Pleasing Krishna, Who Manifests Around Us
BY: GOURA BOLA
Feb 01, INDIA (SUN) — A good materialist is soft-hearted and compassionate, and feels pain on seeing the suffering of others. Therefore, he/she works to help others around him/her. Bhakti yoga is also soft-hearted and compassionate. Along with the above qualities, Bhakti yoga sees everyone as part of Krishna. He does the same action of helping others, but with understanding that it is for his beloved Krishna. While acting in such way, the bhakti yogi never disturbs the mind of others and does not take other's suffering lightly. When a person does not take other's suffering seriously, then that person is neither a good materialist or a good bhakti yogi. The rampant child and sexual abuse in ISKCON shows that those involved in such actions in any way were not only not good devotees, but also they were not even good materialists.
Margaret Connors is trying to use Srila Prabhupada's words and teachings to confuse everyone. She spoke her beliefs in the recent article, "Just a Little Cut!". Those beliefs are a perfect example of a neophyte devotee who does not know how to apply the philosophy. It is good that you spoke up again!
Spiritual philosophy has different levels and different perspectives. It changes according to those levels and perspectives. Due to it being so complicated, it has been suggested to have a qualified teacher or guru. Suffering is quite complicated. What I am writing needs to be realized! Without those realizations, it is difficult to apply to these topics.
Srila Prabhupada will say in many places that the first step in spiritual realization is to realize that you are not the body. From the absolute perspective, the self is not inert matter or the product of inert matter. The self has assumed affinity to inert matter due to maya. Ultimately, all the problems can be attributed to this cause. Avadhuta Brahmana in Uddhava Gita says that due to maya or illusion, we attribute others to be the cause of our suffering. But the truth is that our mind is the cause of our suffering. Why? Because suffering happens to the body. The mind makes the jiva accept that the self is body and therefore, the self suffers due to this wrong acceptance or affinity.
If self truly realizes that self is beyond matter, then the self become tri-guna-teet, i.e., beyond the gunas or inert matter. Then, it does not matter what happens to the body and self does not suffer, but attains the state of sat (eternity), chid (knowledge) and anand (bliss). So, the true cause of suffering is mind and when the illusion of self being body goes away, then there is no suffering. From the absolute perspective, the self does not suffer.
Avantika Brahmana says that the events are due to past and present karma. For example, the grade in an exam is due to our karma. But the grade in the exam cannot make you suffer. When you assume affinity with the grade and you accept that it is your grade, then you become happy or sad. The outside event cannot make you happy or sad. The outside events cause you to suffer due to your assumed affinity with the body. But when that affinity is gone, no external event can cause you suffering or happiness.
Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.23.29:
"No other force besides his own mental confusion (maya or illusion i.e self is body) makes the soul experience happiness and distress. His perception of friends, neutral parties and enemies and the whole material life he builds around this perception are simply created out of ignorance."
When we follow the process of Bhakti yoga, then we see that Krishna is the cause of everything and ultimately, everything belongs to Krishna. Therefore, we see both suffering or happiness or whatever changes are happening in inert matter as caused by Krishna. As the devotee sees Krishna as his Supreme friend and well-wisher, he accepts those changes as blessing from Krishna, with faith that Krishna will always protects and maintains him and always loves him. The Bhakti yogi attributes this world to Krishna as everything belongs to Krishna, and understanding that nothing belongs to him. That is from the perspective of the individual (advanced devotee) about his suffering.
Even though that is truth from the perspective of Bhakti yoga, he does not force this fact upon others. He is very compassionate and sees everyone as Krishna. So when he sees others suffering, he sees that as an opportunity of service and therefore, protects other living entities. He does not say: "Oh suffering is caused by your mind or past karma. Therefore, I won't do anything to protect other living entities who are a manifestation of Krishna." It is because it is quite difficult to get out maya. Just because Bhakti yogi has gotten rid of his illusion, it does not mean that he disturbs the minds of others.
While advancing to higher stages of bhakti, a bhakti yogi sees the external events as opportunity. What is this opportunity! It is the opportunity to serve Krishna. This is very important to understand. He sees his spouse, children and parents as part of Krishna and takes care of them very carefully. Also, he does the same for others around him. So, he works very hard pleasing Krishna, who manifests around him.
Margaret, from your article, it sounds like you don't realize the devotional principles. You are just talking about them. You don't see that your self is part of Krishna and not part of the inert world. You don't see that everything belongs to Krishna, and don't see the jiva as part of your beloved Krishna. Even though you don't realize these facts, you insist that the victims should accept these facts. Is that true? You are not acting as a compassionate person when you don't sympathize with the victims, and just brush their suffering away. You don't see the victims as part of Krishna. More important, you are losing an opportunity. You are losing the opportunity to serve Krishna by helping the victims. Ultimately, it is your choice. Your choice will decide your future in bhakti.
It looks like the mere book reading is not helping you to understand the principles of Bhakti. Please get an advanced guru to teach you true Bhakti. If you cannot find an advanced guru, then please take shelter of Krishna within. Please see everyone outside as a manifestation of Krishna within and see everyone outside (books like Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita and living entities) as your teacher, just like the sage Dattatreya in Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 11. You will find that Krishna will teach you in many interesting ways if you stop judging others.
Please pray fervently to Krishna within to guide you and give you compassion, love, knowledge and bhakti. Keep serving people around you as the service to Krishna. Please make your heart soft-hearted and compassionate and hopefully, Krishna will gradually bestow you with right vision. In the name of bhakti, right now you are losing the opportunity to practice bhakti in this life.
I am not sure that what I am writing makes sense to you! Hopefully, it makes sense.
This article is gender independent. He can refer to she also. Forgive my English.
