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== Humility in service ==
Test edit
Srila Prabhupada says that humility is very pleasing to the Lord and to the Guru.
Dear followers of Srila Prabhupada,
"Humility means to actually render service to the Lord in a service spirit. Not demanding mercy in return to the service rendered."
Please accept my humble obeisances!
He carries on to point out that
So often,
"The Lord can be pleased only by a humble attitude in the service spirit. The more we render service unto the Lord under the direction of the spiritual master, the more we make advancement on the path approaching the Lord. We cannot demand any grace or mercy from the Lord because of our service rendered to Him. He may accept or not accept our service, but the only means to satisfy the Lord is through the service attitude, and nothing else."
Srila Prabhupada would explain to us about the true nature of the soul. And its distinction from the gross material body.
== Hearing with Humility ==
This he did so, quoting and elaborating on and from so many verses in the Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam.
Even the very process of hearing should be submissive and humble. In this context Srila Prabhupada mentions,
In a surrendering spirit, in a humble spirit, try to hear about the Supreme from the realized souls. This is the process. San-mukharitām. Not professional. One who has actually realized, from him, if you hear, meek and humble, without speculating mentally, then by this process only, one can realize the Supreme Lord very easily. Supreme Lord is called Ajita; nobody can conquer Him. But if one adopts this process, hearing from the realized soul in an attitude of humbleness, then he can conquer the ajita. He can understand.
Repeatedly emphasizing its [the soul's] transcendent nature and unique constitutional position.
When you become in service attitude, just to serve Kṛṣṇa with humble attitude, with devotion, then Kṛṣṇa will reveal. ''Otherwise you cannot understand Kṛṣṇa''. It is not possible. If you think that "I am very rich man, I can offer Kṛṣṇa so many things, nice dress, nice foodstuff. Kṛṣṇa now is within my grip." No. Kṛṣṇa is not so cheap.
He wanted us to realize this fact - as living practitioners of KC - in carrying his legacy into this world.
=== The example of Sanatana Goswami is an example of how to approach a bonafide spiritual master submissively ===
But so often,
Srila Prabhupada then goes onto quote the example of how Srila Sanatana Goswami approached Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu for shelter. He says,
So this Sanātana Gosvāmī, just after giving up his ministerial post, with great difficulty, he came to Benares and Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu gave him instruction for two months for guiding the Vaiṣṇava principles. So he's approaching his spiritual master with humble attitude. Therefore he's speaking like that. "I am born of lower family. My associations are all abominable, and I am fallen." Actually, he was minister. He was coming of a brāhmaṇa family. But these material qualifications are not sufficient to improve one's Kṛṣṇa consciousness. One must approach a bona fide spiritual master. That is being exhibited by Sanātana Gosvāmī. He's approaching the original spiritual master, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, with due humbleness. Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta (SB 11.3.21). Tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet samit-pāṇi śrotriyaṁ brahma-niṣṭham (MU 1.2.12). One must approach. Sanātana Gosvāmī's teaching us the Vaiṣṇava principle that one should approach a proper spiritual master. So he's approaching Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
== Humility is the way to progress ==
A lot of devotees (in the early days) would think - why did Srila Prabhupada stress on this one point so much?
''Srila Prabhupada refers to Sri Caitanya's instruction in this regard.
The point about...the distinction between the Soul and the Body...
He says''
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu '''''has instructed''''' all devotees of the Lord to be humbler than the grass and more tolerant than trees; otherwise there will always be disturbances to their execution of devotional service.
Wasn't there more philosophy and pastimes of Krishna to talk about?
Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura remarks in this connection that if one '''''takes shelter''''' of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Nityānanda, follows Their instructions to become more tolerant than the tree and humbler than the grass, and in this way chants the holy name of the Lord, very soon he achieves the platform of transcendental loving service to the Lord, and tears appear in his eyes.
At that time,
A devotee should not be proud of his acquisitions. The symptoms of a devotee are '''''meekness and humility'''''. Although spiritually very advanced, he will always remain meek and humble, as Kavirāja Gosvāmī and all the other Vaiṣṇavas have taught us by personal example. Caitanya Mahāprabhu taught that one should be humbler than the grass on the street and more tolerant than the tree. One should not be proud or falsely puffed up. In this way one will surely advance in spiritual life.
