I had visited the Coimbatore temple once before in 2014, and now I had found an opportunity for another visit. On my arrival I was comfortably accommodated in the home of Hema Mataji and her husband, who is the sister of well-known Radhesyama Prabhu from Punee. So I was in good company.....
Also here I was invited to offer the seminar on the false ego - an always relevant and catchy topic which intrigues devotees. I met an eager crowd of enthusiastic devotees on Friday evening to introduce the theme, and we further churned it throughout the entire Saturday in a morning and afternoon session.
The false ego likes to demand the gratification of being special, unique and extraordinary. And because it tries to bring attention and glory to ourselves rather than to Guru and Krishna, it has the power to contaminate anything - even the most sacred and spiritual aspects of our devotional life.
Sometimes we may come across devotees who have the tendency to canvass for a particular guru. No doubt, it is very natural to consider our guru to be very special, because he has saved us from material existence. However, our love and dedication to our guru is a very private and confidential part of our personal life and is not meant to be broadcast for canvassing purposes. We have to respect devotees' individual choice of a guru, and by no means can we take the right to influence this choice in any way. It is between them and Krishna. Behind such tendency to canvass for one's guru, we can once again detect the false ego at its work: "Since my guru is most special, therefore I am most special—because he is MY guru."
In this way, our false ego will contaminate this very sacred relationship with our guru. And we hope to increase our influence and control over devotees by such propaganda. One has to be very cautious and introspective to avoid such kind of propaganda, even in the most subtle forms.
Sometimes we may come across devotees who have the tendency to canvass for a particular guru. No doubt, it is very natural to consider our guru to be very special, because he has saved us from material existence. However, our love and dedication to our guru is a very private and confidential part of our personal life and is not meant to be broadcast for canvassing purposes. We have to respect devotees' individual choice of a guru, and by no means can we take the right to influence this choice in any way. It is between them and Krishna. Behind such tendency to canvass for one's guru, we can once again detect the false ego at its work: "Since my guru is most special, therefore I am most special—because he is MY guru."
In this way, our false ego will contaminate this very sacred relationship with our guru. And we hope to increase our influence and control over devotees by such propaganda. One has to be very cautious and introspective to avoid such kind of propaganda, even in the most subtle forms.
A similar tendency can enter into the relationship with our Deity: MY Deity is so special, and because it is MY Deity, therefore I am so special. And we eagerly distribute maha-prasadam from MY Deity.....
Srila Prabhupada explains, how our husband, wife, children, home etc. easily become a part of our extended false ego. If we are not cautious, then even our Guru and our Deity may also become affected in this way.
Srila Prabhupada explains, how our husband, wife, children, home etc. easily become a part of our extended false ego. If we are not cautious, then even our Guru and our Deity may also become affected in this way.
On Sunday I visited the Extension Center in Erode, offering a morning session on death, and an afternoon session on chanting the holy name. I was eagerly welcomed by a nice crowd of enthusiastic newcomers, who don't so often get an opportunity to receive a visiting preacher.
On my visit to Coimbatore I distributed 55 copies of my book - what an effective way to reach devotees and spread a message....!
On the 11th of December I flew on to Kolkata....
Your servant, Devaki dd
On my visit to Coimbatore I distributed 55 copies of my book - what an effective way to reach devotees and spread a message....!
On the 11th of December I flew on to Kolkata....
Your servant, Devaki dd
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