{"id":16012,"date":"2015-03-10T12:01:24","date_gmt":"2015-03-10T12:01:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/?p=16012"},"modified":"2015-03-10T12:06:04","modified_gmt":"2015-03-10T12:06:04","slug":"taking-care-of-krishnas-devotees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/?p=16012","title":{"rendered":"Taking care of Krishna’s devotees"},"content":{"rendered":"

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At Trai dasa\u2019s (ACBSP) home in the mountains near Bologna, Italy<\/p>\n

(Note: This an audio transcript so \u201c+++\u201d means there are few words that are inaudible.)<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are trying to avoid the phenomemnon that expansion of Krsna consciousness means many people are coming but many people are also leaving.\u201d \u2013 Niranjana Swami<\/p>\n

Ramacandra dasa ( RNS), from Villa Vrindavana, Italy:
\nWhat can you do besides hearing and chanting to care for devotees?<\/p>\n

Niranjana Swami:
\nIt is definitely a faith. It\u2019s a primary responsibility for anybody who\u2019s preaching Krsna consciousness. Preaching means hearing and chanting. But we have to protect the faith of the devotee. Bhaktivinoda Thakura gives the example. He speaks about sraddha, faith, in Tattva Viveka. He says, \u201cAppearance of faith is like a birth of a new-born baby girl. When baby girl is born the parents are very careful to protect their +++ from hunger, from thirst, from heat and cold +++ dangerous features. And also, they give nourishment to the baby.
\nTherefore, he says, the awakening of the faith in the heart of a living entity is like a birth of a new-born baby girl. Once the faith is awakened, it needs to be protected. Protected from karma, jnana, mystic yoga perfections. Srila Rupa Gosvami says, bhukti-mukti-sprha yavat pisaci hrdi vartate. Bhukti and mukti are like two witches that haunt one like a ghost. As long as these two witches are within your heart then one will never be able to taste +++ of devotional service.
\nBhaktivinoda Thakura used that analogy +++ of birth of a new baby girl in connection to faith. What we can do to help others +++ protect their faith in devotional service. As he said, faith is the most valuable currency. When you protect that faith and nourish, like a baby girl, +++ protect from dangerous elements but alsoo need to be nourished. Nourishment in sanskrit is pusti.
\nWhen we nourish sombody\u2019s faith that\u2019s the way to show our care for them. Nourishing their faith in devotional service and protect them from dangerous features of bhukti and mukti. And when somebod gets care in this way, they can undergo any difficulties. They can accept austerity. They can accept inconvenience. All +++ care is automatically fulfilled by caring for their faith.
\nIt doesn\u2019t mean that we don\u2019t care for their bodies also. We also can do that too. +++ we have to be indifferent to their suffering. Vaisnava is never indifferent to other\u2019s suffering. But it\u2019s +++ how to protect their faith. That\u2019s how you can show care for others.<\/p>\n

Akrura dasa:
\nHow do you induce people to become counselors?<\/p>\n

Niranjana Swami:
\nBy caring for them.<\/p>\n

Akrura dasa:
\nHow long does it take?<\/p>\n

Niranjana Swami:
\nIt depends on the person.<\/p>\n

Akrura dasa:
\nMany devotees say they are not qualified to be a spiritual guide.<\/p>\n

Niranjana Swami:
\nYes, that\u2019s true. Therefore, they are not forced to do it. Nobody is forced. It has to be voluntary. One is supposed to want to do it for the right reasons. +++ no personal benefit for being a counselor. So they have to do it for the right reasons.<\/p>\n

Akrura dasa:
\nWhat do you mean there is no benefit?<\/p>\n

Niranjana Swami:
\nMaterial benefit. They are not starting a separate preaching center. They are not extracting resources from the people they are taking care of. So there is no personal material benefit. Benefit is a satisfaction they get from caring for others. And the mercy that comes down for doing that confidential service. Tamal Krsna Maharaja told me in 1978. I was in the temple in Manhattan in Ney York City. We had about 40 devotees at the temple.
\nI was in charge of all the new devotees and guests. That was my responsibility. Some times there were as many as 30-40 people that I had to help. Tamal Krsna Maharaja said that Prabhupada told him that if you take care of Krsna\u2019s devotees Krsna takes care of you.
\nSo you read the book (\u201cTaking Care Of Krsna\u2019s Devotees\u201d)?<\/p>\n

Akrura dasa:
\nOh, yes. It\u2019s a gem.<\/p>\n

Niranjana Swami:
\nThis year devotees are waitng for the number two. Either volume two or revised edition.<\/p>\n

Akrura dasa:
\nMany devotees say they would like to be a caregiver or a counselor, but they don\u2019t have time. They have so many things to do. How do you respond to that?<\/p>\n

Niranjana Swami:
\n+++ Right in this present moment, I was asked to help in Hungary. They are just staring their (devotee care) system there. Last week we had a meeting with devotees who live outside and we discussed that threadbare.
\nIt can go either way. Sometimes they have a good reason why they cannot. That\u2019s why they shouldn\u2019t be pushed. Sometimes there is no proper utilization of time. And sometimes people are not really convinced +++ And if they are the\u2019ll find the time +++ They\u2019ll set their priorities +++ They\u2019ll find time. What I experienced, devotees who really get absorbed in it, especially the grhasthas who are working and maintain their family, that what it really comes down to, it\u2019s recreation +++<\/p>\n

Akrura dasa:
\nMany are afraid it will be a burden.<\/p>\n

Niranjana Swami:
\nIt is like that, but when they get mercy starts flowing, it\u2019s a higher taste.<\/p>\n

Akrura dasa:
\nHow many counselors you have in Ukraine?<\/p>\n

Niranjana Swami:
\n160. Not all of them are +++ Some of them are \u201cin training\u201d.<\/p>\n

Akrura dasa:
\nThank you.
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