Guardiões da
Devoção
Devoção
Your Most Fortunate Position
by Srila Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara Maharaja
Krsna is our Master. We are not master of this world. We are parts of the whole, and we have our respective duties towards the whole. Our responsibility is towards another plane of life, which is the most subtle. We are in a diseased condition here, but when we become healthy we will have a higher plane of living. This is the Vaisnava conception. There is a higher plane beyond the jurisdiction of misconception. There is a particular place for me within this universe.
What is that? I am suffering, serving the negative side, and in all conceptions of my life I find suffering, janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi (birth, death, old age, and disease; Bhagavad-gita 13.9).
But there is a conception where life is worth living, where there is something to live for. That position has been neglected everywhere, in so many different conceptions of religious view. Our idea is paramo nirmatsaranam satam - the highest truth, which is understandable by those devotees who are fully pure in heart (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.2), but their realization is all of the matsara, envious, class. The egoistic school of men cannot give up their idea that, "I am master, I am Brahman." I am a part of that master element, but I am a subordinate part. I am part of the subsidiary element.
Still they cannot think it our. They are matsara, full of jealousy. That is the root cause of their philosophy. But if they can give up their intrinsic concept of jealousy, and become a little generous, they may come to know of an infinitely higher plane of existence. One must think, "I was created of smaller stuff, only with the help of that higher thing can I improve my condition. If I become nirmatsara, one hundred percent pure in heart, and Krsna dasa, a servant of Krsna, I can enter into that higher plane, and my prospect is great." They cannot accommodate that. Paramo nirmatsaranam satam, it is there in the Bhagavatam, but they think, "If I can become the Dictator, then my fortune will be most high."
A submissive attitude is wanted. If I can become submissive to the dictatorial aspect of that higher plane, then I will be elevated, and I shall get the highest prospect, because that is the Absolute Good. So, where there is Absolute knowledge, Absolute Good, Absolute everything, then why should I not submit to Him? I am in such a vulnerable position, as I have experienced, so it is suicidal not to accept that position of surrender. I am of a lower creation. I find it in every step of my life. I am of limited creation, but at the same time, higher creation may be there. Can I deny that? What right have I to deny that? Here also I have so much experience of so many things high and low. A hierarchy is there, from the stone to the scientist who is controlling the stone, so what is the trouble in believing that there is a hierarchy also in the original side, the higher side? What's the wrong there?
But on their side, there is too much equation, the worst kind of equation. (They equate the finite with the infinite.) That is the hindrance to our real progressive life. Mahaprabhu announced, jivera svarupa hay, krsnera nitya dasa, in naked terms: "You are a slave to that Highest Entity. This is your innate, natural, intrinsic position. Your self has such a relation with the Absolute." The Absolute, with whom you are connected, is so high. The All-Attractive nature of the centre is conscious love, and you are a slave to that great force of love and beauty. You are so fortunate, you may thank your stars you are so fortunate, You can be handled in any way by that Absolute beauty, charm, knowledge, everything. You are not connected by force, you are not barred from your birth from entering that domain. You have got your position there. If you want a position there, it should be of what nature? The most subordinate. As much as you have to go higher, you will have to accept the position of a subordinate.
It is clear from your own present experience. You should be satisfied with that. Otherwise, like the garbage, you'll be cast aside where the rubbish is thrown out, here in this world.
You are so limited, and you have such a high prospect. He is infinitely higher than you, but you have got a position there. Will you not be prepared to accept that honorable position there? The Lord Himself says that if you become a slave to Him, He also becomes a slave to you. What more do you need? What more do you expect?
aham bhakta-pardhino, hy asvatantra iva dvija
sadhubhir grasta-hrdayo, bhaktair bhakta-jana priyahThe Supreme Personality of Godheard said to Durvasa Muni: "I am completely under the control of My devotees. Indeed, I am not at all independent. Because My devotees are completely devoid of all material desires, I sit only within the cores of their hears. What to speak of My devotees, even those who are devotees of My devotees are very dear to Me."
Krsna says that independently, I have the position of controlling everything, but this saranagati controls Me. That is the way of affection. Not by power, not by necessity, not by intrinsic experience, but only through love can you enter into that realm. You should be satisfied with that, and what more do you want? The Lord is coming to be whipped by you, and you are not satisfied!