May I express as sincerely as my heart is capable of, my empathy, thoughts and prayers to all those who have been affected by the coronavirus. Can I also offer a special mention to all of the devotees and their families who have been affected. Furthermore my heart goes out to the families and friends of those devotees who have sadly lost their lives. We profoundly pray that they are now under the direct protection of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Sri Krishna
We know from sastra that there have been so many extraordinarily wonderful devotees who have gone through so much hardship and so many challenges. Devotees such as the glorious Queen Kunti, her relatives the noble Pandavas, the incomparable Prahlada Maharaja, the supremely tolerant Haridas Thakura, the prolific visionary Bhaktivinode Thakura and of course our beloved and dear most Srila Prabhupada
Srimad Bhagavatam instructs us – na hy asya karhicid rajan – no one can know the plan of the Lord. Even though great philosophers inquire exhaustively, they are bewildered.
So while no one may know Krishna’s plan this verse unequivocally confirms that Krishna has a plan. In the meantime we should do all we can to avoid this virus and help to limit its spread. As aspiring devotees living in the material world we are not immune from the risks, dangers and ravages of the three modes of nature; Srila Prabhupada explains:
“So long as you are in the material world, you cannot neglect physical laws. Suppose you go to a jungle and there is a tiger. It is known that it will attack you, so why should you voluntarily go and be attacked? It is not that a devotee should take physical risk so long as he has a physical body. It is not a challenge to the physical laws: ‘I have become a devotee. I challenge everything.’ That is foolishness.”
At this time, like no other, we should rigidly follow all government advice on how to best protect ourselves and others. However even during lockdown there is no reason why we cannot take advantage of modern technology to continue, and indeed even increase the expansion of Krishna consciousness. However even more important is we should use this time and modern technology to offer our support to other devotees and friends. Do not worry how small or insignificant that help may be, the very act of reaching out will be greatly appreciated and have a tremendous impact
Please also keep in contact with your local temples leaders to see what help and support they can offer you during this unique time
This is of course an opportunity (and maybe this is part of Lord Krishna’s plan), for us to pay more attention and focus to our sadhana. We can study all the wonderful pastimes of the glorious devotees mentioned above and more besides. We can also go deeper with our chanting of Hare Krishna, calling out now, in a more realised way, how insignificant we are and how totally dependent we are on the Supreme Lord and Srila Prabhupada. The other day I was reflecting on this reality for myself and wrote the following to His Divine Grace:
Dear Srila Prabhupada,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet
For sure the world needs the glorious message you delivered to us when you arrived in America in 1965, arguably now more than ever during these extra ordinary times we are currently facing as a result of this coronavirus pandemic. This virus has already taken some of your dedicated devotees here in the UK
So may I be so cheeky as to request something from you?
My request is for you to inspire us all to be so much more effective in spreading the message you gave us far & wide. We have made some progress since you left but there is so, so much more we need to do and now more than ever the world needs what you so kindly and compassionately gave to all of us
Thank you as ever Srila Prabhupada and I fall at your lotus feet in awe of all that you did on behalf of your beloved Guru Maharaja and Lord Krishna
Your inspiration is an ever-increasing reality and I offer you my sincere thanks for that sublime benediction
Hoping to be your eternal servant,
Praghosa dasa
——————
In closing may I say that no matter how difficult the coming months may be and however onerous our challenges are, if we can maintain and even deepen our service and meditation on Lord Krishna, we will all come out of this in a far better way than when we entered
yatra yogesvarah krsno yatra partho dhanur-dharah
tatra srir vijayo bhutir dhruva nitir matir mama
Wherever there is Krsna, the master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality. That is my opinion
Please stay as safe as your individual situation allows and I pray that you all remain virus free and as healthy as you possibly can
Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada,
Praghosa dasa
UK GBC Secretary
Comments