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Most unfortunate thing

Mohanananda was becoming increasingly morose and alienated from the devotees. He was not chanting his prescribed number of rounds nor attending the daily spiritual program, and it was obvious to many devotees that he was not strictly following the regulative principles. In early August, 1972, Mohanananda voluntarily relinquished his position as the president of the Sydney temple and GBC assistant, agreeing to spend more time on the printing press.

An election was held and devotees unanimously elected Caru as the new president. Events, however, did not end there. The relationship between Caru and Mohanananda reached an all-time low. Anger and resentment culminated in a violent, verbal clash and a fist-fight. Mohanananda tried to charge the devotees with assault and, being unsuccessful, left the temple in great distress.

The unfortunate events were related to Srila Prabhupada by mail. Srila Prabhupada did not like to hear these things, and wrote back to Amogha and Madhudvisa, registering his great disappointment in the devotees' poor handling of the delicate situation.

Whatever is done is done. But in future, presidents should not be abruptly changed. Rather, if there is any complaint, it should be directed to myself.

His letter revealed his depth of compassion and broadminded spiritual vision:

One thing we should always remember is that all of our devotees picked up here are accustomed to all of these bad habits in their past life, so if sometimes they reveal their old characteristics, instead of rejecting them, it is up to us torectify them as far as possible.

We can reject anyone, that is very easy, but to reform him -- that requires great skill and tact and if you can reform him there by kind words, that is best.

When I was in Sydney, I observed that Mohanananda is a very, very good boy and he has great intelligence and talent; simply it has become a little bit misguided due to circumstances.

Now you both big leaders in Australia, along with the others, you make very concerted attempts to help Mohanananda over his difficulties and persuade him that everything is alright, that I am not angry or displeased in any way. These things will sometimes happen even with the best devotees. In this way try to persuade him to become engaged with his previous enthusiasm for becoming once again a great devotee.

He is a young boy, so we should not take his actions too seriously; better to forget the past and try to reform him. His service can be once again very much valuable there in Australia, I know he is a very good boy. Do not drive him away; that will be the discredit to all of you leaders. But if there is great difficulty, he may come here and live with me in Los Angeles for the time being, I have no objection. But he has done very nicely in Sydney, up to the present time, so if you can utilise his experience and talents there, that is the best plan.

As Srila Prabhupada had stated in the Bhagavad-gita, the best rectification for a fallen devotee was to somehow or other keep him engaged in Krsna's service:

Sometimes it may be seen that a person in Krsna consciousness commits some act which may be taken as most abominable, socially or politically. But such a temporary falldown does not disqualify him. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is stated that if a person falls down but is wholeheartedly engaged in the transcendental service of the Supreme Lord, the Lord, being situated within his heart, purifies him and excuses him from that abomination.

The material contamination is so strong that even a yogi fully engaged in the service of the Lord sometimes becomes ensnared; but Krsna consciousness is so strong that such an occasional falldown is at once rectified. Therefore the process of devotional service is always a success. No-one should deride a devotee for some accidental falldown from the ideal path, for such occasional falldowns will be stopped in due course, as soon as a devotee is completely situated in Krsna consciousness.

Srila Prabhupada displayed the broad vision of a tender-hearted devotee. If someone didn't come to Krsna consciousness, Prabhupada had said, then it was very unfortunate. If someone did come to Krsna consciousness, then he was fortunate. But if someone came to Krsna consciousness and then left before he was mature, then that was the most unfortunate thing.


- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu
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