Gadi das: If You Play The Game With The Demons…. Oct 2013
Don’t expect to win! Warning for serious devotees….The current flavor of the world is the pursuance of money. If you invest your life’s precious energies in cooperation with the world, don’t expect an anxiety free life. This planet is not in the Vaikuntha sky… it is in the kuntha sky… the sky of anxiety. But ….there is a very positive alternative…
Life can be anxiety free when we invest our precious lifes energy in cooperation with Krsna, fulfilling the desires of Srila Prabhupada… of living simply and thinking high, rejecting the currents of society in regards to material acquisition and material success, reputation etc.
Simple in this case does not mean less intelligent as this word is interpreted by the world. Simple in Prabhupada;s sense means of highest discrimination to design your life as Krsna taught… by example. On the land, with the cows, and with He and His eternal consort and friends. Srila Prabhupada envisioned for us this simple village plan of life free from anxiety and free from envy. No one was envious of Nanda maharajas 900,000 cows, because he was kind and charitable, everyone loved him. (and he had this incredible Son!)
Anxiety is created when one aspires for success in the world as we see it today. And envy is the result of one person becoming more “successful” in his or her ambitions in this world, or even by climbing the spiritual ladder… to better position and security, with recognition and adoration following side by side. Remember, all material designations are illusory and temporary, and basically useless in pursuit of true Krsna consciousess, and the anxiety free happiness being described.
If one truly wants an anxiety free life… free from envy…one should apply oneself inteligently to achieve that goal. Imagine raising future generations in that spirit and atmosphere. Generations of true Vrajavasis.
Enough said on this…we have heard this simple proposal many times before….The next courageous step… is to step out of the “game” of modern life and truly embrace the “preferred simplicity” lifestyle, embellished with natural opulences beyond the imagination. A life with the cows, land, and Krsna, with concentrated Hari Nam Sankirtana at the center.
When we live this successfully, our preaching potential is magnified, not diminished as some might think or say. Because we can truly show the world a lifestyle alternative to this unwinnable game riddled with stress.
At Murari we are living a life free from anxiety… at least the anxieties of the modern world. OK, our anxiety, if you would prefer to call them, is centered on securing firewood for winter, keeping the deer out of the gardens, processing 10 gal milk into ghee, butter and yogurt and paneer daily, harvesting more vegetables than we can use, learning how to process and use the abundance of natural herbs surrounding us, how to harvest maple syrup…etc. Life on the land is a constant flow of enriching activities designed by Krsna to give us all we would or could ever need…and great health as well. We have no food anxiety, as we have appox. 200 acres of woodland., no heating anxiety. If this is done intelligently it gives us the time and peace to concentrate on our chanting, and developing honest, and fulfilling relationships with each other, free from envy. The beginnings of an actual Vrindavan village for the next 10,000 years.
What is ever so important is the village marriage, the village marriage will be life-long….full commitment….to one another, to Krsna, and the village. If this sweet Krsna centered formula is followed, there will be no divorce. All of these things are possible if ones priorities are in place. .. a deep and profound commitment to the Holy Names, and the embracing of “preferred simplicity”. Strong faith and good association will carry the day, the month, the years, and the lifetime. In such a state of wonder, the attachment to the Holy Names “simply” increases…life passes by happily, seamlessly, and envy free.
How will this affect the world? It will create the percect social example so badly wanted and hoped for by His Divine Grace. The effect of such a successful way of lie will have profound impact on the “world”…it will give them a chance to change their lives, embrace Hari Nam, mike their lives simple and manageable as they begin their journey back to Godhead.
For want of real spiritual progress, our society, of devotees, will continue to reap the effects of bad habits, watered down practices and unproductive sadhana…all ultimately rooted in stagnant material desires and their unhappy results. Material desires are endless… one must come to embrace “preferred simplicity”. Then one will have the opportunities afforded to chant the Holy Names intensely with attention and love. The material desires will abate…one can live peacefully with his or her mate, .and both attain that desired state….love for Krsna.
This is the only required religious principle for Kali…Yuga… Hari Nam, Hari Nam, Hari Nam…. All desires will be fulfilled by this “simple” process which is “preferred” by all simple and soft hearted saints.
We must adopt a wholistic approach to perfecting our devotion to Krsna in this life. Wholistic meaning that ever area of human life is compatible with deepening our love and attachment to Sri Krsna….through the Hari Nam practice….”preferably”.
My humble obeisances to all the devotees of the Lord Sri Krsna…and to all those trying to embrace the guidance of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. May we all find true prosperity in following our extraordinary line of disciplic succession.
Your insignificant servant, always on call….Gadi das murarisevaka.com