A Devotee Has No Enemies

A devotee is not inimical towards anyone, even those who are inimical towards him because he sees that everything is acting, working under the arrangement and sanction of the Lord. Therefore his mind is always peaceful, even under the most trying of circumstances. He sees that everything has been directly arranged by His all-merciful Lord for his deliverance back to the transcendental kingdom of God as soon as possible. In this connection there is a wonderful verse in the Srimad Bhagavatam as follows:

titikṣavaḥ kāruṇikāḥ
suhṛdaḥ sarva-dehinām
ajāta-śatravaḥ śāntāḥ
sādhavaḥ sādhu-bhūṣaṇāḥ

"The symptoms of a sādhu are that he is tolerant, merciful and friendly to all living entities. He has no enemies, he is peaceful, he abides by the scriptures, and all his characteristics are sublime."
--Srimad Bhagavatam 3.25.21

The beauty of this process of Krishna consciousness is that even if one is the most degraded ruffian, if he will sincerely follow the path of bhakti, he will in due course of time become a great personality possessing all saintly qualities as described in this verse.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Sharing the Secrets of Bhakti in Riga, Latvia--5 April 2009

Sharing the Secrets of Bhakti in Riga, Latvia--5 April 2009

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Abandoning Non-Devotee Association?

In verse #3 of the Nectar of Instruction Srila Rupa Goswami lists the six favorable principles for the successful execution of pure devotional service. The fifth principle is abandoning the association of non-devotees. In order to become successful in devotional service one has to give up the association of unwanted persons. This includes karmis, jnanis and other non-devotees. Sri Caitanya defines a Vaisnava as someone who gives up the association with worldly people. What does this mean? How does it apply?

In what of the nine stages of bhakti would I fall under, if any, and if I didn't, would that mean you will have to no longer associate with me?

Your eternal servant,
Buddy

Answer: Transform Them Into Devotees

Don't worry. I will never want to give up the association of such a sincere soul as you. Giving up the association of non-devotees means not to take shelter of their association. It does not mean to stop being a merciful, loving person. Lord Caitanya has ordered His devotees to liberally associate with everyone for the sake of giving them the ultimate shelter of Krishna consciousness. To do this is genuine loving kindness.

The point is that instead of associating with non-devotees and engaging with them in non-devotional activities, the devotees associate with the non-devotees for the purpose of engaging them in devotional activities and thereby gradually and naturally transforming them into devotees. Therefore there is no one more loving and kind than the devotees.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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