Chitralekha: Sometimes when a devotee fell away or had an illicit relationship, other devotees advised that person not to come to the temple or they shunned and humiliated that person so much that he or she wouldn’t come to the temple. That disturbed Prabhupada. He would write, “Now you have driven him away. You have humiliated him so much that he won’t be able to continue his service.” In that way Prabhupada would chastise us. Prabhupada was accepting of anything that anyone could offer on any level. No one would have become a devotee had Prabhupada been very strict. He was strict with himself but accommodating with anyone who was inclined to offer any loving service to him or to Krishna. In my eyes that is Prabhupada’s most magnanimous quality. That’s the mood with which he began this movement and, if we can imbibe that quality of Prabhupada’s and carry on with loving compassion for one another, that’s how this movement’s going to continue. Be strict with ourselves, yes, but have loving compassion for one another. To go back to Godhead we need each other’s support.
Courtesy: Remembrances of Srila Prabhupada – HG Sidhanta pr, Folio vedabase
