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On Speaking Strongly in Srila Prabhupada's Service

True saintliness, then, does not fit the stereotype. Srila Prabhupada was decorated with innumerable transcendental qualities and was undoubtedly the greatest saintly person, yet he untiringly lambasted the demons and took pleasure in doing so.

Prabhupada: These animals, they are passing on as big scientists, philosophers, theologicians, and so on, so on. We have to stop them. Na mam duskrtino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah. This is the qualification of a person who does not accept God: duskrtina, naradhamah, mudha, mayayapahrta-jnana -- although highly educated, no knowledge -- asuram bhavam asritah, simply atheist. So as Krsna conscious leaders, we have to punish them, chastise these rascals. They are demons.

Giriraja: It's actually relishable to chastise them.

Prabhupada: Yes. (laughs) It is a pleasure sport. Conversation, Bombay, April 19, 1977

This is usually misunderstood by neophytes, who are attracted to scriptural descriptions of topmost devotees seeing all living beings as equal. However, the equal vision of the uttama-adhikari and that of the neophyte are different. Highly exalted devotees see the Supreme Lord everywhere and all living beings in Him. (C.f. Bg. 6.30) The supposed equal vision of the neophyte, however, is based on mundane concepts of egalitarianism. Such sentimentalism is typical of those with meager understanding of Krsna consciousness. Due to such misplaced compassion,

A kanistha-adhikari is disturbed if a second-class devotee criticizes the nondevotees of the Lord. In the name of compassion or kindness, a kanistha-adhikari approves of the nondevotional activities of such materialistic men. He becomes angry when second-class devotees criticize the nondevotees. SB 11.2.47 purport

Lord Krsna describes devotees as anavadyatma, ''free from envy, jealousy, etc.'' (SB 11.11.29). The purport states that a devotee never tries to agitate others or criticize them unnecessarily. For their own sakes, or out of false ego, devotees never disturb anyone. But for the sake of preaching sometimes they must do so. Indeed, preaching means to disturb others, just as a doctor disturbs a patient by telling him he has cancer.


- From the "My Memories of Srila Prabhupada" by HH Bhakti Vikas Swami
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