Posts by Dr Keshav Anand Das

Those without religious inclinations often criticize the religious.

While the religious may criticize the devotees.

Those who follow rules-based devotion (vaidhi bhakti) criticize those who follow devotion guided by taste and rasa (prema bhakti).

But only those who embrace pure devotion guided by love (prema bhakti) are free from the tendency to criticize.

To avoid such criticism, one must cultivate Love of God, which is not just a goal but an essential need for the soul. Love opens our eyes to the illuminating wisdom of scriptures and the true path.

Put your utmost dedication into nurturing Love of God, or risk falling into the pit of envy and criticism.

“I would rather die than do something which I know to be a sin, or to be against God’s will”.

Joan of Arc

God created us to serve Him and love Him. However, it is important to understand the concept of sin, which is going against God’s system or laws.

Sin separates us from God, depriving us of His mercy and leading to suffering in the cycle of birth, death, disease, and old age.

There are two types of sins: grievous sins (sudhurachar) and less grievous sins (durachar).

Grievous sins include offenses committed against God and His devotees, such as blasphemy and willful enjoyment of the material world despite knowing its temporary nature. These sins cut us off from God’s mercy and hinder our goal of connecting with and pleasing Him.

Examples of grievous sins specific to Krishna consciousness are the ten offenses against the Holy Name and the violation of the four regulatory principles related to eating meat, engaging in illicit sex, intoxication, and gambling. Committing these sins as a devotee can have severe consequences and lead to a loss of spiritual progress.

Less grievous sins, or durachar, encompass behaviors like overworking, overeating, indulging excessively in enjoyment, gossiping, blindly following rules without understanding them, associating with non-devotees or new devotees, and desiring material things. While these behaviors may not sever our connection with God, they can impede our devotion and spiritual progress.

It is important to note that God understands our limitations and shows mercy in certain situations. If a devotee unintentionally commits grievous sins or lacks knowledge about right and wrong, God continues to extend His grace. However, intentionally engaging in less grievous sins hampers our devotion more than unintentional grievous sins.

The key takeaway is that God’s mercy is based on our will and knowledge of what is right and wrong. By understanding the nature of sin and making efforts to eliminate it from our lives, we can connect with God and attain His grace. It is a continuous process of practicing righteousness, seeking forgiveness, and striving for a closer relationship with the Divine.

Unless we extend our best efforts earnestly,and qualify ourselves for the Lord’s mercy,it is next to impossible that we can be rescued from our fallen condition.

Srila Bhaktisidhanta Saraswati Thakur -Upadesha Upakhyana

Doing any kind of work takes effort. If we don’t put effort into our work, it will slowly get worse and eventually be ruined. It’s like if we have a business but don’t work hard, we could lose money and the business might disappear. The same goes for knowledge -if we don’t put effort into learning and understanding, we can forget what we know.

And just like that, when it comes to serving God, we need to make an effort too. We can’t be lazy or give up easily.

We have to keep trying putting efforts to understand philosophy, ask questions when we’re unsure, and do our best to do what God wants, even when it’s hard.

We should also be careful to protect our faith by being careful about the people we spend time with, avoiding those who might influence us in a bad way.

And most importantly, we need to stay excited and enthusiastic about serving God.

A true devotee always focuses on making an effort in serving God. They know that putting in effort is important in everything we do, especially in our relationship with God. Devotees therefore fix their vision on the efforts in the service of God

When it comes to the path of devotion, two essential aspects seamlessly intertwine: the unwavering dedication of one’s efforts during acts of service, and the profound embrace of divine mercy in prayer.

Imagine them as the two wheels of a cart, for without one, the other loses its purpose, rendering the cart motionless. Thus, the harmonious convergence of both is indispensable.

Yet, the focus on mercy and effort undergoes a subtle transformation for the ardent devotee.

During active service rendered unto the Lord, the primary focus lies on the sheer exertion and diligence invested, with mercy assuming a secondary role, residing in the recesses of the devotee’s consciousness.

