There must be some affectionate heart within, not jealousy or anything of that type

“So, one must be very careful not to make any remark generally, about the practices and activities of another Vaisnava. Only in the Guru’s case when he is empowered by the Supreme, he may correct his disciples. As the guardian, with a sympathetic eye, he can mark the defects in his disciple and help him to remove them.

 

There must be some affectionate heart within, not jealousy or anything of that type, but with good will he wants to remove the defects from the affectionate student. That is the sum of siksa-guru, or diksa-guru. From that position one may detect the fault of the students of this line, and help them sincerely, to get out of that. Otherwise, if we are attracted by those faults, they will come to us, and we shall have to pay for them, as a practical thing. This is based on reason, and scriptural advices.

 

We must be careful. We are also warned in the Vaisnava literature, that we must be careful about vaisnava-aparadha, which comes from the jealous spirit of competition or jealousy. It is very detrimental to our spiritual life, so, we all must be very careful, not to be especially attracted by any defect in others. If it comes to our eye, we may refer to the higher authority: “I doubt that this is the case with that gentleman, but please check this.” If we make too much of it, either in opposition or in any other way, that effect will be transferred to us. “I am being devoured. My mind is coming in touch with that fault, and that fault is devouring me as food.” It enters into the mental system of the critic, and it must get its satisfaction from there, as a reaction. This is a trade secret – this is also the secret of our devotional life. We must be aware, and we must be very careful about these practical difficulties in the path of our devotional life.”

 

-Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Goswami Maharaj