258 THE SCIENCE OF SELF-REALIZATION

platform of ordinary, mundane dealings. That is our point. Therefore to
say they are not loving may be true from the materialists’ point of view.
They have given up affection for family, friends, wife, country, race, and
so on, which is all based upon the bodily concept of life, or flickering
sense gratification. They have become a little detached from mdya’s love,
or lust, and they want Krsna’s love, or endless, fully rewarding love, but
they have not yet developed to that point, that’s all. We cannot expect
that all of a sudden your countrymen, who are addicted to so many bad
habits, will give up eating flesh, taking intoxicants, having illicit sex life,
and so many other nasty things, and overnight become great, self-
realized souls. That is not possible. That is utopian. But just being ini-
tiated as Krsna’s devotee puts one in the topmost category of human
society. Sa buddhiman manusyesu sa yuktah krtsna-karma-krt: ‘‘He is in-
telligent in human society. He is in the transcendental position, although
engaged in all sorts of activities.”’ And although such a devotee may not
yet have advanced to the highest level of spiritual understanding, still he
is to be considered the most exalted personality, regardless of any tempo-
rary frailties.

api cet sudurdcaro
bhajate mam ananya-bhak
sadhur eva sa mantavyah
samyag vyavasito hi sah

‘*Even if a devotee commits the most abominable actions, he is to be
considered saintly because he is properly situated.’’ [Bg. 9.30] As you
will say, ‘‘To err is human.’’ Therefore in the neophyte stage we may al-
ways expect some discrepancies. Kindly see the thing in this light and
forgive their small mistakes. The big thing is that they have given every-
thing, even their lives, to Krsna—and that is never a mistake.

Your ever well-wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