On the other hand, in the fervent moments of prayer, mercy takes center stage, occupying the forefront of the devotee’s thoughts, while effort retreats to a more subdued presence, lingering in the background.

In essence, during acts of service, the devotee wholeheartedly fixes on the precision of their efforts, for such service is dedicated to the perfection. In this pursuit, the devotee’s attention remains steadfastly devoted to the exertion required for flawless execution.

Conversely, when immersed in prayer, the devotee’s focus intensifies on the expanse of divine mercy, embracing it wholeheartedly. Surrendering themselves completely, the devotee bestows sole credit to the Supreme Lord for all their actions and accomplishments.

Thus, the dance between mercy and effort unfolds, harmonizing seamlessly as the devotee traverses the path of devotion, constantly shifting their focal points.

Everyone wants to be happy, and the good news is that happiness is within reach for anyone, regardless of their age, appearance, job, or income. Happiness is something everyone deserves, and you don’t have to strive to create it.

The real question is: How do we attain happiness?

Well, there’s a super simple four-step happiness formula mentioned in the Charaka Samhita:

Sukham shete satyavakta sukham shete mitavyayi।

Hitabhuk mitabhuk chaiva tathaiva vijitondriyah॥

1. Be honest and speak the truth: Always tell the truth and never lie. When you lie, you end up getting tangled in a web of more lies, which only leads to frustration.The best way to speak truth is to always speak about God because He is the Supreme Truth.

2. Spend wisely: Only spend money on what you truly need. Avoid unnecessary expenses and be mindful of your financial choices.

3. Don’t overindulge in food: Enjoy healthy meals, but don’t go overboard with your eating. It’s all about maintaining a balanced and moderate approach.

4. Keep your senses in check: If you can control your senses and not let them run wild, your mind will find peace and tranquility.

So, in a nutshell, the secret to happiness lies in telling the truth, spending wisely, eating in moderation, and having control over your senses.

It’s a simple yet powerful formula that can pave the way to a happier life.

The main thing holding us back from reconnecting with God isn’t some external force like Maya (illusion), but actually ourselves!

It’s hard to believe, but we are our own worst enemy in this regard. We have nobody to blame but ourselves for our current state.

That’s why Kanak Das, a follower of the Madhva Vaishnava tradition, sings, “I may go, If I will go.

“In simpler terms, if I can let go of my own ego and selfish desires, then maybe I can enter the spiritual world.

When we stop being so self-centered and start focusing on God, we can start our journey back to God.

Of all the nourishing foods,

Detachment nourishes the best.

(Ayurveda sutrasthan 25.40)

Forget popping pills or eating salads, the real deal for getting healthy is something totally different and way more awesome.

It’s called detachment!

Yes, you heard it right. Detaching yourself from material desires is like a super food for your mind and body. It’s the key to finding inner peace and kicking stress and anxieties to the curb.

And you know what that means?

Say goodbye to all those nasty lifestyle diseases like heart attacks, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Plus, your immune system gets a major boost, protecting you from those pesky infections. No stress, no diseases

But here’s the kicker: Detachment isn’t just about the body—it nourishes your soul too.

When you let go of worldly attachments, your soul becomes a warrior, resisting all those tempting distractions and staying focused on one thing: getting that sweet, sweet Love of God. A detached mind is a strong mind, and a strong mind builds a sturdy body!

Those who sacrifice Materialistic Pleasures for the Pleasure of God, for them God is very near.

(Vedanta Desika, a prominent philosopher & theologian in South India during the 13th and 14th centuries)

God desires for us to let go of the pleasures of this world, not out of jealousy, but with our best interests at heart.

Picture this: it’s like parents dealing with a kid who’s all eager to grab a snake’s tail without knowing how dangerous it can be. Just like that, we often have no clue about the risks lurking behind the flashy pleasures of life. What are those risks?

