In the purport to Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.4.12, Srila Prabhupada nicely explains the art of fanning the spark of good qualities in another person. Here, Sati speaks to her father Daksha after he insulted her husband Lord Shiva. Before she quits her body in a blazing fire, she instructs her father as follows: “Twice-born Daksha, a man like you can simply find fault in the qualities of others. Lord Shiva, however, not only finds no faults with others’ qualities, but if someone has a little good quality, he magnifies it greatly. Unfortunately, you have found fault with such a great soul.” In the purport Srila Prabhupada wonderfully elaborates: “There are some highly qualified persons, who accept only the good qualities in others. Just as a bee is always interested in the honey in the flower and does not consider the thorns and colors, highly qualified persons, who are uncommon, accept only the good qualities of others, not considering their bad qualities, whereas the common man can judge what are good qualities and what are bad qualities.” In other words, Srila Prabhupada explains that merely to distinguish good from bad is very common-anybody can do this! We often think ourselves to be so qualified when being able to recognize the good from the bad. But any common person should be able to do this-it belongs to the lowest level of understanding. Furthermore, a highly qualified and uncommon person accepts only the good qualities in others. However, it doesn’t mean that he doesn’t notice the bad qualities. No, he is not in ignorance -he can see them, but he simply doesn’t take them to be so important and thus disregards them. He only accepts the good quality, just like the bee accepts the honey of the flower, and not the colors or thorns. Srila Prabhupada continues to explain in his unique choice of wording: “Among the uncommonly good souls there are still gradations, and the best good soul is one who accepts an insignificant asset of a person and magnifies that good quality.” In other words, it is a very common level to distinguish the good from the bad. A vaishnava is a special soul who accepts only the good qualities and disregards the bad. Amongst such vaishnavas are even more elevated souls, who accept a tiny spark of a devotional quality and magnify it greatly. He understands that by fanning such little spark, it will eventually bring about a blazing fire of devotion, which will in turn burn up all anarthas and unwanted tendencies. Such most elevated vaishnava can serve as a mentor preacher, care giver and guru to others.
In ‘The Great Transcendental Adventure’ by Kurma Dasa we hear the following wonderful story which took place in Melbourne in 1974: “Since his last visit to Melbourne, Prabhupada’s artist disciple Syamananda had moved out of the temple and grown a beard. Today he had again come to see Srila Prabhupada. Some devotees had predicted that when Srila Prabhupada saw him in his non-vaishnava attire and hairstyle, he would not be very pleased. Syamananda had just completed a new art painting-half-oil, half-pastels, and now he had brought it to the house to present it to Srila Prabhupada as a gift. Syamananda strained as he carried the heavy, one-and-a-half meter square painting down the hallway. He propped it against the wall outside Srila Prabhupada’s room, and stopped to catch his breath. A couple of heads peered out of the room, ready to see Prabhupada’s reaction. Suddenly, Prabhupada was there in the hallway. He approached Syamananda and stopped, smiling, as he reached out and ruffled Syamananda’s hair, and tickled his bearded chin. “So, what is this?” “It’s a beard, Srila Prabhupada.” “So, why do you have a beard?” Syamananda tried to explain. “Well, I find it easier to relate to people if I look like them i” He paused, realizing the foolishness of the answer. “Actually, Srila Prabhupada, I have no idea why I’ve got a beard!” He laughed, and Prabhupada laughed with him. Immediately, the tense atmosphere became light and relaxed. Prabhupada looked at the painting. “Who has done this?” “I did, Srila Prabhupada. It’s a present for you.” “Oh! Bring it in.” Prabhupada displayed a boyish charm as he encouraged Syamananda to carry the painting into the room, although he could barely lift it. The painting with its white and gilt frame was propped up near the fireplace as Prabhupada sat on his bed for a closer inspection. “Ah! Radha and Krishna!” Prabhupada gazed lovingly at the gorgeous work for a long time. Krishna stood in the center of the painting. He wore a jeweled turban, played a silver flute, and wore a long garland of flower petals. Radharani, dressed in a white sari with a golden border, was kneeling, offering flowers and tulasi leaves at His lotus feet. The Divine Couple were standing by a lake, and behind them a peacock fully expanded his plumage as a backdrop. This entire circular centerpiece was expertly drawn with pastels and enclosed in glass. Surrounding this central portion, representing Krishna’s abode, were rays of light filtered through a rainbow ring, and clouds, representing the spiritual sky, all painted in oils. “This is very nice,” exclaimed Prabhupada. He complimented Syamananda on his artistic hand. “I can write, you cannot write. You can paint, I cannot paint. So let us work together in Krishna’s service.” Prabhupada spoke for some time, discussing the materials and techniques that Syamananda had used, and how artistic talent itself could be well used as devotional service to Krishna. Prabhupada further expressed his appreciation. “I would like this to be the first thing that I see when I awake in the morning and the last thing I see at night before I go to sleep.” Syamananda brought in a table beside the bed and with great difficulty lifted the painting on top. “Prabhupada is pleased”, thought Syamananda. He offered his obeisances and left the room, satisfied and encouraged. Satsvarupa Goswami, witnessing the events, once again marveled at Prabhupada’s sensitivity and expertise in his dealing with the delicate devotional lives of his disciples.”
Srila Prabhupada was an embodiment of this art. He could detect any most tiny spark of inclination and attraction to serve Krishna, and he magnified it greatly. He knew how to fan it until the spark turns into a strong fire which would burn up all nonsense tendencies. He could perfectly understand how to give encouragement, yet balancing and seasoning it with correction, chastisement and instruction. Without this art, Srila Prabhupada would have never been successful in establishing Lord Caitanya’s sankirtana movement all around the world.
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