Its quite amazing that Indra, the demigods king, is such a responsible devotee that that Sri Krishna entrusts him to care for the rains. Thats quite a big and responsible job to have, like a big ministerial post in Sri Krishnas Universal Cabinet. Yet, from his exalted position he was proud and attached to worship and honour. And, when he did not receive his quota of the same he wished to kill Krishna and His entire Vraja clan. Of course, the Lord in His divine form as Gopal invoked Indras rage by spoiling his worship. He showed him up by lifting the Govardhan Hill, held it on His little finger for a week, relished loving exchanges with His devotees 24/7, and ground Indras pride to dust. From this it appears that even the great demigods are not beyond the influence of the modes of material nature. In the Gita Krishna tells Arjuna; Material nature consists of three modes – goodness, passion and ignorance. When the eternal living entity comes in contact with nature, O mighty-armed Arjuna, he becomes conditioned by these modes. Indra is such a profound individual, yet, he became overwhelmed by the material nature and forgot Krishna. What does that say for me ... or for us? I reckon It means that we should exert more determination and steadiness in our practices of devotion. More determined japa, more determined study, more determined service to the feet of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, and more determined service to the feet of all vaisnavas. After all, Srila Bhaktivinode has sung; Service to the feet of pure devotees is the tender root of the creeper of divine love. And what does Krishna assure if we become more determined? What may we expect? When one properly sees that in all activities no other performer is at work than these modes of nature and he knows the Supreme Lord, who is transcendental to all these modes, he attains My spiritual nature. When the embodied being is able to transcend these three modes associated with the material body, he can become free from birth, death, old age and their distresses and can enjoy nectar even in this life. Though our struggle with the modes of nature may seem insurmountable there is always hope for success. In that struggle we may get pushed back one day yet surge forth the next. Srila Prabhupada said that in the great war with Maya we may sometimes lose a battle .. yet our objective should be to win the war. As a great man once said: We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope. If we just try .... Krishna will surely help. He gives His assurance in the 9th Chapter; But those who always worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental form – to them I carry what they lack, and I preserve what they have. Srila Prabhupada in his purport states; One who is unable to live for a moment without Kṛṣṇa consciousness cannot but think of Kṛṣṇa twenty-four hours a day, being engaged in devotional service by hearing, chanting, remembering, offering prayers, worshiping, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, rendering other services, cultivating friendship and surrendering fully to the Lord. Such activities are all auspicious and full of spiritual potencies, which make the devotee perfect in self-realization, so that his only desire is to achieve the association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such a devotee undoubtedly approaches the Lord without difficulty. This is called yoga. By the mercy of the Lord, such a devotee never comes back to this material condition of life. Kṣema refers to the merciful protection of the Lord. The Lord helps the devotee to achieve Kṛṣṇa consciousness by yoga, and when he becomes fully Kṛṣṇa conscious the Lord protects him from falling down to a miserable conditioned life. And in chapter fourteen Sri Krishna Himself states; One who engages in full devotional service, unfailing in all circumstances, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman. O Lord .. Im getting weary of continually getting whacked by my pride and by the modes of material nature. My situation reminds me of a song that a wise man sang; But there was a time that I thought Lord this couldnt last for very long But somehow I thought I was still able to try to carry on Its been a long, long time coming But I know, but I know a change is gotta come Oh yes it will May we all take shelter of pure devotion to the lotus feet of Sri Krishna. By His Grace may the disease of pride and the influence of natures moods be lifted from our hearts as easily as He lifted the Govardhan Mountain. May He cleanse our hearts, and may we someday be lifted to the cherished position of a humble servant of His lotus feet.
Posted on: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 12:03:47 +0000
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