How can we avoid complacency in spiritual life?
From Keshav Nimai P
Transcript
This is an AI-generated transcript and may contain some errors.
how our individuality can be best used in Krishna sense. Therefore, I don’t have to be in much anxiety. How can one avoid this attitude? How can one be encouraged and enthused without becoming complacent? Answer, by remembering that maya is always working to make us go away from Krishna.
Actually, even if we are close to the finishing line, maya can always tempt us and take us away. So, there is a war that is going on till the moment we go back to the spiritual world. And that’s why Krishna tells Arjuna that we have to fight till the moment of death.
शक्नोति है वयह सोर्भूम् प्राक्षरीर्वि मोक्षणात् कामक्रोधोध्भवं वेगं सयुक्तः ससुखी नरहा So, in 5.23, Krishna says we have to tolerate for how long? He says, till the moment of death. प्राक्षरीर्वि मोक्षणात् And actually, Krishna gives a very precise wording over here. He doesn’t just say till the moment of death.
He says till the moment we are liberated from the body. That means, it is not that death itself will free us from desires. Actually, when the death comes, but when at that time, because of detachment, we become liberated from the body, then we will go back to Godhead.
So, we have to tolerate for as many lifetimes as it may take for us to become liberated. Of course, by Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s mercy, by the power of bhakti and the holy name, actually we can go back to Godhead if we practice diligently even in one life. But still, we have to know that the battle is far from won.
We have a lifelong battle to fight. And if we are complacent, inattention can spell destruction on the battlefield. If a soldier is inattentive, the enemy can take that moment to shoot and can cause disaster.
Of course, the soul is never destroyed, but the soul’s spiritual propensity can be covered over grievously when a person engages in sinful activities, which is what will happen if we lower our guard and let ourselves get tempted. So, by meditating that it’s a war and the war is not won, till actually we go back to Godhead and there is danger, we can avoid complacency. And of course, by remembering that Krishna is with us and that Krishna will help us, we can avoid the other extreme of becoming discouraged.
So, the balance stage is where we are confident in Krishna’s protection. At the same time, we are also alert to making sure that we hold on to Krishna’s protection by engaging in devotional service diligently and don’t let ourselves become vulnerable to the temptations of this world by letting go of the service of Krishna and the higher happiness that comes from the service of Krishna. Thank you.
Hare Krishna.