07.16: Breaks that are much more than brakes
The racehorse-pace of our contemporary lives makes many people feel the need for applying brakes, lest they break down. Such break-seekers often explore popular forms of spirituality such as yoga, meditation or devotional music from a purely utilitarian perspective. They dive into spirituality to get a refreshing break, just as they would dive into a swimming pool.
The Bhagavad-gita (7.16) anticipates their mentality. It states that the hope of relief from distress is one of the primary impetuses for people to explore the spiritual dimension of life. Today people probe the spiritual dimension to seek relief from stress, which is probably the most widespread form of distress dogging everyone – even successful people.
Such stress-relief seekers often see experience as the heart of spirituality and view philosophy as a needless baggage that weighs them down during the dive. However, if they study the philosophy of the Gita open-mindedly, they will find that it is not an unnecessary load, but a necessary compass. It will illuminate them regarding what the dive is about, why it offers relief and how they can dive deeper and relish greater relief.
If they dive deep enough, then they will discover a whole new world hidden underwater, concealed from the vision of those whose eyes are glued to worldly gains, strains and pains. That world is where all of us actually belong as spirit souls who are meant for a life of everlasting love with Krishna. When they get a taste of that life, then they realize that real spirituality is much more than a brake for slowing down material life. It is a permanent break from all worldly miseries and the end of their break from the Lord of the heart.
Hare Krsna Prabhuji, I have no words in my vocabulary to express my appreciations for your incredible articles and this website. As I am physically away from my devotee friends [I am employed in West Indies], I host Skype conferences and moderate group discussion on BhagavadGita As It Is every Saturdays and sundays between 10am to 12 noon. There would be 6-7 devotees on an average and sometimes upto 10 in the discussion. [These many attendance rate is not by my effort, but by the mercy of devotees staying in USA]. But we also read from your notes of Gita verses. Your notes give us deeper insight, helps us to discuss more effectively and more than anything else, keeps us on check from the discussions deviating away from Parampara. Your notes are very precious for all of us. Devotees later on share these links in group networks.. Facebook, etc….
Thanks for keeping us on in KC life…….! Your service is simply incredible. Our spiritual lives thrive on these articles…… May Lord Krishna keep giving you unlimited number of realizations…… I love your lectures posted on iskcon desire tree too. Every time I pick up Back to God Head magazine, I first read articles authored by you. It helps me personally to grow as a preacher and to answer common philosophical doubts.
To conclude your articles go a long way in attracting intellectual mental speculators to the path of Bhakti, helps in upholding Bhakti as the topmost system of yoga. Your activities are at par to your name H G Chaitanya Charan das. You are serving the Lotus feet of Lord Gauranga in the best possible way by broadcasting His philosophy.
All Glories to HG Chaitanya Charan Prabhu. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada. All Glories to SriGuru and Gauranga.