Śrī Śrīla Shyām Dās Bābā Mahārāj
One who truly wants to be engaged in Guru-Vaishnava sevā must cultivate nirapekṣatā (neutrality), saralatā (simplicity and honesty of heart), and dhīratā (steadiness and patience). By the cultivation of these qualities one becomes a fit candidate to receive the causeless mercy to render actual service to Śrī Guru-Vaiṣṇava-Bhagavān.
From the Bhagavad-gītā we clearly can understand that one must tolerate all different treatments coming from this material world — good or bad. If someone criticizes me, I have to bear it. There is no question of revenge. By tolerating aversive situations we can develop more and more devotional power. As Śrīmān Mahāprabhu told in Śikṣāṣṭakam—
tṛṇād api sunīcena
taror api sahiṣṇunā
amāninā mānadena
kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ (Śikṣāṣṭaka verse 3)
“One who is humbler than a blade of grass, more forbearing than a tree who gives due honour to others without desiring honour for himself is qualified to always chant the Holy Name of Kṛṣṇa.”
As long as we remain humbler than a blade of grass, we will be able to perform hari-kirtana. The moment we try to become “bigger” or “greater,” we will have to say goodbye to kirtana.
As soon as we lose our patience and become angry, everything is lost, because anger is like fire. In Nīti-śāstra anger is compared to a blazing fire which burns everything, including all the pious merit one has accumulated.
Guru and Vaiṣṇavas are never under the influence of material anger. Many people are in confusion about anger and tejas (the emanating power of their bhajana). Anger arises from unfulfilled kāma, but pure Guru-Vaiṣṇavas are completely free from selfish desire; therefore such kind of anger can never arise in them.
kṛṣṇa-bhakta — niṣkāma, ataeva ‘śānta’
bhukti-mukti-siddhi-kāmī — sakali ‘aśānta’ (CC Madhya 19.149)
“Because a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa is desireless, he is peaceful. Fruitive workers desire material enjoyment, jñānīs desire liberation, and yogīs desire material opulence; therefore they are all lusty and cannot be peaceful.
Vaiṣṇavas — their hearts are always pure and devoid of any kind of self-interest. They may correct others heavily, but only for the sake of truth and protection of that Absolute Dharma. Only those who are in ignorance can think that Vaiṣṇavas become angry. It is actually utmost compassion on the part of Guru-Vaiṣṇava that they can provide a kick on our false ego.
A Vaiṣṇava never becomes disturbed by personal insults or whatever it maybe. But if someone blasphemes Guru-Vaiṣṇava, then they become like a blazing fire. Bimala Prasāda even in young age already has shown all such Vaishnava qualities. Once a so-called guru wanted to place his foot on the head of Śrīla Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, but the small boy immediately protested: “Do you think that you have the power to place your foot upon his head?” That was not childish anger; it was pure devotion defending the honour & dignity of pure Guru-Vaishnava.
First of all we must get control over our whimsical mind. As long as kāma, anyābhilāṣa, and selfish desire remain within the heart, anger is bound to arise. It is only when all these garbage are kicked out from the heart that actual bhajana can start. Without conquering the lower impulses, one cannot enter the path of steady uninterrupted seva. In Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.115) Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmipāda says—
sokamarsadibhir bhavair akrantam yasya manasam |
katham tatra mukundasya sphurti-sambhavana bhavet ||1.2.115|||
How can Lord Sri Krsna who is ever joyful and ever-smiling like pearl-white Kunda-flower appear in the heart of a person, which is governed by emotions of bereavement, sorrow, anger, etc.?
Gaura Hari Hari Bol