Dog on a Royal Throne.

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[Text 503806 from CIS]

 

By A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj

 

Habit is second nature; it is very difficult to break. Sva yadi kriyate

raja. tat kim nasnaty upanaham (Gitopadesa): One may seat a dog on a royal

throne, but as soon as he sees a shoe, he will immediately jump down and run

after it simply because he is a dog. The canine qualities are there, and

they cannot be changed simply by putting the dog on a throne.

 

Similarly, we have acquired material qualities by associating with the three

modes of material nature--sattva guna, rajo guna and tamo guna--and our

habits are formed by association with these three qualities, which are the

qualities of goodness, passion and ignorance.

 

If, however, we disassociate ourselves from the three modes of material

nature, our real spiritual nature is invoked. That is the process of Krsna

consciousness. If one is Krsna conscious, there is no chance of his

associating with the three modes of material nature, and when one is

conscious of Krsna, one's spiritual nature is automatically invoked. That is

the secret.

 

Those who seriously follow the process of Krsna consciousness, though

previously habituated to many undesirable things, are able to stay on a

platform where there is no material contamination simply by virtue of

practicing Krsna consciousness.

 

Thus Krsna consciousness is an excellent medicine. Unless one comes to

awareness of Krsna, the habits he forms in association with the three modes

of material nature will continue, and he will not be able to change them. If

one actually wants freedom from the repetition of birth and death, he must

come to Krsna consciousness.