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Why Refer to Them as Devotees?
By Gopal das

In reading such articles as His Holiness Vipramukhya Swami’s "Looks Bad to Reasonable Persons" I could only think of one thing about such entities that could rejoice in a Vaisnava’s or any living being’s passing.

"Pride, arrogance, conceit, anger, harshness and ignorance — these qualities belong to those of demoniac nature, O son of Prtha.’" (Bhagavad-gita 16.4.)

"The demonic person thinks:... ‘He is my enemy,and I have killed him, and my other enemies will also be killed... I am perfect, powerful, and happy...’ In this way, such persons are deluded by ignorance...." (Bhagavad-gita 16.13-15

Srila Prabhupada’s purport to 16.4: "In this verse the royal road to hell is described. The demoniac want to make a show of religion and advancement ...although they do not follow the principles. They are always arrogant... They desire to be worshiped by others, and demand respectability, although they do not command respect.... Over trifles they become very angry and speak harshly, not gently.They do not know what should be done and what should not be done. They do everything whimsically, according to their own desire, and they do not recognize any authority..."

It is lamentable such persons have no auspicious future, and I am disturbed only that some may actually consider such persons,( because they take a name or because they are sometimes referred to in articles as devotees), as actually being a part of Srila Prabhupada’s family tree of Krishna’s devotees.

Your servant,
Gopal das