“If a person has the dress of a sadhu and speaks sweet words but is bitter and unclean in their mind and deeds, then Tulsi says they have no prayer of attaining Shri Rama, as they are like the fish stuck in the dark ocean of material sense objects.” (Dohavali, 153)

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बेष बिसद बोलनि मधुर मन कटु करम मलीन।
तुलसी राम न पाइऐ भएँ बिषय जल मीन ॥

beṣa bisada bolani madhura mana kaṭu karama malīna।
tulasī rāma na pāiai bhae~ biṣaya jala mīna ॥

“Can you answer me something? How are we supposed to respect some of these spiritual leaders? Before we even get into the exposed incidents, the damage to the reputation, the skeletons in the closet, there is just this general attitude that they exude.

“I think the best way to describe it is arrogance. To me, a saintly person should be the embodiment of compassion and kindness. They should be able to tolerate criticism travelling in their direction. They should understand the difficulties that the average person faces. They should empathize with the real struggles that people have.

“But nope, these leaders are always the biggest jerks in the room. No matter where they go. No matter what else is going on. They are just so pompous in their ways. They behave as if everyone in attendance is so fortunate to have their association. These leaders pay no attention to time, schedule, or appointment. They arrive late and continue blabbering on and on, with one boring slideshow after another.

“I have a feeling they make these presentations for themselves. It is like the faculty at a university showing off their research work, which has no relevancy to the students or to the donors. It is just to make the other faculty members proud, to bring more honor and prestige from people who don’t really understand what is going on.

“These spiritual leaders fall left and right, like dominos arranged on a table. The thing is, they have no shame. It is like they look down at their disciples. They laugh at the predicament of the dependents, in how they have to keep switching gurus. The current leaders are all set, you see. They had a bona fide guru, the founder-acharya, but now everyone else is helpless. They must accept one fraud after another.

“It is like these gurus look down at the disciples. They look down at those who look up to them. Can anything be worse? It really is sickening. What is the fate of such people? How can they be assured of a higher destination in the next life when they are the biggest pretenders known to man?”

We can only imagine the state of affairs if the Supreme Personality of Godhead operated with a similar mentality. Since He is the topmost person, Purushottama, there is literally nothing anyone can do for Him.

He lies down to rest in the Vaikuntha realm. Lakshmi Devi offers a nice massage. Narada Muni sings His praises. There are so many devoted followers, but Bhagavan is actually atmarama. Parameshvara is completely satisfied in the self. He is not dependent on anyone.

Imagine if Vishnu were to look down at those worshiping Him. What hope would any of us have? There is no chance to reach a similar level. We would be relegated to a perpetual state of helplessness, being a laughingstock in birth after birth.

Fortunately, that is not the case. The Supreme Lord recognizes, remembers, and glorifies even a single deed done in His honor. Those who are always thinking of Him remain connected to Him. It is like they are by Vishnu’s side through the vehicle of the consciousness. This is the real meaning of yoga.

यो मां पश्यति सर्वत्र
सर्वं च मयि पश्यति
तस्याहं न प्रणश्यामि
स च मे न प्रणश्यति

yo māṁ paśyati sarvatra
sarvaṁ ca mayi paśyati
tasyāhaṁ na praṇaśyāmi
sa ca me na praṇaśyati

“For one who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me, I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 6.30)

Goswami Tulsidas explains that the person who has wickedness and cruelty in their thoughts and deeds has no chance at receiving the mercy of Shri Rama. They may speak words appropriate to the situation, persuasive in nature. They may look the part, such that others automatically offer respect.

But since they are pretending, since they are exploiting others, since they are actually against Shri Rama, where is the hope? The sun, the moon, the stars, the clouds, and the elements of nature are more forgiving. The sun rises and distributes its heat and light no matter the viewpoint of the population. Whether someone worships or not. Whether they are a man or an animal. Whether they mock or appreciate.

Shri Rama is more merciful than the elements of nature He has installed. If the administrators of the universe exhibit any desirable qualities, if they are merciful to their worshipers, it is because of the kindness and compassion descending from the person in the highest position of all. His nature, His outlook, and His dealings with devotees are a great benchmark for assessing whether a person is genuinely saintly or not.

In Closing:

Position of authority found,
At the dependents looking down.

In arrogance and haughtiness to sit,
But their position never legit.

Since wicked in character and deeds,
Bound to material ocean indeed.

If from sun and moon benevolence shown,
Then Rama as most merciful known.

Categories: dohavali 121-160, questions

Tags: feature, god, guru, hare krishna, institutions, poem, poems, poetry, religion