The material world is a constant struggle. We constantly struggle to maintain the body, feed it, clean it, and keep it healthy. We struggle to pay our debts and bills with great effort and worry. We constantly attempt to maintain happiness over distress, depression and fear. We strive to maintain a good and attractive social image. We suffer with the heat, the cold, the rain, the drought, the bugs. We try to maintain balance and equanimity in a tumultuous sea of suffering, conflict, birth, disease, old age and death. If all we are essentially doing is maintaining our equanimity and physical/mental/emotional reality, what is our goal? Is it to squeeze in some sense gratification whenever possible, get a drink or toke after work and relax? Get some sex, get some pleasure, go to a show....In this way most people live in darkness. They think life is just a struggle to try to be happy and enjoy as much as possible, while, at best, doing the least amount of harm to others and maybe giving some charity.
People are really suffering deeply in this world. We may not see it, we may ignore it or be so well off materially, young and having fun that we aren't around it, but I see it everyday. So much stress, worry, anxiety, lust, anger, dissatisfaction, pain, fear....so much disease, obesity, intoxication, deformity and malnutrition. America is becoming like a third world country some places. Maybe this will impel us to wake up and start soul-searching for our real purpose outside of this pitiful existence. We can use this pain as fuel for our Bhakti.
In this way most of us are unconscious of our real goal and our real self. Even those that believe we have a soul are not enlightened to what it is, where it originated, and what is it's real purpose. Thus usually they simply hope for a transfer from their Earthly reality of constant struggle for happiness over distress onto a "spiritual" reality after death; where the soul can enjoy celestial pleasure forever and not have any more distress. But, at best this is extended metaphysical sense gratification, wherein one hopes to enjoy pleasure forever and be served or have nothing to actually do.
Here Radhanath Swami explains with spiritual wisdom:
"Srila Prabhupada defines Bhakti as "the activity of the heart in which it expresses it's love for God through service." Love that is not expressed is not real...Real love is expressed through service. Actually the most fundamental need of every living being is to love someone. There can be no fulfillment of the heart without that...the basic need of every living entity is to love someone. Therefore relationships are the most sacred gifts we have in life. And the reality of love comes through service. Those who are really, truly in the spirit of service and sacrifice, for the object of their love, actually find fulfillment in that. Not in exploitation...Only giving of the heart for the welfare, for the pleasure, for the service of another can actually give satisfaction to the heart.
But, in this world everything is temporary, and everyone is limited. Therefore the Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam, they explain so nicely that the Supreme Occupation for all humanity is unconditional, unmotivated loving service to the Supreme Lord." From the lecture "Real Fortune is Bhakti" 2001.
Why is it that the Supreme occupation for every person is to love and serve God? Because we are all parts and parcels of God's energy. Everything originates in Krsna. Being thus, we are all God's children. Our natural propensity is to love and serve; someone, somehow. This propensity to love and serve naturally manifests in the heart of a mother, or a child with a pet. In this world this propensity to serve and love can often manifest in exploitive or harmful ways, such as when people become obsessive workaholics, vengeful ex-lovers or prostitute hunters, or exploitive corporations (who should be simple servants). Although in a corrupted state, actually all these people at heart simply desire and need is love, service to others, and to be loved. In less extreme cases people simply become loyal employees, soldiers, parents, students, etc. This propensity to love, serve, and sacrifice for loved ones is there in everyone. But, like Radhanath Swami explains, this world and every person is temporary and limited. If we are a spiritual spark, a soul, then that means our ultimate source lies somewhere, and that source is Krsna. Because Krsna is the ultimate source, He is the ultimate beneficiary of all actions and energy. All sacrifices and actions are meant for Him alone. "Whatever a man may sacrifice to other gods, O son of Kunti, is really meant for Me alone, but it is offered without true understanding." BG 9:24
What "gods" does the world serve? Money, of course. The body. Celebrities, famous people, musicians, artists, politicians. Their country. Even their pets. With so much love and devotion all these are served and dedicated to. But what is the result? How much of it lasts? How much of it deeply satisfies and does not disappoint, ever? How much service to the world and people is spiritually illuminating, purifying, and gives great peace? If we have a spiritual reason for doing such things then we get some knowledge and happiness from endeavors. And, if we do such things with an understanding of renunciation, an understanding that it is all to be done simply as a temporary duty in this world, but that our truest and highest duty is service and love to Krsna, than we become rightly situated, graceful, peaceful and satisfied. Krsna then reciprocates and gives us His love. We will feel that love, and become satisfied. When we serve Krsna, all is taken care of and what our soul really longs for most, the only thing we actually need and desire, which we're ultimately all dying and suffering without, becomes attainable: real love with God.
Krsna wants our love. He desires our relationship. If we offer our life with love and devotion, he will accept it. Krsna Consciousness, the path of Bhakti, is urging us to move forward, to look deeper, to be more sincere, to be more open, to be more honest. To understand our pain and suffering and discover it's real source-personal desire. Desires to enjoy this world, to accumulate material things, and to indulge in our lust, anger, fear and greed. Desires to promote our selves, enjoy fame (however subtle), and to exploit others (however small). This is the poison in our hearts that must be cleaned out to achieve peace and spiritual understanding. We must daily cross over to the land of dedication: Krsna Bhakti. This land of exploitation will swallow us and degrade us to death, all the while covering us in illusions of grandeur, pleasure and false happiness.
The love we seek is in God, Krsna. The pleasure we seek is ultimately found in Him alone. And the ultimate object of service is Krsna and the spiritual master. This alone will fully satisfy the soul in this life, and for all time. Hare Krishna
http://audio.iskcondesiretree.info/01_-_His_Divine_Grace_A_C_Bhaktivedanta_Swami_Srila_Prabhupada/Bhajans/Vol-03/05_-_The_Vintage_Series/SP_Bhajans_02_-_Hare_Krsna_Kirtan.mp3
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