Hare Krishna.
I wrote in one of my previous blog that how I chant but do not pray to Lord so regularly.
Yesterday I was wondering why I pray so less. And this too when so many devotees instructed me in the past to pray whenever I went to them with some difficulty in my spiritual progress. I had no clear answer. It is more bewildering when I look back and see that Srila Prabhupada, Lord Balarama, Guru Maharaj, whomsoever I prayed, those prayers have always been answered.
Few days back HG Chitralekha Devi Dasi Mataji sent me below mail. Mataji does a wonderful service by sending daily a pastime of Srila Prabhupada, one can subscribe it at srila-prabhupada-said@googlegroups.com.
Once, Srila Prabhupada gave a class at the Bhaktivedanta Manor in which he told the audience, “The difference between you and me is that you can fall down but I cannot fall down.” Later, after the class, Srila Prabhupada was praying in front of the deities, and one disciple asked him, “What were you praying?” And Srila Prabhupada replied, “I was praying that I may never fall down.” The disciple responded, “But in your talk you said that you can never fall down.” And Srila Prabhupada replied, “Yes, because I am always praying never to fall down, therefore I can never fall down.”
I could not keep these words from Srila Prabhupada's away from my thoughts. Then I realised that this is the trick, to pray and pray continuously . I have to always depend on the mecry of senior Vaishanavas, acaryas and my Lord so I don't fall. I realised it but didn't put into practice.
Last Friday during at a prog at Sumeet Prabhhuji's home I suggested a mataji that she should pray to Krishna. Later, I again thought why I am not praying so often, do I consider myself so advanced that I don't need to pray. The answer was negative but it prodded me to start praying immediately, without any more delay or thinking. It took association of devotees to finally get me started.
All Glories to merciful devotees !
I also realised that whole Srimad Bhagavatam is full of wonderful prayers and if those exalted devotees needed to pray then what chance do I have to progress in my devotional life without praying continuously. This process also helps me keep a check on my ego. I know that any progress in my material and spiritual life is due to mercy and not by own efforts.
Due to the mercy of Guru Maharaj, Srila Prabhupada and association of devotees, I have started to pray regularly and I pray at the feet of all the vaishanava to please bless me that I never forget to pray.
I will share some of my experiences of praying in my next blog.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All Glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga.
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