View source for Even if a devotee commits the most abominable actions, he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated

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{{terms|"Even if a devotee commits the most abominable actions, he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated"}}
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{{compiler|Anurag}}
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[[Category:Even If]]
[[Category:Devotee]]
[[Category:Commit]]
[[Category:Most Abominable]]
[[Category:Action]]
[[Category:Abominable Actions]]
[[Category:Consider]]
[[Category:Saintly]]
[[Category:Because]]
[[Category:Properly Situated]]
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<h2>Correspondence</h2>
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<h3>1973 Correspondence</h3>
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"Even if a devotee commits the most abominable actions, he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated,". As you will say, "To err is human", so in the neophyte stage we may always expect some discrepancies are there. Kindly see the things in this light and forgive their small mistakes. The big thing is they have given their life, everything to Krishna—that is never a mistake.
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[[Vanisource:730430 - Letter to Lynne Ludwig written from Los Angeles|730430 - Letter to Lynne Ludwig written from Los Angeles]]
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So these are the descriptions of the more advanced stages of Krishna Consciousness devotees, when has got mature knowledge by development, and at present many of our students are young boys, they are learning gradually and the process is so effective, certain, and authorized that if they stick to it they will come to the right point, as you say, of loving. But that love is not material, that is our point, so it may not be judged on the on the false sentimental platform of ordinary mundane dealings. So to say they are not loving, that maybe true from the materialists point of view—they have given up affection for family, friends, wife, country, race, like that, all based upon the bodily concept of life or flickering sense-gratification—they have become little detached from Maya's love, or lust, and they want Krishna's love, or endless, full, rewarding love, but they have not yet developed to that point, that's all and we cannot expect that all of a sudden, being addicted to so many bad habits, your countrymen, will give up eating flesh, taking intoxication, sex-life, and so many other nasty things, and become overnight great self-realized souls. That is not possible. That is utopian. Just becoming initiated as Krishna's devotee puts him in the topmost category of human society: sa buddhiman manusyesu, sa yuktah krtsna-karma-krt: ([[Vanisource:BG 4.18 (1972)|BG 4.18]]) "he is intelligent among human society, he is in the transcendental position, although engaged in sorts of activities". And such devotee, no matter he has not advanced yet to the highest level of spiritual understanding, still he is to be considered the most exalted personality never mind he has got any temporary frailties:

api cet suduracaro, bhajate mam ananya-bhaksadhur eva sa mantavyah, samyag vyavasito hi sah([[Vanisource:BG 9.30 (1972)|BG 9.30]])

"Even if a devotee commits the most abominable actions, he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated,". As you will say, "To err is human", so in the neophyte stage we may always expect some discrepancies are there. Kindly see the things in this light and forgive their small mistakes. The big thing is they have given their life, everything to Krishna—that is never a mistake.
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