Build on Your Failures and Become a Mega Success

A devotee of the Lord is not discouraged in any situation because, seeing every turn of events as the special mercy of Lord Krishna, he uses every circumstance to advance himself further along the pathway of Krishna consciousness and to expedite his pushing forward of the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Therefore he is always progressing in expanding and spreading Krishna consciousness for his own benefit and the benefit of all other living beings. Even though he may sometimes appear to be defeated, he is in reality only taking one step back in order to take ten steps forward. In this way, no matter whatever failures he may appear to undergo, he emerges as a mega success in the end.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Ecstatically Spreading Lord Caitanya's Movement--Czech Republic

Answers by Citing the Vedic Version:

Question: How to Get the Association of Pure Devotees?

In so many books Srila Prabhupada tells that association means association of pure devotees of the Lord. Now we see in temple we all are sadhaka devotees (followers of the regulative principles of bhakti who have not yet reached the platform of spontaneous love). Please tell us how is it that we can get purified and go back to Krishna in this one life by associating with sadhaka devotees, those who are not yet completely pure? Also even in the temple, we see that among devotees they sometimes behave like materialistic people and don't treat each other with the love and care which we are hankering after. I feel very bad when I see this among devotees. So what should we do in this situation? Thank you for Your patience in looking and answering this insignificant's mail.

Your humble servant,
Madhura

Answer: See Who is Strictly Following Srila Prabhupada

Srila Prabhupada is a pure devotee, and those who strictly follow him are pure devotees, even if they are still sadhakas, followers of the rules and regulations of bhakti. So there are pure devotees in ISKCON. Simply you must seek out their association, because by their good example, proper instructions, and blessings you can also become a pure devotee.

Sometimes, as you have mentioned, we see that the behavior of the neophyte devotees is not up to the proper standard. But before we become too judgmental we should take a close, honest look at our own behavior. In this connection it should also be noted that Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita that if even the neophyte devotees sometimes due to their past material conditioning behave in an improper way, they are still to be considered saintly because they are engaged in devotional service. Whatever irregularities may be found in their behavior will soon be rectified by the purificatory process of Krishna consciousness.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari