Guru maharaj: Lord Caitanya taught us that we should take out the weeds in our devotional service. Nisidachar, kuti nati, jiva himsa, labh, puja, pratishastasha joto upashako golo. Breaking the regulative principles, political dealings, being envious against others, wanting profit for what we are doing in devotional service, and wanting to be respected for our devotional service, wanting a position for our devotional service. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura said in his book Vaisnava ke? He said that if one desires to get respect and position for their devotional service, and pratishta or desire for position is like the stool of a pig. So the pig eats stool. The stool of a pig must be like stool of stool! We want to please guru and Krsna, we don’t want anything material in exchange. But one being a devotee, automatically gets pratista without desiring, without wanting. Like Prahlad maharaj he was criticized by his father, he was attempted to be killed by his father. Lord Nrsimhadeva came and saved him. And he was like an orphan but Nrsimhadeva became like his father and was accompanying him to various places. So as Yoga Nrsimhadeva, Nrsimhadeva is teaching Prahlada, how to meditate. So many different places, Ahobilam in Andhra Pradesh, Lord Nrsimhadeva was very kind to Prahlad. Naturally he got pratista. But he didn’t want it. So being a devotee you get respect, sometimes. Sometimes you do not get respect. When I first came to India, people would say horrible things to me. Hare Krsna Hare Rama dam maro dam! I went asking what does that mean? They are saying that you chant Hare Krsna and you smoke marijuana. We don’t smoke cigarettes or do any type of intoxication. So some people criticize and some people appreciate. We do our service to please guru and Krsna. Hare Krsna!

Transcribed by Jayaraseshwari devi dasi
09 June 2019