December 18, 2009
I have been thinking a lot about the subject matter that we discussed in the last post (Nov. 19th) and would like to present a few more thoughts that could help us go deeper.
I have seen over the years that our personal progress and the progress of our movement is often checked due to our inability to cope properly with our negative emotions towards each other. On the other hand, I have also experienced how, when resentment and other ill feelings show their face in our day-to-day lives, if they are handled with spiritual maturity, they can be turned into a powerful source of positive transformation for all of us. And in this way our movement can go forward as it is meant to.
If you take the time to again read the quote by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur included in the post below on forgiveness, and if you compare it to Prabhupada's purport of BG 12.12-13 presented here, you will see that much of the message is identical. Prabhupada says: "A pure devotee is never disturbed in any circumstances. Nor is he envious of anyone. Nor does a devotee become his enemy's enemy; he thinks, "This person is acting as my enemy due to my own past misdeeds. So it is better to suffer than to protest."
In the Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.8) it is stated: tat te'nukampam su samiksamano bhunjana evatma kirtam vipakam. Whenever a devotee is in distress or has fallen into difficulty, he thinks that it is the Lord's mercy upon him. He thinks, "Thanks to my past misdeeds I should suffer far, far greater than I am suffering now. So it is by the mercy of the Supreme Lord that I am not getting all the punishment I am due. I am just getting a little, by the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead." Therefore he is always calm, quiet and patient, despite many distressful conditions. A devotee is also always kind to everyone, even to his enemy.
Although I had read the above words many times, when I recently came across them they had more meaning to me than ever before. Perhaps I needed to read the quote by Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur first to bring Prabhupada's points further home. Not only are we being taught by them that adversity brought upon us by others comes about because of our own misdeeds - not theirs - but also that that adversity is being greatly minimized due to Krsna's mercy. Thus we should try to come to the point of feeling relief and gratitude for what is taking place, not frustration and resentment. Just like when a judge helps us understand that we are clearly guilty of an infraction but tells us that, because of our good behavior, he will only charge a fraction of the fine we would ordinarily have to pay.
There is another valuable understanding we can gain from being treated badly or offended. It might be difficult to incorporate into our daily lives, but if we do, we will be able to feel great joy and relief: when thinking of those who have shown us animosity, we should try to feel compassion towards them, knowing that their inimical behavior towards us will cause them the same suffering that we are now undergoing due to our identical ill behavior in the past. Our goal should thus be to cast out any resentment towards such persons and have sympathy for them, thus fulfilling our mandate to be a kind friend to everyone, even our enemy.
Our only enemy, then, is the enemy within, our own ignorance, which causes us to act and think in so many destructive ways, bringing on so much future pain. If we recongnize and focus on that, our enmity towards others will soon go away and leave the door wide open for love to fill our hearts, regardless of anyone's actions or mentality towards us.
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Website bilingüe (Español / Inglés)
Bilingual website (Spanish / English)
Bilingual website (Spanish / English)
Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
gdg@pamho.net
BIO
Su Santidad Gunagrahi das Goswami se unió a ISKCON en Buffalo, New York, en noviembre de 1969 y fue iniciado por Su Divina Gracia Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada en 1971.
Aceptó la orden de Sannyas en 1983. En 1997, tomó responsabilidades de liderazgo en Argentina y Uruguay, y actualmente supervisa estos países como Secretario Zonal.
Viaja ampliamente por Estados Unidos y Sudamérica para aconsejar, enseñar y presentar Conciencia de Krishna. Tiene su base en el templo de ISKCON en Buenos Aires.
His Holiness Gunagrahi das Goswami joined ISKCON in Buffalo, NY, in November of 1969 and was initiated by His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in 1971.
He accepted the order of Sannyas in 1983. In 1997, he accepted leadership responsibilities in Argentina and Uruguay, and presently oversees those countries as Zonal Secretary.
He travels widely in North and South America to counsel, teach, and present Krishna Consciousness. He is based at the ISKCON temple in Buenos Aires.
*******************************
Aceptó la orden de Sannyas en 1983. En 1997, tomó responsabilidades de liderazgo en Argentina y Uruguay, y actualmente supervisa estos países como Secretario Zonal.
Viaja ampliamente por Estados Unidos y Sudamérica para aconsejar, enseñar y presentar Conciencia de Krishna. Tiene su base en el templo de ISKCON en Buenos Aires.
His Holiness Gunagrahi das Goswami joined ISKCON in Buffalo, NY, in November of 1969 and was initiated by His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in 1971.
He accepted the order of Sannyas in 1983. In 1997, he accepted leadership responsibilities in Argentina and Uruguay, and presently oversees those countries as Zonal Secretary.
He travels widely in North and South America to counsel, teach, and present Krishna Consciousness. He is based at the ISKCON temple in Buenos Aires.
*******************************