Are Advanced Spiritualists Put Into Trials?

[suchandra]

Often we get the impression that when a Vaishnava becomes advanced in spiritual realization he's also having an advanced material situation - a life-style like a millionaire.

 

Srila Prahlada Maharaja - one of the twelve Mahajanas and a maha-bhagavat was put into quite precarious condition and people might ask this question - how come that such an exalted Vaishnava had to undergo so much pain that finally God had to incarnate in His original form of unlimited wrath?

 

 

"Prahlada Maharaja was put into so many trials when he was only a child, still he never forgot Krsna. That is the sign of maha-bhagavata. In any circumstances.It does not mean that because one is maha-bhagavata he should not be put into trials. He can be put into trials, because the material world is like that. The western country, they, Lord Jesus Christ, he was put into trials but he never forgot Krsna. This is sign of maha- bhagavata, nitya-siddha.

gaurāṅgera sangi-gane nitya-siddha kori ’mane se jay brajenda-nandana pas

If one can understand nitya-siddha bhagavata, then he immediately becomes eligible to go back to home, to back to godhead. This is the privilege of associating with maha-bhagavata. One may argue, arbhakaḥ means foolish child, who has no knowledge, he is called arbhakaḥ. How we can say maha-bhagavata? Arbhakaḥ, he has no knowledge. No. It is possible. Ahaituky apratihata. Bhakti does not depend on age, or on advanced knowledge, or richness, or so many other things. Janmaisvarya-sruta-sri. To take birth in high family, aristocracy, and to become rich, to become beautiful, to become very learned scholar. These things are material assets, but spiritual life does not depend on these things. One can become spiritually very advanced even though he is poor, he is born in a low, low- grade family.

 

 

 

Srila Prahlada Maharaja tortured in prison

 

 

 

Just like Haridasa Ṭhakura. He was born in Muhammadan family, but maha-bhagavata. There are so many examples. Not that because he was born in a Muhammadan family therefore he cannot. Ahaituky apratihata. Bhakti is so purifying that any condition, any circumstances, one can become devotee."

 

 

Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.4

by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Mayapur, February 11, 1976