Мадхья 17.25-49 - Страница 16

like it is recommended

not to kick a child with one`s foot. Actually, Visvanatha

Cakravarti Thakura said: "One shouldn`t think that I am very

advanced in Krsna consciousness, and someone else is very

neophyte, and therefore, I can`t offend him." One should always

be ready to follow the proper vaisnava etiquette in his

dealings. For preaching we may have to chastise or preach

strongly, but if we are doing it to help those persons advance in

Krsna consciousness, then we`ll be protected by Krsna. But if

there is some enviousness, or some hatred towards the other

person, whether a child or a neophyte, then there will be some

offense. So we should pray to Krsna to remove all envy from our

heart.

Q: What is the meaning of penance?

A: Penance means austerity. Real austerity, as we were discussing

this morning, is to be fully engaged in the devotional service of

Krsna.

Q: Atonement?

A: Atonement, well, same thing. One should feel regret for any

sinful activities that he has performed in the past. But the only

means of rectification, is the process of devotional service.

Q: Could you please give some information about Upendra?

A: Upendra? Upendra means Vamanadeva. The dwarf incarnation of

the Lord. Bali Maharaja was a great demon and he defeated King

Indra and occupied the throne of the King of Heaven. So Aditya

the mother of Vamanadeva, she appealed to her husband, Kasyapa

Мuni to reestablish her son on the throne. Indra was also her

son; Indra on the throne of heaven. So Kasyapa instructed her to

follow a purification process to worship the supreme Lord. So she

followed that process and as a result, Vamanadeva appeared as her

son. And he came before Bali Maharaja and begged for three steps

of land. So even though his (Bali`s) spiritual master,

Sukracarya, told him that, "He (Vamanadeva) will take away

everything from you with these three steps." Still as a Ksatriya,

Bali Maharaja said, "I have given Him my promise, I will give him

whatever He wants." So in this way, Vamanadeva, with two steps,

covered the entire universe. Then He asked Bali Maharaja, "Where

can I put My third step?" So Bali Maharaja said, "You may put it

on my head." So in this way, he is an example of atmanivedanam,

of full surrender to the Lord.

Q: Why didn`t Kamsa go to Vrindavan?

A: No, because he was afraid. Because he knew that he would be

killed by Krsna; that was the prediction. So just like any demon,

he wants to protect himself. Prabhupada said that, the real

Ksatriya`s, they would go in the front of the battle. But the

modern-day leaders will stay in the background, pushing the

buttons and sending all the others out to get killed. So Kamsa

was that kind of leader.

Q: Why is it that sometimes one devotee is following strictly all

the rules and regulations and is serving Srila Prabhupada very

nicely, but another devotees, who is not so strict with rules and

regulations, goes out on sankirtan...book distribution, he is

forced sometimes to do higher....?

A: There is also the consideration of the person`s propensity or

nature. Some devotees by nature, may be very good at selling

things. But in general, if a devotee is not following so

strictly, he may be able to get some good results for a short

time, but it won`t last very long. Those who are really good

distributors of Srila Prabhupada`s books; who can go on

distributing for years and years and years, they are very strict

in their saddhana. There are many, many excellent and pure

devotees in the movement who are not book distributors, some of

them are very good pujari`s, some of them are very good managers,

some of them are very good cooks. But they`re also very strict in

their chanting, their hearing and following the