Always Have a Humble Learning Mood

Due to our false egos, when we are corrected we tend to have an argumentative, self-defensive mood rather than a humble, learning mood. This inhibits our spiritual advancement and keeps us stuck on the material platform. Therefore we should consciously cultivate a humble learning mood of always being willing to be corrected for our mistakes. In this way we will make rapid, steady advancement on the path of spiritual awakening. Sankarshan Das Adhikari P.S. This weekend we are holding a Krishna consciousness retreat at serene Hare Krishna Valley, a country ashram with a cow protection program connected with our ISKCON temple in Melbourne, Australia. Unfortunately due to a low band-width internet connection we are not able to live broadcast our lectures from here on the internet. Serene Hare Krishna Valley Cow With Baby Calf in Hare Krishna Valley Ideal Household Life Seminar in Hare Krishna Valley Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: What Should I Learn From Sudama's Pastimes? My dear Gurudeva, You have written that we should not pray to Lord for any material desires because such desires will simply keep on increasing. So then what message should I take from Sudama's pastimes? This great devotee went to the Lord for asking wealth. So should we pray or not pray for any material desires? Trying to be your servant, V. Shah Answer: Never Pray for Fulfillment of Material Desires Sudama Brahmana did not go to Krishna to request any wealth from Him. On the request of his wife He simply went to see his old friend Krishna with whom he had served when they were brahmacaris together in the ashram of Sandipani Muni. He approached Krishna purely in a mood of loving service without even a pinch of material desire, and he got the result of being lovingly received by Lord Krishna. On his way home he was relishing within his heart how wonderfully Krishna had received him. He was grateful that Krishna had not given him any wealth thinking that if he been given wealth that he would become proud and forget the Lord. But when he reached home he was amazed that he could not find his simple cottage. Instead there were big palaces made of valuable stones and jewels, glittering like the sun, moon, and rays of fire. Not only were there big palaces, but at intervals there were beautifully decorated parks, in which many beautiful men and women were strolling. In those parks there were nice lakes full of lotus flowers and beautiful lilies, and there were flocks of multicolored birds. Seeing the wonderful conversion of his native place, the brahmana began to think to himself, "How am I seeing all these changes? Does this place belong to me or to someone else? If it is the same place where I used to live, then how has it so wonderfully changed?" While the learned brahmana was considering this, a group of beautiful men and women with features resembling those of the demigods, accompanied by musical chanters, approached to welcome him. All were singing auspicious songs. The wife of the brahmana was very glad on hearing the tidings of her husband's arrival, and with great haste she came out of the palace. The brahmana's wife appeared so beautiful that it seemed as if the goddess of fortune herself had come to receive him. As soon as she saw her husband present before her, tears of joy fell from her eyes, and her voice became so choked up that she could not even address her husband. She simply closed her eyes in ecstasy. But with great love and affection she bowed down before her husband, and within herself she thought of embracing him. She was fully decorated with a gold necklace and ornaments, and while standing among the maidservants she appeared like a demigod's wife just alighting from an airplane. The brahmana was surprised to see his wife so beautiful, and in great affection and without saying a word he entered the palace with her. When the brahmana entered his personal apartment in the palace, he saw that it was not an apartment but the residence of the King of heaven. The palace was surrounded by many columns of jewels. The couches and the bedsteads were made of ivory and bedecked with gold and jewels, and the bedding was as white as the foam of milk and as soft as a lotus. There were many whisks hanging from golden rods, and many golden thrones with sitting cushions as soft as lotus flowers. In various places there were velvet and silken canopies with laces of pearls hanging all around. The structure of the building stood on excellent transparent marble, with engravings made of emerald stones. All the women in the palace carried lamps made of valuable jewels. The flames and the jewels combined to produce a wonderfully brilliant light. When the brahmana saw his position suddenly changed to one of opulence, and when he could not determine the cause for such a sudden change, he began to consider very gravely how it had happened. From this amazing pastime we see that Sudama approached Krishna free from any material desires, and by Krishna’s grace he received opulence like the King of heaven. Therefore we should never pray for the fulfillment of material desires. Rather we should only pray to be eternally engaged in the Lord’s service accepting that whatever Krishna gives us or takes away from us is His unlimited mercy to engage ourselves even more deeply in His eternal service. Sankarshan Das Adhikari