Dear Maharaja,
Please accept my respectful obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Thanks for your answer.
Unfortunately i didn't find in NOI 6 what You mentioned: " Personally I am amazed to see how much NOI 6 seems to be a fact. Devotees who have been sacrificing for Srila Prabhupada for many years still seem to have major character faults, attachment to intoxicagtion, power, pride . . . "
Can You explain me where can i find it?
HPS - Jaya! We are just taking it from the Text, "dosaih". Prabhupada sites BG. 9.30 wherein it says that an "ananya bhak", a really fixed devotee, may have "suduracaro". Duracaro means bad habits and Suduracaro means ABOMINABLE habits. In the Text and Purport we were seeing Srila Prabhupada focusing on bodily defects, but from our psychology background we were thinking that these character defects, results of tramas from childhood or previous lifetimes are even more durable than physical problems. Then, in the Translation of the Anuvrtti of Bhakti siddhanta we see that yes, it is mentioned that an Uttama Adhikari, Spiritual Master, may appear to have harsh character, but if we look beyond the externals we can see how it is engaged in Krsna's service and relate to it properly.
Of course, we also get devotees like Daksa, who were very expert in Visnu yajna and well respected in the Institution, but just hadn't made a lot of progress. So two reasons at least for character flaws in advanced prominent, older, devotees, no? --- They are superficially bad things that are dovetailed with Krsna on a deeeperr level, and they are real faults that result from never giving up attachements even though associating superficially with the process for many years.
I'm very fallen and unqualified so i can't do big things here. I always pray to Lord Balarama for strength and i hope i will be able hold on to my sadhana in every circumstances in the future.
I try to set a good example to the devotees. If somebody is not open-minded i don't want to push or convince them but if somebody needs help i try to preach them. I'm sure it will be hard work in this institutional and overregulated yatra.
HpS - Again, we sure can't make any detailed suggestions without knowing "the Yatra", but it's a fact as Srila Prabhupada comments, that the example is there from Prahlada Maharaja. He was only 5ive years old, but found ways to keep his Sadhana and preach to his friends! Jaya! Oink! Oink! Whoop! WHoooop!
So i can offer these things. Not too much... just drop in the bucket.
But if i can do something for Srila Prabhupada and You i'm happy.
I miss personal instructions, Maharaja. I have no diksa guru and i feel the lack of it.
There are lot of devotees who inspire me; mostly BVV Narasimha Swami, Sacinandana Swami, Krishna Ksetra Prabhu, Bhaktivaibhava Swami, Jananivas Prabhu, Pankajanghri Prabhu. But You inspire me more then anybody else. Your knowledge, simplicity, enthusiasm, serving mood, humility and sense of humour are so unique. You are not just one of my siksa guru. I accepted You as my spiritual master in my heart.
I meditate on You when i chant gayatri mantra and i say Srila Prabhupada's and your pranama mantra also with your subsequent approval. Is it a speculation?
I still can't do any brahmana service here but gayatri mantra helps my japa so much. So thank you for it again.
And thank you for Japa Joe i try to go more often and try to smile more when i chant :)
Best wishes!
Your insignificant servant,
Sri Radhe dd
HpS - ASA - Saints are attracted to other Saints and embeciles are attracted to other embeciles. I guess we all have a place in Srila Prabhupada's marching band! (Fotos of Dancing Dogs on Internet).
More news as you can!