Difficulties: What prevented the bull from seeing Krsna's grace as the cause of his suffering?

Post continued from : 

Difficulties: Opportunity for introspection or opportunity for blame?

Srila Prabhupada's purport to 1.17.22:
"A devotee’s conclusion is that no one is directly responsible for being a benefactor or mischief-monger without the sanction of the Lord; therefore he does not consider anyone to be directly responsible for such action. But in both the cases he takes it for granted that either benefit or loss is God-sent, and thus it is His grace. In case of benefit, no one will deny that it is God-sent, but in case of loss or reverses one becomes doubtful about how the Lord could be so unkind to His devotee as to put him in great difficulty. Jesus Christ was seemingly put into such great difficulty, being crucified by the ignorant, but he was never angry at the mischief-mongers. That is the way of accepting a thing, either favorable or unfavorable. Thus for a devotee the identifier is equally a sinner, like the mischief-monger. By God’s grace, the devotee tolerates all reverses. Mahārāja Parīkṣit observed this, and therefore he could understand that the bull was no other than the personality of religion himself. In other words, a devotee has no suffering at all because so-called suffering is also God’s grace for a devotee who sees God in everything. The cow and bull never placed any complaint before the King for being tortured by the personality of Kali, although everyone lodges such complaints before the state authorities. The extraordinary behavior of the bull made the King conclude that the bull was certainly the personality of religion, for no one else could understand the finer intricacies of the codes of religion."

Why did Dharma not say it was God's grace? What prevents one from seeing Krsna and His mercy in all things?(From the purport to 1.17.23)

1. The personality of religion knew perfectly well that nothing can take place without the sanction of the Supreme Lord, and still he was put into doubts by the deluding energy, and thus he refrained from mentioning the supreme cause.
2. This doubtfulness was due to the contamination of both Kali and the material energy. The whole atmosphere of the Age of Kali is magnified by the deluding energy, and the proportion of measurement is inexplicable.

Should we just tolerate and not protect ourselves?

1. An accurate understanding of what occurs , therefore exists on more than one level. If one is being unreasonably beaten by a man with a stick, he will be injured and must defend himself or suffer great pain.
2. Despite the beating being ultimately "God's grace", the "beater" may not have one's best interest in mind. Dealing on this level demands prompt and practical action.
3. While acting practically, however one should nevertheless remember Krsna's ultimate control, because Krsna is the ultimate "doer".
4. Maintaining this awareness while acting will free one from envy, anxiety, and anger, and will carry one the Krsna's Lotus Feet
5. Seeing all that occurs as Krsna's will, a devotee understands that "not a blade of grass" moves without the will of Krsna.
6. Such a person remains free from anxiety amid even the greatest difficulties. 
7. Still along with maintaining this vision one must act practically while simultaneously remaining detached from the results of his action.

At another level, Krsna's desires cause our circumstances:

Because He desires that the living entities fully surrender to Him, become His devotees, and return to Him in the spiritual world.

The Lord's Causeless Mercy Gives One the Ability to Render Service - Part 2

Continued from

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:

1. 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.
2. The more a devotee engages himself in the devotional service of the Lord, the more encouragement is supplied by the energy of the Lord.
3. 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.
4. 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. 
5. 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. 
6. 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.
7.  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:

1. The Māyāvādī philosopher, who does not surrender unto the Supreme Person, is understood to be lacking in real knowledge. 
2. The devotee in perfect knowledge cannot forget his obligation to the Lord at any moment.

What is the meaning of taking shelter of the Lord's Lotus Feet?

I heard this in a class by HG Vraja bihari Prabhu sometime in 2011 maybe:

What is the meaning of taking shelter of the Lord's Lotus Feet?

• Physical Darshan
• Humility, want to serve Krsna, become a servant of Krsna and His devotees. Take a humble position. Follow instructions

What is the qualification to take darshan of His Lotus Feet?

• Attachment to hearing and Chanting about Krsna
• Non enviousness
• Hold on to the Holy Name - Kaliya was envious but by allowing Krsna to dance on his head all his dirty poison came out. Similarly if we hold on to the Lord;s Holy Name we will be cured of our envy.

How to meditate on Krsna's Lotus Feet?

• Take Darshan step by step from His Lotus Feet progressively upwards finally to His face.
• Follow the instructions of the spiritual master.

Prayers by Queen Kunti 1.8.20 Humility

1.8.20

tathā paramahaḿsānāḿ munīnām amalātmanām

bhakti-yoga-vidhānārthaḿ kathaḿ paśyema hi striyaḥ

You Yourself descend to propagate the transcendental science of devotional service unto the hearts of the advanced transcendentalists and mental speculators, who are purified by being able to discriminate between matter and spirit. How, then, can we women know You perfectly?

