incorrigible offender

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....Srila Jiva Gosvami. He warns in his Bhakti-sandarbha that there are

offenders to the holy name who are acikitsya, or incorrigible

(jnana-lava-durvidagdhastra-acikitsya-atva-dupeksa). As soon as they acquire

a little knowledge from the Krsna conscious community of devotees, they

become insolent and arrogant. They are excluded from the genuine devotional

community because of three kinds of offense to the holy name: sadhu-ninda

(blasphemy of devotees), guru-avajna (disregard of the spiritual master),

and sruti-sastra ninda (blasphemy of the Vedic scriptures).

The incorrigible offender never admits his offenses. He cannot understand

that the mercy of the spiritual master and the association of pure devotees

are indispensable for the chanting of the holy name. He considers the

spiritual master not a transcendental teacher but a worldly one and tries to

measure the person and instructions of the guru by his own mental standards.

Thus he commits guru-avajna. Because he values worldly knowledge and

accomplishments, he looks down upon the simple devotees who have surrendered

themselves to devotional service. Thus he commits sadhu-ninda. Finally, he

studies the revealed scriptures as if they were ordinary books, accepting

whatever seems to support his preconceived notions and rejecting the rest.

Thus he commits sruti-sastra ninda (blasphemy of the Vedic scriptures).

 

>From 'Deviant Vaisnava Sects' BTG 25-06, 1991, by HH Suhotra Swami.