I wanted to share the following article, which makes three points:
(1) Symptoms of a sadhu
(2) Srila Prabhupada complaining about the mentality to break/change – I suggest and you pay for it.
(3) These words of Srila Prabhupada about his purports – very interesting. And he provided a revealing insight into the source of his own words in the purport:
"I have tried to explain what is there in the Bhagavatam, expand it. That is not my explanation, that is Krsna's explanation. I cannot explain now; [at] that moment I could explain. That means Krsna's … I can understand that. That the description is very nicely given. Although it is my writing, but I know it is not my writing. It is Krsna's writing. So we should read Bhagavatam always. Nityam bhagavata-sevaya. We should not waste our time."
This was not the first time that Srila Prabhupada has said that when he writes, he is simply acting as a mouthpiece for Krsna. His words and humility today merely emphasized his role as the transparent via media between us and Krsna, and gave us another glimpse into the intimacy of his relationship with the Lord.
Please read more below.
Wishing You Well,
yhs- Gadadhar Dasa
Sadhu Symptoms
September 4th, 1976
Later in the morning Harikesa Swami and I sat with Srila Prabhupada in his darsana room. He was discussing Srimad-Bhagavatam verse 3.25.21. Harikesa read it out:
titiksavah karunikah suhrdah sarva-dehinam
ajata-satravah santah sadhavah sadhu-bhusanah
"The symptoms of a sadhu are that he is tolerant, merciful, and friendly to all living entities. He has no enemies, he is peaceful, he abides by the scriptures, and all his characteristics are sublime."
Prabhupada smiled in satisfaction. "This is sadhu. Not the dress." Then he had Harikesa read out his lengthy purport. Towards the end of it Prabhupada interrupted him. We could hear loud banging and hammering coming from the vicinity of the Guest House, and Prabhupada asked what was going on.
We explained that some alterations were being made to the front lounge area to facilitate the preaching.
Prabhupada wasn't impressed, and complained about our propensity to always change things. "They manufacture ideas and spend money. This is the difficulty. Everyone manufactures some idea. And break it, do it, dig it. Money is coming and they are spending it. They cannot adjust whatever is there. Big, big ideas. Big, big belly. And money we have to bring from America. 'Give me one lakh, give me one lakh fifty-thousand. I make idea, you pay.' So many rooms you can make showroom. Why breaking this door, breaking that door? Too many cooks spoils the broth. And repairing and, what is called, addition, alteration, will never stop. I do not know how to stop it." He started to laugh. "Now, yesterday that Bisancandra said, suggesting there should be rack three feet high, seven feet high, this high … Everyone will suggest. And spend money. Any friend, you bring him, he'll suggest so that you may spend it. And wherefrom money will come? 'Oh, that is your look after. I am your friend, I am giving you good suggestion. Break it. Do it. I am your friend. You break your head.'"
His smile broadened as he told us a story. "There was a Mohammedan king, Nizamuddin. Nizamuddin, there is a tomb in Delhi. He was poet. So if some friends come he would read some writing, and he will suggest, the friend will suggest, 'Why don't you make like this.'
"'Oh, it is good. All right.' He'll do it. Whatever he says. And when he goes away, then again makes his own.
"So the secretary said, 'Why you are changing?'
"'What can I do? That is my friend. And that is nonsense; therefore I am again doing what I wrote.'
"So we have to do that. As soon as you call anybody, he'll give you some suggestion. 'Make this alteration, make this alteration.'"
Prabhupada shook his head with good-humored resignation and resumed our discussion on the Bhagavatam. "So description of the sadhu is there. It is very nice. Where they will find this description all over the world? Hm?"
Complimenting Prabhupada, Harikesa said, "I think there's only one person who's following that description."
But Prabhupada had different mood; he humbly appreciated the words of the sastra. "No, I say about Bhagavata's description. How perfect it is in every subject matter."
And he provided a revealing insight into the source of his own words in the purport. "I have tried to explain what is there in the Bhagavatam, expand it. That is not my explanation, that is Krsna's explanation. I cannot explain now; [at] that moment I could explain. That means Krsna's … I can understand that. That the description is very nicely given. Although it is my writing, but I know it is not my writing. It is Krsna's writing. So we should read Bhagavatam always. Nityam bhagavata-sevaya. We should not waste our time."
This was not the first time that Prabhupada has said that when he writes he is simply acting as a mouthpiece for Krsna. His words and humility today merely emphasized his role as the transparent via media between us and Krsna, and gave us another glimpse into the intimacy of his relationship with the Lord.
– From A Transcendental Diary, Vol. 4, by HG Hari Sauri Prabhu
