Natural prosperity
and
Obedience 2/2
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Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Mathajis,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.
This mail is in continuation of the topic - "Natural Prosperity and Obedience" based on verse 1.8.40 of Srimd Bhagavatam wherein Srimati Kunti Maharani is earnestly requesting Krishna to continue to be with them. In the purport to the above verse Srila Prabhupada brings us the most important lesson we need to learn from this verse. He says - "But all these natural gifts are dependent on the mercy of the Lord. What we need, therefore, is to be obedient to the laws of the Lord and achieve the perfection of human life by devotional service."
Obedience to the laws of Lord directly relates to obeying our elders and obeying our spiritual master.- This is the greatest test for us. Lord Krishna is so pleased if we obey our elders. We see that in His pastime as Panduranga, Lord was very pleased with the sincere service of Paundrika to his parents, that He personally went to see Him and also waited for Paundrika to finish his service and then meet Him. Such is the amazing gift of obedience. Our Guru Maharaj, HDG Mahavishnu Goswami says - "Only those who obey, can demand." In Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna says in verse 4.34
tad viddhi pranipaatena / pariprashnena sevayaa
upadekshyanti te jnaanam / jnaaninas tattva-darshinah
"Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth."
I shall try to repeat some thought provoking instructions on obedience, which were shared by our god-brother HG Devakinandan Prabhuji during his class on the above verse. Prabhuji said - "We would have heard this verse so many times. But now we have to act upon it and put it into practice. The path of self realisation is undoubtedly difficult. Independent study of scriptures alone will not help in spiritual life. If we really want to be successful in devotional service, follow this verse. Our greatest struggle is accepting spiritual master's order. When it comes to obedience of spiritual master - don't think how to obey. Just follow. Because spiritual master is tattva darshinah. We cannot see the future. But Guru can. So when he instructs, it is for our life. If you follow, you will be saved. Obey first and then all your questions will be answered. Srila Prabhupada used to give the example of razor. When we are shaving, if we get distracted with other things, we get cut. Similarly if we are deviated by matter not related to bhakti, then that lack of attention and seriousness to spiritual life will also cause cuts. Living in this world is difficult, including bhakti. but if we follow the words of Guru, he will give the strength to face it. 'samsaara dharme avimuhyaamaanaah' - The more we try to understand material world, the more we get divereted away from Krishna.
Maharaj says that when the house is burning, just take Bhagavatam and run out. This world is the blazing house. Lord Krishna assures us in verse 7.14 of Bhagavad Gita, 'maam eva prapadyante'. So on the boat of bhakti, with Guru as captain we can cross the material ocean if we obey Guru with love, faith and devotion. Else mental concoction will drag us into the whirlpool of miseries. Guru has seen and experienced Krishna. So forget all distractions and see only Guru. Mano-gataan is distracting us. Gurudev has said - 'For Vaishnavas there is no such thing as goodbyes. As long as you are following my instructions, I will always be with you. Only time separates us from our service. So do not waste time.' But what is the point if we close our eyes and keep complaining that it is dark. We should first obey Guru and Krishna and be sincere and submissive. Result is we will find satisfaction in devotional service. If not there is something wrong in the way we are accepting the instructions.
In the pastime of Govinda serving Caitanya Mahaprabhu we find that Govinda is ready to commit the offense of crossing over Mahaprabhu's leg and accept the reactions of it - simply to serve the Lord. But when it comes to honouring prasadam, he doesn't cross over Mahaprabhu. So service should be motivated only on the basis of serving Guru else we get only agitation. In Srimad Bhagavatam we also find that when Indra offends his spiritual master he loses all his opulence and potency whereas the demons, simply because of their obedience to spiritual master Sukracharaya were winning over the devatas. For a parent all their children are equally lovable. But one who obeys them is their dearmost. Similarly for Guru and Krishna, all of us are equal. But he who obeys Them is Their dearmost." Krishna Himself says in Bhagavad Gita
samo 'ham sarva-bhuteshu / na me dveshyo 'sti na priyah
ye bhajanti tu maam bhaktyaa / mayi te teshu caapy 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."
Prabhuji also quoted one of Maharaj's favorite story which stresses on the power of obedience. During the war between demons and devatas, Sukracharaya the spiritual master of demons, used the secret mantra of amrita-sanjeevani and used to bring back all the dead asuras back to life. The devatas wanted to learn this and so they requested the spiritual master Brhaspati to help them. Sage Brhaspati had a handsome son Kacha who was very obedient. The sage asked his son to go to Sukracharya, become his disciple and some how or other learn the mantra. In the story of Kacha we find that demons give him so much trouble - when the demons sensed that Kacha has come to learn the mantra - they cut him into pieces and fed his flesh to their dogs. But because of his obedient nature and determination to follow the instruction of his guru Brhaspathi, the Lord so arranged that Devayani, the daughter of Sukracharaya (who was in love with Kacha), begged her father to chant the mantra and bring him back to life. Then after few days the demons again killed him and this time they carried his body to a secluded spot, grounded up into a paste, and dissolved it in the water of the ocean. Again he was brought back to life by Sukracharya. Now next time the asuras made a more smarter plan. They slew him. and then burnt him in the jungle. Then they took the ashes home and mixed it in a wine which Shukracharya was very fond of. They took the drink to Shukracharya for a taste and he drank it. Now again his daughter wept and when Sukracharya meditated he realised
that Kacha is in his stomache. So uttering the mantra would means his death. At this point, by the arrangement of Lord, as an apt gift for his obedience, Kacha had the opportunity to fulfill the instruction of his father and spiritual master Brhaspati. So Sukracharya taught him the mantra and later both were alive.
Such is the power of obedience and surrender to Guru. When we simply surrender and obey then, Guru and Krishna gives us all the strength and makes us suitable instrument in Their service and makes us achieve even impossible things possible. Our founder acharya of this great International Society of Krishna Consciousness, HDG Srila Prabhupada's life is a living example of obedience and surrender to Guru. When elders/spiritual master says us something, our problem is first we start thinking and wondering how difficult it is and don't even make a effort to begin the service. Even if we begin, the moment we start
facing obstacles, we give that as an excuse and leave it. But let us try to take lessons from these great souls and not be dis-heartened in our endeavours.
To disobey the orders of spiritual master is the greatest offence. I pray at the lotus feet of Srila Gurudeva and all the Vaishnavas that I no longer disobey his instructions - but without any showy duplicity make a genuine effort to obey his words in this birth itself.
Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi
Chant,
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna
Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama
Hare Hare
and be happy.
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