Patience, Tolerance, Self-control & Faith- Lessons from the python

The Avadhuta Brahmana was asked by Maharaj Yadu to explain the reason for his great internal happiness and ecstasy. He responds by saying that he has taken shelter of the 24 gurus. One of those Gurus is the python and the Avadhuta Brahmana shares different lessons that a saintly person must learn from the python.

We discussed one of those(SB 11.8.1)  in the post

Material Happiness comes of its own accord- do not waste time seeking it.

Further the Avadhuta Brahmana speaks the following verses:

SB 11.8.2: Following the example of the python, one should give up material endeavors and accept for one's maintenance food that comes of its own accord, whether such food be delicious or tasteless, ample or meager.

SB 11.8.3: If at any time food does not come, then a saintly person should fast for many days without making endeavor. He should understand that by God's arrangement he must fast. Thus, following the example of the python, he should remain peaceful and patient.

Pythons are ambush predators/hunters. Ambush predators or sit-and-wait predators are carnivorous animals that capture prey by stealth or cunning, not by speed or necessarily by strength. These organisms usually hide motionless and wait for prey to come within striking distance.Also once they eat they can stay without food for a very long time.Also the pythons will not kill unnecessarily if they are not in need of food unless they fear harm to themselves.

In these verses the Avadhuta Brahamana is indicating that just like the python we must also not indulge in atyahara - we must not overindulge for unnecessary things.

Another important point has been raised in 11.8.3 above that if at any time food doesn't come one must fast without making an endeavor and we must take it as Gods arrangement and remain peaceful and patient.

As explained in the purport:

" If by God's arrangement one is forced to suffer material hardship, then one should think, "Due to my past sinful activity I am now being punished. In this way, God is mercifully making me humble." The word śayīta means one should remain peaceful and patient without mental agitation. Diṣṭa-bhuk means one must accept the Personality of Godhead as the supreme controller and not foolishly give up one's faith due to material inconvenience. Tat te 'nukampāḿ su-samīkṣamāṇo bhuñjāna evātma-kṛtaḿ vipākam (Bhāg. 10.14.8). A devotee of the Lord always accepts material hardship as the mercy of Lord Kṛṣṇa; thus he becomes eligible for supreme liberation."

Thus we learn three things from the Python:

1. Do not indulge in atyahara
2. Remain peaceful and patient without mental agitation in the face of material distress
3. Accept the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the Supreme controller and not foolishly give up one's faith due to material inconvenience
4. Tolerate every situation because it is God's arrangement for us to become humble.

 

 

 

Material Happiness comes of its own accord- do not waste time seeking it

I was reading today from SB 11th canto and found this very nice verse spoken by the Avadhuta Brahmin to Maharaj Yadu.It says an intelligent person does not waste time trying to go after material happiness because it comes on its own just like distress. He instead reserves a major protion of life in serving Lord Sri Krsna and His devotees.
By pleasing the Supreme Lord one can attain permanent happiness.

Quoting the verse below and other related verses from SB explaining the same concept:

Maharaj Yadu once observed a certain brahmana avadhuta who appeared to be quite young and learned, wandering about fearlessly. Being himself most learned in spiritual science, the King took the opportunity and inquired from him about why he was wanering about like that and what was the cause of his ecstacy.The avadhuta brahmin spoke at length with Maharaj Yadu and shared the secrets for being how he was an how he has taken inspiration from the 24 Gurus. while thus speaking the avadhuta also spoke the following verse:

SB 11.8.1: The saintly brāhmaṇa said: O King, the embodied living entity automatically experiences unhappiness in heaven or hell. Similarly, happiness will also be experienced, even without one's seeking it. Therefore a person of intelligent discrimination does not make any endeavor to obtain such material happiness.

Narada Muni explains the same thing to Srila Vyasadeva while inspiring him to write Srimad Bhagavatam

SB 1.5.18: Persons who are actually intelligent and philosophically inclined should endeavor only for that purposeful end which is not obtainable even by wandering from the topmost planet [Brahmaloka] down to the lowest planet [Pātāla]. As far as happiness derived from sense enjoyment is concerned, it can be obtained automatically in course of time, just as in course of time we obtain miseries even though we do not desire them.

Also Prahlada Maharaj says the same to his school mates in the Seventh Canto:
SB 7.6.3: Prahlāda Mahārāja continued: My dear friends born of demoniac families, the happiness perceived with reference to the sense objects by contact with the body can be obtained in any form of life, according to one's past fruitive activities. Such happiness is automatically obtained without endeavor, just as we obtain distress.

