As time passes, we begin to see that devotees also have imperfections. The real challenge comes when we see senior devotees, who are often practicing for 20 or 30 years, acting in questionable ways.
Very nice and relatable article. From personal experience, one of the worst thing we could do in our spiritual practice is to be very relaxed with our seniors because their "imperfections" become glaring to us or they have developed genuine humility after half a century of practice.
Speaking as someone very junior who finds their spiritual shelter in senior devotees, this complacency is a slow poison that warps our perception of all senior devotees negatively. As fanatical as it may sound, making the effort to develop humility and respect towards all your seniors (even if from a distance) really nourishes your spiritual life.
Even just making a sincere effort to develop such humility in the face of adversity really pleases Lord Krsna and His devotees. Thus the essence of Bhakti is personalism instead of impersonalism, the nectar being is that each devotee is very individual.
Very nice and relatable article. From personal experience, one of the worst thing we could do in our spiritual practice is to be very relaxed with our seniors because their "imperfections" become glaring to us or they have developed genuine humility after half a century of practice.
Speaking as someone very junior who finds their spiritual shelter in senior devotees, this complacency is a slow poison that warps our perception of all senior devotees negatively. As fanatical as it may sound, making the effort to develop humility and respect towards all your seniors (even if from a distance) really nourishes your spiritual life.
Even just making a sincere effort to develop such humility in the face of adversity really pleases Lord Krsna and His devotees. Thus the essence of Bhakti is personalism instead of impersonalism, the nectar being is that each devotee is very individual.
Wonderful and full of helpful advice and reminders. Thank you Sir.🙏🏼
I love this: "We don’t abandon treatment because other patients cough or misbehave."
Yes, the world is full of sick people. That's why we're all here. But we are blessed to know we have a problem! And that there is a solution! 🙏🏼