Seeing good in everyone

I found a very inspiring mail so sharing eher.I hope this will inspires others also..

Seeing good in everyone

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

Many times when we are placed in trying situations, we lose our patience and try to always retaliate the people who trouble us. Even if that person is elder or younger to us, anger blinds us. And all we want is to shout back and prove that we are right and that they are wrong. In that process we become despondent and then hamper our progress in spiritual advancement.

In his purport to verse 13.8 through 12 of Bhagavad Gita, Srila Prabhupada very nicely explains what tolerance is and the importance of practising it in our lives. "Even a boy like Prahlada, who, only five years old, was engaged in the cultivation of spiritual knowledge, was endangered when his father became antagonistic to his devotion. The father tried to kill him in so many ways, but Prahlada tolerated him.

So there may be many impediments to making advancement in spiritual knowledge, but we should be tolerant and continue our progress with determination." Whatever troubles we face in life are nothing when compared to the troubles which Pandavas underwent in their life. That is why Bhishmadev says in Srimad Bhagavatam verse 1.19.12

aho kashtam aho 'nyaayyam / yad yuyam dharma nandanah jivitum naarhata klishtam / vipra dharmaacyutaashrayaah Bhishmadeva said: "Oh, what terrible sufferings and what terrible injustices you good souls suffer for being the sons of religion personified. You did not deserve to remain alive under those tribulations, yet you were protected by the brahmanas, God and religion."

Srila Prabhupada very nicely mentions the secret of success of Pandavas lives -"As long as a person is fully in cooperation with the wishes of the Lord, guided by the bona fide brahmanas and Vaishnavas and strictly following religious principles, one has no cause for despondency, however trying the circumstances of life." When Draupadi was insulted in the assembly of Kauravas, Bhima became very furious. Thinking that Yudhishtira is the cause of all the problems, he shouted in anger that he wanted to burn the hands of Yudhishtira, for having lost Draupadi in the game of dice. But Arjuna told him, "Bhima, you have never uttered words like this. Your morality has been destroyed by these cruel foes. But please do not fulfill the wishes of the enemy. Practise thou the highest morality. Yudhishtir Maharaj being a kshatriya cannot refuse to play dice when he had been invited for the same." Bhima could then understand that Yudhishtir Maharaj was not at fault, but still was unable to bear the insulting words of Kauravas and Karna. At that time Arjuna pacified him by saying, "Superior person do not meditate at length the harsh words uttered by inferior men. Persons that have earned respect for themselves, even if they are able to retaliate, remember not the acts of hostility done by their enemies, but, on the other hand, treasure up only their good deeds." When Pandavas lost their father Pandu when they were young, Dhrtarashtra had given them shelter. So even though Kauravas annd Dhrtarashtra are behaving in a very harsh manner Arjuna advised Bhima to think of the good deeds which they had done in the past. It is very difficult for us to practice tolerance on our own in our lives. Our beloved Maharaj says, "If you see always good in everyone, then you become good. But if we lose our tolerance and see only bad things, then in due course we are sure to become bad. So for our own well being we should tolerate, forgive and forget the fact that we have forgiven others".

Also by always remembering how these great devotees have faced insults even in trying situations, then by mercy of Guru and Krishna we will also get an iota of that quality and practise the same in our lives. Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Sudarshana devi dasi.

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