First off, those worldly pleasures are sneaky little devils that distract us from our real purpose in life.

What’s more? They may seem exciting at first, but they eventually leave us feeling empty and frustrated. Those flashy pleasures may seem like a ticket to eternal happiness, but guess what? They’re nothing but mirages in the desert of life. Sooner or later, they leave us parched frustrated, and craving something more substantial.

Oh, and let’s not forget the hustle and bustle we gotta go through just to get a taste of those pleasures. We gotta slog and hustle, clawing our way to grasp them. It’s a continuous struggle, my friends. One wonders, Is this pleasure at all?

You know what’s even worse? Becoming dependent on stuff for our happiness. It’s like being chained to the material world instead of experiencing true unbounded spiritual bliss. It’s time to break free, my friends, and experience a higher levels of bliss not dependent on anything material whatsoever.

And the grand finale? Falling into the trap of addiction. Those worldly pleasures can turn us into slaves, stuck in an endless cycle of chasing after our own desires. It’s like being trapped in a twisted maze, chasing after the next hit of pleasure, losing our true selves in the process.

So here’s the deal: God is all about love and wants the best for us in the long run. So, He’s asking us to let go of the flashy distractions and focus on what really matters—our spiritual growth and well-being. Trust me, it’s the ultimate game-changer that’ll leave you truly charmed and benefited

When lovers come together, their eyes communicate the unsaid sentiment “I am Yours.”

The same holds true for God and His followers. They are the best  of all lovers.

These three straightforward words, “I am Yours,” have numerous layers, though.

I am Yours, according to Madhvacarya, may imply that I am dependent upon You. In all of our endeavors, the Lord is our upholder and sustainer.  He is the inspired within the heart and gives the approval as well.

Yamunacharya reads it as meaning You are my master and controller. Lord personally makes plans for His devoted followers, leads them, and, if necessary, punishes them.

But Chaitanya Mahaprabhu does not stop there; he goes even further, saying, “O my dear Lord! You may use me for your own gain. You can use me for your needs and then discard me if you like. Even if I don’t feel happy, your happiness is my happiness.

But if the next two considerations are not made, no interpretation of I am Yours has any meaning at all.

These three short words of I am Yours are built on the first principle of obedience to God’s rules. Any emotion, no matter how deep, is only sentimentalism without any real meaning if it is not in accordance with God’s will.

Second, the servant needs to know how to look after the master. The lover anticipates consideration and care in the material world. However, there is no such expectation in the spiritual world. It is essentially a service, and the only thing that might be expected in return is more service.

I am Yours is a truly original idea, and if correctly grasped and applied, it will quickly result in the perfection of life, which is Love of God.

Cry out for insight and understanding. Search for them as you would for the lost money or hidden treasure.

Proverb 2.3-4 Bible

Do you know what’s the price you must pay to meet God?

It is greed! An intense greed to meet Him.

God longs to reveal Himself unto us, but the question is, are we ready to receive Him?

They say : First deserve and then desire. Do two simple things.

First, follow the rules sincerely.

Second, do not speak lofty words and sing songs but show your greed by making your heart pure.

He always is, was, and will be by your side. However, we must be with Him!

The Vedic scriptures are vast and complex, with each verse having multiple layers of meaning. This makes the Vedas glorious and deep, while making them difficult to understand. 

 Many saints have attempted in the past to develop a comprehensive philosophy that can explain all the layers of scripture without falling into contradictions.

 Nimbarkacharya proposed Bheda-Abheda philosophy, Ramanujacharya Vishishta-advaita, Madhavcharya Dvaita, and Vallabhacarya Suddha-Advaita. However, none of their philosophies were adequate or satisfactory.

It was Lord Chaitanya who, five hundred years ago, developed his philosophical system that synthesized the basic ideas of all the other philosophies to create a holistic philosophy capable of harmonizing any Vedic contradiction. 

