the deep loving relationship between disciple and Guru

Srila Prabhupada told me personally regarding Spiritual life after initiation-

“Do not be suprised that an initiated devotee falls down, be very suprised if they do not fall down!”

Spiritual life AFTER initiation, Prabhupada continued to say, “is like a child learning to walk, all of you girls and boys are so very young.

Many are taking initiation in their late teens or early 20s, so it is not suprising vowls will be very difficult to follow, and yes, some will fall down in the early stages, but you should never give up.

As you mature in your Spiritual life, by training yourself to be more attentive while chanting Hare Krishna and hearing our sastra, then naturally you will become stronger, Krishna will NEVER force you to surrender, you MUST make that choice yourself, and it is often difficult.

You must learn to always “choose” Krishna over “mundane sense gratification”, Sadhana will give you strength to help you not fall down.

Then gradually, as you become stronger in your vowls, you will CHOOSE NOT to allow Maya to make you fall down”.

Many who have the idea of forgiveness happens only “just once” are talking silly immature nonsense that Prabhupada rejected, NEVER did he say that if you fall down after initiation you can never be forgiven!

In fact, if a devotee is trying there best and even falls down 100 times, FORGIVENESS IS ALWAYS THERE WITH ONE’S SPIRITUAL MASTER!!

This is because, if he is a genuine Spiritual Master, he will always forgive a devotee who greaty loves him regardless of their fall downs and weakness because he only sees their service.

This is proved in this following pastime –

I knew one sannyasi in the early 70s, he greatly loved Prabhupada very much and did vast important amazing service for him.

But sadly, he had an uncontrollable bad habit, he was addicted to having sex with many women. Over the years, he tried very hard to stop this addiction to sinful life, but he couldn’t give it up.

Prabhupada heard he had these problems and told him to came and associate with him.

Prabhupada often promoted a devotee having difficulties (breaking one or more of the 4 regs) by increasing there service, this is what he did with this sannyasi.

But he was too addicted to bad habits (like the story of Ajamil) and eventually left ISKCON but NEVER forgot Prabhupada.

Prabhupada was very disturbed by him leaving ISKCON and even cried on hearing the news, ONLY seeing all the wonderful service he did and NOT his faults.

Prabhupada even sent devotees to find him and said he would pay his airfare to come and see him in Vrindavana.

Eventually he was found and the ex-sannyasi agreed to met Prabhupada and it was a very emotional reunion.

This was mid 1977, a few months before Prabhupada left this world.

Prabhupada loved his dear disciple, one of the early pioneers who joined in 1967.

Prabhupada was not interested in how many times he fell down due to weakness with this or that women, all Prabhupada saw was the amazing service from this fallen, but genuine devotee, that is up there with some of the greatest service ever done by a devotee in ISKCON.

We should all TRY and understand what Patita pavana really means.

Lord Caitanya means what He says “I have come to save the most fallen!”

And that process of saving a soul could mean forgiving then 1000 times!

We must understand that most who take up Spiritual life, DO fall down as the Gita tells us! Only a very few attain devotional perfection in one life as Bhagavad Gita As It Is teaches us.

7.3: Knowledge of the Absolute, Text 3.

Out of many thousands among men, one may endeavor for perfection, and of those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Me in truth.

The ex-sannyasi, loved by many devotees, DID eventually come back and lead many wonderful kirtans and gave many Bhagavatam classes in his old age, he passed away a few years ago in the association of devotees.