SB 1.5.18 Why not try the one thing we have never achieved

Transcript

This is an AI-generated transcript and may contain some errors.
So this is Srimad Bhagavatam 1518 and in section in Narad Muni’s instructions to Vyasadeva about the practice of devotional service, where he is telling that a wise person should go with the, should endeavor only for that purposeful end, which cannot be achieved anywhere in the material world. And whatever is achieved in the material world by going up and down throughout the various planetary systems is ultimately given by destiny and it’s nothing special.
So this contemplation on what we are trying to achieve by chanting the holy names is very helpful to keep us focused on the holy name. So our mind distracts us with hundreds and millions of things while chanting and to the extent we remember that whatever it is that the mind is hankering for, it is something millions of people have experienced millions of times in the millions of creations that have been there and that there is nothing special or new in the material existence enables us to become indifferent, at least intellectually, to the pleasures that distract us from Krishna and his holy name. So while chanting, the mind makes us feel that because we chant every day, chanting is ordinary and there are so many exciting events which seem new and special and extraordinary.
But actually the chanting of the holy names and the higher happiness that it will bring is the most extraordinary thing in material existence. And to the extent we remember that, we will feel inspired to chant. So actually what we are aspiring for through chanting is something which very very few people have aspired for and very few people have achieved.
Bhagavad Gita describes that many many thousands of people, many many people have actually become purified and returned back to Krishna. But still, as compared to the number of people that we see in Kali Yuga who are Godless, those who are striving for God Consciousness and especially for God Consciousness with pure devotion, pure loving intention are extremely few. So when we meditate on this point that by chanting we are trying to achieve something so extraordinary that nobody has achieved it till now.
Or rather, not nobody, but very very few people have achieved it. And certainly we have not achieved it ever before. Whatever sensual pleasures that are and whatever worldly activities that are alluring us, in essence they are just variants of eating, sleeping, mating and defending.
And we have done those many many times earlier. But tasting pure love of Krishna is something which we have never done till now. And giving ourselves the spiritual chance to experience this is the least we can do for ourselves.
Because ultimately we want the best for ourselves and Krishna is giving us the best that we can ever have. And even if our stubborn mind doesn’t accept the fact that Krishna Consciousness, Krishna Prema is the best, we can at least convince our stubborn mind into subordination by meditating on how Krishna Prema is the one thing which we have never experienced during our stained material existence. If we had tasted it, we would have returned back to the spiritual world.
And we have tried so many things in this in our previous lives. So why not give the cultivation of Krishna Consciousness one whole hearted try. That is the one goal.
If we focus ourselves on while chanting, we will not only experience, we, please Krishna, experience the taste of Krishna Consciousness, but also march happily towards that higher pleasure which will take us beyond the pulls of the lower pleasure ultimately.