 From Nimbarkacharya, Lord Chaitanya took Gopi Bhava (the high esteem for the gopis’ love of Krishna) and Ananya Radhika Asraya (the necessity of taking shelter of Radha). 

 From Ramanujacharya, He took Vaishnava Seva (the service of devotees) and Suddha Sharanagati (the concept of Bhakti unpolluted by Karma and Gyan). 

 From Madhavacharya, Mayavad Khandanam (refutation of Mayavad Philosophy) and Archa Vigrah Seva (Deity Worship). 

And from Vallabhacharya, Pushti Marga (the path of raga Bhakti) and Ananya Ashraya (the sentiment of exclusive dependence on Krishna)

 But at the same time, Lord Chaitanya also pointed out the defects in their philosophies. In his essays on Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Bhaktivinoda Thakur points out that Nimbarka’s system is asampurna (not complete), Ramanuja’s system is apraphullit (not blossomed), Madhava’s system is aprasphutit (in seedling stage), and Vallabha’s system is aspashta (not clear).

 Lord Chaitanya removed the flaws and deficiencies in their systems, incorporated their basic aspects, and developed his own philosophical system of Achintya Bheda-Abheda Tattva (simultaneous difference and non-difference).

Indeed, Lord Chaitanya is not only the embodiment of the love of God, but also the supreme philosopher

For the purpose of being elevated, he bows down.For the sake of his life, he parts with it altogether.For the sake of happiness, he subjects himself to misery.

Alankar Sastra

 Let us become the servants of our Lord !                                                               

Or, let us become strange. Both are the same!

For we find people of this world strange, and people find devotees to be strange.

When such a phenomenon begins to happen,then be sure you are advancing in devotion and becoming dear to your strange Lord!

Lord Nṛsiṁha is the fourth of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu. He is known as the protector of the devotees. Therefore, devotees always glorify Him with various glorification and prayers.

The Source of Nṛsiṁha Prayers

In scriptures, there are many prayers about Nṛsiṁha Bhagavan. While traveling through South India, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu went to a lot of Nṛsiṁha temples among which Ahobilam, Jiyad Nṛsiṁha, and Siṁhācalam were just a few of them.

He recited many prayers about Nṛsiṁha Bhagavan.From those, Srila Prabhupada picked only three verses.

Scriptural Reference

The Nṛsiṁha prayers comes from two separate sources.

The first two verses are from Nṛsiṁha Purāṇa, which are also stated in Chaitanya Charitamrita, Antya-lila 16.52-53.

namas te nara-siṁhāya, prahlādāhlāda-dāyine

hiraṇyakaśipor vakṣaḥ, śilā-ṭaṅka-nakhālaye ||

ito nṛsiṁhaḥ parato nṛsiṁho, yato yato yāmi tato nṛsiṁhaḥ

bahir nṛsiṁho hṛdaye nṛsiṁho, nṛsiṁhamādiṁ śaraṇaṁ prapadye||

Mahāprabhu used to every day recite the above first two verses while offering namaskār to Nṛsiṁha Bhagavān when He entered the Jagannath temple.

The third verse is from Daśāvatāra stotra of Jayedeva Gosvāmī.

tava kara-kamala-vare nakham adbhuta-śṛṅgaṁ

dalita-hiraṇyakaśipu-tanu-bhṛṅgam,

keśava dhṛta-narahari-rūpa, jaya jagadīśa hare (repeated 3 times)||

Meaning of the above Three Verses

The first verse talks about the mood and mission of Lord Nṛsiṁha Bhagavān.

The second verse reveals His greatness (aishvarya bhava).

The third verse is about seeing sweetness (madhurya bhāva) in Nṛsiṁha Bhagavān’s form.

Why and When did ŚrīlaPrabhupāda introduce Nṛsiṁha prayers in ISKCON ?

