Be Humbler Than a Blade of Grass


I wrote this essay many years ago in response to my guru's request that I help stabilize his movement. It was published in the Brijabasi Spirit, 1981. Click to email me.	Be Humbler Than a Blade of Grass An adaptation of two lectures by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur: The perfection of life is when everyone cooperates in Radha Krishna's service. This is an open invitation. Although service of God-dess is the highest of all activities, it can be performed by one and all. Many people worship for material gain or to attain liberation in God-dess' effulgence. Loving devotional service is not to be confused with such worship. Loving service is the pure transcendental position of the spirit soul. A real spiritual master is one who dispels the darkness of ignorance by the torchlight of knowledge and elevates his or her disciples to the platform of love. Such a teacher has no personal motivation except to do God-dess' will. In this way, one presents universal religion. We're infinitesimal. God-dess is infinite. We can't approach God-dess by our senses, mental speculation, or austerities. When we become free of selfish desires and cultivate the spirit of unconditional surrender, God-dess gives us mercy and reveals God-dess’ self. Radha Krishna send their representatives to help us attain this realization. The spiritual master is indispensable for spiritual progress and is the transparent medium through which the Absolute is revealed. We should give up material attachments and the association of people who aren't interested in serving Radha Krishna. We need to serve and love the devotees, encourage them in their service and never be envious of them. Chaitanya said, "One who is humbler than a blade of grass, who is more tolerant than a tree, and who does not expect personal honor yet is always prepared to give all respect to others, can very easily always chant the holy name of God-dess." We must establish the genuine feeling of humility if our chanting is to have potency. We're helpless and require God-dess' grace. God-dess is inclined towards humble devotees. God-dess is not attracted by a mere show of humility which is nothing but insincerity or hypocrisy. We must also be patient if we're to approach God-dess. This requires being free of any desire other than Radha Krishna and their service. We fall into the jaws of death due to our ignorance. Material knowledge will not help us become free. It is essential to hear from the spiritual master and follow the master’s teachings. Even to learn material skills, one must have a teacher,--what to speak of learning the highest spiritual science. Material knowledge produces meager temporary results. Spiritual knowledge produces the highest eternal benefit, love of God-dess. We have to be able to tell a real spiritual master from a false one. The real spiritual teacher is the servant of God-dess and is able to save us from the clutches of death and addiction to things other than Radha Krishna and Radha Krishna's service. We fall into the jaws of death due to our ignorance. Material knowledge will not help us to become free. The words of the spiritual master will. Therefore, we should worship the guru’s lotus feet every moment of our lives. The spiritual master is one but appears in many forms. The guru is our only shelter. As soon as we fall away from the lotus feet of the spiritual master or forget them, we fall away from the truth. We immediately become preoccupied with material activities. We may also become subject to the bad desire of seeking to be worshipped by others as spiritual master. Krishna as Object of Worship is one half, and as Support of His Worshipper, he himself is the other half of the Whole. It's like the hand of God-dess reaching down to massage her/his feet. The spiritual master is present in everything as the supporting principle. The guru appears as initiator, instructor, and indwelling spiritual masters. We should consider all devotees of God-dess to be our masters; therefore, we address each other as "Prabhu." Sometimes devotees criticize other devotees. Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami never listened to the faults of devotees. It was enough for him to know they were engaged in Krishna's service. We become agitated by small insufficiencies. Even when we see the devotees engaged in their service of God-dess, we think they should be doing so much more. Their service is so great, but we're busy looking for defects. Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita 9:30-31, "Even if one commits the most abominable actions, if one is engaged in devotional service, one is to be considered saintly because one is properly situated. One quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace. 0 son of Kunti, declare it boldly, that my devotee never perishes." In the Fifth Text of his Sri Upadeshamrita, Srila Rupa Goswami says, "One should mentally honor the devotee who chants the holy name of Lord Krishna, one should offer humble obeisance to the devotee who has undergone spiritual initiation and is engaged in worshipping the deity, and one should associate with and faithfully serve that pure devotee who is advanced in undeviated devotional service and whose heart is completely devoid of the propensity to criticize others.” As long as we're engaged in seeking out the defects of others, we're devoid of the quality of humility greater than that of a blade of grass. Because I'm full of faults, I'm attracted to finding fault with others. In this way, I lose the opportunity to serve the spiritual master. We need to sit at the lotus feet of the spiritual master and be constantly made aware of our own innumerable defects and be cautioned about the possibility of fall down. Rather than discussing the faults of others, we should speak about Radha Krishna's glories. Hearing and chanting is the only way to realize Radha Krishna. The spiritual master's chanting is able to actually awaken our remembrance of God-dess. Through submissive aural reception, the desire to chant is aroused in us. By means of the transcendental sound, we can rise above the conditioned ego. In material consciousness, we're in a masculine ego state thinking ourselves to be the master and enjoyer. Our spiritual ego is feminine and knows itself to be a servant of Radha Krishna meant for their enjoyment. We're in a lamentable condition due to misidentification with our gross and subtle bodies under the influence of the illusory energy of God-dess. The cause of this is thinking we're equal or even superior to God-dess, their devotees, and the spiritual guide. We're arrogant sinners if we think we can worship Radha Krishna and avoid worshiping their devotees who are as worshipable as God-dess. When we try to become master, we become slaves of sorrow, infatuation, and fear. We can only become free through the devotional attitude. We become eligible to serve Radha Krishna by submitting to them with heart, speech, and body, realizing their mercy in the sufferings brought about by our own actions. This is the only way of deliverance from this world. Whatever God-dess does is for our good. We'll be saved if we see God-dess’ mercy in every event and activity. If we notice any defect or cruelty in God-dess’ works, it's sure to hamper our spiritual progress. All our trouble is due to the fact that we're engrossed in activities other than the service of Radha Krishna. We'll be fortunate if our taste for their service increases daily. It's the spiritual master who inspires us in such activity. My guru wanted his disciples to preach Krishna consciousness and deliver the world from Godlessness. Worldly obstacles can't stop this preaching movement since Chaitanya also desired it to spread throughout the world. A guru should not be interested in having thousands of useless followers like the innumerable stars in the sky which aren't able to dissipate the darkness by their twinkling. One moon is much more powerful than all the stars. We should become moons and destroy the darkness of ignorance. To do this, we shouldn't merely imitate the conduct of pure devotees, but we should follow their line of thought. We had best scrutinize our own ineligibility for the mission and seek to rectify our own faults. Then we'll see that we're lower than the straw in the street and become eligible for receiving the mercy of God-dess and God-dess’ devotees. Why should a person be anxious to pry into the defects of others when one doesn't examine their own conduct? Is this the disposition of a devotee? The acts and expressions of the pure devotees cannot be understood even by the wise. Let us not be misled by external appearances. If we offend the devotees of God-dess, we will "be cast into the pursuit of material objects, name, fame, etc. Service of the devotees is the best thing we can do. We don't find Radha Krishna in this world. Their devotees show themselves to us by their mercy. We'll be wise to follow their conduct and teachings. This is the only path to our well being.
Copyright 2003-08 Steve Bohlert

