Better than Being Comfortable

These periodic stops throughout the year at our headquarters, Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Austin, Texas, are a very important component of our around-the-world lecture tours. Because we are currently doing our service while being situated within material bodies we have to take proper care of them to keep them in proper operating condition so that we can continue traveling and spreading this supreme knowledge all over the world for many, many years to come. We always come back here to celebrate Gaura Purnima (the appearance day of Lord Caitanya), Janmastami (the appearance day of Lord Krishna), and Srila Prabhupada's Vyas Puja day (appearance day.) These breaks are a welcome respite from the rigors of regularly traveling around the globe, but as soon as arrive here we are immediately preparing our next tour because what is even more enlivening than being comfortable is to spread the supreme comfort formula, Krishna consciousness, to all the living beings throughout the entire world.

Leading Hare Krishna Kirtan at Austin's Bhaktivedanta Ashram

Sankarshan Das Leading Hare Krishna Kirtan at Austin

Answers According to the Vedic Version

Question: If Guru's Order Is Potent, Why Can't I Follow It?

From China

Dear teacher:

Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

The spiritual master's instruction contains in itself the potency for the practitioner's successfully executing it, so all we have to do is fully embrace that instruction with our heart and soul. However, it does make me puzzled. For example, one of the instructions is to chant Krishna's holy names constantly and be fully focused on the sound vibration, and to chant with love. However, the mind wanders away more or less, and there's no natural love / attraction. If there's the potency in the instruction, why am I not able to follow it? The thing is, the spiritual master's instruction is on the level of pure bhakti while I am not on the level of pure bhakti, so I'm not able to follow. Of course I'm trying with my heart and soul.

In fact, I never think / feel I'm a devotee, because I never reach the depth and purity that is required & contained in the spiritual master's instructions. Is it that it needs time for the potency in guru's instruction to take effect, just like Srila Prabhupada received the instruction of preaching Krishna consciousness in western countries at a young age but did not accomplish until he reached the advanced age of 70? Could you kindly clarify this?

Your humble servant,

Yechen

Answer: By Your Sincere Attempt Gradually You'll Become Perfect.

In any field of study it takes time to learn how to master the knowledge and its application. This is why all over the world there are so many thousands of colleges and universities with degree programs that go on for so many years. The Krishna consciousness branch of knowledge is the most highly advanced of all fields of study. Therefore it is natural that if other fields of study require so many years to master, the bhakti science will also take a substantial amount of time to master. So that the neophyte devotee does not immediately become an advanced devotee does not mean that the spiritual master's order is not fully potent. Sri Guru's instructions are fully invested with Krishna shakti and are therefore fully potent. It is simply that the disciple has to master the art of how to fully connect himself with that divine Krishna potency by faithfully, patiently serving the spiritual master's order in all times, places, and circumstances.

The seed of the bhakti has been planted by the spiritual master in your heart. But you cannot expect to have a fully grown tree of bhakti immediately. Just like if we plant an apple seed in the ground, can we realistically expect to have an apple tree full of apples appear before us immediately? No, it takes time. We must patiently nurture the small plant while it gradually grows into a large tree full of apples. So you must faithfully execute the process of Krishna consciousness with patience just like a gardener under the instructions of the bona fide spiritual master. Then in due course of time within the garden of your heart you are sure to achieve the exalted state of divine enlightened Krishna consciousness that you desire.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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