Danda 1995 - Suhotra Maharaja Archives

devotees, but I gave them as examples to underscore what Srila Prabhupada saidmore than once, that such examples ought to be taken by us as lessons of therisks involved when one commits offenses. If exalted devotees such as these canget into trouble, how careful should we be?Srila Prabhupada commented on a disciple's poem by saying that he should nothave referred to himself as Krsna's devotee, because it is very a rare thing tobe a devotee of Krsna. Rather he should have referred to himself as Krsna'sservant, because every living entity can make that claim.So again, what do you mean by fallen DEVOTEE? Perhaps you mean Ajamila.Ajamila was saved from hell because he chanted "Narayana" as the Yamadutasapproached him. Afterwards Yamaraja forbade his servants from touching DEVOTEESwho "even if by mistake or because of bewilderment or illusion . . . sometimescommit sinful acts," because "they are protected from sinful reactions becausethey always chant the Hare Krsna mantra."Yamaraja then told the Yamadutas:"Paramahamsas are exalted persons who have no taste for materiál enjoyment andwho drink the honey of the Lord's lotus feet. My dear servants, bring to me forpunishment only persons who are averse to the taste of that honey, who do notassociate with paramahamsas and who are attached to family life and worldlyenjoyment, which form the path to hell."My dear servants, please bring to me only those sinful persóna who do not usetheir tongues to chant the holy name and qualities of Krsna, whose hearts do notremember the lotus feet of Krsna even once, and whose heads do not bow down evenonce before Lord Krsna. Send me those who do not perform their duties towardVisnu, which are the only duties in human life. Please bring me all such foolsand rascals."Dare we assume that we are in the same category as Ajamila? Dare we presumethat if we commit sinful acts that we may not fall into the category of personsfit to be snatched by the Yamadutas and taken off to hell?One of Srila Prabhupada's first disciples, who became the first chief editor ofBTG, left ISKCON in the late '60's and became immersed in sense gratification.In the '70's he wrote a letter to Srila Prabhupada offering to return to ISKCONand resume his editorial work on the condition that he would not be able torefrain from illicit sex. Prabhupada was in London when he received this letter,and after reading it he took massage. His Holiness Trivikrama Maharaja, whowas massaging Prabhupada, innocently asked, "So, Srila Prabhupada, how is_______ [who wrote the letter] doing?" Prabhupada answered with great force,"He is going to hell!"Another time, according to Giriraja Maharaja, Srila Prabhupada said inquiriesinto how a devotee may avoid hellish reactions for his offenses reveal an intentto commit offenses. So I would not odvise the members of this conference topursue this question. Rather, we should avoid carefully offenses and the riskof hellish punishment that one can suffer from them.Comment by Mahanidhi dasApríl 10, 1995please accept my humble obeisances