LESSONS FROM A TODDLER

Let's be realistic. In regards to spiritual matters, we are very much like toddlers. We try to walk, at times feeling so proud of ourselves, at times ready to give up. Toddlers fall, and try again, try again, try again... until one day, walking is natural. They don't give up.

The parent watches the child struggling, sometimes offering a hand, specially at the beginning. When Krishna gives us a hand, specially at the beginning, possibly by letting us feel His presence, it is very special mercy. Historically, both in the case of Druhva Maharaj and Narada Muni, he appeared once. Guru is there to encourage u. As we uncover our love for Radha and Krishna, it becomes our empowerment, always in the company of guru.

What if after falling the toddler was to give up? What if we gave up after a fall down? For some, a fall down may be committing nama aparadha, for others, more primal such as illicit sex or meat eating. Regardless... When a toddler falls trying to make his/her first step, do the parents condemn the child? No. Does the child give up? No.

Because the child starts again and again, and eventually walks, watching the process is even endearing to the parents.

Similarly, we should not be surprised if we are unable to walk straight and perfect on first attempt but rather we should get up and keep trying, always checking our association and avoidance of offenses, Krishna will help us. One step at a time, walking towards Radha Krishna's service and love. We need to forgive ourselves and move on being grateful for a chance to develop humility. Only after we happily embrace our insignificance can we chant the holy name constantly.

We are all weak and vulnerable to fall downs. Luckily we have sanga and mercy of vaisnava, guru and Krishna. 

There are three afflictions ready to attack us at any moment on the path of spiritual growth. They manifest in the places we live, the things we eat and the association we keep. 

I am remembering stories of sadhus who were afflicted, in spite of being fixed in their bhajan, after  taking part in a grand feast sponsored by a

prostitute who  wanted to purify her earnings. In the night following the sumptuous feast, each and every sadhu experienced nocturnal emissions. In another instance, a pious sadhu going from house to house sharing his wisdom and doing madhukari, accepted both a meal and the shelter of a Brahman's temple for the night. In the night he had an uncontrollable urge to steal the deity's costly ornaments and paraphernalia. He left the temple early in the morning before the brahman awoke and fled with the costly jewellery and 0ther paraphernalia. Once on his way, he reflected on his uncontrollable and inappropriate behaviour. Never before had he acted in such a way. Full of remorse,

he returned to the brahman's house to apologise and return the wealth. Trying to analyse what had happened along with the householder, they found out that the rice he had eaten had been stolen by the cook. This explained to both of them how the uncontrollable impetus to steal had come about and overcome him in the night. They forgave each other and embraced.

We can be so vulnerable to external influences, as we become more advanced, it appears from these stories that we can become even more sensitive to their effects. We need to be careful of different afflictions that come our way, those from eating, as in these example, the places we live, and of course the company, the association we keep. 

Rupa Goswami gives us the five main limbs of bhakti, panch anga bhakti, Nama kirtan, Bhagavat Sravan, Sadhu Sanga, Dham Vaas, Arcanam. Following these will always keep us safe. If one is unable to live in Dham, he should endeavor to make his house "dham-like" by keeping Krishna in the centre. We must be aware of these three, what we eat, where we stay and the company we keep. It is easier if we stand by each other, remind each other to stay focused, Sadhu Sanga.

Kirtaniya sada harih, 

gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanu-dasah