After an incident in San Francisco in 1970, Śrīla Prabhupāda introduced Nṛsiṁha prayers in ISKCON. ŚrīlaPrabhupāda gave this mantra to his disciples for protection of the mission before the San Francisco RathaYātra. He also instructed individual disciples to chant these prayers for their protection.

For the first time in the Ratha Yātra of San Francisco, Nṛsiṁha prayers in the form of kīrtana was sung. Later Śrīla Prabhupāda introduced Nṛsiṁha arati, worship, along with the singing Nṛsiṁha prayers in all the temples for the protection of the movement.

Why we recite Nṛsiṁha prayers?

(1) to protect of the preaching mission

(2) to protect our devotion

(3) to get into Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa’s mādhurya līla

(4) to understand the purports of scriptures and live that way.

Functions of Nṛsiṁha Bhagavān

In the third verse sung by Jayadeva Gosvāmī, jaya jagadīśa hare is repeated three times to indicate three secret functions of Lord Nṛsiṁha. 

1. Nṛsiṁha Bhagavān is the controller of this world who makes everyone happy by purifying the sins of this world.

2. He takes away the troubles of His devotees.

3. He steal the minds of His sincere and advanced devotees and places them at the lotus feet of Rādhā-Mādhava.

Having heard about Lord Nrsimha, always honor and praise Lord Nṛsiṁha, the powerful and kind half-man, half-lion figure who protects and helps his devotees.

“Those who read the scriptures but do not understand their purport are certainly the destroyer of religious principles”.

Brihad Smriti

Don’t be a donkey simply carrying the load of scriptures.Understand the purport. Imbibe the essence. And practice the message.

Devotion means enthusiasm. Donkey is lazy and foolish. But a genuine devotee is agile and wise.

Those who are like donkeys are called Bharavahi. Bhara means burden, while vahi means carrying. While genuine devotees are Sargrahi. Sar means essence and grahi means to absorb.

There are three types of Bharavahi:

1)   Kapti (Hypocrites): People who externally present themselves as saints but within their aim is to enjoy and fulfill their selfish desires . These are further categorized into three types.

i.Puran khand: They read scriptures but have their own agendas. Khand means to divide.Such people divide the scriptures into arbitrary divisions and miss the entire point that the goal of scriptures is self realization. These are the religious materialists.

ii.Ardh Khand: Ardh means half. They divide the scriptures into half by accepting only the gyan kand part and not the karma kand part of the Vedas. Thus they only accept the impersonal aspect of God. Finally they want to become one with God. These are the Mayavadis.

iii.Arth Khand:They divide meaning of the text from the text itself. For them the meaning of the text is not important. Repetition of the mantras are more important than the meaning of the mantras.These are the Karma Kandis who believe in ritualistic actions.

2) Sampradaya Dveshi (The liberalists):

They hate to be part of any sampradaya. They do want to associate with any institution. For them the concept of spiritual institution and guru is disgusting. Even if they hear from saints and read scriptures but do so with an independent mind. Their philosophy is hear everyone but do what intellect says.

3) Sampradaya Asakt (The Fanatic)

These people are fanatically attached to their own sampradaya and demean other sampradaya.

In essence, if you wish to understand God, guard yourself from becoming a Bharavahi. Do not carry the burden of scriptures! Understand and serve God

We don’t value austerity in the world where we live. Most of us don’t know what it is or why it’s important, which is unfortunate. The main goal of modern society is to let people enjoy and use all kinds of sensory pleasures without limits.

Well, what’s wrong with enjoyment? You might think.

First it’s a waste of time and energy which can be used in some constructive work. And second, you miss higher bliss and enjoyment in connection with divine.

The path of Yoga is on the other extreme. They recommend bizarre and impractical austerities like standing in icy cold water in the winter and sit around a fire in the summer, eat less, and live lonely life.

This kind of thing… Forget it! 

Real austerity, according to Bhagavad Gita, is giving up of bad habits and refusing to give in to temptations of the mind, body, and senses.

You might wonder, why it’s important to do austerity?

