You have to reinvent yourself every day and don't become disappointed, because progress comes in a series of comebacks. You have to be the comeback kid, because even during one round of Japa, you may have to make 10 comebacks. What to speak of You know, in a lifetime of devotional service, you have to reinvent yourself, start over, make comebacks constantly, and be willing to do that. And that's the way to put together one whole lifetime in which you're on an upward trajectory.
And as Prabhupada writes, in the Light of the Bhagavata, missteps may not be detrimental. They may become the pillars to success if we approach with the right attitude. Be humble, and also appreciate devotees who have good qualities. As Voltaire once said, 'When you appreciate the good qualities in others, they become yours. If you're envious of others, you don't get anything. You void the possibility for attaining good qualities in this life.' So, worship devotees. Wherever you see somebody who's more enthusiastic than you, serve that person or appreciate them deeply. And if you keep doing that, especially with devotees, because our main source of advancement is the association of devotees.
Find devotees. And it doesn't just mean that there's only one person, there's only Jesus, there's only Muhammad, there's only Prabhupada. Prabhupada is reflected within everyone. In fact, it might be the new person. Lord Caitanya did this in the Jagannath temple, at the Garuda-stambha. He was beholding the beautiful lotus eyes of Lord Jagannath. And an Orissan woman came in and climbed up on the Lord's shoulders, one foot on the Garuda-stambha and one foot on The Lord's shoulder so she could look. She was oblivious to the fact that anybody was standing there, because she was so eager to see The Lord. And then when Govinda, His servant, saw her climb up there, he said, 'Get down! Get down! Get down! Get down! What are you doing?'
Mahaprabhu then became aware of what was happening, and He chastised Govinda, not the woman. He said, 'What are you? An uncivilized person?' He said to His servant. 'Don't you recognize the enthusiasm that she has? I wish I had that.' So we should see that in everyone. That's why Sankirtan is a beautiful thing, and the preaching you're doing here is beautiful. Because isn't it when you bring new people into Krishna consciousness, vicariously, you experience what you experienced the first time?
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