Trust is such an important thing in spiritual life. We grow up in a world where so many things are wrong. So many injustices, so much pain and suffering.
By the time we are even old enough to think, we have already seen and felt so much pain and hurt that "should not" have occurred.
Some childhoods are safer, and we experience less of it, some more.
Mine having been one of the "more" types, I really learned not to trust anyone or anything at all.
When you take shelter of Krishna, though, it all changes hands. Still there will be suffering in the world, that's the nature of things. Sill, you will suffer and injustices will be done.
So, you can live your life just enduring the suffering, or you can know and feel the shelter of Krishna.
Krishna is in charge of you, and your life. He is the protector of all of us. When you realize how much control and power He has, then you know that nothing happens for the wrong reason.
Not in the life of a devotee anyway.
Maybe on the material level you won't understand it. I can't even begin to understand most of the things that have happened to me since I have been a devotee.
That's where trust comes in. It doesn't matter if you understand or not. It doesn't matter if it seems right, wrong, or indifferent.
The truth is the Krishna takes special charge of His devotees, and everything that occurs is under His protection.
That doesn't mean people won't do things to hurt you, they will. What it does mean is Krishna is protecting and guiding your soul for the ultimate benefit of you. The real you. Not the body.
For me, trust is a really crucial thing. I trust that Krishna is always there, guiding and directing every single event in my life. That's the way I look at every single thing that happens.
~ If Krishna is for us, who can be against us? ~
Hare Krishna!
Hare Krishna!
Mataji, whatever you say is so true....We just cannot understand why things happen a particular way.May be we not very intelligent to understand it.
Sometimes we feel "I am a devotee then why didnt Krishna save me from in that situation? I am surrendered to Him, then did He allow that XYZ to hurt me?" And eaily forget that the outcome of the situation would have been worst than what it is if Krishna would have not protected us. So I think it is very important to keep ourself reminding everyday that everthing is just perfect in my life (even if things doesnt look good from material aspect) as I am under His shelter. I think this is what it means to trust Krisna and His plans.
Spirit Soul
Dear Snehal,
When it comes to understanding things.... well, it's really not about intelligence. It's more that Krishna is all knowing, all pervasive, all powerful, and we are just a tiny little spark of this supreme power.
So, how could we possibly understand what the Supreme Being is doing?
Still, what we do understand is that Krishna is trying to help us extricate ourselves from material existence. This much we understand from studying scripture.
So, He is trying to help us extricate ourselves from all these material attachments we have, to our bodies, to our egos, to our minds, and senses.... to being the enjoyers and the controllers here in this temporary realm.
When we look at the things that happen to us, the XYZ that occurs, as you said.... we tend to look at the hurt of our bodies, minds, senses, etc...
But on the level of our soul, we don't know what spiritual advancement we are making as a result of XYZ happening. We don't know if XYZ had not happened then perhaps we would be far more entangled in material enjoyment, and far less serious about spiritual life than we are.
I like to try to look at the XYZ's of my life as blessings. I'm not always able to, and often even if I am, it takes time to accept.
However, if you can look at any suffering and say "oh, wonderful, thank you so much Krishna for giving me this wonderful opportunity to become an even stronger devotee than I was before" then, that is trust and appreciation of Krishna's protection.
Something to aspire to anyone. It's not ever easy when the XYZ is something that is very serious on the material level.
We all want blessings from Krishna and protection from Krishna, yet so many times these blessings and protections come in the form of suffering so we can become closer to Krishna.
If something good happens to us, usually we say "oh, thank you Krishna, this is really wonderful!".
We should say the same thing when something "bad" happens to us, or something is testing us really hard... "oh, thank you so much Krishna, this is really wonderful"...
It's not an easy state of consciousness to be in, (depending on the degree of suffering of course) just something to aspire toward.
Hare Krishna :)
Navasi
From what
I am understanding, any suffering that we are actually experiencing is altogether an illusion. Our suffering is only due to the fact that we are associating ourselves with these bodies, but factually, we are not these bodies. Once we realize this, any pains or pleasures related to the body become insignifcant. It is true that a self-realized soul will still feel these things, such as pain related to his body, but he is not identifying himself with such things, so he is aloof or unattached. His mind is not tormented and therefore, he remains free of so called suffering. Instead, he realizes his eternal nature and is not in the least disturbed. Such a state of mind frees one from suffering.
Achieving this state requires absolute trust in Krishna, as you say, Navasi. We do not know how He is bringing about XYZ in manipulating our psychology in order to bring about an end to our "suffering" and elevate our consciousness. He puts us in trying circumstances so that we can become unattached from material life, etc. He is the ultimate doctor. The doctor does not hesitate to give the patient injections if the patient needs them, even though such injections are incredibly painful to the patient. This is a good doctor. Krishna is the Supreme doctor and so who knows better than Him what is to be done? Therefore, like you say, we must trust Krishna wholeheartedly. Or, rather, have faith in Him. Faith opens the doors of our hearts and allows us to love Krishna. So, really, this development of trust/faith in Krishna helps us to cultivate our love for Him. It is actually entirely for our benefit.
Has anyone ever played the game with one of your friends who stands behind you and asks you to fall backwards completely letting yourself go and putting yourself at their mercy and they say they will catch you? A lot of people have difficulty actually doing this, and with good reason. It is actually a demonstration of trust. But, with Krishna now, there is no reason to fear anything. He is our dearest friend and the treasure of our hearts. So, we should just have to trust and let ourselves fall, fall, fall...chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Hare, Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama, Rama, Hare, Hare.
Krsna's mercy
Very nicely written Navasi and Snehal. We usually do not understand the motivations behind Krsna's way of doing things by putting us into difficulties. I too often think 'Why is Krsna giving me this difficulty?' as if I dont deserve it or as if I am free from karma. Only later do I realize that Krsna has not really made me suffer to the extent that I deserved but has given a lesser form of punishment to bring me closer to Him.
The pure devotees do not blame Krsna for the reverses in their lives. They go on suffering the results of their work, all the while offering respects to Krsna with their minds and bodies. By doing this, liberation becomes their rightful claim. This is how the Bhagavatam describes the so-called sufferings of a devotee.
And Krsna knows what is best for us much more than we think we do.
Radhikesh das
Enlightening words
Hare Krishna!
This is very enlightening. Thank you very much. I really like and agree with whole heart to what you say.
Haribol!
Snehal.
fantastic
HARE KRISHNA
WELL its really true everytime we r hurt we think this must not happen to us but never thankful for HIS grace . reason being we r so attached to our body and all its pleasures . that we forget our very true existense our soul which is unaffected by every sort of heat and cold . really very inspiring mata g . so greatful for ur beautiful words .