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Recently I have embarked on a journey to devote more time to reading Srila Prabhupada’s books. I’m glad that Srila Prabhupada gave us a vast literary collection to choose from. Really there’s something for everyone, no matter what level or where your interest lies.

I started off with “Teachings of Lord Caitanya” & about 15 pages into it I decided that was too high level for me.

Next I turned to the  “Bhagavad Gita As It Is” which again felt like it was a bit over my head at the time.

Finally I ended up with “Krishna Consciousness: The Matchless Gift”, which felt just right. (somehow I feel like Goldilocks writing this, though in hindsight Im sure Paramatma was directing me towards the book that would hit the right spot)

I’ve been having some difficultly staying on the Krishna conscious side of the spectrum lately. Majority of my time is spent at work or school surrounded mostly by folks who have not quite made it to the “athato brahma jijnasa” stage this time around. Thus, as the wisdom of the Gita tells us, you become like those you associate with, so yeah, difficulties come.

The other day I randomly picked up a Gita and read the purport to BG. 2.40. This part especially jumped out at me and inspired me to pick myself up & move forward with greater determination no matter what apparent reverses may present themselves.

“Any work begun on the material plane has to be completed, otherwise the whole attempt becomes a failure. But any work begun in Kṛṣṇa consciousness has a permanent effect, even though not finished. The performer of such work is therefore not at a loss even if his work in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is incomplete. One percent done in Kṛṣṇa consciousness bears permanent results, so that the next beginning is from the point of two percent, whereas in material activity without a hundred percent success there is no profit.”

This made me realize the importance of reading Srila Prabhupada’s books. We spend so much time engrossed in material studies/life that we need constant reminders of why we’re here & what our real mission is. It’s easy to get lost in the fog of material life.

Again last night I picked up “Matchless Gifts” for a bit of reading and found this super inspiring passage:

“God does not interfere with our tiny independence. If we want to act according to the order of God, then He will help us. Even if one falls down sometimes, if one becomes sincere, thinking, “From this time I shall remain Krsna conscious and execute His orders,” then Krsna will help him. In all respects, even if one falls down, he will be excused and given more intelligence. This intelligence will say, “Don’t do this. Now go on with your duty.” But if one wants to forget Krsna, if he wants to become happy without Krsna, the Lord will give so many chances to enable him to forget Him life after life.”

Really Krishna is excessively kind to us. Our only atonement for whatever maya we are in is to simply rededicate ourselves to serving Guru & Krishna again & again. When we’re attempting to become Krsna conscious, surely there will be times we choose maya over Krishna & our thoughts will not be of the most transendental/ purely devotional caliber, but still what can be done?

Whether we like it or not, we’re all going back to Godhead eventually. Some folks are running back home, others are stumbling painstakingly, some are standing still, while others are walking backwards. Nontheless, when it’s all said & done, we are all eventually going to end up in Goloka, maybe this life, maybe 8,400,000 lives from now.

Still whatever steps we take towards Krishna, are our eternal asset. Whatever set backs we encounter are opportunities to pick our selves back up & keep on going with renewed patience, enthusiasm & determination. As my Guru Maharaj wrote to me in a letter a while back:

“Losing some battles, does not mean that you will lose the war. When you lose a battle you should become even more determined not to be defeated by maya again.”

Devotional service is not static it’s ecstatic (as my Guru Maharaj says). We have to always be diligent in our practice to defeat maya in the innumerable attacks she unleashes on us each day. Trick is no matter where you’re at or what you’ve done, don’t be discouraged…just keep on keeping on. As Oat Willie would say “Onward thru the fog!”

God does not interfere with our tiny independence. If we want to act according to the order of God, then He will help us. Even if one falls down sometimes, if one becomes sincere, thinking, “From this time I shall remain Kåñëa conscious and execute His orders,” then Kåñëa will help him. In all respects, even if one falls down, he will be excused and given more intelligence. This intelligence will say, “Don’t do this. Now go on with your duty.” But if one wants to forget Kåñëa, if he wants to become happy without Kåñëa, the Lord will give so many chances to enable him to forget Him life after life.

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