Question: I was under care of the one bhakti-vriksha leader from 2013 to 2021. Due to some reasons, l am now under someone else’s care. So, in a context, l said to my previous bhakti-vriksha leader that I am ever grateful to him. But he immediately refuted my statement by saying following lines: “Do not assume in your mind that you have gratitude to me. I do not feel like that. Person who has gratitude will never leave person upon whom he has gratitude.” Is his statement true?
Answer by Romapada Swami:
One can have more than one shiksha guru in one’s life. But that does not mean that one has gratitude for only the shiksha guru that one is currently taking guidance from. One would continue to have gratitude for all the shiksha gurus throughout one’s life. And because one carries that gratitude in one’s heart, one can express that in many ways- telling the person, how much you value their association and guidance, and, also by following their instructions, and through service. So, in your situation, you can express your gratitude to your previous bhakti vrksa leader, which may help him understand that you value his presence and association in your life.
