Skip to main content

AGENTS OF CHANGE

The first chapter of Bhagvad-Gita is entitled 'Observing the armies on the battlefield of Kurukshetra'. This chapter is all about Arjuna seeing the world through his eyes, interpreting the situation according to what he thinks is right. The result - confusion and stress. This the turning point in his life, where he surrenders to Krishna and asks Him for guidance. Lord Krishna then starts to speak the timeless wisdom of the Bhagvad-Gita only to give Arjuna the right vision.

If we honestly glance into our hearts, we will come to the same conclusion that Arjuna came to - that observing life through our present perceptions has not helped us, we still feel unhappy and incomplete. We probably need a change of lenses, a vision change. 

That's exactly what the Bhagvad-Gita does for us. It helps us change our vision from "What I think is correct" to "What is actually correct", it helps us change from saying "Let my will be done" to "Oh Lord, let Thy will be done", it helps us change our attitude from that of "I am a competitor to God's plan" to "I am a co-operator to God's plan". In simple words Bhagvad-Gita helps us to make this shift from seeing the world through our eyes to seeing the world through God's eyes. That's why it so important to regularly read and understand the  scriptures to clearly know without ambiguity what God expects of us, what is His plan for us.

It is explained that there are four kinds of servants -
  1. One who instead of serving the master, takes service from him.
  2. One who does what is told to him but with a lot of mistakes.
  3. One who does what is told to him perfectly.
  4. One who knows the heart of his master and does it even before being asked
Which of these four do you think pleases the master the most. Naturally, the last one - one who understands the mood and mission of His master and makes it his own. Such a servant naturally gains more trust of the master and is entrusted with more responsibilities. Similarly the Supreme Lord becomes very pleased and dearly loves that person who is ready to align himself with His desires. Such a person is chosen to be His instrument of compassion in this world.  

What the world badly needs is people who are ready to be instruments of God's compassion and love in this world. The world needs people who have changed their vision from passion to compassion, from selfishness to selflessness, from impurity of mind to purity of mind. 

It is said that - the biggest problem in this world is hunger - not hunger of the belly but hunger of the heart. Both the rich and the poor are equally hungry. And the only thing that can satisfy the hunger of the heart is God's love.

The question is are we ready to be instruments of God's love in this world, are we ready to be agents of change? If yes, then we first need to BE THE CHANGE WE WANT TO SEE IN THIS WORLD.

- Achyut Gopal Das

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

GIVING UP PETTINESS to EXPERIENCE PRETTINESS

"The process of Krishna consciousness will empower us when we empower it." The other day as I was taking a bath, the plastic bucket I was using, slipped and cracked. A piece from the rim of the bucket broke off and cut my finger. As I was waiting for the bucket to refill with water, I noticed that even after a long time the bucket wasn't filling up. It's at that time, I noticed a "not so apparent" crack at the bottom of the bucket which was causing all the water to leak out. I drew a lesson from this incident which is applicable to my spiritual life. SEALING THE LEAKS The process of spiritual life or Krishna consciousness which includes the nine fold limbs beginning with Shravanam (hearing) and Kirtanam (chanting) is like filling the container - the vessel of our hearts. For the vessel of our hearts to fill up, it should be leak free. If the container is faulty and contains many holes, the best of content, in the best of quantity will not help it fill. Ana...
Post a Comment
Read more

FROM THIS OCEAN TO THAT

A few days ago, there was our annual Ratha Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Panjim, the capital city of Goa. Lord Jagannath rode majestically in His majestic chariot in the most majestic street of Goa. It was a beautiful procession with devotees chanting and dancing enthusiastically for the pleasure of the Lord. Towards the end of the procession, it started to rain very heavily. Most devotees were still continuing to chant and dance undettered by the heavy down pour. But, I chose to shelter myself under the umbrella of one of my devotee friends. As we were standing by a tree and waiting for the rains to subside, I noticed the waters of the adjacent Mandovi river. It appeared very turbulent and agitated. It was a little fearful to look at. I was thinking, "If waters of a small river can be so agitating and fearful, how much more fearful and scary it will be to be in between the ocean with rain and storm in full swing." Even if you are in a huge ship still, in front of the massive ...
Post a Comment
Read more

PRACTICAL TOOLS FOR DESIRE MANAGEMENT

“I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of, so they can see that it’s not the answer.” ― Jim Carrey, American - Canadian actor Long back, I heard this analogy to explain the nature of the unlimited desires in our hearts. It is explained in this analogy that, even if all the water bodies in earth are made into ink to fill a pen whose nib is as small as an atom and the sky is made into paper to write on; the ink will get exhausted, the nib will break and the paper will run-out but our list of desires will not get over - we will still have more left. Over these years of spiritual practices, I have realized the truth behind this analogy. I have become more aware of the dynamics of desires and it's working in life. Even though our hearts are filled with unlimited desires, luckily just a few jump into awareness every now and then, just like a few fish jump out of the surface of the ocean every now and then even though the ocean is filled with u...
1 comment
Read more