If even a devotee breaks our trust, how should we face it?
A male devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
“hare krsna prabhuji..dandvat pranam.. pri just want to know what should we do when some devotee breaks our trust?? though definitely we should forgive him/her , but , still dat warmth in a relationship is lost and den we are not able to have that friendship and all back… kindly suggest how should we behave then particularly when he/she is trying to start it all again..hare krsna. all glories to prabhupad”
REPLY:
It seems that you considered all the devotees as Paramahamsas. Many devotees are in fact sadhakas trying to be Krishna Conscious. So, they too may commit mistakes some times.
Actually, there are 3 types of devotees! Kanishta Adhikari, Madhyama Adhikari and Uttama Adhikari.
(THREE CLASSES OF DEVOTEES EXPLAINED BY SRILA RUPA GOSVAMI! READ HERE!)
If you visit a temple, you will find all these three types of devotees assembled at one place. So, if you expect the same approach and service from all the devotees, you will be disappointed.
Actually, the starting level NEOPHYTE devotees have just started to take associations. So, mostly, their approach and activities will resemble the people outside the temple.
Just because one is associated with us in a temple, we should not consider him as if he has completely freed himself from ego and weaknesses. Only when he involves in the devotional practices regularly and with the REAL intentions of purifying himself, he can become a matured and humble devotee.
Until they achieve this state, they will be under more influence of the three gunas – Satva, Rajo and Thamo gunas. So, they too have chances of committing mistakes.
(FOUR CLASSES OF DEMONS AND DEVOTEES AS SAID BY KRISHNA! READ HERE!)
They are all sadhakas trying to come to the advanced level. They will definitely come to that state if they sincerely try. They are on the right track. Just a matter of time. But, till that, they too will act like other people.
Even the Vaishnava outlook may be similar for both the new devotees as well as advanced devotees. So, we should not decide based on appearance also. They are all trying to become advanced devotees, but, now, we should not expect that maturity from them.
I have seen a few devotees who have plenty of wealth, but, do not donate even 100 rupees for the service of Krishna. However, I have also seen many devotees who entrusted their whole wealth for the service of Krishna. And, I have also seen a few young devotees who ran away and married like ordinary boys and girls. And, there are many sincere Brahmachari devotees who are serving the Lord dedicatedly.
Some devotees behave like ordinary people because, they have been trying to follow Krishna Consciousness, but, were not serious about it and hence, fell into the net of maya.
You too might have been betrayed by such immatured neophyte devotees who were just trying to become advanced. So, he/ she has acted like ordinary people.
(Is it good for some devotees wearing indecent clothes publicly? READ HERE!)
So, when about 100 people assemble in a temple, there will be different levels of devotees and they will have different types of activities according to their dominating guna. This is natural. We can not blame the temple authorities or Krishna for this.
So, if any devotee breaks your trust, accept it as natural and expectable one. He must be a starting level neophyte devotee. Explain him/ her your position in detail, once, twice or thrice. If he/ she does not correct himself/ herself, you may associate with some other devotees who are sincerely following devotion that reflects in their actions.
Though some neophyte devotees commit mistakes, give them respect as it will encourage them to come up in Krishna Consciousness. Though they have some shortcomings, they have somehow come to Krishna Consciousness. So, they should not be ill treated.
Just because one is a devotee, you should not expect him to act like a liberated soul. He might have more domination of his three gunas because he may still be in the conditioned state. Till a devotee detaches himself from this material bondage, he too will act like other people only.
Just get the knowledge about Krishna from a devotee. Don’t expect any other things from him/ her. If you expect other things, he may or may not satisfy you.
Recognize this fact. If a devotee breaks our trust, take it as natural in this kaliyuga. He is not the sole representative of the devotee community and there are many good devotees also. In any community, there will be such different stages of people.
This is the only way to face If a devotee breaks our trust.
(FOUR KINDS OF NEOPHYTE DEVOTEES WHO WORSHIP KRISHNA! READ HERE!)