Although it wasn't very evident to all of us then...
== Humility in Preaching and dealing with general people and new devotees ==
With maturity, we soon realised - how the identification with the soul is the preliminary foundation for developing our true practice of Krishna consciousness.
=== Humility in dealing with new devotees ===
Kind of... like our goal in Vanipedia too...
So Prabhupada is explaining that preachers should not be impatient with new devotees, because after all they need to be taught and trained the right things
Yes, a new man may commit blunders in the beginning, but that does not mean we may be too impatient with him. After all, training means the man does not know, so you should train him nicely. A Vaisnava is expected to be humbler than the blade of grass, so when you train some new man you should not get agitated with him. After all, we are preachers, and we do not expect our audience or candidates completely respondent to our call.
Here's what Srila Prabhupada mentions about the correlation between the life and the senses in the body - especially in regards to his mission
=== Humility in Preaching ===
In a letter to his disciple Brahmananda prabhu, he elaborates
Prabhupada stresses that humility is an essential quality for successful preaching. He elucidates the matter in the following way.
Those engaged in preaching the glories of the Lord should be humbler than grass and more tolerant than a tree; then they can preach the glories of the Lord without difficulty.
“You are all my limbs of my body. Unless you cooperate, my life will be useless. The senses and life are correlative. Without life the senses cannot act and without sense, life is inactive.”
– Srila Prabhupada letter to Brahmananda das (TP) – 17 July, 1968
Following the orders of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, one who preaches the glories of the Lord all over the world or all over the universe should be humbler than grass and more tolerant than a tree because a preacher cannot live an easygoing life. Indeed, a preacher must face many impediments.
Again... he instructs Amogha prabhu by requesting him
In talking about enemies and unfavourable men, he says
“Make the covers of the book very much attractive so that automatically they will read the knowledge inside. The covers are like the mind and the senses, and the contents of the book are the soul.”
So you'll have enemies. Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu gives us, warning us, that tṛṇād api sunīcena taror api sahiṣṇunā: "You just become humbler than the grass." Just (as) you trample over the grasses, it does not protest. Not only you, so many people are going on the grasses, but they tolerate. So tṛṇād api sunīcena taror api sahiṣṇunā. And He has given the example, "tolerant than the trees." The trees are standing in one place. Scorching heat and cold and rains, they are all suffering, and the people taking their leaves, taking their branches, woods, cutting them, taking fruit, and still, the trees give you shelter. This is the example of tolerance. So tṛṇād api sunīcena taror api sahiṣṇunā, amāninā mānadena. Everyone in this material world is very much fond of getting honor. Although he's not honorable, still, he wants to get honor. Although he is unfit, still, he wants. That is the material propensity. So Caitanya Mahāprabhu says that "You give them honor. Don't ask for yourself any honor, respect, but others, you give them." That is the process of Caitanya Mahāprabhu's preaching.
– Srila Prabhupada letter to Amogha das (TP) – 22 May, 1972
=== Peacefulness over Prestige ===
And indeed,
Try to keep nice peace with the police as far as possible, because our method is to be tolerant more than the tree and humbler than the grass on the street. We don't mind for so-called prestige. If keeping peaceful we can execute our Krishna Consciousness duties, that is all we want.
=== Dealings with wordly friends ===
Isn't it a fact - that the Gaudiya Vaishnava siddhanta and the knowledge of Krishna consciousness - is the unique gift that Srila Prabhupada's has given to us and to the whole world?
Do not be agitated with the criticism of your friends because Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that one should be humbler that a blade of grass and should be more tolerant than a tree for chanting Hare Krishna Mantra.
== Learning Humility by toleration ==
He took so much pain and endeavour to produce his books and arrange for their distribution.
=== Tolerating ridicule ===
Which is why, Srila Prabhupada repeatedly explained that his Vani (instructions & transcendental knowledge) - were and will remain the life force and soul for his mission to spread Krishna consciousness in this world.
If I am smaller than the grass then if somebody says that "You are lower than the grass," or "You are smaller than the grass," that's a fact. So sometimes this insulting words may come from others but if you are self-realized you know that I am not this body. So let him insult. Let me tolerate.
