When we say "being satisfied with whatever comes of its own accord", it should not be mistaken as inactiveness or laziness. Rather it means honest endeavouring and full dependence on Krishna for the results.
We understand that the worldly people are after watching TV for long hours, but it is quite perplexing to see that even devotees are under its control. There is a devotee couple that we know of who did not have TV at home in the beginning, but the mataji went through peer-pressure since all other families in their complex had TV.
Sometimes when we are in troublesome situation, we would not know what we need to do next. To find out a solution for problems, we might keep running around and seeking help from our friends. "A friend in need is a friend indeed! In our life we would have come across so many people with whom we would have established a friendly relationship"
Once there was man called Champaklal and he was very stupid in his behavior. Because of his stupidity he was called Stupid Champaklal. He happened to meet a saint and requested that he wants to worship the most powerful person. The saintly person gave a small Krishna deity and asked him to worship.
Here the devas acted as spiritual guide for the King who was serious about getting liberation from material existence and they directed him towards Lord Vishnu. When we worship the devas for material benefits, we're blessed with the fulfillment of those desires based on our qualification and such benefits may keep us in continued material existence.
When we face difficult situations at work, sometimes we get bewildered whether our devotional service would be hampered by carrying out the prescribed duties assigned to us. Bhagvatam provides us the proof of how devotees of Lord performed sincere devotional service, even amidst performing the prescribed house-hold duties.
Lord Ramacandra went to the forest in compliance with the order of His father, Maharaja Dasharatha, but mother Sita was not so ordered. Nonetheless, she voluntarily accepted the path of her husband. Similarly, Gandhari, the wife of King Dhrtarashtra, also followed her husband into the forest.
One interesting point to note in this example is that eventhough Khatvanga Maharaja served the demigods for so many years selflessly, the demigods in return could only offer the benediction of knowing how many more moments he has left before his life ends.
When we take these six vows seriously and try to follow it as much as we can, then we will definitely get lasting peace and bliss in this life itself. It is the lack of hearing, speaking and meditating of the transcendental topics of Krishna, that is making us weak spiritually and go mental.
We as followers of the Krishna Conscious movement are fortunate to have taken shelter in this institution established by Srila Prabhupada who has made us aware of our prime duty.
Once a groups of monkeys staying beneath a tree, decided to observe Ekadasi as it beneficial for them. The day before the Ekadasi the leader of the monkey informed all of them that they should observe Nirjala Ekadasi. All the monkeys agreed for the proposal.
In life we often come across many situations where our faith is put to test by Krishna . And in my case I find that somewhere down within my heart is a fear that holds me from following the simple instruction of Krishna which we all know.
One of the characteristics of Kali Yuga is that people are fasting losing the capacity to tolerate others mistakes and therefore at any given opportunity we are ready to criticize persons for mistakes they may have committed.
Many a times when devotees are engaged in preaching activities, they are cursed by people who are unaware of importance of devotional-service. They think that devotees are spoiling them interrupting their normal course of life.
At present it is rampant that everyone is seeking solutions to each and everything. Moreover not just solutions, but instant solutions. We can see it is a fast world - fast food, fast cars - everything fast. Why? Because there is no time. No time for what?
A few weeks back I was talking to Maharaj and sharing with him about the eloborate process involved in applying for German visa. We have to prepare lot of documentation and after all this, there is no guarantee that we will get the visa. And even if it is granted it is valid only for a maximum of 2 years.
The fact that "Krishna is the doer and ultimate controller" and we are only instruments of Krishna is always forgotten by all of us. We are under the misconception that we are preaching and we are making devotees.
All the scriptures repeatedly stress the importance of performing devotional service in the human form of life which has been very rarely achieved. As our spiritual master always says, this kali yuga is surcharged with faithlessness.
Ideally speaking, once we take to devotional service, we should not desire any material gain. But for those of us who are still being driven by the modes of material nature, is it possible to practice it all the time? Of course not. So what is the alternative? What are we to do if we still have some desire for material gain?
The episode of the Doorkeepers of Vaikunta - Jaya and Vijaya being cursed by the Sanatkumara sages reveals this glory of the Lord. When the Sanatkumaras went to Vaikunta, the two doorkeepers stopped them from entering.
We all have loads of sinful activities which we have commited in our past lives. But unfortunately or fortunately we do not remember any of them due to our forgetfulness. Somehow by Krishna's mercy or by some vaishnava's mercy we have landed up in this path of devotional service
Krsna is so merciful that if we want to use our senses in a certain way, He will give us the chance to do so. The senses are not ours; they are Krsna's, but Krsna gives us the opportunity to use them according to our desires.
Srila Prabhupada explains that the mind alone is responsible for creating bondage in the material world. Mind is a like a monkey - always jumping from one place to another round the clock. Mind dictates and justifies its demands so cleverly to the intelligence that the weak intelligence becomes completely bewildered by the influence of the mind.
Devotees in the line of disciplic succession of the vaishnava sampradayas always have the intense desire to give as much opportunity to the public at large to taste the nectar of Krishna consciousness.
One of the basic impetus for progress in our life is the relationships that we have with various jivas like mother, father, children, sister, brother, aunt, uncle etc. But in the current world scenario, where everything is moving very fast (towards hell), mutual relationship among us gets a heavy beating.
While going through the above pastime, we can see how Gajendra was the great sage Indradyumna in his previous birth. Due to sincere devotional service, not only was he able to remember the shloka he chanted in his previous birth, even when he had to take birth in the body of elephant.
Mind - inspite of being a part of our subtle body, has a powerful influence on our actions. If we are in joyful mood, we would be able to perform our activities nicely. On the other hand, when we are in dull and morose mood, we will falter even while performing simple actions.
In the episode of the fight between Indra and Vrtrasura, the first time, demons encouraged by the presence of Vrtrasura on their side, inflicted heavy defeat upon the devas and drove them away from the battlefield. Indra and the other demigods were in great anxiety because they had lost the possession of heavenly planets to the demons.
There are different miserable conditions faced by the living entities in various species of life. However only when a human body is attained, the living entity can ask, "How can I get rid of suffering?" because he is provided with special intelligence in human form.
Whererever Parikshit Maharaj went he was fortunate to hear about how Lord Krishna had mercifully helped his father and forefathers. When we take one step towards the Lord, He takes ten steps towards us. Just by listening to the loving reciprocation between the Lord and His devotees, Parikshit Maharaj was moved by the Lord's mercy.
Most of the initiated devotees (including myself) are doing their level best to follow the regulative principles and chant 16 rounds but with regards to reading of Prabhupada literatures or listen to his lectures there is always a big lacuna and therefore the faith in this process dwindles.