“When the going gets tough, the tough simply surrender.” – Samuel Davidson
Krishna has assured us in the Bhagavad Gita that His Maya is difficult
to overcome but if we surrender to Him, we can easily cross over the
insurmountable ocean of material existence (7.14).
And how do we surrender to Krishna?
Bhakti Vinod Thakur, a nineteenth century Vaishnava saint and a
pioneer in spreading the message of Lord, has given us a simple
method: ‘accept that which is favourable for developing love of
Krishna and reject that which is unfavourable.’ As we lead our daily
lives, in every provoking situation, we could simply ask this
question: will this help me come closer to Krishna or take me away
from Him? The answer to this question helps us surrender to Krishna.
Of course, the mind won’t agree to this proposal. Every spiritual
practitioner is well aware of the mind’s belligerence and
insubordination; still the solution is simple- performing the right
actions. As we change our activities, or even begin to make small
steps in the right direction, the mind may initially disobey but soon
it goes on with our new habits, as if nothing as changed. Our
intervention is the key, and if we aren’t as strong as we’d wish to
be, let’s make a small beginning.
When Gajendra cried and used all his efforts to offer a beautiful
lotus to the Lord, Krishna ended his suffering of thousand plus years,
in just a few moments. As we surrender to Krishna, He could, if He so
desires, bring auspiciousness to our lives. And he could change our
lives in just one day.
After being saved, if Gajendra had decided that he’d go back to party
with his folks, Krishna would have sent another crocodile in his life.
However, Gajendra chose exclusive shelter of Krishna. We too need to
have no other desire other than to offer ourselves completely to the
Lord. But if we hope for succour in materialistic life, Krishna would
surely send the alligators of suffering. And He’d send them especially
when we least expect it.
Nevertheless Krishna consciousness is a hopeful practise because as
the Lord has assured us in the Bhagavad Gita, He is the best friend of
all living entities; to the extent we connect to this reality, we’d
find relief from pangs of material miseries (5.29).
In our darkest times, when we are all alone, He is always there in our
heart, waiting for us to offer a sincere appeal.
A drop of tear shed in love and longing for Krishna, never goes in
vain. He’ll take us out of all our suffering, if only we turn to Him.
It’s all based on our desire, and let’s be rest assured, He is always
there for us.
An ancient Indian saying sums it up beautifully, ‘Before we can see
properly we must first shed our tears to clear the way.’
