Tests to One’s Faith and Determination (06/27/11)Their Future is in Your Hands (06/30/11)I Have No Fear (06/28/11)
Dear K____ Swami,
I read your thoughtful email. If things ‘cool down’ then certainly it is for the better. Who V____ is initiated by is of little concern to me. Our sampradāya is based on śikṣā as its quintessence and not on dikṣā. But why the heavy restrictions, especially if her husband has a different guru? Will the fighting mentality and mentality of non-cooperation among the Vaiṣṇavas continue even to the point that an elderly couple have to disappoint each other with their sectarian behavior, or up to the point of death?
I have given a little reflection on your email from yesterday and noted two points that I want to mention briefly. One is that you politely suggest that if V____ “could be neutral and not actively engage” in our programs and the other that L_____ “arrange another cook for the program.” Simple enough, but I have to say that not having any engagement or cooking in the kitchen leaves V_____ to sit and listen to me for hours on end. Our classes are usually for at least 3 hours and I give at least 2 such darśana classes per day when I visit devotees. So I’m not sure what it is you want to save or protect V____ from first — rubbing elbows with P_____ while washing pots in the kitchen, or hearing my preaching? Because after all, it is my preaching that has drawn L____ and another 10 bhaktas and other devotees such a T_____ in Czech and Slovakia to my mission and not by the coercion or harassment of P_____.
Being a disciple of Śrīla Prabhupāda I have no fear, and my disciples being under my shelter, they have no fear — all are abhaya. Whatever the final outcome in this issue I am sure someone will suffer or be dissatisfied, but in the end it is destiny/sukṛti that brings us to our present situation. Kṛṣṇa consciousness is all-attractive and doesn’t need threatening persuasions or mental torture to bring one to the right path. L____ and V_____ will decide on this issue without any pressure from me.
From the small Indra-gopa to Lord Brahmā, everyone has to make their own decisions and live with the results. Guru and Kṛṣṇa are there to help them, but ultimately everyone is responsible for their own actions. Eko nu bhuṅkte sukṛtam eka eva ca duṣkṛtam – “One must accept the results of his own good and bad activities.” (Manu-saṁhitā])
Hoping this meets you well.
Gaura Haribol,
Swami Narasingha
