Stand For One Thing - Otherwise You Will Fall For Everything

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

In Caitanya Caritamrta Adi Lila, Chapter 16.11, it is said,

bahu-śāstre bahu-vākye citte bhrama haya
sādhya-sādhana śreṣṭha nā haya niścaya

If one becomes a bookworm, reading many books and scriptures and hearing many commentaries and the instructions of many men, this will produce doubt within his heart. One cannot in this way ascertain the real goal of life.

With the advancement of technology, we find that now there are so many sources of information, books and commentaries available on spiritual subjects. If we go on reading them we are sure to be confused and deluded by them, as not all of them are authentic. Srimad Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavatam are essence of all knowledge and if we read the commentaries on them by acaryas who are in the line of disciplic succession of Sri Krishna Caitanya, then we are in safe hands. 

It is very clearly mentioned in the verse 7 of Gita Mahātmya :

ekaṁ śāstraṁ devakī-putra-gītam
eko devo devakī-putra eva
eko mantras tasya nāmāni yāni
karmāpy ekaṁ tasya devasya sevā

Let there be one scripture only, one common scripture for the whole world - Bhagavad-gita. Let there be one God for the whole world - Sri Krsna and one hymn, one mantra the chanting of His name: Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. Let there be one work only - the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

We must also bear in mind that we cannot follow the instructions provided by every person whom we meet. Instead, we need to take shelter of spiritual master - an acharya who is in disciplic succession and follow his instructions sincerely. 

In this context, I came across an interesting story today. Once there were a couple who went to a mela and bought a donkey and were returning home along with it. Seeing them walking, a small boy commented - "How foolish these people are - They are having a donkey- But still they are walking instead of riding on it! ". On hearing this the husband asked the wife to sit on the donkey and they continued their travel. After some time they came across an old woman who said - "How can a wife sit leisurely and travel when the husband has to walk all the way ?" So the wife asked the husband to sit on the donkey.  Later they came across a old man who said - " How inconsiderate is this guy ? He is not allowing his wife to sit on the donkey ..!" Hearing this, the husband asked his wife also to sit on the donkey. Seeing them both sit on the donkey, another passer-by commented -" How can these people be so cruel to this poor animal!" .

Not knowing what to do, the couple carried the donkey. While they were crossing bridge, the donkey was scared and it jerked, and all three of them fell into the water.

The moral is, "Stand for one thing - otherwise you will fall for everything."  When Lord Krishna has provided us with nectar of  Bhagavad Gita and His nectarean instructions in the form of Srimad Bhagavatam and a living example of a pure devotee - in the form of Srila Prabhupada and Himself in the form of His holy name, we need to stand holding on to them - otherwise, just like how the couple drowned in the river, we are sure to drown in the ocean of nescience. 

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