Never Criticize a Sadhu
Bhaktivinoda Thakur very nicely describes the importance of not criticizing the saintly devotees of the Lord in the following excerpt from his classic edifying book Harinam Cintamani:
"It is concluded that one who is solely devoted to Krishna and sings His name is known as a sadhu. Other than the devotees of Krishna, no one else is considered to be a sadhu. One who considers himself a sadhu is filled with material pride. But one who thinks himself to be the lowest rascal, humbly takes shelter of Krishna and sings Krishna's name, is the real sadhu. Knowing himself to be less than a blade of grass, considering himself like a tree of tolerance, not expecting honor for himself and giving honor to all other living entities, he chants the name and attains attraction for Krishna.
"If a person of the above qualities chants the holy name even once, he is considered a Vaisnava, and should be respected. The Vaisnava is the friend and spiritual leader of the universe; he is an ocean of mercy to all living entities. Whoever criticizes such a Vaisnava goes to hell birth after birth; for there is no path for real liberation other than bhakti, and bhakti is obtained only by the mercy of the Vaisnavas."
From the above teachings of Bhaktivinoda Thakur we learn a very valuable lesson. Sometimes foolish, envious neophyte devotees will criticize the devotee who truly possesses the quality of a sadhu. This is called sadhu-ninda, criticizing the Vaisnava. It is described by Srila Prabhupada as being the greatest offense. If one commits this offense, he wreaks damaging havoc on his path of spiritual awakening. Therefore one should always be very careful to avoid this offense. If one commits it, to rectify himself he must genuinely humble himself, not superficially, to the full satisfaction of the devotee he has offended. Otherwise he will face insurmountable obstacles on his pathway back to home, back to Godhead.
Kalakanta Das and His Wife Jitamitra Devi Dasi
Avinash G.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
"It is concluded that one who is solely devoted to Krishna and sings His name is known as a sadhu. Other than the devotees of Krishna, no one else is considered to be a sadhu. One who considers himself a sadhu is filled with material pride. But one who thinks himself to be the lowest rascal, humbly takes shelter of Krishna and sings Krishna's name, is the real sadhu. Knowing himself to be less than a blade of grass, considering himself like a tree of tolerance, not expecting honor for himself and giving honor to all other living entities, he chants the name and attains attraction for Krishna.
"If a person of the above qualities chants the holy name even once, he is considered a Vaisnava, and should be respected. The Vaisnava is the friend and spiritual leader of the universe; he is an ocean of mercy to all living entities. Whoever criticizes such a Vaisnava goes to hell birth after birth; for there is no path for real liberation other than bhakti, and bhakti is obtained only by the mercy of the Vaisnavas."
From the above teachings of Bhaktivinoda Thakur we learn a very valuable lesson. Sometimes foolish, envious neophyte devotees will criticize the devotee who truly possesses the quality of a sadhu. This is called sadhu-ninda, criticizing the Vaisnava. It is described by Srila Prabhupada as being the greatest offense. If one commits this offense, he wreaks damaging havoc on his path of spiritual awakening. Therefore one should always be very careful to avoid this offense. If one commits it, to rectify himself he must genuinely humble himself, not superficially, to the full satisfaction of the devotee he has offended. Otherwise he will face insurmountable obstacles on his pathway back to home, back to Godhead.
Kalakanta Das and His Wife Jitamitra Devi Dasi
Highly Respectable Devotees of Lord Krishna
Answers by Citing the Vedic Version:
Question: If Death Is Pre-Determined How Can It Be Untimely?
It is a well-known that life and death are pre-decided by the Supreme Lord. I would like to know that when life and death are already decided by the Lord, how do people get killed by accidents, murders etc., which are untimely death?Avinash G.
Answer: When It Is Premature It Is Called Untimely
Calamities outside of the usual course of affairs, such as dying at a young age, are not happening by accident. Although they are called untimely, they are still happening pre-determinedly in perfect accordance with the law of karma, which predetermines everything. There is only thing that happens outsde of the predeterministic grip of karma, and that is the act of surrendering yourself unto Lord Sri Krishna. As soon as one surrenders to Krishna he is no longer in the clutches of karma.Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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