WE CANNOT CHANGE OURSELVES

Similarly, we cannot live without jnana (knowing anything). We will have to make all our jnana ‘tattva-jnana;’ or ‘bhakti-jnana;’ or better yet, ‘bhakti-tattva-jnana;’ or best, ‘prema-tattva-jnana’ – then it will not cover our bhakti. Otherwise, without understanding these principles, we will not be able to achieve bhakti at any time. Since we cannot live without jnana and karma, how shall we engage in these things? We will have to think about these things and always associate with any qualified Vaisnava. He can change us; we cannot change ourselves.

Everyone is going towards Krsna. How are they going? Some have faith in objects of material nature, like a mountain, river, or any ghost. What are these objects? They are the vibhuti (material opulence) of Krsna, so somehow they are connected with Him. In this world nothing is separate from Krsna, but we have no realization of this. We are taking the right hand and going behind our head to touch the left side of the nose. What does this mean? It means that we are not serving Krsna directly.

Duryodhana told Krsna, “I know what is dharma, religion, but I have no taste for it. I know what is adharma, irreligion, but I cannot give it up. I know that I am a machine, and You are the director of that machine. Without You, a machine cannot work. You reside in everyone’s heart as Antaryami, the Supersoul. It is You who give all of us inspiration to do anything, and then we engage in good or bad acts. So actually we are not doing anything; You are doing everything. Thus, if there is any sinful reaction, You should taste it, not me.”

Vrndavana: November, 1994