Lessons in Spirituality

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Hare Krishna. Pranam to all Vaishnavas,

Lessons in Spirituality

Among the innumerable living beings in the world man has an advantage because he is endowed with the faculty of discrimination which can be utilised to realise Sri Krishna the God of Gods and thereby put an end to rebirths. But in his daily engagement with the world he gets carried away easily by sensory attractions and becomes more involved with material pursuits without striving for the grace of Krishna . Narayana Bhattatiri has shown how to overcome this human weakness

in his hymn, the Narayaneeyam. He says very clearly that it is possible to remain steadfast in the pursuit of the goal of liberation only by Sri Krishna's grace. Hence his constant prayer to the Lord of Guruvayur (Krishna) to be devoted to Him in this hymn so that he does not stray from this objective.

Divine grace enabled one who was keen on attaining liberation to learn from the world around him. This truth is the crux of the Uddhava Gita, which occurs in the Bhagavata Purana on which Bhattatiri has based his hymn. This Gita is the farewell message of Bhagavan Krishna to His dear friend and devotee, Uddhava before Krishna left the world after completing His mission in this incarnation advising Uddhava to retire to Badarikashrama. In His teaching to humanity Krishna is highlighting the importance of utilising this human birth for attaining liberation from bondage.

A spiritual aspirant can learn to look upon everything as Krishna so that every experience becomes a lesson in spirituality. This Gita shows how it is possible to overcome desire by observing the male elephant, which can be easily ensnared by a female elephant. That it is counterproductive to waste one's entire life in accumulating wealth can be learnt from the bees. Others enjoy the honey they gather with so much industry.

One can learn to be wary of sweet-sounding talk by watching a hunter trap a deer by luring it with music. By observing how a fish can be baited with food it can be surmised that over-attachment to food is an impediment to spiritual progress as it increases craving leading ultimately to indulgence. The Bhagavata Purana in this context highlights the importance of solitude in spiritual life by the example of the courtesan, Pingala, who learnt it the hard way in her life. A bird that was carrying food became the target of attack by other birds. Similarly a spiritual seeker who has a lot of possessions will have to suffer due to anxiety about guarding them from others.

Pure devotees of Bhagavan Krishna are more powerful than the waters of the sacred river Ganga. One can derive spiritual benefit out of prolonged use of the Ganga water. But one can be sanctified at once by the mercy of a pure devotee of Sri Krishna. In Bhagavad Gita it is said that any person, regardless of birth as ‘Sudra’, woman, or

merchant, can take shelter of the lotus feet of Sri Krishna and by so doing can return to Godhead. The pure devotees whose only business is serving are representatives of the lotus feet of Krishna. Anyone, therefore, who takes shelter of the lotus feet of a pure devotee by accepting the pure devotee as his spiritual master can be at once purified. Such devotees of Bhagavan Krishna are honored equally with the Bhagavan because they are engaged in the most confidential service of Him, for they deliver out of the material world the fallen souls whom Krishna wants to return home, back to Godhead. Such pure devotees always considers himself to be a humble servant of the servant of Sri Krishna. This is the pure devotional path.

Srimad Bhagavatam , Canto 1, Chapter 1, Text 14 -15 :

äpannaù saàsåtià ghoräà

yan-näma vivaço gåëan

tataù sadyo vimucyeta

yad bibheti svayaà bhayam

(Living beings who are entangled in the complicated meshes of birth and death can be freed immediately by even unconsciously chanting the holy name of Kåñëa, which is feared by fear personified.)

 

yat-päda-saàçrayäù süta

munayaù praçamäyanäù

sadyaù punanty upaspåñöäù

svardhuny-äpo ’nusevayä

(O Süta, those great sages who have completely taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord can at once sanctify those who come in touch with them, whereas the waters of the Ganges can sanctify only after prolonged use.)

OM NAMO BHAGAVATE VASUDEVAYA!!!

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