Appointment with Krishna 6/12

(Compiled from notes on lectures of H. H. Mahavishnu Goswami)

We continue with the topic "Appointment with Krishna", the wonderful nectarean instructions flowing from the lotus mouth of our beloved Gurudeva without any cessation. We are very fortunate to have Maharaj’s association again as he was returning back from London to Nasik via Abu Dhabi. Maharaja was to change flights in Abu Dhabi in two hours time gap but due to inordinate delay of the connecting flight from Abu Dhabi to Mumbai, Maharaj, being compassionate decided to get down in Abu Dhabi and meet the Devotees and take the flight to Mumbai three days later. It is because of our greatest fortune that we are able to get the association of Maharaja (tatraapi durlabham manye vaikunta priya darshana) or otherwise it is very difficult to associate with a pure devotee.

Maharaja said that he had no inclination or iota of an idea to get down in Abu Dhabi as the transit time in Abu Dhabi is just two hours. You people would not be expecting the unexpected visit of mine and I have come here to disturb your normal routine and I feel sorry for this. Please excuse me for the inconvenience caused to you. I had no idea of getting down at Abu Dhabi as I have already fixed going back to Nasik as it was only two hours transit time in Abu Dhabi. It is misfortune that I have come here to disturb your normal activities. We have to remember one thing that we may think so many things in our lives but nothing works. First it has to be sanctioned by the Lord then it works. We can go on thinking and making so much plan, but it will not work unless it is sanctioned by the Lord.

Always remember this point:

First - Lord sanctions in advance our actions.

Second - Think about implementing the actions.

Third - Actual actions take place.

Maharaja continued, "Do not take it for granted that whatever we think will be actioned accordingly. Unless the Lord sanctions our actions, it is not possible for things to happen according to our thinking. Time and again it is proved by the Lord that He is in control but we fail to recognize this fact. This does not mean that the Lord will sanction and action every time and we become lethargic. Our intentions must be good. Without good intentions also He is merciful. How much more merciful He will be, if our intentions are good? Our way of thinking should be revolutionized. At the moment we are thinking about our own endeavor and material advancement. We have to have auspicious ideas or good thinking process but ultimately we have to leave it to the Lord for sanction and action.

This meeting of us to discuss about Him is not an accident. It is sanctioned and approved by Him. As of now we are liberated from TV, newspapers and gossips. It is very important that we have to be liberated from these things before we think about final liberation. This appointment with Krishna is already sanctioned by Him and He has very mercifully chosen us to be in the sanga. To be in the sanga and hear about Him is called mad darshanam hi bhutaanaam. We are all picked up and goaded to come to this sanga by Krishna. Others who are not present here, they are not in the books of Krishna."

This reminds us of a beautiful verse from Srimad Bhagavad gita 13.23 wherein the Lord as Paramatma has two features of 1) Permitter 2) Overseer.

upadrastaanumantaa ca
bhartaa bhoktaa mahesvarah
paramaatmeti caapy ukto
dehe 'smin purusah parah

"Yet in this body there is another, a transcendental enjoyer, who is the Lord, the supreme proprietor, who exists as the overseer and permitter, and who is known as the Supersoul."

While contemplating on Maharaj's transcendental realization the following things struck my puny mind that there are some important lessons to be learnt by us in the course of our devotional service.

1. Maharaja instead of grudging of his plan not being accomplished sees the Lord’s hand in the circumstances and never complained. This is a symptom of a pure devotee.

2. Everything is sanctioned and approved by the Lord and we are not the controllers and planners. Our plan does not work. We have to accept the Lord’s plan and do not grudge about it.

3. We have to remove the idea of grabbing mentality (exploiting others time, wealth and paraphernalia etc) because we can see Maharaja has repeatedly feeling that he has inconvenienced us by his appearance. He said so many times to excuse him for his unexpected visit to Abu Dhabi. As devotees (so called) we should not take it for granted and exploit our neophytes for our own convenience and remove this grabbing mentality.

4. We have to be self-sufficient and completely independent and should not be unnecessarily too much dependent on others all the time.

5. We should always be grateful to the Lord for choosing us to be in the association of a pure devotee and get the appointment with the Lord.

Chant,

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna

Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama

Hare Hare

and be happy.