I will answer it clearly and bluntly: we are not animals, we are humans!

We have the power to stop manifesting up in our actions of what we see, speak, and think. This is something exclusive to us as humans which animals do not possess.

We have been bestowed with these gifts by God and it is our responsibility to use them wisely.

We need to live a life of austerity to make sure that our lives have meaning and purpose and that we can spend our energy and time in what we value.

Also, the main purpose of austerities is to connect with God and experience eternal peace and happiness.

Let me explain what austerity means!

The first step in giving up bad habits is to do something good instead of something bad. By good habits we can give up bad habits.

Good habits must be cultured at physical, verbal, and mental level.

But to develop good habits there can be some discomfort to begin with and you might have to apply some energy. And that’s why getting free of bad habits by developing good habits is an austerity.

Now, what are the necessary austerity measures we should take on these three levels.

Austerity at Physical level

• Following instructions of God, wise men trained in scriptures,and Guru.
• Keep clean your body and environment you live in.
• Avoid life of luxury because it will make you lazy.
• Practice celibacy.
• Avoid physical abuse and violence, and forgive even an aggressor.

Austerity  of speech

• Be polite.
• Be truthful.
• Speak truth in a pleasing and beneficial manner.
• Study scriptures.

Austerity of mind

• Be satisfied and content
• Think of God
• Develop self-control 

If you practice austerity of body, speech, and mind, you will be peaceful,  completely satisfied and come close to God. And above all become a better human being. Is it not what everyone wants deep within his or her heart? 

Do you have a problem that is very hard to bear?
Do not wrestle with it; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Eldred Herbert

Consider it, an opportunity that God has given you. But why would He even give us any struggles in the first place? Well, it turns out that difficulties can actually help us grow spiritually, according to God’s plans.

I will list the five main reasons for this below.

1. For developing God like qualities .

God often puts obstacles in the way of those who are attempting to pursue a righteous path, for the purpose of developing divine qualities within them.

For example, to demonstrate tolerance, one must actually go through the experience of tolerating someone who is difficult to deal with. God often puts you in situations where you have to deal with difficult people or tough situations so that you can learn to be tolerant.

If you choose to take this without getting angry and keep being tolerant, your own tolerance will grow over time.

2. For generating Enthusiasm .

Instead of seeing problems as something that discourages you, perceive them as opportunities to get enthusiastic. When you look at challenges in the right way, they can bring out the best in you.

On the other hand, if you  see the problems as real problems,you will end up feeling hopeless and frustrated.

3. For Protecting from Lust .

God gives you problems to distract your mind from lust. Problems make you feel tense, which keeps our minds from thinking about lustful thoughts. Unlike material anxiety, which is related to our own welfare, this anxiety coming from hardships is spiritual in nature as it revolves around God.

4. For Teaching us lessons.

God will put hard things in your way so that you can grow both mentally and spiritually. Every problem helps you move in the right direction and has a reason for being there, even if it’s hard to understand why God lets it happen . He will grant you the intelligence to face the challenge and understand its value eventually.

5. Punishment.

God often uses your devotional struggles to teach you a powerful lesson when you make a mistake. His ‘punishment’ is really beautiful in the sense that it helps us learn and grow as spiritual individuals. Ultimately, it helps reinforce the idea of personal responsibility for our actions.

When God chastises us, it’s to open our eyes to our mistakes. Those who strive to amend their wrongdoings are quickly granted God’s mercy and relieved of their worries.

So the conclusion is: Take problems in right stride.

Accept that happiness doesn’t mean you won’t have any problems; rather , embrace them and learn from the experience. To be truly happy, welcome the problems and use them to help you grow as a person – they will in turn help you become better than before.

If any time in your life you’re facing problems physical ,mental or spiritual problems be sure that God is planning for you so that you come back to Him as soon as possible. Saint Teresa of Avila

“Suicide doesn’t solve your problems. It only makes them infinitely, un-countably worse.”

