Haridāsa Ṭhākura became a sādhu, a devotee of Kṛṣṇa. He came from Muhammadan community. In those days, the Muhammadan Kazi, magistrate, called him that "You are Muhammadan, and why you are chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, the Hindus' God's name?" So he very mildly replied: "My dear sir, there are many Hindus, they have also become Muhammadans. So suppose I have become a Hindu. So what is the fault?" Oh, he become very angry, and he was ordered to be caned in seven markets. You see? So there are so many dangers. Although the time has . . . is not so much polluted. People are liberated, liberal. Just like I am preaching in the Western countries. So nobody has checked, the government has not checked, because the time is not so cruel. Although in that Western country, Lord Jesus Christ was crucified. So there is sometimes danger to become kṛṣṇa-bhakta. Therefore people avoid it. At least the criticism is there. Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu said that:
- tṛṇād api sunīcena
- taror api sahiṣṇunā
- amāninā mānadena
- kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ
- (CC Adi 17.31)
One has to become tolerant like the grass. Tṛṇād api sunīcena. Sunīcena. Just like we are trampling over the grasses. So many people are going on, no protest. Trees—we are cutting trees. We are taking their leaves, their fruits, taking shelter of the trees when there is sunrise, it is very scorching—and still we are cutting. Tolerant.