A few thoughts regarding surrender and dependence on Krishna. Śaranāgati, surrender, is described as follows in the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa, 11.676: ānukūlyasya saṅkalpaḥ prātikūlyasya varjanam rakṣiṣyatīti viśvāso goptṛtve varaṇaṁ tathā ātma-nikṣepa-kārpaṇye ṣaḍ-vidhā śaraṇāgatiḥ “The six divisions of surrender are the acceptance of things favourable to the execution of devotional service; the rejection of unfavourable things; the conviction that Kṛṣṇa will give protection; the acceptance of the Lord as one’s guardian and master; full self-surrender; and humility.’ Bhaktivinode Thakur explains this verse as follows in his Jaiva Dharma: “Firstly, the devotee must take a saṅkalpa, solemn vow, to perform works which are ānukūlyasya saṅkalpa, favourable to unalloyed bhakti. Secondly, the devotee must take solemn vow in the matter of prātikūlyasya varjanam, rejecting anything that is unfavourable to unalloyed bhakti. Thirdly, He must be convinced that the Supreme Lord alone is rakṣiṣyatīti viśvāso, his protector and maintainer, and that nothing positive can come from endeavouring for karma, jñāna, and yoga. Thus the devotee expresses viśvāsa, trust, in the Lord. Fourthly, the bhakta must develop a sense of goptṛtve varaṇaṁ, complete dependence on the Lord, thinking that his own efforts alone will never make him capable of succeeding in anything, not even in physically maintaining himself. Therefore, since the Lord is taking care of him, the bhakta will serve the Lord appropriately and as well as he can. This is known as nirbharatā, dependence. Fifthly, the bhakta must ātma-nikṣepa, offer himself wholesale to the Lord, knowing that he is ignorant of his own spiritual identity, that he is the Lord’s property, and that his actions are the implementations of the desires of the Lord. This surrender of the self is also known as ātmā-nivedana. Sixthly and finally, the bhakta must develop the sense of kārpaṇye, humility, which makes him feel poverty-stricken, meek, and lowly. This mood of humility is understood as kārpaṇya or dainya." ========= We should have firm faith that Krishna will maintain us (goptṛtve varaṇaṁ tathā) and that nothing other than bhakti is necessary. Nothing other than bhakti is necessary. If we simply practice pure bhakti, Krishna will certainly take care of us. Srila Prabhupada has written: "If we are in spiritual strength there will be no scarcity of money: and the spiritual strength is that each and every one of us must chant the sixteen rounds of beads and follow the rules and regulations with great adherence" (Letter to Tamala Krishna. 8 February 1970) "If we can organize our saṅkīrtana movement, there will be no scarcity of money rest assured; rest assured." (Letter to Krishna Das. 28 July 1969)
Posted on: Thu, 04 Jul 2013 08:11:36 +0000
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