Acting in Knowledge of Kṛṣṇa
81
be so heartbroken not to be with us,” so they put him to sleep—killed him.
ŚRĪLA PRABHUPĀDA:  In Gandhi’s life also, he once killed one calf or some cow. It was suffering very much. So Gandhi ordered, “Instead of letting it suffer, just kill it.”
GIRIRĀJA:  Yesterday you said that the spiritual master may have to suffer due to the sinful activities of his disciples. What do you mean by sinful activities?
ŚRĪLA PRABHUPĀDA:  Sinful activities means that you promised, “I shall follow the regulative principles.” If you do not follow, that is sinful. That is the promise. Very simple. You break the promise and do nasty things; therefore you are sinful. Is it not?
GIRIRĀJA:  Yes. [ pause ] But there are some things that we’re instructed to do . . .
ŚRĪLA PRABHUPĀDA:  Hm-m?
GIRIRĀJA:  There are other things which we’re instructed to do which, even though we try to do, we cannot do perfectly yet.
ŚRĪLA PRABHUPĀDA:  How is that? You try to do and cannot do? How is that?
GIRIRĀJA:  Like chanting attentively. Sometimes we try to, but—
ŚRĪLA PRABHUPĀDA:  Well, that is not a fault. Suppose you are trying to do something. Due to your inexperience if you sometimes fail, that is not a fault. You are trying. There is a verse in the  Bhāgavatam —hm-m—that if a devotee is trying his best but due to his incapability he sometimes fails, Kṛṣṇa excuses him. And in the  Bhagavad-gitā  also it is said:
api cet sudurācāro
bhajate mām ananya-bhāk