He thinks that he is the best devotee
Dear Guru Maharaja, please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
One who approaches the Supreme Lord to render devotional service but who is proud of his personality, envious of others or vengeful is in the mode of anger. He thinks that he is the best devotee. from SB 3.29.8 purport.
I understand this to mean that this devotee thinks that his understanding of sastra (SP’s instructions), his application of sastra, and his ideas of how to preach, cook, dress, etc. are better than some other devotees' consideration of the same points.
That understanding/perspective/ideology may be good for him (and for some of the other people), but he forces down the throat it to all others.
Addition to all this is when there are (seemingly) different instructions regarding the same topic.
Is my understanding right?
HpS / AgtSP. I think it is true of ourselves to some extent and others in ISKCON etc more or less, but I think there are other aspects to the persons Srila Prabhupada describes. Is very universal, and specific, point, no?
Daksa.
Sukra acharya.
If yes, …
This is the challenge in our bhakti circles. Of course, it is also a challenge in a whole world. But here I am talking about the obstacle in relations within the devotee community.
Now… Could we (me included) try to put into focus, that this kind of ideology is bhakti in the gunas (as verses in this chapter of SB discuss)? That is better than no bhakti at all. However, if not being conscious of the setback, how will we (myself) deal with it adequately and advance?
This is a(nother) simple thought about a complex subject.
Would you like to comment?
Thank you!
Your servant Namacarya Das
HpS - Thank you. Is very nice topic, as usual. Astro Hungarian nature??
It is a topic repeatedly addressed in our Bhagavata philosophy. it is right there from the beginning in noi. especially texts 4, 5, 6 and then again in text 10, karmibhya parito harih....
so much advice there but basic is love god, preach to innocent, befriend devotees, avoid demons. then i take this to mean avoiding the demon, raja and tamas service, in devotees and befriending the service in goodness and pure goodness.
O.K.
We bow our head down to regular devotees, but we don't offer dandavats.
Kanistha devotees we fold our hands and offer respects, but don't discuss Temple affairs in great detail with them.
O.K.??????