The purport to SB 11.8.1 quoted above explains the concept very nicely:
PURPORT
One should not uselessly waste his life pursuing material sense gratification, because a specific quantity of material happiness will automatically come to one as a result of one's past and present fruitive activities. This lesson is learned from the ajagara, or python, who lies down and accepts for his maintenance whatever comes of its own accord. Remarkably, in both material heaven and hell happiness and unhappiness come automatically, due to our previous activities, although the proportions of happiness and unhappiness certainly vary. Either in heaven or in hell one may eat, drink, sleep and have sex life, but these activities, being based on the material body, are temporary and inconsequential. An intelligent person should see that even the best material situation is actually a punishment for previous unlawful activities executed outside the scope of loving devotional service to God. A conditioned soul undergoes great trouble to obtain a little happiness. After struggling in material life, which is full of hardship and hypocrisy, one may receive a little sense gratification, but this illusory pleasure in no way offsets the burden of suffering one must bear to obtain it. After all, a pretty hat is no cure for a homely face. If one really wants to solve life's problems, one should live simply and reserve the major portion of one's life for loving service to Kṛṣṇa. Even those who do not serve God receive a certain standard of maintenance from Him; therefore we can just imagine the security the Lord affords to those who dedicate their lives to His devotional service.
Unrefined fruitive workers foolishly worry only about the present life, whereas more pious karmīs imprudently make elaborate arrangements for future material sense gratification, unaware that all such enjoyment is temporary. The real solution, however, is to understand that by pleasing the Personality of Godhead, who is the master of all senses and all desires, one can attain permanent happiness. Such knowledge easily solves the problems of life.

Power of Krsna's Remnants

Uddhava says to Lord Krishna in SB 11.6.46

Simply by decorating ourselves with the garlands, fragrant oils, clothes and ornaments that You have already enjoyed, and by eating the remnants of Your meals, we, Your servants, will indeed conquer Your illusory energy.

Radharani's garland

Receiving the Water offered to the Lord

Krsna Prasad

Meditation on The Lord's Lotus feet burn desires for material sense gratification

 

SB 11.6.10

Great sages, desiring the highest benefit in life, always cherish Your lotus feet within their hearts, which are melted by love for You. Similarly, Your self-controlled devotees, desiring to cross beyond the material kingdom of heaven to achieve opulence equal to Yours, worship Your lotus feet in the morning, at noon and in the evening. Thus, they meditate upon Your Lordship in Your quadruple expansion. Your lotus feet are just like a blazing fire that burns to ashes all the inauspicious desires for material sense gratification.

Hearing Krishna Katha delivers one from darkness

In the chapter SB 11.6 - The Yadu dynasty Retires to Prabhasa the Demigods glorify the Lord and His potencies and offer themselves humbly as His servants glorifying His Lotus Feet.

Then Lord Brahma speaks he following two verses about the greatness of hearing the Pastimes of Lord Sri Krishna.

HH Radhanath Swami with his Disciples on Oct 15, 2011 after his return from the US

SB 11.6.22

My Lord, You have reestablished the principles of religion among pious men who are always firmly bound to the truth. You have also distributed Your glories all over the world, and thus the whole world can be purified by hearing about You.

SB 11.6.23

Descending into the dynasty of King Yadu, You have manifested Your unique transcendental form, and for the benefit of the entire universe You have executed magnanimous transcendental activities.

SB 11.6.24:

My dear Lord, those pious and saintly persons who in the age of Kali hear about Your transcendental activities and also glorify them will easily cross over the darkness of the age.

Effects of engaging in devotional service of the Lord

SB 11.3.40: When one seriously engages in the devotional service of the Personality of Godhead, fixing the Lord's lotus feet within one's heart as the only goal of life, one can destroy the innumerable impure desires lodged within the heart as a result of one's previous fruitive work within the three modes of material nature. When the heart is thus purified one can directly perceive both the Supreme Lord and one's self as transcendental entities. Thus one becomes perfect in spiritual understanding through direct experience, just as one can directly experience the sunshine through normal, healthy vision.

Personal growth through association of devotees.

SB 11.3.30: One should learn how to associate with the devotees of the Lord by gathering with them to chant the glories of the Lord. This process is most purifying. As devotees thus develop their loving friendship, they feel mutual happiness and satisfaction. And by thus encouraging one another they are able to give up material sense gratification, which is the cause of all suffering.

PURPORT

According to Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, those who are advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness should not envy one another or quarrel among themselves. Giving up all such mundane feelings, they should gather together and chant the glories of the Supreme Lord for mutual purification. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura has pointed out that glorification of the Supreme Lord is especially potent when performed in the association of pure devotees. When devotees engage in sańkīrtana, chanting the glories of the Lord together, they experience the highest transcendental bliss and satisfaction. Thus they encourage one another to give up material sense gratification, which is based on illicit sexual connections with women. One devotee will say to another, "Oh, you have given up sense gratification. Starting today, I shall also give it up."
One should learn to increase one's love for the devotees, to satisfy them and to give up sense objects unfavorable to serving Kṛṣṇa. And one should learn to view the entire universe as paraphernalia for the Lord's service. By engaging the objects of the senses in Kṛṣṇa's service, one automatically becomes detached from them. And as one passes one's days in the association of the Lord's devotees, one's transcendental ecstasy increases more and more, through discussions about the topics of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Bhagavad-gītā. Therefore, one who wants to be free from the harassment of māyā in the form of sense gratification must constantly associate with pure devotees of the Lord who have no engagement other than chanting and hearing the glories of the Lord and carrying out His mission on earth.
Śrīla Madhvācārya has pointed out that just as one should cultivate friendship with devotees, one must cultivate a spirit of friendship toward the demigods, who manage the universe on the Lord's behalf. Thus one should live peacefully within this world.

