Question to Srila Prabhupada about Tulasi Devi: "Is it permissible to use scissors to cut her Manjaris, and when transplanting, to use knives to loosen her from her pot?"

Srila Prabhupada: "Use common sense, and if you have none, then consult with others!"
-- The Life of Tulasi by Amala Bhakta Dasa (Questions and answers from a letter, September 27, 1976, Page 96.)

There is a demon that you and I wrestle with from day to day : "Sentimentality". Almost anyone will agree that sentimentality might be our society's greatest foe. We, like all other humans, do not always use common sense. Sometimes because we have none, other times because we choose to follow blindly. Instead of using common sense, we (aspiring Vaishnavas) have learned to make decisions based solely on scriptural situations that happened at another time, in another place, under a different cultural bias, and with a host of different personalities involved. Surprisingly, we still find certain individuals presenting 10 or 15 completely unrelated quotes from Srila Prabhupada in order to come out ahead in remotely related discussions. (This paragraph alone will incite a gaggle of such and prove the point)

Nevertheless, while we are indeed obliged to refer to scriptural guidance at every step of our development, we need to be equally aware of time and circumstance, as well as of our intention at that moment. We have to be careful not to manipulate scriptural evidence in order to control situations. I must ask myself, "What are my real intentions every time I seek the support of the Vedas?" When referring to scripture, "Am I looking out for others' interests?" The social science of Situational Ethics explains that since every situation is dynamically different and implicitly individual, we must each time strive to make the most loving and considerate decisions for all persons involved regardless of previously written mandates. This is the true meaning of "Personalism". Choices and arguments fashioned strictly and solely on scriptural evidence, without considering the pertinent circumstances and individuals involved, are inconsiderate, impersonal, and dangerous decisions.

Srila Prabhupada used to warn and chastise against sentimental behavior in His disciples sometimes as much (and at times even more) than He did against Mayavadi Philosophy. It is apparent that we did in fact heed His warning on the Mayavadi Philosophy issue. So much so, that it is rare to disagree with most anyone on any topic without hearing, "It's not all one, Prabhu!" Of course, not understanding what the Mayavadi proposal really is, anything that we do not understand is immediately rejected as "Mayavadi" (But that is a future discussion). If however, we were as cautious with sentimentality as we have been with the Mayavadi concept, the social structure of our society might have developed with a lot more solidarity and unity.

A God brother from Brazil recently wrote to me and asked my opinion about the sentimentalism that creates such dependency and fanaticism among our God brothers/sisters. He said, "…Acharyas as Narayana Maharaja and Govinda Maharaja can give, and really are giving their grace, for devotees that come near them, this I myself have witnessed. But, never I saw them teaching how we will develop our own spiritual life after they have gone. The same occurred with Prabhupada. Something is wrong here. They are creating a harrowing dependency on themselves, what is the perspective of this way of preaching? I am seeing that devotees go to India, return in love but in some months all that disappears and what remains is fanatic followers." This reminded me that there are similar concerns about sentimentalism for our Vaishnava society on the global level, not just exclusive to my part of the world, and not just within ISKCON. Sentimentality means a lack of knowledge, a lack of awareness, and lack of focus.

"In actuality", I thought, "there is nothing wrong with the Acharyas' way of preaching". I believe that Srila Govinda Maharaja and Srila Narayana Maharaja, and others, are very special Sadhus with pure intentions that are enlivening a multitude of people. Their work also is pure, as is all work that is performed with pure intention. Purity is the Goal. Purity is the Force. Purity is Brahman.

Nonetheless, it is the natural (and human) sentimental shortcomings of the disciples that have reaped anarchy and mistrust among the groups and between individuals. These sentimental leaps have shaped the focus of our society. One small group that I will not mention by name, for instance, speaks to new guests and seasoned followers of nothing but the "Mercy" that flows freely from their Acharya alone, in exchange for no other requirement other than "Seva". There is no discussion about Shravanam, Kirtanam, Shmaranam etc., or of the eternal nature of the soul, about Paramatma, or of Krsna and his different energies as described in Bhagavad Gita. This is Guru consciousness, not Krsna Consciousness. But, it is not the Acharya preaching like this; it is the disciples. We, the disciples, create the face of our society. The Acharyas are here only to guide. That is their 'mercy'. It is up to us to utilize that guidance properly and with common sense.

