Hare Krsna
Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada
SB 3.16.5 - A devotee should always see that his Vaisnava qualities increase with the advancement of his Krsna consciousness. A devotee should be blameless because any offense by the devotee is a scar on the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The devotee's duty is to be always conscious in his dealings with others, especially with another devotee of the Lord.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura comments further on this point that if one is not detached from material life, but proclaims himself advanced in spiritual life, he is cheating. "No one will be happy to see such behavior." (Cc Antya 2.117)
Bg 3.21 - Lord Caitanya said that a teacher should behave properly before he begins teaching. Therefore, a teacher must follow the principles of sastra (scripture) to teach the common man. The teacher cannot manufacture rules against the principles of revealed scriptures.
SB 1.3.9 - As King Rsabha advised His sons, tapasya, or voluntary acceptance of penance for realization of the Transcendence, is the only duty of the human being; it was so done by the Lord Himself in an exemplary manner to teach us.
Note:
Ceasar's wife should be above suspicion," Srila Prabhupada used to quote, meaning that a devotee must be exemplary. If people suspect that a representative of God is cheating on the very principles he is supposed to be upholding, then how can they hear him with faith? If a man advises others not to smoke cigarettes but he himself smokes, of what value are his words?
Sadachar helps in establishing Achar. We need to fight Durachar through Prachar by Achar.
Comments