An adaptation of two lectures by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur:

The perfection of life is when everyone cooperates in Radha Krishna's service. This is an open invitation. Although service of God-dess is the highest of all activities, it can be performed by one and all.

Many people worship for material gain or to attain liberation in God-dess' effulgence. Loving devotional service is not to be confused with such worship. Loving service is the pure transcendental position of the spirit soul.

A real spiritual master is one who dispels the darkness of ignorance by the torchlight of knowledge and elevates his or her disciples to the platform of love. Such a teacher has no personal motivation except to do God-dess' will. In this way, one presents universal religion.

We're infinitesimal. God-dess is infinite. We can't approach God-dess by our senses, mental speculation, or austerities. When we become free of selfish desires and cultivate the spirit of unconditional surrender, God-dess gives us mercy and reveals God-dess’ self. Radha Krishna send their representatives to help us attain this realization. The spiritual master is indispensable for spiritual progress and is the transparent medium through which the Absolute is revealed.

We should give up material attachments and the association of people who aren't interested in serving Radha Krishna. We need to serve and love the devotees, encourage them in their service and never be envious of them.

Chaitanya said, "One who is humbler than a blade of grass, who is more tolerant than a tree, and who does not expect personal honor yet is always prepared to give all respect to others, can very easily always chant the holy name of God-dess."

We must establish the genuine feeling of humility if our chanting is to have potency. We're helpless and require God-dess' grace. God-dess is inclined towards humble devotees. God-dess is not attracted by a mere show of humility which is nothing but insincerity or hypocrisy.

We must also be patient if we're to approach God-dess. This requires being free of any desire other than Radha Krishna and their service. We fall into the jaws of death due to our ignorance. Material knowledge will not help us become free.

It is essential to hear from the spiritual master and follow the master’s teachings. Even to learn material skills, one must have a teacher,--what to speak of learning the highest spiritual science. Material knowledge produces meager temporary results. Spiritual knowledge produces the highest eternal benefit, love of God-dess.

We have to be able to tell a real spiritual master from a false one. The real spiritual teacher is the servant of God-dess and is able to save us from the clutches of death and addiction to things other than Radha Krishna and Radha Krishna's service. We fall into the jaws of death due to our ignorance. Material knowledge will not help us to become free. The words of the spiritual master will. Therefore, we should worship the guru’s lotus feet every moment of our lives.

