On my arrival in Cologne/Germany on the 11th of March, I had a couple of days' break to adjust to being back in Europe. Even though both places - India and Europe - are so familiar to me, nevertheless it is always a bit of a culture shock which requires some little adjustment within the mind to overcome the feeling of separation from Mayapur.
Then I flew on to Ljubljana/Slovenia to visit this lively community - the abode of Sri Sri Pancha Tattva. I was scheduled to give the course "The False Ego - Our Constant Companion and Troublemaker" over the weekend in three evening- and two morning programs. It was well attended by around 40 eager devotees, with more watching over internet. Additionally, I offered a SB class, the Sunday feast program, a matajis' sanga and a program for the children and youth on chanting. So the devotees kept me busy!
And I was excited to distribute for the first time my new book "Sheltering Relationships", which I placed into the hands of 40 eager devotees.
And I was excited to distribute for the first time my new book "Sheltering Relationships", which I placed into the hands of 40 eager devotees.
In BG. 18.58, Krishna gives us two choices how to act: "If you become conscious of Me, you will pass over all the obstacles of conditioned life by My grace. If, however, you do not work in such consciousness but act through false ego, not hearing Me, you will be lost."
A materialist is driven by the motivating force of false ego, striving for success by aiming at a certain designation, position or title. This motivating force of personal ambition is very strong, but since it is based on false ego - trying to be something which we are not - we ultimately will be lost. The mode of passion always leads to further entanglement and frustrations and ends in distress, at the latest at the time of death when we have to do another round in the material world by accepting another material body.
However, a Vaishnava's motivating force is of a very different nature: he is driven by the desire to simply serve and please Hari, guru and the Vaishnavas, which places him in his constitutional position of being servant. If we cultivate a burning desire to serve the devotees, Paramatma in our heart will witness this and will make the most suitable arrangements to help us move forward in our devotional journey. So many opportunities will arise - at the perfect time. It is not a coincidence that in some devotees' lives so many wonderful opportunities open up, whereas in other devotees lives nothing exciting seems to happen, which easily invites stagnation, complacency and indifference to creep in. It is a response to our desires we are cultivating. As Rupa Gosvami is instructing us, the only qualification required to reach Krishna in pure devotion is intense longing and greed for Him. This manifests in our intense desire to serve. And from there, everything else will eventually manifest in our life.
Looking back at my own life, I certainly experienced this principle very clearly. I never even imagined that I would travel the world and give seminars, or publish books. There was no ambitious plans and goals in this direction. I simply concentrated on cultivating a good service attitude. Then Krishna will use us as an instrument in Lord Chaitanya's Sankirtan mission, and the order and instruction will come from guru, sadhu and the Vaishnavas.
Srila Prabhupada revealed a similar thought in a lecture on his Gurudeva's appearance. When he received the order of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura to preach in the English speaking world, he had no idea how to fulfill this mission. He had no plan, no ambitious motivations. He simply had the mood of full surrender in service, being willing to accept any inconvenience, ready to sacrifice his very life for the satisfaction of guru. And Krishna made all the necessary arrangements. If we could only develop one drop of this mood, then Krishna could surely use us as an instrument in His mission. But if we are driven by false ego and ambitiousness, we will not receive any mercy and empowerment, and we will ultimately be lost.
On the 20th of March I took a two-hour train ride to Zagreb/Croatia....
Your servant, Devaki dd
A materialist is driven by the motivating force of false ego, striving for success by aiming at a certain designation, position or title. This motivating force of personal ambition is very strong, but since it is based on false ego - trying to be something which we are not - we ultimately will be lost. The mode of passion always leads to further entanglement and frustrations and ends in distress, at the latest at the time of death when we have to do another round in the material world by accepting another material body.
However, a Vaishnava's motivating force is of a very different nature: he is driven by the desire to simply serve and please Hari, guru and the Vaishnavas, which places him in his constitutional position of being servant. If we cultivate a burning desire to serve the devotees, Paramatma in our heart will witness this and will make the most suitable arrangements to help us move forward in our devotional journey. So many opportunities will arise - at the perfect time. It is not a coincidence that in some devotees' lives so many wonderful opportunities open up, whereas in other devotees lives nothing exciting seems to happen, which easily invites stagnation, complacency and indifference to creep in. It is a response to our desires we are cultivating. As Rupa Gosvami is instructing us, the only qualification required to reach Krishna in pure devotion is intense longing and greed for Him. This manifests in our intense desire to serve. And from there, everything else will eventually manifest in our life.
Looking back at my own life, I certainly experienced this principle very clearly. I never even imagined that I would travel the world and give seminars, or publish books. There was no ambitious plans and goals in this direction. I simply concentrated on cultivating a good service attitude. Then Krishna will use us as an instrument in Lord Chaitanya's Sankirtan mission, and the order and instruction will come from guru, sadhu and the Vaishnavas.
Srila Prabhupada revealed a similar thought in a lecture on his Gurudeva's appearance. When he received the order of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura to preach in the English speaking world, he had no idea how to fulfill this mission. He had no plan, no ambitious motivations. He simply had the mood of full surrender in service, being willing to accept any inconvenience, ready to sacrifice his very life for the satisfaction of guru. And Krishna made all the necessary arrangements. If we could only develop one drop of this mood, then Krishna could surely use us as an instrument in His mission. But if we are driven by false ego and ambitiousness, we will not receive any mercy and empowerment, and we will ultimately be lost.
On the 20th of March I took a two-hour train ride to Zagreb/Croatia....
Your servant, Devaki dd
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