Respect for genuine devotees etc.

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Is there respect for genuine devotees in this world?

 

Pure items are rare. Because they are not easily attainable, there is less

demand for them. People tend not to respect them. Pure devotees are rare.

Therefore, there is no appreciation, demand, or respect for those who do not

misguide people but are busy trying to attract them toward the Lord by

introducing them to sankirtana and hari-katha. At present, it is fashionable

to be cheated by those who, in the name of religion, misguide people. Real

devotees do not speak to please their audiences. They don't cheat people.

Rather, pure devotees expose the defects of cheaters who love to compromise.

Only those who are fortunate learn to be cautious after hearing the saints'

words. Although the words of real devotees may appear to contradict our

present taste and experience, they are nevertheless most auspicious for us.

Demand for pure things is less and demand for the impure is high. Wine is

sold on every street corner, whereas cow milk is sold only in select places.

Impurity is in abundance, but purity is rare.

 

What is the difference between weakness and cheating?

 

Cheating and weakness are two separate things. Persons devoid of a cheating

propensity achieve perfection in life, but a cheater is never successful.

Vaiß?avism is another name for simplicity. Cheaters are nondevotees. Sincere

persons can be weak, but they are not cheaters. Cheaters say something and

do something else. Weak people are embarrassed by their defects, whereas

cheaters are maddened by their achievements.

"I will cheat the acarya,I will deceive the doctor,I will nourish the

poisonous snake of my sinful propensity with banana and milk, hiding him in

the hole of my cheating propensity," and, "I will demand name and fame from

the people while posing as a saint": these are not symptoms of weakness but

of utter deceitfulness. Such cheaters will never achieve any good.

By hearing humbly from saints with a sincere attitude, however, one will

gradually attain auspiciousness. After accepting tridanda-sannyasa, if one

remains busy with worldly activities, thinking that family life is more

important than spiritual life or maintaining the sinful mentality of

kidnapping Sita from Rama as Ravana did even while dressed as a devotee,

then one is a self-killer. We are far from the worship of Hari. Even if we

have weakness and have enough anarthas to last us for millions of years, we

are not as misfortunate as if we possessed a cheating propensity. It is

better to take birth as animals or birds than to take shelter of cheating.

 

 

(Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Amrta Vani)