Position of the devotee
Question:
Hare Krsna!
All glories to Sri Sri Gaura Nitai!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to Srila Trivikrama Swami Maharaj!
Guru Maharaj! Please accept my humble obeisances.
Gurudeva, today I want to ask very short questions that came to my mind after reading your answer to question number 8 from the website. Please, if it is possible, give me detailed answer to my questions:
1. What is your adhikari?
2. What is your level of advancement?
I know your advancement is on very high level. I can see that. I am asking these questions to be able to know you better, and finally through your person and thank to your mercy I will be able to get closer to Sri Krsna.
Hare Krsna!
Thank You.
Answer:
Question 1: “What is your adhikari?”
Hare Krsna!
Srila Prabhupada wanted us to become Madyama adhikaries. The Madyamas make four distinctions: (1) the atheists (who they avoid), (2) the innocent (who they preach to), (3) the devotees (who they associate with) and (4) the Lord (who they worship).
Of course within the category of Madyama adhikari there are some who are higher and some lower. Hopefully I have gotten enough mercy from Srila Prabhupada to be listed as some kind of Madyama.
Question 2: “What is your level of advancement?”
Usually we don’t ask these questions of devotees. The reason being is that a devotee is naturally meek and humble and knows that he is very fallen. This is not false humility but is a fact. We embodied souls have all been ensnared by Maya since time in memorial. We are in this conditioned state because of our misuse of independence. Without always keeping this understanding a devotee may become proud and thus fail to get the mercy which is coming down from the superior devotees and the Lord.
Yours sincerely,
Trivikrama Swami
