Limit of CompassionKindness to AgressorsLast evening I was attempting to remove a couple of the unfriendly insects when, to my surprise, Prabhupäda also entered under the protective canopy to begin his night's work. He was sitting behind his desk unperturbed as I, on my hands and knees on the other side, tracked down one last mosquito. I had his woollen cap in my hand, using it as a swatter. Seeing my prey settled high up in one corner of the net, I swung. "Whap!" The tiny body fell to the ground, apparently dead. I wasn't too happy at having killed it, but what could be done? If it wasn't removed, it would bite Çréla Prabhupäda all night, disturb his translation work, and maybe even give him malaria. I picked up the corpse and tossed it out from under the net. It landed a few inches away on the clean white sheets. Prabhupäda silently watched the whole procedure.Suddenly, as we both looked on, it stirred, shook its wings and flew off. It wasn't dead after all. Çréla Prabhupäda gave a happy exclaim, "Ah! Hare Kåñëa!" He was very pleased to see that I had only stunned my quarry.I too was happy and became more so when he narrated a similar history of his own. "I also did this. One insect was buzzing; it was very annoying, and I gave it a slap and it fell down." His face softened with compassion and regret. "Then I was very sorry, 'Oh! I have killed this poor creature.' But suddenly it got up and flew off. Oh! Then I was very glad!"His remembrance gave me another revealing glimpse of Çréla Prabhupäda's kindness and concern for every living being, even those that might be aggressors. I felt happy to have escaped an offense to the mosquito and privileged to have shared a moment of intimate confession with Çréla Prabhupäda.What should be the limit of Compassion and Kindness?January 31st, 1976For many months a thief named Agarwal has been masquerading as Acyutänanda Swami in several states. He's been making Life Members and keeping their fees. Our men only heard about him when the new "Members" came to claim their benefits. He was eventually apprehended with stolen Life Membership forms, rubber stamps, and other paraphernalia. Before being handed over to the police he pleaed for mercy. Thus he was brought here to Mäyäpur to see Çréla Prabhupäda. He admitted to fraudulently using ISKCON's name to extort funds; but he claimed that he was truly interested in becoming a devotee.After speaking to him Prabhupäda showed great mercy. Rather than involve the police he decided to give him a chance to reform himself. The man was to stay here in Mäyäpur, chant Hare Kåñëa, and render some service.Agarwal seemed to be serious, even accompanying Çréla Prabhupäda on some of his walks. Prabhupäda therefore made no further reference to his nefarious activities. However, early this morning he was intercepted at the front gate. He was on his way out with his bags packed.Jayapatäkä Mahäräja asked Çréla Prabhupäda what should be done with him. Prabhupäda said we should turn him over to the police. Later in the morning Agarwal was taken to the Navadvépa lock-up and formally charged.It is an excellent example of the term "unfortunate." Although an outright criminal, Agarwal had somehow or other received the special mercy of a pure devotee of the Lord. But because of his criminal nature he could not take advantage of it. Thus he is now suffering the results of his mischievous deeds.* * *A devotee, even if committing a horrible activity, is to be considered saintly and quickly becomes righteous. KŠa then asks Arjuna to declare it boldly that His devotee is never vanquished. (29-31)There are 3 possible understandings to this verse:Just talking of the possibility of an impossible situation to make a point.If one is sinful before coming to KŠa consciousness, his past shouldn’t be considered when he is a devotee.If sin is actually performed in devotional service.®r…la Prabhup€da says in his purport: “The words sadhur eva, ``he is saintly,'' are very emphatic. They are a warning to the nondevotees that because of an accidental falldown a devotee should not be derided; he should still be considered saintly even if he has accidentally fallen down. And the word mantavyah is still more emphatic. If one does not follow this rule, and derides a devotee for his accidental falldown, then one is disobeying the order of the Supreme Lord. The only qualification of a devotee is to be unflinchingly and exclusively engaged in devotional service."®r…la Vivan€th Cakravarti Th€kura says that KŠa says “I have just said I am equal to everyone, but if my devotees perform improper acts I don’t reject them.Arjuna asks: “If one sees a person doing like this, how could one think he is a sadhu?”KŠa says: “You should think like this. My order is the proof”Arjuna: “When he is worshipping he may be a sadhu, but when he’s doing nonsense he’s not sadhu.”KŠa: “No, he’s only a sadhu. In every regard, because he is properly resolved to serve Me.Ramanujacarya says that a person might think that such a fallen devotee should be rejected, but he says that this is not correct. Not only should he not be thrown out, but he must be seen as a sadhu, otherwise it is an offense to KŠa Himself.Arjuna then says: “ Such an irreligious man who is rendering service, how do You accept his service? His heart is polluted by lust, greed, anger and his offerings are polluted by such things.”Then ®r…la Vivan€th Cakravarti Th€kura says that Lord KŠa speaks the first half of the next verse.31. Then according to ®r…la Vivan€th Cakravarti Th€kura and ®r…la Baladeva Vidhy€bhuana KŠa says: “Very quickly he becomes righteous, then I accept his offerings. He quickly becomes righteous because he laments, remembering Me again and again. He thinks: “Alas, alas, there is no other devotee like me. I am like a black spot among the devotees.” In this way his heart burns in the fire of lamentation. Again and again he curses himself. Through experiencing the burning fire of this ordeal, he becomes purified. He thinks: “I am unable to give up this sinful activity, and I am going to go to hell for this, but I will never give up devotional service to KŠa.” Because of this determination I keep him a sadhu and I accept the impurity of his activity.”Arjuna says: “I understand he becomes righteous, there is no dispute, but if he remains sinful, does abominable activities during his life, should we still consider him a sadhu?"Krsna become angry, His eyes become enlarged, He says:"Kaunteya‑pratijanihi", My devotee never perishes! Even if he dies he does not go down. There is no need for prayascitta. My unalloyed devotee, if by mistake he acts improperly, he will become purified by My power and again attain Me." When Krsna said like this, Arjuna put his hand on his head and said in a great worry: "Many people will not agree." And he became morose. "How can I help them to understand this fact?"Krsna says: "Take mrdangas, take karatalas, take drums and bang everything loudly and go to where they are speaking like this and raise both hands in the air take a vow, take a oath in My name and say like this: "The devotee of the Lord even if improperly behaving, will never perish! He will reach the proper destination." And when you speak like this, all the people will fall at your feet and say: "Maharaja you are our guru!"But why is Krsna Himself not taking this oath? He Himself in the 18th Chapter will take a vow. Why doesn't He take it here? Actually the Lord was intending taking the vow Himself, but then, before speaking thought for a moment: "I like My devotees very much, and I can't tolerate problems put upon them. I always protect My devotees and in this battlefield I have to break My own word when Arjuna will be fighting with Bhisma. People will laugh and they will say: 'O He has spoken so many words, but He broke them.' But they know that Arjuna's words are 'like lines carved on a stone'. Krsna therefore thought: 'Arjuna, not Me, should make this vow!'So this is why the devotee should surrender to Krsna, because Krsna is so kind and merciful to His devotees in so many ways. Because He is a personal guide and He personally takes interest in His devotee.
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