(4/4) Meaning of Mercy

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Speaking online to devotees in Colombia
27 April 2019, part 4

Question: We would like to go for preaching in our town, so we would like to ask you for your blessings.

Of course you have my blessings. I always bless whoever goes out to preach or collect funds for the temple. I always pray to Gurudev that they can proceed and improve their spiritual life.

Question: It is said that to come to Krishna consciousness we have to pass through so many lives. Can animals take to Krishna consciousness?

Yes, to come to Krishna consciousness, we have actually passed many lives; otherwise, it is impossible to come to Krishna consciousness. It is correct.

Question: But do animals have a guru, too?

Animals do not get a guru. Animals must first come to a human body, then they will can find a guru. Animals get parents and other material facilities, but you can get a guru only in a human body. Also, even being a human, not everybody gets a guru and not everybody gets a bona fide guru. There are many people in this world, and there are many kinds of gurus also in this world (karmi gurus, jnani gurus, yogi gurus, kaulik gurus, laukik gurus, and so on). Only a fortunate soul gets a bona fide guru: if somebody has good desire to serve the Lord, that desire can take them to a proper bona fide guru.

Question: Some devotees have a big ego, so how can we associate with such persons?

If somebody has a big ego, you can pay obeisance to them. Also, do not see others' faults – you must always see your own faults.

Question: I would like to ask your forgiveness. I feel that my life is passing only in offences to the devotees and because of that I am not able to get mercy...

Yes, you want mercy, but what is mercy? Means service. If I give you some service and you do that service, that is mercy. And it is also necessary to have surrendered mood, not 'defending' (defiant) mood.

Devotee: I feel that I am very low and offensive...

If you are saying this from your heart, then it is not a problem and it is actually good for you. Such feelings are called devotion. Devotees always think that they are very low, that they are of a low quality. If you think like this from your heart, then it is good for you.

Devotee: But I want to live in service...

I want to see you. Where are you? Show me your face. OK, Prabhu. I want to ask you a few questions. Do you live a family life?

Devotee: Yes, I have a family. I used to serve at the temple, but I could not stay there – because of my fault my service went away. But I am very eager to help.

OK. Is your wife a devotee?

Devotee: Yes, she is.

How many children do you have?

Devotee: I have five children.

Do you all live together?

Devotee: I am taking care of four of them now.

What job do you do?

Devotee: I do many things like painting, construction, etc. I also sell books on buses.

That is good. You can sell our books on buses and in the city. This is the service I am giving to you. Distribute our books. OK? Whatever you get from selling our books, you can take 20% for your family and give 80% to the temple.

Devotee: I am living in a rented place now, so I have to pay rent...

It is not a problem if you are paying rent. Work and sometimes go to sell out books. Take 20% from the money you get for selling the books for taking care of your family and give 80% to the temple. What is the problem? And whenever you get a holiday or a weekend, come to the temple and serve the devotees.

Devotee: I am asking you and all the devotees with you forgiveness. My only wish is to get your mercy, I do not want anything else.

OK, no problem... May Krishna bless you so that you are successful in your spiritual life.

How many sons or daughters do you have?

Devotee: Three daughters and two sons.

Who are younger, the daughters or the sons?

Devotee: The daughters.

How old are your sons?

Devotee: The older one is twenty-two, and the younger one is eight years old.

Is the elder boy helping his father?

Devotee: He lives a family life now.

So, his father and mother took care of him, and after that he left his parents and forgot them?

Devotee: No, he is taking care of his own family now.

Yes, he has his own family, but is it not his duty to take care of his father?...

OK, dandavat pranam to everybody. I would like to finish here.

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay.
Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay.
All the assembled devotees ki jay.
All the Colombian devotees ki jay.
Harinam sankirtan ki jay.
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol.

Mucho gracias [thank you very much].

Devotees: When will you come to Colombia? When are you going to visit us?

I am not the manager. It actually depends upon Krishna. When Krishna arranges it, I will come. Dandavat.

— : • : —

{ 2001  |   2002  |   2003  |   2005  |   2009  |   2010  |   2011  |   2012 }
{ 2013  |   2014  |   2015  |   2016  |   2017  |   2018  |   2019  |   2020  |   2021 }

CLICK TO LISTEN TO THE LECTURE

Size: 13 Mb
Length: 27 min
Language: English

READ OTHER PARTS:

1) My Expectation
2) Empty Temple, Empty Heart
3) Fill Your Life and Others'
4) Meaning of Mercy