Tests to One’s Faith and Determination (06/27/11)
Dear _____,
Hare Kṛṣṇa.
Please accept my humble blessings.
I read your email and fully understand the situation that K___Swami has created with V____ and in your home. It is sad that he has spoken to V_____ in such a harsh manner. K___Swami could have taken a much different and more Kṛṣṇa conscious approach to his instructions to V____, but unfortunately he has not.
I have written to ______ Swami (guru of K___Swami]) and asked him to instruct K___Swami to reconsider his hardline approach with V____ and to be more generous, harmonious and Kṛṣṇa conscious in his instructions. We will have to wait and see what happens next.
My personal advise to you at this time is to be tolerant and as husband and wife, you and V____ must sit together. and as mature individuals, understand that being a devotee of Kṛṣṇa does not mean to be a fanatic. P___ is your dear friend and guide. You and V____ have love for P____ and Kṛṣṇa will not be pleased if you or V___ simply reject P____.
One should follow the instructions of guru, but if the guru gives instructions that are not Kṛṣṇa conscious, then such instructions the disciple should humbly disobey. Guru means representing Kṛṣṇa and his instructions should always warm our hearts and encourage us to march forward in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The instruction from the guru should not create fear, disharmony, suspicion, hate and fanaticism, etc. There are many gurus in our modern world, but unfortunately only a very few of them are actually qualified to be guru, to be Prabhupāda’s and Kṛṣṇa’s representative.
It is the duty to follow guru, but guru should not cause problems between husband and wife. This is very bad. You and V____ are both very sincere and the guru should have given instructions in such a way to make harmony. Unfortunately, K___Swami has not shown good Kṛṣṇa consciousness in this matter. His instruction to V___ simply shows his position of weakness, reflects fearfulness and incites suspicion. Weakness, fear and suspicion are the cardinal enemies of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. He has also put you and V___ into a very difficult situation as husband and wife in your home. It is also very bad that V___ has to be exposed to intimidation in the house of _____ Dāsa. I am sad to hear this news but I warned P____ that the iskcon people would follow the worst path when this issue came up.
Although I have written ____Swami and he will surely write K___Swami about this issue, I doubt very seriously that K___Swami has the sincerity, concern, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness to change his approach. If he does then I will be the first to say I was wrong. We have no interest to make conflict with iskcon, but if our mission grows in Czech and Slovakia it is to be expected that iskcon will always show us their worst face.
But we are not concerned with them. We are in love with the beautiful face of Kṛṣṇa and we have sold our hearts to Śrīla Prabhupāda, Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja and to all Kṛṣṇa’s pure devotees. Therefore, we can never be defeated. But there are tests and devotees will sometimes have to face trials and tribulations that test their faith and determination.
Let us hope that Kṛṣṇa and _____Swami will soften the heart of K___Swami, and that K___Swami will then show us much more grace and harmony when instructing V___.
Hoping this meets you well.
Gaura Haribol,
Swami Narasingha