The spiritual master is one but appears in many forms. The guru is our only shelter. As soon as we fall away from the lotus feet of the spiritual master or forget them, we fall away from the truth. We immediately become preoccupied with material activities. We may also become subject to the bad desire of seeking to be worshipped by others as spiritual master.

Krishna as Object of Worship is one half, and as Support of His Worshipper, he himself is the other half of the Whole. It's like the hand of God-dess reaching down to massage her/his feet. The spiritual master is present in everything as the supporting principle. The guru appears as initiator, instructor, and indwelling spiritual masters. We should consider all devotees of God-dess to be our masters; therefore, we address each other as "Prabhu."

Sometimes devotees criticize other devotees. Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami never listened to the faults of devotees. It was enough for him to know they were engaged in Krishna's service. We become agitated by small insufficiencies. Even when we see the devotees engaged in their service of God-dess, we think they should be doing so much more. Their service is so great, but we're busy looking for defects.

Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita 9:30-31, "Even if one commits the most abominable actions, if one is engaged in devotional service, one is to be considered saintly because one is properly situated. One quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace. 0 son of Kunti, declare it boldly, that my devotee never perishes."

In the Fifth Text of his Sri Upadeshamrita, Srila Rupa Goswami says, "One should mentally honor the devotee who chants the holy name of Lord Krishna, one should offer humble obeisance to the devotee who has undergone spiritual initiation and is engaged in worshipping the deity, and one should associate with and faithfully serve that pure devotee who is advanced in undeviated devotional service and whose heart is completely devoid of the propensity to criticize others.”

As long as we're engaged in seeking out the defects of others, we're devoid of the quality of humility greater than that of a blade of grass. Because I'm full of faults, I'm attracted to finding fault with others. In this way, I lose the opportunity to serve the spiritual master. We need to sit at the lotus feet of the spiritual master and be constantly made aware of our own innumerable defects and be cautioned about the possibility of fall down. Rather than discussing the faults of others, we should speak about Radha Krishna's glories.

Hearing and chanting is the only way to realize Radha Krishna. The spiritual master's chanting is able to actually awaken our remembrance of God-dess. Through submissive aural reception, the desire to chant is aroused in us.

By means of the transcendental sound, we can rise above the conditioned ego. In material consciousness, we're in a masculine ego state thinking ourselves to be the master and enjoyer. Our spiritual ego is feminine and knows itself to be a servant of Radha Krishna meant for their enjoyment.

We're in a lamentable condition due to misidentification with our gross and subtle bodies under the influence of the illusory energy of God-dess. The cause of this is thinking we're equal or even superior to God-dess, their devotees, and the spiritual guide. We're arrogant sinners if we think we can worship Radha Krishna and avoid worshiping their devotees who are as worshipable as God-dess. When we try to become master, we become slaves of sorrow, infatuation, and fear. We can only become free through the devotional attitude.

We become eligible to serve Radha Krishna by submitting to them with heart, speech, and body, realizing their mercy in the sufferings brought about by our own actions. This is the only way of deliverance from this world. Whatever God-dess does is for our good. We'll be saved if we see God-dess’ mercy in every event and activity. If we notice any defect or cruelty in God-dess’ works, it's sure to hamper our spiritual progress.

All our trouble is due to the fact that we're engrossed in activities other than the service of Radha Krishna. We'll be fortunate if our taste for their service increases daily. It's the spiritual master who inspires us in such activity.

My guru wanted his disciples to preach Krishna consciousness and deliver the world from Godlessness. Worldly obstacles can't stop this preaching movement since Chaitanya also desired it to spread throughout the world. A guru should not be interested in having thousands of useless followers like the innumerable stars in the sky which aren't able to dissipate the darkness by their twinkling. One moon is much more powerful than all the stars. We should become moons and destroy the darkness of ignorance.

To do this, we shouldn't merely imitate the conduct of pure devotees, but we should follow their line of thought. We had best scrutinize our own ineligibility for the mission and seek to rectify our own faults. Then we'll see that we're lower than the straw in the street and become eligible for receiving the mercy of God-dess and God-dess’ devotees. Why should a person be anxious to pry into the defects of others when one doesn't examine their own conduct? Is this the disposition of a devotee?

The acts and expressions of the pure devotees cannot be understood even by the wise. Let us not be misled by external appearances. If we offend the devotees of God-dess, we will "be cast into the pursuit of material objects, name, fame, etc. Service of the devotees is the best thing we can do.

We don't find Radha Krishna in this world. Their devotees show themselves to us by their mercy. We'll be wise to follow their conduct and teachings. This is the only path to our well being.