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Spiritual Advancement
| Q.1 |
Although I have been trying to practice Krishna Consciousness for about three years, I still find it difficult to control my senses. It is often really very frustrating. Shall I tell myself that there is so much dirt accumulated in my mind and therefore I have to be patient, or what else do I need to do? |
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| Ans. |
Devotional service is very powerful and purifying, but in one sense it is also a gradual process, at least for most conditioned souls. Due to our long association with material energy, 'from time immemorial', we are deeply conditioned; or as you have expressed, 'so much dirt is accumulated', and it may take time, just as someone suffering from some chronic illness takes time to fully recover, even when treated with the right, potent medicine in proper doses.
Patience is a very essential quality, therefore, that an aspiring devotee should cultivate. However, while one has to be patient to achieve the results, "patience" should not become "slackness" in applying the science of bhakti or the rules and regulations of devotional life. In following the rules, we have to be very enthusiastic and diligent, but if the senses are still disturbing, we should tolerate the disturbances and remain patient, with the faith that enthusiastic practice of bhakti will destroy all dirty things of the heart in due course of time, however long it may take (NOI, Text 1).
Here is another important consideration: the bhakti process is indeed devotional, and we need to seek the mercy of the Supreme Lord. In other words, it is not by our endeavor alone, by trying with all our might, that we can accomplish something in devotional service, such as the attempt to control the senses. Rather, it is possible by the mercy of guru and Krishna . Effort is necessary, but insufficient without utter dependence on the grace of Krishna . When Krishna sees a devotee's full-hearted devotional effort, He will come and sit in the heart of the devotee and personally cleanse it of all contamination! (Cf. SB 1.2.17-20) Rather than feeling frustrated, we should take impetus from recognizing our inadequacies, and strive with greater determination to take shelter of Krishna . |
| Q.2 |
) I have been a devotee, but my brother convinced me that Krishna consciousness was for very advanced people and that ordinary persons like me would take a very long time and will need to sacrifice a lot before becoming Krishna conscious. Also I have very little taste for chanting, find it very difficult to get up early in the mornings and am more of a late night person and rarely get to associate with devotees. Yet there is a deep yearning in me to decorate the temple, eat prasadam and do things that are colorful. I keep falling in and out of Krishna consciousness, but what about my dream?
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| Ans. |
Krishna consciousness is not just for a special elite group nor just for very advanced people. On the contrary, it is open for all and in fact it is THE process by which even the most fallen, most conditioned people of this Age of Kali can be saved. Therefore, it is they who need Krishna consciousness most, because any other process is too difficult in this age. Certainly those who are greatly advanced will take to devotional service with great relish, but even for the beginners, even for the 'ordinary' people or even the most sinful, fallen people, devotional service is very easily and joyfully performed. It is both the means and the end.
It is true that rising early in the morning is very important and helpful for practicing devotion. However, if one has difficulty in rising early or in doing any particular activity of devotional service, that does not bar one from being eligible to take up devotional service. You can still perform those activities that you are enthusiastic and able to do. Meanwhile you can keep trying to improve in those areas that are difficult also. Gradually by practice and purification, these will become easier. Similarly, chanting is the most important activity of devotional life; even if you do not have taste for it, by continuing to chant, and by continuing to associate with devotees whenever possible, hearing Krishna-katha, decorating the temple and other such services, you will gradually develop a taste for chanting.
The whole point is to always remember Krishna and never forget Him. All other rules like rising early etc., are to enable us to do this one thing. We are all parts and parcels of Krishna and our 'dharma' or constitutional position is to serve Him according to our capacity. From whatever position we are in, elevated or not, we can begin serving Krishna . We can worship Him with our occupation and dovetail whatever propensities we have in serving Him. Krishna says, whatever you do, you do for Me, whatever you eat, eat for Me, etc. By such a devotional attitude of offering whatever we have for Krishna's happiness, Krishna is very easily pleased, and gradually we become blessed and qualified to offer better service to Him. |
| Q.3 |
) If one commits offenses against devotees, and also has a strong false ego problem, then how to purify it and rectify the offenses? How to convert false ego?
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| Ans. |
The way to overcome false ego is to cultivate real ego. Our real identity, constitutionally, is that we are eternal servants of Krishna and servants of His servants. By diligently cultivating a spiritual vision, by seeing ourselves as humble servants of the devotees and being in the attitude of serving them beneficially, replaces offensive and false egoistic mentality.
Our acaryas describe that the only way to rectify offenses committed against devotees is to seek the forgiveness of that same devotee and render service to them and please them. When we cultivate a spiritual conception of ourselves and of all other devotees, then it becomes easier to overcome the false ego and take these above-mentioned steps. By regular hearing from advanced Vaishnavas, by praying sincerely to Lord Krishna, and by calling upon His Holy Name, each of these activities helps situate us in the spiritual conception of life. Such a sincere effort also invokes Krishna 's mercy, who kindly helps remove our false ego and pride. |
| Q.4 |
What are the different stages of chanting? How can one understand that one's chanting is good and pure? Is there any unit to measure the purity of the chanting?
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| Ans. |
The three stages of chanting are as follows: offensive stage (nama aparadha), clearing stage (nama abhasa) and pure chanting (shuddha nama). In the beginning, a neophyte devotee may commit many offenses while chanting the Holy Name, and the stage of trying to overcome these offenses is called clearing stage. One has to know what the ten offenses to the Holy Names are, as we recite in our temples every morning, and diligently try to avoid them. The degree to which one has overcome these offenses is the measure of one's purity in chanting. |
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