Squandered life

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On Mon, 26 Jun 2000, Bhadra Govinda (das) JPS (Singapore - SG) wrote:

> I forsook You, O Lord, and came to this world of pain and sorrow. Now I

> submit my tale of woe at Your lotus feet.

> While still in the unbearable fetters of my mother's womb, I saw You before

> me You revealed Yourself but briefly and then abandoned this poor servant of

> Yours.

> At that moment I swore to worship You after taking birth; but birth came,

> and with it the network of wordly illusion which robbed me of all good

> sense.

> As a fonded son in the lap of relatives, I passed my time smiling and

> laughing. My parents' affection helped me to forget the pangs of birth, and

> I thought the world was very nice.

> Day by day I grew and soon began playing with other boys. Shortly my powers

> of understanding emerged. I read and studied my lessons incessantly.

> Travelling from place to place, proud of my education, I grew wealthy and

> maintained my family with undivided attention. O Lord Hari, I forgot You!

> Now in old age, Bhaktivinoda is sad. He weeps. I failed to worship You, O

> Lord, and instead passed my life in vain. What will be my fate now?

 

Thanks for posting that. This is a common theme in our acaryas'

songs. Bhaktivinoda Thakura himself wrote another popular bhajana in this

mood too, "durlabha manava janma labhiya samsare, krsna na bhajinu duhkha

kahibo kahare" (I've attained the rare human birth in this world, but

since I haven't worshipped Krishna, to whom shall I tell of my troubles

now?). There are analogues in other languages too; here's one attributed

to the 15th century poet Kabir:

"All the concerns of your life have simply passed away; why didn't

you ever chant the name of Krishna? As clueless five year old you only

played--now you're suddenly twenty. By twenty-five, you've gone from one

country to another, simply seeking maya. At age thirty, you've gained a

little intelligence, but you're nonetheless always pushed around by ever-

increasing covetousness. Thousands and millions of "maya-couples," yet

there's no satisfaction from this even now. Then you've become old;

feebleness has set in, and your throat is constantly choked with mucus and

congestion. Having never actually taken advantage of satsanga, you took

birth for naught! Those who truly seek purpose should know that this

worldly life is but an arfully constructed pretence. Kabir says, 'O

foolish mind, why did you lose your better judgement?' Everything in your

life has now simply slipped away; why didn't you ever chant the name of

Krishna? "

 

MDd