Skip to main content

JUST BECAUSE...

Just because we give good discourses, doesn't mean that we are spiritually advanced. Just because we write nicely, doesn't mean that we are spiritually advanced. Just because we manage the temple nicely, doesn't mean that we are spiritually advanced. Just because we cook nice bhoga, doesn't mean that we are spiritually advanced. Just because we start many temples and centers, doesn't mean that we are spiritually advanced. Just because we have completed many projects, doesn't mean that we are spiritually advanced. Just because we have many followers and have made many devotees, doesn't mean that we are spiritually advanced. Just because we have organised many events, doesn't mean that we are spiritually advanced. Just because we dress the deities nicely, doesn't mean that we are spiritually advanced.

Yes, these services are wonderful and laudable but we shouldn't forget the purpose of doing all these various services. Somehow, the nature of our conditioned mind and intellect is to judge our internal success by the yardstick of external success. We tend to confuse skills with devotion. Skills are a wonderful blessing given to us by Krishna but just possessing them and displaying them is not a sign of our spiritual growth. Whatever gifts we are bestowed with, we should always remember that the only purpose of using them is to please Krishna and nothing else. So the yardstick of being spiritually advanced is how much we have pleased Krishna. And how is Krishna pleased? He is only pleased seeing the devotion of our heart, the purification of our minds, the evolution of our consciousness and the eradication of our anarthas.

So, let us not get caught in the superficialities and forget the essence, let us not get caught in the form and forget the substance beneath the form and let us not get caught in the game of impressing others and forget to impress the heart of Krishna.

- Achyut Gopal Das

Comments

  1. Unknown28 January 2020 at 08:55

    Is this comparison among grate devotees coming from acaryas?

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

REQUEST TO & FROM A MOTHER

  Today on the occasion of Mother's Day, I went to meet the cow, our mother to wish her for Mother's Day and make a request to her. I requested her to shower her blessings and mercy on her children who are suffering so badly due to the deadly covid virus. The good news for all of us is that, she mercifully agreed to shower her heartfelt blessings, prayers, mercy on all her children. After all, that's the heart of a mother - always wanting and desiring best for her children. I was elated, my mission accomplished - now, the suffering of humanity will reduce. As I was leaving, the cow also had one personal request. She requested me with tears in her eyes to request her children not to abuse, exploit and slaughter her mercilessly. I could literally feel her pain and suffering as she made this request. This was the pain of a mother. Tears swelled up in my eyes. I didn't know what to reply her. I did tell her that I will pass on her request to her other children and I walked ...
Post a Comment
Read more

THE MOTHERLY TOUCH (Dedicated to all mothers)

" It may be possible to gild pure gold but who can make his mother more beautiful " - Mahatma Gandhi We all exist because of our mothers. We owe our entire existence to them. But the scriptures explain that we have not one but a couple of them. Being connected to them is the way we can fill our life with love, nourishment and a sense of security.  MOTHER OF BIRTH A few days ago, while I was traveling in the train from Mathura to Delhi, I saw a young mother with her little baby. I could witness the natural love a mother has for her child. Whenever another train would cross our train, she would jump to close the ears of the sleeping baby, so that he is not disturbed in his sleep. When Sun started to shine on the child's face, she at once closed the shutter of the window. I started to think of all the inconveniences my mother must have taken for me - the sleepless nights she must have spent in taking care of me as a child, the commitment and consistency to cook f...
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