A spiritualist faces constant challenges; the circumstances around and within are constantly distracting us from our goal. Therefore on the path of bhakti we need strong association of those who can uplift our hearts and help keep our intelligence focussed on chanting of Krishna’s Holy Names. This association can also help us render humble service to all. The world is incessantly battering us with the strong waves of distractions, temptations and dissensions that relentlessly toss us. The association of other practising bhakti yogis or devotees of Krishna is the anchor that can keep us stable on the path of devotional service.
This is critical even for renunciants who give up all social obligations and are exclusively dedicated to the service of Lord. One may wonder that the path of renunciation seems straight with every act being an expression of shelter and service to God. Why then do we emphasize that even renunciants need strong association? The evidence that even the path of renunciation is a struggle is the fact that very few survive on this path. Therefore for all practising bhakti yogis, whether renunciants, a householder or a student, association is the most effective anchor.
Radhanath Swami narrates this from a lesson he learnt during his visit to the forest of red wood trees in San Francisco. These trees are over 5000 years old and tall and huge; over 40 men need to hold hands together to circle one tree. Generally for ordinary trees like the palm trees, the roots grow as deep as the tree. However amazingly, although the red wood trees are the tallest in the world, their roots don’t grow deep. One would then suspect such trees with short roots to be susceptible to any minor storms. These trees have interestingly withstood huge cyclones and storms for five millennia. What’s the secret of their survival?
The roots of the red wood trees come out of the ground and wrap around each other, and they also tie themselves together with the roots of other trees. This way all the trees are united and as earthquakes and cyclones attack, which has often happened in the past, the trees remain strong and don’t get uprooted. In this forest, even the little trees get strength by remaining connected to big trees. The big and strong trees on the other hand get stronger because of being intertwined with other trees. Thus it’s an unbreakable family and community spirit of these trees that has kept them united for many centuries.
These trees are teaching us an important lesson; as practising spiritualists we need to keep up strong association and the spirit of cooperation. Keeping our roots strongly interconnected, we have to genuinely love and care for each other. Just as the redwood trees nourish each other, in a spiritually healthy and vibrant community, all members care for the new members as well. Devotees feel for each other and share their joys and divide the sorrows.
Five hundred years ago during the manifest pastimes of Lord Chaitanya, this was beautifully demonstrated in the incident of Mukunda Dutta being ignored by the Lord. Mukunda was a sincere devotee of the Lord, yet the Lord ignored him and refused to grant him an audience. The other devotees who were closely connected to Mukunda in the spirit of one spiritual family, were also unhappy and wished and prayed he gets the Lord’s mercy. The roots of all of their hearts were strongly and inseparably interconnected. Eventually by their pleas and Mukunda’s own sincerity and grateful nature, the Lord bestowed choicest blessings upon him.
This is the kind of family that the Lord comes to create; a family where devotion, cooperation and loving service reign supreme. We have to help each other grow. Radhanath Swami’s guru Srila Prabhupada often gave the example of how individual sticks are easily broken but if they are bundled up together, they can’t be bent or broken. Similarly we have to remain united in all circumstances; this will give us the strength to face challenges and adversaries.
Although the world teaches us to be great, Lord Chaitanya, the greatest of all renunciants taught us to be grateful and accept the association of other devotees as the rarest and most precious gift. Let us treasure, and relish this gift by serving each other in the sincere mood of being the servant of servant of God and each other.
