By HH Radhanath Swami
durlabha tnanava janama sat-sange taroho e bhava-sindhu
Human life is extraordinarily rare, and the rarest, most precious blessing in life is the association of devotees. Lord Caitanya revealed his own heart when he exclaimed that all the wealth in Brahma’s creation cannot equal the value of one sincere devotee.
Caring for devotees is perhaps the most important responsibility we have. When we create an atmosphere where devotees feel loved, valued, and encouraged, we can empower them to cross over the inevitable obstacles on the path of bhakti and experience happiness on the spiritual platform.
In relation to devotee care, Srila Prabhupada said that he had shed buckets of blood to bring each devotee to our movement. He expected our leadership to recognize his sacrifice by creating a Vaikuntha atmosphere, a family of Vaisnavas where respect, affection, and a desire to serve each other is in the forefront, and the motive behind all of our efforts. A “movement that is so satisfying that no one will want to be anywhere else. We should ensure, as far as possible, that every devotee is educated in the teachings and culture of Srila Prabhupada and our parampara and given the tools to follow the path through all phases of life. Our joy should be to see each devotee developing Vaisnava character while enthusiastic in devotional service. When a devotee is weak, is having difficulty, or in a spiritual crisis, the Vaisnava family should be there to uplift and restore their strength and enthusiasm.
Selfless service to each other, with Krishna in the center, creates trust. Trust nourishes love. Loving relations in Srila Prabhupada’s service is the string that binds all of us together on the necklace of bhakti. The Devotee Care sangam is dedicated to helping keep our spiritual family focused on this sacred blessing. Let us unite on this higher principle and attract the world to the beauty of Krishna.
This is Vaishnava prem (love) of maharaj, who guide us to deeply associated with other like root of a big tree, so no one can stop us to please Shrimati RadhaRani and shri Vrindavan Krishna.
His Holiness RadhaNath Swami Maharaj, I am not sure if i will be able to meet you in this life. May god shower of his love on you always. Please accept my dandvat pranam in your lotus feet and keep us motivating always.
Srila Prabhupada – "Love is reciprocal, voluntary, good exchange of feeling. Then there is love. Not by force; that is rape. Why one is called lover, another is called rape? In Bengali it is said if you catch one girl or boy and you demand you love me, you love me, is it love? You love me, otherwise I will kill you! Is that love? So Krsna does not want to become a lover like that." (July 8, 1976 in Washington, D.C)
Srila PrabhupÄda â ''Genuine love means a relationship between "two persons", then there is exchange, then there is love. I must deal with you open-hearted, you must deal with me open-hearted, then there is love. So if you want to love Ká¹á¹£á¹a, God, then these things must be there." (Aug 9, 1976, Tehran)
Srila Prabhupada – ''Love means you take and you give also. Suppose if you love somebody and you simply take, but you don't give. Oh, do you think it is very good? No. It is not good. That is not love. That is exploitation." (Lecture on BG Ch 9 text 2-5, New York, Nov 23, 1966)
Srila Prabhupada – ''We have got the propensity to love. Love means somebody else. Love cannot be one or executed by only one, there must be two. I love somebody; somebody loves me, there must be lover, there must be beloved, then there is love." (SB Canto 1 Ch 2 text 6, Delhi, Nov 12, 1973)
Srila Prabhupada – ''How can there be love with just one? Is it possible? Have you got any such experience that love means one? No. Love means two. There must be two." (SB Canto 2 Ch 1 text 3, Paris, June 12, 1974)
Even Krsna had to divide Himself into two just so He could experience loving exchanges with a women, and that women is Radharani.
This is a very relavant mesaage especially in these days when Kali Yuga has spread its wings so badly.. Each and every devotee regardless of how advanced or neophyte he or she may be is very very important for the movement and for the humanity as a whole and Maharaj is spot on when he says that we must ensure that they are respected and loved. This is easier said than done with all our false egos but we must bring ourselves together in gratitude for Srila Prabhupad, our etenal savior.