at our office, many a times, I had the opportunity for inviting & sending
out reminders to the relatively newer members, thanking them for their
participation and also inquiring about the reasons for their not being able
to make it for the meeting.
Everyone of us that failed to make it in time or not at all for this
meeting always had some reason or argument favoring their cause but, the
stark truth is: "We Want Anything & Everything Except Krsna!"
Many of us are even very much convinced of our noble intentions in this
regard - that we want to hear & chant the glories of Krsna but, something
beyond our control eventually prevents us from doing so. That SOMETHING is
nothing but the deep-rooted material desires within our consciousness.
Krsna knows our deep desires and so, He just provides us with suitable
situations that aid us fulfill such desires. In this connection, I recently
came across an interesting story about a nice devotee, called Chandulal.
Once, Narada muni approached Lord Sri Krishna at Dwaraka, recommending that
He recalls Chandulal. Hearing this, Krishna asks Narada muni, "Does
Chandulal really wants to come back? I don't think so but, if you want, you
can tell Chandulal that I am waiting for him to return to Me."
Narada muni comes out of the palace at Dwaraka, takes a walk down and
knocks at the door of Chandulal's house. Beholding Narada muni at his
doorstep, Chandulal says, "Maharaj we are very happy to see you, please
come inside and sit down".
Narada muni says, "Don't waste time now, enough sitting down and
everything, You being a great devotee, Krishna says He can take you back
right now. Are you ready to go?"
Chandulal says, "Yes Maharaj, I am ready right away. Krishna is very great!
He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He is 'ishvarah paramah krishnah
sac-cid-aaanda-vigrahah anaadir aadir govindah sarva-kaarana-kaaranam.' I
am very happy."
Narada muni says, "You please stop talking. And get ready to go with me?"
Chandulal promptly replies, "Maharaj, I am ready but see, I am just
married. My wife is very young. If I leave her now, do you know how bad it
will appear? What will people think of Krishna? That He has taken away the
young man from his wife. Society will not take it kindly. As a devotee, is
it not our duty Maharaj - to keep the flag of our society flying high, that
Vaishnavas are not looked down upon and Krishna also has a good
reputation?".
Hearing this argument, Narada muni says, "That is not a problem! Okay, now
tell me how much time you need?" Chandulal says, "Let me settle her down,
once a child is born she will forget about me". So, Chandulal asks Narada
muni to come after few years.
As ordained, Narada muni comes back after a few years and sees children all
around. He thinks everything is very nice. Chandulal should be happy to go
back to Godhead at present. So, he again asks Chandulal, "Are you ready to
go now?"
Chandulal replies, "Maharaj, I am ready but see, there is one more problem
at present. My wife and children are fine together but, my mother is also
there in the same house. You know Maharaj, when you put one woman in the
kitchen it is alright but, when there are two women in one kitchen, it is
Kurushetra. I am trying very hard everyday to reconcile my wife and mother.
Is it not my duty Maharaj - as the family head, to make sure that
everything is settled. Please give me 2-3 years more; I am sure things will
be fine then. Also, the children will become a little old".
Narada muni says, "Alright, but time is running."
Some years later, Narada muni returns and sees even grandchildren at
Chandulal's house. This time, as Chandulal couldn't find any more excuse,
he runs to hide from Narada muni. But, while doing so, he falls down from
the stairs, breaks his neck and eventually, dies.
Narada muni feels very sad at the turn around of the events. Chandulal's
wife was bereaved. Looking at Narada muni, she thinks that he was the cause
of her husband's death. Sensing her thoughts, Narada muni leaves the place
immediately and goes to Krishna directly, saying, "I now understand what
You meant when You said, 'Does Chandulal really wants to come back?'."
Even when we are given the rarest chance to be at the lotus feet of
Krishna, we find all the favourable arguments in material energy to say '
not now!' I will read Bhagavad Gita, read Bhagavatam, take initiation from
the spiritual master but, just give me one year. I will slowly do these
things but, I need some more time. When the eagerness is not there, there
is no way to go to Krishna. That is the reason why we are always in
trouble! That is the reason why we are not peaceful!
But, Krishna is so kind. He told Narada muni not to worry for Chandulal for
he has become a dog and is sitting outside his own house. Krishna told
Narada muni, "Chandulal was in love with his family & home so much that I
have given him the facility to sit outside his house in his next life
also."
Krishna then asked Narada muni to go and talk to Chandulal, assuring that
He will give both of them the power to understand each others' language. He
told Narada muni to tell Chandulal that even now He is willing to take him
back (in dog form) back to Himself (Godhead). Hearing this Narada muni
says, "Krishna! no one is more compassionate than You. I am sure Chandulal
is repentant now. So, I am running to him."
In a short while, Narada muni reached Chandulal's house. House was very
quiet. Outside the house, there was a tree and under the tree the dog
(Chandulal) was sitting. Narada muni approached Chandulal and asked "Can
you hear me?". Affirming that he could, Chandulal says, "What a
benediction? In my last life, I was so sinful that I forgot Krishna
completely and my reward was death. I lost my chance."
Narada muni says, "Hold it, I got good news of the day for you. Even now
Krishna is ready to take you, even now you can go back. Are you prepared?"
Chandulal never forgot his original nature. Even in dog's life, he was just
the same. Chandulal says, "Maharaj I am very happy, right now I am ready to
go back to Krishna. He is so merciful."
Narada muni says, "In last life you talked so much and you never did
anything. Now you are a dog! Better you talk less now and do more. Are you
ready to go back with me or not?"
Chandulal says, "Maharaj! Look at the house".
Narada muni asks, "What is wrong with the house?"
Chandulal replies, "My family has left all the windows and doors open and
gone out to watch a movie. All my hard earned money is inside the house and
they have just left it like that."
Hearing this, Narada muni says, "So what can you do, you are a dog now".
Chandulal replies, "I will guard the house, make sure no one comes in until
my family is back and then you can come and take me."
At this juncture, Narada muni thought this was just toooooo much!!!
Up to the point of being a dog, given a chance to go back to Krishna, we
still don't want to take shelter at His lotus feet. We want anything and
everything except Krishna!
So, whom are we to blame for our lack of inspiration?
Note: The story in the message was extracted from an email by HG Anuradha
Mataji (disciple of H H Maha Vishnu Goswami Maharaj) addressed to Grantraj
Yahoo Groups.
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