"The scriptures state that when a foolish wretch worships the lotus feet of a brāhmaṇa and then strikes him on the head, he will be sure to go to hell. Similarly, when someone worships the Deity of Śrī Viṣṇu, but DISRESPECTS OR DISREGARDS ŚRĪ VIṢṆU RESIDING WITHIN EVERYONE’S HEART, he also goes to hell. What to speak of committing offence and violence to a Vaiṣṇava devotee!
If someone OFFENDS OR TORTURES EVEN AN ORDINARY LIVING ENTITY, yet worships Śrī Viṣṇu, the Lord of every living entity, then ALL HIS WORSHIP IS WORTHLESS, and HE SUFFERS GREAT PAIN.
To worship Śrī Viṣṇu on one hand, and be ignorant about Śrī Viṣṇu being the Supersoul in everyone’s heart on the other, is like touching a brāhmaṇa’s feet for a blessings with one hand, and then beating him on the head with the other.
Such foolish persons do not know what is most beneficial for them. To criticize a Vaiṣṇava devotee is a THOUSAND TIMES MORE SINFUL than offending an ordinary living entity.
The person who faithfully worships the Deities, but has no love and respect for the devotees, also does not possess any compassion for the ignorant and fallen conditioned souls. He accepts one incarnation of the Supreme Lord and worships Him, while he rejects another. He treats Śrī Kṛṣṇa differently from Śrī Rāmacandra, seeing a difference between Them. He does not show any respect or devotion for Balarama or Śiva. Such persons are described in the scriptures as the lowest and weakest of devotees.
The Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 11.2.47. states: “A devotee who faithfully engages in the worship of the Deity in the temple, but does not behave properly toward other devotees or people in general is called a prākṛta-bhakta, an impure materialistic devotee, and is considered to be a kaniṣṭha-adhikārī in the lowest position. In the course of discussion, I have just briefly mentioned the symptoms of a neophyte devotee incidentally.
[From Śrī Caitanya-Bhāgavata, Madhya-kāṇḍa, Chapter 5: The Vyāsa-pūjā of Śrī Nityānanda]
If someone OFFENDS OR TORTURES EVEN AN ORDINARY LIVING ENTITY, yet worships Śrī Viṣṇu, the Lord of every living entity, then ALL HIS WORSHIP IS WORTHLESS, and HE SUFFERS GREAT PAIN.
To worship Śrī Viṣṇu on one hand, and be ignorant about Śrī Viṣṇu being the Supersoul in everyone’s heart on the other, is like touching a brāhmaṇa’s feet for a blessings with one hand, and then beating him on the head with the other.
Such foolish persons do not know what is most beneficial for them. To criticize a Vaiṣṇava devotee is a THOUSAND TIMES MORE SINFUL than offending an ordinary living entity.
The person who faithfully worships the Deities, but has no love and respect for the devotees, also does not possess any compassion for the ignorant and fallen conditioned souls. He accepts one incarnation of the Supreme Lord and worships Him, while he rejects another. He treats Śrī Kṛṣṇa differently from Śrī Rāmacandra, seeing a difference between Them. He does not show any respect or devotion for Balarama or Śiva. Such persons are described in the scriptures as the lowest and weakest of devotees.
The Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 11.2.47. states: “A devotee who faithfully engages in the worship of the Deity in the temple, but does not behave properly toward other devotees or people in general is called a prākṛta-bhakta, an impure materialistic devotee, and is considered to be a kaniṣṭha-adhikārī in the lowest position. In the course of discussion, I have just briefly mentioned the symptoms of a neophyte devotee incidentally.
[From Śrī Caitanya-Bhāgavata, Madhya-kāṇḍa, Chapter 5: The Vyāsa-pūjā of Śrī Nityānanda]
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