The Lord's Causeless Mercy Gives One the Ability to Render Service - Part 1
Further Srila Prabhupada's explains that in SB 4.9.8:
The Lord's mercy is beyond our estimation:
- The devotee understands that the Lord’s causeless mercy is beyond his estimation; he cannot know how much he is benefited by the grace of the Lord.
- The more a devotee engages himself in the devotional service of the Lord, the more encouragement is supplied by the energy of the Lord.
- In the Bhagavad-gītā the Lord says that to those who are constantly engaged in devotional service with love and affection, the Supreme Personality of Godhead gives intelligence from within and thus they may make further progress.
- Being so encouraged, the devotee can never forget, at any moment, the Personality of Godhead. He always feels obliged to Him for having achieved increased power in devotional service by His grace.
- Saintly persons like Sanaka, Sanātana and Lord Brahmā were able to see the entire universe, by the mercy of the Lord, through knowledge of the Lord.
- The example is given that a person may apparently abstain from sleep all day, but as long as he is not spiritually enlightened he is actually sleeping. He may sleep at night and perform his duties in the daytime, but as long as he does not come to the platform of working in spiritual enlightenment he is considered to be always sleeping.
- A devotee, therefore, never forgets the benefit derived from the Lord.
Inspite of hearing all this where is the ahankara and ego coming from that I am something :)
Lord please protect me from this tendency, help me understand that you are the cause of all causes, you are the ability in me, its your mercy that is acting. Help me become a servant of the servant of the servant.
If we do not surrender we are considered lacking in real knowledge:
If we do not surrender we are considered lacking in real knowledge:
- The Māyāvādī philosopher, who does not surrender unto the Supreme Person, is understood to be lacking in real knowledge.
- The devotee in perfect knowledge cannot forget his obligation to the Lord at any moment.