If Someone Urinates on You

Badger, California: June 17, 2005

I offer my millions of heart-touching obeisances unto the lotus feet of my param-aradyattama gurupada-padma (worshipful Gurudeva), nitya-lila-pravista om visnupada, Sri Srimad Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja. And I offer the same, millions of humble obeisances to the lotus feet of my siksa-guru, Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja.

We have completed our discussion of abhidheya-tattva (the process adopted to attain the object of life, love of God), and now we will discuss sadhana-bhakti. For what purpose is sadhana-bhakti practiced? I have explained our aim and object of life. Sri Krsna personally admitted that the love of Srimati Radharani and the gopis is the highest love.

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura is emphasizing that we should continue to practice sadhana-bhakti with firm determination. In this regard we have the historic example of the tridandi-biksuka. [A tridandu-biksuka is a sannyasi who begs from door to door to enlighten householders and to personally develop qualities that are favorable to bhakti, such as tolerance, meekness and humility.] When he would go for begging in his native place, the residents there would take his water pot and pass urine in it. They would break his danda, insult him, and put stool on his head, calling him, "Dongi (imitation or imposter) Sannyasi." Yet, he was very tolerant. He never cared about the insults, and he continued to go there again and again.

Following this example, if any bad person cheats you, you should think, "No harm." If anyone pushes you and you fall down, or if anyone insults you, if anyone is violent or extremely envious towards you, be tolerant. Srila Haridasa Thakura was beaten and tortured, and Prahlada Maharaja was attempted to be killed. If anyone binds you, forcibly takes your entire wealth by cheating or dacoiting in front of you, or if anyone spits on you, simply be tolerant. Everyone should hear this carefully, especially sannyasis, and among sannyasis, especially senior sannyasis.

If anyone urinates on your head or body, still, be tolerant and continue performing bhakti with enthusiasm. Don’t be hopeless, thinking, “I should not continue.”

If in these cases you are tolerant and continue developing your bhakti, Sri Krsna will be very soon pleased with you. He will be happy, Gurudeva will be happy, and you will be happy and achieve your goal. Sometimes I see in these cases that you are bewildered, not knowing what to do or what not to do.

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has collected verses in this regard. In Srimad-Bhagavatam, Tridandi Upakyam (the life and character of the Tridandi-sannyasi) has been given, and in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta the history of Srila Haridasa Thakura and others have been given. You must be like them.

This is sadhana. At the time of sadhana be very strong, as exemplified in the above-mentioned life histories. I see that some become hopeless and give up bhakti. They think, “Bhakti is nothing. Why do so many calamities and sufferings come? I should give up." Do not give up.