It’s not what you’ve got, it’s what you do with it that counts-Mediums of Affection The greatest value anything has distinctly relates to its ability to be used as a medium of devotional affection for Krishna. The situation, the item, the individual- all are mediums of affection for Krishna. We can deal with each in such a way that through them, we may offer love and affection towards Krishna. Therefore, it’s not about what we have, it’s what we do with it that counts. Someone has gold, someone has silver, someone has bronze-it doesn’t matter. All can be used as mediums of affection and devotion for Krishna. If, for example, someone therefore offers the bronze with devotion, it’s infinitely more valuable than any other item, if that other item is not offered with devotion. The value of anything is spiritually defined by the weight of devotion with which it is offered. No matter what karma or external situation we may have, it’s how we offer it that determines our spiritual progress and acceleration, and this can be done 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if we are mindful. As we offer, use and see things as mediums of devotion and affection for Krishna, we start to saturate those items with a mood of devotion; simultaneously, we begin to saturate our consciousness more and more with a devotional mood of service for Krishna. The mind is a magnet. By what we contemplate, speak and do, we show Krishna within the heart what we understand and what we need to learn. He then reciprocates by drawing the particular lessons we need to learn into our own lives. The mood is also a magnet. Affection draws affection. Bhakti draws bhakti. In every endeavour we should make sure the devotion is there first. We want to be competent because we don’t want to give Krishna the work, but even if we are not so competent, if the devotion is there, Krishna will eventually put things into place. The devotion attracts Krishna, and as He becomes attracted, He gets more involved in our lives, and subtly brings us more and more into alignment with His divine plan. Krishna and the acaryas want all of us to have the very best, so they won’t arrange anything unless it’s ultimately the best for us. To the extent that we think we are the doer, to that extent we block ourselves from aligning with Krishna’s brilliant, perfect and spiritually beneficial plan. As we approach Krishna genuinely, we become more humble, due to our increasing awareness of His wonderful qualities, presence and love. At the same time, if we are genuinely approaching Him, we also become more confident and faithful. Why? Because we understand more and more that the same person who we feel humbled in the presence of, loves us infinitely and unconditionally, has all ability to support us, and wants us to be fully successful in attaining Him. This doesn’t mean that the external situations will always turn out the way we want. If we think they will, we will lose faith when the external results are not as expected. It means that as long as we do our best to please Him, the quality of the endeavour will guarantee real spiritual progress is made. When the source of our humility is the same as the source of our confidence, boldness and enthusiasm, that’s a very strong and powerful position. That’s also a position that is naturally in dynamic balance-regular meditation on this understanding can help us to remain grounded and humble, yet bold, confident and dynamic at the same time. The mentality or attitude is a key factor in the quality of the devotional exchanges between us and Krishna. It’s not what we have, it’s what we do with it and why that counts. We can consciously practice acting with proper intention and motive to please Guru and Krishna. This can and will make the devotional results of our actions very different. Aindra once said that when a disciple engages in devotional service, 50% of the benefit goes to him, and 50% goes to his guru. If however, the disciple engages in service for the pleasure of his guru, 100% of the benefit goes to him, and 100% to his guru, a huge difference in result, just by a change of attitude. Therefore, there is a significant difference between doing whatever we like and offering that to guru and Krishna, as opposed to trying to understand what would please the guru and then offering that. The devotional result of any activity is therefore according to the mode of the consciousness, not necessarily the mode of the activity. If you like this, please bless us to serve purely. If you don’t, please bless us even more to please and serve you purely, and have a spiritually empowered day. Ys Bhuta Bhavana das (Tha Necta Collecta)
Posted on: Wed, 23 Jul 2014 07:13:10 +0000
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