Raising oneself from the Material Conception to the Spiritual Conception

We discussed verses 6.9.28- 6.9.35.The Demigods were in fear of Vrtrasura who had just appeared as a ghastly demon. Thus they had offered prayers to the Supreme Lord for protection.
As we discussed earlier the demigods were Sakama Bhaktas and themselves affected by the 3 modes of material nature.
Also the quality of their prayers and glorification was up to their level of realization through the verses until 6.9.27.

However once the Supreme Lord appeared the prayers of the demigods changed from asking for protection and glorifying the Lord's qualities as the Creator , Controller, etc to glorifying the Lord's personal qualities and glorifying the Lord's devotees along with the process of devotional service.In spite of being in such a great danger the demigods did not ask for protection from the Lord after He appeared before them.

Take Home lessons:

The Deity Form

The Demigods were raised from a material conception (where they were in fear and anxiety) to a spiritual conception (where the glorified the Lord and His devotees and understood their own minuteness) just by the Darshan of the Lord.

When one is in a material conception of life one is always anxious and overcome by fear. That blocks their ability to offer themselves completely in the service of the Lord and His devotees. The darshan of the Lord raises one from the Material Conception of life to the Spiritual Conception in which one is able to properly offer service to the Lord.

Nityam Bhagavat Sevaya

The Lord's darshan may not be available to us in the same way as it was available to the Demigods. However in Kali Yuga the Lord has mercifully extended His darshan in the form of :

Krsna Katha

1. Srimad Bhagavatam
2. His Deity Form
3. The Holy Name



The Holy Name

4. Krsna Katha: by discussing the Lord's Pastimes one gets the same benefit as being in the pastime.

We must vigorously take darshan of the Lord through the above mentioned mediums through rigid practice to gradually raise ourselves to the Spiritual conception where our service will be pure, unmotivated and uninterrupted.

Overcoming Fear: Solution from Srimad Bhagavatam

In the SB 11.2 , the Nine Yogendras explain the process of devotional service to Maharaj Nimi in response to his inquiries on the process of devotional service that is pleasing to the Lord.

While thus covering different aspects of Devotional Service they 9 Yogendras also covered the reasons for Fear and how one can overcome fear.
These have been presented below for Reference:

How can one overcome fear?
SB 11.2.33: Śrī Kavi said: I consider that one whose intelligence is constantly disturbed by his falsely identifying himself with the temporary material world can achieve real freedom from fear only by worshiping the lotus feet of the infallible Supreme Lord. In such devotional service, all fear ceases entirely.


Why is a living entity fearful?
SB 11.2.37: Fear arises when a living entity misidentifies himself as the material body because of absorption in the external, illusory energy of the Lord. When the living entity thus turns away from the Supreme Lord, he also forgets his own constitutional position as a servant of the Lord. This bewildering, fearful condition is effected by the potency for illusion, called māyā. Therefore, an intelligent person should engage unflinchingly in the unalloyed devotional service of the Lord, under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master, whom he should accept as his worshipable deity and as his very life and soul.

 Process to overcome fear
SB 11.2.41: A devotee should not see anything as being separate from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. Ether, fire, air, water, earth, the sun and other luminaries, all living beings, the directions, trees and other plants, the rivers and oceans — whatever a devotee experiences he should consider to be an expansion of Kṛṣṇa. Thus seeing everything that exists within creation as the body of the Supreme Lord, Hari, the devotee should offer his sincere respects to the entire expansion of the Lord's body.

From the purport of 11.2.41: As already explained in this chapter, bhayaḿ dvitiyābhiniveśataḥ syāt: fear or illusion arises from thinking that there is something not dependent upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Now, in this verse, the specific process for overcoming this fearful illusion is given. One must train one's mind to see everything that exists as an expansion of the potency of the Supreme Lord. By offering respects to everything and meditating upon everything as part of the body of the Lord, one will become free from fear. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (5.29), suhṛdaḿ sarva-bhūtānām: Kṛṣṇa is the well-wishing friend of every living being. As soon as one understands that everything that exists is under the powerful control of one's most beloved friend, one comes to the stage in which the whole universe becomes a blissful abode (viśvaḿ pūrṇa-sukhāyate), because he sees Kṛṣṇa everywhere.


If everything is controlled by the Supreme Lord whatever has to happen to me will also happen by the will of the Supreme Lord for my benefit. Let me thus not worry about anything else but serving the Supreme Lord with full surrender.My relationship with Krishna is of foremost importance and let me develop that by offering myself in service.