​Is it self-centered to call out to Krishna only when we have problems and not at other times?

Answer Podcast

Transcript

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when there are problems we literally cry out to Krishna we may even get tears while calling out to Krishna and but then afterwards we don’t feel those tears so is it that we are so self centered that we can call out to Krishna only when we have problems and not out of devotion for him see at our level the operating principle is somehow or the other fix the mind on Krishna so if it is adversity that makes us fix the mind on Krishna then that is also good because we are fixing the mind on Krishna so it is true that advanced devotee will be able to call out to Krishna with great feeling just because Krishna is so lovable whereas we call out to Krishna because we feel my situation is so lamentable I can’t deal with it myself, I am so helpless so definitely it is not pure devotion but still it is devotion and that devotion also is contributing to our progress towards pure devotion at least at that time we are calling out to Krishna that is good so in general it is problems can make us call out to Krishna but it is not that problems themselves are the cause of bhakti is it selfishness? No that when we call out to Krishna see at one level we are all selfish we just in fact Bhagavan says to understand that my real selfishness because the word selfishness has a negative connotation, Prabhupada translates in Hindi or Sanskrit actually means selfishness but Prabhupada translates that as self-interest my self-interest lies in Krishna so it is that now this is the circle of things in which I am invested, my emotions are invested and this is a circle of things which are important for Krishna because Krishna’s emotions are invested in this Krishna is concerned about how a nice temple is built for him Krishna is concerned about how many books are distributed, how many people come for a program or whatever so now there are certain things which are important for us and our emotions are invested there we can’t artificially say that my emotions should not be invested there they will be invested there but we try to find an overlap of these two circles so where our emotions are invested and where it is important for Krishna also so if I am doing if say I am a part of a team that organizes a program and very few people come for the program then yes I should feel bad Krishna’s message could have been spread to so many people but it was not shared there feeling emotion is fine but we cannot wish away this which is in our circle so what is happening is that the problem will come when two situations one is if the problem is solved we stop practicing bhakti entirely the intensity in our bhakti can vary according to time and circumstances but the consistency in our practice of bhakti that is up to us so I may not have that same emotion same intensity but I can keep practicing bhakti so like that sometimes it may happen also that we go to Vrindavan or some yatra and there we feel some intense emotions and next year we go to the same place and we don’t feel any emotions that could just be the ups and downs of the mind going through various modes so we don’t have to worry too much whenever we are able to call out to Krishna intensely we see that as positive and we accept that at other times we continue our practice of bhakti so if we either give up the practice of bhakti at that time because the problem is solved or we consider that my practice is useless because I am not feeling those emotions then it is a problem but if we are if we are steadily practicing bhakti irrespective of how much we are able to call out to Krishna or not then gradually we will become purified and when we are purified at that time we will be able to call out to Krishna wholeheartedly so there is one call which comes out of helplessness there is another call which comes out of love so even when we are helpless and we call out to Krishna sincerely, desperately, that is good but the mistake will be by that I think I have become pure now it doesn’t happen like that purified Krishna will take time but the fact that we called out helpless Krishna at that time that is good and that will contribute to our journey towards purification ok Thank you so much