Why even small mistakes of devotees are seen seriously by others?
A girl devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
Why is it that even if v do a lil mistake n ppl comment that this is what ur kc taught n this is what u chant.
I m not a regular kc person hence commit mistakes n when ppl say so ……i think i should not chant as i m maligning the holy name coz my own weakness n shortcomings.
REPLY:
Don’t worry.
A Krishna Conscious person is just a sathaka that means spiritual practitioner. Except a few, others may not be the fully realized souls and we are not exempted from mistakes. Every human being is prone to commit mistakes.
Even a sanyasi who does not sincerely involve in devotional services can commit mistakes. Anyone in this human body is vulnerable to mistakes.
However, a devotee is expected NOT TO commit mistakes WILLFULLY. His mistakes should be mostly innocent ones. ie., beyond his care.
Why?
A devotee represents or is associated with a guru or a prestigious forum/ mutt or God Himself. So, the people may find fault in his guru, forum/ mutt if a devotee commits offenses.
(How should a brahmachari behave to avoid offenses? READ HERE!)
For example, if a devotee is doing a certain types of mistakes/ offenses, it will be very serious and he will be commented by others:
(1) If a devotee is smoking or drinking and if the world sees that, will it add credit to the guru or spiritual organization he belongs to?
So, you should never smoke or drink.
(2) If a devotee is ragging girls either alone or in a forum, will it be nice to see?
So, you should never talk to opposite sex unnecessarily without valid reasons.
(3) If a devotee calls a woman for illicit relations or speaks as if it induces that woman, will it be viewed softly by the world?
(The illicit activities that should be avoided by the devotees! READ HERE!)
So, you should never induce or involve in illicit relations (though a person of opposite gender calls you)
(4) If a devotee is speaking mundane topics like the affairs between an actor and actress, will it be nice?
So, you should never talk about worthless matters. However, for examination purposes, you can talk about current affairs, world today, India today, world history, science, etc.
(5) If a devotee is found watching adult contents in his mobile/ system that is found by any person, will this world accept it? So, you should never see the bodies other than that of your spouse except if you are a doctor.
(6) If a devotee is torturing his spouse, daughter in laws or mother in laws, will it be nice?
(Will Krishna reform abusing husbands if the wife likes to avoid divorce? READ HERE!)
So, you should always behave mercifully to others.
(7) If a devotee is buying lottery tickets and getting disappointed again and again, won’t it mean that he is not following what Krishna said in Karma yoga about working for living?
So, you should earn ONLY through putting some efforts, not by short cuts.
(5 SIMPLE TIPS TO AVOID GAMBLING AS A REGULATIVE PRINCIPLE FOR KRISHNA DEVOTEES! READ HERE!)
(8) If a devotee is lying for getting benefits, will it be nice?
So, you should always speak truth though it may harm you. Lord Rama is the best example for this.
(9) If a devotee is wearing such a dress that exposes the sensitive portions of his/ her body, will it be viewed ordinarily?
(Why the dress codes for women when the men walk half open publicly? READ HERE!)
So, you should wear decent dress that does not disturb others.
These are some examples for the serious offenses / mistakes of devotees.
If you are not doing these things, you need not worry for such comments from the surroundings. Silly mistakes are natural.
However, in due course of time, take sincere efforts to avoid even such innocent/silly mistakes. Because, this world is watching and even expecting the mistakes of devotees whether he is a perfect devotee or a fraud.
Manu says that a Brahmana should be punished 1000 times more than the punishments given to other varnas for the same crime. This means that brahmanas, who are considered the higher class of people, should lead a life without offenses. Same applies for the mistakes of devotees also because they are also guiding others like brahmanas who teach vedas to others.
So, a devotee should be very very careful in his actions and speech and even his thoughts.
However, if the senses pull you towards offenses, you should show still stronger attachment to Krishna. If you truly surrender to Krishna, your senses will not disturb because you will remain filled with Krishna Prema.
So, don’t worry for your innocent mistakes. Increase the sadhanas and devotee association more. More attachment to Krishna will bring down the mistakes of devotees.
If a rowdy violates with a girl, the people will not be impacted much because it was expected from a rowdy. But, the people may not consider the mistakes of devotees similarly because they may not expect that a devotee who looks like a vaishnava and shows his brand as a devotee, may commit such violations.
So, we need not find fault in the gossipers. Let us try more and more to be perfect.
(What if a devotee finds avoiding offences difficult in kaliyuga? READ HERE!)