Overcoming Pride By Gratitude

We, ISKCON devotees are made from head to toe only by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and the Vaishnava's. We are products of mercy. Nothing actually belongs to us. So, how can we be proud of borrowed plumes!

Think about it. When people applaud us for our classes, if we think properly none of the points we speak is ours. We are just repeating what we have heard or read. And even if we get some new insights it's by the mercy of Krishna in our hearts.

We should always remember that whatever respect, facilities and honor we get is only by the mercy of Krishna and the Vaishnavas. It's only because we have some connection with great souls, we are given respect.

All great devotees live their lives in alignment with this fact. When Lord Krishna left this world to depart to His eternal abode, Arjuna remembers all the incidents in his life where he achieved extraordinary success. But he doesn't take an iota of credit. He is fully convinced that it is only by Krishna's mercy that he could achieve anything in life.

Similarly, Srila Prabhupada even after achieving so much success in his preaching, he always gave credit to his spiritual master. In fact he said, "The only reason I am successful is that I have not deviated an inch from the instructions of my spiritual master".

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur captures this mood beautifully in his song to Gopinath

Yogyata Vichare

Kichu Nahi Mora

Tomara Karuna Sara

"O Lord, if I think of my qualifications, my conclusion is that I don't have any. Your mercy is what I am made of"

Our pride is not in our greatness but in the greatness of Lord Krishna that He is giving us a chance to serve Him even though we fall way below the mark.

Thus by always being grateful to all the great souls who have helped us in molding us to who we are now, we will be protected from pride.

In a heart which is filled with gratitude there can be no pride.

- Achyut Gopal Das

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