=== Dealing with external tribulations ===
He emphasized on the literary kirtan of spreading the light of transcendental knowledge - as it would resound in the whole world with the rapid advancements in modern technology.
Sometimes there will be complaints, and sometimes not. In the Gita Krishna says these things come and go like the seasonal changes. So we have to tolerate. Caitanya Mahaprabhu advises trnad api sunicena/taror api sahisnuna. We must be tolerant like the tree and humble like the blade of grass. Such persons can chant the Hare Krishna mantra and preach. In Bombay we are undergoing so many tribulations. What can be done?
=== Krishna’s protection for the tolerant when dealing with enemies ===
This is why we've been building Vanipedia for the last 10 years...
Be tolerant just like a tree and be humble just like a grass. Tṛṇād api sunīcena taror api sahiṣṇunā. Don't be afraid of our enemies because Kṛṣṇa will protect you, but in order to stop more misunderstanding, better become tolerant.
=== Kind and forbearing ===
And in the last 10 years - we have mined - pearls of wisdom
Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu has instructed us that "Do not be disappointed. Kindly forbear." Tṛṇād api sunīcena taror api sahiṣṇunā. Be tolerant more than the tree. I mean to say, one shall be meek and humble more than the grass. These things will happen. In one life if we execute our Kṛṣṇa consciousness attitude, even there is suffering little, don't mind. Go on with Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Don't be disappointed or hopeless, even there is some trouble. That is encouraged by Kṛṣṇa in Bhagavad-gītā: āgamāpāyino 'nityās tāṁs titikṣasva bhārata: "My dear Arjuna, even if you feel some pain, this bodily pain, it comes and goes. Nothing is permanent, so don't care for these things. Go on with your duty." This is the instruction of Kṛṣṇa. Prahlāda Mahārāja is the practical example, and our duty is to follow the footprints of such person like Prahlāda Mahārāja.
== Becoming humble by giving up the speculative process ==
You won't find in project developing the educational aspect of Srila Prabhupada's vision.
Caitanya Mahāprabhu, when He was informed this statement of Brahmā, that one should give up the speculative method, that he can create something... These nonsense habits should be given up. He must become very humble. Humbler than the grass.
== Knowledge helps one to be humble ==
And we would like to offer you a taste of what we've mined and share with you the potential that lies for the Vanipedia project to grow.
I was always thinking of you and your letter of Jan. 26, 1974 gives me much relief. Why you should be sorry if someone says you are Indian, he is American, Indians are no good, Americans are good. Why be affected by bodily relationships? Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has advised us—and as an older, grownup student you should know it—that we have to become humbler than the blade of grass and more tolerant than the tree, and then we can execute our service and chant Hare Krsna.
=== Humility while acquiring and disseminating knowledge ===
But before I say,
This statement indicates that one can hear or speak about Vedānta philosophy through the disciplic succession. One must be very humble and meek, more tolerant than a tree and more humble than the grass. One should not claim respect for himself but should be prepared to give all respect to others. One must have these qualifications to be eligible to understand Vedic knowledge.
== Humility, Tolerance and Co-operation ==
Here's what prominent
=== Tolerate to push on the movement ===
There will be so many impediments in pushing on our movement, therefore Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has already advised us to be tolerant more than the tree and humbler than the blade of grass and give all respects to Karmis without expecting any respect. These instructions mean that pushing on this Krsna Consciousness movement is not very easy, but we have to face them and push on this movement.
=== Being humble to remain in the association of devotees ===
So your main business should be to spread Sankirtana, becoming tolerant as the tree and becoming humbler than the grass. If you have anytime any difficulty, please try to settle up in the above way, but do not leave the company of devotees. That will not help you, even though there may seem to be some difficulties.
=== Dealing with difficult God Brothers ===
Prabhupāda: You show example. If other Godbrother is not treating you well, you treat him well. Then it will be right. Why you should deviate, that "This Godbrother is not treating me well, so I shall do also"? Āpani ācari' prabhu jīvera. You treat well. You show the example how to treat his Godbrother. (break) ...Mahāprabhu's teaching,
tṛṇād api sunīcena
taror api sahiṣṇunā
amāninā mānadena
kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ
(CC Adi 17.31)
So who is treating me good or bad, I don't want to bother about it. Let me become humbler than the grass, tolerant than the tree, and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.
