By Kesava Krsna dasa – GRS
If a spiritual master requests a glass of water and the disciple brings some milk instead, thinking it to be a more valuable type of service, it would be considered a classic example of being over-intelligent. Does overuse of our intelligence only refer to practical things like this? If doubt is a symptom of intelligence, what if we become over-intelligent and begin to over-doubt? If we broaden the possibilities further, can one over-estimate, over-discriminate and generally over-react to challenges we face in our devotional lives?
Many of us are accustomed to the intellectual cynicism afforded by ‘free’ democratic societies. The news we read or hear, and judicious endings to court cases are often the work of investigative journalists or police work, who often test the limits of constitutional liberties such as the freedom of speech, expression, the rights to life, to privacy and so on, which favor a decent and dignified existence. When we come to Krsna consciousness, a cultural shock awaits us as we become exposed to the ancient way of obedience to authority, to guru, sadhu and Sastra.
Sometimes Srila Prabhupada discovered that certain traits of western liberty would infiltrate the service attitude, even with good intentions, but would lead him to say ‘over-intelligent,’ with a potential to ‘change’ or ‘spoil’ what he had established. The desire to change something consecrated by the previous acaryas has to be a work of doubt. When an over-doubter sets up a proxy masquerading as the real thing, and in Srila Prabhupada’s name, it is certainly a product of over-intelligence. The reason for these changes are mired in what Srila Prabhupada says is ‘foolishness.’ For instance, Srila Prabhupada gave the example of counterfeit coins. We may handle some counterfeit coins one time or another, but know that not all coins are crooked, whereas a foolish person will conclude that all coins must be counterfeit. In the same way, we may all experience seeing a devotee leave, or have personal difficulties, but we also know not all devotees are suspect. Whereas the doubter will conclude that everyone is fallen except Srila Prabhupada or the acaryas.
Interestingly, Srila Prabhupada also used the term over-intelligent to refer to the modern-day Christians who do not follow the teachings of Jesus. Even more interesting is the fact that the Christians say that all, each and every one of us are fallen sinners except for Jesus himself, thanks to a dubious original sin of biting some fruit by Adam. If we compare this with the idea of all devotees being fallen, whose integrity are open to over-intelligent over-doubting scrutiny, we find a parallel pursued in the guise of over-discrimination. The ramifications of this are quite serious. By doubting the devotees we also doubt the power of Bhakti to uplift them, then we are guilty of the converse – underestimation. If we underestimate the devotees, chances are high we will lessen our respect for the spiritual master too, by underestimating his words which reflect Srila Prabhupada’s teachings on the matter. Predictably, Lord Krsna says in BG.15.19 “Whoever knows Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, without doubting, is the knower of everything. He therefore engages himself in full devotional service to Me, O son of Bharata.” If someone thinks he can render devotional service without the need for a spiritual master by the process of diksha, his service can never be ‘full.’ It can either be partial or zero depending on the severity of deviation.
Srila Prabhupada never doubted the status of any devotee no matter how fallen. He says in BG.9.34 purport: “The devotee, in the beginning, may sometimes fall from the standard, but still he should be considered superior to all other philosophers and yogis.” Even a beginner is a devotee. Elsewhere he writes: “….such an occasional fall down will be stopped in due course, as soon as a devotee is situated in Krsna consciousness.” – BG.9.30 purport. Sometimes a doubter will feel great vindication based on discrimination when, if a devotee falls and may never return even in this lifetime, proves his all-fallen assertions. But the few years we experience here on earth, which seem a long duration of time, has no bearing whatsoever on Krsna’s sense of timing. For the Lord, if a devotee leaves His service for several lifetimes, it is still a temporary fall down. Does Krsna not say – na me bhaktah pranasyati?
‘Once bitten twice shy’ may be the general maxim. Does it mean we should suspect every devotee around us? Some discriminators say we are being naïve if we see only the good in devotees. Are we being naïve if we see only the good in others? Or is this tempered with suspicion we choose to ignore, as a type of selective amnesia, simply for the sake of good relationships? But if we do this, are we not letting our natural feelings come to the fore? A devotee naturally sees the good just as the bumble bee searches for nectar. An intelligent devotee sees but does not see! How so? When he sees the beauty of the moon, he cares not for the pock marks of the craters. When he sees a fire, he sees through the smoke as simply a natural occurrence.
The far-sighted wisdom of Yudhisthira Maharaja made him behave in ways sometimes exasperating and downright out of touch for his brothers. When Bhima and Arjuna urged for swift action, Yudhisthira chose not to make two wrongs into a right. He still respected, nay even loved those of his relatives bent on oppressing him. By kali-yuga calculations he seemed to be over-humble and therefore a coward. Was he? After the big war, King Yudhisthira even maintained the one who faked false homily and affection, disguising his intention to kill by intrigue and sabotage as prodded by his son Duryodhana – Dhrtarastra. A normal person would be glad to see the back of Dhrtarastra. The fact is, Maharaja Yudhisthira intelligently appraised all the wrong doings, but lived his life in an exemplary way. He saw, but did not see the bad. He was a real discriminator.
We have our God-given intelligence created by Krsna, awarded to us so to pave our way home back to Godhead. If we remain simple, and perform our duties without adding or subtracting, changing or spoiling, our service will become an attractive offering. Next time we bring a glass of water according to the specifications of the guru, even an excess quantity will not be too problematic, because the potent remnants will help keep us advancing in such a way as to fulfill the mandate of the Bhagavad Gita, and thus worship Krsna by our intelligence – BG.18.70.
Kesava Krsna dasa – GRS.
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