A devotee learns that shortcuts can be dangerous, the hard way.
After passing out of a Krsna conscious gurukula, I joined ISKCON Belgaum as a fulltime devotee. Located in countryside, the temple was far away from the main town and I would ride a bicycle or walk to the town to collect monthly contributions from the congregation members. During other times, I would read Bhagavad-gita and particularly the fifth verse of chapter 8:
anta-kale ca milm eva
smaran muktva kalevaram
yah prayati sa mad-bhavam
yilti nasty atra sarhsayah
"And whoever, at the end of his life, quits his body remembering Me alone at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt."
I used to ponder over this verse and think: Krsna consciousness is really so easy. All we have to do is remember the Lord at the time of death and we will go Back to Godhead. Then why should we work so hard for so long in this life? Why not remember Him now and quit the body? Better die now and go Back to Godhead. Take a shortcut! The idea of shortcut appealed very much to me and I decided to be ready for death. Not only that, I deliberately began to take potentially life threatening risks thinking them to be shortcuts. While walking to the city from our country-side temple, I would walk in knee high grass. avoiding the clear pathway. Loudly chanting the holy names I would hope for a poisonous serpent to bite me. In the city if I found a building under construction I would walk Just beside it. Usually in such cases the construction-crew hangs a net from the top of the building to the road below so that any falling debris may not hit a passerby on the street. The people on the other hand, cautiously walk on the open side of the net. But instead of walking on the open road I would walk between the net and the building, wishing something hit me and I die chanting the names of Lord Krsna. However all my attempts of premature death failed to invite Yamaraja's messengers.
SHORTCUT
A devotee learns that shortcuts can be dangerous, the hard way. After passing out of a Krsna conscious gurukula, I joined ISKCON Belgaum as a fulltime devotee. Located in countryside, the temple was far away from the main town and I would ride a bicycle or walk to the town to collect monthly contributions from the congregation members. During other times, I would read Bhagavad-gita and particularly the fifth verse of chapter 8:
anta-kale ca milm eva
smaran muktva kalevaram
yah prayati sa mad-bhavam
yilti nasty atra sarhsayah
"And whoever, at the end of his life, quits his body remembering Me alone at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt."
I used to ponder over this verse and think: Krsna consciousness is really so easy. All we have to do is remember the Lord at the time of death and we will go Back to Godhead. Then why should we work so hard for so long in this life? Why not remember Him now and quit the body? Better die now and go Back to Godhead. Take a shortcut! The idea of shortcut appealed very much to me and I decided to be ready for death. Not only that, I deliberately began to take potentially life threatening risks thinking them to be shortcuts. While walking to the city from our country-side temple, I would walk in knee high grass. avoiding the clear pathway. Loudly chanting the holy names I would hope for a poisonous serpent to bite me. In the city if I found a building under construction I would walk Just beside it. Usually in such cases the construction-crew hangs a net from the top of the building to the road below so that any falling debris may not hit a passerby on the street. The people on the other hand, cautiously walk on the open side of the net. But instead of walking on the open road I would walk between the net and the building, wishing something hit me and I die chanting the names of Lord Krsna. However all my attempts of premature death failed to invite Yamaraja's messengers.
A BOLT FROM THE BLUE
I continued like this for a long time. Then nearly ten years back, one day, I went to a spiritual retreat, with a group of devotees, to beautiful seashore. Although I did not know swimming, the clear blue waters were too tempting to resist and like others, I too went inside the sea. One of my friends noticing me playing in just knee-deep waters invited me to come deeper. "No way," I said, "The sea is very rough and I don't know swimming." "Don't worry," he assured me, "I will hold you."
He came to me and catching me by the waist pulled me deeper. When he reached neck-deep waters he suddenly let go of me, conveniently forgetting that I was more than a feet shorter than him. I sank. I opened my mouth to breathe and scream, only to feel salty water gushing down my throat. I was scared and my mind went blank with feat. Helplessly,I began splashing wildly and in a last ditch effort lunged forward and with both of my arms locked on to the neck of my friend. He fell back and both of us began to drown. Somehow, a lifeguard saw us from a distance and jumped into save us. He gave us a push, which with the help of a strong wave dragged us to the shore. Falling face over in the sand, and realizing that now I was safe, I let out a Sigh: Hare Krsna. Thrice in that day, I was saved from drowning and each time, my mind was blank while facing death.
HUMBLE REALIZATION
Later as I reflected on the events of the day, I came to a humbling realization: I was unable to remember Lord Krsna at the apparent time of my death! Why? Because I had not qualified myself. I realized that Krsna consciousness is not so cheap. If the Lord is pleased by our service, He will bring us back to Him by creating a suitable environment at the time of our departure. Otherwise, we cannot force our way into His kingdom. He alone gives us remembrance and forgetfulness. Our qualification is the mercy of the spiritual master and the entire guru-parampara. Only if the Vaisnavas are pleased will Lord Krsna will be pleased. Only by His sanction can we enter His abode, not by any material manipulation and adjustment by us. The present life is preparation and death is the final exam. Only hope for passing is the mercy of the examiner: Lord Krsna And any attempts at shortcuts can be dangerous!
Rupa Raghunatha Dasa is a traveling preacher and serves full-time in ISKCON Mumbai. I continued like this for a long time. Then nearly ten years back, one day, I went to a spiritual retreat, with a group of devotees, to beautiful seashore. Although I did not know swimming, the clear blue waters were too tempting to resist and like others, I too went inside the sea. One of my friends noticing me playing in just knee-deep waters invited me to come deeper. "No way," I said, "The sea is very rough and I don't know swimming." "Don't worry," he assured me, "I will hold you."
He came to me and catching me by the waist pulled me deeper. When he reached neck-deep waters he suddenly let go of me, conveniently forgetting that I was more than a feet shorter than him. I sank. I opened my mouth to breathe and scream, only to feel salty water gushing down my throat. I was scared and my mind went blank with feat. Helplessly,I began splashing wildly and in a last ditch effort lunged forward and with both of my arms locked on to the neck of my friend. He fell back and both of us began to drown. Somehow, a lifeguard saw us from a distance and jumped into save us. He gave us a push, which with the help of a strong wave dragged us to the shore. Falling face over in the sand, and realizing that now I was safe, I let out a Sigh: Hare Krsna. Thrice in that day, I was saved from drowning and each time, my mind was blank while facing death.
HUMBLE REALIZATION
Later as I reflected on the events of the day, I came to a humbling realization: I was unable to remember Lord Krsna at the apparent time of my death! Why? Because I had not qualified myself. I realized that Krsna consciousness is not so cheap. If the Lord is pleased by our service, He will bring us back to Him by creating a suitable environment at the time of our departure. Otherwise, we cannot force our way into His kingdom. He alone gives us remembrance and forgetfulness. Our qualification is the mercy of the spiritual master and the entire guru-parampara. Only if the Vaisnavas are pleased will Lord Krsna will be pleased. Only by His sanction can we enter His abode, not by any material manipulation and adjustment by us. The present life is preparation and death is the final exam. Only hope for passing is the mercy of the examiner: Lord Krsna And any attempts at shortcuts can be dangerous!
Rupa Raghunatha Dasa is a traveling preacher and serves full-time in ISKCON Mumbai.