== Advice in difficult times ==
=== Dealing with pains in life with humility ===
Lord Caitanya has therefore recommended that one be callous to the material ups and downs. Material life is temporary, and so the ups and downs of life may come and go. When they come, one should be as tolerant as a tree and as humble and meek as the straw in the street, but certainly he must engage himself in Kṛṣṇa consciousness by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.
== A Perfect Vaishnava ==
[[File:Apple_PNG38.png|100px|thumb]]
One has to become humbler than the grass and tolerant than the tree. Then he can become perfect Vaiṣṇava.
[[File:KA1 024.jpg|108px]]
=== The activities of a humble vaishnava ===
[[File:KA2 107.jpg|108px]]
A pure devotee, free from the reactions of the material modes of nature, executes devotional service with tolerance like that of a tree. He also feels humbler than the grass. Such a devotee, who is called niṣkiñcana, or free from all material possessions, is always absorbed in emotional love of Godhead. He is reluctant to perform any kind of sense gratification.
=== Real Vaishnava mentality ===
[[File:KA1 165.jpg|link=|108px]]
Everyone wants that "I am very honorable man, prestigious man. And you should respect me." That is our material disease. "I do not want to respect you, but you should offer me respect." This is the position. Therefore our system is to call another Vaiṣṇava as prabhu. "Sir, you are prabhu, you are master." But we call prabhu, but I think, "No, you are not prabhu; I am prabhu. You are servant." This cheating process will not help us. Actually, we should believe that he is prabhu. "He is servant of Kṛṣṇa; therefore he is my prabhu." This is Vaiṣṇava mentality.
=== A pure devotee is equipoised ===
[[File:KA2 017.jpg|link=|108px]]
Feelings of insult or honor in this material world are never perceived by a devotee. Lord Caitanya therefore says that one has to be humbler than the grass and, He recommends, more tolerant than the tree to execute devotional service.
=== What is the activity of a humble Vaishnava ===
[[File:KA2 107.jpg|308px|thumb]]
A Vaiṣṇava strictly follows this principle of being humbler than the grass and more tolerant than a tree, expecting no honor from others but offering honor to everyone. In this way, a Vaiṣṇava is simply interested in chanting about the Supreme Personality of Godhead and glorifying Him. Haridāsa Ṭhākura epitomized this foremost order of Vaiṣṇavism.
== Humility and meekness as taught by Christ ==
[[File:2krishna janmastami.jpg|308px|thumb]]
=== Being humble and meek, a teaching of Christ ===
[[File:0087 Radha Krishna.jpg|100px|thumb]]
"Just become humbler than the straw in the street or grass." To become religious means... Lord Jesus Christ also, he taught like that—"The humble and meek will attain the kingdom of God."
== Srila Prabhupada's Japa instructions ==
[[File:SB 1-1 f.c.jpg|100px|thumb]]
=== The qualification to chant the holy name of the Lord ===
[[File:Ananta Shakti 024.JPG|100px|thumb]]
A devotee can very peacefully chant the holy name of the Lord by behaving more humbly than the grass, being tolerant like a tree and offering respects to everyone, without expecting honor from anyone else. Such qualifications make it easier to chant the holy name of the Lord.
=== Advancing in chanting ===
If one is interested to advance by chanting, then Caitanya Mahāprabhu advises that you should be humbler than the straw or grass and tolerant than the tree.
== Giving up false pride and designations ==
Suppose I am very much advanced in spiritual knowledge, but I should not be very much proud of it. Generally, in this age people want false, I mean to say, designations, that "I am very religious. I know everything. I am God." So many things. These are false pride. So actual knowledge is that "I am smaller than the straw in the street." That is the instruction of Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
A dog has also pride: "I am this dog, grr." (laughter) "I am fox terrier. I am this. I am that." So dambhaḥ is there even in the dog, even in the lower animal, even in the cat. But the divine characteristic, "Oh, I am so low," Tṛṇād api sunīcena, "I am lower than the grass. I am lower than the grass"... This is Caitanya Mahāprabhu's teaching. What is this dambhaḥ? Why I should be pride? What is this pride? So that is ignorance, due to ignorance. When one man is unnecessarily proud, that means it is due to ignorance.
