Letter 124 - Those intoxicated with pride,...

Both Bhagavān and His devotees are ill-disposed towards those intoxicated with pride • If one’s practices are unfavourable for bhakti, the inclination to stay under Bhagavān’s guidance does not remain • In bhajana, it is necessary to carefully protect the sanctity of one’s practice • We should not oppose the desires of another if we seek integrity in every aspect of life • Śrī guru, Vaiṣṇavas, and Bhagavān do not cater to anyone’s mind, but give reassurance to foster patience and enthusiasm

श्री श्री गुरु-गौराङ्गौ जयतः

śrī śrī guru-gaurāṅgau jayataḥ

Śrī Śyāmasundara Gauḍīya Maṭha Milanpalli, Siliguri Darjeeling 3/6/1995

Snehāspadāsu—

Mā——! We traveled this past 30/5/95 via the Teesta–Torsa Express, leaving at seven in the evening and arriving twelve hours later at the New Jalpaiguri Station. Govinda Mahārāja was present at the station with the sevakas. We had no inconvenience on the train. …

I myself do not want to be deprived of affection, nor is it my desire to deprive anyone else of affection. If someone who wants love does something wrong, they should be prepared to receive punishment. Though I am a guardian, I do not unjustly mete out punishment. I do not wish to become that sort of undiscerning son. But a disobedient child certainly deserves to receive punishment. Know that I do not have any sort of indiscretion in this regard.

There is no doubt that śrī guru and Bhagavān are merciful, but will they not have some sort of discretion as well? They give qualification to those who are unqualified, but standards still apply. Śrī Bhagavān and śrī guru-pādapadma are sitting there to show mercy to the ill-fated and wretched. But both the devotees and Bhagavān are ill-disposed towards those who are intoxicated with pride. 

How can someone who cannot see their own faults correct them?

अस्थिर सिद्धान्ते, रहिनु मजिया, हरि-भक्ति रैलो दूरे; ए हृदये मात्र, परहिंसा-मद, प्रतिष्ठा शठता स्फुरे; ए-सब आग्रह, छाडिते नारिनु, आपन दोषेते मरि

Asthira siddhānte, rahinu majiyā, hari-bhakti railo dūre; e hṛdaye mātra, parahiṃsā-mada, pratiṣṭhā śaṭhatā sphure; e-saba āgraha, chāḍite nārinu, āpana doṣete mari^[1]

“Remaining immersed in fickle conceptions, devotion to Hari remained far off. In this heart, only violence, intoxication, prestige, and deceit manifest. I have not been able to give up these urges and thus I perish of my own fault.” 

For our own sake, we must know this and other beneficial instructions of Upadeśāmṛta. The inclination to follow Bhagavān’s guidance does not remain if one practices that which is unfavourable for bhakti. 

Instead, the hankering to be a master within this illusory universe increases and one falls from the path of bhakti. 

गर्हित आचारे, रहिलाम मजि, ना करिनु साधु-सङ्ग

Garhita ācāre, rahilāma maji, nā karinu sādhu-saṅga^[2] –

“I remained immersed in heinous conduct and did not associate with saintly personalities.” 

श्री गुरु-आश्रये, डाकिबो तोमाय, कबे वा मिनति करि

Śrī guru-āśraye, ḍākibo tomāya, kabe vā minati kari’^[3]

“In the shelter of śrī guru, when will I call out to You and pray?” This right here is a matter of special comprehension for sādhakas and sādhikās.

If materialistic pride and egotism become predominant, one is compelled to go very far away from hari-bhajana. If the living entity frequents the maṭha or mandira and immerses his mind in hearing and reciting hari-kathā, then his interest in bhajana increases. Those who mingle too much with mundane karmīs, jñānīs, and yogīs end up taking bad association on direct and indirect levels. They cannot properly protect the pure state of their bhajana. In the cultivation of bhajana, it is necessary to carefully protect the sanctity of one’s practice, otherwise, an adulterated mood comes and attacks the root of the propensity for bhakti. A person then becomes anyābhilāṣī (desirous of insignificant objects) and abandons the real path and ideology of sādhana-bhajana.

I cannot personally give you the order or direction to go to Śrī Dhāma Vṛndāvana. Nor can I forbid you from going to have darśana of śrī dhāma, as it is not proper for anyone to give up the sublime fortune of beholding śrī dhāma in the company of saintly personalities or relinquish the opportunity to hear and recite hari-kathā and live in śrī dhāma. It is best to centre whatever conversation or discussion we may engage in, whatever activity we perform or thought we have, around the main subject matter [Kṛṣṇa]. It is not proper to say or do anything that opposes the desire of another when we seek integrity in every aspect of our lives. Scripture forbids any sort of activity that is harmful to the body, mind, and soul. Hence, evaluating the injunctions and prohibitions that I have given according to time, place, and person and putting them into action is what I consider intelligence.

Śrī guru, Vaiṣṇavas, and Bhagavān are true seers of the heart. They do not say anything to cater to anyone’s mind, but they provide reassurance and consolation to foster patience and enthusiasm. This is one of their many virtues. In this, their natural generosity, greatness, magnanimity, and affection for devotees manifests in its finest form. False perception or material ideas cannot compare with the true conceptions of the Vaiṣṇavas. Guru and Vaiṣṇavas are eternal, pure, primeval entities. Those under their guidance are also like that. Meditating and focusing on them entails taking refuge of the transcendental, actual truth.

Accept my affectionate blessings. Convey my affectionate blessings as befitting to everyone else. Iti—

Your eternal well-wisher,
Śrī Bhaktivedānta Vāmana

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

Śaraṇāgati^, Hari He! Arthera Sañcaye (2–3) by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura

[2]:

Śaraṇāgati^, Hari He! Bhajane Utsāha (3) by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura

[3]:

Śaraṇāgati^, Hari He! Bhajane Utsāha (4) by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura