IF ONE POSSESSES A HYPOCRITE'S MATERIALISTIC INSTINCT, then he cannot TRULY associate with sadhus. If on the other hand, one surrenders fully to a sadhu, the sadhu will be plesed to reveal himself to one and will continually speak the Absolute Truth, free from illusion. So, did Srila Prabhupada "make mistakes"? Submitted for the consideration and pleasure of the Vaisnavas and for those of us who think ourselves to be Vaisnavas. I remain your servant, Mahavegavati Dasi Hare Krsna About the Author  Other Stories by this AuthorComment on this story Contact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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