Proofreaders of Devotion

“I don’t read the book, I read the author. I first check whether the author is authentic. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura trained me in proofreading, so I always look for what is right or wrong. But I am not a proofreader of the press only; I am a proofreader of the world. I proofread men; I proofread religions. I dissect their faults and try to correct them.” (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura)

Devotees undoubtedly give us entrance into spiritual life, but they are also absolutely necessary if we want to progressively continue our journey. While writing the story of our life, we need proofreaders by our side.

Brevity – give any piece of writing to an editor and they’ll likely compress several long paragraphs into a few short lines. They reveal the substance, and leave the rest by the wayside. In the same way, saintly persons can reveal the true substance of our spirituality. We may overembellish and exaggerate the truth, but when we appear before a transcendental proofreader, the degree of genuine sincerity, quality and devotion in our spirituality becomes strikingly apparent.

Accuracy – when we pen down our thoughts, there may be mistakes in grammar, spelling and sentence formation. Proofreaders can detect, fix and ensure a smooth read. In the same way, our lives are riddled with mistakes – risky misconceptions, bad decisions, false assumptions and unhelpful attitudes. Saintly persons can detect these problems and fix them before they begin to impede our progressive journey in the story of life.

Clarity – writers know what they mean but people can easily misinterpret. Proofreaders ensure that the well-intentioned meaning of the author is not misconstrued by the reader. In the same way, we may adopt a sincere and noble approach in spiritual life, but be unaware that it could be detrimental and counterproductive to what we are trying to achieve. Proofreaders stand external to the picture of our life, and flag up potentially injurious behaviours that we are oblivious to.

Potency – even if a piece of writing is substantial, accurate and clear, a proofreader may well reword it to communicate the same, but with greater force and clarity. Saintly persons can, in the same way, show us a more efficient, effective and powerful way to lead our lives. We may not be doing anything wrong, but they can reveal a more effective way of reaching our goals and realising our dreams. It’s easy to get stuck into the standard ways of living and functioning, becoming averse to new approaches to life.

As years go by, we get tempted to start flying solo. We should, however, always stop and consider: who is proofreading my life?