Bloop

Those who embark on the journey towards transcendence are brave indeed. They strive for purity in a world of degradation, they embrace simplicity amongst rampant materialism and they cultivate selflessness in an atmosphere charged with exploitation. Anyone who goes against the grain in such a bold way will undoubtedly be faced with temptation, doubt, ridicule and moments of weakness. Behind the high ideals and expectations of any religious or spiritual tradition, stands the relatively frail and weak aspirant. Lapses and mistakes are to be expected in the life journey of any human, and spiritualists are no exception. Scriptures are replete with accounts of spiritual aspirants who fell victim to material illusion.

Once, whilst describing how one gives up spiritual life and falls again into the material pool, Srila Prabhupada imitated the sound of a stone falling into water - ‘Bloop!’ That was it. ‘Bloop’ soon became standard devotee-lingo – to give up one’s spiritual practices was to ‘bloop.’ And when an individual did ‘bloop,’ Srila Prabhupada was extremely pained. He would remind the devotees that one who receives the opportunity of Krishna Consciousness is very fortunate, and one who doesn’t is unfortunate. Those who receive the opportunity, however, but then squander it, are to be considered most unfortunate.