Kunti Devi here says that "You come to further enlighten those who are already advanced, those who are able to distinguish between matter and spirit- But what about people like me?How will we who are not great philosophers know You"-

In previous verses she has already mentioned that in spite of the Lord being situated inside and outside we cannot perceive Him, we cannot perceive Him through our senses and inspite of the Lord providing us with so many necessities, always being our benefactor and the Lord Himself giving us so many ways of seeing Him we fail to accept the Lord's presence. Then what is the hope for a mere women?

In this way Kunti Devi expresses herself and teaches us the mood in which we must approach the Lord.

Kunti Devi not an ordinary woman

Kunti Devi was not an ordinary woman.- she was able to see the Lord not just as her nephew but she knew His position as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Srila Prabhupada mentions in his lecture 

• "But Kuntidevi, although she is in such exalted position, practically on the level of Yasodamayi, such a great devotee... So she is so submissive that "Krsna, You are meant for the paramahamsas, and what we can see You? We are women." 
• "But she could perceive the Lord "There in the previous verse she said, alaksyam sarva-bhutanam antar bahir avasthitam: "You are not seen by ordinary men, although You are inside and outside." In another verse also, na laksyase mudha-drsa: "Fools and rascals cannot see You." That means Kunti sees Him. Unless she sees Krsna as He is, how she can say, mudha-drsa na laksyase? And (s)he says, prakrteh param: "You are transcendental to this material creation."
• Although she understands everything, she still takes the position of an ordinary woman and says, "How can I understand You?" This is humility.

 

How can one see the Lord??

In the previous post we read that SP mentions we must take to the process of hearing srvataha sva kathah krsna, because of which we will have the vision to see the Lord. Here we learn that we need to be humble as well to enhance our vision of the Lord else we will be caught up in the temporary- material strength, power, influence, beauty, knowledge,etc.

By hearing, all the undesirable things from our hearts will be cleansed personally by the Lord (amalatmana- no lust and greed) and gradually we will become qualified to see the Lord.

"One must feel humility. Material Strength, beauty, intelligence and assorted other good qualities remain insufficient assets when one tries to know the Lord.Srila Prabhupada is encouraging in his purport to text 20: "The Lord is so kind that He does not show special favor only to one who is a great philosopher. He knows the sincerity of purpose."" - From Unveiling His Lotus Feet- Page 139

From another lecture of Srila Prabhupada: "So following her footsteps, any woman can also understand Krsna. Krsna is ready to be understood by anyone. Mam hi partha vyapasritya ye 'pi syuh... [Bg. 9.32]. Simply we have to follow the path how to appreciate Krsna, how to understand Krsna, how to see Krsna, how to talk with Him, how to walk with Him. These things are there. That is called bhakti-yoga. Where you learn this science of bhakti-yoga -- that we have mentioned, Nectar of Devotion, the perfect science of bhakti-yoga. So if one is interested in seeing Krsna, then there is no hindrance, there is no block. Anyone. Striyo vaisyas tatha sudras te 'pi yanti param gatim."

Rukmini's humility: I am a woman of mundane qualities

From the  chapter "Krsna teases Rukmini "
Lord Sri Krsna teases Rukmini in this chapter and says that there is no comparison between Her Qualities and His and that she should find a husband more suitable for Her. He also said that He kidnapped Her only to cut down the pride of kings like Rukmi and Sisupala. But as for things such as body, home, wife and children , He is indifferent to them. - because he is the self satisfied Supreme Personality of Godhead transcendental to all material affairs.

When Rukmini hears this She begins to cry and being stunned in extreme fear, pain and sadness She falls unconcious. Lord Krsna feels compassion for her and picks Her from the floor and consoles Her. He says He did this only to see a frown on her face

Seeing that Lord Krsna had spoken only in jest she then says the following verse:


SB 10.60.34:
Śrī Rukmiṇī said: Actually, what You have said is true, O lotus-eyed one. I am indeed unsuitable for the almighty Personality of Godhead. What comparison is there between that Supreme Lord, who is master of the three primal deities and who delights in His own glory, and myself, a woman of mundane qualities whose feet are grasped by fools?

Rukmini devi inspite of being the Goddess of Fortune considered Herself unsuitable for the almighty Personality of Godhead.

How many times do I ever feel like that while offering any service to Their Lordships. whether it is organizing a festival or cooking, or doing the Girls Program or Mataji's Program. In the mood of Rukmini Devi I must consider my lack of qualification to do the service and in the humble mood of a servant pray for the Lord's blessings and mercy to give the ability to execute the service.

Its my great fortune that I have received a chance to offer any service to the Lord and His devotees.. Instead of considering myself qualified only to execute big services I must consider myself unqualified for any service at all to the Lordships.