Recently a friend asked a simple yet profound question. Why do I worship Krsna? And , how is He any different than any other God ? It gave me food for thought and made me think how I could articulate my reasoning. To be honest usually I just tell people its not something you can explain with words. It's more an experience one must have for themselves... Perhaps it was a copout but, that's usually how I handle this situation.
Being from the west it is sometimes difficult for our family and friends to understand why we have chosen to give our lives to Sri Krsna. I have heard from my own mothers mouth , "What is Jesus not good enough for you?" I believe it all really stems from the misconceptions of Christianity about Hinduism. Westerns are a funny bunch we are brought up to believe that we are right in every way. And we feel the need to set the rest of the world straight... To the majority of Americans they see India and Hinduism as backwards. For myself one of the biggest misconception I had was that Hinduism is not a monotheistic faith. Yet through Krsna Consciousness I now know the truth... I have also learned how very advanced the Vedic civilization really was and is! We in the west can learn so very much from the great Knowledge of the Vedas. And my Lord Krishna is the grand author!!!
The concepts and forms of the faith I was born into are a far cry from my faith now. I grew up in New England the God of my childhood was a vengeful , angry God who's only thought daily was how bad I was and how he was going to punish me. Love never entered the equation. All one hoped for was that he was one of God's chosen... See the faith I belonged to believed in a biblical doctrine called Predestination. In essence before the foundation of the world God in all his evilness had decided who would be his and who would burn in the fires of hell! No matter how good or how bad one was they were already designated as to the eternal life... Needless to say it gave one little if any hope. I tried to love everyone and it caused me much anguish because I was a spiritual child and I was always worried about my friends or pets not being "chosen".... Add to that the physical and emotional abuse of my alcoholic parents and I was a walking poster for anxiety. And, instead of having a loving God to rest in I was fearful of him too! I think you get a pretty clear picture of the faith of my birth...
As I grew into adulthood I abandoned organized religion. I called my self an inquisitive agnostic. I wasn't sure if there was a God but I wanted to learn what others believed. To be honest as I look in hindsight I believed I just wasn't sure God believed in me... I have a passion for old black and white films and records. I actually own a workng record player. I hit the antique stores looking for old records. One day a friend told me the local salvation army store had gotten in some albums in so I went to look. Little did I know how my life would change. As I was looking there was an old Beatles album of Krsna Consciousness music. I brought it home and heard the Mahamantra and I am not exagerating when i say it moved me to tears. I felt a love and acceptance like never before and had to know more. This led me to a local bookstore where I purchased a Bhagavad Gita As It Is and a little book called "The Matchless Gift" I bought a set of rosary beads and used those to count my japa! (Not sure if that was kosher but , it worked!!!) Little by little I have grown and have never been happier...
I have learned who the true God is KRSNA and He is not in any way that so called god of my youth. I never knew what unconditional love was till now! I have never been in an actual Iskcon Temple. I watch the Los Angeles Temple daily and listen to lectures. I do have a home altar and hope to someday meet others who will worship with me. But, for now it is me and Krsna. What more does one need?
The first verse that touched my heart from the Bhagavad Gita was;
"If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf , a flower , fruit or water , I will accept it." (BG 9:26)
this verse touched me in that Sri Krsna was so loving and humble. He wasn't asking for blood and vengence to worship Him. He would accept any gift His child offered because He really loved me... So simple and yet so beautiful! That's one of the reasons i worship Krsna.
"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." (BG9:29) My God Krsna does not make up His mind as to His childrens destiny. That's why I worship Krsna.
Again in the Gita Lord Krsna expresses His unconditional love and acceptance of all of His children.
"The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone's heart , O' Arjuna and is directing the wanderings of all living entities , who are seated as on a machine , made of material energy." (BG 18:61)
For these and many others that as I have said before are better understood by experience... I worship Krsna. The love of God is not something we need to hope for it is real and tangible in this life. All one needs to do is chant , Hare Krsna , Hare Krsna , Krsna , Krsna , Hare , Hare , Hare Rama , Hare Rama , Rama , Rama , Hare , Hare. If one does Chant this mantra I promise you , you WILL feel that real love that perhaps you think is mythical. Its real!!!! Blessings to all!
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