Crossing the Ocean of Material World

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,
Please accept my humble pranams. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

Last week, in one of the Bhagavatam classes in Shree Shree RadhaNeelMadhav dham in Rajkot, HG Taral Vilochan Prabhu from Australia asked our spiritual master HH Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj as to how to perform bhakti under unfavourable conditions.

To his question Gurudev replied as follows  - "A child holding the father's hand can cross even the busiest road easily, because the child has full faith in the father. Similarly we should hold on to the hands of Supreme Father Lord Sri Krishna with full faith - under all circumstances. Then we can do face any situation. We are thinking that we are in good condition because we have the job. But that is not the case. Our good condition is not dependent on these things. But on our level of surrender and dependence on Krishna." Maharaj was explaining as to how formerly the life was very simple and sublime. There was no dependence on gas/electricity. Only coal and kerosene were required for cooking and that too they used to get two carts full of coal for 2 Rs. But now our life is dependent on so many things. Still we should endeavor only for the minimum requirements and lead a simple life. Instead of placing our faith on the temporary things like job, modern-amenities, etc we should place it on Sri Krishna.

In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 10.14.58 Sri Sukadeva Goswami says

samāśritā ye pada-pallava-plavaṁ
mahat-padaṁ puṇya-yaśo murāreḥ
bhavāmbudhir vatsa-padaṁ paraṁ padaṁ
padaṁ padaṁ yad vipadāṁ na teṣām

For those who have accepted the boat of the lotus feet of the Lord, who is the shelter of the cosmic manifestation and is famous as Murari, the enemy of the Mura demon, the ocean of the material world is like the water contained in a calf’s hoof-print. Their goal is param padam, Vaikuntha, the place where there are no material miseries, not the place where there is danger at every step.

By holding on to the lotus feet of Sri Krishna we will be able to easily and safely cross over the dangerous ocean of birth and death very easily just like the child crossing the busy road by holding the hands of his/her father.

Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.