What should a devotees attitude be

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Question: When a devotee is faced with many obstacles in life and the

situation is very complicated. One feels inadequate to the task, but it is

very important for the please of Guru and Gauranga. In those extreme moments

what should be the correct attitude of the devotee?

 

Answer:

 

See the attitude of Hanuman while contemplating jumping to Lanka and

delivering his message to Sita who was kept captive and surrounded by

Raksasis. All glories to Hanuman!!!!!!!!!!!

 

>From Ramayana (Sundarakanda)

"Now , Lanka that holds her in strict confinement is sea-grit; and

no one knows the to it. Countless rakshasa watch it more carefully, night

and day. Should they take me alive or slay me, I see on other monkey who

would, after a careful enquiry, take a leap over this wide waste of water,

one hundred yojanas in extent, and be of any use in accomplishing the

purpose of Rama. But no shadow of a doubt crosses my heart, whether I will

slay in battle these rakshasa, though they come in countless numbers. I am

not sure about leaping back over the sea thereafter. Defeat and victory in

fight is not guaranteed to anyone. So I will not entangle myself in a

doubtful undertaking. No one with an iota of sense and intelligence will do

so. Now this is the position. If I have no speech with Sita, she dies.

But if I speak to her in this shape, there follows the dangers that I

mentioned above.

"Affairs of moment at the point of fruition, fail in their end if

entrusted to a messenger with no powers of discretion or discrimination,

like unto the clouds of darkness, dispelled by the rising sun; for, they are

not suited to time and place. Affairs of State, even after they have been

thoroughly discussed by the king with his counsels, come to a sad end when

placed in the hands of messengers without discrimination; for, they spoil

them beyond hope, taking themselves as supremely wise and intelligent."

"Now, the purpose of Rama must be fulfilled; and I must not write

myself as a brainless idiot; and Sita must find comfort in my words and not

be scared out of her wits. How to bring about these results without clash?"

 

I hope that this finds you in good health.

 

Your ever well wisher,

 

Jayapataka Swami

 

[Note: This quote was donated to me by Kavicandra Swami]