Prabhupada, February 27, 1972, Mayapura: You see, Krishna says that aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami. So Krishna’s so powerful that He can immediately take up all the sins of others and immediately make it gone. But when a living entity plays the part on behalf of Krishna, he also takes the responsibility of these sinful activities of his devotee. So to become a guru is not an easy task. You see? He has to take all the poisons and absorb. So sometimes, because he’s not Krishna, so sometimes there is some trouble. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu forbidden that “Don’t make many sisyas, many disciples.” But for preaching work we have to accept many disciples, for expanding preaching. Never mind we suffer. But that’s a fact. The spiritual master has to take the responsibility of all the sinful activities of his disciples. So to make many disciple is a risky job unless he’s able to assimilate all the sins… patitanam pavanebhyo. He takes responsibility for all the fallen souls. That is… That idea is in Bible. Just like Jesus Christ take all the sinful reaction of all people and sacrificed his life. That is the responsibility of spiritual master. Because he’s Krishna’s representative. So Krishna takes all responsibility. Krishna is Krishna, apapa-viddham. He cannot be attacked by any sinful reaction. But a living entity may be subjected sometimes, because he’s small. Big fire, small fire. On a small fire if you put some big things, then the fire itself may be extinguished. In the big fire, whatever you put, that’s all right. Finished. The big fire can consume anything.
Bob: So Christ’s suffering was of that nature?
Prabhupada: Hmm?
Bob: Was Christ’s suffering this…
Prabhupada: That I have already explained, that he took the sinful reaction of all the people, therefore he suffered.
Bob: I see.
Prabhupada: He said… That is the Bible, that he has taken all the sinful reactions of the people and he sacrificed his life. But these Christian people, they have made it a law that “Christ will suffer and we shall do all nonsense.” Such great fools they are. They are… “Let Jesus Christ make contract for taking all one sinful reaction, and we will go on with all nonsense.” That is their religion. This… They are not in sense that “Christ is so magnanimous that he took all our sins and he has suffered… We stop all these sins!” They have not come to that sense. They have taking it very easily: “Let Lord Jesus Christ suffer, and we do all nonsense.” Is it not?
Bob: It is so.
Prabhupada: Yes. They should have been ashamed that “Lord Jesus Christ suffered for us. Instead of… We are continuing the sinful activities still. He asked everyone, ‘Thou shall not kill,’ and we are indulging in killing.” And “Lord Jesus Christ will excuse us, take all the sinful reaction.” This is going on.…should be very much cautious that “For my sinful actions my spiritual master will suffer. So I’ll not commit a pinch of sinful action.” That is the duty of the disciple. After initiation his all sinful reaction is finished. Now if he again commits sinful activities, the spiritual master has to suffer. They should be sympathetic for this, that “For my sinful activities my spiritual master will suffer.” …attacked with some disease it is due to the sinful activities of the disciples. Exactly like Lord Jesus Christ was crucified on account of the sinful activities of others. [break] …forbidden, “Don’t make many disciples.” But we do because we are preaching. Never mind, let us suffer; still, we shall accept… question was that when I suffer it is due to my past misdeeds? Was it not?
Bob: Yes, yes, yes.
Prabhupada: That is my misdeed, that I accept a disciple who is nonsense. That is my misdeed.
Bob: This happens on occasion?
Prabhupada: Yes, this is sure to happen because we are accepting so many men. But it is the duty of the disciple to be cautious. That “My spiritual master saved me. I may not put him again into these sufferings.” When the spiritual master is in suffering, Krishna saves him. Krishna thinks, “Oh, he has taken so much responsibility for delivering a fallen person.” So Krishna is there. Kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktah pranasyati. Because the spiritual master takes the risk on account of Krishna.
Bob: So your suffering is not the same kind of pain that an impure person…
Prabhupada: No, it is not due to karma. The pain is there sometimes so that the disciples may know that “Due to our sinful activities my spiritual master is suffering.”
Bob: …very well now.
Prabhupada: I’m always well.…well in this sense, even there is suffering, I know Krishna will protect me. But this suffering is not due to my sinful activities.
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