== Transcendental Humility ==
=== Humility does not mean impotency ===
Just like Caitanya Mahāprabhu taught us that "You become tolerant than the tree and humble than the grass." But when Jagāi-Mādhāi insulted Lord Nityānanda, oh, He immediately became so angry, "Oh, bring My cakra. I shall kill these persons." Did He become a tolerant like the tree, "All right, Nityānanda insulted. Let Me become tolerant"? (laughs) No, no. Try to understand. You see? We should not be impotent. Arjuna, he was declining to fight, not that he was impotent, he could not fight. He was a great warrior. But he was refusing, "Oh, what for this personal interest is to kill them?" But when he saw that "Kṛṣṇa wants this," oh, he showed his potency.
=== The real meaning of humility ===
"One should be humbler than the grass and more tolerant than the tree." One may then ask why the Lord exhibited His anger. The point is that one should be ready to tolerate all insults to one's own self, but when Kṛṣṇa or His pure devotee is blasphemed, a genuine devotee becomes angry and acts like fire against the offenders.
== Srila Prabhupada appreciating the humility of his disciples ==
You have signed your name as Krishna das naradhama, but actually, one who is Krishna das is Narottama. But a Krishna das can deliver all naradhamas. I am always very much pleased with your humble attitude, and a Vaisnava devotee of Lord Caitanya always thinks himself as naradhama, the lowest of mankind; although he is narottama, the best of the mankind.
Latest revision as of 05:48, 1 June 2017
Test edit
Dear followers of Srila Prabhupada,
Please accept my humble obeisances!
So often,
Srila Prabhupada would explain to us about the true nature of the soul. And its distinction from the gross material body.
This he did so, quoting and elaborating on and from so many verses in the Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam.
Repeatedly emphasizing its [the soul's] transcendent nature and unique constitutional position.
He wanted us to realize this fact - as living practitioners of KC - in carrying his legacy into this world.
But so often,
A lot of devotees (in the early days) would think - why did Srila Prabhupada stress on this one point so much?
The point about...the distinction between the Soul and the Body...
Wasn't there more philosophy and pastimes of Krishna to talk about?
At that time,
Although it wasn't very evident to all of us then...
With maturity, we soon realised - how the identification with the soul is the preliminary foundation for developing our true practice of Krishna consciousness.
Kind of... like our goal in Vanipedia too...
Here's what Srila Prabhupada mentions about the correlation between the life and the senses in the body - especially in regards to his mission
In a letter to his disciple Brahmananda prabhu, he elaborates
“You are all my limbs of my body. Unless you cooperate, my life will be useless. The senses and life are correlative. Without life the senses cannot act and without sense, life is inactive.”
– Srila Prabhupada letter to Brahmananda das (TP) – 17 July, 1968
Again... he instructs Amogha prabhu by requesting him
“Make the covers of the book very much attractive so that automatically they will read the knowledge inside. The covers are like the mind and the senses, and the contents of the book are the soul.”
– Srila Prabhupada letter to Amogha das (TP) – 22 May, 1972
And indeed,
Isn't it a fact - that the Gaudiya Vaishnava siddhanta and the knowledge of Krishna consciousness - is the unique gift that Srila Prabhupada's has given to us and to the whole world?
He took so much pain and endeavour to produce his books and arrange for their distribution.
Which is why, Srila Prabhupada repeatedly explained that his Vani (instructions & transcendental knowledge) - were and will remain the life force and soul for his mission to spread Krishna consciousness in this world.
He emphasized on the literary kirtan of spreading the light of transcendental knowledge - as it would resound in the whole world with the rapid advancements in modern technology.
This is why we've been building Vanipedia for the last 10 years...
And in the last 10 years - we have mined - pearls of wisdom
You won't find in project developing the educational aspect of Srila Prabhupada's vision.
And we would like to offer you a taste of what we've mined and share with you the potential that lies for the Vanipedia project to grow.