As disciples, it is the quality of our focus and intentions that determines whether an activity or event is transformed into Brahman or manifested matter. "The Absolute Truth covered by Maya is called matter. Matter dovetailed for the cause of the Absolute Truth regains its spiritual quality." [a must read] (BG As It Is 4:24 Purport by ACBS, Third Printing 1973). That is the secret, for example, behind offering our food: "Patram Pushpam Phalam Toyam, Yo Me Bhakta Prayachati..." ("If one offers me a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water  in devotion, I will accept" BG 9:26). The devotion (Bhakti) is the intention or the focus. Our yoga is that focus, or meditation.

In actuality, Bhakti Yoga is the cultivation of our desire for love of God. Material nature is made manifest by Krsna fulfilling the desires of the living entities, our desires. This is the meaning of "free will". In this world, each one of us helps to shape and construct our  reality, through the quality of our desires. Just like, "Whatever state of being one remembers at the time of death, to that state you will attain without a doubt." (BG 8:6), in a very similar manner, your present state of mind dictates the direction and unfolding of your very next moment. One might say that material life is a temporal journey and our thoughts are the steps that lead us from moment to moment across time. This "free will" allows us to make choices from moment to moment, each time shaping our consciousness and our future (Karma). The goal of Bhakti Yoga is to isolate each one of these moments and allow our conscious mind to place and perceive Krsna at the center of that small temporal equation. This is the focus: "Always remember Krsna and never forget Him." -- ACBS.

Unfortunately, this is not the focus that a lot of us are choosing to set our sites on. Our congregation is mostly composed of fallible, imperfect and impressionable human beings like you and I. Being far from pure, our intentions are not always sincere. Somehow, though, we have come to believe that by the "Mercy" of our respective Guru(s) we will transcend nonetheless. The reality, however, is that our Acharyas and Sadhus cannot do the work for us. Thinking so is gross sentimentalism. It is important to note that those who are pure among us, the Sadhus, although they may have the  focus, the pure intentions, and the pure desires, they do not walk on water, heal the sick, or tell the future. It is very important to understand this. Believing that they do is the sentiment that divides us. To expect one's guru to "walk on water" is the cruel and unjust shallow expectation of a neophyte. Those who believe that their guru's oversights, inability, old age, and disease are simply a divine Lila have deluded themselves with sentimentality. Their Lila is most certainly being played out, but in a totally different network of reality that is beyond our eyes and empirical comprehension. Let's not insult their Divine Relationship with the Lord by comparing it to our inaccurate perception of reality.

By the same token, it is equally true that Purity is not synonymous to a college degree in (for example) management, psychology, business, science, etc. Krsna Consciousness is a very pragmatic and very sensible science of thinking and of practicing aspiration, intention, and desire with Krsna in the center. That is the Yoga, the daily disciplinary practice that when applied sincerely unfolds into waves of realizations and desires to know and understand one's relationship with the Supreme. As I progress in my spiritual career, however, I do not automatically become a mathematician, a physicist, or an engineer. These arts I must learn separately if I need to utilize them for my service.

That is to say, we cannot expect that the Sadhu will repair the problems of the world, of our society, or our Math. Otherwise the whole world would already be saved, everyone would have gone Home, and the material world would have transformed back into pure unmanifest spiritual energy. Our Sadhus only offer guidance. That is the way things are! We have to do the work.  We have to change our focus! Each one of us has his/her mission: to become pure in purpose, intention and desire.

Nevertheless, we have to remember Krsna's own words, "Out of many thousands among men, one may endeavor for perfection, and of those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Me in truth" (BG 7:3). And so we see that not all of our God brothers/sisters are  endeavoring for perfection. Some of us have gotten too enraptured by tribal instinct, territorial designations, and messianic monopolies of purity (all sentiment) to be able to see what is really going on. This is, of course, understandable human behavior that does not merit criticism, but that should be avoided by the aspiring devotee. Fanaticism is due to fear of lack of faith. Out of many, many thousands, only a few will have real faith. They will become our inspiration. Our current Acharyas will one day continue from this world, and by our desire other Sadhus will emerge to show us guidance, perhaps you.

