How easy or difficult to achieve Krishna?

Hare Krishna to all! All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I am very much confused about the amount of difficulties or austerities one should have to go through to achieve Krishna.  I have been carefully listening lectures of exalted acharyas and reading the Bhagavad Gita. According to senior devotees it is very difficult to achieve Krishna even in many many births. 

Due to of my poor fund of knowledge as well as limited ability to understand the meaning of shlokas (texts), I am a  little bewildered. In this regard, I would like to provide some references from Bhagavad Gita which are as follows:

In Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna states, " I am easy to obtain.....":

ananya-cetah satatam yo mam smarati nityasah
tasyaham su-labhah partha nitya-yuktasya yoginah (B.G. 8.14)

For one who remembers Me without deviation, I am easy to obtain, O son of Prtha, because of his constant engagement in devotional service.

In Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna also declares, " I am a friend to my devotee....":

samo 'ham sarva-bhutesu na me dvesyo 'sti na priyah 
ye bhajanti tu mam bhaktya mayi te tesu capy aham

I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all. But whoever renders service unto Me in devotion is a friend, is in Me, and I am also a friend to him.

In next verse Krishna ensures, even the most abominable actions will be forgiven

api cet su-duracaro bhajate mam ananya-bhak 
sadhur eva sa mantavyah samyag vyavasito hi sah

Even if one commits the most abominable actions, if he is engaged in devotional service, he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated.

From above verses I understand that Lord Krishna is more merciful than the distinguished devotees think. According to them, even following all regulative rituals and devotional services stated in scriptures one may not be able to go back to Godhead. I understand as a conditioned fallen soul, I am not able to understand many things. That's why I would like to post this open questions to you all.

How easy or difficult to achieve Krishna?

I would highly appreciate your valuable time and advice in this regard.

Please accept my dandavat pranam! Hare Krishna!

Amal 

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Replies

  • Hare krsna! devotees, PAMHO,AGTSP,

    भगवान को पाना कितना सरल है | श्री शुकदेव गोस्वामी कहतें हैं: प्रत्येक मनुष्य सर्वत्र तथा सर्वदा पुरुषोत्तम भगवान के नाम का श्रवण करे, गुणगान (कीर्तन) करे तथा स्मरण करे, बस इतने से ही वह भगवत धाम वापस जा कर भगवान के चरण-कमलों में शरण पा सकता है | इसी प्रकार भगवान चैतन्य महाप्रभु कहते हैं: कीर्तनीय: सदा हरि: अर्थात भगवान कृष्ण के नाम का सदा कीर्तन करो | और व्यक्ति के लिए नाम लेने के लिए कोई नियम भी नही है न तो समय का, न स्थान का और न ही परिस्थिति का | तो है ना कितना आसान |

    लेकिन भगवत-प्रेम प्राप्त करना क्या आसान है? यह तो बस गोपियों को ही नसीब हुआ | गीता में भगवान कृष्ण कहते हैं: समस्त प्रकार के धर्मों का परित्याग करो और मेरी शरण में आओ | गोपियों के जीवन की एकमात्र और केवल एकमात्र इच्छा है कृष्ण को सुख देना | गोपियों ने कृष्ण का प्रेम पाने के लिए सारे धर्म- पत्नी धर्म, माँ का धर्म, पुत्री धर्म व सामाजिक धर्म इत्यादि सभी त्याग दिए | कृष्ण गोपियों से स्वीकार करते हैं कि वे उनके ऋण को अनेक जन्मों में भी नहीं चुका सकेगें, क्योंकि गोपियों ने उन्हें पाने के लिए समस्त बंधनों को तोड़ डाला | जब तक मनुष्य गोपियों के चरणचिन्हों का अनुसरण नहीं करता, तब तक उसे नन्द महाराज के पुत्र कृष्ण के चरण-कमलों के सेवा प्राप्त नहीं हो सकती भले ही वह भक्तिमयी सेवा में लगा हुआ हो | 

    लक्ष्मीजी ने कृष्ण का प्रेम प्राप्त करने व रासलीला में सम्मलित होने के लिए कठिन तपस्या की, लेकिन शामिल नहीं हो पाई क्योकि गोपियों के भाव/शरीर में ही रास लीला में प्रवेश किया जा सकता था तथा इसी भाव में कृष्ण का प्रेम या भगवत-प्रेम प्राप्त किया जा सकता है |

    your servant

  • Hare Krishna Dean Prabhu! 

    I appreciate your kind response and appropriate references. I am so blessed to have generous help from a knowledgeable devotee like you. I hope I will get your continuous help always. 

    Hare Krishna!

    Please accept my dandvad pranam.

    Amal 

  • Hare Krishna Chirag Prabhu,

    What a wonderful resourceful response! Your positive advice and practical guidance are very helpful and I will certainly remember your advice to move forward. I feel I am blessed to meet a knowledgeable devotee like you. I appreciate your valuable time and concern for a conditioned soul like me. I am reading your references to acquire knowledge and will forward questions to you if I need more clarification. By the way, I would like to let you know that finding a Guru in Western world is a little different than that of in India. Any suggestion in this regard? 

    In conclusion, I would honestly like to tell you that I feel hopeful and encouraged.

    Hare Krishna Prabhu.  

    Please accept my dandvad pranam.

    Amal 

  • Hare Krishna Chirag Prabhu!

    Your wonderful response brings up hope in my heart. What I understand from your valuable response are: following instructions of Guru and reading Prabhupada's books we can develop love for Lord Krishna which will ultimately liberate us.

    The subsequent questions are (a)What should I do if I don't find a 'Guru' like Prabhupada?  (b) What if I read Prabhupada's books and follow his instructions only? 

    Thank you Prabhu for your valuable time and concern. 

    Hare Krishna!

    Amal 

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