Why Do Seemingly Advanced Devotees Fall?

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Why Do Seemingly "Advanced" Devotees Fall?

 

NOD Chapt 18, pg. 140-141 (annotated for clarity)

 

IMITATIVE ATTACHMENT (Bhakti-Abhasa)

 

Shadow Attachment and Transcendental Attachment

 

"Imitative attachment can be divided into two headings -- namely, 1) shadow

attachment and 2) *para* (transcendental) attachment.

 

1) "If someone, without undergoing the regulative principles of devotional

service or without being guided by a bona fide spiritual master, shows such

imitative attachment, this is called *shadow* attachment.

 

"Sometimes it is found that a person actually attached to material enjoyment

or salvation has the good fortune to associate with pure devotees while they

are engaged in chanting the holy name of the Lord. By the good grace of the

Lord, one may also join in the chanting. At that time, simply by the

association of such pure devotees, the moonlike rays from their hearts reflect

on him, and by the influence of the pure devotees, he may show some likeness

of attachment caused by inquisitiveness, but this is very flickering.

 

2) "And if by the manifestation of such shadow attachment one feels the

disappearance of all material pangs, then it is called *para* [transcendental]

attachment.

 

Such shadow attachment or *para* attachment can develop if one associates with

a pure devotee or visits holy places like Vrndavan or Mathura, and if an

ordinary man develops such attachment for Krsna and fortunately performs

devotional activities in the association of pure devotees, he can also rise to

the platform of pure devotional service.

 

The conclusion is that transcendental attachment is so powerful that if such

attachment is seen manifested even in some common man, by the association of a

pure devotee it can bring one to the perfectional stage. But such attachment

for Krsna cannot be invoked in a person without his being sufficiently blessed

by the association of pure devotees.

 

pg 141

 

As attachment can be invoked by the association of pure devotees, so

attachment can also be extinguished by offenses committed at the lotus feet of

pure devotees. To be more clear, by the association of pure devotees

attachment for Krsna can be aroused, but if one commits offenses at the lotus

feet of a devotee, one's shadow attachment or *para* attachment can be

extinguished. This extinguishing is like the waning of the full moon, which

gradually decreases and at least becomes dark. One should therefore be very

careful while associating with pure devotees to guard against committing an

offense at their lotus feet.

 

Transcendental attachment, either shadow attachment or *para*, can be

nullified by different degrees of offenses at the lotus feet of pure devotees.

If the offense is very serious, then one's attachment becomes almost nil. And

if the offense is not very serious, then one's attachment can become second

class or third class.

...

 

"A Second Chance"

 

If, however, it is seen that a person has developed a high standard of

devotion without having undergone even the regulative principles, it is to be

understood that his status of devotional service was achieved in a former

life. For some reason or other it had been temporarily stopped, most probably

by an offense committed at the lotus feet of a devotee. Now, with a good

second chance, it has again begun to develop. The conclusion is that steady

progress in devotional service can be attained only in the association of pure

devotees."

 

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Srila dasa COMMENTS: As a newcomer to Krsna consciousness, I always marveled

at the powerful rays of mercy that certain "advanced" devotees were receiving

and reflecting from Srila Prabhupada. I believed one particular devotee whom

I observed had achieved *bhava*, ecstatic love. When Ramesvara first visited

the Brooklyn Temple on Henry St in 1972 and I watched him during kirtan, I

guessed he was acting in spontaneous love. (I was mistaken obviously.) But the

leaders seemed so advanced and inspired.

 

All these devotees -- especially the leaders whom Prabhupada trusted

implicitly and engaged in so much service to spread his mission around the

world -- undoubtedly became graced with inconceivable *guru-krpa*, the

causeless mercy of a pure devotee.

 

But what happened to them? Even of those who are still left in the movement,

I can respectfully say that they do not possess the charisma they displayed

previously during Prabhupada's association. Why?

 

I believe Prabhupada offers the explanation above.

 

 

Important Lessons

 

As we mature in Krsna consciousness, we must learn to distinguish

between *suddha-bhakti*, pure devotion in its true form

(*svarupa-siddhi-bhakti*) from its likeness *bhakti-abhasa* -- either as

shadow attachment (*aropa-siddhi-bhakti*) or transcendental imitative

attachment (*sanga-siddhi-bhakti*), always being careful to avoid offenses at

the lotus feet of pure devotees.

 

"Not all that glitters is (pure) gold." Even so, a pure devotee is like

touchstone, *cintamani*: whatever a pure devotee touches, is transformed into

gold, sooner or later. We have often heard the expression, "Diamonds are

forever." We can rephrase this to say, "Pure devotion, which is like pure

gold, is forever." Pure devotion doesn't diminish or wane over the course of

a lifetime. This much should be clear.

 

"Staying in the fire," therefore means always seeking the association of truly

advanced devotees, *suddha-bhaktas*. This is what Prabhupada recommends above

in the "Nectar of Devotion," as throughout all of his books.

 

Choose your association wisely.

 

Vaisnavanudasa-abhilasi

(Aspiring to be a servant of the Vaisnavas)

 

Srila dasa