Vaishnava Outlook or Internal Changes – Which is more important?
Both the Vaishnava outlook and internal changes (reformation) should be given importance for the devotees!
However, if you ask Vaishnava Outlook or Internal Changes – Which is more important, Lord Jaganatha Himself indicates that Internal Changes are to be given more importance than the outlook.
Having Vaishnava Outlook helps us to get an initiative to practice devotion with less diversions thru non devotees.
At the same time, having Vaishnava outlook alone is not an indication of true Vaishnavas.
However, having internal changes are the prime requirement to become a true Vaishnava. Also to identify a Vaishnava, Outlook can be helpful.
So, Outlook alone are not helpful for Vaishnavas. Only if we are internally qualified, we should show ourselves as Vaishnavas. Otherwise, we will be cheating the devotees.
Read this real incident:
Due to lack of acquaintance with the Bhagavata-samasat and because Thakura Bhaktivinoda at that time did not wear the twelve Vaishnava tilaka markings or Tulasi beads on his neck.
Seeing Him without markings, Raghunatha dasa Babaji would not come to the meetings of this Vaishnava society.
Besides all this, he requested all the Vaishnavas to refrain from conversing with Bhaktivinoda about Krishna.
He did not consider Bhaktivinoda to be a trained devotee.
Within a few days this Raghunatha dasa Babaji became afflicted with a deathly illness.
One night in a dream, Lord Jagannatha appeared to Raghunatha dasa and told him to go and pray for the mercy of Bhaktivinoda Thakura if he at all wanted release from his certain death.
Upon awakening the Babaji went to Bhaktivinoda and falling at his feet begged for the Thakura’s forgiveness for all his offenses.
Bhaktivinoda then relieved him of his disease with some special medicines and relieved him of his spiritual disease by bestowing his blessings.
Ever since that time Raghunatha dasa was able to perceive the true Vaishnava qualities of Bhaktivinoda Thakura.
This shows that a Vaishnava cannot be recognized by mere outward dress or markings, nor do such always indicate someone as a pure Vaishnava.
The purity is in the content of one’s character.
TAIL PIECE:
I too have faced such incidents from many innocent devotees! As mentioned in my Profile in this site, I have been hiding my diksha guru, centers more visited, etc, because we have the disciples from all the gurus of ISKCON. So, I wanted to remain a moderate devotee common for all the devotees. I also feel shy to be praised and I am terribly lack of time to attend the devotees in person. For these genuine reasons, I have been humbly doing this service without publicising MY identity, but only the identity of Krishna, Srila Prabhupada and all the spiritual masters. That is why, our site became successful within a short period of time. But, this is not understood by many devotees who are curious to know about me. This story reminds me my experiences also.
(LORD JAGANNATHA OF PURI – A to Z DETAILS YOU SHOULD KNOW! READ HERE!)