Dear Tattva Viveki's,
I have a doubt germinating in my brain. Is there a difference in the way that Krsna accepts a devotees' service and they way that the congregation of devotees accept that same service?
For example, if a devotee renders service with good intention but he/she has some bad character issues prior or in the future I would assume that Krsna in His absolute nature sees the heart of that offering and takes what love He can get. Devotees may act differently though... Devotees may see fault in the offering because of the issue and feel that the service is contaminated somehow. I'm wondering to what degree this is true and what is proper behavior in relation.
Entirely made up (though unfortunately plausible) scenarios:
1. Devotee x writes a book on Gaudiya philosophy but is/was physically abusive to his wife and children. Should we stay away from this book?
2. Devotee x leads a great devotional kirtan but has ______ sinful habit. Should we absorb this kirtan or run away?
Sometimes this question hits particularly close to the nerve when we are personally affected by the person in question. Should our mentality be to "take gold from a filthy place" or should we avoid the filthy place because the goods are conterfeit? How much should we adopt Krsna's absolute vision?
We are to overlook any apparent faults we see in anyone, what to speak of devotees. Until a person is completely surrendered and has reached to very high stages in bhakti sadhana there will be anarthas that can be observed by others. Guru Maharaja has told us that when we are standing in the mercy line we shouldn't call out for justice.
At the same time, we want to progress, so we have to choose our intimate associates carefully. Devotees are on different platforms and if we want to progress we do have to discriminate to a certain degree. But we should be very careful and respectful. We are trying to cultivate Krsna consciousness and to do so we have to try to see Krsna everywhere. Another thing is - how much fault do we ourselves have? Do we want to be avoided or discredited due to our faults? If we ourselves want others to overlook our faults and see our good intentions, shouldn't we treat others that way?
Of course it is very difficult to take instruction from a hypocrit. Who will be inspired to quit smoking by the smoker who tells you how bad it is for you? The message has more impact by one who shows by their personal example. Still, we should see the good in others and try to lift everyone up according to their capacity to serve.
As far as reading a book by one who is abusive to their spouse goes - one would certainly have to wonder about the realization of such a person. I know Srila Prabhupada encouraged all his disciples to write according to their realization and he knew full well that they had faults that they had not yet overcome. That means that the writing must have some benefit for the one writing and those who will read. But there is some relativity there also. Just like we choose our close associates carefully we should use our intelligence and our heart and the advice of advanced devotees when we are choosing what books to read for spiritual advancement.
The safest course is to honor all - not just formally - but genuinely. Mahaprabhu has said we should offer respect to all others and expect none in return if we hope to chant continuously. That doesn't mean that we should put our discrimination aside and see everyone with equal vision. That will come at a very advanced stage - but for us - we must discriminate in order to progress. That means we sometimes have to 'honor from a distance'. That doesn't mean that we should harbor enmity or keep moral or ethical judgement in our hearts against a person and give lip service to honoring them. We have to be very careful to actually see others as Krsna's servants. They are at different stages of advancement and troubeld by different types of anarthas, but they are nonetheless Krsna's servants. He has accepted them through the agency of his divine agent.
> 1. Devotee x writes a book on Gaudiya philosophy but is/was physically abusive to his wife and children. Should we stay away from this book?
That’s not just a weakness (like breaking some principles), it’s a negative energy, and a crime. If he’s presently physically abusive, he cannot possibly understand Gaudiya philosophy. His book would therefore be useless. There’s enough Gaudiya literature to read, so why bother reading his?
There have been devotees who have been honest about their own shortcomings, and have written books nonetheless. You know The Nectar of Discrimination, which starts with a confession by the author, in which he states that some time ago he broke two of the regulative principles, and then proceeds with a very well written analysis of the modes of nature. There are also books written by devotees who admitted only years after writing a book (or an article, or giving a lecture) that they had been breaking the regulative principles all along. Hypocrisy is far worse than honestly admitting one’s imperfections, which shows humility and vulnerability. Krsna strongly condemns hypocrisy in Bhagavad-gita. And so should we.
> 2. Devotee x leads a great devotional kirtan but has ______ sinful habit. Should we absorb this kirtan or run away?
There are quite a few (ex) gurukulis and Indians who fit this description. They are great musicians, yet they may have some ‘sinful’ habits. It may be an ecstatic and wild kirtan, but it’s probably not that devotional. There will be something strange about it, at least that’s my experience.
But being too critical of who’s leading a kirtan will not be helpful. Because everyone has some faults, even those who are externally fixed up. Personally I only leave a kirtan when it hurts the ears, or when the leader continually sings melodies that no one can repeat.
Sri Krsna says, api ced suduracaro, "even if a devotee is very misbehaved he or she should be honored. . . So we must honor this. The secret is that if one keeps enough distance/time from anyone, one can find something redeeming about that person worth honoring. Honor from a distance even if you have to think of what they will be in their next life to do so. Then again, not everyone dressed as a devotee is a devotee.
In his commentaries on verse that our Gurudeva mentioned above, Srilla Prabhupada wrote:
“Sometimes, however, it may be seen that a person in Krsna consciousness commits some act which may be taken as most abominable socially or politically. But such a temporary falldown does not disqualify him. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is stated that if a person falls down but is wholeheartedly engaged in the transcendental service of the Supreme Lord, the Lord, being situated within his heart, beautifies him and excuses him from that abomination.”
“The words sadhur eva, "he is saintly," are very emphatic. They are a warning to the nondevotees that because of an accidental falldown a devotee should not be derided; he should still be considered saintly even if he has fallen down accidentally. And the word mantavyah is still more emphatic. If one does not follow this rule, and derides a devotee for his accidental falldown, then he is disobeying the order of the Supreme Lord.”
“No one should take advantage of this verse and commit nonsense and think that he is still a devotee. If he does not improve in his character by devotional service, then it is to be understood that he is not a high devotee.”