No time for meditation then time for frustration ... “I just don’t have time.” This is how we often respond to suggestions that we commit ourselves to devotional practices like mantra meditation. No doubt, we all have a lot of things to do. Still, while coping with the burden of all this work, what takes our time is not just the work but also its burden. How does the burden take our time? By making us spend time on activities for relieving the burden. These activities may be watching TV, playing video-games, surfing the net, gossiping, overeating and oversleeping. Such activities may offer us a break, but they don’t internally rejuvenate us. Sometimes, they leave us frustrated, thereby making us more mentally unequipped to do our work. For example, our TV watching often ends with frustration (“I wasted so much time. I have so much to do. How will I manage?”). Thus, by saying no to meditation and doing ineffective activities for reliving our burden, we end up saying yes to frustration. This, in fact, is what the Gita (18.58) outlines as the effect of Krishna unconsciousness. The same verse also states that Krishna consciousness frees us from frustration. Let’s see how this works out. Gita wisdom offers us a far more effective way of dealing with life’s burdens: meditation. When we invest time in devotional meditation, it replenishes our inner energy by connecting us with the source of all energy: Krishna. This energy not only frees us from the sense of burden, but also enables us to manage our obligations intelligently, responsibly and competently. And this mental refreshment is just the fringe benefit of connecting with Krishna. The real benefit is inner enrichment of our devotion, an enrichment that ultimately catapults us to the supreme realm of eternal happiness. Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18 Text 58 mac-cittaḥ sarva-durgāṇi mat-prasādāt tariṣyasi atha cet tvam ahaṅkārān na śroṣyasi vinaṅkṣyasi “Lord Krishna Said: If you become conscious of Me, you will pass over all the obstacles of conditioned life by My grace. If, however, you do not work in such consciousness but act through false ego, not hearing Me, you will be lost.” A person in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness is not unduly anxious to execute the duties of his existence. The foolish cannot understand this great freedom from all anxiety. For one who acts in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, Lord Kṛṣṇa becomes the most intimate friend. He always looks after His friends comfort, and He gives Himself to His friend, who is so devotedly engaged working twenty-four hours a day to please the Lord. Therefore, no one should be carried away by the false ego of the bodily concept of life. One should not falsely think himself independant of the laws of material nature or free to act. He is already under strict material laws. But, as soon as he acts in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he is liberated, free from the material perplexities. One should note very carefully that one who is not active in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is losing himself in the material whirlpool, in the ocean of birth and death. No conditioned soul actually knows what is to be done and what is not to be done, but a person who acts in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is free to act because everything is prompted by Kṛṣṇa from within and confirmed by the spiritual master. Please accept my humble obeisances A pure devotee has no demand from the Lord. His only concern is to serve the Lord sincerely and seriously and he is not at all concerned about what will happen in the future. All glories to Srila Gurudeva ... All glories to Srila Prabhupada ... Always think of the Lotus Feet of Lord Krishna and you will find no difficulties in executing the tasks allotted to you by Krishna. If you have love, it may be gradually transferred to God. If you have no love and you are always quarreling, you cannot have the mercy of God. We should try to discover this love in our heart, and try to practice chanting the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Hare Krishna ... Jay Jagannath ... https://facebook/groups/harekrishnaharerama/
Posted on: Sun, 30 Nov 2014 01:55:02 +0000