What a Devotee Cannot Tolerate
Tolerance is often cited as a prime virtue of a saintly person (tṛṇād api sunīcena). However, Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that there are specific boundaries to this tolerance. The phrase "cannot tolerate" defines the integrity of a devotee. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that while a Vaiṣṇava tolerates personal insults, he absolutely cannot tolerate blasphemy against the Supreme Lord, the distortion of Vedic truth, or offenses against other devotees. Conversely, Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that non-devotees possess a material form of intolerance rooted in envy.
Blasphemy and Offenses
Śrīla Prabhupāda consistently teaches that a pure devotee is the guardian of the Lord's reputation. While a devotee is meek regarding his own honor, Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that he becomes furious if the Lord is blasphemed. Citing the behavior of Lord Caitanya's associates, Śrīla Prabhupāda illustrates that a true devotee would rather give up his life than hear the Lord criticized. Furthermore, Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that Kṛṣṇa Himself cannot tolerate offenses committed against His devotees (vaiṣṇava-aparādha).
- A devotee of the Lord cannot tolerate blasphemy of the Lord or His other devotees, and the Lord also cannot tolerate blasphemy of a devotee.
- One devotee of Lord Caitanya informed Him that, "You are being criticized, Sir. We cannot tolerate it. Neither we can reply. He's a great Vedantist. So better we shall give up our life." Then the meeting was arranged between the Vedantist.
- Krsna will never tolerate if a person is Vaisnava aparadha. Mind that. Just like a big man. You can offend him, he doesn't mind. But if he does something harmful to his child, so he becomes very angry.
Impersonalism and False Philosophy
As a strict follower of the paramparā, Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that a Vaiṣṇava cannot tolerate false philosophies that mislead the public. Specifically, Śrīla Prabhupāda states that a devotee cannot tolerate the Māyāvāda conclusion that the living entity and God are equal. This intolerance is an expression of compassion; Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that allowing "rascals and imposters" to pass as God is intolerable for one who knows the Absolute Truth.
- An actual Vaisnava cannot tolerate any philosophy that claims God and the living being to be one and the same.
- We cannot tolerate when a rascal or imposter is called bhagavan. One must possess either all opulences or the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- Vaisnavas strictly follow the directions of the sastras regarding how one can be liberated simply by a slight awakening of pure chanting of the holy name. Mayavadis cannot tolerate the statements of the sastras about how easily liberation can be achieved.
The Intolerance of Separation
On the platform of pure love, Śrīla Prabhupāda describes a different kind of intolerance: the inability to bear separation from Kṛṣṇa (viraha). Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this is not a material weakness but the highest symptom of spiritual attachment. Just as the sun's rays cannot exist independently of the sun, Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that a pure soul feels he cannot exist without the direct service of the Lord.
- Lord Krsna's attraction is so powerful that once being attracted by Him one cannot tolerate separation from Him. Why is this so? Because we are all eternally related with Him as the sun rays are eternally related with the sun disc.
- One who is deeply in love with Krsna cannot tolerate separation from the Lord. Therefore such a devotee always desires his own death.
- Viraha means separation. "On account of separation." So this should be the only cause, that you cannot tolerate the separation of Govinda. That is love.
The Envy of the Demons
In contrast to the spiritual intolerance of the devotee, Śrīla Prabhupāda analyzes the intolerance of the demon (asura). He explains that demons possess a deep-seated envy of the Supreme Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda points to examples like Śiśupāla and Aghāsura, noting that they could not tolerate Kṛṣṇa's glorification or happiness. This inability to tolerate God's supremacy is, according to Śrīla Prabhupāda, the defining characteristic of the demoniac nature.
- Because we are chanting Hare Krsna mantra, we have got so many enemies. This is the world. Sura and asura. Because the more asuras . . . they'll never tolerate. The glorifying the Lord, they cannot tolerate.
- Sisupala could not tolerate such honoring of Krsna and glorification of His qualities because Krsna stole Rukmini. Instead of being happy to hear the glories of the Lord, he became very angry.
- When one cannot tolerate an offense committed by another, it is called amarsa, and when one cannot tolerate the opulence of another it is called jealousy. Jealousy and amarsa are both caused by intolerance.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that intolerance is not always a vice; its value depends on the object. Material intolerance, born of envy and false ego, leads to degradation. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that spiritual intolerance—the refusal to accept blasphemy against the Lord or to live without His service—is a symptom of intense devotion. A devotee uses this fire to protect the truth and increase his attachment to Kṛṣṇa.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Cannot Tolerate. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.