Whatever the turnout, that which is here now is most definitely complete. "AUM Puurnam Adah Puurnam Idam, Puurnaat Puurnam Udacyate, Puurnasya Puurnam aadaaya, Puurnam Evaavashishyate"(Sri Isho Upanishad invocation) ("The Supreme Personality of Godhead is perfect and complete, and because he is completely perfect, all emanations from Him, such as this phenomenal world, are perfectly equipped as complete wholes. Whatever is produced from the complete whole is also complete in itself. Because He is the complete whole, even though so many complete units emanate from Him, He remains the complete balance.") – Sentimentalism and fanaticism do not allow us to see and understand this truth from the Sri Isho Upanishad. We must strive for knowledge and realization through common sense and compassionate ethics, striving to make choices and judgements that are kind to all living entities, including (and especially) fellow Vaishnavas.

The intricate network of reasons and causes that form this small Vaishnava society is recklessly complex in depth and personality. The apparent chaos can be compared to looking down at a cityscape during evening rush hour. All the movement and commotion appears like random and unrelated noisy disarray and confusion. But we know that every person or vehicle indeed has a planned strategic destination to his or her home after a busy day. At the end of the apparently chaotic event, all individuals in the event will have reached their desired destination. This is the order of chaos. It is our perception, or consciousness, which chooses to see it as chaos or order. It is blind sentimental following that keeps us from seeing this bigger picture.

Let us Focus on the moment and try to see and serve Krsna and Guru there, in each moment. This will help us in the execution of our sadhana, our service, and our preaching, as well as in all our endeavors through life.

Sentimentality (before Perfection and Purity) is the antithesis of Bhakti Yoga. The focus on Krsna in the present moment will help one pierce through the barrier of the mind, penetrating the gap between thoughts, deep into and beyond the human psyche. This is where the Holy Name touches the soul (self).

Related Thoughts:

• Leaving the moment to pursue course corrections and optimum speeds is like being on a busy highway. All the lanes of traffic appear to take turns moving faster because many drivers switch lanes back and forth. Every time one lane speeds up all the other ones slow down. It is actually faster and less agitating, to stay in one lane and follow the flow. Let us stay in the moment, focused on the Lord, it is a much smoother ride.
• The "butterfly affect" is the premise that a butterfly flapping its wings in Japan, for instance, can be the eventual cause of a tropical storm, hurricane, or eddy in the atmosphere over the Caribbean. This deduction from the observation of weather patterns also deduces that our insignificant actions, regardless of how trivial, can have gargantuan repercussion on our future. Go with care, stay focused!
• Quantum physicists have discovered that the kaleidoscope-like shifting of the subatomic world (Quantum events) only occur when a living entity focuses on that event. When we turn away, the event ceases. When we turn back to observe the event, it resumes again. This aaparently is the playful hand of Krsna fulfilling our desires. That which we focus on, Krsna makes manifest at the sub-atomic level. (These phenomena are measured and recorded by highly sensitive quantum censors).
  
  

Remotely Related Quotes from Srila Prabhupada:

"Bhakti-yoga, devotional service, is the basic principle of all systems of philosophy; all philosophy which does not aim for devotional service to the Lord is considered merely mental speculation. But of course bhakti-yoga with no philosophical basis is more or less sentiment. There are two classes of men. Some consider themselves intellectually advanced and simply speculate and meditate, and others are sentimental and have no philosophical basis for their propositions. Neither of these can achieve the highest goal of life–or, if they do, it will take them many, many years. Vedic literature therefore suggests that there are three elements – namely the Supreme Lord, the living entity and their eternal relationship – and the goal of life is to follow the principles of bhakti, or devotional service, and ultimately attain to the planet of the Supreme Lord in full devotion and love as an eternal servitor of the Lord". (Explanation of Devotional Service by Lord Kalpila, SB3.29.1-2 Purport)

"The Krsna consciousness movement is not a sentimental religious movement; it is a movement for the reformation of all the anomalies of human society. If people take to it seriously, discharging this duty scientifically, as ordered by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the world will see peace and prosperity instead of being confused and hopeless under useless governments". (Adi Lila 17.141 Purport)

"Devotional service is not a matter of sentimental speculation or imaginative ecstasy. Its substance is practical activity". (Nectar of Instruction 3 Purport)

"Artificial chanting and dancing may be due to sentiments or sentimental agitation, but this cannot help one advance in Krsna consciousness". (Madhya Lila 11.102 Purport)