Prabhupāda Directs His Disciples to Stop Criticizing the Faults of Devotees
Maintaining harmony within a spiritual community requires a deep sense of humility and forgiveness. Śrīla Prabhupāda directs his disciples to stop criticizing the faults of devotees, explaining that everyone comes from backgrounds of bad habits and is currently undergoing a purificatory process. He warns that if one actively seeks out faults, māyā will provide every facility to make small discrepancies appear massive, eventually driving the practitioner away from the society. While it is the duty of the spiritual master to point out faults for the sake of rectification, the students must learn to tolerate one another and overlook minor errors. Ultimately, by focusing on the importance of service rather than the shortcomings of the servant, the community remains unified and strong in its mission.
Tolerance and Forgiveness
Living cooperatively in a spiritual society is impossible without a humble and forgiving attitude. Śrīla Prabhupāda requests his followers to tolerate the faults of others and always consider themselves to be the most faulty. By practicing kṣamā, or forgiveness, the friction caused by faulty dealings between members is reduced, allowing everyone to live together peacefully.
- One quality of a devotee is that he is always very much tolerant of other people, so I request you simply to tolerate the faults of others and always think that I am myself the most faulty. In this way your humble attitude will qualify you to advance.
- In our dealings, there are so many faulty dealings between ourselves. So if we take everything very seriously, then it is very difficult to live. So ksama means forgiveness - will reduce.
- All of you are coming from backgrounds of bad habits, so to make progress in Krishna Consciousness we must overlook the faults of others. You must be patient with your husband.
- We should not criticize each other, as Vaisnavas, because there is fault in everyone and we may be ourselves subject to criticism.
The Duty of the Spiritual Master
While students should avoid criticizing one another, the teacher must provide correction to ensure growth. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that as the head of the institution, it is his sacred duty to find and point out the faults in his disciples. This is not done out of a desire to criticize, but to ensure that the students rectify their mistakes and remain on the platform of pure devotional service.
- Actually everyone of my disciples are good, and my task is to find out the fault in you.
- I know you are working hard and sincerely. I have no business to criticize you but as head of the institution or your spiritual master, it is my duty to find out your faults.
- There is no question of being disappointed. After all, we commit so many mistakes. That is human nature. To err is human. That is not fault. But try to rectify with cool head. That is required.
Avoiding the Critical Mentality
Actively searching for defects in other Vaiṣṇavas is a dangerous trap set by the material energy. He warns that if one is intent on finding faults, māyā will amplify every small discrepancy until it seems large enough to justify leaving the path. Therefore, instead of finding fault and going away, a sincere practitioner should understand that Kṛṣṇa consciousness is a purificatory process and remain patient.
- If we are seeking to find out some fault, maya will give us all facility to find any small thing and make it very big, that is maya.
- The Vaisnava devotee must think like this. We should not find fault with others and criticize and go away, that is not the Vaisnava way.
- You should understand that Krishna Consciousness is a purificatory process. One may not be purified immediately, but since he is on the right path for purification, one should not criticize him for some faults that he may still have.
The Priority of Service
In the management of the movement, the value of a person's service often outweighs their minor shortcomings. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that if someone is performing vital service, their faults should be excused to ensure the preaching work continues. He applies this same principle to his editors, noting that if the philosophy and meaning remain unchanged, minor editorial discrepancies do not constitute a fault.
- If one is giving very important service, then even there is some faulty thing, excuse. Service is so important. So in the Western countries the woman can give very good service.
- I don't think that Hayagriva is at fault. He has not changed the meaning or the philosophy in any way. But if you like to use the original manuscript, then if it is possible, you can use it.
- Regarding the art of management, constant changing is not good. Even if there is some fault in management it should be corrected, not changed. Besides that, Vaisnava philosophy is that everyone is addressed as prabhu, or master.
- The temple president is in charge and the sannyasi should not contradict the instructions. Although if he does see something wrong or if he sees a fault or defect he should bring it out directly to the temple president.
Personal Accountability
While the movement is designed to help everyone, the ultimate responsibility for spiritual success lies with the individual. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that if a disciple falls from their instructions or fails to utilize the benefit of a spiritual master, it is entirely their own fault. He also emphasizes that parents must be extremely careful to ensure their children become Kṛṣṇa conscious, as failing in this duty is a great personal fault.
- If you fall from the instruction, how you can remain eternal? You have to stay on the platform. Then eternally you are safe. If you fall down from the platform, then it is your fault.
- If you do not utilize the benefit of having a bona fide spiritual master, then that is your fault.
- When the initiation takes place we promise so many things. But if we do not follow, if we do not keep our promise, that is a great fault.
- If your children do not become Vaisnava in the future, then it is a great, I meant to say, fault on your part. So you should be very cautious, careful, that children are not going astray, they are becoming actually Krsna conscious.
The Fault of Preaching
In a godless world, the mere act of spreading the truth is often viewed as a crime by the envious. He notes that the only real "fault" of the movement is that it is successfully preaching the saṅkīrtana movement and educating people to be honest. Even if the government or general public dislikes the devotees for this reason, they must continue their duty without being discouraged by such external criticism.
- Our only fault is that we are preaching the sankirtana movement, and there are so many enemies. You see? So that is possible.
- There are many people, they do not like us because we are preaching God consciousness. This is our fault. Even in our country, in India, the government do not like us.
- Krsna consciousness movement is not pushing something forcibly to anyone. There is complete judgement. But unfortunately, if one cannot understand, that is not our fault. One must have the intelligence to understand.
Conclusion
The spiritual path is a journey of purification that requires immense patience with oneself and others. Śrīla Prabhupāda protects the integrity of his society by teaching his disciples to replace the urge to criticize with the impulse to forgive. By emphasizing that every devotee is a work in progress, he creates a safe space where service is valued above perfection. When disciples take full responsibility for their own vows and overlook the minor shortcomings of their godbrothers and godsisters, they dismantle the tricks of māyā. Through this culture of mutual respect and humble service, the movement remains a powerful and unified force capable of purifying the entire world.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Our Faults (Disciples of SP). We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.