Sinead O’Connor

Suicide is a major public health concern and the leading cause of death. Unfortunately, a large number of teens, students and young adults are taking their own life due to relationship issues, feeling overwhelmed with their studies, or having dreams that don’t come true.

Do you know this?

Taking one’s own life is the worst sin according to many religious scriptures. It is said that those who opt for suicide are subject to suffer ten thousand years in hell, followed by an even longer period as a ghost.

Have a look at these figures:

There are a lot of people who have taken their own lives. Sadly, the living are unable to interact with them; they can only sense their presence and observe them. This can be a very frustrating experience because even if they can see you, they can’t talk to you.

You have no right to take your own Life!

Taking your life is a sin in many religious scriptures because it goes against God’s will. Life is a precious, priceless gift that is given by God to us to understand and reach our ultimate goal of attaining Him.

We should never think about killing ourselves, no matter how hard things are or how sad we are. We have the right to try to find a solution, but we don’t have the right to take away this precious gift of life. Taking your own life is never logical or justified .

“The bravest thing I ever did was continuing my life when I wanted to die.” – Juliette Lewis

Cowards kill themselves, but brave and heroic men don’t give up when things get hard. Instead, they work hard to find solutions. According to scriptures, God created solutions before He created problems – this proves that every problem has an solution.

However,The best solution is not to try and fix the problem as it will eventually pass; instead, stopping someone from taking their own life is what’s important.

How about Spiritual Suicide?

According to scriptures people who are disconnected from God are already in a state of spiritual suicide because they are killing their our own souls  .

Let me tell you who all are committing spiritual suicide

• Those who are disconnected from God , 
• Those who believe that they are God,
• Those who say everything is formless,
• Those who say there is no God
• Those who say there is no  soul
• Those  who say and make everything zero 

I bet you did not know  this!

Around 99% of people who are not interested in God are already dead ,their soul is deactivated and have already committed suicide before they were born .

Instead of killing ourselves mentally or physically, we should try to live a joyful, God-centered life. Let’s promise to live the best lives we can while following the right path of  righteousness.

Connect to Him before you are Dead.

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, a Swiss-American psychiatrist, a pioneer in near-death studies and author of the internationally best-selling book, On Death and Dying, states: 

“It is not the end of the physical body that should worry us. Rather, our concern must be to live while we’re alive – to release our inner selves from the spiritual death that comes with living behind a facade designed to conform to external definitions of who and what we are.“

Oh my Lord! Where are You? Where am I? Yet, I yearn to be Your humble servant. I know, becoming Your slave seems impossible! But within me resides a tiny drop of hope, a drop that submerges in an overwhelming ocean of separation. And in that state, my soul trembles with fear!

Jiva Goswami

Purport: You may wonder, why does the soul shiver in fear? The soul quivers due to the apprehension of God’s unwillingness to accept it. How can the all-merciful God not accept a servant who experiences profound separation from Him?

A pure devotee, however, contemplates, “Why would God ever accept me? Mere feelings of separation do not render me worthy of His acceptance.” Advanced devotees always perceive themselves as sinful and wretched.

This fear is a spiritual fear, born out of a profound sense of separation from God. Mundane fear breeds self-absorption, while spiritual fear invokes deep remembrance of God’s form, qualities, and pastimes.

Now, let’s understand how a drop of hope sinks in an ocean of separation.

When the hope of attaining God remains unfulfilled, it intensifies the feelings of separation. These emotions surge, creating an insurmountable ocean of separation that engulfs even that tiny drop of hope, leaving the devotee seemingly hopeless.

One might fear that hopelessness would lead to depression and a loss of enthusiasm to serve God. However, paradoxically, this hopelessness actually inspires profound sentiments of God’s causeless mercy.

Through daily darshan, partaking in prasadam, receiving realizations, and associating with fellow devotees, these feelings keep the devotee’s enthusiasm alive.