Finding Fault Where No Fault Exists (01/15/03)
Dear A___ Dāsa,
Hare Kṛṣṇa.
Thank you for your email above.
When Kṛṣṇa consciousness first began in the western world, there was only Śrīla Prabhupāda to guide us, but still some devotees gave up Śrīla Prabhupāda’s shelter and ran to other missions in India. These devotees found fault with Śrīla Prabhupāda where no real fault existed. The real problem was that these devotees were not surrendered souls. Each one of them had an agenda of their own and thus they could not surrender to the order of Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Now, in modern times, there are many missions in the west and in India and the trend to find fault with one’s guru and run to another guru has become very popular. But the problem is the same. Such persons are not surrendered souls. They find fault in the guru due to a private agenda of their own that restricts their ability to accept the order and follow the order of their guru.
If one rejects his guru, as N__ and A___ have done, then they will not actually make spiritual progress in life. One may be very austere or even very learned, but it is not possible to just reject one guru and accept another and at the same time continue to make spiritual progress. At least I am sure that these two men will never have access into the divine conception of Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja. They will be well situated in Iskcon among other kaniṣṭha devotees, but they have sadly thrown away their connection to Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja.
T____ Mahārāja was actually another case altogether, and he did not make any offence to me. I was very happy that he went to the shelter of G___ Mahārāja who is my good friend. T__ Mahārāja always gave pain to the other simple devotees in our mission, due to his harsh behaviour, but he was otherwise trying to be sincere.
When we had passed that difficult period several months ago, I then realised that Kṛṣṇa had removed those elements that stood in the way of the steady progress of our mission. I also realised that I had accepted some disciples very quickly, but that such persons were not really fit for our mission. Now the standards for one to become our disciple have become much more strict and the mission is in a very healthy state and progressing nicely.
If you have any questions on other topics then please email me.
Please also visit our website regularly for mission updates etc.
I hope this meets you well and trying to sincerely continue with your sādhana of the Holy Name.
With Affection,
Swami B.G. Narasiṅgha
