Pariprashnena — Q&A Archive

everybody in my temple is a pure devotee w/o any tinge of material contamination
i am also like that if I live in the temple
everybody else is more or less in maya
I am pretty sure I can renounce everything in 2 seconds, w/o worries about my material circumstances (which by the way, along with my family, my feelings and my former friends are all maya)
....

Pure Devotee Syndrome (PDS) is described by Srila Visvanatha Chakravati Thakura in Madhurya-kandambini in the section on anartha-nivritti. The sanskrit words he uses are utsahan-mayi.

utsahan - enthusiasm
mayi - illusory

He gives the explanation that this is a dangerous anartha that effects the bhakti-lata especially when one begins the bhajana-kriya stage (or purposefully executing devotion service). Because the sadhika experiences tangible reciprocation with the Lord they become falsely puffed up thinking that they are the only recipient of mercy.

Not knowing how to properly associate with sadhus they refuse or avoid wise counsel as inferior to their own assumed exalted status. Srila Visvanatha Cakravati Thakura warns that if this is not rectified then it will lead to falldown.

Its a natural progression and I dont mean to ridicule anyone for suffering though it. It does help to have it pointed out and identified so that there is scope for transcending.

Of course, as with all anarthas we may deal with the gross aspects of it but the subtle ones may linger for as long as we are attached to the bodily concept.

Contemporary example: young devotee who has been fired up to attend mangala-arati and hasnt missed in two months decides its time to get on the case of the older devotee who is working a full time job, looking after his family and only manages to come on the weekends.

The young devotee doesnt know that this older person slaved away for 8 years in his youth on the streets collecting donations and selling books to establish the very temple that the young devotee is attending mangala-arati in. Nor does the young devotee have much practical experience on how to manage a life of sacrifice and all of the psychological ups and downs one goes through. he just thinks - I am doing something now so everyone else must be in Maya because they arent. So he cant respect the older devotee or take his much needed advice.

Ah youth

Yes, it is said that youth is wasted on the young. In answer to the question at hand: Everyone, in the core of his heart has this propensity. A little knowledge can be a very dangerous thing. Because most people in general do not posses this knowledge we feel superior. And yes, its true, we are superior in knowledge to karmis. However, it is quite easy to get caught up in that mentality. It spreads like a cancer, until one day one is thinking that he is superior to everyone and that he is so great and fixed up that he is no longer subject to Maya. This mentality is nonsense.We all suffer from the four defects of human frailty, one being, "We are subject to illusion." Therefore, we are all subject to Maya. Only Krsna is above it.One even starts to think that he is superior to his Guru Maharaja, then he is finished. Therefore, one must try to remain in a humble state, less he become subject to this plague.This is PDS or pure devotee syndrome. Your servant, Priya