As conditioned souls, our deepest problem is that we have forgotten our relationship with the Supreme Lord, and we are engrossed in thinking of material activities. In order to transfer our thinking power back to Krishna, we have received the Holy Name and the Vedic literature.
A basic piece of the Vedic literature is Bhagavad-gita. It was spoken at the beginning of Kali-yuga, 5000 years ago, and it addresses the specific situation of the modern man. In Kali-yuga, people are short-lived, their existences are full of anxieties, and their minds are restless and unsteady. The old system of ashtanga-yoga seems unendurable in this age, as
Arjuna declares at some point in Bhagavad-gita (6.33). So, Lord Caitanya came 500 years ago and gave us the Hare Krishna mantra, the process of deliverance for this age and the
yuga-dharma. Bhagavad-gita in its turn describes the specific situation of a person struggling for existence, caught in-between contradictory tendencies, and bearing the anxieties of difficult decisions, as many people in the world today.
In spite of his difficult situation, Krishna still insists that Arjuna should remember Him. That is because, if one does not practice thinking of Krishna while struggling for existence, one will not remember Krishna at the time of death.
In this regard, Krishna clearly states in Bhagavad-gita (8.7):
“Therefore, Arjuna, you should always think of Me in the form of Krishna and at the same time continue your prescribed duty of fighting. With your activities dedicated to Me and your mind and intelligence fixed on Me, you will attain Me without doubt.”
So, Krishna basically requires two things here: 1) activities dedicated to Him, and 2) mind and intelligence fixed on Him. He does not ask for very difficult austerities, as life in Kali-yuga is difficult in itself. Also, He is not impractical, He knows we need to live a balanced life in this world, just to make it through life. Still, He wants our awareness that everything belongs to Him and should be engaged for Him. He wants us to see things that happen in life through this philosophy of Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. He wants the attention of our minds on the sound vibration of the Hare Krishna mantra.
Nevertheless, what if our mind continues to go here and there? What to really do with a flying
mind? Definitely, it all starts with a sincere desire. Sincerity is the last pillar of religion we can count on in Kali-yuga. Upon coming in contact with the philosophy of Bhagavad-gita, a sincere person will recognize the truth of it, because sincerity can not avoid admitting what is genuine.
This makes just the first step, but Bhagavad-gita is there all the way too. As each time we hear it, it turns our thoughts to the Supreme Lord. If read attentively and regularly, it will little by little strengthen our mind by use of intelligence.
The mind is superior to the senses. So, wherever the mind is, the senses will follow. In the same way, intelligence is superior to the mind. When intelligence is strong, it controls the mind and brings it on the right path. Intelligence is the closest to the soul, as the soul is the direct master of the intelligence. So, with intelligence one can understand the constitutional position of the soul as part and parcel of Krishna and His eternal servant. By this understanding, the
intelligence can engage the mind, its subordinate, in Krishna consciousness. In association with Krishna, the supreme controller of all, the soul, the intelligence and the mind become all strengthened.
In the beginning of spiritual life, one is on shaky ground and may need some artificial restrictions of the senses. By gradual development of knowledge, he develops faith, which gives him stability. The thought of Krishna comes more naturally to him.
This is the process of Bhagavad-gita: by association with Krishna by dint of intelligence, the mind becomes stronger, and a stronger mind is less inclined to deviate, so it remembers Krishna more easily. On this platform of stronger faith, one becomes a madhyama-adhikari, a preacher.
Any materialistic conception means ignorance of one’s real position as a spirit soul. Just in order to live, one has to work and sacrifice time, energy and many other things. One can not live in this world without sacrifice. Still, without knowledge of one’s constitutional position, any sacrifice is just a material activity, with temporary benefits. It is knowledge which elevates a sacrifice. Transcendental knowledge keeps us remembering Krishna while we struggle for existence. It helps us understand we can never be separated from Krishna, whatever our activity in the material world. It is a fact. We have to admit it the same way we admit that the sun rises in the morning and sets in the evening every single day. With this consciousness of being inseparable of Krishna we can remember whom we are calling while chanting Krishna’s names.
To keep our mind and intelligence fixed on Krishna can be one of the greatest challenges in
spiritual life. While the body has clear boundaries and can be more easily made to do something, the mind’s boundaries are definitely not fixed. The mind can effortlessly go anywhere within a second. We simply can’t catch it and bring it where we want. Still, we all have experience that a strong motivation can make even this elusive mind to focus entirely on one place. A strong idea, a strong feeling, a strong desire, a strong conviction can turn the mind almost glued to their object. Such a motivation we can get from Bhagavad-gita,
Srimad-Bhagavatam, Caitanya-caritamrita. If trying to understand them in depth, they will not be something we would simply read and after go out of the door and think of something else. They will accompany us in the mind during the whole day. We will naturally connect events that happen to us with the understanding we get from these books. Even a drop of deep association with Krishna through attentive chanting and hearing can make our day.
We should always remember that Krishna helps. By witnessing our sincere efforts and dedication not only to chant and read, but also to give the attention of our mind and the understanding of our intelligence to these activities, Krishna will reciprocate. He will help us remember Him even amidst the challenges of Kali-yuga life.
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