We are not Masters to Chastize

Tridandisvami Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja
1997 Badger, California

We must try to advance, and not waste our time in criticizing trying to control all situations. Gurudeva can control. He is a controller, and Krsna, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu are controllers. It is in our interest to think, "I am not the controller. I should be controlled by Them. I should try to control myself." In this way we can develop our Krsna consciousness.

Also, while we are chanting, remembering (the topics to be meditated upon while chanting), and engaging in devotional services, we need to protect ourselves so that we do not commit offenses to others. Offences will spoil everything, and all our endeavors will be wasted and go in the garbage can. So we should try not to offend anyone. We should always honor all.
 
If you see that a person is wretched, then don't associate with him. Try to do your dandavat pranama from afar by saying or thinking: "Oh, dandavat pranama; I should go." But do not criticize. Guru can criticize and chastise. We are not masters to chastise. Be very humble, hankering for bhakti, and in this way your hearts will melt. Try to serve Vaisnavas and Guru. If you chastise Vaisnavas, not honoring them, and at the same time you are performing abundant service to Gurudeva, Gurudeva will not accept your service.

Vaisnava service is also guru-puja. If someone acting in the role of Guru says, "Do not serve any Vaisnavas. Only serve me.  Give all your money to me, not to any other Vaisnava," he is not really a Guru. A bona fide Guru does not speak like this. He is broad-minded. Thinking that Krsna is everywhere, he honors even an ant.

Let us not waste our time in managing everything: "This, that, this, that. This is not good, this is good." Do not even think, "We have to make our altar more beautiful. If we have more gold on the altar, it will be so good. Our deities' dresses are not made of real jewels – only some imitation jewels. Krsna's stick and flute are not made of pure gold. The vyasasana of Srila Prabhupada is only made of cloth – no jewels. I should fix it.

Please do not think all these things. Everything is correct externally. Now just correct your mind.  Do not think, "This room is not so good. There is no velvet cloth. When Gurudeva will come I will have to wash his lotus feet, but we have no golden pots. I must try to get some."  Do not think all these things.  You cannot perfect all these things or complete all these activities. What is there is sufficient. Rather, you will have to bring more and more love and affection.

Please do not be disturbed by my harsh speaking; I am not trying to make any problem and trouble for you.  You are free to accept something, or nothing, or more, or less.  I have a shop here. You can take from it or not take, as you wish. You can come and take the goods in my shop, or you can leave without them. If you think my goods are okay, then take them, if not, then do not take them. If they are not sold here, I will take them in my hands and go to Berkley. If they are not sold there I will take them to Eugene. If not there, I will see if there is any customer in Vancouver and then NY. And if they are not sold there, I will bring them back to Mathura.

Gaura Premanande.